Major Carol Danvers/Ms. Marvel (imanavenger) wrote in thedoorway, @ 2015-01-27 13:45:00 |
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In theory Carol knew why she was still in SWORD medical. Up until a week ago she was volatile, with no memory and unable to control her own emotions. Without control of her emotions her powers became more dangerous. Add that up with a ticking time bomb inside her head and Carol was a threat to everyone who was near her. So far the surgery conducted by Dr. Strange and the psychic assistance of Summers had proven to be a success. But success had to be measured, observed. And with the unknown factor of her biology in combination with whatever had happened on that planet, observation was the most logical conclusion. And Carol did not disagree. In fact she wholeheartedly agreed that she should stay at SWORD in case there were more complications. Her powers were dangerous if she could not control them. Add in the fact that most of her memories were still gone and it was a recipe for disaster. But as each day went by more memories slowly shifted back into place. Most of them didn’t quite click together and even the ones she had were not necessarily useful. But they were coming back, filling in the vast emptiness that had been her mind. But the better she felt the more confining medical became. She had managed to convince Abigail to give her a few smaller reports. It was nothing serious, mostly background information on objectives that she should already have known. But it helped if she felt busy even if it was more a token kindness than actually helping Abigail get any work done. It was what she was doing when the door opened. “Abigail I was just-” Carol cut herself off and smiled when she saw who it actually was. “You’re not Brand at all.” Luke returned her smile. “No, I’m not but I have cookies,” he held up the bag that he had brought with him. Although he hadn’t known her very long, Luke liked Carol and enjoyed working with her. Like everyone else, he’d been worried about her and while all he could do to help her was a Jedi healing trance to keep her comfortable until they could get her home, he was glad he’d been able to do something. He’d visited her a few times during her recovery but she’d been sleeping and now that she was doing better, Luke was glad to stop by and bring her cookies. He walked over and sat down in a chair and handed her the bag. “Peanut butter and a few chocolate chip. I bought them so you can rest assured that they’re edible. I’m afraid that my talents don’t extend to baking cookies. I’m really good with toast and Pop Tarts though.” Carol’s memory was very akin to spots and flashes. She would remember a face or an emotion. Often they would not necessarily be connected. There were files though, she had read through them extensively. Each key member of Sword had a written history, something documented that Carol was fairly sure she had an extensive hand in. Recruitment files, personality tests, mission reports. Carol might not remember her people but she had done her best to at least have the information to react to them accordingly. And then there was the fact that in all that she didn’t remember Carol did have glimpses of Star Wars. She wasn’t sure if it was Brand’s doing or not, but the small fleeting glimpses greatly helped the extensive documentation that she had gone over. This was Luke Skywalker. He was in the mission report from her accident. And the notes her and Brand had taken were extensive. Her smile widened as she took the bag, opening it happily and all too eager. “You know, I hear that you have to have a trick with Pop Tarts. Maybe you’re better than you think.” she laughed before setting the bag down on the desk. “There is a trick. If you don’t have the toaster on the right setting, they come out burned and then the smoke alarm goes off.” Luke laughed. “not that I did that the first time I tried to use a toaster or anything like that.” As skilled as he was in the technology of his world, some of the simplest things here had taken getting used to. Like toasters. And microwaves. “We won’t even talk about what happened when I used the microwave. I know now why you can’t put that silver stuff in it...aluminum foil I think it’s called?” He looked at Carol, reaching out to her with the Force to get a sense of how she was feeling. She seemed to be feeling better but her memories weren’t completely back yet. “So how are you feeling? Getting tired of being cooped up yet?” “That’s quite the trick. Good to know you didn’t burn down the tower.” Carol fished a cookie out before lifting up the bag again, offering one up to her visitor. SWORD had an amazing loyalty to its people. Their faces registered as glimpsed in her mind, bursts of emotion when she saw them that she couldn’t quite pinpoint. And yet so many of them had come to see her. She had meant it when she said their team was amazing. “You know you can put a bar of soap in the microwave? Not that I’ve done that.” Small glimpses. Maybe she had. Or maybe she had seen someone else do it. Taking a bite, Carol held her hand out over the paperwork in front of her. “Brand’s had mercy and given me something to do other than count the ceiling tiles again.” she replied easily. “I’m glad I didn’t burn down the Tower either. I think they would have found a way to stuff me back into the Tesseract if I’d done that,” Luke laughed. He was much better with the appliances now but that first week had been an experience. “and soap? I’ll have to try that. See what it does. Might be fun.” He glanced at the paperwork. “That’s a pretty large pile but you’re right, it’s better than counting ceiling tiles. Just out of curiosity how many are there?” He grinned at her. She probably hadn’t actually counted them all but Luke could see how boredom would lead someone to want to do that. “I think I’d go nuts if all I had to do was just stay in one space for a long time.” Carol was beginning to wonder if she wasn’t going nuts. There was only so much respite that visitors could provide and Carol legitimately could not remember the last time she saw the outside world. Still patience had to be exercised. If this was just a short spell of lucidity and she spiraled back out of control while on the outside what position would that put the team she held in such high regard? As maddening as it was a week or two of observation to make sure she was on the mend was nothing compared to the scope of the violence she was capable of if she was not. Still the smile stayed in place. She had visitors and it broke up the monotony that was otherwise her day. “Well I convinced you to come down here and entertain me, so it isn’t all bad.” Carol chuckled before casting a look up at the tiles. “And there are 33 tiles, by the way.” “You didn’t have to try very hard to persuade me, I’ve been concerned about you.” Luke smiled at her. “and then I find out you like cookies so how could I possibly turn that down.” He followed her gaze up to the ceiling. “Only 33? I would have thought there would be more.” I’ve been concerned about you Luke wasn’t the first person to say something similar. Each member of the team Carol had contacted said something similar. From reports the team had not been together all that long, only a few months after being dissolved from SHIELD. But still there was this unexplainable tie of respect with her people. How Carol had managed to command such a force of talented and caring people she had no idea. She hoped she had done something good to deserve it. “If all I have to do is tell you to bring me food you’re going to make it pretty difficult to not take advantage of that.” Carol took another happy bite from the cookie in her hand. If didn’t matter if it was store bought or homemade, all that mattered was that it was delicious peanutbuttery goodness. “And the tiles are deceptively big.” “I don’t mind bringing you cookies,” he said with a chuckle. “I haven’t gone through anything like what you’ve gone through but I’ve spent my share of time recovering from injuries. It’s hard and it gets very boring so if cookies helps it go more quickly then cookies it is.” Things were different here, there were no bacta tanks or medical droids to make things go faster but the body still had to heal at its own pace regardless of the time and place. “They must be. My guess would have been closer to a hundred. Either way that’s far too many to stare at all day long. Not that the pile of paper work looks much more appealing,” he glanced over at the papers next to Carol’s hand. “I might just have to put in a standing order then.” Carol mused with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I haven’t just bounced back. There were I think a few times before I got my powers, but my body now heals so quickly. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to actually have to recover.” And for a while she had forgotten. This was all new territory even if it had not been for her powers. Granted without her powers she likely would have died before Strange would have been able to help. Raising an eyebrow, Carol smirked over at Luke. “Hey, don’t knock the paperwork. How do you think everything gets done here?” She laughed easily, flipping through the top few pages. “They’re files on everyone. I apparently take very extensive notes. It’s helped with catching up when I don’t have it in my head anymore.” “Oh you have files on everyone. Should I be worried?” He grinned. Of course the whole world knew everything there was to know about most everyone here. All they had to do was google it but still there were a few things that people didn’t know. Although Brand probably did know everything there was to know or at least came close to it. “Will the memories come back?” he asked. “I would think so with time but I was just curious. It must be hard not remembering things.” “Hmm, well yours does have mention of rebellious attitudes towards totalitarian authority. So I guess we should only worry if I decide that I need to be supreme ruler of SWORD.” Carol tilted her head with a smile, resting her hand on the papers in front of her. The files had personal observations on each key staff member. It wasn’t just history, but Carol’s own thoughts and comments on the team she was building. If she couldn’t have all of her memories it was the next best thing. Still the question sobered her. Pausing for a moment, Carol reached for another cookie and thought on how to answer. “Yes and no.” She finally replied. “Some of them are gone forever. Rachel managed to save what she thinks is most of my mind but there’s no telling when they’ll come back, what order, or really even how.” A small quirk again that was almost a mimic of a smile and she shrugged. “It is. I didn’t know my own name. I still don’t really know exactly who I am, let alone everyone else. But dwelling won’t fix it. So all that can really be done is push forward. And if I remember I remember.” “Yeah I kind of did have a few issues with that,” he said with a sheepish grin. “but as long as you don’t try to take over, I think we’ll be good. I’m somewhat more mature than I was then though.” Most of the time anyway. “I’m glad that they were able to help you,” he said. “and hopefully you’ll get at least the most important ones back.” Luke couldn’t imagine how it would feel to not remember his family, the things that had shaped him into the person he was, it would be difficult for anyone. “Well you’ve got a lot of support on your side,” he told her. “I can only speak for myself but if there’s anything I can do to help you remember, I’ll be happy to do so. And if there isn’t, I can always provide cookies and company.” “I think Brand might take issue with it too, so I’ll resist the urge.” It was easier to tease about possible rebellions than think about what would happen if her memories did not come back. The other Carol who had been through this already, no one had been able to save hers. Carol was lucky as it was that there were memories at all to save. Still it was frustrating, not knowing. Or having the sensation that she should know but was not quite able to place it. The more that slowly started to filter in the more frustrating it became, connections that went nowhere. But a bright, full smile took up residence when he said that. “You have all been so amazing. I’m incredibly honored to have such kind and loyal people as part of my team. This all would be more of a nightmare if it wasn’t for that.” And she meant it. These people who she had glimpses of memories embraced her in a way that took her breath away. “And I certainly won’t say no to cookies and company.” |