Chapter Seven
Duncan sat in the infirmary with a swell-pack taped over his left eye. Karina pulled the needle from his arm after injecting the morphine that provided Duncan his first brief relief from the pain since awakening back on Orion, slung over Finn’s shoulder. He hated the fact that he owed the big man for saving his life once again – first for piloting them out of Arrowhead, and now for this.
“Is that starting to take the edge off?” Karina asked, snapping Duncan back to the more pressing situation – he hadn’t been able to open his eye since regaining consciousness and judging from the throbbing pain he feared the worst.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Good. Let’s have a look at it and see if the swell-pack has done its job,” Karina pulled the tape loose from his skull and slowly removed the swell-pack, which had indeed done its job of significantly reducing the swelling.
“I don’t think it’s been on long enough – still can’t get my eye open,” Duncan announced frustrated as he squinted his right eye and tried to open his left.
Karina didn’t respond.
“Are you going to put the pack back -” Duncan started as he opened his right eye and saw the look on Karina’s face. “What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“The swell-pack won’t help,” she stated, visibly pulling herself together. “The eye is gone.”
Duncan nodded in grim acceptance.
“I’m so sorry,” Karina retrieved the eye patch from the top drawer behind her and gently pulled it over Duncan’s empty eye socket.
“I’ve still got one good one,” he stated with a wry grin.
Karina couldn’t help but smile as she leaned down and kissed Duncan, tears welling in her eyes.
“Depending on how bad the damage is to the internal nerves, I might have something that would work,” Kaylee smiled brightly as she moved away from Duncan and started tapping excitedly on her little tablet computer.
“What? You just happen to have an extra eye lying around somewhere?” Duncan asked sarcastically.
“Well, no. But I might know someone who does,” Kaylee stated as she continued working her magic on the tablet. “Besides, I wouldn’t know the first thing about your eye. You need someone who’s good with humans – not just machines.”
“So we need a doctor?” Karina concluded. “That shouldn’t be too tough,” she stated, patting Duncan’s back reassuringly.
“You’ll need a doctor who’s good with cybernetic implants,” Kaylee clarified.
“That might be slightly tougher,” Wes stated as he entered the common area from the cockpit. “Last I heard there are only a handful of docs out there good enough or daring enough to work with cybernetics, and most of them are deep in the Alliance’s pockets.”
“Didn’t I tell you to keep an eye on things in the cockpit?” Finn demanded gruffly.
“Everything’s good Captain. I’ve got the computers doing a scan of all recent activity from our sources and the ship don’t exactly need a pilot when the Jupiter Drive’s engaged.”
Finn just shook his head in mock anger at the young Wes.
“Not all the docs worth their salt are with the Alliance,” Kaylee interjected, still trying to keep them on course to help Duncan. “Ah here it is,” she announced triumphantly as she turned the tablet so everyone could see the fruits of her labor.
Matt squinted at the tiny screen looking at an exploded view of a cybernetic eye implant, but unlike most implants that were very bulky – covering half the wearers face – this one was designed to look and fit exactly like a real eye.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Wes moved closer, obviously impressed.
“And it’ll work?” Karina asked skeptically.
“It’s never actually been tested on a human, but my dad and I were sure it would work just fine,” Kaylee stated, still hopeful that she would be able to do something for her rescuers.
“You said not all of the doctors who could do this are with the Alliance, who did you mean?” Duncan asked at last.
“Oh yeah, my dad was working with this guy on Vidia that helped him design the interface for the nerves in the eye. His name’s Mace; used to be a top genetic scientist for the Alliance, not really sure why he left, but I guess he had his reasons. If anyone can get this to work it’d be him.”
“Vidia?” Finn asked in utter disbelief. “Vidia is about the only place we know of so far that’s been hit harder than Arrowhead was - too many criminals on that world too.”
“Well, if that’s where the criminals are, then that’s where we need to go,” Karina stated flatly.
“I’ve got no intentions of walking straight into the Alliance’s hands, darling,” Finn stated flatly. He was astounded that they would even suggest it.
“If that’s where we have to go to help Duncan, then that’s where we’re going,” Matt stated, disbelieving that anyone would even argue not to go.
“This is my ship, kid,” Finn stood with frustration and defiance. “I’m not taking the Curse anywhere near the Alliance. In fact we’re headed in the opposite direction.”
“Uh, boss?” Wes started with something akin to fear in his eyes.
“We’re headed to drop off our cargo, aren’t we?”
“You said you wanted to finish the job. I just figured that what with the Alliance having pulled out already, we might as well try to make the drop,” Wes answered.
Finn nodded and walked towards the cockpit, “Vidia it is then.”
Epilogue
The pain in Commander Richburg’s head was nearly unbearable. He tried to open his eyes, but was greeted by a blinding white light that just made it that much worse. He squinted his eyes, focused on his other senses, he could smell the chemicals used for cleaning, he could hear the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor; he realized instantly he was in a hospital. That’s when the memories came back – a beat up old shop on a desert planet, finally catching up to Rivers’ Kid, then the explosion. He couldn’t remember anything else past that.
He tried opening his eyes again, slowly this time. He noted the white walls, steel tables – the standard Alliance hospital.
“Good,” a voice called from the chair beside him. “You’re awake.”
Richburg turned his head to the left and saw the man sitting there, military uniform, a General, briefing folder in his lap.
“I was afraid I might miss you,” the General said, standing up. “The doctors say you should be ready for duty in a week or so. In the meantime I want you to read up on your next assignment.” The General dropped the briefing folder on the bed beside Richburg.
He was able to open his eyes completely and he saw the General’s name – Demps. “Yes, General.”
“Good,” General Demps grabbed his hat and headed for the door. “You’ll report directly to me when you arrive. Look forward to seeing you there.” The General turned the door handle and was gone.
Richburg turned the flap of the manila briefing folder over to reveal the contents of his next assignment. The first thing he noted was a picture of the man he had captured and sent away on a prisoner transport before the man’s shop self-destructed and his true quarry escaped - Jeremiah “Ozzy” Osweiler.
Author’s Notes
Thank you for reading Orphans of War; I truly hope that you have enjoyed it. All feedback is greatly appreciated, so if you feel so inclined, please leave a review of the book here.
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