WalkingHaunt (6 page)

Debarren returned in ten minutes, and he looked to Niisa. “You were not kidding.”

Orkill chuckled at Niisa’s knowing expression, as she said, “No, I was not kidding.”

“Well, there is no obvious sign of infection by a pathogen, and from what I can see, she has a very aggressive immune system.”

Niisa sighed in relief. “Most of us on Wedderal have experienced spring pox. If you survive that, you survive everything.”

Orkill grinned as Debarren looked at Niisa with the intense interest of a physician. “Can I get a blood sample, Niisa? I would love to compare your immune responses.”

She started to roll up her sleeve. “You say the sweetest things.”

Debarren froze as he looked at her skin. “What is that?”

She looked down, and Orkill came over. A raised bruise-like pattern in a brilliant violet was on her arm. “I haven’t seen that before.”

Debarren took a blood sample and a skin swab. As the horrified gathering of Healers watched, the mark expanded down her arm until it almost reached her wrist.

Orkill watched helplessly as Debarren stood in shock, unmoving.

* * * *

“Healers, can someone please do something?” Niisa was nervous. If this was the plague, it was going to happen fast.

One of the Healers reached out and touched her skin. The swollen bruise mark receded, but it didn’t disappear.

“How could I be infected? I wore my suit and am in a sealed environment.”

Debarren scowled. “We will figure this out. I am going to check your blood. I have the equipment in the shuttle. I will be right back. Don’t panic.”

Niisa kept breathing evenly, and the Healer to her left touched her arm anytime the bruise grew bigger than a thumbprint. It seemed forever until Debarren came out of the shuttle with a grim expression.

“Did you ever have that spring pox?”

She pursed her lips. “No. My mother didn’t take the chance with any of her kids when it was around. Why?”

“Because the antibodies that Yohwen has protect her, but you don’t have them.”

She winced. “Can you use her blood to make a cure or give me the antibodies?”

He scowled. “It will take quite a bit of blood.”

“I will ask her then.”

Niisa headed inside the shuttle before they could stop her. She opened Yohwen’s door and immediately headed for her feet. One thing could get Yohwen up, and it was to have her feet touched.

She flipped the covers away from the vulnerable area and drew her knuckle sharply up Yohwen’s arch. The Masuo immediately snapped down into a thick sock to cover her foot, but it was too late. Yoh was awake.

“Niisa? What is it?” Yoh was rubbing her eyes and not too focused.

“I have come down with the plague, and I need you to agree to provide antibodies for me.” Niisa looked to where Debarren was standing in the doorway.

“What? Of course. Debarren, take what you need. Niisa, how are you feeling?”

Niisa looked at the mark on her arm, which was down to her wrist again. “I have felt better.”

Yoh sat up and tried to get to her feet, but she swayed alarmingly. “Debarren, now. She isn’t getting any better.”

He was at her side in a moment, and the blood donation was underway. He took nine vials from her, and she was asleep on Niisa’s shoulder before he was done.

“You weren’t kidding. She really does sleep through anything.”

“Only when she has been haunting. Any other time, she is the lightest sleeper you could imagine. Creepy, really.”

“I have what I need. Can you tuck her in?”

Niisa nodded and helped move Yohwen back under the covers. Orkill had been circumspect and left her in her underwear, but Yoh wouldn’t be impressed when she got up. She loved her black lace but hated to sleep in it. Orkill had gotten an eyeful, and hopefully, it would make him a little more aggressive with his attentions.

Niisa looked at the spreading plague splotch with worry.
How the hell had she gotten infected in the first place?

Chapter Eight

Yoh’s sleep tank filled up, and she popped out of bed the moment she was rested. Niisa had the plague. “Damn it.”

She took a quick solar shower and wrinkled her nose at the red marks left by her underclothing. She dressed and grabbed water and a meal, joining the rest in the makeshift medical bay.

Niisa was covered with dark marks, and her breathing was laboured.

Debarren had sweat on his brow, and two healers were working to keep Niisa stable. Yohwen walked up to Orkill and pressed herself against his side. Everyone was doing what they could, so there was nothing for her to do.

Orkill put his arm around her shoulders and pressed an absent kiss to her head. “She will be fine. Debarren is about to administer the antibodies. After that, we wait.”

She nodded and watched as Debarren injected Niisa on one of the few clear points on her neck.

“Orkill, have you and Debarren walked around during the day without breather gear?”

“Once it was made clear that our species were not at risk, yes. Why?”

She blinked. “I will tell you later.”

Niisa gasped as her back arched and the two Healers worked to fight her body’s response to the foreign antibodies. Niisa twitched, thrashed and finally lay still.

Yohwen gasped and moved forward to Niisa’s side as the Healers stepped away. The violent colouration beneath her skin was fading and bright colour was coming instead.

Laughter bubbled up, and Niisa glared at her. “Why are you laughing at me, I am dying.”

“You are not dying, you have spring pox. The antibodies are doing their work.” She stroked Niisa’s dark hair away from her face.

Debarren looked stressed and exhausted. “Is it dangerous?”

“Keep her hydrated and keep her from scratching. She will be fine. She is not a child, she will survive it easily.”

“You shouldn’t laugh at me, Yoh. I have seen you in your underwear.”

Yoh snorted. “Big deal. Thanks to your influence, it matches.”

“I know.” Niisa giggled softly. “Can I rest now?”

“Sure. Rest when you can. I will see if anyone can rig some mittens so you don’t scratch holes in your skin.” She chuckled and winked.

“You are having too much fun with this.”

“Of course I am. You are going to live. You will be itchy for a week, but you will live. That is worth smiling about.” She pressed a kiss to Niisa’s heating forehead as the pox drove out the plague.

It was truly a moment of the lesser of two evils being the more desirable turnout.

Debarren smiled and took hold of Niisa’s hand.

“Debarren, do you have any of those antibodies left?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

“Then, give yourself a shot before touching or talking to another Ysheer. I am pretty sure that you were the source of infection.”

He blinked in shock, and another Healer immediately took a blood sample, running it for analysis. “She’s right. It isn’t airborne, but you are a carrier.”

He stumbled away from Niisa in horror. “Oh gods.”

Yohwen waved him down. “Calm down. I am pretty sure that this is how it was designed. We just need to inoculate everyone here with Wedderal spring pox and that should do it.”

The female Healer with the dark green hair smiled, “How much blood are you willing to part with?”

“Whatever is needed. Take what you need, but leave me enough to live.”

Orkill came in with a tray full of snacks and water packs along with three cups of caf. “Sit her down, and I will keep her hydrated. I need that shot too.”

Knowing what they needed precisely, the blood taken was less than a litre. It was enough to make her dizzy and lightheaded but not enough to kill her. She leaned heavily on Orkill as he walked back to her quarters with her. He had gotten one of the first shots, and he was in early stage of spring pox.

He needed a nap, and there was no danger of anything peculiar going on. He simply wasn’t up to it.

She stripped her clothing off and crawled into bed while he was in the lav. She turned her back to him and pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

He crawled into bed beside her, a blaze of heat against her spine. He pulled her tightly against him, and despite his interest, he didn’t do anything more than nuzzle her hair and start breathing deeply.

He was asleep, and the even breathing of his body took her with him.

Yoh woke up and felt a little dry. She jolted when the arms around her waist tightened and lips trailed against her shoulder.

“You have skin like a child. Sun has never scorched you, has it?”

She licked her lips and croaked, “No, I was always studying. There wasn’t time for the beach or lake.”

He should be wracked with pain right now, unable to focus. As his hands moved over her, focusing wasn’t a problem for him, but it was becoming one for her.

She squirmed. “I don’t want to upset you, but I don’t engage in this kind of thing very often. Well, never. Yes, never is a good word. So, if you let me just get out of here, you can do whatever you like, and I will go check on Niisa.”

He sighed and released her. “I promise to go slow. It was just too tempting.”

She blinked and sat up. “You should be either sleeping or struggling to focus. What happened?”

“Oh, I burn off viruses. It is a Scorcher thing. We don’t get sick for long, even when directly exposed. Unfortunately, our systems are not suitable for donation.”

“Ah, I see.”

He laughed and slid his hand to the back of her neck. “Let me show you.”

He kissed her, and his mouth tasted of caf and berries. She sighed and he flicked his tongue against hers, and she could definitely feel the heat. Yoh cuddled close to him, the bedding trapped between them.

He swept his hand down her spine and urged her closer.

She stroked his cheek and cupped the thick cords of his neck as she moved until she was plastered against him.

She shifted as heat ran from the touch of his lips against hers, down her throat, through her chest and arrowed to her belly.

Yoh moaned slightly and pushed against him, breaking the kiss with a sigh of regret. “I have to check on Niisa.”

“I am sure she is fine.” He kissed the side of her neck and worked his way across one shoulder.

She chuckled and pushed away, letting the fabric fall away. Nudity wasn’t one of her hang-ups, so she left his stunned silence and headed for the lav.

A quick solar shower didn’t do much to ease the heat he had woken in her body. Just to make sure, she checked her body front and back looking for any kind of discolouration. She was clear of blemish and as pale as the day she had been made.

Leaving the lav, she tugged on her underthings while Orkill watched.

He swallowed heavily. “You certainly have a taste for undergarments. Are they entirely lace?”

She looked down. “They are both lined with flesh-coloured fabric. They make me feel pretty.”

He shook his head as if trying to clear it. “Well, you look beautiful, but I guess you know that.”

She was suddenly shy. “I actually don’t. I know I look like my mother, and she was beautiful, but I have my father’s colouring, so I was never sure how the combination went together.”

“It was a good combination, even if the match wasn’t sound, if that makes sense.”

She blushed, “It does. Thank you.” She pulled on a vest and a snug pair of trousers. Her Masuo tucked themselves over the legs of her trousers and held her calves securely.

She felt she needed to say something to the naked man lounging on his side, his dark hair spilling over one eye. “Have a nice rest. I will see you later.”

He grinned as she escaped the room.

She leaned against the closed door and breathed deeply. Well, if that was how Debarren had come on to Niisa, she was pretty sure that the naked romp was well deserved. Only Yoh’s inexperience kept her from trying to figure out if he could burn any hotter in her arms.

It was a matter that was going to require some study.

Chapter Nine

“Quarantine? What do you mean, we have to go into quarantine?” Yohwen asked the voice of Relay.

“A member of your party has been infected with a world-killing pathogen. We need to make sure that you will not pass that on to any other planets or species. There is a medical ship on its way, and you will remain in quarantine for seven days while a full scrub of the ship is completed to confirm that you are safe to travel.”

“Why do I have to be there?”

“You may be immune, but your clothing and possessions need to be completely scrubbed. You don’t have the facilities on Raven Touch to do the job.”

Yohwen was grumpy. “Fine. I will sit there while Niisa and Debarren make out.”

Relay’s voice was amused. “So, they have made their match? Commander thought they would.”

“Who is Commander?”

“A matchmaker. Well, he used to be commander of Morganti Base, but now, he and his wife Pilot travel from base to base, Citadel to Citadel, and steer folks toward their matches. Debarren and Orkill got their matches on record, but they were a little surprised when they were steered toward Wedderal.”

“Tell me about it. Wedderal is a dead end for most things.” She sighed. “Well, I am glad Niisa is happy.”

“Has Orkill begun a courtship? I know it is odd. Matchmaking takes the spontaneity out of it, but Commander is never wrong. Orkill was given the peculiar description of the Master Haunt, but I am hoping he figured it out by now.”

“He knew he was coming for me?”

“He knew he was coming for the Master Haunt. He had no idea it was you.”

She chuckled softly. “Well, that explains his relief.”

Relay was amused. “He told you that much? Good. It means that things are on the way. Now, we have arranged for the Citadel outpost to be located on Wedderal. It is on Creesarth Mountain. Do you know the place?”

It was near her father’s family. The Dahls would not be pleased. “It is rather remote.”

“That is the idea.”

Yoh thought it over. “Can I offer to build a new outpost?”

“If you like, but we do have a place ready for you to move into when you return home.”

“Whoa. I have not signed on to the Citadel yet. Niisa got the plague before we could talk it over.”