All We See or Seem Read Online Free PDF Page B

sweat.

 
    Chapter Six
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    â€œYou have handled surrogate situations before.”
    â€œThis is different.”
    â€œHow? How can it possibly be different?”
    â€œWith all due respect, doctor, in this case, it’s the timing.”
    â€œHow so? We’ve done this hundreds of times. Timing has never been an issue for any of them.”
    â€œMay I speak frankly, sir?”
    â€œPlease do — He’s not listening, if that’s what’s worrying you.”
    â€œThis stem has lost her mate.”
    â€œMate!? How can that — We watch very — It is strictly regulated! There are no records of—”
    â€œSorry, sir. Poor choice of words. I didn’t mean a physical mate — the thought would never have occurred to them. They have all been chemically altered against that, as you know.”
    â€œThen what did you mean, Aria? Say it.”
    â€œHer soul mate, sir.”
    ****
    Gem woke up with her head spinning. She’d been increasingly dizzy in the mornings, but this was the first time her stomach had also churned. She had experienced nausea in the past, usually after Level Three benchmarks, but it only plagued her for a couple hours on the same day as the testing. And she hadn’t been to benchmarks in three weeks.
    Rolling out of bed slowly, she mentally prepared herself for what was inevitably coming. She sat on the edge of the mattress for a moment, waiting for the dizziness to subside, then she stood unsteadily and stumbled to the bathroom, keeping close to the wall for support.
    She made it just in time.
    When the worst was over, Gem reached up to the counter and dragged herself to the sink. A little cold water — that’s what she needed. She splashed a little on her face then cupped her hands and brought some to her lips. What is wrong with me? The water helped, but her hands trembled weakly as she slumped back to the floor groaning.
    The door buzzed. “ARIA. 8936. ENTRANCE GRANTED.” Aria stepped in with the digital announcement.
    â€œGemini? Where are you?”
    â€œIn here,” she moaned. Aria stepped into the bathroom.
    â€œHey, what’s going on in here? Gem? You’re white as a sheet!” Gem looked up groggily.
    â€œI don’t feel well.”
    Aria knelt down on the floor next to Gem and put the back of her hand to Gem’s forehead. “No fever. Is it your stomach? Maybe you need to eat.”
    â€œUgh! No. No. No breakfast, Aria. Don’t even want to think about it.” Her stomach lurched at the mention of food. She had no memory of ever being this miserable. “What’s wrong with me?”
    â€œYou know, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I’ve seen this kind of thing before. You should probably record the incident in your log — actually, if you feel like you can stand, we will do that right now. Think you can make it to the monitor?”
    â€œYeah, I think so.” Gem took the hand Aria offered and slowly pulled herself up. The room seemed to sway for a moment, so she used the wall to steady herself until it stabilized.
    They made their way slowly to the monitor on the wall near the door. Aria helped Gem scan in, then Gem started her report, weakly at first, “Gemini — Stem 6418C. Report code 709-13. Medical concern, nausea — vomiting 0517. End report.”
    â€œOkay, good. Got that out of the way. How about you lie back down for a few minutes? Let’s see. 0525? Dispensary will be activated in about five minutes. I’ll stay with you until then, okay?” She sat in the desk chair.
    Gem groaned her assent. As miserable as she felt, she was happy for Aria’s company.
    Aria had been her support system for the past three weeks, since Gryff had left. If it hadn’t been for her, Gem would have sunk into grief and been flagged by the EROMI staff for additional study. And though she hadn’t cared much initially, she was