Kassia had not been needed on the bridge, so Captain Wallace had detailed her to sickbay. She was there to help their new doctor, Mikarsh Varl, get things in order. As she walked along the corridors, her mind wandered over the two weeks she had spend previously on the Arizona-A. It had been the turning point in her life . . . This was the place that she had decided to become a Starfleet Officer. It was the best decision she ever made, she thought with a smile. But as she drew toward sickbay an unsettled feeling came over her. She stopped before the doors and took a deep breath, pushing the feeling away. Straightening her uniform, she entered.
Walking into sickbay was strange. The unsettled feeling came back instantly and was stronger. She felt her pulse pick up a bit. Dr. Varl saw her and approached.
"You must be Lt. Kassia," he greeted.
"Yes, hello," she replied as she took the hand he offered in a friendly greeting. "And you must be Dr. Varl."
"In the flesh," he smiled. He looked at her curiously, observing her spots. "Its amazing . . . If I hadn't read your medical file, I would have thought you were a Trill, like myself."
"Well, no one knows exactly what I am," she smiled. "But one day I'll find out," she replied. "So, what can I help you with?"
She had been helping Mikarsh stock supplies in sickbay so that they would be easily accessible in an emergency. Suddenly, she found herself next to the biobed she had been on when she had been brought back from B'aku. Suddenly, an image filled her mind. The Son'a Commander striking her face. She shuddered and took a deep breath, slowing her heartbeat that had suddenly picked up again. Then, as she looked at the bed she remembered how cold she had felt with a shudder . . . then the nightmare came crashing into her mind . . .
"What are you doing here, Starfleet!" she heard his angry voice again as clear as if she were back in the cave. His eyes dark and maniacal.
"Conducting Scientific Research," she had answered just to be struck in the face my him.
Suddenly a hand touched her shoulder and she jumped with a start. Reacting swiftly, she grabbed the wrist attached to the hand, ready to defend herself. Immediately seeing it was Dr. Varl, she immediately let him go.
"I'm so sorry . . ." she replied, with a good deal of surprised embarrassment.
"No damage done," he replied, as he rubbed his wrist a bit. "Are you all right?"
She looked to the bed and back to him again, forcing a smile. "I will be . . ." she answered a bit cryptically. "I'll go ahead and finish up here."
He nodded and moved off. As he settled himself at his desk, he pulled up her medical file again, noting the last few entries - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to interrogation on B'aku by the Son'a. . . . He looked over the injuries she had incurred and shook his head. She must have been having a flashback, he realized, and wondered just how concerned he should be about it. Just to be prepared, he began looking up medical treatments for PTSD.
Kassia settled herself into her temporary quarters. They were the same quarters she had been in before. That unsettled feeling hadn't left, though kept varying in intensity.
"You are not getting the better of me," she said aloud to herself. She went to the replicator and ordered some hot, sweet, herbal tea. She grabbed it, and took a seat facing the porthole. She sipped it slowly wanting the warmth to soothe her mind and soul. But it didn't . . . As memories surfaced, she tried to push them away. Finishing her tea, she set the cup down on the table. She then went to the bed to lay down, only she couldn't seem to relax. She knew what it was . . . She had read her medical file and everything she could about her diagnosis. She knew that there were medicines to help her through these times, but she had been hesitant to take anything. However, with a fight coming, she knew she had to be ready to handle things. It was time to talk to the doctor and see what he could do for her. Reluctantly, she got up out of bed and walked out of her quarters to sickbay.
"I thought I might see you again," Dr, Varl said as he saw Kassia enter sickbay.
"So what can you do for me, Doc?" she asked, her green eyes gazing at him hopefully.