Chapter 3: Get Used
After injecting the propranolol solution that follows the standard of class two anti-arrhythmic drugs, Alina put the empty syringe on the table on wheels, and then gently massaged the base of Yu's arm and the right chest.
Alina's goal in doing the massage was to speed up the flow of the anti-arrhythmic fluid to Yu's heart.
One minute later, Yu was already looking calm. So did his heartbeat. Alina confirmed once again through the large vein in the crease of Yu's elbow, as well as on the wide monitor.
Alina smiled. Yes, his heart rate returned to normal, and his blood pressure also returned to normal.
There seem to be no more serious distractions, Alina thought. Her attempts to suppress and block stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system to the man's heart were successful. Likewise, by reducing the sending of excessive impulses to the heart.
Of course, with a series of fine needles that were also connected to several of the man's vertebrae—aside from the nerves in his head—all these disturbances could have occurred even though the doctors who attached all of these devices to Yu's body did their best.
Two minutes, three minutes… up to five minutes, Yu still looked calm. And this made Alina let out a long sigh of relief.
"Yu," she called. "You still there?"
Again, Alina glanced at the large monitor on Yu's left.
Yu did seem to have regained his composure. Even so, his hands were moving, also were his feet, as if he were underwater.
The movement of the man's hands and feet was followed by a special chair that held his hands and feet.
Every part of the chair was able to detect every movement of Yu's body and the pieces of the chair moved according to the movement of his body.
"Yu?"
"I—I'm still here, Doc," said Yu. "Sorry, I mean, Alina."
Alina smiled. Yes, she knew for sure, even though the man's eyes were open, but in fact, he would not see what was really in front of his eyes. Instead, Yu will see himself in space, complete with an astronaut outfit attached to his body.
That kind of stimulation was brought about by the yellowish serum that Alina had injected into Yu's body earlier.
This stimulation also triggered a change in the man's heart rate to become faster, so his blood pressure also increased.
But now, it's all passed very well by Yu. And Alina smiled sweetly because Yu had passed the most dangerous phase. Even though Alina and the doctors who fitted the man's advanced devices didn't say anything particularly dangerous to Yu earlier.
"Do you know where you are now?"
"Well," for a moment, Yu just remained silent.
The hexagonal pieces that make up the entire surface of the chair on which Yu is lying on his back—including the blue cushion—moved in rhythm with Yu's body movements.
In his subconscious, Yu tried to explore all directions. However, he could not find a direction he could go.
"Yu?"
"It was pretty clear to me that five minutes ago, I was still in that room with you, Alina."
"And, what about now?"
"I don't know," said Yu, his eyes are moving to and fro. "Where am I?" he asked himself. "I saw neither the sun, nor the Earth, nor the moon."
"Aah, looks like you're not in any galaxy, do you?"
"Yeah, I guess so? Hey…!"
"What is it?"
"Will the oxygen in my outfit be sufficient?"
Alina smiled. Well, of course. Even though Yu was lying almost naked, in his imagination, he was wearing an astronaut outfit.
"Relax, Yu!" said Alina. "Calm down. Your oxygen must be enough."
"Hey, why does your voice sound so weird?"
"Did you forget?" said Alina as she slowly walked around the special chair where Yu was lying on his back. While talking to Yu, Alina was constantly paying attention to every movement in Yu's body. "Now, we communicate via radio waves on that helmet you're wearing."
"Ah, that's right. Okay, okay," said Yu. "Then, what should I do now?"
"Nothing much."
"Nothing much?" Yu repeated. "Yeah, right! Then, why was I sent into this pitch-black space?"
"Try to calm down, and look around you."
"Okay."
The neatly arranged hexagonal pieces are always moving. Some parts move slowly and gently, such as the head and neck of the man. And some moved a little farther and a little faster, like on the hexagonal pieces that held Yu's hands and feet.
"What do you see now?"
"Just some dots that are very far away. Ermm, I think they are stars—I don't know…"
"Keep looking, Yu. And get used to yourself in that outfit. Also, with your zero-gravity state."
"Okay. I'll try to swim that way," Yu's left hand pointed in one direction with his index finger still clamped by a small device.
"Swim?" Alina laughed softly.
"I mean, fly," Yu said and he laughed too. "Oh, damn it! I don't know what the term is? If I say fly, I don't have wings anyway. And obviously, I'm not a superman."
"You really are crazy."
"Well," Yu laughed again. "Maybe I'm crazy. But, by the way, your laughter sounds very melodious from here."
"Oh my God…, Yu!"
"Why? You don't like being praised?"
"That is not what I mean!" Alina smiled and stopped her steps, two hands on her waist while looking at the man lying in a 'dream state' in front of her. "You're in space but you're still trying to seduce me."
"Will I be sued by God after I die, just because I seduced you?"
"Good grief…"
Yu's words sounded very ridiculous to Alina, so it made Alina laugh again even this time it was louder.
"I take that as no," said Yu. "Aah, your laugh is indeed soothing. You know, people in the twenty-first century would say something like this: Your voice is soft and sweet like a mystical flute."
"Oh my God…" Alina couldn't hide her blushing face and her smile that was getting sweeter. "Who are you, hmm? A poet, is that so?"
Yu laughed. "You know, I found an ancient book that contained all kinds of poetry."
"Aah, no wonder!"
After all, Alina thought. Who is today still uses poetry to seduce a girl?
"I know," said Yu, "you must have added one more word for me."
"Did you?"
"Yea," said Yu. "And the word: Oh, you are a weirdo!"
Alina laughed again at that. "Yea, yea… Now, you have changed again. From a poet, you become a psychic. Great! But, it's more than one word."
Yu laughed heartily. "I'm not surprised at all."
"Aah, I see…"
"Well, that's how people always call me. Crazy, weird, scumbag… All the shitty things you can think of, I've had it all in my thirty years of life. Of course, minus the time when I was a kid and couldn't speak."
"Oh, Yu," Alina took a deep breath. And again walked slowly around Yu. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's okay," said Yu. "I'm used to. I take that kind of cursing as a compliment."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone