Rise of a Valkyrie

Part 64

Buy the book now at your preferred store: https://books2read.com/u/bM2Nna

***********************************

Rose's comfortable hospital room was beginning to feel like a prison cell. Though she had already demonstrated her ability to walk on her leg, she was still confined to her bed until the doctor decided she was ready for duty. Now that she could move about, she was scheduled for an hour a day of physical therapy, and no more. The rest was spent in bed, reading whatever material was available from the Valkyrie library, even technical manuals, if it kept her from dying of boredom.

She was slowly going stir crazy, and it got worse when new patients arrived. Some came from off-world, who had been severely wounded in an operation, and there would be a stampede of medical staff urgently shouting commands and calling for assistance, while Rose sat alone, feeling useless.

A stroll in the gardens of Tyr city would have done her good—she was sure the nanites could heal whatever damage remained. But doctor's orders were orders, and she couldn't even leave her room without them signing off.

"I really think I can do some more advanced movement," she complained, after her last physical therapy session. "Like a nice walk outside?"

The doctor checked her chart again. "You're making good progress, I agree, but in my experience, we shouldn't rush this. Deep bone trauma needs time and patience, not enthusiasm."

Rose suppressed an outburst of frustration. "Yes, Major."

Several days later, Rose had a welcome visit from a Ranger she didn't recognize. The woman was limping, but didn't seem too badly hurt as she entered the room.

"Rose Djallen?"

Rose shot up in bed. "Yes?"

"I'm from Mountain Ranger battalion. A friend of yours, Thandi, asked me to check in on you and said she'd tried to catch up with you soon."

"Oh, thank you—that's very good of you," Rose settled back against her pillows as her pulse relaxed again. The disappointment brought clear-headedness, and her forehead crinkled. "Why didn't she stop by herself?"

"Well, you know I was just passing through. Seems I had an unfortunate run in with a jeep that wasn't watching where it was going. Totally their fault. I'm fine, really—probably shouldn't even be here. Can't believe my bad luck, you know?"

Rose raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The Ranger paused a moment. "Oh... well, I probably shouldn't say. All I'm saying is Thandi couldn't stop by, and she didn't want you thinking she'd forgotten about you."

Something about her reluctance made Rose curious. "What about Kayla? Did she say anything?"

"I don't know any Kayla, it's a big battalion you know?"

"They're in the same squad."

The Ranger shrugged helplessly. "Okay, well... I didn't see anyone else."

Rose thought fast. There was only one obvious reason somebody might not talk about a unit's activity to an outsider. "Is the battalion deploying? That's why you're annoyed about your injury, isn't it?"

"Come on, you know I shouldn't talk about that." She stopped, seeing Rose's desperate expression. "Ugh- whatever. Yes, they are, and don't I feel like the world's biggest idiot for getting myself out of action? It really sucks when your friends go out, and you can't be there, you know?"

For Rose, everything began to add up. Christie was working on Caldera, then Kayla had gone over on leave, and apparently hadn't returned, while the rest of the battalion was deploying. It couldn't be a coincidence.