Jasmine followed the Captain down the endless white hallways of the station; her eyes fixed on Xant’s unconscious body the entire time. It was so surreal. Seeing the doctor be carried so effortlessly. Both Aliens were large - larger than anyone she had ever seen in person. Their combined weight meant she could feel the impact of Rynard’s every step.
Stomp
Stomp
Stomp
The sound reverberated down the halls, ringing in her ears. Jasmine ended up following a little more behind than she meant to, if only to avoid the uncomfortable vibrations.
When the elevator opened up on the third floor, she went to step out after Rynard, but Sigi didn’t. She sat firmly in the elevator - head down not looking at anyone.
Jasmine stopped when the leash tugged tight.
“Sigi?” The human turned to her companion, who was still sitting in her stance of meek protest. Jasmine gave another tug and the dog reluctantly followed, her head down and walking slowly.
“It will be okay,” Jasmine repeated, the phrase becoming a mantra of sorts. “No one’s going to hurt you like last time.”
The Medical wing wasn’t far from the elevator, for convenience/emergency’s sake she guessed. Rynard was already through the door before Jasmine and Sieglinde caught up.
The Med-wing was the most interesting environment Jasmine had seen of the station thus far. It was a strange mix of advanced and familiar - pigeonhole shelves filled with dataslates and blocky terminals lining the observation room window. The room was filled with that hospital smell; disinfectant, plastic, shimmering stainless steel. A holographic desk was in the center of the room, displaying images… of her. Jasmine stepped into the lab and marveled at the scans of her own body; watching as the heart pumped blood in real time, her lungs expanded and deflated, and her stomach and digestive tract twitched with movement.
“... already have a pod set up, lay Dr. Xant in there.” CMO Krydon instructed the Captain. Unlike the other offices, the med-wing had four adjacent rooms, with an Observation/testing area to Jasmine’s right, two patient rooms against the North wall and Krydon's office on the left.
Rynard walked as instructed into the patient room, laying Xant into the white oval pod bed that had been arranged for him.
“Ah, Subject Jasmine,” Krydon greeted “I’m glad you’ve arrived,”
Krydon was a Sulin, older than most of the other doctors and staff she had met whilst on the station. His skin sagged around his jaw and remaining yellowing eye, his navy blue scales were losing their sheen and he walked with a sort of hunched limp. The red-glowing cybernetic replacement that focused in seemingly without prompt was cool as heck though.
“Rynard tells me you’re recovering from mild VEFS; I’ll need to look you over.” The doctor pulled a medipen from behind his back, and began adjusting the settings. “Pa, if you would take Specimen Sieglinde’s restraint whilst I conduct the examination-”
Jasmine instinctively backed up.
“Whoa, wait what? What are you going to do?” Sigi had backed up behind Jasmine as the Arvas assistant in full white coat approached them.
Krydon and Pa were taken back.
“Pa will take hold of Specimen Sieglinde's restraint and reinstall her translator whilst I give you a quick scan to ensure you haven’t suffered any lingering symptoms of VEFS.” Krydon explained, while Pa looked on apologetically.
Jasmine looked down at the dog; the last time they were in the medical wing it had not been a great experience for either of them.
“Okay... Just, don’t take her out of the Lab.”
“Certainly, we wouldn’t want to trigger you again.” Krydon replied absently while Pa, a tall pleasantly green insectoid offered their open hand for the leash. Jasmine warily handed it over, and the second Pa and Sieglinde were out of the way, Krydon began pointing the Medipen at Jasmine’s translator. With a short ping, the holographic display changed, updating it with new data. Her body mass shrank, heat signals increased, and the heart quickened slightly - Krydon then shifted his attention to the hologram.
He began tapping in directions on the sensor panel and the display began to jump between organs and body positions, spouting rapid diagnostic spiel.
“Oxygen saturation: 4% increase,
Heart rate 2% increase,
Muscle tension 11% decrease,
Neural activity up 40% percent-”
Krydon’s curiosity was peaked and he gave an intrigued,
“Hmm?” He activated the sensor and brought up the graphic of her brain.
It was dazzling.
Watching the 3-D model burst into life, neurons firing even as it turned.
“Wow. It’s so cool seeing it in 3-D, is this all in real time?” she asked, but didn’t receive an answer. Krydon continued to tap at the sensor, his cyber eye making mechanical buzzes all the while.
“According to these scans,” Krydon informed her. “You have the same amount of activity as a major VEFS sufferer, but you’re displaying none of the symptoms. This is very useful data indeed, almost enough for me to reschedule the Perception tests myself.”
He danced his claws over the panel, recording and stowing away the information. He turned and began to walk over to another terminal; a control board situated in front of the observation screen.
“Now, the visual perception studies have been set up in the Prac lab, if you would step through the door we can get started and complete the test reasonably quickly.”
“But, Dr. Xant said that I wasn’t in a condition to perform a Standardisation Test,” she advised the old lizard.
“Are you saying your current condition affects your visual perception in some manner?” Krydon asked, concerned.
“Well, no...”
“Does the VEFS in some way warp your perception of sound?” He continued with a curious tone.
“No...” Jasmine was sure she knew where this line of questioning was going.
“Then I see no reason not to begin the test,” he reasoned with a congenial smile. “The door is to your right, I will direct you from here.” Krydon didn’t wait for her compliance, using both his hands and tail to begin whatever tests they had in store for her in the lab room - oblivious to the idea that she would even have an objection.
Jasmine narrowed her eyes at the saggy skinned lizard, unimpressed with his bedside manner.
“Will Sieglinde still be here when the test is over?” She asked the doctor with a firmness to her voice.
“Specimen Sieglinde will be under the care of Pa, and I’ll ask the Captain to stay as well - I’d rather not have a repeat of the last incident.” He didn't even bother to look up from the console.
Jasmine scanned the room; Sieglinde was sitting patiently, but unhappily beside the Arvas assistant. Rynard was still in the patient room, speaking with the other Arvas Med-assistant, no doubt about Xant’s condition. Her outburst had caused him so much pain that he had to chemically knock himself out. She worried what that would mean for them in the future.
“The room is ready for you Subject Jasmine,” Dr. Krydon insisted, interrupting Jasmine’s concerned thoughts for her friend.
“I’d prefer ‘Miss Howe’, if you wouldn’t mind.” She replied, a bit more haughty than she intended, but the doctor didn’t even respond to her change of tone or demand of name. Surely the Chief Medical officer should have been a bit more... perceptive? Attentive? She stomped toward the door with a newfound determination - she was going to speed through that perception test, if only so she wouldn’t have to be there a minute longer.
-*-
Isolation.
Alone.
Alone…
Pain.
FEAR.
Xant woke up with a start, smashing his head with such force inside the stabiliser pod he let out a roar of pain. The assistant scrambled to open the pod’s clear casing as Xant writhed inside. His head throbbed and his throat prickled from the under-used cords. He heard the pod open, and felt Rynard’s strong hands pin his body down inside it.
Xant couldn’t move and the fear that had awoken him returned.
“Dr. Xant.” Captain Rynard’s voice was slow, deliberate. “You are in the patient room of the medical department, you are not in danger, do not react.”
“Release me now Captain.” Xant managed, but his body began to shake. Rynard removed his grip slowly, and the doctor was left to steady himself. Nu, the sturdy yet agile assistant frantically listened to the diagnostics information the pod was divulging about Xant, his speech so fast it was almost gibberish.
“Thisisincrediblethereadingsareoffthechartsifhehadnotadmisteredhedbestiffedforsure!” The Arvas assistant then rushed off and out of the room, becoming engrossed in uploading the data to the main terminal.
The Zenthi sat up slowly, a hand rubbing the soon to be bruised forehead.
“Do you remember what happened?” Rynard questioned, authority in his voice.
Xant hesitated.
“Yes,” he began, trying to recall the events. “Jasmine had become stressed during our session, I took appropriate action.” He relayed, doing his best not to incriminate himself in any deemable recklessness.
“How much depressor chems did you take?”
“⅔ vial, standard dosage for VEFS major shock.” He replied clinically.
“I found 2 empty vials in your quarters,” Rynard replied quietly, positioning himself between Xant and the doorway. “And this is your second recorded attack in 4 [days]…”
“I am well aware of that Captain,” Xant confirmed. “We are dealing with an untrained Frequency manipulator with no comprehension of her own strength; there are bound to be one or two miscalculations during communication.”
Rynard folded his arms.
“I was told to deliver a month's worth of chems. If you’re taking ⅔ vial with every contact [day]-”
“I have calculated the risks and am well aware of the hypocrisy involved, but I believe the results will ultimately be worth more than the incurred damage.” The doctor looked the Captain in the eye. “I am quite capable of monitoring my own condition.”
Rynard sighed.
“Look, I know Jasi’ would never do anything intentionally, but you gotta lay off the ‘merge sessions - at least until she’s got some idea of what she’s throwing out into the atmo’.” The Captain looked over his shoulder, ensuring of their moment of privacy. “I mean, it’s nothin’ I can’t handle, but I’ve fought wills with Pirate Princesses. You ever gone up against anything other than a Zenthi One Priest?”
Xant's gaze grew dark.
“I have met eye to eye with a Rajavan Vassal, no smaller than yourself. I understand the impact of a hostile force.”
Rynard gave an impressed chuckle.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Really?! Heh, wasn’t expecting that from you.”
“It is not something I openly speak of.”
“Why not?! Damn, if I had known that-”
“Kindly never bring it up again.” Xant shot down, “It is not a memory of pride.”
“Ah... “ Rynard nodded. “Well for Jasi’s sake, don’t get yourself anymore dosed,” he warned Xant. “Last thing she needs is for you to stiff it.”
“This is only temporary,” Xant explained, sliding onto his feet. “When the Translator Technician arrives we will be able to design a Frequency modulator that can help Jasmine control her Freq output. She lacks the natural ability, like me or the Arvas. I should only need the chems for another [week] or two but just in case, I will limit the meditation sessions from now on.”
Rynard nodded his head again and relaxed his arms, satisfied with Xant’s answer.
“Good, now with you awake I got someone who can explain to me exactly what is going on with those tests in User terms.”
Xant's ears flattened.
“Tests?! What tests?”
“The Perception Tests? Jasi and Krydon have been running through them for the last 3 [hours] or so-”
Xant held the side of the pod.
“How long was I unconscious?”
“Most I figure four [hours],” Rynard stated, and flaired his nostrils when he saw Xant was relieved at the news.
“Four [hours]…” The Doctor repeated thoughtfully. Xant stood up straight, fixing the position of his jacket and suit. “The tests are still being conducted?”
“Err, yeah, they’re just finishing up now.”
Xant folded his arms behind his back, the veil of professionalism complete.
“Then we best join them - it is imperative I do not fall behind on my research,” he stated; taking the lead with very precise and firm steps. Rynard gave another huff of concern but followed the Doctor out all the same.
Nu looked up from the terminal and rushed over to Dr. Xant, another diagnostic tool in hand.
“DH Xant? Would I be allowed to monitor your condition?” His excited twitching fingers making it impossible to hold the tool still.
Xant nodded his head.
“I believe that to be for the best.” He raised his hand to the assistant offering to take the familiar equipment - a wristband that continuously recorded his current condition. Much like the device that was already wired into his translator to alert the medical wing of any physical harm his body was under, the wristband also recorded VEFS stress. Nu nodded his head vigorously as Xant slipped it on.
“I’ll have the Freq-band send the data straight to my terminal - thank you for this opportunity to study this phenomenon first hand.” He bowed deeply before running straight back to the terminal; the young Arvas already digging deep into the available data.
“So,” Rynard queried over Xant’s shoulder and the good Doctor turned to face the Captain. “Why all the flickering lights?”
Xant was finally able to turn his attention to the observation window.
Jasmine stood inside the large featureless room, isolated from the scientist conducting the experiment on her senses. The room itself was equipped with every form of sensory resistance, much like a holding cell. Sound proof, radiation proof, Freq proof, visual aid proof. When sealed, the observation window, speakers and cameras were the only means of communication.
Xant watched the quick flashing of the environmental lights from the monitor.
“Dr. Krydon is testing the response time of Jasmine’s corneas from bright to dark environments.” He peered over the aging Sulin’s monitor. “And it appears she’s doing rather poorly.”
“It took almost 10 [minutes] for her eyes to adjust to a darkened environment and she was completely unable to do so in the absence of a light source,” Krydon remarked. “We can’t do a test above 8,000 lumens without discomforting the Subject, or her ocular receptors involuntarily interfere with the results.” The CMO looked up from his monitor for the first time, organic eye blinking.
“She tests poorly in almost every aspect of the Perceptions test except precision and range.” Krydon reached over the sensor board and turned off the flashing lights, before turning on the speaker.
“We have concluded this portion of the test. Wait for further instructions.” The medical officer didn’t wait for confirmation. Krydon pulled up the results on his terminal for Xant to see.
“While the Subject is only able to sense a narrow part of the spectrum, what she is able to discern within that window is impressive. She was able to distinguish every speaker on the pitch/tone test and identify 32 distinct sounds simultaneously.”
“32?” Xant queried further.
“There are only so many sounds we could recreate within the range and the Subject was unfamiliar of the causality of such noises, identifying them with the closest to her homeworld equivalent. Apparently, the loading sounds of a FAK-12 are the same as an earth ‘traffic light’ Isn’t that just curious?” He mused.
“Any other anomalies of note?” Xant queried.
“Oh yes, during the pitch/tone tests the subject was able listen to a sound and reproduce it with her own vocal chords to a surprising degree of accuracy. Mimicking the sound bars up to 7 points, after only a single exposure!”
“It is possible this is a more important part of the human language,” Xant mused. “Without a translator to determine intent and no natural Frequency recognition, the human language might have more depth than Original Qzetillian dialect.”
“Hmmm,” Krydon swayed his head side to side in thought. “With all those syllables she was spraying out to describe simple results you might be right; Dr. Jess is going to break her claws with all the digging she going to do into this Xeno’s culture.”
“I find the rhythm of speech rather pleasant,” Xant commented. “There’s no harsh clicks or guttural coughs.”
Both the Captain and CMO looked at Xant strangely, unsure as to be insulted on behalf of their native tongue or concerned that the normally reserved doctor was beginning to show more and more of a personality.
“No, but her high shriek certainly isn't attractive,” The doctor replied, referring to the scream Jasmine had expelled during her requisition of Sieglinde.
“But it certainly grabs your attention, doesn’t it?” Xant countered.
A silence hung in the air between the three, and Xant felt he may have overstepped a line of sorts.
“If that is the end of the test you can allow Jasmine to exit the Prac room.” Xant stated dismissively - ignoring the eyeballing he was receiving from Rynard.
Krydon gave an eye roll; his claw over the sensor bar again.
“This concludes the Perceptions Test, you may exit the room.” Krydon drawled, and swiftly returned to his work. The Lab’s door opened and Jasmine was eager to exit. Her face brightening with a smile when she saw Xant up and about.
“XANT! YOU’RE ALRIGHT! THANK GOODNESS!” Her voice boomed across the room, startling everyone. “YOU HAD ME WORRIED THERE YOU KNOW! YOU DIDN’T TELL ME THE SHOT WOULD KNOCK YOU OUT!”
“Jasmine,” Xant rushed over, pleading, “There’s no need to speak with such volume.”
“OH! I MEAN- I mean, sorry.” She adjusted her voice, and reached for the imaginary hair behind her ear. “The perception test - Krydon had the sound up a bit loud for a while. There’s still ringing in my ears.”
“You are recovering well,” Xant acknowledged.
“Oh, my hearing should be fine in a couple of hours, WORST CASE DAYS,” She shrugged, her voice slipping volume.
“I was speaking of the VEFS.”
“Oh YEAH,” The human shook her head and smiled. “Sometimes I just need to get it off my chest and it’s better that I do something to keep me distracted rather than dwell on it...”
“Redirecting the focus; an understable coping technique.” Xant agreed. Jasmine then looked around - she smiled and greeted Rynard, but then the smile faded quickly.
“Where’s Sieglinde?”
“Specimen Sieglinde is located in the second patient room.” Nu spoke up, but stayed in Xant and Rynard’s shadow. His brown arm pointing over to the opposite side of the room. “Pa should be calibrating the translator now-”
All at once the room took a step back - the grin on Jasmine’s face, as well as her Freq output was positively beaming.
“Can I see her??” She asked excitedly, forgetting all about having to keep her composure.
“Uhhh,” Nu’s voice seemed to float “Sure.. I’ll just… inform Pa…”
“Thank you!” Jasmine thanked him again and another burst of warm butterflies tickled his thorax.
“You’re welcome… Your Grace…” Nu glided across the room and tapped on the sensor bar. Rynard stepped out of line and placed a hand on the human’s shoulder, his fist easily the size of her head.
“Calm down there Jasi’, you’ll overload the lot of us.” But the human simply looked up at Rynard, her eyes watering and a determination growing within her.
“Rynard, I don’t expect you to understand, but one of the greatest, deepest wishes of mankind is about to be fulfilled.” She walked out from under the Captain's grip, walking towards the door, but she stopped midstep. “It might be best if everyone left the laboratory, I don’t know how strongly my emotions will be when we start talking.”
Xant’s ears stood up on end and he agreed immediately.
“Krydon, Nu, I believe we should follow Jasmine's advice, we could be subjected to Freq-bomb levels - Rynard, please stay in the lab once you have escorted Pa out.” Xant walked over to Jasmine.
“Freq-bomb?” Krydon frowned in concern, looking to Rynard for instruction. The Captain was quick to usher the CMO and his assistant toward the door.
“You better do as he suggests; I ain’t gonna be responsible if you all end up jitterjacked.”
“But?...” Nu protested weakly, “It feels so nice now…”
Rynard only needed to give a hard stare for the assistant to surrender, following behind the aging Doctor.
“Jasmine, if I may?” Xant pulled off the wristband he was given only moments ago. “This is a Freq-band - it will monitor your VEFS readings.”
Jasmine looked at the small, steel coloured wristband.
“Doesn’t that need to be attached to my skin? Will it work through the suit?”
Xant took ahold of her arm, sliding it over her wrist.
“The suit’s fabric has sensors of your vitals, it is indeed compatible.” He adjusted the device to fit her armoured wrist and activated it, the sensors glowing a familiar blue. “It is disappointing I will not be there to observe, but I speculate I have had enough exposure for one day.” The wristband gave the usual ping, and Xant slowly let go of her hand. Jasmine nodded understanding.
“Okay, I will let you know when it’s safe.”
Xant hesitated, but followed after the others to safety, leaving Jasmine alone in the lab.
Her nerves were reaching almost nauseating levels. She stepped into the patient room, and saw Sieglinde sitting on the bedding of the pod.
The dog was scratching at her ear, the translator poking out. Jasmine recognised the model - it was the first one Xant had installed in her own ear before her brain waves had blown it up. She approached slowly, holding her own hands. Sigi was pleased to see her of course, and happy Jasmine had chosen to sit down beside her.
“Hello, Sieglinde..” Jasmine’s voice was gentle, hoping she wouldn't frighten the creature.
The golden retriever's eyes widened, staring back at the human with pure shock.
“You, you can understand me now, can’t you?” Jasmine laid a caring hand on her, “This thing in your ear, it allows us to talk to each other for the first time…”
Sigi continued to stare, Jasmine’s eyes began to overflow.
“Go on, say something, I’ll be able to reply.” She coerced.
“Bark! (Understand)” Sigi answered and Jasmine let out a small squeak.
“You... understand?! You know what I am saying?!”
“Bark! (Yes!)”
Jasmine let out another sob and wrapped her arms around her companion, her heart fluttering with joy.
“I’m so happy, oh my god Sigi we can finally talk to each other!!”
“Bark Bark! (Yes, happy)”
Jasmine held Sigi’s face, squeezing the dogs cheeks as she made her vow.
“Sieglinde, I promise, no matter what, I will protect you, I will help you FIND OSKAR, I WILL GET US HOME AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE NO ONE HURTS US AGAIN!”
Sieglinde pushed forward and licked Jasmine’s face.
“Whimper, whine... (Namegiver, good Namegiver) whimper (No, sad) whine (loud)”
“Oh, I’m sorry Sigi.” Jasmine whispered, kissing the dog’s forehead “I won’t yell anymore.”
Jasmine studied Sieglinde’s expressions. The dopey grin was gone, replaced with a serious concentration, a focus on Jasmine. Was it attentiveness? Curiosity? Fear? Shock? All of the above? The human could barely control her own smile, wiping away inconvenient tears. For the first time in history, Human and Canine could speak with each other on an equal level, although Jasmine had a feeling she would be the one doing most of the talking.
The translator in Sigis’ ear was a lower quality model. Nuances and sentence structure were minimal and words only formed as Sigi ‘spoke’. Jasmine remembered Xant telling her that dogs were capable of telepathic speech, but without the same Zenthi translator installed Sigi probably wouldn’t be able to speak as Xant could.
“There are so many things I want to ask you Sigi, I’m not even sure where to start…”
Sieglinde stared back intently, listening and understanding her companion. Jasmine ran her hands over the golden fur.
“(Start small, yes or no questions..)” Her own mind suggested.“Sigi? Are you happy?”
Sieglinde barked and the dopey grin returned.
“Bark! (Yes!) Bark (Happy!)”
“That’s good… Do you like it when I pet you?” Jasmine asked, suddenly conscious of the creature’s personal space.
“Bark! (Yes!) whine, whine (Namegiver good! Pet!) ”
Jasmine gave a sigh of relief.
“Well, you let me know if you ever want me to stop petting you okay?” and the human gave a firm ruffle of the dog's fur just to be sure. Sigi closed her eyes and let out a few loud pants, but the translator didn’t respond.
Jasmine thought about her next question, chuckling as she decided.
“Sigi, do you like the taste of dog food?”
“Bark! (Yes!)”
“(Well that solves that age old question.) Do you like sausages?”
“Bark! Bark! (Yes!Yes!)”
“Do you like steak?”
“Bark! (Yes!)”
“Which do you like better?”
Sigi looked up excitedly at Jasmine but once again the translator failed to relay the excited answers the dog was probably thinking in her direction.
“I’m sorry Sigi, I can’t hear you unless you bark. How about one bark for yes and two barks for no?”
Dejected, the dog's smile fell, but her head nudged toward Jasmine’s hand.
“Whimper (noise, loud).” Human hands brushed over the awkwardly placed translator.
“Hmmm, I’ll see what I can do.” Jasmine flopped open Sigi's ear and took a closer look at the metallic bean. It was stainless steel, smooth, and had the familiar idle blue glow to it in circular patterns across its surface. They had set it in place with a pink putty completely closing off the ear canal. But, as she suspected, there was no way to adjust the settings of the translator. At least not without a tablet or a clue of how to do it in the first place.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized again “I’ll speak a little quieter, and ask the nurse to turn it down for you later.”
“Whimper (Understand.)” Sigi then laid her head on Jasmine’s lap, looking up expectantly. Jasmine rested her hand upon Sigi's head, more questions came flooding in. Could dogs talk to other dogs without translators? Did dogs have a language? Wait, no, she had been speaking to Sigi the entire time but the dog only really reacted when she started pronouncing German words, well beer names. But could dogs talk to each other like Xant's people did? A universal language?
“Sigi, can you talk to other dogs?”
“Bark! (Yes!)”
“Have you talked with the other dogs here?”
“Bark! (Yes!) Bark bark! (Kimiko! Spades!)”
“And they understand you?”
“Bark Bark! (No!)” Sigi replied happily. Jasmine couldn’t help but laugh, Dogs were telepathic, but still only knew one language; learning from the humans around them. The other dogs mustn’t speak German either.
“They don’t speak German either huh?” Saying it out loud stirred another trail of thought she had been trying to bury. Sigi was a German dog and Jasmine was from Australia. Countries on complete opposite ends of the world; had Sigi been in Aus when she was abducted? Were she and Oskar on vacation?
“Sigi, do you remember what happened before you were abducted?”
Sigi blinked, waiting for more instructions.
“Uhh, let’s see, do you remember when you were… Taken?”
“Bark! (Yes)”
“Was there a bright light?”
“Bark! (Yes!)”
“Hmmm...” Jasmine pondered, “Do you remember where you were when the light took you?”
“Bark! (Yes!) Bark whine (Snow, trees! Oskar!)”
Snow.
Her stomach filled with lead.
Jasmine's memories flashed, she was on the beach, sitting around a campfire. Feet buried in the soft white sand, warm summer air blew her hair and she was drinking cold beer. Summer, festival season, school break. Sigi was taken in the snow, Jasmine had never even seen snow.
It didn’t make any sense - just why? Why take a human from one end of the planet and a dog from another? If Sigi was with Oskar why not just take them both? Why did those fucking, disgusting brains choose them?! What was so freaking special about them?!
“You were with Oskar when the light took you?”
“Bark! (Yes) whimper, whimper (Oskar together) whimper, whimper (hug hurt).”
“Oh Jesus…” Jasmine whispered. “Hug hurt? He was holding you?”
“Whimper... (Yes)” Sigi climbed into Jasmine’s lap, nudging again. The human obliged the animals request, holding her reassuringly. Oskar had been holding Sieglinde when the Rajava abducted them…
So where was he now?