"BORROWED TIME". (3.1)

BY: MAURICIO ESCOBAR

3.1

 

Harper shook his head and looked at the other one with hopeless features.

-       We need to put him back –he said.

-       No.

-       He’s dead.

-       No…

-       Cap…

-       No!

-       Gershon is going to die in there if we don’t put this guy back.

-       No!

Then, suddenly, the bracelet in the man’s hand emitted a electronic whine after which the green led stopped blinking. Immediately, the alarms moaning in the back stopped their chanting.

-       What happened? –said Meyer.

Harper sighed and returned to the computer panels. Meyer observed the ReLoc and noticed the sluggish up-and-down motion of his chest.

-       He’s back –Meyer gasped from the other side of the room.

The defibrillator was showing the characteristic rough, sharp signal as it beeped rhythmically. Meyer exhaled air noisily.

Harper approached the man and placed the stethoscope on his heart; then, he checked the pupils.

-       Goddammit… -murmured Meyer, trying to overcome the excitement.

-       It was his glucose level… -he said. –Hypoglycemic attack.

-       Will he be alright?

Harper didn’t answer. He was still in his diving suit, soaking wet.

He started disconnecting the defibrillator slowly.

-       Wallace… He’s of no good. We need to put this guy back.

-       What?! –Meyer exclaimed. –But you just revived him. Is he going to be alright?

-       Yes…

-       Then what?

-       The damn counterweights, Captain, it’s all messed up!

The sergeant then pointed at the suitcase. Meyer observed the rectangular silver box attached to the man’s wrist with a pair of cuffs.

-       Now that’s the damn problem, Cap?! You didn’t mention that!

-       I didn’t know!

-       Seriously?

He gazed at Meyer coldly.

-       Seriously, Cap? What is in that suitcase, Cap? –he asked in a flat tone.

-       I don’t know, Dylan.

Meyer walked to the body and lifted the pale man’s hand.

-       Are you kidding me?

-       I’m telling you, Dylan…

-       Do you think I’m stupid?! Look at it! –he said. –He is attached to the case. There was no way Gershon could have cut it off; Gershon knew he shouldn’t but still he relocated him –Harper walked towards Meyer until his nose almost touched the other’s. -What’s in that suitcase so as to make Gershon take such a risk?

The other remained silent, unable to counterargument. The medic rinsed the water and sweats off of his face and shook his head.

-       OK, Captain, don’t answer, I don’t want to know, but you know this guy is of no good –he said.

-       What do you mean? –asked Meyer, eyes wide-open. –You said he was going to be OK.

-       Yes, but he’s not good. Whatever is the suitcase –he explained, -the extra load messed up the Planck Factor, Cap. You might not know everything, but you know how relocations work.

Meyer remained tight-lipped.

-       This Reloc is faulty, Cap, and we need to put him back… -he murmured.

There was a brief, tense silence.

-       It’s my son, Dylan… - finally said Meyer. -It’s my son who we are talking about here and… You’re my brother, for Christ’s sake! There must be something you can do!

Sergeant Dr. Dylan Harper put his hand on Captain Wallace Meyer’s shoulder and spoke to him very slowly:

-       Cap, I need twenty-four hours to complete the surgery on your son… This ReLoc is unstable and won’t last even an hour. I’m sorry. There is nothing I can do…

TO BE CONTINUED...