Chapter 516: Resurgence (2/2)

Then he considered how she had voluntarily given it up when asked.

”Got her real name,” one of the aides said. ”Mukantagara Elizabeth Carnight, born as the first baby of 8,000 PG,” the aide frowned. ”Medical records indicate that... oh. Sirs! Sirs, you need to see this!”

Most of the officers turned to the holotank. General Vhestlak stared at the aide, a BASS chimera, foxlike features with electric blue and white fur.

”What is...” General Vhestlak started to ask.

Ge'ermo'o was still parsing the fact that the Terrans could run a genetic analysis on a living being within fractions of a second. The DNA strand in the holotank looked normal, even though small sections were flashing red.

”Digital Omnimessiah preserve us,” Smokey 'No said softly. He inhaled deeply on the cigarettes and exhaled forcefully through his two legs.

”What is it?” Vuxten asked, staring.

”A birth defect. Her DNA is auto-correcting and pre-Glassing. You don't see that outside of anthropology and museums,” Casey said. ”Well, outside of planets like I grew up on, that eschew genetic alterations.”

Vuxten and Ge'ermo'o both looked at Casey, who shrugged. ”You pick up stuff.”

Ge'ermo'o nodded sagely.

”So, we've got the Team Daddy for the Regulators, a highly decorated military intelligence covert action controller, and an expert on hand to hand medieval warfare and nanite control who's a genetic throwback to before the Glassing, all on an Atrekna research station?” Smokey 'No asked.

Everyone nodded.

Smokey 'No suddenly laughed. ”Well, there's no need to wonder how they went from prisoners to owning the station. That's like every action movie's top three stars, right there,” he chuckled. ”With those three I could probably wage war on a planet.”

There were wry chuckles.

”We're going to have to mount a rescue mission,” Smokey 'No said, moving around the tank. ”Combine their survival with the fact it's an Atrekna research station, it's all too good to pass up,” he looked up. ”Lance Corporal Casey?”

”Yes, sir?” Casey said.

”Do you feel comfortable escorting the rescue team?” Smokey 'No asked.

Casey opened his mouth, then closed it, looking at Vuxten. ”I would, sir, but doing so would violate my medical profile.”

Smokey 'No cocked his head slightly. ”Profile?”

Casey sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a folded paper square. He handed it to Smokey 'No and waited.

The big Treana'ad read it carefully, nodding to himself. Ge'ermo'o moved up and looked at the paper.

Psychological damage. Complex Operator Identification Syndrome. Addiction. Survivor's Guilt. Pair Bonding Grief Disorder. Trauma Induced Bipolar. Complex Trauma Induced Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Ge'ermo'o nodded slowly.

Yes, the human was too damaged to allow to accompany the rescue mission. It would put him, and by proxy, the rest of the team in danger.

Smokey 'No folded the paper up and handed it to him. ”I'll make sure someone keeps you informed, Lance Corporal.”

”Thank you, sir,” Casey said.

Ge'ermo'o noted how the human's back was stiff and a muscle was twitching along his jaw.

”I'll need you to turn over you communications device,” Smokey 'No said.

Casey looked at, swallowing for a moment, then handed it over.

Smokey 'No turned to Vuxten. ”Your Marine needs medical care, Captain.”

Vuxten got up slowly, favoring his leg. ”Yes, sir.”

Smokey 'No stared at Casey. ”There is something you need to think about, with your background. Something you should know now rather than later.”

”What's that, sir?” Casey asked.

”In two of her incarnation, totalling over a century, Lady Khoonkeenadee was an accomplished necromancer slash technomancer. Do you know what that means?” Smokey 'No asked.

Casey shook his head as Vuxten moved up next to him. ”No, sir.”

”That means she could literally bring the dead back to life. Not through SUDS, well, not exactly. Not a new body, not a cloned body, but literally repair the dead body and hot-load the SUDS,” Smokey 'No opened the pack of cigarettes, took one out, handed it to Casey, then got one for himself. ”That means that Specialist Peel was not SUDS rebirthed.”

Smokey 'No lit his cigarette.

”She was brought back to life by a powerful necromancer,” Smokey 'No exhaled smoke down the right side of his abdomen. ”You should see a chaplain.”

Casey looked pained and Vuxten reached out and touched the big human's arm. He could feel that Casey's muscles were clenched, the Terran's skin as hard as iron.

”I'll escort him, sir,” Vuxten said.

”Very good, ”Smokey 'No said. ”Dismissed.”

Vuxten led Casey to the elevator, keeping contact.

Ge'ermo'o watched the turbolift doors shut.

Several officers suddenly gave a sharp exhale, as if they were holding their breath.

”That was tense,” General Vrawgarkwa said.

”I suddenly found myself disliking that regulations state that fleet officers are not to carry sidearms aboard ship,” Admiral Shtuklar said as he reached up and smoothed the spines on the top of his head that had raised slightly due to stress.

”For a moment, we hovered on him killing us all,” General Vhestlak said. He reached out to Smokey 'No. ”Spare a brother officer a smoke?”

Smokey 'No nodded.

”I believe he has too much self control to lash out blindly,” Ge'ermo'o stated confidently. ”However, it may be a good thing that General Trucker is groundside, as the General would have been an excellent target for the human Casey's rage.”

Smokey 'No chuckled. ”You have a point. Good observation.”

”I am an observant and attentive commander,” Ge'ermo'o nodded.

”Strangely so,” Smokey 'No muttered, turning away.

Ge'ermo'o felt a flush of pride.

He couldn't wait until later to tell his men about the Treana'ad officer's praise.