Lost on Titan

{Part 4}

~Videl~

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Terra. I know this is unwelcome news. We've conferred with the technicians down in Cryo-Level 3, and they have confirmed the malfunction. It happened six months after you were put under cryo-sleep." Dr. Sharp's expression was gravely serious. "This has only ever happened one other time in Titan Starship's history. And unfortunately, there is no repairing Recall damage. We can run some more tests, but ultimately, the only treatment for this issue is to allow those you trust to fill the blanks for you. Would you like us to inform your family?"

Videl was frozen in shock, unable to process that her memory loss was permanent. She had hoped the error code had been something trivial, that her trouble remembering anything before waking was a typical, temporary symptom of cryo-sleep recovery. But now, the reality that she would never  be able to remember her past - or who she was before - was laid on the table in front of her, and she was going to have a hard time accepting it. She could hardly concentrate enough to hear the nurse whispering something to Dr. Sharp, and the look of pity on his face made Videl want to shrink into a ball. She could only make out two of the hushed words, but it was enough for her to understand what the nurse had told him.

". . .no family. . ."

Videl felt even more paralyzed than a moment ago, but she willed herself to thaw - she needed to show she could still function, or they might lock her away in an asylum - if they even had those here. Before Dr. Sharp could respond with the new information he'd been given, Videl choked out a reassurance that might have been more her  convincing herself,  rather than him.

"It's okay. I have a friend. I saw her, today. I'm sure she will help me." Her voice sounded numb and robotic, but at least she'd managed to force them out of her constricted throat.

Dr. Sharp nodded, his piteous expression receding by a fraction. "Are there any questions you have for me?"

Videl wrung her hands nervously, as she thought of how to put words to her needs.

"I. . .don't remember where I live."

"Ah, well - that, my dear, I can  help you with." Dr. Sharp reached for her hand and showed her how to use her wristband. A tiny, almost imperceptible sensor scanned her thumbprint, and a hologram menu projected from it and suspended itself in the air in front of her. A myriad of different icons were displayed over the top of a wallpaper image of her and Sienna smiling. Dr. Sharp explained that her private quarters (which Videl realized immediately was what PQ stood for) should be listed in her Personal file, and heeding his instruction, with a flick of her finger, there it was. PQ - Level 6: Unit 104. Videl breathed a sigh of relief.

"If there is anything else you need help with, don't be afraid to call. I'll send you my digits."

In seconds, Dr. Sharp had pulled up his own wristband's holo-menu and with a few swift taps on the floating hologram screen, a notification popped onto hers, accompanied by a chiming sound.

                                       {Add Dr. Sharp to your contacts?}

Videl poked at the screen - that should have been intangible - confirming the action with a "yes." Then, Dr. Sharp showed her how to close her holo-menu by pressing her thumbprint to the sensor again. And with an awkward goodbye pat on her shoulder, and a word of encouragement she was too overwhelmed to pay attention to, he left the room and the nurse led her back out to the lobby.