Another Life (Oc x reader)

Chapter 18 - Hero

You all stand around Ethan's soma chamber, and look at him still in soma even though the tube is open and everyone else is awake.

"William, what is going on? Why are we all awake but Ethan isn't?" Jason asks.

"The batteries to the soma system are hemorrhaging power. I've pulled you all out, but-"

"Why isn't he waking up?" You ask them.

"I don't know. The soma technology is so new and complex, I barely understand how it works. When it works." Zayn answers.

"He was the last one in, right?" You then say, looking at William.

"Yeah, he was still being put under when I initiated the override."

Ethan's body twitch and spasm slightly, you reach down to his arm, trying to comfort him in his sleep.

"My dog did that. She moved her little paws around and-"

Javier nudged Bernie to stop him. "Read the room, Bernie."

"He might be in a hybrid state between REM and wakefulness, which would explain why his somatic won't disengage." Zayn then says.

"He's trapped?" You realise.

"So we're gonna wait for his somatic cycle to finish, then we'll try again." Jason says.

"We don't have time for that. His tube's got less than 30 minutes on it." Zayn says. "If he's still plugged in when this thing shuts down.."

You look at Zayn worriedly.

"He'll be brain dead."

"Then we pull him out now!" You say, looking at Jason.

"Yeah." Jason agrees.

"No, no, this isn't like unplugging a hairdryer." William then says. "This is sophisticated technology. The interface is melded directly into his brain stem. If done incorrectly, it could cause a stroke, neural damage-"

"So, we can't leave him in and we can't pull him out." Jason rubs his neck. "Am I missing a third option here?"

You look at them and then back down at Ethan. Caressing his arm and chest when he jerks again, desperately trying to soothe him.

Jason turn to Zayn. "Can you do this? Can you pull him out, Zayn?"

Zayn looks down at you and Ethan.

"Really just looking for a yes or no."

Zayn glance at you again and you meet his eyes with a desperate look. "Yes."

"Then do it." Jason tells him.

...

"Ethan?"

He frowns and opens his eyes, finding himself in an interrogation room with the General.

"Dubois?"

"Good to see you awake." She says and takes a seat on the opposite side of the table from him. "If you prefer to do this another time.."