Hendor...

Posted on Wed Nov 3rd, 2021 @ 4:19pm by Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Commander Sthilg & Lieutenant Vise [Sthilg] Kesahl & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: USS Elysium, Main Sickbay
Timeline: Prior to arrival at the Gorn homeworld
2109 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

{ON}

In her small office in sickbay, the ship's cyberneticist sat having set up her chair for her work. Sitting in the small box was the boy's new hearing implant ready to allow him to properly hear for the first time in his life.

George and Leilani arrived to go over the plan on tomorrow's surgery. They were both nervous, but hopeful. This was the next step to their sweet boy becoming happier with what he sees in the mirror. They never pushed the surgeries on Hendor, they loved him just as he was. However, he had shown interest and excitement in being able to see and hear more like others, so, they were supporting him and getting him the best possible medical care.

Which they both agree, is here on the Elysium.

As they entered the office, George called out, "Doctor Vise?"

" In here." Vise called from her office. " Nice to see the pair of you again. How's the little cadet doing." she said warmly

“He’s settling in nicely” Leilani smiled warmly at Vise. “To be honest he’s facing this better than I am! He’s admitted he’s a little scared, but he wants to be more like other children.”

" Well, i have everything ready for his next operation." the white-spotted trill replied as she showed them the medically sealed box. " One hearing implant and the needed implants to connect it to his temporal lobe."

“Will the surgery take long?” Leilani looked at Vise concernedly. “I’m a Medic but it still worries me knowing how much Hendor has to go through.”

" An hour at max though as he is a child I would like to take my time. If done correctly he won't need the implant corrected until he's well into his twenties. " The trill explained.

Leilani nodded. “Whatever makes it easier for Hendor in the long run, I want to give him the life he’s been dreaming of. A chance at being a normal child.”

" Well i’m ready for the young gentleman whenever he's ready." The trill replied with a warm smile.

Leilani looked at George. “Should we call Hendor? Tell him it’s time?”

George nodded. "Yes, but, I'll go get him instead." He looked over at Vise. "He was so excited this morning. And following your instructions to the letter. He hasnt eaten or drank anything since last night, at twenty-hundred hours." He stood, leaning down to give his wife a soft kiss on her cheek. "We will be right back." He then left sickbay to go get their son.

Leilani let out a nervous breath, she needed to be strong for Hendor and not show fear in-front of him.

" Hey, it will be okay. I've done this before. " The trill said reassuringly.

Leilani offered a smile. “I know, it’s just me! I worry.”

A few minutes later, George returned, carrying Henor in his arms. The boy had was laying the right side of his head against his father's neck and shoulder.

" Hello, my dear. " The trill said softly. " I'm doctor Vise and i'm going to be helping you today."

“Hey little man” Leilani walked across to Hendor gently rubbing his back. “You don’t need to hide your face in here.”

As soon as Leilani touched hm, Hendor turned and reached out to her. "Mama.. " he said in his soft voice. He had taken to calling Leilani and George, Mama and Papa almost immediately after they told him that they had officially adopted him.

George spoke to his wife via their bond. He qas having a nightmare when I woke him, Imzadi. His mnd was full of images of Green's soldiers hunting him and the other Outkasts down and hurting them.

Leilani nodded as she gently took Hendor from his father’s arms. “Hey it’s okay, no one’s going to hurt you not now, not ever. Mama and Papa will always protect you.” She gently cradled him using gentle telepathic contact to help soothe him as she hummed him a lullaby.

Slowly, Hendor started to calm down. Since he first met both George and Leilani, he instinctively felt safe with them. He was very happy that they we his parents now. "Love you, Mama," he said quietly as he snuggled in close to her.

“I love you too sweetheart” Leilani smiled as she hugged Hendor. “Would you like to get your treatment started? I promise we won’t leave you, we’ll be right here with you.”

"It won't hurt after, like last time, will it?" His voice was timid and a little scared.

“Of course not” Leilani motioned to Vise. “The Doctor here will take very good care of you, and you’d be surprised how advanced our medical treatment is. Plus you’ll be asleep for the whole thing.”

" It will be okay little squire. The ship's dragon knight has cybernetics and he never feels anything when i fix those up." the white spotted trill said ressuringly.

Hearing the doctor refer to his dragon friend, Hendor perked up a bit, lifting his head to look at the spotted woman. "You...you help the dragon feel better?"

The trill nooded. " Even the dragon knight needs his parts checked over. I can assure you i will take as much care as i do with him by helping you little one." She said reassuringly.

Hendor thought about it for a few more seconds, the shyly nodded his head. He kept his hold on Leilani the whe time. "Okay. What do I gotta do?"

" Take a seat in the chair and we just need to give you a hypospray." the doctor calmly explained.

Leilani looked at Hendor and nodded. “It doesn’t hurt, I’ll be holding your hand the whole time.”

Feeling reassured by his mother's calm voice, Hendor finally nodded. "Okay."

Gently lifting Hendor Leilani held his hand as she waited for the Trill Doctor to give him his hypospray.

Hendor looked from his mother, to his father, to the Doctor. His mouth twitched slightly. "I'm ready."

" Okay just close your eyes and breath in." The trill said as she gently injected the little human who's eye quickly closed. " Okay can you place him in the chair and i can get started. " The trill said as she went over and picked up her cybernetics implantation tool and slipped it over her hand.

Leilani gently carried Hendor to the specialised chair and placed him down. She gently released his hand looking to George as she nervously backed away. “Maybe I should stay? Wait for him?” She knew it wasn’t really a good idea for a family member to watch surgery but she felt like she’d lied to Hendor saying she wouldn’t leave him.

George gently embraced his loving wife. "Imzadi, we need to give Vise the room so she can concentrate. We will wait in the waiting room."

Leilani nodded. She gave Hendor one last look before hanging onto George’s arm as they headed out of the room. “I don’t like this feeling Imzadi, I feel like I lied to Hendor. I told him I’d be there the whole time.”

The white-spotted trill began her work as she opened up the small box with the implants. Snow teleported into to assist as she got to work. She started with a small incision to install the chip to his temporal lob which she managed with the skills of a Starfleet doctor.

Next was the installation of the hearing implant into the boy's ear canal and after that the installation of a prosthetic ear.

With that finished, the cyberneticist ran a full diagnostic on the implants to make sure they were working. With a green light, a smile spread over her face as returned her tools to the sterilizer.

Heading to the waiting room she poked her head into the room. " All done with no errors. He'll be coming round soon."

Leilani’s smile practically shone, she wanted to be there holding her son’s hand when he came round from his operation. She looked nervously at George hoping Hendor would love what he heard when he woke up.

Though he didn't seem like it, Geroge had been nervous during the surgery. When the doctor popped her head in and told them the procedure was a success, he let out a relieved sigh. "Can we go to him, so we're there when he wakes up?"

The doctor nooded. " Of course."

Nodding happily, George stood and then took Leilani's hand when she stood. Together, they followed Vise back to the pediatric recovery ward. There, they saw Hendor, still asleep, as Snow hovered closeby, checking his vitals, to ensure that all was proceeding normally as the young boy slowly started to come out of sedation.

Leilani had been so eager she’d practically tugged George along all the way back to their son’s side. As promised she was holding his small hand as he came around. “Hey...it’s all done for now.”

Hendor opened his eye slowly, a tired smile filling his face when he saw Leilani. "Mama..." he then turned to his other side, seeing George standing there, gently running his fingers through his son's short hair. "Papa..."

"Hey there, Champ!" George spoke softly, a loving expeession on his face. "How're you feeling?"

Hendor took a moment to consider the question. Then, looking back up at his father, he said, "I'm tired, Papa." Then a confused look crossed his face. Looking back at Leilani, he said, "Mama, I don't hear any different."

" It's okay little squire." The trill said as she brought up her padd. " We just need to calibrate it." With the press of a few buttons she stopped and spoke again." What about now? I've set it the lowest level."

Hendor looked at the doctor and frowned slightly as he tried to hear anything more than before. Shaking his head, he started to get upset, his bottom lip beginning to quiver. "No! It didn't work!"

Leilani gave her son a gentle smile. “Give it a few moments Hendor, it’s only set at it’s lowest level. The doctor needs to adjust it for you.”

George nodded. "Listen to Mama, Hendor," he spoke softly, trying to soothe his son as well. He looked over at Vise. He nodded his head for her to continue.

Vise moved her hand a little as she carefully calibrated everything. " It's okay little guy we just need to find the correct setting. How about now is there any change?"

Leilani looked at Hendor hoping he was getting something now, she wasn’t sure he’d accept another disappointment. “Sweetheart, can you hear me?”

Suddenly, Hendor twitched. "Mama!" He started crying happy tears. "I can hear you! I can hear you! It's like you're far away and talking in a tube, but I can hear you!!"

Leilani’s eyes lit up, She was just as excited as Hendor! “That’s wonderful sweetheart!”

George was very happy with the progress thus far. Looking to Vise, he asked, "Perhaps a few more adjustmens?"

The trill nooded as she made a few more alterations. " How about now?" She said confident it was fully working.

“Let’s try this one more time, Hendor how do I sound?” She looked at Hendor waiting to see his response.

Hendor started to cry. "You sound beautiful, Mama!!"

George sighed, feeling the emotion build up inside him as well. Their boy could hear!!

“Wait until you hear your Papa!” Leilani couldn’t help but shed a few happy tears herself as she gently hugged Hendor. “Thank you so much Vise, this means more than I can ever express!!”

" Just doing my job. IF he has any problems just let me know." The trill responded a smile on her face.

While Leilani spoke with the Vise, Hendor turned to face his father, waiting happily to hear his voice as well.

George slowly knelt down to Hendor’s level and after gently caressing his little face, said, "My sweet, sweet boy! I am so very proud of you and your courage, and so very very happy for you. I love you, son."

Hendor released Leilani and turned to lock his arms around George’s neck. "I love you too, Papa!!"

George gathered his son up in his arms and stood, hlding him against his chest. "And this is only the beginning of your journey, my son. Your mother and I love you so very much!"

Vise still had a smile on her face as she watched the family leave. Another happy patient.

{OFF}