CHAPTER 3
The medical plots designed in this chapter of this story are fictional. Please do NOT link it to real life!
He is roused out of his meditative trance by a rythmic pounding sound. It is very deep, and he hears a lot of power behind every "thump".
He sees the lights have shifted in hue, everything looks a little brighter and sharper. The color is more in the red end of the spectrum, instead of the dull blues seen typically in a human environment.
"What is up?" He wonders. "Is it time to start the interrogation?" It doesn't really matter, as a doctor himself, he doesn't really know anything critical. Of course, those bastards probably put some fake classified information in the shuttle to make him looks more like an active rebel.
"Let me leave it up to fate."
Then he feels harsh shaking of your cell.
"What is happening?" No, that's not the interrogation, but a combat out there. "Did they find this Terran ship?" This is obviously a very bad situation. If this ship is attacked and then sunk by the Imperial fleet, there will be no last chance to clarify himself.
The lights flicker and the low pitched hum of the force field ceases. You see a white flash and nothing after. Except for the sound of a very heavy metal on metal 'clunk'.
He quickly forms a defensive posture to deal with the possible next impact.
However, at this time, he suddenly hears the voice from the human named Baabas.
"Liberation is at hand... I know it... my friend... I am scared. May you live a good life and I wish the light shines on your soul." Barabas's voice is much more meek and trembling, none of the bombast of yesterday. It sounds as if Barabas is hyperventilating.
"Goodbye... my friend..." He hears a sickly sound of meat hitting the ground.
He realizes that the human seems to have fallen. "Hey! Ba... Barabas? Are you OK? Protect your head and neck with your hands, crouch down quickly and stay away from angular objects!" The kilrathi roars, but in a human way. "What is wrong with you!" As a doctor, the kilrathi quickly realizes that the prisoner next door is in more serious trouble now.
However, there is no answer.
"Keep talking to me! Are you hurt? Don't sleep!" All of a sudden, he realizes that he is instructing as well as rescuing a human, a creature "not of the blood", just as he once did at home.
It would be nice to get close to him! He raps on the cell wall with his paws, "Anyone here? There's someone here who might get hurt and may be unconscious! Somebody!"
The only reply he gets is... silence.
This time, he regains his original voice and let out a loud roar. The halls tremble in fear... but... no answer. He starts to feel that he is on his own there.
"I just can't get out of the cell!" He tries again to call out to the human in the next cell, but there is still no answer.
Suddenly, he notices that the field of the cell is going down, even weaker. "Is the main power system already down here?" He knows this means he has the possibility of leaving the cell. He also hears the deadbolt close on the main cell block, which means that there may not be anyone coming to rescue for a while.
He puts a tip of his claw to make a test. Yes, the forcefield was completely relieved just now. He carefully steps out of the cell.
Peek into his neighbor's cell, he sees a small human lying on the back. The man is convulsing and foam is coming out of the mouth. The smell is more "bitter" than expected.
He quickly comes to this human and calls to him. "Hey, come on! Can you hear me? Answer me in any way!" But the man did not respond.
He retracts his claws and placed his right paw carefully on the human's throat. Fortunately, the profusely sweating man's heart beat is still there. Although there is clearly a very high heart rate and some problems with the heart rhythm.
The heartbeat is fast and strong... at least two beats a second. The human's eyes are open and unfocussed with the pupils dilated.
He quickly takes a general look and initially determines that the man does not appear to have suffered a serious impact to his spine or cranium. For a kilrathi, it is also an instinct to judge whether a creature is injured. He adjusts the man's posture to prevent him from inhaling the vomit and suffocating. Luckily enough, the man's gurgling foam of stomach fluids mixed with saliva slowly drains the the side from the adjustments. The man can now breathe again.
He reaches out with one claw tip and stimulates vertically on the outside of the human's index finger. The human's eyes twitch and a groan escapes the lips while the hand retracts.
Then the he rips the human's clothing away with his claws. And he finds the human has severe bruising on his lower spine, as well as scars from a recent crude surgery there.
"What is the surgery this human just had on his back?" He is a little anxious, "Anyway, I need more information."
"Someone? Someone here needs medical help!" He roars outward.
Getting no response, he put the human down gently on the side, "I'll be right back in seconds." Then he rashes out of the cell and get to the corridor outside. He knows that there may be some first aid tools in the corridor. Luckily, he sees a big white box with a red + sign on it.
He knows the sign is the emblem of the human doctor clan. He comes to this stuff and finds a large box with pulleys. Well, it seems to be a first aid kit at least. He then pulls the stuff into the cell.
The kit is well equipped. He finds everything he needs, such as a scanner module. There is definitely a power button. "It is surely powered by battery, right?" He presses the power button.
A green face appears: "Hello, I am Nimueh, what is the medical emergency at hand?"
He is slightly surprised, and then recalls that there was something similar in a batch of human supplies that he has seen before. He was quite impressed by such things.
Yes, this kit could at least be a semi-intelligence assistance. That is so good!
"Monitor this patient's vital signs as well as making diagnostic tests!" He makes his command.
the scanner replies "The patient appears to be kilrathi, in good shape, approximately 20 years old, male... "
"Not me! You stupid ape machine!" A low growl of anger escaped his throat, "this human on the floor!" Then he pulled over the stupid box and pick out the modules as he remembered, to start the examination manually.
"Condition critical. Heartrate : 143. Blood pressure: 210/120mmHg. SpO2: 93%.... " The AI prattles on.
The result of the tests makes him nervous, especially very high blood pressure. He knows the Terran is in danger.
"The patient's condition is critical, please follow the prompts of this system to do emergency treatment." This stupid ape box finally says something reliable. But...
"Recommend administration of Beta Blockers to prevent an intracranial hemorrhage."
To prevent an intracranial hemorrhage, that's certainly reasonable. However, he vaguely recalls a human medical book he read before, which mentioned some treatment contraindications.
"This ape stuff is still unreliable." Then he uses a safer symptomatic treatment, quickly and precisely.
The support provided by the kit is pretty good. The human's blood pressure is lowered. And the portable scanners of this system work quite well, better compared to the one he used a few years ago.
He initially makes exclusion of intracranial hematoma, Stroke, Thyroid storm, Pheochromocytoma crisis, etc. for the man. In addition, the surgery on the man's lower back appears to be used to implant a type of spinal instrumentation.
However, the blood and urine test results given by the system raises his eyebrows.
"Analyzing anomaly... Indications are a lethally high dose of ultimate"
"Ultimate?" He reads out the strange Terran word on the screen. "What is this? Seems like I've heard of it somewhere. Yes, it seems to have been mentioned in the human privateer holomovies."
"Substance known to synergise with Beta Blockers to increase blood pressure. Analyzing trendlines..." The AI speaks with an absolutely calm tone.
"Projected blood concentration levels will double in 5 minutes."
He realized that his previous judgment was correct, however what now disturbed him is the description of the use of this substance in the holo movie plots.
Yes, that's a pretty dishonorable thing. So, this Barabas, is he a dishonorable Terran male?
He doesn't have time to explain to a stupid ape machine. He just despises the humans here for a moment,
how could these soldiers allow a prisoner to bring something like that into the cell? Ridiculous.
Common sense dictates that, according to his knowledge of things that are not honorable, he would simply provide the proper support to stabilize Barabas's status and wait for someone on this ship to come. But the machine's alert just now makes him very nervous. "Projected blood concentration levels will double in 5 minutes."
It wouldn't make sense if the man had just simply used that dishonorable stuff, according to his memory.
He suddenly remembers the situation of a gang leader in a privateer movie - implanting a pump in his body so that he could evade most checks. Then he carefully Barabas' spinal area again. This time, he finally finds a pair of "bladders", one has ruptured.
Turns out, the expertly done surgery on the lumbar that installed spinal alignment hardware (Titanium screws) works a perfect disguise! A seemingly normal lumbar surgical implant is masking a subcutaneous problem! Yes, the swelling of the incision makes the occupation effect of the dishonorable implant less obvious. And the spinal hardware attracts most of people's attention. That's why it was not discovered by the humans on this ship.
"That must be the answer!" He growls. "Brother Barabas? Brother? Huh, you bastard!"
Then he hesitated. He knows that if he does not remove this dishonorable stuff, the fate of the Barabas would soon be... But...
In addition to the risks of the medical treatment itself, what would the humans on this ship think of him? Would there be any misunderstanding? After all, he knows he himself is just another prisoner here.
What is more...
And, is it really worth the risk to save such an dishonorable human being?
Yes, he's seen a lot of humans. There are some who still maintain a decent life even as slaves. But the man in front of him is like a villain out of a human holomovie, perhaps.
The projections of toxicity are increasing polynomially.
"... my brother..." Suddenly, he hears the man's voice. Barabas wakes up.
"My... my sight has left me, I fear I will not be here for long... please go... the power is out... you should esca..." Then, the man passes out again.
Hearing these words, he realizes something else.
This Barabas, is the first one he encountered after being framed and thus becoming a escapee.
So, could it be that he was also framed?
He remembers more of the human books he has read. In fact, what he said to Barabas yesterday, being betrayed by the gang so that the bastards can live a few days of peace, that's a plot from a human novel.
The world is complex. Many things are not as simple as they seem, and there is a wide middle ground between glory and dishonor.
In a flash, some words lit up his mind like a lightning bolt. It was told to him by that old master with pure white mane.
"Yes, grand master, this cub will follow your advice!" Then, he a deep breath, "Prepare to begin implant pump removal surgery."
He looks at the ape machine, "As I know, you accept voice control, Ni... What's your name again?"
"As estimated, the patient has four minutes fifty-four seconds until 50 percent probability of intracranial hemorrhaging starts." The AI has a female authoritative voice.
"Now let's get started. Start your Lumbar Surgery mode." He puts on a pair of surgical eye-wears. He doesn't want to be contaminated by that dishonorable substance.
"Ape's nose... is too narrow!" Luckily, the eye-wares are useable.
"Prepping disinfection." Nimueh states, as it designates and disinfects the area. The patient's back looks cleaned.
"Ni... you do the anesthesia, I am only responsible for surgical position, tracheal intubation, etc." He doesn't look back and starts making his own preparations.
"A suitable 9 mm hose is available in the first aid kit as well as a respirator and 12 minutes of O2" Nimueh informs. "Administering anesthetic on your mark. A pair of syringes jut out from the leg. A milky white liquid is in one."
"This patient needs general anesthetic." He growls as he performs tracheal intubation, then finishes it quickly, among other things. "Your turn, machine. Keep me informed on his vitals."
Looking at the exposed area in the operating field, he realizes that even the muscles of a "strong" human are actually weak compared to an average kitathi's, not to mention the skinny guy named Barabas'.
Then he has his already shaved paws, forearms and elbows disinfected, and covered with high elasticity aseptic layer.
Not sure how the material of this Terran membrane is. I have to be careful not to extend the claws to prevent poking through. He finishes the final preparation.
A marine comes to the door of the cell area and tries to activate the door. <<Engineering Control. This Sgt Wilson! Prisoner cell area is still closed but all feeds in the room are out.>> The marine radios.
<<Wilson, we're currently under attack, we will get to it when the emerg is over, until then, man sector 12, commander is setting up a choke point there.>> Engineering radios back. Ensign Smith does take note and increases patrols by that corridor though, nothing is getting out of the cell block, then smirks.
<<Roger Control, diverting to sector 12.>> Sgt. Wilson radios back. He takes only final look at the door, sighs knowing a Kilrathi is lurking behind the door, and leaves the area.
"I have to be very careful, and minimize the amount of operative hemorrhage." He asks the AI system without turning back his head, "I don't think you have enough prepared blood here, do you?"
"Negative, we can put in a request from medbay, accessing wireless network..." Nimueh replies.
After cutting through the skin and superficial fascia, the mysterious object is finally exposed to his naked eyes.
There is a pair of vesicles with three chalasae binding them together. They look strangely like... sausages. one white, one black. The white one looks like it is lightly ruptured. White powder is visible on the inside.
"These are..." He has never seen such a stuff before. "Ni... Nimueh, can you identify the model of this stuff? I'm not familiar with your human things." He finally recalls the AI's name.
"These appear to be implants, one contains a kind of substance called Ultimate. The second contains hepta-fluoro-astatine. If the two substances were to come in contact, an exothermic reaction of 12 kj per 20 mg would occur. Estimating explosive yield at .003 ESK." Nimueh answers matter of factly.
"Exothermic? Explosive? What are you talking about?" Then he suddenly realizes what the situation is. He breaks out in a cold sweat.
"I see..." His mane bristles, "Is there anything wrong with me just removing this broken thing off?"
"It is not attached to the body, excision difficulty rating evaluated at trivial." Nimueh replies in the standard dead-inside voice AIs tend to have.
"Okay, I'll trust you for once." The kilrathi discreetly begins to remove the "broken balloon".
<<Holy sh*tballs! The kilrathi got out of it's cell and is killing the retro! RED ALERT, Sgt Wilson, take Frenchie and Aislin, get in there and stop the kat!>> Smith radios. He just restored the visual feed from the cell block.
Sgt. Wilson and Aislin arrives with an explosive charge outside of the door. "W-wilson... you think my riffle can stop a raging cat... I.. I've never seen... " Frenchie asks.
"You! Get that rifle up and stand back there a ways." Wilson says the other marine.
Aislin drops to a knee, aiming his riffle at the door, a safe distance away.
"And don't point it at me!" Wilson adds.
Aislin, in a cooly laughs at the joke, having mastered firearm control, Frenchie is too twitchy, the line flew over his head.
Lucikily, the removal goes well. As his paw slips in, the light force of removing the broken bladder causes the three membranes to snap and the second bladder is now free. His paws covered by membrane stains some blood with the offending part in them. He begins flushing the incision area. This way at least no dishonorable substances will continue to enter Barabas' body.
"I don't think I need to touch that implant instrument, it's more than what's needed at this point." the Kilrathi says to the machine, "Nimueh, patient's vital?"
"Viable but dropping, estimating 10 minutes until transfusion is required."
"Give the patient blood substitute, maintain the perfusion volume." He orders.
Wilson sets the device and backs up, with rifle at the ready.
Three...two... ONE!!!
He is very focused on the operation, his paws remain stable and he did not drop the bladder, the explosion did however rock the entire area. Nimueh fell to the side.
"I... I see 'im sarge!" Frenchie squeels.
Wilson races in first. He immediately checks the situation. Wilson points his gun at the Kilrathi and yells "CAT, GET YOUR PAWS ON THE GROUND AND GET AWAY FROM THAT MAN!"
"SHIT!" Wilson says as he spies the kind of injuries the human has.
"Oh my god! What is it doing to him! You'll pay for this." Frenchie yells, and fires a warning shot that hits Nimueh.
"This Terran male was suffering from Ultimate overdose due to an implanted pump rupture. I have got the pump removed, medical support is needed now." He turns his head back, and of course, freezes.
Wilson responds to the cat, "Just keep yourself there...HOLD YOUR FIRE" Wilson turns to Frenchie.
The marines see a kilrathi covered in blood, hairless paws drenched red. The area looks worse than it is... a large pool of blood is on the floor, but it is mostly saline from the flushing.
"Y... yes sir." Frenchie says... gun trembling.
He smiles slightly, "I knew this would happen", then he said, "What do I do now? It's against the rules of surgery to put my claws up back my head."
Wilson shoulders his firearm and heads over to the guy.
Aislin chimes in. "Calling medbay, we can get him in stasis with our droids and bring him over there."
"Do it!" Wilson orders.
"Attention medbay, we have an emergency, we need a medbot, lots of blood and a surgeon in cell E as in echo. A kilrathi is... performing surgery, and his assistant bot was damaged in the altercation" Aislin radios.
"I hope your medical team moves faster, and that your ape machine is sturdy enough." He takes a glance at the machine. "Good job, Nimueh."
"Frenchie, out into the cooridor and wait for a doctor or medic to arrive." Wilson orders. "You, what do you know of human medicine," Wilson then asks the Kilrathi.
"As to why there was a chemical 'reactor' in this patient's body, I don't know, that's your business." He then falls silent.
"I don't care about what was in him, can you stablise him and keep him from bleeding out!?!" Wilson says hurriedly.
"I will try." He begins to do the processing quickly and precisely.
"Do it" Wilson stands up and gives the Kilrathi and patient a few meters of room. The marine's hands are on his rifle, fingers near the trigger. The marine should be able to turn the gun toward him within one second and fire.
Luckily it is a surgery in the lumbar region and there is not a lot of hemorrhage. Otherwise, him thinks, perhaps Barabas would have gone to meet his ancestors.
Wilson is confident that he could fight off this particular Kilrathi in hand-to-hand if needed.
"Almost done. By the way, prepare me some
Xark... Forget it, sugary milk will do." After the high tension is lifted, he feels some physical strain.
"MILK!?!?" Wilson asks incredulous.
"So, then I go... I sees the kilrathi right... and I was like... preparing suppressive fire... but the ai bot... it... it was an assistant to the kilrathi... I... I saved Wilson from it... " Frenchie is muttering to himself while pacing in the corridor.
"All the work I can do has been done, the following thing is yours. Give him advanced anti-infection, or we'll have to see something terrible in the next few days." He steps back, and takes a deep breath, again.
"In here!" Wilson yells out with attention on him. "Don't mind him, he's helping not hurting the patient..." Wilson then mutter, "apparently."
Dr. Meiko makes it to the holding cell at least 30 seconds before the rest of the team, hardly breathing hard at all, while the rest of the team is panting fairly heavily as they try to keep up with the doctor. "What's going on here." She asks as she looks in, and then adds, "And what'd the Med AI do to get shot?" in her usual snarky manner.
"Twitchie finger Frenchie fired a warning shot and missed the wall." Wilson grumbles.
"It went rogue, it was helping the Kilrathi! I saved you all." Frenchie cackles.
"Stay in the corridor Frenchie... and out of the way." Wilson adds.
"Aye sir! I'll- I'll make sure no other AI turns rogue!" Frenchie stammers.
The rest of the team arrive. The red alert light go off. The attack is over.
"Someone, either needs a break or a mental evaluation." Meiko mutters to herself, as the Kilrathi backs away from the Retro, and she's able to look over the damage for herself. When the rest of the team shows up, she says, "Right, get him on a stretcher and to medbay. We'll need to make sure he doesn't get any infections from this. And to fix whatever other damage he might've done to himself."
Frenchie says something else nonsensical.
"Okay, Cat, back up a bit." Wilson says.
He smiles slightly and steps back to a range that is safe for humans.
The room gets a bit more dull in hue for him, as the lights shift towards the blueish tint.
As Meiko starts to follow after the team taking the Retro to Medbay, she adds to the medic who's just scanned the kilrathi, "Oh, smack that guy around a bit, and try to straighten him up to, before you head back." What a bad day for that medic, having to get close to an unknown cat, and now being told possibly seriously to hit a Marine.
Wilson goes over to whisper into Meiko's ear, "See to it that Frenchie gets a psych evaluation."
Meiko gives a nod at Wilson's whisper, seeming to take that at least more seriously than the suggestion on just punching Frenchie.
Once the retro is gone, Wilson looks at the Kilrathi. "What is your name, cat?"
"Name..." He hesitates.
"Yeah, what other Kilrathi call you. Or would you prefer to be called cat for the duration of your stay with us?" Wilson clarifies, rolling his eyes.
"My name is Ulannajirak..." He does not say his clan's honorific, thinking it best not to do so as a captive. He closed his eyes, prayed silently.
Grand Master, now this cub knows you are right. Yes, sometimes understanding, or even saving your enemy, might save each other.