32. Ghost Hunting
Date: 73/1/2733
Patient: Urbinjienye "Jien" Hayentiak, Human.
Patient ID: 77347786
Presenting Complaint: Skin lesions
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Transcript:
FAYE
Now, don’t be alarmed.
[SEC: typing on screen, negative ping, questioning ping]
No, no, it’s all okay. We’re just about to go into the lab.
[SEC: questioning ping, typing on screen]
I know, that’s why I wanted to warn you.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I know - I can appreciate that it’s difficult. Um, but you can also think that the lab is the place where the Prof did some of their favourite work. It was a happy place for them, even if they did pass away here.
[Pause]
[SEC: affirmative ping, typing on screen, questioning ping]
[SOUND: hatch door opening, footsteps]
Because, we’re looking for the missing -
[SOUND: surgery bot whirring]
Oh, Xael! Hi! I wondered where you’d got to.
XAELEST
One moment.
[SEC: typing on screen]
FAYE
It’s really - Really cool, Sec. I’ve never actually seen the Da Vinci in action. I can’t quite see what Xael is seeing but there are robotic and Adrilaen arms all over the place. I think - there’s a clock, right?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
She’s had 97 hours of practice . . .
[SEC: typing on screen]
XAELEST
What do you need?
FAYE
Oh, no, nothing. I - uh - Jien wanted an update on the kidneys so . . . I thought I’d come down and check on them while they’re here. I thought I’d dictate with Sec to save time . . . that’s why he’s here too.
[SEC: affirmative ping, typing on screen]
He says hi.
XAELEST
How is Jien?
FAYE
Um. . . As you’d expect? I guess. But holding it together.
XAELEST
Hm.
[SOUND: whirring, a simulated baby’s cry]
FAYE
Yay! This is the part where I swoop in with every warm towel on the satellite, right?
[SOUND: ongoing robotic noises]
Stars, you suture fast.
XAELEST
Mhm.
FAYE
I wasn’t really looking when you did my arm. . .
XAELEST
Mm.
FAYE
We think there’s gonna be a placenta, right?
XAELEST
Yes.
FAYE
And we’re delaying cord clamping?
XAELEST
If possible.
[SOUND: completion pings, the robot resets and shuts down]
FAYE
Great work, Dr Adra.
XAELEST
Are they still updeck?
FAYE
Ah, yeah. Zir blood samples are still running in the fluidiser. The machine hates them.
[SOUND: footsteps]
XAELEST
It wants a reference range that we can’t provide. Can I see your hand?
FAYE
Oh, yeah, it’s fine, um, it’s healing up pretty well.
[SOUND: fabric rustle as sleeves are rolled up]
XAELEST
Hm. It’s going to scar.
FAYE
Oh! Sorry! You've, um, sorry - your arm -
[SOUND: footsteps]
XAELEST
Sorry! Sorry! It's the auxiliary nervous system. Again. It's -
FAYE
Yeah! It's fine!
XAELEST
Is there, um, anyone else to go and see?
FAYE
Nope! You're good!
XAELEST
I might go re-examine NOSL11's abdomen, uh, in case anything feels . . . different.
[SOUND: footsteps]
FAYE
Yeah! Sure! Yeah! You should - that would be good to check. Have - um - have you seen the kidneys?
XAELEST
I check on them every day.
FAYE
Oh. Nice. Um, well, please can you update Jien? They can go after that and I'll comms with the blood results.
XAELEST
Sure. No problem.
[SOUND: footsteps]
I'll, um, see you later. Call me if you need me.
[SOUND: footsteps, door]
FAYE
Ah, yep, yep. Will do.
[SEC: typing on screen]
She's down here all the time now, I should have known.
[SOUND: footsteps]
[SEC: typing on screen]
97 hours.
[SEC: typing on screen]
FAYE
[Laugh] She does, she does need to get used to her arms.
[SEC: questioning ping, typing on screen]
No, nothing, sorry. You just reminded me. Did Rai tell you about her 'friendly arm'?
[SEC: negative ping, questioning ping]
Um, so, I think it’s because she came out of altiraans too early which . . . is kinda our fault. But one of her limbs has a mind of its own. Well, they all do, there's a secondary neural thing - semi-subconscious motor and sensory functions. It's very interesting. Uh, but, her right lower arm is, uh, unexpectedly affectionate.
[SOUND: footsteps, chair, sec is placed on the work top]
[SEC: typing on screen]
Yeah . . . I don't think she's a massive fan.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
It kind of . . . just reaches out. Like . . . she’s asking for a hug but, um, obviously it doesn't have its own sight organ so it doesn't always - on rare occasions it hits an unintended target.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning pings]
No! No! It's not gropey! It's - sweet. Especially because her arms still change colour. It just . . . contradicts the rest of Xaelest. You know?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
She spends most of her time with her new hands clasped together like she's trying not to break the sterile field. I think it's just taking her more time to get used to them. Because we dragged her out of her cocoon early.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Yes, “we”. I’m holding you accountable.
[SOUND: footsteps]
Okay. I don't know when Rai's coming back, so let's get started. I'm going to check the vents first - we know they liked to keep stuff in there.
[SOUND: she gets up on a lab bench, clank]
Can you still hear me okay?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
[MUSIC: beings]
Date: 73/1/2733
Patient: Urbinjienye "Jien" Hayentiak, Human.
Patient ID: 77347786
Um, right.
[SOUND: footsteps, cupboards opening intermittently, rummaging]
Nothing in here.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Thank you. It was a pleasure to formally review Mr Hayentiak, who I know as "Jien”. I have made the acquaintance of my patient multiple times in connection with another patient at the clinic.
[SOUND: metal tapping, footsteps, clank]
Jien is a 10 Vesta year old human from the moon Io who is currently residing on a nearby asteroid which will remain unnamed. He presented to the clinic today at the behest of his partner, who had noticed several lesions on Jien's skin and sent him to the clinic for an urgent review.
[Aside] How do I get this plate off again?
[SEC: typing on screen]
[SOUND: clank, vent grille opens, shuffle]
There's nothing in here.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I know it has to be small to fit inside the connector, but if it's got actual living tissue in it then it can't be so small that I wouldn't see it! There's nothing in this vent but vent. I have no idea how Rai got himself inside.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Of course, I'll keep looking.
[SOUND: vent closed, footsteps]
I was surprised to see Jien walk into the clinic room unaccompanied. I tried to remember if I had ever seen him without his partner and drew a blank. They were usually joined at the hip, elbow, shoulder and hands -
[SEC: typing on screen]
Hm? What's that?
Oh! My hand?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
It's okay . . . uh, the sutures look like they're starting to dissolve. Xael did a good job of fixing it up.
[SOUND: vent grille opening]
[SEC: typing on screen]
Oh, I thought I told you? It was when I found their comms.
[SEC: negative ping, typing on screen]
It scared me half to death! I was in my pod, their pod, like Thea said. And I thought that there must be something hidden in there that I could unlock with the thing from the clinic room vents. It took me a while . . . hours.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
I did find it. I had to fold the bed up and away - and I found Rai's copy of Murder on the Moon - which is beside the point, but please remind me to give it back to him. And I also had to confront the boxes of stuff from Nic - which is also beside the point.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Yes! SO, behind it all, beneath the bed there was a little dimple in the wall. I'd never noticed it before, but it was the same irregular shape as the key from the vents. When I pressed it against the wall, a little compartment opened up.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I thought it was amazing. I would have died for one of those when I was a teenager, actually.
[SOUND: opening drawers and rummaging through]
Um, until I stuck my hand in there and had it sliced open by the lasers they'd left behind to guard it.
[SEC: questioning ping, typing on screen, questioning ping]
No. [Laugh] No, I wouldn’t have put my hand back in there for a million creds. Luckily, I'd already grabbed the comms before I registered the pain. When I pulled my hand out I saw the cut peel open like a shocked mouth. Then the blood started pouring out.
[SEC: negative ping]
I'm not joking. I had to wash half of my clothes, it dripped everywhere.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Huh? It's none of your business what my clothes were doing on the floor. I just grabbed the first clump of fabric I could find and ran down to you. You know the rest.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Right. I know we’re really here to find the Professor’s oogaroob-bound-metal-encased consciousness but you are distracting me SO much. Let me talk about Jien.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I’m looking right now!
[SOUND: cupboard doors opening and closing]
What was I even saying?
[SEC: typing on screen]
Right. Yes. Though he came to the clinic with his partner, this was the first time they’d separate medical reviews. Jien shrugged off a coat and folded his large hands together.
'I'm sorry in advance for wasting your time. I wouldn't have come . . . but.' He trailed off and rolled up one of his long sleeves. 'NOSL11 insisted.'
I replied something genuine but fairly standard about being happy to help but was instantly distracted by the exposed bulk of his forearm and the numerous inky rings surrounding what looked like a smattering of moles.
'Ze's having some mood swings.' He told me, adjusting his other sleeve to show a similar constellation of markings on the left. Jien's non-human, pregnant partner knew they were coming to the clinic for zir review today and, according to Jien, the previous night's anxiety included becoming horrified at the unfamiliar irregularities on his skin and panicking that he was going to die of some strange skin affliction and leave zir alone with the baby.
'Oh-kay!' I said, 'That's . . . There's definitely something to unpack there.'
Jien grumbled an agreement and explained that he'd been trying to reassure zir as much as he could. As is commonplace in even uncomplicated pregnancies, sometimes zir partner catastrophised and it was hard to know what to say to comfort zir.
I made a mental note that it was something I wanted to come back to, but suggested that I take a look at his skin.
[SOUND: cupboard opening, clatter]
Oh, shi-
[SEC: questioning pings, typing on screen, questioning ping]
It's okay! It's fine. I just opened this and - why does Rai even have these down here?
[SEC: questioning ping]
Do you know what? Let’s not. I’ll just put them back.
[SOUND: tidying up]
You okay?
[SEC: affirmative ping, typing on screen]
Just checking.
[SOUND: cupboard door close]
We started with a general skin history. Jien has no significant personal history of dermatological disease. He said he gets dry skin sometimes and uses moisturising cream on occasion. He strongly denied any excessive Sun exposure, explaining that, from the age of about 4 Vesta years, he'd been self-imprisoned in a laboratory, either studying or working. He had once used artificial UV radiation in an attempt to relieve depressive symptoms, but this was a number of years ago.
I was grateful for the reminder about what Jien does for work. I asked him if he'd ever had skin contact with anything from a lab he's worked in and blinked in slow confusion as he scratched the back of his neck in discomfort. He stumbled over his words.
'Uh, um, yeah, I mean - if you mean - like - NOSL11?'
[SEC: typing on screen]
I didn't think! I didn't mean to embarrass him. I apologised and explained that I meant irritants: chemicals, carcinogens - he worked in the SwiftSwitch lab, there may have been contact with horrible substances beyond my comprehension. If NOSL11 was going to cause skin issues, though, he'd probably have noticed by now.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Yeah! I mean, humans can even be allergic to bodily fluids from other humans. Aw, actually, I once met a really sweet Tethys-born who used to shave everyday because his hair got all over the place and irritated a neritopod housemate.
Um, I’m off topic again. Do you think it’s worth checking the freezers?
[SOUND: footsteps]
[SEC: affirmative ping]
I guess if it’s biological material, they may have thought to freeze it.
[SEC: affirmative ping]
[SOUND: footsteps]
He - Jien -
[SEC: affirmative ping]
He did tell me that someone once accidentally splashed sodium hydroxide on his back which ate through the layers of fabric he was wearing and left a mark. I made a - don’t put this in the letter - a stupid offhand comment about ‘why were they using enough to splash, were they trying to hide a body?’. A strange look came over Jien’s face. He was involved in the creation of a novel lifeform . . .
[SEC: typing on screen]
Yeah . . . maybe they were . . .
[SOUND: freezer door open, hum]
Stars, these freezers are cold.
[SOUND: rustling, drawers opening and closing]
[SEC: typing on screen]
I’m not even going to read that. I know freezers are meant to be cold.
Um, just to go back to the bit about light exposure, please - Jien has never lived closer to the Sun than the Asteroid Belt.
And then, new section -
[SEC: affirmative ping]
He is not currently in contact with his family, but is not aware of any skin conditions which run in the family. He lives with his partner and works at a food production facility. He doesn’t smoke -
[SEC: typing on screen]
He has never smoked tobacco. And denies current recreational drug use, though has used olgweed during his undergraduate degree. I wouldn’t expect this to have any long-term impact on his skin.
[SOUND: doors closing]
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Nothing that I can see - everything’s in separate boxes, though. I don’t want to disturb the entire collection of frozen research samples.
[SOUND: footsteps]
[SEC: typing on screen]
I would fire me for that too.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Oh? If not the freezers, maybe the incubators?
[SEC: typing on screen]
I'll have to mind the goo, I don't want it telling Rai that I was snooping around.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Hm . . . I don't know. I think they secretly like each other.
[SOUND: incubator opens]
Oh, this is much nicer. Get that frost out of my fingertips.
[SOUND: plastic scrapes and clanks as she moves things around]
Otherwise, Jien has a long-standing diagnosis of anxiety - which, honestly, show me an academic who doesn't - don't write that -
[SEC: affirmative ping]
He takes 10 mg ontrantaline for this and reports no side effects. He's allergic to cats - unlucky - and intolerant to NSAIDS.
Did I ask him any other questions?
[SEC: negative ping]
Oh, wait, yes I did. Thanks for paying attention.
[SEC: negative ping, typing on screen, questioning ping]
I asked him if he'd noticed any changes to his skin recently. He said that he hadn't, but gave the caveat that he spends most of his time buttoned into a lab coat and doesn't regularly check his skin. He also noted that NOSL11 hadn't reported anything specific, ze'd just decided on a whim that all of his dermal irregularities needed immediate medical attention. Just in case.
[SOUND: cupboard doors opening and closing]
We proceeded to the skin examination. Starting with his arms, given that they were already bare. The fingernails of both hands showed no abnormalities, though the skin of his left hand had a patch of dry, eczematous skin between the thumb and forefinger. He told me he washes his hands a lot at work and I imagine this is contributing to the dryness.
Um, Sec, please can you keep a list of the positive findings, please?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
His left arm had four neat circles enclosing nothing more sinister than a cluster of benign naevi - Freckles, I told Jien, and he nodded, already aware - and two compound naevi - just normal moles, I explained. His right arm had more freckles and a patch of slightly darker skin Jien was convinced had been present since birth. It was simply a birth mark.
I had a look at Jien's scalp and face. There were a few scattered papules on his face and - uh - what do you call whiteheads again, Sec?
[SEC: typing on screen]
Closed comedones!
He had maybe two of those but nothing of concern. He also had a small skin tag on the back of his neck but it doesn't bother him and therefore it doesn't bother me.
Um, Jien declined a chaperone for the rest of the exam. Examination of the chest and back revealed several more encircled benign moles, all small, all evenly melanated, symmetrical, with regular borders and no change in size. He had an acneiform rash over his back and shoulders, with some evidence of past scarring.
'I know what you're going to say,' Jien told me, 'Go on.'
'Don't pick your spots.' I was glad he prompted me, I was dying to say it.
The site of the sodium hydroxide incident was obvious, the scarred skin flashing shiny and pinkish under the exam light. Sensation to the area was intact. I explained that the scarring would likely remain present but stable, though it might appear to diminish with normal skin changes later in life. He should keep a casual eye on it.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I'm just - let me dictate the exam findings. I'm struggling to visualise his skin and look in the cupboards at the same time.
[SEC: typing on screen]
At the base of his back was a wide circumference of ink, with a blocky handwritten question that made me chuckle. WHY IS IT BLUE? His partner had asked.
'Ze won't believe me that it's not a bruise.' Jien said. I pressed the centre of the irregular, blueish patch and it did not blanch.
With questioning, he told me that he'd had the mark since birth, though it used to be much, much bigger. I explained that the lesion he had - congenital dermal melanocytosis - usually disappeared around puberty. He'd done well to hold on to it for so long, though, apparently, his partner wanted it gone. I told Jien not to even consider it. And that he could tell zir that the reason it was blue was simply because the pigmented cells were in a deeper layer than the ones which made up his other brown moles.
[SOUND: glass vial rattle]
I did not find any other lesions of concern.
Jien listened attentively to the safety netting advice I gave. In essence, he should keep a watchful eye for any skin lesions which are changing in size, shape or colour or those which appear to be asymmetrical or have an irregular border. We're more than happy to review any skin changes of concern at the clinic. I could tell he was memorising the advice to relay it to his anxious partner later.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Yep. Yeah. I’m on it.
[SOUND: cupboard doors]
I enquired as to his partner's mental state in the hope that it would encourage Jien to tell me about his own. It worked. Jien admitted, mid-ramble about NOSL11's new sleeping habits, that he is also terrified. He described the feeling as being in a hall of mirrors, there are so many potential complications with the pregnancy, everywhere he looks he has to confront the risk of one issue or another. The only respite is to stare at his feet and focus on putting one in front of the other to get through it. He explained that the lack of ability to control the situation is really difficult for him. He's been advocating for NOSL11 for so long, the thought of misplacing his trust in us - the people looking after his partner and unborn child is chewing at him.
Jien is a scientist and has thrown himself into spirals of critical thought and critical anxiety over the project to create kidneys for the baby. He did not reveal this to me today, but I am aware from discussions with colleagues that he has been sending long comms messages back and forth with the clinic's Head of Research. It is very frustrating to him, though understandable, that he can't come to the lab and experiment on them himself. Jien needs guarantees of success that we simply cannot provide.
He's also scared about the labour itself. He's seen assistive surgical bots in use before and he knows that they're only as good as their operator -
Oh.
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
It involved surgery, didn't it?
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
Aerglo - the Professor - from the notes - was meant to implant and excise the oogaroob tissue from their head and put that tissue, hopefully storing their consciousness, into the chip. What if . . .
[SOUND: fast footsteps]
I’m sorry, Sec, for the mental image. But what if they never . . . got up to hide it.
[SOUND: surgical bot waking up and unfolding]
[SEC: typing on screen]
Exactly, it would still be in the machine. Stored somewhere.
[SEC: affirmative ping]
I’m probably the worst person to be looking into this . . . but I know there’s a stored samples section somewhere. You know, if you were doing an actual biopsy?
[SOUND: tapping on screen, pings]
Aha! Oh. It’s asking for a password.
[SEC: typing on screen]
Yes! Okay. Thea’s name and their favourite numbers? What was their favourite number?
[SEC: negative ping, typing on screen]
What do you mean, you don’t know? Come on, Sec. If anyone’s going to know it’s you. Did they play a lottery?
[SEC: negative ping]
Did they use numbers in any of their other passwords?
[SEC: questioning ping]
What was their favourite thing to do?
[SEC: typing on screen]
That’s very cute but - oh. OH!
[SEC: questioning ping, affirmative ping, questioning ping]
[Satisfied] Vesta Clinic Secretary Bot AX 7 3 6.
[SOUND: FAYE typing, ping, access port opens]
I am wasted as a doctor, Sec, I really am.
It’s empty. Shit.
[SOUND: footsteps]
[SEC: typing on screen]
I’m looking, I’m looking! There’s nothing, Sec. I don’t know.
[SOUND: hatch opens, footsteps, a wild XAELEST appears]
XAELEST
I KNEW it.
[SEC: questioning ping]
FAYE
Stars - Xael! A little warning!
XAELEST
You’ve been sneaking down here to use the surgical bot, haven’t you? That’s how you cut your hand.
FAYE
Uh?
XAELEST
Faye, if you break this machine, we have literally no way of doing the gestational retrieval. Stars. Why are you in the samples drawer?! The baby isn’t going in there!
FAYE
I know.
XAELEST
Step back.
[SOUND: footsteps, buttons, the surgical robot shuts down]
Don’t touch this. Don’t even think about touching it. In fact, don’t even be down here without Rai or myself. There’s no reason for you to need any of this stuff.
FAYE
Okay.
XAELEST
The hatch is this way, Dr Underwood. Come on.
[SOUND: footsteps, FAYE does not follow]
Faye.
FAYE
Can I just - ? I need a minute.
XAELEST
Faye?
FAYE
I’m sorry, I’m fine. I just -
[Pause]
Do you want to let go of me?
XAELEST
What? Oh, stars. Sorry.
[SOUND: fabric].
FAYE
I’ll be up in a minute.
XAELEST
Okay.
[SOUND: footsteps]
Call me -
FAYE
Yeah.
[Pause]
[SOUND: footsteps, hatch, footsteps, chair]
[SEC: typing on screen]
I knew she didn’t buy the vegetables story.
[SEC: typing on screen]
No, she’s right. If I press a few wrong buttons, I’ve ruined it for everyone. And, I guess her thinking is that I’ve been trying to practise is better than her thinking I’ve been . . . ghost hunting. I’m sorry, Sec. That there was nothing in there. I -
[Pause]
If the operation was a success then . . . It’s just . . . Gone. Someone’s moved it, or it was disposed of. If not, then the imprinted tissue never existed in the first place.
[SEC: typing on screen]
And they’re gone.
[SEC: typing on screen]
I know. You can have all the time you need.
[SOUND: fabric rustle]
[SEC: typing on screen, questioning ping]
I’m giving you a hug.
[Pause]
[SEC: questioning ping, typing on screen, questioning ping]
It makes me feel better.
[Pause]
[SEC: typing on screen]
[SOUND: fabric rustle]
Are you sure? It does mean we don’t have to do it later . . .
[SEC: affirmative ping]
Jien is . . . Jien - Jien shared his anxieties regarding the upcoming labour, associated risks and general, normal concerns about becoming a father. Given the nature of his and his partner’s situation, he is also wrangling understandable fears about the consequences of certain organisations finding out about their child.
[Sigh] I think Jien benefitted from the space to share his concerns today. I understand that he has not wanted to further burden his partner with his fears, though I stressed to him that communication with zir is vital for shared comfort and the ability to plan ahead.
I reassured him the best I could within the bounds of our medical uncertainty.
Jien is well versed in the plan for the labour. His partner is estimated to be around 32 weeks pregnant, though we are unclear of zir expected gestation period. It can’t be too far away now and we have set up a special bleep system to rally the team when they’re on the way to us.
[SOUND: chair]
Overall, I reassured Jien about his skin lesions and advised some emollient for his hands. He is well aware that he can speak to anyone at the clinic regarding his concerns or mental health at any time.
Shall we go updeck?
[SEC: affirmative ping]
[Sigh] Let’s do it then.
Signed,
Dr Faye Underwood
The Vesta Clinic
[MUSIC: The Vesta Clinic Theme]
This episode of the Vesta Clinic was created by AMC. It starred AMC as Faye Underwood, Ruby Campbell as Xaelest Adra and Sec as himself. Music by AMC and Ruby Campbell.
Please check out our show notes for content warnings, transcripts, and your prescription of: seafoam.
If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help the show reach more ears, please tell someone who loves podcasts to check into the Vesta Clinic. You can also follow us on your social media of choice at @vestaclinicpod! A huge thank you to our Patreon supporters. We hope you enjoy this week’s bonus story and bloopers like this one:
AMC: He also had a small skin tag on the back of his neck but it doesn’t bother him and therefore doesn’t bother me. [Pase] Unlike the trains, which bother me constantly, persistently, a persistent bother in my life while I’m recording I would say. That is how I would describe a train. Not a reliable piece of public transport. A bother.
Content Warnings: Reference to known character death; grief; skin cancer; reference to sexual contact resulting in pregnancy; moles; reference to accidental injury and bleeding; unethical science
