Anxiety is perhaps the most docile word to describe how Marcie has been feeling for the next few days. The constant emotional rollercoaster she has been on has left her supervisor for want with the severe lack of progress she has made in her work. And just so considering what she was about to do. Still, she somehow managed to push through her last day of work to turn in some new potions and gear.
The team that will be involved in Marcie's procedure spent the four days meticulously preparing. Richard, Antonio and Marcie were all forced to take a day of rest on the fourth day to make sure they went into the surgery room fresh and full of stamina, though no one was truly sure if they even managed it.
The streets felt normal on the way into the guild, eerily so. Marcie and Richard were silent the whole way afraid that talking about what was to come would somehow cause them to panic. Marcie was terrified of the day ending horribly, if she could even make it to the end. Richard could sense her nervousness and would give her hand a reassuring squeeze any time he can spare it while driving.
The guild itself was rather quiet. Everyone knew what was to happen and many of the teams quietly expressed their support for Marcie. The concept of productive work had come to a complete halt as Marcie was taken to the room for the extraction and prepped for surgery. How could anyone carry on like everything is normal, knowing what was happening to one of their own?
The room was filled with people, each carrying their own role to play and every person was dressed completely in scrubs, gloves and masks. Marcie looked around for Richard and Antonio as she was moved onto the surgery table only to be most surprised when she realized the two were the ones who helped her there. Everyone was covered up so much that she almost didn't recognize them.
"Alright Marcie… You'll be sitting for this procedure. It's a bit unorthodox, but we need you to be conscious and help the process along." Dr. Mosley explained as they hooked her up to the monitors. They marked the part of her body to plan for the incision and prepped it as a nurse injected her with the serum in her arm.
Richard held her upright and placed a hand on her stomach. She felt her arm become cold but closed her eyes to visualize her mana circulating. The mana moving through her arm felt heavy, almost sticky. This must be the serum clinging to it. It took her a bit to manage it but gradually she got the hang of guiding the serum towards the source of the void in her body around her spine.
The stickiness didn't feel very good and Marcie felt slightly nauseated by it. "Okay… I think the serum has been delivered…" The doctors watched the clock and when it hit the correct time, they began. They moved quickly. The assistants readied a large containment jar while the surgeons got to work. Marcie could barely feel the warmth emanating from Richard's hands as his mana wrapped around her organs forming barriers and synchronizing her heart beat with his.
"Just look at me Marc. We got you. Keep your eyes on me…" Richard cooed. Marcie's body wavered as the doctor located a portion of the parasite and worked to get a hold of it. The sensation was strange and felt almost vulnerable. Marcie couldn't bring herself to speak as she fought to keep her wits about herself in her nauseated state.
~Ding!
'Abnormal state detected. Alien entity present in host body. Calculating appropriate measures…'
Marcie coughed and convulsed slightly as the doctors began to extract the creature, however, they were met with resistance. Even in its paralyzed state, it had wrapped itself around her spine and organs and was vehemently holding on. Richard and Antonio increased their output of mana to try to re-stabilize their friend.
"It's not letting go, even in this state… if we pull too hard, it will tear at Marcie's spine and organs…" Dr. Mosely stopped pulling, but still held the creature partially, not letting it recede back to where it was.
~Ding!
'Alien entities appear to be sensitive to electric energy. It is recommended to administer small electric shocks to the tendrils of the creature in order to encourage it to release.'
Marcie took some deep breaths to steady her resolve. Beginning from the outer areas, she pricked the ends of the creature's tendrils. As each let go, Richard's mana enveloped the area to form a barrier.
Marcie shuttered and groaned as Dr. Mosely pulled a bit more of the creature out. "It's searching for more places to hold onto…." She whimpered. Richard upped his mana even more to surround it, hoping to keep it enclosed.
The procedure went slowly and meticulously for what felt like hours. While most of her body was now free of the invader, the nurses, who had been keeping an eye on the clock signaled the doctor. The serum was about to wear off.