"A Little Cheer in Sickbay"
Posted on 25 Oct 2025 @ 12:09am by Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD & Ensign Ryan Collingway & Alura Ryn & Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren
1,588 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Fractured Accord
Location: Arawyn Sickbay
// Alura Ryn’s Quarters //
Alura Ryn stood before the mirror, hairbrush in hand, giving her reflection a critical tilt of the head. “You are not bringing gloom into Sickbay,” she muttered at herself. A few deft twists, and her honey-blonde curls were pinned up in the soft, airy style she favored when she needed to look approachable, less “official visitor,” more “friendly neighbor who just happens to have a cart full of comfort.”
She spritzed a light floral scent, nothing too heavy for the sterile air of Sickbay, just a whisper of jasmine and bergamot; then tugged at the sleeve of her cheerful tunic. Today’s choice was a soft coral shade with delicate embroidered cuffs, paired with slate-gray trousers and her most comfortable flats. The outfit was intentional: warm enough to lift spirits, neutral enough not to irritate anyone on painkillers.
Her cart was already waiting by the door, a small mountain of kindness on wheels, plush pillows wrapped in sterile covers, fleece blankets in Arawyn blue, small holo-projectors preloaded with calming environments, and a tray of hypoallergenic teas and sugar-free sweets. She gave it a once-over and smiled, satisfied.
“All right,” she murmured, tapping the top handle like it was a co-conspirator. “Let’s go make the ward a little less gray.”
The corridors leading to Sickbay were quieter than usual, the air heavy with the ship’s collective fatigue. Crew members nodded as she passed, some offering faint smiles at the sight of the rolling oasis she pushed ahead of her.
// Sickbay //
When the Sickbay doors parted, the familiar sterile scent met her, crisp antiseptic and recycled air. Alura paused just inside reception, the hum of biobeds beyond barely audible.
Catching the eye of the attending nurse at the desk, she smiled softly and lowered her voice.
“Hi there. I heard some of our own are still recovering from the surface. I brought a few things that might make the room feel a bit less… medical.”
Her tone carried that mix of warmth and deference she’d perfected over years in morale work, the kind that said I’ll only stay if I’m welcome, but I’d really like to help.
“Permission to come aboard your Sickbay?” she asked with a small, hopeful grin.
"Hi. Alura, right? What is all this?" Yeoman Lucy Engerman stood to better see the cart. It was a rhetorical question. "I'll have to ask Dr Amberlyn, but I'd love someone to bring me such a lovely surprise. Standby. Let me see if she's available." Lucy keyed the comm for the Doctor and when prompted explained that Alura Ryn had brought some lovely gifts for those in the ward.
"I'll be right there," came the Doctor's reply. Riah was intrigued. She was aware of Alura's various efforts to excel as the ship's morale officer and most were spot on well received. But she wanted to be sure there was nothing contraindicated to those in the ward.
"Hi Alura. Lucy said you come bearing gifts. That's a great idea. Can I have a look, just to make sure nothing competes too much with our protocols of bring joy and light into our patient's recovery?" she said with a warm smile.
When Dr. Amberlyn appeared, Alura straightened a bit, smiling warmly but deferentially.
“Doctor,” she greeted, “thank you for seeing me. I just wanted to offer a few comforts for those recovering from the colony. Nothing fancy, mostly things that smell nice, feel soft, or sound gentle.”
She gestured lightly over the assortment. “These pillows are hypoallergenic, and the covers are sealed for sterilization. The blankets are all ship-approved fleece; I checked with Supply before bringing them down. And these—” she tapped the small holoprojector units “—are preloaded with calm environmental scenes. No movement faster than one frame per second, no flashing lights, no sound unless requested.”
Her tone softened. “I know Sickbay’s a healing place already, but sometimes a little color and texture can help lift spirits, especially after what they went through down there.”
Alura offered a small, good-natured smile. “But of course, if you’d rather I keep it all out here, I’ll do that. I’d never want to upset your protocols, or your patients.”
"No, I think we can do something that's not too noisy. Some of the patients are resting after some rough moments on the surface," said Riah as she looked over the cart. One of her nurses was nearby watching. "Sarah, let's set Alura up in the VIP space, and let the patients who are ambulatory come in and take a look, pick out anything they want. Then maybe approach those who were resting or sleeping come in after that. Once the initial excitement is spent, I think we can come in and approach those who are not able to leave their bed without causing an upheaval in the whole ward." Riah turned to Alura.
"Thank you Alura, this is very kind. Sarah will lead you to the VIP suite."
"If you'll bring your cart this way," said Sarah, and they moved to the VIP suite, which had two meds, which could be moved to the walls, leaving floor space for visiting patients to explore Alura's cart.
Alura’s face lit up, her eyes bright. “Oh, wonderful! Thank you, Doctor, I promise, nothing louder than a whisper and a smile.”
She followed Sarah toward the VIP suite, one hand on her cart, the other absently tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
Inside, she set right to work, fluffing pillows, smoothing blankets that didn’t need it, and humming softly as she arranged everything just so. A pop of coral here, a cozy stack of throws there. She gave one of the holoprojectors an affectionate pat.
“Behave yourself, you little light show.”
When she finally stood back, cheeks a little flushed from the effort, she smiled at Sarah, bright and proud. “There! My very serious medical contribution: comfort and color. All ready when they are.”
Ryan sat on the edge of the bio-bed, working. He was sending messages to the engineers on Tarvik III who were still working. Commander Boren had just got out of surgery, and he didn't want to disturb her. He heard voices at the door of medical, but dismissed them.
As he saw them set up the cart, he hesitated, then looked down. He didn't feel like he deserved anything special. He glanced at Commander Boren, however. With her surgery she wasn't exactly in a position to get up and look. "Ma'am, can I get you anything?"
"No thank you," she replied.
"I wouldn't mind one of those blankets, if you're offering," another one of the patients, Ensign Crissom, said.
Alura turned toward the voice with a smile already forming. “Absolutely, blankets are for everyone who needs one,” she said brightly, motioning to the stack. “They’re clean, cozy, and I promise they don’t bite.”
Hiding a sigh, Ryan got off the bed and reluctantly walked towards the cart. He viewed the strange woman with a bit of suspicion. "I saw you before. At the transporter room on the Newton," he said. "Is this some kind of Starfleet program?"
She glanced up at the other patient’s approach, noting the tension in his posture. Her expression softened, dialing her tone down just a touch. “You did! Transporter room two, right?” Her smile became more genuine. “I remember you had a bemused smile but kept moving.”
At his question, she laughed softly, the sound light but not mocking. “Starfleet program? Oh, no. I’m more of a… freelance happiness technician.” A playful twinkle touched her eyes. “Official title: morale. welfare and recreation director. Very dry and boring. Unofficial title: bringer of tea, blankets, and whatever little comfort we can fit in a turbolift.”
She nudged the cart a bit closer, eyes kind. “Go ahead, pick your favorite color. The blue ones are extra brave.”
In response, Ryan reached over and grabbed the blanket Ensigjn Grissom had requested. "No thank you," he said politely. He gave Grissom the blanket and returned back to his bed.
Sandra was aware of what was going on around her, but felt tired and had a mild headache. So far, her leg was not overly painful. It was easily kept in check with her bio control. She did not want to be overly medicated, it would be too tempting to start doing more than she was allowed at this point.
One of the patient care technicians walked up to Sandra's biobed with a small tray. "Commander. I'm Lauri and I've brought you some fresh ice water and a snack, jam thumbprint cookies. They probably aren't as wonderful as what Alura Ryan is offering across the way in VIP, but they are on your list of snacks. I'll be happy to get something from Alura though, if you'd prefer."
"That is most kind, Lauri," Sandra replied, "this is most sufficient, I appreciate it." Being stuck in bed was not her idea of fun.
Ryan was also not having fuh. He kept his head down, not responding to anything around him and definitely not looking at the VIP area. The idea of getting extra treats...no. he definitely didn't deserve it. Instead he tried to focus on work. He gripped the data padd tightly, and only focused on that.
~~~
Alura Ryn
Happiness Technician
LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn, XMD
Chief Medical Officer
LtCmdr Sandra Boren
Chief Engineering Officer
Ensign Ryan Collingway
Engineering Officer
Nurse Clara Barton
Medical Assistant
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