NationStates Jolt Archive

He had returned from his mission. Finally, he was back. He could see Jupiter in the distance for a moment as he closed in back to his point of destination using the 0-shift ability of Jehuty. After some minutes, he could see it. The place he was going back to.

Mars.

The planet named after an ancient god of war of a long dead civilization. Such a fitting name, considering what it has represented to Dingo for all of his rather miserable lifetime; war and loss had been his part in life. But that was now about to change. To think that there he would now get his body back. To think that he would finally be able to walk outside of Jehuty, the Orbital Frame that had kept him alive to this point. Dingo was letting ADA to autopilot Jehuty.

"We are now in orbit of Mars."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Targetting... Target location in 'Auman' acquired."

"Guess this is it."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course. Why're you asking that, anyway? Don't you like the idea that I won't be bound to Jehuty anymore, ADA?"

"I do not know. I do not exactly understand..."

"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to. But you know... I haven't even eaten anything for a damn long time. Nor drank. I haven't been feeling too alive lately."

"... Understood. Entering Martian atmosphere..."

The Frame quickly made its re-entry and began its descent to the southern hemisphere of Mars.

Finally. Finally we are back... Finally, I'll get my body back.

The Frame descended further and further. The buildings down below grew larger.

"Picking up a transmission. It is directed at us."

"Alright, patch it through for me."

"... Gimbal One-Niner, This is the Special Weapons Division, are you reading us?"

"Loud and clear."

"Do you have the data we requested?"

"Yeah, it's all here. Sending it to you now."

Dingo typed something.

"Good. We have locked onto your position. We're sending further docking information to you now."

"Roger. Signing off."

"Transfer complete. I am placing it into the system now."

"Great. So, all I need to do is sit here, right?"

"Yes."

Jehuty was only a hundred meters or so from the ground, when...

"Receiving another transmission."

Dingo sighed.

"... Stop the descent. Put it through."

"Affirmative."

"Yeah, what?"

"We just wanted to tell you that you are cleared to land, Gimbal One-Niner. It's good that you came back in one piece."

"Uh, right. It's good to be back."

It took a few minutes for Jehuty to reach the underground hangar's open gate, which slowly shut itself as Jehuty passed it and entered the docking area. A minute or so later, Jehuty had been succesfully docked into one of the several bays there. Yeah, these people knew at least something about Orbital Frames.

They better have everything ready...

"Hey, ADA, are all the defenses up and running? I don't really want to get screwed over here and die."

"Yes. All of them are working. If they attempt something that is not a part of this deal you made with them, this Jehuty will act as planned."

"OK. That's all I needed to know."

Jehuty's cockpit opened and Dingo took a deep breath. He saw a bunch of people outside with all kinds of medical equipment with them, and with one of those medical beds. For him, obviously. They didn't at least look hostile. But who knows what they have on their minds. One of them came closer and stretched his hand towards Dingo, as to shake his hand. He looked like a part of the military.

"I'm Quatz and this is Istbaan, your doctor. Everything's ready for you."

Dingo stretched his hand out too, and shaked the man's hand.


"Uh, nice to meet you. I'm Dingo. Dingo Egret. What're your first names?"

The military-type smiled.

"That isn't important."

The doctor waved his hand.

"This way, sir."

"When I get up I lose consciousness pretty fast. This better be done quick."

"Very well, sir. We assure you, you're in the best possible hands."

Dingo got out from the cockpit and was already fading into unconsciousness. He had to be helped to the bed. His connection to Jehuty had been severed and he would need immediate surgery or whatever the Aumanii had in mind. He couldn't really focus on anything that was going on around him anymore. Then everything just went dark, and he slipped away into his dreams.

He was running... Running.... Running.... Running away from something he did not exactly know. It was very dark and he was terrified. Then, suddenly, something slashed through his torso. Excruciating pain overtook his whole body and he screamed like he had never screamed before.

... Then he awoke, screaming, rising to a sitting position in the bed he was in, drenched in sweat. He had his eyes wide open.

Damn... That nightmare again...

He put his left hand to his face, covering his left eye and cheek. He was breathing very heavily. He looked at his surroundings a bit with his right eye. He was in a room that looked much like a hospital room, except it had no windows. Apparently he was still in the underground facility. He noticed that there was a drip attached to his right hand.

Bah, and I'm right handed... Eh... I feel different...

He put his left hand to the general area of his chest, simply to find out that the odd machinery wasn't there anymore. He sighed, relieved. He was clad in simple hospital clothing.

Guess they did it. Finally...

He heard this odd beeping sound coming from almost behind him. So, he looked around him. Yeah, it was a hospital room all right, with all the usual apparatuses. And he even realized what was doing that sound, it was one of those things that monitor your heart. Figures.

Yeah, there's only one way from the bottom. Hell, even if my life went down the gutter, at least I'm not bound to that Orbital Frame anymore. Can't get depressed now... Don't have that luxury. Now that I can actually do things. I can start looking for a way to get back home!

Suddenly, he felt a piercing pain all over his body. He instantly dropped back to the bed. He fought ng to keep himself awake... And he was losing, fast. The pain was too great to bear.

"Shit...", he muttered silently.

The hell is this? Arrrgh... Side effects? Didn't they put me full of painkillers or something? Damn this hurts...

Someone ran to the room, he couldn't quite see who. The person injected something into him and said something he just barely heard...

"Everything will be OK."

A woman's voice...

Then he lost his consciousness again, and was taken back to his dark dreams, which was something he would have preferred not to do.

"Everything... well..."

The doctor he had met before the operation was talking to him, but he didn't really listen. He couldn't stop thinking about it all. What had happened the last time he was almost there, almost getting his body "back" once more. Then there was Ken. Guess he wasn't going to meet her any time soon again now. Might be that the time he could get back to his "own dimension", she's already dead or has moved on. One of the things Jehuty could do was sustain its Frame Runner. That meant it could keep him alive indefinitely, far beyond the age of any man. As long as Jehuty stayed intact, he would live on. No need to fear time running out, there.

Would it be worth it to return? ... Of course it would be. Mars is free, and he wanted to see the people of the planet advance with his own eyes. Hell, he was a hero there. A living legend, except now he was missing. Here... He was just like anyone else. A no one. Except that he happened to have the best possible Orbital Frame anyone could ever conceive.

Typical. Just when he had done all that to save humanity, something like this happens. Life isn't fair. But wouldn't it be even far worse if all the bad things that happen to you happen because you deserve them? Yeah, better an unfair life than a fair one.

He looked at the doctor, nodding understandingly. Except he wasn't listening, and the doctor noticed it after saying something completely off the whole subject and Dingo's reaction was still the same.

"Hey?! Are you even listening?!"

"... Huh?"

The doctor sighed.

"Guess not... I'll just say this briefly: You'll live. The seizures you've been having should end with time, plus you can leave this place soon enough. You've passed the most critical points already."

"Oh, right. Great."

"I'll just leave you to think whatever you were thinking. I'm coming to check up on you later."

"Alright, alright. I'm feeling just fine."

"That's good. Bye."

"Bye."

The doctor left the hospital room. Dingo lied down to his bed.

For the first time in my life I really have no idea what the hell I'm going to do next... I don't like this. I don't like this at all.

"Ken..."

He shook his head and sighed. Guess he'll have to put her to the past now. You can't hold onto someone who's not even there. Not like he knew her all that long... But the feeling was still something new for him... And pure.

He fell asleep again. This time his dreams were far less nightmarish. Apparently he was finally starting to adjust to the situation.

For the first time he had been in the Aumanii hospital - or at least what he thought was such -, Dingo wasn't seeing nightmares, or at least he didn't remember them. He didn't take much heed to dreams anyway, remembering them wasn't exactly a high priority for him. Right now, he had more pressing issues to attend to anyway, ones quite a lot more tangible than trying to understand what one's own subconscious tries to say.

So when he awakened feeling terrible pain surging through his body, he didn't exactly think about what he had been dreaming about, but about what was going on with his body. He could see people... Rushing him somewhere. He did realize that he was being taken somewhere, but he also knew that he had no idea where. Not that he could put much thought to that with the pain. All he could think was that something was awfully wrong.

He still tried to summon enough strength to say something.

"Wh... Whe... Where are... You... Taking me?", he asked, whispering. He quickly realized that he couldn't even speak up in his current state. No one heard what he was saying, but someone noticed that he was awake. They were still pushing his bed somewhere.

"He's awake!"

"Oh?! Your body is reacting negatively to the implants! We should've realized it before! Don't worry, we'll fix you up!"

... The doctor's voice...

"Give him some anesthetic, NOW!"

I don't want to die... Not like this...

After a minute or so, he was again in the blissful state of unconsciousness, not aware of what was going around him or in his body, not aware of anything.

...

He didn't see any dreams that night. Or was it even night? Who knows. It was an underground facility, who knows what time it was outside. He was regaining consciousness after the operation.

Pain. All around his torso. But it wasn't quite that strong. It was the kind of pain you get from almost any operation.

Apparently the operation had been an arduous one. Who knows what they had had to do, but he was still alive, for which he was thankful. If it wasn't for the pain, he could say he felt much better than he did before this second operation.

My mouth's really dry...

He opened his eyes and rose to sit. He looked around him. He was again in the same room he had been in before. The drip was still in the same hand, which he didn't quite appreciate, but it didn't matter. The door to the room was closed. Everything was like it had been before. There was a female nurse in the room.

"Oh, you're awake! I'll go get the doctor!"

The woman was already at the door when Dingo got his mouth open.

Damn, it feels nasty...

With a very rough voice, he said, "Hey, stop. How long was I... Out?"

"It's been two days since the operation. It could've gone both ways, really."

"So... I could've died, huh?"

"Yes. You could say that. You were very lucky."

"Heh. At least something's on my side, then."

"I'll go get the doctor now."

The woman opened the door, left the room and closed the door behind her.

"Alright, alright..."

Wonder how long I've been in this place? Days? Weeks? Maybe a month? Wow, I'm gonna feel shitty when I get off this bed.

He heard a knock on the door as it began to open.

It was the same doctor from before. He walked closer to Dingo.

"Good, good. So it's true. You're awake. That's a good sign."

"Yeah, it's great. Any ideas how long it'll take for me to get out of here?"

"I guess I could give a rough estimate..."

He went through the papers he had with him and read something from them.

"It'll take a couple of weeks at least for you to recover well enough."

"Bleah."

The doctor walked right next to the bed and checked the drip and the medical machinery. Everything seemed to be alright. Then he turned his head to look at Dingo.

"Oh, yes. How are you feeling?"

"Had better days. Hurts here and there, but it's nothing I can't handle."

"Great. Do you think you can walk?"

"Yeah."

"Great. There's nothing that should stop you from doing it, anyway. And we can get this drip out of the way right now if you want to."

Dingo nodded, and the doctor began to remove the drip.

"That thing is... Damn uncomfortable."

The doctor smiled.

"Yes, I know."

"So, I can go wander around this place now, right?"

"Yes. I'm ready."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. I'll go now. If you want something, ask the nurse."

"OK."

The doctor walked off and closed the door behind him.

Eh. I wonder where the hell they stored all that excrement I've had to make...

He looked around him. Nothing.

Maybe they knew I'd wake up now and took it all off before I got up...

He put his feet on the floor.

Damn, it's cold. But at least I still feel my legs.

He stood up, but then he staggered and quickly sat down again.

Dammit...

Then he stood up, and remained up this time.

That's more like it. Better start with...

He walked sluggishly to the door and opened it. He saw the nurse, doing something. He didn't really care what she was doing.

"Hey, nurse! Need some water here!"

"Just wait a second, I'll bring you some."

Dingo nodded to her and just closed the door before him.

Hmm... Neext. Got to get the stuff work again. I guess that's the...

He walked up to another closed door, one that more seemed to take to another room. It took him to a bathroom. It was one of those small hospital bathrooms they have in most rooms.

Better start now...

He took his time in the bathroom.

Then he walked out of it, and walked up to the bed again. He saw a glass of water on the small table that was right next to his bed. He drank it, and he felt better, but he needed more.

He went back to the bathroom, and filled the glass with tap water and drank the said water. Repeated the same thing a few times until he had quenched his thirst. He returned to his bed, and sat down.

What to do now? ... Guess I could go wander around for a while... Explore and all that.

He rose up again, and walked to the door.

What is there to explore in this place, anyway?

He opened the door... And closed it behind him. He looked around him. The nurse was there again, doing something. He walked up to her.

"Thanks for the water."

"You're welcome. Do you need something?"

"Naah. Just looking around. Is there anything here to do and such?"

"Nothing much, really," she said. She sighed, and continued to talk. "You're supposed to recover here, not kill yourself."

"Riight. I'll just wander around, then..."

"You do that."

"Hmph."

He walked off on the corridor. What's her problem, anyway? Not that I care, really... I have my own things to worry about. Like, what the hell am I gonna do after I leave this place?

He looked around him.

Damn, all these rooms look the same. The only difference is that number... Good thing I remember the number of my room... Kind of. Ahh great, a dead end. Gotta go back.

He began to walk back.

This place is bo-ring. I mean, really boring. There's nothing here. Or... Maybe there's something in the other way.

He walked past his room to the other side of the corridor.

Hmm... Still the same... Uh... Wait a sec. The hell's that?

He walked up to a checkpoint-type thing. A couple of armed guards were there.

"What's this?"

"We're guarding this medical ward. No one gets in or out without proper ID."

"And I guess I don't have proper ID?"

"No. But the doctor said that you should be allowed to leave in a couple of weeks. Before that... You're pretty much stuck here."

"Well... Shit. Gotta go..."

"Come back whenever."

Dingo went back to his room and lied down on his bed.

Guess there's nothing better to do... But I gotta walk every day anyway, even if just to keep myself in a bit better shape...

He closed his eyes.

I didn't know I was this tired... Guess I'll...

And so he passed away, back into his dreams.

... Gah.

He woke up again, sweaty. He rose up to sit and he looked around him. He felt somewhat out of breath. Considering the dream, it wasn't all that odd. He could feel his heart racing like hell... A sensation he found oddly pleasing after being... Parted of it for quite some time. The room itself hadn't changed at all. Well, if it wasn't for the lights. They were dimmer than normal, as though to signal that it was "night".

It was yet another one of those dreams. Ones he didn't exactly like seeing. He wasn't exactly used to being in a reality different of his own. Uncertainty tried to creep into his conscious thoughts. Uncertainty of his ability to return, uncertainty of life itself. What would he do now that his body was restored? What would he do? What could he do? He didn't even know where to start. He didn't know how he had gotten here in the first place, either. All he knew was that he'd want to return, but how would he do it?

The lights had started to become brighter as he had awoken, and they had reached their brightest state already. The nurse walked into the room, carrying a bag.

"Looks like you're awake."

"... Yeah."

She proceeded to walk next to him, put the bag onto the floor and started checking the equipment. The drip wasn't there anymore. He had been eating solid food for the last few days. After a while, she turned to him.

"How are you feeling?"

"Hmm... Fine, I guess."

"Good."

"How long...?"

"Actually, this is the day you are finally being let go. You have fully recovered from your injuries. Well... As fully as you can in such a short time."

Knowing that made him cheer up a little. At least he could get out of that hell hole really soon. He knew that Jehuty would be able to take it from there.

"You disposed of the stuff that was in my body, right? That was a part of the deal."

"Yes, as far as I can tell."

He nodded.

"Great. That's all I wanted to know."

Dingo looked as nurse do whatever she did. Then, just when she was about to leave, she remembered something.

"Oh yes. We took the liberty of altering your suit a little. It was made to fit you with the... Objects in your body, but now that you don't have them..."

"OK. Thanks."

"The suit is in that bag. You can leave whenever you want."

"Alright."

The nurse left, and Dingo dropped his feet onto the floor. It was cold.

Guess I better get going... I have a lot to do... Oh yeah, but first...

He took the bag with him and went to have a shower first. Better be clean before going back to Jehuty, since this might be the last free shower he was getting in a while. After doing that, he put the suit on and he left the room he had been in.

He walked up to the guards on the corridor.

"Hmh. Looks like you're getting out."

"Yeah. Finally."

"You're cleared to leave. You can go. Just follow the blue line."

Dingo just nodded, and said a single word.

"Bye."

Then he walked past the guards.

--

He had followed the blue line for some time now. There was nothing worth mentioning there. It was all just made of boring corridors. He just walked, walked and walked. Until...

The blue line stopped into a door. As he walked close enough to the door, it opened on its own, and revealed the docking area. Jehuty was still there, right in the same place he had left it. The doctor was there, as were the other people who had been with the said doctor when Dingo had come to this place. There were people poking on Jehuty, but they didn't seem to be getting much out of it.

Dingo walked closer, his only thought being leaving this place behind. Yeah, that was his plan for now.

That is, until the doctor opened his mouth.

"So, you're leaving, Dingo Egret. As you can see, we kept our part of the bargain, just as you did."

"But I don't think I'm gonna work for you any time soon again."

"I understand. But please remember: When we promise doing something, we do it."

"Yeah, yeah. That's all good, but I'm leaving now."

"Very well, if that's what you want."

"It is."

Dingo walked up to Jehuty.

The military type spoke this time.

"Fare well, Egret. It has been a pleasure working with you."

"..."

The shield on Jehuty's cockpit opened and he jumped into it.

"Welcome back."

"It's good to be back."

"What shall we do now?"

"Leave. Take us out of here, ADA. I'll think what we'll do later."

"Acknowledged."

Jehuty undocked from the bay, and began to ascend. There was radio chatter, but none of it was really important. Nothing felt important to Dingo, it was as though life had lost a lot of its meaning. He had no idea what to do.

Soon, Jehuty was completely out of the underground facility and flying in the sky.

Yeah... I'll think what we'll do later...