Time for the Real Checkup! (slight backpost)

Posted on Thu Feb 26th, 2026 @ 3:25pm by Commander Cressida Vale MD & Lieutenant Commander Declan Malcom

938 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Main Sickbay

***Crew Quarters***
Declan had been finally starting to relax in his newer quarters, with things finally arranged in just the right manner. The next moment, his tranquility was interrupted by a beeping from his PADD reminding him it was time to head to sickbay for his full physical with the CMO.

Originally when Declan had come aboard, everyone in every department had been frantically busy, so a nurse had looked over his record, conducted the fastest assessment he'd ever seen, and said a message would be sent along when to come back for the full on physical. Time to face the music.

***Main Sickbay, 10 minutes later***
Stepping into the Main Sickbay was always a game of 'Crowded, loud, empty or quiet'. Today seemed to be more quiet from a first glance. Heading over to the main desk, he looked for the nurse or Doctor on duty.

The Chief Medical Officer emerged from her office, having heard the arrival of a new person. “Ah, Mister Malcom,” she said, recognizing him from his initial arrival not long ago. Mieta had reported on his initial assessment, the report of which included his profile photo. “Congratulations on the new assignment. You’re here for your proper exam I take it?”

"Indeed. Better to get the paperwork over with. Though it is a temporary assignment. How goes the recovery here?" Declan asked while walking over.

“We’re back at one hundred percent,” Cressida answered. She tapped the nearest biobed. “Come take a seat while I get a tricorder.”

Walking over to the biobed gave Declan a chance to mentally catalogue the engineering aspects of a sickbay and compare it against prior versions he'd seen. Hopping up on the biobed, he sat as requested and waited.

“Any changes to report since your initial scans?” Cressida asked as she started passing the scanner over him.

"All clear Doctor. Not even the old plasma burn scar has been acting up lately." Declan responded cheerfully as he held up the hand with the scar across the knuckles. "Only thing I've had was a case of Rigellian Flu, and they treated me for that one pretty quick."

“That one’s not fun, but at least you got treatment fast,” she replied as she scanned. “Did you want anything done about the plasma burn scar? I can probably get rid of it, if that’s something that interested you.”

"Thanks, but no. It's a good reminder to keep an eye on things you might forget about, before they bite you in places unmentionable in polite company. I've actually grown used to having it, good conversation piece." Declan commented wryly, well inured to the offer of cleaning up the scar.

“Honestly, I figured,” Cressida replied. “A lot of doctors don’t understand, but I get it. Still, I need to make the offer, and remind you that it’s always on the table.”

She scowled at one indication on her tricorder. “When was the last time you were inoculated against Draconis Fever Virus?”

"Since the last time I was home on leave...so, a good few years now. Probably need that one updated come to think of it." Declan responded after thinking for a moment, and then reluctantly held his arm out.

“Yeah your antibodies on that one are looking a bit low,” she said. She stepped aside to the pharma-replicator, which produced and logged a dose of vaccine in a hypo-vial. It went into a hypospray, which went against his proffered arm. “You can expect the normal side effects, the worst of which should involve feeling a bit unwell tonight. In the very unlikely event that your throat feels
itchy or if you develop a rash, report back to sickbay immediately.”

Declan tilted his head slightly at the sound of the replicator. "Right Doc. Don't want to become patient zero in an outbreak. Has that replicator been checked lately, sounds a bit too high pitched, like a modulator is off or needing to be swapped."

"Good question," Cressida answered. She tapped her commbadge. "Vale to Hesbani. Can you tell me when the pharma replicator was last looked at?"

There was a brief pause as the sickbay unit clerk on alpha shift duty, located in the nearby sickbay office suite, checked the records. "I have the twice-monthly inspection logs, Doctor. Last one was eleven days ago, so it's due. There isn't anything scheduled but we often get the notices the day prior."

"Thank you, Latifa. Vale out." She looked to new Chief Engineer. "There you have it. It's been a bit. If you can have someone take a look soonest, that'd be helpful."

"Can do. Don't need faulty medical equipment!" Declan chuckled with a smile and shake of his head. No one could ever say engineering or operations were lacking tasks. "Anything else healthwise on me?" He asked Cressida in a curious tone.

"You could probably stand to eat more fruits and vegetables but that's about it," Cressida told him. "You're fit for duty as a permanent member of the team."

The smile widened as Cressida said that, and an ironic chuckle came out as she mentioned the fruits and veggies. "So, more rabbit food and sweet treats, got it. I'll start working a salad into my weekly meal setup. Thanks, Doc."

"Any time," she said with a smile. "Dismissed, Commander."

Declan chuckled and started to think where he could add in the salad for those veggies, fruit would be easy. Nodding politely to the staff, he made a quick exit.

END


Commander Cressida Vale, MD
Chief Medical Officer and Second Officer

Lieutenant Commander Declan Malcom
New Chief Engineering Officer

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