Can We Move Him...

Posted on Tue Oct 26th, 2021 @ 6:30am by Lieutenant Baeryn Whavi-Tonelly & Commander Sthilg & Captain David Tonelly [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Battle Bridge
Timeline: MD 7, 2315 hours (local)
1943 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure

The crisis was winding down, the wounded were being tended to, the dead had been placed in storage on the morgue. The only wounded crewmember yet to be seen in sickbay, was Corporal David Tonelly. He had recieved serious wounds during the battle. However, the reason he had yet to go to sickbay was because his body had created a cocoon, completely encasing him. And there was a reason why his cocoon had yet to be moved.

It was attached to the console in the Battle Bridge!

Sthilg clicked his tongue against the side of his mouth as he thought of what the best course would be. This was certainly an unusual situation. Pulling the flask from his belt he poured himself a big coffe. He was tired after this long day, but he still had a job to do. " How long has he been like this?" He calmly asked Baeryn.

Baeryn stood watching David's cocoon with worry. "A few hours... There was no warning or time to get him somewhere save before it started."

" Do you know if the cacoon can repair itssself if we have to remove the consssole he's laying on?" The lizard asked as his hand switched to scanner mode.

“Honestly doc I’m at a loss. I’ve only seen this happen once and he was like this for a week. Eventually his entire body will… decompose inside and rebuild itself. If that’s what this is…. Do you think we could use a transporter to move him to sickbay?” Baeryn asked.

At that moment, the cocoon vibrated slightly. Then slowly, the tendrils attached to the console started to evaporate, followed slowly by the cocoon itself.

Sthilg rushed forward and caught what was left of the cacoon as he gently laid it on the floor. " Well, that'sss help'd usss a lot. Bring in the ssstretcher and let'sss get him down to sssickbay."

Baeryns jaw dropped for a moment before terror raked through her that something was wrong. "This...this didn't happen last time."

Before the stretcher could be positioned, the rest of the cocoon evaporated, leaving David laying on the cold deck, completely nude, the rest of his destroyed uniform and gear a solid block of waste down at his feet. For several seconds he made no move, not even to breath. Then, his eyes popped open and he inhaled deeply, only to collapse into a heavy coughing fit.

Baeryn immediately pulled her uniform top off over her head and covered David the best she could. Relief filled her at the site of his newly formed skin.

" Easssy." The big gorn said as he knelt down and ran a scan. " Get me a drink of water he need'sss something to clear his throat," he said calmly.

Reluctantly Baeryn stood and rushed to the replicator for the glass of water. When she returned she held the back of David's head with one hand and pressed the glass to his lips tilting it slightly. "Here David, drink this."

Hearing Baeryn's sweet voice started to calm David. Slowly, he started to sip the water. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. He then started to shiver.

The gorn drew a foil blanket from his body and wrapped it around David as the stretcher arrived. " Can you ssstand?" the gorn asked.

David nodded his head slowly as he gripped the blanket around himself. "J-just...need a beat..." he spoke slowly. "Been...been a long...long time since...since I had a rejuve cycle like that." He tried to slow his breathing. "Takes a lot...outta me."

Carfuly the gorn helped him onto the strecher and indicated for him to lay still. " Let'sss get you to medbay." he said ressuringly.

Baeryn held David's hand tightly as he was moved to the stretcher. "No more sentences, focus on your breathing David."

Giving the woman he loved a weak smile, he held her as strongly as he could, though it felt like her grip was stronger at the moment.

Carefully the gorn moved the recovered crewmemeber towards the medical bay typing in an order on his wrist coms as he did so." It'sss going to be okay David." He said as they arrived and he moved him to one of the biobeds. " Breath in whilst we move you." He said as he and his team prepared to move him from the strecher.

David nodded and did as instructed."

" Three, two, one.." the gorn counted down as his team carefully moved him onto the bed. " Well young man you're quite a mess. Let's take a proper look at you. " the gorn said firing up his sensors.

Baeryn looked to the screens that displayed David's readings even though she was clueless as to what she was looking at. Her grip on his hand tightened.

" Let'sss get him sssedated and prepared. It'sss going to be all right David. We jussst need to fix you up." The gorn said camly.

David simply laid there quietly and nodded. He had finally stopped shivering. "Whatever you say, Doc." He glanced up at Baeryn briefly, then back at Sthilg. "Hey, Doc, later, when I ask you to reapply my tattoo, I don't need the burn or bullet scars anymore. I don't need them anymore." He looked back up at Baeryn, love clearly on his eyes.

The gorn nooded as he picked up a face mask whish he carefully slid over David's head. " Jussst count back from twenty all right and we'll get you fixed up."

David nodded as he did as instructed. By the time he had counted down three numbers, he was out cold, his grip on Baeryn's hand going limp.

" Okay let'sss get him into sssurgery and get him fixed up." The gorn said to his team as he looked over at Baeryn. " He'sss going to be fine my dear."

Baeryn had yet to release David's hand. Thus far she had kept her emotions in check surprisingly well. It was only a matter of time before the damn overflowed. Tight lipped she drew her gaze from David up to the gorn. Inhaling through her nose she nodded and gently set David's hand down and stepped back.

The gorn gave her a nod as his team got to work. " He'll be okay my dear." He said heading for the changing room to change into his surgical garb.

Baeryn sucked in a breath, not releasing it easily.

It was a very short surgery needed to fix him up and within half an hour David was being wheeled out. " He'sss going to be fine my dear. I'll keep him here for tonight, but he ssshould be able to go home by tomorrow," he said to Baeryn.

Baeryn went to David's side, immediately taking his hand in hers. The hybrid didn't know how much more her heart could take, how many times was she going to have to face almost losing David? Keeping her eyes on David, Baeryn directed her question to the gorn. "Can I stay with him tonight?"

The gorn nodded." Off courssse my dear. Would you like usss to get you sssome pillowsss and coversss?"

Shaking her head no Baeryn took deep inhale, "I doubt sleep will find me."

The gorn gave her a reassuring shoulder grip. " Than you'll be here when he wakesss up," he said calmly.

===A short while later===

David slowly opened his eyes. He saw sickbay. Then, as he looked around, he saw Baeryn, fast asleep, crissed arms and head on his lap. Seeing her brought a smile to jis face. He carefully lifted his left hand and gently rubbed her head as he continued to watch her.

Baeryn released a soft sigh in her sleep at David’s touch. She had been awake most of the night reading reports of the list of damages done and what it would take to repair it all. Where to station her crew and… unfortunately review the casualties list. She slowly blinked open both of her eyes and found David’s open. Seeing him awake made her smile. “Hi.” She said, voice still rough with sleep.

"Hey, beautiful." He replied softly. "I love you."

“I love you.” She replied, still reluctant to sit up for fear she would find she was only dreaming. She believed the doctor when he told her David would be alright, but there was still a part of her that worried.

"Hey, " David said, sensing her unease. "I'm okay. It'll take a hell of a lot more than that to free you from me," he joked, trying to get her to smile.

Baeryn didn't respond. Partly because she had a hard time believing what David said. Despair followed her, he just refused to see it. She blamed herself for his injuries, she should have done more, acted faster, something...

While he couldn't actually read her mind, David's natural gifts did tell him that she was still feeling very conflicted. He pursed his lips slightly and took in a deep breath. Finally, he said, "If you don't stop not believing me and the things I tell you, I will be forced to make love to you, right here in sickbay."

Baeryn chuckled, "I don't know if you've noticed but there happens to be a rather large Gorn who runs sick bay and I do not believe he would approve of such acts taking part in his department."

"I don't know, let's ask him," David looked over to where Sthilg was working at his desk, opened his mouth and inhaled to start speaking.

"If you value your long life you will not utter another word corporal." Baeryn gave David a daring glare before she nervously glanced towards the doctor worried he might hear their conversation.

David paused for several beats, mouth open, mid begging to speak. Then, the corners of his mouth curled up in a grin as he turned to look fully at Baeryn. Reaching up, he gently caressed the right side of her face. "Baer," he said softly, "Did you really think I would embarrass you like that?" There was humor and love in his eyes as he spoke to her.

Eyes wide she repsonded, "Yes David, I whole heartedly believe you would." Baeryn laughed then asked, "How are you feeling?"

He gave her a playfully pained look, then winked and replied. "I'm ready to go home and crawl into bed with you. Can we do that?"

"Let me go ask." Baeryn stood, kissed David on the cheek then walked off towards the doctor. "Hey Sthilg," She hoped she wasn't interrupting him.

" Yesss my dear." Said the old gorn who had overheard everything.

"What do ya say, can I take him home?" She asked hopefully.

The lizard reptilians held up the neck scanner which was such a common sight on a fedration ship. " Have him wear thisss and i want a beer and a tray of muffinsss." the lizard stated with a grin on his face.

Baeryn chuckled but gave the gorn a beaming smile, "Beer and muffins... got it." She accepted the neck scanner and turned to return to David but halted her steps, "Thank you Sthilg, for all that you do."

" Jussst doing my job my dear. Now go on be with the man you love." The old reptile replied.

When the hybrid returned to her love she wore a grim expression, "Well it looks like your going to be here for awhile..." She tried to hold to stoic expression but her smile slipped through.

David first gave Baeryn a scrutinizing look. Then, when she broke, he smiled. "You keep being naughty, I will have to punish you." He chuckled and added, "Let's go home."

END