Sickbay remained dark and silent, save for the beeps
and whispers coming from the equipment around the
room. The room usually was a mixture of chaos,
pandimonium and quick movements. A sound began to
approach the door and became louder until it as right
up against the door itself. A few beeps and the door
slipped open, bringing the start light into the room,
exposing the sleek surfaces to the outside eye.
Doctor Charles Patrick Ryan moved into the room. In a
anti-gravity wheel chair, the elder doctor slowly ran
his eyes over the room. It was much more advanced
than his sickbay on the Jarabont and larger by far.
But it didn't hold the familier warmth he had felt on
that ship for 25 years.
Now he was on a sleeker and slimmer model, one that
inspired ooh's and ahh's from those that watched it on
monitors or saw pictures. And here he was, the
stubborn, 65 year old doctor in a sickbay he didn't
know and on a ship they had given him only after he
had fought to remain in Starfleet. For Ryan, just
looking at the sickbay made him tired. He wasn't sure
what it was, but this wasn't how it was supposed to
end. He was supposed to be on his feet, moving around
a sickbag. Instead, he was in a wheel chair, unable
to stand. Before he had resisted treatments, but the
week before he was assigned, he allowed them to
attempt to make his legs strong enough.
But as if to taunt him once more from the depths of
his nightmares, the treatments had no affect. The good
doctor would never walk again. It had been a
combination of the injury with a then-unknown bone
condition. Ryan hadn't shown any emotion, only tossed
it aside as another one of fate's great choices in his
life.
But inside, the old man was hurt. It was the the
hardest thing to accept for Charles, but he had simply
moved on. And now he sat in the middle of his new
home, buttons, machines and all.
"What a wonderful way to start my duty." Quickly, the
new Chief Medical Officer tapped his commbadge. "All
medical personell, report to sickbay for orders." He
stabbed the badge again and looked around once more,
forlornly rememebring the Jarabont. It was gone now
and this was where he was.
Wherever that was.
(USS Atlantis - Main Sickbay - 2391.03.08, 1401)
Ryan was working on several supplies with a random
ensign (his name was Patrico Yeno, but he hadn't said
much after that, having found out Ryan was the CMO).
Both worked quietly to the sound of the beeps and
whirs that filled the room. A young woman, strikingly
beautiful entered the room. It was the Assistant
Chief Medical Officer, a wee bit late to her duty.
Ryan mentally marked it down in his mind as he turned
his attention to her. She turned, a little slowly,
and then looked down to the doctor. Charles held his
tongue. Almost.
"Welcome to sickbay doctor, I see you've made yourself
here as on time as you could. Doctor Charles Patrick
Ryan."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Chantal Boudrelli... your new
assistant.."
~Chantal, well besides nice looks, they give 'em nice
names. If only they could get them on time.~
"I know. Take note. On time saves life. Lateness
loses them. Patrico over there needs some help
sorting supplies. We're on the last leg...I mean
we're near finished here." The doctor nodded to her
and propelled himself out the door, heading for
somewhere, he wasn't sure.
"Oh, Hello Dr. Ryan. Just been looking around."
Charles looked up to the man to find an upper officer
of sorts.
"Erm...right. Talked to the captain yet?" Ryan was
not on his best footing. He had not a clue who was in
front of him and it was very had to figure out who was
who on a new ship. Between sickbay and his excercises
each day, there wasn't much time to get ready for the
crew.
"I'm heading to him now. By the way, I found sickbay
to be very well put together and operating above
Starfleet norm. Good work, Doctor."
Nodding, the CMO needed a way out. "Best be moving
around in hiding, this early in the voyage you're
likely to get asked several thousand questions."
"Heh, I get around without being seen when I want."
The man turned and left and Ryan waited until he was
out of sight until he relaxed, falling back into his
chair, sweat starting to appear on his brow. It was
like a nightmare. New officers, new rooms and new
everything. This assignment had started out well.
Indeed it had. Quickly and as fast as he could
without having to stop and talk to people, he
reentered sickbay, nodded to Chantel and quickly
entered his office.
If there was one place he could find peace, it was his
office.
