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The world seemed to be in slow motion as Alex rushed to the medical facility. He burst into the room before anyone could stop him, even the security guard who had escorted him. His rush had stopped the second he clapped eyes on his maligned Amplus. The sight nearly brought him to tears although at the same time it lifted the weight he had felt.

Dredger laid on the bed unconscious, an Album and Human doctor carefully going over her body with practised care and precision. A couple of Longos and Album nurses assisted them but they all now looked up in alarm when he entered.

“We're still working!" The Album said irritably “Please we must ask you to.."

“I'm Alex Hayworth, I'm the father of her Calf," Alex cut him off getting a startled look from the group “Please, tell me, is she... are they ok?" they hesitated and looked at each other for a moment before the human doctor released a sigh.

“Run a proper scan on the calf, I don't doubt your sonar pulses I just want to make absolutely sure there is nothing amiss. Then Finish up here Sounder, I'll handle her mate." The human doctor said then walked over to Alex “Please, in the hall, we want to keep this room sterile for as long as we can, for their sake." Alex hesitated but nodded and followed him out.

“Please Doc... I need to know... are they ok?" Alex asked almost desperately looking at the door once it was closed. He knew he was sounding desperate for information, but at that moment he had thrown his usual professionalism to the wind. Composure be damned, they were too important to him to worry about that.

“The Calf is fine as far as we are aware, we are doing a few more scans just to be sure," he started, trying the calm Alex's worry “From what we have gathered by evidence on her body, she tried to protect the calf and did a good job at it. She however wasn't so lucky. She has a broken arm, dislocated tail, possible fracture in her dorsal fin as well as bruising, abrasions and cuts distributed over her body. She is however incredibly lucky that her fused vertebrae weren't obliterated." Alex nodded trying to take it all in.

“What happened?" he asked looking towards the Album security guard who had been waiting close by.

“As far as we have been able to ascertain, she fell down the escalator on her way home from her lessons. We are still ascertaining if she tripped, or was pushed. Her wetsuit thankfully took most of the abuse or she would have more cuts than bruises, it is currently being investigated for evidence and repaired." he answered.

“Surely you have video evidence?" Alex pressured the security guard who had escorted him now a little irritated that they didn't know. “There are surveillance cameras all over this place. Surely there is evidence somewhere!"

“We do, and while we have the video of her falling, the angle doesn't show what happened before that. Thankfully there were people in the area when she landed and they came to her aid. We are still trying to isolate the records that shows the area in question at the top of the escalator." Alex nodded soaking all the information in and starting to rebuild his composure.

“If there is anything I can do to be of assistance please let me know." he finally said after a minute and looked to the Doctor again “Has she not been able to tell you what happened?" the response he got was a little underwhelming when he just shook his head.

“She is unconscious at the moment, we suspect from the bruising and cuts to her head that she has a mild concussion. Her blubber protected her skull from a harder impact or we could be looking at worse injuries." he answered “Please, I know it is hard, but I must ask you to wait out here until we have finished."

The wait was agonising, the questions asked of him more so even with Derrick and Fisher close by. 'Had she mentioned anything?' 'can you think of a possible motive?' 'is there anyone you think who would have a reason to do this?'. Eventually the guard excused himself saying he needed to report back.

The couple tried to get Alex to eat but he just couldn't find his appetite. Despite the doctors reassurances he still feared for his lover and child knowing anything could happen. Pregnancies were a delicate thing, especially between Human and Phin, he had been told that over and over again in the lessons. What she should eat, what she shouldn't, how they could couple safely if they did and even how to deal with mood swings if Dredger had them, it all seemed so useless to him in the face of the current situation.

They were permitted in after around twenty minutes with the good news that the calf was perfectly healthy and Dredger should wake up soon. However they were told not to try to rush her awakening, she needed to wake up in her own time due to the possible concussion.

The next lot of waiting was almost as hard, it certainly was for Derrick and Fisher who could only watch. Alex sat by Dredgers bedside gently holding her hand and rubbing the back of it with his thumb, cooing softly to her that he loved her and hoped she would awaken soon.

She was hooked up to an IV to keep her fluids up and a heart monitor which kept track of her steady heart beat. All of her cuts and abrasions were covered in the bio-adhesive used and developed by Phins to keep them closed and prevent further bleeding or possible infection. Alex hoped that it wouldn't lead to more scars, she had enough of them as far as he was concerned.

It was an hour before they were notified by security that they had found the footage in question but they would need to speak to Dredger regardless about a few details. Apparently some words had been said and it was undetermined if Dredger had instigated it or not, Alex understood, standard procedure.

When finally Dredger did come round, Alex was beside himself and hugged her tightly nearly in tears once more. She was confused, dizzy and complained of a headache as she tried, with one arm as the other was in a cast frame, to return the affectionate embrace. Derrick and Fisher went to get security and a doctor respectively letting the two have some time together for a few brief moments at least.

“Where am I? How did I get here?" She asked looking around the room seeming to recognise it was a hospital room “Our calf! How..."

“The calf is ok love, my heart not so much but you're both ok," Alex cut her off with a kiss to the back of her hand not noticing as the door opened behind him“You're in the medical ward, There was an accident, do you remember anything?"

“That is what we would like to know too, if you feel up to answering that question for us?" a Tikk asked stepping in through the door, with him was an Album and Human female, all wearing security uniforms.

“I... it's a little fuzzy..." she started and placed her injured hand on her belly while trying to think. Alex continued to hold her other hand, letting her take her time and collect her thoughts as best she could “I was heading home from my study position induction classes... I remember I had been feeling watched but then... that was nothing new to me, I am the only Amplus in that course... I was getting to the steps when I heard running behind me, when I looked I saw a Longos approaching me... he was insulting me over... over..." she paused and seemed to droop a little, an action that Alex recognized.

“Over what hun?" Alex asked almost dreading that he knew the answer already.

“The accident... at Horizon Deep..." She answered grimly and there where whispers from the Phin and Tikk security guards “I think we got into a fight? Yeah... it was after he said I don't deserve a calf... and so much more, mainly how I should have died in the tunnel... and more insults over my calf. I cant really remember exactly what he said... I can remember being given a hard, painful push to my belly and losing my balance and falling... then its all just pain and blackness till I woke up here." Alex could tell when she started to cry, the ephemeral feel of it resonating through his whole body.

“Shh, shh, it's alright, You're alright, both of you." Alex cooed to her softly gently rubbing at her hand and giving it soft kisses.

“Did you recognize the Longos in question?" the female asked trying to press for details.

“I...I think he was from that class... but I really couldn't say... Sorry, I have seen so many Longos lately, I may recognize him though if I saw an image." She answered shaking her head and gave a shrug although Alex didn't miss the pained wince on her face. All of this forced thinking was not helping her concussion any.

“Are you sure you didn't start the incident? I find it hard to believe a Longos would start a fight with an Amplus unprovoked, and given your history..." the Album asked and Alex bristled squeezing his hand around dredgers a little.

“Dredger has been nothing but an upstanding citizen since we arrived here!" he said angrily steeling his gaze at the Album in question “Yes she has a past, everyone does, only difference is hers is a dark one and is painful to bring up. If you wish to make accusations, then make them, but don't hide it behind questions." The guard looked noticeably shaken by Alex's firm stand and unwavering defense of his Amplus.

“Pursuer meant no offence.." the female human started but Alex cut her off.

“Yes, he did," Alex asserted coldly “And I would like to pressure that I will be filing an official complaint."

“Excuse me everyone, I believe she has answered enough questions for now." The human doctor said as he walked in “Dredger needs to rest right now, she has suffered a mild concussion and this stress will not do her calf any good."

“We understand, we have everything we need for now. Thank you." The Tikk answered and the three of them leave with no further comment although the female human officer looked back at them with a soft smile before closing the door softly.

“Can't she rest back in our apartment?" Alex asked hopeful wanting her by his side so he could spoil her rotten only to have the doctor shake his head in the negative.

“We want to keep her overnight for observations," he answered him trying to sound reassuring but professional “To make sure she and her calf are one hundred percent ok. It is just a precaution but when it comes to the health of a mother and calf, we feel it is best to err on the side of caution. Better to be safe than sorry in this situation."

“May I stay? Just for a little while?" Alex asked pleadingly and the doctor couldn't help but chuckle at the face he pulled.

“You three may stay at least until her meal arrives. After that I am afraid I must ask that you depart to let her rest. You may return tomorrow when she has woken." he answered with a smile.

They spent the next hour or so just talking about nothing in particular. Names for the calf, how much Alex was happy that she was ok, how he would be so lonely in their bed without Dredger and that he hoped they would get to the bottom of this all quickly. Derrick and Fisher said they would keep Alex company and that if he wished he could stay in their apartment with them.

When finally it was time for them to leave, Alex was reluctant to go once again but Dredger reassured him that she would see him come morning. Alex spent dinner with Derrick and Fisher and it was an uncomfortable occasion.

“What was that thing she mentioned?" Derrick asked about halfway through the meal drawing the other twos attention “The Horizon deep? What was she talking about?" Alex sighed and looked to Fisher as if seeking permission but decided to answer anyway.

“The Horizon Deep-water mining site was one of the deepest mines on this side of the gateway." Alex began remembering all the research he had done into the event “From what I have managed to dig up and what Dredger has told me herself, the company was using some dodgy mining practices in the name of profit." He looked again to Fisher who simply gestured for him to continue, he was well aware of the event but decided to let Alex handle this explanation.

“One day there was an accident... a terrible accident... Dredger was on shift with his pod of work mates when there was a cave in. Dredger told me that 'the wall and roof collapsed like a bubble popped'. Out of the entire work crew on that day, Dredger was the only one to make it out alive." he said and that was where Fisher chimed in.

“Remember you asked about the scars on her back?" He asked his human who nodded “They were caused by her impacting the walls of the shaft as she was pushed along by the water."

“Yeah, that is also why she is shorter than normal, she had to have some major surgery so she could be able to walk again." Alex said then gave a sigh “Sadly before she was even recovered from hospital she was already being lumped with the blame for what happened. My research showed that the company did what all big companies do and targeted Dredger as their scape goat. Without any way of defending himself he was lumped with all of the blame for the accident and for the death of his pod."

“Wow..." was all Derrick could say looking at his food “I'm surprised Dredger managed to keep going for so long."

“If I am personally honest, while I'm sure she may have made the blow that burst that bubble... I don't think it was her fault," Fisher said surprising Alex who blinked at him in surprise “I have seen her work, and how she acts around others, there is no way I can believe it was her fault, especially if her workmates were her pod."

That night, Alex didn't get a lot of sleep. His mind was too preoccupied with his poor Amplus and their calf. Was she comfortable? Were they taking good care of her? Did she miss him too? How would this change her for the future? Would they find the one responsible and how would they deal with them? He couldn't get any of these questions from his mind even as he kept a weather eye on the reports and updates about Dredgers attack.

While he waited for news he decided to write an official letter to the head of station security and to station administration about pursuer's accusations and conduct. He was understanding when it came to the Album's job requiring some questions be asked, he did point out that the way he seemed to accuse the Amplus with his questioning was unacceptable behaviour. It was especially distasteful seeing as a calf was nearly lost due to the attack and it made Dredger look like a bad mother for endangering her child.

He also decided to finally write his letter to his parents, he sat up in bed as he wrote, even transferring to the scrubber for a soak as he worked out what to write. Finally, when he found himself back in bed, he finally read aloud to himself what he had settled on.

"Dear Mother and Father:

I am writing to let you know that our recent foray into equipment supply to Station Zero has met with far more success than we'd originally projected. There is an untapped market for upgrading and replacing older facility equipment and infrastructure.

Unfortunately, this also necessitates a much greater level of business interaction. Fortunately, the powers that be here have provided me adequate lodging and are covering all of my day-to-day expenses so no additional discretionary funds are required (although I would not mind if you would top up my expense account as required to provide me some extra spending cash during my stay).

Negotiations are slow going but I have managed to establish a rapport with several of the management staff here. This is a good thing since Station Zero is highly selective of visitors and it would have set us back several months if not years if we had to petition entry for another negotiator.

I anticipate another two to three months of bargaining and negotiations but, within that time, I am confident initial orders should begin, at least in small lots. The communication technology here is vastly outdated so I'll be in irregular contact but you should at least hear from me monthly, if not once every two weeks.

If possible I will petition to remain here as our liaison on this side of the gateway for the foreseeable future. This will cut business costs considerably as transport through the gateway is a substantial fee and sending messages are free with the data transmission that happens whenever the Gateway is used.

I may finally have found something I have always wanted and hope for your blessings in my pursuit of these endeavours. I will keep you updated on events as and when I can and look forward to having big things delivered soon.

Your son,

Alex"