CHAPTER 51

The Terrians emerged in the middle of New Pacifica's town square with Uly and the other humans in tow. The escaped colonists who managed to catch their breath after their first startling trip through the earth let out sharp, panicked screams, men and women alike. Uly did feel sorry for them, knowing they already lived in fear of the Terrians and now had found themselves not only surrounded by them, but snatched from one place to another without any preparation. But he just didn't have time to worry about all that.

The Terrians disappeared just as quickly. They never lingered in New Pacifica for long.

Uly glanced at the hospital building, relieved that the large, cube-like structure hadn't seemed to have sustained any damage during the storm. Around them, however, debris littered the park in the center of town, and he could see the prefabricated buildings nearby were in bad shape, some beyond repair. On the other end of the square, however, town hall stood tall.

"What the hell was that, Uly? You can't shankin' do that!" John shouted, grabbing his arm.

Uly felt John's fear. Not just surprise at being transported without warning, but concern for how Uly would appear to the others, particularly these new people or any New Pacificans who might have witnessed their appearance.

"John!" Devon admonished, laying a hand on Uly's arm defensively.

She didn't understand all that, of course. Uly knew John had no intention of harming him, even if John's grip around his arm was pretty tight. Most of John's decisions were based on protecting those he loved, no matter how those actions might appear to outsiders.

Uly just nodded his head. "It's ok. Sorry, but I didn't want to waste time discussing it. We need to check on True and… I mean, look at this place," Uly said, already pushing his way through anyone standing between him and the hospital.

He sensed Isaac trying to catch up with him. "What about the Terrian?" Isaac asked him desperately. "Did you see him down there in that pool? I didn't have time to get a good look at the Terrians who brought us here. Was he with him?"

Uly didn't slow down. He realized that he hadn't noticed the Terrian at all once they had descended into the mists. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

Uly paused at the entrance to the hospital and sent his staff into the earth. He couldn't just carry it around inside, and it wouldn't be much use in there anyway. Isaac gasped in surprise, and Uly felt pride in his trick. He didn't acknowledge Isaac's response and immediately felt shame. His powers were a gift, nothing to gloat over or show off.

They entered the hospital, and the place seemed thrown into chaos. Usually it was mostly utilized by the Syndrome patients since most injuries and other illnesses could be treated relatively quickly and most patients preferred to recover in their own beds. But now, hospital staff were rushing through the halls, and the man at the front desk was trying to calm concerned family and friends. Uly pushed past them all, some of them regarding him quizzically. Normally, Uly would let it bother him, but now he had to admit to himself that, yes, he was a little strange and worth staring out. Especially with the beat-up, bedraggled man at his heels.

"I… I can't be here. Uly, tell the Terrians to take me back. I need to get back to the caves," Isaac insisted.

Uly heard the fear in his voice but continued to push forward. He cleared his mind and tried to concentrate on True. If he could focus, he'd be able to find her.

But Isaac grabbed his arm. "I'd rather be stuck in a cage back in Hunter's camp," he shouted, pointing north. "I didn't ask to be brought here."

A nurse passing them in the hall looked on in shock at his statement before hurrying away, tapping her gear. Great, he had no idea what she thought she saw and who she might be contacting.

Uly turned to face him. "I know. I'm sorry. Once Julia has a chance to get a look at you, I'll help get you wherever you want to go."

Uly continued on, heading to a stairwell. He didn't think it was a good time to try the lift.

"What? Julia the doctor?" Isaac clarified, again trying to catch up with Uly. "I don't need a damn doctor. These injuries are nothing. They'll heal. They always do. I've had worse, believe me. Just…"

Uly stepped into the stairwell and let the door close behind them before turning toward Isaac again. He took a deep breath. "It's not that. It's something else. Please, just let her get a look." Uly thought of everything he had just gone through with this man who had been a complete stranger not long ago. He took Isaac's hand, purposefully choosing the tight ball of a fist.

"It's ok," Uly said calmly. "You're overwhelmed. All the people. The buildings. The noise. And especially now with everyone in a panic. I get it. I feel the same way." Uly tried to give him an encouraging smile. "I'm just used to it. But I'm going to get you to a quiet room where you can talk to Julia. And after that… Well, I'll let you decide what you want to do. But for now, just trust me, ok?"

Isaac's mouth was hanging open. He let out a sigh and laughed. "You sure you're thirteen? When I was thirteen, my main goal was sneaking desserts from the school pantry and stealing VR games."

Uly smiled and started up the stairs. "Don't worry. I do that stuff, too. But you weren't half-alien."

Isaac snorted. "Half-alien? That makes it sound pretty cool."

Uly felt a wave of emotion run through him. "You don't think it's weird? Or scary?"

Isaac was having difficulty following Uly up the stairs, so Uly slowed his pace. "My best friend is a Terrian, so no. Well, he's not a normal Terrian, but still… People are the scary ones. Usually."

"Lots of them, yeah. But I was lucky that I was raised by the best ones," Uly stated with a grin.

Isaac nodded. "Let's go talk to Julia."

Uly opened the door leading to the second floor and stopped short when Isaac asked, "Am I dying or something?"

Uly hesitated before replying, "No, I just sensed something and want more info." He kicked himself for not answering immediately because Isaac's eyes widened with concern.

"Listen, I just met you. I just saw Yale again. I am not dying," Isaac said as they made their way down the hall.

Uly nodded. "I believe it. Come on."

As they made their way down the hall, Isaac asked, "Who's True, by the way?"

Uly smiled. "John's daughter. She's…kinda like my sister, I guess."

Uly pushed open the door to True's room, and Bess gasped. She was seated by True's bedside and jumped up to hug him. "Oh, Uly, we were so scared. Where the hell were you? They found her so far from the path. You were supposed to come straight to our place!" Her voice was growing angry, and Uly could tell she was trying to temper it.

Julia had been checking on the monitors by the bed and tapped her gear. "He's here, Alonzo. John must not be far behind." She turned to Uly and reached out with her diaglove. "Are you alright?" she asked. Uly rolled his eyes and let her continue.

"I'm sorry, Bess. The Terrians grabbed me and…" Uly just hugged her back. What he would give to Dream with them all and not have to explain everything over and over.

"Alonzo told us what happened with you and the Terrians. And the Aquans. I just can't believe it," Bess said, gesturing to the chair she had just vacated. "Well, I'm not sure I understood it all, but we know you've had quite a day."

Julia seemed satisfied with whatever popped up on the diaglove. It probably went without saying that he needed to get some rest and a good meal. "It's incredible, Uly. He said now that you're Dreaming again, you've managed to negotiate with both the Terrians and Aquans. That we have you to thank for saving the town."

Uly shrugged. "Yeah, I guess so." He just couldn't be excited about it, seeing True like this. He let go of Bess and stepped toward True. He felt sick. True was always the strong one. The tough one. And here she was looking so fragile. She could have been close to death.

Uly had been able to sense her, even through all the activity throughout the hospital. It would have been more simple if she'd been nearer the ground and not up here, but he could feel her nonetheless. He wondered if that's how John had felt when he'd been pulled to the biodome to follow Uly.

Uly looked around the room and realized Isaac hadn't followed him in. He turned to the door.

"Where are you going?" Bess asked fearfully.

"I need to find Isaac," he said, grabbing the handle.

"The penal colonist?" Julia asked. "You brought him here? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"He's a lot more than a penal colonist," Uly said, more angrily than he intended and unsure about how much Alonzo knew and how much he would have shared if he did. "Just give me a second, ok?"

He didn't wait for a reply before peeking out of the door. Isaac was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, cradling the sunstone close to his heart.

Uly turned to Julia. "Can you come here a minute?"

Julia seemed reluctant, but followed Uly out of the room.

"Isaac?" Uly asked quietly.

Isaac's eyes opened. He looked from Julia to Uly and back again.

"Listen, I was thinking," Isaac began. "Obviously a lot of people here have been hurt and injured, and I'm sure you have a lot on her hands. How about I just…"

"No," Uly insisted. He knew if Julia could just get talking to Isaac, neither of them would regret it.

"Life was a lot less complicated yesterday," Isaac muttered.

Julia sighed, clearly hoping not to add more to her plate. "Alright, yes, I'll send a nurse to look you over. How about you just wait in my…"

"No!" Uly repeated. "This isn't just a check-up, Julia. I need you to really look over him. And find out more about that research facility in some jungle somewhere."

"Alonzo did say you mentioned something about a science colony." Julia pushed a loose strand from her ponytail behind her ear as she considered. Uly could tell she was intrigued and he was glad for it. He was counting on it.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Isaac asked Uly before explaining for Julia. "I can't give you any information about that. I wouldn't even be able to tell you where it is. I never really knew what they were doing there. I just…" Isaac stopped short as it dawned on him. "You sensed something, Uly, didn't you. Once you were Dreaming again, you sensed something. Is that it? Something's wrong with me, and you think it has something to do with them. What they did to me."

Uly didn't want to agree. He couldn't know for sure when he couldn't even tell what it was he sensed. But it was there right in front of him. An energy surrounding Isaac that Uly wasn't sure he liked.

Julia glanced at Uly and seemed to decide that he was in over his head. "Isaac… Can I call you Isaac?"

"It's been years. I haven't heard that name for so long until today," Isaac said. He squeezed his eyes shut, a pained look on his face. He let out a long, controlled breath before continuing. "Yes, call me whatever you want." He looked to Uly. "Call me Isaac."

Uly smiled, understanding how Isaac had tried to leave his entire life behind when he'd given up his name and taken another. Accepting that name again meant having to reconnect to that past. A past that included Uly's mother, but, also included Uly.

"Well, Isaac, yes, I can take a few moments. For Uly. He saved our lives, it's the least I can do. I'm waiting for John right now, and he should be here any minute. I'll have a nurse show you to my office. He can do a preliminary exam, if you don't mind." Isaac nodded. Julia cleared her throat before adding, "And get you cleaned up."

"Well, maybe when you see me looking pretty, it'll make this easier for you," Isaac said with a laugh.

"Pretty boys have no effect on Julia," Uly said with a grin.

Julia rolled her eyes. "Knock it off, Uly," she said before returning to True's room.

Uly waited with Isaac until a young man came to take him down the hall. Uly smiled encouragingly and even waved when Isaac turned back to look at him once more before disappearing into the stairwell. Once he was gone, however, Uly tried to shake the concern from his head.