Binary Love (18+)

The Left Hand Of Darkness Part 1

Amaruq's grey fur still had missing patches, but it seemed to be growing back fairly quickly. It didn't have the same healthy sheen that Mark's pelt had, but considering the condition that they had found him in, Nova was surprised that it had improved at all if she was honest. She could also see that he no longer had the eerily blue veins that had littered  his skin before. His heavy eyelids half covered his unfocused green eyes, while his large lupine ears lay close to his head in a sign of submission and discomfort.

He was barely propped up; the bed was only slightly curved upwards to allow him a good line of sight of the room, without moving him too much and risking his wounds from opening again.  A thin, bleach white sheet came up to his chest, while an IV had been delicately taped to the back of his hand. It was then that Nova noticed that his large claws had been filed down, and that his limbs had been strapped to the bed to prevent him from moving.

Yet, despite clearly being weak, incapacitated and no longer high, she couldn't help but still feel uneasy around him. This was the Lupus that had broken into her workshop after all - shattering her illusion of safety in her own home - and torn Mark to shreds. She could feel rage bubble up deep inside of her, burning her insides in an attempt to be released, but squished down with an overwhelming tide of anxiety.

Nova's apprehension drove her to be as far away from the Lupus as possible. She chose to lurk in the corner of the room that was closest to the door, but also far away from Amaruq as possible. She watched from her corner as the others gathered around Amaruq's bed, with the exception of Mark, who had seemingly decided to stand slap bang in the middle of the room. He stood sideways, allowing him to glance at Nova and Amaruq at the same time if he tilted his head just right.

"His readings look good... They're all within acceptable levels, Dr. Asena." Lucy's alluring voice stood out in stark contrast to the tension in the room. The air was thick with the scent of nervous human sweat, and posturing alpha pheromones, so her normally subdued sensuality only became more pronounced. No one paid it much mind though, not even Itsuki, who kept his gaze fixed on Amaruq.

"Thank you, Dr. Aceso." Rosalind drew in a deep breath, before bringing herself to her full height. "Amaruq, can you hear me? I need to run a few tests and I don't want to startle you."

"Where... am I?" The Lupus' voice was thick and croaky from disuse, but still was able to convey his confusion.

"You are at Faolán Station's medbay, and my name is Doctor Asena. My colleague beside you is Doctor Aceso." Holding up a small torch clipped onto her uniform, Rosalind quickly flicked a beam of light onto each of his eyes separately. She gave a small huff of satisfaction, pleased with whatever response she saw. "Your pupil constriction looks good. Do you feel any discomfort anywhere? Any pain or pins and needles?"

At Rosalind's question, the stocky beta tried to shake his head from side to side. When he realised that he didn't have the strength to move his head much, he responded with a gruff "No."

"Amaruq, I know you've just woken up, but I need you to talk with these two gentlemen here about what happened to you." With a sharp gesture to the foot of the bed, Rosalin drew Amaruq's line of site to the two security officers. "This is Inspector Itsuki and Chief Inspector Harou."

"Hello...?"

"Good evening, Mr. Tumen. I hope you don't mind our intrusion, but we have a few questions to ask you." Itsuki's voice took on a smooth, charismatic quality, with his hereditary croak dampened down to produce a satisfying baritone.

So this is what he sounds like when he turns up the charm, Nova thought to herself.

"What happened? Why ... why am I in the medbay?"

"You were found passed out high on Blue." Harou didn't sound nearly as friendly as Itsuki. Instead, he came across as incredibly formal and closed off. Nova couldn't help but notice that he didn't share all the details about how Amaruq was found, or what he had done to Mark and her workshop. "You had been missing for a while before your reappearance - do you remember what happened to you after your last shift?"

The room suddenly became heavy with silence.

She couldn't say what it was like for the others, but Nova could feel her body lean forward, as if drawn to Amaruq, ready to catch the first words that would help unravel this mystery.

Mark's ears were tilted in the direction of the Beta, but his body and stance otherwise looked the same. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, even though there was no way he would be recognised since changing his body.

They waited with bated breath as a flurry of emotions swept across Amaruq's face.

Confusion. Realisation. Determination...

Terror.

Utter, all consuming fear suddenly gripped his body. She could see it in the way he tensed; how his ears pinned back and his hackles raised. His heart monitor pinged a few warning alarms, before Lucy deftly typed something into her datapad.

After attempting to sit up and get out of the bed to no avail, Amaruq released a feeble growl and snapped his teeth in agitation.

"I need to talk to the Captain."

"Why do you need to speak with the Captain?" Itsuki asked.

"I found - never mind, I just need to speak with him, it's important." Amaruq pleaded with his eyes.

There was a pause between them all, before Harou allowed his shoulders to relax and his arms to drop to his sides, no longer crossed tightly against his body. With a huff of exasperation, Harou moved closer to Amaruq.

"If you're talking about what I think you're talking about, why do you need to meet with the Captain?"

It was clear the Beta was reluctant to answer, as he frowned in concentration as he thought about Harou's question.

"Because I need to report to him." Amaruq answered, "If it's bad enough, we're meant to report directly to the Captain."

Lucy glanced at him, under her fringe, while keeping her face blank of emotion.

"I see..." Harou mused aloud, "But, considering gravity of what you found, how do you not know the Captain isn't involved in some way?"

Lucy's perfectly arched eyebrows suddenly rocketed up to her hair line, apparently completely shocked with the notion at the Captain of the station might be involved.

Amaruq looked equally as horrified.

"I ... I didn't think of that." He replied, "I tried to see him the day I got taken..."

"What do you mean you were taken?" Itsuki broached.

"I was kidnapped, because of what I found."

"Hold on, I think it's best if we start from the beginning." Itsuki pulled up a chair to be closer to his bedside. "I'm going to need you to be as detailed as you can, Mr. Tumen."

"Alright," He replied, "I'll tell you everything."