Checking In on a pilot

Posted on Mon Dec 12th, 2022 @ 8:05pm by Staff Sergeant Leilani Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Captain Samuel Woolheater & Captain George Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: DECK THIRTY-TWO
Timeline: MD03 - 0300
1382 words - 2.8 OF Standard Post Measure

[ON:]

Captain Woolheater walked through the medical recovery ward. Towards the end, in a more isolated section, he saw Captain Charles. There was a medic here attending to him and about a dozen others. "Can I see Captain Charles please?"

"Yes, but keep it brief," the young Bolian nurse replied. He's not completely out of the reef yet and needs as much rest as possible.

"I'll keep it brief. Thank you" Sam replied.

It was so strange to see patients here being attended to with so little technology. No biobed, makeshift beds only. And Captain George Charles was on a gurney. There were only battery powered devices here. It looked like a field hospital. For the moment; it was. The marine pilot was resting. There were no charts to read, Samuel could tell just by looking at him that he was in bad shape. Sam approached the patient. He looked pretty beat up. Woolheater knew that the man couldn't fly right now. He abandoned that idea before he even asked.

Sam pulled a chair next to the gurney and sat down. It looked like he had been severely tossed about. Their quarters on deck thirty-three were gone. Sam had heard about the pilot's son, Hendor, who was on pins and needles to see his dad. He hated to wake him, but he needed information.

"Captain George Charles? You look like hell man. I bet you feel like hell too right now? I know you're not feeling well. I know you're medicated. And I know these are not ideal circumstances. Regrettably, the present situation leaves with few options sir." Sam paused as the man wasn't there...still very medicated as he should be. "We're doing everything we can to get you some more help. I just want you to know that you're not forgotten. I'm working on it."

It took a few beats, but George finally opened his eyes, though he was clearly heavily drugged. "Who...?"

Sam said, "We've never met before; I've seen you at some of the staff meetings and at the mess but nothing formal. My name is Sam Woolheater. We got you and your son Hendor off of deck thirty-three."

Hearing Hendor's name, George tried to move, but found that he couldn't. He had been tied to the gurney, in an attempt to lessen his injuries. "My...my son!! Where...?"

"Easy...easy does it. He's just a few steps away. I'm just making sure you can see him and you're awake. I don't want to scare your son by having you unconscious. If you feel up to it, I have someone nearby who very much wants to check in with you."

Georges's eyes misted over as he tried to reach out to hear his little boy's mind. Unfortunately, with the medication coursing through his system, he could barely hear his own thoughts. "Yes..."

Sam nodded, it would have been nigh impossible to keep the youngster away. Sam smiled, "OK, I'll just get him." Sam disappeared from sight and stepped a few meters away to get Hendor. He said to the lad, "OK, remember, your Dad just had surgery. He's tired and sore. Just a little visit OK? Just to show him you're OK." Sam led him closer to his injured father.

Hendor was nervous. He had never known his Papa to be anything but strong. To see him like this, on his belly, with massive bandages covering his entire back "Papa!" He rushed over and hugged his father's neck.

"Careful...Bubba.." George gasped as pain shot through his body.

Hendor let go and looked like he was about to cry "I'm sorry, Papa! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

George took a breath, then looked at his little boy. "Hold my hand, Hendor." He slowly wiggled the fingers of his right hand.

Hendor did so without question, even lowering his little face down to the open hand of his father, so he could feel the soft touch on his cheek.

"It's...it's gonna be okay..." George did his best to comfort his son, though he was starting to feel sleepy. "Captain...Captain Woolheater wanted...wanted to talk to me, Bubba." He gently rubbed his son's right cheek as he looked over at Woolheater.

Sam felt guilty now, breaking into their family time. "Yes, you have information I need. I hate to bother you but I need to know what I'm up against. We can't get below deck thirty-three. The damage to the ship is too extensive. Decks 34 to 37 we have no communication and no way to check in on them. How many crew would you take a guess at would have been on those decks at 0200?" Sam asked.

George closed his eyes as he tried to comprehend the barrage of questions and information. After a few beats, he opened his eyes and replied as lucidly as he could. "The...the drop bays don't...have any con...controls to open...open from the outside." He paused took a breath.

"There...there's an...an access hatch...just aft..." he had to pause again to take a breath. "Just aft of the drop bays. If there’s....power to it...the code is, Seven-Three-Three- Niner-Alpha-Six. That'll....that'll get you in....inside." He took a few more steadying breaths. "This time of night....Gamma Flight...forty...forty officers and crew...on duty."

Emily walked over. “I’m sorry but that’s enough questions for now, George needs to rest.”

~Forty!~ Sam thought to himself. "OK, thank you Captain Charles. Get some rest, I won't bother you again. Get well soon." Sam nodded to Emily and said, "Let the kid stay a bit longer ay? Another minute or two?" Sam remembered the note, "Oh, I almost forgot. A note from his wife? Was given to a marine to give to him. Will you..." he handed the note to her.

“Of course I will” Emily was glad to have something she could tell both George and Hendor, to reassure them both. “Good luck Captain, be careful.”

Sam nodded, "I'm doing he best I can to find a doctor. I heard there was a trauma doc on the way. I'm sorry, he should have been here by now. Probably got nabbed along the way. As soon as some of my guys come back I'll send out a search party."

Taking a seat with Hendor on her knee Emily unfolded the note. “George, Hendor, there’s a note from Leilani, from mama.” She offered Hendor a comforting smile. “She says she’s on the bridge, that she’s okay, and she doesn’t want you to worry. She also says she loves and misses you both very much!”

Even with the few meds on board to help him with the pain, George smiled slightly as his forehead started to perspire from the growing pain pushing back against the meds. "Imzadi...." he sighed.

Hendor didn't notice the new distress from his father. His face had already brightened with word from his mother. "Mama!! She's okay, Auntie Emm?!"

Emily nodded. “Yes, she’s fine Hendor.” She hugged him happily, keeping him distracted from the sight of George being in pain again. “I’ll tell you what you go take this note, put it in the drawer in the nurse’s office I use that’s right over there..” she pointed to a nearby open door. “It’ll keep it safe.”

The little boy seemed to swell with happiness. Nodding excitedly, he hopped down and scurried over to where his aunt had indicated. It was clear that he had a renewed energy to his being. It was one of the beautiful things about children, especially young ones. They had an uncanny knack of bouncing back from a trauma, especially when they felt safe and protected.

Emily waited until Hendor headed away before grabbing more pain relief for her brother. “I’m sorry I can only give you a part dose of this, I have to ration what supplies we’ve got.” She pressed it to his neck. “Rest now George, I’ll look after Hendor.”

As soon as the meds entered his system, George’s mind started to quiet, as he slipped back under.

“Sleep now” Emily gently kissed George’s cheek. “I’ll be right here with you.”

{OFF}