Restoring normal functionality.

Posted on Sun Aug 2nd, 2020 @ 1:09pm by

1,029 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Under A Glassy Surface, Where We Don't Belong...
Location: Sickbay

It was something of an understatement to say that Acacia was surprised by the fact that the Vulcan she'd met a few days prior walked into sickbay. It was something of an unusual situation that Vulcans came here, excluding serious illnesses and injuries.

"Lieutenant, what can I do for you?"

"I have to use a colloquial term, a headache. And my left arm is experiencing an uncomfortable sensation I accord with lack of blood flow. However it did not return to normal when I did my stretches as it has in he past." Skovik recalled that her name was Acacia, a particular type of Earth plant. It was a curious name for one to have being from Aldea, and he wondered if she might have altered it when she left.

"Alright, when did that start?"

"It began 1.3 hours ago with loud music in my office. I had not tested the output of the speakers nor the settings programmed prior to their activation. The last Chief was a fan of a musical genre called Grunge Metal. I found the sensation the music inspired most unpleasant. "

"I bet. Can you turn your head fully from side to side?" Acacia had to hide a smile at the image his words conjured in her mind.

"Affirmative, though there is some resistance on the left side, when I attempt to look past 45 degrees from center."

Her fingertips rested on the back of his skull while he turned his head, then his shoulder and wrist briefly, to assess the function and reflexive action under her practiced touch "Open your hand?"

Skovik did as instructed and opened his hand, internally wincing at the sensation of prickling in his hand. There was an unintended consequence of the touch however, and briefly Skovik could see nothing but darkness. The terrible crippling fear of that darkness in her mind made him bring up additonal mental shielding, dropping it in place with an internal word. How was she even functional at this level of panic? Resiliant is what she was. He weighed the idea of asking her about it and finally spoke quietly. "May I inquire why you are so afraid of the dark?"

A startled look was turned on the Vulcan, and Acacia dropped the handscanner into his lap "What?"

"I apologize. You touched me, and being a touch telepath I got some emotional transfer from your mind. I realize the intention was not to share your mind with me."

"Uh no. Definitely not"

"I am aware that humans cannot control their thoughts, and had your mind been on another topic that would have been equally uncomfortable for me."

Acacia blushed to the roots of her hair, freckles disappearing in the scarlet sheen. "Can we just...stay on target here?"

"Of course Doctor. Though it is illogical to test my hand eye coordination in such a fashion in sickbay itself."

"That is not what I meant."

"May I inquire what you meant?"

"I meant..." Acacia couldn't help it- she giggled at the absurdity of the situation. "I meant..." she couldn't get the words out -helpless with laughter.

Inwardly, Skovik was satisfied with her reaction. Breaking the hold of the fear was only part of the challenge before the young Doctor.

"You..." Acacia gulped back another giggle biting her lip until she tasted blood. Tears were streaming down her cheeks from the laughter and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. "Custodian help me I needed that. Thank you. You have some nerve impingement from your 4th cervical vertebrae being misaligned."

"I see."

"Old injury?"

"It is possible." he paused for a moment "I did have a period of time where I was injured but did not pursue any medical care."

"I can realign the vertebrae, but you must strengthen the muscles around it so that it doesn't come out of place again."

"Very well."

"If you would lay on your front, arms out to the sides. "

"Very well." he repeated and complied, turning to the side and then laying on his front. He spread his arms out, and noted an increase in the painful sensation that spread to his hand. "That is increasing the discomfort."

"It will for a moment. If you could localize and relax your trapezius and your splenius cervicus muscles..."

"Please indicate which muscles and I shall attempt to comply."

With a fingertip, Acacia traced the muscle groupings she needed him to relax and simply waited for compliance. Her hand was gentle on the back of his neck. "You're going to feel some pressure, then a pop."

Skovik inhaled slowly, and felt her increase the pressure on his neck with an instrument of some sort in her hand. Then there was pain, and the grating of bone on bone before a pop that he felt from head to foot. The Vulcan was astounded at the fire that flowed down the nerves of his arm with the pop. It took every bit of the control ingrained in him to not vocalize his discomfort. It eased as swiftly as it had come "Was that burning an expected effect?"

"Probably. Nerves are funny like that when they are suddenly not compressed. "

"I was not appreciative of the sensation, nor was it humorousa. I am gratified at its absence."

"Glad to know it helped. I will assign a physical therapist to you to strengthen the muscles. I expect you to see that therapist tomorrow and then at the schedule they set out. That is most definitely not my specialty."

"I will comply." He recalled her specialty was trauma surgery and he "Is it acceptable to rise?"

"If you're not feeling any pain, or dizziness then yes. Slowly though please."

"There is no benefit to moving quickly at this time." he replied to the doctor. " I am back to what I consider to be normal functionality."

Acacia smirked and shook her head, not really sure what to say at that point. Vulcans were always so delightfully literal, and she was truly amused at his replies even though she was certain he didn't mean to tickle her funny bone.

"I appreciate your efforts on my behalf."

"My pleasure Lieutenant."

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