Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 8

*ONE WEEK LATER*

CYBERLINK COVE (SKYHOOK ISLE)-2077

 ((Chapter dedicated to mrsmars123 who made the awesome cover to the right!))

“From what I can tell, she’ll need to be in the hospital for more than just another week or so,” Dr. Morgan whispered, trying not to wake Mina.

 

Marissa listened, but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about the pirates’ plan. It was to be executed that night.

 

“Marissa?” Dr. Morgan asked, and Marissa snapped to attention.

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“I asked, how is she holding up?”

 

“Oh! As well as it would be expected in this kind of situation, I guess. We’ve started giving her soup and mushy foods, but I’m afraid once she’s released from the hospital, they’ll stop feeding her again,” Marissa said softly.

 

Dr. Morgan nodded, a hint of sadness on her face. “There’s nothing we can do about that. She’s a pirate, and from what I’ve heard, one of the higher-ups. The president won’t show any mercy. He’ll break her down, until she dies or she tells him everything he needs. Then he’ll either kill her or keep her in solitary confinement for the rest of her life,” she said. “I’ve seen too many cases like these in all my years here.” Dr. Morgan shook her head sorrowfully. “However, I suppose I should be grateful to the government protecting me and all,” she said, sighing.

 

“From the pirates?” Marissa asked.

 

“Yeah, from the pirates, though an injured person is an injured person, no matter what they call themselves, no matter what they’ve done.” Dr. Morgan trailed off, seeming to be lost in a reverie. “Anyway,” she said, her tone suddenly sharp, “try to feed her small pieces of solid food today, and give her a lot of water. I’ll see if I can manage to buy her some more time.” With that, Dr. Morgan walked out of the room, her shoes clicking softly against the tile floor.

 

Marissa sat down by Mina and checked her vitals. Thomas arrived, relieving Ria Sonawane of her duty-she had been added to the security team. She was a graceful woman with bronze skin, descended from the original inhabitants of Cyberlink Cove. She had a stick-thin figure, dark cinnamon hair, and large, almond-shaped eyes that were a clear, golden color. Sonawane was a quiet woman, though she had an aura of command surrounding her, and she wouldn’t hesitate to carry out the president’s orders.

 

Mina’s eyelids fluttered, and she opened them fully. “Hey there,” Marissa smiled. “You alright?”

 

Mina grinned tiredly. “Hi Mar! And yeah, I’m good,” she replied, though Marissa caught her wince slightly as one of her wrists brushed against the handcuffs.

 

“Can you sit up so I can see how the cuts are healing?” Marissa asked. Mina sat up, leaning forward slightly. Marissa peeled off the old bandages and replaced them, taking note of the slightly less angry wounds. After she finished with Mina’s back, Marissa moved on to her arms and legs, then her ribs. She was exhausted after the entire ordeal.