burn my memory, burn my outline
the tears scream to scar your unpierced flesh
shattered mirrors reflecting back your face
'let your defenses fall'

                          [ Black Tape for a Blue Girl ]

Chapter8: Up and away
Dorothy knew not what to think of this new life. One day she'd been carefully building her body to become what she wanted it to be. And then, just one letter had changed everything. She'd not believed the letter. Who would? Other dimensions? Dragons? But she owed these people and if Miriam wanted to believe the letter, Dorothy would support her. They'd all gathered on the specified time. The five staff and the 3 patients, standing at the ready to leave for an unknown adventure.
She remembered Mandy saying: "You can't be serious?!" to her, but even so, Mandy had still shown up. And she guessed Gilles had been interested in seeing what his new looks would inspire on other worlds. No great loss if it all turned out to be a hoax. No, Dorothy was pretty sure none of them had actually expected the letter to actually be true.
But it was. A woman had appeared out of thin air, or maybe shimmering air would be more correct. And at that time, turning back hadn't been possible anymore. And how would they explain the absence of 5 people? They'd be suspected, especially with all those peculiar design choices. So go through the portal they did, appearing right at the start of a peculiar event where their 5 surgeons and trainers had "bonded" with a creature they called dragons. And yet, she, Mandy and Gilles had not been chosen. Maybe they just hadn't been ready...

Gilles followed carefully as some obscure tribesman marred the skin of one of his fellows, drawing intricate patterns on his arms and back. Though brutal and plain, the markings exuded a certain charm that he found hard to take his eyes off. Going through the portal that night hadn't left him disappointed. This world was so much more vibrant. There were so much different humanoids and creatures. He'd spied some very interesting dragons with luminous elements beneath their hide and there seemed to be people with horns, wings and extra limbs. So many options, although getting them would require some planning. For once, remaining on Lantessama Isle would not be sufficient. They were too plain for his taste. Now those space-age people knew how to dress up and body-modify. If the opportunity presented itself he would definitely take it...

Mandy flirted with the young guy who'd asked her for directions. He was stupid and boring, but just the attention made her feel powerful and alive. Getting up and away from his attention, earning her a startled and puzzled look, Mandy wandered across the Isle. It wasn't small, but it certainly wasn't big enough for her to feel free. She needed to see more, experience more, get out and live. She had been shut away for such a long time that she ached to fly free. She felt like there was some twist of Fate waiting for her. If only she could get to it. Waiting wasn't her thing. If she wanted something, she'd grab it. After all, she was whole now and no-one could stop her.

And then an opportunity arose. It was Gilles who got hold of the flyer asking for candidates to travel to a, according to Gilles, new and exciting space-station. It was just what he'd been looking for. A place of infinite possibilities with free housing, biodomes, several alien races that were sure to give him new ideas. He'd been planning to go alone but that was not counting Mandy's determination to leave. Honestly, space station, back-water jungle, it didn't matter whereto. Though probably not the jungle. A space station with a clutch of possible queens sounded interesting enough. After all she'd need an appropriate bond to impress others wherever she went. Hearing of the other's plans, Dorothy felt left out and, owning up to her determination to not be a doormat, she said she'd go along as well. Lantessama had not treated her badly, but these two people were all she had left of her old life now that the instructors and surgeons had joined the ranks of the adult dragons and had been giving jobs and responsabilities that often took them away from the Isle.

And that's how Dorothy found herself in a landing dock, the cold and infinite space all around her.
"Let's hope the hull doesn't break." she muttered.
"An atmosphere is all that keeps earth from space" Mandy interjected annoyed.
"Ladies. Let's trust these advanced people and go explore." Gilles said, "The city of Janos seems to be quite the site. Plus our complementary housing should be prepared."
"Complementary sounds so base". Mandy sighed.
"Well we don't have jobs, so I'll be happy with what I get." Dorothy said.
"This way, ladies." Gilles gestured and was inwardly already planning a trip to the different biodomes, the nearby planet and space station in the near future.