Winter Dread, page 12
When the others with Herin climbed in with me, I could see clearly then were nurses. I was asked to lie down and rest more. Reluctantly I did so, while the doctor hooked me up to monitors.
He sat beside me, rested a hand on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” I said.
“Your levels are all over the place. If you weren’t who you are, and that had targeted one of the others . . .”
I held his eyes with mine. “I would hunt them down.” The nurse to my right gasped, and I met her eyes with mine. “Anyone hurts one of mine will not get away with it. They come for me, fair game. But if they even think they can get away with hurting them. They’ll find out the hard way.”
She nodded at me, lowered her hand. “You are a brave man.”
“What makes you say that?” I held her attention while Dr Herin fidgeted with his testing.
“There are some people here who really don’t like you,” she said, her hands shaking.
Dr Herin shot her a glare. “Trin, you shouldn’t say things like that.”
“It’s the truth,” she said. “He has a right to know.”
“You really think they’ll hurt me?” I asked. Focussing on her made me feel a little better, even if my fluctuations were still ongoing.
“They’re going to try and kill you,” she said. “I’m sure.”
It was the fact she didn’t hesitate, and Dr Herin didn’t deny it either. I pushed myself up on the bed to get a better look at her. “You’re sure of that. Who are you?”
“Trin is my best nurse.” Herin changed positions as if I was going to do something.
“Doc,” I said. “I’m in no position to hurt anyone.”
He settled back slightly. “Trin did the one thing she shouldn’t.”
“Hey!” Trin shot him.
He rolled his eyes at her. “She got involved with a team member, specifically the one Edward is on, and the guy she’s dating was bumped.”
Okay, that was rough. “So you know because he does?”
She frowned and pulled out a vial of fluid. I was suddenly a little apprehensive to what was in that vial, but she opened it and drank. “I wouldn’t give you anything I wouldn’t take myself. This is just energy, that’s all. Sugar for your system.” She held it out to me.
I reached out and took it from her.
“She really wouldn’t hurt you, it’s not in her nature at all. Trin’s a species born for peace.” Dr Herin said.
I drank the liquid and was glad to feel Xe’s sigh on the inside. They were much needed, thank you.
When I went to put the vial down though, my fingers constricted, and the vial smashed. “Fuck,” I said.
“The fluctuations . . . I’ve not seen like this before.” The doctor looked to the front of the transport. “We need to get him to the hangar, quicker.”
“I’ll take over manually,” Trin said. She moved to the front of the shuttle and I watched her take over. “This might get bumpy.”
I couldn’t help but be jostled about, trying my best to not let the fluctuations worry me, but the internal chaos that was my conscience just couldn’t help it. If this carried on, I wouldn’t be able to do the one thing I needed to. “Doc, we can fix this, right?”
He looked from the readings to me. “I’m not sure, Kyle. I hope so.”
We pulled up to the hangar, and the doors opened this time on a much larger scale, letting the shuttle right in. The nurses sat behind me opened up the back, and then just like they might have done on Earth, they pulled me out on the bed, directing me right to a station that was just off to the left.
“This is my specific side to the lab,” he said. We’ve come in a different way than you did a few days ago.”
“This place is amazing.” I looked around to all the different bits of equipment, and even to the pods.
“We’re up to date.” He beamed. “Ahead of most. But we do have the best minds in all the galaxies.”
Trin moved back to my side too. “He means me,” she smiled.
I laughed at that. “Modest as well. I like that.”
“I do a lot of the technical side around here, mostly because the tech teams just don’t like being around sick people as well as the equipment. I learned how to do both. Because if something is going to go wrong—”
“It will be while your patient is in the worst of conditions and dying.”
“Yeah, that’s right.” She indicated the treadmill.
“You really want me on to get on that, as in walk?”
“We’ll start you off walking, yes, then increase the speed and incline,” Dr Herin said. “It’s the best way that we can monitor both sides of your body and soul. By pushing them both at the same time.”
I eased to the edge of the bed and stood up. “What if I throw up?”
“Then I get to clean it.” Trin fake gagged.
Feeling at least strong enough to do something, I tested my step forwards and managed it, climbing onto the treadmill. He waited while I caught my breath some more. Then I allowed him to set the pace as the two of them started discussing me in more detail and the kenosi on the level we were seeing. It was interesting.
“Watch,” Trin said. “You can clearly see the fluctuations take about a minute to build up. So it’s a number of breaths, then he’s in flux.”
“Yeah, that looked weird. So the more stress I’m under, the harder I’m going to spasm?”
“It looks that way, it’s going to be much easier on you and your body the slower and lower your breathing and metabolism work.”
I can help with that, Asht said. I can reduce the reactions of our body as much as possible as long as we’re not running on a treadmill, of course.
Xe piped up as well then. I can do the same. The nites can help to keep some of that fluctuation to the min. We can gather and dispel the energy through our waste. It seems to help.
“The nites think they can help get rid of the bad energy, and my denti said he can also help slow my body down as well,” I told them.
“That would be interesting to see. Think we can give it a go now while you’re still in such flux.”
Okay, let’s try. I turned inside and said to the both of them, While on the treadmill, minimum effort, but let’s see how it goes.
The walking and trying to not fall over was tough. But I could see Xe doing things on the inside and I could feel so was Asht. The two of them were really pulling themselves together for me.
The time from one fluctuation to the next was getting longer and longer the more they concentrated and we’re doing. That brought me hope I would be able to manage this, at least till we found a better way to combat it.
“It’s working. If we can stabilise you like this, unless under extreme stress . . .” Herin ramped up the treadmill, and the fluctuations picked up speed again. “Yes, if we keep the stress down, then we should be able to hold back anyone else knowing how sick you are.”
“You think this is a sickness? Not poison or done on purpose?”
“Oh, it is on purpose, the system says, so I’m sure. Just not sure how we can prove where it’s come from or how we can get around it for now.”
“I can’t join the merge, can I?”
“The mechs aren’t going to accept you like this, no. They can detect anything that’s physically wrong.”
“Fuck,” I said. “And we can’t track who has done this at all?”
Herin looked at me, his face softened slightly. “The news has passed up the chain of command. There are consequences for what they’ve done. They just need to find them, then they’ll deal with it. While they’re doing that, I’ve got to get you back on the field.”
“They didn’t mess around,” I said. “If they’re on this base, and there’s a chance . . . I honestly don’t want them on my team.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Trin agreed with me. “They’re more than dangerous.”
“Dangerous, yes, but also stupid.”
“Why is that?” she asked.
“Because it didn’t kill me. That’s what they wanted.” Dr Herin carried on watching my results as I added, “Now, they’re going to be worried. Not only did I show them I would take a beating and not let it faze me, but the poison they probably were told would take me out. Didn’t. With my history, what do you think I’d do?”
Dr Herin said simply. “Find out who they are and eliminate them.”
“I can’t quite do that. Though it’s covered up well. I’m not about to start killing off those who the front line need. No, I’ll just make sure they’re re-tasked so that they’re never going to be near me ever again.”
“I can see you doing that. Somehow, though, not without it turning badly.”
That I’d have to deal with as it happened. One step at a time.
“Are we nearly done?” I asked, starting to feel like a hamster on a wheel, just keeping going on round and around.
“Yes, you can step off. For now, I think Asht, and Xe have everything sorted that they can. We can only watch and figure it out as quick as we can on the DNA level.”
“I’ll do what I can while you investigate. Thank you.”
“I suggest you go back to your bunk. Rest up till the teams are finished for the day.”
I could do that, but I wouldn’t be resting. “Thanks,” I said, and glancing at Trin, I moved off the treadmill. “Will the shuttle take me back?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure you get there,” Trin said. “I’ll come with you?”
We walked to the edge of the bay and back to the shuttle. “They’re easy to program, though at least getting you there myself I’ll know you’re safe.”
“I’d like to meet your partner,” I said. “If that’s possible. Do you think he’d mind?”
She sat in the driver’s seat and programmed the computer. It was odd that it did just drive off on its own. But while it did the work, she at least could look at me while she talked. “I think I can get him to meet with you, especially after today. He’s got specialist training in kenosi and poisons, but it wouldn’t be him that’s done anything to you. He might know how they managed to get something so potent here so quick though.”
“That would be really helpful. If he would come and see me, can you get him to do it while the others are still training? I think that would be best. Tomorrow, maybe?”
“I will try.” She ran a hand over her uniform, fingering the hem.
The vehicle stopped, and I opened the door to get out, sliding gently onto the ground, feeling a fluctuation on its way. “I’m heading in. Thank you.”
“I’ll drop by now and then see how you’re doing. If that’s okay?”
“Of course.” And I left her, making a bit of a run for it inside where I felt I would be safe.
I went for my bunk and collapsed in the hallway instead, feeling the fluctuation taking me in waves. I banged my head against the wall as it took me, then passed.
Sorry, Xe said. I tried my best to hold it off while you were travelling. It seems I can, but it makes it worse.
It’s not your fault. My leg twitched beneath me, and I let it flop about on the floor, not really wanting to even attempt to stop it.
When the waves subsided, I managed to get to my knees and instead of going to the bed, I moved to the classroom. I poured a drink and made it to the front desk to do what I did best.
Asht, I’m going to go deep. I can handle it. Can you watch my back and get a message to the others if anything goes wrong?
I will do that. What are you going to do?
I’m going to try to work out what they hell they hit me with if possible. I know Herin is working on it. I think my traits might be good to work on as well.
Sounds good. I’ll help look after you.
As will I, Xe chimed in.
Thank you.
I settled back and focussed on the feelings around me, the fact the fluctuations were there. You don’t need to try to suppress them at the moment; I want to feel every wave of it.
I then focussed in as they did come.
I watched each and every one for a few hours. The day passed, and I heard a voice before me.
“You are coming back to us?” It was Dylan.
I opened my eyes and looked directly into his. He was kneeling across the table from me, and I seemed to have my head lying on it.
“Yeah, sorry.” I pushed up slightly and noticed only a few in the room.
“They went for dinner. Tyto and I stayed. Asked the others to bring food back for us all.”
“Sorry.” I reached for the glass then realised how warm it was. I still drank it.
“What did the doc say?” Tyto pulled up a chair next to me.
“Someone set poison. Which, if it had gotten to any of you . . . I’d be hunting them to kill them.”
“That bad?”
“The doc said you wouldn’t have survived.”
“You did. That’s amazing, you got something we don’t?”
“An unreserved amount of kenosi that you can’t draw, and I can. So yeah, I’ve seen some huge differences in what you’re made up from and I am.
“I think I can show you two. You’re my closest two.”
Dylan blushed. “Closer than Hiroto?”
“Well, maybe not, he’s a little closer than you both.” I laughed. “But you know in a friend way.”
Dylan raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re sure?”
I actually thought he was being serious at first and choked. Then he started laughing with me.
“I’m kidding. I’m glad you trust all of us. Let’s see what you got.”
13
Hiroto and Vitya both came in a little while later, each carrying bags filled with food. “We just brought everything we could get on today’s allowed funds for us five.”
“Wow, enough to feed an army?” I laughed as they settled it all down on a couple of other tables.
“We didn’t know what you’d want, so brought it for everyone, really. I’m sure they’ll come in later and help finish it off.”
I stood and made my way to the tables, picking a plate up and heaping on food. When I turned, they were all looking at me.
“What?”
“Your appetite always amazes me.”
I looked down and patted my belly. “Feel like I’ve put on more weight than I’d like.”
“You haven’t put on an ounce,” Hiroto said. “Don’t worry.”
Dylan shot him a glare. “What?” Hiroto said. “I can’t help noticing him. I was in his head for a long, long time.”
I laughed and sat down, making sure I had enough room to eat.
Vitya sat near me. His plate had more on than mine, and Tyto sat next to him.
I laughed and pointed at Vitya’s plate. “Yeah, I’m not the one who can eat the most though.”
“I’ve had to keep my strength up,” Vitya said. “Helping make a baby takes lots of resources.”
Tyto choked and immediately started to cough. Vitya patted him roughly on his back.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Things been going well?”
“It’s all artificial but still has to produce.” He motioned his crotch. “Well, you know.”
Hiroto and Dylan grinned at each other, and Vitya pulled Tyto in for a kiss. “I did not mean to hurt you.”
“No,” he said. “Just shocked you said that out loud before these two.”
“They are like brothers,” Vitya said. “Family.”
Yes, they were; he was right. While I ate and spoke to them, I pondered where I’d come from. The very first moment I spawned on Tolsa, when I was so weak. To the first friends I’d really made, Tyto and Dylan. We’d grown together, uncovered secrets, and bonded over fighting and the pain of losing friends. Everything we had had become with Jai and Artemis, the M-Wolves and the Razor. Through to meeting Vitya and bringing in the whole of Drudel and the Christanna. I looked to our future, to how strong we were right now, to what we would fight on the front line. Strong we were, but against those things, the enemy—right now, I still felt weak. We’d still so much to learn, so much we had to do to grow. Looking to each and everyone around me, I didn’t feel it was impossible. It would just take time.
And time was what we didn’t really have. I felt the wave of a spasm working its way up. Am I safe to be around them?
The doctor wouldn’t have let you come back if you weren’t safe.
Yeah, that made me feel better, but right now, I wasn’t sure. I felt dangerous. Really dangerous.
As the fluctuation started, I saw Tyto glance at me, and then pain spread through me. I tried not to let it out. The moan escaped anyway.
The concern was obvious on all of their faces. Dylan picked up his plate and moved back a bit. They were actually scared. I didn’t like seeing that.
It was Hiroto who moved to my side. “What can we do?”
“I don’t know,” I said and shivered. The kenosi around me was pretty raw, and I could see the others flinch. “It will pass.”
Hiroto nodded. “We’re all here for you. We’ll get it cured, somehow.”
I tried to smile. On the inside, though, I was more than worried.
Asht and Xe were working on all kinds to help; so was the doctor. I had to give them time.
“I need to get some rest,” I said. At least we had good food, and I was okay to move by myself now. My bunk would at least give me some privacy.
I pushed up and left them to their chatting and food. Though I wanted to stay, I felt suddenly wiped.
I opened the privacy bay to the bunk and went inside. The shield flickered the once.
Tyto poked his head through the doorway. “Just making sure.”
“Thanks, I just need some rest.”
Tyto walked away. When I slumped into bed, waves of sickness spread through me, and I turned into a shivering mess. Pulling the blanket up and over my head, I curled up and tried to push through the waves and the pain that came with it.
I had no idea what time the others had left. When I woke and was awake enough to digest things in the team chat from the morning, I knew they’d all gone out to train, leaving Asht with instructions to message the doctor if I wasn’t awake by a certain time.
