Ensign Herrick: Getting personal

[markanthonyparker]

OOC: Apologies for the delay, I’ve been finishing off getting my high school GED diploma (after 12 years 😉) so it’s been a bit busy with exams – today is the final one! I’ve added a placeholder in the middle for some additional back and forth.

((Sickbay, Deck 7, USS Oumuamua))

It was evident on Josh’s face that he was still struggling to pull things together; he could remember most of what happened but there were missing pieces. With so much difficulty moving, concern gnawed at the back of his thoughts.

Herrick: (slightly hesitant) Am I… ok?

Kel: ::smiling::  The fact that you're talking suggests that you're fine.  You have no airway damage which is very lucky.  

The engineer let out a small sigh of relief. He hadn’t wanted his career in the first hour it started, but he may now hold the record for fastest time to but him and his boss in danger.

His mind flashed an image of the chief pulling off the conduit panelling.

Herrick: And Lieutenant Kammus?

Kel/Rox: Response

Another sigh of relief, at least Kammus was able bodied enough to carry on repairs. He hoped that this fluctuation was in isolation because otherwise the conduits were a literal minefield.

Herrick: So, what’s the plan?

Kel: Well you get to spend some quality time with the CMO.  ::winking::  Very lucky for you.  

Josh chucked a bit. This doctor also seemed friendlier than those at the Academy, but then again, how much of a beside manner could those school-based doctors have processing and repairing 100s of cadets regularly.

Kel:  You have some significant burns on your torso.  We've put on some dermaline gel and we have a regeneration field going.  ::sighing::  You may have some permanent scarring, but it's too soon to tell.  

Herrick: Well, that’s better than the alternative. ::making a poor attempt at gallows humor:: It might be a bit early yet for me to be fired out a torpedo tube.

Kel:  Just relax and enjoy some rest.  

Rox:  Tell us about yourself.

The engineer felt that the more he talked, the more things were coming back… or perhaps the cocktail of drugs was kicking in enough that his body wasn’t solely focused on his pain receptors.

Herrick: It’s your standard Terran background. Dad’s a Starfleet Officer; Mom’s a restaurateur here on Earth. I’m fresh… today’s my first day.

Small talk was a bit hard for Josh. Before, he usually just spent time in his quarters and on the holodeck. he was going to try and make a concerted effort to build relationships here. Connections made being away from home easier.

Rox entered Herrick’s field of vision as she hopped up on the bio-bed. He was thankful for the change of scenery. As far as interior decorators go, he would say that ship designers probably didn’t take into account people staring at a grey ceiling for very long.

Rox:  Nice!  The Oumuamua is a great ship and her crew is like a big family.  How did you decide on Engineering?

Herrick: (a mix of sarcasm and humor) I would say it’s my natural talent. Or… was my talent. I’m sure the Commodore appreciates things blowing up in the bowels of her ship.

He paused for a half second, his tone shifting more reflectively.

Herrick: You could say that I’m a blend of my dad and mom. Ever since I was a kid, I loved to dissemble things… reassembling was… less of a priority.

Josh smiled.

Herrick: I was always interested in how things work, and with my dad being a Starfleet Engineer it felt like the logical choice. On the chef side, I enjoy cooking to relieve stress, but I don’t think I have the social chops of my mom to run a store. How about the both of you, landing here in Medical?

Kel: Response

Rox: Response

Kel:  Just reading here, do you still have a shellfish allergy? 

The ensign was thankful the topic changed… he was running out of his prepared small talk topics. Once he got back to his quarters, he’d practise a bit more so he could keep a conversation going longer than several minutes.

Herrick: Yes… hypos, scans, and various treatments, all haven’t been able to rid me of it for some reason. Back on Earth, I just always kept a hypo handy because it gets out of control quickly.

Kel:  And some claustrophobia?  You should consider talking to our ship's counselor Nesre Salo.  She's very good.  

Josh got uncomfortable thinking about his claustrophobia. When he got diagnosed in his first year, he ended up having multiple sessions with a psychologist and several cadets learning the trade. The experience felt a bit surreal, like he had been a test subject.

Herrick: I’ll… uh… think about it.

He wasn’t sure about exposing deeper parts of his soul. Even though the stigma of mental health had faded away centuries ago, he knew others felt the same way about him — it felt like a private matter.

He was able to turn his head slightly, and saw the doctor caught in his thoughts. Perhaps he wouldn’t have caught his hesitation to counselling but he realized Rox might have.

V’Len/Rox: Response

Wanting desperately to get off this topic, he tried to shift topics again.

Herrick: What are some popular off-duty activities onboard? I mean, once I can get this body moving again.

V’Len/Rox: Response
 

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Tags! and TBC!

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Ensign Josh Herrick

Engineering Officer

USS ‘Oumuamua

O240005JH3

he/him/his (player/character)