To my readers, I'm sorry for the delay. I'm still working out my schedules. Thank you for the consideration. Do not forget to review, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Chapter 6
"Who will be first?" ISE asked one of the two patients when they were all inside the clinic.
"Him." The messy haired youth inclined his head to the left indicating the blond.
"Very well." ISE replied. "Please help him settle in the x-ray machine." She walked towards the equipment where the glass like tube is already open and ready. The others picked up the blond and gently placed him in the tube. The doctor could not help but notice the slight apprehensive looks being shot by the blond to the tall youth lowering him in the tube. "We all haven't introduced properly, haven't we?" She asked the blond.
"No." The blond replied softly.
"Any name will do." She answered without briskly. "Well?" She waited patiently.
"Call me Q." The blond replied smiling at her.
"I think you already know me." She said. "ISE will suffice." She looked at the other teens, and noticed that Walt was trying hard not too grin. "The rest?" She enquired.
"D." The cobalt eyed teen replied, smirking.
"T." The tall one answered.
"F." The Chinese teen replied automatically.
"Ro." The messy haired youth replied. This caused the others to look at him, somewhat surprised. He just shrugged his shoulders.
"Now we all know each other, I'll explain the procedure and what will happen during the x-ray." She looked at the blond who listened to her attentively. "You can ask questions later. Agreed?" The blond just nodded his head. "The first thing to do is to lie down. The straps will be used to hold you in place. I'll employ liquid breathing so you will have no trouble during the immersion. I will close this tube before lowering. Questions? She asked her patient. The blond just shook his head. "Let's continue." She indicated the sides of the tube and explained. "You noticed the holes? Look down." She ordered his patient. The blond looked down and noticed that the inside of the machine is full of liquid. He looked up enquiringly to the doctor. "I'll immerse you into that solution. The tube will be filled with the solution. It is necessary because this type of analysis will help me help you." She stopped for a moment to look at her patient intently. "Once you are lowered and the solution is filling the tube, please maintain a state of relaxation. The top will also lower down once you are inside to ensure maximum effectiveness."
"What about radiation?" The blond asked.
"It is at minimal." She answered. "The solution also serves as protection from the radiation being emitted." She paused for a moment then continued. "If you are claustrophobic, tell me now." She asked.
"No." The blond replied.
She just nod her head. "Ready?" The blond nodded his head. "Help me strap him." She asked the tall youth near the machine. The teen nodded his head and approached the blond. "Lie down please." She requested her patient.
The blond lay down while the tall teen adjusted him comfortably inside the tube. Straps are placed in his forehead, waist, arms, wrists, thighs, and ankles to ensure safety. ISE employed the liquid breathing technique and the tube was closed. Gently, the tube lowered inside the machine and the top lid followed entombing the blond. The doctor pressed a button on the side and a panel opened revealing the monitor. It flickered instantly and it shows the x-ray representation of the body inside. ISE touched the bottom of the monitor and it revealed a panel with rows of buttons. She pushed a series of buttons and data began scrolling in the screen beside the image of Q.
"What's happening doc?" D asked her.
"As you can see," ISE pointed at the monitor; "the x-ray in progress will produce a vivid photograph of the whole body of the patient as well as give me the details to the extent of the injury. What makes this equipment differs from the conventional x-ray machine is, it will present the image into three dimensional format, as well as, it will map the body into minute detail. This is necessary, so that if a patient requires an operation I would know what to do." She punched another button and scanned the data scrolling once again. "The process will be done only in fifteen minutes."
Three hours later, found the boys watching television and eating in the lounge. They are waiting anxiously for ISE to appear and give them the news. Marie and Walt went for a walk into the garden thirty minutes ago, and somehow be back later. That's what F presumed silently. He looked at the television again not really paying attention when a scream suddenly heard from the garden. He got up running towards where Marie and Walt are located followed by D and T. They reached the garden and found Walt and Marie trapped by two ferocious white tigers. Marie is shielded by Walt. Without thinking F dashed forward in an attempt to ward off the animals from the couple.
"Wait!" T shouted. He placed a hand in F's shoulder to restrain him. "These are predators. We need to proceed with caution." He advised. F nodded in agreement.
"Man! Look at the size of those things!" D exclaimed. "We must help them! Or they become meat!"
"Sabine!" A voice shouted. "Erasmus!" The trio looked behind them and found ISE running towards them. "Sorry about this!" She ran past them towards the tigers. The three watched in amazement when the two tigers backed down and sat with their hind legs. "They are guests!" She indicated to Marie and Walt. The tigers looked at them and at her and both went to her to be petted. "It's my fault. I'm so sorry!" She faced Marie and Walt.
Marie and Walt stood transfixed, looking at the tigers being petted by ISE. "We haven't noticed them the last time we were here." Walt stated nervously.
"That's true dear." Marie interjected, clasping at Walt's arm tightly. "They are new pets?" She asked.
"No." ISE answered while kept on rubbing the head of both tigers. "They are my playmates. We practically grew up with each other. They may look tame, but they are somewhat wild. They somewhat acknowledge me and the family." She looked up at Walt. "The time that you were here, they are just outside the walls but they do not venture out here in the gardens. I told them not to."
"You did?" Walt asked incredulously.
"Not in speaking terms." ISE answered with a smile. "But they know when and what part of the castle they must enter. The garden is their favorite place. They like to stay here a lot."
"They won't bite dear?" Marie asked tentatively.
"They do." ISE answered. "Now they won't. They know that you are guests." She assured Walt and Marie. "Don't pet them yet. They like to observe first before approaching."
"Okay." Marie replied in a small voice.
"Sabine! Erasmus! Stay near the fountain." ISE ordered the tigers. The tigers looked at her and to where she is directing and decided to do her bidding. When the tigers reached the fountain both animals lay down and lazily wagged their tales.
"Are there any more of your friends around?" D asked, while looking around him apprehensively.
"Mmmmm yup!" ISE grinned and shrugged her shoulders daintily. "I'll point them out to all of you soon."
"What about inside the castle?" F asked. His eyebrows rising, his not relishing the idea with snakes for company.
"None are living at the house." ISE assured with a smile. "The McHales are quite good in maintaining animal order. Animals in this area have developed a certain kinship with the occupants of Castle Aethra for centuries. We treat each other well." She looked towards the tigers lazily lounging near the fountain. "They will not approach any of you when you are in the garden. They will stay near the fountain when they wish to laze around. When you notice the others, don't run. I'll have a phone issued to each of you so that you can call me when some of them decide to visit." She looked at her watch. "Oh my! Excuse me!" She hurriedly ran back towards the castle. "I'll call when dinners ready!" She shouted while briskly walking!
Walt, Marie, D, F and T looked at each other amusingly. They looked at the tigers and found the animals watching them closely. Marie shivered and tugged Walt's sleeve. "Let's go back inside. I need a drink."
"That's a good idea." D replied while watching the tigers apprehensively.
They all trooped back towards the lounge where Ro and Q are waiting for them. Q looked at them worriedly, his eyes scanned them quickly for any sign of injuries. "What happened?" He asked.
Walt assisted his wife to a chair near the fireplace and left to fetch her glass of water. D followed him and drank the pitcher's content to half. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and embraced the pitcher and sat in the floor. "Whew! Those tigers are large!" He exclaimed.
"I've never seen white tigers before." Mused T quietly.
"What are you all talking about?" Asked Q, confused with the different reactions from Walt, Marie, T, D. and F. "What happened in the garden?"
"It seems that the doctor is an animal lover." F said wryly. "We met her pet tigers named Sabine and Erasmus. I can't even distinguish which one is Sabine or Erasmus." He snorted derisively.
D erupted suddenly with a laugh that shook his body all over. All were watching him, confused by his sudden jubilation. "What's so funny? F asked, a scowl marred his features. D kept on laughing, taking deep breaths in an attempt to answer F, but he ended up laughing all the more harder. He is now crying from too much laughing. "This is no longer funny D." F admonished D.
"I….I…." gasped D. "I know." Another bout of laughter shook him. The others shook their heads lightly and grinned.
"I think it's a delayed reaction against what happened." Marie tried to explained D's behavior. "Laughing releases the tension." She nodded her head, believing that it is the right explanation. "Yes, that's it. Do continue D." Upon hearing this, D laughed even harder. Those around D gave into mixed emotions; they don't know if they should join him. Most of the majority, however, decided they do not wish to be coined as crazy.
"Stop D!" Q called smiling. "Stop before you swallow a fly!" That caused D to gasp that resulted to a cough. "Wha…"
"Finally." F and T muttered.
"Hn." Ro acknowledged.
D's cough continued while trying to catch his breath. He noticed that he still have water in the pitcher he drank the rest. "Q!" He exclaimed. "That's gross! I don't want to lose my appetite!"
"Well it's the one thing I can think of to shut you up." Q shrugged grinning.
"Angsty." D gave him a raspberry.
"Do not." Q rebounded good-naturedly.
"Dinner is ready!" A voice called. They all turned to the direction of the voice and found ISE walking towards them. "Good to see the two of you using the wheelchairs. How are the controls?"
"Perfect." Q answered smiling.
"Excellent!" ISE answered. "Come on let's eat. I have to escort all of you so you won't get lost." They all followed ISE into a maze of hallways lined with wall lights and paintings until they reached the dining room. A mahogany oval shaped table graced the center of the room with a chandelier hanging over it. Elegant mahogany chairs were situated around it. The walls and ceilings are decorated with frescoes and vine carvings in gold. Her guests noticed the opulence of the room, but the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. They all smiled when they noticed the dishes placed in the center of the table. "Have a seat everyone!" They all noticed that two seats are missing. This did not escape the doctor however and she gestured to the two teens sitting in the wheelchair. "You can adjust the height of your chairs by pressing the blue screen in the armchair."
Ro touched the screen and the indicators lit up. He touched the screen again pointing his finger towards the menu being displayed and appropriately chose the right command for his chair to adjust. His seat lifted him up to a satisfied height that will enable him to eat along with those around him. The blond followed suit.
"Cool." D just grinned and sat down to ready himself for dinner. The others settled in and eyed the dishes in front of them with pleasure.
"You prepared all of these by yourself?" Q asked. He eyed the six dishes in front of him.
"Yes." She picked up her table napkin and smiled at Q. "Dig in." She nodded her head to them.
"Mmmmm…." D grabbed a dish in front of him and began serving himself. "You don't need to ask me twice!" He said grinning.
After dinner, the guests of Castle Aethra found themselves in ISE's workstation. It is a study, equipped with the state of the art electronics equipment. The group looked at the screen while ISE is explaining the various data that are scrolling. For everyone, the future is bright for their two friends.