Return to Earth

Chapter 34

Kierst watched as hooded men forced their way in and held those he knew back with knives and daggers. Shadowed figures entered as he felt himself pinned. Blades neared as he tried to fight them off, but their grip was too strong and his body too weakened.

A familiar voice called out from a distance, but didn't know who it belonged to. "Hold him down."

A hooded, shadowed figure leaned over him as Kierst tried to break free. "Get away from me."

One of the hooded pressed close to his face and spoke with Dune's voice. "Come back to us, Kierst."

Shadows fell away as hoods vanished to replace Dune and Petrovitch in the medical bay. He was sweating from a fire burning within as he tried to understand what was happening. Dune freed his grip, but was too weak to do anything other than keep himself in place.

The words tore at his burning throat. "What happened?"

Petrovitch helped him to sit up as Dune handed him a glass of water. "We headed to the Medjay when you started screaming about your ear. Started to fight people that weren't there and had to hold you down to keep you from hurting yourself. You got a bug of some kind, but can't identify it. Almost lost you a couple of times."

The glass slipped from trembling fingers, but Dune kept it from falling. His hand reached up in disbelief and breathed a sigh of relief when he found his ear where it should be.

Cool water touched his throat, but the burning remained.

Petrovitch continued to hold him up as Dune took his time with the water. "The fever's starting to break. Dune's going to stay with you for a while. Can you sit on your own?"

Kierst waited for the glass to pull away before nodding and felt the burning in his throat. "I think so."

Hands pulled away and almost fell without their assistance. "Maybe later. Best to prop you up until your strength returns."

Petrovitch looked over Kierst's shoulder towards someone who must've been in the room with them. Dune set the glass down before assisting Kierst to turn on the bed. Strong hands from behind could be felt as Victor's smiling face came into view.

Kierst managed to shake his head with great effort before it was tilted back. "Can't be here. Still delusional."

Dune pressed the water to let it cool his throat. "He's here. You've been out a while."

Water dribbled down his chin, but didn't care. "How long?"

Petrovitch stood over Dune's shoulder. "A few days. You just rest. I'll let Commander Lita and the others know the worst is behind you."

Kierst couldn't believe it'd been that long. Dune and Victor nodded without smiles as Petrovitch left the three of them. Water cooled his throat as he tried to understand how so much time had passed.