The Scythian Crisis

Chapter Two-1

Chapter Two

Ethan took the prosthetic leg from Dr. Kurtz and examined it, flexing the ankle joint. The device looked similar to his missing leg except that the toes weren’t articulated and there was a cup to accommodate his stump. The material the prosthetic was made from was much harder than human flesh and bone, however.

Noticing Ethan feel the texture of the leg, Kurtz said, “I think it’s made to be very durable, but when it wears out I can make you another. That’s if you don’t want to go with the other option we discussed.”

Ethan put hand into the cup and lifted up his new limb, waggling it, amused at the notion of a foot on the end of his arm.

“Try it on,” Kurtz urged. “It should fit perfectly.” The doctor was squatting at the foot of the bed where Ethan sat in the Mistral’s medical bay. Kurtz seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating Ethan’s prosthetic. From using the imaging scanner on Ethan’s stump and his remaining leg to setting up the printer that created the prosthetic, the doctor had been as enthusiastic as a little boy making a model starship.

Ethan didn’t begrudge Kurtz his fun. The man had been dealing with the injured and sick from the settlement almost non-stop for days. If making a prosthetic leg gave him some pleasure, Ethan was glad. And he would be pleased if it meant he could finally walk normally again.

“Okay,” Ethan said. “Here goes.” He slid the cup onto his stump. It did, as Kurtz had predicted, seem to fit perfectly. What remained of his calf was held within the cup by a gentle, even pressure.

Kurtz pulled on the heel of the artificial leg. “Nice and firm. Try to flex your foot upward.”

Ethan imagined that he was flexing his real foot. To his surprise, the artificial foot moved.

“Excellent,” Kurtz said. “The prosthetic is responding to signals from the nerves in your leg. Now point your foot downward.”

Ethan followed the instruction.

“Now, stand up.” Kurtz supported Ethan’s elbow to help him balance as he climbed off the bed. The three other patients in the bay watched with mild curiosity.

“The good thing is,” Dr. Kurtz said, “you only lost your leg recently. You’ve hardly any muscle wastage and your nerves shouldn’t need reminding of how to walk on two legs. The only difference is you won’t receive any biofeedback from this prosthetic. Your sensitivity stops at the end of your real leg, so it would be a good idea to check the prosthetic every night for signs of damage. It isn’t perfect but it’ll do the job for now.”

Ethan was standing on both legs for the first time since he’d been a prisoner of the threads. The sensation was exhilarating but somewhat odd, though it was quickly becoming more familiar. His stump was giving him no pain.

“Want to try a few steps?” Kurtz asked. “Here, rest your hand on my shoulder.”

Ethan did as the doctor suggested. He moved his good leg first, and then pulled the prosthetic forward. He tried to move it as though it was part of his body but the process wasn’t easy. His mind struggled with the idea. The device also seemed lighter than his leg had been, and it clicked on the hard floor when it landed. He took another step. Click. And another. Click.

“Feels okay,” Ethan said. His nerves were beginning to control the leg. “I’ll see what I can do by myself.” He removed his hand from Kurtz’s shoulder and stepped forward with his left leg. His arms spread out to balance, he moved his right leg. Click. He wobbled but managed to stay upright. Kurtz went to help him but Ethan motioned the doctor away with his hand. “I’m fine.”

Left leg. Right leg. Click. Left leg. Right leg. Click. Ethan had reached the bed of the patient opposite. He gripped the rail. The elderly man gave Ethan a thumbs up.

Ethan turned to make the journey back to his own bed. He completed the eight steps on his own, though at the last step he overbalanced and fell forward, grabbing his bed rail to prevent himself from hitting the floor.

“Great,” said Kurtz. He and the patients clapped. Ethan smiled, feeling a little foolish.

“It is great,” Ethan said. “I think I’ll manage for a long time with this.”

“Hopefully not too long,” said Dr. Kurtz. “You should give the alternative some serious thought. In the meantime, make sure you get plenty of practice before you try to walk on difficult terrain. Like at the settlement. I wouldn’t advise going down there for a while. And definitely no more adventures into the wilds of Concordia.”

“Don’t worry,” Ethan replied. “I’ve had my fill of adventures for a while.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Kurtz said. “I’ll give you some privacy so you can put on your clothes.” He activated an opaque screen that slid out from the wall to surround Ethan’s bed.

After removing his hospital gown, Ethan got dressed, relieved that he would finally be able to make more of a contribution to the recovery of the colony. He’d spent the days since the attack hanging around aboard the Mistral. His injury had prevented him from doing much of anything except hobble about uselessly, reluctant to bother the doctor while he was dealing with more urgent cases.

Ethan would never forget the moment the threads had sliced his leg away without anesthetic. He didn’t think he would ever forget the pain, but he couldn’t deny the creatures had saved his life. And beyond his hope, he’d finally made it home.

But he hadn’t been able to see Cariad since the day of his return. She’d been planetside the entire time he’d been incapacitated, and the limited comm connection had meant they’d also barely had a chance to speak.

He pulled his shirt over his head and bent down to pick up his shoe. He only needed one now, for his left foot. The prosthetic didn’t require a shoe.

When he was dressed, he reached for the button that would send the opaque screen back into its slot, but then someone on the other side of the screen called his name. He recognized the voice immediately.

Cariad!

He pulled back the screen at the join where the two sides met. Cariad was waiting there for him, looking worn out and beautiful.

“Come in,” he said, pushing back the screen further to give her room to step through the gap.

“You’re standing up,” Cariad exclaimed. “You have your new leg? That’s fantastic!”

“Yeah, it works pretty well too,” Ethan replied. “Look.” He raised his right leg and moved his foot up and down.

“Cool,” said Cariad. “No more crutches, huh?”

“Nope.”

They both gazed down at Ethan’s prosthetic foot for a few moments. Then simultaneously they lifted their heads to look directly into each other’s eyes. Cariad moved into Ethan’s arms and rested her head on his shoulder. She hugged him as tightly as she had the moment he’d turned up at the settlement after the threads had released him. He hugged her back, relishing her physical presence.

Their hug lingered. Ethan didn’t want to let go of her. Not after the days and weeks he’d spent held captive while hoping just for a sight of her again. It seemed like Cariad felt the same because she wasn’t letting go of him either.

After a few more moments, his heart thudding so hard he was sure she must feel it, Ethan leaned down and softly kissed the side of her neck. He lifted his head, his muscles tightening. Had he gone too far?

But she was turning her face toward him, her eyes closed. He met her lips with his and sank into heady pleasure and happiness as they kissed.

A minute passed, maybe longer. Ethan could hardly believe what was happening. It was a scene he hadn’t dared to dream of while he’d been in captivity, in case despair overtook him. The dire state of the settlement, the impending alien attack, the pain and suffering he’d endured, everything was forgotten.

Eventually, Cariad began to move away from him. Ethan released his hold on her reluctantly. She grasped his hands and looked up at him, her eyes wide and intense.

“Can you walk already?” she murmured.

“Just about,” Ethan replied.

Cariad pushed the bed screen to one side and led him through the gap. Ethan followed unsteadily, favoring his good leg. They left the medical bay and set off down the Mistral’s corridor.

“Where are we going?” Ethan asked.

“Your cabin. Is this the right way?”

“My cabin? Yes, but... ” Was he presuming too much? He wasn’t sure that he was guessing Cariad’s intentions correctly. Yet what other reason could she have for wanting to go to his cabin? “Isn’t this a little...?” Against his better judgment, Ethan was going to say, fast.

Cariad halted, which brought Ethan to an abrupt stop too. A member of the Mistral’s crew was walking toward them. Cariad waited until the woman had walked past and out of earshot then she squeezed Ethan’s hand as she said, “Before I came to see you, I was at a meeting on the bridge. Ethan, we don’t know how much time we have. Those aliens who attacked us could return at any moment, and when they do they’ll probably bring a fleet of their buddies with them. If that happens, and it probably will, we won’t stand a chance.” She gave his hand another squeeze and her eyes shone as she continued, “Let’s make the most of the time we have left to us, huh?”

Ethan couldn’t have objected to her sentiment if he’d wanted to, which he didn’t. He hobbled and stumbled another few meters until he stopped again and opened a cabin door.

They stepped through the opening and Ethan took Cariad into his arms once more. This time, he didn’t ever want to let go of her again.

***