"Andromedan biology isn't just weird," Harlan announced. "It's beyond weird."
Harlan was saying this to Suzee, Rosie, and Bova at lunch. As for Radu, who knew where he was? He admittedly had not been feeling great that morning and gave an explination that puzzled everyone on the ship. He said something about an Andromedan curse and then asked to be excused for the day. Goddard allowed it, seeing that Radu was not faking anything.
"I still don't quite understand what's going on with him." Rosie had been pondering the situation with Radu; it was always exciting to find out more about another species. Particularly, Andromedans, with their unique biology.
"Why do you think his strength has been affected?" She wondered. Then she glanced over at Harlan who was busy gagging over his freshly rehydrated lunch. "Do you have any ideas?"
"Me?" Harlan raised an eyebrow. "How should I know?"
"Well, you're the only one here with actual experience as an Andromedan."
"For a day," Harlan said wryly. "Andromedan strength was great. The rest of it... the hair, the cinnabun ears, the noise... that I could do without. But I'd take Andromedan strength over human strength any day."
"We know that, Rhombie-brain," Suzee rolled her eyes. "But that doesn't answer Rosie's question."
"She's got you there," Radu piped up, having overheard the entire conversation before entering the room.
"I thought you didn't listen to private conversations," Suzee frowned. She knew Radu's policy on eavesdropping, and this wasn't like him. She also kept a similar policy, choosing not to invade the consciousness of her friends, even though she was capable.
"Lately, I don't have an option."
"The Andromedan Curse?" Bova asked. "That's what you called it, right?"
"It isn't actually called that," Radu admitted. "I don't know the name for it. I only know that the end result will reward me with adult-sized Andromedan ears. In the next two weeks, my ears are supposed to develop between three to five more spirals--"
"You mean those ears get bigger?" Harlan blurted out. Rosie knudged him gently.
"I get to deal with a lot between now and then," Radu replied, calmly ignoring Harlan's comment. "Like what you guys can already see... my strength is affected, my sense of direction is even thrown off, and my hearing is more sensitive. And it is taking every ounce of my concentration and patience to try to screen out all of the extra noise. Forgive me if my patience has run out."
The others nodded, and everyone, even Harlan, sympathezied with Radu.
"You seem to be feeling better," Rosie noted.
"Yeah, I finally managed to sleep," Radu replied. "I just needed to sleep."
"Is this like... Andromedan puberty?" Bova asked. Someone had to.
But Radu was laughing as though the question were crazy. "No, no, it isn't that! When that happened, my voice just changed and... well, normal stuff. That happened to me a long time ago. No, this is entirely different. It is part of growing up, yes, but not puberty!"
The others stared at him wearing blank expressions.
"I can't believe you thought it was that," Radu added, grinning. "I am not that weird, you guys. I know you'd love to think that."
"That's not true!" Rosie immediately rose to her feet. "I don't think that. Neither do the rest of us."
Radu didn't seem to care one way or the other. He seemed to be thinking of something else. Suddenly, he slapped his knee and jumped to his feet. The others exchanged looks.
"Oh, there's something -- I've got to do!" Radu's eyes danced with sudden inspiration. "I just remembered. They told me a long time ago that I could... Hey, hey, I'll see you guys later."
With that, he ran off.
"Weird Andromedan," Harlan muttered under his breath.
Radu peeked his head in the door, still grinning.
"I know, I know," Harlan exclaimed, throwing up his hands. "You heard that."
Laughing, Radu left again to do... whatever he was going to do.
A/N from Radu386: What am I going to do? Venture a guess, anyone???
