"Sorry, Harry," he said, "it's for your own good."
"I'm so tired of hearing that," said Harry before he passed out.
*
He awoke on an over-sized bunk in one of Minerva's crew compartments. For once, there was no buzz in his head, no intruding thoughts. Although the sleep was slow in leaving, he felt better than he had since his initial encounter with the kitzloc. Still unsure of where he was, he swung his feet to the deck and got up.
Minerva's voice floated from the walls. "Good morning, Harry. How are you feeling?"
Now it came back to him, where he was, how he had gotten there. "Wh-why? Why have you done this?"
"To help you, Harry."
"No one can help me."
"We think we can. Are you feeling better?"
Harry rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I guess so. A little groggy."
"It's the sedative Bart gave you. It's a new formula I've synthesized. But, if you're feeling up to it, I'd rather Edward explain."
"Where is he?"
"In the lounge, waiting for you."
The door slid open. "Why don't you talk with him? There are preparations to make."
"Preparations? For what?"
"Talk to Edward."
Harry sighed and exited the compartment. In the lounge, they were all there, waiting for him, even Minerva's hologram.
Fagen got up. "Feeling okay, Harry?"
"Why does everybody keep asking me that?"
"We're concerned about you."
Harry looked suspiciously at the familiar faces. "What's going on here? It's not my birthday, is it?"
"Hey," said Fagen, exchanging looks with the rest, "Harry made a joke."
"What's the point here?"
Fagen again looked at the others before speaking. He cleared his throat. "Well, I guess we've done it again."
"What do you mean? Done what again?"
"I suppose you could say we broke the rules. We've moved out of orbit and, presently, we're in hyperspace."
"What about the Corporation?"
"I'm sure they were surprised, but we really had no other choice."
"You mean you left without permission?"
Fagen shrugged and Blane grinned.
Harry shook his head. "But why?"
"Because we owed it to you. The company has no intention of helping either you or," Fagen waved toward Tringl and Yoni, "your friends." He put his arm around Bobbie's shoulders. "They were even going to prosecute Bobbie. We couldn't stand by and let all that happen."
Harry looked around. "Well, I suppose I should be grateful, but I don't see how you can help me."
"Don't you? The sedative Minerva came up with is helping you, isn't it? No more voices, no more psychosis as long as you receive a dose once in awhile."
Harry slowly nodded. "I do feel better, it's true, but..."
"What?"
"It doesn't matter. Kathleen's gone. Without her, it doesn't matter."
"Hold on a minute, Harry. Where do you think we're headed anyway?"
Harry shrugged.
Fagen put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Son, we're headed to the Bedoran system. We'll find Kathleen, don't you worry about that."
A rush of excitement pulsed through Harry, a natural, human feeling, not the alien emotion he'd come to expect.
"And afterwards," Fagen continued, "our destination is Mirabel. Minerva thinks she knows how we can reverse the kitzloc infection. She thinks she can cure you."
Harry was speechless. After a moment, he recovered his voice. "But why," he asked, "why are you doing this?"
"Whether you know it or not, we're friends. We always have been. You just seem to have a hard time getting it through your head."
"What about the Corporation? What about your pardon?"
"To hell with the Corporation. They'll never change. My pardon? That's a done deal, they can't take it back. They've got the ghlowstone and Minerva's specifications. After all, we didn't exactly steal the ship this time."
Harry sat down. "This is a little hard to take all at once."
"Understandable. It's going to be a few more hours before we enter Bedoran space. Why don't you take it easy?"
Harry nodded. It was a good idea. He needed the time to figure out what he wanted to say to Kathleen. Above all, he wanted to tell her he loved her and that he wanted to be with her. As Fagen put it, to hell with the Corporation. He was finished with that part of his life. Perhaps there was a cure for his affliction and perhaps there wasn't. Even that didn't matter as much as being with Kathleen again.
THE END
About the Author
Thomas C. Stone is a lifelong writer and journalist with a penchant for fast-moving, speculative fiction. Stone’s topics cover first contact, new energy sources, quantum reality, and self-aware computers, as well as an entertaining take on how characters react to their circumstances.
Table of Contents
Other Titles
Copyright
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
About the Author