Legends of Amacia The Awakening

Nemesis’ Report on Rachel

“Dad,” Hanna whispered emotionally. “Not once did I ever think I’d hear any child call me dad, especially while I’m like this. It’s so humbling.”

Enoch patted Hanna on the shoulder with a broad smile. “You never cease to surprise me, Hanna,” he admitted. “Just when I think I have you figured out, you go and do something like this. I’m really proud that you close to step up and adopt this little maimed angel. It’s a side of you I never expected to see. Your love and light truly is a supernova in the darkness of this cursed underworld. Your kindness, compassion, and love show no bounds. I’m thoroughly impressed. I know you and Selina will make excellent parents for this poor little orphan.”

“That’s why I had to respond,” Hanna said softly. “I know what it’s like to be orphaned and scarred by the Darkness. I can’t let Rachel endure this alone and possibly end up like I did. I just can’t.”

“You really love that little girl as your own, don’t you?” Kida observed.

“I can’t help it,” Hanna admitted. “She reminds me so much of my little sister who was killed when I was fourteen. This time, I’m actually able to make a difference and save her.”

“That you did,” Enoch agreed, squatting down to look Hanna in the eye. “You saved this little girl, mind and body from destruction and death. She wanted to die until your love reached her. I’m amazed at how you dragged her out of that.”

“We all are,” Kida agreed. “It shows the true depth of your love and compassion not just for Rachel, but everyone. Don’t ever lose that love, Hanna. It separates you from the Emperor.”

“That it does,” Selina purred, cradling Rachel’s sleeping form. “That’s what attracted me to you in the first place, Hanna: your goodness, compassion, and love. That’s your light and you let it shine bright as a supernova just now to save this precious little girl. I’m so proud that you let her see your true self and not the façade that you show everyone else. She truly needed to see that someone, you, really cared if she lived or died. It wasn’t me with my purr, or Enoch, or Kida. It was you, Hanna. You gave Rachel a reason to live. You were the one who did it, the one who saved her. It makes me love you even more. Thank you for sharing your light and love with her.”

“May I say something?” Lola called out softly, totally amazed by what she and Jessica witnessed.

“Sure,” Hanna replied softly in a humbled tone.

“I’ve seen a lot,” Lola stated. “Some of the things I’ve seen and experienced I wished I could forget, but can’t. What I just saw here is not one of them. I saw you pull that little girl out of her nightmare and give her a reason to live, Hanna. I’ve never seen anything like that before and as everyone here is saying, it truly shows how kind and compassionate you really are. You’ve done so much for us, but what you just did for this little girl far exceeds anything you’ve done for us. It proves to me that you really are the Beowulf of prophecy that sister Izanami always told us about. I never believed I would actually get to see you do such a thing. I’m so honored and happy that you could rescue this little girl from her nightmare and herself.”

A deep sigh escaped Hanna’s lips. “You all humble me,” Hanna murmured emotionally. “And that’s a good thing. I did what was the right thing to do. This little girl needed help and for once, I was in a position to give her what she needed. I thank the Almighty that He allowed me to do this. As Selina said, it allows my light to really shine, and I must say, it feels good. I will take care of Rachel as if she’s my own daughter. Maybe helping her is part of my own healing process. In any case, I don’t have any doubts that this is what the Lord wants me to do. Selina and I will take this little girl as our own. We will help her heal and know that there are people and creatures out there who do not want to destroy her. Lord willing, we will be able to undo the damage the Emperor has done to her.”

Emma reached out and patted Hanna on the shoulder as Enoch stood back. “And we will help you, sister,” she said warmly to Hanna. “Whatever you need to take care of her is yours.” Emma abruptly hugged Hanna from behind, kissing her on the cheek. “That’s for showing what a caring person you really are,” she chimed. “Now, what do you need?”

Hanna smiled warmly, enjoying Emma’s embrace and kiss. “Thanks, sis; I needed that,” she replied, patting Emma’s arm as it encircled her. “Even I need some love now and then. But in all fairness, I know nothing about Rachel’s present condition. Can you guys fill me in? Is she stable enough to leave here or does she still have issues that’ll keep her here?”

Drew sat down on the bed with Hanna as Emma let go of Hanna. “Physically, Rachel is stable enough to leave, though the wounds are still healing and need to remain covered for now as a precaution.”

“I see,” Hanna murmured, looking at Rachel sleeping peacefully in Selina’s lap. “So she’s out of serious danger physically, but still needs a lot of care.”

“That’s right,” Drew stated. “She was damaged nearly as badly as you were when Amelia brought you back to Acheron, so even with our care and with repeated treatments in the Healer, Rachel’s not fully recovered yet. We did manage to purge the infection from her using the Healer and Nemesis’ medicines combined with his medical procedures. It’s been almost four days since she’s shown signs of the infection. It’s a miracle it didn’t do any permanent damage to her brain.”

“I’d say that’s a miracle too,” Selina said softly, holding Rachel close.

“Has she awakened before now?” Hanna asked.

“No,” Emma stated. “She’s been in a coma since coming here. Nothing we did could awaken her so Nemesis came up with a means to feed her intravenously. He carefully prepared a solution filled with everything she needed to stay alive while asleep. Every day, he’d bring a bottle of the solution and give it to her along with a saline solution to keep her hydrated. But for some reason, he hasn’t come yet. He usually shows up about the time you did to give her nourishment. I wonder why he hasn’t come.”

“Because I knew she was about to wake,” Nemesis called out softly as he walked up. “She woke up, didn’t she?”

“She did,” Drew stated. “Hanna and Selina were here when she did.”

“You felt her distress call, didn’t you, Hanna?” Nemesis queried, crossing his arms across his giant cyborg chest.

“I did,” Hanna replied. “It was so strong I had to respond. She needed help and it seems I was supposed to be here to give it.”

“Mmmm hmmm,” Nemesis mumbled. “How long was she awake?”

“A little over half an hour,” Enoch stated. “I must admit that her scream rattled my soul when she woke. It sounded like she was being murdered.”

“That’s because she was,” Hanna said softly. “I felt it when she woke. She was reliving the last time they tortured her. Enoch says you gutted the other three guards who were there tormenting her. Is that true, Nemesis?”

“It is,” Nemesis growled venomously. “Enoch broke the neck of the soldier who was raping her when we broke into her cell and I tore the others limb from limb. I made sure they’d never rape and torture another living soul.” His icy tone chilled every spine present. He sighed deeply as he looked at Rachel sleeping in Selina’s lap. “She was far too young and innocent to have had such abominations committed on her person,” he said sadly, the care for Rachel evident in his voice. “Had she been just a little older and prettier, you may have found her on the sex floor. But that wasn’t to be her fate. It was her destiny for Enoch and me to rescue her. Was she coherent when she woke?”

“Yes,” Hanna answered, “but she was out of her mind with fear and panic. She didn’t know where she was and thought we were initially the same guards who tormented her. Once we got her to calm down, I was able to show her we were not the enemy and that we cared for her.”

Nemesis’ eyebrow canted up. “You bonded with her, didn’t you, Hanna?” he asked.

“I did,” Hanna admitted. “She and I are so much alike in our pain. I had to help her.”

“Hanna and Selina just adopted the little girl,” Enoch stated. “It’s a level of compassion I’ve never seen Hanna show before now. It’s a pleasant thing to see.”

“I see,” Nemesis rumbled with a wry smile. “She could do far worse. I know you and Selina will take good care of her, Hanna. It’s obvious you care a great deal for this little girl.”

“That I will,” Hanna declared. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt her again, ever.”

“I know you won’t,” Nemesis agreed. “But now that that she’s finally awakened, the real work with her begins. Her physical wounds are nothing compared to the mental and emotional damage she has. You should know how vulnerable she is, Hanna, since you went through something similar. Be patient with her and the two of you will work through your pain together.”

“You love her, don’t you, Nemesis?” Selina purred. “It’s okay to admit it.”

“I do,” Nemesis answered. “And the strange thing is I don’t know why. The moment she came to my attention, I started watching for the moment to save her. That moment came in the raid. I truly wish I could have spirited her out of that dungeon before they nearly beat and raped her to death.”

“I know you do,” Hanna said sympathetically. “It’s the same regret I have about not getting to her sooner. But we can’t let it get us down. We got to her just when the Almighty had planned for us to reach her. And believe me, I will be patient and gentle with her.”

“True,” Nemesis replied with a sober smile. “Things worked out in the end and now little Rachel here is going to get the love and support she deserves. Would you say that once you got her to calm down, that she was behaving normally? Her speech wasn’t slurred or disjointed, was it? I only ask because it might be a sign of brain damage.”

“No,” Selina stated. “When we got her calmed down enough to get through to her, Rachel’s speech was coherent, not slurred, slow, or anything that would indicate brain damage. I was actually surprised she was as articulate as she was.”

“But she still doesn’t fully understand what’s going on,” Hanna declared. “I see it as a major accomplishment that we got her to realize we were not the enemy and weren’t going to hurt her.”

“Much of that had to do with your telepathic contact with her,” Selina stated. “You did very well navigating that girl’s bruised mind and not causing more damage when you showed your true self to her.”

“You did that?” Nemesis asked.

“Yeah,” Hanna replied softly. “It was the only way to get through to her. I had to show her that I cared if she lived or died. She had to know someone really loved her.”

“I’m impressed,” Nemesis stated. “I know that couldn’t have been an easy thing to do for you. But I’m glad you came through for her. She deserves the chance we’re giving her.”

“That she does,” Hanna agreed. “By the way, are you here to feed her again?”

“I am,” Nemesis stated. “But since she’s awakened and as apparently bonded to you and Selina, I think you should handle it. Besides, now that she has come out of her coma, the intravenous feeding will not be necessary. Kida, I’ll get with you to work out a menu for her. She should definitely start with something mild. It’ll take her system a while to return to normal.”

“Of course, Nemesis,” Kida purred. “I’ll make sure she has something she can tolerate.”

“Can we take her out of here, Nemesis?” Hanna asked. “Is she fit enough to leave here?”

Nemesis scanned Rachel with his cyborg eye for a moment. “I think so,” he answered. “The bone fractures have healed nicely thanks to my nano-fibers and the Healer. The infection is gone and her internal organs have healed well too. But you’ll still need to keep her open wounds covered and clean. They’re still healing, though it’s no real danger of infection now. The skin hasn’t fully regenerated over the lacerations and burns.”

“What about the amputations?” Hanna asked. “Are they still healing too?”

“Yes,” Nemesis stated. “They’re coming along quite well. The stumps have healed over and are starting to grow new skin, but the process hasn’t completed yet. The stumps may still be particularly sensitive so be careful when you handle them. Keep them covered for now. I suspect if she uses the Healer a few more times, the bandages will no longer be necessary. Oh...let me check her skull fractures.” He leaned down, scanning Rachel’s head as she slept in Selina’s lap. “Excellent,” Nemesis crowed. “The fractures are completely healed and the damage from the concussions has healed very nicely. That’s why I asked about her speech. She had multiple severe concussions along with a bacterial infection in her brain that came from her infected limbs. I really am glad we were able to purge the infection from her before it damaged her beyond repair.”

“I heard she was badly damaged both internally and externally from the repeated rapes,” Hanna said very softly. “Were you able to repair it?”

“It was a very delicate operation,” Nemesis stated, “But yes, we repaired it, though she will have some scarring from the torture. It’s too early to say if she’ll ever be able to have children. We’ll just have to monitor her to be sure.”

“Right,” Hanna murmured. “Thanks for telling me. Did you have to do anything else to her?”

“She needed breast reconstruction on both breasts,” Nemesis stated. “They bastards had severely lacerated and burned both breasts, so I repaired them best I could after treating her ravaged groin, vagina, uterus, and anus. Those areas were far more critical, so I spent more time dealing with that damage. Despite that, the breast reconstruction took very well. It healed exceptionally well as did the other surgeries I performed. But she will have scars from it for the rest of her life. That may be something both of you can help her with since I know both of you have significant scars.”

“That we do,” Selina agreed. “I know it’s going to take a lot of love and patience to help her accept those scars. I know it did for me.”

“Me too,” Hanna admitted. “But I don’t think the physical scars are going to be that big a problem for her. Rachel is a tough little girl. I saw it in my telepathic contact with her. It’ll take her a while to accept the physical scars, just as it did for Selina and me. What is going to take time is for her to deal with is the rapes and torture. When she first woke, she begged me not to rape her. Believe me; I know how she feels. Sometimes when I least suspect it, I can feel those vile things penetrating me. One day, I hope to finally conquer that beast.”

“I know you do,” Nemesis rumbled, reaching over and patting Hanna on the shoulder with his machine hand. “If she wakes up before you go in for the reversal procedure, you might want to help her with that.”

“I will,” Hanna answered emphatically. “I might actually delay it another day just to be sure Rachel can adjust.”

“That’s noble,” Enoch stated. “But I think it would be ill-advised. The longer you remain in your present form, the harder it will be for you to return to your true form. You’ve already had some trouble along that line.”

“I know,” Hanna stated. “But I don’t think it will matter if I stay this way for another day so I can help Rachel here cope. She needs time to bond with me before I go in. After all, it’s going to take at least seventy-two hours for Josephine to return me to my original form. I’m just thinking about what’s best for Rachel here.”

“I know you are,” Enoch stated. “And it’s admirable. I just don’t want you to forget about it because of Rachel. You need to be restored to your proper station. Besides, you can’t be Rachel’s father in your present form. She needs to see you in your true form.”

“And she will,” Hanna insisted. “Fact is I may not need to postpone it. It’s going to be entirely dependent on how well Rachel and I bond. She’s a lot smarter than we realize. I mean, look at how well she reacted to me when I showed her who I was telepathically. I think she understands that this is not my real form, and that I’m just as much a victim as she is. I’m just saying we should play this by ear.”

“Okay,” Enoch conceded. “I’ll trust you on this. You’ve not led us astray so far. Besides, you’re the Queen. We’re following you, not the other way around.”

“Don’t remind me,” Hanna growled. “Being queen has no place in this conversation. This is about Rachel and how we best help her, not my position as Queen.”

“Sorry,” Enoch apologized. “I didn’t mean to be facetious. I was just looking out for your welfare. After all, we’re family.”

Hanna chuckled. “I know,” she chimed. “And I’m sorry I snapped at you, Enoch. I’m just so concerned with how to best help Rachel here. She’s extremely vulnerable right now.”

“We know,” Nemesis stated. “But Enoch does have a point. You shouldn’t delay your procedure any longer than absolutely necessary. The Emperor is still gunning for our heads and we’re going to need you at full power to take him down.”

“Right,” Hanna agreed, seeing the side of both Nemesis and Enoch. “The Emperor isn’t waiting for me to make up my mind what I want to be. No matter which form I’m in, he wants me dead. Give me a little time to figure out what to do. I should know by tomorrow morning.”

“So, does that mean you’re still going through tomorrow morning with the procedure?” Lola asked.

“I don’t know,” Hanna admitted. “But I want you guys to prepare for it as if we’re going to do it at the time we planned.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Nemesis rumbled with a smile. “We’ll have everything ready for you as planned.”

“If I decide on a delay, it won’t be but for a few hours at the most,” Hanna insisted. “No matter what happens, I will be in that chamber by 3:00 pm. I dare not wait any longer than that. If I do, I may never do it.”

“Why is that?” Jessica asked softly, finally having gained the courage to speak.

“It’s very simple, sis,” Hanna replied. “What Enoch said was technically correct. I have been wrestling with whether I want to reverse the mutation. I find the longer I put it off, the harder it is for me to make that decision. Besides, I feel something dark tugging at my mind, trying to get me not to do it. The Dark Powers are trying to stop me from doing this, so I must do it. If I don’t, I’ll not realize my full potential and be able to stop the Emperor. Even as powerful as I am now, I’m not capable of taking on the Emperor, the Dark Gods, or FATE head-on in my present form. I must finish what I started in order to gain the ability to end this and find the peace I’ve searched for all my life.”

“You know what to do,” Nemesis stated. “And I see you doing it. Don’t doubt yourself and don’t be afraid. You’ll be able to help Rachel far more as her father than you can now as her sister. Trust me. What you’re doing is right.”

“I know,” Hanna agreed. “But what do we do with her now? My first instinct is to bring her to my quarters to keep her close.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Selina stated. “She will come to live with us in our quarters for now. Enoch, can you have a bed brought to our quarters for her?”

Enoch smiled. “Not a problem,” he chimed. “I’ll have the boys bring one in for her.”

“I’ll tell Mom and Dad what’s happened,” Kida chimed, rising to her feet. “They’ll be delighted and I’m sure they’ll want to help take care of her too.”

“That’s a good idea,” Enoch agreed. “Electra has a gift when it comes to children.”

“Can I tell our sisters?” Lola asked eager to share the news.

“Of course,” Hanna stated with a smile. “Besides, it won’t take long for the news to spread about what we’ve done for her anyway.”

“Thanks a lot, Hanna,” Lola chimed. “I appreciate that.”

“No problem,” Hanna chimed. “But until we’re ready for her, can she stay here for now?”

“Sure,” Drew answered pleasantly. “We can watch her. If she wakes up while you’re gone, we’ll be sure to give her something to eat.”

“Thanks,” Hanna said, rising from the bed at the same time Drew did. “Here, Selina...let me have her.”

Selina handed Rachel to Hanna, who gently lifted her sleeping form from Selina’s lap. Lola and Jessica quickly straightened the bed as Hanna picked up Rachel. Hanna turned and gently laid her on the bed, making sure her head rested on the pillow. Pulling the blanket up to Rachel’s shoulders, Hanna smiled warmly before leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. “Sleep, my dear Rachel,” she whispered in her ear. “We’ll be back in a little while to take you home.”

Everyone present saw Hanna’s caring demeanor towards Rachel. “You’ll not regret this decision,” Enoch murmured as Hanna stood up, resting his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll go get the bed placed for you.”

“Thank you,” Hanna murmured, touching Enoch’s hand as it sat on her shoulder. “I need to go get something to eat now. I just realized I’m starving.”

“Well, it is almost 1:00 pm,” Nemesis stated. “Come, let’s leave the little angel to her slumber.”

“We’ll be back after we get something to eat,” Hanna announced as Nemesis, Enoch, and Kida walked away. “I want to check on Althea. She is still in here, isn’t she?”

Drew nodded as Hanna positioned behind Selina’s wheelchair, taking hold of the handles. “Yes,” he replied. “She and the two like her are still here on the other side of the infirmary. All three are alive, but extremely weak and need constant attention. The girls from the Harem are in and out all the time helping to take care of them.”

“I’m sure they are,” Selina purred, glancing at Rachel as she slept. “They’re sisters of the Harem sisterhood, as Hanna and I are. They are getting stronger, aren’t they?”

“Of course,” Drew said with a smile as Lola and Jessica moved away. “Most of them have been awake and alert for over a week, but they just needed extra care because of what the Emperor did to them. I’m sure in a week or two they’d be able to move in with their sisters down in the barracks.”

“That’s a relief,” Hanna breathed with a smile. “I’ve been meaning to see them one-on-one but I’ve been so busy.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Emma chimed. “We’ve kept them up on what you’ve been doing and they understand. But it’s good that you’re going to visit them. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled.”

“I sure they will,” Hanna said evenly with a smile as her belly rumbled loudly. “Oh, I guess that’s our signal to get some lunch.”

“Indeed,” Selina agreed. “Let’s go.”

“We’ll tell them you’re coming by,” Drew stated as Hanna started rolling Selina away. “And we’ll keep an eye on Rachel for you.”

“Thanks, Doctor,” Hanna replied gratefully as she and Selina headed toward the exit.

“Well, doctor?” Emma said, walking up beside him. “What do you think?”

“I think Hanna is the kindest, most noble, loving woman I’ve ever seen,” Drew stated. “She thinks nothing of herself and only about the best interests of those she sees as friends and family. I was completely blindsided by her compassion for Rachel here. I never thought she’d actually adopt her.”

“You’re not the only one,” Emma agreed. “I think we’ve only begun to see what Hanna can do when properly motivated. But I am glad for Rachel. Hanna truly understands her. I just hope she can help Rachel through this.”

“I think she will,” Drew stated. “Come on, Emma...we have patients to care for.” Emma nodded as she and Drew went back to work.