Procedure Day, Part 3

Posted on Thu Sep 12th, 2024 @ 3:41am by Lieutenant JG Malcolm Beckett M.D. & Civilian Alexandra Winters & Civillian Sara Winters & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Lieutenant Eirly Andersen & Lieutenant JG Thivi & Lieutenant Dr. J.R McEntyre, M.D. & Civilian Brunel Winters

1,708 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Helping Brunel
Location: The Sentinel Medical Bay
Timeline: MD 16

* * * Recovery Room [Later] * * *

Sitting in a chair besides the bed of the young Brunel Winter, J.R finished the last of the paperwork, at times glancing at the monitors to see the progress of the last of the connections still to be made by Brunel's nervous system.

He looks up, the monitors showed that the last of the connections seemed to be stable. The Caitian gets up from his seat, setting down his PADD, and picking up a small hypospray. Better time as any to wake the young man and see how he was. Slowly, he pressed the hypo to his neck, injecting him with a small stimulant.

Sara held Nash's hand as they sat near Brunel's bed, waiting for him to stir.

As soon as the medication entered his bloodstream, Brunel started to regain consciousness. The first thing he experienced, was a strong headache. As his body started to react, his vitals started to rise a bit above normal
He tried signing that the lights were too bright, but, his amulet was not nearby to observe the words.

J.R noted the rising vitals and quickly withdrew his tricorder, scanning the young man.

“Nurse Thivi” J.R called out to Thivi.

"Brunel," Sara said, jumping from her seat to his bedside. "What's he saying, his amulet isn't working. Brunel, you're okay, mom and dad are here." She placed her hand on his leg trying to stay out of the doctor's way.

“Try to relax, buddy. Try not to move around too much . Sara, try putting the amulet on his chest. I have an idea why it’s not working, but try that first,” Nash suggested.

He scooted next to Sara while also trying not to intrude on the doctors’ efforts.

“Mr. Winters, will you pass me his amulet? I will go with your recommendation.” J.R asked politely as he could as he closed his tricorder and reached for a set of drawers with various hyposprays and tools.

Winters did as J.R. requested and said, “You’re the medical expert here, but I know the technology. The amulet was attuned to his previous neurophysiological responses. Because of his new neural pathways making their way through his body, the amulet hasn’t been able to….adjust accordingly. We may have to re-synch the device to his new “matrix” if you will. The amulet doesn’t speak the same language as Brunel. Until then, communication may be a little challenging. I don’t know if anyone aboard who can understand his sign language. A PADD may be required, at least in the short term, for Brunel to talk to us.”

J.R nods, picking up his PADD, switching the interface to typing mode for Brunel and handing it to him for him to "speak".

Brunel shook his head, getting frustrated, he then covered his eyes with one hand, and pointed at the bright overhead lights with the other.

"Computer dim lights, 40%," Sara responded, darkening the room. "Alex has been learning his signs, but so has the amulet. The procedure shouldn't have gone anywhere near his language centers." Sara picked the amulet up and held it upright over Brunel's chest, so he wouldn't have to strain to make his signs within the amulet's sensor.

"Try now, honey. I'm going to work on learning more signs. I don't want to have to worry about this to talk to you. Are you okay?" Sara asked.

Once the lights were lowered, Brunel's headache lessened some. He slowly opened his eyes, seeing Sara first. He saw her holding his amulet, so he started to sign. "My head hurts, Mama. The lights were too bright. Thank you for dimming them." The young teen looked like he had gone a few rounds with a Gorn. He felt beyond exhausted.

“They can probably give you something for the pain, bubba. Don’t worry about it too much,” Nash said. He rubbed Brunel’s forehead and smoothed out his mussed hair and turned to McEntyre, who was still milling around the room. “What’s with the photosensitivity, doc? Possible side effect from the procedure? Is this something we need to be worried about?”

"I wouldn't, it's most likely from his body adapting to the rewiring. It should even out over time. In the meantime," J.R started, digging into his left lab coat pocket and pulling out a pair of old style Oakley Sunglasses, and gently places them on Brunel's face.

"You can wear these! I swiped them from my cousin Clay. He's got like 50 pairs of them, so he won't miss 'em for a while."

“How about that, Brunel? What do you say to Dr. McEntyre? As we say on Earth, you look cool, bubba,” Nash joked. His smile gleamed at J.R. and Sara.

Brunel looked over at McEntyre and signed, "Thank you, Doctor McEntyre." he then gently rubbed his temples, before signing one word. "Pain"

"Here." Thivi pressed a hypospray to his right arm. "That should clear it up shortly. You look very good in glasses, by the way." She smiled kindly. "Do you need anything else? To turn down the lights anymore, and such?"

Sara stayed close, still sitting down near Brunel's legs so she could keep a comforting arm on him.

Brunel relaxed visibly, as the medication entered his bloodstream. "Thank you, Ma'am," he signed to Thivi. He found her quite pleasant to be around and liked the gentleness that he saw in her eyes when she looked at him. "I have never had sunglasses before." He then looked down at his adopted mother and gave her a tired smile. "When can we go home, Mama?"

"Hopefully soon, sweetheart. We travelled a little bit away from Astrea, so we have to get back to the ship. And I think the doctor wants you rest here for a while, so Nurse Thivi and the doctors are close with medicine for headaches, or anything else you need," Sara said softly. "We didn't bring Alex in, because we thought you might be tired and want to sleep some more."

"Can you let her in? She makes me feel calmer, and I want her to know that I am okay."


Sara nodded and looked at Nash.

"Of course. If you'll give me a moment." Thivi glanced outside at the waiting room.

Nash winked back and acknowledged Sara’s gesture. He then knelt down to Brunel. “Ok, little man. I’ll go get her. Close your eyes, try to relax. I won’t be long, I promise,” Nash said as he kissed his forehead.

Nash followed Thivi to the waiting area, Nash found Alex slumped over in a chair next to Eirly. He whispered, “Thank you for keeping an eye on her. She really likes you and looks up to you.”

"Hey Nash," Eirly smiled as she shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, "You and Sara have raised a great kid, you should be really proud." She quite like Alex and could see her being like a little sister in a way.

Nash stirred Alexandra to wake her. “Sleepyhead, Brunel is asking for you. He’s trying to relax and he’s having a hard time. His new …. matrix or system or whatever you want to call it…. it’s giving him headaches. Try to make him feel better, huh? He really adores you. And I don’t blame him one iota. I’ll take you to him.”

Alexandra's eyes popped open. "Okay," she said jumping out of her seat eager to see him and do what she could to make him feel better. "Which way?" She asked, smoothing her hair.

Nash pointed with his right hand, twisting his wrist slightly to the left. “Around the corner, that way to the left. Now Brunel is ok, but he still doesn’t feel great. He a little sensitive to light right now. The docs think it’s just temporary. Having you in the room with him will definitely brighten his spirits.” He wrapped an arm around his daughter. “It’s like the two of you were meant to be as close as you are. You know how happy that makes me and your mom.”

"Sure, Dad," Alex said rolling her eyes.

Alex turned and walked seriously through the doors that her dad had pointed out. She found Thivi waiting for her. "Miss Alexandra? Brunel would like to see you, if you'd please?"

Alex followed Nurse Thivi to the room with her brother and mom. She stepped quietly in on her tip toes, peering around the doctor and the medical equipment to get a good look at Brunel.

"Hi," she whispered, waving hello. "Are you okay?"

As soon as Brunel saw Alex, he brightened. "Ally!" Nodding slightly, he then replied to her question. "The doctors said the operation went smoothly. My head hurts, but they are giving me medicine for that."

"That's good. I hope the medicine works," Alex said stepping closer to the bed. "Are you tired?" She asked.

He nodded, his eyelids getting heavy again. "S...sorry."

Alex stepped forward and placed her hands on the bed near his forearm. "That's okay. I think we'll be on our way home soon, but they said you'd be tired from the surgery and sleep most of the way."

Brunel nodded to his sister. He then signed, "I'm sorry, Ally...wanted to see you...but I am so very tired." He tried to keep his eyes open, but it was clear that his body was desperately trying to shut down, so it could rest and continue to recover.

"It's okay. Everyone says you should be resting. We'll have lots of time to hang out when you're feeling better," Alex assured him.

Nodding slowly, Brunel finally closed his eyes. In seconds, he was fast asleep.


~

Lt. Commander Nash Winters
Chief Engineer
USS Astrea

Lt. Commander J.R. McEntyre
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Astrea

Lieutenant Eirly Andersen
Chief Security Officer
USS Astrea

Lieutenant J.G. Thivi
Head Nurse
USS Astrea

Alex & Sara Winters & Dr. Beckett
USS Astrea
NPCS of Remy

Brunel Winters
Civilian
USS Astrea
NPC - Spello

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