My eyes flicked over to the muscular man and I raised my eyebrows. "Thor?" I asked, genuinely impressed.
He shook his head ever so slightly, indicating that wasn't his name.
"Tabitha Masters," the woman said, having moved into the room and over to where Tabby lay unresponsive in the tank. "I'd hoped we'd get to meet one day."
"You know of her?" I asked, pushing past Thor.
"I can't say too much, Mr. Hoffen. My name is Dorian Anino. I believe you know my brilliant and often annoying son," she said, engaging the drain on the tank. "But yes, I know everything there is to know about your Tabitha Masters, at least from a purely biological perspective. Tell me, is she more aggressive since her surgery at the Mars Veterans' hospital? Outbursts? Rages? Does she hurt you during sex?"
The last question sparked my defensive nature. "I'm not sure how that's your business." Although, it was true. Sometimes Tabby was a little exuberant and I needed patching up afterwards. It wasn't an always thing and I knew she didn't mean to hurt me.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said.
More people gathered in the hallway and two of them entered the rapidly-shrinking medical bay, only these were wearing white lab coats.
"Mars Protectorate doctors are excellent, but they lack finesse. Tabitha Masters is a very rare specimen indeed, but they treated her without the care she needed. Her injury here is a mercy. You might want to look away for this next part. I find it difficult to forget the images of those whom I love in this state. Please, Liam, don't be the hero for two minutes. You'll thank me."
Grudgingly, I turned away as I heard the sound of medical suspension fluid dripping onto the floor and assumed Tabby was being moved. When I turned back, I saw only Anino’s back as she disappeared through the door. I started to follow, but was stopped by a heavy hand on my shoulder.
"I go first," Thor said. "You can follow. The Doctor's personal wellbeing is my only concern. You copy?" I held up and allowed him to pass. His partner allowed me to go next and we proceeded to the airlock behind a procession of four lab-coats and the two bodyguards.
The shuttle we entered was spacious and well-suited to medical purposes. Even as the ship moved, Anino and the other lab-coats worked over Tabby's body, with a visual screen held in place. I appreciated the fact that they'd allowed me to come along. Even without visuals, the sounds of bone crunching and sawing was beyond disturbing. When I cast a look up to Thor, he seemed nonplussed, as if all of this was just another day at the office.
"Hang in there, Mr. Hoffen," Dorian Anino called from over the partition. "We're just about done with the hard stuff."
I stood stock still, staring at the partition while listening to the horrific sounds.
"Drink this," Thor's buddy said, handing me a pouch. "You look like you could use some electrolytes."
I accepted and took a nervous swig. In the background I heard the sounds of a vacuum and the rustling of material being moved. When the curtain was dropped, I was shocked to see Tabby lying on a table with a simple white sheet covering her. Her body was impossibly small, and I realized both of her arms had to be missing in addition to her legs.
"You've …" I spluttered, finding no words.
An assistant helped Anino remove blood-spattered medical scrubs, trailing her as she approached Liam. "This step in her recovery is rather a grisly one, but it is necessary."
"You couldn't save any of her?" I asked.
"Please sit with me," Dorian said, gesturing to a bench along the inside wall of the shuttle. As we sat, I glimpsed out the window. We were already falling into the atmosphere of what I assumed was Irène, but I didn’t feel even the slightest movement within the shuttle.
"It just seems too much," I said.
"Indeed it is," she answered. "I'm about to tell you something that few in the universe know. I figure your current zip code and history with big secrets makes you a minimal risk."
"Zip code?" I asked.
"Not important," she said. "Tabitha Masters is one of the rarest of the rare. Or I should say her body is that. She has what's known as the hero gene. I'm sure you've noticed that the synthetic muscles and ligaments have responded well beyond the expectations you were originally given by Mars Protectorate."
"That's an understatement," I said.
"Unfortunately, those enhancements were improperly calibrated by the well-meaning, but under-trained staff at Mars Veterans Hospital. They should have recognized the markers and alerted my team for Tabitha's original surgery. In life, we rarely get a chance to undo our mistakes. In Tabitha's case, we're getting a fantastic second chance."
"What do you mean rare?" I asked.
"She's what we call a one hundred percenter," Dorian said. "I know of but four people in my long history who have this so-called hero gene at this level of match. Our surgery will restore all of her function and she will once again gain strength, speed and endurance like she did before. Only this time with fewer of the negative effects."
"She wasn't that bad," I said.
"She was a ticking time bomb. But that problem is behind us now and there is no need to dwell on it," Dorian said. "Here's what will happen next. In a few minutes we will land at my medical compound outside the city of Joliot. My medical team will bring Tabitha to the already prepared surgical center where she will undergo her final transformation. The entire surgery will take twenty hours, after which she will be in a rehabilitative medical tank for an additional two weeks. After that, she'll be awakened and we'll run a few tests. All in, you'll be ready for travel two weeks after that."
"I don't know how to repay you," I said.
This brought a kind smile to Dorian's face. "My dear boy, twice you and yours have saved humanity. Consider this a gesture of gratitude and the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
I looked at her quizzically. "You don't want anything? I don't understand. Shoot me straight."
This caused her to chuckle. "A fair statement. You seem to have grasped what so few ever understand. Gifts are rarely free. Allow me to buy or lease a building within your new city, York. Allow us to monitor Tabitha's progress."
"The building is easy. I think you'll need to talk to Tabby about the other," I said.
A building darkened the windows as we landed, throwing the occupants of the shuttle into a burst of activity. "A reasonable request. It was delightful meeting you, Mr. Hoffen."
And just like that, she and the rest of the medical staff were out the door and running across a paved walk to a well-guarded entrance on the building. I started to get up, intending to run after them, when a familiar hand landed on my shoulder.
"We'll take the civilian entrance," Thor said.
"Be very quiet as I bring her awake," Dorian said. According to her, the surgery and rehabilitation had gone better than expected.
With considerable anticipation, Ada and I waited as Tabby woke.
"Her brain will require an adjustment period for the new levels of auditory and visual information."
I saw a finger on Tabby’s hand twitch and scooped it up into my own. "Tabbs?" I whispered.
"Where am I?" Tabby asked. "Smells like a hospital. Am I dreaming? Are we at Coolidge VA?"
"Tabitha, you're in a private medical facility on Irène," Dorian said. "You've received medical treatment for the injury you received during your mission to save the Iskstar. Do you remember that mission?"
"Of course I remember."
"How about delivering the mother crystal to the planet?" Anino asked. I was surprised at the level of information the woman had about the mission, although with her last name I shouldn't have been.
"No. I just remember finding it on the Mendari planet," she said.
"Good. You may remember more over time."
"Kroerak?" Tabby asked.
"Gone," I said.
"Marny? Nick? Are they okay?" she asked.
"They're fine," I said.
"What about me?" Ada asked.
Tabby smiled and ope
ned her eyes. "I smell your shampoo and hear your heart beating, dearest friend."
"How do you feel?" I asked.
"Amazing." She grasped my hand more firmly and pulled me from my chair.
"Careful!" I said, alarmed that I might hurt her as I fell into her and she wrapped her arms around me.
"Thank you," she said, burying her face into my neck. "I knew you'd find a way." I felt her let go and suddenly Ada was pulled into the mix. The weight distribution was wrong for the bed and we all tumbled to the floor.
"Perhaps we could talk another time," Dorian said. If I hadn't heard the smile in her voice as she left the small room, I might have thought she was offended.
"That didn't hurt?" I asked Tabby as the three of us lay in a knot on the floor.
"Define that," Tabby said. "Falling from the bed is about the least painful thing I've done recently. Really, I feel amazing."
With an evil glint in my eye, I allowed my hands to wander onto her backside. "You sure do," I said, waggling my eyebrows.
"Seriously?" Ada asked. "We're not going there right now. Dogpile etiquette demands no handsy."
Tabby freed her hands and pulled Ada over to her, kissing the side of her face. "If I wasn't spoken for, I'd make a run at you, Ada Chen."
The surprised look on Ada's face was perfect. "What?"
"Same here," I admitted, truthfully.
"Whoa there, big fella," Tabby said, playfully slugging my shoulder. For the first time I could remember, I felt no pain when she did it. She had her control back. "I was mostly joking."
I did my best to feign innocence. "Right. Me too."
"You guys really keep a girl guessing," Ada said. "But on a more serious note, since we all seem to be doing okay, we might have trouble brewing back home."
I scooted off Tabby so I could sit up straight and then pulled her close so I could hold her. She rested her head against me, the short stubble of her hair feeling funny against my skin.
"What kind of trouble? Strix?" I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. The Strix would absolutely take advantage of our weakened position.
"Mendari," Ada said. "One of our scout ships caught them in a sensor scan."
"Well, frak, what's that about?" I asked.
But of course, that's another story entirely.
Glossary of Names
Liam Hoffen – our hero. With straight black hair and blue eyes, Liam is a lanky one hundred seventy-five centimeters tall, which is a typical tall, thin spacer build. His parents are Silver and Pete Hoffen, who get their own short story in Big Pete. Raised as an asteroid miner, Liam's destiny was most definitely in the stars, if not on the other end of a mining pick. Our stories are most often told from Liam’s perspective and he, therefore, needs the least introduction.
Nick James – the quick-talking, always-thinking best friend who is usually five moves ahead of everyone and the long-term planner of the team. At 157 cm, Nick is the shortest human member of the crew. He, Tabby, and Liam have been friends since they met in daycare on Colony-40 in Sol's main asteroid belt. The only time Nick has trouble forming complete sentences is around Marny Bertrand, who by his definition is the perfect woman. Nick’s only remaining family is a brother, Jack, who now lives on Lèger Nuage. The boys lost their mother during a Red Houzi pirate attack that destroyed their home in the now infamous Battle for Colony-40.
Tabitha Masters – fierce warrior and loyal fiancé of our hero, Liam. Tabby lost most of her limbs when the battle cruiser on which she was training was attacked by the dreadnaught Bakunawa. Her body subsequently repaired, she lives for the high adrenaline moments of life and engages life’s battles at one hundred percent. Tabby is a lithe, 168 cm tall bundle of impatience.
Marny Bertrand – former Marine from Earth who served in the Great Amazonian War and now serves as guardian of the crew. Liam and Nick recruited Marny from her civilian post on the Ceres orbital station in Rookie Privateer. Marny is 180 cm tall, heavily muscled and the self-appointed fitness coordinator — slash torturer — on the ship. Her strategic vigilance has safeguarded the crew through some rather unconventional escapades. She's also extraordinarily fond of Nick.
Ada Chen – ever-optimistic adventurer and expert pilot. Ada was first introduced in Parley when Liam and crew rescued her from a lifeboat. Ada’s mother, Adela, had ejected the pod from their tug, Baux-201, before it was destroyed in a pirate attack. Ada is a 163 cm tall, ebony-skinned beauty and a certified bachelorette. Ada’s first love is her crew and her second is sailing into the deep dark.
Jonathan – a collective of 1,438 sentient beings residing in a humanoid body. Communicating as Jonathan, they were initially introduced in A Matter of Honor when the crew bumped into Thomas Phillipe Anino. Jonathan is intensely curious about the human condition, specifically how humanity has the capacity to combine skill, chance, and morality to achieve a greater result.
Sendrei Buhari – a full two meters tall, dark skinned and heavily muscled. Sendrei started his military career as a naval officer only to be captured by the Kroerak while on a remote mission. Instead of killing him outright, the Kroerak used him as breeding stock, a decision he's dedicated his life to making them regret.
Felio Species – an alien race of humanoids best identified by its clear mix of human and feline characteristics. Females are dominant in this society. Their central political structure is called the Abasi, a governing group consisting of the most powerful factions, called houses. An imposing, middle-aged female, Adahy Neema, leads House Mshindi. Her title and name, as is the tradition within houses, is Mshindi First for as long as she holds the position.
Strix Species – A vile alien species that worked their way into power within the Confederation of Planets. Spindly legs, sharp beaks, feathery skin and foul mouthed, most representatives of this species have few friends and seem to be determined to keep it that way.
Aeratroas Region – located in the Dwingeloo galaxy and home to 412 inhabited systems occupying a roughly tubular shape only three hundred parsecs long with a diameter of a hundred parsecs. The region is loosely governed by agreements that make up The Confederation of Planets.
Planet Zuri – located in the Santaloo star system and under loose Abasi control. One hundred fifty standard years ago, Zuri was invaded by Kroerak bugs. It was the start of a bloody, twenty-year war that left the planet in ruins and its population scattered. Most Felio who survived the war abandoned the planet, as it had been seeded with Kroerak spore that continue to periodically hatch and cause havoc.
York Settlement – located on planet Zuri. York is the only known human settlement within the Aeratroas region. The settlement was planted shortly before the start of the Kroerak invasion and survived, only through considerable help from House Mshindi.
About the Author
Jamie McFarlane is happily married, the father of three and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. He spends his days engaged in a hi-tech career and his nights and weekends writing works of fiction.
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Acknowledgments
To Diane Greenwood Muir for excellence in editing and fine word-smithery. My wife, Janet, for carefully and kindly pointing out my poor grammatical habits. I cannot imagine working through these projects without you both.
To my beta readers: Carol Greenwood, Kelli Whyte, Barbara Simmons, Linda Baker, Matt Strbjak and Nancy Higgins Quist for wonderful and thoughtful suggestions. It is a joy to work with this intelligent and considerate group of people. Also, to my advanced reading team, you’re a zany, fun
group of people who I look forward to bouncing ideas off.
Finally, to Elias Stern, cover artist extraordinaire.
Also by Jamie McFarlane
Privateer Tales Series
1.Rookie Privateer
2.Fool Me Once
3.Parley
4.Big Pete
5.Smuggler’s Dilemma
6.Cutpurse
7.Out of the Tank
8.Buccaneers
9.A Matter of Honor
10.Give No Quarter
11.Blockade Runner
12.Corsair Menace
13.Pursuit of the Bold
14.Fury of the Bold
15.Judgment of the Bold
Pale Ship Series
1.On a Pale Ship
Witchy World
1.Wizard in a Witchy World
2.Wicked Folk: An Urban Wizard’s Tale
3.Wizard Unleashed
Guardians of Gaeland
1.Lesser Prince
Judgment of the Bold Page 28
