Page 12 of Stars in Aura

Her medical notes were pristine, too sterile. Her surgical logs provided only what was necessary.

The summaries were careful, polished, and efficient.

There was nothing to accuse, only a gnawing, gut-deep feeling that something wasn’t right.

Buried in the attached nurse notes and patient testimonials, he began recognizing a pattern. One centered on mentions of Dr. Elaris administering unusual treatment during post-op care.

None of it made sense, for much of it was incomprehensible.

Rapid changes in vitals following moments of her holding a hand.

Eyes glowing, just for a heartbeat.

The drone of energy that no one could explain.

He moved into the ship’s social accounts.

Tis where rumors swirled among nursing, junior doctors, orderlies, and mid-tier staff.

He found more casual references to phenomena ascribed to Dr. Elaris that some called her ‘miracle touch.’

Whispers of an aura.

Of patients claiming they saw visions when she leaned in to whisper to them.

A handful of medics even hinted, half-earnest, that she was out of this universe.

Super-freakin-natural.

Twas preposterous. Freakin’ mind-blowing.

Ki’Remi reclined back in his chair, crossing his arms, eyes still locked on the records.

‘She’s running some kind ofjuju,’ he muttered. ‘Some unauthorized shit she hasn’t disclosed. The question is, why?’

He didn’t believe in miracles. He believed in medicine, complex data, anatomy, discipline, blood, and steel.

Above all, in non-maleficence, the oath to ‘do no harm’ and to avoid actions that could cause harm to a patient.

Whatever Issa Elaris was doing in the dark wasn’t in the handbook, and his duty was to get to the bottom of it.

Just then, his 2IC, Darin Trevayne, a Dunian surgeon with great experience and a man he respected, cleared his throat and kicked off the session.

After a few dull case presentations came the one that made Ki’Remi sit up and take notice.

‘Next: Dr. Issa Elaris, Neuro-Oncology. Presenting a patient diagnosed with advanced-stage glioblastoma intertwined within critical cerebral tracts. Dr. Elaris?’

Issa nodded to Trevayne and rose to take her place at the front of the room, standing before the massive translucent screen flickering with the ship’s logo.

She tapped her wrist holo, bringing up a 3D scan of her patient’s brain.

The display detailed glowing neural connections and the ominous dark masses cutting through them like shadows.

She introduced herself, her voice measured and crisp, before launching into her presentation.

‘The tumor has spread across vital neurological regions, making it inoperable by conventional means,’ she stated. ‘However, I propose an unmediated neuro-link procedure where I interface with the patient’s neural network in real-time. Allowing me to observe the pathways as they function and excise the mass with enhanced precision. There’s also growing evidence that direct-cerebral surgery helps with faster healing of the body, mind, and soul.’

A ripple of murmurs passed through the team.

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