by HR Ringer
Traynor hung her head as she tried to think of a way to gracefully decline. She didn’t want to hurt Buchanan’s feelings by refusing to accompany him, so returned her gaze to them both and reluctantly agreed.
* * *
* THESSIA • CITY of SERRICE *
Maracela T'Rhyn bowed deeply as she was introduced to Buchanan and Traynor in the hospital lobby. “It will be my pleasure to be your guide today… Serrice is a beautiful city. That said, do you have any preferences as to what you would care to see today?”
Buchanan simply said, “We will be happy to follow your lead, Ms T'Rhyn.”
Maracela’s amusement came through as a musical titter. “Please, Sir, you may simply call me ‘Mara’.
Buchanan grinned in reply. “I’m Griff.” Indicating Traynor, he added, “This here is Sam.”
“Then let us be off, Griff… Sam. I have an aircar waiting outside… Please follow me.
Traynor smiled at their guide and said, “If it would be possible, I’d like a chance to inspect our shuttlecraft. It was flown off the Ionsaí before the ship departed…” So saying, she angled her arm and quickly sent the parking location from her own omni-tool to Marcela's.
The asari’s eyes went wide at the sight of Sam’s activated device. “Is that a Serrice Council model?” she asked with a touch of awe. When told it was a Savant model X, Mara replied, “Please accept my apologies for being so curious, but it seems you possess an extraordinarily advanced version, Sam! If I may?…” Sam held her arm up so Mara could take a closer look. As a blue hand carefully gripped her forearm just above her wrist, Mara inspected the device closely, admiring the thin, elaborately designed platinum bracelet and the small cabochon of bio-sensitive, red-banded onyx used for activation, before concluding, “Extraordinary… and quite rare. I have never seen one glow in the near ultraviolet before. And the bracelet?… It is keyed to your DNA, is it not?”
Sam assured her it was, to which the asari responded, “So, it would be dangerous for anyone else to attempt to use it?”
“Anyone wearing it while attempting to activate it would almost instantly lose their hand,” Sam responded. “When this was given to me, I was instructed not to remove it for any reason, even bathing. I’ve been wearing it so long I don’t give it much thought until I have to use it.”
The awe in Maracela’s expression changed to one of surprise. “You say this was given to you? By the Alliance or Serrice Council?”
“Serrice Council, my first week in training,” Traynor answered. “Their representative, Mallene Calis, gave this to me; Xiùlán received one as well.”
“By the Goddess, Samantha. Each of you has been granted a singular honor. Serrice Council omni-tools are of the highest quality of any manufacturer, anywhere! They are a scarce… and exceedingly expensive, commodity. Few asari, aside from those employed by the major houses on Thessia, can afford such a luxury.”
Sam looked at her bracelet with a hint of new respect. “So, I’m wearing a small fortune on my wrist, then? Something of no use to anyone else because of its personalization?”
Reaching their conveyance, Mara nodded as she opened the doors. “It is a paradox, to possess something of such value that is essentially worthless to everybody else.”
Thinking about Griff’s bulk, Sam motioned for him to take the other front seat as she climbed in the back. Their guide was telling them their first stop after they checked out the shuttle would be a walking tour through the campus of the University of Serrice, followed by a light lunch at an asari/human restaurant.
The trip to the shuttle lasted less than five minutes; upon arrival, Traynor jumped out of the aircar as soon as Maracela brought it to a halt. Saying, “I’ll only be a few minutes, Griff,” she jogged over to the UT-47, entered an access code at the port-side hatch and stood back as the sections parted to allow access to the interior. This was the first time Sam had been able to see their shuttle since her frantic departure from the Ionsaí, when she’d accompanied Xiùlán on board the asari shuttle to Serrice Hospital; she couldn’t even remember cleaning out their quarters before leaving.
Once inside, she closely inspected the numerous terminals and data storage devices, along with the large cabinet full of supplies of all kinds. Neatly stored in her personal locker were her butterfly knives in their boot sheathes, her exercise clothes, laundered and carefully folded, the nángùn with her sparring gloves and her sniper rifle and heavy pistol, along with her ceramic armor plates, compression shirt, pants and boots. She wasn’t surprised that everything was placed as she remembered it – the asari on the Ionsaí had virtually bent over backwards to accommodate Xiùlán and Sammy. While inspecting the contents of Xiùlán’s locker, she uncovered the bloodied left side thigh plate; it was all she could do to keep from bursting into tears at the sight of her lover’s dried blood all over the underside of the ceramic plate. Xiùlán’s compression pants, with the left leg sliced open from ankle to hip, were also neatly folded on top of the rest of her armor; it was if the crewman – Traynor would almost have bet it had been Luenia Phura – knew Traynor would need to get this item and the cuisse replaced or repaired once back in Alliance space. Heaving a huge sigh, she relocked everything, stepped out into the warm, early summer sunshine and inspected the outside of the shuttle after locking the access hatches.
Seeing nothing amiss, she returned to her seat in the waiting aircar – within minutes, they were flying towards Serrice University, to spend a pleasant ninety minutes walking the campus and learning about the school’s unique architecture.
* * *
* CITADEL • PRESIDIUM, DAEDOARDO’S SAPPHIRE *
Ambassador Anita Goyle walked into the reception lobby of Daedoardo's Sapphire to find Councilor Raesia Tevos seated in a comfortable looking chair off to the side. At Goyle’s approach, Tevos rose to greet her with hands out, waist high and palms up. Anita smiled at the elegantly dressed councilor as she gently laid her own hands on those offered in greeting. “Raesia… It’s a pleasure to meet with you again. But where is Nizia… surely, she must be close by.”
The ambassador started slightly as a cool voice spoke from just behind her: “My mistress never travels the Presidium alone, Ms Goyle.” The human turned around to find Huntress Tenir standing less than a meter away; she smiled as she raised her own hands in greeting. After Nizia responded in kind, Goyle half turned as Tevos moved past her. “Our table awaits us, Anita. Shall we?”
A human hostess approached them; having already greeted the two asari, she offered a warm greeting to Anita Goyle, then turned to escort them to their table. As before, Nizia stationed herself at the entrance to the short hallway leading into the small chamber where Tevos and Goyle would be eating dinner. Once seated, the pair ordered drinks – a glass of Elasa for Tevos, a Seaside Sunrise for Anita.
While they waited, Tevos updated Anita on Yuán Xiùlán’s progress in healing from the horrendous injury to her leg. “She’s undergoing physical therapy to regain her strength and mobility. Doctor Shakia informs me Yuán is making excellent progress towards a full recovery… The doctor mentioned the pre-existing musculature in Yuán’s leg would make her recovery period shorter and less painful than if she had not been so fit.”
Nizia alerted her mistress to an interruption by calling quietly down the passageway. Their hostess set their drinks on the table as she quietly apologized for the intrusion. After taking their dinner orders, she quietly left the pair to enjoy their liquid refreshments and continue their conversation. Anita asked how much longer Doctor Shakia expected Yuán would need to stay in the hospital.
Tevos laughed lightly as she took a sip of Elasa and asked, “The Alliance Navy getting nervous that maybe we kidnapped one of their people?”
“Not at all!” Goyle saw the mischievousness dancing in Raesia’s bright silver eyes the instant the words were out of her mouth. “No, the… general in charge of the program is just… concerned… about Yuán and Traynor being seen for what they are.�
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“I don’t believe that should be cause for concern, Anita. Yuán will need a minimum of two more weeks, possibly three, of close observation in the hospital, followed by another eight to ten weeks of physical therapy. Samantha Traynor and Operations Chief Buchanan are pretty much confined to the hospital. They are going to be given a brief, escorted tour of the city just to keep them from going… Goddess, how did Buchanan put it? I believe the term is stir crazy, no? Anyway, their escort has been provided by the Minister of Antiquities herself, in order to keep the general populace from learning too much about what they do for a living.”
Anita thought about this for a few moments, during which time the hostess and an assistant brought their food in, set the covered plates in front of them and set refills for their drinks. After collecting the empty glasses, they quietly left. Once the pair had sampled their meals, Anita paused over her salad to ask, “Since there’s only one person being treated for injuries, would it be possible for the Alliance to send a transport to retrieve Samantha Traynor and Operations Chief Buchanan?”
Tevos finished chewing her bite of bread and swallowed before answering: “That can certainly be arranged, Anita. We can shuttle them to a ship in orbit whenever needed… but, it may be best to leave Traynor on Thessia for a bit longer.”
Anita sipped her drink before replying. “There is a need for Serviceman Traynor… elsewhere, Councilor. What would be the sense of leaving a highly trained operative on Thessia?”
“Traynor has shown herself to be an important part of Yuán’s recovery, Madam Ambassador… the two are nearly inseparable. I believe it would be in Yuán’s best interest to have Traynor stay with her, at least until Yuán is out of the hospital.” Tevos had a few more bites of salad before continuing, “As for your Operations Chief, it might be wise for the asari to provide him with transport from Thessia to the Citadel – we’d use our own diplomatic shuttle – as it makes the trip three times a week, its presence would not be remarked upon. Buchanan is a Systems Alliance Operative, the Serrice spaceport is a rather public place; you have not voiced your concern, but I am guessing you would like to keep the existence of three special operations humans on our home world a secret from the general population there.”
Slightly embarrassed that Tevos could read her so well, Goyle nodded in agreement, then added, “That would be appreciated, Raesia. Additionally, I find I must pass along a request from the general in charge of the SpecOps division.” When Tevos did not answer, Goyle went on, suddenly nervous at having to ask a favor from this asari. “A request has been made that our people not be present for the unveiling of the figurine to the Matriarchal Council… in fact, the request is that their names and race not be revealed at any time during the proceedings.”
Tevos nodded her head slowly as she studied the human across the table from her. “I cannot say I am surprised, Anita… I understand the need to keep their identities secret, if for no other reason than their personal safety. Their actions cost the Blue Suns a small fortune.” Tevos swirled the Elasa in its glass and took a sip, her bright silver eyes clouded in thought. Returning the glass to the table, she smiled at the human sitting across from her as she added, “You will be in Armali as humanity’s representative when Matriarch Elesia reveals the recovery of the figurine… you can speak of the recovery in as much… or as little… detail as you wish.”
“Thank you, Raesia. As I see it, the main thing for the asari people to be celebrating is the recovery of a lost piece of their history, not how it was recovered or by whom.” The ambassador finished her drink, setting the glass down as she continued, “That the Blue Suns will offer a bounty for the capture of those responsible for the theft…” at this point Goyle chuckled, bringing an answering smile to Tevos’ face, “…will be the unfortunate result of our clandestine interference into their affairs.”
Tevos replied, “I had considered that result as part of a successful outcome to this endeavor… I will express our concerns to Matriarch Elesia; she can certainly arrange for her meeting with the Matriarchal Forum to be a private affair. The Blue Suns will learn of the figurine’s location soon enough, by which time it will be too late for them to retrieve it by any means.”
“Thank you, Councilor,” Goyle replied. “I’ll inform the general of our agreement.”
* * *
* THESSIA • CITY of SERRICE *
Traynor and Buchanan had eaten lunch in a delightful, out-of-the-way café near the edge of the university campus – its menu was designed to attract students without a lot of spare time between noontime classes. There were a number of asari having lunch when the two humans arrived with their escort, Maracela T’Rhyn; what had been a fairly noisy atmosphere quickly changed to relative quiet, as everyone paused in mid-conversation to look at the strange sight of humans entering to have a meal.
Mara led them to an empty table just a few paces from the door, where the pair could enjoy the outside view through the large windows. Looking around at the now quiet asari, most of whom, if the surreptitious glances in their direction were any indication, seemed to be talking about the humans caused Samantha to observe, “Seems we’re the center of attention wherever we go, Griff… I’m sure that’s not a good thing. I don’t expect anyone here bears us any ill will, but I feel much as I did when I was in Shanghai visiting Xiùlán’s parents.” Despite seeming to be the center of attention, they both enjoyed their food and drink; Griff in particular enjoyed his meal, eating as if it was going to be his last.
As they were leaving, Mara apologized to the owner of the café for causing a disruption of her lunchtime routine, to which the owner replied, “No apologies needed… It is good for these maidens to be exposed to more than their own friends. The humans are more than welcome to come in again.”
Mara next led them down a street lined with small shops, most all catering to the college crowd. Traynor had spent a bit of time thinking about what she would like to buy for her lover while they were sight-seeing, and had decided on some kind of decorative bracelet… hopefully something that would complement the shark’s tooth necklace she’d given Xiùlán as a Chinese New Year’s present the previous year.
She was strolling slowly alongside a group of shops, idly gazing in the windows at the items for sale when she saw it – a bracelet, or cuff, made to resemble a stylized set of jaw bones, wide open and set with triangular teeth along the inner edges of the ‘jaws’ facing each other – when worn on the wrist, the curved lower jaw would be closest to the hand, while the curved upper jaw rode in a fixed position above. As the ‘jaws’ were cast as a single piece, there was no actual hinge where they met on either side. The golden ‘teeth’ were inset into the jaws. A fascinated Traynor asked Mara if she could enter the shop, to which she received an enthusiastic yes.
The owner of the shop came forward to greet Traynor, who ingratiated herself to the asari by presenting her hands in the traditional waist high, palms up greeting; eyes wide, the surprised asari laid her hands gently on Traynor’s, introducing herself as Farnia T’Rhyn.
“It is my pleasure to meet you. I am Samantha Traynor…” Indicating her companions, she added, “… this is Griffen Buchanan, and our guide, Maracela T'Rhyn.” As she said the name of their guide, Traynor took another look at the shop owner. “T’Rhyn? Are you…” looking over her shoulder at Mara, “… related to Mara?”
The asari, after nodding a greeting to Buchanan, returned her attention to Sam. “You are most observant, Ms Traynor. Maracela is my older sister.” After returning Mara’s smile with one of her own, she returned her attention to the human female standing before her and asked, “What brings two humans into T’Rhyn’s Jewelry this fine afternoon?
“The gold and silver cuff in the display… the one that resembles a set of toothed jaws… may I see it?”
“But of course, Ms Traynor. Just let me…” Farnia moved to the display area and looked into the case. Spotting the bracelet that had caught Traynor’s attention, she pulled on a
thin, cloth glove and picked the piece up. As she turned and brought it over to Sam, she explained, “This bracelet is actually made from gold and platinum, Ms Traynor. It’s a representation of the maw of a prehistoric Galea, a fish that swims in Thessia’s oceans to this day; fossil remains with jaws 275 to 290 Cm from side to side are not uncommon.”
Sam tried the bracelet on her offhand wrist, checking the fit and look of it. “It’s beautiful, Ms T’Rhyn. I’m almost afraid to ask… what is the price for this piece?”
Sam’s mouth fell open in surprise at the answer. “I wasn’t expecting it to be so much! That’s a significant portion of my yearly compensation from the…” Samantha bit her tongue to keep from revealing too much, changing her statement to end with, “… my job!”
Sam carefully handed the bracelet back to Farnia. “I’m afraid I will have to find something else for a gift… thank you for allowing me to try it on.”
“Of course, Ms Traynor,” Farnia replied as she returned it to the display mount in the front window. “Is there anything else I may show you today?”
Sam looked at the many fine pieces of jewelry in the cases, but nothing she looked at said ‘Xiùlán’ to her as had that bracelet.
“I’m afraid not, Ms T’Rhyn. There are many beautiful things in here; unfortunately, none speak to me as did the bracelet. I appreciate your time.” Turning to their escort, Traynor said, “Let’s be off, Mara. Perhaps I’ll yet find a present for Xiùlán today.”
* * *
* SERRICE HOSPITAL *
Despite the coolness of the corridor, Xiùlán was covered in sweat, the result of her efforts to walk – with the aid of a walking frame – down a passageway outside her room. One of her usual companions for her increasingly lengthy forays was Sammy, but she was out sightseeing with Buchanan and their escort Maracela T’Rhyn. Her only companion on this afternoon jaunt was Corrina Sidhu, the therapist assigned to help with the healing of Xiùlán’s leg.