Synth

“Goretta promises me that you’re not going to die,” DH said. Their ears showed no deception, but they did show worry, concern, and uncertainty. “She promises me that while your symptoms are a little worse than those who have Unilung or bi-lungs, she swears that-“

“TO will be fine.” Goretta said, her voice carrying over the communicator despite the fact that she wasn’t on screen. “They’re already getting better. Fever broke this morning. They are, as they say, ‘on the mend’“

“But I feel worse now.” TO croaked. They had done everything they were told; they had slept, taken the medication, slept, ate all they could stomach, slept, kept hydrated, and of course slept as much as they could. The first day passed in a haze, with only a few brief conversations staying in their memory. Today had been worse. Yes, as Goretta said, the fever had broken and the heat that seemed to come from under their skin faded off, but the problem was that they weren’t able to sleep as much today as they did yesterday.

Clearly, their medication did not have any sedatives in it.

Goretta came on the screen, pushing DH aside gently. “You’ll be fine.” She said, “You were awake all day, and your fever is down. I’m not particularly worried-“

TO Interrupted Goretta with a series of sneezes before turning and grabbing a handful of tissues nearby, blowing their nose with what was in their mind a disgusting trumpeting sound before adding the tissues to the pile in the garbage next to them. They had always felt that disposable tissues were so wasteful and didn’t understand why civilians used them. Needless to say, their opinions had changed within the last day.

“What if they choke on mucus?” DH asked as their ears flicked down, “I have seen civilian case studies-“

Goretta sighed, rubbing her temple and shaking her head. “Maybe if they were a newborn, or comatose, or needed to be on assisted breathing or something like that. Right now, they’re breathing just fine.” She looked into the camera, “TO, you’re going to feel better in the morning. Now, best practice has always been forty hours after fever breaks until you’re not considered contagious anymore.” She frowned. “But I’m told it’ll be only a couple of days before we get to Scraprock, so just to be careful since this is a new sickness being introduced to species that doesn’t really get sick, I’d like you to stay there until we land”

A couple of days wasn’t precise enough for them. “How many hours?” They asked. “Galactic hours.”

“You’re not doing a countdown.” DH said, sighing as their ears went parallel to the ground. “That’s going to make it worse. Just try to rest. I’ll keep you on the communicator with me, and tomorrow, Goretta will spend some extra time down there if she has a chance.”

“I will have a chance.” She said, “I try to take an hour a day, at least to just rest and do something for me that isn’t eating, sleeping, or bathing. I don’t do that. I’ll lose my mind.”

“See? Just try to rest.” DH said, “You’ll feel better faster that way.”

They didn’t know about that. Worst of all; they knew that while they might try their best, eventually both Goretta and DH had to sleep, and they couldn’t very well ask one of them to stay up the whole night just to keep them company. Though, given the way, Goretta was focused on those brains scans - apparently that was what she did ‘just for her’- they believe Goretta would gladly take the excuse to stay up all night to work on that while TO slept.

“Fine.” TO croaked as they lay back in bed.

“We’ll watch a show later.”

“How, you can’t come down here-“

“We can still watch the same thing, just... apart.”

TO sighed again, “How’s Avery.” They asked. They hated how little they knew about what was going on up there. “They’re up there with you now. Are they doing ok? Did they talk to GiDi?”

“They’re doing well.” DH said, their ears relaxing a little, “Appetite is the biggest concern. They’ve been surviving off IV nutrition for a while now, so their stomach isn’t used to having food it in anymore and given they had issues with their stomach before this, that might take a while.”

“But, they’ll be ok?”

“They’re eating enough for now.” DH said, “Though they have to eat smaller portions more frequently, and if they can’t keep down what they eat, we’ll have to put the IV in again for a while.”

They realized that DH never answered their question about GiDi, but they also realized in almost the same moment that it perhaps wasn’t a good time for Avery to get involved. “It’ll be good to get out of here.” TO said, stopping once more to blow their snout, “It’s not fair that I get sick just after Avery wakes up, and I can’t spend time with them.” They gave a dramatic sigh. “I can’t wait to be better, so I can just spend time with everyone. Well.. mostly everyone.” Their ears flicked down as they thought of GiDi, and in desperate desire to change the topic, they said, “What else happened today?”

“Oh, just the normal stuff.” DH said, “It wasn’t an interesting day-“

“Tell me about it, anyway.” TO said, leaning back and relaxing against the pillow behind them, “I missed the mundane day to day.” Their ears quirked up. “Honestly, with the whole knee thing, and now with getting sick, I miss being able to just go about and do the normal chores. You know; check the filters, do basic maintenance on the engine.”

DH chuckled and shook their head, “What, you want me to tell you about how engine 3 had a shaky valve today?”

“Nothing would make me happier right now,” TO said, “Except maybe an instant cure for this cold, and a new leg.”

“Well, since I can’t make that happen, let me tell you all about the shaky valve on Engine 3.”

======

In their defense, DH did their best. They spoke about every mundane aspect of their day until their own throat was nearly as hoarse as TOs. Once that was done, they set up a musical for them to listen to—Something they had seen a dozen times already and which TO wouldn’t have to focus too hard on. It would have been nicer to have their mate there with them, but if that couldn’t happen, and if the cost of seeing DH in person right now was getting them sick, then TO wasn’t willing to pay that price.

For now, this was fine. Watching the show, and knowing that DH was watching with them even when their mate didn’t speak. As the time passed, DH curled up in the little nest of pillows and blankets with the sound turned down low and TO could pretend that they were together, lying in bed and watching movies. Even once DH finally fell asleep and their communicator fell from their hand and turned the view sideways, TO was still happy to hear the gentle breathing and soft chirping coming from DH.

Still, they knew what was about to happen.

With DH asleep, the chip that synced to their communicator recorded the lowered stats, and the communicator went into sleep mode. The comforting sounds of their mate just existing were suddenly replaced with silence, and a dull blue screen with white lettering that read “Signal failed.” For several minutes they let the screen float in the air before them, unwilling it turn it off by themself.

After several minutes with no input, the projection went out. Darkness flooded the room, leaving TO blinded for a brief moment before their eyes adjusted properly and used the scant light provided by the machinery nearby to make sense of what they were seeing. Of course, there wasn’t much there: The machines next to them, most of which were now turned off since they didn’t have to record all of Avery’s vitals, the table in the corner where tomorrow Goretta would sit and pour over the brain scans once more, and the wheelchair which sat next to their bed.

It was too quiet. Despite the sound of the ship operating around them, it was far too quiet for TO’s comfort. When was the last time they were alone overnight? Well, of course, last night they had been alone, but that wasn’t the same. One moment they were talking to DH on the communicator, and then suddenly it was the next day. Sleep had taken them quickly and deeply, so the time they were alone went unnoticed.

When was the last time they had felt the absence of others so keenly?

Their wings tightened around them as they remembered the night after GiDi left the training centre, and the brief period when DH insisted on avoiding them. That night, alone in their bunk, believing that they’d never see GiDi again and now knowing when or if DH would ever talk to them again, was still one of the worst of their lives.

How had Avery managed being along for so long in their room?

How had Kei?

They shook their head and turned over. No, there was no need for them to think about that kind of thing. DH was just above them and they would see them again in the morning. They would see DH, and Avery, and Flit, and Snout.

Constance would probably rush up to them again, another fierce hug that would hurt their knee slightly, but TO didn’t think they’d mind it. Lendulin, Pearla, and Petra would all come to see them once this sickness had passed. Messages had been exchanged between the lot of them most of the day, but it wasn’t conversation; just comments.

TO tried not to think about how GiDi wouldn’t be happy to see them, nor about how they didn’t seem to have time to fix things with GiDi anymore. Quarantined as they were, there was no way TO could make things better with GiDi, who hadn’t even sent them a message since this cold hit them.

With a gesture, TO flicked their communicator back on and rolled over on their side. With a few quick commands, they once more turned on the musical they had been watching with DH and let the music play as they took one of the pillows and hugged it close.

Tomorrow, they’d see DH again, even if it was only through their communicator. They’d spend another evening talking, hearing about the day, and once more they would be able to listen to DH until they fell asleep.

Hopefully, they’d reach Scraprock before too long.