Is there a Doctor in the house?

 The woosh of the medical doors opened as first officer Commander Riker stepped foot into sickbay.  As he stepped a few steps away from the entrance, the door opened again and Master Chief Eddington entered sickbay as well.

The two exchanged glances and nodded at each other.  The Master Chief spoke first.

"Commander."

"Master Chief."

"Here for your physical?"

Looking around Riker laughed.

"Last I checked.  I take it you are doing your internal rounds?"

"Last I checked."

As the two laughed together, Master Chief Eddington walked over to a control panel on the bulkhead and began to press a few buttons.  Commander Riker walked over to center of sickbay.

"Computer activate the emergency medical hologram."

As the hologram faded into view it spoke.

"Why am I again activated when there is no medical emergency? Haven't you all done enough testing? "

Laughing Riker nodded as the hologram continued.  The activation of the EMH drew the attention of Doctor Elliago Nasaro-Myth and he walked over witnessing the end of the exchange.

"You know, Sir, your exam has to be conducted by the CMO."

"Yeah I know but I have not seen you in a while old friend.  How is that activation memory wipe update working for you?"

Grunting the EMH shook his head.

"If I could remember I would let you know wouldn't I... old friend?"

As the EMH motioned to the doctor beside him, he nodded to Riker.

"Well, time for your check up... old friend!"

The EMH then faded from view.

Sighing, Riker turned to Elliago and smiled.

"Hello Doctor.  I am Commander Joshua Riker, first officer. Nice to meet you.  I am reporting for my scheduled physical.  I guess it would be a bit out of line to request the EMH to be involved wouldn't it?"

The Deltan had looked at the curious exchange between the holographic system and the tall bearded Human with as much curiosity as perplexity. It was as if the Exec of the Phoenix expected it to be sentient and react to him like a truly living medical officer. And his request, just as strange and perplexing, followed the same surprising line of reasoning.

"Well, hello Commander Riker. Nice to see that on this ship, the senior officers lead by example and are first in line for their mandatory medical. The captain already did his. "

Then, Elliago frowned a bit, recalling the request from the man.

"Commander... you know that such first examination has to be done by the Chief Medical Officer himself... Why would you want to have it done by a mere EMH? Don't you like me?"

The question was said with a friendly tone but there was no denying the perplexity lacing it. nor the way the purple eyes looked at Riker with keen, professional interest.

With a soft tone Riker responded to the Doctor's question.

"Not like you?  Heck I just met you.  Would not be very fitting to make an assumption like that would it?"

Smiling Riker continued.

"As for that mere EMH as you call him he is in fact an old friend of mine.  The mark four EMH was designed and developed off modifications made to a mark two by my mother and her team.  Everything that makes it so great from the emergency activation to the tricorder free readings hell even the fact that it looks like Doctor Joseph Lister were all things my mother added to the program.

That EMH over there has been in constant operation for almost twenty years.  Like several artificial lifeforms he was recognize sentient and granted a commission in Starfleet he took the name Theodor S. Gray after several famous doctors throughout Earth's history.  When I was transferred to the ship I saw Doc over there get orders to.  He was tired of serving on the front lines and wanted something calm he even agreed to allow the installation of that sentient filter.  He is in there somewhere maybe one day right?  Oh well."

Laughing aloud to himself Riker continued.

"The truth is, Doc, that machines and holograms built my life and have saved it more times then I can count.  There is not lies, misdeeds, or malicious intent from a machine or a hologram.  I was delivered by an EMH and watched as one saved my father's life when I was a child.  I have seen what real doctors are capable of with experiments and torture.  I trust a machine to have my best interest at heart before most men I have ever met doc.  It's nothing personal against you just my history agreeing with me."

The Deltan listened with keen interest, a curious light in his eyes. When he spoke, there was a glint of amusement but a more evident tone of sympathy in his voice.

" Real doctors never do harm, Commander. But medical knowledge can be abused, like any other form of knowledge. And your trust in machines might not be so pure and innocent if you had faced the M5 computer unit, the Nomad probe,  the android Lore, the smartbomb-possessed EMH of the USS Voyager... or the Borg... Machines can break down, you know; just like people can go wrong. And when it is machines that complex as a holographic entity, breakdown can have proportionately disastrous results. "

Elliago smiled with a nod.

"Your request is either a very well rationalized typical dismissal of doctors too many command grade officers exhibit in Starfleet when their own health and welfare is concerned... or a very interesting reversal case of the, just as common, distrust of "souless machines". Interesting either case..."

For a moment, his gaze went to the spot where the EMH had materialized. Then it came back towards the First officer.

"I was wondering who that "Doctor Gray" was when I saw him listed on the department roster... but not on the crew quarters listing. So we have a genuine sentient artificial lifeform aboard... fascinating."

He smiled again. The he spoke outloud.

"Computer, activate Emergency Medical Hologram."

Again, the artificial doctor materialized before them. But before it could utter a word, Elliago spoke.

"Welcome aboard the Phoenix, Doctor Gray."

"Thank you, Doctor Nasaro-Myth," said the EMH with a returning smile and shaking the offered hand but with a questing stare. "Why am I being activated?"

"Why, I'm releasing you from solitary confinement, Doctor," said the Deltan with a charming tone of voice. "Commander Riker just explained to me your status as a sentient lifeform and as a career Starfleet officer. As such, keeping you in computer stasis until we decide that we need you is morally, ethically and legally unacceptable. Such slavery and debasing of you to the level of a mere computer program will not happen while I am on board this ship. From here on, you are free to stay activated for as long as you like or activate and deactivate yourself freely, with all the rights and privilieges your responsibilities entitle you to, including personal quarters, holodeck leisure activities and involvement in decision-making within this medical department."

Doctor Gray blinked and looked at Riker with definite confusion in his eyes. But there was no mistaking the wonderment in his voice.

"That is... very kind of you, Doctor Nasaro-Myth."

"Not at all, Doctor Gray. You are a crewmember, not a mere EMH; and you are a Doctor, not a tricorder. It is your right as a genuine person. You also are aware of the holographic grid that allows you to move freely anywhere on the ship. This freedom goes as far and stops at the same point as for any other officer of your rank aboard the Phoenix. It comes with the same level of responsibilities as expected from any other Starfleet officer. Do you understand me, Doctor Gray?"

"Perfectly, Doctor. It shall be a pleasure to serve with you all," answered the EMH with no small pride in his voice.

"I will have you registered to the Daystrom Institute so as to make sure any developpement of the research project on the Mobile Holographic Emitter will be made available to you, " added Elliago. "In the meantime, I apologize for you being limited to the confines of the ship."

"That's alright, Doctor; you've given me even more than what I expected. Ready to serve, Sir."

"Let,s get to work then, " the Chief Medical Officer of the Phoenix said, now turning towards the XO.

"Tell you what, Commander; choosing who is to be your personal physician is of course something you are perfectly entitled to. But, as the Chief Medical Officer of this ship, I have responsibilities I can not ignore. If you don't mind, I will ask Doctor Gray to assist me while I myself perform your physical, as per Starfleet regulations. Afterwards, you will be free to have all your scheduled check-ups performed by Doctor Gray here if you so wish. Do you agree with my proposal?"

Smiling Commander Riker began to unzip his uniform top and remove his jacket.

"Sounds like a plan to me doctor."

Throwing his jacket towards Doctor Gray it passed through the hologram and hit the floor behind him.  Looking at the jacket the EMH raised an eyebrow and looked back at the Commander

"Was I supposed to catch that?"

As the three laughed Commander Riker sat on the medical table.

As Elliago approached the Exec of the Phoenix, he spoke to the artificial doctor.

"Doctor Gray, please proceed with your own tricorder readings while I perform traditional Deltan medecine on our dear Commander here. Of course your unliving nature preclude the proper use of those techniques which requires Deltan pheromones and bioelectric contact, but a record of them should add to your repertoire of medical knowledge and practices... and provide me with a second opinion while keeping the examination in your record for your future duties."

Gray nodded and looked intently at the bald Deltan as he performed the same routine of touches and manipulations he had done with Captain Syntron earlier in the ready room. A few minutes later, Elliago finished and with a smile invited Riker to put his uniform back on.

"Fascinating, Doctor Nasaro-Myth," said the EMH. "You not only performed a complete physical examination but rebalanced some vital fonctions with your procedure. I detected electrolyte imbalances and some slightly elevated blood pressure but you corrected them all... merely by touching him? This will make for some fascinating studies. "

"You're free to study all my interventions. In the meantime, I conclude Commander Riker is in peak physical health. Do you agree, Doctor Gray?"

"My readings do concur with your assessment."

Elliago turned towards the bearded Human.

"You're declared fit for duty, Commander. Doctor Gray, please note this in the medical log.  You may go. In the future, you are free to consult either Doctor Gray or me for routine check ups."