No. 8 Everything hurts and I'm dying (stomach pain)

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When Keenser woke up that morning he felt horribly sick. His stomach was aching badly and it was hard to move. With every single step he took, a wave of pain flooded through his lower abdomen.

Still, he managed to get over to the sink in the bathroom. He stepped onto the small stool which was standing in front of it and leaned forward to drink some water from the tap.

At first it felt really refreshing and good but when Keenser stepped back onto the ground, he fell to his knees.

It hurt so much! It felt like a thousand needles were puncturing his stomach. What was wrong?

Keenser crawled back to the bedroom, grunting heavily.

He needed help. He needed to call the doctor.

His fingers reached for the communicator which was lying on top of the bedside table. It was too far away.

So Keenser did the one thing he rarely ever did.

He called for help. Loud. Over and over.

Could anyone hear him? And if so… could they get into his room?

He prayed silently for the right person to pass his quarters. And he was lucky.

"Help!"

"Keenser?" There was the muffled sound of a familiar voice.

Kirk. It was the Captain!

"Help me!"

The pain got worse minute by minute. He wanted to crawl to the door but it was impossible.

"Keenser, I'm coming in!"

Yes… yes! Kirk had heard him. He'd help him.

Keenser didn't even notice that the ground beneath him was getting wet. All he could focus on was Kirk's voice.

The door bursted open and the Captain looked horrified when he saw the Roylan. Why? What was wrong?

"Bones! Bones, you need to come to Keenser's quarters. Now!" The Captain yelled into his comm before he ran over to Keenser and fell to his knees.

"Oh shit… you… you're gonna be alright buddy."

Keenser grunted in pain and confusion. Why did Kirk look so shocked?

Only now did he notice the purple wet floor. Keenser's eyes moved down and widened in horror.

A hole!

There was a hole in his stomach! Where did it come from? It hadn't been there when he had been in the bathroom.

Keenser looked up at Kirk, fear written all over his face. He grabbed the Captain's hand.

"It's gonna be okay. Dr. McCoy will take care of you."

Kirk squeezed his hand gently and only minutes later McCoy rushed into the room.

"What the-"

Keenser looked at him. The doctor dropped down to his knees next to the Roylan and quickly examined the hole.

"Sewara parasite," Keenser heard him mutter.

What? What was that?

"Bones?"

"We have to get him to sickbay. Now!"

At the doctor's order Kirk quickly got to his feet and scooped Keenser up in his arms.

"I have never seen a case as bad as this one. Maybe Roylans react differently."

Keenser tried to keep his eyes open but it was getting heavier with every minute passing.

He still heard Kirk's and McCoy's voices though.

"What are these parasites?"

"They live inside the host's stomach. They devour the organ slowly. But usually not to this extent."

"Then why-"

"I don't know Jim! It's… I've only seen humans infected. Not Roylans."

"Can you help him?"

The voices started to fade away. Keenser couldn't make out the words clearly anymore.

"Know."

"Keenser?"

His name. Someone was calling his name. It was the Captain.

Keenser felt his body getting rocked but he didn't have the strength to open his eyes.

He just wanted to rest. And when he gave in to the feeling of tiredness, the pain faded away.

This was better. Way better.