He didn’t get any answer but just praying made him feel better. He lifted his glass and downed the last of his whiskey. Tomorrow he would go by the Med Center and ask the woman he was already bonded to out on a date. It might seem strange and backwards but Brav didn’t care.
He was going to do whatever he had to in order to win the curvy little Elite’s heart and remind her of what they had once shared together—so briefly—on Soluu Four.
Forty-Seven
“That’s the third time you’ve been sick today—are you sure you don’t want to go back to your suite and lie down?” Liv gave her a worried look. “I can call in someone else to cover you, honestly, Danielle.”
“No, no—I’m fine.” Danni shook her head emphatically as she finished brushing her teeth in the employee fresher. She washed out her mouth and sighed. “It’s the weirdest thing—this has been going on all week. I feel nauseous—usually just in the mornings—but as soon as I puke, I feel fine again. I honestly feel completely okay.” She shrugged.
“Well…I’d say it might have something to do with your mysterious trip to Soluu Four, but all the tests we’ve run on you have come back normal,” Liv said, frowning. “Except for the fact that you’re about twenty-five years younger than you were when you left.”
“I know—that’s so strange!” Danni agreed. “I wish I could remember how it happened. I only know that Commander Bravik said the two of us were getting younger and younger the whole time we were there and that we had to leave before we, uh, youthened away to nothing.”
Liv grinned. “Is that a thing? ‘Youthening’ away?”
Danni shrugged. “It’s the only thing I can think to call it.” She shook her head. “It’s all so strange and mysterious. And I can’t remember any of it.”
“Nothing at all?” Liv asked, frowning.
Danni shook her head.
“I remembered a few things when we first came back to the Mother Ship, but they all faded almost as soon as I remembered them. Now it’s almost like my mind is a blackboard and someone deliberately erased the entire Soluu Four trip.” She spread her hands to show her empty palms. “It’s just…gone.”
“That’s so strange.” Liv shook her head. “Does Bravik remember anything?”
“If he does, he hasn’t said.” Danni made a face. “Honestly, he is the most disagreeable Kindred warrior I have ever met. I used to think they were all so nice and polite but he certainly is the exception that breaks the rule.”
“He might know more than he’s letting on,” Liv pointed out. “I mean maybe something, uh, happened between the two of you while you were there and he’s reluctant to say anything because you’ve lost all our memories of it.”
Danni snorted a laugh.
“Something happen between me and Commander Bravik? You mean something romantic? You have got to be kidding.”
“Not really,” Liv said mildly. “I mean, it might explain some of the awkwardness between the two of you every time you run into each other.”
“I doubt it. But I wish that would stop happening!” Danni exclaimed. “It’s so awkward every time I see him! I know we did a mission together and we were both, uh, youthenized—”
“That sounds really wrong, you know,” Liv pointed out, grinning.
“Oh, you know what I mean—made younger—de-aged—however you want to put it.” Danni waved a hand dismissively. “The point is that just because we had a mission together doesn’t mean there’s anything between us. It’s just weird the way he keeps showing up all the time at random places.”
“Maybe he’s trying to see if you remember anything,” Liv suggested. “Maybe he’s hoping your memory will come back.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” Danni said crossly. “I just can’t believe I finally got to go on a mission to study a whole new alien culture and I can’t remember a single minute of it!”
“That would be aggravating,” Liv agreed, nodding sympathetically. “Maybe you should ask Bravik if he remembers anything next time you run into him.”
“I’d rather not.” Danni sighed. “Every time I see him it’s just so awkward.” At that moment, her now-empty stomach rumbled painfully. “Oh my God, I’m suddenly so hungry,” she moaned. “Do you think we can take an early lunch?”
“Sure, why not?” Liv shrugged. “Want to go to the break room?”
Danielle nodded emphatically.
“Yes, I have some of the most amazing dill pickle, kale, and kidney bean stew with a big dollop of red pepper hummus to go on top. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!”
Liv frowned.
“Uh, that sounds like an interesting combination. But I thought you hated hummus. You told me that when we first met and I was having some for lunch with some baby carrots—remember?”
“Did I? Huh—I guess I did.” Danni shrugged and laughed. “What can I say? I guess tastes change. I’ve really been craving it lately—I’ll eat it on anything. In fact, last night, I had some garlic humus on a piece of apple pie.”