-=/-\=- Begin Log -=/-\=- "NOOO!", Cortez screamed, his heart beating like crazy. In front of him, on the floor was a dead body. He already knew who it was, but he knelt down and rolled it over anyways. He began to cry as he gripped the woman in his arms. The room was completely dark, except for a single light shining over Richards huddled body. "I told you you to stay", he managed to say his body rocking back and forth, tears falling down his cheeks. Suddenly from somewhere behind him a ferocious scream echoed through the room, startling Richard who fell forward. He quickly began squirming away into the darkness, turning around, just in time to see two bright red eyes peering at him through the black on the other side of the room. The owner of the eyes moved forward into the light revealing its body, letting out another scream, this time even louder than before. Cortez was amazed at what he saw and froze still as the mandibles of the huge X-Chi rose up into the air revealing its puss filled underside. Squirming back even further as the X-Chi charged forward, Richards hands grasping around him for anything, he finally came in contact with a door. Reaching up he found the knob and twisted it, revealing a brightly lit room. Pulling himself inside he barely managed to shut the door before the XChi caught up to him. Turning around Richard looked at his new surroundings. It was a small room, in the middle sat an old worn out couch. In front of it was a TV set. On the walls were pictures of people that Richard knew. His parents, his brothers, even major Walsh was on the wall. An open hallway led from the room into what looked like a kitchen, where the smell of chocolate chip cookies was permeating from. Richard began moving towards the smell and into the kitchen. As he stepped inside he saw the familiar figure of his mother with her back turned towards the cooking unit. She was wearing the usual pink dress and white apron. "Mom", he managed to gasp as he began to walk forward, nearing the figure. "Mom, its me", he repeated, placing his hand on her shoulder as the she slowly began twisting around revealing the face of a Jem'Hadar warrior. "Hello Son", the warrior grunted as he forcefully thrust the small butter knife in his hands into Richards side. Richard winced in pain as the dull blade pierced his skin and delved into his ribs. He immediately fell to the ground, blade still hanging from his side. Suddenly everything in the room began turning bright white, the pain in his side intensifying. Then as if he had no control over his body he shot up from the ground and opened his eyes. Revealing the sanitized and familiar Chimera sickbay. "Its OK", the voice from the Nurse assured him, as she placed her soft hands onto his shoulders. "Where the Fuck am I", Richard yelled, nearly falling out of the bed. He looked down and saw his side was bandaged up. "You're on the Chimera Lieutenant:, the nurse answered, clearly shaken at the sudden excitement. Richards breathing was heavy and deep, sweat running down his face. He didn't say anything. Everything began to come back to him. He remembered being down at einhoften after the team had re-taken the facility, but that was it. "What happened", he managed to say, his throat dry and hoarse. "You collapsed and went unconscious while down on the planet", the nurse answered, "You had three severely fractured ribs, its amazing your still alive", she finished, handing Richard a small cup of water. He took the cup and guzzled down the liquid quickly, "What about everyone else, is everyone OK", he asked, finally starting to calm down. The nurse smiled, "Yes, everything went fine", she answered, "But you need to get some rest, there is going to be a Holiday party tonight, and if you want to go, then I suggest you calm down and relax, I'll have some food brought to you in a few minutes, OK", she said warmly. Richard leaned back into the bed, "OK", he answered, suddenly feeling very tired. "OK", he said again, just before his eyes closed and the world darkened out. -=/-\=- End Log -=/-\=- 2nd Lieutenant Richard Cortez ODA XO USS Chimera