The Coordinate

Chapter 7: Waking up

            Her eyes opened to bright lights and unfamiliar ceilings. Her head was throbbing, her vision a blur. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, finding herself in a large, purely white, room. With her voice the only thing audible, she was alone in the deafening silence.

            With a dry throat, she called, “Hello?”. Her voice echoed through the empty chamber, and nobody responded.

            Beside her was a glass of water on a table. She reached for it, and a sting pulsed through her shoulder. She retreated her arm, reeling. Her eyes rolled at her shoulder and found her entire left arm and left breast bandaged. She reached the glass with her right hand instead and emptied the glass in less than a second.

            The pain in her body settled in suddenly. Her left shoulder stung, her left upper arm was throbbing, needles were as if pierced into her back, and her head was rolling like avalanches.

            She examined herself. She was now wearing a patient gown with calcium provider and cell generator wires attached to her legs and hips. She lied back on her bed.

            At least the room was nice and cool, she thought.

            The memory occurred to her suddenly in a flash. That novasapien. Her piloting a ship, and a piercing pain on her ribs, like she was shot. She remembered her faintly holding onto threads of her consciousness as that horned man screamed and shouted at her while carrying her on his back so the blackness wouldn’t claim her. She remembered his pained voice. It was full of guilt, failure, and sadness.

            Swallow.

            That was his name.

            She tried to sit up and stand, but her legs couldn’t support her weight. It didn’t hurt. It was no wonder calcium providers and cell generators were employed, but the usage of these technology was expensive. How the hell was she supposed to pay for this?

            The door on the right, and stepped inside was a woman and a male novasapien, both of which she didn’t recognize. They wore a yellow, formal attire that spoke of a high position in the governing body, with matching badges pinned to their chests.

            “Hello,” the woman started, “We’re the Preparatories, a subgroup part of the Council of Sectorates. We’re here to question you some basic information before the Chief Sectorate arrives to question you himself.”

            “Hi…” Winter said, confused.

            “Are you…” the woman said , reading from a projection from her panel-tab “… Winter Swan from Protostar Academy?”

            “Yes, that’s me.” She replied. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in trouble.

            “May we ask you a few questions?”

            Winter nodded, sitting up.

            Both visitors sat on a chair beside the door. The woman was swiped on panel-tab projections of which, as Winter observed, looked like were here files and information. The novasapien beside him looked less than happy for some reason. He wrote on pen and paper, which was extremely rare.

            “You are nineteen years old, hailing from the cold borders of Alaska, and as part of the Collegium Initiative Program, was invited as one of the nineteen of students who passed the Selection, right?

            “That’s right.”

            “So, you are a prodigy.”

            Winter was taken aback, “I wouldn’t say that I am. I failed my test, after all.”

            “Ah, yes. I’ve already skimmed through your test, and we’re sorry that you failed the second test phase. But please, don’t be disheartened. Being a spacer is a  cutthroat affair.”

            Winter laughed nervously.

            “Well, then, may we proceed with more… troubling questions?”

            Winter gulped, “Err, sure. I guess.”

            “So according to this video feed and many other witnesses, you were seen being carried by a strange novasapien. And said novasapien emerged from a spacer ship that was attacking Washington and Ytrial, and so did you.”

            “Oh… I think I remember that part.”

            “What was that individual’s name?”

            “He said his name was Swallow.”

            “How did you come upon him?”

            Winter paused, finding the words and the memory. “I was in the underground saferooms when it happened. He needed for help, and well… that’s mostly all I remember for now.

            “So he coerced you for help?”

            Winter looked aside, “Y-yeah…”

             “So, it was a chance encounter and you were unaware of that man’s motivations?”

            “Er… what do you mean? What happened?”

            The man beside the woman tapped on the hologram coming from his hands. The hologram grew bigger, like a television screen.

            She played the feed, and immediately, horror came upon her expressions.

            Toppled buildings, establishments put out of businesses, and destroyed property strewn all over. The memories flooded back.

            It wasn’t just the exhilaration of flying a spacer ship that she felt. There was also rage. Fiery, unbridled rage. Rage that wasn’t hers.

            I caused this?

            “Approximate property damage reached for about six million credits. Thankfully, there were no deaths thanks to Dr. Raven’s defense designs,” the woman turned to the man, as if hesitant to say her next few words, “but there were hundreds injured.”

            Winter put down the tab, silent. Her expressions frozen.

            “Tell me, Ms. Swan, what do you last remember since getting in on that spacer ship?”

            “I remember flying around, like I was a bird. I remember the wind on my face and I remember wanting to go up.” She said, her voice then sharpened, “B-but I swear I didn’t do any of this! I didn’t intentionally crash down to destroy buildings and-“

            “Okay, okay. You mentioned you felt the wind on your face inside ship?”

            “Y-yes, wait, no. I felt like I was the ship. Like…” she petered out.

            “You don’t have to force yourself, Ms. Swan. We’re not suspicious of you or anything. We trust the Nadir’s judgments after all.

            Winter arched one brow, “The what?” 

            The two visitors paused, keeping silent. “Nevermind that. Anyway, next question-“ the woman’s wrists vibrated. She turned to it, confused.

            “Two of my students are going there now. You’re to leave, Ibis.” A familiar voice came from it. Though the softness of the voice didn’t allow her to recognize it.

            Winter tilted her head, “I…”

            “It seems like we’ll have to leave now, Ms. Swan. Visitation will now be permitted, after which, you will be interrogated further by the Chief Sectorate. Until then, please stay within the care unit and wait until you’ve recovered completely.”

            “Wait!” called Winter, just as the two were about to pass through the door. “What about the novasapien that was with me?”

            “You needn’t concern yourself with him anymore. After all, you won’t be able to ride anymore.”

            “He’ll be taken care of soon.”

            Winter… didn’t know what to feel.

            She was tricked by that man, right? Or was she? Should she be worried? She had too many questions, none of which anyone was giving answers to.

They left the room, leaving Winter to her to be tortured by her thoughts.

“Name, purpose of visit, and name of your guardian, please.” The guard said formally, more robotic than human.

“Jordan Heron. I’m here to visit a girl named Winter Swan.” Said Jordain.

“Rori Moa. I’m with him.

            The guard’s eyes widened. “Your Finch’s student? Do you have proof?”

            “Is proof really necessary?”

            “Yes, this hospital is only for a select few people, but if you really are under. Finch, I’ll be obliged to allow you.”

            “Goddamn it,” spat Jordan, “She didn’t tell us about this.”

            “What do we do now?” Rori said.

            Jordan’s eyes lit up. “Wait, here!” Jordan flicked his wrist, projecting a certain verifier. The guard’s eyes widened, bowed, then opened the gates for them.

            Rori and Jordan nodded in gratitude

            Both stepped inside the building and headed straight for the elevator. Jordan looked straight ahead while Rori looked around, seeing the doors to each room so distant from each other and many people in medical uniforms walked around. So many people must have been injured, she thought. Hopefully, no one got killed.

            “What was that all about?” Rori asked,

            “It’s the Absolute Authority Module Mrs. Finch gave me. I don’t know why they wanted to see it.”

            “Finch must be really popular here, huh?”

            Rori looked around the enclosure. This part of the city was cleaner and much sleeker than where they previously crossed. They felt out of place. Even walking at these very sidewalks felt like a privilege they don’t feel comfortable crossing in. The building itself was a large dome where the rich people were treated. Isolation care units were made for the elites, they were large buildings designed to host one person in spacious rooms with everything they need and want. Nurses, doctors, and people in silken dresses and suits walked about seemingly in a hurry. The air in the building was hot and tense. Everyone was busy, it looked like.

            Jordan beside her was like a machine with a directive that was impossible to override. Uncaring of anyone around him, uncaring what he needs to do. They haven’t even asked where Winter’s room is.

            They stepped inside the elevator alone. Jordan tapped on the third button indicating their destination, and the floor pushed against their feet. Rori was rather uncomfortable with the red, heated aura Jordan emanated. He felt like a bomb about to detonate everytime. They were friends, yes, but they don’t even talk that much

“Wait, where are we going? We haven’t even asked where she is.”

            “I didn’t like how those guys were looking at us,” said Jordan, “Besides, the Module lets me track anyone I need to find.”

            “Like a GPS?”

            “Yeah, something like that.” Jordan turned  to her, “How was it though—manning a real railgun like that?”

            “Felt good, actually. Until I realized I shot down Winter like that.”

            Both fell silent.

            “How do we tell her?” Jordan spoke,

            “We just tell her, plain and simple. It was an accident. We thought she wasn’t in there anymore. She’s a smart woman, she’ll understand, right?”

            “Hope so.” Jordan threw a laugh, “Café after we’re done?”

            Rori lit up, looking at him, “You paying?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Deal.”

            Finally, they arrived on the third floor and walked all the way to room Winter was supposedly held. Two people emerged from room’s door. One a human woman, one a male novasapien, both wearing the same yellow uniform. The woman eyed at their attire with a blank face, then walked away. Jordan recognized the badges in their chests

            “Preparatories” He said, his voice deep and low again, “Say, you don’t think Winter’s going to be in trouble, do you?”

            “I don’t know that. Let’s ask the right questions to the right people. I’m sure you’re dying to see Winter now.”

            “Right.”

            Jordan neared the door and it parted,

            What laid before her was that redhead, donned in a patient’s gown and wires attached to her all over.

            Jordan stayed stood still for a few seconds, debating with himself whether to scream and rage at her, or go near and hug her.

Winter stared at him with guilty eyes and a nervous smile, waving her hand awkwardly.

            Rori rushed from behind Jordan, “Winter!”

            “Rori!”

            They embraced. The needle-like pain in Winter’s back were as if being plunged deeper. Winter immediately backed off, reeling.

            “What’s wrong?” Rori asked.

            “My back hurts a lot.”

            “Winter…” Jordan finally spoke.

            Both fell silent. The air became hot again.

            Rori stepped aside, letting some space for Jordan to come near. Winter gulped, preparing herself for loud bouts of nagging. Jordan walked forward and bent near her. Winter’s gaze was glued down, unable to bring himself to look into his eyes.

            “Look at me.” Jordan said calmly and softly. There was no threatening tone, nor hints of anger.

            Winter did as he asked. Her blue orbs met her brown ones, finding for any sort of hostility, but she only found relief.

            “I take it you were really worried…” she threw a nervous laugh, “I bet I was in your mind the whole day.”

            Jordan went along with it, returning her laugh, “Yep. In more ways than one.” He said teasingly.

            “You pervert.” Winter smiled. This was Jordan alright. She then looked away, “Sorry I couldn’t stay where I was.”

            He reached for her neck and pulled her close to her chest. He was warm. The good kind, and not the kind that made her nauseous. His heartbeat was fast and relentless.

            She then pushed him away, “Ew. Enough mushy stuff.”

            Rori exhaled as she sat on Winter’s bed. “For a second there, I thought Jordan was going to scream at you.”

            “Aww, did you two really think I was that cruel?” he laughed.

            “You beat up and humiliated anyone who dared to make fun of me. You are that cruel.” Said Winter, snorting. “Anyways, thanks for coming here. I really didn’t want to be alone.”

            “You can thank Jordan for that. Guy insisted the entire batch comes to visit you.” Said Rori. “Though, they were all too scared, or busy, or something. Mrs.   allowed us to go thankfully.”

            “Well, they didn’t need to. I appreciate you coming along though.”

            Rori frowned suddenly, “I had to. I was partly responsible…”

            “Responsible for what?”

            Rori glanced at Jordan. Jordan then looked down and scratched her palm.

            “Hey, is there something you two aren’t telling me?”

            “Before we tell you,” Jordan started, “I want to clarify one thing. Were you piloting that spacer ship?”

            Winter looked down and nodded hesitantly.

            Jordan let out a quick exhale. Something in his eyes stirred. Something he didn’t like, and Winter wouldn’t either.

            “Who was that novasapien with you? Why’d you ‘offer’ to help him? What’s his name? Where’d he come from?”

            Winter paused, thinking where to start. “It’s a…. somewhat of a long story. At least for me.”

            “We have all the time in the world,” said Rori, Finch said we’re free to talk  to you until the Chief Sectorate arrives.”

            “In that case, would you bring me some water?”