Medical Exam? I Think Not (yet)!

Posted on Wed May 7th, 2025 @ 10:02pm by Lieutenant Commander Valerie Novis & Lieutenant CASTIEL 'Cas' Johnson MD

1,626 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X01: Bound for Cold Frontier

Castiel walked the halls, he was looking for one person imparticular, the first officer, she was not very compliant, and her records showed that it was on par to what she normally did. But this was not another ship, it was his duty to make sure that everyone was in shape to serve especially when it came to those in the command position, or in this case second in command. "Lt Commander Novis, report."

The voice was familiar, because Valerie had received messages from him already. It was apparently urgent that she report to sickbay soon for her onboarding physical examination, but there was no way she was going to go there willingly. At least not without something being wrong with her and that was not the case right. Still, she couldn't just ignore this one, or else he'd find SOME way to truly insist. She reached to the comm panel that she had been walking past, pausing for the moment, "This is Novis, what can I do for you?"

"If you keep avoiding my requests, I do have the authority of relieving you of duty due to noncompliance of a chief medical officer. Or I could send your subordinates to apprehend you and bring you to sickbay."

The sigh that came from Valerie was very audible over the comm, "Doctor Johnson, right now is a very busy time making sure that Ark Royal is ready for deployment. As the Executive Officer, I am responsible for making sure each and every department is prepared, along with making sure that my own section is up to the task. I believe I sent you a copy of my medical evaluation from three weeks ago when I had my annual exam on Starbase 33? If you didn't get it, I can send another copy for you."

"Protocol indicates that in the event of a new posting, a new medical is due when reporting for duty. I can't have you working and be carrying a virus, that can potentially cause the entire ship come down with an epidemic..."

"Protocol is there typically for when someone is coming in from a foreign planetary environment or from starship duty where planetfall on different worlds is a possibility." She shook her head at the console, "I was on a starbase with circulating air through purifiers and medical was constantly monitoring air quality and contaminants. There were no outbreaks in the past six months and I haven't received any comms traffic to follow up with any since I left." Okay, this was a long-shot to get him off her back, but it was still worth a try.

"As a former security officer, I know all the excuses, now do I have to get your underlings to escort you to the medical bay."

"No, you don't have to." Valerie kept her response simple.

"Very well... I will get things ready."

"Novis, clear." Valerie smiled to herself as she killed the comm. This was all part of the game. All she'd said was he didn't have to send someone to take her to medical, but she never said she'd go, at least not right away. The question was how long she could string it out, at least long enough to do some research. That being said, she diverted from her path back to her quarters.

A few minutes later, Lt jg Cole walked up behind her, after locating her via computer. "Commander, let's go."

This time, Valerie was checking the status of one of the phaser arrays, going over the diagnostic on the screen as it streamed the results. She glanced back at the security officer and then returned her focus to the screen, "Lieutenant Cole, I understand that you are just doing your duty, understand that I'm doing my own. As I informed Doctor Johnson, I am presently occupied with preparing this ship for deployment, even while we are underway. I am not ignoring him, I am not shirking my duties or responsibilities. I will make my way to sickbay in due time for an examination, but when I am ready and when I have the available time, is that clear?"

"Doc Johnson thought you would say something of that nature." Cole replied as he took two pads out of his satchel. Handing her the first. "Your new orders given to you by the leading medical officer by the Ark Royal, you are to report immediately to the medbay or you will be relieved of your duties until you do. Under which i am to escort you around the ship, ensuring that you do not attempt to do anything that would entail the duties of a starfleet officer." Taking the second pad. "Upon your refusal, this goes to the Captain, which informs him of your decision to avoid the orders of the chief medical officer of the ship." He paused. "What will it be Commander. Duty, or pride."

Even without taking the pad from him, the smile that Valerie gave the Lieutenant was one that would have made a hungry lion looking at a cornered rabbit proud. "Lieutenant Cole, you may attempt to relieve me of my duties, but that would be a futile effort." She took a partial step forward so that the pad pressed against her chest, "If you physically attempt to stop me from performing my duties, rest assured you'll need our precious leading medical officer far more than I do. You can, by all means, give that piece of trash to the Captain and we will see what she says in regards to it in the interim. Or, you can take a message back to Lieutenant Castiel Johnson that I will come to the medical bay in my own sweet time, within seven days... No, within seventy-two hours and have my examination done. Regardless, it will not be happening right here, right now." There was no rigidity in her stance.

"Doc Johnson, Lt Cole here, your hunch was right. She is refusing to report to medbay per your orders." Lt Cole replied as he took out his communicator.

Cas with no hint of surprise "Very well, didn't expect her to come so easily. It was worth a shot anyway. Commander, you have 72 hours to report to sickbay."

"You have my word, Doctor Johnson, I will report to sickbay within seventy-two hours for my medical examination." Valerie replied, "And if I don't, then you can relieve me of duty and I will go quietly. I want to point out, I'm not refusing your orders, only your timeline, due to the lack of need for urgency. There are more important things at this moment than poking and prodding me, such as if the Klingons disagree with our transit and preemptively attack. I'll see to the ship, then you can see to me."

"Fine." He replied with a clear irritation in his voice.

"Well then, Lieutenant Cole, I believe we are done here, are we not?" She was aware that the Doctor was likely still listening and that was the point, especially with how cold her voice had gotten, "Might I recommend that you work on your approach to someone next time you're trying to escort them somewhere? You can get further with a bit of understanding than you will by trying to force the issue. Next time you try things the way you did before, you might get more conflict than you're prepared to handle." She let that sit for perhaps a second, second and a half, then gave him a nod, "Good day, Lieutenant, Doctor." Then half-turned to shut down the console she was at and moved away, back to her rounds.

"Following orders is my orders Commander. Besides, the doc wanted to know how much of an issue you would cause. Pushing the issue was his idea."

Valerie stopped and closed her eyes for a moment, then turned back around, "Lieutenant, following orders is all well and good, but using your head is just as important. If the doctor requested you take the outright direct approach, that's one thing, but if he just sent you to try to bring me in, there are better ways to get cooperation than you did. Think of it as a negotiation, Cole, find out why they don't want to come in willingly and use that to get an in with them. It can be delicate, yes, but not everything can be solved by brute force."

"Where is the fun in that Commander. Relax... all in good fun... at least for me."

"This?" Valerie demanded, "This is what you call fun?" She shook her head in disbelief, then sighed as she ran through a mental exercise to calm down, reminding herself that he may not be going much further in his career than he was right now, but that was irrelevant, "Take some advice, Lieutenant? Even if you shouldn't take life too seriously, take your duty that way, You may not come out of it alive, but at least you'll have your integrity."

"You only live once Commander. Live fast and dangerously, my motto."

Valerie gave Cole a single look over and made up her mind to suggest he get transferred off the ship at the earliest opportunity. He reminded her of someone she once knew... And what had happened to that woman from long, long ago, how dangerous that person had been to themselves and others. "You're right, Lieutenant, we only live once, best not to waste it."

"Relax Commander, I know that hesitation. It was a joke."

"It's never a joke to me, Lieutenant Cole, you are dismissed." Her tone was clear and she again turned and walked over, not looking back anymore, not willing to engage anymore and finally whispered to herself, "Not anymore..."

 

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