Eden was exiting her accommodations just as Luke emerged from his room. He wasn ’t at all surprised to see her head toward Eli ’s quarters. He figured Eli would want her second there, so he was a little alarmed when she scowled at him.
“Luke? Is there a problem?”
“I ’m not sure,” he said honestly. “I ’ve got something to show Eli. Didn ’t she call you about it?”
“No, but I ’m here, so....” She reached out and rang the chime, not surprised when it opened almost immediately. Eli stood on the other side dressed and coherent if not particularly bright eyed and bushy tailed. She frowned when she saw Eden standing beside Luke, but simply motioned them inside.
“Come in, please,” she invited and gestured them to sit. “Arianna is still asleep.” She looked at Luke. “What have you got for me?”
Luke extended the Pad. “Danny brought this to me earlier... just before he went to rest. I thought you should be aware.”
Eli accepted the Pad and read over the contents silently. Then she arched an eyebrow in Luke ’s direction. “Has this been confirmed by anyone else?”
“I don ’t think so. No one has said anything to me at any rate,” Luke admitted. “I think Danny brought it to me as soon as he had done his own double check.”
Eli sighed. “I can ’t spare you from our other research.”
“I know. But Titus or Hannah could verify.”
Eli pinched her bottom lip between her fingers before she nodded. “Thanks, Luke. I ’ll make sure Danny gets his Pad back. You should get some more rest.”
“Unlikely. Danny scared the fear into me when he woke me and then he gave me an infuser. I ’ve got a few good hours left; I ’m going to go work in the lab for a while. Maybe having focused on something else for a while will give me a fresh look at things.”
“I ’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Don ’t rush on my account, Boss. I know you ’ve got other things going on as well. I ’ll let you know if I have any kind of breakthrough.”
“Thanks, Luke,” Eli offered as she ushered him to the door. Then she turned back to the still silent Eden. “Talk to me, Eden.”
“Tell me what Luke brought you.”
“You don ’t know?”
Eden gave Eli a sardonic look. “Would I have asked if I did? I thought I came for something else, but I ’m starting to think it might all be related.”
“Why?”
Eden repeated Abigail ’s concerns and without a word Eli passed over Danny ’s Pad. Eden scrolled through the research and then raised her eyes to meet Eli ’s. “I ’ll have both Hannah and Titus run tests independently of each other. It shouldn ’t take them too long to confirm Danny ’s findings. You need to be thinking about what we ’re going to do, Boss, because even if you put it to a vote, it ’s ultimately going to be your decision.” Eden held up a hand when Eli started to retort. “We can ’t do everything by committee. This is going to need to be a warrior ’s decision and you ’re the best among us. I can advise you, but you ’ve been trained for this sort of situation.”
“Theoretically, anyway,” wryly. “I ’ve never led inexperienced troops before, Eden – not like this. Oh the perks of being the Head Idiot in Charge.”
“Huh?”
Eli snorted. “Just something Ms... Mary said to me.”
“She called you an idiot??”
“No. She was talking about herself, but it was apropos for me as well. All right – go tell Hannah and Titus to run their own checks and have them bring the results to me in the lab.”
“You don ’t think that should wait?”
“I don ’t think we can afford to. As much as I need you back to full strength and health, we also can ’t risk not finding an antidote that can be utilized by the rest were we to encounter it again by some chance.” She held up a hand and Eden nodded for Eli to finish. “The toxin is out there. We can ’t just assume we won ’t run into it again somewhere; we don ’t know where it originated or who has access to it. And I don ’t think everyone else would be able to shake off those kind of effects on their own as well as you have.”
Black eyes widened in horror. “That ’s....” knowing how frustrated she was with her slow recovery.
“Exactly. I hope I ’m misjudging things and erring on the side of caution, but we can ’t afford to risk the possibility that the readings Danny has gotten aren ’t from something that would do us harm.”
Eden pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “You know, I expected challenges on this project. But I honestly didn ’t think they ’d start this early into the mission.”
Eli snorted. “I think we ’re lucky to have had even a little while to settle in before something like this came up. At least we should have the advantage of surprise. Between that, the cloak and the decoys....”
“It never hurts to hope, I guess. Let me get out of here and get Titus and Hannah started on those tests,” waving Danny ’s Pad before she rose. “You want me to return this?”
“No. You ’ll be in your rest cycle when Danny returns to duty. Leave it with me. And I ’ll talk to Abigail.” Eli stood and walked with Eden to the door. “You go get some rest. Doctor ’s orders.”
Eden nodded reluctantly. “Thanks, Boss. You ’ll keep me informed?”
“I will. Now talk to Titus and Hannah, then go to bed.”
“Will do. Night, Boss.”
“Goodnight, Eden.”
Chapter VIII
“Hey, Boss?” Luke called across the lab with a hint of excitement in his voice. Eli ’s head popped up and she met his eyes. Luke grinned and nodded. “I think we may have something.”
“Really?” she asked even as she moved toward him. He motioned her to his viewer and stepped aside to allow her to see what had initiated his enthusiasm.
“Yes. We were on the right track and your idea to adjust the intensity of the serum was correct.”
“Excellent – good work, Luke! Keep changing the formula by millimeter increments. This isn ’t exact yet, but it ’s close... very close.”
“You ’ve got it, Boss. It ’s so great to finally be making progress, and this? This is huge.” His grin was big enough to light up the room and Eli smiled as she nodded her agreement as she moved away from his workstation and back toward her own. There was still work to do.
“It is, and it ’s a weight from my back.”
“I know... mine too. It really kind of craps all over everything that there are beings that create things like this. What is wrong with humanoids anyway?”
Eli shook her head. “I don ’t know. And if it had been anyone but Eden, I ’m not certain they would have survived long enough for us to discover an antidote... even someone Isaac ’s size. And if it had been Arianna....” She swallowed hard and clenched her hands together tightly.
“Yeah – let ’s not think about that, Boss. It wasn ’t, and we ’ve almost solved this puzzle. Are you going to tell Eden the news?”
“As soon as she wakes up. Maybe by then we ’ll actually have the formula perfected and can introduce it into her bloodstream immediately. I have the distinct feeling that it is apt to require some serious recovery time once it begins its journey through her body. It ’s going to be quite strenuous on Eden ’s systems initially and I ’d prefer to make this as painless as possible. Might as well let her rest until we have the exact formula or she wakes in her own.”
“At least we know to be aware to look for signs of a pathogen if something like this occurs again.”
“Yes, but sweet gods, I hope it doesn ’t.”
“Me too, Boss,” Luke agreed as he turned back to his work and began adjusting the serum increments. “I ’d much rather be trying to figure out how to make those plastic meals more palatable.”
Eli snickered. “Yes, I ’ve heard more than one grumble about those pre-packaged military meals now that we ’re out of fresh food for a while. I ’m having milk withdrawals myself. Some things just aren ’t the same without it,” she mourned.
Luke cut his eyes at her. “Agreed. Although I have to confess – as much as I miss the fresh tastes of my home world and those we grew accustomed to during our time as candidates, those military meals aren ’t horrible... certainly not the worst thing I ’ve had to eat and call food.”
Eli laughed. “Me either. Warrior training was quick to teach that lesson.”
Luke nodded. “Medical survival training for me.” He scrunched up his face in memory. “I ’d rather eat the plastic,” causing Eli to laugh again.
“And at least we brought plenty of spices with us.”
“Yes, I ’m hoping they last long enough for us to get settled and the herbs planted in the larger conservatory. Because walking through the solarium at the moment, while a heady experience, tends to overwhelm one pretty quickly.”
Before Eli could respond, her comm unit chirped. “Boss, this is Titus and Hannah. Over.”
She motioned to Luke who just nodded his head and refocused his entire attention on his work. Eli stepped into her office. “Go ahead. Over.”
“Boss, we ’ve finished the assignment Eden gave us.”
Eli took a deep breath, unable to read anything in Titus ’ tone. “Very good. Please report to my office in the med lab with your results. Over.”
“On our way. Out.”
************
“So you don ’t think there ’s a living society there?” Eli asked Titus and Hannah once they were done giving her their information and conclusions.
“No,” Hannah said instantly. “At least I don ’t. I think it ’s an echo community.”
“An echo community?”
Titus glared at Hannah and she shrugged and nodded. “Yeah. We believe it to be a reflection of a culture – though whether it ’s the civilization that built the things our sensors are reading or if it ’s someone else entirely, we can ’t say. We can ’t even be sure it ’s not simply reflecting us and our energy back to us at this point.”
“Are the energy levels commensurate to our output?”
“Almost double actually,” Hannah supplied. “That ’s the only thing we ’ve been able to get a steady read on. The energy stream seems incredibly stable... especially considering the ionization and magnetic storms of the nebula that are surrounding the planet.”
“Is the nebula still moving?”
“Not significantly enough for us to notice, but I honestly wasn ’t looking at the nebula,” Titus confessed. “I was focused on the planet.”
“Me too,” Hannah agreed. “We can go back and look....”
“Aren ’t you supposed to be off now?” Eli asked kindly.
“Hannah is; I ’m not,” Titus supplied.
“But I don ’t mind staying on a little longer to finish this assignment, Boss.” Hannah held up a hand before Eli could argue. “It ’s what you ’d do. Please don ’t ask us to do less.”
Eli blew out a breath. “All right. Thank you both. If you could take a look at the nebula and let me know when you have an answer....”
“Will do,” they assured her before they stood and exited her office. Eli leaned back in her chair and rubbed her hands over tired eyes, smiling when warm hands landed on her shoulders.
“Hello, Angel,” she whispered. “Where did you come from?”
“Are you glad to see me?”
“Always,” Eli replied, dropping her hands from her face and tilting her head back to meet Arianna ’s brown eyes. “So what brings you to my lair?” asked with a smile.
“You,” Arianna offered with a smile. “What else? I came to see if you had time to share a meal with me. Luke called to let me know you were taking a short break.”
Eli smiled and brought Arianna ’s hands to her lips and kissed them. “That sounds wonderful,” as she stood and turned so they were face to face. “Did he tell you he made a breakthrough earlier?”
“No, he told me the two of you had made a breakthrough based on your idea.” Eli started to roll her eyes, but Arianna placed a gentle touch on her arm and shook her head. “Don ’t, Amado – please don ’t discount your contributions to the successes we have. We ’re a team, remember? And you ’re a very integral, important part of that.” She raised a fingertip to soft, green lips. “Might Luke have found the answer on his own? Maybe,” she shrugged. “But the fact is that you helped guide his thoughts to a faster conclusion. Rejoice and be glad that you ’re surrounded by brilliant company... yourself included.”
Eli removed Arianna ’s finger from her lips and entwined their hands together. “You ’re pretty smart.”
Arianna snickered. “I ’ve heard that before, but it ’s nice to know you think so. Now can we go get some dinner?” she asked as she tugged them toward the door of the infirmary. “Paul mentioned some combination of seasonings I would like to try on tonight ’s meal selection envelope. Besides, Gay promised to show me that stretching technique again.”
Eli frowned and pulled them to a stop. “Are you in pain again?
“A little,” Arianna agreed reluctantly. “I think it ’s from staying in one position for so long while we assembled the decoy torpedoes. Everything freezes up and it goes right to my spine.”
“And your head?”
“There too.”
Eli studied her a moment. “Do you want something...?”
“No, Amado. It ’s not debilitating... just uncomfortable. I ’d like to try Gay ’s method first – save the good stuff for when we really need it,” she added with a smile as she started them moving slowly forward again.
“And hope we never do,” Eli commented seriously, causing Arianna ’s expression to change.
“You ’re worried?”
“I am,” Eli sighed. “This,” gesturing vaguely toward the bulkhead. “The nebula and that whole.... It ’s all so far beyond anything we trained for. We didn ’t train for combat beyond basic self-defense. And the ship is not equipped for fighting.”
“And you expect to find a fight there?”
“I expect trouble,” Eli replied frankly. “What form that trouble takes...?” She shook her head. “The possibilities are vast. I ’m expecting the worst and hoping for the best. That ’s all I can do until we have a clearer idea of what we ’re facing.”
“So Titus ’ and Hannah ’s scans...?”
“ ... were inconclusive. We still don ’t know from where the readings originate. Hannah and Titus presented the theory that they ’re an echo or a reflection of something – directed out into space by the technology signatures Danny initially discovered. But we still don ’t know where the energy readings are coming from.”
“Your head should hurt worse than mine,” Arianna muttered, rubbing her temple lightly. “No wonder you ’re not sleeping like you should or resting when you do.”
“Am I keeping you awake?” Eli asked in concern, but before Arianna could reply, they reached the mess hall. It wasn ’t strictly necessary that they share their meals together with the remainder f the team – after all, each of their housing accommodations included a tiny kitchenette area. But they had learned to eat together in the desert compound as a matter of survival, and that had continued throughout the interview process to help maintain their sanity. No one saw a reason to discontinue one of their revered social traditions, and they all greeted Eli and Arianna as they crossed the threshold. Naomi passed two packets to them.
“Noodles for Eli and pasta for you, right?” she asked as Arianna nodded.
“Yes. Thank you, Mimi. Now I just need to find the spice blend Paul....” She trailed off when Paul hefted it up in front of her. She opened her hands and he lobbed it gently enough that she caught it without hesitation – quite a feat for someone who at one time had been completely non-athletically inclined. Her proud smile was blinding and Eli simply leaned forward and kissed her head without comment. “Thank you, Paul. I can ’t wait to try it.”
“Just remember – a little goes a long way unless you ’re accustomed to very spicy food.”
“Oh I think I can handle this.”
“Trust me, Girlfriend,” Esther said as she wiped the tears from her eyes as she fanned her face. “Go slow and easy with this stuff. It will burn your face off.”
Arianna ’s eyes widened and she nodded slowly. “Duly noted, Esther. Thanks.”
“Yeah – I ’m totally missing milk right now. A trick Simon showed me in the desert,” she added in response to their confused expressions. “The best thing I ’ve ever used for cooling the heat of spice.”
“Are you going to be all right, Es?” Eli asked with a concerned hand on her shoulder. Her eyes were still watering and there was a slight flush that was visible on her cheeks and mouth despite her almost black skin tone.
Esther reached back and patted Eli ’s hand. “I ’ll be fine,” she promised. “One of these days I ’ll learn to go slow. Until then, I ’ll just have very clear breathing passages. Pretty sure I could breathe through my ears at this point,” she muttered, garnering laughter from around the room. Eli squeezed her shoulder before releasing it and taking her seat next to Arianna.
“If you ’re sure. You know where to find me if anything changes.”
“Yeah, thanks. And can I say how nice it is to be done putting all that stuff away. Honestly... I never realized just how much.... No wonder you ’re good at this leadership and organizational thing, Boss. That med bay is full of so many tiny little components. Sure explains a lot.”
“Yeah, I know Eden thought I was a little bit crazy when I told her how much space I needed for the infirmary itself... beyond the living sciences lab.”
“Speaking of,” Abigail spoke up. “How ’s she doing?”
“I ’m all right,” came a sleepy voice from the door. Eli frowned. Eden wasn ’t supposed to be on duty for another four hours. Eden cocked an eyebrow at her. “It ’s okay, Boss. I slept good for a while, but when I got up for a bio break, I could smell dinner. And I wanted to come down and share....” She made a face as she held up the packet she had grabbed before seating herself across from Eli and Arianna. “Um... conversation with everyone.” Smiling when everyone laughed. “It ’s been a while and I ’ve missed it.”
“Fair enough,” Eli conceded. “And maybe after today, we can get you back on a normal schedule like everyone else so you don ’t miss out as much.”
“Eli?” her tone hopeful. Then black eyes watered when Eli grinned and nodded.
“Luke found the antidote earlier today. The last batch is cycling through as we speak – it should be ready by the time your allotted rest period is complete.”
Eden jumped up and moved swiftly around the table, scooping Eli up in a hug despite her squawking protest. “Thank you, Eli.”
Eli returned the embrace as best she could considering their awkward positioning. “You may want to save some of this for Luke. After all....”
“After all,” Eden whispered in her ear. “He had you beside him. I know it was a joint effort, Eli,” pulling back with a kiss to her cheek to witness the green skin flush darker and the eyes to twinkle.
“Yes, well you don ’t know the specifics of the cure yet.”
“Don ’t care,” Eden confirmed with a hint of petulance. “I ’m tired of feeling tired and weak all the time. I ’m ready to get back my awesome self again.”
“Are we ready for that?” Danny asked with a smile, chuckling nervously when Eden cut a glare in his direction. “Kidding,” he assured her. “It ’ll be nice to have you back to your normal. I almost miss the scent of your coffee in the mornings,” he teased.
“You ’re just jealous,” she growled at him, but he could see the slight smirk on her lips.
“Yes, that ’s it exactly,” he agreed without malice. “Now if you will all excuse me, I need relieve Isaac at the helm.” Then he stood and walked out the door without looking back.
“So tell me about this treatment process,” Eden said as she resumed her seat across from Eli. “And don ’t think of prevaricating – I know there is going to be some kind of process involved in this antidote... given how impossibly difficult it was to find in the first flipping place.”
“Is there anything we can do to make it easier?” Abigail asked when Eli finished explaining the entire procedure to the entire room.
“I don ’t think so, Gay. It ’s just going to take time and patience.”
“And plenty of serum.”
Eli smiled and nodded. “That too.”
“If you need us....”
“I know. And it ’s appreciated.”
Abigail shrugged. “We ’re family, right? That ’s what families do.” She rose and crossed to press a kiss to Eden ’s head. “I ’m glad you ’re going to be better, Eden,” then she left the room without another word. Before anyone else could comment, Jake rushed into the room and wrapped his arms round Eden.
“Is it true? The Boss and Luke have found a way to fix you up?”
“It ’s true,” she assured him with a grin and watery eyes.
“Awesome, Babe!” He turned to Eli. “Thanks, Boss!”
“Make sure you thank Luke,” she instructed. “But you ’re welcome. No one is happier about this development than I am... except maybe Eden. Now if you ’ll excuse us,” reaching for Arianna ’s hand, “I ’m going to go relax for an hour or two before we start the treatment. Eden, I ’ll call you as soon as the remedy is ready. Please try to rest between now and then – it ’s going to put a lot of stress on your body to begin with and the more relaxed you are, the better, all right?”
“You got it, Boss. Thanks!”
Eli nodded then she and Arianna slipped from the mess hall and down the hall to their quarters.
Chapter IX
Just before they could enter the code into the lock, Isaac called out from the other end of the passageway. “Hey, Doc! You got a minute?”
Eli closed her eyes and sighed. “Go ahead, Angel. I ’ll join you as quickly as I can.” Then she turned to face Isaac. “Of course, Isaac. What can I do for you?” He reached them and caught the slight frown Arianna wore before she entered the room. He took a moment to really look at Eli like Paul had been coaching him and recognized the exhaustion clear in her eyes. “Isaac?” her words drawing him out of his brown study. She had tilted her head in question and was giving him the tiniest hint of a smile. He blushed and shook his head.
“Sorry, Doc. I was just... I ’m learning.... Nevermind - that doesn ’t matter right now. I was um... I was wondering if... when are you gonna be in the infirmary again? I mean, can I come see you when you are?”
“Certainly, Isaac... of course. Are you all right?”
“I think so. I just have a couple of concerns. I think it ’s just my body trying to adjust to the stress of space travel because it ’s been nothing like I expected. I wanna make sure it ’s nothing serious.”
“Fair enough. If you ’re comfortable waiting, I ’ll be back in the med bay in about four standard, but I ’ll be busy for at least the first hour. Would you like to come by after that?”
Isaac scratched his head. “Can you just let me know when you ’re ready for me? I might be sleeping, but I ’ll still be there.”
“Of course. You ’re certain you ’re all right with waiting?”
“Yep. Thanks, Eli,” he said giving her a salute and a smile as he executed a turn and headed into the mess hall.
Eli watched him disappear so she was taken completely by surprise when the door slid open and two small hands reached out and pulled her into her quarters. Her squawk was cut off by a pair of soft lips, but she immediately fell into the kiss, wrapping her arms around Arianna ’s waist as the hands that had been clenching her clothing slid into her hair. After a long moment, they separated and Eli grinned dazedly at Arianna. “Hello, Angel.”
“Come, Amado. It ’s time for rest.”
“But....”
“I want as much as you do, my mate,” the term drawing a silly grin from Eli and causing Arianna to kiss her nose. “But you need some sleep first. Once Eden is back to full health, you ’ll be able to return to a normal schedule and we ’ll have time for more than just kissing.”
“Promise?”
“Guaranteed. I wouldn ’t say no now if you didn ’t look as though you could fall asleep standing up.”
“I ’ve done that before,” Eli commented as she dug her fingers into the knots along the base of Arianna ’s spine, not surprised when her forehead fell forward into Eli ’s chest. “Feels like you have too.”
“No, but Holy Father, that feels wonderful.” Arianna let the massage continue for a minute before she pushed herself off of Eli ’s chest and reached around to catch her hands. Eli frowned and Arianna stood on tiptoe to brush a quick kiss on Eli ’s nose. “Come. I want to lay down with you for however long we have. I miss being in your arms.”
“I miss having you there,” squeezing the hand that was leading her to the bedroom. They kicked off their shoes and partially stripped before falling into bed together. “Ahhhh,” Eli sighed as they curled into one another. “This is so much better than sleeping standing up.”
Arianna brushed a kiss onto Eli ’s chest, then yawned. “I can only imagine. Goodnight, Amado.” The only response she got was slow, steady breathing.
************
It seemed like the blink of an eye, but Eli sat up and scrubbed her face when the computer awakened her. Arianna grumbled and pulled her pillow over her face. Eli chuckled and headed into the en suite. She knew she was facing another long stint in the lab and infirmary; she decided she ’d like to start her shift as clean and relaxed as she could manage. A glimpse in the mirror made her realize what a wise decision that was, and she was laughing quietly when she stepped under the sonic pulse.
She wasn ’t completely surprised when a pair of warm, tanned arms encircled her middle from behind, but Eli chuckled when Arianna placed her head between her shoulder blades and rested her naked weight more fully into Eli ’s nude body. A sharp nip along her spine made Eli yelp.
“You bit me!”
Arianna nodded against her. “You were laughing at me. It ’s hard to be sexy and alluring when you ’re not even awake, you know. Being laughed at just makes it impossible.”
Eli grinned broadly, but did everything she could to restrain her laughter. Then she turned in Arianna ’s embrace and kissed her briefly, knowing they didn ’t have time for much more. “You ’re always sexy and alluring, Beloved. However, sometimes you ’re also funny. And on days that I ’m very lucky, you ’re all of the above together. And hopefully after today we can take a little more time together to investigate this facet of you more intimately.”
Arianna wrapped her arms around Eli ’s neck and grinned. “Any kind of intimate investigation between us is always welcome, Amado.” She pulled Eli ’s head down until their lips just met. “But first you need to go fix Eden.”
Eli claimed the mouth below hers passionately, robbing both of them of breath before she pulled back. She smiled at the dazed look Arianna sported, then kissed her forehead before removing the arms from around her neck. “I love you, Arianna,” she said as she stepped from the shower space and re-entered their bedroom. Arianna quickly followed.
“And I you, Elizabeth.” She nodded in approval when Eli exited the closet. “I do like that color on you.” Eli wore bright blue medical scrubs that complimented her light green skin and brought out the depth of green in her eyes. The blush caused by Arianna ’s words only deepened the contrast and she smiled. “Will you call me when you ’re done?”
Eli frowned. “Will you be on duty?”
Arianna shrugged. “Maybe. It ’s all running together a little bit at the moment. Even if I ’m sleeping, I ’d still like you to alert me when you ’re finished.”
“All right, Angel. I ’ll let you know. Now go back to bed. Just because my sleep cycle is out of control doesn ’t mean yours needs to be.”
Arianna smiled. “Hopefully we ’ll be out of control together soon. For now though,” taking Eli ’s hand and leading her to the door, “go make Eden better. Everyone will be glad about that.”
“Especially me,” Eli confirmed with a smile. “See you later?”
“Count on it.” Then with a brief kiss, Eli was out the door and headed back to the infirmary.
************
Eden was already stripped to her skivvies and ensconced in a biobed as Luke prepared the IV bags they would need to complete her treatment. Eden gave Eli the evil eye and shivered noticeably as she entered the room. Without a word, Eli crossed to the unit that contained the blankets and in only a moment had it warmed and covering Eden. Eli gave her a smile.
“Better?”
“Yeah... thanks. I ’d forgotten about how cold it gets in here before I let Luke strap my arms down.”
“Why didn ’t you say something? Luke could have stopped what he was doing for the thirty seconds it took to cover you up.”
Eden shook her head. “He was really focused on what he was doing... muttering to himself and everything. I knew you wouldn ’t be too much longer getting here and I didn ’t want to disturb whatever mojo he had going on there.”
Eli looked into Eden ’s eyes, noting the fear she could see lurking in the back of those expressive black eyes. “We ’re going to take good care of you, Eden. We went over and over this before we manufactured the antidote, and we checked the antidote once it had cycled through. We ’re not going to let anything happen to you... except make you better.”
Eden held Eli ’s eyes for a long moment, then nodded. “I know, Boss. I trust you.”
“Then close your eyes and relax. We ’ll make this as swift and painless as we can. When you wake up, you ’ll be better than new.”
Eden smirked as her eyes closed. “Not sure anyone is ready for that much fabulousness.” Eli laughed and shook her head, then pressed a dose of anesthesia into Eden ’s neck before she turned to make her way over to where Luke was doing a final check on the old-fashioned medical supplies Tom Morris had insisted they include for unforeseen emergencies. Eli sent up a brief prayer to her gods for a blessing on Dr. Morris. It took a special kind of healer to see the unforeseen.
“How ’s it going, Luke?”
He handed her his Pad. “The results are very promising. I just want to be sure this antiquated equipment will function the way it is designed to do. We wouldn ’t want this to cause us an issue in the middle of the procedure.” He lowered his voice. “I ’m sorry about the blanket, Boss. I didn ’t expect to be this long uncoiling the tubing. I didn ’t even think about....”
“I know. She ’ll be all right. We ’ll warm another blanket to put over her before we get started – heat it up an extra five degrees or so. She ’s already relaxed and sleeping so no harm done, okay?”
“Thanks, Boss. I ’ll speak to Eden when she ’s recovered.” He looked at their supplies and nodded. “I think we ’re ready to go.”
“All right then... let ’s do this.”
************
Setting up was very precise and methodical, but it didn ’t take long with two of them working in tandem. Then it was simply a matter of monitoring the situation vigilantly... especially as they were emptying Eden ’s blood from her body and running the antidote through her veins even as her blood was being cleansed by the serum as it passed through a machine Eli and Luke had created together. After watching the process for a few minutes, Eli looked at Luke.
“Can you handle this alone for a while?”
Luke ’s brows went into his hairline, but he nodded vigorously. “Yes, of course. Will you be nearby?”
“Yes. Isaac asked for a consult and I ’d like to see him as quickly as possible in case....”
“Call him. I ’m not moving and you ’ll be close if you ’re needed. Let me know if I can help.”
“You ’re doing the most important thing you can right now. Keep an eye on her pain levels – we don ’t want her to be uncomfortable and we don ’t want her waking up in the middle of this. Call me if she starts thrashing around.”
“You think she will... even with the restraints?”
“I was not making a joke when I said she ’d be better than new. When she heals from this,” motioning around the room, “she ’s going to be stronger and faster than she was before. Do you really want to risk it?”
“I see your point,” Luke said gravely. “Go call Isaac. I ’ll call you if anything here changes.” Eli nodded and moved to her office to contact Isaac.
************
Eli gestured Isaac to a chair in front of her desk as soon as he stepped across the threshold. He still looked half asleep as she had awakened him with her call. But he managed a smile for her as he dropped carelessly into the seat with a slight wince.
“You all right?” Eli asked with a smile. It was asked with genuine concern, but Isaac was still rumpled which made him a little funny looking. He scrubbed a hand over his face and yawned before nodding.
“Yeah. I tried not to fall asleep before you called, but um... yeah – you can see how well that worked out for me.” He gave her a wry smile.
Eli chuckled. “I completely understand, Isaac. I ’ve had days were I catch myself napping standing up – gods forbid I actually sit down for more than ten seconds. And trying to restart my brain...?” She shook her head. “It ’s like trying to cold start an engine.” He grimaced and she laughed. “Exactly. So see? I do get it. However, you didn ’t ask to see me to hear about my strange sleep patterns. What can I do for you?”
Isaac sighed. “I think I need a check-up. My body hurts... like really aches, you know? At first I thought maybe I ’d been infected by something in all that last minute moving around we did, but it never got worse, and the timing....” He shook his head. “And it hasn ’t gotten better. Then I thought it might be my body trying to adjust to space travel – you know because of our speed and the difference in gravity and things like that. But I don ’t know, Doc. I ’m not sure that ’s even viable.”
“Can you feel the speed of the ship and the difference in gravity?”
“Well, yeah. The gravity is noticeably different even from what we just left. It ’s all so much lighter than what I grew up with. But I had months to become accustomed to the lighter gravity – we actually integrated it into the training program on my world as soon as the project became a real possibility. Otherwise, we tended to walk too hard – shook a few rafters until we learned to tread lightly.”
“Oh wow – I never even considered that. But you don ’t think that ’s the problem?”
Isaac shook his head. “No. I ’m aware of the speed because that ’s what I ’ve trained my body to tune into; it ’s how I know if there are problems or fluxuations in the flow before something really bad happens. And the gravity thing – again... something I learned to interpret so I could walk without stomping... or launching myself. And the infection idea – well for one thing I don ’t see how it could have gotten past your scans and sensors. And for another....” He shook his head then met her eyes, his bright and alert. “The timing isn ’t there. I didn ’t start feeling like this until recently.”
“How recently?”
“The discovery of our proximity to the Nebula.”
Eli clamped her lips together, having anticipated this possibility. She held his eyes for a long moment before she blew out a breath and stood. She motioned him to rise and gestured him out of her office. “Come. I think an examination is in order.”
They stepped out into the facility and Isaac noted the bay where Luke was monitoring Eden. “How ’s she doing?”
“We ’re not quite halfway through the procedure,” Eli replied. “But I have high hopes.”
Isaac nodded. “I ’ll be glad when she ’s okay again. Eden ’s just not quite Eden if she ’s not a little bit scary. And don ’t you tell her I said that either,” he instructed sternly. “I don ’t want her taking advantage of the fact that she scares me just a little.”
Green eyes twinkled in merriment but Eli maintained a sober façade when she nodded. “You have my word.” Then she gestured him to a biobed. “Have a seat and let me take a look at you. Would you like the privacy screen raised?”
“No... unless you ’re gonna make me get naked or something.”
“Not at the moment. Let me do a few preliminary tests and we ’ll see where we need to go from there.” With that, Isaac took a seat and Eli started her cursory examination.
************
Eli gently removed the full syringe from Isaac ’s arm and wiped her hand over the intrusion mark, closing the hole without losing a drop of black blood. “There,” she said as she placed the sealed syringe on the tray behind her. “I ’ll take a look at this and see if something is causing this that we can correct.”
“But you don ’t think so,” Isaac stated flatly.
Eli shook her head. “I believe it has something to do with the frequency of our bodies versus the frequency output of the Nebula. It ’s not affecting everyone, but those it is affecting it ’s not affecting in the same way.”
“I don ’t understand.”
“I ’m not sure I do yet either. I just know a few of us seems to be experiencing different symptoms of discomfort while the rest appear to be completely unaffected.” She sighed. “Sorry... I ’m mostly just thinking out loud.”
“That ’s cool, Boss. I do the same thing. Kind of embarrassing when I get caught by someone I didn ’t even know was in the room with me,” Isaac said, dropping his head in embarrassment as he chuckled self-deprecatingly. “At least everyone here can understand the basics of what I ’m talking about when they catch me. Most people can ’t.”
“I know what you mean. Would you like something for the pain?”
“Not the good stuff, right?” he asked as he slid from the biobed and stood.
“Not the good stuff,” she promised. “Just something to help take the edge off and maybe help you sleep a little easier. I ’m not sure I can even do anything to make this better – that might require distance from the Nebula. But I do anticipate it taking a few days even if I can find a solution.”
“Then yes, please. I think the ache is making it hard to rest even when I do sleep, and the lack of sleep just makes the ache worse.”
Eli nodded and moved to a drawer. She loaded a cartridge into the injector and pushed the syringe into his neck, listening to the medicine hiss as it entered his system. She could see him relax almost immediately. “Take the rest of the day off. And come see me again if it gets worse. I ’ll let you know as soon as I have something.”
“Thanks, Doc!”
Eli watched him go, then picked up the vial with Isaac ’s blood. She would check with Luke on Eden ’s progress, then go into the lab and start running some tests. She had a feeling this was all going to get worse before it started to get better.
Chapter X
“How do you feel?” Eli asked Eden some hours later. Luke had continued to monitor Eden faithfully throughout the remainder of the procedure while Eli had checked in several times as a means of easing her frustration with her tests. Once the process was complete, Luke had offered to switch places with Eli, knowing Eden would want her to be present when she awakened. And as he so accurately pointed out, he might be able to see something she couldn ’t – bring a pair of fresh eyes to the problem.
“Don ’t forget, Boss,” he ’d reminded her gently, that ’s how we figured this out,” motioning to Eden. Eli had smiled and thanked him, then taken his seat on the stool beside the biobed. Luke took the hint and moved to the lab. Eli looked around at the monitors and nodded contentedly at what they told her.
It really wasn ’t that long before Eden started shifting and showing signs of waking up. Eli gentled her through the process and only now that she was fully cognizant did Eli begin thoroughly examining her, starting with asking Eden flat out how she was doing.
Eden blinked and considered the question. “Tired,” she replied honestly, “but better. I dunno if it ’s all in my mind, but it feels like a different kind of tired than before,” meeting Eli ’s eyes. “Like I ’ve actually been working hard instead of being mentally exhausted.”
Eli smiled as she continued her examination. “Probably because you have been working hard. As far as your body is concerned, you were fighting a major battle for the better part of the day – all of you was fighting, and a lot of the fight was against yourself.” She made some notes on her Pad. “I ’m going to put you on bed rest for another two days; it will give you a chance to recover. I want to re-evaluate you then. But I fully expect you to be returned to normal duty after that.”
“And coffee??
Eli chuckled. “And coffee,” she agreed. She raised the privacy shield. “Would you like some help getting dressed?”
“Honestly?” Eli nodded. “I ’d rather stay wrapped up in the blanket and get into a hover chair so you can take me to my room.”
“All right,” Eli agreed readily. “Let me call Luke.”
Eden narrowed her eyes. “You capitulated too easily. What ’s the hook?”
Eli shook her head. “Nothing. You ’re exhausted,” she pointed out reasonably. “We both know you ’ll rest better in your own quarters, and there ’s no reason for you to get dressed if you ’re actually going to follow the guidelines and use the hover chair. Would you like me to warm another blanket to place in the chair before we shift you over? It will be quite cold otherwise.”
“I ’d like that, Doc. Thanks.”
Eli nodded and dropped the privacy screen, then walked to the cabinet and retrieved another blanket. A word to Luke, and they returned to Eden ’s side together, lifting her from the biobed and placing her into the hover chair without a hitch. Eden ’s eyes were closed and her breathing slowing when they stepped back. Eli put a hand on her shoulder, and after a moment black eyes slowly opened.
“You okay?”
Eden grinned tiredly. “Who knew being moved like a baby was so draining? Let ’s go... before I fall asleep in this chair.”
Luke met Eli ’s eyes. “Go ahead, Boss. I ’ll stay here and clean up before we dim the lights for the night. If you need me....”
“Thanks, Luke.”
“Night, Boss. Night, Eden.”
************
“So how is she?” Arianna asked when Eli entered their quarters some time later. It had taken a little while to get Eden settled, and it hadn ’t helped that she didn ’t want anyone else to see her so weak. “I ’ve been weak and vulnerable in front of everyone for too long. I won ’t have them all pity me for not even being able to stand on my own two feet.” Eli knew it was a combination of factors that were making Eden so cranky, but it wasn ’t doing anything to mitigate her own anger and frustration. Still, she managed to get Eden settled and comfortably asleep without losing her temper. She bit her tongue now to keep from lashing out at Arianna. Instead she held up a hand.
“I ’m going to get cleaned up and then get something to eat. After that I promise to fill you in.”
Arianna studied Eli for a moment, seeing so much of what wasn ’t being said. She nodded. “Would you like me to go pick up our meals from the dining hall, or do you want to eat with everyone else?”
“I ’d love to be alone with you this.... What time is it anyway?” running a hand through her blonde hair.
Arianna smiled. “It doesn ’t matter. Go take your shower and relax. I ’ll have food waiting when you are finished.”
“I love you,” Eli said sincerely. “You do know that, right?”
“Of course,” Arianna assured her instantly, then frowned. “Why would you think otherwise?”
“Because I feel like I have been a horrible mate to you thus far. Everything but you has come first in my life.”
“That ’s not true. BUT... we will discuss this after your shower and our meal. Go... shoo.” Eli looked at her covered feet and then back at Arianna in confusion. Arianna laughed. “You never hear Mama say that? It means ‘get out of here... now ’ . So go... shoo. I ’ll be right back.” And with a wink, she headed out the door.
Eli watched her go and remained standing perfectly still for another full minute before glancing at her shoes again and shaking her head. Then she went into the bathroom and stripped down for her shower, groaning in relief when the pulses pounded into the knots on her back.
************
The shower was still running when Arianna reentered their living quarters and she was struck by the silence. As a musician, she tended to notice when there was music nearby, and though she didn ’t think Eli was aware of it, Eli tended to hum quietly to herself a lot – when she was working on something; when she was in a particularly good mood; when she was deep in thought. The only times Arianna had ever noticed reticence on Eli ’s part was when there was something wrong. For months Eli had been mute when she and Arianna were estranged, so the silence now did not bode well in Arianna ’s book.
She set the meal packets on the table and made her way into the bedroom and through into the bathroom. Only then did she understand the silence, and it made her smile. Eli was standing beneath the sonic pulse – her back to the showerhead and her forehead leaning against the opposite wall – sound asleep. Arianna just shook her head and stepped forward to wake Eli enough to move her to their bed. At her first touch, Eli startled awake, then looked around in confusion before her eyes settled on Arianna.
“Beloved?”
“Come, Amado. It ’s bedtime for healers and warriors.”
“I ’m a healer... and a warrior,” Eli offered dazedly as she accepted Arianna ’s hand and exited the shower cubicle.
“You are indeed. And you ’ve been fighting for a while so it ’s time for you to rest now. We ’ll eat after we sleep.”
“Sleep sounds wonderful. Are you sleeping with me?”
“I am,” Arianna confirmed as she stripped her clothes off and climbed into the bed. “Come, Warrior. We ’ll rest and then eat and then rest some more. Then we ’ll talk.”
Eli frowned even as she crawled into bed and curled her longer form around Arianna, tucking her head beneath Arianna ’s chin so she could listen to her heartbeat. “Am I in trouble?”
Arianna chuckled and brushed a kiss over the blonde head. “Only if you want to be, Love. Now close your eyes and go to sleep. I ’ll be here when you wake up.”
Eli ’s breathing evened out and she tucked herself tighter into Arianna. Arianna maneuvered the blankets up over them, then called for the lights to dim. It wasn ’t long before she fell into sleep as well.
************
Green eyes blinked open, noting there were lights on in the room and wondering when it was. She continued to blink slowly as she tried to gather her scattered wits, smiling as she recognized her body pillow as the real body of her mate. She shifted slowly, not wanting to disturb Arianna if she was still sleeping. Tanned arms tightened around her and Eli felt the smile against her hair. So she wasn ’t all that surprised to meet brown eyes when she shifted to look at Arianna ’s face.
“Hi,” she whispered, her voice more gravelly than usual and her mouth extremely dry.
“Welcome back, Stranger,” Arianna replied softly. “How do you feel?”
Eli yawned and stretched. “Rested,” she said with a touch of wonder in her voice. “And really thirsty.” She scowled. “How long was I...? What day is it anyway?”
“Relatively speaking?” Arianna asked with a smirk. “Let ’s just say you ’ve been sleeping for about twenty-six standard hours... all things considered.”
Eli blinked as she processed Arianna ’s words, then shot up to a sitting position where she could see Arianna ’s expression. “Excuse me?! What did you just say?”
Arianna reached for Eli, tugging gently until Eli relaxed back against her still mumbling under her breath. “Hush and I ’ll tell you.” Eli pinched her lips closed and nodded her head against Arianna ’s chest. Arianna smiled in response. “Do you remember tucking Eden into bed after her procedure?” Eli nodded. “Do you remember coming home?” Another nod, though this one was much slower and unsure. Eli waggled her hand and Arianna linked their hands together. “You fell asleep in the shower.” Eli sat up again with a frown; Arianna simply arched a brow at her. In a moment Eli reclined once more, squeezing the hand she still held. “I tucked us into bed, and we slept for almost thirteen standard. We got up long enough to eat and for me to let Luke and Eden know what was going on, then we came back to bed.”
“And slept for another thirteen hours?”
“Give or take,” Arianna replied as she glanced at their chronometer.
“Why Luke and Eden?”
Arianna smirked. “Luke to cover the infirmary and keep an eye on Eden; Eden because she ’s your second.”
“Good call,” Eli stated with a smirk of her own. “How ’s Eden doing?”
“Well since Luke didn ’t come running in here to wake you, I ’m going to assume she ’s doing all right.”
“You don ’t know?”
“Amado, aside from going to pick up our meal packets when you were in the shower, I haven ’t left the room since you walked in after Eden was settled. Even when I called them, I called from here in the bed. You were already curled up around me asleep again.”
“Oh... um.... Well, maybe we should get up and see what we ’ve missed?” Two stomachs growled in tandem and they looked at one another and giggled. “Or maybe we should eat first?”
“I have a suggestion.” Eli cocked an eyebrow and Arianna grinned. “What if we shower and then call a team meeting over....” She glanced at the chronometer again and tilted her head in thought. “Dinner, I think it is. It will give everyone a chance to see you really are okay and you a chance to catch up on whatever we missed for two days.”
“You ’re kind of brilliant, you know.”
“I know,” Arianna agreed without argument. “It ’s what makes me so charming.”
Eli laughed as she picked Arianna up in her arms and spun her around. Arianna closed her eyes and squealed. “And so modest,” Eli replied, laughing even louder when Arianna glared at her before bursting into loud laughter of her own. “Come, Beloved,” Eli said as she turned toward the en suite. “Let ’s have a shower and then we can see about joining our friends for evening meal.”
As she passed by outside their room, Hannah picked up their happiness in the outer range of her hearing and rushed to tell the others the news.
************
The shower didn ’t take long by mating standards though most cultures would have considered it indulgent in the extreme. But it was two tremendously happy and wonderfully relaxed individuals that headed to the mess hall some time later. They figured they would start eating and then call the rest to join them after the first pangs of hunger were sated. That way Eli would get the sustenance she needed and still be able to answer the questions they were sure would be asked.
So they were completely surprised and a little disappointed to find everyone waiting for them in the dining area... even those who should have been sleeping. Eli frowned and looked at Eden who was comfortably ensconced in a hover chair. “Um...?”
“Yeah, sleep didn ’t make you any more coherent, did it, Boss?” smirking as she said it and snorting when Eli crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “I figured you ’d want a team meeting to find out what happened while you were out. And of course we want to hear about that – why you were out, I mean.”
Eli held her gaze for a moment longer, then turned to Arianna. “Should I tell you how it concerns me that you and Eden seem to be in one another ’s heads?” Brown and black eyes widened in tandem and Arianna and Eden spared a glance at each other before shuddering dramatically. The entire room broke out into loud chortles and guffaws at the similar response. Arianna and Eden grinned wickedly; Eli just shook her head and moved to retrieve their meal packets. “How did you know?” she asked Eden as she started the heating process.
“That you ’d want a team meeting? Boss, please... I know how you like things. How did we know you were awake? Hannah was walking by your room and heard you two laughing; Gay confirmed. I guess when you woke up you were really broadcasting for a few minutes before she could shield against you.”
Eli turned to Abigail. “Sorry, Gay. I didn ’t even think....”
“Nor did I,” Abigail admitted. “I think it had something to do with your level of exhaustion.”
Eli took the packets and passed one to Arianna as she took the seat beside her. “How so?” She noted their conversation had the attention of everyone in the room and guessed this might be something they all needed to be aware of. After all, they had all worked hard to form the necessary mental boundaries so as not to overwhelm Abigail ’s senses or to depend on her to completely shut herself off from them emotionally to survive among them.
Abigail frowned. “Each of you has to some degree learned to shield yourselves – to not project your thoughts and feelings outside of your conscious heart and mind. So usually I don ’t hear anything more than an awareness from you. Even when something takes you by surprise and you have a loud mental reaction, it simply hits my barrier and bounces off. I ’m aware of it peripherally, but unless it ’s sustained for a length of time or you actually cry out for help or intervention, I just brush it off. But as your body grows more tired and your mind becomes fatigued, well... your walls weaken. I still have my barriers up, but each of you begins projecting as some point and I never know when it ’s going to happen so deflecting is harder and things do get by. Fortunately, most of you seem to get silly and find humor in everything.” She smiled.
“So why were you receiving me when I awakened? I was rested... more than I ’ve been in a while actually.”
“And it shows,” Abigail said as she reached out and lightly clasped Eli ’s hand for a moment. “But you were also very disoriented when you woke up so you were broadcasting – confusion, disbelief, dismay, relief and happiness. In rapid succession, I might add. When Hannah let us know you were awake, she said it was because she heard your laughter,” motioning between Eli and Arianna. “I was able to confirm what I felt from you briefly before you closed your walls again.”
“So you hear from all of us when we ’re exhausted?” Eden asked with a frown. She couldn ’t understand why Abigail hadn ’t shared this with them before... especially if it was interfering with her peace of mind.
Abigail nodded. “To some extent, yes. It ’s nothing that can be helped. It happened at home as well – and as I said, at least most of you just feel happy and playful.”
“So it ’s not always silliness?”
“No. Once in a while there is brooding or even blankness, but you guys are all much more pleasant than some of the things I ’ve felt from others when they reached that level of collapse. And your minds are all very strong, so it really takes a lot to breach that.” She looked right at Eli who had stiffened as the implication of her words had begun to sink in. Eli had been so tired for so long, she could only imagine the mental assault Abigail had suffered because of her. “This was actually the first clear transmission I ’ve gotten from you, Boss,” Abigail assured her in a lowered voice. “Your tolerance for exhaustion is astounding.”
“Warrior training,” Eli grumbled. “They kept us up for days on end for months at a time.”
“It made you amazingly strong,” Abigail declared quietly. “I have only encountered a few minds as strong as yours, and none who were not naturally born empaths.”
“You ’ll let me know if this situation ever becomes a problem for you?” Eli phrased it as a question, but Abigail recognized it for the directive it was.
“I will, Boss.” They turned to find the rest engaged in their own discussion in an effort to give them some privacy. Eli cleared her throat and brought all eyes back to her.
“So what have I missed?