Black Eyed Medicine

Posted on Monday May 6th, 2019 @ 12:54am by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jordan Emerson MD & Ensign Murray Campbell-Mckay
Edited on on Monday May 6th, 2019 @ 2:21am

Mission: Welcome to Union Mining Station Number 42
Location: Mining Shack Bar
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ON:

Jordan was off duty and out of uniform, nor was he wearing scrubs as he often did. Instead, he was dressed in a pair of charcoal gray chinos and rather snug fitting black, short-sleeved tee shirt. He was a doctor, not a spy, so he wasn't doing anything clandestine, but at the same time, he wasn't advertising that he was a Union officer either.

The bar he found himself in, the Mining Shack Bar, was pretty much filled to capacity, all of them, as far as he could tell local, most of whom were miners, half of them were drunk or quickly working their way towards that goal. The interior was dimly lit and had definitely seen better days, but he didn't think it looked like the inside of a mine.

Riley, his younger brother was supposed to be studying or possibly even asleep. In any event, he was in their cabin. Jordan ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair as he took a long, slow, sip of his Killian's Red and took another, more measured look around the room.

With a gleaming shiner on the right side of his face and a somewhat torn and tattered uniform, and a fat busted up bottom lip, the station's young Security Chief looked as though he had been pounded on recently. And in fact, he sort of was although he did not through the first fist nor the second. His face got into the middle of a scuffle between a Navarian and Chak'tal.

He had planned on going to the infirmary, but his shift had ended before he could finish taking witness reports. He handed things over to one of his deputies to take care of and Murray proceeded to one of the bars for a drink. There was more and more life coming to the station and new proprietors and businessmen opened new establishments atop the ruins of past ones that withered and decayed due to the strike and eventual revolt.

Planting his ass in the empty bar stool a gurgling of his stomach indicated that he had more than missed lunch. His breakfast was not holding him over and dinner was later than his body wanted it to be. He gazed longingly at the small glass bowl of nuts that sat on the bar, free for anyone to snack on. Oh no lad, ye don' wanna get yerself sick. Street haggis is safer than them there nuts he thought to himself.

He knew it was true too. There was no telling the numerous hands that had fondled those salty nuts and tossed them back into their mouths. Awkwardly putting his hand up like he was back in a classroom again, and not Union Point, but rather primary school as though he was nervously putting in his request for either white or chocolate milk, Ensign Murray McKay summoned the barkeep's attention. "I'll have a Rob Roy an' order of some of 'em tots ya make with 'em potatoes," he said completing his order.

Jordan hadn't really been paying that much attention to the comings and goings of the various patrons of the bar until he heard the voice two stools down from him make a pronouncement.

He wasn't quite sure if the accent were British or Scottish at first, but he knew it was definitely a fellow Terran. He turned and glanced in the direction of the voice and his eyes widened at the spectacle.

He noticed three things all at the same time; the man was attractive, he was a Union officer, and based on the torn uniform and black eye, he'd been in an altercation very recently.

He finished off his drink sitting on the top of the bar then stood and moved so he was standing behind the man Clearing his throat as he approached.

"You should probably let me take a look at that eye of yours," he said. "Otherwise it's going to be swollen shut by tomorrow."

Murray spun his stool seat around and looked down at the man. "Is that what ya thin'?" said the ensign. The man did not look familiar. Murray was still learning crew, and the man was not wearing a uniform. "Aye, well, be that as it may, I don' make it a habit of lettin' strange men look at me eyes," added the security officer.

Studying the other man for a bit, Murray scoffed. "Fancy havin' another drink or a ya just gonna gawk at me shiner?" said Murray. "Who the hell are ya anyway? The bloody Doctor?"

Jordan laughed. "As a matter of fact, I am the bloody doctor. Jordan Emerson, the new resident doctor and I've been described as cocky, a smart ass, even arrogant, but this is the first time I've been described as strange."

"Oh?" said Murray with a bit of a snicker. "Well, ya made an ass of me, Doc. Whattaya think? This gonna close up on me? I need ta be able ta see if I'm gonna be doin' me job," the security officer added.

With his cocktail glass in hand, Murray took a sip of the drink and examined the man with his good eye. "Look awfully young to be a Doctor, but guess that would be callin' the kettle black."

Jordan reached towards Murray putting a finger under his chin and tilting his face up, He then moved his own face closer examining the injured eye more closely.

"I heard you order some food. Maybe after you're done we can stop by my office. I've got a poultice I can put on it which should at least slow down the swelling. I know it's kind of old fashioned, but it works. I'll be thirty in about six weeks so I'm betting that I'm older than you. And yeah, you're right about the pot calling the kettle black, but at least you're a very good looking pot."

Murray could practically smell his food coming and taste the crispy fried nuggets of potato coming his way. "Aye, I did order food," he said to the medical officer. "But I can walk an' chew at the same time," added the security officer.

The food arrived and Murray took the last few swigs of his drink and took the small carton of tots with him as he scooted off of the stool. "Thirty? Ya, don' look it. Lead the way an' I'll let ya have a betta look at me eye."

"I age well, I guess," the doctor replied. "And I'll take that as a compliment. Let's go."

Vampire, thought Murray to himself. It was only fitting. Looking that young and a physician... definitely a vampire.

He hadn't really explored the area much, but he knew the way to his cabin and his office from the bar. He led Murray through a labyrinth of corridors then up a short flight of stairs. "We're almost there," he said, I can take care of the eye, but what are you going to do about some clothes?"

"Aye an' I can take care of me uniform," replied the security officer. "It's just a wee few minutes an' I'll have a new one for the mornin' Doc," he added. "Hopefully, I won' be gettin' in any more scuffles."

"Let's hope not," Jordan replied as they came to the door of the infirmary. He tapped a code into the console and the door slid open. As the stepped into the interior, lights began to flick on.

He led the man to an exam bed. "Climb up there," he suggested. "I need to go to the refrigeration unit."

"Refrigeration unit... um I hope ye aren' goin' to use leeches or anythin'," said Murray a bit cautiously. He had heard horror stories about some of these backspace Podunk assignments and the sort of physicians they sent to them.

Nervously, the security officer cleared his throat. "I may be a wee bit out of date with the current Union handkerchief code, Doc, but leech play isn' somethin' I'm lookin' to foray into," added Murray.

Jordan almost dropped the small container he had taken out because he started laughing so hard. He managed to hang onto it as he regained his composure. "While I am familiar with the concept you mentioned, handkerchiefs, not leeches, I have no idea what color means which, or whether wearing one on your right or left makes you the aggressor or the passive one. And I really have no plans to do any research into it."

Murray sat there looking very pleased with himself. "Good," he replied simply enough. "I wouldn' want ta have to wrestle ya into a holdin' cell lookin' like this," he added gesturing to his eye.

He set the container down on the counter and opened the lid. Immediately the area around them was filled with an odor that closely resembled a rotten egg. "I know it's not exactly perfume, but it's all plant-based. And it will take the swelling down. You'll still have a nice black eye for a day or two, but your face will look normal otherwise and it won't hurt anymore."

The security officer squirmed and bit and scrunched his nose. "Oh Krill have mercy that reeks a wee bit much, don' ya think?" he said turning his head away in a futile attempt to escape the stench. "Aye, maybe take down the swellin' but should I be even a wee bit worried abou' conjunctivitis with the way that stuff smells?"

"I admit it is a bit ripe, but it works and I'm not going to solve one problem, just to create another. Your eye will be fine. Just trust me. Okay?"

Murray shrugged. "What can I say, Doc? I may have some wee bit of trust issues," said Murray. "Last person who said 'Trust me' was a nasty lass who cost me promotion an' now I'm here," scoffed the security officer.

"I guess I can't blame you for how you feel, but it really is good for you. And I didn't exactly volunteer for this gig either. I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours."

Murray smirked "Another time," he said swiftly. "Me mothers always told me not to talk to strangers an' to always leave 'em wantin' more," teased the security officer. "Fix me eye an' I'll have coffee with you some evenin' an' maybe, just maybe I'll work up the courage to tell me story."

"Fair enough," Jordan said as he applied the poultice to the affected area. Just leave it there for an hour. You'll be fine. And I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be in security if you were easily intimidated."

He nodded in response, a simple and affirming gesture. "Aye, I'm not easily intimidated. Ye are correct about that, but foolishness an' recklessness have been me constan' companions. My career has been tarnished by them undoubtedly."

"I've been known to take a chance or two myself," the doctor replied. "Are you starting to notice a difference with your eye?"

"Better," replied the younger man in Union red. "It doesn't sting as much an' I may have gotten a bit used to the scent. I presume I'm free to go unless to found anythin' else a wee bit wrong with me?"

"No, I find absolutely nothing else wrong with you at all," Jordan replied almost managing to keep the smirk off his face.

Murray groaned a little inside. This physician was going to definitely be keeping Murray on his feet with the subtle sometimes not so subtle flirting. "So, do I get a lollipop for being good?" asked the security officer teasingly. "I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of me, Doc. Meetings an' such."

Jordan bit his tongue to keep from replying with the first thought that came into his mind. It would have just been tooeasy. "Sorry, no lollipop this time, but who knows about later. I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of each other.

"Aye, goodnigh' Doc," replied Murray as he scooted off and collected himself. "Ya know how to get in touch," added the security officer.

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