The Doctor Is Out There

Posted on Fri Oct 16th, 2026 @ 11:58am by Captain Natira Dareese & Lieutenant Commander Owen Saelwyn

1,492 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 1: Maiden Voyage
Location: Deck 13 - U.S.S Pathfinder
Timeline: December 16, 2380: 0900 hours

The Pathfinder rested in its berth at Utopia Planicia, its external hull darkened save for the occasional light spilling through one of the ship's viewports. Aboard her, personnel slowly gathered and began to learn their surroundings like employees settling into a brand new office building. Deep in the bowels of the ship, Natira Dareese crouched in a Jefferies tube. She had her eyes on one of the new MKIII bio-neural gel packs and was carefully examining it, considering the connections that interfaced it with the ship's systems. She was off in her own world, mapping all the variables and considering if their communication speed could be improved, even by a tenth of a nanosecond.

Owen had arrived on the Patfinder and made his first stop his assigned quarters to stow his personal belongings. Straightening his uniform, he turned and exited those same quarters. Calling to the computer for the location of the Captain, he frowned slightly. Jefferies tubes were most definitely not his favorite place to crawl around in. Wandering his way to the hatch closest to where the Captain was supposedly working, he pulled it open and took a peek inside. "Captain Dareese?"

The Orion woman barely registered the Jefferies hatch being popped several meters behind her. She was too busy examining the connectors on the gel pack. Something in the back of her mind tugged at her. It wasn't until a few moments later that she realized someone had been speaking with her. She turned her head and squinted through the lights of the corridor, trying to focus on the uniform of the person speaking. After a few seconds she picked out the color of the shoulders- teal blue. She took a few steps closer, the man's face coming into view. "Doctor Saelwyn, I presume?"

"That's me. I just wanted to check in and let you know I was here, make sure you were all set for anything you need." Owen glanced into the jeffries tube again, but didn't climb inside.

Natira on the other hand started to crawl forward, eventually emerging into the light. She did not replace the hatch behind her though- clearly she planned to go back inside. She nodded slightly to the man now before her. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you in person," she said, extending her right hand. "I am quite set for the moment." For a second, the woman considered adding that she did indeed have her injections handy, though she thought that would be a rather odd statement to lead with without knowing if he even knew what she was talking about.

Owen grasped her hand and gave it a shake. "I have read your medical file, I just wanted to be certain you hadn't been left waiting for me to arrive or anything." Releasing her hand he peered into the jeffries tube and shook his head with a bit of a grin. "Better you than me in there, I'm always worried I'll get stuck."

A slight smirk crossed Natira's face as she glanced over her shoulder at the still unsealed Jefferies tube, then back to the doctor in front of her. She nodded slightly. "It is an occupational hazard," she admitted. "Even for me."

Captain Dareese paused, taking a moment to straighten her uniform as she considered. It seemed this new CMO of hers was thorough; that was good. He admitted he'd read up on her file. That was helpful, and it should've given him the necessary preparation. So, with the opening presented to her, she asked, "I assume you are familiar with the effects of Orion pheromones, then?"

Owen gave a nod, a half smile gracing his face. "I am. I've done my homework, Ma'am."

This was good news. The CMO she'd approved was familiar with her pheromones. This meant that should there be an emergency of some sort, he would be prepared to deal with it, or could synthesize a counteragent of some sort, if the worst came to pass. Natira inclined her head slightly, then lifted her right hand. She tapped her left wrist with her pointer finger. "Then you must be familiar with my unique medical requirements," she noted.

With another nod, Owen spoke. "Yes, Ma'am. Which is why I came to find you and make certain you had what you needed. Contingency plans are also in place in the event that something should go sideways."

Contingency plans. Hearing the phrase, Natira allowed herself a slight smile and gave a little tilt of her head. There were a few options for those, and she was curious what it was her new doctor might've thought up. She asked simply, "Tell me about what you have put in place?"

Owen crossed his arms over his chest, appraising the captain silently for a brief moment. "The computer will be set to notify both of us, discreetly, in the event that your levels are rising above where they should be. You will have an emergency hypospray in key locations. The bridge, your office, your quarters. In the event that you do require that emergency medication, you'll need to come to sickbay so we can take a look and find out exactly what is going on. If that medication should fail, either you come to sickbay on your own, or I transport you there into an isolation ward while we find a new solution."

The look on Natira's face was thoughtful as she absorbed Doctor Saelwyn's precautions. Indeed, they were on par with precausions that had been taken at other assignments. On the Pathfinder though, they had an advantage other ships did not.

"Very good," she said. "You may be pleased to know that you have a discrete medical system in your quarters, as well. alerts of injuries, emergencies and medsled arrivals will be sent directly to your personal terminal."

"Good to know, Captain. I can always hope it won't be needed, but I'm sure I'll be glad of it when necessary."
"Indeed," agreed Natira. She was silent for a moment, her body language relaxed as she seemed to consider something. "How are you settling in thus far? Any notes for the shipyard engineers?"

"Oh, I've only just arrived. Stowed my gear and came to find you to check in." Owen gave the Captain a grin and shrugged. "I'm sure I'll find something that needs replaced or repaired once we're far enough out of dock to make it difficult."

Natira inclined her head slightly, her eyes twinkling. "Oh... I wouldn't bet on that," she remarked, her expression calm and self-assured. "Unlike the Intrepid class whose hull the Pathfinder is based on, the Pathfinder has industrial replication facilities. So long as we have the energy, we can resupply ourselves with any repair components we may need>"

With a grin, Owen nodded. "Oh, well that's good to know. I often find out my chair is too small or my desk is too short far after it's too late to do anything about it."

Natira raised her eyebrows slightly, a faint hum escaping her lips. "That being the case, perhaps you should request alterations in advance," she pointed out with a smirk.

"Where's the fun in that?" Owen flashed that boyish grin again and straightened up, "That said, I'll let you get on with...whatever you were doing in there. While I go see if my bed is long enough."

"Ah," Natira answered, her expression turning thoughtful, the right side of her mouth still twitching upwards. "So you like to find things to complain about, do you? I will be certain to remember that." She nodded, feigning a serious tone of finality. "Very well, Doctor. You're dismissed, before you have reason to complain about me"

He laughed and shook his head, "I complain about objects, Captain, not people. I'll see you around, ma'am. I look forward to getting underway." Turning, he began to head back the way he came. Hoping he could find his quarters again.

Natira watched the doctor go, thinking to herself as she did so. From her initial impressions of him, it seemed she'd made the right choice in a chief medical officer. A friendly person who came prepared and could take a joke. She smiled slightly to herself before her gaze turned towards the Jefferies tube hatch, still discarded on the floor. It was time for her to get back to work. With careful, easy movements she climbed back into the Jefferies tube, re-placing the hatch behind her and disappearing into her technical mind for several hours more.

 

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