Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Gerald’s Checkup

Posted by Warrant Officer Gerald Hopkins (Engineer) in Gerald’s Checkup

Posted by Lieutenant Alexis Bonner (Assistant Chief Medical Officer) in Gerald’s Checkup

Gerald looked at his wrist, a Hamilton MIL-W-46374 adorned his wrist that had been passed down through the soldiers in the Hopkins family since 1981. The original watch was locked away safe on earth, this one was an exact replica of it, but should Gerald ever have something requiring a dress uniform the antique comes back into service. Interestingly enough that watch was radioactive to this day given the paint used to make the the hands luminous. The replica on the other hand glowed in the dark, but was less dangerous at least in that regard. The watch read 10 (or 22 but Gerald knew he hadn’t been in a meeting for over 8 hours) and he knew he had scheduled his medical check up for 10:30. He wasn’t looking forward to it, not because he disliked doctors, but because there were always questions and given the now advanced stages of rejection he was sure they would want to fix him. It was sweet really, young doctors wanting to make sure he was doing well, but they didn’t live with it on a day to day basis. He couldn’t fault them though and headed for sickbay to check in.

SWO Gerald Hopkins, Eng

An NE spotted Gerald and welcomed him. “You must be SWO Hopkins. Dr Bonner will be with you in a moment. This way.” NE Thompson led him to a biobed. “We received your file already.” And looking awkward, “Just to forewarn you, Dr. Bonner is a little young for her position as AMO but she’s amazing. She…well you’ll see.”

Gerald made his way behind the NE and said, “Just Gerald there son, no need to be formal” His voice was electric and crackling from the vocoder in his throat as he said, “Mind me I’m a little on the slower side, the old leg is giving me some trouble.”

A moment later a young woman, not as young as the NE led to believe walked out. But she was very young to be the assistant chief medical officer on a ship as prestigious as Ogawa. “SWO Hopkins?” She held out a hand, “Lt Bonner.”
Lt Bonner AMO

As he approached the bio-bed he saw a young woman approach and he held out his human hand, smiling as he said, “I’m a non-com mam, no need for formalities with me.” He grasped her hand tenderly, in a respectful way and shook it saying, “Gerald Hopkins at your service Lieutenant, it’s good to meet you.” His voice was almost mechanical as he spoke. Each word coming through clearly but it all sounded as though he were speaking through a squarewave generator.

Gerald Hopkins, Eng

Alexis shook his hand. She took note of his preference not really understanding it. Some people were so stuck on rank and others not, and she’d never been able to figure it out. She fell in line with the use of rank because it was there and it was expected. She didn’t harbor that prejudice between non com and commissioned but to be a warrent officer meant that he had really stood out and made a name for himself. He deserved for that to be recognized, but to each his own. Alexis had always hid behind her rank. Not because she felt it made her better than anyone, but it helped remind everyone that she was an officer just like them. At 17 she’d already been serving on a ship, as a cadet, but she’d skipped her final year at the academy and was allowed to serve ship side. She’d been treated differently because of her lack of age so she’d always used her rank like a shield. She couldn’t do her job if people only saw her for her age. But there was something disarming about Gerald Hopkins. “Doctor or Alexis, which ever makes you more comfortable.”

Gerald nodded and said, “Doctor if you don’t mind, you earned it after all.”

She pulled out her tricorder and several other pieces of equipment, “May I?” she asked as she pulled out the first piece to start scanning.

He looked down at the tricorder and nodded with a look of ‘oh right’ coming across his face. “Of course Doctor, thank you for asking.”

Alexis looked at him confused. “Your doctors don’t usually ask? Well…even I know that’s rude.” Alexis sometimes forgot to curb her tongue when she was talking.

“I’ve looked over your records. And I’m very sorry to say that the best we can do, at the moment, is keep you going. There are experimental procedures and other prosthetics we could use, but there is great risk to it. I’m sure though that you are familiar with them all. So tell me, what can we do to keep you in the least amount of pain possible and keep you going?” Alexis was young, but she also wasn’t stupid. The program he had been subjected to didn’t leave a lot of room to help him now. It was a tragedy but she wasn’t going to give him false hope.
Lt. Bonner, AMO

Gerald was all to well used to this being his fate and he said, “You know Doctor, I can’t as though say I’ve kept up on all the latest but I know with my condition being more, shall we say fringe? I’m like an old ship that just needs to be patched together. I appreciate you shooting it to me straight and trust me I’m well aware of how my implants are doing.” He tapped the plating on the side of his head, “I get a readout of my internal systems on here and I know they’re failing, but what good is there in worrying about it. I appreciate y’all taking care of me and I was hoping to get your ideas on how to adapt or modify my neural link, but of course that’s talk for later I suppose.”

Gerald Hopkins, Eng

“I’m sure there are other options for you Gerald, but I would need to research them and we would have to make a decision on the best option for you. But none of them would be quick or easy. Things would be much easier if there weren’t a ban on synths right now. We could use a positronic matrix to help stabilize your neural system, but that takes a great deal of approval from SF Medical and other departments. But it is a route I am happy to pursue with you. Some might even be able to be replaced with more modern prosthetics. But let’s get a current base reading for everything first.”

Alexis began scanning, switching equipment every so often to get good accurate readings of his cybernetic parts. (OOC what does she find?)
Lt. Bonner, AMO

Gerald nodded at the synth ban comment, would be a lot easier for him but alas it’s not an option. He smiled and said in his synthetic voice, “Doctor I appreciate it but please, you have far more patients to worry about than me. I’m still workin at the moment and when I get more desperate I’ll be happy to work out a solution with ya.” As he looked at the doctor scanning him and said, “Here, why don’t you hook up directly?” Gerald said as he opened the hatch on the side of his head and pointed to where she could interface directly, “This will interface you with my neural link and will allow you to monitor my systems in real time.” The doctor would find the following system reports:

Last System Reboot: 4 hours ago
Neural Link Relay Hours: 4
Neural Link Relay Integrity: 88%
Optical Band Settings: Expanded Wavelengths, IR - UV
Optical Nerve Integration: 83%
Auditory Processing Node Status: Fault 4b
Vocal System Errors: 3
Respiratory System Efficiency: 79%
Renal System Efficiency: 65%
Lymphatic System: Operational
Gastrointestinal System Status: Functional
Bio-Neural Power System Status: Fault RR
Bio Neural Power System Charge: 93%
Limb Motor Faults: 3
Limb Status: Operational

Gerald Hopkins, Eng

Alexis connected him to the computer, which was nice, and it gave her all the information she needed on his cybernetic devices, but she still needed to scan his flesh and blood body for those readings as well. What she got did not make her happy. Gerald was rejecting most of the additions that had been given to him. “I don’t need to tell you that your body is rejecting your implants. Current technologies use biometric technology to mitigate that happening. We can also use genetic cloning to remake flesh and blood organs. I will do some research. As for more important patients, I am quite capable of determining triage order, Gerald, and right now there is no one that needs to be in front of you.” The last part might sound cold or detached. Alexis wouldn’t mean it like that. A side effect of being a child prodigy, her social skills lacked even if her compassion and passion for her work didn’t.
Lt. Bonner, AMO

Gerald felt an ever so slight tingling as the diagnostics were read out, an undocumented side effect of the interface process. “I didn’t mean to imply that ya couldn’t mam, I’m trying to tell myself I’m not a big priority. I appreciate you concern.” He replied humbly as he considered the options of cloning and surgery. Gerald knew dang well that his body was rejecting and he paused to think for a moment, “I’ve never thought of replacing what’s left biologically in me, and as for the biometrics I’m interested to know if what you know of the field can mitigate the neural deterioration caused by the isolinear relay’s feedback into the neurons?” Gerald said being rather knowledgeable about his condition.

Gerald Hopkins, Eng