Page 125 of Every Almost

"I told you the results would be ready this afternoon," Kess started. "Three hours ago." Kess turned around then and stared pointedly at Reyna. Reyna had the modesty to lower her gaze.

"Ah, that," Reyna said.

Kess's mouth twitched. She uncrossed her arms and crossed to Reyna. "No skin off my nose, Rey. I just think you're going to want to see this properly." Kess sat down next to Reyna on the med bed, her datapad in hand.

Kess's use of her first name, down to its single syllable, meant the door was officially closed and they were off the clock. It was just them, friend to friend.

Kess walked her through Charlie's full results, each line of data confirming what the preliminary scan had suggested: Charlie's biology was nearly identical to Kaelari.

"She's us, Rey. Or close enough that the distinction is academic in every way that matters for treatment."

"Except the markings."

"Except the markings, the ears, and approximately 110 additional years of lifespan. But structurally? Cellularly?" Kess shook her head. "I've never seen anything like it. A species froma non-contact planet on the opposite end of Coalition space, and their biology mirrors ours almost exactly."

"What does it mean?"

"It means I can treat her. Confidently. It means she can eat our food, breathe our air, and her body will respond to our medical interventions as though she were Kaelari. It also means someone, somewhere, has a very interesting evolutionary question to answer. But that's not my department."

Reyna studied the datapad display. The data was clean, comprehensive. Kess had been thorough, as always.

"There's something else I want to discuss," Kess said. Her voice shifted. Not dramatically.

"Okay."

"You took the surgical gun from me."

It was said calmly. Clinically, even. But Reyna had known Kess for eleven years, and she heard the question underneath the statement.

"She was terrified," Reyna said. "You scared her. Twice, I might add."

"Ah, yes. I think that was about the time you gave me the 'asshole' stare."

"You deserved it at the time. Someone needed to de-escalate."

"Someone did," Kess agreed. "You. Instead of asking me to adjust my approach, which would have been the standard protocol, you demanded a medical instrument straight out of your chief medical officer's hands to perform the procedure yourself."

"You sound upset. Are you upset?"

Kess paused a moment before answering, seeming to give it thought. "No. I'm not. Not at all, actually. Just... surprised. And that doesn't happen often for me, as you well know." Reyna nodded, her eyes falling to the floor.

"It was a judgment call."

"It was."

Reyna could see Kess looking at her out of the corner of her eye. She watched as her markings didn't shift, her expression didn't change. But something in the stillness of both told Reyna that this observation would be revisited.

"Can I ask you a question without you getting jumpity?"

"When am I ever 'jumpity'?" Reyna asked incredulously, whipping her head up and shifting sharply on the med bed to face Kess. Kess quirked an eyebrow and looked Reyna up and down slowly. Reyna raised her eyes to the ceiling and then closed them. "Yes, I will do my best not to be 'jumpity' with your question."

"Thank you." Kess studied her, Reyna feeling her friend searching her eyes for something. She wasn't sure what. "Do you think she's going to be okay?"

Reyna shook her head. "Pardon?"

"Charlie," Kess stated, matter-of-factly. "Do you think she's going to be okay on the ship? Medically, I can attest that her body can handle it. But emotionally, mentally..."

Reyna relaxed, letting her shoulders fall. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "I hope so. I just wish there wassomethingwe could do to help her contact her family. I think that small piece would make the entire six months bearable, you know?"