Page 87 of Invasive Species
Sometimes we need to trust, a voice that sounds like Arra-bellah reminds me.
I admit, “I know you're treating a human, from a planet called Earth. She fell ill and I didn't have access to equipment and scanners or anything like what we have at Selthia’s Oasis. I… I feared it's an Olorian pathogen, perhaps even the disease which killed a female.”
He looks at me sharply, scales hardening. “There's never been a recurring case of that disease, as I said, and we tested for it. What do you know about it?”
“Nothing, and certainly not enough to treat it.”
His frown deepens, and I can see his support wavering. If he thinks I had something to do with a disease which killed a female, he'll turn me in, no question.
I hang my head. “I just want her to be well. I can't… I can't lose her.”
The silence stretches between us, the clone likely weighing up the risk of turning me over now. I won't fight him, only beg for a chance to run with Mae.
But he continues, “The human asked after you and I enquired about any clones being with her at admission. The Parthiastocks explained they were looking for an exile who had returned, a criminal, and that if you hadn’t been apprehended already, you would be soon. I assumed the commotion andalarms I'd heard earlier were related, and that you were likely captured and euthanized.
“I reported that to her.”
My head jerks up. “And?”
“It… deeply affected her physical status. More than I ever expected, especially for a… clone.” He studies me, long fingers drumming on his shin. “Grief may not be measured, but it is certainly powerful. She was able to draw you and, even though you look like me, like hundreds of other Selthiastocks, I could recognize you as the clone I had dinner with last night. She captured a lot of your essence.”
“Her name is Arra-bellah,” I tell him quietly.
“Ah, a strong name,” he replies politely. “She has named me Ezla, and I have to practice responding to it.”
“Ezla, very well.” Keeping an eye on his reaction, I approach the print outs stuck to the wall.
He doesn't move to stop me, and sure enough I recognize Arra-bellah’s stats from her petite measurements in Selthias units to the damning vital signs.
I point to the readout for her pulse. “The rate seems to be normal for Earth females, given that they only have one heart, but why is its strength so irregular?”
“I wish I knew,” Ezla says, eyelids drooping. He’s tired too, probably pulling double shifts to work on Arra-bellah.
“You should tell her I'm alive immediately, if her grief is impacting her ability to rest and recuperate.”
Ezla shakes his head. “Better if you come with me tomorrow, so she can see you with her own senses.”
My heart rates accelerate, leaping like a rocket blast at the idea of seeing Arra-bellah again. Perhaps even holding her in my arms.
Ezla continues calmly, “We’ll go at mid-cycle, there will be less Parthiastocks prowling the district.”
Less, but it won't be a non-zero number. If I'm caught, we'll both be killed.
But if the alternative is Arra-bellah in pain or worse, I'll do it.
I take up position in front of the printouts, determined to learn everything I can tonight. “Have you been able to isolate the pathogen at least?”
“Perhaps.” Ezla heaves himself up from the floor, pulling a small screen from his pockets and leaning close to show me a four-dimensional model of the pathogen.
I glare at it for daring to cause my mate pain and suffering.
“This molecule here seems unusual…” Ezla frowns, trailing off. He sniffs me deeply.
“What is it?” I ask warily.
“Hm. Perhaps it's nothing. I thought I smelled… her.”
Selthiastock scenting is the strongest among all clones. “Perhaps you smell her on me, or me on her.”
