A Nervous Gecko: Origin 2 of 2 (Being Rewritten)

A Nervous Gecko Part 9

When I woke up, I could feel soreness radiating throughout my body. It almost feels like the time after I helped Rene move out of her dorm. Every muscle and bone ached and throbbed but even that wasn't as bad as when I tried to open my eyes.

(Unknown: "You're awake! Try not to move so much!")

The voice startled me for a moment as, while it sounded like Rene, there was an unfamiliar deeper underlying tone to it. I tried opening my eyes again and as soon as the light hit them, I couldn't help but squeeze them tight again.

(Unknown: "Oh! Hang on a moment, let me turn the lights off, that should help a lot.")

I could hear them shuffle for a moment just before hearing the audible click from the light switch. I turned my head to the right and slowly tried to open my right eye. I noticed the countertop along the wall with medical supplies and I could make everything out fairly clearly. While it was noticeably dark, it was like everything was illuminated by a full moon.

I turned my head in a position to face more forward and opened my left eye. I noticed a pair of glowing eyes staring back at me and that sent me into a panic.

"W-wha what is that!?"

As the figure came into more focus, I could see large paws held out in front of them and they were waving synchronously in a downward direction.

(Unknown: "Calm down, Johan! It's....it's me, Rene.")

Hearing her speak her own name solidified my earlier deduction from the first time I heard her speak. I can't believe what I'm seeing, Rene is a freaking tiger!

"R-Rene!? W-what happened t-to you!?"

My voice definitely sounded different to me, like it was my voice, but if I were sick with a sore throat. I was even more surprised when I looked down and saw the hands I was moving were not my own.

(Rene: "Well, I guess you could say we now know what happens when humans receive what we originally thought would be a lethal dose of 0621...")

Rene followed up with a nervous chuckle and I found myself looking between her and my new hands. I began to recall my last moments, I remembered that I was attacked by something when I tried to meet up with Dr. Smith.

"What happened to Dr. Smith? Where is everyone else!?"

In that excitement, I strained to sit up and prepared to launch myself out of the bed. Rene lunged forward and placed one of her massive paws on my shoulder.

(Rene: "Please try to remain calm, Johan. Dr. Smith is safe and as far as everyone else....I know Sam is okay, he's in the lab. But the others...")

I felt a sense of calmness wash over me after hearing that Dr. Smith was okay. That feeling was immediately replaced with guilt as I noticed the somber expression on Rene's face.

"Rene? Thank you for watching over me and taking care of me."

Rene flashed an extra toothy smile at me and slapped her paw on my back.

(Rene: "Oh you know I can't let anything happen to my adorable little Johan!")

She lifted her paw from my back and adorned it atop my head, rubbing slightly. Feels kind of like the noogies she'd give me back in university. Even through all of this mess, she hasn't changed. I then met her gaze and gave her a reassuring smile in return.

"So, I guess that means Dr. Smith made it on the elevator and got out without being infected then?"

She stared back and shook her head from side to side.

(Rene: "He's not infected, but he never made it out. He's currently still in the elevator which is on lockdown. We had a plan to move him from the elevator to the other sick bay, but we ran into a bit of a snag...")

"A...snag? W-what kind of snag?"

Rene let out an exasperated sigh and started fidgeting a bit.

(Rene: "Well, we had the idea that if one of us wore a hazmat suit, we should be able to safely bring him to the other sick bay. Unfortunately, for both Sam and myself, we don't have a hazmat suit that will fit either of us....")

She motioned at her massive orange and black striped fur covered body as she trailed off.

"S-so, what about the others?"

She shook her head and showed a more somber expression.

(Rene: "Simon didn't make it and as far as we can tell, Claire, Toby and Lily won't be able to help us. But, you're awake now!")