✅ Project SETI Trilogy

Chapter Three - Part VIII: Visit

          Julia was immediately stopped by Nova's parents when she exited the room. They assaulted her with a plethora of questions about his condition and what had happened to him, and he listened as she explained in assuring half-truths that he was truly fine. Nova tied his gown and wrapped the warm faux-fleece blanket around his shoulders so he could comfortably join the trio in the doorway.

          "... I'm okay, I promise," he said to them in a voice that was both firm and quiet.

          Julia nodded affirmatively. "He just needs to wait for some blood work to come back, and... well, given the sensitive nature of the incident, you'll all need to be debriefed before you leave."

          Nova's mother let out an exasperated sigh. She nodded and turned to Nova, "what are you doing...? You should sleep some more—you were so tired before, you passed out mid-sentence..."

          "I need to see Gabe," he replied quietly. His sedation and exhaustion was palpable both in his voice and on his face. "After... I'll sleep after I've seen him..."

          "Okay," his father said gently. He touched his hand to his shoulder briefly. "We'll find something to eat in the meantime—I'll bring you something good. Any requests?"

          "No... anything Earth-based would be great..."

          Julia quickly shot him a pointed look that said be careful about what you say, and she just as quickly turned and smiled at Nova's parents afterward. "There are places to get food on the ground floor, just off the left hallway from the main entrance you used."

          They thanked her and turned to leave, and Julia went to leave as well, but Nova stopped her again. "Wait..."

          "Hm?" Julia raised her eyebrows at him.

          "Can you come with me?" he asked shyly. "I just... want someone there to explain..."

          The doctor nodded when he trailed off. "Sure, sweetheart. I can do that."

          Gabriel's room wasn't far away; just a few paces. And while Nova had been anxious to see him during the examination, he found himself nervous and a little apprehensive now. As they approached the door, he suddenly wondered where Temet was and what was going to happen to her.

          Julia opened the door and held it open for Nova, and he cautiously walked through when she gestured inside. He noticed the hiss of the ventilator right away, and the slow rhythmic beeping on top of that. He rounded the small entranceway that housed the room's bathroom with careful steps and unconsciously held his breath until Gabriel was in view.

          Nova couldn't help a quiet gasp when he saw him. He was lying on his back on a slight incline, intubated, and hooked up to two different intravenous drips, as well as a catheter, 5-lead ECG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, and a tube that went up his nose and down into his stomach. He was still very pale and sick-looking, but it wasn't as bad as the last time he saw him. As Nova moved closer to him, he noticed the medicated gel-like patches arranged on his arms, torso and neck, and he couldn't stop his lip from shaking when Gabriel's condition truly struck. He looked up to the monitor to observe his vital signs:

          HR: 47 BPM
          SP02: 100%
          SYS: 114
          DIA: 78
          TEMP: 36.9 C / 98.4 F
          RR: 0 (18)

          "His heart rate is so slow..." Nova said softly, mostly to himself. He delicately picked up Gabriel's hand and squeezed his fingers, to avoid messing with the port inserted in a vein on the top of his hand.