Suddenly, this creature was of much more interest. I decided to take it back with me to the complex and give it a proper inspection, and, hopefully, heal it.
I decided to carry it in my pack, since I definitely couldn't climb back up with it in my arms.
This is probably a good time to explain how I can hold so many things in my pack, since I would utilize this special quality soon.
You see, before the Disasters, there was a cartoon-based theory of a separate dimension called the Hammerspace. Hammerspace is the place characters go to when they disappear behind a tree or pole, and where items that are seemingly pulled from nowhere are hidden. It was, in fact, named after Misty's famous hammer in Pokemon, an example of a use of the Hammerspace.
In my time, a device was invented that connected reality with this new dimension, proving it real. This later evolved into products being made that can hold items in Hammerspace, giving much greater versatility in item storage. My pack is one such product.
Anyway, I took several blankets from the Hammerspace and lined the pack with them, then gently picked up the animal.
It took almost no resistance to lift it, and it was so light that I could barely feel it. I carefully curled its 4-foot frame up so that it could fit in my pack, then placed it on the blankets.
I took a short time to look at it. It was still unconscious, but its situation hadn't worsened yet. That would hopefully last until I was able to help it further.
I zipped up the pack and put it back on, then took out my scanner to make my way back to my rope. I walked slowly, careful not to bump the creature around inside the pack.
When I found the rope, I unknotted the loose end from the rock, reattached the clips to my belt loops and tugged on the loose end to begin pulling myself back up, still careful not to jar the pack.
When I got back to the top, I just detached the clips and started speed-walking back to the complex. The rope would be here when I came back, and I had bigger priorities right now.
I got to my apartment and went in, closing and locking the door to my room behind me. I knew that this creature needed immediate help, but I also couldn't risk anybody else finding out about it.
When the lock was secure, I went to my bed and put my pack down on the corner, clearing away the papers from the mattress. I unzipped my pack and looked at the creature.
It was still alive, thankfully, and didn't seem any worse off than earlier. I carefully took it out and laid it on its back, then straightened out its arms and legs.
I got my notebook and wrote down every injury I saw.
DENTED SKULL, LIKELY CRACKED
CONCUSSION
INJURIES TO LEFT EYE, NOSE, EAR, AND MOUTH
DISLOCATED RIGHT SHOULDER
BROKEN RIGHT ARM, MULTIPLE FRACTURE
ONE MISSING RIGHT TALON
SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS
DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND HEART
CRUSHED LEFT FOOT
IMPACTED LEFT PELVIS
NO EXTERIOR INJURIES, SOME INTERNAL BLEEDING
I took my scanner out and scanned it to examine its internal structures and brain waves.
NO DETECTABLE DAMAGE TO OTHER VITALS
VITAL SIGNS MOSTLY NORMAL
BRAIN WAVES: NORMAL THETA WAVE LEVELS
Next, I put down my notebook and took out a first aid kit from my pack, sending the blankets back to the Hammerspace.
I reset the shoulder, earning another groan from the animal, and wrapped gauze around the broken arm after lining it up as well as I could, then wrapped the gauze around its chest, head, and hips. The foot I decided to leave for when I had better equipment.
I looked at the animal, now wrapped in the gauze. I realized that, in order to give it better treatment, I would have to tell somebody about the animal. I didn't have any advanced medical equipment, and this animal needed several full-blown surgeries.
I thought over the problem, then remembered the girl from the Macromolecular Facilities, Karen Wu. She had said she was also in the medical offices. She already technically knew about the animal, since she had seen its DNA, but a live specimen was something in an entirely different league. As well as that, it wasn't even night yet, and there were still 3 months left before the vacation ended. But she was the only person I knew there, and she probably could at least secure an operating room.
I decided to risk it, and opened my watch, pressing the central button.
"Karen Wu." I said to the watch, and it sent the call.
I barely had to wait at all before she answered, and her face appeared on the screen. She looked worn out.
"Hey, David!" she said, and her face suddenly lifted. I realized how beautiful she was now, since the last time we had met, we had both been wearing the visors of the anticontamination suits.
"What is it?" she asked, seeing my face, which still showed the worry I felt for the animal I had found.
"Remember the DNA test I made?" I asked. Karen nodded. "Well, I called to tell you something important about it, and to ask you a favor."
"What is it?" she asked. I shook my head.
"I don't think I can say it here. Can you come to my apartment so I can show you?" I said. Karen laughed before she noticed just how serious I was.
"Sure. Where's your apartment?" she asked.
"It's right next to the 2nd mountain tunnel from the main exit. It's a compound apartment." I said. Karen nodded.
''Alright. I'll be there in 65,703,600 revs.'' she said. I nodded, and she hung up.
I closed my watch and looked back at the unconscious animal. "Don't worry. You'll get help soon." I said to it. It, naturally, didn't reply.
Later, I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, Karen was standing there.
''What was it you wanted to tell me?'' she asked, shifting her pack.
I moved out of the way so she could walk in, and closed and locked the door behind her, then turned to face her.
''Well, I spent several hours studying the DNA sheets, then took a break since it's the first day of Suma. I decided to go exploring the area underneath the complex.''
''That's interesting, but what does this have to do with the DNA?'' Karen asked.
''While I was exploring, I stumbled across something I never thought I'd see. It was an animal, one of the same species as the one that shed the talon lining. And not only was it the same species, it was also live.'' I said. Karen gasped.
''You actually saw one? And it was alive!?'' she exclaimed. I nodded.
''Alive, but very weak.'' I said.
''How weak?'' Karen asked, a tone of worry appearing in her voice.
''I'll show you. Follow me.'' I said, walking into my room.
Karen followed, and gasped again when she saw the gauze-wrapped animal. When she saw the telltale claws, she stood still, unable to comprehend its existence.
She was snapped out of her trance by realizing how injured it really was. ''How many injuries?'' she asked. I handed her my notebook, still on the page with the list. She read over it, then asked for a pen. I gave her one, and she updated the list, observing the animal to see what to put.
She handed it back to me. She had added three more injuries, and crossed out the dislocated shoulder. ''It'll need 4 major surgeries and several minor ones. The head and chest surgeries need to be done within the next several superrevs.''
''Can you get somebody to carry them out on such short notice?'' I asked. Karen looked at me and nodded.
''I'm certified for all the surgeries that it needs. Nobody else has to be told about it.'' she said. I hesitated, then nodded.
''Where should we take it?'' I asked. Karen thought for a few hundred thousand revs.
''I think we should take it outside somewhere. The cold will make it much easier, and there's less chance of anybody finding it before it's ready.''
I nodded. ''Alright. I know a good place. Should I take it there, or should I help you get the materials first?''
''I can get them alone. Where will you be?''
''I'll be at the peak of Mount Perdu. Should I get it a cot or something?''
''A flat rock is fine. Not enough time to get everything.''
I nodded, and she left to get the materials. I watched her leave, then went back inside.
I got the blankets again and lined my pack once more, then carefully lifted the animal, which groaned again, and placed it on the blankets, zipping the pack back up. I carefully put it on and walked out the door, heading to Mount Perdu.
Later, at Mount Perdu…
I stood up when I saw Karen coming. She nodded, looking at me, and then looked at the animal, which was laying on a flat rock I found, still unconscious.
She took out the surgical materials and began operating.
A few superrevs later…
Its brain suddenly jump-started, bringing it out of unconsciousness. It felt something poking around in its chest, but couldn't open its eyes to see what it was. When it tried to move, it found itself completely paralyzed. When it tried to breathe, nothing came in. It started feeling helpless, an emotion it wasn't used to. This lead to it panicking, and its mind began racing with images it would have done anything to forget.
It felt the metal thing leave its chest, and felt something being lowered into the space. It felt a short, sharp pain in each of its ribs, followed by its skin being pulled shut and more sharp pains.
The animal suddenly gasped, and silently thanked itself for being able to breathe. It panted, then forced itself to slow down, as each breath made the pains return.
It felt something being lowered onto its mouth and nose, followed by a strange gas that made it lightheaded. It felt its mind slowly slip into unconsciousness again.
''I finished the head and chest surgeries. Now there's a much larger time window to fix the rest.'' Karen said. I walked out from behind a rock face, and Karen laughed.
''You look like you've seen a ghost.'' she said. I blushed.
''Look, I have hematophobia. I can barely stand papercuts, much less full-on surgery.''
She just laughed again and continued, washing off the surgical instruments she had used in some alcohol. ''Well, now that the major surgeries are done, I'd say we have about 96 superrevs to complete the other surgeries, and, depending on the animal's natural ability to heal, recovery time will take until about mid-July or August.''
She looked at the animal worriedly. ''Any idea where it can stay for that long without being discovered?''
I sighed. ''Well, we can't just let it go, and I can't hide it in my apartment for that long. I'll take it back until I can think of a better place to put it, and just hope nobody visits until then. There's also my roommate to worry about, but I don't think he'll really bother with my room.''
Karen nodded. ''I'm going to go ahead and start the minor surgeries now.''
I nodded back and walked behind the rock face again.
"By the way," Karen added, "It's a female, if that changes anything."