"Operational Concerns"
Previous Post: "Reflections"
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Stardate: 60301.0600
Setting: USS ANUBIS, Serenna's Quarters
Straightening her uniform one last time the Romulan/Terran hybrid walked to the full length mirror in her room, a motion that she had done countless times before. The Ops officer had woken up early as usual but her morning routine would not follow the complete pattern that she had grown accustomed to since before her graduation from Starfleet Academy. Looking at the reflection in the mirror the COO confirmed that she had been ready to return to NEW ALEXANDRIA to visit her friend before her duty shift began in two hours.
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Stardate: 60301.0615
Setting: NEW ALEXANDRIA, Section C-2, Level 1, Infirmary
Stepping into the room the Romulan/Terran hybrid found the Infirmary as busy as she had found the rest of the base pointing out to the COO something that she had already known: Intel never sleeps. Forgetting for a moment the responsibilities of their field of work, the ANUBIS' Ops Officer approached the closest member of the Infirmary's staff. "Excuse me; I am looking for Lt. Dawson, CEO of the USS ANUBIS."
Looking back at the COO for less than a second to confirm who had made the request, probably so that this information could be entered in an official visitor's log, the medical technician pointed to a set of doors out of the way of the main treatment area. "He's in the second room from the left."
Taking the man's whispered voice as an indication for her to be as quiet as possible, the Romulan/Terran hybrid followed the directions that she had been given and pushed the sliding door open as quietly as she could. Inside the COO found not one but two sleeping officers: the CEO whom she had expected to find and the aCMO who had found herself a small corner of the bed to rest her head on.
Approaching the sleeping woman, the COO reached out and touched Lea on the shoulder making her mumble something in her sleep before all of a sudden shooting off the bed fully awake with her eyes frantically searching the medical diagnostic panel for the reason her her having been awakened. "What's wrong?"
Thinking that if she had been in the state of her friend the Romulan/Terran hybrid would appreciate having someone as dedicated and alert by her side during a recovery, the COO whispered, "There is nothing wrong, you fell asleep and I just came by to check up on David before reporting for duty."
Feeling reassured that nothing had happened to David while at the same time experiencing a certain amount of shame for having not been able to remain awake for the entire night, the aCMO relaxed her posture. "He's fine, Doctor Wallin said that he would keep him here under observation for at least 72 hours, but his vital signs have been getting gradually stronger, so David might actually be permitted to leave early."
Remembering with little effort how much the CEO hated being restricted to a medical bed, or even a room for the purpose of observation, the Romulan/Terran hybrid happily received the news for David. "I'm sure that he will be happy to hear that, as soon as he wakes up that is."
Reaching for a medical tricoder, Ens. Summers began a thorough scan of David's chest reporting her findings to the visitor and COO of the ANUBIS. "His system went through quite a shock. Physically his body his recuperating, but I will be honest and tell you that I have no idea how his mind is going to be."
Having only heard rumors about what had happened during the efforts to save the CEO's life, the Romulan/Terran hybrid prompted the aCMO to explain what had transpired. "What exactly happened? All I heard was Cpt. Simmons say something about David having been *half* brain dead. I could have asked Maya for some clarification but didn't think I was ready to be given the complete story by her."
Easily imagining the Shillian stretching the explanation of what had happened to last several hours, the aCMO tried to give a more abridged version of the events that she had witnessed. "Its hard to explain, but without trying to actually make sense of it I can tell you this, at one point David's conscious mind had flat-lined while his subconscious mind was hyperactive."
Trying to make sense of what she had been told despite what the Ensign had warned, the Romulan/Terran hybrid pressed on. "Isn't that what normally happens when someone is in a state of deep sleep?"
Caringly looking at the still sleeping CEO, Ens. Summers shook her head before pointing out the error in the COO's statement. "When sleeping the activity level of the subconscious mind will usually surpass that of the conscious mind, but the activity of the conscious part never drop below a certain level. In David's case that part of his mind did not only drop below what is considered to be safe, but became completely inactive. Even a patient in a coma registers *some* level of brain activity from the conscious mind, David's read nil."
Not having imagined that the stories and rumors she had heard had been true, the Romulan/Terran hybrid began to genuinely be concerned for her friend, wondering if he would return to them as the same person that he had been before.
Placing a hand on the aCMO's shoulder, the COO offered her support as best she could. "I have over an hour before I have to report for duty on board the ANUBIS. I'll stay here and keep a watch on him during that time so that you can get a little rest and take the chance to freshen up. Don't worry, if something happens, good or bad, I will inform you right away."
Not all that willing to leave David's side, the aCMO still greatly appreciated the offer that had been made and accepted with little hesitation leaving the Romulan/Terran hybrid in charge of watching over the sleeping body of the CEO.
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Serena Switt {serena1141@yahoo.com.au}
Lieutenant Serenna 2005 post #072
Chief of Operations / Second Officer
USS ANUBIS
