Chapter 12

Lambert was drawn out of his dreams by a scuffle, the man rubbing his itchy eyes as he sat up. The theatre door slowly opened as he sat up, Doctor Cairns coming through with her notepad under one arm.

“How is she?” Lambert asked groggily. He wasn’t sure how long he was out. “Did it work?”

“She’s fine, and I’m not sure,” Cairns answered. “She’s a little woozy, she’ll need a minute to recover.”

He was about to rush in and check on her, but he followed the Doctor’s orders, waiting with bated breath until at last the operating door opened again, Mezul walking out on visibly shaking legs. She leaned against one side of the frame, her golden eyes blinking as she took in her surroundings. It looked like she’d just gone on a bender and didn’t know where she was.

“Mezul?” he asked, his voice attracting her attention, her eyes falling on his. “Are you alright?”

“I’m ... I am fine,” she replied, rubbing at her face with a palm. “My ... head feels like I’ve taken one too many fentula hits, though...”

Unlike before, her voice was not stilted, the words not forced, her tone consistent through each syllable. It took the Balokarid a moment to notice this, the alien’s face contorting in a few different states of surprise. “Did I just ... did I just speak human?”

“It worked!” Doctor Cairns sighed. “I feared the worst, but it worked.”

“I can understand you?” Mezul asked. “I can understand you!

Lambert? Does it work both ways?”

“Sounds like it,” he said, grinning up at her. “How’s the implant feel?”

“Itchy,” she replied, scratching at her neck. He could see a pink scar running between the tufts of her blue-black feathers there, about as long as his finger.

“Do not irritate the skin, please,” the Doctor chided. “The feeling should pass within one to two days.”

Shaliyya stepped around the humans, talking in her native tongue as she addressed Mezul. “It’s fine, Kith,” Mezul replied in English, frowning as she heard herself. She switched back to her own language, the humans waiting until they were finished.

“My Kith wishes to go next,” Mezul explained. “She wishes to discuss integration with your Captain.”

“Hold on a moment,” Cairns replied, raising a hand. “We must first make sure there are no harmful side effects. A few cognitive tests should suffice for now...”

“Very well, test away,” Mezul replied. It seemed the surgery hadn’t done anything outwardly harmful, although she seemed a little slower than usual when she had to explain to Shaliyya what exactly the humans were doing with her.

“My legs feel a little numb,” Mezul explained when Cairns asked her if she felt any different. “My people do not spend so much time off their feet,” she added. “We must keep our legs routinely working to stay healthy.”

Lambert wasn’t surprised, they were so thick around the thighs and waist, narrowing into slimmer shins. He’d thought the broadness was because of their suits, but they were packed with muscle down there.

“If you feel like you’re able, then a walk should be fine,” Cairns said. “Lieutenant, if you wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on her? Bring her back if she experiences any dizziness, fatigue.”

“Aye aye, ma’am.” He led Mezul out of the medical bay and into the hall outside, picking a random direction and moving off, glancing back at his alien companion who walked after him.

“Well then,” he started. “your legs, huh? They’re not in pain, are they?”

“Oh no, they’re fine. I just wanted to get out of there. And finally have a proper conversation with you, Lambert.”

“Ah,” he chuckled. “Well, it’ll be good to test out your translator. Anything in particular you want to talk about?”

“I’m not sure where to start,” she chuckled, shortening her long strides so he could keep pace. “Why did that Doctor call you, ‘Leftent?’”