Snippet #1631549

John had never been so happy to hear Varek's voice as he was now. Even though the roaring noise around them made the response feel distant, the injured geologist knew he was going to be alright; The doc was coming for him. In a reflex he tried to get up, but an excruciating pain reminded him of his critical situation. There appeared to be something pressing on the chair, hindering his left arm from moving. Desperate to do anything to get the doc's attention, he resorted to the thing he knew best: Swearing loudly. “Doc! I can't see a damned thing but these walls; I must have landed in a corner somewhere!”

The sound of footsteps appeared to approach slowly, barely audible under the constant beeping. The big man couldn't help but grouse to himself. “Will somebody please shut down that goddamn alarm!” The footsteps paused for a brief moment. John pricked up his ears, anxious to make up for his lack of sight. In his concentration he noticed a second, more distant, pair of footsteps. These belonged to a heavier person, probably male, approaching faster, at the trained pace of a soldier. He felt compelled to shout again, if only to prevent himself from passing out. “I'm right over here!”

Finally, somebody had reached him. The sound of heavy objects being moved around felt like a godsend. As the pressure on his side was lifted he placed his liberated left arm on the floor. For a brief moment he contemplated to push himself up. However, he decided to wait; the pin in his hip would make it a painful experience. Convinced that it was the doctor who had come to his rescue, the geologist started to explain his medical situation. “Careful! A sharp object has pierced my right hip. We need to get it out somehow.”