To Be Human

                Meditation amongst the Pantharni is a complicated affair, made almost ritualistic by the Tribe’s more volatile natures clinging to mental discipline like a life line. Additionally, there are different form of medication available to the Pantharni; there is the meditation for prayer and giving accolades to ancestors, there is the calming and soothing breathing that Nahuel was utilizing, and then there is a deeper level that Tokala was feeling the need to sink into. The elder Pantharni was dubious that anything in the emergency kit he had would benefit these Humans; they were an entirely different species although some similarities had Tokala questioning just how different they truly were. He needed to let his active mind go, sink into his passive mind and let the answers come to him, but the Pantharni was not getting the chance amongst these aliens. The Human Tavir still looked unsettled by Sampson’s impromptu kiss, but Tokala had already moved onto more important concerns; the wound on Aeryn’s back was starting to smell wrong. And it was close enough to the spine to make Tokala uncomfortable that he couldn’t tell the Human Healer that her astringent swabs hadn’t gotten rid of all the infection. That or some Lampard poison had escaped Tokala’s ministrations earlier, in which case the young Human would either have the strength to endure or Aeryn would succumb to the toxin. The elder Pantharni was still going to try and warm Sampson though; he would demand the same attempt in return, regardless of language barriers.  So as Sampson rifled through all of the Pantharni bags looking for useful or recognizable tools, Tokala tapped the back of her hand gently. Old, tired eyes looked at him with the sort of tempered, determined hope only found in a true survivor. Tokala had to ignore the Human Tavir’s hawkish glare as the Pantharni took Sampson’s hand in his only lower hand left, and placed it on the wound gently. Not knowing the word for infection, Tokala was left trying to indicate that something was wrong.

Working on the intuition that a kiss was the same thing across the species gap, Tokala made a face similar to the one used by kits when they’ve tasted a flavour they don’t like. It is a crude expression but Tokala was gratified to see a spark of understanding in her weary eyes, and he watched in fascination when the Human dove back into going through the Pantharni bags like a kit opening presents. There was one item in there that was a literal life saver, but it was gene coded to Pantharni; a viral nanite injector. The biotech would repair the worse damage first and then start working on more cosmetic damages, but there is a cost to the repair because the nanites work so quickly that there is no way to block out the pain of repairs. Tokala could regain his sacrificed hand if he used it, but the level of pain he’d have to endure as bone regrew and tissue filled out was prohibitive. The elder Pantharni was at a point in his life where he didn’t need the hand enough to confront the pain. It would be the solution for Aeryn’s plight except for the genetic barrier, though Tokala’s passive mind whispered softly that the viral nanites would still work. They were all overlooking something very important but Tokala couldn’t demand that his mind present him with the answer. It was elusive and irritation as food caught between teeth.

Sampson was examining all the clearly medical based equipment and frowning, looking at Aeryn’s wounds carefully again. “If I describe what Aeryn needs right now, can you indicate what may work?” her tone was cautiously optimistic. This time Tokala surprised Sampson by gently cupping her face and giving the Human a quick kiss. Which of course made Tavir bark out his displeasure while Sampson laughed. “Oh calm down before you give yourself a heart attack. I’m an old woman, who cares if I’m kissing aliens. This brilliant fellow here is going to help me save Aeryn.” Sampson’s weariness from earlier was fading away by the moment. Tokala realized it wasn’t exhaustion that was weighing his Human companions down, but hopelessness. They had been enduring not living, and no one ever fantasized about thriving under these conditions. Only those who tied their fates to Daniel had anything resembling luxury, but even they were merely existing. The remaining Humans on this planet were ghosts, not alive and not willing to die all the way. It was tragic for the compassionate Pantharni to witness.

“The only way I’m going to calm down is if Aeryn’s eyes open up again right this instant. Until that happens, I’m not about to kiss any aliens.” Tavir’s words and body language are all acidic, but his scent was all over the spectrum. He smelled of fear, desperation, frustration, and a simmering anger that promised to erupt one day. But Tokala had to focus on Sampson to try and help Aeryn. That young Human was the only chance to escape this rock for both aliens and Pantharni.

“Aeryn is fighting off shock, poison and infection. After today, all resources are tapped out and what would help best is any antiseptic you have, as well as any antibiotic or toxin neutralizer. Also, we need some kind of saline solution or any method to get nutriments in while Aeryn is still throwing up. Is there anything here that can help?” Sampson was testing Aeryn’s forehead with her hand, taking the unconscious Human’s temperature. “I suspect there’s a fever starting as well, there’s no way Aeryn should be this warm.”  The soft smell of mild concern was a permanent base scent of the older Human. All Healers across species had some version of that scent after a time working their craft.

“Aeryn’s always been warm though, you always  think the trouble maker has a fever and yet, never does.” Tavir interjected, the anger put away now that the focus was back on taking care of Aeryn. Tokala listened to them discuss Aeryn until the conversation turned into banter. It was good that they were calming, their agitated smells were starting to make his sinuses ache. More than that, he needed them clear minded so that when conversation could occur again, he’d have a chance to discuss serious matters.

Two of Tokala’s hands sorted through the limited emergency supplies; some weren’t appropriate for  the injuries, some would not work without aggravating other injuries and the last little pile were only able to mildly help; a bandage on an arterial wound. Once again Tokala was forced back to considering the viral nanites. Finally his passive mind whispered its truth to him; theoretically the viral nanites would work. It wasn’t the slightly sentient type of biotechnology that could be taught but it was a complex program that may be able to adapt itself. But the level of pain Aeryn would experience in the process is significant, and this was not the kind of situation where Tokala could make the decisions for his allies. “Nahuel, I need you to offer the exploration suit to Sampson. She should be able to wear it and we need her to use the translator function.” Tokala commanded his ward, and was pleased to see the young Pantharn react without hesitation despite his interrupted meditation. Deactivated, the exploration suit looked like a simple flight suit; but it was the slightly sentient type of biotechnology and quickly adjusted to work with the wearer. Once again Tokala was hoping that the intelligent Sampson would divine the meaning of Nahuel’s disrobing and offer of the suit. For some reason Tokala felt the pressure of some unknown, unseen countdown. To what he did not know, but it gave him a chill sense of urgency.

“I don’t understand how this will help Aeryn.” Sampson sounded hesitant/ Tokala shook his head negative and gently pushed the suit to Sampson’s breast bone. Although the suit would help seal Aeryn’s wounds and even feed her body nutriments, it could not treat infection or poison. “I’m supposed to put this on then?” her tone was still doubting, but spurred on by the Pantharni’s encouraging nod, Sampson started to pull the suit on. Nahuel was watching with intense curiosity to see how the suit would react now and Tokala was just grimly bearing witness.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea Sampson? Aeryn said the technology they gave that does the language this was painful.” Tavir warned and Tokala was glad Sampson would be fully informed. The suit shouldn’t hurt but there was always that one chance it could go terribly wrong.

Thankfully it didn’t go sideways on the small collection of desperate aliens. Sampson pulled on the suit and looked suitably fascinated as the sentient nature caused it to remodel itself for her less limbed form. “This doesn’t hurt but it feels eerie as all get out.” Sampson confessed and put the entire room at ease.

“The suit should be in wait to translate for you now. It is necessary for us to talk so you can understand the risks and speak to Tavir about them.” Tokala saw the male Human react when his name was used.

“The suit’s translating, stay quiet Tavir.” Sampson bounced forwards on her toes, eager to get to figuring the solution out.

The needle is a viral nanite. It’s a smart pathogen that duplicates in the system and has a prime directive to repair the host. But it’s coded for Pantharni genes. I’m hoping the programming allows for enough adaptive properties to heal Aeryn; there seems to be some distant evolutionary connections between our species.” Tokala dumped a lot of information on Sampson at once but he suspected she could handle it. Tokala waited while Sampson and Tavir discussed it, and then he explained the concept of the pain cost Aeryn would have to pay. A cost that would also afford her a bonus, as once the nanites are in the system they stay active, giving Aeryn a greater resistance to damage though she would not be immune to injury or pain. Tokala even consulted Nahuel on this, wanting to know his young pupil’s opinion. The possible Baguera would need to listen to his instincts but counsel them with wisdom. As spiritual leader of the Tribe, Nahuel as Baguera would have much harder ethical issues to tackle in his lifetime.

Tavir was for whatever would save Aeryn, Sampson was concerned about the risk of Aeryn slipping into a coma, Nahuel wanted his friend alive and well, and Tokala’s path had already been set. They were going to try it, and they would bear the consequences. Aeryn was injected with the viral nanites and at first nothing happened. Tokala had his muzzle out, snarling at the tension in the air, an anticipatory churning in his gut. Whatever was going to happen next, it would mark a huge change for all of them; they were tying their futures together irrevocably.

Just as Tokala felt his state of readiness start to slip, the skin of Aeryn’s back WRITHED. At first it appeared that the viral nanites had been entirely successful at determining the genetic differences between the Pantharni and the alien Humans; the infection oozed out of the wounds on Aeryn’s back, the ashen scent of Lampard poison painful with the mix of blood and desperation. But then something really unexpected happened. Aeryn had been out cold due to the pain in her body, now this new pain woke her up. Even as Aeryn screamed and gave a full body thrash, the two Pantharni were helping Tavir hold her still and Sampson was quieting the screams, and they all stared in mute horror as a rather impossible event occurred right before their eyes. The genetic relationship between Human and Pantharni was closer than any of them had anticipated, the viral nanites hadn’t detected those limited differences, so they were using dormant genetic coding to fix Aeryn’s wounds. But they were also constructing a tail Aeryn had never had before; a tail that looked identical to the one naturally a part of the Pantharni.