Enemies All Around

Zua'the was the first one into the med bay. As he looked around the room, he held up his hand for those following him to stop.

A group of four people huddled around a regen pod, their hands quickly tapping on the screens. "Everyone out," growled Zua'the, the need to kill the healer's aids riding him hard. In fact, this entire walk down the corridors was enough to have him spinning out of control.

The desire and need to kill everyone around him grew with each step he took. He was an Erythrix, a sub-species of the Nycteromyians. Identified by his horns, which grew rounded against his head like a ram's, they were considered to be more feral than the reformed Nycteromyians. He had never really thought that to be the case; he had witnessed plenty of Nycteromyians succumb to their lesser nature. However, this was the first time he ever felt this type of rage.

"Except you," he sneered at the healer, his voice muffled as he tried to speak around his canines. Even the claw he had pointed at the head healer was almost doubled in size and pitch black. "You stay here."

"Captain Zua'the," the healer murmured in a soft, soothing voice. Zua'the wanted to rip her tongue off for even speaking to him.

She was a smaller female, not one of their species, but rather belonging to the Dryadalis, a pale species with long white hair and bright red eyes. There were very few of them on this side of the universe, but there were some.

Like the female about to be killed.

"I need you to calm down. It is clear that something has infected you, a parasite of some kind. Let's get you into the regen pod, and everything will be fine," continued the healer as she held up her hands. Her white robe flowed around her with every move.

Zua'the hissed at her, unsure of what to do. His entire being told him that the female inside the room was a threat, but she was the head healer on the ship for a reason. She was good at her job.

"What's going on?" asked Ba'dqeel as he strolled into the room. He, too, stopped dead beside Zua'the and stared at the female.

"Ambassador," purred the female, her red eyes lowering in submission as she looked at the male. "It appears that the Captain has contracted a parasite somehow and is no longer in control of his faculties. I need to get him into a regen bed before it is too late."

"He is fine," grunted Ba'dqeel, his tongue splitting as it brushed against his canine teeth. "We have an injured species who needs the regen bed more." His body seemed to violently protest every word that came out of his mouth. He fought for control. His instincts were warning him that this was not a safe place for the hirini, but his logic dictated that the med bay was the only place to be able to heal her.

"If you're sure," murmured the female as she opened the lid to the regen bed. It was huge, especially next to her slight stature. It could easily fit a nine-foot male, horns and all, and to know that his tiny hirini was going to be placed in it made him snarl.

"I'm sure," he grunted before motioning to He'dtaalh to enter the room. The rest of their escort turned their backs on the med bay and continued to guard the door, keeping everyone out.

And in.

"Do you have the species name?" asked the female, looking down at her halo-pad as she activated the regen.

"Hirini," said He'dtaalh as he strolled across the room at the same time as Ba'dqeel said "Human."

Neither male paid much attention to the healer; their attention was completely centered on the female resting in He'dtaalh's arms. However, Zua'the's attention was focused entirely on the healer…

And he caught her flinched when she heard the word 'human'.

Interesting. He had never heard of such a species, but the healer had.

Zua'the's eyes narrowed as he watched the healer's finger tremble for a moment before continuing with what she was doing.

"Please place the female on the bed," she murmured softly, but every instinct inside of Zua'the was screaming at him.

He'dtaalh sat down on the regen before slowly lowering himself down. His female lay sprawled against his chest, her head still resting against one of his hearts.

"I'm sorry, Warrior He'dtaalh. I need the female to be in the bed by herself for this to work. As you are aware, regen beds heal those who are injured or ill. It won't do its job properly if you are in it as well."

The healer's words seemed to make sense and even Ba'dqeel was slowly nodding his head. But for Zua'the, that was the last straw.

"Cihtear," he called out, bringing one of the males from outside into the med room. "Take Healer Zalena to her quarters and hold her there. Make sure she doesn't contact anyone. Nu'kaandn, go bring Yuyealth here. Now."

"Zua'the?" demanded Ba'dqeel as the captain of the guard shot out command after command. Within seconds, the Dryadalisan healer was taken into custody, and another healer was on his way to the med bay.

While Zua'the didn't like the idea of another male around the creature that smelled like a mixture of heaven and forever, it was better than the female.

"Healer Zalena is considered to be the best on the ship," growled Ba'dqeel, not liking for a moment Zua'the's decisions. The hirini needed to be taken care of now. And she needed the best one possible for the job.

"Healer Zalena is not acceptable," grunted the smaller male, his head held upright as he looked his friend in the eye. As soon as the doors closed behind Zalena, they opened again, revealing an Erythrixian male with ram-like horns.

"You called?" asked the male, sensing the tension but not knowing why.

"We have a dying female," stated Zua'the, completely ignoring Ba'dqeel. He knew he would pay for it later, but the male couldn't ignore his instincts—not when they had saved him so many times. "We need you to heal her completely. Is that possible?"

"Of course," agreed Yuyealth, "Do you know her species?"

"We believe her to be a human female," stated Ba'dqeel, his eyes narrowing on Zua'the.

"Hum," hummed the smaller male, walking over to the regen bed where He'dtaalh was still lying. "I don't know her species, but I am sure the regen pod can figure things out."