Sneezefic by solitaire

Matthew Gideon rolled over in bed, for what seemed like the hundredth time that night. Like every night for the last several years, he had woken several times, peaceful sleep eluding him. Tonight was a little different, though. He'd gone to bed earlier than usual, feeling especially tired from the incessant talking he'd done in trying to negotiate his way past an alien blockade that day. Sometimes it felt like everyone they encountered had specifically gone out of their way to hamper, delay or outright sabotage the Excalibur's mission.

It was well-known to those societies familiar with humans that their planet of origin, Earth, had but five years before it would be a complete wasteland. The Drakh virus had about that long before it had fully adapted itself to human biology and wiped out every air-breathing creature, human or otherwise, on Earth. What many didn't realise though, was that the wording "fully adapted" meant. People had already died from the virus (the lucky ones, some said) though the planet was basically surviving so far. Not living by any means, though. Between the rioting in the streets, the thankfully unsuccessful attempts to escape the quarantine and the atmosphere of fear and world-wide despair made Earth one of the last places anyone wanted to be at the moment.

A lot was hanging on his shoulders, and those of his crew, but as he rubbed his eyes, he reflected once more how honoured he felt to have been given the leadership of this mammoth task. Earth scientists were doing the best they could, but it was widely believed that they would fail if they relied on their own information. Someone was bound to have encountered the Drakh virus before. Even if they found a planet that had lost the battle, there was always the chance Earth might succeed if they could see where others had failed.

And so here he was. The Excalibur was fitted with the best of Earth and Minbari technology. Her crew were the best available, at least those who weren't infected, Matthew thought dryly. Max Eilerson was good, damn good, but Lieutenant Matheson was right from the very beginning when he had said Max would be a pain in the ass. "But he'll be _our_ pain in the ass" he had replied at the time.

It wasn't that Eilerson wasn't good. Just that he was so brilliant, he was very opinionated and self-centred. From what Matthew had read in his file, he'd gone from celebrated child prodigy to corporate archaeologist and linguist. It was IPX, Eilerson's employer that was the real thorn in his side. Always willing to dig up any old thing if there was a patent or profit in it. Pushing the thought aside, he fell back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling in the darkness, trying to remember how long it had been since he'd seen real sunlight.

Swallowing dryly, he sat up on the edge of the bed, glancing at his alarm. 04:56:31 glowed back at him. Reaching for the glass on the bedside table, he switched the light on.

"Heh-ISHHH!"

He sneezed loudly, puzzled at the rawness in his throat, and cursed hoarsely as his glass hit the floor. Surprised it didn't shatter, he sniffed loudly as he made his way across the room to get a drink. He hurriedly deposited the intact glass on a nearby table when he realised he wasn't done yet. Raising an arm to his face, he shivered as the droplets hit his bare skin as he sneezed violently, bending forward slightly from the force.

"Ahh-SHUHH! Heh-ISHH! HEHT-ishh!" *sniff* "Geez, it's cold in here."

Shivering again, he filled his glass with water and drank readily. The coldness of the liquid didn't do much to help the tenderness he felt when swallowing. Gently feeling around his neck and jawline, he grimaced as he detected an overall soreness in the area, particularly around his Adam's apple.

He wearily turned up the heat a few degrees, before shuffling back into bed, keen to get back into bed, even if sleep eluded him. Feeling the tickle in his nose return, he hopped into bed just as the sneezes caught up with him again.

"Heh-ishoo! IISHHH! Ehhh... Ehh-hishhoo!"

Sniffling wetly, he reached for the nearby box of tissues, only to find it empty. "Great...” He tossed the empty box towards the wastebasket and missed. "So much for a three-pointer." He smiled wryly, then sniffed again as his nose ran. A quick search of the bedside table drawers turned up nothing. Heaving himself out of bed with a sigh, he quickly searched his chest of drawers, relieved to find a few clean handkerchiefs left. He almost leapt back into bed, despite his tiredness, as he shivered once more, relieved to feel a little warmer.

He deposited the other handkerchiefs into the top drawer and used one to blow his nose heartily. His congestion cleared somewhat, and he breathed tentatively through his nose. Relieved at the increase in airflow, he settled back against his pillows, mentally noting to see Dr Chambers in the morning if it turned out to be anything too debilitating. Hopefully it would be nothing, or no worse than a slight cold.

Closing his eyes, he tried to relax, and thankfully, sleep soon beckoned...

-TBC