The Tanins of Deserta: Vesta

Vicki E S Biggs

CHAPTER ONE

As dawn approached, the slender figure of Sergeant Vesta Tan approached the imposing walls of Tabol. The protective barrier of the oasis township seemed to appear out of nowhere. The haze of the desert and the use of the blue sands of their home planet’s desert caused it to blend in with the ground until you were right on it. It made for an awesome sight. A slight smile curled her lips in appreciation of the subtle security of the wall’s design.

She removed her floppy beige hat and slapped it against her dusty pants before swiping the sweat from her brow. She frowned at her no longer clean uniform in dismay. It would have been better to wait until after her bath to change into her Tanin warrior uniform, but she needed to show who and what she was to anyone she encountered. Adjusting her journey bag to a more comfortable position, she eyed the gate with anticipation. After so many days in the Outlands, she was looking forward to a long, cool bath. Something she was sure to find within. She smiled with weary relief when the local guardsmen opened the enormous gates shortly after her arrival. Replacing her hat, she moved quickly through the gate.

Her eyes darted everywhere as she walked through the opening. Though she had heard a lot about Tabol and knew its history, this was her first time visiting the second settlement of her home planet, Deserta. A tired but pleased grin lit her face as she gazed around the city. It was a beautiful splash of color that was not blue. After spending the last two weeks in the arid Outlands, her eyes appreciated the change. Her nose and skin welcomed the moist air of the oasis. With a sigh of pleasure, she took a deep breath of the cooler air and felt her tense shoulders relax.

Over the past two and a half years, to become more acquainted with the customs of the various settlements, she had visited all but two townships, Tabol and Diara. Tabol, in her humble opinion, was the prettiest township. Though not as lovely as the purple-green grasslands of her Tanin homeland, which she longed to see again. Still, the structures displayed an attractive design. The buildings were in various pastels. The gentle colors were soothing to her eyes after the harsh, unending blue sands of Deserta’s Outlands.

Overlapping lavender palmate-shaped leaves of the 100-foot-tall Mombia tree created a protective umbrella of cool, lilac-tinged air. These trees had black trunks and grew in groves throughout every oasis on Deserta. They provided shelter to the townships from the sun’s intense heat and radiation. Her broad-brimmed hat had provided shade for her eyes and kept her head cool. But it had been a lengthy, sweltering walk from her last stop. The soothing air was a welcome change.

Once through the gates, she checked out the large courtyard that was the entry point to the settlement, eager to explore this new place. But her pleased smile slipped into a frown. Always vigilant, something about the scene seemed off. After watching the sparse crowd of shoppers go about their daily business, she realized that was what was wrong. This was usually the time of morning when townspeople shopped for their daily meals. The streets should be teeming with people, but only a few were about. And those who were present seemed unusually sad.

Without more information, Vesta could only put aside her unease and focus on finding the main marketplace. Ready for fresh food, she hoped to find at least a few open eateries. She had been hiking through the arid Outlands for days with only journey provisions, and she was ready for fresh food.

Her stomach growled.

In anticipation of reaching the oasis today, she hadn’t eaten her morning meal of dried fruit and journey crackers. And she was hungry. But assuaging her hunger battled with her desire to find a bathhouse, where she could wash away the layers of grime created by her weeks in the Outlands, both from her body and her clothes. Vesta had been dreaming of submerging herself in a bathtub of cool water for the last few days. She had hoped to be refreshed, and her stomach sated before her meeting with the Guardian of Tabol. He was the Tanin warrior who acted as the constabulary and nominal mayor for this oasis township. He was her superior officer, and duty demanded that she present herself to him as soon as possible upon entering his city.

She was still deciding which item on her wish list had priority when she spotted a sign advertising a food court in the main marketplace. When her stomach rumbled again, she grinned. Decision made, food first.

She turned to head for the marketplace when she caught sight of the trim form of a middle-aged man heading her way. Her smile dropped into a frown. She had a bad feeling that her plans were about to be rearranged. Her first clue. He wore the white tunic and pants uniform of a Tanin healer. The half-blue and half-white bars on his shoulders indicated he was a journeyman healer. That his face lit up with relief as soon as he spotted her was her second clue.

This does not bode well for my plans, she thought.

Her third clue was when he altered his path to meet up with her, confirming her suspicions that he was indeed looking for her. Specifically for her. Since he was clearly a healer, and one she vaguely recognized, Vesta was certain he was about to pull her into a medical emergency.

There goes my cool bath, she mourned. Still, she straightened her shoulders and cleared her mind. A healer never turned away anyone in need.

The stranger got straight to the point. “Thank the Darkness you have arrived, Master Healer Tan. I am Journeyman Healer Brady. We have been fighting a losing battle against a new disease. Many are sick and too many have died. This illness is beyond my ability to heal. Master Healer McDonald assures me it is well within yours.”

Although she wasn’t here as a healer, her first instinct was always to provide aid. She sighed, regretful that she had not gotten her meal and bath first. “Of course, Journeyman Healer Brady. Lead the way. Your head healer is Master Healer Carroll, as I recall. Did she send you to find me?”

Brady’s face crumpled into sadness. “No. She fell ill early on and is in a coma.” Pulling himself together, he turned around to retrace his steps. He gave a wave of his hand to signal Vesta to follow.

Neither said anything at first. But after a moment, Brady finally seemed to notice that she wore the blue-colored uniform of a Tanin warrior. His forehead furrowed in bewilderment, and his forward march slowed. He turned to face her.

“Did I mistake you for someone else?” he frowned anxiously. “You are Master Healer Vesta Tan, correct?”

Vesta’s shoulders stiffened in anticipation of an insult.

He hesitated before adding, “I thought I recognized you from a meeting of healers a few years ago.” He waved his hand at her attire. “Yet you are wearing the uniform of a Tanin warrior.”

Relaxing, her lips curled into a rueful smile. Vesta had been certain he was going to say she was too young to be a Master Healer. She guessed she was 20 years younger than him. Having reached the skill level of Master at a much younger age than him could have caused jealousy or doubts about her skills. In the past few years, while on her Time of Journey, she had come up against such disbelief, even anger. How dare she, a female, think she had the skills necessary to complete this quest? And all because she was the first woman to undertake the dangerous endeavor. She knew she was a bit overly sensitive to any signs of doubt and tried to control it. Clearly, not always successfully.

But in this case, the mid-level healer was expecting a master healer. Instead, he faced a Tanin warrior wearing her warrior blues. When she judged with common sense, and not her emotions, his confusion was understandable. “You did not make a mistake,” she said. “I am Master Healer Vesta Tan. I am also known as Sergeant Vesta Tan.”

“Oh, good,” he said, his worried expression easing. His concerns over the people under his care superseded his natural curiosity about a Tanin with multiple skills. Vesta was a master healer; that was all he cared about. “We desperately need help. A virulent malady has been devastating Tabol. I requested aid in finding a cure for it from the Tanin Master Healers. They assured me that, fortunately, you should be arriving soon and were perfect for this request.” He hesitated before adding, “They didn’t explain why you were already in the area.” He gave her an inquiring look, which Vesta ignored.

“I understand. I’m sorry I’m not more prepared. The Master Healers have not yet contacted me.” When she noticed his surprise, she explained, “There is only limited communications in the Outlands.”

Brady’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but he only nodded. Still, he couldn’t restrain his curiosity and asked, “How long were you in the Outlands?”

This time, she answered his question with a succinct response. “I am on my Time of Journey. And as you know, transportation is not an option. Traveling through the Outlands takes a lot longer when hiked. I was in the Outlands for around two weeks.” Done with explanations, she urged, “Why don’t you give me a briefing on what you know about this new disease affecting your township.” Ignoring his stunned expression, she motioned for him to lead the way.

Brady shook off his astonishment and quickly agreed. Turning, he began his report as he headed for his overloaded infirmary. Vesta fell in beside him, easily matching his fast pace.

Without slowing down, she pulled the white tunic of her healer’s uniform out of her journey bag. It was a deceptively thin brown pouch she kept slung over her shoulder. Without breaking stride, she handed her bag to Brady before tugging the new tunic over her blue one. She didn’t want to give her new patients a reason to fret about why a Tanin warrior was treating them.

Brady almost dropped the bag. He stared at the slender figure standing just below his shoulder in amazement. The bag was heavy. He had not expected that based on its appearance or that of his companion. She must be a lot stronger than she appeared.

When she observed Brady’s strained look out if the corner of her eye, a mischievous grin spread across her own face. “Yes, it is heavier than it looks.” She took her bag back. “I keep my travel supplies and clothes in it.” At his doubtful glance downward at the bag, she smiled with amusement. Then added. “It also holds my healer tools and warrior weapons.”

Brady eyed her, then the bag thoughtfully. “Does your journey bag have a cure for this disease in it?” Demonstrating again that his focus remained on his patients.

Vesta shrugged. But as she considered his question, her attention shifted inward to create a mental tally of her medical supplies. Returning her gaze to meet his concerned eyes, she said, “Maybe. I collected a lot of new plants and minerals during my travels. However, I won’t know if any will help with the disease afflicting the residents of Tabol until I can run some tests on your patients’ blood. Without a lab, I could only run limited testing on anything I found. Though based on preliminary results, there are few that might help. Some plants showed a lot of promise for curing certain diseases I was doing research on. Hopefully, one of them will work here.”

Brady’s face brightened with hope, easing the strain lines that had aged him. “I sure hope you’re right.” His pace picked up.

Vesta easily lengthened her stride to catch up.

CHAPTER TWO

Upon entering the dimly lit room being used as a vast infirmary in the medical center, Vesta stopped in dismay. Seeing row upon row of restless and miserable people on narrow cots was disturbing. Low moaning overwhelmed all other sounds in the room. It was eerie and seemed unending. There was an unmistakable scent of sickness in the air. Worse, though, were the many beds where the patients were silent and motionless.

She engaged her healing eye to confirm their status.

Minutes passed before she released a soft sigh of relief, happy to learn they were not yet dead. But they were comatose, and that was not a good sign. With her healer’s senses, she detected that the sickness was suppressing their immune systems while it devastated their bodies. She would need more data. She would have to figure out how it was doing that before she could develop a treatment. But healing was her first talent, and she was a master at this discipline for a reason. She was confident that she could find a way to ease their discomfort. A cure might be more difficult to achieve.

Vesta sensed Journeyman Healer Brady watching her closely. She was grateful that he said nothing to disrupt her examination. Tanin healers could tell when others of their kind were using their extra senses to do an in-depth reading of a patient’s illness or injury. Not all healers had this talent, but all were aware of the ability. Also, her having this talent was one reason she was a Master Healer at twenty-three, while the older man was still a journeyman. She had instincts on healing that were beyond what could be taught.

When her vision refocused from inner sight back to normal, Brady lightly touched her arm. After he got her attention, he pointed to Carroll’s bed, which was set away from the others. “That is Head Healer Carroll.”

Vesta hadn’t needed the information. He only confirmed what Vesta had already suspected. She could tell where their leader was by the way the medical staff kept anxiously staring toward that specific bed. She focused on getting answers to her more pressing questions. “Those in a coma seem near death. They would appear to be in the end stages of this disease. How many townspeople have already died?”

“Too many. Hundreds.” A haunted expression swept over Brady’s face.

“I am sorry.” Vesta gripped his forearm in sympathy, then pressed on for the information she needed. “Do you have any blood samples of the virus?” she murmured.

“Yes.” Brady looked at her with a glimmer of hope in his eyes, but held back his questions. “Head Healer Carroll insisted on collecting samples from both her and every other patient when they were first checked in.”

“Excellent,” Vesta said, nodding in approval. “Please take me to your apothecary workroom. Please provide the samples in the order you took them. The information I can collect from them is just what I need.”

Brady gave a quick nod and hurried off to gather the samples. He stopped briefly by a healer apprentice in a white tunic over beige pants. He pointed to Vesta and appeared to give some instructions. The apprentice dipped her head in agreement and hurried over to Vesta.

“Master Healer Tan, I am Susan,” said the young girl breathlessly. “I am to provide you with any assistance you need. But first, I’ll take you to the workshop.”

“Thank you, Susan,” said Vesta with a gentle smile intended to put the young apprentice at ease. She was likely only a little older than Susan. Still, she hoped she exuded a confidence she didn’t actually feel yet She wouldn’t feel certain about her chances to develop a treatment or a cure until she had run tests on the samples. Even so, she was pleased when the woman’s shoulders relaxed.

Vesta’s stomach rumbled, reminding her that she still needed to eat. Embarrassed, but realizing she couldn’t ignore it any longer, she said, “Sorry, I haven’t eaten my morning meal yet. I could use some vegetable soup and bread if you have any. No meat, please.”

Vesta tried to restrain her shudder at the thought of eating any creature. At a very young age, she learned she could communicate with most animals. After she began talking to them, she could no longer bear the thought of eating meat. How could you eat someone or their like that you have conversations with?

“Oh, certainly, Master Healer.” Susan bobbed a curtsy and turned to the opposite corner of the room from the Head Healer’s bed.

With a hopeful expression, Vesta asked, “I could also use a refresh room. I’ve been traveling the Outlands for days.”

“Oh, of course.” Susan seemed puzzled by that but without further comment simply pointed out a door next to the room where she’d been heading.

Vesta smiled gratefully. After she relieved her bladder and cleaned up, she removed her warrior uniform and replaced it with her healer whites. The uniforms on top of each other was uncomfortably tight. She was quick. She felt like a ticking clock was running down for too many of the patients. However, her break left her feeling better prepared to deal with sick people and for the long hours ahead.

Ablutions completed, she returned to the hallway. She found Susan waiting near the door. With a wave of her hand, she motioned for Susan to lead. She followed close behind to the medical center’s apothecary.

Vesta quickly settled in front of a long table full of various medical apparatus. Susan scurried out of the room to hunt down the requested meal. While she awaited the apprentice’s return, Vesta explored the equipment options. The level of quality and advancement of the workshop impressed her. It was clear Healer Carroll appreciated a well-equipped lab.

When Susan returned, she had a bowl of warm vegetable broth with a buttered roll and a glass of cool mint tea. She set the tray of food on the table in front of Vesta and stepped back.

Certain she had little time to find a cure before those in the deepest coma died; Vesta quickly consumed the food and drank the tea. Brady arrived with a cart full of samples just as she was finishing. His timing was impeccable. Because once she started studying the blood samples, she would have forgotten all about being hungry. And she knew she needed that meal to provide strength for the long hours that lay ahead.

First, she examined each specimen with the microscopes in the lab. Then she studied the blood sample for Carroll again, but with her healing eye. Nodding, she took out some plant samples from her journey bag. Separating out two distinct species from her stash, she set to work creating a tincture.

After testing the potion for over two hours, she looked up. She stretched her neck and rubbed her eyes. With bleary vision, she tried to find Journeyman Healer Brady or Susan. She found both hovering near the lab’s door. Smiling, she held up a vial of blue-green liquid. “I think this will cure our patients. We should test it first on those in the deepest coma. They need treatment now, or they won’t last much longer.”

Brady blanched but shook off his dismay and rushed into the room. “Do they ingest it, or do we inject it?” He looked back from his position in front of a cabinet of supplies.

“Injection is best. It will reach their immune systems faster via their circulatory system than from their digestive systems,” said Vesta.

Brady nodded and pulled out syringes and handed them to Vesta.

Vesta quickly made twenty-five doses of injections. She based the doses on the number of coma patients. She took fifteen, leaving ten for Brady. “Susan, lead me to those patients who have been in a coma the longest, but start with Head Healer Carroll.”

Brady nodded. “I will handle the rest.”

Vesta held up a syringe. “If this doesn’t work, we may start losing patients. Head Healer Carroll is alive now only because she is a healer. Though soon even her great immunity will fail.”

“I understand,” said Brady grimly.

Susan paled but straightened her shoulders. She firmly nodded, showing her readiness. She was going to make a fine healer one day.

“Let’s do this then,” said Vesta. She signaled Susan to lead the way with a sweep of her hand.

Upon reaching the bed of the head healer, Vesta took the older woman’s hand and gave a gentle squeeze. “Head Healer Carroll, I am Master Healer Vesta Tan. I believe I have a cure for the pathogen attacking your immune system. May I inject it into you?”

Susan gave Vesta a puzzled look. Vesta could guess what the young woman was thinking. Her training probably hadn’t advanced enough to have learned that a coma doesn’t necessarily imply unconsciousness. Also, Susan couldn’t know that one of Vesta’s greatest strengths was that she was a powerful telepath. None could match her exceptional mind-to-mind communication skills.

“I welcome you, Master Healer Tan,” said Head Healer Carroll via telepathy. “Please do whatever you deem necessary.”

It troubled Vesta that even the healer’s mental voice was weak. But her optimism remained high as she sensed that Carroll’s will to live was still strong.

Vesta immediately injected the tincture into the too-thin arm of her patient. Handing Susan the used syringe, she reclaimed Carroll’s hand to give a reassuring squeeze. Then she repositioned her grip on the patient’s wrist and began monitoring her pulse. She engaged her healer's vision to observe the effects of the medicine on her patient’s immune system. Vesta nodded in appreciation of the strong will she sensed. Especially when she realized that the ailing woman was also augmenting the potion with her talent.

Within minutes, Head Healer Carroll’s pulse grew stronger. Vesta’s healer vision confirmed that the older woman’s body was mending. A soft sigh of relief escaped her before she turned to Susan and, beyond her, to Brady. “It’s working.”

The atmosphere in the room lightened. The healer staff felt encouraged and highly motivated now that they knew they had a cure. They went to work, injecting their patients with the tincture. There was a lightness in their expressions and in their walk. They had a cure! They were on the cusp of ending the deadly epidemic that had haunted them for weeks. It was the miracle they had been praying for. They could finally breathe easily again.

CHAPTER THREE

Hours later, Vesta finally made it to the Municipal House to meet with the Guardian of Tabol, Seamus Kimmins. Exhaustion made her head throb with a dull ache, and her eyes felt gritty. Sometimes medicine was the answer. Sometimes, only rest would ease the pain. Still, she did not feel she had time to do either. Her duty as a Tanin warrior on a Time of Journey demanded she meet with the Guardian as soon after her arrival at an oasis township as possible. So, here she was, keeping her appointment.

The coma patients began to wake up 30 minutes after they received their injection. Vesta had to provide a psychic push to enhance the cure for those patients who had been comatose the longest. But for those more recently infected, the serum alone had cured them. That saved her from having to use a debilitating amount of her own energy for the treatment to work. This was beneficial to Vesta, because it was the nature of Tanin healers to do whatever was necessary. She would burn herself out to heal a patient.

Vesta tested the tincture’s efficacy on non-comatose subjects carefully. Once certain it needed no tweaks to work on them and caused no harm, she let Brady and his staff treat the rest of the patients without her presence. She wrote up instructions for making more of the cure and left behind most of her stash of the herbs she’d used.

She then took a brief break to wash up, eat more soup, and dress in her cleaned warrior’s uniform. After that, she headed over to the Municipal House. The meal had been necessary, as the type of healing she wielded for the sickest patients had drained her. She didn’t take a nap, though she needed one. No time. She felt as if she was already late for her appointment.

As she walked up the steps, she hesitated, surprised to find the Guardian waiting at the top.

She remembered seeing the older, gray-haired man wander into the infirmary after she, Brady, and the clinic staff had administered the cure. Most of the patients were recovering and looking much better. He had glanced around the main room and smiled, clearly pleased to see their improvement. He did not talk to any healers while there. But he visited briefly with many of the patients during his walkthrough.

Though he had not worn his Guardian medallion, she had deduced who he was. His visit to check on those he protected left a lasting impression on her. And she had looked forward to meeting him.

As she walked up the steps, she called out, “Greetings, Guardian Kimmins.”

“Greetings, Master Healer Tan,” he replied with a welcoming smile.

Vesta winced. He wasn’t wrong to call her Master Healer. But why did he assume she was there as a healer? She had tucked her light auburn hair into a bun under her sergeant's beret. She was wearing the Tanin uniform, comprised of a blue, loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt with sergeant’s insignias on each shoulder, and matching pants. Her outfit was unmistakably that of a fellow warrior. He was expecting a Sergeant Tan, and here she was. How had he not noticed that her attire was no longer white?

He should have called her by her Tanin warrior title. She wondered if he was one of those who didn’t believe women should pursue that quest or have ranks above Sergeant?

She was so weary of dealing with arrogant men who disapproved of her. Throughout her venture, she faced resistance from Tanin warriors to her, a female, taking on the challenge of being on the Time of Journey. Constantly having to be polite, remain calm, and hide her actual emotions about the relentless insults was maddening. Particularly when all she wanted to do was shout, “Get over it!”

The Guardian continued. He seemed unaware of her stiffening shoulders and barely hidden dismay. “Thank you for your timely arrival and assistance to Journeyman Healer Brady.” Confusion wrinkled his forehead into a frown. “Though I was not expecting to see you until tomorrow, after you’d rested. I was expecting a Sergeant Tan. Are you related? I have received such complimentary reports on him from other Guardians.” Finally, noticing she was no longer wearing white, he hesitated. His welcoming speech stuttered to a halt.

“I am Sergeant First Class Vesta Tan. On my Time of Journey,” said Vesta stoically into the resulting silence. “I was happy to help your healers.” She drew her emotions under tighter control and stiffened into a stance of attention.

Internally, she berated her decision to attend this meeting without any rest. Long hours of healing had worn down her usual ability to accept that she represented an unwelcome change. To grin and bear it, so to speak.

When Vesta began her Time of Journey, she held the rank of corporal in the Tanin army. She would rise to captain upon completing the quest, and the Elders authorized it. Those warriors who’d trained with her would still hold the rank of sergeant. Sergeant was the highest rank a woman had reached before Vesta. She was fighting a long tradition, built since planetfall, and she knew it. But that didn’t mean she had to like the resistance to change that so many of the warriors displayed.

However, she could be jumping to a false conclusion here. Tanin Guardians would know a woman was on a Time of Journey but, possibly, not know her name. There was no limit to the number of warriors who could be on a Time of Journey simultaneously. Also, that she was both healer and warrior was an unusual combination of abilities. It is possible that he simply did not know that the Tanin warrior he was expecting to meet today was a multi-master.

Vesta decided to give Guardian Kimmins the benefit of doubt. She took a deep breath. Careful to keep any annoyance out of her voice, she continued her prepared speech. “Are you experiencing any issues, not related to healing, that I could help you with?”

The older man started, and his hazel eyes widened. “You are the Sergeant Tan who has been impressing the other Guardians?” He paused. “I thought Sergeant Tan was male. I heard rumors that a woman was on the Time of Journey, but didn’t connect that to…”

Early in her tour, Vesta developed a fiercely serene smile. One that had proven very effective in unnerving her naysayers. She turned it on the Guardian now. “Yes. I’ve encountered that misunderstanding a lot on my trek around Deserta.” And she constantly struggled to ignore her outrage each time it happened. Her smile intensified, too tired to have much success in putting her hurt feelings aside.

He flinched. “I am sorry. I knew you were Master Healer Tan because Journeyman Healer Brady was aware you were coming to Tabol. He was waiting impatiently for your arrival. Our people were so sick, and many were dying. It devastated him that nothing he tried was helping. I was unaware that you were both healer and warrior.”

As the older man seemed truly remorseful, Vesta nodded her acceptance of his apology and relaxed her tense shoulders. She assumed a more proper expression of solemn respect and attention.

Grateful for her willingness to forgive and move on, he straightened into a more formal stance and waved her inside the Great Hall. “Welcome, Sergeant Tan. We have a problem with thieves taking portions of our crops just before they are ready to be harvested. Despite setting up numerous traps, we have failed to catch them in the act. I would appreciate your help with this.”

With equanimity, she said, “Tell me more.” Then she entered the Municipal House, followed by Guardian Kimmins.