"Yeah, well, the last time I checked, Matriarch Bauleel isn't dead yet! Just because she's spent the past two weeks recuperating in a stasis crèche doesn't mean she won't be able to resume her rightful position once she's recovered."
Priest Youne met his heated glare. "That's not our decision."
Rilte reflected that Priest Youne was the only surviving Technician who outranked him, and he should therefore treat him with the respect due to his age and rank. Rilte remembered rank had never stopped him from doing what he thought was right and needful.
"No, no, you're right. It's not our decision at all. It's up to the Matriarch to choose her successor," Rilte replied. He traversed the arboretum and burst through the door into the Triage Ward, with Priest Youne close behind him.
"You cannot reawaken the Matriarch now," Priest Youne advised. "Matriarch Natre specifically forbade us."
"And why, exactly, do you think she did that, Youne? She's not a healer, so I doubt it's in the Matriarch Bauleel's best interest."
"You will win her ire," warned Youne.
"I'll wear it as a badge of honor."
Once at the sealed triage stasis crèche Rilte engaged the console by placing his hand in a slight depression at the foot of the crèche. The crèche's console lit up and a soft, pinkish light illuminated the interior. Rilte looked down at Matriarch Bauleel. Black and blue bruises mottled her skin--they'd barely begun to fade despite the intensive treatment. Had it really only been two weeks ago when Rilte had placed her broken and bloody body into this crèche, hoping against hope there might be a chance in a thousand she'd survive?
Rilte reviewed her status via the console. "Look, Youne. All of her internal bleeding is contained, and her organs are now functioning within normal levels."
"Barely," Youne conceded after reviewing the data. "But I'm sure the healers Matriarch Natre sends would more accurately assess Matriarch Bauleel's condition. It's not as if you have years of training with this device."
"This is Juggernaut technology, and therefore it's automated. Her bones have responded well to the accelerated knitting treatment regime, that's good news too." Rilte pointed to the display. Because Youne watched his every move closely, Rilte deliberately avoided checking the immunology statistics.
"I'm sure Matriarch Natre has her reasons for wanting her healers to review Matriarch Bauleel's health. She could still be critically ill in some way you aren't able to identify. You might not be reading all of the information correctly. I remember how badly injured she was when you found her, and I still consider it remarkable she didn't die that day. You've done a wonderful job, but don't you think it's time to turn her care over to the professionals?" Youne pleaded.
"I'm sure Matriarch Natre has her reasons for her request, and I also have mine," Rilte replied. During her recovery, Rilte discovered certain things about the Matriarch, things he knew would get her into big trouble. He'd managed to keep her secrets from the other Technicians, and he wasn't about to allow some power-grabbing Elder access to that information either. Besides, otherwise he might never have a chance to have Matriarch Bauleel confirm his findings, and explain how her survival was possible. The scientist in him simply couldn't abide that possibility.
"Well, I can't dissuade you, is there anything I can do to assist?" Priest Youne offered.
"Can you fetch some clean clothes for the Matriarch? I'm sure she'd prefer something fresh and comfortable to wear once she awakens."
"I'll be right back. Perhaps I'll also fetch a cup of warm broth. No doubt she'll find it comforting after her ordeal." Priest Youne walked away, paused just a moment at the Triage Ward's doors, but then exited, his thought unspoken.
Journeyman Rilte activated the shutdown routine. A message flashed up, warning the patient had not yet returned to optimum fitness, and did he still want to end the healing process? Rilte responded yes, and the crèche interior lights brightened and the touch screen display switched over to monitoring the Matriarch's signs of wakefulness. Alerts flashed on the screen as painkillers, sedatives and nutritional support were deactivated. Needles withdrew from her arms, legs and abdomen. Rilte hoped the medicinals didn't take long to flush from her system. He had no idea when Matriarch Natre's people were due to return.
Rilte switched over to the immunology display. The gauges and dials on the screen showed nothing below the eighty-fifth percentile, despite the fact the Matriarch was nowhere near fully healed. A select few items displayed a current capacity at one hundred and sixty percent, with a peak at an unbelievable two hundred and fifteen percent of normal human levels. Rilte let out a low whistle, remembering none of her regenerative factors had been above a mere twenty percent when he'd first laid her in the crèche.
When he'd first viewed those results, he'd thought the device was flawed. Yet all of the other values were within a more reasonable range. He had no idea how the crèche calculated a particular person's maximum potential for any given metric, but he did know Juggernaut technology was accurate.
Since the attack, Rilte had checked in on the Matriarch multiple times each day, and all of the gauges had slowly crept higher and higher as she'd healed. Her other vital statistics were also higher than average, but generally not above the one hundred and twentieth percentile potentiality mark. Any sufficiently technical and complete scan would reveal this data. Rilte thought he knew how this was possible. Now, if only the Matriarch would awaken and confirm it for him!
Priest Youne returned, carrying a set of wonderfully soft purple pajamas and a mug of steaming broth. "How much longer?"
Rilte quickly switched the display back to monitoring the Matriarch's awakening. "She's progressing quickly. It shouldn't be long now."
Priest Youne snorted derisively. "You'd better hope she agrees with your reasons and not Matriarch Natre's. Otherwise you're going to have one pissed off and hurting Matriarch upset with you."
As if on cue, Matriarch Bauleel's eyes fluttered open and she reached out, placing her hands on the clear, plastisene crèche cover. Panic and fear filled her eyes. Rilte laid a hand atop hers on the outside of the lid, and she looked right at him.
"It's all right," Rilte said. "Everything's okay now."
Although Matriarch Bauleel couldn't possibly hear Rilte through the sealed crèche, she relaxed. A moment later the crèche uttered a bing, rather reminding Rilte of an oven timer going off, and with a hiss of escaping antiseptic-laden air the crèche's clamshell lid slid open to the side.
Matriarch Bauleel tried to sit up, only to stop in discomfort.
"Gently, Matriarch. I'm afraid you're not yet recovered." Rilte helped her sit up the rest of the way.
"Here's some warm broth for you, Esteemed Matriarch," Priest Youne said.
She took the cup and sipped slowly. "Please forgive me, but I don't remember your name," Matriarch Bauleel replied, her voice hoarse from lack of use.
"Priest Youne, Matriarch. Here are the most comfortable clothes we have available." He placed the pajamas in the crèche next to her. "It's not your usual garb, but I think you'll find them a comfort to your skin."
"Many thanks, to you both." She stood with a little difficultly, and unselfconsciously pulled on the pajamas over her bare and thin frame. "I had feared we'd all die."
"Most of the Technician's stationed here did," Priest Youne replied. "Only eight of us survived. You would have died as well if Journeyman Rilte hadn't gotten you into the triage crèche when he did."
"I am deeply indebted to you, Journeyman Rilte. Thank you for choosing to place me into the crèche instead of one of your brethren. You would have had every right to do so."
"Matriarch, those of us who survived had already locked ourselves in a secured room during the attack. You are the only one who faced Terem Zebio and lived."
She sighed, rubbing her aching temples. "I'm very sorry to hear that. What a tremendous loss for your Sept and the people of Az'Unda." The Matriarch finished the broth and handed the mug back to Priest Youne. "Could I bo
ther you to fetch me another?"
"I'd be happy to, Matriarch. I'll be just a moment." Priest Youne left them alone on his errand.
Matriarch Bauleel's tone shifted. "You're the one who placed me in the crèche, Rilte?"
Rilte took note of her using his name without title, and followed suit. "I did, Bauleel. I found you, barely breathing, in a pool of your own blood in the cafeteria. A number of broken bones, a sucking chest wound, various lacerations, internal bleeding from more organs than I can count, and some swelling of the brain due to being beaten." He paused, allowing a moment for the list to sink in. She held his gaze, waiting for him to continue.
"That you're standing here now, as healthy as you are, is almost beyond my comprehension. You're the only survivor we found who Terem met. I carried you here and activated the crèche. You know what it advised?"
"What?" She asked softly, her brows furrowing.
"It assessed your condition and recommended against treatment, estimating successful recovery at less than five percent."
"Yet you didn't heed its advice."
He shook his head. "Just as I ignored its advice and awoke you before the healing process completed. That's why you're not quite back to normal yet."
Bauleel nodded. "I wondered about that. Why the early waking? Why by you? Shouldn't I have been moved to the Healers Hall by now?" The Matriarch slowly lifted her left arm. Rilte imagined it was still extremely painful. Her left shoulder had been ripped to pieces.
"Unfortunately Terem destroyed our computers and communications equipment before he left. Until this morning, no one outside the Technician's unit knew what had happened."
She stared at him in shock. "I ... I'd just assumed you'd been able to alert the Temple and Guardian's Sept about the attack. Wait, how much time has passed?"
"Just over two weeks."
For the first time, Matriarch Bauleel appeared totally and completely awake and aware of the world around her. "What changed this morning that convinced you to awaken me?"
"Because of your extended absence, The Elder's Council appointed Elder Natre Matriarch-elect. This allowed her to access the Technician's wing, and she discovered the current state of affairs here, so to speak."
"That wouldn't be the only thing she'd have access to." Matriarch Bauleel now looked on the verge of panic. "How long ago was she here?"
"A little over half an hour ago. She ordered us leave the crèche untouched. She said she'd send someone to transfer you to the Healer's Hall within the hour."
Bauleel took his hand in hers. "I am doubly indebted you to, Rilte. Both for saving my life and for saving me from being handed over to Natre. Now, I know why I don't trust her, but why did you risk her wrath by awakening me?"
"First, because she wasn't happy you were alive, and that didn't seem right to me. Second, because even knowing you'd survived she still insisted that I call her Matriarch."
"You have fantastic instincts, Rilte."
Priest Youne returned with another mug of broth for the Matriarch. "Sorry that took so long, Revered Matriarch. The others wanted to know how you were doing, and are very happy to hear of your recovery."
"Thank you, Priest Youne." Matriarch Bauleel took the mug from him and sipped gingerly. "Journeyman Rilte has been kind enough to agree to escort me to the Healer's Hall. We'll be leaving presently."
Rilte hid his surprise with a nod of agreement. Priest Youne looked confused. "Wouldn't it be better to wait for a Healer to escort you? We Technician's aren't that familiar with the Temple complex, after all."
"Not to worry. I remember the way, and all I need is an arm to lean on." Matriarch Bauleel attempted a smile despite her deeply bruised face. "I do thank you for all of your assistance. I am indebted to your Sept."
Bauleel handed the mug back to Priest Youne and reached out for Rilte's arm, which he offered for support. They walked slowly at first as Rilte allowed Bauleel to set the pace. He'd expected Priest Youne might raise more objections, but instead he escorted them to the door to the Temple complex. The other survivors observed this curious procession with some amount of awe. None of them had seen an unveiled Matriarch before now. Rilte thought that the sight of her beaten face contrasted by the purple pajamas must have added an additional bizarre quality to the experience for them.
Matriarch Bauleel activated the door with her palm, and turned to address the group. "Thank you for saving my life, and I am very sorry for the tragic loss you have suffered. I'll leave this door unlocked when I leave, so you won't have to wait for the Guardians or Natre to return to access the outside. Be assured, I will do everything I can to assist in the rebuilding process, and in the destruction of Terem Zebio." The door opened behind her, and Bauleel walked through it without another word, practically pulling Rilte along after her.
*
Matriarch Bauleel walked resolutely down the corridor, gaining strength with every step.
"Why is it I doubt we're headed to the Healer's Hall?"
"Because we're not. I must ask you, were you the only one who attended to the crèche during my healing?"
"Yes. I also instructed the device to delete the record of your treatment upon shutdown."
Bauleel paused in her stride, the impact of his words driving deep. "You're a truer friend than I deserve, Rilte. May I also assume you shared none of your medical findings with the other Technicians?"
"Just the basics. Nothing of any further ... interest." They came to an intersection and Bauleel directed them down a vacant hallway.
"I'm not sure what I've done to earn your confidence, Rilte, but I'll make you a deal."
"You name it."
"If you help me escape, I'll repay your kindness by explaining the crèche's findings to you. Once we're well away from here."
"You need to escape?" Rilte asked, somewhat alarmed, but also intrigued by her offer. "I thought you'd want to go and put Elder Natre in her place and assume your rightful place as Matriarch?"
"I'm afraid it's too late for that now. No doubt she's already announced my death and has the funeral arrangements well under way."
"She'd go that far?" he searched her face for doubt, and found none.
"Further than you'd know. If you hadn't awoken me from the crèche, she'd have ended me immediately, blaming it on Terem. She'd have told all of you there were unforeseen complications, despite my short-term improvements. Will you help me?"
Rilte blew out a low whistle. "Well, I can't have you hobbling off on your own alone, now can I?"
Bauleel rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm not an invalid, yet I'm very grateful for your help."
"Before we leave, I need you to answer one thing for me."
Bauleel sighed. "Perhaps I can."
"I've lost my family, the colleagues I worked with day in and day out, due to what Terem Zebio became, and your push to keep him alive longer than our Sept thought wise. If you have answers to my questions, I'd appreciate them."
Her eyes dropped to the floor, but not before he caught a hint of glistening sheen welling at the corners. Dammit, he hadn't meant to upset her, but he needed to know.
"Go ahead," her voice held the slightest hint of a tremble.
"Did you get the Methuselah treatments here on Az'Unda, or off-world?"
She held her tongue, and Rilte wondered if he'd come to the wrong assumptions from the crèche's data. "Perhaps I misinterpreted the data. It's just with your elevated immune capabilities ... well, I've only ever heard of that discussed in scientific literature in association with ..."
"Off-world," Bauleel answered in a whisper, such that he barely caught it. She stared straight ahead, her face a blank, unemotional mask. "But not here. Not now."
Rilte nodded. "What now?" Rilte tried to get his mind off the implications of her answer. The Hegemony forbade all life extension treatments within their accepted sentient species, and candidate species, such as humans. Just how long had Bauleel been alive, and what was worth the risk to possible inclusion in the Hegemony?
She was right. Not here. Not now. "I'm eager to learn how a Matriarch escapes from her own Temple."
"Oh, the building's easy. Avoiding the inhabitants that's the tricky part. That's why we aren't going out the front door." Bauleel stopped abruptly along the hallway.
"Forget something?"
"Not at all. Now, where is that ..." Bauleel said. She reached out her hand to the flat wall, which was devoid of any ornamentation. Rilte wondered for a moment if the Matriarch wasn't thinking clearly.
"Ah, here we go," Bauleel said. She pressed her palm against an area of the wall that appeared no different from the rest, but a small section yielded slightly to the pressure of her hand. "I bet you wondered if I'd gone a bit feeble." A section of the wall swung inward, and Bauleel motioned Rilte to walk into the dark room beyond.
"Oh, never," Rilte lied. "I've just never seen a doorlock look like that, without the metal plate, I mean." As he entered, Rilte noted that the door was comprised of a foot-thick section of rock. The room beyond was simple, comprised of a couch, dresser, mirror and desk. A doorway opposite the one they entered led to a second room.
"Oh, that's not a doorlock, it's a simple lever." She followed him into the room. She flicked a switch just inside the door, which illuminated the room, and shut the heavy door behind them. It appeared to glide shut via some hidden mechanism. "Any doorlock I touch will alert the system to my presence, sending all sorts of helpful folk rushing along to assist their wayward Matriarch."
"But, we exited the Technician's wing via a doorlock. Shouldn't that alert Matriarch Natre?" Rilte asked.
"I'm sure it did. I'm just hoping Natre is so busy organizing things for cleanup she hasn't had time to check her message terminals. We got here without running into anyone, and no one who works here knows this place exists."
"What, you had the craftsmen who built it shipped in from out of town?" Rilte asked.
"No, but I shipped them out after completing this addition, and they're no longer alive to tell tales."
The Dream Sifter (The Depths of Memory Book 1) Page 36
