to find some way of fighting off the organism. Oses is attending meetings with the ship’s executive and security staff despite being on leave.
“He’s staying informed though not actively involved in working on the issue,” Betra told me. “I think he’s enjoying being back at work in this limited capacity.”
“What does Feru say about it?” I asked.
“After talking to Oses about the matter, Feru is fine with it as things stands. Oses feels useful, he’s not obsessing over you for a change, and they’ve set up a daily check-in to evaluate how he’s coping with the situation on an ongoing basis.” Betra laughed, a small and unhappy sound. “At least something good is coming out of this.”
“Yeah,” I said. “We’ll take what we can get, I suppose.”
“How do you feel about getting together with Oses later? The three of us can have dinner and each other.”
I wasn’t sure how sexy I felt about stuff. In fact, my libido was pretty quiet for a change. Stress over Candy was putting a big damper on things. Still, I thought it would be nice to be with my fellas for a few worry-free hours. Knowing my sex drive, I’d be much more enthusiastic by the time evening rolled around.
“Sure, that sounds great,” I said. “Let’s do that.”
May 20
I have spent the last 24 hours in hell. I am in terror for myself, for my child, for Oses, for Betra ... for all of us.
I am not myself anymore.
The last thing I remember after Betra left my room was choosing an outfit for my appointment with Dr. Tep. I thought of how I would have myself tested for the alien organism that was taking over Candy.
I don’t recall a blank period. It was as if one moment I was pulling a dress out of my closet, and the next, I was back in the bulkhead area where I’d gone to Candy.
I blinked at my surroundings. The area had seemed much darker only the day before, when I had strained to see Candy in the shadows. It was much better lit this time around. There was no way I could have been so certain, but I somehow knew I was in the same exact place as before.
The nearby computer console had a vid floating before it, as if it had recently been in use. I’ve learned a decent amount of conversational Kalquorian and even how to read a few words. All I saw that looked familiar on the screen was a series of blinking numbers. They appeared to be counting.
I barely paid attention to them. My heart was hammering with the knowledge that I had lost time. There had been no hallucinations as when I’d returned from being a captive on Finiuld’s ship. Yet there was no denying I had lost conscious knowledge of what I was doing. I knew I must be missing at least twenty minutes, the time it took to get from my quarters to the bulkhead area.
My first thought was that I was having another breakdown. Yet except for worrying over Oses and then Candy, I hadn’t been under a whole lot of stress ... at least not the kind of stress that has become almost commonplace simply because I’m Shalia Monroe and trouble loves me.
Thoughts of Candy reminded me of my nightmares and the concern that I might be infected as she was. That sent a stab of terror through me that had me running to get out of the bulkhead area in a hurry.
I thought of going straight to Medical, but instead my feet carried me back to my quarters. I had a bad scare in the shuttle area when I was almost discovered by the men working in there. Now I wish I had been caught. It would have raised questions and perhaps saved some lives. Lives that I took, as it turned out.
I entered my suite, out of breath, with my heart hammering a million miles an hour. I stood in my sitting room, kind of at a loss as to what I would do next. I couldn’t think straight.
My gaze fell on my room’s com unit, which flashed a notice that messages were waiting. I patted my pockets to discover I hadn’t taken my portable
“He’s staying informed though not actively involved in working on the issue,” Betra told me. “I think he’s enjoying being back at work in this limited capacity.”
“What does Feru say about it?” I asked.
“After talking to Oses about the matter, Feru is fine with it as things stands. Oses feels useful, he’s not obsessing over you for a change, and they’ve set up a daily check-in to evaluate how he’s coping with the situation on an ongoing basis.” Betra laughed, a small and unhappy sound. “At least something good is coming out of this.”
“Yeah,” I said. “We’ll take what we can get, I suppose.”
“How do you feel about getting together with Oses later? The three of us can have dinner and each other.”
I wasn’t sure how sexy I felt about stuff. In fact, my libido was pretty quiet for a change. Stress over Candy was putting a big damper on things. Still, I thought it would be nice to be with my fellas for a few worry-free hours. Knowing my sex drive, I’d be much more enthusiastic by the time evening rolled around.
“Sure, that sounds great,” I said. “Let’s do that.”
May 20
I have spent the last 24 hours in hell. I am in terror for myself, for my child, for Oses, for Betra ... for all of us.
I am not myself anymore.
The last thing I remember after Betra left my room was choosing an outfit for my appointment with Dr. Tep. I thought of how I would have myself tested for the alien organism that was taking over Candy.
I don’t recall a blank period. It was as if one moment I was pulling a dress out of my closet, and the next, I was back in the bulkhead area where I’d gone to Candy.
I blinked at my surroundings. The area had seemed much darker only the day before, when I had strained to see Candy in the shadows. It was much better lit this time around. There was no way I could have been so certain, but I somehow knew I was in the same exact place as before.
The nearby computer console had a vid floating before it, as if it had recently been in use. I’ve learned a decent amount of conversational Kalquorian and even how to read a few words. All I saw that looked familiar on the screen was a series of blinking numbers. They appeared to be counting.
I barely paid attention to them. My heart was hammering with the knowledge that I had lost time. There had been no hallucinations as when I’d returned from being a captive on Finiuld’s ship. Yet there was no denying I had lost conscious knowledge of what I was doing. I knew I must be missing at least twenty minutes, the time it took to get from my quarters to the bulkhead area.
My first thought was that I was having another breakdown. Yet except for worrying over Oses and then Candy, I hadn’t been under a whole lot of stress ... at least not the kind of stress that has become almost commonplace simply because I’m Shalia Monroe and trouble loves me.
Thoughts of Candy reminded me of my nightmares and the concern that I might be infected as she was. That sent a stab of terror through me that had me running to get out of the bulkhead area in a hurry.
I thought of going straight to Medical, but instead my feet carried me back to my quarters. I had a bad scare in the shuttle area when I was almost discovered by the men working in there. Now I wish I had been caught. It would have raised questions and perhaps saved some lives. Lives that I took, as it turned out.
I entered my suite, out of breath, with my heart hammering a million miles an hour. I stood in my sitting room, kind of at a loss as to what I would do next. I couldn’t think straight.
My gaze fell on my room’s com unit, which flashed a notice that messages were waiting. I patted my pockets to discover I hadn’t taken my portable
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