ten_fwd | [Sickbay]: Round One scans and vaccines

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[Sickbay]: Round One scans and vaccines

[ Captain's Log: a Meeting with the Senior Staff. Wherein Picard discusses what to do with their new, er. "Guests." ]

As you enter sickbay tonight, escorted there by Lieutenant Worf and his security detail, you may notice it isn't all that unusual. There are no terrifying devices or humming machines you could 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 Chief Medical Officer Crusher herself, she's well-groomed and kindly, wearing her teal uniform and a blue coat. No masks, no rubber gloves. The most dangerous thing about her is that maternal look in her eyes; the one that scolds you for not doing your homework, or leaving your dirty dishes in your room.

The crew makes no promises for Dr. McCoy, on the other hand. He isn't one of ours. You should probably watch your neck.

"All right, don't be shy," Dr. Crusher calls out as you enter. "Come in and sit down. It's just a scan and maybe a hypospray, nothing to worry about."

Probably.

[ooc: This is an open log for everybody. Tagging isn't mandatory, but going to sickbay is. So 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. For those who are tagging, we have Bones McCoy and Beverly Crusher (NPC) on deck, so if you'd prefer one over the other just specify it in your tag. If you would like more details about sickbay, here's the wiki page. If you haven't made your OP yet, you can assume the doctors will want to see your character shortly after they arrive.]

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This was the first person to tell him 'no' to the injuries question, and he looked like the biggest fighter of the group. What a pleasant surprise. Leonard wouldn't say it outloud - it's jinx the whole thing. Hell, even thinking it would jinx it. He picked up the medical scanner and turned back to Steve.

"Just getting a baseline reading, making sure you're not carrying any contagious diseases, and making sure we have information on your biochemical reading so if you're injured we can get the proper materials to get you healthy again."

Because some of the things on this ship aren't human, in case you didn't notice.

Brow beetled, he looks like he believes that as much as a man in the moon. But he nods, clenching his jaw once; it sounds like a reasonable explanation, if all of this is true.

"I don't think you're going to have to worry about contagious diseases," he says, straightening his shoulders and taking a few deep breaths in preparation for the stethoscope. Not that he sees one, or anything else remotely familiar for that matter. "As for your reading, I'm all human, doc. But I might not read like it."

And that's all he's going to say on the matter, until he knows exactly how much their equipment can pick up. Point of fact, Steve's All-American and Earth-bred, but his metabolism burns four times faster than average, and his bones and muscles are denser and harder than normal. His body has been genetically engineered to be the perfect fighting machine: a balanced BMI, superior regenerative healing capabilities, extraordinary stamina, endurance, and reflexes, super strength, super senses, and unparalleled lung capacity. Not only that, but his mental reflexes are above average.

And did we mention, despite being at peak physical condition, he's 95 years old? It's hard to say if that will show up on the doctor's scanner, though, considering his health and vitality starts at the cellular level.

Well that was certainly a curious response. Leonard shot him an odd look at then flicked on the scanner and hovered it over Steve's face by a few inches.

"I'm guessing you're some type of superhuman, then." He paused, watching the reading screen. "Ran into one of those once. He tried to kill my captain and the whole damn crew I was working with." His eyes flicked to Steve. "You don't seem near as power hungry." He glanced back to the screen as the readings kicked back. Hey, what do you know, superhuman. Higher metabolism, denser bones and muscles, healing abilities. Similar to Khan's, but not quite the same. He placed the scanner down.

"Readings are pretty close to his. Lay down, superman. Biobed'll give us a full work-up."

"Super soldier," he corrects, keeping his eyes on the doctor's face. "I don't care about power, sir. Just about defending the helpless."

Maybe something about the way Steve answers will strike Bones as familiar, or maybe it'll show in his readings. Or, just maybe, he'll take a closer look at the kid stretching out on the biobed and realize he bears a striking resemblance to someone else on this ship. If the scanner doesn't read his blood as being red, white, and blue, then the thing's broken.

Super soldier. Defending the helpless. He'd gotten that speech before, though from a prettier face. Less manly, too. Steph Rogers.

He flicked his eyes to the biobed screen. Although he personally hadn't seen the readings before, the computer told him that a similar reading came through that day. He pulled up the information for comparison. His eyes read the name. Steph Rogers.

He looked back down at the guy. Oh no. Steve Rogers?

"What's your name?"

He's seen looks like McCoy's before, and he knows something's wrong. But he keeps both his expression and his voice neutral.

"Captain Steve Rogers," he says. "United States Army and SHIELD operative."

There's a moment of silence. Then Leonard looks away and scowls.

"Son of a bitch."

Then sighed and crosses his arms.

"Good news is, for you, all this damn super soldier shit is already logged in the computer." Bad news of you is that Leonard hates you right now, Steve. Things were going so well. Why did you have to be Steve Rogers?

"You can go ahead and sit up."

Steve does so without needing any further prompting. "Excuse me?"

He's not stupid. He can tell this guy's got a problem with him, but hell if he knows what it is. Steve's never seen him before, except maybe in passing, and what's all this about his baseline and biochemical readings already being in the computer?

They must not have run into each other - Steve and Steph. Well if he's gonna break the news to the blond firecracker, then he might as well break the news to this guy too.

"Female alternate version of you is running around on this damn ship and she hoped you wouldn't be here. Guess nobody's getting what the hell they want here."

Ever graceful about this information, isn't he?

Steve's face smooths out as realization hits, and then goes right back into furrowed wariness. He's heard about Steph Rogers, but not the part about how she doesn't want him here. He's too busy taking the doctor to mean he doesn't want him here either to wonder why.

"Is that a fact," he says, making it more of a statement than a question. "I didn't exactly board under my own volition. I don't see why my being here should be a problem for you."

Leonard sighed.

"I don't even want to be here, so everyone being in this damn place with me is a goddamn problem. But I'm tired of dealing with this paradox, alternate reality bullshit. And since I've been through the whole 'alternate universe' thing already, I've probably gotta counsel far too many damn people and I'm not a damn therapist."

In other words, it really isn't that personal. Although he would have to deal with Steph and her reaction to it. God only knew how she was going to take it. Though Steve seemed to take it well enough. Leonard gave him a side glance. Really, if Steph was that nice, Steve had to be, right? He might not like the fact that Steve was here, but hell, that didn't mean he couldn't be civil to the guy. So, he sighed again and rubbed his face.

"Look, it's not personal, alright? Just didn't want to have to deal with the damn mess."

But he's still taking Steph's side on everything.

Steve isn't exactly used to his mere existence being such an uncomfortable issue for people, but he's been thrown out of enough movie theaters and school dances, taken out to the yard or the alleys in back for a beating for doing nothing more than saying the wrong thing, that he doesn't look surprised. He doesn't even look angry. He just looks disappointed. He thought maybe...

Heck, he didn't know what he thought. The presence of a Steph Rogers hasn't been easy to swallow. He wonders if it invalidates his existence, all his reasons for being here, for protecting people when no one else can. Well, now someone else can. But somewhere, deep down and bottled up tightly, he thought maybe it would be decent having someone around who was like... family. It's been a long time since he's had anything like that. Anyone who might understand.

And she wants nothing to do with him.

"Yeah, right," he answers with stony New York indifference, his gaze on his knees. "I'll try not to make your job harder for you."

Crap. Now Leonard felt bad. He sighed and looked away.

"You're not. Trust me, I'd much rather deal with you than half the damn people that walked through the door." He paused. "I didn't mean to take it out on you, kid. I'm not the best at handling all this crap."

Kid. Now there's something new, no grandpa jokes from the peanut gallery.

"You're a doctor not a therapist, I get it," he says. He still sounds curt, but he straightens his shoulders and looks at McCoy respectfully. "Look, I'm -- I'm new to all this 'alternate version' stuff. My partner told me there was a Steph Rogers here. I haven't seen her, because frankly I'm not sure what to say to her. But if having me around makes life difficult, then I'll keep my distance."

He moves his fingers against the biobed, like he's longing for a pencil or a piece of charcoal. It's a nervous tic, one he probably won't grow out of. "Thanks for the warning."

Leonard sighed.

"Yeah, well, I'm not saying I'm going to be a huge help in the understanding alternate universe crap, but don't let my damn problems get in your way of asking if you ever need to. I won't be a well of information but I might be able to help." He paused, looking away from Steve. "You don't need to keep your distance from me. I'll deal with it. Hell, if things turn out, I might be running into an alternate version of me before too damn long."

He looked back at Steve. Clearly the man was uncomfortable. Hell, so was he. But there was still no reason for Leonard to lash out like he did. "I'm sorry. I was too rash before."

He meets the doctor's gaze levelly whenever McCoy is looking at him. He can tell the man is putting forth effort in a situation that doesn't make him feel at ease, and Steve respects that. He hadn't considered other alternates showing up here, but why not? If a female doc appeared, their roles could be reversed.

"No, it's fine," he says, shaking his head. "I'd rather know now so I don't look like an ass later. You're, um. You were looking out for her. I respect that."

He nods almost imperceptibly. It's ... good. Steve rubs his face, and holds out his hand as a sign of respect. "I won't turn down any help if you can give it, doc. I'm a little out of my element here."

And that was that. Well, for the most part. At least they were being cordial on some level. Leonard wasn't a fan of starting relationships on a bad foot, but at least they'd made up already. That was something. Fastest turn around ever.

At the outstretched hand, Leonard took it and shook.

"Yeah, well, next time I'll try and protect her against things that are actually harmful." Hopefully. "I think we're all a little out of our element, but I'll see what I can do to help you out."

Steve prefers not to make enemies where he can help it. Nat would beg to differ, but she's better at the smiling and subterfuge than he is. He tends to come in like a bulldozer.

"You may not have to," he says, mouth quirked. "If she really is like me, she can probably take care of herself. I bounce back pretty quickly. Rapid healing and living through the Great Depression will have that effect."

He moves to stand up and stops himself, glancing at all the rest of the equipment. "Are we done? Do I need a sucker or something?"

"She seemed tough, but you never know out here. It doesn't hurt to be careful. Though I get the feeling I don't have to tell you that." Super soldier. Odds were he saw his fair share of combat and no telling what else. And the Great Depression? Honestly, he didn't expect that, but hell, time travel.

Leonard gave a small smile. "We're done. I'm afraid we're not giving out suckers today. If there's a next time for you, I might have one."

The look in Steve's eyes may be the only confirmation the doctor needs. Beyond the razor-sharp focus and careful concentration, his eyes always look a little haunted. He shoulders a pretty heavy burden, like a living, breathing Wall of Remembrance for every soldier and friend he saw die. He remembers all of their names as if they were carved into his back.

"Grape," is all he says, straightening up. He may tower over Leonard, but he's got a friendly face (when he isn't frowning). "Cherry reminds me too much of bad medicine."

He supposes that wasn't so bad. No blood samples, no endurance machines, no endless questioning. It does make him wonder if Steph was put through worse, though.

Leonard gives him a smile. "I'll see what I can manage. But you get out of here before someone decides that this first round wasn't enough."

That wouldn't be him. Honestly, it would probably be Beverly. He really didn't know how thorough she was with Steph and maybe she wanted to poke her nose into Steve as well. Really, they were so much alike genetically that it didn't matter. He was sure it'd all come back the same.

He feels compelled to snap a salute, but it isn't as clean as it would be with a commanding officer. There's some looseness to it, a little friendly sarcasm dusting the underlying respect.

"Thanks, doc," he says, turning neatly on his heel and heading for the sickbay entrance. McCoy doesn't need to tell him twice to get out of here. He'll be relieved to be back in quarantine after this, just so he has some space to think.

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[Sickbay]: Round One scans and vaccines

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