Chapter 76 - Toria
The land barge pulled into the border town shortly before one in the morning, pulling to a stop in front of the government house that Major Steele called home. Simon, having been unable to sleep, was sitting on a chair outside watching for them. Rav Suvorov stood up and smiled at seeing him.
"Welcome to the border," Simon told him, "Where is everyone?"
"Medo and Miranda were asleep a bit ago," Suvorov told him, "Come on up."
Simon jumped on to the barge, chuckling at the sheer size of it. Suvorov walked over to where Medo and Miranda had fallen asleep looking at the stars. Simon chuckled when he saw them, but was not particularly thrilled to see how much older Medoferro looked after scarcely a week apart.
"Has it been that bad this week, Rav?" Simon asked him, "He looks like hell."
"He looks better now than he did earlier today," Suvorov shrugged, "I think she’s helping."
"She usually does with him," Simon said, "Should we wake them?"
"Probably," Rav nodded, "We need to get Massimaferro taken care of, and we’ll need Medo nearby incase he goes out of control again."
"Again?" Simon said, "Jeeze."
"Simon?" Medo said, waking up a little, "I guess we made it, eh?"
"Welcome to the border, buddy," Simon chuckled and offered a hand, "You look like hell."
"It’s been a bad week," Medoferro mumbled and nudged Miranda before taking the hand, "We’re here, Miranda."
Miranda woke up with a frown, and looked up as Simon helped Medoferro stand up. She hoisted herself up and looked around, the frown turning around a little as she recognized the familiar landscape.
"How goes it, Miranda?" Simon asked her, "You’re looking better than our friend here."
"Keep up with the flattery," Miranda chuckled, "You do it well."
"Is her sister ready?" Medo asked Simon, "We need to get Massy to a stable location."
"Toria said she was preparing," Simon said, "I haven’t checked on her though."
"She’ll be ready," Miranda said, "Toria usually is."
"How hard is he to move?" Simon asked them.
"Not too bad if he’s sedated," Suvorov said, "Last time he wasn’t though he attacked Miranda."
"He was delusional," Miranda said, "I don’t hold it against him."
"Let’s go wake Coblein," Medo said, "Miranda? Can you go let your sister know we’re here?"
"Be careful, Medo," Miranda said, "Let the guards restrain him if needed. You’re too frazzled."
"You had to use power to restrain him?" Simon asked Medo.
"Yeah," Medo nodded, "Too strong otherwise."
"I can do it if need be," Simon told Miranda, "And I doubt I’ve used it anywhere near as much as Medo has."
"Good," Miranda said, "See you guys in a few minutes."
Miranda jogged down the hill, leaving the logistics to the men on the land barge. She knew this hill well and smiled as she saw her sister’s house. She went over and knocked on the door in her usual fashion, and then let herself in. Toria was in her comfortable chair napping when Miranda came in, and she cracked a smile and stood up when she noticed Miranda’s presence.
"Welcome home, kid," Toria said with a smile, pulling herself up, "Sounds like you’ve had an interesting week."
"It isn’t over yet," Miranda told her sister, "How’s it been around here?"
"About the same," Toria chuckled, "Nothing ever changes here, you know that."
Miranda grinned and went over to hug her sister. She and Toria embraced and Miranda felt at home again. Miranda looked around saw that little had changed. The front patient rooms were as clean as ever, ready to take a patient at moment’s notice. It was something Miranda was used to seeing, as she’d worked in this building during her free time since she was old enough to walk.
"You’ve seen him," Toria said, "What do you think?"
"I don’t know," Miranda said, "It isn’t good. His mind has slipped into total dementia."
"Are they expecting me to cure him?" Toria asked her, "If they are…"
"They don’t know what to expect to be honest," Miranda told her sister, "Medo is doing more than anyone should expect from him this soon and he’s wearing himself to the bone. Massimaferro is a shell and Insegniferro is stuck in Mullinix Centre dealing with the mess down in Cirrus."
"And you’re sounding like a politician," Toria chided her sister, "How did you get roped into this anyway?"
"Long story sis," Miranda grinned, "I’ll tell you the whole of it later, but for now let’s suffice it to say that I’m here."
"It takes the cake," Toria told her, "But at least it is for a good purpose. They on their way down?"
"They were getting Massimaferro out of the barge," Miranda nodded, "Putting him in the private room, right?"
"The secure one," Toria said, "Just in case we have to lock him down."
"That works," Miranda said, "How are mom and dad doing?"
"Reveling in their new found freedom," Toria chuckled, "They’re hoping you’ll decide to just room with me and be done with it."
"Sounds like a plan," Miranda said, "I’m top in the class, and Insegniferro has instructed them to pass me without the finals and accept me. Payback for doing this for him."
"Must be nice," Toria chuckled, "A little Mullinix notice never hurt anyone."
The sisters were about to continue catching up when everyone else showed up. Rav Suvorov and another one of the larger guards were carrying Massimaferro in. Ari Coblein was following closely, watching his charge attentively. Medoferro walked behind them, keeping his eye on Massimaferro.
"You must be Toria," Medoferro said, approaching, "I’m Medoferro. Sleeping Beauty there is Massimaferro. I hate to be blunt, but where can we drop him?"
"This way," Toria chuckled, "Let’s get him in bed and we’ll work on the introductions after that."
They brought him to the secure room, one that was designed in the house for cases where the patient needed to be restrained and kept from leaving. It hadn’t been used for a long while for this purpose. Toria and Miranda restrained the Mullinix down, to make sure that he couldn’t hurt anyone.
"Ok," Toria said, "What is he on?"
"I put him out with Chloroform," Coblein told her, "No choice really. I couldn’t keep him still enough to administer an injection."
"What are the symptoms?" Toria asked Coblein, "And when did it start?"
After about ten minutes of explanations and record sharing Toria was nearly as stumped as everyone else was. They looked at the sleeping Mullinix and tried to debate what was going on.
"I think we need to talk this over with some tea," Toria said, "Come on into the living room."
"Someone needs to stay with him," Coblein said, "Do you have an assistant?"
"The guards will do," Toria said, "We’ll be twenty-five feet away if they need us."
"I’ll stay with him," Coblein said, "That’s my job."
"You can’t do anything right now," Medoferro said, "My suspicion is that you’ll do more good giving Toria information about what’s going on with him."
"I see why they made you a Mullinix," Toria said, "You’ve got a good head on you."
"Do you want me to go get Roland and Major Steele?" Simon asked Medo, "They probably should be in on this as well."
"Major Steele?" Medoferro said and then groaned, "Travis Steele?"
"He’s been the local adjutant of the Skolnik command," Toria nodded, "Know him?"
"You are related to him, aren’t you?" Simon said, "I knew it when I heard the last name."
"I missed something," Toria said, "You’re related to Travis?"
"He’s my uncle," Medoferro told her, "My name before I was drafted into this insanity was Copeland Steele."
"Ok," Toria nodded, "But why the groan?"
"Because he and I get along like fire and water," Medoferro said, "Dates back to problems he had with my dad. Having him
here is going to make things, um… fun?"
"At least you outrank him," Simon said, "We’ve been having to push him. The government house is a wreck too."
"Without his wife there I’m not surprised," Toria chuckled, "Cordelia took up with a musician and left town two years ago."
"I’m amazed she put up with him as long as she did," Medo said sourly, "Roland up there too?"
"Yeah," Simon nodded, "He’s sleeping."
"Let him sleep for a while," Medo said, "Nothing we need him for yet."
"Speaking of sleep," Toria said to Medoferro as they walked into the kitchen, "When’s the last time you got any?"
"I slept for three hours on the way up here," Medoferro said, "And your sister forced me to go to sleep last night."
"Good for you," Toria told her sister, "Because you look like hell, young man."
"I swear," Medo said, letting his annoyance out, "The next person who tells me I look like hell is going to get a fireball up their ass… I know I look ragged. Nothing I can do about it."
"Fireball?" Toria said, looking at Medo, "You a power user?"
"Yeah," Medoferro nodded, "And if you could keep that to yourself I’d be appreciative."
"That’s how he kept Massimaferro from attacking me this afternoon," Miranda said, "He put up a force field."
"No problem here," Toria said, "I see power users fairly regularly. The guy up in Hulkensuxor refuses to treat problems arising from it, so they always migrate down here."
"How often do you see it?" Medoferro wondered, "I’d never even heard of it until the old man showed me how to tap the potential."
"It’s not common," Toria said, "Most of them can only use it to read people a little or to start little fires. You can actually restrain someone with it?"
"Or augment their abilities," Stacy said, "Like he did a few days ago with me when we were attacked."
"Did you do that to Massimaferro?" Toria asked Medo, "During some of those publicized appearances?"
"Yes," Medo nodded, "During session when he was there and during that speech a day or so ago. That last one damn near knocked me out."
"You had to have had a mind force," Toria said, "You don’t learn that type of control on your own in a matter of months."
"The old man wore us out," Simon told her, "Then did something to push it in to our minds."
"You too?" Toria said, "I’d only heard of it, didn’t know of anyone who could do it."
"The old man has been around a while," Medo said, "Taliaferro evidently had the ability too."
"That explains why you look like hell," Toria said, "Miranda, can you fix the tea while I look at your friend here?"
"Sure," Miranda nodded, "I’d forgotten that you knew that sort of thing."
"It’s not too common," Toria said, "Sit down in the chair here, Medo."
"What about Massimaferro?" Coblein asked, "Shouldn’t we be working on him?"
"He’s lasted this long," Toria told Coblein, starting to feel a dislike for the other medico, "I can help Medoferro quickly, most likely."
"I’m all for that," Medoferro said, "How can you help?"
"What did that old man teach you about reaction sickness?" Toria asked him, "Anything at all?"
"Basically told me not to overdo it," Medoferro said, "Advice I haven’t been following very well, I’m sorry to say."
"Let me guess," Toria sighed, putting her hand on his head, "Flashing pains right in here. Right?"
"Sounds about right," Medo said, "You’ve treated this before?"
"Last time was a boy who had the ability that used it uncontrolled on a bear," Toria said, "Poor child nearly went into a reaction coma."
"You mean there’s a way to treat that headache?" Simon asked, "I’m all for that… I still have a bit of headache from the last time."
"Give me a minute," Toria said, "I’ve got something for it."
Toria pulled some things out of the cabinet and made a concoction that didn’t look in the least appetizing. Even Ari Coblein was holding his nose up at it as she made it. It smelled worse than anything any of them were used to, even Miranda who had grown up with Toria’s potion making.
"What is that, sis?" Miranda asked as she served tea, "That smells terrible."
"Manipulating the power fields burns up some minerals in the body," Toria told them, "That’s what causes reaction headaches. This brew smells terrible, but it forces the ones you’re missing back into your body."
"If this works…" Medo said, "Well…"
"If this works you get some sleep," Miranda said, chuckling, "You could use it."
"I think all of you could use some," Toria said, "I’m going to do some reading and further checking out of Mullinix Massimaferro. We won’t be able to get a specialist out here until tomorrow anyway, so I might as well take a crack at it."
"You’re not going to find anything," Coblein said, "I’ve run every check I can think of."
"How long have you been a Medico, Ari?" Toria asked him, still feeling a dislike for him.
"Eleven years," Coblein said, "A bit longer than you, I’m sure."
"You’re wrong," Toria said, "I’ve been a Medico officially since I was twenty, nearly twelve years now. I was unofficially one here for a good five years before that. You name it, I’ve seen it. I think I can make a diagnosis on my own."
"And she’s your sister?" Simon asked Miranda.
"I was a late life surprise," Miranda chuckled, "Toria was well on her way to becoming a medico when I was born."
"I should be there," Coblein said, "I am the Medico on record."
"You’ve been working too much," Suvorov said, "Let Toria take the night shift."
"I…" Coblein said.
"I think we all need a break," Medo said, "Toria can take the shift with him tonight. I’m going to try her potion and get some sleep. Simon, is Travis’s house even habitable?"
"It took Roland and I an hour to clean out one room," Simon said.
"You’re welcome to one of the beds here," Toria said, "Once you drink this stuff you’ll probably want to get some sleep anyway."
"Are mom and dad expecting me soon?" Miranda asked her sister.
"They are up in Hulkensuxor," Toria said, "Enjoying their newfound freedom. They don’t even know you’re back."
"Probably best for now," Miranda said, "I’ll stay here too."
"We’ll make this our base for now," Medo said, "It’s late and we could all use some sleep."
"I object," Coblein said, "He is my patient and should be…"
"Should be what?" Medoferro asked, "In a real hospital? I think this more than qualifies. Now do you wish to be further insulting to our host?"
"I think I shall retire to my room if you feel there is no further need of me," Coblein said, "Which way is that, madam?"
"You can have the enclosed one on the right," Toria said, "It should do for you."
"Thank you," Coblein said and departed.
"What the hell?" Stacy said, "What is up with him?"
"I don’t know," Toria said, "It’s late though. If someone will stay awake for the guard duty."
"I slept most of the way here," Stacy said, "Since Rav has been up since dawn or earlier, let him get some sleep."
"I’m all for that," Suvorov said, stifling a yawn, "Just give me one of those hospital beds outside the room in case you need me."
"Take what you like," Toria said, "See you all in the morning."
"Good luck," Medo said, "Should I lie down before drinking this?"
"Might not be a bad idea," Toria told him, "I have a feeling you’ll be out like a light."
Medoferro nodded and took a seat on a bed in the other room, drinking down the foul smelling liquid. Miranda watched as he managed to choke it down and then fell asleep almost where he sat. Stacy picked up the flask and Suvorov lifted Medo’s feet up on the bed.
"Is it supposed to work that fast?" Miranda asked her sister.
"It is when you mix in some sleep aid," Toria smiled, "He’ll sleep a good ten or twelve hours at least. Looks like he needed it."
"You’re sneaky," Simon chuckled, "I like that."
"Ok," Suvorov said, "I’m going to hit the sack too."
"Go ahead guys," Toria said, "I napped a little bit ago, so I’m going to go check on Massimaferro."
"Night sis," Miranda told her, "I’m going to hit the hay for a while too. Sleeping on the barge doesn’t exactly equal rest."
"Come see me in the morning," Toria told her, "I’m probably going to want your help."
"You got it," Miranda said, leaving on her own.
"Need me for anything?" Stacy asked Toria.
"Stay close by," Toria said, "This is going to be a long night and I want someone here if he wakes up."
"You got it," Stacy said, "I’ve got a book. I’ll sit in the room with you and let you work."
"Works for me," Toria nodded and turned to the others, "Grab any bed you like guys. I’ll see you in the morning."
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 79