Just Hanging Out

Posted on Sun Jun 30th, 2024 @ 5:54am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Helga (Hel) Lowe & Chief Warrant Officer Jemner & Crewman Juranne Doltsy

1,449 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror
Location: Lounge

ON:

Crewman Juranne has entered the lounge. A place for food and drinks, plus a place to hang out or do your own thing. It appears to be less busy at the moment as it happens to be during the day shift. But, this place was suitable for her as she likes it quieter and it is easier to think or daydream.

Seeing several empty tables, she picked one by the window. Nothing to see out but stars just like every visits. Nothing new.

An older waiter approached her table to take her order. Juranne glanced up at him. "I'm not hungry right now but will take an orange juice. Thanks."

After the man left, she looked over at two tables that were occupied by young crewmembers. One appears to be from the science department with her eyes glued to a tablet, reading while drinking something. The other one, a Trill, might be engineering by the color of his uniform, is eating his breakfast and minding his own business.

Juranne has never seen a Trill before. She has learned some Xenobiology on their species and it seems like a complicated physiology, where a host lives inside a body that carries the past from another body and onto another body. It continues as long as the body can maintain it.

Being a new nurse and doing internship on this ship, she knows that there will be more species to see and interact with in real life.

The waiter came back, placing the clear glass of the orange liquid on the table in front of her. "Can I get you anything else?"

"No, thank you," she replied as she picked up the drink to take a sip. She watched him nodded and left to return to the large counter.

The doors parted as Jemner entered, he had changed from his nursing uniform, opting for a turtleneck blue shirt over black slacks. Glancing around he noted the light crowd then a noticeable face. A young nurse that he had seen but never spoken to.

Crossing casually to her table he smiled as he made eye contact.

[Hello, Do I remember seeing you in Sick Bay upon occasion?] His fine-tuned human style voice from the translator spoke for him as the Sign Language prompted. [I am also a nurse, Jemner, it is a pleasure to speak to you
.]

Juranne wasn't expecting someone but she welcomes company to get to know someone as being a part of the Calypso. She glanced up while hearing the strange voice that didn't sound from a human but a robotic or computer sound. Then, she remembered the man's face but never had the acquaintance. "Hello. I'm Crewman Doltsy. First name is Juranne. You did look familiar...would you like to sit? The seat is not taken."

[You are kind.] The voice said in smooth tone. [I am of the Medical team, and like to know the people that I may work with.] He took the offered seat. [Are a new addition to the crew or am I remiss in my introductions and welcoming?]

"I haven't been on the ship very long, a few weeks going over a month. Thank you, I would say the same as I haven't met anyone the opposite mood, the nice ones. I have seen you in the med bay a few times when my shift was changing but I'm not with the same schedule as you, I assume," Juranne said. She never understood the use of the speaking voice he was using. "Forgive me of my curiosity, is the voice speaking for aphasia or for language difference? Just learning...", she stopped her speaking, hoping she wasn't sounding too much or overstepping her bounds.

Helga walked in and noticed Jemnar talking to a woman who looked vaguely familiar. Deciding to say hello, she placed her order and approached the pair. "Hell. May I join you?"

With surprise, "hello. I am Juranne Doltsy. Doing nursing internship. And I am not sure who you are?" She gave a friendly smile, "You are welcome to sit here".

"I'm Helga Lowe, another of the nurses," she said, taking a seat. "There aren't many of us, but we're spread around the shifts. How long have you been here?"

"A pleasure to meet you. It seemed like a shortage when I started the new shift. It has been almost two months for me. I am doing classes on my off hours. How long have you've been a nurse?" She held her glass up to get a waiter's attention and ordered another orange juice. "These two might...?" She wondered if they are going to eat or drink.

"I've been a nurse for years," Helga said. "Unless a large number of crew gets hurt, we don't need many of us. We've got enough for each shift, which is all we need." One of the lounge staff brought over a tray with a salad and set it in front of her.

[And you are among the best nurses; I am sorry I have not been around your shift as much.] Jemner's unit translated. [I have been working on other projects of late.]

"Thank you. We've had little trouble recently. It's given us time to spread out and get other projects done," Helga added. She'd enjoyed some time to do more research on a project she'd been working on in her spare time. She added dressing to her salad and began to eat.

Juranne nodded as she looked at both of them. "I'm taking five courses on my off duty on top of my internship. Advance chemistry seems to be a pain to learn. Any advice to move up the ladder," she hoped their expertise might shed some light. "Wondering if I will get to be on an away mission." She wondered what projects they are talking about.

"Usually, the chief or assistant go on away missions," Helga replied. "Once in a while they send a nurse, but it's up to the chief to decide. Or the person in charge of the away team--unless there's a medical emergency, then it's all hands. But we stay busy enough with the crew." She paused, considering the question. "How to move up is to do your job well. But we all have our own tasks to perform, and all are important."

"Oh, I didn't know that. That's a bummer. I was hoping to do more outside the ship, more like a break to get fresh air." She nodded, thinking about the ways to not get burnt out. She heard from students in nursing school of mentioning a possible overload with work and doing classes. It hasn't happened to her; even though, she is carrying a full-time load of classes. At least her hours are acceptable with the internship of hands-on. Glancing for a few seconds at Jemnar, she wondered the lingering silence at the moment, but not to cause a stare, Juranne picked up her glass to finish the orange juice.

"Breaks come on shore leave," Helga replied. "Nurses are the backbone of sickbay, so our place is here." She was surprised Juranne didn't know that. It was mentioned frequently when she was in school. The instructors wanted everyone to know what to expect if they joined Starfleet. It was also clearly stated when Helga decided to join Starfleet as well. "Jemner is mute. He can hear you, but uses the computer to speak for him."

[I also was taught not to interrupt.] Jemnar translated in sign language to allow the voice to respond. [I am more of a .... how humans put it ? People watcher, content to be a part but not occupy an unfair part of conversation.] He nodded to Helga. [And my ears are quite normal and work fine.]

Juranne nodded as she quickly glanced at Jemnar to Helga and back to Jemnar. She noticed that the lounge is starting to pick up with more crewmembers taking up tables. The noise level has bumped up. "If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your voice?"

[I was born with no Vocal cords Physically. None of my people have them.] Jemnar explained with a shrug. [It is a part of what sets my people a part from the norm." He smiled.

"He has adapted well with the help of the computer," Helga said. "In fact, he has more empathy for the patients than most because of it. He's an excellent nurse." She gathered her tray and stood. "Time for me to return to sickbay. Thank you for the company."

She paused to address Juranne. "Good luck."


____
OFF

Crewman Juranne Doltsy
Nurse

Chief Warrant Officer Jemner
Nurse

Senior Chief Petty Officer Helga Lowe
Nurse

 

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