Good man, said Hamish.
Sepha watched her readouts.
The young Liran’s neural signals were weakening, but they were weakening slowly, much more slowly than they should have been.
The bandage was working.
It was buying time, but time alone would not save him.
Without some way to fight the venom, it would only delay the end.
And then she understood what Hamish had meant when he said, you need me.
She looked up at him.
He was already looking at her.
My blood, he said.
Whatever’s in there that beat the venom, it’s still in there.
Yeah, you can use it.
Human antibodies, said Sepha.
Your body built weapons against the Skithra venom.
They are still in your blood.
If I can separate them out, filter them, prepare them for a Liran system.
Her mind was racing.
It has never been done, not across species.
Not like this.
Then you’ll be the first, said Hamish.
Come on doc, let’s go.
They carried Tilo to the medical bay on a stretcher, moving smoothly and carefully because Hamish insisted that any jolt could push the venom further.
Tilo’s workmates carried him.
Hamish walked beside the stretcher the whole way, still holding the young Liran’s hand and talking to him in a low, steady voice about nothing in particular.
The beaches near his hometown, the color of the water on the reef, a dog he had owned as a young man that was frightened of the vacuum cleaner.
Sepha ran ahead to prepare.
By the time they reached the medical bay, she had the analyzer reconfigured and a blood draw station ready.
Her two nurses, a pair of quick, quiet Senari named Pip and Tolo, were waiting with sterile kits.
Sepha had explained the plan to them over the calm on her way, and they had not asked a single question.
They had simply begun working.
Tilo went onto the treatment bed.
Hamish went into the chair beside it.
How much do you need?
He asked, holding out his good arm.
I do not know, said Sepha honestly.
As much as I can safely take, perhaps more than is safe.
Then take more than is safe, said Hamish.
I’m a big lad, I’ll make more.
You are three days from a Skithra bite, Mr. Doyle.
Your body is exhausted.
If I take too much, you could collapse.
He looked at her steadily.
Doc, there’s a kid on that bed.
