Two Sides of the Same Coin

57 Years Ago: Space Colony, ARK

"Maria!"

The young adult topples over, hitting the floor with a loud thud. The five-year-old girl was scampering down the hallway stops, turning in haste to see her newfound victim on the floor, crutches strewn out of reach. "Oh no, I'm so sorry, Mister!" Her little voice cries out as she scurries over to help up the struggling, writhing mess of adult.

"It's fine. Please watch where you're going." He sighs, struggling to push his upper body off the ground. Ever since coming to the ARK, little Maria had caused him nothing but trouble. Unintentionally, of course, but it was trouble nonetheless. With so much of his mobility gone thanks to Rheumatoid Arthritis and the early stages of aggressive cancer, the young adult found navigating the cold, steel corridors without a crash collision challenging. Unfortunately, most collisions thus far had been the ever-energetic five-year-old.

"Where's your grandfather? I need to talk to him," the young adult says, pulling himself into a seated position. Maria's small little body struggles to drag over the crutches, but the young adult is thankful. "I dunno." She says, shrugging carelessly. Sighing, the young adult tries to manoeuvre his way up but can't find the strength to do so on his own. Gritting his teeth, unamused with himself, he gives little Maria a pleading look. "Maria, darling," he says gently, "can you please get me some help? I don't think I can get up..."

"Okay, Mister!" She chimes, running off without another word. She stumbles before quickly regaining her balance, then vanishes around a corner.

He knew she probably would get distracted. She almost always did. But she was young, and he didn't expect her to stop being so carefree and wild. She should have her youth and freedoms readily available before her illness got too out of hand. That's why he was going to talk to the Professor; her grandfather, Gerald Robotnik. He was growing sick of all the falls, and whilst Maria was not to blame, it was apparent that being unable to mobilise was becoming more and more of an issue. Maybe he could get his hands on a wheelchair—that would make things much easier except, maybe not. All those stairs through the ARK were frustrating enough with crutches; a wheelchair would be worse off.

He just hoped that the Professor could help him. But, unfortunately, the doctors on Earth couldn't, and with his body failing him, treatments not working, and the constant aches and pains, it was becoming more and more apparent that life as he knew it would slowly be nearing its end. He just hoped it wouldn't be so painful. Being twenty-one was hard enough as it was.

"Oh my! Let me help you up, darling!" One of Maria's nurses rounds the corner, Maria tailing behind innocently, pep in her step. "Just how did you fall again?" The young adult shrugs, giving Maria a little wink as the nurse begins assisting him to his feet. "The floors must be slippery, and my crutches slid out from underneath me. I'm lucky Maria found me now. Otherwise, I'd be here for a little longer than I'd like."

Maria giggles behind her hand, dragging the crutches as best as possible to help her nurse get the young adult to his feet faster. "Really now?" The nurse questions, suspicious, but she doesn't pry too hard into it. "At least we found you now. You really should be more careful, okay?" Nodding in reply, the young adult offers her a strained smile. "Of course, apologies for any inconveniences I've caused you, Miss." He replies, finally standing on his own two feet again, crutches held as firmly as he could muster.

"Don't apologise. Falls are unavoidable in your condition. Just take it easy. Your body is in bad shape already, and we don't want to make anything worse." She adjusts his grip, making sure he's holding onto it properly. "Have you done a grip strength test recently? You may want to do so, and it will help ensure you can mobilise properly."

"Yeah, sure, I'll get one done soon."