Sickness and Health
Posted on Wed Sep 2nd, 2026 @ 9:54pm by Commander Grace Vetur & Lieutenant Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii & Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus & Lieutenant Xavier & Lieutenant Amanda Rose & Lieutenant Endymion Tox
1,452 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission: Preservation Instinct
[Captain's Ready Room]
Grace had a headache. It started after she'd spoken with the last of the away team. Stress, she told herself. And worry. But now, everyone was back and the doctor would find out what was going on. But for now, she had work to do. With the ship in stationary orbit over the abandoned research facility, there was little need for her to be on the bridge, so she went in her ready room to send a report to Starfleet.
She sent a message to all department heads to make sure no one went missing. If someone failed to show up for their shift, the department head was to try and contact them. If they couldn't, they were to alert sickbay in case anyone else fell ill.
Beyond that...she wouldn't interfere with the doctor's work, or act like a mother hen. But she could keep an eye on things from here and make sure the ship continued to monitor the planet.
Executive Officer's Office
Yiv felt ill. Stomach-churningly ill the likes of which he hadn't felt in years if at all. The Efrosian felt like his entire digestive system was turning itself into slipknots. Gasping at another convulsion, he really began worrying when he started sweating.
He palmed his communicator. 'Executive Officer to Sickbay. Site to ... site transport. Please. Ill.'
Chief Security Officer's Office
Anahera was working on her formal after action report. Her head was throbbing. She'd not felt anything like this, since the time when her bio-neural implant 'died' and began to poison her. But that had been surgically removed years ago.
This can't be that, it must be due to something she picked up on the planet.
"Chernova to Sickbay, Doc, I'm on my way." Anahera said.
Aaron sat in his now sealed office. The puppet Aaron worked the patients, it was the only way to keep himself healthy. He got the message from the security chief and smiled. "Well, it seems that another one bites the dust." He said to the empty room before pushing a button. "Oh, Me... Prepare for more patients. We have incoming and I think this very well may be the beginning of the end." He then opened a channel. "That is a negative Commander Chernova. Can't risk having you walk the ship. So, I am sending a cab for you." He closed the channel and engaged a site to site transport. A moment later Chernova materialized in the quarantine zone of Sick Bay. The holographic Aaron began the initial exam.
Tox, who had been exposed via Xavier and had made his new home sickbay, stood with the hologram taking notes as the holo Doc called them out. He was still feeling relatively fine although exhausted but then days of sleeping on the floor by Xavier's cot and waking up to check the patience had exhausted him. He smiled at the security Chief. "Okay Commander. We're going to need you to change into our fashionable gowns and I'll get you something for your head."
"Good thing, I'm not shy, and I don't have anything you fine medical fellows haven't seen before." Anahera said and began to undress.
Tox snorted. "I'm going to get a bio bed ready for you." He handed Anahera a gown. "Change and have a seat there and I'll come take you to your new home until Doc Marcus clears you for duty again. While I know the temptation is strong leave any phasers on that tray." He winked at her.
"You're the Boss." Anahera said placing her type-2 phaser on the tray, followed by her type-1 back up piece, a stiletto dagger, knife from her left boot, and two electronic devices.
She then put on the gown and sat where she'd been directed to.
Tox sent the samples from her uniform to the lab for analysis and then took the basic readings when she was settled in the biobed. He smiled. "You should try to get some rest. If your symptoms change at all I need you to tell us right away. The doctor will be by to see you soon. Sound like a plan?"
"Yes, could you turn up the heat, I'm a little cold?" She said.
"Fraid not but I can get you a few extra blankets." He motioned to one of the other nurses and then tucked Anahera in. "Okay. How's that? Do you want anything to help you sleep?"
"Better, thank you." Anahera said. "No, thank you on the sleep aid, I like to be in control of my own mind."
"Then try to rest. Doctor Marcus is on the job and he may be many things but above all he is a beautiful mind, one that will figure this out. I have more faith in his abilities than anything else." He smiled at her. "Now rest as much as you can. Another nurse will be by soon to check on you and bring some water for you. Drink as much as you can."
"Understood, you're the Boss." Anahera said taking a sip of her water.
[Captain's Ready Room]
So far, Grace was doing okay--except for the persistent headache and a growing feeling of malaise. But she couldn't afford to be sick. She had a ship to run and two ravens to feed. The idea had been for Tox to help until he was no longer afraid of them, but he was stuck in sickbay, helping the doctor and caring for Xavier.
She returned to her ready room after feeding the ravens--she would need to look into sending the EMH to do it if she felt worse in the morning--but for now, she was well enough to at least keep on top of things.
The ship was in geosynchronous orbit over the research facility until they solved all the mysteries. the one of the missing colonists and researchers had been solved, but there was now this...disease? Contagion? Whatever. So, until the doctor came up with a solution, she would remain where she was. Then she would take herself to sickbay... Or just contact the EMH.
Amanda had her hands full. Everywhere that she went, people were getting sick. It seemed to start with the away team. However, she, herself had not gotten sick. Why? Was she naturally immune to whatever this problem was? She knew she did not have a weak immune system but she never considered it particularly strong, either. Perhaps she should check with the doctor, as much as she hated that, and get his thoughts on the subject. Maybe it would help cure the ship.
Peri still felt okay. Most of the away team was in sickbay, but she hadn't been on the planet. Her job had been to sit in the shuttle and monitor. But she had been in contact with the away team. Twice. Did that mean she could have what everyone else did? She wasn't sure. Nor was she sure what Zero was working on. He was somewhere on the ship, but until he returned to ops, she'd man the comms and fill out paperwork.
She wasn't ready to go to sickbay. Not yet. Not if she was fine. But she wanted to be sure. So, she contacted Sickbay.
"Valeri to sickbay. Is there a way I could find out if I've been exposed to whatever made the away team sick without coming in?"
Tox responded right away. "Well hello to you too! I'm afraid that it's spreading everywhere. Are you having any symptoms?"
"Not yet," Peri said. "I stayed on the shuttle, so my exposure was limited. Is there something you want me to do? Send you a sample or something to compare with the others? Or just avoid people in case or until I get sick?"
He laughed. "We're not a physician test thyself bunch. Nurse Tolen will come see you. She is unaffected and she will scan and collect blood. Do you still have the uniform you had on the planet?"
"Yes. It's in my hamper," Peri said. "I haven't done anything with it yet. I'll bundle it up and put it in a bag." Peri hadn't considered that before and was glad she hadn't tossed it in the replicator to recycle.
"Excellent! The nurse will be with you soon! Tox out."
A post by
Commander Grace Vetur
Commander
USS Ontario
Commander Yivliph Ra-Gruvloveii
Executive Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant JG Peri Valeri
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Endymion Tox
Head Nurse (PNPC)
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Aaron Marcus
Chief Medical Officer
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Amanda Rose
Chief Counselor
USS Ontario
Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Ontario
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