The New Doctor in town

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2026 @ 21:57 by Lieutenant Deon Nyx & Captain Melody Jones

Mission: Intermission
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD1 1000
1370 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Melody had heard that the new chief medical officer had boarded and was in sickbay, so she decided to go and break the ice and introduce herself.

The doors to sickbay opened quietly, and she stepped into the room, which was also too quiet, the majority of the medical staff being on the Starbase for either leave or training.

She called out, looking around, "Hello?"

A powerfully built individual stepped through from the adjoining office, his head lacking any hair which, along with his build, could have easily made him appear somewhat imposing if not for the warmth of his smile and the playful twinkle in his crystal blue eyes. He moved with a grace not befitting someone with his strapping frame, an almost cat like elegance to him.
"Captain Jones... I had planned to report in to you on the bridge. I didn't mean to have you come to me" he extended his hand in a very human gesture knowing it would have to make it a very quick contact, shook her hand and immediately had his arms retreat to his sides. "Deon Nyx, your new Chief Medical Officer. I was just uploading my oath of celibacy to the main computer, do you require to see a copy?"

"Ahh, you must be Doctor Nyx." Melody accepted this hand and gave it a firm shake. "Welcome aboard the Merlin. It's quite all right. I was in the area, and I thought I'd pop in. I hope sickbay meets your expectations. are you getting settled in ok?"

"I seem to have arrived before my belongings, but Starbase personnel assure me they will transport everything to my new quarters once they have them" he smiled warmly at the redhead before him. She looked too young to be captaining such a mammoth vessel.
"Sickbay seems to be in good order. I believe it was fully refit quite recently" he motioned for the captain to enter the office he had moments ago emerged from, moving to the replicator and ordering a tray of red leaf tea.

"Please do take a seat and would you like some tea?"

"Yes please, tea sounds nice." She sat down in his office. "I think you'll find the crew in good health, although we did have an encounter with the Nexus recently, and it's taking some of them a while to get re-adjusted to this reality. Did you get a chance to review any of the personnel files on your way over here?"

"Only the senior officers and it appears you are lacking a number of key positions... I hope this is not a relation to the encounter with the Nexus?"
Deon poured a cup of tea for both, placing a honey stick on the saucer beside the cup before handing it over to her and retrieving his own and taking a seat next to her.

Melody shifted, slightly uncomfortable "Some did decide to remain in the Nexus, but the majority of the crew did return." She admitted, accepting the cup of tea from him. Changing the subject, she lowered her voice slightly ."We've also had some... Changeling infiltrators on board and some direct acts of sabotage. One of them has defected and is assisting in the search for the other two. I've assigned our new chief of security to head up this search. Have you had any experience with changelings?"

He chose to believe that the Captain either didn't know or perhaps forgot that Deltans were telepathic, albeit very mild in comparison to Betazoids or Ullians and it was more of an Empathic ability so he had picked up on her feelings of guilt and sorrow. He chose not to acknowledge it and moved on with her.
"Beyond the medical reports filed by Doctor Bashir during the Dominion War then I have very little experience and certainly no hands on experience with changelings... I could try and turn up further information from the Starfleet database if it would help?"

Melody nodded. "Could you? It might be an idea if you could come up with some way of incapacitating them without killing them. You might want to read Beverly Crusher's revised information on the changeling evolution. From what we've been able to gather, they've managed to escape detection via the transporter. While I understand that capturing them alive might be a lost cause, I would prefer to keep my options open. If we can return them to Ambassador Odo alive, so much the better."

She took a sip of her tea. "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

"Just where I sit in the chain of command. On my prior posting it was a much smaller vessel... I had to assist with day to day operations of the ship. I'm assuming that the Merlin is flush with Command Officers or will I be required to step in when needed also?"
He too took a sip of his tea, savouring the bitter taste of the tea contrasting with the sweet addition of the honey. Most soothing.

"After myself and the XO, you're second in command," Melody replied. "So you might be asked to step up if the situation requires it, Lieutenant. Think you can handle that?" She asked with a wry smile judging his response.

"If you feel my credentials are suitable... you should be aware that my previous assignment was only a small science vessel... perhaps a crew of eighty people so Merlin will be something of an adaptation for me but I look forward to the challenge".
He flashed her another warm smile and that same playful twinkle in his eyes returned. "Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime sir, other than the research into Changelings of course".

"Adaptation can be a good thing, Doctor. Keeps us on our toes," Melody chuckled, appreciating his candour. "And yes, your credentials are more than suitable. I wouldn't have requested you if they weren't. Starfleet Command doesn't usually let go of the best for no reason."
She paused, considering. "Actually, there is something. I'd like your opinion on something unrelated to the Changeling situation. It's a medical matter, but also... sensitive. Would you mind giving my daughter a physical after you've reviewed her file? As you'll be able to ascertain, she's not had the most normal childhood. Not only did she serve as an ambassador to an alien by sharing her body with her, but now she's gone and permanently merged with one of their elders. I just need to know that she's going to be alright. She keeps telling me she feels fine, but.... I'm her mother, and I worry. I'll be counting on your discretion here as well. Don't make it too obvious to her that it's I who has ordered this."

"Of course... I can make it a house visit if that would be more discreet?" Deon was caught off guard by what the Captain had just divulged. He had always known that living and working on a Starship brought its own challenges and was replete with unexpected events but just from this conversation on its own he could tell that Merlin had been through more than her fair share in a very short time. Perhaps his next port of call should be to meeting with the ships Counselor.

Melody thought for a moment. "No, sickbay will be fine. I think a house call will defiantly tip our hand and she'll know something is up. If it's at a late time when sickbay is quiet that should suffice. If there is anything else you need Doctor, just let me know." Melody added as she rose. "I won't keep you from your duties any longer. Thank you for the tea."

"A pleasure Captain and please, my door is always open should you need anything. I will discuss the second officer posting and duties with the first officer in short order!"
He rose along with the Captain to show her from the office, ever the gentleman.

OFF:

●●●● Captain Melody Jones
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin


●● Lieutenant Deon Nyx
Chief Medical Officer
USS Merlin