Pain

Jehrico

The pain was enormous.

Jehrico groaned loudly to himself.

He was in Ops with Altas, working on making a new star chart on the computers, his expertise on star mapping was paying off for once.

Altas glanced at Jehrico, who was obviously in a lot of pain, and trying desperately to hide it.

"Are you feeling alright?" the Cybrid asked, his voice making a good simulation of sympathy.

"I'm... fine" Jehrico said, barely able to mutter the words. He knew Altas would make him get some rest if he thought he was sick, so Jehrico used every once of energy left in him and made a good show, making it look like he was fine.

"Don't worry Altas, just a stomach ache." Jehrico said, lying through his teeth, in reality his whole body was pounding with pain. Every time his heart beat pain flared all over him. Every time he spoke pain gripped him like a hydraulic press, crushing him.

It had started right after the incident where Icey's eyes had started glowing, but it was barely noticeable then.

Jehrico shook his head and continued working, typing in commands here and there.

It was five minutes later that Razorback walked into Ops. He walked over to Altas and started a conversation about what Altas was working on.

Jehrico turned his head back and went back to work. He caught a sight of his reflection in the computer screens glass. His face was ashen, and he looked horrible.

Jehrico shook his head quickly, trying to shake away the pain, which was now as strong as ever.

"Hey Jehrico, you alright?" Razorback asked him. Jehrico stopped shaking his head and looked at Razor.

"I'm uh, fi-" he stopped in mid sentence. His mouth dropped open in fear. He saw what looked like a large black face, appear on the wall behind Razorback and Altas, at the face was laughing at him sinisterly.

Jehrico stood up fast, almost tripping over his own feet. Sweat was pouring over him like rain water.

Razorback looked at Jehrico, and followed his gaze behind him. He saw nothing but a wall. He and Altas stood up.

"Jehrico, what's wrong?" Razorback stood. Jehrico's face wore a mask of utter fear and racked with pain.

He heard Razor say something about him hallucinating, Altas agreed. Jehrico looked back at the wall, the face was gone.

He was about to speak when the room began to spin. Jehrico stumbled, reaching out to grab something to balance himself. There was nothing. He fell onto the floor in a heap. His skin was pale, and he was covered in sweat.

Razorback ran to Jehrico, and transformed into Xenogears.

"Xenogears to Infirmary, Ghost down, medical emergency in Ops," she said, holding a communicator. Altas had his communicator out and was speaking to someone, but Jehrico couldn't hear anything anymore. The room continued to spin, more violently than at first. He promptly passed out.

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