The Strength of Endurance

by R. L. Blalock

  “Well.” She tugged at her clothes nervously. “My apologies. Let’s get started then. Just as you did, have him read the shapes. However, I want you to turn away from the screen so you cannot see it as you speak for him.”

  I turned my back to the screen.

  Circle. Circle. Square. Triangle. Square… Kuna rattled off the shapes while I repeated everything he said.

  “Fascinating,” the doctor murmured.

  I turned back around once Kuna was finished and patted his flank.

  “All right, this way now.” The doctor gestured toward a bank of auto-docs. “Now we need to run a few tests. It should all be fairly quick and painless.”

  “What exactly are we doing now?”

  The auto-docs could do anything you might need, including major surgery. I wasn’t ready to climb in and let it work.

  The doctor huffed. “The auto-doc will take some readings on your vitals and do a 3D mapping of your body. None of that will require it to touch you. It’ll then take some fluid and tissue samples. After that, it’ll conduct an EMG. That will require touch that will feel like a pinch.” She waved her hand dismissively again. “Nothing to be concerned about.”

  I sucked in a breath. “That’s all?”

  I didn’t miss the doctor’s eye roll. “The auto-doc might conduct a few more tests based on its findings, but it should all be fairly tame for now.”

  “Fine.” I pressed my lips into a thin line as I climbed into the auto-doc, pulling the lid closed and sealing the machine around me. The case was a bit bigger than the tupor tubes. Though I had been in both more times than I could count, they still made me nervous. I didn’t like feeling so closed in. I took a few deep breaths to settle my nerves.

  The auto-doc whirred to life, and lights danced across my body. I slowly drew in another breath as readouts of my vitals appeared on the inside of the case. They were high—higher than usual, even for how nervous I was.

  The lights danced across my face, something exciting the scans. The harmless lasers zig-zagged back and forth around my head. Eventually, they moved down my body, mapping my hands in detail as well. The auto-doc chimed. The words “scan complete” flashed across the inside of the lid.

  “Tissue and fluid samples request. Proceed?” The words scrolled through the inside.

  I took another breath, taking a long moment to blow it out before tapping the confirmation icon.

  Arms popped out of the auto-doc. A needle hovered over my arm, making a few adjustments before inserting into a vein and drawing out a blood sample. The auto-doc scraped each connection port where my nervous system connected with Kuna’s. After taking hair, skin, and saliva samples, the auto-doc paused.

  “EMG test requested. Proceed?”

  I had no idea what that was, but if it was stopping to ask, I was sure I wasn’t going to like it.

  As soon as I touched the button, the auto-doc produced a needle long enough to make my skin crawl. The machine moved down to my calf and slid the needle into a muscle. A surge ran through my leg, causing it to spasm. When the jolt stopped, the auto-doc removed the needle and reinserted it into another muscle. Once again, the shock ran through my leg, causing it to jump wildly. I gritted my teeth against the pain as my muscles were forced to react. The auto-doc continued to poke and prod up and down my body until it was satisfied.

  Finally, the machine paused to flash another message. “Spinal fluid sample requested. Proceed?”

  I clenched and unclenched my fist, steeling myself before tapping the screen. My finger had barely touched the screen when the needle slid into my spine, and I gritted my teeth against the pain.

  After a while, the needle retracted. The auto-doc whirled around my head, placing tiny sensors that were smaller than pebbles.

  “Scans complete.” The case popped open with a hiss.

  The doctor pushed open the lid and smiled down at me.

  “I feel like a pincushion.” I rubbed my sore back as I sat up. My finger flitted across the sensors in my hair.

  “Don’t do that.” The doctor’s smile didn’t falter. “Well, the samples all look beautiful.”

  “I’m glad to know my cells are so attractive,” I said, my voice deadpan.

  “We could use your help taking samples from your Chroin.” She ignored my joke.

  “Kuna,” I corrected again. “His name is Kuna.”

  “Right.” The doctor waved her hand. “We will need all the same readings and samples from him that we took from you.”

  “I don’t even know all of what you took from me.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Can you just make sure he stays still and calm?”

  The doctor pressed a button on a hover-doc she cradled in her arms. The tiny disk rose into the air.

  What is that thing? Kuna stood and backed up as it approached him, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

  It’s a hover-doc. I walked over and leaned against one of his legs, rubbing it. It won’t hurt you, but it does want to take a few samples.

  Kuna eyed the contraption suspiciously for a few more seconds. Finally, he sat down with a huff, allowing the hover-doc to approach him. The tiny machine whizzed around him feverishly as it took scans and samples.

  Why must it move so much? Kuna grumbled, shifting away slightly as the hover-doc buzzed around his head and placed sensors.

  It’s got a lot to do. It’ll be done soon. The less you move, the faster it can do its job.

  It’s annoying. Why would you keep such a thing? Kuna’s lip curled in a snarl as the hover-doc took a skin sample.

  Well, it’s pretty handy when someone is dying.

  But I am not dying, he shot back.

  No, but it’s also handy when you need to figure things out. Like now, I chuckled.

  Ouch! Kuna leaped up and snapped at the doc. The thing bit me! He raised a paw to swipe at the hover-doc.

  No! No! It’s fine.

  He eyed me as he slowly lowered his paw.

  Remember, it needed to take a few samples?

  Annoying bastard. Kuna sat back down, his tail flicking back and forth.

  A bell chimed, and the hover-doc returned to the doctor’s outstretched arms.

  “Wonderful,” she crooned. “We only really have one test left.”

  What more could that wretched thing want? Kuna growled, licking a spot on his back.

  I stifled a giggle, but the doctor still glared at me out of the corner of her eye.

  “And what would that be?” I let out a breath as I composed myself again, moving to follow the doctor.

  I caught Brinden’s eye as he grasped the lid of an auto-doc. His lips turned up in a smile, and he flicked his wrist in a quick wave. I barely had time to wave back before he ducked inside the auto-doc.

  “A stress test.”

  “Stress test?” I stopped mid-stride.

  “Yes.” The doctor continued, forcing me to run to catch up with her. “Don’t worry. It’s more tiring than stressful. All you have to do is run for a bit, and we’ll monitor you. We just want to see what you and the Chroin—”

  “Kuna.” I ground out, no longer fighting back the frustration. “He has a name, and it is Kuna. Use it.”

  I stalked past the doctor.

  You should see her face, Kuna pranced past me. It’s pretty funny.

  I gave myself a moment to smirk before I resumed my composure.

  “Anyway.” The doctor smoothed her coat as she stepped forward. “I need both of you to come and stand here.”

  “Both of us?” As I inspected the floor, I realized the entire thing was one giant treadmill.

  “Yes. Will Kuna run in place with you?”

  It seems stupid, but I can.

  The doctor’s smile faltered as I spoke for Kuna.

  “Humor us.” The pleasantness had left her voice.

  Together, we stepped forward.

  “The machine will start slow and gradually get faster,” she explained as the gigantic treadmill rumbled to li
fe. “Does that sound all right?”

  “Sure.” I started to jog. Though I was loathed to admit it, the exercise felt good as my muscles stretched out and warmed up.

  “Stop!” I could barely get the single word out as I gasped for breath.

  The machine slowed but didn’t stop. Sweat poured down my face and dripped into my eyes.

  “Who needed to stop?” the doctor asked. I could barely hear her over the rushing of my own blood.

  I sucked in a few more breaths before I was able to answer. “Me!”

  Kuna staggered as his side of the treadmill sped up again.

  “Stop it!” I screamed. He wasn’t in any better shape than I was. We were both exhausted. It had been hours since we had climbed on the treadmills.

  “Just a little while longer.” The doctor didn’t even look up from her computer.

  Connect. We’re done.

  A seam split Kuna’s chest. The two sides folded back to reveal the pulsating, oily black orb held within. Long cables struck out, attaching themselves to my neck and down my spine. More attached along my legs and arms as I was pulled closer.

  The change was instantaneous. In less than a second, I looked out through Kuna’s eyes. His muscles burned as though they were my own. They were my own now. They shook, threatening to give out with every step.

  We let out a long, bellowing roar, challenging the doctors to keep us in place. Our claws dug into the treadmill’s track, leaving long gouges. We sprung up and slammed into the wall. Our claws, strong enough to rend even the hull of the Endurance, dug into the wall. We scampered across the surface and leaped down next to the doctor. She scurried backward, bumping into the desk. We took a few more steps forward, lowering our head to look her in the eye. She trembled before us. Tears trailed down her cheeks, and we basked in her fear.

  The disconnect happened suddenly. In a moment, we transformed from one complete being to two halves of a whole. I was still being lowered when I snapped back into my body.

  “No more tests.” Our voices thundered through the room, the sound distorted as it tried to come out of both my mouth and Kuna’s.

  The doctor nodded vigorously. “No more tests. We’ll work with what we have.” She wiped at her eyes.

  My feet touched the ground, and the last cord retracted, severing the physical link between us. For a brief moment, it felt like I had been torn in two, and despair welled up inside me, but the world quickly snapped back into place, and the feeling vanished.

  “Where are the others?”

  “Th-th-they have been waiting for their turn to do the stress test.”

  “There will be no more stress tests. Do you understand me?” I took a few steps forward, coming nose to nose with the doctor.

  “Yes.” She barely breathed.

  “Before you conduct further tests, you will speak to me. Everything must be run by me first. I want everything explained in detail beforehand. And if I don’t agree, the tests do not proceed. Do I make myself clear?”

  The doctor nodded frantically.

  “Say it,” I commanded, and the doctor jumped as my voice rose.

  “Yes, we will make sure we are all in agreement and everyone understands what is expected.”

  My heart still hammered in my chest as I turned away from the trembling doctor. My lungs screamed for oxygen, but I carefully controlled my breathing as I walked out. I was careful not to stumble or stagger despite the fact that my legs quivered.

  “Hey.” Brinden leaped up as we exited the back bay.

  Tyze brought his massive bulk up as well, shaking the bay floor as he did.

  “You guys must have kicked ass.”

  “We’re leaving,” I growled. As I walked by, I took Brinden’s arm, leaning heavily on it. After a brief moment, he held me up, helping me walk out without question.

  “Everyone back to the barracks. We’re done.” It made my chest hurt and my throat burn to raise my voice enough to be heard by the others.

  “But what about the last test?” Emerson asked, his brow furrowing.

  “There will be no more tests today.” I didn’t have the energy to explain right then. I couldn’t bear to tell them that the scientist had almost run us to death—that their data was more important than our lives.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Parsons barged through the bay doors, flanked by a squad of soldiers.

  “We’re done with testing for the day.” I didn’t hide my glare.

  “That’s not what I’ve heard.” Parsons crossed his arms and planted himself in place.

  “The doctors and I have come to a new agreement.” I pushed away from Brinden, holding myself upright. “Doctor!” I bellowed the word through the cavernous bay. I couldn’t remember if she had ever given me her name. It didn’t matter to me. When no one answered, I stormed toward the back bay.

  “Stop right there,” Parsons growled. Behind me, I could hear the clank and shuffle of a dozen soldiers readying themselves.

  “What in the black are you doing?” Deron asked.

  “Wait!” Before I could turn back toward Parsons, a woman sprinted out of the back bay. The doctor frantically waved her hands. “Stop! There has been a miscommunication.” She slowed as she approached me.

  I couldn’t help the frown that settled on my face. I had given this woman every reason to fear me. In fact, I had been sure she was the one who had called Parsons the instant I had left the room.

  “Adley, stop!” a man called out but pulled up short at the doors.

  Doctor Adley ignored his call and trotted a few more steps toward me. “I am so sorry.” Her hands fluttered around nervously. “There was a miscommunication between me and my colleagues. Sargent Laure and I have come to an agreement, and the Chroin are free to leave.”

  “What?” Parsons snapped, whirling on me.

  “You have no authority to make such decisions.” The male doctor stepped forward but stopped as Kuna moved toward him.

  “Laure agreed to work with us on testing to ensure it is not only safe for the Chroin but that we get all the data we need.” The doctor’s gaze darted to me for just a moment.

  Parsons’s jaw worked back and forth. “Fine.” He spat out the word.

  The doctor took my hand, pressing something into it as she did, and shook it. “We have plenty of data to analyze right now. Come talk to me in a few days, and we’ll see if we need to do more.”

  “Of course.” I pushed the small slip of paper underneath my comm unit and turned away from the doctor.

  Doctor Adley grabbed my arm as I turned to leave. She hesitated, watching the others as they dispersed. “They are trying to kill you.” Her words were so quiet I could barely hear them, but the fear in her eyes was frightening.

  Kuna stood up. Every muscle in his body rigid.

  Adley plastered a smile across her face as she turned away, slowly sauntering back to the other doctors. “Take care!” She waved.

  Do you think she is playing some kind of game with us? I asked Kuna, watching her go.

  I pulled out the slip of paper and looked at it. A few barely legible words were scrawled across it: “We need to talk. Please come see me later.”

  The Chroin sent a feeling of confusion over the telepathic connection. I’m not sure. Maybe this is another test? Do you think we should meet with her again?

  We don’t really have a choice. I gave him a mental shrug.

  There is always a choice.

  I sighed. There is, but things will be significantly more difficult if we don’t go see her again. We don’t have to trust her yet, but it couldn’t hurt to see what she is playing at.

  CHAPTER 3

  Our sights were set on a panel high above the ground. Our claws dug into the smooth outer hull of the Endurance. The others couldn’t follow us; they didn’t have the claws or the ability we did. Instead, they waited on the ground for us to let them up.

  If maps of the Endurance were correct, the hole wasn’t far from the weapons loc
ker. We scampered into the hole and plunged into the darkness inside. Our eyes adjusted quickly, and shapes materialized around us.

  The whole section had been damaged in the landing. The supplies were gone. The section had even been knocked off-kilter from the anchors. The room had been scorched during reentry, leaving everything black.

  Hopefully, the armory wasn’t damaged like this. I refrained from gnawing on my lip, as I was accustomed to doing. I had learned my lesson a few days before, when I had quickly mangled Kuna’s lips with his razor-sharp teeth.

  We’ll just have to see.

  The door leading down the hallway was gone, and we squeezed through the opening. It was a tight fit for Kuna’s massive body. We had to crawl as the ceiling and walls pushed down on us. We hated it. We wriggled forward as fast as we could, eager to escape the dark confines.

  The armory door was still closed, but to us, the barrier was flimsy. We reached out with our claws. The first scratch gouged the metal. As we continued to rake our claws along the doors, ribbons of metal fell to the floor. A hole opened. We hooked our claws in the hole, pulling it open further.

  We wiggled through, the sharp edges of the door gashing our skin. The armory was a mess. Mechs lay on their sides. Lockers had come open, spilling ammo everywhere. Rifles and rail guns had accumulated in the corners.

  We separated. I shook my head and pulled a light from the satchel at my waist. In the corner, Kuna ripped open a hatch. I climbed over to the hole and stuck my head in.

  Beneath the floor would usually be a hive of activity. Now the machines sat dormant, waiting to be reawakened.

  Ugh. It’s so cramped in there, I complained.

  Have fun with that. Kuna plopped down on the floor, licking his wounds. I did my part.

  I rolled my eyes as I crawled down below the floor. Winding my way through the machines and joists, I came to the first set of clamps. Under the room, there were over two dozen clamps that held that section in place on the ship. Each clamp had to be unlocked with an authentication chip and a specific numeric code. I’d be down there forever.

  I’m bored. Kuna’s voice entered my thoughts.

  Good for you, I snapped back. Why don’t you come down here and help me?