Nightfall

“So what do you want for breakfast? We have oatmeal, eggs, and pancakes. Our pancakes aren’t the best and the oatmeal is watery I’d go with eggs,” Ike said whispering conspiratorially to me. I blinked and nodded.

E-eggs,” I muttered.

He wrote on his clipboard. “Good choice. Well, I’ve stayed long enough. Andromeda should have found Tarric by now. I’ll take my leave. I’m the only nurse tech on duty and these machines,” he pointed to the electrocardiogram, “don’t run on their own.”

I once again nodded not knowing what to say.” Do my crew know where I am?”

Ike shook his head. “For confidentiality, this room is kept a secret from the public. This and several others are under the council’s jurisdiction,” he said making a final note on his clipboard.

“I’ll make sure the doctor understands your condition. Bye,” he waved and walked to continue to the next patient the little boy.

I sat and waited for breakfast or Andromeda whichever came first. Andromeda showed up after breakfast was served. Eggs, hashbrowns, some bacon strips, and jello. Can’t forget the jello. All hospitals served them. I was busy chewing the rubbery eggs when Andromeda stalked past and sat on the seat Reynolds left behind. She was wearing a different outfit and smelled straight out of the shower. She seemed angry. A scowl was on her face.

“I-is everything alright?” I stuttered after swallowing my mouthful of eggs and washing it down with pear juice or what tasted like pear juice. It was red, and it wasn’t blood.

“Everything is fine,” she muttered crossing her arms. “You are to be released after dinner. It seems one day is enough rest for you here. Tomorrow you and I are to report to the council. It seems your friends tried something again.” Andromeda held out a napkin for me.

I shook my head. “Those three. Honestly! What did they do, kidnap a pilot?” I asked fingers brushing hers as I made to grab the napkin. She pulled back smiling.

“Nu-uh! What are the magic words?” she asked smirking and dangling the napkin in front of me. I glanced at the other napkin on my plate and made to grab that.

She frowned and with a quick swipe, she had both in her grasp. “Now, what do say?”

I knew ‘give me back my damn napkins’ wouldn’t work, so I opted for a simple, “Please?”

She smiled and handed one to me, giving me a brotherly pat. “Only because you asked so nicely.”

“I smirked and wiped my mouth. It was full of red nectar. “What did I drink?”

Andromeda gazed at me for a minute. “What color was it?”

“Red.”

Hmm. Either Red Sakura nectar which is inhibiting and only used to have a good time or Black slug puss. It tastes like pear juice.”

I felt the red nectar, wait puss, making its way back up with everything else. I swallowed it back down seeing the twinkle in her eye. I hoped to the Universe, she was kidding about the puss.

“It’s Red Sakura nectar. It will put you to sleep in a few,” she said chuckling. “I wanted to see your face when I said puss. You should have seen it.”

“Take a picture,” I muttered shuddering.

She laughed. “Cameras are a thing of the past. There are none left.”

“The triphone you took from me. It takes pictures. I can show you how,” I said yawning.

She smiled. “Another time. Rest now. I’ll keep watch.”

I nodded and closed my eyes.

I was awoken at lunch to a metallic smell I so was growing to hate already. Blood. This time I slurped it from the sippy cup slowly. I still choked. It was awful. Though lunch wasn’t much better. The meat was red and I prayed it was cooked well and wasn’t rare done. More Red Sakura juice and potatoes or what looked like potatoes and green beans came with lunch. Don’t forget the Jello.

Ike, Tarric, and Andromeda ate their lunch with me. Ike teased about eating Tarric but instead of running for the hills, Tarric blushed and Ike winked. I gazed at Andromeda who was glancing from her brother to Tarric and back.

“Since when are the two of you together?” she asked. My eyes widened before I grinned at the two who were blushing.

“About a month right Ike?” said Tarric winking at Ike who looked amused.

“Give or take the week you were unconscious, hun,” Ike said putting his arms around Tarric who leaned back in the embrace.

I wondered how far they’d take this joke when a few council guards walked in with a serious Reynolds.

“Your crew members are more trouble than they are worth. First, they kidnap you, then they try hotwiring one of my ships, now they’ve gone and kidnapped Johanson our worst pilot.”

“W-worst?” I asked as Tarric rolled his eyes and nodded.

“He thinks he’s a hotshot but he stinks,” he said while Ike chuckled and nodded.

Andromeda snorted. “Not all of us have a grudge against him.”

Tarric grinned. “Yeah some of us are sleeping with him.”

“Once and I was drunk,” muttered Andromeda glancing at me.

I glanced back not sure what she was looking for. I felt slightly upset although I didn’t know why. She seemed relieved about something and let a breath out. Reynolds handed something to me and by the metallic smell, I knew what it was. Blood.

“It’ll negate Red Sakura nectar and wake up your hunting senses,” he said as I took the small cup and slowly drank it making a disgusted face.

“Yes it tastes about as good as warm liquor from a smelly shoe,” muttered Ike gaining Andromeda’s incredulous look.

“Since when have you ever had warm liquor in a dirty shoe?” she asked.

Ike smirked. “Well baby sis, what happens in the quad, stays in the quad, tho I did end up with…”

“Nahh!” I don’t want to hear about one of your sexcapades!” said Andromeda as I finished the small cup and choked. Andromeda patted my back and I blushed.

“I want those crew mates of yours found,” said Reynolds taking his leave.

I nodded and glanced at Ike. “Can I even stand right now?”