It had taken him 19 minutes to get across to the ship as it sat docked and waiting, and in those 19 minutes Paul had sat quietly listening to the chatter from the two or three others who had joined him. They had looked at him once or twice, mainly because he stuck out slightly in his dark blue trousers, blue shirt and nazy waistcoat with black tie and shoes. But after he crossed his arms across his chest, adjusted his glasses and closed his eyes they were content to ignore him. He hadn’t joined in, content to sit back with his eyes closed and simply listen to them. He caught from the gist of one particular conversation that both the woman in a blue sciences decision dress and the man in a red shirt were on their first assignment and had some sort of history together. What, he didn’t know.

When the woman made a small gasp of delight he opened his eyes and looked to see what had caught her attention and the lips under his moustache twitched into a small smile, the ship had just come into view.

He watched it with them a moment, it was a beautiful vessel, but considering that his last few years had been spent in an old, beaten up star ship equivalent of an old earth VW bus anything would have looked beautiful. It would take some getting used to, he mused, going from a ship that was basically helm, medical lab and exam space and a small living space with two bunks to…well that.

As the shuttle came to rest in the bay and others grabbed their bags Paul slowly stood and picked up the old leather duffle at his feet. He waited patiently while the security person, at least he assumed it was, checked people and gave them instructions to get to their assigned quarters.

As he approached, the man looked down at the PaDD but Paul cut him off. ”Sickbay, ” he said gruffly.

The NE blinked and looked up, ”sorry…sir?” he asked.

A sigh, an eye roll. ”Sickbay Son, where’s sickbay at?” he clarified.

”oh..deck 5, sickbay is on deck 5. Can I take your name…”

”And the officers quarters?”

”Deck 3…your name sir?”

”And we are on?”

”The shuttlebay? This is deck 12…” the NE frowned, he looked frustrated now. ”sir…can I, please, take your name.” he held up the PaDD.

Paul frowned and shook his head. ”Hudson, Doctor Hudson.” he said as he moved away towards the door. He didn’t look back or pay attention if the NE had asked him to wait. He wandered the corridor until he found a turbo lift. He grabbed the handle, twisted and said ”deck 5”

He carefully put his bag on the floor and looked around the Sentinel’s sickbay, it was a thing of beauty. Tidy and unused with everything gleaming. He ran his fingers tips along the main exam biobed and walked to the doorway of the ward area. The beds were ready, the red antibacterial material of the covers glinted slightly in the overhead lights. The medical panels inactive, black glass streak free.

He picked up his bag again and moved to the Chief Medical Officer’s office. Putting it on the desk he unzipped it and began pulling out some books, and personal knickknacks.

Doc Hudson
CMO