Capernum: After Affects

Posted on Wed Aug 27th, 2025 @ 11:12pm by Captain Sean Loewen {Meji} & Lieutenant JG Ken Kudo {Meji} & Lieutenant Lenore (Len) Holbrook

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: USS Capernum
Timeline: Current

ON:

Kudo came to once more, and as his eyes and mind adjusted to consciousness, he realized he was on his right side. At that angle all he could see was a rather feminine belly in a blue top, his eyes moving upwards to see Doctor Holbrook standing over him tapping at a medical PADD. He could feel the pressure of someone working on his left shoulder and back. That was when he realized he was shirtless, and that he was under the ministrations of the Sickbay staff. Ken made to turn his head to look over his left shoulder to see what was being done, his neck was sore but not overly painful so he winced even as he met the blue-eyed gaze of a medical officer, probably a nurse, with forceps in hand. Blonde hair done up in braids to keep it out of the way while working, Caucasian, and a pleasant smile as she looked at him.

"Welcome back, Lieutenant," she said with the endearing smile. "Don't mind me, just getting burnt uniform off your skin with these plasma burns. Local anesthetic."

"Okay," Kudo said, returning a grin. His eyes went back up to Holbrook and noted that she had stopped reading her PADD and was now looking down at him. "Hello, Doctor."

"Hello Mr. Kudo. How are you feeling?" Holbrook asked him.

"Like I got sunburned and then ran over by a troupe of Clydesdales," Ken responded. His mind immediately went for the ultimate question. "Captain Taavis, is she...is she deceased?"

Holbrook looks into his eyes and gave a nod. "Yes, it has been confirmed. Captain Loewen has already made a shipwide announcement."

Kudo closed his eyes for a moment in sorrow, then pushing that aside he opened them again. "I saw Loewen holding her before I lost consciousness. I could tell that..." he paused a few seconds. "I could tell she was gone."

As Kudo was saying that, Captain Loewen entered Sickbay, stopped in a briefing room to use the replicator to make him a new tunic. His old one had Taavis's blood on it and he did not want to carry that around any longer. Now, in a fresh top, he stopped and glanced around. In a far end of Sickbay were six bodies, covered by blankets over their faces. On the other end, one body so covered. Taking a breath as he saw Len and Kudo he went over to them even as he noted there were others still being seen to over the manifold explosion. "Doctor, Ken." Sean gave them each a nod hello as he stopped next to Len and next to the bed. "Glad to see you will recover, Lieutenant Kudo. I was hoping you wouldn't be lost, too."

"Thank you, Sir." Kudo said, his eyes seeing the four pips for actual captain.

Loewen then looked to Len. "I take it all his burns and wounds can be mended without any scar tissue, Doctor Holbrook?"

Holbrook looked at Loewen. "Once the nurse is done getting his uniform off of his skin, I'll be able to start treating his burns. As for scars, even with the dermal regenerator there is still a chance that they may scar." She stated.

Ken gave a throaty chuckle. "I'll take mild scarring over being dead. It's on my back and shoulder so not open to view on most occasions."

Sean smiled at that. "True. When Len clears you for light duty you can man the Bridge Engineering post for a while until she feels you can return to normal duties." Loewen reached a nonchalant hand out to pat/rub Len's back briefly. His only show of affection he would allow himself at this time. The nurse working over Ken's back had clammed up and was very focused ever since a captain came into the conversation. When she glanced up at Sean he gave her a grin and a wink which seemed to have an immediate effect on her state of mind. Her shoulders relaxed and she gave a grin in return.

"Oh, and Len?" Sean said. "We'll be moving again. Admiral Stone put Capernum under my command, and as you can all see, promoted me to captain. Sheyla will need our old stateroom as she is now Number One."

Len's eyes narrow slightly before giving a nod. "Of course. Once it slows down here, I'll coordinate with Operations to get it done."

Sean caught the eye play from Len, but was not sure if it was what he said, or that he winked and smiled at the nurse. It was subtle but there. Len had no worries since what he had done was a simple gesture to show the nurse that he was not going to bite her head off just because. "I'll send them a note, as well."

Ken saw a moment of pause from the Doctor, as if she had been miffed for a split second at something. Her eyes never came his way over it so he figured it was between the Captain and Doctor, and possibly the nurse the Captain had winked at. Situational awareness was his meat and drink. "Are we going to have a ceremony of any kind in regards to the lost, Captain?"

"We will," Loewen said. "I'll have Number One consult with their closest friends and see what they come up with. As for Taavis, we'll say our words for her too, but anything else I will leave to Lieutenant T'Pri. She is Vulcan and knows what must be done in regards to their culture."

Kudo, to include Len, looked at her. "What about you, Doctor Holbrook? Did you know any of them? If you don't mind, when you will let me get up and move, I would like to enact a Shinto ceremony for them, here in Sickbay when things calm down."

Len shook her head. "I only knew Captain Taavis. You are more than welcome to enact a Shinto ceremony. I welcome anything that will promote healing, whether it be physical or spiritual."

"Thank you, Doctor." Ken said. "It won't be lengthy, just a way to honor their sacrifice. After which, I will pray for them in the chapel."

Loewen gave a nod to that. "Thank you for reminding me, Ken. It has been a while since I bent the knee. High time I did so. You just rest and mend, Lieutenant, you've had a rough day."

The nurse finished getting the burned uniform off of Ken. Len grabbed the dermal regenerationator and moved to the otherside of the biobed and got busy treating his back.

Seeing she was going to be busy for a while, Loewen knew that his presence was not needed here in Sickbay at this time. "You two will be busy for a while," Sean said. "I need to see to the rest of the ship. I'll come back and visit around dinner time." After saying that Loewen casually left Sickbay.

Kudo watched his back until he was gone, noting that the Doctor was being very quiet. Whether it was because of what she was doing, or whatever had bothered her earlier, he was not sure. He could only imagine how Ro would take the news of his being wounded in an explosion which had also caused the death of one of her best friends. But, this was the life of service. Deciding to breach a particular subject Ken spoke up. "I'm a bit anxious," Kudo started saying. "When Captain Green hears the news of all this I wonder what her reactions will be." Maybe Len would open up about whatever was bothering her beyond the dead lying around her sanctum.

"It is normal to feel anxious. I'm sure that Captain Green is already aware of what happened, because there was a disturbance in the Force when the explosion happened. So she is probably already on her way." She said as she continued working on his back. "I have seen enough death to last a lifetime and I try to keep people from experiencing that before their time, and sometimes it's not enough."

Since Kudo had been laying on his more-or-less uninjured right side, he used his right arm to force himself up into a sitting position. He winced and hissed in pain a few times before he got fully upright, feet dangling off his side of the bed as his back was still to the Doctor. "In my experience," he was saying as he got upright. "We can deal with death better but it never gets easier. This is the third time since joining Starfleet that I have seen people die. A ship captain, though, that was new."

"I wish I could say that it's the first time I have seen a Captain die." She let's out a small sigh. "It's just not how I would have wanted Sean making Captain again."

Part of the truth had come out, but Kudo would not focus on that. Letting her speak about things in her own way was best at times like this. "I can see your point. It was thrust upon him suddenly." This time Kudo focused his willpower and pain tolerance, looking over his shoulder at her and twisting his torso. It caused him pain but he did not show it; refused to. "He will need your strength more than ever, Lenore, in the days to come. Ro is my anchor, and she listens when I have things to get off my chest. She does not offer advice at such times, simply listens and lets me know she will always be there, no matter what. I do the same for her. We are two who have become one." He finally gave her a friendly grin. "Sorry, the Japanese philosophy got long-winded." He turned his face back to the front.

Len let out a small laugh. "It's alright, I like Japanese philosophy. The scrutiny of dating the XO less than that of dating a Captain, and moving into new quarters after having just finished unpacking is not helping."

Ken smiled on his side, looking at the empty bed across from himself as he responded. "Ah-ha. I knew you had a few things bothering you with all the sudden news. Tell you what. When I'm good enough to move around I'll help you guys get moved and settled. Least I can do for a CMO with great bedside manner." A moment passed as a different kind of smile crossed his face. "I hope you're right about one thing, though."

"That would be great, thank you. What is the one thing?" She asks.

"I really do hope Ro is on her way," Ken admitted, even giving a chuckle at how giddy he felt just thinking about it. He truly loved that woman. "She's pregnant with our first child. Ro wanted to name her Yui, so that's the name we're going with." Whatever the Doctor was doing to his back he could feel that a goodly portion of the pain was subsiding. He lifted his arms up and stretched them outward, turning and twisting his torso and shoulders slightly. Yep, there was a significant drop in the pain from moving around. He dropped his arms. "Sorry for that. I'm already feeling a difference in my pain level with your treatment."

"I'm glad that the pain is subsiding. It should only be a few more minutes. Congratulations on the baby." She said.

"Thanks," Kudo responded. "You should know, Doctor, Ro thinks the world of you. Ever since you became Force sensitive as she calls it. Anyway, after that discovery she brings you up randomly during our evening chats. Sean, too. There must really be something to this Meji Order. It has a lot of the same philosophy as the Bushido Code I live by as a Samurai descendant. Just thought you should know." He looked over his shoulder with a friendly smile.

"There is still alot for me to learn about the Force and being Force sensitive. But so far it been good. I also think the world of Ro." She said as she finished repairing the burns on his back.

When the Doctor gave him the motion to go ahead and stand, Kudo did so with some caution, just to make sure any other wounds would not hinder him or cause him to fall. Once on his feet he discovered there were still many sore spots, but as for his back and shoulder being burned, they were as good as could be. "That feels so much better. Thank you." He turned to be able to look at Holbrook when he spoke. "Never stop training, Len. Practice makes perfect and katas and the like keep you sharp. Ro and I often duel with katanas in the holodeck, to keep her swordsmanship agile and quick." Ken then made a motion to a replicator. "Do you mind if I make a new couple of shirts? Unless we're not done, of course."

"Go right ahead. I'll clear you for light duty." She gave him a smile while picking up her PADD to input data.

Kudo took a minute to order himself his shirts, his measurements in the system. He put on the undershirt and then the overshirt/tunic, tucking and straightening as he went. He stepped back over near to Len. "Thanks, Doctor. I'm going to head to my quarters for a shower. Let me know when you want me to return for a check-up, or further testing. I'll be here stat."

"I'll see you in two days, anytime during alpha shift. Don't do anything too strenuous." She said before giving him a wave.

Giving a nod and smile, Ken Kudo departed Sickbay.

OFF:

Captain Sean Loewen
Commanding Officer
USS Capernum

Lieutenant JG Ken Kudo
Asst. Chief Engineer
USS Capernum

Lieutenant Lenore Holbrook
Chief Medical Officer
USS Capernum