Screams
Several tests later, Eddie and you are standing next to Dan in the hospital. Dan changed into his hospital coat when you got there, and you think it makes him look like a proper doctor.
What does this coat have to do with Dan being a Doctor? Sentinel asks you through your thoughts.
People with jobs that require sterile environments generally wear these coats. You answer, struggling to explain. Scientists wear them too.
Sterile? Scientists?
Sterile means really clean. Scientists are researchers. They study, or learn, about various things to do with our planet.
Hmmm.
You look up at Dan, who is talking with Eddie. They seem to come to an understanding, and turn towards you.
“Eddie and I have decided it might be a good idea to run an MRI on top of the other tests, just to find out what’s going on inside him.” Dan says to you. “Eddie asked if you would come in and stand by while we do the procedure.”
“Yeah, of course!” You answer, smiling at Eddie. “I don’t mind at all.”
MRI?
It’s a medical thing humans use to make sure everything is okay inside where we can’t see normally.
I see. We do not need an MRI. We make sure you are healthy, inside and out.
You smile at the thought, and follow Dan as he leads Eddie towards the MRI machine.
~~~
You stand behind Dan and his assistant, looking through the glass and into the other room. Eddie is lying inside the machine in a hospital gown.
“Hey Eddie, can you hear me?” Dan asks into a microphone.
“Hey Dan.” Eddie’s voice replies through a speaker.
“I’m going to need you to lie really still for this, the procedure is completely painless.” Dan instructs. “I’m starting it now.”
Dan nods towards his assistant, who presses a button on the controls in front of him. You hear the machine whir to life with a pounding noise. Before you have a chance to take even a breath, a tearing pain shoots through you, making you scream. Faintly, you can hear Eddie in the other room, his screaming matching your own. In your thoughts you hear Sentinel’s androgynous voice roaring in agony. Clutching at you head, you sink to your knees, your throat going more and more raw as the keening sound of pain rips out of you.
“Shut it down!” You vaguely hear Dan yell over your screams.
He rushes towards you, hesitating briefly before running into the other room to check on Eddie. As the machine shuts down your agony slowly subsides, together with the scream coming out of your throat. Dan instructs Eddie to take a deep breath, and you do the same, slowly lowering your hands from your head.
“Sentinel?” You ask aloud, not caring that the assistant gives you a weird look.
Pain, so much pain.
You sigh in relief at the voice in your head. Frowning, you realize that their voice sounds almost smaller, and filled with exhaustion.
“What was that?” you ask.
We don’t know.
Looking up, you realize Dan has lead Eddie into the room with you, and is watching you curiously.
“I don’t know.” Dan says towards you, and you frown. With a blink you realize he is replying to your question.
“It started to hurt as soon as the machine made that pounding noise.” You tell him.
“An MRI uses magnets and radio frequencies to function. It should be completely painless.” Dan tells you. “I honestly have no idea why both of you reacted the way you did, especially since neither I nor my assistant were affected.”
It is because of us. Sentinel voices in your head. Only Eddie and you were effected, because only Eddie and you have us.
Us?
Symbiotes. Sentinel hesitates before continuing, their voice laced with anger and fear. It was tearing us apart. The noise was tearing us apart.
You frown at the emotions flowing off of them. Moving inside you, Sentinel wraps themselves tightly around your heart, with tendrils flowing between your organs. It is as if they wish to connect themselves to every part of you. You wrap your arms around yourself in response, and their fear subsides slightly.
Dan bends down towards you, offering you a hand. You accept the help, and he hauls you to your feet.
You look at Eddie and realize that he is just as shaken up as you are. He looks at you with questioning eyes and you shrug, mouthing later at him. He gives you an almost imperceptible nod, and Dan frowns.
“Well, either way we will need to wait a while for the tests to come in.” Dan says “In the meantime, go home and get some rest. Eddie, you can change back of course.”
“Thank you Dan.” Eddie replies, and you follow him out of the testing room.
~~~
Eddie and you are taking a cable car back to Eddie’s apartment, sitting side by side on a crowded seat. Suddenly, Eddie lurches upward, gripping onto the handlebars in front of you.
“Everything’s fine.” Eddie says to the other riders with an awkward laugh, and you stand as well. You can tell the other people on the cart have become suspicious of you, so you grab Eddie by the arm and pull him to one of the doors of the car.
“We’ll just get off as soon as the car stops.” You assure them. With a lurch, the operator stops the car, and both you and Eddie get off.
“What was that?” You question, staring at Eddie.
“I heard a voice.” Eddie says with a swallow. “It said Hungry . It was as if my body moved on it’s own.”
“Venom must be waking up!” You say, excitement in your own voice. “Sentinel is able to take control of my body, although they always ask. Venom must have done the same.”
“Venom didn’t ask though.” Eddie complains.
“They must still be weak if they are hungry.” Sentinel says through your mouth, causing Eddie to jump.
“That is so weird.” Eddie says, and you grin at him.
“We should head back and see if we can get you something to eat.” You suggest. “Do you mind if I keep staying at your place?”
“You’re not going anywhere, even if you wanted to.” Eddie tells you. “You are not abandoning me with an alien with control issues.”
You laugh at his expression, and pat his arm. “Of course not, I’ll stick around for as long as you’ll have me.”
Eddie gives you a tentative smile in return, and together you walk towards his apartment.