The Vulcan Physician's Art

Posted on Tue Mar 19th, 2024 @ 10:07pm by Captain Robert Burke & Lieutenant Setek Dr

1,796 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: EPISODE 1: SHAKEDOWN
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD07 0930 hours

::ON::

‘Now Capta-’

‘Call me Robert, please, Doctor Setek. I am your patient after all,’ Burke said affably. Stripped to his undershirt and Starfleet-issue boxer shorts, a clean crips white, the Hecate’s Commanding Officer sat on one of the many bio-beds in Sickbay. He was suitably impressed with the amount of space the facility had.

The Captain was one of many who had been tardy to their physical. Setek’s request had been polite, but firm. If Burke wished to continue in command of his new vessel, he would report as soon as was convenient. With launch complete, the Captain had arranged a time and a place.

From across the room came the sound of retching, and an orderly shouting, ‘get a bowl!’ Throwing a glance in their direction, Burke saw a young Deltan medical orderly thrusting a bowl into the chest of what looked to be a Bolian throwing up oily black vomit.
Setek raised an eyebrow, then turned back to his patient.

‘While I do not believe it is appropriate protocol for a subordinate to address their superior by their first name, I have read that in species that are particularly emotional, it does create a feeling of closeness and security, and aids in forming a trusting bond with their physician.’

‘Ah, very good then Set-’

‘I do not believe that I indicated the reverse was true, Robert,’ Setek cut across Burke without looking up from the readings his medical tricorder were giving him. After a moment, he arched his eyebrow and made eye contact with his Commanding Officer.
Burke chuckled recognising Setek’s brand of humour, ‘I suppose you are right. We’re mostly comfortable with addressing a doctor as well … Doctor.’

Nodding in acknowledgement, Setek ran the medical tricorder’s scanning wand uncomfortably close to Burke’s clavicle, hand brushing the curling salt-and-pepper chest-hair that poked out of the vest’s scoop neck. ‘May I ask you a question?’ Setek inquired. Seeing Burke nod his assent, Setek proceeded.

‘You seem to have more hair across your torso than you do your head. Why is that? Vulcans do not lose hair on their head, and neither do they have much hair on their torso.’

Burke thought for a moment. ‘Well, the male human body often can’t cope with the level of testosterone in the body, so we lose hair – it can be a hereditary. I began losing my hair in my thirties and from then, I simply shaved my hair close to the scalp, as I do now. The same with my facial hair. A quick trim with the electric shaver every morning keeps everything under control.

‘As for the chest hair, that’s an evolutionary remnant from the time we were little more than great apes.’ Burke smiled again, ‘besides, it gets chilly on Earth, so we need something to trap the air and warm it. I suppose the opposite is true for Vulcans – dark hair provides cover from the sun, and a warm desert climate foregoes the need for much body hair.’

‘Quite so, logical suppositions. Humans are a fascinating species. Who knows how you will adapt to your new homeworlds – imagine what the people of Titan will look like in a few centuries. Please hold your right arm out.’

Doing as asked, Burke tried his best to suppress the trembling his arm experienced when doing the very thing asked. It was slight, but noticeable, and had been growing since his last physical exam two years previously. He flexed his fingers, and noticed with concealed dismay his Medical Officer reaching towards the neural analyser.

I’ve come too far to lose everything to a shaky hand, he thought, as Setek brought the analyser to bear. Slowly and methodically running the tool down the right side of Burke’s head, then across the shoulder and down the arm, Setek watched the readings the machine gave him impassively.

Once he was done, he looked at Burke once more, then asked, ‘Robert. Can I take a more detailed scan of your arm’s nerve functions?’ He blinked once as Burke considered, before he nodded his assent.

‘The shaking?’ he asked in a quiet voice, not wanting anyone else to hear.

‘It might be nothing,’ Setek stated matter-of-factly. ‘Although it could be something more than nerve fatigue. In much the same way your eyesight is fading, there is treatment available for various ailments.’

‘But I’m allergic to the medicine that reverses the type of issues my eyes have,’ Burke protested weakly. An icy feeling of dread spread cold tendrils from the pit of his stomach. It could be something more.

‘But you may not be allergic to the treatment needed here. Your eyes are an example, not a comparison. Two different issues, but both related to the age of your body,’ Setek had Burke lie down on the bio-bed, and activated the medical sensor, training the device on his neural pathways.

As he was lying there, Burke sought to distract himself from the foreboding that was enveloping him. ‘Tell me, Doctor, how did you end up in Starfleet – we’re still an overwhelmingly human organisation.’

‘As befits an organisation inherited from Earth’s past,’ Setek replied, eyes still on the screen. ‘It was not a hard choice, in the end.’ Setek paused as he gathered his thoughts, then continued softly. ‘I am a hundred and thirty Terran years old, Robert. I have seen a lot of change not only in the galaxy around me, but in my own people. Vulcans are a long-lived species. Changes that occurred in Archer’s day are only now beginning to bear fruit. Besides Ambassador Spock, there were a few other Vulcans in Starfleet when I joined two decades ago. But there has been a step-change in attitudes, and more of us are joining than ever before.

The Vulcan Science Fleet only has so many positions open, and they are then occupied for a long time. When Starfleet offered the option of single-species crews for starships, it seemed logical that my people endeavour to take advantage of it.

‘Having spent six decades on the ships of the Science Fleet, I had no more appetite to spend time amongst my people – I could learn nothing more, nothing new about the galaxy if I stayed with them. Therefore, when I applied to transfer to Starfleet through the exchange program, I specifically asked for mixed-species crew.

‘It has not been easy. We Vulcans are sensitive in many ways that are not apparent to off-worlders, and it has been an adjustment to say the least.’

‘I can’t imagine,’ Burke murmured, knowing full well the Vulcan would be able to hear. Increasing his volume slightly, he continued. ‘I mean, there are enough differences between a human from Titan, and one from Alpha Centauri, but nothing like the gulf that exists between, say, a human and a Denobulan. Or an Andorian and a Vulcan.’

‘Indeed,’ Setek replied with a nod of the head. ‘A point quite bludgeoned home. There are greater differences between Vulcans and the remainder of the Quadrant. Being surrounded by a maelstrom of emotions can be … taxing to say the least.’
‘Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination is a fine Vulcan maxim, but I suppose it’s difficult to live the reality of it,’ Burke responded dryly.

‘Nothing worth doing is easy, is an Earth maxim that I’ve heard as well,’ Setek responded levelly as he brought the neural analyser to each of Burke’s fingertips. ‘Interesting,’ he said. ‘All you are experiencing are slight tremors and cold spots in one arm?’
Burke nodded in response.

‘I can confirm that it’s not due to any broken bones or other mechanical damage,’ Setek replied gravely. ‘There is apparent nerve damage in the clavicle region, and the upper arm which is likely affecting the muscular performance.’ He paused and looked over the readings once more.

‘There is currently no conclusive evidence as to what is affecting you. I will need to run further tests on the data gathered. At the present time there is no cause to prevent you from undertaking your duties as Commanding Officer of this vessel. However, whatever the outcome of these tests, I will wish to monitor you regularly. There is surely no need to remind you the Chief Medical Officer will need to be informed.’

Sighing Burke nodded, ‘I would expect as much.’

‘The tests are over, Robert. Apart from this issue with your arm, you are in perfect health. You can sit up now.’
As he swung his legs off the biobed, Burke took his glasses off and polished them with a cloth retrieved from his uniform trousers. ‘How long do you think it will take to analyse these results?’

Setek thought for a moment, his narrow features placid as he made a few calculations. ‘Uncertain. The scans did not prove anything conclusive, so this is likely something unusual or seldom encountered in serving personnel. Perhaps a few days at least given the workload and prioritised treatments.’

Swallowing, Burke nodded. A few days will seem like eternity he thought as he looked to the Doctor. ‘Very well. I suppose there’s nothing to be done regarding the wait time – I shan’t press on you to prioritise my diagnosis over anything more pressing, if you’re certain there is no immediate threat.’

‘There is no immediate threat,’ Setek confirmed. ‘However, I will need to inform the Chief Medical Officer of the discovery. It is doubtful that they’ll take you off active duty, but it’s best to be up-front about it.’

The human nodded, and smiled as he began pulling on his uniform trousers. ‘I’ll hold you to that Doctor Setek – no pulling me off duty just yet. There’s plenty of time til we reach the border to make that decision. Let me just get us there in one piece.’
Setek nodded, but said nothing as he handed the uniform polo-neck to his superior officer.

Accepting it gratefully, Burke pulled it on, and tucked it in. ‘If there’s nothing else?’ he asked as he pulled on the uniform jacket. Setek shook his head, ‘thank you, then. I’m sure I’ll be hearing from you shortly. Use either my personal or on-duty comm. You can guarantee I’ll answer.’

Burke flashed a wan smile that attempted to mask the turmoil that was growing inside him at the diagnosis. Straightening and fastening his jacket, he made towards the door and his duty shift, not looking back at the Vulcan.

::OFF::

Captain Robert Burke
Commanding Officer
USS Hecate

Lieutenat Setek (Doctor)
Medical Officer
USS Hecate
(PNPC Captain Burke)

 

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