“Again? Just many times have you busted that eye?”
“This is my fourth time,” Rys admitted sheepishly. “They’re a little, umm, fragile, and I have a real knack for attracting hits to the head.”
That much was obvious. “How long have you had your implant? It must be state of the art, I couldn’t tell it from the real thing.”
“About three years, now.”
Anne did the math automatically in her head, without thinking about it, and frowned at the conclusion. “How old are you, Rys?”
“Seventeen.” He stared straight ahead, not looking at her.
“…you’re telling me that you lost that eye when you were fourteen?” The realization, with all of its implications, chilled her to the bone. What in the world had he been involved in that would cost him an eye?
He was stiff and wary again, evaluating her mood with weighted caution. “Affirmative.”
“How did you lose it?”
“I didn’t duck quickly enough.” He said lightly.
Anne didn’t need to ask another question. She could put the pieces of the puzzle together, without the benefit of seeing the picture on the box. All of the little things were beginning to add up now, and she didn’t much care for the image forming in her mind. His manner of speaking, the excessive politeness, the unusual metaphors that he used as a reference, everything was skewed toward space or the military. His very deliberate way of standing, and moving, she could now see was military bearing; not to mention the interesting coincidence of which household he resided in at present.
Oh yes, Anne was beginning to understand a great many things.
Toward the end of the war, Fourth Colony had been conscripting young men and women of all ages into the military, desperate for soldiers. When you were fighting for your very existence, you didn’t have the luxury of enjoying a childhood. Her father had told her that some the youngest soldiers were only fourteen years old. Those were trained soldiers! How old were they when they entered the military?
Rys had obviously been one of those soldiers.
That must be why Admiral Bloch took him in. Because Rys was military, and they felt he would adapt and transition more easily, having at least one military foster parent.
Anne shook her head, putting that thought aside to ponder later, when she had more time to think. She needed to focus on where she was going now, and why.
Anne shifted back to the more practical questions, the ones that didn’t disturb either of them as much. “Does Mrs. Bloch know about that eye of yours?”
“Affirmative, both Jeremy and Sara know. I’m not sure if they have told the kids.” He blinked, as if he had only just thought about his recently acquired siblings. “You need to take a starboard turn here.”
Anne took the turn he indicated, noting the military term for right. “I’m hoping that the doctor responsible for your implant survived Fourth Colony’s evacuation?” A disturbing number of people hadn’t.
“Fortunately for me, he did. Doctor Allen Barnes is his name. He’s currently stationed at the New Edwards Army Research Facility.”
“That’s good.” Anne was briefly buoyed up by the thought that she would at least be able to get him to an expert for help.
“This is the house.” Rys pointed to a brick two story dwelling that certainly had a number of kids living in it, judging from all the toys scattered around the yard.
Anne pulled into the driveway behind a huge van and parked. She barely had the car door open when an attractive woman with a soft, maternal figure came running out of a side door.
“Arystair, the school just called and told me what happened,” she was saying as she approached him. “Which eye was hurt? Oh, my!” She was close enough to see his damaged eye for herself.
Rys gave her a helpless shrug and a faint smile. “I blocked the racket, but it still managed to hit the eye. Anne tells me that she can actually see cracks in it.”
Mrs. Bloch blinked, her head turning in Anne’s direction. She had been so focused and intent on Rys, that she hadn’t even noticed Anne until this moment.
“I don’t believe the two you have met yet.” Rys looked between his new Mother and his new friend. “Anne, this is Sara Bloch. Sara, this is Anastasia Dorian, a good friend of mine.”
Sara’s eyes widened slightly. She obviously recognized Anne’s last name. Anne smiled easily, and extended her right hand. “It is nice to meet you, Mrs. Bloch.”
“And you, Miss Dorian. I wish it were under better circumstances. Thank you for taking care of Arystair.”
“He would have done the same for me.” That could have been taken as a dismissal, but Anne wasn’t about to let this go. She intended to see for herself that Rys was taken care of immediately. She came around the front of the car so she could stand next to him, clearly signaling she was staying. “Rys, let’s get inside and locate the number for Doctor Barnes. Do you think he will be able see you today?”
Rys had a stricken smile on his face. “Oh, Doc will see me today. Just so he can have the pleasure of yelling at me for demolishing another eye. He would gladly clear his entire schedule for that reason alone. I just hope that he has another ocular replacement built, or that he can at least repair this one. Otherwise, I could be wearing a black patch for a while.”
That was a wrinkle Anne hadn’t even thought about. There probably weren’t too many implants like the one that Rys possessed. With the strain that the war had put on Fourth Colony’s resources, a replacement was definitely something to worry about.
“I think we better call Jeremy, too,” Sara said firmly. “Let’s go inside.”
Anne followed them into the house, looking around as she entered. It was a nice place, large, and decorated in a muted style of tans and blues and greens. They went to the kitchen, obviously the gathering place for the family. There were stacks of books, papers, toys and all sorts of miscellaneous “extras” lying around.
Anne and Rys took a seat at the breakfast bar, sliding up onto the tall bar stools and waiting for the phone.
Sara immediately picked up the phone and quickly dialed in a number. “Jeremy? We have a problem at home. Yes, one of the kids. Arystair was hurt in gym class a little while ago. Yes, I would say it is serious, he damaged his right eye.”
Even five feet away, Anne could clearly hear a male voice come back with a dismayed,
What?!
“Yes, I’m afraid the ocular implant is damaged. I can see cracks in it… Wait, I’m not sure.” Sara lowered the end of the receiver for her mouth and looked at Rys. “Arystair, can you see anything at all out of that eye?”
“No, it is absolutely black; I am not picking up any inputs. It actually started smoking right after the impact, so I had to shut it down.”
Sara looked decidedly alarmed by this piece of news. “Oh, no! Jeremy? He said that it started smoking so he had to shut if off… Yes, it sounds pretty serious to me… Well, Arystair knows where a doctor is that is qualified to help him.”
Anne tuned her out and turned to her friend. “Rys? Is there anything we can do to help that eye right now?”
“Not a thing,” he admitted with a resigned tone in his voice. “I wish there was. But the only person that really understands this technology is Doc, he helped develop it.”
“Do you know his number?”
“Yes.” Rys acted like that should be common knowledge.
It didn’t surprise Anne. Rys seemed to know practically everything. If he could instantly memorize a text book, knowing his doctor’s phone number was a given.
Sara ended the conversation with her husband, broke the connection, and then handed it to Rys. “Let’s see if we can’t get in touch with that doctor.”
Rys dialed in the number like he knew it by heart, which of course he did. It rang twice before he said, “Hey Doc. This is Rys.” Then he winced. “You are right on the money, that’s exactly why I’m calling… Don’t yell at me, Doc, I promise you it is not my fault this time! I did too take evasive action.” He sounded indignant, and annoyed. “No, it’s broken, very broken. It started smoking, so I had to shut it down… Well, my friend Anne tells me she can see cracks on the surface. What?”
Anne was puzzled when he glanced at her.
Why is he blushing? What did that doctor just ask him?
“…no, she’s not your run of the mill generic civilian. She’s more worried about me than the eye. But you’re getting me sidetracked, Doc. Can you fix this thing? Oh. I was afraid of that. Well, do you at least have a spare lying around? Really, that is surprising!” He brightened a little, looking more at ease and confident. “Excellent! When can you see me? Now?” Startled, he met Sara’s eyes. “Hold on, Doc.” Lowering the phone, with his hand over the mouth piece he asked her, “Sara, you need to pick up the kids from school pretty soon, correct?”
Sara nodded, appearing worried and frustrated. “Yes. And I believe that Jeremy is going to be stuck in meetings most of the day, probably until six. Where is your doctor located?”
“He is stationed at the New Edwards Army Research Facility.”
Sara’s face visibly fell at that revelation. “That’s an hour drive from here, at least.”
“I can take him,” Anne offered. She folded her arms over her chest when they both looked at her in surprise. “Why not? I have a car, I have the time, and I already know about the eye. Besides, I want to see for myself that Rys is going to be all right. Mrs. Bloch, you could meet us there after you take care of your other children.”
She didn’t look entirely sold on this notion, but she didn’t immediately offer an objection. “Well…Arystair, how do you feel about this?”
“I think Anne can be trusted to get me to the Base safely,” he answered quietly, looking straight at Sara. The confident look he gave Anne made her flush with pride, and embarrassment. Putting the phone back to his mouth he said, “Sure, Doc, I am leaving right now. Expect me in about an hour. No, my friend will be driving me in. My mother has to pick up my brothers and sisters. Sir, none of us has a personal vehicle yet. This snag would just unduly worry them anyway. I have confidence in Anne.” He rolled his good eye. “Now you’re being overly cautious, Doc, I will be fine. Savar, out.”
Savar, out? That settles it! He was definitely in the military. Normal people would just say good-bye. And who was the ‘us’ he was referring to?
“I think it might be best if we change out of our gym clothes first.” Anne gave a rueful look at the sweaty shirt and shorts she was still wearing. “I’ll jam home and be back to pick you up in about ten minutes, all right?”
Rys glanced down, noticing his own attire for the first time. “That’s probably a good idea. Doc is going to be mad enough as it is, I don’t have to shove him over the edge with my smelly gym clothes. Anne…thanks, for all of this.”
She gave him a casual, but distinct salute, as she stood up to go. “It is my pleasure to serve.”
He gave her a startled look, freezing in his chair. His reaction amused Anne no end.
Yeah, you didn’t realize how much your actions were giving away, did you? I should have realized you were military much sooner. Your age fooled me, so I wasn’t paying as much attention as I should have. That won’t be a problem in the future.
Satisfied that she had successfully relayed her message, she headed for the door. “Be back in ten.”
***
Rys was ready in five minutes, dressed in his black uniform fatigues. He didn’t see any reason to not be in his uniform, as Anne had obviously figured out that he was in the military.
She’s sharp. Very sharp. Just when did she realize what I am? Today? Or was it sooner?
He met Sara as he went into the living room to wait.
“Arystair, are you sure that is a good idea?” she nodded to indicate his uniform.
“Affirmative. This is an official formation, and I’m going to an army hospital, Sara. I would get strange looks if I was in civvies, and probably get stopped a dozen times. This will make life easier all around.”
“Yes, but your friend…”
“She’s obviously figured out what I am, at least in part,” Rys said firmly. Sara hadn’t caught the reference like he had. What Anne said was almost a direct quote from the Fourth Colony military slogan.
And where had she learned that? That’s another interesting question I don’t currently have an answer to.
“She knows I’m military. The uniform won’t be a surprise to her.”
Sara looked frustrated, as if he weren’t picking on something very obvious. “Arystair, there is no mistaking that as a Special Forces uniform. I thought you were supposed to be keeping a low profile, for the time being.”
Ah, that was the problem. “Sara,” he patiently replied, “the only teenage soldiers in the Fourth military
were
Special Forces. Anne knew enough to recognize that I am military. It is clear that she knows that much, so she’s going to come up with the rest of it, if she hasn’t already. It will take all of five minutes on the ‘net to give her the information she is lacking, if she knows the right questions to ask.” He would bet a month’s pay that she did.
Sara frowned, her eyes lowering to the floor. “I suppose I shouldn’t worry about this anyway, considering who she is.”
An alarm immediately sounded in the back of his head. “What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t you know?” Sara looked back up at him, puzzled at his question. “Anne Dorian is Vice-Minister Dorian’s oldest daughter.”
Vice-Minister Dorian? Would that be the same Dorian who was the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs?
Oh boy! That certainly explains a lot. No wonder she was so fluent in the etiquette in this culture. And no wonder she easily recognized Fourth Colony customs. She’s probably been exposed to a lot of my countrymen just by being around her father.
Rys made a mental note to get the chip in his head checked. Obviously a few synapses up there weren’t firing on all lines. His powers of observation seemed to be nil these days. Dorian isn’t a common name.
I should have realized all of this sooner. I’m glad the guys don’t know about this; they’d laugh themselves hoarse about how obtuse and clueless I’ve been.
There was the honk of a car horn from the driveway that broke his chain of thought. It was time to face the music.