A Distant Future

A Distant Future Part 20

The flight to the colony took us most of the day and three times I almost let my personal demons scare me out of trying. The last time it took Darius holding me and letting me cry and talk about all the hell I put everyone through before they removed the chips messing with my emotions and thought process. In the end he talked sense into me and cheated by telling me believed in me and loved me.

I shuddered and cried as I flew over the canyon and pointed out the cave and then pointed out where the rocket exploded and almost killed me. "I promise that when we have finished healing everyone that we will stop here again to confront your demons and exorcise them as it were. You are braver than you know. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help and admit that it is needed."

It was almost sunset when we finally came flying out of the canyons in search of Alena's ship and her homestead. It was easier to spot the colony than it was to find Alena's ship she had concealed it so well. After searching until almost sunset with no luck we gave up and flew on towards the colony on the other side of the lake.

It was not much of a surprise when several lights came on and illuminated the clearing in the center of the colony. We had been spotted and were expected. Darius seemed a bit surprised to see that they expected us. Before we were halfway across the lake Melina flew up to meet us. It is still going to take getting used to her flying

"Hi Susan! You feeling better now?" "Getting there. Did you turn on the lights or did Alena spot us?" "Alena saw you way up in the canyons and was waiting for you. Is he your husband?" "Actually, we have been too busy to think about it much yet , so not yet. We came to see if Alena could maybe help us." "Let's go see! She's with Mitch helping fix some things."

I looked at Darius nervously a moment and he merely smiled then reached out and took my hand. Just that simple act alone helped calm my nerves immensely. We landed a few minutes later and I held onto Darius to make sure he was okay and to steady my nerves. Darius was not looking so good as he got his balance. The disease was taking it's toll on him and it suddenly hit me that I had foolishly exposed Melina.

Melina came running back towards us and I yelled at her to stop. "Melina,stop! We're contagious! Don't come too close!" Melina stopped in her tracks and looked at us confused. "Get Alena, please! I don't want you to get sick as well!" Melina took off to the power distribution station and returned a few minutes later with Mitch and Alena.

Alena took one look at me holding Darius and ran straight for us with a scanner in hand. If I had not been holding Darius he would have fallen from exhaustion. Alena scanned us both and then Grabbed Darius on the left while I held his right side. "Help me get him to the ship! He's got at most an hour before he dies without treatment!" Mitch Joined us we took Darius across the lake to a well concealed homestead and Alena's ship.

Alena wasted no time in getting Darius into the ship and then into the medical pod. Her hands flew over the controls while I watched with worry. "How far has it progressed?" Alena pulled up a scan and let me see it. I looked at it then ran my hands over the controls to tighten the scan to certain areas of the body that the virus liked to attack the heaviest. I wanted to hit something in frustration. The damned virus was trying to mutate and speed up the deadly process.