Relearning the Basics

Posted on Wed Sep 10th, 2025 @ 10:34pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Lieutenant JG Benjamin "Ben" Dalton & Lieutenant Viviana Del Rio

1,077 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Holding Pattern Hijinks
Location: PT complex, in Sickbay
Timeline: After What the Future Holds

Ben sighed deeply. As he looked at Viviana and then to the long table before him. "You want me to do what?" He asked her.

"Lie down on the table, arch your hips off the table so your bottom gets off the table as well. Give me two sets of thirty." Viviana replied with a smile.

Ben nodded and began to do what Viviana wanted. He didn't see the point of this exercise, but he would do it as she wanted to walk and if this helped him to achieve his goal he was all for it.

"Tell me what is this supposed to do?" He asked as he lifted his hips off the table.

"In the old days of medicine, they would have you do this to lengthen the muscles. But of course, you have biosynthetics, so this will also strengthen your muscles while also helping your body get used to the new nerve signals. This will be a journey, but I promise you, you will reach the end of the journey and find that you are just as strong as you were before the incident" Viviana replied with a smile, hoping her words of encouragement would give him that little extra push.

Ben nodded at Viviana's statement, and he silently hope she was correct. He didn't mind hard work, but he also wanted to see his work pay off. "Hope so Viviana." He replied as he continued to do the bridges.

"Trust me. This is a tried-and-true treatment to help you with these biosynthetics. And the better you do with this stuff, the less you have to work with the counselors" she said smiling.

"That is a plus right there." Ben replied with a smile as he concentrated on doing the bridges. His goal was to walk and he would not settle for anything less.

Viviana watched and scanned him as he continued to do the PT exercises. She smiled seeing the data coming into her tricorder. "Great work. Keep going. According to the scans you should be feeling the burn in your abdominals, lumbar, and I am reading full readings coming from the biosynthetics."

Ben nodded his head as he concentrated on the exercises. He only had one goal and that was to walk, and he was willing to put in the required work to reach that goal.

"Alright, time for something different" Viviana said as she closed her tricorder and placed it into her jacket pocket. "I know you don't want to, but let's get you standing up and work on balance, get you used to these new legs of yours." She stepped over and offered him a hand and arm to take hold of if he so wished. She knew from a medical perspective; he was good as new. But that didn't mean he was just going to stand up and start dancing around. It was a process, and while she had no issues with counselors, this was something she preferred to have control over with her patients.

Ben stopped, sat up and swung his legs over the side of the table. He nodded at Viviana's new instructions. He looked at the offered hand and while he was fiercely independent, he wasn't stupid. He would take hep when he needed it and he needed it now. His hand closed around hers and he stood up, wobbling in place bit erect. He flashed a shaky smile at her as he stood there. "Alright, that's done. I'm upright now the balance part of the equation." As he stood there still holding Viviana's hand, he hoped he didn't make a fool of himself and fall over.

"Good. You are doing good. How do you feel?" she questioned.

Ben looked at her for a second perhaps two before he replied. "Taller."

Viviana couldn't help but chuckle just a bit. It wasn't what proper decorum dictated, but he made a joke, and it was worth the laugh. "You sir have a twisted sense of humor. That should help you as we progress with everything here."

A smile played across Ben's face. "Laughing is better than crying and I'm done crying Doctor. As for my sense of humor, you have no idea but I'm hoping it helps me deal with everything we do here."

"That is a good attitude to have. So, you up for practicing walking? We can start easy, just a few steps" Viviana replied.

Ben nodded, "Absolutely I am. Let's do this." Ben replied without making any flip comments. He didn't want to tick Viviana off. He needed all the friends he could get.

Viviana took out her tricorder and scanned him quickly. "Alright, everything looks good. I am going to be right next to you. Take hold if you need. Let's start with one step with each leg and see how you feel."

Ben gave a quick nod and looked down at his legs. Then slowly he moved his left leg one step then followed it by moving his right leg one step. He gave a sideways glance at Viviana. "More?" He questioned.

"If you feel up to it" Viviana said with an encouraging smile.

He nodded again and under his breath was muttering. "You can do this! One foot in front of the other." He slid his left forward and then his right. That went pretty well. He took another step with is left and then his right and that's when trouble started. He suddenly felt weak that his legs would buckle, off balance like he was going to fall over. He grasped for her arm to steady himself. Panic flared inside him.

Viviana helped to steady him. "Keep that balance. Just remember, these biosynthetics are as good as the real thing. They aren't going to suddenly stop working. It is just a matter of you trusting them and yourself."

Ben looked at her, "Easier said than done Doctor. They aren't the real thing, and I don't trust them or myself." He added dejectedly.

"Suppose that means we'll need to bring the counselor in, help you deal with the psychological challenge. On the bright side, from a physical perspective, everything looks good. Let's call it a day for now" Viviana responded, helping him back to a seated position in his chair. "Maybe we give you a cane" she said allowed, considering options. "I'll contact Callie, get her to set a time for us all to meet. You just rest up in the interim."

 

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