Page 9 of LeX

“Destroyer,Ineed you to reset this machine and please advise me when it’s operational again.”

“MedicLeX, the machine was recalibrated automatically earlier, butIwill see it done once again if you are doubting its observation quality.”

“Thisis concerning because if this machine is suddenly faulty,Ican’t watch the fetus properly.”

“Iwill notify you ifIfind any calibrations that are off,Sir.”

“Thankyou,Destroyer.Whileyou are working on those adjustments,Iam going to head to the dining hall and then take a moment to get cleaned up.Now,Iam wondering if it was the machine or the fact that my eyes are fatigued.Ineed to get some rest.SetRylie’ssensors to high alert andIwill return shortly.”

“Confirmed,MedicLeX.”

Glancingat the screens above her bed but seeing no change,Iwalk out of the med bay, my thoughts heavy with the fact thatIcouldn’t seeEmberandViN’syoung clearly.Iam so caught up in my own worldIpractically plowQwinover whenIround the corner.Thankfully, my reflexes kick in andIgrab her before she falls.

“Wow, close call … thanks for the save there,LeX!Ithink we were both walking around blindly.”

“DidIinjure you?WhereisEvO?”

“I’mfine and last timeIchecked he was running a ship or something.Wheredo you think he is?Heis at the helm now thatANDIhas disconnected, and he said he needed to give some final instructions to the crew before joining me in the dining area.Isthat where you’re headed?”

“Yes, please forgive me for not paying more attention,Iwas deep in thought.”

“Youhave a lot on your plateLeX, it’s understandable.HowisRylie?”

“Thesame, unfortunately.SCOUTsays she is awakening slowly, but it is discouraging to see her laying there so still.Ihave started reading to her; they say that helps.EvOtold me that you knew her back onEarth?”

“Imet her in passing, really.Shewas over the human resource department, where we built the pods.Everynow and then we would pass in the cafeteria, and she was always the first to smile, say hello, or good morning.I’msorryIdon’t know anything else.”

“Thisis more information thanIoriginally had.Come,Ido not feel like dining alone this late rising, and if anything, it will bugEvO.Itwill allow me the opportunity to tease him about leaving his girl to roam the ship alone where anyone can claim her.”

Qwintucks her arm around mine, laughing as we walk together just a short distance to the dining hall.Hereasygoing and pleasant demeanor and the fact that she makes me laugh is somethingIdidn’t realizeIneeded.SeeingEvO’sdark purple form enter the room has me pullingQwincloser to me just to rile up my brother.

BeforeQwinhas time to react to me moving her,EvOpicks her up only to sit her back down on his lap. “Getyour own female, brother and keep your paws off mine.”

“WhyshouldIdo that whenIcan find one wandering the halls all alone because her mate has abandoned her using the excuse of having to run this ship?”

EvOdoesn’t get to say a word beforeQwinintervenes. “Oh, quit it both of you, orI’llgo find someone else to sit with.”

EvOnips at her neck, and she laughs as he growls at her playfully.Suddenly,Ifeel like an intruder and just asIstart to get up,EvOstops me.

“Whereare you headed in such a hurry,Brother?Iwould have thought your workload would have lightened once the other humans departed.”

“MyRyliestill has not woken, and to be honest,Iam exhausted.Iwas simply on my way here to pick up a quick bite whenIran into your lovely mate.Shewas kind enough to share her company with me while awaiting your arrival.Arewe heading towardFalcor?”

“Weare, but before we left this part of the sector,Isent a few drones out to see if they could locate the beacon we were receiving after leaving theNebula.Somethingis projecting those sounds even if we can’t see what, or where it’s coming from.TheDestroyerwill start moving towardFalcorat any time now and we should have some downtime heading there and once docked.”

“Alwaysa puzzle to solve isn’t there, brother?Iwill leave you two to the rest of your meal and go see ifIcan catch up on some well-needed rest.Iwill be in the lab if you need me.”

“LeX, you have a perfectly good set of rooms above us with a much nicer sleeping platform.”

“True, but they are located too far fromRylie, andIneed to be close in case she regains consciousness.”

“Iunderstand,LeX.Iwould be no different in your position.Remember, you are not alone and that we will gladly stay with her if you need help.”

“Iappreciate your concern and you two enjoy the rest of the rising.”

Qwinsmiles up at me whenIpat her shoulder before walking away.Glancingback, my heart hits my chest asIwatch them together like they are the only two in the room.Theache to have that for myself has me stumbling back to the med bay.Pullinga chair up against the hover bed,Ireach out, taking her small hand in my own, rubbing her fingers gently.Exhaustionpulls at me heavily andIlay my head down on the bed’s hard surface and then close my eyes.

Chapter Five

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