Page 24 of Stars in Aura

Nada.

The Allorian woman’s skin turned an unnatural yellowed pallor.

‘Stillnada,’ the Rider snapped, scanning the biometrics. ‘Damn it.’

Issa swore under her breath.

Allorians had notoriously fragile myocardial structures.

Their hearts functioned with an intricate lattice of bio-conductive fibers that self-regulated electrical impulses.

If one barrier failed, the entire system might crash.

Just then, her chrono buzzed on her wrist.

She glanced at it and perceived the inner panic she’d been hiding this long bubble to the surface.

72.07.

The numerals ticking faster upward with every second teased her.

She peeked at the handsome surgeon across the table and, with a sigh, sent a quick logic nudge through her empathic node.

Fokk, she had no other play left but this.

5

Nebula Flares

Ki’REMI

Ki’Remi’s eyes narrowed above his mask as he moved fast to the surgical trolley.

He searched for and found a CR-7 cardiopulmonary appliance, a sleek, black device shaped like a crescent with a pulsating core of blue energy.

It was their best shot at reanimating the failing tissue.

Or was it?

The unbidden thought came from left field, and he hesitated, staring at the appliance, confused as to why it was now in his hand.

The fokk?

He never got disoriented, least of all in theater.

He blinked, then caught movement from the corner of his eye.

Issa.

She placed her palms over the patient’s failing organ.

A beam of golden light passed from them into the Allorian’s chest.

The collapsed cardiac muscle, failing just seconds ago, abruptly jumped, the flesh shuddering.

Issa lifted her hands away as the heart pulsed and pinked up. The beeps and display on the cardiovascular monitor calmed, and the screaming alerts switched to regular syncopation.

Ki’Remi froze, the CR-7 still clutched in his hand.

---