The Earth Chronicles

Chapter Four-2

THREE DAYS LATER, SAYEN could sit up, and she was eating, drinking, and speaking normally. She was still experiencing the sheer joy of being alive. She would spend hours looking out the window, studying every feature of the hospital’s lavish garden. Each flower, plant, insect, and bird delighted her. She felt like she’d never truly appreciated how beautiful the world was until she’d been nearly taken from it.

The hospital was wonderful too. Everything was so clean. She couldn’t have wished for a neater or more dirt- and germ-free room.

Her doctor had told her that the next day she could begin learning to walk, and that to pass the time, she was allowed to start having one or two visitors. She’d known exactly who she’d wanted to see and she’d made a couple of calls before pleading with her parents to take a break and have some time to themselves when her visitors arrived. Her real reason for asking them to leave her alone was so that they wouldn’t overhear upsetting details about what had happened aboard the Galathea.

The next day, a face appeared at the small window in her door. Sayen grinned and waved Harrington into the room.

“You get sick in style,” were the security officer’s first words as she came in.

“Thanks for coming. I’m not sick. I’m here to get better.”

Harrington perched on the edge of her bed, squashing the mattress.

“Is Lingiari coming too?” she asked Sayen.

“No, I can’t contact him.”

“Must be busy with his parents.” The woman studied her. “You look...totally the same.”

Sayen laughed. “What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know. I thought you could choose what you wanted for your new body? Like, height, size, shape, hair, eye, and skin color. Everything.”

“I suppose I could have, but I didn’t want to. I just asked for a clone. Are you saying there’s something wrong with how I look?” She laughed again. “Seriously, why change anything? I like the way I am. And so do my parents. They’ve gotten used to the old Sayen. If I looked any different, it would be weird.”

“I guess so,” said Harrington. “But...are you sure you wouldn’t rather be a little taller?”

The security officer maintained a deadpan expression long enough for Sayen to begin to look outraged, then both women burst into giggles.

As their laughter subsided, Sayen said, “I’m not totally the same, you know.”

“Really? What’s different?”

“Well, for one thing...I, er...I know, I’ll show you. Let’s arm wrestle.”

“Sure,” said Harrington, her eyebrows rising. She pushed her sleeve up to her elbow and rested it on the bed tray. Sayen did the same and grabbed the woman’s hand. In a matter of moments, Harrington’s forearm was flat against the tray.

“Woah,” she said. “Let’s try again. Maybe you caught me by surprise.”

Harrington lasted a few moments longer the second time, but her victory was just as decisive.

“That’s amazing. Is it just your arms that are stronger, or are you like that all over?”

“My muscles are enhanced with synthetic fibers,” Sayen said. “And that’s not all.” She paused dramatically.

“Go on, tell me what else you’ve had done.”

“Enhanced hearing and sight. And my skin can withstand freezing and boiling temperatures.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. It sounds like you didn’t come too badly out of nearly dying.”

“Huh, yeah, well, I’d rather that hadn’t happened, but I’m not complaining about the end result. Though I think my parents’ accountant might be. You know, Jas, I used to be so afraid of everything. I wouldn’t even set foot on an alien planet.”

“I remember.”

“Something’s changed in me. When I came so close to dying, I realized I’d never really lived. Do you know what I mean?”

“I guess so.”

“After I get my strength back, I’m not going to hide away anymore. I’m going to take risks. I’m going to live my life to the full, even if it means a little danger now and then.”

“That’s great. I’m happy for you. Just...take things easy at first, okay?”

“Of course I will. But what’s been happening? What are the results of the investigation? Have they arrested Haggardy yet?”

“No, not yet. I told them everything that happened, and they said they’d let me know the verdict, but I haven’t heard anything so far, and there’s been nothing on the news. I wish they’d hurry up. I just want to move on, you know? It’s been longer than a week. I’m ready to sign up for another mission.”