Thank you for the reviews. I now have another chapter.
Chapter 3
That afternoon Beka was in the gym doing a light workout with a speed bag. Trance had cleared her for duty and encouraged limited physical activity on the part of the part of the executive officer. She needed to vent some of her frustration. "I'll be there in a few minutes," Beka replied.
As soon as Rhade and Beka arrived Trance began her briefing. Dylan sat behind his desk while Beka and Rhade stood on the other side of the desk.
"Harper's fever is subsiding."
"That is good news. Harper gave us a scare." Dylan stated with relief.
Rhade noticed the medic's solemn expression and immediately became concerned. "I would hazard a guess that Harper is not out of the proverbial woods yet."
Trance decided not to beat around the bush. "I am concerned about the weakness Harper is experiencing in his limbs. When I asked Harper how he was feeling he mentioned weakness in his limbs. I'm running additional test right now."
The Beka's mind immediately assumed the worst. She knew Trance would not have called the senior crew together like this if there only good news about Harper. "You don't mean Harper is paralyzed?"
Trance immediately attempted to allay Beka's fears. "No he's not paralyzed. His symptoms right now are more akin to an old Earth disease called polio."
"Is there any cure Trance?" Dylan pressed.
Trance turned to the High Guard captain saying, "I believe so. I haven't been able to positively identify the cause of Harper's illness yet, but if my suspicion is correct then I will be able cure him."
"At least there is a good reason to be hopeful," Rhade mused.
"Yes, for once we can give Harper a positive prognosis," Beka agreed.
Trance was unable to share their enthusiasm. "I'm afraid the prognosis is not all positive. If I am correct and Harper has the Malakan Virus then he's going to get worse before he recovers."
"But Harper will recover if he has the virus?" Beka questioned.
Trance looked back to the executive officer and offered a slight smile. "Nearly all patients who have contracted the Malakan Virus have survived. Harper's lack of a strong immune system will make his recovery more difficult, but not impossible."
Rhade put a comforting hand on the executive officer's shoulder. "Don't give up hope Beka. Harper's been ill before and he's always come through."
"Thanks Rhade, I wish I could be as confident," Beka confessed.
"Beka I'd like to run some tests on you to see if you have the same virus," Trance interrupted. "If you don't mind Dylan I'd like to get started on the tests right now."
Dylan dismissed the golden woman with a waive of his hand. "I think we've covered everything. Trance, I'm going to send all of the crew to Medical to be tested to be on the safe side."
The golden medic nodded her head in agreement. "I'll get back to you so we can devise a schedule." With that she and Beka left for Medical.
"There never seems to be a dull moment around here Captain," Rhade remarked.
"And I could use a dull moment for once," Dylan stated. "Having Harper seriously ill is bad enough but I don't need Beka to be laid up as well."
Rhade approached the captain's desk and took a breath. "With Beka I'm sure if she has the Malakan Virus that Trance has caught it in time. Harper is a fighter so I trust his ability to beat the virus."
Dylan stood up and walked the Nietzschean to the door. "Let keep our fingers crossed."
Trance noticed Beka was having difficulty sitting still on the examination table. "Beka it's not like you to feel nervous when I'm going to draw blood."
Beka squeezed her fist as Trance put a small bandage over the puncture wound. "I'm not nervous Trance. I just don't like being in a medical facility; no offense intended."
Trance wrote down Beka's symptoms on a flexi. "How are you feeling? Have you been experiencing anything out of the ordinary?"
"I feel fine; a little tired maybe, but that's probably from the trip and worrying about Harper. I don't feel nauseous like Harper at least," Beka answered truthfully.
As Beka jumped down from the table her legs nearly buckled underneath her. Trance moved to help the blonde but Beka shook her off.
"Beka I think you had better stay here in Medical until I get the results of the tests," Trance advised.
Beka had no choice but to give in to the golden woman. "Alright Trance but I can make it to a bed on my own. Can I be next to Harper?"
"Of course," Trance agreed as she helped Beka to a bed to the right of Harper's.
Trance had set up a draw station in the small lab room next to Medical where she would take samples of crew member's blood. Dylan and Rhade were the first to be scheduled for testing for the Malakan Virus. With their blood drawn Rhade and Dylan checked on Harper and Beka before leaving Medical. As they left two crew members who worked in the mess kitchen arrived to be tested.
Trance quickly attempted to reassure the young crew members before showing them to their seats. Trance instructed the two crew members to wait while she spoke with Dylan and Rhade.
"I quarantined off Medical and placed Harper and Beka there," Trance informed as she grabbed two masks and two pairs of protective clothes. "You can see them but you need to put on the masks and clothes first."
Rhade and Dylan quickly complied and were led into the quarantined section Medical. The sight of Dylan and Rhade in the medical clothes produced a few chuckles from Beka and Harper.
The captain and the commander realized their best option was to ignore the chuckles.
"Trance, don't tell me you have another patient with Malakan Virus," Dylan stated in a light manner.
"I heard such good things about the accommodations here I decided to check in myself," Beka joked.
Rhade picked up on the tone of the conversation and kept it going. "It looks like I'll have to get by with Captain Hunt as my workout partner for the time being then."
"I hope to see both of you up around soon," Dylan remarked.
The engineer tried to put up a brave front, not wanting to let on that he was worried that he might not fully recover. "Yup, I don't plan on lying around here forever and deprive you all of my genius talents."
Trance stepped in to place a tray containing a bowl of soup on Harper's bed. "It's time for your dinner Harper."
"It's not so bad being laid up in here. I'll finally have time to read the latest holo novel I bought," Beka announced with a cheerfulness that sounded forced.
"And don't forget that I am great company," Harper chimed in as Trance wiped drops of soup from his mouth with a napkin.
Trance was ready to shoo Dylan and Rhade out of the room. "Now I have some tests to perform and I'm sure you two have work to do so why don't we let Harper and Beka get some rest?"
"Get well you two." Rhade encouraged as he headed for the door
"We'll do what we can," Beka assured.
"Yeah especially seeing as how Dylan couldn't get along without us," Harper piped in.
Once Dylan and Rhade were gone Beka looked over at the engineer. "How about a game of holo chess Shorty?"
"Nah think I'll pass on that. Would you mind reading to me from a holo novel like you used on the Maru?"
"Sure thing Shorty," Beka agreed. "I'll ask Rommie to drop off some of my holo novels."
That night AI Rommie arrived with the holo novels from the Maru. The android wouldn't admit it but she pleased to have the chance to look in on Beka and Harper and talk to them. While her ship self kept AI Rommie informed of the Beka and Harper's conditions it didn't make up for the companionship the executive officer and the engineer provided.
After AI Rommie left them alone Beka began reading the holo novel Harper picked out. Beka paused from reading a holo novel to look over at Harper. The engineer had fallen fast asleep. Beka was relieved that her reading managed to get Harper's mind off of his illness. Not long afterwards Beka herself fell sound asleep.