The Ansha Tales: Recovery
In the back of the Botanical Sciences lab at Deep Space 13, Lieutenant Daritt and Lieutenant Junior Grade Erto held the green mass of fungal tissue gently as they lowered it into the larger, 6 foot long, tank. The tank was filled with a human skeleton made of duranium, and in the eye sockets sat two specially designed prosthetic eyes. This was submerged in a greenish liquid that would act as food for the fungal colony that is Ansha Wind-People.
The two botanists lowered Ansha into the tank carefully, and having done that, two tendril-like features rose up, wrapped around a hand on each and gave a quick squeeze before retreating back into the liquid below. It was Ansha’s only way at this point of saying “thank you” to the two scientists who had nursed her back to health.
Daritt and Erto smiled and nodded, shut the top hatch, and then as the clear tank darkened for privacy, they walked away. The next few days would be up to Ansha.
A cadet, Heidi Reese, who happened to also be a registered nurse made her rounds through the recovery ward. Some of the survivors of the lost USS Ecstasea were not cleared for travel so they would have to wait a while longer to go on their recovery leave. She would stop by each bed if possible and would kneel at their bedside to check their vitals. She did her best to reassure them and bring a bit of holiday cheer to those that needed it.
Sometimes that cheer was a book, a game, maybe a PADD, maybe snacks and treats, and sometimes all that was needed was a friendly voice and a smile.
The survivors who were cleared for travel made their way to the shuttle platforms to head out on their recovery leave. Many hugged each other before boarding shuttles to their respective destinations.
Most walked silently, as though they still were processing what had happened. All were engulfed in waves of relief, as well as sorrow. A few still had injuries of one sort or another. Some needed and received assistance from either medical personnel or from their fellow crew mates.
Lieutenant Junior Grade Zachary Sweazey held two bags, as he walked beside Lieutenant Anakkei Solla, who was upright but on crutches and in leg braces, something she had insisted upon, only relenting to let Zach carry her luggage. Once at the platform with a cruiser heading to Andoria they stopped. Zachary handed one bag to a boarding agent, and laid his bag on the ground. They then engaged in an embrace, with Anakkei closing her eyes and smiling. She pulled back from Zach and said “take care of yourself, jackass,” to which he laughed and nodded. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and then with assistance sat down in a hover chair.
As she was wheeled around and pushed into the passenger cruiser he stood and watched her with a smile. He stood there for a good while, long enough to watch the ship disconnect from the docking port and move out on impulse power into the reaches of space.
He continued to stare into space for a few moments only being stirred from his trance by the sound of a boarding announcement. He then grabbed his bag and turned to walk to the shuttle bound for Earth.