# On the Rim, Ch 10: Doc's Chance to Shine

Author: comidacomida
Tags: Badger, Bear, Character Development, Dog, Fox, Horse, Human, Lion, Lynx, Rhino, Sci-Fi, Space, Violence (Not In Yiff), survival

We have reached the tenth post of of "On the Rim", and the first one for the new year! This is a short story series based on a game I am playing called "Rim World". Rim World is a really cool indie game that accommodates an amazing array of mods that allow me to create a setting very similar to my story world in which several of my stories take place including "Fathom's Phantoms", "The Farlight Initiative", an "Paid in Kind".  
  
Chris shows us that not all days that start out quiet stay that way. After inspecting two new recruits for the settlement and having an awkward talk with two people back-to-back, he ends up getting involved in a fight-for-life in a way he would have preferred to have avoided. It all works out alright in the end... except for a lost tail. As always, it's time to determine whose point of view will color the next post. Here are the options:  
  
a) The Overseer spends the morning calming everyone down and figuring out next moves, but everyone is up in arms again when yet another survivor from The Venture stumbles into camp.  
b) The Captain maintains vigil on guard duty, then spends the afternoon helping out with manual labor, until someone new, but not TOO new stumbles into camp.  
c) Grizz spends the morning doing manual labor and sealing up the holes in Duct-Tape's room before going on watch, during which he encounters another survivor from The Venture.  
d) Missy spends the morning with Roscoe, who is recovering from his injuries, and then takes him out on a low-impact patrol, but is back in time to see a newcomer.  
e) Claw spends his morning working, but also bitching and moaning and complaining. In the afternoon he joins the group in figuring out what to do with a newcomer to the group.  
  
 Voting won't be available long and no, the decision won't change the events of the story, just how they're presented along with who we get to learn more about via their point of view.  
  
 Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy "On the Rim"!

On the Rim, Ch 10: Doc's Chance to Shine  
2020 copyright comidacomida

The two Gen ladies visiting the cave complex left the following day, but not before thanking the group for their hospitality.  Rather than relying on words alone, Rebecca pulled out a travel sized medical kit and offered it to the survivors; apparently she had access to more and thought it would be useful.  Since it was medical supplies it was placed into the care of the team's only doctor.

With the rather empty medical bay finally as functional as was possible considering the accommodations, Chris had very little to do with his time as it related to his profession so he took the hand-off seriously, stowed it with the rest, and updated his inventory log.  With little else to do related to medicine, the Human went to look at the plans that were being prepared for the more high-tech portions of their cave system-- pending the right parts and supplies, of course.

The week-or-so they'd been stranded on Planet A had been something of a learning experience for Chris; he'd never had to rough it in the wild or make due with limited supplies of anything, and he'd certainly never had to patch a wound without the aid of precision, computer-guided instrumentation.  In a way it was the most frightening thing he'd ever had to experience but, on the other hand, he did have to admit that there was a certain degree of liberation in being separated from the fetters of a modern, high-corporate age society.

He spent the morning hours moving between tasks, sometimes watching Cole as he worked (there was something mesmerizing about the sheen of black fur with muscles moving beneath it) and occasionally sharing some comparative notes with the Overseer.  The casual nature of the day was interrupted as yet another group of travelers stopped by the valley.  Chris was concerned at how poorly kept a secret their crash site was, especially if what they knew (or perhaps assumed?) about the local pirates was anything to go by.

The newcomers, however, were far more a surprise than any of those who had come before because one of them included another survivor of the RCS Venture.  Chris wasn't there while the initial conversation took place but second-hand information from Duct-Tape suggested that the Lion Gen had been on board the Venture when it went down and he got to an escape pod.  Apparently when he landed on the planet he was discovered by one of the several LLCs and they took him in; the fact that he showed up at camp with a guide was because of the talk going around the settlements.

Chris thought that having one of their crew already in good with an LLC was a great start and that, if they were lucky, they'd be on good enough terms that the business settlement could be convinced to let the survivors move in, at least until rescue came.  What he learned very quickly, however was that, although the crash site's cave system wasn't anything spectacular, apparently it was better than the thrown-together scrap huts that the LLC had.  Not only did the Relegra employee quickly ask to join camp, but apparently his guide did as well.

Chris found himself looking over both of them, offering up a basic exam before they would be provided their rooms.  Both were healthy enough and they got a clean bill of health after the cursory inspection. The Lion, whose name was Cedric Calico, was in his mid 40s, and had worked on the Venture as a Resource Procurement Officer for the security team; it made Chris feel a lot better about having another member of the force around, even if the Lion was more of a desk officer. 

The Rhino accompanying him had been a cook from the Outlander Union business group.  She'd been raised on a farm world where Geneticon ownership had been illegal only on paper, but was alive and well in practice.  She'd been bred to be a farm worker, and so her given name was 'Golden Shamrock', though, after a raid on the settlement she'd been freed and had gone by 'Myra' ever since.  Although she was well into middle age, the Rhino was still in excellent health and, apparently, was happy enough to join the group as a dedicated chef.

Once they were cleared, Myra headed off right away to find the cook station, but Cedric lingered.  "So... Doc... you're from the Venture too?  I don't recall having seen you on board at all."

Chris put away his instruments as he spoke. "I was a support physician for Med Bay 4.  You were with security, I understand?"

The Lion was behind him in a moment, invading his personal space, co close that his breath blasted against the back of the Human's head.  Although there was a distinct, imposing rumble to his voice, Cedric maintained an almost light hearted, friendly tone. "And I saw that Cole's here too..."

The Doctor slowly turned around to face his patient, hoping the Lion would back away once they were face to face; unfortunately, he did not.  "Yes he is.  He helped most of us to the escape shuttle before it took off.  Why?  Dyou know Mr. Nine?"

Cedric FINALLY stepped away, about-facing as he casually strolled toward the exit to the medical bay. "MISTER Nine?  Oh gawd, Doc... you're calling ME Cedric, but he gets 'Mr Nine'?"

The uncomfortable feeling from the Lion's proximity hadn't died down, and Chris' inability to maintain his air of professionalism frustrated him, but he persevered.  "Is there something you'd rather I call you... Mr. Calico?"

The Lion laughed a full-bellied chuckle and then waved dismissively at the doctor.  "Friends call me Leo... but if you really want to get on my good side..." He turned back and locked gazes with Chris; it was an imposing stare, so much so that it was hard to figure out if he wanted to look away, or couldn't risk it.  The statement that finally emerged from the golden muzzle edged in frosted gray oozed out in almost a purr.  "...call me 'Sir'."

With that, Leo was gone, leaving Chris standing numbly in the medical bay wondering what had just happened.  The doctor was a self assured young man and, despite his patient being almost twenty years his senior, he should have had no trouble maintaining professionalism and conversational control, but something about Cedric Calico made that very, very difficult.  Chris had never been into any kind of power play but he'd seen plenty of it... just rarely ever had it been firsthand.  He walked out of the medical center shaking faintly; he hoped it was in surprise.

The numb daze lasted all of three steps before a call from his right caused Chris to snap out of it. "Doc?"

Turning to regard the black-furred form emerging from the side room, Dr. Zimmerman realized that he was being addressed by Cole; it was a blessed relief. "Oh, Mr. Nine... what can I do for you?"

The Stallion fidgeted slightly.  "You... just got finished inspecting the newcomers... right?"

Chris nodded. "Yes.  The Overseer wanted me to get a baseline for their health, and also make certain that we had a record of any diseases, impairments, or injuries they might have.  Why do you ask?"

The Stallion fidgeted, leaning back against the stone wall of the cave as he rubbed at a long, jagged scar that cut an irregular path across the side of his neck.  "Well... it's about Leo-- I, I mean, Cedric-- Cedric Calico."

Although the Human's interpersonal skills weren't always top rate, he was perceptive enough as  a doctor to know stress when he saw it.  "Do you know him?  Did you work together aboard the Venture?"

Cole lingered for a moment, glancing off toward the Lion before back to the doctor.  "Just... keep an eye on him, Doc... yeah... I knew him from when we were both on the ship, and he means trouble... okay?"

It was probably the most words Chris had ever heard from the Stallion at one time.  "Trouble?  What kind?  Do I need to alert security?"

The Horse shook his head and the Doctor distinctly saw the equine's ears redden.  "No... nothing like that, it's just--"

Their discussion was cut short as Overseer Simpson called for the laborer.  "Coal, I need you in the main chamber for a new work assignment."

The Stallion offered him one last meaningful glance before heading off to heed the Overseer's call.  Chris had the warning on his mind all afternoon, passing by where Ms. Simpson had Cole preparing a sewing table to turn raw hides into serviceable protective clothing.  Each time he walked by, the doctor tried to see if he could catch Cole's eye to get more information but, whether because he was busy, or possibly actively trying to avoid further conversation, Cole never made eye contact.

The events of the afternoon stayed on his mind throughout the rest of the day and through dinner, where neither Cole nor Leo so much as looked at him; Chris did notice, however, that the Lion did look to the Stallion several times but his gaze was never met.  When night time came around the Doctor was more than tired enough to go straight to bed.  He'd scarcely covered himself in his blankets however when a cry of alarm roused him immediately; it was followed a scant few seconds later by the sounds of firearms being discharged within the cave system!

Chris grabbed his knife, but remained at the doorway to his room, peering down the hall to where he saw Claw and Grizz looming in the doorway, firing at something beyond and out of the Human's point of view.  Missy raced past him dressed in her undergarments but she had her gun at the ready; a scant second later, Roscoe shot after her like a furry missile, overtaking her before bounding between the two security officers and into Duct-Tape's room.  Growls and screeches soon joined the gunfire.

The doctor crept closer, holding his knife with a white-knuckled grip, not that he was about to use it; he vowed only to heal, but it still provided him some silly amount of comfort.  That all shattered when Captain Archie called "Doc!  We got a man down!"

Considering both the Captain and Corporal were still in the hallway the obvious concern was for either Missy or Duct-Tape.  A moment later, Missy came stumbling out of the room carrying Roscoe in her arms; blood was pouring from the limp Wolf and, he noticed, it completely lacked a tail.  At first, Chris thought that's what the security officer meant, but the Dog barked again between gunshots "Doc!  We need you!"

Without a second thought, Chris raced down the hall, shouting at Missy as he went by "Take him to his bed-- I'll be there soon as I can!"

The security maintained their position at the door and once the Doctor arrived he almost couldn't believe what he saw; Duct-Tape's room's floor and the lower side of its back wall was riddled with holes.  Large, dog-sized insects were all over the place, many of them slain by firearms, one by a wolf bite, and one by bludgeoning; next to that one lay Duct-Tape, his graying fur reddened by copious amounts of blood emerging from a litany of bites, cuts, and puctures.  Although the Cap'n and Grizz had stepped aside, one more member of the colony stood blocking the door; Claw was fending more of the insects back from the firing squad using his bionic arm like a weapon, and holding a large metal blade in the other.

The moment Chris stepped in behind him the Badger growled. "Get in, get out-- I'll keep em off ya, but ain't gonna cover you all fuckin' night."

True to his word, Claw kept the bugs off of him, pushing them back from the door and drawing their attention as the Doctor grabbed hold of the unconscious Fox, and dragged him from the room.  Somewhere behind him the Badger roared out in pain, and the sound was followed by the loud squelch of a blade cutting through an exoskeleton.  As he fled, Doc was accompanied by a curse and "You took too fuckin' long!  That one's on you, shit-head!"

It wasn't exactly a shining moment for Chris thanks to the Badger, but he did what he went in to do.  Cole was waiting in the hallway and helped the doctor move Duct-Tape to the med-bay.  Realizing his night had only just begun, Dr. Zimmerman got to work trying to save lives.  He suddenly very much regretted not appreciating his quiet morning for what it was.  In the end, he didn't get to sleep until dawn but, on the upside, he had stabilized Duct-Tape, treated Claw's leg wound (amidst more profanity), and helped Missy patch up Roscoe who, assuming veterinary medicine were anything like standard medicine, would make a full recovery... except for his tail.  In the realm of single greatest casualties, the doctor reasoned, it was not going to be the end of the world.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/7ejLNL9n
Part of the series On the Rim
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