━━ Numb Tongue
System Loading... Bethany O'Neal... 23%

The shuttle docked aboard the enterprise with a soft hiss and once again Reagan Kelly was the first cadet off the transporter. Bethany and Leonard followed behind with Jim who looked to be severely dehydrated as his normal color began to fade to white. Bethany constantly looked over at him in worry, but said nothing as they helped guide him towards sick bay.

"We need to get you changed." Leonard said.

"I don't feel right. I feel like I'm leaking."

Bethany looked at Jim in alarm, "What?"

"Hell, it's that pointy-eared bastard."

Leonard paid no heed to Jim's statement as he swerved to avoid the Vulcan commander. Reagan had since left them, making her way to the bridge to report to her captain. Bethany and Leonard hauled Jim onto one of the turbo lifts to get to sick bay faster.

"Where are we?" Jim asked as they exited the lift.

"Medical bay." Bethany answered, moving him towards a bed in the back.

"This is worth it."

"A little suffering's good for the soul." Leonard said gruffly.

"Who hurt you?" Bethany asked.

Jim was paying no attention to his friends as he flirted with some nearby nurses. Bethany rolled her eyes and flopped him down onto an examination bed. Leonard left to grab some supplies while Bethany did her best to make him comfortable. However, Jim was a squirmy patient and she kept glaring at him every time he would readjust.

"My mouth is itchy, is that normal?" Jim asked her.

Bethany wasn't the one to reply as Leonard came over with an injector, "Well, those symptoms won't last long. I'm going to give you a mild sedative."

"Agh, I wish I didn't know you."

Bethany laughed, "Is that directed at me or Bones?"

"Both of you."

"Don't be such an infant." Bones replied as he applied the sedative.

"Aggh... how long is it supposed to…"

"Unbelievable."

Within seconds Jim Kirk was passed out and Bethany wiped some drool away. She turned to Leonard only for him to leave, not sparing a second glance at his friend. Bethany left Kirk in peace and found herself making the rounds and counting supplies. On the screen behind her came the picture of a young cadet she had back in Iowa.

She couldn't help but smile as she listened to him speak, "Soon after, Starfleet received a distress signal from Wulcan High Command that their planet was experiencing seismic actiwity. Our mission is to assess the condition of Wulcan, and to assist in the ewacuations if necessary. We should be arriving at Wulcan within three minutes. Thank you for your time."

Bethany watched as the image faded to the Starfleet emblem before returning back to Jim's side. She was checking his vitals when the man sprung from the bed, scaring her the process. The sudden movement caused her to drop her pad as she began lecturing him.

"What have I told you about scaring me? Do you want me to sick Reagan on you? Cause I will!"

Jim didn't listen to her, "Lightning storm!"

Bethany placed her hand on her hips, not at all amused, "What kind of an excuse is that?"

"Uh, Jim, you're awake. How do you feel?"

Jim didn't listen as he looked to be deep in thought as Leonard looked over his charts. Bethany waited patiently beside him as she waited for further instructions. However to her horror Jim's hands seemed to be swelling at a horrifying weight.

"Oh my god!"

"Good god, man!"

"What? Ah!" Jim looked down in horror. "What the hell's this?!"

"Reaction to the vaccine. Dammit! Nurse O'Neal, I need fifty cc's of cortisone."

Bethany didn't bother answering as she did what she was told. She could hear Jim replaying Pavel's message as Jim scanned him for further reactions. She rummaged through the cabinet and quickly put the cortisone in the injector. She turned moments later and handed Leonard the applicator, only for Jim to take off.

"We got to stop the ship!"

Bethany and Leonard took off after him with the doctor calling out, "Jim! I'm not kidding, we need to keep your heart rate down!"

Jim paid no attention as he asked a local computer to locate Nyota. Bethany was confused, but her sole focus was on his health. She tried her best to restrain him so that Leonard could deliver the dosage, but once the computer told Jim of Nyota's location he took off again.

"Jim stop!"

"I haven't seen a reaction this severe since med school." Leonard looked over at her.

"I haven't seen this at all!"

They continued to pursue Jim through the ship until he finally stopped long enough for Leonard to inject him. The cadet was less than happy as he sent a glare in their reaction, but they were more concerned with his health. Bethany paid no mind to the conversation between Jim and Nyota as she once again checked his vitals.

It wasn't until Jim started slurring his words that Leonard looked even more concerned, "You got numb tongue?"

"Numb tongue!" Jim yelled looking over at Bethany.

"It's another severe side effect of the vaccine." She answered. "We need to get you back to the med bay. This isn't good for your respiratory system."

"I can fix that!" Leonard stated before taking off back to the med bay.

Bethany stayed by Jim's side trying her best to keep him upright as he leaned against her from exhaustion. She used her shirt to wipe away beads of sweat and kept an eye on his ever fluctuating vitals. Meanwhile Jim continued his conversation with Nyota.

"Romulan!"

"What?"

Jim took a moment before clearly stating, "Romulan."

"Romulan?" Nyota asked in confirmation.

"Yeah."

"Yes."

"What is happening?" Bethany asked, looking between the two.

Moments later Leonard returned and injected another medicine into Jim's shoulder. Bethany did her best to hold him steady as she pondered why he was so desperate to say the word 'Romulan'. At first she thought it had something to do with the reaction, but now she wasn't so sure.

"Ahh... dammit!" Jim cried out in both anger and pain.

"Hold still so we can treat you properly." Bethany scolded.

"I need to stop this ship!"

With that he took off again with Bethany, Leonard, and now Nyota following after him. Bethany looked down and felt fear course through her as his vital signs grew to a dangerous level. If he kept this up he would begin convulsing as body tried to ward off the unknown substance. She kept running after him, until they entered the bridge where all eyes landed on them.