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Tasha's Prosthetic arm: Difference between revisions
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<br>Sickbay shenanigans | <br>Sickbay shenanigans | ||
<br>Rest and Recuperation | <br>Rest and Recuperation | ||
---- | |||
((Outside Lab 42, Starbase 173)) | |||
Sevo: They could be preparing an ambush. Thoughts, Eerie? | |||
Eerie: I wouldn't count anything out. | |||
Yiggtissi: I am registering two life signs, Orion in nature, inside the lab. They are three meters from the entrance and one-point-six meters from the isolation chamber. :: He glanced around the corridor. :: If we could locate a command station, I could flood the entire lab with neurozine gas. However, that option is not viable as my tricorder is showing the only command station near us was the one in the lab we just exited and it was damaged in our encounter with the Orion’s. | |||
MacFarlane: Sirs, I can drop the force field when we are ready. Also, th’ lab is in isolation, we would need t’ bypass a lot o’ safeguards t’ be able t’ release any gas. | |||
Sevo: Any ideas, Eerie? | |||
Eerie: We need to neutralize them. If we can isolate them, there will not be a problem. Or another grenade would do the trick. | |||
MacFarlane: We outnumber ‘em. If we go in guns blazin’ I reckon we would certainly be able t’ take ‘em out, although then there is th’ risk tha’ one o’ us gets shot before we get ‘em. | |||
Eerie: I think that should be the last resort at this time, but if we do. I should go first. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha looked at the large rock man, she would be more than happy to let him go first.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: You’re not invincible, Eerie. | |||
Yiggtissi: I concur with Lieutenant Commander Sevo. We should risk further injury to our team if at all possible. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Just at that moment all the nearby panels came on, revealing the green face of an Orion woman<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Leelou: =/\= Attention all Starfleet intruders. My name is Leelou, Underlord for the Orion Syndicate. This station and everything aboard it are now the property of the Orion Syndicate. As such, you are all considered trespassers and will be eliminated on sight. ::She paused.:: I am not unforgiving, however. All we want are the three pieces of the Romulan artifacts you no doubt know about by now. Either allow my recovery teams to gather them unhindered, or bring them to cargo bay 14; unarmed. If you do so, you will be unharmed and allowed to return to your ships, which will then be allowed to depart. =/\= | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha somehow doubted that part.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Leelou: =/\= If you do not cooperate...well, I assume you are aware of this station’s internal defense capabilities. Know that I am in control of the main security center, and Operations is completely cut off. Don’t even think about trying to usurp my control. =/\= | |||
Leelou: =/\= If you have any doubts about my capabilities, let me demonstrate. =/\= | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>The screens changed to show some of the officers from the Gorkon in another part of the station, along with a young child. Moments later a mist began to pour into their part of the station.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Leelou: =/\= I hope I have made myself clear. You have one hour to either give me the artifacts or leave the station. Then people start dying. Good day. =/\= | |||
Sevo: Damn that bitch! | |||
MacFarlane: She...but...there was a child in there. A child... | |||
Yiggtissi: A revolting show of force. If she has taken security control, she could kill us all in a matter of seconds. | |||
Eerie: They probably have all of our ID badges on internal security sensors I suggest we lose them. | |||
Sevo: No time. We have to get in this lab and somehow “turn off” the artifact. Any ideas? | |||
MacFarlane: I could bypass th’ lockouts an’ open th’ doors, It will take a few minutes though. | |||
Yiggtissi: :: Pointing his phaser at the door and kneeling between Eerie and Sevo. :: That appears to be our only means on entrance. I will take low position --- | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>A blood chilling scream emanated from within the lab. Tasha shuddered and moments later a wave of heat rolled out of the lab. Tasha would have hated to be inside at that moment.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: Damn it! Eerie, blow the door! | |||
Eerie: Right. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>While Eerie prepared an explosive charge Tasha quickly lowered the forcefield across the door, then hunkered down behind a bulkhead.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Eerie: Everyone find cover! | |||
MacFarlane: Aye sir. | |||
Yiggtissi: Yes sir. | |||
Eerie: Fire in the hold! | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>There was an explosion followed by another intense heat wave. The heat quickly vanished and when Tasha raised her head she saw that the doors to the lab had also vanished.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: Nice. | |||
Eerie: It's open.::With an understatement.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Aye, lets see what was inside. | |||
Eerie: Right. | |||
((Lab 42, Starbase 173)) | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha moved cautiously into the lab. The isolation field was still active, the Orions obviously hadn’t gotten through. Speaking of the Orions Tasha spotted two twisted and crispy corpses. She swallowed the bile rising in her throat and quickly looked away.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
MacFarlane: I think we know what ‘appened t’ th’ Orions. | |||
Yiggtissi: :: Standing. :: Indeed. There are no unusual readings from them. | |||
Sevo: I’d be surprised if there were. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha looked back to the isolation field. Beyond it she could see a spherical stone with intricate, flowing designs engraved on its surface. Above the stone was another subspace rift, although this one appeared different, somehow it was more stable, a glowing white gash in reality. As she watched, it flashed and a tall and spindly bipedal creature appeared. It jerked towards them and Tasha took a quick step backwards drawing her weapon. It moved in a strange way jerking and juddering, almost in two or three places at once. Without any hesitation it moved through the isolation field as though it wasn’t there.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: Son of a…! | |||
Eerie:Hold right there. ::Leveling the rifle towards the creature.:: | |||
MacFarlane: What in the names of the Gods? | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Sevo fired, but the beam passed directly through the creature with no effect.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Yiggtissi: Ensign, perhaps you should step --- | |||
Sevo: Tasha, look out!! | |||
Eerie: Back up. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>It raised an arm and juddered towards Tasha.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
MacFarlane: oO Oh not again Oo | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>She would not be kidnapped by another Alien creature. She pointed her phaser at the creature and fired, the beam passed clean through the creatures torso and struck the far wall. The alien didn’t even slow down. It grabbed Tasha’s phaser and she felt it grow hot. With a cry she dropped it and stumbled back. It juddered towards her again and grabbed ahold of her left arm. There was a flash of heat and suddenly Tasha’s jacket sleeve was alive with flames.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>She screamed, a raw sound of terror and pain. The creature flickered, like a hologram and moved back about half a metre, jerking Tasha off her feet and crashing to the ground. She could feel the flames burning her skin now and smell her flesh burning. The creature grabbed her wrist with its other hand and Tasha screamed again as the already unbearable heat increased, searing her flesh. The creature jerked back again and this time there was a sickening tearing noise and Tasha felt her hand being torn off. She saw blood spurting from the end of her arm and vomited as the flames cauterised the wound and blackened her flesh.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>The creature quickly retreated and vanished back through the rift, still clutching Tasha’s severed, burning hand.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: Yiggtissi, check on--! | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Through the haze of pain Tasha was vaguely aware of her crewmates around her. One of them moved closer, and crouched beside her, she couldn’t tell who, but she hoped it was Yiggtissi, he was the one she needed now. She heard a hiss and almost instantly the pain in her arm lessened. It still throbbed in time with her racing heart, but it was no longer complete agony.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Yiggtissi: That should ease the pain immensely. I can heal the wound but unless the creature returns with your hand, I am afraid that is all I can do until we can get you back to the Gorkon. | |||
Eerie: Agreed we should get MacFarlane back to the ship. | |||
Sevo: Is she alright? Do we need to get her back to the Gorkon? | |||
Yiggtissi: She is stable for the moment. The analgesics will assist with the pain and shock. That is all I can do from here. | |||
Sevo: Ensign...Tasha, how are you feeling? | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha looked at her arm and tried not to vomit. Her hand was gone, along with more than half of her forearm. What remained of her arm was badly burnt, the skin was blistered and blackened almost as high up as her shoulder.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
MacFarlane: Like Hell. ::She focused on Sevo:: My arm hurts an’ m’ ‘and is missin’. But I can probably cope till we’ve secured th’ station. There are still other lives at risk. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>As Tasha struggled back to her feet Sevo disabled the field around the object.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: =/\= Sevo to Gorkon Xenolinguistics. I’m sending you a scan of an artifact with unusual writing. We think they may be Romulan in origin. Can you see what you can find out and get back to me? =/\= | |||
Gorkon Scientist: =/\= Yes, sir. =/\= | |||
Sevo: Nothing else we can do but try and disable this thing. | |||
Eerie: Pretty clear the field isn't having any effect on it. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Tasha's arm twinged at that thought.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
MacFarlane: Aye, tha’ field was useless. | |||
Yiggtissi: We have no defense against…whatever that was. | |||
<p><nowiki>::</nowiki>Sevo attempted to move the object but it remained floating in place.<nowiki>::</nowiki></p> | |||
Sevo: I-It’s stuck! It won’t budge! | |||
Eerie: Something is holding it fast. The Orions must of had a visit from the strange creature also. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye, an’ they came out o’ it worse than I did. | |||
Sevo: Ensign, shouldn’t you be...like...sitting down or something? | |||
Yiggtissi: I concur Ensign. You should try to remain still and calm. | |||
::Tasha ignored them, there was still much to do.:: | |||
Sevo: I...I think it’s locked into something in a higher dimension! I’ll bet the other pieces are similarly interlocked. | |||
Eerie: If we can get rid of it. Perhaps with Orions will leave as well.::Thinking out loud.:: I wonder what they really want with it. | |||
MacFarlane: I dunno why th’ Orions want it. But we could always destroy tha’ infernal thing. ::She glared at the stone, hatred seething in her eyes:: I’m sure another charge like th’ one Eerie used on th’ door would get rid o’ it. Then tha’ cursed creature would never be able t’ return an’ steal more body parts. | |||
Sevo: We have no idea what a blast of energy might do to the fissure. My tricorder is showing subspace energy filaments emanating from it. I’d bet its directly connected to the other two artifacts, as well as “something” in subspace. | |||
Yiggtissi: I would advise against it. If the artifacts are connected via subspace, we could risk causing grave harm to the other teams if they are in close proximity. | |||
::Tasha was startled by the chirp of a commbadge, a moment later the voice of the Admiral filled the lab.:: | |||
Reynolds: =/\= Reynolds to away teams. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Sevo here. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Stoyer here, skipper. =/\= | |||
Vess: =/\= Vess here=/\= | |||
Reynolds: =/\= We've found one of the artefacts. It's contained within a subspace bubble. /\= | |||
::Tasha half listened to the conversation between the other teams. Despite the drugs given to her by Yiggtissi, Tasha’s are still throbbed in time with her heartbeat, it proved to be very distracting. She looked up as she heard a tearing sound and saw that Yiggtissi had torn part of his uniform off. Before she could question what madness had inspired his sudden wardrobe change he wrapped the torn section around her neck. She winced and gave a small groan as he secured her mutilated arm in the hanging pouch.:: | |||
Yiggtissi: ::Whipsering under the various comm traffic between teams. :: This should assist until I can get you to sickbay. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye, but I get th’ feelin’ tha’ could be some time away. | |||
Yiggtissi: :: Injecting another shot of pain medication in her neck. :: I know you are anxious to assist with artifacts. I would just tell you to take it easy and do not overexert yourself. | |||
::Tasha signed as the drugs were released into her bloodstream, and the pounding from her arm quietened down:: | |||
MacFarlane: Whatever you say Doc, if I look like I’m gonna pass out, please catch me. | |||
::With Yiggtissi’s help Tasha got to her feet and joined Sevo at the orb, she had missed most of the conversation, but knew that all three artifacts had now been found.:: | |||
Reynolds: =/\= The question is, do we try and bring these things together, or leave them where they are? =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Skipper, we could bring them together in your containment field. Just until we figure out how it works. =/\= | |||
Lanta: =/\= I wonder if moving them apart actually activated them or the containment field did it or in fact if the Orions played with the buttons and that caused the problem, so maybe if we neutralize the confinement field we can investigate those buttons easier! =/\= | |||
Bjarnadottir-Stoyer: =/\= Admiral, if I may, We could bring them together. It seems that they were supposed to be together. If something happens we could set up another containment field, until they are separated. =/\= | |||
V'Rall: =/\= That would be the best looking from a safety point of view. We saw what could happen if an uncontrolled fissure opens.=/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Admiral, I have to disagree. I think the surface of the orbs were designed to be a sort of control panel for the orbs; “programming” them for the right subspace harmonic, opening a stable gateway. If they are improperly aligned, effects like what we’re seeing could occur. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= It's a moot point, anyway. They can’t be moved. Go ahead, try to move it. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= I think they’re locked together or with something else in a higher dimension. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Imagine you’re a fish living underwater. The surface of the water is the edge of your known universe. You can’t perceive that there is a larger world above the surface. Now imagine somebody sticks their hand vertically into the water, but only their fingers are below the surface. From the fish’s point of view, it would look like several independent and distinct objects, but above the surface of the water - in a “higher dimension” - they are part of a larger object. Does...does that make sense? =/\= | |||
::Tasha nodded, it was beginning to make sense:: | |||
MacFarlane: =/\=So, how do we unlock ‘em?=/\= | |||
Burke: =/\= Commander Sevo, you mentioned your device has some kind of control interface, but this one apparently lacks any controls. It does have the symbols and some small stones are orbiting it, very fast, but other than that there's no way for use to interact with this thing. =/\= | |||
::Tasha reached out and gently nudged one of the small lumps of the surface of the orb, she felt a moment of resistance before it moved down and clicked, she snatched her arm back quickly, looking warily at the orb. Luckily, she didn’t think she had caused the orb to do anything:: | |||
MacFarlane =/\=Our orb has some small lumps, I...err...I pressed one, I think they are buttons, used t’ control th’ orbs. Although none o’ them are clearly marked as th’ off button, an’ I don’t think I should randomly press another. In fact it was stupid of me t’ press th’ first one.=/\= | |||
::Tasha shook her head, what the hell had she been thinking! Maybe the drugs were affecting her decisions, or maybe it was the pain and shock of losing her arm. Either way, it had been a stupid idea to start playing with the orb.:: | |||
Sevo: Tasha, please don’t poke the reality-tearing rock. | |||
MacFarlane: I’m...errr...sorry sir. I’m not quite feelin’ like m’self. | |||
Reynolds: =/\= Our orb looks like it has sliders, rather than switches. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Ours has two small flat stones circling the main stone. There are symbols on the main stone. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Sevo to Gorkon Xenolinguistics. I know it hasn’t been very long, but please tell me you have *something* on the language on these things? =/\= | |||
Gorkon: =/\= Possibly, sir. We’re pretty sure the language dates back to before the Vulcan Time of Awakening; most likely during their civil war. Many of the glyphs correlate to known Vulcan script at the time. There are a few words that refer to a group of people who “march beneath the Raptor’s wings.” =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Romulans! Or at least the precursors to them! No wonder the Vulcans who left took the orbs with them. Great job! Anything else? =/\= | |||
Gorkon: =/\= The only other part we could decipher was something about “the storm will cease when the Raptor’s eggs return to her talons.” We’re sending our translation data to your tricorder. =/\= | |||
MacFarlane: oO And I thought Vulcans weren’t poets Oo | |||
Sevo: =/\= Ensign Sienelis, any thoughts? =/\= | |||
Sienelis: =/\= Give me a second. =/\= | |||
::It took several moments but, eventually Sienelis responded:: | |||
Sienelis: =/\= Alright. It's not talking literally but… subspatially? Commander Sevo was right, the pieces don't need to be physically close -- the artifact will sort that out itself when it’s correctly configured. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: You sure about this? | |||
Sienelis: =/\= Yeah. Let me send you the configurations. You… might have to interpolate a little. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Here goes nothing. =/\= | |||
Reynolds: =/\= How will we know if it's worked? =/\= | |||
Sienelis: =/\= Oh, you'll know. I mean… everyone should reappear. Pop right back into our reality. Like they were never gone. Hopefully. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= That will be a shock. =/\= | |||
::Tasha flipped her tricorder open and watched as the data came flowing in. Carefully, with her remaining hand, she helped to configure the stone to match the instructions she had received.:: | |||
::Upon completion there was a moment of suspense where nothing happened, however seconds later the orb began to glow and hum. The light and the noise grew steadily louder until Tasha was forced to squeeze her eyes closed, yet still the intensity grew until the entire station was vibrating to match the hum.:: | |||
::Abruptly the sound ceased, and when Tasha opened her eyes the searing light was gone, as was the orb. Lying on the ground were several teal collared officers, lightly coated in frost, and a small black object:: | |||
Sevo: I’m Lieutenant Commander Ayiana Sevo, Chief Science Officer of the U.S.S. Gorkon. Do you know where you are? | |||
V’lak: I...no… :: He looked around the room. :: ...Yes. Starbase...One. Seventy-Three. | |||
Sevo: Good. What is your name? Your rank? | |||
V’lak: I…the Gorkon?...no… | |||
Sevo: Name! Rank! | |||
V’lak: L...Lieutenant Commander. V’lak. Yes. That is me. What has transpired here? | |||
Sevo: Later. Just glad to see you and everyone else are alright. | |||
Yiggtissi: Sir, according to my readings, the station’s crew appear to be in good condition, aside from a bit of hypothermia. Thermal blankets, a hot meal and much needed rest should be our first priority for them. We can have medical staff from the Gorkon asses the situation. I would like to speak to you about Macfarlane, however. | |||
:: Sevo nodded and tapped her comm badge. :: | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Skipper, Commander Sevo, you guys alright? =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Yes. The crew seems to have returned; confused and in pain, and covered in frost. But alive. =/\= | |||
Reynolds: =/\= We're alright. We've got station personnel here -- it looks like it worked. =/\= | |||
Stoyer: =/\= Skipper, the engineering crew is here and look to be in bad shape. We are going to take care of them as best we can, but we will need a lot of medical support. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Sevo to Gorkon. We’ve retrieved the crew of the Starbase. All of them. Start sending down medical and engineering teams as soon as possible. Use shuttles and emergency transporters if you have to. =/\= | |||
L’rann: =/\= Acknowledged, sir. =/\= | |||
Sevo: =/\= Get the Resolute and Triumphant to help as well, and call in the Hahn, too. She has extensive medical facilities and is stocked for medical relief. =/\= | |||
L’rann: =/\= Yess, sir. =/\= | |||
MacFarlane: =/\=We’ve got crewmembers ‘ere, an’...is tha’...::Tasha moved closer to the black object::...my hand!!=/\= | |||
::It was indeed her hand, all the flesh and muscle had burnt away leaving only scorched bone behind. With an almost incoherent cry Tasha leapt across the lab and collapsed on her knees, almost weeping at the sight of it.:: | |||
MacFarlane: ITS MY HAND! Doc, yeh can reattach it, can’t yeh? | |||
Yiggtissi: I am afraid that will not be possible Ensign. However, I do have several innovative options we can discuss once we return to the Gorkon. | |||
Eerie: We'll do the best that we can. | |||
Sevo: Tasha...there’s...there’s nothing to reattach… | |||
::With her good right hand Tasha reached out and picked up the bones, but as she raised the hand off the floor it cracked and collapsed into a pile charcoal and ash. :: | |||
::It was like losing the hand all over again, either that of the pain meds had worn off. The end of her stump was a blaze of agony, it seemed to weigh a million times more than it should while her head felt empty and light. Agony and rage combined into one sound and Tasha screamed. She fell sideways, lying on the floor she screamed again and curled into a tight ball.:: | |||
::She began thumping her disfigured stump on the floor, alternately screaming and laughing like a madwoman.:: | |||
MacFarlane: MAKE! ::thump:: IT! ::thump:: STOP! ::thump:: | |||
Yiggtissi: :: Grabbing a hypo from his kit and injecting it into her neck. :: Sir, I must get her to the Gorkon. Her readings are becoming erratic and I fear she may go into Hypovolemic sho---- | |||
::Tasha suddenly became quiet, her head snapped up and focused on Yiggtissi. She leapt at him, her arms outstretched, but she had forgotten about the sling around her neck and arm. She stumbled and fell at his feet.:: | |||
::She screamed again and felt her voice crack, she coughed, and spat out a glob of dark red blood. She began laughing again, then screamed, vomited, and coughed up more blood.:: | |||
MacFarlane: MAKE IT STOP!! AAAAAHHHHH! | |||
Sevo: LIEUTENANT! NOW! She’s going into shock! And when you’re there, have that new medical officer of your’s help you out. Genkos Sim or something like that. | |||
Yiggtissi: =/\= Yiggtissi to Gorkon! Two for emergency transport directly to sickbay! =/\= | |||
::Tasha continued screaming as the transporter took effect and whisked them away to sickbay. She was vaguely aware of being placed on a bed as she continued her mad fit, coughing up blood and screaming. Her arm was a mass of agony and her body was soaked with sweat. She was some panels rise up, covering her body. She tried to push them away, but they were too solid.:: | |||
Yiggtissi: :: Leaning over her. :: Ensign, focus on me. I am going to administer 20 cc’s of Metorapan. This should assist with the pain but it will cause you to become very drowsy. Do you understand? | |||
MacFarlane: MAKE IT STOP!!! TAKE TH’ WALLS AWAY!!! | |||
::Tasha continued to struggle against the bed as Yiggtissi moved away. She wasn’t sure how long he was gone for but when he returned he was no longer green and lizard like, instead he was pink skinned and looked much more like a human. With her mind as far gone as it was, it didnt even occur to Tasha that this might be a different medical officer.:: | |||
Sim: ::leaning his cane against the side of the bed:: Hello, now I'm just going to inject you with some metropan - it should help with the pain, but you will feel some drowsiness. | |||
::Tasha heard the doctor say something, but it all seemed gibberish to her confused and tormented mind. She was vaguely aware of him moving around near her and moments later she heard the hiss of a Hypospray and suddenly the pain vanished, but her entire body felt heavy Her eyelids began to droop and she felt herself mumbling nonsense.:: | |||
::She saw the doctor return again and place something in her arm. She rolled her head around and lazily fixed an eye on the man.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Th’ Doctor should be green. | |||
Sim: Ensign MacFarlane, what happened? | |||
MacFarlane: Th’ tall skinny cold man stole my hand ::she dissolved into a fit of laughter:: but he was cold an’ stole m’ hand with fire! ::She grinned and felt some blood dribble out of her mouth:: Then when th’ crew o‘ th’ station came back so did my hand, but not skinny, he stayed gone. The green doctor said he would put my hand back an’ it would all be not burnt or cold. ::She whipped her head from side to side, searching the room:: Where is the green doctor? He has my hand...I think. ::she could feel the drowsiness overtaking her. She looked at the new doctor with some suspicion:: Yeh dunnae believe me! | |||
Sim: In good faith, a thrilling tale. I know this may seem like the worst thing that could possibly happen to you, but believe me, this is not the end of the world. I talk from personal experience - I lost my leg in a transporter accident and although I have to use this cane, prosthetic have come a long way. You'll be up and about and in engineering in no time. I'm not going to lie to you, it does take some getting used to, but soon it'll be like nothing happened. I'll stop babbling now, try and get some rest. | |||
MacFarlane: I don’t wanna sleep! I...I want...my… I need...I’m gonna...hand. | |||
::With those last few confused words the drugs overtook Tasha and she fell asleep:: | |||
((Some time later - Sickbay, USS Gorkon)) | |||
::The first thing Tasha noticed when she woke was how quiet it was. The second thing she noticed was that her arm didn’t hurt and that her throat felt raw. She turned her head from side to side, but didn’t see anybody in the room. She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, for all she knew it was the middle of the night.:: | |||
MacFarlane: ::In a coarse whisper:: Doctor! | |||
::It appeared her voice had almost vanished too. She tried to sit up, but was stopped by the panels of the biobed. She grumbled and thumped the panels with her good hand, hoping it would make enough noise to attract somebody.:: | |||
Sim: Good morning Ensign. | |||
::At the appearance of a friendly face Tasha stopped hitting the bed.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Can yeh lemme out? An’ can I ‘ave some water? M’ throat is killin’ me. | |||
Sim: Of course. | |||
::Sim moved out of view for a moment and released the panels. Slowly Tasha sat up, making a point of not looking at her missing limb.:: | |||
Sim: Right, sit up slowly and take your time. I'll be back with some water shortly. | |||
::Tasha nodded as Sim moved away, not wanting to irritate her throat by talking too much. After a few moments he returned and passed a glass of cold water to her:: | |||
MacFarlane: Thank you doctor. | |||
Sim: No problem Ensign. Drink it slowly now. | |||
::Tasha took the glass and took a mouthful of the water, the liquid was soothing as it slipped down her tortured throat. While she drank Sim picked up a tricorder and scanned her.:: | |||
Sim: All your levels are normal Ensign, I would say you seem much better. Salt's a little low but a good heart meal should set you right. I'd like Lieutenant Yiggtissi to give you a once over before I discharge you. Just to be on the safe side. | |||
MacFarlane: A second opinion, I understand. | |||
Sim: And when you feel up to it, the three of us should have a discussion about prosthetics. ::tapping his leg with his cane:: I'm something of an expert. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye, I would appreciate that. | |||
::Sim moved away, leaving Tasha alone with her thoughts. Slowly she steeled herself and looked down at the stump that had once been her hand. The doctors had done a fantastic job or repairing what they could. All evidence of the burns was gone and the stump was nicely rounded on the end with no visible scarring. After a moment Tasha heard footsteps and the voice of doctor Yiggtissi:: | |||
Yiggtissi: How are you Tasha? | |||
MacFarlane: M’ throat feels like it’s been torn t’ shreds, an’ I’m missin’ a hand. Aside from those...a slight headache. | |||
Yiggtissi: I will not mince words and tell your journey will be easy but I can assure you that we will help you in every way to make this process as easy as it can be. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye sir. You’ve been great already. But I’m an Engineer, I work with m’ hands, I need both o’ ‘em. | |||
Yiggtissi: We can discuss options once you are ready. I have been researching various prosthetics and treatments that I believe you will work for this application. It will take some adjustments on your part but I think you are very strong willed individual. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye sir, I would like t’ get back t’ work as soon as I can. | |||
Yiggtissi: Once he returns, I will need to inform Lieutenant Stoyer that you will at least seven to ten days of rest. No work. I would suggest as well you meet with the ship’s counselor in that time as well to process any feelings you may be having. I see no reason to keep you here however. | |||
MacFarlane: I...but...a week?! | |||
::Tasha loved her work. It was hard to imagine sitting around the ship not working for more than a day or two, a week or more would be a struggle. She was ready to argue the point, but something about the way Yiggtissi had said it told Tasha that there would be no way she would win.:: | |||
Yiggtissi: Tasha, go eat something comforting and rest in your quarters. When you are ready, we can speak about our next journey in this process. Be sure to inform me immediately if you require assistance. | |||
MacFarlane: Aye sir...I will...see you soon...t’ talk about m’ arm...an’... | |||
::She trailed off, not quite sure what else she could say. The doctor patted her shoulder and moved away. Slowly Tasha swung her legs off the biobed and stood. Holding her stump close to her chest she walked carefully out of sickbay.:: | |||
::She made her way slowly through the ship, encountering many people. Some of them stopped for a moment to share a few words of sympathy or encouragement, others said nothing, their eyes deliberately turned away.:: | |||
::Eventually she arrived at her quarters and let herself in. Spark, her young kitten, was curled into a tight ball, and fast asleep on the couch, she saw him there, so peaceful and smiled, it was nice to know some things hadn’t changed. She made her way to the replicator, and pressed her head against the wall.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Computer...water. | |||
::The replicator shimmered and a tall glass of water appeared. Tasha picked it up and quickly drank it.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Gimme another | |||
::She drank the second glass, and a third, and a fourth. Once she had quenched her thirst and soothed her throat Tasha turned around and carefully slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. With her good hand she was able to struggle out of her boots and remove her uniform jacket. She pushed them away in a messy heap and looked up at the replicator again.:: | |||
MacFarlane: Computer...gimme...gimme...oh I dunno…::she sighed and rubbed her face::...a bowl o’ hot stew an’ some bread. | |||
::The replicator gave a whine and shimmer, faithfully fulfilling her order. Tasha climbed slowly back to her feet and picked up the food, carefully balancing it all in her good hand. She made her way to the couch and sat, careful to avoid waking Spark. She started eating, but her heart wasn’t in it. With her dinner barely half eaten Tasha placed it on the low table and pushed it away.:: | |||
::She sank back on the couch and groaned, wriggling her shoulders until she was comfortable. She felt her eyelids beginning to droop, it had been exhausting on the station and worse since her hand had been taken. She was tired, both in body and mind. She should probably get up and have a shower, get clean and then sleep in her bed. But doing that would require using energy that she didn’t have. Instead she allowed her eyes to close and she fell asleep on the couch.:: | |||