Alec wandered randomly down yet another corridor, lost in his increasingly worried thoughts. He knew he didn’t have any choice; he couldn’t see any option other than the one he’d chosen. He felt distinctly uncomfortable and why, exactly, he couldn’t decipher. The actual argument between Logan and Kholar was now a foggy memory. Obviously he’d been more upset at the time than he’d thought. His brain was usually a lot sharper than this. Two voices cut through his worries, abruptly focusing his attention.
“If he dies, the plan is finished.”
Alec stopped. His feet had unconsciously brought him to one of the places in the base that was familiar: the medical facility. The voice was familiar too. He peered around the edge of the divider wall that separated the corridor from where the beds were located. Martje, the chief medic, was standing next to one of the raised medical beds and waving a large reddish lump of glistening crystal over a sheet covered figure. Alec could only see the patient’s pale bare feet. On the other side of the bed, Anna stood with her arms crossed and an expression of cold detachment etched across her features.
“There will be another opportunity. Darius has discovered a stronger one.”
Martje glanced up briefly. “Stronger than himself?” She sounded impressed but skeptical.
“I have not run a thorough scan. When we find him and transport him here, you will have ample opportunity to evaluate his potential. I am assured it will more than suffice for our purpose.”
Alec bit his lower lip as an uncomfortable shiver ran down his spine. Was it possible they were talking about him? And what purpose were they talking about? Defeating the Others or, he wondered with a sinking feeling, something else? He silently straightened up and took a step backwards. For reasons he couldn’t explain to himself, he suddenly didn’t want Anna to see him.
He turned and started to walk away, keeping his head down so it wouldn’t be seen over the top of the divider wall. Two Operatives passed him as they headed towards Med Ops. Both gave him a curious look but said nothing. He avoided their eyes and kept going. He couldn’t risk confirming who was lying on that bed.
“Potential, what are you doing here?”
Alec stumbled to a halt. The Operative looked vaguely familiar, although Alec couldn’t put a name to his face. He was imposingly tall, with granite features, pale grey eyes and a demeanor that brooked no arguments. Alec had a chemistry teacher just like him in grade ten. Best class he’d ever taken.
“I’m waiting for Commander Kholar,” Alec responded, remembering just in time to add Kholar’s rank in a deferential tone. “He’s taking me with him.”
“Why are you near Med Ops?” the man demanded. “Are you ill?”
“No,” Alec shook his head. “I was just wandering around.”
“Tyrell, accompany this Potential to Med Ops.” Anna’s sharp voice cut across the distance. Alec turned. She was standing at the entrance to Med Ops and staring directly at him. She must have heard his voice.
Tyrell’s hand came down on Alec’s shoulder with the weight of the world behind it. There was no choice but to turn around with the man’s slight push and retrace his steps. Tyrell shadowed behind him. Anna didn’t take her eyes off him as he passed her and entered the small area designated for medical care. The minute he was within arm’s length of Anna, Tyrell turned and left. Alec’s eyes were immediately drawn to the figure laying on one of the raised medical beds.
Darius’s skin was deathly white and his eyes were closed. Only the rapid rise and fall of his chest and a rattling grunt with each breath indicated he was still living. Two medical personnel approached from behind a divider wall and after a nod of Martje’s head, held out their orbs over his forehead. Both closed their eyes in concentration.
“Is it true he’s going to die?” the female on Darius’s right asked Martje.
The older woman was peering at a monitor screen and didn’t turn around. “Likely but not certain.”
Alec found himself gripping the edge of the bed. What had Darius been doing?
“And the Potential he saved?” the woman continued.
“In a state of dis-derridement.” Anna responded. She caught Alec’s eye for a moment but nothing in her expression gave away that she already knew him. “I have sent an officer to retrieve him.”
“Dis-derridement is very nasty,” Martje murmured. She seemed mildly distracted with something that had just rolled across the screen.
At that moment another Operative entered behind Alec. He jumped slightly at her voice. “There was a message from the Council,” she said to Anna. “Kholar instructed me to hold it until you returned.”
Anna focused her attention on the woman, who took a nervous step backwards and clasped her hands behind her back. “What was the content of the message, Bryn?”
“Location of time shift verified and coordinates attached,” Bryn stated as if reading aloud. “Tyon signature confirmed but no previous match reported. Investigation to focus on new Operatives and Potentials. The coordinates are encrypted and in your personal file.”
Martje straightened and gave Anna a sharp look. Anna nodded towards the messenger and refocused her attention to Darius. Bryn ducked her head and backed out. Alec watched her leave.
“A time shifter?” the medic with the strident voice spoke up. “Here? On this miserable planet? Are they sure?”
Martje spoke when Anna didn’t respond. “It seems so, Leezl. The Council is on the hunt for him or her. All of us should review the skills of our companions and the newest among us. The shifter must be found and stopped.”
Leezl wrinkled her nose. “How much damage have they done? Does anyone know?”
Anna shook her head. “There is little information as to the results and influences this particular individual has made. We have no data that multiple shifts have taken place or that the current shift was significant.”
“They are all significant.” Even with the limited emotional responses, the air crackled between the two women. Leezl continued, “Even the smallest change can have wide-ranging consequences. That’s the reason shifters are banned. Everyone knows this.”
Alec chewed the inside of his lip. It wasn’t going to take long before they figured it out. Despite his sudden concern for Darius, there was no way he could stay. Any second someone was going to notice him, realize he was very new, and put two and two together and come up with five. If they forced themselves into his head, they’d know.
He inched himself backwards, keeping his face expressionless, almost willing himself to take up less room and be unnoticeable. Anna was staring into the depths of her orb and Martje had resumed staring at her screens. Both medics had their eyes closed in concentration again. Alec took another two steps and turned around.
“Potential,” Martje barked from the head of the bed. All eyes turned towards him. Alec froze. “Return to the bedside.”