Star Cruise - Outbreak (3 page)

Jake wasn’t forthcoming on details of the intriguing tale. “Long story. Tell you over drinks sometime if you like.”

When she walked into the reception area, there were now several more people clustered at the desk, waiting to check in. “We’ll be right with you, folks,” she said.
 

Another passenger entered, and as the door opened, Emily heard raised voices from the corridor. “What’s going on out there?”

“Some nut is yelling at a little girl,” said the newcomer.
 

Jake drew his stunner. “Where?”

“In front of the casino.” Staring as Jake rushed from the lobby, the man spoke in amusement, apparently to himself. “Ship’s security was already there. What’s he going to do?”

“His job. Take a seat, please, and we’ll be with you as soon as we can.” Emily walked to the door and stepped into the corridor, relieved to see Jake striding toward her. “Problem?”

He shook his head. “One blowhard showing off. My team was already on it, didn’t need me.”

“Who yells at a kid?”

“Someone whose family was dispossessed by hers ten generations ago or so. Feuds run deep on Falyn’s planet. She has those big bodyguards and a sourpuss guardian for a reason, unfortunately.”

Overwhelmed by too much happening too fast, nerves tightening, Emily walked through sickbay, trying to look too busy to be accosted by the waiting patients. It was as if the ship leaving orbit around Harilon was a signal for people to come seek medical advice. She fled into the tiny office, Jake following her. Over her shoulder, she asked, “Are any of my staff on duty right now?”

“Sickbay’s open around the clock. There should be a nurse.”

“Why isn’t that person screening the intake, then? I don’t need to see every individual who comes to the sickbay. I should focus on the most urgent cases.” She picked up a small winged statue and examined it for a second before moving it off the desk to a side shelf.

He frowned. “We’re a luxury cruiser, Doctor. Most people will expect to see you.”

Patience fraying, she took refuge in the hot flare of anger. “Are you telling me how to run a medical office?”

He backed off. “No, of course not.”

“Then I suggest you go about your own duties and leave me to mine.” Opening the wall cabinets, one after another, more to stay in motion than because she cared what the previous doctor had stored there, she found a traditional white coat with the CLC logo on the pocket below the caduceus insignia. She grabbed it, tugging the garment on over her simple outfit. Twining her hair into a casual ponytail, she picked her personal AI out of her pants’ pocket and pushed past him, marching into the open reception area. She could do this. It was just like the ER on Harilon and nothing remotely like her military experiences. Therefore safe. “Who was here first?”

“Me, Doctor.” A young woman slumped in a chair raised her hand, while her male companion hovered. “I have a terrible headache.”
 

“Please go into Exam Room 1, and I’ll be right there.” Emily pivoted from the passengers as a young woman in a CLC uniform with a nurse’s insignia rushed into the clinic. “Glad to see I have some support today—I’m Dr. Shane, just arrived aboard. Are you the nurse on duty?”

Eyes wide, visibly surprised to see Emily instead of whoever she’d expected, the newcomer smoothed her uniform tunic with one hand and her hair with the other. “Relba Gittan, day shift, yes, ma’am. Sorry I’m late returning from my break, Doctor.”

“If you could triage these patients for me and notify me when the woman in Room 1 is ready for me to examine, we won’t worry about it.” Emily smiled. She really didn’t want to be too much of a stickler on her first day in charge of Sickbay. “I understand sometimes unexpected things happen. I’ll be in my office.”

CHAPTER TWO

“See you later, Doc.” Jake left the sickbay with a wave of his hand.
 

As he made his way toward the bridge, where Captain Fleming was overseeing the ship’s exit from Harilon and entry into hyperspace, his own second-in-command, Red Thomsill, fell into step with him.

“So, how was the doc? Did meeting your angel go the way you expected? You were pretty excited about it at coffee this morning.”

Wishing he’d kept his mouth shut about the subject of his fascination with Dr. Emily Shane, Jake said, “She’s strung pretty tight. I never even told her we’d met before.” He gave Red a sideways glance. “I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention it to her when you meet her. She obviously didn’t remember, and why would she?”

“Yeah, conditions weren’t optimal at the time,” Red said. “Not to mention you were bleeding out, according to Jayna. I won’t breathe a word. Anything we should be worried about?”

“I’m sure the doctor’s fine. I don’t think she ever expected to return to space. And her father apparently didn’t get her to agree to this temp job before he told his friend on the Line’s Board that she’d do it. She was still pissed at her dad when I showed up on her doorstep.”

Red made a face. “Awkward.”

“Yeah, the timing didn’t help the situation any, but I talked her into signing on. Then we get on board, she wants to see sickbay and her nurse isn’t on duty. She had patients waiting, including a sick pet, no less. All in all, not a good beginning. She handled it fine—she’s a pro, but not the best way to join a ship.”

“Are you bringing her to the party tonight? Maybe we can show her a better side of being
Nebula Zephyr
crew. Everyone’s eager to meet your Dr. Shane.”

“She’s hardly
my
anything, except the doctor who saved my life—watch that kind of talk.” He gave Red a glare to emphasize he was serious about the warning. “I’d appreciate it if she continues to talk to me for the rest of the cruise. I did mention the party to Dr. Shane, but I don’t know if she’ll remember. I’ll check with her toward the end of the afternoon. She’s pretty much all business, hasn’t even been to her cabin yet.”
 

“Nothing like Meers, then.”

“Totally different. The medical staff’ll have to up their game while Dr. Shane’s in charge. She’s used to military hospitals, where people jump at an order. Not sure how the chain of command approach’ll go over with the passengers, since she can’t pull rank on them.” He switched subjects as they arrived at the crew gravlift. “Did you check out the person who was heckling Princess Falyn?”

“No priors, just a hothead. Saw her with her handlers in the corridor and took his chance to show off to his buddies, act tough. Guess he figured he’d be safe on board the ship. I gave him a stern warning. Do you want me to set an extra guard on Her Highness’s quarters?”

“Her regent doesn’t want any visible support from us. She’s afraid it’ll send a message Falyn’s forces are weak. The old harridan was very clear in our preflight briefing.” Jake rolled his shoulders. “I hate seeing a kid used as a political pawn, and I sure don’t want anything happening to her on our watch.”

“So I’ll tell Jayna and Clint to run surveillance with Maeve’s help.” Red was matter-of-fact. “Why in the seven hells did Falyn’s people take her to the sickbay? Shouldn’t the doc go to her? Royalty and all?”

“Supposedly, the pet was sick. I think the princess wanted an excuse to get out of her suite.”

Red made a face. “I would if I was locked in there with Lady Scorsshyn twenty-four seven. She gives me the shivers.”

“And I’m assuming the regent wasn’t averse to making it clear Falyn is well guarded and can travel safely.” Jake shook his head. “I hope the hotheads don’t pull any more stunts. We don’t have specific intel on terrorist activity, or a presence on the
Zephyr
, but reports have been wrong before. She may look like a little girl, but she’s the figurehead for a massive, entrenched power structure.” He checked his wrist chrono. “Captain’s expecting me. See you later.”

Red continued on his way with a wave as Jake stepped into the restricted-access gravlift to the bridge.

When he arrived, Jake found the command crew working efficiently around Captain Fleming, who acknowledged Jake’s arrival with a level stare and a salute with his raised mug of genuine Terran coffee. “Well? Is the new doc settled in?” Fleming took a sip.

“She gives off an intense attitude, but she’ll fill the position fine for a few weeks, satisfy the regulations.” Jake kept his concerns about Dr. Shane to himself for now. Surely the military wouldn’t have allowed her to resign and transported her home without at least minimum treatment for wartime horrors. She’d seemed pretty anxious more than once, especially in the crowd by the casino, but got herself under control fast. And her manner with Princess Falyn and the pet had been pleasant enough, once she accepted the idea of playing veterinarian.
 

As if reading his mind, the captain said, “I’d be intense too if I’d seen the frontline service our new doctor has on her record.” Fleming eyed him over the lip of the chipped mug, which bore the insignia of his last military command. “We have a schedule to keep, and even if this is a continuation of the shakedown cruise, there are passengers who want to reach their destination. Meers better have a solid-gold excuse, or he’s banned from setting foot on my ship again. Sorry to drop this problem on your shoulders, Jake, but you’re responsible for making sure the new doc sticks it out with us until we get a permanent replacement.”

“No problem, sir.” He hoped to get to know her better. At a minimum, he wanted a chance to thank her properly for saving his life. The assignment from Captain Fleming was no hardship.

“Now tell me about the incident with Princess Falyn today outside the casino.”

The afternoon passed fairly rapidly. Emily was surprised at how many minor complaints the passengers had, although some people wanted only a friendly ear to talk to about old maladies, or reassurance that a new bump or lump wasn’t the harbinger of a deadly, alien disease.
Only in the trideo adventures.
 

Thankfully, there were no more pets to be treated.
 

Sitting in her tiny office right before going off shift, she scheduled a mandatory meeting of her staff for the next morning. There were several people she hadn’t met, and it was clear to her the previous doctor had run sickbay in a much more casual style than she was accustomed to, or willing to tolerate even for a few weeks.

“The preferred time you’ve indicated won’t work, Doctor,” said the ship’s AI.

And now the ship was giving her more attitude. Running one hand through her hair, Emily couldn’t keep irritation out of her voice. “Why not?”

“You’re required to attend new-employee orientation tomorrow at that hour in the Eridani conference room on Level C. There’s a mandatory briefing for all crew members just joining the ship.”

“No one told me.” Glancing down, she noted the meeting now glowing red on her calendar vid. “Besides, I’m only a temporary employee.” She sipped at her synth caff and frowned.

“Allow me to explain,” said Jake in his smooth baritone as he lounged in the doorway. “After the
Nebula Dream
disaster, the CLC Line upgraded their own employee training protocols, even though the wreck happened to a different cruise line.”

She swung around in her chair, not happy to realize Jake had arrived so quietly. Reminding herself he was ex-Special Forces and not a potential enemy, she tried to calm her racing pulse and fight-or-flight response. “What else don’t I know about my duties here?”

“You have a briefing with the captain tomorrow afternoon, you’re expected to dine at his table tomorrow night, although he won’t be there, and other than that, run the sickbay.” He grinned. “Keep us all healthy.” A more serious expression on his face, Jake said, “I came to repeat the invite for you to join us at the beach party tonight. Food and drinks are on the ship for this event, which is a rare deal.”

“I’ll take a rain check,” she said automatically. The idea of dining with strangers didn’t appeal. “I’m heading for my cabin and my bunk.”

Jake waited while she gave Bevar, the physician’s assistant who had night duty, a few instructions as to how she liked things, and then he strolled with her toward the crew gravlift. “Your luggage has been placed in your cabin. If you need anything, let Maeve know. She’ll have the details of your schedule in an accessible file.”

“Luggage is a fancy term for my battered go bag.” Emily tried for a lighter tone. “Did you say I have to dine at the captain’s table tomorrow? What happened to not being involved in social interaction with the passengers?”

“There are a few exceptions, Doctor.” He laid his hand over his heart and intoned dramatically, “We all have to take a few for the CLC Line.”

“Even you? Should a chief of security be so visible?”

“Reassures the passengers, serves notice to the bad guys.”

She paused at the entrance to the lift. Hands on her hips, Emily said, “I’m going to try to keep meet and greets with passengers to a minimum. I’m sure I’ll see enough of them in sickbay, judging by how today went. At least I was never in any danger of being bored. Thanks for the escort. I can find my way now. The ship seems to be well run, for a civilian job.”

He half shrugged. “Ex-military captain, ex-military crew. Lucky for us, that’s what passengers and freight forwarders want right now. Maeve is used to running a battleship going into harm’s way, so she has no trouble keeping
Nebula Zephyr
shipshape.” He laid his hand on her forearm for a moment. “I wish you’d reconsider about the party. You wouldn’t have to stay long, just let me introduce you to a few folks, grab a plate of food and a beer, and leave.”