CHAPTER 7:  RECOVERY
When Jonathan Ridger finally came to he found himself in sickbay recovery.  In the distance he heard a faintly familiar voice.  "Captain?" it called to him.  It was Kyle Lamar, leaning over him with a medi-scanner.  He heard the hiss of a hypo enter his arm. Disoriented, he stammered, "What...How....?" "You were injured during an earthquake," he told him. "You're back on the ship now, Captain." Ridger slowly sat up. "Ye may feel a bit o' discomfort," Lamar continued, "but it should pass quick enough." "How...?" Jon repeated, still feeling a little fuzzy. "It was Lieutenant Rayn; she found you nearly crushed under a pile o' fallen rocks.  If she hadn'a pulled you out..." There was no need to finish the statement. Just then Kaimana walked up to the two men, smiling. "I'm glad to see you're up, Captain," she told him. "The star?" Jonathan Ridger looked at Kai Rayn. Still keeping a serene face, she said, "It novaed; nearly two hours ago." "I've got to get to bridge."  Jonathan pushed himself to the ground as his strength slowly returned. "Not yet ye don't," Dr. Lamar said, pushing him back onto the bio-bed. "If you will excuse me, gentlement, I shall be returning to the quarters I have been provided with.  Once again, it's good to see you up Captain."  Kai turned and left the sickbay.
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The bridge of the Miranda-class starship was laid out fairly simply.  To the left of the turbolift was the tactical/weapons console where Security Chief Thomas Frank stood diligently at his post.  To the right, was the science station.  Along the back walls were other stations including communications, engineering and operations.  To the front of the bridge was navigations.  Between the tactical and science consoles were two chairs.  T'Lenn got up from the command chair as Jon approached. "Welcome back Captain," T'Lenn greeted. "Anything interesting been happening?" The Captain asked the Vulcan officer. "Stellar science has been monitoring the break-up of the Mikellan star.  Captain, are you alright? You had quite an ordeal back on the planet." "I'm fine, T'Lenn," he replied, but truthfully his head was swimming as he sat down in his chair.  "Have you contacted Starfleet yet?" "No, sir," T'Lenn answered, "we were just about to." "OK..   Lieutenant Adams, send message to Starfleet Command:  Have evacuated planet despite Klingon interference.  Currently monitoring star break-up.  Ridger, commanding Dawntreader.  Out.  Also, send a copy of ship's logs pertaining to the event as of stardate 2201."  Ridger rose from his chair once again and moved towards the turbolift, calling out behind him, "T'Lenn, you have the bridge.  Notify me when Stellar science has completed their research." "Aye, sir," T'Lenn responded as the captain entered the turbolift.
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	For several minutes it seemed, Jon stood undecided in the turbolift.  Then, making up his mind, he requested aloud to the computer, "Deck Eight."  As he walked down the hall, he stopped in front of one of the guest quarters and rang the doorbell.  The door slid open and he walked inside. As he entered the counsellor's quarters, he was greeted by a haunting melody drifting from the bedroom.  The rhythm was slow, and reminded him of ancient humpback whales singing their choruses.  When Jon walked into the chamber, Kai looked up from the bed where she sat.  Her eyes sparkled when she saw him.  Finishing the tune, Lt. Rayn put down the oboe she had been playing. "You're very good," Jonathan remarked, still standing in the doorway. "Thank you captain.  I'm glad to see you're up and about.  Are you feeling better?" "Yes, much better.  Actually, that's one of the reasons I'm here now."  Captain Ridger paused, not sure if he should go on. "Oh?" the Mikellan asked inquisitively.  Jonathan could see the curiosity spark in her.  That was one thing he admired in her. "First of all, I came to thank you for saving my life back on the planet." "It was the least I could do under the circumstances." "No.  You risked your life to save mine when you dug me out from under those rocks.  And I'd like to do something for you in appreciation." Sensing where this conversation was going,  Lt. Rayn stood.  "May I speak candidly, Sir?"    "Always," Ridger replied.    "Before you say anything, there's something I have to tell you first," Rayn said forwardly. "Shoot," the Captain said as he sat down on a nearby chair. "I don't know any easy way for me to say this, so I'll just say it."  Rayn looked Captain Ridger in the eyes.  "I'm blind." Jonathan Ridger looked at her with both shock and concern but said nothing at first, so the telepath continued.  "It's not what you think.  I lost my sight nearly a year ago in a shuttle accident.  I'm quite well adjusted now." "But how can you find your way around; I mean, you seem to know exactly where things are, without bumping into things, or..." "I see, but not in the way you do.  I see in much the same way your ship does." Not grasping the concept, he said, "What do you mean." "My uniform is specially designed with a sensor array laced into the fabric.  It allows me to 'see' where things are around me.  Actually, it's more like a feeling.  And of course there's telepathy.  But I only use a passive scan to identify who is around me." Still at a loss for words, the Captain asked, "Who else knows about your condition?" "Just you, and Dr. Lamar.  He found out, by accident, when we were still in the caverns.  I asked him not to say anything." "And you've never had a problem with having no vision?" "Only at first, when it happened.  I was alone in the shuttle when it crashed.  I wandered in the desert for nearly a day before I was found by a group of nomads.  It took me months to become used to the idea of having no formal vision.  That's when I designed the uniform modifications." Captain Ridger thought for a while before he spoke again, but then spoke with confidence.  "Well, you've given me something to think about.  Now here's something for you.  If it's alright with you, I'd like to request you be permenantly assigned to the Dawntreader.  We are in need of a ship's counsellor, but the choice is yours." Lieutenant Rayn didn't waste any time in deciding.  "It would be my honor to serve on a ship with so fine a Captain as yourself, Sir." "Wonderful.  Then it's decided.  I'll request the orders be put through immediately, pending your status be changed to join the living again, of course.  After all, Starfleet still thinks you died on the Falcon.  For now though, won't you join me on the bridge?" "I'd love to, Sir."
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