Snippet #2742375

Medical Bay
Most of the occupants of the medical bay's beds were asleep, sedation being seen as a far more preferable state than writhing in pain. The most heavily wounded occupants of the beds were sedated even more so, and the monitors attached to their beds marked them as terminal. These soldiers might be saved, but it was unlikely, and the efforts that would be put into helping them would be better used for those that had a greater chance.

This was the bitter truth of Triage. Ean kept a fair distance away, holding Akio back for the same reason that he didn't approach. The nurses and doctors were still working to save as many as they could. Ean stood silently, his face softened by sorrow yet the unmistakable expression of one who'd seen such things play out was impossible to hide on his face.

It would quickly become apparent to Akio that Ean had not, in fact, brought him here to talk with the soldiers, indeed it would be impossible for them to talk without getting in the way of the doctors and nurses. He had brought Akio here to see what impact his choices had.

In a soft voice the Captain said "Any man arrogant enough to proclaim the fate of another, dooms himself to jaded despair. As I said, your choice was the best one that could have been made, and things would have been much worse had you taken any other path." And here, the Captain turned to Akio. Akio would then see in the eyes of Captain Falcor, with clarity granted by the artifact taken from the wastelands, a wisdom beyond the ken of mortal men. In that moment it would be obvious, for so fleeting a time, that this simple man was anything but. Just as Akio had the wisdom of his ancestors to rely upon, it would seem that Ean had something far deeper, and maddening, that guided his steps.

"As you once said to me 'The principles and values of an individual are never to be questioned'. And that was true." Ean took a flask from his hip and opened it, pouring a drink into the lid and offering it to Akio. "There is a balance to be maintained between the two, between what we need and what we want. Between when the rules should be followed and when they should be broken.."

And Ean said to Akio then. "What is your next move, Wanderer. Will you let the pain caused by your choice wound and cripple you, or will you take that pain as a reminder of the costs of victory?"