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“What is it?” He whirls, expression concerned

I touch ain I need the ive me the dose I need

“Veck” He shakes his head “Forgive ot”

The relief I feel at his instant response brings on a streak of gratitude Maybe I can trust this warrior

He turns to the console and taps then stands up and strides to a cabinet across froht seat “I have your medicine supply here” He pulls out the sleek container “I’ll bring it to you Sit down”

The whisper of pain deepens, little pinpricks I press my palm to the top of h my body “Please hurry” My vision starts to blur The stars outside the glass viewports, little dots of distant light, morph into blobs

“Here” He’s at entle as he touches my face “How much?”

“Four drops” I close my eyes

The bitter taste has never been so welcoue, the relief is almost instantaneous: First, the aroma of herb and earth shoots intopain flickers and flashes out Gone

I close h he didn’t spill I s my own spit once, twice, to ensure that I’ve washed down every last re at me, brorinkled Behind his head, outside in the emptiness of space, the stars are back to usual

“Better?” He screws the dropper cap back onto the bottle His eyes re me

I nod “Yes”

He stows the glass bottle carefully into the case “How does the medicine work?” He sits down beside me

I watch as the s and shaketothe brain They constrict without the medicine, and it’s painful The antidote is made from the pollen of a flower found on Dentron The medicine widens the vessels, but it’s temporary”

“And without theback?” He touches my forehead softly, then pulls his hand back Frowns “Will they ever go away?”