Ensign Lera Michaels - The Man Beyond the Plexiglass

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Sickbay, Deck 6, USS Khitomer))

Lera was sitting on the biobed when the short, rather overweight human nurse approached.

oO What was her name again? Rachel something. LaGrange? No. It is LeDoux. But she's smiling this time. That's a good sign. Oo

Michaels: I am tired of laying down and I am needed in Engineering.

LeDoux: Then you will be pleased to know that Dr. Ohnari has said you are free to go.

Michaels: ::as she slid off the bed.:: Excellent.

LeDoux: She did say that if you suffer from another blackout, you are to report back to Sickbay immediately and that I am to be certain that you understand that. Do you understand that, Ensign Michaels?

Michaels: I understand. :: She pointed to the left and started walking in that direction. :: That is the way to where Lt. El'Heem is, correct.

LeDoux: Yes. :: she grabbed Lera's arm. :: No. No. No. You can't visit him.

Lera stopped and frowned at the shorter woman. Her frown shifted to a worried look.

Michaels: Why not?

LeDoux: He's in isolation because of the radiation. It's amazing that he doesn't glow in the dark.

oO How much residual radiation can he have? Oo

Michaels: Glow in the dark. It has been a long time since I heard that phrase. May I ask where you are from, Nurse LeDoux?

LeDoux: I'm from Texarkana, Texas. Do they say that on Vulcan too?

Michaels: I do not know. I am also from Texas.

LeDoux: I thought you were from Vulcan. Michaels is a human name isn't it? We were practically neighbors.

Michaels: By comparison to the distance between Earth and Vulcan, yes. But Marathon is nearly 1100 kilometers from Texarkana. Not exactly neighbors. :: beat :: Can I at least see Lt. El'Heem?

LeDoux took a deep breath.

LeDoux: I don't suppose there would be any harm to you looking at him. This way.

Lera followed LeDoux to a section of Sickbay that had a single door with a large plexiglass window. Lera could see Ras sleeping in the biobed and her heart felt like it was going to drop to her shoes. It wasn't that he looked bad. It was that he was in there at all. One arm looked shorter than the other and there was a massive bandage where his hand should have been.

LeDoux: Is he a close friend of yours, Miss Michaels?

Lera ignored the question. It would be difficult to characterise their relationship as a friendship. That had no impact on what she was feeling at the moment. Her blackout meant she could not do the job that had to be done. Had to done only because they were trying to deactivate the probe without destroying it. And that removing the gel packs had not occurred to her yet. And there was no time for much deliberation. And she probably would not have survived in any case. And that it was either one of them doing the job in the seconds remaining or watching it fire again on Khitomer and killing everyone on board and stranding them forever in the forsaken Lagoon Nebula. And and and. Ras had made the choice and saved them all. But Lera still felt bad about how he suffered as a result of that choice.

Michaels: Yes. A friend and a coworker. And I need to get back to work.

Lera tapped her communicator.

Michaels: =/\= Michaels to Commander Dewitt. I have been released from Sickbay and am on my way to Main Engineering. =/\=

Dewitt: =/\= Response =/\=

Tag/TBC?


Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2