Reconnecting

Posted on 28 Apr 2023 @ 8:09pm by Captain Mazal Falk & Captain Patrick Jackson

1,709 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: S3 Episode 5: Diplomatic Incident/Hydaransz Again (Incidentals)
Location: SB 51 and USS Roosevelt
Timeline: Night before the attack

ON

Mazal was sore, and rather tired, after that mission on the Rosenthal but she couldn't get to sleep yet. She had spoken to Captain Somers about what she remembered about the Hydranz System. Mazal got comfort from talking to the Captain. Heck she even went to get a massage with Lilli Hawksley that helped but still she wasn't able to sleep well not after the nap she had after the massage. There was someone Mazal really wanted to talk to, wished he were with her on this mission. This was the second mission she was going on, without Captain Patrick Jackson.

A shower hadn't helped either, and her hair was still wet from the shower. Mazal dressed in sweat pants and a tee shirt, sat in front of the computer, getting ready to send a message to Patrick, even though she wasn't certain if he were better yet from being ill. There hadn't been any word as to what was going on with him or how he was faring. With a sigh, Mazal began her message, it being a video subspace recording.

=/\=Hi there Patrick or should I say Captain Jackson? Nah, I'll stick with Patrick. I really wish I could talk to you, because day after tomorrow oh wait it is now tomorrow, is when we get into the thick of things, going out and take back the stations that pirates had captured. An idea has been devised and that is utilizing Anesthezine gas bombs to help retake the mining stations without a lot of loss of lives of those there. Cahill had also given an idea as well as permission to utilize a shuttle to help the Marines island hop from the various facilities. There is a lot of ground, well space to cover. And anything that can be done to help out in this endeavor is definitely appreciated. We're all working as a team.=/\= Mazal sat back and rubbed her face, feeling once again the wave of weariness and yet her eyes remained wide awak.

She continued the message. =/\= It is lovely that we have team work going on to me, though, there is one vital component that is missing, and that is you. They made me, Brevet Captain for this mission. It seems so strange being called Captain. I feel unsettled, from the beginning of this mission even back on that other mission when you took ill. Okay, I will end this message and send it to you, hopefully you will be able to watch this. This is Mazal signing out for now. =/\=

---SB51 Medical ---

With a loud grunt, the Captain unceremoniously flopped onto the biobed. A crewman helped him get sitting upright against some pillows and brought a small tray infront of him over his covers. He thanked the crewman, something he never thought he would have to do, thank a crewman for helping him into bed. Thankfully, it was almost chow time and he could turn in after.

After a few moments he noticed a green shirt among the blue shirts coming and going. The green uniform finally came into focus as a woman. She made a knock motion against a pulled back privacy curtain. "Permission to enter sir?" She asked.
"Granted. What is it...." Patrick trailed off a moment with a squint. The woman made her way in and he was finally able to make out her rank, "Corpral?" His vision was returning but not clear enough yet.
"Message for you sir. From 1st Lieutenant Falk." She said and offered the data padd. He nodded to the tray set infront of him. She placed it on the tray making sure it faced him, and took a step back and saluted.
"Thank you Corporal, dismissed." He said and lifted a hand. He tilted his head so his hand touched his forehead. He was getting there but still had a long road. He tapped play on the message and watched his XO then watched it again.

=/\=Good to see you again 'Captain Falk'. I knew you had it in you Mazal.=/\= Patrick chuckled a moment. He was tired. He had a medical shirt on and while it did hide some things, his face and shoulders looked thinner.
=/\=I wish I could say I left on a black-op, or something of great nature. Reality, I got a case of Rigelian Fever. I know, pretty rare and so is the cure. They stuck me in cryo and shipped me to SB51 until the cure could be delivered from the nearest source. It is pretty crazy to think of. You lay down, go to sleep and wake up a few months later. It's not perfect though. Vision is still coming back and due to the duration there was muscle atrophy and nerves are still relearning how to function. Normally this isn't a problem for healthy people going on ice, but the fever was doing a number on be before cryo. So I get muscle stimulation and zero-g PT in the morning, hydro PT in the afternoon and then coordination therapy in the evenings.=/\= he paused and nodded to someone off screen.
=/\=Take care of everyone out there Mazal. I know there is an active mission going on so details are limited, but I know the Rifles are in good hands. Take care of yourself too. And oh, I like what you did with your hair. It looks good on you. Jackson out.=/\= he moved an arm and knocked the padd over trying to turn it off, the recording stopping on the second attempt.

Mazal had started nodding off at the desk where she had made her recording, a sound coming from the computer in front of her, woke her up. She yawned and stretched thinking she needed to go get some rack time. As she moved to get up from the chair, Mazal realized there was a blinking light indicating that there was a message for her. Mazal opened it up and froze. She had a return message, from none other than Patrick!

She felt goosebumps go up and down her body, just the fact that he answered. Mazal quickly opened up the message and watehed the recording. Then watched it once more. She could feel tears course down her cheeks, Patrick was concious! She saw how wan he was and the change in his physique. Despite that, it did her heart good to see him. Mazal made a return response. her hands shaking with the emotions she was feeling.

=/\=Oh my gosh, Patrick=/\= her voice quiet but the excitement was there radiating from her eyes and her voice. =/\= tears started trickling down her cheeks as she continued, Mazal not bothering to hide them. =/\= you like my hair wet from the shower... =/\= Giving him a saucy wink, her tears starting to disappear. She wiped them away with the back of her hands.

=/\=I will do my best in bringing people home myself included. It's difficult to describe just seeing you, your message, I have missed you a lot! Oh gosh the water works are trying to start once more. You have made my day, you have eased my mind =/\= Mazal trying to stem the tears from falling once more. She reached out as if to touch Patrick's cheek. =/\= Get to feeling much better, Patrick. And get some sleep. I should get some sleep now, and I feel like I can now just because I got to see you. =/\=

Mazal paused the recording, wanting to stop her tears before she continued. Heaving a deep sigh, Mazal resumed. =/\= Sorry for my bursting into tears, Patrick. I feel kinda all filled with embarrassment, now. I am not dreaming am I?=/\=

-Medical-
The clock passed and by the time Patrick was placed back in bed from hydrotherapy, there was a message already waiting for him. He watched it and chuckled just a little as he could. He was glad the padd was set up and secured, he was able to record without knocking it over.

=/\=No need to be embarrassed. I had to laugh a little at telling me to get some sleep. I've been asleep for months, it should be the last thing I want but after the PT, it's all I want. The plus is hydrotherapy is nice. I had a good report from the physical therapist. Muscle mass is returning with the stimulation and in a couple days I will be fitted for an exoskeleton. The nerves controlling my motor movements are pretty fried and need time to reconnect. It won't be subtle, but will at least get me moving on standard gravity again.=/\=

He paused, he closed his eyes and they remained closed for a period of time and then opened them slowly. =/\= Oh, it's still on. It appears your sleep order is going to be followed to the letter. It's not even 2000 and I can't keep my eyes open. Sorry to pass put on you. Take care Mazal, I'll send you a sitrep on any changes. Reach out to me if you have any trouble, I'll give you what advice I can. Your a strong woman, I know you'll do fine and the Rifles will be right behind you.=/\= with that, he fumbled for the off so it would connect and send. He wondered where they were right now. He wondered if he would get to return to duty at all. His final thought as he slipped into deep sleep was wondering if Mazal still wanted to be Wonder Woman.

Mazal had fallen asleep at the computer desk, a low sound woke her up she slowly blinked at the signal coming from the computer. There was another message from Patrick! She watched it, twice, feeling the sense of calmness descend upon her. He was alive, he was getting better. She looked at the time her eyes widening, she didn't have much time to get ready for the meeting she had called for. It was time, they were going to go free those stations, and then they were going to go home.

[OFF]



Captain Patrick Jackson
CO of the Marines
USS Tomcat

 

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