Lieutenant (J.G.) Sierin Ikaixar - Edge of the Knife
Ryan Fender
(( Nascaik Genetic Research Lab - Underground facility, Kurtûl III ))
Sierin’s head swam like swill in a bucket and it was like feeling waves and waves of soreness fall against her muscles. The Doctor’s stomach lurched and heaved with nausea. It all happened so quickly. One moment, wrestling the gavel from the Da’al’s hand, the next, her supposed enemy was her would-be patient. No, he was a patient, and his wife too, everyone in this room would become a patient if time was not on their side. A steadying breath was all she could do to stave off the twisting in her stomach— but it was not enough.
Sierin fought through the malaise and a sobering calm fell over her,
oO Finally.. Oo
It squeezed the wriggling thoughts until they were nothing, dulling her awareness of the anxious feelings that writhed in her chest. She thanked the fates they were in a lab of sorts— somewhere teeming with medical equipment, but she knew better than anyone there was no guarantee. Supportive care was the best she could offer anyone, Sierin was as ready as she could be, but that intrusive thought mocked her, gnawing at her with dull teeth. Triaging five people was asking her to do the impossible. She wasn’t going to be able to save everyone if they got sick, she would need nothing short of a miracle.
oO What will be, will be. Oo
Her tricorder chimed as she handed a two pronged device to Lieutenant Storm. She kept it in one hand, monitoring Havun. In real time she was watching the man lay on the cusp of being torn apart, his very DNA on that very razor’s edge of being undone. Sierin had seen secondhand people’s very skin turning to charred ash on contact— and so far they had been lucky
Ikaixar: It’s calibrated to slow down cell death, keep the prongs pointed at Havun and hold down the button on the top.
Storm: What exactly does this do?
Havun’s eyes grew less and less focussed the more they spoke, they needed to keep his head moving.
Breys/Jovenan: Response
He was clinging desperately to Falon’s hand, as much as Sierin would love to ensure Falon would survive, she couldn’t do much of anything until she knew what had been done to her previously. A risk of disrupting something that might be keeping her alive could very well kill her.
Storm: You didn’t have to do this alone, you know.
Havun: I didn’t.
Ikaixar: I’m giving you both a shot of filgastrim— this will keep you both on your feet for a bit longer.
Sierin produced another vial from her medkit, thinking better, she grabbed for three and loaded up her hypospray again. Nodding to Storm and Havun, she administered the doses. In theory this would keep their blood flowing, keep them on their feet, she knew just how dangerous acute exposures could be. The last she needed was to be dragging their unconscious selves around. Sierin injected herself finally— hearing the hypospray hiss.
Breys/Jovenan: Response
Storm: I know you must have felt alone to do something this desperate. But why, of all people, did you turn to the Romulans?
Romulans?
Havun: They... Traded us... Schematics for the... Afalqi test drives. One of them, told me about this place.
Good— this was good— his eyes were wider, he was more alert. That’s exactly what she needed. A giddy feeling slid through that calm, as dull as the anxiety was, it was there, muted as
it was, it was euphoria. He wasn’t slumped on the ground — it was working.
Ikaixar: They… taught you how to build this? ::gesturing above Falon::
Breys/Jovenan: Response
Storm: How much of a hand did the Romulans have in all of this?
Havun: They just... Told me where to go.
Ikaixar: You’re saying they had this apparatus just sitting here, gathering dust.
Breys/Jovenan: Response
Sierin glanced and nodded again to Lieutenant Storm.
Ikaixar: I think he’ll be staying on his feet for now, I can take over the cell growth stimulation.
Breys/Jovenan/Storm: Response
Havun: I won’t try to run. ::weak smile:: D-Don’t think I could if I wanted to. But- But Falon-
Ikaixar: Do you have any way of getting her out of here? We can move her to the Artemis, we will be able to treat her there.
She made sure to speak firmly and with certainties. By the Four, it was like watching a dying flame grow duller and duller. Sierin was no counsellor, but she could offer him some kind of hope— whatever got him out of this deathtrap he had found himself in.
Breys/Jovenan/Storm: Response
Havun: Da’al, we don’t know how to treat Warst Reecras... Please. Help them. Falon, and the others.
Ikaixar: Others—? Are there others in her condition?
Breys/Jovenan/Storm: Response
Ikaixar: We’re going to do what we can to keep her alive. But we need to move. Can you walk Havun?
Radiation or no, this room had been contaminated.
Breys/Havun/Jovenan/Storm: Response
Ikaixar: Are the computers intact enough for a data transfer? We can send Fallon’s medical records to the Artemis, or at least carry it on a tricorder.
Breys/Havun/Jovenan/Storm: Response
Sierin was unused to maintaining a friendly disposition, but she tried for some reassurance, not a smile, but something warm. She desperately strived to give him some reassurance and make it look like she was in full control.
Ikaixar: We’ll help her, and we’ll help you. You have my word.
She hesitated for a moment— almost saying something, but the words died on her tongue. It was very nearly a promise she couldn’t keep.
Breys/Havun/Jovenan/Storm: Response
—
Lieutenant JG Sierin Ikaixar
Medical Officer
U.S.S. Artemis-A
G239409EK0