Spook
RK eyed Christina in some consternation.
Gradually, after the first day, Christina had been regressing, Her speech patterns had started to slur, losing their fineness and the general quality that marked an adult's speech from a child's.
He could see it in her mind as well.
The quickening spread of the blank spots in her memory.
She was babbling quietly to herself and playing with her fingers through her hair now.
RK curled up in her lap and she cooed before starting to stroke her hands through his thick fur. He closed his eyes tiredly. He didn't have the finesse for this. But perhaps this woman, Tanya, did?
With an effort, he moved both himself and Christina through the dimensions. Swaying as he stood, holding onto consciousness with an effort of will, he glared at Tanya fiercely.
"Hurt her, and there will be words. She's not who she was."
Christina looked around, eyes wide and mouth slightly open in amazement.
Tanya
Tanya took a few moments to take everything in.
*She went to Kansas, and was mutated,* Tanya said. *All the alien mutants can feel telepathic activity in their head beyond simply reading, and sometimes it's hurts. I'll do what I can, but I can only promise I won't hurt her intentionally.*
She knelt down beside Christina, mixed emotions of distrust, dislike, a little fear, but a great deal of compassion.
Spook
"That's good enough. Christian trusted you. Mostly."
RK watched her with glowing golden eyes.
"I'd do it myself, but I've seen what you Ga'Revali Masters can do. A Grand Master would be better...but you make do with what you have to."
He flexed his paws thoughtfully and then turned to face Christina. She laughed slightly and petted his head.
"She's not Spook, anymore. But I do miss Christina. There is a difference."
Tanya
Tanya nodded.
*Sadly the only Grandmaster 'round these parts is only a potential right now. I shall do my best.*
And with no further adu, Tanya moved her mind carefully into Christina's. She gulped, seeing the effects of the mutation. She took a breath and looked around some more, in an attempt to take it all in and find the best place to start.
Spook
"Who would have thought a reaserch assignment could turn out like this?" RK mused almost to himself.
Christina whimpered slightly and her fingers tightened in RK's fur.
He started to purr comfortingly.
"Not all the scarring is from the mutation though. Someone...not you, I think, went through there rather throughly with the telepathic equivalent of a machete when she was young."
Tanya
*Yes...* Tanya agreed thoughtfully. *Someone did... I wish I could figure out who it was - usually some sort of residue is left behind when someone does something in a mind. But it's been too long and there isn't anything left for me to find out who. Ah ha!*
She had found a place to begin. Cautiously, she began her work.
Spook
Christina's eyes squeezed shut.
"No, please. No."
"She's going to help you, pet. Just relax."
"No. Don't. Please. No. Don't hurt me. Please. I didn't mean..."
Tanya
Tanya pulled out slowly.
*Don't worry, Christina. I have no intention of hurting you,* Tanya told her.
She took a moment to make herself a tool, then went back in.
*If... if you do feel pain though,* she said softly. *Let me know. I'll do my best to avoid it, but your mutation may have a few things to say otherwise.*
Spook
"I won't tell, I promise..." Christina whimpered softly.
RK's eyes gleamed with anger.
"I swear, if I ever find them...they'll be finding pieces for days."
He kneaded her leg gently and her fingers clutched convulsively at his fur.
"I didn't, I didn't, I didn't..."
Tanya
"Poor thing," Tanya thought to herself.
She dwelt on the matter no longer though, and tended to the work at hand: carefully mending the rips in Christina's mind.
Spook
Christina shuddered.
RK watched Tanya work carefully, keeping up the effort of keeping Christina mostly calm. Or at least still.
Tanya
Tanya paused, coming across the worst of the damage. Large gashes in her mind. At least it hadn't started to flake, like in Taylor's mind.
She started to bridge the gashes, knwoing that if it was going to hurt, this would be the time. She redoubled her efforts to be careful.
Spook
Christina whimpered.
"Ow..."
"Shhh..." RK soothed.
Tanya
Tanya winced, but soldered on. There was nothing else she could have done. At a couple of points she had to do what she needed to quickly, as opposed to slowly, knowing the pain would be unavoidable, and better to get it done and over with, like pulling off a bandaid.
Spook
Tears rolled down Christina's cheeks.
"Nearly done, nearly done..." RK told her.
Tanya
*Okay,* Tanya said quietly, *the hard part is over. There are a few minor things left to do, and then it's over.*
And a good thing too. She was beginning to tire. She began to mend the last of the damage.
Spook
Christina sucked in a breath, and then blinked hard. She looked around, then looked down at RK.
"So. Where are we, cat?"
Tanya
At last Tanya pulled out. Her eyes were drooping with exhaustion.
"There," she said tiredly. "All done."
Spook
"I'm...not exactly sure where we are," RK admitted.
"I just went for her. To get her to help you."
"Then I suppose I owe her my thanks."
Christina looked at Tanya.
"Thank you. For whatever it is you did."
Tanya
Tanya smiled.
"You're welcome Christina," she replied. "Take care of yourself."
Spook
"I try...but somehow I think I don't do a very good job of it sometimes. Or didn't, before..."
Christina shook her head slightly and traced a thin scar on her hand.
"So. Back to that godforsaken cabin we go." RK concentrated and the two fuzzed in and out of focus briefly.
"Oh, botheration," the cat said crossly.
Tanya
Tanya frowned.
"Anything I can do?" she asked.
Spook
The cat hissed in vexation.
"Oh, now is not the time for my powers to go haywire."
"What, exactly, are you?" Christina asked.
She frowned slightly.
"And I'm getting the feeling I've asked that before..."
"Mmm..." RK said non-commitedly.
He concentrated again, and they flickered out and re-appeared in the cabin.
Tanya
Tanya blinked her eyes slowly, then settled down for a long nap.