A Turn For The Worse, Hope Yet Remains.

Posted on Wed Nov 15, 2017 @ 5:25pm by Lieutenant Colonel S'er'in'e & Lieutenant Sarish-Illiana Luvol & Major Kasia S'er'in'e
Edited on on Wed Nov 15, 2017 @ 5:32pm

Mission: Strange Matter
Location: S'er'in'e's Quarters
Timeline: MD 31: 1305 Hours

S'er'in'e was resting silently on the large sofa as he listened to reports turned audio, Kasia would kill him if she found out he was working but he wanted to keep up to date with events, being blind didn't make him useless. The changes he had to make were large given his disability and his dependence on Kasia was great, more so then he would have liked.

His pride had taken a beating asking her for help, even personal things like grooming, brushing and while he could brush his teeth they had not been sharpened nor his claws since the accident, his claws still dulled from the mission.

Kasia sat next to S'er'in'e and ran her fingertips over the top of his head. They hadn't been back home long, but she could already tell he wasn't handling this as well as she'd hoped. And that had a lot to do with his pride. She'd been reading up, and the Major knew that Caitains, especially the males, were quite prideful creatures. "Do you need anything?" she asked softly.

"Not right now, thank you." S'er'in'e replied resting, he'd been doing a lot of that but with no vision his options were limited. As much as he tried to put a brave face on, inside he was vulnerable.

"If that changes, don't hesitate to tell me, okay," she said, lowering her head to press a kiss to his forehead. "You're going to be okay."

If only it felt that way, the lack of vision had taken a larger impact on him than he'd admit, he tried to stay strong through it but was needing Kasia more and more even for the simple things of grooming, dressing and eating. It was obvious in his personality and body language that the injury had cost him dearly, what it took from his vision it took just as much in other parts of his life and being too.

***

Sarish has been reviewing the results from the tests that she had done earlier, and they weren't good for S'er'in'e's real eyes but he would make a great candidate for ocular implants. This would be interesting for Sarish as she has an ocular implant in her right eye, as she lost hers on a diplomatic mission with the admirals. She knows the feelings and emotions that S'er'in'e will go through when she delivers the news about his eyes.

She got up from her desk in her office and went to the turbolift. Stepping into the turbolift, she called "Deck 43."

The turbolift sped off to Deck 43, and it stopped, she stepped out and walked along the deck to S'er'in'e's quarters. A few moments later she found the door to his quarters and pressed the door bell. She wasn't looking forward to it but she was armed with the information on the ocular implants, even though she was not a great eye surgeon if she was honest, but confidence is built on holodecks so she was going to spend alot of time there between shifts, food and sleep.

Minutes went by in an awkward silence, a silence that had become the norm of late but for reasons understood. Even as Kasia tried to keep him engaged he felt distant, remote. Then the door chime sounded indicating someone was here to see them, since Kasia had moved in to help a notification was left that should she be needed, this was where she could be found.

"Come in!" Kasia called as she tidied up a little bit. She was always within earshot of S'er'in'e, though, just in case he needed her for something. The last thing she wanted him to feel was abandoned, which meant she popped in to check on him frequently.

Walking into the room, Sarish saw Kasia. "Major, Colonel." She greeted. She looked at them both, and took a breath. "Colonel, I've completed my tests. Do you want me to speak to you in private, or am I okay to share the results with the Major here? I have to ask, in relation to patient-doctor confidentiality." She explained.

"It's fine Doctor, you can speak in front of Kasia." S'er'in'e answered, his head turning towards her but visibly off the mark given his current disability.

Sarish nodded. "Okay. I know this isn't going to be easy, so I'll just say it. I've finished the tests, and there's nothing I can do for your eyes. The damage...it was just too severe. The damage from the blast completely scorched the vitreous body, and damaged the optic disc. I was able to save the optic nerve, for the most part, but your eyes...you won't be able to see from them again." She said.

She took a breath, before continuing. "That having been said, because the optic nerve wasn't completely destroyed, I can install ocular implants. It won't give you the same kind of eyesight as you had, but you'll be able to remain on active duty. It does also come with some benefits as well. It's not a hundred percent guaranteed, but the longer we wait, the stronger the likelihood is that it won't work."

Perhaps it was kinder to give the bad new first and the hope giving one second, S'er'in'e was too preoccupied to consider which. He pondered on how the Overseer and the Elder would take to his loss of vision, his parents too. "When are we able to begin?" He asked though this time his voice much softer reflecting stronger feline inflections and purring. A sign that perhaps hidden under the fur was a war of emotions.

Sarish looked at him. "I can begin later today, if you like. I'll prepare the surgery if you like." She told him. She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I couldn't have better news for you. I know it comes as a shock, and I'll help you through this as much as I can." She promised. Whilst doctors were detached from their patients, usually, she felt empathy for her patients, and never liked delivering bad news.

Kasia slipped her hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'll be here for you no matter what, too, but you know that already. Everything is going to be okay."

"Then today, but Doctor." S'er'in'e paused. "I'd like you not to inform my Homeworld just yet, I'd like them to hear it from me first and a copy of the records translated into Caitian, if possible." He knew there would be some smoothing over to do first as a result of what they would hear and read.

Sarish from the beginning had been armed with information, but she had also taken the initiative to copy S'er'in'e's medical record into Caitian, "I took the initiative to do it before I came and there is also information on the Ocular implants and what the surgery entails as well on the second PADD," she said. "I have been reading up on your customs, so I thought it prudent to copy it into your language for your Homeworld. If they have any questions, please let them know not to hesistate to contact me." Sarish handed the PADDs to S'er'in'e into his hands.

Feeling the PADD's in his hands he held onto them briefly before passing them to Kasia so that he didn't drop them. "When would you wish for me to report to Sickbay?" Knowing he'd have to be escorted.

"I'll go and prepare the surgical team and the bay. If you report there for Seventeen Hundred Hours, we can begin then. It will take about ten hours, as long as there are no complications. Then I'll want you in Sickbay for at least three days, if not a little more, whilst you adjust to the implants. That way, I can make sure there aren't any problems with the connections." Sarish explained.

"As you wish Doctor." S'er'in'e replied though he knew more was on the line than his vision, he worried what his Overseer would say about the unnatural implants. Some were less than forgiving.

"I'll be there just as soon as I'm able, I promise," Kasia said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "Though I won't be able to stay, I am going to go with you, then handle a few things."

Sarish looked at the pair of them, with a small smile. "I'd better be going. Remember, everything is going to be okay Colonel." She said reassuringly, before turning and leaving the room, heading directly towards sickbay, knowing she had a lot to do.