[USS Charon, Main Sickbay]
Something steadied her, and blinking rapidly, Sakarra realized it had been the Marine. Well, it seemed he was not done with surprises yet. Fascinating.
One more deep breath and she managed to jolt herself back into focus.
Human. That meant, over there. No, 1.2 centimeters up.
A look of deep concentration on her face, overshadowed only by the strain of keeping the pain at bay that was still seeping through into her mind, the young Vulcan found what she had been looking for.
At this point, expediency was as much for her own sake as for his, and she increased the pressure of her fingers steadily until there was a noticeable improvement. Yes. That was ... bearable.
She eased off, and just for a few seconds, remained still, eyes closed, taking one straining breath after the other. Under her warm hands, she felt the human body relax.
She eased off, and just for a few seconds, remained still, eyes closed, taking one straining breath after the other. Under her warm hands, she felt the human body relax.
Nikolai let out a sigh of near relief as the pain subsided somewhat through the Vulcan's efforts. His body begun to relax under her touch and his breathing regulated to something more reasonable then the deep shallow pain filled gasps of air. His dark eyes traced over the woman carefully still not quite able to move yet and the pain while receded still coursed through his body.
The damage done was extensive on a cellular level and even down into his bone marrow. However whatever the Vulcan was doing seemed to be helping. He could see the look of pain on her own face and wondered how she could bear it, if it was what he was feeling then the Vulcan was made of steel and Nikolai admired that.
Having regained her calm, at least enough to proceed, Sakarra let her hands move again, seeking the next set of pressure points. It was a good thing she had asked the healer to leave, losing her composure like this in front of anyone, even and especially another Vulcan, was not something she relished. Blinking away another wave of excruciating pain, she moved towards the base of the Marine's neck, brushing lightly against the spine.
There.
There.
He was relaxed enough now for the first, ever so light threads of a feedback loop to begin weaving themselves into being, and Sakarra inhaled sharply again when she realized she was being watched by the human. She struggled to project nothing but reassuring calm, but failed miserably. It was still too much. By herself, she might have been able to simply endure in silence. Connected to another living being, her face showed all to clearly the level of distress she was experiencing, and much to her own dismay, she had to bite her lips to prevent another sound from escaping them.
One by one, the human's pain signals lost their connection to the brain and the young Vulcan sighed, exhausted and relieved. Tension drained from her body like water through the desert sands and her head fell forward.
Breathe. It will pass.
Breathe. It will pass.
Nikolai breathed out a raspy breath as the pain seemed to deaden into a aching like you would have after serious exercise. It was a major improvement to his condition for the past several months and the look of relief spread on his bearded face. He managed to move his limbs without the constant nagging screaming agony from before and reached up steadying the girl once more.
He blinked his eyes into focus and the look of gratitude on his face was enormous. For a moment he just looked on in amazement at the Vulcan who had deadened his suffering and finely was able to formulate a sentence. "Oh gods... I have no words for this... Thank you is not even close to covering it." he said to her. Before his voice was rough and filled with rage and pain but now his deep slavic voice was filled with gratitude and friendliness as only the Russians can.
"I believe the correct answer is… you are welcome?" Sakarra murmured, vaguely aware of two rather large hands holding on to her arms, keeping her from suffering the indignity of falling over. Her internal clock insisted it had only taken 2.47 hours to reach this point, however her body felt as if she had traversed a cold wasteland for two weeks.
She pulled herself back together with no small amount of effort and looked down at the Marine's face.
"You may let go now." she said mildly.
She pulled herself back together with no small amount of effort and looked down at the Marine's face.
"You may let go now." she said mildly.
The large Marine slowly released her and let her sit up on her own power. It had seemed only like a moment to him since she was able to free him of the maddening pain that coursed through his body. He didn't know if it would last or not but he would be eternally grateful to the woman and the doctor who was hovering near the door.
"I don't know if these words will mean anything to a Vulcan but I say them all the same. I will repay this kindness to you and pledge myself to you until I do." he said to her. It was a Russian tradition to swear a life debt to someone who had saved them, a matter of honor that even a Klingon would admire.
Sakarra slowly tilted her head, a thoughtful look in her black eyes.
"One should take great care with such words, Mr Chernienko. You have suffered greatly and it is natural to feel gratitude towards one who eases pain. I will therefore accept your thanks, but I cannot accept a pledge until it is offered freely, after due consideration."
Noticing that his breath still came somewhat labored, the young Vulcan decided she might as well make use of the still lingering mental thread and gently slid her hands under the sickbay issued shirt.
His sheer body size meant she had to lean forward a bit, but not quite enough to give him a view of anything but her small neck and a few loose strands of hair tumbling down from the tightly braided coils.
Five minutes was all it took to instruct the tensed tissue to cease acting silly and Sakarra gave a satisfied nod. It would have to suffice for now.
"One should take great care with such words, Mr Chernienko. You have suffered greatly and it is natural to feel gratitude towards one who eases pain. I will therefore accept your thanks, but I cannot accept a pledge until it is offered freely, after due consideration."
Noticing that his breath still came somewhat labored, the young Vulcan decided she might as well make use of the still lingering mental thread and gently slid her hands under the sickbay issued shirt.
His sheer body size meant she had to lean forward a bit, but not quite enough to give him a view of anything but her small neck and a few loose strands of hair tumbling down from the tightly braided coils.
Five minutes was all it took to instruct the tensed tissue to cease acting silly and Sakarra gave a satisfied nod. It would have to suffice for now.
Surprisingly enough, he had not stirred even the slightest bit, which was most helpful of course but rather rare in humans, at least in Sakarra's experience.
She returned to her previous position next to the gigantic Russian and settled comfortably on her knees, studying his face.
She returned to her previous position next to the gigantic Russian and settled comfortably on her knees, studying his face.
Nikolai breathed out deeply as she loosened up his chest muscles. He listened to her words and they were wise and kind. The first part he would expect from one such as she but the latter was mildly surprising. "I will heed your words Madam." he said to her looking her over. Only after she had removed her hands did he try to move again the ache was still there but only a mild annoyance compared to what it had been.
"Forgive me if I do not place your face... It has been a very long time since I was onboard the Charon." he said. And by that admission it was obvious he was one of the mutineers who had joined Col. Cole against Rehu during the beginning of Charon's Mission.
The young woman nodded, and there was a small expression flickering across her face when she saw him move without too much difficulty. Almost like the dawn of a smile.
"I am the Chief Helm Officer, Mr Chernienko. Lieutenant Commander Sakarra." her voice was level and melodious, but held a hint of exhaustion, to a person trained in detecting the subtleties of Vulcan expressions possibly even sadness.
"And yes, it has been a long time. We have not met, however as most Vulcans, I have eidetic memory and recall your name being on the crew manifest. But even without that, it was quite clear who the few … survivors were."
"I am the Chief Helm Officer, Mr Chernienko. Lieutenant Commander Sakarra." her voice was level and melodious, but held a hint of exhaustion, to a person trained in detecting the subtleties of Vulcan expressions possibly even sadness.
"And yes, it has been a long time. We have not met, however as most Vulcans, I have eidetic memory and recall your name being on the crew manifest. But even without that, it was quite clear who the few … survivors were."
The tall Marine looked at the Vulcan as the expression of sadness passed her face. In a very Vulcan move he raised one of his eyebrows up upon his brow. "This took alot out of you I see Commander." he said to her and knew better then to touch her. Vulcans were tactile telepaths and he didn't want to send any more of his suffering into her.
"Survivors... If that is what you can call it. Tell me are the Scientists dead... All of them?" he asked her with a nearly devoid of emotion tone of voice. In a Vulcan it would have seemed normal but to people who understood human emotional ranges it was the sound of utter menace and hatred. The kind of voice serial killers had when their cloak of normality dropped. It was clear that Nikolai would happily slaughter every last Neodyne employee like cattle.
Another deeply thoughtful look in her eyes, Sakarra slowly shook her head.
The man's demeanor had changed visibly, and although the young Vulcan was far from being an expert on reading humans, in this case she could venture an educated guess.
"Does it truly matter, Mr Chernienko? If I told you they were, will you ask me if they suffered? And if I said some still live, will you wish to exact revenge? On all, or would you spare any? What would it take to undo what has been done?"
The man's demeanor had changed visibly, and although the young Vulcan was far from being an expert on reading humans, in this case she could venture an educated guess.
"Does it truly matter, Mr Chernienko? If I told you they were, will you ask me if they suffered? And if I said some still live, will you wish to exact revenge? On all, or would you spare any? What would it take to undo what has been done?"
[To be Continued ...]
Lieutenant Commander Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
&
Marine Captain Nikolai Chernienko
Platoon Leader
Chief Helmsman and Acting Executive Officer
&
Marine Captain Nikolai Chernienko
Platoon Leader
USS Charon
