Part of USS Valkyrie: Episode 1 | The Flames and USS Valkyrie: Season 1

To the Next Frontier

USS Valkyrie
2 likes 317 views

“You’re sure about this?”  The transport pilot stood behind Lieutenant Sienna Frisco in the passenger compartment as she worked on a young Vulcan woman.  T’sas had passed out in the middle of the journey, and the ship stood still.  Out of the five passengers on the transport, she was the only medical officer: two engineers and two helm officers.  “I’ve sent out a distress call,” he nervously said as he watched her warily.

Frisco scanned the woman with her medical tricorder, “You said so yourself – nobody’s out here…or at least in range.  The closest ship is two hours away.”  She leaned down and listened to the chest of her patient, “Her heart rate is going all over the place.”  She jumped up and stalked down toward the far end of the compartment, snagging the AED unit.  

The pilot put his hands up in panic, “What are you doing?”

As she pulled the unit out, she narrated, “Hearts, no matter the species, sometimes go out of rhythm. You have to shock them back into working order.  Sometimes, you have to slap someone to wake them up.  You must slap the heart.”

One of the engineers piped up, “We have to do that with the warp core sometimes.  Damn scary.”

The pilot made a note on his PADD, “This is…highly irregular.  I’m adding this to my report.”

Sienna snagged a blanket from one of the helm officers and carefully removed the Vulcan woman’s shirt while covering her for privacy.  She attached the leads and tapped the console.  The heart was all over the place as it scanned.  It recommended a shock.  “Add it, report it – I don’t care.  T’sas is more important right now.  She checked her medical tricorder a second time.  It’s time to shock, she concluded.  She tapped the console on the unit, “Clear!  3, 2….1.”  The AED delivered the shock, and the body of the Vulcan arched and then collapsed back to the floor.  The readings continued fluctuating, and Frisco grumbled, “She’s going to need a bigger shock.”

The pilot objected, “That was a pretty big shock you just gave her.  I…”

She spun on him, “Did you pass your medical training on this thing?”  She pointed to the AED.  

He shook his head, “…… it’s my second day.”

She dismissed his answer, “You’re going on report – you shouldn’t be in the pilot seat without standard medical triage training.  Now let me work.”  She adjusted the charge as the readings became more erratic.  “Clear…3…2..11…”  This time, the charge sounded deeper and startled everyone.  Sienna looked at the sensors.  It was better, but it was still erratic.  “One more before I have to get creative.”  She said it out for herself but also to warn everyone there was one more coming.  She adjusted again and tapped the console, “Clear…3…2..1…”

The Vulcan woman’s body arched and then fell back.  The unit beeped approvingly, and the heart rate stabilized.  The woman’s eyes opened, and she stared at Frisco, “You have removed my shirt.”

Sienna smiled, “I did, but I kept you covered.”

The pilot returned from the cockpit, “We got lucky.  An Olympic class ship is headed home and diverting our way.”

Frisco started making her notes, “Let them know I’ll have a report ready.  I’m going to move us to the back of the shuttle so we can prep her for transfer.”  She gave a comforting look to T’sas, “Let’s get you ready.”

The Vulcan asked, “Where are you headed, Lieutenant?  I want to send you a note of thanks.”

Sienna grinned, “USS Valkyrie.”