Lt.(jg) Dr. Toz: Back at work
Patty Boyle
((USS Octavia E Butler - CMO’s office - Sickbay deck 5))
Herrick: Something about the main computer core…
Dr. Toz tilted her head to the side, waiting for something shattering like a conduit blew up.
Herrick: I must have gotten injured while trying to do some maintenance. (beat) And then the ship auto-transported me here.
The doctor’s eyebrows raised, the faint ridges on her forehead seeming to pucker. She had no idea this new ship could do that. There was so much about the Butler she still didn’t know. She’d been here for a whole mission -well, not ‘here’ exactly. But in the vicinity.
The doctor noticed that Lt. Herrick had seen her glance at her PADD and then back to him. She was using her best bed-side manner to keep him feeling comfortable. A padd glance wasn’t good form. She decided not to make a deal of it.
Toz: Nothing in your medical record, Josh. So this is an unusual occurrence, I take it?
Herrick: How ‘unusual’ does it have to get for an engineer to call it unusual.
He offered a small smile at the end, and Toz returned it back.
Toz: I would say, not a habit. Nothing in your medical record. That means you’ve been injured and neglected to get medical assistance and just suffered it out. So. I ask again. What happened?
Herrick: I’m not sure what happened exactly. ::squinting his eyes as he tried to remember:: By the way, my skin isn't going to come off with the uniform... is it?
Toz: ::muttering:: Maybe in spots. ::speaking up:: No, nothing like that. Now, please continue.
Herrick: Yes, right, I was on Deck 15… I think. I’d just opened my tools and then… wham an explosion. What’s strange is that I had barely lifted the conduit plating off…
His face scrunched up in an internal struggle. Toz let him struggle it out if he could. Most patients get to the real issue sooner or later.
Herrick: There was some slowness on the ODN lines, and everyone else has been so busy with shore leave that I decided to investigate myself.
Toz: By yourself. As in alone. ::crossing her arms but not frowning:: As in not having backup. Generally, we do things in pairs on this ship. ::keying in another set of commands into her padd:: One gets hurt, the other will compensate, get the injured party to safety… Don’t interrupt… If this was a way to get out of further duties, Josh, it’s a bad way to do it. ::sigh:: Sooo… continue.
Herrick: Either an accident or…
He trailed off. There was something he didn’t want to admit. Toz started to frown then thought of her ‘best bed-side manner’ and let her features relax.
Toz: Not an accident. Got an enemy aboard? ::beat:: Or a friend with a hate out for you?
Herrick: response
Toz: What do you mean? What’s happening in the Sol system? I haven’t heard anything.
Herrick: response
If Earth was in danger, Toz’s mother might also be in danger. She needed to contact her father and see if he’d heard anything. K’chut might be a hard hearted divorced Klingon, but he stilled cared for Toz’s mother and kept a close watch (from afar) on her.
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.
Herrick: response
Toz: Rest. Doctor’s orders.
Lt.(jg) Doctor Toz
Acting Chief Medical Officer
USS Octavia E Butler
T239801T14