Bad Medicine

[Lorut Vila]

Vila almost always hated going to medical, even when it was necessary. It was very triggering for her, plus she hated hearing that she needed to address the damage that her long-neglected Orkett's had caused. It was cured now, but it had taken her twenty years to do the transfusions-and she was still verklempt about it. It had been the final hold of her times in the Camps-"proof" of what she'd suffered at the hands of...those people, and parting with it had been like a child outgrowing a security blanket.

Today was different. This wasn't ANY Starfleet doctor. It was another Risian-and Malik's sister, no less. She was intrigued, simply, and needed to SEE what was up. It was just after her shift had ended, and she was going unannounced-Vila never did anything by the book anyway, and now was as good a time as any for this woman to learn that. BUT also...Vila's counselor had sent along a prescription for medication. It was supposed to help her PTSD and also lift her mood. Vila wasn't convinced, but she'd try it. She was learning that maybe she had a bit more to live for than she had thought-spite, if nothing else, anyway.

She quickly left the Bridge and headed for medical, opening the door. She hated the chimes-they hurt her ears and again-she didn't do anything that people expected. "Dr. Grippen in?" She asked, coolly.

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Vila almost always hated going to medical, even when it was necessary. It was very triggering for her, plus she hated hearing that she needed to address the damage that her long-neglected Orkett's had caused. It was cured now, but it had taken her twenty years to do the transfusions-and she was still verklempt about it. It had been the final hold of her times in the Camps-"proof" of what she'd suffered at the hands of...those people, and parting with it had been like a child outgrowing a security blanket.

Today was different. This wasn't ANY Starfleet doctor. It was another Risian-and Malik's sister, no less. She was intrigued, simply, and needed to SEE what was up. It was just after her shift had ended, and she was going unannounced-Vila never did anything by the book anyway, and now was as good a time as any for this woman to learn that. BUT also...Vila's counselor had sent along a prescription for medication. It was supposed to help her PTSD and also lift her mood. Vila wasn't convinced, but she'd try it. She was learning that maybe she had a bit more to live for than she had thought-spite, if nothing else, anyway.

She quickly left the Bridge and headed for medical, opening the door. She hated the chimes-they hurt her ears and again-she didn't do anything that people expected. "Dr. Grippen in?" She asked, coolly.

The nurse at the reception desk looked up, she recognised Vila. The crew compliment was small enough that everyone knew everyone else.

"Yes, but you don't have an appointment and she's very busy. Let me check..."

The nurse checked the appointment list. Glancing up at Vila a couple of times.

"Doctor Grippen is with another patient at the the moment. What seems to be the issue? You don't look injured. If you want a doctor's appointment I can make you one for tomorrow..." The nurse was the type that had seen and dealt almost everything. One that would take no crap.

[Lorut Vila]

Without blinking, Vila simply shrugged.

"Yes, I am her sister. Well....kind of. What is called when one is married to your sibling? In law." She nodded. "I am sure she'll make time for me, and whatever little creature this is," she said, placing a hand protectively over her abdomen. "And I am ALSO sure that if I am kept waiting TOO long, Captain Tekin will hear about it and trust me-NEITHER of us want that," she said. She smiled diabolically.

It was true. The person who made Vila's wrath rain down upon him for things he DIDN'T do would be punished nearly as harshly as she would be for raining it down in the first place.

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Without blinking, Vila simply shrugged.

"Yes, I am her sister. Well....kind of. What is called when one is married to your sibling? In law." She nodded. "I am sure she'll make time for me, and whatever little creature this is," she said, placing a hand protectively over her abdomen. "And I am ALSO sure that if I am kept waiting TOO long, Captain Tekin will hear about it and trust me-NEITHER of us want that," she said. She smiled diabolically.

It was true. The person who made Vila's wrath rain down upon him for things he DIDN'T do would be punished nearly as harshly as she would be for raining it down in the first place.

The nurse looked down at Vila's 'baby bump' with surprise. "Congratulations? We never knew you were pregnant. Please take a seat just over there, I'll let the doctor know you're here."

After a five minute wait, doctor Grippen came out of the examination room saying farewell to her last patient. A bajoran with a nasty ear ring injury. She came over to Vila.

"Lieutenant Vila. Come on in."

The pair entered the examination room, Taja was her usual professional and polite demeanor. "So how can I help. The nurse tells me congratulations are in order?" She glanced to Vila's abdomen, curious.

[Lorut Vila]

Vila shrugged.

"If you were a single mother alone on a starship, would YOU tell someone?!" She asked. She made a face, but took a seat.

"Thank you," she said.

Finally, she was let in.

So how can I help. The nurse tells me congratulations are in order?

Vila snorted. "Nah, I just said that to ruffle her feathers. Your brother is a nice guy, but he's not THAT nice," she said. She looked around the exam room. "I just need a prescription. Apparently," she sighed, and rolled her eyes, "I have a personality problem and the geniuses at Mental Health think that pills will help instead of, ya know, letting me go full Militia on Starfleet Command for allowing it in the FIRST PLACE," she said.

She held out the PADD with the information that Feeva Drylo had sent-her counselor from Starfleet Medical. "So. How did they get you out here with Malik?" She asked.

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Vila shrugged.

"If you were a single mother alone on a starship, would YOU tell someone?!" She asked. She made a face, but took a seat.

"Thank you," she said.

Finally, she was let in.

Vila snorted. "Nah, I just said that to ruffle her feathers. Your brother is a nice guy, but he's not THAT nice," she said. She looked around the exam room. "I just need a prescription. Apparently," she sighed, and rolled her eyes, "I have a personality problem and the geniuses at Mental Health think that pills will help instead of, ya know, letting me go full Militia on Starfleet Command for allowing it in the FIRST PLACE," she said.

She held out the PADD with the information that Feeva Drylo had sent-her counselor from Starfleet Medical. "So. How did they get you out here with Malik?" She asked.

Taja smiled, a little surprised at the tactic used to see her. But she had heard about Vila from a few people so it wasn't unexpected.

"Thanks, let me give this a quick read over."

She took the padd and began to read. After a couple of minutes she placed it down and looked at Vila.

"We can certainly prescribe those for you. As a medical professional I know they have their place, though personally I prefer to try other methods. I think to often we see patients with low mood come in, prescribed up to the eyeballs on happy pills, then they get addicted, without solving the underlying problem."

She sat back on her chair and let out a sigh, rubbing her tired eyes. It had been a long day.

"Anyway, that's my rant for the day. As for Malik, he followed me out here. I was the first to join the academy, he followed." A fact she was quite proud of, being the older sister.

"But we are here for you. So tell me what problems you've been having following your Orkett's disease?"

[Lorut Vila]

Vila regarded the other woman.

We can certainly prescribe those for you. As a medical professional I know they have their place, though personally I prefer to try other methods. I think to often we see patients with low mood come in, prescribed up to the eyeballs on happy pills, then they get addicted, without solving the underlying problem.

"The underlying problem is that the Cardassians are still allowed to exist," she said. She sighed. "There's nothing wrong with me. I am just...angry. I feel like I have a right to be," she said.

She smiled when Taja told her about how she'd joined the Fleet first.

Anyway, that's my rant for the day. As for Malik, he followed me out here. I was the first to join the academy, he followed.

"He told me you were older, yeah," she said. "I have two older brothers, but neither are Starfleet," she said. "My ex husband was Starfleet-that's how I got in," she said. "I just...he was higher ranks, so I thought maybe you knew how he did that so quickly...besides kissing ass, like everyone else," she said. That's why she was still a LtJG, though. She didn't listen. She didn't care about the rules or cohesiveness or any other bullshit they talked about. She cared about doing her job and then going home.

But we are here for you. So tell me what problems you've been having following your Orkett's disease?

"Only some minor pains in my joints; I waited so long to have it cured that it did do some damage to my internal organs. But otherwise, my "problems" are only psychological, I guess," she said, shrugging. Personally, she thought she was delightful once you got to know her. It was just that no one bothered to much. Only a few people ever had.

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Vila regarded the other woman.

"The underlying problem is that the Cardassians are still allowed to exist," she said. She sighed. "There's nothing wrong with me. I am just...angry. I feel like I have a right to be," she said.

She smiled when Taja told her about how she'd joined the Fleet first.

"He told me you were older, yeah," she said. "I have two older brothers, but neither are Starfleet," she said. "My ex husband was Starfleet-that's how I got in," she said. "I just...he was higher ranks, so I thought maybe you knew how he did that so quickly...besides kissing ass, like everyone else," she said. That's why she was still a LtJG, though. She didn't listen. She didn't care about the rules or cohesiveness or any other bullshit they talked about. She cared about doing her job and then going home.
"Only some minor pains in my joints; I waited so long to have it cured that it did do some damage to my internal organs. But otherwise, my "problems" are only psychological, I guess," she said, shrugging. Personally, she thought she was delightful once you got to know her. It was just that no one bothered to much. Only a few people ever had.

"Everything you are feeling is valid. You're angry, I get it. Who wouldn't be. You have your principles and sometimes they disagree with how Starfleet works."

She placed a reassuring hand on top of Vila's.

"But you're brave and loyal to the crew. And who knows, Perhaps our way of doing things needs to change. I'm here for you to talk to whenever you need it."

She gave her a warm Risan smile. Then grabbed her tricorder and ran a scan.

"Mild inflammation of the joints. Very common. Nothing we can't take care of for you. Have you considered Risan therapeutic massage?"

[Lorut Vila]

Vila smiled lightly.

Everything you are feeling is valid. You're angry, I get it. Who wouldn't be. You have your principles and sometimes they disagree with how Starfleet works...

"Yes," she said. "I try...to reconcile them. I figure that if no other child has to live through what I did, then it's worth it," she said.

But you're brave and loyal to the crew. And who knows, Perhaps our way of doing things needs to change. I'm here for you to talk to whenever you need it.

Vila nodded. "I am...most of them. I saved the Captain...twice now?" She said. "And I'd die for any of them. My ways of doing things aren't always appreciated, though," she said. "And thank you. The woman from Starfleet Medical is good, though. Betazed, but young. She doesn't remember before, when we pitied more than helped," Vila said.

Mild inflammation of the joints. Very common. Nothing we can't take care of for you. Have you considered Risan therapeutic massage?

Vila snorted. "Yeah..it helps. Malik was trying it...before he left. Like everyone else," she said. Then she realized that that's what was really bothering her lately. "We weren't a thing but he was nice enough, and..." she stopped speaking. "I suppose I can try it again."

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Vila smiled lightly.

"Yes," she said. "I try...to reconcile them. I figure that if no other child has to live through what I did, then it's worth it," she said.
Vila nodded. "I am...most of them. I saved the Captain...twice now?" She said. "And I'd die for any of them. My ways of doing things aren't always appreciated, though," she said. "And thank you. The woman from Starfleet Medical is good, though. Betazed, but young. She doesn't remember before, when we pitied more than helped," Vila said.
Vila snorted. "Yeah..it helps. Malik was trying it...before he left. Like everyone else," she said. Then she realized that that's what was really bothering her lately. "We weren't a thing but he was nice enough, and..." she stopped speaking. "I suppose I can try it again."

Taja rolled her eyes at the mention of her brother. "Oh please, Malik only knows the beginner level massage techniques. It works well enough for the tourists. I however, have been trained by master masseuses of Risa. These hands are registered as pleasure weapons..." She rubbed her hands gleefully.

Taja stood and gestured to the single biobed in the room for Vila to lay down on her back.

"Come, lie down and we'll give it a go."

She grabbed a few things from a cabinet. "Computer. Dim lights, change hue to amber. Play soothing beach sounds..."

The room was instantly mellowed.

"Where is most painful right now?"

[Lorut Vila]

Vila did as Taja asked, and lay back.

Oh please, Malik only knows the beginner level massage techniques. It works well enough for the tourists. I however, have been trained by master masseuses of Risa. These hands are registered as pleasure weapons...

"Well. It works on the ladies, I suppose," she said.

Where is most painful right now?

How did Vila explain that her pain wasn't physical, per se, but instead carried the weight of the people she'd lost, and the weight of those lives she'd taken? She sighed lightly.

"Um, lower back, I guess, near the spine," she lied. 

[Dr Taja Grippen]

Vila did as Taja asked, and lay back.

"Well. It works on the ladies, I suppose," she said.
How did Vila explain that her pain wasn't physical, per se, but instead carried the weight of the people she'd lost, and the weight of those lives she'd taken? She sighed lightly.

"Um, lower back, I guess, near the spine," she lied.

Taja began a therapeutic and well practiced Risan-massage of Vila's lower back. The woman was tense, as if carrying the weight of the occupation on her back.

"So Malik, you and he served together for a time I understand?"

Taja worked the corded muscle, pressing out the knots and relaxing the flesh to relieve the tension.

"Your back is tensed up alright. What do you do for relaxation?"

[Lorut Vila]

Vila nodded. "We had a short fling, and he introduced me to swing dancing," she explained. She moved a bit under the woman's touch-it was actually a little painful. She carried her stress in her back-most women did-and it was sometimes sorer than usual when it was forced out.

Your back is tensed up alright. What do you do for relaxation?

"I don't. I am constantly tense," she said. "Hypervigilance, they say," she said. "I suppose I learned I had to be; there was always danger lurking around the corner. It's also why I have a hard time connecting to people-any time I showed care or joy or love, it was taken from me. The Cardassians allowed us nothing, and in fact, reveled in the cruelty. We couldn't have any dolls or toys..." she paused, to breathe, to avoid slipping back. "Then, as I grew older, that idea was just further reinforced-my father was killed in a skirmish, and then later, some of my comrades in the Militia, and a boyfriend. Later, friends when my late ex-husband was in the Fleet, and...now, Malik, and our former XO, Commander tr'Lohell," she said. She hadn't realized that the compounding losses were affecting her as much as they had. "During Frontier Day, we lost some crew, and my ex-husband, and a friend of mine-Noxi, from back home." She shrugged a little, but winced.

"So I think I don't really know HOW to relax because every time I do, something happens. If I stay tense and alert...maybe I can stay one step ahead," she said.