Author's Note: Happy New Year! It feels good to be posting again! I've had a lot of distraction during the holidays, but I've been writing here and there. Another chapter should be along before too long. After that chapter... there might be a massive one. It's unwritten, but I know what I want out of it. And I don't think I want to split it up.
That being said, how do y'all feel about chapters longer than 10,000 words? As always, enjoy.
Clint glances out the window between his bed and Ellie's. The moon is almost full, bright in the star-strewn sky. He should be sleeping. But he's not.
He sighs quietly and shifts under his blanket. He glances over at Ellie. Tonight she's on her side facing him, breathing easily. She might as well be an angel, peaceful like that.
He knows she wakes up frequently. Sometimes she walks quietly around the floor in bare feet, just to have something to do. The night guards are used to it. Some nights are better, though. This is one of them.
Clint can tell she's felt better since the surgery. And of course she would. Now her anxiety about whether the cure can ever work at all is front and center, and that's fair. They talk about it sometimes. But they don't get far. They're not scientists. Watanabe and Ikeda sure seem confident it can work, he pointed out a while back.
"What else can they do?" was her reply.
He lays back on his pillow and stares at the dim ceiling. In one way, his job since they left Jackson has been extremely simple. Help Ellie. Make whatever she needs to happen, happen. So how does he do that here?
She obviously depends on his company, and that's fine. Great, actually. What she really needs, though… He chews on his lip.
She just needs to be back in Jackson.
And if you fucking die protecting me…
He frowns at the memory.
I'll fucking kill you.
He guesses he needs to get his ass back in one piece, as well.
They're stuck here, though. For the meantime. Salvation is so fucking boring. He does have Abby, though.
With them, it had started… you know, just passing the time, kinda. Or that's what he told himself. Now, though, he lights up every time he sees her face. She hides it better, but it's pretty easy to draw a smile out of her. He's more comfortable with her than he expected he'd be. He's glad Ellie seems to have accepted it.
And if this thing plays out okay, they'll be going back to Jackson together.
He lifts his arms and tucks his hands behind his head. He can't help but smile. Something like that… Seems like a million miles away, but that could be pretty great.
Pretty great…
A few minutes later he's jerked awake by someone shouting.
"Where's Ellie!"
The lights come on. People start groaning from various quarters.
"Where's Ellie? Where is she?"
The asshole, Montes apparently, appears from around the curtain. Ellie's got a deep frown, she's rubbing her eye. "The fuck?"
"An infected came in. Free Faction. They're administering treatment and Grayson called for you."
There some excited voices around them.
"Nuh, uh," says Montes. "Just Ellie." He looks at Clint. "And you apparently, if you want to come."
He does.
"Well, shit," says Ellie, "give me a minute." She climbs out of bed in her tank top and shorts.
"Minute's all you got. They want to start immediately."
If any part of Montes is excited for this possibly historic moment, it doesn't show it. He keeps hurrying them as he leads them briskly into the hallway, at which point he starts jogging, and they follow suit.
Montes leads them down to the emergency room lobby. There's a small crowd of officers outside one of the rooms. There's a window revealing the room is lit, but Clint can't see past all the people.
"Commander!" calls Montes.
Grayson's head is visible over the crowd. He looks their way and beckons. The officers in front of them move apart, all eyes on Ellie. She pushes through and Clint follows her.
Grayson stands back with his arms crossed. Dr. Ikeda is securing an IV to a young, black man's arm, while Dr. Watanabe is reading a device monitoring the man's heart rate. There are two other strangers, clearly Free Faction, with him.
The man in the chair is clearly scared. His face has lost color and his eyes dart over them. He's sweating. He's got messy, medium length hair, and angular features. He's lean, wearing a black button-down shirt and khaki shorts with tennis shoes. There's a fresh bandage on his right forearm. Almost where Ellie's bite is.
"Ellie, Clint," says Grayson. "This is Terrence. He's accompanied by Kel and Ahna. They came in thirty minutes ago."
Kel looks like Terrence, they could be brothers. Ahna not so much. She's cute, but right now they're all clearly scared. Just like Clint would be, if someone he knew were in that chair.
"You said you've done this before?" Terrence asks Grayson.
"No, sir, I said we haven't done this before. It works in theory and in the lab, but you will be patient number one. And I will also say this: it's like your people were told by Sierra. This is free-of-charge, but it is also not a guarantee. That being said, you are about to receive what is probably the best treatment on the planet."
Terrence seems to understand but he's still breathing fast. He looks at Ellie and Clint. "Who are they?"
"Clint," Grayson replies, pointing, "and Ellie. You should know, this one is your would-be savior."
They look at each other. Terrence frowns.
Ellie runs a thumb over her right forearm. She shows him, tracing the bite mark with her finger. "I was bitten here. Almost six years ago." She lowers her arms, and shrugs. "I survived," she says, even though it's obvious.
Terrence looks incredulous, but he obviously wants to believe.
Dr. Watanabe looks up and says something in Japanese.
"You all are stressing my patient out," translates Dr. Ikeda. "May we please have the room?"
"You heard her," says Grayson. "Everyone out. And clear the door, would you?"
"Are you gonna let us back in to see him?" says Ahna urgently.
"Yes, but the doctors need some time alone with him, please."
Ahna stands up, still holding Terrence's arm. She whispers something in his ear, squeezes his arm, and walks out.
"Till the last day, man," says Kel. Terrence nods.
Outside the room people have spread apart in to several little groups, talking quietly. Ellie walks over to the window, looking in at the treatment.
"Man, what's in this bag?" Terrence asks Dr. Ikeda. "Is it supposed to be yellow like that?"
"Yes," she replies professionally. "It is amphotericin B. It might make you feel not so great. But it will impede the infection."
"Impede?" Terrence asks.
"It will slow it down," she clarifies.
She looks at Dr. Watanabe and he looks at his watch. He nods. She produces a vial of clear liquid and draws it into a hypodermic needle.
"And what's that?" Terrence asks.
"Your best chance," she replies. She gestures to his arm and looks at him.
He nods, clearly nervous. She gracefully performs the injection.
Terrence looks up and finds Ellie's eyes again through the window. Neither of them say anything. There's something on Ellie's face… She can't make any promises. She can't tell him it's going to be okay. She looks… determined, though.
"This will play out over approximately the next eight hours. We will dose you on amphotericin, and periodically give you more shots. After eight to ten hours, we may be able to help your body beat the infection. This is our best prognosis."
Terrence lays his head back against the rest. He nods.
"When was the last time you ate?" asks Dr. Ikeda. "We want to make sure you are fed."
Ahna walks into Clint's periphery and taps on Ellie's shoulder. Ellie turns around, surprised.
Ahna's fairly short and slender. She's got a dark gray tank top and snug off-white cargo pants. Her hair is thick and wavy, held back by a hair band. "They know what they're doing?" she asks Ellie.
"Better than anyone I've ever met," she replies.
Ahna looks at Terrence in his chair, and when she does, the fear comes through.
"Are you two together?" Ellie asks her.
Ahna's eyes snap back to Ellie. She hesitates, then nods.
"You guys are safe," says Clint. Kel and Ahna look at him. "Whatever happens, Grayson is fair. He'll let you guys go."
"We're not worried about us, man," says Kel. Kel looks like his brother, but his hair is close cropped. He's got a dark green hoody on, unzipped, and blue jeans. He looks down and presses his eyes with his fingers. "Just last week I was talking to Terrence out by the mall, on patrol. About how this is the worst part."
Ellie appraises him.
"When someone gets bit… can't do nothing, man…"
"Yeah," says Ellie. Her eyes go far away for a second. "You can't."
"How many people you know have been bit?" Ahna asks her.
Ellie looks back, and turns away, thinking. She winces, looking tired. "More than one. There was someone with me, back then." She gestures weakly with her right arm. "She got bit, too."
"She turned?"
Ellie nods. She never told Clint that whole story. She looks… really sad.
"I'm sorry," says Ahna.
"Me, too," says Ellie. "I thought we could be together. It was the night of our first kiss."
Ahna's taken aback. "Jesus…"
"That's wrong, man…" says Kel.
"Tell me about it," says Ellie, putting her hands in her pockets. "That's why I'm here."
Grayson strides over to them, and eyes turn to him. "Folks. I'd say 'kids,' but they grow up fast these days."
"Have to, sir," says Kel.
"Well, isn't that right. We're trying to change that. They'll be bringing down food, I'd like to see you two eat."
Ahna nods. "Thank you."
Grayson addresses Ellie. "I wanted you to be here, but you don't have to stay."
"I'm staying," says Ellie. "I need to see."
"You know that means I'm staying, too, then," says Clint.
Grayson scoffs. "In fact, I do. I'll make sure there's enough for everyone."
He turns and walks away. Ahna is eyeing Ellie. "You guys get special treatment around here, don't you?"
Ellie smirks. "We manage."
From there, the long night begins. There are four plastic chairs beneath the window into Terrence's room. Ellie sits in one. Clint follows her, then Ahna and Kel join us. After a few minutes, Dr. Watanabe emerges. He gestures, and Ahna and Kel immediately go inside to be with Terrence.
The officers filter out over time. A few come to talk to Clint and Ellie. They words are authoritative, but also reassuring. Dunford comes around, too.
"You guys are in for a long night."
"Food better be good," says Ellie.
"I have a feeling it means a lot."
That gives Ellie pause. Her brow pinches. "What do you mean?"
Dunford gestures to the treatment room subtly. "If I were them, I'd worry about Terrence becoming a test subject once they got him here."
"He kind of is," says Ellie.
"Yeah, but he's not being treated like one, is he? I don't know if you recognize it, but Grayson having you come down and talk to Terrence is a powerful gesture."
Ellie frowns, considering. "I'm not sure I do recognize it."
"Well," he says, "just know that I think what you said was moving. Concise as it was." He pats her on the shoulder. "And you," he says to Clint, "are a lesson in loyalty. You know you don't get tomorrow off, right?"
Clint actually reports to Dunford, after Lito. He nods, already feeling tired. "Abby still sleeping?"
"Want me to wake her?"
"God, no! Just wondering."
"She might be cross tomorrow."
"Well… At least she'll be better rested. I'll catch her up."
"I'm sure you will. Take care, now."
"You too, sir," they both say.
After a while, it's just Clint, Ellie, and a few guards. The doctors and Grayson come and go periodically. For the most part, they sit together in silence.
They're both exhausted, but sleep is far away. They bring food, and they all eat. It's actually good stuff. There's even orange juice, which Clint hasn't had in ages. It's absolutely delicious.
They keep an eye on Terrence. In the first hour or so, he calms down quite a bit. Ahna and Kel sit next to his bed in plastic chairs. They talk quietly throughout. The room is never left without a doctor for too long. They keep a close eye on his readings from the machinery. Now and then they do physical tests, checking under his eyelids, and up his nose. He's uncomfortable, but cooperative.
They dose him with more immunoglobulin E every ninety minutes. Around four, he starts sweating again. At five, the headache starts.
Ahna holds his arm while he rocks side to side on the bed, right hand covering half his face. He groans.
"Is this normal?" Ahna keeps asking. "Is this normal?"
"We do not yet have a normal," Dr. Ikeda replies, "but we did expect this, yes."
"Does he needs more of that stuff?"
"More won't help him now. He must fight. Help to keep him as calm as possible, so his immune system can work."
"It's okay, baby," says Ahna, stroking his arm. "You're gonna get through this, 'cause I'm here."
Ellie's looking on with a deep sadness in her eyes. She lays her head against the window.
Clint wants to help her. He wants to help her so bad, but he doesn't know how. It's got to be her memories.
"Ellie?" he asks.
She doesn't react. Kel is quiet, but it looks like he's praying.
"I don't know what to say," says Ellie.
"What?" Clint asks.
"I don't know how to wish it was different. Because it was all so fucked up. I wish Riley didn't get bit, so she could be there for me, like that. I wish she was immune instead. I wish we'd had an ounce of hope. I wish I didn't have to see her after she changed. I wish I didn't have to kill her."
"Oh my god, Ellie," breathes Clint. "I'm so sorry."
She shakes her head. "I know Riley would have wanted it. She wouldn't want to be one of those things. She wouldn't want an innocent life to be taken by her hands. That's what gave me the strength to do it. She could only go to a better place, from there.
"The only thing I can wish now is for it not to have happened at all, but what fucking good does that do?"
She gets up. "I need to go for a while."
"Go where?" Clint asks, standing.
"To cry. Stay here." Her words brook no argument. Clint sits, and watches her walk out of the waiting area, far too much weight on her shoulders.
It gets bad for Terrence, then. He's grimacing in pain. He asks for more painkillers but they say they can't give him more safely. They tell him he's doing a good job. Tears fall from his eyes at one point. Then, finally, he gets a bit of a reprieve.
His brow is still pinched, and he grimaces, but his breath is different. It's like a runner at the end of a race, breathing hard, but slowly recovering.
A few minutes later, Ellie returns. She just looks tired, but her eyes are red. Clint stands, and she moves in for the hug. He squeezes her, and lets her go. She sits down and looks in the window again.
"He's doing better than a few minutes ago," Clint says.
"Yeah." Ellie sniffs. "You don't have to worry about him anymore."
"What?"
"It's over." There's a distant understanding in her eyes. A recognition. "He won."
Terrence is still rocking back and forth slightly. His thumb and middle finger are pressed into his temples. Ahna is rubbing his upper arm and whispering to him. He nods.
Dr. Ikeda is trying to hold it together, but she can barely contain her excitement. She looks over the instruments eagerly. She whispers to Dr. Watanabe, who is much more muted. He whispers back and she nods, regaining some composure.
By the time the sun rises, the atmosphere in the room is almost calm. Dr. Ikeda addresses Terrence.
"How are you feeling?"
"Shitty," he replies.
"Ah. Some, if not most of that can probably be attributed to the amphotericin."
"Well, screw amphotericin, then."
"It's not fun, from what I hear, but…" She glances at Watanabe. "It's early, and this is new territory, but from everything we know about cordyceps, the hours of danger have passed."
"What are you saying?" says Ahna, hope in her eyes.
"The treatment appears to have succeeded."
Ahna shoots up in her chair. "Did you hear that? T, did you hear that?" She's breathing fast with excitement. "She's saying it worked! She's saying it worked!" She rubs his shoulder excitedly but fails to elicit the same response.
"Yeah," he grunts, "I heard her."
Ahna ignores his reticence and is practically squealing. Kel is more reserved. Maybe he's feeling his brother's pain. He chuckles, though.
"Guess the last day ain't come yet." The corner of Terrence's mouth turns upward and he clasps his brother's hand.
Ellie gets up and walks to the door. She leans against the frame with a tired smile on her face. They go on for a while, but eventually Terrence notices her. He regards her.
"So it's you I've got to thank for that, huh?"
"That's right," she says. "Sucks, huh?"
He scoffs. "Yeah it fucking does. Can I get this thing out of my arm now, or what?"
"It should be safe now," says Dr. Ikeda. She sets about removing the IV.
Terrence raises his fist toward Ellie. She walks over and bumps it, wordless. She looks up at Dr. Ikeda. "So what happens now?"
Dr. Ikeda is surprised. "Um. Well, now, I imagine we have a lot of talking to do."
Clint drops his pack in the break area, like he does most days. Feeling a lot heavier today, though. He yawns, stretching. He looks down at the break room table. He could probably lay on top of it and go to sleep right now. No dice, though.
He pulls the rifle strap over his shoulders and hangs it over his midsection. He walks out into the Oncology lobby and spots Abby entering from the other side. They lock eyes, and she walks over briskly. She looks annoyed. He braces himself.
"Couldn't have woken me up?" she asks, a little stiffly.
"Didn't really get the chance," he replies. "And you were gone when I got back."
She looks him up and down. "Was it bad?"
"Not for me. For Terrence, yeah. And Ellie."
Her brow pinches for a second. "His name's Terrence?"
Clint nods. "Came in with a Kel and an Ahna. Seem like good people."
"Where are they now?"
"I think they bunked them upstairs with the Japanese brigade. He survived."
"I heard. Everyone's talking about it." Abby shifts her weight. She inclines her head. "You realize what that means?"
"Yeah. I think so. I know, it's crazy. The cure, right? Hopefully? If it worked for him?"
"Nothing they have ever tried has worked before. And they tried everything."
"It's wild. I think… it hasn't sunken in yet. I didn't really sleep last night."
"Yeah," she says, looking him up and down again, "I can tell."
There's a moment and they both smile. They lean in and the kiss is just the thing Clint needed.
She frowns slightly. "Why was it bad for Ellie?"
"I think it took her back to the night she got bit. It was bad for her. She told me some stuff about it she'd never said before. I probably shouldn't say…"
"It's fine. What's she doing now?"
"Sleeping, probably. Lucky fucker."
Abby smirks. "I told you what it's like under Dunford."
"Yeah, well… Can't complain." He looks at her meaningfully.
"Shut up," she says, laughing. She looks over her shoulder. "Better get to our places."
"Do we have to?" he asks.
"You know it," she says over her shoulder as she walks away.
"Uptown… four?" Clint says apprehensively, glancing at Ellie.
Terrence, Kel and Ahna are sitting on Ellie's bed, Ellie and Clint on his. Abby and Lev are seated between them on little chairs. Abby makes her chair look tiny.
Terrence regards Clint from across the table. Their advantage is obvious. "Four no trump."
"Downtown five," Ellie replies confidently. A confidence that feels pretty stilted to Clint.
"Pass, go ahead," says Terrence.
"Spades to trump."
"Classic," says Kel.
Ellie picks up the kitty and looks through it. She looks at Clint. He makes a helpless gesture, but he looks. "Well you probably don't need this stuff."
"Of course." Ellie puts six cards down, then plays a seven of clubs.
"Mm…" says Terrence pretentiously, stroking his chin. He plays a six.
It's the evening of the day of Terrence's successful treatment. Ellie did indeed sleep all day, as Clint expected. Clint's still exhausted, but he's decided to wait until the evening to try to stay on his sleep schedule. The outsiders came and found them of their own volition. They complained of having nothing to do. One thing led to another, and Terrence and Kel just finished teaching them Bid Whist. This is their first game, and Clint is pretty sure they're gonna get creamed. He plays a four.
"You're gonna go easy on us, right?" asks Ellie.
Terrence looks back as if appalled. "And disrespect you like that?" Kel plays a seven of spades.
"Already?" says Clint.
Terrence shrugs performatively. Kel shakes his head at his brother's acting, smiling.
"Why the bidding thing?" Abby asks. "Seems like it just makes it more complicated."
"To the beginner, it makes it complicated," says Kel. "But it brings a lot more to the game. You'll see."
Play proceeds, and the newcomers take the first book. And the second, and the third. Clint and Ellie swing the fourth, but it's really starting to look like they're gonna lose five points at the end of the round.
Ahna doesn't say a lot. She spends a lot of the time with her head resting on Terrence's shoulder. Now and then she'll point to a card in his hand. He'll make a disapproving clicking sound with his tongue, but he generally plays it. One time after this happens she looks at Ellie and rolls her eyes. Ellie smiles.
They do lose the first round, then the game in the third round, going to negative nine. Clint was never much for spades, which Bid Whist is similar to. More of an old person game in Jackson. But it's catching his interest. Ellie's too, he keeps looking over to see her frowning in concentration at the table. It's extremely cute.
Clint swaps out after game one so Abby can play. He likes watching her and Ellie play together. When they're focused on the game, the last of the tension between them just evaporates. Until they start arguing about the best play, that is.
"He wouldn't have played that if he had more diamonds," Ellie insists.
"Oh, he's got diamonds. Look at his face!" Abby says.
Kel is very much failing to suppress a smile, and Clint is pretty sure it's not because of his hand.
"How about we put slips on the next game?" Terrence asks them.
"What are slips?" Ellie asks.
"You know," says Terrence, "trade, or whatever. You guys get food slips? Maybe a nice knife? I can always use a knife."
"You are not getting any of my knives," says Ellie.
Terrence's brows shoot up. "Oh? What's the problem? 'Fraid you'd—"
His bravado is cut short when Grayson appears around the curtain. His presence brings silence, as it usually does. He's carrying his normal gravity, but there's a secret smile on the corner of his lips. He looks down at the table. He shakes his head. "Where's shogi?"
Terrence and Kel frown in confusion.
"I heard they have Go boards upstairs as well."
"Yes!" says Lev abruptly, looking at Ellie.
Grayson smirks. "Ellie, Terrence, would you two join me?"
Ahna sits up straight. Clint looks up expectantly, too.
Grayson shakes his head. "Not this time. Don't worry, I don't expect it will be too long."
Ellie is calm and serious, now. She hands Clint her cards and climbs off the bed. Terrence does the same.
"You're not gonna lock me up, are you?" Terrence asks.
"Don't worry," says Grayson, "you'll be back with your friends soon enough."
There's the briefest of hesitation, but he nods.
Ellie looks up at Grayson's back as he leads them through the ward. He's hiding something, but she can't tell what kind of something. Good, she hopes. She looks over at Terrence. He's a bit tense.
"You know," she says to him. He looks over sharply, "I wasn't so sure either, for a long time. I'm an outsider here, too."
He doesn't say anything. His brow is pinched. He glances around.
"You know Abby?"
He looks over.
"We almost killed each other a couple times, couple years back."
His frown deepens. He reads her face but he can tell she's serious. She smirks.
"We'll be alright. I won't let them keep you from the others."
He lets out a breath. "Sounds like a promise."
They arrive at the same conference room where Ikeda had briefed them on the treatment.
It's more crowded this time. The doctors are present, as well as all the Firefly and Shiro Hebi captains. Plus a few people Ellie doesn't recognize. An Indian man with medium length hair and a powerful gaze stands up.
"Kabir!" says Terrence excitedly. He runs over and hugs the man, who chuckles.
"There's my lost sheep," says Kabir. "Alright, alright."
They separate. "Is my moms alright?" Terrence asks.
Kabir nods. "Yes, yes. Except she's worried sick about you." He holds Terrence's shoulders and looks him in the eye. "Leaving without permission?"
Terrence is sheepish. "When it happened, Kel said—"
"Blaming your brother for your actions?"
"No, Kabir, I mean… We were worried if we told you where we were going you wouldn't let us."
"You might have been right. But, in hindsight, it seems it's good that you did. Let me see."
Terrence is confused for a second, then it clicks. He looks down and shows Kabir his bandaged arm. It still has healing to do, but the bandages are clean. Kabir eyes him. "How was it?
"Pretty lousy, to be honest."
Kabir chuckles again. "That's what I heard." He looks at Grayson, who gestures to the open chairs. Terrence sits next to one of the people flanking Kabir. Ellie sits between Terrence and Dunford.
Grayson sits in the chair at the head of the table, opposite Kabir. He rests his forearms on the wood. "Well, folks, it's a whole new ballgame, now."
"When your people arrived in such tumultuous fashion, we expected war, not medicine," says Kabir, with a sardonic smile.
"Well," says Grayson, "in a world where just about everyone you don't know wants you dead or in custody, it was war first, medicine after."
"You didn't ask for anything in exchange," says Kabir, more pointedly. "Is that going to remain the case?"
"It will," says Grayson. He looks to the doctors. "And it's not just me saying that. We are in agreement. Any and all curative product that we produce will be distributed without fee."
"Why is that?" say Kabir, narrowing his eyes slightly. "If anything, it seems like extracting goods and services could only advance your effort."
"Well," says Grayson, cocking his head, "that's not wrong, and we considered that. The reason ultimately is that we don't want it to seem like there are strings attached, or some kind of trick. If a box, a case, a pallet arrives at a city, it's for the city. Now, if they're feeling thankful and want to make some donations, we will be obliged."
Kabir smiles. "Yes… You have thought this through." He eyes Terrence briefly. "And when will we be receiving our first pallet?"
Grayson chuckles. "Good question. We're not really in pallet territory yet. We need to secure some more facilities to begin large scale production."
"Which facilities, exactly?"
"Let's table that for now. There's something the good doctors want to share with us."
Dr. Ikeda perks up. She confers with Dr. Watanabe briefly. Kabir eyes Grayson but doesn't press the topic. It strikes Ellie that this is an important diplomatic moment.
"First, let us thank Terrence for allowing us to perform further tests," says Dr. Ikeda.
"You saved my life," says Terrence, like her thanks made no sense.
"Well…" Dr. Ikeda struggles with it for a moment. "As a team," she gestures to Ellie and Grayson, "I suppose we did, yes. Your tests have given us some very special insight, as well.
"Your infection was defeated by your immune system, with the help of our treatment. It lives on, technically, but it is in remission and no longer threatens your body. There was no substantial damage to your brain. Which, in effect, makes your condition the same as Ellie's."
Ellie and Terrence exchange an apprehensive look.
Dr. Ikeda is trying to suppress a smile. She leans forward. "Terrence, I'm saying you are now immune to the infection."
He leans back, considering her. He frowns. "So I if I got bit again…"
"You would not have to fear infection, your immune system would handle it. The same goes for breathing spores."
"Does that mean—" Ellie stops herself. She glances at Terrence. "What does that mean?"
"It means that Terrence's data is as valuable to us now as yours. We are hopeful…" She looks at Watanabe and they have a brief exchange. She nods. "We are hopeful that data from Terrence's test can be used to improve our treatment further. To be more effective, and effective in more patients.
"And, if this immunity is affected in future patients treated…" She gestures, looking for words. "It can only give us even more options."
Ellie's mouth is hanging open. Her mind is racing, but she doesn't want to give voice to it yet.
"That sounds disturbingly optimistic," says Kabir. His chin rests on his left fist.
Grayson chuckles. "Kabir, I have to tell you, I get it. That's me. The pragmatic man. I don't bet on whims. But this, this really worked. Our friends from across the water made it happen." He gestures to the doctors.
"It sounds like," Kabir begins, leaning back and crossing his arms, "you are talking about keeping Terrence here."
"We would like to," Grayson affirms. "With his and your permissions, yes. We don't ask for anything. We have food, and critical amenities. We can protect him. What do you say?"
"I don't—" Terrence starts.
"Easy now, Terrence," says Kabir authoritatively. He's considering Grayson. "It's difficult for me to consider accepting that with so little information at my disposal."
Ellie can feel the tension. Terrence looks uncomfortable, but he stays quiet. Grayson bunches the corner of his lips. "I feel like we've given you quite a bit… Still, what is it exactly you'd like to know?"
"About those 'assets' you're looking to secure, for production."
"Indeed, and that is some potentially sensitive information," says Grayson. He taps the table with his fingers. "I feel like this is the point in the conversation where your side makes an offer to mine, to show your willingness to work with us."
"Our willingness?" Kabir asks. He leans back. "You know, the day you arrived, your soldiers shot three of my people."
"Regrettable," says Grayson, "but we were defending our lives and purpose. The same purpose that saved Terrence's life."
"Mm," replies Kabir. "You are not popular back home, you should know."
"Wouldn't have guessed I was."
"Would you like to see it?"
Grayson frowns. "How do you mean?"
"Would you like to tour our settlement?"
"This is your…" Grayson considers.
Dr. Ikeda has been quietly translating the whole time to Dr. Watanabe. At this point, his brows shoot up. He says something, in objecting tones, looking at Grayson.
Eyes move to him and Dr. Ikeda freezes for a second. "Absolutely not," she translates.
Watanabe speaks again, pointedly.
"It should be me, if anything," Dr. Ikeda says for him.
Grayson takes his elbow off the table. He's incredulous. "Are you kidding me? You're worth ten of me, Doctor. Ain't no way."
"Send me," says Dunford. Grayson looks at him.
"Me, too," says Townes. Her bronze hair is tied up in a bun today.
Watanabe speaks, he looks to his right at one of the Japanese captains, and finishes looking at Grayson firmly. "Ichiro as well," translates Ikeda. "These are my terms."
Ichiro sits straight with a stoic expression. He nods sharply at Grayson.
Grayson looks like he wants to scowl. He doesn't like this at all. His cheek pinches. "How does that sound to you, Kabir?"
Kabir eyes them, considering. "This is acceptable. You will be permitted a small escort. That being established, will you share with us what we were talking about?"
"On their return, yes," says Grayson.
"Then let us depart," says Kabir.
Grayson is surprised. "Oh? Well…" He cocks an eyebrow. "Alright, well we'll need a few minutes to prepare."
"Certainly."
"And Terrence will stay for now."
Kabir tenses.
"We're alright here," says Terrence quietly, as if only for Kabir. "We were playing cards in the dorms just now."
Kabir looks like has more he wants to say to Terrence but he bites his tongue. "That's acceptable," he says to Grayson.
"Let's get to it, then," says Grayson. "I need to see to my men, then I will see you off personally."
Grayson rises and everyone else follows. There's a lot of hand-shaking. When Kabir shakes Ellie's hand, it's firm and warm. He had given her good vibes when she first saw him, but she hadn't expected the tension that followed. It made sense, though. If Kabir took the captains hostage, he would have a lot of leverage against the Fireflies.
They file out into the hall. Kabir and his people are walking down the hall flanked by Firefly guards. Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie sees Grayson trying to get her attention but she pretends not to notice and follows the outsiders. Grayson retracts his hand, watching her.
Ellie catches up with them when they're about to turn a corner. "Kabir?"
He turns, surprised.
"Can I talk to Terrence?"
He considers her. "You can talk to both of us." He looks at the guards. "Do you mind?"
Hensley gestures to a door near them.
It leads into an office with window overlooking the city below them. Kabir enters first, followed by Terrence and Ellie. Ellie closes the door. Kabir puts his hands on his hips. "Well?" he asks.
She really wants to talk to Terrence, but now it looks like Kabir needs to be there as well.
"She said you're immune," she starts.
Terrence frowns. "Yeah. I mean… that's good, right? Like," he looks down at his arm. "It's a relief. It's not like I'm immune to bullets or anything, but I'll take it. Why does that matter?"
"Until today, until that very moment, as far as I knew, I was the only immune person on the planet."
Kabir nods.
"I came here willingly. I'm staying here willingly. But I also haven't been allowed to leave."
Kabir frowns.
"Please, please just listen. Grayson is a good man. He's doing the impossible here, you have to recognize that. The Fireflies have never been about power. They've always been after the cure, they might be the last people in North America looking for one. And they found it. You heard him, he say they're going to give it away for free—"
"He said that," says Kabir.
"I know you don't know him, and you don't know me. I just… I'm not an officer, I'm not here to make you offers, but…" Ellie shifts her feet. She's nervous. She's not making a good case. She makes a decision.
She walks up to Kabir, close. He takes his hands off his hips. She clasps her hands in front of him, pleading. "Please. Please just… things are good here. There's food. There's water. It's safe. I don't mind it, but…" She can feel tears pushing at her eyes. She holds them back and takes a breath.
"Six months ago I left my home in Wyoming and everyone I knew to cross the country to find the Fireflies. It was hard. There was blood. We almost died. But we made it. We made it and they made the cure and that was all I wanted. That was all I wanted. Now I just—" She has to squeeze her eyes shut to keep from crying. She meets Kabir's gaze. "Now I just want to be home."
The person behind the commander is visible again. He speaks softly. "What are you asking?"
"If you let Terrence stay, they might let me go."
His eyes look heavy, all of the sudden. "You sound like a prisoner begging for rescue," he points out.
"I know I do. I'm telling you, I'm here willingly, but…" She struggles with it. "Your people are miles away. Mine are a thousand miles away. I want to see them again. I just want to see them again." At that point she can't help it and a tear slips. "I wasn't sure I ever would…"
Terrence eyes her warily. She can't tell if it's her proposition or her emotions. Kabir is solemn and pensive.
"On our return," he says eventually, "you will have our answer."
Kabir moves around her and opens the door. Terrence favors her with a long look, but in the end, he follows in silence.