Mac was deeply grateful to Isabella when she inquired about Matt Brennan's health, and offered her help.
"Parkinson's is a disease that we can treat, yes, and curable with the means we have if it's detected in time." Wilson mentally recalled Brennan's medical history. "In this case, my patient, Mr. Brennan, in addition to lung damage, has serious neurological damage due to the continued inhalation of mercury vapors due to a failure in his filtering mask. The problem is not the appearance of Parkinson's itself, which is only the effect of the damage, but rather that mercury is a metal that is deposited in the brain and continues to damage it, even if the patient is no longer exposed to the source. However I am treating it with an intravenous solution of synthesized ethylenediaminetetracetic acid, which is infused into the bloodstream and causes the mercury particles to adhere to the solution and be eliminated by natural ways. I've high hopes in this treatment, but I'm very grateful to be able to keep in touch with MFE in case things go wrong. I'm sure you've much more advanced means than we have at Faith Haven."
Mac couldn't avoid smiling as Saito stood up to hug and kiss Antonio. She realized that Antonio appreciated the gesture, and became slightly moved. Wilson thought that Isabella really was a person who had no trouble expressing her feelings physically. That was something that in many cultures could be shocking, but for the Cretans it was not. Without a doubt, that characteristic in her way of being that Isa had, came from her Cretan heritage.
Already at the hospital, Mac nodded as Isabella advised her about the cold appearance of the hospital, and gave her recommendations on how they could improve the appearance of it, to make it more patient-friendly. "It's true what you say. When the Church built this Medical Center, it did so thinking exclusively about efficiency, that it functioned correctly, and that it had a professional appearance. Normally, from a medical point of view, those of us who work here imagine that a cold, impersonal appearance gives a feeling of professionalism, which is what we believe patients expect. However, that is not what patients expect, but what doctors would expect if we were patients in a hospital." Mac smiled, amused, while making a gesture of approval. "You're very right when you say that patients come here scared. As doctors, many times we completely forget to put ourselves in the shoes of the people we care for, we only see things from our cold and professional perspective. However, for someone without medical knowledge, a place like this is something unknown, where a kind of "magic" is done to heal the injured and sick, and where people only go when something bad has happened. We should add more color to the walls, and even make some nice murals, as you suggest." Mac looked around, noticing the paint peeling in some places and the cracked tiles on the floor. "Furthermore, a review of the general appearance of this building would not hurt, the truth is that it is a bit neglected."
Wilson noticed that Isabella was paying attention to the large number of Pontifical Gendarmerie agents in the hospital. It was normal, the neurologist also thought it was absurd, and she was not surprised when Saito made reference to it.
"Well... I'll tell you that this isn't regular." Mac twisted her face in displeasure. She also didn't like seeing so much armed presence in a Medical Center. At least the Gendarmerie was not equipped for a pitched battle, like the Guard, but it was still disturbing for her so many armed personnel in a place dedicated to health. However, she tried to play it down. "There isn't usually so much presence of the Gendarmerie, neither here in the Medical Center nor in the streets, just as the presence of the Pontifical Guard that you are seeing isn't normal either. These are special measures established by the general alert decreed due to the Corsair threat."
Greta intervened, with a strained smile. "Oh, this is like when the Guard escort that followed us all the way to the Palace. The Field Maestre is nervous, he's worried that the Corsairs might be interested in invading Pygar. He's afraid that the Corsairs may launch some advance attack with commandos to take this settlement or others by surprise, or that they will send spies to prepare the ground. Honestly, I share his fears, they aren't unfounded, but I also think this is excessive." Meyer seemed a little embarrassed that Isabella had noticed the extraordinary security measures. "Apart from our fight against the Nomad enemy, we are a peaceful people, we seek concord and harmonious coexistence with those who wish to live equally in peace. However lately Faith Haven seems like a military barracks, and personally seeing so many armed people everywhere bothers me. But I must admit the situation is exceptional, the Corsair threat that looms over us is real, and I cannot blame the Minister of Defense for doing his job."
Mac nodded, an expression on her face that was equal parts disgust and resignation. "Yes, I guess that's how it is. Now we just have to wait for all this to pass without causing damage, and everything returns to normal in Faith Haven. However, the idea that the Gendarmes and Guards dress in a less... authoritarian way, and with their weapons less visible, when they serve in the Medical Center, seems very appropriate to me. Maybe yoy could mention it to the Field Maestre, don't you think Greta? I think they can do their policing job just as well without having to display their weapons so obviously, and without wearing those blue uniforms."
The clergywoman twisted her mouth. "Yes, I can talk to the Field Maestre, and try to get him to evaluate that proposal, but I can't promise anything. He is a very serious man, very upright, and very stubborn too. He will probably tell me something like that the visible presence of the Guard helps the population feel safer, or that those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear. In any case, I will not miss the opportunity to reason with him, to see if it's possible for the Gendarmerie to be less visible, at least in medical areas."
They continued their visit, showing Saito the emergency room and talking to Dr. Azarian. Mac noticed how Isabella was paying close attention while they told her about the problems with the storms on the open surface of Pygar, and she was grateful for her words of encouragement and understanding about accident prevention.
When the alarm began to sound throughout the emergency room, and the medical staff ran out to prepare everything for the imminent admission of the wounded, Mac watched as Isabella calmly, without saying anything, found a medical coat, put it on and immediately went to Dr. Azarian to make herself available to the head of the emergency room. Mac couldn't help but admire the professionalism of the psychologist, who after noticing that the room was entering a state of critical emergency, had automatically prepared to face the situation without the slightest confusion or doubt, despite being in a strange place, surrounded by people she didn't know. But it was clear that for Saito, who is a doctor is always, and everywhere.
Dr. Azarian was shouting for a traumatologist and a surgeon into an intercom on the wall when Isabella approached him. He turned briefly when Isabella spoke to him and smiled gratefully. "That would be perfect Dr. Saito. As soon as we know the identity of the injured, we'll proceed to notify their families. It's a matter of time before they show up here very nervous asking for information at reception and we'll need to give them answers in the calmest way possible..." Azarian was interrupted when someone answered him on the intercom indicating that they were sending the people he had requested. The doctor thanked him and looked back at Isabella, trying to remember what he was saying a few seconds ago. "Oh... as I was telling you, doctor, the families of the injured will come to reception soon. The nurses there have some training in dealing with them, but it would be really helpful if you could go there to support them when they arrive, given your specialty. I'm going to notify reception so they can let us know when the families start arriving." Azarian hesitated for a few seconds and added. "And doctor... I really appreciate you doing this. Based on the report we've received from the paramedics, it's likely that some of the injured will not survive."
Meyer had retired so as not to disturb, since she was not a medical doctor, and had placed herself in a secluded corner near the two Gendarmerie agents, who had also quickly gotten out of the way so as not to interfere with the work of the medical professionals. Wilson, however, had approached the central nurse's desk and was glancing at one of the nurses' terminals to read the paramedics' preliminary report. She was caught off guard when Isabella asked her if she would stay there or accompany her to deal with the victims' families, although she liked the idea immediately. She could start learning from Saito even sooner than expected, right here in Faith Haven itself, and besides from the preliminary report she had been able to read on the incoming patients, they weren't going to need a neurologist, but rather surgeons, trauma specialists, and all the strength Deux could provide them.
"I'll go with you to receive the relatives when they arrive, Isa." Mackenzie stated with determination "The sooner I start getting used to performing the tasks of a psychologist, the better training I will receive. Also, I 've seen what the paramedics have sent us, my specialty knowledge will not be needed here"
The doors of the surface elevator opened, and four ambulance repulsor stretchers emerged levitating, handled by eight paramedics clad in green-red environmental suits, covered in orange sand. At the same time, three doctors in white medical coats and four more nurses ran into the emergency room from the door that the three women had come to earlier. Mac gently took Isabella by the arm and they both moved out of the way of the medical staff who were heading to meet the stretchers. The alarm and flashing red lights were suddenly silenced as the stretchers entered each one in a trauma room and landed on the medical bed. Wilson could barely see the patients as they passed her on the way to the trauma rooms, but when they entered inside, she approached with Isabella, interested in the patients' condition. They both stood in the hallway, outside the rooms, next to the paramedics, who had left to let the teams of emergency doctors and nurses work.
The injured were three men and a woman, dressed in the electric blue environmental suits that outside workers usually wore. Mac remembered at the time that the color had been chosen on purpose because it was more easily visible and locatable by rescue teams in the middle of a storm. Wilson doubted the gender of one of the wounded because he was still wearing the full helmet of his suit, which was cracked in the glass-steel screen, but she was able to identify it as soon as it was removed.
Only one of the men was conscious, and was screaming in pain as if he were possessed. His screams were so horrible that made anyone's blood run cold, which was quite understandable because he had the right half of the top of his suit literally disintegrated, exposing his body. His skin was savagely eroded to the point where you could see damaged and bleeding muscles, and even the bone itself in some places. The most terrifying part was the pectoral area, which was so destroyed that it exposed several ribs, and beneath them you could see the lung, moving and trying to work. It was clear that the paramedics had tried to apply self-sealing patches, but the damaged area was so large that they were barely able to stop the enormous bleeding.
The other three victims were unconscious. The man with the cracked helmet had a horrendous traumatic brain injury, which caved in the front of his skull, exposing his brain matter. The woman's left leg was crushed at the level of her kneecap, to such an extent that the bone had been squashed and was only held together by a piece of flesh. The last man was the one who seemed the most physically intact, but he didn't seem to be breathing or have vital signs, and they were injecting him with IVs and giving him electric shocks.
"It has been terrifying, this has been one of the fast and strong ones that you don't see coming." Mac turned around and saw that he who spoke was one of the paramedics, who had taken off his helmet and was running his hand over his sweaty face. "We had this work team monitored, they were changing the fastening bolts of a section of Biodome 2. Fortunately they were the only ones who were outside... " Mackenzie didn't know if the man was talking to them, or if he was mumbling to himself. He was looking into one of the trauma rooms, but his gaze was fixed on nothing. "There was only a grade 3 storm, it was predicted... Suddenly we saw on the radar weather that a type 7 front emerged from the northeast, appeared out of nowhere... We immediately left the station in the ambulance, and it took us just 15 minutes to arrive, but the storm arrived before. They had tried to climb down from the biodome wall and run towards their armored vehicle, but the gale caught them before they reached it. We heard them scream in terror over the radios..." The paramedic was silent for a second, and then he shook his head, as if waking up from a bad dream, and looked at the two women. He then sighed and pointed at the three who were unconscious. "The damned storm threw them into the air, and those three were damn lucky to hit the vehicle, leaving them out of action, but the vehicle covered them from the worst gusts of fast wind." He looked towards the door of the trauma room where the terrifying screams of the one who was awake were still coming from. "That poor devil was not so lucky, and passed in front of the vehicle, lying with half of his body exposed..." The man covered his face with his hands again for a moment, and when he uncovered it again Mac observed that several tears fell from his eyes. "We had to wait another 3 or 4 minutes until the force of the wind died down and we could go outside to help them. We had to wait sitting inside the ambulance... listening to the poor guy on the radio screaming while his arm was disintegrating, unable to do anything... May Deux help him..."
The paramedic shook his head and retreated towards the central counter area, followed by his colleagues. All of them had taken off their helmets and showed on their faces the dismay that what they had witnessed had produced in them. The neurologist turned to Saito. "This must have been one of the very bad ones. Isa, these men are paramedics used to going out there to rescue workers. It had been a long time since I had seen one of them so affected. I think we would do well to try to help him in some way."
Meanwhile, emergency teams seemed to have managed to stabilize two of the injured, the man with the head trauma and the woman with the almost amputated leg. Dr. Azarian ordered that they be immediately transferred to operating rooms to begin emergency surgery. One of the nurses shouted from the counter that they had a clear way to operating rooms 3 and 4, and the stretchers of both injured people left the trauma room towards the elevator, handled by four nurses and two doctors. In another room, resuscitation efforts on the unresponsive man were finally successful and his vital signs stabilized, so Azarian left him in the hands of two nurses, who transferred him on the stretcher to the ICU, connected to a portable respirator.
The last man, however, didn't appear to be responding to the efforts of the medical staff who crowded around him and worked on his horrendous wounds. He had stopped screaming and complaining, probably thanks to the sedatives that had been injected into him, although he was still conscious and looked around him with fear painted on his increasingly deathly pale face. Azarian entered the room and looked over the shoulders of his doctors at the patient. Mac could hear the clicking sounds of the medical laser welders trying to cauterize the wounds to stop the bleeding, while applying more self-sealing patches to the larger areas. She could also see the medical robot attached to the medical intervention bed, which worked autonomously with its multiple arms on the patient, spraying synthetic coagulant on the wounds while using laser welders with precision, while constantly scanning and identifying damage and monitoring vital signs.
Wilson saw how one of the doctors looked at Azarian, with a desperate face, and the head of the emergency room put his hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. He then left the room, passing near Mac and Isabella, and gestured to Meyer, who was still in the back corner with the Gendarmerie agents. When the monsignora approached, Azarian addressed the three women. "There's nothing to do. The damage is... horrible. His internal organs are also perforated in a thousand of sites, he is bleeding at full speed and we can't do anything. We are transfusing him with blood but we cannot close all the wounds in time... He has minutes to live but he is still conscious, he is terrified... He has asked to see a clergyman. The cleric assigned to the Medical Center is just around the corner, but since you are here Monsignora, if you don't mind..." Azarian seemed a little embarrassed asking Greta for that. "You probably comforts him more..."
Meyer interrupted him with a wave of her hand and the determination reflected on her face. "It's my Sacred Duty, doctor." The clergywoman then entered the trauma room and approached the medical bed, as the medical team moved away, and the medical robot stopped working.
The poor man was pale as wax. He was a young man, no more than 30 years old, dark and with sharp features. The medical team had removed his environmental suit to treat him, cutting it up, and Greta could see the carnage that was his body. He was covered in blood-soaked self-sealing patches over the wounds, and the living room floor was littered with more used and discarded patches. The medical bed was filled with blood, to the point that it was dripping to the floor. The man was still alive only because a pump continued to inject him with blood plasma, but Meyer could see the light fading in his eyes.
When he saw the clergywoman, he weakly raised the arm that he could still move towards her. "Monsignora, please..." He said with a thin voice "I don't want to die..."
Greta stepped forward and took his hand. "What is your name, my son?"
"Dante..."
Greta smiled the most reassuring smile Mac had ever seen her show. "Well Dante... unfortunately I'm afraid it's time to die." Greta's voice was warm, and although she spoke of the certainty of death, hearing her say it didn't seem like such a terrible thing. "However, Dante, you are a believer in the Faith de Deux. You know what happens when we the believers die, isn't it true?" Dante nodded faintly. "Death is nothing but the beginning of a transcendence for those who die in Grace. You have done your part, you have worked faithfully to bring about the Sacred Mandate, and Deux will do His. You will merge with Deux, you will reunite with our brothers who left us before you, and you will look at us smiling forever from the infinity of space, from the very eyes of Our Lord." A tear rolled down Meyer's cheek as she gazed at Dante fervently.
Dante stared at the ceiling, his expression calmer. However, something disturbed him again. "My family... my children... my..."
Greta gently squeezed Dante's hand and caressed his face. "We'll take care of them Dante, we always do, remember? When one of our own leaves with Deux, those of us who stay take care of those he leaves behind. Don't fear death, because it is the logical and natural step that comes to all humans. This is how we are, and this is how Deux loves us. Go calmly, without burdens, free yourself from your weights... Deux is here, with you, and you will soon be with Him. Do you want to pray with me, Dante?"
The man finally smiled, at peace, and nooded. Greta then began to recite a prayer in a low voice, slowly, and Dante moved his lips whispering it, until finally he breathed his last. The monsignora continued at her side until she finished the prayer, and then remained in respectful silence for a few seconds. She then sighed, placing the hand she was shaking on the deceased's chest, and stood up, leaving the room.
Dr. Azarian handed her a paper towel to wipe the blood off her hands. "I'm very sorry for forcing you into this situation, Monsignora. I..."
Greta looked at him with a questioning look and a serious expression. "Situation? What situation? I'm the Minister of Science, doctor, but first of all I'm Minister of Deux. Any member of the clergy of this Holy Church should consider comforting a dying person not only as a duty, but also as an honor." Greta pointed angrily toward the interior of the trauma room, still fixing her eyes on Dr. Azarian. "That brave man died today working so that this settlement can continue standing one more day, and so that the message of Our Lord can continue to live, for the good of Mankind. The least I could do for him is help him in his most difficult hour."
Mac realized that Greta was furious, and she was taking it out on Azarian, who seemed to have shrunk a little under the monsignora's gaze. The neurologist placed her hand gently on Meyer's arm, and she blinked slightly, looking at Wilson. Then the clergywoman exhaled, wiped her hand over her face, and addressed Dr. Azarian again, in a much more measured tone. "I sincerely apologize, Dr. Azarian. I... I don't know what happened to me. I guess I'm not used to seeing so closely the... consequences of the risks our workers face in the surface. It's one thing to talk about it, but another... is to see it live." Greta looked at Mac and Isabella and offered them a small smile, a little forced. "I think... I'm going to get out of here for a moment. I need... to clear my head. Please don't wait for me, I'll catch up with you later. "
The monsignora left through the corridor that led to the exit to the street. She clearly wasn't okay, but Mac thought it best to give her some space to calm down and later they could talk, in private. The neurologist looked at Isa. "I think we should go to the reception in case the families of the accident victims arrive. It seems that this man had children... We'll have to talk to them."
Dr. Azarian supported the idea. "Yes, please. I haven't told you anything so as not to interrupt, but while Monsignora Meyer was with this man, some of the relatives of the affected workers began to arrive. If you can take care of them I will be very grateful."
Wilson and Isa walked through the hallways again towards the Medical Center reception, and soon reached the front desk. Several people crowded there, demanding information from the nurses about the injured. Mackenzie approached one of the nurses at the desk and informed him that they would be in charge of talking to the relatives.
The nurse nodded, visibly relieved. "I wish you luck, we haven't told them anything yet because Dr. Azarian told us that you would take care of it." He discreetly look at the people gathered there and told the doctors who they were. "The red-haired lady is the wife of Pedro Alonso, the man with the head injury who is in the operating room right now, they have no children. The tall, older man is the father of Ayleen Watson, the woman who is also in surgery while they try to save her leg, and the blonde next to her is Ayleen's wife. The two women on the right are the sister and wife of Daniel Morrison, the guy who is in the ICU, and finally, the young woman who is sitting in the back seats, is the wife of Dante García, the deceased. The two little boys next to her are... the couple's children."
Mackenzie turned to Isabella. "I don't think we should attend them here, in full reception, visible to everyone. If it's okay with you, my primary care consultation office, which is nearby, is empty right now. We can take them there to have a little more privacy."
