//------------------------------// // Abide with Me // Story: Flatline // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// “Hurry!” “Get her stabilised. NOW!” “Have we got a clear slot?” “Yes, wheel the bed over there.” Random words and sentences ran through Scootaloo’s mind as she slowly slipped in and out of various states of consciousness, the faint noise of rattling wheels and beeping assailing her eardrums as she tried to figure out where she was. At long last, the noise stopped, and more talking started up. “Prepare to initiate Intravenous Therapy.” “Copy, IV going in. 3, 2, 1...attached!” Scootaloo winced as she felt a needle pierce her skin. She’d never been good with needles, but at least she couldn’t see it going in. She’d really have lost it if that had happened. “Good, subject has stabilised. Continue to monitor status.” The girl groaned as her brain finally rebooted and her vision cleared...somewhat. It was strangely murky, as if someone had pulled clingfilm over her eyes. Glancing over, she saw someone try to get her attention. “Scootaloo Collins, can you hear me?” She nodded. “Yeah.” “I’m Doctor Stable, and I’ll be looking after you and monitoring your condition.” Scootaloo thought for a moment, trying to come up with something to say. Then she got her answer as she moved on of her arms over her. She was wearing not her clothes from earlier, but a medical gown. “I assume you intend to keep me here a while?” “Only as long as we have to,” Dr Stable replied. “Can you tell us what happened? Your friends gave us some details, but they seemed to be somewhat distressed.” Scootaloo sighed as her memory activated, and she tried to think back through what had happened. “I recall being with my friends, we were talking about something or other. Then I got up so we could go further into the mall. Then I fell, and next I know, I’m here.” Dr Stable looked concerned. “Have you been having any medical issues lately? If there have been any issues, it would help for us to know.” Scootaloo thought for a moment. “I’ve been eating and sleeping OK. I’ve had the odd bit of dizziness every now and then, but-” “When did this last happen?” “A few weeks back, when me and my friends went on a trip to Crystal City. Wait, where are they?” Dr Stable sighed. “Scootaloo, it’s not OK for them to be here right now. We need to do some tests first, and then they can come over.” He paused. “Any other problems you can think of?” “Well, there was that time when I slipped and knocked a regulator on an engine I was driving.” If that was meant to reassure Dr. Stable, it was the exact opposite. “I need to go and do some tests,” he said. “In the meantime, I will let the nurses now your family can now see you.” He headed off toward the medical lab, with a syringe in hand. Scootaloo realised he must have taken a sample of her blood whilst she was out, which suggested something serious. In addition to this, the heart monitor continued the percussive beeping sound in the background, monitoring her heart rate and checking she was stable. Just then, two shapes appeared and moved closer, as quickly as they could. “Oh my God, Scootaloo!” one of them said, which Scootaloo recognised immediately. “Mom,” she wheezed, being shorter on strength and enthusiasm than usual. Cheerilee took a seat on her right, followed by her father. “How are ya?” Will asked. “Permission to speak freely?” Scootaloo asked. Will chuckled. “Granted.” “To be honest, at the moment, I feel like hammered shit, and you two look like trees from where I am.” “There’s something wrong with your vision?” Cheerilee asked. “Yeah, it’s a little fuzzy. The doctor’s working on it, said something about needing to do tests.” “I’m certain it’s nothing to worry about,” Will reassured his wife. “They’ll just need to do some checks, and you’ll be back on your feet in no time, right?” Scootaloo laughed quietly. “Yeah, I suppose so.” They were suddenly interrupted by a loud bang, and the doctor reappeared from the right-hand side of Scootaloo’s vision. “I take it you are Scootaloo’s parents?” he asked. “Yes sir,” Will replied. “William and Cheerilee Collins.” The doctor seemed like he was troubled. “I should never have to say this, but...” He seemed to be struggling to get the words out. He turned to Scootaloo. “Scootaloo Collins, I am so sorry to tell you this, but...you are going to die.” “WHAT?!” everyone chorused. “Keep it down!” shouted one of the nurses. Doctor Stable sat down and moved himself closer to Scootaloo, being on her right-hand side. “The medical checks I ran confirmed the cause of your dizziness and balance issues lately. There is a large tumour that is about the size of a tennis ball in the place where her spine and skull join. CT scans confirm this, and it seems it has sat there undetected for months.” “Can’t you just remove it?” Scootaloo asked, who was now beginning to tear up. “No,” the doctor answered. “If we were to attempt to remove it, the strain it would put your body through would kill you. Either way, you will die.” The girl sighed. “How long have I got? A few days, a week, a month?” The response shocked her to her core. “Three hours, we estimate.” Cheerilee burst into tears at this news, and Will desperately tried to comfort his wife. “Hey, take it easy,” he said. “How can I take it easy?” Cheerilee answered, still sobbing. “I don’t want to lose her! It’s simply not fair for her to have her life taken when she’s so young!” “Hey,” Scootaloo said, quietly. “I’ve done a lot in my life. That railroad, I’ve driven steam engines, made friends along the way, and even helped reform two girls. Well, at least I have some time to make more memories with my friends, and I’ll have one last train ride before I reach the pearly gates. On the topic of that, where are my friends?”