Mirror Space - Marianne de Pierres [96]
‘Wanton, I am leaving Insignia for a short while. I have placed you close to the mycose. Are you able to draw them to you as you need them?’
‘Thank you, Mira-fedor, that will work adequately.’
‘Use them sparingly. I will attempt to find a solution to your problem. If you have any ideas while I am gone then tell Insignia, Insignia will relay them to me.’
‘How long will you be gone?’ The Extro sounded anxious. ‘I should not need so much if your absence is brief
Mira was careful not to hesitate. ‘Not long at all, but I must speak with the biozoon Omniarch. It is better that you have more mycose than less.’
She left the cabin carrying a royal headdress and proceeded to the cucina, where she forced herself to eat overripe cheese and some soft dough that she mixed from a sachet. She couldn’t seem to remember the last time she’d enjoyed a meal, and the prolonged time spent in Primo had left her digestive system unused to solid food. She found herself nibbling the tiniest pieces just to be able to swallow.
When she had almost finished the cheese she felt a small surge of energy. She searched amongst the shelves for something to drink and located a store of animal milk supplied by Lasper Farr. It tasted bitter and rich but washed the cheese down enough that her mild attack of nausea settled.
Our Omniarch has agreed to your presence. Go to the lower armament store.
But that is near your tail spine.
We do not have a system for coupling using our egress scales. That is a modified entry point for other species only.
Then—
Hasten to my pelvic girdle. On the outer wall you will find three vents. Insert your body through the slit into the centre one. Do not make a mistake. The outer vents are used for fertilisation and should you enter them, you will be crushed in the clasping. The centre vent is not penetrated. We use it to transfer substances through suction extraction. The Omniarch will only attempt one exchange. The area we are occupying near the station is too congested for repeated manoeuvres.
Mira hurried downward to the area Insignia had specified, not daring to think what the process of suction extraction might entail.
Though she knew Insignia’s anatomy better than her own, she hadn’t ventured to the biozoon’s pelvic cavity on Insignia’s own warning of infection. Now she counted her way along the gill bars to the pectoral stratum, until she reached the thick cartilage wall that divided it from the pelvic section.
Wait. My pelvic girdle is inhabited by bacteria that are not deemed safe for your kind. I will flush the area with acid. That will give you a short time to transfer safely.
Will the acid residue harm me?
No more than if you emptied the contents of your own stomach onto me.
Mira found herself able to smile. I think I have done that several times.
Yes. You have. Please remember your manners when you are with the Omniarch.
Mira faced the barrier of gristly, grey membrane and waited. There was little ambient light at the narrow end of the biozoon’s body, barely enough to see her way; and even that she sensed Insignia had manufactured for her comfort.
After a time, a bubble appeared in part of the membrane between the cartilage deposits. It grew larger and larger as if filling with gas, and turned a deep purplish colour. Mira stepped back automatically and a moment later it ruptured, trickling blood onto the floor and leaving a narrow, rucked slit.
Step through now. I heal very quickly in this area, Insignia ordered.
Mira forced her body through the gap, though it was barely large enough for someone half her stature. Not for someone at all, she realised as she pressed against the stickiness. It’s porous to allow for transference of fluids - not objects. Insignia had deliberately torn the membrane to allow her to pass.
As she squeezed