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“ If that’s the case, he needs to start talking to some of the other guys instead of every girl who passes by. Lacie , you’re too trusting for your own good. You ready to head back?”

“ Yeah , we might as well.”

We’ve barely gotten back into our room when a buzzer goes off. I look over at Briar , “ What does that mean?”

“ No clue.”

“ Destroyer , can you tell us what that sound is?”

“ Once again, forgive me for not informing you ahead of time that Medic LeX was going to visit your quarters this rising. The sound you are hearing is someone notifying you that they are awaiting you at the door.”

I walk over and place my hand on the pad, then step back when I see him standing there.

Now that he’s right in front of me, I take back my original thoughts of him being smaller because he is still larger than any guy I know.

But what I wouldn’t do to run my fingers through all that damn vibrant hair.

He motions for me to step back into the room.

“ Be at ease, I am here to check on you and answer any health concerns you both may have while I am implanting your permanent translator. This procedure is quick but unfortunately, can be quite painful for some. I have already done this to about half of the other survivors, and no two have responded in the same way. If you both would like to have a seat, I have a few questions to ask before going any further. Have either of you experienced any hallucinations or dizziness in the last rising?”

Both of us shake our heads no.

“ Are either of you on a prescribed medication?”

“ Nope ,” we say at the same time.

“ Do you feel depressed or suicidal?”

“ Well , who the hell wouldn’t be depressed?” Briar’s words are extremely defensive. He lowers his holo pad and frowns.

“ Forgive me, I normally have a better bedside manner. My thoughts are elsewhere and I feel like I am just repeating myself over and over. You have every right to feel the way you do; I am not making light of your feelings.”

“ Sorry , I didn’t mean to get defensive, Doc . I seem to be snapping first, only to apologize quickly afterward. I have a bad habit of always thinking the worst of others.”

He turns away, messing with something on a tray. “ You are both young and attractive females that have been displaced and lost most of your own race. A word of advice, listen to your inner voice. If it tells you something is wrong do not ignore those emotions. Who wants to go first?”

Briar lifts her hand, and he pulls the tray closer to her. “ If you would move your hair back and away from your ear, I would appreciate it. Miss , she may feel better if you hold her hand, but be prepared to help me hold her still if necessary.” I nod my head.

“ First thing I am going to do is numb the area, then you are going to feel a slight pinch behind your ear; that is me opening the nerve for the translator to merge with it. Once I push this patch firmly into your skin, several things can occur: a burning sensation, tickling, or pain. No matter what, you cannot touch it until the symptoms disappear and the patch dissolves. Do you understand?”

“ Yeah , I got it … this is going to suck. Just go ahead and get it over with.”

I get closer to Briar , holding both of her hands in mine and trapping her knees between mine. I can tell he’s waiting on my signal. Looking up, I nod, and immediately he starts. It isn’t a second later that I feel her entire body start to tighten up.

Grasping her hands tightly, I see him also settle a large hand on her shoulder. “ Talk to me, Briar ; tell me what is going on?”

“ I feel like my damn brain is melting! What in the living fuck did you just do to me?” A long moan leaves her lips, and I watch as she grits her teeth.

“ You are doing great little female. It should start easing down anytime now. I need you to count to five with me. Repeat it just like I say it to you.”

The next thing he says is nothing but gibberish, yet Briar responds as if she understands exactly what he just said. The moment he stops speaking her entire body relaxes, but when she opens her eyes, there are tears in them.

I reach up, wiping her flushed, tear-streaked cheeks. “ You ok?”

“ No … that was so intense!”

All his attention turns to me when he sees Briar has calmed down. “ Are you ready, Lacie ?”

“ Not really, but let’s do this. Do you want us to switch places?”

“ No , you are fine. I will simply wheel this cart to the other side. I prefer putting the translator on the left side, as those nerves seem to be more successful. You know the steps Lacie , please pull your hair back.”

Briar grasps my hands in hers, small tears still streaming down her face as she tries to focus on me.

I feel his fingers tracing along the back of my ear before something cold touches my skin.

He presses what feels like a Band - Aid against me, and for a moment, I think I might be spared the pain, but then the burning starts.

I must have made a noise because he grabs hold of my shoulder like he did Briar’s . In the distance, I hear someone scream, only to realize that the sound is coming from me. The next thing I know, I wake up lying on Briar’s bed.

“ Damn girl, you scared the hell out of me. I thought that thing had burned your brain out or something. You ok?”

Rubbing my eyes, I blink a few times for my vision to clear. “ Yeah , wow, I was not prepared for that. Sorry , I wimped out on you. Where did the Doc go?”

“ LeX waited until your vitals became stable before leaving. He said he’d check back in on you later.

You should’ve seen him snatch you up in his arms like you weighed nothing.

If I hadn’t been so worried you were going to have brain damage when you woke up, I might’ve appreciated the gallantry of that a little more. ”

“ Was that normal? You’re either extremely tough, or I’m a wimp if that’s the case.”

“ No , he said you had an allergic reaction to the numbing cream, and before he realized it, he’d already applied the translator.

He put a healing patch behind your ear, but it still looks awful.

Don’t ever let them put that shit on you again.

He said he’d put it in your medical records so that hopefully it won’t happen with another physician. ”

“ Wow , I have a splitting headache now. Sorry , I’m on your bed, but I really don’t feel like climbing that ladder right now.”

“ Quit saying you’re sorry, it’s no biggie.

In normal situations, I can sleep anywhere and with anyone, to be honest. If you don’t feel better later, you can just stay there, and I’ll take yours and hope that I don’t have to pee all night.

Why don’t you try to sleep it off? I’m just gonna grab my holo pad and read for the rest of the day.

To be honest, I feel like we should enjoy this downtime while we can. ”

She pulls the blanket up, tucking it around me before dimming the lights. As I turn to face the wall, her words echo through my mind, causing me to reflect on the numerous changes that have already occurred and those I can’t prepare myself for.