Harry's Sacrifice by Bianca D'Arc

the waiting is over.” Percival straightened a bit and appeared to take stock of the equipment still covering his lower body. “It will take a few hours for this stasis pod to complete the restart of my bodily functions. I suggest we wait until I’m out completely before we wake the big guy. I want to be able to help should something go wrong.”
    “You know that Dugan is dead.” Cormac said without a hint of tact.
    Percival smiled sadly. “He has been gone a very long time. I was with him on the psychic plane when he passed. His only regret was that he had not been able to last long enough to meet you, Harry, and see the rebirth of both races.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to know him. Was he the Oracle that sent you into stasis?”
    Percival smiled again. “Good guess, but it wasn’t just Dugan alone. There were many factors that went into this plan, but ultimately it was your many-times-great-granddad’s decision. I’m sure you’ll hear all about it when we get him out of the goo.”
    Harry understood why it was probably better to be certain Percival was completely okay before starting the awakening process on Hara, but it still nagged at his impatience. He’d come so far to start this ball rolling. The human race had suffered so much. Even the Alvians had lost their way so badly. The world needed Hara and the hope he would bring to both races. Harry didn’t want to wait any longer to bring the vision of Hara’s rising to fruition.
    “Stay cool, Harry,” Percival counseled. “You can be patient for just a while longer.”
    “You’re an empath?” Harry looked at the man skeptically.
    “I’ve got most of the same gifts you have, but probably a touch more empathy,” Percival confirmed. “Tell you what. The next part of the reanimation process is a bit gross, so why don’t you three go look around the crew compartment. There’s food in the galley. Have a bite. I’ll send a chime when I’m out and ready for help getting around. My legs will require a bit of rehabilitation before they’ll support my weight again. The tank sustains muscle tissue but nothing can replace movement and weight-bearing exercise.” Percival grimaced as the machine began to whir to life once more. Stage two was about to begin. “Roshin, why don’t you tell Harry and Cormac about your background while you eat? I think they’ll be very interested in exactly who and what you are. The time for secrets is over.”
    Ro’s eyes went wide, but she remained silent. Interesting. Percival had hit a nerve. Little Miss Innocent was hiding something, and Percival knew what it was.
    More noises issued from the machinery Percival was still hooked to and Harry wanted to be certain leaving him was the right thing to do.
    “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
    “I’m a physician. Who do you think designed this plan?” Percival shot Harry a chiding look.
    “There was only a one in three chance you would be woken first,” Cormac observed.
    “I didn’t say it was a perfect plan.” Percival squirmed a bit when something attached to the machinery that encased his legs began to pulse. “I figured if Hara woke first, he’d ask for me. Same with Dugan. Either way, I would have eventually been reanimated so I could help the others.”
    “But you’re very weak,” Ro spoke in her quiet way. “What if you should require assistance while we are eating?”
    “You will only be one compartment away,” Percival argued. He reached out and touched a control pad on the wall to his right. “There. I’ve set the com to alert you if I need assistance. Now, if you’ll please go. There are some things a man needs to do in private.”
    Harry didn’t like leaving him but understood. “We’ll be in the galley.”
    Percival didn’t answer as Harry shooed the others from the hall into the compartment next door. The lights came on as they entered and a gleaming white table and bench seating awaited them. Harry looked around,