Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Troy Hunter (General Medical Doctor) in Main Sim - Native Village - Hopeful Discourse? Part II

Posted by Captain John Tiberius Glen (Captain) in Main Sim - Native Village - Hopeful Discourse? Part II
[snip]

Both the small man and larger gruff woman waited for Glen to indicate answers to the earlier offer by the Elders for the team to take samples and help etc.

Glen spoke again to the small man and large gruff woman, =/\=We would still like to help you by testing your bodies, your water and Va’s Body. My Engineer will look for ways to make your mining of Va’s body safer. We thank you that the Elders have agreed as one mind to allow us to do so. We agree to heed the course of minimal speech, and to keep things simple for those we wish to approach, or wish to approach us. We thank you that we will be under the protection of the Elder’s blessings. We will need to take samples of your blood but our doctor can do this painlessly without breaking the surface of your skin. We can start now if that is acceptable.=/\=

Both the small man and larger one after a moment nodded, each turning to the other to discuss something in quieter tones. The small man seemed to be more relaxed about their talk occasionally directing his gestures to the away team, while the large woman looked annoyed and irritated with the quieter topic. Clearly the smaller man and most of the Elders, and the smaller man’s followers in the crowd now dispersing seemed more open to their appearance even if a bit still weary they were willing to give some benefit of a doubt to them.

Glen said to Hunter, and also to the Science team, “Let’s do this! Your heads have been given the blessing of the Elders to stay on your bodies. Work in pairs. Only choose the people who come forward to give blood willingly, rather than random sampling, and minimal questioning of them… and none of your wisecracks! When sampling the water, please choose places easily accessed, and in public open spaces. I’ll remain here, and you can all report back here when you are finished.”

‘’Yes Sir’’ the doctor replied opening his medical kit and taking out what was needed. He waited patiently for someone to came forward and hopefully others will follow suit.
A woman, maybe in her late 20’s approached a smiling Hunter, he pointed to the barrels they had been sitting on earlier .Cleaning the site of where the blood was to be taken the doctor did so without any problem after which he gave the woman a thumps up .

Others who had been watching decided to line up as well…to Hunter’s surprise everything went smoothly. He marked the blood samples according to gender and by guessing their age ,the last thing was putting them back in his medical kit labeling them ’ Bio-Hazard’.

Now he started to prepare for the water and public open spaces samples .

The people of Va seemed to be true to their word and Glen saw the medical and science teams get to work on collecting the samples for further analysis aboard the Merrimack. He watched them at work, while his mind wandered, and he wondered what had become of the team down the mines, and also how Joe was progressing with the further investigation of the comet.

Apparently Hunter was feeling much more relaxed, he took out two sterilized glass containers but before he walked over towards the river ,the doctor decided he had enough of the restricted shirt and tore it off him ‘’Ah that’s much better ‘’ he remarked and with the two glass bottles in hand, Hunter went his way whistling some long forgotten tune .

Unknown to Hunter, a few of the younger woman, also leaning in belief to the larger woman’s more untrusting tones followed the man to the waters. They went unseen or heard by Hunter during his work.

Glen wished that Hunter had discussed ripping off his shirt first. It might be a minor thing to him, but these native were strange, with odd customs, and we simply had no idea how they would react to nakedness of the upper torso. However, Hunter had done it so fast, and had walked off to take the river samples so quickly, Glen had no opportunity to stop it, or to ask him to recover his exposed body.

As soon as Hunter’s shirt came off, Verity’s eyes zoomed in on his bare chest. She crossed her arms, raised her eyebrows, and smirked as she stared at him with a lingering look.

Glen stayed with the main landing party, while individuals went off to collect samples, still sat around the table on the uncomfortable barrel seats.

The doctor decided he’ll take a sample from up the river first and another near where the inhabitants lived, to compare the two once back on the ship . He walked some distance away ,looking around and thinking how fairly quiet it seemed.

Once near the water Hunter threaded carefully around the rather slippery rocks and stones, for the last thing he needed was to fall in the water and make a fool of himself

Glen spoke again to the small man and larger gruff woman. =/\= My crew are now collecting water samples and and blood samples which we will test. Other’s have joined your miners underground to look for ways to make mining safer and more productive. Are there any additional ways in which we can help your people and Va’s body? =/\= Glen asked them.

Turning back to Glen, the smaller man nodded, =/\= Any additional helpings you could I think direct in general to ask around. Many of my band of followers you saw earlier about you will possibly be more inclined to approach if you were to present some meaningful understood display of what you could do that they would find favor with. You might also wish to approach the Elder’s council hunt down this way..=/\= The man said showing a slightly larger building up on a raised platform about a ‘block’ or so down to their south.

The taller woman snorted, =/\= Pish if they truly wish to ‘help’ they could toil their backs in labor in sifting through the metal bones left behind by His Agents. Their are still pieces which the miners need to replace damaged goods. Or perhaps they wish to weave their Doomer ‘science’ and ‘magics’ upon the food providing farms to the west? Bah do what you want I care not. I have other arrangements to make. =/\= She said waving off any further suggestions to rise, and with a gesture to several women and a few men still nearby headed east towards several thatch and mud and metal huts arranged in a small walled formation.

The smaller man shook his head, =/\= Apologies for Unknown Word/Name she and her followers were close to Va’s Agents and supported them greatly during their time among us, and their educations. Their departure back to the Heavens still trouble them and two of the Elders who held similar beliefs. While all of us believed in the Agent’s teachings and Va’s refinements they brought, some like myself felt we needed to return to older ways and also to stand on our own feet while expanding with Va’s Blessings. The teachings the Agents brought while quite welcome in many ways also pained us in others. Your science as you say is understood enough to us. We know it is different then that which Va blesses our bodies and minds with. Yet in others similar. =/\= He said, pausing as if to consider something. A call from one of the late teenaged men nearby took his attention. =/\= What? =/\= He asked, to which the teen replied, too far off for the UT to catch his end of things, but the teen pointed to the Elder huts nearby, =/\= Ah yes, I understand tell them I will be by soon. =/\= The boy nodded and then departed. =/\= Excuse me the Elder Seer needs me for something. My companion ill tempered as she is did offer you two other avenues to show your help. It might be wise to follow up with it in some form if you wish. =/\= He said then departed.

OOC: Aka engineering could go sift through wreckage for spare parts, and medical/science could go help on the small plots of farms. Conversely Glen probably will want to soon either try to learn more about the tall woman, small man, (talking to either one) or more pointedly go talk to the Elder council soon too.

By now the doctor had filled the glass jar with the water from the river ,he raised it up to eye level and it seemed clear , though he knew that it did not mean there wasn’t any bacteria lurking in it .Raising himself up Hunter started to walk towards where the inhabitants lived to take another sample from down river .He noticed the surroundings were much dirtier ,soot and dust everywhere he looked ,taking a deep breath the doctor repeated the same process as before …this time the glass jar was filled with murky , unclean ,filthy and polluted water .

With both samples in hand , Hunter made his way back to were the Captain had been sitting.

Again without Hunter noticing, or anyone else for that matter the trio of unseen or heard women followed him melding back into the nearby crowds who had now started to return to their normal daily lives.

Verity was glad Hunter collected the samples, especially the one where the water was much dirtier. As he walked back, Verity held her hand out for the samples, still enjoying the view of his bare chest as he approached.

And as usual Hunter did not even notice Verity admiring his bare chest ‘’Here Lt ‘’ the doctor said with that usual small smile of his ‘’Anything else?’’ he asked , directing his gaze at the science officer and Captain.

“Put it away Lieutenant!” Glen told Hunter. “Your shirtlessness might break local customs and result in a riot!”

• Glen, CO

’’ Is that what you are worried about..seriously? ‘’ Hunter questioned ‘’In that case ‘’ he grabbed the shirt which he had torn in half and put it on backwards ‘’Now they can only see my back and wait until we get back on the ship, I’m going to have a word with Cara Meow ‘’ at this point he lowered his voice …just in case it caused a riot.

Hunter Dr.

GM CockRoach