Chronicles of Han: Preserving Creata: Part 1: Learning Curve
Chapter Thirty

I was standing on the edge of a cliff. A huge valley opened at my feet. Desert surrounded me on all sides. I felt utterly alone. There was a high wind and it was picking up. I tried to resist but a gust caught me and ripped me over the edge.

I was falling.

I kept on falling.

I could not see the bottom of the cliff.

There was no bottom. Only yellow and red and black . . .

I woke up screaming!

Every inch of my body was on fire.

Every nerve-ending was working overtime.

I could not tolerate the touch of the light cover over me.

I kicked it off.

I could not bear the cool air against my exposed skin.

Tucker stormed into the room.

“Please do not touch me! It hurts! Oh Universe it hurts!”

Explosions behind my eyes!

Explosions inside my head!

Daggers across my body!

I could take it no longer.

I passed out.

I woke to a cool hand on my head and a feminine voice in my ears.

Lying perfectly still, I sent my consciousness across my body. The pain had subsided to a dull ache. My head felt as if it was split in two.

I did not want to open my eyes just yet.

Some cool liquid was trickled onto my tongue.

I swallowed.

It was sweet and also salty.

Electrolytes, my brain told me.

“He’s swallowing on his own now. I think he’s back with us,” the feminine voice said.

I picked up a hint of flowers.

“Han?” it was Tucker’s voice.

I was not yet ready to join the living.

I allowed myself to go again and slipped back into the dark comfort of unconsciousness.

I was standing on the edge of a cliff. A huge valley opened at my feet. Desert surrounded me on all sides. I felt utterly alone.

Stop it!

I was not sure if I shouted it aloud, but I woke up fighting.

My heart was racing as comprehension returned to me.

Tucker was sitting next to me, holding my arms to my sides.

A nurse in uniform was standing beside the bed.

Tucker’s voice soothed me.

“Han. It’s okay. You had an extremely high fever.

This is a friend. She’s going to give you an injection for the pain. It is going to make you a bit groggy but you are going to be just fine.”

The nurse smiled reassuringly at me and slipped a needle into my arm. Heat spread out from the injection site and quickly raced around my stressed body.

As my body started relaxing, Tucker released me.

I tried to control my breathing.

My nerves felt raw and naked. There was still a dull ache throughout my body and my head still felt like a pudding.

I was glad to have people around me.

The nurse brought a cup to my lips.

“Drink some, your body is dehydrated and we could not get an IV drip without creating suspicion.”

I drank all of the electrolytes, gagging a bit with the last swallow.

I was starting to feel better but did not want to close my eyes again. There was no pain with the light streaming in through the open part of the curtain.

I realized it was day already. The angle of the sun made it somewhere around mid day. Was I out for so long?

*Sensaii? Are you near?*

*Always.*

*What is happening to me?*

*Overload on your body, I’m afraid. You’ve done too much, too soon, without any proper preparation.*

*And you could not warn me?*

*Crash course. Sorry.*

*Crash course my buttocks. Why?*

There was a silence from him before he answered. I knew he was avoiding the question.

*Everything will be easier now,* he stated, soothingly.

He had managed to change the subject successfully.

*Easier how?* I wanted to know from him.

*Your body has been opened up as a whole receptor. You will replace your work easier and less tiring within a day or two. You’ll be able to slip out and back between visions without much effort. Heal for the next day before you do anything else.*

*What about this dream I’m having?*

*It is your dream. You can tell it to change.*

I was sure Tucker could read the conversation by my facial expressions.

“You’re really going to be okay for now?” he wanted to know.

“I was assured of it. I’ll be my boisterous self in a day or so, and I apparently need some rest. How, I really do not know.”

The pretty nurse spoke up “I can give you a sedative if you like. It should knock you out for about twelve hours. Would that help?”

*Sensaii?* I asked.

*Great idea!* he commented.

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

I relaxed my body and once again, the nurse injected me.

This time, it was a cold sensation that crept through my body.

“Thank you Julie, for all your help” I heard Tucker say as I drifted away on the drugs.