What lies in dark isolation

Posted on Thu Feb 22nd, 2024 @ 6:56am by Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton

Mission: Lantea
Location: Sick Bay Planet side.
Timeline: During research

On:



Larissa Riley had been at it for a few hours and had been seeing so many ‘resets’ and fluctuations that it was driving her nuts. She thought she would have a slight pattern and then it would change. Going through the logs was getting her nowhere. What she needed was a ‘live sample’ in medical terms. Currently all of the bay was on the second grid. It was not playing up and was slowly being ‘de-bugged’ to a degree. It was still not clear what had happened to start this off yet the current process of recalibrations seemed to be doing the trick.



Larissa needed to see what the ‘blighter’ was doing when off the safe grid and allowed to ‘just be’. She looked around the space for the easiest and biggest area that could give her the biggest feedback quickly. She swallowed hard and sighed. “Isolation.” Of course, it HAD to be the Isolation wing. She had not set foot into that space since…. Her left hand brushed past her hidden necklace and then settled on her stomach. It had been nine months since she had been anywhere near that sort of space and was not itching to go back there. Yet the argument was logical and solid. “You can’t avoid it forever girl, much as you might give it your best shot. May as well get it over with while on duty and the place is quiet.”



She started what seemed like a long walk into the isolation area of the sickbay. The closer she got the more her heart seemed to ache. She looked into Isolation room 2 and froze on the spot.



“Don’t worry Seashell, I’m feeling just fine. I’m sure it’s just a precaution and all. I’ll be back on my feet before you can say Kia Ora, eh!” The words of Julian echoed in her mind with that goofy smile, hoping to reassure her and having it fail dismally.



“Kia Ora.” She said quietly, almost hoping the words would turn back time. Naturally, they did not.

Hi

She had spent two long days in the sickbay back on the station, wanting to spend as much time with Julian as she could. When he asked to see ‘our little starfish’ for the third time, she knew it was really bad. Larissa had watched him crumble, through vomiting, seizures, skin changes, lethargy and going from sharp as a tack to struggling mentally in a matter of 24 hours. She knew it was a mercy when he passed, yet she was banging on that isolation glass. She had wanted to touch him, have one last hug goodbye. They had not even been able to truly celebrate her being pregnant. Larissa wasn’t even sure if he knew she was there when things went downhill or when he slipped away. She couldn’t even remember how many days in a row she had been crying after that day. Sure her ‘sisters’ had been looking after her. They wanted to make sure that Larissa came through okay and didn’t stress to the point of losing ‘bubby’.



Sadly, she had lost him before her own journey had really begun. Four and a half years, gone in the blink of an eye and it really hurt.



With a shaky breath she went over to iso room 1 and changed over its connections to being off the secondary grid and back over to the original one. She powered the room up and monitored it for a while. She saw a flicker in the field for a good five seconds that got her attention. “Okay, that shouldn’t be happening. Maybe I need to go in there, do a manual shutdown and trace before round 2. With the field down she stepped into the room and began to tinker around on her PADD near the main internal panel, trying to start a trace.



Larissa brought the room back online and began a live scan as she tinkered away. The room was in full active mode for a good 25 minutes before it went into a hard reset. The lights went out, the shield went down, and the door was hard locked and sealed from the outside. Larissa panicked. Alone, in the dark, with no way to get out and she was sealed in an iso room, just like Julian had been. Larissa crumbled into the corner, knowing banging and such was of no help. She started to bawl, thinking of Julian, Jenny and RJ.



There was a little girl inside of Larissa that was now panicking and pounding on the inner attic door. That was one game of hide and seek she would never forget. Locked in a closet space in the attic was not her idea of a good time, this was even worse.



"Julian!!!" She screamed. "Julian, why?! I want to get out!! I want to go home! Julian... I miss you....





AR-JAY!!!! AR-JAY, HELP!!!!"



In reality, it was useless to call out like that; yet it helped her feel better. Larissa just fell into a crying git, on the floor shaking badly.







15 minutes later





Pix flew nearly into the control panel of Isolation Rom #1. Hitting the inactive controls with force, trying to give impulses to a dead display. She felt the fear and more like a cold wall of emotion, past the normal freak-out saturation point.



Not satisfied with the lack of results Pix hovered to the Observation Window to pound the thick glass, trying to glow bright enough to illuminate the pitch-black room. She needed to get in there, she had to quench the growing fear and sheer flood of emotions.



Milton had a pain in his gut, sharp as a dull knife while he felt Pix all but panicking. He moved to where he knew Pix hovered, the Isolation Room number One had darkness, it was operating not half an hour ago, it is on the closed network and should be in normal Operating Mode.



Close up, the room appeared to be a blackened pool, no light in the room as not even Pix glowing penetrated the interior.



Milton noted without power the motors held the door firm. Practice and years of experience as a Doc in a sickbay, he knew where the Manual Release is and quickly had the door free to move.



Sliding it slowly into the wall pocket, Pix flashing past him when she could, Milton got the door open.



"Now what is all the fuss Pix?" Milton said as he entered the darkened room...



There was a sobbing coming from the corner. There was the shape of a person, curled up to their knees, sobbing and shaking heavily. There was the light tinkle of metal against metal, and they could be seen rocking slightly.



Milton crossed quickly to kneel beside the figure. He took stock of the young woman, shock and near catatonic state, she did not really notice the light filtering in.



It was her perfume that got him first, both distinct and known to Milton. Light, floral and slightly tropical.



"Miss Riley..." Pix landed and her glow tried to brighten yet the catatonic state dulled her reception of Emotion, she could not brighten enough. "Doctor Milton here, do you hear me?"



"Julian, why did you have to go? Why did they give that assignment, why hadn't it been serviced more regularly... why did they forget me in that attic....nobody likes being alone in the dark at five years old..."



It was not going to work, the room and dark were containing her, he gently scooped her in his arms and got up with her. Not as easy as in his youth, but in shape as he is the task was done.



"Larissa... it is RJ, can you give me a sign you hear me?"



It was hard for Larissa to stop crying. She at least leant into the warm and gentle arms. There was still the sound of clinking metal. And her left hand was balled up around something.



Crossing the Medical bay to the office he entered with Larissa, going to the sofa, her arms still around his neck.



Pix closed and locked the door, the shades drawn to assure no one sees Miss Riley in this state. Last thing was to bring a blanket, wrapping Miss Larissa; and consequently, Her Rutherford up together. "It will be okay, you are in safe place."



"I hate the dark! Tight dark spaces you cannot get out of suck! Kia Ora... I must have said those words a hundred times walking past the iso rooms to Maternity. I dreaded that walk!!" She bawled a little harder. How can everyone tell you; you can't be afraid of the dark or you will be okay, you are strong, you can endure anything even without him."



"Well-meaning but they do not understand your feelings." Milton held her a little tighter. "Only having lost someone could they understand... the hole in the chest where your heart once was..."Milton relayed to her. "You will be able to get along, and the dark is only scary when you are alone." There was a gentle squeeze. "You are not alone ... no reason to be scared."



“You said you would be okay! You were joking with me! I lost you and had to deal with such pain, on my own! I wanted you there with me! I didn’t have anyone when I was alone in the attic closet, it was just me in tears, stuck in such a tight little space with no light at all! When we found out about Jenny, I thought we had the whole world ahead of us. I guess we both thought we were a little too bulletproof! Now, I… met somebody new. I know you said that it was okay to move on. So, why would I feel guilty, hesitate about being happy with him?!”



Milton had to hesitate with her musings, she had met someone; maybe he did have more than a snowball's chance with her? Interested and trembling in his arms with a traumatic flashback.



*Bad Bloody Timing.* He thought to himself.



"Larissa... He said close to her ear, blowing almost romantically to get her mind off the line of thinking. "Open yer little Ole eyes, you are safe..."



It was like glass shattered and she suddenly came up from the depths almost out of breath. There was a startled breath in before her eyes went wide, and Larissa fainted in his arms.



It was no longer than a couple of minutes before she woke. Almost like she had been scared into her own reset.



"Wha....what happened?" She could smell a familiar aftershave. "Ar-Jay?" Her eyes gradually opened, and things were blurry to start with. "We're not in the Iso room? It lost power, a hard reset.."



"Not a full reset obviously." Milton said. "Lucky that I know where to find the Manual Release." He assured, "Also in the CMO office just to be safe."



"I took it off the safe system. I needed to see what it was doing, to make heads or tails of the data. Boy, did I get more than I bargained for! I.... I didn't embarrass myself, did I?" She asked with a blush. "I think I might have been talking to.... my Fiancée for a moment there or was I dreaming?"



"Door locked and shades are drawn, you are safe from anything other than that ..." He chuckled. "Maybe a Nosey Rumor about you and the CMO behind closed doors." He winked. "Nothing I hope too embarrassing?"



She giggled a moment. "Not that bad at all. Now if I can just figure out why this is all happening, that would be great. Meeting you already feels like I was given mud cake for dessert."



"You are not talking Actual... Mud Pies like children make?" He was wondering what kind of social graces he is not getting. "They are a good thing, right?"



"Nah, not actual mud and they taste awesome. Think a really fudgy, dense chocolate cake with thick icing and chocolate shavings on it. I mean icing that sticks to the roof of your mouth, just about. It's a bit of a treat for me sometimes. Like I have heard for things like Key Lime pie and Beignets. I had a roomie rave about Beignets." She replied, finally relaxing in his arms, and feeling her heart flutter.



"You'all have a decadent side." Milton joked a bit. "That just sounds like yew got a sweet - tooth that takes up yer whole mouth?"



"They are all a bit sweet; I think. I did grow up with mum hand baking desserts and such. How about yourself? I could use a few minutes of getting to know someone, before I go back to bending my brain into a pretzel over this problem."



"I am a coffee snob, do not like replicated stuff; can stomach it in a pinch but Percolated is by far the best, and a special bean of course as the generic is bland." He chuckled. "I always have a pot perkin' in mah office."



"Ah, there's one in every crowd. I swear the station back home runs on that stuff. Most of them are straight up strong and straight types, almost like motor oil. I don't know how they like it that way." She lightly rolled her eyes.



"I'm more of a flavour girl. Something more like a sweet vanilla or hazelnut latte. Sometimes I even have a little cinnamon in it. I'll say this, Cinnamon infused sugar and thick cream are awesome on a waffle stack. I guess that is my 'naughty' breakfast." She said with a smile and light blush.



"Well you might have a mixed review of my coffee then." He tried not to stare at the cute blush and very attractive smile. "I have a Hazelnut blend that Ah prefer, if Yew'all brave enough might come to Sick Bay and share a cup." He started, grinning. "After the Motor Oil you might just like the change."



"Sounds like my sorta cup and that you're making it worth the call in. What about breakfast ideas, naughty or otherwise?" Ross leant into him a little.



"Ah am more of a Denver Omelette style morning. With the coffee sweeten it makes a smoother start."



"Sounds interesting. Okay, would you rather Boot Scoot, Ballet, or Ballroom?"



"I would rather the Ballroom, momma was quite insistent on a Gentleman is a Ballroom Dancer." He said.



"Okay. I love to boot scoot... and some other types of dancing. Not ballroom as much. What made you become a doctor? Quite a noble profession, and it seems to fit you like a glove. If you don't mind me saying." Larissa felt calm and was liking where she was curled up.



"Mah sister had some health issues and the doctors seemed to be doing 'Magic' while helping her heal." He replied. "It was noticed AH had an affinity for it so Mah Daddy Got me working medical, he said if Ah was goin' to make things disappear why not people's pain and all."



"Make things disappear? Sounds like you tinkered with magic before picking up a stethoscope. I almost went into medicine myself. I like puzzles, solving things that seem to have no obvious solution. Sadly, as much as I like the romance of it and things like the sound of a heartbeat, I'm no good with seeing blood or others in pain. So, I was introduced to a different kind of patient, circuits and microchips; yet no less alive or complicated... and here I am."



"Not much difference; you call it splicing circuits; we call it a bypass surgery." He chuckled. "You care for the computers that keep us alive and I care for the people who keep the ship alive."



"Is it usual after something like that to feel tired? I kinda just want to stay here like this all afternoon, even though I know I can't. Happen to know any magic that can slow or stop time?" Riss replied, a soft smile on her face.



"You were emotionally distraught." He began. "What the mind thinks or feels the body reacts." He chuckled. "Physically drained after emotional roller coaster... I think a little tired is in order." He winked. "And no one controls the flow of time."



"You're bursting my bubble here. After all, if a mage can make things disappear why not slow down time?"



"Even magic has rules." Milton replied. "I utilize magic but cannot abuse it." He caressed her back. "I am quite comfortable as well, but on a mission we should not be... comfortable you know?"



"Makes you not want to be on a mission, doesn't it? Sometimes duty can be both honorable and a pain. There are some kinds of things that you can get very used to." Larissa said, finding herself getting drawn in by his voice and lost in his eyes.



"Medically we call that 'habit forming." He said with a grin. "Too much of a good Habit could become ... more of a strong habitual behavior." Milton wanted to kiss her. "If Ah might be so bold, Yew could be very Habit forming, if given the opportunity."



Riss leant into him a bit more, head on his shoulder. "I think that goes both ways, Ar-Jay."

"New habit will wait until the ship, right?" He winked. "Not to break the moment but maybe suggest .... more moments later?" He asked with some hope?

"That would be nice. Larissa replied while knowing her moment was; indeed, over.


OFF

Lt. Rutherford Milton
Chief Medical Officer

Larissa Riley
Computer Programming Specialist