The Change is Yet to Come - Standstill
Story by Gruffy on SoFurry
Robert's life hangs on a thread.
The Change is Yet to Come - Standstill
by
Gruffy
2017
This is a commission for :iconaaron-blackpaw: featuring some interesting content, if I say it for myself- it’s always a pleasure to tackle a hardcore scenario, and not just talking about sex here...you’ll see what I’m talking about. i shall look forward to your feedback, and remember that all votes, faves and watches will help others to find these stories to enjoy as well!
Cheers !
ZERO HOUR
*
“They’ve landed!”
“Alright, let’s - “
“What do we got?”
“34-year-old cis male, driver in a high energy MVA. Motorbike fell off a highway bridge and approximately 60 feet to the ground with ejection of the patient. Found unconscious, GCS was 3 on site and unchanged during transport. Pulse is 120, thready, with multifocal PVCs across the strip and BP is 50 over 30. Breathing was agonal on site, intubated without induction. The left pupil is fixed and dilated, the right pupil is sluggish when reacting to light. Possible CSF leak from the right ear, along with scalp lacerations, possible depressed skull fracture. Probable flail chest with weak breath sounds on both sides. The pelvis is unstable and immobilized with the body vacuum splint. Babinski is positive bilaterally and there is no anal sphincter tone or urinary continence. Ultrasound assessment enroute indicated massive hemoperitoneum. Skin is very clammy and cold, shock is deepening fast. Multiple lacerations to all limbs and a sub-total amputation of the right leg above knee, the femur appears to be shattered on emergency ultrasound.”
“Interventions?”
“We’ve given two bags of emergency blood and two of colloids. Blood pressure is holding up only on inotropes. We’ve started therapeutic hypothermia en-route and current body temperature is 35.5 celsius measured through the ET tube.”
“Understood. Let’s take him through to the emergency theater immediately. Let’s start with the full trauma assessment, scans, bloods and prepare 12 units of blood for immediate transfusion. Let’s maintain therapeutic hypothermia and - “
“Patient’s developing V-fib!”
“There’s blood in the ET tube!”
“Looks like a hemothorax with possible cardiac tamponade!”
“Into the theater immediately! We’ll have to have him on ECMO immediately or we’re losing whatever there is left of him!”
“Let’s move it, people!”
*
THE SECOND HOUR
“Doctor, we may have an issue with the patient’s next of kin information.”
“Is it missing the contact details?”
“No, Doctor, on the contrary. The number listed is that of the human resources department of a corporation, and not a private person.”
“Are you sure? Did you check it again?”
“I already called and asked, and they just said that they’d put me on hold. I told them that I’d call them back once I have more information.”
“Well that’s odd. Are you sure that it’s not a relative or something like that?”
“I’ve checked the records on the central database and they go back all the way to prenatal assessment. It’s the most current information available.”
“Then I suppose we’ll just have to go with it. Call them and ask them what they know about this whole thing.”
“What shall I tell them about mister Foster’s condition?”
“Until we know who his next of kin is, only that one of their employees is being treated here. Nothing more.”
“Yes, doctor.”
“Tan, retract the liver more!”
*
_ FOURTH HOUR _
“How can I help you, sir?”
“I am here to see Robert Foster. I was told that he was brought here.”
“Can I have your name, please?”
“Axel Dunlop. I represent UBM and I have been told to assess the situation here.”
“_I’m afraid we can only provide patient information to next of kin.” _
“If you look at these documents, you will find that I am an official representative of the UBM, and that I am also in possession of the durable power of attorney signed by mister Robert Foster in case of his incapacitation, transferring the power to make medical decision to his current employer, that is UBM Incorporated, and it is signed and dated five years previously.”
“Sir, I will have to contact my superior.”
“I understand. I can wait. We wish everything to be done by the book, after all.”
“I’ll be just a moment...sir.”
“Yes.”
*
NINTH HOUR
“Doctor, I know you are very tired but there is someone to see you.”
“Can it wait?”
“It is about mister Foster. There is a person who says that they are the legally capable of making medical decisions on behalf of mister Foster.”
“Oh, so Lander finally figured out the whole next of kin business?”
“In a manner of speaking, I guess. He’s been waiting here for five hours.”
“Persistent, if nothing else. I can speak for a moment. Then I will have to get changed.”
*
“Are you here for Mark Foster?”
“I represent his interests, yes. Axel Dunlop. UBM.”
“Peter Starling...UBM? Really?”
“Yes. I know that we are a major provider for this very hospital as well.”
“For everyone doing that sort of business, I guess, but you are not here to sell me your products, are you?”
“I am here for Robert Fisher. I have legally binding documents that prove that I am entitled to hear all information regarding his health, as you can see here.”
“Hmm...I see. Would you care for us to move to the relative’s room? There is a quiet space nearby for the family members to wait - “
“This will suffice, Doctor. I presume you have been in charge of his treatment?”
“I am the attending physician at the Advanced Trauma Reception, yes, and I have been treating mister Foster ever since he was brought to the hospital by the aerial rescue unit.”
“What is his current status?”
“He has just undergone a series of complex surgeries and other procedures to control the damage sustained in the accident.”
“The accident?”
“He has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. Mister Foster was in control of a motorbike that was thrown off a highway bridge and he sustained a fall of some 60 feet down to the ground.”
“I see.”
“Emergency services were immediately alerted and he was brought here less than 45 minutes after the incident. He is current at the high dependency monitoring unit where is kept sedated and under constant observation for any changes in his condition.”
“What is his current health status, then? You have not answered me yet, doctor.”
“He has sustained very severe trauma. I cannot underplay the fact that he is very seriously injured. He has suffered a head injury leading into possible brain damage and he has been effectively comatose since the accident. He has also suffered heavy bleeding, fractures to all major bones, and several internal organs were damaged.”
“Your assessment does not sound very hopeful.”
“His condition is extremely critical. His vital body functions are currently maintained only by the external support provided by our machines. They breathe for him, circulate his blood for him, and remove toxins from his blood. He has had his entire blood volume replaced. One of his legs has been amputated due to it being unsalvageable. It is also probable that he will be unable to use any of his limbs or breathe on his own, even if he recovers meaningful cognitive function.”
“There is a chance that he will be brain dead?”
“His current status prevents us from assessing the actual neurological and cognitive functions. The medication used and the therapeutic hypothermia - “
“ - the cooling of his body to prevent cellular damage, I understand.”
“Hm...yes. They prevent us from performing a full assessment of his condition. We do know that he has suffered a severe head injury of the kind that does usually lead into permanent disability.”
“I understand. I will have to contact my superiors now. This will have to be discussed at a higher level.”
“Are there really no family members that we could contact?”
“The company is responsible for any healthcare decisions to be made. I have the paperwork here.”
“I believe you, mister Dunlop, but there is a chance that he will not recover. I am sure that any family would like to be with mister Foster during those last moments.”
“I am not aware of any family. All the medical decisions will be made by the company. The UBM takes care of their staff.”
“This is is highly unusual.”
“We do unusual work, Doctor.”
*
SECOND DAY
“I am Leonard Mercer.”
“My name is Denise Cho. I am the chief clinician of the high dependency unit and I am responsible for mister Foster’s care. I understand that you have questions about his current status.”
“I am perfectly aware of his status. I have been briefed by one of your junior doctors. You were indisposed.”
“There was an emergent situation in regards to one of the patients in the unit and I was needed.”
“Indeed.”
“How may I help you then, mister Mercer?”
“I would like to know when mister Foster can be transferred to the biomechanical rehabilitation unit for reconstructive surgery.”
“For surgery, sir?”
“His company insurance policy is quite clear in that any possible biomechanical intervention must be provided for him in the case of serious injury or illness. Is he stable enough to be transferred to the biomechanical rehabilitation unit to begin his reconstruction?”
“Excuse me?”
“It is a simple question, Doctor. When can he be transferred?”
“With all due respect, but mister Foster’s condition is extremely critical. All of his major organs have been injured and are being supported externally - “
“I am aware. I just need to know when the UBM medical team may begin his reconstruction.”
“His condition is extremely serious, sir. He doesn’t even have a heartbeat of his own at the moment.”
“I know that with your interventions that is not incompatible with life.”
“I would still strongly advise against any elective procedures at this point - “
“They are not elective procedures, Doctor. My medical team has reviewed all the information on his condition and deemed them necessary and lifesaving procedures. Your stalling of their implementation is obviously highly detrimental to mister Foster’s recovery.”
“He cannot be moved out of the high dependency unit at this point for any kind of a procedure.”
“Then my doctors will come here. Initial work may begin at your unit. Do you object to that?”
“His condition is extremely serious! I feel that any extra strain - “
“It appears to me that it can’t get worse, whether something is done or not done. Hence the only logical choice is to proceed, considering that the non-intervention carries an equal risk of detrimental effects.”
“What would you even do?”
“That is classified.”
“I am in charge of his care! I have a responsibility to protect the interests of my patient at all times.”
“Hence you will understand that it is in his best interests to proceed with the reconstruction. I do not think I have to remind you that the UBM sponsors your biomechanical rehabilitation department, do I?”
“I must speak to my superiors.”
“I think that would be for the best. For mister Foster’s sake too. There is no time to be wasted.”
THE FOURTH DAY
“Well...I would never have expected to have him on my slab.”
“There is no room for sentimental feelings here, Doctor Rönning.”
“Of course not. Hell, with all this it’s almost impossible to tell it’s him. The facial fractures alone…”
“They are least of his worries, I think.”
“Looking at the charts, that’s true, sir.”
“When can you start the neurological assessment?”
“It’s hard to say. Generally patients like these would be kept under full anaesthesia for several weeks to ensure healing.”
“We don’t have weeks, Rönning. The implantation must be started before the primary atrophy begins. That would make everything much harder and more expensive in the long run.”
“I am aware. But the situation is precarious.”
“Just wake him up then. There is no point in going forward unless we know that there is something left there worth salvaging.”
“It would be very risky. The doctors at the unit would not even consider it.”
“They’re not in charge anymore, Rönning, you are. Hence it will be for you to decide when to do it.”
“Indeed.”
“Proceed, then. It’s not like he’s going to remember anything about it.”
“_Most likely not.” _
THE SIXTH DAY
“Mister Mercer - “
“I assume this is about Foster, Rönning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And?”
“Functional scans indicate near-normal reaction to sensory stimuli and direct activation via unipolar fields. The cerebral contusion was serious but it appears that the majority of the cerebral cortex is functional. The initial treatment has been able to limit the damage. It will be impossible to tell what the actual functional status will be.”
“That is a concern for the future, then. Right now you must proceed with the plan.”
“My team has been preparing for the past two days. We can begin tract implantation and cement injections as soon as the go-ahead has been given.”
“It has been given. I trust you will do your best for the company.”
“As you say, sir.”
“It’s what I say.”
*
_ ELEVENTH DAY _
“Do you think he is going remember anything, Doctor?”
“What are you talking about, Heidi?”
“Don’t they say that people in a coma can know what’s happening around them? That they might hear things and...just know that someone is there?”
“Do you see that monitor there?”
“Yes, Doctor Rönning, I do.”
“That’s the baseline of his neural activity, Heidi, and if that peak level doesn’t get above 20, it means that he is about as conscious and aware of his surroundings as a cucumber. As you can see, the readout currently stands at...6.4. He doesn’t know where he is, who he is, or what is happening.”
“If you say so, Doctor.”
“I say so. Go get the decon spray. Those injection sites need to be kept entirely sterile.”
*
EIGHTEENTH DAY
“Well will you look at that…”
“Always a beautiful sight, isn’t it? And to think it’s the first time in what, eighteen days, that he actually has a heartbeat.”
“He’s holding blood pressure up quite well. The myocardial wrap is functioning as expected.”
“Systemic blood flow appears to be normal. The prosthetic aorta is working splendidly and there is no leakage from the anastomosis site.”
“I am sure that Mister Mercer will be pleased to hear of this progress.”
“It is still but a start. If the graft nano-surface won’t hold…”
“It will. Mister Foster designed it himself, after all.”
“_I doubt he thought that he’d be needing it like this.” _
“I’m sure he’ll be very glad that he invented it.”
“If he wakes up.”
“He will. He’ll just need a lot of work.”
“Yes. Watch out for the pulmonary blood pressure now. Those lungs are still very fragile.”
TWENTY-SIXTH DAY
“Mister Mercer. It has been some time since you visited.”
“I have many things to attend to. As much as I care for the continuing wellbeing of Mister Foster, I have many other things to do as well. I have been kept up to date to all the developments in his status. I am not in the dark.”
“Indeed, sir.”
“I see he is still in isolation.”
“It is necessary, sir. Any infection at this point could be a ruinous setback to the implantation process. Many of the tracts are still forming, and infection at the interface sites would be very detrimental to the reconstruction, besides the obvious threat to his health, possibly his life.”
“I am aware.”
“But for now, he is safe. The earlier problems with lung infiltration have subsided with the new antibiotics. We aim to maintain that state for now.”
“I read on the daily report that you tested the legs.”
“We conducted some preliminary runs on the myotonic actuators. The actual rehabilitation can only begin once he has regained consciousness, because simple passive repetition will not be enough to begin the neuroplastic process.”
“Your colleague, Doctor Rönning, thinks that you cannot wake him for quite some time yet.”
“The entire team agrees with him, sir. We feel that the sheer pain of the skin grafts would be too much for him to take without the current artificial comatose state.”
“Is that so? He is paralyzed below the neck, after all. Wouldn’t it just be a matter of switching off the bridge? He won’t feel a thing then.”
“But the shock from the thoracoabdominal window alone - “
“He will understand that it has been necessary due to the injuries sustained in the accident. I am sure that he does not like the idea of seeing his own beating heart but what choice does he have?”
“The psychologists are not - “
“I don’t care what they say. They don’t know mister Foster and what he is capable of. Half of the things you’ve put on him were invented by him! He knows how it works!”
“It is impossible to predict how he will react to everything.”
“It is something we must do. He can’t remain like this forever. Otherwise it has all been for nothing.”
“We shall try to minimize the shock, of course, sir, but…”
“I expect to hear your results soon.”
“Yes.”
*
THIRTY-FIRST DAY
“...is the vagal bridge functioning?”
“Yes, it is. Status looks good, doctor.”
“Check the infusion rate. I want him to wake up slowly.”
“One micrograms per minute, doctor.”
“The pupils are reacting to light. Functional scan indicates that the visual cortex is activating.”
“He is just...out of it, doctor…”
THIRTY-THIRD DAY
“Robert, do you hear me?”
He didn’t recognize the face in front of him, but he recognized the name. Robert carried a special importance. It took him a while to remember why, but once he got to the conclusion, he felt relieved.
Robert.
“Robert, can you hear me? You should blink if you can hear me. Blink twice to tell me you hear me. Take your time. I know you can hear me. I can see it on your readouts. There is cortical activation. You can hear me.”
The slight man speaking was still a stranger. The words were vague to him. It felt like he had to think about them for some time before any of it made sense.
“You can take your time,” the man said again, “but don’t take too long. We have been at this for three days now and we haven’t gotten very far yet. It is very important that you blink twice if you understand what I am saying, Robert.”
Three days?
He couldn’t remember seeing the man before. His statement sounded outrageous. How could so much time have passed with him having no recollection.
Something else appeared in his field of view. It was a silver-colored object, held in the man’s fingers.
“Can you follow this for me, with your eyes, Robert?” the man gave the object a wave. “Follow this with your gaze if you can. I will start very slowly. You only have to follow it with your eyes.”
Robert couldn’t understand why that should be important at all. He didn’t follow the order, not even when the man made a point of moving that thing from side to side at minimal speed. It got a frown from the guy.
“I’m sure he hears it…” the man spoke while turning his head to the right, to look somewhere else, “what does it say?”
“The visual cortex is being stimulated. He can definitely see it,” another voice said.
The man frowned before looking back to Robert.
“We know you can see it…” he wriggled the little cylinder again, “you should try to follow it with your gaze.”
“Of course it might be that he just doesn’t understand the command, or he doesn’t recognize what he is seeing. The scan says that his brain is activating but with that much axonal damage, there is no way of knowing if enough signals are getting through to where they are needed.”
“I don’t need to be told that!” the man sounded displeased by the comment. “I’ve seen all the results of the scans.”
“I could run the cranial nerve series again. It is possible that there is some oculomotor palsy remaining from the coma.”
“We’ve tested the cranial nerves countless times, I don’t see what difference it would make.”
“Well?”
“Alright, do it.”
“Activating.”
It felt bizarre. Robert’s eyes became unfocused and then clear again, twisted from side to side faster than he could really react, and his eyelids opened and closed in a bizarre manner where the upper ones closed first followed by the lower ones. His lips made chewing motions and his tongue bounced around in his mouth. He could feel saliva flowing to the bottom of his mouth.
His face twisted involuntarily into expressions of grimace.
“Proper signal return on both the afferent and the efferent systems.”
“So we know that his eyes are not paralyzed,” the figure standing in front of Robert spoke to the unseen speaker, “he should be able to respond.”
The only word that made much sense for Robert was ‘paralyzed’.
THIRTY-FIFTH DAY
“Let’s try this again, shall we?”
Robert was incredibly bored of the blinking game. They’d been at it for a long time, although his greatest concern was that he couldn’t remember exactly how long. For some reason the harried figure was incredibly determined to make him blink. His best attempts at it had been abortive, and he couldn’t really tell just why it was so very important.
“Blink twice if you understand what I’m saying, Robert. We know that you can see and you can hear. We see that the associative areas of your brain are activating. You just have to get used to using all that again. We know you are there.”
Robert hated the tone. The man was speaking like doctors everywhere, he knew, in a patronizing manner that made him feel angry. He wasn’t even sure why he was so angry. He was puzzled by the lack of many other feelings. He wasn’t hungry, or thirsty, and he didn’t remember needing to use the bathroom either. It didn’t concern him awfully much, mostly because there was little to remember. He recalled the grey ceiling of the room and he remembered dreaming of what looked like a green sea glowing in moonlight. The meaning of that dream escaped him, just like most things did for the moment.
“Let’s try the penlight again. Can you follow this for me? Just follow the penlight. That’s what this is called.”
I know what it is called! I just don’t know why!
THIRTY-SIXTH DAY
This time was different. This time the usual pale guy brought someone else. He wasn’t a man at all. He was a cat, wearing a grey suit that contrasted with his gold and tan furs. His face was lined with grey and he looked like he was about to sneeze. He looked very cross as he came to the room with the familiar harrowed-looking figure.
“...you’re burning a hundred grand a day on kickstarting his brain alone and so far all you’ve managed is to make him blink?” was the cat’s opinion.
“He is responding slowly to the therapy, I agree, but he is making progress, sir,” said the man, “it does take time, even with the glial stimulation factor trial. We cannot hurry the nerve regeneration beyond the normal rate.”
The cat approached where Robert laid - by now he was sure that he was lying down, but he didn’t know how long he had been there, and not exactly why either. Robert only knew that for some reason his days were full of having a bright light flashed to his eyes and then trying to follow its source around. The unhappy-looking man was wonderfully delighted whenever he did it. That was why he had kept doing it, too.
“You’re supposed to be doing things well beyond normal here,” the cat grunted while looking at Robert.
“Mister Mercer - “
The feline lifted a rather large paw to silence the man. His own eyes were fixed on Robert, on his bed. Robert thought the outraged feline looked familiar. He just couldn’t put a name to him. Most things appeared to have that same issue nowadays, he thought. He could see them, but he wasn’t sure what they were called, or why he should know those names.
“Robert, you are being a nuisance,” the cat said.
“He does hear everything, sir,” said the man.
“I know that, Rönning,” the cat called Mercer said. “I read the reports every day. I need to know how our asset is doing.”
Asset?
“Sir - “
“It would be very important for you to get out of that head of yours, Robert,” Mercer continued without apparently paying any heed on the man on his side. “I can understand a coma, but this whole locked-in state is very unsuitable for you. We can’t start rehabilitating you until you are responding properly.”
“He is not in a locked-in state, sir,” Rönning sounded exasperated.
“He blinks on command,” said Mercer, “he doesn’t do anything else yet.”
“That’s because we are not yet sure how much he understands, sir.”
“His scans show widespread activation of the association areas,” Mercer said, “it means that he is there, trying to get out. So we’ll have to kick him out.”
“I don’t know what you suggest, sir!” Rönning groaned.
“The Chinese were very interested in BPS-021, Robert, but you know that the interface still needs work,” Mercer was looking at Robert now while he spoke, “we need you to get back to your laboratory as soon as possible so that we can get the project back on track. Doctor Triptych may be a talented scientist but he is not you, and we need you. The UBM needs you a lot, Robert. And that’s why we have invested so much in you now that you need us more than ever…”
The feline cleared his throat.
“You’re going to be doing so many great things yet,” Mercer said. “But before that, we have to get you back to the land of the living so that we can get your rehab stated.”
“I do not see the purpose of this one-sided conversation, sir!” Rönning complained.
The cat hissed.
“I thought it would be polite for him to know that what you have to do next is necessary for him to progress,” Mercer said.
“What are you talking about?” Rönning asked.
“EANPSC-039110,” the cat spoke without a break, “for the lack of a trade name yet, I suppose we should just call it a...stimulant.”
“Stimulants?”
“An experimental neuropeptide that antagonises several of the reuptake esterases, leading into a greatly increased amount of neurotransmitters in the cerebrum, diencephalon and the medulla oblongata,” Mercer continued, “Initial trials have shown great increase in neuronal activity, in synaptic bouton firing and general neural activity. It appears to kickstart the brain, so to speak.”
The man frowned.
“I am not aware of this substance or its properties, sir,” Rönning said.
“It’s all quite classified,” Mercer said. “One of the subsidiaries of the UBM parent company owns the patent and they have an FDA approval for clinical trials. We shall supply the drug, and you will administer it.”
“Are you telling me that you want me to give an experimental drug to...to hasten his neurological rehabilitation?” Rönning demanded.
“I don’t want you to do it, I am ordering you to do it, Doctor,” Mercer said simply. “I have the durable power of attorney, meaning that should I tell you to do it, you must do it, because it is in the best interests of mister Foster as well.”
“It is very difficult for me to make any such decision without reviewing the available information on the drug, sir.”
“All necessary information will be made available to you, Rönning,” the cat said. “But there is not much time. We must proceed as soon as possible. He can’t stay like this forever.”
“Of course not, but - “
Mercer looked at Robert again.
“You’re going to be alright,” he said, “then you’ll be back working for me. We are all waiting for you.”
Robert wished he knew what this meant.
*
FORTIETH DAY
He wasn’t in the room anymore. He was in many places at once, and each of them was as vivid and alive, experienced on that instant. He was in his graduation, he was lying on the ground after scraping his knee, he was rushing into the sea the first time he saw the Pacific. He felt the wind pressing down on the tight leather of his riding jacket and saw the blinking numbers on the heads-up-display projected onto his helmet tell that he was exceeding the speed limit.
He smelled colors. The trees smelled like chocolate when he ran through them and the paper of the old yellowing volumes carried a scent of dandelions that he could not explain, nor wanted to. The sand under his plastic clogs sang Patrick Rules’ hit songs with the key going higher with every step while he approached the sea. The music of the waves was much more gentle and choral, maybe something his mother liked listening to on the stereo in the greenroom.
Mozart.
The word tasted of...cigar smoke. He couldn’t taste it. He was walking down a street in Kuala Lumpur, a place he hadn’t visited in years. But that was alright. He was there again and he was also in kindergarten and he was also pricking his hand on the connector pins of his first robot’s CPU socket. Even the pain turned into something else, and so did his hand, growing much larger, less clumsy, and covered in fine little hair like his was now. The hand grabbed a glass filled with something that sang numbers to him. They were beautiful fractions, squares and negatives, and parabolic curves. Such agreeable numbers that poured out of the glass he brought to his mouth.
But it tasted like pride.
*
“Remarkable…”
“Widespread synaptic firing is evident in the prefrontal area and the occipital lobe. It appears that the compound is activating the association areas exactly as predicted. This could work, doctor.”
“I do not want us to get ahead of ourselves. If the glutamate levels rise much beyond the current baseline, we’ll be looking at status epilepticus.”
“The EEG does not indicate seizure activity at the moment.”
“With this much glutamate and NMDA, he might start seizing at any point.”
“The GABA levels are rising too, Doctor, it should maintain the seizure threshold for the time being.”
“I am not sure how long it can be maintained. I am still unsure whether this is a good idea.”
“We’ve been told to proceed with the analeptic therapy.”
“I know what we’ve been asked to do. It might not mean that it is the right venue to pursue at this time.”
“He appears to be tolerating the therapy for the moment.”
“But whether it will bring the results we need, we don’t know.”
“That’s true, Doctor.”
*
“Leonard Mercer.”
“This is Gabriel Rönning, good evening sir.”
“I presume you have news. I’ve told you not to call me unless it is prudent.”
“Yes, sir, on both counts, indeed.”
“What is it? I am about to speak to Mumbai and Karachi.”
“There has been a development with mister Foster, sir.”
“Yes?”
“It appears the experimental compound induced generalized partial seizures and - “
“Is he better or worse off than before?”
“It appears he might be emerging, sir.”
“Don’t tell him anything he doesn’t need to know until it is prudent.”
“Sir?”
“I will be there later today. It will take some time.”
“We don’t know how long this will last, sir.”
“I will be there later, Rönning.”
“Yes, sir."
*
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