“Yes, I agree. This decision is an unusual one for us indeed, but the situation is far from ordinary as well,” said John Simps. “So, what’s going to be the Council’s decision?”
Lora was worriedly watching the medical assistants help the guest from Earth make himself comfortable in the mobile chair on the electromagnetic pillows, as he was still very weak to be able to move on his own.
“So,” Lora heard Doctor Borshchevsky’s voice from the back. Appearing there as if by magic, he came smiling and looking at everyone around. “How are you feeling, Derek?”
“Much better, thank you,” the young man subtly smiled, adjusting his dark glasses. “I don’t have the courage to take them off.”
“You can take them off when your eyes feel comfortable with the light,” the doctor assured him. “No reason to hurry. And something else,” he approached the patient and handed him a heavy metal bracelet. “There is a three day supply of medicine inside; injections will be made automatically, while a special device will warn you about it in advance. If there are no symptoms to be concerned about, then I’ll be expecting you here by the end of the period.” Then the doctor looked at Lora. “He’s in your care now.”
After the medical personnel left the ward, Lora perched at the edge of the empty bed and looked intently at the person in her care.
“Derek, before we leave the hospital, I’d like to tell you a little something about the place where we are now.”
“About the spaceship?”
“Yes, I guess you could say so… The thing is, Titanium is not exactly a ship… It’s…” Lora remembered how hard she had been rehearsing this conversation that morning, but when the moment came she was at a loss for words. “It’s a whole city” she finally uttered.
“A city in space?” the young man tried to clarify.
“Yes, a big city in space… So big that we actually classify it as an artificial planet with its own atmosphere and climate and…”
“Wait there!” the earthling shook his head. “Give me a second to think… An artificial planet?!”
“Yes, exactly.”
“It’s unbelievable!”
“I’m ready to show you everything, but the consequences of stasis, amnesia… The doctor is concerned…”
“Don’t carry on, I got the general idea,” Derek softly interrupted her confused explanations. “Even though I might not remember my past, it doesn’t mean that I’m not ready to see the future of mankind.”