Obsidian Ressurection

by T J Bryan

  Abel rushed to the injured young man who had fallen on the dais. As he approached it was clear that the young man's legs were shattered, but his rebreather and O2 bottle were still intact and functioning. He was out cold and would need immediate attention but that would have to wait for EmVac and EMS.

  After ensuring that the young man would probably survive until EmVac arrived, Abel quickly scanned the room to see that everyone had their rebreather activated. It appeared that several assembly members were attending to Larry. But one person lay in agony having failed to activate his rebreather and that person was Piet. Somehow Piet had been caught unaware and his reaction time insufficient. Perhaps he had been hit and stunned by a flying object. Piet was gasping for air that was not there.

  Abel ran to the passageway behind the dais and the aft hatch and grabbed an emergency rebreather from the bracket next to the hatch. Elvira Turgis was also taking one to assist someone Abel had not seen. Abel raced back to Piet. He was turning blue and his eyes were bloodshot and bulging, his face puffy and his stomach beginning to distend. Abel fitted the rebreather and activated the 02 bottle. Less than two minutes had elapsed since the breech. As he knelt next to Piet the first EmVac crew arrived and began moving into the assembly hall.

  Abel again checked on Piet's status. He looked a lot better, but still was struggling. Abel's main worry was that Piet would vomit and obstruct his airway, and without an atmosphere he could not remove the hood to clear his throat. This was going to be close he thought.

  Abel felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and there stood two EmVac crew in brand new military grade Greayson vac-suits. On the chest of one suit was a strip of white tape and written on it 'Farn Mayer - Police Cadet'. Abel stepped back knowing that Piet would probably survive. He gave Farn a salute, looked about the room, turned, and headed toward the forward hatch. Abel's place was at the station house organizing the rescue and recovery. Kids grew up fast in a vacuum.

  Chapter Eight

  Jamon System - ER, Collegium Hospital - Year 3245. May 27 ET: 02:32

  After an hour the EmVac and Emergency Medical Services had completed their rescue work and Habitat Maintenance had begun work on repairing the blow-out. The long deferred maintenance on the Tellford Wall could be deferred no longer and the availability of Greayson vac-suits now made a major overhaul possible for the first time in over a century.

  Abel was exhausted but before heading home and to bed he walked the short distance to the Collegium and the Medical Facility. The Collegium maintained the only Hospital in the Jamon system although emergency medical clinics followed each mining operation as they moved from asteroid to asteroid. In addition the Habitat maintained three district level urgent care facilities. The Collegium Hospital had the most advanced medical facilities in the system and the Collegium maintained the Medical School.

  Abel entered room three of the Emergency Department as Dr. Freydis Auber, Surgeon Bjorn Haverson, and their medical assistants and surgical team were speaking with Sigrid and Gunnar Nillson, Larrys' parents.

  Dr. Auber was speaking as Abel entered, "The thoracic injuries are massive and we simply do not have the skill ..." Dr. Auber looked up and nodded to Abel. "Larry's condition is grave. He is in an induced coma, but we cannot stop the bleeding, and the damage to his liver, and numerous lung punctures. One of these injuries would be serious enough, but all three and those we have yet to uncover..." Dr. Auber looked at Surgeon Haverson. Dr. Auber paused for a long moment. "It's time Bjorn. It's time."

  Bjorn looked briefly at Larry's comatose body and then carefully at the vid screens lining the wall. "Yes," Bjorn agreed, turned, and left the room.

  Sigrid was crying and Abel could detect real fear in Gunnar's eyes. Sigrid was a stay at home mom and Gunnar a hardened miner who never displayed emotion. However Larry was their only child and they were clearly overcome with emotion.

  "Sigird, Gunnar," said Dr. Auber, "There is a new, and untried procedure, or perhaps new method is a better term. As Larry's guardians only you can approve our use of this unproven approach to Larry's condition. It may well save Larry, but the risks are high and the outcome is simply uncertain ..." Her voice trailed off momentarily.

  Sigrid looked up, "If it has only a slight chance of saving Larry..." Gunnar nodded his head in hope.

  "All right Sigrid and Gunnar, but you must understand the risks and agree to our attempts in saving Larry's life. The risk is great, but the risk of doing nothing is simply that Larry will die... probably before morning."

  "Yes Doctor," Gunnar replied. I'll sign anything. Just get started." Unable to control his emotions Gunner began to sob uncontrollably. Sigrid wrapped her arm around Gunnar's waste and whispered to him and Gunnar regained some modicum of self control.

  Dr. Auber explained the procedure, describing the risks in what Abel thought was exquisite detail, too much detail in fact. The procedure involved a new process, new technology, and new methods.

  The explanation took almost twenty minutes and Dr. Auber showed enormous patience with the Nillson's questions. Larry moaned and began to move his arms. A nurse reached for an injector. As she reached for the IV fluids line she injected drugs. "Do you need more Morphius Mr. Nillson?" she asked after the injection had been completed. Larry returned to a motionless and an unconscious state.

  At that moment Sigrid said, "No more talk. Get on with it. Save my son."

  A patient coordinator and advocate whom Abel vaguely knew as Hilde escorted the Nillson's out of the room and toward the admitting desk to sign papers authorizing the 'experimental' procedure.

  "I'd like you to witness this Chief. Bjorn has gone ahead and set up the 'doc-in-a-box' we retrieved six days ago from the supply ship. This will be our second chance to try it on a living patient. We have spent five days practicing its' use, but it is still new to all of us."

  Abel nodded and wondered what Auber meant by 'second chance' but decided not to ask.

  Soon Larry was placed gingerly upon a slider gurney and taken down the hallway and through several locks and hatches and into a large very bright operating room. Instead of the usual operating theatre equipment there in the middle of the room sat the 'doc-in-a box.' Unlike the one on the frigate this one was powered up, lights flashing, and a faint smell of something medical.

  The 'doc in a box' resembled nothing more that a one meter wide by three meter long cylinder , the center portion of which was clear, and looked like glass or plasticene. At each end was a silver looking cap about half a meter in length. On one cap was a control panel with keyboard and a large vid screen. Along the bottom of the clear cylinder was what looked like a mesh hammock. Surgeon Bjorn was standing next to the silver end cap of the almost three meter tube that formed the machine. Bjorn was examining a vid screen carefully, but as Larry was brought in, Bjorn turned to Auber. "We're ready."

  The gurney was brought parallel to the glass portion of the unit. Bjorn typed in several commands and the glass cylinder split enough to move Larry's body into the machine and on to the mesh hammock. Moments later the cylinder closed. Bjorn reached for several control switches and typed in a command. "Diagnostics," he said. The center portion of the machine began to hum and Abel noticed a flickering light passing through the chamber as if examining every part of Larry. The light made three passes and then the control panel chimed and the vid screen came alive with text and pictures.

  "Diagnostics complete," said Bjorn as Auber stepped closer to read the display. She took a moment.

  Dr. Auber spoke, "We have no time to lose Dr. Haverson. Proceed."

  Bjorn reached up to a button that Abel saw had the ominous word 'Execute' written on it. Bjorn depressed the button and for a moment nothing happened.

  Then the unit began to hum in a low pitch that gradually rose in both frequency and volume. The glass tube was bathed in a blueish actinic light not unlike what Abel knew flowed from the event horizon of a black hole. The tube filled with a vapour that obscured Larry's body, but as Abel
stepped closer he could still see Larry's form. Moments later, from both end caps extended dozens if not hundreds of slender mechanical arms each holding various mechanisms that to Abel looked strange and dangerous. He had no idea of their individual function except that they all began to operate simultaneously. The mist filling the tube increased and soon Abel was no longer able to see Larry's body."

  "Now we wait," said Bjorn to no one in particular. An hour went by and then another. Abel, Auber, and Bjorn were startled by the sound of the machine's chime and now streaming vid screen. Bjorn turned to the screen and Auber almost pushed him away in the rush to read the prognosis.

  Auber sighed and read from the display, "Prognosis good. 93% full recovery. Six days bed rest. Return for secondary examination in 18 hours. Seven days of rehabilitation in the exercise section. Instructions to follow." Moments later a sheaf of papers were ejected from the control end cap. "Rehab instructions," commented Auber as she reached for the papers and read from the first page.

  Bjorn could not suppress a smile, but Abel noted that Dr. Auber was deep in thought, a puzzled look upon her face.

  Dr. Auber looked up at Abel. "Chief perhaps you can talk some sense into him?"

  "Who?" asked Abel in confusion.

  "Piet Peters... Were about to amputate his son's legs. Wain Peters, he's the one who fell from the gallery. If we don't act soon he may well die. No, he will die unless we amputate his legs at the hip."

  Abel felt ill at the thought of amputation. He had seen a young man fall from the high ceiling of the Council Chambers crashing on to a table and then the ceramacret floor, but had never thought that it would be Piet Peters' son.

  "Come," said Dr. Auber not giving Able a chance to reply. "Piet is the recovery area and he won't listen to reason. He's a stubborn old coot. Perhaps he will listen to you. He won't listen to Bjorn or myself."

  They entered a dimly lit recovery ward with perhaps a dozen beds. Abel recognized Piet in the third one down from the hatch on the left. All the beds were occupied by this evening's blow-out victims and most of the occupants were sleeping. Two were playing cards so Abel knew they were just under observation.

  Piet lay quiet but clearly awake and watching the room carefully as if he were auditing a set of complex financials. Abel thought to himself Piet is probably looking for waste, fraud, and abuse in the hospital.

  As Dr. Auber and Abel approached Piets' bed he sat up. "And what do you want?" There was anger in Piets' always controlled voice. "I told you no. I will not allow that ancient gizmo anywhere near my child. You will not, I repeat NOT, use that unproven crazy contrivance on Wain."

  Piet was furious and his face, moments ago pale, now became bright red.

  Dr. Auber spoke, "Mr. Peters I know that the new equipment works. We have proven that it is effective in the most complex of operations."

  Piet rolled over away from Abel and Dr. Auber. "Never. If you even try I'll have you up on charges. Malpractice, dereliction, incompetence. Never."

  Dr Auber looked frustrated. "Perhaps you can talk some sense into him. I seem to have failed."

  Before Abel could form a sentence Piet rolled back. Fixing his stare on Abel. Piet screamed, "Never. I'll ask you to arrest this charlatan if she even dares. Never."

  Abel realized that Piet was probably unaware of who had saved his life. The stress of decompression and short term oxygen starvation often erased trauma and short term memory. It could also cause extreme agitation.

  Dr. Auber spoke again, "In that case Mr. Peters we must amputate both legs. At the hip. If we don't operate now you son will not survive."

  Piet unlocked his gaze from Abel and turned to Dr. Auber. "Amputation? If that's what is required then you have my permission. I'm no fool. I know a bit of medicine having audited this hospital many times. Yes, if that's the only way then it must be done."

  Abel could see that Dr. Auber was not giving up easily.

  Auber spoke slowly and carefully. "Mr. Peters we have successfully used the new machine once with a full and complete recovery. This evening we used it a second time with a 93% prognosis of recovery from a catastrophic crushing injury. I have high confidence as does Chief Surgeon Haverson that we may well save your son's legs."

  Abel expected Piet to go ballistic, but instead he asked, "A full recovery? How do you know."

  Dr. Auber replied "We are trained and experienced medical practitioners. We know."

  Piet became intensely focused on Dr.Auber. "So you used this malefaction of a machine already? Did the Collegium authorize its' use. Was the victim notified of the risks, and how can you be certain of the outcome?"

  Auber was about to reply when Piet continued, "I know your type Doctor. Reckless. Negligent. Harebrained. If you ran that ancient appliance on some unwitting poor slob who had no choice in the matter, I see you striped of your medical license. In fact unauthorized surgery by that contraption is nothing less than attempted murder. Abel, you heard that. Your my witness. I'm going to charge you Auber! The Medical Committee will hear of this and I am certain, no positive, they will pull your license for unauthorized, unproven, and insane use of that thing. Your no Doctor."

  Mr. Peters', Auber replied. "The first patient was myself. Brain cancer. Inoperable. Less than two months to live. Today there is no sign of the disease. And yes, the operation was unauthorized but after study of the machine I finally had some hope. I stand here before you cured."

  Abel was stunned. Piet's anger had not subsided. In fact he seemed to become even more angry.

  "Ill have you up on charges I will. This is madness. Malpractice. Heal thyself physician," Piet shouted.

  The irony of Piets' outburst was not missed on either Abel or Dr. Auber.

  "Go away. Amputate if you must. But I will not authorize that decrepit old tool anywhere near my son." Piet was spent. He slumped into his pillow, his breathing shallow. He was exhausted.

  Abel sighed and then spoke, "Let him rest Dr. Auber. There is nothing we can do to convince him and you and Bjorn need to begin the amputation".

  Without reply Dr. Auber turned and left the room.

  Chapter Nine

  Jamon System - ES Station - Year 3245. May 28 ET: 17:15

  Abel had arrived at the ES station having slept late for the first time in two weeks. Inventory flights by the Quark had been reduced to one a day with Lennie and Sivi alternating the pilot's responsibilities. This also gave Helen enough time to rotate the inventory volunteers so that they remained fresh.

  Abel had been sitting and working through a pile of paperwork for four hours. The red tape seemed to grow exponentially now that the State of Emergency hit its' second week. As he put his inter-tab down his vid-com chimed. It was Helen from SAR 1033 asking him to join her at the ship. Emmit Wong had taken a break from his frustrating duties as Chairman of the Ship Design Committee and was waiting in the SAR as well.

  As Abel entered the last air lock hatch to enter Mining Dock One he was joined in the passage by Farn Mayer freshly decked out in here immaculate Police Cadet's uniform. Farn smartly saluted Abel and smiled. Abel did not really appreciate the formality of salutes and quasi military bearing, but Farn deserved a return salute. Abel was about to complement Farn on her rescue efforts in the Council blow-out, but decided that praise was not needed. Farn's face was filled with pride and Abel's return salute was all the praise she needed.

  "I'm the relief for Officer Reiter sir." Farn said. "It's my rotation on a two hour shift at the SAR 1033.

  Abel noted that Farn was clutching a thermos, a school inter-tab, and was carrying an enormous oversize overcoat. The hatch cycled open and they stepped onto the cold deck, frost forming from their breath. Farn paused a moment and wrestled with the overcoat. Abel reached out and tugged one arm into place. They resumed their walk to the SAR not more than one hundred meters away. As they approached Officer Reiter rose from her chair and greeted Abel and Farn. "All is quiet. Professors Wong and Rebbha are aboard as well as Silvi Karrlson. They ar
rived together at the beginning of my shift almost two hours ago."

  Reiter stood and walked toward the deck exit hatch and Farn sat in the scuffed plastic folding chair, adjusted her overcoat, and pulled out her inter-tab. "Got calculus homework to finish." She smiled and began to work on her problem set for school.

  Abel paused and looked carefully at the open hatch. Someone had hung a small rope tied into an impossible knot on the hatch. Culture thought Abel, as old ways never really die. A thick power distribution cord led from a dock bulkhead wall and snaked its' way across the deck and into the open hatch of 1033 and further into the ship's passageway. Off to one side Abel could see the blue labelled atmosphere umbilical firmly attached to the receiver on the SAR. Next to it lay an unattached yellow labelled power distribution connector. The ship was unpowered. Abel did no like open hatches and every child raised on the Habitat was trained to compulsively close an open hatch, but without power aboard no one would be able to work examining the ship without light and fans to circulate the air. Abel stepped through the hatch and turned left at the passage way of 'B' deck leading to the ladder to the bridge. The power cable snaked its' way along the passage punctuated every few feet by bright light globes which illuminated the ship but in a harsh light with sharp dark shadows. Within moments Abel reached what they had begun to call the 'B' deck 'roundabout' and climbed the ladder to the bridge. As he entered the bridge he noted Helen and Emmitt sitting before what was the environment station. On the small desk below the dead and inactive display there were several hard copy folio's and some colorful plastic cards. Some kind of 'cheat sheet' Abel thought.