SIM:Sinda: Walking Home
Lt(jg) Sinda Essen - Walking Home
(( Bajor - Musilla Province - Holana Orphanage))
:: The orphanage was in a state of some excitement - there was a visitor, an actual person from outside the walls. This was an unusual event that only happened three or four times a year. Tojana said the rest of Bajor had forgotten about them but Rek said they hadn't forgotten, they just didn't care. Rek was almost three years older than Essen and Tojana, his pale grey skin scarred down one side of his face. Ess had always found him creepy - the other children said the scars were from where his Cardassian father had tried to kill him out of shame. In later years, though, she'd discover that Rek had acquired the scars by tripping over a bucket in the kitchen and falling onto the coals. ::
Tojana: Do you think it's someone's family?
:: Ess shrugged, trying to act casual and hide her own curiosity. ::
Sinda: Prob'ly just another government inspector. They seem to be the only ones who come these days.
Tojana: You sound just like Rek.
Sinda: Well maybe he's right. Can't be that everyone died in the Occupation, can it? So why haven't our families come to find us yet? Sister Onchall says they keep searching for people, maybe they find them, maybe they just don't want us.
Tojana: Sophon went home last season, Vellis the one before that. The sisters say a lot of records were destroyed when the Cardassians left, it's probably going to take time. ::she smiled:: But our families will come for us eventually.
:: Ess merely snorted. Tojana was always painfully optimistic, nothing seemed to dent her firm belief that her mother was out there somewhere, looking for her. Ess, on the other hand, had given up hope years ago. At least that was what she told everyone else, but she couldn't lie to herself. ::
Tojana: Someone's coming! Look!
:: Tojana jumped to her feet as Sister Onchall led a Bajoran couple across the dusty courtyard. Ess stood up beside her pretending that she wasn't excited, wasn't hopeful. The Bajoran's looked at the grey children around them with an expression somewhere between revulsion and horror - a look Ess was used to by now. Onchall was calling out a name. ::
Tojana: It's Polt! It must be Polt's family! Oh, they look lovely, he'll be well treated when he gets outside, I'm sure.
Sinda: Yeah, maybe.
:: She didn't share in Tojana's happiness. Every time someone visited the orphanage she told herself she shouldn't get her hopes up. Every time she ended up feeling nothing but despair when it was someone else they came for. As she sank back down into the dust she heard a different voice, a man. This one was calling her name. ::
Kanz: Ess
:: She frowned. It seemed to be coming from so far away. ::
Sinda: ::shouting:: Who are you?
:: The words sounded loud in her head, but seemed to die in her throat. Around her the orphanage was growing faint. ::
(( Starbase 118 - Deck 501 - ICU ))
Kanz :: Ess. ::Speaking softly.:: Are you in there?:: Laying a hand on her upper arm, but not shaking her.
Sinda: Who..?
Kanz :: Ah, there you are.
Sinda: ...are you?
:: She tried to sit up. ::
Kanz: Now take it easy. ::Holding up his hand.:: You are not going anywhere. :
:: Ess blinked at him. ::
Sinda: No. I'm not going anywhere.
Kanz: Yes. I think you comprehend now.
Sinda: Kanz? I'm sorry, I... ::she shook her head to clear it:: What's going on? Last thing I really remember was being on the bridge.
Kanz: Ah, now that is a great story for another day. The Eagle got back and you are now on Starbase 118.
Sinda: Yeah. The hologram said I was on the Starbase. I guess we made it back in one piece then?
Kanz: Well ::Started to speak hesitantly.:: Mostly in one piece.
:: Ess found the controls for her bed and raised the elevation slightly so that she was properly facing the security chief. ::
Sinda: How's everyone else?
Kanz: Recuperating and/or on shore leave. ::Trying to sound encouraging.:: And you? How are you feeling?
Sinda: Me? The hologram says I'll walk again, but I'd prefer to hear it from a real person. ::she smiled:: Any chance you could send Dantin-Vex down here to take a look? Other than that I'm cold. Starfleet always keeps the temperature too low.
Kanz: Getting Dantin-Vex here is a possibility. As for the cold, ::whispering again.:: I think that's on purpose.
::Picking up a PADD near by, Kanz began to pretend and read off the list.::
Kanz: I see here, they have you on a strict schedule. No visitors, no moving, no chewing, no making leaps across the bridge while in flight, no firing of phasers and defiantly not standing near a starship when it detonates . . . at least for the next 6 weeks.
Sinda: Ha! Yeah it certainly feels like that sometimes. ::with a wry smile:: I was never one for leaping across the bridge anyway. Well, not intentionally.
Kanz: Look, that neanderthal will probably be back here in a minute, so understand, we expect you out of this bed and back to work.
Sinda: That's good to hear - it's the plan I had in mind, too.
Kanz: So, do what you are told and we will be checking on you later.
Sinda: ::nodding:: I'll be happy to get out of here as soon as possible, but I suppose I could sit around for a bit longer. ::she smiled sadly:: And Kanz? Thanks for visiting. It means a lot.
Kanz: Hey, what are friends for. Friends take care of each other and watch each other's back.
Sinda: I'm not used to having people care. I don't really know how to handle it.
Kanz: You do not have to handle it, just be yourself. And know we are there.
Sinda: Something I should get used to then?
Kanz: That is right.
:: The faint beeping of a message alert cut through the air. Ess turned to face the console beside her bed - a message had arrive from Captain Quint. As she accessed it she heard Kanz's PADD emit a similar bleep. ::
Sinda: Interesting. I wonder what she has to say for herself? ::reading the message:: The USS Drake? Miranda-class? I didn't think there were any of them still flying. Did the Captain receive a demotion that I should know about?
Kanz: I am uncertain. I wonder if Starfleet did not approve of her handling of the last mission?
Sinda: Well, I guess there will be less buttons to worry about at any rate.
(( Later - Sinda's ICU Room - Starbase 118 Primary Medical Facility ))
Sinda: ::smiling:: You could at least change your uniform.
Dantin: I will do that once we get to the vessel.
Sinda: Glad to hear it.
Dantin: But first, i need to check in on Solarna, I will be right back. Just relax for a minute, then i will get some orderlies to get a hover chair to take you to the Drake.
Sinda: Now that sounds like a grand idea, Doctor.
Dantin: Ok. ::smile:: Be right back.
:: Dantin left Sinda's ICU room. Ess closed her eyes for a moment, happy that she'd soon be out of here. Although she didn't mind medical facilities, really, she had never been keen on having other people look after her, not since she left the orphanage. She preferred to rely on herself. Trying to relax herself she attempted to move her legs again. Happily there was more of a response this time and she was actually able to sit up and gingerly swing her legs off the side of the bed. She paused there as the exertion sent her head to swimming. ::
Dantin: What have we here?
Sinda: You seemed to be taking too long. ::grimacing:: So I thought I'd go for a quick stroll while I waited.
Dantin: I have an orderly coming with a hover chair.
Sinda: I'd like to get back on my feet as soon as I can. Do you think I could get some servo crutches instead?
Dantin: Well, if you would prefer to walk...
:: Dantin looked out into the hallway, seeing the orderly approaching with the chair, Dantin motioned to the orderly to forget it. ::
Dantin: Alright. ::looking at Sinda:: I want you to check in with sickbay once you make it to the Drake. Let the doctors on staff know you're there.
Sinda: ::flipping a mock salute:: Aye, aye, Captain. You're not going to stick around?
Dantin: No, i believe you will be alright. I need to take care of something real fast.
Sinda: It doesn't involve half a dozen Klingons, does it?
Dantin: NO no..I am not going back to the bar..i learned my lesson there.. Ha Ha! ::pause:: I will see you on the Drake!
Sinda: Alright. Thanks, Doctor.
:: Dantin nodded to Sinda, then left the ICU room. Ess waited for the orderly to come in and requested the crutches. Although the orderly looked doubtful he acquiesced after Essen agreed to speak to the consultant first. A short while later she was face to face with an elderly Vulcan surgeon. ::
Tonel: Do you think you are strong enough to begin walking again, Lieutenant?
:: Ess swallowed. ::
Sinda: I'm strong enough to start trying.
Tonel: I think you may be correct. ::he ran a medical tricorder over her spine and scrolled through some information:: The damage to your spine is healing remarkably well. The nerve damage is not permanent but local bruising will impair the movement of your lower limbs for some time. However, I believe that your efforts to walk will prove beneficial to the healing process and will prevent the muscles from atrophying in your legs.
:: Ess frowned a little as she ran through the surgeon's words through her head again. ::
Sinda: So that's good, right?
:: The Vulcan regarded her for a moment. ::
Tonel: That is correct, Lieutenant. We will arrange for you to be transported to the USS Drake along with suitable crutches. I am discharging you into the care of Dr Dantin-Vex. Please speak to him about ongoing physiotherapy and make sure you do no over-exert yourself.
Sinda: Thank you, Doctor. So I can go now?
Tonel: The orderly will assist you to the transporter room. Oh, one other thing, Lieutenant. I notice from your medical file that you right hand has been broken in the past. We could have it reset for you if you wish.
:: Ess unconsciously clenched her hand. ::
Sinda: No. ::she paused:: Thank you.
Tonel: ::with a slight shrug:: Very well. Good day, Lieutenant.
:: After a brief conversation with the ops officers still on the Eagle and arranging for her belongings to be moved to her new quarters on the Drake, Ess lowered herself off the bed and very slowly hobbled after the medical orderly and into the transporter room. The familiar blue shimmer enveloped her and Starbase 118 seemed to dissolve into the elderly bulkheads of her new ship. ::