PERSONAL RECORD: DESIGNATION ZETA4542910-9545E
CTS THALASSA
478.2.6.04
We gathered the letters and documents in silence, but before we finished, Edwards tapped my shoulder. “Despite my protestations, Clarkson took all your samples. I will need a little more blood.”
Nate handed the last letter to Alec. “Why? You said she’s clear.”
Edwards shook his head. “This is not your concern, Timmons.”
“The void it isn’t,” he growled.
“It is well.” I touched his forearm. “I will comply, Edwards.”
Nate bit back his response when the infirmary doors parted and Dr. Clarkson herself strode in. Kyleigh moved closer to me, as if her small form would protect me from the virologist’s ire.
“I’ll be glad when that other ship shows up and fixes this one,” she complained. “Your commlink isn’t working, Edwards, just like Genet’s wasn’t yesterday.”
A hint of pink tinged Edwards’s cheeks, and his weak explanation made me suspect he had been avoiding Dr. Clarkson.
“I see you haven’t even been working.” Dr. Clarkson glowered. “Founders’ sakes, no one takes his job seriously around here.”
Jordan narrowed her eyes. “Hardly the way to ingratiate yourself, Clarkson.”
“I’m no sycophant, Jordan, and you know it,” the virologist began, but what I suspected would have grown into a tirade was curtailed by a chime from the computers.
Edwards held up a hand for silence, then hit a button.
Max’s deep rumble sounded over the speakers. “The shuttle hasn’t left, has it?”
“Not yet,” Jordan said. “If you—”
“Maxwell!” Dr. Clarkson interrupted. “You haven’t been answering, either.”
“I’ve been busy,” Max said tersely.
“That’s all well and good, but Genet and Edwards don’t understand the importance of what I’m doing. You’re as good as I’ll get.”
Jordan stiffened.
“Your point?” Max said without emphasis.
The virologist tsk’d. “Among other things, I need to run some simulations in VVR, but engineering says there’s not enough power. I need the generator Edwards is using for that medtank.”
Everyone froze.
“If you are referring to the tank holding the Recorder, no,” Max said with unusual sharpness. “Taking that generator is akin to murder.”
“She’s already as good as dead. The Consortium doesn’t like people messing with their own.” Dr. Clarkson affixed her glare on me, and anxiety scritched up my spine as if on insectile legs. “You can’t play favorites with lives on the line, Maxwell. We all know you’ve got a son in that group. Though maybe you’ve got more than one.”
Max did not respond.
My heart thundered, and Nate caught my arm. She knew who James was? Had her use of the communications link revealed his presence to Skip?
“Enough.” A vein in Jordan’s temple pulsed. “You have your answer: he said no.”
“We need to focus on the greater good here, which means giving me that generator,” Dr. Clarkson said, as if killing someone meant nothing.
How could she not see the value of a life?
“No,” I said.
“Stars, Recorder, it’s not up to you. And I’m merely pointing out that Maxwell’s biases are interfering with developing a cure.”
Jordan’s nostrils flared. “You won’t steal that generator and kill that woman. Nor will you undermine Dr. Maxwell again.” She pointed to the door. “Now.”
For eleven seconds, they faced each other. With a snort, Imogene Clarkson pivoted on her heel and stomped out of the infirmary.
The door closed, and I sank against Nate, whose heart hammered in his chest.
“I told you she was abrasive,” Edwards said.
Zhen glowered at the doors. “Abusive is more like it.”
“Max,” Jordan said softly.
The sound of a throat clearing came over the computer’s speakers. “I’m here.”
“Don’t worry about what she said.”
“Easier said than done.” Max exhaled. For five seconds, no one spoke, then he resumed in a tight voice. “Edwards? Did you finish synthesizing those antibiotics?”
“I did. They are packed and ready to go.”
“Good,” Max said. “Someone should keep an eye on the generator. I don’t trust Clarkson.”
Jordan scowled at the door. “I don’t, either. Tim, we need to talk to Archimedes about posting a guard.”
“Consider it done,” Nate said. “It’s not like you can lock people out of the infirmary, Edwards, but with only one of you here—”
“I’ll stay,” Kyleigh offered, “if you want the company. I’m neither a nurse nor a marine, but I can change sheets and wake you up if there’s an emergency.” When he did not respond immediately, she gestured at a computer. “Besides, I can work on the nanoencapsulation here, just like I did on the trip to New Triton.”
Edwards studied her for a moment longer. “That could be helpful.”
“I don’t think she’ll attempt to steal the generator.” Max paused. “Thank you, Venetia. I must be tired to let her get to me.”
I could not decipher her expression when she said, “You’re exhausted, Max. You need to rest.”
“No time,” he began, but the chime of four communications links interrupted him.
“Shuttle is loaded and waiting,” Communications Officer Adrienne Smith twanged, her nasal voice setting my teeth on edge. “You have twenty minutes, or you won’t make it.”
The link ended.
“Moons and stars,” Zhen snapped. “Maybe Archimedes can leave her and Clarkson on the moon together, and Tia Belisi and I can take comms.”
Max chuckled. “That might not be a bad idea.”
“Two hours, or so. Hold out until then,” Jordan said.
Zhen shot a peculiar look at her as the communications link cut off.
I buried my face in the hollow of Nate’s good shoulder, and he held me close.
“It’ll be okay,” he said.
Zhen bent over and kissed Alec. “Behave while I’m gone.”
“I don’t like this.” Alec’s brow furrowed. “You’ll be careful, babe?”
“I was born careful.” She pulled out a pack from under his bed. “Got my knives and my knitting this time, so I’m set.” She pivoted to me. “While I like the new outfit, you’ll need your suit.”
Edwards handed me a bag with the suit I had taken off when I had first entered the infirmary.
“I must retrieve the drone, Edwards,” I said. “There is no time to draw more blood.”
He did not meet my eyes. “Williams can send it on the next shuttle.”
“I can’t go down to Pallas until Max clears me,” Nate said. “But don’t worry. Jordan, Zhen, and I talked to Genet about keeping you safe.”
“I will have the drone.”
“We talked about that, too.” Zhen huffed, then tossed her long blue plait over her shoulder and grinned. “Like it or not, I’m your double.”
“And I’ll be watching both of you,” Jordan added. “We don’t have long before the shuttle departs, and I want you as deep in Pallas as possible before Attlee shows up. We’re already cutting it close.”
Kyleigh darted across the infirmary and threw her arms around me. “I need you to be safe.” I nodded, and she stepped back and patted my arm before hugging Jordan and Zhen as well. “All of you.”
“You’ll be safer there with J and Zhen than here,” Alec said.
Nate was silent as he and Edwards walked us to the double doors.
Edwards placed a hand on my shoulder. “Little one,” he said, as if I were a child. “Tell Williams I have left her a note.”
“A note?”
“To be on the safe side.” He gave me a brief hug, then backed away quickly. “You do not have a name yet, do you?”
I glanced up at Nate, then away.
“Ah. You are correct. It is unsafe,” Edwards said. “Perhaps when I see you next?”
“Perhaps.”
Nate traced my cheekbone, then pressed his lips to my forehead. “Don’t worry about us.”
I dared not look back as Zhen, Jordan, and I took the hall to the computer laboratory, where I rushed to gather the drone and the equipment I had left behind. Ignoring the buzz from my datapad and with Lorik’s drone at my side, I walked away from the room where I had first kissed my Nathaniel, leaving Thalassa—and Nate—again.