The Cresperian Alliance by Stephanie Osborn Page B

the cut. It will be fine."
    "Get the bang-bang out of Bang-bang?” she queried, a twinkle beginning to appear in orange eyes.
    Sira laughed. “Now you're getting it,” she said. “That's right."
    The two Crispies watched as the human surgical team swiftly removed the bullet from Bangler's upper arm. Between local anesthesia, painkillers, and the Crispy abilities, Bangler felt no pain. “There ya are, ya damn little bugger,” Forcula muttered to himself, grasping the lump of lead with a forceps. “Come on out of there."
    As soon as the lead was removed, Sira and Piki went to work on Bangler's arm. The surgeon watched in amazement as the small wound slowly closed, seemingly of its own accord. Ten minutes later, only a red mark indicated where it had been. Bangler sighed gratefully.
    "Bang-bang feels better now, eh?” Piki asked, her mouth slit curving upward.
    "Uh-huh,” he said woozily, “Bang-bang feels much better."
    "Let's get him in a bunk now, so he can sleep it off,” Forcula decided. “He stays in sickbay overnight, though."
    "How are the other Crispies?” Tomlinson asked McAllister.
    "They're reasonably well, if a little malnourished,” Mac responded. “Upset at the way their friend was treated, but they're grateful we got all three of them out. They want to talk to Sira badly, though, to understand why in hell a Crispy would ever want to become human, after the way Piki was treated."
    "I bet,” Tomlinson sighed. “Now we get to repair the mental damage as well as the physical."
    "Right,” Mac agreed.
    "Heard anything about the others?"
    "Unit Celebration got picked up. They're safe, although I understand the flight crew is a little folded and spindled,” Mac noted. “But they didn't lose anybody. Evidently Sea Wolf hasn't heard about the other operation sections yet.” He shook his head. “By now they're either extracted or dead, I'd expect."
    "Here's hoping the former,” Tomlinson said, grimacing.
    Once Bang was ensconced in bed, Forcula turned to Piki. “All right, miss, let's see to you now,” he said gently. He led her to an exam room, along with Nunez, serving as his female nurse. The table was equipped with gynecological stirrups, and they helped her onto it, placing her feet in the stirrups and gently spreading her legs.
    Before the doctor could move, and without his remembering it happening, Piki was across the room. “NO!” she declared, with all the firmness she could muster. “You not hurt Piki that way! I shall make your sac go, too!"
    "Wha?” a wide-eyed Dr. Forcula said, mouth hanging open. “No, no, dear. This is a medical examination. I need to look at the place where the bad man hurt you and make sure it is all right."
    Sira came running in, having sensed Piki's anger and fear. She took one look at the tableau and understood. “Perhaps I should do this, doctor,” she suggested smoothly.
    Forcula shook his head. “I have to write the report,” he protested. “I'm responsible for her well being while she's on board, and I can't sign off on an exam I haven't conducted."
    "Piki, relax and ‘look’ at Dr. Forcula,” Sira suggested. “You can tell he is a good man, not like the one who hurt you."
    Piki stopped and the orange eyes seemed to cross temporarily. “Oh,” she said softly. “Oh.” She slowly moved back toward the doctor.
    "I'll stay here and observe the exam,” Sira determined. “Piki will feel better that way."
    "I trust, now,” Piki said. “But I..."
    Forcula nodded. “My sister was raped,” he revealed. “I understand the emotional trauma. It's okay, Piki.” He turned to Sira. “Ms. Whitman, please do stay."
    Sira helped Piki back onto the examination table.
    A distraught Piki endured the exam, holding tight to Sira's hand, but was still very glad when it was over. Forcula declared she had no lasting damage other than to her hymen, which had healed normally after first intercourse. “I did manage to get residual DNA evidence, though,” he