Heroes & Ghosts

by SA Payne

  "Pardon me?"

  "That protein, what's going on and here, before any of the women see." He dropped a couple of

  small patches onto the desk beside Ichi.

  Which made Ichi frown at the small films for bruises and feel like maybe he'd fallen asleep and

  this was a dream because nothing was making sense. "What?"

  Will flicked a finger out to poke at the hickeys on Ichi's neck. "I'll assume they're from Rye and you weren't attacked by a vampire last night." He laughed as Ichi's eyes went wide and he

  hurried to find a mirror.

  "Oh." Ichi blinked in startled surprise and frowned at the suck marks on his neck. He'd never had a hickey before, ever, let alone three at once. "Oh."

  Will laughed harder and peeled the paper from the films. "Did you have fun?" He asked as he poked the sticky side to the small bruise.

  Ichi was still fumbling trying to recall when he might have gotten a hickey and than he

  remembered how Rye had been suckling and nipping at his neck, how good it had felt. He'd

  always thought hickeys were supposed to hurt. "We didn't..."

  That just made Will snort. "I'm your best friend, and those are impressive suck marks."

  He flinched a little from the cool sticky film Will pressed over the last of the marks. "This will fix it?"

  "In about a half hour with your skin tone. Now, out with it, did you have fun?"

  "Will..."

  "Look, I'll bug ya later. What's up with this protein?"

  "You found it?"

  "And how. How'd you know to look for it? I mean Gorpahn worm antibodies aren't common

  outside of Bentick Four. That's a pretty random thing to have me check for."

  "Will..." Ichi sat back down and waited until his friend had settled in beside him. "Rye and I, we talked a lot last night. We came to an agreement and part of it is that he has to start telling

  someone more of what's in his head."

  "Wise, indeed, sage advice."

  Ichi frowned. "I asked him about the nightmares, he told me about one and he described exactly the manifestation of a Gorpahn worm infestation."

  "Do I even want to know how you know so much about such creepy worms?"

  "I did a paper on them when I was fourteen. It was juvenile and a touch sensational but I put a lot of work into the research."

  "Of course." He nodded and only half teased.

  "So you found the antibodies?"

  "Yeah but here, look." He punched up the protein code. "See this here? This is the actual useful code, this is the antibody but this down here? It's junk. Development companies fill this in like a fingerprint or copyright. You can tell who made the antibody and even under which patent.

  Okay?"

  Ichi nodded.

  "So, there are four patents for the Gorpahn antibody and only like three companies actually

  producing it so it should be pretty simple to track the code print and get a good idea of when Rye

  was given it, maybe even where. Which is I assume your whole point to this? A clue to his past?"

  "It was a thought."

  "Well, we're shit out of luck, my friend. Look here." He switched files and the protein code changed. "This is what's in Rye's bloodstream. Look, the alignment is slightly different but that's not uncommon but there's no copyright markers on it."

  "Meaning?"

  "Meaning, this is a naturally forming antibody."

  "But, the survival rate of someone that reaches full manifestation is almost null. With the

  synthetic antibodies, maybe they'd have a ten percent chance of beating it, if they were in a

  medical setting." Ichi stared at the protein.

  "I take it the dream he shared with you didn't mention medical care?"

  "He said he was pulling the worms out of his flesh and could feel them eating him."

  Will made a face. "Ugh, which isn't a bad treatment. That's all a doctor will do, cut open the pockets and surgically remove the worms. Thing is, they sting when removed, you have to

  freeze them a bit. To just pull them out, gods, that must have hurt but it would improve your

  odds, if the venom didn't get you first."

  "But, I always saw it written that by the time a body made enough of it's own antibodies, the

  worms had consumed too much flesh to save the infected person." Ichi glanced up to his friend

  and hoped to find answers.

  "So I've always been told but Rye's immune system is a touch hyper, if anyone could do it, he

  could but to pull them out by hand?" He winced. "Another option is that the synth antibodies were introduced to his system and his body over took them."

  "Is that possible?"

  "Who knows? We haven't studied how his systems work yet so, sure, yeah, it's possible. Figuring you were looking for clues, I ran some searches. Looking for any reports of anyone who

  manifested and survived, came back with seven cases, none of which fit Rye."

  "So he was infested and didn't get medical treatment and survived?"

  "Maybe, but, a lot of the hospitals in the smaller areas have been totally destroyed and their files are sketchy at best. The better question is, how did he get infected in the first place? Bentick

  Four has been in civil war for twenty years and for his antibody levels to still be this high I'd say he was infested no more than ten years ago, more likely about five. He isn't from Bentick Four,

  he doesn't even have the webbed finger gene in recessive. So he wasn't there as a tourist."

  Ichi shook his head. "So we can't trace him from that?"

  "Doubtful, most of the folks running in and out of there aren't keeping passenger lists. You didn't tell him those worms were real, did you?"

  "I'd like for him to be able to sleep again sometime. He'll remember or not on his own."

  "Bentick Four is a shit hole, Ichi, even before the civil war, why would he have gone there?"

  Ichi shook his head. "Why wouldn't he have gotten medical care?"

  "This is strange, very, very strange." And coming from Will, that meant a lot.

  The topic of conversation in Will's lab once his wife rejoined him was about Rye and the rare and

  normally fatal exposure he'd obviously lived through. Amanda had done what she always did,

  she checked the results herself. If she'd been blindfolded and told it was night she'd only believe if the blindfold came off.

  "I'm just saying, it needs to be studied more. If he really survived that, that needs to be

  documented." She argued back.

  "And what? Tell the entire scientific community that he is a pet but isn't but is and oh someone messed with his genes when he was a child and guess what a neato side effect is?" He frowned.

  "What good would that do anyone?"

  She opened her mouth to debate back but the lab door carefully opened. It was too timid to have

  been anyone from Avalon which ruled it down to one of two people. She smiled when a red head

  stood in the half open doorway.

  "Hey Rye."

  "I'm so..sorry, I know you're wo..wo..working."

  "Not a problem, how can we help you? Are you hurt?"

  He shook his head but his words melted away. Amanda meant well but it was Will he wanted to

  talk to which was ironic since he couldn't get a word out.

  "Is Ichi okay?" She questioned and glanced to Will but he had his listening thoughtful look on and wasn't speaking.

  "I..." Rye sighed and shook his head. It was overwhelming the struggled to find his words when they didn't want to play nice and he was ready to turn around and try later.

  "Naw," Will grinned. "Ichi's fine. I think I know what Rye's saying." He stood up and pressed a kiss to the side of Amanda's face. "I'll be back later, dearest." On the way out he tossed an arm around Rye's shoulders and guided the silent man out into the hallway.

  They were at the kitchen bef
ore Rye was able to protest. "Will?"

  "It's okay."

  "Wh...where are we going?"

  Will hurried in and snagged a couple of cartons of chai tea before again leading Rye away down

  hallways. "I'm going to show you a secret."

  Rye's feet stopped moving. He felt a hand holding his face, fingers digging into his jaw and his

  head echoed with a threat from another lifetime.

  "I'll tell you a secret boy, I own you. You don't get to say no to me!" The voice was strong, smooth, and set his spine to trembling.

  Will missed the sight of startled fear that darted across Rye's face but not the shock of the

  suddenly spiked emotion. Only he noticed it a second to late to keep from pulling the red head

  along beside him, his feet planted and frozen.

  Rye stumbled and fell. The hard deck floor was something welcome and solid and he spread his

  hands across it's slightly spongy surface. His stomach turned over and for a moment he thought

  he might be ill.

  "Hey, hey there, it's okay." Will soothed and brushed stray hair back from the empty face. The grey eyes were blank, empty of emotion and it was a look Will had seen often. During the

  occupation, after Bare Earth had been released, almost everyone had eyes so dead. It was a

  look of shock, of surviving for far to long on empty. "Rye?"

  A slender hand rose and rubbed across the still face. When it retreated the eyes weren't quite so

  empty. "I'm sorry. I tr..tr...tr..tripped."

  It was a lie and Will knew it and he was pretty sure Rye knew. "Gotta be careful, Ichi will skin me if you get hurt."

  Gratitude flooded Rye and it showed in his eyes. "Thank you." But the words weren't meant to the offer of help getting back to his feet.

  "Now, as I was saying, this is my favorite place in all of the station." He smiled gently and started toward the access hatch on a mostly unused hallway. He pried it open and ducked inside and

  found the lantern he stashed there.

  By the time he had it clicked on Rye not only was inside the access tunnel but he'd replaced the

  cover and managed to close it. The latches were complicated to keep someone without the

  knowledge of their working from wandering where they didn't belong. Rye sealed them without

  pause or thought and left Will standing, holding the cartons of tea and the light in awe.

  It felt better not to say anything so he nodded. "Thanks."

  "Wel... welcome." Rye answered and followed down the small corridor at a slight hunch to avoid cracking his head on the low ceiling.

  Will led them down and around and up a ladder and finally to a spot where two corridors met and

  one branched off above at an angle. He set the lantern down and the small space was lit up

  warmly. "I love this spot."

  Rye glanced around and saw no real difference.

  "Here, there is wind." He grinned and pointed to two of the corridors. "When the climate control kicks on in the labs, it's filtered and circulated back here so depending which labs' vents are

  running, we can get a gust or a breeze." He turned and found Rye taking his words seriously but looking a little baffled. "Besides, I like the smaller spaces, feels, I don't know, isolated here, safe.

  Be proud, I haven't even brought Amanda here."

  Rye sat when Will did and accepted the carton of chai, letting it heat up in his hand. Air gusted

  down the corridors and ruffled his hair and he shut his eyes in surprised delight.

  Will laughed. "Told you. It's something you only appreciate if you've been planet side, a real nice wind."

  Rye nodded companionably and sipped at the chai, surprised to find he really liked the spicy

  taste.

  "Better than that tea Ichi drinks, huh? I swear, it takes like grass clippings mixed with dirt."

  "It's not bad. Better than his mi...mint tea."

  Will laughed again and let his head rest against the wall as a breeze picked up, gentle and soft.

  "Oh, Ichi and his mint teas! I keep telling him if he'd just relax a little he wouldn't get such upset stomachs." Will took a sip of the chai and the grin he was wearing faded. "He told me you liked smaller spaces too. I figured you'd like it here, and I don't mind sharing it with another lover of tight spots."

  "I like kn...knowing where the walls are." Rye confessed.

  "I used to hide, when I was a boy, in my grandmother's blanket chest. Every time the landlord's men would come around, I'd run off and hide there and it felt safe." He closed his eyes and let the air sooth his nerves. "So, did you shag him good?"

  "No." Rye answered without embarrassment.

  Will pried an eye open. "Well, why not? Ichi needs a good roll in the hay."

  "It wasn't time, yet."

  "Yet!" Will shut his eyes again, knowing it was easier for Rye if he wasn't being watched.

  "Whatever is on your mind, you know you can tell me, right?"

  Rye sipped at his carton. The closeness of the walls and the gentle light cast by the lantern made

  the space seem intimate and safe. "You ran those te...tests. Are you su..su..sure I'm really

  hu..human?"

  It wasn't what Will had expected. "One hundred percent sure. Why?"

  "I don't th..think I had a mother."

  "Don't be silly, everyone has a mother."

  He shook his head. "I've been thinking and th..there isn't even a feel of a conec...connection to the idea of a mo..mother."

  "Rye," Will sat up and tried to meet the other man's eyes but Rye kept them lowered. "Someone took your brain and cut most of it's ability to talk to itself off. That's no small surgery, you're lucky you remember what the word mother means. And so what? Maybe you didn't know your mother?

  Half the people here can't clearly recall their parents, it doesn't mean you aren't human. So don't you worry about that."

  Rye nodded. "Ichi doesn't seem to remember his mo..mother well either."

  "Oh, he remembers her. Look, Ichi's from a place where showing emotion is considered almost

  vulgar and his family was twice as bad. They raised him to be a logical, thinking, icy cold

  scientist. I'm sure he's torn up about his mother but he won't show me and it's be a great step if

  he showed you. He just doesn't express things easily."

  "He's sm..smart." It was only a half question, Rye knew Ichi was smart.

  "No, Ichi is brilliant."

  "I'm dumb."

  "Compared to Ichi? Amanda is dumb and she's one of the smartest people I've ever met. His

  parents never understood why he went into entomology. That's like, if he became a musician or

  actor or something flaky. He used to get these letters from his mother about how he was wasting

  his talents playing with his hobbies."

  "I really li..like him." Rye whispered around another sip. "I just... I don't kn..know how..." He sighed and tried again. "I have no...nothing to offer him."

  Will shook his head and kicked Rye's leg with his foot. "You're right, you are dumb. I've seen how he looks at you."

  "That's ju...just what th..they did to me."

  "No, it's not. Trust me, I can tell. Ichi doesn't need his intellectual equal any more than Amanda does. Graces know I'm no where near her smarts so it's a good thing for me. Ichi's the same

  way, he doesn't need someone he can work beside, he needs someone he can live beside." He

  set his head back against the wall. "You've got everything he needs to offer him."

  Rye didn't ask what that might be but Will's words left him with plenty to think about. The breeze

  gusted up and he sighed happily at the feel of it against his face. Will was right, the wind was

  nice and the little convergence of corridors did make him feel safe. Together the pair sat in

  comfortable silence, sipping their chai and
not speaking further.

  Part Thirteen:

  "That's it Rye, no more tonight." Amanda announced and closed the computer down.

  "But,"

  "No buts, that's enough." But there was nothing harsh in her words.

  "Ichi wants me to le...learn to read."

  She chuckled softly and shook her head. "Yes, but he doesn't except you to do it in a couple of weeks. Give yourself some time, you're making good progress."

  It wasn't a lie to be kind, he was. The first week had been spent just trying to get his mind to

  comprehend that letters had meaning. Something in what had been done to his brain had cut that

  off as well and it was a strain to attempt to learn. Amanda had just patted his hand and assured

  him that if he kept trying, he'd overcome it and he was. It was just slowly and with difficulty.

  It made him grateful for Amanda's teaching, he knew he'd have been ashamed if Ichi had been

  the one. "I want to make him proud."

  "Which is very noble but he doesn't expect you to drive yourself crazy over it. You're getting

  there, really."

  Rye just nodded. "Thank y..you."

  "You are most welcome."

  "Ichi wanted me to as..ask you if Harvick is still on his way?"

  She nodded. "He's limping here, as per his last message. Two, maybe three days, maybe a little sooner."

  "He fed the swarm his la..last rat today. He's worried about the younglings if food is mi..missing."

  "You can tell him not to worry, Harvick will be here before the next feeding. His children won't go hungry. And speaking of questions, Will asked me to ask you something."

  "Yes?"

  "Yet?" She shrugged. "That's all he said, ask Rye yet? Said you'd understand."

  Rye glanced down and tried to hide the grin. "No, not yet, tell him soon."

  "I will, now, off with you. Go home and keep Ichi from worrying about his bugs."

  The grin widened a little bit. "I will, thank you Aman...Amanda." Distracting Ichi was easy and it was just what he needed to get his head to stop aching. So far, he wasn't sure why Ichi felt it was so important that he learn to read, it seemed a great deal of bother and pain. All that he needed

  to know was that Ichi had asked him to try, so it was important he succeed.

  --------------------------------

  "Ich! Hey, Ichi?" Will called out as he pushed Ichi's apartment door open. Will froze just inside the apartment. "Oh, man, sorry, the door was unlocked."