Chapter 3: Dr. Hertz
"Basta, wake up. Basta... open your eyes." A male's voice entered Basta's sleeping mind, making him groan and whimper. Reluctantly, his eyelids rose, revealing glossy green irises and bloodshot sclera. "Good evening, sir" said a man, sitting beside Basta's bed. Basta moaned in frustration and squished his eyes shut. He didn't want to deal with yet another German man. "Basta, my name is Dr. Hertz, I'm here to give you a brief physical exam, and ask you a few questions." Basta glared Dr. Hertz. The man wore an unbuttoned white lab coat, revealing a white button down shirt and brown tweed vest underneath. He wore dark chocolate brown slacks, and a strange metal device was resting around his neck. Basta eyed the silver and black thing, wondering what in the world it was for. He wanted to ask, very badly, but didn't bother. He was too tired. "Alright, then" Dr. Hertz forced a bit of a smile, and started buttoning up the coat. Basta eyed the man in disgust, his eyes flicking over the Doctor's face. The man looked trustworthy, but somewhat distant. He had a perfectly smooth, round face, with no trace of stubble or blemishes. His eyebrows were arched, resting well above dark, half-moon shaped eyes. He had long black eyelashes that matched the color of his short, slightly ruffled hair. The doctor clicked his tongue as he finished with the buttons, and removed the silver and black thing from his neck.
"What is that?" Asked Basta, involuntarily. Dr. Hertz paused, frowned slightly, then realised what Basta was talking about.
"This?" He asked, in his gentle voice. Basta nodded, and sat up.
"It's a stethoscope" said Dr. Hertz, holding the strange device in his hands. "I use it to listen to heartbeats." His voice was low and smooth, and didn't hold a single sign of irritation. "You've never seen one before?" He asked, curious.
"No" Basta shook his head.
"Not even as a child?"
"...No." Basta frowned. Am I supposed to have seen that before? The Doctor raised his eyebrows before putting two projections into his ear. Basta watched in mild fascination.
"Strange" murmured the doctor, shaking his head a bit. "Alright, then. Could I please get you to remove your shirt?"
"Pardon?"
"Your shirt... I need you to take it off so I can listen to your heartbeat." Basta wondered why the doctor would want to hear his heartbeat, but sighed in defeat and removed his shirt anyways. Goosebumps prickled his soft skin as the cooler air rushed to greet him. He held his arms together as his hair stood on end and as his nipples hardened. Dr. Hertz took the extended part of the stethoscope, the one with the circle at the end, and placed it over Basta's chest. The young man yelped and hopped as the cold metal surprised his skin.
"Sorry" said Dr. Hertz with a trace of a smile. "I forgot to tell you, it's very cold." Basta frowned, but said nothing. Instead, he watched Dr. Hertz's face as the man concentrated on listening to his heartbeat. Fascinating, thought Basta. Dr. Hertz adjusted the stethoscope, and the room was filled with intense silence. The circle moved a couple more times, then the doctor moved it to Basta's back. "Deep breaths, please" said the doctor, sounding distracted. Basta obeyed, breathing in deep, and exhaling. Dr. Hertz said nothing, and then removed the stethoscope. "Your breathing is healthy" he said, removing the stethoscope from his ears, and placing it in the black bag he had brought into the cell. "Your heart rate is pretty fast, though. I'll take it you're very anxious at the moment." The Doctor sighed, and massaged his brow with a finger. He quickly scribbled something onto his clipboard- much like Colonel Landa had done earlier- then produced something from his bag. Basta didn't recognize this instrument either, and he wondered what it was for. Dr. Hertz knelt on one knee, so he was eye level in front of his patient. "I'm going to check your eyes now" he said, raising the small narrow tube up towards Basta's face. The young man squirmed a bit, feeling extremely uncomfortable. He didn't enjoy being that close to the doctor's face, nor did he feel at ease about the strange tube thing being held up before his eye. Doctor Hertz didn't seem to notice his patient's discomfort (or he just didn't care), and proceeded to click something on top of the tube. Suddenly, a blinding light was shot into Basta's left eye. With a cry, he sprang up in the air, yelping and holding a hand to his eye.
"What are you doing!" I he cried at the doctor. "You've blinded me!"
"Mr. Basta, I've merely shined a penlight into your eye! You're not blind!" The Doctor's voice was irritated now and surprised as well. Tentatively, Basta took the hand away from his eye. Sure enough, he wasn't blind. "Now would you please take a seat so I can finish this exam?" The doctor seemed tired, and Basta wanted to go back to sleep. So he obeyed, hoping the man would leave soon. "I'm going to shine the light again" warned the doctor, using his fingers to hold Basta's eyelid open. "I'd appreciate it if you sat still." Basta said nothing, but flinched as the doctor shone the light in his eye. As the doctor stared and made a humming sound, then bestowed the same process to the other eye, Basta wondered how one could possibly produce a light so bright, without fire, and capture it in such a small metal tube. "You have fantastic pupil reflexes..." he murmured, frowning.
"I do?" Basta had no idea what that meant, but he figured it was a good thing. Doctor Hertz sighed and put the penlight away, then ran a hand through his short black hair.
"Alright" sighed the doctor, looking exhausted. "Before we start the mental examination, I need to complete your physical."
"Alright" Basta yawned, and rubbed his eyes. Dr. Hertz fished through his bag again, and pulled out a very thin glass stick. Basta eyed the instrument suspiciously and wondered what the doctor would do with it.
"Open up" murmured the doctor, pointing the stick at Basta's mouth. Basta obeyed, while raising an eyebrow. The thin glass stick was slid into his mouth, and Dr. Hertz instructed him to keep his lips compressed around the thermometer. Basta's eyebrows raised and he tried to get a view of the strange glass thing sticking out of his mouth. He saw a red line growing along the length of the device.
This is such a strange place...thought Basta, eyeing the doctor now. Hertz sighed and stared into his black bag, as if peering into a different dimension. He seemed lost for a moment, then quickly pulled his gaze out of the bag, and forced a compressed lip smile at Basta. He approached him, then took the thermometer from his mouth.
"Very good" murmured the handsome doctor, observing the red line. He wiped it off with a rag, scribbled on his chart, then put it back in the bag. He came over to Basta again, and asked him to stand. Basta obeyed, swaying on his feet. The doctor pinched some skin, watching closely as the skin recoiled almost instantly. He murmured to himself, nodded, then saw the bruises on Basta's body. "How did you get these?" he asked, gently prodding the purple and green bruises on Basta's back.
"Got beat up" he muttered, embarrassed. The doctor was silent. He stared at the collection of injuries, then paced around Basta's body, searching for more.
"Please remove your boots and your pants" said the doctor, approaching his clipboard. Basta froze. Remove my pants? Why? I don't want to take off my pants. "I don't have all night" said the doctor, in a bored tone. Basta debated this. On or off? On or off? All it took was a glance at the cozy bed that caused Basta to sigh and obey. He tugged the raggedy belt apart, stepped out of his boots, and let his pants drop, exposing his white cotton undershorts. Dr. Hertz put down the clipboard, and examined Basta's bruised shins and knees. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"I told you, I got beat up." Snarled Basta, frowning angrily at the patient doctor.
"You were abused or tortured?" Asked the doctor, eyeing the bruises.
"What makes you think I didn't get in a fight?" Basta huffed impatiently, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Because the only wound on your face was from the blow you took from the Lieutenant downstairs." Basta figured Landa had told him about the beating during the interrogation. "You don't have any physical signs of being in a fight, you were beaten. Now who did it?"
"My boss" muttered Basta, defeated. He felt too exhausted to let his temper rise. Normally- he thought, as the doctor continued to write- I would have hit him. But I am too tired to do much of anything... his eyelids drooped. Dr. Hertz asked him to sit, and brought something from his bag. A small hammer like device, with a red coloured piece at the end. Basta sat, and the doctor explained that he would tap Basta's knee with his reflex hammer. The doctor did what he said he would, tapping Basta's knees with the hard little thing. Basta found that his knees twitched involuntarily.
"Very good" murmured the doctor. "Alright, I'm just going to check your back and head, then we can continue with our mental exam." Basta nodded, and obeyed the doctor when he asked him to stand. Dr. Hertz stood behind him, and rand his hands along Basta's spine. Basta involuntarily let out a small sigh. Dr. Hertz's hands were gentle as they prodded along his spine. He did the same with the neck, turning Basta's head from side to side, then asked Basta to sit down, so he could better see his head. Dr. Hertz stood at 5'10, taller than Colonel Hans Landa, and taller than Basta, so an upper vantage would aid the examination. "Have you bumped your head recently?" Asked the doctor, as he touched his head, obviously looking for possible head wounds.
"No" Basta knew Dr. Hertz wouldn't find any bumps or scrapes on his head.
"Alright then, that pretty much finishes up our physical exam. I've got some different clothes for you to wear." The doctor passed Basta the pile of clothes that had been sitting, neatly folded, next to the bag. Basta took the fabric from the doctor's hands, and nervously unfolded the new garments. "I'll give you some privacy, and return in a few moments." The doctor smiled, picked up his bag, and left the cell, disappearing down the hallway to the right. Basta yawned sleepily, and looked at the clothes he was expected to wear. Creased pants, the same color as the Germans', with drawstring ankles and a belt looped waistband. A plain white tee-shirt that smelled of soap, thin grey socks, and dark grey undershorts. Basta glanced nervously over his shoulder, to make sure no one was standing outside his cage-like cell, before dropping his own white undershorts, and sliding into the tighter confines of the new ones. He curled a lip and eyed the elastic waistband and flapped front of the new ones. He quickly snatched up the green pants, and slid the soft, stiffer fabric up his legs. He admitted to himself that he did quite like the pants. They fit perfectly, and sported a number of pockets, two on the butt, two on the sides. He pulled on the socks, which were also supported with elastic. Basta smiled at the new clothes before pulling the soft white cotton tee-shirt over his torso. He bunched his old clothes up into a ball, threw them to the far corner of the cell, and kicked his boots under the cot. He ran a hand through his hair, which felt rough from the blood and sweat that had dried to the strands. Back in Ombra, he'd recently washed his hair outside in the cold lake.
Dr. Hertz returned a few moments later, his lab coat draped over his arm, and the clipboard in his hand. He pulled a chair into the cell, and sat across from Basta.
"Make yourself comfortable" said the doctor, putting the clipboard on his lap. Basta leaned his back against the wall, and crossed his legs on the cot. "I'm going to ask you a series of questions, and I need you to answer each one honestly. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Alright, so to start, what is your full name?"
"Basta."
"Just Basta? You don't have a middle or surname?"
"No, sir. Just Basta."
"Alright, then." Hertz raised his eyebrows and wrote on his clipboard. Basta closed his eyes for a short moment, until the doctor posed a second question.
"Is there any history of mental disorders in your family?"
"I don't know my family" said Basta ruefully. He twisted his mouth. He only remembered Capricorn.
"So you're an orphan?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"Who did you grow up with?"
"My Boss."
"Who is that?"
"Capricorn."
"Capricorn? Is that his full name as well? Just Capricorn?" Dr. Hertz looked puzzled and slightly irritated.
"Yes. Just Capricorn." The sound of scribbling on paper filled the quiet cell.
"So where did you grow up?"
"In Ombra" said Basta, feeling irritated. He had a feeling that the doctor would be unaware of Ombra's existence, just as Colonel Landa had been.
"I've never heard of Ombra" said the Doctor, looking confused again. "Where is it?"
"It's not in any of the Colonel's maps" said Basta, feeling drained. "He hasn't heard of it either."
"I can assure you that the colonel is a very educated man, and is well aware of most cities and towns His job takes him all over Europe."
"Ombra isn't in Europe" said Basta, feeling his stomach knot again.
"Is it in America?"
"No." Basta didn't know what America was.
"Where is it, then?"
"In Lombrica, north of Argenta."
The look the doctor gave Basta made the young man's heart sink.
Eyebrows raised and pen posed over the clipboard, Dr. Hertz looked as if he was sitting across from a crazy person.
"And how exactly did you end up in Corporal Koehler's house?"
"I don't know" said Basta honestly, straining to remember the events that occurred earlier. "One minute I was standing in Capricorn's bedroom, the next I woke up on the floor of some man's room! I have no idea what happened."
"... What were you doing in Capricorn's room?" Asked the doctor, looking exhausted and agitated and very, very confused."
"Err... I was in trouble. He was going to punish me for my poor behaviour." Basta fidgeted and bit his lip.
"What were you in trouble for?" Dr. Hertz seemed lost, and he scratched his head as he studied his clipboard.
"I...err... got caught messing around with his lady." Basta scrunched up his mouth and rolled his eyes. Messing around with his lady was putting it lightly.
"Uh-huh..." Dr. Hertz didn't seem to believe anything that Basta said. "What do you do for this 'Capricorn'?"
"Everything" muttered Basta, feeling uncomfortable. "I'm like an envoy, his right hand man. I deliver messages, and things like that." Again, putting it lightly.
"An envoy? Basta... what year is it?" Dr. Hertz frowned.
"It's 1630." Basta stated this as a matter of fact. It was the year 1630. In Lombrica.
Dr. Hertz blinked and stared at Basta with his mouth resting ajar.
"Are you aware that the year 1630 passed 313 years ago?" Prodded Dr. Hertz, finally gaining mobility over his mouth.
"...sir?"
"It's currently 1943, in France, and the world is experiencing it's Second World War. You are under suspicion of being a spy for the Allies, and that is why you are under question and lockdown at this time."
Basta blinked.
And stared.
1943?
France?
Second World War?
Allies?
It didn't make sense. But... it did... it did make sense. It explained the strange new world, why nothing made sense. Why the people dressed different and spoke in strange languages.
Basta's eyes widened like saucers. His chest rose and fell in rapid hyperventilation.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND I DON'T UDERSTAND! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? WHY?" He shouted at Hertz, feeling his skin heat up and get sticky with sweat.
"Mr. Basta, please calm down!" Dr. Hertz held his arms out, showing his palms, encouraging Basta to calm down. "Relax, we'll figure this out."
Basta wrestled his breathing down to normal. He forced himself to nod.
"Alright. I need to ask a few more questions" said Hertz. He took a deep breath, then continued. "Alright, have you ever had any self destructive thoughts or behaviour?"
Basta stopped breathing. His eyes involuntarily flicked down to the wrists that he most definitely slit in the past. He sighed, and shook his head. It wasn't the doctor's business if he chose to slice his wrists or not.
"No" he lied. "No I haven't."
"Alright, that's good." Dr. Hertz didn't catch the lie, he seemed too tired. Instead he posed another question. "Basta, have you ever heard voices in your mind? Voices that seem to come out of nowhere?"
"No, Dr. Hertz." And that was the truth. Hertz nodded mhm and continued writing.
"Alright, then. Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation before?"
"You mean, time traveling? Waking up on some guy's floor?"
"...yes."
"No! This is the first time anything weird has ever happened to me!" Basta huffed.
"Have you taken any drugs recently?"
"...Drugs?"
"Narcotics, Stimulants.."
"Uhh...?"
"Well, have you?"
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea what those are." Basta blushed.
Dr. Hertz blinked several times.
"May I see your arm please?" He was frowning, so Basta extended his right arm for the doctor to see. Hertz held onto Basta's wrist, and peered closely at the crook of Basta's elbow, prodding the skin, then doing the same for the wrist. He then peered at the upper arm. He did the same exam on the other arm. "Basta, could you please drop your pants and take off your socks."
"Again?" Basta groaned and obeyed, taking off the comfy pants and soft socks. Dr. Hertz sighed and looked at the tight undershorts. "I'm going to check your feet first, then I'll have to ask you to remove your shorts." Basta's eyes widened. Dr. Hertz closely examined the soles of Basta's feet. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he told Basta to remove his undergarments. "Why?" Growled Basta, feeling trapped and intimidated.
"Because I need to check the heroin injection sites."
"What?" A heroic woman injected where? Basta glared at the Doctor as he slid his undershorts down to his knees. He felt so exposed, so embarrassed. His cheeks turned red and he couldn't bear to look at the doctor as the man instructed him to stand. Basta stared at the ceiling as Dr. Hertz checked his groin for any needle holes. When he found no evidence of drug injection, he told Basta to re-dress.
"Well, I see no evidence of drug injection." The doctor seemed absolutely baffled. Have you smoked anything recently?"
"I don't smoke growled Basta." The doctor's eyes widened a bit.
"I think we need to call it a night" he muttered, rubbing his eyebrows. "First I'll have to take a blood sample." He went over to his bag, and produced a plastic wrapped syringe from inside. Basta watched as the man also produced a square wrapped. He shed the wrapper, and wiped a part of Basta's bicep with a cold, wet pad that smelled awful. Basta watched as the doctor readied a glinting needle.
"What are you doing?" Asked Basta, staring at the needle in horror. He'd never seen anything like it before. It was the skinniest, sharpest piece of metal he'd ever seen.
"Just hold still" said the Doctor. Basta watched as Hertz stuck the needle into his arm.
"AH!" Basta cried out as a hot, solid pain was packed into his arm. Pressure built around the needle, and he watched in horror as the vile slowly filled with blood. "What are you doing?"
"Taking a sample of your blood" said the exhausted doctor.
"Why?"
"To check for drugs in your system."
"I told you already, I don't even know what drugs are!"
"You may not have taken them, but someone may have slipped something into your food or drink without you knowing. It's a precaution I have to take. Hopefully this blood test will clear the situation up." When the vile was nearly half full, Basta felt his stomach unsettling, and extreme nausea causing his abs to contract. Cold sweat ran down his body, and the color drained from his face. The room spun, as it had when he was in Capricorn's room. Basta thought maybe I'm going back to Ombra now, and waited to start seeing the cold stone walls of Capricorn's fortress. But instead, he adopted tunnel vision and his head pounded. His ears rang and just as he was sure he would throw up, Dr. Hertz pulled the needle from his arm. "Are you alright?" Asked the doctor, sealing the syringe. Basta opened his mouth to speak, but instead of words coming out, he threw up all over the floor. Yellowish clear bile spread across the floor between his stocking feet. Basta pulled his legs up, and found himself tipping over, as if he was extremely drunk. "I'll get you some water" said the doctor, casting Basta a worried look. "I'll be right back." Basta lay on his bed, holding his knees to his chest, wishing that he was anywhere but that brightly lit cell. The doctor returned quickly, holding a glass full of clear liquid. Basta shook his head when the doctor offered it to him."Drink it" he said firmly. Basta whimpered, and forced himself to sit up. The nausea came back. He took the glass from Hertz, and took a small sip. The coldness of the drink cleared Basta's head, and he was able to blink the fuzziness out of his peripherals. He drank more, smiling, and the nausea soon left. The only ailment that remained was the ringing of his ears, but Basta did his best to ignore that. "I'll see you tomorrow, Basta" said Hertz, offering a tired smile. Basta nodded, finished the drink, and collapsed on his side. The bed fully enveloped his tired body, and he found himself drifting out of consciousness.
A/N:
Thanks so much for the reviews, guys! ("Basta's Girl", your reviews always make me SMILE!) I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. It was a real pain to write, and as you know, I'm struggling to make this story as convincing as possible. Unfortunately, we need to get some boring crap out of the way before we can start introducing and developing the other characters. Please, please, please keep the reviews coming! I appreciate it so much when I get a positive review. Thanks for reading guys! :D