The Astronites II: Avast Voyage

Chapter Four: The UEFS Samson

Natalie stood in Aleph's room dressed in her turquoise robe, just as she imagined. She found Aleph lying in bed, hooked up to medical equipment, resting under the Mangler Mask's influence. His white hair and beard, peppered with some gray, had grown back.

"AHH!" screamed a woman at the top of her lungs.

What Natalie didn't expect, though she should have, was someone taking care of Aleph. The startled woman, who appeared to be in her late thirties, turned the same ghastly white color of her nurse's uniform. Her brown hair bounced off her nimble shoulders as she retreated to the other side of the room.

"I'm sorry!" Natalie rushed to apologize. "I didn't mean to scare you!"

The woman collapsed into the bedside chair when she recognized Natalie.

"Oh! It's you!" she exhaled with relief. "The fault is mine, Golden Giant! I didn't expect you to return so soon, and on top of that, look so . . . normal!"

Natalie laughed. "I can understand that. Don't get me wrong, being ten feet tall has its benefits, especially in battle. But it's also a pain in the neck having to avoid bumping my head everywhere I go. If I don't have to be a giant, I prefer being just me, height and all."

The nurse blushed. "Beauty and brains! You have no idea how excited I am to finally meet you! This is like a dream come true! Oh! Where are my manners?"

She stood up and curtseyed.

"That's not necessary," Natalie said, admiring the well-intended gesture. "I'm not royalty or anything like that."

"Please," the nurse said. "You deserve to be treated like a queen after everything you did at the Battle of Elem! Can I get you anything? Something to drink?"

Natalie glanced at Aleph's bedside table. Aside from his picture of his long-gone wife and daughter, Magda and Sasha, it was empty.

"Honeymilk would be nice."

"I think we have a fresh carton in the kitchen," the nurse smiled. "I'll bring it right away."

"I can help if you—"

The nurse wagged her finger. "No! None of that! You are my guest! I'll be just a second."

She disappeared into the hallway. Natalie approached Aleph and held his hand.

Hi, Aleph, she natalized.

Natalie! Is that you?! Aleph asked. I feel someone holding my hand!

Yep, it's me, Natalie answered. I'm on your home moon, for real this time.

Welcome back! I'm giving you a hug in my thoughts as we speak. How do I look?

Natalie looked all over Aleph's face. A rosy blush spread all over his cheeks.

You look pretty good actually. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you spent a day at the beach.

She looked down at his hand. It was still spotted with age, but Aleph's fingers felt fuller and thicker, like they had been freshly stuffed.

I wish I could see myself, said Aleph. You make it sound like I look better asleep than awake.

Natalie laughed out loud. Wait, maybe I can, she replied. It should be possible for me to send thoughts, right? Wouldn't that be a form of Imagnium?

She found the point of singularity crystal underneath her turquoise robe and held it.

Why . . . it must be possible, Aleph enthusiastically answered. People are known to exchange thoughts by merely looking at each other. You can take a mental picture of me using Memorium — Withinium, to be exact — think about it, and then use Imagnium — specifically Insistium — to send it to me.