Chapter Eleven

Vigil

"So what's the status on removing the probes?" Turlough asked as Amanda led the way through the halls of the Alexandria Foundation's Medical Center.

"They're not as benign as they look," she replied mildly. "And at this point in time, we don't know enough about them to even consider it."

"Not yet?" the young man said in a slightly accusing voice. "You've been running tests half the night. You must know something by now."

"I know they're very dangerous," the Medical Officer snapped defensively. "And they're nothing like the designs on file. Until we know more, removing them could cause more damage than leaving them in."

"Damage?" Turlough seized the word. "What kind of damage?"

"I'm not sure about that, either. According to the review board's report, which ironically was written by HH himself, the implants have the potential of causing such an imbalance in the brain that a person could completely lose touch with reality, eventually going insane." Pausing, she added gravely, "For all we know, that's happened to him already."

Turlough was appalled. "What makes you say that?"

"You were there, Turlough. You heard what Inness said. HH was already out of his mind. And, to be frank, I think he's gotten worse since we took him off the computer."

"Great. But that still doesn't prove he's crazy. I saw the list of drugs you showed the Doctor. Hallucinogens, isn't that what you said?"

"I know, I know. He has enough drugs in him to start a small pharmacy. And it could take weeks before his system's clear enough to make a determination."

"Any other encouraging thoughts?" Turlough asked darkly.

They stopped outside a room with a large NO ENTRY sign on the door, this being the isolation room where Jason had been confined. An animal-like growl issued forth as Amanda opened the door and Turlough looked hesitantly inside, seeing the heavily bandaged prince secured in double restraints and struggling with what little strength he had to free himself. The image of the very serious—and very rational—King Jason flashed through his mind as he watched the thrashing form. Finding his voice at last he asked, "Why do you have him hooked up to so many monitors?" One wall seemed to be covered with them. When he received no answer, the young man turned back to the silent Medical Officer. "Amanda?"

Dr. Spencer cleared her throat. "While we were cleaning him up he…well, he…" Drawing a deep breath, she said, "He had a seizure. Not a bad one, but a seizure nonetheless. I think the implants caused it, but…"

"You're not sure."

"No, I'm not." Looking Turlough in the eye, she said quietly, "No offense, Turlough, but you don't have the medical training to—"

"I know a seizure when I see one!"

"Yes, but do you know what to do if he has another?" the physician countered. At the same time, she motioned to the attendant in the room to leave. "That's what the monitors are for. If anything else unforeseen happens, we'll know immediately."

Turlough was slightly annoyed with himself for not having realized the obvious sooner.

"On top of all injuries from the patches, he's got pulled and torn ligaments from all that fighting, and gashes down to the bone in some places from the restraints," Amanda informed. "But he's so out of his mind he doesn't even seem to feel the pain anymore. Just what comes through the implants, apparently. I suppose we can be grateful for that."

Turlough turned back to look into the room and sighed heavily, spinning around when Dr. Spencer said, "You don't have to do this, you know."

"Yes, I do. Jason's my friend. I—"

"I know he's your friend, Turlough!" Amanda snapped unexpectedly. "You don't have to keep throwing it in my face."

"What?"

"You two just waltz in here and in one day—" She stopped herself, taking a moment to calm down. "It must be so easy coming in at the end of—"

"Easy! You think this is easy? Finding my best friend—" Turlough could feel the rage growing inside him. "Who are you to judge me? You don't even know me!" Not waiting for a reply he stormed into the room, slamming the door behind him. Amanda tried to apologize, but he ignored her, leaning against the door and waiting until he was certain she had gone.

Turlough remained at the door a long time before he drew a deep breath and looked up. Friend or no friend, he did not want to do this in the least and found himself wishing the Doctor were there so he would not have to maintain his heartbreaking vigil alone. Glancing around the room, he was pleased to see a bed had been provided. I hope you're not too disappointed, Doctor, when you learn I didn't have to sleep on the floor. Someone had also had the forethought to accommodate him with a desk and reclining easy chair, the latter of which he dropped in to. Along with the monitoring equipment, Turlough saw a barrier generator high in the corner of the room and sat watching the blue light dancing across its opening. As long as the tiny device was operating, he was safe from Jason transmuting into anything nasty.

It was frighteningly obvious the Alterran was beyond reason and Turlough doubted he was even aware of what was going on and decided not to go near him. What remained of the night passed without any sign of improvement. Jason would either sleep or lose consciousness for a short time only to awaken to a hallucination during which he would struggle wildly against his bonds. Since sleeping during this ongoing upheaval was impossible, Turlough did not even try. He had found drawing supplies in the desk and spent his time sketching the extraordinary events of the past day.

Tolan sent his Lieutenant, at the Doctor's request, so his companion he would not have to stay on twenty-four hour duty in his vigil and could get some rest himself. At first Turlough was suspicious of the seemingly too willing Lieutenant Fane, until he learned that the officer also happened to be Jason's ward whom he had practically raised single-handed.

The second day passed with no sign of improvement. As did the next. And then the next. Jason's condition was further complicated by a series of seizures and on one occasion it was so violent Turlough was afraid his friend might die. By the end of the fourth day, Turlough was beginning to wonder if he had dreamt the encounter with the Alterran's future self. It was not until the pre-dawn hours of the morning of the fifth day that things seemed to change for the better. He had dozed off in the chair, awakening with a start when the sketchpad dropped from his lap. He stood up and stretched, tossing the pad onto the desk. At the same time, he noticed that Jason was awake. Since this was the first time the Alterran had returned to his senses without immediately pitching fit, Turlough was intrigued and went cautiously to the bedside.

"Now what?" Jason asked contemptuously, his voice weak and scarcely above a whisper. "Projecting…a little…reality today?"

Stunned by the calmness with which this inquiry was made, Turlough stammered out, "Uh… no, actually. The drugs—"

"I know about…the drugs," the prince hissed, pulling at the restraints in frustration. "You're using them…to keep me here. To…destroy my mind."

"No, it's not like that at all. We're trying to help you." Turlough had no way of knowing this was the worst thing he could possibly have said.

"Help me! You're not helping me, you're killing me!" Jason started to thrash in his bonds once again. "Damn you, Legrand! You're driving me out of my mind! Are you happy?"

"Jason, stop it!" Turlough commanded in a voice that surprised even him. "Stop and listen to me. You've been pumped so full of drugs you don't know what you're saying. You're being forced to hallucinate. Do you hear me? Forced! You are not mad."

Stunned by this totally unexpected outburst, Jason stopped fighting and stared up at the blurry figure standing over him. "Wh…what…did you say?" he asked in a small voice, struggling to focus his blurred vision.

Turlough sighed in relief when the question came in a normal tone. "I said you're not mad." He took hold of his friend's hand to allow him to scan him. "And I'm not Legrand. I'm Turlough."

Not quite believing what was happening was real, and almost afraid to proceed, Jason squeezed the hand inside his own. It was warm and solid and squeezed back. "Turlough!" he said with a small sob. "It's you. It really is you." There was no doubting the aura registering on his senses.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you."

"Don't just stand there! Get me out of here!"

Turlough made no reply, wondering how, or even if, he could explain the situation. Would this period of lucidity last? For all he knew, a fit of hysteria might begin at any moment. "Jason, you're not a prisoner anymore…" he began slowly.

"What are you talking about? Look at me!" the Alterran cried, pulling at the straps holding him immobile. "I'm not exactly free as a bird here. I can't move!"

Turlough decided on a different tack. "I didn't want to tell you this," he said in a purposely hesitant voice, "but…well, you're in a kind of…detox."

"Detox…?" came the puzzled reply. "You have to tie me down for that?"

"Jason, you're a Healer. If you had a patient going through severe withdrawal, what would you do?"

With a sigh, Jason replied, "I'd restrain them."

A satisfied smile came to Turlough's face. He had managed to get through this crisis without a hitch. To his chagrin a monitor let out a beep indicating the activation of an implant. As if to verify this, Jason winced, a small cry escaping him, his grip on Turlough's hand tightening as the fear within him grew. "No, not again," he moaned. "Please, not again."

"It's alright. It's just the implants," his friend reassured.

Jason closed his eyes and shivered as terror swept over him. "No. I'm going insane and you just don't want to tell me."

Turlough was shocked when tears started streaming down his friend's face, his fear sending him plummeting into a pit of despair. "Jason, I've already told you, you're not crazy," he soothed gently. "You know I wouldn't lie to you about something like that."

The prince wanted desperately to believe him, but simply could not put his thoughts together. "I'm…so ccold," he said in a pitiful voice, his body trembling badly.

Considering he was wearing almost nothing but bandages, Turlough was not surprised. He had to pry his hand loose in order to get another blanket from across the room. He covered the shivering Alterran, taking him by the hand again. "You'll be alright once all that stuff is out of your system. You'll see."

"No, Turlough, I can't see," Jason said in a quiet, frightened voice. "Everything's a blur."

Turlough hushed him, squeezing his hand. "That's okay. Right now, you don't need to see," he said calmly. "You need to sleep."