trans_9 | A Slight Misunderstanding

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A Slight Misunderstanding

When they blast down the door to the Medical Wing--and they'll have to, to get in--the group of newly podpopped crew-mates will bear witness to an interesting sight. Several individuals are strapped to med-beds, restrained by insect-looking legs pinning them down. One of those individuals has a cape and domino mask that may be familiar to one of the new crew-members--even if he's older than that crew member last remembers. Medical scans and monitors blip away. There are test tubes and other medical equipment around, including a flask with some sort of nasty gray slug curled at the bottom.

A few individuals are standing around, standing guard, including a girl with a bow and arrows. In the back of the Medical Wing is a woman with a scared-looking little girl.

Sitting on a stool, leaning over a shaggy-haired young man (who appears to have suffered a horrible head wound), is that green-skinned, blonde-haired individual shown by the AIs earlier. Some freaky looking goggles are over his eyes, and a strange and sinister-looking surgical glove, attached to an apparatus on the ceiling and full of rotating micro-lasers and mini-scalpels among other things, is on his hand.

It is, unfortunately, not an image that lends itself to easy interpretation.

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"BRAINY!" calls Kon, "How about you cut out with the sarcasm, because it is NOT HELPING!"

Kon is all for sarcasm. Just not when it lends to people thinking you're a supervillain, when it's a reasonable assumption to make.

"Ka--Superman, you've never met this guy, I'm guessing. Right?"

Mullet. He remembers the mullet--in fact, he's wondering if Kal's met him. But it could mean he never met the Legion, which MEANS...

"So you saw him and thought 'Brainiac, he's going to kill everybody!' right?"

OK, NOW it was getting really confusing. Was this...him...from another era?

"I...don't know many green-skinned twelfth-level intellects other than Braniac, no."

"I am not my ancestor--"

"Then how about you stop talking like him?"

That finally shuts Brainy up.

"Kal, I know this looks really bad, and these people are going to ask to be freed and stuff, but they can't be. They're all tied down for their own good. They're infected with these brain parasites. It's going to take three days to starve them out. Like Starros inside your head. Sam over though took a shot to the head and Brainy was operating on him to save his life--he's in real bad shape," Kon explains. "He's not the Brainiac, he's a descendant from a thousand years in the future. People here are yanked from all different times. That's why everyone flipped when you attacked him--he's on our side."

Now, why this guy is talking like he knows Superman is a question that should probably be asked.

Yes, it should. But not now, there was work to be done.

A quick scan using combined x-ray/telescopic vision confirmed this other Superman's words about the so-called parasites...there WAS something there.

Even in the Robin laying on the table.

"I'm...sorry for the confusion. How can I help."

"It's not your fault. This place is confusing, and with green genius guys named Brainiac 'punch first, ask questions later' usually is the safest route. We can go stop the fighting outside and explain everything to them; you can make sure these guys stay restrained. They can't be let up, no matter what they say."

And if Big Blue is guarding them, they won't be.

"Oh, and no matter how sarcastic he gets, don't punch Brainy, even if he has it coming. We do need him. Everything else, uh, we'll explain later, I promise."

Nathan glanced around, but couldn't find Lyta anywhere. Damn, must have got knocked out of the room.

"Hold on, how do we know none of you have hitchhikers in your brains too.?"

And speaking of hitchhikers in brains...

Tim stirs a little, and immediately starts struggling against his restraints. "What's going on here?" he asks, making his voice just a little panicked. "I--it's me. I have it contained for now. Kon--Superman? Let me out, please?"

Okay, so it probably won't work, but it's worth a shot. It had succeeded against Blue Beetle, after all.

Clark's smarter than that. What do you want to bet he x-rayed us while we were out. And Kon knows better.

Shut up.

Dean is watching from his brother's side, and he looks irritated. No one is helping Sam, and Sam could be dying and he wouldn't even know. But one thing does catch his attention; he glances at Nathan from his position hovering protectively over Sam.

"What do you mean, hitchhikers?"

"Brain-slugs! I told you!"

To Robin, "And Can it, slug-face. You know what Rob knows--and that means you know Big Blue can X-Ray his head and see you in there."

Neener.

Now, while the gang of Controllers is securely in the hands of the best superhero on their freaking planet, and no one will be able to free them because there's a big, blue brick wall in the way, it's time for him and Kara to go get everyone else on the same page, too. Sounds snarly out there. It might be easier to just have Kal mop up, but it seems to him making sure no one is tricked into freeing the slug-brained is more vital.

He grabs Kara before she can say anything to Kal and practically drags the blonde out the door with him. Superman will be able to see the S-shields on his jacket, and her cape as they go.

Hey, Dean, what is Brainy, chopped liver?

...Well, after staying up a few nights working on the kandrona detector, getting the shit kicked out of him by Robin, and shot full of rock salt by Sam, getting half-drowned and infested, and getting punched around by Superman, he looks and feels like chopped liver, but he is still helping Sam.

The problem is that not much more can be done to help him.

"Would you cease hovering over your brother?" Brainy says sharply to Dean. "Your brother will live. Most likely. Provided I have space to work."

He's pointedly not looking at Superman. It isn't that he resents that his first inclination was to punch him in the face. He's met Brainiac I. His ancestor provokes that sort of reaction--and is extremely duplicitious and prone to creating duplicates. Brainy almost was destroyed by him himself. Brainiac II wasn't much better, and other than himself and Brainiac II, the entire line has been...well.

Evil.

So far, for the S-family, he's batted 3 for 4 for first meetings leading to them attacking him. Kon, Kara, and now Superman. The only one who didn't was the other Supergirl and only because at that time, Superman had known him from the Sun-eater business and told her he could help her.

It just stings somewhat that it's reasonable, as it always is, that he's judged by the actions of his forebears. That's less his fault and more the fault of said forebears.

Edited 2009-03-21 08:38 (UTC)

Oh, wrong thing to say, Brainy. Dean is not amused.

His gaze snaps to Brainy, and his expression is angry, almost dangerous. Sure, the kid was helping Sam, but there was no was in hell Dean was moving away. Practically growling, Dean looks similar to a dog with it's hackles raised, and is ready to act much more like a mother bear.

"Make me." Dean answers harshly, "I'm not moving. Deal with it."

He moves a bit, yes, but only an inch because he wants to give Brainy a chance to work. But he won't be moving from this spot until Sam is either awake or dead. You'll have to knock him out first.

He almost shoves him out of the way with the forcefield. Almost.

But that would start a fight, which would waste time, and while he has no siblings, if it were a Legionnaire and him at their side, he'd be forcibly shoving the other doctor out of the way and overseeing their care himself--he'd practically hovered over Sensor when she was molecularly destabilizing, especially since it was Ra's Al Ghul that'd taken over her care (and he'd watched every move he made).

After plinking away at the holoscreen for a few seconds, and watching the scans, he speaks again, and the sharp tone fades somewhat.

"I'm afraid there's not much more I can say than that your brother will live. He was one of the infested; rather than be taken alive, his Yeerk, a rather sadistic one, I might add, decided to kill your brother as a parting shot. The wound is 'self'-inflicted--the parasite over-rode his motor control and shot him in the temple. The wound was perforating--meaning that it went out the other side. It crossed both hemispheres, damaging most of the frontal lobe, but it was a small caliber projectile, meaning the wound was rather clean. Regardless, perforating head injuries are the worst types of head trauma. His prognosis was much better earlier, but a large clot formed and I had to reopen the wound to remove it. The swelling is significant. I'm regrowing neurons, based off of medical scans I had done earlier and I've managed to stave off infection, but as of yet, I have no idea what his final condition will be. He will be brain-damaged, that much I can assure you."

A deep breath.

"He may never wake up. Alternately--"

Pay attention, Dean, because it's not all doom and gloom.

"--he may be mostly functional. Only time will tell. I'll be able to give you a more accurate prognosis when the edema--when the swelling, that is, subsides. I am monitoring his condition as we speak--his vitals are strong at least, I am registering significant neural regeneration occurring successfully, and I've managed to stem off ischemic cascade--the set of chemical reactions that are something of a domino effect that cause most of the damage in a severe head injury."

A pause.

"In more...simple language, his condition is the best it can be under the circumstances. He has a chance of healing and being somewhat functional, and I am monitoring his condition second-by-second to make minute changes in his treatment to improve that chance, but a chance is all I can promise you. Nothing more definitive than a chance."

All he can give is the truth, but he can give a little hope, too.

Edited 2009-03-21 08:56 (UTC)

Dean does calm down a bit when Brainy's tone isn't quite as sharp, and ordinarily, he wouldn't be so emotional. But it's Sam, and there's nothing that Dean wouldn't do for him. And Dean can't watch Sam die again, and he won't. His protective instincts are stronger than anything else he has, and every bone and muscle and nerve in his body is trained to save Sammy-- if the kid's in danger, everything is wrong, and Dean has to fix it.

Listening to Brainy talk about how damaged Sam is, listening to how Sam may not even wake up again? That's one of the hardest things Dean has ever had to hear, and he's caught between anger and grief, practically shaking from the combination. He knows it's not right to be mad at this green kid, not when he's trying to help and not when he's doing all he can, but it's so hard not to start shouting.

Dean takes a deep breath, and is about to speak, but Brainy continues, with marginally better sounding news. Still, Dean brings a hand to his face, and he rubs at it in exhaustion, suddenly just worn out.

"Right." Dean replies, his voice a bit hoarse. He clears his throat and tries again. "Right, I get it. Just."

He stares down at Sam, and then looks up to Brainy; his voice is incredibly sincere, and this is probably the most emotional anyone will hear him be.

"Just-- try, alright? He's my brother." And his voice is hoarse again, so he has to turn away for a second to compose himself.

Brainiac 5 looks...oddly moved, and at the same time, discomfited by Dean's display of emotion. He's never had a sibling, but he has a large group of people who he's close enough to that some of them might as well be.

"I've been monitoring him and adjusting his medical regimen ever since he entered the Medbay. I don't require sleep for significantly long periods of time if necessary; I will monitor him for as long as I'm physically capable."

He doesn't know how to do reassurance. Not really. He certainly doesn't do false promises. But he can promise that he'll be using that twelfth-level intellect of his, without pause, for as long as it takes to make Sam better--at least as much as he can make him better.

Dean rubs his face again, and while he's dry-eyed now, there's no telling what'll happen in the next however long it takes for Sam to be okay. Dean's sure as hell not moving, and he's not going to sleep, either, not until his body makes him.

"... Thanks." Dean says, a bit more under control. "If there's something I can do, tell me. I'll do it, no questions asked."

He may not be able to do anything like Brainiac, but he's willing to do anything to keep his brother safe. So he settles himself next to the bed, and promises himself he won't sleep unless he really, really has to.

Nathan wasn't happy about Sam smashing him in the face. But the guy wasn't himself at the time, and it really didn't look good for him. He remembered hearing something similar after Peter had collasped in Odessa, and those long two weeks at his bedside.

He approached Dean and remarked in a quieter tone, "He's your younger brother right? Mine's named Peter. Listen, you need anything, just say the word."

Dean blinks at Nathan, and while he looks sort of blank, he's listening. When Nathan's finished, Dean gives half a nod, and then glances back at his brother. His voice is low.

"Yeah, he is," Dean replies. "Thanks. I'll let you know."

He probably won't, because he's a stubborn mule, but he's being polite. Ish.

Nathan was the same way so he just said, "I'll bring something by later. Only serve slop around here unfortunately." He thinks of it as month old food rations from his time in the military.

Dean doesn't answer for a second; he's distracted. But if Sam's life wasn't potentially in danger, he'd be a lot more friendly. Big brothers need to bond, after all. But the word slop catches his attention, and he spares Nathan a look.

"Slop? Really?" Dean is still enough of his regular self to look disgruntled. "No cheeseburgers?"

Nathan remarked with a grimace in return, definitely missing burgers himself, "No, just that. Ship doesn't have specials. I'll show you where the cafeteria sometime."

"Right. After..." Dean pauses, and trails off, looking back to Sam. "After this."

He heaves a sigh, and it's back to his low tone of voice. "So you got a little brother, too?"

"Yeah."

Nathan found a seat nearby.

"Yeah. About 12 years younger than me. Peter. Hasn't shown up yet." Trying not to think of his brother still stuck sleeping in a pod somewhere and no way to free him.

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