A WAR AMONGST THE STARS

CHAPTER THREE

As the ship departs, pulling away in a rush, I make my way towards the medical wing, following the many soldiers and medical staff carrying and escorting the rest of the prisoners to the same place as I.

"There are so many," Nay'ahli mutters as she takes in the crowded and hectic scene surrounding us.

I acknowledge the numerous, desperate victims of such brutal crimes. "Let us make sure they are all seen," I instruct. Fire runs through my veins, scorching beneath my skin. Blood. I need more, for the blood I have already claimed from the sick creatures at fault for such depravity, will never be enough.

"Yes, Commander," she responds.

My gaze drifts down to the little being whose arms which were once wrapped tightly around me, have taken but a sudden fall.

Her entire body goes limp.

Panic consumes me.

I tap her cheek to wake her. "Little one?Little one?" I call.

A short moment I give her and when she does not respond, I react in haste and rush towards the medical ward.

Emerlum races beside me. "Is she dead?" he wonders as he keeps up with my quick pace.

To verify, I lift her high and lay my ear upon her heart. "Her heart barely beats," I state, knowing that if my strong ability to hear even the furthest of noises is barely able to detect her low beating heart, then this must mean that her heart is only moments away from giving out. "No," I whisper. "You will not die."

No more death. I cannot endure another lost soul.

Without slowing, I barge through the ward doors. Every soldier and medical personnel within stops. All stare. "I need immediate assistance. Now!" I command and suddenly all within the room unfreezes. Everyone goes back to what they were doing before I burst through the doors.

Doctor Senuli rushes towards me, halting in front of us. He observes the little being, quickly examining her full form. "Put her on the empty bed down there, Your Majesty," he instructs while pointing behind him.

I nod and follow where his hand points.

With time of the essence, I lay her gently down upon the bed and take her cold, limp hand between the two of my warm ones.

Doctor Senuli approaches her opposite side. "Does she have any known injuries?"

"I do not know. I did not inspect her, nor does she speak any known language to have asked."

Emerlum approaches seconds after.

He takes a stand at the end of the bed where he watches her with a pair of wide, intense eyes.

The doctor's head tilts in confusion. "She does not know any of the documented languages nor the universal one?How strange. She must be from far outside our quadrant of the galaxy or possibly even beyond the unexplored universe."

"Maybe. Regardless, I need you to heal her. Do whatever you have to do to heal her, but you need to do it quickly because her heart is failing."

"Hmm," he hums. He stares as if he is not just examining but studying her with an intrigued curiosity and it bothers me. "The toxin in the water has weakened them. She is most likely extremely malnourished and dehydrated just as the rest are. I will begin with providing the nutrients and hydration her body requires but I will not know of any other physical injuries until I do a full physical exam. I will need to run an internal x-ray and an external physical exam, and I will need to strip her do that," he states, looking to me.

While still gazing upon her unconscious form, I respond, "No." She has been through enough and I am not about to allow another to put his hands all over her body without her consent.