Rude Awakening

8.3.5 SW
Late Afternoon SW-CP-Local Time
Crowning Point > Cargo Bay

The three cowered behind some crates while they waited for the transfer to complete. Shusett looked awkwardly at the others, Ogai and Jensen had been in the middle of talking when Irving Shusett interrupted: "It should be done soon."

The two of them were silent for a moment then Jensen nodded. "You know you seem a little skittish Ladon, who's exactly after you?"

"Who knows. Everyone probably," Irving huffed.

"There's more to you than meets the eye. I've seen men like you before, men who are up to something they shouldn't be up to. Men looking for a way out."

"You don't know shit about me," Irving snapped before looking apologetic. He didn't want to end up making more enemies. "I'll say this: I have had a long few days. I'm in a bad mood if that wasn't clear and I'm on the edge. My fucking boss is calling therapists to contact me -- I don't need that shit."

"Woah. Woah chill, I didn't ask for your autobiography." Jensen said before he looked to Ogai and shook his head quickly. "We know all about stress, we've got you. I promise." Shusett tried to calm himself down and nodded to Jensen's words.

*Zap-clunk* The cradle bleeped and started to open again. Quickly Irving ran over to the metal cradle and watched as a reborn V rose. Her golden locks swooped down to the top of her breasts. Her skin was pale, almost as milky white as the artificial blood fed into the body. Her eyes were wide, with dark brown pupils, and neat lashes rose from the edges of her eyelids. "Vera?" Asahi asked. "Is that you in there?"

"I feel different-" her voice worked at least. Asahi Ogai leaned beside her, he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Asahi? Your hand I can feel it."

"Vera, we're here. What can you remember?

"The darkness, inside there with no eyes. Nothing but the maddening blindness but now they work again - my eyes." Vera looked around and then stopped once she was facing Irving. "It was you? You initiated the transfer procedure?"

"It was," Shusett replied quietly.

"Thank you for helping them." She then looked down at her legs and after a brief glance they woke up. Slowly Vera stood up, then with much caution climbed out of the cradle. Bruce went over and held her arm to aid her balance. "Thank you," she said.

"Over there," Jensen pointed Shusett to a spare jumpsuit, which was clinging onto a metal wire clothes hanger. He nodded and ran over to get the uniform. Once acquired he handed it to Vera, it was a little larger than her new body but at least it covered her up. "I don't want to know what people would think if they saw you walking around like you were before."

"Right, we need to get back ASAP," instructed Ogai.

"What about Ladon here?" Jensen asked. "You going to come with us?"

TBC