#14 Minor Physical

Posted on Sun Feb 7th, 2021 @ 5:35pm by Lieutenant T’Mia Rahl

Mission: Planet Savai
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: current/somewhere in between

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Doctor Tore Bjorgo, once again, found himself in the isolation chamber, next to the mysterious sarchophogus they had found, continuing to brow-beat himself to get the damn thing open. Worst case scenario was that if this being had been in stasis for centuries, then maybe it was taking longer for her body to awaken properly. Which meant that at any moment she could open the pod and clamber out, ready to kill the aliens who had absconded with her. The language was still baffling, but it was also familiar somehow; like he had seen it before or, something similar. Needing a break, Bjorgo left the chamber and went out to his lab proper. The door between his lab and Sickbay was locked open, so he could hear what was going on in there, which wasn't much. Typical scrapes and minor injuries being seen to. His sexy little self-made EMH appeared, smiling.

"I'll take over, Boss. Go rest your brain."

"Thank you, Vette. Keep at it. Any changes, alert me."

She nodded, and took over his spot as he went and washed his hands and then walked out into Sickbay after drying them. "Good morning, people." Everyone gave a salutation in return, lighthearted and positive energy; just how he liked it.

Walking into Sickbay Amethyst looked around wondering who was best to talk to about her discovery in the arboretum. She didn’t want to be back under scrutiny like she was when she was under the influence of Brol.
Her eyes fell on Tore and she walked across to him offering a warm smile. “Doctor, May I talk to you?”

Bjorgo was fiddling with the settings on a biobed bioscanner, glancing her way as she approached and spoke. "Of course, Amethyst. What can I do you for?"

“I was wondering ... would you run a few scans? I noticed ...” Amethyst paused. “I don’t think all of the changes that took place in me when Brol was here, have entirely disappeared.” She sighed. “I went to the arboretum with Flora, I’ve noticed how close a connection she has with the nature we have there. It seems I do a little too, I also seem to be picking up on the crew more than I used to as well.”

Finished with his calibration Tore stepped away from the biobed and came in closer to Raymond, half turning and motioning behind him at the bed. "Newly calibrated, Miss Amethyst. Please, have a seat and we'll get the scans going. No need to lie down if you don't want to." In the cabinet provided for each biobed Bjorgo took out the medical tricorder, opening it and tapping in his scan parameters as it activated.

“I don’t mind” Amethyst offered a smile and lay down on the biobed to let Tore freely do his scans. “As much as I appreciate what Brol did for me, I don’t want the prospect of growing bark again!” She grinned.

Not only because it was good bedside manner, but also because he meant it, Tore responded with his own grin. "As long as you remain healthy, I am satisfied with genetic changes. However, that being said, it was not a flattering appearance for you..." his voice trailed off as he scrutinized a certain holographic screen, showing a cellular breakdown image, which was roiling through colors as it went. Bjorgo raised the head of the bed up so she could sit up and chat. "Have you been feeling...peculiar?" Even as he spoke to her his eyes kept dancing to that one reading, then back to her.

“Depends on what you mean by peculiar” Amethyst gave a shrug. “I guess I ...” She nodded. “I hear the voices of the crew louder than before and when I touched the tree in the Arboretum ...” She gave Tore a worried look. “What’s happening with me?”

"It would appear that there are more mutagenic changes occurring, at a greatly accelerated rate." Bjorgo looked to his tricorder, tapped a few keys, grinned to himself and then to her as he looked up. "Your synaptic pathways are evolving."

“Evolving!” Amethyst looked at Tore concernedly. “Exactly what does that mean?”

"It means that, if the readings are correct, and I see no reason why they wouldn't be--your brain has evolved into something more akin to that of a pure blood Betazoid." Tore's eyes squinted slightly as he read another batch of data. "Okay...and, it seems they took steroids. Your synaptic pathways are full Betazed, but they seem tougher, stronger, more resilient." He almost blurted out 'like me compared to normal humans', but caught himself.

“Wow!” Amethyst looked at Tore surprised. “I guess that means I’ll be needing more practice on controlling my abilities. Full blood Betazoids are considerably strong, I’m not used to being that strong. I wish Brol was here to thank.”

"We are all a part of 'The Core', Amethyst." Stated Bjorgo, off-handed as he finished adding data from the screen to his tricorder. He then looked to his patient. "The Core being the core energy of the universe. We're all a part of it. So, with that faith in mind, I like to think that he knows."

Amethyst nodded and smiled. “That’s a nice way to look at it.” She studied Tore for a moment. “What’s it like? Being more than nature intended? Being special?”

Bjorgo couldn't help but give a light laugh. "Special? I think not. But, how do you know nature didn't intend this, in time, hmm? All creatures evolve, I was just pushed and designed to do so far sooner than evolution will allow. To say I don't like it would be a lie."

“I guess you have a point” Amethyst smiled. “Maybe nature has a plan, maybe it doesn’t I guess I’ll never know. Now I just have to get used to controlling stronger telepathic and empathic abilities. It was hard enough before.”

Tore took a chance on her name, shortening it for himself to see how she would respond to being addressed common, like a friend. "Ames, if there is anyone on this ship who understands the need for self control, it is myself. Every day, without fail, twinges of my other half try to claw their way out of the center of my being. The repercussions would be grave." Having said that he went on. "You know how to control yourself, it's just a matter of how hard you wish to try."

His visage became deadly serious. "Enter my private thoughts without permission, or interfere in my privacy in any way, and there will be hell to pay. There are things in there I don't want known, and you don't want to see." His expressions softened once more. "It's why I have the addition to my file. I wasn't always the good doctor type."

Amethyst nodded. “I would never, ever, violate anyone’s privacy. I was raised to respect privacy and to avoid entering others thoughts without their permission. I swear I would never violate your mind unless you requested I do so.”

"I appreciate that," he said softly, grinning to show he was now back to normal. "See? That little quirk of mine? That's the other guy. The guy who tries to claw his way out on occasion. So," Tore switched lanes. "This is a counseling session and a physical, all in one."

Amethyst grinned. “He sounds like a difficult guy to keep locked away. How do you keep ‘him’ under control?”

Bjorgo chinned over at the dented and smashed equipment cabinet he had bludgeoned to scrap with his fists. "That cabinet paid the price for my anger after my words were misconstrued in the briefing. If I don't remind myself on a daily basis that I am now Starfleet, fighting the good fight, then Tore The Heartless will come forth. Releasing pent up rage is the best course of action. And, why I created my personal EMH, Vette. She knows how to talk me down and put me down, if need be. As of right now, you may also be a voice of reason when I lose my shit."

Amethyst nodded. “I’ll do my best, he sounds like a difficult personality to reason with.”

Tore looked at her evenly, a man with something serious to say. "Counselor, my first twenty years of life were violence and death. I was brought to life and raised on a planet that was barely livable. As often happens among Augments, a power struggle ensued and I came out victorious, killing all of them except one. She escaped my grasp. Once found and taken from that shitball world I then joined the Orion Syndicate, as a mercenary and an assassin. Hence, my title; The Heartless. It didn't matter how much they cried, how much they wailed. If I was ordered to eliminate someone, I did so. THAT is the guy I keep buried. I don't like that side of myself."

Amethyst nodded understandingly. “You’re not that man anymore, you’ve changed and become the man you are now. That’s something to be proud of.”

For a brief moment a shameful expression crossed Tore's face, with him immediately dropping his chin and eyes as he blew out a breath to maintain his composure. What she said, that simple statement; "you’ve changed and become the man you are now. That’s something to be proud of” had hit him dead center. No judgement, just an observation. His eyes came back up to hers. "Thank you. Miss Amethyst, you are a credit to your profession." He clasped her hand in a gentleman's handshake. "Should you, or your family, ever have need of me, you need but ask." He released her hand and stepped back. "As for your condition, I think you'll find it greatly improved now that you know. By your body language I would say you already had your suspicions, but needed a second opinion. You are fit for duty, Lieutenant."

“Thank you Tore” she smiled the biggest smile yet. “If there’s anything you need, even if it’s just to talk then feel free to drop by. I’m sure my children would entertain you as much as they do their father.” She grinned.

"Considering their parentage, I have no doubts." Tore Bjorgo felt good about himself, not having to use an EMH to confide his ills to. The Raymond family now had a protector, simply due to a brilliant psychologist. ~That, my good man, is why you went into medicne~ said Tore's internal voice. ~Shut up~ he responded in his mind, grinning to himself at his internal dialogue. Amethyst gathered herself and departed. Tore was glad to see her go with a spirit full of positive energy.

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