UCD beeped quietly and a green light of an incoming call flashed.
“This is Doctor Borshchevsky,” Lora explained taking the call, “Yes, doctor, what can I do for you?”
“Good day, Miss Merion! Great news! Our patient, the only one left in the hospital, has regained consciousness! Would you…”
“I’m on my way!” Lora jumped from her seat, her fatigue disappearing instantly.
“I’m waiting for you,” replied the doctor and the green light died.
“What did he say?” asked the captain curiously. The communication device transformed voice messages into a number of electric impulses and transferred them directly to the hearing nerve of the receiver.
“The rescued man has come around!”
“I’m coming with you,” decided Paul in a flash, leaving the premises together with Lora.
“It’s been three weeks since we found out about the civil war on Taria,” noticed the young man on the way to the closest teleport. “You̓ve been working very hard from dusk till dawn ever since. You need some rest.”
“Well, yes,” said Lora. She was still walking very quickly, barely escaping a collision with the passers-by and not being able to tame her growing excitement.
“Did you even hear what I was saying?”
They entered through the teleport glass door.
“Yes?”
“Hello! Please state your destination,” announced the ever-polite voice of the local teleportation programme.
“Central hospital,” answered Paul quickly, still piercing a confused Lora with his stare.
“Thank you,” uttered the electronic voice and the doors closed shut.
Just then, through the whirlpool of her own thoughts, Lora understood what he meant by that.
“Look, I’m not so tired to need an urgent vacation. The evacuation is in full-swing and I’d like to be a part of it.”
“Welcome to the Central Hospital,” announced the programme and the doors slid open, revealing a spacious brightly lit hall to their view.
“What about this story with Earth? It also requires a lot of your energy and attention. You’re risking losing all that if you continue working at such a pace.”
The girl sighed deeply; Paul’s concern for her was so predictable. Ever since they had become close friends as small kids, they had been constantly caring for each other like brother and sister.
“OK, let’s begin by seeing how our patient is doing,” Paul nodded apologetically.
They passed through the hall, which flashed with images of a beautiful sunrise and soon they entered the doctor’s office.
“That was fast!” the doctor smiled, welcoming them inside.
“Thank you for telling us immediately,” nodded Lora gratefully.
“So, I need to warn you that the patient is still very weak. Furthermore, his memory has been tragically letting him down. I think we’ll be able to restore it, but it will take quite some time.”
“I get it.”
“Does he remember anything at all?” asked Paul when they stopped in front of the ward door and, looking through the glass, saw a motionless man in bed.
“He remembers his name, Derek… I have firstly conducted the biological tests to examine his physical condition. A psychologist is on his way.”
“May we go in?” asked Lora, not letting the patient out of her sight.
“Of course. The quarantine has already been lifted. But please be careful with information as he is still suffering greatly from post-traumatic stress.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“After you,” he smiled politely in response.
Lora slowly entered the ward and approached the bed. The dim lighting inside didn’t prevent her from examining the rescued earthling. Still very pale he was lying on the pillow, with his eyes closed. He had a thin face with harsh features, and his breath could hardly be noticed. If not for his dark hair, he would be invisible in the whiteness surrounding him in this dimly lit ward.
“Is he sleeping?” whispered Lora.
In response to her question addressed to the doctor, the patient moved and Lora stopped talking, frightened.
“No, he isn’t. He’s just too weak. Every move demands a lot of energy from him. Sound and light seem too strong. But there is no doubt that his young body will be able to cope with all this.”
A quiet voice pierced the silence of the ward.
“Who are you?”
Lora approached the bed and turned to see the doctor. He nodded in agreement.
“My name is Lora,” she said quietly, and carefully touched his hand when he turned his head to see her.
“Where am I?”
“You’re in a hospital. This is also Doctor Borshchevsky and the shuttle captain, Paul Stones.”
“Shuttle? I’m in a shuttle?”
“No, you’re on…” she hesitated not sure whether to tell him about the artificial planet. “You’re on board a spaceship. Do you remember anything? Do you remember what had happened to you before?”
The young man winced.
“The lights are too bright here.”
“Reduce the lighting by 30 percent” said the doctor to the space in front of himself and the ward lighting became very dim. “Is it better like this?”
“Yes… a little…”
“I’d suggest that you wear protective lenses,” added Borshchevsky.
“Will I be able to open my eyes then?”
“Well, you could at least try.”
After the patient nodded lightly, the doctor carefully put a pair of sunglasses of some sort on his eyes.
“Everything is floating…”
“This is temporary,” Borshchevsky reassured him.
“If you find it difficult to talk now, we can come later…”
“No!” the young man moved his fingers and touched Lora’s hand. “Don’t go. Silence is more deafening than sounds.”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Lora tried to calm him down. “Is your name Derek?”
“I think so. That’s the first thing that came to my mind when I was asked. But what ship is it? How did I get here?” the
