A Leg To Stand On
Posted on Tue Dec 30th, 2025 @ 6:25pm by Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Lieutenant Vura & Major Edmund Merrick & Lieutenant Mira Jayna & Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Edited on on Sun Jan 4th, 2026 @ 8:07am
1,514 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 17 - Going Home
Location: Sick Bay - Deck 5 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD001 1300 hrs
Edmund breathed in a sigh of relief being back on the USS Pioneer. The fact that Tyler had come to get them from Wren IV spoke volumes to him. Now though, Ed had something to take to Medical. A leg that someone was missing and he wanted to find out who it belonged . He knew it belonged to a marine but to whom it belonged to? Edmund had to find out. Also, he had to find out the condition of Neil.
He didn't want to barge in but this leg, he had to know.
Walking into Medical, Edmund looking haggard, tired and rather dirty. There was blood on his armor, but it wasn't his. He looked for someone, he was carrying the leg in a bag,
"Hi, uh, is Commander O'Rourke or someone, I am needing to find out about Neil and how he is doing. Also, I've got a mystery to solve. I found a leg which I know it belongs or belonged to a marine. I gotta find out if we've lost someone." his voice rather hoarse, a haunted look in his eyes.
"Yes, she's in her office, paper work doesn't wait for anyone." Kimba said. "A leg? Strange. I hear Colonel Tremble was badly injured when he came in, perhaps it’s his, I was working elsewhere when he arrived."
Vura noticed Edmund as he walked in. She knew who the leg belonged to. However, he was already directed to Hermia. That was just fine with her. She was tired and had no desire to really interact with him at this time.
Edmund, he was so focused at the moment, barely registered that Vura was there, the news that Neil lost his leg, made his head swim a bit.
"Ah yes, hmmnn." Edmund mused, "I'll go see Hermia." turning to head for her office. He caught a glimpse of his dirty armor and realizing that it wasn't the best thing for him to be here with all the dirt, grime and blood for sick bay to be dealing with.
Tapping on the doorframe of the CMO's office, "Uh Hermia, I've got a leg that could possibly be Neil's. I'm going to clean up, and will be right back, but could you check to see if it is his?"
"Hi, Edmund, nice of you to drop it by, I'll take care of it." Hermia said. "You look like you've been through Hell, you get cleaned up, I'll keep you informed." She was endeavoring to be friendly, but professional, and hoped she didn't come off cold.
"Thank you." Edmund replied, handing the leg to Hermia. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes to check in on Neil" Craning his neck slightly to see if he could catch a glimpse of Neil. Instead, there was someone there. He figured it would be Jayna.
Jayna was in a chair next to Neil's biobed, reading a PADD while he napped. She'd filed all her reports and gathered all the information available, and now she chose to spend her time with Neil.
Edmund looked towards where Vura was at, having a pensive expression in his eyes. He murmured quietly, "I'd like to talk to you sometime." Then he left. Fifteen minutes later Edmund arrived, cleaned up.
In the time that Edmund was away, Hermia had examined the leg, removed the dead tissue, cleaned and repaired any damage, before placing it in a regenerative cabinet where the living tissue was being regenerated while submerged in a nutrient bath.
Seeing Edmund return, Hermia stopped him. "The leg is Tremble's and it is in a viable condition, it is currently undergoing tissue regen, it will take a few days, before we can look at reattaching it." She told him.
"Oh, and give this to Jayna." She added handing him a small plastic vessel filled with liquid. "It’s a nutrient shake, It means she can keep her strength up, without having to leave Tremble's side."
One of the nearby displays snowed with static for a moment, then Rommie stepped out of the data stream dressed in her typical working Fleet issue scant, the piping twisted with both marine green and medical blue. "Thank you Captain," she said, addressing Edmond. "The Colonel is in medically induced twilight. He had a bit of a moment when he came aboard. Most likely he would want you to tend to get the Cure squared away and begin after action briefings. I can assist you with those and whichever other tasks you may require."
Taking the drink from Hermia. "Thank you for identifying who the leg belonged to." a somber look in his eyes.
At the appearance of Rommie, his keen blue eyes turned towards her, taking in Neil's Aide. He'd not ever truly spoken to her before. Only having seen her at Neil's side. He gave her a nod, "Thank you."
He felt a tightening in his chest, Neil having suffered grievous wounds. He was the worse of the lot, he looked at Rommie, "Would you get me a listing of those who had taken injuries, and the extent of them as well?"
Then he went in to check on Jayna and to have a look at Neil. Quietly he placed a hand upon Jayna's shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze then handed the drink to her.
"Hermia wanted me to give you this, to keep your strength up." his voice quiet as to not disturb Neil. He swallowed hard, as a brief memory popped up into his mind. It was that of another 'Neil' dead, the scent of skin having had been burnt by electricity. That was a scent that one couldn't forget.
Leaning down he whispered to Jayna, "Let me know if you'd like to talk or just keep you company."
Hermia carried on attending to her patients.
"He's in a medically-induced coma. He can't hear you," Jayna replied to Edmund. Even so, she kept her voice low. "How are you doing?"
"I am doing alright. Just seeing him there, like that, unnerving." Edmund replied.
Rommie forwarded the requested data between blinks, then fished through the data on the Colonel's condition once again, waiting to see if she would be needed. During a lull, she said quietly, "A fully updated list of casualties are ready for you, Captain."
Jayna turned to Rommie. "Did we lose any?"
Edmund's lips thinned at the mentioning of casualties. "Would that be basically injuries?"
Rommie shook her head, "No KIA's," she responded clinically. "Most everyone involved was WIA in one or another, but the Colonel was the most seriously injured. Gunnery Sergeant Gaagii will make full recovery from being a Chrysalis. Sergeant Fitch is recovering nicely as well."
"Thank goodness," Jayna said quietly. She put a hand on Neil's arm. "And Neil will recover as well."
Edmund walked up to Neil and placed his hand gently upon Neil's shoulder. "thank you." he murmured softly, then turned to look back at Jayna, "Make sure you get some sleep as well." he moved his hand from Neil.
"I'll take my leave now." moving away from the bio-bed. "Rommie keep me updated and thank you for the report. Good work." he was feeling tired, felt things weighing heavily on him. Much like the others were feeling. "Glad we didn't lose anyone."
When Edmund was gone, Jayna sat with her hand on Neil's arm for a while, listening to the biobed's monitors, then went back to reading her PADD.
As Edmund was making his way to the exit of sick bay, he paused to say something once more to Vura if he could spot her. "Would you mind if we talk sometime?"
Vura was working with another patient but heard Edmund. Without the slightest hint of emotion, she responded, "If you need to talk, I am the Ship's Counselor. You're welcome to make an appointment."
"Thank you." was Edmund's brief answer before he stepped through the doors of sick bay. Outside in the corridor, Edmund let out a breath, rubbing his neck, feeling the stiffness of the mission catching up to him. Turning towards sickbay, he regarded it for a few long moments, then left to get to his quarters.
Infuriating man. Has to make everything so dramatic. Why do this on duty? Vura thought to herself as she continued to tend to the wounded and counseling them through their injuries.
A Joint Post By
Major Edmund Merrick
Company Commanding Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Mira Jayna
Intelligence Officer, The Cure
USS Pioneer
Staff Warrant Officer Rommie
Artificial Intelligence, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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