The Cure

Posted on Mon Mar 28th, 2022 @ 11:13pm by Lieutenant Commander Michael Ki & Lieutenant JG Xava Denlorr & Lieutenant Leah Bailey & NVeid tr'Rehu
Edited on on Tue Mar 29th, 2022 @ 6:48am

Mission: With Gleaming Eyes
Location: Ithaca II
Timeline: MD-04 - 0900
1615 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

The Starfleet quartet returned to the prefab medical facility feeling as though they were on the cusp of something significant. With Ki and Bailey's discoveries so far and the new findings from Savin, there was optimism that they could overcome their final hurdles in creating the cure they were desperately looking for.

"Right," Leah began, reopening their files on a larger monitor. "Commander Savin, if you're able to provide the final details of the patients you found, we can begin sequencing the data."

"Commander Savin is not here ma'am." Nveid approached the group, wearing a full EV suit for his own rather than their safety. Given his hybrid nature, he was supposed to remain on the ship but given the circumstances he thought it wiser to transport down anyway. "And from what I understand from the report given, the counselor managed to get all his information to Doctor Ki?"

Leah nodded, momentarily taken aback. She glanced at the other newcomer. "Lt Denlorr? We need to work out how we're going to distribute the vaccine when we've got it synthesized. Any ideas?"

"I like your enthusiasm Dr tr'Rehu however, we need to perfect the cure before we worry about distribution. Leah and I were able to get the virus eradicated for deceased matter. What we found is that if you injected the virus into dead matter it went into a hibernation of sorts and then became easier to kill with a standard cure. However, the question remains how do we translate this hypothesis to living patients. Ideas?" Michael hoped that the rest of the team would understand the way he worked. He was very much an input doctor, he would fish as it were for ideas until something stuck.

"Enthusiasm?" The surgeon arched an eyebrow in surprise, "about what? I know probably less than you do right now, even though I have been on the immunological side of things, at least where monitoring is concerned. I have not been able to go back to the planet since the order regarding hybrids was given. Though...if any testing needs to be done, I'll happily volunteer."

"Putting our fellow crewmembers' lives in danger isn't ideal, but...on a minimal timescale it might have to be the option we go with," Leah nodded. "There are risks, though. Serious ones. This is lab-tested, and there could be any number of factors we're not prepared for..."

"It is a risk I am willing to take ma'am," the hybrid surgeon promised, before turning to the other science officer. "How much have you been able to learn from the two patients in isolation? What do their blood samples show? Is the viral count in their blood and perhaps tissue samples, any different from that in the Metis or hybrid Metis?"

Leah looked again at NVeid, then at Ki.

"Well, time is limited and we don't have many other options. Let's go ahead and run the test. Carefully." She made sure to look at the chief medical officer with a serious expression with that last word.

Locking eyes with the CMO as well, Nveid nodded slowly as he started to take off his helmet. As soon as he did, he knew he would be explosed no matter what. But now was not the time to play it safe. "I am ready," he said as he put the helmet aside. "As far as I know, I have not yet been exposed to this virus."

When Nveid began to remove the helmet Ki ran over shouting. "Noooooooo!" He had never meant this to be tested on a crew member. Despite his outburst he was too late. The surgeon was already lowering the helmet. Ki knew that the cure had to be tested, but he was in charge here and thought it best to test on someone who did not serve on the ship. However, there was no choice now.

After the outburst he sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair. "Well, there is no choice or it now. We are just going to have to kill him." Michael said as he fit a sequence of hyposprays. Two were filled with a purplish liquid, their potential cure and one was filled with Cordrizine. He kept silent as he worked to allow the gravitas of his words to sink in. About a minute or so later he turned to those gathered. "That is to say in order for this cure to work we have to trick the virus into thinking that the body is dead. So the medication will "kill" you then eradicate the virus. If this works the Cordrizine here will bring you back. However, you must be informed that if this does not work you will die. You are now infected so you can either allow us to proceed or we will test it on someone else and then come back to you." Ki knew more than most that time was of the essence he had two of his crew infected and if they were not cured soon they would fall victim.

"I have not yet been infected," the Romulan surgeon reminded him gently as he sat himself down on the bed for safety. "You would need to infect me first. I assume you have a weakened version of the virus from which you can derrive antibodies after infection? If any will be generated, that is." Though a surgeon, immunology was a field that held his interest.

"A scan will find out if you are infected. You see we are not quite sure if this thing is airborne or not. What we do know is that it is most harmful to people of hybrid physiology. As to your weaker version, no we do not have a weaker version. We have been working on a kill all cure from the strongest version of the virus. Testing on dead material, and what we came up with is what we have." Ki had been scanning the surgeon the entire time and now checked the readings. "It seems for the time being you are not infected, however, until we figure out if this is airborne or not I must insist that you keep your helmet on. Better safe than sorry..."

NVeid nodded as he put his helmet back on. "But that's a cure... what about a vaccine for those who haven't yet been sick?"

"Right now my worry is the dying, finding a cure. Once we have a cure that works we can work on a vaccine. I am trying to prevent losing those that are already infected. I have no intention on infecting someone who is perfectly healthy to test this cure. What we need to do is seek the consent of one who is already infected." Ki spoke as he turned toward Leah and Xava.

"One thing at a time," Leah nodded to Nveid, reassuringly patting him on the arm as she monitored vitals. "If this works, the full vaccine comes next." She turned to Ki. "Monitoring is set up, we have the samples from Mr Savin. We're ready to go when you are, Doctor.

NVeid smiled at the encouraging pat on his arm. "Just tell me what you'd like me to do then....since I'm now here. If anything I can help with distribution, after your test subjects come through."

"Dr tr'Rehu would you monitor the viral output. You are right that a vaccine will need to be developed. Keep an eye on the numbers with that in mind. I know we have been keeping the tissue samples alive, we are going to have to inject the cure and simply watch what happens." Ki prepared the first hypospray with the purply colored liquid. He approached the first sample in its clear container and injected the cure in a gaseous form. Slowly, deliberately Michael did the same thing to each of the other samples. "If this is going to work we should see some results in a minute or two."

From within the confines of his suit, the surgeon nodded. "I will keep you up to date," he promised.

"All right then." Leah looked at Ki. "Here goes nothing?" She watched intently as the doctor deployed their cure, her fingers crossed habitually.

A few seconds passed. Nveid's vitals dropped off, causing her a moment's panic, before less than a minute later they stabilised and began to rise once again. She let out a very long sigh of relief. The surgeon looked a little pale, but was alive and scientifically speaking was doing well.

"Looks like we're in business!" she said finally. "I'll get to work on synthesizing further quantities, and leave you to continue with the medical testing," she told Ki. Feeling a little more optimistic about this whole situation than she had in a few days, Leah hurried off to get to work.

Nveid leaned heavily against the bed, feeling a little feverish and suddenly weak but otherwise fine. "That went a little quicker than expected," he breathed from inside his suit. "I assure you doctor, I feel fine, and as I am not dead, I assume this will be safe to give to your hybrid patients out there."

Michael Ki stood there dumbfounded for the moment. They had gambled and won this time at least. But despite everything they had a working cure, and he knew that thousands upon thousands were about to be saved. All for the work he and his team put in. For the moment he understood how other doctors felt like a god. This was definitely something and it felt good. "I have two crewmembers and a whole lot of Mettis who will be over the moon about this news."