Chapter 1: Critical Moments

Beep… Beep… Beep…

Alright, connecting the artificial trachea.

It was very delicate work that Lance was performing. Work that where every move he made counted… that where even the smallest mistake could lead to complications later on. 

However, he did not let the fear of mistakes hold him back. This was too important.

His eyes narrowed in focus as he kept his hands steady, moving and connecting parts together with a special set of forceps and sutures. Despite the barrier between him and his project, his movements were still as delicate as they usually were.

Complete focus, despite the sounds of rock and roll spilling from his colleague’s side of the work room. As far as Lance was concerned, Anthony wasn’t even there with how focused he was… Least, until he knew when he needed to ask for help.

“Anthony?” Lance called, breaking from his concentration but not looking away from his work. “Can you start the vent for me?”

“Got it. Comin’ right over.”

His colleague dropped what he was doing, hurrying over to Lance. He stopped for a moment to marvel at what was being created within the sterile barriered work area. It was small, but the artificial tissue and muscle were built to expand and grow.

A perfect lung. 

It didn’t match the references of its organic counterpart, made up of a fine white artificial tissue but everything else about it was correct.

“Wow… You’ve really out done yourself this time, Lancelot. It’s incredible.”

“It will be if it works and doesn’t collapse like the last one did.” Lance quipped, still keeping his eyes on the lung. “Vent?”

“Right, right, comin’ up.”

Anthony connected a ventilator to the artificial trachea, starting up the machine as soon as it was secure, joining Lance’s side once more to watch. 

Moment of truth… Please… Work… Breathe.

It went quiet as they awaited the results, Anthony and Lance not even realizing they were holding their own breaths, the tension rising.

Soon, air forced its way into the artificial organ… expanding and contracting… breathing.

It was breathing.

It was quiet for another moment before both men let out a cheer, bumping shoulders to one another.

“YES! IT WORKS!” Anthony laughed.

“It works… Thank goodness…” Lance sighed in relief. “It really works.”

Anthony grinned, giving one of Lance’s shoulders a good squeeze.

“You did it, Lancelot. Way to go, man.”

Lance smiled thinly, a small chuckle leaving him. It was a success and he was quite proud… but there was still work to be done.

He set down his tools in the sterile environment, withdrawing his hands from it.

“Keep it clean. I need to go check on our patient.”

“Will do. Ryoko is coming by later, right?”

“Yep. After work as always.”

Lance let out another sigh of relief, heading down the hall towards the area of his lab that led to his actual home.

He was making progress. Slow and steady… but progress all the same.

Just hang on Nozi.

Uncle Lance is gonna make it all better.

oooooo

The first thing he noted was a car wrapped around a tree. Around it, were other cars that were either tipped over onto their sides or in one case, completely flipped upside down.

Alright, four cars in total, just like we were warned.

Kuro took a deep breath to steady himself before looking to his comrades. 

“Alright, we’re looking at a mass casualty situation. Ebony, what’s that status on our backup?” 

“ETA is five minutes.” She replied, already hurrying over to one of the cars.

“Perfect. Alright.” He hefted a duffle bag over his shoulder. “Dominic, you're with me! Connor, get started on that car!” He thumbed over to the turned over sedan. “You and Ebony can handle THAT.”

“Got it, Kuro!”

“Sir yes sir!”

Kuro nodded before breaking into a jog, Dominic right behind him.

As they approached the car, they took note there was severe damage to the front end. Dents and scratches, the windshield covered in a spiderweb of cracked glass.

A silhouette in the front seat slumped over against the airbag, blood splattered against it and the window.

Kuro winced, praying for the best.

“Let’s get them out and start triage.”

Dominic nodded, grabbing ahold of the door, pulling at it… the metal crumpling in his fingertips. Within seconds, he pulled the door clean off the car with ease.

Kuro stepped around him, pressing his fingertips to the patient’s neck, feeling for a pulse.

After a moment, there was the distinct fluttering of a heart beat. 

He let out a sigh of relief.

“Alright, let’s pull them out.”

“I got the neck brace.” 

It took a bit to maneuver the patient out but once they were, it was right to work from there.  

“Unconscious female, mid twenties.” Kuro noted as they examined the patient.

Dominic grimaced, feeling the arm that had been pressed into the side of the door. 

“Broken arm, definitely.”  

Kuro passed him a splint from their kit as he went about checking the patient for head injuries. Her pupils dilated normally as a light was passed over them. 

“Pupils are reacting normally. Can’t rule out head or neck injuries entirely till we get her back to the hospital. Let’s keep an eye on her-”

“DANGIT!”

Both gave a puzzled look before glancing over to where Ebony and Connor were. They were having a difficult time pulling their patient from the car.

Kuro shook his head, turning his attention back to the patient.

“Go help them. I’m gonna check the car for IDs.”

“Just don’t get blown up.” Dominic smirked, before hurrying over. “Hang on!”

“Had it happen once, don’t want it again!” Kuro snapped back before hurrying back to the car. Keeping the warning in mind, he checked for gasoline leaks before proceeding to rifle through the woman’s car.

He found a purse, digging through it before finding an ID, reading it over.

Alright, Leslie, we’ll take good care of ya.

Now, if backup would just GET OVER HERE ALREADY! 

He took another deep breath, nodding to himself, running back to his patient, keeping an eye on their vital signs. After a few moments he took a glance up towards the rest of his team again.

“How’re things looking over there?”

Dominic scoffed as he lifted the car onto its side, allowing Connor and Ebony to pull the driver out.

“As best as we can.” 

The patient let out a groan as they were pulled away from the wreckage.

“Ugh…”

“Hey, can you hear me?” Ebony asked.

“Mgh…Y-Yeah?” They grimaced. 

“Good. Do you know what day it is?”

“Tuesday- look, why is this relevant…?” 

Ebony and Connor exchanged a look. The patient gave them a glare, crossing their arms.

“Just turn the car over and I’ll-”

“Nope. Look, let me get a better look at you. Sides, this sucker ain’t going anywhere.” Connor nodded to the vehicle.

Dominic merely held up the door he had to tear off when he flipped it back over.

The patient took one look at their car before letting out a frustrated growl.

“Are you freaking kidding me!?” They pushed themselves up. “No, get your hands off my CAR-”

“Sir, please, stay still.” 

“GET OFF OF ME!”

They moved to throw a punch, only for it to be blocked with ease. Connor gave a reassuring look… though his gaze was fierce.

“Lie down and let me check you over. If you're fine, sure, go ahead and get up but you're not leaving.”

“Fine, fine, FINE…”

“Look, I promise I’ll take care of ya. So, just try to relax until backup gets here, got it?” Connor assured as he got to work. “You remember what happened before the crash?”

“Yeah, some broad was sleepin' in the middle of the freaking road…” The patient growled. “The other driver swerved to try not to hit her then I slammed into them then… Yeah. I don’t remember what happened after but if that stupid broad wasn’t in the road I’d be FINE.”

“Mm-hm.”

Connor felt the patients ribcage as they let out a sharp gasp.

“You’ll need a chest x-ray at the hospital and you're definitely not going anywhere… Sleeping woman, huh?” He looked around. “Are we missing a patient?”

“No, why?” Kuro asked.

“He said there was someone sleeping in the road. A woman. That’s how the crash started.”

Kuro looked up from his own patient, concerned. He reached into his pantleg pocket, pulling out a radio.

“This is Curacion to Dispatch, over.”

“We hear you. What’s going on?”

“Tell backup we have a missing patient. Woman who was supposedly unconscious on the road. Might be inebriated and wandering the forest around the shoulder.”

“Copy that.”

He put the radio away, looking around one more time. Sirens were cutting through the air now as the rest of their backup arrived. More paramedics were pouring out of the ambulances, a few hurrying his way. He quickly relayed the patients stats before pushing himself up to his feet.

He heard a yelp from his left as he whirled around, breaking into a sprint.

“What’s wrong?!”

“DANGIT! KURO, GET ME A HAND OVER HERE!”

Ebony and Dominic had the last patient laid out, putting pressure on a massive wound in his chest, a neckbrace holding his head still.

“Good heavens, what the heck happened to him!?”

“Glass from the windshield pushed into him by the airbag.” 

Kuro flinched before he got to work, assessing the young man’s vitals.

He noted the way the young man was breathing, looping his stethoscope over his shoulders. 

Respiration is low… loss of blood… needs to be treated before shock can set in.

He quickly got a saline drip started before beginning to administer first aid.

He waved over one of the other first responders as their backup got to work assisting them. 

“Get this one ready to go along with the woman!” Kuro barked, his eyes blazing with determination. 

“And the missing one?” The first responder asked.

“No clue. Connor, the guy say what she looks like?”

Connor eyed the patient he was treating.

“Heck if I remember… Black hair looked pretty… Had something kind of...  Kinda like that chick’s arm.” He thumbed over to Ebony, pointing to the silvery metal of her prosthetic. 

“So, we’re looking for a missing amputee, got it." Connor nodded before looking to his comrades. "You heard ‘em!”

“Alright, move out! Dominic, Connor, I’ll take over here, you go with search and rescue. Report back if you find that girl.”

“Sir yes sir!”

“Ebony, you're with me. Let’s get this guy ready to head out.”

“Got it!”

As they hurried out, Kuro glanced back towards the woods. The sun was setting, lighting the sky a blaze with its colors, the treeline casting ominous shadows along the ground. 

He should have been relieved, though his stomach was doing somersaults. 

Something about this just didn’t feel right.

If she was in the road when the accident happened we should’ve found signs of another person. Blood, hair, a mangled body if the first car is anything to go by.

I just pray wherever she is, that she's alright.

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More characters from Doc Hero.