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Chapter 60 – Staying Power

Samuel stood at the table in the med bay, working with the vials. His New York Yankee's baseball cap was backwards on his head as he sang to the Revivalists', "I Wish I Knew You."

His phone beeped a message.

"Friday, I'm in a sterile field. What does the message say?"

"Karen says that Lance and Jane have picked up the babies. There's no need to rush back."

He nodded and continued to work on the vials. "Alright. How long have I been gone?"

"One hour and 33 minutes."

Samuel groaned, "That's what I was thinking, too. Damn it."

"Shall I send Karen a message back?"

"Yeah. Tell her that I may be getting someplace, but to tell me when she needs me home."

After a bit, Friday spoke. "Karen says that her and Anne are having a lovely chat and eating biscuits."

Samuel rose his head in surprise. "That's rather, English."

Friday spoke again, "Karen asks if she translated that into English properly?"

Samuel chuckled. "Tell her it was brilliant. But, I love her American accent."

"I have delivered your message, sir."

He lifted one of the vials and looked at it. "And are you going to glow?"

Friday spoke. "The chemical does not produce an incandescence effect."

Samuel grinned, "An incandescence effect?"

Friday spoke, "Yes, Doctor Bennett. The term derives from the Latin verb incandescere, to glow white-"

"I know what it means." Samuel complained.

Legate and Logan walked into the med bay together.

Legate grinned, "And I've brought you….Logan!"

Samuel sat down the vial. "Good. I need to talk to you, Logan."

Logan nodded, "Certainly."

Legate and Logan had apparently been surfing, or playing football. They both looked relaxed and wore board shorts and t-shirts.

Legate pointed at himself. "Want me to stay, or-"

Samuel told them, "I need some medical information from Logan, so that's up to him."

Logan shrugged his shoulders. "I have no secrets. Well, from Legate. Go ahead."

"Ashena's hair. I thought it wasn't glowing because of the birth control you are using."

Logan crossed his arms, "Well, I haven't used it in about a month. I think."

Legate looked surprised. "What are you using, then?"

"I'm not using anything. She uses, something. But, it's something that has been used for years with them. I doubt that's it."

"No condom, or anything?"

Logan nodded, "Sometimes. But, she prefers me to use nothing. And she knows I've stopped taking it. I'm surprised she didn't tell you this."

Samuel groaned. "So, are you taking anything else?"

Logan rubbed his face. "Like…what?"

"Anything. I need to know. You two are sharing bodily fluids-"

Logan waved his hand. "Right. Right. Okay. Well, umm…"

He looked back at Legate.

Legate held up his hand, "Tell him."

Logan crossed his arms. "Ummm."

Samuel rose his eyebrows. "Weed? Are you smoking, too?"

Logan grinned and shook his head. "No. Well, tonight I am."

Legate laughed. "He needed to relax."

Logan grinned. "Yeah, Shen is with Lance and Jane. She's playing with the babies."

Samuel nodded, "Okay. So, you're smoking."

"Just tonight. That wouldn't have caused this."

"Okay, well other medicine? Anything. I need to know."

Logan sighed. "There is something else. Umm. Legate thinks that's it."

Legate looked at Samuel and grinned proudly. "And if I'm right, I get to be called 'Doctor' for 24 hours."

Samuel shook Legate's hand. "You're on. What is it?"

Legate explained. "Quauhtin, well and Andromedeans have a baculum. You know, a penis bone-"

Samuel nodded, "I know what a baculum is. Yes. Go on."

Legate continued, "Humans don't."

Logan spoke. "So, Andromedeans can….go for longer than a human can."

Samuel rose his eyebrows at Logan. "So, you are taking something to prolong an erection?"

Logan nodded. "Yeah. This spray stuff that they gave me at the castle. Works great. I can last for about 15-20 minutes flat out. 30-40 if I'm….careful-"

Samuel looked shocked. "That long?"

Legate chuckled, "That's what she said."

Logan grinned. "Not always, but usually. Yeah. I'm usually sore if we do it more than once."

Samuel shook his head. "Oh wow."

Legate crossed his arms, "Why would you want to do it more than once? I mean….do it. Rest for an hour. Do it again. That works for me."

Samuel pointed out, "Well, you're Quauhtin."

Legate grinned, "And Rixalarian."

"And Rixalarian. Rixalarians don't have a penis bone."

Legate grinned. "And I'm grateful Quauhtin genes are so damn strong. Rixalarians only last for…what?"

Samuel sighed, "Still longer than the average human. Wow. I wonder if Arles has this?"

Legate rubbed his face. "I'll ask him."

Logan and Samuel recognized the look on Legate's face as he spoke to Arles in his head.

Samuel rolled his eyes, "I don't know if I want the answer to that."

Logan chuckled. "So, you think that's what may have done this?"

Samuel shook his head. "No. It's similar to the chemical that is used for the birth control. I'll test it to be certain, but that's not it. The birth control isn't either, so you can start taking that again, too."

Logan rubbed his face and nodded. "Alright. Cheers."

Legate grinned, "Okay, Arles says that he does have it. He averages 18-25 minutes. Why didn't we bet on this? I'm telling you. Quauhtin genes are strong."

Samuel rolled his eyes. "Phhh. I may have to call shit on this. How long to you last, honestly Legate?"

Legate shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I've never timed it. I would say, around that. Although…."

Samuel rose his eyebrow. "What? Problem?"

"Nah. I'm alright. But, you. Probably still recovering, huh?"

Samuel sighed, "Does everyone know about this?"

Legate nodded, "Arles told me when we were smoking one night."

"Well, I'm fine. Completely recovered."

Legate grinned. "Glad to hear it."

Samuel nodded, "So, am I. So, Logan. Anything else? Eating anything odd?"

Logan shook his head. "I don't do that. I'm more comfortable finding something I'm alright with, and eating it. And tea. I brought the digital reading for it from Earth. So, I have plenty of that. Shen likes it, too. Oen really enjoys it."

Samuel stepped out of the sterile field and washed his hands. "Ugh. Well, I thought I was getting someplace. Are you having any problems? Sick? Anything?"

Logan considered, "No. I feel great. Summus had me training like a mad man when I first got there. Shen has had him cut back on that so I can be with her. I have to keep an eye out and ensure her hair is not seen."

Samuel nodded and dried his hands. "I understand. Well, I thought I was getting some place with this, but…"

Logan shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry."

Samuel waved it off. "Ah. I'll figure it out."

Legate grinned and looked back at Logan. "He loves this shit. It would drive me mental."

Logan nodded. "Me, too."