Finding a Voice
Posted on Mon Nov 10th, 2025 @ 12:12am by Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone MD/DSAPM & Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant JG Leilani
1,441 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Sickbay.
Timeline: 1345: MD002 - Day 9 in "Gone, Without Ever Knowing the Way"
The sound of a normal sickbay echoed through Xalanths ears as he gently squeezed Travla hand. His daughter smiled back at him as the young hybrid hummed a tune inside his head. He was always amazed at how her inability to speak never got in the way of her happiness. He hoped to the ancestors who's blood ran in her and his veins that doctor Blackstone may be able to do something to help. It would be many years before his second daughter would be old enough to have the operation to fix her brain
Alex was as usual behind the desk in her office; one of two in sickbay. She was buried in research for one of the crew members and she wore a soft scowl, rubbing her temple as she read. She didn’t notice Xalanth and his daughter as they entered her domain, even while stretching her back and shifting to alleviate it.
There was a knock on her door as the ship's counsellor poked her head around the door. " Alex, Xalanth and Travla are here for their appointment." She said politely.
Alex gave a small start as she broke from concentration and after a moment she focused on Leilani. “Ah; thank you Leilani. I’ll be out in a moment. Go ahead and join them; it’s your daughter as well. I’ll square it in the shift log.”
The Betazoid nodded as she disappeared around the door. Her daughter's face lit up as she approached her and her father in the waiting room.
It took Alex a few moments to pull up the information she had prepared for this appointment and transfer it to a PaDD but once she had it done she stood from behind her desk and stepped out into Sickbay. She took a couple of quick steps to the couple and their daughter and knelt briefly, extending her hand to Travla. “How are you today? Ready?” She glanced up to both Xalanth and Leilani but her focus remained on Travla for the moment.
The hybrid looked up at her father and mother, who gave her a short nod before the words " I'm okay miss." Echoed in blackstone head.
Alex nodded; squeezing the hybrid’s shoulder lightly before standing. “How long ago was she diagnosed?”
" Shortly after her birth," Xalanth explained as he pulled out a data crystal. " We noticed she was crying, but no sound came from her lips. According to the doctors, her Paracortex lobe is pressing on other's preventing her speech."
Alex nodded; handing the PaDD with her plans to Xalanth and Leilani. “I’ve laid out what my plan is there. What you just said matches what my suspicions were. Her records are a little mismatched and incongruous. I take it that you have seem more than a handful of doctors trying to get it diagnosed?”
" Yes, the big problem being her rather unique physiology. The only individual we have to compare her to is her elder sister." Xalanth explained taking the padd. " We were told the best thing to do is wait till she's older before we can have an operation done to correct her Paracortex position. "
Alex nodded, offering both of them a smile. “That is the conservative course of action, yes. However; it has its own risks and complications.” She paused to let them examine the PaDD that laid out her plan not only for Travla but potentially for their youngest child as well. “I have always been about pushing the boundaries of both medicine and science.”
" What are the risks for this procedure doctor?" Xalanth enquired.
"Most of them are the typical risks associated with most any form of neuro-surgery. There is always the potential for nervous or brain tissue damage beyond what might already be there; in very rare cases death has occurred with many neurological procedures. The surgery could do nothing but it may also cause paralysis." Alex paused and picked up a vial of blue-silver liquid. "However; all of that being said I often use a small dose of medical nanites to help minimize damage and aid in the recovery. They are typically programmed to self terminate after a week and the body rids them through normal waste systems."
Xalanth could feel his daughter squeeze his hand. He gripped it back.
" It could make me talk?" her voice echoed in his and everyones head.
Alex thought for a moment and then looked at Travla, glancing at both parents. “I can show you my plans and the goal if you’ll allow me to meld with you. But yes; I give it a high probability of success in letting you talk.”
The young lizard nooded slowly, though she still gripped her father's hand tightly.
Alex placed her hand appropriately for a mind meld, reciting the appropriate phrase to guide Travlas mind into the meld. Once the meld was full she walked Travla through the procedure in depth, exploring the risks as well as her own hopes for the procedure. It took several minutes outside of the mind. When Alex opened her eyes again she let her hand fall and rocked back on her heels.
Xalanth reached out to steady Blackstone. " Sorry about that dragonian minds can be quite something." he said calmly, though he did look back at his daughter.
" i want the operation," the young hybrid's voice chirped in everyone's heads. Xalanth and Lelani looked at each other, their eyes had a conversation before both simply nodded in reply.
Alex nodded to Xalanth in thanks for his steadying touch. "While I have the ability to perform a mind meld it is not my strong suit, being only half-vulcan makes it a little bit more difficult for me." Her lips turned up in what might be the beginning of a smile as Travla announced her decision. "I can get you in this evening for the procedure. I'll be pulling an extra shift anyway as Dr. Andersen has requested a couple days leave."
"Okay, doctor. T'para would be willing to help with the mind meld." Leilani answered, though, like her husband, she was gripping her daughter's hand tightly.
"That may be useful." Alex offered Leilani a smile. "If you would like to be present for her during the procedure you are welcome to be. It is a frightening thing for you all."
" We'll be there," Xalanth replied, not letting go of his daughter. He was nervous anyone could see that.
"Excellent; why don't you take her and load up Blackstone 25 in one of the holodecks; it's a program that I think you will all appreciate for a few hours while I get everything set up and arranged. It's built around one of my favorite periods of Earth's History in Fuedal Japan."
" Thank you, doctor, we will do that." Xalanth replied
"When was her last meal? Ordinarily we prefer a 24 hour fast before operations." Alex stood the remainder of the way and raised a brow toward Leilani and Xalantb.
" Dinner last night around half seven. " Leilani added.
Alex thought for a moment, tapping her fingers across her opposing arm and then nodded. "It is a little short of 24 hours but I can utilize some metabolism inhibitors to arrest the speed of her metabolism so she doesn't just burn through the medicines necessary for the operation.
" Sounds good." Xalanth said, though his eyes were on his daughter. He gently gave her hand a squeeze. " You'll do fine honey."
"Aye; she will. Go ahead and take her to the Holodeck. I'll have everything prepped in like two hours." Alex turned on a heel and started making a checklist of the things she would need and who was on duty at the moment among the nurses.
As the doctor left, the red lizard turned to his beazoid mate, giving her a reassuring smile before gently picking up their daughter in his arms. Everything was going to be alright.
Alex sat and turned to watch her friends and her newest patient as they left Sick Bay. After a few moments she nodded in satisfaction and turned back to her computer. She had planning to do to figure out the logistics of Travla's surgery.
Lieutenant Alexandra Blackstone
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant Xalanth
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea
Lieutenant J.G. Leilani
Counselor
USS Astrea
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