Chapter 23
Atem
His Peony went unconscious.
“What?” He grabbed for her, taking her by the shoulders.
“Easy,” First healer Donivi stopped him. “It's her first neural upload. This is a very common first-time side effect. It won't last long.”
“Peony!” Scarlet grabbed her ankle, shaking it, obviously worried.
“Scarlet,” Atem called to her, putting a smile on his face to calm her. It obviously didn't work as all four of the females glared at him, clearly ready to revolt.
He opened his mouth to try to ease their concern, but his efforts were rendered unnecessary when Peony groaned, shifting on the bed.
“Ow... What the crap was that?”
The females all froze in place. Atem smiled. That was his language on her lips.
He reached out, putting his hand on her cheek. He called to her softly, “Peony.”
Her eyes opened, looking up at him. “Atem, what was...”
She stopped, her eyes going wide as she realized that her words weren't her language.
“Can you understand me now, vi Seerin?” He asked, grinning, already knowing the answer.
“What the-... How the-...!” She grabbed for her throat, jerking up so fast that the electrodes were ripped away from her temples. Donivi caught them in the air with ease.
“Easy, female,” the healer said, touching her shoulder. “It's your first neural upload. There's still a risk of seizures. You might also have a headache.”
“Might?” Peony repeated incredulously, touching the side of her head as though she already had one. “What's a neural upload. How do I... Can I still speak English?!”
“Yes. Your original language is still there,” First Healer said, tilting her head back so he could look into her eyes, flashing a light into them and watching her pupils react.
“You should be able to speak it if you focus, but I'd prefer you use our tongue for a bit.
Neural uploads imprint the electrical pattern of knowledge into your brain, but you have to use the knowledge, or it will fade quickly.
But if you use it while it's fresh, it will be recorded properly and be yours permanently like any other information you learn. Just much faster.”
“Peony?” Scarlet called to her hesitantly.
Peony smiled at her. “Yeah, I'm good. Crap, that's still your language.”
Atem chuckled, turning her so she was sitting on the side of the bed, facing him. He stroked her cheek gently as First Healer prepared a medication for her pain.
“Hello, vi Seerin,” he greeted her properly for the first time.
Her hand lowered and she smiled back. “Hey, Atem. Nice to meet you.”
“It is a pleasure.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. She was smiling when he leaned back to look into her water-colored eyes again.
First Healer leaned across the bed and, before Peony could see him, injected her arm with a pain medication to ease the symptoms. She yelped, more from surprise than pain. She glared back at the healer as she rubbed her arm. He stepped back, grinning peacefully.
“Rude,” she mumbled without heat, even as the pained furrow of her brow faded.
“Who's next?” First Healer asked, looking at the other females.