Returning to Life... Sort Of

Posted on Fri Sep 18th, 2026 @ 5:23am by Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone MD/DSAPM & Lieutenant JG Jezra Siv MD

1,328 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Maintenance and Recovery
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD002 - 1425

ON

Alex placed a hand on Jezra's shoulder and shook gently. She had been monitoring Jezra's vital signs while preparing a series of treatment trays and restocking some supplies when she had noticed an erratic blip in her beta waves. When there was no immediate response she shook again more vigorously and called out to her. "DR. SIV!"

The more aggressive shake and urgent words abruptly woke up Jezra with a slight gasp. Her pulse briefly quickened from the adrenaline, and it took a couple seconds to get her bearings. That same adrenaline had her grasp Alex's arm with a hand, and once she recognised that it was just Alex, the grip loosened. "What is it?"

Alex breathed a subtle sigh of relief before answering. "Your beta waves became erratic for a moment..." She glanced to the vitals display and shook her head slightly "... it looked almost like you were beginning to decompensate again. Do you feel alright?"

"Aside from the goddamn heart attack you gave me..." Jezra sighed, before focusing on how she actually felt. While doing so, she fully let go of Alex's arm so she could sit up. "I feel fine. Rested."

"No sign of a headache? How about dizziness? Not light-headed?" Alex hovered perhaps a bit too close in case Jezra should suddenly topple. Again Jezra showed resilience that she wasn't quite expecting but also was not surprised at. She would have to do a more thorough study on Trill Medicine after this particular case.

Jezra sighed at Alex's helicopter presence and even used a hand to try and shoo her away. The last time a doctor was in her space as insistently as Alex was... well, when the host had grey hair and forced into retirement by deteriorating health. "I'm not a fall risk anymore, Alex. I feel like I was startled out of a nap, that's it." The words, surprisingly, carried a subtle of annoyance.

"You know it's protocol to check. And; all the same, I want to get a fresh scan on you so hold still." Alex' voice carried just a hint of sternness though her features did not change from the passive look she typically wore. She produced a medical tricorder and began the scan.

The response was a disgruntled little huff as Jezra crossed her arms. "How many 'fresh scans' do you need? I assure you that I am as spry as ever. What are you even looking for?"

On the monitor, the beta wave blip had gone from an erratic signal to something that hummed within Jezra's normal readings. It occasionally amplified the signal, but it wasn't nearly as high as while she was asleep.

Alex watched the beta waves carefully as she got new scans and after a moment she nodded; not quite satisfied but certain that Jezra was not going to collapse on her. She put away the tricorder and held a finger. "Old fashioned time; Follow my finger."

Annoyingly, Jezra understood why it was necessary. In that particular moment, she wasn’t a fan of having it done to her. Giving Alex one last little look that clearly objected to this, she refocused on the finger waiting in front of her face.

Alex chuckled to herself at the indignant look and returned it with a pointed one as if to say " Turn about sucks; don't it?" though her mouth remained pressed together in a focused line as she went through the standard checks. Once she reached the uppermost point she lowered her hand and reached for a reflex hammer. As she prepped it she glanced to Jezra. "You know the drill. I am going to give you five words and I want you to remember them and repeat them when I ask."

"Seriously??" Jezra exclaimed. She sat up as she waved her hands to try and shoo Alex off. "I feel fine, Alex!"

"You may feel fine but you are still only a few days out of the coma we induced when you began trend toward Neural Shock. Not only does protocol demand the test but I won't be able to rest at ease until I have ensured that every single chance of Murphy's Law occurring has been mitigated." Alex gave a small smirk that she could no longer suppress. "Also; I can't deny some vindication with the process after my own exam," she paused and watched the readings silently for a moment. "Now. Your words are Dog, Vehicle, Motivate, Surprise, and Map. Have them?"

She fell silent as she dug in her medical kit and produced a wartenberg wheel and setting it next to the reflex hammer. After a moment she picked it up and began to check Jezra's reflexes, a soft but pleased hum sounding in her throat when they all tested in normal function.

With a sigh, Jezra pressed the heels of her palms into the edges of the biobed as she watched her own body respond to the reflex checks. Sure, the Trill knew what she was doing, but the added little comment about vindication with the process left her with amusement she was too stubborn to show.

Alex watched the reflexes carefully then nodded, looking to Jezra. "What do you remember?" Her curiosity glinted in her eyes and it was suddenly very easy to see why she had become a Neurosurgeon.

Jezra gave her a look of mostly-joking condescension. "Dog, vehicle, motivate, surprise, map. And rather cheeky vindication."

Alex chuckled at the added touch and clapped her hands together lightly. "Well; I am satisfied your neurological status is good. That being said; I want you to take it easy while Astrea is in for repairs. Nothing overly strenuous but activity as you can tolerate. Dr's Orders."

"I'll be sure to keep my activities as boring as possible." Jezra let the sarcasm hang as she glanced at the wall display. The blip in the beta waves had largely retreated into the background. There were still occasional fluctuations, but it was no more than typical variation. Not seeing much else of note with it, she turned her attention back to Alex. "Am I free to leave? Or do you want to continue to hover?" There was some amusement in her tone as she eyes her colleague.

"Careful; I might just decide to do that." Alex joked; after a moment she stepped over to the console for the biobed and pressed the button to stop the scans. "I still owe you some explanations at some point but that is a matter for another day I think."

"And I take it no amount of begging will convince you otherwise." With mock irritation, Jezra rolled her eyes before pushing herself off the edge of the biobed. The cool floor made her glance down briefly. She could feel it even through her socks. "Can I at least get my shoes back?"

"Alex nodded; motioning toward a small locker room off Primary Sickbay. "What you were wearing before you went down is in the Patient Locker; #7." After a moment of thought she added. "We'll get together for drinks when you feel like you are ready to. Now, get outta here."

A little disappointed that Alex was making her wait, Jezra gave her one last look to see if she could change her mind, then frowned when it didn't happen. "Fine," she sighed, before pointing at her. "But I'm holding you to those drinks." She then headed for the patient lockers to grab her things. A change of scenery might be nice, because she was certain the sickbay lights were giving her a headache.

---

Lieutenant J.G. Jezra Siv
Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea


Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea

 

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