Chapter Text
Penny was right about the situation at the medical station. She and Pete both worked “low-priority” positions, meaning that they were among the last to be shuttled down to the planet. By now, nearly everyone was off the big ships and getting acclimated. And, as seemed to be the case, getting their vaccines.
“If I weren’t already retired, I would be by the time I got my shots,” Sandra protested, checking her silvery updo in a pocket mirror. Hurry up already!” she shouted at no one in particular, leaning to the side to see how many people were working. Her makeup and hair were flawless, and she pushed herself up on the lev-walker to make herself look taller - or perhaps to make her sister look shorter.
“If I’m dead by the time I get there, tell her I want it in my left arm,” Katie countered, pulling her short sleeve up around her shoulder in preparation despite the dozen people ahead of them. She sat in a lev-chair with the speed turned up to full and kept “accidentally” bumping into Sandra, tinkling the jingle bells she’d adorned it with.
Penny grinned at the sisters. There was a small alarm bell going in the back of her head about meeting two people with mobility aides already, but she hadn’t noticed the devices in the lunch room - hopefully they were more convenience than necessity. Sandra turned her lev-walker around and perched on it, regally smoothing the fabric of her trousers as she surveyed the crowd. Penny took the opportunity to do so as well, noting that the only consistent thing about the colonists was that they all had the same excited-but-exhausted look on their faces. It wasn’t every day someone got to settle a new planet!
The line inched by, one person at a time, as the poor medics vaccinated person after person. Each one had to be identified, located on the charts, given the proper warnings, sterilized, poked, and bandaged. Penny tried not to think about it too much, knowing that if she did, there was a better chance she’d pass out - and that would really hold up the line.
“Penelope Hapwell,” she told the young woman when her turn finally came, watching her flip to the middle of the alphabet. “And, um, actually I’m going to be working for Medical. Under Ziv Marchane. Do you know where he might be?”
“Oh, good. He’s been waiting for you,” the medic answered with a meaningful smile. Penny tried to hold back a groan. That was never a good sign. “Head right through that doorway after you get your shot.” Penny pulled up the sleeve on her right arm, revealing her muscled, but pale arm. When she turned her head to the left and scrunched up her face, the medic couldn’t resist inquiring. “Afraid of needles? I thought you worked for medical.” Oh, gross. It was burning all the way. “We’re running low on air-pressed cartridges, so anyone who’s not high risk gets the ol’ pokeroo until someone gets the dumb things reloaded.”
“I can deal, I’m just worried about passing out,” she corrected, sounding strained as she felt the tell-tale jab in her arm. “I deal with outsides, not insides. Give me a bedpan any day.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Ziv will have plenty of those, too,” the medic answered, sticking a sterile cotton ball and piece of tape over the site. “Right through those doors, ma’am. NEXT!”
Penny stood up slowly to make sure she wasn’t light-headed. Pete had already gotten his pokes and signaled that he’d wait outside, so she pushed through the door flaps to meet her new boss. In the back room was a tall, thin young man with dark skin, a white coat, and glasses. “Dr. Marchane?” she asked before she noticed the very same name embroidered on his coat. Oops.
“Ziv is fine,” he replied, sticking out a hand in greeting.
“Penelope Hapwell,” she replied, shaking his hand. “Call me Penny.”
“Oh, well, that will be easy to remember,” he replied, gesturing at the long copper hair flowing halfway down her back. Instinctively, she tried to tuck some of the strays behind her ears. It had started the day pulled into her usual low ponytail but probably had a halo of frizz by now. “Penny. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you.” He walked over to his file cabinet and pulled out a manila folder, flopping it on his desk dramatically.
She stretched her neck, trying to see what the folder said. “Elder Care Program.” Right. That was her department. There were a handful of elderly colonists, and she was here to see that their needs were met - take them to appointments, help with activities of daily living, refill medications, whathaveyou. “What’s the problem?”
“Welp,” Ziv sighed, opening the folder. “Our original roster had you assigned to four people, all requiring full care. But…” he slid his hand over the folder, spreading out the papers, “it seems that someone along the line advertised this place as a ‘retirement oasis’.” Ziv put his fingers up in fake quotation marks, irritated with the idea. “And people have signed up for a la carte services at this ‘oasis.’ Showers, ointments, groceries, you name it. Twelve people, so far, in addition to your original four. And there might be more yet, with this last group.”
Penny nodded in understanding, looking at the mess of papers. There were the four “full care” people - patients that would need daily help with hygiene and medicine - but thankfully none of them were bedbound or in need of hourly checks. A quick glance at the other list revealed that Sandra Graves would need help with her compression socks, but Katie hadn’t signed up for any services. “... And since I’m the only one in Elder Care… and the only one without a medical degree… that’s all me. Huh.” At least sixteen people? Maybe more!? This could be do-able… or it could be a living hell.
She looked up to see Ziv looking nervous, awaiting her reaction. Some people, she supposed, would blame him for the misunderstanding and throw a fit. She, on the other hand, saw this as a challenge. It wasn’t his fault, and there was nothing either of them could do to change it now. “Ok… can I take these papers home? And a notepad? Thanks. I’ll get started on a schedule, and I’ll stop back tomorrow to see if anyone else has signed up.”
“That sounds great. Thanks, Penny, I really appreciate your cooperation. Like I said…”
Penny waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. Just tell whoever advertised the oasis that they’re doubling my pay.” She smiled. Was she joking? Even Penny wasn’t sure. Only time would tell.