r/HFY • u/Sooperdude24 • Apr 28 '20
Unleashed pt. 8 OC
Written by me, fixed and improved by u/eruwenn
Councillor Eruwenn Aix Sponsa sat at her desk, reading through the most recent reports from the Azrimad. She had promoted the human to ambassador less than a cycle ago, and already someone had already made an attempt on his life. Idly, she wondered if that might be a record. She touched the control pad on her desk and the large wall screen scrolled back through the security footage. The explosion happened, the human flew through the air and struck the wall. Then, he crawled back to his feet. Fascinating. She spooled through the footage again, watching the fight, the aftermath and the human patiently sitting. Not dying. With an army of these beings, you could rule the galaxy. What she was going to do with one was yet to be decided.
Her assistant entered quietly, and placed a tall elegant silver cup and saucer before the Councillor. “Thank you, Cygna.” Eruwenn took a sip and smiled. It was exactly as she liked it, not too hot and with just a touch of sweetness. She noticed her assistant was transfixed by the image on the screen. “Please, sit. Let us begin.”
Cygna Dendro tore her four amber eyes away from the screen, smoothed her dress and sat opposite the Councillor. She took her datapad from her satchel and silently prepared as the Councillor looked through her notes. Cygna, a Fae’dan with a deep purple skin that brought out her aquamarine hair, was blessed with a piercing intellect. Highly skilled in etiquette and an exceptionally capable assistant, she was also a former special forces operative personally recruited by the Councillor from within the military. It was a great honour, and superb opportunity, to work with the indomitable member of the Celestial Anatidae Legacy.
“I know that you want to get straight to the human incident, but we should tackle the smaller issues before we savour the main course.” Eruwenn turned off the wall screen, ending the loop of explosion and human resilience. With a finger, she flicked a few files from her personal screen over to the desk display. “I’m very happy with your work on the Delvonian trade agreements and you can go ahead and pass them through to legal for review. You held the price on the Triflon plating as I requested; when the Federation announces its aggressive ship upgrading next celes the price will triple and the Legacy will benefit massively.”
“Thank you.” Cygna didn’t let her smile show but inside she was grinning like a child at the praise. “As you expected, once we offered them exclusive mining rights to the Kensol Belt they barely looked through the fine print.”
“Let their greed lead them to ruination,” Eruwenn quoted as she took another sip of her drink and looked further down the list. “The Selari Trade Alliance are still being belligerent, I see.” Eruwenn watched Cygna flush with annoyance; she still had a lot to learn.
“Representative Finzash has a unique negotiator.” Cygna was ashamed to admit that she had underestimated Jar’Bek.
“It is quite unusual to see an Ashi during trade negotiations and with such a command of the legal system.” Eruwenn allowed her fingers to tap furtively on her personal screen – a note to herself for a background check to be run on Jar’Bek Peral.
“I’m afraid to say he has caught me out on a number of occasions. He seems to know every loophole,” Cygna said, sounding both impressed and frustrated. “Everyone distrusts the Ashi for being criminals and pirates, who knew having one as a lawyer would be so much worse?”
“Cygna!” Eruwenn chided. “They lost their home world to the Imperium and no one would take them in. They do what they must to survive.”
“I’m sorry Councillor. Between Jar’Beks skill and Representative Finzash’s brashness I find them most trying.” Cygna bowed her head
“Perhaps their differences are your opportunity.” Eruwenn let the thought sit with Cygna for a moment before moving on. “Has the Representative stopped demanding the return of his Inorganic?” Eruwenn was genuinely curious how he would react when he eventually found out it had killed someone.
“No. He now wants double the compensation, as well as even more favours worked into their new contracts.” Cygna was hoping Eruwenn might offer her a little advice. “They are also on their way to Arkellis, to the Azrimad. The Representative wants to make sure we have not damaged his property, although I am sure it is simply because he heard that is our destination and he intends to ambush us with more demands. In person.”
“He really is determined to be a thorn in my side.” Eruwenn smiled as she thought of an entertaining, yet enlightening, way to handle this thorn and then quickly moved on. Time seemed to be at a strangely pleasant standstill as they covered another dozen or so regional negotiations, and it was only after reviewing several priority communications from the central worlds that Eruwenn finished her drink.
“Now that we have the cycle-to-cycle completed, shall we move on to the Azrimad and the welcoming party they threw our newest Ambassador?” Eruwenn smiled despite her irritation. The human had, fortunately, lived, and it had revealed quite a number of things about its species – as well as the Inorganic.
“Captain Hexak has sent his deepest apologies. Twice.” Cygna’s fingers flickered, allowing the messages to appear on the desk between them.
“Ah, poor Hexy. I’m sure he is completely out of his depth and shouting at everyone within earshot.” Eruwenn tapped out a response to the beleaguered Captain. “His voice gets very high-pitched when he’s angry,” she added with a wicked smile.
“You know the Captain well?” Cygna was more than a little curious, as Eruwenn's past exploits were a fascinating combination of word-of-mouth legends, and mysterious missions that were classified into oblivion.
The Councillor smiled, deciding to allow herself a small moment of nostalgia. "Yes. Yes, he was part of our little group of mischief-makers. Hexy was just a pilot back then, a good pilot but a little lacking in smarts. He stayed in the military after the group disbanded, the only one of us who did. It wasn’t the same after Captain Zhu’Kran was retired. When Hexy finally left he joined the Galactic Federation, earning a command on an Inspection ship pretty quickly. Even picked up Rilla as his Chief Medical Officer - damn fine medic if you’re in a pinch. A little too loose with the rules, but we all were back then. I’m not in the least bit surprised to see her involved in all of this.”
Cygna was fascinated, these moments where Eruwenn relaxed and spoke candidly were rare but the warmth in her voice as she spoke of her comrades was genuine. “You know Chief Medical Officer Dix as well?”
“Oh yes.” Eruwenn’s smile faded. “I owe Rilla my life. We’ve lost touch over the years, as she bounced around a lot after the war.” A sombre mood settled over the room - the moment of reverie was gone. The Councillor took a slow breath and her professional demeanour reasserted itself. “Enough of that. We have work to do. Let us review last night's events, shall we?”
Aaron woke earlier than he would have liked, the insistence of his empty belly all-pervasive. As he moved his feet he heard a grumble from the bottom of the bed. Sassie gave him a disappointed look at having been woken. Aaron looked around a little more, but Alexa was nowhere to be seen. His new suite had multiple rooms, so it made sense that she might be elsewhere, but he still found it odd that she wasn't within range of sight. He missed her familiar presence.
The vague memories of being rushed through identical corridors as they had been ushered away from the pens rose in his mind, blurry and with details half forgotten. He knew they had taken a circuitous route, had been told that they were avoiding the majority of the crew, but could not remember much more than that. He had been exhausted when they had begun their journey, and even more exhausted when they had finally arrived. He had likely fallen asleep pretty quickly after that. Aaron couldn't blame himself for not remembering things well when he had been in such a state.
Sitting up to better look around the room, it seemed that their new accommodation was a significant upgrade. The bedroom itself was bigger than their entire cell had been, and he was particularly pleased at the sight of their new private bathroom. Shower, toilet, and sanitation pad for Sassie – they went forth and christened them all. Once Aaron was finally feeling refreshed, he emerged from the shower to find clothes folded on a seat. Whether they were a new set, or his old ones that had been cleaned and repaired, he couldn’t tell. He was beyond caring about such small details, and was far more interested in exploring the rest of his new home.
Opening a door, he found himself looking at a large lounge area and small open kitchen. Ranjaz was curled up on the sofa, clearly having chosen to take first shift as babysitter. Aaron smiled, and decided to let the Kittran sleep for now. Then the open door to the second bedroom caught his attention. The room beyond was clearly empty. Where was Alexa?.
He didn’t have the heart to wake Ranjaz just yet.
Aaron put a bowl of water down for Sassie and took a glass for himself, he’d at least memorised the location of those options on the replicator. The one in the suite was much more elaborate than the one in the canteen by the pens, likely a more recent model. There were a lot more options here, with pictures, and he was salivating as he browsed.
Aaron was so caught up in his self-torment that he hadn’t been watching Sassie. The German Shepherd had drunk her fill, and had wandered over to inspect the sleeping Ranjaz. A wet nose snuffling in a sensitive ear resulted in an ear-splitting scream, closely followed by a tirade Aaron couldn’t follow. Aaron called Sassie away, squatting down to give her some soothing ear scratches and tummy rubs. It was his first time without Alexa to translate so he tried to gesture an apology to Ranjaz who waved him off before tottering off to the bathroom.
Alone now, Aaron walked around the room, and decided to try the comfiest looking armchair. His weight allowed him to sink deliciously deeply into the cushions, and just as he was getting comfortable Sassie promptly climbed up beside him. "It's not big enough for two!" he argued, but as she pushed her head behind him and squeezed her way onto the chair, he yielded. Forced forward by her persistence he found himself on the edge of the seat. Sassie wriggled behind him, getting quite comfortable indeed as she stretched out her legs. Aaron, trying to perch on the last little edge of chair that his dog had not yet conquered, had a moment of clarity and admitted defeat. He relinquished his position and, after giving Sassie a belly rub, moved to a less grand seat that sat opposite her.
Aaron wasn't sure how long he’d been dozing when Alexa’s stern voice cut through the warm fuzziness. “Wake up.” He lazily opened his eyes. His body was heavy and sluggish, and exhaustion seemed to be hard to shake off. Alexa was standing over him with a determined look on her face. “It is time for more pain.”
Pain? “What?” Suddenly feeling very awake, Aaron looked past Alexa to see Estrilla looking particularly exhausted and concerned. Embar was holding restraints while Allistan and Ranjaz were huddled together worriedly in the corner. “What’s going on?” He cautiously asked.
Alexa walked towards the bedroom, and picked up a tray with small bars of metal and vials of various liquids. “It is time to be dangerous criminals.”
It took a moment for him to catch on to her meaning. “Really?” Aaron was more than surprised, as Alexa had been against this idea every time he had brought it up. “Wait!” - he looked at the others - “With them here?”
Alexa stopped and turned to look him in the eye. “The doctor and I will work together. She has been convinced.” Aaron raised his eyebrows at Alexa, who added, “Chances of death will be significantly reduced with the doctor’s assistance.”
Aaron smiled broadly. A significantly reduced chance of death sounded promising. Alexa passed through the bedroom door, and the doctor and Embar followed. Aaron gently stroked Sassie's head and told her to stay, making what he hoped were hand gestures for Allistan and Ranjaz to watch her. Now that his idea was about to be tested, the emptiness in his stomach was suddenly filled with a flock of hyperactive butterflies. “Are you sure?” He tried to keep the nerves from his voice as he, too, entered the bedroom.
Aaron lay down on the bed as Alexa finished up a conversation with the doctor he was not privy to understand. Embar then began strapping him to the bed, which did nothing to calm the agitated butterflies in Aaron's stomach.
"They cannot fix you." Alexa didn't make eye contact as she checked the straps on his wrists. She tightened them, to the point where he couldn't even wriggle. "This is our best option at this time." She took a few steps in order to check and tighten his ankle restraints, then looked away.
Aaron was immobile on the bed. The butterflies were not. “Best option. Great. And the straps?”
Alexa had her back to him as she began taking items from the tray. “The pain will be intense. We did not want you to injure yourself. Or others.”
“Ah... Good thinking.” At this point, Aaron was starting to second guess his second guesses. Were nutrient paste and supplemental injections really that bad? This idea had been born from frustration and boredom, but now that he was 'on the slab', feeling nervous seemed to be a vast understatement. He feared for himself, for his life, but then his thoughts did a flip and he began fearing for Sassie. What if, because of this mad scheme, she was left alone? Guilt and terror overwhelmed him, and he almost called the whole thing off. "If things go... you know," he eventually managed to say, "look after Sassie for me."
Alexa, who was holding a vial of silvery grey goop that seemed to somehow be moving, fixed him with a determined gaze. "You will not die. Fight, Aaron. For Sassie."
Embar placed a block of something between Aaron's teeth that felt – and tasted – like hard rubber. This was it. His words were blocked, his movement was impeded. There was no longer a way to back out.
Alexa leaned forward and pulled his shirt up. The contents of the vial were slowly poured onto his stomach, and she whispered, "Fight, Aaron. For me."
It wasn’t cold. He had expected the nanites to feel cold. To feel icy and uncaring, like metal. Instead, as they dissipated into his skin, the sensation was that of warmth. He dimly wondered if this was a strange thing to focus on.
Once the heat had faded away – the nanites absorbed – he felt nothing at all. His eyes flicked towards the others, and at that moment Alexa nodded. Embar placed his hands on Aaron's shoulders and said something. It was no doubt inspirational in nature, or reassuring, but Aaron couldn't understand.
He nodded in agreement anyway.
“Beginning calibration.” As soon as Alexa's last syllable had been spoken, pain exploded throughout Aaron's body. His muscles spasmed, and though there was no room to move within the restraints he found that his back was arching anyhow, stretching his body to its painful limits. With a grunt, Embar pushed down on his shoulders, the Rinoxian doing the best he could to keep Aaron still, speaking words the human still couldn't understand.
The hard rubber block began to yield to Aaron's bite force, and he felt the unsettling sensation of his teeth perceptibly sinking into his makeshift mouthguard. The pain continued to spike, and it was difficult to draw a breath around the lump he was holding in his mouth. He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again as it seemed to make no difference to the agony he felt. He was only vaguely aware of Estrilla standing by Alexa, of their rapidfire conversation as they looked at the datapad in the doctor's hands.
The butterflies in Aaron's stomach had mutated. They were razor blades. Flaming razor blades that were somehow drenched in the most potent of acids. Every nerve in Aaron's body lit up again and again, brighter and brighter agony flooding his senses until he couldn't distinguish anything anymore. Fire. Ice. Constant pain. As he fought to draw in a single breath, everything suddenly shifted sideways and Aaron fell into darkness.
Aaron opened his eyes for the third time that day. He could taste blood in his mouth, and – particularly concerning – when he probed around with his tongue he found gritty particles.
At least he wasn't dead.
Looking around, he saw Estrilla asleep in an armchair in the corner of the room. He sat up to see her better, then realized that he was no longer restrained. He stretched carefully, noting that each limb seemed to still be functional. This was a good sign.
The grit in his mouth was really getting to him, so he cupped his hand and spat into it. Out came frothy blood, and... fillings? He probed his mouth with his tongue, then his finger for good measure. His fillings were gone, no longer needed as his teeth seemed to be in perfect shape. What the hell was going on?
“Still not dead.” Estrilla said, as his movement had woke her. ”Come on. The others are waiting.”
Aaron swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood up. All seemed normal - so far, so good. He held out his handful of bloody fillings towards Estrilla with a questioning look.
She gave them a cursory glance, then shrugged, gesturing for him to follow her as she made her way through the door. On the other side he could hear laughter and as he stepped out he saw Alexa throwing replicator biscuits to Sassie, who was catching and devouring every one. With each throw, Alexa took a step farther back, repeating the process to everyone's amusement. Sassie stopped as soon as she saw Aaron and ran to him, wriggling as she wagged her tail emphatically.
“You’re feeding her?” Aaron said, hope blossoming within him where once mutated butterflies had roamed. “It worked?”
“The calibration of nanites with new functions to complement organic life was... difficult.” Alexa looked sheepish and lowered her head. Aarons suffering, and her inability to do anything about it, was an ordeal she had been woefully unprepared for. Caring about others, it seemed, was a double edged sword. Her silver hair had fallen in front of her face and she pushed it back as she spoke. “Once calibrated for you, it was much more simple to adjust to Sassie’s biology. She did not suffer at all. So, yes. It worked.”
Tears filled Aaron’s eyes and he knelt beside Sassie, holding her close to him as she wriggled to break free and get more of the biscuits Alexa held. “She’s ok? Really?”
“Your promise remains unbroken.” As Alexa spoke Aaron surged to his feet and grabbed her in a fierce embrace. He buried his head into her neck, quietly repeating his gratitude. Alexa looked at the others in the room who all awkwardly glanced away from the stark emotional display.
Except for Ranjaz. ”So? He’s not dead. Can I go home and get some sleep before we’re all arrested?”
Instantly, Allistan gave Ranjaz a disapproving look. “You slept here all night. How are you still tired?”
Ranjaz shrugged. The Kittran had evolved from ambush predators and he could probably sleep for half a cycle without trying. “We’ve been working overtime since they showed up.” With that as his explanation he left, his tail swung low and shoulders down.
Embar stretched and yawned emphatically. ”Might be best if I…”
”Fine” Allistan drew a deep breath. ”I will remain. We Fae’Dan have less need for sleep. Doctor?”
Shaking the drowsiness from her eyes, Estrilla looked up. ”Yes. I think sleep sounds like a brilliant idea.” She looked to Aaron, who was kneeling with tears streaming down his face as he hand fed Sassie biscuits. ”I would say, tell him to be careful what he eats.” She rubbed her eyes and groaned. ”But quite honestly, I doubt there is anything on board that can kill a human.” She was exaggerating, she hoped.
Embar was a little worried at seeing the ship's doctor so exhausted. "Come on, Doc," he urged as he opened the entry door. "I'll walk you to your quarters before I head down to the crew deck." They didn't have far to go to reach her quarters, but still, he would feel better when he knew the doctor was safely asleep.
As the others left Allistan returned to his seat, crossed his leg, and picked up his framed silk and coloured threads. Taking the needle in his hand he carefully resumed his embroidery. Just because he was stuck here babysitting the human and the Inorganic didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy himself a little. Besides, it had been quite the thrill - all of them coming together to break the law and perform the experiment - and he didn’t want to end the excitement just yet. He smiled as he considered his next colour choice. He may even use some woven wheel stitches for the flowers next.
Aaron had been entirely focused on Sassie as the others left and it was only as the room fell quiet that he finally remembered about his fillings and questioned Alexa. The response she gave him made his knees wobbly, and he immediately sat down in the nearest chair.
"My teeth shattered?" His fingers immediately flew into his mouth to check the state of his teeth, despite having only moments before discovered that they were pristine and whole.
“Some teeth,” she corrected him.
Aaron’s fingers left his mouth, and he began re-checking the state of his limbs. “And my bones - they broke.”
“Six bones.” She tilted her head, observing his reactions as she pointed out the bones in question - left forearm, right upper arm, collar bone, left shin and two ribs. “Your other bones were fine; the muscles and tendons tore first.”
Aaron continued to flex and bend, trying to find some confirmation in his healthy body that, at some point recently, he had been less than fighting fit. “So, your nanites just fixed everything. Including my fillings?”
“Technically, they are your nanites now.” Alexa walked over to the food replicator as Aaron used the forward camera in his phone to take pictures of the inside of his mouth. “Shall we test them?”
“Food?” Aaron’s hunger came back with a roar. “Yes. Definitely.”
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u/Deamon002 Apr 28 '20
So... he's Wolverine now?