Searching for Hope

Posted on 23 Sep 2014 @ 1:20pm by Ensign Jaana Voutilainen

584 words; about a 3 minute read

**Five years ago - Starfleet Headquarters - Astronomy Department**

Jaana looked from her PADD to the terminal to re- check the data, she had been collecting for the survey of the Khizo system. A system first encountered by one of the deep space vessels. It was her job to re check all the received data and catalog it. She put the PADD in her bag and started closing down the terminal, when a rather nervous Security officer entered her lab.

She looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Yes?" She barely got any visitors. Mainly because of the location of her lab. In the furthest corner of the building. "Anything I can help you with?"

"Are you Ensign Voutilainen?" he asked. "Yes, I am."

"Sister of Cadet Tuula Voutilainen?" at that sentence Jaana had to grin.

"Yes, what did she do?" Tuula always got herself in trouble, being the rebel of the two. Although she had kept her calm since joining Starfleet.

"You need to come with me. Your presence is required, ma'am." The officer said. "She has been in an accident. They brought her to Starfleet Medical. From what I heard it is very serious."

Jaana face became as white as a ghost. She knew her sister had a few days off and was planning to go home. She grabbed her bag and jacket and followed the security officer.

**Starfleet Medical**

When Jaana entered the hospital she was met by a medical officer. "What,... How,..." Jaana didn't know what to say. She stubbornly tried to contact her sister, in the hope this was all a bad dream and she wasn't lying in a hospital somewhere near here. Taking a deep breath she continued. "How is she? How is my sister?"

"Follow me," the doctor said, gesturing her to a nearby door. "Your sister has been in a shuttle accident." He started as they were walking toward Tuula's room. "The shuttle crashed soon after takeoff the cause of which is unknown. She sustains some serious injuries. Most of the broken bones and bruises we have been able to heal, but her spine was badly damaged. We are keeping her sedated for the now, to give her body time to heal. Until she regains consciousness, we can't determine if there is a chance of a full recovery."

Jaana stopped walking. "What do you mean by a full recovery?"

"I mean, she may not be able to use her legs."

She gasped at him. That couldn't be. Her sister. "No," They had arrived at her room. Still trying to grasp the information she had just received she entered the room softly. The doctor left them alone.

She saw her sister lying in a bed. The sister that looked so much alike her. Her twin sister. She put her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from crying. She walked to a chair in the corner and dropped her bag on it. Tuula was lying there so quietly. If it wasn't for the rising of her chess and the beeping of all the machines around her, it wasn't hard to believe she wasn't alive anymore.

Tears started gliding down her cheeks, as she moved to her sister and took the seat next to her hand. Grabbing her hand she felt it was warm, something that brought her some relief. She wiped the tears away with her sleeve. This couldn't really be happening.

What would happen to her now? What would happen to her dream of becoming a doctor?

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