Arboreal 02: Reunions

The market was full of people today. When he'd first seen it, Eli had thought it was fairly busy but today the narrow streets were packed full of people. There were more vendors as well, jammed under the roofs of the market. More of them had brought their own shelter or, more often, had just set up wherever there was space. Eli dodged a woman who really wanted to tell him about whatever it was she was selling. The feeling of all these people around him, the bright colors, and the noise of their voices was claustrophobic and oppressive but made him feel good at the same time. Eli kept his head down all the same, walking slowly toward where Tessa was waiting for him.

Eli was a few meters from the door when he heard a familiar voice. He stopped, looking around to see who it was. There was a tall man a few meters away. He had long black hair in a braid and as he turned, Eli saw a intricately shaped goatee.

Wotanask?

The freighter captain saw Eli staring and said something to a woman he was standing with.

Did he send the freighter on without him? What's he doing here? Why does he look panicked?

Wotanask's companion turned and Eli's eyes widened as he recognized her.

"Captain Martin?"

She said something to the man and they rapidly walked toward the main street.

"Wait," Eli yelled, shoving his way through the crowd after them.

Wotanask looked over his shoulder and then the pair started moving faster. Eli pushed back the dizziness and shoved through the crowd after them. It was hard getting through all the people, but the two in front of him were having the same problem. Eli yelled again and shoved toward them. Faces were turning to look at him and people were complaining as he pushed past. Wotanask and the woman suddenly turned and went between two buildings. Eli struggled through the crowd and finally got to the same spot. He was panting like he'd been sprinting and an ominous flicker began to dance on the edge of his vision. Eli kept going, determined he was going to find out what was going on.

Eli staggered between the buildings and thankfully the space was narrow enough that he could use the walls as handholds. Once he was behind the row of buildings he looked around. They were gone, if they'd even come this way. He'd probably imagined the whole thing. Eli chuckled to himself, thinking what it must have looked like, a lurching, bellowing madman chasing a pair of panicked random people through the crowd.

Realizing that he'd badly overdone it, Eli looked for something to sit on. Anja was going to be pissed. There was a crate a few meters in front of him and Eli staggered toward it. The flickering blackness flowed over his vision before he'd taken two steps. Eli felt his body hit the ground but he didn't care much, it felt like old news from far away.

There was a thump from behind him, then another.

"See? They never look up," a man said.

"There is nothing remotely funny about this, Bates. Call Tessa right now."

"Already did, she's coming."

Gentle hands turned Eli over but the blackness pushed him under before he could open his eyes.

~~~~

Something tickled Eli's nose and he sneezed.

"Welcome back," a man said. "Stay still, Tessa is coming."

Eli tried to talk but it came out sounding more like something Fred would say. He tried to open his eyes but it seemed like a lot of work.

"Shh, I'm in deep enough shit as it is," the man chuckled.

"Yes, you are," Tessa said. The bed shifted as she sat down beside him. "How are you feeling? Sip some of this."

A straw pressed against his lips and something sweet and thick filled his mouth. Eli swallowed several times.

"Now some water," Tessa said.

"What is that stuff?" Eli whispered.

"Glucose, we've been pumping you full of it," Tessa said. "I wasn't sure that we were going to get you back."

"Had to, haven't kissed you."

"So I shouldn't kiss you until you're better."

"Don't be ridiculous," he whispered.

"I lit some come-quick," another voice said. It was familiar and Eli tried to place it. "She'll be here soon."

"Can you open your eyes now?" Tessa said.

Eli had a little more energy and managed to get them open.

"Hey, you," Tessa said gently.

"Hello. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

She smiled even though she was blushing. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I saw something, I had to chase them." Eli's eyes opened wide. "Wotanask!"

"Shh, don't get yourself excited."

"There was a woman..."

"She's right here," Wotanask said, getting up.

Eli's breath caught in his throat as Marie Martin took his place.

"Captain?" he whispered.

"I think we're probably past captain and lieutenant, don't you?" Marie said. "Hello Eli, I'm glad to see you."

"You're alive?"

"Looks like." She took his hand. "I'm sorry, you weren't supposed to see me yet, let alone chase after me."

"If he was as sensible as he is stubborn, he would have known better," Anja said from the doorway. Tessa moved and the Anek crouched beside the bed. "Didn't we agree that you'd conserve your energy, silly man?"

Anja's voice was stern but her hands were very gentle as she stroked his head.

"I had a good reason."

"Of course you did," Anja grumbled. "Tessa, I do not like what I am sensing. Have they responded?"

"Nothing yet," Tessa said.

"Remember, you are not to leave this bed," Anja said.

"Even for the bathroom?"

"You have a catheter, you don't need the bathroom."

"Oh no," Eli whispered in horror.

Anja laughed. "I should have threatened you with that? We are working very hard to keep you alive Eli, but we need your help. That means you lie still for now, understood?"

He nodded.

"Good. Tessa, you will go to bed now. I don't need two of you to take care of."

"Anja, I'm fine."

"You are so tired that you're tripping over yourself. Would you like me to tie you to the bed?"

"Rawr," Eli whispered and Marie burst into laughter.

Tessa was smiling as she bent over and kissed his forehead. "I'll see you in the morning."

Eli nodded, his eyes were already getting heavy.

~~~~

Marie watched Eli sleep for a few minutes.

"Are you going to start shouting at me again?" Wotanask asked Anja.

"You were sent three messages he was going to be in the market. Did you receive them?"

"Doc, it was the slightest outside chance that he'd see us with all those people there. Just bad luck."

Anja looked at him. "There was even an exact time that I was bringing him. Did you read that part? I'm not very amused with either of you."

"Wait a sec, it wasn't her fault," Wotanask said. "Marie heard I was out there and came to drag me back to the house."

"Then I am not very amused with one of you," Anja said. "Marie, I apologize."

Marie smiled. "You just saved Bates a whole lot of ass kicking, Doctor."

"That's a pity. Please, call me Anja."

"I really am sorry about this. I think Bates may have been concussed a few too many times."

"I understand. My hypothesis involved the effect of cosmic rays on brain tissue."

"Maybe it's both, he's like a retarded monkey sometimes."

"Thanks," Bates muttered to Marie.

Anja tucked a sheet around Eli. "If nothing else, I think this confirms your hypothesis concerning the little strangers you carry."

Wotanask looked alarmed. "What? Baby, are you pregnant?"

"Oh my god, please shut up. She's talking about mitochondria. They're a symbiotic organism. They've got their own DNA and schedule that's separate from the cell they live in."

Now Bates looked nauseated. "You have a symbiote? It, uh...can't get on me, can it?"

There was a faint odor of limes and Marie laughed. "You've got them as well, it's a standard Founder trait."

"No, I'm sure someone would have told me about that."

"Perhaps you weren't listening," Anja said.

"Good point. What do these things do, Anja?"

"No, you call me Doctor. They're a sub-cellular organelle that converts..." Anja stopped talking when Marie shook her head slightly.

"They're the power stations for the rest of your cell," Marie said. "For some reason, the little men in the power stations are starting to slow down. Everyone is still working inside, they don't seem to notice that they're slowing down."

"Send someone from another power station to tell them."

"The problem is that all the...power plants are experiencing the same thing," Anja said.

"And I've already introduced samples of Tessa's mitochondria to Eli's," Marie said. "Nothing happened."

"Well of course, his guys don't speak Galcom and Tessa's don't speak American."

"English," Marie said. "No, don't ask why."

He laughed. "You spoke someone else's language? I know I'm draining the IQ of the room, I'll see you at home? Or should I head to the guest house?"

"Don't be an idiot, I'll see you at home. Try not to do anything stupid on your way?"

He kissed her. "I'll do my best."

"Just a moment," Anja said. "Marie, you're from the same period in time as Eli."

"Yeah, he grew up at Alpha Echo. I taught a few of his classes."

"There's something to Bates' idea. If they are communicating somehow, they might not 'understand' Tessa's mitochondria. There's been a hundred years of genetic diversion not to mention a very different environment between them."

"And since I got to the future in the usual way..."

Bates didn't understand anything about of the rest of Marie's sentence and got up to leave.

"That was well said, Bates. Now you may call me Anja," she said as he opened the door.

Bates gave her his best pirate grin. "Appreciate it, Doc."

Marie got up as Bates left. "Do you have a whiteboard? I think better with my hands."

"In my office through here. What an interesting man."

Marie laughed and picked up a marker. "That's very diplomatic. He reminds me of someone I knew a long time ago. I like 'em arrogant and not so bright."

"He's a very pretty."

Marie rolled her eyes. "You should see him naked. Mercy's flaming tits that man is hot. Now, let's get a sample of blood and process it."

Anja laughed. "We will be friends I think."

~~~~

(Time to wake up, my stubborn man. Time to come back home

~~~~

Eli opened his eyes. There was a woven roof over his head, a mesh of branches holding large sheets of bark. The dizziness was gone and he was hungry. It had been so long that he'd forgotten what it had felt like. Tessa was asleep beside him and he sat up slightly to see what was on his legs. Anja was asleep as well, her large arm protectively wrapped around his legs. He laid back down and stretched. Tessa opened her eyes and Eli stopped and stared, transfixed by the dark green irises. He didn't want to breathe, didn't want to disturb this one perfect moment.

"Don't be ridiculous, you can't live your whole life in one moment," Tessa whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"How did you do that?"

She smiled. "Anja is touching both of us, I can hear you."

(And I can hear you both yelling in my head) Anja grumbled. (Go to sleep, chatterbirds)

Tessa's smile got wider and she put a finger over her lips. Eli nodded and Tessa put her face against his neck and Eli put his arm around her as she cuddled into his side.

~~~~

The next morning Eli sat up slowly.

"Take it slow, you've been immobile almost a week," Tessa said.

"I know, I can smell myself. Again."

She laughed. "If you promise to behave, I'll help you shower."

"I promise nothing. Your virtue is at risk."

"Ooh, someone brags. Come on, putty man."

"Pretty man?"

Tessa got her shoulder under his arm and wrapped her other arm around him as he stood up. "No, definitely putty."

She walked him into a small open room with openings to the outside and Eli concentrated on holding onto the wall as Tessa undressed him. Then she stripped off her clothes and helped him walk into the open air shower. Eli was relieved to see a chair waiting for him and didn't complain when Tessa helped him sit. She opened a valve and a warm rain began falling on them. Tessa picked up soap and a piece of rough sponge and began to scrub his back and shoulders. Eli closed his eyes and leaned against her hands as they kneaded his muscles. Tessa let him slump back in the chair and washed his chest and stomach. Her breasts rubbed over his shoulder and he could feel that her nipples were hard.

Tessa trailed her hand over his chest as she came around the chair. "We'll get you back to normal soon. Then I have some plans for you."

"Are you teasing me?"

"Stop grinning at me like that. I'm promising you. Let me wash your legs."

She started the scrubbing and massage at his toes and worked her way up his legs. Eli felt himself start to stir as he watched her. By the time she'd moved above his knees, he was erect.

"Now you're just bragging," she said, smiling at him.

Eli was only a little disappointed that she ignored his dick as she began working on his thighs the same way as his lower legs. Tessa seemed to be rubbing her nipples over his skin far more than necessary.

"Now you're just teasing," he said.

Tessa didn't say anything, just smiled and kept working. When she got to the top of his legs, she put the sponge down and used her hands to gently wash his hips and ass.

"Still hard? Okay, I'm just a little impressed," Tessa said, spreading soap over his erection. She slid her hands over the length and then stood up. She stood up beside the chair and used her shoulder and arm to divert a stream of warm water over him. His hair and face was next. After she had rubbed his scalp and gently stroked his face, Eli was convinced that he never wanted to bathe any other way.

"Even more impressed," she said, seeing that he was still hard. Tessa knelt between his legs and looked up at him. "I'm going to suck you off, but that's it, understand? I'm serious, you could still exhaust yourself without trying. Just sit and enjoy it."

"You don't have to..."

"Do you know how much I've been looking forward to this?"

She lowered her head, letting her wet hair trail over his thighs. Eli gasped as she took him in her mouth. She looked up at him as she moved her mouth up and down his length. She used her hand on him then and Eli couldn't stop from cumming in her mouth. She closed her eyes and her hands squeezed his legs gently as she swallowed.

"Was that okay?" Tessa asked, sitting back.

"It was incredible," Eli panted. "I can't wait to do that for you."

"I'm glad but you really need to concentrate on getting better."

"Whatever I need to do," Eli promised.

~~~~

Tessa was gone when Eli woke up. Anja was there and told him that she'd gone off to get some work done but she'd left a message for Eli telling him to do whatever Anja said.

"Could I sit outside?"

"I am doubtful you'd stay in one place. I'm sure I'd find you climbing the tree."

Eli smiled. "What if I promised?"

"Aren't you too stubborn to promise anything?"

"If I make a promise, I'm stubborn about keeping it."

"Then make your promise and I'll take you outside. If you move even a meter, back in you come."

Anja scooped him up and carried him outside. It was warm again but she took him to a shady spot and there was a breeze.

"What if it rains though?" he asked as she carefully sat him down in a chair.

(Then you lie there and get wet until I come to get you)

Her thoughts had an acerbic feel to them and he laughed. "I won't move."

There was a pulse of affectionate annoyance in return. Eli looked around as she went back inside. It looked familiar and he realized that it was exactly what Anja had shown him when she first started to help him, even to the sound of water below him somewhere. He wanted to see it but Eli knew better than to get out of the chair.

"You look like you're going to get bored quickly," Marie said from behind him. She appeared, pulling a chair next to him.

"I'm not used to sitting still for very long," Eli said.

"You'll have to get used to it for a couple of days at least. Your body was on the verge of shutting down, no joke."

"Did they do something or did I get better on my own?"

"We intervened. Do you remember anything about mitochondria?" Marie asked. "In cases of temporal dislocation, mitochondria begin to slow down and that's why you got more and more tired. You were in really bad shape when they got you here a couple of days ago."

"Why do they start shutting down like that?"

"We're not sure why it happens but I've got the strange idea that there's far more to mitochondria than anyone thought. I think they communicate some external sense of time. When there's sudden slippage they get confused and their functions slow down. In extreme cases like yours, they slow to a crawl and the time traveler dies. With less slippage, they somehow catch up without too much trouble."

"The crew of the Aurora, they're all going through this?"

"Some of them are. This syndrome only seems to affect about thirty percent of the people exposed to temporal shifts. You're just lucky."

"Just like always. Mine caught up and started working again?"

"No, you nearly got to see what being dead is like. Anja tried an injection of healthy mitochondria from Tessa but there wasn't a response. Then she tried mine and, hey presto, here you are."

"Thank you," Eli said. "You were trapped in one of those gravity lens things too?"

"No, I got here on the slow train, I've been around the whole time."

Eli looked at her doubtfully. "You look pretty well preserved then."

"Thank you, that's very sweet. In fact, I am well preserved. When did you see me last?"

He thought. "When I finished flight school. That was four years ago for me."

She nodded. "That was almost 160 years ago for me so your name only sounded familiar but as soon as I started reading your profile I knew who you were. Memory gets a little strange sometimes."

"Are lots of people not aging now?"

"No, it's a very specific situation. It has something to do with the Anek but what's doing it is mostly a guess right now."

He nodded. "I was supposed to meet some friends, I was hoping..."

She put her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, Eli."

"This cure, can you get the data to Hub? I don't know how many of the Aurora crew might have gotten the same thing as me."

Marie smiled. "As soon as you showed signs of improvement, the data and cell samples from a few of us long lifers were gathered up and sent to Hub. Hey, I'm really happy to see that you made it. I never heard if you had survived the Defense. I still owe you a dinner when you're on your feet again."

"There's more of us...you? People living this long?"

"Quite a few of us on Arboreal, not so many across the Deeps. A long time ago we all knew we'd have to keep this secret, for both races' sake. That's what I've been working on all this time," Marie said.

"Am I allowed to know why all this is happening? I remember Tessa saying something about me being expected here. Someone from Hub tracked me?"

"This is all a long story so it's a good thing you don't have anything to do, right? It started way back when Henry Rogeau and I were part of Mapping Command. We landed on Arboreal to help with a survey they needed..."

~~~~

Marie was up to the Civil Committee revolt when Anja came out with food.

"You will eat all of this," she told Eli. "Marie, what can I bring you?"

"You can call me a rude guest for not helping out," Marie said. "I brought some OneDay bars with me, those will be fine."

"People don't like those," Anja said as Eli made a face. "I've got some other human food here."

"Save it for your patient here. I don't mind the occasional OneDay, honestly."

Anja put both her hands on Eli's shoulders for a moment. (The little strangers are still responding very well)