Awareness returned in fragments. His body wasn't moving on its own. Something was carrying him, holding him steady as it moved. He forced his eyes open slightly, but the image didn't form clearly. A metallic surface passed through his vision, smooth and precise, supporting his weight without imbalance. The motion didn't feel human.
Not human.
The movement slowed, and the support beneath him shifted. Before he could process further, the strain rose again, cutting off what little awareness remained. His vision darkened.
Sound came first when awareness returned again. A steady tone, low and consistent, followed by controlled mechanical movement nearby. It didn't match natural motion.
Arin opened his eyes.
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, clean and structured with embedded lighting that didn't flicker. His body felt heavier than before, not just from weakness, but from something external maintaining it. He shifted slightly, and resistance followed immediately.
His gaze lowered. Thin conduits were attached along his arm, fixed in place with precise alignment. A faint green fluid moved through them, flowing steadily into his body. The earlier instability had reduced further. The pressure that had been spreading before was no longer present.
For a moment, the process didn't match his understanding. Then the function became clear.
This wasn't natural recovery.
A metallic figure entered his field of view and stopped beside him. Its structure was precise, movements controlled without unnecessary motion.
"Conscious state detected."
The voice was even, without variation.
"Can you hear me?"
Arin looked at it. The structure matched what he had seen before.
Medical response.
He didn't answer immediately. The body felt slow, as if the response had to pass through resistance before forming.
"Can you hear me?" the unit repeated, remaining still as it waited.
Arin blinked once and forced the response. "I can." His voice came out low, lacking strength.
"Response confirmed."
The unit adjusted slightly before continuing.
"Your condition was critical upon arrival. Emergency stabilization has been applied. Further treatment is required."
Arin remained still, letting the information settle. The condition of the body, the external support, the controlled environment—everything aligned.
He had made it.