Chapter 4
Two days after the incident, Katie was finally released from the infirmary. That afternoon, Katie and her best friend from Australia, Dr. Lynara Alexston, were talking in the mess hall about the mission on Ser Universita; how Rodney was such a jerk to her and about the nuclear contaminated, purple grass's affect.
"Good God! You must have been absolutely frightened," Lynara exclaimed to Katie.
"Yes. It was a scary situation! Luckily we had some intelligent people with us. Radek, for instance, was able to modify the beaming device aboard the space battleship created by the Ancients. So, he was able to beam us up when things got a little too out of hand with the poisoned plants," Katie replied. Lynara abruptly looked perplexed, and Katie could sense that instantly. They've been friends for ten years, after all. It was no problem to infer what the other could be thinking.
"What," Katie inquired.
"It's just that…when you talk about Radek I hear a certain… tone in your voice. That's all." Lynara looked down, picked up her fork and continued eating her mashed potatoes.
"If you think you can just stop the conversation there, you are sadly mistaken. What exactly are you alluding to," Katie questioned Lynara.
Lynara looked up at Katie once again, sighed and peered about the room to make certain nobody was close enough to hear what she was about to say, which was, "Are you falling in love with Dr. Zelenka?" Katie's eyes automatically widened at this inquiry. She could not believe those words had actually came out of Lynara's mouth. Furthermore, Katie had no idea what to say in response. It's true she liked Zelenka's personality and found him attractive both physically and in terms of characteristic traits. Still, Katie didn't know how to respond to her friend's question, and she wasn't so certain she wanted to lie to her friend. "Would it be lying, though? If I honestly don't know the answer, and I told her I was not in love Zelenka, then would it be a lie," Katie wondered to herself.
"Alright, to be honest, Lynara: I have no clue," Katie finally answered. "But I don't think I'm in love. There's no such thing as love at first sight."
"Perhaps it's just fascination at the moment. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with it if you do end up falling in love with him. It's just I have noticed a change in you ever since your return from that plant mission," Lynara kindly said. "Until now, I wasn't quite certain what it was."
"What change is that," Katie inquisitively asked Lynara.
"You seem happier. Like… as if you glow whenever I pass you in the hallway. I don't remember ever seeing you this happy since you were dating Rodney," Katie shyly grinned at Lynara's statement.
"Does he know?"
"Excuse me," Katie shockingly inquired.
"Does Radek know how you feel?"
"Uh… no, and I think it is best to keep it that way," Katie replied.
"You think so, eh?"
"Yes, I do."
"Is that so? Because I think you should ask him out," suggested Lynara.
"What," Katie was so appalled by Lynara's advise she couldn't help her expression. "I barely know him!"
"That's right," Lynara started. "And you won't ever get to know him if you sit by and do nothing,"
"Yes. That's partially true, but-,"
"Listen, Katie. If you don't feel comfortable, then insist to Radek that it's just two people eating lunch together and nothing more. If you want it to be a date, then let it be one. If you don't, that is fine too. I'm not trying to force you to date him. I just think you two should get better acquainted." Lynara pointed out. "I suppose it couldn't hurt to ask," Katie thought.
"I'm just not certain about what I should do," Katie revealed to Lynara. "If I ask Radek to eat lunch with me, he could say, 'no' and as teenage-like this may sound: I would feel very foolish afterward if he declined."
"Well, I would be casual about it. Just be yourself," Lynara advised.
Katie looked at her watch. "Oh my God! It's already two o'clock. I have to get going," Katie said as she raised herself from the chair and began to walk toward the plate conveyer. Lynara walked beside her.
"Where are you headed anyway?"
"Actually, I'm on my way to Lab 8 for further experimentation on the purple grass," Katie responded. "…and in case you are wondering: yes, Radek is going to be there. I promised I would be there at two o'clock because he offered to help. I insisted otherwise because I am well aware he could be doing more important things, but he was pretty adamant about helping me. Not saying Radek is incompetent by any means, but I don't understand why he would offer when it's not his field of study!"
"Well, I suppose this would be an opportunity to ask him about lunch. Take your time though. No need to rush things," said Lynara.
Katie laughed a little, and then good-humoredly said, "I think I'll be fine, Lynara. I'm a big girl after all."
"Okay, then. I'll talk to you later," Lynara happily answered.
"See you later," Katie responded.
