A Fateful Strike

[KingOfThePing]

Chapter I: A Moment in Time

Spoiler

I like coming up here sometimes. Looking down to the lobby and the main hallway has something calming. In a way, at least. It’s a shame there is no easy way up here, but since no one has said anything against me going through the elevator maintenance shaft yet, I assume it’s fine. Or not worth bothering, probably. Right now, someone came in and picked up a prescription. I didn’t recognize them, there have been a lot of new faces recently and I can’t keep up with all their names. Maybe it was someone completely new, who knows, they didn't seem familiar. It’s always been hard, since many just transition through here, a small step in their career, a few months they have to endure before they are assigned to another station or installation.

Thinking back, I sometimes ask myself why I chose to stay. First it was just some open assignment, posted to our intranet notice board. I still remember what it said: “Volunteers wanted. Public relation work included. Inquire at Regional Outpost A23.” And I inquired. After all, I haven’t been to the system before and I figured it would be something relaxing, unlike some of my last recent missions. In the end, I was not too far off. That’s why I stayed, I thought. It’s an easy post, I had a nice apartment, got some distance from my past, all things considered a plus by me. Also, I found not only colleagues, but friends here. Unbelievable, right? I sometimes think I get attached too easily.

I took a little sip from my vacuum flask I started bringing to work lately. Sometimes a cup of hot chocolate can make your entire day. Or an entire conversation. Others seem to agree with that, since they liked to drink my precious hot chocolate, so I had to come up with some creative hiding spots. Up here is one of them. Someone else came in down below and walked up to the reception, he looked like an engineer, so he probably irradiated themselves with the Supermatter, got burned by a lose wire or got hit in the head with a hammer. I always say, if they are loud, complain and can still walk to the Medbay they are fine. It’s the quiet ones that are scary. The patients that don’t talk back or ask why you took so long.  

Thinking of Engineering made me look around. I was far from the only one coming up here, but some have it easier, being able to just use the jetpack of their RIG suit to fly up here, but I’m mostly alone, just like now, no one else to interrupt my train of thought.

I took a look at my watch and read of the little digital numbers on it. ’22:41, December 5th, 2461.’ Maybe that’s why it’s so busy here lately, end of the year, quotas to meet. I was glad nothing like that concerned us here in medical. People get injured or they don’t, the less we must do the better but other departments had to fulfill some numbers on a screen or paper, otherwise they’ll get reprimanded, or worse maybe. I don’t really know.  

My thoughts drifted off, looking at the bustling activity down below and out on the hallway. I thought about the year that went by too quickly, the things that happened throughout it and what the next year might bring. I thought about my sister and that I should probably give her a call again sometime soon. I thought about a Christmas party coming up, about where to spend New Year’s Eve, about some colleagues I haven’t seen in a while and what I should get to eat once I get back to the Odin. I closed my eyes with a sigh. My thoughts drifted off, being all over the place by now. But the moment was interrupted by my headset:

“We need a first responder to mining, a miner was struck by a Space Carp, maybe two? We have no clear report yet. Hurry, but be careful and ensure your own safety. The CMC reports their vital signs are dropping. It seems the attack sent them down a hole, too.”

And that was my call. One quick response and one last look down from the rafters to down below. I looked at my uniform, noticing some wear, especially on the nametag. ‘S. Armas’, I never liked my name. Too easy to make fun of. But I didn't had time to finish that thought, there was a miner to rescue, after all.

 

Edited December 9, 2019 by KingOfThePing
fixed a small but horrible typo.