The Significant (25 page)

      
When seven hours had passed and Kailynn was
falling asleep in her chair, a doctor walked into the waiting room. Rayal
spotted him immediately and straightened, grabbing the attention of Remus, who
turned.

      
As Rayal woke Tarah, the Elites stood to
surround the doctor that Kailynn recognized.

      
“Dr. Busen,” Remus greeted.

      
“Remus,” he said with a small smile.
“She’s stable. She’ll be fine.”

      
The Elites relaxed and let out relieved
chuckles.

      
“How bad was it?” Remus asked.

      
“Well,” Dr. Busen started, sighing and
shaking his head, “I don’t feel comfortable letting her leave without
surveillance. Her body is not in optimal condition, and I worry that she’s
declining again.”

      
“Why do you think that?” Maki asked
worriedly.

      
“Her heartbeat is irregular, and her
brain activity is…concerning.”

      
“Then it’s getting worse?” Remus asked
knowingly.

      
“That’s to be expected,” Dr. Busen said,
his eyes dropping to the ground. “She is prone to illness and deterioration
now. That’s part of reconstruction. She needs to be on boosters again, and I’ll
prescribe her some other medication while she’s recovering from this. We don’t
need any more infections setting in.”

      
“She’s been overworked. I’m sure her
immune system is weak.”

      
“That is not news to me,” Dr. Busen
chuckled brokenly. “I will submit my report to Venus and strongly recommend
that she remain
out
of the NCB chair
until at least two follow-up appointments.” The doctor hesitated. “Until her
strength returns, she cannot handle any more risk. She’s in delicate condition
for the next several days.”

      
“You’re going to have to keep her here,
then,” Remus said strongly. “You know that we can’t monitor her properly
anywhere else. She needs to be here.”

      
“I agree,” Dr. Busen said. “But I need
your approval and a ruling majority on the Syndicate to keep her.”

 
     
“You
have my approval,” Remus assured.

      
“And I don’t think anyone her is opposed
to her being here to recuperate,” Chronus said, glancing at the other Bronze
Elites. When they all shook their heads, Dr. Busen nodded.

      
“Good. We’ll be sure to keep her quiet and
be sure that she follows treatment until she is out of this delicate stage.”

      
“Is there anything that can be done to
make her stronger?” Anders asked worriedly. “I understand that what happened
five years ago was horrible, but there has to be something you can do to
strengthen her body again.”

      
“I’m afraid Elites don’t heal the same as
humans. Her brain was altered completely from the accident. It doesn’t function
as it did before and therefore there are a lot of signals that are getting lost
between her brain and her body, including healing responses. The best we can do
is keep an eye on her, and try to translate what we can.”

      
“May we see her?”

      
“Of course,” Dr. Busen said. “But…before
I take you there,” he glanced at Kailynn, “there is something that needs to be
addressed.” He lifted a finger and motioned to Kailynn. The Elites turned to
the Significant, causing the younger woman to freeze temporarily. However, she
forced her feet forward. She stood in front of the doctor, who reached a hand
to her face. She backpedaled, confused, but Rayal placed a hand on her back and
forced her to stay still.

      
When Dr. Busen reached for her right ear,
another fear gripped Kailynn. He was looking for her PIM chip, which she did
not have as a Trid. Dr. Busen’s fingers pressed into the skin behind her
earlobe and his eyes met hers.

      
For two tense seconds, they stared at one
another.

      
Dr. Busen smiled and reached for his
pocket, pulling out the pen that read PIM chips. He pressed it to her skin,
staring at her purposefully. She waited, her heart choking her as it sat in her
throat. He pressed a button and it beeped loudly. He pulled it away from her
skin and glanced at the small screen.

      
“Excellent,” he murmured. “Follow me.”

      
The entourage that had been waiting for
news on the Golden Elite followed Dr. Busen to the elevator and took it to the
next floor, walking through the quiet, deserted hallways to one of the larger
rooms. Dr. Busen stepped to the side of the door and motioned everyone in. As
Kailynn started into the room, the doctor grabbed her arm and pulled her back,
allowing the Elites in and then the caretakers before pressing the button to
close the door.

      
Kailynn watched as the doctor turned to
her slowly, smiling.

      
“Don’t worry,” he assured. “I won’t
report you.”

      
Kailynn remained silent.

      
“I’m not an idiot,” he said. “I know full
well why you were at Anon Tower, and who you were there with.”

      
Kailynn’s head dropped and her eyes
focused on the ground, her body shaking nervously.

      
“I want you to know that I have one of
the most difficult jobs on the planet,” Dr. Busen said. “I have been charged to
care for the health of one of the worst patients in history. However, it is my
responsibility to watch out for her, and I take that duty very seriously. I
cannot tend to her every need, though. And even working together, her other
Specialist and I cannot care for her in every moment. Therefore, I am not
surprised to find that someone like you has entered her life.”

      
Kailynn was surprised at the warm tone in
his voice.

      
“Please take good care of her,” Dr. Busen
murmured. “Isa needs all the support she can get. If you are willing to risk
both of your lives, then be sure that you are fully invested in being with her.
She has seen enough pain in her life. Don’t cause her more.”

      
“…I won’t,” Kailynn promised, her voice
soft.

      
“And, just one more thing,” Dr. Busen
said with a nervous chuckle. “I know you get tested at Companion.” She nodded
slowly. “You’re clean, yes?”

      
“Yes.”

      
“Good.” Dr. Busen nodded. “I have to ask.
I’m her doctor.”

      
He pressed the button to open the door
and motioned for the Significant to enter. Kailynn glanced at the doctor and
smiled weakly.

      
“Thank you.”

      
She walked into the room, but did not get
far before her eyes settled on Isa and she had to stop and lock her legs to
keep from collapsing.

      
Isa looked worse than she had when
convulsing in the chair. Her face was pale and chalky. There were wires and
needles poking into her skin. The light of the room made her look sickly and
thin. The Elites were gathered around her but they did not seem as nervous
about her condition as Kailynn.

      
All eyes turned on the Significant.
Chronus, Anders and two other Elites—Ainee and Kyrin—stepped aside to allow the
Significant through. Kailynn stepped forward, trying to keep her legs strong as
she approached the bed. Remus and Rayal were standing beside the Elite, while
Tarah was in a chair, holding the Elite’s hand, her eyes swollen with
frightened tears.

      
Kailynn walked to Tarah’s side, looking
over the Elite and swallowing hard to keep her own tears at bay. She was
acutely aware of all the eyes on her, but she still could not think past Isa’s
condition. She stood next to Tarah, placing a hand on the caretaker’s shoulder
in a small gesture of comfort.

      
The world narrowed. The only thing
Kailynn could see was Isa’s ill countenance.

      
“The hospital always makes everyone look
worse,” Rayal murmured. “She will be alright.”

      
Kailynn only nodded. She could not bring
herself to speak.

      
She was not sure how long the room
remained silent, but when Chronus spoke, she nearly jumped out of her skin.

      
“What do you want to do, Remus?” Chronus
asked.

      
“How far has the information spread?”
Remus asked, turning to Rayal. The former caretaker shook his head.

      
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” he admitted.
“It was processed through the EMU network. It’s probably planet-wide by now.”

      
“Venus has not spoken,” another Elite,
Hana, murmured. “If she knew she would have said something.”

      
“Not necessarily,” Remus whispered.
“She’s probably processing everyone’s reaction. For now, we continue with the
original story.” Remus turned to look among the Bronze Elites. “The Significant
was there for Tarah. No laws were broken. Is that understood?”

      
“Yes, sir.”

      
“Security is our highest priority. We
will direct all questions and conferences to the security breach that happened
to get the virus in her chair. I want everyone working in safe-mode, all Opium
meetings cancelled, and all speculation that this was the Ninth Circle shot
down. We do not know that they were behind this.”

      
“No, but can you think of anyone else
that would do this?” Anders challenged.

      
“No, but until we can confirm it, we
don’t need the entire Alliance in an uproar. That will lead to war.”

      
“And what of Isa’s condition?” Maki
asked. “The people will want to know, but others could see it as a sign of
weakness and take the opportunity to attack.”

      
“We will just say that she survived an
assassination attempt. For safety reasons, she is in hiding. No more details
need to be given until she is well again.”

      
“Understood,” Maki said with a nod. He
turned to the other Elites. “You heard the man, we’re on damage control. Hana
and Kyrin, you start on security for the NCB chairs. Run every scan possible on
the Syndicate Building and get a diagnosis of our security. Chronus, you and I
can go to Anon Tower and deal with Isa’s chair.”

      
The Elites turned to leave the room,
knowing they had to pick up all the work for the Silver and Golden Elites. They
did not question it. They knew that it was the Golden Elite’s job to take care
of the planet, and the Silver Elite’s job to take care of the Golden Elite.
When the Golden Elite was unwell, the Silver Elite took charge while remaining
at the Golden Elite’s side. It was part of the framework for the Syndicate.

      
Maki walked to Remus and put a hand on
his shoulder.

      
“Call me if you need anything.”

      
“Thank you, Maki.”

      
The Bronze Elites filed out of the room,
leaving Remus, Rayal, Tarah, and Kailynn with the unconscious Golden Elite.

      
Kailynn felt even more intimidated. Now,
Remus, who Rayal had warned was the most protective of Isa, was staring at the
Significant darkly.

      
“Kailynn,” he started. She closed her
eyes before turning to him, trying to put up a brave front. “It would be best
if you went back to Companion.”

      
“I can’t just leave her,” Kailynn said
strongly.

      
“It is in everyone’s best interest if you
leave,” Remus said. “This is a very dangerous situation, and you do not know
most of it.”

      
“I know that my life is in danger just by
being here,” Kailynn growled. “I know enough.”

      
“No, you don’t,” Remus corrected sharply.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this attempt on Isa’s life was from Gihron.
And now the news is likely widespread about a Significant in the home of the
Golden Elite. That puts a target on your head.”

      
“Rayal told me that they could take me as
a way to get to Isa.”

      
“You have no idea of what they are
capable,” Remus hissed. “They have done much worse in the past. Isa is not
strong enough to handle something of that magnitude.”

      
“I don’t see how that is your call to make,”
Kailynn said. “I don’t know how bad her health is, true. But she seems happier
when I’m around, and I think that says a lot.”