Chapter 49

“Leave? Why do we have to leave now?” Inari asked.

“Simple. Zuzanna’s heart was mulched up pretty badly. If it was a straight in and out, then that would be one thing. But the bullet that hit her started to fragment the moment it pierced her skin. She’s damned lucky we got her here when we did, or she wouldn’t be alive right now!” Korsa informed her friend.

“So, she needs a donor heart? Or a cybernetic one?” Inari guessed, figuring that Zuzanna would need her heart replaced if the damage was that bad.

“Not necessarily! I was lucky to be able to have an organ fabrication chamber crafted and installed here on the ship! So, getting Zuzanna’s heart fixed won’t be an issue!” Korsa told Inari.

“That’s great news!” Inari gushed, grinning like a mad fool.

“Why do I sense a ‘but’ coming?” Priya asked, noting the look on the doctor’s face.

“Always the perceptive one, Pree. While I can fix Zuzie’s heart, we lack the materials necessary to do so,” Korsa clarified.

“I thought you got a whole bunch of doctor’s toys when we were at Veldhern!” Inari replied, thinking this shouldn’t’ be an issue.

“I did, but the tech for the organ fabrication chamber is beyond what even Veldhern has available. What we need are specific alloys and polymers to craft the nanites that will rebuild Zuzanna’s heart. Sadly, the ones we need, Veldhern didn’t have. I looked,” Korsa said in lament.

“Damn! I would guess what is needed is a bit more exotic than the usual fare?” Inari guessed.

“Yup! To make the nanites work, I need star forged promethium for the power source, obsidian titansteel to craft the limbs and Naucturi wychbone to hold them together and make them flexible enough to do their work,” Korsa told the pair.

“Yikes! That right there easily steps into hundreds of thousands of credits just for the raw materials!” Priya yipped.

“Yeah! I tried a few other materials to make the nanites work, but they don’t hold together. After a few minutes, they just fell apart,” Korsa stated.

“All right. So, we need to head to a station that has all three of these items. Nearest one I can think of is Drahl’tothen station, on the edge of Naucturi space, near the heart of the UCW,” Inari replied.

“That’s at least four days’ hard travel through hyperspace!” Priya replied, knowing it would be a bit of a trip.

“Will Zuzie’s heart survive for that amount of time?” Inari questioned.

“I have it in a form of cryo suspension, along with what remained of her heart tissues. It should hold for a while yet, but the sooner we get it repaired, the better,” Korsa told her friend.

“So we need to get going if she’s going to make a full recovery!” Inari said, ready to jump into the cockpit and get the ship moving now. Just then, a ring came in on their personal frequency, and all three women looked at their wrist comms. They saw it was Alex and Inari answered it.

“Yes, sir?” Inari replied as she picked up the call.

“How does it look in there, Inari? Any updates on Doctor Walczak’s condition?” Alex queried.

“Korsa worked her magic and managed to get Zuzie stable! She’ll be OK! But we have to be getting under way soon if she is to get better,” Inari told her commanding officer.

“Oh? Please, explain,” Alex implored.

“I’ll let Doctor Korsa tell you, sir,” Inari said, letting Korsa have the floor. She then reiterated everything she just told Inari and Priya, letting the man know what was needed.

“Damn! Seems like we need to get a move on if Zuzanna is to be back on her feet again,” Alex commented. “But the fact that she is still alive and breathing is good to hear! Jenque and Daved were just listening, and they’ve gone out to tell the public the good news.”

“Lot of people hoping that she made it?” Priya asked.

“Yup! To many folks in Tanith’s Gully, Zuzanna is something of a hero around here. Despite being a former soldier for the Confederacy, a lot of people relied on her, and she saved a lot of them here. Especially the children. Hearing the news of her getting gunned down, by her own father no less, hit everyone hard,” Alex explained.

“Can’t say I blame the folks for wanting to know if she’s OK. Lot of people here look on her like she’s family,” Inari added, glad to hear that Zuzanna’s gentle and kind nature hadn’t dulled over the years.

“Sounds like folks here are happy about it. Also, hearing some chanting outside the council building,” Alex commented over the line.

“What are they saying?” Inari questioned.

“Take a listen.”

Inari, Priya, and Korsa focused on the sounds coming in over the line. It took them a moment or two, but pretty soon, they could hear what the townsfolk were saying loud and clear.

“Hang him out to dry! Hang him out to dry! Hang him out to dry! Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!” came the shouting and yelling from over the comms.

“Can’t say I blame them! If Zuzie hadn’t been so gravely wounded, I would have shot the bastard myself!” Inari growled, remembering the self-satisfied look on Dariusz’s face when he shot his daughter.

“Get in line, babe! I’d want a piece of that asshole myself if he wasn’t locked up!” Priya replied vehemently, having grown quite attached to Zuzanna over the past few days.

“Wasn’t the man going to be ransomed off?” Korsa asked.

“He was, until he tried to kill Zuzanna. By Prodosian law, even attempting to take a life, your own life is forfeit. It also helps that the Confeds likely don’t even want this bastard anymore,” Alex explained.

“What do you mean?” Inari wondered.

“When I was sitting in with a couple of prisoners that were being interrogated. One of them let slip that this was Dariusz’s last chance to reclaim any level or respect or prestige in the Confederacy. Because of his constant failure on multiple battlefields and fronts, he was going to be relegated to a desk job, or thrown out of the military,” Alex told the women.

“Makes sense. If a commander fails too many times, then it is clear they are unfit for command and need to be removed. That way, any younger or more competent commanders may be given a chance to shine, rather than be relegated to subordinate positions,” Inari replied.

“I would guess that the Federation operates in a similar way to the Confeds?” Alex surmised.

“In a manner of speaking, yes, sir. We learn from them as examples of what not to do and use them as cautionary tales. The Confeds ... they punish failed commanders in ways that even make even the most battle hardened of marines...” Inari shuddered, not wanting to finish the sentence.

“Understood. Jenque just made the announcement of Dariusz’s death sentence. The folk are definitely happy about that,” Alex chuckled.

“Well, I am too! It’s no less than the coward deserves for trying to end his own flesh and blood like that,” Inari stated, drawing nods and similar comments from Korsa and Priya.

“So, since Zuzie is going to make it, what do we do?” Priya wondered.

“We continue on as planned. Zuzanna getting hurt does push us back a bit, but we’ll get back on track soon enough. Does this station have everything else we are looking for?” Alex wondered.

“I believe so, sir! But is that wise? Getting everything else we need if they have it?” Inari questioned.

“Taking the slow approach was the best option initially. Since it seems like the universe has other plans for us, I suggest that we get things rolling and gather everything we can, now. While the galaxy at large is still unaware of us. Especially since Sawyer is out there, planning God only knows what,” Alex told the women.

“The man has a point. Sure, it may attract some serious unwanted attention, but if we can get what remains and be on our way, we might just evade anyone looking to come after us,” Korsa replied in agreement.

“If the station has everything else we need in the manner of materials, we nab it all and get gone before anyone is the wiser. Besides love, it’s not like anyone knows where to find the Perseus,” Priya told her girlfriend, standing with the other two in their logic.

“I suppose it does ... have some level of reasoning behind it,” Inari stated grudgingly. “But being that close to Naucturi space, we’ll have to be careful. Not everyone is as ... open-minded or as lenient as Admiral Kantori.”

“Noted. Let’s finish up here then, ladies. We’ve got a lot to do and not a lot of time to get it done,” Alex reminded them.

“Yes, sir!” all three women chorused.

With that handled, the group then went about preparations to get under way as soon as possible. Everyone leaving on the ship said their goodbyes to the people they had met and befriended. While the crew hadn’t been on Prodosia for very long, the people there had made an impression on them. Many folks there were sad to see them go, as they had all stood with them, like family.

“Are you sure you have to go? I mean ... you could stay...” Willem said to Aesha as they stood outside the Darkstrider.

“Willem, I told you I’m not staying. I have an entire galaxy to see out there. Yeah, you could come along, but your place is here, with your family. Besides, staying here isn’t all bad,” Aesha told him while nodding behind him. Willem turned and saw Natasha there, walking up to the pair with tears in her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you!” Natasha blubbered, pulling the Artucian woman into a massive hug.

“I’m going to miss you too! The both of you! But, if all goes well, I won’t be gone long! I’ll be back before you know it!” Aesha said reassuringly.

“The way the galaxy is and how it tends to fuck with people, I’d say you might want to adjust that time,” Willem chuckled.

“You got that right! But I will be back! OK? Don’t worry so much! You two have some more time with each other now and maybe things will go a way you didn’t think possible,” Aesha told them with a giggle. Willem and Natasha looked at one another, then looked away, blushing fiercely, then back again. They both knew that Aesha was right, as they both felt something brewing between them.

“Please tell me you’ll come back and fuck both of our brains’ out?” Natasha asked hopefully, the memory of their encounter still fresh in her mind.

“Next time I come back, I’ll be sure to have some toys to use on the both of you!” Aesha promised with a lascivious grin.

“Game on, honey!” Natasha snickered as they said their final goodbyes. Not all goodbyes were as happy as many people were sad to see Zuzanna leave. So many had wanted to come and say their farewells, but given her condition, they understood why they couldn’t. Some exceptions were made in the case of Callista, Daved, Jenque, Doug, Emma, and their girls.

“Do you have to go away, Doc Zuzie?” Clarissa sniffled as the group surrounded her bed in the medbay.

“I’m afraid so, kiddo! I’m OK for now, but I can’t be walking around with this clunky thing on my chest! I mean, it might look cool, but not at all a good look for a doctor,” Zuzanna said good-naturedly, smiling at the little girl.

The device she was referring to was the artificial heart that Korsa had fabricated on the fly. While it wasn’t a permanent solution, it was sound enough where it would help meet Zuzanna’s needs in the short term. It was pulled together with whatever pieces Korsa had on hand and anything she needed to make it function. It was doing the job of pumping Zuzanna’s blood, but it wouldn’t hold for the long term.

“I don’t know. The cyborg look works for you. You could almost be like that old holovid actress from way back in the day,” Daved joked.

“Oh, God! Please don’t compare me to that schmaltzy hack!” Zuzanna groaned.

“I don’t know. Maybe Daved is right in this instance. Maybe,” Jenque giggled while looking over at her husband.

“Miss Inari and her friends are going to fix you?” Jack asked, having come there with his parents.

“They will, Jackie boy! They won’t leave me like this! Besides, I still have to get back here and teach you how to dance with a girl right,” Zuzanna teased, making the young boy’s face fill with blood.

“Oh? And just who would you be learning to dance for?” Jenque asked, curious who her son might be sweet on.

“Doctor patient confidentiality, Jenny! Sorry, but you’re not finding that out!” Zuzanna told her friend.

“Gah! Are you ever going to stop using that against me???” Jenque groaned, knowing that pressing the matter now was pointless.

“Nope! Besides, your boy is growing up! He’s allowed to have some secrets from his ma!” Zuzanna chuckled.

“With you leaving, I gotta ask, who’s going to run the clinic?” Doug wondered, knowing that people weren’t taking Zuzanna leaving lightly.

“You’re standing right next to her!” Zuzanna giggled, looking over at Callista. The Prodosians looked over at Callista and she blushed while grinning a megawatt smile.

“Zuzie’s letting you run the clinic?” Emma asked, glad that at least it was going to be run by someone equally loved and respected in town.

“She’s not only letting me run it, she let me have it!” Callista told them all.

“Zuzie ... let you ... have it??” Daved gasped.

“Yeah. I did. I realized that as far as the clinic goes, my time running it is over. Time to let someone new hold the reins for a while,” Zuzanna told them.

“Don’t you have to be a doctor to own and run a clinic like that?” Jenque wondered.

“Already ahead of you on that, Jenny. Got in contact with the Galactic Board and went to bat for Callie. With everything she’s done to help me there, she pretty much already is one. Just has to sit through the interview and pay the fee to be recognized as one,” Zuzanna informed the lot of them. They all looked to Zuzanna, then Callista, and back again, before everyone was laughing and smiling, happy at hearing all of this.

“Doctor Callista Tohlari! It has a real nice ring to it!” Daved said, congratulating the woman.

“Thanks, Daved! I thought so too!” Callista grinned, taking the compliment.

“I sure hope you plan on stopping by for dinner! You know that invitation has been sitting out there for a while!” Doug told the woman and she giggled.

“Oh, you better believe I will! Started hearing talk about your famous pot pies! I need to see for myself if the chatter around it is true!” Callista said with a laugh.

“Can I call you Doc Callie?” Clarissa asked shyly, looking up at the woman.

“Of course you can, sweetie!”

“Oh, and Callie?” Zuzanna called out, catching the nurse’s attention. “Make sure you take care of everyone, yeah?”

“Always, Zuzie! Always!” Callista said around a few sniffles. Everyone then went in for a massive group hug, wrapping Zuzanna in a familial embrace. The girls starting sobbing again, but they received reassurances that Zuzanna would be back. Maybe if they were good, she’d bring them something back from her travels.

“All right everyone! I know this isn’t easy, but Zuzanna needs her rest,” Korsa told the group gently. Everyone knew that while she was OK, she would be gone for a while. They didn’t know the particulars of how badly Zuzanna had been hurt, but they knew enough that there was nothing on Prodosia that could help her. If she was going to get well again, Zuzanna had to go offworld to find the help she needed.

“We’ll miss you, Zuzie!” Jenque told the Valkyrian doctor.

“And I’m going to miss all of you! But I’ll come back when I’m better!” Zuzanna replied.

“Promise?” little Susan sniffled.

“Cross my heart, hope to die!” Zuzanna said as she made the motion over the machine. With that, everyone left the medbay, heading off the ship. Korsa stayed behind while Inari and several other crew members escorted the Prodosians off. Just as they did so, both Gloria and Matthias ambled up, carrying a couple of bags each, along with a backpack on their shoulders.

“What are you two doing here?” Inari asked as the pair approached the ramp.

“What does it look like? We’re coming with you!” Matthias told the Persian woman.

“Why do you want to come with us? I’m pretty sure that you and yours are welcome here in Tanith’s Gully, along with Children of the Wolf,” Natalya said as she had come down with the rest of the crew to see off their guests.

“Our time on this world is done. People know we are here, and we’d rather stay ahead of our ... assailants,” Gloria told the group.

“Assailants? Someone is after you?” Alex queried, looking more than a little concerned.

“More like a group of someones. I don’t want to say too much more about it here. But just know that staying on the move has allowed our bloodline to stay alive as long as it has,” Matthias told Alex.

“Besides, you and your ladies need some ... proper instruction. If you five don’t get it, you are liable to hurt someone in a way that can’t be healed,” Gloria stated.

“We haven’t hurt anyone so far! Well ... no one who didn’t deserve it!” Shazza said with a grin.

“You lot have simply been lucky, as channeling the Aether isn’t easy. So far, you’ve been doing things on reflex and from what we’ve seen, flailing about, barely managing any proper control. With us along, you will get the training and control you need and more,” Gloria continued, as she folded her arms beneath her breasts.

“I ... see. I would be one hell of a bastard and an ass if I refused to help you two out! Welcome aboard the Darkstrider!” Alex told them warmly.

Both Gloria and Matthias smiled happily, glad to be among people who saw what they were and weren’t terrified of it. Besides, Alex was family, and you didn’t turn your back on family. On top of this, there were ... other reasons why Matthias insisted they leave, one of which was staring at him with all four eyes.

Luminia rushed over to help the pair with their bags, grinning all the while at Matthias. Matthias smiled back, knowing that whatever had happened between the two of them, they both wanted more. The white-haired woman was practically giddy as the pair followed her and Aesha to the cabins. To anyone watching her, it was clear she got a taste of something she liked in Matthias and was eager for more.

Gloria noticed this and giggled silently to herself as Luminia practically fawned over them. She then leaned over to her son and whispered something into his ear that only he heard. His face went from confusion to embarrassment as he blushed hard, his skin getting darker as a result. Matthias would have said something, but was interrupted by Alex, who accompanied the group while everyone got the ship ready for liftoff.

“So, I’m curious if there’s anything that you two have that would be useful to read? We found a few writings about the Aether, but not much in the manner of how to train or anything about what the limits of it are,” Alex said to them.

“Well, we do have ... some things, but will they be safe here?” Matthias asked.

“I doubt there’s a safer place than here in the known galaxy! The only other place that would be safer is the Perseus, but that ship is light years away,” Alex told him.

“We should trust the man, Matty. We will need to bring everything onboard anyways. Opening a portal to our little storeroom only works because we are so close to it. Leaving Prodosia...” Gloria started.

“Yeah, yeah, going to be ... problematic to get to, even with your power levels,” Matthias huffed, conceding his mother’s point.

“Watch your tone, young man! You may be grown, but I am still your mother!” Gloria warned. Luminia giggled slightly, knowing full well that her own mother, Valessa, and Gloria would likely get on!

“How much do you have put away?” Alex asked, curious about their collection.

“At least a small personal library’s worth of books and artifacts. Is there room for it all?” Gloria wondered.

“Let’s get it unloaded in the cargo bay and go from there,” Alex stated.

With that, the Renaulds stowed their things in the cabins that had been allocated for them, before following Alex to the cargo bay. The place wasn’t full, not yet, but with what they still had to purchase, it would be. Gloria then embraced the Aether and opened a portal to the hidden archive.

This place was in a ruined underground complex, well away from the town of Tanith’s Gully. It was also far from the old home where she, Matthias, and her long-dead husband, Jonathan, lived. If their pursuers did find them, or at least where they lived, then they would find nothing of what they were looking for.

Gloria had done this a while ago, as even though she was in a safe place with a good man as her husband, she knew you couldn’t be too careful. She was glad that she had been so adamant about sticking to her habit and keeping everything in a place no one would think to look. Gloria stared at the walls of the crevasse, knowing that such a place was where no one had dared to venture, even back when this world was being colonized.

She continued to widen the portal, keeping her focus on the cave that sat at the bottom and in the shade of a large rock shelf. There were several such places down here, but none aside from this one were large enough to hold everything. Once the portal was over ten feet wide, she then looked over to Alex and Matthias, who stared in amazement.

“I can keep this thing open for a while, but not forever! Bring it all in!” Gloria told the pair.

“All of it, ma?” Matthias asked, making sure he heard right.

“All of it.”

Shrugging, he and Alex walked on through the portal and started grabbing what they found, bringing it through. Luminia and Aesha helped them as well, knowing that many hands would make light work. Between the four of them, it didn’t take that long to clear out the entire cave. Once it was cleared, with Matthias going over every inch of the cave to be sure nothing was left behind, he and Alex crossed back into the Darkstrider.

“You weren’t joking when you said that you had a lot of stuff!” Alex breathed as he looked over the stacks of books and artifacts that lay strewn about on the cargo bay floor.

“When Analisa left Earth, she didn’t have much to bring with her. Most of this is whatever has been found over the years, as our bloodlines moved from place to place,” Gloria stated as she closed the portal and let her cerulean power go.

“There is going to be a lot of time spent going through everything here! Can’t wait to get started!” Alex stated eagerly, as he loved to read. Just then, his stomach rumbled, making the man groan out loud.

“But first, I need to get around to making my damned stomach happy,” Alex laughed. Everyone there shared in his mirth, with a few of them figuring that some food would be a great idea. They headed up to the main deck and went straight for the galley, with Alex grabbing a few things to start making some grilled chicken tacos.

“Oh, man! That smells good!” Matthias rumbled, his stomach agreeing instantly with him.

“Lumi, would you and Aesha mind giving me a hand in prepping the veg and such for these?” Alex asked. Both women were delighted to help, as learning to cook was a skill that they both wished to learn more about.

“What can we do?” Gloria wondered, feeling idle.

“Well, if you don’t mind heading out to the lounge and setting up a few condiments? Then let the rest of the crew know that lunch is in twenty minutes,” Alex ordered. Just as the pair moved to obey, the lot of them felt a slight jolt in the ship.

“I guess we’re airborne?” Matthias guessed.

“Yup! Once you’re done informing everyone of what’s going on, head back to the lounge,” Alex stated with a smile.

The two of them left the galley while Alex, Luminia, and Aesha got lunch ready. Just as they were finishing with the last of the chicken, is when Alex felt the subtle bit of vertigo that told him they were entering hyperspace. He sighed happily as he knew they were on their way to Naucturi space, where they would collect the last of what they needed to get the Perseus spaceworthy again.

“I will never understand how it is that human food has so many different variations using the same ingredients!” Luminia commented as she finished with grating the cheese.

“That’s simple! It’s due to the many different cultures that we had on Earth! There are times where even I am more than a little astounded at how diverse my race is!” Alex replied.

“It is ... quite intriguing, how your race split into so many directions and changed in ways that almost make each one seem like ... they evolved on different worlds!” Aesha interjected.

“In some ways, it almost felt like it!” Alex said, as he finished frying up the last of the chicken. A few minutes later, the food was plated, and they carried everything out to the lounge. The entire crew was assembled, with Korsa walking in the door just as they came out of the galley.

“Perfect timing, Korsa! The chicken is still hot!” Alex told the woman as her nose twitched at the aromas that permeated the air.

“Mmmmm! Always love it when you cook dinner, sir!” Korsa chuckled as she took a seat next to Natalya. Everyone was chatty as dinner was served, each one of them glad that their business on Prodosia was concluded. Even Gloria and Matthias, who had lived there for decades, seemed happy to finally be away from that dustball.

“So, where are we headed?” Matthias asked.

“Drahl’tothen station, on the edge of Naucturi space. According to Inari, that station will have everything we need to get the Perseus spaceworthy again and get what is needed to repair Zuzanna’s heart,” Alex said as he placed the platter of grilled chicken on the table.

“Isn’t going to a place that busy a bit risky?” Natalya asked, knowing how busy Naucturi stations could be, having been to a few of them herself.

“It is, but it’s one that we’ll have to manage. With knowledge of who we are and what we can do, it’s only a matter of time before people start actively looking for us. I doubt such people will be as amicable as those we’ve run into so far,” Alex said to the group.

“Alex is right. As much as I think it’s a bad idea, it’s the only play we have that most folks won’t see coming. We’ve been playing quiet for a while now and sooner or later, that will catch up to us. Better to get what we need while the galaxy at large is still unaware of us and what we’re about,” Priya stated, laying everything out for everyone to understand.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself, Pree!” Inari said with a smile as she kissed Priya on the cheek.

“So, it will be a bit of a journey to get to this station?” Luminia wondered.

“At least four days’ hard travel through hyperspace. Five days, if you take into account the time that has to be spent in realspace, going from point to point. Not to mention there are some waypoints that we will have to ... circumvent, if we are to stay quiet. At least until we reach Drahl’tohten station,” Inari replied around a mouthful of chicken taco.

“Damn! Some of these waypoints are regulated?” Kasumi asked, thinking that such a thing was absurd.

“Anything that heads that close to Naucturi space generally is. While the UCW is a free and open mandate, which is spearheaded by the Naucturi people, they are a very ... restrictive race,” Korsa said as she prepped another taco.

“And that’s putting it mildly! Some of them are very ... well, there isn’t a better word than arrogant, so lead with that. Many of them still think of their allies as... ‘lesser races’, as though they are the ones that invented everything,” Natalya went on, finishing up a mouthful of her lunch.

“So ... there are Naucturi that are worse than Admiral Kantori?” Kasumi questioned.

“There are those among the Naucturi that make Admiral Kantori seem like a warm and fuzzy teddy bear in comparison!” Taal’ani stated, having been around the galaxy by herself for a while.

“Sheesh! It’s a wonder that anyone cooperates in this galaxy!” Shazza commented as she got herself a drink.

“I think I will have to start reading up on the Naucturi, so I will know what to expect!” Luminia commented.

“I think we’re all due for some catch up reading. But first, I think we all just need a day of rest! I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I could really bomf out right about now,” Alex stated as he yawned.

“I think we’ll join you in that Alex!” Natalya said as she, Kasumi and Shazza stood up to join him in leaving the lounge. He moved to start clearing away the dirty dishes, but was stopped by Jaesa.

“Don’t you even think about it, sir! You and your ladies get yourselves some rest. I’ll tidy up,” the AI stated as she snatched the filthy dishes off the table. Delilah was there as well, helping Jaesa with collecting the dirty dishes of everyone who had eaten. The crew was more than a little bewildered at this, but decided against arguing with the AI.

“Where did this come from? Not that I don’t appreciate it, but I am genuinely curious,” Kasumi told Jaesa.

“Simple. I have been observing organics for some time and I have noted that a high amount of time is spent on repetitive chores. I understand they are helpful for staying disciplined and on task, but there are times when they seem more than a little troublesome,” the AI told them.