Patient Zero

Posted on Mon Sep 19th, 2016 @ 7:24pm by Dixoho Saa (*) & Leiddem Kea (*)

Mission: Mission 2 - Contagion
Location: Deck 7- Sickbay
Timeline: MD03 14:22
1212 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

“Talon!” Leiddem ran into sickbay calling out for Talon as he deposited a small figure on the nearest bio bed. He had been in the Ward room without permission trying to steal a little booze especially as as the Ward room had better booze when he had spotted the figure slumped on the floor.

Talon could easily distinguish that the red hair was that of Dixie. His friend, Dixie. The one who confessed her attraction to him, which sent him running to Tab's arms for fear that if he stayed to belabor the fact he was in love with someone else, he'd be tempted to be unfaithful.

“I found her in the Ward room… I know… I know I shouldn’t have been in there but aren’t you glad I was. She’s barely breathing.” He moved Dixoho’s long hair out of her face revealing who he had found unconscious. “All I heard was wheezing but she hasn’t made barely a noise since I picked her up.” The Field Medic looked worried.

Joss grabbed one of the charged Medical Tricorders. The readings showed labored respiration. Dixoho's heart rate and blood pressure were slightly elevated, possibly because of the strained breathing. Was she in pain?

"It appears her bronchial tubes are heavily congested," Talon confirmed. "Apply a nasal cannula to supply oxygen to her system."

The Field Medic quietly moved to grab the cannula and positioned it in the correct way with the correct O2 levels to hopefully help the young woman. Lieddem stepped back to look at his work checking it over.

The saline spray I gave her should have helped her with this. Inwardly, Talon wondered if their misunderstanding had caused Dixie to stop using the spray.

Joss took Dixoho's hand and squeezed it. "Dixie? Can you hear me?" he spoke louder than usual, hoping she could hear and understand. Hoping she could consciously respond to him.

The woman barely responded a moan was all the man got. The silence of sick bay was broken by Lieddem sneezing loudly. "Sorry... Can't stop today." He said with a roll of his eyes as he disappeared off to wash his hands.

"You may want to take something for that cold," Talon suggested to Kea. "Once you get cleaned up, apply an IV with Sodium Chloride Solution."

To help with Dixie's breathing, Talon decided to perform nebulizer treatments. He'd start of with three times a day, hoping the mist would break up the congestion inside. But to treat the infection, he'd have to find out if it were viral or bacterial. It was acting like a virus, much like influenza. If so, the wasn't much that could be done; he'd only be able to treat the symptoms. He was hoping it to be bacterial, which could be fought with antibiotics.

The doctor reached for a nebulizer machine, strapped the mask over her face and turned the machine on. He added the medicine to the chamber, which broke down into aerosol particals, which could be breathed into her system. Talon knew the initial relief would be small, but applied several times a day, they should see results in a couple days.

"We're going to take good care of you, Dixie," Talon suggested. "You're in good care. As your friend and Doctor, I'll have you up and about soon. I'm going to draw some blood now for testing; you may feel a little prick."

Leiddem returned quickly and slowly did the IV. He winced at the expression he saw on Dixoho's face. "I'm sorry sweetie." He said touching her hair gently. He set the IV quicker than normal before grabbing the tricord checking her pulse. "Still elevated." He murmured softly looking worried at Talon.

Talon drew blood from arm that didn't have the IV attached to it. With this sampling, the doctor could determine the illness with which they were dealing. When he finished, he set the sample aside, next to a microscope.

By this time, the nebulizer treatment was completed. Talon removed the mask, placing the nasal cannula into Dixie's nostrils. He took her hand once again, placing his other on her forehead, brushing the red hair back.

"Dixie?" Joss inquired. He knew she was having trouble communicating with words. "Do you have pain? Squeeze my hand if there is pain."

The Navigator squeezed his hand weakly. She winced as she choked a little before settling down again. Her breathing steadying into a slow pace.

Turning to Leiddem, Talon calmly, but urgently stated, "I need 60 milligrams of dextromethorphan and 1200 milligrams of Guiafenesin in liquid form. She won't be able to swallow a pill, but we can force feed the liquid. Here's the key to the medicine lockup." Joss flipped the key to Kea.

Leiddem grabbed the key and ran off. Talon knew the decongestant and expectorant would only stave off symptoms. But until he knew specifically with what he was dealing, he hesitated giving her anything else. It seemed to start as an allergic reaction, much like many humans had to pollen. Dixie didn't get to where she might have contact with pollen. And this has progressed much further than a case of allergies. While Kea was get the meds, which Joss would order every six hours, he would prepare slides and store the remaining blood in a cooler.

"60 milligrams of dextromethorphan and 1200 milligrams of Guiafenesin in liquid form." The medic said as he returned. "Go look at the slides I will do this." He said watching the concern and tender gestures from the doctor.

Talon nodded in the affirmative. He peered into the microscope and began studying what he saw. He soon found what appeared to be tiny spores, much like a bacteria, that appeared to be reproducing. If this was what was happening within Dixie's air passages and lungs, it would hinder the air flow. The blood must have picked up the bacteria as it passed through her lungs.

This was a bacteria with which Talon wasn't familiar. It was alien to his knowledge. If he had access to a holosuite, this would be an occasion where Talon would speak with his grandfather to access knowledge. However, the antiquated Mary Rose had no such deck. He wasn't even sure if the resources aboard the ship's computers knew anything of this bacteria. He would have to test the antibiotics he had stored and see if they'd destroy the bacteria. Talon saw a long night ahead of him. However, he would do anything for Dixie. She was his friend, despite their misunderstanding.

Talon wondered where she had picked up the spores. It had to be aboard ship. Dixie rarely wandered off her "home." They would have to search the ship. But, if this bacteria was airborne, they'd all be at risk, as the ship's life support would bring disease and possibly death. Talon sighed as he pinched the ridges on the bridge of his nose. The thought came to him of his and Erim's ruse on Star Base 7. Could karma be coming around to kick him in the ass?

OFF::

Talon Joss
Doctor
SS Mary Rose

Dixiaho Saa
Chief Navigator
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Leiddem Kea
Weapons Master
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)