Mera stifled a yawn with a soft brush of her hand against her lips as her feet shuffled their way quietly toward the receptionist's desk. She glanced to the door as the sound of clumping boots approached the waiting room. A blonde haired young man walked cheerfully into the waiting room, wearing baggy, oversized clothing and carrying a sword. She offered a nod and a kind smile to the man entering. "Can I help you, sir?" Her delicate fingers lifted a pen from the desk and scribbled within the log book, starting her shift.
The young man looked at Mera and smiled. "I just came in here to get a little rest. Surprising that the ER isn't busy."
"Yes, but is that good news ... or bad?" Mera countered, "I don't like it when it is quiet."
"I don't know why you wouldn't. When it's quiet no one's getting shot."
The girl made her way into the ER as they spoke. She glanced about, making sure everything was in order. "When it is quiet, it usually means it won't stay that way for long." Mera's fingers grasped a hold of one of the white curtains. She pushed it back toward the wall and fastened it in place.
"Good point." The man admitted. He followed Mera into the ER and then came to his own point. "I also came in here to get a bullet removed."
Mera glanced to him in surprise and immediately moved in his direction. She wondered why he hadn't mentioned it right away. "Where is the wound located?"
"Lower back." He was still all smiles and seemingly unconcerned. "And my plasma burn is on my arm. I don't think the Churchmen like me." He quipped with another grin.
Mera nodded. "Well, do me a favor and remove your shirt." Out of the corner of her eye she noted that Cloud complied, removing his bloodied shirt with little, if any, indication of pain. Mera's eyebrows furrowed and she glanced toward him. "For one with a bullet wound, you sure seem a bit smiley."
"Happens all the time." He shrugged. "I take too many risks."
Mera patted a hospital bed. "Have a seat, Mister ...?"
"Please, call me Cloud." He walked over to the bed and sat as she turned to the counter and drew a bottle of antiseptic closer. She reached to tear off a piece of gauze and moved toward his side again. Mera peered at the bullet wound and pulled over a sheet of paper to make notes. "Yep ... got you good, Mr. Cloud." She continued scribbling as she spoke. "A few inches to the left, and you'd have to drag yerself in here. Would have shattered your pelvic bone."
"Could you take it out now?" Cloud's voice grew terse, "Because the morphine's wearing off."
Mera nodded. "All right ... lay down on your stomach, slowly, and I'll see what I can do."
As Cloud gingerly lay down, Mera noted that he now winced intermittently, obviously feeling discomfort as the pain killer wore off. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a pair of forceps. She cleaned them with the antiseptic and peered closely at the wound. Mera began to probe the wound gently with the forceps to find the bullet.
"Easy now..." Mera soothed, as her chestnut eyes peripherally saw him stiffen. She carefully surrounded the edges of the bullet with the forceps. With a slow motion, Mera gently eased the bullet out and quickly swabbed the wound with some antiseptic.
"After this could you take a look at my plasma burn?" Cloud glanced at the burn on his arm.
"Yep, you can count on that." Mera released the pressure on the forceps and allowed the bullet to drop onto a tray. "This one didn't go in too far ... lucky you."
"Thank you. Could I keep the bullet?"
A look of surprise crossed her features. "You want to keep it?"
"Yeah." Cloud nodded as Mera threaded up a needle and began to suture the wound closed. "I don't see why not." She replied. "I just find it a strange request."
"I just wanna keep track of how many times I've been shot." Cloud explained.
The aide chuckled. "You don't just count your scars, eh?"
"Well, some I can't see."
Mera glanced up and smiled to Terra Skye as she heard her shuffle past. Terra was looking over the latest test results as she walked down. "Hello, Mera. How are you?" Terra greeted her with a slightly strained expression on her otherwise smiling face.
With a smile in her eyes, Mera returned a cheery, "Oh, just dandy and you, Terra?" She paused, looking at Terra more closely and interjected, "Nevermind ... your face says it all." Mera chuckled and returned her attention to placing a protective sheet of gauze over Cloud's stitches. She taped it over and offered a helping arm as she spoke to Cloud. "All right ... You can sit up, but move carefully."
Terra sighed softly. "Okay ... I suppose. I was just checking on things here before going up to check on Garth."
Cloud sat up carefully, as instructed. "Mera my burn please?" He reminded her.
"I'm getting to it, Mr. Cloud ... not to worry." Mera reassured him with a patient smile. The aide reached to get another piece of gauze and deftly darted it over the plasma wound.
"Just Cloud." The man corrected Mera. He winced as her ministrations, although gentle, caused the sensitive, burned flesh to sting. A moment later he called out again. "Terra? When I'm done here can I go see Commander Lowinn?"
Terra looked at Cloud. "I need to check on his condition first ... okay? I will let you know if he is up to visitors or not."
"Okay." The young man agreed, "Tell me when you are done please."
Mera held his arm steady as she inspected it closely. She shuffled through the second drawer for some antiseptic cream and a cotton swab. She brushed it over the wound lightly, producing a soothing coolness, and finished by wrapping it with gauze.
"Mera, I will be back shortly." Terra went to collect the necessary medical supplies and headed up to the second floor toward Garth's room.
"All right." Mera nodded to Terra and turned back to Cloud. "Now ... I want you to change your dressing on this once a day, applying this cream." She handed him the tube. "Keep it covered."
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you."
Mera taped the gauze about his arm securely. "You should come back in a week and we can remove those stitches." She instructed. Cloud stood and walked over to the chair by the stairs. He nodded distractedly in acknowledgment as he sat in the chair. The young soldier settled in at his self relegated post and looked up the stairs with an anxious expression on his face.
==
Terra picked up the ordered tray on the way, and with the additional medications, she moved to Garth's room, knocking gently before she entered.
Having awakened a short time before, Garth turned his head, and smiled at her. "Why knock?" He snorted.
She smiled in return. "Good eve' Garth." Terra moved to his side and noted his vital stats. "Habit." She grinned at him and moved to check his IV and other notations. She set the tray down. "I have a surprise for you."
Garth raised an eyebrow. "Surprise?" He teased, "Another test?"
Terra moved to his medical supplies and added the various medications she'd brought up with her. "No ..."
He sighed with relief. "Thank Sabatt. I feel like a lab rat."
"Yes, ... I am sure." Her lips curved in a compassionate smile. "Well, how about some food? Not just any food mind you." She grinned triumphantly. "I have fresh fruit."
"Fresh fruit? You must be kidding." Garth's tone bordered on disbelief.
Terra smiled and removed the cover from the tray to reveal a fruit cup as well as an apple, orange and churkess. "Now ... there is also some consomme and a gelatin cup. And, if you want more, I can get some. This has been enriched somewhat."
Her amazed patient's eyes widened. "How...?" Garth actually stuttered a bit.
Terra grinned conspiratorially. "I have my ways Commander." She winked.
"Who did you flirt with?" Garth demanded accusingly.
Terra laughed. "No one..."
"I think somebody went experimenting ..."
"Garth! You!" She laughed and shook a finger at him and Garth affected a serious expression for her benefit as he queried innocently, "What?"
"I do have a little pull here..." She shook her head and admitted with a grin. "And you needed this." Terra looked to Garth. "Think you can eat a bit?"
Garth mumbled something about pull and chuckled softly. The chuckle turned into a small cough. Then as the cough subsided, Garth assured her, "Well, yes, and same as I did last night."
"So ... How are you today?"
The commander smiled. "I want that fruit..."
Terra smiled and helped him sit up. "Okay, but after you eat I want to check a few things."
Garth winced. "See, I knew it...more tests..."
"No, just check your heart, lungs and such. No needles." Terra grinned.
Garth leaned his head back against the wall. "Can live with that ..."
"Yes, Garth," Terra smiled. "I intend you will live for quite some time."
"Well, I promise I'll try really hard to live if you give me that fruit." Garth's lips curved in his most entreating smile. Terra laughed and pushed the tray forward. "Okay. Here you go." She glanced at the notes on his reflexes. "How are your knees?" The commander took the tray and set it on his lap. He began to eat the fruit slowly, savoring the flavor. "Haven't tried to walk since last night, so I couldn't tell you." Terra nodded. "Good ... you should rest."
==
Mera moved to the sink to cleanse her hands, then toweled them off. She returned to make a few more notes on the sheet of paper. Finished with the report, she carried it back to the desk in the waiting room and placed it in a file. She sank into the molded plastic chair and picked up her medical textbook once more. She flipped to the page desired and began going over her lesson. After a few moments, she glanced up toward Cloud. The young man still sat waiting anxiously for permission to see Garth. "The commander ... He is a friend of yours?" Mera asked.
Cloud looked up. "Not only a friend, but a superior and role model."
Mera smiled. "He seems like a nice guy..." Cloud tapped his fingers on the table next to him in a worried manner. "Nicer than you can imagine." He replied, then whispered softly. "Sabatt, let Garth pull through."
A slender young man named Shad Grey walked quietly through the halls dressed in a hospital jumpsuit. His Shad eyes looked about as he complained about something to himself. "Bloody test..." He nodded politely to the odd passing doctor or worker and meandered into the waiting room. Mera offered a smile to him as she saw him walk in and he smiled politely in return. "Evening..."
"Up and about I see?"
Shad gave a slow nod. "Yeah ... the docs let me out after the latest round of tests." He chuckled quietly. "I'm walking research to some of them..."
"Well, it's the only way we learn around here, you know." Mera chuckled softly. "They find anything?"
Shad nodded. "Yep ... Well, they have learned some interesting things about that 'oil' in me."
"Nothing too bad, I hope?"
"Well, ..." He smiled a bit as he scratched his chin absently. "The cells of this oil are extremely resistant to radiation. They replicate at a high rate. And it's slowly but surely starting to alter my cells."
Mera frowned. "Alter them?"
"Yeah ... reason I've been in so much pain. The docs have been testin' my senses, reflexes ... you name it."
"Has Dr. Calso found anything to treat it?"
Shad shook his head. "This bug's tough ... like it knows someone's trying to get rid of it." He sighed quietly. "The pain's startin' to get worse each day."
"Have you told the docs that? It is important." A look of concern settled in her chestnut eyes.
"I have," Shad nodded. "But the stuff they give me doesn't do much." He shrugged. "And my mind," He paused and held his head a moment. "It's getting stranger by the day ..."
"Stranger?" Her concern deepened. "Should you even be up and around?"
He smirked slightly. "I manage to break out of my room every now and then. That's one thing. I keep getting the urge to learn new things. I've been giving the computer a run for its circuits."
"An escapee, eh?" Mera's eyes glinted with mirth. "Oh?" she glanced up. "Hear that Elliot?" She knew full well that Elliot had been busy for the last few hours repairing a damaged solar panel.
Shad chuckled and smiled roguishly. "I've been good at stealin' and stealth since I was a street rat..."
"Well, what's say we get you back to your room..." Mera proposed. "Could I entice you with a cup of tea?"
"Maybe I can return the favor when I'm better ... Hmm..." The stray patient rubbed his chin in thought. "I guess I should..."
Mera chuckled and rose from her chair. "Come on, Mr. Walking Wounded."
"All right..." Shad relented, affecting a slight pout. He glanced about as he got up and smiled to himself as he began to follow Mera back to his room with a trace of a limp to his stride.
Mera smiled and shook her head at that pout. As she led him back toward his room, she noted the limp. "Your leg is bothering you as well?"
"Slightly." He glanced at Mera, then straightened up and began to walk smoothly again. "Have to give the impression I'm still hurt. The limping's an act. The pain..." He frowned, "Is not."
Mera glanced at him curiously as his stride altered, then she laughed. "Well, I shall inform the doctors once more that your meds aren't helping." She said, as she made her way through his room door, and led him toward his bed.
Her patient gave a shrug and followed her. "Ya learn to be discreet on the streets. Not every day ya find out ye can heal at a rapid pace. The wounds and broken bones from that beating a week back ... they've all healed."
Mera's eyes lifted in surprise. "That quick? That is extraordinary."
Shad nodded. "The meds know about the improved healing, but I ... didn't want to draw attention." He glanced cautiously about the hallway and room. "I think the Church would be 'interested' if they found out about me." He frowned slightly. "Have to be careful."
Mera frowned at this comment, not very fond of the church herself for what they did to her family. "Well, they can't get at you here." Mera reassured him.
==
At the foot of the stairs Cloud mumbled, "C'mon Terra," as he waited. Finally he rose from the chair and walked up the stairs to the second floor. He found Garth's room and waited impatiently outside the door.
"Sabatt this fruit is good." Garth smacked his lips.
"Good. I am glad you like it." Terra smiled. "You need to eat."
He looked at her. "I am eating." He finished off the fruit cup to demonstrate. "This is the best food I've had in years."
"Yes, and how about a bit of this broth?" Terra was rewarded as Garth grinned and began to eat the broth eagerly. Pleased by his progress, she made a decision. "Garth? Are you up to a visitor?"
Garth paused briefly to look up, then resumed eating. "Who is it?"
Terra smiled as he continued to eat and adjusted the drip on the IV bag. "It's that young soldier ... Cloud. He is very concerned about you."
"Cloud, huh? Yeah, I'll see him." The commander grinned a bit, something obviously running though his mind.
Terra added another bag of the medicine to the IV. "Okay. Give me a sec." She adjusted the drip and made a few notes on his chart. Finally she walked to the door where Cloud stood, waiting to be invited in. She flashed a warm smile at him. "You can come in for a few."
Garth nodded to Cloud as the young man entered and strode over. "What do you need, Strife?" The commander continued to eat, protocol seemingly lost on him.
"The troops wanted me to come here and give you something."
"Uh-oh. If I know my men, that can't be good can it?" Garth teased. Cloud's expression remained serious as he handed Lowinn two very large cards. "Everybody on the base signed. It took us a while."
Garth chuckled. "Well, that's great. Thanks, Strife. Tell them I appreciate it, a lot."
"Yes, Sir." The young soldier responded promptly. Garth took the cards and opened them up, chuckling every once in a while. "Dirty minded bastards."
"I also came to give you my own thing."
Commander Lowinn closed the cards and set them aside. "Yeah?" He sipped at the water that came with his meal.
Cloud handed him a water gun and a target. "I didn't know if they'd let BB guns in the hospital."
Garth laughed. "Where in Sabatt did you find this?" He took it, still chuckling.
"I took it from an abandoned toy shop."
Garth laughed. "Thanks Strife ... at least my aim won't go bad, eh?" He stopped suddenly, a thought hitting him. "Did you ride in on the Warthog, son?"
"Yes, sir."
Terra walked back in from the nurses station. She glanced at Cloud and Garth with a curious grin as she picked up Lowinn's chart and began making a few computations. Garth looked at Terra and smiled. She smiled back at him and returned to analyzing the report.
Lowinn looked at Cloud, becoming with a gesture of his finger. "Come here. I need you to do something for me." As Cloud moved closer, Lowinn whispered something into his ear and then sat back. "Thanks."
Cloud nodded in response. "I'll be right back." He promised as he walked out of the room and down the stairs, heading outside.
Terra looked at Garth as she walked over and added meds to his IV.
"Terra ... you have a small disc player of some sort?"
"Yes, I think I can gather one up. Why?" Terra nodded and looked at him. "I can go to the lab and pick it up."
Garth grinned and nodded. "Great..." Mischief lit up his eyes, but he didn't answer her question. He simply smiled. "Would you do that?"
"I will be back in a sec." As she walked from the room, she passed Cloud in the hallway. Strife strode back into Lowinn's room and handed him the case. "What's this for?"
Lowinn grinned at Strife. "Thanks, kid..." He chuckled. "For everything."
==
Shad nodded hesitantly. "At least they aren't very subtle most of the time. Still, caution is always a wise idea."
Mera nodded. "I would agree."
"One of my old friends ... Wilamm.. he joined up with them..." Shad glanced downward, a bit of sorrow in his eyes. Then he raised his head back to Mera
"And where do you stand on all of this fighting?" Mera sank to the chair beside his bed to listen to his tale.
"Me ... The Church has destroyed my family. My friend ... he joined 'cause they're powerful." Shad scowled. "Sold his soul." He shook slightly as though trying to push some demons away. "I saw the desperation in his eyes. I told him before ... You do what you have to survive." He frowned then unexpectedly smiled in irony. "Guess he took my advice ... sometimes."
Mera nodded sympathetically, but remained silent as she listened and allowed him to talk.
"I wonder if I should take that advice myself ... but ... I can't. Too many people have died to keep me from them." With an almost bitter resolve he added, "Not going to go to them with open arms."
"I have seen what the Church can do. Could you bring yourself to do those things?"
"And spit in the faces of those sacrifices." The man raised an eyebrow and nodded hesitantly. "Survival really makes for tough choices ... Not all of them are for the best. I try not to, but I find myself on that path."
Mera smiled softly. "You'll be all right, Mr. Shad ... I have a feeling about that."
He glanced at Mera surprised. "Really?"
She shrugged. "Just call it a gut feeling, I guess."
Shad softened, slightly out of his shell. "Thanks. I could use all th- Aggh!" He held his head, obviously in great pain. Shad convulsed for a moment then returned back to normal. He groaned wearily and sat back up. "Uhhhh I ... hate when that happens..."
The girl started, then rose quickly from her chair and moved to his side. "Are you all right?" Concern was evident in her voice as she touched his head gently. Her chestnut eyes widened. "You poor thing."
Shad glanced at Mera. "That's the ... pain ... I've been talking about."
"Let me go get you that tea." Mera suggested. "I fear it won't help the headaches, but it might be good for something. You'll be all right for a moment?"
"Aye." Shad nodded. "I should be. The pains only come on a regular basis ... Shouldn't worry for another hour or so."
Mera nodded and stepped from the room. The aide quickly made her way down the hall.
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