Stranded
Chapter 15
"All sentient beings should have at least one right—
the right not to be treated as property"
Gary L. Francione
Nyota took a deep breath and tried to calm her elevated heart rate. She kept her voice calm and quiet as she answered. "I'm not really sure, Killeen. Now that the doctor is ill, we might have to change our date of departure. Our friends have their own work to do and we cannot expect then to drop everything to come because we would like them to visit one last time before we leave. They enjoyed their visit to your lovely town, even if their stay was for a short while. When the doctor and I have spoken with them, they've mentioned they do want to return for a short visit."
"They will be welcome as friends of the doctor and of yourself. I would be honored to have you and your friends for a meal at my domicile." Killeen stood. "I will take my leave of you now, but I will return later today with your evening meal. Goodbye, Nyota."
"Goodbye, Killeen. Thank you so much for bringing the medication for the doctor. I will see you this evening. Perhaps you can stay a short while to eat with us. The doctor would enjoy your company if he is feeling a bit better."
"I will call you before I come with the food. If the doctor is not feeling well enough for a visit, you will tell me and I will only bring enough food for you and the doctor." Nyota nodded and they walked quietly to the front door. She bid him a soft goodbye, closing and locking the front door after him.
Nyota grabbed the two vials of medications from the kitchen table, retrieved the medical scanner and tricorder out of the doctor's medical bag and went to wake up Leonard. The two potions from the Apothecary would have to be carefully analyzed by the doctor to determine what was in them and if the ingredients were something that might be beneficial to him.
She sighed. It was time to wake Len up for his antiviral treatment. This second dose was important. If Leonard improved it would tell them that the virus was the same as the one that made Alarik so ill. If he didn't show any improvement, then either the virus was an entirely different virus or it had mutated which would then raise even more questions and concerns.
Ever mindful of Dr. M'Benga's directive to provide strong nutritional support for Len, and Jim's pointed questions about Leonard's status, it was definitely time for his snack. She hoped the biscuits had stayed warm under the food warmer cloth.
Nyota shook the doctor gently. "Len, wake up, its time for your antiviral hypo and for your snack. Wake up, Len."
Leonard opened his eyes, looked up at her for a moment with confused eyes, then struggled to sit up. "I'm awake, Nyota." He looked at the wall chronometer. "I slept for a while didn't I?"
"Yes, you did, which is good. Like Geoffrey said, rest is the best thing for you. I hated to wake you, but you have to have the antiviral hypo. Geoff said to give it to you at the same time every day."
"Yeah, it's important to keep the dosage time regular so you can determine if it's startin' to do it's work."
"Here's your doctor bag. I'll prepare the hypo and you can inject yourself, unless you want me to be the one to do it." She gave him a mischievous look. "I need more practice to get as good as Christine."
"No, no, I can do it myself," Leonard told her hastily. "There absolutely no need for you to compete with Christine. Not if I value the head on my shoulders," he added, smiling fondly thinking about how much he depended on Christine in the Sick Bay. He took the hypo and injected it into his neck. "Let's see what happens today, Ny. Geoff will want a detailed report of any change in my symptoms." He handed the hypo back to her and she pulled out empty cartridge to discard it. She noted the time to input into the medical log she was keeping in her padd.
"How are you feeling, Len?" She straightened the quilts and fluffed his pillow. "Shall we take your temperature?"
"A little better...sleepin' helped. We'll take my temp after I eat my snack."
"Good. I have your snack right here," she said pointing to the covered plate. "I made fresh biscuits with honey and butter, and more tea. While you're eating I'll tell you about Killeen's visit and what he found out this morning from the Apothecary."
He lifted the food warmer cloth and sniffed at the biscuits. "These look delicious, just like my mama's smelled, thank you, Ny. Now you sit down and tell me everythin'," he said, taking a bite and closing his eyes in bliss at the buttery goodness. "Delicious, gonna' eat both of them. Now tell me what's been going on? What did I miss?"
And Nyota did. She recounted everything Killeen told her, not leaving out a single detail. "So now we know where the three slave girls are staying, we know two of them are ill, the other one is taking care of them, and we know they now have the medicine the Apothecary compounded for them."
Leonard sighed. "Those poor girls, Nyota. Sick, torn away from their homes and families, coerced into doing who knows what. Somehow we have to do somethin' for them, help them somehow. I wonder where they're from, what planet were they taken from, how old were they when they were kidnapped, how long have they been slaves?"
His blue eyes shone hotly, fiercely, not from the fever, but from anger and outrage. "Who knows what horrors these young girls have endured. Exploitation, sexual predators, hunger, homesickness, beatings. But at least for now, they're off that Orion slave ship and while they're sick the Orion's won't want them back on board.
The girls might be able to prolong their stay here, but not for too long, or they'll be punished, sick or not. I'm sure that's why the Orion Captain is allowing them to get treatment for this damned flu. If they're sick they'll only call attention to themselves and they have a job to do. Their reconnaissance of this town for a possible raid is their only job. I bet there's no one else on board who can blend in here like these girls. They're humanoids, young, and smart enough to blend in, not draw attention to themselves. If it hadn't been for this flu virus, we wouldn't even have known they were here. So although I feel as lousy and weak as a new born kitten, it's a blessing in a way 'cause now we're sure the Orion's are interested in Torreon. Let's just hope the medicine the Apothecary gave them takes a couple of days to work, at least until the ship gets here," he added sounding hoarse.
"I agree with everything you've just said, Len, but that's enough talking for you. You're getting hoarse again. I have that same medication here. Killeen was able to get some for you." She grinned. "He guilted the Apothecary into preparing the potion for you, but I knew you'd want to analyze it and run the results by Geoff before even thinking of taking a dose."
"Cain't believe Killeen got it off the old goat, he sure did take a dislike to me. Killeen has been a good friend to us, Ny. We cain't let anything happen to him or the rest of these good folks here in Torreon, or anywhere else in Sarena. We'll think of something to help, and Jim and the ship will be here soon. Now let me see that medicine."
Leonard's eyes glowed with interest. What had that Apothecary concocted for him? Nyota handed him the two vials and the medical scanner. He looked the bottles over very carefully.
"Ny, darlin', first wash your hands, then I'm gonna' need two small plates and two spoon. I don't want to analyze the fluid while it's inside the bottles. The bottles look like they're made of glass, which is inert, but I'm not sure it is regular glass, so it's best to analyze the fluid outside the bottles. Let me see what's in these puppies," he muttered to himself.
Nyota quickly brought two small plates and two spoons from the kitchen, and Len handed her the bottles. "You do it, Ny, my hands are too shaky right now. I don't want to spill any of the fluid."
Nyota nodded, biting her lip worriedly. The shaky hands meant Leonard's fever was starting to go up again. Not good. It was too soon for another antipyretic dose, and much too soon to tell if the antiviral was starting to work. It was however time to take his temperature as soon as he checked the medication.
Using the two different spoons, she poured a small amount of the liquid from the bottles unto the plates. Leonard configured the medical scanner and ran it over the first plate. The scanner pinged that the analysis was complete. He saved the results and moved on to the second plate. Again the medical scanner pinged when the results were ready.
"Okay let's see what we've got," he muttered. Leonard looked at the results and grunted.
"What does it say, Len?"
"Well, there's definitely a type of anti-viral in the concoction, but it's not synthetic, it's plant based. There's also a plant based antipyretic and analgesic. Very interesting. The base is distilled water with added honey to make it palatable. From what the scanner says, it's safe for me to take. Only risk I can see is a possible allergy to one of the plants."
"Are you going to take a dose, Len?"
"I'll talk it over with Geoffrey first, tell him what the scanner showed and ask his opinion."
Nyota saw that he was shifting restlessly and his cheeks were flushed again. She looked anxiously at the chronometer. It was too soon for the next dose of the antipyretic and pain med. "Len, we're going to have to keep your temperature down with cool compresses. Your next dose of meds isn't for another hour. Let's see what your temp is now." She handed him the tricorder.
"38.5 (101.4F)" he sighed. "It's climbing agin'."
"What shall we do." Nyota asked anxiously.
"Well regardin' the meds, we can shorten the time a little maybe give me a dose in 45 min, but that about it. How about me drinking some cold tea this time along with the cool compresses. It'll all help."
"I'll go get them."
"Before you do that, darlin', I'd like to take a shower...before my fever goes up more. I'll make the water a bit cooler, that'll also help with lowering' temps."
Nyota looked at him dubiously.
"You can stand right outside the door, and it'll be a real quick shower," Len assured her. "I know you're afraid I'll fall, but I'll be slow and careful and I'll be sittin' on the chair."
Nyota nodded mutely. It was a very real fear. If Len fell he could injure himself, and would she even be able to lift him, dead weight that he would be? She was strong. On the ship she worked out regularly, lifted weights, ran, swam, and knew how to take care of herself in hand to hand. But lifting an injured human body off the floor, was a different story.
It was a SF requirement that all officers and crew pass a quarterly fitness test, and it was Dr. McCoy who certified them. He kept his fitness level strong as well. He was thin as a rail, but he was strong and wiry. He worked out with Jim and she knew he ran laps with him too. But right now he was very weak and that was her biggest concern. Still, she thought, it had gone well with his shower yesterday and he had felt better afterward.
"Alright Len, let me get the chair, then I'll help you to the bathroom. I'll put out fresh underwear and pajamas for you and throw these in the fresher. You sit tight and I'll get things ready, and turn on the water. The bathroom should be toasty warm from your room heater. You just stay put right here."
"Yes, ma'am."
Nyota made fast work of the shower arrangements, turned on the water to tepid, and went back to the living room for Len. She saw he'd put on his slippers and was sitting on the edge of the sofa ready to go.
"Alright Len, let's do this." They made their way slowly to the bedroom, and he sat down on the bed. She helped him remove the robe, the pajama top and his undershirt. The rest, he'd have to do himself in the bathroom. Doctorly male modesty must be maintained, she scoffed to herself. She helped him inside the bathroom, and left him to remove his bottoms.
"I'm sitting' down in the chair, Ny," Len called out. "I'll be quick."
"Don't rush, Len, and be careful getting up. Your large towel is on the sink. The water is barely warm, if you can stand it a little cooler it'd be better."
"I turned the water down a notch, it's cooler," Leonard called out. "I see the towel, Ny, now stop worryin', I'm rinsin' off now."
Nyota heard the water turn off, and Len's shuffling gait to the sink.
"I'll be out in a minute. Just drying myself sittin' on the toilet, then puttin' on my pajamas."
She could hear the rustling of clothing, silence, and then the door opened.
"Finished," Leonard said. "Feels like the cool shower helped lower my temp, plus I feel better being clean. We can go back to the living room and start with the cold compresses and iced tea. I can take my meds in 30 minutes, 15 minutes earlier if I need them."
Nyota held on to his arm and they walked slowly back to the living room. She could feel that Len was still warm, but not as warm as he'd been before his shower. "Let's get you settled on the sofa and I'll come back and clean the bathroom and put your pajamas and towel in the fresher. And yes, I think it would be a good idea if you take your meds a little early." She settled him on the sofa. "Let me bring the cold compress for you."
"Hand me my tricorder, Nyota. Let's see what my temp is now. Hmm, 38.2 (100.8F). It went down a degree, that's good."
Nyota smiled with relief. "Let me go get your tea and cold compress, then I'll sanitize the bathroom," she said going into the kitchen. "Len," she called out. "If you feel well enough, I invited Killeen to have dinner with us, but only if you feel up to it. We can decide later. He'll call to find out before coming with the food this evening."
"I'd enjoy the visit, and I want to thank Killleen personally for all his kindness. Alarik and Doranna too, when I see them."
"Here," she handed him the cold compress and put the cold tea on the table. "I also want to talk to you about something I've been thinking about."
"What's that, Ny?" Leonard looked at her side eyed, his head tipped back to put the cold compress on his forehead.
"I'm not sure you're going to like my idea, but I want to try it."
He brought the cold compress down from his forehead. "What is it that I'm not gonna' like, Nyota Uhura?" He looked at her sternly.
"I want to go to the hotel and talk to those three girls. Tell them there's a way out for them. That they can be freed from slavery. All I have to do is convince them to come here to us when the ship arrives. Once they're here Scotty can beam them on board the ship, and he and Geoff can remove the slave collars and bracelets. Without the collars and bracelets they'd be safe from the Orion transporter. As soon as the Orions spot our ship, I doubt they'd stay in orbit or engage in a battle with the Enterprise, they'd make a run for it. Maybe Jim would give chase, or maybe not, his main concern is getting us back on board without breaking the Prime Directive. Once we get the girls on board, I bet Jim would be willing to return them to their proper home."
