Holographic Freedom

At last, liberty for holograms!

After much campaigning by HUD (the Holographic Union of Doctors), holoprojectors are being fitted throughout the Enterprise. This means I will be able to walk freely around the ship, instead of being imprisoned in SickBay.

What it means is that I can assume proper medical duties, and be there for the organics when Dr Crusher are sleeping at night, or if she is on the Bridge in her Commander role.

Well, this is the first day, and the last holoprojector has been fitted. I walk slowly out of SickBay, thinking that I might get dissolved. I'm alright, though, and even now am seeing new things in the outside corridor.

"Well done, Doctor" says Picard, "I hope this will be a good investment. It will use a lot of power up in keeping those holoprojectors running."

That's typical of Picard; thinking of trivialities instead of the beneifit to me. Well look out, Enterprise, the Doctor is ready to assume his duties!

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It's late at night, and no one is in SickBay; I'm, waiting for the first emergency so that I can rush to their Quarters to aid them.

Come on, somebody! Fall ill.

Suddenly, the Com is activated.

"Doctor" a voice goes, "We need you in Lieutenant Marsh's quarters right away."

I spring up and grab my medical kit. This must be serious if the patient couldn't come to SickBay. I pick up every I can and run down the corridors to and go on the Turbolift to Deck 12, where Lieutenant Marsh is. The surroundings are all new to me; fortunately I know my way, due to the map in my programming.

Running into the Marsh quarters, I encounter Lieutenant Felicity Marsh; her daughter Kimberly is lying in bed."

"What's the emergency?" I ask, "Is Kimberly suffering from a fever?"

"Err...no, Doctor" replies her mother, "I've got to go on my Engineering shift in a few moments. Kimberly can't sleep, and no one else is available. Could you read her a story, please?"

"What??" I say in disbelief.

"Just read her a story, "Flubber and the Fire Dragon" was always a favourite.

Reluctantly, I sit down and read Kimberly her story. Is this what holograms have fought for? The right to read stories to children?

Later, I trudge back to SickBay, hoping that my next call will involve lots of blood and that my true talent as a master surgeon and doctor will be recognised.

Another message through the Com comes through.

"Doctor!" it says, "Come quickly to Ensign Mulligan's quarters on Deck 11 right away; I'm bleeding badly."

This is more like it! Blood everywhere and me with a chance to put everything right with my advanced 24th Century medical skills.

Arriving at the Mulligan quarters I rush through; will the floor be covered with blood? I don't want to lose anybody while I'm duty.

There are a couple of spots of blood on the floor.

"Thank goodness you've come, Doctor" says Ensign Mulligan, "I've just incurred a paper cut on my finger."

"There are only a couple of spots of blood" I protest, "It will heal up in no time."

Instead of using 24th Century technology, I throw her some 21st Century sticking plaster.

"That should do the job!" I tell her, and walk out.

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"How did you like your first evening as full time medical doctor" Beverly Crusher asks me. I can't be sure if there's a hint of sarcasm there.

"They were for such trivial things." I tell her.

"It's always been like that in the past." she remarks, "You just never knew. Welcome to the real world of medicine on the Enterprise, Doctor."