Space Plague Read Online Free Page A

room.
    Silently, John watched as the medical droids worked on Kaal. More metal arms emerged from their robotic bodies, each dividing into dozens of smaller fingers, some carrying medical equipment that John didn’t recognize. The Meteor Medics expertly turned Kaal onto his back. John winced as one of the robots began injecting probes into Kaal’s glowing skin. Another Meteor Medic ran a pulsing blue light over his friend’s unconscious form.
    Kaal jerked. His eyes half-opened before closing again almost instantly.
    “What are they doing?” John shouted, trying to get through the mass of droids. “Zepp, they’re hurting him.”
    “John, stay calm,” Zepp said sternly. “They’re not hurting him. What you saw is a reaction to the Total Scan. The Meteor Medics are collecting information from every part of Kaal’s body down to a cellular level. It will only take a few moments.”
    “ AnalySing, analySing ...” droned one of the Meteor Medics in a flat, toneless voice. “ Results confirmed .”
    The blue flashing lights turned red. John felt a shiver of fear run down his back.
    “ Urgent action required ,” said the robot. “ Quarantine patient. Disinfect dormitory immediately .”
    “What’s happening?” shouted John, as another Meteor Medic hurried into the room, a floating hover stretcher close behind.
    None of the droids answered him. Their spindly arms quickly lifted Kaal out of bed and onto the stretcher.
    “ACTIVATE FORCE FIELD.”
    A glowing blue dome appeared over the stretcher.
    “INFECTION CONTAINED.”
    The Meteor Medics began carrying the stretcher out through the door.
    “Please, tell me what’s happening,” John yelled desperately, trying to follow. “Where are you taking him? What’s wrong with Kaal?”
    A Meteor Medic blocked his path, laying long metal digits on his chest to stop him. “ John Riley, have you been in close contact with the patient ?” it asked, ignoring his questions.
    “What? I don’t understand what’s going on here.”
    “ Have you touched the patient ?”
    John tried to push the droid to one side. “I just want to see my mate!” he shouted. “Let me through.”
    Zepp’s voice cut in. “John Riley has been in close contact with the patient,” the computer confirmed. “He touched his shoulder a few moments ago.”
    Flashing a red light, the medic said, “ John Riley, report to the medical wing immediately. You and your roommate have been exposed to Zhaldarian Flu. ”

Chapter 4
    Laying back on a silver examination table wearing only his underwear, John looked up into the enormous black eyes of Dr Kasaria, the chief of Hyperspace High’s medical wing. “What is going on?” he asked. Goosebumps prickled across his skin where it touched the cold metal.
    “Please be quiet and open your mouth wide,” said the metallic-skinned woman in a curiously high voice. “I do not have time for questions.”
    “But—”
    “Open wide.”
    John did as he was told. The doctor peered down his throat and then ran a small machine up and down his body. More goosebumps tingled wherever it passed.
    “You’re lucky. You show no sign of infection,” Dr Kasaria said briskly. “Zhaldarian Flu is extremely contagious. Report back here if you feel in the slightest bit unwell. In the meantime, please walk through the disinfectant field, get dressed, and return to school.”
    “But what about Kaal?” John asked.
    Dr Kasaria’s face softened. “Your friend is in good hands,” she said quietly. “The ship has excellent medical facilities, and I will do everything I can for him.”
    “He’s going to get better, though, right?”
    “As I said, I will do everything I can for him,” the doctor repeated. “Now, I believe you have an exam starting in ten minutes, and I must treat my patient.”
    John started to protest but closed his mouth. He didn’t want to waste Dr Kasaria’s time when she could be looking after Kaal. Slipping off the examination table, he followed