A matter of trust

Posted on Sat May 13th, 2023 @ 6:40am by Zirvell Khen & Commander Destiny Ware

1,388 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prelude: Getting Ready to Depart
Location: Sickbay

Slowly, Zirvell inched into the one place that had brought him relief since returning to the Britannic. Somehow despite all that happened to him sickbay was a place where he felt safe.

But, upon hearing there would be a new CMO, it'd also be someone new he'd need to trust. And therein lay his issue, could he trust this new person? The Cardassian boy inched a little further into the medical bay, anxiously looking around. "Hello?" He finally called out, "anyone here?"

Destiny saw the young Cardassian enter Sickbay and was tempted to simply activate the EMH from her office and allow it to handle things...But then again since the young man was not dressed in even a cadet's uniform it meant he was probably family.

Damn it.

Smiling did not come easily to Destiny. In point of fact her smiling muscles were so atrophied attempting one sometimes hurt. However when she exited her office a semblance of one was on her face.

"Yes," she politely inquired, "May I help you?" She calculated she had about fifteen seconds before the smile collapsed...

Gathering his courage, the boy nodded. "I need another check up," he said softly, "someone drugged me not long ago and I want to be sure I'm fine now." He hesitated, wringing his hands together, almost afraid to ask. "And I want to learn how to help people...." He wanted something useful to do after school hours. Anything but being a soldier.

"Drugged you?" Destiny echoed as she walked over to a series of drawers and removed a medical tricorder. As she approached the young man she wondered if there was something mentally wrong with him. As she swept the tricorder over his head there seemed nothing wrong with his brain.

"Whom drugged you?" she inquired, "When did this happen? And is Security aware?" she met his eyes and frowned, "Do you require-"

Her mouth snapped shut. She was throwing too many questions at him. Taking a breath, she motioned towards the diagnostic bed, "Please sit down, start from the beginning."

Dutifully, the boy sat as directed. "A few days I think, I'm not entirely sure. My.." he hesitated. "The person who should've acted as my father...he took me from this ship and wanted to take me. After fifteen years of pretending I don't exist he suddenly needed me. And I didn't want to, so he...he.. did something....I don't remember much..."

"Have you spoken about this with a counselor or the chief of security?" Destiny inquired. She cocked her head, "Is someone on board acting as your legal guardian? Is..."

She grimaced. She was doing it again. But she was concerned about interviewing this obviously traumatized individual without someone's consent. She continued sweeping with her tricorder and said, "Please. Continue."

"The captain rescued me," Zirvell whispered, "he took me in after rescuing me from the colony. I was abandoned, and had to fend for myself. And then suddenly he wants me back but the captain came for me." He stared off into the distance, his voice trailing off. "I just want to make sure those drugs don't have a lasting effect."

"Hmmm," Destiny did not see any obvious effects, but without knowing the drug in question she could not state for certain one way or the other. And she felt the young man needed something...substantial. Destiny had dealt with hypochondriacs in the past, but to place this person in that camp was decidedly unfair.

"Lay back on the table, please," Destiny said as she activated the diagnostic systems, "And let me see if we have a prior medical examination on you in the records..."

Zirvell lay back on the bed, feeling more than a little anxious as he had to trust someone he'd not seen before. And trust was something he had a little trouble with after being betrayed by someone he thought would look out for him. "How long have you been a doctor?" He asked quietly as he stared at the ceiling.

"Are you questioning my qualifications?" Destiny inquired absently as she called up the young man's earlier diagnostics. After a moment she glanced at him, forced a smile, "I have been a doctor for..." she blinked and the smile became bemused, "Thirty three years," she shook her head and glanced back at the read outs, "Where does the time go..."

She turned the screen so the Cardassian boy could...she hesitated, "My name is Doctor Ware. I don't believe you have divulged your name, young man?"

Startled at that statement, the boy gave her a guilt-ridden look. "I apologize ma'am, my name is Zirvell Khen. Captain Fredriks is my legal guardian." Another apologetic look. "And no ma'am I'm not questioning you expertise ma'am. I'm just curious...."

"I understand, Mister Khen," Destiny replied. Was that right? Yes, it was the Bajorans whose family name came first, "This," she pointed to the readout on the left, "Is your prior diagnostic readout before the...incident. And this," she pointed to the right display, "Is our current findings. Now the untrained eye may see nothing but bright colors and gibberish, but if there was any trace of the drug left in your system we would see unusual readings along these columns. Your body is free of any foreign presence."

She paused, then added, "I would say, though, that while my knowledge of Cardassian biology is not what one could call 'expert' I would suggest you need to be adding a bit more protein in your diet," she glanced down at the young man, "Your Father...Is there any chance of him coming back to do you harm?"

"I hope not," the boy answered, suddenly anxious, "he left me behind. He hurt me..." At the news of there being nothing left in his body, Zirvell sighed in relief. "I'm working on the food issue ma'am, I spent quite some time surviving on very little. Do you have any recommendations?"

"I am no expert on the former," Destiny noted absently, "As for the latter, allow me to consult more thoroughly Cardassian physiology before I work up a dietary plan."

She cocked her head as she regarded the young man, then she shut the monitors off, "You say you wish to 'help'. How much thought have you given in that regard?"

A confused look crossed the boy's face. "I shared what little food I found with those that needed it more than I did. Little ones...nursing mothers....they needed it more. But I don't think that's enough. I don't know how else to help but I feel a strong desire to." He cast her an uncertain smile. "I just don't know how yet."

Destiny scratched her ear as she considered her response, "Well, I am not used to being quite so candid with a total stranger, especially a ch...young adult such as yourself. Simply wanting a thing is not enough; it calls for sacrifice and hard work. And there are many ways to help others. Perhaps you need to find what you are good at, what interests you, and perhaps you can channel that?"

Destiny shrugged, "But honestly I am in no position to give out advice on how to live; at least you have a better idea what you want to do with your life than most people I have met."

"Are you saying I haven't sacrificed enough so far?" Zirvell challenged, "I don't know yet what I want, beyond helping....." He hesitated, expression changing. "Can I help out here? After school? Learn medical things maybe?"

"Young man," Destiny replied with an arched eyebrow, "I said nothing of the sort. There are different sorts of sacrifice; your charity is admirable and I do not doubt was necessary. But to effect real change will call for a sacrifice of time and energy, it calls for dedication."

Upon his request to loiter about her Sickbay...Damn. If she said 'no' she would be seen as a bully and likely get on the Captain's bad side...

"As for spending time here after your classes, I will discuss it with the Captain," she finally said, "I wish to see what plans he has for you first."

"Okay..." Zirvell hopped off of the bed. "Thank you for your time doctor." He offered a grateful smile before leaving.

 

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