Page 22 of LeX

Allof a sudden, she goes limp in my arms, andIhear, “I’mgoing to be sick.”

BeforeIcan move, she spews all that she has just eaten all over me and the floor.Eventhough the smell instantly turns my own stomach, it’s the specks of red blood covering her chin that worry me the most.Rushingher to the refreshing chamber,Iquickly start trying to clean her up, only for her to start vomiting again. “Talkto meCassandra, did the sustenance make you sick?”

“Ithurts.”Thatis allIhear as she bends over, holding her stomach as tears flow down her cheeks.JustasImanage to change her into something else, it starts all over again. “Destroyer, getLeXhere quickly.”

Loweringboth of us onto the floor,Ipull her into my lap, rocking her slowly as she grips her stomach so hard, she must be bruising herself. “Tryto breathe through the pain,Cassandra.”

“Hereit comes again,” she growls out.Liftingher small form,Igather her long locks in my hand as her body shakes uncontrollably and she dry heaves into the waste receptacle.

Ihear the outer door ding and then slide open. “Rafe?”

“Weare back here!”

LeX’shurried footsteps head our way, just asCassandraonce again starts to retch, but this time it’s nothing but blood.LeXis standing over my shoulder instantly.

“Holdon little female,Ihave just the thing to make you feel better.”

Iwatch as he lays his medical bag on the floor.Takinga suppressor needle, he injects the side of her neck with something.Sheis so weak she doesn’t even make a noise.Ifeel her body start to relax under my hands andIlean her back against me, just as a med bot starts cleaning the area around us.

“Howlong has this been going on?”

“LeX, it came on so suddenly.Shewas fighting theDestroyerone moment, then the next, this is what occurred.

“What?”

“Shethought theDestroyer’sholographic form was a ghost, whatever that is?”

TheDestroyer’snew form pops up in front of us. “ForgivemeMedicLeX, for not appearing to you as well.Becausemy appearance mirrored other female crew members,Ihad hoped to reassure her; however, she attacked me.Iwas truly worried for myself and her welfare.”

“Iforgive youDestiny.Bythe way, you are quite lovely in your new form.Iam sure you simply startled the female, and that she didn’t mean anything negative about you.”

LeXreaches out to put his hand onCassandra’sforehead and shakes his head. “Howare you feeling now?”

“Tired, andI’mcold all over.”

Standing,Ipick both of us up off the floor, cradling her close to my chest asIhead back to my sleeping platform.WhenIgo to put her down, she will not release the vestIhave on. “Please,Ionly feel better when you’re holding me.”

LeXfollows us into the room, reading something on his holo pad. “Thewithdrawals are weakening her system, soIwish there was a way to speed this up.Medbot tests on the fluids she evacuated reveal lower narcotic levels, but this doesn’t explain the blood.”

“Ithink the sustenanceIfixed for us was bad; the spores on the tubers may have caused this reaction.”

“Tobe safe,Ibelieve that theory requires additional testing.Wewill give her a moment to rest before moving her again.”Justas he is walking out of the room to give us some privacy, theDestroyerpops back in.

“MedicLeXandMasterRafe,Iwas told to inform you of the following once her blood tested at this level.SCOUTwas reviewing records fromEarthand some of the methods they used to force invasive drugs out of one’s system.Heprovided me with the chemical makeup, andIcould have the substance ready for you shortly, if you would like to proceed.However, there are a few drawbacks.Shewill be in extreme pain for several hours, but that may be manageable since right now your mate bond, even though one sided, is helping her.”

“Whatis the benefit of putting her through this,Destiny?”

“Withina rising, her system will be free of all the unwanted drugs, and the withdraws will stop altogether.Inother words, she will return to her drug free self.”

“LeXwhat do you think?”

“Mymate is not the one it is affecting.”

“Howmuch longer do you think it will take for her to fight this off on her own, naturally?”

“Itis hard to tell as her body has become accustomed to the drugs being in her system, and it could permanently change her the longer it takes.Theblood you just saw is proof of the effects it is having on her internally.It’seating away at the lining in her stomach and other organs; it was not the nutrients you served her even though they were on the verge of spoiling.”

“Alreadyshe is struggling with her emotions and how to handle them.Ido not want to make it worse.Whatwould you do?”

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