Upon Vestia: Chapter Twenty-Three

First topic message reminder :

"You have a tablet at least, right?" Asher asked Dawn.

Asher parked next to Kay and reached down to pat his shoulder. He was staying near Kay until the surgery was over.

~~
"True. Thank goodness I'm not a man!" James said cheerfully, "Only you'll get eaten."

Dawn stayed for the surgery and found a chair to be next to Esk when he woke after they were done.

Matt laughed. "Yeah, you probably wouldn't taste so good, all that metal and stuff."

He wheeled around the garden chatting about stupid stuff to James to pass the time and distract himself.

Kay silently fretted. He tried to listen to the others talking, but it all sort of dulled to faint noise.

---

The surgery went mostly to plan, until the nurse announced Esk's blood pressure was dropping.
For a time there was chaos as they tried to stabilize him, his oxygen levels dropped, his heart almost stopped and the surgical team forgot all about the supposed danger of the patient as they valiantly fought to save him.

Minutes felt like hours, but finally the monitors started to beep rhythmically again, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and the nurse declared vitals were stabilizing.

The chief surgeon, looking grim but determined hurried to finish off the procedure before Esk lost any more blood.

Everyone looked exhausted by the time the final stitch was made and tubes removed.

Esk was moved to recovery and the medical team advised Dawn to keep a close eye on him. Hopefully, he'd wake in the next few hours.

Dawn was happy to stay with him and keep him company while the drugs went through and out of his system.

Vestia considered notifying the others about Esk's situation when his blood pressure started dropping, but she decided against it. They wouldn't be able to help, and it would only make Kay and Matt panic.

Instead she waited out the operation in silence, and finally told the group once the operation was over, that Esk was out of surgery, and would hopefully wake up in a few hours.

Kay nodded to Vestia, grateful for her updates. He was still a wreck, relieved or not, until Esk woke up and was given the all clear he'd worry.

Matt looked relieved. "Thanks Vestia, let us know when he wakes up okay?"

Asher was glad Esk was alive at least. Of course, being alive didn't mean he wasn't still in danger, but it was a good start. He smiled softly at Kay.

James cheered at the news. He was fond of Esk, even if Esk was a jerk sometimes.

"Will do," Vestia said. She'd keep an eye on Esk and Dawn, waiting for Esk to wake up.

Dawn stayed nearby, watching over Esk. She wanted to be there in case anything happened

Matt reasoned that it would probably be a while. "Kay? Have you actually eaten?"

Kay frowned, er.. no, no he hadn't.

"Right, first job, get food in Kay before he passes out." Matt decided. Yes, looking after other people was how he dealt with his own issues.

"And then, Asher, you and me, racing. James can referee." Matt nodded.

Asher looked apologetic. It was so hard to remember that organics needed to eat. He looked amused at Matt's request for a race. "Oh all right, we can race," he said resignedly.

James cheered.

Matt cheered. "Okay, food first." He nodded.

Kay rolled his eyes.

Asher sighed. Yep, he'd just signed up for something very undignified, that could well result in someone faceplanting off a wheelchair or a wheelchair being damaged. Darn. He followed Matt and Kay, shooting a glare as he saw James still grinning.

Matt tried not to snicker. "Hey Vestia, tell Ellie I got Asher to agree!" She'd know what he meant.

Kay just shook his head and went to get food. Idiots, they were all idiots.

---

Esk would be out for a few hours. (we could desynch?)

Asher sighed again. He was already regretting this so much.

"I'm rooting for my baby brother, sorry, Matt," James said.

~~
Vestia told Ellie the news.

Ellie cheered, and ran to Hydroponics to go get some flowers, before hurrying to find the competitors.

~~
(Yeah, we could desync for a bit. That might be good.)

Matt snickered. "It's cool, he needs a cheerleader."

Kay frowned. [If you get hurt Matt, i'm NOT helping.]

(yeah, Dawn's just going to sit there unless one of the others comes in anyway)
Skye was in the galley, waiting for any other word. She hadn't wanted to be in the way.

James gave Kay a puppy-eyed look. "You're gonna make me or Asher patch him up? But that's not nice."

"And if we both get hurt, you get to patch both of us up," Asher told James.
So many regrets. So many regrets.

Ellie found the group, waving flowers and cheering.

Kay nodded. [I'm taking the day off. They're your problem.] He decided.

He nodded to Skye when they walked into the galley, and flinched a little at Ellie's flower waving cheering. She was way too happy.

Matt grinned at Ellie. "Flowers?"

James sighed. "Awww."

"Flowers for the winner. I didn't have any laurels," Ellie said cheerfully.

Asher smiled at Skye. "Hello, Skye. I just made a terrible mistake."

Matt cackled.

Kay went to find food, yep, they were all idiots.

Skye looked to them all and chuckled "Ok, what's the mistake and what's with the flowers?" She asked curiously

"I agreed to a wheelchair race with Matt," Asher told Skye dolefully. "Whoever wins, gets Ellie's flower wreath."

[And most likely a trip to the medical room. ] Kay snided, sitting down to eat lunch, or ... breakfast.. or whatever.

Matt grabbed something to eat too, chuckling to himself as he chewed. "Asher's got the brute strength, but i've got the will to win."

---

---desynch --- a few hours ---

Esk would eventually stirr, fingers twitching and eyes fluttering open. He managed a vague groan.

Skye giggled at that and looked from Matt to Asher and back "Well, have fun and don't hurt yourselves"

~~~
Dawn touched his arm, still wearing the gloves and long sleeves. "Hey Esk"

Asher smiled softly. "I definitely don't have the will to win. I'll try to have fun, I suppose."

"But you have to TRY to win," James said. "You're racing for the honor of the android species!"

Asher sighed. He wasn't into this idea.

Esk flinched at the touch, instinctively trying to reach out but not quite having the strength in his arms to do so. He blinked a few times, he couldn't think straight.
"D.. Dawn." He managed. He still sounded pretty out of it.


---

Matt snickered. "Yeah, can't have a lame organic like me win right? I mean dude, i'm mostly blind. You already have a clear advantage."

Kay rolled his eyes. [let's not turn this into a racial pride thing.]

"How about medics vs janitor?" Matt suggested brightly.

"Androids are just the best, man," James said sagely.

Ellie shook her head. "And people say Terrans are racist."

"If it's medics versus janitors, then which side do I root for?" James asked Matt, after sticking out his tongue at Ellie.