CHAPTER 4: CURED

Note: I didn't make this clear prior, but I will now. This version of Arthur has very high honor. Not necessarily maxed honor, but if you were to play as this Arthur that I'm utilizing in this story in RDR2 you'd get the high honor ending.

Arthur Morgan and John Marston walked into what Commander Charles the third, or Trip, as the man told them to call him, was called the sickbay of this futuristic looking place the two men now found themselves. Just a few moments earlier the two were with their allies, both old and new, in their camp in Beaver Hollow and now they were here. They, along with the surviving members of the gang and the Pinkerton detective agency were suddenly and instantly transported to what the man who saved them, Anakin Skywalker, called a starship. A ship that traverses the stars, now that was something that Arthur and John never even imagined was possible. Hell, they never even fathomed that such a thing could ever exist at all. To them, the fantasies of flight that were proposed by two brothers called the Wright brothers that they read about in the Valentine gazette was nothing but a fantasy. Now, however, it seems that perhaps they were wrong to second guess the dreams of those two brothers that they read about a few months prior. Arthur, trying his best to not cough up a storm, and John, holding his shoulder where he had been shot, finally left their racing mind's and came back to reality to be greeted by an alien-looking doctor with a cheery smile. The doctor walked up to the two men and motioned for them to sit down on two beds on the far side of the room, "Hello, I am Doctor Phlox, I was appraised about both of your individual situations, this won't take too long for you, which one of you is John?"

John raised his hand as he sat down with a wince, "I'm John, that's Arthur. Help him first, I'll be fine."

Phlox looked up from the table of futuristic medical devices nearby and gave the man a small understanding smile, "Not to worry, I'll be with your friend shortly. But first, we need to quickly deal with your wound." Phlox picked up two small devices that looked strange to Arthur and John and walked close to John and raised one of the devices to Johns wound, the device made a beeping sound that was slightly annoying to John, but he kept his mouth shut and waited for the doctor to do what he felt was necessary. Phlox looked at the screen of the device for a quick second and nodded, "There is an exit wound, so the good news is there won't be any surgery required to remove a bullet. This should mend nicely and quickly." Phlox raised the other device in his hand and moved it slowly across the wound that John had, and to John's amazement he didn't feel any pain. In fact, he was starting to lose the sensation of pain at a rapid pace. John looked to Arthur who just looked at him and the doctor in awe, with his mouth looking like it was threatening to defy human biology and hit the ground. Wordlessly, an astonished looking Arthur pointed at John's shoulder, clearly indicating that John should look at what was going on with his shoulder wound. John, noticing the surprised look on Arthur's face, looked down to his shoulder to see the wound disappearing and sealing up with fresh new skin at a rapid pace. John, stunned, yelped in surprise and slightly moved away from the device in shock. Phlox, noticing this, placed a gentle hand on Johns other shoulder, "Not to worry, this device is completely safe to use. I have used these devices and their predecessors' numerous times, the first time I used a device similar to this on my home planet of Denobula to help mend the aftermath of what humans would call a caesarian birth about forty-five years ago. Well, a few hundred years in the future for you." Phlox then gently inspected with his hands and eyes where John's wound used to be for a few seconds and nodded with approval, "You're free to go Mr. Marston, I'll be sure to call you back when Arthur here is ready for visitors."

John slowly got up from his sitting position on the bed and gingerly rotated his previously injured shoulder around only to find that there was no pain or stiffness whatsoever. John then rotated his shoulder more forcefully, and again, no pain. John turned towards Phlox and nodded, "Damn doc, you got some good stuff here. Thank you. And Arthur, I'll be back when the word is given that you're alright."

Arthur gave John a small smile as he leaned back against the wall that the bed he was sitting on was near, "Sure, I'll be seein you John." John patted Arthur on the shoulder and nodded at Phlox and went outside to wait with Trip while Phlox treated Arthur. Phlox, walking up to Arthurs side, raised up the same device that he used to scan John's shoulder, prompting Arthur to get curious, "Hey doc, you used that on John. I wasn't shot, how would that thing help me?"

Phlox chuckled while he slowly scanned Arthur's chest throat and chest cavity, "I did use it on John, you're correct. But this device has far more uses than just checking if a bullet is inside of one's body. You see, this device can see inside your body up to the microscopic level, it can tell where there's a broken bone, a viral infection, a fungal infection, pretty much anything that can go wrong with the body it can detect." Phlox looked over the data that came up on the tricorder and nodded, "Ah, late state tuberculosis. Quite a nasty little disease, I'm glad you got here when you did." Phlox briskly walked to a counter on the other side of the spacious sick bay and began digging through a very organized cabinet of what looked like vials to Arthur.

Arthur, trying to peak into the area the doctor was in felt his anxiety build, he had to ask, "Doc, is it true? Can I be cured? Can I get back to who I was?" his sense of urgency coming through in his speech.

Phlox picked up a few vials and walked back towards Arthur, "Yes, it's true, you should feel like new again in a few days. You must stay here to be watched over while you rest and recover, but, after that, you'll be as humans say, right as rain." Phlox took a few vials and mixed them into a separate vial, after a few moments of stirring and shaking the substances together, he slid the vial into a hypo-spray and pressed it against Arthur's neck. Almost immediately, Arthur's pain and discomfort greatly decreased.

Arthur tried to stand up out of sheer shock, but was gently forced to lay down via the gentle hand of doctor Phlox, "I feel… I feel… I haven't felt this way in a month or more I reckon. How did you… what did you give me?"

Phlox smiled gently at the man as he continued to scan his body with the tricorder that was now back in his hand, "I gave you a cocktail of drugs. Mainly twenty milligrams isoniazid, thirty milligrams of rifampin, fifteen milligrams of pyrazinamide, five milligrams of cordrazine, and the main ingredient, one hundred milligrams of cloveritol. The first three medications that I used have been in use for eons, those first three have been used as an effective treatment for tuberculosis starting in the mid to late twentieth century. It is all quite safe, now, rest. You should be able to eat solid food without the fear of pain or coughing in a few hours. Until then, I'll give you time to think about what you want to eat. Should you need anything, a book, a pillow, anything, don't hesitate to ask me." Dr. Phlox gave Arthur a small smile and patted him softly on his shoulder, "Get some rest Mr. Morgan."

Phlox turned away and began to walk to his personal computer in his office when he heard Arthur speak, "Thank… thank you Doctor. You gave me my life back. I promise, I'll do right by it."

Phlox turned his head slightly and gave the man a large smile that seemed to stretch his face, "Of course, I'll let your friends onboard know when you're ready to receive visitors." Arthur honestly found that smile rather unsettling, but he refused to show it. This man had saved his life, he had given his life back and he wouldn't dare make him feel judged. With thoughts of renewed hope and thoughts of the upcoming war that was to ravage his home, Arthur Morgan peacefully drifted off into sleep.

John and Commander Charles Tucker, the third or as his friends called him, Trip, walked down the nearly empty corridors of the Enterprise after a hearty meal in the mess hall. Jack rubbed his stomach and let out a sigh, "God damn that prime rib was good. Never thought the best cut I'd ever have the pleasure of tastin was to be created out of thin air like that."

Trip chuckled as the two reached the turbolift, "Deck-C." the turbo lift began to move at a quick pace, something that John looked curious and enthralled by, "Yeah, the replicator is really somethin, you'll have one in the room that you'll be sharin with Arthur for the time being when he's back in shape. As for this, well, it gets us to each deck of the ship quicker and that's about it. What I'm about to show you next, the holodeck, will blow your mind my friend, we just had them installed not too long ago."

The door to the turbolift opened and the two men walked out, making a hard right almost immediately and found themselves situated in front of a pair of large metallic doors. John, turning to Trip now, looked at the man with a quizzical look, "You said that me and Arthur will have one in our room?" that quizzical look turned into a small smile, "Careful my friend, we may eat you out of house and home. I appreciate you taking me and showin me around, can't wait to see what this thing is, but I'm still worried about Jack, my son… I hope my son is alright. I haven't been the best father, and I hope it isn't too late to change that."

Trip put his hand on John's shoulder and gave it a reaffirming squeeze, "Don't you worry, we have Data and Worf on the case, and those to will do everything in their power and beyond to save your son. Once he is found, Worf will get him back for ya, no matter the cost. It's an honor thing for him. But, until they find him and alert us, let's try to have some fun, I'm sure your son would want that, right?"

John looked up at Trip and nodded, "Right, yes… yes, he would. He's a good kid. A sweet kid. I appreciate the kindness sir; it means a great deal to me and to the rest of us that you took in."

Trip smiled as he turned to press a few buttons on the screen next to the huge metallic doors they were still in front of, "It's no problem at all, it's always important to do the right thing. As much as you can, anyway. Now… I wonder what program I should use. Hell, I know, let's go to the Amazon."

John, looking perplexed as Trip began to enter in the specifications of whatever this program was, had to ask, "The Amazon? As in the rainforest in South America? How can we see they Amazon rainforest in a room like you're tellin me about? No offense, this ship is big but it ain't that big."

Trip smirked as he motioned towards the doors, "Well, I'll show ya, it's ready. After you!"

John walked in with Trip trailing him, and the moment he stepped into the room he not only saw a luscious and beautiful rainforest teaming with life, he felt the humidity of the air, the light rain hitting his clothes and skin, the warmth of the climate, he felt and saw everything. Reaching out, John grasped a branch of a nearby tree, feeling the thickness and roughness of the bark, as he and Trip walked deeper into the forest, "Well… I'll be damned."

Arthur Morgan was deep in thought while recovering in sick bay, the doctor had just informed him that he should be ready to have a proper meal, this time without any pain or issues caused by tuberculosis, and he couldn't help but wonder how he and his surviving friends had gotten so lucky. If it wasn't for these people, this group of people that he now knew were called Jedi and Starfleet, they would have all surely died or perhaps suffered a worse fate as prisoners of what he now knew was called the Separatists and the Galactic Empire. As for their comrades in black armor, they were called clones. Apparently, they had the technology to utilize the DNA of an individual and mass produce perfect copies of anyone, from what he was told by Doctor McCoy when he came in to cover for Phlox for a few hours. The man was a southerner, from Georgia, and he and Arthur hit it off well. Arthur slowly sat up and grunted softly, there was still some pain in his upper and lower back, but it was minimal in comparison to what he was dealing with just a few days prior. According to Doctor McCoy and Phlox, if they hadn't reached him when they did, he likely would have succumbed to his tuberculosis within the next week, perhaps much sooner considering the lifestyle He had been living at the time. Arthur was thankful, and he knew he could never repay their kindness but hoped to do so by fighting alongside them to prevent the destruction of their Earth, once the doctors gave him the green light to join the multiple battles that he knew were inevitably going to happen on the ground. According to Phlox, Captains Archer and Kirk were already planning and coordinating with their crew as well as gathering input and opinions from Sadie Adler and Agent Milton, something that Arthur knew, despite still not liking Milton, would most definitely aid in the struggle against what was yet to come. Arthur train of thought was cut short when he noticed the doors to sick bay opening up, with three men coming in. Two of them he recognized, one was Commander Worf and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, two men that had assisted him, the Pinkertons, and what was left of his gang when they were on their last ropes against the invaders. The other man, however, he hadn't met yet. The man in question looked a little shorter than Arthur but held an aura that commanded respect but also showcased high amounts of compassion and care. He was dressed in a blue jumpsuit like most of the crew, had short brown hair, and had a face that was a little aged, but many would still consider handsome. The man in question noticed that Arthur was awake and approached him with an outstretched hand, "Hello Arthur, glad to see that you're awake and recovering nicely. I'm Captain of this ship, Johnathan Archer. I'm glad that we happened upon you when we did. We beamed towards the highest concentration of enemies we could find to perform some reconnaissance and ended up running into your group, I'm glad we did."

Arthur immediately grasped the man's hand and shook it as firmly as he could, "I'm grateful either way. Those bastards wanted us to surrender or die, but we felt differently."

Anakin walked up next to Archer, with Worf right behind him, and patted Arthurs right shoulder, "I'm glad to see you looking better, Arthur. Once you're better you can help us strategize and fight off these sleamos. Perhaps Worf can give you a little weapons training so you can use the weapons we have at our disposal as well. What do you think, Worf?"

Worf nodded moving closer to Arthurs bedside, "From what I saw of you down on Earth, Mr. Morgan, you are a warrior at heart. A warrior that will fight to protect what he cares about and those around him, and you did so despite your sickness. When you feel up to it, I'll gladly teach you as much as I can before we face these enemies in battle, together. It will be an honor to fight by your side."

Arthur gave Worf a small smile and nodded back respectfully at the Klingon, "I sure as shit hope we can fight these bastards sooner rather than later. They killed Dutch, and despite my disagreements with him I will never forgive that. But I want to thank you all for what you did for us, I can't do much now but, I can offer this." Arthur reached for his bag, which was floated over to him by Anakin via the force and rummaged through it to pull out two bottles of Kentucky Bourbon, placing them on the table next to his bedside, "If you're allowed to indulge a little while you work, I'd love to drink with ya."

Archer grabbed a bottle and looked at the label and whistled, "These were extremely rare even back in my day, I assume they're long gone by the twenty-fourth century. Always wanted to try an old vintage bourbon like this. I think we can have a glass or two, what do you think doctor, can Arthur have a little?"

Doctor McCoy, who was at his workstation, perked up, "Sure, it wouldn't be harmful. I better get me a glass as well, I sure as hell need one right about now."

Arthur chuckled a little, happily noticing that he was able to do so without spiraling into a coughing fit, and waved the doctor over, "Of course doctor! Come here and have one with us!"

Doctor McCoy walked towards the group of men and veered to the left towards the replicator, "computer, five shot glasses, empty." After that command, the computer whirred to life, and out of thin air, five perfect shot glasses appeared on the tray inside of the replicator. Grabbing the shot glasses, McCoy offered a shot glass to each man, with Archer doing the honors of popping one of the bottles open and pouring each man a shot of bourbon. After each man had a full glass, probably about two shots worth, they all raised their glasses in the air."

Arthur spoke first, "To you, to all of you who saved us, and to our victory against these bastards."

Worf smiled, and raised his glass higher, "Spoken like a true warrior, to our shared victory over our foes." Worf, Arthur, and Anakin downed their shots in an instant whilst Archer and McCoy nursed theirs. The other three men looked at McCoy and Archer, clearly perplexed.

McCoy looked back at them, faux offense written on his face, "What the hell are you lot looking at? I have never had the privilege of trying a bourbon this old, I want to enjoy the taste and the experience dammit."

Archer chuckled as he sipped his bourbon and pointed at McCoy, "Exactly what he said."

All of the men laughed together and poured another round, not enough for them to be impaired but enough for them to nurse and enjoy together while they got to know Arthur and, with time, learn more about this version of Earth from him and try to plan a strategy to not just protect their Earth and his, but to potentially work with the numerous countries of this Earth to hopefully fend off this attack and prevent their temporal planet killing weapon from ever being built and realized in the first place.