Psy (Alien Castaways #3) - Cara Bristol Page 0,34

evaporated into nothingness. He was the tallest and most muscular of the castaways. It seemed impossible someone so stout could fade into oblivion.

Shadow finally pulled himself together. “I’m thrilled to finally meet you!” His robust voice and wide smile masked his despair.

Everyone in the house knows you can’t speak, Psy told her. Do you want to write a response, or should I answer him for you?

I left my notebook at the house. Tell him it’s a pleasure to meet him.

“She says it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said. “We came to use the med pod.” He twisted his mouth. “I gave her the mumps.”

“You’re so generous,” Shadow quipped. He, and everyone else in the house, had been scanned and treated. “Do you need assistance with the machine?”

“Sure. That would be great.”

In the dining room, Cassie approached the med pod cautiously. Her chest rose and fell as she acted on his suggestion to take deep breaths. The med pod doesn’t seem so scary anymore, she said. Your mental powers must be pretty powerful. You don’t need to get in the pod with me. I’ll be fine.

He admired her bravado, but she wasn’t in the pod yet. He’d implanted light suggestions to ease her over the hurdle, but her claustrophobia was by no means eliminated. It’s better if I’m with you. If you start to feel anxious, squeeze my hand.

He said to Shadow, “She gets claustrophobic. If I signal you, open the hatch.”

“Got it,” Shadow said.

Psy touched Cassie’s shoulder. “Did you ever hear from your doctor about the referral for your voice?” Since Shadow was present, he spoke aloud so his friend would understand what was happening.

No, and I’m surprised because she said it wouldn’t take long. I should text them and follow up.

“I must remind you the pod hasn’t been used on a human. It won’t harm you, but it’s possible the program is incompatible with your DNA.”

No guarantees. I understand.

“But if it does work, the unit will run a full physical diagnostic and treat anything anomalous.” He hesitated, unsure how she would react to the other news. Would she think he’d tricked her? That hadn’t been his intention.

“If your vocal cords can be repaired, the med pod will fix them.”

A barrage of emotion raced through her, longing, elation, fear, self-disgust. You mean the solution was here all along? That’s what you tried to tell me when I blew up at you, isn’t it?

Yes. I believe the med pod might fix your voice. There’s also the possibility nothing may change. It may not even cure your mumps. He didn’t want to over promise.

Now that the moment of truth had arrived, he was nervous. Despite her seeming aplomb, if the scan didn’t work, she would be devastated. He would hate himself for raising and then dashing her hopes. He wished now they’d tested the med pod on another sick human beforehand. Not that they knew any other sick humans.

Dark circles of fatigue ringed her eyes. Mumps had caused the whole side of her face to swell. She didn’t have the ability to erect protective mental barriers, so, through their mind link, he experienced everything she did. Her pain, her fatigue. This would be all or nothing. The med pod would cure the mumps and fix her voice—or she’d emerge still infected and still unable to speak.

Right now, she was about to drop from exhaustion.

Let’s do this, she said.

He got in first then Shadow assisted Cassie into the pod, and they lay side by side, her hand clasped in his. “Okay, close the lid,” he instructed Shadow.

His friend flashed a thumbs-up. “Good luck!”

The clear panel rolled from the foot toward their heads. As it reached their chests, he sensed a skitter of nerves rippling through her. Breathe…he reminded her. The lid slid over their heads and sealed them in.

Dark…dark…Mommy…

Her fear shot through his brain. Mommy? Dark? The interior of the pod was as light as the rest of the room.

The machine hummed as the scanning beam began to sweep over them.

DARK! MOMMIEEEE! Letting go of his hand, she thrashed violently.

Breathe, Cassie, breathe. You’re in control. It’s okay. I’m here.

Out! Out! Help! MOMMIEEEE! “Ghurr… Ghurr…” She hammered at the lid, hitting with her fists and kicking with her feet.

Cassie, breathe. Breathe. It’s okay. You’re safe. He tried to grab her hand to squeeze it, but she flailed.

He’d started to signal Shadow to halt the scan when her breathing and movements slowed. I am in control. I breathe in, and calm pervades. She grabbed