Compromised Earth

His entire body hurt,


Not like it had before, obviously, more of a dull ache, the kind that comes after a day of really hard physical training after years of inactivity, but in that case, it still meant he was having trouble moving. He lay on his bed, in his quarters propped up by an ungodly amount of pillows. He honestly wasn't entirely sure where Sunny had found them all only to assume that she had probably gone around stealing them from people.


If that was the case, at least no one said anything.


Aside from that, she had gone out of her way to assign someone to watch him when she couldn't be there. He was still experiencing some withdrawal symptoms,and she was unreasonably worried that something would happen with his health.


Katie, Krill, Ramirez, Mav, and a few others were taking it in shifts to watch him. He was sure if he was a little less of an extrovert, he would have hated it, but honestly the company was a comfort and it helped him to sleep easier knowing someone was there.


Ramirez was there now playing something on a vintage handheld gaming system of some sort cursing under his breath occasionally when things didn't go his way. He looked up in concern, probably worried that he had disturbed the Commander's sleep, though Adam was honestly fine, drifting in and out and in and out as the occasion called for it.


Recovery was slow and painful, and those some had suggested it, he refused meds to dull the pain.


He could already feel the hinted prod of long dormant cravings and so refused any and all painkillers knowing that, if he gave in once, he would be more likely to do it, again, and again, and again.


At least now he could stand, though only for short periods of time. Long enough to get up to go to the bathroom and take very short, hot showers, though both activities tended to leave him absolutely exhausted.


The Spiderlings had visited him earlier in the day babysat by Waffles and Dr. Katie, The had been very excited to see him, and he in return, though he had only been able to manage their presence for a short amount of time before being forced to send them off too tired to keep his eyes open.


He was just drifting off to sleep again when a commotion outside the door startled him awake. Ramirez stood form his seat a concerned expression on his face, setting his handheld down on the chair behind him and walking over to the door.


"What is it?"'


Ramirez shook his head and held up a hand, "Just let me check it out." The door hissed open and then shut filling the room with a swelling of voices for a short moment.


"He's resting!"


He sat up recognizing sunny's angered voice.


"I know that, but this is urgen-"


The door was shut, and the sound of voices was cut off leaving only the distant humming of muffled words. He pushed himself higher up in his sitting position, eyes squeezing shut against the ache.


He leaned forward, but couldn't make out what was being said.


The longer it went on the more impatient he got, before eventually throwing his legs over the side of the bed and slowly getting to his feet.


His back and legs screamed in protest, and the metal of the ship was cool beneath his feet as he limped on both legs, to the door. Despite having one mechanical leg, his body was in so much pain that it didn't bother to relegate the agony to a single side. THe door hissed open, only for him to find Ramirez, Sunny and Waffles facing off against an official UNSC officer looking more than a bit frazzled by the hostility being projected by his two crewmen, and now the dog, who also seemed less than pleased about this turn of events.


As the door opened, they all turned to look at him.


What a sight he must have been, shirtless, and covered in bandages facing off against some pretty severe irritation from the Steel-Eye suit. The skin about his back, arms and chest was extremely inflamed and irritated, making his already haggard appearance even more so. The officer quickly solution, while the other two looked at him in concern coming to his side to make sure he was ok.


Ramirez offered him an arm, but he waved it off, "What is this all about?"


The officer nodded nervously, "I am so sorry to bother you commander, but there have been some developments in relation to the burg, and the UNSC is calling a meeting to deal with it. Not to mention there have been some.... Questions as to your methods during the last engagement that the brass would like to discuss. They understand that you are still recovering, but based on recent circumstances, we cannot put things off any longer."


"Like hell you can't" Sunny snarled


Adam held up a hand to her, "Let me get changed, and I will accompany you."


Both Sunny and Ramirez sputtered in protest as the officer saluted, the two of them following him back into his rooms with arguments on their tongues.


He limped over to the closet doors, ignoring them as it hissed open, reaching in to grab out a white shirt.


"Adam, you can barely walk, the UNSC has no right to ask you to come in if you aren't recovered." Sunny seemed to be working herself up into a killing mood.


The threaded one of his arms through a sleeve, painstakingly pulling the shirt closed fingers fumbling with the buttons, "This is my job, Sunny, and I intend to do it."


Ramirez held out his hands, "But Sir, I am sure there is some sort of compromise. Maybe they could project you in as a hologram, that way you wouldn't need to use up all your strength."


Adam turned to look at him, "As commander of the UNSC fleet, I hardly intend to give off an air of weakness to my superiors. I can walk, so I will go. Or I may at the very least, try."


"And slow down your recovery." Sunny interjected


"If that's what I must do."


"I get your loyalty, Adam, but sometimes I think you cave to unreasonable demands." He had gotten the shirt on and had managed to pants as well, despite his screaming back.


Shoes were going to be a real bitch.


He pulled on his uniform jacket and plucked his hat from its spot atop a shelf stuffing it onto his head as his shoulders seemed to moan with the agony.


"My mind is made up."


He bent down to retrieve his shoes, but was struck by an excessive bout of pain that seemed to radiate up his spine and into his limbs. His knuckles were white against the door-frame.


Ramirez hurried forward, helped him to stand and retrieved his pushing him back to sit on the edge of the bed. He sighed in relief feeling only mildly embarrassed as Ramirez knelt to help put on the shoes.


Sunny didn't look pleased, but offered Ramirez the other shoe when he was done with the first.


Ramirez looked up, "We can't change your mind?


Adam shook his head, "No."


"Then we will accompany you. Make sure you don't overwork yourself." He glanced over at Sunny, "Right."


She was clearly displeased, but nodded her bird-like head, "I will carry you if I must." She glowered at him, "or if I feel like you are growing too stupid to take care of your own health."


Her words tugged a half-hearted smile from him, "How sweet."


He stood again, slowly helped to his feet by Ramirez, and together they stepped out of the room and off down the hall.


He tried to walk with a purpose, but after the first hallway he was beginning to wonder if he hadn't been too hasty in his assessment of his own strength. His feet were like led boot encased in concrete, his back hurt horrendously, and his chest was feeling a little tight, though he kept that to himself.


Their pace had significantly slowed by the time he made it to cargo bay, And both Ramirez and Sunn were looking at him as if they expected him to collapse at any moment.


He was glad they were there for that eventuality for it was definitely seeming like an eventuality now. The officer was waiting for him, and upon seeing his face, the man's eyes grew wide and his skin blanched.


Did he really look that bad?


"Are you alright, commander."


"Yes, let's just get inside so I can sit down." The man didn't argue with him, hurrying onto the UNSC shuttle.


Climbing up that ramp might as well have been climbing up Everest, and the only relief was a seat waiting for him when they stepped on.


He took his seat to exhausted to even keep his eyes open.


Aware partially of Sunny and Ramirez buckling the harness around him before taking their own seats.


He fell asleep on the way in, or at least he thought he did, jostled awake when landing came.


It took everything he had to force his eyes back open and unstrap himself from the seat. Ramirez took his offered hand and pulled him to his feet.


His legs were so weak.


Light spilled in from the Shuttle doors, and together they stepped outside into the light of earth. He closed his eyes for the sun on his skin, which helped to make him feel just a little better.


"Commander."


He looked up, surprised to find a good portion of the UNSC brass waiting for him at the base of the ramp.


His old captain , now Admiral Kelly being one of those.


She took one look at him and frowned immediately, "Are you alright, Commander."


He limped down the ramp, "yes ma'am, I'm fine."


"You look like shit.... And that's me being diplomatic."


He gave a weak smile as the others looked on in concern, "I'll be alright as long as we get somewhere where I can sit."


"Then let's hurry and do that." Admiral Kelly, grabbed him by the arm and steered him over to a waiting truck.


It felt like his knees were going to buckle but he managed to get in, with some help from Sunny.


He fell asleep again resting against Sunny's shoulder shaken awake when the truck pulled to a stop in front of UNSC headquarters. There was a party waiting for them, and he was deeply regretting agreeing to this.


He climbed out of the Truck behind Sunny stumbling when his feet hit the pavement.


Ramirez grabbed him by the arm and helped him to stand.


A light trembled had started up in his body, and he felt as if he was going to collapse.


He was so dizzy, his legs were so weak.


The party came to meet with him, "We are sorry Commander, that this was such a bad time, but there have been some developments with the Burg, we required discussing with you immediately."


He nodded, though only half understanding what they were saying."


"You plan managed to foil the larger part of the attack, but it looks like a Tesraki agent, paid off by the other side managed to get into the Gromm city, and steal some of the warp codes to sell for a prophet. We can't be sure, but earth might have been on that list."


"That sure got his attention."


"The Burg might have our warp codes."


"Yes."


"Did you contact the GA?"


"Immediately."


"Good... hopefully they might help us get a Nexus up in time." His feet were a hundred pounds each sliding towards 1000. The curb before him was a seven foot leap.


He stepped up and.... Made it, by the skin of his teeth.


He pulled the other foot up and paused on the edge of the curb staring straight forward.


"We have already begun construction-."


They continued talking, and he heard himself respond a few times. The faces before him warped in and out of focus continuing to speak. He spoke, though he had no idea what he was saying.


His vision started to go white.


It honestly scared him.


He had passed out before, and his vision had gone black, but this time it started to go white washing everything of color as he stared forward. His ears rang and his head spun.


Before he knew it he was sitting on the ground.


"Get his head down, between his knees." Someone was saying.


A hand rested on his back.


He was breathing hard, but every time he tried to lift his head, the world started to go white again.


So he stayed there, not sure for how long before, finally he was able to lift his head.


A group of very worried people and one Alien stood around him. Sunny knelt at his side, Ramirez at his other, and a couple of the Admirals in front of him, others standing behind.


"Sweet mother earth, commander, we thought you were having a stroke."


"The paramedics are on their way." Someone was saying


"Call them off." He mumbled, "I'm ok, just a little lightheaded."


"If we had known you were this sick, commander, we would never have asked you to come."


"We tried to tell you that." Sunny snapped, but Adam rested a hand on her arm.


"Relax Sunny, they had no way of knowing. Help me up."


She hesitated.


"Help me up." He ordered, and she did so only grudgingly. He was back on his feet now though he kept his head down worried the world would go white again.


"Do you need a doctor?' someone was asking.


A bottle of water was pressed into one of his hands.


He took a drink letting the cool liquid slide down his throat, "I'm alright.'


I'm alright ended up amounting to almost passing out three more times before they made it to the 'war room' and that was before Sunny began ignoring his orders and simply carried him the rest of the way.


He would have been embarrassed, if he had the cognitive capacity to do so, and probably would have been embarrassed when the paramedics showed up to place and IV and look him over once they got there.


They offered medication.


He refused.


Still concerned at the little cravings hinting at the back of his mind.


But there were more important things to deal with than that, one of them being the Burg.


And their possible knowledge of earth's location.


At least he had managed to save SOME planets

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