SD241909.30 || Joint Log || "Stranger in a Strange Land"

Posted on 30 Sep 2019 @ 9:16pm by Lieutenant Commander Finley Bell III

652 words; about a 3 minute read

=/\= Begin Log =/\=

A long while into their newly-exhausting trek, the trio plus extra took a break.

While the ensign went off to do...whatever it was she did and the petty officer went off to stretch and just get a break, this left the patient with the doctor he had no idea he had. It wasn't long after they stopped, however, that the man began to slowly wake up. He groaned a little...

Lieutenant Commander Bell shot a look at his patient. Patient. This was a young man they were just dragging around. Without equipment, or supplies, Finley was not much more than an observer who could more accurately guess when the victim might die. So far he hadn't been holding out much help for the young man. He had taken a savage beating, fell unconscious, and stayed that way for a day. Finley knew there must be swelling in his brain and without medical intervention this condition was likely to leave him with some permanent damage.

"Wh-where are am I?" Jimmy asked groggily, half-mumbling his words because his split lip hurt a lot.

"I can't rightly say, son. You're away from your attackers. We've been walking and have carried you with us. Can you remember anything?" Finley asked.

He slowly worked his eyes open, although one didn't open very well. Jimmy looked around and realized he was laying down. There was a man next to him, looking down at him, but he had no idea who the man was. This stranger had asked him something, but it didn't even sink in. "Who are you?"

"I'm here to hep. As much as I can anyways. I'm a doctor. Doctor Bell." Finley said.

"A doctor? I didn't..." Jimmy groaned as he tried to move. "I didn't even know we had any of those left 'round here. Thought they'd all run off."

"Oh, I did run off. I did. But, here I am. Like an old penny." Finley held up his finger in front of the man's eyes. "Follow my finger with your eyes," he told him. Finley moved his finger back and forth in front of his face. "Why were those people attacking you?" Finley asked.

Jimmy tried to follow the finger like he was told, but it made his head hurt and he winced. He took a breath and blew it out softly. "I found some stuff that they wanted. It's not exactly a nice place around here. We've been hit a lot lately. Stuff is scarce."

Finley thought back to the vial of...well he wasn't quite sure what was in the vial. The things typically stored in vials were limited, however. "Stuff, right. Got it. Well, we took care of them and you'll likely live. Doubt you'll be joining the debate team, but you'll live." Finley said.

"More than I could've said before you found me, I think," Jimmy managed with a feeble smile, which faded after a moment. "By the way... What's wrong with your friend over there?"

"Well, she got hit on the head too," Finley replied. He looked over at the Ensign. "She got hit on the head a whole lot." he continued. "We need somewhere to go. We need supplies, and communication equipment. Ideally we'd find some medical supplies for you. Know anywhere like that?" Finley asked.

At that, the Earth native laughed weakly. "Like I said, stuff is scarce. I mean all stuff. Even food and clean water." He let out a long sigh. "There may be a place, I've heard about it, but it's not close. And it could all be a lie."

"Oh, one of those. Got it. That's swell. How about this, do you know any big war lords or drug kingpins? You know the kind of guy I'm talking about?" Finley asked.

"No." Jimmy frowned. "They're all in the military now."

"Go back to fucking sleep, Jimmy." Finley replied.

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