[Sickbay]: Round Fourteen Scans and Vaccinations

[ten_fwd_npcs]

If this is your first trip to Sickbay, you may be surprised to see that it's a fairly ordinary-looking hospital. There are no terrifying devices or humming machines you might see in a sci-fi thriller. The biobeds along the walls are equipped with biofunction monitors, but look fairly standard. Instead of silver trays filled with metal tools and sawblades, there are an array of small devices that look as harmless as cell phones. As for the staff, they're all well-groomed and friendly — even the more unusual aliens.

If you're new to the ship, no doubt you've been escorted here by the security team. Nothing to worry about, the doctors just want to make sure you aren't carrying any viruses or are vulnerable to terrible space disease. Once you've been checked over — a quick scan from a tricorder and any necessary vaccines — you'll be free to go. Lollipops are optional.

"All right, step on in," one of them calls out as you enter. "Don't be afraid. It's just a scan and a hypospray, nothing to worry about."


[ooc: Sickbay is, as always, OTA and open until the next one goes up for latecomers! For new characters: tagging isn't mandatory but IC going to sickbay is. If you'd prefer to skip threading with one of our doctors, you can handwave that your character got a clean bill of health and a shot and were sent on their merry way. There is a post up in the OOC comm with more details about Sickbay and which doctors are on deck this month, if you have any questions.]

Comments

[not_the_question]

The Doctor raises an eyebrow. He hadn't expected it to be quite that easy. He nods once. "Thank you."

He can be polite - sometimes - when he doesn't know what else to say, but feels it necessary to say something. He takes the small vial and makes his way over to where he sees something that looks vaguely like a microscope. But instead of doing that, he pulls out his sonic and scans the vial before doing anything else. And now that he has his way and is focused on running tests, he seems inclined to talk.

"I'm the Doctor, by the way. Currently homeless. Where are you from?"

[atadiscoverer]

"Atlantis."

Carson follows, curiously. He's never one to not take an interest in what other people are doing; Especially when they seem to be more intelligent than he is.

"But, originally, Edinburgh."

[not_the_question]

"Human, then? What year?"

The Doctor is unsatisfied with the readings on the sonic, so he looks around for a mask and gloves before using the sonic to open the vial. Then he finds the place where a sample can be inserted into the microscope and he puts a bit of liquid in it.

[atadiscoverer]

"Aye. Human."

Or near enough. He follows the Doctor a bit, mostly to assist if he needs help with the Federation technology.

"It was 2006 when I got stranded here." A pause. "Is "Doctor" your actual name, or is there something else before or after it?"

[not_the_question]

He mutters to himself. "2006. I was quite young and quite infatuated back then."

He speaks louder now. "Well, when people talk about me, they tend to add a 'The' before 'Doctor'. But when talking to me, 'Doctor' will suffice."

He pulls away from the microscope.

"Some of these antibodies contain live viruses. Aren't you afraid that will cause more harm than good?"

[atadiscoverer]

"They're in a massively weakened state, or a synthetic replication rendered harmless. For those conditions, it seems most immune systems ignore them if they're completely dead. This was the only way."

Same as on Earth, really.

"We have... two other people known as the "Doctor" on board... Are they any relation?"

[not_the_question]

The Doctor is so annoyed to have to do this the hard way. He wished he had access to his TARDIS. He could hear her, but every time he tried to find her, the quarantine interrupted him.

He searches around and finally finds a device that will take a sample of his blood. He adds the blood to the sample in the microscope and watches the reactions.

"It's possible. I have a habit of turning up in situations like this. Can you describe them?"

[atadiscoverer]

"Even better. We'll have pictures on the database." He moves over to the bigger screen dominating one of Sickbay's walls, and taps a command to wake it, moving to bring up the basic profiles of the passengers known solely as the "Doctor."

"Ah... Seems I miscounted. With yourself, there's four passengers displaced by Q called "Doctor." He motions to the wall where their basic profiles will be displayed. Nothing too obvious; name and photo, really.

And, what the Doctor will see on the screen, are images of his Eighth, Tenth and Eleventh incarnations.

[not_the_question]

"Well, not my favourite selves. Though the Edwardian isn't too bad. The other two - the one who regrets and the one who forgets."

He points to each Doctor as he describes them: Eighth is the Edwardian, Tenth regrets and Eleventh forgets. He huffs a defeated sort of sound.

"And I'm the idiot who questions. Of course in this place, I doubt any of that matters."

[atadiscoverer]

"Are... all of these people... you?"

Because the phrasing sounds like they are.

[not_the_question]

"Well. Yes."

No point in denying it. He thought the same name would have given it away.

"Which means, this 'Q' character is very powerful. Because I'm a Time Lord. My people worked to prevent things like this from happening. And if I don't remember being here when I was in any of these bodies... that's a problem."

[atadiscoverer]

"It's a problem we're not able to do anything with yet. It seems Q is the be-all and end-all about this problem." Carson folds his arms, frowning. "I think the crew is working to try and sort this out; return people to their relevant times and dimensions."

[not_the_question]

"Well, then let's hope the crew isn't so arrogant as to avoid talking to people who are experts in things like this."

He is talking about himself. He walks back over and sits on one of the beds. He presents his neck.

"Right, let's get it over with. You've satisfied my concerns that it won't kill me."

[atadiscoverer]

"I'm glad." Carson remarks, with a slight hint of amusement. He walks over, and with a brief hiss, it's all over.

"Thank you, Doctor. You're free to go."

[not_the_question]

"Out of curiosity... What happens if someone weren't able to use your pimative drugs? What if your drugs would kill them?"

Because the Doctor know of several species what this could apply to. Daleks, not that it would be much of a loss. But he's interested now.

[atadiscoverer]

"We would likely be able to detect it and, if it was deemed more a risk to administer the vaccine, we'd find another way." A slight bow of the head. "Of course, the individual would need to remain in quarantine for the duration. As much for their own protection. If the vaccine wouldn't take, it's safe to assume that their risk of the viruses it protects against would also cause death."

[not_the_question]

"Interesting. So. No possibility to consider if they are impervious to any illnesses of this universe. Just. Lock them up."

Again, thinking of the Daleks, this wouldn't be bad. But, he has to be prepared.

[atadiscoverer]

"That possibility would be considered, yes." Carson replies. "I'm not fully aware of Federation quarantine proceedures, however. The best person to speak to would be Dr. Crusher." He indicates the CMO's office.

[not_the_question]

He nods. Good. And bad. "It clearly hasn't happened yet. So I don't think that's necessary."

Besides, he'd have to go through this whole conversation again. And he'd rather not. Besides, if he needs anything, he's pretty certain he can figure things out.

"Is there anything else or am I free to go?"

Because he has some exploring to do, now that he has a bit more freedom.

[atadiscoverer]

A nod. "Any questions, feel free to come back and ask." And then he motions to the door. "You check out. Feel free."

[not_the_question]

He nods his head and hops of the bed. "Thanks."

Which is actually more polite than he usually is. He makes his way out with a bit of giddiness. After all, great big ship to explore.