Point Singularity: A space opera adventure by R.M. Olson

Author:R.M. Olson [Olson, R.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ARAN

Aran couldn’t remember exactly how long he and Istvay had been working. His head was fuzzy with exhaustion, and he knew he’d half-carried Istvay back to bed at one point, but he didn’t actually remember when Istvay had rejoined him.

Either way, they were both hunched over the table, and Aran’s back ached from being in the same position for so long, and his head ached from strain and lack of sleep, and honestly, it was only Istvay’s hand on his arm, warm and comforting, their grip stronger than it had been in a long while, that gave him the strength of will to keep going.

Ani had gone off to sleep under the blankets on Istvay’s cot at some point, and when he glanced over at her, he could see the tips of a couple tentacles poking out from the lump under the blanket, flickering odd colours as she dreamed.

He couldn’t help but smile just a little at the sight, despite everything.

He’d been worried that Ani would be upset about not being near her babies, and she probably was, but she certainly seemed at least a little relieved to be able to sleep without being pounced on by seventeen rapidly growing hatchlings whenever she lay down.

“Aran!”

He jerked his head up at the excitement in Istvay’s tone. They were staring down at their notes, and he knew that look on their face.

“Aran, I think I see what we were doing, back before …” they cast a quick glance at him and trailed off, squeezing his arm.

He leaned into the touch and sucked in a long, steadying breath.

Istvay was alive. Istvay was cured, and once they got everything else figured out, he could finally let that sink in. But he knew, deep down, that he’d probably feel that exact same jolt of frantic panic every time he thought about all the events that had led them both here for a very, very long time yet.

“You’ve figured it out?” he asked, once he was in control of his voice again. “Pishti, you got it?”

Istvay shook their head, their face still creased in concentration. “Not yet, but I think I know what theory I was using when I figured it out. So I just need to follow the data, and I think we’ll have it.” They turned to look at him, repressed excitement in their face, a brightness in their eyes that he hadn’t seen there for far too long. The dark hollows under their eyes were still there, but he was pretty sure they were already fading, just a little, the colour back in their cheeks, the gaunt, cadaverous look less prominent than it had been. He had to bite the inside of his cheek hard to keep himself from a desperate sob of relief every time he looked at them.

He cleared his throat. “I knew you could do it. Let’s get this figured out so we can keep the raiders from razing do Sol to the ground, and then—”

“And then,” said Istvay firmly, “you are going to lie down and get some sleep, for hell’s sake.

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