Dana Cartwright Mission 1: Stiletto (8 page)

Kieran’s eyelids were still heavy, but he easily answered some basic questions, showing full cognitive function. “My feet tingle and my toes…” He happily wiggled them. Eager to test other muscles, he tried to move his left leg and cried in anguish. “Pain…all down my left leg, and my right leg, too.”

Then the twitching began; both legs quaked. Dana grabbed the DIA-dermal injector and administered a muscle relaxer that made the twitching stop. She looked crestfallen as she covered his lower torso with a blanket, but he simply smiled. “I can feel my legs.”

She nodded. “You’re going to need physical therapy. Maybe we can go back in after the inflammation subsides.”

Kieran looked to Doctor Garcia. “I can feel…”

It quickly become apparent he couldn’t control bodily functions.

Garcia urged, “I think you need to spend another night in the coffin. We’ll reassess in the morning.”

Kieran pleaded, “No, please…”

Though Dana and Garcia were beyond exhaustion, she offered to stay. And she even did the duty of changing the diaper.

Garcia sighed. “I guess residents are used to long days.”

She didn’t offer a retort that ship’s surgeons went soft. It was a standing joke among the interns.

Once Garcia left, Dana saw to it that Kieran was comfortable. Then she pushed a second unit next to his and stretched out, close enough that their hands touched. He gave hers a gentle squeeze.
 

“Sleep,” she urged.

Though his eyes were closed and he was physically without pain, unmoving, his heart ached. She sensed it through the mind link.
 

Dana?
 

Yes…

There are no words to thank you for what you’ve done.

You need to rest.

He was silent for a time, but then telepathically sent a very emotionally charged,
I love you.

She whispered aloud, “Rest. Doctor’s orders.”

“Why does DOC hate Alphans?”

“I don’t know; but don’t ever ask. He’ll lecture you for hours about Republic politics. I hate politics.”

“I bet you’d enjoy my parents’ lectures on interracial…” He paused before admitting, “One of my brothers was disowned for marrying a Shonedren. I never understood why. We were all rebels. You’d think father would…” He chuckled and changed the subject. “Let’s go flying?”

He sent her the thought of being on the highest ledge above the canyon, both of them strapped to the kite glider, and then they were soaring, together.

Hours passed. Kieran snored. Dana stayed awake, wondering what those three little words, “I love you,” meant to both their futures.

No one had ever said them to her before, not even in jest. Certainly not DOC Cartwright, though he provided an amazing life for her and a very large trust fund that paid for medical school and beyond. She wondered why.

Why did he become her guardian? Who were her parents? Did she have siblings? She wondered, also, why her birth records were sealed. Why?

Kieran asked quietly, “Why?” echoing her thoughts.
 

She squeezed his hand a little tighter. “Nothing… Are you feeling pain?”

He nodded his head. “I don’t want any more drugs.”

“Planning to tough it out?” She sighed. He clearly didn’t realize the consequences. “Some medications cause tremors. We can find one that…”

“No drugs.”

She got up to check the diagnostic scan on his back. “Let me at least give you an anti-inflammatory.”

He consented to that. “Can I turn over?”

She helped him, tucking the thin blanket about his lower body. While he played with the controls to sit up, she went over the drug options compatible with Alphan physiology.

“I almost feel human,” he chuckled. “My Academy buddies always said that after they shaved.” He unconsciously stroked his minuscule beard and then his closely cropped head. “What happened to my wig and beard?”

“During decon, the androids removed it.”

Kieran grinned. “Pretty good disguise, don’t you think?”

Dana shrugged.

“Cray thought so.”

“The assassin did, too.”

That thought slammed Kieran hard. “Yes, it did.” He stiffened, “I wonder who is handling the investigation.”

“Regis,” Dana announced, as she administered the anti-inflammatory drug via a DIA-dermal injector.

“He’s an ass.”

“I concur.”

Kieran scowled and caught her hand. “Has he questioned you?”

“I was first responder so, yes, of course. He had many questions about the shuttle arrival and who was on the scene.”

Kieran pulled her closer, looking up into her eyes. “Who was on the scene? What did you tell him?”

“I don’t remember everything. I’m too exhausted.”

“Close your eyes.” Kieran massaged the back of her neck with his fingertips, under her hair braid. He closed his eyes, too. “You are exhausted.” He could barely establish a mental link. He caressed and cajoled, finally getting a clear image — through her eyes — a replay of the events at the Observatory that night. He also knew her innermost thoughts and was somewhat taken aback by the emotions — and the notion she should never have become a doctor.

Startled and somewhat ashamed, she pulled away. There were thoughts intermixed she would not have shared, but he so easily had culled them.

He patted her arm. “I will never tell a soul.”

“That’s not the point.” She drifted away. “Is that what it is like to be mated?”

Kieran smiled. “Actually, I’m not sure, since I’ve never… I think it’s far deeper; and it’s permanent.”

She changed the subject. “Would you like something to eat or drink? You’re not hooked up to the C-FIIN. Need to stay hydrated.”

He asked for juice and wondered, “Coconut? Is there coconut?”

“Coconut milk,” she responded.

“I can still taste it from your hair,” he chuckled.

She went to a digitizer and requested coconut milk for him and coffee, black, for herself.

He muttered, “Fascinating,” after the first sip.

“Needs rum,” Dana teased, and he laughed.

“The last two days have been a nightmare,” he admitted, watching her for a time. “Dana? You need to sleep. Why don’t you TP home? I’ll be fine.”

“I can’t, Kieran. That would be medical malpractice.” She lowered the table near his and moved it so she could watch the diagnostic readings above his head.

“I love you,” he repeated.

“You say that so easily.” She sipped her coffee.

“Because it’s true.”

“You hardly know me. And I hardly know you.”

“That’s why I gave you my favorite memories. Flying… Puff…” His eyelids closed. “You doubt me.”

“I don’t know what to believe. How can you love someone after just two days?”

He chuckled. “I’m the ‘man of your dreams.’ Oh, Dana, I have the same dreams!”

“You dream of men?” Her blue eye squinted at him.

“No, silly!” He had a good laugh, opened his eyes, and smiled across at her. “For a long time, my soul has ached for a life companion. Unlike Galaxeans, who repeat their mating ritual every year, Alphans long for a lifetime mate. I’m thirty-three, with a demanding career, but in the wee hours before dawn, my soul aches.”

He stared and telepathically sent,
It aches for you.

She felt the longing but was afraid. “I’m not Alphan.”

“You are so beautiful.”

He struggled to move, winced from the pain, breathed through it, and then settled back down on the bed in a prone position, still holding the cup. “Does coconut milk make you sleepy?”

“It can.”

After a time, he closed his eyes again and sighed. “I’m not a good patient, am I?”

“It’s never easy being incapacitated,” she reminded.

“Have you ever been in a coffin?”

“No, never.”

“Had a broken bone? Or a…”

“No.”

He seemed surprised but then realized, “Your guardian protected you.”

“He tries.”

“I was a daredevil. Still am, but you know that already.” He chuckled. “I like coconut milk. What’s a coconut?”

“I’ll bring you one,” she teased. “They have hard shells.”

“I have a hard head,” he snickered. “Oh… I have another memory I must give you,” but he fell asleep without telling her.

She ordered the lights dimmed and collected the cup from his hand, taking hers also to the recycling chute. She retrieved her padlet from the medical kit she’d brought up from the surface and on a lark downloaded a short movie on kites and hang-glider flying. The memory Kieran had given her far surpassed the video. He certainly was a daredevil and a rebel.

“And I’m not,” she thought. The most daring thing she’d ever done was crawling under that wreckage to save Kieran’s life.

Was it synchronicity? Was it meant to happen? What happens next?

She watched Kieran sleep, fretting at the occasional twitches and tremors in both his legs. Then she downloaded three more texts on neurological traumas. That took her through till Doctor Garcia returned in the morning.

“All quiet?” he asked.

“He’s refused all pain meds. I administered an anti-inflammatory.”

Garcia nodded, and went to look at the diagnostic panel. He quietly offered, “Well, you need some rest. I’ll take it from here. You’re a tremendously talented surgeon. Have you considered a Star Service career?”

“No,” Dana answered flatly.
 

“Aboard a ship like
Navitor
, you’d be a valuable officer.” He offered his hand and she clasped it firmly. “I do hope we can confer again.”

She smiled. “If his…”

He nodded, “I’ll keep you apprised of his progress. And, I will see that the coffin is returned to MCE.”

“Thank you.”

She gave Kieran a last pat upon his bare shoulder, smiled, and then went to collect her gear and change into her uniform.

She slipped out and started down the maze of corridors, unable to recall exactly the way to the MAT pod room. She tried a few, but ended up feeling a lot like Kieran’s little pet rat, Puff, trapped in a labyrinth.
 

And then she happened upon an officers’ lounge, and drifted to the viewport. Her jaw dropped open. The view was breathtaking; not just of the full moon, but of the Earth and Sol and even Venus and Mars.
 

Someone came up behind her. “Great view, don’t you agree?”

Dana nodded but continued staring out at the galaxy, all the while thinking,
This is where I belong.

The Lieutenant at her elbow stared, too. “I never get used to it,” he whispered.

Finally, Dana sighed. “I guess I need some assistance finding a MAT pod room.”

“I’d be happy to guide you. Lt. Schaffer,” he volunteered, though he didn’t extend his hand the way humans often do.

“Doctor Cartwright,” Dana returned.
 

He was young — well, younger than she -- and quite handsome, with a dark complexion and dark, mysterious eyes. She guessed, however, he wasn’t Earth-born. He wore the insignia of engineering and a curious additional pip on his collar.

“What does that insignia mean?” She indicated the pip.
 

“I am an Exchange Officer from the GCE,” Schaffer offered.

Dana blinked. “You’re Enturian?”

“Yes, Doctor.” He seemed puzzled by the question.

“So am I,” she admitted.

They paused in the corridor and took a long look at each other.

“I thought perhaps you were. I’m from Luandra, Anestia Province,” Schaffer said.
 

Dana deliberated how much to reveal. “My records are sealed, so I don’t know exactly where I…”

“Oh, that happens a lot,” Schaffer commented. “You can always petition the Master Captain for the details.”

“Is it that simple?”

“Begging your pardon…No, it’s not exactly a simple matter; however, it is the only way to get your genetic center records.”
 

Dana sighed.
 

“You’re not an Exchange Officer?”

She shook her head. “No, I was raised here, on Earth.”

“Oh… You’re one of the physicians Doctor Garcia said was coming up from the surface to assist on a surgery.” Schaffer nodded.
 

“Yes, but I got lost after leaving sickbay.
Navitor
is such a big ship,” Dana remarked as they started off again down the corridor.

“Indeed,
Navitor
is the largest in the service.”
 

“The corridors seem so empty.”

“Oh, many are on shore leave. Big conference down below.” Schaffer boasted, “Our Captain is participating in the Meeting of the Masters.”
 

Dana had never heard of it.
 

“The opening ceremony is today.” Schaffer indicated the entrance to the MAT station. “I hope to attend the closing ceremony later this week.”

Dana thanked the lieutenant for his assistance and stepped inside, heading for one of the six pads. The young ensign there remembered her and offered a smile.

“Where can I set you down, Doctor?”

“A public station at Capitol City Mall will do.”

“Sorry, Ma’am… Those stations are on overload because of the Meeting of the Masters. And SSID has nearly all the immediately surrounding stations on security hold, because of all the dignitaries.”

Dana frowned. “Then try the Observatory. I can use MCE’s controller to get home from there.”

That one, hopefully, wouldn’t be crowded since it was so far off the main grid of the Capitol City network.

Dana materialized near the main lobby entrance. It was her first visit back to the Observatory since the crash. The site looked spotless. Rocky and his crew did great work. Cleaning up took a massive amount of work and training.

Except for two security tubs, no one was around. The rolling kegs immediately accosted her. “Source and ID required.”

She scowled and submitted to the retina scan and showed her ID from MCE.

It finally announced, “Cleared,” without so much as, ‘have a nice day.’

She groaned and took a few steps toward the landing zone, seeing a few remnant scorch marks on the deck. You would never know that a Blade Class shuttle had crashed there just a few days before.