Chapter 3 - Angaran Fever
["Mr. Tershaav currently has a fever of 106.5ºF." SAM announced.]
'Oh damn, no wonder he looks out of sorts and can't keep his bioelectric field under control,' Sara thought as she worried her lower lip between her teeth.
["One of the medicines bought at the marketplace should aid Mr. Tershaav greatly." SAM reminded the Pathfinder.]
'Of course!' Sara leapt off the chair and darted to her backpack.
Meanwhile Evfra closed his achy eyes as he passed a gloved hand over his warm face. He felt overheated and now acutely aware to the prickling sensation of sweat budding on his skin.
"Hold on, one of these pills should help," Sara stated as her hand delved into the backpack. The young woman retrieved a few containers of various colored pills.
"Wow, these look huge!" Sara gasped, oblivious to the flicker of worry upon Evfra's attentive gaze. "Maybe they are suppositories?" The young woman passed her omnitool over the instructions written in Shelesh. "Nope, per mouth. Just bigger in size for Angarans I guess," Sara reasoned aloud as she twisted off the cap of the bottle indicating use for fevers.
"Here, just need to take one every 4 hours until defervescence. And it should also help with some of the other symptoms," Sara smiled helpfully as she reached into the bottle.
"Absolutely not," Evfra grunted, reverting back to his full ornery self as he eyed the large white pill Ryder now held between her delicate fingers.
"You do want to become better quickly, right?" Sara quirked an arched eyebrow at him; knowing that Evfra was quite familiar with the expression.
"Obviously," the resistance leader sneered as he mirrored Ryder's eye rolling move.
Whether Evfra was cognizant of his new expression, Sara wasn't sure, but boy did she now know how the leader must have felt when she rolled a pair at him. "Then just take the medicine," Sara waved her hand about in slight exasperation.
"I refuse," Evfra stated as he crossed his arms and remained glued in his chair. The leader than gave the young woman such a withering stare, one that would have sent his subordinates fleeing. But Ryder was an exception, an anomaly that was impervious to his laser glares for she did the exact opposite and rose to the challenge.
"Don't be so stubborn," Sara's voice started to rise as she drew closer to the angaran. 'Oh my god he is acting like a child!'
As the young woman approached, Evfra warily rose from his chair and placed it in front of him like a defensive structure. "I believe it is well within my right to refuse to take it," The angaran snarled, eliciting a loud groan from Ryder.
Sara rubbed her face with her free hand in annoyance. "Sir, I respect your wishes...but you're taking the damn pill!"
"Your statement is a complete contradiction!" Evfra barked as he pointed an accusatory gloved finger. Were all humans as exasperating as she!?
"True," Sara paused her approach as the corners of her lips curled menacingly. It was an expression Evfra had become familiar with from Jaal's visor vids. Particularly just before Ryder launched herself headlong into a very hazardous situation.
"But, you don't want me to chase you down!" Her usually bright innocent eyes began to glow with a blue light.
'Skkut! She's going to demolish my house in the attempt too!' Evfra gaped at her, before drawing himself to his full looming angaran height. "You can't force me to take those forsaken pills!" He felt his bioelectric field instinctually surround him in a protective charged layer. "Just leave me be woman!" Evfra roared with finality as sparks from his field crackled angrily.
They stared each other down, seeing who would back down first. Electricity hissed in the air while blue glowing eyes flashed in response.
"Fine," Sara growled through gritted teeth as the glow behind her eyes faded away. She knew this was going to happen, but even so the expectation didn't lessen her frustration. The young woman felt herself deflate before she sighed. "Look," Sara began in a gentler voice. "I won't force you," the young woman added as she set the pill down on the table for emphasis. "But, you don't have to suffer...I don't like seeing you suffer." Sara mumbled the last part.
Silence hung thickly in the air. The young woman continued to stare down at the pill, not meeting the angaran's molten blue eyes.
The resistance leader had won! Evfra had won the argument with Ryder...so why did he feel like he actually lost? 'I don't like seeing you suffer,' the angaran repeated over again in his head.
As the silence continued, Sara bit her lower lip, turned around, and was about to walk away to clear her head when a low gravelly murmur caught her attention. The young woman spun around, nearly thinking the sound had been all in her head. "Pardon?" She inquired with a quizzical gaze at the leader.
"I can't swallow pills…" Evfra finally confessed, aloud, now feeling absolutely embarrassed as his field lost all its menacing hiss. The angaran felt doused in shame. The great resistance leader, who could fight through a platoon of Kett, was at the mercy of a mere pill. Evfra roughly wiped the sweat off his heated face before staring pointedly towards the sunny windows. The angaran crossed his arms over his chest, like a protective hug, as he waited for the smirk or a snide remark...but none came.
"I know, it's the worst," Sara's soft voice filled the silent room as Evfra whipped his head back to stare over at her. He watched as the young woman gave him a small smile of understanding.
"And I have a few tricks up my sleeve," Sara added with her eyebrows wiggling, causing the angaran to snort.
"Of course you do," Evfra remarked with a shake of his head; a small smile tugged at the corners of his scarred lips.
'Almost there,' Sara thought to herself as she beamed. The young woman began to animatedly tell the angaran about the methods her mother used to get Scott and herself to take their medications.
Evfra found himself avidly listening as the feeling of shame melted away at her story, and his arms slid down to relax at his sides. Ultimately, all it took was a coat of nutrient paste and a large glass of water, plus a little bit of cheerleading from Ryder. Though it was largely due to the young woman's presence and her earlier words that spurned Evfra to be determined to succeed. He couldn't fail in front of Ryder now.
"Yes! You did it!" Sara cheered enthusiastically as she clapped her hands happily. "See, I knew you could do it; the great General Tershaav conquers all!"
At the young woman's eager applause, much as with her compliment of Evfra's home, the angaran swelled with pride and satisfaction. "Praise from the Pathfinder? A treat indeed," the leader commented smugly as he used Ryder's earlier words.
Sara paused in mid-clap as her eyes widened in shock. 'Did he...did Evfra just compliment me?!' The young woman's mind instantly blanked for a tease to hurl back at the angaran.
"What's this, no mocking retort?" Evfra remarked with genuine surprise. Then an amused rumble reverberated from the angaran's chest as he took in the gawking look the young woman gave him. "A tongue tied Pathfinder? Now that's an even rarer treat," he chuckled in his gravelly aussie accent.
Sara blinked at this for now Evfra was laughing? 'Oh my god what is even in that pill!?'
Evfra felt his overheated body slowly cool, but now the angaran was aware of how completely exhausted he was. A jaw widening yawn escaped the leader before he could catch himself. Molten blue eyes peered over to Ryder and caught her knowing gaze. "I'm going to sit on the couch," Evfra gruffly announced before he shuffled towards the sofa and plopped down in his favorite corner.
"An excellent idea," Sara remarked, pleased that the angaran didn't need prompting when he was so obviously tired.
"Don't break anything," Evfra barked from across the living room.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Sara sang back sweetly.
The sound of a loud dubious snort only made Sara's smile widen as she busied herself clearing the dining table.
The weary leader let out a sigh as the plush cushions enveloped his achy tired body. Evfra then heard the sound of running water, clanking utensils against clay bowls, and Ryder's soft melodious humming. The sounds formed an orchestra that the angaran somehow found rather soothing. Evfra wasn't aware of letting go of his corporeal form, but at some point his spirit slipped into a pleasant and dreamless sleep.
Sara found the resistance leader with his hands lightly clasped over his belly and head resting on the right side, showing off the long jagged scar upon his face. She had always wondered about it; how and when Evfra received it. No doubt it was from fighting the Kett, but the young woman wanted to know the story from him, but was well aware that now wasn't the time. Hopefully one day she would feel the time was right, and Evfra would be comfortable enough to divulge it to an alien. Maybe by then she wouldn't be 'the alien', but a trusted ally and equal leader. One could hope, and Sara was always hopeful.
A sudden refreshing, but soggy, sensation against Evfra's skin made the angaran very alert as he found a cool moist washcloth draped upon his forehead. Looking about, he found Ryder nearby, tinkering with the settings of an electromagnetic lamp. The young woman was quietly muttering to herself as she fiddled with the knobs.
"Level 10 should be fine," Evfra's voice rumbled, causing the young woman to jump up with a squeak. He snorted at Ryder's surprised look as she realized he was awake and watching her curiously with those molten blue eyes. "You had passed out on the couch," she stated sheepishly.
Huh, so he had. And based on the warm glow entering into the living room, the sun would be setting in a few short hours. "Well this is a superior couch. Come, see for yourself," Evfra beckoned with a sudden urge to show off his fine possession. It wasn't as if he were fishing for more compliments from the young women, surely...
"In just a moment, let me grab the tea," Sara replied with a clap of her hands.
Evfra blinked, "You made tea as well?" Ryder must have brewed it while he was sleeping, hmmmm.
Ryder sprinted off with the energy of an Adhi as she scurried into the kitchen, then returned with a large clay mug of steaming liquid gingerly clasped between her hands. Evfra recognized the strong spicy scent instantly as the mug neared. No doubt Jaal had given her this recipe as well. No one else knew that this particular blend was the leader's favorite. The recipe was handcrafted for those surviving the chilly bitterness of Voeld, and specially brewed to help overcome illness. Evfra was quite curious how Ryder's attempt at it would taste.
He accepted the cup just as carefully, peering down thoughtfully at the familiar warm golden liquid before taking a few sips. The hot brew cajoled his scratchy throat while the peppery cardamon-like spice opened his sinuses. Yes, this was almost like the one his mother made for him and his siblings in times of sickness. Evfra peered down again into swirling shimmering liquid as a tightness clenched his heart.
"Jaal gave me the recipe, he told me it was one your family used," Sara carefully began. She had kept still and quiet this time while Evfra sipped the tea. There was an expression of deep contemplation and the young woman almost felt as if she were intruding on a private moment, then there was a flicker of sadness across the angaran's face and Sara began to worry. "I, um, thought it would be nice to make. How is it?"
Evfra looked back up at her to see her worrying her lower lip in anticipation. She seemed more apprehensive about the tea than the stew. Maybe it was because she knew that the tea held such significance for him. The angaran cleared his throat, "The spice may be a bit overpowering, but it is acceptable. Thank you." Evfra would never sugar coat things to Ryder, he knew the young woman wouldn't breakdown from his criticism.
And just as he expected, Ryder looked more determined to improve than anything else.
"Alright," Sara nodded in concentration she tweaked the recipe on her omnitool. "Next time I'll add less of the spices."
'Next time,' the words echoed in Evfra's mind as mulled the significance over, for the angaran realized that he did not quite mind. The leader took a deeper sip of tea. It was, soothing…
Now that Evfra had his tea, Sara finally decided to try out the couch. First off it was alot nicer looking that Liam's dingy sofa. The young woman measured a good distance between herself and Evfra's right side, which turned out to be at least an arm's length, before she plopped herself down and was almost swallowed up by the plush cushioning. "Whoaaaa!" Sara exhaled in awe.
Meanwhile, upon seeing Ryder calculate where to drop her bottom on the couch, Evfra carefully prepared himself for her fall as he held tightly onto his mug. Of course Ryder's descent nearly launched the angaran off! Evfra carefully adjusted himself before peering over at the young woman as he arched a questioning brow ridge, mimicking the way she would raise her eyebrow at him.
Sara realized that Evfra was quietly awaiting her judgement, something that made her grin, for why would the high and mighty resistance leader care for what a little human thought of his couch? Yet, there he was politely waiting before he resumed sipping his tea. "Well, it feels like your couch is giving me a hug! Plus you would make Liam jealous that's for sure," Sara happily remarked.
Evfra snorted; he didn't care much for making this 'Liam' jealous. The angaran was more keen on the young woman's opinion and it seemed positive based on the Pathfinder's happy noises as she wriggled in her seat. Evfra resumed sipping his tea, suddenly feeling quite content.
As Sara settled in, she noticed Evfra's funny wiggling toes. Upon seeing the angaran's dark blue bare feet, the young woman was reminded of the incident where she walked in on Liam and Jaal. She softly chuckled at the memory. The sound instantly caught Evfra's attention as he froze, then looked curiously at the young woman.
Aware of his gaze, Sara wasn't too sure if telling Evfra about the incident was the best idea. She didn't want to get Jaal in trouble. "Um, nothing...just remembered something," Sara tried to pass off as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Oh," the leader remarked, trying not to pry, but he recognized Ryder's neck rubbing behavior. It was a habit of hers when something embarrassing had transpired. "Remembered something funny, I imagine," Evfra prompted as he sipped on tea, feigning disinterest. However, the angaran was now even more curious about what had made the young woman chuckle.
Sara stole another glance, noting that Evfra seemed quite at ease. The young woman did recall that the leader allowed Jaal to stay on her team, rather than be reassigned. Plus, Sara was sure she would let it slip one day or another. "Soooo, one day I walked in on Jaal and Liam naked..."
Evfra spat out his tea, spraying it onto the coffee table. Golden droplets flecked the furniture as well as carpet here and there. Then the poor soul started coughing, until the washcloth resting on his forehead slid soggily down onto his face. Evfra swiped at the moist cloth, coughing into it instead.
"Okay...I could have phrased that WAY better," Sara cringed as she watched on, at a complete loss of what to do in the situation.
"Jaal...you...what?!" Evfra managed to croak in between coughs.
"Jaal was doing a cultural exchange with Liam. They were swapping armor when I walked in on them," Sara hastily explained as she fully faced Evfra. His coughing fit lessening with each breath.
"I see," The leader finally breathed hoarsely, though his molten blue eyes were narrowed. "I shall reprimand him immediately," Evfra growled as he slammed the mug down on the coffee table with a loud clang and fired up his orb communicator.
"What?!" Sara panicked and without thinking, as usual, launched herself at Evfra. "No!" The young woman bellowed as she latched her arms around the angaran's right arm where the glowing sphere had popped up.
"Woman what are you doing?!" Evfra yelped in surprise as the Pathfinder's lithe figure pounced at him like a Challyrion. His body would have gone into a total fight or flight response if his arm hadn't been encased by the warm comforting closeness of physical touch. Something the socially driven angara craved and basked in. An instinct Evfra had shut out of his life...until now.
Meanwhile Sara, was completely oblivious to how close to her body she was now hugging Evfra's arm in an attempt to diffuse the situation. And while she did ultimately solve one problem, the young woman created another entirely awkward one as Evfra's long sleeved arm was now tucked cozily between her non-armored breasts and the palm of his gloved hand nearly cradled the side of her left cheek.
"It was an innocent misunderstanding!" Sara rushed to explain, completely unaware of her hug tightening around Evfra's arm like a drowning sailor hugging a piece of driftwood. "I even told Jaal that the crew treats each other like family! I mean we are a tight bunch! Plus I already talked to him and Liam about it! There have been no incidences since!" the young woman continued to plead her case without pausing for breath. Her bright eyes alit with worry.
But Evfra's silence and sudden slacked jawed expression caused Sara to pause. The young woman blinked as she became aware that something was off here. A gentle humming filled the air and Sara felt a warm tickling sensation crawling up her chest, sending goosebumps along the way. The young woman glanced down and squeaked, dropping the angaran's muscular arm, as if it had burned her. Sara then hurtled herself backwards until she was pressed into the other corner of the couch. "Oh my gosh! Sir! I was just!" Sara stammered with startled wide doe eyes.
What was she thinking! Talk about causing a scandal and with the first contact race no less. This wasn't the 'pathfinding' Sara was supposed to do! 'Oh god, I can see the headlines now, "Alliance with Angara sullied after Pathfinder Ryder attempts to diffuse situation by wrestling the Resistance Leader." Director Tann will have a conniption for sure!'
With the physical connection broken, Evfra blinked, shook his head, and regained his senses out of whatever stupor had enraptured him. "I…" The angaran started as he cleared his throat. "Completely understand Pathfinder," Evfra blatantly lied. 'Skkut! I don't understand this at all!' His inner mind cursed. The angaran was amazed that he didn't zap Ryder out of sheer surprise! Quickly Evfra he calmed himself; he was a master of the battlefield and could collect himself into a leader's state of poise. "I only wanted to ensure that my angaran representative did not send the wrong impression," Evfra stated carefully and diplomatically. Paaran Shie would have wept tears of joy if she had watched his act.
Meanwhile Sara nodded dumbly at Evfra's words. She was just enormously relieved the incident hadn't taken a wrong turn! Though her cheeks were practically on fire with embarrassment!
"Pathfinder?" Evfra called Ryder back to the present. He had noticed that her skin looked bright red at the cheeks, as if a sudden hot flush had set in. The leader began to feel worried. "Are you having a fever?"
"Nope," Sara quickly answered, then cleared her throat with a cough. "I should...go," she hastily added as she propelled herself out of the couch. At Evfra's questioning gaze the young woman continued, "Yeah, see it's already dark outside, gotta get back to the Tempest and finish some important Pathfinding...business."
"I see," Evfra replied, rather quietly as his molten blue eyes watched the young woman go gather up her things. Of course Ryder needed to go; yet the news caused a prick of disappointment. It briefly perplexed the angaran as to why he felt it. He wrinkled his stuffy nose at another thought for it dawned on him that they had practically spent the whole day together and ended up relatively unscathed.
"Alright, got my backpack and gloves," Sara checked aloud as tittered on Evfra's front doorstep. Her backpack had deflated after removing all the ingredients and medicines. The young woman turned to look up at the angaran leaning against the doorframe. "Promise me you'll get some sleep?" She asked with a grin.
"Of course," Evfra responded evenly after he studied the young woman for a moment. For years he had been badgered by who knows how many angara about taking proper care of his health. Yet when Ryder asked him to do so...it felt only natural to acquiesce.
"And no sneaking out to check on Headquarters," Sara added as she wagged a gloved finger at the leader.
"Hmph, and why ever would I do that, the very idea," Evfra huffed as he crossed his arms and looked away towards the luminescent moon. Then the leader recalled that he had that exact idea before Ryder showed up.
It also dawned on the resistance leader that Ryder shouldn't walk alone at night. Granted, Aya was safe for the angara, but not for aliens with the Roekaar about. No doubt members of the group had infiltrated in the populace on Aya, and Ryder was a marked target. She was the promise of an alien alliance that the Roekaar wanted to snuff out. Evfra felt a sudden pang of worry, something he never before felt for an alien. Then again, she wasn't just some alien...she was Sara Ryder.
"Just...let me know once you've arrived upon your ship," Evfra asked quietly as he shifted the weight that leaned against the doorframe. He slowly peered back at the young woman, his eyes nearly glowing from the moonlight.
At first Sara was slightly taken aback by Evfra's odd request. Then her expression softened as she replied, "Aye aye General."
"Evfra," the angaran remarked with a slight croak.
"Hmmm?" Sara tilted her head in slight confusion.
"Just Evfra, will do," the leader clarified, this time able to keep his voice calm.
Now a playful smile danced upon Sara's lips, "Very well, good night Evfra."
His name spoken in Ryder's soft feminine voice sounded...quite pleasant to the angaran. A deep rumble emitted from Evfra's chest before he hastily turned it into a cough. It seemed that the young woman didn't hear it and the leader quickly nodded back before Ryder walked away, leaving Evfra to watch her retreating form in the moonlight, until she disappeared from view.
"Hmmmm," the angaran mused into the warm night air. The leader realized that he was looking forward to tomorrow. Slowly, Evfra turned around and closed the door behind him with a click.
