“Certain.”
The physician
sighed loudly and backed away. “All right. Take a few steps.”
Will walked slowly
to the door and turned around. Holding out her arms, she smiled. “Do I get
a clean bill of health?”
Killjorn grinned
widely. “I’ll give you half a bill. Will that do? I won’t give you a full
release until you can erect your shields.”
“About how
much longer before I can attempt it?”
“Two days.
No, make it three. I don’t want you to push it. Remember, I did my internship
at a skin retrieval medi-lab. Too many times I saw warriors sent right back
into the isolation sheets because they tried to erect their auras too soon, and
sheared their fresh layers of skin. It nearly tripled their recuperation
time.”
Will stared at
her arm. She tapped it to check the new skin’s resilience. Tiny vibrations
quivered over her muscles and nerves, like rings of water rippling away from
the center of impact. It tickled to the point where she involuntarily shivered.
Will looked up at the doctor. Killjorn nodded.
“Your
nerves are still adapting to your new membrane. Your sense of touch will remain
heightened for another couple of days.”
“What if I
bump against something and bruise it? Or tear it?”
“That’s
something you’re going to have to be very careful about. Small wounds we can
deal with. But anything that makes you bleed outright could be fatal.”
Killjorn went over to her console. “I’m sending in a prescription for a
pain med to your room. It’ll be available when you need it.” She gave Will
a motherly look, although she was only two years older. “Don’t hesitate to
take it, Willis. Any time you feel distressed, the medicant will dull your
nerve endings and also speed up the healing process as much as your body is
able to tolerate. Understand me?”
Will rolled her
eyes as she grinned. “Yes, Mother.”
Killjorn
responded by sticking her tongue out at her. “For your insolence, I’m also
kicking you out of the medical bay. You are ordered to return to your own cabin
and rest.”
“More rest?
Why? I’ve been resting for what seems like days.”
“Just hush
and do as I say. You’re not as strong or as sturdy as you think you are at the
moment. By the time you reach your room, you’ll be washed out. Go to bed. Then,
when you wake up, if you want to spend a little time on the bridge, go ahead.
But as soon as you start to flag, go back to your cabin. Remember, the more
rested you are—”
“The sooner
I’ll heal,” Will said in sync with the doctor.
“Oh, and
set your in-cabin computer to make your uniforms about two sizes larger than
usual. You want to prevent the fabric from irritating that new epidermis.”
“Got it.
Meds, rest, saggy uniform. Anything else?”
Killjorn sighed.
“I know you’re trying to be mentally positive about your healing, but you
must also realize I’m not being over-protective. What you suffered has killed
many Nions.”
Giving the
doctor a wan smile, Will shuffled over to lay a hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“I know, Killy. I know what a struggle it was to take care of me, and I am
deeply grateful to you.” She looked at where her hand rested, and added,
“I can’t believe how cold I feel. You’re as hot as a blue sun!”
“Until your
capillaries finish seeding your outer layer, you’ll remain chilled. Don’t
change the temperature in your cabin. Your skin has to thicken a bit more, and
your body has to learn to adjust to it. Just pile on the clothing, or change
the heat setting on your bed and chairs.”
For good
measure, the physician retrieved a robe and slippers from one of the storage
cabinets, and draped the thin coat over Will’s shoulders. She raised the hood
to cover the Captain’s bare head.
“There.
That should help some.”
Will shoved her
feet into the oversized scuffs. “I look like an escaped patient.”
Killjorn
laughed. “It’s the third shift. I’ll be surprised if you run into anyone
at
The physician
sighed loudly and backed away. “All right. Take a few steps.”
Will walked slowly
to the door and turned around. Holding out her arms, she smiled. “Do I get
a clean bill of health?”
Killjorn grinned
widely. “I’ll give you half a bill. Will that do? I won’t give you a full
release until you can erect your shields.”
“About how
much longer before I can attempt it?”
“Two days.
No, make it three. I don’t want you to push it. Remember, I did my internship
at a skin retrieval medi-lab. Too many times I saw warriors sent right back
into the isolation sheets because they tried to erect their auras too soon, and
sheared their fresh layers of skin. It nearly tripled their recuperation
time.”
Will stared at
her arm. She tapped it to check the new skin’s resilience. Tiny vibrations
quivered over her muscles and nerves, like rings of water rippling away from
the center of impact. It tickled to the point where she involuntarily shivered.
Will looked up at the doctor. Killjorn nodded.
“Your
nerves are still adapting to your new membrane. Your sense of touch will remain
heightened for another couple of days.”
“What if I
bump against something and bruise it? Or tear it?”
“That’s
something you’re going to have to be very careful about. Small wounds we can
deal with. But anything that makes you bleed outright could be fatal.”
Killjorn went over to her console. “I’m sending in a prescription for a
pain med to your room. It’ll be available when you need it.” She gave Will
a motherly look, although she was only two years older. “Don’t hesitate to
take it, Willis. Any time you feel distressed, the medicant will dull your
nerve endings and also speed up the healing process as much as your body is
able to tolerate. Understand me?”
Will rolled her
eyes as she grinned. “Yes, Mother.”
Killjorn
responded by sticking her tongue out at her. “For your insolence, I’m also
kicking you out of the medical bay. You are ordered to return to your own cabin
and rest.”
“More rest?
Why? I’ve been resting for what seems like days.”
“Just hush
and do as I say. You’re not as strong or as sturdy as you think you are at the
moment. By the time you reach your room, you’ll be washed out. Go to bed. Then,
when you wake up, if you want to spend a little time on the bridge, go ahead.
But as soon as you start to flag, go back to your cabin. Remember, the more
rested you are—”
“The sooner
I’ll heal,” Will said in sync with the doctor.
“Oh, and
set your in-cabin computer to make your uniforms about two sizes larger than
usual. You want to prevent the fabric from irritating that new epidermis.”
“Got it.
Meds, rest, saggy uniform. Anything else?”
Killjorn sighed.
“I know you’re trying to be mentally positive about your healing, but you
must also realize I’m not being over-protective. What you suffered has killed
many Nions.”
Giving the
doctor a wan smile, Will shuffled over to lay a hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“I know, Killy. I know what a struggle it was to take care of me, and I am
deeply grateful to you.” She looked at where her hand rested, and added,
“I can’t believe how cold I feel. You’re as hot as a blue sun!”
“Until your
capillaries finish seeding your outer layer, you’ll remain chilled. Don’t
change the temperature in your cabin. Your skin has to thicken a bit more, and
your body has to learn to adjust to it. Just pile on the clothing, or change
the heat setting on your bed and chairs.”
For good
measure, the physician retrieved a robe and slippers from one of the storage
cabinets, and draped the thin coat over Will’s shoulders. She raised the hood
to cover the Captain’s bare head.
“There.
That should help some.”
Will shoved her
feet into the oversized scuffs. “I look like an escaped patient.”
Killjorn
laughed. “It’s the third shift. I’ll be surprised if you run into anyone
at
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