The Treatment- Chapter 4

The Station was a simple two story building, but in noticeably better upkeep than the surrounding slum architecture. The walls were a gleaming white, a stark contrast with the dirty gray street below; it was as if a perfect building had fallen from the heavens and landed by chance in the Maze District. Next to the Station's entrance stood a sign that read "Eumenfield Medical Community Station" in bold lettering.

As Havaj approached the door, he hesitated, turning back to his three companions. He glanced back at the Station, pursing his lips in thought. He was about to say something, when suddenly he was afflicted with a dull, throbbing headache. He shivered and opened the door.

Inside, the station was already starting to get busy. It was teeming with Mikane's kin, that strange species that sets its alarm to 6:00 on a Sunday. The small flock of receptionists behind the front desk was tapping away at the keyboards, pausing on occasion to affect a smile at an incoming patient. Havaj's path was blocked by a short, worried-looking man struggling to keep pace with the long strides of a doctor. After they passed, Havaj's group made a beeline past the front desk to a hallway at the right. Each door lining the hallway was labeled with a group of letters; Havaj and Mikane went to the one labeled "G, H, I". Mikane waved to Jade and Symon as they went to two other rooms. "See you in a few," he said.

The lone attendant inside the room sat up straight as the brothers entered. "Names please," He said abruptly.

"Hesconnu, Mikane."

"Hesconnu, Havaj."

The attendant leaned forward, inspecting the names inked onto the ports above their collarbones. He gave a confirming nod. Opening a formidable black drawer, the attendant searched and pulled out two long white capsules. He handed one to each of the young men, who inspected the labels carefully. With one swift motion, Mikane pulled the cap off his capsule to reveal a short needle which he stuck into his port. Havaj did the same, but more slowly. For a few moments, they sat in silence, waiting. Soon, the effects of the drug cocktail began to manifest. Havaj felt it coursing though him like a river of pure life essence. This was his enemy, his reason for defacing the billboard, but he still could not resist the feeling of wholeness and vitality. His headache vanished.

They left the room, meeting back up with Jade and Symon. The mood-improving effects of the drugs were evident in both of them. "So, where are you guys headed now?" Jade asked.

"Back home, to finish sleeping," Havaj said.

"Oh come on, Havaj," Symon said, elbowing him. "Did you stick the needle in the wrong spot or something? I don't feel tired at all."

"You could barely stay awake on the way here, Symon. You'll feel like a zombie when the stuff wears off."

"That won't convince him," Jade said. "You know how much Symon loves zombies." Symon tilted his head sideways and staggered towards Havaj with his arms outstretched, growling. "No, you idiot," Jade said, laughing. "Zombies don't growl. They moan." Symon tried out a moan; Mikane said it sounded like a dying cow.

Havaj was the only one who wasn't laughing. "Hey buddy, what's the deal with you?" Symon asked him. "You look all serious."

Havaj sighed. "I've just been thinking," he said. "Every time I get my shot in the morning, I regret it. It just makes me feel... vulnerable. Like I have no control over my own body. Why can't they just let us stop when we want?"

Mikane folded his arms over his chest. "This again, Havaj?" He said. "I don't see why you're so adamantly against these shots. Our country has the best healthcare system in the world. I mean, just look at what they've done for me. Because of their miracle drugs, my diabetes doesn't even affect me."

"Then there's the immunity boost, too. We pretty much never get sick," Jade added.

"Right," Mikane said. "Why would you want to give that up?"

"Yeah," scoffed Symon. "I wish they could put something into your shot to make you stop whining."

Havaj gaped at Symon indignantly. "You... I thought you were on my side in this issue!" He said, his voice rising. "You helped me vandalize the billboard. Did you even believe in what you were writing?"

Symon took a step back from the harshness of his friend's voice. "Whoa, you really thought I was some kind of legit rebel?" He said. "That's just one of the things we do for fun. You know, 'Fight the power', that kind of stuff? Dude, I've known you since grade school and I've never seen you get this pissed about anything."

"Dammit, you just take everything for granted, don't you? 'I can do whatever I want.'", he said in a mockery of Symon's voice. "'It's okay to be addicted to a powerful drug.' 'A generous guy is going to pick me up off the street and give me a place to live.' 'The government is never going to use-"

Havaj stopped abruptly. He was about to continue, when suddenly his head began to spin. The room seemed to grow, twisting around him like a carnival mirror trick. He raised a hand to his forehead, reaching out to the wall with the other hand in an attempt to steady his balance. To his surprise, Symon was doing the same thing. The dizziness intensified, and was soon joined by a wave of pain surging throughout his body. His legs gave out. He thought he would go unconscious, but instead remained on the brink; he was just conscious enough to feel the burning agony.

Jade stared aghast at the two boys trembling on the ground. Mikane ran his fingers through his hair, staring solemnly into empty space. "I remember when I got my first warning," he said.