In Good Hands
Posted on 29 Oct 2025 @ 11:46pm by Captain Sabrina Corbin & Lieutenant Commander Riah Amberlyn XMD & Lieutenant Commander Sandra Boren
1,649 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Fractured Accord
Location: Sickbay :: Arawyn
The turbolift doors opened onto Deck Seven with a soft hiss, releasing the faint hum of life-support systems into the corridor. Captain Sabrina Corbin stepped out, the calm from the bridge still clinging to her uniform like a quiet echo. She nodded to a passing nurse, then continued toward the reception area of Sickbay, the steady rhythm of her boots against the deck the only sound in the hallway.
Inside the inpatient ward, the lights were low and even, the air clean and faintly metallic. Monitors pulsed in gentle rhythm beside occupied biobeds, and the voices of medical personnel drifted in quiet coordination. The scent of antiseptic mixed with recycled air, the familiar signature of every starship that had seen trouble and was clawing its way back to normal.
Corbin slowed as she passed along the line of recovery beds. Two of the injured security officers were sitting up, trading low conversation over a game of cards. She paused, resting a hand on the bedframe between them. “Good to see you both upright,” she said quietly.
“Yes, ma’am,” one replied, the hint of pride softening his voice. “Just scratches now, Captain.”
“Keep following the doctor’s orders,” Corbin replied, her tone gentle but firm. “You’ve both earned an easier shift when you’re cleared.”
A few steps farther on, a young ensign was being fitted with a new dermal regenerator patch. Corbin offered her a nod and a few quiet words of encouragement before moving on. It was progress, slow, steady, human progress, and it steadied something in her that had been coiled too long.
Her gaze found the biobed near the far partition. Commander Boren lay there, half upright, her usually sharp features softened by fatigue. A datapad rested nearby, untouched, and something in the stillness told Corbin what she already suspected: recovery was not going as quickly as expected.
A motion from across the ward caught her attention. Commander Amberlyn stood at the entrance, waiting. The look on her face was enough, professional restraint overlaid with concern.
Corbin exhaled slowly, letting the sound fade into the ambient hum of Sickbay before she moved toward her.
Amberlyn noticed the Captain’s approach and admired her for stopping to visit with the crew confined, for the moment, to Sickbay. She chose not to interrupt that exchange prematurely. The crew needed to know their Captain. But when she saw Corbin’s attention fix on her, Riah smiled and welcomed the approach.
“Hello Captain. Welcome to Sickbay. I assume you’re here about my medical report,” said the doctor.
Corbin’s expression was measured, her tone steady but quieter than usual. “Yes,” she said, glancing briefly toward the partitioned recovery bay where Commander Boren lay. “And to see how she’s doing.”
Her eyes lingered for a moment on the familiar hum of the ward, soothing and clinical, but carrying the weight of the mission still settling into her shoulders. She took a slow breath before returning her gaze to the doctor.
“Doctor,” she said evenly, though there was a trace of gravity in her voice, “perhaps we could speak in your office first.”
“Of course.” Riah turned and the two walked quickly to the CMO’s office. The Doctor closed the door and motioned for the Captain to be seated in the occasional chairs in front of Riah’s desk. She waited for the other woman to sit before sitting herself in the other chair. “Commander Boren?”
Corbin inclined her head slightly, taking the offered seat. “I appreciate you taking a moment, Doctor,” she said, her tone low and even. “I know you can’t share details, and I won’t press for them.”
She paused, the faintest crease forming between her brows. “I’m mostly trying to understand how urgent this is, whether Commander Boren can continue to recover here under your care, or if we need to get her back to Starbase Three-Six-Nine sooner rather than later.”
Her gaze was calm but earnest. “If she needs more than what Sickbay can provide, I’ll make sure we’re ready to move without delay.”
Sabrina gave a small, understanding smile. “You’ve already done a great deal for her and for the crew, Doctor. I trust your judgment, I just need to know what’s best for her, and how much time we have to work with.”
Riah nodded as the Captain spoke. "Well, what's best for the Commander is to return to the hospital at 369. She has a condition in which her hybrid blood is not clotting to stop internal bleeding as a result of the concussion. It is not life threatening at this point, because we have found a work-around to keep accumulation of fluid and blood under control. We can and will continue to research it here on Arawyn and communicate long distance with 369, but I'm thinking we are not the best equipped to do the subsequent production of either a longterm work-around or a cure for the condition.
"Without that dependable work-around or cure, the Commander is susceptible to other injuries that might result in the same lack of clotting control. She won't bleed to death from a paper cut, but should something more serious happen, she would be in continued danger of internal bleeding. I can't allow her to return to regular duty until I am sure that bleeding is not exceeding our ability to control it. Hence, she is still in Sickbay. And she's none too happy about being confined here," the doctor said with humor.
Corbin listened closely, her expression composed but attentive. When the doctor finished, she gave a slow nod, taking a moment to weigh the information before speaking.
“Understood,” she said quietly. “It sounds as though the Commander’s fortunate to have you keeping such a close eye on her. I’m grateful you caught it before it became something worse.”
Her gaze softened, though the concern behind it remained clear. “We’ll make arrangements to depart for Starbase Three-Six-Nine tonight. I don’t want to risk delaying treatment if they can provide the deeper resources you need.”
She leaned back slightly, hands resting on the armrests of the chair. “Still, if your team can continue the research here, I’d like you to. Anything we can do to help their specialists get ahead of this could make the difference.”
A faint smile crossed her features, the sort that carried genuine appreciation rather than cheer. “And yes,” she added lightly, “I’ve no doubt she’s less than thrilled about being confined.”
Corbin rose, smoothing her uniform. “Thank you, Doctor. You’re doing good work, for her, and for this ship.”
She nodded once in quiet gratitude. “I’ll go speak with the Commander myself before we get underway.”
The door to Amberlyn’s office slid open, releasing the muted light of the ward beyond. Captain Corbin stepped through, her expression composed but thoughtful, carrying with her the quiet weight of their conversation.
Her gaze settled on the biobed where Commander Boren lay there, propped slightly upright. For a moment, Sabrina simply observed, the steady pulse of the monitor, the datapad resting idle beside her, the trace of stubborn composure in her posture.
Corbin’s tone, when she finally spoke, was quiet but sure. “Commander,” she greeted, the single word carrying warmth beneath the formality.
She took a few steps closer, stopping at the foot of the bed. “I wanted to check on you personally.”
Her voice softened. “Doctor Amberlyn tells me you’re in capable hands, but I thought it best to hear that from you.”
She paused, allowing a small, faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, not from lack of sincerity, but from fatigue that mirrored the ship’s own.
"Captain," Sandra greeted,"unfortunately, I am stuck here for the time being." She was far from happy about that, even if she understood the reasons.
Corbin’s brow lifted slightly, the ghost of a smile tracing her expression.
“Well, I can’t fault your timing, Commander,” she said, her voice carrying that familiar quiet dryness. “Between us, I can’t say Tarvik III was much to look at. You may have saved us all from a few more days of dust, bureaucracy, and creative diplomacy.”
Her gaze settled on Boren, thoughtful. “You did good work down there, all of it. I’d rather have you resting here for the moment than pushing yourself to the breaking point.”
A pause, just long enough to be felt, then a small, sincere nod.
“We’ll handle things in engineering for now. You just focus on getting back to your post when you’re ready.”
"Thank you, Captain," Sandra replied, she appreciated the visit from the Captain and her words. "The whole engineering team deserves your thanks. I've been impressed with Ensign Collingway, he has been very quick, on his feet thinking." She felt useless just sitting here on the bed, not allowed to do much but sitting around. She was not used to that, and so far had rarely been ill after the usual childhood illnesses.
Corbin’s expression softened, a trace of genuine surprise lighting her eyes. “That’s good to hear,” she said. “It’s not every day a chief engineer gives that kind of praise, I’ll make a point to stop by Engineering and let the team know it’s well earned.”
She let a brief pause settle, the corners of her mouth curving faintly. “You’ve built a capable department, Commander. Let them carry things for a while.”
Her voice gentled just a fraction. “Right now, your only job is to recover.”
With that, the Captain’s stride carried her quietly toward the exit, the calm hum of Sickbay closing in behind her.
LtCmdr Sandra Boren
Chief Engineering Officer
LtCmdr Riah Amberlyn
Chief Medical Officer
Captain Sabrina Corbin
Commanding Officcer
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