The Veil

Chapter 6 Nurse Song

Xea watches Dr. White exit the laboratory. She knows he is racing to his office to call the person who can make the Doctor's threat more than idly words. Knowing she needs to circumvent Dr. White's plan to attempt a Phase Conduction Test, likely resulting in Amelia's death. Xea rushes from the lab to make her own phone call.

Xea speeds through the white halls and wonders how such a bright place can feel so dark it echoes her fears. Her hammering heart quickens her pace. Finally, Xea bursts into her office sanctuary; a riot of color and familiarity greets her. To replace the missing window, a large picture of the Pacific Ocean, waves breaking on Twin Rocks, calms her. Walking over the grass green rug past her violet chairs, she slides behind the driftwood desk and briefly admires herself of treasures from the elephant from Thailand to the Tardis from London. Finally, she rests her eyes on her prized possession, a purple flower encased in glass. With each breath of sandalwood and lavender, Xea's heart calms, as all traces of the stench of antiseptic and bleach are washed away.

Picking up the green phone, Xea dials her number. There are no personal cell phones allowed in the Institute, so she has no choice. There is no time to wait for her to clear security and leave for the day. After the seventh ring, the line is picked up. She was under orders only to call in case of an emergency.

The women answers. Yes!

Xea takes a deep breath. Dr. White has Amelia scheduled to do a Phase Conduction test tomorrow. If we make this attempt now, it will kill her and any hope of future success.

The line goes dead silent. Then there is a click. Her southern drawl is calming Xea knows they are taking this seriously since she answered the call herself. 

Are you sure she is not ready?

Pausing to consider her response. Yes, I am sure. Dr. White still has to keep her heavily drugged during each experiment, which fragments her reality. If we want her to control the phase conductivity, she needs to be tied to this reality while allowing herself to experience the other phase simultaneously. Moreover, Dr. White still cannot accurately measure her phase variance and vectors simultaneously. If we attempt this in her current state, she will be caught in the drift and the Doctor will lose her. Like the others.

How long do you need to get her ready for the test?

Well it is more than her that needs to be ready. Doctor White needs to work on his calculations of the phase variance and vectors. But looking just at Amelia that is hard to say;  I think she is almost ready. I would like more time to monitor her and build trust. I have only been here a short time

Okay, I understand; it is too bad we needed you on another matter until now. But, dam it, I might've brought you in too late. So what about other participants, are any of them candidates?

No. Dr. White has burned through most of them, and the others don't have the skill set.

I'll make the necessary calls to hold off this experiment, but the reprieve will be brief. Dr. White is not the only person anxious to see just what this girl can do.

The line went dead. Looking around her office no matter how brightly Xea colors this place, it still seems oppressive. This assignment is becoming much more complicated than she initially thought, but she has some time to maneuver.