Do not disregard or hate the maps on your skin and soul. These scars have never diminished your worth, they are the stories that make you whole. — Nikita Gill
ANN – Alliance News Network
Inamorata – A woman with whom one is in love; a female lover (Italian)
Liuyè dāo – literally, a willow leaf saber (柳葉軍刀), short sword with a continuously curved blade;
some of these swords feature a sharpened back edge, from the tip back about a third of the 96.5 cm. length
Nángùn – literally, a 'southern staff' – a polished, two-meter long white wax wooden staff
OTS – Officer Training School
Qíngrén – [情人] ··· Lover
• SOUTH PACIFIC ISLAND OF FIJI, EARTH · SOL SYSTEM •
Xiùlán had wanted to revisit the same vacation condo-unit in which they'd stayed after graduating from the Alliance Special Ops program on Earth's moon and on Mars, but the place was booked solid for the next three months, so she had elected to travel to the South Pacific island nation of Fiji. As they actually had three full days and nights to relax, plus part of a fourth day for travel, it looked to be the perfect spot for some relaxation before reporting to Alliance headquarters in Vancouver for their assignments.
Xiùlán already knew she would be joining the crew of the Alliance cruiser SSV Tokyo, assigned to the Third Fleet stationed at Arcturus Station. She was also aware that Sammy was probably going to be assigned to work on the communications systems within Arcturus Station, which meant they might even be able to see each other occasionally aboard the station.
After a pre-dawn, three-hour sub-orbital flight aboard an Alliance heavy shuttle, plus fifteen minutes spent at each end negotiating local traffic, the pair found themselves in a private cottage in Matei on Taveuni Island. The full-width deck offered magnificent views out across the Somosomo Straits separating Taveuni from Vanua Levu, and a path led from the private ocean-side back yard down to a wide, white sand beach. As they were each in possession of a new, colorful back tattoo, they had to keep their backs covered while out in the sun, so splashing around in the surf wearing a tee-shirt wasn't as much fun as it might have otherwise been, but Sammy was adamant their tattoos heal properly in order to remain as fresh looking as the day the colors had been applied.
Besides splashing in the surf, they spent a lot of time simply walking together, holding hands as they chatted about their futures. Xiùlán continued to regain her stamina, helped by walking in the loose sand above the waterline, and the scarring on her leg, while noticeable, did not appear to be as severe as Traynor had feared it would be. When asked how her leg felt, Xiùlán would just shrug her shoulders while insisting she was fine.
Their first night, after doing a bit of shopping, Sammy had returned to their cottage to discover it empty. Dammit Xiùlán, where are you? came the slightly panicky thought. Ever since her Inamorata had been grievously wounded on Cartagena Station, Traynor had a great deal of difficulty keeping her imagination in check whenever she wasn't where Sammy expected her to be.
After putting her few groceries away, Sammy stepped outside to check the yard and beach; she did not have to search very far; Xiùlán was sitting—semi-reclining, actually—on a beach towel in the grassy yard nearest the beach, leaning back on her elbows with her long legs crossed at the ankles, left foot over right. The sun was setting directly in front of her, casting an eerie glow in her ebony tresses, with a few of the long strands floating about in the cooling ocean breeze. Looking up at Sam's approach, she pushed herself up to sit as she smiled in that special way that nearly always made Sammy want to weep with happiness.
Clearing her throat, Sam asked in a quiet voice, "What are you doing, Luv?" as she eased herself down to sit next to Xiùlán and wrapped her left arm around her lower back.
"Watching the water, my darling … something that never gets old … watching the waves roll into shore, then recede, only to return again and again. The water is making fresh sand, Sà mi, little by little, every time it rolls onto the beach." Turning her head, she brushed her lips across Traynor's cheek before returning her gaze to the dying sun, sinking into the sea.
Traynor leaned her head down on the muscled shoulder beside her. "It is relaxing to watch … to listen to, isn't it?" She didn't expect an answer to her question as she used her hand to pull her qíngrén a bit closer.
Xiùlán lightly rubbed her leg where the batarian's polonium-coated bullet had entered, as she sadly observed, "I'll always carry this scar with me, Sà mi."
"The asari could have fixed that for you, Xiùlán," Traynor protested. "Why didn't you allow it?"
"My leg is about as healed as it will ever be, Sà mi, yet it hurts me every day. This scar is a visual reminder of why it hurts. I'll never be able to fight again as I did when we first met … and I'm okay with that … really. I can walk … run if I need to, but it hurts to stress the muscles too much, and I'm afraid it will always be so." Sammy raised her head to look at Yuán's face, only to discover there were tracks from tears—shining in the refracted light from the setting sun—trickling down her cheek.
"My God, Xiùlán … please, don't. You know I can't bear to see you cry." Traynor used her right hand to bring Xiùlán's face around so she could kiss her tear-stained cheek. "You were horribly injured, my love…" a kiss, "and it has only been a short time since you were released from rehab." Another little kiss. "I imagine that leg does hurt you, but it will get better in time. You simply have to give your body a chance … keep exercising. It'll get better, I know it will." Traynor zeroed in on a heart-shaped mouth, enjoying the feel of lush lips as she explored them with her own.
Xiùlán moaned slightly in response as Sammy pulled back. "Come on, Ai … [愛 – Love (Xiùlán's meaning is Luv)] … it's nearly dark. Let's go in and have a bite to eat so we can cuddle in bed. It's been a very pleasant day, but the trip from Shanghai was a bit tiring."
Traynor got to her own feet, then reached down to take Xiùlán's hand, assisting her up from the towel. She observed how her lover walked across the grass as they headed back to their cottage, noting that her gait and leg motions were nearly perfect, with only the slightest hint of favoring her left leg. She's being too hard on herself, and once we're apart, there won't be anyone to keep her on task, she thought. I'm gonna have to stay in close touch with her every day. Once inside, Xiùlán took a cool shower while Sammy prepared them a light dinner of salad greens and fresh fish.
Traynor heard the water go off, and looked to the bathroom as a still damp, totally nude Chinese goddess emerged. "Sà mi, would you mind looking at my back … just to make sure my tattoo is healing properly?"
Traynor smirked as she walked up to her lover. "I'd rather inspect your front, you know? But let me see your dragon anyway." She followed Xiùlán into the bathroom, where she washed and disinfected her hands before having her lover lean over the sink. "For someone originally opposed to the idea, you seem awfully concerned about it healing correctly," she snarked.
Xiùlán chuckled. "It's part of me now, for good or ill … I'd rather it heal correctly so the colors remain as vivid as when Ming applied them." She didn't say what she was thinking … Tā de shuāng shou fumōzhe wo de pífū … Méiyou tā, wo zěnme huózhe? [她的雙手撫摸著我的皮膚 … 沒有她，我怎麼活著？– Her hands touch my skin … Without her, how can I live?]
As if guessing the effect her touch was having on Xiùlán, she poured a bit of the special lotion Ming had recommended onto the dragon's wings and gently spread it across the inked area; adding a bit more, she spread it down along Xiùlán's shoulder blade and ribs, covering the entire tattoo. "Okay, stand and turn so I can look at your chest," came the slightly snarky request. As Xiùlán complied, Traynor tried without success to hide the lust she was feeling as she applied some lotion to the hànzì characters between her breasts, then did the same for the characters soon to be partially hidden by pubic hair.
"You know I'm perfectly capable of reaching those myself, don't you?
"Yeah, and where would be the fun in that?" Planting a kiss on the fresh tattoo, she continued, "Much more enjoyable this way." Traynor rose, pausing to plant a kiss between her breasts as she did so. "Now, get dressed so we can eat. Remember, loose shirt … or … Hell, what am I thinking? You don't need a shirt here with me! Better for your ink if you don't wear anything on top."
"What about you, Sà mi?" Before Xiùlán could say any more, Traynor shrugged out of the shirt she was wearing and tossed it aside as she turned to walk back to their small kitchen. The way the red dragon rippled as Sammy sauntered away nearly convinced Xiùlán it was laughing at her. It was damn sure going to be difficult ignoring her bare chest across the table while she ate.
Traynor and Yuán spent the next two days in blissful indolence, soaking in their private pool as they gazed at the numerous seabirds circling and wheeling over the Somosomo Straits, enjoying the local cuisine, going for long walks hand-in-hand, then spending their evenings in each other's arms, each attempting to outdo the other in the intensity of their lovemaking.
Yuán had to call for a time-out after enjoying one particularly intense climax at Traynor's hands. "What has gotten into you, Sà mi?" she panted. "You are absolutely insatiable; I don't believe I have ever been so completely ravished by you."
Traynor gently rolled a sensitive nipple between thumb and finger as she planted a long kiss on Yuán's mouth; Xiùlán mewed with pleasure before trapping Sammy's hand against her abused breast. "My God! Sà mi! You're killin' me here! Ease up, for pity's sake!"
Sammy bared her teeth in an especially feral grin as she growled, "I'm making memories … for me … for you … once we're back on duty, opportunities like this won't come around every day, Ai. [愛 - Love] I'm attempting to make sure you don't forget me."
"By my revered ancestors, Sà mi. You cannot possibly believe I would forget about … you! Us! Are you really so insecure about my love for you?" Xiùlán smiled as she gently pushed Traynor up to a squatting position atop her hips. "I could never forget about you, Sà mi! Your name is tattooed above my xiá fèng [狹縫 – slit] … not very likely I'll forget that anytime soon."
Traynor eased her torso back down until she could gently kiss a lightly freckled nose. "I'll admit it, darling. I am terribly insecure. I know you love me … and that's not the problem! It's the rest of the people out there, Xiùlán. There are a lot of predators in Alliance uniforms. I worry about them trying to get into your pants."
Lifting her head slightly, Xiùlán reached for and captured Traynor's lips with her own; dropping her head back, she whispered, "I have never lied to you, Samantha … not about to start now, so listen to what I'm telling you … I am yours! Okay? Nothing will change how I feel about you, ever. Now, let's go get the sweat washed off … We need to apply more lotion to our dragons."
Traynor eased herself off her lover; once standing, she grabbed a hand to help pull Xiùlán to her feet, then led her to the shower.
On their last full evening together, Xiùlán felt as if time had somehow sped up. They had an early dinner, cleaned up afterwards, then took their wine and glasses out to the pool, where they sat back in lounge chairs and watched the sun extinguish itself in the ocean waters of Somosomo Straits. The early evening clouds in the distance burned in fiery shades of gold, coral and crimson, cooling to lavender and magenta, as their source of fire disappeared into the water.
When the stars began to appear, the young lovers amused themselves by watching the visible low planets—Mercury and Venus—follow the sun into the ocean. Xiùlán pointed out Arcturus, lying low on the horizon. "There's where we'll be, Sà mi; me on the Tokyo in the Third Fleet, you on Arcturus Station designing and installing quantum comms gear for secure point-to-point communications. I really do hope we get to see each other occasionally."
Sam sighed wistfully. "As do I … but you realize the possibility exists I'll be bounced around among a number of different stations, maybe even back to Vancouver, or London." Pouring them each another measure of wine, she sipped before adding, "That's why I want to make every last bit of our together time memorable, whether it's right this moment, or when we take leave in the future." Sitting back in her chair, she sipped from her glass again, happy to simply be with Xiùlán.
As the breeze faded away and the biting insects began buzzing around, they rose and went back inside the cottage to sit and chat some more before going to bed.
Xiùlán laid on her back with Sammy snuggled up to her right side, an arm and a leg lying across her body and right thigh, her head on a muscular shoulder. Xiùlán held Sammy in her arms and sighed in deep contentment. "I wouldn't trade this moment with you for all the credits in the world, Sà mi." Xiùlán squeezed her while purring, "I love you so much."
Traynor tilted her head to place a kiss on Xiùlán's neck under her ear. "If someone had told me, all those months ago in Vancouver, that I would find the love of my life on Luna, I would have said they were crazy. Now?" Sam placed a kiss on the soft skin under Xiùlán's jaw. "I cannot imagine my life without you. You scared the livin' 'ell out of me on Cartagena Station, Luv. I was so afraid you were going to die …"
"Don't forget about Klensal! I was nearly scared out of my mind," Xiùlán replied, her voice a bit shaky at the memory. "I never want to feel that way again!" Applying lips to the top of a tousled head, she thought of their time together.
Xiùlán placed a kiss on her forehead. "You saved me on that station, Sà mi … saved me and Buchanan. You kept your wits about you, did what needed to be done and got us all to safety. I am so proud of you … of what you've accomplished. And don't worry … we'll be together again, my darling. Wo yijīng bèi ni de ài zhùfú, Sà mi! [我已經被你的愛祝福，薩米！ – I have been blessed by your love, Sami!] Don't ever forget that."
The ebony of the night sky gradually gave way to a deep indigo, which in turn slowly lightened to the intense blues of the tropical heavens as the sun rose behind their cottage. Xiùlán stirred first, parting her eyelids just enough to squint at the bedside chrono—0540—pleasant memories of the previous evening came to mind as she gently squeezed the full breast under her right hand. Using a thumb and finger to tease a pink nipple erect elicited a slight moan to escape her partner.
Xiùlán whispered, "Zaoshang hao wo de ài," [早上好我的愛 – Good morning my love] into the tangle of reddish-tinged brown hair covering Samantha's ear.
With a purr of happiness, Sammy straightened her legs and arms and tensed all her muscles in a waking stretch, before turning her head towards Yuán's waiting lips in order to receive what had become an obligatory good-morning kiss on the cheek.
With a whispered, "How did you sleep?" Sammy turned within the arms that had held her close each night for the past month. Her answer was a pair of lush lips softly brushing her eyelids, as if kissing the remainder of her sleep away for the day.
"It is time for us to rise, Sà mi. We need to do our exercises, but I thought we might just have some fun this morning, before we have our breakfast. We have a few hours before we have to leave for Vancouver … let's go play."
Sammy rolled back away, swung her legs over the edge of their bed and got to her feet. As she was getting ready to pull on her underclothes, a warm hand lightly smacked her bare butt to get her attention. "No clothes, Sà mi. Come on." The puzzled expression she gave Xiùlán in response quickly gave way to a happy, child-like grin as she followed her lover out to the grassy yard, then down the narrow path to the white sand beach below. "Xiùlán, what are you …"
Her question died in mid-sentence as her Inamorata trotted out into the water until she was hip-deep, where she turned and used the flats of her hands to slap water at Sammy's form. Traynor saw it coming and half-turned, but not in time to avoid getting hit in the face with the salty spray. "So, that's how it's gonna be …" she sputtered in mock annoyance.
Sam chased after Xiùlán, who was using her long legs to splash her way through the water, all the while squealing and giggling like a naughty six-year old caught skinny-dipping in the gentle surf; she turned and used both hands to throw water at her lover as Sammy closed on her. Screaming in unbridled delight as she went down with Sammy wrapped around her in a full-body tackle, she twisted her way free to rise, gasping for air as Sammy flailed around in an unsuccessful effort to hang on to a slippery right leg.
Reaching down, Xiùlán got one arm between Samantha's legs; with her upper arm firmly against Traynor's crotch, she used that hand to grab her lower back, while employing the other to reach around and over her shoulders; lifting the thrashing woman clear of the water, she quickly tossed and released Sammy to splash down a meter in front of her, before quickly diving after the giggling woman to grab her face in both hands. Applying her lips to Sam's, Xiùlán released her with a chuckle. "Isn't this way more fun than simply exercising?"
Having regained her feet, Sammy stood in the loose sand, bent over with her hands on her knees as she replied, "Most fun I've ever had exercising with you. Tell me again why we didn't spend our entire month here?"
"Would have been a bit expensive, Luv. Captains earn more than both of us combined, and I doubt even that's enough creds for a month here."
Traynor had to admit there was truth in what she said. "So, you ready to go back to the cottage, shower and have some breakfast?"
Splashed salt water was her reply … The pair spent another twenty-five minutes thrashing about in the shallows, each enduring facefuls of briny liquid until Xiùlán held up her hands, motioning for a time-out and cease fire. Panting out, "Did you say breakfast? I thought you'd never ask! Lead the way …" came the smiling answer.
After enjoying a warm shower together, the pair reapplied lotion to their tattoos, dressed in lightweight duty uniforms for the trip to Vancouver, then prepared and ate a light breakfast. Samantha was unusually quiet as she ate, finally prompting Xiùlán to ask her why.
"Just thinking about the program, Luv … how they're going to end it, cast us aside like so much inconvenient rubbish." She took a sip of tea before adding, "I knew it was coming when they allowed the destruction of the Anixara … something we could have prevented, either by intervening directly or by informing the turians."
"Nothing we can do about that now except move forward, Sà mi. You have to let it go."
Traynor grimaced. "Don't know if I can do that, Luv. We had that bastard Lang by his fuckin' balls, and Park tied our hands. It's not right …"
"That may be," Yuán interrupted, "but the upper echelons are calling the shots, sweetheart. Your hands weren't tied any tighter than General Park's … you told me so yourself!"
Traynor leaned back in her chair and sipped tea from her mug as she glowered over the rim at her lover. Xiùlán sighed and said in an unhappy voice, "Sà mi, if you don't let this go, it's going to cost you … mouth off to the wrong person, you'll find yourself on the losing side of a dishonorable discharge."
Sam's eyebrows went up as she asked, "Bloody 'ell! … are you takin' their side in this?"
"No Sà mi," Xiùlán replied evenly. "I am not taking their side, not even remotely, but I want you to think about what you're doing. I don't plan on putting my entire career in jeopardy by arguing with the brass about right and wrong; you'd be wise to keep quiet when we receive our new assignments." Xiùlán's expression hardened ever so slightly. "Sà mi, I love you with all that I am, you know that, but … if you allow your feelings to dictate your actions, I cannot help you."
Traynor stood and began pacing the floor. "What if I did get discharged? Would it really matter to anyone?"
"It would probably matter to you, Sà mi," Xiùlán replied quietly. "The Alliance paid for your education, at Oxford, no less; get yourself discharged over this, they could very well require you to reimburse them for every credit spent on that education; your career prospects in the private sector would be considerably diminished, and no matter what kind of job you could obtain, you'd still be working for the Alliance for years to come." Xiùlán stood and cleared the table before moving to plant herself in front of her unhappy companion. Tear-filled sable eyes looked into Sammy's turbulent honey browns. "And, it would matter to me, my love," she sniffled. "You receiving a Category 6? That would most definitely matter to me."
As always, Traynor could not bear to see her Qíngrén in emotional distress, particularly as she herself was the cause of that distress. She raised her arms and gathered Xiùlán into a close embrace; Xiùlán reciprocated by holding Sammy close and kissing her cheek. Saying, "We've been through so much together, Sà mi; it would absolutely rip my heart out if you let yourself get kicked out of the Alliance just because you're unhappy with actions taken by the brass. Please, Samantha … I'm begging you, promise me you'll drop this before it costs you your career!"
Sammy realized the depths of Xiùlán's unhappiness when she used her given name; without hesitation, she whispered, "I promise," in Xiùlán's ear. "I'll do my best."
• SYSTEMS ALLIANCE WESTERN NORTH AMERICA HQ, VANCOUVER, BC · EARTH •
Service Chief Yuán Xiùlán and Serviceman 1st Class Samantha Traynor stepped out of the UT-47 that had brought them from the commercial airport across the Fraser River; grabbing their packs, they walked past a pair of parked VIP shuttlecraft into the squat, featureless building that housed the Western North America headquarters for humanity's System's Alliance. Stopping at the reception counter, they each presented their ID badges to the corporal behind the wide desk; Xiùlán spoke for them both, saying, "We're here to meet with General RaeLee Park … she's expecting us."
The young man behind the counter scanned each of their badges, which prompted an answering beep from his terminal. "Okay, Ms Yuán … Ms Traynor. Proceed straight down the hallway to the last door … General is waiting for you in her office."
"Thanks, Corporal." With a glance at Traynor, Xiùlán grabbed her packs and started down the passageway, closely followed by her Inamorata. Thinking, Please, Sà mi, keep your opinions to yourself, they quickly reached the door at the end, where Xiùlán passed her hand through the amber haptic door lock to announce their presence.
Faint sounds of movement could be heard within just before the door slid open to reveal a smiling General Park. "Yuán! Traynor! Come in … come in, please! It's wonderful to see you again!" Park offered her hand to each of them in turn before having them drop their packs near the door, then waving them to the pair of chairs facing her desk. As they sat down, the general walked around the desk to take her own seat and said, "So, Ms Yuán. How's your leg? I understand the asari managed a minor miracle by saving it for you. Any complications … any limitations?"
Xiùlán smiled as she replied, "It still hurts … aches … just a bit. Dr Shakia cleared me at the end of my rehab on Thessia, but I still need to be released by an Alliance doctor."
"That's wonderful news." Park turned her attention to Sammy. "And Ms Traynor … last time we talked was in the Smiling Tiger Tavern. You ready to go to work on Arcturus Station?"
Traynor countered with a neutral, "What will be my job there, Ma'am? Will we still be taking clandestine assignments?"
Park's eyes narrowed as she responded, "You already know the answer to that question, Samantha … We discussed it over drinks in the tavern. I know you don't agree with the decision, but the program has been terminated … it's finished … done. The two of you are the only loose ends left. I asked those in charge of the program's termination to allow me to hand out your promotions and your next duty assignments."
Sammy opened her mouth to say what she was thinking, but quickly closed it at the sight of Park's hand held up, palm facing her, and Xiùlán's hand subtly gripping her thigh out of Park's line of sight. With a quick look of frustration at Xiùlán, she settled back in the chair to listen to the rest of what she considered to be Park's repetition of the Alliance's official line of bullshit.
"I'm really sorry, Ms Traynor. I don't like it either, but my hands are tied." Traynor thought, Exactly what Xiùlán said. Park continued on. "Now, as I was saying, and what you, Ms Traynor, did not know, is that you're both to be promoted in gratitude for your exemplary performance on behalf of the asari government."
Turning her attention back to Xiùlán, she said, "So Ms Yuán, I read in your file that you enlisted with the goal of someday commanding a warship." Park frowned a bit as she scrolled through a datapad. "For the life of me I cannot fathom why the Alliance recruiter in Shanghai didn't steer you to OTS."
Xiùlán frowned at that. "What exactly does that mean, General? Am I in the wrong section, or? …"
Park held her hand up for a moment before continuing, "It's fine, Xiùlán. I probably need to send a nice note to that recruiter, though. Anyway, as I was saying, Service Chief Yuán, I've been authorized to offer you a commission as a Staff Lieutenant in the Alliance Navy, provided you are willing to sign a legally binding non-disclosure agreement concerning your training and assignments in the Alliance's recently terminated program known as the Special Operations Force."
"General, just so I'm clear, does that mean my service record for two years of my life in training, plus the time I spent doing special assignments, will be totally blank?"
"I'm afraid so," Park answered in a tone colored by regret. "Of course, flag officers will be able to retrieve those records if they request them, though not many bother to do so."
"You have the agreement here?"
Park handed the datapad she'd been inspecting to Xiùlán. "Go ahead and read that while I talk to your partner here." As Yuán began reading the legal agreement, Park turned to Traynor. "Samantha, I've been authorized to offer you a promotion as well, but only if you sign the same NDA Ms Yuán is looking at now."
Xiùlán still had a hand on Traynor's thigh; one little squeeze of her fingers was all the persuasion Traynor needed to stand down. "What's rank will I be promoted to, General? I only enlisted as payback for my education, and the Special Ops program sounded like it'd be a valuable addition to my training. We both achieved CvØ7, Ma'am … an achievement of which I am quite proud. To not be able to wear the device on my armor …"
Park interrupted, "You most likely won't have any need to wear your armor again, Ms Traynor." Anticipating the coming protest, she added, "You'll be able to keep it, Sammy … take it with you. You earned it, and it won't fit anyone else anyway. As for your rank, I'm going to jump you ahead, probably a bit more than was anticipated by my bosses." Park grinned. "Dammit, I like you, Sammy. You have a good head on your shoulders, and you don't suffer fools gladly. That said, as a favor to me, I'm asking you to stow some of that attitude … please? You'll go a lot further while suffering a lot less friction."
Traynor nodded silently before asking, "Rank?"
"Oh … sorry …" Park chuckled. "I never got that far, did I? Sammy, the offer on the table is for you to become a Chief Warrant Officer—a CWO, specializing in Operations and Intelligence. That's a hell of a bump up from a Serviceman 1st Class. Your new title will be Specialist; your rank will actually be higher than that of a Master Chief Petty Officer, and you probably won't have any supervisory duties. You're going to put all those college smarts to good use … astrophysics, math, comp sci, statistics, analysis. That's quite the résumé."
Traynor thought about her options for a few moments, then shook her head in resignation as she held her hand out. "Let me see just how much of my life is going to disappear, Ma'am." Park handed the datapad to her and sat back in her chair to wait.
• SYSTEMS ALLIANCE BASE HOUSING · VANCOUVER, BC •
Upon entering the small apartment where she and Xiùlán would spend the night while the paperwork for their promotions was being processed, Samantha Traynor tossed her packs in the general direction of the chairs as she complained, "Nearly two months since I was in this damned place, Xiùlán. I was really hoping Corporal Flynn would find us some better accommodations."
Her Inamorata looked around as she set her own packs down by the door. "I don't know, Specialist," she said with a smirk. "Doesn't look too decrepit for base housing … I've seen worse …" pausing to look in the small kitchen, she added, "… much worse."
General Park had given each of them 24-hours to obtain new uniform insignias denoting their higher ranks in the Navy, and she had set up an appointment with one of the base doctors to give Yuán an abbreviated physical, just to insure she was ready to go to work. The general had also arranged transportation for both of them to Arcturus Stream. Specialist Traynor would be riding the shuttle all the way to Arcturus Station after it detoured to drop Staff Lieutenant Yuán off on the cruiser SSV Tokyo.
"The bed's not too uncomfortable, even if it is a bit on the small side," Sammy said. "Hope you don't have any objections to spooning a warrant officer."
"My God, Sà mi, you realize you nearly gave me heart failure today? Thought for sure you were going to jump down the general's throat."
Sammy flopped down in one of the two upholstered chairs gracing the living room; legs straight out in front of her and crossed at the ankles, she replied, "As the old saying goes, that ship has already sailed, Luv. Program was done before I rejoined you in Serrice. Night before I left here to join you, I sat in this damned apartment watching the news vids on ANN; laughed my ass off at their theories concerning the disappearance of the Anixara while it was traveling FTL." Traynor grew silent after saying the name of the doomed passenger-carrying freighter.
Xiùlán's eyes narrowed as she lapsed forcefully into Mandarin, "Sà màn shā! Ràng tā qù ba!" [薩曼莎！讓它去吧！ – Samantha! Let it go!] Using thumb and fingers of her left hand to massage her temples, she moved to stand beside Sammy's chair, where she carefully lowered herself into the woman's lap, lower legs hanging over the upholstered arm. Sammy placed her arms around her lover's torso and hugged her as Xiùlán apologized. "Dammit, Luv, I'm so sorry. It's just … I am really tired. I don't want to be cross with you, but sometimes you're as bad as a rat terrier worrying a bone. You have simply got to let this one go. You and Griff did your damned jobs, Sammy … You discovered the how, where and when. The brass choosing to do nothing is on them, not you, or Griff or General Park."
"I'm sorry I upset you, Xiùlán." Traynor placed an apologetic kiss on a warm cheek. "Forgive me?" Traynor looked at her lover from under half-lidded eyes, like a small child caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Xiùlán tried her best to continue looking aggrieved, but quickly found herself grinning back at Sam, knowing full well that, while she was sorry for aggravating Xiùlán, she was not being truly repentant about her fixation on the destruction of the Anixara, agent Michael Moser Lang and, ultimately, Cerberus. "This all comes back to Heather's murder on Mars at the hand of Marianna Walsh, doesn't it?"
Sammy closed her eyes, took a deep breath and blew it out slowly before answering. "That miserable little bitch got off too damned easy, Luv. I haven't forgotten about Heather Gonzales … don't think I ever will; someday, I will come across the information that will lead me to the person, or persons, that killed Walsh and Holden in their cells. If the bastards are not already dead when I locate 'em, I'll make them beg me to kill 'em."
Xiùlán shook her head in near disbelief, then rose from the chair, stepped over to her travel packs and opened the larger of the two. "I have something for you, Sà mi … a going-away present I planned to give you tomorrow, before the shuttle left the Tokyo for Arcturus Station." She removed a long object from her pack; setting the pack on the floor, she laid Sam's present in her lap. "I have an unhappy feeling you're going to have a real need for this someday."
Sam inspected her present for a few moments before smiling up at Yuán. With a murmur of, "what in the world …" she carefully unwrapped what turned out to be a curved wooden scabbard with ornate metal endcaps and a pair of metal bands a third of the way from the top; protruding from the top was an ornately carved, canted hilt. Sammy grabbed the scabbard in the middle and tugged on the hilt, easily drawing a medium length sword from within; its thin, highly polished blade was curved in the opposite direction of the hilt, and was sharpened tip-to-guard along the lower edge. It also appeared the upper edge had been sharpened for about a third of its length back from the tip. Sammy whispered, a touch of awe in her voice. "A Liuyè dāo."
Standing to face Xiùlán, Traynor's voice held a hint of wonder. "My God, Xiùlán. This … is extraordinary! You're giving this to me? Where in the world did you find it?"
With a shy smile, Xiùlán replied, "Do you like it, Sà mi? While you were searching for a tattooist, Mom and I went through a few antiques stores. She found this, covered in dust on a shelf in the back of the second store we visited. Mom insisted we buy it … to give to you, for saving my life, Sà mi … for getting me off that miserable station and out of the Abyss alive."
"Oh, Xiùlán … this is … it's …" The lump in Traynor's throat cut off her speech as her eyes glassed over with unshed tears. With an effort, she managed to squeak out, "… magnificent!"
Xiùlán's grin was radiant. "I'm glad you like it, Sà mi … Mom will be thrilled when I tell her! Remember your lessons on Mars? During the Ming and Qing dynasties of China, the Liuyè dāo was used by the cavalry, and then also by the infantry. These became the martial arts sabers of choice in the Qing dynasty." Holding out her hand, she asked, "May I?"
Sammy passed the sword, hilt first, to her lover, who stepped back from Sammy to give herself some room. "Just a refresher—it's been a while since Mars: this is a slicing weapon …" She demonstrated several methods of close attack, the blade singing each time it sliced the air between them. "As the back … or top… of this blade is sharpened a third of the way from the tip, you can perform a double slash, like this …" she demonstrated against an imaginary foe, slashing across and down to her left, then back to her right, the strokes so fast the blade's song never diminished. Taking a different stance, she demonstrated a stabbing motion as she commented, "You can even use it to gut someone, but I don't recommend it, as it places your arm with easy reach of your enemy." When she finished, she placed her left hand over her right on the canted hilt and held the weapon in front of her, point down, for several seconds. Taking a deep breath, she let it out and presented the weapon back to her Inamorata.
Traynor was overwhelmed by this exquisite gift. "I need to get in touch with your family … your mom … to thank her for this. You know I love you, don't you? You … having you with me, alive, is all the reward I have ever needed, Xiùlán." Traynor slid the sword back into its scabbard, which she inspected closely. "Looks like this could be worn on my back, hilt behind my head, just like on Mars. I'll have to try that … be a 'ellova surprise for a bad guy, wouldn't it?
Xiùlán chuckled, then replied, "You'd have to be standing right in front of him, wo de ài." [我的愛 – my love]
Sammy nodded her head in agreement as she replied, "That's how I like to operate." Clutching this present to her chest, she added in a reflective tone, "I could have really used this on Cartagena Station."
Yuán smile faded as she said, "Well, here's hoping you're never in a position where you have to use it … then again? Knowing you, I won't be holding my breath. Come on … it's getting late. Let's go to bed so I can get some cuddle time with my favorite specialist."
• ALLIANCE CRUISER SSV TOKYO, NEAR THE ARCTURUS MASS RELAY •
The Alliance shuttle, having just completed its 36 light-year jump from the Charon Relay in the Sol System, slowly eased into the small, transient vessel hanger, where the pilot spun the UT-47 on its axis in order to be facing the barrier protected exit, before easing the ungainly looking craft to the deck. Since he was going to be departing for Arcturus Station within fifteen minutes, he left all the systems running.
As the side-hatch opened, a young Marine corporal approached and came to attention as a staff lieutenant stepped from the passenger compartment, to be closely followed by a woman fully dressed in black battle armor, the no-gloss ceramic plates possessing an ebony tinted deep red trim. The lieutenant turned back towards the woman in black to take the travel packs being carried for her; these she set down beside her so she could envelope the armored female in a heartfelt, and apparently loving embrace. The young Marine looked towards the deck, the overhead, the bulkheads—anywhere but at the two people, obviously more than friends, as they said goodbye for what was likely to be an extended separation.
The lieutenant backed away a step, grabbed her packs and turned to approach the corporal as the woman in black—reluctantly, it seemed—reentered the idling UT-47. Looking up at the lieutenant, Damn, this is a really tall woman! he was momentarily mesmerized by sable brown eyes that seemed capable of looking straight through him.
Speaking in a lightly accented voice, the lieutenant said, "Corporal? I'm Staff Lieutenant Yuán."
"Uh, yes Ma'am. Pleased to meet you. If you'll follow me, I'll show you to officer's country." He paused as Yuán turned her head to watch the UT-47 rise from the deck, engage the twin thrusters at the stern and slowly leave the hanger. After the shuttle's departure, Yuán returned her attention to the corporal and said, "Lead on."
A/N: Those of you that have been reading this story since Chapter One, and Transformation: Parts 1 & 2, might be interested to learn that Zhou Youguang, the inventor of the system known as Pīnyīn (拼音), which literally means "spelled sounds", died Saturday, 14 January, 2017 at the age of 111. When Pīnyīn was introduced in 1958, readers unfamiliar with Chinese characters (hànzì) were given a crucial tool to understand how to pronounce them; few innovations have done more to boost literacy rates in China and bridge the divide between that country and the West. Thanks to Zhou, whenever I depict Xiùlán, her parents, or Samantha Traynor speaking or thinking in Xiùlán's native Mandarin, I can include the pronunciation guide ahead of the translation in hànzì and English.