Amanda... was in darkness.
She wasn't asleep. What little her mind could grasp understood that. She was... she was...
Pain.
There had been pain...
****
"Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you!"
The room broke into cheers, as well as some good natured boos and catcalls. Wendi and Mari, sitting up on the stage in the "Birthday Thrones", grinned and blushed as tradition demanded. They were dressed in the finest silk and lace monstrosities that Hanna could design, as befitting birthday girls. The newly twelve Wendi was decked in red, neckline dropped to show off budding breasts, both sleeves and hemline short to show off limbs now strong, muscular, and graceful. Mari was in a flowing gown almost tacky enough for a princess, pink with white ruffles everywhere. Her hair was piled on her head, held together with pins and a pink butterfly.
They looked so cute, a laughing Amanda thought she might puke.
Kine, with a graceful bound, leapt up onto the stage and walked up before the girls, hands raised to the crowd for silence. He didn't expect to get any, naturally. He wasn't a fool. But, the forty or so kids did calm down a touch, which was good enough.
"Ladies! Gentlemen! Brat!"
"Hey!" yelled back Amanda, tossing up a middle finger at her brother. He blew her a kiss, the crowd responding noisily.
"Today, we celebrate the joint birthday of two of our young ladies! We celebrate life! Beauty!" He suddenly did a comedic double take look at Wendi's chest. "And breasts!" Wendi's hands shot up to cover her eyes in embarrassment, especially at the exasperated look Lessa gave her from the back of the room. She also thrust her chest out at Kine. Catcalls asking to see the breasts in question rang out, and the hands over Wendi's eyes responded by extending their middle fingers up while she continued to jokingly cringe. Mari jumped to her feet.
"Hey, I have breasts too!" She shoved the puffy decorations on her flat chest out, and received the same catcalls. Kine grinned at the kid, then turned and raised his arms in the air.
"Speaking of boobies, it's time to eat!"
He jumped down... and let out a relieved breath as the attention of everyone was attracted to the bowls and platters of food being brought out of the kitchen. Being naturally entertaining wasn't easy. He felt a hand lightly grip his right arm, bringing a smile to his lips as he recognized Mel's touch. Another hand gripped his left arm, causing Kine to cock his head at his little sister. Her eyes laughed at him.
"That was horrible!" she said, shaking her head in dismay. "You have no stage presence!"
"I did need you on keyboard behind me," he agreed, then with no warning jerked his right arm and the attached Mel to his front. His lips moved in with practiced ease and kissed her, her body molding to his automatically. Amanda watched, as always half amused and half jealous. She never turned away, though, which was good as Mel, despite being good and distracted, shot a hand out to try and tweak the younger girl's nose. Amanda jumped away just in time, slapping the hand away. The kiss ended, and Kine looked over at his sister in amusement.
"What's your problem?"
"That bald bimbo tried to hit me!"
"I'm sure you deserved it."
"What does the birthday girl deserve?
The three turned to see Wendi walking up to them. This, thought Amanda, should be fun. Her friend was still crushing on Kine. Would she make a move?
Kine made a great show of looking the twelve year old over, pausing to examine certain areas closely. Mel said nothing, unless you looked at her eyes, but Kine didn't so that didn't count. He grinned down at the student of Lessa.
"What does the birthday girl want?"
Wendi moved closer, hips moving with unpracticed grace.
"I'm an adult now. What if I want you?"
Kine pretended to consider the matter. Mel and Amanda looked on with... interested amusement.
"Well... you see, Wendi, while you are now older and very beautiful and sexy..." This almost broke her composure, her face turning red at the honest sound of his words. "... I do have standards. So! I'll tell you what. Once your breasts get out to..." he held a hand about six inches in front of her covered hard nipple, "... here, you can compete with Mel here in open competition for me." Wendi looked down at where his hand was, her face braking into an evil grin.
"I know what my mom looked like by age thirteen." She pointed to Mel. "In a year, you're going down!" With that, she practically skipped off to join the food craving mob.
Mel cocked her head at her man, eyes... dangerous.
"I'm not even out to there..."
"Exactly," Kine said, secure in his position. "If I'm going to dump you, it has to be for an upgrade."
Shaking her head, Mel looked down at Amanda.
"Try to fall for a shy, geeky guy. It makes life so much easier."
****
Amanda couldn't feel.
She was trying. She had... sensations, which she could almost place, but everything kept slipping away. She remembered being like this once, when she had a fever. She had been in bed for days, mind unconnected with either body or reality. Was she sick? Was she dead? Was she...
****
"Stupid fucking...!"
The cursing floated out of the open cabin door into the hallway just as Amanda was passing, and with a laugh the girl stopped and popped her head in.
"What up?"
Hanna interrupted her stream of profanity and looked up. She was, it appeared, in battle with a baby crib. Amanda wasn't sure if she was winning or not. It probably depended on if she was putting it together or taking it apart. If the first, it seemed to be the end of the battle, although given the state of her dirty blond hair resistance had been fierce.
Not far from the crib was Jenny, walking... nay, swaying, while holding little Irene. The baby was happily cooing, hands reaching up and playfully grabbing at her chin or a bare breast. The topless mother started towards the door.
"Look, Irene! It's Amanda! Hi Amanda!"
There was something... oh so wrong with this butch, muscular, small breasted, buzz haircut wearing teen using baby talk. Amanda looked from one woman to the other.
"Aren't these roles reversed here?"
Jenny gave her a huge grin, and held the gurgling Irene up in front of her with both hands.
"Well, it's not MY fault that little Irene will only stop crying when I hold her! Who's your favorite mommy? Who is it? Is it me?"
There was a thwack, then a thud, as a cloth diaper few across the room and hit Jenny in the back of the head before falling to the floor. Jenny responded by bringing the baby up until their noses touched.
"Why, Irene, we'd better hope that was a CLEAN diaper, or SOMEONE isn't getting a spanking tonight!"
Amanda blushed, and put up her hands.
"Too much information!" She walked quickly around the laughing Jenny and went to Hanna. "Can I help?"
"Oh, would you?" She stretched, cracking her back, and Amanda could see the sweat on her from earlier efforts. "I'm trying to break this down so we're ready to move out. Miss Butch over there built it to be portable, but she makes things so SHE can deal with them."
"I'm a delicate flower, I am!"
Amanda couldn't help but grin, then her face fell.
"There's no talking you out of it?"
Hanna looked her in the eye, and slowly shook her head. Jenny came up next to them, their child now resting her head on her chest and searching for the sandman.
"We have to go, before... you know," Jenny told her. She gently stroked Irene's head. "We love you guys, and if you ever settle down we hope you send us word, but..."
"But we have a family now, and a family needs a home."
Amanda looked at the now sleeping baby.
"Home..."
****
She felt air.
That was new. And, exciting. Amanda existed in the physical world! She felt air moving across her face!
Face... she had a face!
...maybe. Could be a toe. Maybe a toe with a face...
****
Kine held out his hand, and first Jenny, then Hanna, shook it. Hanna surprised him by pulling the large eighteen year old in for a hug, and with a sigh he closed his eyes and returned it.
"Thank you all for rescuing me," she whispered. "I owe you... gods, I owe you everything." She pulled back, tears in her eyes. "You'll always be welcome here. Our door will be open to you." She looked over at Amanda and Ger. "All of you." Releasing Kine, she went to give Amanda, Mel and Ger quick, if powerful hugs as well. Jenny handed the baby to her and gave the girls quick hugs, then walked up to Ger.
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, then Ger looked around them. The stone farm house was in good shape. There was room for a custom order dress shop, if Hanna went through with that, the barn would make a great machine shop, they were only two kilometers from a nice little town...
He reached out and touched the face of his former lover.
"You'll be OK?"
She copied his gesture.
"Yes... come visit us soon. Or, even stay! There's room..."
"Someday," he said. "I will." His eyes traveled to Hanna, who met it with tears in her eyes. Turning back to Jenny, he tenderly kissed the best mechanic he'd ever known. Breaking the kiss, he whispered, "You don't think I'd leave my kids without a dad, do you?" He dropped a hand down to her trim belly, then turned and began the trek across the field to the waiting shuttle. The others made a final goodbye, and followed.
"I think they'll be OK", Mel said, taking Kine's arm. He nodded.
"Three kids will be a chore, though," Ger added. He paused to pull a leaf off an unfamiliar bush, then continued on. The others just looked at him.
"Three?" Amanda assumed he could count. Unless there were some hidden in the luggage she had carried over?
"What? Oh, that." Ger shook his head. "There's only one way they can have kids without, you know, stealing them, so Jenny asked me to help." He kept walking, never noticing his three companions had stopped in their tracks.
Kine looked first at his sister, then Mel. Then back again. Finally he just had to chuckle, and putting an arm around each he led them after the receding shuttle pilot.
"Can't we stay here?" asked Amanda. He squeezed her.
"We stick to the plan. We do this upcoming raid Lessa wants. Then, in a few weeks, Lessa pops out her kid, then probably a day later she declares she's all fit to fight, and we take the ship and drop her and her commando force off to do whatever it is she's doing for her act of revenge."
"Do we know what it is yet?" Mel asked, worried.
"I think," Kine said, finding himself conflicted because he wanted to rub his chin yet his hands were occupied holding females, "she's going to try and assassinate the officer who commanded the raid on the London."
"Really." That was all Amanda could say.
"Yup. So, anyway, we drop them off, and go hide. At the predetermined time, we send a shuttle to the rendezvous point and wait one hour. At the end of the hour, the shuttle comes back... and our new lives start. One way... or another."
"What are your plans, Big Brother?"
He looked at her. She'd be thirteen soon, and still kept her blond hair in pigtails. She was his everything.
"I think," he said, looking around, "we settle down. The three of us." Amanda saw a twinkle in his eye. "Then, my wife and I try to make you an aunt."
Her eyes bugged out.
"Wife? Aunt?!"
"You'll be Auntie Amanda!" said Mel. She watched the girl say that title over and over again, trying to wrap her mind around it. An idea struck Amanda, and she looked up at the two of them.
"Well, I'd better get started making you an Uncle then!"
****
Amanda was moving. She thought she finally had her situation settled on, at least to that extent. She was being moved... pushed... dragged? Her mind was still fighting towards the surface of consciousness, dragging itself up two levels before dropping back down one. The higher she went, the more she started to feel pain. Pain everywhere, especially in her arm. Maybe. It was all so fuzzy. What had she been DOING?
****
"The plan," Lessa said, "is simple. The shuttle drops down to this clearing here." She pointed with a metal rod to the spot on the map. Her belly, sticking out of her seventeen year old frame comically, kept her from getting close enough to just use a finger. This annoyed her, and she looked around the conference room at the dozen raiders to see if anyone dared be amused. "It then retreats to safety after letting our raiders out, who then move in close to the target, here, and wait till about 3 AM. They go in, as we've practiced, get the supplies, set the charges, then blow up the whole Federation depot and get out of there for a pickup. Questions?"
Shelly raised her hand.
"Shouldn't we get out of there before we blow it up? I don't want to mix this up."
Lessa looked over at her friend and roommate. She was different now. Physically... and mentally. Months of training had turned her soft curves into hard muscle, apart from her breasts, but even they looked firmer. It was her attitude, though... Shelly was more... serious. Attentive. Protective. Almost as if she was competing with Wendi over who would be her favorite companion. But, Lessa thought, there was no competition. She loved Shelly. Not in any way close to what Shelly deserved, let alone wanted, but... probably as much as Lessa was now capable.
Don... she missed Don...
"Any serious questions?" Lessa looked around.
****
"I was serious," muttered Shelly. She wasn't used to missions. She never went on missions. But... if she was going to go with Lessa, going to try and protect her love from herself... she needed this. Needed the experience. It was her last chance. Another month left...
"Why CAN'T I go?"
Everyone turned to look at Mari. She was next to Wendi, dressed in identical combat attire. Her hair was in a braid identical to Lessa's, her face just as determined. She looked between Lessa, Shelly, and Wendi.
"I want to do this! I want to go with you guys! I've been training, haven't I? Please!?!"
Shelly and Wendi exchanged glances. Wendi put a hand on her shoulder, giving a gentle squeeze.
"No, not this time. We do have a job for you, when the time comes. An important job. Probably the most important."
"Really?" The girl looked up at the twelve year old. You could see she wanted to believe that. Wanted, with all her heart, to believe her three idols would let her join them. Let her help. Let her...
"Yes," said Shelly, softly. "Yours is the most important job of all. When the time comes, you'll know." And, it was, too. More important than keeping Lessa alive, even. Mari... was to be left with the baby. Left to, if needed, raise it. Left to... remember, and pass Lessa's love on to her child.
Mari saw the truth in Shelly's eyes, and nodded. They WOULD use her!
Lessa suddenly grimaced, hand going to her belly, and without saying anything she waddled away from the table and sat down on a chair against the wall. Kine stepped into her spot.
"OK, we know the plan. Go in, get out, only those fuckers get hurt." He turned to Amanda, who was standing next to Ger. "You're still insisting on going in the shuttle?"
"If you're going on the mission, yes." Her eyes were determined as she met her gaze. "Somebody has to watch your back and make sure you get out."
He nodded. Probably would be doing the same thing in her place. Then again, he couldn't see himself even staying on the shuttle if she were putting herself in danger. His eyes turned to Ger.
"Remember, my sister gets even a scratch on her, I rip off your balls."
****
Amanda saw green.
Her eyes, finally, were open. Maybe. Thoughts were still fuzzy, and this could all be yet another fever dream. But.. it looked like... leaves. Branches. She was moving under them, at a steady rate. Moving... but she couldn't move. Nothing worked.
What... what had happened?
What was the last thing she remembered?
****
The shuttle touched down in the grassy field, the side door whooshing open. Wendi was out in an instant, running towards the tree line. Shelly followed, then the rest. Kine took an extra second in the doorway, turning to give his sister a reassuring smile.
"Don't forget, Ger!" Then, he was out.
Amanda hit the button to close the door, yelling "Clear!" as it whooshed closed. She stared at it for a moment. Her brother was on the other side. Soon, he'd be in combat. He'd be... She shook her head. She couldn't dwell on that. That way lay madness.
Or at least needless crying.
"We're away!" yelled back Ger, and she could faintly feel the vibrations as the shuttle lifted off. The artificial gravity was on, counteracting most inertia, but it wasn't on full obviously, given the planet itself had almost a full gee. She looked around the empty cabin, wondering what she should do to kill time...
She felt the floor jolt. Her hands shot out, grabbing the back of one of the seats attached to the wall.
"Hey!"
"Incoming! Buckle up!"
She was seated in a flash, hands going to the straps with practiced speed. Her eyes were locked on the open doorway leading to the cockpit.
"What's going on!?" She could see, from this angle, Ger's side as one hand flew over the displays while the other worked the floor mounted joystick coming up between his legs. The sky beyond the front window whirled, with the ground coming in and out of view.
"Terrestrial fighters! Man they move fast!" The sound of the top and bottom gun turrets suddenly echoed through the cabin, the noise transmitted through the hull. "Shit! We can't make orbit! They'll cut us off!"
There was a bang, and everything shuddered. Amanda's eyes were wide, focused un-movingly on Ger, while her hands turned white gripping the straps holding her into the seat.
"Ger?!?!"
"I'm sorry!" he yelled. She saw the view spin outside the ship. "I'm cutting the artificial gravity! I need the power!"
The next thing Amanda knew she was slammed against the straps, pointing towards the back of the ship. She felt the ship spinning.
"C'mon, bitch, move!!"
The side of the shuttle exploded next to Amanda. Her scream went unheard above the sudden rush of air and banging of metals and ceramics. Her chair detached from the wall, and hit the far side of the cabin. Her head knocked back into something, and her vision tripled.
"Taking it down!!!"
She could see, barely, green rushing by the opening. Then the entire shuttle started flipping and falling, trees coming right into the cabin. There was crushing, crumpling, banging...
Darkness.
****
Amanda managed to raise her head a fraction. She was in... a body bag. No... it was an inflatable stretcher. She recognized it from the shuttle medical supplies. Her entire body was being held immobile, as someone pulled her along the ground. There were branches and leaves covering the top of her, as if she was being camouflaged.
What... what had happened?
She took mental stock of her body through the general pain. Legs? There. She could wiggle her toes. Head? Hurt. Arms? She could wiggle her left fingers, and flex her muscles a bit. Right arm...
Pain.
Nothing but pain...
Oh... gods...
"Ger..." she whispered the name, not even sure if it made it past her lips. The wait was forever, then...
"I'm here," came the voice, from above her head. "I'm... I'm sorry."
Ger kept pulling her deeper into the forest.