ways_infirmary | (no subject)

(no subject)

Zhaan is in the infirmary, stocking the shelves with some herbal remedies and labeling them for their appropriate use - mint for stomachache, thistle for poison ivy rash, juniper for an antiseptic. Sometimes the best cures are found in nature.

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The door to the infirmary opens, admitting one young doctor. She takes a few steps inside the room, glancing about before calling out cautiously.

"Hello?"

Edited 2009-05-16 23:23 (UTC)

Zhaan steps out of the office, where she was cataloging her additions to the medicine cabinet. "I am here. How may I help you?"

Zhaan's appearance receives a startled blink from the young doctor, but she solders onward, gathering her courage.

"I...was told I may be able to get some medical assistance here, that may not necessarily be available to me back home?"

Edited 2009-05-16 23:36 (UTC)

"You might be," Zhaan says. "It would depend upon exactly what it is you seek."

Hands fidgeting, Thirteen lets out a long breath to calm herself.

"A cure. Maybe. Hopefully."

Zhaan nods. "Why don't you sit down," she says, gesturing to a chair across from one of the infirmary beds, "and explain it to me."

She does as asked, sinking into the seat and leaning forward with her arms resting on her thighs.

"I have a genetic desease, it's called Huntington's Chorea; a neurodegenerative disorder, and eventually it's going to kill me."

Zhaan nods solemnly. She kneels down by Thirteen's chair and gently places a hand on her shoulder. "If a cure exists, it can be obtained here. In Milliways, if not in the infirmary," she says.

Thirteen lets out another long breath, allowing some hopt to well up inside her at Zhaan's words. She manages a weak smile.

"Thank you."

Zhaan stands up. "I am not familiar with your condition, and I do not know if we have anything on hand. I will have to consult with some of the other doctors who work here. In the mean time..." she ducks into the office quickly, returning with a small pad of paper and a pen. "Can you write it down for me, so I will be able to look it up in our archives?"

Thirteen, nods accepting the paper, and steeling herself, starts writing. Symptoms, causes and consequences, expected evolution and so on; it is not one of the most common diseases, but it is not so terribly rare either.

Zhaan was only looking for the name of the disease so that she could find it in one of the books in the office, but she lets Thirteen write it all out. She can read it from here, and the more words appear on the page, the grimmer things seem to be.

She waits (making sure not to hover) until Thirteen finishes her writing.

She stops eventually, suprised as she realizes she's filled out at least two pages of the small notepad. Thirteen offers a small, chagrined smile as she hands the pad back.

"Sorry, I thought you might need the symptoms, in case it was called by something else in your records."

"It's all right," Zhaan says. She quickly skims over the notes for a recap. "It is probably in our records under this name, since most of the material we have concerns humans. But if not, your thorough description will certainly help."

She puts the paper down on a nearby table. "Now, I know the name of the ailment, but not of my patient. That seems somehow awkward," she adds with a slight smile.

Thirteen gives a small laugh and offers her hand to the oddly coloured woman.

"I'm sorry, I'm Dr. Remy Hadley; but everyone just calls me Thirteen."

"Which one would you prefer me to call you?"

"I'll answer to either, Thirteen is fine though, if you'd like."

"In that case, I would much prefer to call you Dr. Hadley, instead of a number," Zhaan says. She bows, her palms pressed together. "I am Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan. You can simply call me Zhaan."

The woman's smile grows as she relaxes.

"It's a good to meet you, Zhaan, and I really apreciate everything you're doing for me."

"You're welcome," Zhaan says. "I will have to see if we have anything in the infirmary to help you: if not, I can make inquiries. One of the worlds represented here must have something you can use."

For the first time in a long time, her illness dosen't seem so big and scary anymore, and the woman finds herself laughing again.

"The perks of visiting the end of the universe, eh?"

Zhaan nods. "You may have to wait a little while. I will leave a note when I have something for you."

"Alright," she nods, still smiling. "I'm willing to wait as long as it takes, if it means a cure."

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