Stardate: 70830:2100
Title: First Night on Call
Author: Ensign Colón
Time: Current (A few days after "Unknown Beginning")
Scene: Holodeck


"Doctor! We have another one!" A crewman screamed as he brought an injured officer into the sickbay, laying her down on one of the beds. She was hurt, badly - her arm was broken and draped over her chest, her face was covered in cuts and bruises and her uniform was torn and burnt, showing patches of charred skin. Ensign Colón was overwhelmed. He was already taking care of a patient who had third degree plasma burns and now this?

"ENOUGH ALREADY!" He screamed. "Computer, pause program."

As the people came to a halt, he sat down on one of the beds in the holographic sickbay. Just to think, it was his first night on call and what is he doing? Medical situation training programs. Gabriel let his head fall into his hands; he couldn't understand how situations could get so bad that he would feel overwhelmed.

"Computer," he stated. "Activate the EMH."

In the matter of a second, the Emergency Medical Hologram appeared before the ensign.

"Please state the nature of the medical emergency," The hologram began, then looked about the holodeck and then to Ensign Colón.

"What is this?" He said walking about the artificial sickbay. "Is there a real medical emergency or are you just feeling lonely?" The hologram questioned.

"No, I am Ensign... well... Doctor Colón. I am running medical training programs and I am overwhelmed. I was wondering..." He was about to conclude his sentence when the EMH waved his hand to shut up the Ensign.

"Ensign, I may not have rank being that I am a hologram. However, if you look at my design, I am programmed to handle medical emergencies, and my extensive programming does include counselling skills. Of course, if you would prefer, I could ask the computer to replicate a tissue and be on my way if there is no real use for me at the moment," he concluded with a cocky smug.

The Ensign was taken back; he did not expect the EMH to react this way. "Excuse me, Doctor, but seeing as you are programmed as a doctor and an officer, one of the duties of an officer is to help those who ask for it. So please, help me figure out what I am doing wrong," Gabriel said with a sigh.

The doctor gave a slight look of distain to Ensign then looked to the his first patient. 

"Well Ensign, did they teach you anything in the Medical Academy? This is nothing but a simple plasma burn. You do know how to treat this don't you?" The EMH stated as he picked up a medical tricorder.

"Yes, I was about to give him a sedative for the pain and then instruct the nurse to place the crewman in medical stasis for the burns. I was also going to instruct the nurse to let me know if things became worse with the patient," he said quickly, as if being tested back in the academy. The EMH moved the tricorder over the crewman and nodded.

"You are correct Ensign, that is the proper protocol."

Gabriel nodded and went over to the injured Lieutenant just brought in. He scanned the hologram - the data showed radiation burns and bone fractures. "This one shows radiation burns and possible radiation poisoning, along with a broken radius and ribs," he stated more calmly now.

The EMH scanned the Lieutenant and nodded. "I have the same result. So how do we treat this patient?" He asked, looking at the Ensign and his actions.

"I have to repair her bone fractures and give her a stabilizer for the radiation. After that, I would have a nurse conclude with treating the open wounds," Gabriel said looking at the EMH.

The EMH seemed to be upset and he put down the tricorder. He walked over to the nearest chair and sat down looking at Gabriel. "Why did you need my help, if you know how to treat these patients?" He asked.

"I don't know. When everything was happening at once, I just got... flustered, aggravated, scared and, well, overwhelmed. I have never been put in that situation before. War is scary I guess and the casualties are just as scary. People rely on me for health and wellness, but I just couldn't keep up." Gabriel sat down on the same bed as before.

"Ensign, I suggest you go and get some sleep while you are on call. You may be a doctor, but you are basically an intern right now. You don't know everything and your experience is limited. When the time comes, just take a deep breath - that step back will give you the time you need to assess the situation and determine what needs to be done." The EMH smiled and walked over to Gabriel patting him on the back. "Besides, from what I have seen today, you will become a fine Starfleet Medical Officer. Just remember to relax and take care of one thing at a time."

Gabriel nodded and put his hand out to shake the EMH's hand. "Thank you, Doctor. I really appreciate it." Once Gabriel said 'doctor' to the EMH, he seemed to smiled and shook the Ensign's hand.

"Anytime, Ensign," he responded.

[Sickbay to Ensign Colón.]

The Ensign tapped his combadge. "Colón here," he responded

[Sir, we need you in Sickbay.]

Gabriel nodded. "On my way."

With that, Gabriel nodded to the Doctor and exited the holodeck. "Computer end program"


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Ensign Gabriel Colón
Medical Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400 
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