General Peter sat at his desk, clutching the edge of it as his body began to betray him. His muscles felt heavy, like they were made of lead, and his heart raced unnaturally fast, pounding in his chest with a rhythm that set his teeth on edge. His hands were trembling, and his vision swam in and out of focus.
"Damn it," Peter muttered under his breath, trying to stand up, but his legs refused to obey. The room spun around him, and his hands went limp, knocking a stack of papers off his desk. His breath came in short, rapid bursts, his body no longer responding to his commands.
Just as he was about to collapse, the door to his office opened, and Commander John stepped inside. He had come to discuss a few matters with Peter, but immediately noticed the strange way Peter was behaving.
