Star Trek: Eleventh Fleet

Ep4: Chapter 4: A New Day

 The world felt surreal. Only a moment ago, Kal had deep pain throughout his body and the worst sensation of cold on his right arm. That pain was nearly gone, but he couldn't move. Was this the transition into whatever comes after death? Would he finally learn the answer to the most ancient question in all mortal races? His mind didn't linger on these esoteric thoughts of life and death. All he could think about was the woman he loved. He didn't want to exist in any form of life without her. He wanted to open his eyes and see her again. His heart wanted to weep for her, but everything about him was still.

A warm sensation filled him. It felt as if someone had poured soothing warm water into him and it quickly moved throughout his body. A thumping came to his ears. It was his heart. Then he realized he was breathing, or something else was breathing for him.

"He's coming around!" A voice called out.

"Get me the neural stimulator," another voice answered.

Someone forced his eyes open with their fingers. Blurry figures stood over him and someone passed light over one eye and then the other. That voice said, "We have him. Set up a series of sortazine injections."

It was apparent that he was under the care of doctors. He wanted to wake up, for his eyes to clear up enough so he could see. He needed to let them know the Founder was destroyed. His body would not respond.

A hand held his and the voice of his mother said, "You'll be okay. Please, be okay."

He couldn't grip her hand in response as he wanted to. Instead, the world went black again.

In what felt like only a moment, he gasped in a breath and then coughed. Kal had something in his mouth, and his body was restrained. He opened his eyes and noticed a significant reduction in the blur this time. He could see the interior of the hospital. The soft beeps and hushes of machines nearby told him he was under intensive care. With a stiff neck, he turned his head to the side and saw people sitting near him. His mother sat next to Ashi, who leaned on her, sleeping. When she saw Kal, she nudged the snoozing cat.

"He's awake." She whispered in eager happiness.

Ashi woke up and rubbed an eye, yawning with all those amazing fangs. "What?"

His mother stood up, "Nurse!" Rushing over to him, she looked down at his face, "Kalvin, oh, thank God, I was so worried."

One of the holographic nurses came over and looked at his readings. "Fine, quite fine. He's doing well." She looked down at him. "Please do not move until we allow you to. You are under heavy restraints to help mend all the injuries."

Kal, with a tube in his mouth and a device attached to his face, couldn't answer, other than with a look in his eyes.

Ashi came over and smiled at Kal, "It's good to see you awake, Furless."

Kal groaned and tried to speak. When the nurse realized this, she carefully removed the tube while saying, "I will need to replace this. You only have a moment."

Kal couldn't speak with any volume. "Sakura."

His mother said, "What?"

Ashi's sensitive ears caught that. "He said Sakura."

Kal struggled to gather enough strength to say, "She is dead." A tear rolled down his cheek.

"Oh, honey, no." His mother shushed him and smiled, "Your lovely fiance is just fine. I made her get something to eat. She'll be back soon."

Kal's heart swelled. His eyes watered as he wanted to cry out in joy, but he had little energy. The Nurse scolded him for trying any activity and carefully replaced the tube. "No, Captain, the bio-replicator is still replacing that hand. You cannot move at all until it is done. Stay still and sleep. You need the rest."