Implant removal day (backpost)

Posted on Wed Apr 26th, 2023 @ 2:15pm by Lieutenant Commander Isabelle Savette & Lieutenant Kell Asaa Dr

904 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Investigate the Chintoka Shipyard Buildup
Location: USS Blackeagle - Main Sickbay
Timeline: Prior to the staff meeting and departure

Kell seemed finally satisfied with the setup and looked down at Isabelle. "Keeping you conscious will give me realtime feedback if something's not right. My planning should mean the most you should feel is a slight tug now and then, but any actual sensation I need to know about.

"Then, once we've removed everything I can, I'll take a look at the others. I need to get a look, other than the scans, then we can discuss those. How's that sound so far kiddo? You ready for this?"

Isabelle nodded. “I am more than ready, hopefully there won’t be any problems removing anything. I guess I should say I’m nervous though.” She offered a brief smile.

Fortunately Kell had mastered the "Doctor's Positive Outlook" maneuver... the DPO had gotten her, and her patients, through a lot of harrowing procedures. She had a feeling this one wouldn't be too traumatic, beyond where it was already, but the ones buried deep inside the counselor might be another matter entirely.

Kell smiled. "No worries. Just pretend I do this every week! You can watch the ones in front, and watch the monitor for the ones you can't see."

The doctor started with one hand, working back along the arm. She would palpate an implant to assess its mass and connection, separate it micron by micron, some dermoskin to sooth the site, drop the implant in a pan nearby, then on to the next one. Alternately she'd glance at Isabelle's face to gauge if she could feel anything, or any pain as she progressed.

"One down, 20 more to go... How you doing so far?"

Isabelle nodded. “So far so good.” She smiled. “I’m just glad these are inert.”

"I agree. This won't take too long, I'm just taking more time, just in case, and making sure you're in no discomfort as we go... That's two..."

Kell feels fortunate that of all the dermal implants, only one proved troublesome, but that was more to do with location than any real issue. She closed up the small container that would ensure the implants posed no further threat. Rubbing a little balm on the last site, Kell looked over at Isabelle. "Not going to sleep on me are you?"

Isabelle stifled a yawn. “Not quite” She grinned. “That’s all the external implants done? What about the ones that you said were still showing signs of activity?”

Kell smiled and nodded. "Affirmative my friend, your epidermis is now clean of imperfections." The smile subsided.

Kell turned the big monitor so it was facing Isabelle and she stepped next to her head as she viewed it. Kell keyed up the scan of her upper spine and cranial cavity. "That was the good news... and I don't know if this is bad news, exactly, but the good news is they're not acting like Shon's, and they're not building anything, like an explosive.

"But... they are not inert like the ones I removed. These have some separate purpose than the other implants. It could be they were setting up the communications network for the implants on the outside, but at present they weren't connected to any of them. They're almost dormant, but not totally... Do you have any inner inkling as to what they're doing? Any motor or cognitive function that seems to be tingling or triggered but you didn't consciously initiate?"

Isabelle looked at what Kell was showing her. “I honestly don’t know, I’ve encountered ex-b’s before one person I know has adapted nanites that keep her implants in working order. She doesn’t even need to regenerate. Maybe these nanites are maintaining what’s left?”

Kell nodded. "That's very possible. I've got you monitored, but if you feel any change, let me know. The closer we keep an eye on these buggers, the more we'll know as we go. Right now, removing them would be very delicate, and that's only if they cooperate. If they get agitated, then that would seriously complicate matters. I do have my medical ways, so if we deem it an emergency, I can put you, and them, in a suspended state to do the procedure. But if you're comfortable for now, we can let the monitor accumulate enough data for an accurate prognosis."

Isabelle nodded. “I always wondered how ex-b’s felt, I guess this gives me a fraction of an idea of what it’s like. Those inside of Dex communicated with me, but I’ve had no such communication with what’s left inside of me.”

"That's what I was expecting from the information we have. If you feel like lifting cargo containers or shuttles by yourself, come see me before you move your planters around." Kell tries to put Isabelle at ease.

Isabelle grinned a wry grin. “You’ll be the first to know if I feel like Wonder Woman!”

"HOOYAH!" Kell tried to lower her voice to sound like one of the SF Marines...

Isabelle couldn’t help but laugh. “Thank you Kell, I appreciate all your help. Am I free to get back to my duties?”

Kell nodded. "Yes, Ms Savette. You are free to counsel to your heart's content. Just come see me if you think anything is off."

“I promise!” Isabelle nodded and smiled, before she hopped down off the biobed and headed for the door. She had work to catch up on.

{OFF}

 

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