Page 3 of LeX

Returningto the lab,Istand back, apprehensively awaiting the same response as the others, whenIcombine our two blood types.I’mpleasantly surprised when virtually nothing happens, soIplace the slide under the microscope.Iwatch in amazement as the two strands fight before merging together seamlessly.Smiling,Iam happy with the results, but still indecisive.Justbecause this had a positive outcome does not mean that her body will not reject it somewhere else.

Analarm on her bed has me sprinting over.Herheart and kidneys are in distress and weakening further due to the huge amounts of drugs that were being continuously pumped into her system while in the pod.EverytimeIlower the dose, this happens.It’salmost like her body is now dependent on the higher medication levels to maintain it.Timeis not on my side and this decision could kill her ifIget it wrong, butI’mgoing to lose her either way ifIdon’t act now.Technically, ifIcould get her blood cleansed, it would allow me a short amount of time to fix her pancreas before having to go through this again.

Grabbingthe transfusion machine,Istart hooking the tubes directly to the port that was inserted when she was onEarth.Themoment it’s ready,Isit down next to her bed, preparing the instruments.

“Destroyer, turn the recording devices off in this lab untilItell you further and dim the lights.”

“Sir, what if you need assistance?”

Ismile at the ship’s response.Everyrising she becomes more sentient, andIhave enjoyed the many questions theDestroyerseems to have for me in those early hours. “IfIcan’t handle it, then no other will be able to either.”

Thelights in the room dim andIsit back to relax, knowing that this blood loss will weaken me temporarily.Ifit works,Imay have to do this multiple times simply to make sure there are no remnants of the disease in her system.Closingmy eyes for a second,Imentally prepare myself for whatIneed to do if she suddenly goes into distress.

Myarm turns cold asIwatch the machine siphon blood from my body and pump it into hers.Asquickly as mine enters her system, hers is pushed out into a holding tank.Myeyes never leave the monitors and quicker thanIrealize, the process is almost complete, asIcan only give her so much at a time.JustasIam getting ready to remove the needle from my arm,EvOcomes barging in.

“FrackLeX, where the hell are you?”

“Stopyour yelling,Iam right here.”

“Whyis the room dark?Wherewere you earlier whenIwas speaking to the humans?Whoby the way, told me they have not seen you as of yet.”

“EvO,Icannot leave her unattended right now.Asfor the humans, there is nothing so severe that my med bots can’t handle it.”

“Thefrack there isn’t.Theywere asking about meds, and they are all still wearing those temporary translators.”

“Iwill tend to that next rising asI’mconfident she will awaken by then.”

“Whythe frack are we talking in the dark?”

“Itis of no concern, butIcan tell you are in a rare mood,EvO.Whathas you so riled up?”

“Females!”

“Thatword alone answers everything, does it not?Thisone has not even spoken and yetIam devoted to her like no other.Shedoesn’t even know thatIam waiting for her on the other side of her dreams.Andstill, she simply refuses to grace me with her presence.”

“LeX, do you know why she has not woken?”

“No, that is the problem.Ihave treated everything that could possibly keep her in this state, and still, she remains the same.”

“Rylie.”

“What?”

“That’syour female’s name.MyQwinrecognized her.”

“Isee … it suits her somehow.”

“LeX, we are getting closer to the outer rim of our solar system.Oncewe are back in regulated space, it may be possible forSCOUTor one of the others to help.Theymight know something you don’t.IwishIhad someoneIcould reach out to for advice as well.Mymate is torn.Humansdo not feel the mate bond the same way we do, and she is pulling away from me.Idon’t know how to stop it.”

“Haveyou tried talking to her about this?”

“Idid.Shesaid she knew her place and was needed in her world, but here she feels untethered.”

“Thenmake her needed,EvO.Someonewith her skills would have been a blessing when we entered theNebula.Sheunderstands chemical reactions, metallurgy, and how to fuse together different substances so that they can be used as fuel sources.Ifshe needs to have something to do, give it to her.Thisis a floating laboratory,EvO.Spaceis ever-changing, and it’s crucial we keep up.”

“Youare a fracking genius, brother!”

BeforeIcan say another word,EvOrushes out the door.

---