Ryan and Samiz entered the room where
Tricia was being cared for. Ryan walked up to the side of her bed and looked
down on her. She didn't look like Tricia.. her face was too pale. She had a
large gash on her head too that hadn't properly healed and bruising to the side
of her face.
"Do you know anything about the circumstances of her accident Samiz?"
asked Ryan.
"I'm affraid not, however, I could get you access to the records if you would like."
"That would be brilliant! I've tried to keep an eye on my ship, but nobody has let me have access to anything since i have been here."
"I' ll go see what I can do" she said leaving the room.
Ryan pulled up a seat and sat next to Tricia. "What's happened to you? I can't loose you too.. Don't leave me Tricia"
He fought back a tear as Samiz entered teh room again with a PADD.
"Thankyou Samiz. Thankyou so much. You have no idea how much this means to me!"
"I don't think it will mean as much as you think" she said solomly breaking Ryans joyful mood. "What.. what do you mean?"
"Read the PADD sir"
Ryan read through the information on the PADD. The expression on his face grew gradually from one of happiness to one of shock and sadness as he read through.
"Destroyed?" he said taking a seat. "My ship has been destroyed. Two of my crew critically injured. Two dead!! I have to get out of here, I have to!"
"Calm down Ryan. There is nothgin you can do from here right now." she said ushing him back into his chair. "You can't leave here until this evaluation is over and you are classed fit for duty once more."
Ryan sighed and looked at Tricia. This was it. That finished him. After everything that had happened to him, now his ship was destroyed. He was a failure to Starfleet and to himself and now he felt more hopeless than ever.
~ Captain, don't give up ~
Ryan lifted his head slowly and looked at Tricia on the bed.
*Surely she can't have said that!*
~ Don't give up Ryan. You are not a failure to anybody.~
*Tricia? Is that you?*
~ Your crew need you Captain. Go to them. Only your actions can keep them together. ~
Ryan, confused by what was going on, concentrated hard on the sound of Tricia's voice, but it was gone. He thought for a moment what to do, then looked at Samiz.
"Samiz, I wan't you to contact Admiral Pike. Let him know I want to speak with him immediately."
"I'll see what I can do Ryan."
Admrial Pike's Office
[Admiral, May I ask, if you don't mind of course, what is going to happen to us now?]
"That I can't say for sure. If it were up to Starfleet, you would most likely all be split up and assigned to new assignments. However, I have a few favours I can pull. I'll see what I can do for you."
[Thank you so Much sir]
"I'll speak to you more about it when I get there"
[You're coming here?]
"I should arrive in about a week" replied pike
[I'll let Dinara and Kira know, I'm sure they'll be pleased to know you're on your way.]
"Take care Tyran, and may the prophets be with you" The image of Tyran and Commander Owens fissled away.
[Admiral Pike, there is a Doctor Samiz and a Ryan Evans here to see you] came the voice of Pike's secretary over the intercom.
"Send them in"
Ryan and Samiz entered Pikes office and took seats in front of his desk.
"Coffee anyone?" Pike asked before sitting down himself. They both refused. "What can I do for the two of you then?"
Ryan threw the PADD containing the data on the Ronin on Pikes desk. "I need your help sir" said Ryan bluntly. Pike picked up the PADD, realising what this was about, he set the PADD down again on the desk.
"Ryan, you are in this facility for a reason. You cannot leave until you get a clean bill of health and an Admirals consent that you are deemed fit for command once more."
"Admiral, you've read my file. You know my state of mind and surely the reasons behind it. Let's face it, it doesn't take a team of counsellors to figure it out. I need to get back out there. That's the only thing that will help me recover."
"Ryan, I see you rpoint, but it just isn't that simple."
"Ok, I have 2 dead crewmen, 2 criticall wounded. The rest stuck on a station confused and not knowing what to do next. They need me there. What I'm going to suggest now may not be legal, but it's the only way I can see this problem of my health and my crew being resolved."
"What do you suggest Ryan?"
"Samiz, you can give me the clean bill of health. Your a doctor. In exchange, I will give you all the inormation, logs... anything you want on your brother."
"Captain, you don't need to bribe me. I can see the wayt o help you and that there is nothign technically wrong with you. Keeping you hear is only doing more harm than good anyway."
"And Admiral, you can then give me the consent to be released."
"Now hold on just a minute now" Said Pike leaning forward. "Your expecting me to break the law an dlet you back out into the galaxy without a cleanbill of health."
"Admiral, with all due respect" butted in Samiz. "Ryan is perfetly fit. he has passed all of his tests while staying here and there is nothign physically wrong with him. Stress was the problem because of all that he had been through. My honest medical opinion is that there is no point in keeping him here any longer."
"Pike looked at the trill, then at Ryan. "How fast can you ok him?" he asked turning back to Samiz.
"I can do it when I get back to Starfleet Medical."
"Do it. As soon as it is done, inform me and I will give my consent."
"Now if that is all, I have some strings to pull. Dismissed."
Ryan and Samiz left Pikes office.
"Thank you again Samiz" said Ryan as he gave her a hug
"It's ok.... Captain" she
said with a smile