Split crestor

41F nonsmoker, medical cannabis user (no flame)
I have had chronic pain for years that's only been resolved briefly by a month of steroids, or a month on meloxicam with PT.
I've dealt with TMJ dysfunction after an auto accident age 20, which also broke my femur and it has a rod and nails to this day. By 25 it was no longer mouth guards and muscle relaxers, and I was getting injections in the base of my skull, along my neck, and in my upper back out towards my shoulders. I was told it was saline, and the records are lost. I considered this a drawback of my prior occupation in a call center.
Age 35 my nails were drying out, splitting vertically, and my eyes were beginning to stay irritable. I topped out at 214 pounds and I'm 62 inches tall. I had been taking Saphris and Welbutrin for five years and aside from being sore and exhausted all the time, my lower neck had been consistently tight and burning enough for me to look into CBD. I also switched to Fetzima from Welbutrin, and the muscle cramps were comical.
In 2018 I decided to stop Saphris and use this body. My left hip was always restricted after the auto accident. I didn't understand why and no one suggested additional tests or MRI, or more aggressive PT.
2019 was a big year for me when I took a job on retail, after I hadn't worked for a few years. I had headaches all the time from my eyes and the light, which hadn't been a thing. I had more than 1 migraine per quarter, which was my baseline.
Under the stress of the pandemic I pushed myself. I got my symmetry, ROM, flexibility, balance, and strength back. It was rad, until it wasn't.
I was sweating out my headbands up to twice per shift, drinking 6 bottles of water every day at work. My face was always red. Cold tolerance lowered. My lower back felt awful. I went to see the orthopedic for guidance on do more, do less, do different? 2020 fall I have mild OA of SI joints. 15mg meloxicam and 1 month PT had not only made my back feel really good, but everything else as well that's been sore and irritable for years. We agreed to move to rheumatology.
2021 april: Hypermobility and anti-SSB. My ANA is not clinically positive and has a specked pattern. Long term tolerance to meloxicam is untenable. 18 months on hydroxychloriquine no conclusive relief.
I have had a colonoscopy and endoscopy but I'm not clear on 2020 or 21. Constipation, painful and nauseating, passing a concerning amount of mucus, revealed a 10mm single polyp that was benign. No signs of crohns and otherwise unremarkable aside from "senna abuse" and I quit that stuff the next year. The endoscopy was unremarkable, although I had already known that without prilosec for an unknown period of time that either I will be vomiting or at the very least need to vomit to relieve that episode. Baking soda water worked in my 20s and stopped working by my 30s.
2023 I had been through requested reduced hours, reduced duties, and no social life because once I got home and stopped moving it's like a timer that I had 40 minutes before I could barely move. Days off seemed to be more about recovery than catching up. I would find myself unable to stay awake in the middle of the day and the naps are always 4 ½ hours. I called out for those flares but they just kept happening. I felt like I was on fire every time my temp lowered to 97°. To be fair to my coworkers and myself, I quit that job. I tried to work regular hours at a different place that didn't have a 40 lb all day requirement, and within 3 weeks I was done. I couldn't think. I couldn't drive because of my head being so fuzzy. I didn't have access to water all shift and maybe it had something to do with it, but I quit.
The next month I started doing Rick Simpson Oil. It felt like I cleared the junk out of my head finally from all my medications. Now I've been thinking more, taking notes, and seeing how deep this goes. I've lowered so much of my stress with therapy and become more creative, and while all that has helped I am still sick.
December 23 my LDL was 195 and I was put on 10 mg rosuvastatin. I will say I know what happened there. I doubled down on foods I knew I could eat once I confirmed adult onset allergies. Sunflower seeds and undercooked/uncooked eggs are a no go. I also have an allergy to chlorhexadine.
I have tender points in so many places like near the elbows, shoulders, around my head, my neck is awful. My legs have them around the knees, thighs, hips, top and sides of my butt, face in front of the ears.
This year I screwed up my left shoulder with a labral tear. Physical therapy was fixing it, until it wasn't. Everything seemed well with strength and motion but then intense pain down my arm that was hurting my elbow as well. Mri showed biceps tendonotis, and I got a cortisone shot. Life was good. My neck felt better and the two recurrent knots in my left shoulder blade were much looser. Back to physical therapy, and after 1 week it's going to hell again. I have other tendons down that arm feeling like bruises from a car wreck but they are no larger than a thumbprint and no one can see them.
I've left my legs alone before they are too tender. I tried the theragun on them tonight and remembered why I don't. I asked who the pain specialists were in the practice, and now I'm here.
Current medications Lamictal, effexor, adderall D3 5000ui, chelated potassium, garden of life probiotics for colon health and their raw one women vitamin Zyrtec, prilosec twice daily (laryngeal reflux) 10 mg Crestor. As needed 350 mg soma, tessalon 100mg, cannabis Flonase, Astepro (laryngeal reflux) to keep my voice Restasis hurts my eyes for the entire day, not just application, and was discontinued after 5 weeks. My glands aren't dead and we're going to treat them manually at the next visit.
Continued concerns are my toes. I get chilblains in the winter while constantly wearing bombas slippers. The outer edge of my toes next to the pinky randomly numb out and are very uncomfortable. My big toe goes numb halfway down the nail bed randomly. Days where I cannot control my body temperature, I stay under the covers shivering until I pass out as soon as I'm warm... Then it's usually the 4 ½ hour snooze. My limbs are always affected. I have had a shawl in bed the last few years for the on then off with the cold shoulders.
I get zaps through my knuckles when trying to massage my arms with glides. I use Epiderm for a barrier on my face. It's been known to feel on fire and get a rash from my own sweat or tears. I will have some small degree of rash or tiny pinpoint hives here and there throughout the day on my hands unless I diligently moisturize. My cuticles recede the same without care. Wounds heal more slowly because everything seems to itch and I accidentally forget about them and catch them in a scratch. Coconut oil to the groin or the itching starts. Coconut oil in my ear canals as well.
Exclusionary Cardiovascular okay. Treadmill stress good. Echo good. Ekg good. Cholesterol within normal levels. 25 pound weight loss in 4 months and complete cbc okay from march '24.
If I'm missing anything pertinent lmk. 175 pounds. No oral contraceptive. Regular mentrual cycle. Bursitis 2x left hip. I started screaming after I woke up to either bursitis or tendonitis at the right hip last week, and the follow up from the mri last week will be Wednesday. Xray unremarkable.
Cervical unremarkable, slight bulge and osteophites. Thorasic unremarkable slight curvature and osteophites. Lumbar as presented earlier in post. All have recommended MRI/specialist.
This issue doesn't track for celebrex or tramadol, but the screaming incidents response to tramadol.

I (52M) have been experiencing intermittent muscle pain and weakness in my legs. This has been going on for about 6 years. It's gotten worse in the last couple, and impedes my ability to perform even mild exercise. I am seeking some ideas to identify root cause.
The pain can come any time, but is more prevalent during or after any exercise. When I say mild exercise, I mean walking around the block can lead to it. It can also just happen. The pain feels exactly like I've done an extensive workout - tightness, soreness. Stretching feels nice but neither improves nor harms. The weakness generally happens for a split moment in my knees. A 3/4 mile walk leaves me feeling like I've done a marathon for hours.
My doctor chalks it up to arthritis, stenosis in my spine, and "getting older". He is more focused on other issues - "let's get your blood sugar better" and "let's do physical therapy for your back/neck". I think that's probably correct, but it still bugs me and is impacting my life.
Current conditions: Recently (about 1.5 years) type II diabetic, overweight (6'5" 280lbs), HIV+ (20 years, non-detectable entire time). All recent blood works good/normal, except elevated blood sugaA1C. Medications: Genvoya, lisinopril (high blood pressure under control for 20 years), crestor, diclofenac sodium, allopurinol (I had high numbers a few years ago), tamsulosin, low dose tadalifil, testosterone gel, clomid, trazadone (for sleep), nebivolol 5mg (high heart rate after covid; under control).
Thank you in advance for any help/advice.

Over the course of the series he is exploring and adventuring in a realm split apart into different levels with these master who inherited the worlds from the original crestor and the boy meets the architects will that guides him in rectifying the realms because their current masters arent doing what they were suppose to do. Its really vague memory sorry.

So, I was put into a very heavy miner mindset the other day by our glorious mod of mods. This is the result. I'm not sure which subcategory to tag it as so I'll let the mods decide later. Sorry to any MoC 88 fans who were hoping for an update today but this has been set on the front burner of my mind.
My Stories.
Ergif 4535. I stared at the words on the side of the wall. Why did they even bother painting it up there in the first place? Where else would they go? Who was leaving this place? A planetoid this size was most efficiently mined by 3000 miners, and so 3000 miners they had. No more. No less. With just enough families around to keep the population where it needed to be. The Arkayid Empire wasn’t interested in ferrying slaves around if they didn’t have to. The current number of miners was even displayed on most of the walls. A constant reminder that when the number dropped more were expected to pick up the tools and get to work.
Day in. Day out. You work the mines just long enough to die, and then you get replaced. Mine collapse, industrial accident, ghost lung, or being beat to death by an angry overseer. The cause made no difference to the Arkayid so long as the quotas were met and the populations remained stable. There were something like a 1500 Turmaks since the sightless bugs didn’t need lights to get around in the mines. Then roughly 1000 Kursheks and Bursheks since the symbiotic creatures were strong but a good Burshek lived three times as long meaning the Arkayid’s could recycle many of the parasites with new hosts and get new miners with the experience of an old one. I’m not as familiar with the last 499 however. The Arkayid’s had just conquered some new nation of mixed races so I was still getting to know them.
But the last one? Number 3000? That was dad. Him and Doc were the only two other humans I knew. Not much was left of the one race brave and stupid enough to stand against the Arkayid. Pirates, criminals, and miners. That’s all that remained. I sighed softly, as I started to wander the halls of level 2 while waiting for dad to finish up with Doc. They’d have to move quickly after if they wanted to get to the mess hall. I hated level 2. Storage, machine shop, doc’s medbay. It was always quiet. Much preferred staying on level 3, or 4 with everyone else.
Being the only human kid had made me stand out but I knew how to make friends. Lately though my friends had been avoiding him though. I knew why of course. All the Arkayid’s had to say about humans was how dangerous human adults were. How often they were degenerates, murderers, how they tortured and committed acts of mass violence. It always seemed like they just didn’t want any species muscling in on their turf.
Besides it had to be crap. Doc and dad were the two nicest people on the station. Everyone looked to them for help and guidance. No human was allowed a management position in the mine but everyone knew that if Kizzkt or Nrrsm were stumped they’d give dad a visit. Plus Doc was human! Somehow he’d gotten a real education, knew lots about other xenos and medicine and the like. The Arkayid’s normally didn’t let slaves have a doctor but this way their station was more efficient which mean Taskmaster got more commendations, which made him happy.
What was taking so long? I was tired of waiting. Whenever I was alone with my thoughts I got antsy. I pushed open the door to Doc’s office just as dad coughed and I saw the grey cloud escape his lips. Doc turned away even though he had his protective mask on. “No!”
The two looked and saw me standing in the doorway. “Son!” Dad got up, buttoning his shirt. “I told you to wait outside!”
“You’ve got the ghost lung?!” That couldn’t be right. Dad wouldn’t get the lung. He couldn’t.
“I didn’t need you finding out!”
“Doc how bad is it?” I looked to Doc for answers.
“Don’t tell him Doc!” Dad growled.
“He’s got to know.” Doc said looking from dad to me. “He’s been hiding it very well for a while. But it’s bad. He doesn’t have long if he stays in the mine.”
“Then I’ll take his place!”
“No! You’re seventeen! You’re not ready!”
“For what? For working to death in the mines? What am I not ready for? I’ve seen the work! I know it won’t be easy but I can do it!” We’d had this argument plenty of times before.
“No!” Dad growled and then began to cough and wheeze furiously, more puffs of grey smoke coming out.
“Doc, you can’t let him go back down there!”
“I won’t. I won’t.” Doc soothed. “Your father needs time to rest anyway. I’ll tell the overseers that he’s suffering from several minor fractures and you’re taking over until he’s better. That will keep them from questioning it and I can keep an eye on him before they find out he’s got the lung. Go on off to dinner now, get some sleep, you know where to go in the morning.”
The entire trip to sector 3 I wasn’t thinking much about anything. I was just worried about dad and working on figuring out… something. I really don’t know what I was thinking about. Not much of anything. Did I already notice that? When they dumped the slop on my tray I just kept moving, not even thinking to nod or respond to those talking to me. Rismn, Old Hornis, they probably tried talking but I was soon off on my own, shoveling in the slop as I couldn’t get anything going through my mind.
Somehow I made it back to our room without remembering what happened in the mess hall, or how I’d been moving my feet. I just sat on my bed looking out the tiny window into the mine entrance down below. Night shift was out there. Like usual the clouds and dust blocked out the stars, but I could see the mine entrance bright and clear. I must have dozed off while staring because next thing I knew things were starting to get light and the bell was ringing.
I grabbed my set of steels. Wasn’t like there were any other kind of shoes that would fit a human like me. Vest, hard hat, light, tea flask, and rock bread. The line for chow was too long for my taste and as nervous as I was I didn’t think I could keep it down anyway. I headed out to the mines with most of the old crowd. Those who didn’t eat morning chow either for one reason or another. I could feel their eyes on me. Everyone wanted to ask why I was here, but none did.
When the door opened to the outside I quickly wrapped the cloth around my face and put my head down, jogging across the open. Stopping before I got ran over by one of the massive drone haulers, and then moving again once they’d rumbled past. At the mine entrance I saw one of the red power suited guards. He was holding a dataslate and looked from it to me. “You! Boy! Why are you here?”
“Doc is looking after my dad! Some fractures need to heal!”
“You haven’t taken training yet!”
“I don’t need it! I was born to dig. That’s all humans are good for right?” The guard laughed and I could see his mandibles within the helmet twitch at the same time. “I’m glad we killed the fight out of you miserable vermin! Get in the mine then, where you belong!” He waved me past and I held my tongue, venturing down into the deep.
Mines. Day 1.
Kizzkt came to talk to me personally. I think he knew about dad but never dared say anything. He tried to get me into some light detail but the Arkayid overseers heard I was down here and made sure I got sent straight down to the bottom. Not just that, but down vein 485, with all Turmak miners. I was the only one with a light and the need to see. They were all well-meaning but spending a shift in the mines hearing and feeling things chitter and move around in the dark all around me? Well… there were some deep shivers in my bones that had nothing to do with the cold.
Of course the other effect was I stood out like a sore them to the Overseer so whenever there was a slowdown who do you think got the lash? It was set to low but I felt the sting four times and I was tired of it after the first. The others worked harder though seeing me take their punishment. Which just meant the Overseer got more production from less work on his part. As if whipping me was work at all. I never thought I’d be as glad as I was for slop that night, and as soon as my head hit the pillow I was out.
Day 7.
Doc says he’s not sure how to get the meds he needs to get dad better without drawing notice. Says he’ll do what he can. So far they don’t really care. I think we’ve only got about a month before they actually start asking questions. Otherwise another long day in the dark. I’m down to two lashes a day now. When I hear or see the others struggle I’ll quickly pick up my own pace, or even step in to help them. That way we don’t actually slow down and he’s got less excuse to use the whip. I wish we had more water. The mine dust leaves everything in my mouth feeling gritty.
Day 12.
Kizzkt said I was doing so good even the Overseers couldn’t keep me in vein 485. They moved me to 487 and into more light. The problem is it’s the new guys. There’s three, maybe four species I don’t know as well. They’re not great miners. 10 lashes today and I swear none of the offences were my fault, but they like whipping humans. We can take more punishment and we were the only ones who gave them trouble back when we were a united species with a nation and our own planets and the like. I’ll see what I can do to get them into shape.
Day 16.
I saw the Taskmaster today. I knew he was big but… seeing is different than imagining. Beat three of the new species to death. I’m not sure it was their fault the drill broke, I’m really not. Didn’t matter to him of course. Just grabbed them and… well he beat them to death. Screaming and ranting about mistakes costing the quotas and the like. He doesn’t wear a helmet like the others. I think he enjoys seeing everyone quake in fear at the sight. The scars, those teeth, that ugly mug in general.
I didn’t get lashed today, they were too busy yelling at the others. I wasn’t allowed near the real tools yet. Just a laz pick like always. Either way a day without lashes is nice. Tomorrow we’ll have three fresh faces and I suspect a lot more lashes.
Day 18.
My muscles have started to grow I think. I hurt a lot, and on the day off a week we get I just rest and sleep, but maybe as I keep at it things will change. A couple friends came by. Their parents seemed to think that working in the mines means I’m not a threat. But I don’t have any energy to really do much. They talk about what’s been going on. What I’ve missed. I hope none of them get selected for the mine. Yirsn said that avian xeno I saw likes some guy. The others tried to keep him quiet but I just laughed. Sure she looked cute but she’s not human. I realize now it doesn’t matter. Even without the ghost lung my dad’s old and so is doc. I’ll be the last human alive on this stupid rock sooner or later.
Day 21.
It’s been three weeks now. They say this is the fastest anyone’s been moved up from a pick to a shoulder drill. It’s heavy but I can use it, and fix it on my own. No team required. The Overseers can’t argue with efficiency. The battery pack also means no more lashes. Small favors though since the damn thing is hot.
Day 31.
Been busy. Work. Eat. Sleep. Just about all I can do is string along thoughts to get from one of those things to the other. Two cave ins this last week. None in my section. I’ve been tellin’ em which way to dig. Not like… officially of course. Just sayin things like. “I’m gonna dig this way. I got a good feelin’ and they know enough to follow my lead.”
Doc says dad’s tests are looking better which is good. He didn’t cough once while we spoke. Just tried to tell me all the stuff he’s said a million times. I’ll ask Kizzkt to let him know I’m doing fine.
Day 45.
Another cave in. Something’s pushing Taskmaster and I don’t know what. Two more beat to death on top of who we lost in the cave in. I hope like crazy that I don’t see any of my friends in here tomorrow.
Day 46.
Higurn you poor stupid bastard. Why you? I talked to Nrrsm, got him assigned to my work crew. He’s Tizgek’s battery keeper. Gotta keep an eye on him.
Day 52.
Doc say’s they’re starting to ask about dad. He tried to play if off like I was taking his place but they weren’t having that. It’s their call if someone can retire and they’re not letting my dad retire. Something about the quotas. Then Taskmaster really is getting some orders about cranking up production.
Day 63.
Dad says I’ve really filled out in the last two months. I have to agree the work has made me strong. Not strong enough to keep from being tired all the time, but still. I’m getting better. Not good enough to save Higurn from getting lashed though. I keep telling him to pay more attention, to keep focus on the pack at all times. He just doesn’t quite get it. I feel bad but I’m not getting whipped because I’m doing my work and then some.
Day 75.
Dad finally had to come back down. Nrrsm and Kizzkt somehow convinced the Overseers to let him have minor duties. He’s basically guiding the vein digs now. We’ll meet those damn quotas alright.
Day 80.
Production is up. We’re doing good. No cave ins. Quotas are being met. That’s all it took for him to get us back on track. See them try and say humans are worthless now.
Day 90.
“Why are we here on our day off?” I asked dad as we were up in the main hollow before I’d head down to the vein.
“I want you to go with the blasting team. Watch how they work. Where they place the charges. They’ve got you slated for demolitions work soon and I’d prefer you watch it happen before they give you anything that’ll go boom!”
“What? Afraid I’ll try to use it and make my escape? Let me just stuff it up my pants and use it to blast me off this rock!” We laughed and he shook his head before I saw Crestor waving at me from across the way. I dodged one of the drone haulers and made it over to them before looking back and seeing Task master next to dad.
I froze. Where had he come from? The massive xeno spoke to dad and I kept watching. Don’t cough. Don’t cough… The Taskmaster was nodding about something. Was he actually going to let dad become a real foreman? The things we could dig up if he was really in charge. Maybe it was a good thing that Taskmaster had someone pushing on him.
Then one of the drone haulers drove past with a particularly dusty load and I saw dad cough. The fog came out. Not as bad as before but… No. “NO!” I was starting to run forward before I felt Crestor and his team pull me back out of the way of the next drone hauler. I saw Taskmaster pull his sidearm free just as my dad looked up. “NOOOOO!”
The drone hauler blocked them from sight by I heard the echo of the shot and once it was past I saw my father’s body crumpled on the floor of the mine. I pulled free of the crew’s grip, running across just before the next hauler hit me. I was making noise but I couldn’t honestly tell what it was I was trying to say. As I got close something hit me hard in the gut. I collapsed just feet from my father’s body. I tried to reach out for him, pull myself closer but strong metal hands were pulling me away. I was crying, sobbing, tears, and snot running down my face as dust and dirt got stuck to it all.
I was hauled up by two guards as I kept trying to reach for dad. “Very disappointing. I thought you came down to start learning more skills. To improve yourself and make a bid at getting assigned a mate. But instead it seems you were trying to hide this weakness.” I looked up as Taskmaster, vision blurry with tears, confused by his words.
“How very… extremely. IRRITATING!” He leaned down screaming in my face. “I HAD PLANS FOR HIM! PLANS FOR YOU! AND NOW A WASTE! HE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO TEACH YOU EVERYTHING AND THE QUTAS WON’T STOP!” I didn’t see the backhand coming but I felt it, pain searing across my face as his talons cut into my flesh, blood now mixing with the tears. “You pathetic wretches are always such a disappointment!”
I was in shock. I couldn’t think I just felt pain. Pain… sadness. No anger. Not yet. “Take him to their doctor. I won’t punish him for his father’s weakness but I won’t reward him. No more days off. You’re either working a vein or learning a new skill. I’m tired of the old rules. You’ll learn quickly if you don’t want the others to suffer for your mistakes.” Task master waved dismissively as the guards began to drag me back towards the surface. I saw the incineration team moving towards my father’s body. They weren’t willing to risk letting the ghost lung spread.
I don’t really remember much else that day. Doc patched me up but I’d have scars for sure. While I was getting tended to in the medbay one of the guards brought up a small steel container and handed it to me. On the side was written. “A reminder.” It was my father’s ashes.
“You don’t need the old room now. You’re staying on this level. Room 13.” The guard growled.
“That’s just a closet!” I heard Doc protest but I was staring at the container.
“He needs nothing more than a bed and the books we give him. Taskmaster says you learn quick or the others suffer.” On the wall I could see the miner count. 2999.
Day 120.
It’s been a month since…
Day 132.
It’s a day off so I’m reading more manuals and books about mining and the gear. It’s my birthday. I’m alone in the closet that’s now my bedroom. Happy birthday to me. I’m 18. An adult.
Day 145.
I’m the best blaster there is bar none. The others won’t work with me anymore though. They say I’m too dangerous. They’re probably right. But it gives me time to be alone.
Day 167.
I nearly killed myself. I was careless. I knew it was too close to the seam. I brought down a lot of ore but I was trapped in the dark for four hours while they dug me out. I sort of hoped that I might just suffocate. But they did get to me. The Overseer’s only remark? “Good job. That’s a lot of ore. Back to work.”
I get it now. I don’t want to die. I want them to die. I’m done. I’m not going to live out my life like this. I’m just not…
Day 193.
Most of my friends are in the mines. I don’t care anymore. I’ll free them soon. The Overseers say I’m working harder than ever. I can fix machines, guide drills, and blow open new paths like a Burshek at the end of his days. I told them I was born to do this. What I plan next I’m not born to do. But I’ll do it. I’ve been studying. I’ve been reading. I’ve been planning.
One day a week I get three hours in an old side tunnel near the surface. I lie about what I’m doing but they don’t care anyway. I’m digging, just a laz pick. I’m getting close to the maintenance room beneath the Arkayid quarters. A fraction the number of the rest of us with three times the space and all the accommodations they desire. They’re getting soft. They’re getting lazy.
Day 243.
Been so damn busy… getting closer to my goal. Gotta be careful now. I can’t trust anyone. I’ve seen them get beaten to death. Whipped to shreds. They won’t stand up. They all think Arkayids are invincible. They’re wrong. The Arkayids are always so careful about their whips and weapons in their building. Why would we need those? We’ve got mining tools. They’ll learn soon.
Day 289.
I wanted to show the others our tormentors aren’t immortal. It was perfect. I knew that fat lazy overseer in Vein 473 always hangs back. I set off an explosion along a seam three veins over that disturbed the rock. Crushed him just like planned. No one else was hurt. I was hauled in front of the Taskmaster in the main cave before everyone else. I begged and pleaded that I had no idea that would happen. I’ve been pushing myself hard, trying to learn quick like he asked. I thought about my dad and cried a bit. Really sold the performance I think. He said he’d be kind and spare my life but my ignorance wasn’t an excuse. 50 lashes, medium power, before everyone.
My sobbing was real before long. My back was in ribbons. It was worth it.
Day 300.
It wasn’t worth it. They all talk about how crazy it was but they seem to think the only way they can die is if someone drops ten tons of rocks on their heads! I have to show them! They have to see! I’ve begun sneaking out tools. Picking locks. I’ve got some caches ready and know how to open up more.
Day 312.
Another day off. I was reading in my room when a guard suddenly opened the door and shoved a xeno inside. “Heard you used to like this one!” He laughed and left. I was confused as hell until I recognized the avian. Her clothes were torn. She was crying. I didn’t know how far they’d gone but I sure as hell didn’t ask. They were mocking me? Hurting people I liked? I wasn’t sure.
I pulled her close, tried to sooth her. She wasn’t very fluent in Arkayish but I tried to convey what I could. I sung for her. That old lullaby mom sang to me when I was little. Before they split her up from dad and I. She seemed to like that. I just held her close till she seemed better and told her to stay strong. I didn’t tell her the plans or anything… just in case.
Day 326.
I broke into the maintenance room last night. Perfect spot. Got no idea how long it’ll last so I have to make this work. I took dad’s ashes to doc. I asked him if there was still ghost lung dust in it. He wasn’t sure but figured there might be a bit. Then I asked him if he could make sure there was and left. I know he was confused but I know he won’t talk.
Day 330.
Doc gave me back the ashes. Didn’t say a word but he also handed me a protective mask.
Day 337.
I dumped the ashes into their air ventilation machine. See how they like breathing in the dust. I also installed the bomb and covered up my tracks.
Day 342.
A lot of overseers have a nasty cough these days.
Day 345.
I’ve got no idea what our home world was really called. But my mom used to tell me how it was beautiful. Her mother told her that at least. Blue skies. Green trees. Birds singing. It sounds nice. Even though I’ve no idea what it was really called I know that today it would have been one year back there from the day I first entered the mines to work. It’s the last day I enter the mines. I wait for most of the shift to leave before I trigger the bomb.
People are screaming. The ground is shaking. I scream about a big collapse. Tell everyone with an able body to get to the mine. We gotta help. In the mines of course people will be shaking around and scared but they’re fine. People don’t notice the Arkayid building shaking harder and the smoke pouring out of it.
As everyone gets into the main cave I start tossing picks, drills, explosives, they’re confused. One of the Overseers sees me and walks over, but before he can say anything I’ve driven the laz pick straight through his helmet. I can hear the gasps all around me. “Pick up your tools! You’re going to need them! I just hit their home! They aren’t immortal! They’re our captors! It’s up to us to bring them down!”
I saw two overseers rush out of one of the side tunnels and heft up an impact driver that I’d removed the safety on. The bolt went straight through his chest before pinning him to the wall. The second screamed before the second bolt went through his head. I dropped the impact driver and hurled a charge at the entrance to Vein 34 where they had a break room set up. Four of them got smeared across the walls.
The others were scared and confused, they need to see! They needed to fight! There was a massive roar as I saw Taskmaster burst free from the smoke coming out of the tunnel I used to sneak into their maintenance room. “You!” He pointed at me and charged. I ducked, jumped, and swiped with the digging claw. I heard him scream as I dug three deep gouges across his face. He’d have scars just like mine now. I turned and tried to leap for the impact driver but he grabbed me. The suit made him too fast but I bet he wished he had a helmet now.
The talons squeezed my throat as he lifted me in the air. I could see more guards coming down the main ramp, and out the other tunnels but they were seriously outnumbered by the other miners standing around. Taskmaster was focused on me. “I’LL TORTURE YOU FOR YEARS! THE PAIN WILL BE UNENDING! AND NOTHING WILL STOP IT! I WILL TAKE YOU TO OUR HOME WORLD AND PUT YOU ON DISPLAY!”
This was where my plan ended. I gasped, hands pulling on his forearm to try and take the weight off my throat. “Maybe… I’ll see your mother there… and show her… what a real species… can do in bed.” He screamed in my face and tightened his grip. Everything hurt for a moment but I felt a snap and then it all went numb. He tossed me to the ground but I couldn’t feel it. I was just looking up at everything from the floor.
He rubbed a hand along the bleeding cuts on his face. “Back to work! All of you!” He screamed at the miners. But I saw them stare back. They looked at the dead guards. They looked at his bleeding face. They looked at me.
“You heard him!” One overseer with a whip stepped forward, rising his arm to lash out. But Castor stepped forward and drove his pick through the Overseers faceplate just like I had earlier. The entire area was silent. Then it all just exploded. The miners were rushing forward as the Arkayid’s either died or started to run. I could see the fear flash across Taskmaster’s face. Not used to that emotion you bastard? Get used to it. I wish I could have said that.
Someone was soon kneeling near me, perhaps trying to help but I was fading now. I could still hear the screaming and yelling. There were other explosions. Finally. Finally. I’d shown them the way. I knew. For generations they’d been using the tools of their oppressors to dig in the ground. They’d never seen that those tools could be used to free themselves. Sometimes all it took was a spark.
Today a man died. But a rebellion was born.
Rebellion. Day 1.