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Chapter 6 - Illumination

Samuel smiled and sung along to some song that only he knew. He stood in front of the vials where he had been working to get Ashena's hair to glow for days. Seven vials glowed white.

Samuel continued to hum and danced in the spot where he stood.

The door to the med bay opened, and Ashena walked in with Logan escorting her. She wore beautiful, long robes of red with a black cloth covering her hair. Logan wore a pair of jeans and a nice, blue jumper.

Samuel glanced up. "And I sorted it out."

Ashena saw the glowing vials and cheered. "Oh! Samuel! I knew you would!"

Samuel held up a vial and shook it. They all watched it glow.

Logan grinned. "What is it? It's not….bad-"

Samuel laughed, "It's not bad. It's something so simple. Come on. Let's go get you glowing again, Shen. We have to let your people know you are alright."

He took them to a treatment room and Ashena sat up on the exam table. Logan stood behind the door and crossed his arms. As soon as the door was properly closed, Logan nodded that it was okay for Ashena to remove her cloth that hid her hair.

Samuel was busy looking in a cabinet. "Did you bring the crown?"

Logan nodded and held it up, "Yes. I have it. Here."

He handed a very thin, small crown to Samuel, who carefully placed it on Ashena's head.

Samuel smiled at her. "I have always liked that one. Looks like a halo."

Ashena giggled, "Logan says the same thing."

Samuel made some adjustments on the screen on the wall. "Has your Mum arrived?"

Ashena nodded. "Yes. She's been here for a few hours. Resting."

Samuel continued to look at the read-outs on the screen. "Resting? Is she well?"

Logan rubbed his arms. "Yes. Licis brought her out on a small craft. She's fine."

Ashena smiled. "I think she was more concerned with Logan. Legate has been helping him to relax."

Samuel laughed, "Yes, they have."

Logan shrugged his shoulders and grinned.

Samuel held a small mask. "Alright. Put this on Shenny, and we'll see if I'm right."

Ashena held it to her face and watched as Samuel clicked a few things on the screen. Logan was immediately concerned. "What are you doing?"

Samuel looked back at him. "It's alright."

Ashena held out her hand and nodded that it was alright to Logan as she kept the mask on her face.

Samuel continued to look at the screen and read the levels it printed out. "Deep breaths. That's it."

Logan took Ashena's hand and in within moments, her hair began to glow. First where the thin crown touched her hair, and then it spread to the remainder of her long hair.

Logan smiled, "Shen. You're glowing."

She kept the mask on her face, but they could see she was smiling under it.

Samuel pressed a button on the screen and took the mask from her. "And that should do it! I love simple things."

Ashena laughed, "So, it's glowing? Completely?"

Samuel handed her a mirror, "See for yourself."

Ashena held the mirror and looked at herself. "Thank you, Samuel. Oh wow."

Logan inquired, "What was it?"

Samuel sat the mask on the cabinet. "Carbon dioxide poisoning."

They both listened as Samuel explained that Logan breathing out carbon dioxide had created too high of levels for her.

Ashena nodded and looked back at Logan. "When we sleep, I always put my head on his chest so he will breathe into my hair. I love it. It relaxes me. But, I see now it was causing a problem."

Samuel smiled and handed her an injector. "And you can continue to sleep like that. Now that we know what it is, as long as we treat it, it shouldn't be a problem."

Ashena smiled and looked back at the mask. "So, I won't have to wear a mask?"

Logan teased, "Like Darth Vader?"

Samuel laughed with Logan.

Ashena glanced back at Logan. "Star Battles?"

Logan rolled his eyes, "Star Wars, Shen. I'll get the rest of them so we can see them. How many are there?"

Samuel grinned and shook his head. "I have no idea. A lot less than where I'm from."

Logan rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Yes! Lots of Star Wars films!"

Samuel chuckled, "I had just seen Toy Story 8 when we left. Possibility, my favorite. And I didn't cry. No matter what Gene thinks she saw."

Logan looked surprised. "8? Really?"

Samuel nodded, "Yep. And Cars 5 was due out the following spring. I don't know why they haven't made as many of those."

Ashena smiled. "You lot have the maddest stories."

Logan rubbed his chin. "Umm. So, Ashena and I needed to speak to you, Sam."

Samuel sat down carefully on the stool. "Yeah, about what?"

"Umm. Well." Logan stumbled on his words.

Ashena glanced back at him. "Shall I?"

Logan waved his hand, "Yeah. That's fine."

"Logan and I have started discussing the possibility of children."

"Children?" Samuel repeated in surprise. "Are you trying? Is that the reason you stopped taking the birth control, Logan?"

Logan sighed. "It has to be out of my system for months. But, I don't even know if we…. can even…"

"Oh. I see."

Ashena looked back at him. "We wanted to ask if we could."

Samuel leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. "Ummm. Where I'm from, you do have children. But, I'm not sure…how they started."

Ashena grinned at Logan. "See? I talked you into it."

Logan crossed his arms and laughed. "It would seem so."

Samuel laughed. "The reproductive systems of both humans and Andromedeans are rather similar. There shouldn't be a problem."

Ashena looked back at Logan and smiled. "What do you think?"

"You know what I think, Shen." He grinned.

Samuel chuckled and sat up to stretch his back. "Well, if you need some tests ran, or whatever. Just let me know. I want to keep you close-by to make sure that's all it was with your hair for a bit."

Ashena nodded, "I understand. My mother and I need to make a recording to send home."

Logan planted himself firmly on his feet. "And I'm sure we'll be with the Quauhtin in the next few days."

Ashena sighed. "War. Sam, I can't even believe it's came to this. I know that you don't want to leave Karen while she's pregnant, but….would you consider bringing her with us? If we're summoned to the Quauhtin to speak to Lartius?"

Samuel couldn't hide the smile on his face. "She had the baby last night. I just took them both home. They are fine. She insists that she's resting with her. Anne, her mum, is with them."

Logan looked confused. "It's too early. She's really okay?"

Samuel smiled, "They both are. She was full term and was born last night. Well, early this morning."

Logan laughed, "Wow. Congratulations then!"

Ashena covered her mouth and laughed. "She's here! How wonderful!"

Samuel stretched his back again. "And, I need to get back to them. Let's go see if your Mum is available for that recording."

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