Healing Broken Wings

Posted on Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 @ 10:27am by Captain George Charles [Reece] & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik}

Mission: Season 6: Episode 4: Memory Lane
Location: USS Elysium, Physical Therapy Exercise Room 3
Timeline: MD 7 / 1034 Hours
2126 words - 4.3 OF Standard Post Measure

"....ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine....one hundred!" Charles called out triumphantly, as he finished the push-ups part of his current work-out program in physical therapy. He had been working very hard, since he was cleared to do so, to get back in fighting, and flying, shape.

Sitting up on his knees, he grabbed the offered towel and wiped the sweat that was pouring down his face. "Thanks, Emm."

Emily smiled as she walked over to where a cold glass of water was waiting. Picking it up, she brought it across to George. "You're doing brilliantly George, but I don't want you overdoing it okay? You're still healing, plus you've got your new little one to enjoy. Don't rush to get back into work or you might just end up regretting it."

Taking the glass of water from his sister, George took a healthy slug, then thanked her. "I know, Emm. I know. Both of my babies are the whole galaxy for me, as is Leilani. However, I am a fighter pilot. One that is trying to earn back his wings."

Emily nodded. “I know you are” She pulled out her tricorder and ran a scan. “You’re healing beautifully, but after your surgery...” she put down the tricorder a ghostly look on her face as she remembered the drastic spinal surgery she had to perform on George.

Feeling the dread run through her, George reached over and took his sister's hands into his. Don't go back there, Emm. We made it through. You were there to help me, just like I've always been there to help you. Let's focus on the road forward., okay?

Emily nodded as she looked at George, he always did have a way of helping her fears subside. “Did you see...” she gazed down at the engagement ring on her finger. “Zac asked me to marry him!”

He grinned. "I didn't have to see it, Emm. I could feel it pouring out of you." He stood and embraced his twin sister in a loving hug. "I'm so happy for you, Emm!!" Then he pulled back slightly, to look her in the eye, a questioning look on his face. "What about Harper?" He had picked up on a few of her stray thoughts when they embraced.

“Ohh...” Emily paused. “Zac took me out to dinner, only Harper was there. It was a pretty frosty reception! I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me George. I know I hurt her, I didn’t intend to...” she sighed.

Pulling his sister back into a brotherly hug, George transmitted several calming images into her mind. Among them, the whales that they used to watch in Hawai'i. "It'll be okay, Emm. Breakups can be hard. Just give her time."

Emily nodded, the images of the whales always had a calming effect for her. "George, I want to learn more about controlling my abilities. Now I've got Zac, I don't want to risk accidentally hurting him, if I'm to truly bond with him as we Betazoids do then I want to be sure it won't harm him."

George nodded. He could feel the earnestness of his sister's request. "I'll teach you what I can, but remember, I'm still learning too. It has helped me that Leilani is full Betazoid as well." He paused, then considered something. "Would you feel more comfortable talking with her about it? After all, it'll be to help you be intimate with another man," he smirked. "And as your brother, while I love you immensely, I don't want to think about some guy....plowing my sister." He chuckled at the crude joke.

Emily couldn’t help but giggle. “I guess you’re right there, maybe I should talk to Alicia instead. She is the ship’s Counsellor and a Betazoid. However, right now I want us to concentrate on you, you’re the one who wants to get flight ready.”

George grinned, relieved that the subject had changed from his little sister's sex life. "Sounds good. So, what's next on the torture chart for me?" He joked, knowing that he had to do and pass all these tests in order to be fully reinstated as a combat pilot.

“The next test is going to require use of the holodeck, it’s the gravity test.” Emily gave George a concerned look. “We need to see what level of g-forces you can withstand, in order to fly you’re going to need to withstand the normal level of g-force that you do when in battle.”

George nodded. It was one of the tests that he wasn't looking forward to. Though, he knew it had to be done, and he had to pass it with practically a flawless score if he ever wanted to get back in the cockpit of a starfighter again. "I'll go get my g-suit on and meet you at the holodeck. Which one?"

“Oh sorry!” Emily grinned. “Holodeck One, I managed to book a slot for us.” She smiled. “I’ll see you there when you’re ready.”

~ Holodeck One, a few mins later ~

Emily stood waiting for George’s arrival, she had to admit she was nervous about this test, it was the one test that would truly test George’s back. She knew what it meant to him, but she wasn’t willing to risk his health.

A few moments later, George came around the corner, wearing his flight suit and carrying his helmet under his left arm. In tow, a familiar Ferengi came scurrying along.

"Now you listen Mister," Tink scolded her friend semi-playfully. "If you feel that you can't take the gee's, then you stop the test. You'll be no good to anyone if you end up crippling yourself permanently!"

George grinned softly at his REO and friend. "I know, Tink, I know!" As he finished speaking, the pair reached Emily.

"Hey, Emily," Tink greeted George's sister cheerfully. "Maybe you can convince this big doofus." She crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her tongue out at George.

Emily smiled at Tink, before looking at her brother. “You know what’s at stake here George, but don’t push yourself past what you can withstand. If you do then the chances are you’ll do yourself a permanent injury, and I know you don’t want that.”

George raised his hands in surrender. "Alright! Alright! Aheesh! A smart man knows when he's outgunned. I suppose I should be lucky the Leilani isn't here, or I would've been surrounded!"

"Well," Tink replied with an evil grin. "We could call her down here. Make sure you behave." She looked over at Emily. "What do you think, Emily? Should we?"

Emily smiled, but shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. She’s worried enough about this without making her sit and watch it. Besides she has her hands full with work and children.” She gave George a warm smile. “Besides George knows what’s at stake here.”

Her brother nodded in agreement. He then put his helmet on and locked it to his flight suit. "Well, let's get this show on the road." He turned and stepped into the holodeck and found an exact copy of his Raptor, sitting in a holographic launch bay. Climbing into the cockpit, he started to power everything up. "Am I doing any combat, or just flying around?"

“The holodeck is programmed with a training simulation for you, the usual combat flight that the cadets use. Nothing to rigorous, I don’t want to push you too hard on your first flight out.” Emily offered. “If you do okay on this then we’ll progress to the next level.”

George nodded as he listened. Climbing up into the cockpit, he had to go slow, as it had been a while since he had done so. Once in, however, he let out a sigh of relief. "That feels right!" He said softly.

“I’ll be monitoring your vitals” Emily’s voice came over the comms. “When you’re ready the computer will begin.”

George nodded as he listened to his sister. Then, after taking a few breaths, he took hold of the control stick, and activated the simulated engines. He let them spool up a bit, then activated the landing thrusters.

Emily was watching the medical readouts, ever the worried sister as she spoke. "Don't push yourself George, just take it easy."

Nodding from inside the cockpit, George was slipping back into his training and muscle memory. Once the simulated starfighter was aloft, he hit the switch to retract and stow the landing gear. "Okay....let's get this show on the road." He increased the thrust and started to pull back on the control yolk, pointing the nose of his craft skyward.

As he gained altitude, the computer simulated more and more g-force on his body. So far, he was handling the added pressure well within acceptable tolerances. "Climbing to 20,000 feet, speed 250 knots."

“Readings looking good so far” Emily smiled as she looked towards Tink. “How are you feeling George?”

Tink grinned and nodded at Emily, then looked back at the scans of George's bio-readouts. She silently recited a few prayers to the Holy Accountant, promising to pay handsomely, if her best friend would recover fully.

Inside the simulation, George was sweating slightly. There was some discomfort in his back, but he kept going. "I'm okay..." he replied quickly, as he tried to concentrate on the simulation. "Continuing on to 40,000 feet. Will make...will make orbit in...thirty seconds, current heading and speed."

Emily was picking up on George’s discomfort, her empathic senses and her bond to her brother overriding the need for a readout. “Don’t push it George, making it this far is excellent, you don’t want to set your recovery back.”

Realizing that she was right, George leveled out his assent, remaining g in the upper atmosphere of the simulated planet. "Okay. Maybe I'll do some maneuvers here." He then began to preform a few easy rolls, banks, flips, he even did a corkscrew.

All through it, the discomfort continued to grow, until it was straight up pain. By the time the simulation ended, he was drenched in sweat and having some difficulty moving normally.

Emily cursed, Although the simulation had gone well, readings were showing inflammation due to George aggravating his back. “Ohh George!” She pulled out a hypo as she approached him gently pressing it to his neck. “I told you...” she stopped short of scolding him. “This will help with the discomfort.”

Once the injection was administered, he nodded, accepting the anger he was feeling from her. "I know, I know. It took more out of me than I expected." Once the medication started to ease the pain, he was able to straighten up more. "I think that's it for today. I'm gonna head home, shower, then rest. I promise."

Emily nodded. “You do that, but for what it’s worth, I think you did great!” She kissed George on the cheek before stepping back. “This was a good first test.”

Despite the exhaustion, George beamed at his sister's praise. "I do aim to please." He chuckled, then slowly started making his way home.

Once he was gone, Tink looked at Emily. "Did he really do well? Do you think he'll ever get back into a real cockpit again?" The concern for her friend was plastered all over her face.

Emily offered a concerned look. “George did well to a point, I’m just worried that he isn’t healing as fast as he wants to. His urge to get back out there flying could lead to frustration and anger if he can’t do so soon.”

Tink nodded in understanding. "You know George. Once he has his eyes set on something, it's near impossible to sway him." She shook her head sadly. "Perhaps we should let Leilani know? She might have a better shot of cooling him off?"

Emily nodded. “That’s a good idea Tink, though if I know Leilani she’ll sense something is up way before I get a chance to talk to her.” She offered a smile. “For now my recommendation is for keeping George off the active list.”

The young Ferengi nodded in agreement. "He won't like it, but he will accept it." Then she playfully snarled at Emily. "And if he doesn't, I'll bite him!" She then chuckled humorously at her little joke.

Emily couldn’t help but giggle at that. “Ohh don’t you worry, Leilani will have George eating out of her hand!” She grinned. “He wouldn’t dare argue with her.”

Tink laughed with Emily, then both women left, going their separate directions.

~OFF~

 

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