Here’s part 6 of my USS Lexington story. I had to do some rewrites to the original because the original location didn’t work right (at least anymore: it’s based on my memory of the ship in 1994).
Pictured are areas mentioned in this chapter: chow lines (breakfast here, but they have lunch too), sick bay, medical storage area*, and engine room, and from the CIC tour, a porthole that uses the climate control to keep things cool, and model airplanes. The hallway I think is the loop around for lower decks.
(Note: this is where I’m having to start major rewrites, so… please be patient.)
The rest of the day was a bit cloudy, but for everyone aboard the Lexington, there was quite a bit of fun.
Several of the groups were on the flight deck, looking at the planes and other artifacts.
A couple of the kids noticed a bit of water in one of the wheel wells and, thinking it was from rain, pretended it was the perfect dramatic landing for one of their toy planes they got from the gift shop.
A ship leader, seeing the mess they were making, ran up to them and stopped the action. They took them to a scout lead, but didn’t miss a college student also touching the water.
The scoutmaster made them put the toys in a plastic bag that he held out, scolding the boys that they needed to be cautious around the planes.
As far as the Tracy family, John took a nap and tried to eat a little bit more the others had brought down from the party in the break room.
He was able to eat a couple more of the seafood stuffed mushrooms and potato skins, washing it down with a Sprite.
Feeling a little bit better from both, he elected to again to the captains quarters and CIC tour.
If he decided to stay by a couple of the climate control ports to cool down a little bit every so often it wasn’t a big deal he decided,
Besides, there were a lot of model planes to enjoy, and it would take longer than a few minutes to see every one.
The others enjoyed other paths and then took a break to enjoy some of the other food in their quarters as a snack.
Grandma Tracy had elected to go off board for the evening and spend time with Kayo. She knew that the young woman was interested in eating at one of the restaurants on the ocean and spending the afternoon windsurfing at the National Seashore at Padre Island… if only because Sally’s bones had ached going up and down the ladders.
The cloudy evening turned into a slightly drizzly night, although for those who were still aboard for Lexington after it closed for the evening still had a lot of adventure coming.
Mess had come and gone, with the brothers eating various amounts of their meals. They spent the rest of the time of the meal visiting with campers and answering questions they had about the Thunderbirds. John was a bit quieter than normal, but would answer the few inquiries directed his way.
The cake was also well received after singing Scott the “Happy birthday song,” though Scott made sure that Virgil got all the credit for the idea.
The rest of the night’s events lead up to the big event - the scavenger hunt.
The campers, Tracy brothers and others were looking forward to this hunt as the top prize was custom-made dog tags.
Scott had a set from his days serving in the Air Force, however, these were done in the old typewriter embossed tin back in the 1940s. So, ever the history buff, he was looking forward to trying his luck.
The brothers paired off in twos, with the space brothers teamed up, then Scott and Virgil as a team.
Gordon ended up paired with a young woman who was interested in becoming a member of WASP so he didn’t mind being the odd man out.
The five teased each other trying to say who would win – though John reminded them that it could be anyone who won, including the other groups that were on the ship.
Jacob blew the start whistle, and each of the teams could go to any of the tour paths and any order they wanted to answer their questions.
Alan was so excited about trying to win this prize however, after the hangar deck questions were answered, he led John on the lower deck tour – the wrong way.
In spite of that, the two started the tour and just answered everything backward.
Made sense too as they realized the flow of the paths made this a wise choice.
Little did they know that going backward would be one of the best and worst decisions they could’ve made.
“OK, it says 'The crew’s mess hall served breakfasts X many hours per day.' Do you see the answer John?" asked Alan.
The astronaut narrowed his eyes as he looked at the display in front of him. "Yeah, it says '316'," said John, blinking his eyes. He wasn't sure if that was the right answer everything seemed a little blurry. *I should've brought my glasses,* he thought. He occasionally had trouble with his eyesight after spending a bit of time in space.
Alan however glanced over his shoulder and laughed. "Bro, that's the number of calories on the sausage," he said and, seeing the placard at the end of the line, wrote the correct answer.
John smiled weakly as he reread the number. "Yeah, you're right," he said, rubbing his neck.
The youngest brother paused seeing the older man’s gesture. He scrutinized his fellow astronaut, and his laughter faded.
“John... you sure you're alright?" asked Alan. "You've been acting odd since din - uh, mess this evening. Why don't you turn in for the night and I'll finish this up?"
The redhead shook his head. “No, I'm fine Alan. Besides, we can get back at Gordo for calling us space cadets," he said with a faint grin, looking at the display again.
The youngest Tracy laughed. "Yeah - just because he was in WASP and knows ships doesn't mean he's got this won," he said and started down the path.
John however stared at the Mess Hall display, as though a bit dazed. "Can you help me," he said to the mannequins, frowning when they didn't respond. "Hello, can you guys hear me?"
A squeaky voice broke through. "Very funny John - these don't talk like the 'captain' did in his quarters," said Alan, remembering the tour.
John shook his head, clearing it. “Right,… just making sure they’re not Autons… though they’d be better than the projected face ones,” he said.
The youngest smiled. “Yeah… ‘Doctor Who’ did animatronic plastic better,” he said, and checked his watch. “Look, we've got to hurry so we can win."
John nodded. "You're right, they just look real. Anyway, this is about a third of the way through the tour, and we've still got to go through the other routes…” he said as they headed down toward the sick bay area.
Privately though, John was worried something really was wrong. He still felt weak, even after the nap and food. John dismissed it initially, as that could be from the space sickness and not eating a lot in the mess.
Now he wasn’t as sure. His ears buzzed slightly, and while he chalked it off this time to the fluorescent lights lighting their path, he wasn’t so sure.
Then there was the fact John felt warm on the tour route, which was odd as he knew it was air conditioned.
"Then again, anything on the ship is warmer than the sleeping berth," he muttered under his breath as they stopped by the pre-op and operating rooms in sickbay to answer questions.
Alan asked him something, but it sounded slightly blurred. "Yeah Alan - it says they used ether and halothane for anesthesia," he said, looking at the machinery, "doctor" and "patient" in the surgery.
"Um... John, that's not what I asked. In fact that isn't even a question on the hunt," said the youngest, looking through the list.
Confused at the non-sequitur, Alan looked up at his older brother. Seeing John's pallor and dazed look, the teen gently, but firmly grabbed his brother by the arm. "Let's take a break - you look like you really do need one."
John nodded and leaned against the wall, running a hand over his face, wincing at the slight headache he had. "Good idea," he said tiredly. Seeing Alan's look of concern, he smiled. "I'm fine Alan..."
Alan scoffed in a way that closely sounded like Scott's. "Yeah, sure. John - you're a bit pale - well, more than normal, and your cheeks are still slightly flushed," he said, reaching out to check his brother's wrist pulse. "Plus, you're acting funny again, and I don't mean in the Gordon's failed joke way."
John shied away from the younger man's icy touch. "Funny? How?"
"Your answer listing two anesthetics to the question of 'How many towels are in the surgery'. You're never that far off on an answer, even concussed," said Alan.
The older man quirked an eyebrow at the remark. “Hey, it was interesting they had drugs that if they weren't careful could knock out more than the patient in the room," said John, shrugging.
"Maybe," muttered Alan, who was more concerned about the present day issue. "Look, I know you don't want to disappoint Scott, and want the 1940s style dog tags… even if for me… but…”
“But you can't keep pushing yourself too hard there."
"I'm not pushing myself too hard Alan,” sighed John, though he was doubting himself.
The youngest scoffed. "Bro, I love you but let's be real - astronaut to fellow astronaut. You haven't been at 100 percent since you came down from Five," he said bluntly. "You passed out in the living room shortly after you arrived home, then you almost missed this because you had trouble boosting up your levels….”
John reluctantly nodded. "I know - but I'm eating everything that you guys tell me to..."
"Not quite John. You only ate half your hamburger and one Oreo cookie out of six tonight - plus left the chips untouched," said Alan pointedly. "That isn't everything."
"You guys also made me eat the meal Elmo’s brought today ... about two hours before mess," retorted the older brother. “Then a few of the appetizers from Scott’s party…”
"That still isn't a whole lot John, even for you but…"
Seeing Alan pause for thought, John placed a gentle hand over Alan’s mouth.
Seeing the youngest twitch his nose in irritation, John removed it, and continued with a smile. "But this is Scott's birthday and I didn't want to disappoint him being stuck on Tracy Island,” he finished.
The youngest however was not convinced of it was worth his brother’s health.
"Yet Scott would much rather you be 'stuck on Tracy Island' than scaring him like you did yesterday," Alan said pointedly.
Seeing his brother start to speak, Alan put his hand up. "No John… you freaked him and Virgil out - not to mention Gordo and me - trying to take an unconscious header off the flight deck.”
John narrowed his eyes in challenged. "But - again - I didn't lose consciousness yesterday..."
Alan however put a hand on John's shoulder, making him look into his younger brother's blue eyes. "John… contrary to your opinion, you nearly did."
The elder Tracy paused for a moment, and then ran a hand through his bangs. "Not you too," he said, sighing in frustration. "Virgil told me his diagnosis after mess yesterday, then ordered me to lie down again for an hour before the evening programs. I still don't believe him though..."
"You need to John. When Virg said you looked worse than a zombie he meant it," said Alan, shuddering. "Bro, you really looked like the ones in my game - even I know that's too close to out cold."
The astronaut brushed it off. "But Alan, I'm feeling far, FAR better than yesterday. The rests and food have helped a lot," he said. Seeing his youngest brother give a skeptical look, he chuckled. "But, since you insist I'll snag some of Virgil's gummy bears when we get done with this part of the tour."
"Promise?" inquired Alan, quirking a skeptical eyebrow.
"Yes, I promise. I'll leave the white-eyed zombies for the video games," John crossed his heart, smiling as he glanced at his watch.
He then straightened up. "Look, we've got an hour to finish the hunt. We'd better hurry or Squid Kid could get the last laugh."
The youngest nodded reluctantly, but admitted that John's dazed look had faded. He smiled and patted hod brother on the back. "FAB John, but let me know if you need another break," he said, then snapped his fingers. “Of course, we can get a soda from the machine at the dining room area.”
The older astronaut nodded. “Sounds good,” he agreed, and they continued their scavenger hunt. They answered the questions for the Sickbay area correctly this time and continued.
After a few confusing turns in the chapel, leading them in circles and briefly going the wrong direction, the duo finally reached the hatch that lead to the engine room.
Alan frowned as he saw the notice. "Caution: Engine Room has low overhangs, narrow pathways and tight spots. Proceed with caution," he read and turned to John.
"Tight spots?" said John, wincing. He didn't want his mild phobia to set in.
Seeing his brother pale a bit however, Alan started putting together a possible issue and placed a hand on his shoulder. "John - if you can't handle small spaces with opaque walls, I can do this one on my own," he said.
Seeing John's surprised look, the younger man shrugged. "Going to bed or waking up in the morning not being able to see sky or stars can make anyone mildly claustrophobic," Alan admitted. "I've had some issues with it on this trip."
"Huh - you sawed logs all night. How did you get over it?" said John, amused.
"Slept on my stomach - the top bunk for some reason feels a lot like the rug on my bedroom floor that way," Alan said, chuckling. Seeing John was still indecisive, he gave a kind smile and gestured to the stairs. "But your call here bro - wait or go?"
The red-head shook his head. "No, I'll go. You might be 20 but that's ONE place we need the buddy system," he said. "Don't want you falling over the side into the engines - again."
Alan rolled his eyes as he started his descent. "Seriously, tripping over sofa cushions onto MAX does NOT count as falling into any engines," he said sourly, but seeing John crack a smile, joined in on the humor.
Once John reached the deck the two started on their scavenger hunt. As they walked through the path, John started to feel warm again - but this time it was different.
The path seemed to be a bit more uneven, and John had to steady himself several times. John dismissed it as minor buckles and floor imperfections caused by 118 years of tourists and sailors walking the paths.
Alan however was so interested in the large machinery and dials that he too didn't notice John's growing unsteadiness.
They reached a wall with wheels, valves, dials and other machinery. "EOS looks good," said John seriously. He was starting to feel even warmer and was confused as to what his favorite AI was doing on the Lexington. He half expected to start being pelted with bagels and have the gravity ring turned off.
Alan however hadn't heard the EOS part and chuckled as he touched the surface of one of the valve wheels. "Yeah, she does look good for 118 years old. Still - there's enough panels on this wall that they probably would've wanted something like EOS to control them," he said as he answered another question at that location marker.
John however was fascinated with the dials, touching a few to see how they felt. In his mind he thought he was really on Five, and wondering why EOS used holograms to look like a 1940s ship. The images kept switching from both themes, confusing him to the point he paused.
When John didn't move, Alan pulled his shirt sleeve. "Come bro, we're almost done, then we'll take another break before finishing up," he said.
The older Tracy snapped out of his hallucination and realized he was on the Lexington. He heard Alan's comments, slightly distorted. "Good, glad to hear," said John, nodding and they continued walking down a longer hallway that lead them on a catwalk over several larger engines.
Shortly after a jump… at least to John it felt there was one, they were in a hallway again, heading to the main crew dining area.
This was where there was a soda machine with refreshments he needed… he remembered, looking forward to another Sprite.
But… as they were heading through more of the medical area, John started noticing some was definitely wrong.
He paused when he realized Alan's voice sounded more like a literal chipmunk's chatter than his still slightly squeaky voice.
“That's odd," he mused and started assessing how he felt again - really felt.
John noticed he was even more tired than he had a few hundred yards earlier, even compared to the engine room, and on a normal, even path.
Looking down, he saw his hands were shaking slightly.
"Alan's right... I have low blood sugar again and need that Sprite," he thought at first, but then came a heatwave - and the trembling got worse.
The combination of the two then alerted him to a more troubling issue. "That's not right - I usually end up chilled," he thought as he looked at the hallway with a medical storage hatch not too far to his right.
It was still in front of him, but the now only sharp thing in the room in his vision.
The rest of the started to blur into a tunnel, growing darker...
It was then John had a moment of clarity. He knew those signs, having fallen victim to them a few times.
He wasn't hypoglycemic he vaguely realized - he'd eaten enough foods to stop that issue.
This was worse - and this time he wasn't going to escape its clutches.
"Alan... I-I n-need...rab-bits," he tried saying as loudly as he could, but it came out as soft as a whisper.
Feeling his muscles quiver, trying to keep himself standing on the narrow hallway, John realized then his estimation was drastically wrong and tried to prepare himself...
Alan however was looking at an answer, not sure if was correct. "Hey John, I think this is wrong. Do you think the X-Ray room…” he said, and paused hearing his brother murmur something wildly offbase.
"Rabbits? Bro, what? -" Confused, the younger Tracy heard a stumble near the hatch he passed.
He turned just in time to see John's eyes roll back as he passed out.
John had been trying to get to the wall to sit down when he collapsed, but fell backward and toward the right, landing in the netting.
While it kept him from hitting his head, when he kept sagging, most of John's weight fell into the net.
To Alan's horror however, the nets there to protect guests - several decades old, then started to tear under John's 180 pounds.
John landed on the plexiglass, which at its age started to crack under him.
"John!" shouted Alan, as the cracks got louder. Diving, he barely caught his brother around the legs and knees as the net tore fully.
Alan succeeded, if barely, keeping his older brother from going completely over to the floor 30 feet below them.
The youngest did shift slightly as gravity pulled John down until his knees were over the thin lip of the hatch.
Fortunately for John, there was enough clearance under the hatch to avoid smacking his head on any item underneathwhen he stopped being a human pendulum.
Unfortunately for John, Alan's position in saving the older astronaut made the younger essentially a human brake, unable to do anything except keep the duo from falling.
"John! Can you hear me?" Alan persisted, only to frown when his brother didn't respond.
Alan carefully worked himself into a position to try and help pull John back over onto the walkway, but quickly stopped when he felt John start to slip further over the edge.
Feeling his own feet slip on the flooring when he slide some, Alan turned his head to find a secure leg hold. The teen saw what was left of the guard supporting the net. It was not floor to ceiling, but any little bit until aid came had to be enough.
He then put his other leg around his ankle, putting himself in a variation of a figure four leg lock. He was able to reach the other side and hold on to it, creating a more secure human brake. The younger Tracy then readjusted his grip around John's legs.
Alan let out a slight sigh of relief as he kept hold of his senseless brother, but knew he couldn't do it indefinitely.
"OK, plan B," said Alan, who used a special whistle code he had Brains program into his watch to turn the communicator feature on. "Alan to Scott, Virgil - anyone," he said in his rescue voice.
Virgil's bass timber spoke up, chucking. "I read you Alan, did you get -"
The youngest just interrupted. "John's collapsed!"
The medic's tone abruptly changed. Alan never joked when it came to John's health. "Where are you?"
"Lower decks - sickbay - medical supply hatch - I'm hanging on to him," said Alan, grunting slightly when he felt John's body shift slightly.
"Hanging on? What..." said Virgil, growing even more worried.
"He's fallen halfway into the hatch. I have him, but can't move without risking him - and me - going completely over."
Scott, who was at the machinery fabrication portion of the route, started running through the lower deck tour. "FAB Alan - just hold on to him. I'm on my way," he said, into his watch. "Gordon, go find Jacob and tell him we have a man down in the lower deck tour."
"FAB Scott," said the aquanaut, who had been studying the "Pearl Harbor" movie display in the Foc'sle. He fortunately was near the end of that tour so he wouldn't have too far to run for supplies and help.
The medic, quickly followed his eldest brother. "Alan - I'm right behind Scott. How is John now?" said Virgil, who then heard some minor shuffling and Alan's voice.
Hearing no further response, he grew even more concerned that he might be treating two patients. "Alan do you copy? Is John awake?"
"FAB, I copy," said Alan, to his older brother's relief. "But John's still out like a light."
Virgil frowned. "You sure? You can’t see ..."
"FAB… I bit him to be sure."
The medic did a double take. "You *bit* him?" said Virgil, not sure if he heard right.
"Well, I've kinda got my hands full - how else am I going to check?" snapped Alan.
Virgil started to argue, then shook his head. Given Alan was holding onto John for dear life, he admitted it probably was the only thing Alan could do besides yell to test his brother's awareness level.
The medic continued. "Understood Alan, but don't bite him again," said the medic as the two continued running down the hallway. "When John starts coming to, keep him calm so he doesn't cause you both to fall."
Alan started to say something when he felt John again try to slip through his grasp. "Hurry Virg! I don't know how long I can hold on," he grunted, holding on tighter and praying his brothers got there in time.
Three minutes later, Scott and Virgil quickly approached the area. “Alan, give us an update on John," said Scott as he passed by the Missing Man table.
"He's moaned softly a couple of times, but that's it," groaned the youngest, pained. The discomfort in his shoulders and legs securing his brother was agonizing, but he vowed to let his joints dislocate first before risking John's safety.
The two older brothers frowned as they continued down the hallway. "He should've come to by now," said Virgil.
"Why hasn’t he?" asked Scott, thinking space sickness and the long night before took its toll.
"Not sure," said Virgil, having thought of at least 10 more serious reasons at the moment. "Of course Alan can't really tell if John's woken up though…”
The pilot nodded grimly, understanding. "Let’s get them safe first..." said Scott as they arrived. They froze in their tracks briefly, assessing the scene.
Alan was on the floor and using his weight and grip on thin - but bolted down, pieces of metal to secure John's legs, doing what he could to keep his brother from becoming a pancake.
John's legs from the knees down were the only part visible on the high walkway. Leaning over the hatch, they saw John was upside down facing the an empty, but no less deadly, 30 feet or so header to the floor. Between his lax face and limp body language, John could almost be mistaken for a washcloth hanging from a laundry line to dry.
Scott and Virgil were thankful Alan was there to catch his brother, but worried as it had been several minutes since John's collapse with no known signs of awareness.
The oldest Tracy shook his head and quickly walked forward. "Alan, we're here," he said as he reached for John's legs, hoping to lighten some of the strain on Alan. "Did he hit anything going over?"
Alan by then could only whimper slightly in pain from his locked muscles. Scott pulled a MiniMAX from his pocket he had used to take aerials of the ship, and launched him to assess the situation below them.
Virgil however carefully stepped around his youngest brother and got on John's other side. He knelt over and unabashedly grabbed the waistband of John's Bermuda shorts and what fistful of shirt he could grab safely.
The man paused in the action - he had to be sure before risking further injury to John. "Scott, what did MiniMAX find" he said.
"The area under the hatch is clear. John couldn’t hit anything. Still unresponsive," said Scott.
"OK Scott. Now, this isn't the way I'd like to move him but we have little choice," the medic said. "On the count of three, you and I will pull John up and adjust positions until I can get him around the ribs to turn him onto the hallway."
"What-about-me," said Alan, who finally caught his breath as Virgil lessened John's weight.
"Keep a hold of his legs and pull as we lift," said the medic gently.
Scott nodded as he knelt down to assist. "FAB Virg," said the pilot and on three, they carefully pulled up their brother. Virgil would grab as much of new shirt as their brother's position changed.
Once John was high enough, Virgil had Alan move out of the way so the two older brothers could carefully remove their ill brother.
Getting a firm grip, Virgil was then able to reach around John's shoulders and head safely. The duo then gently turning a further 45 degrees, gently laying John on the hallway floor.
After dragging him a few feet back to not risk anyone else falling through the hatch, the medic then checked John's vitals.
“His pulse is fast and his skin is hot," said Virgil as Scott lowered the storage hatch. "He might have heat exhaustion."
Scott nodded. "We need to move him to a cooler location," he said, lifting his watch. "Gordon, meet us at the medical storage hatch near sickbay. If Jacob is there, ask he get…”
"FAB - Jacob is getting the trauma kit. I’m on my way with a stokes if needed and a first aid kit,” said the aquanaut as if reading Scott’s mind.
Scott looked at Alan, who was sitting behind Virgil, and rubbing his shoulder and knee. "Alan, can you help us carry him?" said Scott. "Three people would be a more secure way to get him to safety."
Alan nodded weakly. "Yes, but I'd suggest I just help with his legs," he said. "I think I've hurt myself stopping him."
The eldest frowned. "Any other injuries - you or John?" asked Scott again.
The youngest shook his head in negation. “He just hit the net. Kept him from hitting his head… just not landing on the plexiglass,” Alan said.
Virgil nodded. "I'll check it and your shoulder too after we get John sorted out," he said.
Alan nodded as the two older Tracys got on either side of their unconscious brother. Virgil put his arms under John's armpits, protecting his head. Scott put his arms underneath John's lower back and knees while Alan secured their brother at his ankles.
On the count of three, they lifted their brother, who gave a mild groan but didn't do much else. "Easy bro, you're safe," reassured Virgil, though he had a feeling John couldn't quite hear them yet. If the man did though, Virgil didn't want him to panic being carried.
They carefully moved John the rest of the walkway to an open area and placed him on the ground, trying to make him more comfortable.
Then they saw Gordon coming down the hallway. “Jacob’s ETA is about 4 minutes.”
"Understood Gordon," said Scott as he used what was in his water bottle to cool his younger brother.
Gordon kneeled next to the group as Virgil reassessed John's condition. "How's John?"
Virgil frowned as he finished checking John's pulse and eye response. "He's a bit too warm, possible heat exhaustion," he said, concerned as he and Scott then moved their brother onto the metal stretcher. "We've got to lower his temperature down."
Gordon nodded, pulling out a small cooling pack from the first aid kit as they heard running footsteps. Turning, he noticed Jacob run to their location with the larger kit, which would contain more, and larger, instant ice packs.
He then knelt next to the group. "I've closed this path to the other groups so they don't interfere," Jacob said.
"Thanks," Virgil nodded and opened up the rescue box, pulling out a cooling packs to place on John’s pulse points.
Jacob then gently grabbed John's wrist and checked his pulse. He was a certified EMT just in case there was an accident on the ship. "Gordon said you had a man down, but what exactly happened?"
Alan took a breath and explained as he helped Scott place cooling pack behind his insensible brother’s neck. "John and me were in the sickbay hallway doing the scavenger hunt… when he all of the sudden he passed out," he said. "I had to keep him from falling to the bottom of the medical storage hatch..."
Seeing Alan’s shudder, Jacob decided to distract the younger man. "Any other injuries - particularly you?" asked the ship leader gently.
The youngest brother shook his head uncertainly. "May have strained my shoulder and something in my knee… but Virg's going to check it out," he said.
"I can help - I'm an EMT," said Jacob, who gestured for the youngest to come over. He gently checked the injury as he continued. "Was there anyone or anything else affected?"
"A set of security nets tore under his weight when he fell. The plexiglas also broke, so you’ll need to replace them and check the others for age before reopening that display," said Alan, hissing slightly at the elder's ministration.
Jacob nodded. "Right now, I'm thankful they worked long enough for you to keep him from falling in," he said.
Privately, the “hangman’s humor” of his EMT side stayed mute.
Jacob had fun with people talking about the ghost in the engine room during the ghost story part of the event.
He didn't want that to actually become fact…. Even if the incident was higher up.
Feeling Alan shiver in memory, the ship leader cleared his head of the darker humor, then gently put a hand on his shoulder. "Looks like nothing's seriously hurt,” said Jacob. “I'd say use an ice pack on it and take some aspirin tonight."
Alan nodded while Virgil again took his John's vitals and checked his temperature.
He smiled softly. "The cooling packs are working some," said the medic.
As if in reply, John groaned and stirred some, partially opening his eyes.
Scott leaned over and smiled. "Hey John, how do you feel" he said simply, wanting to check John's reaction.
The astronaut winced at the metal under his back and sighed. "Fizzy," he said almost deliriously. “Am I in sick bay?”
Virgil shook his head. "Not exactly. Do you know what happened?" he said.
John tried concentrating, but it was too hard for him. He understood enough between that and the “fizzy,” feeling what that usually meant.
"I fainted… pretty certain... in the near a hatch heading from sickbay… I think?" he said, more as a question than statement.
"Yes, you did," said Virgil. "Alan called for help and we got you to safety."
The astronaut however didn't understand and winced. "Still so tired though..." he said, closing his eyes to rest.
"You're going to be - you know what fainting spells do to you," said Virgil gently, much to Jacob's confusion. "John has had issues in the past with low blood sugar."
Jacob furrowed his brow. "Does he need a glucose pack?" he asked, looking through the IR medical box.
The medic shook his head. "I don't think his collapse was from that, not with the past two days being as rough as they’ve been for him," said Virgil.
“Possibly. I think it's space sickness combined with the heat," said Virgil, putting a hand on his brother's cheek to check his temperature. "Look we need to move him back to the berth to cool him down more in private. Is there a way we can get him there with the stokes?"
John cringed… “Don’t wanna stokes,” he muttered.
His plants went unanswered as his brothers continued.
"Or having the Scouts save Sam freak out seeing him," said Gordon. Seeing Virgil's look of disapproval, he shrugged. "What? - It's true."
The ship leader however merely nodded. "Sure, there's an old sailor path through this part that leads to the berths. That's how they'd get to their stations during the service," said Jacob. "You gather up your supplies and I'll lead you through them. Most of them are air conditioned as well so they'll help cool your brother off."
The medic nodded. “Thanks," he said as he and Gordon adjusted the cooling packs on their brother. "OK John, you get to go for a little ride now,” he said, as Virgil and Scott moved him to the stokes.
John looked at his brother blearily. "Great - I hate being carried almost as much as EOS with bagels…” he said groggily.
He however then sighed as the packs cooled him further, appreciating the cool temperature against his warm skin. "Though it's worth it if she has the same coolness in the gravity ring..."
Jacob quirked an eyebrow. "You *sure* you don't want me to take him to the hospital?" he said.
Virgil also shook his head. "I don't think it's necessary. He's just more susceptible to exhaustion than the rest of us because he works in space so much.”
“A private joke between us regarding TB5,” said Virgil. They didn’t want the AI’s existence to be known. “I think he needs just rest and fluids.”
Scott nodded. "I trust Virgil's assessment - he wasn't out long. We should be able to treat it here," he said.
The ship leader nodded. “Aye-aye - just keep me in the loop in case you need me to assist further,” he said. “My radio is on all night.”
The four conscious Tracy brothers finished gathering their items and tucked the kit onto the stokes at John's feet. On the count of three, they gently lifted the stokes, hearing their brother mumble some in protest, but didn’t try to get out.
They followed Jacob through a series of halls that lead them to the women's head and doorway to the berth, not noticing someone else was in those halls.
After gently maneuvering the basket through the doorways and down the stairs, they entered the sleeping quarters.
John still rested quietly, if a little bit annoyed as Virgil and Scott helped transfer John to his bunk.
Virgil sat on the floor next to John, who had dozed off again, and checked his vitals. "His temperature's down another couple of degrees. We can reduce the packs some so he doesn't get too chilled," he said, starting to remove them. "We'll have extras on just in case they are needed again."
Alan nodded and bundled the packs in an unused bunk to be ready for reuse while Gordon gave Virgil a light blanket to swap it out.
Scott took a close look at Virgil's reactions when he gently lifted an eyelid to check John's awareness level. "He is asleep right?" he said quietly.
Virgil nodded. "Yes, but it's a little restless physically - probably because his body is in shock from the heat and tumble," he said, adjusting the blanket over his brother.
"Could it have been exacerbated because John's pushed himself too far to come here?" asked the eldest. He felt guilty not telling John to wait a day and move TB5 to lower an elevator there instead.
"Maybe, but Scott… it isn’t your fault you know. Between yesterday and the late night and weather today…” said Virgil, but then shook his head, choosing to not continue. “Too many factors.”
He pulled out a gel pack for John's forehead and placed it on his head to gently cool it down. "As long as he stays cooling down, we’ll stay the night.”
Virgil then yawned and looked at the time. It was Tattoo, nearing the time they'd have to go to bed anyway. "Guys, we may as well turn in ourselves. I'll stay watch for the first few hours and we can swap out just in case John wakes up in a panic," said the medic.
The others nodded. "FAB Virgil. If you need us anytime, holler," said Scott.
The four uninjured Tracys, along with the Boy Scouts, college students got ready for bed and laid down in their berths. Within a half an hour they were fast asleep.
Little did they know in the next few hours, their trip through history was going to make some more history...
*A note - very minor liberties were made to the hatch: I don’t remember if there was a ladder in it or not, so I went headcanon 2060s there’s not. This is however reversed tour.
