Awakening

Posted on Thu Jan 2nd, 2020 @ 3:21am by Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Senior Chief Petty Officer Fernando De La Rosa [Taylor]

Mission: Casperia Prime - A lesson in relaxation
Location: Sickbay
979 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Heather slowly started to stir, opening her eyes she immediately looked around for Fernando knowing if he was near she was safe. She tried to sit herself up but it made her head spin and her stomach churn so she lay back down again. She had a vague memory of a woman but she couldn't place who she was, but she did know she was in Sickbay. "Fernando..." She held out her hand for him.

Sitting with Tallia, Fernando heard Heather weakly call his name. Getting up he went to her side. "I am here Heather. Lie still and rest. You had quite an ordeal and must rebuild your strength." He said even he took her hand in his.

Heather offered a weak smile as she looked at Fernando. Before looking at the woman, "Who...are you?"

"I'm your doctor, my name's Tallia Strode, you're aboard the USS Elysium." Tallia began, "Chief De La Rosa saved your life."

Heather nodded her understanding. "I'm not...sensing anything." She raised her free hand to her head. "You're both...blank to me."

Fernando looked over to Tallia, he didn't know how to reply or what to say. She was the doctor maybe she had an explanation for why Heather could not sense them.

"I...I'm half Betazoid, I should be able to sense something!" Heather wasn't used to being without her abilities, she looked at Fernando her grip tightening on his hand although not hard enough to be painful. "I...I'm Sergeant Heather Raines from the USS Wildcat, I...have to speak to your Captain!"

Fernando didn't pull away. He sensed Heather needed an anchor and he was it. "The Wildcat?" He repeated. "Where's the rest of your crew Heather?" He asked gently.

"I...don't know!" She paused. "The ship was attacked, no provocation it came...out of nowhere! The Captain was killed...we tried to put up a fight but..." She shook her head. "They took us, ALL of us!!" Tears came to her eyes as she remembered. "Those who didn't submit were killed on the spot...the women were...taken as slaves! We were...tortured and some were chosen as...playthings for the guards. I was...was..." She said nothing more. It was all too painful to think, let alone talk about."

"Okay, Heather, some of the drugs you were given by your captors have temporary side effects on the paracortex." Tallia began, "As they more fully evacuate your system you'll find your telepathic abilities returning over time. It might take days, maybe even weeks, but once your system is completely clean of the drugs things will begin recovery and start to function again."

Heather nodded her understanding. "Then I guess I...have to learn to cope without for now." She looked at Fernando then back at Tallia. "How long do I have to stay in Sickbay?"

"I'm not sure, but with our sickbay space being limited I plan to expedite your departure as much as is safe." Tallia replied, "You might have to stay with me for a few days after, kind of a slumber party with your doctor..." She shook her head, "I know, I know, about as appealing a thought as getting paddled with a canoe oar."

Heather smiled. "It doesn't sound so bad." She realised she was still squeezing the life out of Fernando's hand. "I'm sorry Fernando, I didn't mean to squeeze your hand so tight!." She released her grip to let him have his hand back. "I owe you my life, I'm not going to forget that. Once Tallia sets me free I'd like to spend some time with you, if that's alright?"

Fernando flexed his hand and smiled, "You would have done the same for me." He answered with a smile. "Of course it is alright. Fernando never says no to a beautiful lady especially one that wants to spend time with him." He was a little disappointed Heather wouldn't be with him but he understood the reasons. Talia wanted to make sure Heather's system was free of the drugs she had been pumped full of.

"Once Tallia says it's alright I would like to spend more time with you Fernando." Heather smiled warmly. "Hopefully it won't be too long, up,until then I'd still like you to come and visit me."

"If Tallia says it is alright, I will be glad to visit you Heather and I would very much like you to spend time with me."

Heather nodded. Considering she barely knew Fernando just his presence put her at ease.

"Other than the temporary loss of your abilities, how are you feeling Heather?" Fernando asked.

"Like the old me again I guess." Heather offered a smile. "When I was a slave, the drugs kept me...in a world of my own, if you can understand what I mean? I was just...blank." She lifted her hands and held them up, watching them tremble. "I'm not perfect, as you can see but I'm getting there.

"You will be back to your old self in no time Heather." Fernando said confidently. "Just be patient."

"I will" Heather looked to Tallia. "What about the effect the drugs had on me? Will I crave them or am I clear of that now?" She was a trained nurse so she understood drug addiction.

"It's going to take a while to ween yourself off of them." Tallia answered honestly, as she would with any patient; the fact that this woman was a nurse and wouldn't be able to be bullshitted nonwithstanding, "We've employed several countermeasures, rendered most of the drugs inert to stop any further damage. But they've been pumping you full of this shit for three years, Sergeant, it's not going to be easy."

Heather nodded. It was going to be an uphill struggle but she was going to fight, she had to!

[To be Continued...]