E:A Vol 7 Ch 14—January 24, 2121

Chapter 14: January 24, 2121

Zy’nayth had a Flight Commander take control of the city-ship while he and Kol’non helped to get items from the mainland facilities packed and teleported to his old flagship. When the family gathered for lunch in Victoria’s chambers, Victoria noticed that John looked pale and seemed a bit unsteady. “I knew it. You overdid it.” She got out her scanner and asked Mik’kenna to check his pulse, since Mik’kenna wanted to help.

“It is my fault. I had him doing too much,” Zy’nayth said.

“I should have just said I didn’t feel like it,” John said.

“And I should have stopped John from helping at all,” Victoria replied. “Headache?”

“Yeah. Just tired, mostly,” John said.

“You’re staying here the rest of the day. You’re dehydrated again and that wheeziness in the lungs is back. Kaven and Be’atta can oversee things with the move.”

“You need rest more than I do. If you’re not going to rest, I can…”

“There are only three and a half doctors who are functioning right now. I don’t have a choice. You do.”

“Who’s the half?” John chuckled which progressed into a coughing fit.

“Danielson. He’s still got a bad cough but the pneumonia’s gone. I’m only calling on him to cover my lunch.” She put a hand on his shoulder, “You’re still very sick. I mean it, you rest. I’ll even stand up to my hubby to keep you from doing anything more.”

“Your husband is siding with you and again apologizes for making John work as much as he has,” Zy’nayth said. “I can send more men down to help get the equipment off of the mainland.”

“Lutia, how are you feeling?” Victoria finally took a seat at the dinner table.

“I thought I was better, but now I feel worse.”

“I sorry Aunt Lutia. Want me to take pulse? Where Uncle Becket?” Mik’kenna asked. Lutia smiled and nodded at the girl as Janice told them that Becket was too sick to walk over for the meal, so she had taken the meal to him and his family across the hall.

“Janice, could I ask a really big favor?” Victoria asked.

“Of course, what do you need?” Janice sat down as did Mik’kenna after she told her mother about Lutia’s pulse being normal. Zy’nayth prayed over the food and began to pass the dishes as Victoria asked her favor of Janice.

“With Michael and his family now out of the place, could you get the guestrooms cleaned up? I want to move Becket and Lia over to one of the rooms and Pastor and Julia to the other. Lutia and Ja’val can take Ky’s room. David, you sure you don’t want me to bring up a cot?”

“Got a feeling that recliner I’m using is a lot more comfortable. I’m fine. May even return to my own place tonight.”

“No Dad,” Chris said. “You stay here. You look almost as bad as John.”

“I can sleep in a recliner,” Alessa said. “You bunk with Chris in Kenna’s room tonight.”

“I’m not that sick.”

“I’d rather you sleep here whether in a recliner or bunking with your son,” Victoria said. “We thought John was out of the woods and he’s getting it back.”

“I overdid it,” John said. “It’s not a recurrence. Just need some rest.”

“Still, until we’re sure, both of you are staying.”

“With Becket and the others moving to the guestrooms,” Janice said, “we could put David and John across the hall. With them not being as sick, they could both stay there and free up the recliners and sofas for me and Be’atta on the nights when we stay.”

Victoria took a bite of the chicken and smiled. “Oh, this is good,” she said, wiping a bit of sauce from her lip. “Haven’t had chicken alfredo in ages. And I can agree with just swapping John and David for Becket and his family.”

“Aunt Janice,” Mik’kenna said as she swirled the noodles with her fork, “I ‘pologize for sneaky out. I not do again. I promise. I told Mommy I use comlink.”

“Thank you for apologizing. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you or Ky.”

“Oh. I no think ‘bout that.” The girl looked up at Janice. “I really sorry. And lunch is good. Mommy never made this for us. I like lots.”

“Thanks. I thought it was a little more filling than soup and thankfully both Becket and Jacob were able to eat theirs, even as sick as they are.”

“How are Julia and Lia?” Victoria asked.

“Julia’s cough is worse, but no fever. Lia’s the same, no worse, no better.”

“I’ll stop in before I go back to work.”

“Victoria,” Lutia spoke up, “normally I wouldn’t impose…”

“If you’re asking to stay here, you know you can. I know you thought you’d go home today, but no, stay here.”

“I can sleep in a recliner,” Zy’nayth said, “you are to bunk with Victoria tonight in the master bedroom. Kel’lan, Maressa, and the twins can use their sleeping bags in the study if that would be more comfortable for you.”

As sleeping arrangements were finalized, Victoria quickly finished her lunch. “Hate to run, but I have a medical bay full of patients. Ky, Kenna, are you going to bring the dogs down for a visit?”

“After dishes are cleaned up,” Zy’nayth said.

“Okay. I’m headed to check on Becket and company,” she kissed Zy’nayth’s cheek. “Thank you.”

Victoria gave all four patients across the hall a checkup, including a scan. “Becket, I’m changing up your meds. Your lungs aren’t clearing,” she said, entering information into the medical tablet. “I’m also ordering oxygen for you; your numbers have dropped. Did your lunch stay down?”

He nodded.

“That’s good. Keeping the IV going. Maya will be up with meds and oxygen soon. Also, she’s going to go over breathing exercises. It wouldn’t hurt any of you to do them. I heard wheezing in all of you. Jacob, you especially. I don’t want you getting as bad as your son-in-law.”

Becket waved off the idea. “I’m fine. You’re going overboard.”

“Doctor, you’re getting worse. You’ll do as I say, got it? Anyway,” she turned to Amelia, “she’ll show you what you need to do. Can I count on you to make sure your husband does as instructed?”

“Yes. I’ll make sure because I am not losing this man now that I have him.”

“If Janice can’t check on you every hour, I’ll have a nurse come up or Mik’kenna can check your numbers for me. Becket, please, do as I say. I am worried; very worried.”

“Let me see,” he pointed to her handheld scanner.

She handed it over. Becket looked over the scan of his lungs then asked how she was changing his prescriptions. She told him. He nodded. “Good call.”

“Satisfied?”

With a nod, he handed her the scanner then went into a coughing fit.

“All of you have permission to call me day or night. Don’t hesitate. If any of your coughs get worse, or if any of you think one of the other’s cough has gotten worse, you call me. Oh, you’ll be moving to my chambers since the president and his family left. Janice will move you when she has everything ready.”

“Thanks, love,” Becket said.

“Remember to try and walk around a bit. Being sedentary is bad,” she smiled at everyone. “That’s for all of you. I can have a walker or two brought up if you feel too shaky on your feet.”

“We’ve all been moving around a little, but I think if you could have two brought up for Mom and Dad, it would help them. I get so worried when they get up to use the bathroom and go into a coughing fit halfway through the quarters,” Amelia said.

“Dear, you’re…”

“I’ll send them up. Any of you feel unsteady, use them. Last thing I need is have to deal with a broken rib on top of pneumonia.” Victoria returned to her chambers and talked to Janice about Becket’s condition. “Every hour, vitals. No need to enter in the database unless they change, and send a message to me if that happens, even by one point. His blood oxygen level is dangerously low. Watch that closely.”

“Will do.”

“Kenna, honey, can you come here a minute?” Victoria motioned to her daughter who had just finished taking the last dish out of the dishwasher, “I have a very important assignment for my special nurse.”

“Kay. I do whatever need.”

“After you and Ky bring the puppies for their visit, I need you to keep an eye on Uncle Becket. I just told Aunt Janice that I want his vitals taken every hour. She’s really busy with getting the guestrooms ready and cooking and…everything. So ,can you help her out by taking his vitals and checking in on him and the others until I get home?”

“Course. I make sure. I set watch and I do everything. You no worry.”

“Thank you, honey. Janice can tell you what I need to know. I’ll see you in a few minutes with the pups.”

With that in Janice’s care, Victoria returned to the infirmary, meeting Maya just outside of the elevator. “How bad is he?” the nurse asked.

“Bad,” Victoria said and had to control her emotions. She was tired and stressed. Becket was like a brother to her and to see him so sick hurt deeply. “Make sure everyone in the room knows the breathing exercises. They’ll be moving to my chambers a little later so Janice is right there…and my husband. Oh, can you take up two walkers. Lia said Jacob and Julia are a bit unsteady when they have to walk. Becket probably is too.”

“He’ll pull through. If you showed him the scan, he’ll know how bad it is. And just to warn you, they brought Ben Nichols in fifteen minutes ago. Vomiting, fever. He’s fighting to get back out.”

Victoria shook her head. “Great.”

Maya got onto the elevator and entered the floor number. “Be back in a few.”

Victoria walked into the main ward where Ben was arguing with Geoffrey. “Good. Doc, you understand. I need to be out there helping organize the food storages, the livestock, all of that,” Benjamin Nichols said. “Too much to do for me to be in here.”

“You threw up less than ten minutes ago,” Victoria looked at his chart, “you’re running a 102 fever, you’re not going anywhere. My husband has Rayth helping out. Nelson and Hank will get it done.”

“But I’m the farm director!”

“So?”

“Farm director. I am in charge of the animals and…”

“And Vince is the general in charge of this entire Expedition mission and I’m not releasing him either.”

Ben sighed, “Is any of the command staff well?”

“Kaven and Be’atta. Don’t worry, it will get done. Just think about how much my husband enjoys seeing chickens running around on his old flagship.”

Ben laughed, “I can only imagine.”

Victoria was thankful that Ben gave up his fight to leave. She left Geoffrey with instructions for meds then went to check on the next patient.

When Jim Franklin arrived at 5:30, Victoria handed off the doctoral duties to him then went home, ready to collapse. The twins were in the kitchen helping cook dinner. Ky’nayth was stirring the soup and Mik’kenna was dumping stuff into a bowl for the salad dressing.

“What can I do?” Victoria asked when she walked in.

“We have it under control,” Janice said.

“Then I’ll set the table.”

“Done,” Janice smiled.

“Fine,” Victoria chuckled, “I’ll take a quick shower. How are our new house guests?”

“Same. Becket’s doing his breathing exercises. No change in vitals, not even by one point.”

“I take every hour. I double check everything. Bubby come and confirm. Mommy, he look so bad. I so worried.”

“We’ll take the very best care of him. Where’s Daddy? He normally greets me when I get home.”

“Not sure, just said he needed to work,” Janice said.

“I hope it’s not serious,” Victoria sighed. “Okay, gonna shower.”

Victoria went to the master bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments, calming herself. Too much was going on and she felt overwhelmed. One more week, she told herself, is all she needed. People were getting better. Fewer calls were coming into the infirmary. It was finally showing signs of easing. Besides Neville Danielson and Fred Erickson were also improving and Neville could return to at least a half shift in the next day or two, and Fred was probably a day behind him. That would help alleviate a bit of her stress.

She grabbed her lounge clothes and went to the bathroom and began to undress when her comlink buzzed. “Hey handsome,” she said, answering her husband’s ring tone.

“My beloved, I have some bad news.”

“Working through dinner?”

“Yes.”

“In the Control Room?”

“Piloting a shuttle. Kaven needed a break.”

“Shuttle? I thought the teleporters were transferring items to the old flagship.”

“They were. Science needed them.”

“Can I bring you a plate?”

“A sandwich would be easier. It can be after you have had your dinner.”

“Nah, I’ll bring it out now. Be in the shuttle bay in ten…uh, if you’ll be there.”

“I will. Thank you, Victoria.”

She threw her clothes back on and hurried to the kitchen. “Janice do we have any of that tuna salad left?”

“Not much, but yeah.”

Victoria dug through the fridge and found there was enough for two sandwiches. She quickly made them up, found some chips, and put them in a container along with some grapes and strawberries, her husband’s favorites. Some freshly made chicken noodle soup was put in a thermos, then she grabbed two more thermoses and filled them with ice water before heading out.

Zy’nayth was just landing one of only six shuttles left in the fleet, the rest having been destroyed during the rebel attack. When the clear was given, she went up and met him as the loading door opened.

She held out a small shopping bag to him. “Two tuna sandwiches, chips, chicken noodle soup, some fruit, and water. I figure you’ll be here a while, so you have plenty for a few hours.” She pointed to the stainless steel thermos, “That one’s the soup, the other two are water.”

He kissed her cheek, “I love you. Thank you.”

“How much more do you have to do?”

“Livestock and food stores are done. We are working on seeds and saplings. The smaller laboratory equipment is taking much time to pack and move. Science needed the energy routed from the teleporters for an experiment. With as long as it is taking to pack items, shuttling was just as efficient as filling a teleporter box. How are things in the infirmary?”

“Was able to release five people with no new admissions. Granted we still have a packed house, but that’s progress. Danielson and Erickson are almost back on their feet and the teams that are going home to home have reported that a good dozen or so are doing significantly better. I know we have nearly 5,000 sick but things are looking up.”

“How are Becket and Jacob? Did they get moved all right?”

Victoria had been putting on a happy face for her husband, but it quickly vanished. “They’re stable, no worse, no better. Becket’s condition dropped fast, I’m worried.” Zy’nayth wrapped an arm around her, giving her a hug. He knew how close she and Becket were. Becket had sought a romantic relationship shortly before Zy’nayth came into the picture, but neither really felt right about it. Now they were like brother and sister, always looking out for each other. Victoria pulled away after a minute and wiped away a tear with the back of her index fingers. “I think, God willing, we’ll see a slight improvement in his condition tomorrow afternoon at the latest. He needs to do his breathing therapy…Sorry, I’m keeping you. You need to finish up your work.”

“I asked how they were. Besides, I enjoy seeing those green eyes,” he gave her a loving smile. “I wish there was more I could do.”

“You’re saving the city, that’s more than enough.” She kissed his cheek, “I love you so very much, High Chancellor. Try and catch a cat nap between runs.”

“Cat nap?”

“Short nap,” she smiled, “if I don’t see you before I go to sleep, know that I prayed for you and that I miss you.” She blew him a kiss as she headed out of the shuttle bay. Back in her chambers, she was thankful to be off of her feet. They were burning and throbbing. She sat shoeless and enjoyed the dinner. Afterwards she gave Becket and his family another checkup. Jacob and Julia were both sitting up at a small table in the guestroom and eating. “Opted for the chops, I see,” Victoria smiled.

“Didn’t lose lunch, so I risked it,” Jacob grinned. “Janice is a great cook.”

“Yes she is. I’ll check in on you after you finish eating.”

Becket was alone in his bed, Amelia still in the dining room, attempting to eat a little more. Little Rusty was curled up at the foot of the bed chewing on a toy bone.

“How’s the galaxy’s best doctor?”

“Miserable,” he replied.

“You’re not eating. Did you keep your lunch down?”

“Barely. Don’t feel like pushing it.” His eyes went to the door to make sure his wife wasn’t coming. “Trouble breathing.”

Victoria sat beside him and got out her stethoscope, she listened to his lungs and took a scan with her handheld device and had it run a comparison. “Has the breathing gotten worse since lunch?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Nothing on your chart about being allergic to the new meds.”

“Never been on them.”

“Nausea?”

“Yeah, and worse after lunch. I assumed it was too much food.”

“Gonna draw some blood to figure out which you’re reacting to, if it is a reaction.” She went to the door, “Janice?”

Janice hurried to the guestroom, “What’s up?”

Victoria told her to get her medical kit, “Draw two vials. Need to see if he has an allergy to the new meds.”

“Becket, why didn’t you say anything?”

Becket frowned but Janice was out of the room, grabbing Victoria’s medical bag. She washed up, put on surgical gloves and drew the vials needed. “Don’t run them through the scanner,” Victoria said, knowing that the scanner could analyze the blood, but when it came to reactions to medication, it wasn’t completely reliable. “Run down to the lab. Please. Wait for the results.”

Janice labeled the vials as Victoria sent the order to be processed. “Fourth Science Officer is there, he can run it,” Victoria said. “He’s the only one we have right now who can run it.”

“Got it,” Janice said. “I’ll call.”

A minute later, Victoria’s comlink buzzed. “Carson,” she answered, still checking Becket’s vitals.

“I just got word and order went to the lab to check Becket’s blood,” Ja’val said. “Sorry, not snooping but my men know to call me when someone in the family is admitted or something. What’s going on?”

“Just testing for a reaction to medication.”

“If it’s like John’s…”

“No signs of anaphylaxis or anything worse,” Victoria said as Amelia walked in.

“Becket?”

“Fine, love,” he managed a smile to try and ease her fears.

“Victoria, I’m coming down,” Ja’val said.

“Ja’val…” but the call had been cut off.

“Victoria?” Amelia’s voice had gone up slightly in her panic.

“I think he’s having a mild reaction to one of the new meds. Janice is down in the lab waiting for results. Ja’val heard because the order went to the only person we have down here who can run the tests: his Fourth Science Officer, who apparently called his boss.”

Ja’val strode through Victoria’s chambers to the guestroom. “Any word?”

“Should be here in a couple of minutes,” Victoria said.

“Becket…you know you can call me,” Ja’val said. “I’m sure Zy’nayth and Kol’non feel the same.”

“Victoria has it under control,” Becket rested back and closed his eyes.

A moment later, Victoria was answering the call from Janice. The Fourth Science Officer was quick and efficient. “It’s the anti-inflammatory. The antibiotic is fine,” she repeated so the others knew what was going on. “No sign of any other issues. Thanks, Janice. Have him enter the information in Becket’s file, please.” She sat on the edge of the bed and looked at other available anti-inflammatories which could be used without causing issues with the meds already in Becket’s system. “Aspirin’s about it.”

“I could heal the inflammation,” Ja’val said. “It’s not directly caused by the virus, correct?”

“Can’t say for sure. Everyone who’s had this has some sort of inflammation, not necessarily the lungs, but somewhere. I wouldn’t risk it, not in his condition,” Victoria said.

“He won’t get worse, will he?” Amelia asked.

“We won’t give him any more of that drug, so no, he won’t get worse from that,” Victoria said. “Ja’val, you could get the drug out of his system, right? Like Zy did for John’s reaction to the sedative.”

“I’ll give it a shot. Never did anything like that before. Becket, willing to give it a shot?”

Becket nodded. He trusted the First Science Commander completely. Ja’val put his hand over Becket’s heart and used his energy to search out the medication. After a minute or two, he looked at Victoria, “I can’t identify the medication. I see compounds that aren’t normally in a body, but can’t isolate one medication from the other. I could call Zy’nayth or I could eradicate both, if that wouldn’t make his condition worse.”

“I can give him another dose of the meds after you pull them all out,” Victoria said, “not a problem.”

“Becket?” Ja’val looked at his friend.

“Do it,” he said.

Five minutes later, Ja’val said he’d finished. “I didn’t touch the virus, so there should be no adverse reaction to what I did.”

Becket thanked him as Victoria held out a paper cup with pills in it and a glass of water. “I hope you stop causing me all this trouble,” she said. “I want you to call me next time. You know how dangerous it can be if you put things off like that. If I’m not here, Janice will be. Just yell.”

“I’ll keep a closer eye on him,” Amelia said, clutching her husband’s hand.

“You’ll tell her, won’t you?” Victoria eyed the Scotsman.

“I will. I promise. How’s everything in the infirmary?” he asked.

“Things are getting better all the way around,” she said and told him the news. “Are you willing to try some fruit? Pineapple’s good for inflammation.”

“I can’t,” he said. “Until the nausea wears off, I don’t want anything…but I’ll take some ice. I’ll wait for nurse Mik’kenna. She seems to enjoy doting on me.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, “Thanks for taking care of me.”

“I’m not the only one taking care of you.” She leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Don’t hide your symptoms. You, of all people, know how problematic that can become.”

“Point taken.”

Ja’val returned to work. Victoria gave Amelia a quick check then took the cup Becket used for the ice and took it to the kitchen where the twins were loading the dishwasher. “Mik’kenna, honey, Uncle Becket would like more ice, please. I need to check on Jacob and Julia.”

Mik’kenna took the cup and promptly filled it then hurried to her uncle. She put the cup on the nightstand and asked if he needed anything else. He told her no, so she went over to Rusty and gave him a good scratch behind his ears and told him that he was a good dog then she went back to the kitchen.

After checking on Jacob, Julia, and Lutia, Victoria went back to the kitchen.

“Ky, Kenna, I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. I’m exhausted. I want you in bed by nine. Make sure to take your baths first. Do you have your sleeping bags set up?”

“We has it all set up. We pray now?” Ky’nayth asked.

“Good idea,” she said and led them to the living room. She sat on the floor where the kids had naturally plopped to be near the dogs. They held hands and each of them said a prayer. Victoria nearly lost her balance as she tried to stand afterwards.

“You definitely need sleep,” Janice said. “Go.”

“Kids, if you need anything, wake me up. Don’t try to change diapers. You wake me, promise?”

“No, they’ll get me. I’ll be on that big sofa. You need more rest than I do, doctor. Go,” Janice said, walking in. “Report’s in the file as asked. Kids, you get me. Let your mother sleep.”

After a quick shower that she wanted to take an hour earlier, Victoria curled up on her bed closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

The kids did as they were told, took their baths and were in their sleeping bags by 9:00. Kel’lan and Maressa had been put onto a pile of blankets surrounded by pillows. Janice had made sure there was nothing they could get into of the items left to be unpacked. Most of the dogs went in and settled with the kids.

Zy’nayth arrived shortly after midnight, slept for four hours in a recliner, then was back helping the crew clear out the mainland, which took until dinner time the following day.

January 25, 2121

“Make sure the cloak is extended,” Karken’al said. “Can’t risk being detected.”

“Cloak and shields both extended,” Jil’ana said.

“Tel’lok, take us into the system. Jil’ana keep your eyes open.”

Jil’ana made sure her team was alert and monitoring all scanners for any sign of the Rayth or Rayth detection systems. “We’re set,” she said to the general.

Karken’al’s hands gripped the arms of his command chair.

The ship headed towards its destination. The only Rayth ships detected were those they already knew were there. “The Mythican ship is in orbit,” Jil’ana said, eyes on her monitors. “Must have had more quakes…or something else caused them to launch, I suppose.”

“Think they know the cause?” Karken’al asked.

“Wouldn’t venture a guess at this point. Other two ships haven’t moved…” she paused, “Flagship!” she called out the coordinates.

“Full stop,” Karken’al ordered. “Did they see us?”

“No…don’t think so,” Jil’ana said and Tel’lok agreed.

“Can we monitor the situation on Terra 2 from here?”

“Can’t scan the planet, but can watch the ship movements,” Jil’ana said. “I would move our ship though. One second.” She checked the system and found what she thought were the top three locations to hide the ship in case the Rayth could detect them through their cloak. Karken’al assessed the locations then gave the order to move to one of them.

“They know something’s up on Terra 2,” Jil’ana said. “Have to. The Mythican ship is now in orbit and the flagship is back.”

“I’m sure they know something’s wrong, the question is, do they know the danger or is it just a matter of being prudent? I need to know which it is.”

“We will have to get closer to scan the planet, but I can see…” she stopped.

“See what?”

“Tel’lok, stop the ship. Now!” Jil’ana spouted then conferred via comlink with someone on her team. When she finished with the call, and after flipping through different screens on her workstation, she turned to Karken’al. “I recommend we power down. Picking up odd signals. Not sure what they are but may be some sort of detection system; can’t say for sure. I need time.”

“What about shields and cloak?”

“If we don’t have engines running and don’t send any communications outside of this ship, we should be okay. I can’t guarantee it until I know what this is.”

Karken’al hit the ship-wide communications button, “Unidentified issue has presented itself; we’re powering down until the science team can assess the situation. Shields and cloak to remain online. Communication limited to in-ship only. Bridge portal to remain offline until further notice.”

He ended the ship-wide call and walked over to Jil’ana. “I need this figured out soon, we’re dead in the water here…drifting. Any way we could get into orbit around that moon,” he pointed to her screen.

“Wouldn’t risk it.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “It’s a grid of some sort. I think thrusters are safe if we need to maneuver, but just to stay in this spot…” her fist hit her workstation. “We went right through that wall of noise.”

“High alert!” Karken’al called out and the alarm was sounded.

“I’m trusting our cloaks and your ability to keep us hidden,” Karken’al said. “I want eyes on all scanners,” he said to the bridge crew, “if you see a ship diverting course, call it out.”

He put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Sorry to put all of this pressure on you.”

“I knew what I was signing up for,” she replied without taking her eyes off of her screens.

Karken’al sighed, “Still doesn’t seem right.” He walked to the flight station. “When she figures this out and if they Rayth don’t see us, have a path to Terra 2 that will keep us out of their line of sight…especially from that flagship.”

“Yes, sir,” Tel’lok replied.

He walked to his command chair, sat, and hit a button that produced what looked like a glass desktop across his lap. It was his main control panel. He went to his blank desktop and created a two-column note. “Pros” headed one column, and “Cons” the second. He was trying to decide it he should risk approaching Zy’nayth now or not. It would not be a decision lightly made.

January 29, 2121

Four days after General Karken’al Dubasi entered the system in which Terra 2 resided, General Vince Cavanaugh was released from the infirmary, though not allowed to return to work. He was also ordered by Victoria to stay in the room across the hall where David was still staying since John had returned to his own chambers the day before. She wanted him watched one more day before giving him a full release.

Meanwhile, Ja’val and his team found a room with four workstations, ten miles below the surface of Terra 2. Had it not been for the fissure it created by one of the quakes, not even Ja’val’s scanners could have found it. “Our scanners can’t even detect this structure. This image, the metal here,” Ja’val motioned to his display, “looks like gravaium. A metal used by the Mythicans.”

In the Control Room, he was meeting with Zy’nayth, Kol’non, John, Kaven, Be’atta, Chris, and Simon Harris, the expedition’s Chief Technology Engineer.

“This is very old. At least as old as this city-ship. I’ve only managed to get these few images, but our scanners are picking up too much interference to scan the make-up of the metal. There must be something built into the structure to keep it shielded from our scanners. But I ran a test just before this meeting and our drones are not affected by whatever’s being vented so I’ll be sending a couple more down. Once the drones get there, my Second and I will work to fix things.”

“So it is fixable?” John asked.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Like I said, I can’t see anything yet. This is just the outer part of the fissure, I need to find a way down into the room. This is just peeking through a crack, nothing big enough for a drone to fit through,” Ja’val said. “However, I’m positive that whatever’s in here is causing the quakes. If it’s causing the quakes, that means the quakes aren’t a natural occurrence which we have no way of preventing and in theory, we can fix.”

“What can we do to help?” Kaven asked.

“Right now, it’s just up to me and my team. My Second should have the drones prepped and ready to launch in about…” he looked at the clock on his tablet, “well, now. Just pray that the quakes don’t close up any entry point. They quakes seem to be getting worse, the big ones in any case, but are still going off at the same intervals.”

“Which means we need to be praying more,” Be’atta said. “I really don’t want to move homes again. I’ve come to love this planet. We have to be able to fix this.”

“If anyone can, my Science team can,” Zy’nayth said.

“I should get to it. There’s not really anything else I can tell you. I just need to get to work,” Ja’val said. “Simon, when I get some information, I’ll call on you. I know you and are team are just getting back on your feet, but we need to work on this together.”

“Not a problem,” Simon replied. “Call any time. Though I’m pretty sure you’ll be doing all the work. I know very little about Mythican tech.”

“Which is why I want you there. You need to learn more,” Ja’val said.

“Let me know if I can help in any way,” Zy’nayth said.

“Could use another pilot for the drones. I hear you’re pretty good,” Ja’val said. “My men and I are decent, but I’d rather focus on the data and leave the driving to someone else.”

“I can do that much. Everyone else try to rest if you can. I do not wish for my wife to complain that you all had relapses. You do not have to live with her day in and day out.”

John gave the warrior a quizzical look. Zy’nayth was not one to joke around, at least not during a meeting, and especially not about his wife. Kaven, however, burst into laughter which brought a twinkle to Zy’nayth’s eye.

“It was a joke?” John grinned.

“I am quite capable of humor.”

John shook his head, “I know but…so out of character during something like this.”

Zy’nayth gave him a wink as he readied to leave. “Levity is good when there is much stress. Get rest. If we need you, we will contact you.” He left with Kol’non, headed to the flagship, while John stayed in the Control Room in case they needed to pilot the city-ship to a different position. The rest, including Simon, went to Victoria and Zy’nayth’s chambers.

“Vince! Who let you out?” Chris said when he saw the general sitting in the living room.

“Victoria finally released me on the condition I stay here until she can check on me when she gets off duty. So, fill me in on what’s going on. Never thought I’d be so happy for work.”

Chris sat beside him and went over the information from their short meeting. Kaven sat on the floor and played with the dogs, something he’d been too busy to do the last couple of weeks. “Well, Frostie, you glad to have Vince back? Hmm?” The puppy circled and barked and circled again. “We’re happy to have him back, too. And I hear you’ve made a couple of appearances in the infirmary to cheer people up.”

“The dogs have been great,” Vince said. “Everyone looks forward to their visits.”

“Did I hear you correctly?” Becket said, leaving the bedroom for the first time in a week. “Dogs in the infirmary?”

“We take them before or after lunch,” Mik’kenna said running up to him thinking he might need help walking. She put her arm around his waist, as if she could help the man should he begin to fall, “The puppies help people. Make them laugh.”

“In the infirmary? Sterilization procedures…”

“Don’t matter right now since everyone’s sick,” Vince said. “They’re not in the trauma ward or operating rooms.”

“No be mad, Uncle Becket,” Ky’nayth said, “they really help.”

Becket sighed and sank into the nearest chair. “Sorry. I just…Vince is right, everyone’s already sick. Kenna, thank you, love, for the helping hand.”

“We only take one or two of the little puppies,” Mik’kenna said, “cause they no always mind. We watch them real close. They do good.”

“Come here, give me a hug,” Becket said to the twins, “I love you guys so much. Thank you for taking care of my patients.”

Janice came walking in, “Doc, you want some eggs, oatmeal, pancakes? Whatever you want, I’ll make it.”

Amelia came walking in, yawning, then scolded her husband, “I told you to wait for me. I don’t want you walking by yourself, you’re not that strong yet.”

“I made it just fine thanks to Kenna. Janice, I think I’ll stick to scrambled eggs…though pancakes sound good.” He mulled over the choices and stuck with the scrambled eggs, not wanting the nausea to return.

As people began to feel better, more and more of city-ship came back to life. Becket, Amelia, Lutia, and Vince were the last guests in Zy’nayth and Victoria’s chambers. Everyone else had moved back to their own chambers except for David who stayed to help with cooking, chores, and watch over the dogs as well as to allow Janice to put in a few hours in the infirmary tending to other patients.

“I think you can return to your own chambers tomorrow night,” Victoria told Vince after giving him his bedtime checkup. “Everything still sounds good. But you’ve been laid up for two weeks so take it slow. Come here for meals. Or go to the mess.”

“You mean my normal routine,” he smiled. “I don’t cook.”

“I don’t want you back at work yet. We’ve had a few relapses, and you don’t want that, do you?”

“No. Never again. Doc, you look like you could use some rest.”

“I’m doing okay. Go to sleep and I’ll see you in the morning before I head to the infirmary.”

After checking on Becket, thankful that he was improving rapidly now, Victoria took a shower and settled in bed with her children, and, of course, Baxter and Celeste. Zy’nayth was still on the flagship working with Ja’val.

***

“There!” Ja’val nearly shouted, “Hold it there.” Ja’val used his computer to zoom in on the image Zy’nayth’s drone was displaying. “Incoming…evasive maneuvers,” he said as another quake shook the area sending debris raining down on the two drones. “Got a good shot of the panel, move in when you can.”

“Both of us?” the Second Science Commander, Gno’toz, asked.

“Yes. When the dust settles. I don’t want you getting stuck.” A minute later when the literal dust had settled, Zy’nayth and Gno’toz moved their drones deeper into the room they had finally reached. “Commander, go to your left. Yes. Get to that workstation. Chancellor to the right. First, clean off the control top then we’ll power them up and get good images, all angles. Once that’s done, we’ll move to the other two workstations.”

The maneuvering of the drones took much more skill than the Second Science Commander had, he was, after all, a scientist, not a pilot. The constant movement to avoid falling debris from the large crack in the ceiling was not something he had trained for. Running the drone to take samples and such wasn’t a problem, but having to perform evasive maneuvers while doing so was frustrating. Zy’nayth, who thought it was fun, understood the frustration of someone doing something outside of their field of training and called for Kol’non to take over.

“You know,” Kol’non smiled as he dodged the falling debris, “this is something your son would love.”

“Indeed. And if the fate of a planet was not on the line, I would let him play.”

“We have more drones,” Ja’val said.

“Expensive drones,” Zy’nayth replied. “Good experience for him, but too costly should he get one destroyed in his playing.”

An hour later Ja’val told his two superiors to try and gather data from what they designated as workstation one. “I need some time to figure out a few things, might as well data mine while I’m doing this.”

“Do you think there might be more information than what’s in the Mythican database?” Kol’non asked as he moved his drone to one of four workstations in the large chamber.

“This underground facility wasn’t in the database,” Ja’val said. “So there’s a good chance there’s something else we don’t know about.”

“Perhaps another one of these facilities,” Zy’nayth moved his drone over to west end of the room and used one of its arms to point at one of the two corridors. “I really want to go down those corridors.”

“Can’t risk that now, sir.”

“Workstation connection established,” Kol’non said, “Second, ready to receive?”

Gno’toz gave an affirmative answer then the records from the workstation began downloading to his own station.

“What we have designated as workstation two has a faulty connection port,” Zy’nayth said, having returned to the business at hand. “Moving onto number three.”

By the time the information from the three operational workstations were downloaded, Ja’val and Gno’toz had figured out what was wrong with the system, at least the software end of things.

“One of you will need to stay in the control room, one gets to go to the main generator room,” Ja’val said.

“Your choice, Commander,” Zy’nayth said to Kol’non.

“I’ll let you travel.”

“Which tunnel, Science?”

“North. Commander get to workstation three.”

Zy’nayth’s drone floated a short way into the tunnel. “Door. Access panel blocked. I can move debris or…”

“Hold. Commander, go to workstation two,” Ja’val said.

“Got it,” he said already at the station and tapping into the controls to find the override command.”

“Good. Door opened,” Zy’nayth said, “or not so good. Cave in. I will see if I can get through. Is there an alternate?”

Ja’val scanned through the schematics they had found. “Long way around, and if this area’s blocked, it’ll take longer down the other area. Best to work your way through.”

“Schematics come with those downloads?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Vents. See if there are vents I can use if need be.” Ja’val looked to Gno’toz who immediately began to check while Ja’val looked at other data.

“Safe to blast through some of this?” Zy’nayth asked.

“In theory,” Ja’val replied.

“Lowest frequency,” Zy’nayth said powering up the lasers on the drone, “in three, two, one.” There was a burst of blue light and the top of the closest mound disintegrated. Slowly he maneuvered his drone down the corridors to a large circular room, dodging and darting, firing when necessary. “I believe I am at the main power room. Four workstations here. Where would you like me to start?”

Ja’val gave both Zy’nayth and Kol’non instructions. They did as they were told. Kol’non would adjust settings on various workstations in his area while Zy’nayth adjusted controls in the power room.

Several minutes later, Ja’val sat back in his chair and let out a sigh of relief. “Okay, she’s off. Quakes should stop, or at least slow. Who knows how much this thing has stirred up.” He let out another long breath. And ran his fingers through his hair. “Let’s give ourselves a couple of minutes.”

“What is the next step?” Zy’nayth asked.

“Find out what broke. Which should be easier to do if the quakes subside now that we’ve turned the power off. Won’t have to worry about cave-ins or falling debris.”

Zy’nayth moved his drone around the massive room, scanning everything. “This room has been well protected,” he said, “very little damage. Shall I remove the grate around these pipes?”

“You can take a five-minute break,” Ja’val said.

“Having too much fun,” he smiled then checked the time. “It is late. We need to be with our families. We have achieved the first, and perhaps most important objective. Your team can begin going over the schematics and we can start back up in the morning, unless you think there is a danger that we need to tend to tonight.”

“You’re right,” Ja’val rubbed his eyes and yawned. “We need to find out more from that data dump. And if my theory is correct and the generator is bad, now that the power’s off, the quakes should stop. Honestly though, I can’t guarantee it.”

“There is nothing in danger. We have cleared out the mainland, what needs to be safe is safe.”

“Then let’s call it a night. I’ll send out some instructions to my nightshift crew then bridge to the city-ship. If Lutia’s still in your chambers, tell her I’ll be there in fifteen, twenty minutes.”

“I will,” Zy’nayth stood and put a hand on Ja’val’s shoulder. “Good work. Gno’toz, you as well.”

Zy’nayth returned to the city-ship while Kol’non went to his chambers on the flagship where Be’atta was sound asleep. Shadow, their Jack Russell Terrier, heard him enter and went to greet him, jumping off the bed, stirring Be’atta.

“Sorry, Be’atta,” Kol’non said as he took off his long, black leather jacket and boots.

“How’d it go?” she sat up and stretched.

“We found the power room and turned off the generator. Ja’val thinks that will stop the quakes. At least that’s what we hope.” He kissed her cheek. “Go back to sleep. I still need to shower and change.”

Zy’nayth found Lutia asleep in a recliner, Kel’lan and little Cinnamon on her lap, cuddled under a blanket. He walked over and gently nudged her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open and saw him smiling at her. “Twenty minutes,” he whispered, “he will be here. Go to Mik’kenna’s room, I will send him there.”

She nodded. Zy’nayth tenderly picked up the baby while Lutia tucked Cinnamon in her arms and walked down the hallway to Mik’kenna’s room. She got settled with her baby and Zy’nayth closed the door. He closed himself in the bathroom across the hall to call Ja’val and let him know where Lutia was then he went to his own bedroom. Mik’kenna was sitting in a chair, looking out at the stars. Zy’nayth went over and tousled her hair. “Go to bed,” he whispered, then kissed her cheek.

“I just like looky. Can we put up telescope?”

“We need to fix the quakes first, then I can get my crew to look at our balcony and make sure it is safe. I am sorry it is taking so long.”

“It’s ‘kay, thank you.”

“Please go to sleep, sweetheart,” he whispered again.

He gathered his pajamas, went into the private bathroom and took a long, hot shower. When he came out, Victoria ushered him back to the kitchen where a plate of warmed up meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, and a tall glass of iced tea was set out for both him and Ja’val.

“Thank you, beloved. I did not mean to wake you,” he said as Ja’val walked in, wearing pajamas and yawning.

“Yes, thanks, Victoria. What time are we starting in the morning?” he said after Zy’nayth prayed over the food.

“Seven. We can have breakfast with our family then teleport up and get right to work.”

“Make it eight,” Victoria said. “My first day to sleep in an extra two hours. I mean, if it’s urgent, fine, but if there’s any wiggle room, your wife would like at least one of those extra hours of sleep.”

“Eight it is,” Zy’nayth said.

“And I’d like to ask a favor of the High Chancellor,” she smiled.

“What would that be?”

“When things settle, I want you to take me and the kids to the island home for some down time. They can play with the kids, you can actually go into the office, I can sit in my backyard and read.”

“As soon as things settle, as you said, I will see to it.”