Page 134 of Return of the Nine

Another crippling wave of pain went through her. “Can you call him?”

A robed figure approached. “May I help you, Potential?”

The voice was low, even and soothing. It rang like a deep soft bell to Vida’s fried senses.

“Yes, I am looking for Lerinian. Is he around?”

“He is doing a locked meditation. May I assist you in some way?”

Vida’s tense muscles were the only thing holding her up. Her teeth were clenched and the pain was spreading.

“Dr. Meevin administered a treatment that Lerinian had been working on to my friend here, and she is having a rather extreme reaction to the meds.”

“Ah, the regeneration project. There are other contributors with the research, including myself. If you will come with me, I will run a diagnostic.”

Ziggy turned to follow him and Vida moved more slowly. Her entire body was going into rigor.

The member of the Balance opened the door to his lab, and when his hooded gaze turned toward her, she heard his bell-like tone curse. He quickly grabbed her and brought her into the lab. The medical bed was firm under her, but her body couldn’t appreciate it.

“Easy, Lady. I will counteract the treatment. It was never tested for use on Gaians.”

Vida muttered through clenched teeth. “I guessed as much.”

Ziggy was wringing her hands. “What can I do?”

The man said, “Call the Gaian, Ularica. She has a compression suit that she has been working on. It will help with the pain.”

Ziggy went to the com unit and made a call. Vida’s body twisted while the member of the Balance took a blood sample and analysed it.

His head turned toward her. “My name is S’rin, by the way. It will make me seem less off putting.”

She wanted to say that if he could help with the pain, she would accept the devil, but nothing came out.

She was locked in place, and she clenched her eyes so she could see what was going on around her. Her inner panic eased when Ziggy’s energy pattern calmed.

S’rin was always calm. He really was as advertised, balance.

Chapter Four

The hypo came too late. Her entire body was on fire and the hypo didn’t do a thing. Once again, breathing was an issue.

When Ula came through the door, she almost sobbed with relief. At least something was happening.

“I thought you were bringing a suit?” Ziggy was wringing her hands again.

Ula’s aura perked brighter. “I did.”

“Help me get the dress off her. This suit needs to go onto bare skin.”

Vida would have blushed if she could. They cut the dress and boots from her using everything at their disposal.

Once she was bare, Ula pressed a small unit to her chest. Bands flew out in a spider web of metal.

The moment that pressure was on her skin, her body sighed in relief. She whispered, “It’s working.” She slumped onto the med bed with relief. “That was not fun.”

S’rin said, “You can open your eyes now.”

Ula laughed, “She doesn’t have to. She can see better through closed eyes than most people can with their pupils focussed.”

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