All That Glitters Ch. 04

"Among the staff, you are held in high regard because of your no-nonsense approach to life, your generosity, and your kindness to the staff, from cleaners, to porters, to receptionists. The staff consider you anything but petty," Lissette said with a smile.

"The young men the manager chose for you are his bootlickers. Your choosing me over them will further anger him towards me. I was, however, ever so pleased that you put him in his place," she said with a satisfied grin.

"Right, well I will need to hire transportation suitable to the very rich. I will need to find several key staff members in the next few days and weeks, especially security, and an executive/personal assistant. Consider yourself on probation in the latter role for the moment. Do well and you will be hired if you want the job. It will come with considerable benefits, not the least of which will be better wages. But I expect much of you and do not want to hear complaints from you.

"I was a miner on a space station for the last three years. I worked hard hours under very trying and dangerous conditions, often in space in an EVA suit. I have done things that most people on planet would think to be horrendously stupid, incredibly dangerous, and just downright wrong, but were the daily fare of a mining platform.

"I survived, and I thrived. All this is to tell you that bullshitting me won't work and complaining about being overworked will fall on deaf ears. I've been there and done that. I'll just tip the glass filled with your 'wine' on the ground along with you and find someone else to do the job.

"That said, I believe that I am a reasonable person to work for. Working with me will be far more challenging than being a receptionist or concierge here. It will take you many new places around human space, and possibly beyond. I wasn't kidding when I said that I was taking possession of a personal yacht. We will travel, and with my wealth and status, we will be dealing with some very senior VIP's of different levels of planetary and Union Governments. As well as the rich and famous of the known galaxy.

"But you are going to have to convince me that you are worthy of my trust and show how dutiful you can be at completing my orders and tending to my desires," Liea stated.

Lissette got right to work, contacting several reputable security services and arranged for them to be interviewed by Liea and William Delan, Chief of Security (CSec) for Liramor Holdings.

The CSec was aware of many of the companies on Lissette's list and made some amendments to it based on his own experiences with them, dropping those that did not have the ability to supply bodyguards or had to limited a scope of capabilities. With his help, it didn't take long for Liea to set up twenty-four and seven personal security.

The Veteran's Security Company (VSC) was a security group made up, as implied in the name, of veterans from the War. The company included members that could do all kinds of things to secure one's personal or corporate security and had often worked with Liramor Holdings in the past, so they made for a good fit. The company also had offices on several worlds so Liea would have support on many of the worlds she could travel to.

VSC also provided secure luxury transportation, so one company fit all her needs. Her head of personal security (PSec) was Analisa Talbot, a no-nonsense woman in her mid-thirties. An ex member of the Marines, she gravitated to VSC after the war when they temporarily employed her for personal security on a city governors' daughter.

In a spectacular firefight, Ms. Talbot risked her life to save the lives of both the daughter and the daughter's BFF and eliminated a criminal threat to the city. VSC hired her permanently from the Marines at wages that were much better than she could have imagined. In the last six years, she had been employed mostly when the client was a woman.

VSC also had contacts in the business world on Liramor that would be useful to Liea in dealing with her soon to be vast fortune. They recommended Jean Dumont of Dumont Finances, a small but well-connected financial consulting institution to Liea.

Jean Dumont was a man in his early thirties who had started out working for his father in Dumont Family Financial Consultations. But, when Jean discovered that half of the family business was with people on the somewhat shady side of the law, Jean resigned and set up his own financial consulting business, Dumont Financial Consulting and Investment.

He was scrupulously honest and never accepted people who worked the wrong side of the law. His reputation meant that he dealt with many of the rich and famous of Liramor Prime. VSC initially hired him to do some forensic digging into the company of a family they were protecting, and Jean had determined that a senior partner had been embezzling the firm for years. When the man was arrested, it turned out he was working with several known underworld figures. Jean's work brought them all down despite threats to and real attempts on his life. Jean had been VSC's go to guy for finances for many years now.

When Liea told Jean Dumont of the size of her pending fortunes, the man clearly showed his surprise. An amused Liea had enjoyed watching his reaction, it had been hers too not so long ago.

Liea now had a nucleus of people that could meet any of her needs. From security to transportation, from note taking to making suggestions for financial investments. She was ready to meet the galaxy.

Malihan Regional Hospital, Green's World, Harn Star System, Twenty Light Years from Terra

Sean Murphy and Heyya arrived at Malihan Regional Hospital on New Year's Eve. Green's World was in the Harn system, twenty light years from Terra, but on the opposite side of Terra from the Liramor system. Due to the position of the respective systems, they were on a tangent to each other thus only forty-five light years apart vice a straight line fifty. Even using a much slower supply ship, the pair managed to arrive at Green's World well inside two days.

As on Liramor Prime, they were greeted by the senior medical personnel and the senior administrative officer for the hospital.

"Hello Mr. Murphy, I am Auralie Pendame, Senior Administrator for the hospital. We were asked to take you in for regeneration of your legs and the necessary rehabilitation. I understand that you could have received your care on Liramor Prime, but that you would not have been given access to the necessary procedures for fourteen months, which is why we were asked to take over your case.

"Our hospital specializes in regen work for severe injuries such as yours. We receive cases from all over known space so you being here is not an issue nor anything special. All this to say that you are in good hands here at Malihan Hospital and that your medical needs will be met well within the timelines indicated by your employer, who, I believe is footing the bill.

"Your stay here will not be pleasant, sorry to say. Regeneration is painful and rehab is considerably hard work, but you will leave here complete once more. I will leave you in the hands of Dr. Morina Holdar who is your team lead. Good luck, sir," she finished with a smile.

"Hello, Sean. I'm Dr. Holdar, one of the senior surgeons at Malihan. You will be with us for ten to sixteen months, depending on how hard you work on your rehabilitation and the options you chose for regen.

"We have several options for you for your recovery. First, we can grow your legs and then graft them to your body. This is the least painful method but is the most intensive for rehabilitation. Growing your legs means that you will be in your present condition for up to four months while everything is made ready. Then your legs will be grafted to your body and you will begin very intensive rehabilitation. With this method, you can expect to be with us for ten to twelve months.

"Second, we can grow your legs from your body. We have been assured that your legs were seeded for this purpose, which makes our job so much easier. Your legs will take much longer to grow on your body, up to eight to ten months vice the four months for grafting, but everything will be integrated once they do. While the process is not painful per say, it is uncomfortable. The rehab is much shorter, but you will still be with us for twelve to fourteen months.

"Third, we can use biogenic prosthesis. Legs would be engineered for you, designed specifically for your body and tailored for your job, which I am told is space mining. Because of the cyborg wars of sixty years ago, most people do not take this option due to the stigma associated with biogenic replacements, but you should be aware that it is available to you. There are places in human space where a biogenic prosthesis is accepted by the local population but, they are still in the minority.

"This option means that you will be up on your 'feet' within a couple of weeks, but the rehab is extensive, and it is painful until you get used to the devices. As well, the prosthetics require constant maintenance and 'tuning' as you progress with your rehab and when you return to work because of the neural link to your body. But you would be back to work in as little as six months.

"Lastly, there is the standard non-biogenic prosthetic legs. These are simple to use but would limit your job options. I do not believe you would be allowed to return to space mining if you chose this option.

"These devices are linked to you via a 'nerve cuff' that senses impulses from the nerves above your amputation that would normally extend down to your lower legs. These impulses would be used to control the prosthesis' movements. You will, however, not have 'sensation' below the amputation other than feedback from the actuators for knee and ankle joints.

"They are not bio-engineered devices and are not linked directly to your nervous system. They are the least expensive of all the options, thus are more frequently chosen by amputees despite being more primitive. Once again, the rehab is extensive and painful and not a fast as with biogenic prosthetics with rehab extending from eight to ten months. There is also much residual pain from the use of the prosthetics for the remainder of your life.

"Since your employer is paying for the regen and rehab, I would expect you to chose either the first or second options. But you should be aware of all options available. We will not be doing anything with you over the next two days due to the public holiday here on Green's World. Our world closely aligns with Terra, so we celebrate New Year's Eve in concert with the home planet.

"I will see you in a couple of days when you have had time to think on your options and then the work will begin. Good day, sir." Dr. Holdar finished and left, Nurse Heyya entering the room as she departed.

"I have spoken with the administrator with regards to payment," Heyya began. "All of the regen and rehab options are open to you. I have been given quarters here in the hospital. It will be with you for at least the next four months, possibly longer, depending on how the process goes."

There was a knock at the door, and she opened it with a smile. An orderly came in with a new holo-vid unit eliciting a laugh from Sean. Heyya, knowing his simple needs, gave him a smile and a wink.

"You can watch your shows for a couple of hours. I'll be back then to make sure you sleep. Be a good patient for me, please," she finished.

Sean smiled broadly as Heyya left his room. He was happy to know someone he was familiar with would still be around. He had grown fond of Heyya and did not look forward to her departure.

Liramor Estates, Liramor Prime

New Year's Eve was the largest celebration on Liramor Prime. Due to the planet's slightly longer day and year, they held the New Year's Party two planetary days after 'official' New Year's.

Because of the rich and famous people attending the party, VSC had been employed to provide support to Liramor Security. Thus, Liea's own security had permission to be on site.

Both Liea and Lissette had been attending regular sessions with the security team on how to protect themselves and to escape and evade capture in a kidnapping attempt. But more importantly, how to let the security team work to protect them. They had been taken through several intense sessions of using the transportation as a shield, escaping a vehicle while under fire, the proper way to crouch down so they could move while inside a phalanx of security personnel, and much more. They had been warned of more intense future sessions, all designed to save their lives or prevent capture.

They had been shown how to exit a vehicle to provide the least amount of time for any act of aggression. But, tonight, they came to the party in a shiny luxury transport to be imaged as the pair alighted from the vehicle dressed in appropriate fashion for the well-to-do.

Liea had dressed Lissette in one of her expensive ball gowns. They had discovered that Lissette's unique personal biochemistry was suitable for the Ballimer's Moon Perfume, so Liea had spritzed her. While the very distinct and pleasant scent of the perfume was there, their personal biochemistry made for a slightly unique scent on each of them.

Lissette had the doe-eyed manner of fascination for the event as they left the vehicle but Liea wasn't far behind. This was, after all, new to her too.

Annette welcomed Liea at the door and was introduced to Liea's new EA who gave her the look of a star shocked fangirl. Liea had to nudge her to get her moving, much to Lissette's embarrassment and Annette's amusement.

The party was a truly grand affair with over two thousand attendees, and their 'plus ones', from all over known space. While the Liramor's were not the richest family in the Terran Union, they were most certainly within the top ten. So, an invitation to party at the Liramor Estate was seldom turned down, especially when it consisted of a second New Year's party in as many days for many of the attendees.

Liea was taken around to shake the hands of all those in attendance, with Lissette at her side. Lissette had researched all of the party goers over the last two days through the offices of VSC. She had all the names in her brand-new and very expensive personal comp unit, sending information to Liea's discrete earpiece, as the guest's names cued the information. For Liea, the information was a godsend. She knew she would likely never regret having hired Lissette as her EA.

More importantly to greeting the list of guests was in having the opportunity to be included in the who's who of the known galaxy. What was more surprising to Liea though, was not in fawning over the other guests but in the fact that the guests were fawning over her.

What set the hook with the guests, unbeknownst to Liea, was when two drunk younger well-to-do patrons got into a scuffle and the security that came out in force did so around Liea. Liea and Lisette were quickly, quietly, and subtly moved out of harm's way with great skill and with no fuss or fanfare while the two patrons were dealt with.

The who's who of the super rich noted that serious security protected Liea. People used to that kind of security saw and understood when it was employed, and for whom it was employed. That act alone told the power elite that here was a person of note. They didn't know who Liea was, but they would find out.

Liea had arrived, even if she didn't know it.

NS Wimple, Piscium Star System, 106 Light Years from Terra

The day after New Years Day, work began as normal. The scientists on board went through the imagery of the alien station with Capt. Clark in attendance, grilling him on everything that he had seen. They discovered Clark had a keen and analytical mind, and they enjoyed picking it apart. It took them three days, but they finally had a game plan to tackle the station.

Since the alien station had large bays, similar to the maintenance bays of Liramor-23, they planned to collect and place all the bodies into some of the bays. It would not be possible for them to conduct research on the bodies on the vented station, due to the limitations of the EVA suits they would be using. So, select bodies would be brought to the platform and placed into the level five containment lab where they would be studied by the team's pathologists.

Once the bodies were collected on the alien station, they planned to survey the station to find rooms that might still be sealed to determine if they could get an air sample of what the aliens might breathe. This would be necessary if they were successful in resuscitating the alien in the pod.

At the same time, they would survey the alien station for artifacts and place them in another location from where they would be sent for further study on the platform. A long list of scientists and engineers all over Union space were eager to have that opportunity to investigate the artifacts.

The team also wanted to find the station's power plant, to determine if it was compatible with, or could be made compatible with human power systems. If they could bring back power, then it might be able to do much more with the station.

Lastly, all were eager to begin work on the alien pod. They had no idea if they could re-animate the alien within, but they wanted to try. By general agreement, that would wait until they had a better understanding of the alien's physiology and technology before they were to attempt it.

Alien Mining Station, Piscium Star System

Three days later the NS Wimple slipped into a holding pattern near the alien station, three-minutes light from Liramor-23. Not long after arrival, the Wimple disgorged several shuttles filled with scientists to investigate the site and Marines to act as security and muscle.

The forty-eight scientists were some of the best that humankind had to offer. They were composed of pathologists, comparative anatomy paleontologists, biologists, engineers -- including electronics and electrical engineers as well as structural engineers, linguists, weapons specialists, and computer specialists. The broad range would be needed to investigate an entire alien station and its contents.

The scientists first surveyed the station from top to bottom, noting the placement of alien bodies, which they had begun to refer to as 'Insectoids', and artifacts. They also noted which rooms were sealed.

Scientists scanned the walls and any documents they found, making notes on the alien language. The linguists, still on the Wimple, began attempting to decipher the language as soon as the scans became available.

Eager pathologists took 3D imagery of the bodies before they were moved. Samples left behind, such as blood and body parts, were bagged and sealed for immediate delivery to the level five labs on the platform. The bodies would follow later.

The bodies were all a soft greyish blue in colour. They had a segmented body in three parts roughly equivalent to three-meter long ants, so the scientists used insect terminology to name the parts: the abdomen, the thorax, and the head. The large oblong abdomen had six legs. The legs were hefty in appearance unlike the spindly legs of insects from Terra.

The middle segment, or thorax, was almost as long as the lower section, but much thinner around. It seemed to have several segmented sections that overlapped each other suggesting it would be somewhat flexible. This suggestion was confirmed when several specimens were found 'curled' downwards into the abdomen from the flexing of the thorax. It was speculated that if the flexing could occur to the same extent in reverse, that would leave the upper portion of the thorax and the head well above the abdomen. The thorax had several belts that held oddly shaped tools tightly to the lower half, with two long arms extending from the upper half. The hands had four fingers and two thumbs, one on each side of the fingers.