Back Too Soon
Posted on Tue Apr 8th, 2025 @ 7:20pm by Lieutenant Gunnar Arnason
700 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Terrorpin
Location: Hospital
Gunnar materialized at the staff entrance and quietly slipped into the hospital. Things hadn't changed much since he'd left a half hour ago - there were still a number of injured waiting treatment, but the flood of incoming serious cases had died down as everything tremors could collapse had either already come down or been secured, and people had learned to take precautions. But when he'd left there had been the feeling of a MassCal winding down. Now, with news feeds of a giant creature screaming after the fighters that had just fired on it, the mood was shifting to realization that this might be just the eye of the storm.
That was a place he'd been a few times before, so it was apparent that the shift wasn't happening fast enough. He moved out onto the main floor, raising his voice just enough to be heard. "Everyone not working on patients, start replicating supplies for - "
"GUNNAR!" The charge nurse charged at him, finger raised. "Starfleet may let you work till you drop, but here a break after 12 hours is hard rule. And NO, popping out for less than a hour for dinner does NOT count." She looked at the clock and pointedly back at him. "A lot less than a hour - did you even eat anything?"
He lifted his hands in a don't-shoot gesture. "I'd ordered food, but -"
"Just ordered?" She widened eyes at him. "Why are you back?"
At that moment an announcement rang from the comm system: "To all available personnel; this is a Red Alert. Move to your stations for Emergency Procedures. Prioritize the welfare of all citizens of Haumea, Evacuation site 1 click west of the colony. Do not engage the anomalous creature unless otherwise authorized by the Marine contingent. I repeat, do not engage with the creature until otherwise instructed to do so. Captain Seong, out."
Gunnar tipped a finger in the general direction of the ceiling comm with an eloquent lift of brows.
"Fine," Leeza snapped tersely. "But we've got a moment to breath, so at least go grab something in the cafeteria."
Spinning on her heel, she cast a Look across the rest. "Anyone else that needs food or a break, take it now. Everyone else: he's not wrong; start reloading the MCI boxes. If nothing else, we'll need to send some of those to the evac site."
Happy to let Leeza be the one to bark orders, he gave a short nod and headed toward the cafeteria, only to be stopped in his tracks by sudden full body contact and teenager clinging to him like he was the hold against a hull breach.
"I'm so glad you're back," Emily sobbed. "That creature... what will we do?..." she turned her face into chest, weeping.
Normally, Gunnar prided himself at being good at providing caring support to distraught patients and their loved ones. He was not the kind of guy to respond to a crying woman with awkward pats on the shoulder. However, in this case, he found himself doing just that. "It will be all right, Ms. Hutchinson," he assured, and recalling that her family's farm was near where the creature had emerged, he added, "Both colonists and livestock will have been transported to the evac site."
Somehow this only resulted in more tears, and clinging to him harder. He cast a glance at Leeza for help, only to be met with a smirk that clearly read 'serves you right for rushing back'. However, after a moment one of the other nurses took pity and gently extricated him from the situation. "Come on, Emily. You heard Leeza, he needs to eat and sit down for a bit. And we could use some help with the replicating supplies."
With a sniffle, Emily allowed herself to pulled away. Though anyone watching carefully might have caught a slightly smug look cast at a small group of peers watching from a short distance away.
Gunnar blew out a breath and headed for the cafeteria, resolving that if the hospital didn't wind up swamped or under evac in the next hour, he'd volunteer for medical support at whatever remote site might need him.
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