Stranded

Chapter 3

"Every sickness has an alien quality, a feeling of invasion and loss of

Control that is evident in the language we use about it."

Siri Hustvedt

This then was the worry that Leonard and Nyota shared as they walked along the road in the lovely cool evening. As they neared the town square, the people who walked by them greeted them cordially. Leonard and Nyota were now accepted members of the community. Leonard had treated a few of them for mild illnesses and injuries, a child's broken wrist, a bad sprain, some minor burns, and respiratory illnesses. To keep up the facade of a doctor earning a living, he'd had to charge his patients, but his charges were nominal. With the credits he'd earned he had already ordered a few more things for the dispensary, and he vowed that he'd leave it well equipped for the next doctor the town council was trying to find.

"Good evening, Doctor, Miss Nyota." One of Leonard's earliest patients, Killeen, stopped to greet them politely. Killeen suffered from asthma-like symptoms and came to see Leonard frequently for inhalation treatments.

"Evenin', Killeen. Lovely evening isn't it? Nyota and I thought we'd get out for some fresh air this evening. Glad to see you out and about. Mild exercise is good for your lungs." Leonard looked around. "Pretty quiet tonight, not many people out walking this evening."

Killeen smiled. "I am feeling quite well, Doctor MkKoy, thanks to your treatments. It is Second Day, Doctor, when one of the favorite holo programs is on. Many stay indoors to watch it."

"Ah, no wonder," Leonard smiled back, pleased for see the healthy color in Killeen's face.

"You do not care for the holo program, Nyota?"

"I don't usually have time for holo viewing, Killeen, so I haven't ever seen it. In the evening is when I transcribe the doctor's patient notes and put them in the computer."

Killeen nodded. "I do not watch it myself. It is one of those stories that have no end, each week it ends with something left unsaid, undone or catastrophic, to me it grows tedious, but many enjoy these kinds of stories."

Nyota' eyes twinkled. Soap operas had been universally popular for generations on many worlds, and even on the Starships there was access to them if you wanted to watch. The younger members of the crew watched sometimes, Uhura would overhear them discussing plot updates and romantic pairings during mess shifts.

"How are things goin' on the Council, Killeen? Any luck in your search for a full time doctor? Nyota and I plan to leave your lovely village after the next 14 day cycle," Leonard told him. "We need to be movin' on. I am feeling much better; rested and energized by your wonderful climate and peaceful village, and I feel ready to resume my full time doctor duties back home." He and Nyota had invented a permanent home in one of Sarena's larger cities, a good distance away, and no one had asked questions about their fictitious, nebulous home and his practice.

"We will be disconsolate at seeing you and Nyota depart, Doctor," Killeen told him sadly. "But we appreciate that you have stayed for as long as you have. And as of yet, we have not found a suitable candidate to take your place."

"Any possible likely candidate that might have come to the village recently?" Nyota asked innocently.

"No, we've had no one new come to the village that I'm aware of. We are so small that any one new is immediately noticed and commented upon."

Leonard and Nyota exchanged relieved glances.

Killeen continued. "Dr. Mkkoy, I would be honored if you and your ward, Miss Nyota, would come to my home for a meal before you depart."

"The honor would be ours, Killeen. Just name the evening and Nyota and I will be there."

Killeen smiled. "If you would come on Fourth Day at sun set, it would please me much."

"Fourth Day it is. We'll be there, Killeen. Looking forward to it."

Killeen nodded well pleased, and walked on.

The evening was turning cold, but Len and Nyota continued their walk. Hypervigilant they took care to walk slowly observing the countenances of those around them, looking for anyone who seemed out of place.

"I doubt that we would see any Orion's skulking around," Nyota said softly. "They're green skinned and would stand out like sore thumbs. If the Syndicate is interested in this planet, they'd send a scout to spy on these people who wouldn't stand out. And why would they come to Torreón anyway, Len, to such a small village? Wouldn't they go to a bigger city where they wouldn't be noticed?"

"That's good point, Ny. If they show up at all, it could be anywhere. But you know, they might decide it'd be easier to start with a small village or several small villages which wouldn't offer much resistance to the pirates. After all the Enterprise Xeno Department picked this village because it is small, peaceful and typical. Jim is right; we have no way of knowing if the Syndicate is coming at all, here or anywhere else on the planet, or if they're even interested in these people. All we can do is stay alert for any kind of suspicious behavior, so we better start watching the holo news too. Sarena as a whole is so peaceful that any kind of hostile or suspicious behavior would be instantly reported on the news network."

"What worries me is that there doesn't seem to be any kind of defense force here, Len. No matter how peaceful a planet is, we've never been on one that didn't have a way to defend themselves. Even the Vulcans, who are the most peaceful civilization we know, have the Vulcan Defense Force to call on to defend their planet."

"Yeah, but Vulcan is a wealthy planet, Ny. It has the resources to have a defense force. Other planets we've visited have also had resources to pay for military and police protection. From what we've seen here it doesn't seem that Sarena has any military force, unless we're missin' somethin'."

"That's very possible. We've only seen this one small village, and let's face it, Len; we haven't asked many questions for fear of giving ourselves away. It's been difficult enough to keep up with our disguises without arousing suspicion. If we'd asked too many questions, like why don't you have an army, it would have raised flags."

Leonard grimaced. Nyota was right, there wasn't much they could do except stay alert, hope for the best, and wait for Jim to come back with the ship.

"Let's head back, Ny, I'm feeling a bit tired and I'm getting cold. These Georgian bones of mine don't like the cold."

They turned around and headed back toward the house. There was a deep silence between them, each with their own thoughts. Leonard was concerned about there not being anyone to take his place as a doctor once they were picked up by the ship, and Nyota was thinking about how best to write their report so as to assure Sarena's admittance to the Federation.

Once back in the house, Leonard lit the fire and the house began to warm up. Happily, Doranna had supplied them with several quilts, because once the fire was out for the evening, the house got cold at night.

"How about a nightcap, Ny? I'm feeling a bit chilled. Thought a hot toddy would help."

"That sounds good, Len. Do we have the fixings?"

"We do. We have the local alcohol that passes for whiskey here, sugar, tea, and what smells a lot like cinnamon. I think I can make us a reasonable facsimile thereof."

"In that case I'd love one," Nyota said. She looked at him a bit anxiously as he went into the kitchen area. It was chilly outside, but both had been well wrapped in their warm coats and woolen neck scarves. The coats and scarves had been the first things they'd bought once they realized how cold the nights got here. Leonard had never complained before tonight about being chilled or feeling tired when they'd gone for a walk. She hoped he wasn't getting sick, she thought, feeling a bit panicky. To her certain knowledge Leonard never got sick. Jim said it was because he'd been exposed to so many homegrown and alien bugs in his medical career, that he was immune. The population here seemed largely healthy, although Len had treated several patients with flu like symptoms, and although Sarenans were humanoid in appearance, this was an alien planet with alien viruses and bacteria.

Carrying a small tray with the two hot toddies, Leonard sat down close by Nyota on the small sofa facing the fire. He handed her the hot toddy and sighed as he relaxed. He sipped the drink and Nyota felt him shiver against her. She felt another frisson of alarm.

"Len, are you feeling alright? That's the second time I see you shiver. Are you still cold?"

There was a brief silence from Leonard. "I still feel a bit chilled, darlin', but I'm hoping the hot toddy will fix me right up."

"I hope you're not coming down with something," Nyota said worriedly.

"I'll take my temp after the hot toddy. You know I hardly ever get ill, so let's not borrow trouble." His blue eyes looked reassuringly into hers. "And even if I caught a little bug, I can treat myself with what I have here from the ship. So let's drink our toddies." He grinned. "Why don't we watch a bit of that soap opera Killeen was talkin' 'bout so we can all make fun of it together when we go to his house for dinner?"

Nyota chuckled and they turned on the holo viewer. The soap opera was still on, apparently, due to its rampant popularity, it was a two hours telecast shown once a week. It was not difficult to follow the basic plot or discover who the protagonists were, the romantic pairings, and the villains. They watched avidly, Nyota giggling occasionally and even Leonard laughed a time or two. Finally the episode was finished.

"Well, Shakespeare it isn't," Nyota remarked, "but at least we know a bit more about it now." She stood and picked up the two empty tumblers to rinse and put away. She glanced at Leonard and saw that he looked a little flushed.

"You're looking a little flushed, Len. I doubt it's the toddy, you can hold your liquor better than anyone except Scotty, and there wasn't that much whiskey in them."

"I am feeling a little warm," Leonard admitted, pulling out his medical tricorder. He waved it over himself and looked at the results. "Hmm, 38 C.," he murmured. "Low grade temp, Nyota, so yeah, probably picked up a little viral infection from one of my patients. Treated a couple of simple flu patients, and a cold or two. I'll take a mild antipyretic right now, and I'm sure I'll be right as rain in the morning."

"Why don't we call it a night, Len? Rest and fluids as you always say. I'll fix you some tea, it's herbal, so it won't keep you awake. So physician heal thyself, and go to bed." She walked into the kitchen and quickly brewed a cup of hot tea for him.

"Here you go, Doctor McCoy, drink up. Then you can snuggle in bed, read for a bit if you want."

"Yes ma'am." Truth to tell Leonard did feel a little achy and fatigued, and Nyota was right about the rest and fluids. If he didn't feel better in the morning, he'd get his medical scanner out and see if this bug was bacterial or viral and take the appropriate meds. He certainly didn't want to give anything to Nyota or to one of his patients. He'd close the office for the day if he didn't feel better in the morning. The antipyretic should kick in shortly and he'd rest better once his temperature was back to normal and the body aches gone.

"Good night, Ny."

"Night, Len. Hope you're feeling better in the morning. You go ahead and use the bathroom first. I'll tidy up a little in here and input those two patients in the computer before I go to bed."

Nyota also made sure the front and back doors were locked, that the living room fire was out and the fire guard up, then sat down at the small desk to update Len's files. When she finished she went to her bedroom and prepared for bed. Although the bathroom door on Len's side was closed, she could hear faint sounds of snoring coming from his room. He had sounded a little hoarse and congested. She finished her night time ablutions, got into her flannel pajamas and robe and came to a quick decision. She had to admit to herself she was worried about Leonard. If he got really sick, could she take care of him like he took care of everyone else on the ship? And if Len was sick, Jim was going to have a hissy fit!

Softly, so she wouldn't wake the doctor, she opened his bathroom door and left it half ajar and did the same for her door. That way she would be able to hear Len if he felt worse or needed her in the night. She tiptoed into his room and stood silently at the foot of the bed until her eyes adjusted to the dark. She smiled grimly to herself. She felt a little bit like a stalker, but she needed to check on him.

His room was already cold and he'd only used one quilt to cover himself. Quietly she tiptoed to the chest of drawers and opened the bottom drawer. She pulled out a second quilt neatly folded there. Doranna had furnished them with two quilts each, knowing what Len and Nyota hadn't known at the time, how Sarenan nights could get very cold, and that the rental house only had the living room fire for heat. Nyota silently murmuring thankful blessings on Doranna's head, laid the quilt gently over the sleeping Leonard. He didn't even stir, he was so deeply asleep.

Back in her own room, Nyota also got out her second quilt and settled into the chilly sheets. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.

Nyota sat up suddenly in her bed, her heart pounding. She'd heard something that had awakened her. Serving on the Enterprise had honed her already phenomenal auditory sensitivity to an even higher level. In the silent darkness of her room sounds seemed amplified as she listened. There it was again, a moan coming from Leonard's room. She jumped out of bed and grabbed her warm robe, the room was icy cold tonight, and ran into Leonard's bedroom. He moaned again, and she hurriedly turned on the small lamp by his bed side. She looked at him aghast! Leonard was tossing and turning, his pajamas rumpled and dark with sweat, the quilts tossed aside. He was deeply asleep, a hectic flush on his cheeks, and in the throes of some fever induced nightmare.

"Len, Len," Nyota shook him gently. "Len, wake up!" She put her hand on his cheek and hissed! His skin was hot with fever, he was burning up! She tapped his cheeks gently. "Len, wake up! Leonard! Wake up!"

Leonard opened his eyes startled, and stared up at her for a long minute, before recognition hit him. "Ny, what's wrong? Are you all right?" He tried to sit up in the bed, but he shivered in the sudden coldness of the room, groaned, and collapsed back against the pillow. Nyota hurriedly pulled the quilts back up around him.

"Len, you're burning up with fever. You were moaning, and the sound woke me up, probably a nightmare from the fever."

Leonard, a little more alert, nodded. "I can feel it's high, too high," he murmured. "Need to get it down. Can you find my medical scanner, Ny?"

She hurried to get his Sick Bay bag from the examination room, and handed it to him. Leonard shivered as he stuck his arm out from under the quilt to take his temperature. "It's 38.9 C (102F)," he reported. "It's way too high for an adult," he muttered, looking at Nyota with fever glazed eyes. "There's a danger I could go into convulsions with a fever that high. I'll give myself another dose of the antipyretic." He checked the time 0300, good enough, and pulled out the hypo and cartridge, but his hands, usually rock steady were trembling like leaves. "You'll have to do it, Ny. It's ready, just press it here." He pointed to his neck.