Unable
Brianna fought hard not to cry as Mary was laid back on the bed. The Orokin and her partner in healing banished the golden energy that she had summoned and he had controlled to soothe the distressed child's wavelengths yet again.
"There has to be something!" Brianna said with a growl as Mary was covered by a sheet that was far warmer than its thin appearance suggested. "Some reason! I cannot accept that everything we did, every hurt she endured, everything we tried was for nothing!"
I am sorry, Brianna. Her colleague said quietly as he hovered way from the bed and medical machinery swept down to surround Mary. It would do nothing unless she needed it, but it would be ready. It would likely be needed. I cannot find anything wrong. The scans I sent to Mother are as perplexing to her as they are to us. She can find nothing wrong in any of Mary's energy or the physical structure of her body. Something is clearly wrong, but none of us can find it. If we cannot find it, we cannot ease it or correct it. I… I do not like this feeling either. This helplessness.
"I..." Brianna felt her eyes burn and despite the tower's sudden concern, she ignored the worry the machinery projected to her to focus on the girl through suddenly blurry eyes. It helped to remember who and what she had been. She didn't need to physically cry now to show sorrow. She had so many other ways of showing sorrow, some of which no human had words for.
I wish I could cry. Tanah said as his silver blue form eased close to his friend and Brianna laid a hand on his metal housing. Odd that a Sentient of all things would offer comfort, but Tanah pretty much defined the word 'odd'. It is nothing we did. It is nothing Liriel did. There is no damage to her body or her energy. There is not.
"So why is she seizing!?" Brianna snapped that with far more force than she had intended and then she slumped. "Sorry! I am sorry!" She begged as Tanah retreated half a meter. "You know I am not angry with you any more than I am with her." She nodded to Mary's still form.
I know, my friend and I feel the same way. Tanah reassured her but the Sentient's voice was grim. We have few options now, Brianna. We cannot help her. Avalon cannot help her. My Mother cannot help her.
"She said 'No', Tanah." Brianna's tone was calmer, but fury lay just underneath. Said fury was not directed at the Sentient. More at this whole screwed up situation. "Her parents agreed with her. They all said the same and the Elders have spoken their ruling. I begged Iriana to appeal and she did, but the appeal was denied. As much as we may disagree with it, we cannot go against Mary's wishes." She slumped. "She is right. That is not living. No stasis."
I do not agree with this. Tanah snapped, his own fury at this horror a match for Brianna's. We cannot help her now, but no one knows what the future holds. What advances may be found in treatments for brain injuries such as she suffered. Not even an Oracle can truly know what will happen. Brianna looked away and Tanah's voice hushed. You… You heard from them, didn't you? Brianna nodded, not trusting her voice.And you didn't say… Because… No… Tanah begged.
"They cannot find a cause either!" Brianna all but collapsed and Tanah swept close as she started to cry. "All this for nothing!"
Human brains do not stop working for no reason. There has to be a cause. Something we can find. Something we can fix. Tanah said sternly enough that Brianna stared at him through streaming eyes. I also refuse to accept this. She is barely started on her life. She has a bright future ahead of her. She cannot perish here. She is a good bud!
"Yes, she is." Brianna sighed deeply as she turned to the bed. "But what right have we to prolong suffering, my friend? I asked the Oracles to see about healing from elsewhere when they told me and they promised to do what they could, but they could not promise when or if they might get an answer."
I know how complicated such can be. Tanah said very quietly as he too turned his housing to scrutinize Mary's still form. Any being with compassion would be moved by Mary's predicament, but there are limits for a reason. I too wish to act, but I must not. I will cause far more problems than I solve and if I do? Mary would never forgive me.
"I do not know how you came here or why you simply showed up and started healing, but I am glad you did." Brianna laid her hand on the housing again and a faint tingling showed Tanah comforting her with his odd energy. "I do not know what I would have done without you."
You would have managed, probably with far more staff, but you would have managed. Tanah reassured her. You and Kat did marvels here before I popped in on you with no warning. Part of me assumed you would call a Tenno in to destroy me or do it yourself.
"I almost did." Brianna cast one last, despairing look at the now comfortably sleeping girl and rose to her feet. "I am glad I didn't. You scared the hell out of me, but If I had? I would have missed your cooking." She shook her head. "We have rounds to make."
"I will stay with her until she wakes." A soft, worried voice preceded another hovering form into the room. The voice was female. This was not a Sentient though. The DethCube Sentinel was not a normal one, but even if it had been hostile, no one would dare touch it for several reasons. Not the least of which what Brianna would do to anyone who tried to hurt the mind who resided inside. "If you do not mind, Brianna Executor, Tanah?"
"This was not your Mother's doing, Elena." Brianna raised a hand, palm up and the Sentinel buzzed close to land on it. "She is not to blame any more than we are. She is just as dumbfounded by this as we are and I know Isis is just as heartbroken as we are." She looked away but when she spoke it was firm. "I know your mother feels very strongly about this poor child, but Mary stated her wishes. The Queen of Cats may have the power to intervene in anything to do with companions, but this is not a companion. Mary has made her choice. She does not want to go into stasis and the Elders agree with her and her family that such would be cruel."
"I do not like this, Briana Executor!" Elena, the mind of the youngest kitten made from the Queen of Cats without her consent said with a mewl of fear and anger mixed. She wasn't a kitten now. But she sure seemed that way occasionally.
"Nor do I, Elena." Brianna slumped and then smiled as the DethCube flashed odd colors and glyphs of various funny things appeared on its sides, Elena trying to cheer her up. "But thank you. She does like you and you can keep her calm." She paused and made a face. "But no running into walls as jokes again. Your mother was not happy and neither was I."
Considering the kitten/Sentinel had bounced off a wall, lost control and nearly fried herself in a plasma stream while trying out aerobatics the day she had arrived? No. The Queen of Cats had not been amused by the scorch marks on the DethCube's hull. Brianna had also made her displeasure clear. The Orokin was reasonably sure that Elena had been showing off for a certain hurt kid at the time, but no one would say and she would not press as long as Elena took no more foolish risks. The last thing Brianna wanted to do was anger Liriel.
That kavat royal was scary dangerous even when trying not to be.
The good news? Liriel was also smart and kind when she could be. That was not nearly often enough, but Brianna understood. Did she ever!
"Yes, Brianna Executor." Elena said quickly and moved to hover next to Mary's bed. Her tone changed to sorrow. "Is there nothing we can do?"
"We can be here for her." Brianna moved to the bed, bent down and kissed Mary's forehead. "We can be here to share her pain, alleviate her fear as best we can and try to make her final days as peaceful as we can. I..." Sorrow reared up again, but she smashed it back. "I fear that is all we can do."
"I will miss her." Elena's voice was sad now. "But until she goes? Mother said that if you allow it, I can stay with her as long as I do not bother her."
"She likes you." Brianna paused. Mary's lips were moving. "What the-?" A quick scan showed nothing that Brianna recognized. "Tanah? Is she dreaming?"
She is not awake. The Sentient mind healer said after a moment of scanning the poor girl. Then again, after her ordeals, her dreams have been very bad on occasion. I cannot sense any harmful mental activity, but we should ward her closer, just in case.
"I can do that." Elena promised. "Mother took my gun away, but she left me my mods." A green beam swept out from the Sentinel to pass over Mary.
"Your mother is wise. A gun and hurt kids don't mix." Brianna replied but she was smiling as Elena focused her scan on Mary. "Just don't neglect yourself, Elena. You have needs too."
"I know." Elena's voice was warm as her cube turned to face Brianna. "I do thank you for your aid, you and mind healer Tanah both. I was drowning and you saved me."
"You were hurt. The same as any other young one here. The fact that we can only touch metal when we touch you is immaterial." Brianna said firmly enough that both Tanah and Elena stared at her. "You have a heart and soul. Both were hurting after your ordeals. I hope we helped."
"You did." Elena reassured her. Then she snickered. "You do know that mom is planning to name a kitten after you and one after Tanah, right?" A sputtering of static came from the Sentient as Brianna stared at the DethCube.
"Somehow, that would not surprise me." Brianna managed to keep the laughter out of her voice by sheer force of will. "Your mother has a sick sense of humor."
"That she does. Dad's is worse." Elena's tone sobered. "I am hooked into the com grid, Healers. My chassis is fully charged and I will ward Mary until she wakes."
If she speaks aloud, please record it. Tanah said when Brianna started for the door. I do not think she is dreaming, but I do not understand much of what is going it. This situation defies understanding.
"Yes, it does." Brianna said heavily as the DethCube settled down beside Mary's pillow, a silent guardian to help ward her from the horrors of her past. Only after the door was closed behind her did she speak again. "Tower, ward both of them, class two unobtrusive."
Power flared and then vanished. It hadn't been very long ago that Abigail had been snatched right out of the tower by people who Brianna had trusted. It had worked out all right in the end, due no small part due to Elena's mother but it still rankled. Brianna had promised herself not to fail her patients again.
Tanah did not speak, simply hovered beside her as Brianna walked towards the main medical ward. Both came to a sudden halt as a human form stepped out into the hall in front of them and crossed her arms. Kat was not happy.
"Brianna. Tanah." Oh dear. Kat only kept her voice this level when she was incredibly annoyed.
"Uh… Kat." Brianna swallowed. This as ridiculous! She was the mistress of the tower, the sole beneficiary of its incredible power and resources. Why was she about to shuffle her feet like an errant schoolgirl? "Is there a problem?"
"You tell me. Where are you going?" Kat asked, all but tapping her foot in annoyance.
"I have rounds. I need to check everyone, make sure sure everyone is okay." Brianna said weakly as Tanah moved a little away from her. "Um…"
"What is today?" Kat asked and Tanah all but wilted in mid-air. Brianna felt her world crumble under Kat's glare.
"My… My scheduled day off." Brianna said slowly. Then she growled. "Kat! Mary needed me!"
"Yes, she did. Well done." Kat nodded. "Bath. Food. Bed. Now." Those were not suggestions.
"Kat!" Brianna all but snapped that as Kat moved to stand closer. "I have to make sure everyone is okay!"
"That is what your drones are for." Kat snapped right back. "As long you stay in the undamaged areas, you can keep tabs on everyone and be at in any trouble spot in moments. But right now, the only trouble spot I see is residing between your ears, you stubborn Orokin. You need rest, real rest."
"I do not like my dreams!" Brianna barely felt the wall behind her as she slid away form Kat and Tanah who was glowing softly purple now. He only did that when he was very worried.
"I do not doubt it." Kat stepped up to where Brianna stood and reached out slowly with a hand to take Brianna's long fingered one in her own. "That scum hurt us both very badly. I need you, Brianna. Don't fall apart, please?" The naked fear in Kat's voice pulled Brianna back from wherever she had been falling.
"I dream every night!" Brianna said weakly as Kat held her hand. "I cannot let him win, but I dream he has!" She hated the whining that entered her tone, but it was hard to stop. "That he got exactly what he wanted!"
I highly doubt this is what he wanted. Tanah didn't move. Brianna was incredibly powerful here and if she lashed out, neither Kat nor he had any chance. Well, except that he could adapt to almost any kind of energy and Kat was protected as well. She could still hurt them very badly.
"Let go of me, Kat!" Brianna begged. "I can't hurt you of all people!"
Considering how many incredibly powerful beings had shown up the last time someone had hurt Kat? Oh no, that was the last thing Brianna wanted to do. They would be repairing damage for some time from the first battle. At least the second time hadn't been as bad. Scary, but not messy.
"You won't." Kat pulled Brianna in a hug as the Orokin started to cry. "You doubt your skill, your control. I don't. We have this, Brianna. You need to rest." She shook her head. "Bath. Now."
"You would drag me to the tub by my hair, wouldn't you?" Brianna managed to dredge up humor from somewhere and Kat smiled at her. She pulled and Brianna followed. Was that laughter coming from the Sentient as Tanah followed? Had to be her imagination.
"You are not my type, but yeah." Kat smiled as Brianna's felt her face flame. "Do I need to get Iriana in here again?"
"No!" Brianna said quickly and started off, her steps firming up. The Tenno healer was fully capable of taking Brianna in hand, setting her down and doing things that were incredibly embarrassing. Being fed got old after the first few moment, The fact that Iriana got downright motherly when Brianna got stubborn was worse. Fighting the Healer didn't work. Making her angry was a bad idea. Even the mistress of an Orokin tower stepped carefully around Iriana when she got upset. Hell, even Nikis did. None of what she did was rough but that made it worse in some ways.
"She is here and has prescribed an aid for sleeping." Kat led Brianna towards her quarters. "She will talk to you in the morning."
"Iriana is here?" Brianna tried to stop, but Kat would not let her. "Kat!"
"She came with Will and Alicia. She is checking on Abigail." Kat did not slow as the odd cavalcade approached Brianna's quarters and the door hissed open for them. "Bath. Now. Tanah? We need one of your specials."
Coming right up, Ma'am. Tanah promised as he moved towards the food preparation area. Most Orokin would have considered actually touching food to prepare it something so far beneath them as to be inconsequential. Brianna was most definitely not 'most'. She was a good cook. Tanah's cooking defined the word 'incredible'. Brianna had yet to sample any of his foods that were bad. His pizza was to die for.
"I am afraid, Kat." Brianna let Kat lead her towards the bathing area. "I am afraid that I will wake up and Mary will be gone."
"Not with Iriana here, she won't be." Kat reassured her. "But you are my focus now. You take so much on yourself, Alpha Brianna Executor. You need to rest now. Let tomorrow take care of tomorrow. For tonight? Rest."
Brianna stared at her friend and then sighed as Kat shoved her into the bathing chamber and blocked the door. Brianna could move her easily with power, but that would just make her more stubborn. They had done this argument before. Brianna would not hurt Kat and Kat knew it. It wasn't that Kat was protected by extra reality beings of immense power. It was that Kat was usually right.
"Slave driver." Brianna sighed deeply as she started for the huge tub that filled most of the thirty meter square room, energy wafting around her as her garment changed from flowing medical garb to bathing attire. Kat coughed and Brianna turned to glare at her.
"I set it for Jacuzzi." The human looking female said with a smile and Brianna groaned. Even Orokin materials could tear when hit by the power that Kat preferred her water jets set for. "Go on."
"You just want to see me in the buff again!" Brianna snapped as she slid into the massive tub that was larger than many swimming pools had been once upon a time. It was set to her body temperature and felt hot, but then very nice as she headed deeper into the tub. There was no way she could drown in here and that was a good thing since parts of the tub were almost three meters deep. She found a corner and slid up onto a seat that felt like rock, but was incredibly hard composite that would not melt if tossed into an active volcano.
Whatever else she was going to say was cut off as water jets hit her from three different sides and sheer natural pleasure rocked her to her core. Part of her knew her attire would not survive this. The rest was busy trying not to moan in pleasure. She laid her head back and other, softer water jets hit her scalp, pulsing through her hair, cleaning off residues of her long, tiring day. It too felt heavenly. She was so entranced by the feelings that she never heard Kat's soft, sad words.
"If that is what it takes to save you, so be it, my friend."