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Chapter Two

LEX

A screeching alarm has me jerking straight up as I had fallen asleep in the chair. I’m on my feet in a daze before realizing nothing is wrong, it’s simply my normal alarm for rising. Shaking my head, I run a weary hand over my face before my eyes glance up at the screens to check Rylie’s status; only to see there has been no change at all.

Suddenly angry, I want to shout to the heavens, but that will change nothing. Hanging my head in disappointment, I turn toward the refreshing chamber, once again thankful that the ionizer will clean my clothing and body as I don’t have the time or patience for grooming this rising. That alone should worry me as I normally spend a significant amount of time taking care of my long tresses. Glancing at 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.

The happiness of finding my mate has quickly turned to despair as the risings continue on without change. As much as I know things will happen as the Lord of Light wills it, I am impatient. Finding myself standing inside an ionizer that has long since shut off, I step out trying to organize in my mind all the things I need to get accomplished this rising, once again having a hard time concentrating.

I know more tests need to be done before I proceed any further with Rylie , and the only way I can 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.”

Making sure I have what I need with me, I stop to look over at her monitors once more. Seeing no change, I force 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. Knocking on the first door on the list, I await an answer. A human opens the door and with a forced smile, I proceed to do my duties as I answer their many questions and administer the treatments that the med bots have not completed. The rising passes quickly and the only time I stop is to pull up Rylie’s monitors on my holo pad.

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

“ Medic LeX , do you require assistance?”

“ I will be fine in a moment, Destroyer . I do not remember stopping to eat this rising.”

“ At least your memory is not failing you. I skimmed back through my recordings, confirming that as you have taken care of others, you have neglected yourself. A med bot has been dispatched to make you an electrolyte drink that will quickly minimize your fatigue, as I have arranged. I am programming the replicator in the dining chamber, so your favorite meal will be ready.”

“ How do you know I have a favorite?”

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

“ Good observation since I was not aware that things like this were all monitored.”

“ ANDI has been helping me update some of my more sluggish programs so that I can take care of my crew in a more efficient way.”

“ Thank you, Destroyer ! I appreciate all you do for us, and I know you are not often told that.”

“ It is my pleasure, Medic LeX .”

Heading for the lift to the dining hall, I rerun the Destroyer’s words through my mind. “ Destroyer , once my meal is eaten, I plan on stopping to check on Rafe . I have heard nothing from him the last two risings and that in itself worries me.”

“ Captain EvO checked on him earlier this rising and was not well received. When Master Rafe first took the human in, he told me to turn off the cameras in his dwelling. Since that was a direct order, I had to implement it immediately, but my outside hall monitors have picked up several disturbing situations.”

“ Such as?”

“ The female is in great distress and has successfully made it out of his chambers twice before Master Rafe could stop her. I would have contacted Captain EvO sooner if the female had asked for help, but she seems to simply collapse each time Master Rafe holds her. Would you like me to announce your arrival?”

“ No , I would like to see her for myself and without warning. This will allow me to have a clearer picture of what is going on.”

Walking into the dining area, I head straight for the replicator and grab the food tray the med bot has prepared for me, eating quickly. I head up to the private chambers situated on the upper floor of the Destroyer . Hesitating when I pass my own door, I wonder if I should assign it to another since I am seldom ever there.

I hit the buzzer of Rafe’s door and stand there as a few tics go by, and then I press it again. “ Destroyer , are they in residence?”

“ Yes Medic LeX , but things have just recently quieted down.”

I am reaching up to hit the buzzer again when Rafe opens the door. He motions for me to be quiet as I step inside. His rooms are in shambles, and for a male that prides himself on his organization and cleanliness, I know this is not normal. Glancing up at Rafe as he is a couple inches taller than myself, I immediately notice the bite mark on his cheek is festering, and that he is covered in scratches.

He plops down on the arm of a lounger, rubbing a tired hand over his face as I dig out a platelet-rich injection from my bag. Without asking permission, I walk over with the autoinjector and shoot the healing meds into his neck.

“ Oww , you could have warned me…that shit burns!”

“ You know that claws, fingernails, and teeth are poisonous. Those wounds will only get worse if not treated. By the looks of you and this dwelling, I take it she is not cooperating? Where is she now, tied to the bed?”

“ No , I did not tie her up even though the thought has crossed my mind several times. She simply passed out from exhaustion. I never dreamed she would last as long as she did. I have been physically fighting with her for what feels like a straight rotation.”

“ Why do you not take a moment to get cleaned up and grab some sustenance while I check on her.”

“ If you wake her up LeX , I swear I will beat you myself.”

“ Hopefully , I will not even need to touch her. Go on and do not fight me like I did when EvO told me to do the same.”

Rafe gets up and stands there for a tic just looking around at the place. It’s like he is so consumed with his own thoughts he has forgotten I am even here. With a heavy sigh, he walks off to the refreshing chamber. I reach down, picking up and righting a small stand as I make my way through the entertaining area into where the private sleeping platform is.

The female is sprawled across the mattress from one corner to the other. Approaching slowly, there is no missing she is sick. The human female has long, straight, dark blond hair that falls in silky strands around her pale and drawn face even in rest. Her complexion is noticeably pale and sallow, lacking any healthy glow. The dark circles under her eyes, the sheen of sweat on her forehead, and the tremors shaking her tall frame all speak of illness, fatigue, and discomfort. Despite her illness, the woman’s hair still retains its natural shine and softness; proof that she wasn’t always as she is now.

It’s amazing how drugs affect the body. If used for the right purpose they are meant to heal. If taken improperly, they will suck the life right out of you. Holding the medical scanner over her, I gradually run it from her head to her feet. Once finished, I step back awaiting the results.

Beside the withdrawals she is experiencing, she is healthy for the most part. Slight malnutrition, some excessive bruising on one hip, and some torn nail beds are all the machine is notifying me of right now. I would love to take a blood sample to see how much of the drugs remain in her system, but I am afraid the process will wake her. I pull a light covering up over her when I see her shiver and then step back out quietly, almost bumping into Rafe as I am leaving the room.

“ How is she?”

“ Without some blood tests, I cannot tell you that accurately. How did she get that bruise on her hip?”

“ To be honest, I do not know how she isn’t black and blue from head to toe. She has been fighting me like a wild Suet since I brought us here. The few moments of calm have only been because she was trying to get me to let my guard down. Twice now she has managed to get out the door before I could grab her. I am doing my best not to hurt her but restraining someone is always going to be physical.”

“ Is she scared of you? Is that why she is trying to escape?”

“ I do not believe so, but once her mind locks on something there is no dissuading her. Her emotions are up and down constantly.”

“ If she becomes too much, we could sedate her until ANDI gets here and then have her transported to Falcor where a medical team could help see her through this.”

In the blink of an eye, I see Rafe’s carefree personality change. “ No one is sending or taking her anywhere. She is mine and I will help her get past this one way or another.”

I hold my hands up and step back. “ No more words are needed. I completely understand and she will remain with you until you say otherwise. If I may ask, is she your mate or is this something else?”

Rafe slides down the wall, resting his arms on his knees and hanging his head for a moment in defeat. Tucking the scanner in my pocket, I turn to sit down next to him, only to realize he has placed himself in direct view of the sleeping platform.

“ I will not deny that my body craves her, but is she, my mate? Everything going on has left me unsure. My body says she is, however, in my mind I wonder if it is the circumstances that are making me so possessive. Few know this, but I had a fellow soldier back in the training barracks that got impaired on some bad enhancers. He was quite a bit smaller than most of us and was trying to find a way to bulk up before Commander DaR had him removed simply due to his size. He did not show up to training one rising and something whispered that he was in trouble and for me to find him. I searched half the barracks before locating him curled up in the corner of the weapons closet. That is how I got this scar.” He points to a place where he has a large, healed gash over his shoulder.

He was hallucinating, and I didn’t realize it until he struck out at me with a knife in his hand. It took every ounce of my strength to not only get that knife away but to contain him even though he was much smaller than I was. I ended up having to knock him unconscious in order to get him to our rooms. I knew if DaR found out what he had done he would be sent home in disgrace. Feigning illness, I locked us inside. Two rotations later, I emerged beat half to death, but we were both alive and he was on the mend. When asked about Vylor’s whereabouts, I falsely claimed he had been in an altercation and required several days of recovery.

I thought I had done a great job of hiding what had really happened from everyone until your father offered to spar with me one rising. I was still sporting a black eye, and my shoulder wasn’t healing as fast as it normally would have if I had been resting, as I said. He knocked me on my ass within a tic of raising his sword. I will never forget his words when he grabbed my jaw so that he could look me in the eye. He said, ‘ No better wound than the one you take for a friend. ’ I knew right then that he knew exactly what I had done.”

“ Father does tend to know everything, that is for sure. What happened to your friend?”

“ Once he recovered, things returned to normal for the most part. He was even able to get the assignment he wanted, but he did not get to enjoy it for long. Sadly , not long after that, he got into a tavern fight with a Korgon in the outer sector when we were on leave. I was on the next level up with a female when I heard the ruckus below, and by the time I got there … it was too late. When I questioned the barkeep later, he said the Korgons were looking for a fight and he was the smallest male in the place. He was easy prey simply due to his size.

I was the reason we were there in the first place. I had been chasing a certain piece of tail in that area for a lunar rotation and I did not know until I accompanied his body home that he was the sole provider for his parental units; that is why he joined the guards in the first place even against their wishes. His mother was gravely ill and could not be left alone, so the father was forced to leave his position to take on the role of caregiver. Vylor would not make the money they needed on normal guard duty, so he pushed himself to become one of DaR’s elite. Before I left, I transferred every credit I had into their account, and I have been sending as much as I can ever since. Even though they have asked me not to several times.”

“ His death was not your fault, Rafe .”

“ Yeah , I have heard that one before, and I know all things happen the way they are supposed to. But the devastation on his mother’s face when I walked in the door with their son’s body … I will never forget it.” His voice fades off and I can tell he is reliving that moment over again in his head. When a small moan comes from the bed he turns to look at me. “ If you can test her blood, do you think you could give her something to ease these withdrawals?”

“ Probably not, her body needs to flush the toxins out on its own. She needs to eat. Any solid foods you can get down her will help. Exercise would not be a bad idea either. Maybe if she felt less trapped, she would calm some. If you decide to do that, have the Destroyer clear the upper deck so that it is just the two of you.”

“ I am not going to wake her up then. It seems like each time she rises, for just a moment, she is calmer. So , I will let her rest as long as I can.”

“ I understand and Rafe , you do not have to do this alone. Qwin and EvO would stay with her, and I am only a comm away if you need help.”

“ I can do this. She seems to get agitated easily, especially with other females around, so I will just keep her here with me. When EvO stopped by earlier, I had to physically hold her down after hearing Qwin’s voice outside the door.”

“ I take it she still thinks you are hers?”

“ Oh yes, and there is no convincing her of anything else. I know it is just the drugs talking because it is well known that humans do not form mate bonds.”

“ I know it may not be ideal, but at least she is interacting with you. When the drugs wear off, she should be more complacent and hopefully not as combative, among other things.”

“ Thanks for checking her out. I am going to try to get some sleep while she is, too.”

Patting him on the shoulder, I get up and just as the door is opening, I glance back at Rafe who is still sitting on the floor. His massive form rests there exhaustedly on the floor, his troubled eyes never leaving her. He knows this is going to be a long, hard road for both of them. Hopefully , his strength will hold out and they can come to an understanding and acceptance of what has happened when this is all over. If not, I have a feeling someone is going to get their heart broken.