Carbon Life

by HR Ringer

  Besides accompanying Xiùlán during her slow – exceedingly slow, to hear Xiùlán complain about it – walks up and down the passage, Corrina exercised the human’s leg by holding her foot and slowly bending her leg at the knee until her calf muscles were touching the back of her thigh. It had actually taken a bit of time for her to succeed at moving the lower leg that far; when first she started, Xiùlán had cried from the pain it brought to her knee.

  Many were the times she had been ready to allow the doctors to amputate her leg at the hip – the Alliance would still allow her to serve with an artificial leg, and she wouldn’t have to endure any more pain, or so she thought when she was truly depressed. Sammy had been her support the entire time, talking to her, encouraging her, holding her as she wept in perceived shame at her weakness. That Yuán had come as far as she had was testament to Traynor’s unflagging love and care.

  As Corrina assisted Yuán to sit on one of the benches at the far end of the corridor, the human thought once again about how out of place she seemed to be here, in this hospital, in a city on a planet populated by a race of mono-gendered people that outwardly resembled human females with blue skin. She had mentioned this to Doctor Shakia once, and had received a rather detailed explanation concerning the hospital and its staff. “This is a teaching hospital, Service Chief… it is no accident the university is so close. Having a human for a patient is a way for us to discover our differences, as well as our similarities. All the knowledge we gain by treating and rehabilitating you will ultimately be useful to all the doctors here.”

  Yuán wasn’t so sure, but did not argue the point at the time.

  * * *

  * SYSTEMS ALLIANCE NAVAL YARD • VANCOUVER, BC, NORTH AMERICA *

  Marine General RaeLee Park stared at the image on the monitor in front of her; there was disbelief in her voice as she responded, “Dammit Counselor! I need to get those two back into action, sooner rather than later. Does that asari doctor really believe Traynor is an essential part of Yuán’s recovery?”

  Anita Goyle could see the unhappiness in Park’s face. “General, those two women may as well be physically joined at the hip. They’ve each been injured… severely… on clandestine missions for the Alliance. I believe Serviceman Traynor is performing a job for the Alliance… she’s keeping Yuán focused on healing, on moving forward.”

  Goyle referred to a datapad she was holding. “Councilor Tevos has offered to fly Ops Chief Buchanan to the Citadel on their diplomatic shuttle whenever we say the word.”

  Park wanted to know, “How long until they’re ready to discharge Service Chief Yuán?”

  “Yuán will be in hospital for another two or three weeks; once she’s in a rehab center, the doctor feels Traynor could take on short missions,” came the response. “Of course, having a week or so between missions on Thessia would help us get Yuán back on her feet sooner.”

  Park sighed. Traynor and Yuán were two of the most gifted operatives she’d ever had the privilege of working with. “Seems like amputating that leg and giving her a prosthesis would have gotten her back to work sooner. I really do need them out there working, Counselor.” She was sorry for the words the instant she said them, but couldn’t take them back.

  Goyle tried another tack. “General, look at it this way… The asari are bearing the entire cost of Yuán’s surgeries, which are considerable, and her rehabilitation, also a large sum… When she’s back on her feet, both of them will be hers.” Goyle paused for a moment to carefully choose her words. “Now, I realize the Alliance would have borne that cost if she had been sent to a facility on Earth, but an Alliance doctor would have simply taken her leg off and given her a crutch… admin would have provided a monthly disability stipend, quite possibly putting an end to a very promising career.”

  “Dammit, Counselor, you’re as much as accusing us… accusing me… of treating our people with callous indifference!” Park was unhappy to have Goyle making her the bad guy. “That is simply not the case! I care about my people… every damned one of them, and those two in particular, but there’s a shit-storm brewing out in the Attican Traverse, and I could really make use of their skills.” Park squeezed her temples between a thumb and fingers of one hand before continuing. “Three weeks, Anita… until Xiùlán has been moved into rehab. I need Traynor, at the very least, to start working on this new threat. When she hears what it is, I’ll probably have trouble prying her away from it.”

  “I’ll be traveling to Thessia myself in a few weeks,” offered the councilor. “I’ll be accompanying Matriarch Elesia, the Ministry of Antiquities, to a meeting of the Matriarchal Forum; she’ll be revealing the recovery of the figurine, and Councilor Tevos felt it would be good for me to be there… answer any questions they may have.”

  “You’re not going to?…” Park started to ask.

  “… Traynor and Yuán will not be attending, nor will their identities be made known. The matriarchs are trustworthy, for the most part, but I have heard rumors about one or two of them, so I intend to shield our agents from their scrutiny. They do not need to know how the artifact was recovered, nor by whom.”

  Park heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you for that, at least. Personally, I would love for the asari to pin medals on their chests… those three did more to move asari-human relations forward than all the Alliance brass and diplomats combined since the conclusion of the First Contact War… er, no offence, Anita.”

  “None taken, General. I only wish Xiùlán hadn’t had to pay such a price for our decision to help them.”

  Park pointed out, “She still has her life, Ambassador.” Park looked down for a number of seconds before continuing in a soft voice. “What I have in mind for them may be just as dangerous; the possible payoff will not be nearly as tangible.”

  “General Park, I am aware your program will be ending in the not too distant future. Personally, I hope that Traynor and Yuán can return to their career paths when that happens,” Goyle said. “Xiùlán was training to eventually become captain of a warship; Samantha towards a computer programming and communications position with Alliance HQ in Arcturus.”

  “I’m well aware of their interrupted career pathways, Ambassador. Don’t worry about it for now… just pray that the mess I’m getting ready to toss them into isn’t so deep we don’t get them back whole, physically, or… mentally.” After a brief pause, Park continued, “I have to go, Ambassador. Keep me updated on Yuán’s condition, please. Good day to you.”

  The ambassador’s image faded and disappeared from the viewscreen as Park terminated the connection. Thinking about all that had just been said, she pulled up a mission background and scrolled through it. There it was – Cerberus – bigger than hell. Park had no doubt that Yuán and Traynor… Samantha in particular, would be interested in this mission, after losing a friend to a pair of Cerberus murderers in 2180.

  * * *

  * THESSIA • SERRICE HOSPITAL *

  It was nearly sunset; having returned from her afternoon exercises soaked with sweat, Xiùlán was looking forward to Sammy’s tender touch with a warm cloth and scented body wash – the anticipation was really the only thing that had kept her going all afternoon. Traynor removed all her clothes except her sleeveless undershirt and panties and helped Xiùlán into the shower area, where she began giving her lover a standing sponge bath. As usual, Sammy didn’t disappoint; after washing and towel-drying her hair, she began to lovingly wash every square centimeter of Xiùlán’s skin.

  It had not been that long since their last evening together on the Ionsaí – nevertheless, Sammy’s cloth, lingering languidly on her breasts and accompanied by little kisses, alternating between eager pink lips and just as eager pink nipples, nearly sent Xiùlán over the edge as she stood with all her weight on her right leg, shoulders and butt hard against the cool tiles of the shower stall. She moaned as Sam slid the cloth in small circles down and across rock-hard abdominals, moving inexorably towards the small triangle of midnight-black
hair; Xiùlán whimpered aloud when Sammy abruptly lifted her cloth in order to grip her upper arms and gently turn her to face the tiled wall.

  “Oh gods, Sammy,” she hissed through teeth clenched to keep from crying out. “That is just too cruel. You’ve never been such a tease! What has happened to you?”

  Sammy had been dressed in only her sleeveless shirt and panties; it was a matter of seconds until Xiùlán felt a bare arm snake up between her and the wall as a warm pair of breasts, freed from the constraints of a shirt, were gently molded against her shoulder blades. The hand attached to the exploring arm deftly reversed course, sliding back down along slick skin until reaching its goal – the patch of black forest guarding Xiùlán’s tight valley of pleasure, as another arm entered from the opposite direction to tease and torment breasts, stretched taut by Xiùlán gripping a safety bar just over her head.

  Hot puffs of breath from nostrils tickled as a pair of warm lips grasped an earlobe to gently pull, release, then pull again. A whispered, “I love you, Xiùlán,” was accompanied by a bared pelvis moving in a careful grinding motion ever so delicately against her ass.

  “Wǒ ài nǐ, Sà mǐ!” [我愛你薩曼莎, 薩米 – I love you, Sami!] Even if she had wished it, Xiùlán was totally powerless to halt the building crescendo in her core as Sammy’s talented fingers softly massaged and teased her hooded lady, until a dam seemingly burst, flooding over Sam’s fingers and hand to cascade down the inside of Yuán’s thighs. Sam was ready as Xiùlán’s right knee finally gave up the struggle to bear her weight, deftly easing her Inamorata around and down onto the built-in bench beside them, being careful to keep her left leg as straight as possible.

  Xiùlán sat panting on the cool tiles for a few moments before placing a kiss in the middle of the neatly trimmed bush in front of her face. Reaching around to caress a muscular pair of buns with her hands, she alternately kneaded and massaged while looking up at Sammy in delight, saying, “You missed my legs, darling, but…” now raising her elbows without releasing Sammy’s tantalizing ass, “… I’m all sweaty again. Guess you’ll need to start over.”

  Sammy giggled. “This time I’ll start at your feet and work my way up. I need a wash as well now… wouldn’t think giving you a sponge bath would get me all sweaty. Do you suppose we should ask one of the nurses to wash you? Might be more efficient.”

  “Don’t you dare! I’ve been looking forward to this bath all afternoon. Now, help me up so we can start again…”

  After a second wash and rinse with a pair of dampened cloths, Sammy carefully toweled Xiùlán dry with many a kiss applied to various locations. Traynor finally helped her slip into her panties and matching tank top before assisting her into the freshly made bed; Sam took a quick shower and was just finishing up getting dressed when a knock at the door preceded Doctor Shakia poking her head in to ask if anyone was hungry. When assured by Xiùlán they both were famished, she came all the way into the room, a quizzical look instantly on her face. “You look happier than I’ve seen you since you arrived, Ms Yuán. Anything happen you care to share with me?”

  Xiùlán darted a glance at Sammy before turning sable brown eyes back to the asari. “Oh, something happened, but I’m not at liberty to share any details. I can tell you Sammy was assisting in a different aspect of my physical therapy.”

  Doctor Shakia looked at Sam, also smiling, nearly… glowing, before returning her gaze to Xiùlán. “Why do I get the feeling that whatever you were doing didn’t involve healing your thigh?”

  Xiùlán nearly burst out laughing at Sammy – the tiny contortions she was doing in order to keep a straight face were highly entertaining.

  “I was… uh, massaging her… back… her shoulders and upper arms,” Sammy stammered. “Terribly stiff, after… umm… having to support her weight on that miserable walker.” Thinking, ‘Bloody ‘ell! I need a better story!’, she sat in the chair near the foot of the bed as Doctor Shakia moved to stand beside Xiùlán, using her omni-tool to scan her patient’s leg.

  “It would appear you are healing faster than I anticipated. We should be able to discharge you into the care of our rehabilitation center in 10 to 14 days.”

  “That will be a good thing, Doctor… The sooner I can walk on my own again, the sooner I can get back to work.” Glancing at Sammy, Xiùlán could see she was not so thrilled at the news; after Doctor Shakia left to bring their dinners, she asked for an explanation.

  “General Park wants us back on the job, Xiùlán. I received a message while you were finishing your therapy session this afternoon.” Rising from her chair, Traynor came up to Xiùlán’s bed; taking her hands in both of hers, she continued, “As soon as you’re in rehab, I’ll be leaving for short missions in the Terminus Systems. Griff will be leaving as well, probably before I do, and we’ll probably have to work together. You and I will be speaking with Ambassador Goyle in a few days… She says the General hinted at something that would be especially interesting for me.”

  Yuán thought this over for a few minutes before responding. “Sà mǐ, whatever General Park has in mind for you will in all probability involve me at some point. Once I’m out of rehab here on Thessia, I expect to be cleared for light duty. Whether or not that would enable me to go on active missions with you remains to be seen, but I don’t intend to be left behind. Whatever you’re doing for those eight weeks or so, I want you to talk to me… keep me informed of what’s happening.”

  Traynor moved to stand beside her lover. “How could I not share with you, my darling.” Kissing one of Xiùlán’s hands, she continued, “Don’t you realize, I would never attempt to hide anything from you? I’m not the least bit thrilled that General Park plans on sending me back out there without you, even if they’re to be short missions… with or without Griff.”

  The last words were hardly out of her mouth as the door opened to admit Dr Shakia; she pulled a small, contragrav cart bearing their dinners into the room with her, causing all talk about work to come to a sudden halt.

  During their sumptuous meal, Xiùlán and Sammy exchanged knowing looks that promised their discussion was far from over.

  * * *

  * HORSEHEAD NEBULA • ANADIUS, CRONOS STATION *

  A shadowed hand stubbed a cigarette out in the ashtray on the end of the chair arm as its occupant sat, one leg crossed over the other; an incoming call announcement trilled as the man swirled the ice around in the glass before downing the rest of the drink. Rising from the chair, he handed the empty glass to the young woman approaching from the right as he turned to walk a few paces, where he stopped on a circular black pad a meter and a half in diameter.

  Using his omnitool, he answered the incoming call; it was from an undercover agent on the Citadel – more accurately, from within the Presidium. Without preamble, the figure said in a cold, hard voice, “Report.”

  Chapter 29: Storm Clouds on the Horizon

  Adventure is something that happens to someone else. When it's happening to you, it's only trouble. – Gerald Morris, The Ballad of Sir Dinadan

  * * *

  Eschatology – A belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind

  Inamorata – A woman with whom one is in love; a female lover (Italian)

  * * *

  * HORSEHEAD NEBULA • ANADIUS, CRONOS STATION *

  “We may have a problem, Sir,” the agent immediately replied. “There’s an Alliance admiral here… a Rear Admiral Kahoku. He’s sticking his nose into places it doesn’t belong.”

  “What has this admiral done to get your attention, Agent Trace?”

  “He’s asking a lot of questions about some strange activities in Artemis Tau and… about Armistan Banes.”

  “If he’s still asking questions, then he hasn’t discovered anything of value… so far.” Pausing long enough to light a cigarette, he inhaled the fragrant smoke and blew it out to hang around him like wispy clouds that quickly dispersed from view. “Monitor him for now… disc
reetly, and keep me advised. I expect all his inquiries will fall on deaf ears, but if he somehow stumbles onto what we’re doing, well…” he left the thought unfinished as he took another drag from his cigarette. “That will be all for now, Agent Trace.”

  With the connection severed, the man made his way back to the chair, placed to have an excellent view of the dying red supergiant Anadius. As he sat down and crossed one leg over the other, he held up his free hand to receive the whiskey over ice being brought out by the same young woman that had appeared before. He swirled the liquid around just a bit before taking a sip of the golden elixir; smiling grimly, the Illusive Man continued to sip as he thought about Admiral Kahoku. The man had fought the batarians with distinction during the Skyllian Blitz; if he could not be dissuaded from continuing his current line of inquiry… It would be a damned shame to have to engineer a fatal accident to prevent him from learning too much, too soon.

  * * *

  * THESSIA • SERRICE HOSPITAL *

  It had been twelve days since Doctor Shakia had predicted Xiùlán would be discharged from the hospital and transferred to the rehabilitation center. It had taken a lot of hard, at times painful work during her final twelve days in the hospital, but she was now walking with the aid of a cane; the doctor expected she would be able to occasionally walk without the cane after five weeks – though she certainly wouldn’t be able to run just yet – and that she’d be healed enough to walk unaided at the end of her eight week stay in rehab.

  She had said a tearful goodbye to Service Chief Buchanan four days prior; he had wrapped his arms around her in a near bone-crushing hug, telling her he was going to miss her terribly, and was looking forward to working with her again… soon. For her part, Xiùlán had asked how she was ever going to find him, since she could no longer mention a knife scar on his face as a distinguishing mark; he had laughed at that, saying his size would nearly always stand out in most people’s minds.