Totally Unnecessary

Posted on Sun Sep 14th, 2025 @ 11:34pm by Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Lieutenant Commander Kuzos

1,686 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Current

Kuzos was grumbling under his breath as he walked the Enterprise's corridors. "Totally unnecessary a complete waste of my time." He muttered as he walked toward his destination...Sickbay and his compulsory physical exam. He was in perfect health, to use a Terran term, he was in tip top shape. As much as he objected to the exam quite loudly, he was finally ordered to report to Sickbay. Report was exactly what he would do then promptly leave.

Arriving at Sickbay, he was relieved to see it was relatively empty. *Good* He thought. *Now I can report in and then leave.* He just had to find someone to report in to so they could log he was here.

The half terran, half Trill CMO was at her desk, filling out the usual mountain of PaDDs. She looked up as a patient came in and, knowing the Nurse who was assigned to receive incoming patients had just gone on her break, Kholin stood up and approached the main doors and the Vorta standing just inside them.

"Good evening, Sir" she said, judging his rank from his collar pips. "I'm the CMO - Lt Kholin - how can I help you tonight?"

"Kuzos flashed his megawatt smile, "Good evening Lt. Kholin. I am Kuzos, I was ordered to report here, so here I am reporting. Now, if you will just log it in, I can be on my way."

Rio's wide welcoming smile seemed to freeze in confusion. "It's nice to meet you Sir." she began. "You're very welcome here and I'm assuming the intention of your being sent here would be so that we can do your mandatory regular physical check up?" she began to take a step or two towards the first cubicle in the row, deeper into the main Bays. "If you would be kind enough to accompany me, we can get this done smartly so we don't take up any more of your very valuable time, Sir?"

Kuzos kept smiling at her. "Lieutenant, there is no reason for me to have a physical." He replied confirming her previous statement. "I assure you I am in perfect health." He stated but it didn't seem like his message was getting through to the CMO and he had the distinct feeling he was going to lose this argument..

"From a personal point of view Sir, I would be very glad to accept your reassurances however, sadly, there is no certification tick-box worded in anything resembling *this officer must be in perfect health because he has no obvious problems*. No matter how time-saving that would no doubt prove to be.

I'm afraid that, if I can't find a valid, officially sanctioned, health clearance on your medical records - within the authorised expiry period - then it is my duty - 0n pain of eventual Court Martial if my lack of compliance should have a terrible but avoidable consequence..." she breathed in - almost as if for emphasis rather than just to breathe.

"....to provide you with a comprehensive examination and certification, signed to promise that I personally have authorised the result as having been correctly and accurately undertaken and recorded." Rio explained in full detail. {and four part harmony? ;-) ?j }

Throughout her explanation, Lt. Kholin had spoken with total calm and politeness, although her body language with crossed arms and solidly planted feet, straight back and slightly raised chin, all spoke a very loud warning about whether or not it would be wise to argue her down. She refrained at this point to make it clear verbally that if the LTC were to leave without submitting to the standard tests, he would not only fail to get his wish to get it recorded that he had duly attended but neither would he get clearance for active duty. She saved that in case this were to elevate, for now, she was giving him chapter and verse and a chance to comply without further 'misunderstanding' of how this would be going to roll out from here.

Before she left the subject to await the Vortan Officer's reply, the CMO lowered her formality and voice to what might have better seemed like a confidential or secret tone. "May I also emphasise Sir, that there is nothing whatsoever personal in this ruling, and if the Commodore himself were to be here in your place, I should have to make the same insistence with him or any other. Also, if I may add, early detection is worth a great deal of wheel-spinning later once symptoms become apparent in any form of medical problem. So you can see that I'm not wielding a big rule stick for no better reason than that I can, I genuinely do believe this is a wise and helpful safety net and one's health is crucial above a great deal else, Commander."

As Rio talked, prattled and rambled on, Kuzos stood silently and politely listened to her needless explanations. *Blah, blah, blah* He thought silently as it was becoming painfully obvious that the CMO was not going to let him walk out of Sickbay at until he submitted himself for a physical exam. When she had finally finished he smiled brilliantly at her, "Thank you for a very detailed and totally unnecessary explanation Lieutenant. I did not take this as personal. It is just more evidence of what seems to be the Federation's motto of making simple things hard. Not to mention that no one takes my word that I am in perfect health. This lack of trust is most distressing." He sighed dramatically before continuing. "I have no desire to see you court martialed Doctor however I feel I am being forced to submit to having this physical and to be honest I resent it."

He paused and looked at her, he didn't want to see her possibly court martialed. What to do? he sighed again. "I will agree to the exam if you make a note on my file that I protest the taking of this exam as well as its usefulness"

"Thank you Sir, I will do that right away" she agreed readily and started to do so, as promised. Once finished with the annotation of the Vorta's protests, she offered him a private cubicle with a bio bed inside and opened her arm towards the bed to offer him to take a seat there.

"Thank you." He replied simply as he walked to the private cubicle and then took a seat on the biobed to await the inevitable exam. "So unnecessary." He muttered under his breath.

Rio began to program the controls of the bio-bed, her fingers flickering adeptly through the well practiced routine on the LCARS. A green light came on and a soft sound followed, one more light was touched gently and the seat began to rise from the back, arching itself. "I wonder if you would be kind enough to just lean back please Sir, so that you are within the scanner's field?" she asked the Chief of Security gently attempting not to get into any more discordance with him.

Kuzos stifled a sigh that attempted to leave his throat and instead nodded his head at Rio's request and leaned back in his chair, allowing his body to be completely within the scanning field. He realized with a start he was holding his breath and slowly let a shaky breath out as the scan continued.

"This will be complete quite soon Commander, please try to relax if you can" Kholin encouraged her patient. Before long the scanning was completed and various results from the different tests began to scroll into Rio's sightline. She began to nod.

Kuzos sat there waiting for the CMO to say something but she just stood there and read the results. "Um? Excuse me Doctor, what do the scans show?" Slightly annoyed he had to ask to get his test results.

"I'm reading them as they reel out, Sir." she said patiently, but still slightly distracted. "I need to take them all in as they do scroll quite fast unless I pause them - almost done". A few more moments passed and she seemed to un-focus, her distant look dissipating as she then turned her full attention to the Chief of Security.

"Sorry, I'm done now" she said, looking straight at him. "You were correct, Sir. You are indeed 100% fit and well. I can find no abnormal readings on any of the standard readings. I'm sorry that you have had to submit to this as it must have been very frustrating for you and I am grateful for your co-operation. Thank you Commander. I wish all my patients were so healthy. I have tested all that might have been hiding microscopically as well, as I always have to, so you're not only fine to the naked eye, as it were, but you're even problem-free on the deepest levels we can check." She gave him a large and genuinely happy smile.

Put nicely in his place, Kuzos sat quietly until the CMO finished reading his test results. When she finished and gave him the results saying he was in tip top shape and perfect health he couldn't resist a broad smile though he refrained from saying 'I told you so' Instead he nodded his head gratefully and replied with a sincere "Thank you Doctor. I am indeed quite grateful to hear that I am 100 percent fit even down to microscopically. I also thank you for your professionalism and thoroughness in performing the various tests. In hindsight it was all quite painless."

"That is good of you to say, Sir. I hope the rest of your day will go well." Rio responded, impressed at the gracious manner in which Kuzos took his victory and keen to stay amicable.

"It is a pleasure to say Doctor and if the rest of my day goes as well as this appointment I will be a grand day indeed." Kuzos replied with his trademark smile.

Rio tilted her head graciously in acknowledgement, smiled back and added. "You're always welcome Sir".


End

 

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