Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 48

We all marched up the main street, with the various people looking at our beaten group in curiosity. I couldn't help but feel that I was getting more than my share of stares... do I look that different now? Or am I becoming paranoid? I lead everyone to the dorm. The old caretaker puts down his book when he sees me. Marika? Where have you been?

All over the place. Has a doctor arrived?

Yeah, one came in a few minutes ago. He asked for a room to use, so I lent him yours, since you haven't been around lately. The others carry Etirn through the door, and the caretaker's face blanches. Hey, what happened to him?

Etirn decides to answer the question himself. Got my ass kicked...again.

Who could ever possibly get that mad at you? He has clearly never met Etirn before.

We head over to my door, which was unlocked. An old man with balding white hair was waiting. I've taken the liberty of preparing ahead of- What in the name of Light...?

Etirn pulls his best frown. Damn... I'm ugly now.... Etirn starts a violent episode of coughing.

Ground meat, doc? Ray picks up Etirn's joke. I find it hard to force more than a weak smile.

He definitely looks the part. Put him on the bed. Over the white sheet, I didn't want to ruin the lady's bedding.

Well... I feel the part, too...

I'll get started, then. If you guys could work with the lesser cases, I'd appreciate it.

We spend the next hour helping each other with injuries. Looking over the damage, I'm convinced that Etirn is likely the reason nobody else got hurt so badly. Once all the workers were patched up, the doctor looks over everybody to check the quality of work. He goes back to Etirn one more time. This is one of the worst injury cases I've ever seen, but he has the will to live. He'll recover, probably.

Demi closes Etirn's computer after searching through it. You've been to many of my facilities, Etirn.

He doesn't respond. I have him sedated right now. I don't need him to realize his prognosis until I'm out of punching range.

I put away the extra bandaging for the doctor. What's the extent of the injuries?

Pretty bad. Numerous cracked bones, multiple lacerations, punctures, and burns of every variety, a real demonstration of how many ways you can get hurt. Pound for pound, only one other case has proven as intriguing in my entire career....

What case is that?

It's been years now.... When Aiedo burned down. I already regret asking the doctor, but I don't say anything.

I remember, some people from my old village woke me up early one morning and told me to be ready for patients. As I waited, reports kept coming into town, saying that nobody could find any survivors or even a way into the city. As I was about to go back to sleep, I was suddenly sent to an old friend's house. Turned out, they found a young girl just outside the city wall. She was in pretty bad shape. I patched her up as best I could, and stepped out to wait for her to wake up. A couple minutes later, my friend came to me, panicking. The girl literally disappeared! It's a big mystery that I've yet to figure out.

Uh, I'm not very comfortable talking further on this.

Ray gives me a confused look. Why?

The doctor intervenes for me. It's okay, most people can't stomach such carnage. Especially to such a poor little girl!

Jeetoh closes his eyes, and I feel something in the back of my head yet again. I can tell you that's not the reason. What distinguishing features did the girl have?

Let me grab the file out of my bag. The doctor starts rummaging for his paper. I open the window and slip out. There's a drainage pit between the dorm and some bushes, which offers me solitude, but I can't quite get out of earshot of the doctor as he finds the case file and begins to read it.

Victim, unidentified female. Age estimated at 8-12. Presumed to be Parmanian. Initial injuries include a compound fracture of the right forearm, multiple cracked ribs, small lacerations, and superficial to moderate burns. Patient presented during an episode of Syncope, may be victim of Aiedo fire. Injuries suggest that she came from within the city while it was burning, causing the various burns, and somehow scaled the wall. The lacerations and breaks were likely caused by falling from the wall.

Concussion is a possibility, given syncope and circumstances. I will wait until victim gains consciousness to test mental functions. Set and splinted arm, closed wound. Two lacerations required stitches. Bandaged open wounds and burns. Will advise patient about cracked ribs when she wakes.

That doesn't mean much, beyond some random girl got her butt whooped by gravity.

That was the diagnostics. Here's my observations. Victim appears to be of slight build. Wore a charred nightgown when found. Light colored skin, no fur. Reaffirms belief that victim is indeed Parmanian. Despite injuries, the victim doesn't present signs of acute stress reaction causing the loss of consciousness, which is rather unusual given the age and circumstances. Long hair, slightly burnt. Appears to naturally have a color of a dark pink, suggesting against pure strain Parmanian. Most unique feature of the victim is.... I hear someone knock several objects off my bookcase.

You realize the truth. Jeetoh sounds untouched by the revelation.

You look spooked, doctor, says Ray's voice.

The... the most unique feature... the ears... are elongated in a way I've never seen before. Consulting my references, it appears this feature is unique to one family in the Aiedo area. I hear someone fall to the floor in my room.

Doctor!

It can be amazing how many ways the past can take form.

Ma...ka... Etirn's voice? I thought he was sedated, so I poke my head back in

I only wanted you to hear the truth yourself. Go back to sleep. I saw Etirn suddenly go limp again, as Jeetoh opens his eyes. I decide to climb back inside. I feel somewhat embarrassed for letting myself walk out like that.

Why's the doctor on the floor?

Jeetoh is still standing in the exact same spot as when I left. The doctor is just as spooked as you were about the past. He simply didn't realize it at first.

Ray is looking at me in a new way... almost admiring, I dare say? You survived the Aiedo fire?

I close my eyes and let my head hang low. A lone tear treks down my face. Yes... My father, he helped me over the wall.... I still wish that what's gone would just stay such.

It doesn't help to hide the past. Unfortunately, Jeetoh is right.

I lost everything I held dear in that fire... My parents, my few friends, my home. I pause to wipe away a couple tears. After that, I spent a lot of time just wandering the endless desert. I had no reason to live, no reason to return to people. I could've just laid down on the sand and closed my eyes forever, but I just kept walking....

I could tell that Ray wanted to sympathize with me, tell me it's okay; but my past is a journey that I've always retraced by myself. I eventually decided that, before I left this world, I first had to learn why I was me. Why I never had many friends. Why I didn't have any family beyond my parents. Why my ears are so strange and why I rarely tire.

Someone walks inside behind me. I could feel my tears falling like the precious rain of a rare thunderstorm now.... I eventually came to Piata as a vagrant. The first person I laid eyes on for over 8 years happened to be the principal of Motavia University. He got me a dorm room, and personally paid for the tuition for me to enroll.... I became a student of Biology to try to learn more about myself.

I knew you were an orphan. I know how hard it can be to pave your own way when you don't know where to go. I recognize the voice, and I hastily wipe my tears away before I turn to face the principal. Marika, Dora. And who are these people?

Blades. I was hired for that dig in Zema? I'm trying to repay Etirn for something, if he don't kill himself first.

My name is Jeetoh. I came along because I made a slight miscalculation in my own journey. These people agreed to escort me somewhere, once we get some needed equipment.

I'm Demi. I'm in charge of the Zelan Artificial Satellite. I came with Etirn to execute the last request of my former master.

The principal walks up to Demi and eyes her closely. You're not Parmanian?

I am an android. Wren built me to assist in system maintenance about 1,400 years ago. I am now in charge of maintaining life in Algo.

Etirn always has such strange bedfellows.... I want you four to come with me. Marika?

Sir?

The principal puts his hand on my shoulder. Stay here and collect yourself. I know how painful it is when the past resurfaces.

Thank you, sir. The principal leads everyone else out, leaving me with the injured, all sleeping right now. I take a quick trip to the local bath house, and with some fresh clothes on, I find the softest corner of my floor to take a quick nap myself.

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