But It Itches!!!
Posted on Sat Apr 26th, 2014 @ 12:03am by Lieutenant Colonel Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan & Commander Tressa Brislan
1,090 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Mission 86 - Discovery
Location: Essex Sickbay
Timeline: MD 1
It was all of three hours after her shower that Phoenix had to admit defeat. She had to see the doc or else she'd really scratch herself until blood poured out.
So there Phoenix was, entering medical in her flight suit, but had the top zipped all the way down. Her gray tank top just barely covered the red irritation on her chest.
"Doc?" Phoenix inquired carefully as she craned her head around to room to spot her would-be savior.
"Phoenix, hello!" Tressa said brightly. "Ahh, something wrong?" she added as she noticed the woman's state of undress.
"Got an itch that wont stop," Phoenix admitted as she walked in skeptically and looked about for anyone else. "Sorta... a rash? I dunno."
All the while, the pilot was unknowingly scratching at her red, irritated, and scabbed chest.
"Oh my, you certainly do," the doctor said, ushering the woman into a nearby exam room. She gently removed the top of the pilot's flight suit, then took a swab from a drawer. "I'm going to take a look at what we have here," she said as she carefully sampled the reddened skin. A moment later she was looking at it through a microscope.
"Okay, so not a big problem," she said with a smile. "But you're going to have to refrain from lovemaking for at least two weeks," she said.
"Don't think I could, considering how much it itches. Burned really, to begin with," Phoenix added.
"Minor infection, cross-species. Been to Bolarus IX recently?" she asked.
Phoenix blushed... How to tell it? The pilot scratched more on the irritated area and then scratched her neck in nervousness. "I er... No. Not on Bolarus."
"Interesting," Tressa said, typing into her terminal. A small tube appeared in the replicator. "The infection is common on Bolarus IX and is carried in almost seventy percent of the population. It is harmless to Bolians, although prolonged ultraviolet exposure in affected individuals can cause dry patches on their skin. It isn't often seen in other humanoids." Tressa retrieved the tube and walked back over to Phoenix. "Its highly communicable with skin to skin contact over several minutes or more."
"So it's in their sweat glands?" Phoenix asked, still scratching at the irritated area.
"Their equivalent, yes," Tressa said as she opened the tube. "This is a topical treatment, it will take four to seven days to kill the pathogen." The doctor put on fresh gloves and began to apply the cream. "It may take a few minutes for the itching to stop, my friend."
The cold cream immediately caused Phoenix to sign in relief. "Worse than chicken pox. But has a nice ointment for it, thankfully," Phoenix noted with a very thankful grin. "My taste in exotics it gonna be the death of me, I think."
"Oh?" Tressa asked as she continued to apply the cream.
"Well everyone knows I don' really go for bein' tied down," Phoenix told Tressa with a slight unease. "But this one Bolian... Long legs. Spitfire... Body of a goddess. Somethin' I like romp'n with."
Tressa nodded. "I see," she said as she finished. She pulled off the gloves and began to type into the terminal. "I believe some humans have developed immunity to the pathogen, but it was because they didn't have the rash treated for some reason. After three or four weeks the rash subsided and subsequent contact with the pathogen didn't cause a reaction."
"Something tells me that's not gonna be my sort of luck," Phoenix noted as she looked down at her chest to look at the rash. "I really am attracted to her. More so than any other person I've come across... So what do you think I should do?"
Tressa turned and smiled. "Phoenix, I'm so glad you've found someone you care about. That is... beautiful." She paused for a moment; it really was sweet that Phoenix had a romantic side. "You could try wearing a shirt during intimate times. It would reduce your risk of exposure."
"Well that makes love-make'n less attractive," Phoenix noted with a frown. "Why does this rare reaction effect me so?"
"I don't know, but you could develop an immunity."
"...Should I tell my blue goddess that I have an STD?" Phoenix finally asked in the quiet pause. "I mean... I know I'm fine as long as I keep coming to you when my symptoms flare up. And I think I'm pretty good at doing it. So I guess, I mean... As vigilant as I'm trying to be, does my bed lady need to know?"
"No, not an STD, it is a communicable disease but really only for humans," Tressa said emphatically. "I do think it would be a good idea to mention it, and I can give you more of the cream so you can apply it as soon as you feel the pain. We don't really know Phoenix, you may already be immune. There is no reason to panic."
"I meant the bladder infection you said I had, that was part of a cross-species STD," Phoenix reminded Brislan.
Tressa smiled. "You had uterdifficilus, Phoenix. Intravenous antibiotics cleared the infection and I repaired the damage when... when you first came to me," she said softly. "You've been negative on your last two tests."
"I suppose all that's left is to tell you my folks were released from prison," Phoenix spoke with a massive grin. "They are coming to the starbase to visit."
"Phoenix that's wonderful!" Tressa exclaimed.
"My folks asked to get their physical from you though, when they come. Will that be all right?" Phoenix explained.
"Certainly," the doctor said, her smile fading. "Is there anything I should know?"
"They did not tell me anything else beyond that, so no." Phoenix then began to gently zip up her flight suit, "Ya want a follow-up on my rash or should I only come back if it returns?"
"Let's follow up in a week, see me sooner if you run out of salve. Apply it twice a day; you should really see a difference by tomorrow evening. Is there anything else I can do for you Phoenix?"
"No..." Phoenix paused, and then added as an afterthought. "Thank you."
"My pleasure, Phoenix," Tressa said with a warm smile. "Stop by anytime, you don't need a reason you know. I like your company."
Phoenix gave a nod of agreement before she headed out of sickbay.
Major Jillian "Phoenix" Sullivan
CAG
Lieutenant Commander Tressa Brislan
CMO
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