Stardate: 70203:1630
Title: Awakenings (Part 2)
Author: Ensign Andrew Keller
Time: Current
Scene: USS Relentless


Keller awoke with a start. His breathing was laboured, his body glistening with sweat. He sat up and tried to compose himself. Getting up, he crossed to the replicator. 

"Glass of water. 4 degrees C." After a few seconds, a glass of water appeared. Keller lifted the glass and drained the contents, then went for a shower.

He emerged soon after, and once dry he pulled on his uniform before leaving his quarters. He wasn't due on duty for another 4 hours.

Keller's quarters were on Deck 3, and has he wandered along the ship's corridors he noticed that the access panels that earlier had been strewn throughout the deck had all been replaced. Before long, he arrived at his destination. He paused for a second before approaching the doors. They slid open and he walked into the room.

The Medical Officer on duty looked up as Keller walked in. "Ah, Mr Keller. Good to see you. What can I do for you?"


=/\= Sickbay =/\=

"Another nightmare, I’m afraid. I've had them ever since I came onboard. Thought I'd get checked out, just to be sure."

Cory Anderson looked at him. "Nightmares? What about?" Asked the Medical Officer.

"Wolf 359 and the Borg incursion." Keller replied. "It's strange though. I haven't dreamt about the Borg for years."

"Hmm. Well, pop onto the bed there and we'll check you out." Keller did as he was asked as the MO ran some tests.

Soon, Cory had finished and Keller sat up. The MO looked puzzled.

"What do you reckon?" asked Keller.

"Physically you're fine. Mentally, you are too but there is some heightened activity in your Alpha-Theta wave border," replied the MO.

Now it was Keller's turn to look puzzled. *What did the MO mean?*

"It's a symptom of the central nervous system reducing input from the peripheral nervous system that controls your senses," explained Anderson. "The lowering of sensory input serves to normally protect the central nervous system from sensory overload caused by stress or physical damage. It seems that while you were dreaming, your body was reliving your ship being under attack."

"But, I haven't had nightmares for years," Keller said. "Why have they only just started since I came onboard?"

"I don't know. Medically, I can't find a reason other than the heightened activity in your brainwaves," replied the MO. "Maybe you should talk to Counsellor Kerelai?"

"Maybe I will if they continue," said Keller. "I take it I'm okay for duty?"

"Oh yes. No reason why you can't take your station," replied the MO. "But I'd like to monitor your brain activity for a while."

Keller agreed and slid off the bed. "Thanks" he said to the MO as he headed out of sickbay.

Retracing his steps, he arrived back at his quarters, but stopped short of entering. Instead, he headed further along the corridor and entered the Turbo-lift.

"Engineering," he said.


================
Ensign Andrew Keller
Helm
USS Relentless
NCC-11966
================