At the sound of his name the soul trembled even stronger and burrowed even deeper. 

“Why do you keep returning and hiding …there?” The Admiral frowned trying to decipher the logic behind the soul’s actions.

“You’re doing your best to keep that particular spot alive the most, why?” The Admiral was tracing the soul’s movements with his hand. 

“Reporting to the Admiral, that is where the womb of a male+ person is.” Military Assistant Bartel commented as the efficient assistant he is. 

“…womb…” the Admiral echoed that word in a low voice pausing to think for a moment. “I forgot they have wombs, and  thought, he is hiding in his bladder or something.” He said while clicking his tongue at himself. 

Looking at the soul is similar to focusing on one layer. The same way as when one focuses their eyes on something very close to them the surrounding gets blurred. Likewise when he kept his focus on the soul he didn’t really observe the body. Now when he focused back on the physical body the scene was explicitly miserable. With nothing covering his upper body, as the plain characterless clothes were removed above the waist for medical accessibility reasons, the body looked particularly tormented. Both arms that are just skin and bones were covered all over with needle and infusion marks. The skin was covered with different sizes of blue-purple traces, as if left from being grabbed and tossed around ruthlessly. The chest and abdomen… 

No wonder it slipped his mind that this person’s gender was male+ as there was not much resemblance. The Admiral was not a hermit, in his life he’s had many lovers, among which male+ as well, and he knows very well how different they can feel to the touch. When not breastfeeding, outwardly, they may seem flat chested as men do whilst to the touch they are actually much softer and slightly fuller. But there was no soft or full spot that his hand touched on this person, not even the waist-hip arc had any fullness or gentleness. Just bones that can be counted with fingertips, covered with a layer of pale skin. So, while focused on looking at the soul he had forgotten that this was actually a third gender person. 

Admiral Carnage fell silent, contemplated for a half a minute then gave an order.

“Clear the room! Close the doors and the shades. I need to talk to him in private.” 

Even if talking to a dead body sounded absurd everyone obeyed. They couldn’t do much even if they stayed anyway. The emergency room fell into silence with only occasional lights blinking and some indicators showing soul activity. The Admiral naturally didn’t need to look at them; he had more accurate information in front of his eyes. 

What happened after; Admiral Carnage himself didn’t think he’d ever do in his life. 

After observing closely he realised that the soul he thought of as a child wasn't actually one. In reality, it was someone in a desperate need of belonging and loving, madly craving for a family. ‘I guess as an orphan the only family he could have would be the one that he builds himself, his own child. So, in this desolate logic, this lonely guy who refuses to let go, keeps running back and nestling in his own womb…’

“Are you hiding someone there?” He tried to concentrate to feel any external presence in the womb. “No, there is none…it’s just your personal hideout.” There was a bitter and sad smile on the Admiral’s face. 

After checking the room with a surveying glance making sure there are no prying eyes or devices, Admiral Carnage said in a low voice. 

“Very well, I’ll give you what you wish.”

It was preposterous, weird, unimaginable, immoral… But he took action. With meticulous movements, neither hurriedly nor slowly, he stripped the lower half of the young male+ person’s body. While he intentionally diverted his vision from the private parts he couldn’t unsee all the old and new bruises covering the sickeningly thin, lifeless legs. It comes in handy that the Admiral has seen almost everything there is to see in this life especially during the years of the interstellar war and chaos so there are very few occasions that can make him waver and this is definitely not such a case. Admiral Carnage concentrated his thoughts elsewhere, then as if performing a medical intervention “gave his seeds to the womb”. No emotion involved, neither sympathy nor cruelty. A simple act of doing something that needs to be done, not lingering a second longer than necessary. After rearranging his uniform and putting back on the other person’s clothes that he initially took off the Admiral observed how Silvano’s soul gathered around, embraced the seeds as if his lifeline. This sight made Admiral raise his eyebrows and sigh. 

“Really? This was actually what you wanted?”

Only then did the Admiral call the medical personnel back to attempt another cardioversion. This time the soul was in a trance-like condition, obedient and diligent. Keeping a certain amount in the womb all the other soul particles scattered towards the vital organs: heart, lungs, brain… everywhere following the Admiral’s hands’ guidance. Even though the soul is very weakened and the particles scarce he’s doing his best to keep the body from dying. 

“Good, keep behaving.” Said the Admiral patiently, stopping his hand above the heart he made a gesture to the doctors to start. 

The first attempt gave a weak effect, but after the second time electric current went through the heart muscles it started  beating! Everyone present were shocked beyond words. They wanted to ask, what did the Admiral say to a corpse to make it revive, but didn’t dare. 

The heartbeat started by heavy random thumping which gradually changed into more and more even pulses. 

Evidence was right in front of them, a body that was dead for almost 24 hours is pumping blood and inhaling oxygen again, they could even spot some brain cell activity which is insane. Everyone present stared at the Admiral with wide eyes as if witnessing a miracle.

“Before you ask, no I cannot resurrect people. This guy is the special one to be able to do that.”

After a pause he added.

“I need you to take good care of him.” 

“Of course, Sir! How could we neglect him after he came back from the dead?”

Admiral Carnage hesitated but finally nodded and left the emergency room. Then on the way back stopped his assistant in an empty hallway and gave instructions. 

“Contact Colonel Gillian, have him come here and keep an eye on Silvano Ulime.”

“Please forgive my rudeness, Sir! But Colonel Gillian is a special talent who is always needed in the military and is constantly on missions. How can I pull him out  just to look over this one unfortunate fellow?” 

“Bartel, this is the third time today that you are doubting my commands. I am starting to suspect that something has happened to my authority.” 

This was said patiently, word for word, with Military Assistant Bartel gradually losing all colour on his face. He had shown a really unforgivable attitude today. After realising he fell on one knee with a thud and spoke in a clear voice devoid of any opinions. 

“There is no excuse for my behaviour, please conduct my punishment!”

“I don’t have time to think up random punishments, just do what you are told, we need Gillian here as he is one of the very few who can sense the soul.” Then he continued after a pause. “Silvano might be carrying my child. I want special treatment for him.” 

Trying his best to keep himself balanced and not make a blunder again, Military Assistant Bartel was thankful to this posture of kneeling down as he could hide his face this way. But… 

“Speak! I’m afraid you’ll die if you continue to hold your breath like that.” It was said as a joke but still sent shivers down Bartel’s spine. 

“I wouldn’t dare.” He said in a small voice. 

“Do you think it’s disgusting to do that to an almost dead person, do you find me immoral?” The Admiral asked partially to himself. 

Bartel looked up with eyes popping out and couldn’t hold the cool any longer. 

“Just now? Admiral, Sir! When you cleared the emergency room?! My guess was that you knew him before, had an affair and that his husband found out about him cheating and then murdered him and…” 

“Bartel, are you sure you chose the right profession?” Admiral Carnage sighed and started walking down the empty corridor toward the exit. Talking over his shoulder to the assistant who was shocked dumb. “You should have chosen literature or screenwriting, they need imaginative people like you. I’m not sure why I’m explaining this to you. But the unfortunate fellow there needed “it” to regain a will to exist again, his soul wanted to care and to love, a purpose to keep on fighting for. Quite a tragic fellow indeed. I didn’t want to let him perish like that.” 

Bartel seemed to have completely lost the ability to make sounds, only followed dazedly behind Admiral Carnage who then added. 

“Investigate the case and interrogate all the so-called family members, and how exactly he became disabled. I need a detailed report. I’m leaving this case to you and Gillian. You stay here until Gillian arrives, I want him to stay and guard here. After you conduct a thorough investigation, return with a detailed report.” 

After saying all this Admiral Carnage glanced toward the other end of the corridor where the patient was being treated and then left. 

…

Next morning in the Admiral's office, Military Assistant Bartel was standing in front of his superior in full attire and military posture with only the bags under his eyes indicating that he had spent a sleepless, eventful night. 

“It took you quite some time to come back with a report.” 

The Admiral seemed rather uncaring and cold, Military Assistant Bartel started to hesitate whether he actually placed too much importance and overworked on this case. But brushed off these thoughts right away in fear that he’ll be sent to perform in a drama theatre. 

“Sir, please forgive my insufficiency but the case had many twists and turns and I didn’t want to give you an incomplete report, Sir!”

The Admiral waved his hand in the air indicating him to start the report. 

“I’ll start with the report about his disabilities. They were acquired, Silvano was born as a healthy active child. In fact his genealogy was very deeply hidden. I was able to find the details only after properly interrogating Jerome Ulime and his parents”. They threw a short look at each other knowing full well what the phrase “a proper interrogation” means. “Apparently he is not only not of an unknown origin but we actually know one of his parents who himself doesn’t seem to know that…”

“Bartel, facts and details, chronologically.”

Military Assistant Bartel was too tired and quite excited about this case to realise that he might actually cross the line and be sent to do mandatory drama performances.

“Ulime family has been a moderately influential family in the business and marketing field for several generations now. But they don’t have much luck with heirs in this generation though. Bernard Ulime, who is Jerome Ulime’s father, has two younger siblings, a sister and a brother… please, Sir, believe me this is relevant.

Sensing the Admiral’s impatience and annoyance when hearing seemingly irrelevant information Assistant Bartel started talking faster. 

“Bernard Ulime’s younger brother has two sons both of them capable of continuing the lineage of Ulime, whereas he has only one son, Jerome, who was born healthy but later in an accident was left with a condition of constantly leaking energy channels. 

Bernard Ulime’s sister Anita is married into a very influential family in the construction field who stand behind “The Gate Industries Corp ''. But very few people know that this beneficial marriage was at risk right before anything was arranged. As long before this marriage between the families was proposed, this woman Anita Ulime enjoyed fooling around and a few days after the marital negotiations started she found out about her pregnancy with very uncomfortable circumstances. First of all the father of the child was none other than General Feecel of the Mech Forces, someone we know all too well.”

Admiral Carnage reacted to the name by raising one of his eyebrows, with a little disgust showing on the corner of his lips. 

“Yes, that was one of the reasons it took so long to complete this report. I needed time to find one of Feecel’s offsprings and conduct a secret DNA test. And also Anita Gratis (formerly Ulime), I took a test of her too. They all match! Silvano is the unrecognised child of General Greg Feecel and Anita Gratis (Ulime). So it makes Jerome and Silvano blood related cousins.”

Bartel made a pause recalling all the actions he had to take last evening and night and how repeatedly shocked he was.