From: Nai (naomi_lara_at_optusnet.com.au)
Date: Mon Apr 30 2007 - 05:01:13 PDT
"In from the Cold" Cont' from Rahul's "Thin Lines' =/\= Location: USS PATRIOT Scene: Sickbay =/\= Tam found a corner in sickbay and tried to keep out of the medics way as they scrambled around their two patients. Both officers were totally unresponsive to the light, heat and activity around them. The exposed skin that Tam could see of their faces was as white as that of a corpse, their lips were a faint tinge blue. Niala couldn't even see them draw breath. One of the doctors shouted and it got her attention. "Counselor, get some blankets, now!" The woman barked at her in the middle of carrying out various diagnosis and evaluations. Niala scrambled to do as she had been directed. Meanwhile, she could hear words being bantered about between the medics indicating patient status. Niala retrived an armful and approached the medics who leapt on them like wolves on a carcass. Within seconds her arms were empty and the blankets were quickly unfurled and wrapped around the two patients to try and prevent any further loss in body temperature, and also to protect them from the exposure to the heat of the room. Closer to the two officers now, she could see they were in a precarious state. She couldn't yet tell if they were even alive or dead. They looked like a pair of corpses. If it wasn't for the medical team working on stablising them, she would have given them up for dead. Niala sensed she was in the way, and quickly retreated. =/\= Time: Approximately an hour later =/\= Jones walked into Sickbay, and at first glance, couldn't see Kenta. But she could see the one of the doctors and quickly made a bee-line to the aCMO. "Doctor?" She sought to gain the medico's attention. The woman, Tessa Dungan, turned around and smiled at the Commanding Officer. "I was about to come and give you a report." She responded and gestured for Helice to follow her over to a private alcove. "And?" The aCMO brought her into the alcoves and Jones came to a stop when she saw Kenta, and further back, Sterling. They were both unconscious, and had several layers of thermal blankets over them. Helice stepped closer to Ben even as the doctor continued to speak. "They were admitted suffering were severe hypothermia. And it was lucky we found them when we did. Both of them had cardiac arrhythmia, and their vascular system had started to collapse, organ shutdown. Another hour or so..." The woman let the statement trail off. She didn't need to say it. "They're fine now?" Helice rested her hand on Ben's shoulder for a moment. She felt for the young man, so serious and professional. She sometimes felt sorry for him. The woman nodded warily. "They're recovering. We're bringing their core temperature up slowly, so they'll be there for a few hours yet. Aside from the hypothermia, the Commander suffered a subdural hematoma from a depressed skull fracture. Ironically, it was the very nature of the hypothermia that reduced the damage that created to his brain. Nonetheless, I suspect he'll suffer from some retrograde amnesia. The extent and severity won't become known until he awakes." She said with the faintest of frowns. There was little they could do but await for Ben to wake up and find out by questioning. Helice's mouth tightened for a moment and nodded. His skin where she touched him was cool. She sighed and moved away. The remains of the Columbia were in shuttle bay, and according to the engineers, the temperature inside had gone sub-zero. It was quite remarkable they had survived almost twelve hours in it. The doctor nodded her head towards Sterling for a moment. "The Lieutenant's condition was worse in regards to the hypothermia, but with treatment, she's bouncing back faster then he is. I think she might be able to be released tonight. The Commander must remain a while longer, very certainly overnight." She added, glancing back at the CO. =/\= Scene: Bridge =/\= Tellah glanced up at the screen, her eyes flicking from one readout to the view screen. They were being hailed. "Colonel, I think it's the Counterstrike, and an unknown ship. She's sending Clarkson's signal." The Ops officer reported. Jones wasn't on the Bridge, so Maverick was in charge. She hoped he didn't get to like it too much, because she preferred Kenta over the marine. But of course she wasn't going to say that. "Open a frequency to the Counterstrike." Maverick ordered as McKlellan watched the view screen intently. After a few moments, the two ships appeared out of the mists of the nebula side by side. "Patriot to Counterstrike." Maverick called out when Tellah opened the communication signal. Daniel appeared on the viewscreen from the Bridge of the Counterstrike. He appeared satisfied, but something in his face was hard. [[Afternoon Colonel. We come baring gifts. We apprehended several of the pirates and one ship.]] He reported to Maverick. "Good work." The Colonel was quietly impressed with the actions of his marines. Of course, this was exactly what they were trained for, but it gave him a sense of satisfaction to know that they had done their job well. [[My wife?]] Clarkson asked, now that his duty was out the way did he ask what was lingering on his mind. "Is in Sickbay, she's okay." The marine assured his second. [[Thank you.]] The relief on Daniel's face, body and in his voice was palpable. Maverick couldn't help but feel sorry for him. After a moment, he smiled slightly. [[We'll commence docking procedure. Counterstrike out.]] He said and severed the communications. "Give him a hand, Lieutenant." The marine ordered Tellah to start with the docking procedures, he turned towards Kel. "Mr. McKlellan, please meet the Counterstrike and make sure this prisoner escort is untroubled. I'll inform the Captain." He told Kel. The Lieutenant was happy to do something. "Yes, sir." =/\= Scene: Corridor Time: An hour later =/\= Kel watched as Daniel officially turned over custody of the last Orion pirate. One that was looking and moving decidedly worse for wear. Kel kept his silence until they quit to the corridor and were walking down its length towards the turbolift. "Why's one of them all bruised up?" McKlellan asked. "You know what these people are like, Kel. Clumsy." Daniel was walking quickly. He wanted to see his wife. He wasn't proud of what he did, but it gave him the information they needed. "He tripped and hit the table." Kel chuckled and slapped Daniel on the shoulder. "Yeah, I know." =/\= Scene: Sickbay =/\= Ben opened his eyes. He could hear soft conversation. It sounded all a little hazy and indistinct to his ears. Like a soft rainfall, so soft you couldn't distinguish one drop from another. It just became a constant fall. He turned his head slightly, trying to get a sense of where he was. It took a moment for the thought that he was safe on the Patriot to filter through his mind. And more importantly, he felt warmer. He wasn't at the toasty warm he craved, but the heavy weight on his body told him that he was being cared for. He sensed movement next to him. Kenta turned and saw Daniel helping Catherine slip a tunic over her bare shoulders. Her back was to Ben, the scars that marred the skin stood out pale and white against the pink skin. He saw it for a moment before it was hidden under cloth again. Clarkson said something very softly and helped Catherine with a robe and then steadied her as she slid from the bed and gained her feet. She belted the robe around her waist and let Daniel slip an arm around her waist. The woman turned and saw Ben watching her. She said something softly to Daniel and the marine reluctantly left; giving her some privacy with Ben. Catherine looked, and felt battered. She suspected Kenta felt worse. They had said a lot of things in that shuttle, none of it good, and most of it bad enough to be forgotten. But she did owe him something. An apology. "The doctor tells me that you very probably saved my life, even at the detriment of your own." She didn't quite understand his actions, but perhaps, she could try. The woman gave him a faint smile. "Thank you." She added softly, and with an elegant nod, turned and tiredly walked out of the alcove into Daniel's arms. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NRPG: Are there more pirates to be found? Beth, if you're on MSN, let me know. J Our characters must meet for a chat. Naomi Lara Lt. J.G. Catherine Sterling-Jade Intelligence Operative USS PATRIOT And Lieutenant Tellah 'Cal' Callishendrack'Hylarmarishnakaashanah Chief of Operations USS PATRIOT And Commodore Teneill Danara-Bennow Deputy Chief of Starfleet Intelligence From HyperNews_at_youth.net
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