22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Alex
Alex burst through the emergency room doors as Galen’s unconscious body was rolled into the triage room. His head still pounded from the explosion, and his ears rang like church bells on a Sunday morning. He could sense Galen’s life force draining away. Alex could see only a single sliver of energy holding Galen to the mortal plane. Alex knew Galen was dying in front of him. He might have been a god, but he was helpless to stop it.
The EMT rattled off Galen’s vitals to the waiting ER trauma staff. Without missing a beat, the doctor barked orders to the surrounding nurses. What caused the injuries? yelled the surgeon. Alex impulsively responded it was an explosion. The surgeon responded by asking who Alex was. He replied that Galen was his security officer and was with him when the explosion happened. The doctor told Alex to leave the emergency room so they could treat Galen. The nurse asked Alex if he knew of any next of kin or advanced care directives. Alex shook his head and feebly responded he would check with PGC.
“Is that your blood?” said the nurse.
Alex shook his head again. He looked down at his hands covered in Galen’s blood, where he’d tried to apply pressure to his head wound. Galen’s blood was a mixture of red hues, which had begun to crust and fall off Alex’s hand onto the floor, like pieces of his life crumbling around him.
The surgeon demanded the nurse check Alex over and get him out of the ER immediately so they could do their work. The nurse guided Alex out the swinging doors and into the hall.
Sitting in the examining room in a paper gown, Alex’s mind raced as he tried to piece together the events that had taken place. He played the scene over and over in his mind, like a broken loop. Guilt coursed through his veins like adrenaline. He knew he couldn’t be hurt, and now Galen was lying in the ER fighting for his life. In the entire sequence of events, time slowed down for Alex as he focused on recalling the scene—the initial flash of flames in the explosion, Alex grabbing Galen by the shoulder, throwing his arms around him to put his body between Galen and the explosion. It all happened in an instant, and he acted purely on instinct.
The nurse disrupted Alex’s concentration by informing him he’d been cleared of any injuries. Not even a scratch. He asked about Galen, but the nurse didn’t have any news and promised to provide him with updates when she could. Who could he call? Who did he trust?
Alex’s hands shook so violently, he could barely dial the phone. Alex called Hoko and said he needed his help. He said there had been an explosion, and Alex was unharmed, but Galen was at Mass General Hospital. He was severely injured, and the triage team was working to stabilize him. They needed to know his next-of-kin information and if he had an advanced care directive. He told Hoko that he didn’t know where to get that information. Hoko said he’d get the information and forward it to Alex. He’d also have Ryo deploy additional security to the hospital, and would let the rest of the board know about the situation. He added Ryo would deploy a forensic team to the scene to prevent the Boston PD from contaminating evidence. Hoko said he’d be there as soon as possible and asked Alex if he needed anything. Alex said he needed a change of clothes since his were scorched and covered in Galen’s blood.
“Galen is young, strong, and a fighter, Alex. He’ll be OK.”
Alex hung up the call and sat his phone on the examining room table as tears started streaming down his face, before his entire body began shaking and wouldn’t stop. It felt like he was crying more than breathing these days. Although Alex couldn’t reach Galen’s energy or soul, he could support the doctors and medical staff providing his care energetically. He’d never been religious, but he closed his eyes to pray.
Alex held his face in his hands. It had been hours since he’d received any updates on Galen’s condition.
His prayers were interrupted by a deep voice. “Mr. Lieth? I’m Dr. Anderson; we met in the ER. Galen is a fortunate man. He’s out of emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma on his brain. We performed a decompressive craniectomy to remove a twenty-centimeter portion of the skull to reduce intracranial pressure and swelling.”
“Is he going to make it?” Alex said, holding his breath as he asked.
Dr. Anderson said the next twenty-four hours would be crucial to determine the procedure’s success. Galen was recovering and would be moved to an ICU room shortly. Dr. Anderson added there was no timetable for when he might regain consciousness, but he was hopeful because Galen was young and healthy, which would hopefully help his recovery.
Alex asked if he could see Galen, and Dr. Anderson said only for a few minutes––what Galen needed now was rest. He agreed to keep his visit brief and relayed the next-of-kin information he’d obtained. Galen only had a sister in New Zealand, but the records showed she was disabled. Dr. Anderson thanked Alex for the information, saying he would add it to Galen’s records. Dr. Anderson touched Alex’s shoulder before saying he could see how much Alex cared about Galen. Although it was against his better judgment, he’d allow Alex to stay with Galen in the ICU if he cleaned himself up. He instructed Alex the nurse would escort him to a place to shower and provide him with sanitized protective clothing to wear in the ICU to reduce the risk of infection.
Alex thanked Dr. Anderson, but was confused when Dr. Anderson thanked Alex for his support. Alex said Dr. Anderson must be mistaken, but he explained PGC was one of the biggest benefactors to the hospital, and they would do everything within their power to return Galen to health. Dr. Anderson turned and walked down the hall toward the nursing station. After giving his instructions to help prepare Alex for the ICU, he disappeared around the corner.
Alex quickly showered and dressed in hospital garments and protective gear. The ICU nurse led him into room 101, where the sight of Galen in the hospital bed was jarring. All the tubes, wires, monitors, and bandages around his head and face reinforced the severity of the situation. Alex sat quietly by the hospital bed, watching each breath and heartbeat on the monitors, hoping they’d not be Galen’s last. Alex reached out and placed his hand on Galen’s forearm. Alex didn’t know if Galen could feel the small gesture, but he wanted him to know he was there. He could see the spark in Galen’s chest slightly intensify with his touch.
Hoko was right. Alex could influence others when they were dreaming or unconscious. Still, he wouldn’t abuse the situation and read Galen’s soul or memories without his consent. Such a violation could destroy the trust and relationship they’d established. Alex focused on his breathing, drawing cosmic energy from nature, and focused with the singular intent on Galen and his struggle to survive. He watched as the energy flowed from his hand and encircled Galen’s body, forming a protective bubble. He didn’t know if this would help, but he had to try. If only Hoko were there to help him.
Alex didn’t recall when during the night he fell asleep, but he couldn’t outrun his exhaustion. The dawn light streamed through the window and dimly illuminated the room.
“Why?” said Galen in a weak voice.
“You’re awake!” Alex said with a look of pure excitement as he raised his head from the side of Galen’s hospital bed. “Don’t try to talk. Let me get the nurse.”
“Ya had no right. Should’ve let me go,” Galen tearfully said as his heart rate and blood pressure monitors steadily climbed, setting off multiple alarms.
Alex didn’t know what to say. Why was Galen so angry and upset that Alex had helped save his life?
“Save your strength, and I’ll be right back with the nurse.”
Alex returned to the room with the ICU charge nurse, who paged the neurosurgeon to do an assessment. Alex stepped out of the room and let the medical staff do their work, but only after checking their energy and spark to ensure they had good bedside manners.
After the medical staff left the room, Alex approached Dr. Anderson and asked if this was a good sign. Dr. Anderson said it was a great sign, and that in his many years of treating brain injury patients, it would usually take weeks to obtain Galen’s level of responsiveness. He added it was truly a miracle that he hadn’t observed before in his career. Walking out the door, Dr. Anderson said what Galen needed now was rest. Alex nodded and said he wouldn’t overstay his welcome. Alex walked back to the ICU room and quietly watched Galen sleep.
Stepping out of the ICU unit after an hour, Alex was met outside by Hoko and Ryo, who immediately asked how Galen was doing. Alex filled them in on Galen’s condition, to which Hoko and Ryo expressed relief. Ryo said they needed to update Alex on several events.
“Several events? I’m exhausted, Ryo, and I’m not sure I can take any more bad news,” said Alex.
Ryo said, unfortunately, that was all he had to share. Ryo explained that several other events raised concerns about Alex’s safety and security last night, in addition to the explosion. He stated he believed the explosion was not an accident, but rather a diversion.
“A diversion?” said Alex.
Ryo said at the same time of the explosion, the officer assigned to surveillance at Alex’s apartment was assaulted and killed––or, more accurately, assassinated. Ryo said the assailants also burglarized Alex’s apartment and were clearly looking for something specific, but he didn’t know what.
Templeton? They had just gone out for coffee yesterday morning, and he was so excited that he and his wife were expecting in just six weeks. “Why would someone kill Templeton?” said Alex.
Ryo said they didn’t know. The security suite was raided, all security footage from the incident was erased, while all security footage for the past several weeks was taken. This was a professional job. At the same time, Ryo said they had an electronic security breach at PGC. Alex was confused, asking how––given the military-grade security at PGC––that could have happened. Ryo said that’s what they need to find out. The incursion was precise. The research and medical servers, plus Ms. Dea’s personal files, were hacked. Ryo added they were working to figure out the extent of the breach. However, he said preliminary indications were that the thieves were looking for research on ichor.
Alex sat down in the chair in the hall. “Please tell me, that’s all,” he said in a broken voice.
Ryo shook his head no, before adding that at the same time as the hack and explosion, three masked assailants broke into Dr. Bruno’s house and attempted to kidnap him. His wife, Greta, was in shock, and Dr. Sonja was with her now. Ryo said the details were limited, but evaluation of the scene showed Dr. Bruno resisted his kidnappers and was injured. Ryo explained the assailants were fought off by PGC security.
Alex closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. A car bombing, murder, attempted kidnapping, and corporate espionage all at once? What the fuck was happening? Whoever was attacking Alex and PGC was twenty steps ahead. He took a deep breath before asking why Ryo was at the hospital rather than at headquarters. Ryo replied that Alex’s safety was their priority, and that Alex couldn’t safely return to his apartment. He added the board had asked him to escort Alex to the penthouse since PGC had the full force of their resources to protect him there. Alex shook his head and said he didn’t want to leave Galen at the hospital alone. Hoko pleaded with Alex to let them help him, and to go to the penthouse for his safety.
Alex noted the concern in Hoko’s eyes before he begrudgingly nodded yes, but said the only way he’d go to the penthouse was if PGC protected Galen as if they were protecting him or Ditta. Ryo nodded in agreement, and Hoko said he’d stay with Galen until the security detail arrived. Ryo escorted Alex to an armored vehicle at the hospital’s back entrance.
Alex’s mind raced a million miles an hour as he tried to piece everything together. He’d found himself as the central character in an espionage novel. His previously simple life would have been canceled for being too boring if it were a reality show, but now his life had become a Tom Clancy thriller. His body filled with dread as he thought about what would happen next.
Stepping off the private elevator into the penthouse, Alex was a foreigner in a strange land. Standing at the floor-to-ceiling windows, admiring the Boston skyline, provided a momentary respite. Every worldview Alex had developed in his life was being challenged. Danyal, his rock, was missing, but the events of the past twelve hours had shifted his disappearance to the back of Alex’s mind.
His thoughts drifted back to his conversation with Hoko. Alex vowed to protect the people he cared about, being a force for good. The events of the past twelve hours had convinced him he must do all he could to fight back against the darkness. But for tonight, the best thing Alex could do was rest.
He slowly walked to the main bedroom and fell forward, fully clothed, on the bed. Alex could no longer avoid his exhaustion by running on adrenaline.