Asher's Futa Chronicles

Chapter 17

ASHER

Now

(picking back up after Chapter 2)

I didn't remember falling back asleep, but when I woke, it was still dark outside. Sitting up slowly, I winced from the pain in my arm and tried to look at it in the dark. Of course, all I saw was a shadow.

Carefully, I climbed to my feet, not sure of myself. I bit my tongue just for the pain to make sure I was awake before shuffling over to the water closet.

I hesitated a moment before touching the glowstone above the sink. The light flickered on, revealing a face marred by dark bruises and blotchy red patches. It may not have been pretty, but it was my face and not Shae's. I still had no idea what that fever dream was about.

Running my fingers through my hair, I found it was still long and blonde. I followed the line of bruises down my neck to both my shoulders. With how bad it looked, I couldn't help but wonder how I was still alive.

My arm was now bandaged where the crossbow bolt had hit me. I guess there hadn't been time to bandage me up earlier, so they'd done it in my sleep. The bandages covered an area large enough to hide the black vines that had been emerging from the wound. So, I didn't know whether they were still there.

"Don't do that."

The voice came from across the room just as I was trying to peel back part of the bandage. I jumped back in alarm and slammed into the sink, sending pain shooting up my back.

A light flickered on back in the room. Cr'eon was sitting in a chair near the door, watching me. She'd just been sitting in the dark? Or had she been sleeping in a chair since I was in her bed?

"Christ Cr'eon, you scared the hell out of me," I said, trying to get my heart back under control.

Cr'eon didn't reply, just watched me.

I stared back at her.

"Say something, Cr'eon, you're freaking me out," I said.

"Something," Cr'eon said, not cracking a smile as she said it.

I shook my head slowly and turned back to the mirror, my head clearing slightly. That's when I saw it.

"What the..." I said, holding my hand up to the light.

A small blue jewel appeared to be stuck to the back of my hand. It was no bigger than the nail on my little finger, and it glimmered in the dim light. Had Patty put that there? I hadn't noticed earlier, but I wasn't in the best place mentally then, or now, for that matter. For all I knew, I was still hallucinating!

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked, coming back into the room.

"Two hours, roughly," Cr'eon said. "But I wouldn't call it restful. You tossed and turned the entire time. I was afraid I might have to tie you to the bed to keep you from rolling out."

I realized just how messed up I was when I didn't automatically make a perverted comment.

"Where's Remmi?" I swallowed roughly, my throat having gone dry.

"Resting," Cr'eon said.

"Take me to her," I didn't mean to make it a command, but I had. "Sorry," I said, touching my head as it started to throb. "Please, take me to her."

"You're not in a state to be out of bed," Cr'eon said.

"Granted," I said, looking at her and seeing double. "But I'm not going to be able to rest until I see her."

"Very well," Cr'eon said and rose from her chair. She went to the door and opened it before heading into the next room.

I slowly shambled my way after her.

The waiting room was dark and quiet, giving it an eerie feeling.

Cr'eon stood by the door to the surgery.

All the windows had been covered, hiding the room's contents.

As I stared at the door, a wave of foreboding washed over me. It was then that I realized I hadn't asked how Remmi was. I didn't ask now for fear I might not have the courage to make it through the door.

Cr'eon opened the door for me as I approached and held it open for a change.

Remmi was lying on the operating table, covered in a blanket.

My heart stopped as I gazed upon her body. It didn't start beating again until I saw her chest rise and fall. I sighed and grabbed the wall for balance. I waited until the room stopped tilting before venturing across the room to the table.

The room's glowstone was on, set low. Its light sent dark shadows dancing across Remmi's face, making her look more than half-dead.

With a trembling hand, I reached out and brushed her cheek. When I felt the warmth of her breath, the tears started. I looked down on my girl, my cheeks wet and could only imagine the worst.

For the umpteenth time that night, I jumped. This time, from the hand that gently gripped my arm. I looked over my shoulder to find Patty looking down at me.

"Come with me," she said gently before leading me away from Remmi. We entered the chapel through the side door. Cr'eon followed.

The chapel was warmly lit as Carfen never turned the lights off in here. He wanted to ensure the place was ready in case anyone wished to commune with their god late at night.

Once we were all inside, Patty left the door partially open and stood beside it.

"How is she?" I asked quietly.

"Not good, I'm afraid," Patty started, then stepped towards me and started examining my face. "Neither are you, actually."

"I'll be fine," I said, trying to brush her off. "Tell me about Remmi."

"In a minute, when I know you won't fall over on me," Patty said with authority.

Annoyed, I took a step back and sat in a pew.

"There, now I won't fall over," I said, trying to sound stern, but a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over me, and my eyes nearly closed of their own accord. "I'm fine," I lied, waving Patty off.

"Always so stubborn," Patty tisked.

"Patty..." I said.

"Tell you what," Patty started. "You hold still so I can examine you, and I'll fill you in."

"Fine," I said, sighing loudly.

I glanced around. I didn't spend much time in here; I didn't really have a reason. There was a single door at the rear that I guessed was Carfen's room. If so, he was a heavy sleeper.

"Carfen is making his morning trek," Cr'eon said when she saw me looking around.

"Morning trek?" I asked.

"Yeah," Patty said as she started examining my head and neck. "He rises to bathe at sunrise in the river."

"He doesn't use the showers?" I asked.

"No, it has some significance with his religion. Something to do with the purity of a new day." Patty said. "Open your mouth," she commanded and proceeded to examine my teeth like I was a horse or something.

I wasn't familiar with all the expressions on her new face yet, but I recognized annoyance. Terri and I had given her enough of that in the past year, so I could spot that one.

Patty moved to the bandage on my arm and began to remove it.

"This was nicely done, Cr'eon," Patty said.

"Of course," Cr'eon replied flatly.

Patty hissed quietly when the bandage came off.

The black ropes on my arms were still there and appeared to be throbbing slightly.

"What the shit?" I said, my eyes going wide as I looked at it. I was fully awake now. "Is that growing?" I asked, panic in my voice.

"No," Patty said. "But it isn't going away either. I thought my healing miracle would have fixed this. I figured that you waking up was a good sign."

"Is that why you stuck this on my hand?" I asked, holding up the hand at the end of the infected arm and showing her the blue crystal.

"What is that?" Patty asked, taking my hand and turning it side to side.

"You didn't put that there?" I asked.

"No, I didn't," Patty confirmed as she ran her fingers across it carefully. "How long have you had this?"

"I saw it for the first time when I woke up a few minutes ago," I said.

"It's warm, does it hurt?" Patty said as she used the tip of one of her razor-sharp claws to pry at a corner of the jewel gently.

"No," I said. "I didn't even notice it till the light hit it just right. Ow!" I jerked as a sharp pain jolted through my hand from the spot she was messing with.

"It's really stuck on there," Patty said.

"Yeah, it is!" I replied. "So, stop messing with it."

Patty shook her head and moved on from my hand to examine my back.

"So, how's Remmi?" I asked, afraid of the answer, given how long it was taking Patty to answer.

"Not as well as you, I'm afraid," Patty said. She ran her hands down my spine. "Does this hurt?"

"No," I said.

"This?"

"No, but you dodging my questions is getting annoying!" I snapped.

Patty sighed.

"I used the same healing miracle on Remmi as I used on you," Patty said. "I hadn't had to use one in a while, so I was strong enough for two."

"And?" I asked.

"Some of Remmi's injuries were healed, but nowhere near enough," Patty said.

"So? Zap her again!" I said and looked back at her.

"I have, twice," Patty said.

"And, it's not working?" I asked.

"It's working alright," Patty said. "A little damage is repaired each time, but it's only superficial things like bruises and cuts. The major trauma doesn't seem to be affected." Patty shook her head and stopped examining me. "I'm afraid it's the same with you."

"With me? I'm fine," I lied. The fact that the room was tilting on me again, even as I sat here, was evidence enough of that.

"No, you're not Asher," Patty said. "When you came in, I was positive your neck was broken, as was your back. When you came too after the miracle and sat up, I thought you were good and moved on to Remmi. That's all it's taken in the past for major injuries. But..."

"But?" I prodded.

"I don't know how, but your neck and back are both still broken, Asher," Patty said.

"They can't be, I'm walking and talking," I argued.

"Yes, and without an X-ray, I can't be completely sure," Patty said in a practiced, calm voice. "But examining you right now, they both appear to be still broken. But...something is holding them together...somehow."

I gave her a disbelieving look.

"Are you saying I might just snap and collapse at any second?" I asked. "What about Remmi?" I asked as I stood. Before they could stop me, I returned to the operating table and pulled the blanket aside.

Remmi's chest was a deformed mess. Her arm was at a weird angle, and things in her chest looked like they were trying to burst outward like a bad horror movie.

My body suddenly felt hot, and my head grew light. Bile rose in the back of my throat, and I barely managed to turn away from Remmi before collapsing to my knees and being sick all over the floor.

A large hand was rubbing my back when my body finally calmed down enough for me to talk.

"I thought your miracles could heal anything," I said, spitting to get the taste out of my mouth.

"It has up until now," Patty said quietly. "It appears my magic has limits. I even tried some of the potions I've been taught, but the results were the same.

*Danu,* Miranda's voice whispered in my mind.

I looked around but didn't see any sign of the steward.

"We have to go see Danu," I said, clearing my throat.

"The water spirit?" Patty asked.

"She said she has an agreement with the Guardians to heal us when in need," I said. "Let's see if all those glowstones we've given her are enough to buy us a miracle from her."

I slowly climbed to my feet, looking around for something to clean up the mess.

"Never mind that," Patty said. "You can barely walk. How are you going to get there?"

"I can carry Remmi," Cr'eon spoke up.

"She'll need to be strapped down to keep from moving too much," Patty said.

"Then make a stretcher," Cr'eon said.

"It's quite a way, Cr'eon," I cautioned. "It'll be several hours at least with how slow I'll be moving."

"Then I'll carry you both," Cr'eon said without pausing, a hint of annoyance touching her voice.

"No," Patty said. "You'll have to be careful with Remmi to keep her stable. Plus, I don't know if she'll wake up during the trip."

"Then give me drugs to make her sleep if that happens," Cr'eon said.

"You two figure it out, I'm going to get dressed," I said as I shuffled out of the room.

Luckily, someone had retrieved some of my day clothes from my room and left them for me. I pulled them on carefully and met back up in the surgery.

Remmi was strapped to what looked like a small door and wrapped in blankets.

"If she wakes up, hold this over her mouth and nose until she settles back to sleep," Patty was saying. "Try not to breathe while you have it out and wash your hands right away after using it."

"Right," Cr'eon said and glanced at me. "Are you ready?"

"I think so," I said. I'd managed to strap my long knife on, but I wasn't sure how much good that would do me in an emergency. I was having a hard time holding myself up, let alone a weapon. Hopefully, the sight of Cr'eon alone would deter anything that came at us in the forest.

Patty handed me a small packet.

"If the pain gets too much, put this powder under your tongue," Patty instructed. "It tastes terrible and is horrible for your body, but it will keep you on your feet for a while. Be careful."

The morning sun was just breaking the horizon when we stumbled out and away from The Roadhouse.

"How long is this trip?" Cr'eon asked.

"About two hours if I were at full strength," I started. "As I am now, probably half the day."

"A full day then," Cr'eon said, then continued when I looked at her. "You tend to overstate your abilities."

I opened my mouth to be offended when Cr'eon continued.

"Plus, you must not push yourself and risk injuring yourself further," Cr'eon said. "As Patty said, if I have to carry you, it may endanger Remmi."

That brought me up short. Cr'eon was obviously thinking much clearer than I was.

"A day then," I said. "I'm counting on you, Cr'eon. It's apparent my mind is not all there."

"Just so," Cr'eon said as we entered the forest.

Cr'eon was a quiet traveling companion. She only spoke when asked a direct question or if she saw something she wished to warn me about. I found myself making small talk, mostly with myself, the entire way. I was terrified for Remmi and worried I might step wrong and break my neck further. Needless to say, I had the nervous chattering thing going on.

When the small waterfall finally came into view, my throat was killing me. As were my feet, legs, back, neck, arms...just about everything.

I'd used Patty's powder an hour into the trip when Cr'eon had practically ordered me to. Up till then, I was trying to fight through the pain. But by then, I was lurching like a zombie. Cr'eon said if I didn't take the drug, she'd force-feed it to me.

The powder worked almost immediately and lasted most of the day. But now, as we approached the pool, the powder had all but worn off, and everything felt worse than it had this morning.

Before I could open my mouth to call on Danu, she was there.

Without a word, water reached out and picked me up off my feet and carried me into the pool.

I collapsed into the water's embrace and felt its coolness wash over me, numbing everything it touched.

"Relax, Guardian, I have you now," Danu said, her voice full of warmth.

At the same time, another tentacle of water reached out for Remmi, but Cr'eon turned away.

"She is my charge now, Daemon. Please release her to me. Time is of the essence," Danu said.

Cr'eon reluctantly released Remmi to Danu, who wasted no time in scooping Remmi up, door and all.

Once Danu had secured Remmi, she motioned Cr'eon into the pool.

As we descended, questions popped into my head, but the cool numbness was quickly overtaking me as my body let go of consciousness.

***

Once more, I was dreaming. It was one I'd had when I was still living back on my home Bio Hab--the one about the storage place where Shae and Tara had been kept.

I was underwater again, drowning, my lungs full of fluid, unable to breathe. I flailed for the surface, but something kept pushing me back down.

A coolness washed over me, and suddenly I didn't care so much...or at all...about...anything.

***

Stars.

Another dream.

No.

A memory.

Not mine.

My vision was one massive starfield. Everywhere I looked, there were stars. Above me, below me, behind me...stars.

The sensation of floating, weightless, amongst the stars. I was free, out of anyone's reach. I could go anywhere, do anything.

But the enemy was approaching. I couldn't see them yet, but I could feel them.

Images of their long hook-tipped tentacles lashing out, ripping starships to pieces like tissue paper. Flashes of light as weapons fire reflected harmlessly off the enemy's armored carapace.

They had to be stopped.

They couldn't be allowed to reach--

***

I looked up at the massive battlesuit towering above me in a ready flight hanger of Behemoth.

Whose memory was this?

Mine?

I don't remember this.

But I do. It's just not my memory.

The cockpit cracked open, and black tentacles reached down to pick me up, lifting me into the cockpit once again. The interface cables violated and pierced my body, allowing me to merge with the machine and become its master once more.

Every time, it reminded me of joining with Itam. But that was several lifetimes ago, and Itam was long dead now.

This is definitely not my memory.

***

His mouth tasted of cinnamon. He held me from behind, kissing me with the frantic pace of a new lover. I could feel what he used for a cock, repeatedly forcing itself deep inside my ass. The feeling of him inside me sent shockwaves radiating out from my core to the tips of my toes and fingers.

This wasn't my memory either, but I didn't care this time; it was hot!

His strong hand on my chest held me in a crushing embrace, ensuring I couldn't get away from him until he was done with me. Not that I wanted to escape. I was enraptured with the man.

*He's not a man,* I reminded myself, but I was...or at least the body I was in was. *He's an alien and fucking me in a way I've never felt before. I was just glad I'd gorged on blood so I could feel every moment of--

***

My eyes snapped open, my body reacting instinctually as it sprang from the bed, landing on the floor in a low crouch. Ignoring my body's pain, I scanned the room, ready to attack anything that--

No. This is still not real.

***

My eyes fluttered open, and I lay there, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. Was I actually awake this time? Or was I still dreaming? Or was this somehow someone else's memories again?

I felt calm, my body at ease and free of pain. I experimented, moving my shoulders, but even that soreness was gone.

Slowly, I took in my surroundings.

I was lounging in a chair of some kind. I was warm and comfortable. The room was circular, with two doors, each on an opposite wall. A large hole filled with water was in the center of the room, encircled by more of the lounge chairs like the one I was in.

Soft red light illuminated everything from recessed spaces throughout the room. The light started dim, but as I came more awake, it grew brighter.

I tried to speak, but my throat was dry. I cleared my throat and tried again.

"Danu?" I croaked.

"I'm here," Danu said from everywhere in the room at once.

"Where's here?" I asked.

"I'm tending to Remmi," Danu said.

That made me sit up.

"How is she?" I asked. "Is she OK?"

"She's getting better, but she's not quite there yet," Danu said.

"What's that mean?" I asked.

"Come see for yourself," Danu said, and one of the doors opened. "But you may feel more comfortable once you're dressed."

For the first time since waking, I realized I was nekkid.

I wrapped myself in a robe I found beside the chair and padded my way, barefoot, across the warm stone floor and through the open door.

The room beyond was a series of holes in the floor, each roughly five feet across. As I approached, I could see each one was full of dark water. The surface of each was so still they looked like dark mirrors.

But one was lit a dull red, and the surface rippled gently.