Critical Care Pt. 3

Posted on Mon Oct 9th, 2023 @ 10:01pm by Ensign Sar

960 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Mission 1: Campor III - Resupply
Location: Klingon Settlement.
Timeline: After Critical Care Pt. 2
Tags: `

T'Lura moved toward the entrance to the critical care unit, she could hear Klingons shouting from inside. She turned to Feeva. "One of the pilots holds the belief that he has been deprived of an honorable death. While Klingon honor is indeed commendable, it occasionally appears to defy logical and rational principles."

Feeva nodded. "Oftentimes, it does. Klingons aren't the only ones who value honor, of course. My people are taught it, as well, though not to the extreme like Klingons. We tend to be too reserved for extremes of behaviors in one way or the other," she said. "Even with my late husband, it took me awhile to warm up to dating, and even longer to feel comfortable with intimacy, and things like that. After his death, nothing feels comfortable anymore," she said. Even with Leena, she wasn't touchy-feely in public. That was saved for in their quarters, or somewhere away from prying eyes. "A certain level of trust and acceptance needs to be there...I think it's because of our untraditional mating rituals and such." Plus, she'd learned that people come and go-her mother had left them when she was a young child, and her husband had died. When you faced that, you understood the inability to form trust quickly. It saved you from heartbreak.

"Fascinating," T'Lura said. "We will speak further when there's time."

"I suppose. Where am I needed? I have triage training, but I am useless at much else," she said.

T'Lura entered the unit, one of the Klingon patients was shouting at a human doctor. "What seems to be the issue?"

"You cowards have robbed me and my fellow warriors of our honorable deaths," the wounded warrior said from his biobed.

"In Klingon culture, death in battle is considered honorable, while death due to equipment failure is perceived as a wasteful loss," T'Lura said without missing a beat.

Feeva nodded. "Of course. Our equipment won't fail," she said. "He'll live to fight another battle," she said. Of that, she had no doubts. "I've also never met a Klingon who quits," she said, a bit louder, so the warrior could hear her. "I hope today won't be that day."

The Warrior paused; he didn't know how to respond to the words of these women. "Get this metal out of my shoulder. Don't bother with those chemicals, I will watch you work."

T'Lura raised an eyebrow, "As you wish. I shall proceed with the removal of the foreign object from your shoulder. Please remain still, and I shall work with the utmost care and efficiency."

She turned to Feeva. "Let's get scrubbed up."

Feeva simply nodded. She did as asked, washed her hands, stepped into the biohazard suit, and placed her mask and gloves on. It was a weird juxtaposition-usually, she was in her purple tunic, or occasionally, just civilian clothing. She stepped forward once she was ready. "Ma'am, I am ready," she said. To the Klingon, she spoke. "Are you?" It wasn't usually in the Counselor's nature to be so forward, but she also understood that Klingons respected that more than a quiet, "nice" approach she'd normally take.

"Good, Counselor." T'Lura nodded.

As they stepped out into the hall, Brok'tan approached with Lissa following behind him. "Do you need any help with the warriors?"

"While your offer is appreciated, We will manage the warriors' needs ourselves. Your presence may not be necessary at this time." T'Lura said, her brow twitched slightly. "You could have informed Kas of my presence; it would have contributed to a smoother and less uncomfortable reunion."

"And miss the look on his face," the old warrior laughed.

T'Lura turned to Lissa," Nurse Kerr, "I'll need your assistance my regular assistant was injured in the accident."

Feeva sighed gratefully. "Thank you, Nurse Kerr," she said. "Here, take this," she handed off the instrument she held. "If anyone needs me, I'll be...on comms," she said. Anywhere but HERE for the moment. She needed to rest her mind for a bit, process things.

"You may use the consolation room if you need some quiet, Counselor," T'Lura said. she pointed to a room further down the hall.

"Just the restroom, thanks," she said, scurrying out of the room. She felt badly leaving the others behind, but really, what would she do? Stand around being useless. She made her way to the aforementioned consolation room. She'd been in many. Only once on the other side, though, but she still felt the familiar pang as she walked in-apparently, no matter the race or species, all beings thought that stark white walls were the best way to tell you your loved one was dead.

************

Lissa took her place next to T'Lura. "Does your facility have pulmonary regenerators?" she asked. "I treated two teenagers in the hallway for smoke inhalation, but they also had signs of chemical burns in their lungs. They'll be fine with the course of treatment I provided, but it would speed up their recovery by a couple of days if they could sit under one for a few hours."

"They will recover with their own strength," Brok'tan barked. He was accepting of many of these new medical techniques. His people weren't ready to accept.

"Yes, Nurse. Klingons maintain a preference for a lower level of care. They hold the belief that allowing their bodies to heal naturally whenever possible is the most suitable course of action." T'Lura explained.

Lissa suppressed an eye-roll. "That's what I figured," she murmured.

"We should proceed to remove the shrapnel from the warrior's shoulder," T'Lura said.

"Of course, Doctor. I specialized in trauma medicine, and I actually just started my second year of medical school. Whatever you need," Lissa responded as they entered the unit.

RSS Feed