Page 4 of LeX

Unsteadily,Iunhook the machine as my body tries to adjust to the sudden blood loss.Grabbinga nutrient bar out of one of my many pockets,Iconsume it in several quick bites asIwatch the screens above her hover bed.Aftera few tics when there is no change,Iforce myself to leave her side.Thankfully, the small snack replicatorIpurchased for the lab is located in an area whereIcan still see her bed.

Hittingthe buttons without looking at the options,Igrab the tray when it indicates the food is ready.Myeyes never leave her asIeat the bland, tasteless sustenance.Iknow my body needs the fuel to replenish what was taken from it, butIhave neither the time nor the energy to head toward the dining chamber for better options.

“MedicLeX, would you like me to resume live feed to the cameras?”

“Destroyer, you were not supposed to be watching untilInotified you.”

“Iunderstood the parameters you put in placeMedicLeX.Isimply maneuvered the scanners into dark mode so thatIcould still scan the med chambers to ensure your safety.”

“Findinga way around the rules already,Isee.Itseems likeANDIis proving to be a bad influence.”

“Iwill not deny those accusations at this time, butIwill say improvising is sometimes needed.”

Idon’t even try to stop my laughter as her words echo through the room.Fatiguedby the procedure and now that darkness has settled in,Isit down in the chair next to her bed and lean my head back, taking a moment to rest.Mymind won’t relax though becauseIknowIcan no longer put off the othersIam responsible for.

Notonly doIneed to oversee the insertion of the translators for the other humans on board, but someone needs to check onRafe.Thenthere is the issue ofEmber.Eventhough her pregnancy was unexpected,Ishould have expected it at some point as those two are insatiable.Eventhough it’s joyful news,Iwill need to monitor her closely.

Thelist of things that need to be done seems overwhelming asIsettle down besideRylie.Ilet her name roll around in my mind asIgaze at her resting features.Myemotions are all over the place asIanticipate her awakening.Willshe be scared?Didshe know what was happening when placed in the pod?Willshe reject me?Ifall asleep with those last thoughts on my mind, my dreams haunted asIrun behind a shadowy figure that’s always just out of reach.

Chapter Two

LEX

Ascreechingalarm has me jerking straight up asIhad fallen asleep in the chair.I’mon my feet in a daze before realizing nothing is wrong, it’s simply my normal alarm for rising.Shakingmy head,Irun a weary hand over my face before my eyes glance up at the screens to checkRylie’sstatus; only to see there has been no change at all.

Suddenlyangry,Iwant to shout to the heavens, but that will change nothing.Hangingmy head in disappointment,Iturn toward the refreshing chamber, once again thankful that the ionizer will clean my clothing and body asIdon’t have the time or patience for grooming this rising.Thatalone should worry me asInormally spend a significant amount of time taking care of my long tresses.Glancingat the wall viewer, the color of the thick strands touching the ends of my fingers seems dull and lifeless as they tend to reflect my emotions.

Thehappiness of finding my mate has quickly turned to despair as the risings continue on without change.Asmuch asIknow things will happen as theLordofLightwills it,Iam impatient.Findingmyself standing inside an ionizer that has long sinceshut off,Istep out trying to organize in my mind all the thingsIneed to get accomplished this rising, once again having a hard time concentrating.

Iknow more tests need to be done beforeIproceed any further withRylie, and the only wayIcan concentrate undisturbed is to see that these other issues are completed.

“Destroyer, send out an informational bulletin on the holo pads for the humans to expect a visit from me today.”

MakingsureIhave whatIneed with me,Istop to look over at her monitors once more.Seeingno change,Iforce myself out the med bay door and head toward the lower decks that now house the humans we were able to retrieve from the pods.Knockingon the first door on the list,Iawait an answer.Ahuman opens the door and with a forced smile,Iproceed to do my duties asIanswer their many questions and administer the treatments that the med bots have not completed.Therising passes quickly and the only timeIstop is to pull upRylie’smonitors on my holo pad.

Mostof the humans are grateful and easy to deal with.Nevertheless, there was no pleasing a few of them, as it is with every race.Shuttingthe last dwelling’s door,Istep out and instantly must grab the wall when spots form in my eyes and the room seems to tilt.

“MedicLeX, do you require assistance?”

“Iwill be fine in a moment,Destroyer.Ido not remember stopping to eat this rising.”

“Atleast your memory is not failing you.Iskimmed back through my recordings, confirming that as you have taken care of others, you have neglected yourself.Amed bot has been dispatched to make you an electrolyte drink that will quicklyminimize your fatigue, asIhave arranged.Iam programming the replicator in the dining chamber, so your favorite meal will be ready.”

“Howdo you knowIhave a favorite?”

“Iam simply assuming it is the one you order the most frequently.”

“Goodobservation sinceIwas not aware that things like this were all monitored.”

“ANDIhas been helping me update some of my more sluggish programs so thatIcan take care of my crew in a more efficient way.”

“Thankyou,Destroyer!Iappreciate all you do for us, andIknow you are not often told that.”

“Itis my pleasure,MedicLeX.”

Headingfor the lift to the dining hall,Irerun theDestroyer’swords through my mind. “Destroyer, once my meal is eaten,Iplan on stopping to check onRafe.Ihave heard nothing from him the last two risings and that in itself worries me.”

“CaptainEvOchecked on him earlier this rising and was not well received.WhenMasterRafefirst took the human in, he told me to turn off the cameras in his dwelling.Sincethat was a direct order,Ihad to implement it immediately, but my outside hall monitors have picked up several disturbing situations.”

---