A bolt of electricity ran through the whole settlement then a “nice one,” was heard. They looked at each other before hurrying up the three stone steps to the settlement and opened the door to travel down the short hallway to find everyone with their hair standing on end and a rather furious-looking Kiera and Skin who was hissing at Isaias. She looked towards the door and sighed. “E-Edline, g-guess w-who's b-back,” she said her voice holding a slight glitch that worried Zen. She took a step into the room.
“Kiera, are you alright,” she asked getting a gasp from Edline who like a bullet or lightning strike bowled Zen over crying into her shirt.
“I didn’t mean it! I didn’t mean it! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry,” she wailed.
Bolts of electricity ran through Edline and Zen winced, Ishevara began to glow and take the extra energy. Zen sighed and scooped up Edline holding her close. “It’s ok Little Spark. I know you didn’t mean it. That mean girl deserved it and I’m glad you could teach her not to mess with us.”
Edline sniffled. “But I got you in trouble? Shouldn’t you be mad at me?”
“No! No. You are not in trouble. I didn’t want you to go to the containment rooms. It’s no place for a growing girl. Now, what were you and my brother doing before I arrived hmm?”
Edline smiled. “He wanted to see how big of a lightning bolt I could make!”
Zen sighed. “I figured it was something like that. Isaias! Don’t you know what babysitting means?”
Isaias grinned. “Oh come on Zen! The kid was spitting electricity at everyone! This way she let it go without hurting anyone.”
Kieara glared and jerked slightly.
“Almost everyone. Sorry Kiera I forgot you could short circuit.”
“Mmhmm. Well, next time I cure you of burns I’ll just forget the ointment.”
“Ooh, burned by the android. She is not a happy camper when she short circuits you know,” Marek said.
Val nodded. “It would be prudent to stay clear of her for a few days. At least while the short circuit realigns itself anyway.
Senka sighed. “Are we going to have a crazy roommate? Is that what you’re saying?”
“That’s exactly what they are saying,” Stephan acknowledged walking over to a glitching Kiera. “C’mon K let’s get you in bed for a while huh?”
Zen stood and touched Kiera’s shoulder lightly. “I can undo this for you.”
Kiera shook her head. “Save y-your l-life f-force f-for w-when y-you really need i-it Zen.” She walked jerkily out of the room and Zen turned to glare at Isaias.
Isaias raised his hands. “Honestly I forgot about her Zen! She seems so human most of the time! I forgot that she’s not!”
“That was a compliment if I ever heard one for an android. Kiera’s different. That’s why she joined the SMV and we became the SMVK because of her,” Stephan said picking up Edline who was yawning. “I appreciate what you were trying to do for Edline but next time remember we have an android with us who’s sensitive to lightning?”
Marco, who was trying to smooth down his hair, sighed. “I’ll keep an eye on him. You two put Edline to sleep. We need to discuss our strategy for the next few days.”
Stephan nodded and walked towards his and Zen’s and Edline’s room. He didn’t get a chance to explore the room before the whole mess of the containment rooms so he and Zen were the only ones who had yet to get a look at their room. He immediately noticed the bed. It was big enough for the three of them but he would be taking the couch in the corner. It was big enough. There was a dresser made of metal with five drawers. The handles were large metal bars that stretched from one end of the drawer to the other. There was a woven rug under his shoes that encompassed half of the room in a dark blue which matched the dark blue metal walls. Two window vents were large enough for Edline to hide in if it came to that. The smell of sulfur was not so strong here. His mask had been taken off the minute he had passed into Yuka territory and the others followed his lead. The ash and steam did not reach Yuka territory since it was protected by a series of caves. They were currently underground. He turned to Zen and noticed her staring at the craftsmanship of a chair by a small table near the other side of the room. It was laden with fruits and cheeses and of course, metal crystals that beamed with the light of the room.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Do the Yuka eat metal?” Zen asked walking over to the table and grabbing an apple. She munched into it moaning as the juices slowly ran a trail down her chin. Stephan stared for a minute before remembering her question.
He looked away. “Yes, something in their metabolism has evolved to where they can’t survive without metal. In turn, evolution has given them some cool gifts with metal, like crafting technology unheard of from a simple piece of metal. They are metal manipulators of a different kind, and most with gifts tend to be women. Rarely do men have a gift with metal.”
He set Edline down on the bed while Zen finished the apple and came over taking off Edline’s shoes. They let Edline rest and headed back to where the rest of the crew were waiting in the common room which was a large space that had two large couches and a large table to the back. Everyone was seated even the glitchy Kiera who seemed slightly calmer now but still jerky in her movements. She was glaring at Isaias who was hiding behind an exasperated Marco.
“Behave, Isaias,” Marco said crossing his arms and facing the cowering male.
“Hey, she's the one glaring like she’s planning on murdering me in my sleep!”
“The plan has crossed my m-mind,” Kiera muttered jerking her shoulders up and down in a shrug.
Zen grinned and chuckled at Isaias's frightened look.
“Oh would you act your age already,” Marco said grabbing hold of Isaias's jacket lapels and dragging him to sit next to Kiera while Marco sat beside him. Kiera glared at Isaias then turned to face Marek and Val on the other couch and glared at them instead.
“I know both of you are just as scared. At least he sits beside me.”
“He wasn’t there the last time you short-circuited K,” Marek said leaning into Val who just noddedholding Skin who was far calmer now but held one eye on Isaias which freaked Isaias more. “Just a suggestion, protect your most valuable assets. She becomes a snoop when she goes haywire.”
Senka sighed. He was sitting on Val’s other side. “Let’s get this meeting over with. I’d like to sleep sometime today.” He yawned big causing everyone else to start yawning.
“Guess we’re all tired,” Marco said covering another yawn.
Zen nodded leaning on the metal wall. Beside her, Stephan crossed his arms and nodded.
“Ok cutting to the chase, what are we going to do about Zen and me,” Isaias said leaning on his elbows trying to ignore a glaring iguana.
“Well we have a few nights to decide on what’s best but I think taking you off planet and to the GC is the best thing we can do for you,” Stephan said his eyes glancing at Zen.
“Why do you think that,” she questioned tugging at her ponytail.
“Well, the Dons wouldn’t be able to reach you for one. The GC would finally have Ishevara back for another.”
“We still have to find out who poisoned those men on the boat,” Isaias said. “If we can show that we are descendants of the Armargaritas, we can save the Arrio from Luis’s grasp Zen.”
“The poison those men had in their system is a biological agent found in certain spiders. I have a copy of it in my small lab,” said Kiera.
Isaias turned to her. “Can you get the exact sample of the poison? I think I know what it is. Also, I want a blood test run on Zen, me, and Marco.”
“Why the blood test Isaias?” Zen asked.
Isaias looked at Zen. “Because if it is the poison I think it is, then we could be infected sis. The only way to know that is to run a blood test for it. We’re lucky it hasn’t activated in any of us yet.”
“If it’s the poison you’re thinking of right,” Marco questioned from his right. Isaias nodded.
Stephan narrowed his eyes. “Kiera are you well enough to mess with your lab?”
Kiera nodded. “T-the glitchiness i-is fading. I-I should b-be fine by tomorrow unless something worse happens.” She glared at Isaias who raised his hands.
“I swear to you I simply thought you were one of us, Kiera! It won’t happen again…swear!”
Kiera sighed and nodded rising from the couch. “I-I b-better rest t-then. G-good night.” She walked to her room and slammed the door closed.
Stephan sighed. “I’ll ask Rafael if he’ll allow us to use a med room for the samples tomorrow. We better get to bed.”
Isaias’s eyes narrowed. “You better behave yourself, pirate. That’s my sister you’re sleeping with!”
Stephan rolled his eyes. “The same could be said for you. Don’t keep my brother up late tonight K?” He grinned and walked away leaving a blushing Marco and a glaring Isaias.
“If you can’t take it don’t dish it, Isaias,” yawned Zen following Stephan to their room. Everyone headed off to their rooms. Skin hissed a warning when Isaias came too close to him. He still wasn’t happy about the lightning. Isaias hurried along not wanting to be bitten by him. Skin: One. Isaias: Zero.