Treasure for All

17. Side Effect

Phoebe busied herself with hacking the Taj Mahal's security system while Yeosang washed up and changed clothes in the bathroom. The late afternoon sun was high in the sky with the flying ship as the bright rays warmed up the room. Phoebe her little space fan turned on to keep herself cool. Freshly cleansed and feeling better, Yeosang stepped out of the bathroom dressed in a change of clothes, leaving the air vent on to soak up steam from the shower. The first thing he saw when he stepped into the room was Phoebe's golden locks. The sun's rays were always the perfect lighting to let her hair shine, and he always loved how it always stood out.

When she sensed his presence in the room, Phoebe looked up and smirked.

"Hey, handsome," she greeted.

He immediately blushed as he sat down on his bed. Opening the drawer in his nightstand, he pulled out a small brown book and began flipping through the pages.

"What's up, Yeo?" Phoebe asked, almost snickering at her own pun.

"After Dahae identified the poison as snake venom," Yeosang explained, "and knowing how deadly it was, I began the process to make a medicine for San's wound after the venom was removed."

"So, what'd you reach your book for?" Phoebe's brow arched.

"The medicine is an anti-biotic to help keep San from getting an infection." Yeosang turned to the page he was looking for, but frowned.

"What?"

The medic tsked. "It'll help, but one of the side effects is fatigue."

"So, he's either gonna be sleepy or cranky," Phoebe chuckled.

"Let's hope it's sleepy. We don't need our navigator irritated if he tries mapping out our next course."

"Is that why you frowned?"

"Other than the captain, he's our human compass." Yeosang stood up and kissed his girlfriend. "He's going to have to sit out on our next stop in order for his wound to heal properly. I'll be back."

Phoebe smiled. "I should be finished before then."

Yeosang had just reached the door when Phoebe stopped him. "Yes?"

"You were brave back there."

It took him a few seconds before he realized what she was talking about. He shyly smiled. "Well, with the adrenaline rushing through me mixed with knowledge that we were about to become human toast, I think it gave me super strength."

"That can happen," Phoebe shrugged. "Regardless, you still acted courageously."

-

"I don't think the bombs or the arrow in San's back were an accident," Jongho said. "The only things triggered by the rocks were the arrows."

After landing in an isolated area in India, the crew held a meeting to discuss recent events and sort out their next plan of action. However, due to San's injury, they had to meet in the Chois' bedchambers. San was propped up on a few pillows, and his wife sat up by him, her baby bump protruding a bit more. Some of the crew sat on either the floor by the numerous baby supplies, the edge of the bed, or they just stood while Mingi straddled the desk chair.

"What makes you think so?" Hongjoong asked.

"As you were leaving the catacombs, the first bomb dropped without you knowing where it came from. When the second one fell, it came from the slit in the ceiling. Bombs like that don't just fall on accident. They have to be triggered, and, from what you've described to me, these bombs have a pin that needs to be pulled in order to go off."

"What about the arrow?" Grace-Anne asked, Seonghwa's hands resting on her shoulders. "That couldn't have been launched from the cave. We were at least a mile and half away and above ground."

"The arrowhead was coated with snake venom," Dahae pointed out. "Had it even made it into San's bloodstream more than it did he'd be dead within five minutes of him being hit."

"And with the makeshift wedge somehow removed from the lid," Phoebe chimed in. "Someone clearly doesn't want us finding the diamond pieces."

"Agreed," Hongjoong nodded. "However, we still need to stay on guard at all times. We'll be landing in India soon, so I want everyone to rest and prepare."

As the crew left the room, Yeosang approached San with a small orange, capsule in his hand. Inside it was what looked like a light-colored powder.

"It's an anti-biotic to prevent any infections on your wound," he explained. "Just pour about a teaspoon in a glass of water and let it dissolve. A half a glass each night should do it."

"Why at night?" San asked as he took it and examined it. "I don't mind taking it with my breakfast."

"Fatigue is a side effect of the medication."

San just nodded. "Well, at least I'll sleep good." He put the capsule on his nightstand and tried to get up.

"And also," Yeosang added, "I would like for you to sit out on this trip."

San tried to object, but Celestia stopped him. "You're back needs to heal, sweetheart."

"Are you gonna take care of me?" her husband asked as he relaxed back on the pillows.

"Given the fact that I'm days from giving birth, I am."