Shattered

Chapter 11

They broke up the group hug. Alex looked at them thankfully. "You guys are amazing." He said smiling.

"We know!" Fay said brightly.

"Obviously." He chuckled. "Thank you for the support, but I'm tired and would like to rest. They nodded understandingly and he opened the door and let them leave. He began to feel an itching in his throat.

As soon as the door close he began to hack violently. Alex tripped backwards onto the bed and landed with a soft thump. He put a hand to his mouth, still coughing, and felt a warm wet splatter on his palm. He removed his hand and looked, their was a worrying amount of blood coating it and slowly running down his forearm. He rushed to the bathroom and cleaned up. The water he used to scrub his arm slowly turned a disturbing shade of pink. His lungs felt like they were on fire and full of holes. He was wheezing as he looked at his pale reflection in the wall mirror.

The sickness was turning aggressive.

He cleaned himself up and crawled into the bed. It seemed that it was accelerating. Maybe, he would get a few good years before he died, he though as he drifted of into restless slumber.

Krystal and the others had left his room and helped Lupa to settle in. She and her sister got one of the extra rooms on the crew deck. They assisted her with making it a little more homely. Krystal donated a vase of flowers, Miyu gave her a poster of an Arwing, and Fay had given her one of the pictures she painted of a garden. Lupa thanked them all profusely and was quick to get Penelope a bed as well.

With that done they all went to the kitchenette and began to make a meal, they had noticed that Alex had not eaten since before his... Sojourn to the facility, where he had his almost fatal injury. This sparked the memory that he was in fact dying, albeit slowly, and dampened their spirits. Still they persevered and created a dish from Krystal's homeworld. Something called Paclac, it had some strange purple noodles and blue sauce.

With Krystal's instructions they were able to make it successfully. Miyu tasted and found that it was not half bad. "Where did you get the ingredients?" She asked.

"Well I found similar ones at a market on Corneria."

Fay tasted it too. "Wow it's really good!"

Krystal looked bashful. "It can't be that good."

Lupa gave it a try. "she right, it's amazing!"

Penelope wanting in on the action grabbed the spoon from her sister and struggled to reach into the pot, made difficult due to the fact that she was short. "A little help here!" She grumbled indignantly.

With a laugh Fay snatched her up and leaned her over the pot of Paclac. Penelope dunked the spoon in and got to finally taste it. Her young muzzles opened in delight. "It's awesome!" She squeaked.

Krystal grinned happily. They actually liked it. Now she just had to get Alex to try it. "I'll be back, I'm gonna go wake up Alex, I'm sure he won't mind if its some food. The other girls stayed behind taking small nibbles from the pot of exotic food.

Quickly, in fear of the food vanishing down the maws and gullets of the voracious women Krystal headed for Alex's room. As she got closer she heard something distressing. Her sensitive vulpine ears could here a terrible coughing noise through the door of the room. It sounded as if he was drowning and being chocked at the same time. Concerned she banged on his door. "Are you alright?" She asked loudly.

The coughing ceased. After a moment a hoarse voice responded. "I'm fine, just...uh had some something go down the wrong tube." It didn't sound very convincing.