Paging Dr. Robinson, Dr. Robinson Dial 2187

[Judah Dashiell]

Celestia Station | [member="Matthew Robinson"]



Steam rose out of his 'Galaxy's Best Dad' mug, causing the smell of strong caf to hang in the air. Judah took another sip, staring out at the black. It was early on Celestia Station and the scrap hauls were beginning to ramp up for the day. Scrap refined from the night before was already leaving the station en mass, headed to various points in the 'verse.


Always interesting to watch. Much like a beehive.



Message notifications on his datapad reminded him he was in his office on Celestia Station, reminding him of work that needed to be done. Judah was trying to cram in as much as possible before the arrival of Matthew Robinson, he young doctor he was trying to persuade in running the med center. Celestia Station needed a director, someone who knew backwater medicine and could pioneer treatments for the area.


Another sip of his caf, he needed to wake up before the Doctor arrived. Something in the back of his mind told him it was going to be an uphill battle.

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Bloody....hell-o, requesting permission to dock," Matt managed to shut his yapper and pull his gaze away from the site outside the viewport of his TKO shuttle. There was a crackle on the other end with instructions and a confirming question. "Yes this is Matthew Robinson."

He was expected.

"Dock 37 A? Great. Setting course now, over." Matt let himself gaze back out the viewport. The place was impressive. And that made him a bit more nervous. Fingers tugged at the skinny tie around his neck. It was a good thing he still owned one of these monkey suits and hadn't tossed them all out when he started with the Outback. He couldn't afford to buy a new one.

He found Dock 37 A, landed, and wrapped-up post-flight checks. Herb belt was still wrapped around his waist. Taking a bag, he slung it over his shoulder and departed. Even the hangar had a healthy buzz of activity of workers, visitors, and passengers alike. Somehow an attendant still managed to pick him out of the modest crowds.

"Mr. Robinson? Right this way. I'll show you to Mr. Dashiell's office."

And all Matt could think was that Judah definitely had the wrong man for the job.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

The good natured Bith did his best to speak to [member="Matthew Robinson"] on their trip through the corridors of Celestia Station. The young man seemed very nervous to the Bith. Most people coming to meet Mr.Dashiell didn't seem so nervous, at least from his experience.


"How was your trip Mr.Robinson? According to my information you've come a long way. Have you ever been out this far? Most people haven't due to the remoteness."


Turning a corner, the pair came towards the Salacia Consolidated offices at Celestia Station. If they had gone any further, the pair would have continued straight to Arceneau Trade and Firemane sector of the station. Once inside the Salacia space, a few people stop to wave to the Bith or give their good mornings.


"Here we are Mr.Robinson. If you need anything during your stay my name is Janyor."


Door opened and Judah was sitting behind his desk, eating a bowl of chocolately cereal with marshmallows. The entire thing looked like something a five year old hyperactive child would eat. Spoon waved in the air as a greeting to the young Doctor.


"Matt! I was beginning to think you weren't going to show." Spoon was set down and he stood up and moved to greet the young man. Judah was dressed far more casually than Matt, a dress shirt rolled to the sleeves and dress pants. Like a big brother, hand came up to touch the tie, looking it over critically in his hand.


"Tie? Suit? You've got a date?" Boyish grin broke out over his features. "Lucky lady. You want some breakfast before? Or you going to get nervous and throw it back up?"

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Matt's hands dipped into his pockets. Distracted gaze finally focused on the Bith. This station reminded him a lot of home. But it was on a much grander scale than the hodge-podge ship colony vessel he'd spent years aboard.

"Aye, the trip was long. Gave me time to catch up on work, actually," he grinned and gave the Bith a solid handshake before he walked away. "Appreciate it, mate."

Hazel gaze settled on Judah. Was the man eating chocolate cereal? Eyes glittered in amusement.

"Bugger off." Matt slapped the hand of the multi-billion-trillionaire playfully away with a mirrored grin. Shoulders relaxed a bit. He felt like family around Judah, even since that first meeting with TKO. Maybe it was because they cared about a lot of the same causes. Or maybe it was because the man hadn't sent an assassin droid for Matt after Makai got hurt on the recent backwater adventure.

"You gave me the perfect excuse to pull this monkey suit out of the wardrobe. Gotta keep the moths and dust mites off. But...," critical eye looked over Judah's attire.

"Since we're being more casual-like," he shrugged off the jacket, throwing it over his bag and loosened the tie, grinning the entire time. "Breakfast? Please tell me you've got some flat cakes hiding behind that chocolate cereal."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Matthew Robinson"]


"So you don't send it to the cleaners? Thought I smelled something a little off...." Judah grinned at his own stupid joke. It wasn't incredibly clever but one had to deal with the hands they are dealt. "Yeah, we can get you some breakfast that isn't chocolate cereal."


Judah walked over to a little intercom located on his desk and depressed a button, there was a bit of speech between the two and he was put on 'hold' essentially. Critical eye studied the Doctor. Seeing as he seemed a bit thin and pale, Judah ordered a fairly large breakfast for the man.


"Four pancakes, extra butter and syrup. Yes, nuna eggs and sausage.Thanks, I'll be seeing you shortly."


Picking up his cereal bowl, he turned back to the good Doctor, taking a bite of breakfast. Spoon directed Matt to a chair, having him sit.


"Breakfast will be about....eh....four minutes or so. My apologies, didn't know what you liked. So how are you? Whats been going on? I'm sure I've been missing something exciting."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Matt chuffed at Judah's joke and took a large, mock sniff of his dress shirt sleeve. Mouth watered at the breakfast order. Judah had guessed right. He hadn't eaten a solid meal in awhile. Just a lot of work, traveling, and ration bars. Food that went beyond a scientific formula packed into a bar sounded great.

"Whoa, whoa. I think you covered it, thanks mate. Being around you and I'll have to watch my figure," he grinned and patted his own belly, taking a seat. Amusement filled eyes took another look around the office before settling back on Judah. "I think the question is, what hasn't been going on?" He tugged his tie a bit looser.

"Ran into a bit of a damp squib on Adarlon. There was an infection running through the people there. Made 'em ravin' mad and cannibalistic of those who didn't have the infection. Some other TKO members and I got it under control. Barely. Had to create an airborn antidote. You ever hear of anything like that before?"

Judah had been around and seen a lot and Matt respected that.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Eyes glanced over [member="Matthew Robinson"] as he mentioned to 'watch his figure'. Judah suspected the man could easily gain ten pounds and it would help him out greatly. Some pancakes and extras weren't going to break the bank in his opinion. Judah went and settled back in behind the desk in his office chair, holding his bowl of cereal and trying not to munch down on the crunchy cereal too loudly.


"Erm...Dealt with something similar on Elrood. Heard about some stuff like that pops up every so often. Lots of odd little diseases and creatures that will mess with your head out there. Good thing you found and antidote. Could way worse, wipe out an entire planet. Like the Gulag of old you know. Wouldn't want to be messed up with that."


By the time Judah had finished talking, a small knock on the door announced the arrival of the Doctors breakfast. Judah quickly cleared a spot as the steaming tray was placed down, along with a tall glass of blue milk.


"Thanks for the delivery. Smells great." Judah grinned at Matt and waved to the milk before sitting back down. "Drink your milk so you can grow up to be tall like me."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Matt's lighter expression turned a bit somber at the mention of the plague. "Nope, wouldn't want that." He scratched his grizzled jawline. As breakfast arrived, Matt's grin returned.

"Brilliant, thanks." He barked out a short laugh at Judah's comment, thankful blue milk didn't shoot out his nose. "Piss off."

Yes. He said that. He cleared his throat and took a big bite of brekkie. After chewing and swallowing his face got serious again. Maybe a bit worried.

"Thank you, you know. Not just for his," fork pointed to the hot cakes with a smirk on his face before it quickly disappeared again. "For everything you've done for the Outback. For me. Now about your offer."

He held up a hand.

"And let me finish before you box my ears, mate. Do I have field experience? Yes. Are there others out there who are more qualified than me? Yes. Is your offer fair? More than fair."

In fact, it would erase his debt in a few months. But this wasn't about him. This was about people. And he was worried he'd muck things up. He was always worried about that. A character flaw perhaps.

"I just...want you to know what you're asking and make sure you know my limitations. Because. This is a big deal and I take this stuff very seriously."

So seriously, his pancakes and sausage were getting cold.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah crunched on his cereal as [member="Matthew Robinson"] got down to business. Shame. He had planned on trying to win the good Doctor over by showing him the Station, a bit of Tabaqui. Ease it slowly. Make it seem as if there was no pressure before going in for the 'kill' so to speak. No big deal, things would just have to advance more quickly.


Finished with his cereal, bowl was placed on the desk as the 'limitations' talk began. Everyone had limitations. Judah knew this. This wasn't his first time around the block.


"So what are your limitations? You can go ahead and list them if thats easier."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Well," he stabbed a bite of sausage and shoved it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed, then continued. "I don't know...nearly enough. I just got out of University residency one standard cycle ago. Like I said," he took a healthy sip of blue milk. "There would be others far more qualified than me and make less mistakes than me."

He thought about when he was stranded on that jungle planet, all because he trusted the S.O.S. call. Should've known they were pirates. Blimin' fool. He leaned forward.

"And this station is massive. Wouldn't you want a bloke who could give you something closer to full-time work?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Another sip from his 'Galaxy's Best Dad' mug as he tried not to be overly critical of [member="Matthew Robinson"] off the bat. Some of his reasons were valid. Some he thought of as border line excuses. Judah hoped the younger man would be honest enough to mention things like 'don't have the time' or 'I don't want to' rather than try to minimize his skills. The conversation had only just begun though and Judah wasn't ready to push quite yet.


Ignoring the first half of the conversation, Judah focused on the second.


"Correction,this sector is massive. The MedCenter doesn't just serve Celestia Station." Another sip. "Nothing out here really like it. Keeps folks alive."


"I have others that will be here full time. Medicine waits for no man. I'd like you here because you're well versed in backwater and primitive medicine. I know you aren't familiar with these parts but most of it is vast nothing. Which is all fine and well, but I need my employees taken care of. I need to keep the locals taken care of that we work with."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

He noted how Judah conveniently didn't address the first part of the conversation. Apparently he wasn't worried about Matt's level of expertise. And it made even more sense as he continued speaking. Well played. No wonder why the man was so successful in business.

Hazel eyes went to the man's mug then back to his face. Looked like a Makai gift. He'd have to comm the teen about it later. There was a big tease in there somewhere.

He finished off the last few bites of breakfast as Judah finished speaking. One hand held up in mock-surrender. "You had me a wee bit worried but it sounds like, if I took the job, I'd just be a specialist. One of many, MANY staff?" Broad shoulders relaxed just a bit more. At least he wouldn't feel the weight of the entire station - the sector on his back. Though Judah didn't have to worry about Matt not working his arse off for the job.

"I still have ties to the Outback - commitments. If I did this...if you aren't having second thoughts about my qualifications, the best I can give you is five months. And I'd still have to clear that with my superiors."

 

[Judah Dashiell]

[member="Matthew Robinson"]


"My apologies then if I made it sound as if you would be running the entire MedCenter. Celestia Station's MedCenter involved about 2,500 employees alone. My focus for you would be spearheading a department that delivers healthcare to local villages and fueling stations. Ideally you'd be training physician assistants and nurse practitioners how to do what you do currently."


Judah listened to the five month clause. It seemed fair. Matthew of course had his main commitment in the Outback and that was understandable. In reality the young Doctor could take some of the Celestia Station employees in the local health initiative and train them in the Outback.


"So you can only give me five months of work total or five months out of the year? Ideally I'd like at least to sign you on for two years until the program is self-supporting."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

"Right mate." It made more sense that a medical board would be in charge of running the entire station and not really any one man. At least, he imagined that was the case here. Plus, Matt wasn't too keen on station work. It was okay but he preferred the field. That happened when you grew up on a colony ship. Even a station this size might end up feeling...claustrophobic.

"Five months of the year. It'll take a bit to travel back and forth and that should leave a good chunk of the rest of the year for my commitments in the Outback. And two years sounds reasonable. You'd be barmy to expect a program launch before then." Matt scratched the scruff on his chin.

"Blimey. I heard you were a shark at business but I'm just seeing it now. I don't think you'd let me leave this station without something like a yes." He chuckled and finished off his blue milk.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah finished off the caf in his mug and set it down on his desk. He nodded at the two year mention. Perhaps in the future there would be time to convince [member="Matthew Robinson"] to stay on longer. Maybe once the man saw some of the perks that came along with the job it would sway him to stick around after the two year mark.


"Sounds like we have a deal." Judah stood up and offered to shake Matt's hand. "You won't be disappointed."


A small smile graced his features.


"So, care to check out some of the perks? Maybe the MedCenter as well?"

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

Part of Matt was terrified. The other part was excited, nervous, laughing at himself. But it was hard not to focus on the terrified bit. He stood and wiped a hand on his trousers in case of any lingering syrup from brekkie.

He shook the man's hand firmly.

"Why don't you show me the med-center first." It was clear Robinson wasn't the type of man used to 'perks.' His entire life he'd had to work hard for every last scrap and bit that he'd gotten. So had his mother. He wasn't against 'perks.' He just didn't know how to respond to them. He was afraid he might salivate a wee bit too much.

"Then you can show me around the rest of the station and the-uh-perks."

He grinned and let a hand run through his own mop of hair.

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Med Center it is, come on."

​

​

"Esra Dashiell Memorial MedCenter." Judah walked along with Matt as they neared the MedCenter. Their walk at first had been easy going, with light small talk at hand. To be honest, he had probably bored the man to death with various bits information on the station. Doubtful [member="Matthew Robinson"] cared it was a salvaged station.


"Eight bacta tanks. Surgical suites. Emergency center. A sizable recovery ward, lots of rehabilitation services. Therapy. Tried to bring a piece of the Core to the station when this was finally underway. Nothing out here so its easier to put it into place now than scramble when its needed."


"What did you want to see first?"

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

He stifled and tried to swallow a yawn until Judah turned back to the med-center. It wasn't that he wasn't interested. Those pancakes and the journey here plus the lack of sleep the few weeks prior were starting to catch up with him.

Hazel eyes widened and jaw became slightly unhinged. "This is brilliant, mate."

Fingers twitched at his side and his exhaustion disappeared. Or well, was muted. He was like that when it came to medicine. He fell into easy chatter with the medical staff that weren't running around, naturally sociable. Like a kid on life day.

After the tenth or twelfth handshake, he finally turned back to his ultimate boss and good friend.

"Oh, sorry, mate. This place is," he gave one last look around, "really something else. Guess I showed myself around. Why don't you show me your favorite part of the station?"

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Brilliant? Don't give me all the credit."


In truth, it had taken a near army of medical professionals to pull the medical center together. Judah had merely paid the bills in many ways, had the original vision. Most of the time he had only peeked in on meetings, gave a piece of advice or a want here and there.Instead of correcting [member="Matthew Robinson"] , Judah let the man run around like an overexcited kid on Life Day.


"Go ahead, show yourself around all you want. You can stay down here if you want, totally up to you."


Judah had a feeling he was going to be dragging the younger man away during those five months more often than not. He could sympathize. If Makai wasn't in his life there would be little reason to take breaks at times.


"I don't really have a favorite place. Anywhere I can get food." Chuckling, he shook his head. "Come on, we're going to your new apartment. Somewhere to lay your head an' all that before you pass out. I think you'll enjoy it. Its fairly close by."


A series of turbolifts and corridors drew the pair closer to one of the residential areas of Celestia Station. The uptick in sentients increased as they moved along, passing various entertainment venues and restaurants. Residential areas of the station were set up to be a bit more like 'normal life' in order to keep many Salacia workers happy and on the job.


Judah stopped at an information desk and got Matt's keycard before continuing to move along. It didn't take long to open the door to the fully furnished penthouse. Judah immediately handed the keycard over as they moved inside.


"Hope you don't mind the nautical touches. The blue might be a little feminine for a bachelor but I imagine you'll still be able to draw the ladies in past the door."

 

[Matthew Robinson]

[member="Judah Dashiell"]

All the credit?

"You're right, mate. Wouldn't want you to get cocky." He cracked a lopsided grin at the CEO turned older brother. Judah did almost have to drag Matt away. And of course, the food.

Matt patted her stomach. "Mm, knew I liked you for a certain reason. Bloke after my own stomach." Matt appreciated food, especially with his background as an herbalist. He just needed more time to eat it. It battled with his first love of being a doctor.

Matt took the keycard Judah handed to him and promptly dropped it when they entered his new digs. And his jaw. Hazel-eyes bulged just a bit. "Blimey."

A hand ran over his hair.

He was used to staying in a small cot crammed into a tent somewhere if he was lucky. To think he'd actually have a bed to fit his lanky-form was a wee bit astounding. Not to mention this place was as big as the colony ship's market he grew up on.

"Are you bloomin' serious? This place is huge. I mean...I can't afford...wow," voice trailed off. Judah did the impossible and made Matt speechless.

Bloody brilliant.