"What is it doc?" The Commander interrupted suddenly.
The group turned to see the doctor finally approaching them. rather than the other way around like it had been the past hour or so. It was the same serious individual who'd previously been assigned to the mysterious case of the hypnotised Thompson. he a file in hand and that frown his face seemed to be semi-permanently stuck in.
He didn't answer Shore right away. Instead The doctor glanced over them; then turned to the commander. "If you'd like to follow me, sir-?"
Commander Shore did not budge. He was having none of it. and when he spoke again His tone was all business; with no time for even dunking on Tempest or Phones.
"Doc, anything you have to tell me about Marina can be said in front of these fellas." He thumbed to two thirds of the Stingray team. "They have clearance to be here. They are her crewmates after all-!"
Atlanta cleared her throat lightly, but sharp; indicating herself and Fisher.
"and her friends." The commander amended. "If you've anything to tell me, then all five of us might as well be brought up to speed. save time and save me repeating myself to them."
The Doc was neither impressed or fussed.
"Very well, Commander. But I would rather discuss matters in the corridor."
He beckoned them to follow and there was a scramble of getting out of seats. Fisher shot up, quite a feat for someone who'd had to be dragged into sitting upright not long ago.
"How come for all the docs in the place, we always end up with this guy?" Troy muttered under his breath.
He had a point. Despite numerous nurses and surgeons of different ages, genders and all backgrounds wandering about? Besides 'this guy', the others didn't seem to get a look in.
(There were Thirteen other fully qualified Doctors at Marienville. covering different specialisations. Even if it weren't all full-time stations. They ranged from bright young things with aged eyes of working in the battlefield; to somewhat seriously scientific grouchy older folks who'd become the life of the party as soon as they were off duty. but all of them seemed to be from another planet and slightly mad half the time!
Their 'Doc' however was bland. Bland hair, bleak monotone voice and the bedside manner of unexciting and under seasoned microwave meal. But at least he was quiet and sensible.)
The commander glared at Troy to shush. Shore was only glad it wasn't the Doctor he often had for Physio; a long haired scruffy looking mad man hippy, who kept offering out jelly babies in a supposed to be a reassuring manner.
"I advise you to sit down. All of you." The Doc said as he brought them into an empty family room.
Only Atlanta did as was asked. Troy did not sit. Not intimately at least until Phones clamped a hand on his stripes and shunted him and Fisher by the shoulders down onto the sofa. But then Phones stayed stood behind them, uneasy; arms folded tight, and spine straight. very much unlike his usual self. The commander did not shift out of his chair to sit but swivelled it about so he was fount and centre facing the doc.
Fisher had his elbows on his knee again, like he had in the corridor, hands covering his jaw. It can't have been comfortable given how much his knee was jumping. Troy despite all his encounters, and his cool head for danger, felt his own foot jittering. Atlanta was sat between him and the commander, holding both Tory's arm and her father's hand.
There was an agonising wait as the doc drew breath and pulled out his notes. Each team mate started Praying for good news. And It was good news…? But it was bad news as well. The doctor did not however give them the choice of picking which they heard first.
"So, in Good news, Marina's condition is at the moment stable. There is some improvement." Doc started. "and when I left her room, she was conscious and-."
"She's awake?" Phones asked interrupting.
"In a manner of speaking." The doctor said anagenetically. "Conscious, yes. But somewhat dazed. I was hoping that if she remains awake one of you who knows her better might be able to translate for her so we the medical team can understand her condition better. A machine is helping her breathe in part-"
Ironically that statement drew a sharp breath from every one.
"though thankfully she is managing that alone. The regulator is merely a precaution. I have taken blood samples as well as several scans to see if they will tell us anything. It doesn't help that Marina's blood is naturally slightly bluer than red; but at least we can compare it to an earlier blood sample and other information she provided when she first arrived in Marienville. The bad news is …Well I'm baffled commander."