Part 11

Harper was hesitant as Doctor Richter tried to encourage him to lie back on the cot, and Beka quickly held Harper's hand, seeing the doctor was ready to begin treatment.

"It's ok, Harper, it's just a cot," Beka confirmed, and Harper finally lay back, but his breathing was noticeably tense.

"Keep talking, Beka, I need to know," Harper then spoke hurriedly.

Beka frowned and then partially grinned at Richter, as if in apology for Harper's distrust in his request. "The doc has a device in his hands that he needs to secure over your head," Beka offered.

"It is vital that you remain perfectly still," Richter explained. "This is solely to restrict movement in your upper body and head," he added.

Harper tensed and Beka tried to reassuring him, but she could tell he was growing increasingly unsure of the procedure to return his sight. "Seamus, the doc wants to help you, and he can only do that if you co-operate," she spoke with care.

"It's not easy to trust when I can't look the guy in the eyes," Harper spoke with gritted teeth as he felt the contraption hovering over him, unable to see it.

"Then trust me, you can trust him, he's risked a lot remember by being here at all," Beka reminded Harper. "I'm helping the doc secure you, and you trust me, right?" Beka offered.

"Yeah," Harper still sounded unsure, but he relaxed slightly as he felt Beka fixing the device to the cot, that secured him. Unable to move now Harper focused his senses on remaining calm, knowing deep down that he could trust the doctor but his natural fear of medical procedures wasn't helping matters.

Beka sat back, feeling for her friend as he now lay helpless on the cot, tough adjustable straps ensuring that he couldn't move a muscle now from the waist up. Knowing he couldn't see either, Beka hoped the procedure would be over as quickly as Richter had predicted, and that Harper wouldn't be too uncomfortable when he woke up.

Richter prepared an injector that contained enough sedative to give him fifteen minutes to work in, and then nodded towards Beka.

"Seamus, the doc is about to administer the sedative, you'll be out for only a short while but I'll be right here," Beka confirmed, and Harper only acknowledged her with a tense grunt. Without knowing why, Beka instinctively leaned forward and lightly kissed Harper on the cheek, an action that had the desired effect as Harper relaxed his body.

The doctor applied the sedative and in seconds Harper's body further relaxed and they checked the restraints were firmly in place. Beka nodded towards the doctor who then adjusted the contraption around Harper's face to open his eyes, taking a laser he began to quietly work.

Beka looked on, seeing the doc working with precision on Harper was both scary and comforting. Trance hadn't had the confidence to do what Richter was performing, and she simply hoped they had picked the best man for the job. Seeing the small laser working around Harper's eyes was not a reassuring sight, as Beka tried to comprehend how the doctor could bring back Harper's sight. A short time later, with the application of a few gel eye drops, the doctor seemed finished and moved away for a moment.

"Is that it?" Beka asked.

"For now, he needs a few more treatments though," the doctor answered. "All I have done is cleaned and tidied up the damage area, on waking up, even at this early stage, we might find he can identify light, or in some cases outlines like shadows," Richter smiled.

"Will he be in pain, you said patients felt uncomfortable?" Beka asked.

"He might feel some discomfort from the actual procedure, he's had a laser in both eyes basically burning damaged tissue away," Richter answered. "It'll be similar to rash or sunburn," he added.

"Harper's use to both those sensations," Beka smiled.

"The main uncomfortable aspect is the seeing," Richter then offered, with seriousness. "You have to understand that in cases like Mr Harper's he's known sight, and then it's taken away, that's a traumatic enough experience but the darkness soon becomes their sanctuary," he explained. "I'm sure you have felt that at times since he became blind that he was detached from you, that in a room full of people, he would act as if he was alone."

"Yeah," Beka realised, quickly remembering the earlier chat with Harper. "He's been a lot quieter, more keeping to himself especially after what happened to him with the Patriarch," she offered distantly, then quickly continued not wishing to dwell. "He mentioned some apprehension to seeing again, feared losing what I guess he sees in his mind at the moment for comfort," she added.

"That is because without sight they feel as if they are not truly in the same place as you, they can not react or see the subjects that for sighted people make that room interesting," Richter stated, as he cleared away his equipment. "Now this procedure is going to integrate the patient back into the seeing world, slowly and sometimes this can be just as traumatic to the patient as losing their sight in the first place."

"Harper should be fine though," Beka spoke brightly. "He's been able to see since his injuries, using ship sensors and he developed a system where by he had mobile sight using his data port," she added.

"That might work to his advantage," Richter agreed, and then checked Harper's heart rate. "He's coming too," he advised, and Beka immediately moved closer. "He might be disorientated, and judging by his reaction to being restrained, he might panic and it's essential that for the next hour at least he remains still."

"Got you," Beka frowned, and took hold of Harper's good hand. "Seamus, can you hear me?" she asked, when she saw the human begin to stir.

It took a few moments before it became apparent that Harper was awake again, and the grimace on his face was the biggest sign. "Beka?" he asked shakily.

"It's ok, you've had some work done on your eyes, remember?" Beka prompted. "That doctor we stole? He did it," she added with a grin, as Richter smirked behind her. Harper only tensed, and his breathing became rapid, as Beka figured that he had realised that he couldn't move. "Seamus, its ok don't panic, I'm right here and you're ok," Beka insisted with more urgency.

"Hurts," Harper simply spoke.

Beka glanced at the doctor, who immediately moved to his medicines but signalled to her that it was ok. "It will, Seamus, you've had work done to your eyes and they'll be tender for a little while, the doctor will give you something to ease it," she then spoke, seeing Richter produce more of the eye drop gel. "Everything will be ok," she continued.

At that moment the Maru suddenly shook, and a loud explosion was heard. Beka looked upwards, and cursed the timing. "I have to go check it out," Beka insisted, then looked at Harper. "Stay calm, its ok," she assured him before leaving his side, just as another hit sent her flying head first into the bulkhead.

"Beka!" Richter called out, seeing the captain slump to the floor.

"What's going on?" Harper called out desperately.

"Don't panic, Mr Harper," Richter shouted, as he busily checked that Beka was ok.

"Is Beka there?"

"She's had a fall, but she's fine," Richter answered with distraction.

The ship shook again, and Harper struggled, as much as he could against the restraints. "Let me go!" he yelled. "I have to do something, Beka's out, right?"

With some hesitation the doctor knew he'd have to come clean, as another explosion shook the ship. "She's hit her head, she's out cold," he confirmed. "But you can't be moving around, not whilst your eyes," The doctor tried to explain but was quickly cut off.

"The ship is going to be destroyed if you don't release me!" Harper snapped. "Then I won't need my freaking eyes!" he added angrily to make his point.

Richter had to concede that Harper was right, but he only moved to Harper's side to continue with his work, as he applied the eye gel to Harper's eyes, despite the engineers enraged protests. Unable to move anything other than his legs, Harper was helpless to stop the doctor, as the ship continued to be battered around them.

Harper then froze when he felt the ship shudder, recognising the noise of a ship docking.

"Aw crap," Harper sounded frightened now. "Please, doc, release me, don't leave me like this!"

"Just a few more seconds, I'm almost done," Richter spoke engrossed in his work, seemingly unaware of the events happening around him.

"They are in the freaking airlock!" Harper snapped, with a panicked tone.

"Trust me, I do this now you'll thank me later, your eyes can not be left untreated or the damage will be permanent regardless of what happens now!" Richter snapped back. "I had to complete this stage of treatment, even if a little rushed; it's the only way your sight has a chance to return."

Harper could only hear the sounds of heavy footsteps along the Maru corridor, knowing they were doomed, and he was still restrained. He was about to plead to the doc once more to release him, but it was already too late, as he heard at least four people arrive in the quarters and stop, before they yelled at the doc to move aside.

TBC