[center][b]=====Tempest Mess Hall====[/b][/center]

[center][u]Astridh (Ellri) & Joseph (Fallenreaper)[/u][/center]

Astridh looked at the few sensor readings they had of the crashed vessel. It was a huge ship, and resembling nothing she had ever seen before. “I suppose the SGC would be interested. Too bad there’s no signal from the gate. Its down there somewhere, but sensors speak of massive deeply buried naquadah concentrations. Right now, it is impossible to say where it is.” She answered the captain. Turning inwards, she thought to her symbiote, ‘have you ever seen technology like this wreck?’ her thought was quickly answered. [i]’Not sure. It resembles asgard tech, yet there is something… odd… about it. I think it must be very old.’[/i]

Just then, Astridh’s stomach growled loudly, informing her that she had not eaten since early morning the day before, having missed the scheduled meal due to the incident with the debris. “Captain. If you would excuse me, I think I will find some food. In the hurry after the incident, I forgot to eat. My body isn’t pleased about that, and I have some things to take care of. If I am needed back here on the bridge, just radio me.” After the captain nodded in acknowledgement, Astridh set her console in stand-by and started walking towards the mess hall. She knew also that she would soon have to take another naquadah inhibitor injection. Even with the other Tok’ra off the ship, she could not take any chances.

‘If only we had some means of gaining access to the asgard core...’ she thought idly as she walked. [i]’That would be most convenient, yes.’[/i] Eydis answered, clearly having no ideas for how to go about it either.

Joseph glared at one of the younger doctors as the man smiled friendly at him, his rough encouragement had him being pulled along. The injured arm still throbbed like crazy but with the medical bay tending to the massive amount of wounded, his turn, like others, would have to wait for a better time. Major Tassar had sadly been lost in the ER soon after he was omitted. It seemed his wounds were too much and even their medical advancements hadn’t been enough to save him, Joseph’s mind no longer numbed while performing his had started to reflect on the loss. However instead of receiving the peace he sought in being alone, one of the young, brilliant- a term he now used loosely- had sought to drag him into the mess for some coffee! Needles to say if looks could have killed then the younger man would’ve been in a body bag within moments. 

Still the idea of something hot appealed after the chaos still rampaging within the medical bay. Though when compared to the beginning, it had died down some. His fingers pulled around his makeshift sling created from his white coat and tried to easy the weight off his neck. It was a temporary relief but nothing worthwhile, a pity to him. At leisurely pace they made their way to the mess hall where they encountered a young woman dressed in uniform with her hair tied back and seemingly heading the same direction. 

“Excuse me,” Joseph said, his feet stopped short of entering the mess hall and aimed to allow her through first.

“Thank you”, Astridh answered when the somewhat older man let her through. She knew she had seen him before, but had not really spoken with him. She thought back, trying to figure out what department he was part of. [i]’medical’[/i] Eydis whispered into her mind, saving her from considerable thought-digging. Astridh loved having a Tok’ra in her mind. So many advantages. Their relationship was more intimate than any marriage could be. There were no secrets at all. No betrayals. No lies. What one knew, both could know.

Astridh walked into the mess hall, grabbing what food seemed most appetizing right then. One thing was sure, the Royal Navy had skimped on neither the cooks nor on the raw materials. The food here on the Tempest was far better than the food on any of the RN ships she had served on before. Once she had the food, she looked around, found an empty table and sat down to eat.

Once Joseph ensured the woman walked by, he pulled into step beside the other doctor who had thoughtfully waited on him. However he showed his gratitude with small huff and readjusted his sling, his lips gave out a small hiss before he turned heel to where the coffee was. The dark, rich liquid had just finished brewing. Despite that, the older doctor’s eyes had spotted small traces of the earlier chaos were still being swept up. He set a cup on the table then took the pitcher tightly by the handle to pour it, the other about to aid him until Joseph’s sharp glare caused the man to stop in his tracks. 

“I’ve got it.” He grumbled then set it, crookedly, back on the heating plate. 

Slowly he started to shuffle to another table then paused as a realization came over him. It took him a bit, between the endless ache in his arm and rather soured mood at feeling helpless during the infirmary, to remember the woman’s face. A name came to mind: Astridh Nic Shitric. He distinctly remember that name because there was data missing. Not to forget the fact she had missed a scheduled physical check-up during her reassignment. For any doctor, there wasn’t a need to go out of the way but Joseph’s pride would likely nitpick at him until the appointment was done. Sighing, he started over to where the young woman was then politely asked, “Mind if I sit here? I’ve got a few questions to asked you about your medical records and hopefully schedule a physical check. You missed your last one during your reassignment, isn’t that right?”

Astridh looked up when the doctor spoke, asking if she minded him sitting there. She did not. “Not at all. I’ll answer any questions you might have, provided I know the answer.” she answered, even as he took a seat. She saw that his wounded arm, probably just sprained, pained him somewhat. If it had been broken, she was pretty sure he would have been in far more pain. Even seated, it was obvious he was quite a bit taller than her. [i]’He is doctor Joseph M. Sterling, Astridh.’[/i] Eydis’ thought floated to the front of her mind. She had seen him a few times before, but not really spoken with him. When he mentioned the missing physical checkup, she realized that she had completely forgotten about that. Eydis hadn’t of course, but then, Eydis did not forget anything. It was hard on them both to go through these checkups. With greater-than-human strength, they had to use far less than they were capable of, yet at the same time strain as if it were at the very edge of their capability. 

So far, they had avoided being X-rayed, which was one of the few things they truly feared. In an upper body X-ray, there would be no way for Eydis not to be discovered. There were so many of the more advanced practices of Tau’ri medicine that could reveal the truth. The truth that could get them both imprisoned or killed. “Hmm? Oh. I completely forgot that checkup, Doctor Sterling. Being assigned to this ship, I had so much else to learn that I forgot to get checked up again. When do you want to get it done?” She asked, even as she continued eating the excellent stew made by the cooks.

Joseph nodded at Ms. Shitric agreement to answer any questions he might have to the best of her ability. It made things easier and more efficient that way. He was careful not to bump the table as he eased in, his coffee placed in front of him within his good hand’s easy reach. The liquid itself was still too hot to drink right away, allowing him a perfect time to retrieve his notebook and pen. He pulled to the side and reached into his pants pocket where the items were normally kept on his person at all times. It was best to have something to jot notes down when needed, something he learned in college that was rather helpful. He bit back the soft hiss of pain he when he sat upright again, his cradled arm brushed the table edge along the way. He took a deep inhale to soothe his pain, eliminating the distraction, before clicking the pen and held it to the paper in waiting.
 
The doctor’s face became a slightly frown at her casual mention about forgetting to reschedule her check up, especially using the excuse of being busy. Joseph had heard it before and deep down, he suspected her forgetfulness was on purpose. It was an annoyance to him that even in the modern age, with such advancements and progress made to better people’s help, some men and women were uncomfortable with doctor appointments. Not even those few good soldiers that willingly risk their lives to make the world safe were miraculously immuned this either but it was less likely to occur.
 
“My professionalism would’ve said bright early tomorrow morning, Ms. Shitric, but with the medical wing out of sorts right now, it’s not possible. Likely in a few weeks’ time would suffice, after the offices are once more in proper working order. Personally, I’ve not found a patient or doctor, myself included, willing to repeat the process more than needed every half year.” Joseph said in a calm and straightforward manner. He wasn’t one to mince words, either with fellow doctor or patient alike, when being direct was best.
 
Wasting little time, he held the pen to the pad and scribbled a brief, messy sentence in his terrible chicken scratch then went onto the next topic. “Since that’s out of the way, shall we begin with the questions? I noticed your medical records- what I have legal access to-is missing some vital information. For example, the allergies section, family history, and others are left blank within in the medical computers. I’ll like to start to fill those in as soon as possible. So any known allergies?”

“Early mondays. Makes my head hurt.” Astridh answered, smiling innocently. “As for family history, I don’t keep track of that. My family lawyer has taken care of that since long before my parents’ death.” The lawyer she paid very well to keep as much as possible secret. Turns out, that was more than most would think. Before her blending, she hadn’t really paid much attention to him, but afterwards, he had proven very useful in obfuscating her gained non-tau’ri nature.

It was not that she truly feared anything in those records getting out. neither she nor Eydis thought that dangerous, but rather that they were both afraid that there might be some connection in there that they did not see. Some connection that might blow their cover unexpectedly. The less information, the less risk. That was how it usually went.