Sam walked down the corridor in her blue hospital gown.

  She really should get some clothes delivered when she stayed there. The thought made her snort as she walked back to her cabin that she was making plans for the next time she was going to be hospitalised.

  She entered her cabin and saw Rae and Paul chatting excitedly. As Rae saw Sam enter she squealed. “Hey Sam we're going to Valencia! Oh my god. I need new clothes.”

  Sam looked at Paul who nodded. “Yeah apparently the ship took quite a hit and Valencia is the nearest port that can take us, so I guess we have a few days in sunny Spain!” He grinned as he saw what Sam was wearing. “You might consider a wardrobe upgrade too though. Even you struggle to pull off escaped mental patient.”

  Sam grimaced at what she had on. “Every time I leave that place I have nothing to wear, it either blows off or burns up! That leaves me in this get up.” She shook her head and sat down on her bunk as she used H.U.D.'s interface with the quarter master to order a pair of black jeans and a couple of t- shirts. She wondered if she could get away with ordering a new faux leather jacket, she shrugged and gave it a go, worst came to worst it wouldn't arrive.

  Sam looked around. “So where's Edward?” Paul shook his head. “He's probably found a quiet space in the base, he's pretty pissed about being the only one of us who has yet to find his inner essence and has been trying to focus with every spare moment. He's really freaking out, saying his dad's going to kill him. Blah blah blah. I hope he gets it soon, he's driving me mad.”

  Sam shook her head. “I thought he had, I mean he felt the ship going in circles before any of us did, now unless he's got an incredibly sensitive inner ear I'm pretty sure that was gravity magic.” she grabbed her clothes and headed into the bathroom. “I'm going to get changed and Paul if I find you peeking you lech I'll shrivel your dick so small you'll have to have a boner to find it with a microscope.”

  Rae snorted. “So you'll leave it as it is?” Paul looked mortified at the double attack. “Hey girls play fair! I've never insulted either of you!”

  Rae grinned and leaned over to give him a hug. “Oh my poor boy feeling picked on?” Paul gave Rae a sad puppy dog look and snuggled into the embrace. “Yeah I need hugs hmm... Pauly likes hugs...”

  Sam looked at the two. “Urgh rather you than me Rae.” She eyed Rae who was grinning madly and shooing Sam away with her fingers. Sam shook her head and smiled as she headed for the bathroom.

  After a quick shower Sam dressed and decided to go in search of Edward. She was pretty sure he had actually found his life essence but for some reason wasn't recognising it and felt fairly certain she could help him cross that final hurdle.

  “H.U.D. can you point me to Edward please?”

  AFFIRMATIVE.

  Sam followed the arrow out of the corridor from their cabin and onto the base. She saw him leaning his head against the wheel of a large truck and sat down beside him. Edward noted movement close to him and opened an eye and smiled. “Hey Sam how'd you find me?”

  Sam grinned. “You can't hide from me on this ship buddy, the whole place is wired.” Edward grinned. “So you used the bracelet.” Sam smiled as she held up her left arm and wiggled it about and nodded. “Never leave home without it.”

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  Edward smiled and leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I'm struggling to find my inner life force. I can't believe Paul beat me to it, my dad's going to go mad if I can't get a handle on this thing, it's essential I get it right.”

  Sam nodded. “You keep mentioning your dad and Morden seemed to think your family name was a big deal, so your dad a big muckety muck?” Edward nodded. “Yeah he's kinda big in the council and he'll take it as a personal insult if I screw this up.”

  Sam shook

  her head. “Firstly screw him. I don't care who he is in the council, secondly I think you found it, you just haven't realised it.”

  Edward snorted. “I have had my temperamental early teen years and I know from experience he's impossible to ignore. And what do you mean I've found it? Wouldn't I know?”

  Sam shrugged. “How'd you know the ship was going in circles?”

  Edward exhaled loudly. I dunno. It just felt like it, like when you go round a roundabout in a car, just less so.”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah I get it, because it's a bigger circle, but you either have an incredible inner ear or you used something like gravity magic to sense it.”

  Edward looked at Sam with a skeptical eye, “I dunno Sam, I'm pretty sure it would be something I could sense... stronger, look how Rae reacted. Like she had an epiphany or something.”

  Sam nodded. “I want to try the same with you like I did with her, I know I can help, are you willing to listen?”

  Edward grimaced. Sam shook her head. “I don't feel what you feel, I don't hear what you hear, I just take a teeny bit of life essence, enough for you to feel it, but not enough to hurt, then I put it back. think of it as shining a beacon on your life essence. You do the work, I just make it a little easier to find.”

  Edward looked at Sam. “And that's it?” Sam nodded. “Yup, that's it.” He nodded and blew out another deep breath. “OK what do I need to do?”

  Sam smiled. “Do all the things you told Rae and Paul to do. When I sense you're in the right zone I'll pinch just a fraction of essence and see if you can feel it. Just relax and focus on your inner self, OK?”

  Edward nodded and closed his eyes and leaned back onto the truck Tyre.

  Sam looked at Edward as he meditated. she'd lied a little, when he was like this his life essence felt smooth and calm, she thought in time she might be able to sense more, maybe, but right now, she just watched him breathe. It was hypnotic and she sensed her simmering rage die down a little. She almost drifted off beside him when she remembered why she was there and reached out with an incorporeal grasp and took just a pinch of essence. Edward shot bolt up right and sucked in a deep breath. He opened his eyes wide and gasped. “I felt that! Jesus Christ That was freaky.”

  “But not painful?” asked Sam. Edward shook his head. “No just... weird, almost like being poked in the chest, but from the inside.”

  “So you saw where it came from?”

  Edward closed his eyes.” kind of, can you do it again?”

  Sam nodded. “Sure as many times as it takes, but next is the sprinkle.” she grinned, Edward looked at her uncertainly. “The sprinkle?”

  Sam nodded. “Trust me this worked for Rae remember?”

  Edward nodded. “Right OK, so I go back to meditating?” Sam nodded. “Yup, just find your inner self and try to sense your heart, your lungs, how your skin feels against your clothes, feel the blood coursing through your veins, when your ready I'll know, but Edward?” Sam looked at him. “All this angst with your dad is definitely hindering your efforts. Try to ignore his pressure and it should go smoother.”

  Edward shook his head. “I know you're right, but he's a pretty big influence on my life and he's tough to ignore.” Sam leaned in and grazed her lips gently against his and whispered. “Focus on that instead.” Edward face flushed as she pulled away and grinned. “And now you expect me to think calm thoughts? Oh Maker, I'm not sure that's possible.” Sam smiled. “Positive thoughts are better than negative ones, now focus!”

  She saw him close his eyes with a wide smile plastered on his face and she just took him in as he sat there. Why on earth had she done that? She berated herself, what happened to ignoring boys? She felt a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach and smiled as she watched Edward relax into a peace filled inner calm.