[NRPG -- Could someone maybe bounce this thing to the newsgroup? AOL really
messed up a week ago, and I don't want to try the system again. :()]

Noni closed her book. She was at her favorite section... the one in which the
handsome prince is about to find the distressed princess... when she realized
something. She had been given far too much time to read. Normally she had
some crisis thrown at her as soon as she turned one page. She tucked her book
in her desk with disgust. She knew that she would be interrupted just as she
was reading that favorite excerpt. It annoyed her to think that the
"interruption" had instead come just before the prince's discovery. She
sighed.

She would soon be convinced that she was clairvoyant. 

<Noni! Incoming!>

(Great.) *What kind of incoming, my friend?*

<It's Sienra. Her rider wants you to get some anesthetics ready. Preferably
injected ones.>

(Oh.) Ah, well. She'd get back to her book later. 

Noni had just prepared the anesthetics when Dyanisa, who was carrying a young
woman, staggered into the Med Center. The lass she was carrying was wild with
terror, or anger, or something. She was literally dragged into the Center
kicking and screaming. Dyanisa dropped her onto one of the beds when the wild
one hit her in the chest. Dyanisa reeled and collapsed against the wall,
desperately trying to breathe.

"All right, medics, hold her down!" Noni looked over her shoulder. "Gweisha!"
The timid girl hurried to the bed.

"Y-yes?"

Noni tried to put on a calm face and take a reassuring stance with the girl.
"Gweisha, Dyanisa doesn't look so good. Would you please see if she needs
help?" Gweisha smiled weakly and went to Dyanisa's side. 

Noni's strength nearly gave out as she tried to keep her patient still long
enough to give the injection. The girl writhed and flailed her limbs about,
and almost smacked Noni on the side of the head. Enough was enough. *Ammie!
Who is this berserker?*

<Sienra says her name is Fae'Rhee. She's one of the wilders from the wastes.>

"Fae'Rhee! Calm down! You're safe!" Noni soon gave up talking, as her patient
only became more violent. At last she had a chance to deliver the anesthetic.
Fae'Rhee was soon sedated. Noni picked up Fae'Rhee's bleeding left hand.
"Flames! She's really sliced herself..." She tied a tourniquet about the
girl's arm.

Noni rushed about the Center gathering supplies.... suture kit....
bandage.... disinfectant.... more anesthetic.... Finally she returned to her
patient. She slowly stitched the skin into a neat seam. Fae'Rhee wouldn't
have to worry about it tugging too much. She should maintain full function of
her hand. After all, Noni had always thought herself to be good with a
needle. She carefully wrapped the bandage around the sewn hand.

Noni looked at the needle that still held some anesthetic, and then back at
her patient. She had certainly not given Fae'Rhee some weak drug; the young
woman would be out cold until at least the next morning. Noni shrugged. At
least that way Fae'Rhee wouldn't try beating up on anybody.
[NRPG: So Fae'Rhee isn't the type that would walk around looking for a fight.
Well, we all know Noni's POV on all this! :)]

Noni called for some help from one of the stronger Med Center orderlies and
he carried Fae'Rhee to one of the patient rooms. Noni draped a blanket over
her and left the patient to rest.

As she was walking down the hall, Noni remembered to check on that other
patient... Zert, as Ja'ks called him. She quietly quietly stepped into the
room to find a rather alarmed man sitting straight up in his bed. "Zert!
What's wrong? You should be sleeping."

-----------------------------------
NRPG:

Well, here it is, finally. :) 

Mike: About what shall Zert and Noni converse? :) 

Tag, Mike, Morgie, Bridget.... :)

Clear Skies and Seas,
Paula