"Welcome Miss Bromley. This is the Alpha wing. First we will have to confirm your awakening." A nurse dressed in a very different style of clothes from standard nurses came to greet them at the entrance to the wing. It certainly matched the sci-fi feel of the technology that was in that ward.
"All personnel of this ward are awakened so we can assure that you will be completely safe during the procedures. Please follow me to the exam room." The nurse beckoned them. Richard pushed Marcie's wheelchair with Angelo close in tow.
There was a lounge-like area where awakened people who were bandaged from their recent excursions were socializing. This was very different from the rest of the hospital. Richard took note of her gaze and leaned forward. "Awakened tend to heal faster and are much more sturdy. It's rather impossible to keep them cooped up in their rooms while they finish healing so they made these lounges for them."
Marcie laughed, imagining scenes of awakeners acting like toddlers escaping their rooms to go out and play with very overworked and panicking hospital staff trying their best to wrangle the chaos dressed like wild west sheriffs.
This almost seemed like a medical resort in comparison to the rest of the hospital. Why didn't they have such things for the regular people? Suppose they might have, but nothing like these lounges.
"Here we are, sorry gentlemen, but the two of you need to remain outside of the exam area. This is for staff and patients-only from this point on." The nurse pointed to the lounge area just outside. "You may wait for Miss Bromley over there." Marcie felt a little nervous but gave them a nod and smile that she would be alright.
While it's true that they didn't like that, after everything Marcie had just gone through, they couldn't exactly contest the rules in the hospital. Regretfully, they backed off. "We'll be waiting out here for you when you finish." Richard reassured her.
In the exam room, it wasn't at all like she was expecting. There were no typical medical devices in sight and the room was very bright. What she did see was a work desk with a computer and a rather large machine. It almost resembled an arcade game, but was much more sleek, no screen, and in the center was an orb that was partially sticking out of the console.
It was at a height that was meant for an adult to stand at to which Marcie wasn't entirely surprised. But what did surprise her was when the woman stepped on a petal on the floor and the machine began to lower.
"Sometimes, we have to test children and people with dwarfism and such, so we had the machine calibrated to be height-adjustable." Explained the nurse, amused by Marcie's slightly agape expression. "Mana doesn't discriminate between types of people, so neither can we." The nurse pulled some wires and electrodes out from a panel on the console and stuck them in specific areas around Marcie. Mainly places like her temple, collarbone and lower back. After typing in some commands she turned back to Marcie, the sound of the machine whizzed quietly as it started up. "Alright, Miss Bromley. Please place your left hand on the orb and keep it there until I tell you to release. You don't have to do anything aside from making sure as much of your hand is touching the orb as possible."
Marcie didn't hesitate to follow the nurses orders. Even though this all felt like things were moving too quickly from what she was used to. Then again, her entire life had already changed two years ago and she desperately hoped that this would be her chance at turning around her terrible streak of luck.
The orb had felt quite warm by the time the nurse instructed her to remove her hand. "Is it normal for a person to keep their hand there that long?" The nurse turned the screen to her and pointed to the wavelength recording.
"Not normally. It's usually pretty quick but there were some weird fluctuations with the measurements so I kept it going longer just to make sure." The nurse sent off the records and shut the machine down. "Congratulations Miss Bromley, you are officially awakened."
This was good news. It meant that she could finally have access to the technology she needs to finally fix her back. Marcie choked up a bit as the nurse wheeled her into the hall towards the next rooms to continue her panel of examinations. Marcie had hoped that Richard could have been there with her, he had become a source of stability to her while she recovered. Her anxiousness now was less negative now though, and more about looking forward to the future.