A hospital.

Moric Sipos closed his eyes again.

That made sense considering what shape the young Vas boy and Gardner had been in when they were carried back to the ship. He remembered the gratitude he’d felt when he saw the former general. Being tied up had been uncomfortable, but at least he’d been safe.

Safe.

Ah. Yes.

He forced himself to sit up despite the pounding in his head. He had no idea what that damn woman had done to him, but he hoped he was through the worst of it. He looked around the dismal room and tried to force himself to think.

His thinking was interrupted when the door opened and an older woman came in. She was startled to find him sitting up, but once the momentary surprise had passed, her expression and the way she held herself spoke of someone who was capable and confident.

How annoying.

“Good morning, sir.”

“Are you my nurse?”

She walked over to read his monitors. “No, sir. I’m your doctor.”

“I’m sorry.” Moric was careful to sound contrite. “I must still be a little dazed. Where am I?”

“You’re at a hospital on P73. It’s a small planet. Short days. You were admitted fourteen hours ago—that’s roughly ten Old Earth hours.”

“This is a Supremacy planet?”

“That’s not the easiest question to answer, sir. But it is a Supremacy hospital. Is that important? I know you didn’t have ID on you—”

“Who brought me in?”

There! Moric was certain the woman hesitated. She was uneasy. He couldn’t tell why.

“Are you saying you don’t know?” she said.

He let out a breath of laughter. “Doctor, I feel awful. I woke up only a second ago to find myself in a strange hospital on a strange planet I’ve never been to before in my life. I’d be surprised if I remember my own name.”

“It’s Moric Sipos.”

Silence.

“Or so I’ve been told.”

After another silence, Sipos said, “The people who brought me in, are they still here?”

The doctor put her hand on his bed’s railing. “No. They left a few hours ago.”

“All of them?”

“All of them that could leave.”

Dr. Mullen was becoming sharply aware of how uncomfortable Sipos’s stare could be. But she also knew how much she’d been jarred by what Reyer had told her, so she tried to discount the feeling. She couldn’t afford to be prejudiced against this man based on nothing but the word of his enemy.

If only he’d blink every now and then.

Sipos said, “A friend of mine was brought in with me—they may have lied about his name—”

“I’m sorry, but I won’t answer questions about other patients.”

“So he’s a patient? He’s still alive?”

Mullen met his unblinking stare with her own.

“Can you at least tell me what happens now?” Sipos asked. “I feel fine, and I’d like to leave.”

“That’s odd,” the doctor said. “A second ago you told me you felt awful. Which is it, Mr. Sipos?”

“It’s Doctor Sipos, if you don’t mind.”

“You’re a doctor?”

“A biologist.”

Mullen took a step toward him. “Dr. Sipos, I like consistent answers. If I asked you how you feel now, what would you say?”

Sipos smiled. “Well, my head hurts quite badly—”

“That I believe.”

Moric gave her a sharp look.

“It’s a side effect of the Morphanine they gave you.”

“Yes. But otherwise, I feel fine.”

Mullen moved her hand away from the rail. “I’m sorry, Dr. Sipos. I’m going to keep you here under observation. The drug is still working its way out of your system. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“That’s very thorough of you, Doctor. Thank you.”

Mullen left the room, shut the door behind her, and leaned against it. Her restless fingers tapped on the door behind her for a moment or two before she stood up and moved down the hall.

When Sipos was certain she had gone, he roused himself. His clothes—washed and folded—were in a bag by the bed. He dressed carefully so the occasional flash of vertigo wouldn’t send him crashing to the ground. The last thing he needed was to give that doctor a legitimate injury to treat.

First, he went to the main doors, but the doctor hadn’t been lying; it was a Supremacy hospital. He wouldn’t be able to get past the checks and peacekeepers without an ID.

The back doors were worse. They only opened with an authorized ID and retinal scan.

How the hell had a bunch of Rising soldiers managed to get into the place?

No. That didn’t matter. The real question was how was he going to get out.

If they’d told the woman his name, they’d probably told her everything. That meant he couldn’t trust her to help him get through the ridiculous bureaucracy needed to do anything as a nobody—including walk out a door.

He couldn’t trust anyone to help him.

But maybe he could force someone.

He asked the next person he ran into where he might be able to make an interplanetary call.

It took him a while to hunt down the number he needed, but he was finally able to push it through. He took a moment to check his clothes and appearance before the connection was finalized.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

A woman with long dark hair appeared on the screen. She was gazing down at a tablet in her hands, and she didn’t look up to see who she was talking to. “Senator Devi Kumar’s office, Central Planet. Do you have an appointment to speak with the senator?”

“I don’t.”

“Would you like me to take a message?”

“Only if you’ll take it to her right now.”

Sipos’s answer was unexpected enough, the woman finally looked up. She put the tablet down on the pile of files beside her. Each file was labeled with the number or name of a planet. “Sir, I’m afraid that Ms. Kumar has a very busy—”

“Yes. I know. But tell her that an old friend is calling. I think she’ll speak to me.”

“What name should I give her?”

“Dr. Moric Sipos.”

“Please stay on the line, Doctor.” She tapped a button and the screen went black except for the green indicator in the corner showing the connection was still good.

Kumar took so long to answer, Sipos began to wonder if she would. But then the senator’s stern face appeared in front of him.

“Dr. Sipos, I’m afraid there must be a mistake. I hope I haven’t forgotten my old friends, and I’m fairly certain I don’t know anyone by your name.”

“Senator, allow me to assure you that no one is eavesdropping on my end. I have no interest in this conversation being overheard. We’re both at risk here. That’s why I called you. I hoped we could help each other.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Sipos, I don’t understand.”

“If it works better for you to pretend ignorance, that’s fine. You can simply listen. I was perusing the news, and much to my shock, I learned that Senator Cooney was killed recently during a prison riot! A sad thing, don’t you think?”

“Certainly.”

“But it did make things easier to figure out. After all, I know it wasn’t me who arranged everything, so that only left you.”

“Dr. Sipos—”

Moric waved his hand dismissively. “Please, Kumar, I have a hell of a headache. Save your protests. I only have two questions for you. First, did you know that Emery Gardner is still alive? And second, are you working with the xenos or doing this on your own?”

It was a small motion, but Sipos saw it. The senator’s head drifted slightly to her right, following her gaze.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” Sipos said. “I didn’t realize you weren’t alone. You don’t need to consult. Put them on. I’d rather speak to them.”

[https://i.imgur.com/6iM8gcI.png]

“What do you mean he isn’t there!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I simply mean he isn’t in his room.”

“He can’t have left the hospital!”

“Maybe he hasn’t.”

“Get security. Have this place searched, top to bottom. I want him found!”

“Is there a problem, Doctor?”

“I don’t know.” Mullen turned away and buried her hands deep in the pockets of her coat. Her thoughts were all swirling around the small scar she’d noticed on the back of his neck.

[https://i.imgur.com/6iM8gcI.png]

Sipos stopped inside Gardner’s room, checking to see if there was anyone there. It was empty. He finished coming inside, locked the door, and turned to look at the ruined man.

“Hello, General. I’d ask you how you’re doing, but I can see the answer perfectly well for myself.”

The machines worked in almost silent harmony to keep Gardner’s vitals up where they needed to be to sustain his existence.

Sipos pulled a syringe from his pocket. “You wouldn’t believe how lax the security is in this place. A smile here. A distraction there. It doesn’t take much to get what you need.”

He attached the syringe to the medicine feed already slowly dribbling into the general’s body. “I doubt you’d thank me for freeing you from this miserable half-life, but we are old friends.”

When Sipos finished his task, he stepped back. “Well, no. I personally wouldn’t have bothered. But there are some people who think that any chance is too big of a chance.” He leaned over the bed. “I think they’re overestimating you. If they only knew what a pathetic man you’d become—you’ve been living a half-life for a long time, haven’t you, Emery? But then you wake up and start to cause trouble. So you can’t be allowed to wake up.”

Moric patted the general’s shoulder. “My good friend, Gardner. You’re welcome.”

[https://i.imgur.com/6iM8gcI.png]

Mullen was always amazed by technology. There she was, on a quaint little planet at the edge of the settled galaxy, but with the help of a monitor and some complex communication networks, she was able to be annoyed by someone thousands of light years away.

“Look, Doctor, if he’s not yours, then he’s not yours! I won’t waste any more of your time.”

“What made you think he was?” The older man’s eyebrows hadn’t unfurrowed since Mullen had introduced herself. His expression had gone from one deep scowl to another.

“The people who brought him in told me he’d been at a mental health institution on P41. It turns out that you’re the only facility on P41 that would fit that description.”

“Who brought him in?”

“I didn’t ask their names.”

“That seems like a rather disturbing lack of curiosity, Director Mullen. In a case like this, knowing all available information would be important, don’t you think?”

“And yet you can’t even tell me if you’re missing a critical patient!”

“What makes you think he’s critical?”

“Because not even the military chips people who’re low priority. I’ve only ever seen them on high security prisoners.”

“He has a chip?”

“He has the scar where a chip might have been removed.”

“And when you scanned his face, you found nothing?”

“Nothing at all.”

The man leaned forward on his desk and interlaced his fingers. “Director Mullen, I’m in no way saying this man is or ever was our patient. However, since we do work regularly with classified information that someone from your planet wouldn’t have access to, I’d be willing to help you find out who he might be. Do you understand me?”

She put a hand to her forehead. “Oh, I think I understand you perfectly.”

The com around Mullen’s neck blared. Even through the patchy connection, the doctor on P41 heard it.

A voice cut out the emergency buzz: “Dr. Mullen, it’s the patient in 4-46.”

Mullen stood up. “I’m sorry, Doctor. I’ll have to call you back later.”

“Wait! Director!”

“Goodbye, Doctor. I’ll be in touch.” She cut the line, threw her coat back over her shoulders, and ran.

A minute later, she burst into Gardner’s room. All she could hear was the long low sound from the machine, telling her the heartbeat was gone. Doctors Richelieu and Kasser were already there. Kasser was standing over the body, his mask around his neck. Richelieu was sitting in a chair with his back to the bed. His half-inverted gloves dangled from his fingers.

“What happened?” Mullen demanded.

A female nurse stood to the side, crying. She was trying hard not to, but the tear-lines had stained her cheeks. The nurse that had been comforting her stepped forward.

“There…” He hesitated. “There might have been a problem with the medication.”

Mullen looked at the young woman. “You’re new here.”

“Yes.” Her voice shook, but she spoke loudly to make up for it.

“You were in charge of administering his last dose?”

Dr. Richelieu stood up from the chair. “She was.”

The young woman said, “I triple checked and verified everything, Director Mullen—”

“Doctor Mullen,” her friend muttered.

“Sorry. Doctor—”

“Never mind that now!” Mullen cried. “You triple checked it?”

“Yes. Three confirmations.”

“Was one of them other-eyes?”

The nurse shook her head. “My eyes, scanned at distribution, scanned at bedside.”

Mullen stepped up to the bed. “What’s your name, Nurse?”

“Angela Sanders.”

“Sanders, is this syringe yours?” Mullen pointed.

Every eye in the room fixed on the bit of plastic attached to the IV unit.

Sanders came forward. “All his medicine had been mixed into the bag.”

“Then I highly doubt this was your fault.” Mullen curled her finger back down. “Richelieu, I want you to lock and seal this room. No one touches anything until we’ve had a chance to fingerprint it all.”

“I’ll get security,” Richelieu grumbled.

“No!” She saw him jump when she barked. In a more mellow voice, she said, “They’re busy, Rich. I trust you. I need you to do this yourself.” The com at her neck chimed again. She growled through her teeth before she pressed the button. “What?”

“Sorry to disturb you, Doctor—”

Mullen closed her eyes. She really needed to stop snapping at people.

“—but I’m required to inform you that there’s a priority private ship requesting permission to land.”

“There are lots of qualified doctors in this hospital—”

“Yes, ma’am. But they aren’t dropping someone off. They’re here to pick them up. I have the passenger they want with me right now. It won’t take more than a minute to get them off again, but I need your permission to give them clearance to land.”

“Fine. Yes.” She took a breath and added, “And thank you.”

[https://i.imgur.com/6iM8gcI.png]

The guard on the roof port nodded to the man beside him. “There you are, sir. Thank you for your patience.”

“It was no problem. I’m sorry it was so inconvenient for you. I take it this isn’t normally done?”

“No, sir. But when you have a high enough priority, you can do almost anything you want.”

“And you don’t need my ID?”

The guard laughed. “I’m in my own world up here. No, I don’t even have a scanner. We never scan on entry and almost no one leaves this way.” He nodded to the ship. “They’re ready for you, sir.”

The passenger ran across the roof over to the lux. The secondary engines were still roaring as he approached. A man leaned out through the open hatch.

“Dr. Moric Sipos?” he yelled.

“Yes, that’s me,” Sipos said.

“Welcome aboard, sir.” The man extended his hand to help Sipos up the short ladder.

“Thank you.” Sipos sighed with relief when the hull cut the noise down to a reasonable level. “Glad to be on board.”

The man kicked the button that would pull the steps back into the side of the ship. “Let’s get you seated, sir. We want to take off immediately.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”