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Zelgadis had done the calculations for the map and closed in the area Daisy had indicated by a radius of a couple of miles. The group had begun working the section over the last three days as the Briseral volunteers kept up their work in the surrounding areas. Everyone kept up a rigorous pace throughout the long days and nights, hoping for some kind of breakthough.
"I can't believe it's been three days since we started," Gourry said, stopping to take a breather from digging.
"It doesn't feel like we're getting any further," Lina said, sitting down on a rocker.
"We're getting somewhere. We're finding Trialcon and Odayaka's using it to help Amelia."
"Yeah, but we aren't finding enough, just small pieces and we're coming up dry in the section Zelgadis calculated."
"Things will turn around," Gourry nodded, "I have a good feeling." Then he stood up and started working again.
On the other side of the section Zelgadis and Bubbles worked side by side on a particularly stubborn rock.
"You never explained about Amelia going into my astral space," Zelgadis said, taking another swing at the rock.
"The spell that Nephillo placed on you and Amelia was supposed to let her enter your dreams," Bubbles started. "But somehow it created a corridor between your astral space and Amelia's. We used it to figure out where you were."
"How?"
"Amelia used the corridor to go into your dreams to become a part of them and see if there was anything that could help us without letting Nephillo know." Zelgadis stopped digging and turned to the muzuko.
"Then the dream I had wasn't a dream then?"
"For you it was, for her it wasn't. I wouldn't have asked her to but it was the only way to . . ."
"I understand," Zelgadis answered dazed.
"What is it?"
"I was just thinking about the dream." He said and went back to digging.
As he hammered away at the rocks, his thoughts worked frantically. Her time in his dreams was the last time he got to really talk with her, hold her. He remembered her smiling and the way she whispered 'it's lovely' when he showed her his human hands. The thoughts driving him to hit the rocks harder. Not only had she been there but he'd also expressed his feelings about their kiss.
"That could be the last time I'll ever get to really talk to each other like we've been all through the week," he said to himself. Her words in his dream were to give him resolve, to find a way and fight. "She came to help me and because of that Nephillo almost killed her, my selfishness almost killed her."
Bubbles watched as Zelgadis dug viciously. He could see the mix of anger and anguish on the chimera's face as he focused the brunt of his feelings into the rocks around them and worried.
When night approached Zelgadis stopped his digging and took his pick axe to the supply tent then splashed his face from a bucket of cold water. He watched as the volunteers began to leave, turning in the last bits of Trialcon they'd found.
"I guess I better head over to the tent to get the day's load," he thought.
Inside he found Bubbles and Daisy at a set of scales, measuring the piles of little beige-pinkish stones.
"How much did we come up with today?"
"Two pounds worth," Daisy sighed.
"It's the most we've come up with so far," Bubbles said.
"I know, but its still not enough," his sister said.
"Is it all bagged up an ready to go?" Zelgadis asked.
"Sure thing," Daisy said, pouring the last of the stones into a bag and handing it to him.
"I'll see you in the morning," he nodded then left.
"He doesn't think about anything other than digging the site and the medical center," Daisy said looking at the tent entrance and sighed again.
Bubbles nodded in agreement then headed out the tent and caught up with Zelgadis.
"We need to talk before you go."
"I agree," he said and started walking; Bubbles falling into step beside him. "The corridor between Amelia and I, maybe I could cross it. Find out how's she's doing mentally."
"I don't think it will work."
"Why not?"
"The Liquid Nightmare," he said simply. "The corridor may still be there but she was infected in the astral plane, her astral space may also have been effected."
"Then find out for sure," the chimera said curtly and continued on a little faster.
"Are you sleeping at the center again tonight?" Bubbles asked.
"Where else would I sleep?"
"How about in your own bed at the tavern where you can get a full night's rest?"
Zelgadis looked at Bubbles and narrowed his eyes.
"I'll be just fine at the center," he said then started running to town.
She had tried to get him to go back to the tavern or take him to a vacant room like before, but he refused and slept sitting up.
"We got more then before today, two pounds," Zelgadis said.
"That's good," Aya smiled, taking the bag. They fell into their usual stride toward the princess's room. Aya glanced at him briefly and saw all the tell-tale signs of his work at the site.
"You need a shower," she stated.
"Its not really necessary."
Aya sniffed the air and wrinkled her nose in an exaggerated manner.
"Oh yes it is," she said taking him down another hallway, to the staff changing area.
Zelgadis took a shower quickly and changed into the clothes she had left him, without further argument. He reemerged from the staff changing rooms dressed and found Aya waiting for him.
"Now that's an improvement," she said. He only looked at her blankly. "I was just joking before you know? You smelled, but not that bad."
"If you insist," he said and headed for Amelia's room. Outside her door instead of his usual chair he found an overstuffed couch with his center issued pillow and blanket.
"We rearranged the furniture on two floors, hope you like the couch."
"It'll have to do," he answered, moving the blanket aside and siting down.
"You want some coffee?"
"Yes."
"I have rounds to make but I'll have an orderly bring it over," she said and left. After a few steps she looked back and saw Zelgadis staring at Amelia's door then continued on.
Bubbles entered the center and almost collided with Aya as she studied her nightly set of records.
"Hello Bubbles, what are you doing here?"
"Actually I came to talk to you."
"About Amelia?"
"Actually no it's about Zelgadis."
"My office is a few doors down, come on," she said, taking his arm. She led him a little ways down the hall.
The office was nicely furnished with books and charts scattered about.
"Sorry about the mess," she laughed and showed him a seat. "Now what did you want to talk about?"
"Zelgadis has us a little worried."
"He has me worried too. He's got insomnia as far as I can see and the early stages of severe exhaustion."
"Can you do something for him? We suggest anything and he's ready to bite our heads off. During the day we don't even see him eat."
"Actually I've already started doing something."
"What?"
"Giving him coffee." Bubbles looked at her confused.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Aya."
"I'm not, I made a special coffee blend that's a nutrient supplement," she explained. "I figured out the first day he hadn't been eating much. He likes coffee so I cooked up a little something extra for his nightly mug."
Bubbles looked at Aya and smiled.
"You are a very sneaky woman Ms. Bressman."
"Why thank you. His being a chimera means he has a different metabolism rate. The nutrients in the coffee should keep him from suffering malnutrition or dehydration but his problems are not only physical."
"I know," Bubbles said, sinking back into his chair.
"His behavior is due to lack of sleep. Giving him my coffee blend is one thing, but I'm not comfortable with giving him something to make him sleep. Especially since we've never examined him."
"I understand. At least I can go back to the tavern an have something to tell the others."
"And don't get too happy. The coffee is good for now but nothing compares to a normal meal and with the amount of activity he does during the day . . ."
"He's not taking in enough food." Aya nodded. "He wants me to work on a way to contact Amelia through the astral plane."
"Is it possible?"
"Before the crash Amelia traveled into his astral space to help us find him and he wants to do something similar."
"And you're not sure it will work?"
"The Liquid Nightmare may make it impossible. I told him that when he asked about earlier and he got really irritated with me."
"I think if he could contact Amelia astrally it would boost his morale a great deal."
"Then I guess I better get to work on making that a viable option," he said, getting up.
"And I'd better check on Zelgadis to see if he's drinking his coffee," she smiled.
He debated on asking Odayaka for the room next to Amelia's so that he could store his things to save time in the mornings instead of returning to the tavern to change, but pushed the thought aside and took another sip.
"How's the coffee?" Aya asked sitting down.
"Good. I thought you have rounds?"
"I do, just making sure you're settled in."
"I am, where's Odayaka?"
"At home I think. His shift doesn't start until early morning."
"Any changes in Amelia?" He asked and sipped more coffee.
The question always came in one way or another. Aya had begun to notice along with the others that over the last three days he only thought of Trialcon digging and medical updates.
"Some," she started, "The medicine had regulated her temperature. It's still above normal but not feverish. A few of the bruises are a little lighter too. The Liquid Nightmare gauge is also showing us some good indications as well."
"So basically nothing has changed."
"We know from the gauge that her levels haven't increased and that's something to us."
"Are you implying I don't care about what's happening to her in there?"
"No Zelgadis, I know you care. You care a great deal otherwise you wouldn't be here now."
"If she hadn't cared she wouldn't be in there now," he murmured under his breath.
"I didn't hear you," Aya said
"Nothing, it was nothing."
"I'll come back a bit later then," she said and went to work.
Zelgadis only sipped more coffee and stared at the center room door.
Then there was Amelia. The princess was still unconscious, still in pretty bad shape but the center no longer considered her critical. The Trialcon they'd found so far had helped bring about the slight improvement, but the Liquid Nightmare was still clinging tightly to Amelia and that was bad.
Lina sighed and continued to eat as Gourry sat down with her.
"The night crew has already started. Daisy's running the shift tonight," he said as his plate was brought to him.
"Where's Bubbles?"
"He went to the center to talk with Aya, I think."
"Oh."
Gourry looked up from his meal at the redhead and noticed her expression.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm finished though so I'm going up to bed," she said and left the table. Gourry looked at her plate and found it only half eaten and stood to follow her.
"Mr. Gabriev, what about the food?" A waitress called.
"Uh, keep it warm for us," he said from the stairs.
When he got to Lina's room he found the door not completely closed and entered slowly. Lina sat on the bed hugging her knees, staring at the wall ahead deep in thought.
"Lina?"
"It's been three days since she's been at the center . . . we've gotten nowhere fast," she whispered.
"Odayaka and Aya are working hard to help Amelia and we are too," he said, sitting down beside her.
"I know, I just feel like despite all the work we're doing its not enough and Nephillo is somewhere laughing her ass off," she said.
"Nephillo's dead Lina, Bubbles said if she wasn't she would have shown up by now."
"I know but still the possibility . . ."
"No but still, things are going to turn around you've got to keep your corale up!"
"Don't you mean morale?"
"Whatever! Anyway, you've got to stay focused and, and not let Nephillo and her evil ways weaken your resolve!"
"You sound like Amelia would."
"Well she'd be right you know. Whether or not Nephillo is dead you let her win if you act like this, feeding that big ego you said she had." This got Lina's attention.
"Nephillo wanted to kill Amelia right?" Lina nodded. "And us, Amelia's hurt but not dead and we're upset about it. Nobody's dead and nobody's given up which is what she wanted. So we have to keep working because Amelia would want us to, not just to help her but show Nephillo that she hasn't won."
"Yeah, you're right," Lina laughed, "Man I don't know what's gotten into me."
"You're worried, that's all. Come on back downstairs and finish your food," he said and grabbed her hand, dragging her out of the room.
As she was pulled along the necklace the swordsman had given her bounced out from under her shirt. She looked down at it and smiled as they sat down again to eat.
"For three days I've been working with you," she said to the stone. "And you've given me nothing, absolutely nothing. Do you enjoy making me life difficult," she shouted.
"Daisy, who are you talking to?" Bubbles asked coming inside.
"This stupid stone, it's not playing nice?"
"Does this have anything to do with that talk you had with the guy who came up with the Liquid Nightmare gauge?"
"Yes. Hindin figured out how to measure the miasma in accordance to how much Amelia's weight. Only since the miasma is fog like so it's not weighing her down. Odayaka figured that out, but Hindin figured out the levels by finding the density of Liquid Nightmare through some tests with samples."
"And you're trying to do that with that piece of Trialcon you're yelling at?"
"Hindin came up with the density factor by using studies of other elements as a comparison. I'm trying to see what elements it reacts to aside from evaporating Liquid Nightmare so I went to my work room and brought a few things so that I could work, but this stupid stone isn't behaving," she sighed.
"I'm sure you'll find the element you're looking for," Bubbles said as his sister growled at the innocent little stone. "So how's the night crew coming along?"
"Good, I've asked them to start on a new set of sections further in the site. I saw you talking to Zelgadis earlier, is everything all right?"
"No, blue boy isn't getting any rest or eating and quite frankly he's become an all out pain in the ass," Bubbles said. "I know he cares but torturing himself isn't a good way to show it."
"He's not acting like this only because he cares, he feels responsible for this."
"But he didn't do anything."
"And that's the problem," Daisy said. "He wasn't there so he couldn't do anything to help her."
"He cares fine, he feels responsible okay, but he can't keep this up."
"For now it's the only way he knows how to deal with this. We all just have to be here for him," Daisy said and returned her attention to the stone on the table. Bubbles shook his head and laughed as his sister gave the piece of Trialcon an evil eye.
"Falling asleep is not in the program," he chided himself. He started to sit up more fully when he felt something in his lap. He looked down and found a small bundle in a blanket with a mass of curly hair curled up against him. Upon closer inspection he realized the identity of the little figure.
"Joliet?" he whispered, brushing her hair aside revealing the girl's cherubic little face. The little girl opened her eyes, yawned and curled up closer to him. She rested her head on his chest and pulled the blanket around them tighter.
"Joliet, what are you doing here?"
The little girl looked up at the chimera then pointed at Amelia's door.
"Because of Amelia?" He asked. She nodded then gestured with her hands, pointing at herself then him and waved her hand around a bit.
"You thought you'd keep me company here?" She nodded again and wrapped her small arms around his neck and moved close to his ear.
"Are you sad?"
He looked at her, surprised that she'd spoken.
"Yes, I am sad Joliet," he said quietly.
"Me to," she whispered. "I miss having fun with you and Amelia. I was hoping we could all have lunch again like before."
"You'll be having fun with us again soon. Amelia's be glad to know you decided to talk. What changed your mind about that anyway?"
"You didn't try to make me say anything and we had fun, lots of fun. We just moved her and I was kind of scared for a while. Then I met Amelia. Bubbles and you and I didn't feel so scared about being here anymore. So I figured maybe I could have more fun with people if I tried talking to them, but I wanted to talk to you first," she smiled.
"Do your parents know you're here?"
"My mommy works here," she said and snuggled back into the blanket. "She promised to help Amelia get better." v "She did?"
"Yep and you know what I promised?"
"What did you promise Joliet?"
"To make sure you were okay," she yawned and clung to the chimera.
"You don't have to worry about me," he sighed, as the little girl fell back into her peaceful slumber. "I'm not what's important."
"This is the longest night we've spent on this yet," she sighed.
"I know," Odayaka said, "I'm sorry to keep you so late. Do you think we're ready to get started?" Aya nodded.
"It's now or never, we'll be attacking this from two fronts. I'm not satisfied with the balancing act on the fence between stability but still seriously hurt and critical."
"True, very true," he nodded "Tomorrow is when we need to get started.
He walked through the center back to where he'd changed clothes and retrieved his soiled things. His thoughts were still swirling around Joliet's visit. She stayed with him a good portion of the night to keep him company. The fact that she'd spoken was even more unexpected then her visit. But more then anything the little girl's troubled expression over Amelia's fate stood out in his mind the most. It also reiterated how important helping Amelia heal was.
After he picked up his clothes he ran to the tavern, changed clothes then ran just as fast to the site. When he arrived the night crews were just finishing up. Zelgadis got his pick axe then headed over to the main tent for a progress report.
Inside he found Daisy drinking coffee and bouncing lightly in place.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Trying to stay awake," Daisy answered.
"How'd the night crew do?"
Two pounds, and the pieces are a bit bigger too."
"Good."
"I'm going to get a few hours sleep then come back in the afternoon. The others should be here soon."
"I'll keep an eye on things till they come."
"All right I'll see you this afternoon then," Daisy said and left.
Zelgadis turned his attention to the map of the fortress. New marks had been added to indicate the sections currently being dug.
"Daisy started on some new sections," he thought. "Hopefully this will have more Trialcon pieces then the others," he said to himself, thinking about his explosion theory.
He left the tent and noticed that more volunteers had arrived along with Bubbles, Lina and Gourry.
"Since they're here I might as well head over to my plot of rubble."
She looked out onto the rubble and saw Zelgadis digging.
"How long can he keep that pace?"
Lina looked and saw Daisy taking a seat beside her. The muzuko watched the chimera move through the rubble to another spot, pick axe slung at his hip, replacing his sword.
"I don't know," Lina said, shaking her head. "He spends the night in the center waiting room and barely sleeps."
"I haven't seen him eat anything either, have you?"
"No."
"He's bound to collapse anytime."
"We've got to get him to slow down and eat, for crying out loud look at him!"
They looked on as Zelgadis began attacking a new set of rocks. His eyes had darkened with circles and his skin was becoming a paler shade of blue.
"We have to talk to Odayaka, maybe he can help," Daisy said.
"Actually I did that last night," Bubbles said, joining them.
"And?" Lina asked.
"I talked with Aya and she's been making sure he's getting something in his system."
"But is he sleeping?" Daisy asked.
Bubbles shock his head no. "Aya said his suffering from a severe case of insomnia. He sleeps off and on but very lightly and not for any length of time. Aya doesn't want to give him anything to make him sleep because he hasn't been properly examined."
They sat in deep thought when they noticed a fairy flying over to Zelgadis's spot in the rubble.
"It looks like she's got a message," Daisy said and stood up.
Zelgadis was in mid-swing when he caught sight of the messenger fairy. He set down his pick axe and took the message as Daisy and the others approached.
"What is it?" Lina asked
"I don't know yet," Zelgadis said as he opened the note.
Zelgadis,
Please come to the medical center as soon as time permits.
Odayaka
"Odayaka wants me at the center," he said.
"Did he say why?" Bubbles asked
"No, but something might be wrong with Amelia."
"Odayaka would have said that in the note," Lina said
"I've got to go," the chimera said and started walking, then running to town.
"Odayaka would have said if something was wrong, wouldn't he?" Daisy asked.
"Yeah he would have," Lina said. "Bubbles go to the center and see what's going on."
Bubbles nodded and followed Zelgadis's trial.
"What's happened, is she all right did . . ."
"Calm down, nothing about Amelia's condition changed," Aya said, guiding the frantic chimera away from the stares of her co-workers. Minutes later Bubbles entered the center and found Aya and Zelgadis sitting in the waiting area by Amelia's room.
"I didn't mean to scare you," he heard her say, "I'm sorry."
"What's going on?"
"Zelgadis just came in, he thought something had happened," Aya explained.
"We received a message from Odayaka at the site asking him to come here," Bubbles said.
"We wanted to talk to you about some changes in Amelia's treatment. I'll go get him," Aya said.
Bubbles looked at Zelgadis and saw a man visibly shaken and paler then before.
"He really thought something had happened," Bubbles said to himself. "He's at his wits end."
"Are you all right now?" He asked.
The chimera nodded. "I just thought the worst," he sighed, running a hand over his forehead, wiping away the sweat.
"We'll find out what's up soon, so do some deep breathing and calm down."
Zelgadis looked up at Bubbles annoyed.
"You like acting like an annoying little twerp don't you?"
"If you've got to like doing something," he shrugged.
Odayaka and Aya returned to the waiting room and sat down across from the pair.
"What's going on?" Zelgadis asked, focusing his attention on the two.
"I wanted to inform you that Amelia is being put into isolation because of the Liquid Nightmare," Odayaka said.
"Isolation?"
"You already know the Liquid Nightmare spreads from when she was first brought in. I've pulled back my staff to primary personnel but we're still a large facility with other patients and . . ."
"Accidents could occur even under the best of conditions," Bubbles ended.
"Actually we've had a few minor ones already which is why I'm tightening things even further. Also at this stage she's very susceptible to other illnesses."
"That means we still wouldn't be able to see her?"
"For the time being, I'm sorry but any little thing can shift the delicate balance we've been able to achieve," Odayaka explained.
"And then there's the matter of her life energy," Aya said.
"What's happened to it?" Zelgadis asked.
"Its very weak," Aya started "We were concerned that her condition hadn't improved since she'd been brought in so we did some new tests including an astral scan."
"I thought magic couldn't work on her," Bubbles said.
"It doesn't really, but since there isn't as much Liquid Nightmare here as the site we have a window of a few seconds before a spell completely fizzles out. We had to cast the scan several times to get enough info from that few seconds to confirm things."
"That must have been exhausting for the spell caster."
"It took me a good part of the morning to do it," Odayaka smiled. "But it was worth it."
"We want to redouble our efforts in Amelia's treatment, but we need your help," Aya said, looking at the chimera.
"How?" Zelgadis asked confused.
"Aya and I are the two main people caring for Amelia along with a one nurse and an orderly. We have other people who are consulting but they haven't had contact with her since she was first brought in. We've spent the last four days doing a thorough work up on Amelia as well as treatment plans."
"This is where your new strategy comes in?" Bubbles asked.
"Yes," Aya nodded, "By using Trialcon inside her body along with the pieces on the outside and setting up a round the clock care giver. That would be Zelgadis, if he's willing?"
"Wouldn't one of the nurses be more suited for that?" The chimera asked.
"None of them are immune," Odayaka said.
"I'm immune?"
"When did this happen?" Bubbles asked.
"We noticed you didn't have any traces of Liquid Nightmare on you when you first came in or after you stayed the night with Amelia. Then we realized because of your skin the miasma can't cling to you or seep into your body. Aside from that you have good eyes and ears, better then some of our instruments in fact. You're the perfect person to help care for her."
"Also her life energy need to be strengthened," Aya added, "That energy comes from not only living but from feelings and experiences that occur throughout your life. You two seem pretty close, your presence could help that part of her heal."
"How?"
"By talking to her, about the life she has and the people in it that care about her. They say the unconscious and comatose can hear what goes on around them but are unable to respond. Reinforcement of all the things that fill her life and make up her life energy will help her on the road to recovery," Aya ended.
Zelgadis looked at Odayaka and Aya wide-eyed at their words. The abilities he had been given with the body he so often cursed were the exact tools need to help Amelia.
"What would I have to do?" he whispered.
"Help change her bandages and help keep track of her during the night. We have a more detailed treatment plan that we are preparing to start work on that you'd also be a part of. The most important thing you'll have to do is talk to her, as if she were awake. Aya and I will be on hand for her medications and check ups. In between those times you'll be alone. We're moving her later today."
"You'll also be helping us keep track of the Liquid Nightmare levels in her system."Aya said
"What about these medicines you mentioned? How are you going to get Trialcon inside her?" Bubbles asked.
"Some of the Trialcon has been ground into a fine powder and placed in a liquid solution that will be feed into Amelia's blood intravenously. It will also be used in the ointments we put on her cuts that will have other medicines in them along with the Trialcon," Odayaka explained. "Aya's been working on the formula's for the past two days along with the more detailed stuff I mentioned earlier. We think all this will definitely decrease the amounts of miasma in her system and boost her body's natural healing abilities."
"And these would be some of the things I'd have to help with?" Zelgadis asked.
"Yes," Aya nodded. "The room we're moving her to has an adjoining one where you'll be able to sleep and spend time with her between examinations."
"We should give you some time to consider things," Odayaka said as he and Aya got up and went to the nurse's station a few feet down the hall.
"They think I actually have to think this over," Zelgadis asked no one in particular.
"They're asking you to isolate yourself pretty much from the world for who knows how long and take care of some one pretty much day and night; so yes they gave you some time to think about it," Bubbles said. "It could be weeks before she recovers."
"It doesn't matter, whatever I have to do I'll do it. You and everyone else have the digging efforts and the volunteers organized. If I know I could be more useful here then I have to stay. What good is all that Trialcon we'd find if Amelia isn't alive to use it?" Bubbles nodded understandingly and sighed.
"Your mind's been here since they brought her back, the rest of you might as well join her. You're going to need to drop by the tavern. I'll go tell the others about the change in plans." Bubbles transformed into a baby dragon and flew off.
Zelgadis looked around the center absently noting the staff going about their rounds.
"I can do this for her, it's the least I can do considering," he thought. The past few days since the princess had been found he felt like he wasn't doing enough, despite all the work at the site and the nights he spent at the center. Nothing was enough to help her heal. Now he felt an opportunity had revealed itself so that he could put his entirety into helping her like he promised that first night.
"You look like someone who's made their decision already?"
Zelgadis looked up to see Aya sitting beside him and nodded.
"I'm going to need a few things from my room at the tavern then I can meet you back here in an hour."
"Actually, I'd like you to get a few hours rest and a shower before coming. I know you've been having trouble sleeping. I also know you don't care about resting either, but a restful eye is a watchful one and this isn't going to be easy."
"I didn't think it would be. Taking care of the sick is a difficult thing to do."
"Especially if it's someone you care a great deal about. She's lucky to have someone like you."
"No, I'm lucky to know someone like her. If she didn't have someone like me she wouldn't be here now," he murmured and left for the tavern.