Disappointingly Functional

Posted on Tue Sep 29th, 2026 @ 11:07am by Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent & Commander Cressida Vale MD

1,055 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Late 2388

Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent entered Sickbay at precisely the time listed on his appointment, because arriving late for a routine medical was the sort of thing he would have given one of his own people grief for. At fifty, he was tall and lean, built in long, wiry lines beneath the gold of Tactical rather than broad muscle. His ash-brown hair was cut short, grey showing clearly at the temples, while the facial hair along his narrow jaw had been kept neat enough for regulation without softening the angular severity of his face. Combined with the pale blue eyes and the lines around them, it gave him the appearance of a man who had either already found fault with something or was waiting patiently for it to reveal itself.

He paused inside long enough to take in the room, more from habit than concern. Sickbays were familiar places after nearly three decades in Starfleet, and there was little about a medical examination that made him nervous. His records had already been transferred, including the cardiac implant and its maintenance history, so all that remained was to present himself, submit to the scans and answer whatever questions the doctor considered necessary. His eyes settled on Commander Vale, recognising her from seeing her around the ship even though they had not actually spoken yet, and he crossed the room towards her with an easy, controlled stride.

“Doctor Vale?” Julian asked as he reached her, one hand resting loosely behind his back while the other remained at his side. Up close, the severity remained for another second before the corner of his mouth lifted, warmth reaching his eyes and changing his face almost completely. “Master Chief Petty Officer Julian Trent. I believe you're expecting me?”

Cressida had indeed been expecting him. She always liked appointments with the professionals, who knew check-ups were crucial for health and good operation of the ship, and who understood that orders were orders.

"Yes, Mr. Trent," she told him. "Welcome to sickbay. Take a seat on the biobed and I'll be with you momentarily."

Julian smiled at the reaction, giving her a nod before he went to the biobed and took a seat. He absently scratched his neck as he looked around sickbay, breathing in slowly. The scent was standard. He was used to it through the years, especially with his heart. It had been replaced in 2375...end of the war. One moment he was wounded on the USS Murmansk, the next he woke up on Earth and the war was over and he now had something else in his chest. But that was years ago and Julian had gotten used to it.

Cressida has re-familiarized herself with his file before the appointment. His case was one of the more interesting ones on the ship. Overall he was beyond healthy for his age, but an artificial heart required a bit more scrutiny than a 100% flesh-and-blood patient. It was the special cases that kept her mind sharp.

“Alright Master Chief,” she said as she came back to the biobed. Tricorder in hand, she began scanning him. “How have you been feeling? Anything I should know about?”

"Nothing new," Julian said, watching the tricorder for a moment before looking back to her with a small, almost playful smile. "Another year added, but I try not to hold that against myself." He stayed still enough for the scan, used to the routine by now. "No chest pain, no dizzy spells, no shortness of breath. The implant behaves itself better than some officers I could mention, and anything that aches usually has the decency to explain why." His smile deepened just enough to soften the severe lines of his face. "So unless your tricorder is about to ruin my afternoon, Doctor, I'd say I'm disappointingly functional."

“Heh, ‘disappointingly functional’. I like that.” She finished her scans and set her tricorder on the table next to her. “You’re old enough that we pay a bit more attention to a few figures though. They’re all looking okay though. Your liver though… I’d like to advise you to stick with synthehol for a bit.”

He looked at her, a charming smile coming to him "Like to advise me, or tell me, Doctor?" he asked smoothly, his blue eyes playful with it. Okay was...well. He recalled a time where he had been seen as a prime physical specimen. Cross over to 50 and suddenly it was not like that anymore. Shame really. Age did catch up in some way beyond wrinkles, gravity taking a hold of the body or the shape of your hand-prints as life changed them.

She laughed when he brought out that smile. “Telling you, at least for the next few weeks. After that? They say ‘everything in moderation’, right?”

"Moderation is a state of mind," he said smoothly before he nodded, accepting her medical advice. Because he wasn't actually after hurting himself. He had his rituals. Everyone did. "Alright, Doctor, but my liver will write a request to go synthetic as well if it is more than the next few weeks..."

“Fair enough,” she agreed, nodding and laughing. “I’d say you’re more than healthy enough for continuing your duties, Master Chief. Do you have any questions or comments for me?”

"You after feedback, Doctor?" he asked as he met her eyes, smiling before he shook his head. For a moment he just sat there before he got off the biobed, looking around. Sickbays would never stop being...both comforting and painful. "Because I usually say things like warm hands and so on..."

She laughed and sighed. "I meant mostly whether you any questions about your health and wellbeing. But really if sickbay or its staff needs any improvements I'll never say no to hearing suggestions. Anyway, you're free to go. Dismissed, Master Chief."

Julian smiled and slid off the biobed, straightening his uniform before he looked back at her. "I'll try not to undo all your good work, Doctor," he said, lifting two fingers in a lazy salute before he turned towards the doors. "Thanks."

“Take care,” Cressida told him before turning around to begin clean-up and post-checkup procedures.

END


Commander Cressida Vale, MD
Chief Medical Officer (not yet Second Officer)

Master Chief Julian Trent
Tactical

 

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