Figuratively Speaking: Iceberg

[Sombs]

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November 25th, 824 - Omicron Chi

Flashing lights. Fading blur. Snippets of consciousness. The headaches were strong, but the feeling of exhaustion was stronger. Every now and then he felt how he opened his eyes, but he didn't understand his surroundings. His stomach was hurting, he felt like he needed to vomit. At one point, he saw a body moving towards him, flying. "Ezrael!" A familiar voice, but he felt too drowsy to make any connection. What was going on? He suddenly felt weightless. No gravity. "Apahanta, I got him!" And then he felt a pull. Everything was moving around him. Trajectory kept him moving. His arm got pulled through the area around him. Everything hurt. It was horrible. He just wanted to sleep. His eyes closed.

More snippets. Gravity was back, but he didn't remember it was different. The lights were strong and he heard many voices, all of them blurry, no clear words. Something was pushing and pulling him, but it was okay, since he felt less weight after each push and pull. "Undress him, please." He tried to smile as he heard that, but he didn't feel like he had any control over his facial muscles. The silhouettes of two humans were drawing shadows in the brightness. His eyes hurt, something was forcing the eyelids to stay open for a moment and a piercing light shot into his eyeball. Shortly after it, he felt warmth of another body. It was pulling him. "I'd give much for him commenting this right now," the voice sounded. He still didn't grasp what was happening, but he felt cold air on the skin. "His lower body as well?" - "Yes, undress him completely." If only he knew what was happening. Those voices sounded female, familiar, and they were undressing him! But everything was so damn blurry and faded, it was frustrating. "That's really something you don't see all day..." - "I wish it wouldn't be thematized every single time the captain is here." - "Sorry, Doctor." The warm feeling was gone again. He was aware of him laying on something that wasn't too comfortable. Doctor? Was he in med-bay? There was no success in trying to connect any of those thoughts.

There was a sting. Something pierced through his skin. He still felt horrible. Drowsy, blind, his head was aching and his stomach pulsating as if he was about to throw up any moment. He tried to move his head to the side, as the light was hurting his eyes. Yet he had no control over it. "Both of you need to stay in here for a while." - "How long?" - "You, probably two hours. He however an entire day. I'll keep you and your vitals screened. You'll also need to undress yourself for the decontamination." There was an audible sigh. "Do you think he'll be fine?" - "Sadly, yes. The EVA suit protected him well, so the damage the radiation dealt is only temporary. He'll annoy you again, soon." Sadly? Annoy? He heard that. "I'm alright with that." - "Try to get as much sleep as possible. I can give you something for that, if you want." - "I'm okay, really. Thank you, Doctor."

It felt like he only closed his eyes for a second, but everything was different. Blue. His vision was less blurry. It still was hard to get any idea of his surroundings. Blue lights. Everywhere. Oh no. Decon, he thought. "Apahanta, please turn audio and video surveilance of this room off." That was Sherry's voice. Was it? The lights were intense and hurting. At least he didn't feel all that horrible anymore. The headaches were still there, as was the stomach ache. But he felt like he could move his neck again. He closed his eyes again, the lights were just hurting. A short moment later, he felt warmth on his lips. Hair was tickling his facial skin and a hand was cupping his cheek. He wanted to open his eyes, but it didn't work. Consciousness was lost again...

Confused, Ezrael opened his eyes again. Still everything blue. He was slightly sweaty. Rubbing his eyes, as they itched slightly, he felt he had control over his body again. Almost not headaches, his belly was fine. The inconvenience was still rather strong. He had no idea on what happened. Why was he in the decontamination? His muscles felt sore and weak, but he managed to sit up. He lay on a mat in the middle of the room. Everything was illuminated in blue by the decon radiation. There was nothing else than the few pieces of furniture here, not even any clothing. He was alone in here. "Doctor Carr? Can you hear me?"

A brief moment later, the radio played her voice. "I can hear you, Captain. How do you feel?"

Massaging the bridge of his nose, with eyes closed, he replied. "Okay-ish, I guess. My head hurts. What happened?" he asked her, trying hard to recap the events of the past.

"You were being a stubborn idiot again, Captain."

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