Chapter 27

THE ROOM BUZZED WITH conversations as the parties involved gathered for the meeting. Adria and Amy sat next to each other, their mates close by, not letting them out of their sight.

Remus' insistence on having them examined turned out to be justified. After a thorough evaluation by the medical team, the women were diagnosed with dehydration. They were promptly given a fluid and electrolyte infusion, but Juna and Ellar insisted on conducting additional tests, leading to them being kept overnight for observation.

Although neither of them liked it, their mates were unwavering in their insistence that they follow the doctor's and physic's orders to the letter. Adria grudgingly admitted she would have ordered the same treatment if she was the physic overseeing either of their cases.

Since they were there, as were Beck, Remus, and Tarus, they held the post-search debriefing in the clinic conference room.

As the mayor, Beck called the meeting to order from his position at the head of the table. Amy's strong and silent warriors stood behind her chair like loyal sentinels. The army colonel from the nearby base leaned forward attentively, his eyes keen and calculating. General Trask's holographic image flickered to life as he joined them through a relay uplink from Primaria, located clear across the star system.

The lead scientists, both in crisp white lab coats, presented their findings to the group.

First up was Dr. Sharon Greene, a xenophysiologist from New York City. "The search teams discovered two living aliens in the woods, aligning the number of pods found with the total number of creatures. Unlike the first invader, these beings didn't have the chameleon properties and couldn't take on their prey's traits and appearance."

"We believe they are still very young," Zolan, the Primarian geneticist mused, his eyes alight with scientific fervor. "They may have to grow into that ability."

Adria raised an eyebrow. Knowing her well, Amy could almost see her mind racing with possibilities. "So, maybe," she suggested, "they were still developing, like larvae in a cocoon?"

"That is precisely what we think," Dr. Greene replied.

"We would have liked to have one live creature and a pod intact to study their possible symbiosis, and a host of other factors, but the search teams destroyed the pods for safety." Zolan glanced at the warriors and colonel without giving his opinion. Although it was evident from the gathering of his graying brows, his priority would have been getting the creatures into his lab for comprehensive studies.

"When that happened, the beings died as well," Dr. Greene advised, also looking disappointed. "For all we know, the adults of the species rely on a pod to sustain them as well."

"Pod people," Amy stated, a shiver running down her spine. "It's like something out of a sci-fi horror flick. "

Beck stated with a bit of gallows humor, "Terra Nova is like living in a sci-fi flick. I think it's safe to say that our truth is stranger than fiction."

After a chorus of chuckles, mostly from the humans present who recognized the centuries-old quasi-Mark Twain quote, the tension eased somewhat.

"Since the numbers match up, we can assume we found them all," Beck said, his expression turning serious again. "But how do we know there isn't another crop of them out there somewhere?"

Another shudder passed through her at the idea there were more of the horrifying parasites. Amy reached up and clasped her mates' hands that rested on her shoulders.

"We can't," the colonel answered. "We'll have to be vigilant."

"And hopefully, through study, we'll learn more about these pods that would aid in our search," the Primarian scientist put in. "Perhaps through radiation they emit or a chemical composition. We won't know until we do more tests."

"Better them than us," Amy said in an aside to Adria, her fellow patient. "Although there were no needles, I still feel like a pincushion crossed with a guinea pig."

Her friend gave her a sidelong glance she'd seen many times before. It told her she didn't understand half of what she'd said.

"May we take our mate home now?" Remus asked as his hand tightened on hers.

"She's been through quite an ordeal," Tarus reminded them.

"Yes," Dr. Juna said. "I have released her."

"And I have given Adria the all clear," Ellar announced .

Beck rose immediately. "We can reconvene at a later time if necessary. I would also like to take my wife home to rest."

"I plan to travel to the colony on the next supply ship," General Trask informed his sister and brother-in-law.

"You're always welcome, and I'd love to see you, Brother," Adria replied. "But if it's out of concern, I'm fine, really."

"You'll have to humor me, little star. I need to see that with my own eyes, not through a holo-vid. Trask out."

When the relay ended, and his image disappeared, Adria said with a sigh, "Don't say I didn't tell you so. He worries."

Beck assisted her to her feet, slipping his arm around her shoulders. "I love that you have family who care enough to be concerned about your well-being, darlin'."

He spoke low, but they were right beside Amy who heard every word. Her friend was fortunate to have a loving mate and family, and she felt a genuine happiness for her, just as she felt grateful for Tarus and Remus, who provided the same support.

As their mates guided them out of the room, she exchanged a weary smile with Adria, silently acknowledging the harrowing past twenty-four hours they had survived together.