Lt. Nathan Richards - Those We Save, And Those We Can't...
iamhighgroundyt
((Sickbay, Deck 7, USS Artemis-A))
Nathan stood at the end of Robin’s biobed, his eyes locked on the shard of shrapnel that was still embedded in her chest. His stomach churned as he continued to stare at the dried blood along the leading edge of the metal, his thoughts jumping from what if to what if as the relative chaos of Sickbay was at a low murmur around him. The glint from a PADD screen caught his attention, bringing him back to reality as Genkos looked over the PADD that was handed to him by Kraal.
Kraal: That’s the situation, Commander. I’ve stabilized her as well as I could, but she’s still deteriorating. The shard needs to come out, but it’s going to be a complicated procedure.
Nathan stared at the back of the PADD as Kraal explained. His mind was exhausted from everything that had happened, and his body was sore from the nanoprobe intrusion and the multi-deck fall that he had taken earlier. The Epinephrine was finally working its way out of his system too, which didn’t help.
Adea: Thank you Kraal - is there anything else?
Richards: There has to be more, right?
He turned to look at the Catian, pursing his lips and furrowing his brow.
Kraal: There’s one bit of good news. I didn’t realize until I ran a genomic analysis, but she’s half-human and half-Centauran. That might have saved her life.
Adea: ::muttering:: Her hearts not on the left… thank the Four. ::after shaking his head and briefly casting his eyes to the heavens:: Kraal, take a drink and take five. But then, if you’re able, I’ll need you to keep triaging.
Nathan let out a sigh. oO Thank goodness for Centauran physiology. Oo
Richards: So, there is a chance she will be okay.
Nathan spoke to no one in particular, merely stating his thoughts aloud. There was a chance that she would be okay. He had to hold onto that and keep away the “what-ifs”.
Kraal: ::To Adea:: Best of luck, Sir… ::To Richards:: She’s awake, but talking isn’t easy.
Nathan looked up at Kraal, offering a very slight nod.
Adea: You can talk to her for a minute, no more.
The man’s voice was sharp, understandably so. Nathan knew he wasn’t in the Doctor’s good graces. The fact he was letting Nathan have the chance to talk to Robin was a god send in itself. He looked over at Genkos, giving him a slight nod as well.
Richards: Yes, sir.
He turned to move to the side of Robin’s biobed, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head to look back at Genkos as he spoke.
Adea: And we’ll need to discuss correct hypospray etiquette at some point before you depart, Lieutenant.
Nathan chuckled slightly. He knew the man wasn’t being funny. But Nathan couldn’t help it. There was a certain humor to the situation.
Richards: Right.
He moved up the right side of Robin’s biobed, being carful to stay as far away from the shard of metal as he could. He took Robin’s hand into his, brushing some of her hair out of her face.
Hopper: Response
Nathan sat down on a stool that was conveniently placed nearby, giving Robin a smile that he hoped she could see through all of the pain and medication.
Nathan: ::Half-hearted chuckle:: You look great.
Hopper: Response
Richards: ::Chuckling:: You’re right, sorry. You look like shit.
Hopper: Response
Nathan gave her hand a squeeze.
Richards: You hang in there. Okay?
Hopper: Response
Adea: Richards, you have to go. And Hopper, before we start, do you have any questions?
Nathan nodded to Genkos once more before looking back to Robin. He leaned in and gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead before whispering to her.
Richards: ::Whispered:: I love you.
Hopper: Response
Nathan turned and reluctantly moved away from the biobed. He did he best not to look back as he made his way through the carnage of the sickbay and back out into the hallway. He needed to clear his head. He needed to address something else that was bothering him. The vision of the young JG that he had left laying in the hallway back on Deck 5. He tried his best to remember what her name was, only coming up with a last name. O’Connell.
((Crew Quarters, Deck 03, USS Artemis-A))
Nathan found himself on deck 3, looking at each of the doors in search of the name O’Connell. He didn’t seem to be having any luck when he came across an open door. He looked inside to see a figure standing at the desk, placing things into a crate. Talos. The other man didn’t seem to notice him approaching, so Nathan knocked on the door frame to announce his presence.
Richards: Uh…mind if I come in, Commander?
Dakora: Response
Nathan entered the room cautiously, looking around. The life of a Starfleet Officer contained within those walls. A life that he had taken. He slowly moved up next to Talos, looking at the objects on the desk and the crate that Talos had been packing them into.
Richards: Sarah O’Connell…
Nathan picked up a holoimage of the JG and, who Nathan assumed were her parents. He felt the obligation to get ahold of them and tell them what had happened. To tell them he was sorry. To tell them…He didn’t know what. Just something.
Talos: Response
Richards: I’m…I’m sorry. Sir.
Talos: Response
TAGS/TBC…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lieutenant Nathan Richards
Chief of Operations
Amity Outpost
A239905NR1