Experiment (Hybrid Book 2) (12 page)

The sofas and tables were either turned over, or pushed out of their precise normal positions. An unfamiliar man and a girl of about seven years old stood together, talking softly to Dr Henderson in the corner of the lounge.

“Leave her alone. What the fuck is happening here?”

Dr Henderson immediately displayed her condescending ‘it’s all ok’ smile, before nodding to the couple and ushering them directly out the door.

“You’d better talk fast, or all the ‘reassuring’ smiles in the world won’t stop me doing what I honestly want to at this moment.”

“And what’s that Mr Temple? I can schedule you for some anger management sessions if you’d like?”

“Just get on with your report.” he ground out.

“In consultation with Dr Baum from the Hybrid Project, we attempted an often successful intervention to break down the barrier she’s erected to healing. Often when confronted with an emergency, the patient is pushed to get over whatever it is that’s holding them back. Unfortunately, it didn’t have quite the effect we hoped for.”

“You think?” he asked as he glanced over at Chesara. She had backed herself into a corner and was noticeably shaking, the nurse still hovering nearby.

“We can discuss this later, but right at this moment we need to get her back to medical where we can keep a closer eye on her. Obviously she can’t stay here in this state. I don’t even think she’s recognizing anything or anybody. Sedation would be the easiest option at this time, and the nurse is attempting to deliver her medication.”

Taking in Chesara’s tightly shut eyes, the rocking and the sky high stress levels her implant was showing, he nodded in agreement. He’d deal with whatever arsehole had sanctioned this madness later. His priority had to be calming her down before she damaged herself or someone else. Poor nurse Clara looked extremely uncomfortable with the situation. Due to his time in the med bay, he knew she wasn’t a mental health specialist, and would rather be dealing with serious battle wounds than a patient in the midst of an acute psychotic episode.

“I’ll do it,” he announced, taking a few steps towards the nurse who gratefully relinquished the hypo.

“It’s all right Kittycat, I’m just going to give you something to help you calm down.”

There was no recognition in her eyes, just fear. Delaying further would just stretch out her pain. He reached for her arm and she kicked out at him. He caught her leg, and she screamed in terror, kicking and twisting to get loose. Scared that she’d hurt herself, he pulled her away from the wall and sat astride her hips. She screamed again clawing at his face until he grabbed her wrists in one hand so she couldn’t get to him anymore.

“Chesara, Kittycat, calm down. I’m trying to make you feel better.”

Connor spoke as calmly as he could as he restrained her hoping she’d calm enough that he didn’t need to drug her. But she continues to struggle and scream incoherently. Regretfully he pressed the hypo against her neck, and she relaxed almost immediately, her eyes closing in a matter of seconds.

“Well done Connor. I know how upsetting that must have been for you. Perhaps you’d like to talk about it later?”

Connor picked Chesara up, and cradling her in his arms, he left the VIP section for the med bay. He didn’t even give Dr Henderson a glance, she wasn’t worth it.

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S
eeing Chesara, yet again pale and unresponsive in med bay, this time due to the actions of his own people had him almost at boiling point. He was confident that in this situation Tenset would be bashing heads and making for a shuttle craft, yet here he was, toeing the line and getting ready to have a ‘meeting about the situation.’

He was starting to think the ‘backwoods’ way of dealing with things would be eminently more satisfying. But he wasn’t Tenset, and this was the way he’d always dealt with situation, going through proper procedures. Growing up on board a ship, it was ingrained as much as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

Rank and position in the Human Federation was earned, and he’d always firmly believed that. And until now, he’d always accepted that those of a senior rank knew better than he did, either through experience, better information, or natural talent.

Now he was starting to doubt that faith. Maybe faith was exactly the appropriate word; he’d been blindly following just like the worshipers of those ancient religions Chesara had researched. Maybe it was time to follow Tenset’s philosophy for a while, which seemed to be about doing what felt right, despite what anybody else told you.

An hour after he’d drugged Chesara, he found himself outside the Captain’s conference room where he’d been order to attend, via his com implant, ten minutes ago.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked politely on the door. On hearing ‘enter’ he palmed the door panel and walked in, taking a spare seat at the traditional highly polished wooden table.

Physically present were the Captain, Dr Singer, Dr Henderson plus the virtual presence of the head scientist of the Dakaran Hybrid Project, Dr Samuel Baum. The hard female voice of Connor’s immediate Superior designated ‘Theta 16’ acknowledged his presence along with nods from the other ‘delegates.’

Captain Crowther’s selection of furnishings was unusual for a Federation vessel, but she had a fondness for old fashioned, elegant furniture. As usual, she was dressed immaculately in her regulation Federation red uniform, with her greying blonde hair drawn back from her face.

The nondescript grey form of the Ship’s chief medical officer was intent on a hand held device in front of him.

Dr Baum appeared to be a dishevelled older man, portly with receding grey hair and a fleshy, reddened face. Connor knew him fairly well from his time at the clinic. He wondered absently if the others thought his appearance was due to the hour where he was, although Connor knew that this was his customary attire. He might dress like a slob, but his mind was as sharp as a blade.

Finding that following his training and examining his fellow delegates systematically were somewhat settling, he continued. The calm demeanour of the Captain was in stark contrast to the obviously uncomfortable fidgeting of the councillor, she was either worried about something she’d done, or something she was going to do.

He nodded to her politely, determined to show only a professional exterior to the few individuals who were likely to be deciding Chesara’s future in the next few minutes. Emotional outbursts from him would only get him ejected from the meeting, and possibly from Chesara’s life, a conclusion that sent a chill through him. In this situation, it had to be Connor’s, not Tenset’s way. That would only lead only to the brig, if he didn’t get shipped to the Garians or to get his own memory wiped.

He turned his attention to the Captain as she spoke.

“This meeting is to discuss a course of action in the case of the alien hybrid ‘Chesara’. At the present time, her ability to continue functioning as a healer for the Federation has effectively ceased. Despite various attempts to persuade her into resuming her previous role, the ship’s Councillor and Chief Medical Officer report no success. Any additional thoughts Doctor Singer?

“Hmm?” the doctor looked up from his pad. “Well this is more of a psychiatric issue than a medical one, but I can add that the continuing stress on her body is likely to cause permanent harm if it continues. The body just isn’t built to be on high alert for long periods of time. I’d recommend not repeating the last intervention strategy again, at least not for a significant period of time. Councillor?”

The woman cleared her throat, casting a quick, nervous glance at Connor before speaking.

“It seems that my theory of presenting her with a scenario where she had to use her ability has caused at least a setback in her condition, and at worse, deepened it.”

She addressed Connor primarily with her next comment. “I’m profoundly sorry for that, but as we know time is a priority and the method has been remarkably successful in treating humans with similar conditions.”

“But she’s not human is she?” Connor said in a low controlled voice.

“And there is the crux of the problem people,” said the Captain. “From what I’ve gathered, before the last intervention, she had some idea that she could be part of an exploration team, as a change of career?” As Dr Henderson nodded, there was snort of amusement from Theta 16.

“As if that's ever going to happen,” said the deep female voice from the speaker. “She is too valuable an asset to lose her to playing at being an explorer, besides this is not a choice she is allowed to make. Remember she is not a federation citizen, and her acquisition and training were not easy or inexpensive processes.

“Frankly, at this time and place, the options are either to perform a memory wipe, or send her back to Dr Baum for further study. Perhaps using her in a breeding program will off-set the loss of her ability to the Federation? Doctor Baum your thoughts on both options please.”

Unable to contain himself any longer as Chesara was discussed as dispassionately as a piece of equipment, Connor spoke up, but he tried to keep his voice controlled.

“Neither option is acceptable. Chesara may have once been considered purely as an asset, but those of us that have worked closely with her know that she is a complex sentient being, and deserved consideration on that basis.

“She has served the Federation without complaint for her whole life, producing a great deal of revenue and political advantages. Recently she has been injured in the course of fulfilling those duties.

“And just like any other injured veteran, we at least owe her time and understanding, and if she can’t work anymore she should be released from service like any other serving officer.”

Connor found himself standing and almost bellowing at the assembled high-ranking federation staff.

The scowl on the Captain's face had him slowly returning to his seat, wondering if he’d blown it completely. At least he’d managed to put his point across, without grasping any of them by the throat. Things might have been different if ‘Theta 16’ had been in the room. The urge to remove that dispassionate tone from her voice was quite overwhelming.

He seemed to be the only one in the room thinking of Chesara as a person, and his points needed to be made. Fervently hoping his previous faith in the Human Federation had not been misplaced all these years, he waited to see what would happen.

“Mr Temple, you are here as a courtesy only, we had thought that you would be able to aide us by providing insights into your charge, but at present you are one step away from finding yourself in the brig. You will remain silent until and if, we wish to hear from you again.” The Captain dismissed him from the discussion as she turned to the monitor.

“Now Doctor Baum, what are your thoughts on the feasibility of memory wiping, so she can again perform as required?”

“Well Ma’am, as far as we know no one has ever tried to memory wipe a Dakaran, or a Dakaran-human hybrid, but her brain chemistry and anatomy seems almost identical to ours, so it should be possible, and it would make an interesting and valuable experiment. Of course if it fails, her body will remain unaffected and breeding should still be possible.”

“Are we all agree then?” said Captain Martha Crowther, as she looked around the room.

Connor pushed himself to his feet, his chair falling over backwards

“I must protest this abuse of a sentient being; she was making good progress before, she’ll do it again, we just need to give her a little more time, before removing her memory. As for condemning her to life as a research animal or a brood bitch...”

The voice of his superior, Theta 16 broke through his tirade. “Captain, may I respectfully request that Special Operative Temple be confined until he remembers his place and duties?”

The Captain tapped her ear and two burly guards stepped into the room.

“Escort Mr Temple to the brig immediately.”

The guards saluted and moved to either side of Connor. Knowing he’d be useless to her in the brig he did his best to swallow the outrage he felt. The fire of anger flowing through his veins was ruthlessly shut down, and he managed to nod to the Chief medical officer, the councillor, and to Dr Baum’s image before he spun on his heel and walked out between the guards.

He seriously contemplated punching the guards, snatching Chesara out of medical and taking a shuttle, but even in his fantasy, it didn’t work. Biding his time, being a ‘good boy’ and take his chance when things had relaxed was the only option. It clawed at him that he couldn’t do anything about the memory wipe. She would not only forgot her trauma, but her time with him, and poor Tenset would be removed altogether. He felt as if he’d been bereaved.

“This way Sir,” the calm authoritative voice of the guard directed him into a cell that was decidedly luxurious compared to the last one he’d occupied, down on Kalzir. The bed had sheets, and it boasted a shower cubicle and a toilet.

Another guard was stationed in front of the block of three cells in the detention area and Connor appeared to be the sole occupant of the ship’s brig. His escort indicated he should enter the centre cell.

“D’you want anything to read Mr Temple?”

The guards polite enquiry didn’t get a response. As on Kalzir, Connor lay down on the bed, laced his behind his head, and closed his eyes. Letting them see his distress wouldn’t help any one, he’d just have to remember for both of them.

––––––––

B
ack in her conference room, the Captain glanced at the clock, and moved the meeting on to its conclusion.

“So Doctor, when can you perform the procedure? And how far do you propose to take her back?”

“The procedure is relatively simple for a trained operative with the correct equipment, both of which we have. However as far as I understand it, a precise time frame isn’t always possible, especially as we are dealing with non-human neurology. It’ll take about three days to set it up. I suggest we keep her sedated until that point. How long is the critical period we want to remove Councillor?”

“I’d suggest wiping the whole of her experience on Kalzir, without partial memory cues it’s far more likely to be successful, so two weeks at least. It’s probably worth losing more time rather than not enough, just to make sure the whole unfortunate episode is removed.”