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Chapter 29 - Jump to Action

Arles and Lance sat in the Control Room of the ship. The lights were dimmed and they sat facing one another on opposite sides of the room. Arles threw the ball of light to Lance, which he leaned nearly too far over in his chair to catch.

Arles laughed. "Sorry about that."

Lance grinned, righted himself, and threw the ball of light back to his nephew. "So, has Lewis told you why he wants this meeting?"

Arles shook his head and threw the ball again. "Nope. He's not said anything to me."

Lance groaned, "He's not said anything to me either. Although, he said 'separate'."

Arles caught the ball. "That he did. What's your bet then?"

Lance chuckled, "I say he's going to have us go to the Augantu System to see what Tony Tyler is doing."

Arles groaned, "Oh, Sammy will love that."

Lance tossed Arles the ball again, "What's your thought?"

Arles held onto the ball and shook his head. "I think, he's going to take Sammy. Something has happened where he's going to need a Doctor, and he's going to send us home."

Lance narrowed his eyes at his nephew. "Sure he's not told you-"

"He hasn't told me anything!" Arles insisted and threw the ball back to Lance.

Lance laughed just as the ship's engines' tone changed, and the stars stopped forming lines across the large window. Both Lance and Arles sprang up and started looking over the controls.

"What did you hit?" Arles asked.

Lance shook his head. "Wasn't me. Friday. What's going on?"

Friday spoke, "Doctor Samuel Bennett has declared a medical emergency."

Lance and Arles looked at one another in shock.

Friday continued. "Inter-ship transport had to be used."

Lewis came on the speaker. "Hey! You lot alright?"

Arles was already headed out of the Control Room. "I'll get to the med bay."

Lance nodded at his nephew as he answered Lewis. "Yeah. We're sorting out what happened."

Lewis replied. "We're looping about and will join you."

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Arles ran down the hallway with his heart in his throat. What had happened? Was it Halley? These thoughts consumed his mind as he ran into the med bay.

"Sam?!" He shouted.

"Back here!" He heard Sam's voice.

He ran to the first examination room where he found Samuel standing next to a bed with an unconscious Karen lying on it. All of the screens were beginning to display information as to her vitals and stats.

Arles rushed over and picked up Karen's wrist to check her pulse. "What happened?"

Samuel didn't look at his brother. He shook his head and stammered. "I. I don't know."

Arles laid Karen's wrist back on the bed.

Samuel was looking over the screens. "This all reads as normal! Then why is she out?"

Arles put his hands on his hips and continued to look at Karen. "Did she hit her head?"

"No! She…."

Arles rose his eyebrows. "She what, man?"

Samuel looked at his brother. Arles could see the fear that came with the tears in his eyes. "I did this."

Arles rushed over to the other side of the bed. "I've got this, Sammy-"

Samuel shook his head. "Arles. She was fine. And then she wasn't…."

Arles pushed Samuel into a chair. He took Karen's hand and put it in Samuel's. "There. You are relieved. I've got this."

Samuel fear was threatening to overtake him. He put Karen's hand into both of his and kissed it gently. Arles was sure he heard him mumble, "Karen, I'm so sorry."

Arles' heart was about to beat out of his chest. He held his hands out to steady himself. "Okay. Calm down. Don't panic. Start simple. A."

"Assess and airway. It's clear." Samuel told him. "The computer is still assessing."

Arles clicked through the screens. "And it's all normal. B."

"She's breathing."

Arles nodded, "C. Circulation. That's fine."

Tears fell from Samuel's eyes.

Arles clicked through the screens. "Where is Halley?"

Samuel looked as if someone punched him in the gut. "Damn it. Halley. She's sleeping in the cot."

"Where?"

"Back in the suite." Samuel insisted and stood up. "I've left her. I need to go get her."

"No, you stay. Lance has sent Jane to get her. She's fine. Don't worry."

Samuel sat back down and took Karen's hand again. "I'm such shit."

Arles pointed warningly at his brother. "You are only one person. Friday!"

Friday spoke, "How may I assist you?"

Arles flipped through the screens and looked over Karen again. "Please connect me to Doctor Johnathon Smith. It's an emergency, so override anything he may have on."

Samuel leaned forward in the chair and took a deep breath. "I can't believe this."

Arles clicked through the screens and walked out of the room. He stopped as he got to the door and pointed at Samuel. "Stay."

Samuel took Karen's hands in his own again, bringing them up to his face. As soon as the door closed behind Arles, he began to sob.

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The Doctor appeared on the screen in the other exam room. He had wet hair that he rubbed with a towel, and was wearing a dressing gown. "So, what's the emergency, son?"

Arles groaned and shook his head. He mumbled, "Oh, so gross."

The Doctor rubbed his face and turned to throw the towel back into the bathroom.

Rose, unseen, teased, "You missed."

The Doctor laughed. "If I had wanted to hit you, I would have."

Arles closed his eyes and groaned under his breath. "I may be sick."

The Doctor turned back to the screen. "Well?"

Arles cleared his throat. "Maybe this could wait-"

The Doctor waved his hand to excuse his words. "I'm here. What?"

Arles covered his mouth and replanted his feet. "Ummmm. Well, you can get dressed-"

The Doctor grew impatient. "I'm as bloody dressed as I need to be for a transmission, son! What is this? Are you going to demand I put on a suit?"

Arles groaned. "Dad-"

"That's right! I'm your Dad! Changed your nappy just hours ago-"

"Oh bloody hell-"

The Doctor rolled his eyes, "Well, I suppose it wasn't actually you. It would be argued-"

"Ugh! Dad! Karen is unconscious. Sammy declared a medical -"

"Unconscious. Where is Sam?"

"He's with her, but I've relieved him of his medical responsibilities."

The Doctor looked surprised and nodded, "Good. He's probably in no state of mind to do anything. Give him something for his nerves."

Arles nodded, "Noted. All of her vitals read normal, and I've linked you to them on your phone."

The Doctor nodded and appeared to swipe something on the screen as he continued to speak to Arles, "Good. I see it. Okay. Weird. Well-"

"I think it's probably neurological. I want to know if you have a scanner onboard?"

The Doctor looked impressed. "Of course I do-wait. Why aren't you a doctor?"

"Focus, Dad. Where is the scanner then?"

"It's in the cupboard to the left. In the back. Behind the sweets."

Arles turned and began to look in the cupboard. "Got it, Dad."

"And stay out of my sweets!"

Arles rolled his eyes. "I'll just let Genie know they are here."

"Now, that's just uncalled for son." The Doctor crossed his arms. He rolled his eyes, "And Lewis is coming aboard now."

Arles pulled the small scanner out of the cupboard. It was only as large as the palm of his hand. "Okay. Setting six?"

The Doctor nodded and held up his finger, "Yes. Umm. Lewis and I are chatting. Just a bit."

Arles made the adjustments on the scanner. "Got it."

"Setting six, don't go any higher than seven. I'll watch for the results. None of this makes sense."

Arles continued to look at the scanner. "Okay."

Rose walked out of the loo wearing a blue dressing gown and wrapped her arms around the Doctor's waist. "Baby, there's still plenty of hot water."

The Doctor smiled at her and kissed her lips quickly. "I'll be straight back."

Arles closed his eyes and made a face of disgust.

The Doctor looked back at him. "And, I'll be in touch."

Arles didn't even say good-bye. He reached up, without looking, and ended the transmission. He mumbled. "This is grown child abuse."

He turned around and carried the scanner out of the room.

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