Cryostasis Bay 1, Part 2 Continuing the Revival

Posted on Wed Mar 6th, 2024 @ 2:57am by Captain Daniel Jackson PhD & Lieutenant JG Malcolm Beckett M.D. & Ensign Charlotte Dawes & Commander Maxun Spello & Lieutenant JG Ta'Feel Anith Usskik

1,903 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Artifact or Artifiction
Location: Serenity
Timeline: MD 3, 1200 hours, After Part 1

Malcolm smiled at Malada, "My head nurse is from a race known as the Kelpians. She's been staying out of sight because she doesn't want to startle you with her appearance. But I assure you, she just wants to help. Dr. Winters here is a microbiologist. I was hoping you and your husband would provide us with some blood samples so they can get to work on a vaccine. And of course as a medical officer, we'd welcome your expertise. You know more about your people than we do."

Malada nodded. Her brain was still a little fuzzy but the pieces were slowly starting to fall into place. She spoke to her husband in their language.

Honey, linim dag vem er sayd. Si helke linim dag narteth truthais. Ji unn ta flayds*
The man nodded, and seemed to relax a little. They were able to understand the...aliens and communicate with them, but she didn't know how yet.

At first, Galvin was unsure of the strangers. However, when his wife spoke to him, he calmed and replied, Han ven tuch nevt linim dag dro harmeid er lon children, reth Si pellil sayd linm, evd laith.

"Lieutenant Thivi, it's alright. You can come over now," Dr. Beckett urged.

Dr. Ta'Feel decided Sei would remain behind until the alien couple were accustomed to Lt. J.G. Thivi 's appearance. Sei would let Lt. J.G. Thivi announce Ser presence. After all, a being that looked somewhat like a devil, with eyes that went through polychromatic shifts, might be more of a radical sight than a Kelpian.

- - - - -

Daniel Jackson had arrived while some of the medical staff eased Malada and Galvin into their revival after a long time in stasis. He didn't interrupt them, but could tell it already appeared to be going better than yesterday's report from Sickbay.

Someone handed him a PADD with the information the first two. This was the room that initially held the most working units. He nodded to himself in approval as he read over their occupations and that they were married. He searched the units nearby and saw the two children still in stasis. While it pained him, he continued down the line toward the next adults. Another married couple. the male was 28 and occupation was listed as surgeon, and female was 25 and a nurse. The female was also twenty weeks pregnant. Next to them was a 30 year old male, an engineer, and a 22 year old female a scientist in agriculture.

After searching more cryostasis bays for additional survivors yesterday and surveying the population in this room, Lieutenant Mundy's theory about the ship's computer was seeming more and more likely. Daniel took a few steps and craned his head to get Commander Lorut's attention and gestured that he'd like to talk with her.

Vila had stepped back again, to let the medical folks do their thing. She was conversing lightly with Sara Winters. The two had a bit in common, and she hoped that one day, the civilian researchers would find a footing here alongside the Fleet science department. She noticed Dr. Jackson acting strangely-which, for him, wasn't entirely out of character, frankly-and stepped to his side. "Daniel?" She asked.

"I was just noticing we have a few medical officers in this bay, agricultural scientists, engineers. The next two adults are another married couple, a surgeon and a nurse. The female is twenty weeks pregnant. I haven't heard that we've learned much about Ataran pregnancies, gestation periods. Perhaps it would be a a good idea to ask..." Daniel looked at his PADD. "Malada, about the wisdom of waking these two next or if we should wait until we're further along with the vaccines. Or at least get some information generally."

Vila nodded. "Perhaps," she said. "I can do that," she said. "My pregnancy was 21 weeks; Bajorans only gestate for five months-give or take a few days in each direction. Benny came on the dot," she replied. "Let me talk to her." She stepped back, and put her mask back on. She moved towards the woman.

"Miss...Malada, is it? I am Dr. Lorut Vila. I come from a planet called Bajor. Listen...we found a pod with a female who is decently far along in a pregnancy. How long do your people gestate for? My people carry a pregnancy for five months-21 weeks. Give or take a bit, of course, though of course, my son had to arrive exactly on the hour," she said, hoping that the mention that she was a mother would give them a bit of a shared space in which to talk. "And Dr. Winters over there? She's human. They carry a pregnancy for nine months," she said. "Could you IMAGINE?" It sounded like a nightmare to her.

Malada chuckled lightly. "That seems like a long time. They must be a fragile race," she said. "Our pregnancies typically last about 6 and a half months, it seems like it's somewhere between your race and hers," she said, indicating Sara Winters.

Vila nodded. "Indeed," she said. "That is helpful, thank you. Can you tell me more?" She asked. "My people don't experience any kind of illness, though sometimes we sneeze a lot," she said, smiling lightly. That's how she'd been "found out"-sneezed through the entirety of a briefing.

"We don't experience illness either. Though we do usually have some pain towards the end, or at least I did and other women I know," she said. "Usually in my lower back," Malada said, sitting up carefully to show Vila. It was the same place that Vila had felt her contractions, so that made sense.

"Thank you, you've been helpful. Do you think it's safe to wake up the pregnant woman? No ill effects on the baby?"

Malada thought carefully for a moment. "In theory, there should be no ill effects," she said. "Our internal makeup is similar to the Ancients'," she said.

Vila nodded. That didn't mean much to her, but it would probably mean something to Jackson. She smiled. "Thank you. I will do my best to ensure that the baby is safe," she said, turning off to go find Daniel.

"Okay, looks like we can keep going down the line then. If Dr. Beckett is comfortable moving forward over here, I can help make sure the transition over to care of Doctors McEntyre and Ta'Feel goes smoothly," Daniel offered.

Vila nodded. "Alright, Captain, I will make that happen," she said. "How's it going??" She asked. "You settling in ok? Remy says you will be departing when we reach our next destination," she said, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah, no. I don't have any reason to hang around on the Astrea any longer than I'm needed. If the Atarans are willing to talk to us about their history I imagine I'll spend some time with them. Otherwise, I'll probably head back to my research." Daniel offered a friendly smile. "I'll go relieve Dr. Beckett."

"I see," she said. That was disappointing but she DID understand. Maybe she'd try to talk to Remy. "Probably a good idea," she said. "I'll go finish up."

- - - - - - - - - -

Dr. Ta'Feel had been working alongside the members of the medical team, monitoring each Ataran as they were revived, and updating their files in a separate area of the Astrea's medical records. Sei felt now was not the time to talk about the reproductive cycle of the .Chix'alk, as each of the four family members were involved in the gestation process at one time or another.

Malada and Galvin seemed to adjust to Lieutenant Thivi and Dr. Ta'feel's presence without issue, as Dr. Beckett brought Charlotte with him to move on to the next units.

"It makes sense, they were a space faring people," Charlotte said with a shrug. "Like you said, they just expected to wake up here, with their own people."

"Aye," Malcolm agreed. "Let's hope it continues to go smooth."

"Commander Lorut," Malcolm stated in order to get Vila's attention. He smiled and held eye contact for a moment too long before stating his reason for calling to her. "I'm thinking we should speed this up a bit. Try the next four here."

Vila looked up, and smiled. "Alright, doctor," she said. She moved to the next set of four pods. "Pop it open," she instructed.

Malcolm brushed beside Vila on his way to the chamber, trying to make it look casual. "Pop it open is that the technical term we're using now?" he whispered teasingly into her ear, stealing a wink before stepping away.

A small giggle escaped from the Bajoran, but she quickly regained her cool. "Yes, Lieutenant," she said, "it is."

"Okay then, let's stagger these two groups about forty-five seconds apart, Charlie. We'll start the process on the first two together. Wait forty-five seconds, and then start the process on the next set. Understand?" Malcolm asked.

Charlotte nodded seriously. "Yes, Doctor."

The next four Atarans woke similarly to the first group, first coughing, then disorientation, but waking up in a small group seemed to help lessen the disorientation and worry.

Dr. Ta'Feel stood by, gathering information on each of the Atarans.

Vila watched carefully as their charges awoke. "Hello. Don't be afraid, you are ok," she murmured, quietly. "We're here to help," she said.

The first two started to step out of their units, holding on to the edges for support. They saw the breathing apparatus that everyone was wearing. The female gestured with her hand to her mouth and nose. "Why do you have those and we don't?" She asked. "Should we have them too?" The four had not realized that they were communicating through a universal translator and that they were talking to aliens over 2,000 years from when they went into stasis.

"These are to protect you," Dr. Beckett explained. "You've been in stasis for over 2,000 some odd years. We're waking you all up slowly because we're concerned you don't have immunity to common day pathogens.

The male grew pale and gripped the edges of the unit as if he might pass out. "2,000 years?" he whispered dryly. "These weren't meant to last that long. Is everyone alright?"

Charlotte watched quietly as the doctor continued.

Beckett shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. Most of the units were shut down some time ago. We're just starting to wake the 120 or so that we found working. We've got our own doctors and scientists here, but we're hoping that the medical officers among you might be of some help moving forward."

Four medics had appeared with antigravity chairs to take them to where the other two were cooperating with medical staff.

The first woman nodded, "My name is Mika. I'll walk." She dismissed the chair. "Come along, Dreke."

The second two started to step out. "Us then too." Steadying themselves first they looked at the chairs and assessed the short distance. "We can make it."


> > > To Part Three > > >


*Translates to: Honey, Honey, they are here to help. I think they are being truthful. Do not be afraid.
I will post the link to the translator I found on the Discord [[Dr. Ta'Feel: looking forward to seeing the link.]]

*(his translated reply): If you feel that they are no danger to the children, then I shall help them, my love.

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