The Orion Project (Rewrite) (indefinite hiatus)

Chapter 56

Alyssa awoke with a start and sat up quickly, only to clutch her sides and fall back onto the bed. She groaned in pain as a nurse came to check on her. The nurse scanned her with a handheld device before walking away.

Eune was sitting up in his bed tapping away at a tablet. He noticed her and smiled.

"How ya feeling?" He asked.

"Like I had my insides ripped out, stuffed back inside and twisted inta tha world's most complex knot." She groaned.

"Haha! They were worrying over you for a while there." He chuckled.

"Uh huh." She groaned.

"You seem to be doing much better, Zealot." The nurse said. "I'll notify the Doctor and he'll be in to look at you."

"Great." Alyssa sarcastically replied.

The nurse left and Eune set down his tablet, turning to her.

"You doing okay? Seriously, I was worried sick."

"No, no I'm not." She laid her hand across her head.

"Somethin' just feels, wrong. Like, I don't even know how ta describe it." She sighed.

"Can you try to tell me?" He gently asked,

"I guess, it feels like I'm...separating. At my core or somethin'. I don't think I was ready to do what I did." She looked at him with a sad expression.

"Well, that's to be expected." He mused. "We don't know the limits of our abilities. It could be a pushback or something similar. Our bodies may not be ready for that level of power yet."

"But that's tha thing, it felt right at the same time. My bond and I might 'ave separated to some degree but, the power I felt flowin' through me was extreme. I felt the ocean like it was my skin. The waves were my thoughts. It was...I dunno..." She sighed once again.

"Hmm...maybe I should try it later. Maybe I can gauge the power you felt or something." He said.

"Go ahead if ya want ta end up back here." She scoffed. "I could hardly do anythin' after."

"C'mon now, have a little faith in me." He smirked as he gently grasped her hand.

She gave him a challenging smile. "Oh yeah? Like I don't already."

"You're on." He said as the door opened.

Doctor Seraph strolled into the room with a pair of nurses flanking him. Each held a small stack of papers and a tablet. He had his hands clasped behind his back as he neared the two.

"I am glad you are finally awake, Alyssa. Would you mind briefing me of your....condition?" He asked.

"Sure, I can't really refuse." She chuckled.

"Excellent! You stay as well Eune. I want to know more about the telepath you faced."

"Of course."

Solaris followed in behind them and stood by with a small recording device. He whispered something to Doctor Seraph and his expression soured.

"Just tell him to hurry up, we're behind schedule." He hissed. "And get Thorne on the line. He's passed his check in."

"Devon?" Eune asked.

"I sent him on a few assignments while you two were unconscious. We are waiting for his report." Seraph explained.

"Is he in trouble? Should we go help?" Alyssa asked.

"No, these assignments aren't that difficult. It's why I sent him alone. Same with Jason and Blake. Soon, you two will also be sent on solo missions. The other Zealots have been reconfigured into a new squad." He explained.