by S. H. Jucha
There was a pause, as if Zystal was mentally preparing to proceed. “Dome Administrator Jaktook, will you stay?” Zystal asked.
“Her Highness Tacticnok expresses her gratitude and confidence in the medical services of Rissness Station. However, as Pyreans are new to our society, she wishes me to remain close to them and guide them.”
It was easy for Zystal to parse what Jaktook was saying. It wouldn’t change his procedures, but he’d been made aware that the Pyreans were important to Her Highness. He quickly made note of the fact for the others who would work with the humans.
“Would you like to proceed separately or as a group?” Zystal asked. “I’m not aware of your preferences for privacy.”
The men eyed Olivia. As far as they were concerned, it was her choice.
“Together,” Olivia said.
“If one of you would remove your coverings and step on the platform,” Zystal requested.
Olivia took a step forward but was stopped by Pete’s hand on her arm.
“You climbed aboard the shuttle first. This one is my turn,” Pete said. He shucked his coveralls, skins, and deck shoes in quick order. Then he stepped on the platform. Tiny beams were emitted by an overhead ring and from the base of the platform, and they scanned Pete’s body.
“Please announce your name and sex, if it is appropriate,” Zystal requested. When Pete complied, Zystal said, “Now state exactly what we’re to repair.”
Pete hung his head. The majority of his body had been flashburned. JOS medical teams had a problem separating Pete’s clothing from his skin, which left the surface wrinkled in some areas and patterned in others.
“My skin is scarred. It’s the result of burns,” Pete stated firmly. He worked to control his temper, which was driven by the embarrassment of exposing his infirmity.
“Apologies for my misunderstanding,” Zystal said calmly. “Where on your body is there a significant area of original covering?”
Pete thought for a moment and lifted his arms overhead.
“Excellent,” Zystal replied, and the beams scanned again. “To what extent do you wish the texture repeated over your body?”
“Texture?” Pete queried, dropping his arms.
“Yes, at the apex of your limb and central mass you have a texture of fine filaments. Should your body’s covering have this in full or in a pattern?”
“Oh, for the love of Pyre,” Pete moaned. He was at a loss as to how to explain a human male’s physiological appearance to the alien.
Quickly, Bryan stripped off his clothing and stood next to the platform. “Step off, brother,” Bryan ordered gently. He took Pete’s place on the platform and announced, “I’m Bryan Forshaw, a human male.”
Bryan let the beams scan his body. Then he raised his arms, and said, “My friend’s skin should appear smooth like mine but with his coloring. The hair you see on my body is the natural distribution for a human male. Pete’s hair should mimic the hair’s color on his head.”
“Most instructive, Bryan Forshaw; your participation is appreciated,” Zystal replied. “Pete Jennings, please regain the platform.”
After Pete replaced Bryan, Zystal held a discussion about details of the final appearance, including requesting if there were any marks gained over his lifetime that he’d like replaced.
“What kind of marks?” Pete had asked.
“Some of our clients request the restoration of marks of honor gained through ritual combat,” Zystal explained.
“Humans don’t engage in those types of things,” Pete had replied.
“Commendable,” Zystal commented.
When Pete was finished, Zystal proceeded with Bryan. This engineer’s case was easily resolved. The primary question Zystal asked was whether symmetry was to be observed or whether there were specialized limbs that were missing.
Bryan turned his head and grinned at his comrades. “Do you think I should get something unique … maybe an extra powerful arm?”
“Behave,” Olivia scolded. She sounded fierce, but she was smiling and shaking her head in disbelief at Bryan’s humor. Even Jaktook was chittering at the display.
“Symmetry would be appreciated, Zystal,” Bryan finally acknowledged.
“Please, step down,” Zystal instructed. “And now our final client, if you would.”
Olivia stripped off her clothing and gained the platform. In contrast to the men, Olivia wasn’t as uncomfortable displaying her body as much as she was her face. She said, for Zystal’s benefit, “Olivia Harden, female.”
“Is there a difficulty in turning your head forward, Olivia Harden?” Zystal asked.
“No,” Olivia replied, straightening her neck. She thought it was odd that she was embarrassed to show her ruined face to an alien, who would have no idea of what was normal for a human woman.
“I assume you’re in search of symmetry, Olivia Harden?” Zystal requested, when the beams had scanned her.
“Yes,” Olivia politely replied.
“Does this include your ocular elements?” Zystal inquired.
“To a degree,” Olivia said. Before she could expound on her answer, Zystal responded.
“Yes, I see the subtle differences in the males who accompany you. Do you have imagery for me to emulate?” Zystal asked.
On a dark day after Olivia’s recovery, she’d deleted all the photos and vids of her before the accident. She hadn’t wanted to be reminded of how she had once appeared.
“No, I don’t, Zystal, I’ll depend on your creative efforts,” Olivia replied.
“I’m humbled by your offer, Olivia Harden. It’s my hope that you’ll be pleased by my efforts,” Zystal said. The genetics director had a few more questions for Olivia before he excused her.
Olivia dressed and joined the men.
“Excuse me,” Zystal said, “I’ll resume our conversation shortly.”
Jaktook explained, “The beams have penetration capability. Zystal is examining the data to see the extent of injuries beneath the surface.”
As time continued to pass, Jaktook realized he was frowning and smoothed his face before the Pyreans noticed it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quick enough. Olivia had caught him, but she didn’t say anything.
“Thank you for your patience,” Zystal finally said. “As non-alliance members, I’ve observed that your medical services haven’t maintained your bodies in optimal conditions.”
The engineers burst into laughter, and Jaktook hurriedly offered an explanation to prevent Zystal taking umbrage. “The Pyreans are evincing responses that are meant to be taken as agreeing to your words,” he said. “They feel that you’ve severely understated the situation.”
“Thank you for the clarification, Dome Administrator Jaktook,” Zystal said. “Clients, deep analysis of your bodies indicates significant wear. Many aspects of your bodies indicate a younger age than the appearance of joints and bones. These elements are easily repaired while you’re under our care. Do you wish them restored at the same time?”
“Is he kidding?” Pete asked Jaktook.
“Zystal takes his position as genetics director quite seriously,” Jaktook explained. “Our medical services are much more extensive than you might imagine. If Zystal is offering these services, you can be assured that the Rissness medical teams can deliver them.”
The three engineers turned toward one another. Their mouths were open in mock surprise, and then they yelled, “Yes,” in unison.
“We’ll be pleased to honor your requests. My duties with you are complete. A technician will show you to another office where samples will need to be collected from you. Are there any questions for me?” Zystal asked.
“Could we see you?” Olivia asked.
“I’m extremely foreign to you in appearance,” Zystal said. “Are you certain that you wish this?”
“Yes,” Olivia replied, although the men, especially Pete, weren’t sure they agreed.
Digits, which ended in broad suckers appeared out of the murky, gra
y green liquid and stuck to the glass. Thin limbs pulled a pod-like body covered in smooth skin and decorated in red, orange, and brown tones. A bulbous head, with little definitive shape and containing two extremely large eyes, swam close to the glass.
“As you see, I’ve a unique shape among alliance members,” Zystal said. A thin band encircled his throat and picked up his voice.
“At least, among your race, you’re normal,” Olivia retorted. “Among my people, this,” she said, circling a finger around her face, “has frightened many of my species.”
“We will repair that, Olivia Harden. You have the bond of Zystal of Mistral.”
“Aren’t you rather confined if you have to live in there?” Olivia asked, approaching the glass.
“I’m honored that you would be concerned for my mental well-being, Olivia Harden,” Zystal replied. “The genetic director’s position is rotational. A Mistrallian fulfills it for one annual, and then another of my race assumes the position for the next cycle. We’re well compensated for our duty here, and it provides security for our futures. Mistrallians compete fiercely for an opportunity to serve a rotation.”
When Zystal finished, he faded into his watery domain, and on cue, a Jatouche technician entered the room and beckoned them to follow her. The engineers had another ride to reach a narrower corridor, where the gravity was close to that of their stations. It was a familiar comfort.
During a brief stop in a clinically furnished room, samples were collected from nearly every aspect of the engineers’ bodies. To their amazement, the harvesting of cells was so minimal, as to be unnoticeable, even when the Jatouche med techs sought deep samples.
Afterwards, Jaktook led the Pyreans to a dorm-style room. He stood in the doorway and said, “I’ve taken the liberty of requesting a room where the four of us can remain together, unless you’d like to make other arrangements.”
“You’re welcome to stay with us, Jaktook, if you can put up with Pete’s snoring,” Bryan teased.
“As long as Pete doesn’t mind mine,” Jaktook riposted, which had Olivia and Bryan laughing and Pete protesting that he didn’t snore.
-5-
Restorations
The wait for the final phase of the engineers’ restoration to begin might have been punctuated by days of tedium, except Jaktook was determined to prevent that from happening. Tacticnok and he had a plan, and Jaktook attempted to execute it to the best of his ability.
The dome administrator led the Pyreans on daily excursions around the station until he wore them out. The engineers met as many different alliance members as Jaktook could manage introductions. But it wasn’t simple greetings that Jaktook sought, it was conversations. To his surprise, it was easier than he thought. Once the parties crossed paths and Jaktook ensured the translation app was functioning, inevitably, one of the Pyreans propagated the exchange.
Jaktook discovered the engineers’ curiosity was unrestricted. They were a gregarious lot, willing to speak with every entity. To his delight, the Pyreans often challenged an alliance member who was curt or gruff with them. He found it interesting that a member, who had been braced, often became a willing participant in a conversation. It made him wonder if the timidness of his species hadn’t been at fault for the Jatouche failing to achieve a more respected position within the alliance.
The common subjects in the meetings’ discourses were the injuries that had been suffered, but that soon led to questions about how the damage had occurred, which slowly morphed into comparisons of cultures. Time and again, the alliance members expressed interest in reviewing the Pyreans’ application when it was put forth by the Jatouche.
“I should have taken my comm unit out of my carryall,” Pete groused after another full day of touring the station. “I could have gotten some great images. Most of what we’ve seen is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to describe.”
“Your devices haven’t been returned for a reason, Pete,” Jaktook explained. “The alliance members, who are here at Rissness Station, expect privacy. The publication of their injuries can lead to the loss of important positions or opportunities within their societies.
Late one evening, Jaktook received word that the restoration teams were ready. He shared the message with the engineers, pleased that their tour day had been especially rigorous. Soon the Pyreans were fast asleep, and it was Jaktook who lay awake for a lengthy spell. He knew he shouldn’t be worried about the expertise of the Rissness staff. Over the annuals, new races were continually introduced to them. But Tacticnok and he thought this species was unique and that they could make a critical difference in the lives of every Jatouche.
The following morning, Jaktook woke the Pyreans early. “Relieve yourselves, but don’t bother to wash. The medical teams will manage that.”
“Can we eat?” Pete asked.
“Regrettably not,” Jaktook replied.
“You could have told us this last night,” Pete complained.
“Which is why I didn’t,” Jaktook riposted.
“How long do you expect these operations to take?” Bryan asked.
“I’ve no idea, Bryan,” Jaktook replied. “Your injuries are significant, which means you’ll be under for at least twenty cycles.”
“By then, I’ll really be really hungry,” Pete declared, delivering a grin at Jaktook. “I’m first,” he said, as he hurried toward the facilities.
When the Pyreans were ready, Jaktook met a medical technician in the corridor. The tech took the ensemble via a transport car toward the station’s center.
“Are we headed toward zero-g?” Olivia asked the tech.
“Close to it, Olivia Harden. It aids the restoration processes and allows the clients to rest more comfortably,” the tech replied.
“Twenty or more cycles on a bed or an operating table doesn’t sound like it would be comfortable for any species,” Bryan commented.
“Who would put you there?” the tech asked.
“Bryan, your restoration process will take place while you’re suspended in a tank of specialized liquid,” Jaktook explained.
“Oh,” was all that Bryan could manage to reply.
The tech deposited each Pyrean at a different door. Jaktook escorted each engineer inside, telling him or her that he would be waiting when their restoration was complete.
Within each medical suite, the processes for the Pyreans were the same. Clothes and prosthetics were removed, and bodies stepped on platforms. In Bryan’s case, a support was given him so that he could stand erect. Then beams scanned again to check for subtle changes in bodies. The introduction of embryos, while visiting Rissness Station, had been known to happen.
After the scans, a cleansing cycle preceded a final examination by a variety of thin, probing, metal arms. The robotic approach frightened the Pyreans, who thought that this might be the beginning of their restoration processes. But the engineers never witnessed the final preparation steps. An ultrathin needle injected a small amount of fluid into their necks, which put them to sleep.
The tables on which they rested were taken to the suites’ next rooms. There the engineers were prepared for the long periods of restoration. A tank containing a liquid would support them. The fluid was supersaturated with oxygen and would fill their lungs. A slender web of electrical contacts would keep the engineers unconscious, and various tubes were connected to handle nutrient supply and excretion.
When the techs finished the bodies’ preparations and suspended the engineers in their tanks, they exited the room, leaving the next steps to the senior medical personnel, who would run the restoration programs.
The engineers’ long wait until this point was due to the time needed to generate the various body parts that were required to complete the transformations.
Pete received sheets of skin the Rissness laboratories had grown for him. Limb by limb, skin was excised by tiny surgical arms, and the rolls of new skin were wrapped, trimmed, connected to underlying tissue and the ends sealed. When the t
ransformation was complete, it would require days for the skin grafts to take. Afterwards, there would be subtle operations to ensure the finished transformation was seamless, which meant more time in the tank.
Bryan’s operations were more complex. His replicated arm and leg were ready, but the engineer’s truncated limbs had to be opened. When those steps were complete, bone, muscle, nerves, and circulatory vessels were exposed. Working from the inside out, the surgical program started with bone connections. The entire attachment process was only the beginning for Bryan. The health of the new limbs was monitored, and the attachments proved successful, as expected.
The follow-up steps for Bryan were stimulations of the arm and leg muscles via the brain. This would accelerate the engineer’s adoption of the new limbs. Later, the skin attachment would be finalized.
Olivia’s repair represented the greatest challenge to the medical teams. Face reconstruction was recognized as the most difficult of operations. The majority of species identify their individuals by these critical visuals.
A debate about Olivia’s symmetry had overtaken the medical teams. Symmetry was prized, but Olivia had no images of how she appeared before the accident. The argued question was whether to give her superlative symmetry or imbue a certain amount of asymmetry, which, of course, brought up the subject of to what degree.
The medical directors sought out Jaktook, which caused the Jatouche a great deal of consternation. Never in his life had he been asked to offer such an important opinion on which he had so little knowledge. He thought about the many Pyreans he’d met. Few humans exhibited a high degree of symmetry and balance, which the directors assured him they could provide. Regarding symmetrical features, only Envoy Harbour and Yasmin came to Jaktook’s mind, but few others qualified.
In the end, Jaktook said, “Olivia Harden is a plain-speaking, well-intentioned individual, who is a talented human engineer. I don’t think she would appreciate suddenly becoming a marvel of Rissness sculpting. On the other hand, we wish to send a message to the Pyreans as to the quality of our medical capabilities. Does that answer your question?”
