JDL | Ens Barnes & LTCDR Rotek | Out of Whack

Posted on Sun May 10th, 2015 @ 2:14am by Lieutenant Commander Rotek & Ensign

1,348 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Agua Mala
Location: Medical

=/\=Sickbay=/\=

After her meeting in Intel with Lieutenant Zola, who was very pleasant for a Ferengi, and Lieutenant Black, who as usual was exceedingly unpleasant, Rocky excused herself and headed to the turbolift. There, she closed her eyes for a moment. "Sickbay," she requested, setting the turbolift in motion. This was the last thing she wanted to do, but she had been told that she would have incidents from time to time and that until technology advanced, it would always happen.

Exiting the turbolift, she took a breath and headed into the Medical department of the ship, looking around for the doctor or a nurse who could help her.

Rotek looked up from a report he was working on as he heard the doors open. Clearing his throat, he said "Can I help you Ensign?"

"Yes, Doctor," Rocky said. "When I was on Atlantis, there was a very loud explosion and my hearing implants have been giving me problems recently. I was just in Intel and someone I work with said something in a normal voice and it sounded like a cannon going off in my ears."

Nodding, he said "Please, take a seat, I'll take a look. Have you ever had similar issues before? Any malfunctions?"

Going to a biobed, Rocky sat down on it. "Only when there's been extremely loud noises. The artificial tympanic membranes allow me to hear as low as five hertz, but loud ones that I can't filter in time...it's hard. The explosion on Atlantis didn't allow me the time to filter. I was warned that incidents like that would happen and that they'd have to be recalibrated."

Smiling, he completed some scans and said "Yes, I can see that the membranes have been slightly shifted. I can recalibrate them, but it may take a few moments. Then we will have to run some tests to make sure they are working properly."

"Is there a way that would allow me to do that without needing to come in to Medical every time? There are times when I may be unable to get to Medical right away, such as when I was on the planet and had more pressing concerns", she told him. "I know Federation Sign Language, but Universal Translators don't see gestures and few people know it."

Thinking for a moment, Rotek replied "Let me look into that for you. I've heard of a sort of ...control panel that can we worn to do so. Do you mind waiting for a moment while I bring up that information?"

"Not at all," Rocky said agreeably. "Anything that can help me when I'm not able to get to Medical will save time for everyone."

Accessing the appropriate files, he began reviewing the specs of the control panel. As he did so, he was cross referencing the information with her medical file. As he read, he said over his shoulder "Excuse me Ensign, it shows here that you were born deaf and had your membranes installed as a young child. Have you consistently had to replace them as you get older?"

"Yes," she replied. "I've had a total of four surgeries. Now that I've reached my full growth, they said that I shouldn't need to have another one unless more advanced methods are discovered."

"Understood" he replied, then smiled as he found the right file. Clearing his throat he walked around to face her and showed her the padd he was holding. He said "I've found them Ensign. They are essentially thin strips you would wear along your ears that would allow you to manage the settings on your membranes."

Looking at the PADD, Rocky allowed herself a rueful smile. "Yes, but there's still the matter of calibrating the ones I have now which are causing me issues. Also, will it cause the same issues if I'm once again exposed to an unexpected loud noise?"

Sighing, Rotek replied "I can assist you in recalibrating your membranes now, while I work on replicating these new controls. I however did have another thought about your ...situation if you would be open to hear it."

"No pun intended, Doctor?" Rocky asked. "I'm all ears."

Smiling, Rotek replied "It may take some time to see if its possible, but I have read about some interesting research. The research involves experimental procedures where replacement tympanic membranes are artificially grown. The procedure is done with a genitronic replicator which would essentially grow you new membranes. I can't guarantee the results, but I would be willing to explore the possibility if you are open to it."

Can't guarantee the results echoed in Rocky's mind and she wondered if she should do it. For her to make a decision, she needed more information. "What happens if the process fails? I was born deaf, Doctor Rotek, but I do need my hearing for some things. There are times when Standard Sign Language or lip reading just doesn't do what's required."

Frowning, Rotek replied "Please don't worry about that. I won't perform any surgery on you until I am confident the process will be successful. Also, if it ends up not being viable, I can reattach your synthetic membranes."

Rocky thought for a moment. "Can you explain the process to me?" she asked him, cocking her head at his frown.

Nodding, he said "Basically I will attempt to clone new tympanic membranes from your own DNA and insert them where your synthetic ones are. The research into genitronic replication was abandoned a few decades ago, but has recently been restarted. You won't be at any risk during the process."

"My original DNA did not have the required...parts...to create tympanic membranes in the first place, Doctor," Rocky said. "How would cloning help?"

Shaking his head, he replied "The process isn't exactly cloning. It's essentially growing entirely new membranes. I would base them upon standard models of tympanic membranes, and adapt them to you particular aural cavities."

"I don't have anything to lose," Rocky said after a moment of quietly listening. "When can it be done?"

With a smile he replied "I can begin right now by taking some samples of your DNA, and will research the process immediately. I will keep you apprised of my progress, and when we are ready for a "test run" I will let you know."

"I'm ready when you are," she said. "In the meantime, can you give me the controls for my current tympanic membrane, please? I don't want another incident like earlier."

Crossing to the replicator, he entered a few commands, and picked up the slim controls. Returning to her, he handed them to her and said "They attach along the ridge of your ears and are virtually invisible." Pausing, he picked up a hypo and said "As you are putting them on, I will take the samples I need, then let you get back to work."

"Thank you, Doctor," Rocky said as she took them from him and placed them on her ears. "Now to work on my reaction time." She took a moment to make some adjustments, cocking her head one way, then the other as she raised and lowered the sound controls.

Pressing the hypo to her neck, he took a few samples, attaching different vials to the device. Stepping back, he said "I've got what I need so far Ensign. I will get to work as soon as we're done. I can't promise the process will be quick, but I will do my best to work on your case between my regular duties here."

"Thank you, Doctor Rotek," Rocky said as she made a final adjustment and stood up off the biobed. "Let me know as soon as you can determine something."

"I will Ensign." he replied "I will be in touch very soon. Let me know if you have any issues with the new controls."

"Will do," she said as she headed out of the medical bay and back to Intelligence.

=/\=End Log=/\=

Ensign Catalina "Rocky" Barnes
Encryption Specialist
USS Vindicator

Lieutenant Commander Rotek
Chief Medical Officer
USS Vindicator

 

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