I take a look at Erik’s injuries and it’s a mess.
Just on the outside his whole back and right leg is completely burned, the back almost through the tissue.
His left hand is broken.
Left leg was crushed.
But the inside, that’s what worries me.
Forget healing the outside, there’s so much nerve damage, tissue damage, blood vessels popped, cut, and shredded by bone pieces.
My love, how are you still breathing now.
This must be so painful.
I immediately start my prep work and I get ready to operate, and as soon as I make my first cut on the back, he starts bleeding severely.
This is not good, what is happening.
I’m scrambling to get the blood to stop, and eventually succeed.
Unfortunately I can’t continue the procedure on his back right now.
What’s even worse is his skin is gaining color, which means blood is flowing again, making it harder to do surgeries on someone this close to death.
I don’t know what to do anymore.
I can’t perform surgeries on Erik right now, not without risking further injury and loss of blood.
Current world medicine doesn’t have the technology to help in this matter here either.
Ok, let’s take a step back and organize myself.
I can’t control the bleeding The skin and tissue is becoming perfused again.
If I continue, blood loss will kill him If I stop, he will die anyways.
There’s only one conclusion, and it’s something that I really can’t say I’m happy about in this moment.
Modern medicine has reached its limit with this case.
I look towards the group that has retreated to the lobby to give me space, and I don’t know how to tell them the truth.
I don’t want to give up but I’m out of options here ….
Unknown POV “Why is this so bad” I say looking at my notes.
I got volunteered mostly unwillingly to go a worn torn country in Africa to check for explosive weaponry defects or counterfeit weapons.
Also, I need to have a conversation with those twins.
How dare they keep the fact that our fiery Ginefer is part of the Yakuza, actually no not just part but actually the daughter of the yakuza.
Oh I know they knew about this before they brought her on board.
I will be getting my answers.
Anyways, these numbers don’t add up, not only are these weapons fake, but someone has tampered with the chemical composition, changing how the weapons explodes due to the modified chemical reactions.
Seems like whoever made these bombs greatly wanted to make sure the bomb got felt rather than heard.
Less boom and more burn is what I’m looking at.
“Ginefer, you’re going to want to see this.
Ginifer comes by and looks at my notes.
“Are you absolutely sure about this.” “I am, this is definitely the opposite of what your organization is trying to purchase here.
I’m afraid someone is trying to either shortcut you or trying to damage the reputation of your group.” “How dare they mess with my stuff” Ginefer states.
I take my leave as she goes around to give orders before getting ready to call her dad to give him an update.” “Vera, Erik’s been badly hurt.
Aurora may not be able to save him.
If you want to see him, I would come soon.” That Anya, I was just about to relax and I get this news.
I run back to Ginefer and she looks like she’s about to put murder on the map and a city off the map.
“Ginefer, did Anya contact you.” “She did and I think I’m starting to understand what happened with my weapons and I know exactly how they’re going to pay.
There’s nothing else I need your help with here.
Thank you Vera.
I’ll be there shortly.” I nod and take off towards my resting area and pack up my things.
I also take my experimental project with me as I can’t allow anyone to find out about until I get the ok to give it to the public.
Thankfully due to Anya giving the coordinates, I see that they are actually in Somalia less than an hour away which makes this so much easier.
Hang on Erik, I’m on my way.
…..
Aurora’s POV I can’t delay any longer, they deserve to know the truth.
I make my way too the group and they all turn to look at me all with hope in their eyes.
I know my face is still covered in a mask from surgery but I feel so guilty for breaking the hope they’ve been carrying.” “Aurora how is he?” Derricc asks.
Of the group, he seems to be the only one who is accepting of the fact things may not go well.
He seems too calm for a man who fixing to lose his partner in crime in life.
“I did everything I could.
Realistically, there’s nothing I can do.
Modern medicine can’t fix him without killing him.
His crushed leg has destroyed multiple blood vessels and arteries on top of the body wise nerve damage caused by the burns.” Honestly, telling Derricc that I can’t save his brother, even after Erik spending so much time training, supporting, and even practicing my craft with me, might just be the cruelest thing I could ever do to him.
“It’s ok Aurora, I know you did your best.
We’ve all seen the injuries.
We didn’t exactly have much hope but we wanted to give you a chance before we prepared for the worst” he pats my head while telling me that and the dam is about to break.
How can these twins be so kind to us.
They never criticize us or get mad at us, even in times like this.
“Everyone wait, am I too late” I hear a voice stumbling into the tent looking like she ran a 100 meter race in heels.
“Vera!” I exclaim as I try to gather my composure, “no you’re not late at all.
Actually you might be able to help me, come on.” I immediate drag her to the back before anyone can process anything.
“That’s Vera right,” I hear Derricc ask while I’m walking away.
“Yeah I contacted Vera and Ginefer not too long ago about Erik.
Seems like they were already in Somalia for personal matters.” I spend the next 10 minutes explaining to Vera about Erik’s condition.
“Yeah you’re right, modern medicine has reached its limit Aurora, honestly though I think I have something that might help.” “Really, that’s great” “But…..” “But what” “I’ve never tested it on humans” “Seriously?” I say with a deadpan face “Then why bring it up now?” I glare at Vera” “Because if it works as intended, it should allow you to be the miracle doctor you are” “But you’re using Erik as a test subject.” “I know, but Erik has been my test subject for years.
This time though, if I do this, it’ll be without his permission.” “Wait, are you the reason Erik has come in periodically to get full body examinations.” “Yeah, my experiments are meant to try and improve the human body.
I’ve been trying to teach microscopic machines to repair tissue not reject it, but it’s work that I couldn’t do openly, even around the others.
Erik built me a lab I could go to for my personal projects and willingly agreed to be my personal subject.” “Well that explains the improvements I’ve seen.
Vera I think your experiments have quietly and on a very subdued level enhanced Erik’s body on a microscopic level that even he couldn’t perceive with comparing himself 15 years apart.
That’s brilliant.” “But the question is, should I risk that trust just to save him.” “He’s going to die anyways” “So we’re gambling his life on my experimental project.” “We’re giving ourselves a chance to save Erik and a shot of our future happiness.
Vera, I know you’re in love with Erik too.” “I should’ve known you’d see through it.
I’m guessing you’re the same.” “Yeah, I’m willing to put my life’s work on the line for any chance to save him.” “Is that so Aurora”, Vera says as she walks up to me with a sinister grin.
Then make a deal with me.
Right here, right now.” “What is you want.” “If I use this experimental project on Erik, I want you to use those experimental techniques you’ve been researching to finish taking care of Erik.
You do that and I’ll stay and be your surgery partner and we’ll do this together.” “How did you know.” “I’ll explain later.
Erik is the one who actually discovered it.” Anyways what do you say Aurora.” “I can’t believe we’re both fixing to use our love as patient zero for new scientific and medical developments.
“What if I gave the ok to do this as his wife”.
I turn around and i see one of the new girls from earlier come in.
“You must be Ashley, I’m sorry for Vera and I”- “Ladies, I’m not mad.
I’m actually happy that Erik was the kind of man I hoped he’d be that’d cause you two to risk your careers and livelihoods on a chance to save him.
Let’s talk about this later.
Vera, Aurora, please proceed.
I’ll handle whatever happens.” Honestly, that shocked me, but with the limits of modern medicine, we start a new chapter.
Everything I’ve learned for the last 15 years will end tonight.
Tomorrow, new medicine begins with Erik.