He let the door swing shut behind him as he entered the little cabin. He watched her for a moment. She was sitting on the bed, looking pale and thin. She rolled her head to one side and opened her eyes. She smiled very faintly, "Deri." She said faintly. "I dreamed of you, and you came." She reached out a trembling hand to him. "Maybe I called you to me."

He walked up to her and took her hand in his. "Where's Liu?"

"Sleeping. After the bigger feedings, she always sleeps, it helps her distribute the energy for the maximum effect."

He sighed. "The smell of the flowers is very strong."

"Liu got the idea to soak the sheets in the flower water."

"She's a smart girl." He stepped closer.

"Yes." Suddenly her eyes closed and she winced. "Don't get too close, the flowers are known to have somewhat mind-altering effects. You will not be yourself."

He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them softly. "I don't care." It seemed to bring her back to herself, and she looked at him. His sigh sent his warm breath across her hand. "Maia, this has to stop."

She laughed, "This?"

He took a step closer and held her hand against his chest. "You know what I mean."

She tried to pull her hand away, but didn't have the strength. "If the choice is my life or my daughter's, then you already know what my answer will be. If you came here just to tell me that, then you can go."

He released her hand and sat at her side. "I might be able to help you." He said, "I've brought you something from the city." He pulled a tiny case from his belt, and opened it to reveal a small syringe filled with a slightly opaque liquid.

"What is it?"

"It's derived from the Healing flowers. We refine it and condense it, so it's much more powerful than any of the stuff you have here."

She nodded slightly, but Deri hesitated. "Here, let me help you sit up." Without letting go of her arm, he moved around her, and slid one arm beneath her shoulders. He lifted her up and sat behind her on the bed, setting her back down against his chest.

She turned to him so her face was only an inch away from his, and she gave him a quizzical look.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, as if suddenly realizing how close they were. "I've only ever injected myself." She nodded and laid her head on his shoulder. She laid her arm against his, and he just looked at her for a moment. She was looked so frail, but he knew how strong she was. She didn't even flinch as he injected her. "Did it hurt?" he said, before he realized that she, of all people could handle pain. "You should be feeling really good in a few minutes."

"Thank you Deri." She said, turning her face away. Then she sighed, "You can stay awhile, if you want."

"Hmmm." He said, "I feel….strange."

"It's the flowers; as I said, their effects are known to be—invigorating."

"Oh." He turned slightly, and brushed his lips against her neck. "That must be it."

He laughed slightly, and the feel of his warm breath on her skin made her shudder. She sought out his fingers and they intertwined. "There hasn't been a man in this bed for…so long… I didn't think—"

He kissed her neck very softly, "Don't think." He whispered, and she sighed. At the same time, Deri freed one hand and ran it up her arm, and traced across her slender collarbones. He touched the soft skin of her cheek, and gently brought her gaze to his. She wanted to speak, but wrapped in the warmth of his arms, and with the smell of the flowers everywhere, she couldn't think. She looked into his eyes, and it was as if he could see every joy and every sorrow that she had ever known.

"Maia," he whispered, "I'm so sorry."

She stifled a sob and shook her head. With her free hand, she stroked his cheek, and he brought his lips closer to hers. An instant before they touched, she gasped.

Hazily, Deri found that it was not a sound of pleasure, but of pain. "Something's wrong." Her body convulsed, and she dug her nails into his hands.

"Maia—"

She cut him off with a horrifying scream. Her eyes fluttered and shut, and she went limp. He sat there for a moment, clinging to her.

The door to Liu's room swung open and the little girl ran into the room with an urgent expression on her face. She took her mothers hand and looked up at Deri "Lets go." She said.

"What?"

"To the city, you can help her there, right?"

"Yes, but—"

"Then call your ship and let's go." She turned to her mother, and Deri saw that she wore a knapsack on her back. He tapped the communicator he wore on his wrist. "This is general Deri. I need a transport at my location immediately, have a med kit standing by."

Liu pressed her non-wraith hand against her mother's cheek. "Mother, wake up. Please wake up."

Deri put his hand on the girl's head, finding it cold to the touch. "It'll be alright."

Maia's eyes opened a slit, "No—the city—you can't." she shuddered and went still again.

"Hold on mother." Liu whispered.

They heard a faint humming sound. "The transport's here." Liu stepped back, and he lifted Maia up from the bed. They ran out the door to find the small ship landing in the little clearing. The hatch lowered, Deri ran inside and lay Maia on a medical bed in the center of the small ship.

There were two medical officers in the pod, along with an armed Atlantian soldier. "Sir, the child must remain here." He said gruffly, catching sight of Liu.

She stopped on the ramp and looked at Deri with pleading eyes. "No," he said, reaching for Liu's hand, "She stays with me." The hatched closed behind them and they took off.

The doctor checked Maia's pulse, and then looked up at Deri. "What happened to her?"

"It was X3. I gave her an injection. She must be allergic."

"Impossible. X3 was made especially to be compatible with all Atlantians. The Science council assured us—"

"Well, they were wrong." He snapped.

"General, I—" He threw up his hands, helpless. "I don't know how to fix this."

His eyes fell to Maia, and Deri grabbed her hand and held it tight. Without looking up, he said. "What about the chamber?"

"The healing chamber? It won't work; it's less than experimental."

"But Morai is working on it?"

"Yes, he's head of the project."

He smiled slightly. "Then it will work."

Liu left her mother's side, and walked towards the view port at the front. She stood between the pilot seats and stared out at a vast expanse of water.

"Like the view?" The copilot said, turning to smile at her.

"Yes." She said, "I have never seen the ocean."

He smiled again. "Just wait, little lady." He said, and pointed to a spot on the horizon.

"The city." She whispered.

As the pod drew closer to it, Deri moved to her side, and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes." She said softly, "But I'm scared. I have this feeling—"

He dropped to one knee and looked Liu in the eyes. "You're mother will be well, I promise you. Everything will be fine."

She smiled, but she didn't believe him.

A voice came over the comm., "We won't be able to meet you at the docking bay; all of our medics are currently indisposed."

"This is High General Deri, and I am ordering you to have a team of medics meet me at the experimental lab. Make sure Morai is there."

There was a moment of silence, then "Yes sir."

They landed in the docking bay, and the medic looked at him, almost frantic. "Maybe we should wait for a gurney."

"If we wait, she dies." And without another word, he picked her up and carried her out of the pod.