Anomalous Trip (Part II)

[slicsinatra]

Almost in slow motion I yell at the top of my lungs “EVASIVE MANEUVERS!! PULL UP NOW!!!” I also motion frantically with my hand like *move move* in a shooing motion to the pilot, or whoever can see me rising.

[Dragnoxz]

With urgency in the air, you signal the winch operator who promptly disappears into the chopper. The aircraft ascends, bearing the increasing weight of both you and your rescued companion. The strain on the winch is palpable as the cable tautens, suspending you in a delicate balance between peril and hope.

As you rise higher, the dangers below diminish in size. A mix of anticipation and relief fills the charged atmosphere. The chopper becomes your lifeline, symbolizing salvation against daunting odds. With unwavering determination, you cling tightly to your companion, driven by a resolute resolve that propels you towards safety, forging a path through the unknown. 

Yet, just as victory seems within reach, a bone-chilling close call materializes. The dragon's jaws snap perilously close, a surge of wind brushing past your feet, a mere breath away from a devastating encounter. The heart-stopping proximity fuels your adrenaline, reinforcing the gravity of the perilous world that surrounds you. In this fleeting moment, you cling to the hope that safety will prevail as you continue your harrowing journey through the jaws of uncertainty.

[slicsinatra]

I hold tight as we rise. Once at the top I would immediately begin to work on my patient, there isn’t much time.

[Dragnoxz]

As the dragon falls backward, its jaws emanate an eerie, cool, dense gaseous mixture seeping from its cavernous mouth. Time slows down, your heart pounding in your chest as the monstrous creature plummets downwards. With a single powerful wing flap, the massive dragon generates a forceful gust of wind, toppling a nearby tree off-balance, crashing to the forest floor just moments before it lands on its back with a resounding thud.

Relief floods through you as you finally reach the helicopter, the loadmaster swiftly swings you inside and slams shut the sliding cargo door. The sight of the already prepared collapsible medical cot and tray instills a sense of reassurance. The loadmaster's meticulous readiness for any medical needs brings a glimmer of comfort amidst the chaotic aftermath, which allows you to immediately begin work on your patient.

As the chopper continues its ascent, a sudden pitch forward jolts your senses, causing a slight drop in your stomach. But just as quickly, it eases out, the helicopter leveling out to reach a stable cruise speed. The reassuring thought of heading back to Tza'donia permeates your mind, accompanied by the realization that the immediate danger has been left behind, at least for you. Now, it’s up to you to stabilize the last known Nal’yus of the lands.

[slicsinatra]

What’s her status, I need to quickly diagnose the priority issues to stabilize her.

[Dragnoxz]

You must do a bunch of checks. You must roll a perception to identify the injuries and wisdom to determine which injury needs focus first to last in order to stabilize, intelligence to determine how to perform each procedure, and dexterity for actually performing the procedures.

[slicsinatra]

Perception 19, wisdom 16, intel 13, dex 15.

[Dragnoxz]

As you meticulously assess the extent of her injuries, a grim realization dawns upon you. The severity and brutality of the wounds inflicted on her become evident, bearing witness to the horrors she has endured. Her torn flesh, running from her lower right rib to her right knee, reveals exposed veins and arteries, some damaged but vital ones seemingly intact. Pale and dehydrated, her frail appearance hints at significant blood loss. Burn marks on her wrists from shackles and signs of torture further deepen the sense of her suffering.

Swiftly, you begin addressing the critical wounds, clamping any visible damaged arteries to staunch the bleeding. Placing an X-Ray plate behind her head, you capture images to assess head injuries, revealing damage to her jaw and an upper left cheekbone fragment. Inside her mouth, you notice a burned puncture, the cause of the fragment's detachment.

Testing her oxygen levels, you discover a worrying deficiency, prompting you to initiate a blood synthesis procedure using nano drones. Gathering a sample of her blood, you allow the computer to form a matrix, initiating the production of oxygen-enriched blood after adding a carbon pill. Concurrently, you attach sensors to her head to monitor brain activity, noting abnormal readings that suggest potential telepathic engagement.

The computer emits an occasional alert, but you silence it, aware that any changes will reactivate the notification. Leaving the major cut open to facilitate airflow and drainage, you observe patches of blood soaking the cot beneath her, a testament to the severity of her injuries. Recognizing her shallow and labored breathing, you promptly administer an IV to support her.

Placing the X-Ray plate under her left kidney, you discover a puncture and swelling accompanied by fluid accumulation. Caution guides your decision to withhold immediate action, instead focusing on investigating potential blockages or pinched areas.

To release the kidney blockage, you message the tube to allow urine flow, encountering an unexpected anatomical anomaly. A sphincter mechanism restricts the natural flow, leading you to speculate on the unique aspects of her species' anatomy. Notable features, such as extra flaps of tissue with blackish purple glands and gland-like structures resembling lymph nodes, spark your curiosity about her transformative capabilities.

Stabilizing and patching the injured kidney as best you can, you turn your attention to a stretched and torn muscle in her left forearm. Utilizing a Stretch-Seal, you surgically mend the torn muscle, accelerating the healing process significantly. Applying a GoStitch and ensuring proper sanitation, you strive to restore functionality.

Amidst your diligent efforts, you notice Captain Dixie and the aircrew observing your work. Soon after, Major Neltz enters the scene.

Major Neltz: “Farenvól, what have they don’t to you ?” He says, with anger and sorrow in his voice. “Caston, nice work. I’ll work on her leg.” He puts on one of your pairs of surgeon gloves. He already knows what to do. He takes four Go-Stitches and sets them to the side. You hear someone shout for someone to get back just outside of the chopper. Neltz looks up and shouts back. “HAHY, don’t shoo her away ! Let her pass !” He returns focus on what he’s doing while you reset her jaw bone and inspect the extent of the damage in her mouth. “Nyza, it’s ok, she’ll be fine.” Neltz says to an old woman that stands quietly, teary eyed as she watches.

You hold the bone where it has broken and use the drill to make a hole in the bone that has detached and screw all the way through to the main part of the jaw bone. Then you detach the fragment and place surgeon tape between the bone, then stick a rod mount inside the hole you just made on the main part of the bone, then set the bone again, and stick the rod in and then screw it in with a rod screw, to ensure the bone remains. Then you use a metal cutter and a suction device to cut and suck the unused portion of the rod. The base of the screw is cone shaped so that the rod and bone can’t come out. Then you stick more surgeon tape between the flesh and bone and press it lightly. It has portions that are not adhesive to allow fluid to flow freely until the body heals and breaks down the tape.

Neltz mends the broken veins and smaller arteries and completed his work on the gaping wound and allows a few sections to remain open for proper drainage. Her breathing and heart rate stabilizes. Neltz injects some sleeping and pain medicine to ensure she’s not in pain too much when she does wake up.

Major Neltz: “She needs to be brought to Scar Creek. She’s too vulnerable here.”

Captain Dixie: “Then how will we fight them off without her telling us where they’ll strike next ?”

Major Neltz: “We have Apache’s.” He then looks to you. “I’m afraid to look at your debriefing video feed. This was probably the most critical thing anyone has done out here. Saving her life could mean the difference between victory or defeat, here. No injuries I see. What are you made of, kid ?” 

[slicsinatra]

“When I was in Raccoon City..the crew who helped rescue me and the others we met were infected by the T-virus and it was slowly affecting us. But when we got the cure synthesized by the D-vice, it seems to have altered us in positive ways, like one of the original uses of the virus. Quicker healing factor, inhuman endurance. Some things I probably don’t realize.” I stop for a moment. “Wait. The Raccoon crew..if you take her there, if they are there..you think you may be able to get a couple of them here? Not for nostalgia, but having a couple more of these altered folks can’t hurt.”

[Dragnoxz]

Major Neltz: “I wouldn’t even know where to begin. If they are altered in that way, they may be off dimension too, or in hibernation on a long range space exploration mission. I can see if someone can track them down. Maybe we can get them here.” He looks at Farenvól. “You know, she’s several hundred earth years old. She has protected this region with her brother nearly one hundred. Her brother recen-“ he stops talking, noting Dixie’s blank face of guilt. “I never met him, but he have it all to end the battle.”

Dixie: “Only to find out it wasn’t worth it.” She speaks telepathically to you.

Major Neltz: “She needs a safe place to heal.”

Captain Dixie: “If you take her to Scar Creek, she won’t be able to communicate with us easily.”

Major Neltz: “I know. We will come up with something. More Apache’s, maybe.”

[slicsinatra]

“Well. I had a long shot idea. I know how hard it can be to conceal our comings and going’s. What if we had a periodic, ‘check in’. While she heals, a roving patrol pops in, updates, we update them, they leave in a hurry. Keep it at random times, throw the enemy off. Night, day, alternating week days, etc?”

[Dragnoxz]

Major Neltz: “The most safest place from the enemy army is here, the town. Second safest place is the island. Second because they can form along the river and swim across, and the enemy dragon copies can fly to anywhere here. The ultimate safest place is Scar Creek, for now. And what you suggested, finding the team that found you. I’ll get a note out when we send her to our home.”

Captain Dixie: “I know she’ll be safe, but what about us ?”

Major Neltz: “I honestly think she isn’t as vital to the combat aspect as we think. The value she brings is her vast knowledge, communications to the locals, and telepathic understanding for where he will strike next. But we’ve proven countless times that our combat capabilities are effective, even without her warnings. This town, the enemy constantly tries to probe, but get spotted well outside of their Evoker range and is rewarded with an M-203 or sniper round. With that crashed AC-130, we now have artillery capability. I think we should put that sucker in the tower.” He looks up at the temples tower. “That’s the highest point within hundreds of kilometers.” He starts to walk away. “I’m going to go over your recent mission details and write a report to home. Replenish your medical supplies at the temple, get some rest, talk to the locals. I know she gave you that ability.” He turns and walks to the chopper. “Dismissed.” Dixie looks at you.

Dixie: “She did give us the ability to understand the locals. We just can’t speak to them very well.”

[slicsinatra]

“I think he may have misunderstood me, I meant maybe we could have a roving ‘interdimensional’ patrol. From Scar Creek. While she heals there. That way we can keep them updated while she’s healing. Either way, I’m going to replenish my med supplies. Care to join?”

[Dragnoxz]

Dixie: “I think he meant we’d take her there to be safe.” Her voice breaks the silence, her words carrying a sense of reassurance amidst the lingering tension. “They have everything she’d need.” She acknowledges the intention behind Major Neltz's suggestion, emphasizing that Scar Creek holds the resources and security required for the injured woman's recovery. “I’m sure when she wakes up she’ll contact us from there. It will be like when she was talking in my dreams, or appearing as a ball, or orb, to me to guide me.” Her belief in the woman's ability to communicate, whether through dreams or mysterious appearances, brings a sense of hope for their future connection. “But I’m just worried about us here. She’s suppose to be here, not there” She looks at he chopper. “I’ve got to clean your mess.” With a hint of a smile, Dixie acknowledges the task of tidying up the aftermath, playfully referring to it as "cleaning your mess" before making her way towards the helicopter. Her relaxed demeanor and gentle jesting hint at a return to normalcy, even in the wake of such harrowing events.

Among the onlookers, the lady who Neltz allowed to observe the operation stands apart, her attire a somber combination of dark gray and green. Concern and curiosity blend in her expression, conveying an understanding that you were the one who saved Farenvól from certain death, the last known Nal'yus. Though her admiration remains unspoken, her presence and observant demeanor reflect a profound connection to the significance of the moment and the impact of your actions.

There is a sense of accomplishment, however, the dangerously dreadful sense that the dragon was still alive sets in, as if there is unfinished business to be done. 

[slicsinatra]

I go replenish my medical supplies and clean my blade as well as my gear wherever I am able.