Star Trek: Eleventh Fleet

Ep2: Chapter 3: Returning Home

Kal held Sakura's hand as she lay on the bio bed. The Maquis ship only had three beds in this tiny infirmary, which meant that most of the injured were still on stretchers and cots. Even with people crowding all around him, his eyes remained on watching her breath. The reality of this moment was finally reaching deep inside him. An ache filled his heart, remembering all the pain of thinking she was dead. The words in his soul yearned to get out of his mouth so badly that they crowded his thoughts. Yet, she was unconscious and couldn't hear him. There it came again, another breath, another proof that she lived.

"Um, Captain." A human girl came over with a hypospray.

He looked up at the nervous girl. "Yes?"

"I... could try to revive her again." She held up her hypo.

Kal shook his head. "I don't think it will work and pumping more stimulants into her right now might prove dangerous. We'll just wait until we get back to the station."

"I'm sorry," she answered meekly.

"Don't be. You're trying to help."

"I know. I was just an assistant to Dr. Fawbush before she died. We don't have any other medics left, I'm it. All I know came from working with the doctor and one semester of nursing school."

"I'm sorry you've been put through so much without the proper skills. They should be glad that anyone could help them. Now, Dr. Selar and her staff will make sure everyone is better."

She hesitated as she stepped back and then asked, "Captain, sir?"

"What is it?"

"I just wanted to know... would it be possible for me to keep working on my education?"

Kal frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I was a student at the University just before the Dominion destroyed it. I wanted to become a full nurse, but all I got was one semester. I... um... was not part of the Maquis, just a helper, I... um... got them some medical supplies and gave them routine examinations. Just for six months, that's all. But, I...I don't....you see..."

"You're afraid that when you get back to the Federation, they'll throw you in prison instead of letting you complete your education."

"Yes. All I ever wanted to do was heal people, to help them. Working with the Maquis was a crime, but they were struggling and hurting. I couldn't say no. I never fired a weapon in my life."

Kal let out a soft sigh. "I'll do everything in my power to help you and the others. Not everyone here is guilty of murder, regardless of what some at Starfleet want us to believe. I will make that clear."

She almost cried as she blubbered out, "Oh, thank you. Thank you..." she went to hug him but stopped herself. "Oh, sorry. I... will go check on the others." She hurried away, beaming with joy.

Peter's voice came through the intercom. "Captain Peyton, we're approaching the station. I think you should be up here when we arrive."

"I'll be there in a moment. Henderson out."

Kal kissed the back of Sakura's hand and then left the infirmary. This ship only had three decks, and the only lift was a stationary lift in the back near the engine room. All the other access points were via stairs. He stepped up a flight and the doors to the bridge opened. As it had been for the past three days of their return to Tarven space, Peter was in command while Ashi piloted the ship. Starfleet and Maquis crewmembers manned the stations and worked on repairing the ship.

Peter said, "we've dropped out of warp and are approaching the station."

"Why are the lights still at half power? Are we cloaked?" Kal asked.