by Tygati
"Colonel, sir, why are all of your people human but the people on the ship… aren't?" he asked.
Colonel Brocius looked at Jeremey in surprise, then he smiled. "A ship the size of the Lucifaria can cater to the individual needs of many different species. Marine squadrons are constructed differently in order to accomplish specific agendas in specific environments. Therefore, Marine squadrons are typically all comprised of the same species even though there are dozens of species which make up the Marine Corps."
"Oh." That made sense. One of Jeremey's favorite pool friends was a Lihiri who would do very poorly on a dry planet like Noman but would be invaluable on an aquatic planet.
"There's been some talk of restructuring," Colonel Brocius continued as they left the lift and made their way down the hallway, "so that squads have slightly more flexibility in case of unplanned events."
Jeremey laughed. "Like crashing on Noman?"
Colonel Brocius chuckled. "Exactly like crashing on your planet. I can think of a half dozen species that would have been very useful on our last mission. We are extremely fortunate that you found us, lad."
It was lucky for the colonel and his men that Montford had ditched him on patrol, but Jeremey figured Colonel Brocius didn't really need to know that part. Instead, he just nodded in agreement.
"Here we are, lad," Colonel Brocius said, stopping before a large door and placing his hand on the panel. Unlike the rest of the doors, this one didn't require saying anything before it slid open.
Inside were as many strange machines as were found in the recreation area, though in a much smaller room. Several of Colonel Brocius's people were present, some sitting, some standing, as well as a handful of other people in blue-striped ship uniforms. One of the latter looked up as they entered.
"Colonel."
Colonel Brocius nodded and gently moved Jeremey forward. "Doctor. Here is our young settler. Jeremey, would you tell Doctor Leslie about the sickness you mentioned to me before?"
"Uh." Jeremey blinked. "The arrival sickness?"
Colonel Brocius nodded. "That's the one."
Jeremey frowned. "Um, well, when the first settlers landed on Noman, they got sick. Not right away, but slowly. Then the animals got sick too. A lot of people died, and they lost all the animals they'd brought with them. That's when Daniel Sullivan went out and found the first dragons so that we'd have a way of defending ourselves against the native creatures on Noman."
Doctor Leslie arched a brow. "And no one else got sick after that?"
Jeremey shook his head. "The ones who survived were immune."
"And their children?" Doctor Leslie pressed.
"They got the immunity from their parents," Jeremey answered, confused.
Doctor Leslie pursed his lips. "That's not the way immunity works. I wonder… Young man, I need a sample of your blood."
Jeremey took a step back, casting an alarmed look at Colonel Brocius.
Colonel Brocius chuckled. "It's all right. It won't harm you."
Doubtful, Jeremey nonetheless submitted to the prick and drawing of his blood. He rubbed at the bandaged spot while the doctor went off to a corner of the room, muttering to himself.
"Yes, he's always like that," Colonel Brocius said, answering Jeremey's unvoiced question.
Just then the door slid open, admitting Major Mulhall and Charlie.
"Ah, there you are, Major." Colonel Brocius waved them over. "Get lost?"
Major Mulhall snorted. "Hardly."
Charlie looked Jeremey over, brows furrowing slightly. "You all right?"
Jeremey nodded. "The doctor said he needed my blood for something."
Charlie looked over at Colonel Brocius. "What's going on here, Colonel?"
"We believe some of my people have contracted your 'arrival virus' while on planet S-278-9X," Colonel Brocius replied. "Doctor Leslie has identified a bacterium of some kind in their blood which is resisting all his attempts at classification."
"It exhibits characteristics of both bacteria and viruses," Doctor Leslie said, returning. "In all my years of medicine, I have never seen anything like it. I would even hazard to say it looks engineered, but no known species has the necessary technology for something like this."
Jeremey looked at Charlie. Charlie was looking at the doctor.
"So why do you need Jeremey's blood?" Charlie asked.
"I would prefer to sample yours as well," Doctor Leslie replied, "to see if there is a common factor which protects you from this disease."
Charlie's frown deepened, but at last he held out his arm. Doctor Leslie swiftly drew his blood and retreated to the corner once more. Jeremey, Charlie, Colonel Brocius, and Major Mulhall all remained where they were.
"Colonel," Jeremey asked after a moment, "are your people going to be all right?"
Colonel Brocius grimaced. "We don't know yet. So far, this disease has resisted all attempts at combating it. I can only hope that Doctor Leslie has good news for us once he's figured out what makes you two special."
"If I am to die," Major Mulhall muttered, "I would prefer it be with my hands around my enemy's throat and not by some invisible foe."
That made Colonel Brocius laugh. Charlie smiled. "I can understand that."
So did Jeremey. He didn't know a single child on Noman who hadn't been terrified of the arrival sickness. The idea that it was back somehow did not sit well with him, especially now that he knew it was somehow connected to the dragons' poison bite.
"Great stars."
They all turned to look toward Doctor Leslie, who was staring at the screen in front of him. It had an image of something on it, but more than that Jeremey couldn't determine.
"Doctor?" Colonel Brocius inquired.
"Now I am certain that this disease was manufactured," Doctor Leslie stated confidently, "as was the retrovirus which preys on it."
Colonel Brocius moved closer. "So can you cure it?" he demanded.
"Oh, goodness no," Doctor Leslie exclaimed. "It would take a lifetime to understand these pathogens. But—" He held up a hand, forestalling Colonel Brocius' protest. "I can extract the retrovirus alone and inject it into the infected hosts. Given the retrovirus's aggressive nature, that should be all that is necessary for a full recovery."
Although Jeremey felt as though he hadn't understood half of that, he latched onto the part he was relatively certain of. "So the Colonel's people will get better?"
"Oh yes," Doctor Leslie confirmed. "Good as new in no time."
"What about the Lucifaria's crew?" Major Mulhall asked. "Are they in any risk?"
"We have not seen any indication of the disease at this point," Doctor Leslie replied, "but we will be checking anyone who has had contact with your squadron just to be safe. We may not see anything right away, however, given that your people were on the planet for weeks and are only now exhibiting symptoms."
"Should those crew members who have had contact with Jeremey and Sheriff Colcord also be examined?" Colonel Brocius asked.
Doctor Leslie shook his head. "The retrovirus in their blood destroys the disease almost immediately. They are physically incapable of being carriers. It's a truly remarkable feat of engineering."
Colonel Brocius frowned. "What about our gear? Half of it still has dirt clinging to it from the crash."
"That…" Doctor Leslie's lips pursed. "Yes, that should all be checked and sterilized. We do not yet know how the disease is spread. While I believe physical contact is required, we cannot rule out an airborne contamination."
Colonel Brocius nodded. "All right. Major—"
Doctor Leslie held up a hand. "Neither you nor Major Mulhall are going anywhere until I've inoculated you. I'll have someone from Supply do an analysis of your equipment. It's in their cargo bay anyway."
Although Colonel Brocius looked like he wanted to argue, a steely stare from the doctor made him subside. He crossed his arms and glowered.
"Get with it, then. I have things to do."
Doctor Le
slie heaved an aggrieved sigh. "Marines," he muttered as he went back to his screens.
A hand landed gently on Jeremey's shoulder. Jeremey looked up to see Charlie watching Colonel Brocius.
"You need us for anything else, Colonel?" Charlie asked.
Colonel Brocius waved a hand. "No sense in anyone else being stuck here if they don't have to, and since Doctor Leslie already said you're not contagious I'd be getting while the getting was good if I were you."
Charlie nodded and drew Jeremey out of the medical room and down the hall to the lift. Once they were inside, he direct it to level fourteen.
"Charlie?" Jeremey asked.
"Need to make sure the dragons aren't contagious," Charlie said quietly, giving him a pointed look.
Jeremey's eyes widened. "Oh."
Charlie nodded.
They made their way to the cargo bay in silence, passing several crew members on the way. The cargo bay was empty of anyone but the dragons when they arrived, although Charlie did a full sweep of the area to be absolutely sure before ordering Zorevan to change shapes.
"You are upset," Zorevan observed, frowning.
"Damn straight," Charlie growled. "I just learned that a bunch of the colonel's people have caught the arrival sickness and there's apparently something in my blood that runs around and eats the sickness so I can't get it."
Zorevan straightened. "What? I thought your people had developed an immunity—"
"The doctor said it was engineered," Charlie said, cutting him off. "Made by someone."
Zorevan hissed quietly. Above them, shielding them from view of the doors, Promise uttered a series of sounds and Zorevan's head snapped up to stare at him.
"What? You think they would…? Why wouldn't they tell us?"
Promise snorted and made several barking sounds.
Zorevan scowled. "And they just can't understand why I don't want to go back. This kind of bullshit is exactly why I left."
Jeremey frowned, looking from one dragon to the other. "Who's they? What did Promise say?"
Zorevan looked at Promise. Promise gave a quiet trill. Zorevan sighed.
"Our people have forgotten everything we used to know. The Leaders, they keep telling us that it's better this way, so we don't misuse it like we did in ancient times, but I do not agree. We—"
He stopped and shook his head. "Now is not the time." Zorevan looked up at Promise. "Pritejna believes that an antidote to the poison bite was created using the forgotten knowledge of our people—by one of the few people who still has access to it."
Jeremey tried to muddle through that. Charlie beat him to it.
"Bejalii. You mean Bejalii and her people."
Zorevan scowled. "Yes."
"But why not just tell us?" Jeremey asked. "Why keep it a secret?"
"Because Bejalii will never admit that we screwed up." Zorevan laughed mirthlessly. "The poison bite was created to destroy the blood enemy. The fact that it kills others who are not the blood enemy is a mistake we can never be allowed to admit to."
"And now?" Charlie asked, arms crossed over his broad chest. "Will more people get sick because you're here?"
Zorevan shook his head. "We have been very careful. Noman has had thousands of years to soak up our breath and our blood. So long as we do not bleed or lick anything—" he shot Promise a pointed look, "—no one will be harmed."
Promise bared his teeth at Zorevan. Jeremey swatted his dragon with his hat. "See? Even Zorevan thinks you should stop licking me."
In retaliation, Promise's tail swept Jeremey's feet out from under him and landed him in a heap on the floor. Jeremey scrambled to right himself and reached for his blaster before remembering he wasn't carrying it and therefore couldn't use it to threaten Promise. Not that threatening Promise ever worked anyway.
"You're sure?" he heard Charlie ask, along with Zorevan's affirmation, although his attention remained on Promise. One could never be too careful, especially when he was fairly certain that—
Jeremey ducked and rolled to avoid a second tail swipe, coming up just in time to catch Promise's head by the horns and swinging up to straddle his neck. Promise gave a few shakes, not hard enough to actually dislodge him, before lowering his entire body to the floor to sulk.
"If you two are done," Charlie drawled, "we should go see if we can help the Supply people check out the colonel's stuff, since it can't harm us any and it's kind of our fault."
Jeremey ruefully slipped from Promise's neck, affectionately rubbing the soft spot between Promise's horns before following Charlie. Apparently, duty called.
*~*~*
Rather than go back to the room they'd been assigned on the ship, Jeremey opted to stay in the cargo hold with the dragons that night. Nothing on the Lucifaria looked or smelled anything like Noman. He didn't know about Charlie, but ever since they'd come on board, Jeremey had stared at the ceiling for hours at night, unable to easily fall asleep in such an unfamiliar place. He wanted to go home to Noman, where everything was simple and made sense. The Lucifaria was awe-inspiring, and the many species which comprised its crew were fascinating, but at the end of the day it was also very, very overwhelming.
Although there was nothing resembling a bed in the cargo hold, the spicy scent of dragon more than made up for the lack. It was a little piece of home amidst the chaos of someone else's world.
Jeremey fell asleep with Promise curled around him, using one of Promise's forelegs as a pillow, almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes.
He wasn't sure what woke him, or even what time it was, but when Jeremey sat up to look around, he discovered only one dragon when he should have seen two. He crawled out of the embrace of his sleeping dragon and looked around the cargo bay, but could find no trace of Zorevan. Only Promise, still in dragon form, sleeping soundly.
Where could Zorevan have gone? The door leading into the hallway wasn't big enough for his dragon form and no one on the Lucifaria should be aware that Zorevan could change shapes. Both dragons had agreed not to shape change while on the ship in case they were mistaken for Vek so how could Zorevan be anywhere but right here?
Charlie. Jeremey needed to go find Charlie.
Course of action decided, Jeremey grabbed his hat and hurried out of the cargo bay and through the hall to the lift. It had to still be some time during the night shift given how few crew members were about as he made his way up to level ten, and none at all between the lift and their quarters.
"Charlie!" Jeremey called, hurrying into the sleeping room that Charlie had chosen. "Zorevan is mis—"
The words died on his tongue. Charlie was not alone in his room. Zorevan was with him, crouched between Charlie's legs while Charlie was flat on his back beneath him. Both of them were very, very naked.
Zorevan crouched down lower, his head turning toward Jeremey as he growled warningly.
"Um, sorry!" Jeremey managed to choke out, bolting out of the room and back the way he'd come, crimson heat flaring in his cheeks and spreading across his entire face as he ran.
As a child, he'd never really given any thought to why Sheriff Colcord constantly turned down Mayor Burke's advances. It had just been one of those things that everyone in town knew about and was amused by. Just part of the culture of Deadwood Gulch.
Never would he have guessed the real reason why Charlie Colcord had lived alone all these years.
Jeremey was relieved not to pass anyone on the way back to the cargo bay. He let himself back in and headed straight for Promise, who made a querying noise and nosed him gently.
"Can you… can you change, please?" Jeremey asked, glancing around to check that they were alone as an afterthought.
Promise immediately complied. "What is wrong?"
"I…" Jeremey removed his hat and ran a hand through his hair, sending his curls into disarray. "Did you know? Charlie and Zorevan, did you know that they're…?"
"Heart-partners?" Promise supplied. "Yes. I could smell it when we entered their home. Does this upset y
ou?"
Jeremey opened his mouth, then shut it again. Did it? Charlie was the person he most admired in all the world. Zorevan had been the only safe harbor when his entire life had been shattered to pieces. Until meeting Promise, there had been no two individuals in all of Noman that he had loved more.
"I… don't know," Jeremey said finally. "Maybe? No. Arrgh."
Frustrated, Jeremey dropped down to the floor and put his head between his knees. "Why couldn't he just tell me? I thought… I thought we could trust each other."
There was a faint rustling sound, then the warmth of Promise's body brushed up against his back. "This is a secret that they have been keeping for a very long time," Promise said softly. "No other human save for Jack Sullivan even knew that we could take another form. How do you think your people would have reacted, had they found out?"
Jeremey drew in a breath, then let it out slowly, lifting his head up. "Not very well," he admitted. "Deputy Eaton always hated Zorevan."
Promise nodded. "Better to accept what little time he can get with his heart-partner than lose him completely. If it had been someone other than you who discovered their secret, someone such as this Deputy Eaton…"
Jeremey winced. "I won't tell. I'll never tell." He would protect their greatest secret the way Charlie and Zorevan had protected him.
"I know," Promise said quietly, so warm against Jeremey's back. "Your heart is fierce and full of strength. I could see it shining so brightly when I chose you, as it shines still. You would never betray those you call friend."
Jeremey smiled, leaning back into Promise's embrace and closing his eyes. "I'm glad you chose me. You're the best friend anyone could ever want."
Long fingers carded through his hair. "Am I?" Promise murmured.
"Of course!" Jeremey said firmly. "You'll always be my very best friend."
"Do not say such things," Promise admonished gently, "unless you mean them."
Jeremey frowned, opening his eyes to ask what Promise meant, when his field of vision was filled with sapphire blue and something warm and soft brushed across his lips. He held his breath, startled, his heartbeat suddenly racing.