Fighting For My Life
Posted on Mon Dec 20th, 2021 @ 7:22am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Thriss Kla'ren & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell
Mission:
*CD*
Location: Infirmary, Deep Space Nine
Timeline: Backpost
*Snip*
Kira wanted to know what in the hell was going on, when that half call came through. Pointing over to the Chief, "Get him out of there, directly to the infirmary. Now. As well as anyone else on that ship. Emergency teams to that docking port and get me some damn answers."
The Sunfire was also signaled if they hadn't already seen what happened. Kla'ren was transported out before anything got worse. Which it did. The explosion caused a cascade throughout the systems and into the core. Thankfully, it was continued to be pushed away. The ensuing explosion of the entire ship, in sections one by one, didn't cause more damage to the station.
*Snip*
A bloodied and burned Kla'ren appeared in a blue hue in Deep Space Nine's Infirmary. The Starfleet engineer was battered, bruised, and he was going in and out of consciousness. Medical staff rushed over to the Andorian.
Bashir whirled into action, his razor sharp genetically engineered mind putting the recent explosion and the arrival of their newest patient together. "Computer, identify patient" He started as he administered a series of hypos for pain relief and infection control.
"Patient is Lt Thriss Kla'ren, Chief Engineer, USS Sunfire" The computer intoned with its inflectionless voice.
"Computer, retrieve the current medical file for Mr Kla'ren and upload data to this padd" Bashir ordered without missing a beat. Within seconds Thriss' medical record was on Bashir's screen, giving him a detailed understanding of the Andorian. From here, he developed a treatment plan that would have Thriss hopefully back on his feet again in a day or so.
Meanwhile, just inside the airlock, a miffed Hightower stared at Dean for a moment before deciding to pull rank. "How dare you undermine my decision to pull back. We had the upper hand. We had the control. Instead, your impulsive actions have risked not only our lives but the lives of those on the station. The only thing keeping me from reporting you right now is the fact that your actions worked in our favor." He was pissed but he was trying to be professional about it, gentle giant that he was.
"I can understand that, sir, and I will take whatever form of infraction report you want to, even though you just said you weren't going to. I have that mentality where I do what I think is right, and will save the most lives. It doesn't always pan out, but nine times out of ten, it does." Dean took a breath. "Thank you for the reprimand and the underlying compliment. If it's alright with you, I'd like to go see how my crewmate is doing."
Hightower softened his stance, he had been there many times throughout his life. "Go. See to your crewmate. Just tell me you'll think about this situation in a frame of mind that goes beyond yourself. I mean, some of us have a woman at home waiting for us, you know what I mean?" It was rhetorical but it left Dean with the opportunity to think about the intense nature of the situation and the potential fallout.
"And I have a potential one that I would like to have as an equal partner. So, yes, I kind of wanted to live. I've sorry I overstepped, it was the best I thought at the time." Dean turned to head off. He knew what could have happened, completely aware. He also would have taken the hit for them if it came to it and maybe even died.
Captain Kira was receiving a little less information than she would have liked "Kira to Hightower, I want a report on what's going on down there. NOW!" She ordered from Ops.
Hightower tapped his badge, "Docking port secure Captain. Perpetrators are in containment cells. We will need a structural repair crew to the docking port just to make sure things are as they should be. We have one patient in the infirmary, a Sunfire crewmate who was left on board when the ship went boom." He sighed, "I will have a full report on your desk within the hour." He left it at that in case she had any follow-up questions.
" Very good Hightower, I'll despatch a repair crew to you shortly, are there any other resources you need to get this under wraps?" She asked, making a note that said people responsible were already apprehended. What would be interesting would be their reasoning.
He stared out the docking port at the scattering debris in self-deprecating frustration before responding, "Just five minutes alone with our would-be terrorists." The question of why burned in his head, the answer he felt would lead to a bigger series of worries.
"Only if I can join you for those five minutes. I think we both deserve some answers" Kira agreed " Let me know when you're done with the repairs and we can have the conversation, perhaps Lt House can assist as well"
"Yes ma'am, Hightower out." He closed the channel just as a repair crew walked around the corner and set to work scanning and setting up their work tools. He watched them work longer than he needed to before making his way out of the docking port and towards the security office.
Dean was hurrying, though he was trying to make sure that it didn't look like he was hurrying. Coming into the infirmary looking for where they had Thriss at.
Kla'ren was still in a deep sleep. Even though he was near death, his mind was still intact. Because of this, his thoughts and memories were still flooding his brain. They consisted all the way from his acceptance into Starfleet Academy, all the way to his current posting. He even thought of before then.
His mind shifted to before his tenure with the crew of Liberty and now the Sunfire. From when he served nearly a decade on the Varley. His mind focused on Rynn Upland, his former ACEO of the Varley, and his replacement as CEO of the same ship. Aside from being stranded in the games in the Jungle a few months back, he hadn't had many life or death experiences for a hot minute, even if he did serve in Starfleet, especially if the Sunfire had a mission in the GC. But what would she think. They had been close friends for a long time.
Dr Bashir and his team had their hands full, Thriss had been badly injured and would be unconscious for at least a day or so until his body and head injuries began to heal on their own. The medical file he has retrieved from the Sunfire had provided some valuable insights into the Andorian's medical history and Bashir had revised his original treatment plan accordingly. All they could do now was administer analgesics, nutrients, and wait.
"Doctor Bashir!? Where is he? Is he okay?" Calling out. Figuring at this point they must be in the surgical suite. Dean wasn't going to barge in there.
" And you are?" One of the nurses intervened, approaching Dean with a shushing hand.
"I'm the idiot that almost got him killed by suggesting he go back for the logs." Or at least it felt like that was his fault. "Lieutenant House, USS Sunfire."
" Ahhh right. He's currently in a serious but stable condition. Dr Bashir had repaired the worst of the damage" The nurse explained, gesturing towards one of the private rooms. " It would give us some assistance if you could explain exactly what happened"
Dean gave a glance over to the private room, "Alright, well it would be easier for everyone if I only have to explain once instead of it being relayed multiple times. So...." Starts for the room.
" Hey... you can't just go barging in there, Dr Bashir is still treating him!" The Nurse moved to intervene.
Holds his hands up, "Okay okay...I'll wait."
The nurse nodded in thanks then vanished into the room, reappearing a few moments later with Dr Bashir on her heels. " Lt House - you have some information for us?" He addressed the Sunfire officer.
"Yes, Doctor. The quick of it is there were terrorists that were trying to kill people. They planted a bomb on the freighter. I wasn't aware that Kla'ren was still on the Bridge when it went off. Must have been caught in the blast, or possibly the point of origin. There was Darnamite in the explosive." Dean gave a sigh.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Even though it still was, considering both of them were augments in their own ways.
" That explains a few things then, the percussive trauma for a start. It's never a good sign with an Andorian bleeds from their antennae" Bashir mused " Well, we can't always chose the time of our meeting can we?"
"Evidently not." Dean gave a sigh, "Could the Darnamite have done something different than a normal concussive blast would?"
" It tends to have a higher escape velocity, thus the percussive force and shrapnel damage is generally worse than with a regular explosion. That being said, no boom is always preferable when it comes to humanoid general well being" The good natured doctor quipped.
"Hmm. That sounds about right actually. Yes, no explosion is preferable. Is there anything I can do to help? My blood is unique."
Bashir retrieved his tricorder and took a reading. " Well it seems it very much is unique. Remind me to have a word to your CMO regarding keeping an eye on those lactic acid buildups, they can get tricky if you don't know what you're looking for. Oh, and Thriss should be back on his feet in a few days. We've repaired most of the damage and his body can take care of the rest. Tough creatures those Andorians."
"That they are." Giving a curious look, "That's strange, I've never had a problem with my metabolism causing lactic acidosis before".
"It only tends to flare when the body is under stress, or has been injured badly. Most doctors put it down to tissue necrosis but in fact it's the acid in the bloodstream from the high metabolic rate of your muscles that ends up attacking them. Oh.. sorry" Bashir apologized as he regathered the conversation from the medical jargon he'd not realised he'd been sprouting.
He didn't have a problem with it really. "Then how did you deal with it? Or are your augmentations different from mine, Doctor?" Since it was outed years ago, anyone that knew him or knew about Bashir knew he was.
" Simple injection of hydronagene, calms the lactic farm and allows the body to filter the acid out rather than be attacked by it. Nifty little trick if I do say so myself" Bashir smiled a knowing smile " It's an unconventional treatment, but it works. Only on augment's though, it would be disastrous on a normal humanoid."
"Hmm. Okay, well you said you were going to talk to them anyway, so I guess it can wait. I can have a physical done and see if that'll work." Giving a light smile.
" Call it a mere transference of handy informance. Now, I believe Thriss should be through the worst of it, would you like to see him?" Bashir changed tack and indicated the open door through which Kla'ren was recovering.
Dean gave a little nod, to both. "I would, yes, please."
" Follow me" Bashir turned and headed into the private room where Thriss was recovering. To all outward appearances he was simply asleep, his outwork body now almost completely healed.
It seemed to be a theme right now with Dean sighing lately. Following and giving a look over Thriss and the monitors. "Let me guess....he's either sedated, just simply asleep, or in a coma."
" Lightly sedated, just enough to keep him under as he body repairs. Any stress will slow his recovery" Bashir replied without missing a beat. "As he recovers we'll lighten the sedation and he'll wake of his own accord. He is stable though"
Dean shook his head a little and rested a hand on Kla'ren's hand. "I'm sorry I didn't catch it. Get better, I know you'll be back on your feet in no time." Pulling back and looking to Bashir. "Thank you. I'll get out of your hair."
" Anytime Lieutenant" Bashir smiled as Dean left the room, refocusing his attention on his patient.
