[M] Doctor Saveron - All Good Things (Rahman, T'Vai, Garuda)

[Sarah Eccles]

OOC: New material in bold until the transport to the shuttle.

 

((Nygel II))

 

::Saveron and T’Vai worked in tandem to treat Rahman and DeVeau. Both patients were badly injured; the two Vulcans did what they could to stablise their injuries in the field. The instant she was stabilised however Rahman was back on her feet.::

 

RAHMAN: What about the Gateway, commander?

 

PASHT-NOS: Yes, what about the Gateway?

 

DeVEAU: ::Whispered,:: No, no, no, no, no...

 

::DeVeau’s words echoed in Saveron’s ears and echoed what they were all, no doubt, thinking in one form or another. The Orion was so large and sufficiently neurologically different that the nerve pinch had worn off very rapidly indeed. They had all assumed that he was no longer an issue; it was an unfortunate reminder that one should never assume.::

 

ROSS: Step on through, we won't stop you.

 

PASHT-NOS: I changed my mind, commander, about killing your team. ::A sadistic smile crept across his face as he aimed the weapon squarely at Harry.:: I'll start with you.

 

DeVEAU: No!

 

T'VAI: Commander!

 

::They cried out at the same moment as the Orion's trigger finger twitched — but nothing happened.::

 

::No one looked more surprised that the Orion himself.  Harry Ross looked more disappointed than anything. The Commander had faced death so many times in one day it seemed from Saveron’s point of view that he was becoming almost tired of it.::

 

::Before the Orion could decide to visit his promised destruction in a more personal manner, a high-pitched feral cry echoed down from above. Two large alien figures collided with Pasht-Nos, their shrieks mixing with the Orion's roar of fury. The trio tumbled in affray, directly toward DeVeau who stood there like a rabbit in the headlights. ::

 

::Closest to her patient, T’Vai reacted quickly. She barrelled into the science officer, tackling her to the ground and out of immediate harm's way. The furious tangle of bodies that was the Orion and his two aggressors continued on, through the Gateway.::

 

::It was more than the ancient, damaged machinery could take. A wave of energy knocked them to the ground, and the cavern's resulting trickle of gravel threatened to turn into an avalanche of rocks.::

 

RAHMAN: Oh, dear…

 

::Ross’s response was faint grin, almost what doctor’s called ‘coffin humour’. He got slowly to his feet on the second attempt. They still had the predicament of being in a collapsing cavern with a badly malfunctioning Gateway, neither of which were going to exist shortly. With their inability to contact the USS Mercury their fates seemed sealed. Then, in their moment of doom, came the voice of salvation.::

 

KELLS: =/\= Kells to Ross and away team. =/\=

 

ROSS:=/\= This… ::He grimaced, instinctively clutching at his chest. Breathing shouldn't be this hard.:: Ross. =/\=

 

::Saveron noted the grimace and pause in Ross’s voice. Clearly the man was injured, however brave a face he put on his situation. The Vulcan nodded in acknowledgement in T’Vai’s direction and approached Ross.::

 

KELLS: =/\= We've just arrived on the planet's surface in the Walter Schirra. How can we assist? =/\=

 

RAHMAN: =/\= Captain, we need an emergency beam out now to the surface! =/\=

 

::Ross nodded his gratitude, leaning on the rim of the Gateway console for support.::

 

RAHMAN: Lieutenant, grab onto someone!

 

::T’Vai grabbed hold of Alora and Saveron was caught mid-step towards Ross as the transport took hold. The world dissolved and reformed and they were inside a Federation shuttle, looking at the harsh environment of Nygel II through a thick layer of transal.::

 

(( William Schirra Interior ))

 

ROSS: ::Quietly,:: Roshanara, I... ::He winced.:: ...could use a doctor n— 

 

::Ross’s eyes rolled up into his head and he sagged, Roshanara supporting him on one side and Saveron stepped forward to catch the man’s other shoulder and lower him gently to the ground.::

 

KELLS: (lightly) Doctors, you should probably see to him, shouldn't you?

 

SAVERON: Affirmative, Captain.

 

::It was most agreeable to find the entirety of the Away Team plucked from certain death into the confines of the shuttle however much it might exhibit evidence of  hard landing. It was still vastly preferable to a collapsing cave. The Captain’s presence in the shuttle raised questions in the Vulcan’s mind, but his first priority was his patient.::

 

::Grabbing the shuttle’s medical tricorder from its first aid kit he assessed Ross’s condition with both equipment and a trained doctor’s eye.::

 

SAVERON: Doctor T’Vai, will you assist me?

 

::Ross had internal bleeding and bruising on his organs, floating ribs and numerous hairline fractures throughout his skeleton.::

 

T'VAI: ?

 

::Working together they could stabilise their injured XO more quickly and Saveron took note of T’Vai’s efficiency and obvious competency, as he had when she treated Lieutenant DeVeau. She was a valuable addition to the Mercury’s medical team.::

 

::Meanwhile Captain Kells tried to get them off the planet.

KELLS: Can we get back into the air? 

 

SHRYKER / SAHRIV: ?

 

KELLS: Good. Let's do it.

 

::As the doctors worked

 

::As they worked, a bright flash from the sky momentarily shone a stark light through the shuttlecraft’s windows. Saveron knew of no obvious immediate explanation. The computer beeped, drawing the attention of other officers.::

 

 SHRYKER / SAHRIV: ?

 

KELLS: Not the Mercury? A different ship?

 

SHRYKER / SAHRIV: ?

 

KELLS: Let's hear what they have to say. =/\= This is Kells. =/\=

 

EGAN MANNO: =/\= Kells, Captain Egan Manno, Garuda. We are prepared to beam you and your people up and your shuttle directly to our bay. =/\=

 

:: There was a long pause from Kells. As he worked to stabilise Commander Ross, Saveron pondered the nature of the call. He had been under the impression that the Mercury was the only ship permitted in the region. Perhaps dispensation had been obtained for the Garuda as it had for the Aquitania? More unexpected however was the voice on the other side of the communication; he knew it as he knew the name; Cassandra Egan Manno. A researcher through Starfleet Academy, he had worked with her on a project when he’d first joined the Academy. One had to query what exactly had led to her captaining a ship in frontier space; it seemed uncharacteristic. ::

 

KELLS: =/\= Thank you, Captain. Beam up all officers except for me and the two signals closest to me. Also, if you would leave me the shuttle, I'd appreciate it. Stand by, then, to beam up the final two signals.

 

EGAN MANNO: =/\= Captain, I-- (beat) Five minutes, Captain. Garuda, out. =/\=

 

::This time Saveron looked up, eyeing Aron Kells with a raised eyebrow. Why not beam them all out?::

 

:: Aron stood and clapped his hands for attention. ::

 

KELLS: Please listen: You're about to be beamed to a Federation rescue vessel. Dr. T'Vai, please ensure that Commander Ross's medical needs are attended to -- and the rest of the team's, as well, along with Lieutenant Shryker's. Dr. Saveron, Commander Rahman, if you'd join me please.

 

::Finished the dressing he was applying, Saveron picked up the medical tricorder and passed it to T’Vai.::

 

Saveron: Your patient, doctor.

 

T’Vai: ?

 

:: He and Roshanara moved to join Captain Kells. A moment after they'd moved the rest of the team was captured by a transporter beam, leaving only Aron, Sav, and Roshanara Rahman. ::

 

KELLS: I have only the five minutes that the Captain promised me, so I have to do this quickly.

 

:: Kells reached up to his collar which Saveron noted was devoid of pips, then quickly reached for his comm badge. He peeled it off and tossed it over to the Vulcan who caught it and closed long fingers over the flash of gold. ::

 

KELLS: Keep it. I've resigned my commission, as of this moment. I've made this decision, but there are things I want to say to both of you before I leave. 

 

:: He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Saveron could only watch his friend, waiting for an explanation that would somehow provide the logic that was missing from Aron’s last statement.::

 

KELLS: Before I abscond with Starfleet property, I suppose. (beat) Roshanara, first, to you. 

 

RAHMAN: ?

 

KELLS: I apologize for my invasions of your privacy. You deserved far more respect than I offered you, and my defense that I -- I, your all-knowing, time-traveling captain -- knew better than you how to conduct your life was, at absolute best, only disrespectful. (beat) However, I am friends with Niccolo del Vedova; we have that in common. And if there's one thing I believe is a certainty over the next decades, it's that your friendship will be true and deep. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I understand that you'll have to work through your friendship with him, but -- try. Please, do.

 

RAHMAN: ?

 

::None of that made any sense to the Vulcan, but then the message was not for him. He watched Aron, patience in his grey eyes. After a long moment their Captain and friend turned to look at him.::

 

KELLS: Sav, what can I say? I owe so many people apologies for how I've behaved on this mission, including Ross and Reynolds and so many more, but they're not here and you, both of you, can carry on those apologies -- even if it seems like a cowardly act to have you do so. No, I want to say something more to you as well. 

 

::The Vulcan’s lips drew into a thin line, but he gave Aron his full attention as the other came to stand before him.::

 

KELLS: Don't blame yourself. I know you'll say you don't, that you won't show anyone even if you do, but I'm telling you now that the actions and choices at 83 Leonis were mine and this decision, too, is mine -- and while I can't deny that the extinction of that race, that the hearing had something to do with that, it goes much deeper than that. You have been my rock, you understand that.

 

::Had he? They had not always agreed, not always seen eye to eye, but Aron had always held his deepest respect. In many ways they had balanced each other, he had been Devil’s Advocate to the necessities of his friend’s command. Aron certainly proved with his comments that he knew Saveron better than most. That much he understood. The fact that Aron was leaving? No. But he knew his friend well enough to know that it was not a decision made lightly.::

 

::There were many things that he could have asked, but only one thing that he felt warranted saying.::

 

SAVERON: Aron, it has been an honour.

 

KELLS: Then you'll understand when I say that this isn't goodbye, and that I -- in some shape, in some time -- will see you again.

 

::The Vulcan nodded just once and raised his hand, fingers splayed in the ta’al. A gesture of farewell; they down to seventeen seconds.::

 

SAVERON: I have been, and always will be, your friend.

 

RAHMAN: ?

 

::Aron had half-raised his hand as the transporter took both of them, and the inside of the shuttle and Captain Aron Kells dissolved into darkness.::

 

::A moment later the world reformed into the clean lines of the Garuda’s transporter room. Feeling his breath bubble, Saveron bent double to cough juicily. Eventually he straightened, a trickle of green blood running from the corner of his mouth and down his chin until he wiped it away on the back of his sleeve, leaving a green smear on his chin.::

 

Transporter Officer: ?

 

Saveron: We both... require the assistance of... your Sickbay. ::He panted.::

 

::Despite the richness of the Federation Standard atmosphere he found himself in need of his full lung capacity, or rather what was left of it.::

 

Rahman: ?

 

::As they were led away, Saveron opened his hand and looked down at the comm. badge nestled in his palm.::

 

Saveron: oO Find a path that is preferable for yourself, Aron. Live long, and prosper.Oo

 

TAG/TBC

 

Lieutenant Commander Saveron

Chief Medical Officer

USS Mercury