A Positively Smooth Recovery (Litmus Test AT Aftermath)

Shortly after Battle Island is torn apart into scraps of metal and glass, an unconscious half-naked battered Saiyan hybrid drifts away in the murky ocean barely hanging on to dear life. to Russ's detriment, there isn't anyone out there to find and rescue this lone survivor, and it is very likely the Kais in the sky decided it was time for the man to come home. Someone among the gods didn't agree to sever his life string as he isn't allowed to go to the otherworld yet, Russ has his whole life ahead of him and they intend to let him live until his natural expiration date.

The Kais all agreed and plans are set in motion for the young hybrid, a stray horizontal piece of metal from the remains of Battle Island float towards his body to serve as an armrest to keep him afloat, it supported his torso all the way to shore. He washed up on the beach and lay motionless on the sandy surface in front of eyewitnesses loitering on the beach during evening hours. They all could've gone home by now if not for the sudden destruction of Battle Island in the distance and their curiosity prompted them to stay.

-"Holy hell, what just happened!?"
-"Did Battle Island just blow up?.. Are we under attack!?"
-"I freakin knew those no good aliens are coming to get us! We are so screwed!"
-"AHHHHHH, I DONT WANNA DIEEEEEEEEE!!!"
-"Will someone hurry up and save us? Did anyone call the cops?"
-"Oh great! I should've listened to my husband and stayed home today! I'm about to get vaporized in an alien invasion!"
-"Hey! is that guy dead over there? Come over here quick!"

A person finally noticed the bare-chested half Saiyan on the floor from all the incoherent rambling and rushed over to check on his condition with everyone following them. They stood and loomed over him with mixed emotion, some are concerned if he is going to make it, and others are terrified if he'll wake up to attack them. Some are angry and hold him responsible for what transpired a minute ago.

-"Whoa! That guy looks a shredder tore him up good!"
-"Is he alive?"
-"He looks weird and he smells funny, is that...hair dye?"
-"Is he a Saiyan? His tail looks like one and it's blue..so strange.."
-"Does he have I.D on him?"
-"I don't know, but there's something familiar about him"
-"I bet he's the one who blew up Battle Island! Let's kick his ass soon as he wakes up!"
-"YEAH! Let's teach this blue freak a lesson for messing with us!"

Russ is unaware he's dangerously exposed to the ignorance and ugly side of humanity, without the full context of the incident they were ready to demolish someone they failed to understand. Thankfully that didn't happen. A man glared at all of the people and spread his arms at them "HEY!! EVERYBODY BACK UP!! What the hell's the matter with you? A man is dying over here! Someone call an Ambulance!" finally someone with common sense. He kneeled down and pressed two fingers on his neck below the edge of his jaw and his eyes widen. "His pulse is faint, he's still alive!" he touched Russ's back to confirm he was still warm, chilling salt water and freezing his body aside. He couldn't figure out how the man is breathing with a big hole in his chest but it's wonderful he survived. He felt relieved knowing they are going to save a life.

An ambulance arrived at the beach in the nick of time and medical staff got out of the vehicle and scurried over to the near-dead Saiyan. "Good lord, what happened to him?" the ambulance driver asked the guy. "We don't know, we found him laying here like this" he answered. The driver examined Russ and check for a pulse and its still present. He looked at the man to question him. "Did you check to see if he drowned? Did you try CPR on him?" the driver would do it himself if they haven't already. "No sir, he has a big hole right there on his chest, I didn't want to risk hurting him and making it worse." He replied. The driver scanned the circular wound and gripped his chin with two fingers. "Hmm...looks like CPR won't be necessary, the water drained out of his system thanks to this hole having an entrance and exit here. He's also impaled extremely close to his heart, we need to get him to Central City Medical Center before we lose him." he concluded. Explains why is there a massive puddle on the beach floor underneath the hybrid.

The medic staff yelled for his fellow employees "Help me get him on the stretcher!" they hurried and brought the transportation he asked for and help him lift Russ and sat him on the stretcher. "We'll take it from here, yall go on home now" he told everyone. The civilian watched Russ being escorted away into the back of the truck and looked at him one last time. "Don't worry man, you're gonna be okay.." he muttered as he watched him drive the blue boy away to the hospital.

-72 Hours Later-

"Urrrm..uggghh..wha..?" a soft tired groan left his mouth as eyelids slowly opened up and saw a solid white ceiling. Russ winced and clenched his teeth sitting up on the bed and he surveyed the room around him. "Where...am I?" confused and holding his head, he spotted some cabinets, medical utensils hanging on the wall, a restroom door, a heart monitor and finally a chair full of clothes he's never seen before. He blinked his eyes staring at the new wardrobe trying to discern if they belong to him. He recalled his old clothes were torn up in battle and he is looking to pick a new outfit after fighting Marrow, guess this saves him the trouble of going shopping...how convenient. Russ looked down at himself discovering he is covered in white bandages around the waist, legs, and forearms. A white patch covered up his heart wound and he is wearing hospital pants.

"Oh good, you're finally awake." A calm voice spoke.

Russ snapped his head to face the direction of the voice to watch a doctor walk into his room towards him. "How are you feeling?"

"Lost and confused, how long was I out?" he asked the man worried he stayed in...whatever this place is for too long.

The doctor smiled "You're in Central City medical center, you have been asleep for three days" he revealed.

"Three Days!?" Russ exclaimed, scenarios running through his head of orange star academy writing him up for unexcused absences or him missing a deadline to present a new invention to capsule corp.

He adjusted his glasses "When our staff brought you here, you almost didn't make it, we had to heal your body using liquid Senzu Bean injections and perform emergency heart surgery and stitch your heart and skin tissue together." he said solemnly.

Russ felt nauseated and rubbed his neck, keeping himself together. "Man..it was really that bad huh.." looking away slightly, to think he was teetering on the edge of death's door over his foolish mistake.

The doctor sensed his troubles and did his best to rectify them. "You won't have to worry about any heart complications those stitches are dissolvable, they won't go away until your injuries are healed up, I suggest you take it easy for three months, any strenuous physical activity will delay the healing process and reopen those wounds, that means no martial arts for a while" he clarified.

Russ wanted to protest taking a break from fighting but his mouth didn't move, it was no use arguing against helpful advice, he accepted his fate. "I'll be sure to remember that, thanks Doc...am I free to go?" he asked.

The doctor tapped his chin "It's been three days, you should be able to move up and about, the anesthesia should've worn off by now but just to be safe I recommend you stay here for an extra day before you walk out of here"

Russ leaned back on the bed with his hands behind his head. "Alright, I'll stick around then, an extra nap couldn't hurt."

The medical man smiled "Good, I'm going to go check on my other patients, if you need anything you can press the red button on that device on your right, I'll see you later" he said before walking out of the room leaving Russ alone with his thoughts.

Russ stared at the ceiling in silence as he begins to reflect on his situation. 'Never thought I would spend all this time couped up in here, if I'm gonna stay here for a bit longer, I can get some image training done and plan my next move. I hope those fighters took down Marrow and save Battle Island, if not I'll have to track her down and throw her in the slammer myself. I can't feel any sign of her energy, this will be difficult His eyes furrowed.

Suddenly his eyes widen completely forgetting something important 'Aww no! I forgot to ask the doctor about those clothes on the chair! Oh well, I'll ask him if he comes back he sighed and relaxed on the bed continuing to stare at the ceiling to pass the time.