Part 27

Beka's POV


Trance is dead. I can hardly believe it. But she's really gone--. I want to kill those bastards. I was going to jump up and do just that but Dylan wouldn't let me.

Dylan. He must be going through hell right now. Knowing him, I can just imagine how the guilt must be eating him up. I wish…. He's right. I'm really in no condition to do anything. Damn them!

We're approaching Medical now and I have to confess to feeling uneasy about being in there. It's too much like being back there. I know it's only the Med Bay on Andromeda but I can't help but feel the way I feel. No place feels safe to me anymore. I wonder if it ever will again. After all, they got me in my home. Never mind. I should stop thinking about that. It's not as if I can do anything about it anyway. Or anything else for that matter.

I'm placed on a med bed and Rommie comes over to me. "Beka, I--."

I cut her off. "Save it. I don't mean to be harsh or anything, Rommie but there's nothing you can say to me right now that would make me feel any better."

"I wasn't trying to. I was…. Actually, I don't know what I was trying to do."

I look at her and try to focus, which isn't easy with the screwed up eyes I've got. Dylan didn't seem to notice. So either I was very good at concealing the fact that my eyes are screwed up or he was too wrapped up in his own deal to notice. Not that it matters either way. "Sorry, Rommie. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings"

"It's O.K. I understand that you've been through a lot. Shall we get on with it then?"

"On with what?" I was feeling uneasier by the minute.

"Beka, you're here for medical attention. That means I have to examine you to find out what damage if any you sustained during your captivity"

Nope. I'm fine. I'll just be going now." I tried to sound fine and tough but there was a catch to my voice that I couldn't help. Oh hell! She probably wouldn't have bought it anyway. Rommie's not stupid. There was no way I was going to get away with hiding anything. She'd find out soon enough. So. "Send Harper out of the room." I demanded.

He protested. "What? Wait! No!"

"Harper, she wants some privacy. That's all. It'll be O.K. Trust me and just go."

"All right." He didn't sound too thrilled but he went.

And as soon as he left I told Rommie the truth. "My eyes are messed up. I can't see very well."

She touched my shoulder. "It'll be O.K."

So I had to submit to scans and tests and all kinds of stuff. It was too much like being back with the aliens and I wanted to scream, jump up and run away but I didn't. I just lay still. At the end I waited. "Well?"

Rommie came close to me. "Well you have some minor injuries which should heal with the help of nanobots." She injected me.

"And?" I waited for more.

"Your overall health is surprisingly good considering. Some rest and I think you'll be fine in a few days. Except…."

"Just tell me, Rommie."

'I have no idea why you can't see well. I can detect some damage to your optic nerves but since I have no idea what was done to you or why it may have damaged your eyes I have no idea how to fix you. So…" She trailed off again.

I was starting to get annoyed about that. 'Just say what you want to say, Rommie."

"Well since I have no idea what was done to you I can't even begin to treat you or to try to fix it. But there is someone on board who can."

I got what she was thinking. I exploded. "There's no way. There's no way in hell I'm letting one of those of those freaks near me again. They're sadistic sons-of-bitches and--.
No! No way. You find a way to fix me. You're a High Guard warship with with vast knowledge in your files. You do it."

"Beka, be reasonable. I don't like this anymore than you do but we have no idea how bad the damage is and if it'll get worse or not. Has it been getting worse at all?"

I hesitated. "A little." I finally confessed.

"Well you don't want to go blind do you?"

"No. Of course not."

"Look, I know you're scared but I'll be right beside you the whole time. I promise I won't let him hurt you."

"He already has." I said quietly.

"Again, Beka. I meant again. I'm your friend. You know you can trust me, don't you?"

"Sure. It's them I don't trust."

"Neither do I. Why do you think I'll be near you the entire time."?

I sighed. She did have a point. I didn't want to go blind if I could avoid it. But the whole idea of willingly letting one of them near me again just freaked me out. But I guess I didn't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. "O.K." I said to Rommie. "But I'm not staying alone with him." I hated sounding so weak and scared like a little girl but I did feel that way. I was scared.

"I promise I won't leave your side for one second." I believed that and I felt a little better about it. Not much, though.