Jesselle

She was committed. She knew she did not have a lot of time. But the notice that had come forced her hand. She held the tiny bag she was taking with her in her hand as she hid in shadows. The elevator to the convent was coming back up. She did not move as the door opened and...

"And you believe her?" The Reverend Mother said softly to her companion.

"She has not said all of what drove her here." The historian who had come to see the Convent said quietly as the Reverend Mother escorted him towards the landing bays. "But her fear when you tried to mindscan her was quite clear. She was terrified. With cause from what she said."

"And it is not something we can test." The Reverend Mother said with a sigh as she guided their guest. "If what she says is true, then anyone who tries to mindscan her will get the hunger."

"I fear so." The historian replied. "It... She seems a good sort."

"Key word there, 'Seems', Nicholas I-5..." The Reverend Mother's voice faded and Jesselle was in the elevator as quickly as she could. She did not know how many Clergy were in the Convent, but it wasn't likely to be many. If she could just get to the main room... She could act. Behind her, she heard a shout. "What the-? Jessele?" But the girl had hit the controls and the elevator started down. It was an old model. It had no overrides built in. She had a few minutes before it would reach the bottom to convince...

Jesselle! Her father's mind thundered into hers. What are you doing?

Dad... Jesselle swallowed hard. She had hoped to be gone before they realized. Silly that. I have to do this.

Do what? Zacharias demanded. You are not allowed in the Convent, girl. You are only sixteen!

I know. Jesselle tried to keep her mind still as she had been taught, but her father knew her so very well.

Jesselle... Her father's voice was suddenly worried. What?

Look on the bed. Jesselle said softly, aware that her father's mind was not the only one following her. It... came this morning.

What did, Jesselle? This from the Reverend Mother whose mental voice was taught with sudden concern.

The... Reproduction Control Department know about me and Jay, Reverend Mother. A mental hush followed her soft words. I have to go.

Jesselle! Zacharias snapped. We would never... That department controlled the number of chidlren allowed to each family unit within the Corpus.

I know, Dad. Jesselle was crying softly now. But it would cost you. Everyone. I... can't stay.

Jesselle, listen to me... The Reverend Mother said firmly. The 'One Child' rule is not inviolate. Your father and mother filled out all the forms, went through all the tests. They knew the chances of both returning from that mission were slim. Everything was legal and witnessed. The Department cannot order you euthanized.

If they tried, the word 'shitstorm' pretty much applied even without Janet now being Oracle. Add who Janet was now in love with and all hell would break loose. The Clergy, the Special Forces, lots of people knew and liked Jesselle. And her mom.

They haven't. Everything stilled as Jesselle's soft words. Read it, Dad. I... left a note too.

Oh god no... Zacharias was crying now. He had found them. Jesselle, we would never let them do it! You are underage!

And how much will it cost the Clergy, Dad? Jesselle asked reasonably. It won't... kill me.

Jesselle... The Reverend Mother was furious now But not with Jesselle. This is either a mistake, a bureaucratic error or an attack on us. We can fix this.

I am ordered to report today, Reverend Mother. I am going. She palmed the tiny device she had purloined from the medical ward and injected herself quickly. Just in time. A pulse of...something slammed into her mind, but it did not take control of her. I just gave myself six milliunits of Blocker 9. She said as the Reverend Mother started cursing. I will do penance for stealing from the medical ward and for damaging the elevator. I will block it temporarily.

Jesselle... Her father begged Do not do this!

I love you dad. Jesselle said sadly. But I have to. They can lay sanctions on the Clergy if they are given the chance. You know it. I know it.

They will not be gentle, Jesselle! The Reverend Mother said sternly. You know it!

Let me talk to her. Jesselle... This voice had Jesselle quailing. She had always been a bit afraid of Sister Harriet. You are brave, but there is no need. The woman said, her tone emotionless. This is a mistake. Your date of birth is wrong. The computer was wrong. This missive was not intended for you or there is a clerical error here.

Then who? Jesselle begged. I know what will happen.

No you do not, Jesselle. Harriet replied softly. You cannot. It is not something that can be taught or learned. If you do this, you will change. Irrevocably. You are too young still. Your body has not finished growing. Jesselle... Was that sorrow in the iron clad woman's mind now? Please...

And if I do not go? Jesselle asked softly. What then?

Silence answered her. The drug had finally kicked in completely and she relaxed. But only for a moment. The elevator was slowing. She had no idea how many Clergy personnel were in the Convent. She had minutes at best. Maybe only seconds. As the door opened, she slapped a small device to the elevator control panel. It would give her...

"Jesselle..." Kieko's voice preceded the older woman into view. "Drugging yourself was dumb."

"I have to do this, Sister Kieko." Jesselle said firmly. "I do not want to hurt you. But I will if I have to." Kieko went still as Jesselle hefted a small fabric object.

"What is in the socks?" Keiko asked softly as she set herself, blocking the way.

"An inert contact stunner." Jesselle said quietly as she moved into an offensive stance. "Any live devices are picked up quickly. But it isn't powered. Just mass. I do not want to hurt you, Sister Kieko. Please..."

"I cannot let you go, girl." Kieko said firmly. "You do not know what they will do to you."

"They will put me in an automated reproduction machine." Jesselle said quietly, sliding to her left. Keiko moved to match her. "It will hurt."

"If you are lucky, all it will do is hurt." Kieko said with a snap. "I have been in one, before I came here." Her face turned desolate and Jesselle slumped a bit. Kieko tried so hard to be upbeat. But she had lost so much when the Grineer had attacked. She had managed to get to a survival pod when the ship her family had been on came under attack from Grineer. The rest of her extended family hadn't been so lucky. "Jesselle, if they are expecting an eighteen year old, then the machine they have is set for an eighteen year old. You are too small. It will hurt you very badly." She froze as Jesselle felt tears start to fall. "Jesselle?"

"I know." Jesselle said softly. "But you... will correct the mistake. Quickly I assume. If I do not go, they can and will level sanctions. If I do... they will run tests. Then prep. Then I go in."

"No." Kieko said softly. "Only here." Jesselle stiffened and Kieko nodded. "Elsewhere, the machines do it all. Maybe a flesh and blood clerk, but no more than that. If the machines are programmed correctly... everything is fine. Or as fine as can be. If things are...awry?" She shook her head and set herself. "You are right, you will not die. But you will suffer. We will not allow it."

"Sister..." Jesselle gave a squeak as Kieko moved. She wasn't perfect, far from it, but Jesselle had bare moments to dodge and counter the grab. But Keiko hadn't been going for a grab. Or... not a grab on her! Jesselle tried to hold onto the socks she had made into an improvised club and failed. Kieko tore it from her hands and tossed the weapon far away. Then she stalked towards the girl. Jesselle tried a punch and it was blocked, but... Her arm went numb.

"We won't allow it." Keiko grabbed Jesselle's arm. Jesselle stared at it and Keiko smiled a bit sadly. "Nerve cluster. No damage. But you won't be able to use it for a bit. I do not want to fight, Jesselle. But I did learn self defense."

"Please, Sister Keiko." Jesselle begged. "I have to go."

"No, Jesselle." Keiko said firmly as she took Jesselle's other arm in a tight grip. "You have to listen..." She froze as Jesselle twisted her hand just a little. Just enough. "You... sneaky..." She collapsed and Jesselle caught her awkwardly, pulling the drug patch off as she did. She didn't know Keiko's mass or tolerances for sedatives.

"You did not just do that." An incredulous voice sounded from a hidden speaker as Jesselle laid Keiko down gently and laid her out straight.

"Mom... was always a planner." Jesselle said softly. "Can you scan her? I didn't want to hurt her."

"Her vitals are strong." The other reassured her. "Do you have any idea the mess this is going to make?" This had to be Katerina even though Jesselle had never heard her voice. She sounded old and kind, but more than a little aggravated at the moment. Jesselle understood.

"Yes." Jesselle said softly. "Which is why I ask your help."

"My help?" The other demanded. "What can I do? I am stuck in the power systems until and unless the Reverend Mother lets me loose again."

"I have to go to the reproduction facility on Venus, Sister Katerina." Jesselle said softly. "Nothing says I have to arrive there."

"Jesselle..." Katerina said softly. "I cannot reprogram the portal. I cannot. Even if it were..." She stopped as Jesselle stepped towards a wall with a small device in hand. "Oh you idiot girl!" The other snapped. "Where did you get that?" She demanded as Jesselle laid the mostly inactive Orokin key against the wall.

"Mom was a planner." Jesselle said sadly. "She had all kinds of stuff hidden. I knew where."

"Jesselle..." Katerina was crying now. "Do not do this. You have no idea what you are doing! If you use that... You are not protected!" The woman cried.

"I know." Jesselle said weakly. "But it can be tracked. I... know where it is going. No one else does. I am supposed to go to Venus. The records will show I tried. They... cannot levy sanctions if I tried to obey."

"Jesselle!" Katerina screamed as golden energy started to flare. "Don't you dare! Your mom will go nuts!"

"I know." Jesselle said weakly. "Tell her... tell her I am sorry. Tell my parents I love them. But I have to do my duty. To Company and Clergy." The elevator behind her chimed and closed, returning to the surface.

"Jesselle!" Katerina screamed louder, but the energy swirled around the girl and she was gone. "No..." The other was crying now. "No, no, no, no, no..." She was still crying when the elevator came back down with the Reverend Mother and three very irate sisters surrounding a distraught man. "I couldn't stop her..." Katerina pleaded.

"Not your fault." The Reverend Mother said softly. "Track it." She commanded and the sisters leapt to obey. "We will find her Zacharias. Come with me." Zacharias just stared at where the portal was hidden in the wall, his face slack. "Zacharias, come..." She took his arm gently and guided him into smaller room. "This is not how I wanted to do this, but... Janet will need you. Bad."

"She... She just..." Zacharias swallowed hard and then he was crying. "She just..."

"I know." The Reverend Mother eased him to the floor and sat beside him, taking her hands in her own. "Come, Brother Zacharias. We need to talk to Oracle."

Titan, Enclave of the Oracles of Saturn

"What the?" Natalie E-12 started out of a doze as Oracle started to scream. "Oracle? What?"

She hit an emergency alarm and a quiet klaxon started warbling. All fo the attendants on duty rushed in and the ones who were on downtime woke and assumed their stations. But... nothing. Just Oracle... screaming.

"What is going on?" Francis F-87 demanded as she raced into the main room, her med gear in hand. "Oracle? What is wrong?" She went to her knees beside the pool Oracle was in and then blanched. "No! don't try to move! Oracle! Don't!"

"Have... to..." Oracle gasped out between cries of pain. "I... Jesselle... I need..."

"No." Francis F-87 said sternly as she touched the sorely hurt woman's neck with a hypo. "Sleep, Oracle."

"You do not understand!" Oracle screamed one final time, then lay still.

"What the hell?" Francis F-87 asked as she worked. "Natalie E-12? What happened?"

"I don't know." The younger attendant was petrified. "She just started screaming." Then she stiffened. "Wait... Jesselle..." Her eyes went huge and all of the woman shared the same stunned look. "Her daughter... Call the others?"

"Yeah." Francis F-87 said sourly. "She has hurt herself. I... I don't know how bad."

We come. The voices were everywhere, but the women were used to such by now. Even the sudden eruption of water from the pool Janet lay in was not unexpected. But what came out of it...

"She needs urgent care." Caroline said as she moved away from the pool. Her four legs gave her a steady gait, if slow. Stood to reason, she was a turtle. Albeit one with a human mind dwelling inside it. Another form eased itself partly out of the pool, but the massive cetacean couldn't get all the way out. He didn't need to. He began treating Janet in the water. "We caught part of what she sensed. Her daughter screaming in pain and then suddenly silent."

"Not dead." Natalie E-12 begged.

"We do not know." Caroline said softly. "She is the most powerful of us. She sees further and clearer than we do. We do know it is a possible future. A very bad one. If Jesselle dies... Janet... Nikis..." She made a gulping noise and all of Oracles attendants looked worried. "It won't be good. We are focusing now, trying to refine what we sensed from her."

"What can we do, Oracle Caroline?" Juliet V-54 asked softly. "The Clergy as well stands ready. We... are very upset. This..." She shook her head. "Jesselle ran away. She took a portal that so far no one has been able to trace."

"Why would she do that?" Caroline demanded. "She is safe until her eighteenth birthday, yes?" All the women nodded. "So... why...?"

"The Reverend Mother is trying to contact Oracle Janet..." Juliet V-54 said softly. "She cannot. She is querying me. I... I cannot..."

"Tell her." Caroline said firmly. Juliet V-54 swallowed and nodded. "I am going to kick some butts into gear." She paused as Juliet raised a hand. "Yes?"

"Jesselle ran because she was ordered to report to a reproduction facility." Juliet V-54 said softly. All of the quiet activity in the room stopped as everyone stared at her. She was pale. "That... makes no sense. She is only sixteen. She is not finished growing. It would hurt or kill her."

"The Clergy would have protected her." Francis F-87 said weakly.

"And probably faced sanctions for doing so." Juliet agreed. "None of us would have minded. She is a good kid. But...she didn't want us to suffer for her. So... she ran. Somewhere. She used a defunct key to activate an Orokin portal built into the walls of the Convent."

"Aw crap." Caroline said with feeling. "okay, med techs, help Jean. Everyone else, start collating the data again. New search parameters. Find Jesselle."

"Yes Ma'am."All of the others bent to their terminals. Francis F-87 knelt down by Janet's still form and spoke to the squid treating her.

"She was trying to get out of the pool." Francis F-87 said softly. "She hurt her spine."

I know. The voice of Oracle who was the dedicated medic of sorts was soft and worried in her mind. For now, all we can do is immobilize and treat the swelling. We shall see what damage was done when she wakes.

"I... I tried..." Francis F-87 said weakly, only to pause as a small tentacle touched her hand. It was.. gentle.

Not your fault. The ancient cetacean replied. Now, let us tend her together.

"Right."

Venus

"Ma'am... I don't know what..." The functionary cut himself off as the Special Forces soldier behind the Reverend Mother raised his Tetra rifle and took aim. "I don't know what you mean! No orders came through here for a girl by that name!"

"Then what is this?" The Reverend Mother laid a datapad on the man's desk and he stared at it as if it were venomous. "It looks like an order to report, no?" She shook her head. "And it utterly ignores the points that one, the girl is underage and two, she is exempt until her brother is of age due to her brother needing care."

Unless she was very much mistaken, this man had no idea what she was talking about. Which was bad. Very bad. If this was trap or a trick... They still had no idea where Jesselle was. If the girl had come here, then she might be hurt, but would be recoverable easily. If she wasn't...

"You and I are going to physically verify that she is not here, Administrator Gorl U-43." The Reverend Mother said firmly. "If I find you have lied to me..." She trailed off menacingly and the man looked as if he wanted to soil his pants.

"That is... your right." The administrator said softly. "In the case of a mistake or a clerical error, the Clergy has the authority. But Ma'am..." He said softly. "She would have come through here. I have been on shift for five hours. I have not seen her. She would have come in the same portal you did. She didn't."

"I need to check anyway." The Reverend Mother said with a sigh. "But you are probably right. Heaven only knows where she wound up."

"But if we don't find her, hell will find us."