The Feds Pt I
07 May 2020Maggie Oz
I became aware of someone standing over me. I moved my head -OH SHIT That hurts, bad idea don't do that -
"Just lie still Magdeeleen, you're in a hospital, you're stable but quite injured"
I tried to talk but there seemed to be something shoved down my throat.
-I'll just lie here for a bit longer .... feel better then .... I.. get .. up ...-
I stirred again. It seemed dark this time. I opened an eye slightly. I was in a dim room.
Lot's of medical stuff around.
-Hospital ..... oh yeh they said that ..... when was that?-
-Sleep ... I like sleep ...... I'll sleep .. then .. I get .. up-
-Awake! Oh my God it hurts!! Mama make it stop!! -
I moaned and my pain racked body convulsed.
"Give her more meds" someone yelled
yeh, yeh do that ... sounds good.. meds, lots of meds
"Magdala ......... Magdala "
-Stop shaking me, I'm fuckin' awake-
"Magdala, can you hear me?"
-No one calls me THAT-
"Whaaa, murbllllllngt" I manage
"I think she's coming around"
There was a roaring in my ears, sounds around me rushing in
I opened my eyes and the light, blinding, spilled in. I squinted and they began to acclimatise.
The room came into focus. A hospital room, two other patients in the same room.
I was on a bed, machines all around.
"Who are you?" I asked the person shaking me
"My name is Robert, I've been looking after you"
"Ok, nice to meet you Bob and thank you"
"Robert," He said a bit more testily than I would have thought was appropriate to use with a sick person
"Maggie," I replied with mock scorn
I looked about taking stock, while Bob fussed with readings and machines and medicy stuff.
My head still hurt like a bitch, it throbbed and I could feel dressings and whatnot on my face.
I could see ok, out of both eyes too.
I looked down.
-Two tits, check, left arm, check, right arm, check.-
-Right shoulder, bloody sore, heavily strapped as well. Can't really feel much there. -
-Belly looks ok, pelvis no problem.-
-Only one leg though .... last I saw my left one it was in bits floating around the cockpit of Witchy Woman. -
-Oh wow my bum hurts. I think I'm missing most of one cheek.-
-Looks like I did get my sweet ass shot off this time, Al .....-
- Oh Al -
Small tears formed in the corners of my eyes and blazed a stinging trail through the wounds and burns down the sides of my face.
I felt like a little girl lost. Alone, hurt, sad and far from anyone or anything I knew
- I need to go home. Roy! Come and get me Roy! -
"How long have I been here?" I croaked at Bob
"About 4 days" he replied. Hmmmmm ... Federal accent.
"Where is here by the way?
"You are on Obsidian Orbital, in the Maia System"
"Ok, thanks" both names were meaningless to me this far from my Galaxy Map
"Do you know what happened to my ship?"
"No I don't I'm sorry, I think someone official will be along in a while though"
"Official? "
"Yes," said Bob and he scurried out of the room looking like he really needed to be somewhere else.
I relaxed into the pillow again, closing my eyes, my head hurt a little less.
"I think it is too soon to talk to her, she still needs rest" sounds from outside my room woke me again.
"We've waited long enough! You've been giving us that crap for days, let us in ... NOW"
"Alright, but it can't be for long she is very weak"
- What the fuck is this? -
I opened my eyes again and tried to sit up a bit to see what was going on.
Two incredibly young Federal Navy Officers entered the ward. Ensigns, if I am not mistaken
The noisier one stalked up to the bedside and bellowed
"Madgeleena Otree-an?"
"Ah .... No," I said quizzically
"What? "
"That's not my name"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, my head wasn't hit that hard"
"Well, who are you?"
"I am Commander Lady Magdalena Oztraya, 4th Earl of Aztlan," I said in as much of a "bugger off and let me wallow" tone as I could
The other Ensign took the clipboard off the first
"That's what it says here you numbnuts," she said to him "See, Mag-da-lay-na" she said pointing to what was sounding like my name on the list.
-Being on a list is rarely a good thing. -
"Wrong rank though"
"Well it wouldn't be the same, would it? Not from back then, you know what she is"
-Ohhhh crap-
Ensign Numbnuts cleared his throat, starting again
"Magdaleeena Oztraya" he looked at me and I could see the malice, I raised my eyebrows -Ow! don't do that- as a confirmation that he had vaguely gotten my name right "You are ordered to appear before the Military Tribunal of this Station at 08:00 hours tomorrow for questioning on behalf of the Galactic Standing Committee on War Crimes."
"What in fuck's name for?"
"Questioning" he replied with what I have no doubt he thought was supreme wit, tinged with menace.
I sighed
"OK, but I can't guarantee I'll be doing much standing" I replied, looking down at the general area a left leg would traditionally be.
He gave an odd smile, possibly of triumph, but maybe more relief at having discharged his duty and they both left.
I lay back down.
-Fuck-