Unexpected Reunion
Posted on Wed Jun 3rd, 2026 @ 7:56pm by Lieutenant Gunnar Arnason
1,031 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Chasm
Location: Haumea
Gunnar looked around the newly reopened ward with some satisfaction. It marked the last of the repairs to the hospital, which thankfully had been limited to damage from the kaiju walking too close rather than stomping on the facilities. With that and the last patients from that disaster released it was as though a collective sigh of relief had washed through as staff fell back into established routines. He closed his eyes a moment, savoring the hum of 'normal busy'.
...only to be interrupted by a chirp from his comm.
"Lieutenant, we just received a message burst from the ISS Tarak."
Gunnar's breath caught at the name of Tango's ship. "What is it?"
"They are inbound and request your presence at the landing platform."
Whew - just an invitation to meet up during a stop over. Someday Dosadi 'operational security' was going to give him a heart attack, but for now he just grateful for the chance to spend whatever time he could with Tango. "On my way. Arnason out."
He paused only long enough to let the staff know where he was going, before heading for the transporter.
Moments later, he was standing at the docking port, bouncing lightly on his toes with anticipation at seeing Tango again, if only for whatever brief time they might be allowed. As the gangway doors opened, he hoped he wouldn't have to dodge a flood of crew rushing out for a brief liberty before sighting Tango. But there was no flood. And no Tango, only the lone figure of Captain K'Lang walking solemnly toward him.
Seeing the dismay on the man's face expression, K'Lang quickened his step and clasped the tall human's shoulder - a Dosadi gesture of greeting, but one he understood was used for support and reassurance among humans. "Fear not; she's alive." He glanced down, whiskers momentarily flattening against his cheeks. "Forgive me, I'd meant to save you distress by coming out first, not heighten it."
Gunnar's brows drew down in confusion and concern. "Why? What's happened? Where is she?"
"She's onboard, but she was badly injured. We've stabilized her," he added quickly. "The problem is she's been through regen too many times. So I need to ask a favor of you."
He nodded understanding. Despite its seemingly miraculous restorative ability, Dosadi regen was banned in the Federation because of its effects on telomeres, and by now Tango's were almost certainly too short to risk another round. The other downside was that Raider ships like the Tarak relied on it so much that their other medical modalities were limited. That meant intensive care, and possibly extensive PT, that she might need were beyond what they could provide. "There's no question that we'll take her," he replied earnestly, unsure why the captain seemed hesitant and uneasy. "And there's no matter of debt or favor - if anything, I'm grateful that you brought her here so I could see to her care."
"Thank you," K'Lang replied with a smile. "I expected you would accept - both you and the Federation have been stalwart friends - but it was proper to ask. And to ask without the pressure of having her in front of you." He tapped a silent signal. "We're bringing her out now. Please, don't be alarmed when she doesn't respond; she's heavily sedated."
The warning was appreciated, but it was hard not to be alarmed, especially seeing how still she looked on the gurney as they guided it out. What would require that level of sedation? Without even realizing he moved, he found himself beside her, medscanner running.
*Ahem* Dr. Nollos cleared his throat. His ears were flipped back disapprovingly as he thrust a padd toward the Starfleeter. "Did you think we wouldn't provide her medical records?"
Gunnar ducked his head apologetically as he took the padd. "Sorry, I ...reacted on reflex."
Any sense of tension with Dosadi healer evaporated with his sudden laugh. "Understandable with this one. She's collected more wound badges than any marine in the Imperium."
"I'm aware," Gunnar responded dryly, noting that her duffel was stowed under the gurney, so they obviously expected a long recovery. He glanced over the padd. There were serious injuries - he winced in sympathy at the damage to her shoulder - but after also checking the medscanner he was more used to reading, he looked at the doctor, puzzled. "She certainly needs rest and supportive care, but I'm not seeing anything requires this level of sedation. What am I missing?"
The Dosadi exchanged a look. A brief series of ear flicks seemed to semaphore an agreement that K'Lang would answer. "This is where I must ask a further favor," he said. "I know you to be a man of honor, so I hope you will not view it as a breach of duty to keep her sedated until we leave orbit."
Light dawned. "She's sedated avoid a fight over leaving her team." Gunnar shook his head, swallowing a chuckle. If nothing else, that the doctor was clearly onboard with that was a sign she was still as spirited as ever. "Don't worry. I see no harm in sedating a patient for their own good. I've done it before, and while she may be upset with me when she comes around, she knows full well that at least once she helped put me on the other side of that hypo."
Nollos laughed, flashing a fangy grin. "I'll be sure to remember that if she wants to challenge me when she returns!"
"I will as well," K'Lang agreed, with a smaller but much relieved smile. "You will not have to keep her under long - we intend to remain only long enough to resupply. With that, we leave her in your capable hands." He placed a hand on the man's shoulder again, this time solely in a gesture of leaving taking. "Pitt'barl't [fresh breezes/fair winds], Arnason."
"Ango'vax [good hunting], Captain," he replied, returning the gesture. Then, taking charge of the gurney, he pushed it toward the transporter. Looking down at her still face, he sighed. "This is not how I imagined showing you the hospital..."
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