Part 21
The nurse looked at Harper, but there was no warmth in her expression as she stared at him, making the human feel uncomfortable in the Persied's presence. He wished he could have been allowed to have Beka, Trance or Rommie in with him, better still all three, as he tried to remain calm. For nearly an hour he had been left waiting in some hospital examination room and he felt very alone wearing next to nothing, waiting for the tests to be carried out that would determine when he would be able to have the cyborg implants.
"How long have you had the Data Port, human?"
"My name is Harper," Harper responded. "And about six or seven years," he then added, seeing the glare the nurse threw him.
"Any problems?"
"None," Harper quickly answered.
"I need to do a diagnostic on it," the nurse then stated, giving Harper only a moment to prepare before she inserted a jack into the port and connected it to a smaller device.
Harper closed his eyes as his port was tested, a few basic tests he determined as he recognised the signals. After a minute or so, the nurse removed the jack and put some information into a data pad she was holding.
"Did it pass?" Harper asked, more by way of conversation.
"A basic model, moderate speed, to be expected for your kind," the nurse responded without any emotion.
"Thanks," Harper frowned, realising he wasn't going to charm this Persied.
The door to the examining room opened and another Persied entered, a male doctor or scientist, Harper guessed.
"Mr Harper?" the Persied asked and Harper nodded his head, as the man walked to the nurse and took the data pad from her, reading the details. "Human, from Earth?"
"Correct," the nurse agreed before Harper could answer.
"And this is for the project?" the Persied questioned, a little flustered now.
"A request from the Commonwealth," the nurse returned.
"They have requested we treat a human from Earth?" the Persied checked again, and looked at Harper. "Oh dear, this is most unusual."
"What's the problem?" Harper asked, slightly agitated by the Persied's constant reference to his humanity and birthplace.
"My apologies," the Persied offered. "My name in Gahale, I am one of many research scientists on the cyborg implants process," he introduced himself.
"Seamus Harper, Commonwealth Engineer," Harper returned. "Human, from Earth," he added with a confident sneer.
"Quite," Gahale seemed to shirk a little. "This project was not designed for your species."
"What difference does it make?" Harper asked defensively.
"I will carry out the tests, as the Commonwealth requests," Gahale continued, without answering. "I see you have a Data Port, so that's something, yes, that's something," he muttered as he gathered his equipment. "Nurse, you may leave us now."
Harper watched as the charismatic nurse left, although he found he didn't feel any more comfortable being left with Gahale, who seemed to be having issues with him before even starting the tests.
"Please lie back and remove your gown," Gahale requested.
"What?" Harper returned with slight panic.
"I need to check your responses, your body can not be hidden from me if I am to take an accurate reading," Gahale returned, completely oblivious to the horror now registering on Harper's face.
"Everything?" Harper checked. "I mean you have to see everything?"
"Do you want me to continue with these tests or not?" Gahale asked with too much joy in his expression. "Mr Harper, I do not believe this is the time for modesty, I am a scientist and I need to conduct these tests correctly to determine your response."
"But why do I need to be naked?"
"Humans," Gahale shook his head with mild amusement. "Your kind are so amusing."
Feeling more stupid now for questioning the scientist, Harper reluctantly removed the gown and attempted to feel comfortable as he lay back on the cot, suddenly glad that they had insisted he be alone, and not have Beka, Trance or Rommie for company, he'd never live this down.
"Your heart is racing, I need you to calm down," Gahale announced.
"You try being calm when a strange scientist asks you to removed all your clothes and lay back to be 'tested'," Harper snapped, but then took some deep breaths and closed his eyes.
"That's better, good," Gahale simply announced after some time had passed, and Harper had managed to calm down. "Ah, there's the damage to the brain," Gahale pressed a metallic cylindrical object to Harper's head, moving it around his skull as he took readings from Harper's brain. "That appears to be good enough to work with the procedure," he added.
"So everything is ok?" Harper brightened, opening his eyes with hope.
"The tests are not complete," Gahale returned, as he moved the device down to Harper's chest and the room soon filled with the sound of a heartbeat. "Oh dear."
"Oh dear?" Harper panicked, and heard the beat speed up echo around the room.
"Oh dear," Gahale repeated but without explanation. "Your body has been through a lot, yes?" he then asked.
"Maybe," Harper shrugged.
"Recent damage, and long term," Gahale continued to move the metallic object around Harper's upper torso, over his ribs and stomach. "I understand from these records that the Commonwealth sent that your immune system is practically non-existent, due to your upbringing on Earth?"
"Doesn't stop me," Harper responded, feeling defensive once again.
"You are underweight, and have signs of a bad diet and mal-nourishment from childhood?"
"What is this?" Harper snapped. "I didn't ask for an intensive health check, I just want to know when I can have the implants."
"Quite," Gahale simply responded.
"Look just tell me the truth," Harper stated, before suddenly yelping as the cold metallic device brushed over his groin. "Ok, that's enough testing, what the hell are you doing!" Harper snapped, pushing himself up and backing away, before quickly retrieving his gown to cover up.
"Humans," The persied simply shook his head, and entered some data into his pad. "I'm sorry but you simply will not do."
"What?" Harper asked, stunned.
"You are not a suitable subject for our cyborg implants project, please get dressed and leave, thank you," Gahale explained.
"No, wait!" Harper reached out and grabbed the scientist's arm. "What do you mean?"
"Your tests results do not make you a suitable subject," Gahale stated calmly.
"But I need this, how am I not suitable?"
"You are weak, and of a species we do not want associated with our project in such early stages," Gahale spoke evenly.
"Because I'm human?"
"Because you are from Earth, we'd be a laughing stock if we used our technology on you, I'm sorry, but this facilities reputation is a primary concern," Gahale explained and attempted to release Harper's grip on his arm.
"No way, there is no way that you're going to deny me this operation because I'm from Earth," Harper sneered.
Gahale sighed. "You are too weak for the technology, you're heart and lungs would fail within days, possibly hours with the extra workload of the implants, and you would be prone to infections that could damage the technology," Gahale bluntly offered. "Seamus Harper, you are not a suitable candidate for this technology, you are barely fit enough to be a human, let along a cyborg host."
"What?" Harper tried not to sound too devastated.
"You're even unable to reproduce, you have so much damage for one so young," Gahale shook his head sadly.
"What the hell does that matter?" Harper returned, though the added news was taking its toll on him, he had had no idea he was in such bad shape.
"Your diet, your health, it's all connected to the success of these implants, healthy body, healthy mind, it's all relative," Gahale stressed firmly, before finally managing to release Harper's hold on him, stepping back. "I'm sorry, Mr Harper, but you have not been successful in becoming part of our cyborg implant program."
Gahale left him alone in the room that after a few moments began to spin as Harper slowly felt the onslaught of a fit. "No, not now," Harper took some breaths to fit the attack. "No!" Harper yelled, as his body suddenly went into spasm, and the last thing Harper was aware of was his body falling from the cot to the floor below.
"Excuse me?"
The nurse stopped and looked at the two ladies, and smiled. "Yes?"
"My friend was having a check up here, some tests and he's been a while so we're just wondering if you could check up on him for us?" Beka asked. "His name is Seamus Harper."
"Ah, the human from Earth," the nurse brightened on recognition.
"Yeah," Beka frowned, a little taken aback by the mode of recognition.
"The tests finished quite a while ago, but if you just hold on I'll find out what the delay is," she smiled sweetly and moved over to the desk. Beka frowned at Rommie whilst they waited for the nurse to return with information, and after a few moments she walked back to them. "Ah, it appears there was a little accident, he's been moved to the general administration area of the hospital."
"Little accident?" Rommie checked.
"We're not sure what happened, but after the tests he was found unconscious and had suffered a minor blow to his head," the Persied nurse maintained her annoying smile.
"He was in your care," Beka emphasised.
The nurse wavered slightly. "It happened whilst he was given some privacy to get dressed, we believe he suffered a fit, I understand he is at risk to them?"
"Whilst he got dressed?" Beka questioned. "I thought they were just doing a routine test before deciding a date for the procedure, why would he need to be undressed?"
"The tests required for cyborg implants affect the whole body," the nurse simply responded.
"So how do we get to this other area?" Beka asked, her patience waning.
"Follow the red signs above on the ceiling," the nurse gestured.
They watched the nurse hurry away, before Beka and Rommie began to walk. "I don't like this," Beka stated. "I mean of all the places you would think it was safe to leave Harper, a hospital would be top of the list," she seethed.
"Technically this is just a research facility attached to a hospital," Rommie defended. "But I agree, describing Harper as a human from Earth was a little strange."
"Did you notice that she almost scowled as well?" Beka saw Rommie nod her head. "I thought the Persieds liked and respected Harper."
"Hohne and Rekeeb certainly did, but we're unsure about the others," Rommie shrugged.
"You don't think Hohne's death has anything to do with these bad vibes I'm picking up, that nurse is the fourth person we've spoken to who has more or less sneered Harper's name," Beka stressed.
"If it is, then that does not bode well for the cyborg implants," Rommie frowned, as they crossed the corridor into general administration area of the hospital. On entering the reception area they immediately spotted Harper, sat alone in one of the chairs.
"Harper?" Beka moved quickly to him. "What's going on, why are you out here?"
"I don't know," Harper mumbled and Beka saw him absently holding a bloodied cloth to the side of his head. "Was told to wait here, no one has told me to do anything else since," he added wearily.
"What happened?" Rommie asked, accessing the damage and finding it to only be bump to the head, and a small cut.
"Don't know, I guess I blacked out," Harper answered with little energy. "They won't do it, Beka," Harper then stared with watery eyes at Beka. "They say I'm too weak, too human, too from Earth to have their stupid procedure done on me," he babbled, looking distraught.
"What?" Beka couldn't hide her shock.
"I don't fit their idea of a perfect specimen for their research, I'd be an embarrassment," Harper sniffed, struggling to hold onto his emotions.
"But you're perfect, Harper, you are the Commonwealth's top engineer that must account for something?" Rommie argued, but saw Harper only distantly shrug, seemingly lost in his despair.
"I'm finished, I might as well give up now for what its worth," Harper stressed with anger. "What good am I to anyone like this?"
"Calm down," Beka requested, and put her hands on Harper's arms. "I'm sure this is nothing more than a misunderstanding, let us talk to them."
"Why bother, they told me I wasn't suitable," Harper sneered, and then closed his eyes as he looked in pain suddenly.
"Harper, what is it?" Beka checked.
"Nothing," Harper responded, but kept his eyes closed.
"It's another fit," Rommie confirmed.
"Hurts," Harper suddenly tensed up, as his head fell back, and his breathing quickened. "Different," he struggled to speak as the fit took hold, and his body began to shake.
"This one is bad, we need assistance," Rommie confirmed and immediately Beka got to her feet and yelled for help and within seconds a doctor and a couple of nurses were with them, and gurney soon arrived. They moved Harper to the floor, as his body thrashed around and Beka could only watch with horror, as Harper suffered what appeared to be a very painful and harsh fit.
TBC