It took a few loops before Selara comprehended what was happening, more to develop a plan. And still it was all a jumbled mess of what she knew, and what she thought she knew.

“We have plasma burns here!”

“3 in, and asinolyathin on standby.”

Dr. Carmichael’s scream.

“How are you enjoying dominion over sickbay?”

These phrases haunted Selara’s mind like ghosts as she held the tricorder probe, probably for the hundredth time… who’s to say? She waited for the engineers to burst into sickbay.

“We have plasma burns here!”

“We have to do something Captain,” Selara said in frustration. “I don’t know how long we’ve done this loop.” She rubbed her eyes, “Bed 7 dies, time resets. Bed 8 dies, time resets. They both die, time resets.”

“We need to-…”, Saffiya started, but didn’t have the slightest idea what she was going to say. “Okay, what if we save both? I mean not like we’re not trying, but….”

“Maybe,” Selara said with consideration. “We’ve tried everything else.” She shrugged, “Maybe, I don’t remember anymore.”

Saffiya nodded, trying to drown out what was happening around her.

“What is the problem?”, she asked.

Selara thought a moment, breaking the problem into components, “The patients are the key to the time loop. It seems only logical by saving both, it would end. But why would that create a fracture in time?”

“What I mean is – what would help to save both? Equipment you need, staff… anything.”

“Oh,” Selara chuckled. She did some quick calculations. “We have enough staff to take care of both patients simultaneously. Wait…” Selara stopped herself and snapped her fingers. “Dr. Carmichael! In every version of the time loops, he’s taken out of commission from the plasma spray. He starts working on Bed 8 until I can get there.”

“So you think he’s responsible?”, Saffiya asked, her tone clearly indicating that she was unconvinced.

Selara considered this, “Well, no, I don’t think he’s causing the fracture. He’s a good doctor, but not that good.” She chuckled, “Just don’t tell him I said that.”

“Right…”, Saffiya sighed. She shook her head. “What now?”

“On the next reset, I’ll send you and Dr. Carmichael to Bed 7. I’ll put shielding around Bed 8 to account for the spray.”

Saffiya nodded. “Agreed. Worst thing that can happen is that we reset yet again – I hope.” She considered this for a moment. “Actually I am not sure. But for the lack of anything better to do….”

Selara moved to Bed 8, “Carmichael, move to Bed 7. I’ll take 8,” she ordered as she began putting on sterile garb. “Implement barrier protection around the burn areas,” she said to her surgical crew. Selara was met with confused stares. “We’re dealing with volatile plasma burns. Who knows the extent of the damage?”

“Initializing forcefield,” a surgical tech responded.

“She’s right, residual plasma could explode… in… your eyes…” Dr. Carmichael commented from Bed 7, his voice tinged with confusion. “Why would I know that?” He shook his head and continued his work.

“All right, go ahead and close things up,” she addressed her surgical tech. “Dr. Carmichael and I will have a group debrief in 30,” she addressed the entire team. “Great job everyone,” She discarded her sterile garb.

Selara moved to Saffiya, “Okay we saved both of them this time. That should break the loop,” Selara smiled.

Captain Saffiya Nassar was having an excellent day. Most of her work had been finished the night before, and she was very much looking forward to at the very least a few hours to unwind. She had meant to continued her Florence, 1473 holo adventure – and this time, hopefully she’d get to murdering her husband without interruptions from Lorra.

She had just risen from her chair, eager to leave he ready room behind, when a chime sounded… reminding her of her annual physi-….

“Well, shit. Not again.”