99: Revelations

[walk_ins]

This time, when he gets the call about an Episode, Dr. Lin isn't making his rounds; he's at dinner. While lunch is segregated by block classes, most of the Academy eats the final meal of the day at the same time, and by and large together; although the Blue Hands never eat in front of the other staff, waiting until after they've vacated the Staff lunchroom.

He leaves his protein paste and canned beans and hurries. It's Lilli again, according to the tinny voice on his comm. He heads this time not to the large main dining hall, but to the Advanced Students's Mess, swiping his keycard at the electronic door to get in. She's made so much progress.

As he moves towards, once again he activates the listening device in his tie pin.

Comments

[walk_ins]

They're laughing at him. Under their faces, where he can't see it.

His jaw is clenched until it hurts. He sits, too straight and too still, and gazes fixedly at the wall.

They are laughing where I can't see, and they don't care if I know it, while a monster tortures my student--

This is madness.

(And if there is any place where people know madness, it is here.)

If he starts swearing, or ranting, he will never stop.

He learned long ago to keep control of himself in the face of a setback. It's just the same principle.

So he sits, teeth gritted, and works on keeping his hands from clenching into fists.

[walk_ins]

It's not much longer before he comes out with Lilli. She's unconscious, and he's barely managing her in stubby arms. Before he can drop her to the floor, Dr. Lin starts forward and seizes her limp body from him.

She's breathing steadily, in and out, her face slack and stupid-looking.

Some pink fluid is crusted around her eyes, like the dried particles found after sleeping. Only pink.

[walk_ins]

Dr. Lin holds Lilli with the automatic gentleness of someone used to holding injured people. With a healer's gentleness.

He glares up at the Doctor, and not all his terror and all his logic and experience can keep him from blurting out, "What did you do?"

No procedure. No collegue observing. No measurements, no notes in her medical record, no checking her current meds first -- what good is this supposed to do? How is he supposed to use this to help her progress?

This Academy is not meant to hurt children for no reason. It's a school, it's a place of scientific investigation and God's work for a higher cause. Not some crime-lord's private prison. This is an affront to everything Lin's Academy stands for.

[walk_ins]

"Take her to her room. She'll be well again with sleep." The Doctor turns away from him, and begins to speak in a low voice to the Blue Hands.

Praxed is one word. Sunday is another.

[walk_ins]

He's just been dismissed like a first-year resident. In his own Academy, with his own student.

Not now. I'm not in a position of strength. NOT NOW.

Anger burns through him.

Silently, he resettles Lilli in his arms, and turns away.

Not now. But later. Oh yes, later. He'll get this straightened out. Make it clear to the Hands and Sanshing both who is in charge here, and what is not permitted. Or send them all back to whatever

(hell)

place they came from.

...As soon as he has the slightest clue how.