Page 7

Chapter Six

LEX

The odd way in which I was lying with my head on the bed wakes me up to a stiff neck. Groaning out loud, I stand up, stretching out my sore muscles. The blinking of the holo tablet shows me that I’d left a document open, but before I pick it back up, I check all of Rylie’s vitals again. What am I doing wrong? Those thoughts just play over and over in my mind. What little rest I did get didn’t seem to help me much as my thoughts are once again fuzzy.

As I walk through the med bay a sensory scanner catches my attention, making me wonder if it could detect her brain activity to see if anything is happening, or if she can even hear me. This idea gives me some renewed strength and quickly I hook it up to certain pressure points along her head and neck. Grabbing the holo pad, I open the book I was reading, rapidly getting right back into it. This story alone has me wondering what other marvels the human race has written, and I can’t help but cheer for the little fairy.

“ I didn’t know exactly what to do with you, but I brought you home hoping you would make it. What’s your name?”

“ My name is…” She turns her head away from me for a second. “ I don’t know what my name is. Spirit Mother hasn’t given out the names yet this year, I fell too soon, so she wouldn’t have given me one.” She looks like she is going to cry.

“ Please don’t cry. Would it be ok if I gave you a name? I have been calling you one in my head for a couple days now.”

“ I believe that would be alright.” She looks up at me apprehensively.

“ How about Petal ? I know it’s not very original, but I think it suits you.” Holding my breath, I realize I really want her to like that name for some reason.

“ In all my 122 years, I have never had that name; so yes, Petal will do just fine.” She starts to wiggle inside the bloom and the fabric she is in starts to sway back and forth.

“ I have a thousand questions for you, but I don’t want to seem pushy. It must be a shock waking up thinking you’re going to be in one place, only to find out you’re not there!”

“ It has been quite alarming to be truthful but go ahead and ask your questions. I’m stuck anyway. Who knows how long I will be here, and I don’t have anything else to do.” She sits down inside the flower and crosses her legs. The flower petals form a type of dress all around her, and I notice it changes as she moves. Her back is being pulled to one side, and I can see that she is also leaning to that side.

“ You’re stuck, aren’t you? Is there anything I can do to help?” I reach toward her, and she smacks my fingers.

I’m so caught up in the story I was reading out loud that it takes me a few tics to hear the beeping of the sensory scanner confirming activity. Standing , my eyes scroll through the information. Within moments of me beginning to read, her brain activity doubled, and the bed logged more eye and hand movements. Laying the holo screen down, I head for the storage cabinet, sliding the door open. I stand there looking at all the objects inside. There has to be something in here that I can use so I can see the exact moment my voice penetrates her mind.

“ SCOUT , are you available for council?”

“ How may I be of service, Medic LeX ?”

“ Do I have anything here I can convert into a second sensory scanner? You were correct in your previous analysis. She can hear me, but I was hoping to be able to narrow it down more specifically.”

“ I have instructed a maintenance bot to come to the med bay and it will have the additional items needed to fix one of the older scanners in your vicinity. It will not work in the exact same manner, but it should do what you need. Will there be anything else?”

“ The Destroyer had to recalibrate the fetus scanner last rising; can you verify that it is working properly?”

“ The machine is working at optimal capacity.”

“ Thank you SCOUT , as always your council is appreciated.”

“ I am only performing my duties Medic LeX , but you are welcome. Until next time.”

True to his word, it’s not long before one of the large maintenance bots comes rolling in with what looks like spare pieces in its large, multi-functional hands. I step out of the way as it starts pulling several devices out of the storage area and watch in amazement as it reworks the parts. Quicker than I could have imagined, it beeps that the process has been completed, and the Destroyer’s voice echoes all around me.

“ Medix LeX , your new scanner is now active, and it will or should work in sequence with the one already hooked up to your human mate.”

Hesitantly , I pick up the device, turning it one way, then the other. “ Where are the leads?”

“ They are not necessary according to the construction plans SCOUT downloaded into my system. This will sit on the top of your cranium like a hat.”

Intrigued , I made my way back over to what I have deemed ‘my’ chair next to Rylie . I decide that while I am sitting here reading, we should do another transfusion. Once I verify everything is hooked up and working properly, I open the holo pad and continue on with the story.

“ Keep those big paws of yours to yourself! They’re so large they could tear my wings plumb off. Please don’t take offense to that, but your size is alarming. I want you to know I’m very grateful for you taking me in and offering to help me. I know I wouldn’t be here right now if it wasn’t for you. My spirit would have been returned to the Spirit Mother to be born again another year, but it seems I have been blessed with an adventure outside my own world.” She taps her finger against her head and looks up at the ceiling like she is thinking about something.

“ You’re 122 years old? I mean … I don’t want to be too forward here, and I don’t know a single thing about fairies, if that’s even what you are, but you sure have held up well to be that old!” I know I have this stupid grin on my face, but she walked right into that one in my opinion. She’s also absolutely beautiful, even being just three inches tall.

The next thing I know, I feel like I am in two places at once.