Touch and Go

Posted on Wed May 28th, 2025 @ 11:27am by Lieutenant JG Esessa Sh’ivhohlol & Lieutenant Commander Isabella Reyes M.D & Major Marcus Ming & Master Warrant Officer Yerin Di'Ara

2,786 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Mission 9: When the Stars Went Silent
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: Two Days After the Battle of Vulcan

Lieutenant Sh'iv groaned and, with effort, pushed herself upright. One arm was in a sling, and pain shot from her hip up her spine like an electric shock. The entire right side of her face was bandaged, and when she touched the side of her head, she realized one of her antennae was missing.

"I guess that’s what I get for ramming a Dominion ship with a fighter," she muttered. "Could’ve been worse."

With her torpedoes depleted and phasers disabled, she'd had only two choices: let the Dominion fighter destroy her wingman and flight leader, or ram it with her ship.

A tall Hispanic woman walked up to the young woman, "You're awake, good. I'm Doctor Reyes. Find a comfortable position and try not to move around. We knitted the broken bones as much as possible while we dealt with more critical patients. One antenna is gone, so expect to be dizzier while it grows back. How is your pain level right now?" Isabella asked the woman. Her dark eyes were intent on the response and checking vitals on the biobed.

She gave Reyes a sideways grin and touched her head where her right antenna should have been, and winced as broken ribs shifted, "I noticed. I'd give it an eight or nine, ma'am."

Isabella changed the setting on the hypospray and pressed it against the Lieutenant's unaffected arm. Smiling, she said, "Not for long. We'll get the bone knitter in here and get you feeling better. Afterwards, we'll fix your face. Don't worry; I do magnificent work; yours will be easy."

"Oh good... I wouldn’t want to scare kiddos and admirals," she remarked dryly.

Work.

Work was the only thing that could keep Yerin's mind from going places she didn't want it to go. So many people in pain, many grievously wounded, and some wouldn't even last the night. She could tell just from the energy she was feeling from them. The doctors were still optimistic about them though so she didn't say a word to the contrary. She didn't want to break their spirit, not when they all needed hope during this dark time.

So even without anyone asking, she would spend more time with them, making sure they were at least comfortable and pain free, having conversations with them, and even just being there for them.

Unfortunately, having the patients she cared for most frequently passing on soon after earned her a nickname she wasn't too fond of.

After seeing to a patient who was recovering from treatment to third-degree burns all over his body, she received an order from the CMO for some equipment and supplies in the treatment ward. Since she was already close to the supply closet, she took on the task herself.

A little while later, she found the doctor attending to a wounded Andorian woman and made a beeline for her along with a tray covered by a sterile blue cloth.

"Doctor," she said pleasantly with a smile, and then at the patient. "Here are the items you requested."

Major Marcus Ming chose that moment to enter sickbay. He paused and smiled slightly as he spotted Sh'iv and headed in her direction. As he approached, he greeted Sh'iv, the Doctor, and the Warrant Officer in his usual friendly manner.

He shook his head at Sh'iv, still grinning, and said, "You really need to learn to not wreck your fighters XO. I'm quite glad you ended up approximating a 'walking away from the crash' and all but I'm likely gonna hear about it. Not the first time I ever got chewed out so I don't mind. How're you feeling though? Hopefully not too sore and all."

Isabella addressed the new arrival. "Major Ming, is it? I need two minutes, then she is all yours.

She turned to Yerin and placed a hand on her shoulder in support. It had been rough on everyone. Time to commiserate would be later. This would be a win. The Andorian was stable and well out of danger. Now it was just managing the rest.

"Please treat the Lieutenant with the bone knitter first. Ribs five through ten on the left side. Let's double-check fourteen on the right. Hairline crack. Then the broken arm. Hopefully, we can avoid surgery on the torn rotator cuff. " Looking over the scans again, she added, "The hips look fine, with blunt trauma damage to the surrounding tissue. Let's dermal regen that, Yerin. Later, we can fix the rest."

"Round two will be more deliberate, but as I said, I do good work Essesa," Isabella said to the Lt, believing in personal touch.

"She's all yours, Major, but please let my staff work," Isabella added.

Yerin didn't say anything to the doctor's show of support but she smiled, showing her appreciation.

The new arrival was a handsome young major who looked to be their patient's CO. The Orlanian nurse found it fascinating that the ship seemed to be populated with attractive people. She didn't mind him as he focused his attention to his pilot while she listened to the doctor's instructions.

She'd already seen and memorized her chart, something she already did for all of their patients. Her scans revealed some considerable skeletal injuries on top of the obvious trauma she received from her crash, which could have been much worse. She was lucky to be alive, and they were going to do everything they can to keep it that way and bring her back to full health.

"Yes doctor," she said cheerily before putting on a fresh pair of gloves as she advised their patient before she started. "I'm going to be lifting your shirt, ma'am. You'll feel some sensations while the knitter is working but if there's any pain, let me know immediately."

The nurse did just that and after she secured the garment in place, using some clips to keep them out of her way, she had her lie down to make it easier for the both of them. With a pair of scissors, she carefully removed the regenerative pad that had been applied to her abdomen earlier. Her injuries looked a lot better now than before, though she was still badly bruised from the impact. Yerin brought the knitter into position and went to work, quietly doing her thing to let the three of them talk.

Sh'iv shook her head as the medical staff worked over her. She took a deep breath and let the air out slowly as her sole antenna twisted, sensing its environment. "I wouldn't have to if you'd stop getting into the trouble, Charlie-Oscar."

Marcus tilted his head and studied his XO for a moment failing to hide his affection and worry for his XO. He smiled and said, "Trouble tends to follow me I am sorry to say. Then again trouble is our business so I have been told. Either way I am glad we didn't lose you. I am not sure I have met anyone quite as tough and as stubborn as you...Well, aside from myself that is."

The newly minted major chuckled softly after that last part He was joking and he was very thankful she survived. He sobered and said with a deep sorrow in his voice until the very end, "I sent a 'sorry to inform you' message to McPhearson's family. She's the first to die under my command. It hurts like hell. You scared the hell out of me but it looks like you'll pull through thankfully. When you're healed and up for it there's a bitchin party planned as promised however."

"Let's save the celebrations for after this nightmare ends," she said, her voice low.
She hesitated, "We lost Vulcan." The words hung heavy between them. Earth, and even her own homeworld, Andoria were now squarely in the Dominion’s crosshairs. "There's far too little to celebrate, Marcus."

Marcus fell silent for a long moment with his violet eyes unfocusing as he thought. His eyes focused on Sh'ivs and said, "We lost a battle. We've been pushed back. That said the Federation endures. We are still alive and there is still hope. It's harder to grasp these days but it is there. As long as we hang onto that hope and keep our will to fight we WILL survive this. If we can't recover we redefine things....By all the old gods of Earth I aim to take back our fallen worlds...Alone if needbe however I know I am not the only one driven to do this. THAT is worth celebrating. We live, we hope and our desire to fight burns like supernovas. What say you Lieutenant Esessa Sh’ivhohlol? The best medical team in the fleet fix you up, we trade that hallow pip of yours for a full one and we celebrate being the most bad ass fuckers in the Alpha, Beta and Delta quadrents. Will you be there Sh'iv?"

Sh'iv smirked, "You do have a flare for the dramatic sir."

Ming smirked and brushed his collar and gold oak leaf saying, "I did bring down the house in school plays. Space was the stronger calling thus here I am. Still getting used to the new uniform and rank. That said you deserve the bump up to full lieutennant. Abara is also due for a bump to JG. We can talk about T'Kown when you're better --- I am leaning toward saying yes but I am not 100% sure and need to discuss it with my XO. When she is healed up of course."

Major Ming got more serious as the discussion went on. He watched the medical WO work as well as watching her. She looked a bit rough at the moment but he also knew she was in good hands. In all honesty he did feel a bit guilty. Sh'iv got beat to hell and McPhearson lost her life. Reminding himselfthat people died during wars didn't alleviate much of said guilt but he did keep thinking that whenever possible. He hoped that it might help....Might not too but worth a try.

"Never cared much about rank, but I accept the honor," Sh'iv replied.

Yerin found it a good thing that her patient was focused on the prolonged conversation as it allowed her to quickly finish the treatment without much issue. While pain was rarely an issue during bone knitting procedures, there was occasionally some discomfort, especially those with nerve sensitivity. Fortunately the Andorian officer wasn't one of them.

"Alright, I'm done with your ribs," she declared with a smile. "I even fixed the hairline fractures. Now I'm going to work on your arm, lieutenant. I'll save the dermal regeneration for later when you have more privacy."

She carefully undid her sling and dressings, and after placing her arm in an extended, relaxed posture by her side, went to work on the appendage with the knitter. It's a good thing that her bones were simply broken rather than shattered. That wouldn't be something she could easily fix with the knitter at all and would require surgery.

Isabella walked back and checked on the injured Andorian's progress. Able to check off most of the critical sub-issues, she placed a hand on the Major's shoulder. Her face was upbeat and smiling. "Wrap it up and get out of my sickbay. The Lieutenant needs privacy and rest. "

She pulled him aside, her face going neutral behind the cloth divider, and whispered. "Please stop that talk about losing Vulcan. I have enough to worry about without inducing more loss and stress on my patients. The words need to be supportive and positive. Otherwise, we are going to have issues." She said simply and genuinely.

Pulling back her face once again, upbeat and smiling, she moved the curtain partially back and replied in a normal voice. "Thanks for helping out today, Major. It's good you care enough to visit. We'll give you two a moment." Isabella offered.

Ming gave the doctor a grin before turning back to Sh'iv. His XO looked better but she still looked a bit rough which saddened him. He was glad she was going to pull through however. He said, "I know better than to not listen to doctor's orders. That said I am buying dinner once you're outta here. Least I could do all things considered. You've been my right hand pretty much from go and I can never repay you for that. Yeah, I know you don't chase after recognition but I'd be remiss if I didn't say something after all you have done. You're too important to this flight....and to myself my friend."

"Thanks," she murmured, reclining back into the bed, letting her body relax. She was out of arguments—no energy left to protest. She wasn’t even sure why she had done what she had done.

Staring at the ceiling, she sighed, listening to the quiet hum of sickbay, that antiseptics wafting into her nose. Nobody was irreplaceable. That was the nature of a chain of command: next officer up. Something in the back of her mind told her she should be dead. She couldn't explain it, but it felt like the universe was playing a joke on her.

"If it makes you feel better, you likely died a few times over in parallel universes. You survived here, for which I am personally glad as it'd be a proverbial pain in the arse trianing anyone else and they may not have been anywhere good as you are. Despite your propensity for wrecking figthers, you're a better pilot and leader than you think. Get some rest and follow the doctor's orders or else I am going to put in for more medals than I think you deserve. Understood?"

"Understood," Sh'iv said with a half-hearted nod.

Ming grinned and said, "Good. I'll check in with you tomorrow, Doctor permitting."

Isabella shot the Major a look with the parallel universe comment. Moving closer, she said, "And with that, visiting hours are over. Late tomorrow would be better. " Turning to Yerin, she added, Let's get the Regen started. Andorian bioplast, dermal regenerator, and keep the pain meds coming. It's going to get itchy."

Marcus chuckled and replied, "Aye, aye doctor. Later tomorrow it is."

The Knight's CO turned to Sh'iv and said in a warm, friendly voice, "Rest easy and focus on recovery, Sh'iv. I'll see you tomorrow."

Ming loitered around a heartbeat or two before giving the patient and medical team kind but respectible nods before vacating the Sickbay before he wore out his welcome. Once outside he took a slow deep inhalation before a similar exhalation. He knew where his next stop would be.

After the Major was long out of earshot, she turned to Lt Sh'iv, "Don't worry. It's not itchy. I just wanted a bit of peace for these next steps." Smiling warmly, she said. "Let's get that hip fixed before anything else. Mobile is good. With a bit of luck, we can have you convalescing in your own quarters. How does that sound?" Isabella asked the Lieutenant.

"No offense, Doc," Sh'iv started, "my quarters would be better than here."

"What? And deny yourself our amazing company?" Said Yerin with a smirk at the pilot's quip as she set down the bone knitter and went with a quick pass of the osteo-regenerator. "Well, fortunately, I'm done with your arm and your ribs. I wouldn't be doing full-contact sports for a bit till the doctor says so, but you should be good as new in no time. Now all I need is to work my magic with the dermal wand on your hip, and you'll be able to do skin care commercials after this."

She turned briefly to make sure the privacy screens were up before facing her patient once again. "I hope you're not shy, it's just us girls here now. I'll need to pull down your pants so I can get to work on what's bothering you, okay Lieutenant?"

Sh'iv was too drained to protest even if she was inclined to care. "Do what you have to do."

"Good job, Yerin." Isabella said honestly." Since you are already in place, go ahead and set that hip. I need to retrieve a dermal series tray."

Walking around to face their patient, Isabella smiled, "We are close to being done. I promise, Sh'iv. How's that pain level?"

"Minimal," she lied, staring at the ceiling.

Isabella commented., "Let me know if that changes. Isabella brought over a portable subdermal resequencer and bioplasts. Let's get to work and get you healed."

"Sure Doc," Sh'iv said wirh a sigh in too much pain and top tired of being examined and prodded to say anything more.

 

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