Breakthrough

Chapter 4

“Well,” said the doctor. “In such cases, the doctor, that’s me in case it wasn’t obvious, makes the call on whether to save the patient. The patient is old, so there’s no point in saving her life. Even after she’s cured, and it’s not certain that she can be cured, since Marchupo is a very rare disease, who’s to say whether she’ll be too weak to work? In any case, she can’t contribute fully or for long to the Queen. So, I’ve made up my mind and my decision is to terminate her. I can give you half an hour with her before we begin the termination process. Remember, just half an hour and no longer. I don’t want to miss the last shuttle back Underground,” he grumbled.

“She’s in the Emergency area at the moment. Don’t say we don’t have a heart here in this hospital.” And on that horrendous proclamation, he turned on his heels and marched swiftly out of the room, his white doctor’s coat flapping.

Wiping his tears away fiercely, Haedon flew to Emergency, with Kyara in tow. He stopped short when he saw Aunt Savyla lying on the bed, smiling bravely. Since Haedon last saw his aunt, which could not have been more than two hours ago, she had deteriorated. Tears of blood fell from her half-closed eyes, while blood from her pores seeped through the hospital blanket, transforming it into a crimson shroud.

Haedon touched Aunt Savyla’s face gently, tucking a strand of her flyaway silver hair behind her ear. He leant down to give her a tender kiss on her cheek.

“I can barely see you, but I can tell you’re crying,” said Aunt Savyla. “I’m very happy to have had you by my side all these years. Otherwise, I might have turned into a crazy old lady with only a cat for company. And I might be tempted to eat the cat when my rations run out.”

Aunt Savyla gave a weak chuckle, which turned into a hacking cough.

“Aunt Sav,” cried Haedon, “how can you joke at a time like this?”

“If I don’t joke, I will cry, and I don’t want our last moments to be filled with tears, Haedon,” said Aunt Savyla determinedly.

“Here, help me sit up. There’s something I need to tell you,” she continued.

Supporting Aunt Savyla on either side, Haedon and Kyara helped her to get into a sitting position.

“Kyara, can you pass me my handbag?” requested Aunt Savyla.

Kyara hastened to do Aunt Savyla’s bidding, passing the woman her bag. Aunt Savyla dug into the recesses of the bag and came up with her mobile phone. Scrolling through her gallery, she stopped at a video and laid her finger affectionately on it.

“Haedon, you know that your parents died when you were a baby. I think now’s the time for me to tell you what happened,” said Aunt Savyla, pressing the play button on the video, and holding out her phone to Haedon.

The video showed a couple seated on the sofa of what looked like the living room of a home. The man was clean-shaven and his coal black hair was slicked back, revealing a prominent forehead. He had twinkling eyes and was engaged in a conversation with a tall and well-built teenager, whose long and unruly fringe twirled back and forth as he spoke animatedly to his father, his hands flying in the air as he gesticulated enthusiastically. The woman had long wild hair which had been tamed into a chignon at the base of her neck. The impish nature of her hair, much like her character, could not be fully subdued though, and wispy tendrils escaped to frame her oval face. She had a sharp nose and intelligent eyes, which were trained lovingly on the infant who was crawling rapidly toward her outstretched arms, squealing with joy. Off-camera, Haedon could hear Aunt Savyla’s voice as she carried on a conversation with everyone present while filming the video.

“Who’s the baby crawling on the ground?” asked Haedon.

“That’s you,” Aunt Savyla said fondly. “You were never happy unless you were in your mother’s arms.”

“Is that my mother?” Haedon stammered as he pointed a wavering finger at the lady seated on the sofa.

“Yes, that’s your mother. The man next to her is your father and my younger brother.”

Aunt Savyla went on to answer Haedon’s unspoken question. “That teenager is your brother, Raelon.”

“I have a brother?” Haedon asked in wonder.

*****

Year 2164

Aunt Savyla is slaving over the stove preparing dinner. She has a hot date with Daemon from the office lined up that night and she was determined to show him what a good cook she was. Tendrils of steam spiralled up from the bubbling pot and Aunt Savyla smiled as she breathed in the fragrant aroma. Music from her phone is playing softly in the background, and Aunt Savyla hums as she stirs the vegetables in the pot.

The doorbell rings and Aunt Savyla gasps. Daemon is way too early and she hadn’t even changed her clothes or done her hair yet. Dinner is only half done.

Taking a deep breath and fluffing her hair, she plasters a megawatt smile on her face and opens the door. To her utter surprise, she sees not Daemon but her brother, Grador, his wife, Maddea and their teenage son, Raelon. Maddea is carrying their younger son, Haedon, in her arms, with a strange expression that Aunt Savyla cannot fathom. One-year-old Haedon is in peaceful slumber, oblivious to the tumult that is to be unleashed onto his world.

“Why are you here? You’re welcome to drop by anytime but I would appreciate some advance notice,” grumbles Aunt Savyla. “I know I’m not young any more, but I could still have plans.”

“Sav, I’ll cut to the chase. You know about the research that we do, right?” begins Grador.

“You and Maddea work for the Authorities as researchers of Surface powers,” answers Aunt Savyla.

“We had been conducting research in the name of science, hoping to better understand how the Surface dwellers receive their power and how they are able to use them. We’ve just found out that the Authorities had set up a parallel lab and had been feeding that lab with the results of our research. Worse still,” continues Grador grimly, “they had been conducting unspeakable experiments on living Surface dwellers. They had also been using our research to track and exterminate uncooperative Surface dwellers.”

“Maddea and I have made copies of our research findings. Thank goodness the Authorities had not managed to get their hands on everything we’ve found out to date. We’re on our way to our lab now to destroy it so that the Authorities won’t be able to use our research. Raelon is 15; he’s old enough to come with us,” says Grador, giving Raelon’s shoulder a quick squeeze.

“Haedon is still young,” Maddea breaks in. “Can we leave him with you just for tonight? We’ll be back for him once we’re done at the lab. I’ve brought along a change of clothes, diapers and milk. He can eat soft food too. And if for whatever reason we don’t make it back, I can’t think of anyone else I would rather bring up Haedon.”

Aunt Savyla now understands Maddea’s earlier expression. She had been bidding Haedon farewell in her heart. Perhaps mothers have a premonition, Aunt Savyla thinks.

*****

“That one night has turned into 13 years,” said Aunt Savyla. “Grador and Maddea never came back from the lab, and I have not seen Raelon since either. The situation was extremely chaotic that night. There was an uprising from the Surface dwellers that same night. To this day, I’m not sure whether my brother instigated the uprising or whether it was merely a coincidence.”

Aunt Savyla paused. “Please excuse me. The next part is hard for me to speak about.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued, “Your parents managed to destroy their lab but the Authorities captured your parents before they could escape. The Authorities also cracked down on the rebellion successfully. The next day, they held a gruesome banquet to celebrate their victory. Your parents’ bodies were served as food at that banquet. The Authorities like to make a big song and dance when humans, especially well-known ones, are eaten. This is to deter others from defying their rule.”

“Over the years, I made discreet enquiries about your brother but always encountered a blank wall,” said Aunt Savyla. “I really hope he escaped but if he did, why did he not return to look for us? I think he was probably captured and served at the same banquet,” she said, unable to hold back her tears.

Just then, the doctor came in together with two hatchet-faced nurses. Their beefy arms strained against their starched white uniforms and their stern faces brooked no pleas for mercy. Haedon’s initial thought of begging the doctor and nurses one final time evaporated.

“Don’t cry, Haedon,” said Aunt Savyla, extending her hand to caress Haedon’s face. “We’ve always known that this day will come. Poor citizens don’t get comprehensive healthcare. We’ve all got to die one day. You come from a brave family. Be strong for all of us, my dear boy. What are the two things I’ve always told you to do?”

“Believe in myself, and help the weak,” answered Haedon.

“Keep them in mind and you won’t go wrong,” advised Aunt Savyla.

The doctor jerked his head peevishly and the two nurses stepped forward to Aunt Savyla’s bedside. Haedon screamed and Kyara wept as the unsympathetic nurses prised Haedon’s fingers away from Aunt Savyla’s arm. Through it all, the doctor stood away from the bed, one foot tapping impatiently on the ground, exasperation written all over his face. He hated ugly scenes.

As they wheeled Aunt Savyla out of Emergency, all Haedon could see was the beatific smile on her face.