Plurk paste

Real consciousness only returned at a pinprick to his inner arm. He instinctively tried to jerk, but the restraints kept him secure. 76 grunted and pulled at them, only to receive a condescending pat on the head for his troubles.

"If it makes you feel better, by all means," a smooth female voice told him. "But those are more than capable of holding down even your sort."

76 glared up at the source. Even without a labcoat (some sort of black armor, a tubed apparatus running over her shoulders- <I>weak point?</I> he wondered), she was unmistakable. "O'Deorian," he said again, this time in a low growl.

Above him, Moira pressed her lips together in a thin smile. "And haven't <I>you</I> changed, Commander," she answered, just enough honey in her words to drip mockery of his old title. "I must say, I hadn't expected you to be the fabled Soldier: 76." She paused, but when she received was only a glare in reply, gave another little chuckle as she checked the connection between his IV and whatever...vaguely glowing liquid she had him hooked up to.

<I>What the hell is that?</I> 76 wanted to ask, but he could make a guess at it; some sort of biotic, with how much sharper he was feeling. Besides, from what he could remember? O'Deorian was exactly the type of braggart who wouldn't have minded talking, even without a prompt.

As if reading his mind, she smiled, and tapped the bag. "A concoction of my own," she answered his unspoken question. "Don't worry, there's only trace amounts of narcotics within. You aren't here to be interrogated."

"So what am I here for?" he countered, not in the least reassured.

"Sampling." She moved, then, checking on his bonds. He took the moment to take better stock of them, as well; ankles, knees, waist, upper torso, elbows, and wrists. All the major points he could try and get some leverage. "I'm sure you're aware of the black market for human parts," she continued as he turned his gaze to the rest of the room, already trying to figure out the weakest strap. "What you may not be aware of is how much <I>enhanced</I> human pieces will go for, such as one who's gone through that old SEP program."

A vision of being carved up like one of the cows from a farm flashed through his mind. Immediately he tensed again, straining against the bonds, and Moira could only laugh again as she moved out of view.

"Oh, don't fuss. I'm only going to harvest what you're capable of healing on your own." In went another prick, and he glanced to see her with a syringe slowly filling red.