If you missed the last chapter of REEF MOB, you can find it [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/221486644/0/0]here[/url], or if you need to find a previous chapter, you can find them all in the [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/218618986?sort=0&page=0]Table of Contents[/url]. Please give a bump or leave a comment if you enjoy this and any other chapter! ***  [i]My mother is calling me. I’m running, short legs pumping as I bolt toward her – Suddenly, she starts screaming – I push myself to go faster, but with a lurch I lose my footing and fly forward, crashing into the dirt. I struggle to rise, but fall again, looking back to see what’s got hold of my leg – and with a thrill of horror I see it’s gone – I start to scream as the monster tears my mother’s own limbs off, and – [/i] My whole body convulses on the table, Awoken hands descending to keep me still – I retch as the whole world spins violently, and lean over the side to vomit what little liquid remains in me – I shiver uncontrollably, writhing as the pit of my stomach drops out and a panic sets in – I keep spasming, twitching, feeling as though I want to crawl out of my own skin as the thought keeps hammering itself into me over and over – [i]I’ve got no leg. My leg is gone. He chopped it off. He chopped it –[/i] I retch again, but there’s nothing left in me. One of the Awoken medics rushes to me, injecting more sedatives – I continue to struggle, but my limbs grow rubbery, weak….as…..as….. Darkness overtakes me, and the world fades… … I wake again from a dreamless sleep, forced back into the world reluctantly. I take a few moments to just breathe, feeling life flow in and out, before finally prying my eyes open and looking around. Light blinds me, and I shut my eyes again quickly. I begin stretching my fingers, my back, my toes – It takes me another few moments to remember. [i]I’ve got no leg. My leg is gone. He chopped it off.[/i] I breathe deeply, steeling myself as I force my eyes open and look. Everything from above my left knee down is missing. I fight away the tears of anger and bitterness that spring to my eyes, rubbing them forcefully away. [i]It’s okay[/i], I begin to tell myself forcefully. [i]It’s going to be okay. You’ll learn to adapt –[/i] But I can’t continue – it’s gone, and there’s nothing I can do about it. [i]It’s gone.[/i] Finally succumbing to the despair, I let the tears flow, my shoulders quivering as I silently weep for myself. [i]He took it,[/i] I think morosely, burying my face against the table. [i]It’s really gone. How can I go on as a….as a…. A cripple?[/i] the sensible part of me asks quietly. I squeeze my eyes shut as my stomach lurches again. [i]I’m a cripple. A gods damned cripple. There’s no purpose any – Oh, shut up[/i], she scoffs. [i]You’re more than entitled to feel loss and anger, but this pity party…. My leg is gone…I can’t even stand. How will I fly now? You’ll manage[/i], she answers. [i]You always manage.[/i] But I just bury my face again and sob more. [i]Listen[/i], she whispers. [i]Someone’s coming. Pull yourself together.[/i] With effort, I quell my sorrow and roughly wipe the remnants of tears from my eyes as an Awoken medic enters to check on me. “You’re awake,” he says quietly as I turn my face away, still rubbing at my eyes. “Where’s my leg?” I mumble over my shoulder. “The Corsairs found it and brought it onboard,” the medic begins cautiously. “But the shock blade cauterized the wound as soon as it was made. There was too much nerve damage to properly….” He trails off as I cover my face with my hand, using every ounce of willpower to keep myself from crying further. Behind me, I can hear the medic approaching, and I turn to see him preparing to inject more sedative. “No,” I say quickly. “The pain – “ “No,” I repeat. “I don’t want it.” The medic sighs, but nods. “I’ll be outside, then. Call if it gets to be too much.” He mercifully leaves me alone as I continue to lie numbly frozen on the table. [i]Where are we?[/i] the sensible part of me finally asks, voice soft as she tries to distract me. I raise my head and look around, seeing the traditional interior of a Fallen vessel. I don’t recognize which vessel, though, and all that looking around the medical wing does is remind me of why I’m here. [i]These Awoken were sent by the Queen[/i], the sensible part reminds me. [i]Who cares. If these are the Queen’s forces, then we’ll be heading to Vesta. So. So we might have some trouble when we land. Especially if they have questions. I don’t care. Okay, I’ve tried to sympathetic route[/i], she sighs, exasperated. [i]But you need to get a grip. This isn’t the end. It’s just your leg. You’re still alive – As a cripple. You’re alive[/i], she insists. [i]You can adapt. What’s the point. Oh, just shut up with your pity party![/i] I bury my face into the table, trying to escape the needling voice. [i]Don’t turn away from me[/i]. Please just shut up, I just want some peace…. [i]There is no peace for you. You were born to fight.[/i] But I don’t want to fight – I just want my leg back. [i]Don’t[/i], the sensible part of me warns, but my mind’s already drifting, searching, seeking – [i]ether[/i] [i]DON’T,[/i] she repeats forcefully, but the voice is already starting to fade, sounding further, echoing slightly as [i]etherether[/i] I want some so badly… [i]don’t… etheretheretherEther Taniks raised his shock blade and brought it down on my leg – in that moment, I felt the mortal terror of my impending death…. ….don’t…. EtherEtherEtherEther[/i] The comm in the medical wing crackles to life as the ship lurches – with a familiar swoop I recognize the feeling: we’ve just dropped out of warp space. [i]I’m home[/i], I think sadly. [i]But only part of me. EtherEtherEtherEther[/i] I force myself to sit up, and finally look around the rest of the medical wing. There are others here, mostly Corsairs, but at the back of the room, wheezing and grunting, is a Fallen Dreg. With a jolt, I recognize him as one of Taniks’ guards. [i]EtherEtherEtherETHER[/i] The will to consume drives me – setting down on my good leg, clutching the table for support, eyes fixated on the Dreg, I weakly hop toward him – as I draw closer, hands grasping onto the bulkhead, I see his own hands are restrained, his ether mask still on…. [i]ETHERETHERETHERETHER[/i] I hop closer to him, and he finally turns his head, seeing me. I can almost read recognition in his eyes as he starts to struggle against his bonds. [i]ETHERETHERETHERETHER!![/i] I reach his side and hold onto the table, panting from the effort. As he continues to struggle, eyes starting to go wide with fear, I reach out and pull the ether mask from his face. [i]ETHERETHERETHERETHER!!!![/i] The Dreg gasps and writhes as he suffocates, but I feel no sympathy as I feverishly strap his ether mask over my face. Breathing deeply, I feel my muscles start to go rubbery again as the pain fades, as thought fades, as the constant struggle fades… I collapse to the ground, starting to giggle, as the dry gasps from the Dreg above me slowly go silent, the shaking table finally falling still once more with a final sigh. A moment later, the Awoken medic reenters, sees me, and rushes to my side, reaching for the ether mask – I fight him off, swinging my arms as I desperately cling to the one thing I have left, the only thing that brings me happiness, as the medic calls in the Corsairs to take my ether from me.