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[walk_ins]

Joshua Caudill is a very busy man.

He wasn't always busy, and his wife undoubtedly preferred it that way, but being elevated to the selectmen of the Tanizaki Centre for Modern Medicine in Tingri City, Bernadette, is an honor that she can feel the benefits of, and so she doesn't complain. It means he spends time in his office, though -- much more than he used to. This in turn means that he gets to listen to shakuhachi jazz fusion concerts streamed in, in secrecy.

This is Joshua Caudill's only vice.

(That, and the medical textbook in its second draft that he swears he'll finish. In the next five years, surely. It can't take much longer than that.)

He does spend time with patients, however -- more complex cases. Anywhere from a quarter to a third of his day is spent in the examination and treatment room or on the ward with patients.

That's where he is -- examining a patient file by the nurses' station -- when the page comes from above: he's to return to his office for an administrative wave.

Comments

[walk_ins]

And Fred Atwood, Senator, IUP-Londinium, doesn't like to be kept waiting.

[walk_ins]

He doesn't hurry, but he doesn't dawdle, either. Caudill reaches his office and shuts the door, then takes a seat at his desk before checking the incoming transmission.

When he sees who it's from, both eyebrows rise sharply. Caudill presses 'accept' and nods to the screen.

"Senator Atwood, it's a pleasure to hear from you."

[walk_ins]

"Dr. Caudill." Atwood is behind his desk, hands folded on top of the blotter. There are no papers on his desk.

The really important papers -- his file on River Tam -- is in his office at home.

"I trust you've been well?"

[walk_ins]

"I have."

In contrast to Atwood's meticulously neat space, Caudill's desk might kindly be referred to as 'cluttered,' with its stacks of notes for the textbook-to-be, sorting-slide for grant and funding requests, and blotter with cryptic notes scrawled on it all easily visible.

"Busy, of course, but who isn't?"

[walk_ins]

"Who indeed," Atwood says, smiling. "And in the interest of letting you get back to work sooner rather than later, I suppose I should come directly to the point. I hear the Tanizaki Centre has a position opening."

[walk_ins]

"That's correct. We've found there to be need for expansion in emergency services, and that department put in a request accordingly. Some time ago, I think."

Caudill plucks a memo from one of the haphazardly-tilting piles and glances down at it.

"Ah, here it is. Actually, we've four. Two nursing staff, an internist or other generalist, and a surgical specialty-- there we're looking for an experienced trauma surgeon."

[walk_ins]

"And you've as yet been unable to lure anyone for the surgeon's position." Atwood shakes his head a little. "It's a real shame." Beat. "I might be able to recommend an excellent candidate who would be likely to take you up on the offer, provided the right incentives accompanied it."

[walk_ins]

He's not really surprised that Atwood should be aware of their continuing search, given the Senator's continuing charitable association with the Yarmouth Cancer Centre on Londinium, even after they'd failed to prevent his wife's death. It had been the talk of the Medical Elect for some time.

"Oh?"

Both eyebrows are raised in polite interest.

[walk_ins]

"Dr. Simon Tam."

Atwood's expression is pleasantly neutral.

"Have you heard of him?"

[walk_ins]

"Who hasn't?"

The coverage

had

been rather widespread, after all.

"Senator..." Caudill pauses, mind racing, and visibly rephrases what he's about to say. "He has an excellent record from his time on Osiris, from what I've heard. Incredibly gifted, a rising star and all that-- well, before, of course."

The media feeds had delighted in reporting that aspect of things, too.

[walk_ins]

"It would seem," Atwood says mildly, "that Dr. Tam is attempting to regain something of his former stardom. Or at the very least, he's taking the relicensure examination. He was stripped of it during all that business, of course. A real shame. He's very gifted, as you say -- top three percent of his class, and there were already rumors flying about the likelihood he'd be named for the Medical Elect."

Atwood leans forward in his massive leather chair, very slightly. A creak is audible. "It would be quite a feather in the collective cap of the Tanizaki Centre if you could get him."

[walk_ins]

He doesn't bother to ask about the source of this information, either. As generally apolitical as he is-- inasmuch as anyone in a position like his can be-- he's perfectly well aware that that Simon Tam's father sits on the Council of Seven with Senator Atwood.

"Really." Caudill looks very thoughtful. "I suppose it might, at that. He's certainly more than competent enough."

Not to mention the potential benefits of having someone so well-connected on staff.

"I don't suppose you have his contact information?"

[walk_ins]

"As a matter of fact," Atwood says, smiling, mentally blessing a certain member of his staff, "I do."

The transmission for the wave to register for the relicensure exam came from a fixed number. Atwood doesn't have a location -- yet -- but he has a number.

The location doesn't matter, if this works, because then Fred Atwood will know exactly where Simon Tam, and River Tam, and Kaylee Tam are living.

Tingri City, Bernadette.

" -- before I transmit it." Atwood sits back in his chair again, taking his hand away from the keypad. "Can I give you some unsolicited advice about how best to approach him, Dr. Caudill?"

[walk_ins]

His eyes narrow slightly. This has the sound of something unpleasantly delicate, and Joshua Caudill's highest priority, first and foremost, has always been the integrity and quality of the Tanizaki Centre, its physicians, and its staff.

"I'd appreciate hearing it."

If there's something going on that makes Simon Tam more trouble than he's worth, it won't matter how talented he is or who his backers are.

[walk_ins]

Atwood's expression gets a lot more serious. Concerned, even. "I'm aware that the Tanizaki Centre has a first-class neurology department." Beat. "His sister River has...several ongoing neurological issues, or so I hear. Dr. Tam is her primary caregiver, and as a trauma surgeon..." He spreads his hands. "Undoubtedly he'd be relieved to know that Miss Tam could be treated by the very best while he's a wing over, or closer."

[walk_ins]

"Undoubtedly."

He scrounges for a pen, then makes a quick note on the blotter pad in front of him.

"I'll see that it's mentioned. Actually, there's a lot of groundbreaking science going on in Neurology's research section, including some breakthrough accomplishments not only in biochemistry but also in optical-laser surgical resection and repair of old injuries-- removal of scar tissue, stimulation of nerve tissue, that sort of thing. It's certainly trendsetting-- in fact, I think there's even a recently-published study favorably comparing success rates with the new techniques to those achieved using older methods."

Caudill smiles in genuine pleasure, and it's clear to see why he continues seeing patients on a regular basis where another man in his position might have turned entirely to administrative work.

"It might something he'd be interested in hearing about."

[walk_ins]

Atwood is also smiling, and only someone who knows him very, very well would be able to tell that he's extraordinarily discomfited.

The faster River Tam recovers, the faster Atwood will have to move in order to ensure that she's never able to say a word about his role in the Academy, and in what happened on Miranda.

"It certainly sounds that way. Wonderful." Atwood leans in again. "And one more thing. I have it on the best authority that the reason he is seeking to regain his license is to pursue continuing education. The Centre supports that. He'd be likely to appreciate hearing it."

[walk_ins]

"Not only supports but encourages," Caudill tells him. "We pride ourselves on having some of the best-trained medical faculty in the Core. It makes a difference, to the physicians and the patients both."

[walk_ins]

"All the better," Atwood says, smiling. "I think you both might find that he'd be an excellent fit. Shall I transmit his contact information?"

[walk_ins]

"Please do."

He nods to the screen.

"I look forward to speaking with him myself."

[walk_ins]

A few movements of his fingers, and there's a soft chiming from behind Caudill.

"That should do it," says Atwood. "And Dr. Caudill, if there's anything else I can help you with regarding this matter -- please don't hesitate to let me know."

[walk_ins]

"I'll do that."

Caudill hesitates, then says,

"And I hope you don't mind my saying so, Senator Atwood, but it's quite good of you to concern yourself personally with this one young man's career, when I'm sure there are a great many demands on your time."

[walk_ins]

Atwood looks down at his desk for a moment, and when he looks up, his expression is very grave.

"Dr. Caudill, saying that Simon Tam's career was derailed by the actions of the Union of Allied Planets doesn't even begin to describe the tribulations of what he and his sister have had to endure over the last five years. As a representative of the Union of Allied Planets, it is my duty to do whatever I can -- discreetly, of course -- to attempt to help him regain something of what he's lost. Of what they've both lost."

[walk_ins]

"Not everyone would shoulder that responsibility." He looks grim, then shakes his head, dismissing it.

"Thank you for alerting me to Dr. Tam's situation, Senator."

[walk_ins]

"You're very welcome, Dr. Caudill. Good luck in your search."

Atwood gives him the confident smile he's known for -- the one that makes it on all the feeds.

And once the connection breaks, Atwood turns and presses another button on his keypad -- this one to his third aide. Time to issue more orders. Time to keep a closer eye on the doings at the Tanizaki Centre. Time to be informed the moment that position is filled, and the moment the final candidates are decided, and the moment those waves go out.

Atwood trusts it will be very, very soon.