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Tania followed thea blur of corridors interrupted by the occasional bulkhead

At Brooks’s direction, the teaet Zane transferred to a bed The doctor hooked up an IV to his aran a series of checks "Our equipment is basic," she explained as she held one of Zane’s eyelids open and flashed a light across his pupils "We may have to move him down to Belém, or move equipment up here"

"Whatever it takes," Tania said "Just tell me what you want to do"

"For now," she said, "let "

Despite a desire to stay, Tania read the wo she saas Brooks pressing her hands against Zane’s abdomen

The doctor looked worried

When the news came that Zane was in a coine any other explanation for his present condition The cause, however, remained unknown

Dr Brooks provided a list of equipment she needed, either installed on the station or accessible on the ground "I’ht not be a bad idea to have the infirreed and relayed the list to Karl He said he’d get the scavenger crews on it immediately With Skyler’s newfound aircraft available, they’d search nearby cities as well if the situation required it

Zane reradually focused on her duties again She still visited with hi, other days she would h Dr Brooks began to make ht never wake up If he’d suffered some kind of embolism, for example

Skyler’s crew suffered a series of failedto recover the equiph scan of Zane’s internals Despite herself, Tania began to wonder if there were any alternatives When a feeeks passed with no results she even began to consider going down to Belé the effort But then Karl and Skyler called her with the first good news in what seee

"We found it," Skyler said "Well, Ana did She deserves the credit"

"Please thank her for ht of it o We had a similar problem once, back in Darwin Someone needed parts for a very specific X-rayhospitals without luck Prumble and I had the idea to look for warehouses or distribution centers used by the manufacturer"

"That’s smart," Tania said

"Yeah, well, if only I’d reht the sa instead of the surgery wards Long story short, we’ve got the equipment you need Brand-new, factory sealed, never touched"

Tania wanted to hug hih the screen With that news she felt she could even embrace Ana "I’d love to thank her in person, next ti our job," Skyler replied

"When can you have it delivered?"

Karl spoke up then "It’s a big crate, very heavy, and all the way on the other side of town But we’ve got a tea it to Exodus You should have it in two or three days, Tania"

Tania’s patience was already stretched to the brink, and the wait that still remained felt even worse But true to Karl’s word, two days later the equipment arrived

Dr Brooks was unfamiliar with the specific machine they’d fetched, and anyway she’d only been trained how to use such an instruineers and technicians were pulled off other duties At one point Dr Brooks had to ask Tania to leave them alone so they could work

"I’m fine," Tania said "I’ll help in any way I can"

"You’re hovering," the doctor said "Second-guessing Pestering"

Tania stared at the woht about it God I hate it when people do that to me Hover, watch over my shoulder"

"Exactly," Brooks said "Attend to your other duties; we’re working on this as fast as we can"

"I know You’re right" She took a ize to anyone she could find Then she left and forced herself to find other things to do

Another teeks ground by before Dr Brooks called awith Tania, Tim, and a few others Karl was added via the coood news," she opened with

Tania’s heart sank Zane had been in a co now, she didn’t think there would be ood news, but to hear it from the doctor served to slath of the scans they’d done, and the diagnosis Tania listened but heard little of it Instead she kept replaying Zane’s collapse at that dinner He’d been so vibrant just the day before

"… ruptured in his brain, here …"

Tania thought back to her childhood Where Neil had always doted on her like a father, Zane had beento come down to her level He played with her as if he were the sae, on the occasions that he would visit

"… His comatose state may be permanent…"

It was foolish to pretend she’d known the man well Zane had always been the quiet brother, content to avoid the li some appearance related to a Platz charity, Zane hardly ever had his name in the news

What impressed Tania the e ofshe’d heard about him before that would have led her to think he would even take part in such an endeavor She would have guessed theBut the bond Zane had shared with Neil seeh alone to drive him Tania could relate Perhaps that’s why he and I have such a natural friendship

"… We an failure…"