Turning Back Time [Raynor/Ilana]

[Starbase Athena - Sickbay]

Sickbay was quiet that evening. With the majority of the station's crew away, there weren't that many people to clutter around. It was also because there was an important operation about to be performed and no one wanted to get in the way of it.

Sitting on the surgical biobed, Ilana looked down at her hands, folded in her lap. She was already wearing sickbay-issue pyjamas and the side of her head had been carefully shaved in preparation of the incisions about to be made. She scratched nervously at a scale on her arm. She was about to have a piece of Borg technology implanted in her brain and her vocal cords in order to restore her voice, maybe even without a stammer. They would have to wait and see.

But the thought of going under the knife was making her nervous. The Borg expert had arrived the day before and had been impressed with the amount of work that had already gone into the piece to be installed. Only minute adjustments had to be made to make sure that the operation would work.

The only thing keeping her from completely bailing on the whole thing was the fact that Raynor would be with her the entire time, acting as surgical assistant. She knew that he would never knowingly allow harm to come to her. She trusted him with her life.

She swung her legs back and forth over the edge of the biobed. There was nothing left to do but wait for the doctor and Raynor to arrive.

[SB Athena - Sickbay Surgical Ward]

One major advantage to being stationed to such a major spaceport was that the medical facilities were easily as good as anything found planetside, barring specialist installations like Starfleet Medical, and the like. Raynor Hughes thought of this and more as he walked alongside Doctor T'Rann, the neurosurgical specialist brought in to perform this operation. Thinking of anything but what he and the predictably curt woman were to do sounded easier than it actually was, but...Lana had made her mind up, and he would support her in any way he could. Worrying about it would change nothing, and they were as ready as they could be for the operation. He almost felt like saying that the rest was in the hands of Fate, but that was a decidedly weak and humanistic expression, and one that he quickly smashed away.

Raynor felt a slight tingle as the pair passed through the final decontamination screen, nodding to the Vulcan as she went to check her tools. Raynor moved off toward Ilana. His reassuring smile was visible, since the surgical mask was still hanging around his neck. "Rest easy, Lana," the Klingon said, his voice the low rumble of a far-distant avalanche. "It'll be done with before you know it."

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Raynor felt a slight tingle as the pair passed through the final decontamination screen, nodding to the Vulcan as she went to check her tools. Raynor moved off toward Ilana. His reassuring smile was visible, since the surgical mask was still hanging around his neck. "Rest easy, Lana," the Klingon said, his voice the low rumble of a far-distant avalanche. "It'll be done with before you know it."

Hearing someone come through the sterilisation field surrounding the surgical bay, Ilana looked up, then smiled at Raynor. It was a relief that he was here with her.

She hopped off the biobed, moving to hug the Klingon. Without a PADD or a console nearby, there was no way for her to communicate other than with her actions. With any luck, they were about to change that.

Doctor T'Rann coughed pointedly and Ilana let her best friend go, moving back to the biobed and sitting down again, waiting for the next instructions.

Ilana Telak wrote:

Hearing someone come through the sterilisation field surrounding the surgical bay, Ilana looked up, then smiled at Raynor.  It was a relief that he was here with her.

She hopped off the biobed, moving to hug the Klingon.  Without a PADD or a console nearby, there was no way for her to communicate other than with her actions.  With any luck, they were about to change that.  

Doctor T'Rann coughed pointedly and Ilana let her best friend go, moving back to the biobed and sitting down again, waiting for the next instructions.

Raynor was a bit surprised to see Ilana hop up off the bed and move over toward him. Then again, she had shown herself to be not a...what was the human expression? Ah. Not a 'shrinking violet'. That one always amused him. Violets were quite hardy, as far as wildflowers went.

It was still a bit shocking to feel how frail she was. It was often the first thing he thought of every time his large arms wrapped around her. With any luck, and when this was all said and done...he could go back to just worrying about whether she got enough to eat and sleep.

The Klingon cocked an eyebrow at the Vulcan, but said nothing. This was, after all, her show. "Alright, Lana," he said, activating a neurocortical monitor and attaching it to the Cardassian's neck. "We're going to begin the process of putting you under. You will be out...for quite a while."

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Raynor was a bit surprised to see Ilana hop up off the bed and move over toward him.  Then again, she had shown herself to be not a...what was the human expression?  Ah.  Not a 'shrinking violet'.  That one always amused him.  Violets were quite hardy, as far as wildflowers went.

It was still a bit shocking to feel how frail she was.  It was often the first thing he thought of every time his large arms wrapped around her.  With any luck, and when this was all said and done...he could go back to just worrying about whether she got enough to eat and sleep.

The Klingon cocked an eyebrow at the Vulcan, but said nothing.  This was, after all, her show.  "Alright, Lana," he said, activating a neurocortical monitor and attaching it to the Cardassian's neck.  "We're going to begin the process of putting you under.  You will be out...for quite a while."

The Vulcan doctor soon had Ilana lying down on the biobed. She turned her head as Raynor approached again to place a monitoring device on her neck. She laid one thin hand over his. She was starting to feel scared of what was going to happen, knowing that she was no longer in control of what was going to be done.

She tried to force a smile before settling down on the biobed, getting herself into a comfortable position, looking up at the ceiling, wondering if she hadn't rushed the whole thing a little.

Ilana Telak wrote:

The Vulcan doctor soon had Ilana lying down on the biobed.  She turned her head as Raynor approached again to place a monitoring device on her neck.  She laid one thin hand over his.  She was starting to feel scared of what was going to happen, knowing that she was no longer in control of what was going to be done.  

She tried to force a smile before settling down on the biobed, getting herself into a comfortable position, looking up at the ceiling, wondering if she hadn't rushed the whole thing a little.

Even without his razor-sharp instincts, Raynor would have been able to read the hesitation on Ilana's face. And, who could blame her? Any way you phrased it, this was a major, life-altering surgery. Her smile was...obviously forced.

"Lana," he said, his voice still low and quiet. The Klingon reached down, gently trailing the backs of his fingertips along her cheek. "There is still time. If you wish to do more research...there's still time."

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Even without his razor-sharp instincts, Raynor would have been able to read the hesitation on Ilana's face. And, who could blame her? Any way you phrased it, this was a major, life-altering surgery. Her smile was...obviously forced.

"Lana," he said, his voice still low and quiet. The Klingon reached down, gently trailing the backs of his fingertips along her cheek. "There is still time. If you wish to do more research...there's still time."

The smile faded as she realised that Raynor hadn't been taken in by it, but she shook her head. There was no more research to be done, no more tests to be performed. There really was nothing left to do but operate and hope for the best.

Ilana looked toward the Vulcan doctor, who was setting out the pieces of technology that had just been replicated, pieces that were tailor made to her physiology. She reached up one hand to lay it over Raynor's as Doctor T'Rann stepped over to the biobed, a delta wave inducer in her hands.

Ilana Telak wrote:

The smile faded as she realised that Raynor hadn't been taken in by it, but she shook her head.  There was no more research to be done, no more tests to be performed.  There really was nothing left to do but operate and hope for the best.

Ilana looked toward the Vulcan doctor, who was setting out the pieces of technology that had just been replicated, pieces that were tailor made to her physiology.  She reached up one hand to lay it over Raynor's as Doctor T'Rann stepped over to the biobed, a delta wave inducer in her hands.

Raynor gave what he thought was a reassuring smile, nodding to the Cardassian. He was suddenly caught up in a swell of emotion, knowing what Ilana faced...and impressed by the bravery with which she faced it. There was a chance, however small, that something might go terribly wrong with this. What, then, would he do? How could he face himself if he didn't say everything that was on his mind, everything that she meant to him, everything...

No. Of course not. He was being utterly stupid, and milk-weak to boot. Selfish. As if Ilana was in any position to give a flaming damn about what was going on inside his head. Her head was what mattered...and the brain within it.

And so he stood, stonily silent, nodding to her as the Vulcan activated the wave inducers. There was nothing left to do but start. "Let it begin, then," he breathed, glancing to T'Rann.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Raynor gave what he thought was a reassuring smile, nodding to the Cardassian.  He was suddenly caught up in a swell of emotion, knowing what Ilana faced...and impressed by the bravery with which she faced it.  There was a chance, however small, that something might go terribly wrong with this.  What, then, would he do?  How could he face himself if he didn't say everything that was on his mind, everything that she meant to him, everything...

No.  Of course not.  He was being utterly stupid, and milk-weak to boot.  Selfish.  As if Ilana was in any position to give a flaming damn about what was going on inside his head.  Her head was what mattered...and the brain within it.

And so he stood, stonily silent, nodding to her as the Vulcan activated the wave inducers.  There was nothing left to do but start.  "Let it begin, then," he breathed, glancing to T'Rann.  

The Vulcan placed the delta wave inducer on Ilana's temple, a touch of a finger activating the device. Almost immediately, Ilana could feel the tug of her mind dragging her into sleep. She felt Raynor's hand leave her cheek, her hand following it for a brief moment before it fell back onto the biobed as the wave inducers did their work. Pale grey eyelids slid down over green eyes as she finally succumbed to the sleep that would hold her until the surgery was finished.

Doctor T'Rann activated the sterile field over her patient's head, running one practised hand over the already shaven area of the Cardassian's skull that they were about to cut in to before taking the surgical scrub, doing the final elements of preparation, ensuring that the expanse of skin and bone covering Ilana's Broca's area was scrupulously clean. She looked up at Raynor as he spoke, noting the expression on the Klingon's face.

"I trust that you are prepared to operate on a close friend. If not, leave now."

Ilana Telak wrote:

The Vulcan placed the delta wave inducer on Ilana's temple, a touch of a finger activating the device.  Almost immediately, Ilana could feel the tug of her mind dragging her into sleep.  She felt Raynor's hand leave her cheek, her hand following it for a brief moment before it fell back onto the biobed as the wave inducers did their work.  Pale grey eyelids slid down over green eyes as she finally succumbed to the sleep that would hold her until the surgery was finished.

Doctor T'Rann activated the sterile field over her patient's head, running one practised hand over the already shaven area of the Cardassian's skull that they were about to cut in to before taking the surgical scrub, doing the final elements of preparation, ensuring that the expanse of skin and bone covering Ilana's Broca's area was scrupulously clean.  She looked up at Raynor as he spoke, noting the expression on the Klingon's face.

"I trust that you are prepared to operate on a close friend.  If not, leave now."

Raynor barked a quick laugh, shaking his head as he pulled on the cap over his ponytailed hair. "Appreciate your candor, doc...but I'll be fine." The Klingon slipped his gloves on, glancing back over at Ilana's prone form. "I was born prepared for anything, so...let's get on with it."

And he truly meant that. Raynor was as ready as anyone for Ilana to regain her speech. The possibility of eliminating her stutter was an even worthier goal, but...one step at a time.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Raynor barked a quick laugh, shaking his head as he pulled on the cap over his ponytailed hair.  "Appreciate your candor, doc...but I'll be fine."  The Klingon slipped his gloves on, glancing back over at Ilana's prone form.  "I was born prepared for anything, so...let's get on with it."

And he truly meant that.  Raynor was as ready as anyone for Ilana to regain her speech.  The possibility of eliminating her stutter was an even worthier goal, but...one step at a time.  

Doctor T'Rann gave him a curt nod, acknowledging his sentiment as she picked up the laser scalpel, making the first incision. Dark blood welled up immediately, testament to the fact that she had just cut into a highly irrigated area, but the Vulcan persisted, relying on Raynor to keep the area clear for her to work.

Soon enough, the covering of skin had been peeled back and the pale bone underneath revealed, and then that too was removed and the heavily scarred brain tissue exposed.

Ilana Telak wrote:

Doctor T'Rann gave him a curt nod, acknowledging his sentiment as she picked up the laser scalpel, making the first incision.  Dark blood welled up immediately, testament to the fact that she had just cut into a highly irrigated area, but the Vulcan persisted, relying on Raynor to keep the area clear for her to work.

Soon enough, the covering of skin had been peeled back and the pale bone underneath revealed, and then that too was removed and the heavily scarred brain tissue exposed.

No matter how tough his sentiment was, it was still painful to see Ilana in such a state. Raynor watched as the Vulcan used her laser scalpel to expose the skull area, incising from that point onward. His breathing stayed regulated, however, as well as the rate of his eight-chambered heart. This was no time to allow personal feelings to get in the way. Raynor worked to partition his mind and heart, in the manner warriors had used since time immemorial. The truth was that he dearly loved this woman lying on the table. In what manner, he still did not know...and likely never would. She was his best friend, his confidant, the very force that kept him grounded and...sane.

The Klingon nodded in response to T'Rann's requests, not bothering to vocalize his acquiescence. Raynor was no surgeon, no matter how educated he was. He knew that this woman was in her element, and was the specialist. His pride came in second to Ilana's safety.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

No matter how tough his sentiment was, it was still painful to see Ilana in such a state. Raynor watched as the Vulcan used her laser scalpel to expose the skull area, incising from that point onward. His breathing stayed regulated, however, as well as the rate of his eight-chambered heart. This was no time to allow personal feelings to get in the way. Raynor worked to partition his mind and heart, in the manner warriors had used since time immemorial. The truth was that he dearly loved this woman lying on the table. In what manner, he still did not know...and likely never would. She was his best friend, his confidant, the very force that kept him grounded and...sane.

The Klingon nodded in response to T'Rann's requests, not bothering to vocalize his acquiescence. Raynor was no surgeon, no matter how educated he was. He knew that this woman was in her element, and was the specialist. His pride came in second to Ilana's safety.

The pair of them worked in near silence for several hours, only broken when Doctor T'Rann made a request of Raynor for a piece of equipement or a to assist her with a particular incision. When she had finished the preparation of the area, she lifted the first piece of Borg technology that was to be implanted. It was small, less than half the size of her palm, and very thin. She placed it over the Broca's area, then used a hypo to inject a dose of nanoprobes who would finish the installation of the piece.

Leaving the probes to do their work, the Vulcan doctor moved on to Ilana's throat, carving a single, precise incision into the larynx and into the cavity containing the vocal cords where another piece of technology was placed. A thin connecting tube was then put in place between the two, running down behind her ear and to her throat, protecting the fibres that allowed for communication between the two pieces. T'Rann and Ilana had both looked into the possibility of having the fibres run underneath the skin, but it hadn't been possible. Thankfully, the tube itself was only a couple of shades darker then Ilana's skin, meaning that it didn't stand out all that much. A second dose of probes was injected into the larynx before T'Rann looked up at the Klingon.

"Prepare to close, Lieutenant."

Ilana Telak wrote:

The pair of them worked in near silence for several hours, only broken when Doctor T'Rann made a request of Raynor for a piece of equipement or a to assist her with a particular incision.  When she had finished the preparation of the area, she lifted the first piece of Borg technology that was to be implanted.  It was small, less than half the size of her palm, and very thin.  She placed it over the Broca's area, then used a hypo to inject a dose of nanoprobes who would finish the installation of the piece.  

Leaving the probes to do their work, the Vulcan doctor moved on to Ilana's throat, carving a single, precise incision into the larynx and into the cavity containing the vocal cords where another piece of technology was placed.  A thin connecting tube was then put in place between the two, running down behind her ear and to her throat, protecting the fibres that allowed for communication between the two pieces.  T'Rann and Ilana had both looked into the possibility of having the fibres run underneath the skin, but it hadn't been possible.  Thankfully, the tube itself was only a couple of shades darker then Ilana's skin, meaning that it didn't stand out all that much.  A second dose of probes was injected into the larynx before T'Rann looked up at the Klingon.

"Prepare to close, Lieutenant."

It still felt incredibly strange, watching Borg technology being applied with seeming impunity to the vital parts of his closest friend. Raynor assumed that this was all on the up-and-up with the Federation, seeing as how it was done by a Vulcan and on a Federation installation. Fine time to think about something like that *now*, he thought, watching as the microtech fibers were laid. He wondered why the technology wasn't being applied at the sub-dermal level, but assumed that such a thing would have already been discussed.

"Closing," Raynor replied, before beginning the process to reverse all the openings that had been made. The pair having finished that section up, Raynor began running the regenerator over the cuts, sealing everything up. Aside from the implant, and the obviousness of her shaved head, one wouldn't know the Cardassian had just come through major surgery. "How long until we can bring her up?"

Raynor Hughes wrote:

It still felt incredibly strange, watching Borg technology being applied with seeming impunity to the vital parts of his closest friend.  Raynor assumed that this was all on the up-and-up with the Federation, seeing as how it was done by a Vulcan and on a Federation installation.  Fine time to think about something like that *now*, he thought, watching as the microtech fibers were laid.  He wondered why the technology wasn't being applied at the sub-dermal level, but assumed that such a thing would have already been discussed.

"Closing," Raynor replied, before beginning the process to reverse all the openings that had been made.  The pair having finished that section up, Raynor began running the regenerator over the cuts, sealing everything up.  Aside from the implant, and the obviousness of her shaved head, one wouldn't know the Cardassian had just come through major surgery.  "How long until we can bring her up?"

Doctor T'Rann inspected the closing work done on the Cardassian, ensuring that it had been properly done before stepping back and beginning to strip off her sterile scrubs. Ilana slept on peacefully, unaware of the goings on around her.

"I recommend that she remains sedated for three hours at the least to give the nanoprobes enough time to settle properly. It will also give us enough time to watch her for any internal bleeding or problems we may not have anticipated," T'Rann stated in response to Raynor's question.

Ilana Telak wrote:

Doctor T'Rann inspected the closing work done on the Cardassian, ensuring that it had been properly done before stepping back and beginning to strip off her sterile scrubs.  Ilana slept on peacefully, unaware of the goings on around her.

"I recommend that she remains sedated for three hours at the least to give the nanoprobes enough time to settle properly.  It will also give us enough time to watch her for any internal bleeding or problems we may not have anticipated," T'Rann stated in response to Raynor's question.  

"Alright," Raynor nodded, removing his own sterile equipment. "We'll make it four hours, then. Damn fool of a woman needs the rest, anyway," he muttered, still watching Ilana so peacefully at rest.

Taking off his gloves and orange gown, he gave the Vulcan doctor a smile that was only slightly feral-looking. "Thank you, doctor. For all of it. Is there any chance I can get the latest research into this subject downloaded into a padd? I'd like to have something to read while I'm sitting out there and waiting." And wait he would. Every damn second of every damn hour, until Ilana Telak opened her green eyes again.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

"Alright," Raynor nodded, removing his own sterile equipment.  "We'll make it four hours, then.  Damn fool of a woman needs the rest, anyway," he muttered, still watching Ilana so peacefully at rest.  

Taking off his gloves and orange gown, he gave the Vulcan doctor a smile that was only slightly feral-looking.  "Thank you, doctor.  For all of it.  Is there any chance I can get the latest research into this subject downloaded into a padd?  I'd like to have something to read while I'm sitting out there and waiting."  And wait he would.  Every damn second of every damn hour, until Ilana Telak opened her green eyes again.

"The research was downloaded to the starbase medical database when Ensign Telak requested it. You should be able to peruse it at your leisure," T'Rann stated. "If you are willing to sit with her, I will go and look in on other patients I agreed to consult on." Depositing her scrubs in the waste reclaimer, she inclined her head to him and left the surgical bay.

[Two hours later]

As Ilana slept on under the influence of the delta wave inducer, a dark bruise was rapidly gaining size on her neck.

Ilana Telak wrote:

"The research was downloaded to the starbase medical database when Ensign Telak requested it.  You should be able to peruse it at your leisure," T'Rann stated.  "If you are willing to sit with her, I will go and look in on other patients I agreed to consult on."  Depositing her scrubs in the waste reclaimer, she inclined her head to him and left the surgical bay.

[Two hours later]

As Ilana slept on under the influence of the delta wave inducer, a dark bruise was rapidly gaining size on her neck.

[Sickbay Area - Later]

Time seemed to move like frozen honey as Raynor sat in the side area of Sickbay, away from the main biobeds and bustle. The furnishings were rather spartan, but that was never something to bother any Klingon, let alone this one. He'd read through the data once, and was beginning his second time. The chronometer updates via the computer system were set to name off every half hour, so Raynor knew that a little over two hours had passed. He wasn't sure how many cups of hot raktajino he'd gone through, but he'd recently switched to regular black coffee.

Standing, Raynor stretched his broad shoulders, hearing a very satisfying pop in his lower back. He moved over to the observation area, looking in for the thousandth time on Ilana. She looked as peaceful as ever...or, at least, as peaceful as someone could look with a dozen things hooked to her, reading into a monitor. He didn't like the looks of the bruise, but that was to be expected after having your head cut open. It meant that blood was flowing where it should be again, and that was good.

Raynor sighed, and sat back down, with nothing else to do but wait.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

[Sickbay Area - Later]

Time seemed to move like frozen honey as Raynor sat in the side area of Sickbay, away from the main biobeds and bustle.  The furnishings were rather spartan, but that was never something to bother any Klingon, let alone this one.  He'd read through the data once, and was beginning his second time.  The chronometer updates via the computer system were set to name off every half hour, so Raynor knew that a little over two hours had passed.  He wasn't sure how many cups of hot raktajino he'd gone through, but he'd recently switched to regular black coffee.

Standing, Raynor stretched his broad shoulders, hearing a very satisfying pop in his lower back.  He moved over to the observation area, looking in for the thousandth time on Ilana.  She looked as peaceful as ever...or, at least, as peaceful as someone could look with a dozen things hooked to her, reading into a monitor.  He didn't like the looks of the bruise, but that was to be expected after having your head cut open.  It meant that blood was flowing where it should be again, and that was good.

Raynor sighed, and sat back down, with nothing else to do but wait.

The bruise continued to grow with each minute that passed until it covered the entire side of her neck, the darkest concentration toward the back of her neck, but the Cardassian slept on thanks to the device blinking on her temple. Inside her skull and larynx, the nanoprobes were hard at work making all the connections between the Borg technology and the organic tissue.

Ilana Telak wrote:

The bruise continued to grow with each minute that passed until it covered the entire side of her neck, the darkest concentration toward the back of her neck, but the Cardassian slept on thanks to the device blinking on her temple.  Inside her skull and larynx, the nanoprobes were hard at work making all the connections between the Borg technology and the organic tissue.

[One Hour Later]

In an incredible show of patience, Raynor waited a little beyond the time requirement set down by Doctor T'Rann before she left. The bruise on Ilana's face was rather angry and ugly-looking, but it was only temporary. All that mattered was making her better.

Raynor entered the room again, bringing up the biobed's readings. The anesthetics had worn off, meaning that her sleeping was natural. The Klingon tapped a few commands to send a message to the cortical stimulator - a very subtle and slight buzzing meant to wake Ilana up. Having done that, he pulled over a chair and sat by the bed, not caring how long it took for her to open her eyes. She would do it on her own time, under her own power.

Raynor Hughes wrote:

[One Hour Later]

In an incredible show of patience, Raynor waited a little beyond the time requirement set down by Doctor T'Rann before she left. The bruise on Ilana's face was rather angry and ugly-looking, but it was only temporary. All that mattered was making her better.

Raynor entered the room again, bringing up the biobed's readings. The anesthetics had worn off, meaning that her sleeping was natural. The Klingon tapped a few commands to send a message to the cortical stimulator - a very subtle and slight buzzing meant to wake Ilana up. Having done that, he pulled over a chair and sat by the bed, not caring how long it took for her to open her eyes. She would do it on her own time, under her own power.

Very little time passed between Raynor deactivating the delta wave inducer and Ilana starting to stir. It was subtle to begin with, a few scale shifts on her face. Her eyelids flickered slightly. Then she sighed softly and opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling.

The Cardassian lifted one hand up to her head, touching the shaved portion of her skull before looking over to Raynor and giving a tired smile at the sight of him.

Ilana Telak wrote:

Very little time passed between Raynor deactivating the delta wave inducer and Ilana starting to stir.  It was subtle to begin with, a few scale shifts on her face.  Her eyelids flickered slightly.  Then she sighed softly and opened her eyes, looking up at the ceiling.  

The Cardassian lifted one hand up to her head, touching the shaved portion of her skull before looking over to Raynor and giving a tired smile at the sight of him.

The Klingon's preternatural senses first alerted him to Ilana's movement, even before his eyes communicated to his brain that it had happened. He jumped to his feet as he saw her hand move. It was a natural instinct to touch a part that had been cut and shaved, even though she must have known exactly what it would feel like. Her smile was weak, but his was tentatively broad. "Easy, Lana," he said, gently pulling her hand away from the bruise. "Easy, easy, easy...the bruising is pretty extensive. It'll fade in time, though. How...how do you feel?" Klingons slew their gods long ago, and rightfully so, but he still felt the need to pray to anything that would listen. What would happen when she opened her mouth?

Raynor Hughes wrote:

The Klingon's preternatural senses first alerted him to Ilana's movement, even before his eyes communicated to his brain that it had happened.  He jumped to his feet as he saw her hand move.  It was a natural instinct to touch a part that had been cut and shaved, even though she must have known exactly what it would feel like.  Her smile was weak, but his was tentatively broad.  "Easy, Lana," he said, gently pulling her hand away from the bruise.  "Easy, easy, easy...the bruising is pretty extensive.  It'll fade in time, though.  How...how do you feel?"  Klingons slew their gods long ago, and rightfully so, but he still felt the need to pray to anything that would listen.  What would happen when she opened her mouth?

Ilana swallowed, wincing slightly at the feeling of her throat moving after having such an operation on her larynx. Her mouth tasted of metal and her head hurt. She looked at her hand, small and pale against the Klingon's skin, then up at his concerned expression.

"T-tired," she murmured, "S-s-sore..." It wasn't quite her voice. It was pretty close, but it wasn't quite the same, almost as if listening to a sibling speak rather than her. She swallowed again, as if trying to dislodge something in her throat. "Th-thank you, f-for s-s-staying."

Ilana Telak wrote:

Ilana swallowed, wincing slightly at the feeling of her throat moving after having such an operation on her larynx.  Her mouth tasted of metal and her head hurt.  She looked at her hand, small and pale against the Klingon's skin, then up at his concerned expression.

"T-tired," she murmured,  "S-s-sore..."  It wasn't quite her voice.  It was pretty close, but it wasn't quite the same, almost as if listening to a sibling speak rather than her.  She swallowed again, as if trying to dislodge something in her throat.  "Th-thank you, f-for s-s-staying."

Two emotions immediately welled up, fighting each other to the death for superiority. The first, and foremost, was relief - at the fact that Ilana still had her faculties, and that the procedure seemed to have worked. Which brought Raynor to the next point. Her stutter was still there. It was a bit better than it had been...somewhere along the lines of what it was when he first met her. Before he'd left Starfleet. Before you abandoned her.

Those were all thoughts for later, however. Now...now was a time for elation. "You look as if you've been wrestling Fek'lhr himself," he grinned, gently touching the far side of her face. Still, he barely made contact. It was a hell of a bruise. "A warrior's badge of honor if I've ever seen one." Standing, Raynor moved to a replicator, ordering her a cup of water. "Drink, if you feel you can," he said, taking the nearby chair once again. "Vision, smell, short and long term memory...how are all of those things?"

Raynor Hughes wrote:

Two emotions immediately welled up, fighting each other to the death for superiority.  The first, and foremost, was relief - at the fact that Ilana still had her faculties, and that the procedure seemed to have worked.  Which brought Raynor to the next point.  Her stutter was still there.  It was a bit better than it had been...somewhere along the lines of what it was when he first met her.  Before he'd left Starfleet.  Before you abandoned her.

Those were all thoughts for later, however.  Now...now was a time for elation.  "You look as if you've been wrestling Fek'lhr himself," he grinned, gently touching the far side of her face.  Still, he barely made contact.  It was a hell of a bruise.  "A warrior's badge of honor if I've ever seen one."  Standing, Raynor moved to a replicator, ordering her a cup of water.  "Drink, if you feel you can," he said, taking the nearby chair once again.  "Vision, smell, short and long term memory...how are all of those things?"

Ilana winced as the Klingon's hand brushed against her neck and the tube that now ran between a point just above her ear down to nestle between one of the main muscles of her neck and her trachae. The skin there was still very tender, adjusting to the new elements.

As he moved away, she looked at her hands, flexing her fingers before slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position and watching as she curled her toes around. Good, that all still worked. Still feeling tired, she keyed a command into the small panel on the side of the biobed to lift the top section so that she could still maintain a somewhat sitting position.

She took the glass in both hands, lifting it to her lips and drinking a mouthful of the liquid. "Sh-sh-short t-term m-m-memory is a l-little h-hazy, b-but I exp-pect th-that w-will g-get b-b-better. I f-f-feel... s-slow. M-my th-thoughts are n-not c-c-clear."