Day One

Selara typed commands into her PADD and studied the list of officers due for physicals. “Oh boy…” she chuckled. “That  should be a nice start to the day.” Computer, request Captain Saffiya Nassar report to sickbay for her annual physical.”

A chime sounded, Notification sent

It was always a mixed bag how ship’s captains responded to physicals. Some saw it as a mild annoyance, but agreed, while others… well… Selara has seen many a captain dress down chief medical officers, only to be reminded they could be relieved of duty if declared medically unfit. Selara hoped Captain Nassar fell into the former category.

While Captain Nassar had no interest in dressing down any chief medical officer ever, she also wasn’t exactly thrilled to be forced to attend her annual physical. She felt good (aside the headaches) and she wasn’t at all looking forward to the inevitable medical advice that coffee wasn’t breakfast – or lunch and dinner.

“Reporting as requested.”, she smirked as she entered sickbay and had found Selara. “But please make it quick, I have at least five reports that need my attention.”

“Certainly Captain,” Selara said, setting up her tricorder. “I reviewed your file and you’re in good health.” She moved the probe around Saffiya. “Your diet leaves something to be desired, but whose doesn’t?” Selara chuckled. “How’s your stress level? Has it been manageable?”

“Ah, yes. It’s a lot less, thanks to Commander Frisco.”, she nodded as she leaned against the biobed. “How are you enjoying dominion over sickbay?”

Selara smiled, “Sometimes I think it has dominion over me.” Another pass with the probe, “Dr. Frisco kept things around here tight and well-oiled. It’s an easy transition when there’s nothing to immediately handle.” She replaced the probe and waited for the final readout. “Another successful physical,” Selara cheerfully announced. “I did notice some activity in your frontal cortex. If you’ve been having frequent headaches-”

The doors of sickbay opened and two engineering officers, lying on anti-grav sleds, were pulled by medical personnel. “We have severe plasma burns here!”

“Beds 7 and 8,” Selara quickly responded. “Dr. Carmichael!” She shouted and pointed at the incoming men. Selara heard Dr. Carmichael call for 6 cc of kelotane and to have asinolyathin on standby.

Selara sighed, “Never a dull moment.” She glanced at the screen, “You’re free to go Captain. Eat magnesium rich foods for the headaches and don’t neglect your greens!” Selara called over her shoulder as she moved to Bed 8.

Saffiya stared at the doctor and the scene unfolding in front of her, feeling utterly out of place. Her medical expertise wasn’t exactly one of her strengths….

Day Two

Captain Saffiya Nassar was having an excellent day. Most of her work had been finished the night before, and she was very much looking forward to at the very least a few hours to unwind. She had meant to continued her Florence, 1473 holo adventure – and this time, hopefully she’d get to murdering her husband without interruptions from Lorra.

She had just risen from her chair, eager to leave he ready room behind, when a chime sounded… reminding her of her annual physical.

Saffiya sighed. Hopefully she’d get out of this quickly.

“Reporting as requested.”, she smirked as she entered sickbay and had found Selara. “But please make it quick, I have at least five reports that need my attention.”

Which wasn’t entirely the truth. There were only three reports, and they could wait until tomorrow.

“Certainly Captain,” Selara said, setting up her tricorder. “I reviewed your file and you’re in good health.” She moved the probe around Saffiya. “Your diet leaves something to be desired, but whose doesn’t?” Selara chuckled. “How’s your stress level? Has it been manageable?”

“Ah, yes. It’s a lot less, thanks to Commander Frisco.”, Saffiya nodded as she leaned against the biobed. “How are you enjoying dominion over sickbay?”

Selara smiled, “Sometimes I think it has dominion over me. Dr. Frisco kept things around here tight and well-oiled. It’s an easy transition when there’s nothing to immediately handle.” She replaced the probe and waited for the final readout. “Another successful physical,” Selara cheerfully announced. “I did notice some activity in your frontal cortex. If you’ve been having frequent headaches-”

Suddenly, the doors of sickbay opened and two engineering officers were pulled in. “We have severe plasma burns here!”

Saffiya’s heart raced and she did her best to vacate her spot on the biobed, and move to the side.

“Beds 7 and 8,” Selara quickly responded. “Dr. Carmichael!” Then she sighed.  “Never a dull moment.” She glanced at the screen, “You’re free to go Captain. Eat magnesium rich foods for the headaches and don’t neglect your greens!” Selara called over her shoulder as she moved to Bed 8.

Saffiya stared at the doctor and the scene unfolding in front of her, feeling utterly out of place. Her medical expertise wasn’t exactly one of her strengths….

“Is there some way I can help?”

“I’ll never turn down an extra set of hands! Let me evaluate things and I’ll let you know.”

The Captain gave a nod, and moved out of the way, but didn’t leave.

Selara arrived at Bed 8, “How are things going?”

Dr. Carmichael sighed and read from the diagnostic screen, “Deep tissue plasma burns to the abdomen and chest. The lieutenants here,” he motioned to the officers who brought the patient in, “said they were working on conduit, it overloaded and exploded. It was relatively contained, so Engineering didn’t need to be locked down. But it also means the injuries are more severe.”

“Bed 7?”

“Less severe. I have Rajia working on him.”

Selara surveyed the patient, “How much Kelotane?”

“3 in, and asinolyathin on standby.” Carmichael leaned in closer. “It might be a good idea to-” an air pocket burst on the patient, spraying Dr. Carmichael in the face with plasma. He stepped back, his screams filled sickbay.

“Take him to Bed 5 and treat for plasma burns,” she ordered a medical officer. An alarm sounded on Bed 7. Selara briefly looked over to see Rajia loading hyposprays. “Captain, it’s time for those extra hands,” she shouted to Saffiya.

“Got it.”, Saffiya nodded, and approached Rajia, who looked wide-eyed as the captain arrived at her side. “Um… hello Captain Nassar,” she said nervously.

“She’s an extra set of hands, use them,” Selara shouted over the bed alarms.

“Let’s um… use some tricordrazine to… stimulate neural activity. We’ll start with 2 ccs,” Rajia said without looking at Saffiya. “And can you look to see if we have cortical stimulator? And prep a hyprospray of cortolin. Please, ma’am,” Rajia added.

“Of course.”, Nassar nodded.

Day Three

“We have severe plasma burns here!”

Saffiya moved to the side, almost without thinking. This all felt like a dream – or rather a nightmare.

“Beds 7 and 8,” Doctor shouted “Dr. Carmichael!”

“Never a dull moment,” Saffiya said, a mere second before Selara repeated these exact words.

“You’re free to go Captain. Eat-….”

“Magnesium rich foods for the headaches and don’t neglect your greens,” Saffiya finished the sentence.

Selara looked at Saffiya with a mixture of confusion and surprise. “How did you-?”

“Listen to me, doctor,” Saffiya urged quietly. “This all has happened before. It’s … this one day that keeps repeating itself.”

Selara looked over Saffiya’s shoulder at the diagnostic monitor, “If this has happened before, tell me something that hasn’t happened here yet.”

Saffiya grit her teeth, “A conduit overloaded and exploded. One of them has deep tissue plasma burns on chest and abdomen.”

Selara studied the two bio beds occupied by the patients, “Dr. Carmichael is going to get sprayed in the face with plasma and scream…” Selara said, slowly and hollow.

As if on cue, Dr. Carmichael screamed, stepped back from the bed, covering his face.

Selara whipped around to Saffiya, “I knew that,” she said plainly. “How did I know that?”

The Captain sighed in relief. At least she wasn’t the only one who felt like being caught in a time loop.

“What is going on? What are we going to do?”

“I have no idea, but we better find out quickly.”