Previously: We explored Brigit's struggle to develop a new ritual style for the upcoming ceremony while successfully navigating the preparations for Transition, showcasing her leadership and the crew's camaraderie as they come together for the mission ahead.
Chapter 14
Doc knocks on Cali's door. "Come in." She calls, and he does.
"Want to see if we can take that thing off?" He points to the cast.
She sits up eagerly. "Yes, please! I've actually been dreaming about climbing, which is funny because I've only done it once!"
"Well, hopefully, you can today! That is, if you're feeling up to it. Ready?" He asks.
"I'll just get my robe. " She grabs her red and black plaid robe and follows behind Doc.
Walking into the med-bay, she notices it is the most sterile-looking place on the ship. Whereas they painted other areas of the ship to people's tastes or neutral colors like in halls, the med bay is entirely white. There are almost no non-white surfaces. It is a little disorienting because you lose your depth of field. On top of not liking med bays in general, she didn't like it for this reason.
"I'm afraid you are going to have to go in the pod again. I know it's not pleas..." Before he can finish, she is climbing in.
"Believe me, doc, I'm used to it." She grins a wicked grin, "But trust me, the other people usually need it more!"
"Alright then," Doc walks over to a mostly hidden panel, presses his palm to a slightly darker shade of white area, and the AI responded, "Thank you, Caleb Opiladi, for validating your identity. How can I help you today?"
"Please survey Cali here and give me a report on her health, specifically her hand and her ribs. Thank you." Doc asks the AI. He is always friendly and polite to the AI. He rather likes the idea of treating it like any other spirit out there. He knows it isn't a spirit, but he believed that if you can be friendly and treat spirits with respect, you can treat AI the same.
Doc presses a button, and a hidden stool slid out from the wall. Sitting down, he asks Cali, "You okay in there?"
"Yup. Just impatient. How much longer?" She asks.
"Well, you just got in there, so I would imagine it will be at least a bit," He scolds with a smile.
She groans, "Yeah, you're probably right. Just keep me updated, okay?"
"Sure thing. Right now, it's scanning your ribs. Not sure why it started there. Everything is looking good. Aaaand, there it is. It's finished with your ribs, and they are in good shape. AI, send the bots in her ribs home, please."
"Affirmative, deprogramming nanobots assigned to the rib injuries." The AI intones in a voice that was just this side of a flat monotone. It is rather clever how they superimposed a feminine-sounding voice and masculine-sounding voice so that you can't tell what gender the AI was.
"Looks like just a few more minutes, Cali and the scan of your hand will be complete." He says as he sits on the stool tugging on a loc, watching the image come up on the screen, filling in her hand as it went.
"Congratulations, Cali. You are free and clear. No more injuries. AI, deprogram remaining bots."
"Affirmative, deprogramming remaining bots assigned to Calidity Rove," The AI replies, and then a moment later, "Bots deprogrammed, patient cleared."
The med pod opens up and slowly tilts Cali into an upright position as it finishes its sentence.
"Well?" Doc asks.
"Every time I go in the med-pod, I am amazed at how much faster it gets, both in scanning and in healing. Also, it's crazy that we don't expel the bots anymore!" She exclaims.
"Yeah, that has only been in effect for what, five years now? Aren't you glad you don't have to deal with the..." He pauses before continuing, "the after-effects..." He remembers how in the past when you expelled the bots with regular bowel movements, it colored your stool in rather unpleasant ways. So now they store them in various locations around your body, usually close to or in lymph nodes, for easy distribution in emergencies.
"Okay, you're free to go." He turns to the wall comm and contacted the captain. After receiving the go-ahead, he informs her, "I've cleared Cali for duty. Fully healed."
"Thanks for the update. Cali, I haven't scheduled you for duty until tomorrow, going back into the rotation, so you get one more free day. Spend it how you like. Doc, you're off the rotation. Thanks a lot for filling in."
He has an idle thought that he had little choice, but he also doesn't mind. "No problem, captain. It was my pleasure, and it's nice to see the rotation from the other side. Also, it's kinda thrilling and scary being in command of the ship. It's nice not to have that responsibility anymore. Okay, well, back to the kitchen," He ends by addressing them both. "The bread isn't going to bake itself."
As he leaves, they can both hear him talking to himself. Though they can't make out exactly what it is, something about 'nano bots' and 'bread.' Cali says to the Brigit over the still open comm. "I really hope he doesn't start experimenting with nanobots and food. I am grateful for how helpful the little buggers are, but it just seems kinda weird to have them in food for no reason other than to make things faster, easier, or to taste better."
"Just remember that many people had that view about putting them in your bodies a long time ago, and look where we are now. You just healed from two cracked ribs and a broken hand in a matter of days. That being said, I'll have him clear any experiments with me first. How does that sound?" Brigit asks.
"Hmm, yeah, I think I can live with that. Thanks, cap." Cali grins as she thinks she heard the sigh over the comm. "I'm just messing with you. I know you don't care for it. Let me know if it really offends you, and I'll stop."
"You know, my quarters aren't far from here. It's weird to talk over the comm. Come on over?" Brigit asks.
"On my way. Just let me put away all the stuff Doc left out, and I'll be right there."
#
Cali knocks, receives the okay to enter and finds Brigit lying on her stomach on the bed, her tablet in a holder attached to a keyboard. "Still working on the ritual?" She asks.
"Yeah, I feel like I'm almost there. I'm so close..." As Brigit says this, she idly kicks her legs back and forth, and Cali covers the little sound that escapes her lips as her green eyes roam over Brigit's flexing quads by sitting down slightly hard on the couch nearby.
"Well, if you need a break to clear your mind, I could use another climb. I know Doc cleared me to resume normal duties, but maybe it would be good to have a buddy, just in case." She frowns inwardly at what she thought was a blatant attempt at getting Brigit to hang out with her.
Brigit springs up, ponytail flipping. "That, my friend, is a great idea! Let me just get changed into something more comfortable for climbing." She looks over at Cali, inadvertently looking her up and down, and gets a bit flush. "You have workout clothes? Why don't you get changed and we'll meet in the workout bay? Any specific mountain requests?"
Cali realizes Brigit is looking her over and hides her flush by turning. "Yeah, I have clothes. I'll meet you there. Something challenging. I need to really work out, if you know what I mean."
"I do, and I know just the mountain," Brigit responds.
#
Brigit has everything set up and ready when Cali gets to the workout bay. She is stretching against a wall as Cali gulps and walked over. "I guess I should stretch as well."
"You don't have to, but I would recommend it. This mountain is going to really push you." Brigit says over her shoulder as she pushes against the wall and twists. "By the way, remember to focus more on your legs than your arms as you lift more with those. But don't forget arms completely!"
Cali begins by stepping a little away from Brigit and does lunges. Brigit finishes her legs at that moment and starts doing torso twists and catches the exquisite form of Cali's thigh as she lunges and makes a sound of appreciation, covering it with, "Ugh, I am so tight right now I definitely need to get moving."
It doesn't take long, and they are approaching the rock wall. It still amazes Cali at how real it looks. She reaches up like Brigit had taught her and places her leg at a ninety-degree angle. She looks back at Brigit to ask her to check her form and catches her checking out her well-formed glutes. A red hue spreads over Brigit's cheeks. Cali saved her embarrassment. "How is my form?"
Brigit shifts from checking her out for pleasure and checking over her form. "Looks good. I would reach just a tad higher." Cali adjusts, and Brigit nods. Then realizing that Cali couldn't see the nod, she offers, "Good job, perfect. I'll join you over here."
Brigit positively scampers up, Cali following behind her. They are both now in the middle, and they climb together, the system moving them and making more mountain. "Oh yeah, I forgot! Computer, engage climbing environment to match the situation currently on the mountain." Brigit asks the AI.
As the walls closed, Cali looks over. "Should I be afraid? Is it going to get windy?"
"Not wind, no. But the air will thin, and it will get harder to climb, but that won't start until after this." As Brigit says that, she nods upwards, indicating to Cali that she should look up. As she does, she can see that the contraption had tilted, and she hadn't noticed it. The machine had slanted, coming up at about a reverse 25-degree slant.
"Um." Cali asks, "You think I can do this?"
Brigit replies as they continue further up. "Well, you either can or you can't. If you can't, then you fall a couple of feet to the mat. If you can, you've achieved a pretty decent feat. Not much risk. And better to try here than in the actual world. And that being said, yeah, you got this." She gives Cali an appreciative once over, "You're more fit than I am, so if I can, you can. Just remember what I told you about finding foot and handholds, and you're not lifting with your arms, you're using them mainly to hold you to the rock face. And if you do lose your footing, don't panic, as that is a sure way to fall."
Cali gulps and continues climbing, focusing on one foot at a time. She tries not to pay attention to the slant, even though she can feel it in her arms and legs. Things are going well until her right foot slips. It dangles, and she almost loses it when she remembers what Brigit said. "'You got this,' she said. 'it will be easy,' she said." Cali jokingly complains as she slowly raises her leg. She works until she gets a good hold and then rests for a moment.
Brigit watches, both to see if Cali pulls it off and recovers and to admire the way her muscles move under the stretchy fabric. "Nice recovery! Very good for a first-time climbing something like this. Now, there's a little more, and then we can rest for a bit."
They round the bump that sticks out from the mountain, and the whole thing tilts back inward. "And this is where I usually rest on this mountain," Brigit says.
They both lean against the wall as it had tilted back the way they started. Then Cali tries something daring. Making sure that she has a good foothold, she turns one foot, gets it sideways, and slowly, ever so slowly, gets her body turned around. It is pretty strenuous to do, and Brigit is pretty amazed. Cali's rising and falling chest really impresses her, as well. Cali, oblivious to the attention, looks out away from the wall. "You know, you could also have projectors on the environment walls so that you can see the view from up high when you're climbing..."
"Well," smiles Brigit, "to be fair, most people don't try the maneuver you just did. I think you've graduated to intermediate climber! Ready to finish? The air gets thinner as we get higher, so I wouldn't recommend doing that little stunt again." Brigit grins and waits for Cali to get turned back around.
Cali starts by turning one foot, and her foot slips off of the small ledge it's on. Unfortunately for her, almost all her weight is on that foot. She quickly slides down the rock face, slicing her arms and hands as she tries to grab hold, instinct causing her to save herself when it would have been better instead to fling herself away from the rock-face. She gets herself twisted around as she falls, and the last thing she remembers is her chin hitting the rock hard. That and a loud, angry "Dammit, woman!" From Brigit.
#
Brigit leaps to the padded floor and slips down next to Cali. "Cali!" She calls, worry straining her voice. The first thing she does is check her pulse. After she finds a solid beat, she sighs with relief. "Computer, shut off all climbing functions, including environmental. Notify Doc, he's needed in the workout bay as soon as possible. Thank you." The environmental controls lift, and the AI responds, "I have notified Doc. He is on his way. Shall I prep the med pod?"
"Yes, please. Known injuries are lacerations. Suspected injuries are a concussion," Brigit responds as she waits for Doc.
It was mere moments before Doc rushes in and sees Cali's apparently lifeless body on the mat. "What now?!"
"She slipped on the rock-face and cracked her chin on a ledge. I think she has a concussion. Her pulse is good. Help carry her to the med pod?"
Doc nods and then, reaching up, puts his locs into a ponytail to keep them out of the way. Frowning and giving a little tsk sound, he bends down and starts lifting Cali. Brigit gets on the other side and helps. It doesn't take them long to get her to the med bay and then into the med pod, which the AI had already prepped.
Brigit touches her hand to the reader. "Thank you, Brigit Borea, for validating your identity. Scanning in progress."
"I guess now we wait," Brigit says as she pulls out the stool. "I think there is one on that side over there."
Doc sits down and waits, watching the scan. The first thing it picks up are the lacerations. He can see the AI sending the bots after those first as they require less work and thus would finish faster. In a few minutes, Doc and Brigit can see that it confirmed the concussion and that the med-pod sent the nanobots to repair the damage.
After a few more minutes, an estimated time to finish appears on the screen. "Twelve hours it is. Well, back to work. I'll let the crew know. Got any comfort food?" Brigit asks as she stands.
"Hmm... I'm sure I can whip something up. You go ahead, and I'll close up shop in here." After Brigit leaves, Doc puts the stools away, turns the lights down, and walks out, closing the door. "Computer, notify me when Cali is ready to wake up," he asks the AI before heading to The Grove.
#
When he gets to the grove, it surprises him to see a set of shoes hanging on the wall already. He takes a moment to unclip his ship shoes, attaching them to the wall, and palms the door. It greeted him, "Welcome, Caleb Opiladi. Please remove your shoes before entering."
Doc walks in and heads to the Ship Tree. He sees Brigit there already, kneeling hands in the dirt. 'She must have come straight here. Didn't even change.' Doc thinks. He softly walks over and kneels near to, but not next to, Brigit. He places his own hands in the dirt. "We can definitely use some Ground-and-Centering after that."
Brigit doesn't respond. Her eyes are closed, and Doc takes the hint. Closing his own eyes, he feels the earth in his fingers. Doc pictures the energy roots going down, down, down, connecting the ship and him to Terrene. He imagines the negative flowing away and the positive flowing in, lighting up his chakras. He stays there for a couple of minutes, enjoying the feeling of being an energy conduit.
When he feels he is complete, he turns his attention outward, reaching for his goddess. He pauses as he would usually go to Ananke, but he approaches Electra as an experiment this time. He pictures the Goddess from the medallion and asks her for help.
"Electra, I believe that you have chosen me as I no longer feel my connection to Ananke, and through the medallion and everything I've experienced, I feel connected to you. As your servant, I ask you for help. Please help Cali recover. Please help me to help Cali recover. Above all, please help Cali stop hurting her dang self." He sends forth this querying energy for a while. Both the request and the vision of Cali fully recovered.
When he finally opens his eyes, Brigit has left, and he is alone in The Grove. He wipes his hands against each other to dislodge the dirt and stands up. He pads softly back towards the door and is just about to turn the lights off when the door opens and Rory enters. She smiles sadly and heads towards the Ship Tree. Doc keeps walking out. He removes his ship shoes and bends over to put them on. Taking a moment to gather himself before heading off to the kitchen, he thinks that it's times like these that the crew needs food. He laughs at himself as he thinks; actually, they always need food.
#
Getting to the kitchen, he immediately goes for the pots and takes out a large soup pot. He then gathers the materials needed to make macaroni and cheese. He is humming to himself as he usually did when Adair came in.
"You seem chipper for someone whose crewmate is in the med pod again." They say teasingly.
"I wouldn't exactly say chipper, but I enjoy doing something that helps the crew. And right now, the crew needs macaroni and cheese pasta!" He says with a smile over the pot as Adair watches from across the counter.
"Do you need any help?"
"Well, normally I wouldn't, but I could use the company," He responds sheepishly. "If you wouldn't mind getting the buns that I made yesterday from the freezer and tossing them in the oven."
As Adair went to fetch the buns, Doc finishes his prep and begins cooking the pasta.
"You'll want to put the oven at 300 as you aren't baking them. You're just warming them." He says.
After unpacking the tray of buns, Adair nods and sets the oven, putting the buns on a tray and the tray into the oven.
Doc makes idle conversation as he stirs. "Why do you think Cali keeps hurting herself, even back at academy? I have a theory."
After closing the oven door, Adair walks over and went to set the timer. "How long?"
"Check after about 10 minutes since I didn't warm the oven beforehand."
"Well, she's either cursed." Adair says with a smile as they sit on a stool near Doc before saying, "or she's taking the brunt of something. What that could be, I do not know."
"It's interesting that you should say that." Then, satisfied that the pasta is doing what he wants, he puts a lid on it and sits on the stool next to Adair before expounding. "I was thinking along the same lines. Like maybe something bad was supposed to happen, and the Gods figured she could take it the best. I mean, think about it, sure we could all survive being hurt, but she kinda lives for it. Not like she seeks it out, but she's trained for it. And it's also kinda her job." He says with a smile, "Though I'm sure she's probably had enough of it."
Adair smiles before frowning a little and leaning closer to Doc. They say, "Can I tell you a secret?" He leans in with a smile to respond. "Always."
"I feel bad, but I'm kinda glad it was her and not me. You know? I climb. Sometimes I slip. It could happen to anyone. It was kind of freaky the way it happened to her, sure, but it could have been me, and I don't do great with pain." Adair trails off, looking out into the dining room. That's why they almost jumped when Doc put his hand on their thigh.
"I'm glad it wasn't you, either." He looks down, notices his hand, and pulls it back, unsure how they'd react to the touch. It's not a way that he touches anyone else, and he isn't sure Adair is into him. He gets an embarrassed look on his face as he realizes he was about to find out.
A few things fly through Adair's mind at that moment. 'Wow, he's into me.' 'Am I into him?' 'I think I am.' 'I definitely am' 'How did I not notice this before?!' 'Well, hope the Captain doesn't get upset by crew-mates fraternizing.' Finally, after the very brief time it took for all that to go through their head, they reach over, takes his hand, and places it back on their thigh.