The Girl in the Tank: Galactic Consortium, Season 1

Episode Five: Fraternization Ch. 1

"Are you tired? Do you want to get back in the tank and rest?" Lana asked.

"A bit," Cheyenne said, "but not yet."

It was now late afternoon and this was the longest Cheyenne had been out of the tank so far. It was a good sign. But at the moment she was still restless and bored. She paced the room, not sure what to do.

She reached over and scratched a spot on her upper arm, where the black patching met flesh. "It itches," she groused.

Lana came to her side. She'd cut her hair off. She hadn't lost all of it, but it had been looking patchy and the master healer had decided it was just as well to start over. "It's new flesh, this pink spot. That's a good sign. You're healing. You should be happy."

"I am happy," Cheyenne complained.

"Maybe we should give it a greeting. Welcome, new flesh," Lana said to the spot and then kissed it gently.

Cheyenne's right hand came up and stroked the side of Lana's head, feeling the short hair. She marveled, as she always did, that the artificial skeletal fingers had all the sensitivity of her real fingers. "Miss healer, Ma'am," Cheyenne said, a sly smile playing across her face. "I think I have a bit of new flesh on my lip, too." She touched the side of her mouth.

Lana returned the smile. "Oh, indeed, I think you do," she said and kissed her. They kissed for a long time, Cheyenne lost in the feel of Lana's lips on hers, the sensation of running her fingers over Lana's head and holding the back of her neck.

When they finally broke their kiss, they intertwined their hands, sliding over each other's softly. Cheyenne stared at her skeletal fingers and her mood sank as quickly as it had risen.

"Is something wrong?" Lana asked.

"I'm not going to heal..."

"In time, you will," Lana protested.

"Not in three weeks."

Lana sighed. "Not in three weeks, Miss Cheyenne."

Cheyenne felt on the verge of tears, not that she could cry right now, not physically. "In three weeks, they're all going home. But, I can't, can I?"

Lana wrapped one arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. "Honey, I'm sorry." She ran her free hand over Cheyenne's back. "It will be several weeks before you can be away from the tanks for an extended period. Months before the tissue of your hand completely regrows. Your feet could take longer, almost a year."

"What am I going to do?" Cheyenne protested. "We don't have this technology back home."

"Don't worry about that," Lana said, guiding her to the couch and helping her sit. "We won't kick you out. As long as you need treatment, we will provide."

"But, where will I go?" Cheyenne asked. "And my kids. My kids need me."

"They need you alive and whole," Lana said.

"I know but how can I be there for them if I am stuck here." Cheyenne was rocking now. She would never have thought this but she'd give anything to have the release of a good cry.

"Anywhere you want to go in the Consortium, you will be welcome. You must know this," Lana said.

"And there would be healers there, too. Healers like you?"

There was a long pause before Lana answered. "I've been talking to Janda. We both agree. We aren't contractually obligated to this ship. We can work anywhere. And we'd like to see this case through."