While still in military research she’d consulted for the Millixium Mining Company on a metal that possessed a higher and better conductivity ratio than anything. After she was injured, Millixium approached her with another problem.
Touching the finished metal strands created a numbing effect that lasted for hours. Closer inspection identified an oily compound leaching from the metal. Over time the film increased the resistivity of the metal, reducing its effectiveness.
Jayda identified an inert compound in the raw ore, altered in the smelting process, compounded by the refining steps. Microscopic beads of the oil slithered between the metal strands, combining until they had no place to go, but to the surface.
Changing the refinement process to burn off this compound made the ore unusable. The solution was inanely simple, but sparked an idea for Jayda. Soaking the spools of wire in ethanol pulled the oil out of the metal, making it stable for further processing.
Jayda almost felt guilty wrangling Millixium into giving her an exclusive contract for the waste byproduct. For years she received barrels of the evaporated oil-infused ethanol gel, further reducing it down to its purest uncontaminated form.
After a string of failures, she turned an otherwise worthless waste product into Senaprox, a treatment for serious injuries. She developed multiple delivery methods, including the oxygen pumped into her room. It soothed her throat and lungs.
Today she needed the treatment. After a few more minutes of inhaling the mist, she found the energy to get up and apply a layer of the topical ointment.
She slathered nano-cream onto her hip and thigh, working up her side. As she twisted around to reach her back, the door to her room opened.
“OH! Sorry.” Dolan had already stepped in, looking up to see her standing there naked. “Oh, that’s…” He tipped his head. “That’s what happened to you?”
Jayda tried to get to her bunk. Bouncing just a bit too much in the reduced gravity, she banged her leg on the edge of the bunk. She yanked the cover off the bed. “Do you always just barge in?”
“I announced myself.”
She chastised herself. Earlier she’d terminated unnecessary audio from the computer. That didn’t excuse her ignoring the chirped warnings. “Do you mind? Give me a minute to get dressed.”
Dolan didn’t excuse himself, instead looking to the counter where she’d left her tube of ointment, then to the one in his hand. “I actually came to ask about this stuff, but I see you use it yourself.”
“Yes, I do. I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise.” Jayda tugged at the blanket.
“Well, I’ll let our doctor know that.” He pocketed the tube and went to the one she’d left on the counter. “I’m sure you’ve figured out how to administer it yourself, but since I’m here…” He picked up the tube and swirled it in the air.
Her stomach tightened at the thought of anyone touching her. Of him touching her. Of him seeing her scars. Despite the tumbling in her gut and every instinct telling her to make him leave, she turned her back to him. “Avoid getting any on your skin. You’ll lose feeling for a few hours.”
“Warning received.”
She watched him pull on a glove, then squeeze the ointment onto his fingers. The second he touched her, she flinched. Dolan leaned over her shoulder as he massaged the ointment into her skin in slow deliberate circles. “Am I hurting you?”
“No.” Jayda turned her face away.
His fingers stroked her skin more gently as he reached places that hurt her to attempt reaching.
“It’s really not as bad as I assumed at first glance. A few grafts might remove the remaining scars.”
Her uneasiness spiked as he downplayed her mutilated back. “I know what I look like!” Jayda pulled the blanket up around her shoulders as she stepped away from him. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I wasn’t!” Dolan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Sorry if you thought so.” He peeled off the glove. “I’ll let the doctor know the medication is safe to use.”
He left, but Jayda still held the blanket tight around her shoulders, shivering. His touch hadn’t hurt, not physically. Her skin tingled more than it usually did, feeding the ache in her chest. She’d have to make sure she locked her door.
CHAPTER SIX
“You’re sure about these results?” Dolan looked down at his shoulder as Taylor removed the sterile layer protecting the wound. “Still looks pretty nasty to me.” It looked bad, but as Jayda warned, his shoulder was numb right down to the bone.
“On the surface, but scans confirm the subdural layers are significantly healed. Same for the other patients.” Taylor started the sterile wash for Dolan’s next treatment. “I’ve never seen anything like it and I just came off internship at the best research hospital in the service.”
“And it’s the same for everyone?”
“Other than you, I’ve only used it on the worst three patients, but yes. This is only the third treatment and I’m getting these results. How’s it feel?”
Dolan watched her washing down his shoulder. “Still can’t feel a thing. You might as well be working on someone else, and I’m just watching.” He flexed his arm. “I’ve been able to work just fine.”
“Which is the only reason I agreed to let you volunteer. Last thing we need is you getting an infection, considering.” Taylor sighed as she pulled on a pair of gloves and opened a new tube of the ointment. “This is better than what we’ve been using for years, decades. I’d like to go ahead and use it on everyone with burns.”
“Go ahead.” He looked to the other patients as she gave him his treatment. It only took her a few minutes to finish and wrap his shoulder up again.
He pulled his shirt on as she returned to the work desk. “Hmmm…” Dolan looked over his shoulder towards the door, then went to sit across from her. “Taylor, I know you have full access to the medical computer files. Can you pull up Maldonado’s history?”
Dr. Taylor rolled her eyes at him. “Nnnoooo… you should know better than to
