Disclaimer: All the characters associated with Doctor Who belong to the BBC. I am simply borrowing them for entertainment purposes.
Reunion and Betrayal By SparksJSH
Chapter 1
The lab was every scientist's dream come true for a workroom. Beakers and microscopes of various sizes and strength filled a long table along one wall. One whole wall was lined with shelves filled with scientific journals and manuals in various languages. It was obvious that every aspect of the laboratory had been carefully considered and well thought out by its designer who could only be a scientific purist at heart. Of the whole of the vast Terminus hospital, this was the safe haven and refuge for its director. Even now, the petite young woman with long curly brown hair was contently stirring a beaker of bluish gray liquid and humming softly to herself. Since Terminus had grown into a reputable hospital for treating victims of the dreadful Lazar disease, Nyssa of Traken had found very little time to pursue any personal scientific pursuits. Even now she half expected to be interrupted by someone with a problem wanting her to solve it as soon as possible.
"Warning! Pyridian levels approaching critical. Pyridian suppression will commence in one minute. Please evacuate."
Turning to a communication panel on the wall, Nyssa quickly punched in a code. "Computer, display current pyridian levels."
"Pyridian levels within norms."
The twenty year old frowned. For the last several days, the computer had been issuing false alarms. So far the warnings had just meant more nuisance work for the already busy technicians. Though her best computer diagnostician had assured her he could find nothing wrong within the programming, Nyssa was worried that this was only the beginning of the problem with the new computer system. "Computer, cancel pyridian suppression order, authority Alpha Charlie Omega 73862."
"Warning canceled."
Nyssa knew that she should report the false alarm to Valgaurd but she wasn't ready to give up her precious personal time in the lab to make such a report. Besides with all the other problems that the computer had caused lately, delaying this report wouldn't hurt anything. She returned to the mixture she'd been stirring and debated whether to add the cabon or the metria next.
"Warning! Room now sealed for Pyridian suppression. Anyone still remaining in the room should don protective covering immediately, suppression now commencing."
Nyssa dropped the beaker she'd just picked up. It smashed to the floor and the bluish gray liquid splashed over her shoes. She'd canceled the warning but apparently the computer had reinstated the fail-safe procedure. Any moment now Flurion gas would be released into the room, a gas that would sear any flesh it came into contact with. Racing across the room, she pulled opened the emergency hatch and pulled out the protective blanket and threw it over her just as a loud hiss signaled the emission of the Flurion gas.
The protective covering kept her skin from being burned but her lungs quickly tightened as the gas made breathing difficult. Her breath started coming in short painful gasps and darkness started nibbling at the edge of her consciousness. Just as she was about to pass out completely she heard the ventilation system kick in to pull out the Flurion gas. A few moments later the door swished opened and several men in protective suits rushed in. Nyssa felt the blanket being pulled from her and her limp body was gathered tenderly into the arms of one of the men.
"By strewth, it's the Director. Quick, give me the Trioxin spray." He barked out the order and a moment later he placed a hypo spray against the young woman's neck and depressed the trigger.
"The room is clear." A man holding a scanner assured the men before pulling off the protective mask. "How is she? Do I need to call for a medical team?"
Pulling off his own mask, Bor studied Nyssa carefully. He was relieved when her breathing returned to normal and she offered him a wan smile.
"I'm fine. I don't understand..." A fit of coughing interrupted her explanation. She winced as the cough caused her chest to hurt even more.
"Don't try to talk, Nyssa. The Trioxin will counter the worst of the effects of the Flurion gas but you still need to take it easy. Perhaps we should take you to one of the wards and let Dr. Myak check you over." The aging Vanir fussed over her.
Nyssa shook her head. "The doctors are busy enough." She allowed Bor to help her to her feet. She swayed a little uneasily and Bor wrapped his arm around her waist protectively. He led her out of the lab, leaving the other men to check the malfunctioning system.
"Yes, but the Trioxin is already making you drowsy. You need to sleep off the rest of the effects and the only way anyone in this hospital is going to allow you to do that is if you are under a doctor's care."
His concern was so touching that Nyssa couldn't help but smile. "Do you really think that is going to stop them? Really Bor, I promise I'll sleep. I don't think the Trioxin will give me any other choice."
As if to emphasize that point, she sagged against him weakly as her legs gave out on her. With a worried frown, Bor swung her small lightweight frame up into his arms. Once at her quarters, he used an override code to open the lock and enter the room. The room was simply furnished and well kept. He gently placed his young friend on her small bed and covered her with a light blanket. For a moment he stood there and watched her sleep. He worried about her; worried that the demands of the hospital and the problems with the computer were going to take their toil on her. In the two years she'd been with Terminus, she'd more than proven that she gave 150 percent of herself for everyone. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the constant giving without taking time for herself would one day catch up to her.
"Computer, block all incoming transmissions to the Director and silence this room's door chime until 0800. Security code Beta Delta 3Niner46."
"Acknowledged."
Leaning down, he brushed a soft curl from Nyssa's peaceful face. "Sleep well, child. Sleep well."
Once he left her room, Bor let his worry over his young friend change to anger. "Computer, locate Valguard."
"Valguard is in his office."
With his jaw set, Bor strode down the habitat corridor and then swung left into the administrative corridor. Barely taking the time to knock, the older man burst into Valguard's office. The slightly younger man looked up at him in surprise but then frowned.
"Bor, I'm glad you are here. What happened in lab 12?"
"I'll tell you what happened. That blasted computer nearly killed our Director with Flurion gas."
"Nyssa was in the lab?" Valgaurd's face paled. "Is she all right?"
Bor nodded. "Fortunately she was able to cover herself before she received any burns but she did inhale quite of bit of the gas. I gave her an injection of Trioxin and she's asleep in her quarters right now. But the fact remains that this is the seventh malfunction in two days."
"Eight. Right after the warning in Lab 12, I received a report that the computer switched the med reports for all of Ward 5. Fortunately Dr. Myak discovered the error before any of the medications were given out. I don't understand it, Bor; I have completed system diagnostic after system diagnostic to make sure the diagnostician is right. There can be only one reason why these malfunctions are occuring."
Bor frowned. This should be good news; if they knew why the malfunctions were occuring then they could fix the problem. Yet, Valgaurd didn't seem happy. "What is that?"
"Sabotage." The one word sounded ominous coming from the younger Vanir.
"Valguard, two years ago, even a year ago when the Company was sending in its spies trying to destroy us I would have believed you without a moments hesitation. But who would profit from sabotage at this time? There must be some other explanation."
"I wish there were. If it were computer malfunctions we would have discovered the source by now. We have to quit grasping at straws trying to fix a problem that isn't there and find who is making the problem."
"It will devastate Nyssa to find out someone is purposely trying to cause the hospital problems." Bor had immediately developed a soft spot for the young woman who had risked her life to help the Vanir. He had spent a lot of time with her as he was recovering from the radiation poisoning he'd suffered and knew her probably better than any other Vanir.
"Our Director believes too much in the goodness of people so it will be upsetting to her. But her devastation will come if someone dies before we are able to find out who is responsible. Do you want that burden on her shoulders?"
"No. It was one thing when the malfunctions were just a nuisance but now it is getting dangerous; people could have been killed. More importantly, Nyssa could have been killed. I think this may be the time to close the hospital at least until we find out what is going on."
"NO!"
The two men were surprised to see Nyssa standing in the doorway. Despite the fact that she had to lean heavily on the doorframe to remain standing, her voice held a steadfast firmness that made her a great director.
Bor frowned. "You are supposed to be asleep. Look at you, you can barely stand." The look he gave Valgaurd clearly said they shouldn't tell Nyssa the theory that someone was sabotaging the computer.
"I would love nothing more than to be asleep right now but the computer had other ideas. Right after you left it started bombarding me with bogus incoming messages. Sleep was impossible."
"Another computer malfunction. I ordered a block on all transmissions to Nyssa's room until the morning." He turned to Nyssa. "Be reasonable. Patients almost received the wrong medications today. I know what a hardship it would be to close the hospital but we can't risk the lives of all our patients until we know what is causing these malfunctions."
Nyssa shook her head adamantly as she sank wearily into the closest chair to the door. "Our patients are dying anyway. They can't afford to wait for us to figure out what's going on. Where our patients are concerned we'll simply have to install overrides to the computer. The doctors can recheck all orders to make sure the computer has them right. We can't close down."
As if to emphasize her point, a controller entered the office. "I'm glad you are all together. The Crobiean is about to dock. They have radioed ahead to report they have an anomaly on board."
Nyssa frowned. The last thing they needed was an anomaly. Her body was screaming for her to give in to her exhaustion and fall asleep even if it was in the chair she was sitting in. "What's wrong with the Crobiean? It was supposed to arrive yesterday."
The controller nodded. "Apparently while enroute they encountered a drifting escape pod. They brought the escape pod aboard and discovered it contained a lone occupant. They report that the young man is suffering from severe psychosis. They were hoping that our facilities would be able to offer him treatment."
Nyssa nodded. "Of course we'll try. Have them take him to Ward 4. I'll be down to check on him shortly."
"Only if you are going to allow Dr. Myak to admit you as a patient as well, Nyssa."
The withering look Nyssa gave her dearest friend forced him to be silent but it was obvious he was still worried. "I promise after I check on the new patient, I'll go to sleep even if I have to put in ear plugs."
Bor nodded. "I'll go with you to make sure you get there without collapsing and then to make sure you actually get some rest. Valguard, we'll talk later to try to figure out a way to solve this problem." The look he gave his friend was significant.
Valguard nodded, looking as exhausted as Nyssa. Bor helped Nyssa to rise and the two slowly made their way down the corridor toward Ward 4. Almost to the door, they met up with the Captain of the Crobiean. He gave Nyssa a gentle kiss on the cheek. Most of the captains of the vessels who transported Lazar victims to Terminus hospital had grown fond of its gentle, sweet-natured Director.
"My dear Director, are you well? You look more peaked since my last visit. You let them work you much too hard, I'm afraid."
Nyssa smiled. "I'm fine, Captain Lork. I just had a bit of a run in with Flurion gas earlier. What can you tell me about the guest you've brought us?"
"The poor boy has apparently been through a traumatic time. He had severe scarring from burns to his wrists and ankles. We've had to keep him sedated for a good bit of the time since we brought him aboard because he fights our attempts to help him. The times he's been conscious he's rambled on about needing a doctor. Since we were already enroute here, I was hoping your doctors could give him the help he desperately needs. We don't even know his name."
Nyssa nodded and followed as the Captain led them to a bed on the far side of the room. Even from a distance she could see a shock of dark hair and green sleeves. Her heart skipped a beat as she found the figure frightfully familiar. She left Bor's side and stepped closer to the bed. Tears filled her eyes as she realized just who was lying there. He looked the same as the last time she'd seen him down to the star on his chest, the badge of mathematical excellence that he had been so proud of. "Adric?"
She barely breathed aloud his name but it brought an almost immediate reaction. He opened his eyes wildly and for a moment looked like he would try to bolt. Then his gaze rested on Nyssa and his eyes widened in recognition and relief. "Nyssa!"
The shock on top of her earlier experience was too much for the poor girl and she sank to the ground as darkness closed over her.