driftfleet | When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

Who: Everyone! EVERYONE!
Broadcast: IF YOU WANNA
Action: Everywhere! EVERYWHERE!
When: Mid-September - Mid-October

[How's your ship doing, pardners? Is it still pretty damaged? Is it glitching out hardcore? Well, there is one place to land to take care of all that, and that's on a dusty old moon in front of a planet that no one wants to go to. On this moon, you'll find a civilization that looks a lot like one's stepped into a wild west movie, hardened cowpolk and mutant horses and all. Will you become a vigilante, hunting bounties and stopping gangs from doing their dirty work? Will you go exploring planetside, with a cowboy hat and a stalk of wheat in your mouth to complete the look? Good luck with that; there is no wheat. This town ain't big enough for all you flooters, but make it so! For the ratings!

In other words, it's a planet mingle! Get 'er done!]

[September Planet info here]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can't say the Enterprise was exactly predictable but you're right, I at least had the supplies and staff I needed, and if there was something like what happened on the Iskaulit... well, there would be other Federation ships and personnel to help lend more long term support to the Nunnalis.

[Simon was quiet for a while at the mention of the Iskaulit. It still haunted him, even if he was a bit more pragmatic than he had been when he'd first arrived on Serenity. If he'd had the proper staff and equipment... but, no. No dwelling on things he couldn't change.]

Indeed. The ship I traveled on was equipped more like the ones in the Fleet, but before then, I worked at a top hospital, we had the latest scanners and medicine... this was a definite step down. I try not to dwell on that too much, but it's frustrating when I do not have the tools I need to do more.

Perhaps they plan on giving us more technology, bit by bit... like they did with my tricorder.

[She sighs.]

Even just a dermal regenerator would help immensely.

[Maybe no one is paying attention to this conversation and maybe they are... she clearly has enough fans to keep her here, maybe one of them will give her some damn equipment.]

I would hope so. Personally, I would take having enough equipment and personnel to realize Dr. Keller's idea of having a clinic on the Iskaulit. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be a start.

I know. I would love to be able to have a clinic to service the whole fleet, especially for those ships that don't have a medic at all, but... at this point I don't see how it's feasible.

Indeed. One of the newer arrivals mentioned he would be able to staff it as he doesn't require much sleep, but he has gone quiet since then. And even if he were able to help us get it up and running, there's no guarantee he- or any of us- would stick around forever. And... as I discussed with Vima not long ago... I feel a bit of a moral quandary building on the Iskaulit, too.

[She nods slowly.]

As I'm sure you know, I was very against us taking the Iskaulit in the first place. I still can't say I approve of our original decision but... the Nunnalis have given us permission to use the Iskaulit. If they considered it an act of desecration for us to build on it, they would have said something. And from the time I spent with them, I especially don't think they would object to us building a clinic.

Yes, that's true... [Simon sighed.] And in a way, I feel like building a clinic would be able to give back the lives we were unable to save. They were doomed, we could not help but have to dispose of them, but I would still like to keep giving back. For lack of a better term, it still feels like there are... spirits there, I suppose. Just that feeling that the dead ones are still present in some way.

[Beverly uncomfortably shifts her gaze away from Simon for a moment. Tek said he felt something very similar, in that conversation on the Iskaulit. She hopes Simon doesn't start insisting she ought to pray for their souls as well.]

I don't... I'm not what anyone would call a spiritual person, so I don't know what to tell you.

[When she looks back at Simon, her eyes are full of compassion.]

But I think about them a lot too. What could have saved them, how such a thing could have happened, what their lives must have been like before... wondering about the what ifs is natural, even if its not particularly practical. All we can do now though is make sure we don't forget, and do our best going forward to keep it from happening to anyone else.

I'm not, either. [Simon smiled slightly.] My sister could sense it, but not me. It's more like... yes, I think about all of those things, too. And it weighs on me whenever I'm on the ship. [He sighed.] I suppose it doesn't do to dwell on it, though. We have that space, and it does feel like a shame to just leave it go and not use it because of a few moral hangups. And I know not everyone in the Fleet feels the same way about it.

No, they don't, and if we had not gotten the explicit permission of the Nunnalis to take the ship, I would feel exactly the same way you do about it. But, even with all our differences, the Iskaulit is a testament to how, when it really gets down to it, this fleet can pull together and work towards a common goal. We were able to disinfect the ship, find a cure for the Nunnalis, distribute that cure, and now, people are working together to make life in the fleet a little bit better for everyone.

That's a good point. If nothing else, everyone really did pull together- and I have to admit, being able to help the Nunnalis did ease my soul a little, after I was unable to save the others. It's... it's a normal part of being a doctor. You're not always able to save every patient, and you have to learn to accept that and continue to do good despite it. I'm a trauma surgeon, so I should understand that better than anyone.

Believe me, I understand. You feel like you're supposed to be immune to the grief, develop emotional calluses. But as a friend once told me, maybe the truly good doctors never do get those calluses. Don't berate yourself with "shoulds:" as long as you don't let it overwhelm you and interfere with what you need to do, there's nothing wrong with what you're feeling right now.

[Simon nodded.]

I think I needed to hear that. ... thank you. [He sighed.] Hardening myself would be impossible, I think- my desire to do right by people is too strong.

[Her mouth forms a grim line.]

Don't ever lose that desire, either. I've seen what happens when the science becomes more important than the people.

I have, too- and it's not pretty. It goes against all of the reasons I became a doctor, and it's always unsettled me when doctors choose to ignore the oath they took. Sometimes circumstances can give them no choice, to be fair... but others, they make the choice themselves.

I suppose we're lucky, that you and Dr. Keller and I have similar views on this.

I am glad for that. It would make it that much harder for us to work together if not- but I'm lucky to have such kind and skilled colleagues.

As am I.

[She gives him a rueful half-smile.]

Though if we were actually good doctors, we ought to be getting on to our next patient.

This is very true- lead the way.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When We're Rollin Through the Wild Wild West

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wrap?

Yup <3