thisavrou_log | Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

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Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

Who: Thane Krios and YOU
When: All through October
Where: THE MEDBAY
What: Visiting the terminally ill assassin
Warnings: Terminal illness? Probably nothing major, will edit if that changes.

Thane had known for a while now that his last days would be spent in a hospital of some flavor, probably hooked up to a respirator and peppered with sessions of physical therapy designed to maximize his comfort even as he slowly suffocated, until he did finally, inevitably, slowly suffocate.

He had also expected it to be a fairly quiet and isolated time, disturbed only by the occasional hospital staff member.

The only person he'd told of his new whereabouts was Shepard, and he knew the commander could be trusted to be discreet. The only other person who knew he'd been hospitalized was Hawke, since she'd been there when the hospitalization had happened. Somehow, even in the somewhat brief time he'd held acquaintance with her, Thane could tell that the woman did not possess a discrete bone in her entire body.

So, naturally, he blames her entirely for any concerned visitors that might show up.

Not that he particularly minds company, because he doesn't. It's just that he never expects it, and so is, in turn, always surprised by it.

Hospital Room
Visitors can often find him in his assigned room, sitting lotus-style in the middle of his bed, back ramrod straight and hands resting comfortably on his knees. He's shirtless, dressed in nothing but a pair of soft cotton pants. He's also hooked up to a respirator, which hums quietly and soothingly in the background as it delivers much-needed oxygen to his soggy lungs. He seems to be meditating, or maybe just sleeping, but will look up regardless when someone comes in.

Physical Therapy
Sometimes visitors can catch him on his way to or from physical therapy, which for him are short but frequent sessions of being hooked up to a different respirator as well as various monitors while performing a series of Tai Chi-like exercises designed to encourage oxygen flow to his muscles and organs. The ship's doctors, to their credit, are working their butts off studying his disease and formulating treatments to decrease the severity of its effects. The doctors won't allow visitors while he's in the middle of therapy, but before and after is just fine.

Exam Room
The exam room is doctors only, but it's a great place for said doctors to study Thane up close, ask him questions, and attempt to get a feel for what exactly is wrong with his stupid lizard physiology.

[ooc: I'm down to match brackets or prose, whichever is preferred!

Thane's going to be hospitalized all month, while the doctors do their best to figure out how to fix him. PC doctors are welcome and encouraged to come poke and prod him as well!]

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Thane it is, then.

[ Her smiles come easier, wide and warm when she sets the board aside to listen to his explanation. ]

Let's see if we can't do something about that. I think you'll find I don't give up easily.

[ As far as hacking goes, that is something she's always been worried about herself, hence the short shelf-life. The nanites in her body are permanent, but the ones that come from her staff are created on the spot and disintegrate into the body within a few hours, as stated. Angela had under no circumstances wanted her tech to be weaponized or duplicated. He seems interested at least, so she doesn't mind prattling on a bit about her work. ]

Any questions you may have, I'm more than willing to answer if it will set your mind at ease. I realize there is a particular stigma around the concept for many. In short, if my assumption proves correct when I've seen a tissue sample, I'm hoping to be able to reprogram your lung tissue to be stronger, less porous. Then they won't absorb moisture in the air nearly so much; but again, that is only conjecture until I can see.

[ She watches him shift and draw his legs up to fold before him, idly watching his breathing. It's a relief he seems to remain comfortable, at least, and she's glad for it. ]

I'll be sure to double the dosage then, and I work quickly. Two injections with hollow needles and we'll be done. Would you mind if I use the nanotechnology on you to heal the punctures? I'd like to get this done so you can rest properly after your therapy. Then I'll be able to get to work myself.

[It's difficult, but not impossible, to hide his perpetual discomfort and shortness of breath. He has a lifetime of intense physical discipline to thank for that. It's discomfiting enough to cause so much worry in new acquaintances and in friends. He'll do whatever he can do to limit that worry in others.]

Your tenacity in the face of the unknown is certainly appreciated.

[He's not getting his hopes up, though. He'd come to terms with his fate long ago. The only regret he has is that since being pulled here, he's been robbed of the last few months he would have had to rebuild some sort of relationship with his son. However, as that is not something anyone on board this vessel has any power to change, there's little point in mentioning that.

...Still, the dedication of the medical staff here is an unexpected comfort.]

I have no objection. I'd be very interested to see it first-hand.

[He'd have more qualms about unknown nanotech in his system if his life-expectancy were any longer than it is currently. Still, as slow to trust as he is normally, he does feel surprisingly comfortable placing what remains of his life in the hands of the staff here - and, at this point, in Angela's in particular.]

And I thank you for your offer. Is any of your written research available for perusal? I find myself with a surplus of idle time, lately, and you strike me as a busy woman I wouldn't wish to bother with a lot of questions.

[ Without knowing how he had functioned when he was healthy, it would be difficult for her to parse unless he seems particularly pained or wheezy if he's skilled at hiding it. Thane is sweet and terribly polite and it leaves her smiling openly, inclining her head as humbly as possible in silent thanks while she bustles about getting things ready. Everyone deserves a doctor's utmost efforts, especially when it came to keeping them alive. There is no room for half-attempts or laziness. She would throw her all into helping others if it's within her skill to do so, because why else would she have worked so hard for them? If not to put them to use. No parent should lose their children, no brothers should lose their sisters, no friends should have to part too soon.

His interest in her technology when so many were skittish with it is cause for her smile to warm further, but then she'll have to leave to fetch the Caduceus staff in her tiny office. ]

I can assure you I'll do my best, and I learn quickly. I'll be right back; I need to grab my staff and gather up the anesthetic, then.

[ True to her word, she moves swiftly and returns within the minute with a slender staff and the bottle of anesthetic in hand to leave on her tray. She'll offer him the staff if he wants to examine it; there is little decorative about it, but the technology is housed within the staff's head where its bulkiest, offset by a heavy base. The button beneath the gold shield is fingerprinted for her use alone, so even if he presses it nothing will happen. Angela will prepare the biopsy site in the meantime, shifting fabric aside to get access to his ribs and disinfect the skin before rubbing a topical anesthetic in to prep for the deeper injection. ]

This is as first-hand as it gets, I'm afraid. I have no documentation here aboard the ship. Were we back on Earth, perhaps I could scrounge something up, but... Any questions at all you may have, please feel free to ask. You wouldn't be a bother at all. Everyone has the right to know what is going into their bodies.

[Curious, he takes the staff and begins to examine it. Of all the possible pieces of technology he might have imagined, this is definitely not one of them. He was already intrigued before, but now he's even more so.]

This is where the technology is stored? How does it work?

[He moves his arms out of her way when she moves in to begin prepping the biopsy site. He shivers slightly at the cold touch of the antiseptic, but doesn't otherwise react to her ministrations. He's grown far more used to allowing near strangers into his personal space than he ever would have guessed prior to his diagnosis many years ago. It really is something how quickly and thoroughly unthinkable situations become reality.]

[ Thane takes her staff to look over and Angela looks decidedly proud, puffing up the tiniest fraction as her work is examined, breaking it after a moment to get back to work. ]

That is where the technology is created, actually. You hold in your hands a very tiny factory for nanomachines; I'll just need to make sure the proteins will break down in your body and alter their coding a bit to focus on your lungs.

[ There's a softly-murmured "sorry" as she fails to warm the pad with the antiseptic enough before touching him; she won't make the same mistake with the topical anesthetic cream. That is warmed thoroughly in her fingers before she massages it in. She'll give it a few moments to work its magic. ]

May I have you lay down please?

Certainly.

[He holds the staff out for Angela to take. Once it's out of his hands, he pivots neatly on his exam table seat and lays down as requested. He doesn't attempt to try to relax. All of his instincts are screaming at him for taking such a vulnerable position in such close proximity to a near-stranger. Intellectually he knows he's in no danger. Even if he were, his time is short anyway. Through circumstances completely beyond his control, he's missed out on the opportunity to reconnect with his son. If he dies right now, or in two weeks, it won't make any difference, because he is here and Kolyat is a lifetime away on the Citadel.]

How long have you been actively using the technology?

[Thank goodness for distracting interesting conversation.]

Thank you kindly. [ Angela takes her staff to lean back against the wall and really, she can't blame him for the lack of relaxation in his posture once he's laying down, not quite "stiff as a board" territory but close to it, finely-honed musculature tense out of instinct. She understands that well for having been in the military and treating soldiers with lifetime careers on the battlefield. It isn't easy to wind down when you're so hard-coded to override your weaknesses and hide them.

While she lets the anesthetic seep into his skin, she goes over his chart once more— specifically the scans of his body that show her where his organs were and roughly how deep, as well as how thick. She can't puncture his lungs with too much force to bypass the protective muscle. She'll set the chart aside and press her fingers into the biopsy location, testing the numbness while she scoops up the first syringe. ]

Can you feel my fingers? And hmmm, well, it's been about twenty years now, though I have been developing it longer. You could certainly call it tried and tested.

I can't. I believe the anesthetic is working as intended.

[The dull numbness is an uncomfortable sensation, but so are most things in his life anymore. At least this one is guaranteed to be temporary.]

Twenty years is a long time in the medical field. [There's some surprise in his voice. Somehow he had not expected such a high number. It's reassuring - just like Angela's bedside manner.] With that being the case I would definitely believe it tried and tested.

Perfect; I'll get right to it before it fades, then.

[ It's a small enough area, at least, so hopefully it won't bother him terribly much; about a palm-sized span. The syringe has nothing but a tiny amount of preservative plasma to suck the tissue sample up into, and she feels out his ribs before pressing it in and pushing a small tab that closed off the bottom, cutting through whatever tissue the hollow needle had gathered. It's quick, extracting the one and gathering a second. And just like that, given some twenty seconds, and she's finished. A simple antibiotic cream is applied to the puncture marks and they're bandaged over, fingertips brushing over the numbed flesh as she ensures the bandages seal well. ]

I'm sure I'll be in it for twenty years more, and twenty years again. It's what I've dedicated myself to. Ever since I was seven years old.

[ When she'd lost her parents to war; they'd been doctors as well. His surprise earns him another little smile, the twinkle in her eye showing more than her fair share of amusement. ]

Well I'm glad you agree. Would you believe you're already done? I promised.

[Of course he holds perfectly still for her as she does her thing - as he would have anyway, even if he could feel what was being done. Anesthetics are a wonderful invention, as he's especially discovered in the past few days.]

From my understanding, seven is quite a young age to begin training in the medical field, is it not?

[Asks the master assassin who began learning how to kill people at the tender age of six. It's a surprising but welcome commonality - they each began on their career paths at a very young age.]

I do believe it. [Said with a smile.] Is it alright if I sit up?

[Laying down is the worst.]

Oh, I'm not quite that impressive, but you would be right in that assumption; I had just decided to be a doctor then. I didn't begin studying for it until I was... mm, around 14 or so. Preparations for medical school, focusing on the sciences. I got through standard schooling as quickly as possible and always had my nose in a textbook, entering college a good few years before average.

[ Once she's storing the syringes with her samples properly, sealed and protected, she strips off her gloves and meets his smile with the widening of her own, offering him a hand. If he'll let her, she'll help pull him upright and steady her other hand at his back. ]

Most certainly; I apologize if it was uncomfortable for you.

It will take me a few hours at the very least to begin analyzing what I just took, but I imagine I'll have an answer for you by tomorrow on whether or not I'll be able to do anything for you. At that time, as well, I'll have a better estimate on when we'll be able to move forward, if we can at all. Is there anything else I can do for you in the meantime? Anything at all that might help you to rest more comfortably.

[He accepts her offered hand without a fuss, and uses it to assist in levering himself upright once more. He can't quite hide the hitch in his breath at the motion, and then there's a brief battle to suppress the cough that wants to follow, but the cough also wins out. He politely turns his head away - although there's nothing contagious in his labored exhalations - and takes several moments and painful, hacking breaths to settle his breathing back into some semblance of normal.]

Discomfort is sometimes necessary. Your patience and expertise are both appreciated.

[With his labored breaths firmly back under his disciplined control, he turns to her with a small smile to answer her question.]

The respirator provided to me has been working well to increase my comfort since I've been hospitalized. I expect I'll feel better once I return to my room.

[ The second he begins coughing her touch is back on him, hopefully not infringing as she soothes over his back with careful strokes and she offers a steadying hand against his sternum just to keep him from pitching forward. Her brows furrow with concern, waiting it out until he's regained a handle on his breathing only to immediately offer up praise; he's terribly polite. ]

As appreciated as your faith in me happens to be; I only hope I'll be able to help. Would you mind terribly if I walk with you?

[ She'll take her hand off his back eventually, just. You know. No time soon. Likely once she's seem him to his bed, glad for the respirator but still wanting to see him back lest he start coughing again. ]

And if I could get you anything to drink to soothe your throat, I'd be more than happy to fetch something. Tea?

[He wants to say no, to tell her that she needn't bother, and that he'll be fine to return to his room on his own...But somehow he gets the feeling that being able to accompany him will help put her mind at ease, so he nods his head in assent.]

If you wish to accompany me, I have no objections.

[It's not like it's a particularly long walk. She'll see him back and settled in in no more than ten minutes or so, and be able to return to her work with (hopefully) a clear mind. He's still unused to causing so much worry in people he's barely met; somehow he thinks he probably never will get used to it.]

And tea would be appreciated. Thank you.

I'm glad, because I do.

[ In that assumption, he's fairly on point. It isn't far, no, but she's thorough enough, and one's bedside manner tends to requires a caretaker being at the bedside every now and then. Where their patient is as comfortable as possible, ensuring they can rest and recuperate. She's never been good at walking away, as most other doctors were when other personnel could take over, and spent far more time with her patients if at all possible. She's a people person through and through. Once he's back in his room and settled, she takes a few moments to fuss and straighten things while they speak. ]

Any preference on what kind? Herbal, black, green? I was thinking of adding honey unless you'd prefer otherwise.

[Once he's back in his room and settled means he's sitting up comfortably in the middle of his bed while his personal respirator delivers a far higher concentration of oxygen to his failing lungs than he can get from the environment. He watches Angela fuss with some bemusement, but overall her presence and her fussing is quite comforting. It's honestly quite pleasant.]

Black with lemon, if you have it, or with honey if not, please.

[ At least he doesn't mind, because honestly, she didn't stop so easily for anyone unless she was causing discomfort. Angela sets about her tasks with an amiable tenacity and knew what she wanted to accomplish, and that often meant ensuring everything was within her patient's reach and their sheets and blankets were arranged about them, no bunching beneath and room to cover all toes and limbs when drawn up. His respirator is on and filling the silence with white noise, but once she gets her marching orders she straightens with a smile. ]

Lemon won't be a problem. I'll be right back then.

[ It's only a few minutes, but in that time she's put on the kettle and taken the tissue samples to the lab and properly marked them to get to work on shortly after, returning with a steaming mug of tea laden with plenty of lemon. She's left an additional wedge on the saucer and a small bit of honey should he choose to add it. Good on the throat, especially at the rate he coughs himself hoarse. ]

Here you are, Thane. Is there anything else I can do for you...? If not, I'll likely get right into processing.

[He accepts the tea with a smile and a nod, taking the mug immediately to hand for the first cautious sip.]

Thank you, Doctor Zieg -- Angela. I'm well provided for and comfortable for the moment.

You're most welcome. If you're fine, then I'm going to get started. Get some rest, and hopefully I'll see you again in a few hours.

[ She sees herself out after a small bow, since the tea seems to be to his liking and he is otherwise calm, vitals stable. The real fight began now, cracking her nanomachines' code open to apply toward other species, specializing a batch solely for altering the strength of organ tissues over other applications. Too much, and they would lose elasticity to pump as intended, and too little... it would do nothing to improve his current condition. But given a few hours, she should know if it'd be doable at all. ]

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Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

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shall we handwave the cure or timeskip to her returning with an answer?