42. She's back

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
The successful adventurers, Marius, Nox, Yitti and Risina, returned with a bumper load of iotum and a surprise addition to the community, Milton, the man they had saved from the site.
 
“I’m heading up to the Image room, “Nox said, leaving the party at the hovercar, “Now that Fureva-Yung is getting stronger, I want to collect all the information we have on the other two sites.”
To Marius, she added telepathically, And the other Sion we saw.
 
Marius nodded and turned to see Milton talking animatedly with Hulik, the ex-Ward Milita leader.
“And what of the Imperium? Have they given your people any problems?” Hulik asked, bringing up something Marius had never heard of before.
“Imperium? Wow! That’s old news. No, our people escaped the…resettlement and created a new home at Kerevin’s Drop.”
“Um, Hulik,” Marius interrupted, “I’ve never heard of The Imperium. Are they a problem?”
“The Zira Imperium, a long ways north of here,” Hulik’s eyes widened in realisation, “You might not remember. You were too young at the time. I wasn’t a Cerelon local. I came from a mining community far to the north called Tankerous Ridge. Life was pretty rough there, especially with a corrupt magister in charge. He never gave me a fair break. One day he ended up dead. There was no reason to stick around and get framed for that, so I fled south until I found Cerelon.”
“Yeah, my people were… aggressively encouraged to join the Imperium centuries ago,” Milton drew down the collar of his shirt. He revealed a pattern of darker skin from his face all down his neck, “Kerevin’s Drop is far enough away from the Imperium that they don’t know we exist..and that’s the way we like it.”
“I never knew, “ Marius mused, thinking that one of their future destinations was in the north. Was it currently under the control of this Imperium?
“Whatever you younger explorers do,” Hulik replied, seemingly tapping to Marius’ thought, “The Imperium isn’t into diplomacy or ’live and let live. Better they don’t know we exist.”
 
Fureva-Yung was taking her first tentative steps around the village under the supervision of Temila. With a swirl of memories in her mind, she could still not remember when she felt as weak as she did at that moment. Still, it was good to be out under the winter sun, accepting the greetings of those she met. When they met, Jaden was back from checking on the progress of refitting the blast doors on the spire. She ran back to her shop to return with two metal plates linked by a heavy-duty spring. This she handed to Fureva-Yung.
“It’s for resistance training. You push against the spring to rebuild your strength.
“I thank you, Jaden, “ Fureva-Yung replied before giving the metal a tentative taste.
“I’m sure Fureva-Yung will get good use of such a device, “Said Temila, looking up at her patient proudly, “But she is still too weak for more than just a stroll around town.”
 
Later that day, when Marius stopped by to visit, Fureva-Yung grumbled about being confined to the village.
“She’s such a fuss pot, “ Marius said fondly about Temila, though Nox did not see his comment that way.
“Temila is an excellent doctor, don’t say bad things against her.”
 
Much later that night, when Nox was practising her Ferrian with the now fluent Fureva-Yung, the larger woman became quiet, reflective and thoughtful. Her eyes closed, and her body relaxed as if in sleep. Nox stopped what she had been saying and put down her book to watch her friend shift. It wasn’t that Fureva-Yung became smaller, but her huge hands that usually hung at her sides, now settled in her lap, her shoulder rounded, and her eyes, when they opened, seemed to study her surroundings with more intent. They settled on Nox, and a smile broke on Fureva-Yung’s face.
“Little one. Thank you for taking such care of Fureva-Yung.”
This was the being she had talked to after Fureva-Yung had touched the black crystal near the Endoval Towers. It was this part of the Fureva-yung personality they had feared lost when Fureva-Yung had been hurt by the acid in the tower. It was also this personality they had hoped to finally reclaim with the treatments. Nox was almost speechless until she realised that Fureva was waiting for her to reply.
“Fureva? Hi,” She said, beaming, “How do you feel?”
“Weak, “ Fureva admitted, something Fureva-Yung had avoided saying all day, “But it is good to be back.”
 
“Back,” Nox’s face fell, and for a moment, she looked at her hands, trying to control her feelings. When she returned her gaze to her now more insightful friend, it was with the sheen of tears in her eyes.
“It’s all we could have hoped for.”
Fureva sat and watched Nox for a moment but did not comment.
“Do you want me to get the others? They’ll be so pleased to finally meet you.”
“No, not yet,” Fureva gently placed her huge hand against her head, “There’s so much to remember. My memories are a mess. Tell me about yourself."
 
 
Nox rattled off a list of tasks she had been involved in during Fureva-Yung’s treatment and respite, including the latest trip with Marius, Risina and Yiti. She reclaimed her book and mentioned the finding once more the video Jaden had discovered of the sion to the east and sorting out her cyphers that may be useful for an underwater trip.
 
“Yes, the dome.” It is now time for action. “Please, Nox, get the others. I wish to plan our next steps,” Fureva said in a way that would have never occurred to the old Fureva-Yung. Nox was quick to put aside her book and get up, but once more, the look of loss fell across her features.
 
“Something disturbs you, little one? I would know it before we start.”
“It’s not important. You and the mission are important.” Nox brushed aside, Fureva’s concerns, but she wouldn’t be put off.
“You are important.” She said emphatically, and the stiffness she’s seen in Nox dissolved as silent tears rolled down her face.
 
This is between us, okay? Nox shared telepathically, The others…they are busy and important… Nox took a breath as it required her to say what needed saying. I never thought I was lonely…in Cerelon. I had Jaden and Temila, and that was enough. Then we got together. You and me and Marius and Jaden and we did…amazing things together. Every day, we explored, discovered, fought and looked after each other. Now, Marius is out exploring for days at a time, and though he asks me to join him on expeditions, he asks. Nox scrunched her face up, unhappy with her explanation, He never asked before. And Jaden. She’s doing amazing things with Aunty Ivasha. Plans look like nonsense to me, but Aunty Ivasha can see Jaden’s plans just like she does. And now you are getting better, which is what we wanted. But you’ll go and do amazing things with the other sions and save us from the shards and… Now the tears were rolling unstopped down Nox’s face, I used to be alone, but now I’m lonely and don’t know what to do about that.
 
Fureva sat back on her pillows and sat in silence as Nox hung her head ashamed.
“Little one. You are a daughter, sister and friend to Fureva-Yung. You always have been and always will be. You are never alone.” A small smile spread across her face as she opened her arms wide, “Now, come here.”
Nox did not look up or open her arms in turn but shuffled up beside the head of Fureva’s bed and leaned into the warm, hairy hugeness that was Fureva-Yung. Fureva enfolded the slight young woman until she disappeared into arms, and they shared a silent moment that was more healing than many months of treatments and recovery.
 
When Nox’s tears had finally dried, Fureva put her back on her feet.
“Now, the others.”
“I know where they are, “ Nox replied with more of her old energy and disappeared with a small pop!
Fureva, who had not witnessed the new teleporting skill, sat stunned, looking around for any sign of the girl. She had disappeared.
 
Pop!
In Jaden’s workshop. Jaden was working as usual. It wasn’t anything in particular. Just a tool she hoped would be useful the next day. The popping sound of Nox was quickly followed by a string of words too excited to understand precisely before, POP! Nox was gone again. Jaden was sure the girl had mentioned Fureva-Yung. That was a good sign. She put down her project and wiped her hands on a rag. It was time for a hospital visit.
 
Pop!
Outside Temila’s hut, the door suddenly rattled with the sharp raps from a small hand.
“Yes, Nox, come in,” said Marius, snuggling closer to a sleepy Temila.
Nox opened the door, saw them together and quickly shut it again.
“Fureva is up and wants to see you,” She said before qualifying, “With clothes on.”
“I’m sure she didn’t say any such thing, but I will be there…with clothes on,” Marius confirmed before hearing the popping sound outside the door.
 
Being still up and fully dressed, Jaden was the first to arrive. She poked her head into the small cabin that was the hospital to see Fureva-Yung sitting up in bed.
“Jaden. Come in.” Said Fureva in a voice clearer and more authoritative than Jaden had ever heard from the woman. Raising an eyebrow, she stepped in and found a seat on the spare bed.
“Nice to see you again. Nox said you wanted something?”
“Firstly, I want to say it is wonderful to see you.”
Jaden now openly looked askance at the woman sitting in the bed, looking just like her old friend.
“Apologies Jaden, we haven’t properly met before. I’m Fureva.”
“Fureva?” Asked Jaden trying to grasp the slippery fish that had just landed in her lap, “Not Yung.”
“Yung is here. She is the one that makes me strong. I would not be here without her.”
“And…you’re Fureva…the other smarter part?”
“You could put it like that,” Fureva said, making a face that suggested she would not, “I was hoping to speak to you first…”
 
Then, Marius walked in, his arms out wide in welcome.
“Furry! Ready to smash?” He said, walking across the small room
“Marius. I am glad to finally meet in person.”
Marius stopped and stared at the composed and eloquent individual in Fureva-Yung’s body.
“Ur…what did you do with our Furry?”
“Marius!” Nox exclaimed, taking her usual seat beside Fureva-Yung’s bedside, “This is Fureva, the part of Fureva-Yung we’ve been working to save all these months.”
“I’ve been trying to explain to him,” Temila walked in behind Marius, glancing over her patient and noting the differences, “But I don’t think even I expected such a change. Temila, pleased to finally meet you.” She put out a hand, and Fureva shook it.
“I know, doctor, and thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
 
Fureva turned back to Jaden, “I wanted to firstly thank you for the armour upgrade.”
“Ah yes, “ Jaden, now on the firmer ground of her inventions, relaxed a little, “Yes, it helps not to have someone ask every half hour how it is going. The work went very smoothly.”
Fureva looked embarrassed, a new expression on her broad face, “ Ah, yes. I’m glad I was… indisposed this time.”
 
“Um, is there anything we can get you? Are you thirsty or hungry?” Marius asked, by way of filling the air.
“I am ravenous,” Fureva admitted, and Nox jumped into action.
“I should have thought! I’m sorry. Would you like mushrooms or bugs from the deep craven? Oh, how about eggs?” She disappeared, only to reappear a few moments later, her hands full of small rubbery eggs fresh from the farm, swaying on her feet. Though she was getting better at teleporting, four teleports in as many minutes was a lot of exertion. The eggs were quickly taken from her hands, and she was returned to her seat by the bed.
 
“Now that we’ve been introduced, Nox said you wanted help?”
“Yes,” Said Fureva in a voice sharp and decisive, “Now is our time to find the remaining sions and return both pieces of the shard to the Gate Star. Jaden, how goes the second crystal we’ll need for the Cerelon piece?”
“I don’t know, “Jaden admitted. She was unprepared for this line of questioning, though it had been something on her mind too, “Last time I spoke to Yosin, he suggested that repairs could be made with the right parts. I’ll get him on side this week and pin him down for details.”
“Good,” She glanced and Nox and tapped the girl’s Numenera book, “You’ve got the time stamp for the last time the sion walked through the eastern site. Could you also find out as much information as you could for the Northern site?”
“Yes,” Nox nodded excitedly, “I’ll do it straight away.”
“Tomorrow will be fine, thank you,” Fureva turned to Marius, “We may be gone some time. How ready do you think the community is to defend themselves if need be?”
Again, something Marius had been thinking about but hadn’t yet initiated.
“I have procedures in place for being aware of the danger. I’ll drill the community on them as soon as possible.”
“Yes, thank you, Marius. Now Temila, “ Fureva turned her attention to her doctor, who was preparing a meal with the eggs Nox brought. “It is your job to get me ship-shape by tomorrow.”
“A week and no less. You’ve just left your bed. Give yourself time.” Temila countered with a determination as strong as Fureva’s.
“Can we negotiate to three days? I am feeling very well.”
“We can talk about it, “ Temila handed over a plate containing scrambled eggs and greens, “After you’ve finished your meal.”
 
The meal was drugged. Fureva was soon too tired to continue planning. Temila got her week.
 
The week passed quickly. Pleasantly surprised by Fureva's insightful intelligence, Jaden was a regular at the hospital. During the fitting for the new armour, Furevea was pleased that the bunny tail was now absent. She turned around in front of a polished piece of steel and admired the new look before falling face-first to the ground and allowing the armour to bounce her back to her feet.
“You truly are a genius, Jaden.” She said with admiration before her expression clouded, “I’ve wanted to talk to you about another piece of technology. In my previous life, I lost quite a few communications crew. They are often the first link with the enemy and the first to be hurt. I worry about Nox as I see her take on that same role.”
“Oh,” Jaden said stiffly, not looking up at Fureva, “What do you have in mind?”
“Mind, precisely. I was thinking of some sort of mind shield technology.”
Jaden shrugged, and Fureva was sure there was a coolness in Jaden’s attitude regarding the girl.
“She has a curious mind and is not afraid to test her limits. I must admit to having something like that in mind myself.”
“If not a shield, maybe a one-way mirror. She can see out, but the enemy can’t see her.”
The surprising thought took root in Jaden’s fertile mind, “I won’t have time now, but leave it with me.”
“Also, “ And this time, Fureva tried to suppress a smile, “Do you happen to have some of your pink dye?”
“Why?” Jaden asked, wondering if this was the start of a revenge plot.
“Could I have a little?” Fureva did not explain.
Jaden relented, curious to see what use this new Fureva-Yung could do with it.
“Yes, yes, you may. I’ll send over a bottle this afternoon.”
 
With a bolt of grey fabric under her arm, Nox sought and found Cyanna D’mir getting ready for a day of making curtains and pillows for the growing collection of houses.
“I need something that breaks up my shape, something…different on each side,” Nox explained, drawing an image of what she wanted in her Numenera book, “I can do chores in exchange.”

The outfit looked like nothing Cyanna had been asked to make before. One sleeve long, the other non-existent. One leg was covered in a short soft skirt with a jagged seam. The other was a pant leg that ended above her thigh. Blobs were cut out through the torso in carefully placed areas to provide the cover she needed while exposing as much skin as possible. Nox handed over the grey fabric she’d traded a cypher for.
“I didn’t take you for an exhibitionist,” Cyanna teased, examining the image, before spotting Nox’s serious expression, “You might as well go around naked as wear this around town.”
“Oh, it’s not for around here. It's for this, “ Nox replied as her skin tone matched her surroundings. With the flat light of the morning on her and the background, Binna was sure there was only a dress pinned to the wall.
“I…understand now,” She said as her mind focused on the problem, “Leave it with me.”
 
 
 
Fureva also wanted new clothing made. Though the grey cloth was fine, she asked about fur and was disappointed to find there were no hides available. The wild game caught by the old militia was mainly of the reptile kind. When shredded and cooked, its skin was almost as tasty as the creature's flesh and never made it to leather. If she wanted fur, she would have to get it herself. With all the air of confidence that an ex-admiral of the fleet could wield, Fureva slipped out of town one evening and into the woods. It wasn’t long before she realised something large and hairy was hunting her. A heavy-bodied snake-like creature with segregated shells slunk from the trees and tall grass. She readied her chain, looking forward to matching wits with the beast, when she realised her grave error. Though intelligent and thoughtful, Fureva was not the physical warrior that Fureva-Yung was. She did not have the strength and agility to take this creature on alone. Swinging her chain, she smiled, nodded to the beast and ran back to the fringe of Tiltspire as fast as she could.
 
Her legs shaking with exhaustion, her sides burning from the effort, Fureva realised she may still have one or two days more healing left. Once her breathing was under control, she strolled back through the cottages and huts of the township, assuring herself the incident had never occurred.
 
The dressmaking taken care of, Nox took the elevator up to the Image room and scanned the footage for any information on the Northern site. It was pretty straightforward. She knew the western site, the old temple to Erinai in Cerelon. The eastern site was identified by work Jaden had done months before. The Northern site was identifiable as a room full of kegs, often moved around by a person who worked or lived there. Though she'd never seen the tattoo, she thought they could be the third sions. She was watching the figure once more moving barrels when soldiers dressed in heavy armour entered the scene and started talking. Eventually, the talking became pointing weapons, and the figure walked out of sight at the point of spears and swords. She noted the timestamp. It was only a few weeks before. She blinked away to tell Fureva.
 
“Should we go after the captured figure at the northern site?” Nox asked, the evening she’d discover the footage. Before then, the group's plans had centred around tackling the water of the eastern dig site in hopes of getting to the transport dome.
“Yes, we should. There isn’t a moment to lose, “ Fureva agreed, knowing that time was of the essence, “Marius, start digging out the northern excavation immediately,” She ordered. Marius balked at the demand. Out of all her friends, Marius was having the most difficulty working with the new decisive Fureva. He said nothing, shutting his mouth with an audible click. Fureva noticed his reticence.
“I understand you’re very good at digging,” She said, with only a twitch of a smile revealing the joke.
Marius laughed, breaking the tension, “There you are, Furry! For a while, you had me worried.” Now free to speak, he responded with his own proposal.
“In the Spire, there are some rooms below where we plugged the crystal in. I think they once connected to the old transport network. What if Nox and I check them out tomorrow?”
Fureva nodded, realising that she needed to remember these were her companions, not subordinates. They had only got as far as they had by relying on the strength, speed and intelligence of each other. Now wasn’t the time to start pulling rank.
“Good thinking, Marius. Please don’t take any unnecessary risks down there,” She said, softening her communication to match.
“Don’t worry, she won’t,” Marius said, elbowing Nox, who didn’t think he was funny.
 
 
“Ready to go?” Marius asked Nox the next day. Nox nodded but didn’t look him in the eye.
“Go-od, “ He said, sure he was missing something, “You know, I really love going out exploring with you. You’re so helpful.”
Nox looked up at Marius, convinced he was making fun, but was surprised to see he genuinely meant it.
“Okay,” She replied tentatively as they walked to the elevator for the trip down to the crystal room.
Using the hand-carved steps of the deep craven, they found the two levels Marius remembered from months before. The first was a control room outside, of which two stairs led down. Below that, three tunnels terminated, one from each of the three remote sites. Nox spent a few moments adjusting to the controls before a blank screen burst into life with information about the system and its condition.
“The path to the southeast tunnel is flooded and won’t open from here, “ Nox said, disappointed. She was least looking forward to swimming through the dark, frigid waters to the dome.
“The southwest tunnel says it has no transport pod connected,” She looked up at Marius. They knew the dodecahedron they’d ridden out to the Spire had derailed on a build-up of crystal in the tunnel, “I wonder if we could ask Mamma and the babies to eat through the crystal on the line for our trip back to Cerelon?”
“That’s an idea for another day,” Marius agreed and pointed to the information on the third tunnel, “What of this one?”
Nox nodded enthusiastically, “Oh yes, the northern tunnel is in working condition. I’ve called the dodecahedron. It should be here in an hour.”
“Great, I want to inspect it, inside and out. Let’s make sure it's working.”
“Ah,” Nox replied, remembering their last trip, “I didn’t open the dodecahedron last time. That was Fureva-Yung with her tattoo.”
“No problem,” Marius smiled, clicking his fingers, “You can just pop up and teleport her back.”
“Yeah…” Nox replied, disappearing only to return via the elevator with Fureva-Yung.
 
 
At the end of the week, the group were ready to travel, and Fureva-Yung was given the all-clear. As had become a habit, Jaden and Fureva spent the evenings watching the newly burgeoning town settle for the night. Through the thinning groups Nox, laden with her few possessions, wove her way through the village to the hut shared by Binna Mayes and Cyanna D’mir. Fureva watched Jaden as the older woman followed the girl’s progress. She’d noticed previously that Jaden, amongst all her friends, was not doing so well. She seemed disconnected and, even though she was integral to much of the building of the new town, a little lost.
 
“She’s grown a great deal in the last few months,” Fureva nodded to Nox as a door opened in the darkness and welcomed the girl in.
“Yes,” Jaden’s one-syllable felt more like a whole statement.
“Jaden, what’s wrong?”
Jaden’s face twisted into a sad smile that spoke of a more profound pain, “I always knew that Nox relied on me, but until she told me I wasn’t her mother, did I know how much I’d come to rely on her.”
 
In the chaos that was still Fureva-Yung’s memories, Fureva recalled the moment. In protecting Nox, she had stymied the girl’s free will. Callously, the girl had retaliated. It was a throwaway phrase in the heat of of the moment, but it had clearly festered in Jaden ever since.
“Sisters go through phases,” Furveva nodded, empathising with her old friend, “Your relationship with her has changed. It is something that even birth mothers need to accept.”
Jaden shook her head, “I don’t think I can ever think of that scrap of a girl dodging her father as a sister. Besides, as you say, I don’t have the right to feel hurt. I am not her mother and never wanted to be.”
“First thing in the morning, you should tell Nox how you feel. You may be surprised by what you discover.”
“No,” If the ‘yes’ had held weight, her ‘no’ was a dagger, sharp and final.
“Jaden…”
“Fureva, I appreciate your insight, but some things are not said, “Jaden brought down her hand like a judge a gavel. The discussion was over.
 
“ I did want to pick your brain about our future infiltration into Cerelon. We’re going to need something to give us an advantage over the servitors,” Fureva changed the subject.
“I made an inhibitor that shut servitors down. The advantage being once we defeat the Shard, we can use the servitors to rebuild.”
“That’s exactly what we need. How many such devices could you build?”
“I can leave Ivasha to build as many as we have parts. We can put together a good stockpile.”
“We’re lucky to have you, Jaden.”
‘Yes.”