The next morning Via stood before Zo'or again, but it was completely different. She was an implant. The thought hit her suddenly when she stood beside Sandoval. Of course she knew it, but the realization had not dawned on her until now. She willed herself not to think of that now and to concentrate on projecting the proper image. Her blond hair was neatly tied and she was dressed in starched-white shirt with French cuffs and light-blue jeans. She stood at attention.

"How do you feel?" asked the agent.

"Fit for duty," replied Via.

"Of course," politely smiled the attache.

An implant walked in carrying a strangely shaped container. He walked over to the command chair and raised it to Zo'or's level. Zo'or placed his hands on the top of the peculiar vessel and moved them apart. Its upper panels slid with them and white smoke of dry ice was visible above it. Zo'or looked at the creature inside. It seemed to hold his gaze for few seconds. The implant patiently waited. Finally Zo'or nodded and gestured to his attache. Sandoval took the skrill from its container and approached Via.

"Roll up your right sleeve, detective."

She did it and extended her arm. Wolnoff bit her lip and composed herself. She knew it was not going to be pleasant and intended to take it stoically.

Placed on her arm the skrill felt like a piece of ice-cold rock. When Sandoval moved Raven closer the creature on her arm instantly drilled forcefully through her flesh until the skrill's appendages intertwined behind her bone. Via let out suppressed groan bending slightly as the skrill's temperature rose dramatically. Just when its grip got so tight that she thought it would crush the bone. Next moment she felt her CVI reaching out for the skrill. The joining brought relief, the grip relaxed to just a tight fit. She felt the skrill's presence mentally. It immediately adjusted to her and the pain subsided. She felt it trying to contact her. Not thoughts, but feelings. She could not explain but she felt it was... curious. Via closed her eyes exploring this new sensation.

Zo'or was observing her from his pedestal. He was completely immobile with his eyes focused on her face. Having never witnessed this bonding he found it... He did not know exactly, it was somewhat abhorrent but strangely... He found the human's reaction puzzling. She seemed to accept warmly the primitive creature that obviously caused her pain.

Via opened her eyes and rolled down her sleeve. She stood straight with her hands behind her back and looked at Zo'or for instructions.

Zo'or was not in a hurry. Looking over the new implant he noticed a little silver square on a black string she wore on her neck.

"Your decoration, you wore it yesterday as well," noted Zo'or.

"Yes, it is kind of a good-luck charm. I had it ever since I came out of the academy."

"Do you believe in that?" inquired Zo'or in condescending tone.

"No, but I've been told it works even if you don't believe in it," replied new implant with a slight smile.

Sandoval looked at her in surprise. Zo'or tilted her head to the side not sure of the meaning of this reply. After a second's consideration he decided to ignore it.

"I have an assignment for you. You will..."

At his moment North American Companion's graceful figure appeared in the entrance. Zo'or fell silent and stared expectantly at Da'an.

"Detective Wolnoff?" Da'an sounded surprised.

"How are you acquainted?" abruptly interrupted Zo'or.

"We have met at the Municipal building when she was awarded the Commendation for Bravery," calmly responded Da'an ignoring his rude tone. "What brings you here, detective?"

As Via opened her mouth, Zo'or interrupted again: "Detective Wolnoff now serves me," he responded with a smirk.

"In what capacity?" inquired Da'an.

"She is my implant."

"When did it happen?" Da'an's voice was no longer calm.

"She has undergone the procedure yesterday," responded Zo'or no longer sounding pleased.

"I was not informed of this," Da'an's voice was strained.

"That matter is not your concern. As a head of the Synod, I, surely, am entitled to acquire additional..." he paused for a second searching for a word, "...assistants," he added overly politely.

"You know full well that the Synod requires both of our approvals for any human entering our service," Da'an's tone became cold and forceful.

"That is true, and you do have the right to override my decision," responded Zo'or with suddenly regained confidence. He smiled inwardly. The only way an implant could be dismissed is through death, and he knew Da'an would not demand it.

Da'an looked at Via with sorrow.

"I will contact you," Zo'or gestured to his implants to leave.

When they left the bridge, Zo'or turned to Da'an expecting him to speak. Da'an looked at him for a while, and than left without a word. When his figure disappeared, Zo'or lowered his head and thin blue threads appeared on his face, briefly disrupting his human facade.

When Via walked in her apartment she found Doors sitting in the chair, which he apparently turned to face the door.

"I guess you were not going to show up to report to me." He sounded aggravated.

"There is nothing to report yet," she answered tiredly. "And how did you get into my apartment?"

"When it comes to security, it's not exactly a Taelon lab, and I've been to few of those," he snorted.

He got up and walked over to her. "You promised to come as soon as you were able," he said quietly.

"I am sorry Jonathan. I'm just very tired. I am sure that Juliana has given you full account so it was not necessary..."

"Yes it was!" he interrupted roughly. "I have told you..."

But he could not fool her. Suddenly she felt such tenderness towards him. In spite of all his flaws he was her mentor, and the bond between the pupil and a teacher is one that lasts a lifetime. He never let anyone get close and even though she knew he cared about her, she never dared to challenge this distant appearance knowing how much it was a part of him. But now, realizing how fragile their lives were, she decided to risk it. She hugged him and said "Thank you Jonathan, I am OK."

He instantly became silent and did not know what to do. Then he hugged her back and just held her for few moments. He left the apartment without saying anything else.

Via only slept for two hours when her phone beeped angrily. She resisted waking up. Still half-asleep she stumbled to her desk and activated the view screen. Zo'or's face stared back at her. "Detective Wolnoff?" Zo'or tilted his head to the side and his eyes got a little wider. Suddenly Via realized that she was not wearing a T-shirt. Embarrassed, she instinctively turned of the view screen and a second later panicked realizing the rudeness of this gesture. As she was putting on a shirt, the image of Zo'or's face staring at the dead screen flushed through her mind. She doubted anyone has ever hung up on the Synod leader without any explanation. What a fine way to start her first day!

As soon as Via was dressed she reactivated the screen in spite of growing panic. Zo'or's face was just the way she left him as if he did not move during all this time. "I apologize for my appearance," she said immediately, "and for..." she nervously gestured to the screen.

Zo'or did not respond, but looking at his face she suddenly realized that he was amused.

"Report to me at once," he said benevolently and this time cut the stream himself.

Part 3 of Implantation    Other Stories by Da'el