International Rescue: The Next Phase


Home » The Archives » Chapter 10 » Winds of Change
Re: Winds of Change [message #1716 is a reply to message #1715] Fri, 27 July 2012 21:20 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Tikatu is currently offline  Tikatu
Messages: 813
Registered: April 2012
Location: South Carolina
Karma:
Field Commander
Ubiquitous one

From: lillehafrue Sent: 6/3/2007 9:00 PM

Tracy Island, Friday, August 31, 10:15 AM

Luke made his way down the corridor, stopping in front of the infirmary door. He knocked and hearing a "Come in!" walked inside. He paused for a moment to stare at the medical equipment, trying to figure out what some of it did.

Nikki looked up from where she was working and smiled. "Hey, Luke. We met briefly the other day; I'm Nikki."

Luke smiled. "I remember." He glanced around again. "This is some top grade equipment."

Nikki chuckled. "One of our many perks."

"I'm sure."

"Where's Rommel today?" Nikki asked.

"I left him back at the apartment. He's not adjusting well to the heat and altitude. I figured I'd leave him in the AC for a while."

Nikki frowned. "Hmmm, if he isn't feeling better in a few days, we'll try and find a vet to take a look at him. How are you feeling?"

Luke shrugged. "Pretty good. A little light headed if I stand too fast, but that's fading. I did a little reading online, and there's nothing abnormal about it. Just my body adjusting from over a mile in elevation, to sea level. It's the same when some people get to Denver; dizziness, nosebleeds, dry mouth, but it goes away in a week or so."

"Interesting," Nikki mused. "Well, if you'll go behind the screen and put this on," she handed him a pale blue robe. "I'll go tell Dianne you're here."

Luke watched her go, then walked to where Nikki had indicated and quickly changed into the exam outfit. He raised an eyebrow as he discovered just how little it covered in the rear, but settled himself on the gurney to wait for Dianne.

Dianne walked in, cane in one hand, data pad in the other. She looked up at Luke and smiled. "Good morning, Luke. I take it you've been to see my husband this morning?"

Luke nodded and held up his left arm. "Just got finished there. He gave me the operating instructions for my new watch here. I'm going to meet with...Tin-Tin? I guess she'll be measuring me for a uniform."

"Yes, that's part of her job." Nikki came in with a tray of instruments and Dianne put the data pad down on the gurney and began her outer observations, gently prodding Luke's throat with warm fingers. "Nikki tells me you're having a bit of trouble adjusting to our lack of altitude." She used a penlight on Luke's eyes. "If you're still having trouble by the end of this week, let me know and I'll see what we can do."

She continued with the examination, murmuring things into the earphone mike that was attached to one ear, and asking Nikki to hand her various implements. "Did Jeff tell you that you're to get a locator implant today?"

Luke looked startled. "No. He mentioned that they had ways to track us during a rescue, but I figured it was through the wristcomm." He shrugged. "But a locator chip makes more sense I guess. Will Rom get one too?"

"Yes," Dianne told him, "but I'll have to consult with a vet on the best place and method to implant it." She smiled at him suddenly. "Never thought I'd be doctoring dogs and cats, but it looks like I might have to. We have a mother cat and a set of kittens here now, in addition to Kyrano's cat, and my sons' fish tanks."

She asked him to get up and walk away from her, then turn and walk back. She had him stand on one foot, then the other, and perform some more physical activities. Then she motioned toward the scanner. "Please lie down on the scanner bed and we'll see what's going on inside."

Luke complied, giving a little shiver as his skin hit the cool metal. "I made sure all my vaccinations were up to date before I left," he told her. "Even had a malaria series, just in case."

"So I saw," Dianne said as she sat down behind the monitor. Nikki spread a sheet over Luke up to the chest, then began to clean up the items Dianne had used. "Just lie still for a little while. This shouldn't take long."

The room was quiet except for the scanner's hum, and Dianne's murmured comments as the results appeared on her screen. She frowned a bit as the scanner continued down around Luke's hips.

Luke caught her frown. "Is something wrong?" He shot a glance at Nikki, but she shook her head.

Dianne didn't answer. Instead, she picked up the data pad and scrolled through it again. Her frown cleared and her eyes lit up in comprehension as she noticed something in particular.

The scanner finally finished its job and she made a last comment, then stood. "Nothing wrong, Luke. I noticed you had a couple of broken bones in your right arm and wrist, and some muscular stretching that puzzled me... until I reread your immunizations again." She offered a hand to help him sit up.

"I broke my wrist and ankle a few years ago, during an avalanche rescue. Idiot reporters flew over in a helicopter, trying to get pictures of the area and triggered another one. I got caught in it," he told her as he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the table. Luke looked up, a puzzled expression on his face. "My immunizations? Am I missing one?"

"No, not missing one, just one that I didn't expect to see." She glanced at Nikki, then decided it was something that the nurse should know, and would keep in confidence. "The HIV vaccine."

Realization dawned across Luke's face. "Oh, right. I'll bet you don't come across that one very often." She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm gay. I got the vaccine before I left for college. I'm not promiscuous, but I figured it's better to be safe than sorry." He met her gaze fearlessly. "I told Mr. Tracy during my interview. I had problems with my previous boss, and not wanting to get into the same predicament, I thought he should know upfront. He didn't think there would be a problem," he said warily.

"Good call," Dianne said, downloading her notes and adding the scan to his new record. "I don't think you'll have a problem with anyone, really, though I don't know for certain. Of course, as your new physician, I consider that information as privileged." She smiled at him.

Nikki brought up the needles for the locator chip. "Time for the locator chip. It's unobtrusive, hypoallergenic, and I'll numb the area before I insert it. Since you've been having some trouble with dizziness, I suggest you remain seated." She glanced over at Nikki, who grinned. "We had a couple of fainting incidents when we did this the first time. Do you have any questions?"

Luke shook his head. "No, I don't think so." He thought for a moment, then placed a hand on the back of his neck. "Here, I think. That way it's not in any place that might get hit during a rescue, and a helmet would protect the area too." He suddenly looked up in alarm. "Wait a sec, fainting incidents? Just how big is this chip?"

Dianne laughed. "It's tiny, really. Needs to be injected by needle. But a couple of people...let's just say they didn't react to the needles very well." She moved around behind him. "This might be a bit tricky, but we can handle it. First, the local anesthetic..." She slid the sharp needle in expertly. "While we wait for that to numb up, let me put a call in to Thunderbird Five." She tapped her wristcomm, turning it on. "Thunderbird Five from Doc. Come in, Thunderbird Five."

Callie's face filled the screen. "Doc from Thunderbird Five, reading you four by four. What can I help you with?"

"Ursa, I need a locator chip calibrated for our newest recruit." She took a little packet off the tray and rattled off some numbers. "That's the chip we're using."

"Got it, Doc," Callie replied. "Does he have a color yet?"

Luke spoke up, "Hey there. Yes, olive green." He shook his head and grinned. "Still can't believe you're...how ever many miles away you are, and the picture is clearer than a television!"

Callie laughed back. "And we get great reception for ball games, too." She paused to look down for a moment. "Looks like the chip is working fine. We're reading it at full strength."

"Okay, time to implant, and get another check." Dianne took the slightly larger needle and went around back again. "You should not feel a thing." After just a few seconds, she declared, "There, all done."

Luke brought his hand up to rub at the spot. "It's a little tingly from the local, but other than that, it feels fine."

"Still reading at full strength," Callie told them. "If there's nothing else, Doc, I need to get back to work. The natives are getting restless up here."

"F-A-B, Ursa. And thanks," Dianne replied. "I'll see you after lunch for calibrating the sensors."

"F-A-B, Doc. Thunderbird Five out."

The telecomm went dark, and Dianne turned back to Luke. "Do you have any questions or concerns?"

"Nothing that I can think of at the moment." He glanced around the room again. "I don't know if Mr. Tracy mentioned it, but I'm only a few credits short of being a fully certified paramedic. If you or someone could show me around here, I'd love to know what all this stuff does. And it probably wouldn't hurt to have someone else familiar with the equipment."

"Well, I have an appointment with my personal torturer," Dianne said with a snorted laugh. "And today, it's not Nikki." She turned toward the nurse with a grin. "You up to giving Luke the guided tour?"

Nikki looked at him speculatively, as if sizing him up. "I guess so. I'd better let him get dressed first, though. You never know when someone will walk in, needing emergency treatment. Don't want to scare them..."

Luke drew himself up. "I'll have you know that I have a superior...physique," he said haughtily before laughing. "But yeah, getting dressed is a good idea." He turned to Dianne. "Thanks, Dr. Tracy."

"You're welcome, Luke," she replied with smile. "If you have any questions at any time, just let me know." With that, she found her cane, and went off to her office, the data pad in her other hand.

"Let me finish cleaning up here," Nikki said. "You get changed, and we'll have that tour."

Luke's Exam---by Tikatu and Lillehafrue


Jeff heartbeat Dianne plain My IR:TNP OTP!
 
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Next Topic: Feedback - 10
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Wed May 08 23:26:39 EDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.50176 seconds