Chapter Twenty-Six
Gabriel sat down, waiting as Dr. Osho went around to the other side of his desk and collapsed into his chair. He collected himself and looked at Gabriel through his tears. “I fear my daughter will not make it. We are doing our best, but I am afraid –” His emotions broke through his professionalism. He paused momentarily. “At this point in time, we can simply make her as comfortable as possible and hope she will survive.”
Gabriel glared at the doctor. What was he saying?
The doctor sighed. “I believed my daughter was dead for the last three months. I had accepted her fate. It was part of the risk she took. I am just happy she didn’t have to spend her last days in that dungeon.”
“You can’t give up! What about the green ore?” Gabriel wanted to leap at the man and shake him. “They kept her alive with it before. Just do it again.”
“Kept her alive, yes.” Osho shook his head. “But they didn’t heal her wounds; they simply delayed death from taking her. They never kept her near the ore long enough to properly heal.”
“But … you can’t –” Gabriel shook his head, horrified.
“I have studied my daughter’s condition for years …” Osho straightened up in his chair. “She has an amazing reaction to the green ore which, yes, can heal her wounds on a small scale. However, she is not wounded on a small scale and I do not have a piece of green ore that is strong enough to regenerate her.” A hint of annoyance laced his voice. “Even with what we took from the Horsemen’s camp. The internal bleeding alone is nearly impossible to deal with. Her organs are beyond any surgeries we can perform. They did too much damage to her.”
Gabriel went silent, searching desperately for a solution. There had to be a way to save Kyrie.
Nate reached out and put his hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. “Gabriel, we all would like to save her. This is hard enough for Dr. Osho. Please let it be. Everything that can be done is being done.”
“No!” He slapped Nate’s hand away. “We didn’t get out of there just so she could die here!”
“I’m sorry, but –” Nate stood up and moved between him and Dr. Osho.
“You can’t let her die!” Gabriel stood and slammed his hand down on the arm of the chair.
Nate pointed at him, a stern look on his face. “Gabriel! This is not your place!”
There had to be a way. He paced the room, refusing to accept the facts as final. “You said the ore isn’t strong enough, right? What if it could be energized? Enhanced?” He pointed at Osho. “Well?
“In theory, it might work. But we don’t have anything that can amplify the effects.” Osho leaned forward in his chair, elbows resting on the desk.
“The scientist – with Shiro?”
“Shot and killed by Shiro’s men,” Nate said.
“No, it's what he said about me.” Gabriel remembered the red ore touching his forehead.
“What are you talking about?” Nate frowned.
“He touched a red shard against my skin … it glowed so bright.” Gabriel looked down at his hand, remembering the sudden heat.
“You’re saying your touch increased the shard’s energy output?” Osho sat up in his chair.
“It did something. Let me try.” Gabriel wasn’t asking. “Give me the largest piece of green ore you have.”
Osho glanced to Nate.
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.” Nate’s expression was troubled. “If he can’t control it …” Nate’s voice dropped low.
Gabriel looked Osho in the eyes. “How much time does she have?”
Osho stared silently back at him. “Not enough… I want him to try.”
“What!” Nate shook his head. “We have no idea what will happen! The crystal could explode, for all we know.”
“If Gabriel is willing to take that risk, then so am I.” Osho looked at Nate.
“Please, both of you listen to me –" Nate was quickly cut off by Osho.
“She’s dying Nathaniel! She’s my only daughter. Even if it is just a chance – I have to try.” Osho’s eyes welled with tears.
“If something goes wrong?” Nate was torn.
“Then she’s dies either way.” Osho stood up behind his desk. “Gabriel, are you sure?”
Gabriel turned to leave the office. “Let’s do it.”
The three exited the office and headed directly to Kyrie’s room. She was asleep, struggling to breathe, the machines barely keeping her alive. Gabriel drew a deep breath. He had to make this work. Dr. Osho unlocked a bedside cabinet and pulled out a small metal box, much like the silver box the Horseman scientist had kept the red ore in.
Osho looked at him, his face full of pain. “We have tried several sessions with it already, but nothing has helped. She keeps fading.”
“I can do it.” Gabriel rubbed his chest. I need you.
“Be careful. I have a team waiting outside the room, just in case.” Osho ushered Nate out of the tent area. “There is no lock on the box and this tent will keep us safe from the ore.” The doctor zipped up the door behind them. Their exit woke Kyrie. Gabriel took his place next to her.
“What’s going on?” Her voice was weak.
“I’m going to fix you up.” He smiled and opened the small steel box beside her, revealing the eerie green crystal. “Trust me.”
He reached into the metal case. His fingers brushed along the foam padding that supported the ore. The green shard was the size and shape of a softball. It gave off a small pulse of light, as if awaiting his touch. He picked the green orb up. The gentle glow intensified, washing the whole tent in a sea of green light. He moved it towards her. She breathed sharply as the ore touched her just below her neck. She looked at him, her eyes full of courage.
“Ready?” He touched her forehead with his other hand. “Just close your eyes.”
She shut her eyes and tears slid down the sides of her face. She took a few deep breaths, then her breathing slowed to a steady pace. He followed suit, shutting his eyes and focusing on the green ore in his hand. Mentally, he pushed everything he had into the crystal in his chest: his thoughts, his will, everything he could muster. You have to help. Make her better.
The crystal flared in his chest. His eyes snapped open. A rush of white light burst down his arm, cascading like a waterfall towards the green crystal until it reached its surface, engulfing it. The green ore pulsated in his hand. He gripped it tightly as its green aura overtook the white light completely, changing his hands into a silky green. The light continued to brighten until the tent was bathed in a brilliant green glow that banished every shadow. He watched as the bruises on Kyrie’s body faded and the cuts shrank and healed in moments. Her swollen abdomen began to look normal and color flushed her pale face.
Dr. Osho rustled outside of the tent. His fingers danced on the monitor beside her bed. “He’s – He’s healing her! Her organs … I don’t – I can’t believe this.”
Gabriel smiled at Osho. His arm began to shake as the brightness of the green ore faded. Alarms on all the machines behind Kyrie beeped wildly. She began to shiver and convulsed as she fell into shock. The green glow surrounding his hand faded, changing back to white and retreating up his arm.
“Gabriel!” Osho shouted at him. “Don’t stop! Her body can’t handle the shock of transition!”
“Focus, Gabriel!” Nate growled.
Gabriel’s mind fought with the ore, he forced the white light to stop its retreat. It snaked back down his forearms again, rushing to meet the green shard he clung to. The tent surged with the green aura again. Kyrie lay still and the beeping stopped. He pushed himself to the limit of his strength, holding on for several more minutes. A thundering crack split the air. Gabriel crumpled to the floor, falling hard into the bedside cabinet. The room filled with darkness as the green ore slipped from his limp grasp. He was so dizzy.
The edge of the tent rustled. “Nate! Wait! The ore is still exposed.” Gabriel heard Osho’s voice as if from a great di
stance. He stayed on the floor, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
Dr. Osho slipped into the tent, wearing a protective white suit. He helped Gabriel off the floor then nodded at Nate. “He’s okay.”
Osho carefully collected the ore, returned it to the metal box and shut the lid. He signaled for Nate to turn on the fans above them. They roared with power as they pulled any toxicity out of the small space. Gabriel smiled at Kyrie, and stepped out of the tent, still unsteady, and collapsed into Nate’s arms. Osho removed his helmet and sat on the edge of the bed as he pulled off his gloves. He touched his daughter's face.
Her smile sent him into tears. She kissed his hand and reached towards his face. “I’m okay, Dad.”
Nate pulled Gabriel’s arm over his shoulder. “You alright?”
“I’m fine.” He leaned heavily into Nate. “Just need some time.”
“You sure?” Nate straightened him back up. “Nothing feels weird?”
He smiled at Nate. “No.” he touched the crystal in his chest, “It’s alright.”
“Thank you!” Osho rushed over to Gabriel and hugged him.
Gabriel steadied himself and patted the short man on the back. “I’m just glad it worked.”
Osho wiped his eyes and stepped back from him. “Your father would be very proud of you.”
My father?