Sniper Down

Posted on Fri Jun 4th, 2021 @ 7:50am by Captain David Tonelly [Reece] & Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 5: Episode 2: Operation Save Humanity
Location: USS Elysium sickbay
Timeline: MD 4 1050 hours
1691 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

The surgery was a success. Command Sthilg was able to both reconnect the isolated parts of David's mind, and save his life. Unfortunately, while his brain was healing, his body shut down to base levels. He was essentially in a coma, with no clue as to when he'd wake up.

Emily was walking along the corridor to Sickbay alongside her brother George, on their way to visit the comatose David, “So what’s Corporal Tonelly like? Have you known him long?”

George chuckled at that question. "Well..heh..I've only met him once. He, uh, had Leilani in a raised, one-handed, chokehold. I misread the situation and ended up breaking my hand when I punched him in the head. See, he said that, as an El Aurian, his bone density is three or four times stronger than ours, due to his former home world being a heavy gravity world."

“That’s very true, El Aurian’s are also completely unreadable by us and other empaths and telepaths.” Emily smiled. “So why did he have Leilani in a chokehold?”

"Apparently, they had been sparring, and after I showed up and broke my hand, she apologized, saying that she had taken things too far. David took it well, even thanked me for saving his ass during the rescue mission to Quell'ish."

“Well that’s good, it sounds like Leilani is one tough woman!” Emily grinned. “I’m going to have to get to know the people you work with, Leilani and I will be working closely together anyway with her being a medic.

Nodding, George had a thought, but stopped from asking. His sister was already doing so much for him and Leilani.

Walking through the doors into Sickbay Emily looked at her brother curiously, “What? You’re holding something back... what is it?”

I just... He transmitted, as it was easier to communicate with her over their link. I wish you could stay longer than just a year is all. But, I understand if you want to be out there, on your own adventures.

I’ll probably need to if the doctor is going to help me to be able to have children! Emily grinned. my plans aren’t set in stone

George smiled and pulled his sister into a side hug.

Baeryn was seated next to the biobed David was currently occupying. Leaning back in the chair, legs crossed as she read over another report from her assistant. She found it easier to concentrate the closer she was to David, regardless of the doctor's reassurance she would be the first he would contact should something go array. Still, she couldn't stand to be far for too long.

Seeing Baeryn, Emily smiled warmly. “Hi, I’m Emily Charles.” She picked up David’s medical chart and checked the latest readings. “Looks like David is stable, just non-responsive so far.”

Baeryn went a bit rigged when Emily picked up David’s medical chart. A territorial instinct coming to the surface she wasn’t aware she had. The woman was clearly a medical professional to be able to read the chart so easily and quickly. Clearing her throat she said,” It’s nice to meet you Emily, I’m Baeryn Whavi.” Standing she extending her hand to the woman.

Emily smiled and shook Baeryn’s hand. “I’m sorry I should have said, I’m a surgical nurse here. I arrived not too long ago.” She put the chart back down. “I’m George’s twin sister.” She motioned to her brother.

George nodded and gave Baeryn a friendly grin. "Lieutenant. I'm sorry to see David like this. I know he's a good man and an excellent Marine."

Baeryn shifted in her seat to get a better look at the siblings. It wasn’t often she saw twins, especially in the same place at the same time. Giving George a small smile and a wave she said, “An excellent marine indeed. Though my opinion may be biased.” Her auburn brows squinted together for a moment as realization dawned her expression, “Are you the fighter pilot that assisted during the Quell’ish rescue?”

George turned somber and nodded. "One of them, yes. I'm glad we were able to help in your rescue." His thoughts went to the fellow pilots that had died during the rescue operation.

Naxea entered the room, coming to a stop, seeing all of the people in Corporal Tonelly's room. She was glad to see that one of her best Marines had so much support. "How is he doing?" she asked as she moved the fingers of her bio synthetic arm--an exercise she did throughout each day to help her muscles when she wasn't in physical therapy.

Emily looked towards Naxea, she hadn’t had chance to be introduced yet but she offered an answer to the question. “He’s doing fine Colonel, he’s healing nicely but Corporal Tonelly is unfortunately still in a coma.”

"If he's still in a coma then he is not fine. I haven't seen you previously," she commented taking a few more steps into the room.

“I’m Emily Charles, George’s twin sister and the new surgical nurse.” She smiled warmly.

"A pleasure." Naxea looked to George. "Ah yes, the Prince Charming that my XO told me about that got our newest Corpsman pregnant. Thank you for that, Lieutenant."

Just at that moment Leilani arrived in Sickbay, she had been meaning to join Emily and George earlier but had been sidetracked on the way. She smiled politely as she greeted all present.

George blushed and grinned slightly. With no hesitation, he replied proudly and with love as he looked down into Leilani's eyes. "It was my pleasure and honor, Ma'am." He then cleared his throat and turned his attention back to his superior officer. "I'm glad to see you recovering so quickly, Ma'am. I regret that we weren't able to get both you and the away teams out of there sooner."

Naxea stared at the lieutenant for a moment. She knew now was not the time to speak her mind. She let out a slow breath before speaking. "Not nearly as quickly as I would like Lieutenant. I am still on administrative duty only and barely able to hold two pounds with it."

George blushed again, feeling even more so that he had ley down his fellow Marines. Even though he fought like a man possessed in orbit above the planet. It was not his place to correct the Colonel. He was starting to feel that it was a mistake that he came up here. He suddenly wished that there was a hole that he could crawl into.

“It wasn’t your fault George” Leilani smiled as she looked at her husband. “You weren’t the only one out there, you did your best and I’m sure Colonel Naxea knows that.” She looked towards Naxea.

"I'm not blaming you for anything other than getting the detachment's newest medic pregnant, Lieutenant. I know you did your best or else Commander Vaii would have booted you off the ship. I was merely stating the condition of my arm," Naxea said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Emily cleared her throat as she looked towards Naxea. “How is your recovery coming along Colonel? Any problems?” Although she wasn’t on duty at the present moment she was ever the consummate professional nurse when in Sickbay.

"As I said, it's coming along slow, but steady," Naxea replied. "But I'm here for Coporal Tonelly."

George felt some relief, both from his wife and the friendly gesture from Naxea. He was still feeling a deep pain, remembering those pilots that had been lost. He could still remember each of their final words or screams as their lives were snuffed out. The memories were starting to effect his sleeping habits.

However, now was not the time to discuss it. Tvey were here for David. Looking over at Lieutenant Whavi, he asked, "How long have you known David?"

Baeryn gave a small chuckle, "Not long, but long enough."

Whilst they were talking Leilani walked closer to David’s bedside, like Emily she couldn’t sense anything from David thanks to his dna makeup it was like he wasn’t even there. She still felt guilty for their sparring session, she hoped she’d get chance to tell him that.

"So...anyone care to explain just exactly what happened?" Naxea questioned.

Letting out a exaggerated breath Baeryn readied herself to explain, recapping the events was not easy when she could still hear David's cry of pain in her head. The sound would forever haunt her, as would the feeling of helplessness.

"We will know more when David wakes up, but Commander Sthlig found that part of David's brain had been altered, disconnected, memories locked away. It was killing him, whatever they had done to him, but the doctor is confident he was able to mend his brain. David could be a very different person when he wakes up..." Her voice trailed off as she flexed her newly repaired hand.

Leilani offered some support. “He may not be that different, time will tell.”

'Great,' Naxea thought. Her detachment was now down three Marines--herself, David, and Sgt. Charles due to her pregnancy. Normally it wouldn't be a problem but deployed aboard a ship, especially one that saw action as much as the Elysium did was a bad sign. "Any idea who altered his brain?"

“His parents maybe? I’m just speculating.... David never mentioned having a sibling until the memories started to resurface so it’s led me to believe his family had it done.” Baeryn chewed the inside of her lip as her attention shifted back to David’s sleeping form.

The question would remain unanswered, for now.


***OFF***

Sergeant Leilani Charles
Combat Medic
(PNPC Kelea-Salik)

&

Petty Officer 1st Class Emily Charles
Nurse
(PNPC Kelea-Salik)

&

Lt. Colonel Azhul Naxea
62nd Marine Detachment CO
USS Elysium

&
Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi
Chief of Operations
USS Elysium

&

Corporal David Tonelly
62nd Marine Detachment Scout Sniper
USS Elysium