-0-0-0-

The theater dimmed, the people leaned in, the screen lit up and the pictures moved.

Families watched, all eager for a new story to be told to them in vivid electric painting.

Unfortunately, tonight was not their night.

The screen flickered, as if power was lost momentarily.

People looked around for the source of the disturbance, but finding none, returned to their rapturous stare.

A small mote of light burst forth above them, not from anything, but instead out of nothing, a null space in the air above them.

The lights started to misbehave, and the screen showed none but static.

People looked around, some mesmerized, others terrified.

The mote grew larger, a cold blue light washing over each and every one of the onlookers, expanding into an orb, the edges crackling with electricity.

The few prudent, the ones alive to tell the tale now, got up and left, although some stayed, watching in the doorway.

The floor began to shake, as if the earth were heaving against its weighty bonds.

The screen shattered, showering the crowd in dense silico-metal.

The orb grew again, this time big enough to hold a human, curled up in a ball, and those who looked directly into it had this image burned into their retinas as the last thing they would ever see.

The orb expanded violently, the electricity coursing through the air, sizzling towards the horrified crowd. One by one, it surged through their bodies, killing them instantly. Even the skin of the prudent melted at the destructive touch of the lightning’s sudden discharge.

The human stayed, suspended in a glowing light, waves of electricity shooting out from his body, dancing along the walls and floor.

His body spasmed as the same energy played with him, tossing his limbs around like a deranged puppeteer.

He screamed, the rending of his vocal cords mixing with the popping of the lights and the dying cries of the unfortunate souls that dared to be caught in the catastrophe.

The waves accelerated in rate, each coming sooner than the last, until a single pulse blasted forth, every metal object within sight becoming irreversibly supercharged, frying any and all electronics unlucky enough to be nearby.

The man, no longer suspended, fell to the ground, no sound issuing forth from him.

And all was silent.

Then, all too soon, the floor, weak from stress, began to collapse, cracking and crumbling into the lobby below.

First the room, then the adjacent ones, then the whole building came to fall to its knees.

And silence reigned again.

-0-0-0-

Argh.

The light is too bright.

Stop...!

Wha-? My hand... it won’t move?

Urgh... I’m sore all over.

My ribs hurt, even when I breathe... ha...!

My skin feels like it’s constantly crawling under intense sunlight...

I feel like I’m spinning...

Too fast...

Argh...

-0-0-0-

Hah... hah...

The light is manageable now.

My bicep feels like a train ran it over.

A train... what’s that again?

Some sort of engine.

I remember it had a modular transport system, and some sort of specialized road...

Gah... my head hurts.

I can barely move my hand, and it hurts like hell, but...

That’s it...

Yes...! I can move my fingers!

But I’m still dizzy...

I wonder...

-0-0-0-

Hnngh.

I can’t open my eyes.

The light has turned back on.

My ears are ringing.

My skin doesn’t feel like it’s crawling anymore.

And I think I can move my hand...

Yes! It’s touching my thigh. I can feel it.

I’m no longer dizzy.

I want to try to move...

Maybe just a leg, but I want to...

Hrr-hah...

Instead of being straight, my legs are splayed out.

That’s all of my energy for now.

-0-0-0-

The light has turned back off.

I feel like I’m getting stronger.

I want to open my eyes.

It’s...

Dark...

The ceiling is basic, as is the walls.

Judging by the equipment on that thin metal table, I’d say I’m in a hospital...

That’s where they treat the sick...

Am I sick?

I feel like I should be dead.

Can I tilt my head...?

There’s a window.

A little bit of light plays through on the pillow next to my head.

It’s not a natural light...

Oh well.

I’m hungry...

Maybe I could get something to eat?

No...

My legs are still fairly numb.

It would be a bad idea to stand up.

I’ll just wait for now...

-0-0-0-

The light is back on.

My ears aren’t ringing as badly.

I hear something...

Clack, clack, clack.

Beep-wheet, beep-wheet...

Skrit, skrit...

These aren’t normal noises.

I think the beep-wheet might be a hospital machine.

What is the clack, and the skrit?

I can’t open my eyes while staring at the ceiling.

Maybe if I look out the window?

No, the light blinds me even this way.

If I turn away?

Yes, this is manageable.

I open my eyes.

I can’t see much, just a mirror, a... bed...

Oh, God...

Is that me...?

All I can see is two dead eyes amidst the mass of bandages.

They scream for help.

I look away, unable to face it...

A woman...?

She’s standing in the corner...

What’s with that look?

She’s holding a clipboard. That must be the skrit-skrit I heard.

She looks scared.

I have to do something!

Move... my hand, just a little... bit...!

Argh!

Your scream hurts! Stop!

Stop! Ugh..!

Clack-clack-clack...

She ran away...

Am I really that repulsive...?

The mirror doesn’t make me look flattering, I’ll admit.

She’s gone now.

I’m out of energy again...

-0-0-0-

The lights are still on?

Isn’t it time for them to turn off?

Open your eyes, dangit!

Who is that in the mirror?

The same woman, wearing a white coat, and another woman, in a blue coat.

White Coat looks unhappy.

I’m hot.

This blanket is too heavy.

Move, move...

Move!!

Eh, close enough.

I can feel my hands, formerly at my sides, now at my chest.

I can feel the smooth fabric of this blanket.

Pinch here, and...

Fwap.

Hah, that’s better. Cool air is circulating now.

I want to see what I look like in the mirror.

That’s weird.

Still more bandages?

White Coat is.. hey!

She’s grabbing the blanket.

No, don’t!

Argh! Why’d you put it back on?!

Grab a fistful!

Hah!

Fwap.

Ow...!

My lungs hurt.

I’m breathing too hard.

Hey, White Coat... look at me!

Don’t you dare put that back on me again!

Oh, she looks scared.

I guess I overdid it.

Oh, well.

Blue Coat doesn’t look impressed.

Maybe I should stay still for a while...

-0-0-0-

Oh, the lights are off.

My abs hurt.

I can’t sit up, but I want to.

Maybe on my right, where the beep-wheet is.

Search, search...

I feel a button.

It’s large?

I’m going to press it.

Nothing happened.

I’m going to keep searching.

A slider?

Ahrgh! Ungh! Gah...!

Well, now... argh... I know the slider controls the backrest.

Slide it slowly up...

Yes, it’s working.

Hah... ah... my stomach feels like it’s on fire.

Finally, I’m sitting up.

Ow!

The lights just turned back on!

Stop! Turn them off!

Clack! Clack! Clack!

I’m guessing that’s walking...

Oh, White Coat.

Why do you look suprised?

Don’t point at me...!

Why are you pointing at my... stomach...?

Oh.

Oh...

It’s red...

-0-0-0-

I’m back on my back.

My stomach doesn’t hurt as much anymore.

I was careless and hurt myself, I think.

It’s quiet now, though.

Maybe I can use the slider to sit up again, but slowly this time.

Where is it?

There’s the button, so the slider should be here...!

No!

It’s gone!

This must have been White Coat’s doing.

Well, dang.

What does this button do, anyways?

It makes a satisfying noise when I push it, hehe.

Nothing, oh well.

It’s quiet... I hear a swishing outside.

Clack, clack... clack?

The light are on again.

Good thing my eyes weren’t open.

I’m going to open them slowly...

White Coat?

Why are you here?

Wait... the button must call White Coat to me.

I remember they have a similar button in the hospitals I remember.

Let me just move my hand to where the slider should be...

Up, down. Up, down.

She’s looking at my hand, watching my movement...

Come on, get it!

Clack-clack-clack.

She left...

I don’t know what I expected.

Tch. I guess I’m going back to sleep...?

Oh?

I’m moving!

Slowly... hah...

I’m sitting up!

Clack, clack, clack.

It’s White Coat again!

She understood. Perfect.

Does she understand me when I nod?

She nodded back. Good.

Let me see if I can get some food off of her.

Let me put my hand to my mouth...

Oh, I guess I’m out of energy.

Dang, oh well.

I’ll just sleep like this then.

-0-0-0-

The lights are still on.

Let’s open our eyes slowly again, shall we?

White Coat and Blue Coat are here.

Blue Coat looks mad.

She’s mad at White Coat by the play-by-play I’m seeing.

Do I have enough energy to move my hand?

Yes. Good.

Find the button...

There.

Click.

What? No response?

Fine, I’ll do this the hard way.

Cli-cli-cli-cli-cli-cli-cli-cli-click!

Look at me!

Thank you.

Bring my hand up to my mouth...

Point, and then drag down to stomach.

What, nothing?

You apes. Maybe if I do it again?

It looks like White Coat understands.

Clack, clack, clack.

She’s gone again.

It’s just Blue Coat.

She does not look happy.

I’m not happy with you either, if that helps.

Hey, what are you doing?

Don’t come closer than that.

Ah, going to slap me?

Do it, I dare you.

Clack-clack-clack.

Ah, White Coat is back.

That’s right, you move away.

Oh, what is that smell?

Soup? Oh, White Coat, you didn’t have to.

Oh, there’s still bandages around my mouth.

Thanks, White Coat.

Why are my hands so shaky?

All I want to do is pick up this spoon!

Grip... grip...!

The tendon in my arm feels like a metal rod.

Finally.

Now, up to the mouth...

Don’t spill, careful...

Part my lips just a little...

Ah, the soup is refreshingly warm.

It tastes a little like chicken, although it’s red...

It feels good sliding down my throat.

I’ve missed this...

Again.

Again.

Don’t spill, again.

Steady, again.

What, the bowl is empty?

Ugh. Over too soon.

Thank you, White Coat.

Let me try to speak.

“Ah...”

No, that’s not it.

Speak, man!

“Th... tha... nk... y... ou.”

Better.

What’s that look for?

Hmm. It seems they don’t understand me.

Can I smile?

Grk.

My face hurts.

Oh, she’s smiling back. Good.

Blue Coat, don’t look at me like that.

I don’t like you either.

Whatever.

Clack, clack, clack...

Oh, they left.

Okay, sleep time.

-0-0-0-

The lights are off.

I feel stronger.

All of my body aches less than it did last time I was awake.

I want to try to stand.

Move my leg...

One, two.

One, two.

Shuffle left, then reposition.

Shuffle again...

Okay, it’s off the edge.

I can barely feel the floor.

It’s cold.

My foot is bare.

I can wiggle my toes, which is a good sign.

Can I push off of my arms?

Evidently so, although it doesn’t feel too good.

Touchdown.

Now, to stand fully.

Shift, shift...

Ow...! Come on!

Hah... hargh!

Hold on to the edge of the bed, dangit.

I’m standing.

A bit wobbly. I need to use a crutch or something.

Let me look around.

There’s a bunch of machines in the wall behind the head of my bed, probably the source of the beep-wheet.

A cable in my arm?

Ugh. Makes me jittery. No thanks.

Pinch, and slide... out...

Whew. It’s out clean. No blood.

The window, maybe? I want to see outside.

Whoa.

It’s all angular.

That doesn’t look like anything I’ve seen.

The lights are so bright.

Like neo-fluorescent, almost.

Such vivid colors... it’s an odd sort of beautiful.

The buildings are all dark material, though.

Clack-clack-clack!

Oh, White Coat! I’d better get back in bed.

Step. Step.

Phwah. Not as perfectly situated as I’d like, but I’m in bed alright.

Ah, she’s here.

She looks concerned.

No, don’t grab the cable.

No!

“Nah... no...! Hah...”

Don’t look at me like that!

She understood nodding. Maybe if I shake my head?

Yeah, she understood.

Alright, well...

She’s leaving again.

Clack... clack... clack...

Close one.

I’m going to rest for now.

-0-0-0-