07-18-2026, 05:10 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-18-2026, 05:13 AM by Ethan Diaz.)
"Relax, you'll get the hang of it," the doctor said with a smile. "Everyone goes through the transition of the initial shock of your first assignment and then settles in. You don't have to call me ma'am, but I appreciate your good manners. I saw you looking for my rank. I don't have one. Think of me as a really awesome EMH that helps out in Medical."
Ethan nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed for some reason. "I see."
The whole thing took about ten minutes. It was nothing he hadn't been through before. The doctor didn't say much, and neither did he. For the most part, he was occupied with thoughts of the bridge, and setting off for uncharted territory. It hadn't fully sunk in for Ethan until he first set foot on the Aquila. Already there were millions of miles between him and his family, but once his tour began he'd be truly away from it all--home, civilization (the civilization he knew, at least), and the certainty of safety. For the next few years, the void of virgin space would be his new home. Ethan wasn't sure if he found it tantalizing or terrifying.
Just then, the doctor spoke up, cutting off his thoughts. "Well, you look to be in fine physical shape. I just have a simple question for you. How do you feel. Not are you in any pain, but How do you actually feel, both physically and mentally? It's normal to have the new guy jitters, but I need to know that your head is in the right space. Take a deep breath and don't think about it too hard. Everyone prepares you for the tasks of doing your job, but actually going out into the deep black can be a scary thing for some people. We never know what we're going to encounter and you need to be ready for anything, because there are going to be people standing right next to you that are going to need to depend on everyone else around them. It's my job to make sure you're ready for that. Well, at least as ready as anyone can be."
Ethan took a deep breath before answering. "Like you said, ma'am--I mean, doctor--physically, I'm fine. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious. Given that I work in Command and Control, and given the nature of that work, I was advised by Fleet Medical back on Earth to consult with a psychiatric team before I shipped out. Out of an abundance of caution, I did undergo additional profiling, but they didn't find anything out of the ordinary. I understand my responsibilities and my obligations to this crew. I've been trained well, and from what I can tell I've been placed under the direction of a very capable bridge crew. I know the oath as well as anyone else, and out here, that's what matters most to me. I'm ready to do my part."
== Tag Lt. Kalli Thorn (NRC Cindy Talion) ==
Ethan nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed for some reason. "I see."
The whole thing took about ten minutes. It was nothing he hadn't been through before. The doctor didn't say much, and neither did he. For the most part, he was occupied with thoughts of the bridge, and setting off for uncharted territory. It hadn't fully sunk in for Ethan until he first set foot on the Aquila. Already there were millions of miles between him and his family, but once his tour began he'd be truly away from it all--home, civilization (the civilization he knew, at least), and the certainty of safety. For the next few years, the void of virgin space would be his new home. Ethan wasn't sure if he found it tantalizing or terrifying.
Just then, the doctor spoke up, cutting off his thoughts. "Well, you look to be in fine physical shape. I just have a simple question for you. How do you feel. Not are you in any pain, but How do you actually feel, both physically and mentally? It's normal to have the new guy jitters, but I need to know that your head is in the right space. Take a deep breath and don't think about it too hard. Everyone prepares you for the tasks of doing your job, but actually going out into the deep black can be a scary thing for some people. We never know what we're going to encounter and you need to be ready for anything, because there are going to be people standing right next to you that are going to need to depend on everyone else around them. It's my job to make sure you're ready for that. Well, at least as ready as anyone can be."
Ethan took a deep breath before answering. "Like you said, ma'am--I mean, doctor--physically, I'm fine. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious. Given that I work in Command and Control, and given the nature of that work, I was advised by Fleet Medical back on Earth to consult with a psychiatric team before I shipped out. Out of an abundance of caution, I did undergo additional profiling, but they didn't find anything out of the ordinary. I understand my responsibilities and my obligations to this crew. I've been trained well, and from what I can tell I've been placed under the direction of a very capable bridge crew. I know the oath as well as anyone else, and out here, that's what matters most to me. I'm ready to do my part."
== Tag Lt. Kalli Thorn (NRC Cindy Talion) ==