Playing God(122)

Lynn and the man reemerged from the hold. The boat settled lower in the water. A Getesaph reached up to the rail and was jerked backward. Unseen hands dragged her back under the water. The troop carrier roared up to the boat's side. Lynn and the men let the arms-sisters help them over the side. Lynn staggered, almost fell, and slumped into a man's arms.

Praeis twisted her head around. There were still three arms-sisters beside her. “You!” she said to the closest. “Find out if we've got a doctor aboard who knows anything about Humans and get her down to meet that boat. Tell them to get an iso-ward ready!” Praeis wrapped an arm around Theia. “We'll go down.”

We have to, she thought, as they headed down the narrow stairs into the cavernous hold. Because we're both eating our hearts out hoping Lynn will know where Resaime is.

This is why we do not bring our daughters into combat. Too much distraction. Too hard to think of anything else. Too much your whole world narrowed down to their pain, their needs, their scent, their skin under your hand so smooth and strong and … She shook her head. Ancestors Mine, did I forget my doses this morning?

The launch door opened, and the troop carrier was hoisted inside with a wave of rain and seawater. A med team, looking uncomfortable and trying to hide it, stood nearby with a body board, respirator, and medical bags. Praeis doubted that any of them had ever seen a Human up close, let alone treated one.

Lynn and the two men climbed out of the carrier, along with the troops.

“Lynn!” Praeis stepped forward, stopped, and looked again. Lynn had no clean-suit on. She was wrapped in a sodden blanket. Half her face was swaddled in bandages and her skin was grey with cold and stress. She looked at Praeis like she'd seen the end of the world.

“Ancestors Mine.” Praeis turned to the medical team. “Take her to the iso-ward. Find fresh clothes and a heater blanket.”

“Yes, Mother,” said the second-sister. “Come with us.” She reached out a hand but let it fall back. The other two responded a little better. They held out the body board and Lynn lay down on it. They threw the restraints across her and carried her gingerly up the stairs.

Theia looked up at her anxiously. Praeis ruffled her daughter's ears and turned to the men. They were both clean-suited, but the taller of the two hadn't shaved in days. Hair coated his scalp and face like fresh-sprouted moss.

“Welcome aboard,” she said, in English. “Are you good? Do you need to rest?”

“I could sure use a sit-down and something to eat,” said the cleaner of the two. “That was a whole long list of things I never want to do again.”

“We can manage both. We'll put in a call to Bioverse to come get you.” Never mind we're in the middle of a war. It's our war, not yours. We'll get you out of here if Theia and I have to take you ourselves.

“Are you Praeis Shin t'Theria?” blurted out the unshaven man.

“I am Praeis Shin. This is my daughter Theiareth Shin t'Theria.”

The man stared at Theia, a little too wild-eyed. Theia laid her hand over her mother's.

“I'm Schol— I'm Arron Hagopian. I'm a friend of Lynn's.”

“She's said your name as a friend.” Praeis dipped her ears to him. “I hope we can meet again when the world is calmer.” Theia tugged at her hand like a child. Praeis touched her shoulder. Her own heart was straining, but what news there was would come soon enough.

“I … your …” He stammered.

Here it is. Ignoring the chill that flowed through her, Praeis flicked an ear toward Neys, and the other toward the unnamed man.

Neys caught the signal and stepped briskly up to the man.“If you'll come with me, please.”

The man nodded He glanced back at Arron, and seemed about to say something, but he just shook his head and followed Neys up the stairs.

“You have news for us?” said Praeis quietly to Arron. Theia pressed against her side.

Arron rubbed his forearms, a gesture most Humans who spent long amounts of time in clean-suits developed. Strange people, thought Praeis idly. They won't touch each other, but they are constantly touching themselves.

Still rubbing his forearms, Arron started to talk. He talked about discovering the disparity in the Getesaph passenger rosters, about waking up in a cell, about Lynn being thrown in with him, and then Resaime, and no one else. He talked about their escape so they could save Res from their poison, about meeting soldiers who were friends of his, how they got a ride to Mrant Chavat, how the attack came, how the bomb fell, how the ’Esaph helped him dig until he was able to go down and rescue Lynn, and no one else.

Her sister. Her daughter. Another sister. Another daughter. Dead. Dead. All of them, dead, with her looking on and living on and trying and trying and trying …