Chapter 16 #2
“Chlorophyll?” She looked back and forth between her skin and the scanner. “And this symbol is formed by rigid cells that contain chloroplasts and cellulose in their walls?” She looked up at me, her eyes wide. “Those are plant cells, Ardruc! In my body!”
“These are not plants,” I said gently. “Not as we would define them. If these are life forms with intelligence, with clear evidence of sensory and nervous systems, we cannot call them plants. Or if we do, we must do so knowing the plant life of Hyderia is distinctly different from anything you or I have ever encountered.”
“I’m part plant.” She leaned against the counter, the scanner dangling in her hand. I took it from her and set it aside. “Should we cut it out of me right now, in case it tries to spread?” she asked. “I like being human. I don’t want to start growing branches.”
“We can certainly have the medpod evaluate it more closely.” I took her trembling hand and squeezed, hoping to reassure her. “And attempt to remove it if you wish.”
“What I wish is that I knew what it means and whether it’s dangerous.” She scowled. “And whether or not it’s dangerous, they had no right to do this to me without my consent.”
“Absolutely, that is true.” I followed her to the medpod and helped her lie down. “May I?” I asked, gesturing at her jumpsuit.
“Yes.” She swallowed. “Thank you for always asking.”
“Of course.” Gently, I opened her jumpsuit along the seam to her navel, folded the fabric back, and pushed her tank top up to her collarbone so the pod had full access to the mark.
I could not look at her with any semblance of clinical detachment, but this was a medical procedure and at least I could be the one caring for her. To my surprise, she grabbed my left hand and held on.
I used my free hand to select the scans I wanted the pod to conduct on the mark, including a three-dimensional visualization at the microcellular level. And then I drew up the chair and sat beside her.
The pod hummed and the screens above the bed activated as the scans began.
“Talk to me.” She rubbed my palm with her thumb and stared up at the ceiling, biting her lip.
“What about?”
“Anything. Tell me about Fortusia. I’ve never been there.”
I flicked my gaze to the medpod’s display screens and hoped she had not seen my flinch.
“It is a beautiful planet,” I said, my tone neutral.
“Like Nyvorans, Fortusians love nature. We build our cities using eco-architecture to blend the natural beauty of the planet with urban needs. The waters and sky are pink due to native minerals. Most of the planet is temperate. And of course our use of genetic engineering makes us fascinating to off-worlders. Tourism is a major part of the planet’s economy, especially in the resort cities like Onat’ras. ”
I described the beauty and natural wonders of my home planet for the next ten minutes or so while Elena listened and the medpod completed its work. Forux, meanwhile, curled up next to my chair for a nap. His snore made me smile despite Elena’s uneasiness.
When the last scan ended and the pod powered down, Elena took a deep breath and squeezed my hand. “Fortusia sounds like a wonderful planet. Do you want to move back there someday if you get the chance?”
“No, I do not think so.” Stepping foot on Fortusia would bring me within reach of my parents and the sect leader, whose rage at my escape had reportedly been terrible.
“For all its wonders, Fortusia does not have any korae or related phenomena,” I said instead, which was true.
“Even before the revelations of the past few days, studying korae was my life’s work.
Now, I cannot fathom leaving that behind. ”
“I can certainly understand that.” She used the pod’s controls to adjust the bed so she was sitting up and pulled down her tank top to cover herself again. “But maybe we could visit someday. I think I’d like to see what fungi are native to your world.”
My hearts skipped a beat. Did she realize she had said we could visit? I did not think she had noted her choice of pronoun in that sentence. I doubted I would ever return to my homeworld, but her casual use of we filled me with warmth.
“The fungi on Fortusia are known to be spectacular,” I said when she seemed to be awaiting a response.
I adjusted the array of diagnostic screens so she could see the results too. The long list of green and blue notations and lack of red and orange eased some of my worry.
“None of the scans found cause for alarm,” I said after skimming the findings. “The cells are unique, as we already noted. There is no indication the mark will spread or has the ability to change your physical form, genetically or otherwise.”
“Well, that’s something.” She scrolled through the scan results on her own screen.
“As far as the computer can tell, the mark is basically an organic tattoo.” She tapped the screen and read the text that appeared.
“And apparently the pod could remove it fairly easily.” She glanced at her chest. “Well, that does make me feel better.”
“It is a relief,” I agreed. “Do you want to remove the mark?”
She thought about it. “I’m still not happy about being plant-tattooed without my permission, and I want to know what its purpose is, but if it’s just a tattoo and I can remove it at any time, maybe I’ll leave it for now.”
“It is entirely your decision.” I touched her hand. “Should we go outside and look for some answers?”
“Yes.” She sealed the seam of her jumpsuit and fastened the collar.
As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, she added, “We should take some tiles with us in case we run into a kora who wants to talk to us. The more examples of the writing we can get, the better chance of figuring out the language.” She made a face.
“Or can we call the living ones korae? Are korae plasma discharges in the atmosphere, and the living plasma something else?”
“I do not know.” I helped her rise from the bed with my hand under her elbow. “That is one of the many questions I hope to get answered. I would also like to know if they have a name for themselves.”
“That will be my first question, if we figure out a way to ask it.” Elena sighed. “The computer can help us to a certain extent, but we could really use an astrobiologist. As a mycologist, I’m out of my depth with anything that’s not a fungus.”
“And speaking of which, you have your own wealth of new subjects of study,” I pointed out.
“I know.” Her eyes lit up. “I’m excited to get into my lab and study the mushrooms and lichen there.
” She chuckled. “I thought my discovery of the Basiforuximycota would be the most thrilling part of my week. Now…” She waved at our surroundings, and then looked at me with something akin to exasperation.
“Well, it’s been a wildly unpredictable couple of days. ”
“A very accurate observation,” I said, which earned me a laugh. Given our shared concern over our circumstances, I was very glad to hear her laugh.
The computer had not yet completed its work of searching its vast stores of knowledge for languages most likely to allow translation and options for creating an interface an energy-based life form could use to exchange information.
It might be a full day or more before we had workable solutions to the challenge of communication.
Elena and Forux went to her lab to pack up research equipment as I hurried to Lab One to do the same. I selected several datapads, a variety of portable scanners, and four recording devices and packed them into cases I stacked onto an antigrav sled and piloted down the grassy hallway.
Hoping to obtain more writing from the korae, I also collected metal floor tiles from the kitchen orchard area and stacked them into a fourth carrying case. And as an afterthought, I stopped by my apartment to get my lat’sar.
I found Elena and Forux waiting for me at the door that led to the roof stairs.
“I don’t trust the lift,” Elena said, settling what appeared to be a very heavy pack of equipment onto her back. Two more waited on the grass at her feet. “I’ve set all the station’s doors to remain unlocked too.”
“I concur with that decision. The station’s operations are far from what I would deem trustworthy.” I adjusted my lat’sar case on my back. “I can carry one of your packs so you have a hand free to hold the railing. The stairs are treacherous.”
“That’s true.” Elena sighed and stared up the steep grass- and vine-covered steps. “Or I could make two trips so you don’t have to be my pack-dragon.”
My hearts fluttered very unexpectedly when Elena referred to me as her dragon—pack or otherwise.
“I do not mind being a pack-dragon,” I said. “As I rely on your expertise to understand and explain the nature of this planet’s fungi, you may rely on my ability to more easily carry heavy scientific equipment to the roof.”
“Well, when you put it that way, thank you.” She handed me one of her packs and started up the steps carrying the other, steadying herself on the railing.
She reached the roof hatch and activated it. As it opened, revealing a clear late-morning sky, she looked up and said, “Everything looks the same as it did earlier. No sign of any korae.”
We emerged onto the overgrown landing pad. Elena headed straight for the ladder that led to the upper roof over the imaging lab. She climbed it with her equipment, then returned to scoop up Forux and took him up as well.
Rather than climb the ladder, I took flight with our packs in hand, made a circle around the station, and then landed a few meters from where Elena was now sitting cross-legged on the grass unpacking her equipment.
I made three trips between the top of the stairs and the upper roof. When I landed with my final two cases, she raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Suddenly allergic to ladders? Or showing off your wings and all those pretty feathers?”