It Only Looks Like A Basketball
Posted on Mon Mar 10th, 2025 @ 3:08pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Edited on on Mon Mar 10th, 2025 @ 11:09pm
1,268 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Sickbay - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD005 1000 hrs
Kat felt like she was waddling as she made her way to sickbay for her routine checkup. She knew this was to be expected, but part of her wanted to quack at everyone who looked at her stomach and smiled--or say no, it was really a basketball. She wasn't sleeping well because it was hard to get comfortable and it was making her a little cranky--and a little snarky. Mostly, she was just ready for the baby to be born. At the moment the morning sickness was behind her, as was the nesting. The baby's room was all set up in shades of green and white. She refused to use pink.
She paused outside the door to sickbay and rubbed her lower back. She really needed to walk more. Maybe she'd visit the vertical garden after her appointment. With a sigh she stepped forward, activating the doors to open, and walked inside.
Hermia approached Kat. "Hey, we've got a machine for that?" She said indicating the back rubbing.
"You do?" She stretched and smiled. "Good. I could definitely use it. And a checkup. How are you doing, Hermia?" She should have started with that, but Kat wasn't quite herself right now. The baby was either practicing gymnastics or pushing against Kat's bladder.
Hermia lead Kat to a modified biobed. "I'm doing well, thanks, Kat." Pointing to the biobed, she said. "We just got this in, it’s a biobed with built massagers and a fully adjustable massage program. I wish I had one of these when I was pregnant with Helena." She added.
Kat lay down and sighed when she began to feel it massage her tired muscles. "I'll be coming here a lot until the baby's born. This is wonderful."
"If you like you can take it to your quarters and I can monitor you from here." Hermia said.
"I'm not sure if that would be a good idea or not." Kat shook her head and laughed. "I'd never leave our quarters. I'm better off walking here when the pain starts to get to me. At least then I'm exercising."
"Of course, I'll just give you a patch to monitor you and little Miss Malbrooke's vitals." Hermia said. "Now, just sit still and I'll begin the scan.
"I'll sit still, but I can't guarantee she will. She likes to do gymnastics and do calisthenics."
"We'll that's a good sign, not for you maybe, but for her, but shows she's active." Hermia said.
Moments the results appeared.
"Well, your daughter is doing just fine, but you require a few vitamins and some iron." Hermia said.
"At least she's doing well." But Kat wasn't really upset about it. She knew this was likely. She doubted she could eat enough to get all the vitamins and minerals she needed each day. And she didn't want to try or she'd be too big to get through the door to her quarters.
"I'll prepare the iron shot, and I'll have Kimba prepare the vitamins for you to take home." Before heading to the Dispensary, Hermia slipped Kat the control for the bio bed.
She settled back on the biobed and turned it on, smiling as her muscles began to relax. She did want to ask Hermia how she was doing when she returned.
Hermia returned after a moment. "It’s good, isn't it?" She asked referring to the bio bed. "Okay, hold your left arm out, palm up."
Playing the hypospray to Kat's brachial artery. She said. "This will take 3 minutes, please keep your arm straight." She then activated the hypospray and the iron entered into Kat's blood stream.
Kat mentally hummed one of Ty's favorite songs. It helped her not think about moving--or falling asleep. The biobed was a bit too relaxing. "How are you doing, Hermia?" That was a better way to focus on something else.
"I'm a little, haven't been sleeping well, I sure you can relate." Hermia said.
Kat turned to look at the doctor. "I can, but I'm pregnant. Are you suffering from nightmares like some of the others?" She knew from Ty that a number of telepaths were. He preferred to keep her out of command matters, but she had several friends on the ship and heard from them first.
"I have been experiencing the dreams, and a lack of sleep." Hermia said .
"Do you remember the dreams?" Kat knew that some of the telepaths remembered them, but most did not. "Or are you like others and just know you're having them?"
"No, I only remember the emotions, mostly fear, guilt and rage." Hermia replied. "I wish now, I had better control over my empathic abilities."
"Have you ever trained with a Betazoid?" Kat wasn't sure if that's where most telepaths got their training, but she knew several who had.
"My mother tried, but I wasn't interested." Hermia said.
"Your mother wanted to train you?" Kat shook her head. "I can't imagine letting my mother read my thoughts. I'd much prefer a stranger. But I'm human and have as much telepathy a power conduit."
"My mother's people believe that the lack of secrets, leads to a better society, I'm not so sure, I guess it’s the human in me." Hermia said.
"I don't think I want everyone knowing my secrets. I like keeping my thoughts to myself. But then, I'm human." Kat couldn't imagine living in a society where everyone knew everyone else's thoughts--nor did she want to try.
"I agree." Hermia said. "It takes the mystery out of life."
"And everyone needs a little mystery in their life." Kat grinned. "Even many of the telepaths I've worked with like some level of privacy. But that's another discussion. You should find someone on the ship you're not related to that can help you shield."
"Maybe I should ask Alyssa." Hermia said. The iron injection finished. She handed Kat a bottle of pills. "Okay, take one of these each day, it’s a mixture of B vitamins."
"Thank you." Kat sat up and took the bottle. "She might be able to help you. She was one of those who remembered the dreams, wasn't she?" Tyler told her there were three members of the crew who did. The chief science officer was one of them. Was another Alyssa's assistant? And the third the assistant chief security officer? Pregnancy was making her more distracted and forgetful.
"Yes, Valen and Sinclair." Hermia said. "Alyssa and Valen, I understand, Sinclair not so much, perhaps her unique mixture of genes has given her psionic abilities. It’s something I'll have to look into."
"That's interesting. Sounds like it's right up your alley, doctor." Kat grinned. "And more interesting than what I hope is still a routine pregnancy."
"Amen to that." Hermia said. "You can stay in a bed a little longer, if you like." She said. "But, for now you're checkup is over."
"Thank you." Kat sat up and stretched. "I think I'm good for now, but I'll be back when my muscles start complaining." She slowly got off the biobed and smiled at the doctor. "Thanks, Hermia."
"You're welcome, Kat." Hermia said. "Now relax, I don't want to hear about wandering around the ship."
"Only a little. I do need exercise." Kat grinned as she made her way out of sickbay.
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Operational Advisor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
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