Chapter 7

“On second thought, perhaps a bit of rest in my quarters isn’t such a bad idea” Artifice said as he and Waitstate arrived at his quarters.

“Don’t hesitate to ask me for help if you have any problems. I’ll attend to you personally if you’d like” Waitstate offered. “I don’t mean to be so harsh with you, but I’m being far more lenient with you than I would be with the others.”

Artifice walked over to his bed and laid down. He stared at the ceiling if he were trying to analyze it. Waitstate knew that whatever was bothering Artifice he didn’t want to talk about it, but he would try talking to him anyway.

“What was death like?” Waitstate asked. He wanted so badly to make a warm and friendly comment, but that was the best he could think of in the tense situation.

Artifice shook his head, but continued looking at the ceiling. “It’s difficult to explain. First there was numbness, and then everything went black. Then, I felt like I was moving backwards through a dark tunnel. The next thing I knew, I was inside of a funeral capsule with no way out. The details are fuzzy at best.”

“I can’t imagine what that must’ve been like. How did you get out?” Waitstate asked.

“I used my spare missiles; all of them. Took quite a bit of damage.” Artifice paused for a moment to reflect. “I spent the next few weeks trying to acquire replacement parts and a shuttle. It’s an especially taxing task when you’ve just blown yourself to bits, heh.”

Waitstate let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “So that’s why the medical crew found different parts when they scanned you” Waitstate concluded.

Artifice chuckled. “Yeah. I always manage to find my way out of any situation I don’t want to be in. Now with death conquered, what’s next?”

Waitstate smiled. “Who can say?

“Primus only knows” Artifice said.

Waitstate stood up. “I’ll be on the bridge if you figure it out though.” Waitstate looked back over his shoulder on last time to make sure Artifice was okay.

Artifice smiled as Waitstate left his quarters.

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Lifeblood sat in the med bay reading over charts of various LONAC members when Waitstate walked in.

Restore walked up to greet him. “You in for a check up boss?”

Waitstate shook his head. “No, I came to look over Artifice’s charts.”

“Okay, but like I said, there was nothing out of the ordinary,” Restore replied. “Lifeblood, patch him into the system”

“Will do” Lifeblood said as he touched a few buttons on his console.

Waitstate sat down at another console as Restore went back to her work.

“How is Artifice?” Restore asked.

Waitstate shrugged. “He seems to be having a bit of trouble re-adjusting to the crew. His recent ordeals have really shaken him up. I think all he needs is a little time to sort it out in his head.”

Restore was a bit disappointed. “Some of the crew members seem less than happy about him now. Uncontrolled outbursts seem just as out of place as his death. He didn’t tell you anything that could help us?”

“Not really. We talked about a few things, including a vague recollection of how he made his way back here,” Waitstate replied. “You locked him up in that capsule pretty well it seems.” Normally he would have turned to give Restore a smile just so she would know he was just offering a bit of levity, but he was very focused on finding anything he could in Artifice’s medical file.

Restore gave Waitstate a confused look. “I wasn’t the one who sealed the capsule.”

“It doesn’t really matter if you did it or one of the others did; the point is he was locked up pretty good” Waitstate replied, almost scornfully.

“I know what you mean,” Restore told him. “I was going to have Welder seal it, but I couldn’t find the capsule. After you came back to the ship I went to tell you. When I saw standing by the capsule giving the eulogy, I assumed you had sealed the capsule yourself. It wasn't me or any of the medical crew.”

“I found the capsule sitting in the docking bay. It was already prepared for the funeral. I thought for sure-” Waitstate stopped for a moment.

“What could this mean?” Restore asked.

“I wish I knew.” Waitstate stood up. “I’m going to go over the ship’s logs before I decide what I’m going to do with Artifice though.”

“Perhaps you should lock him in the brig until you know what’s going on” Lifeblood suggested.

Waitstate raised his hand. “That won’t be necessary. Despite everything that has happened, I still trust him.”

“Waitstate, I’ve known you for a while” Restore told him. “You can’t keep letting Artifice get away with his current behavior. The crew won’t stand for it much longer.”

“I know” Waitstate said solemnly. “I’ve got a plan though.”

“I sure hope it’s a good one” Restore said as she turned back towards another medical console.