The Metal Man by A. R. Knight

Author:A. R. Knight [Knight, A. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Key Books
Published: 2017-04-18T22:00:00+00:00

6

Recovery

The halo in the sky was white. Mox blinked. Not the sky. The ceiling. A bright lamp. Mox turned his head to the side and saw the medical bot, long and lanky and covered in instruments, stride into the room.

“Congratulations, Mr.—” the bot started.

“It's just Mox.”

“Very well. You survived,” the bot paused. Mox wondered if he should be elated. And maybe he was, but happiness was buried right now between an endless cascade of aches from throughout his body, all of them blunted through the liquid hanging in the IV bag next to the bed. “And with minor injuries, aside from the concussion. Provided you show no further symptoms, we should be releasing you this afternoon.”

The bot turned to leave.

“Wait,” Mox said. “Were there any other survivors? A woman, Erin?”

“You came with many others from the tower wreckage. I am unclear to whom you might be referring. I apologize,” the bot said, before walking out of the room.

A few minutes of staring later, Sarge came by. His official uniform, a pairing of white with red accents, fit tight. Sarge looked at it briefly and grimaced. Then snapped his eyes to Mox.

“Glad to see you made it,” Sarge said.

“Ever have a building fall on you?”

“That's an achievement unique to you, I believe.”

“It's awful.”

Sarge nodded.

“Did she live? The woman I was with?”

Sarge shook his head.

“You were crushed, and she was beneath you. Your plating kept you alive,” Sarge didn't need to explain what happened to Erin. Mox kept his face straight. There would be time for that later.

“And Yuri?”

“He's pulled through the rough part,” Sarge said, brightening. “He'll make it out.”

Mox nodded. At least there was that. Then his mind slipped back to the tower, to the frantic digging to get Erin out of the lobby. To the effort of getting the old man to safety.

“I should have been able to save her,” Mox said. “But I wasn't strong enough.”

“No man would have been,” Sarge replied. “Get your rest. Take the next few days off.”

“If they find the one that blew up the towers, I want in,” Mox said as Sarge made for the exit.

“You'll be first in line,” Sarge replied.

Mox settled back on the pillow, shut his eyes, but sleep wouldn't come.

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