Emeraldton, Severnaya

Military Hospital

4603 SPR / 3 Years to Zero Hour

Part I

„Vanessa? Vanney, You in there?“

The voice was muffled. Far away. Shapes blurry. A tortured raspy groan was the only response she could find the strength for. Considering her state, even that was a miracle. Dozed as she was, her last experience before falling unconcious returned to mind. Bone cracking, blood flowing. The only sensation she remembered of the moment she knew her life was over, was the pressure of the closing bulkhead. She was in agony.

‚It’s over now. No getting out of this. No more serving on Skyships.‘ Despite her delirious state, her mind went into overdrive. She saw psychedelic imagery before her eyes, no matter if they were closed or open. She felt pain, cramping, itching, heat, cold. Everything at the same time.

She couldn’t remember if she screamed or cried. It was all black until she started fading in and out of conciousness in hospital.

„Vanessa!“ Again that muffled voice. But it was familiar.

„Dad?“ Her response so faint, it was barely audible. Time was unfathomable.

Writhing, she tried to catch a feel of what was left of her. Although she could feel her arms and legs were still there, her eyes – and reality – strongly disagreed. No matter what movements she told them to perform…. nothing happened.

The realisation made her lightheaded. How would her life continue after this? What job would the military have for her; crippled? How could she get back on a Skyship?

The feelings were overwhelming and her eyes watered.

Eons passed. Contours of her father sitting beside her bed became readable. She felt ashamed for having him see her like this. And worst of all, she could only blame herself.

Suddenly the contours were gone. Then they appeared again. No, not again. A different shape that time. It too disappeared before she could tell who it was.

Things came into focus. The friendly face of her father greeted her.

„I’m so sorry.“

„There’s nothing You need to be sorry for.“ he replied softly.

„I killed them. It’s my fault.“

„Did You light a match in the magazines? I dont think so. So it’s not Your fault.“

She could roughly make out that his features were tense. He held back, wanted to tell her something.

„You uhm…“ His gaze went downwards along her torso. „…lost quite a lot of blood, there kid.“

„I think I lost a bit more.“ She replied, voice cracking.

„That’s why I’m here. I found doctors who can help you.“

„No.“ she shook her head the little she could. „There is no fixing this! Not without hydraulics!“

„Yes! Yes there is!“ he breathed. „They were working on new prototypes. No oil required. We can fix you right up.“

„You’re bullshitting me.“ panicked she tried to think. Her father wouldn’t put her through this, would he? Why would he lie? It couldn’t be a lie, it was her father! But the technology simply wasn’t there yet. As far as she knew, even the most advanced prosthectics still used hydraulics.

„Why would I lie? Hm? I know you’d never forgive me, for putting that stuff into You!“

But at this point, there was no more talking to her. No more convincing. Not even doctors could reach her, and so the decision was passed to Jackson. Her crying and begging turned into outright sobbing. „Please… I don’t want oil changes! I couldn’t handle that! Dad, please!“

His mind was already made up. For the past two days since the accident, he cobbled together all known associates and medical professionals he knew, to fix up his little girl. And fixed up she would be, no two ways about it. But into how many more pieces could his heart break, until then? How much more pain could be piled on?

When the reports first came in, it was labeled as malfunction. Then they claimed of a fire, and later, an explosion. It was only when he made his way to the site of the accident personally, that he understood the full gravity of the situation. Almost 300 dead, hundreds more wounded, and his own daughter among the most severe.

Now she would hate him for thinking he betrayed her. Believing he would install hydraulic prosthectics against her will, just to fix her up. Just to have her back.

His jaw Clenched. That pain would only be temporary. She wouldn’t hate him forever.

Mercifully, she fainted before the doctors could roll out her bed. At least that she was being spared of, being helpless and torn away from the only real family member she had left.

Her limbs had to be reconstructed from scratch. Latest alloys and the most advanced joints, were used to lay the skeletal foundation from which to expand outwards. Under clinical conditions, tissue, nerves and muscles were crafted from her own organic material and enriched with carbides, and alloys. These Organo-Mechanic Prosthectics allowed the user full range of motion, while maintaining all sensory functions, as well as looking opticly like a regular non-repaired body part.

Vanessa finally awoke in a jolt. Her breathing heavy. She looked at the ceilling. Her mind was clear. Nowhere near as clouded as last time she was awake. Memory of her father having been there returned.

Without noticing she motioned to rub her face with her right hand, and then everything came back, like a truckload of sand. The begging, the sobbing. The betrayal she felt. She was dececrated. Immediately panicking, she tried to find the plugs in between her skin, where exchange lines would be connected to.

There were none. Not on her arm, not on her right hip. Franticly, with the one unaugmented hand she knew she had, ripped away the sheets and revealed her legs, looking to be in prestine condition. No plug there either. She became disoriented, light headed.

And furious.

„HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME!?!!“ She screamed at the top her lungs.

In a frenzy, she clawed at herself, attempting to rip them out, when suddenly, the rest of her gave way. She fell back into her bed, the left arm remaining the only thing she could reliably move. Her legs were so heavy all of a sudden. And the right arm, too. She could barely lift it. Only the fingers would open and close, sometimes feeling like an electric missfire made them twitch irregularly.

Screaming and crying, she begged for help until a nurse rushed in. She couldn’t make herself understood. Nothing would calm her. A doctor had to be brought in, to administer a sedative.

Part II

She understood it when she woke once more, what weighed so heavy on her; the prosthectics. Her new biggest enemy, apart from her father.

He betrayed her.

And then, he walked in the door -With relief on his face, and no mind in the world paid, to what he had done.

„You’re awake“ he motioned to hug her, but Vanessa made clear she was not in the mood.

„Don’t touch me!“ she shouted as she pushed him away. And hard.

„They’re not hydraulics Vanney, I told you.“

„Oh sure, I get turned into minced meat, and SUDDENLY we have a new generation of prosthetics lying around, waiting JUST for me! How convenient!“

„Well sometimes life just plays out that way. But if You really think I could betray you like that, then You’ll only be plesantly surprised, the longer You go on with them.“

She had no way to argue that point and calmed down a bit, realizing that she will indeed find out, the more time passed, but her death-stare remained.

„Why can’t I move?“ She asked angrily.

„You can’t? Jackson was surprised. She should have full control over herself, according to what the doctors had told him.

„I mean…. ugh… I could, but then suddenly I lost all strength.. Arms and legs feel like they weigh a ton.“

He sighed, „Ooooookay, she is really taking that seriously.“

„I’m sitting right here!“ Vanessa exclaimed, anger flaring up again.

„Mh, not you. Our friend… that’s…“ he continued, words getting mumblier as he went on: „controlling your limbs.“

„Friend? Dad?! You best start explaining this!“

„Weellll, you said we had a new generation of prosthetics >lying around<, but we didn’t… they’re kind of in their infancy, but far enough to be trialed on humans.“ he admitted reluctantly, like a teenager recieving a parental dressing down.

„Wow. Guess you should’ve moved to trials on Braindead people instead.“ Vanessa deadpanned.

„H-hang on,“ he started with a sigh, „We just have to talk to Rarity about why she shut you down.“

„What’s Rarity got to do with this?“

„She’s …. in there…“ he said, gesturing at her body.

„Huh?“

„She has been put into your prosthetics, because they dont work otherwise.“

„Are you drunk? Dad, Crystal-UNKNOWN are R-A-D-I-O-A-C-T-I-V-E. If she was that close to me, I would be a puddle now.“

Jackson reflexibly smiled for a second, but caught himself right away. „Aw man, where do I start.“ he said at the ceilling.

„Okay. The short version, is that Rarity had an accident on a mission. Two years ago.“

„Why don’t I know about this?“

„Classified“

„No.“ Vanessa shook her head. „She’s my sister!“

„Telling you would’ve only spun you out again and i didnt-„

„Dad!

„…want… to put you through another potential loss. Vanney. What’s done is done.“

„She’s family. What if she wanted to see m-„

„She did. But I admitted, that I never told you. And she understood that.“

Silence filled the room.

„So…. What happened?“ Vanessa said curtly.

Jackson took a breath. „Some goons took her out with Armor Piercing rounds. Crystal ended up shattered. About a dozen pieces. Never happened before. We thought it killed her, at first.

But it turns out, it keeps working in the same way, just with more parts, excluded all the splinters you didnt pick up, or the fine dust that gets swept away with a gentle autumn breeze.

In two years, not a single bright mind, who had the security clearance, could figure out how to put her back together. She tried to hide how terrified she was. And she lost a lot of herself. Like you did.

In the end, it was your accident that sparked the idea about how to help her.

Your prostetics dont properly interface with your brain. The impulses are jumbled, barely readable. The limbs can tell theyre activated but not to what degree. An UNKNOWN can read what your brain is putting out, and with a days worth of training get enough, to translate proper input.

When they made your new bones, they did so with enough space for Rarity’s shards in mind, that they properly conduct any current between them, and that you dont get microwaved by the radiation she puts out. Which is by the way, a lot easier with these small shards than a full size crystal. A whole nother box of pandora we really don’t need to open now.

All this to say, your noggin‘ produces the current, that keeps Rarity running at all times, and she in turn helps you move. You both put each other back together.“

Both remained quiet again for a moment.

Without noticing it, Vanessa pulled her knees close. „That’s actually quite a nice thought. But….. How does she talk?“

„On any normal day she can tap into your hearing and just make you hear her… somehow… I don’t know how that works, BUT!“ out of a duffle bag, he pulled a small laptop and some cables, „… I have made a Deal with her, that she won’t be talking to you that way, until the three of us got a chance to catch up together.“

He switched sides, to Vanessa’s right and motioned to stick some thimbles on her. „We made your index and ring fing- WOW those are actually a lot heavier, holy crap!“ he exclaimed as he held her hand.

Vanessa was amused by his excitement. He continued shaking his head: „Anyway… we made them to be a bit more conductive than the other ones, for this specific purpose.“ Connecting the other ends to the Laptop, he gleefully awaited a response.

„Portable sound output established, Rarity. How’s it going in there?“

„Splendid, Sir. Bored, but at least I’m actually warm here.“ she said with a faint laugh in her voice.

„Warm?“ Vanessa asked concerned.

„Mh, long story. Don’t worry about it.“ Rarity assured.

„So, why’d you have her shut down when I came in?“

„As you said, Sir. My job is to protect her, even from herself. And I do take that seriously. You were kind of going crazy, when you thought they put hydraulics on you.

„That’s a lie.“ Vanessa retorted.

„I got the recordings, honey. You want me to play them back?“

Vanessa only growled and gave Jackson another deathglare.

„Come on now. I’ve been stuck here for weeks not doin‘ shit. Move yourself, soldier!“

Somewhat in awe, she compared her right and left hands, looked down on herself and checked her legs too. Nothing about her skin indicated any patching up or anything new having been attatched. Not even the faintest suture was visible.

„It looks real but, it feels kinda off.“

„That will pass with time.“ Rarity said, before her father could. „I’ve had some time to get used to your synapses, but You were just lying here, idly. Walking and running and everything else, we have to learn together now. Should only take a couple days, until my pattern recognition figures you out, and then… Won’t feel any different from before.“

She took a moment to process it. Played with her legs, toes and fingers. It was all there, they weren’t phantoms anymore. But it didn’t fit with her memory of what happened on the Trident. It was so surreal. Half of her was gone. And then it was back. More or less, just like that.

„Dad?“ She curled up.

„Hm?“

„If Rarity’s been here for weeks… How long am I here now?“

„Ten months.“

Vanessa took a breath. Ten months had felt for her like little more than just a couple of days.

Another moment went by.

„Trident.“ She said, oozing determination.

„Vanessa, you don’t need-“ He tried to say but Vanessa cut him off.

„Tell me everything You know.“ Her breathing was going a little heavier.

„How much do you remember?“ he asked softly.

„Well….

The trials were officially called off for the day. But i was unhappy with the crews performence.Called one last drill; 10 Minute situation, high intensity, incoming ordnance, rapidly changing circumstances, orbital fire missions, the works…. Total shitshow. Right out of the gate. Just as i gave the ceasefire order, we had the alert. Red lights, port forward magazine.“

„Fire.“ Her father chimed in, nodding along.

„Pretty big one too.“, she said with a sigh, loosening up a bit. „And I realized, the shipmates down there, were mostly greens. They were prepped for a Trial, and not a full on situation. They would need someone with experience with them, on site, to help coordinate DC teams. But Hamilton wouldn’t hear any of it. All that bickering cost us too much time. On my way, I got knocked off my feet. Something exploded. When I arrived, they were running around like headless chickens. I got them organized, geared up, we fought the fires where we needed to, and got some of the trapped ones to safety. But by that time we were already losing atmo, from the breaches.“

She hugged her legs tighter. „I need to admit something.“

„That is?“ Jackson asked.

„I gave them my codes. Damage Control override. Kept the bulkheads open for us, to grab more people. I wanted to get as many as possible.“

„Yes, I know.“

„Then why are You asking?“

„Because now I can be proud, that You’re owning up to it, without having been told to do so.“

Vanessa was torn between accepting the compliment and reprimanding him for complimenting her in the first place. „I put everyone on that ship in danger. They wanted to close shop from OPS, but couldn’t, because I had a personal vendetta with myself. All that extra airflow probably made the fires even worse.“

She didn’t continue for a long moment and Jackson left her with her thoughts.

„Anything else?“

„Only that they started closing bulkheads manually while we were still working. Increase in sucktion pulled me off my feet on the way out. I was hanging on a trooper’s hand when they finally cleared my override and slammed the bulkheads shut… on me. ……… Now i’m here.“

A moment passed before she looked him dead in the eyes. „Your turn.“

She retreated further. Bracing herself for the News. „The explosion ripped out six Secondary emplacements on the port side and left a gash in the hull. Magazines were secured, no further damage to the ship, but…. 279 souls lost.“

Vanessa only buried her face.

Jackson put a hand on her shoulder, „Now listen to me: We found out what caused it. And it wasn’t You! Honest, I swear it.“ He leaned back in his chair and his demeanor went grim.

„We’ve been duped, to be quite frank. Some Avalonian Profiteer, with ties to the seperatists took some kickbacks, made shady deals left and right… As a result, the entire Sky Force has been running on adulterated cooling liquid for the better part of a decade. Right under my nose.“ Vanessa could sense how much this bothered him. „Queen Orphelia and her Mother are cleaning up loose ends on their side, and then we’re almost over the mountain.“

Jackson just looked at her. She made no effort to respond.

„What are you thinking?“
„Doesn’t matter.“ Vanessa finally said.

„What doesn’t?“ Jackson inquired.

„Cooling liquid. Profit. Seperatists. I called the excersize. The coolant would’ve remained thinned, sure. But if I hadn’t made the call to go beserk on those rookies… The fire would never have started. They just werent read for what i put them through. No matter how you turn it, I still killed them. I’m responsible.“

And Jackson had no way to argue otherwise.

Instead he continued, „There is another matter. This whole thing isn’t quite over yet.

In the court martials that we held so far, Hamilton and the other officers have thrown You on the rails, with their tails between their legs. Only Vicemarshal Porter vindicated You of any i’ll intent or wrong doing. Because of Your abscence, the public believes we have been playing favourites with You.“ he paused and then added sheepishly „Even more so than usual.“

„So what’s that mean for me?“

„You’re going to have to testify, and the press has been hyping it up for weeks.“ again he paused. „But we can talk strategies when Your’e on the mend. For now, it’s most important you get back on your feet. Sort yourself out and get to know Rarity better. Youll be spending the rest of your life together.“

„Yo, I think I have an idea about that.“ Rarity chimed in. „Why don’t we try to walk for a couple steps. On my way in, we came by those vending machines out in the hall, and You could use some sugar.“

„Soulfood. You are speaking my language.“ Vanessa said, smiling, and tiredly uncurled herself on the bed.

„There we go, I knew I could turn that frown upside down. Now, Jackson. Don’t You help us getting up. I think can handle this.“

„Well you seem confident.“ he replied.

„Try, thirst for action. Those were easily the most boring six weeks of my life.“

„Ye asketh, and ye shalt recieve.“ Vanessa said slowly, hesitant to set her feet to floor. „Give me a sec.“

„Don’t worry. I got you.“ Rarity said reassuringly.

Vanessa took a deep breath. Putting weight from the bed into her new legs was an incredibly strange feeling. She groaned as they slowly gave in like a soft metal spring. As Rarity’s readings of her sensory output clarified, Vanessa slowly straightned upwards, until she stood. y

„That… feels like i’m wading through Butter.“ Vanessa complained.

„But pretty good for a first try, huh?“ Rarity said, proudly.

„I guess.“

„C’mon. Lets get out into the Hall.“