Episode 8: An Awakening - Ch. 1 A Costly Mistake

[Michael Black]

OOC: As mentioned in the thread Cass created, just an idea and if it fails then oh well but if it works... Oh this could be fun! While my muse is active I just NEEDED to get typing. Got some ideas from a few books here and there as well as old SG-1 episodes. Here goes!
_________

The Ark
Somewhere in Deep Space
Triangulum Galaxy

The team had been on the run aboard The Ark for several days now. The ancient ship was enormous and seemingly had a mind of it's own, or an A.I computer system of it's own as Doctor Glavish had discovered. That computer system was hell bent on preventing the humans from even living let alone reaching the bridge and shutting off the security measures. Evidently, when they had landed, they'd triggered some sort of safeguard mechanism that kick started the ship's bio-defences into life. The computers were creating all sorts of weird creatures from ancient designs collected over several millenia. Doctor's Black and Glavish had been giving it their best shot at making things work, but thus far they were still in hiding.

They'd managed to find a machine that created basic food and produced water for them. Michael was sure it could produce much more complex meals but he hadn't the time to investigate before a large tentacled abomination came smashing it's way down the hall and the team had to yet again leg it. With food sorted, there was the matter of finding places to rest. The ship seemed to deadlock certain doors at will while opening up others that led to yet more remote parts of the ship further from the main bridge. In short, they were in the labyrinth. They had no way of contacting Meropis and they had to fend for themselves. Tensions among the group were high, and Michael was sure that ammo was getting equally low.

Michael had to admit he was impressed with The Ark. At the start of the third day they'd discovered what was essentially a Stargate manufactory. The machines and robots were busy slowly piecing together a strange looking Stargate and adding it to a line of others already constructed. Michael wondered if the ship was also capable of seeding them on new planets, perhaps that was it's purpose? That and the collection and preservation of whatever species it encountered, he summarised. The fourth day was quite memorable on account of the evil death kittens, as Fi had called them. A pack of seemingly adorable black kittens had found their way to where the crew were sleeping in a small storage room. Before they had a chance to bend down and pet them, the kitten's mouths opened to reveal several rows of needle like teeth, and the darn things could leap unnervingly high. They'd had to run away yet again, with several lacerations, bits of torn uniform and whatnot to show for it.

------------

It was the fifth day aboard The Ark where IT happened. The team were currently running for their lives away from a fine specimen from prehistoric Earth, a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Michael hadn't the time to speculate as to The Ark's path taking it on a brush with Earth and how it had ended up where it was now, instead he was simply screaming. Screaming and running. Gun shots were raining down all over the place but the darn thing moved way faster than the movies would have you believe. In the panic, the group had become split and Michael found himself legging it down a very long and wide corridor, urgently looking for some sort of side passage or open door he could duck into that would be too small to the dinosaur to follow him through. He could feel the floor shaking with every thud as the creature approached him closer and closer. Any moment now was going to be his last.

Oh God. This is how I die. Eaten by a dinosaur on a space ship, millions of light years from home. What will they tell my parents!?
Michael ran, and ran, and ran. Deeper and deeper into the ship he went. He began to develop a stitch and skidded to a halt around a corner, suddenly aware that the foul smell and telltale thudding noise had stopped. Cautiously, he peeked back around the corner and could see no trace of the T-Rex that was hell bent on hunting him just moments ago. He breathed a sigh of relief, phew... And then he realised he had no idea where he was, or where anyone else was for that matter. Before he could reach for his radio he became very acutely aware of a shadow moving in the corner of his eye. Turning to his left he spotted it; a terrible, vicious looking banshee like creature was swooping at him from the rafters of the large atrium he had just passed through. With a terrible wail it opened it's wings, looking to envelop Michael and possibly enjoy him as it's first meal in thousands of years.

Michael screamed just as loud as the beast and turned on his heel to run yet again. He again darted through the lower reaches of the ship, looking for the smallest corridor each time in the hope the banshee would at least be slowed. He turned left, then right, then left again, then straight on. He had no idea where he was but, ah! A door opened ahead of him,
"Oh to hell with you A.I!" He said out loud in response to what would obviously be a trap, before diving through the archway and slamming the button to shut the door behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the last crack of the door shut and click firmly locked behind him. The creature's frustrated wailing outside was muffled by the 10 inches of whatever the ship was made of that now separated the two life forms.

Turning to the very small, very cramped room he was in Michael noticed a wealth of ancient technology surrounding him. Then he spotted it, coming out of the various parts of machinery in front of him. Michael didn't even have time to blink before it grabbed him. The machine enveloped his head into it's yawning jaws. Moments later, the next thing Michael knew was darkness as his body slumped to the floor.

<tag Fiona Maccafferty  John Callaghan  Tom Chambers  Ahrima  Shawn Booth and anyone else who wishes to pick this forum up again>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

The Ark
Somewhere in Deep Space
Triangulum Galaxy

Fee was getting a little funned out. They'd been here less than a week, and she'd been shot at (not intentionally), nearly eaten alive by evil death kittens, it was cold and smelt like her old Uncle Si's socks, AND the rest were working on her last nerve. Maybe even Michael. 

They were SUPPOSED to be on the Ark to figure out why the Estrucans had built it. But for now, the Ark was the enemy. Of course, being both female and Irish, Fee was more or less used to be a victim anyway, so why would outer space be different?! She found her extra batteries in her knapsack, and, after replacing her now-dead set, she shined the light down the hallway. Those friggin' cats were STILL there. Stupid Aear wasn't around to help her, either. She needed Jacques. She just hoped that Maggie, whom she'd entrusted care of her puppy (since the pregnant blonde was assigned ONLY to the base), was treating him OK. The blonde was ditzy, and scary, but Fee didn't think she was truly bad.

Michael?! They'd been on the run from a T. Rex. Like, THAT kind of T. Rex. Michael, she was sure, was sitting someplace, attempting to figure out how 1)to get some dino DNA to recreate when they were safe, and 2) how it got here in the FIRST place. SHE was trying to find him to prevent the former. The latter concerned her less; the Ancients probably had it because they were, well, ancient and so were the dinosaurs. SHE was also looking for a place to hide, for she knew that at only 5 feet and 100 lbs, she was most likely a tasty morsel of dino food, and the tiny redhead had little interest in THAT for now. She took a few tentative steps forward. How'd she get separated from the others?! She didn't know. Probably her diversion to the ladies' loo. 

She took off down the corridor, at a moderate pace. No need to expend energy now. She was careful to not touch ANYTHING...Glavish was likely to have her head. It was SHE who had started this mess...trying to save Michael from himself. She had the ATA gene, and, for some reason, hers was the most powerful right now. She turned left, and found a door. It was locked by a panel of sorts, possibly one that code accessible. She touched the panel. It lit up. Oh. Handy. 

She entered. It was a lab, much like one back on Meropis where they'd found Almeda. She heard the door shut behind her. She was alone. Oops. The scientist had a concientious objection to carrying a firearm, and she'd found it was unnecessary, anyway. Until now. Oh, well. She had the temper of a thousand blazing suns, a screwdriver, Irish curses, and some string. She'd be alright, so long as her opponent wasn't either MacGyver nor Stephen Hawking. 

She took in the scene-the lab seemed an ordinary one, like you'd find in a college's science department. Creepily so. A blue glow beckoned her. She followed it, as if entranced. The blue glow seemed to be some sort of bio-luminescent plant. It smelt of thistle-musty. It looked like a fern, though. It dawned on her it was the food for the dinosaur. Interesting. The former inhabitants of this lab were feeding a carnivore plants. Maybe that was why they were gone?! The dino wanted meat. She realized she was attempting to rationalize the irrational, to find logic in the illogic. 

The BANG! CRASH! of the assortment of Meropis personnel, still on the run from enemies, snapped her back. She cautiously approached the door, and placed her hand on the panel. It opened silently, and the group was ahead of her. She used her flashlight carefully to beacon the Lt. Behind her, she didn't see a kitten slide into the room. She returned, more concerned for her safety. She'd wait for a bit before returning to her hunt for Michael. 

Michael. 

She sat. Something rubbed her leg, and, absently, she pet at it, like she would for Jacques or Aear. Aear. She missed her friend. After a moment, she realized what she touched, and pulled her hand away. She looked down. 

Are you going to bite me? The cat simply looked at her. 

They were at a crossroads. 

[John Callaghan]

The Ark
Deep Space
Triangulum Galaxy


Callaghan rather hated this assignment. There was a reason he hadn't babysat since High School. Nonetheless, he performed his duties like the good Marine that he was. He didn't have to like it, he just had to do it. At least they'd gotten a resupply the other day. Ammo, as well as other supplies had been running low, but fortunately everything was now back to normal levels. If all went well, they wouldn't need another run, and they'd go home soon instead. Right now, Callaghan had to find Doctor Black. They'd be moving on from this area soon -you had to, with dangerous animals constantly stalking you-, and they couldn't do so without everyone present. 

The Major had his rifle raised. There was no light, so he was wearing his AN/PVS-15 night-vision goggles. He rounded a corner, and saw a figure banging on a door just ahead of him. Callaghan quickly jumped back into cover, and leaned to his right a little to observe the thing. He checked his weapon, and then raised it at the thing. He quickly got off several shots, which was when the banshee started charging him. Another couple of shots and it went down, barely brushing him as it went past him. It was a brush nonetheless, and he felt the sleeve of his jacket get ripped apart. He'd have to worry about that later, though.

John got up to the door, and opened it with a simple push of a button. There he saw Black unconscious on the floor. He rushed over to him, and cracked open a capsule of smelling salts that would wake the man up as he held it under his nose. Slowly, the doctor came back, while in the meantime John checked out the room. There was a skeleton in the far corner which he investigated. He moved it from a seated position on its back. This is when he saw it. A weapon that looked like a revolver. He picked it up, and investigated it when he noticed it was a Particle Magnum, used by the Travelers. Did this mean that the Travelers had been in this Galaxy? Or did the Ark come from the Pegasus? He pocketed the weapon, but the questions lingered. Maybe he could find answers at a later time.

For now, Black took his attention, though. "Hey Doc, you okay there?" Callaghan asked as he moved back to the man. "Can you tell me what happened there?" he asked, pointing to the Ancient repository.

[Michael Black]

The Ark
Interstellar Space
Triangulum Galaxy

"Can you tell me what happened there?" a voice asked as Michael began to stir. Something pleasant was wafting up his nostrils and bringing him around to the land of the coherent. The first thing that struck Doctor Black was the searing pain across his forehead and the back of his neck. He groaned as he tried to sit up and grasped his head in agony. His eyes were bleary and his vision blurred, he rubbed them underneath his glasses in an attempt to focus on his surroundings.
"Major Callaghan?" he probed, glancing around him at the rest of the team that had seemingly come to his rescue. He looked for Fi, an inch of worry began to set in as he couldn't see her with the military personnel. Then he looked up at what the Major was pointing at.
"Oh no..." he groaned, knowing full well what that was and what had just happened.

It was an ancient repository of knowledge, similar to the one that had grabbed Jack O'Neill twice on previous occasions. The first thought in Michael's head was how on both occasions, O'Neill required Asgard intervention to wipe his mind before the knowledge overloaded his brain and killed him. The second thought in Michael's head was, the Asgard are dead.

Slowly, and with the help of SM-2, Michael was brought to his feet. He heard one of them mention something about the infirmary and a med-evac. Yes, it was about time they got off this damn ship.
"Fi, we have to find Fi..." He mumbled as loud as he could, which wasn't all that loud given his searing pain. Using one of the soldiers for support, he half walked/half hobbled his way out of the tiny room and away from the horrible ancient device that had pretty much signed his early death in the next few weeks. Whilst he hoped he would do something useful with this newfound knowledge at some point, Michael's life was now entirely in the hands of SM-2.

A few corridors away there was a bone chilling roar, SM-2 suddenly picked up the pace.

<tag John Callaghan Fiona Maccafferty>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

The Ark
Interstellar Space
Triangulum Galaxy

The noise was moving quickly down the hall. She had to move fast, but silently. She took the cat-thing by the scruff of it's neck, fished her flashlight out of her pocket, and then spoke to the animal.

If you agree not to bite me, I agree not to feed you to me dog. Deal? The animal looked at her. She shrugged. Sometimes the aliens understood her. Sometimes not. She put the thing back on the ground, and carefully, SILENTLY re-opened the door. She could still SEE the T-rex thundering up the hall; some Marines taking chase, and two more seemingly to taunt him, as if leading him somewhere. Where? She didn't KNOW. She didn't CARE, so long as it was AWAY. She silently stalked into the main hall, and then into a nearby tunnel. She didn't DARE call out his name, she HOPED they'd worked together-and had spent some time alone together-long enough that he'd recognize her footfalls. She tended to move like a ballerina would-toes first, then heel, and with the small, springy steps her short stature allowed.

After a moment, he appeared, propped up by Callaghan and some other Marines. She smiled, and, after a nod to the Major, she reached out for Michael.

Maj. Callaghan, I can take him. I am stronger than I look. She was whispering, but her accent still sounded harsh and loud. As she shifted his weight onto hers, she touched his face. You'll be ok...[/color]. Then, to Callaghan, she spoke again.

Major, just up the hallway is a lab. I can use that for him, and you to arrange a med-evac. I want to go HOME.[/color] She didn't care that she sounded like a child. To be truthful, she hadn't meant "Meropis," either, but she meant Earth. Specifically, Boston, with her da. She was sick of this; she'd signed on for adventure, not to be in danger at every turn.

Maybe she'd convince Michael to come with her.

Tag:John Callaghan, Michael Black

[John Callaghan]

The Ark

Interstellar Space

Triangulum Galaxy

Callaghan led everyone into the lab, where at once he hit a button on his radio set. "This is Callaghan to all victors, we are bugging out. I say again: we are bugging out. Assemble the lab at deck 5, corridor C-15." Callaghan said over the radio to all of his people, both Marines and civilians. It was time to pull the hell out. The only way that this place would ever get secured was if he had a Battalion of Marines with him, and even then it'd be a hard-fought battle where many would be killed. 

The Major put it out of his head. He had several heads to get home first. Slowly but surely, his people were converging on his location while Fiona took care of Black. "Get him ready for transpo most ricky-tick, MacAfferty!" Callaghan commanded the Irish doctor. 

A couple of minutes later, everyone was accounted for. "Alright, let's go. Arrowhead formation, civvies in the middle" Callaghan said. He led off right at the tip, off towards the hangar bay where the Jumper was still located. Callaghan's rifle had jammed, and he did not have the time to clear it. He took his new toy, the Particle Magnum, from the holster on his vest. He set the weapon on kill -- Nothing that would require shooting would be friendly ahead of him. The group moved on at a reasonably fast pace. Everyone wanted to get the hell out of here, a big reason being the roving dinosaurs. 

Eventually, they reached the Jumper. Callaghan rushed in, and got her fired up. When everyone was in, he closed the rear hatch, and lifted off. Recent intelligence had shown him how to avoid getting pulled back in, so without hesitation, he pulled off. Pushing the engines to the limit, he wanted them to reach the gate as soon as was humanly possible. 

[Michael Black]

The Jumper
Interstellar Space
Triangulum Galaxy

Michael was in a daze, he had been drifting in and out of consciousness and his memory was starting to fail. He remembered the ancient repository grabbing him, oh boy did he ever, but then it came and went in flashes. Now he found himself aboard a Jumper and the darkness of space was filling the forward view screen, they were high tailing it away from The Ark as quickly as possible. Dr. Black felt sweat running down his neck, yet he was fluctuating between overheating and freezing cold. His vision remained blurred and he felt waves of sickness rushing through him, it was taking all his strength not to vomit as Fi gently comforted him in the back of the Jumper, his pathetic and haggard looking form slumped up against the bulkhead.

Another wave of unconsciousness passed over Michael, and thoughts and images began flooding through his mind. He opened his eyes a few minutes later but appeared vacant. He now knew what was happening to him, and the worst was yet to come. He heard the command being entered by Callaghan for the space gate to activate, they'd been travelling for a good twenty minutes now and had reached the Stargate that would convey them home to Meropis, to the safety. Somewhere behind them, a shield formed over The Ark and it's defences reactivated silently.

----------------------------

The next thing Michael knew, he was lying in a bed in the Meropis infirmary a drip in his arm and various machines attached to him. He opened his eyes for just long enough to make out his surroundings, but not the people, and then he was gone again.

Suddenly he awoke with a start, inside a small cave... Well, this was new. Michael examined the bare rock surroundings, noting a tunnel leading outside that carried a hint of daylight. How did he get here? He went to move but found both his feet stuck, a sticky tar like substance was binding him in place... Upside down. Michael could feel the blood rushing to his head, any thoughts of this being a dream now expunged from his mind as the uncomfortable sensation clouded his thoughts. He leaned forward enough to pull his head and shoulders up and started clearing his head, whilst there he attempted at the very least to pull himself free from the substance. His boots were well and truly encased in it and they weren't budging anytime soon. Suddenly, a spine-chilling roar reverberated throughout the cavern. Michael felt fear, whatever made that noise was big. The walls and floor began to vibrate rhythmically as large footsteps pounded toward him. Michael desperately tugged at his boots to free himself, but it was no use. He let himself hang for a second as his muscles began to burn, realising he didn't have his glasses but he could still see perfectly well.

Michael pulled himself up just far enough to try and undo the laces, but it was no use, half of the laces were solidly encased in the tar. The footsteps grew louder and louder and Michael let himself hang again just in time to see a large, furious looking beast round the corner into the small cavern. It was like some sort of ogre, built of muscles upon muscles and covered in scaly skin. It had no eyes but it certainly had a large mouth inset with very sharp looking teeth. Michael immediately spotted several large, knife like claws on each of the thing's hand. The creature bent low and stepped into the cavern with Michael. He breathed deeply, trying to calm himself, there HAD to be a way out of this, right!? Michael raised his fists desperately at the creature and let out a war cry as it charged toward him... And slashed his neck.

Laying on the bed in the Meropis infirmary, Michael began to crash. His vital signs eeked out to a constant whining tone and the medical team began to panic and assemble crash carts.
"He's flatlining! Call Doctor Harrison!!" one of the nurses yelled.

<tag Fiona Maccafferty but feel free to start Chapter 2 in the infirmary on Meropis >

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

Infirmary
Meropis
1200 Hours

The paperwork to fix the death-and injuries thereof- of the General, and the others injured in the explosion had taken him WEEKS to do. And there they were again-more shenanigans. This time was the good Dr. Black of...Devonshire, he presumed, given the rolled Rs of the man's speech, a stark difference to his own Chelsea accent, and, of course, distinctly its own from Fiona's, as well. Near him sat the young redhead, eyes darting from himself to Black's machine, reading the methodical up-down-up of the heart-lung monitor. He'd gently explained that it wasn't time for her to be bedside; the medics need to work, and there'd be time later.

He studied the man's medical history while the bustle of triage went on-he'd stabilized Michael, and let the nurses take over to handle the IV, blood bags, and vitals. He would be around in case he flatlined, but as soon as the blood tests were back, he'd do a CAT scan and take it from there. By all appearances, Black simply had a concussion. He had no family history of heart attack, nor neurological problem. Cancer of some sort had taken his maternal Grandfather but the other set were alive, albeit old. Nothing to suggest anything other than proper British hearty stock. The tap-tap-tap of Fiona's foot on the tiled floor as she sipped some tea caused him to raise his head.

It will be fine! He said, kindly but firmly. She nodded once.

They were interrupted by the call.

He's flatlining! Call Dr. Harrison! Fiona went white, but he hadn't time to worry about her. He grabbed his stethoscope and ran. Upon arrival bedside, he could see that Micheal was failing. He was pale, and clammy, and his breathing was shallow. He heard Fiona at his side, presumably trying to not cry. He looked at her.

Talk to him, he can hear you, we think. With that, he got to work, plugging in an AED (autmatic Emergency Defibrillator) and starting CPR. Fiona nodded, and asked him what she should say. He shrugged.

I don't bloody care, woman. Try the weather. Sing in Irish. Tell him Einstein's Theory of Relativity, for sod's sake. Anything that will engage him. He didn't mean to be harsh, but he had work to do! He went on with his CPR, and trying to keep the man's heart pumping.

Tag:@michaelblack

[Michael Black]

Infirmary
Meropis
1200hrs Zulu

Michael had crashed and the medics were rushing around frantically under the direction of Roger to try to save his life. The golden few minutes were upon them, if they didn't act fast enough then there would be no bringing him back at all. Fiona was understandably in distress at the sight of Roger pumping his hands up and down on Michael's chest as he lay on the bed. A few moments later the defibrillator arrived and Roger set about wiring it up with lightning speed and practised precision. Meanwhile, Fi knelt down next to Michael and began to speak into his ear...

Suddenly he awoke with an electric jolt, inside a small cave... Michael examined the bare rock surroundings, noting a tunnel leading outside that carried a hint of daylight. How did he get here? He went to move but found both his feet stuck, a sticky tar like substance was binding him in place... Upside down.
"Wait," he said to himself, "I've been here before..." He looked around and it all came flooding back to him. And then he began to panic. Would the beast return as well to kill him? He began struggling and trying to twist and turn and free his feet... But it was no use.

A mighty roar confirmed his fears as the cave began to shake, heralding the arrival of the large, eyeless ogre that would seek him out. Michael thought for a second, then he paused... What was that just then?
"Fi?" he whispered to the air. He could have sworn he'd heard the barest hint of a soft, Irish accent just drifting on the breeze. He froze and closed his eyes... No, nothing there. All he could hear was the footsteps of the beast getting closer and closer. His heart began to race as ideas raced through his mind. It had no eyes last time, perhaps if Michael remained still as a statue and made no noise, it wouldn't know he was there. Michael tried this tactic and let his arms hand down below his head, trying his best not to sway. The ogre stomped into the small cave, it's pallid scaly flesh glistening and stinking of sweat. It sniffed the air around it experimentally. Then it drew out a clawed hand and ran straight at Michael's throat, slashing it and killing him instantly.

Roger had been working hard, and the monitor was now showing an erratic pulse. Michael was alive but his body was going into overdrive. The temperature readouts were showing he had a fever that would melt tarmac. Suddenly, Doctor Black's back arched up as all of his muscles tensed. Then he lay flat. The machine let out a long, continuous beep. Michael had flat lined yet again. The colourful language that then ensued from Roger Harrison's mouth was better off not being recorded in the official file as he ripped the defib pads down from the machine again and slammed them on Michael's chest.

Michael sucked in a deep, gasping breath and opened his eyes. He felt blood rushing to his once more and realised he was upside down. With a groan and a look of dismay washing over him, Michael realised he was back in the beast's cave once again. Looking up he confirmed that, yep, his feet were stuck in the tar still. Michael hung there, defeated, knowing full well that the full force and pain of every nerve and artery in his neck being forcefully torn out was just moments away and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it... Until he heard something. It was a little louder this time but it was definitely there. A soft, comforting voice only just audible on the breeze.
"Fi?" Michael whispered once again. This time, everyone in the infirmary heard him.

<tag Fiona Maccafferty>

[Michael Black]

Infirmary
Meropis
1400hrs Zulu

Almost as soon as he had regained consciousness, Michael had faded away again, Roger had him hooked up to an unsightly number of machines and his team were rushing around Michael like ants to a sugar cube. So far they'd kept him alive, but it was touch and go. Something was happening to Michael, something was changing inside of him moment by moment.

Michael found himself back in that same cave, the icey cold chilled him to his bones even as the blood rushed to his head.
"Alright," he said out loud, "Same situation again, which means..." he struggled with his feet that were somehow encased in the icey roof of the small chamber, "okay, which also means..." Sure enough, right on time a spine chilling roar echoed throughout the cave, something was coming. A fresh wave of determination, powered by fear, washed over Michael as he began to desperately tug at his feet in a bid to free them. This time he wasn't going to die, this time he would make it through. And then he would figure out how exactly he kept teleporting between the infirmary and an ice cave on what seemed to be the planet Hoth. The walls began to vibrate as Michael leaned upward and pushed with all his might against the roof, the monster was coming. The ice began to crack and Michael pushed harder still, straining so much that a vain in his forehead began to bulge. Eventually, his right leg slipped free of the ice. Before he could begin to celebrate, the smell of the creature heralded it's immediate arrival, Michael had seconds at best. He used his now free right leg to push against the ice around his left leg with all his might. With a loud CRACK he came free and fell to the floor in a crumpled heap... Just as the beast rounded the corner.

With a yell Michael ran and threw himself forward past the creature, he heard a swish of air as it swiped at him with it's mighty claws. He landed on one foot and stumbled slightly, not allowing himself to fall over he used all of his momentum to power on forward toward the light and the sound of a roaring wind outside. Michael had made it to freedom, but the creature was hot on his heels now. He had no choice but to run on forwards and into the white-out, Michael threw himself out of the cave entrance and into a sheet of pure white and stinging snow. It was a blizzard as fierce as any back home. Still, what choice did he have? If he stayed in the cave entrance the monster would have ripped him to shreds. He might only have minutes left to live now but at least that's a few more minutes to think. Michael heard a terrifying roar, a sound of rage and annoyance from somewhere behind him. It didn't sound like it was following him, that was good news at least. The creature clearly didn't like the blizzard.

Michael began to slow now, he could feel his body starting to shut down as the cold set in and began to drain him of his last iota of willpower. This was it then, if it wasn't violent death at the hands of a yeti it was being frozen and feeling your internal organs shutting down one by one. Despair washed over him, there was simply no way to win, he'd been teleported into an unachievable scenario!

"What the?" Michael mouthed as something caught his eye just a few feet away. It was bulky and the snow was forming a rigid shape around it. Michael was finding it hard to breath now as the ice felt like it was coating the inside of his very tired lungs. He flung himself forward, intending to drop to his knees but falling flat on his face, and he reached out toward the shape. Dusting off an inch of snow, even as the wind howled around him, he squinted at the object... Could it be? Desperately, and with one last valiant effort, Michael rolled forwards onto the ring platform and breathed a sigh of relief as it activated and rose up around him.

The rings rose up from the sea bed, stirring up the silt and spooking a few fish before depositing Doctor Black into the ocean and then vanishing back into their ring pad. Michael panicked, and flailed for air... and drowned.

Back in the infirmary, Michael went into cardiac arrest once again. His right hand twitched, and a look of sadness washed across his unconscious face.

[Dr. Roger Harrison]

Infirmary
Meropis
1400

*Um ba ba be* pressure. pushing down on you/pressing down on me...no man ask for

The British ex-pat Psychiatrist cum Trauma doctor almost laughed aloud as his mental playlist started. Music via his Walkman (yes, he was THAT old) and now, his iPod, had been how he dealt with the stressful moments of his life. His last term ever of medical school had been the soundtrack to "The Empire Strikes Back"-to his mind, a fitting joke of a Brit telling the American professors who held his future in their (admittedly) feminine hands. His first day at Columbia med had found The Clash, and all through his wedding and well into the afterparty, his mind had played REM's "This is the End of the World." His subconcious was kind of morbid. Now, it chose a Queen song; Roger had never been to deny his roots, and there was little music better than 1970-80's British Pop-Punk Scene music in his mind. David Bowie had guested on this album, and the adrogenyous musician's music now filled his head. He glanced around. Truth be told, they WERE under pressure. He switched his brain back to the task at hand-saving Dr. Black's life. AGAIN. His mouth moved, rattling off a list of demands at the cadre of nurses and assistants that stood around.

IV stat, please. 50/50 mix. I'll need a surgery kit, and vials. One blood, one serum, two fluids. Where is Izzy; has she returned from lunch?! Fiona, darling, you'll need to wait OUTSIDE. He knew the young Irishwoman was more than worried about her...'friend', but she was also in the way. She sighed, but moved towards the door as a male medic whose name Roger didn't momentarily recall led her out. In a moment, Izzy appeared at his side, suited up for surgery assistance, and readying the IV needles. He spoke gently to Michael, bumping up the "British" in a half-baked thought that it might trigger a memory for Black, perhaps of his father or other beloved male, to make him feel calmer. It sounded cockamamie at first blush, but nothing, at this point, could hurt.

Michael, please try to calm down. In a moment, Izzy had the needles in his arm, and a drip going, to feed the doctor both hydration and antibiotics. The medic had taken his blood, blood serum, and the two fluid samples he'd requested for testing later-which would tell Roger if Black had a deeper infection elsewhere in his body, and maybe if he'd been poisioned. Maccafferty had filled him in on the excitement on the Ark. He started his work, slicing into Black's skin with a scalpel to just SEE-all of their x-ray machines were offline, and besides, this way was faster.

Under pressure
That brings a building down
Splits a family in two
Puts people on streets
Um ba ba be
Um ba ba be
De day da
Ee day da - that's okay  He sighed. The internal organs looked intact, but ribs were broken, and stomach appeared inflamed. At least now Roger could help. He looked to Izzy, who monitioring vitals.

I need the handheld scanner. And ask Maccafferty to return. Whilst he had the Gene, with the chaos going on right now, Maccafferty's gene worked the strongest of all, and no one could yet figure out why. He quickly stitched up the 5 inch incision, and was placing bandages over it as both redheads appeared. Were he a younger man, and not in the middle of major surgery, he might have considered the irony of the situation-he'd never been great with girls, but here he was with two pretty redheads at his bidding. He took the device from Stevens, and handed it to Fiona as he flipped a portable CT scanner on and slipped the machine over Black's face and head. He spoke to Fiona.

This is an Anicent handheld-healing device. I usually work it, but your Gene is stronger right now. In a moment, I'll need you to scan that about his head and neck where I indicate. He glanced at the screen. Black's brain tissue was swollen to the point that Roger couldn't make out heads or tails of much of anything. Impatiently, he pushed the machine aside, and it rolled with a metallic clang. He pointed to the man's temples. There, Fiona. There's no trick to it, just like you might use a barcode scanner or some such. Ever been to Primark or M&S and see those things? She nodded, and did as he asked. Aye, brilliant. Black seemed to relax slightly; and Roger replaced the CT machine over him. Indeed, the swelling had lessend. He nodded slightly to Izzy; they just may out of the woods. He could see brain activity-a good sign. He wasn't a goner yet. He flipped it back again, and indicated for Fee to scan around the crown of the head, where some of the activity had been. Roger knew that this indicated conciousness...Black was dreaming, but he wasn't aware of the outside world.

it's the terror of knowing what this world is about/watching some good friends screaming "let me out"...[/u] CONFOUND IT. He replaced the CT machine once more. Just as he'd suspected-definitely a concussion. Black's pain centers were lit up brightly as well. He glanced at Izzy.

Stevens, prepare an IV shot of morphine, and administer it to the left side, please. The young woman nodded, then disappeared. He indicated some of the pain receptors for Fiona to scan. As she did that, Roger let his eyes shut a moment, and the haunting of Bowie's power to leave him.

chippin' around, kick my brains 'round the floor/these are the days it never rains, but it pours He opened his eyes to a CRASH and the sound of Izzy's voice.

He's flatlining Roger simultaneously pushed Fiona out of the way, and grabbed the AED. Working as fast as they could, he and Izzy had Black on a six-lead EKG on the stat, and he yelled. Stand clear. 40 volts. Look out!He turned the voltage knob and pushed the button, and body of man, doctor, and nurse jumped. He glanced at the heart monitor. Still nothing. He turned it up to 60 volts. Any higher and he feared causing harm to the smaller man. He hoped to David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and whatever God was watching over them all that this worked. CLEAR. 60 volts. Again, a jump, and then the screen came to life.

It poured indeed. He left the lines, in case.

Stevens, one more vial of morphine. He didn't take his eyes off the screen-there was a line, though faint, and he wondered what the HELL Black was dreaming of. He saw Fiona move her weight to her other foot, and had an idea. Maccafferty, scan a bit near his ribs. They're causing him pain. With the pain lessened, the scientist might be able to pull through.

tag:Michael Black