The Archer's Star

Chapter 5

"Sorry, but I can't record the lecture for you, Aleutia." I walk at a brisk pace down the hall to the Med-Vet corridor and she struggles to catch up to me. Her clothes always seem a little too big for her petite frame and she's heaving a backpack over her shoulder that's tilting her entire body sideways.

"But, Laaarrk..," she begs, "Taden has been asking me to meet him for coffee every morning this week. If I say I can't come anymore he's going to find some new girl..," she continues on and I start blocking out her pleas. Aleutia is a good friend, but she doesn't listen or take a hint well.

"If Taden likes you as much as I think he does, I promise he will wait until you can meet up with him." I sigh with exasperation. Every day I continue to tell her this. "I can not go to the lecture today. I have a special meeting I need to attend," I finally concede.

Her eyes widen with surprise, "Ooo.. a special one, huh?" She slings the awkward bag to her other shoulder.

"What in the world do you have in there, anyway?" I question, annoyed that she is taking an interest in my discreet assignment.

She shrugs, "Don't judge me, but I got another pet. He's a bionic puppy, and the cutest thing you've ever seen," she gushes. She flings her backpack over her shoulder and unzips it a bit. A tiny, fluffy white head pops-out and I melt a bit inside. I can see his little robotic eye scanning my face. Aleutia can not help adopting the part-dog, part-robot puppies. She loves animals as much as I do, and most of these animals have had a particularly rough entrance into the world, causing them to have need of electronic replacement parts.

"You are very right. He is adorable!" I can't help but smile and pat his disheveled fur.

We are nearly at the Med-Vet suite's door and I need to be sure she does not see me going to the Rehabilitation Lab. I am not quite sure why I need to be so discreet about this, but I surely don't want to mess up my future in this program. Plus, I am not even sure why Dr. Nera is requesting me...?

"Listen, Aleutia. I am sure we can get the playback from the morning session from someone later. If you need to meet up with Taden, just go," I say. I stop and turn to face her. The more I encourage her to leave quickly, the sooner I can get to the lab on time. "Tell Taden I said hello, and do not spend all morning hiding away making out with him..." I warn wiggling my finger at her.

She giggles and lugs her bag onto her back. "Ok, Lark. I'll meet up with you and Siro at the Gravity-Ball game later, right?"

I nod yes to her and I see the little white head pop up again out of the side of the bag as she walks away.

I am rushing through the entrance of the Rehab lab corridor and I feel a buzzing tingle my text-prompt. I glance down to my wrist and I am completely blindsided by a medical cart half sticking out of a storage closet. I slam into it, the contents clattering to the ground. My heart is beating quickly. I kneel to the floor to begin picking up the mess.

"It looks like you're in trouble there, can I help?" An elderly man stands over me as I pick up the array of mini-laser knives scattered around us.

"Uh... sure," I say, embarrassed, my cheeks flushing bright red.

The man stoops with some difficulty to help me collect them. He groans with effort as he stands back upright, and I wonder why the man offered to help if he can barely bend over.

"Thank you, sir. I'm grateful for your help," I say standing up, and collecting the items from him. I place the laser knives back on the cart. I've never seen him in our small med-vet department before. His eyebrows are harsh and his face is wrinkled, but there is a softness in his eyes.