Yggdrasil Fallen, LitRPG Series
Book 1, Obsidian
Chapter 15: Exposed
Andre was startled back to consciousness a very short time later as the summoned security detail moved in with terrifying speed and precision. Before he knew it Andre was surrounded by gray uniformed men, hands on their holsters ready to draw what he hoped were tasers. With his arms and legs still tethered to the side of the bed, he waved his hands in surrender.
“Hey hey hey, I’m all trussed up like a pig ready for the spit; literally no threat!” He spoke his voice still gravely and painful.
Speaking into a small microphone on his collar on of the uniformed individuals called out: “We need a gurney and an emergency response team to room 5 in the medical wing, one man down his state unknown.” His hand not leaving the holstered weapon.
“So, now that you are awake… again. Care to explain exactly what happened in here?” Silderson, who had taken a step back when the guards showed up, moved back to the foot of his bed, glancing down at the unconscious doctor as his eyes met Andres’.
“If you truly are no threat; why is our doctor laid out on the floor, with you completely saturated and our medical equipment ruined.” He asked, flinty steel wrapping each word.
The calm that had washed through him surprised Andre:
“I have to keep a scared rabbit façade, or this could be really bad.” He thought to himself, ALIAS remaining surprisingly quiet.
“Would you believe me if I said you have a faulty sprinkler system that just dumped its load, shorting out the equipment and… uh... shocking your doctor?” he replied, attempting to portray a fearful innocence.
Glancing up at the water, still dripping from the ceiling onto them, Silderson once again returned his gaze to Andres; the calm, cool and collected look betraying the intimidation once painted across his face.
“Why don’t you try again, our fire suppression system is bar-none the best available, which is serviced quite regularly.” He paused a moment then shouted:
“I know who and what you are! You can’t hide a damned thing from me!” Andre was stunned, shocked into silence. Staring down the red-faced man, who seemed to have cascaded through a whole spectrum of emotions in an instant.
“Listen, I don’t know what you know… but what you know isn’t exactly what I know, and I know….” Andre started before Silderson cut him off:
“Quit yammering like a moron, I don’t fucking appreciate you daring to try and play childish word games with me. This is a serious matter.” He growled. Eyes locked, the calm that was permeating his very being almost impelled his reply:
“Fine then, since you’re so unable to appreciate a bit of humor I’ll just tell you: I have no answers for the likes of you. At least none that you’d find suitable or even remotely believable.” Andre finally said and was surprised by a bellowing laugh in response:
“Good god, this dude really is just that fucking crazy, isn’t he?!” Andre thought.
“Maybe he’s just amused by your shockingly inept attempts to cover up what really happened in this room.” ALIAS dinged, Silderson still laughing.
“Oh, nice to hear your still here.” He thought sarcastically back.
“Kid, you really have no idea what kind of shit you’ve stepped in do you? Your situation right now is so beyond fucked I’ll just come out and tell ya: we have had a specialist examining you while you were unconscious and boy was he able to pull some secrets from you! You don’t even know where you are, how you got here or even who we are!” Silderson wheezed out.
“I’m gonna go with: absolutely unhinged… though, secrets? He’s gotta be bluffing right?” Andre thought to himself as he attempted to look around despite his constraints.
“…You really are that stupid, aren’t you?”
“What? I just assumed that I was transported to the local hospital…”
“Does this LOOK like a standard hospital type scene to you?” ALIAS mocked. From what he could see, the room did appear quite well appointed for a standard hospital room, despite the fried electronics and ceiling tiles sagging from water saturation. The room wasn’t standard clinical white but painted a pale blue, the usual linoleum flooring appeared to be actual patterned tilework. In the corner of his eye, he could almost make out what appeared to be a large flatscreen TV hanging in the corner. Even the mattress he laid upon was much more comfortable than what he could remember from when he’d had minor surgery.
“You gonna keep staring off into space, or are you going to answer me?” Silderson, who appeared to have long since stopped laughing, had adopted an almost hostile tone.
Before Andre could respond a woman in a sleek white pantsuit came charging through the door and upon seeing how the doctor lay, she began barking orders:
“You all need to clear out to give us room to work! What ever happened here, he’s not going anywhere.” She was waving her arm in a wide motion gesturing for the gray uniformed men to leave the room; after pointing at Andre. The men responded by quickly filing out, each one staring him down. They were replaced by 3 additional medical staff, all dressed in brilliant white, wheeling in a gurney. They quickly loaded the doctor, who was beginning to stir. The woman obviously leading the team firmly commanded:
“Let’s get him down to exam room 2 and run a full diagnostic.” The medical staff rushed out, quickly replaced by the stone-faced guards; one on either side of Andre’s bed, one investigating the no longer smoking equipment, leaving Killen standing between the last two in front of the room’s door which he’d just closed.
“Now, where were we?” Silderson had resumed his position, gripping the plastic frame at the foot of the bed so tightly the veins in his hands were bulging.
Something about the entire situation broke Andre, his desire to lash out in the face raw power and authority overwhelmed his need for self-preservation.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“Fuck the scared rabbit schtick, pricks’ probably already seen through my façade anyways.” He growled to ALIAS.
“Uh… strapped to Barbie’s dream bed, draped in medical lingerie more saturated than drunken morons in a wet tee-shirt contest at the local Hooters? Honestly, if I wasn’t so sure that I’m not your type; I’d be worried about some lascivious intents.” Andre groaned out; hearing a guard choke a laugh at his response. Shooting daggers at the guard, Silderson took a deep breath, attempting to ignore the blatant disrespect.
“Very funny you twiggy smartass. Do you think you can stand on your own or do I need to call for a wheelchair? We can’t leave you in this room.”
“Well, you’d have to undo the freaky bondage I seem to have found myself inadvertently involved in. But yes, I do believe I can stand on my own, may even be able to walk like a good lil boy, though I can’t promise you I won’t shit in the house.”
Silderson stood, crossed one arm over his chest resting the others palm over his face for several minutes. Dropping both hands to his side in exasperated defeat, he motioned to the guard standing closest to Andres’ bindings.
“Untie him please.”
“You sure boss?” The man responded.
“Yes, just do it.” Then to the guard on the other side of his bed, “You, retrieve his clothes and belongings he came here with.” Killen, standing by the door started; shocked by Silderson’s words.
“All his belongings…?”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that? You over there; quit staring at that fried equipment and get down to the lab and retrieve the artefacts we’ve been studying.” Killen, looking beyond stunned stammered:
“Are you serious Silderson, the boss may be a bit more than a little pissed with you giving him that stuff back, especially if they’re what I think they are.”
“I didn’t say we’re giving them back to him. Just do it, I’ll deal with the backlash if it should come. Plus, I’m more than willing to bet once he meets Andre here, he will fully understand.”
“What aren’t you telling me Silderson?”
“JUST DO AS I SAY!” He roared in response.
The guard had already untied Andre’s feet while the exchange between Silderson and the guy standing at the door transpired; and was working on freeing his hands. The other two guards had hurried off as soon as they were commanded. Sitting up for the first time since he’d regained consciousness, he looked around the room finally taking it all in. It was surprisingly large, outfitted with what had been cutting edge medical technology. He could now see there was a door to the left of his bed, leading to what he presumed was the bathroom right next to a counter with a sink, and a huge bank of cupboards above it. Straight ahead from his bed, mounted on the wall was a large rectangular mirror; to the right of that the door currently being guarded by a very angry looking red-haired gentleman.
“So, now that we’re done with the foreplay can we do something bout these tubes and really get this party started?” Andre mocked.
Silderson looked him over, something had changed in him. The unfocused, quiet, almost timid young man he had met just the other day now seemed to have gained confidence and a sense of strength he couldn’t put his finger on. The angry looking red blistering rash he had been looking at just before the event occurred, while still a violently angry looking blight had faded a bit and appeared to be healing over, with most of blisters calming to pale welts. There was a knock at the door; and in strode the first guard, carrying Andre’s pack.
“You are not a prisoner here, our only goal was to make you as comfortable as possible in hopes that you would truthfully answer some questions that we have.”
“Then why the super happy fun time straps?
“The doctor felt it was necessary to keep you off the wounds on your back. Plus, you kick in your sleep.”
Andre felt his back tingle as though in response to Silderson’s words.
“Well, I… Thank you. This burn certainly hurt like nothing else.” His smartass attitude faltering to genuine appreciation.
“Burn you say? So, you know how you got it?”
“Shit, me and my big mouth.” Andre shot at himself; I must be far more careful. I really can’t let anything else slip out.
“That’s what it feels like at least.”
“I see, do you recall how you received such a wound?”
“I decided to put a campfire out with my back, with the day getting late I didn’t want to freeze ya know? But then I remembered the burn ban, and well wouldn’t ya know… that damn thing just wouldn’t go out the usual ways: even when I pissed on it.” He shot back; almost pleased with his quick retort.
“Damn, all that time working with Jeff really upped my banter game. Gunna really have to find a good way to thank him later. Tequila sounds nice.” Silderson let out an exasperated sigh:
“Listen Andre, I know you don’t trust anything that’s going on here, certainly not me. But we brought you here to get you the best care available, and to protect you from the prying eyes of others who don’t intend the good things we hope to achieve with you.”
“You’re damn right I don’t trust you! Before today you’ve done nothing but talk down to me, treat me like an idiot and outright lie to me and someone I have a hell of a lot more respect for than yourself.”
“Ok, ok I get it. Why don’t we take a brief break to clear our heads. I’ll have Killen here take you to the bathing facility where here’s a jet tub, showers and even a sauna with plenty of clean, warm towels; all of which are available for your use. Should you wish to take longer than a minute. I will wait for you to do as you see fit.”
Swinging his legs over the edge and shakily standing from the bed Andre nodded in agreement. “So long as you promise not to turn it into an internet peepshow!” Silderson grimaced, shaking his head before he responded.
“Take your time. Killen will bring you to my office when you are ready. We have provided you with a change of clothes as yours were….” He paused, choosing his words carefully.
“Not exactly suitable for use any longer.” He finished, watching Andre take a few uncertain steps. Finding his footing, he shouldered the pack offered to him by the guard who had retrieved it. It felt far lighter and flatter than he remembered, but that investigation would have to wait for another time. “I guess I have no choice but to go along with things and wait for my opening.” The tension having long left the air, Andre let his shoulders slump down as he took a deep slightly pained breath.
“Alright, a hot bath does sound very nice.”
“Very good, I’ll see you when you are ready.” Silderson spoke, his relief border lining apparent excitement.
The red-haired man “Killen” led him out of the room, walking for several minutes taking more twists and turns than he could possibly hope to track. When they finally arrived at a large set of double doors where Killen paused, motioning for him to enter.
“Inside you’ll find the amenities described by Mr. Silderson. The change of clothes promised to you; is already in your pack. Take your time and do as you see fit, I’ll be waiting for you here. Oh. And don’t even think about attempting to escape, the windows don’t open and are comprised of 4 inches of bulletproof glass. As Silderson said, you are not a prisoner here; but it would be in your best interest to leave through the front door properly escorted. Do you understand me? Oh, and we’ve kept your weapon as this IS in fact a hospital.” His words were soft yet very firm, with a sharp edge of danger to them. Andre nodded in understanding as he opened one of the doors to enter the bathing facility.
The room wasn’t as large as he had expected; more like an overly large locker room with just enough room for 5 showers, with a row of sinks with mirrors above them, several toilet stalls, a wood paneled sauna and the promised jet bath. Walking over he turned the dials, adjusting the water to his desired temperature, placed the stopper to begin the filling of the tub. He turned to face a mirror, pulling the ties on his hospital gown allowing it to fall to the floor Andre turned his back to the mirror in an attempt to check out the reported rash.
“Holy shit, that root looking thing really did a number on me… what the hell was that thing anyways?” He pondered staring over what he could see of the burn that ran the full length of his back. “Is… is that burn healing into a scar…? Is that a branch?” He couldn’t see much, but what he could see sent a chill through him.
“Tione mentioned a brand that was affecting my sealed and unsealed aspects, then there’s that whole “Convergence” gift. What does this all mean?” Another chill ran through him, tingling his skin and causing the sense of unease to rise in his chest again.
He turned back to the bath, now almost full. Walking towards it, he turned on the jets, and slid into the comfortably hot water; hoping to purge the chill that was currently chasing through the entirety of his being. In all his life he had never felt so alone… so exposed with no one to turn to; no one to rely on.
“Silderson better not be fucking with me, at the very least he’d better have some damn good answers.” He thought to himself as the hot water engulfed him: warming him through, with the jets easing his aches.