Chapter Four

I stepped out of my quarters wearing the new uniform that I had picked up from the quartermaster, a short chubby Bolian. I was starting to get more and more recognition from the crew now that word has spread around that their new XO was on board. Some of them gave me nods or simple 'Commander' greetings. I guess I'm going to have to get to know these people better fast. I thought to myself as I made my way to the turbo lift.

"Sickbay" I said as I entered the lift.

"Hold the lift!" someone yelled, and I quickly stuck my hand out in between the closing doors to stop them.

"Thank you so much, thought I would have to wait for the next one." The young woman said; who couldn't be any older then nineteen, obviously fresh out of the academy. She wore a blue tunic, signifying that she worked in Medical or the Sciences, had long brown hair tied up in the back in a simple pony tail, and little orange freckles dotted her cheeks. Once she stepped onto the lift her face went pale as soon as she realized that she was had just ran into a senior officer. Yep, she's green. I thought to myself.

"Sorry to bother you sir." She quickly stammered out.

"Don't worry about it. I'm James Soul, the new XO." I said, offering my hand for a handshake, which she sheepishly accepted

"Lizzie Erickson… I mean Elizabeth Erickson. Everyone calls me Lizzie, sorry." She spat out quickly, continuing to show how nervous she was.

"It's alright. Nice to meet you, where are you in a rush to get too?" I inquired.

"To be honest, I'm a few minutes late for my first shift in sickbay, I'm a medical student, and I'm on my field rotation. I just got on the ship two days ago, and I haven't gotten the run of it yet."

"I know the feeling, if you think this ship is bad, my first assignment was on a space station; I just got here too, today, actually. In fact, I was on my too sickbay as well, and I'm running a bit late myself." I said. She let out a nervous laugh and started to bite the tip of her thumb.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Tell you what, since we're both new here, I'll try and cover for you." I offered.

"You will!" She said, with a relieved smile on her face.

"One time only, next time, try and be early for your shifts, ok?"

"I will sir, thank you sir." She said, just as the turbo lift came to a halt and we walked out onto the corridor towards Sickbay. I let Lizzie enter first.

"Ensign Erickson, you are late for your shift." The doctor said almost a millisecond after she entered, not even looking up from what he was doing. He had a very thick English accent, was a bit on the short side, only coming up to my chest in height, making him about five feet tall. His hair was balding and starting to show signs of grey.

"I'm sorry sir, I was…"

"Actually it's my fault Doctor, She ran into me in the corridor, I kept her up." I interrupted, keeping my word. The man looked at me, then looked at Lizzie, then back at me, then raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, Ensign, do try to be on time. Weather or not you are punctual could mean the difference between life and death for one of your patients someday; and you, Commander, should set the example and not be late for your physicals. Now get up on the bio-bed." He ordered, and I did as I was asked. I looked over the Doctors shoulder, and saw Lizzie mouth the words 'Thank you', and disappeared around the corner.

"I'm sorry, but I haven't gotten your name."

"I'm Dr. Marcus Payne." He stated, scanning me with a medical tricorder.

"That's quite the name for a doctor to have." I joked.

"I've been a doctor for over twenty years, and believe me, that joke is old, dead and buried." He said in a very serious tone. "Please lay down."

As I lay down, he tapped a control and the bio-bed's scanner equipment folded overtop of me, and started to emit a low hum.

"Hmmm…" the doctor said after a while.

"What is it?" I asked

"I'm sorry, but I don't know quite how to put this."

"What is it?" I asked again, starting to get concerned.

"You, good sir, are in perfect health." He said quickly, tapping a control to open the bed so I could get up.

"Oh, Ha ha." I said sarcastically.

"You made the joke about my name. Eye for an eye." He said with a smile on his face. "Now scoot, I've got my hands full. I have to teach a wet behind the ears ensign so that she doesn't kill the next patient that comes in here. Have a good day, Commander." He said, walking off around the corner.

"Well, I guess I might as well go and unpack my room." I sighed as I made my way out into the corridor. Several of the crew stop me to say hello, some of them were wearing civilian clothing, and I just guessed that they had just gotten back from the planet below. I got onto the turbo lift alone and made it to my quarters and fell down onto the couch and let out a sigh. Looking off into the corner I saw that they had transported my belongings to my quarters already.

"I hope nothing got broken." I said to myself, as I set to work, as I set to work.