Chapter 3: Optimism

After finishing a list of sedatives, Doctor Phlox took a lunch-break from his inventory. When he entered the mess hall, half of the room was filled with eating and happily chattering crew members, who by now had heard the rumours of some R&R on the planet below. Standing in front of the food display, Phlox decided on a bowl of tomato soup and a chicken salad. Much can be said of humans, but they always impress me with excellent cuisine.

He also noticed some interesting red fruit that he had not tried before. He put two of those on his food tray, and closed the hatch. Looking around for a place to eat his lunch, he saw Ensign Mayweather sitting alone at a corner table. The young helmsman had already spotted him, and was motioning for the doctor to come over.

"Ensign." Phlox carefully placed his tray on the small table, and sat opposite of Travis, who was eating with fervour and could only nod. Unfolding his napkin, he took a cursory glance at the other man's plate.

"May I ask what you are eating?"

Travis swallowed and replied, "It's called nasi goreng. It's fried rice with chicken, shrimp, onion." He looked at his plate. "And I think there's eggs in here, too. Oh, and soy sauce. This is good stuff," he declared before his sentence was cut off by another spoonful.

Phlox nodded, "Maybe I should have tried a portion of this 'nasi goreng' as well."

They ate in comfortable silence for a while.

Finishing the last of his meal, Travis spoke up, "You probably heard about the shore leave the captain has planned?"

"Yes, Commander Tucker mentioned it to me. He said that the Vasgot seem to be a peaceful people."

"I was on the bridge when Captain Archer spoke with the Chieftain. They welcomed us to visit their planet and get acquainted with their culture." The ensign grinned. "I must admit I felt relieved to finally meet a species that doesn't want to kill us."

"That would make my work that much easier," Phlox answered lightly, spooning the last of his tomato soup.

"They also sent us some information on their history, sciences and arts. Hoshi thought you'd want to know that they're pretty far in medicine, and are open to exchanging information on treatments."

The doctor was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't thought of broadening his medical knowledge on this planet yet. He made a mental note to thank the petite linguist for her thoughtfulness.

"Sounds like a wonderful way to spend my time on Vasga, Ensign."

If the natural habitat of their wildlife was preserved, perhaps they have found alternate cures to universal diseases.

He started chewing on one of the long red fruit - which turned out to be more of a vegetable - contemplating what the Vasgot perspective could mean to highly contagious diseases like the Anchilles fever.

"Uh, Doctor?"

"Mmm?" Phlox was distracted from his pondering, and focused on Travis, who looked baffled. "Something the matter, Ensign?"

"Do you know what you're eating?"

The Denobulan smiled indulgently. "I haven't the slightest idea. I saw it in the food display, and thought I'd give it a try. It looked somewhat familiar, but it has a different, exotic flavour." He took another big bite.

Travis gulped. "It's a chili pepper. They're a side dish to the nasi goreng." The ensign's eyes were wide open. "Chili peppers are notorious because when you eat just a little bit of it, your mouth starts to feel hot and burning."

Phlox looked puzzled. "I do not feel a … burning sensation." He looked at the pepper, and then cautiously took another bite. Travis was watching him, enthralled.

The doctor swallowed, then shrugged. "It seems that the substance that gives this vegetable its heat does not have the same effect on Denobulan physiology."

"I wish I had that protection when my brother Paul challenged me to eat a whole chili pepper at once." Travis smiled ruefully. "I thought I'd die. Couldn't talk for a day, or eat any solid food on the next."

"How old were you then, Ensign?"

"Eight. Of course, my mom was mad as a wet hen. As a punishment, she didn't give me anything for the pain. Paul had to scrub cargo containers for a week." He chuckled. "I thought he had gotten off lightly."

After lunch with Ensign Mayweather, Phlox had scheduled quarterly physicals for two members of the crew.

Crewman Bennett seemed in good health, but she had a tendency to gain weight. He advised her to keep a balanced diet, and work out more often in the gym, since limited space on a starship is detrimental to overall fitness.

While he was examining Ensign Burrows, who had sprained his ankle during a drill in the armoury last month, the comm sprang to life.

"T'Pol to Sickbay."

"Just a moment, Ensign." The doctor pressed the reponse button. "Phlox here."

"Doctor, Shuttlepod One is returning from the planet," said the cool voice of the Vulcan officer, "Stand by for a medical emergency."

To Be Continued...