[Audio:] Wednesday morning after Nem's broadcast.

[damn_it_jim]

McCoy here. I'm out of town so of course something that could use my attention crops up. If you're able to rig up a refrigerated storage room on short notice, talk to me.

It needs to be proofed against scavengers, so to my mind the Ship's a good location, but I'm open to ideas.

Additionally, I'm going to be teaching some of the locals a bit about determining cause of death. If you're not going to faint and land face-first in a resected spleen and this sounds like something you want to learn a little about, let me know.

Comments

[sadandsingle]

I think I might be able to lend a hand with that.

[damn_it_jim]

I knew there was a reason I liked you, Sato. I'm sure you can guess from context what I need it for, so something the space of a walk-in freezer should do. If you're having trouble with parts, I'm training some people for Nem with this, so he might give you some extra push with Edmund.

I'll likely be bringing back some thing for you to prod at from this little excursion too.

[sadandsingle]

All right, I should be able to set aside my projects for the next day or two and get it rigged up - if anybody else volunteers, just send them my way, and maybe I can get it done sooner.

Brilliant. I think I might turn up for the lessons you mentioned, too. You never know when knowledge like that might come in handy.

[damn_it_jim]

Done and done. Stark's suggesting one of the rooms above the level of the collapse -- seals are still good on about half of them, apparently, if you want to check it out.

And sure, the more the merrier, or as merry as an autopsy ever gets. Take any biology in college?

[sadandsingle]

I'll be sure to take a look up there, then.

I had a couple of courses, and I've read a number of texts on my own. Observed a few autopsies at work, that sort of thing.

[damn_it_jim]

All right. I'll be keeping everyone hands-off but I'll calibrate the explanations to cover educated layman as well as rank beginner.

Always nice to have someone who's less likely to faint.

[voice]

[hypospraying]

I was hoping you weren't leaving me to do that many autopsies alone.

[She sounds a bit tired and somber, since she'd been hoping the hunting party could be found alive.]

Any ideas on how to transport them all to the ship?

[damn_it_jim]

Perish the thought, Chapel. Especially since these sound like they're short on the sort of obvious trauma I'd actually expect you to pick up on, and I like you too much to set you up that easily.

For transport, if Nem gets the families on board then see what their arrangements are -- they might want to carry the bodies themselves. If they're indifferent, see if you can get the big mopy robot to help you. Name's 'Wing'.

[hypospraying]

[She smiles to herself. Even though the trauma they experienced isn't the obvious kind, she still wants to get to the bottom of it.]

All right, I'll talk to him. Just don't be gone too long or I may have to start without you.

[damn_it_jim]

Well, if you do, I trust that you, at least, would label and document everything and leave me some good histology samples for later.

I'll see you in a few days. Keep me in the loop.

[hypospraying]

You're speaking to the Queen of organization and properly filed paperwork. I would.

Will do, Boss. [And, as an afterthought:] Be safe.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

If there's a sudden rash of sunglasses and bad puns, I'll know who to blame.

[Pause.]

The seals on about half the rooms near the collapse still work. If you need to keep the bodies locked down.

[Audio]

[damn_it_jim]

I'm pretty sure whatever cultural reference you're making died in the centuries between you and me... but all right then.

Good idea on the rooms. Sato's offered to take point on setting up refrigeration, so I've mentioned that to her.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

Police procedural dramas. Believe me, you aren't missing anything of value.

I have some parts that could be used as cooling coils, if your budding band of misfits don't have their own scrap mountain. I'm willing to part with them. Reluctantly. [Except not at all, if his tone of voice is any indication - he may not have time to pitch in himself, but he'll help as much as he can.]

[Audio]

[damn_it_jim]

If they have spare time, see if you can argue them into a walk-in beer cooler as repayment.

[Bones' wry smile suggests he doubts anyone mechanically inclined has much spare time at the moment... but that it doesn't hurt to dream. About alcohol, anyway.]

[voice]

[eternal_protector]

I've seen a dead body before, it wouldn't bother me. If you need some help that is.

[voice]

[damn_it_jim]

I've got two volunteers so far, but if you're willing to lend a hand I won't turn that away. Do you have any medical training, first aid, biology, that sort of thing?

[voice]

[eternal_protector]

Basic first aid I suppose. Admittedly, nothing advanced. I wouldn't have guessed by the look of this place that we had access to advanced stuff anyway, though.

[voice]

[damn_it_jim]

Right in the Old City? No. I know of a few old satellite locations we've used, before.

For an autopsy, though, what they've got here will be fine once I pair it with my own gear. So you've got enough grounding that I won't have to stop and explain what a liver is and what it looks like?

[voice]

[eternal_protector]

I see.

And no - I'll be fine. Anything more advanced, though, and you should probably find yourself an actual doctor. I'm just here to volunteer. I guess the less humanoid species' I might not be able to identify livers in though... Depends on what you've got.

[voice]

[damn_it_jim]

Garden variety human here, bar a few oddities off the ship. Some of the Dome dwellers are heavy on the cybernetics, but the rest of them is still standard model homo sapiens, if without much of an immune system.

[voice]

[eternal_protector]

I should be fine then. At least with basic stuff. Whatever else you need me to know, I'll pick up as we get to it.

voice.

[fotlenke]

[ While death is not an easy subject, and it makes Sigyn's stomach turn, she feels that there is a lot that Son of McCoy can teach her. ]

I wish to learn, Son of McCoy. Would that be acceptable?

[damn_it_jim]

No.

[The answer is flat and firm, but just to be sure it's gotten through, he elabourates.]

If you want to learn about anatomy and physiology fine, I can tutor you. But an autopsy's nothing a kid needs to get hands on with, and that's not changing on my watch.

[fotlenke]

[ She squints. ]

What is 'autopsy'?

[damn_it_jim]

The systematic study of a body to determine the cause of death. It involves cutting them open and examining their organs in fine detail. It's messy, unpleasant, disturbing and completely necessary, but it's not something I'm going to get kids involved with.

If you want to learn more about the body, I can teach you in ways that don't involve situations that a lot of grown medical students have difficulties dealing with.

[fotlenke]

[ ...give her a minute. She needs to keep from retching. ]

I would very much appreciate private tutoring, Son of McCoy. And your cooperation in keeping me far from your auto-topsy.

[damn_it_jim]

Well, you're hardly likely to trip over one. Like I said, it's necessary but it's not pretty, so it's going to be out of the public eye.

What do you know about anatomy and physiology to start with? I know you were doing some sort of healing during the plague, but did they teach you anything about how the body works, or just how to... whatever it was you were doing.

[fotlenke]

[ She thinks his question over and comes to the conclusion: ] I believe it would be better if I looked through your books and showed you what I know, as our cultures are obviously quite different and I do not want to take too much of your time.

[damn_it_jim]

That would be a good plan, if I had any books with me. The pods didn't see fit to provide 'em, so it's all from memory and training here.

[Of course, if the pods had thought to include a medical reference library, there's a lot of other things he'd have asked for first... like medical equipment. Looking grumpily wistful at this enchanting thought, he pulls himself from the speculation to break the stretched silence.]

Here's what we'll do. Get yourself a pen and paper, or write up a text file and send it on here. Let's start with the digestive system. Write down everything you can think of about what it's made of and how it works. Give yourself a few days -- I'm heading out on the road. Send it to me after that.

[fotlenke]

Aye, Son of McCoy.

[ It will be a lot of work, but worth the pains in the end. Sigyn is confident in this. ]

I shall do as you ask and have papers prepared for you by the day you return to the city.