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Chapter 19 – Ashena's Problem

Samuel finished his exam of the Queen and typed in a code on the computer. Ashena sat on the side of the bed in the med bay wearing a long, white robe, and her hair in a dark cloth.

"And that's done. Ashena, everything looks fine. Even your brush with sickness is completely gone. I wouldn't know you had dealt with that if it wasn't in the records."

"Well, that's a relief." She smiled.

Samuel wrote her name on the side of a tube of blood and put it in the computer on the wall. "And this will just take a bit."

He stretched his back and cracked his neck as he stood in front of her.

"So? You have taken a mate. Officially."

He looked at her in surprise. "How did you know that?"

"Your father told me. He is very proud."

Samuel looked surprised. "How does he kn-. Papa. Ugh."

"It is this, Karen?"

He nodded as he sat down on the stool, "Yes."

"And she's with child?"

"Yes. A little girl." He smiled proudly.

Ashena nodded. "I must say, Samuel. You are much like your father. You simply don't waste time."

Samuel grinned and blushed. "It wasn't planned."

"Babies rarely are. My mother tells me that they come, when they are ready. She reminds me how annoying of a pregnancy I was. She wanted me for many years. I was stubborn. Still am."

"Not the worst quality for a Queen."

She smiled. "Yes. That is true. I've met this Karen. That night we watched you play football. I like her."

"So, do I." Samuel grinned.

"Well, I would hope." She laughed. "Oh, Samuel. I wish you and her long life and happiness together. And many children, who are not as stubborn as me."

"Stubborn as a Queen? May be useful." He teased as the computer beeped. He turned to look at the print outs. "And this shows that everything is fine. Ashena, you are in perfect health."

"Perfect?" She asked in surprise.

"Yes. Why? Does that surprise you?"

She took a deep breath and looked at him. "Anything I tell you…"

"It doesn't leave this room. I'm your Doctor and you can tell me anything Ashena. I won't tell anyone. Not even Karen or Logan."

"Logan knows. He told me to come see you."

"Whatever this is, it is safe with me. Ashena, where I'm from, you and I are friends. Close friends. I'd like to be that here. Even if I wasn't your Doctor, I would keep this secret. You have even asked me to be your second mate."

Ashena laughed through her tears.

Samuel stood up and took her hands. "Talk to me, Ashena. Why does me pronouncing you in perfect health surprise you? What's wrong?"

She wiped her tears and dropped her head. Samuel watched as she pulled the cloth from her hair and he realized it wasn't glowing.

He pointed at it. "Okay. That's interesting."

She shook her head and looked devastated. "I can't let this be known. There are those who would take the crown from me because of this."

Samuel sat back down and had to take a minute to get over his shock. "Okay. Well. Let's sort this. When was the last time you wore the crown?"

She shook her head. "I wear it all of the time. I know it's something with a chemical that makes it glow. It simply doesn't work."

"Are you sure it's a proper crown?"

She wiped her eyes. "As far as I know. My ladies' maids don't even know. Logan has helped me dress since it stopped glowing."

"How long as it been?"

"Two weeks? Maybe? I'm not even sure." She wiped her tears.

"It could be stress."

Ashena nodded. "It could. Oh, all of this is much more than I ever thought it was. Don't ever put yourself in such a position. My father made it look so easy."

Samuel reached over and grabbed a box of tissue to hand to her. She thanked him and wiped her tears. "I haven't been home. Logan believes a holiday will make it better. If I can relax. So, we've been everywhere. It's only gotten dimmer until it finally went out completely. Now, I have little choice but to return home. I worry, that I won't be able to hide it once I'm there."

Samuel rubbed his lip. "Well, it could be a number of things. Environment of the ship. Stress. Body chemistry. You're not pregnant-"

She laughed and wiped her eyes. "That's a relief."

He smiled. "That baby isn't ready yet. Don't worry about that."

She relaxed when Samuel took both of her hands again and smiled. "We'll fix this. Alright?"

Tears rolled down her face and said quietly. "Okay, Samuel."

He wiped them with his thumb. "Okay. I'll take some samples of your hair. I'll run some tests and get them to glow again."

She smiled. "Okay."

"And when I've sorted it out, I'll come to Andromeda."

She wiped her eyes. "And bring your Karen."

He grinned, "We're rather a package deal now. Okay, and as for you. Keep having Logan dress you, I'm sure he enjoys that."

She giggled. "He does. Yes."

"Tell him it is now Doctor's orders that he undresses, and attends to the needs of his Queen."

"You are making me blush."

"And in the meantime, wear something on your hair to keep it unseen. Sit in the throne and try another crown. We can't speak of this and be 100% secure of course, so we'll disguise it as Logan losing his hair."

"What?" She laughed.

He smiled. "When I get it to glow, I'll tell you that Logan's hair is growing. If you can't get it to glow, Logan is losing his hair. He'll be on board with us. Not to worry. And he's not bald in the future. Reassure him."

She laughed and shook her head. "This is madness. Thank you, Samuel."

He kissed her hands. "My friend, Ashena. You are precious to me and I would do anything for you."

She teased, "Except, agree to be my mate."

Samuel pointed at her. "Except that. You and I are too stubborn, and it would never work."

She laughed. "I can accept that. Okay."

He reached in a cabinet, put on some gloves, and slipped her hair into a tube. He trimmed it where it wasn't noticeable that it was missing. "When it started going out. Was it all over, or from the head to the end of the hair?"

She thought. "I noticed it at the ends, but then Logan noticed it all over."

Samuel put the sample into the wall and spoke, "Friday. I need this sample put away until I need it. My voice print only."

Friday spoke, "Yes, Doctor."

Samuel went back to stand in front of her. He helped her put the cloth back on her hair and sat back down, pen in hand and ready to write.

"Okay. Anything in particular you need me to put in this statement?"

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