Flying By For A Check
Posted on Fri Aug 15, 2025 @ 10:51am by Commander Tayanita 'Tay' Lio'ven & Lieutenant Sarah Mackenzie
1,260 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Time After Time
Location: Main Sickbay, Deck 55
Timeline: MD017 - 1036 hours
Following her map of the station, Sarah was heading to sickbay to get her transfer medical done so she could get to work on her air group. To her, this station was amazing, it was like a colony squashed into a metal shell. It had everything from an arboretum to a market on the promenade and even several holodecks of various sizes. Finding the right door, Sarah stepped inside and stood there watching the hustle and bustle of the medical staff. "Oh wow, maybe I should've called ahead."
Tayanita glanced up from her console, drawn by the voice near the doors. Another new arrival, judging by the look—equal parts curiosity and hesitation. She stepped away from the display, wiping her hands on a towel slung over her shoulder as she approached.
“You’re fine,” she said with a calm smile. “We’re used to people wandering in. Calling ahead is more of a suggestion than a rule.”
She stopped a comfortable distance away and extended a hand. “I’m Doctor Lio’ven. Welcome to Sickbay.”
Her gaze was steady, warm but observant. “I’m guessing transfer physical?” She glanced over her shoulder, nodding toward an unoccupied biobed near the side wall. “We’ve got a spot open. Come on in, I’ll get you sorted.”
“Oh, um, thank you doctor, I’m Lieutenant Mackenzie, the stations new CAG.” Sarah replied as she followed the doctor over to the available biobed and leaned against it, looking around the large room, “So this is a Station sickbay. Definitely put the colony ones to shame.”
Tayanita keyed the biobed to life with a tap, the soft hum of the scanner starting up as she glanced over at Sarah. “CAG, huh? That explains the posture,” she said lightly, a flicker of humour in her voice.
She picked up a tricorder from the tray beside her. “Station sickbays do tend to run bigger than colony ones—more people, more tech, and usually more emergencies.” Her tone was conversational, but her eyes were already noting the details: the healthy complexion, the easy way Mackenzie leaned against the bed, no obvious signs of strain or injury.
“Go ahead and sit,” Tay said, gesturing to the biobed. “We’ll run the standard scans and make sure you’re cleared to fly before you start running the deck ragged.”
Her gaze returned to Sarah’s with a small, knowing smile. “And if you think this is impressive, wait until you see how fast it fills up after a station-wide drill.” She adjusted the scanner’s settings, then asked, “Anything I should know before we start?”
Hopping up on the biobed, Sarah swung her legs as she thought, “I don’t think so, just your basic scrapes and bruises,...” she said as she thought back, “fractured left wrist and bruised ribs as a teen when I was competing in gymnastics, minor concussion from flight training, yea I think that’s it.”
Tayanita keyed a few more notes into the tricorder, the corner of her mouth twitching in thought. “Hm… nothing serious, but…” She angled the display toward Sarah. “Your mineral levels are a little low—calcium and magnesium, mostly. Iadara colony soil’s not the richest in them, so if you’ve been eating local-grown for a while, it’s not unusual.”
She reached for a hypospray from the nearby tray, loading a small cartridge with practiced ease. “Easily fixed. One quick boost, and your body will do the rest.”
Holding the hypospray up briefly so Sarah could see it, she added, “No side effects except maybe feeling a little more awake later. Not a bad way to start your tour.”
A soft hiss marked the injection against Sarah’s upper arm, and Tay set the device aside. “There we go. Shouldn’t need another for a good while, as long as the replicators keep feeding you properly.”
"Huh, didn't think I would've had to worry about that sort of thing from organically grown food." Sarah commented, looking at the hypospray for a moment, "So, do I need a specific diet for a while or something?"
Tayanita gave a low hum, the kind that sounded like both agreement and amusement.
“Organic’s great for a lot of things,” she said, tapping a few notes into the tricorder, “but if the soil’s depleted, even the best-grown food can come up short. The body notices—just not always in ways you’d feel right away.”
She looked over at Sarah, her tone more casual now, almost companionable. “Nothing too strict. You’re not on bedrest or being put on kale rations, don’t worry.”
She angled the display again so Sarah could see the nutritional readout. “Just keep an eye on calcium-rich stuff for the next few weeks. Dairy if you’re into it. Leafy greens. There’s a Bajoran nutbread in the Promenade bakery that’s packed with magnesium—tastes better than it sounds.”
A slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Honestly, if you just eat like someone’s grandmother is watching, you’ll be fine.”
She lowered the tricorder. “But if you start feeling unusually tired, twitchy, or sore after flights—don’t ignore it. That’s the kind of quiet signal your body sends before it gets loud.”
Then, with a glance at the biobed's final readings: “Aside from that, you’re clear. Fully fit for duty, Lieutenant.”
A beat, then she added with a subtle smirk, “Try not to break anything on your first day. I’d rather not see you again that soon.”
Sarah gave her a pout, "Aww, but I do enjoy your company doctor. I suppose I'll just have to try to restrain my more destructive tendencies." she said as she hopped off of the biobed.
Tayanita gave a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she powered down the biobed. “Flattery will get you far, Lieutenant… but not far enough to make me wish for a medevac call.”
She slid the tricorder back onto the tray. “I’ll take your company over coffee sometime instead. Less paperwork that way.”
With an easy smile, she stepped aside to give Sarah room to move. “Fly safe, eat well, and if you must give my team a reason to fuss, at least make it a good story.”
Sarah chuckled, “Ah, a tale of heroism. If that’s what you want I’ll try to accommodate you. Although, I do also like the idea of your company and some coffee. I might take you up on that offer sometime.” She said, giving Tayanita a wink and a smile as she walked past. “See you around."
Tayanita’s smile lingered as she watched Sarah go, catching the glint of that wink. “I’ll hold you to it, Lieutenant,” she said, her tone easy but edged with the certainty of someone who rarely forgot a promise.
She let her gaze follow her for a moment before returning to the console. “And remember—heroic tales are best told over coffee, not from a biobed.”
With that, she keyed in the final log entry for the exam, the faintest trace of amusement still in her eyes. There was something about the new CAG’s energy—spirited, but with a streak of discipline—that reminded Tay of the young fliers she’d known centuries ago, eager to prove themselves but still sharp enough to listen when wisdom was offered.
A post by
Commander Tayanita Lio'ven
Chief Medical Officer
Deep Space 5
Lieutenant Sarah Mackenzie
CAG
Deep Space 5
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