Posted by Lieutenant Commander T’Aria (XO / Navigation Officer) in Side Sim: “Replicating” A Leg

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Serral Echei (Science Officer) in Side Sim: “Replicating” A Leg

Posted by Lieutenant Commander T’Aria (XO / Navigation Officer) in Side Sim: “Replicating” A Leg
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(Snip!)

In front of the scientist was a mesh frame in the vague shape of an upper leg. He couldn’t start on the knee or lower leg until he knew how long to make the femur. Off to the side was the femur, a metallic bone made of medical grade materials, meant to last many years without the need of replacement.

The trick to these, to making them respond like a real limb, was making them as similar to one as possible. A mix of bone and “muscle” and mechanical parts came together to make it work. Officers were even able to return to duty, assuming they could follow medical advice.

T’Aria halted, her gaze wandering to what she could see of the metal contraption that resembled the musculature of an upper leg. Instinctively, she searched for a femur among the remaining pieces. She recalled in Serral’s file something about ‘Biomedical Engineering’ – a science reserved for engineers fascinated with the mechanics of life. Was this his project? A synthetic leg not unlike those benefitting many of their crew? Who was his patient? T’Aria dismissed the question from her mind and quelled her innate curiosity. It wasn’t her business.

When he heard his name from behind him, Serral turned to greet T’Aria. He was taller than her at 5‘11’‘, a height that he must’ve inherited from his Vulcan side. To go along with that, he had Vulcan pointed ears and the green tint to his skin said he must have copper-based Vulcan blood. And yet, there was the clear mark of his other half, his irises pure black and his face shape more rounded and soft than the typical Vulcan.

T’Aria tore her attention from the workstation to its occupant, a young man that looked deceivingly Vulcan at first glance. His eyes – a luminous obsidian that made most Vulcans’ seem pale by comparison – gave him away. Though she knew only a handful of Betazoids, each a member of their crew, she recognised the characteristic depth and size of his irises. She took a heartbeat to assess him, less for his physiology (though she would readily learn) and more to relate him to the photo… as he had not yet identified himself.

He was well-built, not overly skinny, but also not the largest, and looked to be in shape, but certainly no star athlete. He wore a standard issue uniform at the time, complete with… comfortable black walking shoes. Practicality over style, apparently.

There were other differences, created by the melding of two very different species into one. They were mostly internal, not immediately visible. For one, most half-Betazoids, when the other half was Human, had less empathic ability than a full Betazoid. Vulcans were also a slightly telepathic species, shown in their culture with the ability to mind meld with other living beings among other things. The result of which was that Serral possessed only slightly less empathic ability than a full Betazoid. A troublesome talent for a Vulcan. He could control his own emotions, not those of others.

“Commander T’Aria. A pleasure to meet you properly.” He said, in a not very deep but not overly high pitched voice, “I need a little assistance with my present project and you happen to be the only person I’ve seen about the right size to be of help. I was… hoping you wouldn’t mind.” Counting on it, really. Serral could do this without her, but it would be faster with her.

~ Lt JG Echei, Sci

“Likewise, Lieutenant Echei. I apologise that we could not meet sooner,” T’Aria bowed her head, pausing when she caught the word ‘size’. Her curiosity piqued, restoring a growing list of questions she subconsciously compiled, but her body stiffened with skepticism. “I am here to help, but I am not sure what you mean by ‘the right size’. Does this relate to your project?”

— T’Aria, XO

She was skeptical, it took no Betazoid to tell that. “I apologize, I was a little carried away with my work. I forgot to explain first. I, as you likely know, am a cybernetics and biomedical scientist and engineer. I,” he gestured to the partially built leg, “build prosthetic limbs. I was meant to start working on this case over a week ago, but my work was postponed by my transfer. I wanted to save time… and the easiest way to do that is by using a model rather than going by measurements and… it’s far too much like guessing for my preference.” He gestured to her, “Your size is a near perfect match for this patient, your stature is the same, you have a similar body style, and and you are close in weight. With you as a reference, it will be much easier to judge how long each part of the leg should be and much faster to get it built and shipped off.” Typically it was better if the patient could be brought to him, or him to the patient, but that was not always possible. “It would be harmless to you, just take up some of your time. Perhaps we can get to know one another a little better while I work?” Serral suggested. Knowing one’s new ship’s XO was never a bad thing. And perhaps T’Aria would consider that a productive use of her time.

~ Lt JG Echei, Sci

It was an unusual request, T’Aria gathered, but not at all illogical. There were simulations and innumerable references in the LCARS, but they carried with them a degree of uncertainty. She understood his desire to reduce the opportunity for error, so she offered an affirming nod.

If an hour of her time meant Serral delivered the limb to his patient sooner, why not? He made a valid point, anyway… there was rarely time to get to know the crew without the excitement of away missions or rampant flus. T’Aria appreciated the change of pace and safety.

“I welcome the opportunity to get to know you, Lieutenant. Allow me to notify Ensign Atillos…” T’Aria untucked her PaDD from under her arm and sent a brief communique asking Atillos to remain at Navigation until the end of his shift. Given the alternative in auxiliary control, she doubted he would contest the switch. “Where do need me?”

Serral pointed to a stool and had her put her foot on a foot rest. Then he picked up the metallic bone and measured it against her leg. “I was right. Too long.”

While they got started, T’Aria offered a simple question that hounded her thoughts since she saw the prosthetic: “What encouraged your interest in cybernetics and biomedical science?”

— T’Aria, XO

“I find them fascinating.” Serral replied with a shrug, returning the bone to the table and then turning his attention to the mesh half-a-leg on the floor. He started building the frame, leaving the top open to set up what would be a knee joint. “My father is an environmental scientist on Betazed and my mother was a Vulcan diplomat… now she stays on Betazed with my father. I wasn’t much interested in the environmental sort of stuff my father does, nor the politics of a position like my mother’s. But cybernetics… The way machine and biology work so well together, to make up for something lost or damaged. It’s interesting to me.” He gestured to what he was doing. “I design it to look like a leg, even giving it metallic bones, though there are technically better ways to give it structure, yet instead of muscle and nerves, machine parts and neural relays will allow it to react and function like a limb.”

~ Lt JG Echei, Sci