Chapter 27: Death Grip — Part 9

The ship shuddered as it entered into twisted space. Devon listened to the shifting hum discontentedly. “Sounds like our pulse drive stabilizer needs a little bit of an overhaul. Of course it could also be resultant of the extra mass.”

“You were silent with me, when I asked a question earlier. If I’ve asked anything I shouldn’t have, I apologize.” The Baron said, unable to pull his eyes from Bosh.

“Ah, yes, I do recall you asking something about our choice of destination. It was a good question asked at a bad time. Antans is alive. A symbiont exists on that world, and it is air and water borne. It is hostile to outside biology. To treat you safely on Antans would require that we put you into a sterile glass box and treat you with sterilized medical drones under inhumanely isolated conditions. Though Vodia and Niger have the same symbiont, for reasons we do not entirely understand at this time, you can be treated there without risk of exposure on Vodia, though Niger is more like Antans. On Vodia, the symbiont can only be exchanged through complex and complete sexual intercourse or through blood contact. Since the symbiont has a high kill ratio, and our fellow Triple Unionists will want you returned to them more or less alive and looking like you did before our interview, we decided to take you to Vodia where you’ll be relatively safe from the symbiont. Pending you can keep your trousers buckled, and if not, at least have the sense to stay out of stranger’s beds.”

“Your story is bordering on the fantastic.” The Baron’s mind snapped back to his duty despite his personal craving for knowledge. “Tell me about Ensign Bosh. I tried to catch the end of the beam before it could come down on her, but she was tight in against the wall when it collapsed, she still got crushed. Is there any hope?”

Devon kept his tone reserved. “She’s alive. I don’t think she would have been if the beam had been allowed to continue along its original path. Her back is broken, and it’ll take all our resources to find a way to make her walk again. She’s in stasis so that the nerves and bones don’t start to heal improperly. She won’t survive in a cryochamber, or I’d have her there. We were going to ask that she be allowed permanent leave of absence from any duties within the Triple Union until she is fully recovered.”

“From the sounds of it, she may not recover.” The Baron said, sounsding miserable.

Devon tilted his head, partly in surprise. “There are ways, all of them risky. Ensign Bosh has some tough choices ahead of her.”

“As her Commander, I’m entitled to make those decisions for her.” The Baron forced himself upright, grunting in pain.

Devon gently pushed him back down again. “Our surgeons might be able to replace her vertebra with synthesized materials. They can even restore the nerve contact. In about five to eight years, she may actually be walking without crutches or a cane. But she won’t be able to run or perform any complex activities for the good majority of her life.

Devon considered this, replaying the conversation in his mind. “You said options, in the plural. Are there others?”

“Yes, of course. She could become one of us. The symbiont would heal her wounds; she’d walk again. The disadvantage is that whatever she was before will be stripped away, as I highly doubt that your communities and cultures, at their current evolution, would respect her after the change. She’s young enough to survive, and I think she’s of a mental caliber that won’t reject the symbiont. If she could have her rights ensured, I would think that this would be her best strategy.”

“They might fear her a great deal.” The Baron admitted. “To lose an Ensign as good as Bosh, though, would be harder to face. I would see that her rights were protected, at least so long as us three Barons are alive. Her family would stand by her, I think.”

Kris entered Devon’s mind, drawing out some information, and giving him some in exchange. Devon stood quickly, looking around. “Rest up. Within a few moments we’ll be setting down at a research center on Vodia. We’ve some of the best medical personnel from all of the tribes of the Antans Coalition waiting to care for you.”

“We got back rather quickly.” The Baron said, trying not to sound caught off guard.

“We’ve had the technology to cross into twisted space for over two centuries, your people have had it for perhaps thirty years. It gives us a slight advantage.”