"Fine," Cortin said. "No pain at all, even in my back. I just look like a mess." She grinned at them. "Jeshua said this trade would help, and I think it did, with the Enforcement troops—but it looks to me more like it scared most of the civs in the congregation."
"Sure it did," Odeon said. "Here, let me give you a hand with that tunic— What would you expect, the first time? We're trained to cope with the unexpected, they aren't—and I've got to admit I was shocked. Next time everyone'll expect it, and it will help. But—why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't remember till it happened." Cortin pulled herself free of the sticky tunic, looking at it in dismay. "Sis, could you ask someone to get me a fresh uniform? And I'm going to need some help with sponge baths until I can get a shower put in— Oh, dear God." Her memory of the other "little thing" Jeshua had mentioned was triggered. "Mike, Sis—take off your gloves." She pulled off her own; yes, the burned-on symbols were now smooth pale-blue flesh.
"What in God's Name!" Odeon exclaimed, examining his hands and the symbols that matched Cortin's. Chang's reaction was less emphatic; she merely smiled, then went to pass along Cortin's request for clean clothes.
When Sis returned, Cortin answered Odeon's question. "Was I wrong?" she asked when she finished. "I was sure, but—"
"And you were right; if you'd left us out, you'd've had a major morale problem. We were marked the minute we put on Special Ops patches, if you remember." He studied the marks on the backs of his hands again, smiling this time. "It's a difference in degree, not in kind."
"But it's a big degree," Cortin pointed out. "I got the impression that Shayan's skill is to mine as mine is to a first-year recruit's. And that's without using any of his powers—if he does use them, he could make it last for … years, maybe, knowing you'd be free of him as soon as you died."
"True, but years is still better than forever. And if playing with us keeps his attention away from civs … well, that's why we all joined the Service, isn't it?"
"Yes—though I doubt any of us thought, then, that it was Shayan himself we'd be diverting. I know I didn't."
"Not directly, no," Odeon agreed. "But some of the ones under his influence aren't much of an improvement." He paused, changed the subject. "You did a nice job with the Communion of Promise."