Sisters

Posted on Tue Sep 12th, 2023 @ 1:49am by Lieutenant Alice Zuberg MD & Petty Officer, 2nd Class Selka Zuberg

741 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Season 1, Episode 1: Wanted: A Few Brave Men
Location: Surgeon's Office, Deep Space Station K-9

It had been a long day. With the senior medical officer gone, all of the work that went part and parcel with the operation of a sickbay or infirmary fell now to the seniormost nurse, which, unfortunately for her, was Nurse Selka Zuberg.

Every injury (thankfully none major), every illness (thankfully none serious), every new arrival check-in physical, all to be done by someone who was yes qualified and capable but sadly inexperienced and maybe a bit too reserved to be firm with things like dietary advice, exercise tips, or helping with mental health needs or promoting safe sex.

And then, on top of all of that, was the paperwork. So much paperwork. Endless paperwork. Reports. Logs. Inventories. Requisitions. Replies to written requests for medical advice. All of it fell to her, at least until a new doctor arrived.

Selka stared at the notes on her screen, yawned, and sipped at a very old cup of coffee.

“Anyone tell you that stuff will stunt your growth?”

Startled, Selka dropped the cup onto the desk, the small amount of lukewarm coffee still in it spilling across a handful of paper notes — thankfully nothing critical. The nurse looked up, her annoyed expression changing as she recognized the woman at her door, with her long blonde hair, blue minidress uniform with the medical icon on the patch, and most remarkably the black patch covering her right eye.

“Oof!” Dr. Alice Zuberg huffed as her little sister practically jumped her with a hug. “You know I was kidding with the short joke, right? You’re not that small that I can catch you easily.”

“You still always do though,” Selka said, grinning. “When did you get here?”

“Yesterday,” Alice answered. “I just made CMO of the Tigerstar. We’re stationed to patrol around here in case of Klingon aggression.”

“CMO, eh? I’m sure mom was thrilled.” Selka’s voice contained a hint of bitterness.

“Hey now,” Alice chided her. “You know she’s proud of you too. She just can’t see past her own issues.”

“I’ll believe it when the Admiral tells me herself,” Selka said sadly. “In the meantime, I have an infirmary to run. Alone, apparently, since Doctor Honey got recalled.”

“Alone?” Alice said, incredulous. “That explains the hours, papers, and bad coffee. Come on. Take a break. Let me take you for a drink.”

Alice Zuberg had to drag her sister out of the office, but drag she did, and a very short turbolift ride later they were at what passed for a bar on Deep Space K-9.

Sitting next to each other at the bar, each with a glass of something which the bartender only called 'green', the two sat together and caught up. It had been years since their assignments had brought them both to the same place. If one was on Earth, the other probably wasn't. Alone, Selka had been prone to depression when visiting the family, facing constant nagging about her choices; constant comparisons to the wunderkind Alice. But with her sister, it didn't seem quite so bad. She didn't feel small compared to the Chief Medical Officer of the Tigerfish. She felt strong because she knew she had a big sister at her back.

"And remember," Alice said as they stood outside the Transporter Room, "if the Tigerfish is in-system then I'm only a quick beam away if you need anything, whether it's a medical emergency, a quick consult, or you just need to sit and have a drink with your big sister."

Selka hugged Alice tightly. Sure there was some family drama that came from her career choice, but Alice wasn't the source of it. Out in deep space, it was just the two of them. No judgy parents, no whispers behind backs, just two sisters who were going to their best to save lives.

As she turned away to walk back to her quarters, she stumbled a bit. That green drink was something! she thought.

Alice couldn't help but giggle. "Take an anti-intoxicant and get some sleep," she suggested.

"Yes, Doctor," Selka replied sarcastically, sticking her tongue out at her sister. She gave a friendly wave and went to bed -- via sickbay for that quick shot of anti-intoxicant.


**

Posting by (In order of appearance):

Petty Officer 2nd Class Selka Zuberg
Nurse, Deep Space Station K-9

Lieutenant Alice Zuberg
Chief Medical Officer, USS Tigerstar

 

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