Nova shook her head and held up her hand. She glared at the floor, determined to regain control. She tried to count how many drinks she'd had but her brain wasn't working properly.
Tanguin said something else and got up, walking away from the bar.
A misty darkness crept around the edges of Nova's vision. Her heart beat faster as she tried to make sense of the blurred images and distorted noise. She dropped off the barstool, feeling stifled and hot, unable to breathe. She pushed past the crowds of people, stumbling for the door. An inescapable need to be outside, to feel the cool night air on her face and to be away from the noisy room, consumed her.
She hurried out of the bar with an uneven gait, making a wobbly line up the road. Her back prickled, like unseen eyes were watching. Her foot caught in an uneven cobblestone and she collapsed to the ground, her head spinning as darkness closed in.
***
"She seemed fine when she walked in to see Tanguin," Cal commented after reviewing the images.
"The most likely suspect is the man who spilled his drink on her."
"Yes, but I can't make out his face, it's all greyed out in her memory."
"She's getting worse."
Cal looked down at Nova; the smile was gone from her face. Sweat poured out of her forehead as she breathed in short gasps.
"She's coming down from whatever it was."
"Heart rate and blood pressure are still rising. If her brain activity gets any more erratic she could suffer permanent brain damage."
"We've got to get her to a med-centre," Cal said. He didn't know what sort of medical facilities they had on a planet like Glod but they didn't have much choice.
"On our way," Crusader said, entering auto-pilot.
The ship lifted from the street parking and the internal systems linked with the nearest hospital.
CHAPTER FIVE
Crusader's sliding door opened to reveal the bright lights of the hospital. People in white coats waited just outside. As soon as the door opened they climbed up into the storage bay and loaded Nova onto a trolley.
Cal hovered over her. "She's got spiking brain activity, inconsistent blood pressure, and hallucinations. She's been drugged."
A man holding a small tablet computer nodded. "Any friends or family want to accompany her?"
"I do," Cal responded, hovering forward.
The doctor looked him over and shrugged. "Turn off any weapons systems or you'll be barred from entry."
Cal floated out of Crusader's door just behind the frantic group of doctors. As they wheeled Nova towards the large side door of the hospital she began to convulse. Her eyes rolled up inside her head and her body jerked as if possessed.
Cal kept pace with the trolley as the doctors and nurses pushed it faster.
They wheeled it through the hospital entrance and zipped between people and machines, deeper into the enormous building.
While most of Cal's attention was on Nova, his backup processors tried to contact Tanguin, or her computer Delta. So far he had had no luck, the systems kept clicking but there was no one on the other end to receive his transmission.
The doctors wheeled Nova into a large ward where six other patients already lay. A few opened their eyes to watch, the others stayed asleep.
They lifted her into a bed with crisp white linen and a doctor stepped forward, obviously in charge.
"Read medical implant," he said.
The screen in front of him flashed and text appeared. He looked over the notes and his expression darkened.
"Does she do drugs often?" he asked.
"Never!" Cal said.
"We've been getting a lot of these," the doctor said, his expression turning sad. "It's some kind of new drug, we're calling it Ralium. It gives them multiple highs and lows but without another dose they die after twenty-four hours."
"Die?"
The doctor nodded, hanging his head.
"You must be able to do something!"
"Without a sample of the drug I have no way of knowing what's in it, or how to fight it. And trust me, there's no way anyone would hand over a sample, not once they're hooked."
"There must be a street informant or something…"
"No one can get it."
"But—"
"I'm sorry."
"She'll become conscious again?" Cal asked.
"Yes, and if I were you, I'd use the time to say goodbye."
CHAPTER SIX
Cal looked down at Nova's face. Her shivering had stopped, but beads of sweat swelled on her forehead, before trickling down her face. The needle in her arm connected to an IV bag that dangled by her bed was the only thing the medical staff could do. According to the doctors, dialysis would mean a painful and certain death.
Cal's processors swirled with despair, anxiety, and fear as they raced to find a solution for Nova, to find a way to save her. He scanned every known medical database, every miracle cure ever mentioned on the Cloud. He was so caught up in the research that it took three clicks before he noticed the incoming transmission.
"Cal!" Tanguin's voice crackled through his speakers.
"Tanguin!"
Cal's projector cast Tanguin's image on the wall above Nova's bed. It had a soft glow and he was careful not to wake the other patients. A sense of relief flushed through him at the sight of Tanguin's face, at least she seemed okay.
"Cal, where's Nova? I lost track of her, I think she might be in danger."
"I've been trying to contact you for hours!" Cal said. His circuits burnt with anger and relief.
"I'm sorry! I've been out trying to find her," Tanguin said. She did look dishevelled; her hair piled in a tangled mess around her head and her eyes clouded with concern.
"She's here with me," Cal said, letting go of his anger. "She's not doing well. There's some kind of drug in her system."
"Where are you?" Tanguin asked.
"Stell Hospital."
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
***
When Tanguin's transmission turned off Nova's eyes flickered. Cal detected the motion and was beside her in an instant.
"Nova?" Cal said.
"Cal? Where am I?" Nova's voice was rough and husky and her eyes flickered.
"Stell hospital."
"What? Why? What am I doing here?"
"Nova, something happened. You've been given some kind of drug. The doctors don't know how to fix it."
"How did I..?"
"I don't know but, Nova, listen. The doctor said that if you don't get another dose within twenty-four hours you'll die."
Her eyebrows shot up at Cal's words and then her body collapsed inwards, sinking down into the bed and seeming to shrink.
"I don't remember anything," she whispered. "I'm going to kill whoever did this."
"I don't know—" Cal's words were cut short by a hysterical scream. He and Nova looked at the entrance where nurses tried to clamp a young man to a trolley. He had incredible strength and pushed against their combined effort.
"Another case of Ralium," said one doctor to another.
"Dammit! That's the seventh one tonight!"
"And they're reporting the same at the other hospitals."
The patient kicked, screamed, and laughed as they struggled to lift him from the trolley onto the bed, and keep him there. He strained to get up.
"Strap him in, or he'll hurt himself or someone else," the doctor ordered.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tanguin stepped into the ward and fought her way past the milling doctors and nurses who were trying to calm the newest patient. She ducked between people with the agility of a snake. Her small body made it easier for her to get past unscathed.
As soon as she was free of the press of bodies, Tanguin ran to Nova's bed, her face pulled tight with concern and even paler than usual.
"Nova!" she said.
"Hey, Tanguin," Nova replied with a shaky smile.
"I'm going to find out who did this to you."
"Not if I find out first. That bastard is going to pay."
"Are you better now? Can you leave?"
"No she can't," Cal said, cutting into the conversation. "She is having a lucid time now but it will only last a short while. If she doesn't get another dose within twenty-four hours, she'll die."
"What?" Tanguin's wide eyes turned to the robot.
"Cal, you don't have to tell everyone," Nova said, glaring at the robot.
"It is for your own health," Cal replied.
"That can't be right," Tanguin said. "They must have some kind of cure or something."
"Nothing. It is a new form of drug," Cal said.
"Okay, that's okay." Tanguin's eyes moved across Nova's face. "I just have to find whoever did this; find a way to bring you down easy and we're done."
"I have to get back out there," Nova said, pushing herself up into a sitting position.
"No way," Tanguin replied, shoving her back to the bed.
"That is impossible," Cal said.
"Let me up." Nova's voice was soft but deadly. "You're not a field Hunter, Tanguin. The guilt would kill me if you died because of me. And Cal, if you get damaged I won't be able to repair you, not while I'm like this."
"What if you go into relapse?" Tanguin said. "For you, I'll learn to be a field Hunter."
"If I have a relapse then I'll need you with Crusader to get my back. Cal will signal if I'm in trouble. It's best if I get out of this bed. What's the alternative? Wait here to die?"
"The doctors would never—" Cal began.
"The doctors wouldn't notice. I think they've got their hands full," Nova said, waving towards the other side of the room.
"I won't let you go alone," Cal said.
"Fine. This is what we'll do; Tanguin, you go back to Crusader and begin searching the Cloud for anything that could help us. Cal and I will go back to the bar and see if we can find any clues."
Tanguin frowned. "Isn't that a little reckless?"
Nova clenched her fist. "No. This time I'm going in with my finger on the trigger."
CHAPTER EIGHT
"Don't leave the ship," Nova warned Tanguin. "They could be looking for you or just looking for another victim."
"I'll stay here," Tanguin said. "But make sure you stay in contact the whole time. We need to know where each of us is."
Nova nodded and jumped out of Crusader's side door. Cal floated down beside her and they made their way through a darkened alley. A rusted metal sign proclaimed 'Robotic Rest-stop', partially covered by a grimy closed sign. Nova pushed through the door.
"Sorry, we're not open," said the bartender as he wiped a table with a filthy rag.
Nova leaned on the doorframe, trying to look casual but in reality just trying to stay standing. A flashing neon light just within the entry tickled her memory.
Her mind flicked back to the night before. Her mind flashed back and forth between images of the night before and what she saw now, making it impossible for her to tell which was real and which was remembered.
"Did you hear me?" the bartender said.
Nova ignored the man and strode into the bar, heading for the stool she had sat on the night before. At least that much she remembered. She dropped onto the rough wood and glared at the bartender.
"Oh, it's you," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Nova asked, shoulders tensing.
"Can't say I'm surprised you forgot. Did you leave your communicator here or something? Or maybe your dignity? Either way, get out of my bar, we're closed."
"What did you say?" Nova's face flushed and anger boiled in her stomach.
"I said get out. After the fuss you caused last night I should throw you out myself!"
"What fuss?"
"Didn't your friend tell you? Running around, screaming, abusing my patrons, jumping on tables? Even my security guy had trouble getting hold of you."
Nova's stomach dropped. She couldn't remember any of that.
"I was drugged," she said, gritting her teeth.
"What?" The bartender leaned across the bench.
"I was drugged, you insolent son of a bitch! Right here in your bar! And another—"
Cal was there in an instant. He floated between Nova and the bartender breaking their eye contact.
The boiling rage in Nova's stomach dissipated, leaving a queasy feeling that burned the back of her throat.
She took a deep breath. "Sorry, they're still messing with me."
The bartender looked from Nova to Cal with caution and confusion.
"What my friend is trying to say," said Cal. "Is that last night someone slipped her some drugs. It's a new type on the market and if she doesn't find who gave them to her today, she'll die."
The bartender's mouth dropped as he watched the robot. "My bar you say?"
"Right here," Nova replied in a whisper, tapping the counter.
"That's not right. Bad for business." The soiled cloth dropped from his hand and landed in a crumpled heap by his elbow. "Let's see. You were here with your friend. I assume you trust her?"
"Tanguin would never!"
"Okay, okay; it's always best to check. Some people have the worst friends! Last night was pretty quiet. Lots of regulars. I know them better than I know my own family. None of them would have done it. There was a bit of commotion with that spilt drink."
"Do you know who spilled it?" Nova jumped on the possibility.
"No. Out-of-towner, I'd say. I know most of the locals. I suppose it could have been him. Everything else was pretty quiet until you snapped."
"What about these guys?" Nova said, nodding to Cal.
The robot swivelled and projected a rectangular video feed onto the nearest wall. It showed men in dark clothes dragging Nova towards a black van.
The bartender frowned as he watched the footage, squinting and leaning close. "They don't look familiar. Looks like your robot took care of them though…"
"Lucky he did," Nova said, clenching her teeth. "Are you sure you don't know them?"
"It's hard to tell in the dark, but they're definitely not any of my regulars."
Nova sighed, trying to ignore the shadowy figures bustling around her. She clung to reality by a tenuous thread, the drug making her visions harder to ignore. People from the past and future crowded in on all sides. She took a deep breath. "Do you have any of your own security footage?"
"Of course, had to install it. Riff-raff kept running off with furniture, didn't they?"
"Can I see it?"
"It's not really—"
"Please," Nova said, resenting the hitch in her voice. "If I don't find them, I'll die. My blood will be on your hands. Can you live with that?"
The barman wrung his fingers, the knuckles white. "I suppose it won't hurt to show you. Come to my office."
CHAPTER NINE
Stacks of paper and data chips filled up most of the man's office, which smelled of spilled alcohol. A photograph of a young girl decorated an otherwise sparse desk, facing a wall of monitors. Multiple cameras surveyed the bar, one of which looked down on the bench where Nova and Tanguin had been sitting the night before.
Nova's hand shook as she rested against the desk and watched the video feeds. She and Cal fast-forwarded through the footage, her stomach doing summersaults as each new face entered the screen. Any one of them could have drugged her, and she had no way of knowing which one it was. Lots of people moved through the field of view before Nova and Tanguin arrived on the scene. They took their seats and began to talk.
The fast-forward function made a comical display of their gestures but Nova didn't smile.
"Slow down!" she said when she saw a man trip and spill his drink all over her.
The video playback slowed. Nova and Cal watched in slow motion as the man pitched forward, his glass tilted. The contents fell straight onto Nova's clothes.
"Replay," Nova said.
The video playback rewound to the man first tripping and they watched the whole incident agai
n.
"His face is away from the camera," Nova said.
"Playback other footage of that man," Cal said to the computer.
The computer screen broke up into several smaller windows and the playback showed the same man entering the bar and then walking through to order a drink. It was easy to recognise him by the red band tied around his arm.
"We can't see his face in any of them," Nova said, glancing from one screen to the next.
"It could have been deliberate," Cal said. "Maybe he knew where the cameras were?"
"So all we have to go on is the ridiculous red thing tied around his arm?"
"At least it's something," Cal replied.
"It's not enough! This bastard has sentenced me to death and there is nothing we can do about it!"
Nova's heart rate rose and a heat spread over her face.
"We're doing the best we can," Cal said in his calmest voice.
"I just can't—" Nova took a deep breath. "I need to go and calm down."
"Down the hall to your left," the barman piped up from the back corner of the room.
Nova turned away and ran to the bathroom. She burst through the door and leaned against the sink, breathing deeply. Her gasps created a cloud of fog across the cracked mirror as she glared at her haggard reflection. Dark circles encased her bloodshot eyes and a trickle of red ran out of her left nostril, collecting on her lip. She clenched her teeth and raked the back of her arm across her face, leaving a trail of blood. She plunged her head into the sink and splashed chilled water over her face.
With a ragged breath she turned back to the mirror.
A figure stood behind her.
She drew in a sharp breath and stumbled towards the door. Standing just behind her, with a cruel smile on his face, was the man from the video footage, a red band tied around his arm.
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