From: rms@andria.miles.com (Rob Schultz)
Subject: Recovery 1/2
Date: 27 Aug 92 04:20:53 GMT


The following is a short story I wrote tonight as a sort of
preliminary to another story I'm working on.  It was meant to
give me some ideas on how to flesh out the characters, but it
should be able to stand on its own.

The story is set sometime in the next 10 to 15 years, sort
of pre-cyberpunk.  Direct neural interfaces do not yet exist,
and I am just expanding on existing technologies.  Remember,
we have to get there somehow!  :-)

Please send comments/questions to:
                       rms@andria.miles.com
                                or
               {uunet|iuvax}!gator!miles!andria!rms



Recovery
part 1/2

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darkness.  Way too much darkness.

Light.  Just a pinpoint, maybe it isn't really there.  Light.
Again.  Larger, now, flickering.  Darkness again.

Time, drifting, how long have I been here?  Where is here?

Light again, stronger this time.  Larger, flickering slightly.

Damp.  Cold surface on my cheek.  Rock?  Which way is up?

Water dripping, echoing.  A cave?  Where is this place?

Who am I?  Who am I?  Who am I?  Who am I? Who am I?

*****

Darkness.  Pain.  Legs, arms, back.  Back.  Oh, that *hurts*.

Stop it.  Stop It!  STOP IT!

*****

Damp.  Dark.  Sore.  Cold.  Where am I?  Who am I?  Who am I?
Who are you?  Who am I?  Who are you?  Who are you?  Who are you?

"Who are you?"  A voice?  Yes! a voice!  "Who are you?"

"Ohhh.  Ouuuch!  Stop it!!"

"It looks like she's coming around, Pick."

"Can you bring her out faster?"

"No, I think that would be dangerous.  She should come to in a few
minutes, anyway."

"Whaa?  Whoo?  Unngghh."

"Easy, now, take it easy.  You're going to be alright.  Just relax.
Everything's going to be fine."

"*OUCH*!"

"Easy, just a shot to help the pain."

"Pain.  So much pain."

"You're in pretty bad shape, you should hurt.  But you seem to be
pretty tough.  You're going to make it."

"Janet."

"Janet will be okay.  What's you're name?"

"Ssteeviee."

"Well, Stevie, you're going to be just fine.  The pain will go away
in a few days, and the bruises.  You may have a few scars, but
there won't be any other real damage."

"Stevie, my name is Pick.  How do you feel?"

"Pain.  So much pain."

"Yes, after what you went through, there will be pain.  But Doc says
you'ss be fine, just a few days until you're up and moving around."

"Doc?"

"Yes, Stevie, I'm here.  Just get some rest.  Go back to sleep, we'll
still be here."

Pain.  Dark.  Drifting.  Drifting.  Drifting.

*****

Light.  Too much light.  Turn it off!!  It hurts my eyes!

White.  Walls, ceiling.  All white.  Movement.  Where?  There!  Focus.
Focus.  Concentrate, dammit!  Focus.  Person.  More white.  White
coat.  Lab coat?  Help!!!   No, doctor's coat.  There, a stethoscope.
Maybe.  Maybe not.  Yes, there it is, around his neck.  Doctor.  Doc?
Doc?  Doc?  Doc?

*****

"Doc?"  It was more of a moan than a word.  "Doc?"  Stronger now.

"Yes, Stevie, I'm here."

"Doc?  What happened?  Oh, it hurts.  Ouch!"

"Just a shot to help with the pain.  Relax, you'll feel better in a few
minutes."

"There you go.  How does you feel now?"

"Mmmm.  Better.  Still hurts, though."

"I expect it will, even through the pain-killers.  You've been through
quite a bit, young lady."

She could focus more clearly, now that the pain was subsiding.  She could
see a man standing over her, looking down.  He had a strong chin.  Dark
hair, parted on the side and cut short, in a style from a few years ago.
Unshaven, as if he had been up for a long time.  Dark circles around
his eyes.  Hollow cheeks.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Huh?  Talk about what?"

"What happened to you?  Do you know who did this?"

"The pain?  I don't know.  Who am I?"  She was able to think more clearly,
too.  Wait a minute!  Who am I??

"You said earlier your name was 'Stevie'."

"Stevie.  Yes, that's right.  Stevie.  I'm a student.  Where am I?"

"I have a small clinic.  Don't worry, they won't be able to find you
here."  Doc moved toward the wall near Stevie's feet.  She noticed that
there were monitors and electronic gadgets of all sorts on the wall.

"Pick found you about four days ago in an alley on the other side of town.
You were pretty messed up."

"They beat me.  They . . . raped me."  Her voice ground to a whisper as
the realization hit her.  "Where's Janet?" she said suddenly, her voice
turning to a shout as she sat up.  "What have you done with Janet??"

"Don't worry, she's in good hands.  My associate, Maureen, is doing
everything she can."  Doc placed a hand on Stevie's arm.  "Janet had a
rough time of it, too."

"Will she be alright?"  Concern shown like a beacon on the young woman's
face.

"We think so," Doc said softly.  "We think so."

"She's my sister.  Why did they have to involve her in this?  She
didn't have anything to do with it!!"  Stevie burst out crying.

Doc cradled her head on his shoulder and rocked her gently, stroking
her long blonde hair.  After a while, Stevie's sobs subsided and she
looked up at Doc.  He could see her soft blue eyes still brimming with
tears.  "Don't worry about Janet.  She's going to be alright.  Why don't
you try to get some sleep now?"  He gently laid her back on the bed
and pulled the sheets up around her torso.

Stevie went back to sleep almost immediately.

*****

Out in the hall, Doc saw Maureen talking earnestly with Pick.

"How's she doing?" asked Pick as Doc approached.

"Better.  She was coherent for a few minutes.  It seems that the other
girl is her sister, Janet.  She said that Janet wasn't involved, apparently
just an innocent bystander.  Stevie is still in a lot af pain.  She also
confirmed that she was raped.  But I didn't get anything else as to why
they were handled like that."

Maureen broke in.  "Well, Janet still has a long way to go.  We almost
lost her this morning."

Pick said, "You two need to get some sleep.  You're both exhausted.  I
don't believe either of you have seen a bed since I brought them in a
week ago."  As the two doctors started to protest, he cut them off with,
"Go.  I have set up cots in the other room for you.  I will watch them
and wake you up if anything changes.  Go.  Now, already!"

"Okay, Pick, you're the boss.  I think I need a shower, first, though.
How about it, Maureen?"

"Yes, I think a shower and then a four hour nap.  But then I do need to
check up on Janet, again, Pick.  I think she'll be okay, but if she
doesn't start to come around by then, I want to bring her out of it.
Otherwise, she could be in that coma for years."

Pick nodded affirmatively while herding the two doctors toward the shower
room they had had installed for just such an occasion.  It wasn't the
first time they had used it.

*****

"Maureen, wake up.  Maureen.  Maureen."

"Huh?  What?  How's Janet?  What happened?"  Maureen tried to spring
out of bed, but she was held back by Pick.

"Nothing, don't worry.  It's just time to check up on Janet."

"Has she come to yet?"  both doctors had changed clothes after they had
showered, but they had slept in them in case of an emergency.  Maureen
absently brushed at the wrinkles in her lab coatas she walked quickly
toward the room where Janet was.

"She stirred a little while ago, but she never woke up."

"That's a good sign," Maureen said as she entered the room.  Janet was
stirring, trying to move.

"Janet, it's okay.  Take it easy," the doctor said soothingly as she
looked at the array of instruments.  "Her pulse is back to near normal
and her blood pressure is back up again.  It looks like that new stuff
you got for us is pretty good, Pick."

"We try to do our best up there.  You just never know how something that
was developed in zero-g will work on you Terra-lovers."  As he spoke, the
door opened and Doc walked in.

"Need a hand, Maureen?" he asked.

"No, she's starting to come out of it, finally.  I think we're okay here.
But I wouldn't tell Stevie too much, just yet.  Janet still has a long
way to go, and I think the emotional trauma is going to be very bad for
both of them when they find out."  Maureen was checking the bandages
over Janet's eyes.

"Do you think there's any chance for her to regain her sight?"

"I don't know.  I guess it depends on the 'Rogues in Space'.  Pick?"

"Well, there is a team working on optic nerve implants, but they aren't
anywhere near to trying it out a a human, yet."

"What about the rest of her?" Doc asked gravely.

"I don't think so.  Even the Rogues can't do that kind of reconstruction
yet."

"Hmmmm.  Well, I had better go check on Stevie."  Doc turned alnd left
the room abruptly.


---------------------------------------------------------------------

The above work is Copyright 1992 by Rob Schultz.  Stevie, Janet, Doc,
and Jaeger are my creations and may not be used without written
permission from me.  Please send any comments on the above work to
me at:
                        rms@andria.miles.com
                                 or
                {uunet|iuvax}!gator!miles!andria!rms


From: rms@andria.miles.com (Rob Schultz)
Subject: recovery 2/2
Date: 27 Aug 92 04:22:45 GMT


Recovery
part 2/2


"When can I see Janet?"  Stevie was up and walking around on her own
now, after a few more days of rest.

"Well, she's getting stronger, but we'll have to ask Maureen.  I think
it will be a few more days yet before she'll let you in there.  There's
still a strong possibility of infection."  Doc and Stevie approached
a door down the hall from the room where Stevie had been recuperating.
Doc held the door for her as Stevie entered the room.

It was a spacious office, with an old wooden desk and a fairly modern
looking terminal.  Medical books were packed tightly into the bookshelves
lining every wall and overflowing into stacks on the floor.  Two battered
swivel chairs were facing the desk.  Pick was talking into the terminal.

"Okay, then so we're all set on the delivery arrangements?"

"Yes," the terminal responded.  "We'll have the payment ready for you
when you bring the new supplies."

"Great, see you tonight, then."  Pick clicked off the connection and
turned to face Stevie.

"Sit down, sit down," he said, waving at a chair.  "You're looking pretty
good, there, young lady."

"Well, Doc says the cast can come off my arm tomorrow, and the bruises
are completely gone now.  I guess my back and legs are just about
healed, too, although they still hurt a lot."  Stevie lowered herself
into one of the chairs as Doc took the other.

"Those skin grafts aren't going to leave any scars on her at all," Doc
said with a touch of wonder.  "Even the acid burns on her face won't
be noticeable, even to me."  Stevie winced at the mention of her face.

"I guess I have a lot to thank you for, Pick.  Doc tells me that you
found Janet and me in an alley and brought me here."

"Yeah, well I guess I kind of figured you'd turn out to be a pretty
girl, and I can't bear to leave a pretty girl lying in an alley.  You
had already been there for quite a while when I found you."

"I don't know how to thank you--for both of us.  How can we ever repay
you?"

"Well, you could start by telling me what happened to you.  People don't
get messed up like that without a very good reason, even these days."
Pick leaned forward and put his elbows on the desk.

"I--I guess I got mixed up with the wrong sort.  He thought I had double-
crossed him."  Stevie avoided Pick's eyes.

"'Him'?  Who is he?"

"My boyfriend.  Well, ex-boyfriend, now."

"And what did he think you did?"

"One of his shipments got picked up by the DEA.  He thought I had narc'ed."

"And did you?"

"No, I swear it!" Stevie protested.  "I didn't even know he was into that
stuff until he had his goons start in on me.  Then they brought in
Janet..."  Stevie's eyes filled as she remembered watching the goons
torturing her sister.  "I don't even know how they found her.  She was
in Australia."

"So you got all of this over one shipment?  Must have been some shipment,"
remarked Doc.

"Well, I guess a lot of shipments had been getting picked up.  Ever since
I took up with him.  He thinks I was spying or something.  But I swear I
didn't know anything about it!"

"Shipments of what?"

"Coke, Methyl Red, guns, encryption software, slaves, you name it, I guess
he was into it.  I just took up with him to get me through school.  He
hired me as a computer security consultant."

"How do you know all of this, if you didn't even know he was doing it?"

"The goons kept asking me about the shipments.  They'd say things like,
who did you tell about the M-20's, or how did you find out about the
girls going to South Africa."

"Pick, she's getting tired.  I think she should go back to bed."  Doc
stood up to help Stevie out of her chair.

"I guess you're right.  Take her back to her room.  Stevie, rest up.
You're coming along fine, but you still have a ways to go.  I have a
feeling we'll continue this conversation later.  Maybe I can do something
about the SOB who did all this to you and your sister."

*****

Stevie was in Janet's room, watching her as she slept.  There were still
bandages over her eyes, and her legs and the lower half of her torso were
completely bandaged.  Even so, her legs seemed smaller than normal.

The door opened and Doc came in.

"They're here."  He exclaimed excitedly.  "Pick brought them in this
morning."

Stevie looked up and smiled, his enthusiasm quickly lifting her spirits.
"Great!  Do you think it will work?"

"Well, it's a new procedure.  It's never been tried on Earth before.  Since
they outlawed the use of animals for medical research, all of this type
of work has been done in low gravity space stations.  Janet will be the
first human to receive artificial eyes."

"Well, it's worth a try.  When can we do it?"  I'll have Maureen get ready
and we can do it this afternoon.  The procedure should take about six
hours.  But we won't know anything for sure until tomorrow at least."

*****

"Janet?  Janet?  Can you hear me Janet?  Janet, it's Stevie.  Wake up,
Janet."

"She's coming out of it, Doc.  Janet, wake up."

Janet's head turned toward Stevie.  "Stevie?  Where am I?  Why does
everything look so funny?  Is that you, Stevie?"

"Yes, Janet, I'm so glad you're awake!  I'm so glad you're alive!"

"Janet, my name is Doc.  Everything looks strange to you because you are
seeing infra-red, not regular light.  Basically, you are seeing heat
instead of normal light."

"You mean like in 'Predator'?  I saw that when I was a kid, you know."

"Yes, like in 'Predator'.  You have been given artificial eyes.  We will
teach you how to switch to regular light later.  You should be able to
see better than ever in a few days."

*****

"I think I'm getting it.  I really just have to *think* about switching
modes and then it just happens!"

"That's great, Janet."  Doc was sitting on a the bed facing Janet in the
chair.  Stevie was sitting next to him, practicing hand control just like
her old Thai martial arts master had taught her.

The door opened to reveal Maureen and Pick, and a tall black man behind
them.

"Stevie, I'd like you to meet Jackie Washington, with the DEA.  He wants
to ask you some questions about your old boyfriend.  Maybe he can help
us to get even with him for you."

"Okay, nice to meet you, Mr. Washington."  Stevie jumped lightly off the
bed and offered her hand.

The man took her hand as he spoke in a rich voice. "Jackie will do just
fine, ma'am.  Do you mind doing this now?"

"Wait!"  cried Janet.  "Wait!  That's him!  That's the man who grabbed me
in Brisbane!"

Pick pulled a laser pistol out of the back of his waistband and pointed
it at Janet.  "Shut up, bitch! Shut up!" he barked.

But Stevie wasted no time.  Still holding onto the newcomer, she flipped
him into Maureen, bowling her toward Pick.

Realizing what had happened, Doc started toward Pick.  "You bloody bastard,"
he snarled.  "This was all just a trap for them, wasn't it?"

Pick jumped out of the way of Maureen as she fell with Washington on top
of her.  He brought the pistol to bear on Doc as he moved toward Janet.
"Yes, I work for Jaeger, Stevie's boyfriend.  He ordered me to play the
'good cop' role and find out what she knows about the shipments.  Sorry
I had to use you like that, Doc, but it's just business, you know?  After
all, it was Jaeger who paid for most of the stuff you got from the Rogues.
Besides, you got to experiment with the eye implants.  And before you ask,
no Jackie isn't with the DEA, he's with Jaeger."

While Pick's concentration was divided between Doc and Janet, Stevie spun
around and landed a kick on his chest.  The laser fired into the wall of
medical equipment, showering sparks and several different colored fluids
onto Maureen and Jackie.  Both of them screamed in pain.

Pick brought the weapon around again to bear on Stevie as she pressed the
attack.  She landed another kick to his knee as her hand jabbed for his
throat.  But Pick saw the hand in time to block it with the gun.  But as
he did, the force of Stevie's blow knocked it out of his hands into the
hallway beyond the still-open door.

Doc was helping Janet out of the chair.  He called to Stevie, "Hurry.
There's acid in some of those lines.  I think it's spilling out."

Stevie landed another kick to Pick's groin, and then came down with her
arms on his neck.  Pick collapsed in a heap as Doc got Janet out of the
chair.  Stevie rushed over to help him.

*****

"You really had me fooled, Stevie.  At the clinic, before that guy came in,
I thought you were still quite weak," Doc said later, once they were
settled into a hotel with Janet.

"Yeah, I know you did," she smiled grimly.  But I figured that Pick might
be with Jaeger, and it was better that he should think I was still weak."

"Well, you sure had me fooled.  But then, so did Maureen and Pick.  I
always thought of Pick as a nice guy."

"I'm sorry about Maureen,"  said Stevie.  "I know you loved her."

"Well, you did what you had to.  I didn't know she was mixed up in that
mess, either."

Later, Doc asked Stevie, "So, are you really with the DEA?"

Stevie shook her head.  "Not exactly.  I'm a private contracter."

"And Janet?"

"Just an innocent bystander.  I really thought she was safe in Brisbane."


---------------------------------------------------------------------

The above work is Copyright 1992 by Rob Schultz.  Stevie, Janet, Doc,
and Jaeger are my creations and may not be used without written
permission from me.  Please send any comments on the above work to
me at:
                        rms@andria.miles.com
                                 or
                {uunet|iuvax}!gator!miles!andria!rms