Meredith left her computer to walk over to the room where her patient was currently unconscious and bandaged from near head to toe. Walking into the room she pulled the freshly updated chart with notes from Dani. Multiple lacerations, sutured, second degree burns from his shoulders down his back to his tail, as well as the backs of his legs. Holding the chart in her left paw she took a peek at what of the burn bandages she could see. Nodding to herself as she noted they had used the fish scale burn bandages she had ordered. Then onto the notes from Dani labeling the burr hole a success and that swelling was reduced. "Who are you?" Looking over the male skunk laying on the bed, tubes sticking out of his muzzle to help him breath, head bandaged among the many other bandages.
Meredith's right ear twitched and twisted to focus behind her at the sound of footpads coming to the door.
"A skunk hu?"
A smirk growing on her muzzle as she turned around at the sound of her father's voice. A handsome Tod, beautiful orange fur and black tipped ears, though she had recently taken notice of a slight band of grey starting to accent along the sides of his head. Her mother, entering next to him bunny ears held high and famous purple eyes, a beautiful bunny with grey fur which graced areas of her where her father was white furred. Part of her had wondered why they always focused on the purple eyes.
Both were in suit and tie, her father's loose with the top button of his shirt undone as normal. Badges were hanging from their belts. "Mom, Dad." Walking over to give a gentle familiar nuzzle to each on the cheek. "When was the last time you saw a skunk dad?" Chuckling and smirking at her mother who stood a little shorter than her. The other female resisting an all out laugh and managing to choke it down to a mere snort.
"Har har Mere, I'm going to have to discuss with Mr Big about telling you that story."
"Ahhh come on Dad, at least he can laugh about it now." Staring into his green eyes with her own green eyes which he had given her. Getting a smirk from her father she returned it in kind.
"You're a sly fox Mere"
"And a smart Bunny." She said completing the ritual saying they had developed in her childhood.
Her mother had already walked around the pair and looked over the patient before going right for the bag that was in the corner. She put on a pair of paw gloves and opened the bag, which immediately smelled of burned fur. "What happened to him?" She looked up after noting how much of the clothing the skunk had warn was burned away. Unfortunately, this included any possible wallet and ID.
"I have no idea mom." Walking over to her and taking a seat and watching as her father looked over the skunk. "Chopper brought him in, and said that he was found on the side of the river, just north of the city. No ID, other then a brass name badge." Picking up the chart to look over the notes. "L. Forest, other then that its hard to tell. Button down shirt, and same colored pants. Probably a uniform, perhaps military. But how many skunks do you see around the city. Population of maybe forty, fifty tops?" When she looked up she chuckled. Her mother was taking notes in a small notepad with a well-used carrot pen in paw.
Her mother looked up at her with a smirk, excitement obvious in her eyes at the mystery of it all and pride in her daughter. "You should have been a cop Meredith."
Rolling her eyes. "You say that almost every week Mom. Leave it to Jason to continue the family business." She knew they weren't in any way disappointed in her decision to become a Doctor. It was her father's fault anyways. He had taken her out for her birthday, and they stopped at a restraint that served chicken. She had wanted to try it and it turned out due to her hybrid state chicken wasn't going to agree with her. She wanted to know why and how that could happen, she could eat fish and eggs, but chicken was unpleasant in many ways. This led to her interest in medicine and eventually getting her doctorates.
She however couldn't let got of all the excitement, so after getting her licenses she went back to the ER, having found that her favorite in her rotations.
"He graduates the academy this weekend, you will be there?" Her father looked up from her patient.
"Wouldn't miss it Dad." Smirking. "Plus I haven't seen my little sister in too long."
Judy stood up and tied off the bag again before pulling off her gloves. "Speaking if your sister she is probably wondering why we haven't come home yet."
"Orrr she's enjoying the late night TV time because we aren't." Nick chuckled.
Meredith placed the chart in the rooms holder and walked her parents to the door, giving both a tight hug.
"Give us a call when he wakes up." Judy said.
"If he wakes up." Her eyes glancing at the wall mounted vitals monitor her mind quickly noting slow heart rate, and a still low blood pressure.
"He will, hes got my daughter as his doctor after all." Nick smiles and placed a paw on Judy's back. "Come on honey, she's got work to do, and that bed is calling me."
Meredith watched as they walked out, stifling a laugh when her father's paw drifted a bit lower on Judy's back and earned him a playful elbow from the bunny into his side. Eliciting an expression of mock pain from her father. Shaking her head, she went back to check on the other patients, all of which were now sleeping.
When she walked back to the charge desk James was seated at a computer finishing up paperwork. "Get out of her would ya, and give Betty my apologies." Sitting at her own station with a thump.
"Cinthia." He yawned with his typical smirk.
"Well I'm glad you can keep them strait. How are you not a walking STD?"
"I check their charts before I bed them."
"Oooh you devil get out of here before I have to kick your ass for all women kind. You pig"
"You know you love me." He said as he quickly got out of reach of her kicking footpaw.
"No I don't, but you're a good doctor, so thank you."
The cheetah took a bow with a smirk. "You did good today Meredith. That guy is lucky, shouldn't have survived that." When she nodded, he turned and made his way to the locker room to change. On his way out one of the TV's in the waiting room was on the news. A rather attractive wolf reporter was on the screen with an image of the night sky, and a yellow glow on the horizon, behind her.
His ears twisted to the tv as he was walking out and paused when he heard what she was saying. "Reports of a large explosion in the territories to the north were reported this evening. The Beyersdorf government released the following statement. 'One of our research facilities experienced a small containment breach this evening resulting in a small but bright fire. The situation is under control and our neighbors have no need to be concerned. We appreciate the offers of assistance, but we have the situation contained.' We will keep you all up to date when more information is available." He turned to look back at the door he had just exited and with a shrug, figuring there was no way he had come that far down river, made his way out to his car and headed for home.
*oOo*
In the central province of Beyersdorf, in the central government building. Four mammals sat around a table. Three of them skunks, the fourth a Koala. The Koala was wearing tan three piece suit. The four skunks each wore uniforms of various colors and insignia representing three branches of the province's governments.
The first, a female wearing a deep red jacket and pants. She was taller and sat straight in her seat. The suit color indicating her position within the workers branch. The second, a male, wearing a similar suit to that of the Koala, both representatives of the political branch. This male was of average build, though nobody would ever say it he was a little overweight. The last male wearing a dark blue uniform, representing the military branch. He was of solid build, obviously having taken care to ensure he remained if great shape if not top shape as he aged.
This last male was where all of the attention of the room was. "Well General Gerhard, do explain what just happened. The explosion was seen as far south as Zootopia." The female skunk was always direct and to the point, more so when she was upset. "I needn't remind you that I was against the placement of that facility so close to a border."
The general turned his attention to the female, cold and calm expression on his muzzle. "No Emma you do not need to remind me, but this is the third time you have today. As before I will remind you and the council here that the river access was necessary to bring in the fueling elements as well as for cooling. As for what occurred. It is still to early to know exactly but from those that have escaped and managed to report. There was a failure in the fusion containment. As expected, the reactor shut down and production stopped. What was not expected was a hydrogen leak on the production floor that reacted with climbing heat from the waste reaction. It was that leak that started the chain reaction."
The Koala spoke up at this point in a deep voice. "Was there any leak into the river? Anything that could expose what was being produced in that facility?"
"There was some. It was after all unavoidable. Our containment system did its job however and sealed the reactants after initiation of the incident. It is unlikely anyone will know unless they were looking for heavy water isotopes."
"You best hope you are correct General." Emma said as she stood up. "The workers will not be happy if they are being exposed to your pet project during cleanup." Her eyes squinting in her anger at the situation. "Keep us informed, I need to prepare to speak to the district representatives and rally the troops to clean up your mess." Before leaving she gave a respectful nod of her head to the two Political representatives and left the room without giving the General another glance.
The skunk who had said nothing turned to the General. "Gerhard, level with me please. How bad is it. I know you and Emma have a feud going on, but we really do need to have a good understanding of what exactly is going on down there."
The general softened a little as he turned to his friend. "Hans, the building no longer exists. Our experimental containment foam was deployed and neutralized everything within the building."
Hans tilted his head knowing to pick up on the specifics of his words. "Everything within?"
Gerhard had to nod his head. "Exactly. The initial personnel to arrive on site an hour ago have already located a few pieces from the core of the building in the river. They are getting no readings but …"
The Koala spoke up again, "Likely there was some contamination. Hans do you not think that we should contact the diplomate from Zootopia. An ounce of prevention might get us ahead of this. Prevent political tensions like thirty years ago?"
Frowning Hans leaned back in his seat. "Perhaps Anatoli, but not just yet." Standing, "General as Emma said, keep us informed. Anatoli and I must also plan for next actions."
Once the other mammals had left the room the General pulled a phone out of his jacket pocket. "Lydia, yes get my jet ready, I need to be wheels up in forty five minutes …. Thank you." Hanging up he too left the room. Making his way to the car that should be waiting for him out front, and ultimately to make his way to the scene of the incident. His paws clenched, as he didn't believe it was simply an accident.