by Rebel West
“Please. Help me. Please!” Dr. Amakka has a son, a child. He can’t be all bad. Desperation makes me speak through the pain. “You told me about your son. Marek. Dr. Amakka. Marek?” He might not know English, or he might, but he’d have to respond to his name. His son’s name. “You’re a healer. You swore an oath to help beings, not kill them. What would Marek think?”
He starts and gives me a look of pure anguish, tears in his eyes. But then he looks away, away from me, and starts shuffling things on the lab counter, and I know for sure I’m a dead woman. “Help me!” I scream as loudly as I can. “Lock! Maxxon! Dr. Jayya! Help!” I kick with my legs, frantic, trying to connect with something, anything, hoping my sheer strength might do something.
But it’s in vain. Allik backhands me, almost casually, once and again, and this time the pain nearly makes me black out.
“Prepare it now,” he orders the doctor, then laughs. “Imagine me, speaking English.” He switches to Luminarian and barks a command.
The doctor hastens to a freezer and extracts a bottle of clear fluid. I watch in horror as he supplies a thin syringe and begins to draw up the liquid into the needle.
Chapter Twenty Nine
The implication of his movements drives me to action again. I scream and bang my body as much as I can, and now the tape is so tight on my wrists than the prickling has stopped and my hands are completely numb.
“Stop fighting,” says Allik, with an almost pleasant tone. “It will be just like going to sleep. Try to relax and enjoy your last seconds, at least. Don’t you humans like to... pray?” He chuckles. “Maybe you should try. It’s never too late.”
And suddenly I think of something: “It’s never too late,” Dr. Jayya said, with some disdain, watching me try in vain to figure out my holo blink system that first day. Maybe, even though Allik deactivated my translator and holo system access, that little extra chip on the other side of my head might allow me a backdoor in.
Allik seems agitated that the doctor is taking so long. He snaps something and points at the shot. The doctor mutters something else and points at a wall thermometer. Maybe the poison needs to be the right temperature?
While Allik is distracted, I focus hard on bringing up the holo system. “You just think about it, and it comes up. It’s not hard.” I can hear Dr. Jayya’s condescending voice in my head.
With a flicker, a holo bursts into place in front of me. But it isn’t my customized system at all, but a rough bare-bones entry system, not configured for anyone. It doesn’t even have English commands, but instead, the Luminarian squiggles and dashes. Why, oh, why didn’t I learn Luminarian?
Any second now, Allik will turn around and see what I’m doing. I need to do this fast.
I locate the cursor on the left and scroll through screen after screen. News. An access to the internet portal, probably; I recognize the graphic symbol, if not the words next to it. And suddenly, the large purple swirl that looks like a dollar sign! Their version of 911.
I blink it rapidly, heart pounding. It takes a longer time than I expect, and I’m sure that my system doesn’t work after all, but suddenly, a holo image of an operator appears in front of me. “Ta-ak canta mezzil amarat pell’a?” Is that the alien equivalent of “911, what is your emergency?”
“Help!” I scream, and Allik turns, his gaze feral and determined, and reaches for me. “Help! I’m being held captive by Allik and Dr. Amakka and they’re going to kill me because I know how to help Maxxon! You need to tell Lock, I’m in the lab. Code 53365, the royal code, Lock’s code. I’m a human and I need help.”
A blow to my face stops me, and another, and I cough on the blood in my mouth, unable to speak. “You human waste,” he snarls. “Amakka, give it to me at once.”
I pant, spitting blood onto my shirt. I can barely see out of one eye now; the other is swollen shut and my nose throbs, the pain intense. Allik holds out his hand to the doctor and shouts. The doctor blinks, then picks up the syringe, but seems to want to caution Allik, because he puts a hand on Allik’s arm and says something in Luminarian.
At this, Allik advances on the doctor, growling words that terrify me although I understand none of it. He grabs the doctor and shakes him, then slams him into the bench hard, causing equipment to clatter and crash together, onto itself, onto the floor. The doctor says one thing, looks at me, and Allik closes his hands around the doctor’s throat, squeezing. I watch in horror as the doctor’s eyes bulge, and he coughs and sputters. Allik’s hands tighten until Dr. Amakka’s face turns a deeper shade of blue and he goes silent.
Allik lets the doctor’s body drop to the floor, and the sound his head makes on the floor sends new bile into my throat.
It’s too late. Allik is insane, and he’s going to kill me.
As Allik advances, the syringe in his hand like a sword, I squeeze my eyes shut, praying to any gods that might be listening, begging for help. And just as Allik grabs my arm, an explosion at the door has me frantically screaming again, begging for help.
Allik grabs my shoulder, raises his arm—and collapses in a bright blur of electric light, the syringe falling from his hand to the floor, where it lands with a surprisingly delicate tinkle and leaks out clear fluid, like pus from a wound.
I scream, over and over, unable to stop, shaking so hard my teeth clatter. I’m cold, I’m burning up.
Hands are on me now, voices murmuring; someone unwraps the restraints, and my hands flop down, limp, doll paws, lifeless. Silvery faces loom over me with concern, worry. They are asking questions but I understand none of it, none of it, even though I think some of them are speaking to me in English. I need to tell them what I’ve discovered, but my vision is fading.
Suddenly, I see Lock’s face over mine. “Cali!” His voice, a roar of anguish, is music.
“Lock.” I whisper his name, wanting to reach for him, but my arms don’t work.
He bends down, touching my face. “It’s all right. You’re going to be all right. I swear it.” He has tears in his eyes.
“You need…” I mumble.
“No, don’t talk,” he urges.
I shake my head, forcing words out past the roaring waterfall that’s approaching, just behind my eyes. “You need to get Maxxon to a safe doctor. It’s an organism affecting him, I found it, similar to…” My voice trails off and I cough up blood, unable to breathe. “Albotons C. It’s in his tissue, you need to, someone’s contaminating him, talk to the doctors who are helping the zebb…”
I want to say more, but I start to shake violently. As he reaches out for me, his hands so close, another shot is produced, this time possibly something helpful, and I slide into a deep oblivion.
* * *
I awake to a rhythmic beeping, gentle and low. I force my eyes open; they are gritty and painful and don’t seem to want to work.
It’s a heart monitor. I can see it on a holo screen, flashing a gentle EKG, jagged rolling hills. I regard it for a few minutes. Someone is in the hospital. Who?
My mouth is so dry and cracked. I try to speak, but only a creak comes out.
Suddenly, a doctor hovers over me, looking down—am I lying down? In some disbelief, I crane my neck and realize I’m the one in the hospital bed, and it all comes back.
I scream, and the doctor puts a hand on my arm. He is human.
“It’s okay.” His voice is calm, his eyes warm. “You’re safe. You’re fine, Cali. Everything is going to be all right. I’m Dr. Fuller, and I’m going to take care of you.”
I gasp and shudder. “I can’t talk.” My voice comes out a croak.
“You can have some water. It will help. You were unconscious; they had to sedate you in the palace. It was a stronger sedative than humans are used to, so you’re going to be groggy. But you’re fine.”
He hands me a cup with a straw and I drink greedily. “My face hurts.” I put up a hand, my arm trailing IVs like tentacles.
“You were attacked. You have two black eyes and your nose was bro
ken. We set it, that’s why you have the bandage.”
I touch my face. “God.”
“You have a concussion. Your orbital bone was fractured, but it will heal. You just need to be careful. And…” He hesitates. “I’m very sorry, but until you heal further, we can’t put you into hypersleep to travel back to Earth. I know you probably want to get back as soon as possible, but we need to stabilize you first.”
“Where am I?” I look around, at the sterile windowless room.
“The EVTS. We have a full emergency room here for humans,” he says.
“Oh.” I touch my face again, feeling the unfamiliar bandages and sore spots. “Ow.”
“You will heal fast.” His voice is soothing. “Do you need more pain relief?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe.” I lick my lips. “Can I have lotion for my lips?”
“Of course. I’ll ask the nurse.”
“What... happened?”
He sits down in the chair beside my bed. “You don’t remember?”
“I remember being held captive. Then I was able to call for help on a holo screen, and guards came in to help me. That I remember.” I shudder. “But after that… What happened to Allik?”
“From what I understand, the perpetrator was taken into Luminar custody,” the doctor explains. “But honestly, I don’t have details.”
“I need.” I clear my throat and drink more water. “I need, please, I need to speak to Prince Lock.”
The doctor blinks rapidly. “Right now you need to rest.”
“It’s important.” I sit up, lean forward, and gasp through a wave of dizziness. “Please, it’s a matter of life and death.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have access to that kind of communications,” he says, his face kind, touching my arm. “Perhaps when you heal more we can ask Netta. She runs the EVTS, and she can possibly get you into contact.”
A thought occurs to me. “Oh, my God. What do the leaders on Earth think of this? Have they suspended all IRT projects and recalled all of the scientists?” I hope they have not, but I’m sure they must have at least put out some kind of moratorium, or safety warning?
The doctor draws up his lips into a grimace. “I’m not aware... of any interruption in, ah, the teams.” He glances around the room and doesn’t meet my eyes. “Things are proceeding as normal, Cali. The other humans have not been notified of the attack, I understand. Not yet.”
“What?” I recoil. “But I was attacked. He was going to kill me. How can they not care? I mean, what if other humans are in danger?”
“The Luminar government says they are all protected, even more so now than before. It’s the Earth government that does not want their citizens notified, and I think it’s a tense situation.”
“Yeah, you think?” I scowl at him. “Why is Earth acting like this?” Fuck President Matumba right now. He always caves to the I-Gov faction, and I bet they’re the ones behind this.
Cali, I’m just a doctor.” He puts up his hands and smiles, like it’s a joke. “Not a politician. I don’t know about what’s going on. Please, try to get rest. You need to heal.”
“I can’t rest until I talk to Prince Lock. It’s urgent.” I try to swing my legs off the side of the bed, but nausea roils through me and I gasp, leaning back. “Shit.”
“Cali, your body needs to rest. Please. I’m sorry. I’ll get you that lip balm, and more pain relief, and I’ll be back later to check on your progress.”
With that, he disappears through a sliding glass door, beyond which stands a nurse’s station. I can almost believe I’m in any state-of-the-art ICU on Earth.
A nurse enters promptly with a tube of ointment. “Here’s something for your lips,” she says pleasantly. “And I’m going to increase the pain relief in your IV.”
“Can you tell me what’s happening on Luminar?” I put a hand to my forehead, where a clammy sweat prickles.
“Well, ah, nothing out of the ordinary,” the nurse replies. “I’m Catelynn, and I’ll be helping you out.” She eyes me, then presses an absorbent cloth to my temples. “Sweating is normal right now. Your body is adjusting to the medicines you were given and coming out of adrenaline overload. I’ll help you get through it.”
“If you really want to help me, I need to talk to Prince Lock on Luminar. It’s critical.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, but we don’t have access to call like that. You’d have to talk to the EVTS station manager when you heal.” The nurse deftly dabs at my skin, then arranges my blanket. “I know you’re sweaty, but you need to stay warm. Okay?”
“I need to talk to her now.”
The nurse looks troubled. “Dr. Fuller said you need to rest now.”
“Can I refuse medical treatment?” I stick out my lip.
“Well, I… don’t know.” The nurse frowns. “I’ve never had anyone ask that.”
“You’ve probably never had anyone in here before,” I snap, then add, “I’m sorry. Sorry.”
“It’s all right. No, you are the first, actually.” The nurse sighs.
“You must be happy to finally have a patient.”
The nurse blinks and looks away. “No, I’m not.”
I would feel guilty for the unkind words, but I’m too frustrated. “Okay. Fine.”
The nurse smiles. “Just wait a day. Then we’ll put you into contact with Netta. All right? You’ve been through a lot and your face is seriously damaged, and you have a concussion and a sprained ankle. Not to mention the toll the stress takes on a body. Your blood pressure spiked and your heart rate was very high. We need to make sure you’re healing.”
She pauses as her eye lights on a small fabric pouch on the table. “Here are the things you came in with. Your clothes are washed. And your bracelet.” She wink, and hands me the bag. “I’ll see you in a bit. Just ring if you need anything. I’m right out there.” She points to the station.
I look dumbly at the items. Bracelet? Recognition dawns—it’s my comm wristlet, the one Allik took from me. It must have fallen from his pocket when the guards dropped him. My rescuers must have turned it over with the rest of my belongings.
I pick it up and turn it in my fingers. Will it even still work?
Chapter Thirty
Sucking in a deep breath, I hold it to my wrist and wait. For a second nothing happens, and disappointment surges. But then the bracelet flashes a soft blue light and clicks shut, and I gasp with excitement.
I glance out at the station, and the nurse has her back turned. I push the band with trembling fingers and blink, and to my immense joy, my starter holo screen blinks up. It connects with my wristlet and flashes the short list of contacts I have.
I blink on Lock’s name. Please, answer. Talk to me. Don’t ignore me. Don’t be busy.
Without warning, his image flashes up in front of me. “Cali?” His voice is rough with emotion. “You’re all right?”
“I’m okay,” I croak, clear my throat, and try again, tears in my eyes. “I’m in a hospital in the human side of the EVTS. I’m… roughed up but okay.”
“They took you away before you regained consciousness.” His whole body shows tension; he leans forward as if to see me better. “And I let them, because I wanted you to get to the human doctors who could best fix you.” His voice cracks. “They also said to wait to talk to you until you healed. I was honoring that. Cali, you saved Maxxon. He’s recovering and he’s going to be okay.”
“Thank God.” Relief makes me dizzy. “Oh, thank God. I’m so glad. Was I right, then? It was the organism affecting him?”
“Yes. Dr. Amakka was injecting him with daily vitamin shots, but he was also introducing the organism in each shot. So no matter what techniques or medicines they tried, the damage continued. Amakka put on a very good show with his research, too. He suggested novel techniques that would have been brilliant, if he weren’t also engineering their very failure.”
“And the samples, he was faking them, right?”
“He used his
own muscle tissue to get undamaged samples, and used a laser to pit the surface. He replaced Maxxon’s real muscle samples with his own, so nobody else could see the actual damage. He hoped that would make it that much harder to interpret the results. And it worked. Nobody thought to mistrust his work because he was one of our personal physicians. In the system, he just changed the labels. And as you wrote in your notes, the pitting damage was so unlike anything anyone had ever seen that it really confused all of the experts.” A beat. “We read all of your lab notes.”
I take a deep breath. “Good. I’m just glad Maxxon is okay now. Dr. Amakka seemed nice when I first met him. It’s terrifying.”
“He was nice. Once.” Lock’s face falls. “It appears that Allik was working with the rebels, and they kidnapped Dr. Amakka’s son. They extorted Amakka to find a way to make Maxxon so unwell that he’d have to step down. If he didn’t do it, they’d kill his son.”
“Oh, God.” I put a hand to my mouth. “Is the son okay? Marek?”
Lock shakes his head. “He’s alive, and he’s back with his mother now. Physically he’s unharmed, but it will take a long time to recover, mentally.”
“Wow. I’m sure. Poor boy.” I clench my fingers together. “But Maxxon will recover fully? For sure?”
“Yes. Now that he’s no longer receiving the injections from Dr. Amakka, the organism load in his body is down to zero and he’s healing on his own. His body is re-myelinating the damage and he should have no lasting injuries, physical or mental.”
“And Dr. Jayya? Was she part of the plot, too?”
“No.” He frowns. “She’s as loyal as anyone in the inner circle. She was helpful.”
“Well, that’s what you thought about Allik,” I counter, raising an eyebrow.
His mouth twists and his eyes flash; to me, it looks like pain and guilt. “Everyone was forced to retake their psy test and vital monitors, and we found that only Allik and Dr. Amakka were involved. I knew Allik for years, trusted him. I can’t believe…” He breaks off. “It’s not easy. And I feel guilty for what happened to you. I entrusted your care to him. It’s my fault you were harmed.” He looks away.