“Why are you being literal when I am finally speaking in human terms?” MONA asks as the others on the ship belt in behind the pilot’s seat. “He said you would understand 110 percent.”
Elix rasps and tries to reach his wound. He gives up and grabs a nutrient supply, connecting it to his port. “Don’t want you to get rusty on me.”
“Zariah,” MONA says. “Check his readouts on the main screen. I must focus on the portal. But I am registering low serum levels in his body. My analysis suggests he is irritable because of this.”
Elix’s eyes roll around in his head. Blood trickles down his chest. I strap him in and find a nonstick bandage in a cabinet. I tape it to his proud pec, then take the seat he once sat in when I was injured.
“We are secured, MONA.”
“Understood.”
A green-blue light opens ahead of the ship and swallows us. The portal fades, and we enter a familiar stretch of asteroid-littered space.
MONA closes the door to the medbay, sealing us off from the others. “Zariah, do you see what I do?”
“He’s dangerously low.” Elix’s wristband relays the information onto the screen on the wall behind his head. “In the red.”
“Why did you close the doors?” Elix asks.
“Privacy.” MONA says.
A cabinet door flashes beside me.
“Zariah, you should have enough to save him. Please fill a vial from your port and inject it into his. You will have to disconnect the nutrient supply.”
Elix grimaces. “She can’t have enough. She doesn’t have a gland.”
I collect the vial from the cabinet, wondering what MONA knows that we don’t.
A green laser grid sweeps over me.
“She is growing one.” MONA switches on a nearby screen. “Please fill the vial, Zariah. He is running out of time.”
I clumsily guide the vial to the back of my neck when Aurelius enters. “Let me help.”
“Aurelius, you are not permitted,” MONA says defensively. “Why did you disarm my privacy barrier?”
Aurelius takes the vial. “You think I do not know and that I cannot detect the change in her scent? Everyone thinks my people have advanced beyond primal instincts. Maybe they are right to some degree. But I know the scent of a pregnant female when I encounter it.”
“Excuse me?” I twist to look up at him. His eyes hold no mischief this time.
“I do not wish to take this from you,” he says, calmly connecting the vial. “But when he is well again, he will produce plenty of serum to heal both of you.”
MONA chimes in. “Correction, three.”
Elix’s eyes wander to mine as the vial fills. He tries to stop Aurelius, but he is no match for the purple warrior’s strength. Aurelius disconnects the vial and walks to his friend.
“Give it back to her.” Elix continues to resist.
Aurelius binds Elix in a strong arm and connects the vial to his port.
“I’m fine.” I take Elix’s hand and summon his gaze.
Only when he meets my eyes with his own does he relax and accept Aurelius’ actions.
When the vial is empty, Aurelius opens a cabinet and deposits the vial into a cleaning chamber.
“How can you open that?” I ask.
