Dylan walked quietly down the corridors of his ship, saluting the crew members that he passed. Though it was a necessity given their current orbit of Tarazed, he was still conducting his routine morning patrol of his ship. He needed that small bit of normalcy with everything that was going on.
The fact that Andromeda wasn't questioning his actions told him that he wasn't the only one who realized that.
Stepping onto the Command Deck, Dylan looked around at the crew staffing the bridge. Lt Craig was manning the engineering station. Given that the engineer didn't look up from his station, Dylan figured he was engrossed in something. Rommie was standing at the weapons station. The android avatar glanced over at him and gave him a nod.
Nodding back, Dylan walked toward the pilot station, where Bekka was. His first officer was leaning against the railing of the pilot's nest, a flexi in her hand. Given the engrossed expression on the blonde's face, Dylan figured the flexi wasn't work related but instead contained one of her mystery novel. So wrapped up was Bekka in reading that she didn't even hear Dylan approach.
Coming up behind her, Dylan leaned in close and asked, "got any idea who the culprit is?"
Bekka started, dropping the flexi and placing a hand over her chest. Recovering quickly she stared over her shoulder at Dylan. "Was that really necessary?" she asked.
"What?" Dylan asked innocently. "It's not like I quietly sneaked up on you and said boo."
"You might as well have," Bekka muttered, squatting down to pick up her flexi. "I was kind of at a tense point of the story."
Dylan laughed. "Then maybe you shouldn't read the story in a public place. Especially not on the bridge of a warship," he added.
"Oh, come on," Bekka said, standing up with the flexi in hand again. She turned so she was facing Dylan as she continued speaking. "We're in orbit of a Commonwealth planet not cruising through Drago-Kazov territory. I'm on the bridge and ready to take action if necessary. If anything that requires my undivided attention, Andromeda will let me know, right Andromeda?"
"I would," the AI replied, appearing on the screen. "I would also be sure to alert you, Admiral Hunt."
Dylan glanced at the screen and nodded his acknowledgment.
"See," Bekka told him. "I don't see what's the big deal if I keep myself occupied while we're going in circles."
"Fine," Dylan replied, as he didn't really care if Bekka was reading or not. As she pointed out, there wasn't a whole lot for any of them to be doing. "But don't complain when people ask you a simple question and startle you then."
"Point taken," Bekka replied, leaning against the railing of the pilot's nest once again. "How's Rhade doing?"
"As I haven't been summoned to Med Deck, I'm assuming he's still about the same as when I left him with Jillian last night."
"I hope she got some rest eventually."
"I do too. Trance was supposed to spell her for part of the night. I plan on heading to Med Deck as soon as I check in with Dr. Neff and her team. I hope the good doctor has good news for me because I'm sure Trance won't."
Bekka nodded, her own hopes echoing that of her commanding officer. "Well, you don't need to worry about us up here. Between me and Andromeda we've got things covered up here," she assured him.
"Mostly me," the ship's AI chimed in.
Dylan smiled as Bekka shot an annoyed look at the image on the screen.
"Okay then," Dylan said, pushing off the rail. "Just so you know, if I manage to sneak up on you reading again, I'm saying boo next time."
"I'm sure you will," Bekka muttered.
Still smiling, Dylan turned and headed off the Command Deck. Striding through the corridors, Dylan headed for the lab that Dr. Neff and her team were using. Though he was sure if any significant breakthroughs had been made, Harper or Dr. Neff would contact him, he still liked to stop by for updates, knowing that giving their time restraint, mundane check ins would be easily overlooked even if he had bothered asking for them, which he hadn't. That didn't mean he didn't want to know what was going on with the research.
As he walked the familiar corridors of his ship, Dylan tried to go through some breathing exercises to help relieve the stress. Though he had retired to his quarters and laid in bed last night, his sleep had been far from restful. His thoughts had kept him awake a lot, and when he had managed to fall asleep, anxious dreams would startle him awake. He had a feeling Jillian wouldn't be doing much better with sleep herself. He just hoped at the very least she had retired to her quarters and laid down for a while last night.
Reaching the lab, Dylan stepped inside. He wasn't surprise to see the team of doctors and medical researchers present to be concentrating on whatever was in front of them, be it a microscope, petri dish or computer screen. He noted that the full complement that had come up from Tarazed was not currently present and was glad to see that despite the time constraint, Dr. Neff was clearly trying to make sure her personnel was trying to get some rest in shifts.
"You should go get some sleep, Seamus," Dr. Neff was telling Andromeda's engineer as Dylan headed toward the counter she was working at. "It's going to be a few hours at least before we will get any data to analyze."
"I don't know that I'd be able to sleep," Harper counter, though he knew that Dr. Neff had a point. There wasn't much more he could do to help now that they had things set up.
"Then just go lay down. Even that will help," Dr. Neff insisted, the doctor in her coming out. Though she knew the current situation had a time constraint, she also knew that any of them putting their own health in jeopardy would serve no purpose.
"If you don't want to listen to the doctor, then I can make it an order," Dylan interjected as he walked up to them.
Harper looked in Dylan's direction a feeling of dread came over him. "Please tell me I haven't run out of time, Boss," he said, his voice pleading. They had all worked so hard and if it was all for nothing . . .
"You haven't," Dylan assured him.
Harper's sigh of relief was noticeable to everyone in the immediate vicinity.
"In fact, I managed to buy you a little more time. I got him to agree to life support for a short time, to give you more time to work. Trance is keeping a close eye on his condition, and as she hasn't called me down to Med Deck yet, I'm assuming we haven't even got to that point yet. I don't think it will be long though, so please tell me you've got some good news for me."
"We do," Harper said, his relief bolstering his mood. "Thanks to my think outside the box skills, and Dr. Neff's medical expertise, we think we're onto something."
"We still have to see if the experiments that we have set up will provide us with any positive results," Dr. Neff supplied, feeling that she needed to keep a dose of reality in the conversation. "However, it is a new direction to take and might lead to something."
"And this something is?" Dylan asked.
"Mr. Harper proposed the theory that just because the Nietzschean immune system cannot fight the poison, it doesn't mean that all species would have the same reaction. There could be a species whose immune system has a natural defense against the poison. If that is the case, we might have a starting point in developing an antidote. We've collected samples from as many different species as possible and have exposed those samples to the poison. It'll be a few hours at least until we know how the immune cells in those samples react to the poison, which is why I think Mr. Harper should try to get some sleep. We may need his creative thinking later on when we start analyzing data."
"Sounds reasonable to me," Dylan replied, his gaze drifting back to Harper.
Before the engineer could respond though, Andromeda spoke up.
"Dylan, your presence is requested on Med Deck."
"Understood," Dylan replied, having a bad feeling about what that request meant. "I'm on my way," he told the computer before looking toward Dr. Neff. "Keep me updated on your progress."
"Of course, Admiral," Dr. Neff replied even as Dylan was already heading out of the lab, Harper at his heels.
Though Dylan knew Harper was following him, Andromeda's captain didn't try to talk him out of it. Not only did he not want to waste the time, but he also felt that Harper had a right to be there. Rhade was his friend as well, even if their friendship could be complicated.
Walking onto Med Deck, the duo made their way to where Rhade was. Both Jillian and Trance were standing on either of the bed. Jillian held her husband's hand in both of hers and didn't even seem aware of Dylan and Harper's arrival. Trance, however did look away from her monitor.
"There are irregularities in Rhade's heartbeat," Trance said before Dylan could even ask anything. "I want to put him on life support but he insisted he needed to talk to you more time."
Dylan nodded as he approached the bed.
Unsure of what to do or say, Harper hovered just inside the doorway, watching the scene play out.
"Hey, my friend," Dylan said, coming to stand right next to Jillian. He could see the fear in Rhade's eyes as he looked down at him. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"I need your assurance that if a cure isn't found-"
"You have it," Dylan told him, not needing Rhade to finish the statement. There was no need to put Jillian through that. "I have only your best interests in mind, my friend and every confidence that we will speak again."
Rhade nodded. "Thank-you," he replied.
Glancing back at Harper, Dylan motioned the engineer forward. He knew if Harper didn't say something to Rhade now and things didn't turn out well, Harper would regret it later.
Finding the ability to move, Harper walked forward. The engineer wasn't sure what to do or what to say but he knew he couldn't just stand around. This could very well be the last chance he had to speak to Rhade.
"Hey pal," Harper said as he stepped up to the bedside, next to Trance. "We're working on something," he told him, wanting to sound positive without actually lying. "There's a good chance we'll be back to trading insults in no time at all."
"Looking forward to it," Telemachus replied, forcing a smile.
"The irregular heartbeats are getting more frequent," Trance interjected. She directed her next words to Rhade. "I really should proceed with the procedure," she told him.
Rhade closed his eyes as he nodded. "I'm not sure I'm ready for this."
"I'm right here, my love," Jillian told him. "You're not alone."
Opening his eyes, Rhade looked toward Jillian. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Having started the IV during the exchange, Trance started to explain the next steps, mostly in an attempt to put Rhade at ease. She wasn't sure if it would help but she also wasn't sure what else she could do.
Eventually, the sedative that she had administered started to work, and Rhade's eyes started to drift close.
"Admiral there is a message for you from Tarazed," Andromeda announced. "It's Tri-Lorn."
Dylan hesitated in replying. He looked over at Trance.
"The sedative has taken effect," Trance told him. "Rhade won't know that you're gone. Take the call," she told him.
"Okay," Dylan said, stepping away from the bed. "Andromeda, route the call to the office here on Med Deck."
"Yes, Admiral," Andromeda replied.
Reaching the Medical Officer's office, Dylan took a seat at the desk. Moments later tri-Lorn's image appeared on the screen before him.
"Greetings Admiral," Tri-Lorn said. "I have some good news to report."
"That's good, because I could use some good news, right about now."
"Rhade?"
"The poison is starting to affect his heart. Trance is putting him on life support."
"How did you talk him into that?"
"It's a long story," Dylan replied. "So, what was your news."
"We caught the man who shot Rhade," Tri-Lorn informed him. "Captain Falcon and his men took him into custody when he finally returned to his ship. So far he isn't saying much but we do know he's from the Sabra-Jaguar Pride. I don't believe the attack had anything to do with Rhade running for triumvir other than the debate gave him a chance to carry out his plan."
"The Sabra-Jaguar are trying to further destabilize the Commonwealth."
"That is my speculation as well," Tri-Lorn said. "If we get more information from him, I will pass it along. Keep me updated on Rhade's condition."
"I will," Dylan replied. "Hunt out."
As the screen went black, Dylan leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. Though he should have been relieved that Rhade's attacker was in custody, Dylan couldn't help but feel that they hadn't heard the last from the Sabra-Jaguar or the other Nietzschean Prides that were still against the Commonwealth.
