“Lieutenant Anderson, good morning.”
A gentle female voice drifts to my ears, pulling me from the last dregs of sleep. My eyelids feel heavy, but a bright light permeates the thin skin, willing me to open them.
I am aware of a firm mattress supporting my body, and soft, cool sheets draped overtop. I am naked, save for a pair of rather silky boxer briefs. I carefully crack my eyes open to find an attractive woman perching on the bed beside me.
My muscles feel stiff and my thoughts are coming slowly. It’s as if they are swimming through a thick sludge, struggling to surface. I can’t seem to remember how I got here. I clear my throat and move to sit up.
“The disorientation you are experiencing is to be expected. It will fade over the next forty-eight hours. Please communicate any areas of pain or pressure, especially encompassing the cranial region.”
I gaze at the owner of the voice blearily, taking in her appearance. She is smiling warmly, but something seems a bit…off about her expression. She is wearing a white, form-fitted dress with a high collar. A centre zipper runs down the length of it, and a blue insignia is visible on the short capped sleeves. Her chestnut brown hair is shiny, unnaturally so, and is cut into a perfect bob.