-= USS Congo, Starfleet Shuttle =- The hatch closed completely and the ship lurked upwards, sporadically increasing speed, as the inertial dampeners tried to compensate for the manual flying. The ship rocked as it gained altitude, but everyone held on steady. Okrin's side of the team, who had miraculously survived, started to get out of the cumbersome suits. Okrin remained immobile, needing assistance with his arm and leg. The burning kept at it, his skin reacting with the remnants of the deadly atmosphere of the Einhoften underground complex. When Weaver and Cross where done, they helped Okrin out of his suit. As expected the suit itself did not react with the chemicals, but his other uniform, did, with the chemically active flesh which fused with the uniform at the puncture points. Weaver had to cut the combat vest and arm and leg of the uniform, to uncover the wounds. The skin was already bubbling and 3rd degree burns showed on the top epidermis, Okrin noticed. He did not know if he received a dose of radiation to add to his predicament. At that point Rangi arrived in the back compartment, to check on everyone. 'Ma'am.." Weavor said, glad to see that she was coming to help them. "He's not doing so good. His suit was punctured in a couple of places and he took a large dose of the..whatever it was. He's burnt bad too.." He glanced at her as he spoke and then back at the AMO, moving aside so that she could see the full extent of the wounds. Rangi knelt down beside him, assessing as much as she could. "Get me the emergency medkit please. " she said and Weavor moved quckly to the small hatch in the left side wall where emergency equipment was stored. She watched Okrin with concern. He lay part propped up on a seat, eyes closed and obviously in pain. "Tell me what happened." she said to Cross and he explained all that had occurred, culminating in the explosion and release of toxic gas. "What were the chemicals?" she asked. "Please try to remember." Okrin managed to get an eye opened. The pain was barely tolerable. "I...Saw.. Anesthezine." He said between clenched teeth. "Yeah. I tired to explode the container." Cross added. "But it was phaserproof. I did not see any other chemicals, maybe it was out of sight, who knows." N'et'vor simply nodded, agreeing with Cross' assesment of what had happened. "You'll just need to stop the reaction, somehow, Starfleet." he said towards Rangi. "He should survive." he acknowledged. "The injuries are localized. If need be you can amputate." he added, not being much of a physician but the barbaric procedure was applied to the Jem'hadars. Most prefered death though. "I trust it wont come to that!" Rangi said coldly thinking that the last thing Okrin needed was this prophet of doom sitting next to him painting gruesome visions. She reached for the medkit that Weavor held to her already opened and took out a hypospray. There were always two ready loaded with analgesic and she selected the one holding Hydrocortilene, a fast acting and very efficient pain killer. Pressing the tool against Okrins neck, she released the medication. "Could you move back a bit?" she asked flicking her hand at N'et'vor who seemed to be awaiting an imminent amputation.He did so. Rangi had taken the tricorder and scanned Okrin. "Well theres some Anethezine." she said laying it aside, "but you made a good cocktail...you've got Theragen in there.." Searching in the medcase, she found another vial and loaded the hypospray. "Whats that?" Weavor asked. "Morathiazine" she replied. "its treatment for shock.His blood pressure is too low for Leporazine " The shuttle shook wildly for a moment then settled back. Okrin definately started to feel better. The pain was subsiding and he seemed to float, a certain numbness where the pain was before. His eyes opened and he a hard time focusing properly. The shuttle still shook from time to time, but they were on their way back home, that was the important idea. He looked at his arm but could not think clearly as to what was happening next. He was burnt, but very localised. He flexed his fingers and forearm muscles and they responded with a tightness in the burnt area. Apparently the chemials that affected his skin had ceased reacting. He let his head drop and let go a heavy sigh. "Thanks Doc." he said with closed eyes. "Is he dead?" N'et'vor asked with interest, partly disappointed that surgery hadnt been necessary. Rangi sighed."No." she replied "..he isnt! Corporal..in that blue box you'll find some gauze like stuff..I'll need it in a minute." She sat back on her heels. "N'et'vor..please keep back a bit. I need to treat his burns and I cant do that with your head in the way. " The Jem'hadar frowned but moved back as she asked. Glad now that Okrin was under the influence of the Anethezine, Rangi worked quickly applying kelotane to the burns and sealing the wound with a dermal regenerator. The effect was good and N'et'vor, when she glanced up at him, was noticibly impressed. She applied the sterile gauze and sat back. "Now." she said more to herself than her companions. " ..we need to get him to sickbay. You too." she added looking at the marines and N'et'vor. "There's sign of radiation poisoning and I cant treat that here." She reached into the medcase and rooted about for a few seconds. "Delectovine." she explained pulling out a smaller hypospray. " To revive him a little." from forward in the shuttle, she was aware of tereks attempts to contact chimera. She looked up and met his worried gaze. "Keep trying" she called." Just get us home in one piece...and lieutenant...if you DO make contact..ask them to beam Okrin straight to sickbay" Okrin's ideas became clearer by the seconds. He looked down and saw the gauze applied to his arm and leg. N'et'vor was sitting, keeping to himself while Cross saw to Okrin's combat vest and weapon, putting them in a storage compartment. The shuttle should dock with the Chimera he estimated, any time soon. He was glad to be out of there. Everyone must have been. One thing was sure, he was probably not going back down there. He had to face it, he was a rear echelon operator now, a second wave soldier. Under normal conditions he was not supposed to see the enemy face to face, He was supposed to treat the wounded and protect the healthy. The old time, the good times where over, but that had been his decision. Not just because he had a change of heart, but he did not get any younger either. Satisfied that he was comfortable and safe to leave, Rangi smiled at Okrin. "You'll be in sickbay soon ok?" She stood up and made her way back to the small bridge. "USS Chimera to the unknown shuttle, identify yourself ... this is the final warning ... you have 10 seconds to identify yourself or we open fire" Rangis eyes opened wide as she heard Shanes voice utter the threat he obviously meant to be taken seriously.Terek muttered something and as Rangi slid into the seat beside him he pressed a button and said hastily: "This is USS Congo, please don't shoot, we have injured aboard, requiring immediate assistance. One member of the team needs to be transported directly to the sickbay." There was a brief pause then an acknowledgement and as she turned in her seat, she saw Okrins body enveloped in a blue haze. She turned back to face the ship. "Almost home" she thought and smiled to herself. ***End Log *** Ensign Nejor Okrin AMO USS Chimera & Commander Rangi Summers XO USS Chimera & Weaver/Cross/N'et'vor (npc)s