The People You Meet

Posted on Thu Aug 16th, 2018 @ 7:54am by Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: Season 2: Mission 2: Just Breath
Location: Eclipse Casino
Timeline: Current
1286 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

With the away team preparing to board the Elysium, Gary decided it was time to make sure the Eclipse was ready for any injured that may result from retaking the Elysium. Leaving Liselle in command he decided he would start at the casino. He had heard that it had been transformed into a secondary Sickbay. Entering the lift he announced "Casino" as the door hissed shut. A few moments later they hissed open and he could see that indeed the casino had been successfully transformed into a Sickbay. Walking among the various medical equipment he was impressed with the organized and clean look but then again who had ever heard of a dirty Sickbay? He continued to walk along and wasn't paying attention and bumped into a young woman in teal blue. "Forgive me." He started, "I wasn't paying attention. Are you alright?"

"Sure", Estelle replied. "Though, you could have invited me for drinks first." She straightened up and pulled her head out of the crate she had just been sorting supplies in. "I'm afraid the bar's closed, though. You'll have to use the replicators in crew quarters." She turned around, then noticed who he was and extended her hand. "Ah, Commander, I'm Estelle Hertz, the new surgeon. Nice of you to come down here."

Gary flashed an easy grin and extended his right hand , "I'll remember that Doctor. The next round is on me. I'm Gary Taylor in command of the Eclipse." He looked around, "I am impressed Doctor, a very good job, Hopefully there won't be much call for your services but it never hurts to be prepared. At least that's what the Boy Scouts say."

"I have yet to see such an operation go down without the need for medical to pick up the pieces", Estelle responded. "It's as though someone's trying to make sure we've always got something to do." She smiled. "Not that I actually believe that. So, how many casualties can we expect. We've got two surgical wards, so there'll be a long waiting list if it's too many." She used her little break to stretch out a bit. "How much time do you reckon we have before I'll have to stop the fanblade spinning?"

Gary walked a few feet away and motioned her to join him where they could talk a bit more privately. "Busy hands." He joked before adopting a more serious tone. "I'd like to say none but I don't believe that is being realistic so I'll say a few and hope that none are of the more serious nature. The away team should be prepping to board the Elysium shortly so depending on the resistance they encounter, I would say you have a few minutes left."

Estelle nodded. "That's just enough time to counteract the rising concentration of blood in my caffeine circulation", she said matter-of-factly. "I'm my own patient sometimes. Good thing I know the most effective meds." She got the message, and it basically said they had no idea how bad it was going to be. Nothing new, but it never hurt to ask.

Gary laughed it was rich a full of good humor, this doctor was a keeper! "Ah Doctor heal thyself. As long as you know what works. "I'm sorry I can't be more specific but we won't know until the first reports come in. Then you'll know what we know. So light a candle, say a prayer that it won't be bad."

Estelle frowned. "I'm not superstitious. We're prepared, and I'm not doing this for the first time. I will admit, I've never come to fully appreciate the medical facilities on an Intrepid class, which is part of the reason I asked for the transfer to the Elysium, but at least I know where everything is around here."

Gary nodded, "Neither am I but any extra help we can get I'll take." He looked around the redone casino. "Yes, it looks like you are prepared. When we retake the Elysium you can fully explore the medical facilities she has to offer. I think you will be quite impressed." He turned his attention back to her. "I think Sickbay is in good hands and we're lucky to have you here."

"Thank you", Estelle said. "I'll wait with the exploration until the security team's done having fun, though." She smirked. "I doubt hijackers will be terribly impressed by my laser scalpel or coffee mug grenade thrown their way."

He chuckled softly, "An excellent idea. Knew doctors especially surgeons were bright." He grinned and continued, "Probably not." He admitted "But if it does the job, don't complain just be thankful."

She walked over towards the replicator and ordered coffee, which came personalised in a mug that had a prescription label for coffee printed on the side, with her name on it. "Once we're done, I'll see which patients the CMO wants to turn over to me, and will call in the lucky winners for physicals. I'm sure I'll be settled in and universally avoided in no time."

Gary grinned at her sense of humor. "Sounds like a plan Doctor and you're right you will be avoided like the plague but don't take it personally. It's all doctors this crew avoids."

"I don't have as scary a smile as the boss, though", Estelle offered. "That's got to count for something, I hope?"

Gary nodded in agreement and put a hand on her shoulder, "Trust me Estelle it does. I just don't know how much."

Estelle snickered. "Only one way to find out. I'm going to need a victim." She took a sip, then added, "There's this fresh out of training nurse the boss said I should keep an eye on, maybe I could experiment on... I mean, with her?"

Gary rolled his eyes and sighed ….expansively. "I think the correct term is patient not victim and I would avoid using the term experiment around her. Other than that, knock yourself out and not her."

"Semantics", Estelle said deadpan. "I guess I'm not the best suited for people with any kind of medical phobia", she concluded in a rare moment of self-consciousness.

"I think you are over thinking this. If the CMO said keep an eye on her, keep an eye on her. Aren't there some drills you can do with her to see how she handles herself?" Gary suggested.

Estelle chuckled. "Don't worry, my sense of humour hasn't interfered with my work yet. But no, actually. There's no drill that shows how someone would respond in a real emergency which I could set up here on short notice."

"Okay. It was worth a shot." Gary shrugged his shoulders, "I guess you're just going to have to wait and see how she does when the patients start to come in. Until then, continue doing what you're doing in being prepared. The rest will sort itself out."

Estelle nodded. She could tell he was getting vexed with her mischievous attitude, and she didn't want to overstretch his willingness to indulge her oddities. "We are, no worries. We might be goofy in between but once the red stuff comes out, we're all professionals."

"Nothing wrong with being goofy Doctor as long as it has its place. As for you all being professionals, I never had a doubt you weren't. I should let you get back to work. Thank you for the conversation. It was most enjoyable."

"I'll be seeing you around", she said, suggestively waving a medical scanner in his direction.

Gary laughed, "You keep thinking those positive thoughts Doc." Gary answered as he turned and headed out of the makeshift Sickbay.




Commander Gary Taylor
First Officer/Captain
USS Elysium/USS Eclipse

Lieutenant Estelle Hertz
Surgeon / Funny Girl