Repaying a Debt

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

"Its not that I think ice cream is bad, just not for breakfast" Snowaters said, tossing the dishes into the 'cycler. Keying in a different program she turned back to her daughters. "Eve, your in just as much..."

<You have a call> Kalith interrupted.

The Star Diamond's resident mother shook her head. "Ask if they can wait, I'm busy."

<Receiving only a carrier wave.> the silicon beachball replied.

Running her hands through dye black hair Snowaters closed her eyes. "Yuki, make sure they eat these pancakes" she ordered. "And no more cherries until I say so."

"Yes mistress" answered the mobile plant as she rolled towards the dispensing cabinet.

Snowaters shook her head. "Kids" she grumbled, patting Dawn's head as she left. "Can't see how any of them ever live to be adults."

Dropping into her Captains chair, after carefully removing a stuffed frog currently dressed in camouflage fatigues and a pink bonnet, she depressed the comm switch.

"Star Diamond, Captain Snowaters answering. Go ahead please."

Starsong answered her.

"'Lith, what makes you sure this is directed to us?" she asked.

"Melanie" Snowy agreed. "Patch in the remote sensors we left in her house. Give me a readout. And turn the ship around, best speed to her planet."

<Stand-by.>

Moments passed, the ancient freighter groaned in protest as it swung around, turning back into the Oort cloud it had cleared not an hour before. Her entire structure shuddered as the powerful startug engines ramped up. Sliding, Star Diamond made a bee line for the planet it had left a month ago.

<Readings. No power usage detected. No movement detected. External air temperature 238 degrees. Internal structure temperature 242 degrees.>

"WHAT!" Snowaters screamed as she jumped from her chair. "She can't survive that, get me a reading on her position. NOW!"

"ETA" she demanded, reaching for the ships intercom. "Yuki, Bridge, now" she ordered, turning to read data scrolling up on the nearest monitor.

"Too Queel long 'Lith" Snowy cursed, "How soon could TINKERBELLE get me there."

"Warm her up 'Lith" she ordered. Turning she almost tripped over the Star Diamonds newest member, the sentient Japanese Cherry bush known as Yuki (who's sister, NeNe, is currently enjoying the luxury of the Klipper.)

"Yes mistress?" Yuki asked as she tried to move out of the way.

"We've got an emergency" came the reply. "You obey Kalith, take care of my children." Snowaters ran towards the shuttle bay, pausing at the hatch only long enough to look back a second. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Her hull still cherry hot, the shuttle known as TINKERBELLE, gift of Atlas Aerospace, settled into a huge snowbank less than ten meters from Melanie's home. Steam rose in a cloud, settling slowly in the night still air. Inside Snowaters was still berating herself for running off without the right clothing. Somehow she felt her two layers of chiffon wasn't going to be much help in the winterkill cold outside.

Looking out at the coal black structure with its crippled systems she picked up the microphone. "Kalith, I'm here but I've got a problem."

<Agreed. Orders.>

"Call it 'Lith, I know Jack gave you the words" she answered. Ripping off her filmy clothing she toggled the hatch release.

<Human to Sharnel to Leopard I call>

An inhuman scream echoed from the open shuttle.

Inside the structure all was still, snowflowers bloomed on the walls, tiny laces of crystal slowly formed on anything they could. Before the huge triple glazed window, a single potted plant stood, leaves held tightly against its trunk. Lacy fingers of ice were just forming on the leaves tips. In the bathroom pipes slowly deformed, finally snapping like glass as the ice within expanded. A single florescent lamp flickered greenly, vainly attempting to draw power from an ice crippled battery backup.

Suddenly the door shattered, shards of snow cold wood flying everywhere, inches thick sheets of iron hard ice tumbled to the floor. There was a roar, the a huge furry form stepped in. Clouds of vapor wafted from deadly fangs, its huge paws making toothpicks of a door meant to hold back a determined burglar. Moving slowly the six foot plus cat entered the room, a tiny necklace dangled from its neck.

<Detect you have entered> came from the necklace.

The cat looked around, grunted, searching for the structures owner. Seeming confused.

<From leopard to Sharnel I call.> came from the necklace.

The cat started to deform, roaring in pain as bones cracked, shifted. Its tail shortened, structures changed. In moments a woman, clad in snow white fur lay where the cat had stood. Panting deeply she screamed again.....

Minutes past. Then, staggering up slowly, Snowaters shook her head, clearing her vision. A thin stream of bright ruby fell from her mouth and nose, crystallizing as they touched the ice covered carpet. "I can't take that many more times" she whispered to herself, forgetting the open transceiver dangling loosely from her neck. She coughed, then spit out the thick red-grey lump that had once been lung tissue.

It took only a moment to find the inert Melanie. Grabbing the pot she lifted, staggered, grunted, then set herself and lifted again. Struggling, she headed for the shuttle, so close, and yet so far away.

Aboard the Star Diamond Yuki stared at the scene transmitted from the shuttles remote cameras.

"She can't lift her, not even in that form" Yuki said, staring in disbelief at the screen.

<Hysterical strength> Kalith answered. <Still. She has damaged herself.>

"I never knew she was a shapeshifter" Yuki whispered, watching in awe as the exhausted woman crawled into the shuttle, collapsing next to the inert Melanie as the hatch closed.

<She isn't.> came the answer.

"But I saw her..."

"How soon will they be back?"

<Rendezvous. Eighteen minutes. Two seconds.> Kalith transmitted another command.

Aboard the shuttle another scream shattered the quite. Moments later Snowaters, now fully human, staggered to the command chair. Reaching down she picked up her filmy clothing and with painful movements, slowly cleaned the blood off her skin.

"How long before we know" Snowaters asked, her voice a harsh, hollow whisper of itself.

Reaching down she picked up one of the shed leaves, black marks showing where it had frozen. "If the freeze got past her leaves, we could lose her to rot" she answered. "Willmore labs never had this happen before. We're on our own. In the least, she's going to lose every leaf, probably her fingernails as well. You better be ready to increase this rooms CO2, moisture, and heat level." She tapped her arm splint, "Let me know if she wakes up." Turning she smiled through cracked lips to her children.

"Eve, Dawn. Mommies got to sleep for a while. I want you to obey Yuki and 'Lith, and please leave Melanie alone OK?"

"Yes ma'am" the twins answered, their voices as one.

Hobbling on one splinted leg, Snowaters left for her cabin.

Yuki brushed the children towards the SRVR chamber. "Time for your lessons" she ordered, shepherding them out of the room. After they left she turned her pot towards the motionless Melanie.

Reaching out with one green hand she touched the cold surface of Melanie's neck. "What are her chances Lord" she asked.

<Melanie was based on a tropical plant.> 'Lith answered. <In your case. Based on the more Northern plant. I would say excellent.> It paused several seconds. <I cannot say such for her.>