“Captain Parker, you’re needed,” a young male voice said in that clear, crisp tone of a military officer.
“I’m not leaving my son,” his father said.
“But it is General Intoskin, sir,” the young man’s voice faltered a little. “He asked for you specifically.”
His father let out a sigh and Jace heard him get up. He must have been sitting in a chair by Jace’s side. “All right, I’ll meet him. But you stay outside my son’s room and let no one inside. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir!” Jace could hear the salute in the young man’s voice.
He felt his father’s hand on his right shoulder. “I’ll be back, Jace. Everything will be okay.”
Jace wanted to open his mouth and agree but his lips felt welded together. He felt a brief squeeze and then his father was gone. Jace worked on opening his eyelids and lips. He actually managed to issue a sigh. His eyelids unsealed themselves and he winced as the illumination from the overhead lights was blinding. He lifted his left arm to shield his eyes and saw that there was an IV attached to it. He blinked stupidly. Pain meds? Maybe a liquid form of the drug the doctors here had prescribed for him?
Gehenna?
Jace?
He clutched his temples as pain rippled through him.
I’m sorry, Jace! I’m sorry! But I’m here! You’re so close, Gehenna said. You’ve got to get to me so we can complete the connection.
Her voice then fuzzed out, but he could still feel her.
Now, I just have to get to her.
Jace sat up in bed. Agony poured from his head down his spine and spread to the rest of his body. He collapsed on his side, curling into a ball, holding his head. He felt something hot leak out of his nose and he saw crimson spread across the sheets.
Blood… oh man, this is not good! I have to get to Gehenna!
But he clearly wasn’t going to do it on his own. Maybe when his father returned he could explain…
No, Dad might not help me. He’ll think I’m just sick. Or even if he does believe me, he’ll be afraid that Gehenna will do something bad to me. There’s only one person who's interested in getting me to Gehenna...
“--can’t go in there! Captain Parker’s orders!” The young man’s voice rose up shrilly outside the door.
“I am not bound by your military,” Commander Voor stated coldly. “Remove yourself from my path--”
“No! Captain Parker said--”
“Let him in!” Jace called. There was a confused silence. Jace repeated, “Let Commander Voor in!”
Every single word was like sticking a dagger in his brain and jiggling it about. But he didn’t care. He was willing to shout down the rafters to get the alien in here.
“But you’re father--”
“I know, but I want to see Commander Voor. My father… just didn’t want me disturbed by--by people I didn’t want to see,” Jace said.
Another silence and then the door opened and the alien--the blue alien!--came inside and regarded Jace evenly. Then he saw the blood coming from his nose and it seemed he moved so fast. He was by Jace’s bedside with a gauze he’d grabbed from somewhere cleaning off the blood.
“What is causing your distress?” Commander Voor asked as Jace took the gauze from him and held it to his still bleeding nose.
“Gehenna,” Jace stated.
He realized his error when those blue eyes widened for a moment. “But I thought you said--”
“No! I mean yes, I mean, I need her. She can help me,” Jace told him.
“You are very confusing. I hope that you are not confused,” Commander Voor stated.
