For My Brothers - Part Two

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 2:38am by Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Yamaguchi-Solusar & Lieutenant Commander Toshnarr & Lieutenant JG Rachael "Ripcord" Yamaguchi-Cullen & Chief Warrant Officer Ryi "Taffy" Amlari
Edited on on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 2:43am

Mission: Mission 39: By Fire be Purged
Location: Various Locations - USS Roanoke
Timeline: 1000Hrs - August 2nd, 2391

Flight Tech First Class Rachael Yamaguchi smiled as she beheld the only Andorian woman on the ship she had come to know. "Hey Froststorm." she greeted her weakly. "I'm okay.... it looks worse then it actually is.." she smiled weakly up at the upset Shen. "Hey..." she said softly.

Ryi looked down at Rachael. "You don't know how happy I am to see you alive." Froststorm told Yamaguchi. She still looked like a burden was on her shoulders. "The of us pilots that were out of the hanger when it went up had to stay in the Dreamcrusher's lounge." Ryi explained. She then let out a worried sigh. "They still have not released any real information on casualties. I don't know who made it out and who we lost."

Rachael gently took the other woman's hand. "You and me both Ryi." Rachael shifted her position so Froststorm could sit down. "I don't know who we lost... but I know the casualty count is sixty plus with another three hundred wounded.." Rachael explained. "I know that because one of my siblings helped treat the wounded."

Froststorm grimaced. "I haven't heard anything from Eight Ball or any of my old flight mates. I am worried about them. I would try and talk to Toshnarr about it but I'm sure he is up to his eyes with wounded." Ryi told Rachael.

Rachael looked at Ryi as she sighed softly. "Ryi.... Toshnarr... he's... he's in intensive care... he was very badly burned.. a lot of her skin was scorched... second and third-degree burns.." a sigh escaped her lips. "Elizabeth is devastated."

Froststorm shook her head. "No, I think you are mistaken. Toshnarr is a medical assistant and not a rescue. He wouldn't have been in the pod." Ryi disbelieving what Rachael told her.

Rachael looked at Ryi. "No... he was up there..." she responded softly. "He saved forty-something people by himself... bringing wounded to the transport site and he himself was rescued by Fives. He saved Phoenix and Leadfoot.." Rachael explained. "Elizabeth told me.. She was the one who triaged him.."

Ryi stood silent for a moment and then bit her lower lip. "Where is he, Rachael?" She asked in a shaky voice.

Rachael gently placed her hand on the Andorian Shen's shoulder. "He's alive... After a fashion... But he's in intensive care." she paused. "He was very badly burned."

"Thank you, Rachael." Froststorm replied before getting up and rapidly leaving in search of Toshnarr. She wasn't familiar with the way sickbay was set up. It took her some frantic searching to find the intensive care ward. A nurse spotted her and threatened to call security on her but she ignored the nurse.

She rounded the corner in intensive care. "Toshnarr?" she weakly asked.

Elizabeth Yamaguchi came over as she regarded the Andorian woman with a smile. "You're in luck Ryi.," she commented. "He's alive but... he's getting ready to molt.. its a private and extremely personal event... usually attended by close family and friends..." she explained. "He had a mask on... which saved him from a very unpleasant fate.." she explained. "I can check on him and see if he is able to have visitors... but Gorn customs are quite specific. nobody is to see him... I will ask if he could make an exception for you."

"Thank you, Elizabeth," Froststorm answered. "I would like to see him."

"Alright this way." and with that Elizabeth turned and led the shorter Andorian woman as Elizabeth knocked on the door to one of the recovery rooms, from within came a soft rumble, Elizabeth opened the door as she peered in. "Toshnarr.. forgive the interruption... but Froststorm is asking to see you.."

Toshnarr stood, clad in a gown that covered him from neck to his clawed feet and his arms. "Certainly..." he rasped softly. "Let her in."

"Alright," Yamaguchi responded softly. "Were it anyone else-"

"We would not be having this conversation now... I understand." the massive Gorn responded as his skin slowly spider-webbed and the cracks were spreading. "Oooh, that looks like it hurts.."

"No more then anything else... I am sorry Ensign... "

"Right.." Elizabeth turned. "Toshnarr will see you... but his condition may cause you some distress... He's molting for lack of a better word.."

Toshnarr sighed softly as Elizabeth watched Ryi enter the room. "Contact me when you wish to leave..." before the medical officer closed the door behind her.

Toshnarr regarded the smaller Andorian standing before him as he stood before her, his skin looked blackened and charred, pitted and scorched, the spiderwebbing looked dry and cracked and underneath could be seen fresh medium green healthy skin. "Ryi, what are you doing here?" he paused. "You are aware of Gorn custom?" he inquired. "I will need assistance with this... Elizabeth would have sufficed but... you would be a far better choice.. considering our friendship."

"I would be honored Toshnarr." Froststorm replied. "I've never heard of this Gorn tradition. You'll have to help me through it."

"Its not something the Gorn casually speak of... " the massive Gorn admitted as he scratched at a chunk o dead skin which quickly fell away. "You'll basically help me peel off the dead skin.." he paused. "This is a task usually reserved for a family member... you are the closest one available." he paused a second time. "It can be somewhat disgusting... I apologize."

Ryi was, in fact, disgusted and not looking forward to this. Toshnarr, however, was her friend and separated from his own species. If he asked for her help she would try and provide. "Like I said big guy, I am honored you chose me to help you."

Toshnarr nodded as he sat down on the bed, within moments he began picking and peeling off fragments and chunks of his dead flesh.

A short time later, both his legs, arms and tail were clear of dead skin and now Toshnarr looked down at Ryi as she was working at his back, he was likewise working on his chest as another chunk came loose like a fruit being split, he let out a soft groan as he peeled off a chunk the size of two dinner plates together.

Ryi was clearly not comfortable peeling off Toshnarr's dead skin. It was awkward. The new skin didn't look like Toshnarr's old skin. She did it anyways to help her friend.

Toshnarr reached down as he peeled off the last chunk of dead skin. "Did you finish Ryi?" he asked.

Froststorm peeled off the last of the skin. She was trying very hard not to have a gag reflex from the burnt skin. "I'm done big guy. Are you in any pain?" she asked the Gorn.

"Computer increase ventilation and add a scent of air freshener... the scent in here is disgusting," Toshnarr commented softly before he began collecting a large amount of dead skin. "Soon.. this will be done and I can start the next chapter of my life.." he paused. "I will ask you to be gentle when you touch me... I have no armor now so my skin will be very soft." while the massive Gorn regarded the smaller Andorian female before him. "I will grow about a third of a foot larger before my skin thickens and the plates harden... Before the next cycle in about twenty-something years time." Toshnarr explained.