Ens. Gnai - You Seem Like You Need A Moment
Lich
((Rakantha Central Hospital, Bajor))
Ens. Chevalier had been croaking out… something, but Gnai hadn’t the foggiest what to make of it. If he was asking it for something… unfortunately there were far better people to ask for help, like the medical professionals at the hospital. Gnai’s brief stint as a medic was over.
Jovenan: J… Ensign Chevalier. How much do you remember of what happened?
There was no response as Ens. Chevalier slipped back into unconsciousness. Not being able to help with whatever it was he had tried to ask was… not a great feeling for Gnai, but he was surrounded by capable medics. They’d answer to his needs, if he had them. Right?
Lt. Jovenan seemed conflicted, her hand stuttering above his forehead like she had been trying to touch him and reach out, but had been stopped by some sort of force field. The air in the room seemed thick with regret, and Gnai felt like it would wither right up from the sheer force of the captain’s ambient disappointment.
MacKenzie: Have him transferred to the Artemis sickbay. I expect regular reports on his progress.
Jovenan: Of course, Captain.
Gnai: ::quietly:: Yes, sir.
Her steps punctuated her frustration as she left, a constant clack like the ticking of a bomb. Gnai felt itself relax a bit as she disappeared, glad that any further explosion of anger would happen somewhere else. It remained to be seen if there would be further consequences… but hadn’t they already all been through enough? Certainly Lt. Jovenan, Ens. Chevalier, and Crewman Renirs had. Perhaps being one of the last few still standing by the time they all had beamed back on the shuttle wouldn’t be looked upon favorably. Hopefully not.
As it stood there thinking, Lt. Jovenan turned to look at it. A tear had left a long line on her face that caught some of the artificial light from above as her head moved, just a flash but enough for Gnai to notice.
Jovenan: I’ll have someone get us and the shuttle back to the ship. You can go ahead, if you want, you don’t have to wait us here.
It had no idea what to say here, not after everything that had happened and then the captain coming in to set them all straight. Gnai didn’t really want to wait further, stuck in this drab hospital, but it felt… wrong to leave.
She had given it permission, though. Maybe Lt. Jovenan just wanted a moment or two alone.
Gnai: ::pause:: Okay. ::longer pause:: Get well soon, Lieutenant.
Gnai stepped back and watched as Lt. Jovenan set up her chair, like she was holding vigil next to Ens. Chevalier’s sleeping body. Still, it was torn: should it leave? Go? This had been its fault in a way - it had been the one to bring up the cave to Lt. Jovenan and take Renirs on her detour - and it didn’t want to run away now. But it also had no desire to spend a second longer here than it needed to.
It looked at the scene again, Lt. Jovenan, sitting in her chair, looking over Ens. Chevalier. It wasn’t needed here. Gnai made its way to the door, pausing just before it left as Lt. Jovenan spoke up again.
Jovenan: And Ensign… Thank you for coming. And sorry. Maybe the next time…
Her smile was that third sort of smile that Gnai had learned to read at the Academy. Not the one that it had known somewhat instinctually, bared teeth and aggression like the Overseer in the prison complex had worn. Nor the one that was pleasant - the most common smile, one that it saw every day at the Academy between friends. No, this was a third sort of smile, one that meant the exact opposite of the second kind.
Leaving was definitely the right choice.
Gnai: Thank you sir. ::quietly:: Sorry.
It left, weaving around others waiting in the hospital as it made its way to the outside. There would be a shuttle leaving for the station soon, it could catch that and take a bit of time to wander around, by itself, before it had to face up to the rest of the crew on the Artemis. They’d likely have heard by now what had happened, and how badly everything had gone. A simple tricorder training that ended in three casualties.
It wasn’t used to being alone, no Galadoran ever was. But being alone right now seemed far better than the alternative.
End scene for Gnai :)