“You’re lookin’ at the new stock boy at Higbee’s, love.”
"And I had a bit of cash stashed away from working at Molly’s Bakery…” Galicia said with a knowing wink.
Tears formed in Laurina's eyes as she wrapped her arms around her sister and big brother, and squeezed them tightly.
“You’re the best family any girl could ever have!”
Time seemed to slow as Laurina lay, while memories of the past danced in her head, keeping her company. Each of them was centered around Paddington Foundling Home where she had spent the biggest part of her life. Snatches of various recollections replayed themselves bordered in sepia and gray, like an old rerun of Oliver Twist. Galicia in the school play, Abel at the dance, the three of them fishing just outside of London, or snacking on meat pies at Piccadilly Circus. However, there was something hovering just out of reach of her mind’s eye, nagging at the redhead’s brain like a sore tooth. Suddenly a bit of realization made itself clear.
I can’t remember our parents! I can’t remember our home.
I can’t remember anything before the orphanage.
It’s as if Paddington is the spot where my life first began. And that can’t be true can it?
Can it?
What the hell is happening to me? I feel like I can’t even trust my own past anymore.
Surely my memories are proof that I actually had a real life, right?
Right?
A cold shudder past through her, and Laurina’s thoughts grew cold.
Bloody Hell! I’m losing my mind!
Through this new troubled perspective, her memories now seemed too well ordered, too perfect to be true. Panic gripped the young Brit’s heart, and an overwhelming sadness flowed through her mind like tainted water from a shattered dam, threatening to carry her into oblivion.
Laurina felt a tear roll down her cheek. The warm drop of fluid coursed steadily down the skin of her face like a skier descending a hill. Her breathing accelerated with a start, as she realized that she could actually feel the salty flow, and more importantly, that she had caused it to happen. Gathering her courage, the shaken redhead imagined herself floating in an Olympic sized swimming pool.
Gentle movement…my body is bobbing ever so slightly…lightly drifting slightly to the right….while I look up to the skylight! Don’t forget the skylight!
Desperately clinging to the image, she stilled her tortured mind and relaxed. After what seemed to be an eternity, Laurina rediscovered her strength of will.
Somehow I am still here, wherever ‘here’ is, and I am alive. What did Descartes say? “I think, therefore I am!” Well I’m bloody well thinking alright! Relax old girl and wait it out. Something’s gonna happen soon, and when it does, you’ll get your answers. Until then you’ll just have to be patient.
With supreme effort she calmed both her mind and body, accepting the uncertainty of her situation. Her breathing steadied to a more normal pace as she decided that nothing more terrible would happen to her in her current state. There was nothing she could do about it in any case. As Laurina regained her sanity, the shadows slowly receded from her sight. As the view continued to brighten, and the harsh white light chased the last vestiges of the darkness away, two blurred figures that had not been there before, hovered like wraiths on the edge of her awareness.
The two men carefully regarded the broken woman on the exam table. The smaller one clad in a white smock and black horn-rimmed glasses walked to one side, and like a virtuoso, played his thin practiced fingers over the banks of buttons and dials on the medical equipment attached to her. He checked the readings and with satisfaction, flipped open a pad to jot down a few notes. Meanwhile, the taller and more imposing of the two stood like a sentinel next to the metal slab, patiently still and ramrod straight, with his arms clasped behind his back as if at attention. His presence radiated authority and command; a person used to having his orders followed without question. This was fitting since he was clothed in a crisp blue uniform complete with shoulder patches bearing the Sphinx and dagger motif, which announced his presence as a high level Army Intelligence officer. His jacket was highly decorated, and including a pair of discs sporting a golden horse head over a chessboard along with the words, “Strength through vigilance.” Like a lion guarding his kill, he stood very close and stared intently at his wounded captive.
“When will she be ready Dr. Kelder?” he asked in a gravelly voice.
“I’m not sure,” the smaller man replied. “I’ve stabilized her pain and introduced a compound to accelerate her healing, but these readings indicate a slow recovery. There is no telling how long she could lie in this state.”
His superior grunted in acknowledgement, while clenching his large hands into fists. “I’ll have that idiot Krall’s head on a pike for this,” he muttered in a low voice.
Kelder waved a thin hand toward one of the medical monitors. “Colonel, come have a look at this.” He touched his pen to the EEG monitor as the lines moved excitedly around the screen. “The readings are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
“Is there a problem with them?” asked the officer.
“I’m not sure. The subject’s readings are erratic. Normal human readouts for someone in her condition would show a slow, steady pulsing of brainwave activity. The impulses here are dancing all over the place.”
“Then I suggest you do your level best to get a handle on the situation ASAP,” the colonel said tightly. “I shouldn’t have to remind you that we are running out of time. If this woman doesn’t recover soon, and the Interface closes before we are ready, we will lose our window of opportunity, and everything we have worked for will be lost!”
A dark rumble escaped his lips as the tall man took a menacing step closer to his subordinate. “I sincerely hope that for your sake, doctor, you understand this.”
Dr. Kelder took a hasty step backward, covering his fear by appearing to look at the monitor. “Colonel, I am doing the best I can, but we may need a backup plan,” he offered. “Perhaps with their technological expertise, the Sempai can find another alternative.”
The big man snorted derisively. “Bah! Advanced or not, the Sempai lack the drive and vision required to bring our work into fruition by the appointed time. Even a high school science student, has more instinctive creativity and imagination than they will ever have. Your hope in them is badly misplaced Kelder, and that is your weakness.” The Colonel lowered his voice to a harsh whisper. “If you fail to get this woman operational in a timely fashion, I will have you busted down to field medic and have you permanently transferred to a nice little outpost I know in Antarctica. Imagine that, doctor.”
Confident that he had effectively motivated his assistant, the Colonel turned on his heel and resumed his vigil over the bed holding the young woman. After a brief hesitation, he opened his mouth to speak once again. “On the off chance that you do manage to exceed my expectations, under no circumstances should our little fox be allowed to know that her healing has been accelerated thanks to Sempai technology. I’ve already instructed Kamla to tell her that she’s been in a six week coma. If the matter comes up, I expect you to do the same.”
“Yes Colonel,” Kelder replied softly. Chastened, the doctor hung his head and went back to checking the readouts and taking notes. A smile of anticipation played over the commanding officer’s lips as he continued to stare at what he hoped to be his greatest accomplishment.
Chapter 5
Laurina’s eyes snapped open as if they were spring loaded. Fully alert, she quickly glanced at her arms and legs and found herself to be dressed in purple hospital scrubs. Absent were the wires and tubes that had previously been attached to her body, and there were no signs of scarring, or any visible wounds on her flesh. Continuing to take stock of her condition, she noted most importantly that there was no pain. Raising her awareness to take in her surroundings, she saw that the room she now occupied, though windowless, was decorated warmly with robin’s egg blue wal
ls, bright but subtle track lighting, and a large framed print of sunlight over a meadow. A vase filled with white lilies and blue irises sat atop a nearby table filling the room with their subtle scent.
The decorations were in stark contrast to the sterile mixture of white and chrome where she first lay, causing her a bit of momentary confusion.
Where am I now? Is this a patient room in a hospital?
The redhead noticed that her body was cradled in total comfort. Behind her head she could feel the soft cushion of a fluffy pillow and the yielding support of the mattress felt like heaven after the hard slab of the exam table she had first awakened to. A thick blue synthetic blanket had been carefully laid over her body, and the soft fabric caressed her skin like a lover. Moving carefully, she pushed herself up to a sitting position, stopping momentarily as a wave of dizziness came over her. Once it passed, she lifted away the blanket, and slowly swung her legs over the edge of the bed. As the blood rushed through her legs, they felt odd, as if a thousand tiny pins were pricking her skin. Wiggling her pale toes, she grimaced slightly and waited as her slim digits slowly regained their circulation.
A sudden noise to the left snapped her into attention. The knob of the door slowly turned, and in walked a beautiful dark haired woman of East Indian ancestry clutching a tray filled with an odd assortment of goods. She wore the traditional undersized nurse’s cap, and a soft blue smock covered her slim figure. The large white nametag pinned to it announced her as Kamla. The woman smiled brightly as she saw Laurina sitting on the side of the bed, and set her tray down on a stand by the door. She quickly rushed to the redhead’s side and with a practiced motion, placed a hand on her forehead.
“I see that our guest is finally awake! How are you feeling love?” Kamla asked musically, scanning her face for anything that looked odd or out of place. As she worked, she caressed the face of her charge in a motherly fashion.
The startled Laurina quickly pulled away from the woman’s ministrations.
“Watch the hands, Love!” she spoke the last word sarcastically. “Do I know you?”
“Well yes and no.” Kamla said cheerily, oblivious to the sarcasm. “I have been caring for you for quite some time now since you had your accident, although you most certainly do not remember it. Oh! Forgive me, you must be parched.”
She rose and walked to the sink on the far side of the room. In seconds she was next to redhead again holding a glass of water. Laurina nodded as she took it and drank deeply, frowning in concentration as she did so.
Accident? What…?
Images of leaping off the roof of a tall building tugged at her memory. The recollection of sailing through the air, the uncomfortable feeling of constriction from the mesh sack that had imprisoned her, the looming approach of a brick wall, and the sudden sensation of pain and palpable darkness that swallowed her up slowly rose to the surface of her inner eye.
So, those crazy events had been real after all. London, Brooklyn, the men chasing me, the hospital. Everything had actually happened.
“How long was I out for?” Laurina asked, handing the empty glass back to Kamla.
She smiled back at her before responding.
“Well, you were out for quite a while. Since I came to care for you, I know that you have been out for six weeks. I was beginning to lose hope.” Kamla flashed a sympathetic smile.
“Six weeks?!” Laurina exclaimed incredulously.
I must have been comatose to not realize the passage of that much time. Gawd! Abel’s gonna kill me! He must be worried sick!
“After six weeks shouldn’t my brain be like a vegetable now?”
Kamla placed a palm on Laurina’s forehead and became serious. She gently squeezed and probed the contours of her head before removing her hand.
“Hmmm. Well how does your head feel to you?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” Laurina replied tentatively. “I’m aware and I seem to have control of all of my faculties, so I guess that’s all that really matters right?”
“Well, it sure felt like a vegetable to me,” Kamla replied seriously.
The two women looked at each other for a moment before the nurse erupted in bright laughter. Laurina finally catching the lame joke smiled ruefully and joined in the laughter. Hearing another sound, Laurina followed the nurse’s eyes to the doorway. A thin, unassuming man with round glasses and wearing a white lab coat slowly entered the room. A black doctor’s bag was nervously clutched in his right hand. Laurina suddenly had the feeling that she recognized him. Nevertheless, she eyed the newcomer with suspicion.
“Doctor Kelder. We’ve got a live one here!” Kamla chuckled, jerking a thumb toward the seated woman.
Doctor Kelder?
Immediately the redhead’s eyes widened in recognition. It was the name from Galicia’s letter! “If they get you trust Kelder…” Did Galicia mean another Kelder?
This must be the one Gal was talking about, not the bloke from the Yard! If he is, maybe now I can finally get a few answers.
“Are you the one who patched me up?” Laurina asked him nonchalantly.
He nodded to her and smiled, his balding head reflected the light from overhead.
“Kamla,” he asked in a gentle voice. “Would you mind giving the lady and I a moment in private?”
“But doctor, I was instructed by Colonel Keren to monitor our patient at all times,” the nurse replied uneasily. Laurina’s breath caught in her throat as she recognized the name.
“Now Kamla, you know this is a case of patient confidentiality. We’re just going to talk doctor to patient. I’ll take full responsibility over her condition while you’re gone." His eyes narrowed. “Please don’t force me into placing an insubordination entry into your file.”
Catching the pointed look from her superior, Kamla nodded in recognition.
“Perhaps my help is needed in the supply room anyway. I’ll go check on that.”
The nurse grasped her patient’s hand and smiled at her reassuringly before walking out the door. Laurina however was not the least bit reassured.
First Kelder, then Colonel Keren…both names I heard in connection to Gal’s predicament. This is crazy! I do one last job, and before I can hook up with Abel and leave for the airport, I’m in Brooklyn New York, and suddenly faced with two people who are possibly involved in this whole flippin’ mess. This is NOT a coincidence!
As soon as the door closed behind her, Dr. Kelder rushed to Laurina’s side. Before she could open her mouth, he raised a restraining hand.
“Miss Hawks, I’m indeed Dr. Timothy Kelder, and as you’ve already guessed, it was I who facilitated your healing. I know you have many questions, but we don’t have much time. There is much that we need to discuss, and it is very important that you listen to what I have to say." His soft voice coupled with the mention of her sister’s name brought sudden recognition.
“So you ARE the Kelder that my sister spoke of!”
“Yes, yes,” he replied in a dismissive tone.
Laurina’s heart began to pound in her chest like a jackhammer.
“I remember your voice. There were two people hovering over me in my dreams. You were the one defending me, while the other one; well he was just an asshole.”
“That asshole was Colonel Keren,” Doctor Kelder replied tightly. “But forget that for now. Laurina, will you trust me?” He searched her eyes, and with conviction added, “…for Galicia’s sake?”
Laurina paused a moment to think. In her minds eye, she could see the note and could almost hear the words coming from Galicia’s voice, “…Trust Kelder.” She sighed heavily.
“Alright I’ll trust you, at least for now. But I need a few answers. First of all, where am I? Where is my sister? Is she alright? What is this place, and how did I even get...”
“Laurina please!” he replied forcefully, waving her to silence.
The anxious redhead startled by his abruptness, immediately fell quiet.
Dr. Kelder sighed.
>
“First things first. You’ve already gathered that Colonel Keren is not your friend, but it’s imperative that he does not suspect that we have spoken like this.”
As she nodded her understanding, the doctor listened for any sounds in the hallway. Hearing none, he continued.
“You are in a secret government research facility in an undisclosed location. Your desire to see to the safety of your sister is a part of why you are here right now. To the best of my knowledge Galicia is still alive, but we have not been in contact with either her or her partner Major Sinza Flanagan for some time. I cannot go into any detail about their mission because the situation is complicated and time consuming.”
“Please tell me what you can,” Laurina pleaded.
"There is more going on here than you could ever imagine. The most important thing you need to know is the truth of how you got here and why. You see, you are..."
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed just outside the door.
“Damn it! We’re out of time,” he whispered.
Laurina whispered back in desperation, “I have what? Tell me! You can’t leave me hanging like this!”
“I can’t! Not now. I’m truly sorry. Look, for both our sakes, play it close to the vest. Keep your eyes and ears open and I promise you will learn the truth.”
The young Brit glared angrily at Kelder.
What’s with all this super secret hush-hush stuff? This bloke’s treating me like the heroine from a dime store spy novel! He holds out the friggin’ carrot, and then jerks it away. Screw this ‘close to the vest” crap. I need answers now!
Kelder quickly switched into his professional demeanor as a hand fell on the doorknob. Grabbing a shiny stethoscope from his bag, he placed it on Laurina's back as if he's checking her breathing.
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