Chapter Seven: Medical

UNKOWN, 2535

COVENANT BASE, OUTER COLONIES

Snap after snap, sting after sting, the clouds get thicker. Laughing horrible laughing echoed off of the walls.

I awoke with a start and vomited but immobilized again I couldn't flip. I gurgled trying to force the foul liquid out. I was going to drown in my own vomit, what a great way to die. Suddenly I was on my side and managed to slip it out. First thought: who flipped me? Second thought: Why?

I franticly looked around in what area I could, nothing. Then I heard very light footsteps exit my room and shut the door. Well I guess I would never figure out who saved me.

I let out a sort of sigh and went over what options I had left in my head; tedious death, fast death, suicide and a small very unlikely chance of being rescued. An image of Staff Sergeant Dwain Aegis flashed in my mind like a sick reminder. I threw tedious death out of my options. I could give the information to the "Spartan" but I wouldn't hold him to his word. So I also threw out the fast death. Also seeing the super slim chance of rescue I took that out of the bunch. That I guess left suicide, not the happiest of options.

Hours seemed to pass by, dripped by actually. There must have been a leak somewhere because there was this annoying dripping noise that seemed to keep the seconds. I drifted into sleep, a rather peaceful sleep that I haven't had in a while. I even woke peacefully. Strange that they haven't came to get me yet or something. Then I thought about the paralyzing stuff; when would that ware off? I tried to move and managed to twitch my only pinky finger. Well that was better than nothing.

Another hour passed by, well at least the 3600 drops I heard that I had started using to count seconds. I tried moving again. This time I moved my toes and my eyes. Another 3600 seconds passed and I could rotate my head. Another 1800 seconds later I could move my arms and finally another 1975 drops I could move my legs. Good I could move everything! I pushed myself to sitting position and took a look around.

Nothing had changed. Even my suit still lay forgotten in the corner of my room, its metallic parts turning a shade of brown. The helmet was missing. I had not thought of that. I tried to get up but I fell back down to my knees. I waited another moment and tried again but this time I managed to stand. I stood still for a second as the room spun a 360. My legs shook unaccustomed to standing but I managed to walk to the wall next to my suit. I shifted the pieces in my hands thinking of my life. Not much to think about I had to admit.

5400 drops later of thinking I heard a familiar bang echo off of the rocks of the prison. I stood up, maybe I could at least bring someone with me. Then suddenly it felt as if a brick smashed me in the face. I could feel the warm blood trickle down the front of my face and taste the salty vital fluid as it oozed into my mouth.

Noises, unpleasant noises, flooded back into me. Screams echoed and the familiar crackle of electricity sparked. I jumped and landed on a hard, cold stone. I was blind seeing nothing but blackness. I tried to craw away from the noises but they just seemed to get closer.

Suddenly a light, bright blue like a summers sky shined in front of me. I heard a voice then saw the owner. She was beautiful, simply dressed, and had a familiar face, like a memory long forgotten. She wasn't a teacher, drill instructor, marine, or fellow Spartan. I followed crawling across the floor.

Thump, I was back in my cell the light dimmed and silence, peace. I rolled onto my back staring at the ceiling. Stars?! I thought sitting up, shaking my head. What is going on?! My voice echoed and then my head felt as though it had caught fire. I rolled back and then it was gone. I curled up into a ball and continued to count the drops.

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"Hey…Hey wake up…Sleepy-head….WAKE UP!" I groggily opened my eyes blinking out the darkness. What was going on?! Hallucinations but how do I know this one was real. The "Spartan" hovered over me.

"This ones real." he said with a smirk. "You've been yelling for the past few days so we decided to let your mind to the torment." He got up and then two Elites came into view. "But now we have business to attend to" The two Elites propped me up and dragged me down the hall following the "Spartan" on a different path. I hung my head and stared at the floor counting the Elites unison steps.

Finally we reached a different room. This room was small and more square in shape. I also smelled different; not as musty, it had a sterile smell to it. Then I took a better look around. Oddly enough I could still move. Then room was set up like a hospital. I noticed the walls were painted a very light purple giving the room that 'doctor' touch. It was a medical room. The Elites picked me off the ground and laid me on a cot. I didn't bother straining against the Elites grip. I wanted to save as much energy as I could for whatever was ahead.

As one Elite crossed the room the other strapped me to the cot. The cot was surprisingly soft. Once the Elite had strapped me in it brought its head close to mine and growled in its throat. I growled back and glared into its eyes. It retracted its head giving a confused look. Bet you weren't expecting that! I wasn't in a mood to be pushed around anymore. As long as I could move and speak I would from now on or I else I don't deserve to live.

Finally the second Elite came over with a tray of needles, tunicates, scalpel, tweezers and another list of things. I took another look around and to my surprise no "Spartan".

"Hey ugly! Were is your boss person?! He afraid of needles or something!" I yelled at the Elites. They exchanged some words in a language I couldn't understand but sounded familiar.

The ONI A.I.'s had been working on translating the Covenants language to English. Deja had shown us how this worked one day. Not much progress the last time I remembered.

Finished with there conversations they turned their attention back to me. The second Elite gave a grunt at the first Elite who walked down to the other end of the room and disappeared behind a white curtain. The Elite left hovered over me then turned its attention to the tray it had brought over.

As its attention was elsewhere I worked with the straps. They were tight! I pulled my arm as hard as I could breaking the strap and lucky for me my bones were nearly indestructible. The elite snapped its head back towards me with a low growl. Then from the tray it pulled up a needle in one hand and a scalpel in the other.

Before the Elite could even give a yelp I flipped from the table, tacking the elite and bringing the table with us. With a sickening thud the Elite hit the ground with me on top. I pulled myself free of the other strap then headed to the nearest exit. As soon as I was out of the door I stumbled on the two Elites that must have been on guard. Before they could reach their weapons I punched one in the neck but it had pulled back so it just glanced off its harder battle armor. Ignoring my now bleeding fist I kicked behind me managing to catch the other one in the gut making it double over.

As I landed a kick on its head then First Elite came forward with an electrified staff. It thrusted the weapon at my stomach but I jumped out of the way to the wall. Using the wall I thrusted off tackling the Elite smashing it to the opposite wall. With a growl the Elite head butted me in the nose drawing more blood. With a growl of my own I head butted it back. Dazed it loosened its grip allowing me to deliver the finishing blow.

As the Elite hit the ground so did my knees. I stayed in the middle of the hallway panting, sweating, and shaking. Before I could gather my breath the first Elite from the 'hospital' cam out of the door with a whip in hand.