Vita Per Nex, Lori meets Mischa and Leland

Lori took a deep breath and let it out slowly; she didn't want to pass out for a second time that morning. She surveyed her reflection and adjusted her lace – edged white veil. She wore her green turtle – neck, with green pants that tucked into green boots, and jumped a little when her reflection zoomed in in response to the where her eyes were focused on her hips. She blinked a couple of times before the mirror reset itself to her entire body; she still hadn't quite figured out all of their new firmware's little quirks. She took a slow drink of water and waited until her stomach had settled before turning the mirror off --- the thing turned off --- and stepping out of her room.

Hyun – Jin had been in hysterics the previous day. Liaison Tanaka had apparently gone from their home to hers, requesting that Mrs. Vu prepare her cream baklava for the next Family Assembly. Lori wasn't surprised that General Mischa loved the dessert; she'd offered her condolences and congratulations and not mentioned her own impending visit from the General.

“Mother, is everything ready?” she asked as she poked her head into the kitchen. Tanya was sitting at the counter with a mug of chai clenched in her hands, licking her lips.

“I really hope your simulations bear fruit,” she whispered. “We need all the hope we can get.”

“Mother?” Lori went up to her and touched her shoulder; Tanya was pale, and her eyes were watering slightly. “What's wrong, Mother?”

The older woman sniffed and swallowed sharply before rubbing her eyes. “We lost the Socrates and Constantinople,” she murmured. Lori's heart clenched.

“Wasn't Admiral Mikhaila on the Socrates? Why hasn't there been an announcement?”

“Well, we're waiting until your simulations provide a breakthrough before announcing anything,” General Mischa commented from the kitchen window. “It always helps to have good news to follow a tragedy.” Lori and Tanya both shrieked and jumped, and the General raised her eyebrows before she was pulled back outside.

“Stop sneaking around people's homes,” a baritone ordered her, “and use the front door.”

Lori and Tanya bolted for the front door, reaching it just as the buzzer went off. Tanya grabbed her daughter and brushed her off, straightening her turtle – neck and veil, then she brushed herself off. Lori reached for the doorknob that was no longer there, but the door registered her hand's presence and slid open to reveal General Mischa clad in a tan casual suit, her gold General badge pinned to her right breast and the blood – red brooch denoting full Family status pinned to her left breast. Her hair was pulled back into a neat French braid and she wore grey sunglasses.

She was also apparently seeing how far back she could bend Admiral Leland's hand, while he tugged on her hair with his free one.

The two Family Members paused and looked down at them, then they started to smile.

“Doctor Tencha, Citizen Tencha,” General Mischa said warmly as she let Admiral Leland go and extended her hand. “My compliments, and it's a pleasure to meet you at last.”

Lori took her hand and blushed. “Ah . . . General Mischa, please, welcome. Ah, thank you for visiting us.” Leland gave a cough that said he was covering up a snort, or a laugh, and Lori flushed again. “Admiral Leland, welcome. We weren't expecting you to accompany the General. Please, do come in.”

Lori had to nudge her mother out of the way. Tanya was a little red as she looked at Admiral Leland --- she'd had a crush on the man for about forever.

“Oh, yes, come in, welcome.” Tanya smiled broadly as the two Family Members came into their home and glanced around. “Let us take your coats.”

General Mischa was wearing a dark tan, button – down shirt under her jacket, and she undid the top two buttons as she handed the jacket to Lori. Tanya was more than willing to take Admiral Leland's coat from him, watching as his muscles moved under the white t – shirt he wore. He gave her an easy grin before tugging on General Mischa's braid once more. The General whipped around with a glare and he pointed at Tanya, but General Mischa wasn't buying it and she kicked him in the shin.

“Ow! Violent woman! Do you see what I put up with, Citizen Tencha?” he complained as he held his knee to his chest in order to rub his shin. He was enjoying making Lori's mother blush.

“I do see what you put up with, Admiral,” Tanya replied.

“Do you see how she said that?” Leland laughed. “You're good at not taking sides.”

“I had the fortune to serve directly under Admiral Isam, Admiral,” Tanya replied.

“The dubious fortune, I'm sure you mean,” General Mischa said as she smiled warmly at Lori. “Leland and I just got back from the Moon base; we're happy to report that the long – range missile systems are ready for deployment.”

“That's wonderful,” was the only thing Lori could thing to say. Her heart was pounding despite the calm that the two Officers exuded, and Mischa took her arm gently.

“Of course it is. Please, Doctor, don't exert yourself over us. Why don't we sit out on the back patio? It's a fairly lovely day. Leland, get me something to drink.”

“Liaison Tanaka provided us with chai, General,” Tanya offered quickly. “I'll be happy to prepare you both some.” She smiled up at Admiral Leland, who winked at her.

“We'll be in the kitchen, then, shall we?” Admiral Leland linked arms with Tanya and led her to the kitchen, talking quietly.

General Mischa looked after him with a raised eyebrow. “Slut,” she called. Admiral Leland's reply would have caused any other person a fine, and Lori wavered slightly from the blood that went to her face. The General turned to her quickly and pulled her toward the back patio. “My apologies, Doctor Tencha. Please, let's sit. Your father isn't in today?”

Lori pulled the patio doors open and waited until General Mischa had seated herself. “Ah, no, Father's co – worker called in sick last night.”

“Ah.” The General tugged her glasses off and waved a hand at the empty seats around her. “Sit, please, Doctor. You're not in trouble. In fact, the situation is quite the opposite.” She leaned forward and rested her arms on the table as Lori took a seat across and to the side of her. She radiated pleasantness and ease, and now that Lori was off of her feet, the unintentional calming effects that General Mischa naturally radiated were taking effect. “I'm supposed to apologise for the suddenness of my intrusion into your life, Doctor Tencha,” she said earnestly, “but if I may be honest, I don't care. The scientists at work on the H Serum have come up against a permacrete wall in their research, and we're running out of time. In truth, we needed a working formula ten years ago.”

“Don't you know that you're supposed to lead in to the main reason for your visit?” Admiral Leland said as he and Tanya brought out a tray of drinks and a tray of finger snacks. “Talk about the weather, or something.”

General Mischa leaned back and considered Tanya's red face, and the smug look on the Admiral's, and raised an eyebrow as she thought. “Horrible weather, isn't it?” she finally asked lightly.

Lori was watching her mother, feeling a slight tug of concern. Family Members got whomever they wanted, regardless of that person's relationship status, and Tanya's crush on Admiral Leland was a family joke. At least, until now. Tanya wasn't meeting her daughter's eyes.

General Mischa was watching them, and rolled her eyes. “Your mother is safe from Leland's advances, Doctor Tencha,” she commented. Tanya jerked guiltily and blushed, while Admiral Leland glowered at his partner. “Contrary to popular belief, if a Family Member expresses interest in someone who is already in a committed relationship, then acting on that interest requires the consent of all three parties involved, and is only allowed for breeding purposes. No offence to you, Citizen Tencha, but we currently have no need to mix your and Leland's genetics. Leland, quit being a slut.”

“I'm not being a slut,” he protested, “and I wasn't trying to seduce your mother, Doctor Tencha.”

“No, you just naturally try to get into everyone's pants,” General Mischa remarked as she took a sip of chai. “My, this is absolutely lovely chai. Maybelle certainly knows what I like.” She looked up at the expressions on Lori's and Tanya's faces, then started laughing. “Oh, goodness, calm down and have a seat. Leland's pheromones are legendary; he can't help it.”

“Note that,” the Admiral said sharply. “Please officially note that Mischa admitted that I am not, in fact, a slut.”

“I admitted no such thing,” General Mischa countered. “I merely stated that your pheromones aren't your fault; acting on them is.”

Admiral Leland rolled his eyes as he plucked some grapes and munched on them. “Whatever; get to wooing.”

The General turned back to Lori with a roll of her own eyes. “Doctor Tencha . . . do I need to be so formal?”

Lori flushed. “Ah, no. Please, just Lori is fine.”

“Thank goodness. Lori, the guests ran your simulations the day before yesterday.” Her golden brown eyes were sparkling with excitement, and it was audible in her voice. “They were a qualified success, Lori. They still need work --- we're a long way from a working serum yet --- but it was the first breakthrough there's been in the last seven months. For that alone, the Families are in your debt.” General Mischa had been resting her chin on her right fist as she spoke, but lifted her head enough to reach out and run Lori's veil gently through her fingers with a soft smile. Lori's heart caught in her throat and she swallowed sharply. The General was one of the most beautiful women Lori had ever seen; she had to have been of almost complete Indian ancestry. Her honey brown eyes and glossy black hair were the perfect compliment to her smooth, unblemished dusky skin, and the way her full lips curved when she smiled made Lori feel quite faint.

“Ah . . . I . . . I didn't do that much, General,” Lori stammered. She couldn't help the smile that was on her face, or the continued blush. “I just . . . I don't know. You obviously have to have gotten my notes, as well, correct?”

General Mischa's eyes crinkled in the corners as she laughed. “Of course I got them, and I don't understand anything they say, but our scientists are doing cartwheels over them.” She glanced over at Admiral Leland when he coughed, but then her attention, her wonderful attention, was back on Lori. “I always like to visit Charlie when I'm in the Humboldt area,” she commented off – handedly. Lori's eyes went wide. “Please don't talk down about your abilities, Lori. You did with the original formulas what our scientists haven't been able to do, and you know so much less that they do. Please, don't be ashamed.” The General reached out and placed her fingers lightly on the top of Lori's hand. “That only makes what you came up with even more amazing. And in light of that, I'm here to ask you for your continued assistance with the H Serum. I'm confidant that, with you on our team, a working serum will be along in no time.”

Lori swallowed sharply and took a sip of water, willing her hands to quit shaking. General Mischa watched her carefully. “General, I'm not a Citizen.”

“Of course not,” the other woman agreed. “But do you think I care about that? I don't, especially because as of twenty-three hundred last night, you are officially a Probationary Citizen.” Tanya spilled her drink and Lori's heart stopped. When she woke up, she was stretched out on the living room couch, and General Mischa was kneeling next to her, dabbing a damp towel on her forehead.

“I shall take note in the future to not overload you quite so much,” the General said softly. “I'm terribly sorry, Lori. Can you move?” Lori just looked at the woman, who nodded and kept dabbing at her forehead. She took Lori's pulse, then sighed. “Are you willing to accept Probationary Citizenship and be transferred to --- I'll take that as a yes.”

Lori had started blinking her eyes rapidly; of course she would help. It would be criminal negligence not to help. If General Mischa thought that her simulations had merit, and if they had helped already as just theories, then how could she refuse?

“Leland, we've got ourselves a Probationary Citizen!” the General called over her shoulder. There was a baritone whoop from the hallway and then her mother's laughter. General Mischa looked at Lori's suddenly puckered eyebrows and smile reassuringly. “Your mother is completely devoted to your father, Lori,” she said quietly, “and Leland isn't going to interfere with that relationship, even if your mother invited him to. Flirt until I shoot him in the foot, possibly, but not interfere. Unless he had your father's consent, which very few partners actually give, and we can't force partners to give consent. We know when they don't mean it.”

“Urgh . . .”

“So, what we need to do now is get you all moved in with Leland and I,” General Mischa continued. “There isn't a standard procedure for non – military Probationary Citizenship, but it's happened before, under unusual circumstances.” The General smiled at Lori and brushed her hair off of her cheek. “Leland and I have decided, with the Mother Elder's consent, that if you were to live with us until you obtained full Citizenship, then the politicians and other Family Members --- those who aren't so keen on giving you any status --- won't have quite so much to complain about. Is this acceptable?”

“Yssss . . .”

“Splendid.” The General hadn't quit toying with Lori's hair, and there was a distant smile on her face as she sighed.

Lori coughed as her mother came back into the room with her medication. The General and Admiral Leland helped Lori sit up, and her mother gently spooned the thick syrup into her mouth. Lori swallowed and waited while it took effect, giving her control over her muscles once more.

“I hadn't realised that enough of a shock could actually stop someone's heart,” Admiral Leland commented as another coughing fit came over Lori.

“It's happened,” Tanya replied, “but it's . . . well, it's more common with Madison's Syndrome. The entire body is frail, and Lori has a very advanced case.”

“If I may ask, Citizen Tencha, didn't you know that your husband was afflicted?”

Tanya sat in an armchair and sighed. “Yes, I knew. He told me right from the start, but I didn't care at the time. Young and in love, and whatnot. It didn't really occur to me what that meant, in terms of bearing children, and we both thought that since Ahmed didn't have it that bad, and there's no record of the Syndrome in my family at all, that our children wouldn't be bothered by it. Less than Ahmed, at any rate. We checked with various doctors, and they all agreed with us.” She fiddled with her pants and sighed. “We both thought it would be almost criminally negligent to bring a child into the world, knowing that they would have Madison's Syndrome. The doctors all assured us that the risk was almost non – existent, especially with the therapies they had for preventing Madison's at the time.”

“That's probably what did it,” Lori mumbled. Admiral Leland was on her right and General Mischa was on her left, and she was firmly squished between the two of them. It was vaguely uncomfortable, but at the same time soothing. “Preventative measures cause all my problems.”

“Well.” Tanya sighed and crossed her arms over her stomach. “My family was furious when I started seeing Ahmed. He wasn't a Citizen, and he had Madison's --- although I had to tell them that for them to actually notice. We . . . haven't talked in a few years. Every time we start to get on easier terms, something comes up, it seems.”

“Wanted me in an institution,” Lori offered bitterly. “Wanted me to go to some pansy school, but I wanted to be a doctor. Didn't want Mother to take out my education loans.”

“Oh, that reminds me.” Admiral Leland slapped his knee. “Those will be taken care of, as well. It's all part of the incentive package to get you on our side.”

“She's already there,” General Mischa said dryly. “But the incentives remain.”

“Including land on Venus, an increased pay rate --- equal to the scientists we already have working for us --- and ---”

“We'll fill you in on it all later,” General Mischa interrupted. “We just wanted to get to know you today, and to ask for your help.”

“Well, you've got it.” Lori dragged her hand across her face and sighed. “I haven't had my heart stop in a long time.”

“My apologies for that,” the General started.

“Oh, no need, please, General.” Lori blushed again. “No need at all.”

“Just . . . don't do it often when you transfer, all right? I don't want to have to wake you up every five days.”

“I won't, I promise. I think. I shouldn't. Uhm.”

Admiral Leland laughed and poked her in the shoulder. “Look, we'll send a moving team by later today, is that all right? Or we can wait to move you.”

“Move you?”

“Lori will be moving in with Leland and I,” General Mischa explained to Tanya. “It will help ease any ruffled feathers, since she can't join the --- oh, wait, Leland.”

“You're a genius,” Admiral Leland said firmly. “Why don't you join the military, Lori?”

“I can't,” Lori almost yelled.

“Calm down. Of course you can. We'll just put you on a delayed entry program until you find enough of a cure for Madison's to allow you to take a fitness test.”

Lori stared at the Admiral. “Sir, that's impossible.”

“Of course it's not,” General Mischa protested. “You're going to give us psychic powers, aren't you? So find a cure for Madison's, not just a prevention.”

“You're wrong, it's not psychic powers. That's where the scientists had it wrong. What I think the Benders are using are . . . enhanced empathy skills, similar to what the Family Members have.”

Leland's face went blank. “Family Members have no genetically enhanced skills.”

“I can not believe you said that with a straight face, Leland. Ignore him, Lori, and talk to me.”

Lori turned her face toward General Mischa. “I really do think that's it. Telepathy and other 'psychic' powers have never been proven, or even reliably measured. I really think that by boosting the empathy centres of the brain, we'll make much more progress. That's what I was fiddling with.”

General Mischa nodded, her dark eyes sparkling. “That makes sense. I guess. I trust you. Do you need a test subject? Leland will volunteer.”

“I volunteer for nothing!” the Admiral exclaimed. “Nothing! Vile woman.”

“Regardless.” General Mischa placed her hand on Lori's knee and squeezed it gently.

----

Family Members aren't cookie-cutter copies of one template, as you'll see when Leland, Mischa, and Lori go to the Muffie Pump; while they present a uniform demeanor in public, and seem almost identical in professional behaviour, each FM is an individual, with their own hobbies, likes, and dislikes. If this had been an official visit, several weeks would have been set aside to prepare for it, mostly on the part of the Tenchas receiving Family-level ettiquette training and learning some of the major genealogies of both the Army and the Navy --- to put it into a bit of perspective, Mischa and Leland visiting Lori, a non-Citizen, with only enough advance warning to get their firmware upgraded, is akin to having the Queen of England call you at ten to tell you that you'll be taking afternoon tea with her in your one-room apartment.

Also, while it may seem like Mischa and Leland, who you could expect to be on the front lines, so to speak (the solar system, being in 3-dimensional space, doesn't have a front or back), aren't doing much, they're not only on Recovery as mentioned by Faizah and Asha, but actual ship-to-ship and surface engagements with the Benders are rare. There will be space action, but for the time being (especially with Lori to babysit), Mischa and Leland are stuck on the Earth side of the asteroid belt.