PINA
Running Zedd's blood is taking so long, but really there's no way to speed it up. These tests need a certain amount of time, like it or not. I glance up at the still feverish Zedd and his mate. I can see the rage in him through his tightly controlled movements although there is no hint of it in his voice when he talks to Zedd. While I wait for the tests to finish, I run another scan. His temperature is climbing slowly but steadily, in spite of Tommy's efforts to bring it down or at least keep it stable.
Finally I can check the samples. And double check them. And triple check them. How is it possible? None of them are showing any signs of what's slowly destroying Zedd from the inside out! Angrily, I sweep my arm along the table, sending everything crashing to the floor.
"Pina?" In a moment, Tommy is beside me. "Pina, what is it?"
"I don't know! None of the tests showed me anything."
Taking a breath and shaking his head, he is far calmer then I would be given the circumstances. "It's got to be here, we're just missing it - overlooking it. What about basic illnesses or various poisons? Animal venoms or something he's maybe allergic to?"
"It could be any of those and more Tommy! I have no clue where to even start, as what I have tested for has shown nothing. There is no logical reason he's become this ill this fast and why his immune system isn't doing a damn thing to prevent it!"
Tommy grabs my shoulders and shakes me once. "Scorpina, calm down and think. I'm sure there were things that affected you guys when you first came here and you figured out how to handle them. You can do this. Talk it out."
"It's some kind of infection, I think. Zedd told us that they injected him with something and rubbed it into his cuts too. I wish I'd known before we left that I couldn't-"
"Stop it" Tommy commands. "What about some kind of broad spectrum antibiotics?"
"I don't know. Since I can't figure out what it is, I don't know if it would help or just control the symptoms while it runs wild."
He takes a deep breath and looks back at his growing sicker mate. "Okay what about his skin? I know he's bruised up, but his skin is getting raw and splotchy in places, the back of his neck, his face, could that be a sign of anything you can think of along with his fever?"
"It could be, but it could also be a result of his fever, it's spiking up so quickly and his body can't fight it so it's bound to start showing symptoms of it ravaging him."
"Okay. Let me see what I can figure out. I need to borrow some things and then I'll run some tests of my own."
"Borrow some things? Tommy, you can work right here."
"Did Dar tell you I have my own lab now?"
"I forgot." I think about this for a minute. Even if he does have his own lab why couldn't he just stay here where his mate is? Perhaps he feels more comfortable in his own space? But Zedd isn't going to do well with him gone for long. "Okay, but only if you hurry back, I understand wanting to work on your own, but Zedd needs you in more ways than one right now and being gone long will not help his condition."
"I give you my word I will be back as soon as I can and if I feel him slipping or becoming more distressed through the bond, I'll come right back."
"All right Tommy, what do you need?"
"Some of Zedd's blood and a scalpel. Possibly a syringe." Quickly I gather the odd list of items he's requested. "Stay with him."
Swiftly the half breed leaves the room, leaving me to wonder just what he's up to. How does he think that he's going to figure out what that bastard did to Zedd when he's not even really all that familiar with Earth maladies, never mind anything intergalactic? However I'll give him the benefit of the doubt as I didn't make any progress in spite of my knowledge and with how things are going we don't have much more time.
