Haven 4 AVOW - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,74

Lo'San and Lau'San finally returned to Lo'San’s home. Knowing that everyone was sleeping, and they were not missed at all, they took their time eating, and reminiscing of the past. As the door swooshed open to grant them access to Lo’San’s quarters, they both quietly stepped into the darkened living space.

“Missy, lights to half power, please,” he asked quietly.

At once the lights cast a soft glow over his sleeping mother on the sofa.

Lau'San walked over to her. “See? Just as we suspected — sound asleep,” Lau'San said before gently touching Mee'ta. “Mee'ta, wake. It is time to return to our quarters,” Lau'San said quietly.

Mee'ta began to wake slowly, slightly disoriented as she looked around. Then her eyes found Lau'San and she smiled. “Oh, Lau'San! I must have fallen asleep,” she said.

“It is very late, Mee'ta. My apologies for the inconvenience, but Lo'San and I were having such a great time I just didn’t want it to end,” Lau'San said as he leaned over her to help her stand.

“It’s nothing. No need to explain, I’m happy that you were able to spend some time with your son,” Mee'ta answered.

“Thank you for watching over Sink Lar, Mother. Did she wake often?” Lo'San asked.

“Just the one time. She’s not awakened again that I’m aware of. Perhaps I should have napped beside her…” Mee'ta said.

“No, she’d have called out if she needed. Thank you again for watching over my mate,” Lo'San said, walking toward his bedroom.

“We’ll be going, Lo'San,” Lau'San called out.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Father. I have duty, but will arrange a few hours for meals with you all,” Lo'San said.

“We will look forward to it,” Lau'San said as he guided Mee'ta toward the door to exit Lo’San’s quarters.

Lo'San walked into his bedroom and undressed in the dark.

He got into bed and turned toward Synclare’s side of the bed, reached out to pull her into his arms, and realized she wasn’t there. “Missy, lights on!” he said urgently.

The bright lights of the bedroom immediately responded, and Lo'San looked around the room. He rose from the bed and before he even walked out of the bedroom was already calling Synclare’s name. “Sink Lar?!”

There was no answer.

“Sink Lar!” Lo'San called out more insistently. He went to the cleansing chamber, but on finding it empty, turned and sprinted back down the corridor to their second bedroom. “Sink Lar?” he asked, stepping into the room as the door slid open. “Lights up!” he ordered.

The lights shined brightly in the room, but it, too, was empty.

“Sink Lar!” he shouted, rushing back into the living space, then the galley before hurrying into the bedroom again. He grabbed his pants, laid carefully across a chair and yanked them back on, then his shirt before shoving his feet into his boots and grabbing his wrist communicator from the top of the dresser, intent on finding Synclare. His first plan of action was the medical clinic. Perhaps she’d begun to feel worse and left his mother sleeping when she’d left their home.

Lo'San ran to the lift, then paced inside the lift until it finally opened on the level that featured the medical clinic. He ran to the clinic, not even slowing as he barged into the reception area, startling the medical assistant on duty. “Where is my mate?!” he barked out.

“I’m sorry?” she asked.

“My mate! Sink Lar, she is not in our home. What room is she in? Is she very ill?” Lo'San demanded.

“General Lo'San, there is no one here this night but me. Your mate is not here,” she assured him.

“Who was on duty before you? Maybe she’s here and you were not advised,” he insisted, beginning to walk down the corridor opening and closing doors to examination and hospital rooms.

“Sir, if anyone was here, I’d know. It is protocol to hand over all information on any patients in attendance when we change shifts. In addition, I’d have her vitals showing up here on these monitors if she were here. There is no one in medical tonight, sir,” the medical assistant explained.

Lo'San stopped opening doors, and turned to face her. His mind raced trying to figure out where Sink Lar was, and why she didn’t tell him. He remembered the wrist com and swiped his fingertips over it, bringing it to life. “Com Sink Lar,” he ordered the small wrist unit.

The wrist communicator gave a series of beeps before it disconnected the connection he’d tried to initiate.

“Com Sink Lar!” he ordered.

Again the communicator attempted to do as he asked, before beeping