Log:Clan Kora: Rathe back to school

Rathe begins medical school once again.

OOC Date: August 23rd, 2020
Location: Nar Shaddaa Staport District, Beacon Medical Center
Participants: Rathe Versiano, Atrel Katah

Treatment Area - Starport District, Nar Shaddaa
Once one enters in from the reception area they are greeted with stark, harsh white light that illuminates this state of the art clinic, pouring down from large paneling sunk into the ceiling. The same white paint that coats the reception area is utilized within the clinic itself, the flooring comprised of tiles of alternating slate grey and off-whites.

The area is partitioned off into three main sections, one for the surgical bay, which lies behind a set of large, glass windowed double doors, the other into half-walled cubbies, partially private areas equipped with biobeds and curtains to provide complete privacy when needed for general patients.

The ever present smell of antiseptic and other biological cleansers lingers in the air, with cleaning bots hustling through the area to keep everything spick and span.

Rathe Versiano Behind the set of large, glass windowed double doors within the surgical bay, Rathe works under the instruction of Doctor Atrel Katah. On today's lessons are Cardiology, which he surprisingly has a good grasp of, Anatomy in general, and his surgical stitching upon a cadaver. It is the latter he seems weakest in, while his hands are steady as they should be, Rathe still hasn't found the right technique for himself yet so he can work at a more rapid pace. "They say repetition is key, but..."

It does not help that Rathe seems to be hesitant, as he has actually stepped out of his heavily medically modified Dreadfinder armor. He's got his Vibrosword and Tracker at hand in a manner of speaking. They were heavily decontaminated, and wrapped in sealed bags sitting nearby on a tray. It was the immediate compromise he could make in the face of no Kora to stand watch. At least he isn't on Corellia doing this. "I still struggle with the looping needed here for the more fine work."

Atrel Katah Watching him, the Arkanian is still and considerate as she tilts her head and observes with a thoughtful sound after his comment. "You have to have the eye for the distance. You want consistency in how and where you enter the skin. So the matter is...I would recommend practicing on fabric, a tougher fabric of course." She reaches out and takes the needle from him to show. "Know the angle of your hand, how best to puncture. It really is about consistency and practice. So..if you have synth flesh, best place to start." She explains. "If you do not, fabric. Just do it while piloting or any down time. Eventually the movements will become rote." She expresses after making a loop through the skin and passing the needle through the loop to take off some of the tension from the halves of flesh.

She picks up the scalpel and cuts a new line. "Start again."

Rathe Versiano "Just so used to years of getting it done in the field, and letting bacta work its magic." There is a sigh. "So be more gentle and patient with my micro-stabbing?" Suturing, he knows the term, but likes his better. It is clear Rathe has had former training, but like all skills. They fall into severe disrepair without practice and maintenance. He does not object to the needle being taken, and observes. "Hmmm. Maybe some nerf hide pieces? But soaked in solution to make it more supple?"

Already he works his mind to the problem at hand. His head tilts to the side to get a better view. "To be fair, I think I've gotten too used to my helmet enhancements." Atrel cuts a new line and he nods. "As you wish." He plucks up a suture set, a previously expired one that can be expended for training. He does as instructed. He is still slow, but he is focusing on doing it right the first time, speed can come later.

Atrel Katah Watching him, Atrel considers his recommendation and hums thoughtfully. "Yes I suppose that would provide you with accurate representation." She admits. But as he takes back over she is leaning slightly forward to watch his work, white hair properly restrained to not present a problem as the woman nods her head, "Better. It will take you time but this is an important skill. I always believe we can not rely on a finite source and one day bacta could have a shortage and we will be forced to revert back to what medicine was like without it."

She turns from the work and lifts up a datapad, prepared with lessons and instructions on suturing as well as the other topics of their day. "This is for you. I expect it back when we meet again but I will set it next to your things." The guns that are sealed. She eyes them and then sets the pad down on the counter beside them. This brings her around to his side and she watches - NEARLY - brushing against him but Atrel rarely if ever touches people on purpose and most certainly NOT if she can help it.

Rathe Versiano "Time. It is the one thing we never have, and I want to be back in the field." There is a sigh of frustration from Rathe. His work however does not suffer, he maintains the pace, still focusing on perfecting the motions. "There's been shortages before, and there's always Kolto though the effectiveness by comparison is fairly weak." His head shifts to get a slightly better view.

He glances up from his work, pausing it only briefly, then takes the opportunity to do it by feel and not visually. He's actually doing fairly well considering. Practice for when he has to read diagnostics while performing work. "Oh, thank you for the gift that never ends. Homework." He does not go full ham on his sarcasm, for he is actually grateful. He almost sidles to the side when she is suddenly THERE.

Atrel Katah "You will come to realize...that as a Doctor you will always have homework. It’s a never ending part of the position. We are always evolving the way we treat things and with good reason. There are always better methods," she remarks. Atrel draws back and straightens up to walk around him. "What drove you to choose to further your skills? Or perhaps re-address them. You look to have a fair amount of understanding."

She lifts the chart for the deadman and makes notes upon it. The body will be disposed of later. Gang wars leave quite a bit of meat to work on and he can't feel anything.

White eyes watch the cool flesh in her infrared vision before her attention shifts to the male in question - the living one.

Rathe Versiano "I was teasing, Doctor Atrel." Rathe comments idly, he's turned back to the work at hand to shift yet again, only pausing once for a mild cramp in his hand. Cadavers can be tough to work with over time. "No, my learning never stopped even as a medic. Though I suppose I did let my Virology lessons lapse a little, I just kept an eye out for new bugs and the like." Another soft grumble. "I still prefer a blaster in my hands."

Her follow up question gives him pause. "My Clan needs this from me, I was forced to agree with the assessment. We need our own dedicated Surgeon and Doctor. Our base as very good medical facilities. They are wasted if used by just me as I am." The stitching has resumed. "For the life he led, this one had a strong heart. Relatively free of the, erm, clutter so many here get. Too bad a dagger got its tip through." He'd already done the work on examining the heart for more in-depth evaluation and diagnosis.

Atrel Katah "Teasing. You must understand that I do not jest. Ever." The Arkanian lays that out there in order to make certain that this mistake on his part does not happen again. She moves around him and once more looks over the deceased. "Yes well, Nar Shaddaa is not an easy place to reside," she points out thoughtfully, her eyes not really shifting by any visible means but one can guess he is assessing according to the data. "This is more common than should likely be necessary."

She sets down the record and standing beside him as he works she circles back to virology. "Tell me. How interested are you in virology? It is one of my fortes." She expresses to him, her gaze narrowing slightly. "If you wish, I could extend an invitation to our group. A scientific one and you could help me with my research on new strains I am creating."

Rathe Versiano "That is what will make it a good challenge." Rathe has a very limited emotional range himself, unfortunately. Being a smartass was not left out. So of course this mistake will be made again. "There are worse places in the galaxy." An idle response to her point on Nar Shaddaa. "Mind you, none come to mind right this moment. After all, even Coruscant has its massive levels of slums to compete." He glances up over to those eyes, it is still slightly unsettling, even for the Kora war medic.

"Virology? Well, being formerly of the First Order. It was useful knowledge on several levels. Especially when deploying into strange new hostile worlds with their own bugs. Well, and the Order being the Order often developed new ones. So I had to be familiar to counter effects encountered in our own troops. Sometimes things shift and mutate, so having the knowledge to try to get a handle on a potential course against a pathogen was valuable." He steps back from the cadaver and flexes both his hands, another surgeon would have normally been called to step in by now.

As he works his wrists and fingers he continues. "People speak of viruses and immediately think of parasites or ugly-fatal pathogens. Yet much more versatility is possible. My favorite to work with was a pathogen that vectored upon the skin. It was weaponized as an aerosol and easily dispersed in zones one needed to go through stealthily. The virus. Essentially made the recipients skin scrawl and itch. People do not focus well under such circumstances. So we'd be in and out as needed, it was easily countered. Designed as such so we left no trace."

Atrel Katah "So they are," Atrel remarks in reply about the Order. "I worked for them at one point. For a short while." This is explained without an air of worry to him knowing. She moves around him then again and is on the other side of the cadaver from the doctor in training. "Ahhh you enjoyed that one did you? I like to think it was the plant that was used to mutate it further that caused the discomfort. Did you know in higher doses it could cause airways to close up and make it impossible to breathe?" This known by her is probably eye opening. "So then. Would you care to work together?"

The Arkanian watches him for a moment. "Convergence is a like-minded group of scientists. I suspect not all of them would look kindly on what I do but we do not ask questions of each other and carry on. As my student, I will bring you along if that is what you want." She crosses her arms before her as she leans over to inspect his stitching. "Much better, but practice will make you fluid and doing so without thought."

Rathe Versiano That indeed does get an arched eyebrow. "Ah well. They often wanted the best minds, though... as an Arkanian I imagine it had some difficulties." Rathe has just found he no longer has much energy to give on caring about a species anymore, though some are more deserving of contempt than others. It takes him a moment to process her next statement. "Right, the anaphylaxis caused from histamines overreacting. I knew it was possible, we got specific warnings against it. That strong a reaction would be fatal, and thus create mission failure. How did you know about the plant base? I still don't understand it or have all the details, I just got some special training to use it."

Indeed, this knowledge is eye-opening. Very few people would have the knowledge. Atrel makes her pitch and it becomes more clear. "Ah. You helped develop it, well. My compliments then, many mission successes as a result." He is silent on the topic of Convergence for the a few moments. During this time he teases out and pops a foil blister for a dissolving tab, his current compromise for his mild-cigarrillo addictions. The package is slipped away again.

"My primary focus must be the needs of Kora." Turning back he gestures palm up as his hands swing away from his body. "Not sure I am what could be called a scientist. Though, I suppose it has the potential to help gain better understanding of cybernetics?" He tucks the dissolving disk into his cheek. "Ah. Grafting, nerves, skin. That too would save Kora much grief."

Atrel Katah Watching him finally understand that she was indeed the one who manufactured it she nods her head. She is quiet for a moment and Atrel begins to pull off her gloves to toss it in a bin. "My very first focus in study was in Cybernetics. It still is. I am the best likely available presently. If you need more study in that we can begin the next time we meet, if that is what you wish?" The offer is there as the Arkanian turns back to face him.

Her hands now free fold again as her arms cross her chest. "It would seem to be most important to your group. Replacing limbs and the like. But suturing is going to be your key skill besides treating the wound at large." She waits for him to decide still. "Of course, Convergence is not meant to be a focus for all members."

Rathe Versiano The repulsorlifts of Rathe’s mind fire, slowly one by one. This makes a very dangerous woman standing before him, most would never agree to think such. Rathe reevaluates testing her for humor, as he wants to keep taste buds intact, and there are a multitude of much worse things she could do for vengeance sake. "I also intend study with Aryn Cole, as much as that pains me to admit." He has not been able to fully purge The First Order from himself just yet. "But she successfully worked on someone close to me, so there is cause for some trust there."

Then another nod. "Indeed, yes. For Medicine always needs more than one mind." He gestures to the cadaver. "On the topic of sutures, I will maintain my practice." He still has not formally answered. "I am curious, so I am committed to learning more. Nothing more than hat at the start, if that is agreeable?"

Atrel Katah "Very well. We are assessing some samples taken from Taanab. It would be a good introduction to microbiology which is a branch of our work. I suspect its worth considering. It will expand your understanding which will keep your mind open to science as a whole. Everything influences what we do and so ...we need to be ready to learn all that we can." She explains.

Her attention shifts back to the cadaver. "I think today’s lesson is finished but you may remain and keep practicing if you like. This room is for use presently as she tucks her hand into the crook of her opposite elbow.

Rathe Versiano There is a bit of a face, biology. Not always his favorite topic, but a weakness to deal with then. "I will attend, pending availability from Kora duties. But I am a combat man first, medical man second, smartass third, not so sure about adding Scientist to the list." Not to mention, priorities change, Rathe realizes. "Still, as you said. Open mind." At her offer to continue he shakes his head side to side. The tab has dissolved. "I need to work on these hand cramps, I'll pick up a hand strengthener to get used to it again. More stitching is involved than I became used to. Regardless, I will still practice, as agreed." He plucks up the datapad so he can start reviewing the lessons. He waves it in her general direction. "Not to mention work on this too, during downtime."

Atrel Katah "I will send along a salve for your hands but your dexterity will come with the more you use your fingers as needed and stop relying on bandages. Give it time." She notes that they are one and straps her belt back around her white jacket to settle datapads and medpac into place. She dugs the tie out of her hair to send it spilling free, shaved on one side of her head. "I will walk you out and you can contact me when you are available."

She remarks about this as she motions for him to gather his things and waits near the door to turn off the light and let the orderlies deal with what is left.