LTJG Josh Herrick: Doctor's Orders

[Mark P]

((Sickbay, Deck 5, USS Octavia E Butler))

 

OOC: In the Discord, I mentioned that since Frontier Day hasn’t happened yet, I’ll be backing myself out of advancing in that direction, so you’ll see me refer more to Picard Season 1 events. 😊 Also if you haven’t, the Picard novels which occur before/after the seasons are also amazing! 🥰

 

This was Josh’s first meaningful amount of time with a doctor after Kel had left to the Ronin; and it was interesting to see how folks in the same job could have distinctly different approaches to their work. Toz, in his own view, seemed a bit motherly — wanting to make sure he was safe and following protocol.

He wasn’t sure he’d describe any other Klingon he had met as motherly, but he appreciated the approach. Now he was trying to remember exactly what had transpired. It hadn’t made sense for that conduit to blow — it was routine maintenance.

Herrick: Either an accident or…

Toz: Not an accident. Got an enemy aboard? ::beat:: Or a friend with a hate out for you?

Josh wasn’t sure how widely known the suspicious circumstances around the ‘Oumuamua’s explosion had been circulated amongst the crew. Starfleet had still not published its findings — suggesting that more might be at play, but that may also have been his own imagination.

Herrick: Well, I’m not sure about an enemy onboard. And…

He paused for a moment; he doubted Nilsen or Kovacs would blow him up… particularly given that they’d started to make initial efforts to mend their relationship. He also didn’t peg them as the murderous type.

Herrick: I think with what’s up back home, we shouldn’t discount anything before we fully investigate the root cause.

Toz: What do you mean? What’s happening in the Sol system? I haven’t heard anything. 

Herrick: Since the synth ban has been lifted, some protest groups have become a bit bolder in their demonstrations. Recently, they’ve had some more violent altercations at Utopia Planetia, the Earth Spacedock and at Fed HQ. Each time, Starfleet Security has been able to get a hold of the situation. (beat) But that’s a whole ‘nother quadrant away so I doubt these are linked.

Toz: Well, get some rest. The meds will do their job, we’ll get those clothes off you and lay a light blanket over you. ::turning to the nurse who was suddenly at her side:: Take care of this, please.

Nurse Upham: Yes, doctor.

It seemed like that was as much as the doctor wanted to discuss on the topic. Even though synths were technically no longer taboo, discussion around them remained relatively muted. Conversations could become politically charged. He wondered if this was the reason, or if she’d simply had enough of him.

Josh opened his mouth; he was going to suggest just getting patched up enough to continue his investigation, but the doctor preemptively headed him off at the pass.

Toz: Rest. Doctor’s orders.

With that, he laid back on the bio-bed. Staring up at the monotonous ceiling until he succumbed to sleep.

[End scene]

---

Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick

Acting Chief Engineer

USS Octavia E. Butler

O240005JH3

he/him/his (player/character)