Shy
Posted on Fri Sep 6th, 2024 @ 7:35am by Sergeant Andrew Shy
Edited on on Mon Sep 9th, 2024 @ 8:48pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 15 - The Evil That Lies Beneath
Location: The Snake Pit - Deck 9 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 0915 hrs
Lights came up in the bathing chamber as a preset condition were met. A low hum caused the otherwise smooth surface of water in the therapy tub to ripple as the therapeutic systems came online and the computer switched the chamber status from to In Use, cycling from the previous, Out of Order tag it had displayed for the past several days.
Andrew slowly emerged from the tub he’d been soaking in. He’d didn’t know how long he’d been there but suddenly his body became his own again and he sat up slowly, pushing himself up and out onto his feet, water draining onto the tiled floor. He was in the Cures fresher station and he was thankful he’d not been disturbed. All he could recall was that he’d felt the need to soak and had had some very odd dreams. Dreams meant he'd been asleep and that struck him as rather odd, but the feeling was fleeting and he moved to a treatment station as he noted red blotches over his skin and he kinda felt like a prune.
The Auto-Doc informed him that he had mild Maceration over seventy percent of his body and recommended a topical ointment and hydro fiber bandaging spray. Working efficiently, he applied both and was staring at himself, trying to come to terms with the whole thing but continuously found his attention wandering as he focused on getting himself moving. Andrew felt like he was coming up out of a deep well. Sitting on the treatment bench, he put his head in his hands and tried to gather himself. Deciding he needed caffeine, he ordered up a mug from the replicator and took a sip, enjoying the warmth beginning to cycle through his system. The stimulant helped too and his mind began to come out of it's funk.
Then his comm chirped and the computer’s voice told him, “Corporal Shy, you are to take command of a Fire Team manning the No-Loan-Zone at the SCIF.
Blinking, he acknowledged the order and began climbing into the uniform he’d apparently stored away. He had no memory of that but then he didn’t have a memory of being in that tub for so long. And no idea why he hadn’t been summoned for duties.
Or had he?
He moved to a wall mounted panel as the automated systems began draining the water from the tub and blowers kicked into dry the floor. The floor was also heated and he welcomed the warmth as he realized his core temperature had dropped a degree or two from his extended submersion.
Andrew could only surmise that he hadn’t been feeling well and it had seemed like a good idea at the time. He scoffed at himself over that notion. The last time he’d actually uttered the phrase, he and the Major had been PFC’s aboard the USS Dagger, training around Io.
Stamping into his boots, he headed for the door, the memory of his extended soak disappearing like water down the drain.
Corporal Andrew Shy;
Tactical Systems Operator, Team 2, The Cure
USS Pioneer
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