Back to Life

Blink. Blink. Sedona’s eyes slowwwly focused. Her brain, however, remained clouded with confusion. She had no idea where she was. Searching through a jumble of memories – and some very weird dreams – she though she remembered getting off her trike during a scout patrol.

Just as panic had her pulse spiking up, someone came through the door and into the cubicle where she was lying down. “Ah, you’re finally awake,” said a beaming orderly.

“Where am I?” asked Sedona.

The orderly sighed. “That’s the same thing everyone asks when they wake up. You’re in the clinic of course. You had an accident while you were out on patrol. Do you remember anything about it? Anything at all?”

“I think… I remember getting off my trike.” Then Sedona frowned. “Wait, was there a child?”

“Yes! Excellent. You don’t seem to have sustained any brain damage. I’ll be right back with the doctor.”

Brain Damage! What had happened to her out there? Cautiously, Sedona raised her head. When it didn’t explode or fall off her neck, she lifted her hand to check for damages. She gently probed her hairline with her fingertips. “Ouch!” she said, finding a tender spot.

“No, don’t do that,” said the doctor entering the room. You had a good bump on your head and it was serious enough that we worried when you remained unconscious for so long. Ironically, it’s probably a good thing – your helmet was dented and cracked. Because you were unconscious, your breathing became shallow, and that probably saved you from inhaling a lot of toxins.”

“But what happened to me out there?” Sedona blinked some more, still trying to come to grips with being injured. And uneasy because she couldn’t remember how it happened.

“When the patrol found you, you were partially covered by a bunch of rubble. They suspect you were chasing a wastrel – something about that came through on the last transmission they got from you. They think a piece of stone or rubble fell on you and knocked you out.”

“I kind of remember a little girl.”

“Yes, that’s right.” The doctor nodded, looking pleased that her patient’s mind was still intact. “The patrol told us the child was still near you when they got to the ruins. She didn’t seem to want to leave you, which of course made it easy for them to catch her.”

“She’s here then? In the city?”

“Yes, I believe so. Now… I want you to rest a little longer, then maybe later we’ll get you up and see how well your legs are working.”

At the mere suggestion of rest, Sedona felt herself drifting off to sleep. Real, natural sleep this time. But a sleep filled nonetheless with plenty of unsettling dreams.

The next time she woke, she was both restless and ravenously hungry. The pleasant orderly brought her some food. It was surprisingly bland and tasteless, but she wolfed it down anyway. When she was finished, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, ready to get up and take off.

But before she had a chance to escape the little room, there were footsteps outside the door. And in came her patron, Lundun. He walked forward quickly, taking her hands in his and sitting down beside her. “Well, here’s our little hero,” he said, giving her hands a squeeze. “Good work, Sedona. I certainly did not expect such fast results after our little talk. I feel that kind of initiative should be rewarded, especially since you’ve been injured.”

“I was just doing what you asked me to do,” responded Sedona.

“Of course, but I do think you’ve gone above and beyond what I hoped you could accomplish. I’ve asked the museum to allow you to pick something out for yourself from their stores.”

Sedona was touched. Her first painting, the landscape in her lounge area, had been a gift from Lundun after graduation from the scouting program. It made this second gift even more meaningful. “Thank you, sir, a reward isn’t necessary. I was just doing my job.”

“Still, you were injured doing that job. The doctor has released you but she wants you to take two days off from work. You need time to allow your body to heal after your ordeal in the wasteland. You were very lucky, you know.”

“I know sir, that’s what everyone keeps saying. I just wish I could remember more of what happened.”

“But Sedona,” suggested Lundun, “maybe it’s a good thing you don’t remember. You were lying by yourself in the ruins all through a long dark night. I’m sure that would have been terrifying if you were conscious enough to realize what was happening.”

Lundun patted her hands as he stood up. “Just rest and take care of yourself. You’ve got two days off work.” He paused before going out the door. “And stop in to see me before you go back on duty.”

“Yes sir.” Uh, oh! Sedona got a little tickle in her throat at that last remark. It sounded like Lundun might have another ‘secret project’ for her to do.

And Sedona just hated secrets.