Arboreal 02: Reunions

"Then I'm right. You are Eve to these people."

Sonia laughed. "They aren't my babies. I'm just the midwife. I want to ask you something. Would you mind sharing a bed again tonight? I'm concerned about your nightmares and with the height we're at..."

"You sure that's not just an excuse?"

Sonia smiled. "Not yet. I really am worried about you. If it bothers you, I could just tie you to the bed and leave."

Tia laughed. "I think most people stay in the room when they have someone tied to a bed."

Sonia grinned at her. "If we get to that point, I promise I'll stay in the room."

Tia was suddenly ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have joked about sex."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not... because I can't. I really want to jump you but I just can't right now."

Sonia sat on the edge of the bed. "I enjoy your company, Tia. Don't worry about offending me with a joke. When you're feeling better, we can see if you feel the same way about the other stuff. For now, I am your friend and will do my best to take care of you."

Tia's face twisted and she turned away. "Why?" she sobbed. "You don't know what I did! And now I'm just a useless basket case, I can't even think about sex or..."

"Tia, I don't like hearing you talk like that, especially about yourself. Please stop."

Tia took a shuddering breath but finally nodded.

"It's difficult not giving you a hug right now," Sonia said.

Tia turned and almost threw herself into Sonia's arms. Tia sobbed into her shoulder while Sonia petted her back and rocked her. Then Tia began to stiffen up and Sonia let go of her and stepped away.

"I can't even get hugs like a normal person."

"Have you ever broken a bone?"

"Sure, a few in my hands and feet. Greensticked my fibula once."

Sonia winced. "Did you jog the next day?"

"You know I didn't."

"Did you blame yourself for laying around?"

"I know what you're getting at," Tia said.

"That's because you're smart. Can't you see that you were wounded? Stop beating yourself up about it and worry about getting better instead."

"Yes ma'am."

"Good, then that's settled," Sonia said.

Tia laughed and then cocked her head. "What is that rumbling in the distance? I've been hearing it for a while."

"That's thunder. We're right at the beginning of the spring storms so we may be waiting here for a day or two if it's a big storm. Most Anek don't like getting wet, let alone travel during storms. I'd better get my databand, Piper or Badger will be calling soon. They worry about me not being home with storms coming."

Sonia went to her pack and Tia tried not to look at her read end when she bent over. She hadn't even sat down when the databand chirped.

"Hi Piper."

"Mom, it's raining so hard here! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, sweetie. We're waiting at First Meeting, snug and safe in the lodge."

"Good, Badger was really worried."

"So were you!" another voice protested.

"Okay, that's true," Piper said. "Oh, Miss Amanda is making bread! I didn't know you could do that but she says we can help!"

Sonia shook her head, grinning. "I didn't know you were interested in baking."

"I didn't either! Oh wait, I want to talk to you privately."

There was rustling and a thump.

"I went in the closet and closed the door."

"Okay."

"I wanted to ask you something about Tia-Tiafione. Is that okay?"

"I'll be in the lodge," Tia whispered but Sonia shook her head and pointed at the bed.

"Of course it's okay, Piper. You sound worried," she said.

"Is she okay? It woke me up when she screamed last night."

Tia closed her eyes and put her arm over her face. She didn't want to hear this.

"Did it scare you?" Sonia asked, sitting on the bed and putting her hand on Tia's leg.

Piper laughed. "Noo! I knew what it was right away. You know I haven't ever been scared by stuff like that. I just like her lots and I think she got hurt inside. Are you taking her somewhere to get better?"

"Yes, that's where we're headed. To answer your question, I think she's going to be just fine," Sonia said. "It might be hard work but she's pretty tough."

"Mom, we can help her if she needs it, right?"

"Always."

"Okay, good. You be careful with all this rain!"

"I will, my love. You be careful in the rain too."

"I'm not the one running around in it," Piper said. "I'll call you tomorrow?"

"Sure, I'll talk to you then."

Sonia put the databand on the table beside the bed and sat down next to Tia.

"You totally staged that," Tia said without moving her arm.

Sonia laughed. "No, but you can certainly think I'm that good."

Tia moved her arm and Sonia watched a tear run down her face and fall on her neck. "What kid thinks that way? You totally set that up."

"Still nope."

"I'll admit, she was good. But I think I heard papers rustling. She was reading from notes, wasn't she?"

Sonia laughed. "She was not. Want to know what kid thinks that way? A really bright and lovely girl from a race of healers does. They're all like that."

"What?"

"The Anek, healing is a thing for them. You know how the Commonwealth swears by mercy? The Anek are the same way with fixing things. That's why my kid is worrying about her new friend."

"She's completely wonderful."

"You haven't seen her with a sugar hangover but I'd have to agree."

~~~~

Tia took a quick look around the corner and flattened against the wall. One of the bugs ran past, ignoring them as it fled from the explosions.

That is not a danger, you do not need to kill it

Tia's rifle came up as she looked around. Who the hell was talking? Her finger tightened and there was a crack as she shot it in the back. The bug flopped forward and slid a little way.

"Put your phone away," she said to Rosie but the woman just stared at her. "Put it away, get your gun up! There's going to be more."

They only exist in your mind. You can stop this

The bug came around the corner and Rosie disintegrated as Tia began running. She began to feel sick, knowing what was coming, already knowing where that stray rocket had landed. She was running slower and slower, trapped like a bug in epoxy.

Are you not listening? You can stop this

"Who is that?" Tia looked around, it was like standing in a photograph.

There was a sense of amusement. We just...are. Now that we have your attention, look

Tia realized she was standing beside herself. Time began again and her double began to move forward. Tia watched her slowly head for a gap between buildings.

What are you waiting for, Warrior? Go

Tia jogged between the buildings. She had a look of stunned horror on her face, looking at the wreckage of the building. It was strange watching herself but there was a strong pull in her head and she was looking out of her own eyes again.

There was a feeling of a tired sigh. You are either dense or very stubborn. Sleep now, no more dreams tonight

~~~~

By the next morning it had stopped raining and there were a few glimpses of blue sky in the gray clouds. It was windier today and Tia felt the platform shift slightly as the tree it was attached to swayed. Sonia and Tia sat in the lee of the domed lodge and watched the leaves dip and move in the warm breeze.

"Is this bad?" Tia asked. "The wind?"

Sonia shook her head. "I've been in this very spot when the winds were much worse and we barely budged."

Tia nodded but kept a close eye on the branches around and over them. Branches broke and fell, she knew that much. It probably wouldn't take much to bring a big one down on them with this wind...

Tia jumped up as there was a heavy thump on the deck, immediately followed by another.

"It's okay," Sonia said, getting up. "Our guides are here."

There were two Anek on the other side of the lodge. The larger one had folds of blue cloth wrapped and belted around him and the other one had the same thing in a gray-green.

"Hello friends," the Anek in blue said. "We're taking you to the deep forest. I'm sorry, I've forgotten your name, beloved sister."

"What about the famous Anek memory? My name is Sonia, this is Tia."

"We should be gone," the other Anek said. "The weather isn't as settled as I'd like."

"We're ready to go," Sonia said.

She and Tia put their packs on and then Tia was scooped up by large warm hands.

"Hello, Tia, my name is Boggle. I'm not usually so abrupt but the storms look bad and we'll be far from shelter." Boggle put her on his back so that she was facing forward, her head beside his and his amazingly strong arms folded over her.

"Don't be nervous, I hardly ever drop people," Boggle said. "But I might if you vomit. Don't wait until the last moment to tell me."

"I cross my heart promise, okay?"

"And try not to scream in my ear."

Boggle jumped across open space to the nearest large branch. Tia didn't scream but she was suddenly holding on very tight.

"I told you I wouldn't drop you. Did that make you nauseated?"

"Not the end I'd be worried about if I were you."

Boggle immediately laughed. "That's a poop joke, isn't it? You're quite light. Thank you for not screaming. I'm jumping back now."

They landed next to Sonia and the other Anek.

"Carrying her won't be a problem," Boggle said, very serious again.

"Sonia was it?" the other Anek said. "I'll carry you."

"Ready?" Boggle asked Tia.

"Can I yell just a little bit?"

"Turn your head. And remember to turn it if you start to feel ill!"

Boggle leapt onto the main tier branch, jogging along its length, faster than a human could run. He leapt out and grabbed a secondary branch, running down the length. There was a loud "yeee haw" as he leapt again.

"You're not letting him beat you? Young kid like that?" Sonia said as the Anek swung out and began running along the branch.

"Very funny. How is she?"

"Tia? She needs help but I think she'll make it. Why do you feel nervous, Thorn?"

(There's something you need to know)

"You are nervous."

(Leah is on her way home)

She squeezed him. "That's a good thing. I'm glad she's coming back."

(If you say so but Cole's sadness was bad enough when she was beyond the sky. Now she's even closer, how bad will he be?)

"Try looking at it another way. Maybe he was sad because she was so far away."

(Maya, I will never understand humans)

"Sweetie, we don't understand ourselves most times. And it's Sonia now."

(I like the feel of Maya in my mouth. Sonia is not as much pleasure)

"Ooh, was that a dirty joke? Sweetie, it'll be okay, I promise. And yes, I missed you too. Feel how happy my heart is to see you?"

(It's been too long, Beloved)

|2.0

(Wake up, stubborn man

Eli opened his eyes. Tessa was gone but Anja had come back and was sitting on the floor beside the bed. He pushed himself into a sitting position, waiting for the wave of whirling and nausea but it was more manageable. She had red cloth wrapped around her upper body this time so Eli figured that he managed to sleep through the night.

"Good morning," Eli croaked.

Anja handed him a glass of water. "Good afternoon is more appropriate. You're feeling better?"

Eli nodded. "How long was I asleep?"

"It has been two days since Tessa bathed you, five days in all. I don't know if you remember us waking you to drink water and visit the toilet? Your body was exhausted and you were not listening to it. This is not a good thing, Eli. We will teach you to listen more closely."

Eli started to explain how chaotic everything had been, how he hadn't had a chance to sit and think but just nodded before turning and putting his feet on the floor.

"I could really use the bathroom."

"I won't let you fall," Anja said.

Eli nodded and got up and went to the bathroom. He smelled his armpit and winced and turned on the shower.

There was a tap on the door and Anja opened it. "I will help you bathe. This is an easy place to fall and injure yourself."

"I can handle it," Eli said. "You can stay close if it makes you feel better."

Anja looked at him with those large black eyes for a moment. "I will stay close."

Eli nodded and turned his back to pull off his shorts and then stepped under the warm water and sighed.

"You were not bothered by Tessa helping you bathe. It makes me curious, does my appearance disturb you?"

"No, that's not it," Eli said. "I'm just tired of feeling like a baby. Plus I don't think we'd both fit in here."

Anja laughed. "I did not consider that."

"Am I better now?"

"You are better now that you are not exhausted but there is still the issue of dislocation to deal with."

"That's just psych crap, isn't it? I'm in the future and there's no going back. Poof, no more dislocation."

The shower curtain pulled back and Anja looked in at him. "Are you serious?"

Eli scrubbed his hair. "That I accept it? Yes."

"That you think this is just a problem of your thoughts."

Eli didn't answer until he had rinsed his hair. "I know there's a mind/brain/body interface and that you can think yourself sick but..."

"This has not been properly explained to you. Your body, all of it, is suffering physical effects from the temporal shift. It was first noticed in those who have been subjected to long periods of acceleration. The effects worsen the further one moves out of their temporal phase. There is also an element of duration. For example, a pilot that spends several weeks accelerating to relativistic velocity will suffer less than an individual who is abruptly pulled out of phase like you and your crew were."

"There's something actually wrong with me?"

Anja sighed. "Yes, stubborn man. No one is sure why this effect happens although there has been some conjecture that a part of your cells notices the temporal shift and does not cope well with the knowledge."

"I'm pretty sure my cells don't do a lot of thinking."

"One cell is not capable of thought, but what would do you think your brain is made of?"

"But that's different."

There was a trilling laugh. "Stubborn man. Anyway, there is not agreement on the mechanism of injury."

"How do you cure it?" Eli said, holding onto the wall for a second before scrubbing himself.

"There is no cure. The functions of the body can be supported while it tries to heal itself but for some that isn't enough and they die."

"That's why I was asleep for so long? You were letting my body heal itself?"

Anja didn't say anything and Eli finished his shower. She handed him a towel and hovered over him as he dried off. He went to the bed and sat down.

"I take it that I'm not healed."

"I was able to convince your mind to let your body rest," Anja said. "The effects will worsen again and you must conserve energy to fight that. Now that you are awake, Tessa and I will take you to our home. It will be easier to help you there."

"What are my chances?"

"There is very little documentation on the sickness and you traveled a very long way almost instantly. I am sorry, I don't know what your chances are but Tessa and I will do everything to help you."

Eli nodded. "Can I get out of bed for a while?"

"Of course. It's a market day, Tessa thought you would enjoy seeing everything. If you are careful to conserve your energy it would be okay to walk around for a time."

"Eli?" a voice called through the door.

Anja sighed. "That is Daisy. She has been very curious about you."

"She's talking to him, he's awake!" the voice at the door announced.

"Let me get dressed," Eli called.

"I can send her away if she will bother you," Anja said.

Eli shook his head, taking a pair of shorts and t-shirt from his bag. "She's just being a kid. I like her."

He pulled on clothes with only a little help from Anja and told Daisy she could come in. The door opened, Daisy was being followed by Fred who chirped happily and burbled something that almost sounded like words.

"Getting closer buddy," Eli told him and Fred hooted back making Anja laugh.

"Hello, John-Eli," Daisy said. "May I hug you?"

"Sure you can."

Anja helped Eli sit on the edge of the bed. It was a little annoying, he wasn't made of glass.

"Remember your manners," Anja said.

"I will," Daisy said meekly. She hopped up on the bed beside him. Eli held out his arms and she hugged him with her smaller front arms as well as the larger ones on her back.

(I worry about you)

"Thanks, munchkin. Everything will be okay."

Fred said something else unintelligible as he used Eli as a ladder to climb onto the bed before hugging him with the larger arms.

"Hi Fred, it's nice to see you too."

There was a feeling of laughter and frustration in return. There was a confused jumble in Eli's head as Daisy did something and Fred replied.

"Uh, that's a bit much guys," Eli said.

"Sorry," Daisy said. "He wants a new name like you gave me."

"A new name, right." Eli looked at Fred who was staring at him, bouncing slightly. "How about Chipmunk?"

Fred jumped off the bed and trumpeted something as he ran into the hallway. Anja and Daisy both laughed.

"I guess he likes it," Eli said.

"What's a chipmunk?" Daisy asked.

"Go look at your wiki and see," Anja said.

"Okay, mom. Bye John-Eli!"

"See you soon, Daisy-Munchkin," Eli said and got another quick hug before she jumped off the bed and ran down the hallway yelling for Fred.

"I didn't realize she was your daughter."

"They both are, my first children," Anja said. "Daisy bonded with Fiona almost as soon as she was born, little Fred followed her home two months ago. The eloisha that live closely with humans tend to be far more precocious, mentally and physically."

Eli nodded, not having a clue what she was talking about.

~~~~

Anja insisted on carrying him from the guest house to the edge of the market. Eli was relived they didn't pass anyone on the way. He didn't like being carried at all

"Would you unfasten the clips on my side?" Anja asked after she set him down. "I don't need to return to Fiona's today."

Eli looked, there were several plastic clips that were just out of reach of her front arms. He unclipped them and Anja stretched and pulled off the thick padding the clips had fastened around her.

"Thank you, it's not bad for short time but after a few hours, yuck."

"What is it?"

"You know nothing of the Anek, do you? It blocks the places where I emit chemicals that adult Anek use to communicate. Those compounds have very negative effects on the young. That is why we avoid the eloisha so carefully. Sometimes you will see a throng of eloisha chasing an adult who was not careful to mask themselves. We think that is very funny to see."

"I have a lot to learn," Eli said.

"You will find Tessa at her father's office and she will walk with you in the market and then bring you home. I can walk you there if you don't remember where it is."

"It's right over there," Eli said, pointing. "I don't need to be carried."

Anja put one of her hands on his shoulder. (Then I won't carry you. I'm sorry, Eli. We must do everything we can to keep you well. It'll be easier at home, I promise)

"I don't want you to think I'm being an ungrateful ass," Eli said. "I really do appreciate everything you have done for me."

(No, I understand. You are very used to being alone. You're sometimes a bit like a wilding eloisha yourself. I'll see you this evening)

Eli smiled as there was a pulse of affection. Anja let go of him and jogged to a massive buttress root and ran along it, up into the lowest branches of the tree. Eli watched her until she disappeared into the branches, admiring Anja's graceful movements. Then he turned and began to walk carefully toward the prefab building with the GalCom sign over the door. He didn't know why the two of them were going to so much trouble on his behalf but he'd be a good patient for them.