Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim: Milling about

Posted by Lieutenant Achilleas Petrakos (Scientist) in Side sim: Milling about

Posted by Lieutenant Solal Segal (Oncology and Immunology) in Side sim: Milling about
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
<snip>
Solal gave him a look. “It isn’t important. However is comfortable. Straight-backed. Do you prefer to focus on your breathing, nothing, or a candle? Candles are traditional to Vulcan practice.” Solal had started using a calm voice, similar to how he normally sounded when he wasn’t ill, but softer. “I won’t be meditating with you this time, but walking you through the process. Listen to my voice as we go.”

~ Solal

Achilleas grinned before he shrugged and got comfortably cross-legged. He lightly rested his hands together in his lap as he replied. “I guess nothing. We’ll just see how it goes.” He focused his eyes on Solal as he listened to the softening of the tone and cadence of his voice.

Sci Petrakos

“Start out by counting your breaths…” Solal began to walk him through a basic meditation ritual, watching him as they went to see how he was doing with it.

~ Solal

Achilleas did as directed and began to count as each steady breath came in and out. As a musician the aspect of keeping a precise rhythm appealed to him, so each cycle of breath was in a 4/4 time signature. The focus on his breathing began to make Solal’s word fade from his perception. At the moment only the counting existed in his thoughts.

Sci Petrakos

Solal continued to coach him. So far, Achilleas seemed to be doing well with it. Watching him was almost… A little relaxing for Solal as well. Solal quickly noticed Achilleas’ chosen rhythm and was amused by it.

~ Solal

As the blankness further settled upon his mind Achilleas wasn’t counting his breaths any longer. His mind was seemingly at perfect peace. At least it was for a couple minutes. Then thoughts started creeping their way back in. His hysteria in the science labs. After they transported him to sickbay and it took five nurses to restrain him before he was sedated. The in and out of consciousness with voices and light, a revolving pattern of light and the voices! Why could he still hear the voices?! WHAT DID THE VOICES WANT?!? Achilleas was incredibly pale, vibrating with tension and distress, and beading with sweat.

Sci Petrakos

Solal noticed something was wrong and quickly began trying to pull Achilleas out of it. But he didn’t seem to hear Solal. In the end, he set a hand gently on Achilleas’ shoulder. “Achilleas. Achilleas.” He said it a couple of times, trying to get his friend’s attention without startling him too hard.

~ Solal

Achilleas didn’t hear Solal call out to him or even consciously know that he was being touched but his subconscious reacted to being touched and not in a good way. Without being aware of his actions, Achilleas grabbed the hand on his shoulder and pulled it along his body while rotating his torso. The move was an attempt to pull Solal off balance then to the ground.

Sci Petrakos

Solar was not expecting such an immediate, physical response. Tired and ill, he was taken entirely by surprise and yanked by the wrist down, colliding into the ground with a grunt and a couple of coughs. It took him several moments to recover and start to pull himself up. “Achilleas! He repeated, louder this time, alarm and worry in his voice.

~ Solal

Achilleas followed Solal as he hit the ground, positioning himself in a straddling position on his torso. One hand reached for his throat while his other lifted to shoulder height with his fist balled up tightly. His eyes were still vacant as he moved completely on primal instinct and terror.

Sci Petrakos