The Solar Wind

by Laura E. Collins

  “Very well, actually. My blood tests came back normal and I can go back to work on Monday.”

  “That’s excellent.” He smiled pleasantly at her.

  “Dr. Tom asked me again if I could ask Justin to give him another sample of his blood. He wants to run some more tests on it.”

  “I doubt Justin will go for that. He hates being poked with needles,” Wesley explained.

  “I understand, not many people like that.” Ava took Wesley’s hand as they walked away, intertwining her fingers with his. “What time is the Andromeda due back?”

  “About four thirty. Do you feel up to going out tonight for some dinner with everyone?”

  “That would be fun. I’m tired of sitting around every day.”

  “Ava, are you sure you want to go back to work on Monday? I can stay with you another week if you would like, just to make sure that you are okay.”

  “I’m fine. I wish everyone would stop asking me that,” Ava snapped back, feeling irritated for no particular reason. “You know, nothing is certain in healthcare, not everything can be predicted. Sometimes people recover from things with no apparent reason. Why is it such a big deal?”

  Wesley stopped them in their tracks, still holding her hand tightly, looked directly into Ava’s eyes and spoke seriously to her “Because you almost died, that’s why. Do you understand that? Do you understand how important you are to me?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m being so nonchalant about it.” She paused. She immediately felt foolish for her outlook on her situation. She should be grateful for her recovery. The gravity of what he said started sinking in. “It’s just that physically I feel like I’m fine, but I have so much energy. It’s like I’m going to burst open or something. I’ve never felt like this before, I’m definitely not myself, and I don’t know why.”

  “Ava. . .”

  “You must think I’m crazy right?”

  “I don’t think you’re crazy. Try not to focus on it. You’ve been through a lot and I know that you will feel more like yourself again soon. Just believe that you will. The worst is behind you.” They started walking again.

  “You always have the right words to say to make me feel better. I knew that there were many upon many reasons that I love you.”

  “I love you so much, you mean more to me than anything.” He wanted to kiss her, but could not because they would be arrested if they were seen removing their masks in public. “These masks are such a nuisance.”

  “I know what you mean.” She smiled at him behind her mask.

  Later that evening Wesley led Ava down to Level 9, where they met the rest of the crew at “Asia”.

  Ava recognized the neon red sign immediately. “This is where we had dinner for the first time together!” Ava commented, feeling excited about remembering how happy she had been at the time to make some new friends. There had been no reported cases of the virus on Level 9, so they enjoyed some freedom from their masks for a few hours.

  “Thought it was about time we came back.” He smiled at her.

  Naomi walked over to Ava and gave her a big hug. “Ava, you look fabulous! What a difference a week has made!”

  “I know. I am very grateful for what you all have done for me.”

  “We really didn’t do that much Ava.”

  The two women continued to talk, joined by the others. Justin walked over to Wesley, standing a short distance away.

  “Ava looks healthy, how is she doing,” he inquired.

  “She’s doing better than I expected to be honest.”

  “Has she had any. . . side effects,” Justin asked in a concerned low voice so as not to be heard by the others.

  “It appears as though she has taken to the energy in your blood. She’s a bit more irritable, hardly sits still, and is easily distracted. However, on the bright side, she’s in perfect health. She’s strong right now, I can feel it. I don’t think she realizes how strong she is.”

  “You’re sure that’s all?”

  “I have noticed that the energy is very slowly waning. It’s only been a week, but I can feel that it is not as potent as it was right after the transfusion. Though that’s not hard to believe considering all of the blood samples they’ve taken from her.”

  “That makes sense. If my energy was transferred to her from my blood, as my blood cells die and are replaced by her own, it is expected that the energy would wane.”

  “How long do red blood cells live?”

  “Usually between three to four months.”

  “Then it would be reasonable to expect that Ava will be back to normal in a few months.”

  “If what you have noticed is accurate, it should be a gradual adjustment back towards her baseline state.”

  “That’s good then.”

  “It’s good, but that also means that Ava has at least three months to notice that she is a little bit different now as compared to before.”

  “She already has noticed. She doesn’t miss a thing.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “I reasoned that it was because she is getting over her illness. What else could I say?”

  “How about the truth?”

  “I can’t tell her now. Not until some of that energy wears off. She could be a danger to herself because she doesn’t know how to deal with it if she became upset. No. It’s better to wait a few months until I have her on the ship, away from Orionis.”

  “If you think it’s best.”

  “I do.”

  “What about her doctors? Have they noticed anything?”

  “No. But, they are still asking for a sample of your blood.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Good.”

  “Hi Justin.” Ava walked over to the two men. The group was about to be seated.

  “Hello Ava. I know about a million people have asked you, but, how are you feeling?”

  “Really good. I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me. You saved my life.”

  “Oh well, I’m sure it was all you. I’m just glad that I could help.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome Ava.” Justin slid an arm around Rowan, who had come to stand next to him. “I’m starving, let’s eat.” The group filed in the doorway, returning to their normal pattern of socializing and laughing. Ava could not have felt more at home.

  Chapter 17: Unsettled Business

  Sunday evening came quickly. Wesley helped Ava carry all of her things back to her quarters. The task took only a small amount of time. Ava’s new level of high energy seemed to sink with the realization that Wesley would once again be gone for a week. She gazed absent mindedly at the floor as they sat on the couch with only a few precious minutes left.

  “I can stay if you like,” he seemed to be reading her mind.

  “I’m looking forward to going back to work. It will be good to be busy again.” She managed to smile at him.

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure. I will miss you though. I kind of got used to you being around.”

  “One day soon we will be together every day, I promise.”

  Ava smiled at him, wondering what he had planned. “Elaine messaged me again yesterday.”

  “How is she?”

  “Sounds like she is doing well. She’s still dating that one guy she met at the party.”

  “Good for her.”

  “I’m happy for her too. We are meeting up at the gym on Tuesday night after dinner. They lifted the droplet precautions at the gym due to the low attendance rates. I’m anxious to start working out again. She signed us up for a kickboxing class.”

  “Kickboxing? Ava, I really think that you should take it easy for a few more weeks. You don’t need to be pushing it.”

  “I’ll take it easy, I won’t go all out yet. Trust me, this is what I need. I need to be with people. It’s lonely here without you.”

  “I’m sorry, I know. I miss you too when I’m away. Just
promise me that you will be careful, all right?”

  “I promise.”

  After Wesley left for the week’s mission, Ava could not sit still. She kept herself busy by cleaning her small quarters since she had not spent much time there over the last week and a half. She made herself something to take to work the next day for lunch from the groceries that she and Wesley had brought up earlier in the day. After she had exhausted all of the possible chores and tasks that she could, she decided to go to bed early and rest up to start work again.

  The next day Ava’s coworkers surrounded her as she arrived to work, relieved that she had survived the deadly virus that has been sweeping through several levels of Orionis. She almost felt embarrassed by the attention, wishing the virus was nothing but a bad memory. Ava had grown impatient wearing a mask at all times, but at least she was not alone, everyone had to abide by the policy; patients and healthcare providers alike. She decided to spend more time on Level 9 if she could, just to be rid of the mask since the virus situation did not appear to be improving.

  Ava felt better once clinic began. She felt satisfied keeping busy, seeing her patients. Many of them had heard of her illness and asked her about her experience, despite her best efforts to keep them focused on their own concerns for coming to the clinic. She sensed that she was working more efficiently than usual. Even her typing seemed to be faster. She appreciated that each patient brought a new problem to solve as she worked through her day. It kept her swiftly moving mind occupied. At the end of the day she had completed all of her charting and was ready to go home right after the last patient had been seen, an unusual occurrence. Most evenings she needed to stay to complete charting before she could go home. The prospect of having more free time in the evening worried her. What would she do with the extra time? She decided to hit the gym on the way home from work to burn off some of the energy.

  Since the kickboxing class did not begin until the following night, Ava decided to power walk along the track in the gym. After a few laps she upgraded to a light jog, and when that did not phase her, she broke into a swift run. By the ninth lap she slowed down to a casual walk, panting deeply and wiping sweat from her face. She smiled at how good she felt, as if she had taken the best medicine in the universe. She changed out of her exercise clothing and placed the droplet precautions mask back on her face upon leaving the gym. She felt famished and decided to treat herself to a protein shake to take home on the way. Ava took note of her surroundings as she walked home. She watched the crowds of people wearing masks around her grimly marching along, as if they wanted to be away from any possible contact with an infected resident and back in their safe quarters. She noticed that the viral epidemic and droplet precautions had a negative impact on business for the restaurants and kiosks in the Square. The “patios” were all closed and restaurants were offering “take away” meals only. I guess it would be difficult to eat under a mask, Ava thought.

  The gym was not close to Ava’s quarters so she had a little bit of a walk in store, which did not bother her at all, she wasn’t tired. Just when she had cleared her mind and began to think of the positive things in her life, there it was again. She hadn’t sensed the ache in her left leg for a while and had forgotten about it. It had been months since the incident on E.S. #1. How could a sprain cause so much residual pain? She thought. By the time she arrived back at her quarters she was almost limping. She rested her leg up on a few pillows on the couch as she drank her shake, wondering if she should have her leg checked out. She decided to sleep on it.

  The next day flew by in a blur. Ava continued to have a high amount of energy and couldn’t wait to start the new class with Elaine. It would be the first time she would see her friend since she came down with the virus.

  “Elaine!” Ava bounced over to her friend and hugged her.

  “Hi Ava. You look wonderful!”

  “Thank you.”

  “I mean, you don’t look like you were sick at all.”

  “I know. Weird isn’t it?”

  “Well, whatever they gave you, I want it.” The two women laughed. “Seriously Ava, are you sure you are up to this?”

  “Absolutely. It will be so much fun.”

  “I don’t doubt that, but, perhaps you should take it easy. You know, modify things for a few weeks. I’m sure Wesley would agree.”

  “Yes, he’s been telling me that.”

  “He’s a wise man, and he cares about you.”

  “Yes, I know. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

  “Okay. Let’s get seated, the lecture portion is about to start.”

  The instructional section of the class lasted nearly thirty minutes. Ava found it fascinating, Elaine, not so much. Ava found anything that kept her mind occupied interesting since she left the hospital. After the lecture ended, the instructor lined everyone up in pairs with protective padding to practice their first kicks and blocking techniques. Elaine was up first for kicking. She practiced a few times before trying to kick the large pad Ava was holding.

  “Come on Elaine, don’t hold back. Just do it.” Ava commanded as she smiled at her friend.

  “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” She teased back.

  Elaine kicked forcefully the second time, but it did not phase Ava. The pad didn’t even move.

  “Very nice Elaine. Tighten you form up a little bit and try again,” advised the instructor who was making the rounds.

  Elaine tried a few more times on the right and then on the left leg and then it was time to switch. Ava handed the pad off to Elaine and took the position to try a few kicks. She didn’t feel tired and weak but decided to keep it low key since everyone had told her to take it easy. She delivered the first kick effortlessly and softly. She kicked a few more times and on the last try on the right leg, let it fly forcefully, nearly knocking Elaine down.

  “Ava, take it easy girl! You almost knocked me over.”

  “I’m sorry Elaine, I didn’t realize I was kicking that hard.” Ava was being sincere, she really hadn’t sensed the kick to be that strong. She switched to the left leg and kept the kicks as soft as she could. Elaine seemed to recover from the shock of Ava’s powerful kick and started joking around again.

  After a few more minutes the class was over. The women donned their masks again and headed back towards their respective quarters. As they walked, Ava noted the ache in her left leg again. Something’s wrong she thought. Pain is never a good sign.

  “Ava, did you hurt yourself? You are limping a little bit.”

  “Am I? It’s nothing. I fell and twisted my leg a few months ago and it aches occasionally.”

  “Maybe you need an X-ray to see if you have a fracture?”

  “It was months ago. If my leg was fractured there would be no way I could have walked on it right afterwards.”

  “Put some ice on it when you get home.”

  “I will. Good night, see you on Thursday.”

  “Night, see you then.”

  Ava walked alone back towards her quarters. The ache nagged her mind. She tried so hard to remember exactly what happened to her. The memory was there all right. She tripped, twisted her leg, fell, and hit her head on the floor. She recalled this memory easily. Still, there had to be more. Something was missing, something was not right. But what? Wesley had told her what had happened, why shouldn’t she believe him? She loved and trusted him. But the ache was there. The ache did not match her memory of the injury, they were out of proportion to one another. Why am I even thinking about this, Ava thought. What does it even matter now? Her thoughts continued to burn. They shifted back to her illness. I almost died. She remembered Wesley’s words. She had almost died. Then there was the transfusion. Then things were better, and now she had more energy than she knew what to do with. What’s going on? Ava shook her head to herself. She thought she was losing her mind. She decided to let it be. The last thing she needed now was paranoia. Ava cleared her mind in a short, hot shower and went to bed.

>   The Andromeda had reached Kyanos uneventfully. The captain and crew were eager to hear the report from Vance as to what Kaden might have been up to during their absence. Much to their surprise, there had been no activity, nothing.

  “It’s a mystery captain. We haven’t detected anything on the radars since you were last here.”

  “It’s not like Kaden not to retaliate from the last attack. He’s up to something. But what? And where?”

  “The people are starting to become worried. If he’s not dead he’ll be coming back. It’s certain. We are maintaining tight surveillance for him around the clock. We feel that the longer it takes for him to retaliate, the worse it will be.”

  “What is the status on the Principia?”

  “Another few weeks and she will be ready for a test flight.”

  “Good.”

  Ash and Andre joined the group, just after inspecting the new ship.

  “Everything is progressing as scheduled. I should be able to try her out the next time I’m here,” Ash announced.

  “What progress have you made on the tracking system for Kaden’s ship?” Wesley inquired.

  “I’ve narrowed it down to a few frequencies that he is using to jam his signal. I’m trying to develop something similar for us to use on our ships. It’s a slow process, however I just need a little more time. Has he been tracked here since our last visit here?”

  “Not that we know of,” Vance replied.

  “He’ll be back,” Andre commented.

  The men continued their conversation. Wesley worried about Kaden’s next attack. He knew his adversary had a terrible temper and a sick sense of humor. Time is running out. He needed Kaden out of the picture for good, for the safety of his own kind, for Ava, for Kyanos, and for the humans he was protecting.

  Back in the known galaxy, the Draconis had been stationed on Sceptrum for a few weeks. This, the oldest of the space stations, was often considered the least desirable place to live. The main purpose of this station was industry. Sceptrum received the most material being harvested from the Earth to be manufactured into useable parts to replace those wearing out on other stations, and for the development of Earth II. Material will continue to be brought here until travel to the Earth cannot be accomplished due to the tumultuous weather conditions, worsening with each passing year. Sceptrum’s hangar was double the size of Orionis’ and twice as busy. Kaden’s crew registered the ship under an alias name, just in case Wesley was running checks on other stations, trying to discover him. Of all of the stations in orbit, Kaden preferred this one. Even the humans did not annoy him here. Everyone seemed to mind their own business and turn a blind eye towards anyone who seemed out of place. As long as you had the credits, you could buy whatever you wanted and no-one cared enough to check what you would be doing with it. This was precisely why Kaden had come here. He wanted to build something that would send Wesley and his crew a powerful message. He did not know why Orionis of all places was so important to his enemy, he didn’t care. It would become the perfect trap, and the ultimate message once he carried out his plan.