Chapter by LilManiac

Ian

Most of the last night was spent with Amanda, by her bedside. I didn't want to leave her until I absolutely had to. For the most part, she slept all right. But there were times… she'd be sick in the bowl we'd given her, or she'd wake up screaming. Bad dreams haunted all of us. Blood, death… the screams of lives being shattered…

I managed to send a coded transmission to Lowri's ship, which wasn't far off from our current location. At one thirty that morning, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a young woman there. Curly strawberry blond hair, blue eyes… it was Rally. Or, better known as Rtaia. Her human name was Rally. I don't know why she picked that name. Yet… it seemed to suit her human form.

"Ian" She said, coming and hugging me tightly. Then she moved away from me, and came inside. She set her little bag down, which was filled with some healing herbs and other 'gadgets' as Jade liked to say, and went over to stand next to Amanda on the bed. She placed a hand on Amanda's forehead, then took it away.

"She's still sweating" Rally observed.

"The symptoms are erratic. We don't know…"

"I will take care of her while you are gone, little Senaad. I will make sure she is as comfortable as possible"

"Thanks Rally. I appreciate it" I said. Half an hour later we had our bags packed, and all met on the pier.

"Is Amanda…"

"Still asleep. Rally's gonna take care of her while we're gone" I explained, and Jade gave me a little hug. I smiled down at her. I knew her heart was breaking too…

"Rally? Who's Rally?" Fred asked as he led us down to his uncles boat.

"Rtaia. She's a Chanaiben, of course. She might be able to help Amanda more than any of us could" I said as we boarded the boat. We set our bags down in the small cabins, located in the lower deck, then went back up. We stood or sat, watching as Fred took the boat out into the bay, then out into the ocean. He instructed us on this and that, like getting the anchor up (Robert and I managed to do that) and to check the compass. We were heading in the right direction, according to Erik.

I watched in a daze, later on as the sun began to peek up over the horizon, and how Jade kept running to the side of the boat to throw up. Along with her protests to 'slow the damn boat down'. But she knew that wasn't possible, and Becky soon took care of her. Robert sent me a look of assurance as he headed just outside, with the swell spraying up over the boat from time to time. It was amazing.

"So, this Rally character… what can she do for Amanda?" Fred asked.

"She's a natural herbalist on our planet. She might be able to infuse some plants from our planet to keep Amanda more comfortable. She can't… help her get better…" I broke off. The image of Amanda lying so pale and clammy on that bed was painstaking enough. Knowing she could die… it was ripping me to shreds. Outside, I heard Becky talking to Jade as she chucked over the side again, and Robert mumbling something under his breath.

"I think I've got something for seasickness in my medical supplies. Erik?" Fred queried, and Erik nodded and went downstairs. Seconds later he came back with two tablets, and a fresh glass of water. The boat rocked a bit, but Erik managed to get it out to her. I stuck my head out the door and watched as he gave them to Jade, who thanked him and took them eagerly.

"What's wrong? Still don't trust us?" Karen asked nastily.

"No. I was just checking if Jade was all right. She's been sick a lot lately. Nothing like on the fights in space"

"Maybe she's just seasick. Lots of people are" She said, although in a much gentler tone. I guessed she understood in a way what I was going through. She'd nearly lost Erik two nights before.

"I guess… you're right. That's still another human trait I'm still having trouble figuring out" I said honestly as I ducked my head back in and began to pace. I was becoming restless. There was no way I would last three days like this. By the time it was 'mid-day' I was sick of it. Jade was better, and seeming to be able to keep food down, which was a good thing. For a short time I believe that she too had contracted the virus, but… I was wrong. Jade would tell me straight out of something had hit her. She wouldn't try to hide it.

So, the first day we were all restless. Uneasy. We took turns at the wheel, believe it or not, so Fred could have a break. I found steering the big beast of a boat was relatively easy; nothing like piloting a Chanaiben fighter, or a cruise ship like Lowri's. When my 'turn' was over, I went back down to the lower decks, and into my new room. I changed out of the clothing I had been wearing ever since we discovered Amanda had the virus, and into a grey t-shirt, and dark jeans. I was still getting used to the idea of human clothing. I was used to the clothing itself, mostly because Amanda had introduced me to the world of 'clothes'. After Robert had introduced me to a pair of shorts and a shirt he let me take. But Amanda…

We got together when we were at the human age of fourteen. We had sort of asked each other out, two months after the final fight with the Terinans. I had grown to love the human girl Amanda; she took away all the bad things that had happened and instead replaced them with good memories. This was not pity; I knew that from the start. She never treated me like I was apart from the human race. She treated me like I was a human. And, to some extent, I was. Half my life I had spent around them, and I had picked up on a lot of human manners and ways. Such as kissing. I enjoyed kissing. Our way of 'kissing' was quite complicated. Kissing Amanda the very first time… as a human… had been mind blowing. Holding her was a blessing. But… we had not gone to 'third base'. No, Amanda didn't want it that way. Neither did I. We shared a room, and a bed, but when I slept there, it was as my true self. Not the human named Ian. The way I was now…

A knock on the door made me look up from what I had been doing. I gave the ok to come in, and Jade stepped through the door. She still looked pale.

"Are you all right?" I asked patting the bed next to me. She sat down, trying to smile but not quite pulling it off. I put my arms around her and hugged her.

"Ian, I… Amanda's…"

"She'll be fine until we get back" I assured her, although I didn't quite believe it myself. And what was worse, was that Jade saw straight through me.

"I'll kill every filthy Yeerk before I let her die" Jade said, a sudden menace in her voice. I knew she was telling the truth.

"Agreed" We sat in silence, just hugging each other in assurance, before she let go to look up at me.

"Ian, I have to tell you something"

"Is it about Marco? Because I know it was him last night"

She hesitated, then looked up at me and nodded "Yeah. Look, don't think differently of me but… but I…" She trailed off and touched her stomach, and I knew what she meant.

"You're pregnant? Yeah, I guessed" She looked shocked, but then nodded at me again, smiling a little.

"How'd you know?"

"You're not the only one that watches and listens. Becky and Amanda have been protective of you ever since the day we made the plan to come up here. I couldn't understand Becky's sudden interest in you, but Amanda…"

Jade laughed "She's like an open book at times"

"Yeah. But it's ok. Thanks for telling me"

"You… you're not mad?"

"Why would I be? You're like a human sister. Also, I think we're going to need all the help we can get. You up for it Jade?"

"Yes, yes I am. Anything for Amanda, and…" she touched her stomach again, and I could tell she was getting used to the idea.

"Are you… keeping it?"

"I… I don't know yet. A part of me wants to, but… another says I can't. This war… Marco… you know?"

"Yeah, I do. Now go get some rest. I need you in top form, and worrying and not eating is not going to help" I hugged her again, tightly this time. She returned it, both of us knowing that we'd do what it took to get Amanda back. No matter what.

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Robert

The next two days we were all on edge. No one could get away from one another, and that just made it worse. I nearly had a fight with Fred again, but Erik and Ian managed to break us up before it got as far as last time. Fred accidentally punched Ian when he was lashing out at me, and had to apologise after that. But Ian was in another world entirely, and told me the next time I did something that stupid again, he'd show me why I didn't want to mess with him as a Chanaiben. It was a direct threat from him, which was not what I was used to hearing. But the thing with Amanda had sent him overboard. There was a darkness behind his eyes now.

Becky and Jade did their best to keep us all in high spirits. Jade made too many jokes that I knew Marco probably would have made (and complained later to me that she'd been around him too long) and Becky's peppy air seemed to lighten the mood a bit more. I knew Amanda could have done something simular. Amanda had always been good at that. She worried a lot, but she also knew how to hug people and dance around and laugh. Her laugh used to make us all want to laugh. But without her… it was like the Black Angels heart had been ripped from the body.

I stood outside that first night, letting small sprays wet my face, and wake me up a little. The moon and stars were beautiful. And peaceful. The calm before the storm.

"You trying for a Titanic scene Robert?" Came the sweet voice, and I turned to see Becky join me on the front of the boat. I helped her up when she nearly tripped, and she took my arm when she was next to me. I guess she didn't like the idea of taking a dunk in the water as herself. We stood there for a moment in silence, just letting the scene sink in for a little.

"I was trying more for the sinking boat scene in it. You know, when the boat split in two?"

"Wait, you actually watched that movie?" Becky sounded surprised.

"Not really, but I knew the real Titanic split in two when it was sinking. How since almost every bulkhead in the ship was ripped open, that in turn started it sinking. How the fact that they were speeding through the water to get somewhere early cost them thousands of lives. Boats were understocked and sent out…"

"Wait, how do you know all this if you didn't watch the Titanic?"

"Facts. I used to be fascinated by the Titanic and her sister ships, and how they sunk, when I was about fourteen" I said sighing. I smelled the salt air, and remembered the night with Becky. The perfect night. And nothing was awkward anymore. She actually enjoyed my company, as I did hers. The walk on the piers, before we tailed the two men, had been one of the best experiences. It reminded me of watching when Amanda and Ian had walked off by themselves on day. The smiles on their faces… they loved each other.

But did I love Becky? That was a difficult question. I didn't really know what love was for me, or how long it took… I definitely felt something for her, that was sure. A warmth, and maybe a bit of desire… but… no, nothing like love. Still, I could learn to love someone who had taken the time to treat me like I wasn't a burden. Like I was a… what was the word? Boyfriend? I think that was it.

We stood there for a little longer, and I knew Fred was probably watching us. So I helped her back down to the side of the boat, then followed her. She shivered a little.

"It's cold out here. How long have you been out here?"

"About an hour, I guess" I shrugged, looking at my watch and realising it had been longer.

"Oh! Aren't you cold?!"

"Hmm… no, not really. Are you… do you want to go back inside?" I indicated to the door. She shook her head.

"Not unless you're coming in too" She said, shivering as she said this. I put my arms around her, unable to resist the temptation anymore.

"I think you should. You're shaking like a leaf!"

"Not until you come in" She insisted, and I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"All right then. Are you warm enough?"

"With you here? Yeah" she snuggled into my chest, her arms going around my waist tightly. It felt nice. To be wanted this way. I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders, rubbing her back to try and keep her warm.

"Good to hear. Now let's get you inside before you freeze to death" I led her inside, where Fred gave me death stares. Becky let go of me and went over to talk to him. I went back downstairs, remembering Ian's warning. No more fights with the Glass Dagger team. The look in his eyes scared even me.

We had a storm the next day, which rocked all of us. We went to bed on the second day, a little worse for wear. Early the next morning there was a knock on my door. I'd been having an unusual dream about drowning. Whoever was at the door had woken me up at just the right time. I went and opened the door to find Becky there.

"Mind if I come in? I couldn't sleep"

"Sure. It's a bit small in here though"

"I don't mind" She came in, and I shut the door.

"So… what's up?"

"Nothing. Just couldn't sleep. I thought… I could stay with you tonight"

"You… worried about when we get there?"

Her smile was gone, and she frowned and nodded.

"Yeah. We're going in… deep, and if we can't find what we're looking for…"

"Amanda, and in fact all of us, are dead. Yeah, I know too" I sat her down on the bed, and sat beside her.

"And… you're not worried?'

"Yeah, I am. It's just I don't think about it until it actually happens. The Terinan war taught me that, as well as my fathers…" I stopped myself before I could get any further.

"Your fathers what?"

"Never mind. It wasn't important"

"You sure? I mean, if you want to talk…" She was smiling again, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"More than sure. Now, let's try to get some sleep; I'm sure Fred will try and rip into me again tomorrow, and Ian and Jade don't need to see another zombie Black Angel…"

Becky giggled and looked up at me with those amazing eyes. In the dim light, she was even more beautiful than before. It took my breath away. And if I had the guts to, I would've told her that. Instead I said,

"Now lay down on the bed. I'll be here for you"

"You're not sleeping?"

"I am, just on the floor"

"But… stay with me. And… the bed might be…"

"If I do that, I'll be tempted to… and I don't want to hurt you"

"You won't. I don't want you to turn away from me. The first night we… it was the sweetest night I ever had"

"Really?" I was surprised. She nodded, smiling and putting her arms around me.

"You didn't hurt me. And you wont" She leaned up and kissed me gently on the lips. I responded, the need growing in me. The fear as well.

"All right then. But… just because we're going into certain danger" I said smiling down at her "You get a free pass for that"

"A pass?" She laughed at me, and then kissed me again. We lost ourselves again, unable to keep the need in both of us away.