"She's just banged up," Carter mumbled as he worked the laser cauterizer up Brown's arm. "A console or something exploded on the bridge and she was hit by some shrapnel. Cuts, burnt skin, and some shrapnel in her arm. You're worst for the wear than she is."

Carter pulled the pen away from Brown's arm and inspected his handiwork. A two-inch vertical line of burnt flesh went up the security chief's arm. He looked closely at the now closed wound and was satisfied that it was neat and straight.

"Doctor Cole," one of the nurses called. "We need you over here."

"Stay here," Carter said, pointing at Brown to accentuate his point. "The wound is closed but that serum I injected into you may take some time to work. In order to prevent any internally bleeding, you need to stay still and let it do its work."

Carter gave the security chief one last, long look before he went away to solve the next crisis awaiting him.