# A Multitude of Stars... Chapter 9

Author: Stinkdog
Tags: Dalmatian, Lion, No-Yiff, Plot Development, Polar Bear, Sci-Fi

#2 of The Endless Void; Book One: A Multitude of Stars...

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The on base cafeteria was small considering the amount of people it had to feed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The room itself was larger than the average school cafeteria, though and had enough seating for about one hundred people at a time.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cole and I were moving down the line of food slowly, picking out what we wanted among the breakfast fare.&nbsp;&nbsp;I didn't think the food was particularly good, but I wanted to treat the polar bear to something for... what he had done for me.&nbsp;&nbsp;I only picked up a bowl of plain corn cereal for myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cole loaded his plates with eggs, bacon, and waffles.&nbsp;&nbsp;I couldn't believe he could actually eat that much food.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then again, he was a bear.&nbsp;&nbsp;I picked up some muffins as well and after I had paid for the food, we found a place to sit.&nbsp;&nbsp;A hare in a lab coat passed our table, carrying a bowl of brightly colored, round cereal.&nbsp;&nbsp;He noticed my glance and scowled.  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hello Matt." I waved to him.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Don't say it, Oliver," he said coldly.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Say what?" I asked; my face a mask of innocence.

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Matt turned his back to us and I muttered under my breath.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Silly rabbit..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cole snorted in laughter next to me.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was nice to know that someone else knew about classic television.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the bear was distracted by wolfing down his food, I took an opportunity to gaze at him.&nbsp;&nbsp;He really was stunningly handsome.&nbsp;&nbsp;I noticed, for the first time, that he had amber eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;I watched his chest muscles flex under the fabric of the base's civilian clothes as he ate.&nbsp;&nbsp;His huge biceps brought the food to his short muzzle with little effort, but they bunched up all the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;I remember thinking he had a very attractive jaw line.&nbsp;&nbsp;I didn't realize that he was aware of my stare until he stopped eating abruptly and chuckled.&nbsp;&nbsp;My face flushed.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Tell me, Oliver, why is a guy like you still single?" He asked, looking down at his first empty plate.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The question took me by surprise.&nbsp;&nbsp;I flubbed the response.&nbsp;&nbsp;In my head I said something witty; something that I thought was profound, but all that came from my mouth was:  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I... uh... Who says I am?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cole turned to look at me with an appraising glance as if he was trying to decipher me.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yeah, you're still single," he said, grinning as he went back to stuffing his face.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I scowled briefly, upset that he had seen through me, before turning back to my own food.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why is that even important?" I asked.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I was just curious.&nbsp;&nbsp;You're too good looking to have to go looking for ass."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I stared at my full plate.&nbsp;&nbsp;It wasn't that it was difficult for me to get laid; far from it.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was... I... was the problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;My sense of humor was difficult for people to deal with on a constant and regular basis.&nbsp;&nbsp;But that was hardly important at that moment.&nbsp;&nbsp;I ignored Cole's comment and started eating.&nbsp;&nbsp;It wasn't long after we had finished the food that Captain Williams found us.&nbsp;&nbsp;I had never seen the man's face so red in my life.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was furious.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Oliver!&nbsp;&nbsp;There you are!&nbsp;&nbsp;Sergeant Brookes has been hospitalized, just like your missing civilian. I had better get some straight answers out of you, now!"  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I stood up and held my hands in front of my defensively.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was time to do some damage control.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Captain, there isn't anything I can tell you that you don't already know, sir.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brookes was in the crater, just like Marcus.&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps there was some residual radiation that affected them both."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Are you telling me that Brookes is going to vanish just like Marcus did?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What?&nbsp;&nbsp;No, of course not, I'm just saying that their symptoms are similar.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides that lion professor vanished with Marcus and he never touched the crater."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cole cleared his throat.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Maybe the Prof. took Marcus," he said sheepishly.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Williams and I both glanced at him like he was melting.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I mean we are talking about an alien, right?&nbsp;&nbsp;We should be looking for that lion.&nbsp;&nbsp;He might be possessed or something..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The polar bear trailed off and I could tell that Williams was about to insult him for being stupid.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I think he has a point, Captain.&nbsp;&nbsp;We should at least be looking into the UEA campus."  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Williams frowned, furrowing his white, bushy eyebrows.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Oliver, take your squad and the civilians with you.&nbsp;&nbsp;They've all been cleared for release anyway."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I nodded.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes, sir.&nbsp;&nbsp;Playing fetch sir!"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cole and I hurried from the mess hall to find the others.  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When we arrived at the Universal Exploration Academy, I was surprised at how many students were just milling about.&nbsp;&nbsp;Didn't they have classes or something?&nbsp;&nbsp;Many of them stared at us.&nbsp;&nbsp;I supposed that a group of uniformed personnel wasn't a normal occurrence on campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;Professor Hugh's office in Enterprise Hall was locked and, by looking through the window on the door, I could tell there was no one inside.&nbsp;&nbsp;A female rat and a male cheetah in the school's colors approached us.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Excuse me..." the rat said.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Do you know where Professor Hugh is?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No, miss.&nbsp;&nbsp;We were actually looking for him as well," I replied, trying to keep myself from making any cat and mouse jokes.  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He wasn't there to teach our class this morning."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As if on cue, the lion in question stumbled into the doorway of the stairwell we had just exited from.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was in very bad shape.&nbsp;&nbsp;The red Hawaiian shirt he wore was torn in several places and the fur that could be seen under it was caked with dried blood.&nbsp;&nbsp;I could hear him panting as if he had been running.&nbsp;&nbsp;His feet were bare and the bottoms of them were cracked and bleeding.&nbsp;&nbsp;A long gash ran from his forehead down his right eye.&nbsp;&nbsp;His left eye was wide as if forced open and it contorted his face into a fearful expression.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rat cried out in alarm and started towards him.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Wait!" I said. "He could be dangerous."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "But he's hurt!" The cheetah protested.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Let us handle this.&nbsp;&nbsp;You two get out of here."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They hesitated.&nbsp;&nbsp;I didn't want to, but I growled at them.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "NOW!"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That got them to move.&nbsp;&nbsp;They started walking toward opposite end of the hallway as Gregor and Rolf slowly approached the disheveled feline.  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "H-help..." Hugh sputtered before he fell forward onto the tile floor.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rolf felt his neck.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He's still alive, sir, but it looks like he passed out."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dunham frowned next to me.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What could have happened to him?" The bear asked.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Who knows?&nbsp;&nbsp;Right now he needs medical attention.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let's get him to a hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;When he wakes up, he can answer our questions."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We can take you to the medical center on campus!"&nbsp;&nbsp;The cheetah blurted out behind us.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I sighed.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was probably the fastest way to get him conscious again.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;Lead the way, younger generation."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We lifted the witless lion easily between the three of us and carried him out of the building.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thankfully the crowds had thinned outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;Classes had probably started.&nbsp;&nbsp;The students that did see us carrying Hugh whispered among themselves, but didn't try to stop us.&nbsp;&nbsp; The medical Center building looked like the oldest building on the campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;I supposed that figured.&nbsp;&nbsp;The walls were grey, made of stone, and crumbling on the outside.&nbsp;&nbsp;The interior of the building looked like a typical hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was painted white on the walls with a tile floor and a drop ceiling.&nbsp;&nbsp;The secretary called the doctors to take Hugh away almost as soon as we entered.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then the rapid fire questions began.&nbsp;&nbsp;The nurse asking them was cute I guess.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the usual where, who, how line of questioning and I told her honestly all I knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;I left out some things, like why we were there in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;I could tell she didn't like my answers because she started the questions over again.&nbsp;&nbsp;I interrupted her.  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Miss, that lion is a suspect in an ongoing investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;We, or at least I, need to get in there to ask him some questions."&nbsp;&nbsp;I flashed my military badge.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was hoping it had been quick enough for her to mistake it for another, more appropriate ID.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well... I guess that would be fine..." She mumbled.&nbsp;&nbsp;"He's in room 201."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Thank you."&nbsp;&nbsp;I said as I pushed open the metal door to the stairwell.&nbsp;&nbsp;I still didn't think she believed me, but I didn't care.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The medical center was quiet as I climbed the stairs.&nbsp;&nbsp;It felt like it was understaffed for such a large campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;The brown, wooden door to room 201 was unlocked and I opened it with an air of importance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hugh was mumbling to himself on the bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was a doctor looking him over and trying to close his more serious wounds.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm with the military," I said as the doctor stood with a questioning look on his face. "I just need to ask him some questions."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Good luck.&nbsp;&nbsp;He's delirious," the doctor replied.  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The doc shrugged and went back to stitching up the lion as I approached his bedside.&nbsp;&nbsp;I took note of the odd tattoo on Hugh's chest.&nbsp;&nbsp;He also now had a bandage over his damaged eye.&nbsp;&nbsp;He turned to me, the other eye scanning my identity frantically, trying to assess if I was a threat.&nbsp;&nbsp;I noticed he had an ocular implant.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Please..." he said. "Don't let it win..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Try to calm down, Professor.&nbsp;&nbsp;Let what win?&nbsp;&nbsp;What are you saying?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The... the thing... in my head.&nbsp;&nbsp;It wants to destroy... that's all it cares about.&nbsp;&nbsp;It wants revenge for... for..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was as if he couldn't find the correct words or as if there was something preventing him from remembering them.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Let's start with something more concrete," I suggested. "Marcus Dunham.&nbsp;&nbsp;Where did you take him?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I watched the lion think, seeing a pained expression cross his face.&nbsp;&nbsp;The doctor glared at me as he stood.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Please try not to upset him further, sir," the doc advised.&nbsp;&nbsp;I ignored him.  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "A club!" The lion blurted. "I took Mark to a club in the city... I was trying to get him to loosen up... the kid seemed so serious about everything.&nbsp;&nbsp;I... I just wanted to help him... That's all I wanted.&nbsp;&nbsp;It told me it would help me... help him... I-"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And when was this?" I asked interrupting him.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Before... before the crash... before the thing got into my mind...&nbsp;&nbsp;It's so hard to remember."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I began to realize that the Hugh I had quarantined may have been the alien all along.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How did it get into your mind?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The doctor rolled his eyes. "Please, don't encourage his delusions-"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I held up a hand to shut him up.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hugh's face looked to be in agony as he tried to remember.&nbsp;&nbsp;I didn't want to intentionally cause him pain, but there was little choice.&nbsp;&nbsp;I needed to know what kind of thing we were dealing with.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I... I can't..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I nodded, placing a hand on the lion's shoulder.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's alright, James.&nbsp;&nbsp;You'll be alright.&nbsp;&nbsp;Forget about it.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was probably just a bad dream."  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "A... dream...?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's right.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just a dream.&nbsp;&nbsp;You'll be fine-"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; His good eye snapped open.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "The disc!" He exclaimed. "It came from the disc!&nbsp;&nbsp;It needs it!&nbsp;&nbsp;You mustn't let it get the disc!"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Slow down, James.&nbsp;&nbsp;What disc?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Marcus found it... in the crash site... small, metal, strange designs on it..."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I nodded.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Hey, doc, can we see what's recorded on his ocular implant?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The doctor frowned.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That is technically a breach of privacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;We would need his consent."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "He asked us to help him.&nbsp;&nbsp;That information could lead us to his attacker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Besides, he's in no condition to give conscious consent.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just look at him.&nbsp;&nbsp;Consent is implied."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We stared at each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;I could feel his unhappiness at the situation in his gaze.&nbsp;&nbsp;I firmly looked back, mentally standing my ground.&nbsp;&nbsp;The doctor sighed.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Very well.&nbsp;&nbsp;I can have the recording ready for you in two hours."  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I grimaced, but nodded.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two hours was a long time to wait.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "That's fine.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'll be waiting in the lobby."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I left the room as the doctor called in two nurses to help him with the extraction.&nbsp;&nbsp;My team and the civilians were seated in the waiting room when I arrived back down stairs.&nbsp;&nbsp;They looked up expectantly at me, but I shook my head.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Richards, go get the Portable Recon Device from the truck.&nbsp;&nbsp;We'll need it in two hours."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The tabby feline nodded and rushed out the door.&nbsp;&nbsp;I took a seat next to Dunham.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How was he?" the female rat asked.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Not good," I said. "He has an eye implant, though so I think we can get more info out of whatever is recorded on it."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Is he in trouble?" The cheetah said, frowning.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What are you kids still doing here?" I countered.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "They're worried about their professor..." Gregor mumbled.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Can we stay, please?&nbsp;&nbsp;We promise we won't get in the way."  
  

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; They looked at me hopefully with pleading eyes.&nbsp;&nbsp;I sighed and rubbed my forehead in aggravation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Being serious was so taxing.&nbsp;&nbsp;I hated it.&nbsp;&nbsp;But if those students were going to stay there, I would have to keep up the façade.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine," I said.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I didn't think anything I told them would get them to leave anyway.&nbsp;&nbsp;We sat in silence and waited for the doctor to finish his work.&nbsp;&nbsp;After only an hour, he came down the stairs and beckoned to me from the doorway.&nbsp;&nbsp;I followed him into the stairwell.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's up, doc?" I asked.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "There is... uh... I think his implant is faulty."&nbsp;&nbsp;The man looked shaken, as if he had seen something he really hadn't wanted to see.  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What makes you think that?"  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Well... there are extra hours on it that shouldn't exist."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Extract all of the footage from now until yesterday at six pm.&nbsp;&nbsp;We'll investigate after we take a look at it."  
  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The doctor nodded and slowly went back up stairs to finish the task.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't think anything would have prepared me for the information that Hugh's implant held.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/dmW72OLm
Part of the series The Endless Void; Book One: A Multitude of Stars...
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