Chapter 2: Diligence

His morning schedule had been pretty empty today, so Phlox thought it time to check on sickbay's inventory. With a padd in one hand and a scanmarker in the other, the doctor made good progress in comparing the medical supplies in the cabinets with his administration on the padd. He was standing hunched in the supply room, halfway through his list of stimulants, when he heard someone calling.

"Hello? Phlox?"

He straightened and put his padd on top of the cabinet.

"Anybody in here?" The voice sounded urgent.

The doctor quickly walked to the main room. "Commander Tucker, what seems to be the problem?"

Trip was cradling his right hand. "The back of my hand became intimately acquainted with the EPS safety grid," he said with a grimace, "and it hurts something fierce."

Phlox took his medical scanner from the side table, and held it next to the injured limb. A large mark on the back of the commander's hand had turned angry red, and showed the beginning of blistering.

"Just as I suspected, a second-degree burn. They can be quite painful, but heal quickly if they are properly treated." The doctor waved the scanner upward. "Heart and circulation appear to be normal." He turned the device off. "Please be seated on the bio-bed, Commander. I will get the dermaline gel, and something for the pain."

"Sure, doc." Trip settled on the bed, careful not to jostle his hand.

Phlox returned with a hypospray. "This is a mild analgesic. It should work immediately," he said while pressing the cool instrument to the commander's wrist.

"That's a relief." Trip closed his eyes for a moment. "Thanks, Doc."

"Now let's apply the gel, hmm?" Phlox started to spread some of the gelatinous substance on the damaged skin with a small brush. "You were working on the EPS network?"

Trip's eyes were riveted on the doctor's progress. "Yeah, I was doing maintenance on one of the EPS taps on B-deck. I was almost finished when I lost grip on my hyper spanner." The commander sighed. "'Course it had to fall right between the tap and the plasma manifold, so I had some trouble reachin' it. Must've touched the safety grid, and that's how I ended up here," he concluded.

The doctors' voice sounded bemused. "Is maintenance on EPS taps normally not conducted by two members of Engineering as a safety procedure?"

"Uh, well…I…"

Phlox looked up from his brush. The commander looked a bit nervous, and was running his good hand through his blond locks absent-mindedly. He let out a breath.

"I told Crewman Taylor to monitor the plasma flow from Engineering before we were finished. I didn't think it would be necessary."

"You were very lucky, Commander. Although my knowledge of this ship's internal workings is limited, I do remember hearing that the power discharge near EPS taps can be lethal."

"I know," said Trip contritely, "I'm the Chief Engineer. I'm the first who should stick to the rules." He shook his head ruefully. "Heck, I helped make those rules."

Doctor Phlox had finished applying the coating of gel. "I will need to dress the burn, so it won't become infected." He opened a small package with a sterilized gauze bandage inside. "Please keep the bandage clean and dry." He loosely secured it around the engineer's hand.

"I hope this doesn't mean I can forget my shore leave," Trip uttered somberly.

"It is a minor injury. If no infection takes place, you will be fully recovered in a day or two," Phlox answered soothingly. Then he said, "I was unaware that there would be time for the crew to visit the planet?"

Trips' face lit up. "The captain told me this morning. He received a subspace transmission from the Vasgot, the people of Vasga. They seemed very friendly. They look a lot like humans, as far as he could tell, and the only difference is their long, pointy chin. Also, both men and women seem to wear their long, dark hair in plaits."

The doctor had finished dressing the bandage, and took a step back. Trip carefully stretched his arm, and then continued, "T'Pol told us that the Vulcans had limited contact with the Vasgot over the last century." He added pensively, "She didn't seem too happy about that. Kept wrinkling her nose..."

Phlox' smile turned even more upward. "Perhaps she had other things on her mind," he noted drily. "Maybe you should ask the subcommander."

"Nah, she would only tell me that 'Vulcans do not wrinkle their noses'," said Trip, mimicking the dispassionate voice of T'Pol quite well. "It makes you start wondering if Vulcans are ticklish…" he said with a smirk.

His tone grew serious again. "T'Pol also mentioned their extreme devotion to nature. They're a warp-capable species, and yet they spend most of their time worshipping animals, trees and such with elaborate rituals." Trip sounded confused.

Doctor Phlox seemed less perplexed. "It is not uncommon to see science and religion come together in a society. One can complement another. Even I use animals in my medicinal practice that some would find unorthodox," he pointed out.

Trip shrugged. "Anyhow, they don't seem to have any problems with deforestation, climate changes or the loss of bio-diversity. Must be a beautiful place to visit." The chief engineer slid off the bio-bed. "After the captain goes down this afternoon with Hoshi and Malcolm, and starts making the introductions, I hope to bring my camera and see this paradise for myself."

He started walking toward the exit, then stopped and turned around. "Thanks, Doc."

"You're welcome, Commander. Don't forget to stop by sickbay tomorrow to replace the bandage."

"Will do," said Trip, and with that he left.

To Be Continued...