George listened as Jillian and Dolly asked questions and after ten minutes said, “Doctor, I want to try something. How big is the hole through the needle?”
“It’s smaller than a human hair.”
“Give me thirty minutes before you do anything. Can you do that?”
“Not much longer than that. We’ll see permanent damage if we don’t act soon.”
Dolly looked at George, “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t have time to explain.” George ran out of the hallway.
Jillian collapsed to a bench and put her head in her hands. “He stayed alive long enough to get me home. He refused to give in to his pain until he knew I was safe.”
Dolly put her arm on Jillian’s shoulders and hugged her, “If George is going to try something, there’s hope.”
Jillian looked up at Dolly, “I hope he’s as smart as you say he is, Dolly.”
‘Jillian, he’s smarter than you can believe.”
Ben stood over Chris and remembered his first encounter with the professor. His quick wit and courage had impressed him then, and his actions since had gained his admiration. He watched the clot growing incrementally and George had yet to come back. He was going to have to go in to try and save his life. He reached for a bone drill when he heard, “I’m here! I’m here!”
Ben saw George come in holding a long device with a trigger on it, “What is that?”
“I’ll explain later. Can you inject some dye into that clot that will make it glow on an x-ray?”
Ben nodded to his first assistant, and he put a syringe on the needle in Chris’ brain and pushed two cc’s slowly through it. He pulled the scanner over the bed and turned on the discharge element. They looked up at the monitor on the wall and saw the clot.
George brought his device forward and put the tiny end of it into the opening in the needle, “I’m going to hit that clot with a positive gravity beam. It will be set for a minimum spread and I need you to tell me when the clot disappears completely from the monitor.”
Ben nodded, and George pulled the trigger. George focused on keeping the device absolutely still as Ben watched the monitor. After a minute he saw the center of the clot disappear, then the outer edges began dimming. “It’s gone.”
George released the trigger and said, “Turn him over on his side and withdraw the needle.”
“We need that needle to guide us in, George.”
George looked Ben in the eye and said, “Would you want to live with brain damage?”
Ben stared at him, then after a moment shook his head.
“Well, neither would he. Pull the needle.”
Ben almost refused, but then reached forward and pulled the needle out.
“Get a bag and put it over the hole.”
Ben reached and pulled a surgical bag off the table and placed it over the tiny hole. He held it there and wondered what was going on. For five minutes nothing happened, and he knew that Dr. Connor was going to die. Then….something started lifting the bag. He held it down and looked at George.
“Those blood cells are now being pushed by Earth’s gravity field. They are breaking apart into their atoms and attempting to rise.”
Ben felt the bag and felt something in it. Turn on the x-ray.” The display showed the clot was gone. Ben said, “Go in closer to the area at the top.” He looked at the display and saw where the small leak was located. “Hit it now!”
The three assistants aimed their radiation beams at the location, and Ben pressed the button that fired all three simultaneously. The tiny break in the blood vessel fused shut.
George said, “Move him from side to side gently. The cells are moving toward any exit they can find.”
Ben assigned the task of holding the bag to a nurse, and saw the bag was standing straight up on Chris’ head. They held it there for two hours and George said, “Ok, I think that’s long enough.” He took the attachment off the gravity gun, lifted the bag, and fired into it. The bag fell. Ben looked inside and saw a blood clot forming in the bottom. He looked up at George and said, “You have just revolutionized the treatment of concussions.”
George looked at Chris and said, “I’m sorry I didn’t think of it sooner. Is he going to be all right?”
Ben looked at Chris and shook his head, “I don’t really know. We’ll see.” He looked around the room and said, “Get him ready to transfer down to New York.” The staff lifted Chris to a gravity stretcher and began hooking up mobile monitors to him. They lifted the stretcher and began moving him out of the operating room.
Jillian and Dolly jumped up when the door opened, and Jillian saw Chris being taken away. Dolly held her as she tried to rush forward, then they saw Ben and George come out. Jillian looked at Ben with her hand on her throat, unable to say anything.
“We don’t know. The clot is gone. George was magnificent, but I don’t know if any damage was done before we removed it.”
Jillian rushed up to George and hugged him tight. George looked very uncomfortable but lowered his arms and gave her a small hug. “Thank you, thank you.”
“Not yet. I don’t know if it worked?”
“There was no hope, but now there is. Thank you, George!”
George smiled, “You’re welcome.”
Ben nodded up the hall and said, “You may want to go with him.”
Jillian released George and ran up the hall.
Dolly watched her go and looked at Ben. “Dolly, I honestly don’t know. I don’t understand how he stayed conscious as long as he did after the injury. He should have been unconscious with that big a clot in his brain.”
Dolly looked up the hall as Jillian turned the corner, “Love kept him awake long enough to bring her back home, Ben, and love will bring him back.”
George looked at his sister and was surprised. She was right. He looked up the hall and wished he could feel what Chris and Jillian had.
Dolly watched her older brother and saw his thoughts as if they were her own. I’ll have to work on that.
A giant yellow colored creature moved slowly down the hallway and entered a wide round portal in the wall. It moved deliberately with smooth motions as it exited the portal, progressing into a huge room where six other yellow beings were sitting around a large table. It didn’t have legs. Its body was a nine foot tall cylinder that seemed to just glide over the floor. The Cylinder had a large round ball on top that was smooth and featureless. It approached the table and waited. After a week, one of the yellow creatures directed a thought at it, “Why are you here?”
“One of our vessels has detected someone using a vibratory frequency.”
All six beings turned their attention to the Messenger.
“Where did it originate?”
“We don’t know.”
“Why do you not know?”
“It is omidirectional. It is everywhere.”
One of the beings at the table said, “That is an advance of our system.”
“It appears you are right. This is troublesome.”
“Should we delay our plans until we find the source?”
The six linked their thoughts and considered what should be done. The Messenger waited patiently, and a month later it heard, “We will delay momentarily. Put all of our assets into finding the source.”
The tall cylinder turned and glided out of the room. The two million ships preparing to invade were stopped and made to hold their position just outside the Milky Way Galaxy.
Jillian sat beside Chris’ bed and held his hand as the ship dropped through the atmosphere headed toward Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
She gently rubbed his hair as she stared at his face. The ship bucked slightly as it hit turbulence, and she gripped the headboard. “You would think they could fly better than this.”
Jillian jerked and saw Chris looking at her. She screamed and started kissing him all over his face. “Hey, hey, not so hard!” Jillian felt her tears and didn’t care. Chris saw her crying and said, “I was just kidding. You can kiss me all you want.”
The nurse rushed in the room when she heard Jillian scream and heard Chris’ remark. She smiled and gently closed the door.
Chris watched Jillian continue to cry and said, “What’s wrong?”
Jillian looked at him with a huge smile, “Nothing now.”
Chris looked around, “I guess we made it back.”
Jillian leaned forward and gently kissed him. She pulled back a little and smiled, “We have now.” Then she continued her kiss.
Dolly was talking with Ben when he reached up to his ear. She watched as he listened and said, “Keep me informed.” He looked at Dolly and smiled, “He’s conscious and talking.”
Dolly jumped up, grabbed Ben’s neck, and kissed him on the mouth.
“What’s that for?”
“You saved his life. I owe you.”
Ben smiled and went back into the operating room to review the tapes. Dolly turned and sprinted down the hall.
C
hris sat in the hospital room and was ready to leave. He was bored to tears and the food was starting to taste bland. Two weeks was enough and he was itching to get out and back to work. Jillian listened to his complaints and patiently waited until he ran down. “Are you finished?”
Chris looked at her with an expression that said he was over it, and said, “No, I’m Swedish.”
Jillian giggled, “That’s a good one. We have one more person to check you out, and then you can go.”
“Will you please hurry them up? I’m dying for a hamburger. Two weeks is too long. I should have been released five days ago.”
The door opened and Chris saw President Suh enter. He tried to stand up, but the covers had him pinned. “Don’t get up. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing.”
“I’m eager to get back to work, Sir.”
Suh smiled and looked at Jillian, “The two of you have made quite an impact on the planet.”
Chris looked at Jillian and she nodded.
“Why do you say that, Sir?”
“We’ve released the recordings of the acquisition of the Jenze weapon. The T-Rex made the recordings the number one viewed on You Tube. The fight with the Alliance Battleship also topped the charts.”
“Why did you release those?”
Suh sat down on a chair and sighed, “Humanity needs to know what we’re up against, and we need everyone working together. Those recordings have done just that. Now I’m going to ask you to do some things for me.”
Chris glanced at Jillian and saw her nod.
“I am drafting you into the Earth Government’s Navy.”
“Sir, I must respectfully decline. I am not the military type.”
Suh looked at Jillian and said, “Oh? I thought you might have wanted to serve on the same ship as Dr. Gordon. I’m sorry I wasted your time.”
“Wait a minute! What do you mean?”
“Only military personnel may serve on our warships, and Jillian is going to be on one of our newer ships. She is already in the military, so it won’t be an issue for her.”
Chris looked at Jillian, “You’re in the military?”
“I never told you?”
Chris shook his head.
“I’m a Commodore in the Navy.”
Chris stared at Jillian and said, “Here I go again.” He looked at Suh and said, “Sign me up. I do hope you’ll allow me to teach again after this is settled.”
Suh smiled and nodded then pulled out a document and said, “Please sign here,” indicating a line at the bottom, and handed Chris a pen. Chris looked up at Jillian who nodded, and he sighed and signed.
“Good. Welcome aboard, Admiral.”
Chris said, “What?”
Jillian smiled and said, “You have been given the overall command of our fleet of warships. You outrank me.”
“Does that mean I can order you around now?”
Jillian smiled, “Absolutely.”
Suh chuckled and said, “I also have a little something for you.” He reached in his pocket, and suddenly fifteen photographers rushed into the room as Suh said, “In recognition of your bravery above and beyond the call of duty, I award you the Solar Sun, our highest award for valor, and thank you on behalf of our citizens for your outstanding contributions to our safety.”
Flashbulbs were firing like strobe lights and Chris was yelling, “I don’t deserve it! Jillian deserves it more than I do!”
Jillian leaned down and pulled a Solar Sun out from her top, “I have my own, thank you.”
Chris saw the medal and started laughing, shaking his head.
Suh asked, “What’s so funny?”
“I never had a chance, did I?”
Suh shook his head, “Of course not. We need you.”
Dolly stuck her head in and said, “Ok, we have two hours until opening ceremonies.”
The photographers rushed out of the room. Chris watched them leave and looked at Jillian, “Opening ceremonies?”
“Yes, I’ve got to go get ready. Jeff, Hemon, and George will be here momentarily to assist you.”
“Assist me do what?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Remember what?!?”
“That blow to the head must have affected your memory; we’re getting married in two hours. You did say as soon as we came back.” Chris stared at her with wide eyes. “You do still want me?”
Chris said, “I do..”
Jillian interrupted, “Just remember those two words. Gotta go.” She left the room just as Jeff came in and said, “All right, get up. We have to get you dressed.”
Chris was stunned at the speed that things were happening. Jeff said, “Come on. We need to hurry.”
Chris got up and followed Jeff out of the room. Jeff glanced at him and said, “You might want to pick up a towel on your way out.”
“Why?”
“Your backside is hanging out of that hospital gown.”
Chris stopped and reached around, “Oh my…” He grabbed two large towels off a cart and followed Jeff out of the hospital and into a waiting limo as he held the towel around him.
The next two hours were a blur. He was rushed to the tailor, then the spa where his hair was done, then he was shaved and bathed. He went back to the tailor to pick up the tux. The whole time Jeff, Hemon, and George were firing questions about the voyage to retrieve the Jenze weapon. Finally he climbed into the Limo and lifted. He was still being barraged by questions, but then he looked down and saw they were landing in Yankee Stadium. “What the…”
“Dolly had trouble finding a place where all those who wanted to attend could fit.”