Will he be alright?' Travis Mayweather had helped carry Archer back to sickbay. Zimmer had followed along, still holding her head and hoping the doctor carried a large supply of aspirin.
He did drink all of the mixture I gave him?'
Yeah, then he just fainted dead away.'
Archer lay limp and still on a cot. Zimmer had insisted that he be placed on his side.
Excellent,' Phlox's mouth twisted into a smile of frightening proportions and he reached for a jar containing something that looked like meaty seastars. Then he's ready for his next course of eel therapy.'
You mean he was meant to...?' Mayweather gestured towards the floor.
Of course.'
Well, maybe next time you're going to do that to someone you should just let them know, y'know, what to expect.'
Really?'
It would be polite, doc, and we'd all feel a whole lot less concerned.'
Well! I shall remember that. Thank you Mr Mayweather.'
Mayweather left, Zimmer stayed. She watched the doctor place the osmotic eels on Archer's body, over his wounds which looked impossibly well healed. The doctor was a decidedly odd looking character, though he had a friendlier demeanour than the lady with pointy ears.
Are you a Vulcan too?'
Phlox simply laughed. Happily, no. You were needing a little medical attention too, I believe.'
When you're finished helping Jon, doc,' she said.
Then I'll tend to your burns and that bump on the head. You may even have a concussion.' He made it sound like a bit of a treat.
Yeah, and something else, maybe. I don't know how long I'm gonna be here, but I'm supposed to take medication for my thyroid every day. I have myxoedema, hypothyroidism.'
The doctor's face twisted into that impossible smile again. I have been making a study of the human endocrine system.' He finished positioning the second eel and draped a light blanket over Archer. Here,' he motioned towards a diagnostic table. Let me see how I can help.'
It made Stazi think of a bio-scanner, only it was small and quiet and she didn't have to remove her jewellery. Phlox clucked over his findings for several minutes before turning back to Stazi. Your reproductive system is quite dysfunctional,' he scolded. As if it was her fault.
Yeah, tell me about it, doc. That's about ninety percent of the reason my marriage broke down. The other ten percent being that my ex was a bastard.'
His parents were unwed?'
He had the kind of personality you just wanted to flush. Didn't help that I couldn't provide him with babies. We tried so damn hard.'
The doctor paused, deep in thought. Reproductive mating is more tiring than recreational mating?'
It is when you're spending half your life visiting the fertility clinic. We spent five years and every spare cent we had. They said there was nothing wrong with me.'
Well, they were mistaken,' Phlox smiled again. There's plenty wrong with you, but nothing I can't easily cure. You'll be as fertile as a Selarian rabbit.'
I'm not sure I actually want children at my age.'
On my planet the females are quite adamant about their right to choose whether or not they will have children. Don't say no to choice.'