Heart

August 13 - Spinwheel City, Paquin

"Love's heralds should be thoughts,
Which ten times faster glide than the sun's beams,
Driving back shadows over louring hills"
- Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

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[Picture of Paquin, courtesy of Serendipity Undercroft]

UAP Building, Offices, SIU Sector B

The old crate protested. I slid the pry bar further into the gap I had created. Nails squeaked as I forced open their grip on the wood. There was a cracking sound and a thud as the side panel fell to the floor. The smell of dust and packing material was released into the air.

Damn.

They sent the wrong chairs.

I had specifically ordered chairs with arms. They sent chairs without arms. I wanted guests to feel comfortable, at ease. This would not do.

-----

As it turned out, my back injury was rather serious, exacerbated by my walking out of the desert. The doctor said I had to rest if I didn't want the infection to spread to the kidney. I'm hoping he was simply trying to scare me into slowing down.

The break from constant travelling did come with it's own rewards. It gave me an opportunity to catch up on paperwork, and to review some files. To look at old material with new eyes, as it were. And if I was stuck on desk duty, I planned to make the best of it. The office itself was new, with a spectacular view of the city and surrounding mountains. Fresh coffee at the touch of an intercom button. Walking distance to some of the best restaurants in Spinwheel City.

I left a message for Ceasar, telling him I was back in town. I removed my shoes to enjoy the soft, plush carpet in my stocking feet, and got down to work.

I began by examining the files on the fall of Blackburn, comparing official records with the material I had retrieved from Ardra's ship. I had a trip planned to the wastelands of Blackburn, once I was healthy enough, and I wanted all the background information I could find before going into potentially hostile territory.

A few items of interest.

1) The files from Ardra's ship suggested the Reaver attack was not random but rather some sort of experimental black ops. Difficult to prove. Harder to prosecute. Worth a look.

2) The Colonel's dead clone was found in the vicinity of the Mini Zebes laboratory. The laboratory had been destroyed, but perhaps traces remained. We needed to know who grew an unauthorized clone of a UAP officer.

3) There was a lead on Cody's sister pointing to the genetics laboratory. Even though I no longer needed his help finding the twins, I had made a promise to Cody and I intended to keep it. We would find out what happened to his sister.

4) Lily first met one of the Ardra drones near Mini Zebes. It had been in agony, saying it was trapped in a metal body and wanted to die. This raised some disturbing questions.

-----

I tapped a few keys on the ivory coloured keyboard. The holo screen flickered to life. Leaning to one side to make myself comfortable, I sat back in my chair and considered the image before me.

This was one of the oldest items in the Ardra file. Only a few of us had ever seen this. The image showed a figure, vaguely human looking, twisting, floating, ablaze with spice. It was labelled simply: "Steersman Ardra".

I watched the figure glide and turn, caught in the loop of the video capture.

Was this Ardra without her exo-skeleton? Was this her biological component? And if Ardra was a composite being, was this what resided at her heart?

----

The call came through.

"Pepper! So good to hear from you."

A voice that warmed the day and brought a smile to my lips. His voice.

"Hi Ceasar," I replied, "I am here on Paquin... I just finished unpacking."

"Where in town?" he asked.

"The UAP building. I can meet you." I took a little breath. "I have to check in at the hospital," I added.

There was a pause from his end.

"What," he said. It was not a request.

"Nothing serious," I said hurriedly, trying to backpedal the conversation. Maybe I should have waited until I saw him tonight. "I hurt my back."

"I'm on my way now," he said firmly

"Okay," I replied, as he disconnected the call.

-----

I stepped out of the lobby and into the cool, fresh air, the warm afternoon sun. It was a beautiful day.

My wound was serious, but I was alive. Denials brushed aside, I could finally take the time to realize and be thankful for my good fortune.

I closed my eyes and let the sounds of Spinwheel City sweep over me like a wave. Now rising, now falling, and now punctuated by the sound of shoes hitting the pavement, approaching, running hard.

I opened my eyes.

Ceasar ran up, concern etched into his face. "What's this about you being hurt?" he demanded.

"A couple of drones with laser cannon," I reported, "one of my wounds is infected."

Silently, he enfolded me in his arms.

"So I'm behind a desk for a week or so." I added, and then after a pause, "It's good to be home." My voice muffled in his uniform as I snuggled my face into his neck.

"Good to have you home," he replied gently.

I lifted my head. He released me from his embrace.

"I'll need help," I said, "changing the bandage."

"Do you have a place to stay in town yet?" he asked.

"No," I replied, "well, just the barracks... but they are hardly in town."

"You do now," he insisted, "You'll stay with me."

I responded with a smile.

Again, he pulled me close and held me tightly, gently. I too could float and glide, ablaze with the affections of this man.

His voice was stern now, but lacking none of the warmth, "And if you EVER get hurt like that again..."

I nodded, "I know..."

I stepped back half a step, to see him more clearly. My eyes traced the contours of his face.

"Take me home, Ceasar," I said.

"Absolutely," he replied