The door slid open, and she fell through, rolling to her back to protect the tablet.The door hissed closed with a final thump.
“Bioscan commencing,”the station’s voice spoke.
Light strobed over her as she lay on the floor, shivering and gasping for air.She guessed that the temperature outside would have killed her in an hour.
“Identity, Urther.Compatibility class, Consort class.Status, hypothermic.”
A vehicle pulled up, and long, grabbing limbs pulled her up and onto the transport.There was a Hmrain medical icon on the transport, and it strapped her down and drove off through the base.
She shivered and kept herself wrapped around the tablet.A warm thrumming came from the tablet itself, and she smiled and whispered, “Thanks, Boss.”
She wished she could have taken in more of the base’s structure, but the shivering took up all of her time.
“Subject will climb to the top of the fluid tank, remove clothing, and drop in.The fluid will provide you with oxygen and gentle warmth.You will be able to breathe, but it will be difficult.Pull the fluid in as quickly as you can.”
She shuddered and nodded.“Understood.”
The medical bay was clearly marked, and the doors opened as the vehicle approached.It passed some long cold-sleep canisters of extreme proportions and drove to a series of fluid tanks.
To her shock, the vehicle began to jack the platform she was on upward.It got her to the grating around the top, and she felt the fastening unbuckle.Her shaking hands got the tablet out of her suit and put it safely to the side.She wiggled on the grating, getting the bodysuit off, and when she was naked, she pulled her loose braid back and tucked it in securely before rolling into the tank.
It felt hot, but that was just her skin.Her temperature senses were all wonky.She got herself to the bottom of the tank.Braced herself with stretched-out arms and legs, face up, and she screamed.Air rushed from her lungs, and she was left with only one option.She inhaled, her jaw flexed, then exhaled with a few bubbles, and with every breathing cycle, her body took over the job.
Bot arms descended and fitted her for a stay in the tank.A mask went over her mouth and took over the effort to keep her breathing.Once that was assured, she let herself float as she slept.Her core was warming, and she was so damned tired.
* * * *
Birun activated hisunit and sat up as the door swung open.He looked over and saw the disruption to his sanctuary.
A female was floating in the tank.She was familiar, but he wasn’t sure why.
A voice from the computer said,“Honoured Birun, I have brought you a consort-assessed female from the recently acquired species of Earther.Her name is Trin William.She is an inventor and is grieving the loss of a grandparent.Nebel knows much of her and can explain things to you.Oh, and she prefers a cooler environment.She can’t tolerate it, but she likes ice and snow.”
“Who are you?You have my voice.”Birun rubbed his head and kept staring at the woman in the tank.
“You linked yourself to Nebel’s world to ease communication.She found your voice and enjoyed it, so she gave it to her program, and here I am.”
“She’s consort class?”
“Yes.”
“Suitable for me?”
“Yes.I would not have brought her here otherwise.She matches your nanite frequencies and will do well with you.She needs attention.”
“Attention?”
“For half her life, she has been a caretaker.She is exhausted but brilliant.”
Birun smiled.“And she likes my voice?”
His voice chuckled.“Yes.”
“What are you?”
“An artificial intelligence unit that blends aspects of her mind, your voice, and intuitive breaks in programming.I am spectacular.She refers to me as Boss.”
There was pride in the tone, and Birun nodded.“But you are a program.”
