[USS Essex] Memories

Posted on Wed Dec 9th, 2020 @ 4:59pm by Lieutenant Kah'lyn Chiara-Rivers & Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD

1,314 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: Crew lounge
Timeline: MD1

{ON}

With the ship underway, Kah’lyn took her assigned break and headed to the crew lounge. Her stomach was still somewhat off so she decided to go get something light to settle it. From what she'd been reading light and often was key to helping keep her stomach settled.

Sitting down in the lounge with a ginger tea and some crackers she thought back to her visit to see Doctor Corrigan.

~ SB400 Sickbay, prior to launch of the fleet ~

Kah’lyn strolled in Sickbay with the PADD containing her home pregnancy test in hand. She was still feeling pretty off colour and she hoped she wouldn’t embarrass herself by accidentally decorating the floor. Seeing a female doctor that she recognised as Doctor Corrigan she walked over to her. “Excuse me Doctor Corrigan, may I talk to you?”

With a few parting instructions to one of the medical technicians, Dr Corrigan turned to face the newest arrival in Sickbay. "Lieutenant, what can I do for you?" she asked curiously.

“Actually I err ...” Kah’lyn held out the PADD holding her home pregnancy test results. “It seems I’m pregnant, six weeks or so the test result says.” She offered a smile.

"In that case... Congratulations," Carolyn offered, "why don't you grab a spot and we can do a blood work up and a quick scan just to confirm exactly how far along you are. Doctor Kelley will follow up with you, make sure you have regular check ups and so on."

Kah’lyn smiled and nodded. “Thank you” She walked over to a nearby biobed and took a seat. “There’s little doubt in my mind, I’ve spent most of the past few mornings rushing off to the bathroom! I haven’t figured out what’s suitable for morning sickness yet.”

"Everyone is different, what works for one person, doesn't for another," Carolyn pointed out. "We can prescribe medication you can take. But you may also find some types of food help just as well."

“The baby’s father is Commander Croesus, so our baby would be a Human, Romulan, Klingon hybrid.” She gave Carolyn a curious look. “I’m guessing our mutual Human DNA helped.”

"More than likely," she agreed. "Although it may make your pregnancy just as unusual. Fortunately we are quite good at unusual around here."

“I’m glad to hear that!” Kah’lyn grinned. “I wasn’t expecting to be a mum so soon but I’m not complaining. I just want to make sure I do things right.”

"Understandable," Carolyn assured her. "And Dr Kelley is one of the best you could hope for. Okay, I will do the bloodwork first, I'm sure you aren't but if you don't like the site of blood, look away now. It doesn't hurt at all though."

And that was true. Holding what looked like a modified hypospray - which in essence was exactly right - to the woman's arm she quickly drew a vial of blood before excusing herself to initiate the tests. "Alright," she smiled as she returned, "lie back and let the scanner do it's thing. Again, quick and painless."

Kah’lyn nodded and lay back. “So while I’m here, is there anything medical requires from Ops? Any repairs outstanding or anything that needs looking at?”

"Nothing springs to mind, the engineers have worked wonders," Carolyn smiled as she touched a command to raise the retractable arms and initiated the scan. As she did so she held up a PaDD. "This is for you, it has a lot of information on it about pregnancy, it will track appointments, give general advice on how to treat common symptoms and when to come see us. General rule, if you are worried, you come straight here. We wont mind. And it will be updated with prenatal classes for you and the father, if he wants to join in, as well as Parent and Child groups when they are back up and running."

Kah’lyn smiled. “Thank you I’ll make sure I read it through thoroughly. To be honest I need to learn, I wasn’t expecting to be a mother anytime soon.”

"The classes are great resources, but you'll learn most when your baby arrives. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, you will have as much or as little help as you think you need."

Kah’lyn nodded. “Thank you, I appreciate your advice and your help. First off I’d like something to take the edge off the morning sickness I’m experiencing.”

"I hear you," Carolyn muttered ruefully. "I'll give you a hypospray to take home with you. Use it no more than twice a day. I'll also send you on the tea Dr Hades recommends."

“That will be fabulous!” Kah’lyn smiled as she looked at Carolyn. “If you don’t mind me asking, how far along are you?”

"Hm?" Carolyn asked as she finished prepping the hypospray and setting it down beside the PADD, "oh. Sorry. Almost five."

“Silly question... how does it feel? Do you know what sex you’re having?”

"It doesn't feel that different. Sure you get more tired, the nausea passes - I'm still waiting but usually it does fade - and you kind of miss being able to see your feet," Carolyn lamented, "but aside from that, it's fine. And yes, I know. Some people don't want to know so again, it is your choice. Dr Kelley will ask you when you have your first consult.

And the scan is done," she announced, retracting the arms on the biobed and offering the woman a hand to help her sit up. "Quick and painless. Let me check the bloodwork and then I can let you go."

Kah’lyn smiled. “I appreciate your insights and I’d like to know. It’ll help me plan better, but I guess that will depend on if Croesus wants to know beforehand whether he’s having a son or a daughter.”

"Definitely something to discuss. We can have him leave the room for that part," Carolyn assured her before heading to the workstation. Downloading the lab results she wandered back, "okay, all the bloodwork looks good, while you obviously have a somewhat complicated physiology, I'd say you are six to seven weeks?"

Kah’lyn nodded. “Sounds about right. Thankfully Croesus is happy about it. So when will my first appointment with Dr Kelley be?”

"Two weeks for an initial meeting, then you will have more detailed scans at 12 weeks and then 24 weeks," Carolyn told her. "And Croesus can be at all of them if you want. Dr Kelley encourages both parents to be involved."

Kah’lyn nodded excitedly. “I’d like that, he’s been a father before so he’s probably used to the routine by now.” She picked up the PADD. “I will study this very thoroughly.”

"Not a problem. If the morning sickness gets too bad and the hypo doesn't help, be sure to come see us."

Kah’lyn nodded. “I will, thank you.” With the she happily headed on her way.

~ Present ~

Sipping her tea Kah’lyn couldn’t help but feel something was amiss, she just couldn’t quite figure out what it was. A little voice in the back of her mind was slowly casting doubts and no matter how hard she tried to get away from it the voice was starting to have an effect.”

~ Somewhere in the shadows, out of range of the fleet ~

“Is it working?” The Romulan Subcommander stood looking at his Remain ally.

“I believe so” the Reman nodded as he opened his eyes. “From this distance it’s hard to be certain. I will need much closer contact to make the programming more permanent.”

“You’ll get it” The Subcommander folded his arms across his chest. “The Commander has a plan.

{ TBC }

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