"And what brings you to medical, human?"
"I took my particle mask off when I should have left it on. That was, uh, five days ago? I'm pretty sure I've coughed up all the stuff I inhaled, since the phlegm isn't pointy any more, but I'm still coughing, and my lungs itch. I would have waited longer to bother you about it, but I've been kinda short of breath today, so I thought I'd come in before it got any worse." -- Anon Guest
Humans are terrible at following essential safety rules, even when it calls for their own safety. Survivors and escapees of Greater Deregulations even more so. Those desperate enough to escape Deregger space were obsessed with not being a bother on pain of being thrown back to the maelstrom from whence they sprang.
Medik Phrak concentrated on staying calm and amenable. "Thank you for coming in before we needed to drag you in," she said. "It's no trouble to make sure something isn't bad before it gets bad. I would much rather be certain something's not a problem before it could become a problem. You Humans keep saying 'a stitch in time saves nine'. Little helps preserve you from bigger helps. Yes?"
"Er. Yeah. But... I didn't think it did me any damage. I felt fine afterwards." This was the same kind of argument that helped the spread of long-incubation, high-infection diseases back in the pre-Shattering era of Terran history.
"Pretty sure is still not absolutely sure," said Medik Phrak. "That's why I'm here. Let's have a look." Even the most preliminary scans told her that there had already been an amazing amount of damage to the lungs and the finest buzzsaw particulates had invaded Human Kims alveoli and body repair nanites were needed, as well as seek-eliminate ones programmed for the pollution.
Fortunately, since this was becoming a pattern with Human Kim, Phrak had had the necessary treatments ready three days ago. Preparation had begun the instant Companion Zi had informed Phrak that Human Kim had skirted some important aspects of protocol again. They might have to herd Human Kim into the infirmary for checks and treatments post-mission if this kept going on. In fact, while Phrak was running the seek-eliminate nanites through Kim's lungs, she sent a proposal to new ships procedures for the sake of their Human.
"Congratulations," chirped Medik Phrak, hoping that sarcasm would get to the parts of Kims brain that common sense couldn't reach, "You were five hours away from a fatal pulmonary failure. You almost drowned in your own blood."
"Okay, okay. I'll try harder to stick to the rules."
"You always say that," sighed Phrak. "And yet you insist on doing silly, silly things."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / jonnysek]
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