Allison blacked out shortly after being taken onto the med evac shuttle. When she woke up, she was bereft of her contacts, holo-phone and translator. She was lying in a bed in the Eden Prime military medical center. She felt pretty groggy, but she wasn’t in pain. Helen was sitting beside her bed reading what appeared to be a romance novel from the twentieth century. She noticed Allison was awake and closed the book and put it in her bag.
“How are you doing sis?”
Allison heard Oozie then saw the nargle’s white head and blue eyes pop up over the side of the bed. She patted Oozie on the head before answering Helen.
“I’m alright. I guess.”
Allison lifted the sheet covering her and checked her abdomen. There were no signs of her injury, not even redness. She sighed with relief. She was worried she’d be laid up for a week. Or you know, that she’d die.
“Alright? For someone who died last night, I would say that is a good sign.”
Allison blinked.
“Died? What?”
Helen nodded.
“You were gone for two hours. They had you in autopsy the pathologist was called away, when he got back and cut into you, you started bleeding, grabbed his throat and bit him. He’s fine. I was able to wrestle you down. Though you bit me too. You were pretty, I believe the term used is hangry?”
Allison rubbed her face.
“How is that possible?”
Helen smiled.
“I try not to look too carefully at the lord’s miracles. The doctors were saying something about dhampir physiology, but the words got bigger from there and I am still learning this language.”
Allison shifted to sit up. Helen helped her.
“Where’s mom? Aryna?”
Helen patted Allison’s hand.
“Your mom, once she knew you were alive again, and after she let every single doctor know how terrible they were at their jobs, and made Major Ghai regret his life choices, was called into the office to coordinate refugees from Yellowstone. The System’s Alliance has declared it off limits to civilians and has evacuated everyone. Aryna is at the school volunteering. It was cancelled today and refugees are being set up in the gymnasium. So, I have some messages to pass along from our family and yours.”
“Your dad, grandfather and Aunt Maria wanted me to tell you how proud they were of you. Eyre and your mother are furious with you for being so reckless, Tyler is eager to see you, Vaedrick wished to pass along his hopes for a quick recovery, Empress Velda wished me to tell you that you have impressed her once again, and finally Aryna, wished me to pass on her love and apologies that she was unable to be here for you. As she believed the refugees were in greater need.”
Allison sighed.
“Do you know how much trouble I’m in for disobeying an order by chance?”
Helen smiled and nodded.
“I do, in fact. None. Major Ghai had a lot of explaining to do when the joint chief’s of staff debriefed him. Apparently, they were confused why he was trying to pull you out when you were doing exactly what you were trained to do. Research and development was a bit upset with you for destroying a working example of Sal’nash jamming technology. An internal security officer wanted to have you brought up on charges for weaponizing an asteroid. He was quickly shut down and reminded that as a dhampir you are under the purview of the council and their agreement with the System’s Alliance for supernatural creatures in the military, and thus, immune from prosecution for such tactics.”
Allison was very confused.
“How do you know all of this?”
Helen patted Allison’s hand again.
“I am a seer and the council’s representative in Andromeda. I am at all the briefings now. Not that I understand even half of what is going on, but I am learning, and also it is a fairly easy job, I just tell them what the council tells me to say. The council is remarkably insightful. It was like they knew exactly how it was all going to happen. Right down to who would suggest charges.”
Allison was starting to suspect the council knew a whole lot about the System’s Alliance’s secrets. She went back to the fact this was the second time someone had told her she had died.
“I died?”
“Yes, but you got better.”
Helen reached into her pack and pulled out two red crystals.
“Here, pick these up. Then you can go see your boyfriend.”
Allison picked up the two crystals and blushed.
“Boyfriend? What?”
She was so embarrassed she didn’t notice the slight burning sensation as her body absorbed a massive amount of blood from the two crystals. Helen took them out of Allison’s hands. Allison stared at her empty palms. Helen slipped the now pink crystals into her pack.
“Blood crystals. Made from the old magic. They were filled by grandfather’s blood. If anything is still hanging around it will take care of it.”
Allison felt energized. She felt like she could literally take on the entire universe at once and win. All the remaining haze in her mind evaporated and she couldn’t imagine staying in bed for a second longer. Helen moved out of the way so Allison could get out of bed and get dressed into the clothes someone had dropped off for her. Two nurses and a doctor rushed in as Allison walked out of the bathroom. The doctor was the first to rush forward.
“Lieutenant you shouldn’t be out of bed.”
Allison blinked in disbelief. She felt unstoppable. The thought of her spending any more time in the hospital was laughable. Helen returned.
“She’s fine. I transferred her remaining injuries to myself and healed them. You need the bed for casualties from Yellowstone. Orders from the council is she’s out of here.”
The doctor looked frustrated but stepped aside. Allison looked at Helen.
“You can do that?”
Helen nodded.
“Yes. In your case, it did not work. Some things we just cannot heal. Death being one of them, unless I fed you blood. I was tempted but Aunt Maria told me that no matter what happens, not to give you blood until you woke up today. I would have given you grandfather’s blood as soon as you arrived otherwise. I am glad I didn’t, you would have changed.”
Allison walked beside Helen, hugging herself, the temperature had not gone up so even in a building so overstuffed with people it was still cooler than she would have liked. The halls were lined with Yellowstone colonists with various injuries. All of them seemed to still be unconscious from whatever the Sal’nash did to them. Oozie was strolling beside the pair.
“Did Bit get back?”
Helen nodded. Allison saw a group of younger children huddled together. They seemed to have recovered more quickly than the adults of their colony. The children looked quite shell-shocked. Oozie looked at them then up to Allison. She motioned towards the group.
“Go ahead you big softy. I’ll be fine.”
The nargle bounded over to the children, picked one little girl and tugged playfully on her ponytail. This elicited a swift response from the girl who swatted at the boy beside her. He pointed at Oozie who was down low and gave a soft yip-meow. She tugged the ponytail again. The girl giggled. Suddenly Oozie was swarmed by children petting her soft fur and snuggling against her. Allison shook her head.
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“She’s so manipulative.”
Helen pointed at a group of medical staff that looked exhausted, their expressions brightened when they saw the children laughing and playing with the nargle.
“The laughter of children is the best medicine. Or so mom used to say. Oozie has a kind soul. She senses the pain around her and seeks to alleviate it. She also just might like children. I have never seen a creature like her, but she seems very smart.”
Allison smiled and glanced back at Oozie who was making sure every child got a giant slobber filled lick across their faces.
“I know. I just like to tease her.”
Helen looked toward Tyler’s room then back at Oozie.
“I will keep an eye on Oozie. Never know when some overeager guard is going to try and kick her out.”
Allison nodded and walked into Tyler’s room. Keira was there but Ms. Grant was nowhere to be seen. Keira’s hair was wet. Tyler smiled when he saw Allison. Keira patted Tyler’s arm.
“Mom and I will be back. There are a lot of people who need help.”
Keira moved to leave. Allison held a finger up as if to tell Tyler to give her a minute. Keira started tugging on her winter clothes.
“Keira, how are you here?”
The young woman smiled.
“You. The high council took your request for a pardon seriously. They just set me free with the provision I attend their version of parole at the embassy. Nutina told me what you did for me. I will never forget what you have done for me, or my family.”
Allison looked at the winter clothes.
“Where are you going? Don’t you want to stay with Tyler?”
Keira shrugged.
“I am taking your advice. I am asking what would the real Jesus do and doing it. Today that is helping all these poor people. I can’t stomp on giant bugs like you, but I can give comfort, rides and make sure people get fed. I’ll never undo the harm I’ve caused but I can use the second chance you’ve given me to do better.”
Allison leaned in and hugged Keira.
“I am so glad you got pardoned. Be careful it is very cold out there.”
Keira released Allison and waved before heading towards the medical center doors. Allison took a deep breath and went into Tyler’s room again. She returned his warm smile and sat down in the chair recently left empty by Keira. It had a blanket in it and Allison kicked her shoes off and curled her feet up in the chair. She wrapped the blanket around herself then sighed.
“Hey, I’m sorry I’ll be right back.”
She stood up and put her shoes back on. She took the blanket out to the children. The little girl that Oozie had chosen to pick on initially was the only one without a blanket. She appeared to be the oldest and Allison crouched down.
“Hey, it is kind of cold in here. Would you like my blanket?”
The girl blinked her big blue eyes at Allison.
“You saved us.”
Allison smiled and wrapped the blanket over the girl’s shoulders.
“No, I just helped. There are a lot of people in the System’s Alliance Military, and we all work together to keep people safe. So, the white fur ball here is my friend Oozie. I have another friend who has been really sick I wanted to spend some time with him. Do you think you can take care of her for me while I do?”
The girl nodded. Allison pointed at Oozie.
“You behave you big white she-devil.”
Allison looked at the girl who was giggling at Oozies big blue eyes.
“What’s your name?”
“Robin.”
Allison patted her knees while looking at Oozie. She kissed Oozie’s nose when she approached.
“Oozie, this is Robin, she’s going to look after you while I visit Tyler. You listen to her and stop pulling her ponytail it is not a toy.”
Oozie rubbed against Robin and purred. Robin giggled. Allison was about to stand up when she saw Sister Silra approaching with her husband. She had a tablet and smiled when she saw the children all petting Oozie.
“Allison, thank you for keeping the children entertained.”
She looked around at the children.
“Hello, I’m Sister Silra and I have good news. We have tracked down your parents. Just let me make sure we have everyone.”
She went down a list asking for names one after another each child answered. Sister Silra reached the bottom of her list and noticed Robin hadn’t answered. She looked at her.
“Child, what is your name?”
Robin didn’t look up.
“Robin Holiday, Sister.”
Sister Silra’s tail drooped after she looked at her tablet. She seemed at a loss. Allison stood up, she didn’t need to see the tablet to know that meant the girl’s parents were among the dead. The girl seemed to know already because tears were appearing at the corner of her eyes. Allison kneeled down again.
“Robin, instead of watching Oozie out here, why don’t you come with me and watch her in the room. She likes to jump on beds, and I don’t want her jumping on my friend.”
Allison stood up and offered her hand to Robin who clutched onto it for dear life. Allison looked at Sister Silra.
“I’ll take care of her, Sister. If that’s alright. I need a nargle wrangler, and she seems quite good at it.”
Robin started crying openly. Allison picked her up and hugged her tightly. She patted her back.
“Shh, you’re safe.”
Allison had never seen Sister Silra’s tail so motionless. Sauroids could not cry but she could tell her teacher’s heart was well and truly broken without tears. The sister touched Robin’s back.
“Take comfort in the arms of the Dark Mother child. For we are never truly alone. She is mother to all living things. You are truly blessed. She has sent her daughter to lend you comfort in your time of need.”
Her other hand was wrapped around Allison’s upper arm.
“Child, you are an inspiration to all of us. Go, take her from this loud place so she may sleep.”
Allison motioned with her head for Oozie to follow her. The nargle fell into step. Helen waved at Allison before disappearing into the crowd. Allison gave Tyler an apologetic look when she returned with Oozie, and a random eight-year-old girl who was sobbing. Allison sat down on a cushioned bench along one of the walls of the room. Tyler smiled at her. Robin eventually climbed down onto the bench and snuggled up against Allison, put her head on Allison’s thigh. Allison draped the blanket over Robin who did not take long to cry herself to sleep. Allison looked down at Oozie.
“You… brat. You knew. Is this because she reminded you of your original pet sentient?”
Oozie looked up at Allison with her adorable and very innocent-looking blue eyes. Allison wagged her finger at Oozie and sighed.
“We’re not keeping her. She’s going to have family somewhere and she’s going to go live with them. She’s not a pet.”
Oozie pouted.
“Oh, you… read her mind and know she has no family. Oh, you devious… manipulative… something, something… something else even more insulting.”
Oozie did exactly what Allison was afraid she would do and jumped on Tyler’s bed and started licking his face before promptly laying down and snuggling up next to him. She looked at Tyler.
“Sorry. She’s very bossy. Likes to get her way.”
Tyler smiled and absently started to pet Oozie who purred loudly in response.
“I don’t mind. Keira was saying there were a lot of people hurt. Are her parents here in the medical center?”
Allison shook her head. Robin began to stir and then cried out in her sleep. Allison remembered when she’d had nightmares her mother would stroke her hair. So, she did exactly the same thing. Robin calmed and snuggled into the blanket and Allison’s thigh. Allison kept absently stroking Robin’s hair gently.
“No, they’re dead. She’s an orphan, like me, now, I guess. Poor kid. Not that I feel like an orphan or anything. I love my mom and wouldn’t change her for the world.”
She looked down at the little girl and realized that she probably saw it all happening.
“Allison, what’s wrong?”
Allison looked up at him and rubbed the bottom of her eyes.
“She probably saw her family die.”
Tyler looked at Robin.
“Poor kid.”
Allison nodded.
“Poor kid.”
She bit her lower lip. She felt terrible for Robin, but she realized the girl’s predicament had been the icebreaker she needed to sit here calmly with Tyler.
“So, uh, Allison, no one will tell me what happened after the Gala.”
Allison’s cheeks lost all color, not that there was much to begin with. She stammered a few times and decided she should just be honest with him. Aryna would tell her to be honest and her self-proclaimed sister was the angel on her shoulder most of the time. Allison took a deep breath.
“So, your dad and Keira and some mercenaries attacked the Embassy. They were there to kill me. Keira and I got into a fight. She got hurt. A gun fight with your dad and the mercenaries ensued and I hit you with my stunner. You had a heart attack, I resuscitated you and well, you fell into a coma because your brain was without oxygen. The Silwrath fixed your congenital heart defect and your eyes… They uh fixed your sister’s face and I think that about… oh yeah, I convinced the League High Council to pardon Keira. I had no chance with your dad, he tried to kill me in the Silwrath med-bay and it was witnessed by one of their investigators, so uh, well, yea. That is about what I can think happened.”
He blinked at her in disbelief. She sighed and went about gathering herself, Robin and her blanket up. Tyler noticed and looked confused.
“Where are you going?”
Allison looked at the door.
“I almost killed you; You were dead. Your heart stopped. I can leave. Sorry I should have said something right away.”
Tyler said something firmly for the first time since she’d met him.
“Stop.”
Allison sat very still. Oozie didn’t even open her eyes. Tyler started speaking again, this time it was in his usual, soft voice.
“Allison don’t leave. Please.”
Allison settled back down again. Robin settled in now that her human pillow had relaxed.
“I remember now… I shot you in the head. Why would I do that?”
Allison bit her lower lip.
“Uh, you were confused. And you just grazed my head. It was nothing, it healed in seconds.”
Tyler sunk into the bed. Allison decided to just try and fix it.
“Look we shot at each other. You’re fine, I’m fine. Well, you’ll be fine once you get up and start walking again. Hey, we had our first kiss, right? You didn’t even have to worry about how awkward it would be, right?”
Tyler looked extremely bashful at that moment. Allison decided to continue.
“I would love to try it again, but next time, I’d really like it if you didn’t eat the butt fruit before, okay? It took forever to get that taste out of my mouth.”
Tyler smiled.
“I wish I could remember it.”
Allison shook her head.
“No, you don’t. I had vomit breath. I had some vertigo after the gun fight. I think you might have had it easier. Vertigo is the absolute worst thing ever. Your body and your brain are fighting and you’re the one losing.”
Tyler started to laugh the sound brought a smile to Allison’s lips. Helen peaked into the room and was holding a plastic bag with Allison’s electronics.
“Sorry to interrupt you two, here Allison, pulled these out of lock up for you. Carry on.”
Allison took them and started putting them back on.