"Where do you think you're going?" demanded the brawny Enforcer, stepping directly into the Medic's path.

The narrow passageway was effectively blocked by the Enforcer's outspread arms. There was no going around; we would have to deal with the Enforcer.

"To the Infimary," Quodis replied authoritatively, holding the Enforcer in a steady gaze. "I'm afraid my clumsy Apprentice Researcher is injured and requires prompt attention. Excuse us." Quodis gestured at Astrid's injured hand and began to lead the way past the Enforcer without a backward glance.

"Never underestimate the power of acting like you belong," Sabeece's satisfied thought came through and made me chuckle to myself behind the mask.

I followed, staying immediately behind Sabeece, focusing on avoiding any sudden moves that might draw the Enforcer's attention.

"You're not going anywhere!" The Enforcer roughly grabbed the Medic's arm before Quodis could get all the way past in the narrow hallway. "This entire facility is under lockdown while we search for a dangerous Individual."

So much for bravado and acting like you belong.

"I've got this," Quodis's thought reassured me, but I could tell the Enforcer's firm grip had rattled the Medic. "Just stay cool and follow my lead."

Pulling down the yellow paper mask to speak clearly, Quodis' low voice took on an ominous quality, "Take a good look at this Youngling, Enforcer." Quodis paused for effect, stepping as far to the side as possible, allowing the Enforcer a good look at Astrid.

"If you want to take responsibility for this injury, and any consequences of failing to treat a life-threatening injury, be my guest." Quodis said so quietly I could barely hear it from behind Sabeece.

Life-threatening? How badly injured IS Astrid? I strained to see, but the Youngling was slumped against Sabeece for support, face to the wall. Astrid didn't look any worse from behind, but that was small consolation.

What would happen to me, if we lost Astrid?

Would there be any point in sporulating, if there was no one who would be trying to figure out a solution while I was dormant?

Did we even know enough about the process to apply the serum?

I immediately reprimanded myself for the selfish thought. After all, Astrid was only in this situation because of trying to help me.

Quodis' louder voice drew me back out of my self- pity and recriminations, "I have other matters to attend to and didn't want the hassle anyway." The Medic's voice continued, uncharacteristically cold and distant.

Quodis cast a final disdainful look at Astrid, while starting to step away. It was as if the Youngling's condition meant nothing to the Medic.

Was my trust misplaced? Doesn't Quodis even care that Astrid was injured while protecting the Medic?

"Uh... hold on," the Enforcer stammered,  still squeezing Quodis' forearm, uncertain how to proceed. It was was times like this that I felt most disadvantaged by not being able to hear the thoughts of those around me.

The Enforcer finally released Quodis and stepped aside, waving us on. The Enforcer had decided taking responsibility for a bleeding Youngling was worse than the risk of a reprimand for failing to enforce the lock-down.

"Just, uhh, make sure you go straight to the Infirmary and, errr, stay there until we say you can go. It's... umm, for your own protection," the Enforcer called out belatedly as we passed.

"Certainly," Quodis acquiesced meekly, letting the Enforcer think they'd gotten the upper hand in this encounter.

~*~*~

Under the harsh lights of the Infirmary, Astrid looked far worse than I remembered. The Youngling was a gruesome sight, with blood smeared all over. Bright fresh blood still dripped steadily from the cut on the palm.

It was only once the door was firmly closed that Astrid stood up straight, greeted me with a wide grin and jauntily hopped over to the sink to clean up that I realized why.

"Quick-thinking Astrid, smearing the blood around!" I praised the Youngling, while Quodis could finally begin tending to the wound. "If I hadn't seen the injury myself, I would have assumed you were moments from your deathbed too!" I smiled with pride and relief.

Quodis efficiently bonded the two sides of the injured skin back together. It was actually a fairly shallow cut, despite how much it had bled. In moments, nothing remained but a faint line that I knew from experience would fade within the next cycle or so.

"Well, Counselor? Do you trust me now?" Quodis asked Sabeece, twinkling brown eyes as full of mischief as ever.

"Thank you for taking care of the Youngling, Medic Quodis." Sabeece replied formally. "I do appreciate your, uhh, discretion with the Enforcer, but no, frankly I don't know if I – if we – can trust you." Sabeece concluded, frowning.

"Whoa, Counselor! You're direct, I'll give you that!" Unfazed as ever, Quodis chuckled good-naturedly. "I'm an open book. Ask and I shall answer," Quodis stood with arms wide in a physical show of openness. "What do I have to do to convince you?"

"There's still the matter of how the Enforcers found us," Sabeece started again.

"Sabs!" I sighed. "Enough already! I trust Quo – end of the discussion."

"No, no, G - the Counselor has a point." Quodis turned to me, nodding. Sabeece's eyes widened with surprise that the Medic was agreeing not to be trusted. "I know I didn't help them, but you don't know that. They found you somehow. You need to figure out how. Until you do, trust no one, including me."

Sabeece nodded at this.

Figures. I rolled my eyes. If, anything could win Sab's trust, it would be agreeing with the Counselor's assessment of untrustworthiness.

"We'll, let's figure this out then." I stepped forward. Now I was standing beside Sabeece, where I'd be more useful if things escalated again, I thought ruefully.

"We can't keep arguing amongst ourselves. Any ideas how they found me?" I looked around the circle of what I was coming to realize were the only people in the world I could truly call friends at this point.

I hope we can get this sorted out and soon! There's no telling how long before the Enforcers find us.

Astrid, full of bright ideas as always, was the first to speak up, "Let's retrace your steps, Medic Quodis. From the time Grayce left your office, what did you do differently than usual?" Astrid spoke quietly, in the stillness of the small treatment room. The hard sterile surfaces magnified even the smallest sound, while louder noises reverberated, making us feel like there was no place left to hide.

"Wellll," Quodis replied, voice uncharacteristically quiet as the Medic thought back to the previous cycle. "I filed the case report for Grayce and the previous patient before seeing my last couple patients of the day. Nothing out of the ordinary there. I guess it was unusual for me to look Grayce up in the system or try to reach out by communicator, but I didn't leave a message or anything. Hmmm." Quodis paused, deep in thought,

When the Medic didn't seem to have anything more to add, Sabeece prompted, "And you told us about the visit from the phony Researchers, who must have been Enforcers or working with them...?"

"Right, they should have done their homework before trying to convince me!" The Medic grinned at the memory.

"Were you followed?" I asked. I hoped to contribute meaningfully to the discussion, but so far was drawing a blank.

Quodis consider before replying, "No. At least, I don't think they saw me." The Medic paused again, then as if in need of reassurance, repeated "I'm pretty sure no one saw me..."

"Ouch!" I exclaimed suddenly, wincing and withdrawing hand from my pants pocket. I sighed as I reached for a tissue to blot the paper cut from the small grey card Quodis had given me at the clinic. I'd been mindlessly fidgeting with it while we talked.

Sabeece noticed blood smeared on the otherwise unremarkable card. Picking it up to wipe it off, the Counselor dropped is almost as quickly. "What?" Sabeece replied defensively to our surprised faces, "It's hot!"

"What do you have there?" Astrid asked, starting to examine it.

"It's just the card Quo gave me for the treatment centre. I didn't even realize I still had it, but it does remind me there IS another option to dragging you three down with me," I reflected aloud. "I could just turn myself in, keep you guys out of it that way."

"No deal," Sabeece replied vehemently, with a decisive shake of the head. "End of discussion."

I gave Sabeece an appreciative glance. I admired the resolve. I wished I could feel so confident in our choices so far.

"It does appear disproportionately warm," the Youngling observed, flipping the card over and holding it up to the light.

"It's been in my pocket for a while," I responded matter of factly. I failed to see any significance. I got up to pace,
but quickly realized that it was a doomed effort in the tiny room. Flopping back down, I picked up a crinkled publication an infirmary patient must have left behind. I flipped through articles with tips on the best variety of pods to grow, what it takes to become a top Elder, an opinion piece about how "things are not as good as they used to be."

None of this was helping figure out the immediate question about how Enforcers were finding me, or the bigger questions like what to do next so I could survive this cycle.

After examining the card closer for a few ticks, Astrid exclaimed. "Ah ha! Yes, I believe this is how they are tracking us, I mean you."

~*~*~

Author's note: Aug 10, 2018

Humm, I wonder what Astrid could have found in the card? How can could it possibly be being used to find Grayce?

Will they be able to continue with their plan to put Grayce into hibernation before the Enforcers can stop them?

Stay tuned to find out!

It's been a busy time this summer and I haven't found time to post as often lately, but there's several more ch's to come!

Don't forget to ⭐️😉