Detox

Posted on 03 Oct 2017 @ 3:20pm by Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

750 words; about a 4 minute read

The Earth was killing him, murdering him.

It felt like a fact, a scientific or biological fact. Earth was pinning him down, choking him, crushing him with Her weight, with Her very existence. His limbs felt heavy, the skin bruised, like pressure forcing him down into the biobed. Forcing and crushing, not just the skin but the muscles underneath and the bones. Choking the air from his lungs, every breath a raspy struggle. The air, for all its oxygen, its healthy and natural mixture, and yet it was impossible to take a deep breath. The pressure on his chest was too great.

It hurt.

But he had volunteered to this. As always, he had given his consent and nodded, watched as he was eased down, felt the hypos against him.

Purging his system from the very medication that kept this from happening.

He wondered if this was the feeling that Terrans ever had. Perhaps in a time where g-forces counted, before a better way of travel, a better and more protected way. Maybe then a human body felt this.

The medication helped this, it did what was needed. Strengthening his body mass, his muscles, his veins, his organs. Made him able to cope with the gravity, with the simple thing of gravity. Not that there was much need for it. The species that came from lesser gravity planets had their own technology to cope. Those that didn't could handle the medication, with adjustments to their physiology. It was what had worked on him, when he had first encountered the Federation.

Not that is was meant to be used daily for a human for the rest of their lives.

Which brought him back here. To Starfleet Medical, on a biobed, with all the medication flushed from his system. Gasping, not moving, sweating.

"His system is clear."

The nurse's voice seemed almost pleased and Constantin wanted to shout at her. Not that he could get enough breath in to make his vocal cords work. He knew she was taking the readings, the 'baseline' of what he was in his natural stage.

Natural.

If he had been born with access to a Federation doctor, there would have been medication and supplements he could have taken as a child. He would never have had to worry about this. Never had to feel this.

Fate wasn't like that. Earth had recognised he had turned his back on Her and She was not a merciful thing.

"Ready for the new formula."

It would have been small adjustments. He knew it from last time he went through this. Based on his metabolism, how his body had adapted. Small changes made to the medication, adjusting some levels, to see if they worked better. Longer. If they could make him better for longer.

The moment it hit his bloodstream could only be compared to cold water being pushed through him. For a moment, his breath caught, as if he was being thrown into a pool of freezing water. Then his brain kicked in, on overtime. Breath after breath evened, the weight on him, under him, around him, within him somehow managed to ease. His eyeballs stopped hurting. He let out a deep but shaky breath, closing his eyes tightly as he moved his hand.

"Better?"

The nurse put a hand on his arm and he felt how warm it was. He nodded and smiled weakly, glancing over at the doctor who had been monitoring it all. "So?"

"So we repeat this in two weeks, look at your readings and do any adjustments we need to do," the doctor said without even looking up.

"Two weeks. Got it," Constantin nodded weakly and sat up, pulling at the gown that was soaked in sweat. He bet he smelled ripe. "Can I...?"

"The nurse will help you shower and get you dressed. You will need to be supervised for the next two hours and then you can go back to your room," the doctor gave a small nod to the nurse.

Constantin smiled weakly, knowing better than to flirt in this state. The first time he had...well. He had regretted it. So he knew better now. Besides, he felt weak and shaky, he wouldn't be up for making good on his promises so to speak of she was interested.

And besides. She had been part of doing this to him. Somehow, it took all magic out.

Just like Earth had done the moment he had put his foot on Her ground.

RSS Feed

Comments (1)