[video]

[greyaria]

[Emily isn't wearing the ugly blue jumpsuit. She is instead wearing ugly blue scrubs, and judging by the background, she's in the Infirmary. And she's smiling. Emily is always. Smiling.]

Is there anyone out there with an injury or chronic medical condition that was untreatable in your home universe? I have robotics lab and medical access now. Come on by and we'll see about sorting that out! Or just come by for a checkup! I don't discriminate!

[She should probably set expectations properly, huh? Her good cheer goes from disconcerting to almost normal as she adds her caveat.]

The equipment is, hmm, vintage and I don't promise I can fix everything, especially if your biochemistry is out there compared to humans, but it seems like I'm from the future [she makes wiggly finger gestures, which are apparently supposed to signal...something] relative to quite a few of you, so that's an extra few centuries of medical knowledge. Might as well put it to good use!

Comments

[greyaria]

Right.

[She turns back to her note-taking, since they got a little sidetracked from Loken's physiology.]

If by "digital weapon" you mean "build a laser into his finger," as hilarious as that would be, I don't think they'd go for it.

[She points at a Jorgmund logo screensaver on an unused display.]

[greyerrant]

Why is that hilarious? It is perfectly practical single-use weapon, the sort of thing you use in close combat as a pivotal moment.

[ He looks at the screensaver. ] They do appear to be.. ah, economical with their human resources, rather than investing in them, true.

[garmr]

[A few things clatter to the ground right in the middle of their conversation - it's laserfingers himself regaining consciousness.

Guts is sluggish and a little wobbly, using a wall as support as he stumbles forward to follow the voices nearby. He looks right at Emily.]

Hey. Your healing magic's gotten really good... I didn't feel anything at all.

[ He takes another step forward until he feels a tug on his arm, and looks down at his forearm. His gaze follows the IV line from its insertion point all the way back to the stand he knocked over.]

[greyaria]

Why are you awake?

[As if Guts' state of consciousness is personally offensive.]

I gave you enough anesthesia to drop a horse!

[She rushes over to his side to make sure he doesn't fall over or tear out his IV.]

[greyerrant]

It would appear you have a wounded subject to take care of. Should I assist in some manner?

[ He crosses to her side, looking over the rather large Guts. ]

[garmr]

[Guts watches her do her work, putting up no resistance whatsoever.

Wait a second, if she's here patching him up, then... ]

Where's Casca...?

[greyaria]

He's not wounded. This is Guts. Grab him if he starts to fall over. What kind of ridiculous metabolism...

[Emily's already trying to steer Guts back to bed.]

Shh. Casca had to step out. Everything's fine.

[He won't understand a real explanation right now and there's a good chance he won't even remember the conversation five minutes from now and will ask the same question again. And again. And again.

It's a shame she can't re-anesthetize patients to shut them up. It's just kicking the can down the road.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken moves into position to help steer Guts into bed or keep him there was Emily wants, not saying anything to avoid confusing the large man who might be able to floor the doctor with a punch, should he get aggressive. ]

[garmr]

[Luckily, Guts is too focused on how shiny and smooth Emily's hair is to notice Loken's BIG ASS HANDS getting awfully close to his body. For now, anyway.

He lightly scritch scratches the top her head, but then looks slightly alarmed when he sees the fingers twitching of their own volition. Odd. His iron hand isn't supposed to be able to grip non-metal objects.]

You have steel hair.

[greyaria]

[...Right, sure.]

What makes you say that?

[With her eyes and a slight motion of her head, Emily signals Loken to take over making sure Guts doesn't topple over while she goes to right the IV stand. Or tries to, given that Guts' new hand seems to be working just fine--she'll be smug about that later--and her head is currently being patted.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken nods quietly, and puts a gentle hand on Guts to steady him as Emily attends to Guts' IV and such. It's like being supported by a stone pillar.]

[garmr]

It's because -

[No, wait - Guts flinches at the touch, even though Loken's grasp is gentle. He's disoriented and has no clue who is holding him up - the instinctual reaction is to violently jerk away. Who the hell was that!?

The sudden action is more than his drunken sense of equilibrium can handle, sending him stumbling straight to the ground unless he's quickly caught.]

[greyaria]

[Emily, busy trying to un-kink the IV line after Guts managed to thoroughly kink it, is going down under a few hundred pounds of startled but woozy medieval swordsman unless Loken moves fast. Good thing he's a Space Marine!]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken moves to keep Guts and Emily from falling into a tangled mess, rumbling. ]

You are under sedation. Try not to move so much, or all the doctor's ministrations may not work.

[garmr]

[Sorry Garv, he's paying too much attention to the fact that he's being GRABBED. The contact seems to flip a switch, going from hazy and calm to a panicked and furious burst of aggression.

Trying to muscle his way out of it is futile against Loken, but that's not going to stop him from struggling as hard as he can.]

Don't touch me..!

[He's uncoordinated - mostly a lot of undignified flailing and pulling, except for the single good punch he attempts to throw at his face. It would have absolutely floored any other medical staffer had they been there in his stead.]

[greyerrant]

[ Loken grunts, the punch smashing into his jaw and drawing a fair amount of blood from his mouth, and reels for a moment, not letting himself or Guts fall as he does so, then straightens and says. ] I'm sorry. I know you are intoxicated and afraid. But I am trying to help.

[greyaria]

[Emily, who lacks the reflexes of either an Astartes Captain or a medieval warrior, yelps in surprise when she realizes Loken is supporting her and also being punched, and she squirms in an attempt to get out of the fight before she needs to provide medical care for herself, too.

Then she notices Loken's blood. Loken's unnaturally red blood.]

Ooh! Do you have extra heme groups?

[garmr]

[Sorry?? Apology NOT ACCEPTED.

Guts is going to KEEP FIGHTING HIM, this time trying to get a headbutt in towards the bottom of his chin, clawing at Loken as if he might lose his life otherwise. He looks down at that damn hand with every intent to bite it until a wave of nausea sends his head swimming.

The struggling ceases for a moment while he doubles over, trying to regain what little sense he had. At least his punching hand is too busy clasping at his stomach to send another blow at his face.]

[greyerrant]

Sit. Down. [His chin gets knocked aside, and Loken blinks, fighting back a wave of desire to fight of his own. After a second of controlling himsel Loken will try to move him as gently but firmly as he can back to a gurney or table. ]

I think so, yes. You'd have to ask a techpriest to be sure but I know for certain our blood has been altered to carry fast clotting agents, and more oxygen than you might otherwise be able to carry.

[garmr]

[Guts is having a Not So Good time over by his corner. Once a gurney is within grasp he will support himself on it, bent over and taking in deep breaths. He is trying to keep his composure while he feels his stomach doing pirouetting kickflips. Fighting while half-anesthetized kind of sucks, it turns out.

Guess his plan to Kill Loken with his bare hands is going to be put on hold.]

[greyaria]

[Emily's sense of professional duty overrides her scientific curiosity, but just barely, and she tears herself away from staring at Loken's blood to go pick up the IV stand and roll it closer to it Guts.]

Guts, sweetie, it's okay. Captain Loken is my friend [for the purposes of talking down belligerent post-surgical patients, anyway] and he's helping me. Let's get you back to bed and your stomach will feel better.

[greyerrant]

He looks the worse for wear from the medications. Is there anything else I can do to help him? [ Loken is strangely worried about the guy who intends to kill him, but that's hardly a new thing for him. ]

[garmr]

I can walk.

[Not very well, granted, but he's incredibly stubborn even when he feels like retching. You stay over there, Loken.

Stay there while he slowly wobbles back up, using the gurney for help. Gurneys don't grab back.]

Where's the bed?

[He kind of... forgot]