Let's Get Physical

Posted on Thu Aug 27th, 2026 @ 9:59pm by Lieutenant Charlotte Averis & Lieutenant Francesca "Frankie" Ardyn

4,189 words; about a 21 minute read

Mission: Hunted
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: (Prior to the invasion of the ship)

Lieutenant Francesca Ardyn had sent Lieutenant Averis several reminders regarding her overdue physical. The first had been polite, the second more direct and the most recent had included an appointment time selected from a gap in the Chief Engineer’s duty schedule, removing the inconvenience of making the decision herself. All that was needed was for the Chief Engineer to select accept. That had not happened. Neither had they been declined. Frankie had checked with the computer. No, the messages had not even been opened. It was not a new phenomenon, though. Many deployed the same tactic to avoid Sickbay, as if ignoring the messages would somehow make Medical forget they existed.

They did not understand how much work it was to deem someone unfit for duty. It rarely happened. So...okay, perhaps she had got a little cross. She had sworn to herself. She had paced. She had calmed down again...and finally decided to just sort this out. She let the shift nurse know where she was going and started walking.

Engineering announced itself before the doors had fully opened, the deeper thrum of the ship’s systems running beneath the noise of voices and tools. Frankie stepped through in a uniform as neat as when she had begun her shift, a medical tricorder clipped to her hip and the expression of a woman who had already been more patient than she intended to be. Her blonde hair was clipped back from her face and she looked stern, although not severe. Firm. Frankie took a moment to locate the slim blonde engineer she recognised from the personnel file, then crossed the deck to the other woman. “Lieutenant Averis,” she said when she was close enough to be heard, her tone pleasant in a way that did not suggest the conversation was optional. “I’m Doctor Ardyn. I’ve sent you several reminders regarding your physical, and since none of them appear to have survived contact with Engineering, I thought I would come and retrieve you myself.”

Charlotte stood a bit straighter from where she had been leaning over the console, hands planted as she’d been looking at an image of one of the internal nacelle strut structures and brushed back a lock of her own long blonde hair to behind her left ear. It was almost like looking at an older, similar person to herself, though with shorter hair and something different than her own emerald green eyes. Clearly Medical hadn’t gotten the message from her not showing up or responding to the messages. A pity. “I’m glad you decided to take matters into your to your own hands, Doctor, to come down here unannounced.” Her voice was as dry as a desert, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a lot of work to do today. Valance!” She called out over to one of the men working on an open panel, “When am I going to have that display ready?”

“It’s another thirty minutes, ma’am,” he called back, causing Charlotte to whirl, her skirt swirling and stomp her way towards him, the click of her two inch heels somehow magnified over her normal walk, “I can’t HELP it, Lieutenant, there’s only so fast we can work physically!”

That stopped Charlotte and she shook her head, spinning back to the mail console and planting her hands on it once more, “I swear, good help is hard to find these days.” She muttered.

"Thirty minutes? Perfect," Frankie said, pitching her voice so that it was clear not just for Charlotte to hear, but also Valance and anyone else nearby. She walked over to the Chief Engineer and stopped close beside her. "It's ten more than I need. Lieutenant Averis. So. Come with me to Sickbay." Frankie tilted her head slightly as she watched the other woman, her expression neutral, one hand resting on her hip out of habit, close to the tricorder.

“You and what army?” Charlotte snapped back, not bothering to look at the medical professional, her mind already switching to the next problem at hand… There was a structural fault in that strut, but she needed a better look at it.. if she needed to tell the Captain that the ship needed to return to the shipyard? No, that wasn’t an option.

Frankie looked at her for a moment, one eyebrow lifting at the tone. "No army, Lieutenant," she said, noticing the continued lack of engagement. "But you are due your physical. It is not just for your safety, but the safety of this ship and her crew." She tilted her head slightly, studying the other woman. "I've been here for a couple of minutes and even without a medical tricorder, I can tell your current stress levels are...quite remarkable."

"Then you can't tell shit." Charlotte looked at the doctor once more, "If you think this is a stress response, you should sca-" A slight smile crossed her face and the waggle of an index finger came next, "Oh, I see what you did there, you almost got me to say you should scan me. No. This isn't stress, being in the middle of a battle, half the ship open to space, Jem'hadar attacking engineering to send the warp core critical? That's stressful. Check out the report from the last time I was in the body and fender shop, that'll tell you what you need to know."

"Do not lecture me about what battle stress looks like, Lieutenant. I spent the war treating officers who thought surviving worse meant they were invulnerable." Frankie's expression hardened, although her voice remained level as she watched her. There was an instinct to smack the finger away from her, but it was pressed down quickly. "It doesn't. It means you have become very good at ignoring the damage until someone else has to deal with it. Your previous examination tells me what you were like then. I am responsible for determining how you are now." She stepped closer, meeting Charlotte's eyes. "This is no longer a request. You can walk to Sickbay with me, or I can record your refusal and have this dealt with through the chain of command. Choose."

"For fuck's sake." Charlotte said in an exasperated voice, not sure whether to call the bluff or if the Captain would even back her up on this. She could mention to the Skipper that if she sided with the doctor, that Captain Kitty would hear a few things, but threatening her may backfire, too. She stood back up and with one more glare started walking towards the door, stopping halfway there, "Well, are you coming?"

Frankie raised an eyebrow before she started walking, suppressing the smile that threatened to appear. She fell into step beside Charlotte, her shoulders relaxing slightly now that the other woman was finally moving. The journey to the turbolift passed in silence. Frankie kept her eyes ahead and her hands loose at her sides, resisting the temptation to say anything more. She had got Charlotte out of Engineering, and another comment, however harmless, might be enough to turn the walk into a fresh argument. That would only waste more time.

"Well?" Charlotte asked as they finally got into the turbolift, "Since you've already looked through my file, we may as well get this started so I can get back to doing something useful sooner rather than later." She stared very slightly down at the doctor, "Do you have any questions right off the bat?

Frankie looked at her, meeting her eyes. "Only whether you'll allow me to review the treatment plan for the shrapnel," she said, her voice even. "I would also like to conduct a proper examination once we reach Sickbay." She paused, tilting her head slightly. "How much discomfort is it causing you now?"

"I know it's there every day of the week." Charlotte admitted, "The Starbase doctors were telling me that transporting them out would cause an 'aortal compromise' and when it happened, there were too many other wounded to justify taking the risk. Since then." She shrugged, "I've been too busy with Pandora trying to keep her from going to more pieces than she already had been."

"Transporting it out, maybe. Doesn't mean microsurgery is out of the question," Frankie said softly and shook her head. "War's over. We don't do meatball surgery in sickbay anymore. Maybe it is time you do a little...review," she nodded and the doors to the turbolift opened.

This time, Charlotte let Frankie lead the way, following about a half step behind and to the right. "War's over, but there's always another, and another." She'd known almost nothing but combat in her time in Starfleet and it was showing in her demeanor, "It's just a matter of time until Wayfarer goes into combat, then we'll both have more than enough work."

"But that is not right now, or even today," Frankie said as she shook her head, frowning. "And it is in these in-between times that you have to take stock. For you it is making sure the ship is...well, ship shape. For me, it is making sure the people are working properly again." The doors of sickbay opened and she moved to one of the biobeds. "Pop yourself down on that, we'll do a scan."

Now that she was here, cooperation was Charlotte's middle name. Even if just to get it all out of the way so she could get out of sickbay as soon as possible. She hopped up on the biobed and sat on it, crossing one leg over the other, allowing the high heel to dangle just on her toe, "No need to take off the jacket? Some docs prefer that, always said it interferes with their scanning."

"Remove the jacket," Frankie said and moved to her side, before she looked down at the shoes. No, high heels. "It can sometimes interfere if you have things sewn into it, or replicated into it. Webbing, different fabrics...secret pockets. Those heels are not regulation. And you may twist your ankle working in those."

"No, they aren't, and no I'm not going to change out of them until or unless we're going into a tight spot." Charlotte stated as she wriggled out of the jacket, her tank top now showing a bit of cleavage as she tugged it down to make sure there weren't many wrinkles. Her biceps were definitely those of someone who did a lot of exercise with them and she was clearly very fit. The outline of a corset underneath the tank top was visible as she stretched the fabric, "I've been wearing them since I was eight years old and made all my mistakes in them back then. Back then, I was just a serving girl, then a tavern singer and server when I became a teen before I got my apprenticeship as a blacksmith, which also meant I had to learn how to fight with a sword. Finally got outta there when I went to the Academy."

Frankie's eyebrows lifted slightly at the mention of eight years old, although she did not comment on the rest. Starfleet drew people from colonies that had developed in all manner of directions, and Charlotte's upbringing was not what she was here to examine. She had made her medical objection to the heels. Whether the Chief Engineer continued wearing them on duty was a matter for her commanding officer. "If you begin experiencing pain through your arches, ankles or the front of your feet, come to Sickbay before it becomes a larger problem," she said, moving closer to the controls beside the biobed. "For now, ease yourself back." She raised the scanning arch into position over Charlotte. "I'm going to begin with a general scan, then take a closer look at your chest and the remaining shrapnel."

"Sounds good, Doctor." As she'd eased herself into the 'down' position, Charlotte made sure her butt-length blonde hair hadn't gotten caught underneath her, then she exhaled deeply as she settled in. This wasn't an abnormal position for her to be in, being examined, patched up. There had been three weeks at one point where she hadn't been able to get out of bed, back after Damocles had been put out of action. But what didn't kill her... Made her come back more determined. Damocles had also been a good reason why she should always keep people at arm's length, Pandora had only been a reminder. But once in sickbay, being cooperative would only help. "There may be a couple of minor burns I haven't gotten around to fixing yet, the fifth rib on the right was from where I fractured it several years ago and didn't tell anyone. Others said it healed up fine."

Frankie's mouth tightened slightly at the admission that Charlotte had fractured a rib and told no one, although she kept her attention on the controls. "Others saying it healed properly is not quite the same as confirming that it did," she said, activating the scanning arch. A low hum filled the space around the biobed as the sensors began their first pass. "We'll check the rib, the burns and the shrapnel. When did you get the burns, and are any of them still causing pain?"

"No pain, or I'd have dealt with them." Charlotte gave a partial shrug, "They're a common situation: I'm a blacksmith and I have a holoprogram where I keep up with the work, sparks happen, they land on my arms and voila." She turned her arm over to show one of the marks on it, "I don't have the safeties on because I'm taking in real materials to actually get something out of it. Not just the rough outputs, but I'm also a certified jeweler aside from the active cutting of the stones, that would have come oh... The year or so after I started the Academy if I hadn't left Pegasus Falls. But there's nothing like working out frustrations banging some metal."

Frankie looked at her, her jaw tightening again. She could feel the tension in her jaw at not saying anything. But there were limits. "Lieutenant Averis, it is against regulations to disable holodeck safeties. Do you have the Captain's permission?" she asked bluntly. She understood perfectly doing things that...released stress and frustration. But she was a doctor. And the woman in front of her was risking injury.

"No, I don't and I don't need it for this." Charlotte stated, "It's not an inherently dangerous program and a forge is built to contain the fire, not spread it. There's nothing in there that's going to try to kill me or injure me, only if I do something really dumb and I'm careful in there. If I have the safeties on, I can't actually make anything and then it becomes a pointless exercise. Pandora's Captain knew what I was doing and he didn't complain, this one won't either."

"You're still getting injured," Frankie said, her attention remaining on the scan. "You can call them minor burns if you like, but they are still burns. Still damage that is happening because of a choice." She looked towards Charlotte, her expression firm. "The fact that nothing in the programme is trying to hurt you is irrelevant if you keep coming out of it hurt anyway. If you are going to use it without the safeties, then you need proper protection, and you need to stop deciding that an injury does not matter simply because it could have been worse." Her attention returned to the results as they came in. "And if you're so certain this Captain won't object, I'm sure you won't mind informing her."

"I'll add it to my list of things to do today." Charlotte shrugged, "Today, not tomorrow, not the next day. If she doesn't like it, then we'll have that conversation. The only reason these still happen are because the apron I wear can't cover the arms or it'll affect the measure of the blow. So, doctor, anything else you want to chide me on, or can we turn the conversation to something else?"

"I'm a doctor, half my job is chiding people," Frankie said flatly before looking at the other woman, a hint of something warmer in her eyes. "The scars. If you wish, we can remove them. I don't want to presume that you would want to. Some people prefer to keep them. Others don't." She made a few notes, then returned her attention to the scan of the shrapnel. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head. "I can see why they left it in place at the time. Removing it would require complex surgery and a significant recovery period."

"I'm not attached to the scars, I just didn't have the opportunity to get rid of them is all." One tick out of the way at least, but that was the minor thing, "How long of a recovery period? I don't want to be out of action any longer than I have to be if it's possible to get it all taken out." She turned her head to look at the doctor, the first sign of worry in her eyes and voice, "It is possible to take out without killing me, isn't it?"

Frankie's expression changed when she saw the worry in Charlotte's eyes. "Yes," she said, without making her wait for the answer. "I believe it can be removed without killing you. I won't tell you there is no risk, because of where it is and I don't make promises I can't keep. But this is not a battlefield operation. I have time, intact equipment and a full surgical support system. I can map the fragments precisely, isolate the vessel, remove them microsurgically and repair any damage to the aortic wall as I go." She looked back at the scan for a moment. "If the more detailed imaging confirms what I am seeing now, you would be awake within a few hours. I would keep you overnight, then restrict you to light duty for two or three days. No crawling through access shafts or swinging hammers for a week." Her expression softened slightly as she looked at Charlotte again, a hint of humour in her eyes and the way her lips settled. "I suspect persuading you to recover properly will be more difficult than the surgery."

For the first time, a genuine smile crossed Charlotte's face and she gave the doctor a grudging smile, “I think you can take that one all the way to the bookie and make a ton of credits. But…” The engineer gave a half-shrug, “You’ll make a friend for life. Not just that, but I will do my best to do a proper rest and recovery from it, including willingly coming in for any follow up scans you would require. I may be willing to even remotely monitor engineering while I’m recovering, so long as I can get some distractions?”

"Overnight in Sickbay. Two or three days of light duty," Frankie said, making sure Charlotte had registered the terms. There was warmth in her voice now, even a touch of humour. "I can certainly find something to distract you while you're here. Remotely running Engineering does not count as rest, but I am sure we can negotiate something." She looked back at the results. "I will need a little time to analyze these properly, but truly, I think we can make this work. And while you're here for that, I can remove the scars you don't want. Part of the service..."

“We’ll negotiate the post-op rest, but overnight won’t be negotiable: I’ll be here.” Charlotte agreed, “I’ve got no need for any scars, sure, they teach a lesson, but I’ve already learned the ones I need. Those ones will just take their time to heal, the ones that can’t be seen.” The blonde glanced off to the side briefly, “Sorry I’m such a pain in the ass, Doctor.”

"You're hardly the worst patient I've ever had," Frankie admitted with a small smile as the scanning arch lifted away. "Perhaps one of the more verbally challenging, but for the last few years I could simply sedate someone if they became too difficult..." She kept her expression perfectly serious for a moment before the smile returned, making it clear she was joking. At least mostly.

“Not the worst idea with me.” Charlotte chuckled, catching the humour, “Of course, maybe I won’t have the ship falling apart around me for once, which makes me less cranky. I’m sure you’re familiar with the myth of Pandora’s Box?”

"Yes," Frankie said as she looked at her, curious what she was going to say.

“Well, USS Pandora apparently had that whole myth baked into her hull when she was being built. I was her assistant chief right out of the building slip and everything went wrong. Some people blame the War, but it was more than that.” She propped herself up on her side, head up on a hand propped by an elbow, “She defied logic and I finally found that she enjoyed the chaos, but responded to singing. I know that sounds crazy, but I did a bunch of tests, and Pandora genuinely responded better the happier we were, or at least the happier we acted. Then when the shit hit the fan, she fell apart. Then the crazier the fix, the better it worked. She and I got along pretty well in the end, despite her doing her level best to kill us.”

Frankie chuckled, raising an eyebrow with a little bit of good-natured skepticism. She was convinced Engineers were a special breed, to put so much...sentience into a ship and its warp core. But then again, was that so different than surgeons and doctors she knew who had wore the same socks because once they changed them and someone died? No. No difference. Just people being people. "I am suddenly very grateful this ship is just called Wayfarer. Although...always makes me think of that ancient traditional folk song."

“I can’t say I know the song off the top of my head, but there’s a fair chance I’ve heard it somewhere.” Charlotte chuckled, “What’s it about?”

"Oh..." Frankie looked at her with surprise and then a small smile of something closer to embarrassment. "Ancient Earth folk song, about a...poor soul's less than perfect journey through life. My father has an affinity for ancient folk songs and sea shanties."

"That sounds like something I should learn, if I don't already know it." Charlotte mused, "I used to be a tavern singer, you see, and Pegasus Falls is a re-enactors haven, so when I was of an age, I took on that role to entertain the guests that came through for the 'Fantastical Adventures' that the town offered. That was a fun role, before I apprenticed."

"Then there's a fair chance you already know it," Frankie said, her smile warming as she turned back to the console. She entered one final note into Charlotte's record, then adjusted the biobed into a more upright position. "My father has a version for almost every occasion, whether anyone asks for one or not." She closed the scan results and looked back at Charlotte. "Do you still sing? Other than to temperamental starships, I mean."

"I do, I enjoy it, even if my singing is typically just by myself. I have to, just to keep my spirits up, because it always seems everything is going to hell around me. Singing just feels like something that should be done." Charlotte grinned, "And I like to think I've still got a pretty good voice."

Frankie gave a nod, looking at her before she smiled. "Well, then I am sure you will sing with joy...you're done for today. I will review the scans and I can, if you wish, set up a treatment plan for the scars and a surgery schedule for the shrapnel. We'll go through it properly in a meeting, so you know what will happen, the risk, the recovery time. Scars though? Any you want removed, it's a twenty minute appointment."

Unconsciously, Charlotte reached up behind an ear to rub the scar caused by a knife from another battle during the War, "We'll set that up when we have that meeting." She said solemnly, "But, if I'm good to go, I'd better get back to see if Valance has fixed that display yet. If not? I'ma gonna have to teach him how to do things right."

"Well, in which case...best of luck," Frankie said, with a smile and a raised eyebrow. She was glad she wasn't Valance, but in the great tradition of Starfleet...she was sure he could cope.

Charlotte slid off the bed and to her feet finally and chuckled, "Hopefully I won't need it. But thanks, Doc. I'll see you later."

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