Human Hospitality
by pureleaf
Chapter 23
The Benefits of Isolation
Looks like Doctor Zelen wasn't kidding when he said this place was dead, Vegeta thought to himself as he started the process of docking the ship at aboard the space station, looks like this place got downgraded.
Ten minutes later, Vegeta slowly descended the metal steps of the Capsule Corp ship. Eyeing the station's main corridor, he spotted nobody and the hum of electrical lights started to disturb him. He shut and locked the doors and started to walk towards the clinic. His legs ached terribly and he felt unusually tired.
A flashing green cross at the end of the hallway was a welcome beacon to Vegeta. Many of the old storefronts and service centres on the space station had been shut down, empty spaces that were seemingly swallowed up in the black of deep space. An old strip of restaurants and taverns were still lit up and their doors propped open despite the lack of food, servers, and patrons. Piped-in music coming from a tavern he'd frequented years prior caught him off guard and he shivered when he recognized the melody played on some sort of plucked string instrument.
When Vegeta reached the clinic, Doctor Zelen was at the doors awaiting his patient.
"Come in," he opened the glass door for Vegeta and noted his pale face and bandaged wounds scattered around his thighs.
The clinic was silent too, apparently staffed only by the lone doctor on the station. Vegeta followed the doctor into an examination room and found most of the equipment was on the verge of being considered out-of-date.
"You weren't kidding when you said the place was totally dead," Vegeta eased himself onto a cold examination table, "I remember when this place used to be a popular stop-over for soldiers returning from a mission." His brow furrowed when Doctor Zelen pulled on a pair of sterile gloves and started to remove the bandages, some of which had grown stuck on fresh scabs and caused Vegeta to start bleeding again.
"Frieza decided this place wasn't worthwhile any more and has left it to die a slow death. My contract requires I remain here for another two years..." Doctor Zelen dabbed at blood that oozed to the surface of Vegeta's wounds and shook his head with disapproval, "but so very few soldiers come by here now. I see the young lady who delivers my supplies and rations more often than I see a wounded soldier..." his creaky voice faded into a sigh and he tossed the dirty bandages into a sterile container.
"You must be bored."
"Vegeta, how did you sustain these wounds? These look like deep puncture wounds."
"Got stabbed in a nightclub. My assailant is dead, obviously. I've been trying to keep them clean, but apparently that's easier said than done. I have first aid supplies aboard my ship, but I don't know what the hell is going on with these wounds."
"Mmhm... all things considered, you've done alright for yourself, but based on how these wounds are healing, or not healing for that matter, I suspect you were stabbed with a blade that was coated with poison or some kind of compound that would fight against your immune system. Now, let's see..." Doctor Zelen took a digital thermometer from his coat pocket and pressed it against Vegeta's forehead, "...and as I suspected, you're running a moderate fever. Your body is trying to fight an infection. Well, the good news is that I can prescribe you an antibiotic treatment."
"If there is good news, Doctor, surely you must have bad news for me as well..."
Doctor Zelen laughed at Vegeta's dry delivery. "Nothing gets past you, does it? The bad news is that the antibiotics are going to make you feel ill for quite a few days. To put it into the most tasteful description I can imagine, your body will be literally purging the infection. You may find your Saiyan appetite becomes quite diminished or feel like it's vanished altogether."
"Nothing I haven't dealt with before, Doctor."
Doctor Zelen thoroughly cleaned Vegeta's wounds using an antiseptic solution before treating each area of broken, inflamed skin with a powerful healing salve and bandaging them again. At Doctor Zelen's insistence, Vegeta provided him with a urine sample which was sent through a machine designed to detect infections and diseases.
Laying on the examination table with his eyes shut, Vegeta stole a few minutes of sleep while Doctor Zelen read the results from the machine and busied himself with pressing powdered antibiotics and binders into pills.
Thirty minutes later, Doctor Zelen re-entered the examination room and gently roused Vegeta, terrified he'd anger the Saiyan in the process. During his many years as a medical doctor, he found Saiyans needed quite a bit of sleep and disliked having their sleep interrupted. Vegeta's notorious reputation included a particularly gory tale about him killing a group low-ranking soldiers who dared to interrupt his sleep aboard a cramped mass-transit ship.
"Vegeta, I just read the results from your urine sample... and I suspect you might be fighting two different infections at the same time."
"Oh, wonderful..." Vegeta sat up and yawned.
"Have you recently... um, how should I say... slept with somebody you didn't know very well?" Doctor Zelen was worried Vegeta might kill him for daring to ask such a question.
The Saiyan's face went pale from shock before turning bright red from embarrassment. "Why do you wish to know such personal information?"
"Because the analysis of your urine sample shows you've acquired an infection that is typically spread through unprotected sexual activity, Vegeta. I- I mean, it can be acquired through infected blood reaching an open wound... in extremely rare cases... but still, however you picked it up, it's easy enough to get rid of as long as you complete the course of treatment... and refrain from sexual activity with a partner for the next sixty days..."
Vegeta had no comeback for Doctor Zelen. He accepted the Doctor's advice, red-faced, and caught the blinking lights distant satellite cut across the corner of the examination room's large window.
"Don't you get lonely here, all by yourself?"
"Do you get lonely aboard your ship?"
"Mm, fair enough, Doctor. I have distractions on there, and spend time training..."
"I have things to read, cases to study, can pick up broadcast signals, and occasionally receive a call," Doctor Zelen unfolded a canvas bag and started to pack it with antibiotics, painkillers, bandages, soaps, and valuable medical supplies, "strange as it may sound, I am isolated here but I am also reasonably safe here. There are fewer threats here than on one of Frieza's planets or one of his dreadful ships. Certainly fewer unruly soldiers or fights to avoid. My mind is good, and although I am alone, I'm not always lonely. I can take care of myself. There's something to be said for spending time by yourself and the opportunity to learn about yourself. Ah, but I'm rambling now..."
The Saiyan found himself nodding in agreement with Doctor Zelen. "I can understand what you're saying. Perhaps isolation or loneliness is a condition some of us simply have to live with. Nappa and Raditz are dead, but I actually feel less lonely now that they're gone. I should be leaving, Doctor."
Doctor Zelen gave Vegeta a slow nod and passed him the packed bag. "Take care of yourself, Vegeta. May I just say something to you?"
"Sure. Walk with me to my ship."
They slowly headed back down the corridor, Vegeta finding his pain had already diminished. It was easier to ignore the familiar music as they passed by the empty pubs with somebody to talk to.
"When you contacted me, Vegeta, I wasn't entirely surprised to find out you were indeed still alive. The rumours of your demise seemed just too gruesome and shocking to be true. What I suspect is that you found some kind of haven on a distant planet and stayed there for a while until Frieza seemingly vanished. Whatever happened on that planet or place you visited, it's done you some good. You are just a little different from the cold, arrogant prince I've treated in the past. If you can, you should consider returning there. There has been no news from Frieza in many months. Most unusual, if you ask me- it's as though he's vanished into nothingness. Get out while you can."
Vegeta was dumbstruck by Doctor Zelen's comments and said nothing until they'd reached the docking bay. "You are a very intelligent man, Doctor. I thank you for your assistance today. Please, let me leave you with a token of my appreciation," Vegeta unlocked his ship and carefully ascended the staircase. He left the bag Doctor Zelen had packed for him in the pilot's seat, went to the kitchen for a bottle of fruit liqueur and the bottle of medicinal-tasting liquor.
He came out again carrying the bottles and presented them to the doctor, who looked up at Vegeta with complete surprise and only accepted them after he'd made absolutely sure they were gifts. "Why? The Vegeta that I remember would never do such a thing."
The Saiyan shrugged and his crooked smile spread across his face. "You've said enough to make me think, Doctor. Besides, being alone on this station with no open taverns must be a nightmare. Good bye, Doctor Zelen."
Vegeta returned to his ship, locked the door, and set off again. He didn't set any coordinates into the computer. He went down to kitchenette with his pack of fresh medical supplies and medicine and started to read the instructions included with his tiny green bottle of antibiotics.
STEP 1 (green bottle)
Directions: Take 1 tablet every 8 hours with plenty of water. Do not consume alcohol. Avoid strenuous physical activity. Vomiting and dizziness may occur. 21 Tablets.
After all tablets have been taken, proceed to STEP 2 (white bottle).
The Saiyan poured himself a large glass of water and took his first tablet. He went to his bedroom and set his alarm to wake him in another eight hours, crawled into bed, and soon fell asleep.