<snip>

“My command training class was pretty evenly split between Operations-division and Sciences personnel, and it was almost ridiculously easy to spot the distinctions between the Medics, the other scientists, the Engineers and the Security officers,” Brad shared, continuing to push the weight away and let it return to its starting position, bending his legs back towards his chest.

“Us medics and the engineers had the easiest time adapting to the odd hours, though a few of the Security folks that spent a lot of their early years on the graveyard shift adapted pretty easily as well. Threw a few of our instructors for a loop, since they’d adapted back to the 9 to 5 of academy life, and were confused when we were just as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as them for an 0800 lecture, despite having been assigned a task that was designed to keep us up until 0300 or later.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Dira tucked one foot in against her with her other leg out as she stretched her hamstring and side body. She chuckled and she folded herself down over her leg. “Oh, I can imagine. I will say that it’s never been quite as bad for me as you folks have it, because while I had emergencies to deal with at times, most of my appointments were during standard day shift hours. But the adjustment as XO took awhile, that’s for sure. I think it was just fortunate that I came in while everyone else was also having a transition. We all go to muddle through at the same time.”

~Myqian

“Yeah, that was probably a big help, you got to be just one more new face to get used to, as opposed to a dedicated object of curiosity,” Brad said, completing another two reps.

“That and we were quickly distracted by hallucinogenic fungus,” Dira said with a laugh.

“I will say, I don’t really miss the irregular hours of a junior doctor, or even as a CMO on a regular ship,” he added. “Especially now that the proportion of gray hairs on my head is closer to 1 in every 3.”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

She chuckled as she switched legs. “Ahh, aging. I think based on my genetics and my parents I’ve got a few decades yet before that happens, but I don’t know, each increasing pip seems to amplify the process for a lot of people. Could happen sooner.”

Dira studied him for a moment. “How are you doing with all the changes?” she asked as she stretched out her left wrist. Despite the physio she had done it still felt a bit tight.

Brad grimaced, before launching into a second set of reps on the leg-press. “Difficult to say, really. On the one hand, it’s not like the processes themselves change, I’m still reporting to you and one other person. But instead of the one other person being one of my best friends, it’s some guy I don’t know from Adam. My little fiefdom is more or less the same, so it’s easy to just turn up in the morning, spend eight hours reviewing everything the previous two shifts did and what the current shift is doing, then slink off back to my quarters.”

He stopped talking for a moment to concentrate on finishing his set, then relaxed again. “Quite unhealthy behavior, I know, but I’ve never really been the outgoing type.”

Captain Myqian, CO

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff

Dira studied him for a moment. “I miss her too,” she said softly. Her and Willow had become very close and it was hard to have that connection gone. She had been through it often enough over her career that she adapted but she’d never get used to it.

“And I’m saying this as a colleague, but also as someone who is doing her best to help the crew through this transition, but you are our Second Officer. It’s not just the medical department that needs your presence. You’re an important piece of the puzzle, Brad. The crew needs to know you’re available to them should they need you. I’m not saying you have to be really social, but try to be visible when you can. And maybe it will help you as well.”

Captain Myqian, CO

“Thanks, counsel- captain,” Brad said with a light grin. “Maybe for my next workout I’ll just power- walk the ship, eh?”

Cmdr. Dr. Brad Walker
Chief of Staff