
The guard, Nisko, as he had introduced himself, had let Cassidy keep the cube for now, so long as she brought it to the learning center later, when she’d finished exploring it’s capabilities. Something she would have to do alone, the cube only had about a five foot radius for projection, but given how often she was within five feet of others...well, she wasn’t quite ready to share, and having images blasted into your mind unsolicited seemed rude.
She had tucked the toy neatly into a pocket, expertly extracted herself from the offer to discuss things farther with Nisko at the evening meal, and headed across the compound toward the medical building. It was nearly mid-day meal so her goal was to check on Becky and then give the samples Tor had her complete the night before a quick going over, just to make sure that they were doing as expected. It might be a little paranoid, they shouldn’t be showing anything quite yet, but she wanted to do well and it made her a bit anxious to think the woman’s health might be dependent on her ability.
The examination room Becky had been assigned was dark when she neared, the door open, the lumpy form of an unmoving blanket on the cot. Cassidy deliberated at the door, if Becky was resting then she likely shouldn’t disturb her, but it was a little concerning given that it was early afternoon. She shouldn’t still be sedated...should she?
“Cassidy?” it was Becky’s soft voice that stopped her when she finally decided she would pass by the room and check the samples instead.
“I thought you were asleep,” Cassidy stepped into the room and pulled the single stool out from against the wall, squinting a little to get a look at the woman in the gloom. One of her pale arms stuck out from beneath the blanket, the vibrant rash didn’t seem any better than the day before. Becky looked up at her, eyes clear. She seemed a little better though, the fever must have given way at least.
“Not sleeping,” Becky reassured her, “just thinking.”
“How are you feeling?”
Becky rolled onto her back, the blanket shifting to her waist, and folded her hands over her stomach. “A little better.”
“Has Tor been by? I know most of our tests will take more time, but if you’re feeling better maybe it’s because what he has been doing is going to work.”
Becky’s lips lifted a little, but the smile seemed half-hearted. “He came in earlier and shit on me for not eating enough, so I guess he’s feeling better about how I’m doing.”
Well, at least she had a bit of humor left.
“And Gorth? I know he was pretty desperate to see you yesterday, do you want me to tell him you’re awake now?”
Now Becky frowned, which wasn’t exactly the reaction Cassidy was expecting. “No, I don’t really feel like company right now.”
“Oh…” Cassidy stood.
“Not you, dummy. I just...don’t want him to see me like this.”
“Oh Becks, I don’t think he cares,” Cassidy reassured her.
“Maybe,” the woman agreed.
Cassidy sighed. Becky was obviously not feeling quite like herself. A visit from Gorth might help, but she wasn’t about to go against her friend’s wishes.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked.
“Will you look after my gardens?”
Cassidy studied the woman, she was resolutely looking at the ceiling, her face drawn. “Of course. It’s not like they’re going to suffer if you’re gone for a few days, but sure.”
Becky tossed her a bleak look. “...Yeah...just in case it’s longer than that.”
Cassidy held her tongue, but frustration swam through her. It was a little early to be giving up and she wanted to tell Becky just that. The stubborn set of the woman’s jaw suggested it would be a waste of her time however.
“I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” she comforted as well as she could, “but, yeah, I’ll do my best to see to the gardens for however long you need.”
Becky nodded, her focus still resolutely on the ceiling. “Thanks, Cass.”
The conversation weighed on Cassidy the entire time she spent checking the samples. Some were ready for the additives that Tor had taught her to use, so she was happy she had taken the time to check on them. She did as he had instructed and then marked them as progressed into the next step.
There had to be something she could do for Becky. Something that would pull her out of the funk she was in. She considered, briefly, giving the woman the cube to play with, but Becky had never really shown much interest in that sort of thing.
She paused in her work. Flowers. That was the answer. She could arrange for flowers for the woman, however many it took to break the blah mood she was in. It would be a great way to involve Gorth too, without going against Becky’s wishes.
Plan set firmly in mind she cleaned up the lab and made her way toward the door. The evening meal should be set out soon and her stomach was almost cramping with hunger. She’d grab food for the medical building and pose her idea to Gorth, and be back in time to ask Tor about the orchard sample that looked a little off.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she almost plowed right into Tor, who was standing in the open doorway.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry,” she rushed. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
Tor looked...terrible. As if he hadn’t slept at all the night before. His skin was pale...well, paler than usual, his hair mussed and deep wells had formed beneath his eyes.
“The samples?” he managed.
“Some were ready, as you showed me so I added the solution to them, they are marked. The rest aren’t ready yet. I was going to go and get the evening meal and come back. I figured I could check on them through the evening. Give you a break.”
Tor just stood there a moment, an odd look on his face.
“Is everything okay?” Cassidy asked when he said nothing.
To her surprise he simply held out a hand, in which was one of the flat tablets she often saw the Liviarians carrying around.
“What is this?” she asked, more than a little wary of his subdued mood.
“A tablet,” he rolled his eyes and looked at her like she might be a few brain cells short. Ah. There he was, now she could relax.
“...Okay...but why?” It wasn’t as if it would be of any use to her. She spoke and understood the main Livarian language, but she couldn’t read it.
“Huntak and Pheobe have been working on a tech...an app she called it, to translate Livarian to...your language. I convinced them that it is imperative to work on the medical database first. This is for you.”
Cassidy blinked.
“Now you don’t have to waste my time,” he told her, “you can do your own research.”
She snorted. He wasn’t fooling her with his sour words. He had taken the time and had the forethought to do this for her. It was a gift, pain and simple.
Tor didn’t seem like he would be much of a hugger, but she threw her arms around him anyway, giving him a quick squeeze before stepping back.
Tor hadn’t moved, but his eyes had widened, comically so.
“Thank you,” she grinned at him and made to move past him, through the door.
“Cass?”
There was that little flutter again. “...Yeah?”
“You’re welcome.”
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