Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: The Things We Don’t Tell Our Loved Ones

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim: The Things We Don’t Tell Our Loved Ones

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: The Things We Don’t Tell Our Loved Ones
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Solal was not getting better. In fact, he felt worse. It was late in the day and Solal had yet to drag himself out of bed. His body ached. He had a headache. He was exhausted. He wanted to sleep simply so he didn’t have to feel it all.

Laying on the nightstand near him was his PaDD, left open to a letter he’d received from his parents two days ago. It was written in French, but the UT would auto translate it into any language. It read as follows:

Solal,

It’s been months since we’ve heard from you and it is beginning to worry us. How have you been? Have you earned any promotions? Made new friends? Meet anyone interesting? Or what about a date? Haven’t you thought about dating somebody?

We have been busy lately, ever since the next nearest hospital was closed for structural repairs to the buildings. We are doing well as ever. We visited Japan last month. It was a beautiful trip. The letter went on to describe the trip in more detail.

We both hope to hear from you soon, Solal. We miss you.

Write soon,

The Segals

Solal had been rereading it, still undecided on how best to respond. He was unwilling to lie, yet also unwilling to disclose his illness, to mention the discovery of his half sister, V’alura. Then he had been distracted, set the PaDD down, and forgotten to deal with it. Presently he lay awake, eyes closed, wasting time with little energy or motivation to do anything.

~ Solal

The chime rang at this time notifying that someone was at the door.

Sci Petrakos

Solal reached up and pressed the door control without getting up. Then he rolled over and peered at the doorway to see who his visitor was. “Achilleas. I’m too tired to do anything today.”

~ Solal

Achilleas entered empty handed but in visibly great spirits. “Oh no need to do anything. I’m just stopping by to visit and bring some good news!” He moved towards Solal and the bed he was resting in but had to slow his approach because it was dark and his eyes hadn’t adjusted yet. “Mind if I have a seat next to you?”

Sci Petrakos

“Go ahead.” Solal gestured to a chair in the room, “Pull that chair over. What’s the news?” He asked, sitting up and leaning against the bed’s headboard.

~ Solal

Achilleas brought the indicated chair over and sat in it with a bubbly manner. “I just had the Captain, the newly appointed one, visit me during my work shift and ask if I was interested in stepping back into the role of the Chief Science Officer! I’m not sure why exactly Kane got shifted back to R&D but that opened the position back up and I’m the most senior in the department and obviously held it before.” He kind of babbled all of the news out in a single breath.

Sci Petrakos

Solal nodded as if unsurprised. “Congratulations, then.” He looked up at Achilleas, “You’re comfortable with that? Taking your old spot back?”

~ Solal

“It is… familiar.” Achilleas said slowly. “Having some semblance of a routine will help my adjusting to being back, I feel. Either way I’ve enjoyed the job and the work that comes with it. It also gives me a chance to do some good.” He finished his sentence with an abstract, vague meaning.

Sci Petrakos

Solal nodded again. “It is a good thing the position opened, though I too wonder why Kane vacated it.” He shrugged. “I am sure you’ll do well in it.”

~ Solal

“I wanted to share the news as soon as I could. There’s still some administrative stuff to finish first so I’m not official yet but soon.” Achilleas said with a bright smile. His attention drifted over to a brighter point in the quarters, the PaDD that was left on sitting on the nightstand near the bed. “Oh what were you reading? Another medical journal?”

Sci Petrakos

Solal nodded tiredly. “It’s good news for you.” To the question he looked up at the PaDD as if he’d forgotten about it. “I was trying to read something wasn’t I? What was it…?” Then he reached for the PaDD but the end table felt so far away.

~ Solal