Tears of Glass (The Jana Darren Saga Book 1) (11 page)

Free of restraints, Jana was able to walk about. She’d regained some muscle coordination, but still found it difficult to actually move around. Holding onto the edge of the bed for support was the best solution. There wasn’t much else to do, so she focused on regaining balance.

Every so often someone would walk by, but the medical bay wasn’t a well-traveled area for the general population, so there wasn’t much to look at. The room didn’t even have access to the Net. Bored out of her mind, Jana grunted as she flung herself facedown onto the bed in frustration.

“Oh there...once was a girl named...Helen. Who...found out her son was a felon. The son got locked away...and the girl...the girl...the end.” She’d begun composing poems to entertain herself. “There once was a cat named Scott...oh, forget it.” Jana grumbled into the pillow.

“Personally, I think you should keep your day job.”

Jana rolled over quickly and leapt off the bed. “Joey!” She jumped into his embrace, locking her arms around his neck.”

“Hey, cutie,” he laughed. “I came here to say hello and you’re lying in a hospital bed singing poems to yourself.” He hugged her tightly and set her back on her feet.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I should have called you.” She frowned.

“When? While you were unconscious? You’re fine, kiddo. I’m just glad you are okay.”

“How did you know I was in the hospital?” He sat down on the bed next to her, and she leaned her head against his chest. He put an arm around her, lacing his fingers through hers.

“I’m still your emergency contact, remember? I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner. I got word in the middle of a supply run. I came as soon as I could.”

“How long are you here for?”

“Only a day or so.” His smile faded a little when he saw the crushed look on her face. “Hey, you knock that off. I’m here, so let’s make it count.”

“Will you stay with me?”

“Of course. As long as you want me to.”

The doctor appeared in the doorway. He slid the glass door open and closed it behind himself. “I need a moment with you, Jana.” She looked up at Joe, and frowned. He nodded and kissed her forehead.

“Will you wait outside for me, please?”

“Sure, honey.”

The doctor waited until he’d left before continuing, but not before approaching the control panel and blacking out the outer wall of the room. “Well, you’re free to go.” Jana started to rise, confused. “But—“
There it is.
She sat. “Some of the toxins haven’t dissipated. The latest screening came back positive.”
Is he telling me they won’t go away?
“We’re putting you on some medicine,” he said, pulling out a small bottle of pills. “Twice a day.”

“For how long?”

“It could be a day, or years. It depends on how long it takes to neutralize.”

“Why is it taking so long?”

“Well...” he hesitated, searching for the words. “It’s like nothing we’ve seen before. We-we have something strong enough to wipe it out, but the medication itself is dangerous. It could kill you.”

“And what’s the chance of that?”

“About eighty-five.”

Jana didn’t hesitate. “Do it.”

“It could
kill
you. The medication we’re giving you is much safer, you just have to be sure to take it on schedule. If you miss a dose, it will begin replicating in your system faster, and you’d die within a few days. But I’ve already spoken to Colonel Vacero. You’ll be placed in an administrative position here at the station to ensure your safety and access to your treatment.”

No. They can’t do this!
“Give me the other medicine. I’d rather risk that killing me than be tied here like I’m being kept on a leash.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not? If you can’t do it then why did you tell me about it in the first place?” Jana demanded angrily.

He avoided her gaze. “I’m not authorized to administer it.”

“You’re lying to me.”

“I can’t give it to you,” he repeated, shifting his weight back and forth. “They won’t allow me to.”

“Who?”

“The Health and Emergency Medical Association.”

“HEMA?” That was the Government branch of what the SCORPION team was for the military. “But why?”

“They’ve instructed me to administer you the treatment that won’t kill off the toxins, just keep them under control, and continue to take blood samples so that it can be researched. Our attempts to keep it active outside living tissue have been unsuccessful.
So I’m a test subject. Nothing more.
“We can freeze the blood, but once thawed, the toxins die outside the body within minutes.”

Jana held out her arm, tapping the crease of her elbow. “Take it now, then. How much do you need?”

“Lieutenant...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “Too much.”

“Would it kill me?”

“No, but...”

“Then damnit, just take it!”

The doctor grabbed a packaged needle, tube, and plastic cylinder from the rolling steel cart. He forcefully shoved the drawer closed, which sent the cart clanking into the side wall of the room.

“I don’t like needles.”

“Then look away, because you’re going to hate this.” The sound of shearing paper cut through the air that smelled of rubbing alcohol and fresh sheets. She clenched her eyes shut and held her breath. Jana hardly felt the needle go in, which was surprising for its size. There was that much to be thankful for, at least.

The tube filled and began draining into the vial. “Doesn’t look like a lot.”

“It’s much less than I should take, but I don’t want to be responsible for your death. You need to be able to fight off the effects of the treatment. You’ll feel lightheaded afterwards. You can have a few crackers. We’ll need to do this right away, before anyone can find out what’s going on. That friend of yours outside; do you trust him?”

“More than anyone.”

“Good, because I’ll need his help to steal the treatment from the research lab.”

It felt like an eternity, but when the doctor finally returned, it was with a vial of oily green liquid. She turned to the side and made a face when he jabbed her with the needle.

“This stuff is like pumping battery acid into your blood.”

“When will I know if it worked?”

“When you survive it. It you still feel alright tomorrow, you’re in the clear. I’ll probably be court marshaled for this. I’ll send him in when I leave.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I just want him to be able to say goodbye to you.”

He left, and at first, Jana felt fine. Joey entered the room cautiously. He looked angry. “Jana...what are you doing to yourself?” She didn’t answer, but he tucked his feelings away and held her close.

Then she started to itch.

At first it was only the bottoms of her feet, but a minute later it was in her fingers, too. Jana readjusted herself in the hospital gown, trying to settle. The itching intensified. It spread to her palms and ankles. She scratched her palms, noticing for the first time that she’d bitten her nails to the quick during her time on E-1. The jagged edges scraped her skin, but did nothing to alleviate the growing itch.

“Jana?”

A billion centipedes spread through her body, wriggling under her skin. She could see them. Jana whimpered. She scratched and rubbed, trying to get them off.
It’s not working! Where is the doctor? Where did they come from?
She stood, and fell down. The muscles in her legs wouldn’t respond.

The floor was freezing. The cold seeped in through the thin gown, and her left side went numb. But all Jana could think about was getting the bugs off her. She writhed and quivered, near tears.

The crawling bugs turned to molten lava. She felt it in her feet and fingers, and it slowly worked its way to her core. She screamed in agony.
I’m going to die. I survived once, and now I’m going to die. Stupid, stupid! Just because you didn’t want to give up your stupid job!

“Help me!” Jana choked, biting back the need to tear at her skin. Joey tried to grab her, but she was jerking and convulsing. Already, there were deep gouge marks on her arms and thighs. She lay on her stomach, cheek pressed against the tile floor. Not even the icy tile helped staunch the flame, but it gave her something to concentrate on.

Joey’s fingers brushed through her hair, and her body relaxed. “Just breathe, baby. It’s going to be okay.” She steadied her breathing and pressed her palms against the floor, laying spread-eagled.
You can do it. Just like the operation.
She tried desperately to withdraw into herself, as she’d done once before. She fidgeted a little, struggling to maintain her breathing. The fire raced through her veins like a bullet, twisting and whirling. It reached her core, and her stomach churned.
I’m going to puke.

Jana threw up stomach acid and water until there was nothing left. Joey grabbed her under the arms and tried to help her up. His hands felt like half-melted wax.

“What’s happening to me?”

“It’s the side effects of the medicine. You’re doing great. Just hold on.”

The poison was more bearable than this.
Tingling and itching started on her tongue, and the flames ran rampant through her body. Jana began to tremble. At first it was slight, but quickly deteriorated into a fit of convulsions. Joey scooped her up and somehow managed to get her back onto the hospital bed. He held her wrists together with one of his own hands and called a nurse. The door opened, and a woman in a white lab coat came running in. Jana grit her teeth, breathing hard and fighting against the acid flowing through her veins. She could feel it melting her organs, churning her insides to magma. The nurse grabbed at Jana and between the two of them, they managed to strap her down.

Delirious, Jana fought against the restraints, trying to claw at her skin. The nurse left the room, and returned with a snow white blanket. When she put it over Jana’s body, she felt the coolness.

“There’s nothing we can do for you other than try to make you comfortable. Anything we give you would only make it worse. You’re on your own.” The door closed again, and she no longer heard Joey’s soothing voice.

How long had it been? Minutes? Hours? It was impossible to tell. All she knew was that she was alone.

Jana’s hair was matted to her forehead, and she could feel the sticky perspiration beading on her face and chest. Her vision blurred like someone switched on a lamp in a dark room. She cried out again, throwing herself against the straps holding her down.
Just breathe. Relax. Close your eyes.
Jana forced her eyes shut, breathing heavily.
Where is Joey?
Faintly, she heard the door open again.

“It’s going to be okay. I’m right here.” A metal chair screeched across the tile and the sound made Jana cringe. She felt a hand on her forearm, but kept her eyes glued shut. His touch felt like comfort; that was the only way to describe it. She felt herself getting tired, exhaustion creeping in, body begging her to recoup some energy so it could fight off this new invader. “I swear I won’t leave you. I’m so sorry.” The moment before Jana fell asleep, her eyes fluttered open once more, and she saw Aeronth’s face.

When Jana finally came-to, he was still there. His hair was more disheveled than usual and dark circles rimmed his beautiful gray eyes. Asleep, hand in hers, Aeronth looked peaceful. Jana managed a smile and remained perfectly still to not rouse him.
I care about him a lot.
Does he even know? He has to.
But whether or not he felt anything for her beyond wanting to appease her for the sake of their secrets, she couldn’t know.

“Please fasten harnesses. We’ll be landing in one minute.” The pilot’s voice boomed from the intercom. The small ship was shaky upon entry. Civilian transport pilots weren’t exactly the top of their class in flight training. Jana’s stomach churned, and she gripped the armrests tightly. Some privately owned ships could give a military model a decent run for their money, but the mainstream, run-of-the-mill ships were simply no match. The hardware used in civilian ships was budget-friendly, their components watered down versions of military technology, and were not licensed to have any type of gun mount.

Excitement was far from Jana’s mind as she and the others watched out the windows. Hundreds of thousands of pinprick lights dotted the ebony arc. As they came closer, she felt the shudder of the ship as it entered the bubble of atmosphere surrounding the colony. The sleek buildings reached up like glittering mountains.

Jana was all too happy to be off the transport. The asphalt ground had a palpable springiness to it. Absentmindedly, Jana pressed her toes into the ground. Vehicles glided over the roadway, hovering inches above the paved surface. There was no definite day and night in the colonies. Much like the military stations, people came and went as they pleased. Special energy fields blocked harmful rays from the nearest star.

Being here was odd. It didn’t feel right. It’d been ten years since she’d been around anyone who wasn’t military, aside from the occasional assignment out of the station. When her turn for leave came around each time, she’d never taken it. This life never appealed to her.

David touched her arm, urging her forward out onto the platform. The buildings towered above them, some more than sixty stories. “We’re staying in a hotel called ‘The Zephyr’ in the business district.” He pulled out a small, square piece of plexiglass trimmed with black rubber, and tapped it twice. A spot of white light at the center spider-webbed out into a latticework of roads and points of interest, a red dot flashing at its center. “Zephyr Hotel”. A line danced across the glass, connecting the flashing dot with a tiny blue square.

“It’s this way,” Jana said, pointing straight ahead. She started off in that direction. The others simply followed.

“Been here before?” Lexi asked.

“You could say that,” Jana replied dryly. They followed the lieutenant as she twisted through the streets. Everyone was admiring the glass buildings as they passed. They wore unofficial uniforms with no insignia, but it was one well recognized by the general public. People who passed by them nodded their head in appreciative acknowledgement. Jana felt uncomfortable under the public eye; she couldn’t wait to get back to the station.

The colony was separated into districts. There was the business district, the industrial district, and the residential district. These were broken into blocks, which were not really blocks, but smaller sections of the districts they were part of. Some of the blocks were upscale, and others were less well off. Down the street was a gigantic building. An enormous lighted sign blazed brightly across the otherwise darkly hued landscape. The streetlights’ glow pooled at regular intervals along the roadway and accompanying sidewalks.

The hotel lobby was comfortably populated. All around them, people dragged their luggage over the gold and white marbled tile floor. The walls and ceiling were gold, with milky white pillars spaced throughout.

“Welcome to the Zephyr. I’ll be taking you to your rooms. Your things have already been brought here from the docking station, awaiting you upstairs.”

“Well, hello there,” Lexi said, stepping closer to the bellhop. Out of the corner of her eye, Jana noticed that Aeronth was rolling his eyes. After her injections, when she was in and out of consciousness, she’d felt him there with her, watching her, holding her hand. But after she’d woken up, nothing. He was nowhere to be found. At the ship, she couldn’t tell if he was avoiding her, or the other way around. Either way, Jana wasn’t sure where to go from here.

The elevator was like a rocket in a glass tube, and she was absolutely mortified to be pressed in next to Aeronth.
We have a whole week here. Maybe this is my chance to get this all figured out.
A bell dinged, and an electronic voice said, “Level twenty-six” as the doors opened smoothly.

The bellhop brought them to the section of hallway their rooms were located in. Jana looked at the door to hers. The room was on the inner side of the hotel.

“Hey David, what’s your room number?” she called out to him.

“Twenty-six thirty-three.”

“Excuse me, “she said to the bellhop.

“Yes?”

“I can’t stay in this room.”

“Is something wrong with it?”

“Yes. I mean no...there’s nothing wrong with the room. Are there any rooms available on the other side of the hallway?”

“I don’t believe so,” he said, pulling out a screen similar to David’s map. “No, sorry. There’s a few on the floor above us. It’s a big holiday week,” he explained. “We could move your things up there.”

“No, it’s fine.” She sighed.

“You can have my room,” Aeronth offered.

Jana looked at him with hooded eyes. “Are you sure? Thank you!”

He nodded, motioning with an outstretched arm. “It’s only a room. Here, I’ll help you switch your luggage.”

Maybe my luck is finally turning around.