Brain Matters
Posted on 07 Aug 2014 @ 5:19am by Commander Karen Myles & Lieutenant JG Tobias Todd
1,467 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
M12: For Duty or Honor
Location: USS Achilles - Main Sickbay Deck 7
Timeline: MD 4
[Crew Quarters]
Tobias had read all relevant files for his search for cloaked ships, the program was still filtering data from dozens of different ships and hundred of different communications. He had caught up with much needed sleep, got a shower and something to eat, although he would not recommend the scrambled eggs. The replicator held back on the salt.
This seemed like an excellent time to get some important business out of the way. A check of the duty roster confirmed that the new CMO Dr Karen Myles was on duty. No time like the present apparently.
[Main Sickbay Bay]
Karen leaned back behind her desk and took in a deep breath, the first days of any new assignment were always tough. For a Chief Medical Officer it meant a lot of reading, patient files, sickbay staff reports all needed to be reviewed so she could get up to speed. Noticing a shadow appear in her office she looked up at and saw Lieutenant Todd in her doorway. She cleared her throat slightly before asking. "How can I help you?"
"Dr Myles I have come to complete my medical check up and want to discuss with you the circumstances and consequences of the technology interacting with my brain. Aside from the actual operation the design, construction and programming is of my own design. However, I'm sure you have read my file but if any question remain I'm fully qualified to answer them."
She held up both hands her eyebrows raised. "Whoa, slow down there." She took a deep breath and shifted in her chair. "First I prefer to be addressed as Commander, I earned my rank like everyone else it isn't honorary." She reached down and picked up a now warm cup of coffee, she took a long sip and then looked back at Todd. "I haven't reviewed your record yet, I start with active patient files and you don't have one on this ship yet."
She closed her eyes for a moment. "You will need to explain to me the function of this technology you designed for yourself."
"Very well Commander. During my stay at the academy I was diagnosed with a genetic defect that causes a chemical and electrical imbalance in my brain. There is currently no known cure ..." Tobias hesitated briefly, considering if what he had done could count as a cure or if it was a crutch. "... and in time it would have caused irreparable degeneration of neuron membranes in my brain. Initially hindering the formation of new connections and ultimately, albeit slowly, affect and destroy even the most basic brain functions. I took the liberty to send the relevant medical files to your terminal. I decided that this was not an acceptable future so I set out to change it. The implant I designed, with considerable amounts of help I feel obliged to add, addresses these imbalances. The system is not perfect but it is also designed to take over any functions the organic part of my brain can no longer fulfill."
That was quite a mouthful but not the first time he had delivered this particular speech. He didn't really mind, his design was brilliant even if he had tapped the minds of some of the most brilliant people Starfleet had to offer, the work was his. The next part was a somewhat recent addition. Something he would rather get out the way quickly as he was tired of people talking behind his back and pointing fingers.
"I should also add that the procedure under which the implant was installed was not authorized and technically unethical and quite possibly illegal."
Karen took a deep breath as she digested the information he recited, the principle she understood well enough and she was sure once she studied the relevant files he had sent she would have a clear picture of what was going on. She looked down at her console and tapped in a few commands, although he continued to talk adding the procedure was illegal and unethical.
She stopped and looked up her face not showing emotion. "Join the club Lieutenant, without a procedure that was highly illegal and disgustingly unethical." She paused for a short moment. "I would be dead." She shrugged slightly. "At least your procedure didn't require murder." She looked back down at the console and exhaled loudly. "Although I wasn't given a choice in mine."
"I see." Tobias accessed the Commanders file. He didn't exactly see the file but the information ended up partly in the visual cortex and his eyes flickered as if he was reading. A small detail he never manged to get rid of for some reason. "Your file doesn't specify. Must be an intriguing story, even if it was unethical. Or maybe because it was unethical, I'm not exactly sure. But I can respect your aversion to the topic. And some people claim I have murdered the person I was to become the person I am. Sounds a bit pompous if you ask me."
She watched him as he 'accessed' her file, she wasn't worried he would find any information on her own experience. "Intriguing wouldn't be the word I'd use." She opened a desk draw and pulled out a medical tricorder. "As for what people think of you Lieutenant." She shrugged. "Simply be the best person you can be, everything else sorts itself out."
She stood up and walked over to him. "Okay I'm going to take a few scans, to get an accurate base reading I need you to stop accessing the ships computer."
Without the ships computer, Tobias felt smaller. No that was not it. His world had shrunk. It was actually quite uncomfortable, like wearing shoes that are too small. "Connection has been severed. If you need to take closer look, there is small panel at the back of my head to allow access and a direct data link if needed. A necessity for technical and medical reasons."
She walked behind him as her tricorder started to gather data. "hmm." She mumbled as she studied the scans. "And you designed this yourself?" She took a deep breath. "Impressive." She tapped a few commands into the tricorder. "The surgeon who implanted it was, competent but it could have been done better." She took a deep breath and then walked back into Todd's eye line.
"Okay Lieutenant, I want you to reconnect with the computer and access a file, like you did before with my record." She got the tricorder ready to take more scans.
"Yes Commander. Accessing personnel file of Lieutenant Lindert. Quite the interesting read I have to say." Reestablishing the connection was good. It felt right. "Well the operation was not done under optimal circumstances. Dr Russel is not exactly in everyone's good books and I didn't have a lot of those choices we spoke about." That was a story for serious company and if he had stopped to think about, probably a very thrilling tale.
She shrugged slightly. "I'll wait for the movie." She had never made a practice of reading peoples files; they only gave half the story and often didn't reflect the person at all. She studied the tricorder and watched as the readings fluctuated, Synapses fired into action as if suddenly kicked into high gear.
"I assume you are aware that the active connection places a higher amount of strain on your brain than normal, I would recommend you spend a certain amount of time each day 'disconnected." She looked at him and added. "The technology is working as it is supposed to, but if you don't allow your brain to rest it will come back to bite you in the ass."
"Yes I am. Unfortunately that becomes increasingly harder, like not using one of my hands. One of the side effects I didn't anticipate." It would have been a wonder if there would be no side effects but some were more concerning than others. Decreased awareness of his physical needs, emotional detachments, reduced empathy among others. But the alternative was worse,s o he wasn't going to complain. At least not very loudly.
Flipping closed the tricorder she took a step backwards. "I am sure the experience is disconcerting, but it is needed." She walked back behind her desk. "Try reading a book while it is disconnected." She held up her hand. "The old fashioned way, keep your mind occupied rather then sitting doing nothing and thinking about the 'hand' you can't use."
She offered a slight smile. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention Lieutenant."
Tobias inclined his head slightly. "I look forward to working with you Commander."
Commander Karen Myles, MD, PhD
Chief Medical Officer
Lieutenant J.G Tobias Todd
Chief Science Officer
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