anesthesia," she explained. "We have to be able
to tell if the cells are active. We'll have to paralyze your nervous
system so you can't move, and go in after the cells while you're
conscious. The pain will be unbelievable. It quite probably could kill
you."
10 "So I have a choice!" North sighed. "Endure the pain and perhaps
die, or spend the rest of my life in darkness." The Doctor nodded.
North took a deep breath. "Get on with it," he ordered.
11 The Doctor moved in some equipment. Some wires were attached to
North and he found himself rigid as the Doctor went to work as fast as
she could.
12 The world around North disappeared in a burning red blur. In his
office Morn jumped to his feet and screamed. "North!" he gasped, "What
in the Name of The Lords are they doing to him?"
13 Bright Star, who had been in the office, also jumped to his feet.
"Go!" Morn ordered, "Get a Security Team to the hospital! Something's
wrong with North! Find out what's going on!"
14 The startled Aide rushed to obey. Morn sat down and reached
for North with his mind. Fighting through the fire and the blur he
found North standing at the Threshold of a Doorway. A shimmering,
transparent curtain hung over the door, and a beautiful landscape with
a shining city in the distance could be seen. Peace, happiness and joy
radiated from the doorway, while darkness, pain and sorrow were on the
other side.
15 North reached out for the curtain and Morn seized him, hauling him
back. "NO, North! " he screamed, "NO! That's not for you! Not yet, not
for a long, long time! Come back! Hold on! It will only be a short time
more. Whatever it is will pass!"
16 Almost as he spoke Morn heard a woman's voice crying, "I've got
them! Good ones! Give him the injection!"
17 Almost instantly the blazing fire began to cool