On e Charrack stepped through the portal, his stomach twisted and he lurched around. The sensations from portaling took time to get accustomed to. He arrived on earth, the capital of the human empire.
Their rapid expansion throughout space had little effect on those who remained here. To many, earth was where they would be born, live, work l, and die; to others, it was a vacation spot with beaches and lounges.
Unfortunately, Charrack wasn't at a resort, he was at the military headquarters. His surroundings were nothing but a blank white room with a sentry posted on either side of the portal. They had been ordered not to fire on him, but Charrack could sense their unease.
John tapped his shoulder, "You can help me walk instead of cradling me like a baby, it's getting awkward."
Charrack complied and stooped down so John could sling his arm over his shoulder, "What do we do if we get separated?"
John shrugged as best he could,"I never thought that far ahead. Just do as they say, you should be fine."
Charrack was not in the least bit comforted, but for John's sake he would do his best to play along.
A wheelchair was brought into the room and John took a seat, "This is cozy, but you know what I need? A box of chocolate. Seriously, I haven't had sweets in," he paused to count the days, which only added up to sixteen, "Well it feels like months."
"Don't worry," said a doctor holding a clipboard, "We'll get to feeding you as soon as we check for infections."
The doctor was tall, for a human, wore glasses, had silky smooth hair, a narrow face, and beady eyes. To Charrack, she was the most beautiful thing on the planet,... Not to mention the only thing that wasn't in a military uniform.
She smiled, showing her pearly white teeth, "Who's this John?" She nodded, indicating Charrack.
John waved her off with false gusto, "Oh, he's just the guy who saved my life and carried my sorry corpse halfway across a no-fly-zone with wild predators. No big deal. His name is Charrack."
Her smile widened, showing more of her teeth, absorbing Charrack's full attention. She reached her had out to shake his, showing no fear, "Pleasure to meet you. I am doctor Sara Newman, I'm in charge of overseeing John's recovery while he's here."
Charrack stared intently at her perfect teeth until John grabbed his hand and put it in hers. As the doctor shook Charrack's hand he began fidgeting uncomfortablly. Her hand was smooth and warm to the touch, while Charrack had never encountered so gentle a creature. He was already madly in love.
"Pleasure." He dared not say anything more, lest he embarrass himself.
She wrote something down on her clipboard and let it hang by her side, "If you would like to escort your friend back to my lab, feel free to do so."
"Doctor Newman, if you don't mind," the sergeant stepped in between her and Charrack, "I'd rather not leave you two alone with this," he paused and looked up at Charrack, "this thing."
Charrack continued to stare at the doctor unblinking, worrying that if he did she might disappear from existence.
To the sergeant's eyes he appeared to be planning for his next meal, "Allow my squad to join you in the lab while he's here."
"Absolutely not." She said, "I will not have my lab overrun by mindless grunts while I'm working."
The sergeant sighed, "Ma'am, we have our orders, he is not to leave our sight until John Doe has been debriefed."
"Fine," doctor Newman relented, "But only you and one other grunt, and don't touch anything."
"Donnie!" The sergeant yelled over his shoulder.
"Sir, yes sir!" The private responded.
"Follow me, and keep both your hands on your weapon at all times."
"Sir, yes sir!" He saluted and quickly put his hand back on his rifle.
"I said 'all times' private Donahue," The sergeant shouted. "Do I need to spell that out for you?"
"No sir, sergeant." The private trembled and fell in behind Charrack.
Doctor Newman glared at the sergeant, "May we go now?"
"Proceed," he grunted.
All the way to the lab, Charrack stared at the doctor, everything about her was infatuating; the way she walked, the way her hair swayed, the sound of her voice. John took note of his companion's silence and decided to ask him what was up when they got in the elevator.
"Something wrong Charrack?"
Charrack barely managed to shake his head, "Never been better."
The sing-song tone of his voice made John do a doubletake, "Are you sure nothing's bothering you?"
Doctor Newman looked over and made eye contact with Charrack and smiled. He instinctively tore his eyes away and began to breathe heavily. Confused by Charrack's behavior, John shrugged and shook his head.
They arrived on the lab floor and traveled another long corridor and past a desk area before stopping at a locked door. Doctor Newman pulled a key card out of her coat pocket and waved it in front of a wall sensor. The light turned green and the door slid open.
Her lab was well maintained and spotless, it was no wonder she wanted grunts to keep their dirty boots and hand outside. On one wall was a chalkboard with chemical formulas and equations scribbled all over, her desk was set up next to it with an open laptop and swivel chair. On the opposite side was a patient bed adjusted to the upright position.
"Stay right here," she ordered the soldiers with authority, pointing directly in the doorway.
The two stopped where they were and smiled courteously.
"If you would like to help your friend into the bed I would appreciate it Charrack." She patted the bed and smiled at him.
The use of his name made Charrack's heart skip a beat, "oh-okay ma'am." He stammered, lifting John out of the wheelchair and setting him gently on the bed. For all his awkwardness, it was a surprise he didn't place him upsidedown.
Doctor Newman pulled a needle and several small vials out of a drawer and placed them on a tray, "You know the drill soldier, sleeve up, arm out."
John did as he was told and smiled weakly. Why did it have to be needles? The needle was inserted into his arm and a vial was quickly filled up with blood and replaced with an empty one.
John attempted to make small talk, "So, you are very old fashioned aren't you? Fan of the arts?"
The doctor laughed, sending a tingling sensation up Charrack's spine, "Lucky guess. But what makes you say I'm 'old fashioned'?"
John shrugged, careful not to displace the needle in his arm, "I don't know. The chalk board, laptop, glasses, needles." He stretched out the word needles as the one in his arm was removed.
She pressed a cotton swab against Johns arm, "Needles can hardly be enough to call me old fashioned, what do you think Charrack."
Upon hearing her use his name again, all logical thought left Charrack's mind, "I think you're beautiful."
"Aw, your so sweet." Doctor Newman held one of the vials of John's blood up to the light, "Now that doesn't look too pretty does it?"
The color was still black, although it had lost some of the coagulation since Charrack had last seen it.
The doctor grabbed another needle and looked up at Charrack, "Are you fine if I take some of your blood now?"
Charrack nodded and Newman smiled at him again. Charrack silently wished he could live in that moment forever.
Doctor Newman stood up and grabbed the tray of blood vials that were suspended upright with an energy field, "Let me just take care of something real quick and I'll be right back."
As she walked off John noticed Charrack staring after her, "No way, you have a crush on her don't you?"
"A crush?" Charrack asked.
"Yeah," John whispered, " it means you really like someone."
"Yeah," Charrack breathed.
"I hate to break it to you but she is so out of your league my friend." John chuckled quietly.
Charrack was too distracted to even notice, it was the first time John had really called him "friend"....