“Well, if Tamin and Rodin were here, they would probably sayto keep them calm and still. That’s the only thing we can do until we getmedical help. Maybe it’s not too late?” Val said in a hopeful voice.
“Well, if you’re the praying type, now’s the time to do it,”Poppy murmured. Where the hell was Wheaton when she needed him?
* * ** *
Back on Squadron One, Wheaton and Hannah were leaving forthe medical unit after an afternoon of meetings with the Council. Thorne hadarrived at the midday Council meeting after his morning in the medical unit toshare his baby news with Wheaton. He took great pleasure in relaying themessage that Wheaton might be “up a shit creek”, according to Poppy, if he didnot get in touch with his bride. Hannah was also told that Behyr was lookingfor her, which caused her to blush in front of both the men.
Leaving Thorne behind at the Council meetings, they headedto the medical unit. Wheaton was surprised to find that an escort had alreadyarrived for Poppy. Confusion showing on his face, Wheaton waited for Tamin toexplain further.
“An escort arrived earlier for her. I was busy in one of theexam rooms but she shouted that she was leaving and Val would be accompanyingher as well,” Tamin ended.
“I wonder where they went,” Hannah said, wondering out loudto Wheaton. “Did she leave you a message?” The question prompted Wheaton tocheck his band yet again.
“I have not received one. I had a message from Behyr sayingthat Poppy was still in the medical unit and he was searching for you but thatwas earlier.” Wheaton was stumped as to where Poppy might be.
Moving down the hallways, they halted when they heard Rodinyelling Wheaton’s name.
“Thank goodness, I caught you!” Almost completely out ofbreath, Rodin took a moment before he was able to speak again. “I am missingmeds from today’s shipment.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Wheaton asked,confused.
“There were at least a dozen doses missing of Hefnon 12.”When Wheaton showed he was not catching on, Rodin bit out, “It’s the med thatwe were supposed to deliver the next time we went to the Pleasure Sector.”Still not getting the reaction that he needed, he yelled, “It terminatespregnancy!”
Everything inside Wheaton stilled. “Tell me everything youknow,” he said quickly.
“I became suspicious shortly after Poppy had left with theescorts you sent.”
“I never sent any escorts!” Wheaton argued.
“We did not know that, Wheaton.” Rodin said defensively.
“Continue.” The word came out as an order.
Rodin nodded. “I received a message from a warriorquestioning why his bride was not back yet. When I explained that I had nevereven seen his bride, he said that she had been escorted here earlier forher exam. Then I received another call and then another until I got six calls,all to do with the brides who had missed their appointments today. Thorne justmessaged saying that he is unable to find Valerie in their apartments. When sheleft she was with Poppy and the escorts who had arrived.”
Staring at a now terrified Wheaton and a stunned Hannah, hesaid, “Six brides missing plus Poppy and Val…Hefnon 12 doses that werecataloged but are now missing. I am not liking the way this is adding up.”
Wheaton gripped the front of Rodin’s lab coat and lifted himonto his toes. “What does the medicine do exactly?” he hissed through grittedteeth.
“It causes cramping, bleeding and then the body will abortthe fetus if left untreated. Usually within a few hours. It’s extremelyefficient, which is why the pleasure workers ordered it on our last visit.”
Hannah reached up, trying to calm Wheaton enough to letRodin down. “Wheaton, now is not the time to fight. We need to find Poppy andVal.”
Nodding his head and trying to breathe, Wheaton let Rodindown and unclenched his fingers. “Grab whatever you need to help the women andcome with me. If I find them and they have taken the doses, we will needmedical there to help.” Pushing the doctor to hurry him along, he added, “HaveTamin message Thorne and let him know the situation.”
Rodin ran back to the med center, and Wheaton startedfuriously tapping his band.
“What are you doing?” Hannah asked.
“I am sending out a protection code. It is a protocol thatwe put into place when the women were brought onto the ship. It alerts the warriorsthat there may be a human in danger, to stay aware and if needed to step in andprotect.”
When she frowned at him in confusion, he explained, “We havenot had access to women before, Hannah. Bringing females aboard a ship with astarved male population was recognized as a risk. The Council established asystem to alert warriors on the ship of a possible threat to a bride, even fromone of our own.” Nodding back to where Rodin had disappeared, he continued,“According to him, we have eight humans missing and in possible danger so weneed all the eyes we can get.”
An orange light began blinking along the hallway walls.
“Is that part of your protection code?” Hannah asked.
Following Hannah’s gaze, he nodded stiffly. “Yes, it willcontinue until everyone is accounted for.”
Some warriors had come out when the alarm went off, checkingup and down the corridor. When they noticed Wheaton with Hannah, they nodded tohim.
“Who is missing, Councilor Wheaton?” the warrior closest tothem asked.
“We have eight brides who are unable to be located. Theywere escorted by warriors to an unknown location and we need to find themimmediately. If a bride is spotted, message me immediately.” Wheaton spoke loudenough for all the men to hear him. Hannah could see Rodin pushing his waythrough the gathering of men with his medical bag.
Not waiting for Rodin to catch up with them, Wheaton startedrunning down the hallway to the lift. They had wasted enough time as it was.Hannah paused for a moment to kick off her heels to run barefoot behind him,trying to keep up.
“We will check floor by floor until we find Poppy,” Wheatondeclared in a determined voice.
“And Val,” Rodin panted as he jogged beside them. “Val waswith her.”
“And
