《Transcripts》 Chapter 1: Research Transcripts of Dr. Xant. Research Transcripts of Dr. Xant: Translator Calibration [These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Salhor Laandi.] [Note: Due to the intensely thick cranial casing and extraordinary electrochemical activity in the subject''s brain, the neuron translator had to be turned down significantly in order for the subject to successfully complete calibration. The following transcript is the recorded calibration session.] Dr Xant: This is Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant speaking, Subject has been implanted with a Zenthi grade neuron translator over the central cranial mass- it required extensive surgery to penetrate the casing but we succeeded. Today I will be conducting a calibration on the translator for it to sync with the subject¡¯s neural oscillations and speech patterns. Turning translator external receiver on. [Note: The following signal was only neurological feedback, Subject had not physically spoken a word; this could indicate the potential for Zenthi telepathy.] Subject: (God, just sit up straight, you''re representing the human race here.)(deity, adverb, posture, high, direction, self, avatar, determiner, self species, location) -enclosed room, white tiles, familiar location, familiar other- Dr Xant: Subject? Can you hear me? Subject: Yes Doctor I can hear you.(Holy shit I can hear him in my head! I can understand him!) (affirmation, acknowledge profession, self, understanding, other) -enclosed room, white tiles, familiar location, familiar other- [Note: External receiver was overloading with information, I turned down the receptors to Arvas levels.] Dr Xant: Good, now can you state your name for the record? Subject: My name is Jasmine Howe and I am a member of the human race. (Okay just stay calm, speak nice and clear now.)() [Note: Interference still high I turned it down to Zenthi levels.] Dr Xant: Now then Howe- Subject: (Correct him now!) Uh, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, I¡¯d prefer you use my first name: Jasmine. [Note: Subject prefered the use of her first name in conversation, will have to defer to Behavioural Studies for further cultural investigation.] Dr Xant: Alright Jasmine, I need you to repeat after me¡­ ready? Subject: Yes. (Yes.) Dr Xant: Red. Subject: Red. (Red.) Dr Xant: Spacecraft. Subject: Spacecraft. (Spacecraft.) Dr Xant: Orbital projector. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Subject: Orbital projector. (Orbital projector.) Dr Xant: The Arvas like to eat waurdess. Subject: The Arvas like to eat waurdess. (The Arvas like to eat waurdess?) Dr Xant: I believe that should do it, turning off the external receiver and patching subject into the larger system. Subject: Understood. (Oh man this is sooo cool.) [Long pause] Subject: Is something wrong Doctor? (Did I do anything??) Dr Xant: Yes Jasmine, there appears to be a disjointed interference, I''m receiving a non-mirror echo in the more complex sentence structure. Subject: A non-mirror echo? (Wha?...) Dr Xant: Yes, your brain is producing two different wavelengths, one translates what I assume is the direct response to my questions but the other only mildly mimics the sentiment. Subject: Are you saying you¡¯re getting two signals? (Can he read my mind??) Dr Xant: If you are able to differentiate between your speech pattern and your brain processes then, yes, I can read your mind. Subject: Holy shit... (HOLY SHIT!!) Dr Xant: Unpleasant exclamations aside, I am unsure as how to remedy the problem without knowing exactly where the speech center of your brain is - I cannot focus the implant¡¯s receptors- Subject: Oh, the speech center is¡­ Here, somewhere towards the middle of the frontal lobes. (I know it¡¯s near the front part somewhere.) [Note: Subject has used both appendages to indicate a crosshair within the frontal calcium mass.] Dr Xant: And you are sure of this? Subject: Pretty sure. (Not exact, but close enough.) [Long pause] Dr Xant: I''ll make the adjustments. [Note: It is unprecedented for a newly discovered sentience to have such detailed knowledge of bodily functions.] Subject: Is it working now Doctor? (God I hope I got it right¡­) Dr Xant: I''m afraid the interference is still present. Until we are able to figure out its exact positioning we will have to make do with the current settings. Subject: Doctor Xant? May I try something? (I wonder if I can¡­?) Dr Xant: I suppose there is no harm. What is it you wish to test? Subject: I want to see if I can isolate the interference... (I want to know if I can communicate telepathically¡­) [Long pause] Dr Xant: And exactly how do you propose to do this test? Subject: I propose to block all forms of sensory input and focus my subauditory thoughts. (I''ll block my eyes and ears and just shout inside my head.) [Note: Subject has outlined the parameters of a scientific method, and proposes to communicate through Zenthi telepathy - both unprecedented with first contact species within the entirety of Council space.] Dr Xant: I will turn the external receiver back on and then you will be free to test your hypothesis. [The external receiver was returned to power, and the Subject disconnected from the translator system] [Note: Subject placed her main appendages into her auditory canals and voluntarily shut her ocular receptors.] Subject: (Testing, testing, one two three, Jasmine to Doctor Xant, can you hear me? Please say something Dr. Xant, otherwise my mind may wander and I really don''t want to talk to a alien species without a filter, god knows what weird shit my brain will pull out of the abyss, god no I''m already going off topic-) Dr Xant: Yes, I can hear you Jasmine, and your hypothesis was correct. You''ve isolated the interference and it¡¯s coming through loud and clear. Since this is the stronger signal, I''ll set the translator to this Frequency. Subject: (What?! No! No, whatever you do don¡¯t use this frequency, this is my unfiltered thought, I can¡¯t turn this off! I mean maybe with practice I''ll be able to talk with you like this, but, not as first contact! I mean I have to give a good first impression of the human race so you don¡¯t think we¡¯re all terrible monsters and wipe us from existence! Oh no I¡¯m rambling again, Dr. Xant, I''ve isolated the frequency can''t you block this so it only receives the other one? The one where I''ve chosen my words carefully and don''t sound like a babbling loon-) Dr Xant: You want me to actively block the strongest and most accurate signal? Because with training you would be able to communicate without having to speak at all - Zenthi like myself are the only other species who can communicate on this level. I recommend staying on this Frequency; once you get used to the translator I can get a clearer understanding of the quintal brain waves you''re producing. Subject: (Xant I''d be happy answer questions about my awful subconscious but at the moment I need you to fix the translator so it doesn''t pick up my most private thoughts, I¡¯d like to talk in a professional manner, not while I¡¯m panicking about every little thing that passes through my brain, I mean what if I insult the entirety of the known galaxy?) Dr Xant: Jasmine, I can assure you, a Creator race such as yourself has nothing to worry about - the fact that you are worried about insulting the Council shows a level of understanding higher than most fledgling species in the Council. I will make two settings for your translator, one for formal conversations and the second for telepathic communication. I will schedule private sessions for us to work on that later. I have made the adjustments, you should be able to speak clearly now. [Note: Private sessions will be recorded in a separate report, after initial trials are over.] Subject: So, does this mean the calibration is done Dr. Xant? Dr Xant: The calibration is finished, which means we can begin questioning. [Session Ended] Transcripts Chapter 2: Biology II Dr. Xant quickly ended the interview as the human¡¯s translator signals bombarded his senses. Waves of Emotional Frequency flowed off the little alien, as freely and as naturally as a Galactic Council native with all the grace and subtlety of an infant. Humans, they had discovered, along with a library of other anomalies, were devoid of the organs needed to send and receive the electronic signals of their brains over distance. The Frequencies (The Physical and Vocal Zenthi Frequency and the Arvas Emotional Frequency respectively) were the primary means of communication. Without this ability, Jasmine was first thought to be nothing more than an animal at worst, and a Rajavan experiment at best. Sentients across the galaxy had this trait in one way or another and now that the human was surgically connected to a translator capable of broadcasting those Frequencies, Xant was getting a rather large pulse. Jasmine was unaware of the impact she was making from her little outburst, wiping away residual tears of relief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized, ¡°I was preparing for the worst case scenario, it¡¯s nice to know my hosts are gracious ones!¡± Xant¡¯s ears quivered to the incoming pulse of relief, he raised a hand and smoothed them down. ¡°I can only apologise on behalf of the Esaander Corporation that we did not enact protocol sooner.¡± He began to close the program on his dataslate. ¡°I shall reschedule our interview for next quarter, to give you a proper rest between each interaction-¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m fine, really!¡± Jasmine reassured him. ¡°It¡¯s a little overwhelming for sure, but I¡¯d be even more anxious having to wait!¡± Xant watched her reaction curiously, her skin swollen around her face, subtly turning the fawn coloured flesh to a crimson hue. The veins in her eyes became visible, a bright and vibrant red. Any royal member of the Arvas species would gladly sacrifice a colony¡¯s worth of contribution credit for such a genetic trait, Xant was thankful none of the employees at Esaander were that superstitious. ¡°Are you sure you are physically able to continue the interview?¡± ¡°Yes I¡¯m sure!¡± She smiled widely, baring her teeth as a sign of gratitude, a mannerism the human shared with the more reptilian Sulin. ¡°It¡¯s a natural reaction to stress, or rather the relief of it, it¡¯s how the human body releases toxic chemicals.¡± She wiped away one last tear of the liquid, drying her hands on the coverings provided to her. Jasmine returned to the upright position she had been in at the beginning of their talk. ¡°I am ready to continue Doctor.¡± Xant was impressed with her eagerness, and had noticed the emotional pulses had died down to more tolerable levels. ¡°If you insist,¡± Xant replied, giving in to her proposal. ¡°Then I believe I shall have to ask that you explain this phenomenon in detail for me?¡± He restarted the recording program. Research Transcripts of Dr. Xant: Biology II [These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi] [Note: I had cut the previous session short due to a strong distress signal in the Subject. She had reassured me however that the outburst would be short lived as it was a manifestation of stress. In her own words she was ¡®preparing for the worst case scenario¡¯ and was relieved by my evaluation of her intelligence class. Her emotional levels did indeed calm down and I noted she was more relaxed after the outburst, I asked her to repeat the explanation of the phenomenon] Subject: When the human body becomes stressed there are a number of trace chemicals that build up within the body that aren''t able to get filtered out through the other organs, so, crying, helps with releasing those chemicals. Sometimes it''s from extreme pain, emotional strain, or simply because of dust build up. They did tests and found out there was a different chemical for each reason for crying. Subject: Oh I also have no idea what those chemicals are specifically, I just saw this kinda cool image that showed the different chemicals after crystallization under a microscope with a description underneath. [Long pause] Subject: Are you alright Xant? Dr Xant: Oh I am perfectly fine Jasmine, simply fascinated is all. The Arvas weep when emotional and the Sulin do have a similar filtration of their ocular receptors, but combining the two is a very novel concept. [Note: I had witnessed the phenomenon before during the subject''s observation whilst in the temperate enclosure. I asked the Subject at a later date to clarify which reason the crying was in response to, she replied emotional strain.] The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Subject: And now it¡¯s my turn to ask, ¡®Do Zenthi cry Dr. Xant?¡¯ (I¡¯m such a dork.) Dr Xant: And the answer would be that Zenthi, in fact, do not cry. We have a specialised eye lid for the cleaning of the ocular receptor, and have a vocal call for distress¡­ [Note: I demonstrated the second eyelid blink for the Subject, she seemed amused] Subject: Wow, that''s so cool! So you can actually speak? I¡¯ve only heard you through the translator this entire time. Dr Xant: Zenthi can vocalise, but it is reserved for only the cases of physical pain or discomfort. It is seen as uncultured to do so otherwise. Younglings are taught this as they mature. Subject: Huh, I guess crying kids is a constant across the galaxy, who knew? Ha ha. Dr Xant: That is an excellent point Jasmine, and it leads perfectly into my next query, about your reproductive organs- Subject: Whoa there! Buy me dinner first! () Dr Xant: I beg your pardon? Subject: Sorry Xant, its a (Sex) courtship joke. Dr Xant: I''m afraid I don''t understand the context. Could you elaborate? Subject: (Can of worms...) Alright, Xant, ummm (Giggle) A common and widely accepted courtship practice is to converse over a meal. Since taking a hopeful candidate back to your dwelling on a first meeting is considered very forward, most people agree to meet at a meal provider (restaurant). So ''buy me dinner first'' is a play on the cultural norm. Xant, I am implying that you have made a faux pas (social mistake) but in a way that I understand your ignorance and am not offended. If a human male, or female for that matter, I don''t know that well came up to me on our first (date) courtship and asked about my reproductive organs I would be immediately offended and discount them as a potential partner¡­ First (date) courtship is about getting to know the person before initiating coitus¡­ Unless both parties agree they only want coitus from each other. I''m sorry Xant, I knew you were talking about it scientifically, but it can be a little hard separating from the cultural norm. Dr Xant: No need to apologise, I am actually far more humbled that you would consider me close enough to share a piece of humour with. Subject: Hey, don''t get emotional on me now! Dr Xant: I will stay calm Jasmine I assure you, but we are getting off subject.. Subject: (Damn) Alright, we have ovaries, fallopian tubes, the (giggle) vaginal wall, uterus, vulva, and clitoris (the fun part). Do you need a run down of the male parts? Dr Xant: From what I¡¯ve gathered from the diagrams, human males are very similar to most other defined males in the galaxy, but without the ability to retract their member. Subject: (It retracts when it¡¯s cold!) [Note: Subjects stronger neural frequency has been interrupting her speech patterns, or acting on its own accord, I will have to contact a translator engineer to help combat these irregularities] Dr Xant: What is the usual incubation period? Subject: [Nine months] although it can be shorter if complications arise, a baby can be born at, uh, [6 months] (maybe?) But without hospital care it wouldn''t survive long () Dr Xant: That is an incredibly long incubation period and if you only carry a single youngling at a time it would be incredibly inefficient for a mammal such as yourself. Subject: Well, it¡¯s less than a [year] for the baby to be born but also it takes an extra [year] of child rearing before the little darling can walk by itself, and a further year before they can string simple sentences together. It¡¯s almost [twelve years] before a human is considered an adolescent and it can be a further [6-7 years] after that before most countries give over complete legal rights. A human being isn¡¯t considered fully developed until [21 years] of age. [Long pause] Subject: Oh no, I¡¯ve said something upsetting haven¡¯t I? Your ears are doing the thing¡­ [Note: Subject is apt at reading Zenthi and Sulin body language, but expressed complete confusion toward Arvas motions, commenting of Operations Manager Isk that ¡®He twitches way too much for me to get a read on him¡¯] Dr Xant: Not upsetting just... concerning. Subject: () Concerning how? Dr Xant: What is the average lifespan of a human, Jasmine? Subject: Provided they live a healthy life? [80 years] although some have lived to and past [100 years]. Dr Xant: The average Arvas worker is considered ancient at [20 years], their queens, princesses and princes enjoy a healthy [40 years]. Despite their intellect and the repair work to their decaying genome, a Qztillians body degrades at [40 years] but only with exceedingly careful medical treatment. Sulin¡¯s and Zenthi share the longest life span of [60 years]. One Sulin pack leader held a phenomenal [75 years] after losing all of his extremities and finally succumbing to complete organ failure. I am [32 years] and more than half way through my expected lifespan. Jasmine, how old are you? Subject: I am [22 years] old, and in many ways still feel like a child. () Maybe we should stop for today. Dr Xant: I concur. I will postpone our interviews for now. We can continue after I have scheduled a lab for the perception tests. Subject: Okay, um Xant? Is it alright if I keep the Dataslate? I was hoping to do some more drawing or, keep my own notes. Dr Xant: That Dataslate¡¯s memory is completely filled. I will organise a new one to be delivered to your quarters. Subject: Thank you, [Long pause] I''ll go on ahead. Dr Xant: Thank you Jasmine. [Note: Subject was keenly aware of my need for isolation without receiving emotional signals from the translator. It was [6 hours] before I was completely able to process the implications of a long lived species after a mild case of volatile emotional Frequencies syndrome (VEFS). I will have to calibrate the translator further to block out such strong signals.] [Session Ended] Transcripts Chapter 3: Department Head Meeting. Jasmine stood from the table and crossed the near empty room, leaving the doctor to sit there quietly. She was worried, he seemed genuinely freaked out at the apparent long life span of a human being. Of all the marvels she had witnessed aboard the station and the few nightmares she remembered from her abductors, why was something like a slightly extended life span a concern to him? Had they simply not thought to do so? Was it not important to them? Jasmine had so many questions of her own she wanted to ask the aliens, but she didn¡¯t have anywhere to go, if Xant needed time to process that ¡®overwhelming¡¯ discovery she would give him space. She flicked her hand over the doors sensor, a small square of plastic that gave off a pale blue light when activated and waited for the slider to open. A guard stood outside, Private Suk she had been told, an Arvas, a tall insectoid warrior. Six eyes, each pair a different colour, red, green and blue, snapped to her position, he stared her down, saying nothing. ¡°Ummm,¡± She looked up at the guard, and then back down to the futuristic sword at its hip. ¡°I would like to go back to my hab room, please.¡± ¡°And the doctor?¡± The guard¡¯s voice came over the translator, flat and professional. Jasmine jumped a little, having only understood clicks and whistles before, to hear him speak was exciting and terrifying. ¡°He- Dr. Xant wishes to be left alone for the moment,¡± she answered. The guard nodded his head and turned down the large empty hall, expecting her to follow. Jasmine followed suit behind the silent guard, a little scared to ask any further questions. Xant allowed the human to wander into the care of Private Suk, while he desperately tried to calm his nerves. She shifted from one emotion to another with such shocking ease and ferocity. The amount of information she could broadcast was simply astounding, even after he had calibrated it as much as he could to diffuse the more harmful Frequencies. This was something he would have to bring up with the director. He retrieved a small depressor chem vial from his coat pocket, a supplement for his medipen to help cool his nerves. A small, measured dose would be needed when speaking with the human, and perhaps, a few lessons in controlling her emotions. It was a pleasant realization, that if the human had the capacity for Zenthi communication with the translator then there was an opening for more, personal methods of conveyance. Xant measured out a 1/5th of a vial, before administering the blue liquid directly into his wrist. A calming sensation flowed over his nerves, and the doctor could once again think clearly. He had learned much from their short interview, enough to prepare for the upcoming board meeting, but first, it was prudent he had himself examined in the medical wing. Just to be sure. -*- Silence fell over the room as Xant entered the director''s office, his co-workers one by one had their eyes on him. Laandi however, was the only one smiling. ¡°Salutations Xant.¡± She greeted, from the head of the boardroom table, the only one not dressed in utilitarian scrubs. Today she presented herself in a fine green tunic, cape with a single pleat over her right shoulder, black gloves ran up to her elbows hiding as much of her grey skin as she could. She gestured for the researcher to sit down, with the graceful flair that was taught to Qzetllian politicians. ¡°Salutations Laandi.¡± Xant returned, immediately taking his place to her left. The usual scornful Marsen Duuarn did not attempt a snide comment, the young geneticist seemed even more smug than usual. Xant then noticed that Kyda Jess had returned from her scheduled rotation, making Marsen¡¯s mood all the more obvious. ¡°Now then, we¡¯re all here,¡± Laandi announced. ¡°Finally...¡± The ancient Dr. Kydron muttered under his breath. The old Sulin surgeon had been busier than usual with the new specimen arrivals, he didn¡¯t like his schedule interrupted. ¡°I trust you have your quarterly reports ready?¡± Laandi asked rhetorically, black eyes narrowing as she took her seat. ¡°Isk, if you would start the session recording?¡± Isk stood to her right, a man of integrity but very little in the way of patience. He activated the boardroom¡¯s holo-display and Laandi took a deep breath to begin the recording announcements. Transcripts of ED Salhor Laandi: Department Head Second Quarter Meeting. [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] ED Laandi: It is 2130 [hours] the 25th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation Dynasty. I, Executive Director Salhor Laandi will be conducting today''s meeting with my department heads. DH Xant: Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant, Head of Research. DH Duuarn: Dr. Marsen Duuarn, Head of Bio Engineering. DH Jess: Dr. Kyda Jess, Head of Behavioral Studies. CMO Krydon: Dr. Tend Krydon, Chief Medical Officer. OM Isk: () Dr. Au Isk, Operations Manager. ED Laandi: The topic of today''s agenda is the shipment of exotic fauna from an unidentified planetoid. In total 15 different species were recovered from 6 stasis pods found in the remnants of a destroyed Rajava Vessel. Of those 15 species, 11 were non-sentient, 3 of User level intelligence and 1of Creator level intelligence. Dr. Xant you have the floor. OM Isk: () ... DH Xant: Thank You ED Laandi. [Note: DH Xant transferred the visual findings of Subject ¡®Jasmine Howe¡¯ to the holoscreen.] DH Xant: Subject was removed from the Rajava stasis pod on the 84th [day] of the first quarter. CMO Krydon and I scanned for vital organ stability and environmental conditioning. Respiratory, circulation and filtering systems all functional, Subject¡¯s environmental needs were lower than galactic standard and the enclosure was adapted to suit. Subject had been heavily sedated during her abduction, her surface fur completely removed and the glyph ¡®F17¡¯ imprinted upon the side of her cranium. No other alterations were found. I sent the initial scans to Dr. Duuarn, and had my observation team record their findings of the Subject in her new environment. Subject was unresponsive during the first week of observation, possibly due to stress, shock and the adjusting to the new enclosure-- OM Isk: () I¡¯m sorry but is this really necessary? Reciting your entire report ad nauseam? ED Laandi: Isk- DH Xant: Dr. Jess had been absent at the early stages of the project, I was merely bringing her up to speed- OM Isk: () Then Dr. Jess should have read the reports I gave her upon her re-entry of the station. DH Jess: I¡¯m sorry Isk, but if recall correctly, you stormed into my office and demanded I finish the report on the Selpharin before I was even allowed to take a sniff of the Rajava casefiles. OM Isk: () The Selpharin case was a 6 hour job tops, what in Akira¡¯s name were you doing for the remaining 53 hours?! CMO Krydon: [Snicker] ED Laandi: I will have order. [Long pause] ED Laandi: Since Dr. Jess has admitted to being ignorant of the case files I¡¯ll allow you to continue Dr. Xant. DH Jess: Thank you ED- ED Laandi: Do not thank me Dr. Jess, your poor performance has been duly noted, if it does not improve you will be up for revision, am I understood? DH Jess: Yes ED Laandi¡­ OM Isk: () ... ED Laandi: Xant, if you would continue. DH Xant: Thank you Laandi. I proposed a personal inspection of the Subject. She had no claws or spines and her jaw was not large enough to pose any sort of safety concern. Subject was timid, trembling as I approached, her body mass had decreased and her pupils dilated, I concluded that her diet was insufficient and the environmental levels contained too much oxygen. After the corrections were made, Subject became increasingly energetic and constantly vocal. On the 2nd of the Second Quarter, Subject began fashioning tools, weaving flora for crude clothing, and discovered the observation camera. On the 3rd she began clearing the area in front of the camera of flora for what we suspected to be farming. Subject instead spent the entire day depicting the internal organs of her own body in the dirt in front of the observational camera. On the 4th, Subject cleared the diagram and began to demonstrate simple mathematics, what was of particular interest was she had also drawn a key, a total of dots drawn next to the corresponding symbol-. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. DH Jess: So she was aware of our observation from the start?! And had the foresight to try and communicate with math?! ED Laandi: Dr. Jess I would advise you not to interrupt again. [Long pause] ED Laandi: Xant please continue. DH Xant: Thank you Laandi, the 5th and 6th day were more mathematics, progressing from arithmetic to basic algebra, some of the equations were incorrect but the understanding of the concept was advanced enough. At 0910 [hours] on the 7th [day] second quarter I conducted the first Sentience Test.The Subject was escorted to an interview room and I produced an illustrative dataslate. I had planned to spend the next [12 hours] in an attempt to communicate with the Subject, but after only a brief demonstration of the simple illustration tool the Subject proceeded to produce 6,789 separate illustrations- [Note: Dr. Kyda Jess stood from her chair in shock but did not interrupt Dr. Xant''s report.] DH Xant: -Including but not limited to, Biology, ecology, genetics, mathematics, chemistry, biospheres, astronomy, geology, simple engineering and segments of her own culture. Subject then attempted to communicate with me, with the following. [Note: DH Xant then transferred a presentation of corresponding images.] DH Xant: 1. Subject and 3 others were assembled around a fire at nightfall, clothed and consuming protein. 2. Subject separated from the group, no reason was given as to why. 3. A depiction of a Rajava scout ship using its kinetic tow to haul the Subject on board. 4. Subject indicates that she was unconscious. 5. Subject awoke on a organic scanner, attended by 3 Original Strain Qzetillian. 6. Subject was placed into the stasis pod. 7. Subject awoken naked in the temperate inclosure. 8. The day of my inspection. As of 2200 [hours] on the 7th [day] of the Second Quarter, I declared the Subject sentient Creator level. Subject was then provided with living quarters and amenities in accordance with the Sentience Accommodation Protocols. On the 12th [day], Subject underwent major cerebrum surgery to have a subdermal translator implanted, the translator failed on the 14th [day]. Translator was inspected and found to be overloaded, I then decided to conduct a direct neural link- OM Isk:() Against EVERY safety protocol ever published- ED Laandi: Isk¡­ DH Xant: Laandi, permission to continue after every interruption? ED Laandi: Permission granted. DH Xant: Thank you Laandi, I initiated a direct neural link, and was overwhelmed by the amount of information she was projecting. I put in an application for a Zenthi grade translator and had CMO Krydon conduct the operation himself, surgery was completed on the 19th. I began comprehensive interviews on the the 22nd. I also suspect that we will need to secure funds for an engineering team to commission a translator capable of filtering out the harmful emotion emissions- OM Isk: () Xant you can''t commission a brand new translator because another being has a personality and you don¡¯t- DH Duuarn:- Aaaand that''s where I''m going to have to stop you both, I''m sorry Dr. Xant but Isk is right on this one- DH Jess: Marsen! CMO Krydon: I assure you Dr. Duuarn, the effects of VEFS were very real, I treated Xant myself- DH Duuarn: I wasn''t talking about the VEFS, so if we are all done judging each other? I was agreeing with Dr. Isk over budget concerns. Dr. Xant has already drained the entire Research Division funds for this quarter, which means other departments are going to have their resources drained before we can even get to them. Which I reaaallllyyyy can''t let you do on the account I¡¯ve requested an extra three bioengineers to do some consulting with me. () OM Isk: () I didn''t see any Fund Requests cross my dataslate. ED Laandi: Nor mine, care to explain Dr. Duuarn? DH Duuarn: Well since everyone else here was so focused on the Creator level being, I was left with the three Users. [DH Duuarn transferred three scans to the holoscreen.] DH Duuarn: The specimens were opened on the same day as Subject Jasmine, identified as three separate species and transferred to enclosures for further study. When the specimens¡¯ medical scans came across my terminal, I first thought they maybe had the same distant genetic relative; they exhibited the same behavioral conduct and organic structure. One of them, the larger male in the corner there, also had a microprocessor embedded in his skin under the fur line, we haven''t decrypted it on the account the script isn''t anything our instruments will respond to. What really intrigued me was that the three specimens only had a 0.2% variation in DNA, every difference you see on the holo, fur colour, build size, ear shape, is due to manipulation of phenotype without extensive restructuring of the DNA strand itself- ED Laandi: Dr. Duuarn¡­ () What are you saying? DH Duuarn: What I¡¯m saying ED Laandi, is that if I read Dr. Xant¡¯s latest transcript correctly, our little creator species is dabbling in genetic engineering and they''ve already started extending their own life spans. We all know how well THAT¡¯S going to go if they¡¯re not... Discouraged. DH Jess: How far have they extended their lives? DH Duuarn: Doubled by galactic standards, but I think they¡¯re a bit more cautious than the Qzetillians of old were, using these mammalian quadrupeds as test subjects before modifying their own genes. ED Laandi: It always starts small, hubris is achieved over time. OM Isk: ()That still doesn¡¯t explain why you need an extra three bioengineers on site, sounds like you¡¯ve figured it out already. DH Duuarn: That¡¯s because, Isk, one of the females is pregnant¡­ () [Long pause] ED Laandi: What? () CMO Krydon: I can confirm Laandi, the smaller female is indeed pregnant, possibly 15 [days] along. I will be monitoring her development with Dr. Duuarn. DH Duuarn: The reports I sent to Headquarters have enough promising data to secure the extra help, but I''ll need a 10% increase for next quarter to keep the extra hands on board. OM Isk: () Well it''s coming out of your own rotten pay Duuarn! DH Duuarn: Calm yourself Isk, we wouldn''t want you to send Xant into VEFS shock- OM Isk: () You arrogant preener! You can''t go over the Director''s head for your own personal glory! ED Laandi: That is enough! () I understand that the last few weeks have been... incredible, but that isn''t an excuse to start behaving like government interns. I will see to it that everyone''s contributions are well documented and I wouldn''t be doing my job if I didn''t secure the funding needed for this facility. Now, CMO Krydon, do you have anything to add? CMO Krydon: Actually ED Laandi, I¡¯ve been kept busy running between Xant and Duuarn, so I don¡¯t have anything that isn¡¯t already covered in the report I filed. Perception tests and Physical exams are scheduled during the next 4 [days] I''ll have the results sent to Dr. Isk¡¯s terminal once completed. ED Laandi: Thank you CMO Krydon, Dr. Jess, I trust you weren¡¯t doing nothing during the [50 hours] you¡¯ve been back on shift. DH Jess: Actually, I¡¯ve been reviewing the Observational video and recordings of the Creator Subject and I¡¯ve made a discovery! Dr. Xant, you said the Subject was very vocal after the environment changes? Well I ran the vocalisations through the external translator and¡­ [Note: DH Jess began playing a sound file from her personal Dataslate] Subject Jasmine:Today is gonna be the day, that they''re gonna throw it back to you. By now you should''ve somehow realized what you gotta do. I don''t believe that anybody feels the way I do, about you now- DH Jess: She¡¯s singing! And I have to say ED Laandi, she has memorised a LOT of songs, the audio recordings are a bliss to listen to, I wonder if her entire species sings as a means of communication? ED Laandi: That would be the sort of questions you¡¯ve been hired to answer Dr. Jess. If you¡¯ve been observing the video and audio feed, why was it such a shock the Subject began communicating after only 3 [days]? DH Jess: Ah well you know ED Laandi, there¡¯s 6 [days] worth of audio so¡­ OM Isk: () The subject¡¯s sleep cycle is almost [10 hours] long, the software cuts out any long silences. By the report there was [46 hours] worth of audio and you should have reached the 3rd [day] by the [18 hour] mark... DH Jess: Well Dr. Isk, I-I am the Head of Behavioral Studies! The cultural significance of the singing could be vital in our communication with her civilization! OM Isk: () Are you saying you spent more than [50 hours] listening to less than [18 hours] of audio recording? DH Jess: The complexity and emotions woven into the songs the subject was singing were- ED Laandi: Enough! I have heard enough, () I expect you all to maintain the level of professionalism the Esaander Corporation is known for. Dr. Jess, if you do not provide me with a report of a substantial finding by the 30th, I won¡¯t even bother with a revision. Now then, if there isn''t anything else- OM Isk: () Finally! Director- ED Laandi: () Yes, Isk? OM Isk: () Akira weeps for the universe! You''ve all been entirely focused on the prey, you¡¯ve all missed the herd! Did any of you even think for a moment about the Rajava ship the specimens were found on?!! [Long pause] OM Isk:() I didn''t think so. The Rajava ship the cloaked stasis pods were found on was a troop transport. An advanced stealth transport! DH Duuarn: So the gene harvesters had a big ship, what¡¯s your point Isk? () OM Isk: () My point is that Raiders attacked an elite Rajava troop transport without knowing what was on board. If those savages are arrogant enough to take that as a target, then a research facility with less than 40 staff members would be easier than a Sulin in heat. Which is why I''m taking a quarter of all your remaining budgets and funneling it into security. You ungrateful, spoilt egg sacks are so lucky I have integrity of a Primarch Prince or you¡¯d all have no idea how high your tails are in the air! () Director, I will have a report of all the expenses sent to your terminal and your appointments with HQ scheduled, the rest of you better get your heads out of your digestive tracts. Petty bloody specialists¡­ [Note: DH Isk exited the boardroom] [Long pause] DH Xant: Dr. Krydon and I have a Perceptions test with Subject Jasmine at [23:15], I will have the report signed off by Isk. ED Laandi: Thank you Xant. Meeting adjourned. [Session Ended] Transcripts Chapter 4: Personal Log Jasmine stared at the strange tablet in her hands, alien script stared back at her. Uniform squares and circles, a triangle thrown in for good measure, it all seemed too simple really. She had played around with the paint program they had given to her, one so easy a 3 year old could have figured it out, this one, was a recording program. The aliens seemed to have given her a very limited piece of tech, idiot proof almost, the tablet started recording as soon as she started speaking. It wouldn¡¯t be long before they could exchange alphabets and other knowledge, now that she had a translator that wouldn¡¯t explode at random intervals. Jasmine rotated the tablet one final time, getting a feeling for the almost paper light device. She had to record her story while it was still fresh in her mind, before it faded away in the flurry of excitement. Personal log of Owner #0001 Owner: Uhh, umm, testing, testing, one two three¡­ I guess its recording now. Umm, ha, I really should have thought about what I wanted to say before I started¡­ That would have been smart. Okay. I should start from the beginning I guess. My name is Jasmine Howe. I¡¯m 22 years old, I was born on November 13, 1994. I dropped out of university in the first year of my chef apprenticeship. You know, exactly the sort of person you want making first contact. You wouldn''t believe how long it took me to try and remember any sort of math higher than division or any sort of algebra after Pythagoras, A squared plus B squared equals C squared, that''s Pythagoras right? The triangles? I remembered pi though, they were impressed with that one. Oh. Uhh I¡¯m getting off track. Owner: On January 20th, 2017, I was with three friends - Katherine Nguyen, Daniel Chamkov, and¡­ Warren Baker, we were making our way back to the city- uhh damn I forgot their ages, okay, before I go any further and you all think I¡¯m a scatterbrain, I just want to point out that I can¡¯t take any notes ¡®cause the tablet they gave me only runs one program at a time. It¡¯s frustrating as hell, cause I can¡¯t check notes while doing the recording, or draw while listening to the alien audio books. When the hell was the last time you worked on a computer without at least having some background music or something?!? Everything is in audio form by the way, but I guess when the species who created the translator is psychic you care more about listening than writing things down¡­ God I''m off track again, anyway my point was that if this doesn¡¯t sound like a proper fluid essay it¡¯s cause I have to say these things off the top of my head, I¡¯ll have to ask Xant to send me another tablet so I can get these audio files sorted. [Long pause] Owner: Okay, back to what happened, the three of us had been out in the bush somewhere north of the city, and we stopped by the coast to have one final night on the beach before making the long drive back to proper beds¡­ We were around the campfire, drinking, but not like totally sloshed or anything, I needed to uhh, relieve myself, so I called them all names and trekked off to find a suitable bush¡­ I, [] I won¡¯t go into too much detail about what happened next, a bright light engulfed me and I was weightless, then everything went [] black. I woke up while they were studying me, and I¡¯m going to leave it at that ¡®cause when I try too hard to remember it, the memories come back and I kinda want to sleep tonight. What I can say is that it fucking hurt though¡­ Whatever the fuck they were doing to me was like, liposuction without anesthetic, it hurt like¡­.[] [System error, input non compatible with this device] [Long pause] Owner: The worst part of it all was I knew they didn¡¯t fucking care. [Long pause] Owner: I don¡¯t know. [Deep breath] Sorry...I know I should try to remember all the details but, it is a lot to deal with. I''ll try to come back to it, and see if I can remember anything else, but I need some distance first, this whole thing is... [Long pause] Yeah. Anyway, when I woke up the second time in the fakest zoo enclosure ever, then I really had no idea what the fuck was happening. It would have been kind of hilarious if it wasn¡¯t real. Doing nothing felt like the best option. Well, some combination of ¡®nothing¡¯ and ¡®crying¡¯. I¡¯m not really sure how long it was between being shocked and crying that I realised I couldn''t really stand up on my own, I was really light headed and nauseous. It was a struggle to get to the water feature they put in, it was humiliating trying to dig a hole to pee in. [Long pause] I didn''t have the appetite to eat, So I was getting weaker by the minute, my vision was blurry. I slept a few times, don''t know for how long, there wasn''t a night cycle in the enclosure. A door opened from the side I had decided was north, and that''s when I saw Dr. Xant. He¡¯s big, probably over 6 ft, with blue-black and grey skin, a long snout and thin ears on the top of his head. He has two arms, but only four fingers on each hand and he walks on, the backwards knee thing, Uhh, dragon legs? He also hunches over a little, his tail balances him out. I knew he had to be some sort of caretaker, he wore a white coat over a protective grey suit and black gloves, the uniform of a mad doctor is apparently the universal standard. I''ll draw a picture sometime. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. [Long pause, heavy breathing] Anyway, of course I was scared shitless of this thing coming toward me, but I could barely sit up straight, let alone run away. I think the first thing that helped put me at ease was how he approached. Never looked me in the eyes directly, like I was a wounded animal, I mean, technically I was a wounded animal, but he was slow, kept his distance and stayed low to the ground, didn''t want to startle me, waited on me to make the first move. I guess it was just instinct that I started to relax, he didn''t seem like the uncaring bastards who took me, maybe they didn¡¯t find what they were looking for and dumped me down the line? I really had no idea what to expect. Xant was careful, he didn''t try to move or touch me unnecessarily. He approached slowly and reached out, gently guiding my head to either side, feeling for something in my throat. After I took a deep breath and looked up, I saw Xant watching me and gesturing towards something out of my vision, before tapping on my arm using a little white tool. I figured it was some sort of medical equipment and tried to be cooperative since it seemed like he wanted to help. I held as still as I could while he used the med-stick to scan my arm and take some readings. Oh, the med-stick is so cool by the way, it''s about the size and shape of an epi-pen, it''s an all-in-one diagnoser, has a little laser to scan the eyes and temperature, needle on one end to take skin, blood and saliva samples then tells you what''s up with this cute little voice - [Door com chimes] Other 1: Jasmine, may I enter? Owner: Oh! Yeah Xant, come in. [Door slides open and closed.] Owner: So how did the board meeting go? Other 1: It was, [sigh] even more, disruptive than usual. Owner: [Confused] Disruptive? That doesn¡¯t sound very professional. Other 1: Even professionals can argue from time to time, but the situation is complex. We will have to wait a while longer before we can obtain you a custom translator. Duuarn had gone over the Director''s head and made a request from the company, which Laandi was not exactly thrilled about. Owner: Guessing that was what the major disruption was about? Other 1: Not exclusively, but by far the most pressing disruption. He suggested that my use of department funds was irresponsible. Personally, I believe communication with an educated Creator species is more important than mapping a new User-class genome, but Duuarn seems compelled to prove his choice of specimen superior. Owner: Duuarn sounds like an ass(hole). Other 1: He can be unpleasant to work with, but he wouldn''t be assigned to this station if he did not have the credentials. Owner: () (No resentment toward Duuarn?) Well, I guess we can work with what we have now, it seems to be working OK for me most of the time. Other 1: It is broadcasting your more dominant Frequency from time to time, interrupting your speech, your emotions are not being filtered as well as they should be. Owner: Is that a bad thing? I mean, aside from having to avoid thinking anything embarrassing all day. Other 1: Only if your emotions remain erratic; strong emotions are keenly felt by my people, and the amplification from the translator can make the sudden change give off a mild nauseating effect. Owner: Wait, are you saying my emotions can make you sick? Other 1: Only when they''re unstable, I didn''t want to exacerbate the condition further, but with training you will be able to contain your emotions yourself. We have two hours before we are required in the medical wing for Dr. Krydon¡¯s examination. If you are willing, I would like to guide you through a meditation session. Owner: If you think that will help? Does it have something to do with your telepathy? Other 1: Sudden changes in Frequency are uncomfortable, but manageable, I want to stress that it is not your fault. There will always be a need for adjustments when integrating a new species, and this is one adjustment I am happy to make. Owner: Xant, if meditation helps then I can''t say no, I especially won''t say no if it means I can leave this room. Is there any word when I''ll be able to walk the facility unsupervised? Other 1: I don''t foresee Laandi keeping you under restrictions after the Perception tests, although some areas of the facility may be hazardous if you''re sensitive to chemicals or certain audible or electromagnetic Frequencies. After the examination we should have a better idea of your compatibility with our standard environmental settings. Owner: Okay, I understand that, I guess I''ll just have to hold your hand until then. Other 1: Such proximity is not necessary, I can- Owner: That was a joke, Xant¡­ Other 1: Ah, humour, such a pleasant surprise. We can relocate to my quarters, I have more comfortable furnishings to accommodate us while joining. Owner: (Nothing suss about that statement at all.) Lead the way, [] [Long pause] [] Oh, I completely forgot, umm, how do I stop the recording? Other 1: This button here, just- [Session Ended] Transcripts Chapter 5: Dominant Frequency Jasmine placed her Dataslate down on the flimsy plastic desk in front of her and stood from the soft oval stool. Everything in the room that had been designated to her was soft edged and clinical white. Comforting yet empty. Xant nodded his head and turned to the wide automated door, waving his four fingered hand over the sensor panel to the right of the arch. ¡°Living Quarters¡± The polite door reminded them of their location. Xant stepped out into the hallway, hands tucked behind his wide back and tail wagging subtly from side to side. Jasmine waited for his bulk to pass through the door before hurrying out to walk beside him. A single step from the Zenthi doctor was worth two of Jasmine''s own, it was a little strange, not being able to step in time with the being beside her, even more strange that conversation on the way to Xant''s quarters was non-existent. She had learned that walking and talking was not the etiquette aboard the station. Aliens rarely walked in groups and if they did it was single file, one after the other like elementary school children. Jasmine also noticed the sparse amount of crew that were on board, she had only met a handful of doctors and only four had given their names. They didn''t pass anyone as they made the turn to Xant''s room. He waved his hand in front of the sensor panel and the polite door chimed. ¡°Doctor Uru¡¯Nav Xant.¡± Jasmine was eager to see the doctor¡¯s living space, peering over his shoulder as he stepped through. The room was unsurprisingly larger than her own but laid out very much the same, desk at the entrance, sleeping hub at the far end of the rectangular room, washroom in the right corner, but it was everything else that Jasmine was interested in. The very first thing that caught her eye was the massive terrarium that took up almost the entire right side of the wall. ¡°Oh my god¡­¡± she gasped, staring as she stepped in. Instead of varying shades of green, the plants that filled the glass box were vibrant reds and purples, all manicured and arranged in perfect ''natural¡¯ formations. It was clearly the feature of the room, the other wall was bare except for a small shelf, filled with about twenty or so other dataslates. The centre of the floor was covered in a cream woven mat, thick strands like embroidery thread. Firm large pillows sat on each corner of the carpet, Xant had taken a seat in the upper left corner and waited for Jasmine. ¡°This is amazing!¡± she exclaimed, hands hovering over the glass. ¡°(It''s so beautiful¡­)¡± her mind echoed. ¡°Specimens from the planet Jothram. My first assignment with the Esanda corporation.¡± Xant explained without being prompted. ¡°All of them contributed to pharmaceutical advancement, and lead to my outposting upon Uleesia Station.¡± Xant watched as Jasmine continued to study the flora. ¡°These plants are particularly fascinating to you?¡± ¡°Well yeah, most of the plants back home are green. We have a few flowers this colour but not entire plants this vibrant, they almost look fake.¡± She replied, most of their conversations were extended explanations, learning more and more about each other from simple interactions. ¡°Fake foliage?¡± ¡°Yeah for decoration, to make a room more inviting and well, livable?¡± Jasmine finally tore her eyes away from the terrarium and noticed Xant watching her. ¡°But a lot of people don''t have the time for real plants.¡± she moved to tuck her hair behind her ear, but faltered. Her hair didn''t reach past her ear anymore, nervous habits didn''t get the memo. ¡°Jasmine, could you please hand me the Dataslate upon my desk? I would like to record the meditation session for further study.¡± Xant asked. Jasmine was quick to fetch the tablet from the empty desk, but her attention was taken once again when her bare feet touched the cream rug. It was like silk, soft and luxurious under her toes, she slid her foot over its threads and let out a small murmur. ¡°(It''s so nice¡­.)¡± Her mind wondered, her eyes focused on the intricate patterns woven into the rug. ¡°It truly is fascinating watching you Jasmine, I''ve never known a being to be so dividedly distracted and yet focused.¡± Xant observed. Jasmine snapped her head up and froze in place. She knew he didn''t mean anything by the comment, but sometimes his words came off a little concerning. He reached out his hand and she placed the Dataslate within it, taking a seat on the comfy pillow opposite. Xant carefully tapped away on his Dataslate, noting that Jasmine sat in what he proposed was a ritualistic fashion rather than comfort, legs folded underneath her with hands resting within the lap, her eyes closing as if it was expected of her. He gave the final tap on the slate, beginning the recording programme. Personal log of Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant #3794 . Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Xant: Now the recording has started, we can begin. Jasmine, if you could transfer over to your dominant Frequency channel? Jasmine: Done (switching to mind speak¡­ yay¡­) Xant: From now on we will be using the dominant Frequency, I will help you to control and contain your thoughts. Jasmine: (Okay¡­ and I want to apologize for anything disturbing or embarrassing that might get thrown your way-) Xant: What is the sum of 1 added to 1? Jasmine: (2?... But what has that got to do with-) Xant: What is 24 divided by 3? Jasmine: (Right¡­ ¡­ 8, 16, 24, it''s 24¡­) Xant: What is 5 multiplied by 8? Jasmine: (... ¡­ 40) Xant: ¡­ Now, I will say a number and I want you to reply the next corresponding digit. 23 Jasmine: (24¡­ ) Xant: 56. Jasmine: (57¡­ ¡­) Xant: 49. Jasmine: (50¡­ ¡­ ¡­ ) [Long pause] Xant: I want you to hold onto that feeling, the anticipation before answering a question. Your brain is waiting to process information, and so, is not focused on anything other than what it is waiting for. Jasmine:(.... Hey¡­ you''ve done this before haven''t you?) Xant: All masters were once students Jasmine, your mind simply lacks discipline. Jasmine: (I''m sorry Xant-) Xant: Do not apologize, you''ve never needed to control your thoughts until now. These are exercises you can practice by yourself, until you can exist with complete peace of mind. Jasmine: (I''m not sure I''ll be able to without you guiding me¡­) Xant: All I ask is that you try. Jasmine: (Do or not do, there is no try.) Xant: ¡­ Jasmine, who was that? Jasmine: (... Oh uhh, that was¡­ Jedi master Yoda, he''s a fictional alien who helps a human figure out psychic powers of his own...) Xant: A memory from the past? Jasmine: (Yeah you could say that...) Xant: Then this meditation could be even more important, if your brain is uncontrolled you could broadcast more sensitive information- Jasmine: (why do you think I wanted to block this frequency in the first place?! Human brains are notorious for being triggered by certain phrases -Phrasing!- See?? Now I¡¯ve got interruptions within my own head, it''s not hurting you is it Xant? Oh god I really hope my random brain isn''t hurting you- Xant: Jasmine you''re becoming distressed again, what is 34 divided by 2? Jasmine: (Right okay.. Half of 4 is 2 and half of 30 is 15, 15 plus 2 is 17¡­ 17... breathe girl breathe) Xant: What is 7 multiplied by 4? Jasmine: (... its 28.. Inhale exhale inhale exhale¡­.) Xant: What is 22 plus 33? Jasmine: (... 55) Xant: ¡­ Jasmine: (¡­.) Xant: Jasmine¡­ I don¡¯t want you to answer the next questions. Jasmine:(Okay?...) Xant: What is 5 plus 3? Jasmine: (..Eigh-....) Xant: What is 7 times 8? Jasmine: (Sev-......) Xant: 22 minus 4 Jasmine: (...) Xant: Your favourite colour? Jasmine: (.... ¡­) [Long pause] Xant: Do you feel it now? Your heartbeat, your breathing cycle, your circulation, all of these things are you, but you do not acknowledge them¡­ You choose to acknowledge, your own mind can be the same, not every question needs to be dignified with a response. Jasmine: (...But.. I feel so rude not responding... ) Xant: Social constructs are the hardest barriers to cross, but, for your own well being you must. Zenthi children need to be taught they are individuals¡­ You must be taught you are part of the One. Jasmine: () (The One?... I¡¯m sorry Xant¡­ But what you¡¯re saying holds¡­ Certain connotations) Xant: Perhaps I am approaching from the wrong path. You may switch over to your speech channel now, I will have an exercise programme sent to your dataslate so you may practise in your own time. Jasmine: ... (Okay¡­) Xant: I will also speak to Dr. Jess, she is the Behavioral Studies expert aboard the station. She should have some logs about The One and the joining methods, I believe our sessions will proceed more smoothly when you have a better understanding of the philosophy involved. Jasmine: Man, I feel like I just failed some sort of test. You¡¯re not disappointed are you? Xant: Never Jasmine. This has been an enlightening experience for me. It has been a few years since I shared wavelengths with another, I myself am possibly too eager to make a true connection. In the highest forms of joining we can transfer nerve responses and emotional memories. To find another species capable of this is, if you¡¯ll excuse my phrasing, mind blowing. Jasmine: No, mind blowing would be an accurate description of what.. All of this is. [Session Ended] Xant rose from his cushion, returning the Dataslate to its supposed rightful place upon the shelf before sliding out another in its place. Jasmine often wondered how he could tell the difference between each unmarked white tablet, but thought maybe it was something she couldn''t see. ¡°We are due for the Perceptions Test in the medical wing¡± Xant prompted gently, his head turning to the side curiously ¡°I hope I have not troubled you Jasmine?¡± ¡°No more than I have troubled you, really.¡± she smiled, but he could feel the strange tickling in his diaphragm, nerves. She didn''t want to speak with him about it, she was trying to hide her discomfort for his benefit. He would need to talk with Dr. Jess sooner than he would like. Transcripts Chapter 6: Organic Chemistry [These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi] [Note: CMO Krydon was behind schedule, but he offered his office space so that we might conduct another interview so as not to waste any time. I accepted, Jasmine was happy to comply, once she had finished exploring Dr. Krydons office.] Dr Xant: I believe we left off discussing the lifespan of a human... Subject: Yeah, are you still alright to talk about that? You were pretty shaken up the last time. Dr Xant: I¡¯ve had time to compose myself and I¡¯ve consulted with my peers on the matter, and I was hoping we could talk more about the subject. Subject: Of course, what did you want to know? Dr Xant: At what point in your development cycle does the engineering begin? Subject: () Wait, what? Dr Xant: When do your engineers begin reconstruction and redesign? Subject: Where did you get that from? Everything is uhh, still manual, I mean, our longevity is all just medical and hygiene advances¡­ Okay see in the past the vast majority of humans died a lot earlier, I mean it wasn''t until the Industrial Revolution that humans began to live longer, more full lives. With medical advances such as penicillin and antibiotics we could stave off more Illnesses that killed people younger, oh almost forgot immunisation, THAT alone saved billions of lives across the century. Dr Xant: Immunisation? Subject: You''re, you''re kidding me right? Dr Xant: Jasmine I think that through all our time together you would have come to the conclusion our senses of humour are very different. Subject: Okay, well, immunisation is when a weaker strain of a virus is introduced into the body for our white blood cells to attack and create antibodies for, so when a real virus shows up our bodies are already prepared for it. Dr Xant: Your species knowingly introduce a deadly virus into your immune system, it adapts and is able to eliminate the threat? Subject: You¡¯re telling me that¡¯s not how everyone else does it? Dr Xant: We¡¯ve been adding counteractive measures to our gene pools since the war, but they are scripted to defend against specific strains of virus and bacteria. Subject: I, you''ve lost me Xant. Are you saying you create viruses to defeat other viruses? Dr Xant: Yes, in simple terms, but we do engineer viruses to attack other offending viruses. Subject: I¡¯m amazed you¡¯re not all dead from some mutated strain¡­ Dr Xant: Genetic diversity is ensured and perfected during the engineering process, if a species gene pool is too homogenic then they¡¯re susceptible to all kinds of Viral or Bacterial threats¡­ Jasmine, you¡¯ve gone pale. Subject: Xant, you¡¯re talking about biological warfare¡­() Humanity classifies that as like, the greatest war crime ever. We¡¯ve got stockpiles of bombs that could irradiate the entire planet and destroy all life on earth, but biological warfare, that¡¯s just... Dr Xant: I think, for the first time, I have upset you. Subject : I''m just thinking of the ramifications. We have diseases locked away that could devastate entire populations in hours, but you guys have been perfecting the one act of war we all agreed was just too horrible to commit. Dr Xant: If it puts you at ease, it is a dark chapter of the universe that has come to a close. You can refer to the ¡®Painful Dynasty¡¯ in the history logs, but we have strayed from the topic; humanity has not yet implemented genetic engineering into their development cycle and yet you have extended your lives beyond what we in the galactic council thought the limit of conscious life. Subject: The limit? That¡¯s not the limit at all- Dr Xant: It is the limit we allowed ourselves. Extending it beyond those limitations causes, cultural problems I am not qualified to answer without bias. Subject: I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re asking Xant, are you asking how we did it? Dr Xant: I am sorry Jasmine, this is a very controversial topic amongst the Galactic Council, and I am bound to uphold the views of the company that support it. But if you have not extended your life through overt genetic engineering then it means¡­ I am not qualified to talk about this. I am sorry I tried to probe further. [Note: Due to the impromptu nature of the interview I did not have the necessary notes available to me at the time of questioning, I will refrain from doing such interviews with the subject in the future. Cultural guidance will be supplied by Dr. Kyda Jess in subsequent sessions.] Subject: () It''s alright, I''ll read the history logs. [Long pause] Subject: We can talk about something else? I¡¯m sure there¡¯s more fascinating things about the human body I can wow you with. Did you know we can drink disinfectant fluid and get a high from it? Dr Xant: I beg your pardon? [Note: Subject rose from the desk and walked over to Krydon¡¯s medicinal cabinet, pulling out a small vial of a mild disinfectant, sniffing it and returning to her place.] Subject: Isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, I mean it¡¯s not the stuff we drink for recreational purposes, but in very small amounts, it produces the same effects. I smelt the stuff all over the living quarters, you don¡¯t forget the smell of cleaning alcohol. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Dr Xant: Please elaborate Jasmine. Subject: () Alcohol, ethanol technically, as long as our bloodstream content remains under 0.08% causes an intoxication effect, relaxing, warming the body and lowering inhibitions. Huh, it might even help our next meditation session, ethanol suppresses certain brain signals and enhances others, such as the filter between what I think and what I say. Dr Xant: and when it rises above 0.08%? Subject: Yeah, that¡¯s the downside, ethanol is still fairly poisonous to the human body, our liver can filter a couple of milliliters at a time, but the buildup causes a lot of problems. It impairs speech, perception, motor skills, memory, we lose balance, and our pain receptors dull too so we don''t feel as much when we get hurt. Over long term exposure it degrades our internal organs, restricts circulation, destroys brain cells - [Note: Subject later explained that during her research for her studies she was exposed to and expected to memorise several different types of ethanol and its chemical structures. She was expected to understand its hazardous effects before producing it as a consumable.] Dr Xant: If it has such a detrimental effect on the body I can only assume it must also have narcotic properties, Glucose has a very similar effect in the Sulin. Subject: Huh, the Sulin (lizards) get addicted to sugar? I mean, humans can get addicted to sugar too, combine sugar and alcohol and you get a wicked high that disguises the horrible taste of the thing that gets you drunk. The repercussions of the mixture next morning however, (laughs) Ha, I can imagine, sugar is cocaine to Sulin (lizards) and we''re the weirdos for drinking cleaning fluid. Dr Xant: Organic chemistry may have to be the next subject we discuss, if i recall correctly there were other chemical structures within your initial commutative illustrations that were also cause for concern. Subject: Which ones were they? Salt, caffeine, chilli powder or vegetable oil? Xant, the only reason I know those chemical structures is because a friend bought me a novelty chemistry kitchen set. [Note: Almost all the more complex chemical structures the subject outlaid in the initial 7000 illustrations were consumables.] Dr Xant: Ah yes, that is what it was Caffeine. A great stimulant for the Zenthi and Qzetillia, lethal to the Arvas. As a result its tightly regulated within council space. Subject: Oh man, Earth practically runs on caffeine, I¡¯m not sure we could work the modern world without it. We have entire professions dedicated to the serving of caffeine, and alcohol too for that matter, Baristas and Brewers, that''s what I wanted to be, a Brewer.(Sigh) [Long pause] Subject: I¡¯m not surprised caffeine is lethal to the Arvas (grasshoppers) though, I know it can be used as a natural pesticide, my friend Daniel throws all his coffee grounds on his garden, and no bugs. [Note: Subject seems to be referring to a classification of a species in this instance that may or may not resemble the Arvas in at least appearance but certainly not behavior. Subject also seems to be more comfortable revealing more personal experiences] Dr Xant: Jasmine, it appears that with every conversation we have it only seems to draw more questions than answers- Unknown 1: [Muffled] Restrain the specimen immediately! Unknown 2: whimper! Yelp! Subject: () [Note: There was a loud commotion on the other side of CMO Krydon¡¯s office, created by Dr. Duuarn¡¯s Specimen. Subject stood up in an instinctual response to the noise.] Dr Xant: Jasmine! Get away from the door! Unknown 2: Whimper! whine!! Unknown 1: Get it under control now!! [Session Ended] Xant shut off the recording as Jasmine practically leapt from her stool to the office door. ¡°Jasmine!?¡± Xant called out confused as he watched the normally level headed human swipe her hand furiously at the door¡¯s sensor. The door¡¯s polite chime was ignored, as soon as the white plastic slid open Jasmine jumped through. Her body tensed and Xant felt a shock through his own system, disgust, anger, fear. He craned his head to see, needing to know what could have caused such a horrid reaction. ¡°Oh my god puppy...¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice whimpered. A Sulin handler held one of Duuarn¡¯s specimens by the throat, it¡¯s golden fur scruffed and appendages flailing wildly, tail tucked between its legs. Even without a translator you could see the creature was terrified. Jasmine¡¯s entire body clenched, her face red with fury as she yelled ¡°LET GO OF HER THROAT!!¡± Everyone in the room froze. The Sulin handler releasing the specimen from his clawed hand, letting the poor thing drop to the floor. The staff watched on as the golden furred creature scrambled to its feet and ran past everyone, including Jasmine, and into Kyrdon¡¯s office. Yelping in fear at the sight of Xant, before cowering beside the only free standing shelf trying to make itself seem small. Jasmine was not finished however, unleashing a torrent of emotion and intimidation against the confused handler. ¡°What the hell were you doing?!¡± She demanded, fists clenched and water forming in her eyes as she glared him down. ¡°You could have choked her! Or severed her spine! You NEVER hold an animal like that!!¡± The Sulin handler raised his claws in surrender. ¡°I-I''m sorry?¡± He choked through sharp teeth. Jasmine gasped, and took a step back, realising what she was doing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she muttered quickly, averting her eyes, ¡°Just, don''t do it again.¡± She snapped and spun on her heel storming toward the office. Xant had barely moved, he had not seen Duuarn¡¯s specimen since they had opened the stasis pods weeks earlier. Now it was awake and moving in the office, trembling as Jasmine had done when he had first encountered her. Jasmine had taken control now, like an Arvas Prince she commanded without words, no one was to go near her or the specimen, no one was to move. Everyone watched on with curiosity and trepidation, observing as she stood her ground against the staff and then as it melted away when facing the creature. Lowering down to her knees, voice becoming soft. A single hand outstretched and beconning. ¡°It''s okay puppy,¡± she spoke just above a whisper, ¡°You''re safe now, it''s okay. I won''t let them hurt you any more, it''s okay.¡± The creature¡¯s eyes darted from Jasmine to Xant behind her, its head and ears lowered. ¡°(Xant, leave the room slowly, don''t make any sudden movements)¡± Jasmine''s voice was firm, an order she expected him to obey. The doctor slid his feet, inching out of the room while keeping an eye on Jasmine. Her focus was completely on the ¡®puppy¡¯ whispering comforting words, her hands reaching out to it. It was only after Xant¡¯s exit that the creature moved, approaching Jasmine¡¯s hand for a sniff, before nudging her hand. Gentle strokes upon the head became a full embrace, Jasmine rubbed its fur and pressed her cheek to its face. The ¡®puppy¡¯ in turn gave a lick to Jasmine''s face before resting its head upon her shoulder. ¡°(Xant have everyone back up against the walls, I¡¯m coming out.)¡± Another order came through the translator, but he didn¡¯t need to deliver them. The staff backed off in unison as Jasmine emerged from the office, the large creature cradled in her arms. ¡°It¡¯s okay puppy, we¡¯re just going to go for a walk (I¡¯m returning to my room) we¡¯re going to go to my room for a play (I¡¯ll let you know when we¡¯ve calmed down) and maybe a nap, definitely some food.¡± The staff were staring in amazement as she delivered two different but comprehensible messages at once. She walked past them all without even so much as a glance, her arms straining under the weight but showed no signs of faltering. Xant understood now. How she was so adept at reading body language, the creature could not comprehend her words without a translator, but understood her intentions completely. An unspoken language. There was a moment of silence after Jasmine and the creature had left the lab, everyone staring at each other, waiting, wondering for direction. Dr. Krydon cleared his throat. ¡°I think that will be all for today¡­¡± he announced ¡°Pa, Nu, gather what data you have on the other specimens and send them to my terminal. Ceaan, you¡¯d best have an explanation ready as to why Duuarn¡¯s prized specimen is now in the captive hands of¡­ Jasmine¡± He turned his head to look at the other Sulin handler through his cybernetic eye. ¡°Nyk, I suggest we have you transferred to another team...¡± The young handler did not protest, lowering his head dejected. ¡°Xant,¡± Krydon finally addressed the other department head beside him ¡°You¡¯d best go and sort this out with the Director before Duuarn gets informed, the last thing we need is that bloated head screeching at us.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± Xant replied absentmindedly, still staring at the door where Jasmine had left. Transcripts Chapter 7: Unscheduled Meetings Salhor Laandi¡¯s black eyes scanned the data from Duuarn¡¯s latest report, she had read the numbers over and over again and still she was overwhelmed. Between the three specimens there were more than 200 stable phenotype mutations, and yet the creatures were still ultimately the same genome. The possibilities alone filled her with a hope she had long thought lost. Laandi looked down at her own main hand, an amalgamation of at least four species. The sensitive finger-pads of a Savori, the four digits arrangement of a Sulin, the long thin limbs were obviously Arvas in design, all of it wrapped within her own Qzetilla pale grey skin. A cruel reminder, for all her species had lost and fought for, they would never be a whole. Her office door chimed. ¡°Laandi.¡± Xant¡¯s voice came over comms, ¡°May I speak with you?¡± Laandi quickly closed the open report on her terminal, and composed her thoughts. ¡°Please Xant, when you¡¯re ready.¡± The white door slid open and the large Zenthi walked in, his walk slow and precise, he came bearing bad news. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I must inform you of an unforeseen development.¡± Xant did not take his usual seat at her desk, Laandi noticed. ¡°Is this an official report?¡± ¡°I have no qualms if you wish to record my statement.¡± ¡°For company policy.¡± Laandi opened her recorder and began the report statement. [These transcripts are for office use only, unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051, Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation] ED Laandi: It is 0125 [hours] of the 26th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation Dynasty. Dr. Xant arrived in my office to make an unscheduled report. Dr. Xant you have the floor DH Xant: Thank you Laandi, when Jasmine and I approached the Medical department Dr. Krydon informed us he was running behind schedule with the Perception tests. He offered his office as an interview space where Jasmine and I could conduct an impromptu test with the increment of time spare. However, as Krydon was finishing the last specimen¡¯s ocular tests the creature ripped out its translator, broke free from its handler and was attempting entry of the office. In the commotion the handler held the creature inappropriately, Jasmine bore witness to this and became aggressive. ED Laandi: She was upset over the handling of the creature? DH Xant: Yes, she became commanding in a way I could only describe as ¡®Royal¡¯. Her presence was felt Director, and yet it was never imposed upon the creature. Our assumption that the Specimens were genetic test subjects will need further inquiry, a clear bond is present between the User and the Creator. She calmed the creature, before escorting it to her living quarters. The Subject informed us she was not to be disturbed until further notice. ED Laandi: She just, took the creature? Were there any attempts made to secure them both? DH Xant: As I said before, her presence was like that of an Arvas Prince or Princess, it should also be noted that Jasmine issued orders through her dominant Frequency while speaking calmingly to the creature at the same time. ED Laandi: Contrasting neural messages. DH Xant: Indeed Director, the phenomenon was recorded and the entire staff was there to witness it. I will try to replicate the effects whilst ensuring not to upset Jasmine further. ED Laandi: Very good. Also Xant, before I forget, I''ve secured a translator technician from headquarters they will be arriving with the two engineers Duuarn had requested earlier. DH Xant: Two bioengineers? I recall Duuarn requested three. ED Laandi: Yes, but it would be a waste if we didn¡¯t diversify resources, after all, it is clear now that a Zenthi translator does not meet the demands of the new Creator. I can justify the expenditure if it means a prototype for an entirely new market will be available. Was that everything you wished to discuss? DH Xant: Yes. [Session Ended] Laandi turned off the recording and relaxed a little. Xant did not. ¡°Xant, I know this whole ordeal must be weighing heavily on your shoulders, please do not work beyond your means. You ensure Jasmine is well rested, you should do the same with yourself.¡± ¡°The workload is challenging but not immensely so Laandi. This is a discovery worthy of a new Dynasty, and it requires my full attention.¡± ¡°Of course, but please, take the next half [day] rest without stims, I will clear with Isk about changing your schedule.¡± ¡°Thank you Laandi.¡± Xant turned to exit the room. Laandi waited until Xant left before she pulled up his reports on Jasmine. A Creator species with so much raw potential, the genetic material alone was priceless. Untold years of construction linking the Creators¡¯ home space to the Council systems and the potential markets therein would boost the Galactic economy across all sectors. As for the cultural enrichment¡­ Laandi paused, and gave an uneasy sigh. Xant was a professional in every sense of the word, a true career scientist. Jess, on the other hand, couldn¡¯t be trusted to answer her own questions in the reports she handed in, multitaskers were troublesome. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. -*- Xant approached the smallest department on the station, Behavioral Studies. It was located out of the way from most of the other divisions, since cross-referencing was near non-existent. Xant¡¯s ears folded down as he approached the door, sliding his hand over the sensor. ¡°Behavioral Studies Department¡± the door informed him and there was a slight yelp from inside. ¡°Dr. Xant!¡± One of the assistants looked up from her terminal (Myra if he remembered correctly) she left the terminal running as she rushed to formally greet him. ¡°We weren''t expecting you, uhh, sorry for the disorganisation.¡± Myra gestured with her tail over to the cluttered communal desk, several dataslates were strewn across its surface, flashing the familiar illustrations of Jasmine¡¯s work. Myra coughed grabbing the doctor''s attention, turning her head to the side in an attempt to be demure. ¡°Is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been studying Jasmine¡¯s actions for the past few [days] now, I was hoping you might be able to share some insight-¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Myra clamped her trimmed claws over her mouth in attempt to cover the shock ¡°You¡¯re asking for my help??¡± Xant blinked his second eyelids. ¡°Not specifically,¡± he answered bringing up his own dataslate. ¡°But I need to know the social precedent when dealing with User intelligences.¡± Myra looked back in disbelief. ¡°Has Duuarn actually let you near his User specimens? We¡¯ve been requesting for days to be able to look at the footage of the pack in action and he''s denied every single one!¡± ¡°Duuarn has made no such arrangements with me, but I need to be one step ahead of him regarding this.¡± Xant showed the Sulin assistant the security footage from Krydon¡¯s office and laboratory. Myra stared intently, her claw moving the footage around as it played. ¡°Oh my, very ¡®Royal¡¯ there, she even got Ceaan¡¯s attention, and quite aggressive, poor Nyk¡­¡± She muttered under her breath ¡°Wait, now that is unprecedented!¡± She paused the video as Jasmine had embraced the creature. ¡°DR. JESS!!¡± Myra called out, darting over to her superior. Dr. Jess had been completely engrossed at her three terminals at the end of the office, flicking between video, audio and her own notes. Jess¡¯s tail stood up as her assistant thrusted Xant¡¯s tablet into her face. ¡°Dr. Jess!! Your hypothesis was correct!!¡± ¡°Myra, what?!¡± Jess snapped, ¡°I¡¯ve got less than 48 hours to compile a report for ED Laaaa¡­.?!¡± but her voice trailed off as Myra replayed the footage for her. ¡°Your hypothesis was correct!¡± the assistant gleamed. ¡°All the subtext in the songs, affection towards others and-¡± Jess snatched the dataslate from Myra and fiddled with the controls, within a second the footage was up on her own visual terminal, shoving the dataslate back into her assistant''s hand before focusing her attention to the larger screen to study the details. ¡°...¡± Jess was intense, watching the point of affection and rewinding it to the aggression toward the staff. Myra looked to Xant sympathetically, handing him back his dataslate. ¡°It can''t be.¡± Jess mused, ¡°She''s putting the comfort of the User over the reassurance of the staff. The creature doesn''t even have a translator in. Even if it was a familiar species, the gap of understanding is too large for this kind of affection. It''s almost maternal.¡± Jess turned to Myra. ¡°Where did you get this footage??¡± ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Xant made his presence known, Jess froze. ¡°Dr. Xant? Y-you came down here yourself?¡± She stuttered, her bold tone vanishing within the presence of the Zenthi. ¡°It is a matter of urgency. Duuarn will be informed of this and I need to know before he starts quibbling about breaches of containment. Does this constitute a symbiotic relationship?¡± ¡°I¡­ don''t know.¡± Jess turned to the monitor and scanned over it again. ¡°I''ve seen this behaviour in User pack animals before, but it''s never crossed over so strongly into Modifier or Creator level to have a study on it. The familiarity with the creature suggests that it¡¯s her own cub or a clanmate but...¡± she rewound the footage, ¡°Here she puts the staff on edge, we¡¯ve seen this plenty of times on Arvas ships, Princes and Princesses command through frequency intimidation, but she''s also grabbed Ceaan¡¯s attention, Qzet¡¯s are usually immune to that sort of thing. She takes a moment here, looking away as though she knows she''s done wrong by singling out Nyk, but doesn''t try to correct the social imbalance, leaving the staff in suspense of her actions. They don''t know whether she¡¯ll attack or relax so they must wait in order to respond accordingly.¡± Jess let the video play until Jasmine approached the specimen. ¡°But here, she grabs the creature¡¯s attention and lowers herself! This should undo the front of intimidation for everyone but because it''s so focused on the creature it creates an intimacy she- oh, She even excluded you Xant.¡± Jess looked at the doctor for a reaction, but there was none. ¡°Dr. Jess, you were explaining.¡± ¡°Oh! I mean, by placing herself on the same level as the User she is signifying that they are equals, at least in User Pack societal norms. She''s putting herself at the User''s level whilst excluding the clearly more intelligent and communicative beings around her. Then she offers a gesture of affection and oh,¡± Jess¡¯s eyes narrowed as Xant slowly exited the office in the footage. ¡°How did you know to do that Xant?¡± ¡°Dr. Jess,¡± He emphasised, reminding her of her over-familiarity ¡°Jasmine is able to communicate through Zenthi Frequencies. While she is still learning to use the translator properly in this instance it was quite clear what she required me to do. But you were continuing your explanation.¡± Xant replied more firmly. ¡°Well, once you have left the room it clearly shows she''s socially dominant over you but equal to the creature. Then, when it accepts her affection and reciprocates, she lifts the creature into her protection. The intimidation Frequency from before is still present, otherwise I¡¯m sure any of the staff would have been able to restrain the creature and Jasmine, and then she just... walks out of the lab uncontested.¡± ¡°Dr. Jess, is it symbiotic?¡± Xant''s curt question caught Jess off guard, the doctor was usually more amiable when it came to Subject discussions. ¡°No, it''s not like with plants or parasites, this isn''t a mutually beneficial relationship, nor is Jasmine gaining anything from the creature. She is going out of her way to protect a lesser being of undetermined value.¡± ¡°Empathy¡­¡± Xant stated his ears flicking up, pleased. ¡°Yes, but this is at an unusual scale-¡± ¡°That is all I wanted to know, Dr. Jess¡± he responded bluntly ¡°I¡¯ll have Isk inform you of our scheduled sessions with Jasmine.¡± Xant turned his back and hurried out of the office, leaving Myra and Jess to contemplate over the footage. Jess scrambled from her stool almost pushing Myra out of the way. ¡°Nern!¡± She ordered her other assistant, who was manning the audio library for references. ¡°Yes?!¡± The other female snapped up, completely unaware of the entire conversation. ¡°Bring up every reference for mammal pack mentalities we have from animal, User AND Modifier. Now!¡± ¡°Yes Doctor!¡± ¡°Myra! I want you to go through Jasmine''s audio songs, and single out the ones that mention affection and loss.¡± ¡°Yes Doctor!¡± Jess sat down at the inter-station comms and made a direct link to Dr. Duuarn¡¯s office. ¡°Marsen,¡± she cooed sweetly to the recorder ¡°I know you''re going to be very busy arguing to get your specimens back to take my advice now, so I¡¯ll just leave a message for you to get back to me. I might have a way to make you the lead of the User AND Creator projects. I''ll be awaiting your transmission.¡± Transcripts Chapter 8: User Level Specimen Sieglinde Xant glanced at his time keeper. It had been three hours since the incident in Krydon¡¯s office. Jasmine had not contacted him or any other attending staff. It being [0408 hours] currently, he calculated it was probably during her sleep cycle. Concern, however, convinced him to check on her; he brought up the security feed on his personal terminal from the camera that had been installed in her room. Jasmine was indeed sleeping - curious that her species would require such a long cycle, even more curious that she would be willing to lay prone for hours at a time. He recalled her talking of the benefits of caffeine and how the people of her homeworld were so accustomed to it there were entire professions built around it. Such things would have to be sanctioned of course; unregulated caffeine providers wouldn''t be allowed into Council Space. The specimen she had taken into her custody was awake, taking a walk around and sniffing various items in the admittedly bare room. Then it decided to jump up into the sleeping alcove, circling before resting at Jasmine''s feet. The human stirred a little, her arm patted the bedding in front of her. The creature looked up and immediately moved to lay beside Jasmine, almost face to face. Jasmine laid a hand over the ¡®puppy¡¯ and stroked its fur. The puppy sat there, happily awake and on watch. Actions were wiser than words when it came to humans; did they sleep such long cycles because the protection of these creatures allowed them to do so? But to what end? Would it not be more productive to be awake? Did the creature have to be taught to read her gestures? Or was it simply an understanding, like with his own people? The specimen did have an external translator fitted, but why did it rip it out? Why would it not want to be understood by those around it? Jasmine understood it. She cared for and protected it, felt its pain and fear - she already followed the teachings of The One without even knowing its name. Of course she wouldn¡¯t know its name. Perhaps ¡®The One¡¯ translated to something more ominous in her tongue. She had been tactful in her apprehension. He¡¯d have to explain it himself, the thought of returning to Behavioral Studies to ask for help made his nose twitch. Between Myra¡¯s deafening infatuation signals and Jess¡¯s erratic thought patterns, he¡¯d need to take a full shot of depressors just to go down there again. It had been years since he had spoken with another Zenthi: Five in total since his assignment to Uleesia station. Having just a taste of it again with Jasmine, he realised how much he missed his own kind. Jasmines translator was capable of channeling her ''thoughts¡¯ into the speech Frequency as all Zenthi translators were supposed to do, but it couldn''t project it onto the natural Zenthi Frequency. The translator had never needed to. The complications of her brain''s physical makeup would be challenging technicians for years to come. Why would any being her size need that much brain power? So many questions; thankfully, it was his profession to ask and answer. If she was stroking the ¡®puppy¡¯s¡¯ fur then she would be conscious enough to converse. He rose from his desk, collected his project dataslate, and headed outside. Jasmine''s room was right at the end of the hall for security reasons; he was happy they had not posted a guard in light of the incident. ¡®Who goes there?!¡¯ Xant stopped in his tracks. He was alone in the living quarters, no other Zenthi were in several thousand [light years] of his location and yet he was being contacted on the Natural Frequency. His ears lay flat on his head as he took another step closer. ¡®(I¡¯ve smelt you before,)¡¯ The voice pondered. ¡®(Who is there?!)¡¯ Xant was hesitant to answer. It was not Jasmine''s voice and there was only one other creature within the vicinity. The puppy. ¡®(A friend¡­)¡¯ He answered cautiously. ¡®(Friend?! Another Friend!)¡¯ The voice was excited. ¡®(Yes I am a friend, I do not wish to cause you any harm.)¡¯ Xant explained as clearly as he could. ¡®(Yay Friend! Oh! Friend! I found a Namegiver!!)¡¯ Xant continued forward, opening the door to Jasmine''s room. It was dark still, but he could see just fine in the low light. The ''puppy¡¯ lay under her arm, it''s ears folded down when it saw Xant. ¡®(Friend?...)¡¯ The creature asked sadly. Xant walked slowly, sitting down at the desk stool carefully, so as not to disturb Jasmine - she was sound asleep in the alcove. ¡®(Yes, I am a friend)¡¯ Xant insisted; mimicking the puppy¡¯s speech pattern as best he could. The specimen sniffed the air, still refusing to move from underneath Jasmine¡¯s comforting arm. ¡®(You smell like the Namegiver - if she is your friend then you are my Friend!)¡¯ Xant gave a small sigh of relief; the creature was not afraid of him, and was willing to converse. His heart skipped a beat as it all began to sink in. Duuarn¡¯s specimens were telepathically capable, no wonder he was keeping all of his notes as secretive as possible! They would have been transferred into Xant¡¯s supervision immediately had he informed anyone. Duuarn was jeopardizing the User for his own personal gains; deplorable. ¡®(You are a friend of the Namegiver?)¡¯ Xant asked the puppy. ¡®(Yes! She protected me from the Takers. They were not kind. They put me in a dark room and took me from the other dogs.)¡¯ The specimen lowered her head sadly on the bed. ¡®(I miss Kimiko and Spades.)¡¯ The problem with Users and most Modifiers was they often spoke as though you understood everything without context, getting aggravated when you needed to ask clarifying questions. You had to ask the same question in many different ways to get the information you desired. Xant decided to start slowly, just as he had done with others he had interviewed over the years - slightly disappointed he did not have the right Frequency recorder with him. He took his dataslate and began taking notes under a personal log entry. He was out of practice with the written word, but he would make do. Research Transcripts of Dr. Xant: User Specimen Sieglinde [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] [Note: The specimen speaks on the natural Zenthi Frequency; translator not required. Specimen and I are able to converse as though we were both Native Zenthi.) Dr Xant: ¡®(Subject Jasmine called you a puppy, but you said you missed the other dogs, are you a dog or a puppy?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(NO! I¡¯m too big for a puppy! Only the Namegiver can call me puppy, I am a grown Dog!)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(The Namegiver, is the one next to you?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! She is not my Namegiver, but she is a very good Namegiver.)¡¯ [Note: For clarification the ¡®Namegiver¡¯ is the Subject Creator Level Jasmine Howe in the context of the singular, or the Human species as a whole in context of the multiple.] Dr Xant: ¡®(Is she a good Namegiver because she protected you from the Takers?)¡¯ [Note: For Clarification, the Takers would be the Uleesia station research staff] Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! She protected me from the Takers and made me a Pack Friend. Now I have to take her to the other dogs so we can Pack together!)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(The other dogs, you said their names were Kimiko and Spades, are they a part of your pack?)¡¯ Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! They lost their Namegivers too, we will band together to find our lost Namegivers! And the Namegiver¡¯s lost dog!)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(Was it the Namegivers who gave you the name dog?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! They have many names for us, they call us dog, and dog and dog and dog and dog!)¡¯ [Note: The Frequency understanding has automatically translated the many different phrases into the one for my own comprehension, I will clarify the different names with the proper recording apparatus as soon as possible.] Specimen: ¡®()(My Namegiver gave me two names because I am special to him, my Names are Sieglinde and Sigi. You may call me Friend Sieglinde, what is your Name Friend?) Dr Xant: ¡®(My name is Xant)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Xant! Friend Xant, I am Friend Sieglinde, are you are friend of this Namegiver? You have her smell on you.)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(Yes, She is my Friend, she is Namegiver Jasmine.)¡¯ Specimen:¡¯()(Namegiver¡¯s name is Jasmine? But she didn¡¯t say the naming sounds to tell me her name, she knew my name but didn¡¯t say hers, am I not her Friend?)¡¯ [Note: Specimen User level Sieglinde was very upset that Subject Jasmine had not conveyed her name to the creature, obviously names are important to the specimen¡¯s culture and understanding.] Dr Xant: ¡®(What is your Namegiver¡¯s name Sieglinde?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(My Namegiver is Oskar! He is a very good Namegiver, we have been together since I was a puppy, he chose me and gave me my name! He feeds me and walks me and gives me lots of toys! I protect him and his home from birds and Takers who come to the door! My special job is to fetch the beer!) [Note: For clarification, ¡®Taker¡¯ seems to be the description for those who are not designated Friend, Pack or Namegiver.] Dr Xant: ¡®(So you protect him and he looks after you; that is a wonderful thing.)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! Yes it is...) ()(I miss Oskar.)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(Do all Namegivers belong to a pack?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Yes! All good Namegivers have a dog, if you are lost and you find a Namegiver with another dog''s scent they will help you, that is what my Lifegiver told me, and that is what I will tell my pups when they are given!)¡¯ [Note: Specimen is pregnant, she became pregnant whilst in a temperate enclosure with two other specimens, previously mentioned Kimiko and Spades, ¡®Lifegiver¡¯ is the colloquial name for progenitor.] Dr Xant: ¡®(Are you excited about your pups?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(OH YES!! I cannot wait! I will be the best Lifegiver! Then my Namegiver will name my pups and we will be a big pack!)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(You do not name your own pups?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(No! That¡¯s what the Namegivers do! They give us our names!)¡¯ Dr Xant: ¡®(How long have the Namegivers been given this honour?)¡¯ Specimen: ¡®()(Since always and always! Since before they built cities of stone and metal and glass, that is what my Lifegiver told me. We are special, we are the ones who were given our names first! They name us like they name their own pups! We will Pack together for always and always!)¡¯ Bark Bark! [Session Ended] Jasmine woke up with a start as Sieglinde barked excitedly. ¡°Geeze dog, you¡¯re going to give me a heart attack.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake Jasmine-¡± Xant greeted. ¡°AGHHHHHH! (WHAT THE FUCK???)¡± Jasmine shifted back, smacking her head on the wall and letting out a whimper of pain, Sieglinde simply turned around and began licking her face. ¡°Down Sigi! just-DOWN¡± Jasmine snapped at the dog, who stopped and sat back, panting happily. ¡°Jesus christ Xant, what the heck are you doing sneaking around in my room?!¡± She turned her attention to the dog with an annoyed expression. ¡°(and why didn¡¯t you warn me he was here?!)¡± her mind scolded. Xant put down his Dataslate. ¡°Lights on,¡± he ordered the room. ¡°AGHHHHH!¡± Jasmine yelled again as the room suddenly became as bright as day. ¡°My eyes!¡± She rubbed them growling slightly between pants of breath. ¡°Xant don¡¯t do that!¡± Her voice was strained and frustration was being thrown at both him and the dog. Sieglinde whimpered. ¡°I believe I have misread the situation.¡± Xant acknowledged. Jasmine sighed, slowly blinking her eyes to get used to the light. ¡°What do you want Xant?¡± Her normal congenial tone was not present, she was still upset. ¡°My apologies Jasmine, I checked the security footage and saw you take coordinative actions, I had thought you were awake and calm enough to start a discussion-¡± ¡°Security footage?! There''s cameras in here?! Of course there''s fucking cameras in here...¡± She buried her face in her hands, taking deep breaths to calm herself. ¡°Xant I¡¯m tired, I¡¯ve had barely any sleep and I¡¯ve been up for god knows how long. Could we maybe do this later? I¡¯ll call you over comms when I¡¯m not feeling like I¡¯ve been thrown under a bus¡± Xant paused and considered, but decided against it. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot, your actions hours ago with Sieglinde has caused a disruption among station schedules, I need to update you on the situation before it becomes a problem.¡± ¡°My actions? You mean when I scared the incompetent lizard who nearly choked Sigi?¡± She huffed. ¡°And your confiscating of Duuarn¡¯s prized specimen, yes.¡± Xant informed ¡°He will do what he needs to ensure Sieglinde is back into his custody for the remainder of the tests.¡± ¡°Fuck him.¡± Jasmine spat tiredly. ¡°He can have her back when I know she¡¯s not going to be in any more danger-¡± Jasmine''s blinked. ¡°Wait, how did you know her name was Sieglinde? You can¡¯t read German.¡± She reached for the tagged collar that sat loose around the dog¡¯s neck, peering at the tiny writing. ¡°She told me.¡± Jasmines eyes grew wide as they stared at Xant, her jaw dropping and heart racing. ¡°She? She told you?¡± Her anger vanished and was replaced by something else, a pure and elated sensation flowed over Xant''s being. He nodded. ¡°Yes, Sieglinde can communicate with me on the natural Zenthi frequency, we have been talking. I should let you know that she thinks you are a very good Namegiver¡± ¡°Namegiver.¡± Jasmine repeated, and Xant felt a rush so grand it was like he had taken a spike of undiluted serotonin. ¡°Namegiver, is that what you called me Sigi?¡± Jasmine cupped the dog¡¯s face and rubbed her fur rigorously. ¡°Oh you¡¯re a good girl! The best girl! You¡¯re the best girl!¡± Sieglinde threw her head back and enjoyed the affection, Xant sat in wonder. ¡°Tell her that!¡± Jasmine smiled, ¡°Tell her I think she¡¯s a good girl!¡± Xant nodded his head and turned to Sieglinde. ¡®(Friend Siglinde, Namegiver Jasmine says you are a very good girl)¡¯ ¡®(OH YES!!! I am a good girl! Namegiver Jasmine is a good Namegiver and she will be good in our pack!)¡¯ Sieglinde barked. ¡°Well??¡± Jasmine begged ¡°What did she say??¡± ¡°Sieglinde says that you are a good Namegiver and that you will be good in the pack.¡± He relayed. ¡°The pack? Are there other dogs?!¡± Jasmine could barely hold the excitement in her voice, Xant had to hold onto the table to steady himself. ¡°Yes. Duuarn currently has two other dogs under his supervision-¡± ¡°Then I need to see them! And you can help me talk to them! Can we get a translator installed?! Oh my god I can¡¯t believe this, I¡¯m going to be able to talk to them, I¡¯m going to talk to dogs!¡± ¡°Jasmine¡­ Calm yourself for my sake.¡± Xant panted, his body growing warm and fuzzy. ¡°That is why I came down to speak to you, Duuarn has been very possessive of the dogs, the prestige that comes with discovering a new species is immeasurable. He might feel compelled to act if he suspects you would disrupt his research.¡± Jasmines excitement waned. ¡°What would he do?¡± ¡°At the very least he could have you isolated from the dogs, at worst he could have them and himself transferred to another facility-¡± Xant choked, struck with a bullet of Jasmine¡¯s fear, he shook his head and forced himself to continue. ¡°-but, if we are diplomatic we might be able to come to an arrangement.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve been nothing but compliant! I¡¯ve followed every rule you¡¯ve given me, I¡¯ve answered every question and I¡¯ve never complained! I just want to make sure the dogs are treated humanely.¡± Jasmine pleaded, her lip quivered and her head dropped, ¡°I¡¯ll do what he wants, as long as I am able to see the other dogs and make sure they¡¯re taken care of, if he has any questions I will answer them. (It¡¯s not like I can refuse anyway¡­)¡± a bitterness lingered in her mind. ¡°That is likely all he wants,¡± Xant reassured. ¡°Jasmine please understand, I came down just to warn you of the possibilities. Duuarn himself hasn¡¯t even issued a requisition order yet; Laandi will have the final say in all of this. As long as you can demonstrate restraint and cooperation during the negotiations I am positive they will overlook your outburst in the Medical labs.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Came the sullen reply. Sieglinde forced herself into the human¡¯s lap, nudging Jasmine¡¯s chin with her nose. ¡®(I am here Namegiver, do not be upset!)¡¯ Sieglinde whined. The human patted the dog and the tensions eased slightly, her bleary eyes closing to rest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Sigi, I¡¯ll be good, for you. Fuck I¡¯m tired.¡± She sighed defeated. ¡°I will leave you to rest,¡± Xant stated, slowly rising from the soft cushioned stool. ¡°I will let you know as soon as negotiations are scheduled.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± came the disinterested reply. ¡°Can I turn the lights off?¡± ¡°As you wish-¡± ¡°Lights off.¡± The second darkness fell Xant heard Jasmine slump back onto the mattress. ¡®(Goodbye Friend Xant!)¡¯ Sieglinde called, but the Doctor was already out the door. Xant was forced to hold onto the wall as tried to get back to his living quarters. Staggering with every step, struggling to keep his vision straight. Her mood swings were becoming worse; amplified by the creature. If the response to the mere mention of being separated from the dog was that strong, he shuddered to think what would happen if it were to actually transpire. His hand slapped the door sensor, throwing his body into the room as soon as the plastic slid aside. He fell to the polished tile with a shocking thud, his body becoming a burden as his mind shook. Xant dragged his bulk across the floor and heaved it up to the desk, his Medipen and supply of depressants lay tucked away in the first drawer. He almost ripped the drawer off its rails getting to the vital equipment, almost crushed the vial connecting it to the pen. His arm screamed as he thrust the needle deep into the back of his neck, releasing the cool, beautiful chemicals into his over firing brain. Xant¡¯s muscles gave way as the pain was silenced by the depressants. There was another sickening thud as he let his body fall to the floor for the second time. ¡°Lock door...¡± he breathed, his vision fading. ¡°Do not disturb, No exceptions¡­¡± The computerised room chimed in compliance. Xant felt the rug under his hand, it was smooth and comforting. He would be alright in a few hours¡­ He would be fine. Transcripts Chapter 9: Comms Log of Bio-engineering Dept Duuarn watched as the screen continued to compile the petabytes of data in front of him. The chemical compositions of every molecule in the nucleotide, fractions upon fractions. Numbers in the billions of base pairs, numbers of an unadulterated strain. He revered those numbers. Duuarn reached for his Medipen and slid the needle with ease under his wrist. He had been tampering with his schedule times, claiming rest periods while stimming himself in secret. He couldn¡¯t rest - how could he? Rest was for other people; people who didn¡¯t have to worry about the fate of the universe at large, who clung to traditions for comfort. Schedules, protocols, request sheets, all of it was so tedious - how could they stand to uphold such frivolity when the salvation of the entire galaxy was being forced through a single Genome Compiler?? Duuarn ground his toothplate, the stims twitching a tendon in his arm - a known side effect, but he wasn¡¯t worried. He had plenty of practise ignoring it. His team had only managed to analyse a quarter of the biopsy samples they had taken from the male. A single cell was all that was needed to extract the composition, but it was hours worth of processing time for each one. At this rate it would take [weeks] before they could properly fabricate an exact copy of the specimen. That was time he didn¡¯t have. Any number of things could go wrong: The Raiders Isk was convinced existed could actually show up and attack, the specimens could die whilst in captivity, or the Galactic Council could turn around and demand the specimens back. THAT was what Duuarn feared most. Esaander was only a start up after all, barely 20 million employees, and had received the project on the basis that they were the closest and the cheapest. The Galactic Council, or any of the Creator-solidarity governments could demand access to the data he was working on - it was imperative that they finished the work as soon as possible before it was ripped from their hands. Larger Companies could buy them out, merge them into the larger entity and then drop them on some Citizenry planetoid thinking that infinite credits would be enough for his silence and compliance. He wouldn¡¯t let the universe cheat him of his karmic work. He was the one pouring himself into the work, he would be the one to be rewarded with his name forever pronounced in the dynasty records. Duuarn unclenched his jaw and sat on his desk stool. There was too much work to be done with so little equipment; they needed a larger facility. Uleesia was just too small, too far away from the resources it needed. When the engineers he requested from Head Quarters came and saw exactly the scope of what could be at stake, they would have no choice but to support his efforts. Maybe then he would be transferred to Klona, Tarnend, Clentesia¡­ The Humans may have been responsible for the copious phenotypes he was ogling, but Creator species were just bureaucratic nightmares. The Universe was always changed when a new player entered the arena. Duuarn tapped his toothplates together. If this is what they did to their test subjects, what had they done to themselves? ¡°Bioengineering Department¡± The door chimed. Duuarn turned his head and frowned. ¡°Ceaan, where¡¯s the specimen?¡± The fellow Qzetillian was taken back, shocked that Duuarn was still in the lab. ¡°The living quarters.¡± The assistant answered flatly. ¡°Why?-¡± Duuarn cut himself off and rose from his desk, he clenched his grey hands together in order to control the twitch which had now run rampant up his entire left arm. ¡°The specimen has been confiscated by subject Jasmine for an undetermined amount of time.¡± Ceaan stood firm, but refused to move more than a foot away from the department door. ¡°You know, I feel the word ¡®Why¡¯ isn''t enough to express the exact amount of confusion your presence here conveys.¡± The department head made his way across the room, his tasteful lab coat billowing out with his strides ¡°and repeating it in the multitude of questions I have is just going to insult both your intelligence and my integrity.¡± Ceaan narrowed his eyes towards his superior; extra stims made him extra obnoxious. ¡°I came here to submit the Perception Test results-¡± ¡°Because the results for a simple Perceptions Test far outweigh the specimen¡¯s whereabouts and wellbeing.¡± Duuarn could barely contain the joy he derived from belittling his assistant, sarcasm on thick as he delivered the line ¡°Ceaan, I¡¯m so glad I hired someone of your forethought and judgement.¡± ¡°I felt it was the best course of action.¡± The assistant defended himself. ¡°Subject Jasmine had no intention of hurting the thing-¡± ¡°But you had every intention of letting an unauthorised alien interfere with my work? What did you do? Just let her walk off with the specimen?!¡± Duuarn laughed. ¡°You weren¡¯t there Duuarn, it was a tense situation, the human looked like she was about to spit her digestive acid on Nyk-¡± ¡°You actually just let her walk off with the specimen...?¡± Duuarn was dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be a willing and helpful assistant but not a complete drone!¡± Duuarn thrust his right arm behind him. ¡°Go and monitor the compiler''s analysis before I request your ¡®nomes be culled from the company recruitment database.¡± Ceaan gave a disagreeable toothplate snap before following orders - standing in front of the compiler¡¯s screen. Duuarn watched him, muttering a ¡®tsk¡¯ and storming over to his comms terminal. How long was it going to take to clean up this mess? Communication log of Bioengineering Department #6570 [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] CMO Krydon: CMO Krydon speaking- Dr Duuarn: Chief, what happened to my specimen?! CMO Krydon: Oh, Duuarn, I was wondering how long it would be before you called, Ceean took his time getting back to your lab I see. Dr Duuarn: As much I would love to discuss the incompetence of my staff, I''m here to discuss the incompetence of yours. Subject Jasmine and my specimens should never have crossed paths - how did you let this contamination happen? CMO Krydon: Duuarn, your User specimens are not exactly willing patients; the male almost always needs a security escort and sedation which distorts the results. Your two females insist on pulling out their external translators and only growl refusals when asked why. The delays with their cooperation caused the test times to overlap. Have them properly calibrated and maybe we¡¯ll both be able to avoid these delays in the future. Dr Duuarn: The translator calibrations are not the problem - they¡¯ve never tried to remove them in the enclosure or the lab. Maybe they just don¡¯t enjoy your lackluster procedural manner. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. CMO Krydon: Ah, there¡¯s the sword tongue. Duuarn, I¡¯m not going to get into a snarl with you. I have other work to finish. Dr Duuarn: Well I would be happily continuing my own, but now I have to Com around and figure out why the supposedly professional staff of this station allowed an unauthorised, undocumented alien to bypass all regulation and stride off with another specimen!! CMO Krydon: [snort] I¡¯ll send you the footage Duuarn. Maybe you¡¯ll figure it out and save us all the trouble of hearing you speak. [Comms Disconnected] Duuarn gave another ¡®tsk¡¯ and impatiently waited for the footage to arrive at his terminal. The file was less than 4 minutes long; his black eyes focused on the screen in front of him. First he hissed as he watched the intern Nyk restrain the specimen by the throat, lifting it off the ground. He¡¯d have to be reprimanded for ignoring handling regulations, but his eyes widened in shock as he reached the end of the video. The ¡®Human¡¯ demonstrated both Zenthi telepathy and Arvas Frequency manipulation in simultaneity. He¡¯d only seen such a combination of abilities in the GC¡¯s Millitary gene archives and even then they were restricted to GCR special forces regiments. They were only to be used if the Rajava launched another attack on civilized space. Duuarn brought his left hand up to his chin and deliberated. So that is what the humans did to themselves. [One Message Received From Behavioral Studies.] Duuarn sighed, his nimble fingers hovered over the acceptance key - he couldn¡¯t answer Kyda¡¯s message now, as much as he wanted to -he had to get his specimen back. Duuarn begrudgingly made the link to Security. Communication log of Bioengineering Department #6571 [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] CPT Rynard: Security, Rynard speaking, [yawn]. Dr Duuarn: Rynard, I need you to go the living quarters and retrieve my specimen from Subject Jasmine. CPT Rynard: Huh? Dr Duuarn: Rynard for the sake of the universe would you just listen to- CPT Rynard: Look, Dr. Duuarn I know you like to think your job is more important than mine- Dr Duuarn: -it is- CPT Rynard: -But you gotta understand that you have to call Isk and not my direct line, I''m off duty and you just woke me from my sleep cycle - I like my 4 hours of peace. Dr Duuarn: Rynard, Subject Jasmine has confiscated my specimen, she threatened the staff and has both Zenthi telepathy and ¡®Royal¡¯ frequency manipulation. She¡¯s a danger to everyone on the station and I demand you get off your overpaid tail and retrieve it from her unharmed! CPT Rynard: Whoa there¡­ That''s a lot of accusations, even for you. Dr Duuarn: I''ll send you the footage, I expect immediate compliance and an apology with my order! [Comms Disconnected] Duuarn flitted over the short file and sent it to the witless security guard¡¯s dataslate. Rynard¡¯s Com link pinged and the corner of Duuarn¡¯s mouth curved up - maybe Rynard had listened to reason. Communication log of Bioengineering Department #6572 Dr Duuarn: Bioengineering Dr. Duuarn speaking- CPT Rynard: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! Dr Duuarn: Rynard, once again you have proven yourself less useful than a clogged bidet, this is serious- CPT Rynard: Oh ha ha, the universe weeps!! I forget how sheltered you bulge brains are! Dr Duuarn: Bulge brains??!!() CPT Rynard: Yeah! That was the funniest thing I''ve seen since I got here! And that¡¯s including when that one tentacle thing got stuck in the atmo¡¯ vent! They all looked like they¡¯re about to stiff it!! Ha ha ha. Dr Duuarn: Rynard! How can you possibly see this as a joke?! CPT Rynard: ¡®Cause! It¡¯s just like new recruits at basic hearing a Princess for the first time! They think they''re so tough then Blam! Funny then, and hilarious now! Dr Duuarn: There¡¯s confrontation and then there¡¯s overwhelming Frequency aggression! You know, the thing we hired you to protect us from?!() CPT Rynard: That was not Frequency Aggression- well, maybe a little, but you science types have no idea! I¡¯m actually kinda shocked you all have so little resolve! Might have to get you all to go through some aggression resistance training, heh heh heh. Dr Duuarn: We don¡¯t have it because we don¡¯t need it! What good is resistance to a researcher?! That¡¯s what we hired you for, now go and do your one job Rynard! CPT Rynard: Well, I¡¯m off duty. Contact Isk if you want a guard, I¡¯m going back to sleep! Heh Arc and Suk are going to love this- [Comms Disconnected] Fury drove the tremor in Duuarns arm up his neck and caused his head to shake unsettlingly. He was surrounded by incompetence and indifference. He steeled himself, he would actually have to send a request to the Operations Manager to get his captured specimen back. The Universe had better have a substantial karmic reward for the amount of fecal matter it was dumping on him. Communication log of Bioengineering Department #6573 OM Isk: () Operations Manager Isk speaking. Dr Duuarn: Isk, this is Dr. Duuarn, I would like to make a formal request for security deployment. OM Isk: () Nice to see you falling in line Duuarn. Now, what was your request? Dr Duuarn: I want a member of our overpaid and underworked security team to retrieve my specimen from the subject Jasmine Immediately! OM Isk: () Formal request has been submitted... and denied. Please reschedule your research quarters accordingly. Dr Duuarn: What?!() OM Isk: () Dr. Xant has already informed the Director of the incident and I have received orders that nothing is to be done until the Director has met with the Subject Jasmine herself to negotiate an amicable solution. Answering aggression with aggression only leads to escalation, Duuarn. Dr Duuarn: The one time I follow procedure and you''re denying me?! Need I remind you, ISK, that my specimen is pregnant? Her vitals and condition must be constantly monitored- OM Isk: () And they ARE being monitored. Subject Jasmine¡¯s room has a camera installed and Krydon¡¯s office hasn¡¯t reported any vital distress signals from any of the offending parties¡¯ health detectors¡­ () Speaking of constantly monitored, this quarter is supposed to be your rest cycle - what are you doing in the Bioengineering department? Dr Duuarn: I Instructed Ceaan to report to me immediately if there ever was a disruption with my research, even during rest cycles. This work will change the very dynamic of Galactic Council Space and must have the highest of priorities - I thought someone of your integrity would understand that. OM Isk: () Oh, I understand all too well Duuarn. Your dedication to your work is admirable, but your lack of professionalism is holding you back. Your research can wait half a [day] while we negotiate with the Human. I¡¯ll send you the audio when the Director has finished. This Project isn¡¯t just about you. Dr Duuarn: I know it isn¡¯t about me! It¡¯s about the Universe¡­ It¡¯s about the company! If we can get these Pheono-types patented before the Human Creators start claiming distribution rights we could be on the verge of restoring Qzetillian lineage compatibility. Esaander would be pronounced as a Progenitor Company! OM Isk: () Once again Duuarn you fail to see the herd from the prey, we need to keep the Humans who created your little specimens appeased. If letting half a [day] of research go wasted means that in the future we¡¯ll have access to their entire genetic library; then that¡¯s half a [day] I can overlook. You have two other specimens Duuarn, finish with them before your requested Bioengineers arrive on on station. [Comms Disconnected] The tremor in Duuarn¡¯s body finally ceased. He sat defeated in front of his comms station. No one in this entire facility had any idea what they were doing. The Qzetillians would be indebted to yet another race if they waited for the Humans¡¯ approval of the genetic material. No, they had all the information they needed right here to fix the deterioration; why were they insisting on waiting on the whim of an unknown? Did the Creator Subject even have any understanding of the situation at all?! How long would it take to inform her? Would she even say yes...? [One Message From Behavioral Studies] The comms terminal reminded him. Duuarn sighed, his nimble fingers allowing the message to play. Dr Jess: Marsen. I know you''re going to be very busy arguing to get your specimens back to take my advice now, so I¡¯ll just leave a message for you to get back to me. I might have a way to make you the lead of both the User and Creator projects. I''ll be awaiting your transmission. Duuarn¡¯s lips curved into a smile. It was always nice to hear Kyda¡¯s voice, especially when she sounded like she had a plan underway. ¡°Ceaan, I¡¯m going to my quarters,¡± he announced unceremoniously, a bounce in his step as he walked. The last time Kyda had spoken of a plan to him so breathlessly they had succeeded and accepted positions as Department Heads together. He couldn¡¯t wait to hear what she had come up with this time. Transcripts Chapter 10: Schedule Negations Jasmine smiled calmly in the darkness as her fingers brushed over Sieglinde¡¯s golden fur. It was the first time in [weeks] she had been able to fall asleep and wake up feeling rested. The sounds and smells of something familiar were a welcome comfort. Even if that smell was of unwashed dog and the sounds of her occasional high pitched wheeze, it was something. Someone she could relate to; another lost soul hoping for the best in a sea of uncertainty. Jasmine allowed herself to hug the dog a little tighter; the mild tempered animal adored the attention. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be okay...¡± she whispered into its fur. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to them and make my case that we cannot be separated - can¡¯t take man''s best friend away from man now can we?¡± Sieglinde didn''t answer of course, she just continued to breathe terrible breath into Jasmine''s face with a big dopey smile. Jasmine didn¡¯t mind though, they would be able to speak soon enough, and that was more than enough of a reason for her to alert the station that she was awake. She closed and covered her eyes and put a hand over Sieglinde¡¯s who started to protest. ¡°Lights on,¡± Jasmine commanded, and light exploded into the room. The alcove of the bed provided some protection but it was still necessary for them both to wait for their eyes to adjust to the painful, sudden contrast. She had tried using voice commands to lower the setting but she was learning quickly that despite there being an abundance of different alien types there wasn''t a lot of manual variation. The room¡¯s ambient temperature rose and fell with her own body¡¯s - she had tried to change it a few degrees hotter or cooler manually, shouting at the room but it ignored her requests. She couldn¡¯t increase the flow of air from the vents, or have her bed alcove change the softness of the gel mattress she slept on. (Getting used to sleeping without a blanket or sheet was another challenge, especially since she couldn¡¯t just make the room warmer to simulate a summer''s night.) The worst of all these offenders however was the lack of customisation to the washroom; it was completely automatic and unbearable. There was no drifting off to the artificial waterfall cascading down head and shoulders, no choice in fragrant cleansers or textured exfoliants. You were scanned, dusted, pressure washed and dried. More than once dust and water had gone up her nose and the machine beeped angrily when she dared move or react to an unpleasant jet of water. It was just awful. She shuddered to think what the washroom would¡¯ve had in store for her if she still had her long chocolate hair. Jasmine ran a hand over her stubbly scalp, lips tightened as she looked at Sieglinde''s fur jealously. Why did the dog get to keep her fur but she be shaved from top to bottom? Why couldn¡¯t she have at least been able to keep her eyebrows? Mercifully all of it was growing back, except a few bald patches on the side of her head. She¡¯d run her fingers over it a few times but without a mirror to check her reflection she had no idea what she actually looked like now. She¡¯d seen a glimpse in the glass of Xant¡¯s terrarium, but that was a faint outline at best. [Message received From ED Laandi] Not two [minutes] after the lights were on she was being contacted. Jasmine had learned to keep herself in the dark and still when she wanted to be left alone but doubt was creeping in when Xant had told her about the cameras. She understood why they would be monitoring her of course, but she had this nagging feeling in the back of her mind that the cameras were normal. Xant recorded almost every conversation they had together, he had no reservations about telling her she was being observed. Her every move recorded to be scrutinized for research. She had been granted ¡®Creator level status¡¯, but she still wasn¡¯t entirely sure what that meant. ¡®Jasmine¡¯ was still a subject to be studied, she wasn¡¯t a ¡®person¡¯; not yet. ¡®(Don¡¯t be like that. You know how important all this is. It could be a LOT worse... )¡¯ Her mind¡¯s voice encouraged, a faint echo from the translator repeating in her skull. It was right - she could have still been in the clutches of the oversized, uncaring sacks of repulsive flesh that abducted her. Jasmine climbed out of the bed in the wall and walked over to the small comms terminal. ¡°Message play.¡± ED Laandi: Jasmine, I have been informed of a disruption in the schedule. This is a matter I would like to discuss with you personally. When you are ready I have Captain Rynard waiting to escort you to my office. ¡°(Laandi will have the final say in all of this,)¡± Xant¡¯s low voice echoed in her head, with the translator adding another repetition for good measure. Laandi; the Director of the facility, the one who had all the power around here. Jasmine gulped - a conversation where she would have to choose her words very carefully and hope her mind¡¯s voice didn¡¯t leak. ¡°Great.¡± She sighed turning to Sieglinde. ¡°We¡¯re both going to need a shower before we visit the boss.¡± Sieglinde looked up at Jasmine with a look of utter betrayal in her eyes. Jasmine returned it with a sympathetic grimace. ¡°Hey, at least it was quick.¡± She shrugged, trying in vain to unfluff the Golden Retriever''s fur. The dog pulled away from Jasmine, curling up on the floor in meek protest. ¡°No, no Sigi, I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t make you do that again, okay? It¡¯s just ¡®cause we¡¯re going to go and see the boss today and well... You smell.¡± Sieglinde looked up and then away, not convinced. Jasmine smiled, trying to cheer her up. ¡°I know! We¡¯re going for a walk today! Would you like that? A walk? Walkies? Run?¡± Sieglinde didn¡¯t move, continuing to sulk on the floor. Jasmine sat down beside her defeated. ¡°Sorry Sigi. (I should have taken German in high school.)¡± She petted the dog on her head for a while, waiting for the dog to forgive her. Jasmine reached over and began loosening the red collar around Sieglinde¡¯s neck. She didn¡¯t have a leash, and didn¡¯t want the dog to leave her side until she knew for certain there wasn''t an army of doctors behind her living quarters door ready to snatch Sigi away from her first chance they got. ¡°Come on, enough sulking, we have to go out,¡± Jasmine told her, rising to her feet and holding onto the collar. Sieglinde was a little more compliant this time, following Jasmine to the door. ¡°Living Quarters-¡± ¡°GAHHH!!¡± Jasmine exclaimed as she was met with a wall of black and orange body armour. A literal fucking dinosaur stood between her door and the hallway; its T-rex head lowered into the door frame to meet her eye to eye, revealing an entire mouth full of sharp jagged teeth. God she hoped it was smiling. ¡°So, you¡¯re the so-called ¡®threat to everyone on board¡¯, huh?¡± He chuckled. ¡°Gotta say, I¡¯m curious - you look like just another big head, but that little tap you gave me-¡± he tapped his chest plate ¡°-just now, I can see how you got all ¡®em thinkers worried.¡± ¡°WHAAAAA?!¡± Jasmine stared at the brute, her grip around Sigi¡¯s collar tightening as she waited for her brain to comprehend what the heck was going on. He chuckled again. ¡°Ha ha! They don¡¯t make ¡®em as big as me where you¡¯re from eh?¡± he folded his arms, Jasmine could hear the body armour creak over his flexing muscles. Sieglinde turned her head to look curiously, trying to move forward to sniff. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°(Fuck no they don¡¯t.) Uhh no.¡± She blurted out. Everyone she had met on the station, except for Xant had been sleek, smooth. This guy was like if the Hulk was real... and was a Tyrannosaurus rex. ¡°Are you, Captain Rynard?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± He motioned his head to the right. ¡°I gotta take you over to the Director¡¯s office; you¡¯re not gonna try and resist now are ya?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to?¡± She replied, still confused. ¡°Good. Come on then.¡± Rynard began to stomp down the hall. Jasmine and Sieglinde were left to follow behind, keeping distance so they weren¡¯t knocked back by his tail. Now it made sense why the halls were so damn wide. Laandi¡¯s office was on the other side of the Living Quarters wing, but still a good ten [minute] walk away from Jasmine¡¯s own hab space. Rynard stood to the side of the door and the collar of his body armour lit up with a little blue light. ¡°Director, your ¡®guest¡¯ is here.¡± ¡°Very good Rynard, send her in,¡± Laandi¡¯s soothing voice replied from an inbuilt comms. Rynard¡¯s tail flicked the sensor and the door slid open with the ever annoying location chime. ¡°Uhh, thank you.¡± Jasmine nodded to the guard; he gave her another toothy grin in reply. Laandi stood to greet Jasmine just to the left of the doorway, and the human was glad she had put in the effort to make herself seem presentable. Laandi was in every sense of the word, elegant. A deep navy blue dress tailored perfectly to fit her willowy body; flowing out at her hips so it gave the illusion that she floated as she walked. A gold chain necklace was draped across her shoulders, a large medallion at her chest and a long drop chain hung between her shoulder blades. A far cry from the greyscale wetsuits and white coats the rest of the station wore. Agile fingers clasped together at their tips as Laandi lowered her smooth, grey head. ¡°Welcome, Jasmine Howe.¡± The Director moved with the flow of the ocean as she guided Jasmine to the board meeting table ¡°Please take a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jasmine responded in kind, bowing her head in order to be polite. A quick glance at the long conference table, she chose to sit in the opposite stool to where Laandi¡¯s dataslate lay prepared. ¡°Sit Sigi,¡± Jasmine coaxed; and much to her surprise the dog listened. She was finally able to let go of the collar, with her left hand resting reassuringly on Sigi¡¯s head. Laandi¡¯s black, almond shaped eyes watched the interaction and she spoke approvingly: ¡°Simply astounding,¡± The director mused. ¡°No translator, no common language or Frequency and yet, communication occurs.¡± Jasmine sat up as straight as she could on the stool, ankles together and tucked to the side. ¡°Dogs are very quick to pick up simple commands,¡± Jasmine explained politely. ¡°Sieglinde is a very well behaved dog.¡± Laandi studied Jasmine¡¯s formal manner; her tone and posture were completely different from any of the reports Xant had given her. The Creator knew this was different; that this meeting was important for another reason. Laandi smiled, satisfied. ¡°May I begin this meeting, Jasmine Howe?¡± ¡°Miss Howe if you please, Director Laandi.¡± ¡°Very well. Miss Howe, may I conduct this meeting?¡± ¡°Certainly.¡± Transcripts of ED Salhor Laandi: Schedule Negotiations [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] ED Laandi: It is 1120 [hours] the 26th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation Dynasty. I, Executive Director Salhor Laandi requested a meeting with the Creator Level Subject. Please, introduce yourself. Miss Howe: Miss Jasmine Anne Howe of Earth, Terra Firma, Sol system. ED Laandi: The topic of today''s agenda is the negotiation between two parties; Miss Howe, and Esaander Corporation - concerning the User Level Specimen, research schedules, and the party¡¯s authority over the aforementioned. Miss Howe: Director Laandi? May I state something for the record? ED Laandi: Of course, Miss Howe you have the floor. Miss Howe: I, Jasmine Anne Howe do conduct these discussions on behalf of myself. In no way, am I authorized to conduct any negotiations on behalf of Earth and her Governments. I am not authorized to approve any legislation regarding trade, tax, immigration, military spending, technological exchange, political agendas or any other such government matters. I will act as a liaison to the Galactic Council and its organisations until such a time an elected representative is able to take my place. [Long pause] Miss Howe: ( )(Nailed it!) [sigh] ()(Damn it, so close¡­) ED Laandi: Miss Howe, your statement has been acknowledged and accepted. [Long pause] ED Laandi: Now, as to the matter of the User Level Specimen. She was placed under the direct care of Dr. Duuarn. Esaander Corporation upholds a duty of care to all research Specimens and Subjects. Are you in dispute of this? Please, explain your reasoning that lead to your removal of the specimen from Dr. Duuarn¡¯s care. Miss Howe: Certainly, I was in Dr. Kyrdon¡¯s office waiting for the Perception Test to begin when I heard the, (Sieglinde, dog?) umm, User Level Specimen call out in distress. I found a Sulin (Lizard) handler holding Sieglinde in an inappropriate manner, with his (Claw?) uhh hand, around her throat, lifting her entire body from the floor. Holding a dog (Sieglinde) in such a manner could lead to multiple injuries including the crushing of the windpipe and severing of the spinal cord. ED Laandi: And you believe the risk of these injuries was high enough to occur? Miss Howe: Yes. A dog, or any animal from Earth should never be held by the throat, myself included. It can be seen as a deliberate act to cause harm. ED Laandi: So, you perceived assistant Nyk¡¯s actions as a direct threat? Miss Howe: ()(Word it carefully now¡­) I believed that Nyk¡¯s actions would cause harm to Sieglinde. ED Laandi: A harm severe enough for you to apply Frequency Aggression in response? Miss Howe: () Are you talking about when I got angry and shouted at him? ED Laandi: To clarify Miss Howe, Frequency Aggression is the act of manipulating the Emotional Frequency to such a degree as to cause harm to others around you. Miss Howe: () Dr. Xant explained it to me, however I was under the impression it only affected his species. ED Laandi: The Zenthi are the only species to feel the Emotional Frequency projection of all other species continuously. However, the strength of which you applied your Frequency Aggression crossed the natural preventative measures installed in all standard translators. You projected your Aggression to a degree that the Esaander Corporation would perceive you as initiating a military grade threat response to an incident that would not be escalated beyond a disciplinary hearing under normal circumstances. Miss Howe: () (Oh god, how the hell do I respond to that?!)... ED Laandi, it is with my sincerest apologies that I acted in a manner that would put your staff in danger. That was¡­(Think!) never my intention. I also want to state that I had no idea my outburst would be considered, umm, dangerous. ()There will always be a need for adjustments when integrating a new species, and this is an adjustment I am willing to work on with you. ED Laandi: I am happy to hear that response Miss Howe. Would you be willing to undergo preventive measures until the Esaander Corporation is satisfied there will be no repeat of the incident in question? Miss Howe: As long as it doesn¡¯t require further invasive surgery, yes. ED Laandi: Very well, preventative measures will be discussed at a later date. As for the topic of the Specimen¡¯s custody: due to the sensitive nature of the Specimen¡¯s research potential and pregnancy, the User is required to be under constant- Miss Howe: I¡¯m sorry, but¡­() Did you just say that Sigi¡¯s pregnant?! ED Laandi: Indeed, due to the sensitive nature of the Specimen¡¯s research potential and pregnancy, the User is required to be under constant supervision, do you contest this? Miss Howe: No, no I do not. I would like to request that I be given visitation rights and access to the other dogs Duuarn has in his care. ED Laandi: To clarify, Miss Howe, would these visitation rights be so that you may disrupt the research conducted by the Essander Corporation? Miss Howe: No, I do not wish to disrupt the research; only that I be satisfied that none of the dogs come to harm. As a human being it is my responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of every Earth creature lifted from its surface. ED Laandi: Acknowledged and accepted. For how long do you require access to the User level specimens? Miss Howe: Ideally, I would like to spend my entire ¡®rest quarter¡¯ with them. ED Laandi: For clarification, you would like to have access to the User Level Specimens for 10 [hours] of a standard 24[hour day]? Miss Howe: Yes. ED Laandi: Propose we offer you 6 [hours] per day and a constant update as to the Users schedules, would that be an agreeable solution? Miss Howe: I can work with that, yes. ED Laandi: Acknowledged and accepted. Finally, was there anything else regarding the User Level Specimen, research schedules and the parties authority over the aforementioned? Miss Howe: Not that I can think of. No, that is all. ED Laandi: Very well, meeting adjourned. [Session Ended] Transcripts Chapter 11: Error -File Corrupted Laandi waved her hand over the dataslate and ended the recording. She extended her elbow and with a graceful flip, brought her hand up to touch the medallion. A hidden red light began to pulse in its center and the lights in her office dimmed. ¡°Now then, the unpleasantries are done with and we can discuss the real reason I wished to speak with you.¡± Jasmine focused a glare at Laandi. ¡°What is going on?¡± she demanded of the Director coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve momentarily suspended the security recording of the room. I was hoping we could speak in private about, Sieglinde was it?¡± Laandi turned her warm smile to the dog, who still sat happily beside Jasmine. ¡°She truly is a magnificent creature; I must commend your species¡¯ skill in creating her.¡± Jasmine remained silent. ¡°I must also commend your skill during our negotiations, many untrained participants would have buckled and admitted seeing Esaander¡¯s actions as a threat - you weaved your words very well. You will need them in the weeks to come.¡± ¡°So what did you want to talk about?¡± Jasmine curtly demanded, her gaze never losing its sharp tip. ¡°There are so many things I wish to ask you Miss Howe, but I will have to focus my efforts on what I deem most urgent. I have interviewed a few Modifier species in my career, guiding them through the process of genetic distribution rights. I want to help you, and Sieglinde, make the right choices.¡± ¡°(Here we go¡­) When you say ''right choices¡¯ do you mean what is right for us, or for the company?¡± Jasmine was sure to put on a steel expression, trying to remember what Xant had taught her in their meditation session. Wait for the response, hold onto the anticipation - but it was incredibly hard not to analyse the Director¡¯s moves and words. Jasmine¡¯s mind danced; searching for the hidden meaning in the negotiation - the not-truth, not lies. ¡°I wouldn''t have jammed the security recording if I was thinking about the Company,¡± Laandi confessed.¡°I have listened to your recordings, and studied the illustrations. You have given us all this information freely and had not made a single demand, until it was you learned of Sieglinde''s existence on the station,¡± Laandi¡¯s hands clasped together, ¡°And even now you are still willing to allow our research to continue, knowing just how valuable she is as a specimen. Such generosity is rare, precious even. I cannot allow this to go unrewarded.¡° The Director rose from her stool and swept to Jasmine''s side, her hands still folded together. ¡°After your Perception Tests are complete you will be able to apply to the Galactic Council for the exclusive patent of your DNA. If you are successful, only you will be able to authorise the use of your Genome in Genecenters across GC Space. Every government in the GC would be screaming for this exclusivity. It is of the utmost importance that we do not allow mimic genes to flood the market, else your Contribution credit would be nulled.¡± Jasmine stared at Laandi, her eyes wide and lips parted to speak but it was her mind that answered in a flurry of questions. ¡°(DNA patent? Contribution credit? Genetic distribution rights? My genes could be packaged and sold to the highest bidder? There could be clones of me running around the galaxy? Is that normal? How the hell do they prove identity theft?! Contribution credit, is that like our own line of credit? Oh god, I can¡¯t even handle my credit card let alone one that would impact the future of humanity entering the galactic stage. Genes bought and sold to governments, Companies buy, sell, produce-)¡± Laandi took a step back. The room had grown cold, her chest tightened as Jasmine¡¯s blue piercing eyes stared straight into her own black ones. The Director was confused by the strength of the reaction. ¡°This upsets you? I am only trying to help you secure your rights? Surely you have similar regulations within your own society? How else could you create and control your test subjects? A brilliant inclusion to safeguard your own species genomes I must add, ensuring the specimen does not suffer any ill effects before adding the nucleotide to your own DNA...¡± ¡°Test subjects?-¡± Jasmine¡¯s gaze fell away and Laandi felt another pulse of Frequency Aggression, several different emotions flowed through the human without so much as a pause. The Director saw now how the human worked - emotion and her own thoughts could not be separated. Jasmine¡¯s eyes fluttering as another million thoughts tried to be processed at once. ¡°(Test subjects? Our own DNA? Safeguards and regulations for genomes? Rights for my own body? How far do these regulations go? Eye colour? Blood type? Moles on my skin? Haven¡¯t they already taken samples? You can¡¯t mix human and dog DNA can you? Wait, maybe they CAN-) Okay, stop, just stop¡­¡± Jasmine closed her eyes and sighed, her hands up in the air as though to halt an invisible force. The aggression in the air lifted slightly. ¡°I¡¯m confused, you''re confused, neither of us are on the same page here. I understand that you guys are into genetic engineering in a big way, and having access to an entire new set to genes to play with is going to change the rules of the game. What I don¡¯t get is why you and Xant seem to think that Humanity is on the same level of tech as yourselves. We understand genetic engineering sure, but we haven¡¯t even had the technology twenty [years].¡± The Director narrowed her eyes at the statement. She couldn¡¯t sense any intention of falsehood in Jasmine''s words, but why would she try and deny the obvious? ¡°But, Sieglinde,¡± Laandi gestured to the mild mannered fluffball. ¡°I¡¯ve looked over the data myself; the human race has expertly engineered a system of nucleotides interlinkable with one another housing a truly phenomenal amount of phenotype variation - there is no possible other explanation for the masterful skill with which you crafted this specimen.¡± ¡°You think that Sigi here is a result of direct engineering?¡± Laandi was thrown for a loop, as Jasmine had just implied that there was any other alternative. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she returned her attention to Sieglinde. ¡°If you claim your society has only just discovered genetic engineering, how could you have produced such creatures? There is no way to achieve this without extensive restructuring of the DNA.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jasmine also looked at the dog hoping she could come up with an explanation the alien would understand. ¡°We just did it through domestication and selective breeding instead.¡± When the Director didn¡¯t respond, Jasmine further explained, despite feeling like she was insulting the alien¡¯s intelligence. ¡°Selective breeding? You know, finding animals with certain traits you like so you breed them together in hopes of getting offspring that exaggerates those traits?¡± Laandi¡¯s eyes pleaded with her for a different answer. ¡°Are you...? Are you saying, these ¡®dogs¡¯ were created through controlled breeding in the hope a stable mutation would occur?¡± Her four fingered hand rested on her shoulder in thought. ¡°But in order to get these results it would take an unfeasible amount of time. Generations upon generations of trial and error - biological material expended and years lost to failed experiments. Even with the luxurious length of your lives that¡¯s inconceivable. How long have you been ¡®selective breeding¡¯?!¡± The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°We¡¯ve been breeding dogs for the last, I don¡¯t know, 15,000 [years] or something? But the diversity of dog breeds exploded in popularity about 200[years] ago, or was it 100?¡± The human answered, unsure, beginning to doubt her own knowledge. She hated how much of her own culture she didn¡¯t know. This wasn¡¯t the sort of stuff you remembered, this was the stuff you typed into a search engine for curiosity¡¯s sake. How could she have known that dog genealogy was going to be such a fascinating subject to intergalactic aliens?! ¡°The point is we didn¡¯t do it overnight; we¡¯ve only done proper genetic engineering on plants and a few animals. We¡¯ve cloned like, one sheep and created some bioluminescent fish and even then I know it¡¯s under the strictest of laboratory conditions.¡± ¡°15,000 [years]...¡± Laandi¡¯s eyes began to blink uncontrollably. She guided herself to the closest seat; the revelation in front of her -like everything else about the human- was unbelievable. She laughed softly. And didn¡¯t stop. The absurdity of it all. ¡°If these dogs are not test subjects for your own genetic engineering, then why? Why do it at all? What possible benefit could you gain from altering a completely different species if you had no intention of performing the same experiments on yourselves? I thought the creature a marvel of calculated design, but knowing now, I¡¯ve never heard of a more gratuitous waste of resources on such a relatively meager result.¡± Laandi held her body, steadying it from her lingering chuckles. Jasmines hand on Sieglinde¡¯s collar held tighter. The room became disturbingly cold. ¡°Dogs are referred to as Humanity¡¯s greatest friend. They are loyal, loving, and noble; I don¡¯t know why our ancestors did it, but I am glad they did.¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice was hard, and with her words a thin sheet of ice had come between them. ¡°They are worth more to us that you might ever understand.¡± The Director realised her mistake. She had laughed in the face of the very creatures she had thought a miracle. The salvation of her own species lay before her and she was concerned with the method of its conception. She had insulted 15,000 [years] of continued development. NOTHING organised in the galaxy had lasted 15,000 [years]. The Director composed herself, embarrassed and ashamed. ¡°I¡­ I am sorry Miss Howe. I have offered you a bowl of rotten fruit.¡± The Director apologised, lowering her head in penance. The human¡¯s face wrinkled in thought, but settled back into the professional air she had at the beginning of the meeting. The ice melting but a frost remained, Laandi could feel the sentiment was there. Apology accepted. ¡°So how are you going to make it up to me? (Before I start making demands?)¡± Jasmine asked sharply. ¡°Yes,¡± Laandi replied, relieved. ¡°I can send you the necessary logs ahead of time, so you may study them for yourself. I will be available at any hour should you need my experience and expertise¡± ¡°(Right, I¡¯ll be sure to call if I want to be laughed at again.)¡± The sarcasm slapped Laandi in the face. She tried to make amends, pleading to the incredible generosity of the human. ¡°Miss Howe, the existence of the dogs and yourself presents such an auspicious opportunity to repair the damage done to the Qzetillian Genomes. It is a gift that you exist at all; especially now that we know just how much work went into creating you both. I would hate to burden you with this all alone - it takes many years to learn the laws and loopholes of GC legislation, please, it is the least I could do after all you¡¯ve given us.¡± Jasmine¡¯s lips tightened; she wasn¡¯t even sure she could trust the Director at all. This was too much information - too many things Jasmine needed to sit and think about. She needed to listen to the audio logs, no matter how dull and dry the narrator was. She needed to start asking questions about the galaxy and how it worked. She couldn¡¯t be passive forever. ¡°(Wait a minute,)¡± Her mind alerted her to something she did understand. Qzetillian; she remembered the displays Xant had shown her of the four creator races during their first interviews. Zenthi, Xant¡¯s own psychic race; Sulin, the raptor lizards; Arvas, the bug people and the Qzetillia, the brain sacks. ¡°Qzetillian, those were the (disgusting) aliens that abducted me - I thought they were your enemies. Why would you want to help them?¡± ¡°Miss Howe, I am Qzetillian. A Repair Strain Qzetillian¡± Laandi unfurled her hand to explain. ¡°I am a product of engineering, attempting to recreate an ancient Qzetillian appearance by amalgamating seven different species. I and the abominations who abducted you, share what little genes exist of the Qzetillia.¡± Jasmine shook her head in shock and repulsion. Laandi looked like a classic grey - just how far had these aliens gone in altering themselves? What were they going to do if they got their hands on human DNA? The Director nodded her head, continuing. ¡°So much of what it was to be Qzetillian was lost during the Painful Dynasty, we don¡¯t have enough data to even introduce new nucleotides in order to cultivate mutagenesis. This is why your ¡®dogs¡¯ are just so valuable. Why it is so important that we protect Sieglinde and yourself from those who would stop at nothing to gather your data, even at the risk of destroying the specimens. I implore you Miss Howe, I am not your enemy: I want what is best for everyone.¡± Jasmine looked down at the golden retriever, who looked up at her with a bored expression. Sigi had been sitting quietly for a long time, and had decided now was the best time to lift her paw onto Jasmine''s lap. Reminding the human of her presence and the necessary pats that needed to be administered. ¡°I get it Laandi, you need the data. Sieglinde and the others dogs can help you.¡± Jasmine cupped the dogs cheeks, forcing herself to smile and ruffled Sigi¡¯s fur. The bored expression quickly melted into that of pure joy; Sigi nudged Jasmine¡¯s hands for a harder pet. ¡°You hear that? You¡¯re going to help save the universe and you don¡¯t even need to do anything! Who¡¯s a good girl? Who¡¯s the best girl ever?!¡± Jasmine continued, sliding down off the stool to hug the dog tightly. The unease in the air dissipated as Jasmine made contact with Sieglinde; an almost pleasant aura banishing the cold. ¡°Everything is going to be okay. I will listen to the audio logs Laandi, I will study genetic distribution law and do everything I can to help us both.¡± Laandi gave a sigh of relief, but the peace was short lived as Jasmine¡¯s mind, uncontrolled, whispered: ¡°(Don¡¯t make me regret trusting you.)¡± The Director took it as a warning. They still had no idea what the human was capable of - what kind of damage could be done when Jasmine wielded her aggression on purpose. ¡°Thank you, Miss Howe. I will resume the Security recording now. I hope that we can speak on more hospitable terms in the days to come.¡± ¡°Yeah. (Maybe.)¡± Jasmine replied. She returned to her seat in the position she had been sitting in when the recording was interrupted. Laandi reached up and touched the medallion. A small blue pulse before the lights returned bright. ¡°Miss Howe, thank you for your patience and understanding on this matter. I will have the updated schedules sent to your dataslate and will notify the staff of the changes. The Esaander Corporation looks forward to your continued cooperation.¡± ¡°Thank you Laandi.¡± Jasmine responded, not trusting herself to say anything more. The Director reached up again and the blue light pulsed. ¡°Rynard, please escort Miss Howe to Xant¡¯s quarters, so they may resume their scheduled research.¡± ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am,¡± Rynard¡¯s casual reply echoed from the unseen speaker. Laandi rose from her chair with practised grace and lead Jasmine to the door. Sieglinde, happy to be moving again, rushed forward to the door. Jasmine¡¯s grip prevented her from going too far. ¡°May your life be balanced.¡± Laandi bid Jasmine farewell. Jasmine looked at the grey alien, nodding her head slowly. ¡°Yeah you- Have a good one.¡± She replied before immediately stepping through the door. Chastising herself as it closed behind her. ¡°(Have a good one? REALLY? Couldn¡¯t think of anything better to say?! You know like, ¡®till we meet again?¡¯ or ¡®Good luck¡¯? ¡®And you too¡¯ would have been better than ¡®Have a good one¡¯...)¡± ¡°Who are ya talking to?¡± Rynard¡¯s off the cuff comment snapped Jasmine back to the hallway. ¡°Uhhh, myself¡­¡± she answered quietly, feeling her cheeks burn red. The captain didn¡¯t let her wallow in her embarrassment, thankfully. ¡°Huh, well, back across the wing to Dr. Xant¡¯s quarters. Then you can get back to whatever it is you big heads talk about.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Jasmine sighed, happy at least one alien wasn¡¯t fascinated by her ¡®quirks¡¯. Rynard stared blankly at Xant¡¯s door. It was locked, and under ¡®do not disturb¡¯. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°The Doctor won¡¯t respond.¡± Rynard answered, checking the dataslate attached to his armour. ¡°Ohhhhh, he¡¯s on extended rest, so, uhh, no research for you! Ha ha.¡± ¡°So what do we do now?¡± Rynard scratched the underside of his chin. ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯m supposed to escort you back to your quarters and wait until the Doctor collects you-¡± he watched as Jasmine didn''t hold back her disappointment at the notion - he wasn¡¯t exactly happy about that arrangement either. ¡°-or, you know, since I¡¯ve got to keep an eye on you, you can come back to the security office and uhh...¡± He sized up the Human with a small nod ¡°... I can have you outfitted with something more suitable to your skills.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°You throw your Freq around like a Ranger, ¡®spose you might as well look like one.¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes and mouth widened; Rynard felt the excitement, it tickled. ¡°Are you saying I can have have my own body armour?!¡± ¡°Yeah, why not? Shouldn¡¯t take too long to get you fitted with a hard suit, you¡¯re not that big.¡± Rynard promptly turned and headed for the elevator, an excited Jasmine and Sieglinde bouncing behind him. Transcripts Chapter 12: Waking Up Darkness. Stillness. Nothingness. Alone? Alone¡­ Xant opened his eyes, and stayed still on his office floor. For a moment, he was lost. He shifted his hand and felt the woven pattern of the rug beneath his glove. Sensation returned to him, stiff body, aching muscles and dry eyes. He moved his arms to lift himself up and he became more aware of his surroundings. He was in his office, darkness around him, the rug to his left, desk to his right, the terrarium in front of him. Then he remembered what was attached to himself, his clothes, his jacket, his gloves, and the medipen still attached to the back of his neck. Xant raised his hand slowly, as if the tension of every muscle was new and untested. His fingers grasped the tool, stopping and squeezing the foreign object, deciding how much pressure was needed to remove it. A small tug. A brief moment of chill as the skin was relieved of the pen. A drop of blood trickled down his back, concerning, but only in the way he ignored it. Xant sat on his office floor, quiet. He remembered now, the events leading up to his current state. The natural Frequency talk with Sieglinde, the rapid emotional shift Jasmine had had between pure joy and undiluted fear, the amount of depressor chems he had used to stabilise his condition. It was natural for him to be disorientated. Yes. Natural. He inspected the Medipen and the canister attached to it. He had used an entire vial. He shook his head, no wonder he was so slow! He craned his neck and pushed to sit up at his desk stool. ¡°Time¡­¡± His order drawn out. ¡°The time is 1315.¡± his room replied pleasantly. Xant sat still again. 1315. ¡°How long have I been in ¡®do not disturb¡¯?¡± He asked the computer. ¡°Eight [hours] and 25 [minutes]¡± The room¡¯s computer happily informed him. Xant did not enjoy the news. He had been unconscious for his entire rest period and an extra two [hours] on top of that. How? How could he have slept so long? Even with the suppressors that was an inordinately long time. He must have been pushing his limits. His eyes ran over the finer details of the vial, then, to the contents of the open drawer. He had two more depressor vials, he¡¯d need to put in a request for more with Krydon. By Xant¡¯s estimate, he would need three doses a [day] to keep his VEFS in check. One third in the first quarter before meditation, another before an interview, and the last before rest. A vial a [day]. It wasn¡¯t an unheard of amount, but Xant knew the implications of long term use, the damage that could be done if he overdosed. Not just to his physical self but to his reputation, too easily Zenthi fell to the ills of pharmaceutical indulgence. He could ruin his entire library of accomplishments if he couldn¡¯t keep himself from addiction. Then there was the damage that could be done if Jasmine unwittingly shifted her emotions again and he was unprepared, VEFS could have him unable to finish his work. Jittering and stammering through the simplest of tasks, forgetting function and action. He¡¯d be taken off the station and Jasmine would be assigned a new researcher. Xant could end up a slow, dull drone, or an erratic, distracted temperamental. There was no easy choice. There was no easy answer. He reached into the drawer and changed the empty vial for a new one, careful to give himself the appropriate amount. He pulled off his glove and rolled up his sleeve. A quick jab to the forearm, to space the time for the cooling liquid to numb his senses. The worry would soon melt away, he could concentrate on the task at hand. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. This was the time put aside for meditation, more exposure to Jasmine¡¯s Frequencies would help him to build a tolerance, then he could slow the dose of chems. She was probably waiting for him. ¡°Remove ¡®do not disturb¡¯, turn on the lights and read out my messages.¡± He instructed the room, rising slowly to collect the appropriate dataslate. CPT Rynard: Dr. Xant, uhh, when your rest quarter is up you can find Jasmine with me in the security office. I¡¯ll run her through a few drills, nothin hard though. Hear from you soon. Xant just about dropped his dataslate from the shelf, Rynard was running Jasmine through drills? Jasmine was a civilian by all accounts, even with her high level Frequency manipulation she wasn¡¯t built for the demands of military exercises. Xant¡¯s ears twitched, with a newfound urgency he stormed over to his wardrobe and tapped the sensor. The rack slid out from the wall and he ripped a fresh coat from the rail. His messages continued to play. ED Laandi: Xant, please find the new schedule I have updated to your terminal, Jasmine and I have come to an agreement about the User Level Sieglinde. The new schedule will commence next rest quarter. Xant stopped mid sleeving of his white coat, Laandi had spoken with Jasmine. Alone, without his knowledge or consent. He clenched his jaw and swept his coat on with one swift movement. Placing his dataslate into the right hand pocket he continued out his quarters and down to the elevator. If there was anyone who would be able to take the pulses of Xant¡¯s malcontent, it was Rynard. -*- HISSSSSSS Pink liquid pumped out of the armour press, draining out several tubes and disappearing into the wall. The giant rectangular machine hummed, and let out a burst of steam before unveiling the prize within. The automatic door unlatched and a small, grey suit stood, glistening in the light of the security office. ¡°Whoaaaaaaaa! (Whoaaaaaaaa!)¡± Jasmine breathed, running up to the machine. ¡°See, told you it wouldn¡¯t take long. Got about the same amount of material as my forearm armour.¡± Rynard shrugged, a small smile in the corner of his mouth as he felt the pleasant waves of excitement flowing off the little alien. Sieglinde barked happily by Rynard¡¯s side, her collar tied to a makeshift leash of electrical cable. ¡°It¡¯s... so frickin¡¯ cool...¡± Jasmine murmured again, circling the suit on the platform. Her fingers brushed over the surface, shiny and smooth, like fresh plastic. Large plates overlapped each other attached to a plushy leather-like material, looking closely she could see the circuitry interwoven over the leather. ¡°How do I put it on?¡± She looked up to Rynard, an expectant gaze on her face. ¡°See that blue light on the collar?¡± he pointed to one on his own suit. ¡°Touch the sensor and stand back, the hard suit will flip open and you can climb inside.¡± Jasmine took a step back and extended her finger to swish it over the blue light. A small pshhh, then the grey panels cracked open, folding out a piece at a time from the back. Rynard raised an eyebrow as Jasmine gasped, she was completely enamoured with the armour. He¡¯d seen that look on scientists before, when they had found something ¡®fascinating¡¯ like a plant or a fried bit of electrical panel, it was rewarding to see that it could also be applied to something he understood the value of. ¡°(This can¡¯t get any freaking cooler).¡± Her mind enchanted, she carefully stepped into the suit. It was still warm from the press, the interior soft and cushiony. She slid her hands in first and it fit perfectly, almost too perfectly. Rynard had put her through a whole body scanner, but the actual results were nothing short of immaculate. As she leaned in to slide her feet in she felt the suit contour to her legs for an easier transition. Smart suit. She wished her normal clothes were as accommodating. ¡°When you¡¯re ready just tap your chin on the collar,¡± Rynard called ¡°The Suit will know you¡¯re ready to clamp up!¡± Jasmine nodded, reaching her chin out and bumping the collar, then she felt it move. One by one the plates snapped back into place, the leather wrapping around her skin, giving a tight but secure fit. Her heart was racing as the final plate clicked on her back and she could move for the first time. She felt like an Arthurian knight freshly minted in armour, ready to defend those who could not fight. ¡°(It¡¯s so light¡­)¡± Jasmine marveled, moving first the fingers, then her arm, before tapping her toe to the ground. It was so good to wear shoes again. She then tested every point of mobility, stretching out and swinging her arms. ¡°I thought it would be really heavy, but it¡¯s lighter than dirt bike armour!¡± She thumped her chest piece and felt a hollow echo. ¡°Well, it¡¯s mostly to protect you from Nerv shot, ain¡¯t nothing really gonna protect you from an activated Seg¡¯ sword or a Melter.¡± Rynard chuckled, and Jasmine cast her eyes to the weapons display on the far wall. A dozen or so swords and rifles hung locked up in three distinct racks, encased in clear, glass like vaults. ¡°You¡¯re not cleared for any of that so don¡¯t go setting your ambitions too high.¡± Rynard laughed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t I swear! (I¡¯d probably just hurt myself.)¡± She replied honestly raising her hands in mock surrender. ¡°Good.¡± The Captain grabbed Sigi¡¯s leash and motioned toward the large doors of the training room. ¡°We¡¯ll start of with a few simple drills and work our way up, and if you prove to me you¡¯re not just another big head with the wrong genes stuck in you, then we might be able to ¡®break the glass¡¯.¡± Jasmine stood to attention and saluted her enormous instructor. ¡°Yessir!¡± she replied firm, and Rynard felt another pulse. This one was different from the light waves of joy she had been giving off before. He felt a knot below his ribcage, tickling unpleasantly, tightening the longer he stared at her in silence. ¡°Well! Come one then!.¡± He ordered. ¡°Let¡¯s start with some laps!¡± Transcripts Chapter 13: Research Notes Xant rarely ever left the sanctuary of the research floors, he had no need to venture past his own office. Often he would send his assistants to collect data reports or to retrieve whatever physical item he needed from the other departments. Since Jasmine had become his responsibility he found himself running more and more around the station. He wanted to be the one to deliver and discover, and now he was going to discover why Rynard even thought to take Jasmine to the Security office and deliver his opinions on the matter. Xant waved his hand over the sensor. ¡°Security Office, Dr. Xant authorised.¡± The large door took an eternity to open, enough time for the doctor to have his cold glare ready to strike at Rynard. The security office was modelled the same as the many other laboratories on Uleesia station. A smaller antechamber filled with the necessary equipment greeted you at the entrance, then another door lead you to the larger enclosure/testing facility, in this case it was a training room. Xant¡¯s eyes locked onto the observation window and his ears fell flat on his head. Rynard was standing at one end of the room while Jasmine was charging straight at him! He watched in horror and amazement as the human leapt into the air, shifting her center of gravity mid motion, coiling up her legs and slamming her feet into Rynard¡¯s abdomen. The former soldier took the force with ease, he stepped back only to return the force with an almighty grunt. Jasmine''s legs recoiled, bouncing off the brute and sending herself flying backward, she did not have the coordination to land in an upright position. She crashed backwards onto the floor, the armour making a terrible crunch against the clinical tiles. She slid a few feet and let her body go where it wanted, laying spread out on the floor. Then they laughed. It was over in a matter of seconds, but Xant felt as though it was he who had been kicked in the chest. A blow like that would have certainly knocked any of the scientists on board off their feet. It would have caused serious damage to any Citizen. Jasmine had never shown any indication she was capable of such violence. Even in Krydon¡¯s lab she had merely shouted at the assistant, her arms were firmly at her side, never lifted to strike. Rynard walked over and extended a hand for Jasmine to get up, they were smiling at each other. Jasmine''s face flush red with bared teeth, Rynard returning with his own sharp grin. Something was said between them, the observation speaker had been turned off. Xant was all too ready to remedy that. He walked over the the control panel and pressed the sensor a little harder than he should have. ¡°If you wouldn''t mind,¡± his voice low with deliberate pacing ¡°I believe I am owed a very detailed explanation as to what transpired during my rest.¡± Jasmine''s head snapped toward the observation window and Rynard felt the intruding knot tighten under his chest. ¡°Xant?¡± Jasmine enquired to no one ¡°(He sounds mad¡­)¡± Sieglinde barked excitedly at Xant¡¯s voice and bolted to the exit, scratching at the door. ¡°Eh, you know doctors and schedules, they don''t gotta lot of tolerance for the unexpected.¡± Rynard tapped the Dataslate on his arm and replied to the waiting doctor. ¡°Sure thing! Be right out.¡± He then assured Jasmine, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he ain¡¯t mad at you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She replied not entirely convinced. Sieglinde¡¯s scratching eventually knocked the sensor and the doors opened for her, she bounded toward the doctor. ¡®(Friend Xant! Friend Xant has come to play!!)¡¯ She spun in circles before him, barking with each short breath ¡®(We were running and chasing and jumping and climbing!)¡¯ Xant steadied himself, he didn''t want to unleash his discontent on the innocent creature. ¡®(That sounds like fun friend Sieglinde.)¡¯ Was the quick, dismissive answer before he addressed the Captain with his prepared glare. ¡°Captain Rynard-¡± Xant barely waited for him to clear the entrance ¡°-An explanation, please.¡± Rynard felt his shoulder twitch and tighten, and that gave him pause. The good doctor was the only other on aboard who had any real experience with Freq Manipulation first hand. Most notably because he could actually perform it with a level of self control. He wasn¡¯t exercising that self control in this instance. Rynard gave a little huff through his nostrils. ¡°While protocol states that I should have returned our Guest to her room and awaited your instructions as per ED Laandi¡¯s orders, neither I nor the Guest felt that it was in our best interests and so,¡± he shrugged, ¡°We decided to conduct some GCS standard operation drills, in order to pass the time.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Jasmine slowly stepped past Rynard, careful not to cross the glare line between him and Xant. ¡°Morning Xant¡­¡± Jasmine greeted, trying to tuck imaginary hair behind her ear. ¡°And equipping an untested Subject with Military Grade equipment? I see you skimmed over that protocol too.¡± Xant Frequency jabbed Rynard again, painlessly, a precise and focused effort on his part. ¡°I did a risk assessment, found none, and continued on.¡± Rynard took the force effortlessly. ¡°Risk assessment to yourself, the Subject or the station? This is uncharacteristically reckless of you Captain. The Subject has been know to push herself in order to achieve recognition, putting her through GCS operation drills before she has even undergone a full physical examination is endangering at the very least-¡± ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡± Jasmine interjected, ¡°(No need to ignore me.)¡± Xant and Rynard¡¯s turned toward her, and Xant¡¯s expression calmed. ¡°Good afternoon Jasmine,¡± Xant returned her greeting. ¡°Forgive my outburst, I have received a lot of distressing news concerning your wellbeing. You are not injured or strained from the drills?¡± ¡°Well, I was happy to stretch my legs, as it were,¡± she sighed. ¡°The only thing injured was my pride, really.¡± The knot tightened in both the doctor and the Captain¡¯s chests, stronger than it had been before. ¡°It was nice to be able to relax and not worry about¡­ Everything.¡± Xant stepped forward lowering his head to make true eye contact. Was that the cause of all this anxiety? He had thought they were making good progress, she had been growing more comfortable and making jokes. Had his warning of the removal of Sieglinde caused such an impact? Had the meeting with Laandi undone all of his hard work building a rapport? ¡°You¡¯re worrying about everything?¡± Xant asked concerned. Jasmine let out a bewildered,¡°eh?!¡± before continuing her explanation. ¡°Xant, in the last three weeks I¡¯ve had so much information thrown at me I¡¯m not even sure it¡¯s all sunk in yet! Between finding out aliens (fucking) exist and that dogs can talk on a Frequency we can¡¯t detect without a (psychic) translator, I¡¯m surprised my own head hasn¡¯t imploded!¡± She dropped her shoulders and closed her eyes.¡°(Don¡¯t get too worked up, calm down.) Rynard hasn¡¯t asked me any questions and he didn¡¯t push me. Humans sometimes exercise to relax, and forget about the bigger problems they (can¡¯t handle) need to work on. I just needed to work out some frustrations and, Rynard makes an excellent punching bag.¡± ¡°She was never in any danger.¡± Rynard pointed out before Xant could have his say. ¡°I may be ex-GCR, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve forgotten Citizen limitations.¡± Xant was caught between comforting Jasmine and continuing his lashing out of Ryanard. ¡°Jasmine,¡± he turned to her, his decision made. ¡°If at any time you feel uncomfortable, you know you can speak to me, if needed we can reschedule the tests and allow you time to recover-¡± ¡°No!¡± She snapped, and then stood straight, the armour giving her strength. ¡°I want to do the tests, I want (need) to be cleared for the station. (and other things.)¡± ¡°Other things? What things?...¡± Xant asked, as he felt her anxiety loosening and tightening at regular intervals. ¡°I¡­ (shit) You said I¡¯ve been granted ¡®Creator Level Status¡¯ but that¡¯s not official until I go through the tests right? So I am not a ¡®citizen¡¯ until those tests are done, I don¡¯t have any real ¡®rights¡¯ until I''m certified. I need to know what it entails, I need to know exactly what¡¯s going to happen to me after all these interviews and tests are done with, when I¡¯m not a ¡®Research Subject¡¯ anymore.¡± Xant and Rynard looked at each other, the anxiety was turning into fear. ¡°You will become a citizen, and then are protected under the GCS legislation, all of which will be explained to you when we have the appropriate negotiator on board. There are protocols and safeguarded regulations in place and I will be with you during the entire procedure.¡± The knot loosened. Xant continued with more confidence. ¡°Your wellbeing is my utmost priority, and if I must, I will hold your hand.¡± Jasmine was taken back, letting out an unsure chuckle ¡°You?.. Did you just make a joke?¡± She smiled, not the broad grin as she had done to Rynard but the polite smile he was used to. ¡°I never said I was incapable, just that our senses of humour were different. I had hoped this one would help to put your mind at ease.¡± Jasmine sighed, and the tension unraveled. ¡°Thank you Xant, and, I¡¯m sorry for snapping at you, just now and back at my room.¡± ¡°There will never be a need for you to apologise Jasmine.¡± Xant found himself once again repeating the phrase. ¡°Once you are ready we can return to our schedule, we have a small window for a meditation session before the Perception tests begin.¡± He nodded, pulling back to his normal height. ¡°Okay, umm, can I keep the suit on?¡± she asked. Xant turned his head to Rynard. ¡°Will she be allowed to wear this suit without station clearance?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an Esaander Employee registered hard suit, it has none of the offensive security features.¡± Rynard explained. Xant returned to Jasmine his ears wavering with his nodding head. ¡°If that makes you comfortable. I have no objections.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jasmine gave him a different smile, a gentle warmth radiating from her. ¡°Good, then we shall be on our way.¡± The doctor stated before addressing the final member of the room. ¡®(Friend Sieglinde, please walk with us.)¡¯ ¡®(WALK?????)¡¯ The dog wagged its tail excitedly ¡®(MORE WALKS!! Will we see trees Friend Xant?!)¡¯ ¡®(Of sorts, come with us.)¡¯ ¡®(Oh yes! Walks with Friend Xant and Namegiver Jasmine!)¡± She ran around in circles before heading to the door.¡¯ Jasmine laughed at Sigi¡¯s adorable actions. ¡°Oh man I can¡¯t wait until I can hear what you guys talk about.¡± Xant lead the way, following after Sieglinde. ¡°I believe it will be I who is more fascinated to hear the pair of you talk.¡± He added ¡°I would love to better understand the strong connection between User and Creator.¡± ¡°Dog is Man¡¯s best friend.¡± Jasmine replied, meeting Xant¡¯s eyes as she passed ahead of him. ¡°(But we really don¡¯t deserve them.)¡± Her mind echoed softly. Xant was about to enquire, but he left it alone, watching as Jasmine picked up the makeshift leash. ¡°Your room is this way, yeah?¡± She asked, pointing down the left corridor. ¡°Yes,¡± Xant answered simply, watching the human walk ever so naturally in the armoured suit. His ears flitted up, he had made the right decision. Even if he did end up an uncredited jabber, it would be worth it to understand her. ¡°Dr., before you go.¡± Rynard voice muttered through the open doorway. ¡°I''ll have the results of our session waiting here for you. I¡¯d like to go over them while Jas¡¯s on rest.¡± Xant nodded in reply but didn''t look back. The Captain had already given her a short name. Interesting. Transcripts Chapter 14: Subject Discussions Dr. Jess walked briskly down the empty living quarters corridors. She had just handed in her reported findings on studying the Creator pre-translator tapes, a rather lengthy study on the language and emotions used in Jasmine¡¯s singing behavior. She had rambled a few times on purpose, just to spite Laandi; Behavioral Studies was always looked down upon, and yet it was HER work that allowed Laandi to weave through negotiations with other Creator sects¡¯ species, that secured trade deals with Modifier planets and kept User level workers happy. Often those who had never studied the field tended to think its only application was the study of ¡®lesser¡¯ beings. They all too often forgot that it could also be applied to the modern workplace. Cultural causation was always shifting; as far removed as the modern Creators were from those tribal Users, hints of the ancient past still connected and resided in them. It was the study of actions that allowed Jess to advance as far as she had done at such a young age. Her professor at the Institution wasn''t a morning person? She sent her reports in the afternoon so her works would be listened to with more appreciation. When she was looking for an experience placement she studied the prior employee candidates and appealed to the characteristics that the recruiters preferred. When Jess wanted to gain the affection of her upperclass mate, she supplemented the skills he lacked in his own studies. It had worked to great effect. It was easier as she grew older - identifying the powerplay behind company politics and exploiting them to her gain. It was all a delicate balance of risk and reward. ¡°Dr. Kyda Jess.¡± The door chimed, but it was not the only thing to greet her. Marsen Duuarn stood in her quarters, pretending not to have noticed her entrance. He continued to face the dataslate in hand, the light reflecting off his glossy black eyes, but she had noticed how he had gone to extra lengths for her. The white jacket was new, custom fit, it gave Duuarn a clean outline of his broad shoulders and thin hips. His tail swished unconsciously toward her, and the hand that sat under his chin was being gently stroked by his thumb, the place she often had her own trimmed claws tease him. He must have rearranged the scheduling times for his own rest quarter to overlap with hers, or he was blatantly ignoring it. The man had pride, he had ambition, but without her vision he had nothing. She smiled perversely. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t realise they had demoted you to maintenance staff.¡± She struck the first blow in their courtship duel. ¡°Is that why I¡¯ve seen so little of you?¡± ¡°They only send me to deal with the most atrocious equipment,¡± he retaliated, with an effort not to even face her with his smile ¡°You¡¯re due for a service.¡± ¡°I''m not sure you''re qualified to handle it,¡± she sneered slyly, refusing to be the one to make eye contact first. ¡°You¡¯ve missed quite a few appointments, how do I know you¡¯re still certified?¡± She slithered past him to her clothes rack, removing her own white coat so he could watch her tease him. She was wearing an open shouldered top today, her lavender scales shimmering in the bright lighting. Jess waited for the snarky reply but was instead surprised by something new. His gloved hand slid across the soft scales of her back and his voice soft in her ear. ¡°Allow me to make it up to you¡­¡± Duuarn hovered the dataslate over her shoulder before she could turn, her jacket left to fall on the floor. ¡°Laandi and Subject Jasmine had a conversation without her attendant, I thought you would like to analyse it?¡± Jess¡¯s claws reached up to snatch the precious piece of technology, her eyes gaining a ferocity the geneticist envied. ¡°How old is this?¡± she asked. ¡°Less than 4 [hours], Isk sent it to me after the meeting as he promised. I was hoping you could read into the nuances for me¡­ and that I might help with whatever plan it is you have threading together in your beautiful mind.¡± Jess almost winced, she playfully bumped his hand from her shoulder and made her way to the sleeping alcove, ensuring her hips swayed with extra vigor as she did so. ¡°Flattery is unbecoming of you, Marsen. You should stick with insults, you¡¯re far more talented with them.¡± She slid onto her gel mattress and lay on her side facing out, blocking entrance so Duuarn was forced to lean on the wall beside her bed. She pressed play and listened to the audio, her mind anticipating the possibilities. Miss Howe: Miss Jasmine Anne Howe of Earth, Terra Firma, Sol system. Jess was muttering under her breath after the second line. Duuarn waited, content to watch her work, his eyes set firmly to the movements of her lips. Miss Howe: I, Jasmine Anne Howe do conduct these discussions on behalf of myself. - Jess sneered, apparently unable to hold her tongue any more. ¡°Hmph, she''s very inconsistent with her own title, this is the fifth iteration I¡¯ve heard across recordings. She uses ¡®Jasmine¡¯ with Dr. Xant, ¡®Jasmine Howe¡¯ with her own personal logs, ¡®Jasi¡¯ in the pre-translator recordings and now she was using ¡®Miss Howe¡¯ with ED Laandi only to drop the ¡®Miss¡¯ during this statement! It¡¯s almost as convoluted as a Khitariish procession.¡± ¡°Is there a discernible pattern?¡± Duuarn asked, his tail wavering between them. ¡°Not an obvious one, it doesn¡¯t shrink with social status like an Arvas, and it¡¯s not an indicator of birth like Zenthi. I would say maybe lengthens according to the status of the addresser, with her giving the longest name while speaking with the Director, but then why would she have the shorter name for Xant and not herself? It¡¯s out of order then.¡± She placed down the Dataslate to her side, finally looking up at her companion. ¡°Maybe its familiarity? Like with our own names Kyda.¡± Duuarn suggested sarcastically, Jess chuckled, sliding onto her belly and lifting her tail ever so invitingly.. ¡°It¡¯s cute you''re trying to contribute from outside your field of expertise, but after the hours of recordings I¡¯ve been listening to the ¡®human¡¯ might be more unstable than she¡¯s letting on¡­¡± Duuarn¡¯s features darkened with glee as Jess let that little snippet slip. ¡°Unstable? How?¡± He beckoned an answer from her and she was happy to comply, her tail flicked toward her dataslate shelf. ¡°Third from the top, the seventh recording¡­ halfway through the song.¡± Duuarn was quick to follow instructions, taking the dataslate and flying through the menu to the recording, he let it play. >Subject F17: And they say She''s in the Class A Team Stuck in her daydream Been this way since eighteen But lately her face seems Slowly sinking, wasting This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Crumbling like pastries- [sigh] [Long pause] Subject F17: He''s not that bad¡­ [Long pause] Subject F17: I''ve already poisoned the universe with Wonderwall- No. [Long pause] Subject F17: God I¡¯m such an idiot¡­ [Long pause] Subject F17: I¡¯m not singing it. [Long pause] Subject F17: Nope. [Long pause] Subject F17: God damnit anything else please. [Long pause] Subject F17: Fuck you brain. Subject F17: Of all the fucking songs¡­ Subject F17: NARWHALS NARWHALS SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN CAUSING A COMMOTION ¡®CAUSE THEY ARE SO AWESOME NARWHALS NARWHALS SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN PRETTY BIG AND PRETTY WHITE THEY BEAT A POLAR BEAR IN A FIGHT THEY''RE LIKE AN UNDERWATER UNICORN THEY HAVE A KICKASS FACIAL HORN THEY''RE THE JEDI OF THE SEA THEY STOP CTHULHU EATING YE NARWHALS THEY ARE NARWHALS NARWHALS JUST DON''T LET THEM TOUCH YOUR BALLS NARWHALS THEY ARE NARWHALS NARWHALS INVENTORS OF THE SHISH KEBAB!! [Long pause] Subject F17: There, you happy? I¡¯m going back to singing shitty pop songs now because fuck you brain. [Session Ended] Duuarn looked back at Jess with the most confused look on his face, momentarily forgetting where he was and what he was doing. ¡°That is quite possibly the most unexplainable thing I have ever had the displeasure of enduring...¡± He turned the dataslate off. ¡°And I¡¯ve met your benefactor.¡± He returned the dataslate to the shelf and rubbed his temples. ¡°That was so irrational it almost hurt.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not curious about who she was talking to?¡± Jess queried, ignoring the slight to her progenitor beneficiary. ¡°Talking to? She was spitting inane gibberish, clearly fried her neurons beyond repair-¡± ¡°No. You truly have the most intense, yet impaired focus Marsen, have you heard the other reports?¡± Duuarn¡¯s confusion morphed into suspicion. ¡°I¡¯ve seen the incident at Krydon¡¯s office, if that is what you¡¯re implying¡­¡± He stroked his chin again. ¡°I would love to see how they managed to design the Frequency manipulation and Zenthi telepathy, condensing it into such a small frame. It would do wonders for infiltration specialists¡­ That genescript alone would earn enough credits for property on Clentesia. I''ve been trying to keep up with the reports as much as I can, but Xant is acting like he''s on Pre-pain time.¡± Jess smiled wickedly. ¡°I''ve gone over the Audio recordings of that very incident, and it seems the human can give orders by speech and Zenthi telepathy simultaneously...¡± ¡°Dual neuron simultaneous interactions, yes, I saw the footage, There is no possible way her body could handle such an exhausting task without repercussions,¡± The geneticist mused, intrigued. ¡°There is more of course...¡± Jess continued ¡° Because of the duel neurons functions she¡¯s naturally multi-skilled as well, and, for our benefit, emotional to the point of constant VEFS¡­¡± She delighted in watching Duuarn¡¯s face slowly transition as the dark mechanisms in his brain clicked into place. ¡°Constant VEFS? And you¡¯re sure of this?¡± Duuarn stalked over to his partner''s side, looking over her on the bed, leaning in ever closer. ¡°Half of her ¡®songs¡¯ could hold enough emotional impact to be used as a Freq-bomb if the right recorder is used. They detailed the physical pains of separation, of loneliness, more than enough allusions of it causing the breaking of her very circulation system¡­¡± She expanded excitedly, finally able to share her theories and hypothesis with him. Someone who wasn¡¯t afraid of repercussions for his actions, and who stood by them even as disaster struck. ¡°VEFS so strong it destroys the subject¡¯s circulatory system, being hurt by its own emotions.¡± Duuarn¡¯s tail slid along Jess¡¯s back temptingly. ¡°What purpose could that possibly serve in the species¡¯ benefit? I know how we could harness such a devastating natural offensive, imagine the military contracts-¡± ¡°Marsen.¡± Jess¡¯s own tail coiled around his, pulling taut so he was almost caught off balance. ¡°We have to be in control of the project before we can start making plans with her genescript. The conversation, the simultaneous neural broadcasts¡­ she was talking to herself!¡± ¡°So she has already fried her neurons.¡± He leaned over her with a devilish grin, their faces almost touching. ¡°If the subject has already done this extensive damage to herself, there is no way that walking Freq-filter Xant isn¡¯t being affected by it. We just have to wait for him to suffer an extreme VEFS attack and then¡­¡± His gloved hand stroked the underside of her chin, she turned her head to the side, letting his fingers trail down her neck. ¡°Present ourselves as the better alternative,¡± She finished his sentence. ¡°It¡¯s obvious he isn''t qualified to handle a Subject Creator, he hasn¡¯t got the cultural sensitivity training to understand her actions. He¡¯s one VEFS attack away from causing an intergalactic incident.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t have to wait too long for that attack either,¡± Duuarn added, sliding onto the bed beside her. ¡°He already suffered an extensive attack before the translator was put in...¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly, but are you sure the VEFS attack will happen soon? I was going to suggest we try to trigger it through a forced separation of the Subject and Specimen.¡± Jess purred to his touch. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Duuarn¡¯s voice grew husky. ¡°It will happen soon - The Subject is scheduled to meet with the other Specimens under my care, if she reacted so strongly to the presence of one of those furry itch sacks, then I can only imagine the force she will be emitting when she¡¯s surrounded by three of them.¡± ¡°Your deductions are getting better Marsen, have you actually been listening to me for a change?¡± ¡°You know I always follow your lead...Director.¡± Jess¡¯s golden eyes fluttered, her claw reaching up to his collar as he rubbed his cheek down her neck. She pushed him back forcefully with her hand and tail, off the bed so he stumbled on the floor. He let out a soft growl but quickly stood on his feet. ¡°Not yet, you¡¯re not certified. I¡¯ll have to do an evaluation¡­¡± She laughed teasingly, resting her head on her hand, while the other traced the edge of her tight fitted shorts ¡°... and you¡¯re not dressed for the interview.¡± Duuarn smirked reaching to pull off his uniform. ¡°Wait,¡± She raised her hand, and licked her lips. ¡°Keep the gloves on¡­¡± -*- Xant took the time to observe Jasmine as they made their way back to his quarters. Her entire posture had changed with the addition of the hardsuit. Where once she had walked carefully, cautiously even, she now took confident, casual strides. Sieglinde walked beside her, as Jasmine had done to him on their first tours so many weeks ago. It was a moment of clarity for the researcher, the simple act of walking beside instead of behind. Occasionally Jasmine would look to her side, to ensure Sieglinde was still there and the dog always was. Xant reflected, he had never turned around to ensure a companion was still behind him, he had always entrusted they would follow as they trusted him. There was no reason to check if they were still there, they either were or they were not following you in the first place. He wanted to ask, but that would require stopping to gather her complete attention and then they would lose more time toward meditation. Jasmine¡¯s head turned at every angle, searching the walls and floors, pausing before every hallway turn off, getting a bearing on her surroundings. Before she almost took a wrong turn. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xant called as she confidently walked passed the hallway. ¡°We need to take this corridor.¡± She spun around to face him, transferring all her weight to the comparatively tiny instep of a single foot, while the other lifted to the toe. ¡°Oh? But, I could have sworn the next hallway was the right one, (there¡¯s no tile mark)¡± She steadied back down to face him, Xant frowned curiously. ¡°Tile mark?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jasmine began to explain while she was walking toward him. ¡°I mean, without any signs this whole place is just white wall after white wall, I gotta look for some sort of landmark. I remembered that the elevator hallway had a small black scuff mark on the tile corner¡­¡± Xant looked up at the wall beside them, the walls before him were imprinted with the elevator symbol, then his memory aided him once more. ¡°Ah, you cannot see ultraviolet, the elevator symbol is printed here.¡± He raised his hand to the wall. Jasmine stopped mere centimeters from the wall inspecting it, her eyes squinting. ¡°I¡­ I can just see the line of paint, but it just a plain rectangle- ohhhhhhh, that¡¯s how you can tell the difference between all the dataslates! They¡¯re printed in a spectrum I can¡¯t see. huh.¡± When she pulled her attention from the wall her eyes rested on Xant, and she stopped. He looked at the shape of Jasmine¡¯s eyes, the tiny pupils there in, it was a wonder she could see anything at all with such a narrow light intake. Often they were moving, constantly surveying the scenery around them, but now, they were firmly fixed on his own eyes. Perhaps she was analyzing his in the same manner. At least, the thought that was the case until she suddenly turned her entire head away, and a strange burst of anxiety and warmth smacked him out of his thought process. ¡°So umm, the elevator is this way right? Might be better if you take the lead.¡± She replied, holding onto Sieglinde¡¯s leash tighter. Xant found himself caught again, wanting to ask questions but being reminded of the time constraints. ¡°Yes it is,¡± He answered and began to motion down the hall but he stopped, compelled to look back. Jasmine¡¯s eyes were firmly on the floor, not at Sieglinde or anything of significance. The anxiety creeping back in. ¡°Jasmine, when we are back in my quarters we need to talk-¡± Xant was hit with another burst, seemingly triggered out of the blue as her head shot up and she drew pale. ¡°Talk about what? (oh god he knows, he knows everything, stupid brain stop thinking about it)¡± ¡°Whatever it is that has you so worried about answering questions¡­¡± Xant walked forward yet again, back to a close speaking distance. ¡°You were so happy to answer and to speak with me, this new development has me worried.¡± ¡°(YOU¡¯RE WORRIED???!! HOW¡¯D YOU THINK I FEEL??) I¡¯m sorry,¡± her head spun, checking her surroundings again, ¡°We can talk in your quarters¡­¡± Xant again marveled at her duel thought process, how she was easily able to hide the distress in her voice compared to the quite clear agitation of her dominant frequency. ¡°Good,¡± he sighed ¡°This way Jasmine, if you please.¡± Transcripts Chapter 15: Meditation Session ¡°Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant¡± The door chimed but Sieglinde paid it no mind, there were too many interesting and new scents to breathe in. ¡®(Friend Xant, is this your den? Smells like Friend Xant.)¡¯ The puppy happily walked in, not noticing that Xant did not reply. She was used to the tall ones not answering her. The den was the closest to a real den she had seen since the great bright light in the sky. It had a rug and a window with plants, but no outside or trees. She would have been disappointed, but there was a rug. It smells like friend Xant and Namegiver Jasmine, she had been here before too, now it needed to smell like Sieglinde. She quickly trotted over to the rug and gave it a quick roll. That was better. Xant and Jasmine looked on as Sieglinde promptly made herself at home. ¡°Jasmine, please take a seat.¡± Xant instructed, making his way over to the corner of the room. He had almost forgotten his old jacket in the haste after his messages. He swept up the discarded clothes into his arms - there was no need for Jasmine to see the jacket stained with blood. ¡°Hey Sigi, you¡¯re going to behave now aren¡¯t you?¡± Jasmine asked the dog, then turned to Xant. ¡°You''re going to let her know what we¡¯re doing right? So she doesn¡¯t try to interrupt?¡± Xant placed the Jacket into the designated chute, and turned to his pupil. ¡°That was my intention, yes¡± He answered, ¡°but as far as I have seen Sieglinde is not the disruptive type.¡± ¡°Yeah, she''s the most well behaved dog I¡¯ve ever met.¡± Jasmine crouched down to give the golden retriever a good pet. Sigi was overjoyed, eagerly rolling onto her back for belly rubs. Jasmine couldn''t help but smile, reaching out with two hands to treat the animal. ¡°Her owner is very lucky.¡± ¡°I believe his name was Oskar.¡± Xant relayed, walking over to stand beside Jasmine and Sieglinde. ¡°Oskar? That¡¯s cool-¡± Sieglinde jumped up into Jasmine¡¯s lap with a dire urgency, licking her face. ¡®(Name Giver Jasmine knows Oskar! Oskar! Where is Oskar?!)¡¯ She panicked on the Zenthi Frequency. ¡°Down Sigi down!¡± Jasmine nearly fell over from the force of the dog¡¯s excitement; Xant intervened. ¡®(Friend Sieglinde, I merely told Namegiver Jasmine Oskar¡¯s name¡­ Please calm down.)¡¯ ¡®(But Oskar!)¡¯ The golden retriever looked forlornly up at Jasmine, nudging her with her nose one final time. ¡®(Oskar gets sad without me.)¡¯ ¡®(But you make Namegiver Jasmine happy - until we find Oskar that will be your special job.)¡¯ Xant crouched down beside Jasmine, and attempted to pet the dog. He had seen Jasmine do it so many times, but to touch another creature like this without medical purpose - it was strange to him. Sieglinde had called him ¡®Friend¡¯ but he wasn¡¯t sure the word held the same weight the way he and Jasmine understood it. Friends did not so openly exchange such intimate caresses, Jasmine and the dog were clearly closer; ¡®pack mates¡¯ - was that the term? His hand landed on the dog¡¯s skull and he brushed its fur. Even through his examination gloves, Xant could tell the dog¡¯s hair was soft and warm. Sieglinde turned her attention to the strange friend. He spoke wise words. ¡®(Yes Friend Xant, that I can do.)¡¯ ¡®(Thank you Friend Sieglinde, Jasmine and I are going to talk now, it is an important talk - can you be quiet and still for us?)¡¯ ¡®(I will sit and stay, Friend Xant,)¡¯ The wonderful creature replied and climbed off Jasmine¡¯s bulk; curling up and sitting beside the pillow. Jasmine sat in amazement. She had just watched the dog go through elation to devastation to calm and happy as a clam. ¡°You¡¯re going to put the dog whisperer out of business Xant.¡± Jasmine joked with a deadpan delivery. ¡°Dog language is not without its nuances,¡± the researcher sighed, kneeling down on the rug beside her. ¡°We will begin shortly Jasmine, please become comfortable.¡± ¡°Oh, are we not going to sit on the pillows like last time? (We¡¯re not going to talk about Laandi?)¡± ¡°We will be sitting on the rug this time, we need to be in close proximity.¡± Xant explained, ¡°Do you remember the first time I made a physical direct link?¡± A shiver went up Jasmine¡¯s spine as she remembered; that first Frequency contact out of the enclosure. Xant had placed his finger by her ear, and something had crawled into her ear canal - it was creepy, uncomfortable, and the next thing she knew the large alien had been thrown back almost like he had been shot with a taser. She instinctively touched her right ear and the exposed translator behind it. ¡°Yeah, I remember, you blacked out and it was (scary as fuck) unforgettable.¡± Jasmine turned her gaze away again. ¡°I will be doing that again this session; if we are successful, you will be able to communicate on the natural Zenthi Frequency, as Sieglinde and I can do.¡± Jasmine sighed through her nose. More thoughts passed silently behind the translator¡¯s barricaded calibration. ¡°Okay.¡± She moved to sit in the same ritualistic stance, legs folded underneath. He was surprised she was able to do so in the armour - it must have taken her flexibility into account. ¡°Are you not going to pull out your dataslate?¡± ¡°No. What we are about to do cannot be recorded - we do not have the correct equipment to do so.¡± Jasmine looked relieved. ¡°Right, what do you need me to do?¡± She looked back up at him with that ever present calm determination. ¡°If you can Jasmine, I need you to be calm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jasmine closed her eyes and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. He waited for her to become at peace - her shoulders slumped, her face unwound. Xant removed his examination glove, exposing his hand to the cool air and flexing his fingers before reaching out and touching the translator. Human physiology prevented any possibility of exposed nerves like the ones Xant could extend out of his fingertips. However, humans also proved to have very sensitive and conductive nerve endings. The translator was their bridge, it was wired straight into her nervous system, and Xant¡¯s fingers could connect to the translator. ¡°Your brain processes an impossible amount of information Jasmine,¡± Xant instructed. ¡°Trying to stem that flow only causes more problems, so, instead, I want you to focus on yourself, who you are, your memories and your thoughts. Focus on your breathing.¡± Jasmine nodded wordlessly and it was Xant''s turn to close his eyes. Slipping into a full thought stream was difficult, usually you were lost in a sea of silence. Desperately searching for another voice, one that you resonated with, a clan member, a pack sibling. Through all those faint voices you would find the one you wished to speak with. Jasmine¡¯s frequency, was a beacon in the dark, there was no mistaking her presence. Xant was thankful he had taken the extra dose of depressors, otherwise he may have passed out again from the strength. Jasmine, can you hear me? Ah?! Whoa¡­ If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Her voice was clear, as though they were speaking face to face. Untrained, she was a youngling with the strength of a full congregation behind her. Stay calm Jasmine. I mean, I¡¯ll try but- holy crap Xant, this feels so weird. Weird how? Tell me, what do you feel? Whoa¡­ This is too weird. Take your time. He felt her take a breath, and then he became aware of her circulatory system, he could feel her heart beating, the pressure and weight of the air in her lungs. Was she in constant acknowledgement of such minor biological systems? Or was it only while she shifted the focus of her thoughts? The erratic nature of her mind condensed, and she was able to speak again. Xant you, you feel like... You feel like I¡¯m standing in a river; cold water flowing over me, smooth river stones underneath me. Xant was moved, a resurgence of his own thoughts bustled within, but his training kept them contained. Thank you Jasmine, that is... the most thoughtful way I have ever been described. How have others described you? Cold. Heavy. Simple terms. Well, it is cold, but in a refreshing way. How do I feel? Warm, but entangled. I know you are upset. Jasmines mind shifted again, the power and warmth receded, a shell, she was trying to protect herself. She was still plagued by fear. Xant, I need to tell you... As she spoke his name, he thought he felt the water of which she spoke. Laandi she, we spoke in her office, and then she jammed the security recording. Then she started talking about gene patents and distribution rights. Someone¡¯s biological make up was¡­ A ¡®product¡¯ to her. To be bought, sold, exchanged, to be used. Laandi said she was a product, she was made. What would you guys do with human DNA? Am I a product or a person to you? If Laandi hadn¡¯t told me, would you have just gone and taken my genescript without my permission?! Xant¡­ I''m scared of what I don¡¯t know, and I¡¯m terrified of letting you find out exactly how little I understand¡­ Jasmine, why are you so scared? I told you you have nothing to fear from the Council- You don''t get it Xant! I have EVERYTHING to fear! I was abducted from my own planet, I was experimented on! You guys have biological weapons and faster than light travel! The galactic council could destroy my planet or worse and there would be nothing we could do to stop it¡­ What is stopping you from just taking what you want from me and making clones for more experiments?! Do you guys even need me conscious? Do I really have a choice in not answering you?! Am I only here to answer your questions?! Will you just dispose of me when you¡¯re done?! What¡¯s going to happen to me when the galaxy at large finds out?! What''s going to happen to the human race?! I¡¯ve been calm and pleasant this entire time because I''m terrified that if I take another step out of line!- Xant felt a rush, panic, fear, constriction. He couldn''t move, paralyzed by an indomitable force. Her thoughts were no longer constructed from words, but pure emotion. A flash of a memory, horrifying uncaring eyes looked over him, ignored him, forced to watch as he felt pain. He was nothing to those eyes, his cries of anguish dismissed, water flowed down his face. -No please, I don¡¯t, I can¡¯t, I¡¯d rather die than have that happen to me again... To Sigi¡­ I don¡¯t know you, I don¡¯t know anything, I don¡¯t know what I''m doing and if it¡¯s the right or wrong thing¡­ Please don¡¯t tell me I have nothing to fear¡­ Don¡¯t tell me everything is going to be fine... Xant was finally released from the ordeal, the stress and fear that dominated them both began to clear. The warmth began to return, ever so slowly, and Xant realised what had happened. Jasmine had been holding back this entire time. These fears that had been with her since the beginning had been pushed below the surface. The burst of uncontained thought was a manifestation of stress - he had not lost her trust. She had shared with him her fears, despite how much the unknown consequences terrified her. She had confided in him, and no risk in this universe was without reward. Xant pulled his hand away carefully, disconnecting from Jasmine¡¯s mind. Bloodshot blue eyes stared back at him. Tears stained her face, as she tried to breathe. ¡°Oh god¡­¡± She struggled, wiping her face, the armour covered in her liquids ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, it, just spilled out and... I couldn¡¯t stop it, oh Jesus...¡± He recalled this look, red faced and swollen, she had spent days in this state in the enclosure before he intervened. He realized now exactly how much pain and fear Jasmine had been in, while he had just stood by watching unaware. Without the translator to broadcast her true emotions, he had thought it was a normal reaction. He had relived a memory with her, and he was truly shaken. ¡®(Friend Xant? Namegiver is sad.)¡¯ Sieglinde¡¯s voice was quiet, she had creeped over to the pair during the session. ¡®(I can make Namegiver happy?)¡¯ ¡®(Yes, Friend¡­ Please.)¡¯ Xant¡¯s voice quivered. Sieglinde proceeded to push her way into Jasmine¡¯s lap, and lick her face. Jasmine¡¯s voice cracked, half a laugh and more tears followed. Sieglinde did not stop, even as the human protested, until Jasmine had forced the dog into a hug. Relief came in waves, as all the tension finally fell away. Xant looked on with envy, the combined stress relief of crying and the connection with the dog was about as effective to Jasmine as an entire shot of depressors was to him. Something he was definitely in desperate need of in this very moment. The researcher rose to his feet slowly and shuffled over to his desk, retrieving the Medipen and the remainder of the drugs. His brain firing off the images of the Rajava experience over and over again. He had been told stories of their atrocities and listened to audio log accounts, but to stare into eyes devoid of any emotional understanding as Jasmine had done, true fear gripped him. This was the second time he had come so close to terror, thankfully, this time did not involve an attempt on his life. The depressors sunk into his skin and the memory began to fade, cool, flowing over him, like water. ¡°Xant?...¡± Jasmine asked ¡°Are you alright...?¡± ¡°No...¡± He answered truthfully ¡°Jasmine, memory transfer is never an easy thing to comprehend - it normally takes many tries to master with a trusted colleague. I was forced to experience your memories; the fear you had contained inside you. I am - I was not engineered to handle such strength of emotion¡­¡± He sat down at his desk, leaning on the furniture for support. ¡°What you experienced at the hand of the Rajava is something you will never endure again in the GC Space¡­ We spent near on a millennium fighting to end their tyranny, and their horrors still plague us. We are not without our flaws, and to a being with such an acute understanding of empathy such as yourself, we may seem callous at times. We are not like them; we are trying to regain what the Ravaja took from us.¡± He ran a hand over the back of his head gently, stroking his tense ears. Xant¡¯s dataslate chimed - it was time for the Perceptions test with Doctor Krydon. Xant stared at the notification, reached over and answered it. CMO Krydon: Ah! Dr. Xant, you¡¯re late for the- Dr Xant: Jasmine and I will not be attending this quarterly session, please stand by for instructions. CMO Krydon: Dr. Xant? You sound under the influence. Dr Xant: I am, please send a month¡¯s subscription of suppressors to my living quarters. If possible we will attend the next quarter session. We are unable to attend due to VEFS on both our parts, have security staff deliver the pharmaceuticals. CMO Krydon: ...Right, I¡¯ll inform Isk. Dr Xant: Thank you for your understanding. [Comms Disconnected] Jasmine held the golden retriever - she had since slumped from her crossed legs into one of the floor cushions. Sigi had laid down almost on top of her; a comfortable and comforting position. ¡°So, if we¡¯re not going to the test, what are we going to do now?¡± The human asked, slowly recovering from the ordeal. ¡°Neither of us are in any sort of condition to conduct a Standardisation Test.¡± He explained ¡°We... we need to calm down.¡± He turned his head to his Dataslate shelf. ¡°Jasmine, could you retrieve a dataslate for me?¡± Jasmine had just gotten comfortable; the suit was surprisingly snug and flexible. She cast her eyes over to the shelf, frowning about the inevitable. ¡°I can¡­ Which one do you want?¡± She sniffed, and slowly pulled her arm out from underneath her fluffy living pillow. ¡°Bottom right corner, it is all by itself.¡± Xant instructed, ¡°Bring it over to me¡­¡± His voice had lost its calm nature, becoming monotone and dull. Jasmine groaned as she stood from the floor, dragging her feet to the shelf, she really didn¡¯t want to be doing anything. She bent over lazily to pick up the tablet, it was different from the others, black and heavy. ¡°(It¡¯s like one from home.)¡± She sighed, holding it with both hands as she carried it to Xant. ¡°Please, place it on the table in front of me, the operation sensor is on the back.¡± Jasmine frowned, pausing before following instructions. ¡°Is this what happens when you¡¯ve been in contact with me too long?¡± She asked quietly, sliding over the booting up tablet across the table. Xant nodded his ears up and down slowly. ¡°Yes, VEFS, or Volatile Emotional Frequency Syndrome, with a sudden change in emotional Frequencies, it causes my neural connections to misfire. If I try to do any drastic or sudden movements, it can cause pain, or damage.¡± He moved his finger slowly but with purpose, selecting, from what Jasmine could see, a playlist. Then he entered in a code, the translator in Jasmine¡¯s skull made a small ¡®ping!¡¯ ¡°You should be able to pick up the Zenthi broadcast from this Dataslate, I suggest you lie back down on the pillow. This will be a unique experience for you.¡± Jasmine¡¯s lips tightened; he sounded like a robot. She gave one final sniff and wiped of her face before turning back around and cuddling up to Sieglinde. ¡°Okay, I''m ready. (For whatever the hell is going on.)¡± She informed him. Xant¡¯s shoulders finally relaxed as he lowered his hand to press play, then rested his head on the table. Jasmine stared up at the ceiling, her hand absentmindedly running through Sigi¡¯s fur, before she felt it. A cold, drop of water on her cheek. ¡°(What?)¡± She raised her hand to wipe it, but there was nothing. Then, another drop, on her knee. She sat up and looked, but there was no way she could have felt it through her hard suit- Then another on her shoulder. Followed by another. And another. ¡°(Rain?)¡± The human looked up in awe. Soft, beautiful rain, she closed her eyes and fell back down on the pillow. She raised her hand up to sky, flexing her fingers toward the sensation. Tiny, unseen but certainly felt droplets formed on her skin, rolling down and away. ¡°Is this the recording? You can record sensation?¡± she whispered, voice full of wonder. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xant managed, rolling his head to the side, beginning to drift off to the soothing nerve recording. Closing his own eyes, he surrendered to the depressor¡¯s effects. He thought he heard Jasmine crying again. Transcripts Chapter 16: Food and Reflection Jasmine lay on the soft cream cushion, staring up at a featureless white ceiling. Her eyes were stinging, throat swollen, cheeks sticky with tears and dog slobber. But she was smiling. The feeling of rain continued to soothe her nerves, a refreshing chill to calm the heat of her shame. Sigi had curled up beside her, head on her lap as the human continuously petted her. ¡°(Rain, rain, go away, come again another day, all the world is waiting for the sun¡­.)¡± her voice choked. ¡°(Hey girl¡­ you doing okay? Sorry I scared you - things are a little tense right now, what with the overwhelming sense of insecurity and panic...)¡± The translator relayed her thoughts out into the open and Jasmine sighed. ¡°(God damn, what am I going to do?)¡± The dog gave her a forlorn look. ¡°(How long do you think we¡¯ve been laying here?... Probably been a good hour or so¡­)¡± Jasmine turned her attention to the rest of the room. Xant¡¯s living quarters were strangely devoid of personal effects. Apart from the rug, cushions and gigantic terrarium, there was little else that separated it from her own room. The cushions (calling them bean bags felt a little unprofessional) were made from the same fabric as the rug, thick embroidery-like thread woven in contrasting and intricate patterns. She wondered if, like the writing on the white walls, there were colours she couldn''t see. A pattern in the rug unknown to her. Was this an important rug? A comfort from home? Did he pick it up from an intergalactic market? GC Amazon? Space Ikea? Maybe it fell off the back of a spaceship and Xant was a thrifty kinda guy. ¡°(Why would anyone throw this out? Give it a quick dry clean and it¡¯s a perfectly good rug! I¡¯m keeping this!)¡± She chuckled at the thought. But Xant wasn¡¯t like that. He was trying his best to put her at ease, to give her as much information as she could handle at a time, both of them out of their depth when it came to the other. She turned her head, seeing the large, endearing alien out cold on his desk. The only movement out of him was the rise and fall of his breathing. ¡°(Xant? Are you awake?)¡± She called, but to no answer, not even a twitch. She cast her eyes back down to Sigi. ¡°(I really did a number on him huh? Hope he¡¯s okay.)¡± Jasmine shook her head. She couldn¡¯t be thinking about that now, it would only make her cry again, she needed a distraction. Something, anything- Her stomach gave a low growl. Good enough. ¡°Mini meat snacks.¡± She patted Sieglinde''s back ¡°Come on, I''m sure you''re hungry too.¡± Sigi pulled back from Jasmine and allowed her to get up. She groaned and stretched before walking over the the meal dispenser nestled between the terrarium and the so called ¡®shower¡¯. ¡°Produce sustenance ration.¡± Jasmine stated to the machine. ¡°Request acknowledged, state desired option.¡± ¡°Wait, what?!¡± She¡¯d never been asked to choose what she wanted to eat. The damn machine always spit out the same thing, Waurdess Ah¡¯tau, which were small squares of a meat-textured food product. She had been chewing down that stuff for the last three weeks. ¡°Request acknowledged, state desired option.¡± The dispenser repeated. Jasmine took a moment to appreciate the beauty of that word. Options. Finally, she was going to be able to choose what she wanted instead of accepting what was given to her. ¡°Please list stated options!¡± she almost shouted with excitement, reeling it in as best she could. ¡°Available options are: Waurdess Taasai Waurdess Shhai Waurdess Ah¡¯tau Aksi¡¯chta Titkian¡¯chta Siku¡¯chta Min¡¯chta¡± Jasmine liked biltong as much as the next person but she was ready to try the exciting new menu, edible or not. ¡°Waurdess Shhai.¡± She recited after requesting that the machine repeat the new dishes names over a few times. ¡°State desired portion size.¡± Jasmine let out another small squeal. ¡°Small! Small portion size.¡± The machine gave a small, quiet ping! And then the ¡®meal¡¯ was lowered down from whatever mechanism held it in storage. A small plastic bowl filled with a meat-red paste was placed in front of her, a disposable Chinese-style spoon beside it. The first entree didn¡¯t inspire much confidence, it was essentially the same meat product, except now it was ground into a paste and cooked even less. ¡°Hey Sigi, this one¡¯s for you¡­¡± Jasmine placed the bowl on the ground for the dog, who took the hint and began wolfing it down. ¡°Please list available options,¡± Next on the list was Waurdess Taasai, and Jasmine looked on concerned. Waurdess, she worked out, was the type of meat most commonly used on the station, Ah¡¯tau, was jerky, Shhai, was paste, Taasai, then, was the equivalent of sashimi. Three finger sized slabs of raw meat lay in neat little rows on the plate. That too, was added to Sigi¡¯s bowl. Defeated, Jasmine then ordered the Ah¡¯tau, just incase the next meals weren¡¯t any more appetizing. ¡°Aksi¡¯chta,¡± Jasmine requested, pronouncing the unfamiliar word as best she could. ¡°Small portion.¡± The machine ping-ed and another small bowl was presented to her, this time it was much more promising. It was a sort of green and red swirl paste, but not nearly as unappealing as the Shhai. It was a glossy pesto, and she could smell the flavours permeating from the small chamber. She dipped the spoon into the sauce and brought it up to the tip of her tongue. Jasmine let out an audible moan, it was an unusual mix of fresh ground mint, roasted hazelnuts, the slightest hint of cilantro, with just enough salt to make it melt in her mouth. It tasted like actual food. ¡°(Taste isn¡¯t a commutative sense my ass)¡± she thought, dipping her alien beef jerky into the pesto, taking a bite and trying the next dish on the list. ¡°Titkian¡¯chta, small portion¡± Jasmine¡¯s mouth watered. A sizzling platter of Waudress was delivered to her, drenched in what she smelt was the equivalent of lime and mango pieces. She didn¡¯t even bother to pick up the utensil tongs provided, she just picked it up and popped it in her mouth. It was sweet, salty, caramelized, and couldn¡¯t get in her mouth quick enough. ¡°Ahhhhhmmmmm¡± She garbled, then committed the name of the dish to memory, for future reference. Ordering a large portion then balancing the plates on her arm, waitress style. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Siku¡¯chata, small portion please!¡± Jasmine was content if nothing would be able to top the Titkain, but was pleasantly surprised with the ¡®fruit salad¡¯ that appeared next. Green and white cubed pieces of fruit sat in a mint smelling sauce. The white cubes tasted like mango with the texture of watermelon, the green was so close to cucumber it was uncanny. Was it a side dish salad? Or a refreshing dessert? It was a question for when Xant was awake and she wasn¡¯t shoving more food in her mouth. How the hell could anyone survive on just one taste alone? ¡°Min¡¯chta, small portion.¡± This time, it wasn¡¯t so much a food dish, as it was a drink. A clear, green tinged liquid, with a mild white froth sitting on top. ¡°Bottoms up!¡± She tittered, thoroughly enjoying her adventures in Xeno cuisine. Her daring was rewarded with a virgin sour mojito, the alcohol would have been nice, but frankly she was just happy she had something other than water to drink. She noted the recurring flavours amongst the ¡®Chta¡¯ dishes, mint, mangos, and lime. Already beginning to mix together what she had available to make something new¡­ She ordered more of the exotic meals and brought them all down to the rug, she and Sigi would have a nice little picnic while they waited for Xant to wake up. ¡°(Oh wait¡­ What if the rug IS an important heirloom?) Crap¡­¡± The human sighed, if it was anywhere near as important as her own mother¡¯s rugs she probably would have been ejected out of the Airlock if she spilt anything on it. Jasmine quickly looked around, before being struck with the idea. ¡°(Xant¡¯s wardrobe!)¡± She had seen the many dozens of jackes he had hanging on the rack, most of them were about the same size as a full table cloth. She carefully placed the several bowls of food onto Xant''s desk, making sure they were nowhere near him, before hopping over to the unseen wardrobe. The wardrobe itself was hidden away inside the actual wall, extending out only when someone touched the small sensor. Jasmines own wardrobe had only the one ¡®wetsuit¡¯ ¡°(not unitard...)¡± to choose from, she was a little excited to see if Xant had any other clothes. She was sorely disappointed. Nine identical jackets and nine identical wetsuits, all the same colour and size. ¡°Don¡¯t know what I was expecting¡­¡± She shrugged, grabbing a jacket and closing the rack. She spread the jacket out over the rug, it wasn¡¯t a light cotton but a sort of thin vinyl, perfect for stains and spills she expected. With just a few trips she arranged the food bowls around the cushion on her makeshift picnic blanket and gave Sieglinde her own arrangement on the other side. ¡°Bon-appetit!¡± Jasmine toasted with her Min-mojito, before it dawned on her, she did know a little German! ¡°Prost!¡± She smiled, and to her delight, Sigi¡¯s face lit up and the dog gave a short, sharp bark. Jasmine thrusted the drink into the air and proclaimed again, ¡°Prost, Prost, Prost!¡± ¡°Bark bark bark!¡± ¡°Prost!¡± ¡°Bark!¡± ¡°Prost, prost, prost? Prost!¡± Jasmine mimicked a sentence, but Sigi just stared back happily. ¡°Heh, I was pushing my luck anyway.¡± Jasmine brought the drink up to her lips but stopped. ¡°Becks?¡± She smirked. The dog gave a low, but non-threatening growl. ¡°Heinikein?¡± The same noise. Jasmine smirked. ¡°Weihenstephan?¡± Sigi returned with a happy bark. Jasmine chuckled. ¡°Remind me to buy Oskar a beer when we meet, I¡¯ll have to pay him back for the excellent company you¡¯ve provided.¡± She finally took a sip of her drink and pushed Sigi¡¯s bowls in front of her. The dog began to eat and Jasmine followed suit, picking up her utensil tongs and shoveling the unique tastes into her mouth. Eating alien tapas on a medical jacket blanket with a German dog for company under imaginary rain. ¡°(There¡¯s probably a Monty Python sketch in there somewhere...)¡± She mused chewing her Titkian, she gave a glance over to Xant and swallowed. He was still sleeping, even after all the noise. She put down the empty bowl and stood up. ¡°Excuse me Sigi, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Jasmine walked over to Xant¡¯s desk. He lay there still, completely unaware of the Alien picnic happening in his office and the commotion surrounding it. The black dataslate dim, still streaming the rain, possibly on continuous loop. Alien script flashed across the screen, symbols of triangles and squares. The text wouldn¡¯t have been indecipherable, but Jasmine had no context of key to go off¡­ She slid the dataslate toward her. ¡°Umm, recording off?¡± She tried. Much to her surprise, the device listened. ¡°Uhh, show available recordings.¡± The list compiled, she counted 6 ¡®experiences¡¯ on the playlist. If a normal dataslate could hold a couple of thousand images, then the information needed to hold a ¡®sensation recording¡¯ must have been huge. She wandered back to her half eaten picnic and sat down, curiously looking over the Dataslate. Every device she had been privy to had only one function. Play and record sound, play and record sensation, draw image. Granted, there was probably more restrictions placed on her than the machines, but it was so odd that Xant would have so many dataslates, when one of her own tablets from earth could do all that and more. Well, not the sensation part. ¡°(Your brain processes an impossible amount of information Jasmine.)¡± Xant¡¯s voice echoed in her memories. She frowned, something wasn¡¯t right. Of course the human brain was the greatest processor on her world, but, surely the GC space would have greater computers? Interplanetary civilisations would need to have enormous processing servers, to coordinate shipping lanes, warp gates or whatever it was they had out there. Possibly petabytes of data, but she hadn¡¯t seen a single server or large storage unit since she¡¯d gotten here, was it in a different room or was everything isolated into single dataslates? Did they have a cloud server? Was that what it was like here too? She looked down at the playlist again. Even if the Datapacket was huge, 6 seemed... small? Nerves worked on electronic signals, she was pretty sure, this dataslate could send those signals straight to her nervous system- Jasmine was suddenly very uncomfortable. Her original trail of thought derailed. With this tech, you could make anyone feel whatever you wanted, it was simply a matter of finding or recording the right signals, pleasure, pain... Was this what her emotions did to the others? Were they feeling the impact of her emotions the same way she was feeling the rain through the recording? The heat of her anger? The beating of her heart in panic? The nauseum of her anxiety? ¡°Oh Xant,¡± she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± She rested the Dataslate in her lap as she came to terms with the realisation. She would probably never be able to completely control her ¡®emotional frequencies¡¯. Even if she could master the art of keeping a straight face or grace under pressure, she¡¯d never be able to stop her heart from rapidly beating in panic, or the sick, tightening knots she felt in her stomach when faced with an alien concept. She wouldn¡¯t have wished that on anyone. No wonder the rest of the staff freaked out when she took Sieglinde from their custody. They must have all nearly had heart attacks like she did when she saw Sigi in danger. It was just like the writing on the walls, just because she couldn¡¯t see didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there. Just because she couldn¡¯t feel it it, didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t making an impact on others. And now that Jasmine did, she felt another rock fall in her stomach. She looked at Xant with a new appreciation, he had been there, doing his best to calm her and everyone else around him even while putting himself at risk. It must have been exhausting dealing with such an overly emotional human like her. A small smirk pulled the corner of her lips, it was exhausting dealing with an emotional human without having to feel the psychic impact. ¡°I¡¯m such a pain in the ass,¡± she chuckled sadly to herself. ¡°Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant, Living quarters¡± The door slid open and Rynard poked his head through. His eyes focusing squarely on her. ¡°Jasi?¡± His low voice rumbled, ¡°You alright?¡± ¡°Oh! Uhh, yeah, I¡¯m okay,¡± she replied, quietly ¡°Just, a little emotional is all, but I¡¯m better now.¡± Rynard nodded and stepped into the room, a small black box in his hand. ¡°And the doctor?¡± He asked, taking a few steps before looming over Xant. ¡°He¡¯s been out for quite a while,¡± Jasmine answered, getting up from her seat on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s normal or¡­¡± Guilt invaded her chest again, and Rynard glanced over. He could feel her. Her eyes widened but she took a moment, a deep breath to clear her thoughts and calm her mind. She needed to stay calm. Rynard put down the box on the end of the desk and prodded Xant with a finger. The doctor didn¡¯t move. The Security Captain then noticed the canister and medipen on the desk. He picked it up to inspect the contents. Empty. He opened the drawer, finding another empty vial. ¡°How much had he taken? Did you see?¡± He asked the human. ¡°Uhhh, it was just the one shot I think,¡± She replied unsure, ¡°I wasn¡¯t paying too much attention.¡± Rynard gave a gruff sigh. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll have to get him to the medical wing then. Follow me.¡± Rynard instructed, hefting Xant up into one arm, carrying the doctor on his hip. ¡°Is- is Xant going to be okay?¡± Jasmine asked, beginning to feel the panic creeping in. ¡°He¡¯s suffering from VEFS, it¡¯s better we get him down to medical before something permanent happens.¡± The Captain stated, then turned towards the door. ¡°He¡¯s taken enough depressors to counteract a Freq-bomb¡­¡± ¡°A Freq-bomb?¡± Jasmine gulped. Rynard nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not going to kill him, but he might be disorientated if he wakes without proper care. Big heads are sensitive like that.¡± Jasmine nodded, reaching for Sigi¡¯s leash and pulling her nose out of the pesto. ¡°Come on girl¡­¡± She whispered, trying to hold her panic at bay. Rynard tapped the button on his collar, activating his comms unit. CPT Rynard: Dr. Krydon, this is Captain Rynard. I¡¯ve found Dr. Xant unconscious from VEFS and possible Depressor doses, please ready a pod for treatment. I¡¯ll be bringing the Subject Jasmine in for testing too. She¡¯s emitting minor Freq, non-threatening levels, Specimen Sieglinde¡¯s condition is normal. ETA 4 [minutes]. He deactivated the comms and attempted a smile. ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing, but better to wait in medical than here-¡± the Captain finally noticed the picnic arrangement on the floor. ¡°Were you?... Eating ¡®Chta?¡± ¡°Umm yeah?¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± Rynard paused, ¡°Any Taasai there?¡± ¡°No, but, shouldn¡¯t we be getting down to the medical wing?¡± Jasmine queried. ¡°Oh, right¡­¡± The Captain turned quickly and headed out the door. Jasmine knew to follow closely, but skulled the last of her Min-mojito before running after Rynard. How she wished the rum was really there. Transcripts Chapter 17: First Perception Test Jasmine followed the Captain down the endless white hallways of the station; her eyes fixed on Xant¡¯s unconscious body the entire time. It was so surreal. Seeing the doctor be carried so effortlessly. Both Aliens were large - larger than anyone she had ever seen in person. Their combined weight meant she could feel the impact of Rynard¡¯s every step. Stomp Stomp Stomp The sound reverberated down the halls, ringing in her ears. Jasmine ended up following a little more behind than she meant to, if only to avoid the uncomfortable vibrations. When the elevator opened up on the third floor, she went to step out after Rynard, but Sigi didn¡¯t. She sat firmly in the elevator - head down not looking at anyone. Jasmine stopped when the leash tugged tight. ¡°Sigi?¡± The human turned to her companion, who was still sitting in her stance of meek protest. Jasmine gave another tug and the dog reluctantly followed, her head down and walking slowly. ¡°It will be okay,¡± Jasmine repeated, the phrase becoming a mantra of sorts. ¡°No one¡¯s going to hurt you like last time.¡± The Medical wing wasn¡¯t far from the elevator, for convenience/emergency¡¯s sake she guessed. Rynard was already through the door before Jasmine and Sieglinde caught up. The Med-wing was the most interesting environment Jasmine had seen of the station thus far. It was a strange mix of advanced and familiar - pigeonhole shelves filled with dataslates and blocky terminals lining the observation room window. The room was filled with that hospital smell; disinfectant, plastic, shimmering stainless steel. A holographic desk was in the center of the room, displaying images¡­ of her. Jasmine stepped into the lab and marveled at the scans of her own body; watching as the heart pumped blood in real time, her lungs expanded and deflated, and her stomach and digestive tract twitched with movement. ¡°... already have a pod set up, lay Dr. Xant in there.¡± CMO Krydon instructed the Captain. Unlike the other offices, the med-wing had four adjacent rooms, with an Observation/testing area to Jasmine¡¯s right, two patient rooms against the North wall and Krydon''s office on the left. Rynard walked as instructed into the patient room, laying Xant into the white oval pod bed that had been arranged for him. ¡°Ah, Subject Jasmine,¡± Krydon greeted ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve arrived,¡± Krydon was a Sulin, older than most of the other doctors and staff she had met whilst on the station. His skin sagged around his jaw and remaining yellowing eye, his navy blue scales were losing their sheen and he walked with a sort of hunched limp. The red-glowing cybernetic replacement that focused in seemingly without prompt was cool as heck though. ¡°Rynard tells me you¡¯re recovering from mild VEFS; I¡¯ll need to look you over.¡± The doctor pulled a medipen from behind his back, and began adjusting the settings. ¡°Pa, if you would take Specimen Sieglinde¡¯s restraint whilst I conduct the examination-¡± Jasmine instinctively backed up. ¡°Whoa, wait what? What are you going to do?¡± Sigi had backed up behind Jasmine as the Arvas assistant in full white coat approached them. Krydon and Pa were taken back. ¡°Pa will take hold of Specimen Sieglinde''s restraint and reinstall her translator whilst I give you a quick scan to ensure you haven¡¯t suffered any lingering symptoms of VEFS.¡± Krydon explained, while Pa looked on apologetically. Jasmine looked down at the dog; the last time they were in the medical wing it had not been a great experience for either of them. ¡°Okay... Just, don¡¯t take her out of the Lab.¡± ¡°Certainly, we wouldn¡¯t want to trigger you again.¡± Krydon replied absently while Pa, a tall pleasantly green insectoid offered their open hand for the leash. Jasmine warily handed it over, and the second Pa and Sieglinde were out of the way, Krydon began pointing the Medipen at Jasmine¡¯s translator. With a short ping, the holographic display changed, updating it with new data. Her body mass shrank, heat signals increased, and the heart quickened slightly - Krydon then shifted his attention to the hologram. He began tapping in directions on the sensor panel and the display began to jump between organs and body positions, spouting rapid diagnostic spiel. ¡°Oxygen saturation: 4% increase, Heart rate 2% increase, Muscle tension 11% decrease, Neural activity up 40% percent-¡± Krydon¡¯s curiosity was peaked and he gave an intrigued, ¡°Hmm?¡± He activated the sensor and brought up the graphic of her brain. It was dazzling. Watching the 3-D model burst into life, neurons firing even as it turned. ¡°Wow. It¡¯s so cool seeing it in 3-D, is this all in real time?¡± she asked, but didn¡¯t receive an answer. Krydon continued to tap at the sensor, his cyber eye making mechanical buzzes all the while. ¡°According to these scans,¡± Krydon informed her. ¡°You have the same amount of activity as a major VEFS sufferer, but you¡¯re displaying none of the symptoms. This is very useful data indeed, almost enough for me to reschedule the Perception tests myself.¡± He danced his claws over the panel, recording and stowing away the information. He turned and began to walk over to another terminal; a control board situated in front of the observation screen. ¡°Now, the visual perception studies have been set up in the Prac lab, if you would step through the door we can get started and complete the test reasonably quickly.¡± ¡°But, Dr. Xant said that I wasn¡¯t in a condition to perform a Standardisation Test,¡± she advised the old lizard. ¡°Are you saying your current condition affects your visual perception in some manner?¡± Krydon asked, concerned. ¡°Well, no...¡± ¡°Does the VEFS in some way warp your perception of sound?¡± He continued with a curious tone. ¡°No...¡± Jasmine was sure she knew where this line of questioning was going. ¡°Then I see no reason not to begin the test,¡± he reasoned with a congenial smile. ¡°The door is to your right, I will direct you from here.¡± Krydon didn¡¯t wait for her compliance, using both his hands and tail to begin whatever tests they had in store for her in the lab room - oblivious to the idea that she would even have an objection. Jasmine narrowed her eyes at the saggy skinned lizard, unimpressed with his bedside manner. ¡°Will Sieglinde still be here when the test is over?¡± She asked the doctor with a firmness to her voice. ¡°Specimen Sieglinde will be under the care of Pa, and I¡¯ll ask the Captain to stay as well - I¡¯d rather not have a repeat of the last incident.¡± He didn''t even bother to look up from the console. Jasmine scanned the room; Sieglinde was sitting patiently, but unhappily beside the Arvas assistant. Rynard was still in the patient room, speaking with the other Arvas Med-assistant, no doubt about Xant¡¯s condition. Her outburst had caused him so much pain that he had to chemically knock himself out. She worried what that would mean for them in the future. ¡°The room is ready for you Subject Jasmine,¡± Dr. Krydon insisted, interrupting Jasmine¡¯s concerned thoughts for her friend. ¡°I¡¯d prefer ¡®Miss Howe¡¯, if you wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± She replied, a bit more haughty than she intended, but the doctor didn¡¯t even respond to her change of tone or demand of name. Surely the Chief Medical officer should have been a bit more... perceptive? Attentive? She stomped toward the door with a newfound determination - she was going to speed through that perception test, if only so she wouldn¡¯t have to be there a minute longer. -*- Isolation. Alone. Alone¡­ Pain. FEAR. Xant woke up with a start, smashing his head with such force inside the stabiliser pod he let out a roar of pain. The assistant scrambled to open the pod¡¯s clear casing as Xant writhed inside. His head throbbed and his throat prickled from the under-used cords. He heard the pod open, and felt Rynard¡¯s strong hands pin his body down inside it. Xant couldn¡¯t move and the fear that had awoken him returned. ¡°Dr. Xant.¡± Captain Rynard¡¯s voice was slow, deliberate. ¡°You are in the patient room of the medical department, you are not in danger, do not react.¡± ¡°Release me now Captain.¡± Xant managed, but his body began to shake. Rynard removed his grip slowly, and the doctor was left to steady himself. Nu, the sturdy yet agile assistant frantically listened to the diagnostics information the pod was divulging about Xant, his speech so fast it was almost gibberish. ¡°Thisisincrediblethereadingsareoffthechartsifhehadnotadmisteredhedbestiffedforsure!¡± The Arvas assistant then rushed off and out of the room, becoming engrossed in uploading the data to the main terminal. The Zenthi sat up slowly, a hand rubbing the soon to be bruised forehead. ¡°Do you remember what happened?¡± Rynard questioned, authority in his voice. Xant hesitated. ¡°Yes,¡± he began, trying to recall the events. ¡°Jasmine had become stressed during our session, I took appropriate action.¡± He relayed, doing his best not to incriminate himself in any deemable recklessness. ¡°How much depressor chems did you take?¡± ¡°? vial, standard dosage for VEFS major shock.¡± He replied clinically. ¡°I found 2 empty vials in your quarters,¡± Rynard replied quietly, positioning himself between Xant and the doorway. ¡°And this is your second recorded attack in 4 [days]¡­¡± ¡°I am well aware of that Captain,¡± Xant confirmed. ¡°We are dealing with an untrained Frequency manipulator with no comprehension of her own strength; there are bound to be one or two miscalculations during communication.¡± Rynard folded his arms. ¡°I was told to deliver a month''s worth of chems. If you¡¯re taking ? vial with every contact [day]-¡± ¡°I have calculated the risks and am well aware of the hypocrisy involved, but I believe the results will ultimately be worth more than the incurred damage.¡± The doctor looked the Captain in the eye. ¡°I am quite capable of monitoring my own condition.¡± Rynard sighed. ¡°Look, I know Jasi¡¯ would never do anything intentionally, but you gotta lay off the ¡®merge sessions - at least until she¡¯s got some idea of what she¡¯s throwing out into the atmo¡¯.¡± The Captain looked over his shoulder, ensuring of their moment of privacy. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s nothin¡¯ I can¡¯t handle, but I¡¯ve fought wills with Pirate Princesses. You ever gone up against anything other than a Zenthi One Priest?¡± Xant''s gaze grew dark. ¡°I have met eye to eye with a Rajavan Vassal, no smaller than yourself. I understand the impact of a hostile force.¡± Rynard gave an impressed chuckle. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Really?! Heh, wasn¡¯t expecting that from you.¡± ¡°It is not something I openly speak of.¡± ¡°Why not?! Damn, if I had known that-¡± ¡°Kindly never bring it up again.¡± Xant shot down, ¡°It is not a memory of pride.¡± ¡°Ah... ¡° Rynard nodded. ¡°Well for Jasi¡¯s sake, don¡¯t get yourself anymore dosed,¡± he warned Xant. ¡°Last thing she needs is for you to stiff it.¡± ¡°This is only temporary,¡± Xant explained, sliding onto his feet. ¡°When the Translator Technician arrives we will be able to design a Frequency modulator that can help Jasmine control her Freq output. She lacks the natural ability, like me or the Arvas. I should only need the chems for another [week] or two but just in case, I will limit the meditation sessions from now on.¡± Rynard nodded his head again and relaxed his arms, satisfied with Xant¡¯s answer. ¡°Good, now with you awake I got someone who can explain to me exactly what is going on with those tests in User terms.¡± Xant''s ears flattened. ¡°Tests?! What tests?¡± ¡°The Perception Tests? Jasi and Krydon have been running through them for the last 3 [hours] or so-¡± Xant held the side of the pod. ¡°How long was I unconscious?¡± ¡°Most I figure four [hours],¡± Rynard stated, and flaired his nostrils when he saw Xant was relieved at the news. ¡°Four [hours]¡­¡± The Doctor repeated thoughtfully. Xant stood up straight, fixing the position of his jacket and suit. ¡°The tests are still being conducted?¡± ¡°Err, yeah, they¡¯re just finishing up now.¡± Xant folded his arms behind his back, the veil of professionalism complete. ¡°Then we best join them - it is imperative I do not fall behind on my research,¡± he stated; taking the lead with very precise and firm steps. Rynard gave another huff of concern but followed the Doctor out all the same. Nu looked up from the terminal and rushed over to Dr. Xant, another diagnostic tool in hand. ¡°DH Xant? Would I be allowed to monitor your condition?¡± His excited twitching fingers making it impossible to hold the tool still. Xant nodded his head. ¡°I believe that to be for the best.¡± He raised his hand to the assistant offering to take the familiar equipment - a wristband that continuously recorded his current condition. Much like the device that was already wired into his translator to alert the medical wing of any physical harm his body was under, the wristband also recorded VEFS stress. Nu nodded his head vigorously as Xant slipped it on. ¡°I¡¯ll have the Freq-band send the data straight to my terminal - thank you for this opportunity to study this phenomenon first hand.¡± He bowed deeply before running straight back to the terminal; the young Arvas already digging deep into the available data. ¡°So,¡± Rynard queried over Xant¡¯s shoulder and the good Doctor turned to face the Captain. ¡°Why all the flickering lights?¡± Xant was finally able to turn his attention to the observation window. Jasmine stood inside the large featureless room, isolated from the scientist conducting the experiment on her senses. The room itself was equipped with every form of sensory resistance, much like a holding cell. Sound proof, radiation proof, Freq proof, visual aid proof. When sealed, the observation window, speakers and cameras were the only means of communication. Xant watched the quick flashing of the environmental lights from the monitor. ¡°Dr. Krydon is testing the response time of Jasmine¡¯s corneas from bright to dark environments.¡± He peered over the aging Sulin¡¯s monitor. ¡°And it appears she¡¯s doing rather poorly.¡± ¡°It took almost 10 [minutes] for her eyes to adjust to a darkened environment and she was completely unable to do so in the absence of a light source,¡± Krydon remarked. ¡°We can¡¯t do a test above 8,000 lumens without discomforting the Subject, or her ocular receptors involuntarily interfere with the results.¡± The CMO looked up from his monitor for the first time, organic eye blinking. ¡°She tests poorly in almost every aspect of the Perceptions test except precision and range.¡± Krydon reached over the sensor board and turned off the flashing lights, before turning on the speaker. ¡°We have concluded this portion of the test. Wait for further instructions.¡± The medical officer didn¡¯t wait for confirmation. Krydon pulled up the results on his terminal for Xant to see. ¡°While the Subject is only able to sense a narrow part of the spectrum, what she is able to discern within that window is impressive. She was able to distinguish every speaker on the pitch/tone test and identify 32 distinct sounds simultaneously.¡± ¡°32?¡± Xant queried further. ¡°There are only so many sounds we could recreate within the range and the Subject was unfamiliar of the causality of such noises, identifying them with the closest to her homeworld equivalent. Apparently, the loading sounds of a FAK-12 are the same as an earth ¡®traffic light¡¯ Isn¡¯t that just curious?¡± He mused. ¡°Any other anomalies of note?¡± Xant queried. ¡°Oh yes, during the pitch/tone tests the subject was able listen to a sound and reproduce it with her own vocal chords to a surprising degree of accuracy. Mimicking the sound bars up to 7 points, after only a single exposure!¡± ¡°It is possible this is a more important part of the human language,¡± Xant mused. ¡°Without a translator to determine intent and no natural Frequency recognition, the human language might have more depth than Original Qzetillian dialect.¡± ¡°Hmmm,¡± Krydon swayed his head side to side in thought. ¡°With all those syllables she was spraying out to describe simple results you might be right; Dr. Jess is going to break her claws with all the digging she going to do into this Xeno¡¯s culture.¡± ¡°I find the rhythm of speech rather pleasant,¡± Xant commented. ¡°There¡¯s no harsh clicks or guttural coughs.¡± Both the Captain and CMO looked at Xant strangely, unsure as to be insulted on behalf of their native tongue or concerned that the normally reserved doctor was beginning to show more and more of a personality. ¡°No, but her high shriek certainly isn''t attractive,¡± The doctor replied, referring to the scream Jasmine had expelled during her requisition of Sieglinde. ¡°But it certainly grabs your attention, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Xant countered. A silence hung in the air between the three, and Xant felt he may have overstepped a line of sorts. ¡°If that is the end of the test you can allow Jasmine to exit the Prac room.¡± Xant stated dismissively - ignoring the eyeballing he was receiving from Rynard. Krydon gave an eye roll; his claw over the sensor bar again. ¡°This concludes the Perceptions Test, you may exit the room.¡± Krydon drawled, and swiftly returned to his work. The Lab¡¯s door opened and Jasmine was eager to exit. Her face brightening with a smile when she saw Xant up and about. ¡°XANT! YOU¡¯RE ALRIGHT! THANK GOODNESS!¡± Her voice boomed across the room, startling everyone. ¡°YOU HAD ME WORRIED THERE YOU KNOW! YOU DIDN¡¯T TELL ME THE SHOT WOULD KNOCK YOU OUT!¡± ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xant rushed over, pleading, ¡°There¡¯s no need to speak with such volume.¡± ¡°OH! I MEAN- I mean, sorry.¡± She adjusted her voice, and reached for the imaginary hair behind her ear. ¡°The perception test - Krydon had the sound up a bit loud for a while. There¡¯s still ringing in my ears.¡± ¡°You are recovering well,¡± Xant acknowledged. ¡°Oh, my hearing should be fine in a couple of hours, WORST CASE DAYS,¡± She shrugged, her voice slipping volume. ¡°I was speaking of the VEFS.¡± ¡°Oh YEAH,¡± The human shook her head and smiled. ¡°Sometimes I just need to get it off my chest and it¡¯s better that I do something to keep me distracted rather than dwell on it...¡± ¡°Redirecting the focus; an understable coping technique.¡± Xant agreed. Jasmine then looked around - she smiled and greeted Rynard, but then the smile faded quickly. ¡°Where¡¯s Sieglinde?¡± ¡°Specimen Sieglinde is located in the second patient room.¡± Nu spoke up, but stayed in Xant and Rynard¡¯s shadow. His brown arm pointing over to the opposite side of the room. ¡°Pa should be calibrating the translator now-¡± All at once the room took a step back - the grin on Jasmine¡¯s face, as well as her Freq output was positively beaming. ¡°Can I see her??¡± She asked excitedly, forgetting all about having to keep her composure. ¡°Uhhh,¡± Nu¡¯s voice seemed to float ¡°Sure.. I¡¯ll just¡­ inform Pa¡­¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Jasmine thanked him again and another burst of warm butterflies tickled his thorax. ¡°You¡¯re welcome¡­ Your Grace¡­¡± Nu glided across the room and tapped on the sensor bar. Rynard stepped out of line and placed a hand on the human¡¯s shoulder, his fist easily the size of her head. ¡°Calm down there Jasi¡¯, you¡¯ll overload the lot of us.¡± But the human simply looked up at Rynard, her eyes watering and a determination growing within her. ¡°Rynard, I don¡¯t expect you to understand, but one of the greatest, deepest wishes of mankind is about to be fulfilled.¡± She walked out from under the Captain''s grip, walking towards the door, but she stopped midstep. ¡°It might be best if everyone left the laboratory, I don¡¯t know how strongly my emotions will be when we start talking.¡± Xant¡¯s ears stood up on end and he agreed immediately. ¡°Krydon, Nu, I believe we should follow Jasmine''s advice, we could be subjected to Freq-bomb levels - Rynard, please stay in the lab once you have escorted Pa out.¡± Xant walked over to Jasmine. ¡°Freq-bomb?¡± Krydon frowned in concern, looking to Rynard for instruction. The Captain was quick to usher the CMO and his assistant toward the door. ¡°You better do as he suggests; I ain¡¯t gonna be responsible if you all end up jitterjacked.¡± ¡°But?...¡± Nu protested weakly, ¡°It feels so nice now¡­¡± Rynard only needed to give a hard stare for the assistant to surrender, following behind the aging Doctor. ¡°Jasmine, if I may?¡± Xant pulled off the wristband he was given only moments ago. ¡°This is a Freq-band - it will monitor your VEFS readings.¡± Jasmine looked at the small, steel coloured wristband. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that need to be attached to my skin? Will it work through the suit?¡± Xant took ahold of her arm, sliding it over her wrist. ¡°The suit¡¯s fabric has sensors of your vitals, it is indeed compatible.¡± He adjusted the device to fit her armoured wrist and activated it, the sensors glowing a familiar blue. ¡°It is disappointing I will not be there to observe, but I speculate I have had enough exposure for one day.¡± The wristband gave the usual ping, and Xant slowly let go of her hand. Jasmine nodded understanding. ¡°Okay, I will let you know when it¡¯s safe.¡± Xant hesitated, but followed after the others to safety, leaving Jasmine alone in the lab. Her nerves were reaching almost nauseating levels. She stepped into the patient room, and saw Sieglinde sitting on the bedding of the pod. The dog was scratching at her ear, the translator poking out. Jasmine recognised the model - it was the first one Xant had installed in her own ear before her brain waves had blown it up. She approached slowly, holding her own hands. Sigi was pleased to see her of course, and happy Jasmine had chosen to sit down beside her. ¡°Hello, Sieglinde..¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice was gentle, hoping she wouldn''t frighten the creature. The golden retriever''s eyes widened, staring back at the human with pure shock. ¡°You, you can understand me now, can¡¯t you?¡± Jasmine laid a caring hand on her, ¡°This thing in your ear, it allows us to talk to each other for the first time¡­¡± Sigi continued to stare, Jasmine¡¯s eyes began to overflow. ¡°Go on, say something, I¡¯ll be able to reply.¡± She coerced. ¡°Bark! (Understand)¡± Sigi answered and Jasmine let out a small squeak. ¡°You... understand?! You know what I am saying?!¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!)¡± Jasmine let out another sob and wrapped her arms around her companion, her heart fluttering with joy. ¡°I¡¯m so happy, oh my god Sigi we can finally talk to each other!!¡± ¡°Bark Bark! (Yes, happy)¡± Jasmine held Sigi¡¯s face, squeezing the dogs cheeks as she made her vow. ¡°Sieglinde, I promise, no matter what, I will protect you, I will help you FIND OSKAR, I WILL GET US HOME AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE NO ONE HURTS US AGAIN!¡± Sieglinde pushed forward and licked Jasmine¡¯s face. ¡°Whimper, whine... (Namegiver, good Namegiver) whimper (No, sad) whine (loud)¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry Sigi.¡± Jasmine whispered, kissing the dog¡¯s forehead ¡°I won¡¯t yell anymore.¡± Jasmine studied Sieglinde¡¯s expressions. The dopey grin was gone, replaced with a serious concentration, a focus on Jasmine. Was it attentiveness? Curiosity? Fear? Shock? All of the above? The human could barely control her own smile, wiping away inconvenient tears. For the first time in history, Human and Canine could speak with each other on an equal level, although Jasmine had a feeling she would be the one doing most of the talking. The translator in Sigis¡¯ ear was a lower quality model. Nuances and sentence structure were minimal and words only formed as Sigi ¡®spoke¡¯. Jasmine remembered Xant telling her that dogs were capable of telepathic speech, but without the same Zenthi translator installed Sigi probably wouldn¡¯t be able to speak as Xant could. ¡°There are so many things I want to ask you Sigi, I¡¯m not even sure where to start¡­¡± Sieglinde stared back intently, listening and understanding her companion. Jasmine ran her hands over the golden fur. ¡°(Start small, yes or no questions..)¡± Her own mind suggested.¡°Sigi? Are you happy?¡± Sieglinde barked and the dopey grin returned. ¡°Bark! (Yes!) Bark (Happy!)¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ Do you like it when I pet you?¡± Jasmine asked, suddenly conscious of the creature¡¯s personal space. ¡°Bark! (Yes!) whine, whine (Namegiver good! Pet!) ¡± Jasmine gave a sigh of relief. ¡°Well, you let me know if you ever want me to stop petting you okay?¡± and the human gave a firm ruffle of the dog''s fur just to be sure. Sigi closed her eyes and let out a few loud pants, but the translator didn¡¯t respond. Jasmine thought about her next question, chuckling as she decided. ¡°Sigi, do you like the taste of dog food?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!)¡± ¡°(Well that solves that age old question.) Do you like sausages?¡± ¡°Bark! Bark! (Yes!Yes!)¡± ¡°Do you like steak?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!)¡± ¡°Which do you like better?¡± Sigi looked up excitedly at Jasmine but once again the translator failed to relay the excited answers the dog was probably thinking in her direction. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Sigi, I can¡¯t hear you unless you bark. How about one bark for yes and two barks for no?¡± Dejected, the dog''s smile fell, but her head nudged toward Jasmine¡¯s hand. ¡°Whimper (noise, loud).¡± Human hands brushed over the awkwardly placed translator. ¡°Hmmm, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± Jasmine flopped open Sigi''s ear and took a closer look at the metallic bean. It was stainless steel, smooth, and had the familiar idle blue glow to it in circular patterns across its surface. They had set it in place with a pink putty completely closing off the ear canal. But, as she suspected, there was no way to adjust the settings of the translator. At least not without a tablet or a clue of how to do it in the first place. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she apologized again ¡°I¡¯ll speak a little quieter, and ask the nurse to turn it down for you later.¡± ¡°Whimper (Understand.)¡± Sigi then laid her head on Jasmine¡¯s lap, looking up expectantly. Jasmine rested her hand upon Sigi''s head, more questions came flooding in. Could dogs talk to other dogs without translators? Did dogs have a language? Wait, no, she had been speaking to Sigi the entire time but the dog only really reacted when she started pronouncing German words, well beer names. But could dogs talk to each other like Xant''s people did? A universal language? ¡°Sigi, can you talk to other dogs?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!)¡± ¡°Have you talked with the other dogs here?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!) Bark bark! (Kimiko! Spades!)¡± ¡°And they understand you?¡± ¡°Bark Bark! (No!)¡± Sigi replied happily. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but laugh, Dogs were telepathic, but still only knew one language; learning from the humans around them. The other dogs mustn¡¯t speak German either. ¡°They don¡¯t speak German either huh?¡± Saying it out loud stirred another trail of thought she had been trying to bury. Sigi was a German dog and Jasmine was from Australia. Countries on complete opposite ends of the world; had Sigi been in Aus when she was abducted? Were she and Oskar on vacation? ¡°Sigi, do you remember what happened before you were abducted?¡± Sigi blinked, waiting for more instructions. ¡°Uhh, let¡¯s see, do you remember when you were¡­ Taken?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes)¡± ¡°Was there a bright light?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!)¡± ¡°Hmmm...¡± Jasmine pondered, ¡°Do you remember where you were when the light took you?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes!) Bark whine (Snow, trees! Oskar!)¡± Snow. Her stomach filled with lead. Jasmine''s memories flashed, she was on the beach, sitting around a campfire. Feet buried in the soft white sand, warm summer air blew her hair and she was drinking cold beer. Summer, festival season, school break. Sigi was taken in the snow, Jasmine had never even seen snow. It didn¡¯t make any sense - just why? Why take a human from one end of the planet and a dog from another? If Sigi was with Oskar why not just take them both? Why did those fucking, disgusting brains choose them?! What was so freaking special about them?! ¡°You were with Oskar when the light took you?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes) whimper, whimper (Oskar together) whimper, whimper (hug hurt).¡± ¡°Oh Jesus¡­¡± Jasmine whispered. ¡°Hug hurt? He was holding you?¡± ¡°Whimper... (Yes)¡± Sigi climbed into Jasmine¡¯s lap, nudging again. The human obliged the animals request, holding her reassuringly. Oskar had been holding Sieglinde when the Rajava abducted them¡­ So where was he now? Transcripts Chapter 18: Good Girl Rynard closed the Medical wings doors behind him, joining the others in a huddled group in the wide halls. Pa and Nu were excitedly chittering to each other, fussing over the dataslate and swaying from the lingering Freq-manipulation. Krydon sighed as Xant stood beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve never endured so many interruptions in my life.¡± The ageing doctor shrugged, ¡°I¡¯ll never get anything recorded at this rate.¡± Xant blinked his second eyelids, unamused. ¡°I apologise that the discovery of two entirely new sentients has disturbed your workflow, Dr. Krydon.¡± Krydon narrowed his golden eye and the cybernetic one zoomed in. ¡°Was that¡­ sarcasm?¡± The Sulin got uncomfortably close to Xant, who simply pushed his own face into the doctor''s personal space. Krydon stumbled back in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve never used sarcasm before.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never needed to before Krydon, but your lack of comprehension of the circumstances is rather disconcerting.¡± Xant ears pointed back and he stalked closer. ¡°I do not appreciate that your assessment of this entire situation is that you are being inconvenienced.¡± Rynard¡¯s massive claw rested on Xant''s shoulder. ¡°Back it up Doc, you¡¯ve only just woken up - no need to get aggressive.¡± Xant shook his head before folding his arms behind his back and straightening up. He had lost composure. He had lost composure in front of his work colleagues. ¡°Forgive me, Captain, CMO,¡± He nodded in each of their directions, lowering his shoulders. ¡°It seems I have not yet recovered from my last VEFS attack; I do hope you¡¯ll excuse the outburst.¡± He smoothed out his tone and began to breathe calmly. ¡°Of Course! Can¡¯t expect you to be fully recovered from a blast like that!¡± Rynard exclaimed happily but giving Krydon the stare down. The old doctor nodded mildly, turning his head to the side. ¡°Subject Jasmine is rather volatile, I suppose it is to be expected.¡± Xant''s hands clenched behind him. ¡°Yes, it is expected.¡± ¡°THIS IS AMAZING!¡± Nu¡¯s voice carried over, all six of his eyes glued to the dataslate. The glow of the display reflected against his mottled brown carapace. Pa brought her hands together before addressing her superiors. ¡°CMO Dr. Krydon and DH Dr. Xant, I implore you to have a look at this data, it is simply phenomenal.¡± The doctors gave each other one final disagreeable stare before putting their differences aside for science. Pa reached over and with one elegant green finger, tipped the dataslate in Nu¡¯s hands so it lay horizontal for them all to see. The diagram of Jasmine¡¯s brain was lighting up like a controlled explosion. Speech, reasoning and emotional centres of her cranium were in constant flux, a swathe of activity across the strangely split hemispheres. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. All four doctors were entranced. Rynard felt he needed to inquire. ¡°So uh, for those of us not in the medical field, what do the pretty colours mean?¡± Pa was all too eager to explain. ¡°This activity is extensive, she¡¯s using her entire brain to communicate. If it were not for the limiters on the translator she¡¯d be using Royal Command levels of Freq manipulation all the time.¡± Rynard muttered a dull ¡°Huh,¡± still not entirely understanding, but refusing to be caught out. ¡°Without the ability to broadcast or receive naturally, the brain is undisturbed, funnelling as much energy as it can to the lobes while functioning.¡± Pa continued, ¡°It is astounding the Zenthi Translator hasn¡¯t overloaded; in fact it¡¯s a wonder you haven¡¯t incurred more damage Dr. Xant, your control must be exemplary.¡± Xant nodded his head, continuing to study the readings - only realising at this moment exactly how stupid he had been. Initial scans of her brain activity were while she was still in the enclosure, without anyone to communicate with. The human brain thrived on interaction, processing several different functions at once. These were the levels he was exposing himself to when joining? A Freq force equivalent to a Prince¡¯s battle cry? This was the sort of thing a soldier was forced to endure, not a scientist like himself. ¡°Suppose I have more resistance than I expected,¡± he replied to Pa. ¡°By the sounds of it, you¡¯d be a reasonable replacement if a Messenger ever went down!¡± Rynard gave Xant a playful nudge; Xant did not return the sentiment. ¡°I doubt I would last anywhere near as long.¡± In fact, he was beginning to take the advice Rynard had given him seriously. He would slow down the meditation sessions for his own sake. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Krydon looked over the scans. ¡°If this is what she is processing while interacting with a User, do you think the levels would increase with a more competent partner?¡± ¡°Do we even have a basis for this kind of test?¡± Nu asked the CMO ¡°I¡¯ve only ever studied normal conversation levels-¡± ¡°The Freq-Level tests, provided our schedule is not interrupted further, will be performed in 48 [hours]. We will be able to determine her true strength when the Lab is set up properly. I am quite curious to see how she handles a Frequency charge equal to her own strength.¡± Xant nodded in agreement, half caught in his own thoughts. Jasmine had never experienced a Freq-pulse before - he had never thought to test her. Rynard scratched the underside of his chin. As pretty as the brain patterns were, they didn¡¯t really mean anything to him. He took a step back from the pack of brainiacs and tapped on his own arm mounted dataslate, linking up to the security mics inside the patient room. Subject: He was a very good Namegiver, trying to protect you from the bright light. I would have done the same thing. Specimen: Oskar Namegiver, longing lonely Subject: Yeah, I¡¯ll have to ask Xant about that, about the ship we were on before the station. I wonder how much he knows? Maybe Xant¡¯s- Specimen: Xant! Friend Xant! Subject: Yeah, the very same! He¡¯s a good friend, isn¡¯t he? Specimen: Friend Xant, Special Job Namegiver! Subject: What was that Sigi? What do you mean special job? Specimen: Friend Xant, Sigi, Namegiver no sad! Subject: Okay, I think I''m going to have to ask Xant to give you a proper translator, we¡¯re not going to get very far with your broken English. Specimen: Namegiver happy! Sigi happy!! Subject: Sure thing Sigi, I wouldn¡¯t be nearly as happy without you here. Thank you for being such a good girl- Specimen: GOOD GIRL?? GOOD GIRL?? Subject: Ha ha ha! That''s right! Who''s a good girl? Who''s a good girl?! Specimen: Who Good girl? Subject: YOU¡¯RE A GOOD GIRL! Specimen: UNDERSTAND!! HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY- The Captain turned off the security feed, even more concerned than he was before. A conversation like that holding military strength Freq? Rynard ground his teeth a little. Sometimes he missed the days when all he needed to do was tear the enemy apart. He hoped the Doctors were smart enough not to do anything to Jasi that would mean he¡¯d need to step between them. Transcripts Chapter 19: Enclosure Air still. No movement. No prey. No Vet, No Takers, No Namegivers. Kimiko. Spades sniffed the air. Nothing. He couldn''t smell anything new inside the giant room. The big room was bright, the lights never went off, but the windows in the roof always showed the night sky. The whole place was wrong. They were in a big room, but the room was filled with outside things. Sand, dam water, plants, but the plants were not growing, not living. They were like Namegiver things; the same taste and smell. Spades had tried to recall one of the many names he had heard his partner call it but there were too many. Too many sounds to remember and he had already learned so much. Kimiko was digging again. Trying to find real dirt, trying to find a way out. Sand shifted beneath his paws as he walked over to Kimiko. He turned his head to look, sitting by her hole. ¡®Kimiko, did you find something?¡¯ he asked. Kimiko stopped and looked at Spades. ¡®¤Ê¤ó¤Ç¤·¤ç¤¦£¿¡¯ ¡°Bark! Bark! (What Find?)¡± He asked again, speaking as the Namegivers would have done. ¡°Whimper (Steel floor)¡± She answered, not happy. The thing in his ear the Vets gave him; it changed her bark from her Namegiver¡¯s words to his Namegiver¡¯s words. ¡°Growl (big room)¡± He tried to explain; he had been in many rooms like this. ¡°Whine (no leave)¡± ¡®Ë½¤ÏµÀ¤òÒŠ¤Ä¤±¤ë¤Ç¤·¤ç¤¦!¡¯ Kimiko refused to believe him, - he did not need Namegivers¡¯ words to understand that. She left him to find another hole to dig. Spades whined. He missed Beau, his Namegiver, his partner. He didn¡¯t like the sand without Beau. Bad things happened in the sand. Kimiko stopped abruptly, turning to the door. Spades knew he was getting old. He didn¡¯t hear sound like he used to. Whirrrrrrrrr. The Vets were returning. They would take them to the white rooms. They would be told what to do, they would be flashed with bright lights and harsh sounds blasted in their ears. There would be no comforting hands or soothing voices. Insect clicks and the growls of bigger beasts. The doors opened and three walked in. The Vet with the white coat, who smelled of salt and car wash. The tall ones, they looked like the crickets he chased back home. They smelled like moonshine and fresh cut greens. Kimiko ran to Spades¡¯ side, ready to growl and refuse the Taker¡¯s orders. Spades knew they would not listen. The Vet stood behind the tall Takers and barked orders in fake Namegiver words. ¡°We are going to take you for the Physical Examination, do not resist.¡± He gave orders, but he wasn¡¯t from the Pack. Only Pack Namegivers gave him orders. ¡°Growl(NO!)¡± He answered, there was no respect in the Vet¡¯s words. The Vet spoke to the tall ones who came for him and Kimiko. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Dose them.¡± The tall ones were fast, like crows they took to the air and swooped. Striking with painful stings. Kimiko had her mouth opened and missed. She was jabbed and yelped in pain. Spades knew to jump last minute, to attack the arms. He whipped his head to the side, as the black armoured hand tried to strike his neck. Teeth met crunching flesh. The arm felt like crawfish, tasted like cricket. The tall one hissed, and another hand stung him. Hands ripped at his fur trying to pull him off but Spades would not let go, not until he was too tired to hold on. The Takers took Sieglinde, they would not Take him without a fight. -*- Duuarn sighed. Even with the translators, his specimens were uncooperative. Users never understood what was going on anyway, there was no any point in trying to explain that is was for their own good, that it was necessary. ¡°Dose them.¡± He gave the order to Arc and Suk, waving a hand in the air dismissively. The twin Arvas guards muttered to themselves. ¡°You take the male.¡± Arc asserted, unfolding his wings ¡°Honour in battle and all that.¡± ¡°Honour? You never took the code seriously!¡± Suk sneered. ¡°Yeah? Well it¡¯s your turn to get bit!¡± Arc spat before launching into the air, clutching the Medipen in his left hand. ¡°Tsk!¡± Suk sulked, taking a moment more in his approach. The male quadruped had already taken a chunk out of his sloppy compatriot. It would not be doing the same to him. Suk unfolded his wings and jumped into the air, taking a graceful dive, the creature was fast on the ground but Suk had training. He focused in on his prey, who stood its ground ready to strike at the guard. Suk would almost consider this a duel, the beast clearly knew he was being challenged and did not attack unless approached first. The first lesson of a defense artist, but without a weapon there was no code, and his job was to dose the creature. Suk extended his right arm to jab the beast¡¯s throat but without warning the creature jumped, whipped its neck around and its teeth sunk into his armour. CRUNCH Suk let out a hiss of rage. The beast stared him down with intense eyes, it¡¯s growl so deep Suk could feel the vibrations through its teeth. The penetrated armour¡¯s defences kicked in, immediately constricting the blood flow to the wounded appendage and applying the inbuilt concoction of chems. Clotting agents to stop the bleeding, opioids to stop the pain, adrenaline to increase battle effectiveness. Suk cursed the creature and pulled the Medipen from his jaw locked arm, dosing the quadruped hastily in the side. ¡°LET GO!¡± Suk tried, but he could not command the beast¡¯s will. It would not surrender even when defeated. Honourable. ¡°Hurts, don¡¯t it?!¡± Arc yelled triumphantly, holding the other Specimen by the scruff of the neck. ¡°Would you two hurry up!?¡± Duuarn berated, waiting at the enclosure door. ¡°I want to be early for the Perceptions Test!¡± Suk hissed. "It penetrated the armour." He looked at his main right arm, a dozen or so puncture marks oozed clear liquid. The emergency chemicals flooded his suit worked to end the pain fast, soon he wouldn''t even feel it. The creature lay limp on the ground, refusing and unable to move. Arc picked up the female, tucking her against his left side and chuckled at his twin¡¯s misfortune. "That one is smart-" Arc waltzed over to the ever impatient Dr. Duuarn. "-and stubborn as stone. Kinda like you, Doctor!" Duuarn''s upper lip twitched. "Hmmm yes," he snit back, "Intelligence can be such a burden, the creature is lucky it is only half as dense as you." Arc''s expression dulled and he looked at the dog Suk was hauling into his own arms. "Does being smart make you heavy?" Arc asked out loud to the disbelief of both Suk and Duuarn. "I mean, is it ¡®cause your heads have more stuff in them or?..." Suk gave a stern sigh. "Specimens subdued and secured. Ready when you are Doctor," the guard stated, ignoring his brother. "Finally!" Duuarn exasperated, tapping away on his Dataslate. "Krydon should have finished with the Creator Subject¡¯s test and be on his rest period, I should be able to have the Specimens¡¯ systems flushed and ready for the next Quarter." He tucked the device into his long jacket and presumptuously made his way to the elevator. "Hey Suk..." Arc stopped his twin before the door. "Is that why they''re called bulge heads? ¡®Cause you know, like how Nerve-slates are heavier than normal data slates cause they hold more stuff? They''re denser cause they weigh more, cause there''s more stuff in them?" Suk shook his head. "You know, sometimes I wonder how it is that you and I came from the same egg." "So?" "No, Arc. Being smart doesn''t make you heavy." "Right, I knew that..." The guard hurried ahead of his brother. Suk closed his eyes, thanking Akira they had not been born as office clerks or something that required the use of a brain. Transcripts Chapter 20: A Show of Force "Okay..." Jasmine grinned holding up her hands. "Now I am holding up two fingers on the left, and three fingers on the right. How many fingers am I holding up?" Sigi sat back, smiling with her tongue hanging out. "Bark! (Fingers! Hands!)" Sigi replied proudly, and Jasmine couldn''t keep a straight face. "Aww, it''s a good thing you''re pretty, huh Sigi?" Jasmine teased. "Bark, Bark! (Good girl! Good Namegiver!)." The translator chirped without any of the enthusiasm the dog had. "Yes, and a very good girl at that!" Jasmine repeated. She had calmed down a lot since her talks with Sieglinde. The human had tried to think of topics the two could discuss, but it was very obvious Sigi was a master of only a few subjects. Her toys, trees and Oskar being her favourite. "Okay Sigi, I''m going to go outside and let the doctors know we''re ready to come out now." Jasmine slid down off the pod''s gel bed and stretched her legs. The patient room was small, holding only the bed-like pod, and a shelf filled with phials of prescription meds. Jasmine walked over for a closer look. There were easily over a hundred different vials, sitting neatly in packs of four. She picked up one at eye level, smooth glass cylinders, like D-batteries each holding a different coloured liquid. It was then that Jasmine noticed that the entire shelf was organised by colour! It made sense... She supposed, recalling how many clear medicines she had in her life. If their medical tech were advanced enough it would have been easier to teach what colour was for what illness than trying to remember the ridiculous names Humans had assigned to their own pharmaceuticals. Ibuprofen, paracetamol, codeine, betaine, morphine... ¡°(Oh? You¡¯ve got a headache? Take the light blue one!... What colour was the one Xant had taken?)¡± Sieglinde suddenly snapped to attention. Letting out an excited bark. "BARK! (KIMIKO!!)" Jasmine turned around startled. "Huh, what? Sigi? Are you alright?" The dog did not answer her, jumping straight off the bed with ease and running up to the door. Pawing at the sensor to open it. "Sigi?!" Jasmine called after her, scrambling to put the medicine back on the shelf in the right spot while Sigi shot through the operations room. Jasmine followed, calling after the dog for some sort of explanation. "Sigi stop! Heel!" Jasmine did her best to grab onto the dog, but the golden retriever slipped through her hands and picked up the pace, completely ignoring the gaggle of doctors on the outside and running down the hall. "Bark Bark! (Kimiko! Hear Kimiko!)" She bellowed excitedly. "Sigi! Stooooop!" Jasmine cried in vain chasing after her runaway dog. The doctors, having been engrossed in the live stream of Jasmine''s own neuro functions, were ripped from their discussion to watch Sigi and Jasmine disappear down the hall. "Jasmine?" Xant called and motioned to follow after. Rynard stopped him in his tracks. "You better leave this to me doc," Rynard smirked, crouching down to ready a running start. "You ain''t going catch them at that speed." The Captain took off, almost leaping with every step. It would take a while before his bulk would catch up with the agile human and dog, but there was no way either of them was going to outrun him once he reached top speed. -*- It wasn''t long before the Specimens began to wriggle. The dose Duuarn had prepared was only meant to sedate them for the transfer. It was wearing off quicker than expected. The female began to thrash in Arc¡¯s arms, barking louder and louder as they drew closer to the medical wing of the station. "Bark bark bark bark! (Loud noise! Stop! Loud noise! Pain!)" she cried out over and over. "What loud noise? I don''t hear nothin!" Arc argued with the dog. "Stay still why don''t ya!" He ended up having to bring her to his chest, using all four arms to hold her secure. "Bark bark bark bark! (Loud noise! Stop! Loud noise! Pain!)" Kimiko continued to wail, doing her best to break free and pull the translator out of her ear. Duuarn snapped, spinning around to see the commotion. "Don''t you dare damage my specimen!" He snarled, reaching for his Medipen. Spades growled at Duuarn as he got closer to his friend with another shot of tranquilizers. "Grrrr (Back off Vet...)" The dog threatened. Suk reached for the dog''s jaw, clamping it tight. "You will NOT be taking another bite, especially of the Doctor." The guard warned, staring down the fierce beast¡¯s ever growing temper. Duuarn aimed his Medipen at Kimiko''s fur and was about to administer a second safe dose when a bounding ball of golden fur appeared around a corner and jumped into Arc¡¯s side. "Bark bark!(Kimiko! heard Kimiko!)¡± Sieglinde greeted happily. Duuarn stopped. His prized Specimen was roaming free, and neither Subject Creator nor her dull escort were around. "Bark! Bark!(Spades! Kimiko!)" The golden-haired specimen jumped and ran excitedly in circles. Barking the same strange phrases over and over again. "Bark Bark!(Spades Kimiko!) Bark Yapp! Bark, Bark!(Namegiver! Found Namegiver! Good Namegiver!)" That strange phrase was enough to set the other two off, they became even more belligerent, even under the influence of sedation. Barking and growling to be let go. The male¡¯s jaw broke free of Suk¡¯s grip and tried to take another bite of the guard. The golden needed to be detained for everyone''s safety. "Arc! Restrain her!" Duuarn ordered, and the Arvas guard gave him an incredulous look. "I know I''ve got four arms, but these things aren''t that easy to-" "Just force it to the ground!" Duuarn snapped, turning his aim to Sieglinde. Arc snarled at the doctor and begrudgingly followed orders. He lifted the struggling Kimiko, grabbing her by the collar and hanging her in the air, leaving his left hands now free to pin the energetic golden to the floor in a quick strike. Kimiko''s bark choked, her entire body suspended by the collar. Sieglinde yelped and struggled, but she only needed to be in place for a moment while Duuarn injected the tranquiliser- "SIGI!!" Jasmine''s voice carried down the empty halls. Duuarn¡¯s black eyes looked up to see the Creator Subject barreling toward them at full speed. He had miscalculated her whereabouts. He rose immediately and hid the Medipen behind his back. Jasmine let out another yell in panic. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "What the hell are you doing?!" Her voice rose with the volume of her Freq, Suk and Arc shifted in front of Duuarn as he felt his own feet pull him to the back wall. Jasmine was not slowing down, she charged toward Arc and screamed at him. "PUT HER DOWN FOR GODSAKE!!" Arcs hands fell limp to their sides. Kimiko crashed onto the floor and Sigi scrambled to her feet, both dogs barely taking seconds before bounding toward the human. Spades thrashed until Suk had no choice but to let him go, then the dog came charging to Jasmine, straight after his pack. Jasmine staggered her pace, arms open wide to receive the terrified animals. "Bark whimper bark!! (Namegiver! Namegiver!)" "Whimper whimper! (Namegiver, safe, Friend!)" "Bark Bark!(Namegiver! Female, Sigi, Friend!)" They all shouted at once. The dogs crowded Jasmine, who held and ruffled their furs reassuringly. Pressing her face into them, her tone soothing. "Hey hey! It''s okay, it''s going to be okay! I''m here now! Are you alright?" Smelly tongues and hot breath lapped at her face. Jasmine immediately rubbed Kimiko''s throat, the dog whined thankfully nudging its head into her shoulder. She had not been seriously hurt, and for a moment Jasmine was relieved. Duuarn was terrified. He stared at Arc and Suk, did they even try to defend against her Freq pulses?! Suk gaped at his companion, Arc was a ¡®Defense Artist¡¯. "You gave in to her commands..." Suk stated. Defence Artists were supposed to be extra resilient, they were supposed to ignore the orders of an opponent''s Freq. Arc stared back at him in shock. "I... I know." He gulped, looking at his traitorous hands, "I couldn''t fight back, it just felt like the right thing to do." "It WAS the right thing to do!" Jasmine yelled. Standing up to her feet and glaring at the group. "You were choking her!" Spades growled, standing in front of Jasmine to defend the Namegiver as best he could. "Grrrrrrr (Takers, Vet, Not Friend...)" Jasmine''s hand rested on his head, gently tossing his ears. "Easy boy. They''re not the enemy, just a bit misguided." "Ruff! (At ease.)" Spades sat at attention, acknowledging her request. "Just what were you trying to do?! What is it with you people and trying to chokehold dogs?!" Jasmine threw her hands in the air. The three turned to each other, each one looking for someone to answer her. Duuarn stepped forward, hands behind his back, holding onto the readied Medipen for comfort. "This is not standard procedure," he began matter of factly. "The specimens were refusing to cooperate we needed to subdue them to-" "Subdue them?" Jasmine turned to Spades, kneeling down and holding his face as she asked him. "Did they hurt you boy?" "Grrr whine (Yes)" The dog answered without coercion. "Whine (Pain, sleepy)" Once again the Esaander staff were dumbfounded, the User answered her without a single protest! He had been nothing but ill-mannered and stubborn the entire time, but he followed a single request from her. The Creator species must have engineered them that way, obedience to their makers. Another useful parameter, her species had thought of everything. Jasmine¡¯s outrage became ever more focused. "Pain, sleepy?" she repeated, before directing her confusion to the Doctor. "Did you drug them? Why did you need to drug them?!" she demanded. Duuarn took a single step back, returning behind his so called ''guards''. "They were refusing to be escorted to Medical for tests," he explained, bitter he needed to divulge his motives to an unregistered Subject. Jasmine turned back to Spades. "Did the doctor-" She pointed at Duuarn, her voice was always soft when speaking to the Specimens. A tone Duuarn himself found insulting. "-Tell you why you needed to go with them?" "Grrrr, bark bark Grr!(No, Vet, No respect, Not pack) Grrrrr whimper ruff! (Take Sieglinde, not take Spades)" Spades answered, his bark growing ever more vicious. "Good boy." Jasmine smiled at the dog, but her glare turned ugly toward the doctor. "You didn''t even try to explain it to them, did you?! What¡¯s the point of giving them translators if you''re not even going to talk to them?!" "There was no time." Duuarn defended."You of all people should understand the significance of these tests." "Oh, I understand completely," The halls became their enemy as she stalked closer. Her voice raised and echoed down the white walls, every syllable became like ice. "It''s more convenient to drug them and take what you need, saying they were uncooperative than to admit your own incompetence!" Every pulse was firmly directed at Duuarn, and he felt his blood run cold. "The Specimens-" He didn''t get to finish his sentence. Arc and Suk took either side of his arms and slammed him against the wall. Pinning him as Jasmine unleashed her wrath, from ice to an all-consuming fire. "Specimens?! These dogs are living, feeling beings! With thoughts and fears of their own!" The fury shook Duuarn to his core, his heart was afraid to beat. "I will not let you abuse them for the sake of your own fucking curiosity!" Arc and Suks grip were like steel, unrelenting. They glared at him with the same intensity as the human, she had taken their will. The Doctor tried gasping, to call out in pain but she was unstoppable in her onslaught. He could feel the blood clotting in his arms. "You''re a fucking doctor! How can you treat them like this?! I thought they were going to help with whatever is left of your fucked up genome?!" The dogs barked, but Jasmine was too consumed to listen. "Or do you just get off on having complete control of-?!" Talons grabbed her shoulder, and Jasmine''s body went flying. She let out a scream of shock as she was launched backwards, her body collided with the hallway floor, skidding against the tiles until she ran out of momentum. Rynard did not turn to see if Jasmine was alright. He stormed toward the twin guards and thrust his massive hands forward into his subordinates. They were almost crushed against the walls, wailing in sudden shock and pain. Forcing them to let go of the captive doctor and struggle within his own grasp. Duuarn slumped to the floor, utterly still, save for the tremor in his arm. "Snap out of it, you drones!" Rynard roared, equalising the disrupted Freq in the area. The Arvas twins gasped, breaking from the trance the human had unwittingly placed them under. "Capt''n?!" Arc stammered, trying to wriggle free. "Captain, we''re sorry!" Suk begged his superior "We couldn''t stop it-" "Shut up!" Rynard growled, dropping the pair, "Grab the Doctor and take him to Medical now!" He ordered, throwing his arm in the direction of the west hall. "Yessir!" "Yessir!" The guards opened their wings and scooped up the paralytic Qzetillian, flying down the hall. Rynard turned around slowly. Jasmine had not moved. She was curled up in a ball, shaking. The dogs surrounding her, pacing worriedly. "Jasi-" Rynard spoke. "Fuck off!!" Came the aggressive pulse. "What the fuck was that for?!..." Her voice crackled again. "Jesus fucking Christ Rynard!.... My fucking arm..." She sucked in ragged breaths, her Freq pulses a maelstrom. Fear, anger, confusion, pain, Rynard weathered them all against his own nerves. "Jasi," he tried again, his voice a steady tone. Sending out nullifying pulses of his own. "You were hurting him-" "He was choking the dog!" she cried out, another pulse of anger. "You nearly stiffed him, Jasi." Rynard growled, closing the gap between them. Jasmine gasped, holding her tender arm, suppressing the pain and tears. "I had to get you away from the doctor," Rynard explained, "You were Freq-frying him." "You could have just fucking yelled ''Jasi stop!" she shouted back, "You didn''t have to break my fucking arm." She winced and struggled to sit up. Sigi and Kimiko nudged their faces into hers. Spades tried to stand up to the behemoth walking closer. They were strangely unharmed by her outburst. "I needed to break your focus, or you would have been attacking me instead." "Fuck..." Jasmine cried. "fuckfuckfuckfuckfuuuuuuuuuuuuu-" she screamed in anguish. Rynard felt like a Freq-bomb had gone off. A sledgehammer¡¯s worth of Freq hit him in the chest, and he staggered to one knee. ''-uuuuuck!" Her lungs emptied, Jasmine took another ragged breath and whimpered. She didn''t think it was broken, but she wouldn''t have been surprised if there was a bruise running the length of her entire arm in the morning. "Fuck." Jasmine whispered one final time. ¡°(What the fuck have you done this time Jasi? You nearly killed someone over a bloody dog...)¡± Her mind berated her. "Are you calm now?" The Captain¡¯s deep voice asked, a claw scratching the tiled floor ever so slightly. "Yeah. Shit." she panted, and shakily stood on her feet. Rynard rose slowly with her, never breaking line of sight. "I can''t let you come into contact with the others on the station. I''m going to have to escort you to Security." he explained firmly. Jasmine nodded. The high energy from her attack fading fast, and deep regret was taking its place. "The dogs are coming with me." She added quickly. Rynard nodded in return to her demand. "Wasn''t even going to try to break you up." Jasmine glanced down, Sigi and Kimiko by her side, Spades in front defending her. "Sigi. Kimiko? Spades? You need to follow me. Is that understood?" "Bark!(Yes, Friend!)" yapped Sigi. "Bark bark!(Yes, Namegiver!)" barked Kimiko. "Bark Ruff!(Yes, Boss!)" growled Spades. All three dogs focused on her, ready and willing to follow orders unquestioningly. Like a Princess and her entourage. "I''ll come quietly, Captain." she replied, now as meek as her former fury was formidable. A living Freq-bomb, Commander and Big head all in one. Rynard was thankful there was only one Human on the station. Rynard activated his Com line to Isk''s office, following protocol. CPT Rynard: Isk, this is Captain Rynard, OM Isk: Yes, Captain? CPT Rynard: An incident has occurred in Medical Corridor 5, put the facility on lockdown until I give the okay. OM Isk: Has the Creator Subject reacted violently to a Perception Test? CPT Rynard: No, the Creator Subject has injured Dr. Duuarn in the corridor, he has been sent for emergency treatment. I am escorting the Creator Subject and the three User Specimens to Security for containment. Stand by for updates on the situation. OM Isk: Understood. Locking down the facility and advising staff now. Will send you a request for a briefing with the Director asap. CPT Rynard: Understood [Comms Disconnected] Transcripts Chapter 21: Emergency Xant watched as the colours on the dataslate exploded. Krydon, Pa, Nu and himself were transfixed on the single screen of the dataslate. Both hemispheres lit up independently, a surge of activity in the frontal lobes the likes of which began to trigger warning signals on the dataslate. "Military grade activity..." Krydon mumbled under his breath and brought out his dataslate, comparing and taking notes. Pa''s head turned away as her own dataslate began to beep loudly. "What is it?" Nu asked. "DH Dr. Duuarn¡¯s physical notifier is going off..." Her voice began to rise in panic. "He¡¯s going through VEFS!" Immediately fear leapt to the front of Xant''s thoughts. Duuarn, Jasmine, the dogs... Duuarn was not graced with any sort of tact, and Jasmine was long past her rest period. He began to make his way down the hall, only to have Arc and Suk fly around the corner. They dropped from their flight and landed in front of the med wing with the convulsing Duuarn in their arms. Pa shrieked. "Dr. Kyrdon!" Suk called trying to hold the twisting Qzetillian in his arms. "The doctor needs attention now!" ¡°Second stage VEFS,¡± Krydon growled under his breath before shouting orders. "Strip him down and get him to the pod, stat!" He stormed through the med bays doors, shouting at his assistants. "Pa, ready 2 doses of [#0018f] and [#006bfa]! Nu, wire Duuarn into the pod, and you!" he pointed to Arc, "Hold the doctor down to the mattress!" Xant watched as the excitement unfolded around him. He followed in after but knew he wouldn''t be of much help. His reaction times were still recovering from the last dose of depressors in his system. Duuarn was about to have double that pumped into his rather fragile body. It was a sickening sight. Uncontrolled and unnatural reactions twisted and pulled Duuarn¡¯s limbs in conflicting directions. His mouth contorted open past what was reasonable, his black eyes opened just as wide, you could almost see the veins behind the lids. Duuarn¡¯s nerves were dying. Suk reached for his segment sword, turning the blade dial to the height of a small knife. He sliced open the costly jacket and under-suit, tearing it from the doctor''s body. Duuarn was an expensive genebuild, mostly sewn from top quality Creator genes. Organs designed for efficiency and durability, body sculpted to be aesthetically pleasing for the Qzetillain elite and a personality perfectly catered to the ruthless environment of government work. His benefactor never saw fit to install him with any sort of Freq resistance abilities. Beings such as Duuarn were never intended to come into contact with such brute forces. They were expected to climb the ladder in a perfectly controlled environment. His substance abuse didn''t help his condition either, which was slowly deteriorating. Suk placed Duuarn¡¯s naked grey body onto the medical pod, holding him down as Pa administered the sedatives, her own hands shaking with shock. This was her first second-stage freq-aggression victim. The sedatives flowed through his veins, cooling the burnt nerves and stabilising affected organs. Duuarn''s body finally settled enough for Nu to insert the needles, hooking up his nervous system for analysis. Krydon shoved Suk out of the way as the computer began spewing out one condition after another. Krydon watched over his assistants, readying the anti-inflammatories and stim-repair solutions needed to ensure Duuarn¡¯s survival. Arc and Suk stood back in silence, they weren''t even qualified to be in the room. Xant could feel his own heart beating in his chest. How close had he been to becoming like Duuarn? Would Jasmine do the same to him if he angered her? Duuarn was not the most pleasant of people, but even he did not deserve this. Comms beeped in unison. Suk answered. "Yes, Captain?" "Suk, Arc, return to security now." Rynard''s voice was clear enough that Xant saw the guard stiffen, either out of respect or fear. "Yessir, understood." The twins step marched out of the medical wing, and not a second later, Xant''s comms activated. CPT Rynard: Dr. Xant? Dr Xant: Yes Captain? CPT Rynard: I''m afraid to tell ya Jasi will need to be kept in Security until further notice. I''ll need you to head down to Security before Isk notifies a lock down, she¡¯s your project after all. Dr Xant: I understand... is she unharmed? CPT Rynard: She''s moving about alright, but that could be the suit¡¯s pain management kicking in. We need to figure out what to do next. I ain''t got the head for this stuff. Dr Xant: Agreed. I shall be there momentarily CPT Rynard: Right, make it fast. [Comms Disconnected] Rynard closed the comms on his arm mounted slate. Jasmine and the dogs had been waiting there patiently, listening in to his conversations, an unsettling number of eyes staring at him. "Alright," he instructed, "I''ve done all the protocol stuff." "So what happens to us?" Jasmine asked. "I gotta keep you in the Security training room; it¡¯s the only other wing in the whole facility that''s got a Freq containment room." Jasmine nodded, but her eyes didn''t meet his gaze. "Alright, how long will we be put in containment?" "Until the big heads talk it out" He answered. "And how long will that be?" Rynard shrugged and offered an unhelpful. "I dunno." Jasmine sighed and rubbed her face. "There''s no bed in the training room." she stated, more to herself than him. "No...?" Rynard raised his eye ridge confused. "Okay. (Guess I am sleeping on the floor then.)" She sighed, defeated, her eyes falling to her new found pack. A small smile tugging the corner of her lips. ¡°(At least I''ve got pillows.)¡± Her mind whispered, doing its best to cheer her up. Sigi and Kimiko looked up at Jasmine expectantly, Spades had not taken his eyes off Rynard the entire time and was not about to any time soon. "Sigi, Kimiko, Spades," Jasmine called their names in turn. "We''re going to walk to the Security room. Stay close to me." The girls barked a "yes!" In unison, but Spades gave a more disgruntled growl. "Grrrrrr (Taker still here)" he responded. Jasmine knelt down beside him and patted him gently on the top of his head. "I know, it¡¯s okay boy, he won''t hurt us." Spades'' eyes darted between Jasmine and the imposing Rynard; he finally pulled back. "Whine (At ease.)" he replied but was not yet convinced of Rynard''s trustworthiness. "You¡¯ll have to tell me the way, Rynard." Jasmine said, standing to her feet again and cradled her right arm. "I can''t tell left from right in this lab rat maze." Rynard nodded. "Down the right corridor, we¡¯ll take the central elevator." Rynard''s instructions were brief, to the point. Jasmine nodded and turned away, knots tying themselves tight under her chest. With every step, she felt a growing divide. The more she learned about these aliens, the more worried she became for the future. "Hey, Rynard..." Jasmine asked as she stood at the entrance of the training room. "Can you dim the lights in the training room?" "No, why?" "(Of course you can''t) Never mind..." She sighed, taking the step in after the dogs. Sigi was already bouncing around, having remembered the exercise from this morning. It was a wonder she wasn''t exhausted. Kimiko, a beautiful strawberry blond Akita, made a beeline for the perimeter of the room, sniffing the floor with determination. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Spades stayed with Jasmine, never more than a meter away from her. He was an older dog, she figured, she could see it around his eyes and mouth. He was a breed of German Shepherd she couldn''t quite put her finger on. Rynard closed the door behind her without warning and Spades immediately turned to growl at it, tail up and ears down. "At ease," Jasmine ordered softly, Spades turned back to her, eyes asking if he had done something wrong. "Come on boy." she mumbled and made her way to the corner by the door, using the wall to slide down and prop herself up. Spades sat beside her obediently, panting gently. Jasmine reached for his collar. It was made from a military green canvas, with a heavy duty, quick release clip. More than one tag was tied to the collar, she picked up the surprisingly heavy metal and was never happier to see English letters. "Spades, 155 Mimosa Dr., Winfield LA USA." She read out loud turning the Tag over, "555- 318- 3658, Beau Mathews." "Whinnnneeee (Beau...)" Spades repeated sadly; Jasmine gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Don''t worry boy; I''ll do my best to get you back home..." Spades rolled his head; the translator didn''t do its job. She looked over the other tag and had to smirk; it was a rough cut plate, embossed in clear font. " ''Front toward enemy.'' Ha, is this a souvenir spades?" She half-joked. "Bark! (Yes) Bark bark! (a gift!)" came the reply. Jasmine sat there stunned for a moment. "Huh,¡± she huffed, her mind quick to add ¡°(Are you honestly surprised that an American dog understands English?) No. I''m surprised he understood what souvenir meant." she argued with herself. Spades tilted his head in confusion. "Don''t worry boy, I''m... Ha, It''s just nice having someone who gets my jokes. Aliens aren''t ones for understated sarcasm." Spades put his paw on her lap. "Whine (Understand) Whimper whine snort (Good, listen Namegiver words)" Jasmine nodded and rubbed her stinging eyes, all she wanted to do was close them. "Jesus, you¡¯d think I''d done enough crying for one day," she took a deep breath. "Thank you Spades, Thank you for standing up for me back there, you''re a good boy." "BARK BARK! (THE BEST BOY!)" He barked proudly. Sigi''s ears pricked up from the other side of the hall and she came charging over. "Bark?! (Play?!) Bark bark ruff! (Namegiver, Spades, play?!)" "Bark?! (Namegiver play?!)" Jasmine raised her hands and shook her head in defence. "No, no sorry guys," she ran a hand over her head, "I''m exhausted. I just want to rest, you two play, I''ll just lie down here for a bit." Spades gave a short whine. "Whine! (Rest)" he nodded his head before trotting over to Sigi. "Ruff! (Play!)" "Bark bark!(Play! Friend Spades play!)" Jasmine watched them run off with heavy eyes; too much had happened today. Way too much. The Talk with Laandi, the training with Rynard, meditation with Xant, Perception test with Krydon, talking with Sigi, the argument with the doctor¡­ Jasmine slumped to her left side, the bruise on her other arm still throbbing. It didn''t take long before she found a comfortable spot on the floor. Anywhere was a bed if you were tired enough. -*- Rynard watched as Jasmine slumped over on the empty training room floor. He tapped on the sensor panel, turning on the Freq barrier and shutting off the mic and receiver. He didn''t want to take any chances. Arc and Suk stumbled into the security office, standing at attention behind their Captain. Arc was too nervous to even do that properly, wings and lower hands twitching. "Captain?" Suk spoke up, trying to retain a profession calm. "I suppose you''ll be wanting a briefing of the situation?" "What I want and what''s going to happen aren''t really on the same dataslate are they?" the Captain growled. "No, they aren''t. Sir." Suk lowered his gaze. "It wasn''t my fault!" Arc jumped up suddenly. "We were never trained for that! She''s got the power of a Knight Commander!" "Arc!" Suk scolded, Rynard just folded his arms. "Look. This is gonna get a lot more complicated before it gets any better," he explained to the pair. "The only thing I KNOW for sure is we''re all gonna end up talking about what happened for a looong time. The big heads are gonna wanna go back and forth about what happened, and somehow they''ll figure out what to do, then we can go back to being guards. Until then, you two aren''t to leave my sight, got it?!" ¡°Yessir¡­¡± ¡°Yessir¡­¡± "Security office; DH Dr. Xant authorised." The door chimed. Xant walked in, swaying slightly with every step. Rynard cleared his throat. "Dr. Xant." he addressed the doctor, but the doctor did not answer back. Xant shuffled over to the observation window, peering in to see Jasmine and the dogs. He stood there, motionless. "Did she say anything?" Xant uttered, his tone professional, distant. "She wanted the dogs with her." Rynard responded, "Oh, and she asked if the lights ''dimmed'' or something like that." Xant nodded. "Yes, she would have been active for almost 19 hours now,¡± he reflected, ¡°She needs darkness for her rest quarter." Silence stood between them."Can you turn the lights off?" "Uhh yeah, I can do that." "If you would, Captain." Rynard awkwardly tapped his claw to the designated sensor, and the training room became pitch. "Thank you, Captain." Xant almost turned his head toward the officer, but his gaze remained on the room beyond the glass. "I believe I owe you an apology." "Eh?" Rynard blurted out. "Yes, I confronted you about the recklessness of which you were testing Jasmine''s physical capabilities. With the new information that has come to light, I should have sought your referral as soon as I had assessed her Frequency capabilities." With the loss of light the dogs had stopped playing in the dark observation room, and they began to gather around the sleeping human. "I was so enamoured with the Creator Subject, I reasoned away my own cognition and career. I forgot to calculate the risk for others." "Uhhh," the Captain was confused, looking over his shoulder to his equally confused compatriots. "If we''re going to start apologising for things we shoulda done, I''m not exactly Primarch material." Xant finally faced Rynard. "I beg your pardon?" "See, while you were taking your extended rest, Jasi and I were running through some standard operation drills, and well, I was testing her capabilities for a bit. You know, recording some of it, and I didn''t feel any threat intent from her." "Nothing at all?" Xant asked surprised, mostly that the Captain had thought to document an informal session. "I mean, I could feel she had SOME there, but, to do the sort of damage she did out in the Med hall, you gotta have the intent to do it. When we were sparring, she was holding back.¡± Rynard¡¯s posture became hard as he recalled the memory ¡°For the most part, she was just... happy." That answer hurt Xant more than he wanted to admit. "Jasmine had injured me more than once. I dismissed it as a necessary adjustment to a new species. I can only speculate about the force she inflicted upon Duuarn." Xant stroked his ears. "Permission to speak Sir?" Suk stepped forward. "Go on then" Rynard nodded. "Dr. Xant, when her Grace began her confrontation, Arc and I were compelled to act on her behalf. We felt her disgust, the righteous fury that burned in her chest" He raised this left hands to his centre, laying them upon his chest. "She believed Dr. Duuarn to be almost certainly in the wrong, but she did not want to kill him, only for him to be shamed, humiliated for his actions. If her Grace understood her own strength, I''m sure she would never have acted the way she did." Rynard snorted. "You sound like you''re ready to swear fealty, Suk." The guard shook his head. "A single order is not enough for me to relinquish my oath to the Company, Sir." "Good, cause I don''t want to even think about the protocols right now-" "You can say without a doubt she had no intent to kill?" Xant interrupted. "Absolutely," Suk confirmed. "And you," Xant turned to Arc, who had hoped he had been forgotten. "Did you feel that Jasmine had no intent to kill Dr. Duuarn?" "I don''t even KNOW what I feel any more!" Arc stuttered back, "I just feel kinda... twisted inside. Like everything¡¯s all tight and lumpy." His hands rubbed over his abdomen, before pressing to his chest. "Its awful, how do I make it stop?" Xant turned to the dark observation room. The dogs had all laid down around the human; Jasmine''s head rested on Sigi like a pillow, Kimiko curled at her feet, Spades on watch. ¡°Have you tried crying?¡± Xant offered, Arc scoffed at the idea. ¡°I''m confused, not emotional,¡± he remarked. ¡°I just wanna, I dunno, stab something I guess?¡± He looked to his brother for reassurance, but Suk had nothing. ¡°I need to know exactly what happened,¡± Xant insisted,¡±How did the incident occur?¡± ¡°Well I was holding the female-¡± Arc started, but Suk quickly took over. ¡°Duuarn wanted to arrive at Medical before his scheduled appointment, have the specimens prepared for the Perception tests as soon as they were able. The creatures have been resistant from the beginning, but even more so after the golden one was removed from Duuarn¡¯s care. We were told to sedate them and then escorted them to Medical. The golden female appeared from nowhere and incited resistance. Duuarn ordered Arc to hold the unruly specimen while the larger female was still in his arms-¡± ¡°So I held the beast by the collar,¡± Arc demonstrated, holding his right arm in the air, ¡°and pinned down the golden.¡± Xant''s stare became piercing. ¡°Ah,¡± Xant exclaimed, ¡°You nearly choked the dog.¡± ¡°What?¡± The guard blinked all six of his eyes at once. ¡°The throat of both a human and a dog is very vulnerable;¡± Xant explained raising his hand to stroke his neck, ¡°to impose any force upon it is seen as a malicious act, the windpipe and main arteries are unprotected-¡± ¡°You mean we can just hit her throat and she¡¯ll be defenceless?¡± Arc asked. Xant''s ears folded down. ¡°That is one way to express it I suppose.¡± ¡°The counterattack wouldn''t be worth it,¡± Rynard added, ¡°It would have to be a killing blow, or the Freq-bomb that comes after would kill you outright.¡± Everyone looked at the Captain in horror. ¡°I said she didn''t have any intent while we were SPARING. The bomb she let off after I threw her across the hall was enough to knock me down to the knee at close range.¡± He assured. ¡°You¡­ Threw her across the hall?!¡± Xant baulked. ¡°I removed her from effective range,¡± Rynard pressed, his posture becoming slightly more imposing. ¡°I did what I needed to ensure the safety of Esaander employees.¡± ¡°So, you''re saying it is my fault?¡± Arc piped up again; Suk hissed and pulled his brother back in line. ¡°YES, the doctor is saying that touching a dog or human¡¯s throat is as bad as aiming for the under-tail or backstabbing a Zenthi.¡± Suk snarled ¡°You threatened her subordinates, Duuarn couldn''t keep his mouth shut, and that''s what set her Grace on the path of retribution!¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Arc deflated. ¡°My guts feel worse now.¡± Suk shook his head and turned his shoulder to Arc, continuing the explanation for Dr. Xant. ¡°Arc held down the golden and suspended the red, her Grace saw the action and questioned the doctor. She was not impressed by his answers or treatment of her subordinates. She acted with what I can only assume is a reasonable amount of Freq for her people. Arc and I were compelled to hold the Doctor down as she chastised him. The Captain intervened, and that was the end of the incident.¡± Suk stood at attention for his closing statement. ¡°A reasonable amount of Freq? How did you reach that conclusion?¡± Xant queried. ¡°It was... natural to her. Instinctive, she lashed out at Duuarn with no hesitation about her conviction.¡± Suk dared to sneak a glance at his Captain. ¡°She would make an excellent Commander.¡± ¡°Better keep that to yourself in the interview,¡± Rynard advised. ¡°So Doc, did that help any?¡± Xant ran his hand over his ears in thought, processing the guard''s statement. ¡°I have an idea of how to proceed, but, this will be escalated beyond our control if Laandi decides to inform Head Quarters or the GCR.¡± ¡°And what are the odds of that?¡± ¡°Duuarn was an expensive asset, if he is damaged beyond repair Laandi will have no choice but to report it.¡± Xant reached for his dataslate, opening the list of recorded reports. ¡°If he expires, Jasmine would likely be sent to the closest GCR station for everyone''s safety.¡± She would be classified as military personnel, and they would never come into contact again. Once again Xant found himself in a position of terrible choices. Did he reveal the extent of his research and almost certainly ensure Jasmine¡¯s classification as a military vassal? Or did he alter the facts to keep her within a station ill equipped to handle her? Perhaps she was better off with the GCR? She certainly had a quick rapport with Rynard and the Arvas guards. She wore armour like a second skin, and her abilities could have her ranked as high as Knight Commander, but to have her as just a tool of war would be such a waste of potential. Xant''s fingers paused on the report list, over their last meditation session. He remembered her fear, the all-encompassing, heart-stopping fear she had revealed to him. If she were a weapon, she would have to face such suffering throughout her extended life. No. It was the right of every GC Citizen to live without fear. He would ensure she attained that right. Transcripts Chapter 22: Incident Report I understand completely Specimens are living, feeling beings You¡¯re a doctor Admit your own incompetence It''s more convenient to take what you need You get off on having complete control You abuse them You¡¯re fucked up Duuarn¡¯s eyes slowly opened. His retina burned in the harsh light of the patient room, and he was thankful he could still feel pain. Familiar sounds of equipment hummed in the background, the cold solution of stim repair flowed into his spine. Something was tapping his side, but he couldn¡¯t move his head to see. He closed his eyes again. ¡®I understand-¡¯ His eyelids ripped open, the voice was still there, how? HOW? His jaw ached as he wrenched it open, but no sound came, just the light wheezing of air past his tongue. The tapping continued. ¡°Dr. Duuarn?¡± Pa, the assistant, came into view. He couldn¡¯t answer her, he closed his eyes lids. The voice was gone this time. ¡°Dr. Duuarn? You are in the second patient room of the medical department,¡± Pa¡¯s voice was pensive, ¡°You were hit with a Freq-bomb in the hallway, do you remember?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± His throat shivered as the words were slowly pried from within ¡°...Remember, I remember everything.¡± ¡°Ah, and here I thought I¡¯d have to send your body to Head Quarters¡­¡± Krydon¡¯s discourteous growl slapped Duuarn¡¯s senses harder than usual. ¡°Thanks for saving me the the displeasure.¡± ¡°I want, to sit, up¡± Duuarn managed, his left arm reached for the pod rails, his right hand did nothing. The tapping continued. Pa came over and helped him lurch forward, double checking that the needles which fed pain meds and regenerative solutions were not pulled out. ¡°Your vitals are responding well,¡± Krydon continued unprompted. ¡°I doubt you¡¯d be recovering as well if the incident had not occurred so close to my office, almost 40% of your nerves sustained damage and extra scarring across the frontal lobe has me hopeful your personality has suffered somewhat.¡± Krydon paused and looked at Duuarn expectantly, but Duuarn¡¯s focus was on finally being able to see the source of the tapping. His right arm was twitching, hitting the side of his thigh. He lifted his shoulder, and his arm eventually followed commands, his hand flexing, but he had lost its smooth, flawless control. ¡°My dataslate¡­¡± he forced his voice ¡°I want, my, work¡­¡± Pa looked over to her superior, who gave a shrug. ¡°Check his coat,¡± Pa reached for the once beautiful jacket, now sliced in two, the dataslate''s plastic case was scratched but still functional. She handed over the device to the doctor¡¯s shaking hands. The left held the pad firm, but his right trembled and only with patience did it respond. Krydon and Pa watched on. The ageing surgeon ran his tongue over his sharp teeth. ¡°Well, personally I think it¡¯s an improvement.¡± ¡°I think... it¡¯s too early to confirm,¡± Pa responded diplomatically. ¡±We should notify Isk of Duuarn¡¯s consciousness.¡± ¡°Not until you download his vitals onto my ¡®slate, the Director is going to want specifics on his condition.¡± He scratched the underside of his chin in thought. ¡°Compare the data to his previous check up, and run him through some Cognitive tests. While I might enjoy Duuarn¡¯s new found sense of inversion, if he can''t perform to standard he might be replaced with someone even more insufferable.¡± ¡°Of course doctor.¡± Pa nodded her head gently, leaving the room to retrieve her superior¡¯s dataslate from his office. Nu sat at his terminal, studying the Human¡¯s neural recordings and on her return, Pa overheard her co-worker mutter under his breath ¡°This can¡¯t be right.¡± Nu stared at the screen. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. ¡°Her Grace is, she is broadcasting an Engine Frequency?¡± Nu looked over his shoulder, stepping back so Pa could see the terminal screen. ¡°Engine Frequencies?¡± Pa asked confused, turning her attention to the data. ¡°Yeah, I mean, that¡¯s what the data says,¡± he muttered, returning to the sensor board and bringing up a ship¡¯s vitals for comparison. ¡°It has the same activity waves, nowhere near as intense but... it¡¯s still there.¡± ¡°How can that be? She should be unconscious? Nothing but involuntary functions should be active.¡± But Pa couldn¡¯t deny the data before her eyes, ¡°Perhaps she''s damaged herself? Princes and Princesses suffer VEFS in the battlefield from time to time, and it was a powerful pulse she inflicted on Duuarn.¡± she tried to shake the vision of Duuarn¡¯s wrenched open jaw. Nu nodded. ¡°Yeah maybe. That sounds plausible.¡± Nu turned to the database, opening the diagnostic scans of the human''s brain from the main terminal. ¡°It''s so hard to tell without a known comparison, when she''s awake her brain looks like it¡¯s suffering from VEFS constantly.¡± Nu began to match up the three sets of data. Jasmine awake, Jasmine at rest and the recordings of a functional ship brain. He sat back, dumbfounded by the discovery. ¡°The wavelengths match up. She¡¯s producing the same Frequency as industrial equipment.¡± Pa blinked. ¡°Industrial equipment.¡± Pa walked over to the medical records kept on subject Jasmine. The main terminal stored the visual files of the very first scans made of Jasmine in the medical department. Before they understood her intelligence or the Frequency abilities hidden in her dense calcium casing. When they pulled her shaved and sterilised body from the stasis pod, they thought her an animal at best, an experiment at worst. The number scarred on the side of Jasmine''s head, the only place hair did not regrow. F17. Pa¡¯s hands began to tremble at the very thoughts compelling her to speak. ¡°Nu, the numbers on the side of Subject Jasmine¡¯s head.¡± She drew her arms in close, her voice growing soft. ¡°What if it¡¯s not a batch number, but a serial code?¡± Nu stared at Pa. ¡°No, it couldn¡¯t be.¡± he dismissed hastily, returning to the datastream. ¡°If she were equipment, the Rajava wouldn¡¯t have left her consciousness intact. She¡¯s an unknown Xeno, they all have weird anomalies like this, the Savori couldn¡¯t handle radio waves until they were fixed. I''ll compare the scans to battle worn Princes.¡± A small sense of relief passed over Pa. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± The Rangers saved her Grace from an awful existence.¡± she reassured herself before looking down at Krydon¡¯s Dataslate, ¡°I¡¯d best download this data too,¡± she plugged the Dataslate into Nu¡¯s terminal and collected everything. Krydon stepped out from the patient room muttering under his breath. ¡°The Director has called an emergency meeting, I¡¯ll need to leave as soon as the data has been uploaded.¡± He snatched the dataslate from Pa¡¯s hand, skimming over Jasmine¡¯s data. ¡°And take some suppressors while you¡¯re at it, Duuarn¡¯s surgery was almost an hour ago, and you¡¯re still far too jittery.¡± ¡°Yes Doctor.¡± -*- Isk entered the Director''s office. Laandi had since changed from her rest clothes to the more formal politician suit, a long plum cape hung from her shoulders, concealing her body. She was staring out her window to the planet below, she had not even noticed his arrival. ¡°Director?¡± The operations manager informed her of his presence. The Director hid her surprise well, using the flourish of her cape as a distraction as she turned away from the window. Walking over to a pair of gloves laid neatly on her desk. ¡°Everyone is due to arrive shortly, shall I leave your door open?¡± Isk suggested. Laandi slipped on her black gloves and nodded her head. ¡°Yes, thank you Isk.¡± Isk''s eyes narrowed, but he turned to the door and ran his hand over the sensor. Dr. Jess pushed her way through first, itching for a confrontation. ¡°Why is Marsen in intensive care?!¡± she snapped. Laandi held her hands together. ¡°There was an incident, the details of which are undetermined. That is why we are having this emergency meeting, Dr. Jess.¡± ¡°Do not try and feign ignorance Laandi,¡± Jess hissed, stomping a foot for good measure. ¡°we both know there is only one thing that could have happened.¡± ¡°Miss Howe has been nothing but reasonable with us Dr. Jess, I know it is your prerogative as a scientist to find the the fastest answer, but this is not the same as other reclamation projects, this is First Contact.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how reasonable she is. We won¡¯t be able to reap the benefits if the Subject reduces all of us to incontinence-¡± Isk stepped in between the two. ¡°Director, Dr. Jess, please take your seats, I will not allow this to escalate into a snarl.¡± Laandi swept past and took her seat, denying Jess any sort of reaction. Jess took her seat in a huff, preparing her dataslate as the rest of the attendants filed in. Xant hastily shuffled in, taking his seat without even a glance up. Rynard, who was too large to even take a seat, stood behind the head of research. Suk stood to the side of his Captain, and for the most part was trying to avoid the stares of Isk and Jess. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. They all waited silently for Krydon, who waltzed in and plonked himself down. ¡°Well Director, get on with it, I¡¯ve got more data than time,¡± Laandi swiped her hand over the recorder. [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] ED Laandi: It is 0700 [hours] the 27th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation dynasty. I, Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi will be conducting this emergency meeting with my Department Heads, and members of security. DH Xant: Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant, Head of Research. DH Jess: Dr. Kyda Jess, Head of Behavioral Studies. CMO Krydon: Dr. Tend Krydon, Chief Medical Officer. OM Isk: () Dr. Au Isk, Operations Manager. CPT Rynard: Captain Rynard, Head of Security. Private Suk: () Private Suk, speaking on behalf of myself and Private Arc. ED Laandi: The topic of today''s agenda is the confrontation between Dr. Duuarn and Subject Miss Howe. We will be discussing what happened and what measures shall be taken in regards to Employee safety, Subject¡¯s safety and Protocol. Rynard, if you would play the recording. [Note: Captain Rynard transferred the recording in question from his personal Dataslate to the holo-projector] [Note: DH Duuarn leads the way in front of Private Suk and Private Arc, holding the sedated Specimens. They are stopped at the ¡®T¡¯ section of the hallway by Specimen Sieglinde. Sieglinde actively incites unrest within the other specimens. Arc attempts to restrain Specimen Sieglinde while holding Specimen Kimiko. Subject Jasmine approaches from the north hall, delivering a Frequency aggression order. Arc, compelled by her, releases the two specimens. The third, Specimen Spades, escaped restraint and follow after the other two into Subject Jasmine''s proximity. The Subject embraces the Specimens. Subject confers with Specimens, before launching a Frequency pulse against DH Dr. Duuarn. Private Arc and Suk restrained DH Dr. Duuarn under the Frequency aggression of Subject Jasmine. Subject continues her attack until Captain Rynard ejected her from range. End recording] DH Jess: Absolutely appalling. ED Laandi: Dr. Jess, please refrain from commenting until all the facts have been presented to us. DH Jess: Yes Director. ED Laandi: Private Suk? Private Suk: () Yes ma''am. ED Laandi: I believe you were at the incident in question. Please relay the events leading up to the incident as accurately as you can. Private Suk: () DH Dr. Duuarn wanted to arrive at Medical before his scheduled appointment and have the specimens prepared for the Perception tests as soon as they were able. The creatures have been resistant from the beginning, willing to attack staff. We were told to sedate them and then escorted them to Medical. ED Laandi: Attack staff? How serious were these threats? [Note: Suk turned to his Captain who nodded his head in approval, Suk presented his arm to the committee members] Private Suk: () The Specimen I restrained latched onto my arm. His teeth punctured the armour and crushed a plate of my chitin. Had he done this to a Citizen the Specimen surely would have taken an arm. ED Laandi: I see, and during the incident, did you not try and confront the Subject? Private Suk: () Her Grace¡¯s assault was seamless Director, she held true to her conviction and target, but it is in my opinion that her Grace had no intention of inflicting the amount of damage on the doctor as she did- DH Jess: But she did not stop the attack when she saw him in pain? ED Laandi: Dr. Jess, it is not the time for questions, please remain quiet until I open the floor for discussion. DH Jess: Yes Director. OM Isk: () ... ED Laandi: Thank you private, your statement has been accepted. You may stand down. Private Suk: () Yes Director. ED Laandi: CMO Krydon, do you have an update on DH Dr. Duuarn and the Subject¡¯s condition? CMO Krydon: At this time Duuarn has regained consciousness, retaining 95% cognitive capacity. His right arm has only partial functionality with periodic tremors that focus on the wrist and forefingers. The condition could be eased with depressors but will not be able to fully function unless a complete nerve transplant is initiated. We have not been able to attest to his conscious state, but he has not uttered a complete sentence or single insult since waking, this could be attributed to the depressants in his system, however. ED Laandi: And the Subject Miss Howe¡¯s condition? CMO Krydon: Ah yes, we were very fortunate indeed. Dr. Xant had managed to place a Freq-band on the Subject before the incident. We were able to witness the assault in real time, and it was extraordinary. [Note: CMO Krydon projected the neural recorder data to the holo-projector] CMO Krydon: As you can see the Subject¡¯s cranium, while the proportion to our own, is almost doubled in contents of nerves. I believe this is why the Subject is able to recover so quickly from Frequency Aggression and VEFS. There are more receptors to disperse the surge of energy, distributing the load as it were. Several chemicals were also released during the assault, many we replicate in our own body armour, [adrenaline] and [endorphins] to name a few. All of these to a lesser degree than our suits, mind you. The Subject¡¯s biology sits well above any commissioned Citizen and would rate highly among many Freq assault units. However, her size and strength are no match for regular soldiers such as the Captain. [Note: CMO Krydon displayed an X-ray of Subject¡¯s arm] CMO Krydon: As you can see the simple physical attack by the Captain was enough to fracture the Subject¡¯s, admittedly impressive, bone structure. The Citizen armour she is wearing is little more than a Nerv-shot shield and mild pain relief admin, if she were set upon with harmful intent I have no doubts a soldier such as the Captain could rip her in two, but she could just as easily return the favour to any unarmed Citizen. Captain Rynard: [Low displeased growl] ED Laandi: Is the Subject¡¯s arm treatable? CMO Krydon: Certainly, I should have a regenerative solution formulated in a matter of hours. The Subject¡¯s body is already beginning early stages of self-repair, and with continuous pain medication, she will be back to full health in just over 3 [quarter periods]. ED Laandi: Will she be fit enough to resume the tests? CMO Krydon: Certainly, in fact the Subject expressed a desire to complete both the Physical and Frequency tests as soon as possible. I propose a motion to delay other interviews in favour of a complete [day] of testing. ED Laandi: The motion shall be voted upon after I open the floor, thank you CMO Krydon. Dr. Xant? DH Xant: Yes Director? ED Laandi: In the time you have spent with the Subject Miss Howe, was there any point you felt that the Subject was capable of this behaviour? DH Xant: () I believe that Subject Jasmine may be capable of much more. OM Isk: () You¡¯re serious?! DH Jess: More?! ED Laandi: Dr. Xant, if you would elaborate, please? DH Xant: With all of my interactions with her, Jasmine has shown incredible restraint when it comes to her emotions, especially since learning of the physical impact they are having on staff members. It is my understanding, and medical scans support me in this, that unlike the rest of the GC races ¡®Humanity¡¯ is without any kind of broadcaster or receptor to either the Natural Frequency or Emotional Frequency. Jasmine wishes to work with us and is doing everything she can to provide us with the data needed to categorise her species as Creator level and to one day join the Galactic Council. ED Laandi: When you say that the Subject Miss Howe is capable of much more, are you suggesting she is a danger to the station? DH Xant: No more than any visiting military commander would be, Director. I am confident that this is an isolated incident that will not be repeated once Jasmine has been outfitted with translator capable of withstanding Human potential. ED Laandi: Thank you Dr. Xant. Now then to questions- DH Jess: Director!- OM Isk: () Questions of which I have many. Firstly Director, I find it very odd that you did not question Dr. Xant''s whereabouts during the incident, he is responsible for the Subject, and yet he was not present in the recording. Why was she unattended?! ED Laandi: Dr. Xant would you care to answer Isk¡¯s enquiry? DH Xant: We were in the middle of a rather important practical. The Subject, knowing the impact of her outbursts, informed us that distance would be needed while she conversed with Specimen Sieglinde through a translator for the first time. A topic I will actually need to seek the professional counsel of Dr. Jess. DH Jess: You intentionally left her!?- Wait what? DH Xant: While I am the Head of Research, my proficiencies are with floral biology, not behavioural responses or cultural nuances. The relationship dynamic between Jasmine, and the ¡®dogs¡¯ as they are known, is something beyond comprehension at first glance. I believe this was what lead to the incident in the hall and the confusion during her first attempt at the Perception Test. Our scheduled sessions with Jasmine have me in a purely observational role, I would instead prefer to take a more active lead, learning from your example. DH Jess: () I, uhh, Dr. Xant that is, I mean- ED Laandi: I must agree with you Dr. Xant, while discussing the schedule with Miss Howe, she was willing to discuss safety concerns, and we had organised a time for the dogs to meet with Miss Howe that did not interrupt research times. While unfortunate and avoidable, Dr. Duuarn¡¯s condition is stable. Captain Rynard? CPT Rynard: Yes Ma¡¯am? ED Laandi: You will be escorting Miss Howe until further notice, to ensure the safety of staff and the Subject herself. CPT Rynard: Yes Ma¡¯am. ED Laandi: Now then, the motion to have the Physical and Frequency Test brought forward- DH Jess: Wait! No! I- I had more questions! OM Isk: () As do I Director!- ED Laandi: Then speak, Dr. Jess you have the floor. OM Isk: () ... DH Jess: Yes, I- I... Private Suk! Private Suk: () Yes doctor? DH Jess: What was it that the Subject took grievance with Marsen over? Private Suk: () Her Grace was angered that Dr. Duuarn had sedated the specimens over opening communication with them. Accusing him of abusing her subordinates for the sake of convenience. OM Isk: () But the specimens in question were dangerous, and there was a need for sedation? Private Suk: () ¡­ Yes, The specimens were unresponsive to Dr. Duuarns orders, but they are completely compliant to her Grace. () They will not be a threat so long as they are by her side. OM Isk: () Unless she sees fit to order them on us? I¡¯m sorry private Suk, but I will not be convinced of my safety by a Guard so easily swayed by another¡¯s Princess¡¯s orders. Private Suk: () How dare you!- ED Laandi: Isk, you are becoming needlessly hostile. OM Isk: () Are you even listening to yourself Laandi? You¡¯ve been skimming over disturbing details in favour of character testimonials?! Right now I have serious concerns that prolonged contact with the Subject has warped all of your perceptions of her. ED Laandi: Isk, calm down- OM Isk: () Correct me if I am wrong but the information I have is that Subject has forced Xant into VEFS 3 times since her arrival on the station. Threatened staff twice, incapacitating one and overrode the loyalties of two guards. She has demonstrated Military Grade Freq in both Bomb and Commander classes. She has complete control over three specimens which have not only successfully attacked staff but have broken through Military Grade body armour, and now doctor Xant says she¡¯s is capable of more? () If you are saying she has the power of a Princess then it only stands to reason that we inform Lieutenant Commander Nako that one of the stasis pods he dropped off was containing an organism unfit for Citizen contact! DH Xant: She lashed out at Nyk because she feared he was causing pain to others, she attacked Duuarn for the same reason, Jasmine brought on my last VEFS because she shared the fear she had of her Rajavan abductors.There too many questions we would all like the answers to and not enough time to ask them. Informing the Lieutenant Commander before the Citizenship formalities will leave all of those questions unanswered. OM Isk: () They will not be unanswered, the CGR will be asking the questions and Esaander can make do with research we have. () Things were different when it presented that she was Intelligence Class individual. It is my duty to uphold the Esaander Corporation protocols. This Subject is clearly beyond our control. We have enough data to profit from the venture, if the Subject decides we aren''t worth listening too she could go rogue and jeopardise the entire operation. DH Xant: Jasmine will NOT go rogue as you suggest, but having the benefit of another trained Freq specialist on board could be invaluable. Once we have her Citizenship formalised. OM Isk: () NO, as soon as possible. I can tell even by the surface data she won¡¯t be classified as Citizen, she¡¯s mil-eslt = g.sed(rlt)le"/mk/wo//pgis/ats-py",ine63,ineate prntml5lib.parse/.ment,r="lxml")File/lib/th9on2.6/dist-ckas/67tib-0.90-py2.6.g/hl5lib//,lin38(doc,encoding=encoding) ¡­ Error File Corrupted Error File Corrupted Error File Corrupted Error File Corrupted [Comms Disconnected] Transcripts Chapter 23: Client Meeting Laandi sat at her desk. She stared thoughtfully out of her office window and into the abyss of stars. She had made a special request that the feature be included in the building of Uleesia station a decade ago, and it was by far her favourite of all her executive decisions. There was something calming about looking out at it all. Knowing that the stars were there long before she existed and would continue long after her deterioration. Her mistakes didn¡¯t matter to them, her actions insignificant blips in the passage of time. Yet, in the last few days, she felt that she might have a role to play in the greater universe. Facilitating a new Creator species¡¯ integration into the Galactic Council, a species with natural Frequency capability that would rival the engineered elite of the galaxy. A power shift of the greatest magnitude was coming, and she might not live to see the outcome of her decisions. Her actions would not matter. Not to herself at least, but Jasmine would remember, and somehow that worried her. Laandi had begun to wonder what power the human could wield if she were able to control it with any precision. The Director turned her gaze from the window to her comms terminal. Perhaps it would be prudent to speak with Lieutenant Commander Nako first before someone else gave him inaccurate depictions of the events occurring. She brought up the address he had specifically assigned to her for this project and accessed the link. The lights in her office dimmed; security recordings on both ends of the line jammed; they would be able to speak their minds in peace. Her comms screen illuminated with the visage of Lieutenant Commander Nako. The handsome Arvas Prince looked weary with exhaustion. Two out of three sets of eyes barely open, the bottom set closed completely. The dim light in the projection only served to highlight vibrant red streaks that graced his natural, dark green chitin. Red was a colour of power to the Arvas, the same hue of their worshiped moon, a burden of great calling painted on his shell. It contrasted rather jarringly to the oily black of his Ranger armour and the deep blue cape of his Lieutenant rank. The cape was wrinkled, thrown hastily over his broad shoulders rather than neatly pressed as on their first meeting. She must have caught the Knight during his rest period, an auspicious start, they wouldn¡¯t be interrupted. ¡°Salutations Lieutenant Commander,¡± Laandi bowed her head respectfully, ¡°I do hope I have not intruded upon your personal time?¡± ¡°Salutations Citizen. Director¡­¡± he faltered, mandibles twitching while putting in an effort to recall their last meeting. ¡°Lahmdi was it?¡± Laandi turned her head to the side ever so slightly averting her gaze as she went to correct him. ¡°Laandi, Executive Director Doctor Sahlor Laandi,¡± she reminded him. Nako bowed his head in turn. ¡°I am afraid I have been visited by many an official in the past few [days], I hope I have not caused offence in the misplacement of your name.¡± he offered. Laandi smiled forgivingly. ¡°Not at all, it is understandable for a man in your position,¡± The Knight laughed, and relaxed his posture ever so slightly. Even though the Lieutenant was of the Galactic Council Rangers, he held more in common with the Arvasain Imperial Knights. It was his privilege to serve in the greater galactic military, not his job. ¡°I can assure you Laandi, there are many who are not as understanding as you,¡± he brought his hand to his chin, ¡°Knight Commander Kotorn being one of them, he isn''t happy with the amount of interference the GC is placing on his branch. Then there is the incessant succession of Imperial Ambassadors who wish for my audience. I sometimes wonder if Akira could not have chosen another; perhaps there is a Primarch willing to shoulder my burden, hmm?¡± Nako waved off the sentence with a flick of his lower right hand. ¡°But enough of my transgressive thoughts,¡± he sat forward into the comms screen, his voice low even though the line was private. ¡°Is everything proceeding as scheduled?¡± The knight was on the edge of his stool; clearly the creatures in the six pods had weighed heavily on his mind ever since he had secretly jettisoned them only weeks earlier. Laandi nodded her head, unable to hold back the excited twinkle in her eye. ¡°Not quite my lord, there was an unexpected discovery.¡± The Director savoured the pause between her words. She could tell how much he wanted, no, needed to know the information she had at her disposal. It had been a long while since she had held such a bargaining chip. ¡°Which means we will have to renegotiate the contract.¡± Nako¡¯s shoulders stiffened, he rested his upper hands on his knees as he awaited her exorbitant demands. ¡°Is the exclusive access to the creatures and their data not enough to profit? I fear that is a problem on your end not mine,¡± The knight deflected, as much as he wanted the data he was not about to submit to Laandi¡¯s demands without a fight. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Forgive me my lord, I was being facetious.¡± The director smoothed out a crease in her politician¡¯s cape, ¡°The data will certainly be enough to profit from, but I need guarantees that the GC will not envelop Esaander into the government hierarchy once it releases said data.¡± ¡°That is,¡± The Knight glanced off screen, ¡°Presumptuous of you to make such a request.¡± She had put him on edge, bouncing between playful banter and serious subject matter. ¡°Presumptuous, but necessary,¡± she confirmed, resting her gloved hands upon the table, ¡°And a term I think you will be happy to agree to.¡± ¡°Now that is presumptuous,¡± Nako folded his upper arms, ¡°Why would I agree to such a condition?¡± ¡°Because the subject needs to be handled with great care, these are not a people to be trifled with.¡± That slip of information caught the Knight¡¯s curiosity. ¡°A people?¡± His three pairs of eyes opened wide and once again glanced off screen. ¡°Do I have your word of protection Lieutenant Commander?¡± Laandi coerced, but the Knight¡¯s attention lingered off screen before he returned to answer her. Nako was no longer enjoying the director''s game. ¡°... Yes, Esaander will not be touched, I shall have the magistrates draft a contract.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± she pulled back her bureaucratic offensive and relaxed. Laandi was rather excited to make the announcement to a ranking official, even if it was to never be on the record. She took a moment to compose herself and uttered the words that would undoubtedly change the galaxy forever: ¡°The suspected vassal discovered aboard the Rajavan ship is not a new amalgamation, but a distinctly new species of Creator level sentience-¡± The Lieutenant¡¯s wings fluttered up and out from under his cape, catching Laandi by surprise. ¡°I knew it!¡± he exclaimed to himself, jumping up from his desk and parading around like a juvenile. Quite unseemly for someone of his standing. ¡°A Creator-level sentient, that was the only explanation!¡± ¡°Lieutenant Commander?¡± Laandi was startled by the sudden animated display. Nako¡¯s arms pounced off screen, snatching something from his desk and bringing into her line of sight. ¡°The Rajavan ship held numerous anomalies, some of which could not be explained away. This dataslate being one of them.¡± He began, holding the device as carefully as one would would a hatchling. ¡°I am told the tech inside is masterfully designed, and as powerful as a dedicated Terminal unit without a single organic component.¡± Nako rotated the dataslate for Laandi to see, not that she could have missed it. For one, it was an iridescent pink, decorated with what Laandi could only describe as uniform bursts of colour, trying to mimic organic flora. ¡°The technicians have been in a frenzy trying to replicate it to the best of their ability, with improvements of course.¡± The Knight returned to his seat, his lower hands holding the device, seemingly unable to part with it now that he had shown it to someone else. ¡°Do you think it is possible the creature could have made this?¡± ¡°It is within the realm of possibility. Miss Howe, as she prefers to be addressed, is quite adept with our own dataslates,¡± Laandi elaborated. ¡°She?¡± Nako repeated, almost in surprise. ¡°and she was willing to talk with you and your staff?¡± ¡°We have more than a few conversations on record; Miss Howe has been extremely co-operative-¡± Laandi cut herself off, reflecting on the alien''s actions and her own. ¡°Considering her circumstances¡­¡± ¡°This is tremendous news, I must commend you on your research, Director. When will I be able to listen to the reports?¡± Nako was almost too eager, possibly feeling he no longer needed to hide his youthful enthusiasm in her presence. ¡°We are still going through the examination process, but I can send you the observation reports as well as the compiled works of Dr. Xant¡¯s research transcripts. They only scratch the surface however, and do not contain any of the research into Miss Howe¡¯s Frequency capabilities.¡± ¡°Female and Freq-able?!¡± He was getting more excited by the second. ¡°Lieutenant Commander, while negotiations with Miss Howe are going remarkably well, I must warn you that her species is capable of manipulating both Zenthi and Emotional Frequencies with devastating results.¡± the Director tried to warn the Knight, but it was not caution he took away from her advice. ¡°A species finally able to match wills with the Arvas?¡± Nako contemplated happily. ¡°Is she Civilised?¡± ¡°Miss Howe is Civilised, Lieutenant, but we are taking precautions until her translator is adapted; she appears to have the power of a Princess yet none of the training-¡± ¡°I think I should like to meet this Miss Howe,¡± the Knight interrupted, having already made up his mind. ¡°As soon as I meet the final Ambassador I shall visit to speak with her.¡± ¡°I will have the facility prepared for your arrival Lieutenant,¡± Laandi acknowledged ¡°Sir Nako will be fine Laandi,¡± he rewarded her, removing a layer of formality. ¡°May your path be clear.¡± ¡°And may your life be balanced,¡± she bowed her head one last time in farewell. Laandi closed the comms line, confident in how well the meeting had gone. Now she had even more of an excuse to speak with Jasmine. After all, a few lessons in intergalactic etiquette couldn''t hurt negotiations. The comms line faded to inactivity, and for the first time in two weeks Nako was alone. He looked down at the strange pink dataslate he had taken from deep within the Rajavan ship. Flowers grew in spiral tendrils down its outer case in shades of rich red and purple. Rajavans did not decorate their dataslates, and especially not with detail worthy of a politician''s robes. The screen always lit up with the slightest movement, hinting at a secret world within. A world where flowers gave birth to the stars, bathed in a single moon¡¯s light. Nako had never seen such colours in nature, at first he thought the dataslate had been corrupted; slates tended to deteriorate with constant use. Even so, he dared not part with it, for he knew the technicians would love nothing more than to tear it apart piece by piece. He had asked the technicians to leave this one undissected, and even then they had scratched its casing from prying into its battery cavity. He had let Viitoic and his crew dismantle the other marvels found in the bowels of that dreaded ship; the vehicles made of steel, artillery small enough to fit in a single soldier''s hand, dataslates half the size of his own and each one with a different and devious encryption. This dataslate showed him such a tool could be used for the expression of unfathomable beauty. Nako very much wanted to speak with a being who could create such things. Transcripts Chapter 24: Perceptions and Medications ...Oh can it be, The voices calling me, They get lost, And out of time, I should''ve seen it glow, But everybody knows, That a broken heart is blind, That a broken heart is blind... ¡°Geeze Jas, you wanna sing something a little more uplifting?¡± Chamkov commented over his shoulder. ¡°How bout I sing what I want and you keep your eyes on the road?¡± Jasmine replied with a lazy snark. ¡°Oh yeah, let me see, nothing, nothing, road, and what¡¯s that? Oh, nothing!¡± Chamkov bounced with similar lazy sarcasm, his messy man bun following suit on the top of his head. Kat hit him on the arm from the passenger''s seat with her paper fan. ¡°Not so loud, you¡¯ll wake Warren¡­¡± ¡°Bastard,¡± Chamkov whispered, ¡°is he actually asleep?¡± Warren sat slumped behind the driver seat in Chamkov¡¯s ¡®06 Pajero. Sunglasses protected his eyes from the bright summer''s sun; a pillow was jammed underneath his awkwardly placed head. Jasmine¡¯s feet were in his lap as she had claimed the rest of the back seat. An evil grin crept onto her lips as she lifted her bare feet toward her friend¡¯s face, she waved her big toe under his nose. ¡°He''s gooooone¡± she confirmed, returning her foot back to the seat. ¡°How the hell is he able to sleep?!¡± Chamkov sighed. The car shook like the suspension was an added extra, fishing rods rattled in the back cab along with the rest of their camping gear, and although the car¡¯s air conditioner was trying its best, it was no match for the sun¡¯s merciless gaze. ¡°It¡¯s his super power.¡± Kat chuckled. Pushing her glasses on top of her head, pastel pink hair framing her petite face. ¡°Jas knows the words to every song, I never take a bad selfie, and Warren can sleep anywhere.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s my superpower?¡± Chamkov asked, ¡°Putting up with you lot?¡± ¡°You do it so well,¡± Kat replied while she sat to the side, looking over the newspaper. Jas sighed, leaning back on the car door. ¡°You should really call Nadine, you know.¡± Jasmine''s mother, Sandra mentioned as she buttered her toast in the back of the car. ¡°Another investor in your venture would do wonders; then you won¡¯t have to worry about the banks asking for garnitures.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be fine mum,¡± Jasmine smiled, sinking back against her own pillows. ¡°Besides, we want this to be ours. Terrible interest rates and all. Our own B&B out bush, away from the city¡­ Blue skies, big ocean¡­ White sand..¡± She dropped her hand to the side and ran it through the fine granules of beach beneath her. She stood to her feet and looked out at the ocean. Nothing between her and the water but miles of white powder. A swim would be nice, to feel the cool, refreshing water wash over her. Jasmine took a step, feeling her weight sink into the earth. Salted air lifted her dress and kissed her skin. Her hair blew past her face, tickling her nose. She reached up to put the locks behind her ear. But there was no hair. Jasmine woke to the bright lights of the Security room. Sweat beading on her brow, Sigi, Kimiko and Spades had all bundled around her. Living breathing pillows, snuggled in close. Her eyes adjusted to the light and her brain remembered where she was. She hated those dreams, the ones where it was just mundane enough to be convincing. Going to the supermarket, being late for work, standing on the beach. She must have been really tired, the lights were stabbing her eyes more than usual. Jasmine could feel the bags under her eyes and the thin layer of oil on her face. Her arm was throbbing slightly from yesterday. She groaned while sitting up, the wall still an acceptable chair to prop herself against. Only when she moved did the dogs stir. Sieglinde and Kimiko were sitting either side of her; Spades still slept at her feet. Jasmine greeted the girls with a groggy ¡°Good morning¡± and a pat. They panted and stared back happily. ¡°Good to see that you are awake Jasmine,¡± Xant''s voice bellowed out of the unseen loudspeaker. Jasmine chuckled, never a moments peace. ¡°¡®Awake¡¯ is a very strong word,¡± she articulated slowly, blinking her eyes open and closed. ¡°Any chance I could get a few more minutes before you start asking or telling me stuff? I''m not all here yet.¡± There was a pause from the loudspeaker. ¡°Of course Jasmine, take your time.¡± Kat, Chamkov, Warren... Mum. A deep breath was in order. She couldn¡¯t think about them now. Jasmine rubbed her face, Spades by her feet finally woke and rolled his head towards his new partner. All eyes were on her to make the first move. ¡°Fine,¡± she sighed. ¡°I''m up, I''m up.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Xant¡¯s voice echoed in the training chamber. ¡°If you would please come into the office, I will relay the events of the meeting for you.¡± Jasmine nodded. ¡°Okay, okay...¡± she still wasn¡¯t entirely sure how it was the aliens operated so quickly after waking up. She let out a huge yawn before rising to her feet, dragging them toward the office. The dogs following close in suit. She waved her hand over the sensor and stepped into the office. ¡°Morning-¡± ¡°Bark bark! (FOOD!)¡± Kimiko pushed through, Sieglinde and Spades nearly knocking Jasmine over. ¡°What?!¡± Jasmine staggered, trying to balance. Then she saw it. Laid out in the middle of the floor were several bowls of food. The dogs had dived into the bowls of food while Xant stepped back off the black piece of fabric laid on the floor. ¡°Xant? What is this?¡± Jasmine asked. A loud snap brought her attention to the side, Rynard was leaning against the console, dropping the thin glossy strips of Tassai into his mouth. Suk and Arc each had a bowl of the pesto sauce, the spoon was still in Arc¡¯s mouth as he waved. Xant was careful to walk around the dogs and as he picked up a plate untouched by the ravenous quadrupeds. ¡°When I returned to my office after the meeting, I found your eating arrangement.¡± ¡°Oh, God.¡± An embarrassed laugh followed. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry; I would have cleaned it up I swear, if you know, stuff hadn''t happened. I uh, didn¡¯t get any food on the rug did I?¡± ¡°There was a single paw print, but I believe that may have been Sieglinde¡¯s doing and not your own.¡± He offered her a plate of the jerky Ah¡¯tau, she gingerly took a piece and began gnawing at the end. Xant took a piece himself, and for the first time, Jasmine saw him open his mouth. Instead of the small mouth she imagined at the tip of his face, it was like a crocodile¡¯s, with tiny, sharp teeth in a mouth that opened up to his jaw. Jasmine watched as he slid the piece of food in and quickly closed it shut again. ¡°Uh, thanks for the food¡± she replied trying not to stare, ¡°You didn¡¯t need to do all this you know.¡± ¡°I felt it was time that I tried to make you more comfortable in your surroundings,¡± Xant nodded, his chewing didn¡¯t stop him from answering questions. Jasmine then realised maybe she could do the same. ¡°(But, you¡¯ve already done so much.)¡± She replied in thought and to her pleasure it came out loud and clear as she took another bite of jerky. ¡°Not enough, ultimately.¡± Xant explained, ¡°It was cultural misconceptions that caused the confrontation with Duuarn. To ensure it doesn¡¯t happen again I need to ask you more questions about your honour code.¡± Jasmine swallowed her Ah¡¯tau. ¡°Honour code? Like, do you mean morals or laws?¡± she asked. ¡°Both, if it is not too complicated to explain.¡± Xant nodded. ¡±I will be taking Behavioural Study lessons from Dr. Jess to better accommodate your needs.¡± ¡°Uh, okay,¡± Jasmine said, unsure of where even to start. ¡°How about to begin with: No more holding anything from Earth by the throat, got it?¡± She looked over to the three security guards pointedly. ¡°Yes, Your Grace¡± Arc and Suk replied in unison, catching Jasmine by surprise. ¡°Wait, what?¡± She thought she misheard. ¡°It is an Arvas honorific,¡± Xant explained, taking more food. ¡°Females with powerful Freq abilities are addressed as ¡®Your Grace¡¯; males, ¡®Your Honour¡¯ unless there is another title.¡± Jasmine smiled, and a warmth filled the office. ¡°¡®Your Grace¡¯.¡± she repeated. ¡°Makes me feel like a Princess.¡± ¡°But you are a Princess!¡± Arc blurted out, ¡°Isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Of course she is,¡± Suk sighed at his brother, stirring the spoon in his pesto mix. ¡°She would not have been able to command you otherwise,¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about that too.¡± Jasmine apologised to the twin Arvas, ¡°I had no idea I had that kind of power, I had no right to make you hurt the doctor.¡± Arc nearly choked on his second spoonful. Suk¡¯s wing fluttered in awe. Even Rynard was taken aback by the statement. But Xant just smiled. ¡°Are you guys alright?¡± Jasmine queried. ¡°Apologising for one¡¯s actions is a rare proclamation, especially amongst those deemed ¡®Your Grace¡¯,¡± Xant explained, taking the last piece of Ah¡¯tau from the plate. ¡°Actions are seen as an extension of one¡¯s self, to doubt your actions is unseemly.¡± ¡°So no one admits when they make a mistake?¡± Jasmine recalled the Doctor¡¯s arrogance in the hallway. ¡°On the contrary, mistakes happen all the time, but to say you would have rather not taken action at all is almost unheard of.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Huh.¡± Jasmine mused, taking another slow bite of the jerky. ¡°(Humans aren''t like that at all, wishing we could undo actions or taken different ones is a universal thing, ¡®what if I had done this?¡¯ or ¡®if only this had happened?¡¯)¡± Jasmine found it hard to swallow her mouthful of bland protein, ¡°Speaking of doing things, can I have some of your pesto?-¡± Arc thrust his bowl in Jasmine¡¯s direction, pulling the spoon from his mouth for her. ¡°Uhhh, thanks.¡± she smiled, by-passing the saliva covered utensil in favour for dipping her finger in the bowl. Just on the edge, where the spoon had not touched, and just enough to smear on what was left of her jerky. She breathed in the familiar fresh-cut herb scent and took her next bite. She nodded her head as she chewed, savouring the flavour. The other aliens then enjoying the strangely satisfying waves Jasmine produced from the simple act. Arc even began bobbing his head a little in time with Jasmine¡¯s. ¡°See?¡± she mumbled through the food. ¡°Taste is a commutative sense,¡± she turned pointedly to Xant, a pleased grin on her face. ¡°Mmm, back home, at the caf¨¦ I worked in, we had this beetroot and macadamia pesto-based bruschetta with balsamic vinegar drizzled on top, God it was amazing...¡± she reminisced. ¡°Is food texture and taste really that important?¡± Xant marvelled. ¡°Food, important!?¡± she scoffed ¡°It¡¯s essential! Food isn''t just nutrition, it¡¯s a way of life! Chocolate on Valentine''s day! Cake on birthdays! Full on feasts at Christmas! Every human celebration is accompanied by booze and food, we have entire media and professions dedicated to single delicacies! Cooking and food preparation is an art form.¡± With every explanation she became more animated, her Freq sweeping everyone up in the excitement. ¡°Eating the same food, day in day out is considered a punishment too cruel even for inmates, in fact, those on death row are granted whatever they desire for their last meal,¡± she stopped again, as she noticed the surrounding group¡¯s stares. ¡°Uhh, that got dark pretty quickly, sorry.¡± ¡°You have an excellent talent for getting off topic Jasmine.¡± Xant nodded, ¡°And I am sorry for forcing you through such torture as limited ration variety.¡± Jasmine narrowed her eyes. ¡°One day I¡¯ll be able to pick when you¡¯re joking,¡± Clang. Everyone''s attention was grabbed by Kimiko, who had placed an empty bowl in front of Jasmine, sitting beside it and looking up expectantly. The human smiled warmly. ¡°You thirsty girl?¡± ¡°Bark! (Yes please!)¡± ¡°Such good manners!¡± Jasmine praised reaching down for the bowl and heading over to the security office¡¯s food dispenser. Filling the stainless steel receptacle with water for the canine, she brought it back and set it in front of Kimiko. ¡°Right, so what do you want to know?¡± Jasmine asked while she repeated the process with another two bowls of water for the other dogs. Xant pulled his dataslate from his pocket to go over the culture notes Jess had given him. ¡°Perhaps you could explain why seeing the dog in that position caused you so much distress? And how that relates to your sense of duty?¡± Jasmine looked to Arc who shrunk back a bit. She raised a hand to her throat. ¡°Okay, I''m not sure how it is in your bodies, but in this small space you have the main artery to the brain, the windpipe, and in the back, the spinal column.¡± She pointed each one out with a single finger, ¡°To apply any kind of pressure or to raise a blade is almost always a deliberate act of harm. A single nick can kill a human in seconds. It''s the same on a dog, but a dog can''t fight back the way a human can.¡± Jasmine ruffled Kimiko¡¯s fur gently. ¡°Animals only attack people if they are threatened (or desperately hungry) and there is no reason for a human to attack a dog. So, to make the decision hurt an animal in this way, it¡¯s immoral.¡± Her hand paused on Kimiko, and they shared a look of understanding. ¡°People who abuse animals are a special sort of awful (evil).¡± Arc¡¯s wings fluttered, and his shoulders slumped. ¡°But I was only following orders,¡± he whimpered. ¡°Uh! I mean I know you guys didn''t know, but it¡¯s still an inbuilt reaction (response?), you were hurting the dog, I had to protect her.¡± Jasmine explained. Kimiko thrust her head forward into Jasmine¡¯s lap, eager to thank the human for her rescue. Jasmine smiled, petting Kimiko while Xant tapped away on his slate, adding extra notes to the recording. Suk nodded sagely. ¡°You care for your subordinates, admirable and honourable by our code.¡± ¡°It would be pretty grim world if they didn¡¯t,¡± Jasmine commented. Arc turned to Rynard. ¡°You care about us don¡¯t you Capt?¡± Rynard laughed. ¡°Sure I do Arc, ¡®Station wouldn¡¯t be nearly as entertaining without you!¡± Arc¡¯s shoulders returned to a more proud position. ¡°Thanks Capt!¡± ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xant looked up from his dataslate, ¡°You see the causing of pain to others as immoral, would that statement be correct?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she answered firmly, and in the back of her mind wondered why she had to confirm such an obvious matter. ¡°What else would you describe as immoral?¡± Jasmine felt the can of worms pry itself open and seep out into the conversation. ¡°Uhh, okay, let¡¯s see, I¡¯ll start off with the really obvious ones. 1. No murder. 2. No stealing other people¡¯s property, 3. Don¡¯t lie for personal gain-¡± ¡°Lying?,¡± Xant interrupted. ¡°You have contextual conditions?¡± Jasmine felt the can of worms knock over the rest of the display. ¡°Well, lying is... it¡¯s okay if it doesn¡¯t do any harm. Like, spreading rumours is bad or denying you stole something is bad. However, if you ask me if I like your new, (haircut? No, they don¡¯t have hair, doesn¡¯t work.) uh, jacket and I say yes, even if I don¡¯t like it, your feelings aren''t hurt." she shrugged her shoulders, "But it really doesn¡¯t matter what I think of your jacket, if you like it, you like it.¡± ¡°Why would my feelings be hurt if you didn¡¯t like my jacket?¡± Xant asked curiously. ¡°Well, you asked my opinion, and, sometimes if people don¡¯t share the same opinion, they can get insulted or hurt.¡± Jasmine had to stop and consider the ramifications of her own cultural norms. How many times did she lie for the sake of someone else? To say the nice thing instead of the right thing? Did these aliens not care when someone was rude to them? It certainly would explain Dr. Krydon¡¯s dismissive attitude ¡°It''s just polite.¡± ¡°So the teachings of the One flow over into everyday situations?¡± ¡°You know, you never actually told me what the One is,¡± she said, moving her legs, so they didn¡¯t go numb from Kimiko¡¯s weight. ¡°Ah yes, with all the commotion it slipped my mind, to paraphrase, the One is the teaching that your actions affect all those around you, and to consider those consequences and the impact of feeling your actions create,¡± Xant explained happy to share with her a small part of his own culture. ¡°So, ¡®don¡¯t be a dick¡¯ basically¡± Jasmine chuckled. ¡°I think that sums up every religion actually.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a, dick?¡± Xant repeated, disheartened that the teachings had been condensed into such an unflattering sentence. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°Sorry, it means don¡¯t be inconsiderate.¡± Sieglinde, having noticed she was missing out on human attention, came bounding over for her share, face covered in the green and red Aksi¡¯chta. Jasmine was quick to ensure the golden did not, in fact, smear whatever was left of the sauce on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t be unnecessarily mean or vindictive, work as a team¡± she further explained. ¡°Life¡¯s short, don¡¯t waste it being miserable or making others miserable.¡± Xant chuckled, the thought of a human¡¯s life being ¡®short¡¯ was bitter sweet. He looked over his notes again, everything she stated was in accordance with GC law, so far. Her extreme sense of empathy seemed to flow into the human moral code, he decided to probe further. ¡°Is there anything else you feel would cause you to act in aggression?¡± ¡°Well, I suppose.¡± her eyes looked down to the ground, ¡°I¡¯d probably only really get aggressive or defensive if you forced me to do something against my will-¡± Rynard couldn¡¯t help but let out a huge roar of laughter, startling everyone. Spades finally looked up from the food, growling defensively. ¡°Grrrrrrr (Don¡¯t you come near the Namegiver!)¡± Spades threatened, the human calmed him down, Kimko and Sigi hiding behind the human. Rynard just grinned. ¡°Jasi, I don¡¯t think even I could you convince you to do anything against your will.¡± Jasmine frowned, confused. ¡°Rynard, you¡¯re a bloody ten-foot tall dinosaur. You already threw me to the floor like I was nothing, I¡¯m not exactly going to argue if you threatened to do that again.¡± She rubbed her arm up and down. ¡°I¡¯m still sore from that actually.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Xant turned his head. ¡°The pain-management should have numbed your injury completely.¡± ¡°Wait, what? Pain management?¡± ¡°Yes, the armour suit protects you from Nerv-shot and administers pain-depressor chems in the advent of trauma, it is truly impressive you can still feel your wound.¡± Jasmine went pale, and the warmth receded. ¡°Wait, if it hurts this much and I¡¯m on painkillers, just how bad is my injury?¡± She held her arm instinctively. ¡°Your bone has been fractured,¡± Xant replied pushing through the uncomfortable tension. ¡°But Dr. Krydon has a regenerative solution on hand waiting for us in Medical, your wound should be completely restored in a matter of [hours]¡± ¡°[Hours]?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed, ¡°You can heal a broken arm in [hours]?¡± she shook her head, before giving Rynard a smirk. ¡°You really did break my arm you bastard.¡± ¡°Nothing personal,¡± Rynard shrugged playfully, ¡°But if that¡¯s all it takes to break ya, the GC Rangers wouldn¡¯t want you on the front lines anyway,¡± ¡°We both know she would be leading from the back, Captain,¡± Suk spoke up with an air of refinement ¡°Her Grace would make a fine Commander if ever there was one.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m a Princess?¡± Jasmine asked, fluttering her eyelashes and rolling her wrist in a practised manner of elegance. ¡°Of course, Your Grace¡± Suk repeated with reverence. ¡°Well, I already have the name and talking animal companions, might as well accept my fate.¡± she laughed. The room did not laugh with her, in fact, everyone stared in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that translated correctly.¡± Xant began, at least he hoped it mistranslated. ¡°Oh,¡± Jasmine waved her hand ¡°it¡¯s a (pop) culture reference, there is a very popular Princess with my name, and there is this tendency to have Princesses being able to communicate with animals-¡± ¡°No, not that. You said, ¡®you might as well accept your fate¡¯,¡± Suk stared ¡°As if it were a choice.¡± ¡°Isn''t it?¡± Jasmine asked innocently. Xant gripped his dataslate, he should have known better than to conduct a culture examination after only 3 hours of educational material. His pause was long enough that he lost control of the conversation, and was left to listen in as the Arvas guard suddenly spilt out his confusion. ¡°You don¡¯t just shrug off your fate!¡± Suk¡¯s wings lifted from his back, and Arc shifted to the side, ¡°Everyone is given a calling in their life, and it is your duty to uphold that fate to the best of your ability, I as a guard, the doctor as a purveyor of knowledge and the Captain as a warrior. You are a Princess, to lead your people is not a calling you can accept with indifference!¡± Jasmine did not appreciate being shouted at so soon after waking up, especially over a throwaway comment. She still wasn¡¯t exactly sure what he was so upset about, but he was upset enough that he was trying to defend a point she didn¡¯t know she was contesting. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯re the one who called me a Princess,¡± she reminded him, ¡°It wasn¡¯t my life choice to be abducted and studied, I¡¯d be back home pleading with banks, trying to convince them that letting a bunch of 20 something''s open a B&B is a worthwhile investment. I wouldn¡¯t be leading anything but my own life.¡± Jasmine snapped. She hated being tired, she didn¡¯t have her patience when she was tired. ¡°I think what Private Suk is trying to say-¡± Xant intervened ¡°-is that it is better to accept the life you were designed for with as much enthusiasm as possible, rather than receive it with apathy.¡± The doctor nodded his head, hopeful that his concise explanation would help return the conversation to its jovial tone. It did not. ¡°Accept the life you were designed for?¡± Jasmine¡¯s tone was graced with a repulsion Xant had not heard before. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me, it wasn¡¯t your choice to be a doctor you were literally created to be a doctor?¡± Xant took a step back. ¡°Does this disturb you, Jasmine?¡± The look of disgust said it all. ¡°On several levels actually.¡± The human replied. A nausea consumed the room. It was not the knot of anxiety that they were used to, but a physical sickness. No one was concerned with hunger, Xant felt he might never eat again. ¡°(Fuck it¡¯s too early for this,)¡± Jasmine cursed, doing her best to rationalise the new and horrifying information. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me, you guys are... designed from birth to fill out societal roles? So you¡¯re only a doctor because someone else decided that¡¯s what you should be?¡± ¡°Is that not how it is done on earth?¡± Jasmine winced at the mention of her home, it reminded her just how far she was removed from it. ¡°NO,¡± she answered defiantly. ¡°What I become is MY decision, my choice.¡± ¡°But, how do you know what is your calling?¡± Suk asked, seemingly in doubt of his role in life after only a few words from Jasmine. ¡°You don¡¯t, that¡¯s the whole point of life, to find your calling, to work and to strive to find out what makes you happy!¡± Jasmine turned to Xant, desperation in her eyes. ¡°Xant, are you happy? Do you even like being a doctor?¡± ¡°Yes Jasmine,¡± he answered, hoping to put her at ease ¡°I find the life of a researcher very rewarding.¡± ¡°But if you had the choice would you still be a researcher?¡± she asked. Jasmine¡¯s eyes were searching again, he had noticed she did this when she was distressed. ¡°(Would you chose to live like this?)¡± her mind¡¯s voice spoke concerned. Then it dawned on him. She had demanded to use her speech instead of the Zenthi Frequency so she could choose her words. She was pushing herself to the limit to gain her Rights aboard the station. She was angry at anyone who tried to restrain the dogs. She rejoiced at the multiple selections for food. She would rather give up her life than become a prisoner. Every time she had acted out, it was in response to constraint, either for herself or others. Freedom, it seemed, was essential to the human. She would not do well in the Rangers at all. Xant put his dataslate away in his jacket pocket, before lowering himself. Sitting opposite Jasmine on the floor, becoming a part of the meal arrangement ritual. ¡°Our lives are not as tightly regulated as you make it seem.¡± Xant comforted, resting his hands on his knees. ¡°I was designed for a role in the sciences, yes, but I had an aptitude for discovery and learning. I would have been useless in an engineering or programing field, and I was given the choice of what I wanted to devote my research skills to.¡± the doctor explained, revealing more of his life to her. ¡°Jasmine, if given the option to choose my life role again, I would still choose the life of a researcher. It was the fascination with flora that pulled me from my clan collective to become my own mind. It was my drive to study that lead me to Esaander, and it was my decision to become your caretaker.¡± Xant tried to emphasise the choices he made to her, that he was here on his own accord and not because of his benefactor''s insistence. He would still be on Jothram if that were the case. ¡°You chose botany,¡± Jasmine recalled, from their first true conversation together. She sighed, processing yet another dystopian reality. Reproduction on the corporate level, breeding people to fill jobs. The thought made her skin crawl. Spades raised his paw to her knee, the green metal tag clinking from his collar. Sieglinde and Kimiko both looked up sadly to their human. Jasmine unconsciously ran her fingers through their fur. They were an uncomfortable truth sitting right in her lap. She decried the designing of people and genetic tampering when humanity had done the exact same thing to their canine companions. The darkening pot being angry at the already black kettle. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± she apologised half heartedly, unwilling to explain her revulsion any further. ¡°No, it is I who must apologise again, it was foolish of me to try and conduct an interview with so little experience.¡± Xant offered, but Jasmine¡¯s attention was now on her furry companions. Silent exchanges of concern and care. ¡°Doctor,¡± Suk stepped forward, remembering his position as a guard. ¡°Perhaps we should escort Her Grace to Medical?¡± ¡°Ah yes, the regenerative solution, Jasmine are you ready?-¡± The human was already on her feet. The dogs all stood, tongues wagging and waving their tails excitedly. ¡°Come on guys, we¡¯re going for a walk,¡± she announced. ¡°Bark!Bark!(Walk!)¡± ¡°Bark!Bark!(Walk!)¡± ¡°Bark!Bark!(Walkies!)¡± Rynard pushed himself off the console and rolled his shoulders. "Well, that was fun while it lasted," He groaned "Arc, Suk!" "Yessir?" "Yes, Cap''n?" "I''ll be escorting Jasi and the doctor up to Medical, which means," he gave a snort, "You guys get to clean up!" Transcripts Chapter 25: Formal Etiquette Laandi was as poised as ever, dressed in a formal plum dress and cape. The dress hung like a Greek toga, fastenings hidden under the fitted cut cloak, the draped costume trimmed with a black vinyl that matched her black gloves. It was a strange mix of medieval and catwalk fashion, not bad, just strange. ¡°Ah Xant, Miss Howe, welcome,¡± the Director greeted, her voice bouncing with delight. ¡°I thank you for indulging my sudden request.¡± It was hard to be angry when she seemed so genuinely happy to see them, so Jasmine settled for cautious. ¡°It was a reasonable enough request,¡± Xant nodded in return as he stepped past Laandi into the room. ¡°We had just finished administering the medication for Jasmine¡¯s injury. Your timing could not have been more auspicious.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Laandi concurred. Laandi and Xant continued to exchange pleasantries, as Jasmine followed Rynard in his search for another comfortable wall to lean on. ¡°Rynard, can you keep an eye the dogs this time?¡± the human asked. ¡°Just the one?¡± was his reply, she wasn''t sure if that was a joke or not. ¡°Two eyes, please,¡± she answered just to be sure, before crouching down to give her furry charges a pet each. ¡°Now I know I said we would go for a walk, but you guys will have to wait a little longer ¡®kay?¡± Sieglinde looked up forlornly, ¡°Whiiine (no walk?)¡± ¡°Not yet, I have to talk a little bit,¡± she assured the golden. Spades had already laid down, and Kimiko was too interested in sniffing the door frame to listen to the human. ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant called to her, already sitting at Laandi¡¯s desk, the Director standing behind it waiting. ¡°Coming,¡± she answered, taking one final breath to calm herself as she took her seat. Laandi swept her cape aside as she sat on the other side of the desk, her gloved hands folded neatly and calmly. ¡°Now then, I have some wonderful news,¡± the Director announced proudly, ¡°Uleesia station will be hosting a private Guest and he has expressed interest in conversing with you Miss Howe.¡± ¡°Me?¡± she gulped. ¡°Private Guest?¡± Xant¡¯s ears stood on end surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t think news of Jasmine''s existence would leave the confines of Esaander communication.¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± Laandi chuckled ¡°I had to inform the client of our progress and he is more than pleased with our results. Sir Nako will be joining us to discuss the long term effects and ramifications of extending his contract with Esaander, and by extension, us.¡± ¡°Sir Nako?¡± Xant¡¯s ears lowered. ¡°Laandi, could the correspondence not have waited until after the completion of the Citizenship application?¡± ¡°Sir Nako has a right as a private contract owner to be updated with the progress of his venture. In our meeting we confirmed both confidentiality and renegotiated the contract to include the prevention of Esaander¡¯s envelopment during the inevitable, exponential growth period the company will likely encounter,¡± she placated, her voice soothing and calm. ¡°Xant your concern is admirable but not required-¡± A Freq-Pulse, short and sharp, shot from Jasmine, grabbing everyone¡¯s attention. The human closed her eyes and took another calming breath. ¡°Sir Nako,¡± Jasmine began, spacing her breathing, thoughts and words. ¡°He issued a contract about me?¡± There was a silence between the three, without realising it Jasmine had taken control of the conversation away from Laandi. The Director was compelled to answer her question. ¡°Yes, His Honour Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako,¡± Laandi explained. ¡°He was the one who found you aboard the Rajavan ship. While he is a member of the Galactic Council Rangers, the contract he issued was a private one, meaning that he, and he alone is privy to the results. Sir Nako is, in many ways, your beneficiary Miss Howe, and he has requested an audience. As Executive Director it is my job to facilitate a comprehensive conversation between both parties.¡± Laandi dipped her head ever so gracefully, hands spreading apart at an even pace, a gesture the human couldn¡¯t quite place but understood the significance in the action itself. The Director then put forward her proposal. ¡°Miss Howe, if you are willing I will coach you in conversational etiquette.¡± Jasmine lowered her own gaze in consideration. Laandi had used many unfamiliar but important-sounding terms and if Jasmine did not speak up then the Director would have been content in glossing over those terms as ¡®understood¡¯. She at least understood ¡®private contract¡¯ but without context it meant very little. The grey alien had tried to ¡®negotiate¡¯ with her before with values Jasmine couldn''t comprehend, and she didn¡¯t want to repeat their last encounter. ¡°Did Sir Nako give any idea of what he wanted to talk about?¡± ¡°He did not say specifically, general conversation might be all he is after, to understand a new Creator species as Xant and I do.¡± ¡°(Understand a new Creator species)¡± Jasmine was once again reminded of her position as a fascinating anomaly, as different and as alien to them as they were to her. That a simple conversation was something to prepare in advance for, she would need to conform to their standards, instead of the rules being understood by both parties as she was used to. This day wasn¡¯t getting any better. ¡°Laandi,¡± Xant spoke up, retrieving his dataslate from his jacket pocket. ¡°This exchange will be invaluable for Behavioural Studies, I will be taking notes as you instruct.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Laandi nodded her head. [These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi] ED Laandi: It is 1120 [hours] the 28th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation dynasty. I, Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi requested a meeting with the Creator Level Subject and my Head of Research Dr. Xant. Please, introduce yourselves. Subject: Miss Jasmine Anne Howe. DH Xant: Dr. Uru¡¯nav Xant, Head of Research. ED Laandi: The topic of today''s agenda is the Instruction of Formal Official Etiquette by myself to the Subject Miss Howe. Dr. Xant will be taking notes as per research practises. ED Laandi: Your manner of speech when discussing Sieglinde¡¯s schedule was acceptable, but there are a few mannerisms we will need to correct. When speaking in the negative try to avoid direct eye contact, turning your head to the side like this. [Note: Laandi demonstrated, lowering her gaze and eyelids, chin almost touching her shoulder. Subject Jasmine then copied the action to the Director¡¯s approval.] ED Laandi: It conveys a polite submission to the speaker, which you should be conscious of when speaking with the Commander. Subject: Because he is a higher ¡®rank¡¯ than me? So don¡¯t make eye contact at all? ED Laandi: It is for the best, direct eye contact indicates you are on equal speaking terms. Most Commanders have a badge of honour upon their shoulder, look to that when speaking. Subject: Alright, I¡¯ll try. ED Laandi: Next is your hands, try to keep them in a visible position at all times, together if possible, separated can be seen as planning to take action during conversation. Not necessarily rude, but off putting. Subject: Oh, () DH Xant: () What is it Jasmine? Subject: I get it now, I always thought it was weird you guys don¡¯t do anything else while talking. ED Laandi: When you are conversing there is no room for other actions¡­ what other actions could possibly be taken? Subject: Uhh, anything? () Playing on your dataslates, fixing your clothes, drinking tea. (Twiddling your thumbs, whatever...) [Note: While normally very cooperative, Subject Jasmine had suffered major injury for her species and was irritated from pain discomfort. This coupled with less than desirable sleeping arrangements lead to a less than compromising disposition. Subject Jasmine later specified that the combination of pain, tiredness and hunger makes all humans irritable and aggressive.] Subject: Okay, so are there any other rules when talking to him? ED Laandi: Other rules? Subject: I mean should I answer only when spoken to? Does he talk first or should I? Do I use his full name every time I answer his questions? The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ED Laandi: It appears we will be getting our own lesson on human etiquette. Very well Miss Howe, () how would a human conduct a meeting with an official? Subject: Well, I guess it would depend on where we are meeting. If we are sitting, if one person is sitting and the other standing, wow, now that I think about it we have a tonne of rules. [Note: Subject Jasmine confirmed that Humans are very social creatures with a multilayered society, where greeting formality differs greatly depending on the social status, age, geography, economic value, and even gender of the other party. Even going so far as to have different greeting saying for specific times of day and times of the year.] ED Laandi: Please, explain away. Subject: Well, I¡¯ve never greeted an officer in a formal setting, but usually I think you stand at their arrival, and shake hands. Xant, if I could have your hand? [Note: Subject Jasmine stood implying that I should participate in the demonstration of a formal greeting. She extended out her right appendage, so I in turn extended my left, the closest appendage to her, this was already a misstep by my part.] Subject: Oh, () I mean your right hand. DH Xant: Is it of special significance? Subject: Yeah, you shake with your right¡­ most humans are right-handed, it has something to do with putting down your weapon and grasping hands as a friend. I¡¯m not entirely sure why, it¡¯s one of those things that¡¯s so old you don¡¯t question it. [Note: Subject Jasmine then proceeded to grasp my right hand with her own. A human¡¯s manipulators are quite warm to the touch, each digit can apply differing pressures. The end of each digit is topped with a fine claw layer, Subject Jasmine stated that the grooming state of these claws can be an indicator of status and taste. The condition of the hands is very important.] Subject: Make sure it¡¯s firm, too loose and you''re seen as weak, too tight and you come off (like an asshole) as overbearing or unnecessarily hostile, if you''re close you can place a hand over theirs, but that''s more a well-wishing thing. [Note: Subject Jasmine held my hand in a manner that was not uncomfortable, but demonstrated a small measure of the human''s strength. She raised and lowered both our appendages in the ¡®shaking¡¯ motion, raised once, twice, then released. This is the formal standard.] Subject: You need to exchange greeting of course, ¡®hello Commander how are you¡¯ (¡®I''m fine sir and you?) ¡®Good good, now then onto this meeting¡­¡¯ [Note: Subject Jasmine explained that acceptable greetings can be any of the following: hello, hi, hey, how¡¯s it goin¡¯, good morning, ¡®morning, good day, good afternoon, good evening. The usage of these greetings initiates an almost formulaic dialogue that is expected to be held before the reason for the meeting can be brought up, Subject Jasmine refers to this as ''small talk''.] Subject: Eye contact is prefered, but not constantly, that can get creepy, there is usually beverages or food as well, unless it''s all about paperwork, then yeah, I¡¯d usually have my hands on my bag or something. Oh! The host has to offer the beverage, even if the host was the one who called the meeting, and then there''s accepting and declining the drink. DH Xant: The eating arrangement? Conversation and consumption happen at the same time? Subject: Yeah, like we were back at Security. DH Xant: That is a completely normal situation for you? Subject: Okay not completely normal, but the closest I''m ever going to get out here I¡¯m assuming. [Note: Subject Jasmine expressed enthusiasm with nutritional sciences. Stating that she had studied it before her Rajavan abduction. Nutritional sciences, in Jasmine¡¯s own words, ¡®isn''t just nutrition, it¡¯s a way of life!¡¯ ] ED Laandi: Conversation and consumption are completely separate in polite Arvas society, it would be seen as very boorish. Subject: Huh, I''ll be sure to pass that on to human ambassadors, () (no welcoming feasts for you guys). Then if I am representing the human race, I can¡¯t do it while wearing this, I¡¯d prefer something more like what you¡¯re wearing Director. ED Laandi: Clothes like mine? Subject: Yes, more natural fibers, do you have anything like cotton? ED Laandi: Natural fibers? This robe is worth almost [15 years] worth of contribution credit. I can however organise a fabricator for some simple robes. Subject: Am I going to be looked down upon because of what I wear? [Note: Subject Jasmine has been wearing ¡®Standard Citizen Coverings¡¯ copyrighted by Esaander corp as well as ¡®Standard Citizen Armour¡¯ designed by Kyu-Kage Development corp. and licensed by Esaander corp. The cultural convention of coverings and status was one apparently deeply ingrained in human society, a familiar parallel between both Human and Repair Strain Qzetillian society.] ED Laandi: Until your Citizenship is formalised there is little we are able to do about it. Nako however is a very forgiving Knight, he was the one who found you after all, he would be the most understanding of your circumstance- Subject: Wait a minute. Sir Nako, Sir as in a Knight?! () ED Laandi: Technically, Sir Nako is two ranks above ¡®Knight¡¯, Captain Rynard could have retained his ¡®Knight¡¯ title had he stayed within the GCR. Subject: That¡¯s really cool. [Note: Subject Jasmine commented that humanity shared the concept of ¡®knights¡¯ however her society outphased them into law keepers and soldiers respectfully.] ED Laandi: You however, Miss Howe, until the citizen request has been finalised, are not able to claim a title, a minor infraction, but one that can be easily passed over considering the circumstances. Subject: So, if I am not a ¡®Citizen¡¯ how should I present myself? Can I wear a combination of armour and clothes? ED Laandi: I beg your pardon? Subject: Uhh, (I just thought it would be cool) ED Laandi: Jasmine, wearing armour would present yourself as a competent combatant and that is an entirely different set of protocols. Ones I am not entirely familiar with, sword etiquette, entourage order, challenge ethics, Freq types. For the sake of simplicity, Citizen clothes will suffice. Subject: If it''s possible then, I¡¯d like something that isn¡¯t so tight fitting. A jacket like Xant¡¯s, my size, white blouse, black skirt half way down the thigh. What options do guys have for shoes? I¡¯ll need a razor too, unless waxing is available? ED Laandi: I¡¯m not sure I follow, Miss Howe Subject: (Aliens aren¡¯t going to care about your hairy legs Jasi,) Nevermind. [Note: Human¡¯s grooming goes beyond most other species would consider competent, into what many would consider mutilation. Subject Jasmine detailed such actions as removing unwanted hair, painting skin, cutting claws and even piercing flesh. Subject Jasmine showed me the indents on her ears where she had this piercing procedure done, she even tried to demonstrate with my medipen. I declined the demonstration.] ED Laandi: There is also the manner of Sieglinde and the other Users, they should be kept separate for the initial meeting. Subject: What? Why? ED Laandi: They could be perceived as an entourage, and I fear we do not have the time to go into the politics of it. Subject: Rynard said something about me having an entourage in the elevator, is that the same thing? DH Xant: The Captain was being... Uncouth in the highest degree. Subject: How? ED Laandi: An entourage defines you as a Princess, a being of political power, and the dominant romantic interest of those around you. Subject: Oh¡­ oh that dick! () Ha ha ha ha¡­ (I¡¯ll get him back later, heh). [Note: Subject Jasmine explained to me that while she appreciated the occasional joke at her expense, something she and her close friends did often, he took it a bit further than what she is used to. She also commented on a human term close to the manner of Captain Rynard¡¯s joke, saying ¡®only my mum and Katy can call me a bitch¡¯.] DH Xant: It was quite uncalled for, he is growing a bit too familiar. Subject: But wait, Arc and Suk were calling me a Princess and ¡®Your Grace¡¯ does that mean they¡¯re?... DH Xant: No, Arc and Suk calling you ¡®Your Grace¡¯ is a matter of formal respect and admiration, if they were to start calling themselves your entourage, without your permission no less, it would be cause for concern. Subject: Will Nako have a entourage? ED Laandi: He will have his Captain with him but I suspect your conversations will be in private. Subject: But you and Xant will be with me right? ED Laandi: No Jasmine, that is why I am willing to coach you in etiquette- Subject: () NO. DH Xant: Jasmine? Subject: () I am NOT going to have a private meeting with an alien soldier. Especially with this crash course in etiquette. I¡¯m not going to be able to remember everything, and what if I (fuck up) screw up and offend them or they offend me? (I don¡¯t want to hurt him.) DH Xant: I am afraid there is little we will be able to do if his honour decides to ask for a private session. Subject: Why? () Why can¡¯t you just refuse and say ¡°I¡¯m sorry but the human is weird and isn¡¯t comfortable without her caretaker?¡± DH Xant: Because having the approval of a GCR Commander, especially an Arvas Commander, will help with the validation of your Citizenship. Subject: () Why does that matter? ED Laandi: It is politics Miss Howe, your application will look more favourable with the backing of an Arvas Knight. It is a prestige factor we cannot do without. They expect a certain degree of respect from GC Citizens and denying him that would lead to more troubles on your path to Citizenship. Subject: But why?? () Is there something special about an Arvas (Grasshopper) Knight that is different from someone like Rynard? ED Laandi: Oh my, Xant, perhaps it is best to stop your recording now. It seems we will be changing subjects from Behavioral Studies to Politics. [Session Ended] Xant turned off the recorder and listened in to what would be lesson for himself as well. He only knew the bare bones of politics, it wasn¡¯t his field of study or interest and impacted very little on his daily life, Laandi was the one that ensured such things didn¡¯t interrupt his research. Getting to observe Laandi explain and have Jasmine ask such questions would be invaluable to his newfound task of Behavioral Studies. The Director turned to the human, giving Jasmine her full attention as she tried to answer the Subjects requests as precisely as possible. ¡°Miss Howe, the Arvas were the last Creator species to join the Council. They were responsible for helping us defeat the Rajava and bringing about the Salvation Dynasty. Even in our present Rejuvenation Dynasty, the Knights that served and those who follow in their calling are honoured.¡± ¡°But the Rajava are still around¡­¡± Jasmine hissed under her breath. ¡°As are all the mistakes of the Painful Dynasty, it will be a long time before the universe corrects itself,¡± Laandi demonstrated the lowering of the gaze, looking at her hands before returning back with bright eyes. ¡°But with your cooperation we can correct those mistakes much sooner. Now then, Miss howe on the subject of attaining fabricator clothes-¡± ¡°The Painful Dynasty,¡± Jasmine interrupted, she remembered Xant saying something about them going through a millennium of tyranny. That she would never have to suffer at their hands again and Laandi stated that she and they were the same, what had happened? ¡°Just how long were you fighting the Rajava (evil brainsacks)?¡± she asked, concerned that she knew so little about the aliens who had abducted and tortured her. Laandi and Xant exchanged glances, unsure which of them should answer her. Xant raised his hand to Laandi, he felt it was better that he deliver the distressing news to Jasmine. ¡°Most sources...¡± Xant began, lowering his ears and dataslate ¡°Estimate we have been fighting the Rajava Original Strain for just over 800 [years].¡± ¡°Not all records are conclusive however,¡± Laandi added, it was her area of expertise after all. ¡°Some records state we have been fighting for nearly [880 years] but GC analysts say that is closer to ¡®Divided Dynasty¡¯ unrest periods than actual war.¡± Jasmine sat there stunned. 800 years of war? 80 years of unrest? ¡°How?...¡± she began, as once again, a million questions flooded her brain, how could they be fighting the same enemy for 800 years? How could they sustain such a fight? How did it happen? Why did it happen? Would Humanity be forced to join the war? Jasmine took a deep breath, and cleared her thoughts, and decided to start at the beginning. ¡°...What happened during the ¡®Painful Dynasty¡¯?¡± Transcripts Chapter 26: Painful ¡°The Painful Dynasty was...¡± Laandi glanced at her hand, ¡°Is, a tragedy I wish I could spare you the knowledge of, but it if you are going to be stepping onto the galactic stage then it is imperative that you are informed.¡± The Director reached for her dataslate, and brought up the history logs. The lights dimmed in the large boardroom as the images transferred onto the holo-display on the table. Laandi focused the hologram on the center of the map, every planet was alive and bustling with activity. Jasmine gasped as dozens of star systems filled the floating image. Rising from her stool to admire the technology, she had to stop herself from reaching out to touch it. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful.¡± Jasmine whispered, awed. While the power of Jasmine¡¯s Freq was chaotic at best, Xant could not deny the highs were just as powerful as the lows. A joy and gentleness, a weightlessness swelled in his chest, a sensation of wonder he had not felt since he was a youngling. He knew however that it was not to last and steeled himself against an unknown reaction. ¡°This was the Galactic Space at the end of the ¡®Prosperity Dynasty¡¯,¡± Laandi announced, a solemness in her presentation. ¡°And this¡­¡± the Director shifted the image to one that was desolate, one or two planets in a star system had lights and not even to the brightness of Jasmine¡¯s own Earth. It was so empty. ¡°Is the Galactic Council Space today, barely 100 billion souls now stand where 4 trillion once lived.¡± The numbers made Jasmine feel numb, there were only 7 billion Humans on Earth, how could she even comprehend the weight of 4 trillion dead? The Human turned to Laandi, her voice soft, sympathetic. ¡°How? How could you lose so many?¡± ¡°It was the karmic reward for our efforts.¡± Laandi rose from her desk, reciting the mantra of Karmic balance. ¡°The Universe is a continuous balancing act. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; we are rewarded for our active works, and punished for our idleness¡­¡± Laandi found her place beside Xant, the dataslate in her hand as she started the archive document. The program detected the inflection in her voice and changed the holographic display accordingly, photographic planets and ships ran their routes like clockwork, precise and orderly. ¡°The Galactic Council had spent thousands of years engineering the perfect society, bodies and mind molded to their tasks to such an efficiency their rule was never questioned. The Qzetillian elite became obsessed with this perfect efficiency, obsessed with obtaining the perfect balance. Producing their successors to be ever more effective at governing the expanding civilization. They began removing ¡®unnecessary¡¯ biological appendages, different coloured skins, fins, legs, arms, then they started removing organs, veins, nerves. So the Qzetillian governing class transformed from their Heavens Dynasty forms-¡± An image of an aquatic, amphibian-like people graced the projector. Pale blue skin, speckled in places, short tails, fins on forearms and legs. With smooth oval heads of every shape and size. ¡°To what we now designate as the ¡®Original Strain¡¯ Qzetillia, the Rajava.¡± Upon the mention of the Rajava¡¯s name the hologram shifted to reflect the command and Jasmine swallowed a scream. The Qzetillia had engineered themselves to be nothing more than grotesque heads, grey, sickly and covered in veins. Mouths gone, organic limbs replaced with mechanical ones, like engorged, malformed ticks. These were the monsters who had ripped her from her friends, her home, her life. ¡°The galaxy was living in a time of untold prosperity, so no one questioned the transformation, until we encountered the Zenthi¡­¡± The holo-display thankfully shifted once more, to biological records of the Zenthi. Several different body types laid out before the human¡¯s eyes, she picked out Xant¡¯s build, second from the right, he really had been designed. ¡°They were welcomed into the fold as Modifiers but ascended to Creator status when they designed a translator that didn¡¯t just convert speech but the very intention of your words. It was a revelation to the hundreds of species living in coexistence, new ideas sprouted, communities flourished, but-¡± Laandi¡¯s voice lowered with despair ¡°-The ruling class felt nothing, they had become little more than organic machines, built to control the flow of productivity. They decided these new ideas were... disrupting that flow.¡± A planet came into focus, almost at the centre of the map, covered entirely by city lights in hexagonal patterns. Rings of satellites encircled the planet, ships flew in constant streams to and fro, a crown jewel of civilisation. ¡°Clentesia, the central hub of the entire galaxy, where it all began. The ideas of living outside your designation, to be more than your productive worth, to follow the One and care for others around you, lead to a cease in productivity. The Rajava, the ruling ones, deliberated, and decided the best course of action was to eradicate those who refused to follow the directive and recycle their matter into those who would. The Rajava released a pathogen into the air of a population who had never encountered disease. 38 billion gone in a single rotation, Genecenters replaced the living populace the with the unthinking vessels they designed.¡± Laandi let the statement hang in the air, allowing Jasmine a moment to breath. ¡°The people refused to work so they recycled them?!¡± Her voice cracked, almost as if she were in pain at the very thought of it. The human was once again giving out the noxious waves, Rynard had crept out from the back wall to watch the light show, and to ensure Jasmine didn¡¯t become any more agitated; he still had a job to do after all. ¡°It was their way,¡± Laandi was quick to shift the image from Centesia back to the galaxy map. ¡°Those who did not follow the directive would have their very makeup stripped and re-purposed into something new. The Rajava of Clentesia thought this was for the betterment of the universe, so they began to implement it on every planet.¡± Jasmine watched in horror as one by one planets went dark, only for the lights to return with the same hexagonal pattern as Clentesia. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°A few brave geneticists fought back, designing embryos that were immune and other viruses to counteract the eradication plague. The galaxy became embedded in a war between those who felt and those who did not.¡± One by one the great collection of city-planets fell dark, and ships from the outlining world¡¯s descended upon the central cluster. ¡°The new council, formed of the worlds beyond the central hub, destroyed what the Rajava revered most, the means of production,¡± Ships, as big and grand as any sci-fi flagship hovered in orbit, burning the surface. Glassing the hexagonal lit planets. ¡°And in kind, the Rajava destroyed what we held dear. Our lives. Genomes sabotaged, weapons created to cause pain. A never ending arms race to be the most resilient and destructive. Plasma cannons, neuronal degenerative diseases, warrior-class Sulin and Zenthi became brutal killing machines-¡± Another image flashed on screen, one the spitting image of Captain Rynard and the other a twisted manifestation of Xant. A Zenthi with arms big enough to crush cars, ears turned into horns, feet with talons, a demon and a dinosaur standing side by side. The human¡¯s arms fell to her sides, her jaw fell open and her eyes wide. The pulses fell silent, replaced with an ever increasing coldness. Xant was frozen in place, his fingers going numb. ¡°Years and years of fighting to survive, no one escaped the Rajava¡¯s systematic cleansing of the galaxy. We lost the longevity of our predecessors, we lost many planets, species, our ranks dwindled to a mere twenty thousand ships.¡± Laandi glanced up at the wall behind Rynard, 11 slates hung on the wall, four at the top, six in the middle, two on the bottom row, each frame held a different style of alphabet. A tribute to the original surviving Creator, Modifier and User species. ¡°We were but 11 left from hundreds, fighting a losing war against an uncaring machine and pushed to the edge of unknown space. If not for an unexpected meeting with an Arvas explorer ship, civilization as we know it would have ended there. The Arvas were our salvation, an empire of spacefaring warriors who used their very emotions as weapons. They could command armies of thousands and would die in the millions for their sovereigns, and they were on our side.¡± The galaxy map became overrun with the tiny lights. The Rajava unable to overcome the sheer numbers of the Arvas forces. ¡°But even with this miracle, the universe had one last cruelty to bestow upon us. The Rajava had deleted the entire system''s data of everything that wasn¡¯t them. The DNA of a hundred different sentients had been lost forever.¡± ¡°Even with the addition of the Arvas genomic library, we have less than 20,000 stable genome scripts, and only 15% of those are capable of accepting new mutagen-¡± Laandi stopped, not because she was finished, but because it felt as though her chest would collapse in on itself. Tight and hollow, her body being pulled into nothingness. It was oppressive, hopeless, Laandi felt her hands begin to tremble, her head snapped to Xant, the Zenthi¡¯s hands were shaking as well. The human stood there, her fists clenched, eyes wide and glazed, focused on the hologram. Xant¡¯s throat ran dry, he wanted to reach out to Jasmine, to speak up, but he felt he would collapse if he did. ¡°(Rynard...)¡± Jasmine¡¯s inner voice was barely above a whisper, ¡°(Get out,)¡± she pleaded ¡°(Get everyone to safety... )¡±. The Captain did not need to be told twice, he bounded across the room, scooping up the Director and the doctor in each claw. ¡°OPEN!¡± he roared toward the door, which slid open with emergency speed, allowing Rynard to evacuate with his fragile cohorts. ¡°CLOSE! LOCKDOWN!¡± He ordered the door, it slammed shut, its hydraulics locking the door without the usual charm. But they were not safe yet, Rynard ran down the hall, not even slowing down until he could feel the Zenthi in his arms begin to protest. ¡°Captain! Stop!¡± Xant demanded, ¡°Your velocity!-¡± ¡°Not until we get to the elevator Doc!¡± Rynard snapped, bouncing with every high-powered step. He skidded to a halt at the end of the hall, dropping his co-workers at the door. Xant stumbled to his feet, his ears on end and hands still unable to keep still. ¡°What was that?...¡± Xant asked, trying to steady himself. ¡°Freq-bomb,¡± Rynard answered simply, ¡°and not the usual ¡®blinding rage¡¯ bomb either-¡± ¡°BARK!BARK!(RUN! GOOD RUN!)¡± Kimiko announced her presence to the aliens, panting as she sat down, completely oblivious to the panic around her. Xant reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial of depressors he had picked up from the Medical wing. Laandi was shaking even more than himself; she was quiet and trembling, but at least she was standing. She would need the first shot. ¡°We should go to Medical,¡± Xant advised, readying the does with unconscious ease, ¡°It could be a matter of permanent damage if we stay here-¡± And then they heard it. Faintly, but unmistakably through the walls. Jasmine was screaming, a sound so chilling it was as though she were dying. Xant¡¯s hands dropped the pen and medication. He couldn¡¯t breathe, he couldn¡¯t move, he felt like his heart and face were on fire. Rynard, too, weathered the cascade of a pulse so strong he felt as though he were standing next to a Prince¡¯s battle cry. Kimiko and Xant¡¯s ears both flattened on their head. The dog backed away, trying to make herself small. ¡®(No¡­)¡¯ Kimiko¡¯s inner voice whispered on the Zenthi Frequency, ¡®(Not that Howl¡­)¡¯ ¡®(Friend,)¡¯ Xant asked, lowering himself as Jasmine had done all those days ago. ¡®(Why does the Namegiver howl?)¡¯ ¡®(Sadness, great sadness, pain¡­ The long sleep.)¡¯ Kimiko laid down on the ground, trying to curl up into herself. ¡®(Grandpa¡­)¡¯ -*- The Howl. Namegivers don¡¯t howl. They chirp like birds. Many words for many things. Nice sounds, happy sounds, laughter. Even in angry shouts they still chirp. It had been a long time since Spades had heard it. But he knew that sound. He had heard it many times in the bad sand. ¡®(Sei nicht traurig¡­)¡¯ Friend Sieglinde tried to help Namegiver Jasmine. She nudged and licked the Namegiver¡¯s face but she was only pushed away. Sieglinde didn¡¯t know the Howl. ¡®(Freund Spades! Namegeber Jasmine traurig¡­ Wie kann ich helfen?)¡¯ she asked him. He could not tell her. He had to show her what to do. Spades laid down beside Jasmine. He did not get in her face. He did not bark or whine. He would wait for Namegiver Jasmine to come to him. She Howled again. That long, drawn out cry that made her body shudder. That made her face red. That made it hard to breathe. Spades waited. Sieglinde waited too. Namegiver Jasmine was collapsed over the white stool. They waited a long time. But the Howl stopped. And then she just whimpered. Spades put his head in her lap. The Namegiver¡¯s hand was slow and heavy. But she petted him. ¡°(I¡¯m sorry)¡± The Namegiver spoke without her voice. ¡°(I didn¡¯t mean to scare you...)¡± Spades nudged her. Namegiver Jasmine stroked his head. ¡°(They¡¯re gone¡­ Katy, Chamkov, Warren¡­ they didn¡¯t deserve that.)¡± She hid her face, but her voice still spoke. ¡°(I¡¯m sorry Spades, Sigi, I don¡¯t think I can get you back. I don¡¯t think Oskar and Beau...)¡± Jasmine began to cry again. ¡®(Oskar?! Namegeber Jasmine traurig wegen Oskar?!)¡¯ Sieglinde began to panic. Spades didn¡¯t answer her. He knew now why the Namegiver Howled. Beau was gone. Beau. His partner. Friend. Namegiver. Beau was gone. When a Namegiver Howls, a friend is gone and never comes back. You never forget the Howl. Transcripts Chapter 27 : Forward Rynard returned with the last of the staff members he had carried out of the habitation wing, carefully placing the unconscious bodies into the emergency recovery pods scattered in the observation room. Krydon¡¯s Medical wing was now in a state of emergency; seven staff members in total had been on rest break when Jasmine had let off the weapons-grade pulse. Most of them had been resting so the Captain was bringing in comatose patients in desperate need of cooldown meds. Krydon and Pa swiftly checked over the new patients, administering meds where possible before Nu evaluated their condition. Xant had been hastily recruited to administer and monitor the more stable staff members, including some of his own research division. The Doctor realised he had not stepped foot into his own department since they had implanted Jasmine with the Zenthi translator. Familiar faces laid still in recovery pods, Norais Foorlan, Tyda Fen, Bramon Vuulsi. Xant only knew their names and areas of expertise; until now his only interaction with them had been to issue work orders and congratulate them professionally on their accomplishments. How had he lived so long in such an isolated existence? He wanted to know now, how did they decide what professions they desired to pursue? Did they have plans once their benefactor debt had been repaid? Did they have plans to stay with Esaander for the length of their residence? Laandi was right, he had changed. He no longer sought to distance himself from others and the world around him, his passion for his work had returned now with more vigor than ever before. Xant ran a hand over his poor ears, they were beginning to ache from constant flexing. ¡°That¡¯s the last of ¡®em¡­¡± Rynard muttered, standing over Xant¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You alright Doc?¡± Xant nodded, folding his hands behind his back and taking a moment''s reprieve from attending the Freq wounded. ¡°I am doing much better than I anticipated,¡± he confessed, after the initial shock his body had only held a small quiver, he was still able to function and had not succumb to VEFS. ¡°I must be building up a resistance.¡± ¡°And how is the Director?¡± the Captain asked, looking over his shoulder at the other doctors checking up on patients. ¡°She is stable.¡± Xant answered, leading Rynard over to the second patient room where Laandi was sitting up in her pod. ¡°She is speaking now, but her hands are still trembling.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Rynard snorted, accepting the doctor¡¯s prognosis. He stopped before the door, not quite ready to head inside. ¡°Neither of you should be standing,¡± he stated, voicing his concern. ¡°I can still feel an aching in my chest.¡± A single claw tapped his chest plate slowly. ¡°And If I¡¯m still feeling the aftereffects, then you shouldn¡¯t be able to do what you¡¯re doing now.¡± Xant took the Captain¡¯s words into consideration, he would need to examine his own neural growth rate. The doctor had been in close proximity to the human with constant minor and major bursts for an entire [week], experiencing no less than three major cases of VEFS. Duuarn had gone through major neural changes after one pulse. Xant couldn''t perceive a scenario where he could have avoided any sort of reconfiguration. ¡°Laandi mentioned that my personality had been altered, she framed it as a positive development.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say, you¡¯ve talked more to me in the last few days than you had done to anyone else the previous 4 [years] on the station.¡± Xant had to stop, looking up at Rynard. He had never considered Rynard took his well being into his itinerary. ¡°Was my seclusion that noticeable?¡± Xant asked sincerely. ¡°You were borderline creepy Doc,¡± Rynard scratched a spot on his neck, looking toward the second patient door. ¡°It was like you were one pulse away from becoming stiff.¡± The Captain was there to ensure his physical safety, but to know he kept tabs on his mental state as well? Was that why the Captain felt comfortable making obscene comments around him and Jasmine? Thoughts of Jasmine¡¯s condition derailed his curiosity toward Rynard¡¯s actions, he reached out for the door sensor. Adding before they stepped over the threshold, ¡°Thank you for your honesty, Captain¡± The door slid open automatically. Laandi was sitting up in the pod waiting for their approach, her hands twitching in her lap ever so subtly. Kimiko had curled up on the edge of the bed, tail slowly sweeping over the old Qzetillain¡¯s feet. ¡°Captain, Xant,¡± she greeted, nodding her head with respect, her face beaming with pride and gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your decisive action. Without it we certainly would have lost valuable assets, including myself.¡± ¡°Just doing my job, Director,¡± Rynard replied humbly, Xant nodded his head in turn. ¡°We only did what we thought was necessary.¡± ¡°What was necessary,¡± Laandi repeated with a sigh of accepting defeat. ¡°I thought it was necessary to inform Miss Howe, and look what it has brought us.¡± Sweeping her hand in a grand gesture, the Director gazed out the window to the chilling chaos of the Medical wing. ¡°Has Isk arrived yet?¡± she asked expectantly. ¡°No, Director,¡± Xant replied. ¡°He will be here soon then,¡± she related, smile still on her lips as she lowered her head. ¡°No doubt he will want my resignation, and I¡¯m inclined to give it to him.¡± ¡°Director?!¡± ¡°Laandi?!¡± The Director chuckled, happy with the reactions of her subordinates; she would be missed. ¡°Perhaps not right away then,¡± she assured them, weighing the decision in her mind before speaking out to her associates. ¡°It will take time to organise a replacement, someone with more vigor and forethought.¡± But until then, she was still in charge, they looked to her for leadership and guidance. ¡°There will be major repercussions for Miss Howe.¡± Laandi postulated to the pair. ¡°As much as we wanted to ignore it and contain it, she is too dangerous as she is. Isk was right to put the precautions in place and yet we strove to dissolve them. I will be contacting Lieutenant Commander Nako about his contract; it can no longer be held as private and must be negotiated to government. We need military assistance.¡± ¡°Will we still have time,¡± Xant spoke up, holding out his last glimmer of hope, ¡°To finish the Citizen tests before the Commander''s arrival?¡± ¡°You''re quite insistent, Xant,¡± the Director folded her fingers together, surprised. ¡°But there is no longer any doubt, Miss Howe is a Military Grade organism, and we do not have the proper facilities to hold her.¡± ¡°Then we will restrict her to the Security wing until the translator has been designed and-¡± Xant continued to push his agenda, the oath he had made to himself for the human¡¯s benefit but Laandi interrupted with the hard truth. ¡°The Lieutenant isn¡¯t going to wait that long.¡± She shook her head, closing her eyes as the scene played in her mind. ¡°The moment he senses her, she¡¯s going to be transferred to the closest Ranger branch. Sir Nako was already enthusiastic about speaking with her, His Honour wouldn¡¯t want to be confined to this Citizen bubble.¡± Xant couldn¡¯t argue with Laandi¡¯s logic, a military Commander confined with Citizens for long periods of time was prone to outbursts. Not unlike those Jasmine had been throwing around. The Doctor could not keep ignoring the facts, Jasmine was military in every aspect but personality. She moved effortlessly in armour, commanded the respect and loyalty of everyone around her, and wielded a Frequency of unnatural power. He could not hold her to standards she had already and ultimately eclipsed, and as he was now, Xant would not even be able to follow in her shadow. The realisation had been inevitable, and yet it still left him with sense of loss. Their careers would diverge and they might never meet again. ¡°Then allow me to be the one to inform her,¡± he proposed, clasping his hands in front of him in an effort to appeal to her logical side. ¡°Since the Captain and I are the only ones capable of withstanding her pulses.¡± Laandi pondered before giving her answer, ¡°Very well, but only if you are willing to follow the necessary protocols.¡± ¡°I will abide by any terms necessary,¡± Xant replied vehemently. Laandi accepted the reply and turned her attention to Rynard, her smile turning into a smirk. ¡°Captain, you are to escort Dr. Xant to Security and issue him with Military Grade armour casing.¡± The Captain grinned widely, standing to attention at the exciting new orders. ¡°Yes Director!¡± ¡°Military Grade armour?!¡± Xant was shocked. ¡°Isk stipulated that we take every precaution necessary, and if you are to be interacting with a Military Grade organism it is good protocol to have the right equipment.¡± Laandi elaborated. ¡°Do we have the budget for that Director?¡± ¡°If I recall correctly, Isk syphoned a considerable amount of department funds for Security reasons,¡± The Director smiled slyly, ¡°I can¡¯t think of a more responsible use of that credit than to protect the company''s most valuable asset.¡± Xant was stunned, the company''s most valuable asset? His own set of Military Grade armour?! Such equipment was worth more than some entire departments. Laandi¡¯s smile grew into an amused chuckle. ¡°I trust that shouldn''t be too difficult for you to organise Captain?¡± ¡°Not at all Director,¡± Rynard nodded his head a little too quickly. ¡°Come on Doc, it¡¯s gonna be fun suiting you up!¡± ¡°Speaking of protocols,¡± Laandi moved her feet from underneath the large pup. ¡°Xant, I think it would be best if you were to escort the User out of the Medical wing.¡± Xant took a moment to come to his senses, acknowledging Laandi¡¯s request. ¡°Certainly Director, we should be able to quarantine her in the Security wing whilst negotiations with Jasmine unfold.¡± Xant lowered his head, to be eye to eye with the seemingly bored dog. ¡®(Friend?)¡¯ Xant addressed her. Kimiko snapped to attention immediately, looking at Xant inquisitively as Sieglinde had done on their first meeting. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡®(Friend?)¡¯ The dog answered. ¡®(Would friend like to go for a walk?)¡¯ ¡®(Walk?! Yes Friend!)¡¯ Without prompting the Akita jumped down off the pod¡¯s mattress and stood wagging her curved tail before the pair of large aliens. Xant looked around him, the eager Captain, the knowing Director and the enthusiastic User, all of them ready to take the next step. His ear stalks rose and he folded his arms behind his back. ¡°We¡¯d best be on our way then. Thank you, Laandi¡± ¡°May your life be balanced Xant,¡± offered her departing words, and Xant returned them with sincerity. ¡°And may you find your place with the One.¡± It had been a long while since Xant had been anywhere near a fabricator capable of running such complex programs. It was, after all, a weapons manufacturer. Tubes of liquid matter pumped into the enclosed machine, piece by piece growing a suit of armour with fully realised military functionality. A carapace hard enough to deflect a segmented sword, and resistant to most corrosive compounds, reinforced to multiply the strength of the wearer almost five-fold and equipped with enough combat stims to ensure his body would still be moving long after his brain had lost consciousness. Citizens were not physically built to be able to wear such armour, and those that could were those who had visited black market surgeons out on the fringes of the GC reach, raiders and pirates. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Rynard assured Xant, dismissing all the evidence to the contrary. ¡°You¡¯re still standing after a Freq-bomb that gave me the jitters, so the only thing we¡¯ll have to worry about is muscle tear,¡± the Captain demonstrated a combat strike of his right claw, launching his arm through the air. ¡°Don''t do anything strenuous until we¡¯ve given you proper strength training, else the suit might rip the tendons from your skeleton.¡± ¡°That is truly horrifying Captain.¡± Xant observed. ¡°It happens,¡± Rynard shrugged, ¡°The suit would dose you up so you won¡¯t notice though, which is the dangerous part,¡± the Captain rolled his shoulders and flexed his arms, displaying the raw strength of his physical make up. ¡°I¡¯m going to get suited up myself, break the old armour in. Notify me when your suit¡¯s finished.¡± Rynard didn¡¯t wait for a reply, he took his leave to the private room of the Security department, leaving Xant and Kimiko alone. It wouldn¡¯t too long before the fabricator finished meeting his specifications and who knows how long Rynard would need getting into his combat gear. The Doctor had only one conversation with the Users so far, and he felt it was time he got to know them, and the relationship they held with their human Namegivers a bit better. Xant made himself comfortable on the floor and looked the dog in the eyes as he had seen Jasmine address them so many times before, a hand ready to pet her should the dog require it. ¡®(Friend, I am Friend Xant, friend of Namegiver Jasmine)¡¯ Xant greeted, trying to remember the user''s speech patterns. ¡®(Friend Xant?)¡¯ She sniffed the alien ¡®(You do smell of the Namegiver, Friend, Friend Xant)¡¯ The strawberry blond Akita sat down and tilted her head to the side. ¡®I am Friend Kimiko¡¯ Kimiko, the name was a pleasant familiar rhythm, Uru¡¯Nav, Kimi¡¯Ko, if Xant had not known better he would have thought she were Zenthi. He thought he would start off with one of the dog¡¯s more knowledgeable subjects. ¡®(Friend Kimiko, what are your Namegivers like?)¡¯ ¡®(My Namegivers?)¡¯ The dog began to open its mouth in an excited expression. ¡®(My Namegivers are good Namegivers, they give me many names. They chose me the same time they chose their cub!)¡¯ Xant pieced this together with what Sieglinde had told him, Humans ¡®choose¡¯ their User counterparts and then treated them as though they were the same social standing regardless of intelligence or status. The more names a dog was given indicated the level of perceived acceptance. ¡®(How many names do you have, Friend Kimiko?)¡¯ ¡®(They call me Kimiko, ¡®Ko, Big-sister, Sister-Ko, Motosuwa, and Silly dog!)¡¯ Xant wasn¡¯t sure if that last one was supposed to be a compliment but it was interesting that the Humans would consider the dog ¡®sister¡¯. Xant had not spoken to any of his own siblings since his departure of the Growcentre it was strange to think that a world away Users and Creators thought of themselves as ¡®family¡¯. ¡®(How many Namegivers in your pack Friend Kimiko?)¡¯ The dog stopped and tilted her head ¡®(There is Grandma-Hikeka Ma-Kyoko, Pa-Haru, Sis-Tomoko!)¡± Her ears drooped, ¡®(No more Grandpa-Yuuki)¡¯ Kimiko had mentioned ¡®grandpa¡¯ during the howl, the doctor hoped it would give him some insight. ¡®(Friend Kimiko, what is the howl?)¡¯ Kimiko¡¯s ears laid flat and she lowered her head sadly. ¡®(The Namegiver Howl, it is sad, very sad.)¡¯ ¡®(Why is it sad?)¡¯ ¡®(Namegiver Howls. I heard Ma and Grandma Howl. Grandpa had gone to sleep. He did not wake, he did not breathe. He lost his scent. No more walks, no more treats, no smoke.)¡¯ Xant knew Jasmine would be upset at learning the history of the GC but, the reaction she produced was even stronger than the memories of her abduction. That all encompassing fear he got to feel first hand, it was nothing compared to the Pulse he had felt in the habitation quarters. She was grieving; those she had lost and were close to, it was likely they were dead. A sorrow so strong it was painful, his very being shuddered at the thought. Xant wondered, would Jasmine be the same? Would she still be pleasant to converse with? Would she still have her patience after performing this howl? Princes and Princesses were known to stiff themselves in the heat of unrelenting battle, to freeze their Freq impulses to the point of only being able to broadcast one emotion. It was safe to say the human could easily stand in their ranks. ¡®(Friend Kimiko, do Namegivers recover from the Howl?)¡¯ ¡®(Yes.)¡¯ The dog replied, ¡®(It takes many days, and many sleeps, but my Namegivers can say Grandpa¡¯s name without sadness now.)¡¯ ¡®(I understand,)¡¯ Xant nodded, reaching out to touch the furry creatures head. ¡®(Thank you Friend Kimiko)¡¯ She let him pat her awkwardly, he was still unsure how much pressure he was supposed to apply for a suitable interaction. ¡®(Thank you Friend Xant!)¡¯ The private door slid open without ceremony and the Captain stepped out in full plate glory. He stood extra foot taller in the gunmetal blue suit, proud and menacingly. Small interlocking plates mimicked the overlapping growth of Sulin scales as though he were encased in a second skin. His claws were coated coated in steel, his helmet opened just at the jaw so all Xant could see of the Captain was his teeth. The rest of his face hidden behind a blank plate of steel, six cameras like Arvas eyes mounted on the sides. The insignia of the Galaxy Council Rangers had been scrubbed free from his chest plate but his serial number was still emblazoned on his left shoulder. C2-E4-203080. Creator level, Sulin, Equalizer class level four, Manufacturer code. A ragged green and white cape was folded like a sash over his right shoulder, covered in acid spots and sword burns, battle damage worn with honour. Xant stood and stared, he had not seen a Sulin Ranger in full armour since his time on Jothram. It brought back a lot of unpleasant memories of his own. Kimiko hid behind Xant, unsure of the hulking beast that smelled like the larger Friend. ¡°That¡¯s not the usual reaction I get when wearing this,¡± Rynard joked, striking another pose, arms stretched above his head. ¡°I have seen Ranger regalia before Captain.¡± Xant informed him. ¡°When you were fending off Vassals eh?¡± Rynard pushed. ¡°Yes.¡± Xant answered, looking over to check the fabricator¡¯s progress. ¡°Its ready Captain.¡± Rynard authorised the release of the suit, pink fluid vacuumed out of the fabricator, and blue coolant pumped in. The fabricator opened to reveal the suit flayed, ready to wear. Xant hesitated, there was one more thing military armour had over Citizen armour. The needles that hooked the nervous system into the suit''s operating system were larger. It was alright for most Military built organisms, they didn¡¯t feel pain, Xant would have to dose himself up before he let the [2mm] gauge needles pierce the main nerve points in his body. Rynard noticed the hesitation. ¡°Are sure you wanna do this Doc?¡± Rynard asked as Xant reached for his medipen. ¡°I can go and speak to Jasi, no need to put yourself in harm¡¯s way.¡± Xant administered the last of his depressor medication in preparation, folded his hands behind his back and sighed deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve been in harm¡¯s way before Captain;¡± Xant replied facing down the hardware, ¡°I made the decision to see this through a long time ago, to the end or to mine.¡± The Captain gave an amused snort. ¡°Any oaths I should know about?¡± ¡°None that should put me in harms way with you around¡­ Capt.¡± -*- Xant stepped up to the intimidating suit and slid his hands slowly into the splayed out hardware. It was cold. His skin shuddered against the unactivated leather, unused to the temperature change as he stepped into the armour. Xant laid his tail down and rested a moment, bracing himself before tapping the sensor. The suit¡¯s blue light activated, the servo batteries hummed as they powered the circuits for the hybrid suit; chitin and tendons alone could not support the power armour. The steel plates clamped and folded over Xant¡¯s body in sequence; one by one the needles pierced his skin, connecting his nervous system to the internal hardware. The doctor grit his teeth, allowing his vocal cords to rumble with discomfort, his ears flicking up with each consecutive needle. The pain soon passed however, for with every pinch came the soothing warmth of chemical assistance. Xant¡¯s entire body jolted forward as the back plates connected, the thick plates sliding over like scales, protecting the brain that grew along his spine. When the final plate locked into place, the suit¡¯s rigidity released. Xant was no longer a prisoner in the steel, but one with it. The shock almost had him fall over, but Rynard was there to catch him. A single claw was enough to hold the Doctor up. ¡°Stand first before you try to walk!¡± The captain laughed heartily. Xant could only nod in reply. It wasn¡¯t like a set of gloves or even the Citizen armour he was used to in the field. Military armour was something else; his feet didn''t feel like they were touching the ground, like he was floating several [centimeters] above it. He shifted his weight to regain his balance, everything was out of place. ¡°I¡¯ll get you to take a few steps before I cover your snout,¡± The captain prompted, taking a few steps back himself. ¡°Slowly now, slide your feet across the floor.¡± It was embarrassing. Xant was a fully grown, capable sentient having to learn how to walk again. But he refused to give in to indignation. He outstretched his arms and tail for bearings as he inched his foot out toward the Captain. Slowly, steady, reminding himself that any sudden jerk could tear his physical makeup. Rynard was nothing but supportive. ¡°Not bad, not bad, now lift your feet, like you''re walking on a gel mat.¡± The Doctor shouldn''t have been surprised, but the Captain was awfully good at giving directions. Pretending he was standing on a rest bed was almost exactly what it was like wearing the armour. Xant wasn¡¯t sure he would ever get used to it, and wondered if all military engineered organisms were naturally adept at it. He took his first steps, the suit making a loud clang when connecting with the floor. The weight of his resting foot didn¡¯t match up with his own perception, another anomaly to get used to. ¡°Good good!¡± Rynard chuckled ¡°We¡¯ll be able to deploy sooner than I thought! Now do a lap around the room.¡± Xant hesitantly followed the Captain''s orders, trying to get into a rhythm that would allow for his natural step. Rynard watched for the first quarter circle, before giving another bout of encouragement. ¡°See? Nothing to worry about at all! Right, now pick up the pace, you have until I open the glass to get back to the front of the room.¡± Xant had little time to protest, the Captain was already across the room. Rynard stood in front of the glass safe. Uleesia¡¯s Station had very little weaponry; there was very little traffic out in their empty part of reclaimed space. In the [9 years] he had spent in his employment with Esaander he had never had to turn away a smuggler¡¯s ship let alone a full brunt pirate attack. The Rangers in the area were good at their job. Now he got to open the case, break the glass a little and let loose. His claws itched to hold a weapon, the memories of holding his melter, waiting to board a rogue ship were an adrenaline rush in itself. But he only authorised the stun rifle. He didn¡¯t really want to dispose of Jasi and he figured the bulge brains would be mad if he sprayed her body with acid. She was to be contained, not cleansed. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Xant¡¯s cautious voice broke Rynard from his thoughts. ¡°...going to take a weapon Captain?¡± Rynard noticed the slip back into formalities. ¡°If Jasi¡¯s gone into a VEFS state, as a Princess would, then she could have turned herself into a walking bomb.¡± the Captain explained, checking over the gun¡¯s batteries. ¡°Her stiffed nerves will only be able to give out the pulse that Freq-fried her system. Don¡¯t matter if she¡¯s happy or angry to see us, we¡¯re going to feel a pulse like that Freq-bomb again, and this,¡± he tapped the barrel of the high voltage delivery system. ¡°Is the only thing that¡¯s gonna stop her.¡± Xant''s ears quivered with worry. ¡°But the armour, isn¡¯t that supposed to protect us from the pulses?-¡± ¡°Yeah, the stunner¡¯s just in case,¡± the Captain reassured Xant, ¡°Hopefully she¡¯s calmed down and back to Citizen levels.¡± Rynard¡¯s toothy grin reappeared as he secured the charging gun to his left arm. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get that helmet on ya and go say hello.¡± Transcripts Chapter 28: The Best of Us. The Habitation wing was eerily empty. Doors ripped open from their sliders, Rynard¡¯s claw marks scratched into corners and floor tiles. Xant followed after the Captain¡¯s footsteps, observing the destruction the former Ranger had left during the emergency. As the Captain and doctor approached Laandi¡¯s office they began to hear Jasmine¡¯s voice. Thankfully not the dreaded Howl, but something Xant had not heard from her in [weeks]. ¡°She¡¯s singing¡­¡± he marveled. ¡°Is that a good or a bad thing?¡± Rynard asked, hoping for clarification. ¡°She has not sung since the enclosure,¡± Xant confessed. ¡°She explained that it was a means of expression, to communicate emotions,¡± ¡°Huh, so we¡¯re in for some major pulses.¡± ¡°Most likely¡± Rynard took point as they got closer. This was the first time Xant was able to hear the human sing with a translator, while the sound files he had listened to had translated the words, it was something else to hear it with Freq entwined. It rose and fell with an even rhythm, enticing yet stung with a bitterness even filtered through the military hardware. As they stood outside Laandi''s door he couldn''t help but take a moment to admire the synergy. Rynard activated his comm link. ¡°Lockdown deactivate,¡± he ordered the computer. Red lights changed to blue and the hydraulic locks hissed. ¡°Executive Director Salhor Laandi.¡± The door cheerfully informed them. Rynard waved his tail over the sensor and they heard Jasmine''s song as the door opened. The human¡¯s presence was muted thanks to the suit; she felt like a normal Citizen. What was more of a shock was the state of Laandi¡¯s office. Xant had been in abandoned ruins less decrepit. Clothes and plates were strewn across the white-tiled floors, furniture upended and scattered, food smeared and splattered in places. Jasmine¡¯s armour stood empty next to the wash facilities. Her unitard tossed on the floor by its feet. The Captain and the doctor were dumbfounded. ¡®(Friend Xant!)¡¯ Sieglinde¡¯s jovial voice bounced upon the Zenthi Frequency and along with her four-legged step. The golden retriever bounded toward them, but skidded to a halt when she saw the walking fortresses. ¡®(Friend Sieglinde)¡¯ Xant greeted, pulling off the claustrophobic helmet to calm the creature. His senses were immediately assaulted by the stench of ethanol; Xant¡¯s worries for Jasmine¡¯s condition increased. ¡®(Friend Xant)¡¯ Sieglinde¡¯s happy smile returned upon seeing the friendly alien¡¯s face. She stood in front of them, one of Laandi¡¯s decorative scarves tied around her neck, a fetching pale green silk. ¡®(You can help the Namegiver!)¡¯ She spun in a circle excited. ¡®(The Namegiver gave a sad howl, Friend Spades is sad too, I tried to help them¡­)¡¯ ¡®(Yes,)¡¯ Xant comforted Sigi ¡®(I am here to help them, but we must be gentle, understand friend?¡¯ ¡®(Yes Friend, Come! The Namegiver is this way!)¡¯ Sieglinde trotted to the end of Laandi¡¯s office, over and behind to a stool that had been pushed in front of the grand window. Jasmine¡¯s head was barely visible, Spades¡¯ tail swept from side to side from underneath a deep wine cape, draped over the stool like some sort of primitive shelter. Jasmine¡¯s voice filled their air, and now, given a moment to listen, Xant could finally make out the words she chose for her melody. ¡°Treasure maps, fallen trees, operator please, call me back when it¡¯s time...¡± ¡°(Treasure maps fallen trees operator please, call me back when it¡¯s time)...¡± ¡°Stolen friends and disease, operator please, patch me back to my mind,¡± ¡°(Stolen friends and disease, operator please, patch me back to my mind,)¡± It wasn''t just Jasmine''s voice singing, but the echo of another, harmonised with her memory. Xant had only heard such a thing once before, during his time with Zenthi One priests. She called from her memory another voice, distinctly male, the same detached, almost lost emotion in his song. It spoke through her translator as clear as if he was the in the room with them. Jasmine sat on the floor with her back up against the stool, Spades¡¯ head in her lap as she petted him, singing to the window of stars. ¡°Oh can it be?¡± (Oh can it be?) ¡°The voices calling me, they get lost in out of time.¡± (The voices calling me, they get lost in out of time,) I should¡¯a see the glow but everybody knows that a broken heart is blind... (I should¡¯a see the glow but everybody knows that a broken heart is blind¡­) That a broken heart is blind¡­ (That a broken heart is blind)¡­¡± It was strange to hear a human song through the translator, to understand the weight of the emotions weaved into the words. The melody was different, alien, the notes were unevenly drawn out in places and a single word could hold more than one note. Xant doubted he would be able to recall the song after only one listening, but the Freq would stay with him always. Jasmine stopped singing, her song finished and with it came a throbbing pulse. Thud. Thud. Thud. Xant¡¯s chest ached. His insides ached with a dull but all-encompassing pain, as though someone had a hold of his internal organs and was slowly crushing them from within. The song had blocked this pulse, or, she was redirecting the pain with the melody, either was plausible. He considered returning his head to the confines of his helmet, but she spoke before he could complete the action. ¡°I was wondering when you guysss were coming, figured I¡¯d just wait until you did¡­¡± She made no attempt the move from her position, comfortable on the floor. Content to stay staring at the stars. ¡°Sssorry I made a bit of a messsss,¡± Jasmine waved a hand above her head gesturing to the unkempt room, flicking her wrist with an uncharacteristically slack motion. Her arm jangled with the decorative arm bands Xant knew to belong to the Director. ¡°It started with the mojitos and then I got hungry and the dogs were hungry¡­¡± She paused briefly, struggling to think straight. ¡°Do you think Laandi will mind I went through her wardrobe? She¡¯s got some good ssstuff but I¡¯m not a size zero so none of it fit.¡± ¡°Did you try on the Director¡¯s clothes?¡± Xant asked softly, not wanting to upset Jasmine further. He looked to Rynard, who gave him the nod to move forward. ¡°Key word there is try,¡± Jasmine chuckled, tiredly ¡°I got it half way up my thigh and realised it was a lost cause. The capes are awesome though, I like the blue one.¡± She picked at the hem of the gossamer cut blue cloak. ¡°It''s all fluttery and ssstuff, I like blue, managed to make a toga out of one of the capes.¡± Xant dared to take a step closer, peering over the stool. Jasmine had taken one of Director Laandi¡¯s politician capes and had wrapped around her body in a hasty manner. Presumably it was a human fashion, wrapping not only around the body but tied in a knot behind the neck, her right leg exposed up to her thigh... She turned to face him finally, her blue eyes now bloodshot, swollen and puffy. Her lips curved into a wide grin, pointing at him. ¡°You got a sssssuit!¡± she exclaimed, a waft of ethanol on her breath. ¡°It looks sooooo coooool!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xant nodded, inching closer to sit on the edge of the stool. ¡°After you unleashed your Freq-bomb, the Director decided it was necessary I be properly equipped to handle any more of your pulses.¡± ¡°Freq-bomb? Yeah, I¡¯d call it that,¡± The human let her head slump on her shoulder, eyes unfocused, blinking slowly. ¡°Once a human starts wailing, it will make anyone else in hearing range want to cry, and that¡¯s without Freq.¡± She chuckled, as if the dire situation they were in was amusing. ¡°I figured you guysss would be in trouble if you stayed in the room, strong emotions being a weapon to you guysss.¡± She sniffed and returned eye contact. ¡±If it¡¯s any consolation, I won¡¯t be letting a burst off that strong for a while a loooong while, I¡¯m on empty ha ha.¡± Jasmine¡¯s speech was slurred, she kept repeating phrases, her inner voice was strangely silent. ¡°Empty?¡± Xant queried, unfamiliar with the turn of phrase. ¡°Yeah, I let it all out!¡± She threw her hands up in the air, bearing her teeth in a wide, Rynard-like grin. ¡°Cried and cried until there wasn¡¯t anything left, now I¡¯m just, emotionally exhausted? Or numb, numb¡¯s a good description.¡¯ She raised a hand to rub her throat. ¡°Throat hurts like hell too, although that could be the moonshine mojitos, it¡¯s like drinking sandpaper...¡± Ethanol and min¡¯chta, Xant¡¯s nose still twitched with the strong scents. How much did the human consume? At a glance he saw at least 2 bottles of the antiseptic, quick calculations put her digestion rate at [300mls]. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xant moved to sit beside the human, kneeling down in the metal suit proved to be a challenge. The scraping of steel on ceramic wasn¡¯t pleasant to anyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Kimiko said the Howl was for when a Namegiver loses a friend, were you grieving Jasmine?¡± Sieglinde sat happily between the pair, nudging Jasmine¡¯s face upon mention of her name. ¡°Yes¡± Jasmine looked down to the happy dog, returning her own dopy smile. ¡°Sigi told me, when she was abducted, Oskar, her owner, was with her. He was holding her when they got engulfed in the light.¡± She patted the golden retriever''s head, her own slumping over on her shoulder. ¡°If the Rajava picked her up, they must have picked up Oskar, they would have picked up my friends as well¡­¡± The smile faded away as Jasmine explained her thought process ¡°Sigi is from Germany, Spades here is from the old US of A and Kimiko, pretty sure she''s Japanese. Why would they bother to pick up three dogs and a human from different corners of the globe? If they''re using us for organic parts, then there¡¯s no way they wouldn¡¯t have picked up Katy and the boys.¡± She exhaled, a pulse of pain ebbed through the room. ¡°But they¡¯re not here, and neither is Oskar, or Beau or any of Kimiko¡¯s owners. So they¡¯re either dead or worse.¡± Even though she had no more tears, it was still painful to say. ¡°So, yeah, the first time I am proactive and start asking questions I find out my friends are probably dead at the hands of genocidal psychopaths, heh just my luck huh?¡± Jasmine¡¯s smile cracked, her face twisted in agony. ¡°Fuck, they didn¡¯t deserve that though, no one deserves that¡­¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Xant wanted to curl into himself, he wanted to lie down and let the nothingness consume him. Jasmine sniffed again, burying her face in her hands. Rynard¡¯s heavy footsteps broke her descent into despair, he gave a short pulse of his own, dispersing the Freq the human accumulated. ¡°Rynard?¡± she blinked, ¡°Did you get taller?¡± She tried to force herself into levity. The Captain looked down at the Human and returned the smile. ¡°Nah, the room got smaller,¡± That made the human laugh, the emptiness vanished, replaced with a warm tickling of familiarity. Spades and Sieglinde both responded to the human¡¯s mood, and Xant was left wondering if their sense of humour was warped from conception or experience. ¡°Thanks Rynard, I needed that.¡± The Human reached for a bottle, sipping the unnerving concoction. Xant watched the physical reaction take place, the tiny hairs on her skin stood up on end and she shuddered, taking a short sharp cough in turn. ¡°Fuck this stuff¡¯s awful!¡± ¡°Then why consume it?¡± Xant asked. ¡°It¡¯s a tradition of sorts,¡± the human elaborated ¡°Drink until you don''t feel sad anymore, remember the good times we had together, rather than dwell on the loss. It''s a tradition as old as the drink, passed down from generation to generation, in the cultures that drink anyway.¡± She took another swig for good measure. ¡°So, I guess I better ask, what do you guys do to honour the dead?¡± ¡°Their names are recorded, their belongings and body passed onto the state, affairs taken care of-¡± Xant began. ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean the legal shit, I mean,¡± the human once again pause to form a sentence, ¡°What¡¯s an alien funeral like?¡± Xant and Rynard looked to each other. The Captain shrugged, leaving Xant to begin explaining again. ¡°For Citizens, you are given the day off to mourn your companions passing,-¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± a look of confusion glazed over Jasmine¡¯s face. ¡°Is there supposed to be more?¡± ¡°Jesus Xant, that¡¯s sad,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Not exactly surprising though,¡± ¡°Not much different in the Rangers either,¡± Rynard shrugged. ¡°All though we do get to do a lot of chants and let off a little steam. Extra time in the training rooms. Names and numbers are shouted over a loudspeaker and we welcome the new recruits with the calling.¡± ¡°I suppose there¡¯s not much I can do for them out here,¡± Jasmine thought out loud, rising up from her position on the floor. The cape fluttered behind her, falling gracefully down her body as she swayed to her feet. ¡°No body to bury, I can¡¯t remember what you¡¯re supposed to do for a body in space, I think it falls under maritime law, a funeral at sea.¡± She turned her head to the window, caught in the stars as her voice carried on with her thoughts, ¡°An ocean of stars. All I can do is have a toast and say a few words¡­¡± Jasmine raised the drinking container in her hand up above her head and announced to the collection of witnesses before her. ¡°Katy, Chamkov, Warren. You were the best friends a girl could have,¡± she closed her eyes reciting their names, speaking to the memory of her friends. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being a pain in the arse. Save a spot for me up there, I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ll be, but the least I can do is buy you a drink when I get there¡­ ¡± she smiled, a confident sigh escaped her nose, if she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. For her friends, new and old. ¡°Katy, you were my best friend since primary school, without you and my nona I never would have become a chef. You were always encouraging, striving to be the best you could be and wanted me to do the same, it was your (*****) to open the B&B, I¡¯ll make it happen Katy, even if I have to open it on a moon somewhere,¡± she raised the bottle and took another swig. Xant¡¯s ears stood up on their ends as a shiver ran through his body. The translator rung in his brain, a shot of electricity he had never felt before. Xant shuffled closer to the human, ignoring the pain for the sake of a new and unknown concept. He wanted to ask what the new word was, what new idea that humanity possessed that couldn¡¯t be found within the GC. But, the time was not now, Jasmine¡¯s heart began to race, a warm, comforting radiance escaped her as she spoke of her friends, of the life from which she had been wrenched. ¡°Daniel Chamkov, you were the sweetest human being on the planet, and in a perfect world you¡¯d be living in a little cottage writing poetry and cooking fresh food from your hobby farm. You were my favourite hipster, and I won¡¯t let anyone speak ill of you.¡± She took sip, and prepared to complete the ritual a third time, the confidence and pride growing with every recollection. ¡°Warren,¡± when she spoke is name a fire lit inside her, her heart pounded in her ears. ¡°I''ve never met a guy with more stubborn determination in my life, you had the best stories about your fucked up life but would always take the time to listen to other people''s problems.¡± She closed her eyes and confessed, ¡°I should have kissed you when I had the chance. God, I was a coward.¡± She raised the bottle higher and this time, her head raised with it. ¡°Who Dares Wins!!¡± She shouted with the volume of a Commander, and threw her head back to finish the rest of the drink. The Aliens began to feel the invigorating effects, an energy was creeping into them. Rynard¡¯s tail was wagging, Xant nodded his head, agreeing with every statement Jasi was making. The human let out triumphant shout, throwing the empty bottle to the side. Fist bumping the air with both hands. ¡°Whoo!¡± She laughed, the dogs barked with her. ¡°Who else?!¡± She asked no one, ¡°Mum! Oh god mum. Thank you for naming me after your favourite flower, thank you for driving me to hockey practice and for not getting rid of the piano like you wanted. Thank you for giving me the confidence to look past my failures and for every hug you gave me. ¡°Dad, thank you for supporting my decisions, even when they were the wrong ones, I treasured the knives you bought me and I¡¯m sorry for giving up the guitar. I know you were always behind me, and I know you¡¯ll always be with me.¡± Jasmine raised her hands to her chest, feeling the beat of her heart, ¡°Thank you for giving me the love of song, I think that''s just what I need right now. This one''s for you dad!¡± The human took a deep breath and prepared for her performance, invoking another voice from memory. But what came forth was not the soothing melody of before, but a declaration of power, her voice loud enough to address a battalion. ¡°I¡¯ve got another confession to make, (I¡¯ve got another confession to make,) I¡¯m your fool, (I¡¯m your fool,) Everyone¡¯s got their chains to break (Everyone¡¯s got their chains to break) Holding you (holding you) Were you born to resist? (Were you born to resist?) Or be abused? (Or be abused?)...¡± Xant bore witness to the power of human song, to the infectious power of their emotions. Even within the military armour Xant was compelled to stand up beside her. Rynard had forgotten all about the possibility of Jasi being hostile, gathering around to become a part of the audience. Then something changed, Jasmine reached the chorus of the song but a she let out a long bellow, it wasn¡¯t like the howl, it was controlled, but the secondary voice fell away, and Jasmine¡¯s inner voice shone through. Her eyes watered and her voice began to crack under its own weight, but she pushed on, she sang through the physical and emotional pain. She unleashed it all, the full manifestation of her Freq, a glory even Rynard had to take a knee for. ¡°Has someone taken your faith (life''s meaning)? It¡¯s real, The pain you (I) feel. The life (my life). The love (my love). You''ve (I¡¯ve) got to heal (Can¡¯t stay like this). The hope! (The future) the stars! (The universe). The broken hearts! (My friends/family/all humanity). Your trust! (My decisions) You must confess! (Don''t hold back!) Is someone (Are they friends/family/humanity) getting the best (morality), the best, (physically) the best (sincerity) the best of you? (loyalty) Is someone (The aliens, the dogs, the universe) getting the best (hope) the best (courage) the best (love) the best (intelligence) of you (me)?¡± The Freq pulses were strong, as strong as they had been through her howl, but this time, there was no pain. The fire and lightning from her presence filled his veins and rushed his mind. Xant felt he could fight, he could take on an entire armada by himself, that they would bow to his will and the universe itself was his to command. The stars existed to be held, time could be tamed, death was no obstacle to him in that moment. Her hands fell to her sides, and her eyes pulled down from the universe to them, to Xant, she sang to him, to Rynard, to her User companions. Her voice softer, but no less powerful. ¡°I''ve got another confession my friend(s) Just for you (I''m a fool) I''m getting tired of crying again (Starting again) Because of you, (Somewhere new) Were you born to resist? (Will you stand up for what you know is right?) Or be abused? (Will you let the Ravaja rule you with fear?) I swear I¡¯ll never give in (I devote my life to this cause) I refuse (I would rather die) Is someone (Am I) getting the best (Your smarts) The best (Your kindness), the best (Your ambition) of you? (Xant) Is someone (Am I) getting the best (Your strength) the best (Your charm) the best (Your Loyalty) the best of you (Rynard)?¡± She was Commanding an answer from him. Would he be strong enough to follow her? Would he cast aside obedience to the Company for her? Would he stand in the face of uncertainty, would he push through the fear and rage for her? Xant knew now why the Arvas bestowed the title of Grace upon her, why the title of Princess was deserved and even beneath the being who stood before him. The song ended, and with it, the Freq force of a burning star faded away, but it was not an emptiness that was left behind. The hollow despair they had first felt was gone, replaced with hope, determination and conviction. ¡°You know what? I¡¯m done.¡± she announced ¡°I literally can¡¯t cry anymore, and I''m sick of crying!¡± she kicked an empty bottle from her path, ¡°I want to have some fun, I want to run a mile and punch something, I want to sing another stupid song at the top of my lungs! I¡¯m in space for god¡¯s sake! With real aliens and fucking talking dogs! I¡¯m, ha, I¡¯m going to be meeting with an alien general.¡± She ran a hand over her stubbled head and laughed, a genuine laugh. ¡°I¡¯m alive, so very, very alive¡­¡± She sniffed, wiping away the tear residue from her face. ¡°And my friends wouldn''t want me to sit around moping for the rest of my life.¡± Jasmine turned to the window. Staring up at the stars. ¡°As long as I am alive, I can ensure that no other human has to go through this shit. As long as I am alive, there¡¯s a chance I can set things right, I can make a difference and maybe even kick some Rajavan ass!¡± She turned to face her new friends, eyes red and puffy but a huge toothy grin. ¡°As long as I am alive, I can live.¡± The revelation of those words was freeing. The heat gave away to wave of calm, as though his entire body had been submerged in water. The worries of her future, the pain of her past and the uncertainty of her present melted away. For in that moment, she knew who she was and what it was she must do. ¡°I can¡¯t do it alone though¡­¡± Jasmine admitted, a single hand reaching out to the aliens ¡°So what do you say? Are you guys alright with putting up with my emotional ass for a while longer?¡± This organism of compassion and inspiration, of emotion and determination. This being of such enormous power and potential offered her hand to him, for help. Humility, honesty, courage in the face of astounding odds. Was this what it meant to be Human? ¡°Yes.¡± Xant answered, more sure of himself than any answer he had ever given, he would stand by her side, come the Ravaja or the void itself. She granted him courage, the power to feel again and drive to seek the unknown. He would follow her command. Jasmine lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Xant¡¯s neck, letting out a cry of joy. Rynard unleashed a roar of his own, the very walls and furniture moved with his proclamation. The Captain filled with a power he hand not felt since his youth. ¡°Come Death, Come Blade, Come Shame or Fire!¡± the Captain roared the chant of the Rangers, thumping his chest and tail. ¡°Suk was right! You make an excellent Commander!¡± Xant allowed himself to hold the trembling, intoxicated human. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. ¡°No, thank you,¡± was all he could offer in return, what answer could he possibly give that was worthy of her? ¡°Another, another!¡± Rynard begged her, ¡°ANOTHER SONG LIKE THAT!!¡± ¡°Well!¡± She pulled back, hands on her hips. ¡°What kind of song do you want? I know thousands!¡± ¡°SING THE BEST ONE!¡± The Captain roared enthusiastically ¡°The best one?¡± Jasmine¡¯s Freq bounced an octave, spinning around to take up her position, striking a pose. The dogs barked with glee beside her, their Namegiver was back and filled with life. ¡°THIS IS THE GREATEST AND BEST SONG IN THE WORLD¡­¡± Jasmine proclaimed to them and to the universe. She granted him courage, the power to feel again and a drive to seek the unknown. He would follow her command, even against Akira, the Universe and the One. A bold statement to make but Xant had no doubt in his mind the human would guide them through, away from the safe and secure labs of Esaander, treading paths they were never meant to walk. This was his decision. His choice to follow her into uncertainty and oblivion. And only time would tell if he was worthy of this calling End of Book One, continued in Transcripts: Zero. Transcripts Zero- Chapter 1: A Contract is Made. Executive Director Salhor Laandi was dressed to impress. She had retrieved her finely woven politician¡¯s cape from sealed storage especially for the officer¡¯s arrival. Crisp, form fitting and with a single pleat over the left shoulder, the rich plum contrasted nicely with the natural grey of Qzetillian skin. Laandi did notice that her Operations Manager, Au Isk, had gone for more humble attire. However, his grey utilitarian scrubs had been pressed to precision; one could not afford to be sloppy when addressing a Galactic Council Officer. Isk¡¯s uniform may have been pristine but his body language shivered with nerves. ¡°Is this your first time meeting a Commander?¡± Laandi remarked to her twitching coworker, ¡°There is no need to be nervous Isk, I¡¯m sure the Lieutenant Commander isn''t going to conscript you,¡± ¡°I have had dealings with Galactic Council Rangers before Director,¡± Isk shot back, narrowing all six of his eyes, ¡°I¡¯ve just never met a Prince in person.¡± Even Laandi had to pause her teasing and allow her assistant some leniency. Even though Isk and the Lieutenant Commander were of the same species, the insectoid Arvas, there was a huge difference between the Freeman and the Prince. More than just physical and credit status could define. ¡°Lieutenant Commander Nako seemed quite the relaxed commander,¡± Laandi offered. ¡°I will be handling most of the Contract work, and you will be doing what you do best.¡± ¡°Ensuring the schedule remains on track.¡± he sighed dully. The pair stood within the receiving hall of Uleesia Stations dock, just beyond the final air-lock and decompression chamber. Sterile white ceramic tiles lines the hall from floor to ceiling, welcoming gestures painted in the standard ultraviolet spectrum could mostly be ignored; they were there to comfort the uninitiated space traveler. The hydraulic doors opened with a loud hiss, but was overshadowed by the welcoming jingle the company insisted on installing. ¡®The Esaander Corporation welcomes you to its eastern quadrant Research Division, Ulessia Station. Esaander Corp, Quick and Conclusive results.¡¯ The beings that entered the facility towered above the citizens but were graceful even while encased in military grade armour. His Honour, Lieutenant Commander Sir Tar Nako stepped forward onto the station. His behemoth of a Captain, Sir Ara¡¯San Tifera followed behind her lord, the floor vibrating with every steel plated step. ¡°Salutations Citizen,¡± The commander greeted, his upper and lower pair of hands fanned out, casting his rank cape over his shoulders before returning to his sides. ¡°Forgive my appearance, there was no time to disengage from my regalia.¡± ¡°It is always an honour to serve the Galactic Council Rangers, you''ve come straight from combat? Do any of your knights or Rangers require medical assistance?¡± Laandi was careful not to make eye contact; her attention focused on the lieutenant''s badge of office. It sat pinned to his right shoulder, glistening copper against a deep blue cape. The director counted 5 pleats, trimmed with gold, 10 successful skirmishes and a victorious campaign. They were in the presence of a very competent commander. ¡°My assets have sustained minor injuries, but assistance isn¡¯t necessary¡±. The six cameras on the commander''s helmet focused on the citizens before him. Laandi bowed her head ever so gently. ¡°Very well commander, I am Executive Director Salhor Laandi. This is my Operations Manager Au Isk. How may Esaander Corporation assist you?¡± ¡°I have 6 stasis pods collected from a hostile vessel containing unknown organics; you were the research facility closest to the battlefield.¡± His captain snorted at the remark, but the Lieutenant ignored it. ¡°I would like to negotiate the care and examination of the unknown fauna¡±. ¡°Of course Commander.¡± Laandi replied, ¡°If you would follow me to my office we can start to record a draft of the contract; Isk will take care of the coordination of cargo offload from your ship.¡± Isk bowed his head, his wings flicking up nervously from his scrubs, but were quickly tucked back under as soon as he returned upright. ¡°Sire?¡± Captain Tifera¡¯s voice echoed from inside her heavy armour, a soft and patient tone. ¡°Shall I supervise the unloading process?¡± Military grade Zenthi soldiers were not known for their composure. Her long snout hovered over her commander''s shoulder, she stood arched over, arms almost dragging on the floor, her long, steel coated tail doing little to balance her out. His very protective shadow. Sir Nako raised his left hand. ¡°If you would Captain, I don''t want to be here any longer than necessary, military and citizen protocol after all.¡± ¡°Of course Sire,¡± Tifera nodded her head. ¡°Your honour doesn''t have to be so strict.¡± Laandi assured the officer. ¡°When you hailed us and announced your arrival I ensured you''d only be in contact with authorized personnel, any Freq-sensitive citizens are within the required minimal distance from the dock; you will not be disturbing our citizen assets.¡± This seemed to relax the commander a little, but he still persisted. ¡°Regardless, I need this contract drafted as soon as possible. Please lead the way Director.¡± That''s when Laandi felt it, the intensity of the Commander¡¯s Emotional Frequency. Military grade armour did its best to filter out as much of the harmful signals as it could, but they were still powerful for a citizen such as herself. The Commander was doing his best to keep an even and tempered signal, but his urgency was winning out. Better to give in to the Commander¡¯s demands for a swift conclusion rather than risk staff injury from an unexpected pulse from the military grade life forms. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Of course Your Honour, this way.¡± Laandi bowed her head lower with respect then turned her back, leading the commander to her office. ¡°Captain Tifera¡± Isk addressed the armoured giant, tapping away at his dataslate ¡°I''ll escort you back down to the docks-¡± ¡°Just tell me where my men can unload the cargo.¡± Came the suddenly harsh order. ¡°The sooner we can return to Branch the better.¡± Isk nodded enthusiastically and swept past the knight, she was straight to the point and no nonsense. Working with Rangers was so much simpler than with scientists. Laandi lead the Commander down the vacated halls of Uleesia station. The Director¡¯s office was located opposite the habitation wing, taking up almost a third of the entire floor. She waved her hand over the sensor and waited for the door to respond. ¡°Executive Director Salhor Laandi¡± came the placid voice as the doors slid open. Laandi¡¯s office was standard across most corporate designs, the boardroom desk with allocated stools situated just to the right of the room, the holo display protruding out of the round table. Laandi¡¯s personal terminal and desk located at the far end of the long room, her hab-bed and ration dispenser tucked away behind against the right corner. Wardrobe and accessory compartments tucked away on the far left wall, but by far the most prominent feature of the entire office was the floor to ceiling window, [3 meter] wide industrial-grade glass separated them from the void outside. Laandi¡¯s desk sat in front of it. While most directors and politicians expressed their power through ever-increasing and ridiculous outfit trimmings, the Director had instead expressed her power and experience through the window¡¯s statement. Sir Nako suspected her belief in the karmic ways of the universe was devout. Laandi activated her terminal, issuing voice commands to retrieving the contract templates from her terminal. The young Commander stood by her desk, seemingly to enhance his need for urgency. ¡°I suppose we will start with a Council Request and begin from there?¡± she offered, pulling up at least a dozen scripts to recite. Council request, Military Assistance, Asset Insurance, Data patents, all standard council protocols but Nako simply raised his hand again in polite dismissal. ¡°Actually Director, I was hoping to be able to do this under a Private Contract?¡± Laandi stopped her terminal from loading any more scripts, daring to raise her gaze to the Knights neck. ¡°A Private Contract?¡± she asked ¡°But this falls under Galactic Council military jurisdiction, unless,¡± she dipped her head, closing her eyes before adding, ¡°You''ve gone rogue and claimed that council corvette as your own?¡± Sir Nako let out a chittering laugh, appreciating the joke. ¡°No, no, I am very much still aligned with the GC,¡± The Commander¡¯s posture relaxed, comfortable now he knew he would not need to throw his Freq guided influence to get what he wanted. ¡°Which is why I am pushing for the Private contract. I understand it is unconventional, but,¡± His voice lowered, ¡°I believe this may be very time sensitive, and if we wait the weeks required for the Galactic Council dictation to be validated we might lose what little advantage we have left. My superiors will overlook this little transgression when we deliver the information of the new bio-organisms.¡± Laandi returned her head upright at the end of the commander''s speech, thankful she had read the young man¡¯s disposition correctly. The full confidence of her client was the first in many steps to ensure a lucrative and successful venture. ¡°So, a personal contract¡­¡± She repeated, changing the request from her terminal. ¡°And you will guaranteed we, that is to say Esaander Corp, will not be violating the Conglomerate Information Act?¡± Sir Nako stepped forward, leaning over the desk and Laandi behind it. ¡°Director,¡± His voice shivered her skin, ¡°You have my word on my honour.¡± Laandi was feeling it for the first time, that invisible pressure that embodied his will, Sir Nako was using his Frequency. It was sudden, cool, like a blast of refrigerated air, refreshing as it sent another shiver over her body. The Director marveled at the Knights restraint, so many other Commanders would have simply forced their way, overriding her resolve to serve their own agenda. It was humbling to see a Prince¡¯s integrity in action. She could never show it however, that would tip the negotiations in his favour. ¡°Time sensitive you say? In your initial transmission you mentioned the cargo was sealed within stasis pods, it won¡¯t matter to the organisms how long the dictations take to complete.¡± The Knight sighed, ¡°Director, I must be honest, I didn''t take the pods from a pirate captains hold as I originally insinuated, rather, I retrieved them from a Rajavan troop transport.¡± Laandi just about snapped her neck from whiplash from the statement. ¡°What?! A Rajavan troop transport? Here?!¡± She exclaimed in distress, standing from her desk. Sir Nako was quick to reassure that the proximity of their enemy was nothing of concern. ¡°Yes, I was surprised when my fleet came upon the Gene-harvester¡¯s vessel, this quadrant isn¡¯t on any of their usual flight patterns. The subjugation of their ship is a great victory for the Galactic Council and the Arvas Imperium.¡± He stated, shoulders back in a point of pride. ¡°The Council will release the news soon enough.¡± Laandi nodded her head, taking a moment to compose herself. ¡°The organisms, they are Rajavan cargo?¡± She inquired, dreading what kind of amalgamations the insipid Rajava had forged this time. ¡°Yes, and none of those specimens are ones that I recognise, none that the Military database recognises.¡± Laandi¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and her curiosity returned. Specimen''s unknown? New genetic material to uncover? ¡°I see.¡± she lingered, understanding his need for urgency. The Rajava maximised their potential through genetic engineering, removing what they deemed unnecessary for their existence and the continued ¡®growth¡¯ of their machinations. This often included the sentience of entire populations. Laandi started to wonder if her facility would have the capacity to hold such profane specimens.¡°So, you will want this research to be conducted quickly, and quietly.¡± ¡°As quickly and as quietly as possible.¡± He confirmed. The Director raised her hand to her chest. ¡°You have the Company''s promise that we will provide you with the essential data you require. Esaander may be small, but we are thorough and reliable.¡± She promoted the company''s oath. ¡°Quality results every time.¡± That was all the Commander needed to hear. ¡°Excellent. I have your confidence this information will not be released on the Corporate Audchive?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± She smiled slyly, ¡°Provided you verbally agree that Esaander retains a co-ownership of all the data gathered on the biomasses for further study, once the contract is complete of course.¡± He was almost taken by surprise, but he was dealing with a negotiator construct, forever searching for the best leverage was part in her nature. ¡°Co-ownership of all data? You drive a hard bargain Director.¡± ¡°I could ask for complete living clones of the organisms Lieutenant Commander, data is a fair price for risking my conglomerates integrity with this venture.¡± she reminded him. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll comply to the terms,¡± he humoured her, eager to hurry the proceedings along. ¡°Concerning confidentiality, I would prefer you contact me directly at this IP.¡± Sir Nako instructed, turning his wrist to view the dataslate embedded into his armour, a 16 digit serial number flashed on screen. ¡°It is my private Comms, when requesting my line, only mention that it is a private contract, and I will return your message when I am able.¡± He instructed. ¡°I am not a modifier your Honour,¡± she chuckled softly ¡°I may be close to degeneration, but my wits are still sharp. I can understand what ¡®isn¡¯t being said¡¯. ¡°Ah, forgive me,¡± He replied ¡°it is not very often that I get to speak with nuance. Concise and blunt is the reliable tactic when dealing with soldiers and the chaos of war.¡± Laandi was liking this Commander more and more, she would certainly go the extra mile to ensure his return patronage. ¡°And chaos will be what follows you Lieutenant Commander,¡± Laandi looked up into the Knights mask, eyes still respectfully kept their gaze inadvertent from his. ¡°The Universe rewards great actions.¡± ¡°And Akira bestows her callings on the worthy...¡± He answered her scripture with his own. The Director and the Knight understood each other''s position, their place in the grand scheme. Laandi finished placing the script block for the contract, it was ready for them to dictate. ¡°Now then, your Honour, please state your name and I will begin the contract recording.¡± Zero Chapter 2: Out of the Ordinary Isk followed Captain Tifera down to the docking bay, the Galactic Council corvette¡¯s hatch had been secured but was still closed, waiting for the superior officers to return. Captain Derjan Rynard stood at attention in the receiving bay. It had been awhile since he had come into contact with military personnel. He rolled his shoulders and clicked his tongue, it would be a short interaction for sure, not all commanders had the patience for citizens, Rynard was there for protocols and to ensure the Operational Manager didn¡¯t get hurt in the process. Rynard stood at attention as the acting Captain walked past and up to the hatch. She gave him the once over, the cameras on her armour zooming in on the retired Knight. ¡°You¡¯re the officer in charge are you?¡± Came the coarse question. Rynard took a moment to appreciate being addressed, then another to adjust his gaze downward. Zenthi Captains were not unusual, but her height suggested she was built for messenger work and not the command position her green cape reflected. A Messenger Captain, that was different. ¡°Yessir!¡± Rynard answered none the less. ¡°Facility secure, at your command Captain!¡± ¡°No orders, keep the citizen in line and we¡¯ll depart shortly.¡± Short, sharp and gruff. Tifera stood at the hatch, and then in a large booming voice, issued her commands to the ship. ¡°CORVETTE CLASS: 1898702 REFINED, OPEN HATCH!¡± Her voice shook the poor operational manager standing behind her her. Heavy hydraulic doors opened up, the sound of several safety door locks opening one by one echoed into the receiving bay. The last door opened and Isk found himself in the crosshairs of an entire Knight squad¡¯s visual cameras. ¡°OM,¡± Rynard instructed ¡°Stand behind me, I¡¯ll let you know when it¡¯s clear.¡± Isk gave a little nod, but could feel Tifera¡¯s scowl from under her battle mask as he scuttled to the side. ¡°ATTENTION!¡± Captain Tifera called to the dozen armoured knights under her command. ¡°I WANT THIS CARGO OFF OUR COMMANDER¡¯S SHIP! TWO TO A POD! SINGLE FILE!¡± She stomped her foot on the ground with the loud clang of metal on metal. Her soldiers fell in line, each standing ready for orders. Isk looked on in awe, watching the armoured giants move in disciplined unison. He wished all his staff were as dedicated as them. Tifera then turned to Rynard, ¡°Where is the unloading zone?¡± She demanded, her commanding tone losing it edge when addressing the veteran. Rynard stood at attention, arms folded behind his back as he answered. ¡°Down the hall, fourth room on the left, Citizen asset, Freq-able, in the vicinity!¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°KNIGHTS! DOWN THE HALL FOURTH ROOM ON THE LEFT, DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE CITIZEN ATTENDANT, NOW MARCH!¡± Two thumps of her tail on the floor and the regiment knights grabbed the pods. Tifera took the lead, storming down the facilities halls treating the simple procedure like a proper mission. Her knights followed suit, each sulin warrior a step behind the other, keeping pace while holding the enormous life pods. Captain Rynard followed behind, Isk opened his wings to keep up with them. ¡°OPEN!¡± the visiting Captains voice boomed from the outside the designated location and the door was quick to follow orders. ¡°KNIGHTS, HOLD!¡± She would be the first to enter the room, it was largly empty, save for a few examination scanners. The citizen asset was standing solemnly by the equipment, a lone zenthi like herself with only the quietest of Freq pulses ebbing from him, he might as well have been apart of the apparatus. When she was certain the room was as secure as she was told, Tifera brought in the rest of her knights. ¡°RIGHT! SINGLE LINE FORMATION! UNLOAD CARGO AT THE DESIGNATED AREA, MARCH!¡± The Knights filed im after her, placing the life pods in a line towards the end of the examination room. The citizen doctor didn¡¯t move, or so much as flick an ear to Captain Tifera¡¯s shouting as the knights began to unload the unwieldy pods. Rynard moved in with Isk to ¡®supervise¡¯ the delivery, and to ensure both coworkers weren¡¯t in the way. Isk stood beside Xant, neither gave any motion of acknowledgement of each other. The knights and pods piling in soon crowded the room, he clicked his tongue and turned to inform his charges. ¡°You¡¯ll be wanting to take a step back-¡± Rynard muttered over his shoulder but stopped seeing as the Zenthi had already fallen back in line behind him and backed up against the wall. Rynard murmured a ¡®huh¡¯ under his breath. Of all the doctors on staff, the Zenthi Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant was the least likely to step out of line. Mostly because the doctor seemed to be a walking stiff. Rynard had seen it a few times, citizens pushed past the boundaries of exposure, sometimes they became a jitterjacked twitchy mess, other times they could have been mistaken for furniture. Obviously Xant still worked enough to be hired on as head of research, or he was cheap enough. He barely spoke to anyone besides Laandi and never made a call outside the station. Xant and himself were the longest residents of the station, but he barely knew anything past the doctor¡¯s Name. Always professional and never personal, a weird one Xant was. ¡®SINGLE FILE MARCH!¡± Tifera ordered as the last pod was put in place. ¡°BACK TO THE SHIP, RIGHT, DOWN THE HALLWAY! MARCH!!¡± she almost screamed. Her knights were silent in their compliance. Turning in unison following their captain out of the room. ¡°I¡¯ll see them out,¡± Rynard told Isk, ¡°You get the loading zone cleared.¡± ¡°Yes captain¡± Isk sighed, tapping away on his dataslate, watching the brute follow after the knights. ¡°Cargo is secure¡­¡± The OM muttered under his breath as he inspected the pods. ¡°All appear to be functional, life signs reading clear, stealth still activated?¡± Stealth technology was not a standard feature for a life pod, in fact it was quite detrimental to the things primary functions. It did not pose a threat however, that would surely be whatever was inside the wretched things. ¡°Cargo is secure and has been received, your team has been cleared to investigate Dr Xant.¡± The Zenthi nodded his head, finally moving from his position from the wall to look over the curious tech. ¡°Thank You OM Isk, you may send in my team now.¡± Xant¡¯s voice was docile, detached, but still far more active than he normally was. Perhaps the thought of new fauna or flora to examine had the doctors adrenaline going? Isk approved the area with a voice command.He didn¡¯t need to be there any longer now he had to discuss the contract parameters with Director Laandi. ¡°Send the initial reports to my terminal for review. Be as thorough as possible for the client.¡± ¡°Of course OM Isk.¡± Came the impersonal response. Isk wings fluttered at the reply, he wasn¡¯t even expecting one, something about these pods truly must have caught his attention. Zero Chapter 3 : Knights and Command. ¡°And chaos will be what follows you.¡± A proverb of the Karmic Universe philosophy. It is stated that those who make great actions, bring great chaos and great change, to bring life to the Universe in unexpected ways. A rather audacious prose for the Director to place on him but Nako didn¡¯t deny it filled him with a satisfying sense of pride. He was going to be a very busy man. The large but humbly furnished Commander''s quarters shook upon the exit of the wormhole into Branch Station space. Any moment now he would be called onto the bridge to deliver decisive orders and make claim to his successful skirmish. He could feel the miniscule shiver of Freq as the Comms unit summoned him. ¡°Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako, you are needed on the bridge.¡± He chittered to himself, preparing to make the announcement of the Dynasty. His Corvette, REFINED had spearheaded the jump, stabilising the wormhole so the small fleet of five cruisers behind him could carry the enormous trophy into the military stations docking platforms. Jumping with so many at once was dangerous at the best of times, but with the Rajavan ship inactive a coordinated jump was the only way to bring it in for dissection. Nako straightened the pleats in his regalia cape and afixed all three segmented swords to his armour. He held his head up high as he entered the bridge, allowing his presence to draw the eyes of the crew and his captain toward him. Tifera bowed her head low, the rest of the crew followed suit. ¡°Sire, the honour to hail Branch is yours.¡± She offered. The communications officer activated the comms for a direct line with the station. Nako chose his words carefully, crisp and clear for all transmission frequencies across military space to hear. ¡°This is Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako of the REFINED fleet, I have returned from my surveillance of my sector. I have brought with me the honour of 17 confirmed kills of rogue vessels, the subjugation of 4 former citizens and 3 pirates, the recovery of 23 life pods and the capture of 3 vessels, including a subdued Rajavan Transport-¡± The corvette was shaken by his cruiser fleet entering Branch certified space. The stars themselves could not have aligned more perfectly. ¡°Come Death!¡± Nako drew a blade and raised it up for his crew. ¡°Come Blade!¡± The second sword was unsheathed and met its partner in the air. ¡°Come Shame or Fire!¡± The last of his great weapons drawn the Commander announced his claim. ¡°I have conquered! I have subdued! I claim this victory for the Galactic Council Rangers!¡± The crew cheered with triumph, swept up in their lords declaration. He savoured the moment, then allowed his crew to calm as he carefully replaced the swords in their holdings. ¡°Well spoken sire.¡± Tifera approved, Nako raised his left hand and the crew fell under a submitting silence. ¡°Thank you Captain. Crew of the REFINED,¡± he addressed, his voice tapered to a raptured audience. ¡°The honour of this victory is shared, do not deny yourself this experience. You may speak of the skirmish freely, yet refrain from speaking of our porting at Esaander. We wouldn¡¯t want to diminish our success with frivolity.¡± He turned to his communications officer. ¡°I will be in my quarters until docking, patch through any requests from Superior Commanders and,¡± he nodded his head slightly to the younger man. ¡°do your best to answer every one of the messages about to flood the comms.¡± ¡°Yessir!¡± The lower Arvas squire saluted, arms pressed to his chest. Nako couldn¡¯t help but billowing his cape as he made his exit. It wasn¡¯t every day he was in the position to strut. Tifera followed after her lord, securing the door behind them both. Nako began to remove his swords and fold his cape to a more manageable knot behind his armour. ¡°Sire?¡± she approached, ¡°if I may be so bold?¡± ¡°Speak captain¡± he allowed. ¡°Why did you only announce 23 of the recovered lifepods?¡± Nako pulled the knot tightly, tucking it in under itself so there was no opportunity for anyone to take hold of it from behind. ¡°Because I want to be the first to know what kind of chaos I am unleashing onto this universe,¡± he answered thoughtfully. Placing the swords into their protective case. ¡°And you and I both know Kotorn will want nothing to do with it.¡± Tifera agreed wordlessly. ¡°Sire, shall I take lead and guide the Corvette to dock?¡± She asked her lord. ¡°Yes,¡± he confirmed ¡°And ensure the knights down below know to keep their silence on the matter as well, return to my side once you have finished.¡± ¡°Certainly Sire.¡± Tifera made one final salute, metal on metal clanged as her hand thumped her chest. Nako closed the sword case with care. It was out of place in his ships quarters, elaborately pressed plastic made to imitate wooden cases of princes of the clan war age. Presented to him on the day he was ready to serve his purpose with the Galactic Rangers. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. He was one of 20 that matured that day, he often wondered if any of his brood brothers still held their calling or if it had been passed on to other princes. Akira always found those who were worthy, but he was starting to think these swords would not be up to the task before him. ¡°Lord Commander, message from Engine Lord Viitoic, shall I patch it through?¡± The communications officer interrupted his trail of thought. ¡°Yes ranger, patch it through.¡± A holo-display of the technician superior or Engine Lord, his prefered title, appeared on the empty west wall. Viitoic¡¯s large grey head took up most of the Holo-coms space and he was practically salivating when he greeted the Lieutenant. ¡°Salutations Lieutenant and congratulations on such a fine victory,¡± Six black eyes blinked randomly above a sharp toothed smile as the technician began his request. ¡°Is there be any chance that my crew and I will be able to admire your claim?¡± ¡°You know protocol Engine Lord, Knight Commander will not be pleased you are seeking my approval over his.¡± ¡°There is no reaching the Knight Commander at present,¡± Vic informed the knight. ¡°No doubt he is in shock of your impressive conquest.¡± ¡°or he is preparing a dueling blade for us both.¡± Viitoic laughed, making his head jiggle. ¡°Kotorn and finesse, your wit is enviable Lieutenant. I¡¯d pray to the universe you return with all four of your arms. Unless you would prefer a replacement?¡± Viitoic raised his six arms, Arvas Qzetillian cross models for five and a Umin¡¯gi tentacle for good measure. Nako politely declined. ¡°I will take my chances Engine Lord, but you will be the first to inspect the Rajavan ship once Knight Commander has approved clearance of the vessel.¡± ¡°As you will it Lieutenant,¡± Viitoic raised his left hand, ¡°I look forward to sharing the vivisection with you. May your path be clear.¡± ¡°As with yours Engine Lord.¡± Nako responded and the Comms line went silent. -*- The Branch Station of the sector was an ancient vessel, built during the peak of the Painful Dynasty it was the last of the great war ships left abandoned. Repurposed during the reclamation, it served as the centre point for the Military and the convergence of the newly acquired planets and stations with the already established Galactic Council routes. It had been tended and repaired over the new Dynasty, many of its battle functions restored to terrifying levels of accuracy and devastation. Thankfully, they had yet to engage these systems. The crescent shaped platform was mostly an advanced warship docking station, maintaining a fresh supply of ships and rangers to secure the galaxy from the pirate and Rajavan threat. Nako was welcomed back by the sights of scratched titanium and the smells of recycled air. He walked with pride taking the lead, his crew scattering to their duties as he and Tifera made their way to Kotorn''s quarters. Other knights from other ships whistled and roared as he walked past, letting their admiration flow throughout the station but the cheers grew quieter the closer they drew to their destination. In the heart of the station was Kotorn''s office. The lights were dimmer, the walls thicker, to protect any low level ranger from accidentally walking into a commanding officers personal space. Tifera stopped before the doors. ¡°Stay here,¡± Nako ordered, ¡°There is no need for your attendance.¡± ¡°As you wish sire...¡± She replied quietly, grateful she would not have to suffer the onslaught her Lord was about to face. Knight Commander Ara¡¯Vae Kotorn stood surrounded by his council of lieutenants and captains. The monstros zenthi clad in scratched steel and a star red cape paced with impatience, stopping only when the offending Nako did step into his quarters. The force of a burning battleship in his gaze, a single golden amber eye stared Nako down, demanding he justify his existence. ¡°WHAT HAVE YOU BROUGHT UPON US?!¡± He roared through Freq, his jaw opened to reveal hundreds of tiny razor teeth and his own unsettling voice. ¡°YOU HAD THE PIRATE ARMADA IN YOUR GRASP AND YOU CHOSE TO BRING IN THIS CORPSE?!¡± Kotorn held nothing back, the mighty Knight Commander was seething with rage, bearly tempered by his attending lieutenants and captains. His thick, steel coated tail slammed behind him. Several commanding officers stepped back from their Knight Commander, letting his wrath fall squarely on the Arvas responsible. ¡°The armarda were scatter jumping as soon as my fleet opened fire,¡± Nako explained, remaining cool to Kotorns firey display. ¡°We could not accurately follow any ship with that much interference colliding-¡± Kotorn jumped over his desk and charged toward Nako, claws sparked as they clashed against the steel floor, teeth and the flames of Freq begging to consume the lieutenant. Nako sidestepped out of the Zenthi¡¯s path just in time for a claw to grab thin air. Kotorn growled, allowing his anger to simmer after the outburst of physical activity. ¡°Months we have been chasing those vile deserters, do you know how many supply ships and Citizen vessels we¡¯ve lost to them?! You were right there, the herd in your grasp and you let them ESCAPE?!¡± He slammed his fist into the ground, making another dent in the floor. ¡°Chasing and destroying the last of those ships would have been far more useful to the galaxy at large than bringing in that bloated, bulging desecration!¡± The lieutenants and captains apparent murmured in agreeance with their Knight Commander from safely behind his desk. Many nodding heads and waving of green and blue capes. ¡°The galactic council has charged ME with defending this quadrant, HOW CAN I COMPLETE MY TASK IF YOU¡¯RE GOING TO BURDEN ME WITH BULGE BRAIN TRASH?!¡± Kotorn lamented, ¡°Now I will have politicians demanding reports, Other KC¡¯s demanding my time, I¡¯ll have to coordinate support and direct incoming citizen fleets, Viitoic will cease work on our own fleets to look at that monstrosity, meanwhile we will be losing ships to pirates and rogues BECAUSE I WILL BE STUCK HERE CLEANING UP YOUR BUREAUCRATIC DISASTER,¡± Nako took to one knee, folding his arms across his chest, and lowering his head as far as it would go. ¡°Then allow me to shoulder this burden of yours Knight Commander,¡± The young knight responded, ¡°I shall take on the responsibility of the Rajavan ship, its contents and the citizen demands-¡± ¡°CONTENTS?!¡± Kotorn roared once more, ¡°Oh no, the LAST thing I need is to have my Branch desecrated by whatever is incubating in that things hull. Strip it down and contact every military sanctioned company within [a week¡¯s] jump of here. They can bicker amongst themselves for that vessels contents.¡± The Zenthi stood up on his back legs, towering over the kneeling Nako. ¡°There is no honour in glory seeking Lieutenant, I will not reward this conquest of yours,¡± He warned, with one last strike of his tail to the ground he spun on his heel, addressing the rest of his commanders. ¡°The armada has a known last location! I want fleets to survey the jump patterns trails, I want ships hunting down any trader suddenly abundance in Rajavan parts, I want extra ships on branch protection incase the Rajava decide to come looking for their lost ship!-¡± One by one lieutenants saluted and ran off to complete their lords orders. ¡°-Extra rations to be given out and a request order for more Ranger assets! And YOU.¡± Kotorn¡¯s disgusting breath moistened Nakos chitin shell. ¡°YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FLEET ARE GROUNDED UNTIL THIS ENTIRE MESS IS SORTED TO MY SATISFACTION, IS THAT CLEAR LIEUTENANT?!¡± Nako closed his eyes as he felt the searing sharp pain of Kotorns rage. ¡°Yes my lord¡­¡± Zero Chapter 4: Awakening Darkness. It was dark, cold. She tried to take a breath. Her chest heaved, there was no air. She could not move, her body paralyzed, consciousness remained trapped behind closed eyes. But she could hear¡­ The hum of machines, the gurgle of digestive organs, the subtle sound of steel on flesh. They echoed around her. She could feel¡­ The cold metal below her, the pins in her fingers, the tube that filled her throat. Another untaken breath. Her chest was tight, the tube scraped against her teeth, the metallic taste pressed along her tongue. It was suffocating yet she could breath, like drowning in a dream. She could smell¡­ The unnatural plastic, the sharpness of ammonia, the tang of blood. Cold, slippery feelers creeped into her ear. Her nerves shrieked and her skin crawled as the unwelcome invader threaded itself inside her. Panic revived her, fear consumed her. Her heart tried to race but was constricted. Bound by a thousand strings. The fine, precise pain of a dozen needles pierced her stomach. Warm fingers rested on her eyelids before opening them for her. Her mind screamed. Black uncaring voids stared back at her, a collection of organs pulsating inside a living sack. Mechanical arms pulled away, and she glimpsed the horror beyond. Her body split open, blood filtered and organs punctured by more mechanical arms. A large needle was raised to her eye- Jasmine awoke screaming. At least she tried to scream but you need energy to do that. Small shallow breaths flushed her lungs with fresh air and her body lay in a bed of sand, soft brown sand. Jasmine didn¡¯t want to open her eyes, but the tears needed somewhere to go . The unknown was bright. She could see the sand, the sea, the tall grass that grew in sparse patches. She could feel the stillness in the air, hear the gentle laps of water to the shore. But something wasn¡¯t right. Jasmine couldn¡¯t smell the salt on the air, the sand should have been white like powder and the sky¡­ Why couldn¡¯t she see the sky? Her eyes stung as the tears fell down her face, blinding her to everything else. Her stomach cramped. Hunger brought pain, brought panic. She willed her aching arms to move, she was so weak, so tired. Fingers finally ran the length of her stomach. It was clean, no scars or stitches to prove her nightmares real. Was it all a fever dream? Was this just the worst hangover in the history of everything? Hands slid over her thighs. Panic lingered. Hands further explored her body, the sudden unsettling sensation of air against her toes, her backside, her breasts. Why was she naked? Why did everything hurt? Where was she? Where were her friends? ¡®Why is everything so wrong?! What is happening?! Why am I so scared?!¡¯ So many questions screamed in her brain. Jasmine held her head, hoping to stop the voice inside, but it only served to fill her with more dread. Her fingers brushed the smooth skin of her scalp. They had shaved her. ¡®No more, no more¡­¡¯ she begged. Her hands slid down over her eyes. Maybe. When she opened them next time. The world would return to how it was supposed to be¡­ -*- Xant peered at the screen. It had been almost 48 [hours] since they had released their specimens into the observation enclosures and his assistants had produced reports on all of them. Yet the most promising of their collection had yet to provide anything of note, in fact according to Foorlan¡¯s report the creature had barely moved from its original position. Currently, the specimen was laying on its back, staring up at the enclosure¡¯s ceiling, motionless except for the expulsion of air. It looked like it had expired under their care. ¡°What stimuli have you provided for the specimen?¡± Xant asked his assistants. Foorlan approached nervously, reading off her dataslate notes. ¡°We started with visual stimuli doctor, lightening and brightening the room, changing the colour of the environmental lights, but the specimen was mostly unresponsive.¡± ¡°Clarify Assistant,¡± ¡°At first the specimen turned away from the brighter lights, moving its head and covering the ocular receptors, but then it ignored the patterns after that.¡± ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°We then moved onto audio sensory, but, as with the visual, the specimen then continued to ignore our attempts to provoke it into action.¡± Xant nodded his head, keeping his eyes on the live video feed. ¡°And Freq reception?¡± ¡°It was unresponsive doctor, the creature cannot perceive freq pulses in any capacity, we even tried some of the known Rajavan Frequencies.¡± Foorlan sighed. ¡°Like all fauna Doctor, the creature is nonviable.¡± Xant folded his ears down, he had known this of course but he had hoped he had overlooked something in his initial examination. ¡°When was the creatures last consumption?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t consumed Doctor. Digestive diagnostics indicate we have the right amount of proteins available to it in the environment, but it has not moved from the position we released it in.¡± The doctor gave a disapproving swish of his tail. Had the creature been damaged in transit? If all of its contemporaries had recovered from their time in stasis then the was no reason for this one to be so unresponsive- ¡°Assistant Foorlan?¡± ¡°Yes Doctor?¡± ¡°Enhance the footage of the specimen, around the manipulators.¡± he ordered. ¡°Yes Doctor!¡± The camera zoomed in on the creature¡¯s elongated limbs, it was so subtle Xant was sure even the most attentive surveillance would have missed it. It¡¯s long fingers were slowly moving in the sand, and laying out separate and distinct patterns in the ground. Lines, swirls, dots, circles, before the whole hand wiped its surface clean to start again. ¡°How long has the specimen been doing that?¡± he asked coldy. Foorlan gulped. ¡°I¡­ I dont know Doctor.¡± she replied before furiously rewinding the footage. Fauna were known to decorate territory, collect items and even paint themselves in particular colours of mud. They were not known for their knowledge to reproduce consistent symbology. ¡°Doctor? The specimen has been displaying this activity for the last 4 [hours].¡± Foorlan finally informed him. Xants ears lay flat upon his head. Nothing this specimen did seemed to correlate with what they thought they knew. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°I am going to the enclosure.¡± He announced to his staff suddenly. He would need to check its vitals manually, perhaps it needed more than non threatening stimuli to react to. ¡°Have the footage analysed, I want data on the patterns.¡± ¡°Yes Doctor¡­¡± Foorlan hung her large head in dismay and got to work quickly, while Xant made his way from the research labs up to the enclosures. -*- Jasmine stared at the concrete sky, no matter how many times she tried, she could not wake up from this nightmare. The lights flickered but never dimmed, the water lapped at the shore with almost clock work timing. A bubble fountain in her miniature prison. What fate was this? That she survived a horrific alien abduction, violated beyond all conceivable measures before placed in their pathetic excuse for a zoo and left to rot? ¡®Fuck them.¡¯ Her mind whispered bitterly. She would rot just to spite them. Those disgusting things. If they came near her again she would tear them apart! She would bite and kick and scratch and- The specimen lay still on the ground as the safety hatch opened for Xant. Even its breathing stopped. He approached slowly, cautiously, but ensured that his presence was known. Slowly it turned its head towards him and stared. Blue eyes wide, and focused entirely on him it was unnerving to say the least, but he shuffled forward. When the Doctor was less than arm¡¯s length away the creature suddenly moved with more urgency than ever before but even then it was struggling. It weazed and croaked trying to crawl out of Xants reach. He could see it was terribly weak, if it moved much more it might do itself an injury. He was careful to avoid the claws, the teeth though small and blunt were still a worry, so he gently but firmly restrained the creatures arms to it sides. Its head whipped around but it didn''t try to bite him, just staring and making the faintest of whimpers. Satisfied the creature could not hurt him, Xant pulled his medipen from his pocket and pressed it to the creatures skin. The pen gave a small beep, and chirped the results for the Doctor. Its system was malnourished and blood toxicity was high, blood glucose content low¡­ The creature relaxed. While still staring at Xant, it looked him over, its eyes dilating as it tried to focus. Focus on him? It moved so a sitting position, swaying while trying to hold itself up. Xant retrieve another vial from his holder, it wasn¡¯t much, but a small does of stims might get it back on its feet as it were. He measured a [quarter] dose. The creature held out its arm to him. Well, that wasn¡¯t entirely accurate. He held its hands in restraint but it did make the conscious effort to twist its arm so that the circulatory system was clearly visible and accessible. Xant held the pen above the vein, and pressed it in waiting for a reaction. The creature did not stop its stare, Xant raised his head to meet the creatures gaze. Those small blue eyes were studying him, searching for something in his own eyes but for what? Its mouth opened, small gaping actions but no sound. He examined its head, turning it from side to side, checking its throat, clear. It was surprisingly placid in his hands. Xant let off a pulse directly at it just to be sure, but nothing. It was empty, null, yet it could pull off the most convincing mimicry of sentience. He was starting to see why the Rajava had chosen to process this organism. Xant returned the creatures hands to the ground, before he slowly backed away. It made no attempt to swipe at him or even pursue him, he left the enclosure unscathed but ultimately perplexed. ¡®You will kick and bite and fight back, yeah right¡­¡¯ Jasmines mind chastised herself. She had frozen in terror at the very sight of the alien who had shown up. She couldn¡¯t move as it was , and her body couldn¡¯t even muster up the energy to get up and run away. She just lay there like one of those paralytic goats. Until the alien got really too close for comfort. Then trying to crawl away felt even more pathetic and useless. People always pretend like they¡¯re going to be hero¡¯s and do all these things but when thrown into a completely unknown situation the best you can hope for is your brain doesn''t shit itself in the process. Jasmine was not happy with her brains reaction in the slightest. She shifted her weight to sit on her legs, scraping off sand from her body now that her brain had decided it wanted to function. ¡®Maybe it was the shot?¡¯ Could have been, it didn¡¯t hurt to breath anymore and the hunger pain had died. She could see now too, everything had come into focus rather quickly. She was right in her first guess, it was an enclosure, roughly about 200 meters squared and had the shape of a quarter circle. Made from industrial concrete and plastic, and kinda looked like the animal rehabilitation centers you saw in documentaries. It just had that feel to it, like, it wanted to be close to what the actual environment was like but had all the details wrong. Tuffs of luscious grass didn¡¯t grow in beach sand, the ¡®tree¡¯ was like a street light had grown perfectly symmetrical branches. The water feature looked like it had taken contractors a weekend to put in, and then she noticed the giant black orb. It was a wonder she missed it, a shiny black orb, the size of her head stuck to the side of the concrete dome roof. ¡®That¡¯s the camera.¡¯ They¡¯re were observing her, of course they were, she was probably the star attraction or something. The newest addition to the human zoo and she had her first check up with the keeper. ¡®Or you¡¯re a pet?¡¯ That could also be true. The keeper didn¡¯t look anything like the brainsacks that abducted her. It wore clothes for one, a white vinyl lab coat of all things and it treated her with at least the same level of respect that earth¡¯s own zoo keepers would have. ¡®...¡¯ It WAS treating her like an animal! It wasn¡¯t like she had acted to the contrary! She had just laid there and cried for what seemed like days. The memory of her abduction was still fresh in her mind however, if she wanted answers then she needed to prove she was worth receiving them. They wanted to watch her? She¡¯d give them a show. First thing¡¯s first though, she needed to eat. Jasmine stood up to walk; her legs were stiff and sore like she had not moved in eternity and had to shake them awake. Being able to finally survey her surroundings, she spotted some brown squares littered around the environment. Picking them up they were firm and a little squishy, the chunks were just as out of place as everything else was in the enclosure. A sniff test was in order. They didn''t smell like anything really, maybe a little salt. The human dared a small bite. It wasn''t entirely unpleasant, shed eaten and paid for a lot worse. Like unmarinated jerky, bland stale and chewy. A grimace pulled across her face. It was kibble. The stuff did remind her of dog treats, minus the overpowering smell. ''maybe I am a pet then?'' She thought taking another bite. ''An illegally obtained pet.'' stolen, shaved, and sold as an exotic pet, sitting in a cage as a novelty. ''Fine'' she decided. ''best prove them wrong then.'' Jasmine collected more of the kibble pieces and pulled off a giant leaf from one of the bushes to lay them on and another so she could sit while she made her plan. First was food, second thing to figure out was shelter. That was going to be harder, while there was plenty of vegetation there wasn''t much in the way of branches or bark. A lean-to for privacy would have to be a grass tent instead, provided the plants were durable enough to be sewn together. After her fifth serving of kibble and a quick rinse in the shallow pool, Jasmine went on a hunt to find the sharpest rock she could. Most of them were smooth round river stones, she ended up having to smash a few of them together to get any sort of edge. Her sharp rock struggled through the reeds by the water, and more than one frustrated grunt was released while tearing the leaves from the base of the shrub. It took the better part of an hour to collect enough strands to begin her masterpiece, materials in hand she began to tie the leaves together. Over, under and through, it was going to take all her friendship bracelet weaving skills to produce anything worth wearing. -*- Foorlan was excitedly guiding the Department Head through the creatures progress, getting to update her superior on every new undertaking the creature attempted. Xant was glad to hear of the subject''s improved condition. ¡°...Started making crafts, dressing itself in reed clothes and making adjustment to her surroundings. It''s unprecedented," She tried to reign in her enthusiasm whilst delivering her report to the superior. "a non-freq organism with such an advanced understanding." "Indeed," Vuulsi, the eldest of the assistant trio remarked over Foorlans report, bringing up the live video feed for Xant to inspect. "It could easily be on the same leave as User intelligence. The craftsmanship is rather crude, collecting its food in one place for storage," he rubbed his large head thoughtfully, "However, I will have to send Myra the video for confirmation." "I''ll do it!" Fen interjected, "I need to catch up with her before Jess returns to the behavioural department." The researchers all nodded in agreeance. This was the most exciting prospect any of them had worked on, including the ventures Xant had participated in on unclaimed planets. "and how is the organism fairing?" Xant asked, he had been keeping tabs on the updates Foorlan had been incessantly sending him. "it''s very lively Doctor." Foorlan announced proudly, hoping to make up for her previous setback. "I¡¯ve documented several cases of higher intelligent factors, including craftsmanship, gathering and shelter making, cleanliness. All the hallmarks of primitive User societal structures and you''ve arrived just in time for it to demonstrate minor habitat changes!" Xant was sceptical and wondered if Foorlan had overestimated the creature''s progress. Plenty of other animals collected food and practised hygiene rituals, and while it was rare, it was not unheard of for animals to weave plant materials into external coverings, for warmth or shelter. Perhaps it was novel for her, attributing intelligence to a fauna that mimicked the Qzetillian physiology in so many ways. Those notions were scrapped, however, as soon as he saw the footage. It didn''t just cover itself in foliage but meticulously weaved complex patterns in what could only be described as clothes. The creature had made clothes. That was User at the very least, a User intelligence without a presence in the void. He shuddered at the thought. "Assistant Fen,while you are taking the footage for examination, send a request to behavioural studies for the sentient list.¡± Xant ordered. "I have the footage ready Doctor, I can leave right now." Fen informed him. "Excellent." Xant approved and returned his attention to the observation screen. Once the Subject had removed all of the larger rocks, it began sweeping clear the ground with a simple brush tool it had made. Probably the foundations for its new nest. That required forethought or the passing on and retaining of knowledge, very useful traits. Then it got on its paws and began scratching in the dirt with a small twig, digging small uniform holes. Curious behavior, what could it possibly be crafting now? Could this be an attempt at farming? Or the markings of foundations for a standing shelter? ¡°We could be holding a Modifier intelligence.¡± He muttered unwittingly. "Modifier Sentience?" Vuulsi questioned, "Are you sure Doctor?" "The creatures actions are not whims of instinct," Xant mused. "Everything it has done so far requires premeditated thought or prior learning." "But..." Foorlan interjected. "That level of intelligence requires an incredible amount of brainpower. Anything that powerful must generate a Frequency Pulse. How can anything that intelligent conceal its Freq-presence?" "Perhaps that''s what the Rajava were interested in?" Vuulsi speculated. "Maybe, but, isn''t that a step back for the Rajava? Concealing themselves would also mean cutting themselves off from the mass communication frequencies." Foorlan deliberated. "But it would make excellent stealth units," Vuulsi proposed "Their amalgamations wouldn''t need to be constantly monitored, they could hide entire factories this way, wouldn''t you agree Doctor?" But Xant did not reply, his ears stood up, and eyes were transfixed on the screen. Small sharp pulses of shock permeated the air, they could not ignore him even if they wanted to. Both assistants paused their conversation and turned to see what their superior was engrossed at. The organism had finished its work in the dirt and walked away, leaving not a punctured vegetation field but something truly extraordinary. Foorlan dropped her dataslate. Vuulsi made a choking noise in place of words and Xant¡¯s head sunk with realisation. Crisp and simple symbols marked the ground in a uniform matter. Dots correspond with certain symbols, representations of collections of dots or absence of dots. Numbers. The addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of numbers. Presented to them in such a way even a youngling could understand, but any knowledgeable full grown could comprehend the implications. It didn¡¯t just understand mathematics, the Subject acknowledged that they understood mathematics as well. The Subject had provided the foundation for understanding each other by scrawling in the dirt. Xant returned to the screen; the creature had started another weaving project, making chirping noises to itself as it worked. He picked up Foorlans dataslate and handed it back to her. "Assistant Foorlan, I will be taking charge of this Subject," he ordered. "Inform the Director of our progress." She nodded weakly, clutching her research tool. Xant was suddenly filled with urgency; he would need to prepare an interview room, ready an appropriate dataslate, commission a new dataslate for the project as well as make sure the Subject received comfortable living conditions by Galactic Council Sentience Protocols. But above all else. He needed to find a way to offer it the most sincere of apologies. Zero Chapter 5: Auction Nako sat in his quarters aboard Branch. His room was the only place where he was allowed to relax. The only place where he could indulge in activities that were not related to his calling as a Knightly Ranger. Namely puzzles. Small games of skill that one could argue were training tools for military strategy, Nako found more personal enjoyment in figuring out the games. Getting into the designer''s mind and determining how to solve the puzzle. Setting up his own pieces and watching the play unfold. It was even more thrilling, to imagine what it would be like to play with real parts, to have the stakes hold higher than the simple accomplishment of the task at hand. It was his right as a lieutenant, after surviving the gauntlet of an interstellar skirmish, to have some ambition. He needed to be confident he was making the right choices to fulfil his greater calling, one that had always lingered since his maturity. The game of coloured lights before him blinking. Waiting for him to issue his commands. He could stack three orders at a time, in the hope of outwitting his opponent. Attack, defend, move forward or back. There were enough moves to keep it interesting without having to put too much thought into it. Moving first he could ambush his opponent, defend when the inevitable retaliation occurred and then defend again while the opponent tried to move forward and cancel the advance. Or he could move back, upset the computer and leave the enemy attacking nothing, move forward while they attacked the empty space and then launch an attack of his own while they tried to consolidate. It was a game he had played a thousand times before, thankfully the devices own organic brain had not started degrading for overuse. Likely the thing would outlive him, he¡¯d paid enough credits for it. Nakos quarters were decorated with more such things. Capes of rank and formality, swords gifted and purchased. More than one physical puzzle sat on the wall shelf next to the banners of the ships he had commanded and served in his career. Emblems of the Galactic Council, they weren''t nearly as lavish as the ones in the Arvas Imperium. Solid colours with geometric shapes, easily identifiable numbers and sigils at a moment''s glance. His favourite, however, was one gifted to him by a Knight Commander of the Imperium. The same skirmish that granted him his promotion to Lieutenant commander, to have Tifera as his captain and forever earning Kotorn''s scorn. Truly it was more like a tapestry than a banner. A sword held by six hands between two moons, the image was stitched with the most beautiful purple thread against the blazing red banner silk. Beads of colour gave the hands the shimmer of finely oiled chitin, silver leaf coloured in the blade. Words of courage and honour were sewn around the edges. It was art, a banner to vow your will to. "You are victorious." The computer announced dully. The Prince clicked his beak in disappointment. He was hoping the game would fire him up for the evening''s meetings. Help him to forget the frustration of Korton''s short sighted anger. The fury lingered in his own thoughts, he could have taken the time to exercise the rage with a duel down on the training deck. But he didn''t want to give the impression that Kotorn¡¯s passions could rule over him. He served as was his duty, not his want. Nako returned the game to its position on the shelf, facing it to fit with the others before getting ready for the day''s proceedings. A formal blue cape neatly pressed and embroidered from its wardrobe. He didn''t need to wear the regalia armour today as it was official notice now that the Lieutenant would not be leaving the station, a short blue tabard to match was all that was required. He picked up a small vial of mineral oil for his exposed chitin, careful to not waste too much on the application cloth. Such preening could be considered vain, but he''d look better in the holo-conference footage. Politicians and companies alike were easily impressed with such things. His Captain stood outside his door, waiting for her Lord. She never left her own regalia, she had little need to. Ranger Regalia was designed so that it could be worn permanently, a relic from the Painful Dynasty¡¯s wretchedness. Nako made his way to the conference room, and Tifera instinctually followed. "How many companies have responded to Kotorn¡¯s request?" he asked. "270." Tifera answered dutifully, "But we whittled it down to the major 6 through auctioneering." Nako''s pace didn''t falter, he expected the larger companies to show interest. They were the ones who would have the necessary tools to accurately dissect and break down a Rajavan vessel. Extract its ship brain and retrieve any useful information out of the immortal grey mass. But Kotorn ordered that the contents be auctioned off, he said nothing about the ship itself, only that it be stripped. Engine Lord Viitoic had best be happy with that little piece of malicious compliance. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "Aecom, Kyukage, Soto''um, Traavuis, Tak-dak and Aku''Ra, there due to simulcast in [20] minutes." Tifera responded. "Do we have a report from Viitoic about the cargo?" "Not yet sire," "Good, we can derive a higher price if it is of unknown qualities." Nako commented. Tifera stopped as they reached the conference doors and the rangers on duty either side. The younger Arvas guards saluted their superior officer and stepped aside. Nako paused before the open doors. "Captain, would you accompany me?" "Of course Sire." Nako positioned himself within the holoprojectors field of view. Tifera acquainted herself with the standard projectors controls, and the pair rehearsed an intro before opening the Branch address. The 6 companies all dialled in immediately. Creator species all of them. Stared back at the Lieutenant. Company sigils looped in the back of their portraits, all of them with lowered heads. "Salutations Citizens." Lieutenant greeted first. "Salutations Commander." They answered unanimously back. ¡°Knight Commander Kotorn has requested you here today because you are the companies who will be able to provide us with the data and the assets we, the Galactic Council Rangers, need to continue to restore and consolidate the great Galactic Council." Nako gave a quick flourish of the cape for presentation sake."I have in my possession, 23 stasis pods, collected from a Rajavan troop vessel. Each pod is large enough to hold a Sulin Vassal, and is equipped with its own stealth system-" Nako watched as nearly 20 pairs of eyes widened and muted orders were given at his mention of the unknown addition to the tech. "-The contents of each stasis pod are unknown, but we have reason to believe that they are all unidentified organisms. Unknown to the GC and Military databases." He paused once again for display sake, reading each and everyone of the representatives, setting up the pieces and goading them into his play. "I shall open the floor to an open bid." The comms exploded with requests, but no Companies representative could be heard until Tifera gave the permission.Nako studied the expressions of the company drones before him, and signaled to Tifera that the skinny Zenthi of Soto¡¯um Corporate be allowed to speak first. The captain highlighted the corps holofeed, and everyone heard the Soto¡¯ums representative and her bold offer. "Soto''um will have a new line of soldiers readily available in 2 [weeks] if we are given access to the 3 largest specimens!" Another uproar of requests flooded in, Tifera looked to her liege. Nako felt that the Aecom¡¯s Sulin representative and his bared teeth looked the most puterbed by the statement and signalled his turn for the floor. "2 [weeks?]" The sulin of Aecom gawked. Pale green scales matching nicely with the company''s logo behind him. "Surely Lord commander not considering such a blatant farce? This is not the first time Soto''um has tried to pass off inferior prototypes in hopes of securing funds-" "That''s slander!" Soto¡¯um¡¯s employee retorted. "Government bodies can afford such risky tactics, we at Aecom don''t have such backing, we rely on our results." The Sulin snarled. "How dare you?!" Soto¡¯um snapped, slamming her hand on the table in offence. "Representatives! Calm yourselves." Nako silenced them. "Soto¡¯um, I will grant you the 2 largest specimens, and I still want my ranger prototypes in [2 weeks]." "Of course Lord Lieutenant!" The zenthi immediately accepted, bowed her head and out of the conversation. The rep of Aecoms sneered silently. "The second largest specimens can go to Aecom,¡± Nako continued ¡°If you''re insistent on your quality I expect a rivalling Ranger Asset from you." The rep perked up and bowed with a hand across his chest. "Thank you for your patronage Lieutenant." A representative of Corp Kyukage signaled violently for a turn to speak. Tifera looked for her lords approval, and let the Rep say his peace. ¡°Let us hope that Aecom and Soto¡¯um are exaggerating their capabilities." The Sulin rep wore his company¡¯s colours with pride, handsome blue streaks ran down his olive green scales. "Kyukage is currently working on a new design, and if any of the organics meet those requirements I am happy to negotiate a trade deal.¡± ¡°And what exactly are the requirements you seek?¡± Nako probed further. ¡°If they''re unknown fauna they may contain alternate chemical reactions. Any of the specimens with a particularly active hormone system will be fine.¡± The Rep flashed a list on his holofeed. ¡°If so, I am willing to offer up [5 years] worth of medicinal product toward the branches assets." It was a very interesting proposal indeed, if Kyukage could provide any remedies to what the Rajava had invested their time in they might have a chance to retaliate should the worst come to pass. "I shall have the engineers run the data for you,¡± Nako replied. ¡°Is there any objections?" A few murmurs here and there but no open contest to the Kyukage Sulins request. Nako listened in to every offer intently, he had to make sure that the pods were evenly distributed to get the most data possible on the unknowns for his own curiosity sake. He would need to run that data against his own from Esaander. "Tak-dak simply requests 5 specimens, no special requirements necessary. I pledge [3 years] of ship maintenance and repair products, complete with immediate staff upon request." "Accepted." Nako announced suddenly and the conference exploded into a frenzy, offering up [years] worth of services and goods in exchange for their own share of the cargo. It wasn''t long before the rest of the spoils were divided amongst the voracious companies. "... and that brings this conference to its conclusion. I would like to thank you all for participating in the proceedings. The cargo will be awaiting your carrier ships. May your paths be clear." The company representatives all said their farewells and disconnected from the conference. Nako and Tifera allowed themselves to relax a moment. Tifera stood in awe of her lord, he had managed to negotiate nearly [15 years] worth of goods from the stasis cargo. She was very fortunate to sit in and listen, to better serve him and the Galactic Council. ¡°Well done Sire.¡± she approved. ¡°Let this be a lesson Captain,¡± Nako instructed ¡°You do not need to control the situation with Freq if you understand your opponent.¡± ¡°Of course, Sire.¡± Tifera bowed her head again, and on doing so noticed several more request lines blinking. ¡°Sire? I¡¯m getting several incoming requests for an audience?¡± Nako¡¯s shoulders slumped slightly, he wasn¡¯t expecting interview requests to come in so soon, had news spread across claimed space already? ¡°I¡¯ll allow it¡± he answered and prepared to answer questions about his most auspicious victory. Zero Chapter 6: Unexpected Xants assistants stood behind him as he took those firsts steps into the enclosure, their subject stood before them, straight, shoulders back and its hands folded neatly in front. Those unnerving blue eyes staring at him as he approached, its lips tightened in a toothless sulin smile. Xant made his approach, ensuring not to get too close as to frighten or disturb it, but it was clear it had been waiting for them. The creature bowed its head. It raised a hand to its covered chest and spoke to them. It was two toned, a pleasant melody, but clearly a single word. ¡°******¡± It repeated the phrase once more, clearly and slowly before turning her hand to gesture at Xant. It was attempting communication a name or a greeting perhaps? Xant felt it was only respectful to reciprocate. He raised his hand to his own chest and greeted their new guest. ¡°Hello.¡± His translator broadcast his speech out into the open air for the subject to hear. It responded positively, the Doctor supposed, repeating the greeting Xant had spoken with a toothy smile. Perhaps these interviews would go smoother than he anticipated, even without the indicative Frequency pulses he relied upon. He folded his hands behind his back and nodded his head, turning to walk out of the enclosure. He didn¡¯t close the door behind him though and hoped the creature had enough sense to follow behind him. It did follow him, but Xant held up his hand for it to stop as they stepped out into the decontamination chamber. Demonstrating what to do, he held out his arms and the machine was quite to perform its duties. A quick, sterilising spray later, the doctor was allowed to step beyond and into the facility. ¡°Decontamination complete¡± it chimed. The creature looked a little wary, but was quick to imitate Xants actions, closing its eyes and, curiously holding its breath at the spray began to clean off any unwanted debris and residue build up on its body. It let out more than one surprised yelp as the jets pressure washed the plant woven material from its body. It shakily stepped out of the decontaminator, holding its arms to keep a little modesty. It stopped to stare at everything now that it was inside the facility proper, and its eyes lingered once it fell upon the assistants. It¡¯s eyes were almost popping out of its head at the sight of Foorlan and Vuulsi, pausing to look at both of them. Foorlan had her Dataslate open, commenting notes as she went. ¡°Subject has attempted to make contact, simple verbal phrases. Subject is quick to pick up non-verbal cues. Subject makes eye contact-¡± ¡°Sudjeck?¡± It spoke, unnerving everyone in the room. Foorlan gulped and continued her notes. ¡°Subject has keen hearing, Subject also can mimic words-¡± ¡°Sudject?¡± it repeated again then pointed to itself ¡°Sudject?¡± Foorlan held her dataslate tighter and took a step back. Xant could feel how tense in the room it had become. ¡°Vuulsi, Foorlan, Fen, I shall continue alone from here¡± He instructed. ¡°Yes doctor,¡± Vuulsi replied as her and the others slunk out of the room, happy to be dismissed from assignment. Xant was not worried. The creature has not shown any sort of aggression, in fact, it had a rather mild and placid temperament. Should the worst come to pass he knew he could handle himself, he had restrained larger more aggressive beasts before. Xant had a fabricator waiting, ushering the shivering creature to step into it and perform the same open armed stance as it had in the previous machine. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It reluctantly obeyed. Closing its eyes again as the scanners lasers did one brisk scan. It seemed surprised when the machine beeped upon completion. Xant reached into the delivery compartment and pulled out the citizen skin for it to wear. A simple covering, but one that would be far more acceptable than the grass skirt it had been wearing. He placed the skin on the table for it. It looked between the skin and the doctor, tried to say a few words but faltered. Either releasing the task at hand or remembering they still were not on audible communication terms Xant did not know. It lifted and inspected the skin, searching for its access point. It turned its back to Xant, another instance of modesty he proposed as it began to slip on the outfit. It was form fitting, but once sealed it seemed to relax in his presence. Spinning around to stare at him for further instructions. He gestured for it to follow him to the interview room. A small empty room close to the enclosures, it was not the ¡®proper¡¯ interview room, Xant was not ready to release the Subject amongst the rest of the facility. It was makeshift but it would do. To his pleasant surprise the creature didn''t need to be told to sit on the stool opposite him. It sat with its legs together, manipulators folded in its lap, continuously staring at him, attentively so. Xant took his seat and pulled out the dataslate. It had a simple illustration programme, touch screen and four colours. It was more or less a toy for Users and smaller younglings but the creatures expression through graphics was proven enough that communication could begin there. Without a natural Frequency pulse they would have to start from scratch. Xant demonstrated how to draw and clear the screen before before sliding it over. The Subject took to it immediately. Its fingers were graceful, sliding across the surface with precision and purpose. It reproduced the numbers from the enclosure dirt floor, before placing it on the table, turning it to face the doctor and pushed it toward him. Waiting expectantly. Xant reached for the image with a simple press he saved the image to the dataslates memory and cleared the canvas. The Subject made a second entry, this time what Xant suspected was an alphabet. And a fairly complex one at that, 48 larger symbols grouped together in pairs, then several smaller syntax symbols. It had even given an example sentence using as much of the symbols as it could. Xant took a moment to study the creature as it waited for his response. Numbers, alphabet, vocal communication, it wanted to find an understanding without freq and it was exhausting any means necessary. They would have to go through the alphabet together and find correlation sounds to symbols, a process that could take [weeks], [months] considering how involved the alphabet seemed to be, and without another native speaker there would be no way to derive patterns for the computers to analyse. He saved the alphabet and gave her another empty canvas, its features twisted, and after a moment of deliberation it began its next drawing. Numbers and alphabets were, by nature, distinct and sacrosanct. When the next picture was ready, it placed it on the table and pushed it towards him, but as he reached to pick it up the subject stood from its stool to stand beside him, staring over his shoulder. Xant didn''t dare move, but the creature made no attempt to touch him, simple stood over his shoulder and stared while he appraised the image. It was an impressive diagram of the subjects internal organs, the attention to detail was astounding. He took longer, examining the picture and recalling its accuracy from the scans in the initial examination. Such knowledge indicated a higher education and understanding than most Modifier species in the council. Xant was beginning to realise just how special it, no, SHE was. The Doctor went to save the image and reset the dataslate screen for her to continue onto the next picture. The Subject made a pleasant two tone noise, before retaking her seat opposite and picking up the dataslate continuing on with her work. But this time she was taking time with the next picture. Elegant fingers slid on the dataslate canvas with a furious diligence. After a few minutes Xant rose from his seat, the Subject responded immediately. She muttered something in its tongue then placed the dataslate back on the table, waiting for his inspection. Xant inquisitively picked up the dataslate, the Subject had not only continued to draw but saved the images herself and continued to make more. She had added twelve new images to the library, all of them more detailed images of the body. A dissection of the eye, the double lungs and kidneys, bones in the hands then he came to the brain. There was TWO of them squeezed into the calcium casing, it appeared to be split in half and joined at the base. How in the universe any sentient creature could evolve in such a way was a great and intriguing mystery. Xant placed the dataslate back on the table for her. He made himself comfortable. She was hesitant to pick the dataslate up, so he tried a different approach. He mimicked the two tone noise she had made earlier and it seemed to set her at ease. She returned to the dataslate to make more images. She was determined now, trying to impress the Doctor with drawing after drawing. Soon she began to express knowledge beyond basic biology. Astronomy, chemistry, botany, zoology, Xant noticed she drew pictures of many of the specimens they had retrieved from the stasis pods. They were all apart of her ecology, a single planet of untapped resources. Once she had run out of the sciences she began drawing more personal, cultural effects. Architecture, technology, examples of fashion and art, hours seemed to fly by as she poured her collective knowledge into the device. He had been observing her etch out an example of a habitation floor plan when she went to save the image but, it failed. She handed him the dataslate, an error message had flashed across the screen. Dataslate memory capacity reached. Xant blinked his second eyelids. That shouldn¡¯t have been possible, a single dataslate was enough for most projects, but then single image retention was not as easily stored as audio. He would need to get a translator for her as soon as possible, the chance to converse with a civilised subject was just too wonderful to ignore. Zero Chapter 7: Quarterly Meeting [These transcripts are for office use only. Unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are official property of the Esaander Corporation.] ED Laandi: It is 2130 [hours] the 7th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation Dynasty. I, Executive Director Salhor Laandi will be conducting today''s meeting with my department heads. DH Xant: Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant, Head of Research. DH Duuarn: Dr. Marsen Duuarn, Head of Bio Engineering. CMO Krydon: Dr. Tend Krydon, Chief Medical Officer. OM Isk: () Operations Manager, Au Isk. ED Laandi: Absent from this meeting is DH Dr. Jess, her assistant, Myra is here on her behalf. Assist Myra: Assist Tana Myra, Behavioural Studies. ED Laandi: The Subject of today''s agenda is the analysis of the recent private contract. 6 stasis pods were recovered from a Rajavan vessel. Aboard were unknown organisms. Doctor Xant, has asked that I call our quarterly meeting early in order to discuss his findings. Dr Xant you have the floor. DH Xant: Thank you ED Laandi. The stasis pods that were recovered from the Rajavan ship have gone through initial examination and I am now able to discern my findings. We have a total of 15 specimens, all are unknown species to the Galactic Council database. As of yet, a common anomaly is that none of the creatures responded to active Freq signals. The aquatic and [terrestrial] specimens have been transferred into their appropriate ecosystems, The fauna¡¯s systems contained the same micro-bacteria collections and trace synthetic materials within their digestive tracts. This evidence points to the specimens coming from a lost world outside the reclamation efforts. DH Xant: The three quadruped mammals that are on second priority are currently going through complete diagnostic scans. DH Dr Duuarn has put in a request to analyse the specimens with his own equipment- DH Duuarn: And if I may interject for a moment Dr Xant. I put in my request for the three quadrupeds before you had updated your roster and have since determined that it is in Esaander¡¯s best interest that my department instead focus on decoding the genetic properties of your primary subject- ED Laandi: Dr Duuarn, please remain silent until the end of the report, I will not motion any requests until the facts are presented thusly. DH Duuarn: As you will it Director. ED Laandi: Thank you, Dr Xant you may continue. DH Xant: Thank you ED Laandi. We tried to gather diagnostics of the Primary Subject but the creature¡¯s skeleton was obscuring most of the readings and the instruments could not penetrate the skeleton without risking radiation contamination of the subject¡¯s cell structure. We proceeded to perform invasive tests. The samples will be sent to CMO Krydon and the results divulged with my next report. The Subject had no synthetic material in its digestive tract, several sanctioned bacteria were isolated and catalogued, but this subject was of particular concern. [Dr Xant transferred data files of the Subject to the holoscreen] DH Xant: Subject was removed from the Rajava stasis pod on the 84th [day] of the first quarter. My assistants and I scanned for vital organ stability and environmental conditioning. Respiratory, circulation and filtering systems all functional, Subject¡¯s environmental needs were lower than galactic standard and the enclosure was adapted to suit. Subject had been heavily sedated during her abduction, her surface fur completely removed and the number ¡®F17¡¯ imprinted upon the side of her cranium. No other alterations were found. Subject was unresponsive during the first week of observation, possibly due to stress, shock and adjusting to the new enclosure DH Xant: I proposed a personal inspection of the Subject. She had no claws or spines and her jaw was not large enough to pose any sort of safety concern. Subject was timid, trembling as I approached, her body mass had decreased and her pupils dilated, concluded that her diet was insufficient and the environmental levels contained too much oxygen. After the corrections were made, Subject became increasingly energetic and constantly vocal. On the 2nd of the Second Quarter, Subject began fashioning tools, weaving flora for crude clothing, and discovered the observation camera. On the 3rd Subject cleared an area and began to demonstrate simple mathematics, what was of particular interest was she had also drawn a key, a total of dots drawn next to the corresponding symbol. Allowing us to decode her mathematical alphabet- OM Isk: Dr Xant, are you proposing that a subject, let alone anything, found upon a Rajavan ship, has retained any semblance of sentience? DH Xant: Over the last [56 hours] Subject has demonstrated levels of knowledge that can only be attributed to higher education, and has an intelligence capacity to use it despite not having a freq -presence. Not only that but the Subject is versed in a diversity of professions. She has openly expressed a desire for communication, giving us both a demonstrative mathematics and an alphabet of her own language. With permission I would like to relocate the Subject to an appropriate habitation unit as per Sentience Accommodation Protocols. ED Laandi: Do you intend to have the Subject moved to the third level lab rooms? DH Xant: With respect Director, I believe the Subject to be of creator level status and no threat to the population at large. She exhibits all the characteristics of a civilised being. OM Isk: () Isn¡¯t it a bit early to attribute Creator Intelligence to this creature? And I strongly recommend we wait until the Subject has been properly evaluated before moving to cohabitation. ED Laandi: Exactly, until we have a documented conversation with the creature its intelligence levels can only be speculated. DH Xant: Director? May I demonstrate the level to which the Subject has communicated through the visual medium? ED Laandi: I see no harm, please proceed. [Xant proceeds to throw up image after image of the Subject¡¯s dataslate] OM Isk: () Assist Myra:() ED Laandi: () Xant, you said the Subject communicated all this? DH Xant: and more Director, I do not make the statement that the creature has received a higher education. It is the only logical explanation. ED Laandi: The evidence is very compelling. I will grant your request for an interview Dr Xant, and ensure Isk has a room set aside for our new guest. DH Xant: Thank you Director. OM Isk: () I will, make sure the Subject is isolated from facility members, for protocol. ED Laandi: () Now then, I will now open the floor for questioning- DH Duuarn: About my earlier request. If the primary subject is indeed of creator level intelligence then all the more reason to have my department decode the genetic sequence immediately- DH Xant: I¡¯m afraid I must decline your request. The Subject¡¯s intelligence implies that she is entitled to the same rights as any GC citizen and the permissions to her DNA contents are hers alone to distribute. Violating that right would be cause for incident with the Corporation control board. DH Duuarn: This goes WAAAY beyond the Corporation control board! If everything you¡¯ve said stands up to scrutiny then we have no choice but to begin DNA sequencing!- OM Isk: () Dr Duuarn, Dr Xant has denied your request- DH Duuarn: We have the opportunity of a Dynasty sitting before us and you want to complicate matters denying further progress?! The specimen couldn¡¯t possibly understand the weight of the possibilities to give proper compliance!- DH Xant: I believe that any organism capable of communicating the value of pi across language and technological barriers is worthy of our respect, regardless of its position or ignorance of Galactic Council doctrine. Once First Contact has been established and the litigations explained to the Subject, only then can we commence DNA sequencing. ED Laandi: Xant is correct on this one, you are overuled Duuarn. No matter how exciting the prospect of a new creator Genome is, we shall adhere to the laws of the Galactic Council. We will not take what we wish from another species without proper discourse, we are NOT the Rajava. DH Duuarn: ¡­ () ED Laandi: Bioengineering will continue with the DNA sequencing of the three quadrupeds, I will hear no more discussion on the matter. DH Duuarn: () Yes Director. ED Laandi: Were there any other questions? CMO Krydon: Nothing of note to add Director. I will have my schedule completely booked until the rest of the initial examinations are complete. Assist Myra:() Director? If I may? ED Laandi: Permission to speak Myra. Assist Myra: Dr, I mean, DH Dr Xant, if it is at all possible, I would- I mean, my department would greatly appreciate any of the visual and audio recordings of the primary subject you have in order to properly certain the correct procedures when handling the subject? If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. DH Xant: I shall have the items arranged to be sent to the behavioral office- Assist Myra:() Oh I, uhh, it¡¯s no trouble if I come by to pick them up! ()¡­Then we will have the time to- DH Xant: Then I shall have Assist Fen gather the materials for you. Assist Myra: I¡­() Yes, that works too I suppose. ED Laandi: If there are no further inquiries? [Long pause] ED Laandi: Meeting adjourned. --- Jasmine sat in the empty room, her heart beating a million miles an hour and her stomach twisted with enough force a steel cable would have been jealous. She hoped she had done the right thing. She had just begun drawing everything she could think of that might be useful, starting with letters and numbers, biology, then just random stuff, hoping to display anything that might be of help. Her Alien (Caretaker? Zookeeper? Doctor? Yeah, let¡¯s stick with Doctor.) Seemed nice enough, he had given her clothes and gave her a tablet to communicate with. He was probably talking with the other Aliens about her now. The Aliens. There were greys and lizard people, it was a revelation that all those conspiracy theorists were right. Grey aliens abducting people and lizard people running the government, maybe Area 51 did have aliens?... Did that mean chemtrails were real too? She needed to get out of this room before she began questioning her reality even further. Too many questions, and until they could actually start talking and understanding each other she wouldn¡¯t be able to get any answers. There wasn¡¯t much in the space so she instead focused on the clothes she had been given to wear. It was like a breathable wetsuit, or catsuit. Utilitarian grey except for a few alien numbers/letters on one of the shoulders. She began trying to memorise the numbers before the whale skinned anteater-like alien returned. It stood at the door and gestured for Jasmine to follow, she eagerly kept the pace. The alien doctor lead her outside for the first time and Jasmine was finally able to get a better scope of exactly how much out of her depth she was. The halls were huge, big enough to get like two semi trailers in side by side, and all of them as bland and uninteresting as the tiny room she had been locked in. Pristine white tiles as far as the eye could see, not a single sign or written word anywhere. The elevators were familiar though, steel doors like back on Earth. The doors opened as the doctor waves his hand over a small sensor square on the left. The Doctor entered and looked at her expectantly, not even a voice prompt, true, there was no way to understand him but the unbroken silence was very unnerving. Jasmine never thought she¡¯d miss elevator music, or the hum of electricity the entire place seemed to be deathly quiet. Suddenly the bubbling of the enclosure¡¯s water feature didn''t seem so bad. The elevator announced to them what floor they were on in a language she recognised as the same one the grey alien had spoken even in electronic form. Long vowels, hisses and the clacking of teeth, she tried to copy the sounds to get used to them, but her Doctor was already out and down the new halls. The doctor finally stopped at the end of a long hallway, before the last door. He waved his hand over a sensor on the wall and the door¡¯s computer blurted out another incomprehensible sentence. When she saw what was inside, Jasmine realised just how much her fortunes had improved. It was a bedroom. A bedroom. A personal space with facilities and furniture! She couldn''t help but let out a squeal of relief, running past the alien to familiarise herself with her new surroundings. The bed was cut into the wall, a long hexagonal shape. The mattress was made of gel, and it was warm to the touch when she squished it. The table and stool wouldn''t have been out of place in an IKEA catalog. Everything was clinical white but she didn''t care. This was a proper room! She spun back around and bowed again more formally. ¡°Thank you! Thank you!!¡± she smiled. The alien returned the bow of the head, a gesture that translated across galactic boundaries. The doctor demonstrated the light sensor, and the food dispenser in the opposite corner. To her dismay it only seemed to spit out water and kibble. But at least she didn''t have to pick it up from the ground. The last was the washroom, or, more accurately, automated powerwash. She didn¡¯t need to use it right away, she¡¯d already had one unpleasant mechanical shower. Finally the alien doctor gestured to the table and stool. Jasmine didn''t need a further prompt and sat down while he pulled out another tablet and a small black bead. She picked up the black bead, looking at it curiously. The doctor pointed to the bead and then flicked up a long and narrow ear stalk from the back of his head, pointing to place it at the base. In her ear? It was a translator!! She held back another squeal of delight as she sat down, placed the bead in her ear and waited to make first contact. -*- Xant was enjoying himself. It had been a long time since anything had garnered any sort of interest out of him.The translator was a user model, designed to translate the mild frequencies of the less developed emotional species. Xant hoped, despite all evidence to the contrary, that the small black device would be able to pick up something their scanners could not. The tech itself fed off the electrical pulses of the nervous system, from the scans his new guest should be able to pick up some sort of signal. Perhaps there was some sort of natural damper? The skull was certainly thick enough to stop most subtle signals from penetrating it, it didn''t respond to any open air signals. The fluid supporting the skull could be a culprit too, As the Subject placed the translator in her ear canal, Xant was delighted to find it had picked up a signal. A strong signal at that. It both relieved and sparked his sense of curiosity. Of course it had a frequency, all sentience had a frequency, it was just the very rare occasion that did not have the proper broadcasting organs. Or they were redundant inside the body, or perhaps the subject had had it removed? The Savori were known to do such things to those of their population who were too sensitive before their first contact. The doctor could have postulated theories to himself for the rest of the quarter, but, with the subject right in front of him, it was ultimately better to ask her herself. With a few minor adjustments to the translator he connected to the dataslate and began, what would most certainly go down in history as the first contact of the Rejuvenation Dynasty. [Random blurb about research purposes and Esaander exclaimers about ownership and such.] DH Dr Xant: This is Dr Uru¡¯nav Xant of Esaander corp, conducting an interview with a specimen found aboard a Rajavan vessel. Subject is educated, and possesses neither broadcasting nor receiving organs. User translator (supplied by Aecom corp) has found a connection. I am proceeding to conduct first contact protocol interviews. DH Dr Xant: Subject? Can you hear me? [Subject reacted strongly to the translator receiving my message, User translator noted an almost dangerous spike in electrical pulses] Subject:() Affirmative positive personal self acknowledge understand respond respect professional/surgeon education authority person other. [Note: The translator is designed for simpler intelligent species with limited vocabulary and understanding, the subject demonstrated knowledge of more complex sciences and concepts as well as a deep alphabet] DH Dr Xant: For the sake of translation, please keep all answers simple. Subject:() Acknowledge positive formal. DH Dr Xant: Subject, what is the name of your species? Subject: () Human, Homo Sapiens, Caucasian, mankind, people. [While the subject has followed my instruction and is indeed answering in one sentence answers the translator detects several translations of the word. Will invest in a more capable translator as soon as possible.] DH Dr Xant: What is your profession? Subject: ( ) Consume nutritional flavourful preparation professional apprentice DH Dr Xant: How old are you? Subject: () 22 arbitrary rotational turns relative to home planet and system, young mature female adult. DH Dr Xant: What is your home system? Subject: () Milky Way, Sol, Earth, solar system, unknown, unknown. DH Dr Xant: What is your home planet called? Subject: ()Earth, terra firma, Gaia, third planet from the star- Suddenly the Subject let out a painful shriek, her hand slapping to her ear and ripping the translator from its canal. The translator¡¯s feed died, and the signal with it. The Subject was clearly still in pain, rubbing her ear as blood rushed through it. Xant offered his hand to inspect the device, she handed it over carefully. Xant blinked his second eyelids, the device had been burnt out. The stress of translating had completely overworked the internal systems and burnt the processing nerves. That shouldn''t have been possible. Xant looked at his Subject, she was whimpering under her breath still holding her ear, the device must have surged and sent a backfire pulse through her system. He stood from his seat and walked over, flicking up his ear and pointing to it, asking if he could inspect her injury. She complied without protest, taking her hand away and closing her eyes as she did so, a reaction to the pain, he realised. It was flooded with blood, the canal itself had scarred from the interaction, he could see the nerves it had been attached to. The skin in the canal was thin, and sensitive, he had barely brought his hand to her ear when she whimpered and flinched at his touch. He wondered. If there was no broadcast and receiver organs, would he be able to make contact from nerve connections alone? It was his prerogative as a scientist to retrieve results for his company, it would take another [hour] or so to retrieve a translator and even then it could explode and damage the Subject even further. It could destroy the trust built up between them. Xant reached for the dataslate and tried his best to communicate through illustration. His skills were limited in that part compared to his Subject¡¯s but he could get a basic outline of himself and the subject. He passed it to her and she studied the image. Xant truly had to admire the precise control the alien had over her own facial muscles, the expressions she performed were very descriptive. The subtle narrowing of the eyes and down turning of the mouth as she considered the image. Her eyes darting between the slate, his hands and herself, the subject then spoke in the own language, pointing up at his hands to her own ear. The doctor was delighted the message had been received. Xant removed his glove from his four fingered hand and showed her the delicate extending nerves. The Zenthi, Xant¡¯s species, communicate primarily through the broadcasting of thought frequencies. Indeed this was what the entire translator system for the known universe had been based on. If the subject simply lacked the organs to broadcast and receive then all they would need to do is install the organs required to link her to the system. If the basic Translator unit could pick up the Frequency signal then there would be no problem if he and the Subject connected nerves and spoke as the ancient Elders did before first contact. The Subject, expressed her concern with a low rumble of her voice, but she was not unwilling to proceed. She closed her eyes in a contorted fashion before turning her head so that her ear did face the doctor. Xant composed himself, it had been many a year since he had attempted a direct link, such a thing was reserved for extremely private conversation between his own kind or the sharing of memories in the extraordinarily skilled, this was not one of those times however. He simply needed to confirm that the Subject was capable of accepting the translator organs and that her nervous system could handle the requirements. His nerves could feel the heat radiating of the Subject as he drew his hand closer, she drew in a deep breath and winced as he carefully threaded his nerve ending through to connect with her own- The chorus of screams flooded Xants own mind. Terrified pleas, desolated whimpers, indigent snarls and soothing mantras all echoed at once. Every voice distinct and powerful on their own. His arm jerked back violently in reaction, the shock of it all left him numb and the disconnection of the nerves left him in a deathly silence. Xant barely felt his body hit the cold tiled floor, he was aware the Subject was trying to talk to him, but he had lost control of his motor functions. Her hands were warm against the back of his head. The muffled nerves in her finger tips whispered concern and panic. It was¡­ Nice. She was strong enough to shift his body to the side, she shook him gently, her voice growing louder. The Subject raised her hand to his snout, Xant could smell her, feel his own breath bounce back against her heat. It was all so strange. He needed to reassure her, he needed to let her know she didnt do anything wrong. He willed himself to move, his arms and head screamed in pain, but that would all be temporary. Xant sat up. The Subject panicked a little, her hands on his shoulders. The doctor reached into his pocket and pulled out his emergency medipen, the smallest of depressors doses still in its chamber, had the Subject become aggressive for any reason. He did not expect to have to use it on himself. To calm his burning nerves, to silence energy flowing through them. A deep breath and a small sting and he would return to business as usual. Xants ears relaxed, he rolled his neck and the Subject let out a long and laboured sigh. Xant concluded the Subject not only capable of of GC Translator Technology, but he would have to apply for the most powerful models available on the Citizen market. He wondered if Laandi would be able to get them a Rush-Grow-Order. Zero Chapter 8: Unusual Trinkets Nako slumped in his quarters. It had been [days] since he had made the slight error of judgement in allowing the messenger through. Swollen on his own pride he answered the questions of another Ranger Branch Lieutenant. When pulses got out that Nako was answering questions, he was bombarded. After the 40th [hour] of unofficial meetings Nako then redirected the insistent streams to Comm¡¯s staff. That plan was foiled however, when Comms Comander Kervan Dav recalled that is was Nako¡¯s responsibility to handle all bureaucratic matters regarding the Rajavan vessel on Kotorns orders. Then even minor ship captains were asking for an audience. Sorted to his satisfaction indeed. The Lieutenant Commander had never been so sick of hearing his own voice. Answering the same questions over and over again whilst having to maintain the same composed demeanor, tedium to the highest degree. Every Branch Commander and Lieutenant from the frontier wanted to know exactly what had happened and how the offensive took place, and why he had made the decisions he made. Nako did his best to weave the narrative in a positive light. Gathering a handful of uncontrollable deviants or securing knowledge on their immoral nemesis? Hardly a comparable target, Kotorns dismay at the loss of the armarda was understandable, citizen lives were the Knight Commanders priority, but Nako could see the trajectory of the landing shot. In the grand scheme of the universe, the Rajavan Transport would be more valuable. They had no idea just how valuable the Rajavan vessel was just yet, the true data haul wouldn¡¯t be analysed until the selected companiess had properly researched the contents, or until Viitoic had his crew slice open the Rajavan ship and extracted the information they needed. Until then it was just answering with what little information he had. Nako¡¯s weary mind sparked with annoyance. It was only a little information they had It had been almost three days since Viitoic had his entire crew dive into the hull, and he nor Nako nor anyone else had even heard from the preening Qzetillain. They should have a report by now, or at least an initial analysis. It wasn''t like Viitoic to keep to himself for this long, were they simply engrossed in data extraction or trying to stall for selfish curiosity? Nako decided to give into his suspicions and hail the head engineer. He flicked a hand to his suit comms and contact Engineering. The transmission was denied. Nako tried again. Transmission denied. Now Nako was annoyed. He stood and walked over to his Comms terminal, patching a direct line through to Engineering. He was greeted with silence. Nako¡¯s wings ruffled under his regalia, six eyes narrowed in contempt. It appeared that if he wanted answers, he would have to handle it, like he always handled Viitoic, draw out the information personally. -*- Engineering took up an entire platform all to itself on the enormous station and was the second most populated arm of military operation. GCR ships were the most advanced in council space and needed the personal to care for them. Most of the fleet were replicas of those that been created in the beginning of the Divided Dynasty, and while the schematics were ancient in their age, nothing created the in the Painful Dynasty could compare to them. The seamless melding of synthetic and organic had given birth to biological processors that could calculate the continuously accelerating dimensions of the universe without needing an anchor gate, whist bearing the near immortal shell of steels and carbon ceramics. When the fracture between the Rajava and their people became complete, the knowledge required to create such wonders was lost. The Rajava abandoned synthetic materials all together whilst the remnants of the Galactic Council could only compromise on whatever information they had left. Only the most expensive and purposely built of scientist could ever achieve the skill in keeping such wonders running. The slightest changes of pH balances in the internal systems could jeopardize the shipbrains calculations and throw off every trajectory of other ships in the fleet if the frequency pulse from the jump was misinterpreted. Having someone so vital to military operations taken away from regular maintenance for a period of 3 [days] even had Nako worried. The inner workrooms had personnel running about everywhere, transporting minor transmitter organs and fresh equipment too and fro. Every one of the sealed suited attendants moved out of his way as he stalked for the Engine Lord. Within the centre of the controlled system Nako began to notice machines that were, not the usual ship components. They were vehicles, that was certain, but the designs and functions could only be arbitrary or convoluted at best. One was in the most horrible state of disrepair, there was rust, rust! It¡¯s chassy covered in mud, what little paint that was left on it was scratched and peeling. Its top was completely missing, not from being removed but from never being there to begin with, no protection from the elements at all! Nako peered over and into the thing, the citizen sized seats were incredibly cramped and worn, primitive console with too many functions and dials, more dirt and rust. The manufacture of the thing would have been better as ammunition slag than any kind of transport. It looked like modifier scrap. The engineer assigned to this monstrosity stood to Nako¡¯s right, waiting for the superior officer to acknowledge him, tools quivering in hand. Nako tempered his response to the underling. ¡°You had best go and find your Lord, the fact that he is assigning work hours to these, constructs is concerning.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. The engineer''s head bowed low before they rushed off to the chaos. Nako was then able to see the astounding mess he had gotten himself into. His eyes lead him over to a long work bench, polished to a mirror with several small items laid out for categorization. It was a strange mix of ancient and new. Dataslates of all different sizes, barbaric hooked jewelry with colourful attachments, scattering of cloth, paper, actual, physical paper. He had not seen that since the maturing ceremony. Scrolls worth of paper bound between a hard case, indecipherable runes scrawled over and within them. There on that work bench were several items that caught his eye The first needed no explanation, Nako knew exactly what it was. A banner. He lifted the cloth and was surprised at its weight and size. It shimmered, almost weightless in his hands, sheer like fresh polymer. The colours were vibrant, green base, a sparking blue moon sat within a yellow diamond. Runes marked the moon, but he was unable to read it, lost language. It was, admirable, not quite the work of art his own people could have made, but certainly a step above most GCR affair. And it was unique. He would be the only one in the GC with this bannerment, he considered his interest piqued. Nako turned his head sharply to the another item that had been put aside. It was a sword, a small one, but it was not of a style he had encountered. It sat within a crafted sheath, runes and and an emblem burnt into the material. It was thick, soft to the touch, the emblem a creature Nako had never laid eyes on, but he acknowledged the intricacies, the detail of the work. The personalisation of it all. He unclipped the blade from its sheath with care and examined the craftsmanship. A solid, carbon cast blade, no dial to change the length of it, it was clean, sharp. Care and diligence had been given to his blade, the sheen of fresh oil still stained it. This blade was cared for, revered even, but most importantly, it had been used. Tiny scratches of use permitted the fuller and guard, dark stains speckled the grip and pommel. He returned the weapon to its case with as much care as he would his own. Placing it back upon the work table, he turned his attention to the other curiosities to be found. The engineer underling had returned in the meantime, patiently waiting as Nako inspected the haul of cargo. The scared Sulin dared to speak up. ¡°Luitenant Comman-¡± Nako held up his hand to silence the engineer, his gaze had decided one of the dataslates wasn''t like the others. Laying amongst the black jewels was a table that was painted the most vibrant of pink. He lifted it from its place, but before he could properly inspect it the screen lit up, as if it had been waiting for him. The soft light cast a pleasant glow and he was treated to the most, beautiful image he had seen. A flower, delicate blue petals blooming and within its center, stars spilled out and into the sky, lighting up the darkness under a single, pale white moon. It was simply enchanting. Reminding him of the sermons he had listen to as a larva, fond memories came flooding back only to be interrupted with a hasty. ¡°Salutations Lieutenant.¡± Lord Suumeir Viitoic was an example of function over aesthetics, he was designed to be the smartest and most physically capable of all the intelligence classes. Large Qzetillian head, decorated with six black eyes, sharp zenthi teeth and a wit to match. Five long arms protruded from his upper torso, held aloft by six more legs and a sizable tail. A lone tentacle stuck to his back, distracting and forever moving. The best way to describe Viitoic was, practical, but unfortunate. His large sulin lizard legs moved him toward the workbench as he gave one final freq shout to his scuttling assistants, who immediately dropped what they were doing to greet the superior officer. ¡°Salutations Engine Lord.¡± Nako replied, his attention torn away from the beauty in his hands to the reason he had come down in the first place. ¡°So, How goes the Ships vivisection?¡± ¡°Slowly,¡± Viitoic replied, his hissing voice lowering. ¡°We have still yet to locate the Central command brain, this Vessel is, unlike anything we¡¯ve encountered before¡­¡± That was not good news. ¡°Explain.¡± Viitoic wasn¡¯t technically an officer, but his authority was at least as respected as the Knight Commanders. He didn¡¯t appreciate being ordered like an underling. He snarled softly bearing all of his teeth as he did so. ¡°It is not made from the usual materials,¡± he elaborated ¡°and it is not responding to any of our equipment. There is something severing the connection, the ship is still alive, but its not connecting to any of the known frequencies or direct connections. What we have here Lieutenant, is a completely stiffed Rajavan vessel.¡± Viitoic clamped his teeth together before adding quietly. ¡°I believe, you may have stumbled onto something so profoundly unorthodox it terrifies even me. So we are taking the utmost care in documenting everything for our strategy logs, it is frustrating to say the least.¡± A stiffed vessel, Nako had hoped for better news. Without access to the ships internal data it was unlikely he would be able to regain anything from the venture, the losses in [hours] worked, resources used, not to mention reputation. There had to be something salvageable onboard the ship. ¡°Engine lord,¡± Nako proposed ¡°You dont suppose the Rajavan had found an untouched planet? it certainly would explain the unknown biomasses in the stasis pods.¡± But the Engine lord waved it off. ¡°Hardly, while the biomasses are unknown to our databases, the Rajava still have the entirety of the Prosperous Dynasty archives in their logs¡± he explained with distaste, or perhaps jealousy. ¡°Reclamation efforts are still up turning useful, unknown resources, we just happened upon a ship transporting goods. It may have been stiffed during its voyage and thus lost to time during the Painful Dynasty, Although¡­¡± Viitoic looked over the strange collection of vehicles and devices his assistants had laid out for him. ¡°We can only assume that the Pirates had already taken anything of use, and whatever else was lost to the vacuum of the void. We have recovered some more, unusual items. Whatever planet they came from it was most certainly not apart of the Painful Dynasty.¡± ¡°Are you claiming these are lost relics?¡± Nako asked. That wasn¡¯t so bad, information for the Audchives was still a creditworthy reimbursement. ¡°That is the current theory, we figured the vehicles are of the same tech path your ancestors would have continued had you not met us in the void of space, chemically powered machines. They''re slightly improved versions of early Arvas generational ship engines. A novelty of times long past.¡± But none of the constructs were Arvas made. None of the writing runes were legible. The GC often claimed they had lost untold amounts of knowledge before first contact, but Nako couldn¡¯t dismiss the feeling that these items were not of GC origin. ¡°So I am left with an unconventional ship hull, no data and an abundance in amusing trinkets.¡± Nako sighed aloud, Viitoic clicked his teeth together. ¡°May I put aside any items that might be of, special interest to you Luitenant?¡± he offered, trying to alleviate the mood. The knight looked down to the dataslate in his hand. ¡°There are a few items,¡± Nako announced, lifting th pink dataslate back into his line of sight. ¡°I will be acquiring this for one.¡± ¡°Hmmm? ¡° Viitoic reached for the slate and his six eyes scrutinized the technology. ¡°My my, that certainly is unusual isn''t it? Allow my assistance to properly examine it for you,¡± Viitoic, raised his back tentacle and an assistant with an accompanying dataslate clamoured his way over. Two dataslates held within 2 pairs of arms as Viitoics eyes scanned and prepared to join the dataslates. The engine lord snapped his teeth in a deep snarl. ¡°Implausible!¡± he abandoned the regular dataslate and began clawing at the offending pinks back, peeling the pink case to the internal systems in the back. ¡°Engine Lord.¡± Nako warned, his voice icy cold. ¡°Do NOT damage that dataslate¡­¡± Viitoic¡¯s wry fingers hovered over the back, hesitantly prying into the device. Six black eyes shot open, and the air was filled with silence. ¡°Implausible¡­¡± he repeated in a shocked tone. ¡°It''s completely synthetic,¡± Nako noticed the assistants whisper in hushed tones. ¡°And that is a problem?¡± Nako inquired. The engine lord snarled in frustration. ¡°They''re dataslates, but without organic parts they can¡¯t function anything like ours. Without a frequency conduit or memory bank there us no way for our apparatus to speak to one another!¡± The exasperated engineer then realised the horror of the multiple dataslates on the workbench. ¡°We won¡¯t be able to recover ANY of the data without extensive research.¡± Nako¡¯s hand lifted the pink dataslate from Viitoic¡¯s claws, before carefully replacing it¡¯s pink casing. ¡°Then you have a lot of work ahead of you.¡± The lieutenant remarked, ¡°Kotorn will be very upset if you have spent all this time and nothing to show for it.¡± Viitoic arched his shoulders to retort but just lashed his tail in response. ¡°I WILL have results before the Knight Commanders return.¡± Nako tucked the dataslate under his blue cape, and prepared to take his leave. ¡°And I will look forward to the report Engine Lord.¡± Zero Chapter 9: Finale Darkness. Rest. Quiet. Xant awoke feeling uncomfortable. His right hand¡¯s nerves still tingled from the direct joining he had with the Subject. While the depressors had soothed the initial Frequency burn there was a lingering sensation he couldn¡¯t quite explain. The Subject was frightened and anxious, it was only natural those emotional responses would be transferred to him. Nothing further medication wouldn¡¯t be able to fix. He arose from his bed in the wall and slowly began his regular routine. Cleansing, dressing, nutrition and reports. He had been busy the last few [days] reorganising the schedule for his entire department. Ensuring that every specimen¡¯s needs and research were attended to. Xant himself had even taken on more field work; his assistants were uncomfortable working with the main Subject, stating that the intense staring, lack of Freq pulse and the unexplained need to speak beyond an answer was something they were simply not trained to deal with. True, Xant had entertained the notion that behavioral studies should be brought onto the project, but with their department head still off-station on personal business, it would have been unfair to place a whole project¡¯s worth of responsibility on unprepared assistants. So far Xant had been using his previous experience while working with the Subject. He had since been enjoying his time with her. She was very quick and willing to pick up commutative signals, her mimicry had especially come in handy when teaching her the phrases to activate the facilities in her habitation unit. After only a few demonstrations she had learned almost a dozen phrases of Galactic Council standard. It was strange to hear the familiar phrases roll out of her mouth, void of the usual translator pulse; she had even attempted to teach him some of her own phrases. The desire to communicate must be a deeply ingrained one, since the Subject had begun to exhibit conversing when neither himself or another attendant was present. Maybe that was the reason his assistants weren¡¯t up to the task? He often forgot the advantages his previous experience on Jothram during reclamation had granted him. Rangers had even weirder personal eccentricities more sheltered scientists wouldn¡¯t be exposed to. One message received Xant¡¯s comms terminal desired his attention. Assistant Fen: Doctor, we have successfully transferred the three quadruped mammals to the genetics department. DH Dr. Duuarn has signed for them to be in his care. CMO Krydon has made contact with me, the translator has arrived and is being held in the medical department awaiting your approval for the procedure. Everything was running on schedule. Excellent. His assistants would be able to handle the workload without his supervision. The other specimens were fauna, they would only need to be kept alive and healthy until it was their turn to be observed and examined by the Genetics and Behavioural Studies departments. Xant sat at his terminal and observed his Subject. Despite her irregular and long rest times, the Subject was currently¡­ Xant stopped and stared at the security footage on screen. Apparently the Subject was trying to inverse her normal walking stance. Supporting her entire weight on her manipulators instead of the intended flat pads. Her head contorted in an uncomfortable position, and shakily moving her arms as though walking, legs bent over for added balance. The doctor was hit with the conflicting sense of being both bewildered and impressed, especially when she picked up speed and improved her balance. If she was awake and performing minor acrobatics, then she was awake enough for a briefing. -*- As the door to her hab unit opened he heard a startled yelp, and a rather large thud. The Subject collapsed in a heap, knocking the white stool by the table, but scrambled to her feet as quickly as she had fallen, returning to that poised stance she used to greet him. A quick bow. Xant returned it with a slow bow of the head, inviting himself in and standing at the table. The Subject moved the stool to sit at the table, waiting for today¡¯s dataslate and ready to learn more words. Xant placed the Dataslate in front of her, but it was not the usual learning tools, today he had a video prepared for her. It would take them weeks to get a basic understanding of each other¡¯s language just using mimicry and graphics. So Xant had instead used his resources to have a recording of an Arvas translator implant surgery installed instead. The insectoids were the only race who needed to have the translator surgically placed after maturity, the majority of the GC had it installed in vitro. It was the closest he could come to explaining the necessity of surgery without a proper translator. His subject winced at the sight of the first incision, looking back at the doctor with concerned eyes. Xant pulled out the graphics dataslate and crudely drew a picture of himself and the subject talking. She looked up from the recording to his illustration. Even without a means of understanding each other, she insisted on vocalising. She tapped her head with her finger, then her throat and ears. Xant was pleased she understood, he nodded, a gesture she understood. The Subject then erased the talking picture, and in return drew her own.The images showed Xant administering a chem, then the subject with her eyes closed, and her eyes remained closed while her head was opened by surgery. A request to be medically unconscious for the procedure. Xant reached into his pocket for his med pen, and the Subject responded happily. This was a problem. Xant knew the surgery would go smoother if the subject was awake and able to respond to questions for the calibration to be correctly calculated. Without the responding brainwaves, Krydon would be going in blind. But. Xant looked at his charge. She understood what the surgery was and enough to know the surgery needed to be completed, maybe it was a species preference? It was simple enough to accommodate, especially if she was insistent. Which seemed to be the case. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. It had been the only thing she¡¯d asked of him so far, and ultimately, it was his decision. For her wellbeing, and for future negotiations it was important to maintain her trust. Xant gave his answer with a small nod. The Subject gave a sigh of relief, but she held the dataslate tightly, now focused on the surgery recording. His task complete, Xant felt his time was better spent updating CMO Kyrdon on the minor alteration to the scheduled surgery. -*- Xant made his way down to the Medical wing, where he found CMO Krydon looking over the latest delivery, a rather large transportation tank. ¡°Ah, Dr Xant.¡± The Chief Medical officer grinned ¡°I see you remembered how to find your own way here.¡± Xant didn''t dignify him with a response, he wasn¡¯t there for small talk, but for his research. Krydon mercifully moved onto the task at hand, tapping the large tank with his tail. ¡°Everything is in order, the translator¡¯s stable and ready for grafting, just waiting on your approval.¡± Xant moved over to stand by the doctor¡¯s side and gazed into the clear container. Held inside was the last and greatest technological advancement of the Prosperity Dynasty. The Zenthi Direct Frequency Translator. Born from the original organs of his own species, the remarkable (organ) had the ability to directly transfer the exact electrical signals of one to another. To turn Frequency into audible sound, from thought into language. Throughout the galaxy, miscommunication was abolished, seemingly in a single cycle. New understanding and philosophy had flourished with it, concepts once lost behind years of education or experience could be shared with the greatest of ease. But for all its wondrous joy, the device had also brought with it the greatest horrors. Uncovering truths that could no longer be dismissed or ignored. What was unthinkable to some was reality for others. Even throughout the chaos, pain and death the translator had brought, its benefits outweighed it all. The organic parts of the translator sat suspended in preservative gel and monitored by the container, it blinked steadily while nutrients and oxygen were supplied intravenously. ¡°The surgery shouldn¡¯t take too long, even with the physical obstacles,¡± CMO Krydon told Xant. ¡° If all else fails we can simply try and fuse it into the concentrated nervous system going along its spine. Quite a resemblance to Zenthi physiology hmm?¡± Xant inspected the diagrams the experienced surgeon had drawn up, it was extensive. The organ was to be placed with the groove of the split brain (pulled from the subjects own drawings) then attached to the ear canal before tapering down the base of the spine to the central nervous system. The calibrator to be secured on the outside of the skull, joining the strange alien to the greater network. ¡°The Subject is going to be co-operative?¡± Krydon asked. ¡°She will be unconscious for the procedure,¡± Xant replied. ¡°On her own request.¡± The old doctor snorted. ¡°Well,¡± he grumbled ¡°It¡¯s going to be rather difficult for me to give a precise installation, if the Subject is not conscious. The diagrams you included were rather crude.¡± ¡°I have reason to believe this will be the best course of action,¡± Xant explained as he handed back the dataslate. ¡°Until we can can get further clarification on communication, I do not want to stress the Subject further.¡± Krydon ran a tongue over his teeth, before shrugging. The last thing they needed was an unpredictable alien on board the station. ¡°I¡¯ll have Pa prep the Subject, you are of course welcome to observe the surgery for Research purposes.¡± -*- The Subject hesitantly waited on the operating table as Pa, Kyrdon''s Arvas assistant administered the depressors. She let out a mild hiss when the needle touched her skin, and another murmur when he had finished. The Subject tried to converse with the attending assistant, but the depressors ensured she only made it halfway through the sentence before her entire body became limp. The blue eyes rolling into the back of her skull in a undignified manner. ¡°Subject is prepped for surgery¡± Pa announced over the comms. Krydon licked his teeth. ¡°This would be quicker if it were awake.¡± He grumbled under his breath, adjusting his cybernetic eye for optimal settings. Xant stood behind the medical wing¡¯s monitor as he watched the surgery take place. The Subject was positioned in a sitting up position, restrained so her head and body would not move. Pa had laid out the tools Krydon needed, and had the repair serums ready and waiting. Nu, Krydon''s technician, wheeled in the translators tank. Xant watched the professionals experience at work. Chems to slow the flow of fluids and dull the responses of nerves. Cutting into the hard skull with ease and minimal organic spillage. The brief pause to examine the alien brain and to calculate the best position to graft the new organ to its host. Weaving of blood vessels, sewing of nerves and circuitry together in almost seamless instances, the long organ would fuse to the Subjects organic matter. It would be as if it had always been there. The alien took to the translator easily, without even the need for extra repair gel, the electronic broadcaster devices could not be squeezed into the skull however, and would have to be installed on the outside. Krydon threaded it through the ear canal, previous Rajavan excavating had provided a suitable outlet. The entire procedure was completed in under 2 [hours], even quicker than Krydon had anticipated. The CMO had his assistants wheel the Subject to the patient recovery room while he and Nu began running the translator¡¯s Frequency settings through its start up. Xant watched on silently, mildly fascinated by the work involved. ¡°Now that we have the translator installed the Subject can now be added to the main system.¡± Krydon tapped his claws over the main holoboard. An entire and thorough living map of the aliens body, each layer of the hologram was dedicated to a different portion of the body and truly showed exactly how much in excess the alien¡¯s body was. Krydon chuckled at the exuberance. ¡°It¡¯s got enough nerve tissue to make [20] other citizens! I could remove half of them and I doubt it would notice the difference.¡± The doctor shifted through the different layers muttering and criticizing every one of them. ¡°Poor filters, poor oxygen delivery, certainly a lot to improve. Vitals are strong however, very pronounced Frequency and good electrical signals¡­¡± The mutterings were for Krydon¡¯s own records more than Xant¡¯s benefit. Suddenly, the map lit up, the double lungs filled with oxygen and the blood flowed quicker, throbbing with activity. Krydon turned to his colleague. ¡°I believe your Subject is awake.¡± -*- The Subject was already sitting up inside the recovery pod, investigating the several vital monitor cables connected into her arm. A rather speedy recovery, he thought, as Xant could already feel the Subject¡¯s Freq presence, Krydon¡¯s work as a surgeon spoke for itself. He took a moment to analyse the Freq pulse she was giving out, bright, warm, and gentle. It had a way of making him feel welcome in her presence, an auspicious start. As Xant entered the room the Subject looked up and smiled at him, eyes locking onto his as she greeted him with that soft melody. ¡°[Polite/pleasant]()GreetingHelloProfessionalDoctorFriend.¡± The translator garbled all from only two words, but Xant was confident now their conversations would be far more informative. He walked to her side and began removing the pods needle attachments, they were no longer needed. ¡°Hello Subject,¡± he replied. Her blue eyes blinked rapidly in succession, then laughed. ¡°()[impressed/relieved] Iself reallyemphasis can[verb] understandacknowledge you[other]DoctorFriend¡­¡± Once he had freed her from the pod¡¯s restraints she slid off the recovery bed and began to stretch. Rubbing her arm and breathing deeply, bearing all her blunt teeth. ¡°As I can understand you, Subject.¡± Xant nodded his head, in response. The Subject stopped dead in her tracks and shook her head from side to side. ¡°Nowrong()¡± She replied, pointing to herself. ¡°() SelfI[possessive] Nametitle Notisnt Subjectobjectstudy, ( )SelfI[possessive] Nametitle SweetFragrenceDelicateJasmineWhiteFloraFlower GracepoiseAnneBrightnessFavouriteofDeity OldNameHoweFamilyEnglish¡± Xant took a moment to comprehend the amount of information she squeezed into so few words, he was quite surprised at how quickly her Freq reacted, a short, sharp burst of uncomfortable heat, but nothing he couldn¡¯t handle. Certain words almost burned with importance. The translator was probably still adjusting to her physiology. ¡°I understand you, Jasmine.¡± he repeated, ¡°I am doctor Xant.¡± The inclusion of his own name comforted the Subject, settling the burning with the gentle warmth from before. ¡°( )ProfessionalDoctor FriendXant.¡± She mimicked, his name cascaded across her lips and into the air. ¡°GreetingHello ProfessionalDoctor FriendXant.¡± ¡°Subject Jasmine,¡± Xant asked her ¡°Do you believe you have recovered from surgery?¡± Jasmine rubbed her arm once more and rolled her neck muscles. ¡°(Cautious) [possessive]Iself think so [affirmative]¡­¡± Xant¡¯s ears shuddered pleasantly, as he turned to exit the small patient room. ¡°Follow me subject Jasmine, we will need to further calibrate your Translator.¡± Dreams Chapter 1 Once upon a ***** Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant had always considered himself a very fortunate person. His benefactor commissioned him and his siblings from the finest Zenthi genes credits could buy. He was grown and supervised in the most esteemed of progenitor companies available in the Galactic council. He had separated his mindlink from his siblings early, allowing him to commence training before many of the competition. He was allowed to explore his options and participate in more advanced classes in both research and Freq use, training under esteemed Zenthi One priests. Xant had excelled in research, specifically in flora, an area of study sorely lacking in the Reclamation efforts. His early training and strong presence ensured he had more than one conglomerate willing to contract him. He had nothing but opportunity and was rewarded for his efforts, Xant was even responsible for discovering a mutated strain of plant-matter that paid of his benefactor''s debt and his own twice over. He could have retired to elite citizen status after only 5 years in the field. But Xant wouldn''t accept that. His curiosity was far too great. His love for learning was a part of him. He was fortunate enough to be chosen as head of research on a field team on Jothram, working alongside the acclaimed Galactic Council Rangers. It was Xant¡¯s skills that got him the job and it was those same skills that saved his life, his team ambushed by a lone Rajavan Vassal. Without that training received earlier in his life, he surely would have perished; without the credit he accumulated he would not have been able to afford the medical care after the attack. He was fortunate enough to still be able to function, fortunate enough that he could still perform his tasks. If it weren''t for that tragedy, he would not have been hired by Esaander. And he would not have been there to witness the scene playing out before him. Xant sat upon the Director¡¯s office floor, encased in military-grade armour, clapping his four fingers hands as instructed. He nodded his long-snouted nose along to the beat, black, graceful ears twitched from side to side, caught up in the infectious melody. ¡°Boom boom, shacka lacka lacka boom!¡± Beside him, the 10ft tall Captain Rynard was happily stomping his foot and tail, shaking the furniture and floor with his sheer size and bulk. The reptilian soldier roared with delight, proving his years of experience in his own set of armour bouncing from one taloned foot to the other with relative ease. ¡°Boom boom, shacka lacka lacka boom!¡± Between the pair weaved two furry four-legged companions, the golden-haired Sieglinde wagged her tail barking loudly, the normally stalwart Spades moved with such vigour the metal plates tied to his neck clanged and scraped together. But they, more than anyone were caught up with their Namegiver¡¯s projection, For that moment in time, she was the star at the centre of their universe. Jasmine, the lone human, was singing her lungs out. Dressed in only a blue cloak hastily wrapped around her body and intoxicated by cleaning ethanol, the Namegiver poured her emotions into her words, sweeping her companions up in the fever of her joy and celebration of life. ¡°Open the door get on the floor! Everybody walk the dinosaur!¡± she shouted, feet stomping on the floor with every word. The hope born from the horrors she had survived against all odds was something Xant was truly blessed to have witnessed. ¡°boom boom, shacka lacka lacka BOOM!¡± With one final shout the human flopped her arms around and collapsed in a fit of laughter and exhaustion. ¡°Another! Another!¡± Rynard begged her, but Jasmine waved him off. ¡°Jebus Rynard! Give a girl a rest will ya? I¡¯ll lose my voice if I keep going much longer¡­¡± she reached for a knocked over canister of water, struggling to unscrew the lid only to find it empty. ¡°Ughh! Haa haa, no more booze left heh heh,¡± she laughed and tossed it aside, ¡°Spades fetch!¡± Spades ignored the order however and instead launched himself at the human, Sieglinde too, dived for their companion, nuzzling and snuggling up to the girl on the white polished floor. ¡°Hey hey! get off get off!¡± she laughed. Xant approached the gathering slowly, still getting used to the steel armour that had been given to him only hours before. As wonderful as the moment was, the Zenthi doctor was in charge of her well being, and regrettably, informing the powerful individual of her fate. ¡°Jasmine?¡± he asked for her attention as the human pushed away her furry friends. ¡°Yeah?¡± she responded, her bright blue eyes swollen with past tears and shimmering with her smile. ¡°I know this may not be the appropriate time but...¡± he sat down beside her, preparing to tell the human about the Galactic Rangers arrival and her departure from Esaander. ¡°But what?¡± she asked when he did not continue his sentence. His ears folded down on his head, Xant knew that as soon as he told her, the positive, happy atmosphere she was producing would vanish. He didn¡¯t want to lose that feeling, not just yet. ¡°I wanted to ask about a concept you spoke of before you started singing.¡± He proposed. The human chuckled throwing her head back in an alarmingly fluid fashion. ¡°I mean, I don''t mean to be rude or nothing but I¡¯m pretty sloshed (drunk) I¡¯m not sure how well on the¡­¡± her eyes focused on nothing, waving her hand as she let the sentence hang in the air ¡°Talking, information, thing¡­¡± The gaze turned to Xant and he felt compelled to speak up. ¡°Explanation?¡± he offered. ¡°Yes! That thing!¡± Her hand waving at him ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll be good at it since I¡¯m pretty sloshed¡± she repeated, the blinding smile returned ¡°but go ahead! I¡¯ll do my best to be compbrhenstable, comprestable...¡± ¡°Comprehensive?¡± Xant offered again, feeling the subtle tingle down his spine. Her waving hand pointed at him, her head bobbing up and down. ¡°Yeah, that.¡± Xant wondered if he shouldn¡¯t try later, the human was extremely intoxicated, but the effects were far too fascinating not to probe. It wasn¡¯t just her loss of physical precision, but her cognitive control was appalling, he had noted that the secondary frequency her brain produced had been unusually quiet, suppressed by the ethanol? There was still so much that they didn¡¯t know about humanity, Xant could only lament that they would not have enough time to complete the research needed. ¡°During your speech, you were speaking of your friend and opening a business on a moon.¡± ¡°Uh-huh?¡± ¡°You used a word to describe it, a word, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m unfamiliar with, could you elaborate further upon it?¡± She looked glassy eyed into the empty air. ¡°What did I say?¡± ¡°You said, ¡®it was always your ***** to open a business¡¯,¡± Xant explained as best he could. ¡°What does ***** mean?¡± She stared at him again, struggling to understand and convey her knowledge. ¡°Well, it¡¯s like, an aspiration or a perfect plan I suppose, like what you want to happen and what should happen if everything goes according to plan and god gifts you with an extraordinary amount of luck and stuff¡­¡± ¡°A perfect plan?¡± Xant repeated unsure if the nuances had translated correctly between her intoxication and explanation. ¡°See it¡¯s not that hard! We know all those things!¡± Rynard interrupted. Xant turned towards Rynard. ¡°But.. I¡¯m sure we¡¯re missing something, I understand aspiration and the satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan-¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s got a song about it then?!¡± Rynard suggested hopefully, his body still bouncing from the last tune. ¡°A song?¡± Xant looked at the aging soldier incredulously. ¡°I hardly think such a concept would be translatable in song-¡± ¡°Song about ******?¡± Jasmine processed, before her wide grin returned. She jumped to her feet and swayed as she walked, but with more purpose and rhythm, ¡°I know a few!¡± she walked right up to Rynard and without any hesitation whatsoever grabbed one of his steel coated claws in each hand and began to sway with them from side to side, creating a new rhythm as she began to sing again. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I know you, I¡¯ve walked with you once upon a *****,¡± the human then without warning spun herself within the soldiers claws before instinctively returning to her original position, body jumping from foot to foot as she sang the next line. ¡°I know you, that gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleaaaaam¡± she twirled right out of Rynard¡¯s arms and into that of the stunned Xant, who¡¯s ears shot up as she took his own hands instead. ¡°But I know it¡¯s trueeeeee, that visions are seldom what they seeeem.¡± She lifted Xants hand above her head twirled on the spot, but stopped her swaying to look directly into Xants eyes. ¡°But if I know youu, I¡¯ll know what you doooo¡± Her warm fingers tapped the bridge of his skull gently, freezing him on the spot as she twirled, pressed her back into his embrace and crossed his arms over her, continuing the sway that was integral to the song. ¡°You¡¯ll love me at once, the way you did once-upon-a *************¡± Then just as quickly as they were together, the human broke the stance, twirling out of his grasp and onto the office floor continuing the song and spinning in free form, the blue cape, fluttering and billowing with her movements. Xant¡¯s ears felt as though they would pull themselves off his head. His arms lingered in the air unsure of what to do. In the end, he could only watch as the human repeated the dance with her furry compatriots. ¡°Did she just?...¡± Rynard asked ominously. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± the doctor replied as the human¡¯s voice got louder into the song. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t recommend taking anything Jasmine does seriously while in this state.¡± ¡°But if I know youuuuu!¡± she sang to Sieglinde, her twirling becoming unstable ¡°I know what you¡¯ll du. Duhhh... Dooooo.¡± Jasmine stopped spinning immediately and her body resisted the sudden loss of momentum, she willed her body, suddenly and swiftly to the corner of Laandi¡¯s office, zig zagging involuntarily as she collapsed to her knees and proceeded to empty her stomach into the vicinity of Laandi¡¯s washroom. It was the most unpleasant of sights. And sounds¡­ ¡­ and smells. Rynard¡¯s bellowing laughter drowned out any sort of wonder the song had, and Xant decided to help his poor charge. The doctor had to flinch with every convulse of Jasmine¡¯s stomach, three more putrid pulses ebbed out of the human before she finished, and leant her body up against the archway. ¡°Are you alright Jasmine?¡± Jasmine coughed and sputtered, spitting the last dregs into the automatic washroom. ¡°No¡­¡± she confessed ¡°Been a long time since I threw up like that.¡± ¡°Is that a common side effect to ethanol intoxication?¡± ¡°When I drink too much, yeah¡­¡± she gulped for air. ¡°Xant?¡± ¡°Yes, Jasmine?¡± ¡°Could I have some water?¡± the shine from her eyes and smile had gone, a very pitiful expression crossed her face. Xant didn¡¯t like it at all. ¡°Of course Jasmine.¡± he nodded and turned to go fetch her some water. Rynard was still howling with laughter, his rumbling voice now overpowered the positive vibes Jasmine emotional Freq had been giving out. Spades and Sieglinde had retired and were now sitting quietly in the small pillow nest the human had made. Xant¡¯s incredulous look turned into a downright scowl towards the old soldier. ¡°Isn¡¯t the laughter a bit much?¡± The hulking soldier lowered his voice towards the citizen sized doctor, a beaming grin still on his armoured face. ¡°Takes me back to basic,¡± The soldier reminisced ¡°Dosed up on Glass and breaking pirate bones, watching a Captain stumble like he lost his own tail. Almost makes me miss the GCR.¡± ¡°Intoxication is not a trivial matter for Citizens.¡± Xant warned fetching a water canister from the food dispenser and walked it over to Jasmine. ¡°But she did it to herself!¡± Rynard protested. Xant knelt down to hand the canister to Jasmine, but she didn¡¯t reach for it. The human had fallen unconscious, mild pleasant waves ebbed from her translator but Jasmine remained still. Xant became worried, without his dataslate he couldn¡¯t directly check her vitals, they would need to move her to a more secure location. ¡°Captain! We need to move Jasmine, she needs medical care.¡± Rynard snapped to attention, and tapped his comms device. ¡°Captain Rynard reporting. Subject is incapacitated and secured, transferring to security for quarantine.¡± Rynard scooped up the unconscious human in one hand. ¡°Escorting User Specimens to security for quarantine.¡± The old soldier motioned to the doctor, disconnecting the comms. ¡°Are we gonna need her armour?¡± Xant looked over to the simple, carapace grown citizen armour, one of the few body coverings Jasmine possessed. ¡°We will need it,¡± he answered. ¡°The FreqBand is attached to the armour, we will need its data.¡± Rynard grunted in compliance and scooped up the light armour in his free claw. He took one last look around the Directors office and snickered. ¡°It¡¯s going to take forever to clean this up¡­¡± -*- The Soldier and Doctor made their way down through the empty station complex, the other Esaander staff members kept in secure locations, away from the formidable human. Xant coaxed the dogs to follow, an easy enough task since the creatures practically refused to be separated from their Namegiver. Private Arc and Suk, insectoid Arvas guards stood waiting in the security wing for their captain. ¡°Captain!¡± Suk stood at attention, saluting with both right arms across his chest. ¡°Capt¡¯n!¡± Arc saluted in kind. Both guards wings nearly popped out of their armour when they caught sight of the limp human in their captains arms. ¡°Dont worry,¡± Rynard smirked. ¡°Her grace will be fine.¡± the captain walked right past his subordinates and began the unlocking sequence for the Freq-proof training room. Xant followed in shortly after, the dogs by his side, Sieglinde slightly confused, Spades single mindedly followed after Jasmine. ¡°Private Suk?¡± Xant quired. ¡°Yes Doctor?¡± ¡°Would you go to my office and retrieve some items for me? I need both a medical Dataslate and the Freq-Recorder slate,¡± Private Suk looked to his captain, who gave a nod as the Freq-proof door opened. ¡°Yes, Doctor,¡± Xant gave further directions as to find the equipment he needed, Suk Saluted and followed through with his orders. ¡°Arc!¡± Rynard barked an order ¡°You¡¯re to stand guard outside you hear?!¡± ¡°Yessir!¡± the second guard saluted and ran quickly out to guard the security office door. Rynard rolled his shoulders and let out a sigh. ¡°The Director will be wanting a report no doubt, I¡¯ll try and get it over and done with quickly. You gonna stay here with Jasi?¡± Xant nodded, ears lifting from his head. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll need to ensure she doesn¡¯t suffer any ill effects from the intoxication and record everything from our encounter.¡± The doctor looked toward the citizen issue armour, around its wrist was the Freq-band recorder. ¡°And, I¡¯ll take the time to analyse the Freq-bomb recording.¡± Rynard gave a grave nod. ¡°Maybe hold off on that until you can get to the medical-wing,¡± he suggested. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, quickly hopefully,¡± he lamented and walked into his hab quarters to peel off the steel suit. Xant wasn¡¯t quite ready to do the same. He wanted to learn from the experience, hopefully, it may persuade his future employers to consider him for more military operations. The golden-haired Sieglinde had shaken off the timidness and was enjoying her reunion with Kimiko. Spades, the larger of the trio had taken to laying down beside Jasmine. Xant inspected the human, without his dataslate there was not much he could do except ensure she was still breathing and blood flow continued. Xant looked towards the older dog, without the influence of his Namegiver¡¯s freq the beast seemed to fall into a solemn stance. He lay down beside the sleeping human, his ears drooped and rested his head between his paws. A defeated expression. A lingering symptom of the freq bomb? Without his dataslate, there was little he could do for Jasmine, but, every conversation he had had with the quadruped User species had given him some insight into the Humans behaviour. ¡®Hello friend¡­¡¯ Xant began gently, speaking to the User on the natural telepathic frequency both their species shared. Spades did not reply. ¡®Friend, are you sad from the howl?¡¯ ¡®Yes.¡¯ Came the simple yet powerful answer. ¡®Why?¡¯ ¡®Namegiver, she howled for Beau¡­¡¯ The dog answered the doctor, ¡®Beau is gone, Namegivers only howl when someone is gone.¡¯ ¡®Was Beau your Namegiver?¡¯ ¡®Yes. my partner, my pack, we fought together, we hunted together in the Bad Sands.¡¯ Besides ¡®The Howl¡¯, the dogs had only ever spoken positively of humans and their lives together. Together as ¡®family¡¯ packs, protective and caring of one another, but fighting together? hunting together? Jasmine had certainly shown combat potential, but she never spoke of a life with it. She had insisted she was a citizen, what was a military grade human like? ¡®What were The Bad Sands like?¡¯ Xant asked. ¡®The Bad Sands, no home, no bed, fire and smoke, pain and fear.¡¯ Spades looked up at Xant with tired, sad brown eyes. ¡®Heat, metal, loud shouts, angry shouts.¡¯ The dogs voice growled as he remembered. ¡®Sour smells, salty smells, hot sand. Blood¡­¡¯ Spades whimpered and shuffled his head down. ¡®We were home, no Bad Sands, no more fear. No more Beau.¡¯ An emptying silence overcame Xant. He had felt such fear before, forcing anyone to relive such memories was abhorrent. ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Xant apologized. They sat in silence a moment before Spades looked up from the floor. ¡®Friend, Have you lost your Namegiver too?¡¯ Xant had to chuckle. By calling himself ¡®Friend¡¯ the dog thought Xant was one like him, a ¡®Friend¡¯ and ¡®Friends¡¯ always had a ¡®Namegiver¡¯ ¡®No Friend Spades, I am my own Namegiver.¡¯ The doctor explained. Spades sniffed then shuddered. ¡®Not Namegiver, not Friend?¡¯ The dog tilted his head not understanding ¡®I am Friend, Namegiver Xant.¡¯ The doctor expressed as simply as he could. ¡®Friend Xant.. Not Namegiver Xant. Only one Namegiver now¡­¡¯ Xant couldn''t fault the Creature, there only was one Namegiver, he stroked the creatures head and agreed with him. ¡®I understand Friend Spades,¡¯ Dreams Chapter 2 Incident Report Operations Manager Isk stood within the empty halls of the medical ward, unsettled. His lower set of hands held onto the dataslate tightly, his brown antennae twitched as the device read out the list of damages. Almost half the staff of Uleesia station had been incapacitated in an instant. The other half held in quarantine as far away from the volatile subject responsible as physically possible. The entire facility on lockdown, for everyone''s safety. Isk completely cleared his schedule, sent numerous urgent reports to EsaanderEssander Corp HQ about the incident, and shifted everyone still conscious down below the security wing. He had people resting in the hydroponics rooms, storage, and even the docking bay. The only staff allowed above were the medical staff, who were vital in stabilizing the staff members affected by the Freq-bomb, at the very least until the company¡¯s auditors could assess the situation. The loss of Contribution Credits from the immobilization of the station, as well as the loss of staff assets, could possibly have just negated any profit from accepting this venture. This event would have exacted a large toll on this contract of Lieutenant Commander Nako¡¯s, and Isk wasn¡¯t sure the contract insurance would be able to cover the exorbitant damages incurred. But it would a be long time before anyone would have the time to listen to the contractual details. For now, Isk¡¯s primary concern was ensuring that his remaining staff were protected from the alien threat. Isk made his way up to the medical wing, as he needed to request Chief Medical Officer Krydon¡¯s final assessment before he could send an update to HQ. However, he was stopped in his tracks when confronted with the sight of CMO Krydon discussing staff member holomaps with an unauthorized participant. Isk¡¯s wings flapped under his grey scrubs and stormed towards the pair in a fury. ¡°Dr Jess!¡± he fumed, ¡°What are you doing out of quarantine?!¡± Dr Kyda Jess snapped her head up in shock and offered an excuse for her grievous disregard for protocol. ¡°I am here at CMO Krydon¡¯s request,¡± she replied, a clawed hand clinging to her dataslate for support, her lavender coloured scales paling as she tried to explain. ¡°I have the necessary training to administer chems and have been assisting in the diagnosis of the affected assets.¡± CMO Krydon snorted, nodding his head as he adjusted the live feed of the medical holomaps on display. Everyone on the Uleesia Station staff was fitted with a transmitter that relayed a constant feed of the patient''s current medical condition. Blood pressure, nutrient intake, nerve condition, stress, cell growth, every measurable instance that could be monitored was. ¡°Since the damage caused by Subject Jasmine on our staff members was so extensive, a second pair of eyes has been most enlightening.¡± Dr Krydon added, returning to inspect the holomaps. ¡°Enlightening?!¡± Isk snapped, back arching as his wings fanned out in full display, ¡°It''s practically a warzone in here!¡± Isk¡¯s right arms cast a damning conviction as he pointed to the full ward. Twenty pods lined in the testing room, each with a comatose body. A harrowing sight for a citizen not normally exposed to such dangers. ¡°It is not a warzone, Isk,¡± Krydon sighed dully. ¡°I¡¯m sure we are quite safe now, the Subject has been contained and is secure inside a Freq-proof room.-¡± ¡°It should never have been allowed to walk around unsecured in the first place!¡± Isk snapped, guilt fueling his anger. ¡°We should have put it in a Freq-proof room after the first incident with the User. The minute it took control of the entire staff without effort...¡± ¡°Research is not without its risks,¡± Jess reminded him, her own voice tinged with bitterness, ¡°And if we had locked it away in a Freq-proof room, I doubt we would have collected nearly as much data. From all the video and audio files I''ve studied, Subject Jasmine would have grown even more hostile should we have tried to isolate her.¡± Isk¡¯s wings fluttered threateningly before he folded them back into his scrubs. ¡°Alright then,¡± he hissed, ¡°Since you¡¯re the expert, how exactly shall we proceed?¡± Jess blinked, her jaw opened ever so slightly in shock. ¡°Uh, I don''t understand-¡± ¡°You said you¡¯ve studied the Subject,¡± the tall insectoid loomed over the young saurian, all six eyes staring her down. ¡°How do we proceed so this catastrophe will not be repeated?¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Dr Jess took a step back before ruffling her own shoulders, she and Isk were the same rank, he had no right to try and intimidate her! ¡°So far, Subject Jasmine has only acted out in sudden moments of distress,¡± she explained to the operations manager, ¡°And Dr Xant has been so excited to study Subject Jasmine that he has been pressing matters and information that he isn¡¯t remotely equipped for. He has done a remarkable job of winning her trust, which is possibly what saved him from the massive Freq-pulse.¡± ¡°Saved him? Explain.¡± ¡°Here, look at this,¡± Jess snapped, trying to not let Isk¡¯s coldness get to her. She flicked her tail to bring up several of the active brain scans of the patients onto the holomap all at once for a comparison. ¡°Ever since I was privy to the information regarding Dr Duuarn¡¯s condition after the second incident, I''ve been doing my own research into the exposure effects Subject Jasmine has been having on the other members of staff.¡± ¡°Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq-bomb exposure has burned and cauterised several neural pathways in the staff members¡¯ brain matter,¡± she explained, hands and tail manipulating the controls simultaneously. Dr Jess switched the holo-display to focus on three subjects in particular, Dr Duuarn, Dr Xant, and one of the maintenance crew. ¡°The amount of damage Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq-bomb can cause to citizens is phenomenal, on par with other known military units! The burnt nerves account for almost 30% of total brain function, enough to completely stiff or destroy any citizen unit. Her Freq signals have completely overloaded the normal citizen nerves; there is simply too much energy for the nervous system to handle, so it burns into living tissue, making new paths to disperse the energy. That was the damage caused by one human Freq-pulse, the highest recorded Frequency our equipment could measure. It is certainly a marvel that no one in that ward expired on the spot!¡± Isk folded both pairs of arms. ¡°They¡¯re all stable?¡± he asked, suspiciously. Jess nodded, bringing up Dr Duuarn¡¯s three previous scans. ¡°Dr Duuarn¡¯s current status,¡± she pointed out the progression of the Freq-burns in his brain. ¡°As you can see, the same Freq-burns are present in Dr Duuarn, but activity is still present within the damaged nerves. Thanks to CMO Krydon¡¯s restorative skills, Dr Duuarn was able to survive the pulse relatively intact from the Subject¡¯s Frequency Aggression. His motor skills are slowly returning, but his personality has been altered completely.¡± Dr Jess paused, her tongue licking her sharp teeth, looking down at her dataslate ruefully. ¡°Where once he was ambitious and confident, he is now a poor imitation of his former self. Passive, uninterested in further academic pursuits. One could say that he is no longer a threat.¡± Isk¡¯s antennae stood up at Jess¡¯s throwaway comment, but he didn''t interrupt her. ¡°Which brings us to Dr Xant¡¯s scans.¡± Jess flicked up the last four scans of Dr Xant, the differences between them were astonishing. The last piece of the puzzle was laid out before Isk and his simmering anger plummeted straight into horror. Xant¡¯s brain had been completely altered from the bio-scans less than a week ago! Where Duuarn and the staff members were incapacitated with nerve burnout, Xant¡¯s brain was thriving with activity! ¡°Dr Xant has had more exposure to The Subject than anyone else aboard the station. But unlike the other staff members, he has been stimulated rather than burned. Dr Xant has grown more sociable and confident in the last few days; I mean, he even complimented me in the last meeting!¡± Jess looked away bashfully for a moment and cleared her throat. ¡°The point is, Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq can deliver both negative and positive effects based on her motives.¡± ¡°So quarantine is the best course of action,¡± Isk noted, pulling out his dataslate. ¡°But not in isolation!¡± Jess added quickly. ¡°Subject Jasmine may be prone to more outbursts if we restrict her now.¡± ¡°Quarantine is defined by isolation¡­¡± Isk replied flatly. ¡°Yes, but, if we remove the ¡®dogs¡¯, I can guarantee she will become more aggressive.¡± She swished her tail in thought, ¡°It might be better to isolate everyone who has had ¡®positive¡¯ reactions to Subject Jasmine.¡± Isk did not approve of Jess¡¯s suggestion. The last thing he wanted was for the unknown Rajavan specimen to gain more of a foothold with the staff. If she had already brought the captain and the executive director to her side, there could even be the possibility of a coup! Everyone she approved of was fine, everyone who got in her way was altered. Everything about this alien was terrifyingly powerful and unknown. They weren''t equipped to handle this. ¡°So, keep her Grace isolated and happy¡­¡± Isk muttered under his breath, ¡°And ask the Lieutenant Commander to remove her from our facility as quickly as possible.¡± Too many times the Alien Subject¡¯s actions had been overlooked by his superiors in the name of a smooth First Contact transition. This could no longer be ignored. ¡°Do you concur with Dr Jess¡¯s conclusions, CMO?¡± Isk queried for confirmation. The old doctor picked his teeth, and replied with a sinister grin. ¡°More or less,¡± He wiped his drool covered claw on his white coat before using the same hand to send Isk a report from the holo-display. ¡°I have the entire event recorded with brain scans at Dr Jess¡¯s insistence, and I¡¯ve gone ahead and created a list of all affected staff assets.¡± The Operations Manager scanned the list, nodding his head with a new determination. ¡°This is drastic, but it must be done. I¡¯ll input the list of names into the station system so it can recognise the new chain of command.¡± He tucked the dataslate under his arm. ¡°The new security team and staff members will be arriving in [4 hours]. Since we have agreed to isolate affected staff, protocol dictates that both ED Laandi and DH Xant are to be temporarily relieved of command. CMO Krydon, as the longest-serving member of staff, you will be promoted to Acting Executive Director-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll refrain if you don''t mind,¡± Krydon interrupted, picking another part of his gums. ¡°I have too many patients to look after to be some Arvas¡¯ prince¡¯s tour guide.¡± ¡°In that case, since I have to remain as Operations Manager, Dr Jess, you are hereby promoted from Department Head to Acting Executive Director. Please meet me and Captain Rynard at the Docks in [4 hours] to welcome aboard the new crew.¡± Jess blinked and nodded her head slowly. ¡°I-I accept, OM Isk-¡± But the manager swiftly turned away, furiously tapping his dataslate to input the new chain of command. He only hoped he had enough time to ensure the handover went smoothly. -*- Dreams Chapter 3 Induction Day Rynard made his way down to the docking area of the station. As Captain, it was his duty to oversee any and all incoming shipments. The job normally consisted of him looking menacingly at the transport crew and ensuring that cargo and specimens were delivered safely. He was looking forward to meeting the reinforcements and, to put them at ease, was going so far as to rehearse the welcoming speech he had prepared. Arc and Suk were fine company and all, but they had never seen active combat, Rynard could only hope that HQ had sent other veterans like himself. Having some more experienced guards that would be able to handle Jasi¡¯s pulses would mean he would be able to return to the more ¡®relaxed¡¯ shifts he had grown accustomed to in his retirement. He had changed out of his steel armour regalia and into the standard Esaander uniform armour; black with orange decal stripes, his old unit number emblazoned on the front. The only thing separating him from the Company Guards. OM Isk was already waiting at the greeting room and curiously, Dr. Jess was waiting there, too. Rynard looked down on the citizen model Sulin; reptilian much like himself, but streamlined. Her sleek figure dressed in more formalwear than what was required for a doctor, putting the old soldier on edge. She didn''t normally wear anything other than the white doctor''s coat and the occasional different coloured jumpsuit. So to see her put in the effort of a black coat and two-piece matching casualwear was¡­ amusing. She clearly was trying to hide her insecurity. Captain Rynard folded his arms behind his back and rested his tail, looking down at his citizen employers. ¡°OM Isk, Dr. Jess. Captain Rynard reporting as requested,¡± he announced. ¡°And thank you for reporting so promptly!¡± Dr. Jess greeted, head held noticeably higher and with unsteady eye contact. ¡°It is my duty as Security Captain to oversee all new arrivals. Any reason why I wouldn¡¯t be down for this one?¡± Rynard replied teasingly. Jess was caught off guard by the captain''s light-hearted joke. Isk was not so perturbed. ¡°You are the senior officer and the only one with the ability to keep Subject Jasmine under control, should she go rogue,¡± Isk responded, ¡°I suspect if she were not under control, you would not be here.¡± Rynard snorted. ¡°So does that mean there won''t be any more threats towards my Contribution Credit scale?¡± ¡°Your invaluable contributions to the station have been noted, Captain.¡± Isk retorted. ¡°Just checking.¡± ¡°Captain Rynard,¡± Jess stepped forward, trying to assert a presence in front of the intimidating veteran. ¡°Due to the unusual circumstances of Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq abilities, we have been forced to temporarily suspend the current chain of command. Until the full effect of Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq abilities can be assessed, all staff members who have been exposed to Subject Jasmine''s frequency are to be quarantined.¡± ¡°Exposed to the frequency?¡± Rynard asked, towering over Jess and trapping her in his shadow. ¡°What does that mean for me?¡± Jess instinctively lowered her head and tried to skulk away. Isk, on the other hand, was not having any of it. ¡°Captain, you¡¯ll be assessed first. But since you were able to restrain and detain the Subject without any harm to yourself, we can only assume that you have not been compromised by her intentions.¡± Isk rationalised, but clearly was not comfortable with the situation at all. Rynard licked his teeth and returned to his more relaxed position. ¡°Well, you got nothing to be pushing your bulges over,¡± the captain reassured, ¡°Jasi ain''t in the business of hostile takeovers.¡± Somehow, Rynard''s words did not have the desired effect on his employers. Isk and Jess shifted nervously to attention. The docking procedure complete, filtered air pushed its way from the shuttle and into the welcoming hall. Seven Esaander employee assets made their way onto the station. Four Sulin guards like Rynard stepped off first, marching proudly in polished black and orange armour, emblazoned with the Esaander logo above their serial codes. Rynard took a good look at them. The serial codes were sequential and contained eight digits. He had been hoping for more experienced units but was instead granted guards fresh out of the vat. But at least that meant they would be easily impressed. Behind them stood two citizen geneticists, Doctors Intiias and Parvaati. The geneticists were unsurprisingly Qzetillian, grey heads on skinny bodies with big black eyes. Cheaper body models by the look of it as well; the different coloured hems on their white coats being the only indicator that they were from different genecenters. Esaander certainly wasn''t sending their best stock... Lastly, the all-important Translator Specialist, Doctor Ta''na Su Yusa stepped off the shuttle. A Zenthi, female body build with broad shoulders and longer ears shuffled onto the station. She was completely covered in an isolation suit, pale blue and grey, the Kyukage logo stamped on her sleeve. Guards and geneticists were as common as waurdess paste, but a Translator Specialist was rare outside of genecenters and progenitor companies. This Zenthi was on loan from a mega-corp. Jess pulled her shoulder back and held her head up high, welcoming the new crew to the station. ¡°The Esaander Corporation welcomes you to its Eastern Quadrant Research Division, Uleesia Station. Esaander Corp: Quick and Conclusive results!?" The station''s computer chimed before Jess could get her welcome speech in. She stood silent for a moment before licking her teeth and starting again. ¡°Welcome to Uleesia station! I am Acting Executive Director Kyda Jess. Doctors Intiias, Parvaati, and Yusa, if you would follow me and my Operations Manager Au Isk, we can give you a proper induction.¡± The new arrivals separated themselves; the doctors following Jess and Isk, the guards staying behind, standing at attention in the presence of their senior officer. Rynard waited until the citizens had left the room before addressing his new recruits. ¡°Guardsmen!¡± Rynard barked, watching as all of them stood even more at attention at the order. ¡°Relax, men!¡± The old soldier laughed, ¡°I''m not sure what you were briefed on, but this may be the easiest assignment of your short careers¡­¡± The guards looked at one another in confusion for a moment before the natural leader of the bunch moved to express his concerns. He twitched his tail erratically from one side to the other. Rynard noticed the movement and nodded his head. ¡°Permission to speak granted, guardsman.¡± ¡°Captain, we were told this would be a prime target for Pirate attack¡­¡± ¡°Negative. We¡¯re the prime target for a possible attack. But more than likely you¡¯ll be on escort duty of our newest specimen.¡± The new recruits tilted their heads in confusion. Rynard grinned widely. ¡°Let me tell you guys all about Jasi¡­¡± -*- Jess tried to be more comfortable in her new role as Acting Executive Director. She knew what the role entailed, she had studied the position since the beginning of her academic career, and it was, ultimately, a position she had always strived for. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. But, standing there in the bio-engineering department, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that the victory tasted bittersweet. The universe had granted her this position, but it had taken so much in the process. What rubbed her scales the wrong way was that there was still so much for her to accomplish. Where once she was happy to attain the position and dignity of a Director¡¯s title, knowing that an unlimited Contribution Credit score was within her reach was a challenge too tempting to ignore. Becoming Head researcher for a First Contact species? That would get her more than just an apartment on Clentessia. That could get her a progenitor company on Clentessia! She was almost salivating just thinking about the prestige. It was what they had always wanted. It was what she had always wanted. Jess preened the scales on the back of her head, smoothing out the already silken scales as she introduced the new doctors to the facility. The bioengineering lab was one of the largest on the station, the room needed to have as many computers running at all times and took up most of the station¡¯s power. A dozen or more cubic servers stood side by side, normally with an attendant at each one. However, after Subject Jasmine¡¯s Freq-Bomb, only a handful of staff were available to keep the data running. Dr. Intiias and Dr. Parvaati were looking to the overworked and stim-twitching Dr. Ceaan who was going over the ¡®User Sequencing¡¯ Project from the main terminal, debriefing the pair on the work they had completed and what still needed to be done. DH Dr. Duuarn had been out of commission as head of the department for nearly [5 days] now, but it was still an unsettling sight for Jess to see someone else behind his desk. Standing where he should have been standing. Dr. Jess approached the three grey-headed Qzetillians frantically scouring through the terminal, and watched the new arrivals¡¯ faces as they came to realise the gravity of the task before them. They were overwhelmed, consumed by the task at hand. ¡°Dr. Intiias, did HQ not inform you of the level of work required at this posting?¡± Jess inquired, trying to get Dr. Intiias¡¯ attention. At first, the new Doctor didn''t answer, as he was too caught up in the data presented to him. But he almost snapped his own neck when he realised Dr. Jess was waiting for an answer. ¡°The data here¡­¡± he managed to sputter out while his black, almond eyes crept back to the screen, ¡°...this is UNIVERSE tipping!¡± Jess smiled politely back, ¡°Indeed, we¡¯ve all been very excited with these developments. Which is why I was wondering: what will you need in order to cope?¡± A leading question, she needed to give the impression such a feat did not intimidate her like it did him. Establishing dominance in her own subtle way. ¡°Not without a constant supply of stims that for sure!¡± Dr. Intiias exclaimed with a nervous chuckle, trying to make light of the situation. ¡°So, a great deal of work ahead of you, then?¡± Jess replied, adding more pressure by implying that the responsibility of failure lied solely on their shoulders. Dr. Parvaati¡¯s wide eyes lifted from the display, and just barely managed to splutter out a reply. ¡°From what Dr. Ceaan has shown us, the project has barely begun! The computers have only just finished the sequencing of one of the specimens, and there are MILLIONS of genomes to filter through and isolate! It might take the entire department weeks just to categorise them all! Never mind cross-examining for trigger switches or neutralising combinations¡­¡± Dr. Jess nodded her head, and then let them know that the amount of work was no excuse. ¡°Unlimited stimulants will be provided. Was there anything else you needed to complete your work?¡± Dr. Intiias clicked his toothplates together nervously, looking to his companions, but Dr. Parvaati had already fallen back into the information black hole on his screen and Dr. Ceaan, despite being second on the project, was looking to Intiias for guidance. ¡°N-no Director, that will be all,¡± Dr. Iniitas replied. Satisfied that her presence and position as Acting Director had been made clear, Jess made a note on her dataslate for Isk to grant the bioengineering department free-reign on stims and whatever supplies they needed. _*_ Along with the geneticists Dr. Duuarn had requested, Dr. Xant had put in a formal request for a Specialist Translator. Since most GC citizens and GCR military alike were installed with a translator organ in vitro, it was only the Arvas who had it installed after maturity. Dr. Ta''na Su Yusa was a highly specialised scientist from a progenitor corporation. Should a translator organ malfunction or be installed within a void-born pirate, she could grow one from scratch to meet the individual''s needs. Jess didn''t approach right away, but Dr. Ta''na Su Yusa was a Zenthi, so no doubt the new doctor had already felt her presence. Giant glass incubators bubbled with life-preserving liquids, others filled with exact quantities of amino acids and binding agents. An exact and delicate science was worked in this sterilized room. The Doctor herself was inspecting the pristine equipment, unused since Esaander had not yet received its Progeny licence. Much of station was built in anticipation of the 8,000 staff capacity. ¡°Is Everything to your liking, Dr. Yusa?¡± Jess inquired, hoping to get a better read on the guest. ¡°It is adequate¡± The visiting specialist replied, ¡°I trust the necessary genefiles will be delivered to my terminal.¡± Jess faltered, she had been quietly gathering all the information she could of Subject Jasmine, and knew for a fact that her gene-sequencing had been put on hold in favour of processing the ¡®dogs¡¯ first. ¡°As soon as they are available, Doctor.¡± Dr. Yusa¡¯s ears flattened in concern. ¡°Are they not readily available from the initial examination?¡± ¡°We have the bio-samples available, Doctor, but the Subject¡¯s DNA has yet to be put to file. Shall I can give you access to the medical scans and research documents of the Subject?¡± Jess offered. ¡°If you please,¡± Dr. Yusa nodded, ¡°I was given very little data in regards to the Subject, just that it was of the utmost urgency.¡± Jess had suspected as much. Information between companies was often sold at incredibly high prices; Kyukage corp had probably charged an obscene amount of credits to loan Dr. Yusa out. But the chances of Dr. Yusa returning once she found out exactly what it was she was working on were microscopic. The chance to create an entirely new organ to tailored alien genetics was a career-making opportunity! ¡°Then the first step would be for you to read the research we have available on Subject Jasmine, for you to truly understand the scope of your task.¡± Jess flicked the audio and image files over to the terminal from her dataslate. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Yusa murmured, peering at the visual files, ¡°Is it a new Qzetillian variant?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jess smirked, unable to hold back her excitement any longer, ¡°Subject Jasmine is not of GC origin!¡± A stunned silence hung in the air. ¡°Not of Galactic Council origin?¡± ¡°From the data gathered and confessions of the Subject herself, Jasmine isn¡¯t a lost species from the Painful Dynasty, but a complete independent evolutionary strain!¡± Jess announced proudly. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping a close eye on all the reports thus far and it is the most reasonable conclusion. The amount of anomalous behaviour she displays, as well as the more confounding aspects of her biology is the reason for your assignment, Doctor.¡± Dr. Yusa¡¯s ears stood on end and her body stiffened as Jess presented to her an almost unheard of situation. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ You need me to create a completely new variant translator?¡± ¡°From the amino acids up!¡± Shaken, Dr. Yusa continued looking through the data on Subject Jasmine, skimming the basics of what she could to get over the shock. ¡°The Subject is missing both broadcaster and receiver organs,¡± Dr. Yusa began, ¡°Such a condition is very rare. It was completely ignorant of Freq, yet your team had designated creator level intelligence?¡± Yusa looked to Jess for confirmation. ¡°That is what Dr. Xant¡¯s reports say,¡± Jess replied, quick to assume a leadership role. ¡°I have not had the chance to meet with the creature myself but, if it helps, the physiology of the Subject was paired with a Zenthi translator without too much difficulty...¡± Jess muttered off-handedly as she began running through her own hypotheses. ¡°That does help immensely.¡± Dr. Yusa muttered distantly, scrolling through Krydon¡¯s medical notes on the surgery. ¡°I will need to incorporate an Arvas grade 3 receiver to the organ, to see how well it meshes with the Zenthi broadcaster. I will put in a request for the patents and begin on creating prototypes. Does your company have the resources for this process?¡± Jess fidgeted. ¡°We¡¯ve been allocated a projected profits budget. How long do you think it will take?¡± ¡°If she truly is outside of the GC genepool, then this is unprecedented science, Director,¡± The Specialist replied, making Jess¡¯ tail wag happily with the use of her new title. ¡°Without testing it on the Subject, we have no way to know if my calculations would be accurate, or even safe for both us and the Subject...¡± ¡°Jasmine was fitted with Freq-band, it monitors its vitals and Freq capabilities along with the other staff members. Would that data be of any use to you?¡± Jess offered, cementing herself as the ever-helpful leader. ¡°Yes, all data at this point would be invaluable. Thank you, Director.¡± Again, Jess¡¯ smile got wider and her tail wagged a little too much, quickly tapping on her dataslate making more notes for Isk. ¡°Then I shall have it organised, so make sure to take your scheduled rest periods. I would like this organ to be fitted with care so as to avoid another careless incident.¡± ¡°Another careless incident?¡± Dr. Yusa¡¯s ears perked up at the implication. Jess froze on the spot. ¡°All taken care of and under control!¡± Jess quickly dismissed the topic, ¡°Captain Rynard has the Subject confirmed and quarantined, nothing to concern yourself with!¡± Jess spun away on her tail before she should let slip any more... inconvenient details, leaving Dr. Yusa apprehensive of the task before her. Dreams Chapter 4: Reality Bites It was clammy inside the tent. Despite it being before dawn the australian heat still permeated through the air. Salt and sand stuck to her skin, more sand clung to her dark, wood-coloured hair. Today was their last day on the beach, the next morning would be the long drive back to civilisation. Back to reality. Jasmine rolled out of her sleeping bag and reached for the loose white linen shirt to throw over her bikini top. A few more of her clothes were strewn around the floor of her one-man tent. It was too hot for jeans, even if they were fashionably short, so her slightly damp board shorts from the night before would have to do. She hastily pulled her shoulder-length hair back into a bun, retrieving a hairpin lost in her locks to hold back the rogue fringe from falling in her her face and tucking whatever couldn¡¯t be held back safely behind her ear. With one final yawn she exited her shelter, greeted with the still, seawater-scented air. The ocean beyond was flat, waves lapped at the shore with barely a sound, the sky tinged purple with the threat of the oncoming sun. Jasmine stole a quick glance around the campsite. Three tents tucked beside a rusty Pajero, a car almost as old as the young adults who drove it out into the bush. A kitchen fly protecting them from the ocean winds. And four mangled camping chairs sunk into the white sand around the campfires embers. Jasmine looked out towards the ocean, a lone figure stood on the shore with a fishing rod. Warren was fishing, and for a moment, she wondered if he had even gone to bed that night. She glanced back at the tents, Katy and Chamkov were still sleeping, or at least they weren¡¯t ready to show their faces to the public. Alone and hungry, she made the decision then and there to raid the last of the food. All the good stuff had been eaten days ago, and fish for breakfast was getting a little old. The last thing untouched was a bottle of pancake mix, so she brushed most of the sand out of the frying pan and washed it with a little of the melted ice water from the bottom of the esky. The heavy metal skillet still had traces of bacon grease, but that would only serve to make the batter better. Jasmine sat in front of the campfire, raspberry jam and butter to her left, pancake mix and spatula on her right, skillet resting in the dying embers of last night¡¯s fire. She shook the two liter bottle of premade mix, pouring out small dollops of batter, no bigger than her palm, into the pan. Pikelets really. The creamy mixture bubbled and sizzled nicely, bacon grease crisping the edges while the batter rose to fluffy heights. They even behaved when she flipped them over, not a single one stuck to the surface and all had a delicious, golden brown glow. She made a note not to share the first batch with anyone. Jasmine slid the first lot of pancakes onto a plate in her lap, smothering them in butter and sticky sweet jam. The first bites were glorious, sugar and salts collided in her mouth with the hint of bacon combined with vanilla; the texture heavenly crispy, yet fluffy. She quickly gobbled up the next two, so entranced with the delicacy that she didn¡¯t even notice Warren had since abandoned his fishing experience and trudged up the beach to return to camp. ¡°You going to save us any to eat?¡± he joked, planting his Shimano rod into the sand and fixing his chair to sit by the fire. Jasmine swallowed the last gulp of her fourth pikelet, and smirked. ¡°Well,¡± she began, with a quick glance over her shoulder to the tents behind them, ¡°I think Katy and Chamkov are busy eating each other, but if you ask me really nicely,¡± she grinned, ¡°I¡¯ll make you a fresh batch!¡± Warren chortled, reaching into the camping chair¡¯s cup holder to pull out the crushed box of cigarettes, lighting his first smoke of the day (or last of the night?) on the embers. The light of the dying fire cast shadows on his long face, dirty blond hair sat scruffily on his head, the scratched pair of sunglasses he had worn the entire trip were folded over the collar of his singlet. Jasmine peered into his brown eyes, warm and golden like the fire. He smiled at her as he let out his first puff of smoke, politely blowing it down camp. It was the only thing she wasn''t too keen on, smokes destroyed your taste buds after all. ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises, you know?¡± Warren stated, watching her put more butter in the pan, "I was scared to say ¡®boo¡¯ to you a few weeks ago, you bounce back quickly!" ¡°Yeah well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve come back from worse...¡± she dismissed. ¡°Hey,¡± he said pointedly, grabbing her attention, ¡°Just because I got my ass shot doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ve had it easy! Life¡¯s going to keep throwing shit at you and it doesn¡¯t care if you get back up or not. But as long as you don¡¯t give up and keep on fighting, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Jasmine nodded thoughtfully and began pouring more batter into the pan. Warren took another drag of his smoke and let it out with a subtle laugh. ¡°I mean, you¡¯re tough enough to try and work in a kitchen; I¡¯m not that brave!¡± ¡°What? Are you saying that working a kitchen is tougher than Afghanistan?¡± ¡°Yeah nah, I¡¯m saying you couldn¡¯t pay me enough to deal with fucking customers.¡± Jasmine nearly knocked over the plate in her lap from laughing. ¡°Too right!¡± she cackled, flipping over the pancakes. The warm glow of the campfire began to fade with the encroaching dawn''s light, the bright sun glimmering on the white powdered dunes. Jasmine handed Warren his plate of breakfast and began preparing the rest. ¡°Man, that sun is bright¡­¡± -*- The security lights seared Jasmine¡¯s corneas, her face stuck to the smooth floor and her back felt as though she had been tossed out in the garbage. Light and noise were torture, it had been a long time since she had been this hungover. She had underestimated the potent mix of pure ethanol and the only alien drink that wasn¡¯t water. Jasmine¡¯s mouth tasted like someone had thrown a meat and mint milkshake out in the sun and then forced her to drink it. It hurt to exist. Soft voices vaguely mumbled somewhere in the distance and she heard her name. The recognised word struck a nerve and the translator got to work making her life even more miserable. Several voices bounced around in her skull; the aliens, the translators, and her own mind rioted for attention. Groaning in pain, the human finally stirred, pulling her aching body to sit up. Another body stirred next to her, a warm and heavy head resting in her lap. Her hands instinctively reached for comfort and her nose breathed in the familiar musty smell of Spade¡¯s fur. Staring at the company surrounding her, Jasmine¡¯s eyes forced her to face the reality of the situation. Gone were the white sandy beach and salty warm air. Blue skies and ocean replaced by a sea of cold white tiles. ¡°Jasmine, are you in pain?¡± The gentle question belonged to her friend Xant. The human was drawn towards the alien doctor. Sleek black skin covered his long face and snout, ears perked up like eagle feathers on the top of his head, warm brown eyes looked at her, concerned. She''d never noticed the speckling under his eyes, before. Xant had freckles. Jasmine nodded her head, unable to do more than one thing at a time. ¡°(Yes),¡± her translator broadcast for all to hear. The internal neural translator reverberated inside her skull, causing her to wince even further. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Jasmine, I have some depressors to stop the pain,¡± he offered her. Jasmine nodded again, accepting the offer of relief. Xant reached for her arm, but instead of the rubber gloves he normally wore, his four-fingered hands were cold, hard¡­ He was wearing some sort of power armour. She barely felt the needle pierce her skin, but she certainly felt the cool bliss of alien pharmaceuticals hit her system. Cooling liquid coursed through her veins, soothing the aches and reinvigorating her senses. She took in a sharp breath and her eyes shot open. ¡°Oh damn!¡± She exclaimed. Xant¡¯s ears wiggled a little, he seemed pleased with her reaction. ¡°How do you feel now?¡± he asked her. ¡°Much better, thank you.¡± She paused, allowing her brain to process the sight of the Doctor. ¡°What are you wearing?¡± Xant looked down at himself, and gave a shuffling, almost embarrassed gesture. ¡°It is¡­ protective equipment,¡± he reasoned. ¡°The Director was generous enough to provide a citizen like myself with Military Grade Freq Armour, in case your emotional state remained volatile.¡± Jasmine shook her head ever so slightly. ¡°No, I think I¡¯m over most of it now, there¡¯s not much left in me to let out¡­¡± Her eyes regained focus, and her chest sunk when she saw where she was: the security training room. The last time she was in that large empty room was right after the confrontation with another doctor. Jasmine was surprised by how many were in the room with her this time around. Xant was not the only one by her ¡®bedside¡¯. Executive Director Laandi sat with her long thin legs folded neatly underneath her elegant frame, black, almond eyes closed as she nodded her grey head. A hand across her chest as she greeted the human. ¡°That is a relief to hear, Miss Howe, we were concerned that you may have damaged yourself beyond repair.¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°No, no,¡± She reassured her companions, ¡°I mean, what I did was incredibly stupid, but that Depressor stuff is the best hangover cure ever!¡± ¡°Your grace?¡± To her right sat one of the twin Arvas guards. Six insectoid eyes in a lowered gaze lifted when she noticed him. He sat on his legs, four arms rested on top like a disciplined soldier. Black and orange uniformed armour looked out of place against his dull brown shell. ¡°If I might be so bold, your presence has dulled. Have you Freq-fried yourself?¡± Jasmine blinked then looked to Xant to explain. ¡°Freq-fried?¡± ¡°In cases of extreme Freq-aggression, the Arvas species can permanently damage themselves from over-broadcasting their frequency pulses.¡± Xant explained, his ears flattening as he added, ¡°Your own presence has certainly dimmed since your explosion.¡± ¡°Explosion..? Oh.¡± Jasmine¡¯s heart sunk. Frequency, Freq, Freq-aggression, it was all alien talk for emotional strength. Apparently, the range of human emotions had proven rather volatile to most aliens; happiness made them giddy, anger could shut down their entire bodies. The ¡°explosion¡± Xant spoke of was Jasmine¡¯s terrible cry of absolute despair. Laandi had been the one to inform her of how Jasmine arrived at the research station for study, how she had been abducted by the unfeeling Rajava, and the most likely fate of those she loved, indeed everyone on Earth. Jasmine, by her own reasoning was probably the last, intact human alive. ¡°Well,¡± Jasmine answered the guard and doctor, ¡°The answer is: I don''t know.¡± It was the truth. Hours ago she was still holding out hope that there were others like her, that she would be able to go back home, that maybe there were other human abduction survivors. But that wasn''t a possibility with the Rajava. To them, humans and other sentient beings were little more than organic building blocks to be broken down and reconstructed for their own gain. They stripmined planets and repurposed them for their own nefarious intentions. She looked to her companions then down to her bare feet. ¡°I¡¯ve lost everything. My home, my family, friends... It¡¯s a lot to take in. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be the same again.¡± ¡°That is unfortunate to hear,¡± Xant answered, dismayed. ¡°Your lighter disposition will be missed.¡± Jasmine frowned, quick to correct him. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll never be happy again. It¡¯s probably going to be a while before I am, though. What I mean is,¡± she closed her eyes and sighed, collecting the millions of thoughts floating in her brain, ¡°No one is waiting, and no one is coming for me. I can¡¯t keep pretending that someone is going to show up and solve all my problems. I cant keep sitting back and let things get out of control.¡± Her sore eyes opened with the familiar determination Xant had seen before, moments after announcing her proclamation of hope to the universe. ¡°I dont know if I am the last, but I don¡¯t have to go it alone. I¡¯m going to need all the help I can get.¡± Xant¡¯s ears stood up pleasantly as he nodded his head low. ¡°And I will do everything I can, just as you asked,¡± he assured her. All present began to stare, stunned by Xant¡¯s forwardness. ¡°As I asked? When did I ask?¡± Jasmine inquired. ¡°You were... intoxicated, but you asked for Captain Rynard and my help to preserve your vitality for life and to ensure no other being has to suffer as you have done!¡± Xant answered proudly. ¡°I did?¡± Jasmine was unconvinced that she would have been able to articulate anything close to that while completely legless. ¡°You were VERY intoxicated.¡± Xant reiterated. ¡°Does intoxication in humans prevent long/short term memory committal?¡± ¡°It¡¯s common side effect,¡± she ashamedly admitted, ¡°But I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be getting that drunk again, despite the awesome hangover cure.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to lose track of herself anymore. ¡°Regardless, as long as I am able, I will be at your side, Jasmine,¡± Xant emphasised. Jasmine pulled a smile, and a small rush of warmth tickled Xant¡¯s chest, but it faded as quickly as it had come. ¡°Which, may not be very long I¡¯m afraid.¡± Laandi interjected, breaking the pleasantries. ¡°What? Why?¡± Jasmine demanded shortly. Laandi looked to Xant. ¡°Did you not inform Miss Howe?¡± ¡°She was VERY intoxicated,¡± Xant reiterated. ¡°Inform me of what?¡± Jasmine almost snapped, dreading being blindsided by even more terrible news. Spades stared pointedly at Laandi, picking up on his namegiver¡¯s displeasure and expressed his own with a low growl. ¡°Lieutenant Commander Nako is on his way-¡± Laandi began. ¡°Oh right, the military guy.¡± ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m afraid after your last Freq-pulse incapacitated half the station¡¯s staff.¡± Laandi tilted her head in polite submission. ¡°There is no reasonable way you will be able to stay in our custody.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ll be shipped off to a secret government facility,¡± Jasmine replied dully. ¡°Figures.¡± The was another brief pause, as both Laandi and Xant suppressed their confusion. ¡°You¡¯re taking this better than I had anticipated.¡± Xant informed her, ¡°Military environments are far more strictly controlled, I thought such a restriction would be uncomfortable for you?¡± ¡°Honestly, if any of you guys had showed up on Earth it would have been the first thing we would have done¡­ If you didn¡¯t get shot first.¡± The aliens exchanged wary glances at each other. ¡°Miss Howe,¡± Laandi put forward, ¡°All of us, with the exception of Captain Rynard, are citizen grade. We will not be allowed to accompany you in the transfer.¡± ¡°So, your saying that after the Lieutenant shows up. We won''t be in contact afterwards¡­¡± ¡°That is the most likely outcome.¡± Laandi nodded, as though she was doing Jasmine a service. Jasmine groaned, rubbing her face with her hands. Aliens, she had come to the conclusion, had no concept of pacing bad news. ¡°Laandi, can you do me a favour? Just, stop trying to keep me informed.¡± She snorted dispiritedly at her own bluntness. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got more important things to do.¡± ¡°Not presently I don¡¯t,¡± Laandi replied, oblivious to human social cues. ¡°Until the Company Asset Assessor arrives to clear us of any corruption, Xant, myself, and the Guardsman are confined in quarantine alongside you.¡± Xant, being privy to Jasmine''s more subtle emotions, stepped in as the human¡¯s face contorted with frustration and confusion. ¡°Forgive me of informing you, Jasmine, but Chief Medical Officer Krydon has found evidence that exposure to your Freq may have caused some interesting neurological side effects. Until this matter has concluded we are under quarantine.¡± ¡°Great, so I¡¯m officially a walking biohazard!¡± ¡°A minor set back and misunderstanding, nothing more,¡± Xant replied with calm confidence. ¡°I have plenty of evidence of my own to support your cooperation with Esaander and a willingness for compromise. That is far more than most rogue individuals have ever expressed under questioning.¡± Neither Jasmine¡¯s frustration or confusion dissipated as Xant had hoped, his explanation only served to bring her more questions. ¡°Wait, what has my willingness and cooperation got to do with you guys being in quarantine?¡± ¡°Jasmine, your emotions can cause damage to others. We designate that as Bomb-Type Freq Aggression.¡± Xant broke down the explanation as best he could, realising that she had no context for the quarantine. ¡°But you also have a very strong Command Freq impulse. Command Freq is the ability to give orders to those around you; with enough force and conviction you could very well order Laandi, myself, or even the captain to do as you wish,¡± he gestured to Suk. ¡°You have already commanded Privates Arc and Suk while amidst your Freq Aggression incident with Dr. Duuarn.¡± Guilt flushed Jasmine¡¯s cheeks at the mention of Duuarn, but she nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Command Freq is Military Grade, reserved for installation in Military units and a natural occurrence within Arvas Leaders. We are in quarantine because, should you will us to harm others on the station, we may not have the ability to resist.¡± Xant watched as Jasmine¡¯s eyes widened with comprehension, a new power revealed to her. ¡°You mean I can¡­?¡± ¡°Command our actions? Yes, but I know that is not in your nature.¡± Xant¡¯s ears twitched happily as he recalled how much restraint she had shown in the past. ¡°Even when commanding your dogs, you do so with compassion and humility. ¡± Jasmine looked down to the obedient Spades, to her hand resting on his head, ruffling his fur. ¡°I need to speak to whoever is in charge and clear this up. Immediately!¡± Dreams Chapter 5: First Contact Interview Jess didn''t make it a point to be a preener. It always seemed better to wear clothes that were practical, unassuming, and clean cut to project what you wanted out of life and to what you wanted others to respect in you. She wanted to be efficient and looked up to, even while being out of her field of study. Taking more than your adopted field was often looked down upon; not being able to optimise your knowledge made you less valuable. Jess, however, wanted to be more than just a behavioural scientist. Taking managerial tasks would help her better organise people below her and learn the conduct of those above. To learn how they think so she could be one of them. Jess took off her white Department Head coat and returned it to its place on the rack. Instead, she took something a bit more pronounced than her usual wardrobe, but certainly not as loud as what Laandi was known for wearing. Jess had the fabricator make her a sleek coat to compliment her lavender scales. She chose the same colours as the Esaander brand ¡ª black and orange ¡ª to show pride she had for her company. It slipped over her work coverings neatly, and she smiled to herself as she smoothed out the lapel down her chest. Her terminal computer chimed with a pleasant tone. ¡°One message received.¡± Her first message as director! She happily strutted over to the machine and ordered it to relay it over the speakers. ¡°Message, play.¡± Capt. Rynard: Captain Rynard reporting in, Acting Director. Subject Jasmine is awake and secured. Suspended Executive Director Laandi and Department Head Dr. Xant want to arrange a meeting. They want to speak with you regarding Jasi¡¯s quarantine measures. Jess paused, deliberating on the message. Her first contact with the Human Subject and her first decisive action as Acting Director. She licked her teeth nervously before sending her reply. AED Jess: Captain Rynard, tell the Subject that I will make time for her in the third quarter. Caution and preparation would be needed before this meeting. There were too many variables and so much information she wanted to gather. Not to mention testing the behavioural theories she had been concocting! Jess picked up her dataslate and began listening through all of her audio notes. Anything she could add to her own observations would be time well spent. The window for unfiltered access would be small indeed. The Lieutenant was due in less than 36 hours. There was little doubt that he would want access to the Subject restricted, if not barred outright. -*- Jess stopped before the doors to the Security Wing, taking one last time to ensure her new uniform was up to the standard of presentation before stepping in. First impressions counted, and while Jess had plenty of information on Jasmine, Jasmine had none on her. She needed to impress while she still had that advantage; to do what she could to let the human know who was in charge. Captain Rynard was waiting for her, seemingly more relaxed than when he was around Laandi. ¡°She¡¯s over ¡®ere then,¡± The Captain smiled, pressing the comms on his neck. ¡°Jasi, the Director is here to speak with ya.¡± Jess peered over to the observation screen. While she had observed Jasmine in many video and audio recordings, it certainly was a change of pace to see the Subject in the flesh. Jasmine stood front and centre of the window in her citizen-issue armour, grey and indistinct. The Subject had long limbs that suggested grace, but a bulky body almost certainly had a low centre of gravity. Her large head was pointed down and piercing eyes pointed towards the floor, arms folded tightly behind her back. Jess noted that the alien had been taking lessons from her caretakers, mimicking a normal stance for GC citizens, but clearly not for the human herself. Her shoulders twitched subtly, and eyes were so focused on the one spot it seemed painful. Laandi and Xant stood on either side of the human. They bowed their heads and greeted Jess pleasantly. ¡°Salutations, AED Jess,¡± Laandi began with an elegant sweeping gesture, ¡°Congratulations on the promotion.¡± ¡°Thank you, Laandi,¡± Jess acknowledged. ¡°I was notified that the Subject wanted to speak on quarantine measures?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xant spoke for Jasmine, who gave him a sideways glance as she waited for her turn to speak. ¡°Jasmine wishes to clear up any misconceptions about her actions. While we have done our best to reassure her of the situation, she tells us that it is important for Humans to ¡®speak for themselves¡¯.¡± Xant turned to Jasmine, who would have rolled her eyes at the irony if she were not using everything she had to control her nervousness. Jess nodded her head in understanding, and her long tail crept over the security terminal interface, switching the recording to send the information straight to her dataslate. She wanted an original copy of the conversation that was about to transpire. For research purposes of course. ¡°Very well,¡± Jess announced as she had witnessed Laandi perform the opening meeting hundreds of times before. ¡°Shall we commence the meeting?¡± [These transcripts are for office use only. Any unauthorised distribution will result in immediate termination and a fine in accordance with the Conglomerate Espionage Act 26.051. Transcripts are the official property of the Esaander Corporation.] AED Jess: It is 0820 [hours] the 30th [day] the second quarter of [year] 306, Rejuvenation dynasty. I, Acting Executive Director Dr. Kyda Jess will be conducting today''s meeting with Subject Jasmine on the matter of her quarantine. [Subject Jasmine is the first Creator Level intelligence that the Galactic Council has encountered since the Arvas. Much like the Arvas, Subject belongs to a species originating from outside the original sphere of Rajavan influence. ¡®Humans¡¯ or ¡®Namegivers¡¯, as the Subject¡¯s species is known, has no natural perception of Frequencies. In spite of this, Subject displayed an extremely complex verbal language (including a vast array of songs), and a highly developed sense of empathy (even extending to species of lower intelligence). This empathy has caused Subject to exhibit problems, extreme emotions, and entitlement to authority. Subject has on multiple occasions imposed this authority without warning.] AED Jess: Subject Jasmine, the Esaander Corporation has granted you Creator-Level Intelligence status. Are you willing to proceed under these conditions? Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Subject Jasmine: [] (Be clear, and get your point across.) Acting Executive Director Jess, I would be happy to proceed under such conditions, provided you understand I have no context or knowledge of what those conditions are, and I wish to¡­ exercise my right to a translator (Xant and Laandi would explain for me). [Humans have shown to have a unique understanding of conditions to contract law. Subject has attempted to make her own stipulations to standard law and negotiates at a level that would be expected of a novice straight from a Genecentre. Law must be important and well established in Subject¡¯s culture for a citizen to invoke such legal language and posture. Or it could be mimicry from exposure to ED Laandi and Dr. Xant? Subject has learned an impressive amount of data since her captivity. Perhaps Humans are adept to fast learning? Further investigation is required.] AED Jess: Very well- Subject Jasmine: Furthermore, I would like to ask that you call me Miss Howe, from now on. For the sake of professionalism. Please. [Note: Subject has many names for itself. ¡®Miss Howe¡¯ seems to be a professional title, as it is the name she used to address herself whilst speaking with the former director Laandi. I have concluded that these multiple names are a combination of formality and connection Subject has with those around her. Known names are as follows: Jasmine Ann Howe, Jasmine, Jasi, Miss Howe, Jasmine Howe, Namegiver Jasmine, Namegiver.] [Side Note: Humans have a wide range of vocal sounds and the Subject presented the ability to mimic GC language before having the translator installed. Vocal flexibility, combined with complex language may be the way humans have communicated without the luxury of a universal frequency translator.] [Side,Side Note: Subject continues to disrupt the balance of authority. She recognises that I have the right to speak, but continues to impose her own thoughts without permission or blatantly ignoring that I have superiority. Was it a challenge to my authority? Is it common for the humans to speak so openly to their superiors?] AED Jess: Very well. Subject Miss Howe, do you understand why you¡¯re in quarantine? [Note: To combat the constant battle for superiority, I specifically used the term ¡®Subject¡¯ to identify the human as lower in authority and not of GC citizenship (authorization pending). The human did not seem to like it.] Subject Miss Howe: [] I¡¯ve been told that my unfortunate outburst hurt some of the crew. I want to let you know that I''m sorry, and I hope my apology is passed on when possible. I will do everything in my power to ensure that it does not happen again and I am happy to remain in quarantine as a sign of goodwill. I would like to continue human and Galactic Council relations. [Note: Subject admits to letting off a battle cry within the vicinity of citizen assets. Admission of guilt and a demonstration of empathy, while not completely unheard of in Commander type Freq users, it is rare enough to be of note, as it signifies weakness in control or a different authority structure to what is used by the GC and the Arvas imperium.] AED Jess: Subject Miss Howe, you are in quarantine because it has happened multiple times. Often without warning or pretence. Your guarantee is not something I can securely invest in. [Note: Subject broke her fixation on the floor to make direct eye contact with me after this statement. Freq monitoring systems indicate a mild spike in aggression. The Human really did not like me calling her ¡®Subject¡¯.] Subject Miss Howe: [] Acting Director, I am in an unfamiliar place, with a translator that turns my thoughts and emotions into weapons. I think it¡¯s fair to say that there have been mistakes on both sides. AED Jess: So it was a mistake when you incapacitated the staff assets on the habitation floor? Subject Miss Howe: [] Yes. (Of course it was!) AED Jess: And it was a mistake when you forced the medical staff to withhold action to remove the specimen Sieglinde from the examination room? Subject Miss Howe: [] (What is she talking about?) Yes? AED Jess: And it was a mistake when you forced the guards to pin Dr. Duuarn during your confrontation? Subject Miss Howe: [] Yes. (Don¡¯t you dare...) AED Jess: If it was a mistake, Subject Miss Howe, then why didn''t you stop when you saw he was in pain? Subject Miss Howe: ... [] AED Jess: But I do agree, mistakes were made that we cannot afford to repeat. Your latest outburst has cost Esaander nearly [50 years] worth of projected contribution credits in staff assets. Has that been explained to you? Subject Miss Howe: [] I know that I¡¯ve hurt innocent people, and that was never my intention. I figured that would be more important than the company¡¯s lost profits? AED Jess: Subject Miss Howe, Staff Assets refers to the incapacitated crew aboard the station, as well as Dr. Xant, ED Laandi and the guards with you. All have been compromised and have forced the station to be running at below efficiency. [Note: Subject is very demanding of information; most subordinates do not question those in a superior position. Another instance of the human challenging authority? Does she need to know this information? Does it pertain to her- wait, I surrendered information involuntarily?! That shouldn''t have happened! I was behind the Freq barrier! [Long pause] ¡­ [Scrambling noises].] Subject Miss Howe: [] Then let Xant and Laandi help! I¡¯m the troublemaker, they don''t need to be locked up in here with me, I¡¯m the ¡®threat¡¯! [Note: Subject is trying to take on the blame of Laandi¡¯s actions. From the information I have gathered from interviews and video recordings, the incidents have been triggered by either a perceived threat to the dogs, or information regarding the Rajava. My investigations are incomplete, however, as I am lead to believe that Dr. Xant has private recordings detailing further triggering incidents.] [Side Note: Subject was trying to manipulate the situation (willingly or unwittingly that has yet to be determined), her Freq becoming increasingly stronger and erratic. I chose to terminate the conversation despite how fascinatingly quickly the Subject had become hostile. I cannot cause another incident so I am treating every interaction with caution.] AED Jess: Y-your request is denied, Subject Miss Howe! [Side Note: I was well within my right as the Acting director to issue that denial!] Subject Miss Howe: [] What, why?! You think I''m going to covertly take over the station? To do what?! I¡¯ve already shown remorse for what I¡¯ve done! I don''t want to do it again and controlling the station doesn''t get me anywhere! AED Jess: Y-you are not in the position to make requests! You are a specimen under the care of the Esaander corp and, if we want to get technical, an asset of LTC Nako. U-until such time as you are recognised by the GC, you are to be quarantined so as not to compromise the remaining staff! Subject Miss Howe: [] Specimen, Subject, Asset¡­ Am I a product or a person to you?! AED Jess: Wait, does your species make a distinction in that regard? [Note: Subject is stunned by the statement, perhaps it has never truly occurred to the Subject? Citizens and military personnel are products and assets of the GC, freemen and drones are products of the Arvas Imperium, is she not a product of her own society? Does she not have responsibilities to the authorities that created and sheltered her? And if not, how does a society bereft of such obligations even function?] Subject Miss Howe: [] ... AED Jess: If you have knowledge of contract law, then you understand that staff assets are products of the company, do you not? Subject Miss Howe: [] (Goddamn, Xant wasn¡¯t lying.) ... I do, and it sickens me. [Note: It sickens her? That¡¯s... terrifying. [Long pause] But why? Do companies act differently in her society? The concept translates well enough, there must be more nuance to the idea.] AED Jess: But.. how does that work? Are you sub-contractors? Do the companies not provide for their staff? How do your people ensure societal growth and stability?! ED Laandi: AED Jess, I believe you have strayed from the meeting¡¯s original intention. Perhaps this could be concluded at another time? [Note: ED Laandi¡¯s interruption prevented me from gathering more vital information regarding the strange social structure of Humanity. Further study is required. Extensive study. ] AED Jess: Eh?- Oh! Ahem! Subject Miss Howe, I propose to schedule interviews, detailing the likely triggers of your Freq blasts so that you may better control them amidst the GC population. Subject Miss Howe: [] Fine, I¡¯ll let you know exactly what kinds of things piss me off so you can avoid them in the future. AED Jess: ¡­ Then we are in agreement, meeting adjourned! [Session Terminated] Dreams Chapter 6: Breathing Room and The Worker Prince Jasmine watched the purple lizard lady scuttle away from the observation window. A flood of emotions filled the room, even in her dulled state the human could still produce such a distinct cocktail. Pure disdain, righteous fury, underlying pity, and lingering guilt all wrapped up in a strange yearning the Doctor could not place. ¡°What a bitch,¡± Jasmine cursed as she buried her face in her hands. ¡°()¡± Her mind echoed the sentiment. Xant snorted in agreement. ¡°Jess is unfocused at the best of times, but she seemed to be even more erratic than usual.¡± Laandi could only chuckle, letting a lanky hand rest on her shoulder. ¡°Not everyone can handle the responsibilities of being Director,¡± she replied smugly, ¡°While this is concerning for the company in the long term, it does give us the upper hand. If Jess is unable to handle a simple disagreement with Miss Howe behind a Freq protected screen, she will most certainly crumble in the Lieutenant Commander¡¯s presence.¡± Xant¡¯s ears bobbed above his head pleasantly. ¡°That is good news! We should begin to plan our approach carefully, Jasmine-¡± Xant trailed off as the human had already wandered from her place between them, pacing in circles before letting out a huge exasperated sigh. Staring at the ceiling, saying nothing, the emotional freq contracting around her. ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant inquired for her attention again, he was worried about his charge. ¡°Mmm-hmmm?¡± she replied absently, yet the air was growing tense. ¡°I think that it is prudent that we go over the rules of etiquette once more, to truly prepare you for the Lieutenant''s arrival.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jasmine nodded, folding her arms, deep in thought. ¡°Xant?¡± she asked hesitantly. ¡°Is it a guarantee that we¡¯ll be separated? What if I asked the Lieutenant if you could be my liaison? Or a consultant?¡± Xant¡¯s ears twitched from side to side, folding his own hands behind his back, pondering that scenario. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ possible,¡± he acknowledged, glancing over at Laandi. ¡°Not to contradict the Director, but perhaps if you could appeal to the Lieutenant, then he may be more lenient to your requests?¡± Xant knew how strict and controlling Commander units could be, but then Jasmine could be very convincing when she needed to be. It wasn''t as if she was asking for a lot either. ¡°It may all come down to the Lieutenant personally. Laandi, do you think the Commander would be especially resistant to Jasmine¡¯s request?¡± ¡°He was exceptionally excited to find out you were conversational,¡± Laandi rolled her wrists, eager to dispense more of her own voice, ¡°Even more so that you were civilised and female.¡± It was though a light bulb had gone off in her head as she recalled more of the details from their last meeting. ¡°He showed me a very intriguing visual dataslate, proposing it to be of Creator origin. He wanted to ask you about it¡¯s significance.¡± ¡°Umm, alright. I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ll be able to tell him though.¡± The human was unconvinced. ¡°But despite his interests, he is still bound by protocol and honour, ignoring the rules that define him as a Ranger may prove difficult. Sympathetic though he may be, Nako might listen to your requests or he could simply want answers to his questions and nothing more.¡± Jasmine took Laandi and Xant¡¯s advice to hear and began to pace in circles as she pondered. ¡°So you¡¯re saying, if I want there to be any chance of us staying together, I¡¯ll need to really impress the Lieutenant?¡± ¡°To put it so succinctly, yes,¡± Laandi answered. ¡°And how long do I have to prepare before he shows up?¡± ¡°If I recall correctly, [36 hours].¡± ¡°[36 hours]?¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°[36 hours] stuck in here¡­¡± The security training room was white, huge, and bare. Since Rynard was the size of a mountain, it made sense that his track and field room would be similarly large to compensate. Jasmine guessed the place was at least the size of a football stadium, maybe bigger. Her voice echoed when she spoke loudly enough. They had mostly congregated by the entry door. The only odd one out was the other guard, Arc, who has somehow become the point of interest for both Sieglinde and Kimiko. Every time he tried to distance himself from the dogs, they simply bounded after him. ¡°Do you think he needs to be rescued?¡± Jasmine asked with sad sarcasm. ¡°I do believe Private Arc may be out of his depth.¡± Xant concurred. Arc began fluttering out of the Dogs reach, which in turn, only encouraged them to continue their pursuit. ¡°I think they might be bored.¡± Jasmine mused, looking over her shoulder. ¡°[36 hours] will be plenty of time to prepare. Some physical activity would be good to clear my head.¡± ¡°Laandi,¡± Jasmine addressed the former Director, ¡°How about you review what I¡¯ll need to know about the Lieutenant? Anything you think that might help me gain his trust.¡± The Director bowed her head in that delicate manner, her hand crossing her body to rest on her shoulder. ¡°And review I shall, Miss Howe.¡± ¡°Xant,¡± Jasmine looked at him with a small smile,¡°I¡¯ll teach you how to play fetch.¡± ¡°Play Fetch...?¡± Xant repeated, wondering once again if the translator was doing its job correctly. So many times, the same words came out of her mouth with a completely different context. The human coaxed him gently over. Xant swallowed his hesitation, walking by her side. Jasmine then drew in a deep breath before spitting out a high pitched whistle. ¡°Spades!¡± She shouted across the giant hall for good measure. The military hound bolted to her side with purpose and conviction, his presence immediately acknowledged and rewarded with a good ruffling of his fur. Xant almost envied the creature. Jasmine walked over to Arc, with Xant following close behind. Soon, both Sieglinde and Kimiko abandoned their curious sniffs of the insectoid guard and pranced over to their Namegiver. ¡°Your Grace!¡± Arc plucked up as much as the dogs did when he saw her approach. ¡°You- er, I mean,¡± he saluted, an arm across his chest, Jasmine waved him at ease. ¡°Its alright Arc, no need to salute.¡± She looked over his armour, hoping for some sort of accessory. ¡°This is going to be an odd question, but do you guys have anything on you that could be thrown and retrieved?¡± Arc¡¯s antennae twitched. ¡°What about a baton? Or a ball or¡­() something about this big,¡± Jasmine gave a rough description with her hands, ¡°And weighs about, I don''t know¡­ a [quarter kilo]?¡± Arc looked hard in concentration before his wings fluttered with an answer. ¡°We have bar weights!¡± The guardsman announced proudly before tapping the comm¡¯s link on his collar. ¡°Capt¡¯n!¡± ¡°Yeah, Arc?¡± Rynard''s voice echoed over the speaker. ¡°Her Grace would like to use the bar weights.¡± ¡°Is that so? Heh, well, don¡¯t snap any tendons!¡± He laughed before disconnecting. Jasmine blinked at the odd euphemism while Xant shuddered in the background. Arc took a step back and stomped his foot twice on one of the many white tiles below them. A deep rumble later, the tile lifted from the floor rising up past both their heads, proceeding up to what Jasmine estimated to be Rynard¡¯s head height. Underneath the tile were several shelves, each one with a set of black similar sized rods. The larger and heavier sets at the top, the smaller more reasonable ones at the bottom. ¡°You guys keep equipment in the floor?¡± Jasmine asked. Xant nodded his head. ¡°Any and all equipment that is not in constant use is kept within the walls and floor for storage. It is easier to keep things clean that way.¡± ¡°Huh, is space dust really that much of a problem?¡± The human muttered. Arc, oblivious to the conversation around him, thrust four hands towards the shelving and picked up eight rods for Jasmine to choose from. ¡°Will any of these work?¡± he asked innocently. Jasmine, having craned her neck to look at the contraption, smiled warmly at the guard, taking a suitably sized weight from his bottom left hand. ¡°This will be perfect!¡± The rod couldn''t have been more than [200g], but surprisingly wasn''t the lightest weight offered to her. She weighed it in her right hand, then her left before tossing it effortlessly between the two. ¡°Alright, everyone!¡± she called to her User companions. ¡°Who wants to play fetch?¡± It was as if Jasmine had issued a royal command, all three dogs light up with an uproarious enthusiasm, bounding with new-found energy as Jasmine waggled the weight around in her hand. ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± ¡°PLAY! FETCH! PLAY!!!!¡± A great cacophony of barking and translated excitement resounded throughout the hall. Even the usually sombre Spades perked up and was watching the Namegiver with intent. And then, to everyone''s surprise but the earthlings, Jasmine hurled the rod as hard and as far as she could away from herself. All three dogs shot after the weight, a dynamic race to reach the object before the rest. Kimiko was the uncontested winner and ran to return the rod without even so much as a pause. ¡°So,¡± Xant tried to understand this new game, ¡°You throw the object and they retrieve it¡­ for fun?¡± ¡°And exercise- oof!¡± Jasmine added, hefting the rod in the air again. ¡°I should have stretched first.¡± After about the third time, Jasmine turned to the aliens and offered Arc one of the rods. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± The young insect looked confused but waved the rod in Sieglinde¡¯s direction. The golden took up the challenge immediately, charging after the rod the moment it left Arc¡¯s hand and rolled roughly to where the human had thrown it. ¡°Hey, not bad!¡± Jasmine approved. ¡°We can record the rate at which you propel the rod if you wish, your Grace.¡± Suk, having had enough of watching from the sidelines, approached the pair in their fun. ¡°Really? That¡¯d be cool!¡± Jasmine replied and Xant agreed. ¡°I can add the results to the physical examination tests-¡± Xant stopped short as he realised that he didn¡¯t have his dataslate on him. Any collected data would have to be stored on the security terminal before he could move them to his own workspace. When he was allowed to return to his office, that is. If he was still able to work on Jasmine¡¯s project files. Jasmine picked up another, heavier rod and wound her arm back, ready to propel it into the air on Suk¡¯s mark. ¡°Ready?¡± Jasmine asked. Suk nodded. ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Oof!¡± The human launched the weight in the air, it landed with a loud ¡®clunk¡¯ and rolled further into the barren white space. ¡°Ughhh¡± Jasmine groaned, ¡°That was an awful throw¡­¡± ¡°[40 metres]¡± Suk announced flatly, clearly as unimpressed as the human was. Jasmine sighed, and then began to pose and stretch her arms and legs in rather strenuous looking positions. ¡°It''s a warm-up,¡± she explained before either Suk or Xant could ask the question. ¡°If I try to throw again without stretching I¡¯ll pull a muscle and then I won''t be able to move my arm properly for a while.¡± The Doctor turned to the Guard and inquired, ¡°...is this common practice for military units?¡± Suk shook his head, ¡°It is not necessary for most of us. However, I would highly recommend it for yourself, Doctor.¡± Suk looked knowingly at Xant, who was once again reminded of his own fragility when it came to the limits of his own body. Should he move too much while in the power armour, his very tendons would be ripped from his skeletal frame. Hence the Captain''s cheerful warning. ¡°Oof!¡± Jasmine hurled the second rod into the air, happier with the second attempt. ¡°There!¡± She pointed proudly, ¡°That¡¯s better!¡± ¡°[65 metres].¡± Suk announced, again, as unimpressed as before. ¡°Oh come on!¡± Jasmine huffed, ¡°It¡¯s not that bad!¡± ¡°Perhaps her Grace would like a comparison?¡± Suk offered. ¡°Yeah okay,¡± the human folded her arms defensively. Suk turned to his twin, Arc, who was completely engrossed in this new game of ¡®Fetch¡¯ and began throwing multiple rods for the dogs to chase, who in turn were overjoyed at the sudden burst of activities available to them. ¡°Throw, throw!!¡± Sieglinde barked loudly, ¡°Throw stick!¡± ¡°Arc,¡± Suk asked his brother, before he could give into the golden¡¯s demands, ¡°Could you throw the weight as far as you are able?¡± Arc spread his wings and jumped up in the air, high above everyone¡¯s heads before launching the rod as far as he could. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Jasmine breathed as the black weight almost disappeared from sight. The distant clunk echoed around the training room. ¡°[184 metres].¡± Suk replied, his chest puffed out ever so slightly. ¡°Fine, you win.¡± Jasmine held her hands up in mock defeat. ¡°But using wings is cheating!¡± ¡°That wasn''t a specified parameter,¡± Suk retorted, ¡°One must always push themselves to the limits of their capability.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± the human dismissed, looking over that the weight in the distance. The dogs had ignored Arc¡¯s impossible throw and had returned with the human¡¯s own rod for him to throw again. ¡°We¡¯ll I¡¯ll go get that one then,¡± Jasmine stated as she began to stretch her legs. ¡°Another warm up?¡± Xant asked curiously. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been a while since I''ve gone for a jog, I might take up working out as a hobby if you guys don''t have any good TV.¡± ¡°That last sentence may need further explanation.¡± Jasmine shook her head and let out an uncomfortable chuckle. ¡°Xant, everything needs further explanation. On both our ends.¡± A small smirk crossed her lips. ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ll explain further if you race me to the weight.¡± Xant¡¯s ears stood on end. ¡°I... I¡¯m not sure I can do such a thing in my current condition. I¡¯ve not yet grown accustomed to the armour-¡± ¡°A test such as this is perfect training, Doctor,¡± Suk encouraged. ¡°Pace yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, you don''t have to if you don''t want to,¡± Jasmine replied, shifting positions to stretch the other leg. Xant¡¯s ears flattened on his head in shame. He wanted to. He wanted to follow after her. Xant watched as Jasmine completed her final leg pull and took off from the spot at a surprising speed, jogging to retrieve the weight. She was light on her feet, running in her citizen armour as easily as, if not more so, than if she were unrestrained. While she was not as fast as either the Arvas twins or any Ranger Xant had seen, she was still leagues ahead of his citizen self. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°A steady pace?¡± He reaffirmed with Suk. ¡°One foot at a time,¡± the private replied. Xant copied Jasmine¡¯s ¡®warm-up¡¯ as closely as he could, looking to Suk for further direction. While the motions for the arms was roughly the same, Xant and Jasmine¡¯s legs were completely different. Stretching them out, he could feel a warmth tingling his muscles before the suit activated. Sensing the impending activity the power armour flushed his system with the appropriate amount of chems. It had been a long time since Xant had felt the rush of adrenaline. It was a welcome encouragement. Jasmine could run at a steady pace, with little to no divergence from either side, it seemed a natural course of action for her. Xant would have to ¡®bound¡¯ from one leg to another, right to left, and then bounce back again. Essentially almost jumping with every step, the doctor took a deep breath and readied himself to follow after the human, literally and in a way, metaphorically as well. If only he had calculated exactly how much extra thrust the suit would give him before he started his endeavour. Where once his step would have taken him a [foot] he was now taking nearly a [metre] with every charge. He just about gave himself whiplash. The sudden and powerful boost from the armour was enough for the citizen to think twice about moving again, the speed began to dislodge the more troublesome memories of his time in the field. The adrenaline, however, was fueling his ambition to keep up. Within moments he had caught up to Jasmine, who looked on with wide, shocked eyes ¡°That was quick,¡± She exclaimed, now that he was less than [a foot] away. Xant felt his body pulsing inside the steel, itching to continue, but his nerves were thoroughly shot. The suit then flooded him with more chems, to cool and soothe him as he rested. No wonder Rangers never unplugged themselves from these things. ¡°You need a minute?¡± Jasmine asked, her own body panting slightly from the exercise. ¡°I could race you back?¡± she offered, twirling the baton in her hand. ¡°I don''t believe I''m ready to return to such speeds,¡± Xant declined. ¡°I have not travelled that fast since my time on Jothram.¡± ¡°Oh, where you got the red plants right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was a slight pause between them as they walked back, Jasmine slowed her pace. ¡°Why don''t you tell me about it?¡± she asked softly. ¡°I¡¯d like to know what other planets are like.¡± It was a gentle question, reminding him that she had never stood on another world. ¡°I was part of a research team,¡± Xant recalled fondly. ¡°Jothram was a newly recovered planet. It had been abandoned by its citizens many years beforehand and had been missed by Rajavan colonisation. It was common practice to delete planet locations from the database in order to protect as many worlds as possible from their repurposing.¡± A twinge of emotional pain struck Xant, he decided to keep mention of the Rajava to a minimum. ¡°It had mostly been completely ruined by the remaining elements and flora. Without anyone to maintain the facilities many structures had failed and the vegetation had grown rampant destroying vital systems. But, over the many cycles, new strains of flora had developed.¡± ¡°So it was like a forest had taken over a city?¡± Jasmine asked. Xant deliberated. ¡°I suppose that is an apt description.¡± he folded his arms behind him ¡°But it was far more humid than was common, that''s where I collected the rain recording from.¡± That brought a warm glow to the human''s presence. ¡°It must have been beautiful,¡± Jasmine muttered. ¡°It was fascinating. I¡¯d never seen a fallen facility in the physical before, and to investigate a planet that had atmosphere conditions good enough to support hydroponic engineered flora. Investigating the growing patterns and colour combinations was engrossing.¡± Xant wistfully lingered in the memory, ¡°I was very happy there.¡± ¡°I liked that recording,¡± she replied, almost as if she shared his sentiment. ¡°Do you think I would be able to feel it again before¡­?¡± She let her voice trail off. The knot in Xant¡¯s stomach returned, Jasmine was hiding more of her worry. Trying to keep calm for his sake. She was getting better at it, but that didn¡¯t mean he wouldn''t try all that he could to ease her burden. ¡°I can ask Captain Rynard to deliver us the recording for you, Jasmine,¡± he reassured her. ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied thankfully, ¡°That would be nice.¡± When they returned, Suk was waiting for them at attention, the comms link on his collar bright blue as he finished a conversation. ¡°Your Grace,¡± Suk addressed the pair as they approached, ¡°The Captain has been watching your activities and has approved the use of all training equipment for us.¡± ¡°All training equipment?¡± Jasmine asked curiously. ¡°Yes,¡± Suk affirmed, relaxing his stance. ¡°The Captain asked if you could, ¡®Give the Doc some lessons,¡¯ and, ¡®Show off your construction¡¯ for us.¡± ¡°Show off my construction?¡± She turned a suspicious eye to the observation window. The behemoth was standing there grinning smugly, or, as smugly as you could with that many teeth. For a moment she thought he may have meant constitution, but it was probably her ¡®build¡¯ he wanted to see. She had a feeling the Captain was going to be let down however. ¡°Are there other kinds of physical activities human enjoy,¡± Xant inquired further, ¡°Besides ¡®Fetch¡¯ and running?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s loads really,¡± Jasmine replied, cracking her neck from side to side, loosening up more muscles, ¡°But a lot of them require specialised equipment or like multiple people, or to be good at them.¡± She shrugged and turned to Xant, ¡°I could give you enough material to write an entire encyclopedia on human sports alone.¡± ¡°Are they that prevalent in human society?¡± Jasmine chuckled. ¡°More prevalent than religion. It might be easier to tell me what you guys do for fun and then I can compare, since you guys have the equipment.¡± Xant turned to Suk. ¡°Do you have any input on the matter, Private?¡± Suk¡¯s antenna twitched thoughtfully. ¡°Perhaps Her Grace would be interested in Sparring?¡± ¡°Sparring? I know a couple of moves¡­¡± Jasmine shifted to a decidedly intimidating stance, hands clenched into fists raised to her face, standing on the balls of her feet as she bounced her weight from one leg to the other. ¡°But you¡¯ve kinda got me outnumbered with four arms there.¡± Xant noted how easily she changed from a relaxed stance to a ¡®fighting¡¯ position. Unarmed, no less. Once again confirming her military grade build and citizen temperament that worried him so much. Suk held up a hand in protest. ¡°I¡¯m afraid neither Arc nor myself are trained in unarmed combat, but I can offer myself as a duel partner.¡± Suk reached for the weapon at his hip. The standard across the known galaxy, a black handle with a large intricate dial on the hilt. With practiced ease, he flicked his index finger and a long tapered blade shot out of the hilt. A deadly black needle, sharp and oiled. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Jasmine breathed in awe. The guardsman then tapped a command on his arm-slate, before tapping another tile on the floor (Jasmine noticed that it didn''t seem to matter which one), and it revealed a rack of handles, the same that both Arc and Suk had on their possession. ¡°Training Segmenter swords,¡± Suk explained, ¡°They are useless outside the training room, and do not have the heat or electrify modes, only stun.¡± He lifted one from storage and offered it to Jasmine with his two lower hands. The human was mesmerised by the weapon, but did not immediately reach for it like others would, instead holding her hands out to accept the gift. It was a short handle for the Arvas, but had enough room for both of Jasmine¡¯s hands. It had a smooth, simple black plastic grip. The dial made it a bit top-heavy though. ¡°Its heavier than it looks¡­¡± she muttered, testing her grip on the device. ¡°Hold the blade end away from you before shifting the dial.¡± Suk demonstrated once more, this time flicking it so the blade returned inside the hilt. Jasmine tried the same motion as Suk, flicking the dial with her thumb, the blade shot out with a surprising force, its recoil launching the thing right out of her hands. ¡°Uh... sorry.¡± Jasmine apologized as she meekly went to retrieve the weapon. ¡°I¡¯m assuming human citizens are not versed in the matter of swords,¡± Suk stated. ¡°Well, we have swords, but most of them don''t have moving parts. You¡¯ve essentially given me a giant switchblade.¡± Jasmine picked up the training sword and appraised the weapon in her hand. Something she did notice was the sudden distribution of the weight. The handle was heavy when the blade was tucked inside of itself, but was more balanced once the edge was out. It reminded her of the old plastic lightsaber toys she had as a kid, or the scary batons riot cops used. She turned the dial, slowly this time, until the blade had reached a height she was more comfortable with. Holding the sword in both hands, she gave it a playful swing to get a feel for how the sword handled. ¡°Interesting form,¡± Suk commented, and Xant nodded in agreement. ¡°Well I¡¯m not an expert!¡± Jasmine defensively clarified, ¡°It takes years for humans to be able to do anything really cool or practical with swords.¡± She rolled the weapon in her wrists, practicing the few forms she knew from movies. Mostly flashy poses, if she was being honest with herself. ¡°So, I¡¯m not going to be much of a partner, but I¡¯m guessing you guys use these more than guns, right?¡± ¡°Segmenter swords are used primarily for peace keeping inside the citizen areas of the GC,¡± Xant explained. ¡°Larger projectile weapons are more common in contested reclaimed space, or against the council¡¯s enemies.¡± Suk nodded in confirmation, unleashing his blade in preparation. ¡°Segmenter swords have a stun capability, so it can be used in pirate confrontations or individual rogue incidents.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s a taser sword, got it.¡± Jasmine was suddenly even more wary about handling the weapon against a pro like Suk. ¡°Go easy on me, I¡¯ve literally never held a sword in combat.¡± Jasmine shifted her stance to the same one she held when she was unarmed, feet apart, ready to move. Suk chittered. ¡°A [Worker Princess], who would have guessed?¡± The guard moved to his own stance, ducked down, three hands behind to balance, the one with the sword held out in front. ¡°When you are ready, your Grace.¡± Jasmine rolled her fingers around the handle, and stared her opponent down. ¡°Right,¡± she breathed, before taking her first swing. Jasmine quickly learned that these segmented swords were stabbing blades, not slashing. Suk didn¡¯t even need to take step forward, simply flicking his index finger on the dial as the sword¡¯s mechanism darted in and out of the hilt. His attacks were quick and precise, tapping the top of her knee cap, her right elbow, and left wrist in rapid succession. Jasmine yelped and dropped her sword in shock. ¡°What the hell!¡± She stumbled back from Suk and lashed out a little. ¡°I told you to take it easy! Ouch¡­¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± Suk relaxed his stance for her benefit. Jasmine reached for the sword again, and readied her stance. ¡°Go a little slower this time,¡± she pleaded, nodding her head to let him know she was ready. Suk once again held out his sword, flicking the blade slower so it was at least visible to the human eye. Jasmine was even able to dodge one or two blows! It was not long, however, until he knocked the blade out of her hands again with a combination of thigh, chest and wrist stabs. She breathed in through gritted teeth. Even through the armour the strikes were painful, but somehow it only spurred her on to learn. ¡°Okay, one more time,¡± she ordered, rubbing her wrist. Suk nodded in acknowledgment, waiting for her Grace to attack. She came at him with a focused look in her eyes. She swung low, aiming for his left thigh. Suk easily dodged the attack, lifting his blade for a jab to her right shoulder. . The shot connected perfectly, but to his surprise, the human rolled into the strike, using the momentum to twirl on the spot to bring her sword swooping down on him. As impressive as the strange technique was, it was still the attack of an amateur, she had left herself wide open. Suk landed his last attack squarely in the back of her knee, and watched the human crumple almost immediately with a loud shriek. Everyone was jolted by the Freq shock that came with it, more with surprise than pain. Jasmine landed on the floor face down, defeated. ¡°Right, I¡¯m done.¡± She surrendered, hands up in the air before peeling herself off the tiles. ¡°Clearly, it¡¯s going to take a long time before I get the hang of this thing,¡± she rubbed the back of her leg and wrist tenderly, sitting down to ease the tension. Suk put away his blade and Xant hurried over to ensure Jasmine was not injured from the duel. ¡°That was an interesting maneuver, Jasmine.¡± Xant crouched down beside her, asking, ¡°Is that a common human maneuver?¡± ¡°No,¡± she shook her head, ¡°That kinda stuff only works in movies, really.¡± ¡°But, if it was captured on video, then surely it must work in a physical demonstration!¡± Xant concluded. ¡°I think we¡¯re both lost in translation again,¡± Jasmine sighed. ¡°I mean it¡¯s just for show, it¡¯s for looking good to an audience, not any practical combat use.¡± By now Arc and the dogs had given up on their game of fetch, summoned to Jasmine from her yelp they too, rushed over to see if the Namegiver was alright. ¡°For an audience?¡± Arc tilted his head as his antennae twitched, inserting himself into the conversation. ¡°Her Grace was explaining that her people use sword duels for entertainment.¡± Suk explained to his brother, in a tone that suggested he didn¡¯t approve. ¡°Did we not just spar to entertain ourselves?¡± Jasmine asked cheekily. ¡°The Arvas treat Segmented Swords very seriously,¡± Xant explained before Suk could become more offended. ¡°An ancient tradition that dates back to the foundations of Arvas society.¡± ¡°It is the standing of strength and power,¡± Suk continued, speaking with pride for his culture, ¡°It symbolises the Calling[destiny] of a Prince. By holding a sword even a freeman worker such as myself could attain such honour.¡± ¡°Just like The Worker Prince!¡± Arc piped up. ¡°Worker Prince?¡± Jasmine frowned, ¡°You called me a ¡®Worker Princess¡¯ before. I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s more alien stuff like ¡®Your Grace¡¯ and ¡®Entourage¡¯?¡± More strange idioms they would need contextualised for her, along with that tendon comment from earlier. ¡°Yes,¡± Xant¡¯s ears bobbed up and down, happy that she was recognising the significance. ¡°It is the title of a folktale that describes the Arvas society¡¯s ascension from a reproductive plutocracy to a more rounded meritocracy.¡± ¡°Suk tells the story really well!¡± Arc replied, giving his brother a glowing recommendation, practically shaking Suk¡¯s shoulders in excitement. ¡°Go on then, it might help me connect with the Lieutenant if I can understand you guys a bit more.¡± Jasmine made herself comfortable on the floor, which was easy with three tired dogs eager to snuggle into her sides. Suk had tried to be humble about it, but his chest swelled with pride when Jasmine asked him to tell the story. Suk ruffled his wings and folded both pairs of arms behind his back, ready to tell the tale of the Worker Prince to one who had never heard its grandeur. _*_ Before our wings reached the stars¡­ Before our feet touched the red sands of sacred Akira¡­ Taritchva(Home Sand) was a land of Queens and war. Kovakika was a great Queen, by the time of her second brood, she had claimed the entire west continent. She had many Princes at her feet, Her daughters and husbands commanded armies of millions. It was said she could command the presence of anyone in her shadow. Of all her princes, Mas Tova was her favourite. He was her voice when she cared not to speak. He was her blade when she wished her wrath dealt. His chitin ran as green as the blood he had spilled. As Kovakika grew older, and Akira reached her Zenith, it was time for her to pass on the last of her favours. She divided the lands amongst her favourite Princesses, and divided the Maidens amongst her favourite Princes. Lastly, she granted the favour of her last brood. Many thought the favour would go to Mas Tova, but she chose a younger, more humble Prince: Kal Ceno. While Tova was green as blood, Ceno was green like the Malachite Mountains, and he was beautiful and a poet at heart. Mas Tova was furious, but he could not defy the word of his Queen, so he drew the most insidious of plans to balance this slight against him. A warrior of old, he waited for his time to strike. Weeks after the union, the eggs were laid and placed in their royal chambers. Mas Tova and his most loyal of men invaded during the heat of noon and snatched the precious pearls. They slathered the snatch of eggs in poisons and then, in the greatest insult of all, threw them into the drone hatching room. There they would be left mostly unattended, to shrivel, dry and become forgotten. Many of the eggs cracked and perished. All, save for one. His egg shimmered that malachite green in the red moonlight and caught the attention of one of the poor workers left to attend a million eggs. The worker was able to wash the egg in time, and it was left to grow with the others. Without royal jelly, he grew no wings, nor stinger. The drone larvae were fed only scraps, but because of his colourful shell, he was always given food. As he grew with his brethren, he couldn''t help but notice how he was different and how poorly the drones were treated. They were beaten by the workers, killed for the slightest mistake by the nobility, treated so poorly that half the eggs laid did not survive. Those that did live in pain and fear. It was not fair, the drones and he did as the royals commanded, often beyond what was possible. One day, as they were scrubbing the hive floors, a Prince brought his wrath down upon a drone who failed to dry the floor fast enough. Unable to bear watching his brothers beaten so, he stood up and challenged the Prince. Startled and shocked, the weak Prince fled, dropping his sword as he called for aid. A sword should never be touched by unworthy hands, but he felt compelled to reach out for it, a burning desire deep within his thorax. The blade fit perfectly in his hands and he was overcome with comfort. The other drones all looked to him, and he told them to return underground. More Princes would be coming, and he knew they would all perish upon their return. They obeyed his orders as though he were a Prince himself and scuttled away before the Princes returned. The weak Prince did not return with his brothers, however, but with a Primarch. The proud lord looked over his inferior, who simply bowed, presenting the sword to him. ¡°His lord dropped this¡­¡± he answered the Lord, who chuckled amusedly. The Primarch scolded the Prince for letting a drone defile his blade, and spared the lower caste on a whim. The Prince snatched back his sword and swung at the drone in a rage. The drone dodged, and the Primarch roared in laughter. ¡°Clearly, this blade was not meant for you!¡± The Primarch ripped the sword from the Prince¡¯s hand, and smashed it against a stone pillar, shattering it to pieces. The Lord left the Prince in shame, and the drone and the blade forgotten. Once again, while the bright star burned in its zenith, the malachite worker collected the pieces of the sword and took them into the depths of his hovel. Piece by piece, he mended the blade. Over weeks and months he stole vials of sap to glue it back together, binding it in bandages to ensure the cure. The other drones were attentive to his task, bringing him more food and hiding him from the weak Prince''s sight. Soon the blade had been repaired, and it was in his hands. He watched the noble Princes train under the light of Akira¡¯s glow, and copied their moves unseen in the castle¡¯s shadow. He danced with the blade as gracefully as they could, if only he had the wings to fly as they could. He had heard whispers of a calling, this was too strong to be wrong. He had always been drawn to the blade, it was always meant to be his. He could no longer live in the dirt with the other drones. He went against all codes and decrees, walking through the castles caverns to the highest rooms, to speak to the Queen herself. So bold was his actions few dared to stop him, he walked with such purpose none dared question him. As the court did squabble amongst themselves about matters of state, the drone stepped before the queen and suddenly all eyes were on him. The queen was old and frail now. Her abdomen so swollen and large she could no longer move, her legs broken beneath her, and eyes weak even in the moonlight. The drone knelt before her, waiting for permission to speak. The Primarchs and princes were in an uproar. How dare such filth enter the sacred chamber of the queen! The drone held up his sword and spoke before the male¡¯s blades could silence him. ¡°Oh great Mother, I know I am unworthy to be in your presence, but I humbly ask a question.¡± It had been years since the Queen had seen a drone. She had been attended by her maidens for so many years she had almost forgotten that they even existed. ¡°Speak,¡± she croaked, and all the Princes did bow to her whims, putting their blades away so the blasphemous drone could ask his question. ¡°Akira blesses us all with a calling.You to give life, oh Queen, the Princesses to protect the hive, the Princes to protect you, and we the drones to build your castles and tend your food. But oh great and powerful Queen, can a Drone hear the call of a Prince?¡± He lifted his broken blade before the Queen. The screech of outrage of her court was deafening. With one fell swoop, the weak Prince lashed out at the drone, knocking him from his knees into a golden bowl of wine. The wine washed away the years of dust and grime that collected in his chitin, revealing the brilliant green underneath. The Primarch Mas Tova then saw his mistake, the green lineage of his rival, the broken blade he had discarded. Had he allowed the weak Prince to slay the drone, such a travesty would never have befallen his court. He vowed to correct this mistake immediately. He summoned his speed and strength, bringing his blade down upon the usurper. But the drone had learned the ways of the blade, rolling and dodging the Primarch¡¯s advances. Mas Tova was far beyond his prime, and in his rage had left himself open for attack. The drone spotted his one and only opportunity, striking under the Lord¡¯s shoulder and tearing his wings beyond repair. Stricken with shock, the Lord retaliated and cleaved an arm from the drone. But before he could land the final blow, the Queen demanded they stop. A silence fell over her court. She ordered the drone be brought before her. Under her gaze she recognised the brilliant malachite green, and held the drone protectively in her arms. ¡°You are no drone,¡± the Queen proclaimed, ¡°You are my son! My lost, last son!¡± Her eyes burned with rage at her once beloved Primarch, demanding to know why he would be so eager to kill this drone. ¡°They kill us without thought,¡± the drone replied to his Queen. ¡°We are nothing to them.¡± The Queen was horrified. Sheltered for so long, she had not known. With righteous fury, she banished her Primarch to exile from the hive. But the court still struggled with a once-truth now questioned. A drone could hold the calling of a Prince. Could all drones hold such a calling? The great Queen Kovakika decreed that no longer would drones be raised in filth, no longer would they be starved or beaten. If they were cared for, they could hold a greater calling, just like her Worker Prince. _*_ Suk finished the tale and was humbled to feel a radiantly warm feeling of approval from the human. She stared at him, fascinated. ¡°And that is a popular tale?¡± She asked. ¡°Very popular,¡± Suk replied. ¡°I''ve heard countless renditions over the Cit-Net,¡± ¡°I think¡­¡± Jasmine smiled as the warmth enveloped all of them, ¡°I might have a way to win over the Commander with a story of my own.¡± The captive audience now turned to her as she recited from memory, an old poem she studied at school.. ¡°She goes ten thousand miles on the business of war, She crosses passes and mountains like she¡¯s flying¡­ Generals die in a hundred battles, Stout soldiers return after ten years. On her return she sees the Son of Heaven, The Son of Heaven sits in the Splendid Hall. He gives out promotions in twelve ranks And prizes of a hundred thousand and more. The Khan asks her what she desires.¡± The Human looked to the tiled sky, to her friends, and to the dogs in her arms. The warm glow turned into a spark of determination burning in her chest. ¡°Mulan has no use for a minister¡¯s post. I wish to ride a swift mount, To take me back to my home.¡± She finished the poem, a plan of action forming firmly in her mind. If they kept insisting that she was a ¡®Princess¡¯, she was going to step up and be a damned Princess. Dreams Chapter 7: The Lieutenants Arrival Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako admired his growing collection. He had dedicated nearly an entire shelf to the more fascinating objects recovered from the asteroid-sized Rajavan troop transport ship he had requisitioned [2 weeks] ago. While Engine Lord Viitoic went about recovering the more ¡®useful¡¯ items from the ship, Nako was having fun looking at the trinkets left behind. He was particularly fond of the many knives the engineers kept bringing him, too small for any of the rangers or knights to use effectively, but highly decorative and well-made, nevertheless. He even began noticing patterns and similar rune markings on the sides of the handles; the creators of these items seemed to be fond of green splotches. Nako chose three of varying design and placed them alongside the other novelties in the carry case. ¡°Will this be everything, sire?¡± Captain Tifera asked her Lord. ¡°I think it will be enough for now,¡± he concluded. Any more time spent would only cause incessant micromanaging and prolong the travel time. ¡°Is the REFINED ready to depart?¡± Nako asked of Tifera. ¡°Yes, sire,¡± she answered, shutting the case and hefting it under her arm, ¡°Awaiting your orders.¡± Her answer brought a smile to Nako''s beak, his request for leave must have gone through without Knight Commander Kotorn¡¯s knowledge. With any luck, the brute wouldn''t notice his absence at all. ¡°Very good. Inform the crew of our departure, [1 hour].¡± ¡°As you will it, Commander,¡± Tifera saluted with her muscled free arm and left him alone in his quarters. There were only a few personal matters he needed to attend to before leaving Branch: redirecting transmissions to other officers, informing his squad and fleet of their duties during his absence, and making sure his terminal recorded the right CitizNet live feeds before they were locked out of the Military Audcive. Nako¡¯s wings fluttered as he directed the terminal; it had taken him everything we had to not to be literally buzzing with excitement. Now secure in his privacy he could chitter and chirp to his heart''s content. First Contact. He would be making first contact. With an alien maiden he had rescued from the clutches of the Rajava no less! It was as if he were the protagonist in a low-production narration. Next, the maiden would fall in love with him, he would rescue her people from a Rajavan incubation plant and they would be so enamoured by his gallantry that they would offer him the planet... The Lieutenant Commander stopped in his flight path before he entertained the nonsense any further. Akira had already been so fortunate with him, such blessings were not certain to last. He relaxed his wings a little and reminded himself there was still work needed to be done, and as per protocol, the best of impressions needed to be made. -*- The time it took the REFINED to make the final jump to Uleesia Station was agonising. Nako had mostly kept to himself while travelling so his pacing didn''t disturb the rest of his crew. It was harder than he thought to avoid fussing over the little details; the way his cloak fell over his shoulder, which swords to wear to seem presentable and, of course, how to address the alien in question. He had listened to what little notes the Executive Director of Uleesia Station had given him. Interviews about schedules and biology were hardly engaging topics, but she did state clearly her title for the director. ¡°Miss Howe, if you please,¡± the recording played back to him. ¡°Miss Howe,¡± he repeated to himself, before hailing the station for docking. He stepped onto the citizen station for the second time, dressed in formal armour, freshly oiled chitin and two swords at his hilt. His freshly pressed cloak elaborately folded over his right shoulder and pinned with more than just his military status. His welcoming party was unfortunately lacklustre, however. He was expecting more than just the three staff members. Nako remembered the veteran Sulin, and the freeman Arvas Manager. But the ever elegant Director was replaced with an erratic and nervous underling. The Lieutenant narrowed all six of his eyes as the citizen scientist stepped forward to greet him, bowing her head much too deeply. ¡°Welcome to Uleesia Station, your honour! I am Acting Executive Director Kyda Jess, my Operations Manager Au Isk and my Security Captain-¡± ¡°Acting Director?¡± Nako interrupted. ¡°Has Director...¡± he paused, recalling the old Qzetillian¡¯s name. ¡°...Laandi been replaced?¡± ¡°Er-I mean, no, your Honour,¡± Jess floundered, glancing at the stiff Operations Manager behind her. ¡°She is simply indisposed at the moment! If you follow me, I can show you the results of your venture. We have some fascinating reports that I think you¡¯ll-¡± ¡°I''ve seen enough reports,¡± the Lieutenant stated bluntly. ¡°On our last correspondence, Executive Director Laandi assured me that I would be able to speak with the Creator Subject, Miss Howe.¡± That statement seemed to rattle the Acting Director, her tail was twitchier than a stim junky¡¯s trigger finger. ¡°Miss Howe is...in quarantine, for the safety of the crew.¡± ¡°Safety of the crew?¡± Nako pressed, taking a step closer so he loomed over the scientist. ¡°Did something happen to Miss Howe?¡± Jess shrunk back, trying to answer the Lieutenant Commander. ¡°The Creator Subject has been... uncooperative, as of late,¡± Jess explained, though the words were painfully drawn from her mouth. ¡°If you would follow me, Lieutenant Commander, we have a presentation for you. Captain Rynard can take care of your attendants.¡± ¡°My crew are self-sufficient,¡± Nako replied coldly, ¡°and my Captain is to accompany me.¡± ¡°Of course¡­¡± Jess murmured, ¡°This way.¡± _*_ Nako brought the edge of his cloak over his body, concealing it as he walked down the noticeably empty halls of Uleesia Station. While it was protocol for most citizen members to vacate the area when in the presence of military individuals, their Freq presence was still able to be sensed by those more attuned to the ability. But Nako felt nothing. The staff members had either vacated the station entirely, or they had all expired in a short amount of time. He silently signalled for Tifera to be alert and to stay close. Jess lead the procession to a wide double door and her tail flicked the door switch open. ¡°Department Head Board Room, Acting Director Jess authorised,¡± the computer chimed. The boardroom had been laid out specifically for Nako¡¯s arrival, the holoprojector glowing with the title of his contract number and a dataslate ready for him. ¡°Director, are you taking me to Miss Howe, or are you deliberately ignoring my request?¡± He confronted the small scientist, who was trying and failing to put on a brave face. ¡°Your Honour, the Creator subject has a dangerous amount of Freq ability and little to no control,¡± she answered meekly. ¡°Safety protocols were ignored because of the unknown Freq impulses, and numerous members of the crew have suffered irreparable damage-¡± ¡°Are you comparing the constitution of a coddled citizen to that of an experienced Lieutenant Commander?!¡± Nako snapped, growing weary of the underling Director''s excuses. ¡°It was in the best interest of everyone aboard the station, and Esaander, that she be quarantined until further notice!¡± Jess panicked, blurting out, ¡°Even our Captain did not escape damage!¡± ¡°Jess!¡± Isk scolded. But it was far too late to take back the terrible attempt at deflection. Nako¡¯s antenna twitched curiously, glancing an eye over the veteran Captain. Rynard could barely contain the smirk. ¡°So you''re saying,¡± Nako deduced, ¡°That Miss Howe is strong enough to incapacitate a military-grade individual?¡± His uplifting tone surprised everyone. Everyone except Rynard. ¡°Sir?¡± the Security Captain saluted, and the Lieutenant Commander gestured for the soldier to speak. ¡°Jasi can let out blasts that can knock me on my tail,¡± he informed the ranking officer. ¡°And that was without even trying, sir.¡± ¡°Fascinating,¡± Nako¡¯s antennae twitched pleasantly. ¡°So where is the Creator Subject being held?¡± ¡°Y-your Honour!¡± Jess tried to stand up again, ¡°You can''t be serious! The Creator Subject is a danger to everyone around her! She can''t control her Freq, nor does she even seem to want to try!¡± She was almost pleading with the Lieutenant Commander to reconsider. ¡°Here, I shall show you the reports, it would be in your best interest to-¡± A piercingly cold shiver pierced the room. Nako¡¯s wings clicked together and his arms folded menacingly in front and behind. ¡°That is enough,¡± he demanded. ¡°Honestly, Acting Director, it is no surprise Miss Howe acted the way she did. If I were to be stuck in such a sterile environment with only you as my company, I would have knocked your tail clean off!¡± Jess¡¯ tail sank between her legs in embarrassment. ¡°Y-yes, your Honour,¡± she squeaked out, deciding it wise not to speak again unless spoken to. Nako looked between the ever-shrinking Operations Manager and the proud Sulin Captain. ¡°Captain Rynard, was it? Take me to Miss Howe!¡± Rynard stepped past his citizen employers and, with a proud salute, offered his assistance. ¡°This way Sir!¡± -*- ¡°Captain Rynard,¡± Nako inquired, once appropriate distance had been put between him and the citizens, ¡°You called Miss Howe by a short name. I suppose you have a good rapport with her?¡± ¡°Jasi isn''t as bad as the Acting Director makes her out to be,¡± Rynard stated casually, ¡°She packs a punch when she lets it off, but it¡¯s normally not harder than a Commander like yourself, sir. Problem is, she doesn''t get any Feedback.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Nako nodded, listening as the veteran Captain offered up more information. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°She says she''s a citizen, the same size too, but she acts more like one of us.¡± Rynard flicked his tail towards himself, Nako, and the glowering Tifera in turn. ¡°Well, she''s more relaxed when around me. She can talk with the bulge-brains, but she gets frustrated.¡± ¡°It seems Miss Howe has left quite an impression on you, Captain Rynard.¡± ¡°Heh, I think she''s done a bit more than that, sir,¡± the veteran smirked cryptically, opening the door to the security office. ¡°Security Office, Captain Rynard authorised.¡± Rynard stepped aside for the Lieutenant Commander to walk in first. Nako peered through the observation window and his excitement was tempered. In the training room below sat the strangest collection of people: the former Director in fine clothes, two Arvas guards in company uniforms, a Zenthi scientist in military-grade power armour, three furry quadrupeds and, at the top of the circle, an alien in grey citizen armour draped in a blue sash. The alien, on first sight, was unattractively Qzetillian for his liking. Short, chunky, fleshy, with a smooth, blobby head, it could have easily been mistaken for a new flesh model. He was reminded of the blessings Akira had given him and, perhaps, this was where his luck ran out. He let out a small, ¡®Tsk¡¯ of disappointment but held his head high as he assumed the duties of First Contact. ¡°Is there a reason for them to be kept in the training facility?¡± ¡°Quarantine,¡± Rynard replied, ¡°the big heads in charge think that Jasi is some sort of rogue agent waiting to happen. She ain''t like that!¡± ¡°Well then, I suppose it is up to me to give our guest a proper welcoming then.¡± Nako straightened up his cloak. ¡°Tifera, wait here.¡± ¡°Yes, sire.¡± his devout Captain nodded, standing by the door. Nako approached the training room door and composed himself before giving the signal to Rynard to let him through. The door to the training room opened and, much to his amusement, the sitting circle scrambled to attention. The guards at the back, the Director and the scientists behind, and the alien maiden with her three furry companions took the front. But when Nako stood out into the training room, he understood Jess¡¯ desperate need to categorize and control Miss Howe. Human Freq was... different. It was immersive and subtle, creeping across his senses like the gentle rays of the morning sun. Distinctive without being oppressive. It was easy to see how so many of the staff had been drawn to her. She bowed respectfully before him, a hand across her chest as was polite. ¡°Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako,¡± she addressed him, the melody of the alien''s voice had him more certain of her civility. Purrs and hums that floated on the air, yet imitated perfectly the kah¡¯s and t¡¯cha¡¯s of his own tongue when he heard it. She lifted her head, then looked him in the eye and smiled, her fleshy hand extended to him. ¡°My name is Miss Jasmine Anne Howe, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± The introduction was more than enough for him to forgive her unfortunate appearance. After all, it was nothing power armour couldn''t disguise. Her entourage seemed shocked at this approach. The Director and Doctor especially. Nako replied with an amused and grateful smile as he extended one of his own arms towards her. ¡°And a pleasure it is to make yours.¡± Her hands ¡ª warm, with perhaps too many fingers ¡ª gently grasped his hand, raising and dropping it twice before letting go. She returned her hand to her front, folded neatly one over the other, and her eyes rested on his chin. ¡°Lieutenant,¡± she addressed him formally, ¡°I was told you wished to speak with me?¡± ¡°Yes, I have many things I wish to discuss with you, Miss Howe,¡± he looked over to her entourage, they didn''t dare look him in the eye. ¡°Has the Esaander corporation treated you well?¡± The human seemed startled by the question, but she was eager to reply. ¡°As well as they could,¡± came her diplomatic response, ¡°There have been a few bumps in the road, but Dr. Xant and everyone here has done their best to ease me into the facility.¡± ¡°And have they addressed your needs?¡± Nako asked again, her eyes flickered up to his before she physically tilted her head down. ¡°I...am not entirely sure as to the question. But, they have not harmed me or,¡± her Freq dimmed as she paused to find the right words, ¡°Upset me on purpose.¡± ¡°But they have upset you,¡± he lead her in questioning. ¡°Unintentionally,¡± she replied more firmly. ¡°There has been miscommunication on both sides, but I hope to move forward, toward a brighter future together.¡± Nako considered her answer; deliberately phrased, practised but with conviction. She was just as nervous as he was on this first meeting. However, she also had to perform for an audience. ¡°Miss Howe, please, address me as Sir Nako,¡± he flicked back his cape, ¡°And I believe our conversations would be more suited aboard my ship. Then neither of us will have to worry about keeping ourselves in check.¡± The human hesitated, and for a moment, forgot polite protocol, looking the Lieutenant in the eye once more. ¡°Sir Nako, would I be allowed an escort?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°I am still learning Galactic Council etiquette, and would be more comfortable if my companions were with me.¡± ¡°But of course, how could I deny such a request?¡± Nako folded his arm back underneath his cloak, which fell like a curtain back over his shoulder. ¡°Who do you wish to accompany you?¡± ¡°Dr. Xant,¡± she replied without hesitation, ¡°And if possible, I would like to keep my canine friends within reach.¡± Her voice noticeably softened when speaking of them. ¡°It is my responsibility to ensure their safety.¡± Nako smiled at her sincerity. ¡°Miss Howe, I believe you and I can see the same horizon.¡± The human returned the smile, keeping her head held high. ¡°Then lead us into the sunset, Sir Nako.¡± -*- It did occur to Jasmine that perhaps she was being a bit naive to think that befriending an intergalactic military commander would be that easy. Xant and Laandi made it seem as though it would have been offended at the slightest mishap. But Lieutenant Commander Nako seemed to be far more lenient than anyone expected. It could have all been a ploy, of course; lull Jasmine into a false sense of security, then pull whatever nefarious plan he had for her when it was too late. Maybe he would want to use her as a weapon? Her emotional outbursts were strong enough to psychically hurt those around her, after all. She wanted to trust her instinct. The giant space-grasshopper Knight seemed cool. He had laughed at her retort about the sunset, so at least they were getting off on the right foot. But Xant and Laandi¡¯s aversion to the situation just couldn¡¯t be ignored. She would be polite for now; civil, as she had first been with Xant and Laandi, until she could find out what the Commander¡¯s motives with her were. And hopefully, find a way to compromise. Xant was very cautious around the Commander. He stood close to Jasmine¡¯s side and offered her his thoughts. ¡°It may be wise to have the dogs stay here in quarantine. If we are going on the Lieutenant¡¯s ship, they may get the urge to roam.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jasmine agreed, ¡°Kimiko doesn¡¯t listen very well.¡± ¡°It will also give us a reason to return,¡± he added, looking over his shoulder to the exiting Lieutenant. ¡°Should you feel uncomfortable in Sir Nako¡¯s presence.¡± Jasmine looked to Xant¡¯s armour and recognised the blue ringed communicator on his collar. ¡°Does your radio work?¡± Xant thought for a moment before tapping the communicator and watching the blue light respond. ¡°I suppose it does.¡± Jasmine knelt down and addressed her small pack of dogs. ¡°Hey guys, I¡¯m going to be gone for a little while to do some intergalactic diplomacy.¡± Spades lowered his head, Sieglinde laid down on the ground, disappointed, and Kimiko just cocked her head in response. ¡°But I will be checking in with you,¡± She tapped the communicator on Xant¡¯s suit. ¡°If you see this blue light on their collars, it means that I will be able to talk to you, do you understand?¡± Unfortunately her explanation was only met with a round of confused stares, although they could talk to each other now, she couldn''t make them understand how two way radio communication worked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you all play fetch with Arc and Suk until I get back? Then we can play more games when I return, how about ¡®tug o¡¯ war?¡¯¡± They seemed to accept that, and practically jumped to their Namegiver when she opened her arms for a farewell hug. ¡°Okay, I think I¡¯m ready. Xant, what about you?¡± ¡°I just need to retrieve my helmet,¡± The Doctor gestured towards the lonesome piece of tech sitting by the security door. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to go aboard the Lieutenant Commander¡¯s ship without it.¡± Xant slid his snout into the faceplate of the helmet. Pressing unseen buttons on either side of the jawline released extra plates that snapped out and over his skull and neck like scales. Once the helmet clicked securely into the collar of the metal suit, all six of the camera ¡°eyes¡± whirred into focus, before the ¡°ears¡± popped out. ¡°Military frequencies are very strong, they don¡¯t restrain themselves outside of citizen areas. I won¡¯t be able to remove it while aboard the ship.¡± Jasmine clapped her hands and the familiar bounce of excitement tickled his senses. ¡°Now that is cool as hel¨C heck.¡± She corrected herself, but the pulse still came through. Xant found it nice to know that swearing could also hold a positive response. Perhaps swearing was an amplifier to emotion, rather than just simply a negative response? He would make a mental note to test this theory later. ¡°When do I get a suit like yours and Rynard¡¯s?¡± Jasmine asked. Xant shook his head in dismay. ¡°Hopefully, Jasmine, you will never have to wear one of these dreadful things.¡± An awkward silence passed between the two, but Jasmine nodded in understanding, and then turned to say goodbye to her remaining quarantined companions. Nako was waiting for them in the security room talking with Rynard, who was of course, happy to see Jasmine and Xant on the other side of the Freq-proof glass. Jasmine was quick to greet him. ¡°Rynard!¡± ¡°Jasi, you groomed up well!¡± The Captain chuckled. Jasmine replied with a nervous laugh. ¡°Well I didn¡¯t have much to work with-¡± Nako swept across the room, eager to join the conversation, but Tifera¡¯s looming presence behind him startled the human from her train of thought. She stood the same height as her Commander, and up to Rynard¡¯s shoulders. But while Nako was tall and thin, Tifera was almost as broad as she was tall. Jasmine recognised the image from the Rajavan holograms. A military grade Zenthi: gorilla-like arms tipped with talons that almost dragged across the floor, wide chest and hips balanced out with a thick muscular tail, long ears, and spike-like horns. If Tifera was a siberian tiger in its prime, then in comparison, Xant was a declawed house cat. ¡°Miss Howe, this is my Captain, Ara¡¯San Tifera. She will be accompanying us back to my ship, and I would kindly ask that you do not give her so much attention.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jasmine blurted before she realised she was staring. ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± The giant Zenthi silently turned to her Commander for orders, to which Nako naturally assumed control. ¡°Captain Rynard, please escort us back to the REFINED.¡± The veteran soldier saluted, a wide toothy grin on his face, and lead the group out and down the identical and endless white walled halls. Jasmine turned to Xant for direction. ¡°I should walk behind him, huh?¡± Xant nodded affirming her suspicions. ¡°And I shall walk behind you, since it seems you are his invited guest.¡± The human ran after Rynard and Nako, her short legs surprisingly being able to keep up with the oversized pair. Tifera snorted, but followed silently after the citizen-sized anomaly. Xant, still getting used to his new suit, was happy to take up the rear. While he worried greatly for future developments, there was a small part of him that was excited. The Lieutenant had not even twitched an antenna at Jasmine''s request for his presence. Perhaps they would not be separated as quickly as he had imagined. The Doctor looked to the Zenthi Captain in front of him. It had been so long since he had encountered another one of his own kind, military grade though she may be. The urge to speak on the Natural Frequency was strong. The dogs had certainly helped stir such feelings inside him, but there was only so much conversation one could have with an alien of lower sentience. Captain Tifera was large, her presence as cold as the steel suit she wore. Not entirely unpleasant, just very intimidating. At least it would have been, if Xant had not been on the receiving end of a human Freq-bomb. Multiple times. ¡®Captain,¡¯ he transmitted softly, activating nerves he had not used in so long. ¡®It is an honour to make your acquaintance.¡¯ ¡®...¡¯ ¡®I do hope that our presence has not inconvenienced you too much.¡¯ ¡®...¡¯ Xant was a little disappointed. Maybe he was presuming too much that she would answer him? She was in no obligation to answer, of course, but if she ignored him after a final attempt, he would cease his pestering before she reacted unkindly. ¡®Your Lord seems like a gracious host.¡¯ ¡®Yes. He is generous with his time, to all those who take his interest.¡¯ Tifera¡¯s words were loud and clear. They rung through Xant¡¯s body as though they were directly connected, almost shaking him physically. ¡®Jasmine is the most fascinating of people,¡¯ Xant agreed, happy to have found a topic they could converse amicably in. Tifera¡¯s left ear twitched ever so slightly. She did not hide her disdain in the reply. ¡®If my Lord has granted you an audience, I expect you to acknowledge the honour.¡¯ ¡®But-¡¯ ¡®And if you want to express gratitude for such an honour, meeting expectations would be wise.¡¯ ¡®...¡¯ While she wasn¡¯t exactly tactful, Xant was grateful that she didn¡¯t simply Freq-blast him into submission. ¡®Thank you for the advice, Captain.¡¯ Jasmine was having trouble keeping up with both Captain Rynard and the Commander. Trying to stay composed while barely under a jog was harder than it had seemed. She tried a few confident strides, finding a rhythm that didn''t make her feel like she belonged in the Ministry of Funny Walks. While every hall was white and unmemorable, she didn¡¯t think she had been down this part of the facility. When Rynard opened the doors to the dock, Jasmine¡¯s gasp was audible. The docking area was big and busy. Bigger than anything she¡¯d ever seen! Giant alien equipment lined the the far side, dozens of soldiers like Rynard milling around the place. Mecha-suited saurians, some wearing coloured capes like the Commander, war paint and serial numbers emblazoned across their chests and tails. It was the only time she had seen a crowd of more than five people! The second Nako stepped out onto the dock, the soldiers scrambled to attention, lining the hatch door in neat, uniform rows. Each one saluted with a thumb across their chest before standing at ease. It truly was an awesome sight. Jasmine gulped. This was it, she was going to be stepping off the station for the first time and onto a real spaceship. Why was her heart beating so hard? ¡°Is everything alright, Miss Howe?¡± Nako asked. ¡°...() I¡¯ve never been on a spaceship before.¡± she confessed. ¡°This is all... a little *******.¡± Everyone turned to look at the human. Soldiers, Captain, Commander. All eyes and cameras suddenly were on her. Xant stepped up beside Jasmine and prompted her. ¡°That last word didnt translate correctly, Jasmine.¡± ¡°Oh, uhh... I mean,¡± she turned back to Nako, searching for a way to describe her experience in a way that her translator would accept. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe I get to see inside a working alien spaceship. I¡¯m a little awestruck ()!¡± ¡°Warship,¡± the Commander corrected proudly, smoothing over the mistranslation. ¡°This is no mere ¡®ship¡¯. The REFINED is one of the Galactic Council¡¯s best! It¡¯s almost a shame it shall be your first. Few can compare.¡± ¡°How much of it will I be able to see?¡± Jasmine asked, trying desperately to contain her excitement. ¡°As much as you like,¡± Nako replied. ¡°After our introductions,¡± he emphasised. ¡°I¡¯ve been told you were kept in quarantine. You will find no such restrictions aboard my ship, everyone here is experienced in battle and your Freq-presence can be easily tolerated. ¡± Jasmine looked back at Xant, who nodded knowingly. ¡°This suit will protect me, Jasmine,¡± Xant assured her. ¡°You won¡¯t have to hold yourself in restraint.¡± Jasmine chuckled, letting out a deep sigh. ¡°Alright, ().¡± ¡°Dr. Xant, was it?¡± Nako turned his attention to the scientist. Xant bowed his head respectfully. ¡°Yes Sir?¡± ¡°I suggest you turn your suit to its highest resistance setting, my men will likewise not be constrained aboard their own vessel.¡±¡°Understood, Commander.¡± Without issuing a single command, the soldiers suddenly stood at attention, and saluted their commander. Two dozen mechasaurians slammed an arm across their chests, the steel clang echoing in the empty docking station. Jasmine jumped back at little at the sudden noise, bumping into Xant who held up a hand to steady her. Nako took strides between the rows of soldiers. With a grand flourish, he cast his cape open with wide, open arms and announced for all to hear: ¡°Miss Howe. Allow me to welcome you aboard the REFINED!¡± Dreams Chapter 8: Aboard the REFINED and the Pink Tablet Jasmine took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding inside her chest, but this time it was not because of overwhelming anxiety. This was exciting! For a brief moment, it wasn¡¯t about following protocols or trying to make the best impression of humanity that she could. She was about to step aboard an alien spaceship! Would it be the same as the research facility, all sterile with white walls? Would it be more like the soldiers with their decorated and battle-scarred steel? Or all fancy, like the parading Commander? Or something completely different? Would she get to see the FTL engines, or the super computer that ran it all? How big was this thing?!- It was Xant who brought her mind out of the whirlwind of questions with a light tap on her shoulder. Jasmine chuckled softly, it was hard to read his expressions now that they were covered by a six-camera¡¯d faceplate, but she assumed her thoughts were once again bleeding into the atmosphere. Nako didn¡¯t seem deterred, however, as he lead their merry band aboard the ship. The docking-tube thingy was wide enough for two rangers to stand side by side. The walls were squared, but had polished, overlapping steel plates, just like the military mech suits. One thing that Jasmine did notice when she stepped out was how warm it all felt under her feet, even through her plastic armour. The smell of hot steel and fresh plastic flushed her senses. Loud metallic clanging mixed in with deep growls and snapping clicks. On the far side of the gantry, Jasmine could see soldiers moving gigantic crates, chatting with each other, working on their massive suits of armour, and toiling on unidentifiable heavy equipment. Jasmine put her hands up to her ears instinctively, but internally she welcomed the noise. It had been so quiet on board the research station, hearing the bustle of activity helped bring the REFINED to life. ¡°COMMANDER ON BOARD!¡± Tifera¡¯s booming voice announced their arrival to the crew as they stepped through the docking collar. Everyone on the deck dropped what they were doing immediately to salute their Lieutenant Commander. Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but wonder if this was a regular occurrence, or if perhaps Nako was just showing off now. ¡°While it is not the most impressive part of the ship, you can see that the Galactic Council Rangers pride themselves on being prepared at all times to resolve conflict within and beyond its borders,¡± the Lieutenant stated. ¡°Uh-huh...¡± Jasmine muttered as her eyes drank in every small detail of the ship¡¯s design. The REFINED looked like it was built in sections, rhombic tiles fitted between tube-like segments; a squashed honeycomb would have been a good comparison. The dock was divided into layers on top of layers, open elevator platforms spread out evenly between for the Sulin soldiers, while the Arvas simply flew between the sections of the open layout. There were a few other aliens she didn¡¯t quite recognize running drills in power armour, but they all seemed to follow the lead of either another Sulin like Rynard, or an Arvas in a cape like Nako. An elevator was cleared for them, and Nako continued the tour as Jasmine and Xant gawked at the military complex. ¡°The REFINED takes its design from the graceful () Chkat¡¯an: hollow on the inside so that communications and personnel can move freely, whilst reinforced backbones ensure that no strength is sacrificed for speed.¡± The elevator took them beyond the docks to a doored hallway, a main artery of foot traffic. The crowd within parted immediately as Nako and Tifera strode down the middle. More strange looking aliens stopped and bowed their heads as they walked past. White furred bipeds with void-black eyes and lanky arms clutched dataslates and shivered as Jasmine and Xant followed. Four legged aquatic cicadas lugged their wide bodies to the sides of the hall and chirped like crickets. Tentacle mouthed, million eyed mammals flattened their upstanding cat-like ears. Jasmine suddenly became very self-conscious. ¡°The bridge is up this way, my quarters and privacy are just beyond,¡± Nako informed them, a slight chuckle in his voice. ¡°The crew will be used to your presence soon enough.¡± Jasmine was once again reminded of the invisible impact she had upon this world, myriad eyes upon her without even needing to draw attention to herself. There were already so many wonderfully different types of aliens and yet she stood out like a beacon. She raised her hand in an Elizabeth II style wave and smiled cordially. The beeps and the shivers stopped, replaced with a chorus of hushed, awed whispers. ¡°That''s all well and good, but I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll ever be used to everyone else¡¯s presence,¡± Jasmine responded. ¡°Patience and time are great teachers, provided you are an obedient student,¡± Nako countered, casually. The bridge was the brains of the ship and the warmest room by far. Jasmine could almost feel the sweat beading on her skin as they crossed the threshold of the door. It was quieter than the other halls, the subtle rapid taps of fingers against glass control panels and the droning hum of computers replaced the power-armoured stomping of pedestrian traffic. Holographic lights glowed in the dimness, while the familiar tang of cleaning alcohol tickled more unpleasant memories. ¡°The entirety of the REFINED¡¯s operations are conducted here, the bridge sits right above the ship¡¯s brain server for the quickest reaction times. We can out-maneuver even a model from the Painful Dynasty¡¯s production line.¡± Jasmine peered down into the bridge¡¯s operation cavity, and furrowed her brow. ¡°Is something wrong, Jasmine?¡± The intuitive Xant enquired. ¡°No, it¡¯s just, I wasn¡¯t expecting the bridge of a warship to look like a cubicle farm¡­¡± The crew all sat within neat ergonomic rows, staring into holographic and glass terminals. Six armed Arvas and Qzetillian aliens all fervently working at their tasks, while others moved up and down the divided spaces, running hands and tools over the hundreds of cables that linked into the open-standing servers and the floor. ¡°Do you run things differently aboard your own ships?¡± ¡°Kinda. Not that I¡¯ve ever been aboard an active battleship to dispute it, but human ships are a bit more...open plan, I guess.¡± As with all the other rooms before it, the crew was quick to acknowledge Nako¡¯s presence, but this time he raised a hand, signalling for them to continue their work without pause. The quiet bustling continued as though there had never been an interruption. ¡°My quarters are off-limits to everyone, bar my superior Knight Commander and guests. Please enjoy the privilege of the bestowed title, Miss Howe.¡± The Lieutenant then turned to Captain Rynard, ¡°I¡¯m afraid the honour does not extend to you, Captain. Active officers only.¡± ¡°Understood, sir,¡± Rynard nodded, standing on guard to the side. ¡°I¡¯ll await the Doctor¡¯s and Subject¡¯s return.¡± ¡°Please, feel free to enjoy the mess hall.¡± Rynard saluted happily, ¡°Yessir!¡± Nako¡¯s quarters were in stark contrast to the rest of the ship. It was humid, bright, and a faint twinge of dried grass permeated the air. Much like Xant¡¯s or Laandi¡¯s office, it was more personable. But while the Doctor and Director kept their belongings to a minimum, Nako¡¯s tastes were not so understated. The Lieutenant seemed like he could afford more luxury than most. The whole room was comfortable and welcoming. The walls and floor seemed to be covered in soft, sandy coloured leather. Long, draped curtains lined one side of the wall, banners and wall hangings decorated the rest. It was more like a bedroom than what she expected of an officer¡¯s quarters on a warship. ¡°Please, look around, I will hold no offence,¡± Nako extended. ¡°If that''s alright?¡± Jasmine asked. The Commander nodded, and the human quickly crossed the room to see the decorations. There was an entire shelf dedicated to small tchotchkes; cubes and pyramids, a red and blue buttoned tube. They were interesting to look at, like a collection of novelty paperweights. The wall hangings were long, taking up almost the entire height of the wall. The material was thin like silk, threads as thin as a hair that shimmered in the light. What intrigued her more, though, was this was the first piece of alien art she had seen. Abstract moons and swords arranged in colours of reds and purples; it could have made a great rock album cover. Jasmine wondered if there were any details she couldn''t see, hidden by ultraviolet or infrared. She didn¡¯t dare touch it. ¡°It was a gift,¡± Nako explained, stepping behind her, ¡°A Knight Commander bestowed it upon me after a skirmish.¡± He pointed to the asymmetric moons, ¡°It tells the tale of an ancient battle. The twin planets Palo and Polo, brought under the rule of Ahnakikia. The first conquest outside our home planet and moon,¡± Nako made a thrusting motion with his hands very much like he was skewering the moons with his blade. ¡°The sword represents Ahnakikia?¡± Jasmine inferred, looking over the placement of the banner. ¡°Very astute of you. I can see why the scientists enjoy your company, Miss Howe. Now then, I have told you enough of my ship, now I need to hear what you think of these...¡± A long table was set to the left of the room, a giant grey case waiting for them. Jasmine took one of the soft seats beside Xant and sat formally, ankles together and hands in her lap. Xant rested in his suit, the rigid metal skeleton taking most of his weight. It was relaxing for Xant to let the machine hold the weight of his own muscles. Captain Tifera unlatched the crate¡¯s clasps and opened it for her lord. Nako reached in with three arms and presented three different knives side by side in front of Jasmine. The human stared at the table for a moment before jumping up, her wide eyes locked onto the tools. ¡°Where did you get these?¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice was tense with worry. Did she really want to know the answer? ¡°The Rajavan ship we salvaged your pod from had quite a number of these fine objects,¡± the Lieutenant answered, ¡°And like you, they are quite the well-crafted anomaly.¡± Jasmine returned her attention to the knives, appraising them carefully. As Nako suspected, the handles all fit perfectly into her palm. ¡°This one,¡± she stated, ¡°Is a camping knife. It folds in on itself, so you can slide it into your pocket.¡± Jasmine demonstrated for the aliens, flicking the blade out with her thumb. ¡°It¡¯s an outdoor general purpose tool, used for cutting fishing line, tinder for fires, opening packets of marshmallows. Anything that needs to be cut, really.¡± ¡°And the pattern?¡± Nako inquired, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it on numerous items.¡± ¡°Green forest camouflage,¡± Jasmine explained cautiously, wondering where these supposed ¡®other items¡¯ were. ¡°It¡¯s a common decorative pattern. Military field uniforms have this print, but it¡¯s not uncommon for commercial items to have it, too. But I think it¡¯s safe to say it¡¯s just a regular knife,¡± Jasmine set down the folding knife and snatched up the favourite of Nako¡¯s collection, ¡°Because this is a combat knife.¡± Nako chuckled as she held the much larger blade, it always felt good when his suspicions were correct. ¡°Not a sword, then?¡± ¡°No, swords are ceremonial and basically just look nice on the formal uniforms. This is an active combat knife and what soldiers would take into battle.¡± She ran her thumb over the scratch marks on the leather, unbuttoning the KA-BAR and holding it tightly in her hand. Xant watched as Jasmine repeated the same motions with the human knife as she had done with the Segmenter Sword, before putting it back into its case. ¡°And the runes? What does the emblem stand for?¡± ¡°U.S.M.C,¡± Jasmine recited solemnly, ¡°United States Marine Corp, a renowned branch of the United States military. The eagle represents the country¡¯s freedom and dignity. The globe is a map of the Earth¡¯s continents,¡± her finger pointed at the top landmass, ¡°The United States is about here. The anchor is because they specialised in amphibious warfare when founded. An anchor is a giant hunk of metal that kept aquatic ships from drifting off with the tide.¡± ¡°A renowned branch of military,¡± Nako repeated, happy with the answer. ¡°Yeah, my country and theirs are great allies,¡± she added before moving onto the final blade. ¡°And this¡­¡± The last knife was almost bland in comparison, but Jasmine seemed to be the most excited about it, ¡°Is a Japanese filleting knife.¡± Jasmine gently ran her thumb over the edge, smiling at the subtle noise over her skin, ¡°They usually come in a set, but this is the kind of knife you use on a fish worth its weight in gold. It¡¯s high-carbon steel, like the combat knife, but polished and sharpened to the extent you could cut meat in see-through slivers!¡± She pointed out the carved seal on its side. ¡°That¡¯s the maker''s mark. Unfortunately, I can''t read Kanji, but it certainly does feel expensive ().¡± She held the blade differently from the others, with more confidence and primarily gripping the handle with the tips of her fingers, keeping the edge pointed down. ¡°What is the difference between this knife and the soldier''s blade?¡± Nako enquired aloud. ¡°Oh, this one is used in food preparation,¡± Jasmine clarified. ¡°Jasmine has explained to us that she was studying to become a nutritionist,¡± Xant further elaborated to the Lieutenant when he did not immediately understand. ¡°Humans still prepare food by hand.¡± ¡°Well, we do have manufactured foods, but nothing compares to cooking with fresh ingredients.¡± ¡°It is considered an art form,¡± Xant added, and Jasmine wholeheartedly agreed. ¡°It¡¯s one of the many things I miss about my old life. I¡¯m afraid the human palette is used to more sophisticated flavours than what your mealboxes provide.¡± Nako looked to Tifera, both amused and unconvinced. ¡°Food? An art form? Now I believe a demonstration would be in order¡­¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jasmine laughed, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how I would go with raw alien ingredients, but at the very least I can show you some cutting techniques; a bit of julienning, Mirepoix-¡± ¡°You said that knife was for meat,¡± Nako interrupted. ¡°The knife is used to cut flesh for food?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jasmine nodded, still focused on the steel¡¯s sharp edge, ¡°This one is specifically for fish, though.¡± She turned the blade at her wrist and ran it through an imaginary tuna. ¡°You run it down the spine, so you don''t get any of the bones, that''s after you¡¯ve scaled and gutted it, of course.¡± There was a brief pause in conversation as the civilized alien maiden just openly admitted to have gutted and de-spined another living creature with just a sharp piece of steel and her bare hands. ¡°Dr. Xant,¡± Nako asked, ¡°wasn¡¯t one of the specimens I brought aboard the station an aquatic fauna? A fish?¡± ¡°Technically,¡± Xant hesitated in his reply, ¡°There were five of the aquatic samples, yes.¡± ¡°Surely we can organise for Miss Howe to prepare one for us¡­ Or have a substitute found?¡± The Lieutenant clicked his beak excitedly, outdoing the confession¡¯s morbidness with his own enthusiastic interest on the matter ¡°I will, see what I can do¡­¡± Xant was unwilling to sacrifice one of the few untainted specimens they had purely for the sake of curiosity. It would be far simpler to clone the parts of the specimen they needed, although the thought of Jasmine gleefully harming another creature for sustenance was¡­unsettling. The line between sophisticated and savage seemed to be a blur with Humans. Jasmine went to put the sashimi knife away, but Nako stopped her. ¡°Consider that one a gift,¡± he offered, reaching into the crate to pull another curiosity out. Jasmine looked at the knife, smiling. ¡°Thank you, but I have nowhere to keep it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange a case to be made. Or would you prefer a sheath like the combat blade?¡± ¡°A sheath would be cool,¡± Jasmine murmured, imagining keeping it on her hip, ¡°For now, at least.¡± She¡¯d ask for a chef¡¯s carry case later. Nako then pulled out, with great flourish, two large pieces of coloured cloth, one held aloft in each pair of arms. ¡°These have been the only tapestries we¡¯ve recovered so far,¡± he explained. ¡°I would love to hear what meanings they represent.¡± Jasmine¡¯s brow furrowed in thought. The Lieutenant was trying to cover common ground, just as Xant had done with his interviews. Clearly the Lieutenant knew about swords, but she was about to burst his bubble with the ¡®tapestries¡¯. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not a tapestry like the one on your wall.¡± Jasmine pulled the bottom cloth, trying not to sound dismissive as she explained, ¡°It¡¯s a beach sarong, cheap clothing. It ties around the hips like this...¡± As she held the thin cotton, a whiff of a familiar scent filled her nostrils and her nerves shivered. She immediately brought it to her face and breathed deeply, sighing happily. ¡°Coconut¡­¡± she whispered, unwilling to admit how much she missed the feel of cotton against her skin. The whole thing was permeated with the odor of coconut sunscreen. She remembered the beach, the sand, the fresh ocean breeze and cool waters... ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant rested a gentle metal hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of the brief trance. ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± She then returned to tie the sarong around her hips. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look quite as nice over the armour though.¡± ¡°But what about the colours? The pattern?¡± Nako insisted. Jasmine shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to tell you, it¡¯s a pink and green tie dye sarong, there is no meaning to the pattern. Its just pretty.¡± The Lieutenant was mildly disappointed. ¡°The top one is a country flag.¡± She reached out and unfurled the flag, spreading it out for everyone to see. ¡°Brazil,¡± she said as she looked over the flag. While she could recognise it in an instant, it wasn¡¯t something she gave a lot of thought too. ¡°Well, the only thing I know for certain is that the stars are those in the southern hemisphere, a small map of our part of the galaxy. The green I think is for the rainforests, the gold could be for actual gold or sunshine.¡± She then pointed to the motto written across the blue orb, ¡°Ordem e Progresso... Well, I don¡¯t speak Latin, but my best guess is that ¡®Progresso¡¯ means progress, ¡®Ordem¡¯ could be order, so ¡®Order of Progress?¡¯.¡± Again, she was ashamed at how little of her own world she took for granted, she should have known more about Brazil than Mardi Gras, football, and beef exports. Nako was silent for a moment. ¡°What do you mean you dont ¡®speak Latin¡¯?¡± ¡°Ah, Humans don¡¯t have a universal translator like you guys. We have multiple languages with hundreds, if not thousands of dialects. To translate we have either computer programmes or linguists and even then, it¡¯s never as accurate as this one.¡± She pointed to the device sticking out the side of her skull. ¡°But you read the words? How do you not understand them?¡± ¡°Well I can read the alphabet, but it¡¯s not my native language.¡± She looked to Xant who was, as usual, enthralled when she explained the more intricate nuances of human culture, so she decided Nako probably would like to know as well. ¡°Latin is a ¡®dead¡¯ language, no one speaks it natively, but it¡¯s used in a lot of academic and scientific works. My language, English, uses the Latin alphabet, so I can read what the letters say and can kinda guess what some of the words mean, but I wouldn¡¯t be able to recite anything or tell you the meaning of more complex words. Oh! Fun fact: ¡®Marine¡¯ is derived from the Latin word for water, so...it¡¯s a big mess really.¡± Nako turned suddenly and whipped out a rather well worn book. ¡°So the meaning of this is lost to you?¡± Jasmine stared at the cover. ¡°O¨´ observer les oiseaux en France¡­¡± She read aloud and, much to everyone¡¯s surprise, it sounded like nonsense. ¡°Well the only thing I understood here was France. But from the front cover, I think this book is about birds.¡± ¡°Could you read more?¡± Xant asked, enjoying the pleasant, yet untranslatable sounds. It wasn¡¯t like the unknown concepts that were completely untranslatable without explanation. It was just unusual sounds, but without meaning applied to them. It was fascinating. ¡°Ce livre est d¨¦di¨¦ ¨¤ ma femme ¨¦clair¨¦.Puissiez-vous voler librement avec vos amis ¨¤ plumes.¡± As Jasmine read, Xant peered over her shoulder at the strange tome. Alongside the unmoving words were vivid and detailed graphics. It was all very similar to how she had arranged the images in the dataslate during their first contact interviews. ¡°Ah!¡± The Doctor exclaimed, ¡°Primary communication is visual!¡± It had lingered in the back of his mind why Jasmine had not tried more vocal communication until the translator was provided. The numerous songs she had sung in captivity had stopped completely once they were on speaking terms. Other species had tried to communicate through a series of clicks and grunts, but Jasmine turned straight to visual cues. The small factual breakthrough had the doctor pulsing pleasantly. ¡°So what is it?¡± Nako asked, seemingly growing impatient with them. ¡°What is the connection between the physical data collection and the combat blade?¡± ¡°The combat...? Oh, the eagle? There is no connection, other than they both have birds.¡± Jasmine flicked through a few more pictures, trying to find an example for the aliens. Xant stopped her once she reached the birds of prey, his ears nearly bounced off the top of his head. ¡°Are all of these the same genus?¡± He asked in awe. ¡°Sort of,¡± she shrugged trying to remember high school biology, ¡°They¡¯re in the same ¡®family¡¯, but I don¡¯t think you can cross breed a falcon and a kite.¡± Jasmine pointed to an imposing looking bird, ¡°An American bald eagle is kinda like this one, except it¡¯s got white feathers on its head.¡± But the explanation had fallen of deaf ears. Xant was too busy staring at the dozens of further documented species presented to him. ¡°So it¡¯s simply a physical, visual, audichive entry?¡± Nako tried to understand. ¡°I think so? We do have digital media, but the vast majority of information for hundreds of years was printed like this. It¡¯s only in the last [30-40 years] or so that we¡¯ve shifted to other media.¡± Nako was once again bewildered, understanding less than what he had thought of the alien maiden¡¯s explanations. It was at this point in time that Jasmine¡¯s stomach decided to introduce itself. A large gurgling groan escaped her midriff and announced itself to the room. ¡°()¡± The human was mortified. ¡°Sorry,¡± she excused the noise. It had been hours since she had eaten anything. More than a day, if she counted what she lost on her drunken bender. Nako cast an expectant gaze over to Xant. ¡°Doctor, is it not your responsibility to remedy that?¡± Xant took a step back, startled. ¡°I, yes. May we have access to use your ration dispenser?¡± ¡°Captain, please escort the Doctor to the dispensaries,¡± Xant and Jasmine exchanged a worried look. ¡°Don¡¯t be too long okay?¡± Jasmine told Xant, ¡°I can¡¯t afford to slip up and explode again.¡± The doctor nodded his head and replied with his own strange colloquialism. ¡°I shall return as swift as rest quarter finishes,¡± his ears bobbed up and down, before following the giant Tifera out of the Lieutenant Commander''s quarters. Nako waited until both Xant and Tifera had cleared the room. ¡°I must apologise Miss Howe, but this is an opportunity I could not ignore.¡± His tone and formality seemed to relax, ¡°There are many more trinkets in the case but, there is one object in particular that is just¡­¡± Jasmine stood in shock as the proud and noble lieutenant suddenly became somber. He glided over to his desk and pulled out a pink tablet, offering it to her with as much reverence one would a precious heirloom. Jasmine looked down at the tablet ¨C a pink-cased iPad ¨C and was surprised to see it still had some battery left. She stared at the familiar piece of tech, a window into someones else¡¯s life. The lock screen had a beautiful wallpaper: a moonlit night on a lake, a lotus flower in bloom with a trail of stardust floating from its petals. ¡°This was found amongst other dataslates,¡± Nako related, taking a softer, more sincere tone with her, sharing a side he hid from almost everyone else. ¡°I need to know, what is the significance of the image? Please.¡± To him, it was as important and as significant as the banners on his wall, but Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but feel disheartened. Was a stock fantasy image really so compelling to him? ¡°Significance?¡± Jasmine murmured, ¡°It probably meant a lot to its original owner. I¡¯ll do my best to translate its meaning.¡± She had to think back down to the basics, what cultural implications and subtle meanings did she get that the aliens wouldn¡¯t? ¡°Well, blue is a calming colour to us, the flower in the middle is a lotus or water lily, it represents peace and longevity-¡± ¡°And the light spilling forth? The birth of stars?¡± Nako interrupted, eager to confirm his assumptions. ¡°I... I think it¡¯s just the artist''s discretion,¡± Jasmine let him down gently. ¡°The image isn¡¯t of any great cultural significance, it¡¯s just a beautiful scene. I guess whoever owned this iPad wanted to be calm and relaxed when they looked at it.¡± Nako¡¯s antennae drooped, his beak clicked as he peered in closer. ¡°I see¡­ so, this dataslate does not belong to you?¡± ¡°No. We ¨C Humanity that is ¨C like to personalise our dataslates. This one probably belonged to another girl, if I am to judge from just the pretty imagery and pink casing alone.¡± ¡°So I was at least right about it belonging to a maiden,¡± he chittered. ¡°Is that your moon? What¡¯s her name?¡± ¡°(Her name?)... Luna,¡± Jasmine replied when she remembered that the moon, did in fact, have a name. ¡°Luna,¡± The alien commander repeated, delighted. ¡°What¡¯s it like on her surface?¡± ¡°It¡¯s barren, unfortunately; white dust, rocks, one flag. But it lights up the night just like in the picture.¡± ¡°You miss her, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your moon. I understand, you see. Our moon, Akira, is close to the Arvas people as well,¡± Nako assumed, putting eloquent words in the human¡¯s mouth. ¡°Legends say that Akira gave birth to the thousands of stars in the galaxy, and it is she who gave our people their callings ().¡± The extra translation echoed in Jasmine¡¯s head, sending a shiver down her spine. ¡°I wanted to ask you about the picture to see if there was such a legend for your people as well. Such tales can be more valuable than the most powerful of tools. A people who created such wonderful images must have an appreciation of passion and beauty, and would make a fine ally against the Rajava.¡± He looked over to Jasmine expectantly, but the human did not flitter bashfully at the overt complement, her gaze was focused on the tablet, and a deep sadness flowed over his being. Hollow and bitter, like a cold drink had been thrown in his face. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Jasmine replied softly. ¡°You do not think so?¡± The Lieutenant quired, prodding to see if the emotions ran deeper. ¡°Your people have crafted fine weapons and tech, do they not have a warrior¡¯s hunger?¡± Jasmine had to laugh, but it was a painful, dark sound. ¡°Just the opposite I''m afraid ()...¡± Her hands held the tablet tighter and she drew in a sharp breath. There was a flash of, something. An echo of a scream. But was it in anger or anguish? The Commander could not tell. Too quickly was it repressed. His curiosity could not be contained now, there were too many unanswered questions for him to let them go unasked. ¡°Then why does the complement hurt you so?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°(Damn Translator¡­)¡± The internal voice was harsh, a low growl while the one that passed her lips remained civil. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m sorry. The news of what the Rajava do to planets and its inhabitants is still very fresh in my mind. The thought of anyone suffering the same torture as I did¡­ ¡± Her voice trembled and paused carefully with every thought out line. The alien maiden was trying desperately to contain a swarm of emotion. ¡°I can only imagine what dignities they took from you,¡± Nako sympathised. ¡°(That¡¯s putting it lightly.)¡± Jasmine''s hands gripped the tablet tighter as she explained to the Commander. ¡°They tore me open and played with my organs. I felt the pain, I was nothing to them, just a warm body¡­ A piece of meat. ()¡± It had been a long time since Nako had ever felt something akin to pure disgust. The intensity of emotion was almost too much, it was a wonder she did not stiff herself! Despite the suffocating sensation, however, a cold burning fire bided its fury within the small creature. It was thrilling. ¡°You hate them, don¡¯t you?¡± Jasmine¡¯s head snapped up, and while she opened her mouth to reply, her Freq was painfully clear on the matter. Nako raised his hand for her silence. ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer, the mere fact that you have survived an encounter with the Rajava with your faculties intact is an attestation to humanity¡¯s-¡± Suddenly the door to Nako¡¯s quarters slid open. ¡°Is everything under control sire?¡± Tifera tried to contain the urgency in her voice as she stood just outside her Commander''s quarters. ¡°We felt the distress from the-¡± Nako was quick to wave off her concerns, another raised hand and flourish with the opposite. ¡°Everything is under control, Captain,¡± he replied, returning to the more upstanding persona he took around crew members. ¡°Miss Howe was recounting her ordeals with the Rajavan menace. As such, I will not be forcing her to do again otherwise.¡± Out from behind the behemoth Tifera, Xant practically pushed his way forward and scrambled to Jasmine¡¯s side, hands reaching out for her shoulder before tentatively grasping themselves. ¡°Jasmine, have your memories put you in distress?¡± He offered his mechanised hand in comfort, only then noticing hers were occupied with a strange looking dataslate. ¡°Remember when I said I wouldn¡¯t be the same for quite a while? That¡¯s what I meant,¡± Jasmine reminded him. ¡°I hope my ¡®Freq-bomb¡¯ didn¡¯t disturb the crew too much?¡± Both Xant and Tifera stared at her through their suits, funny how some answers didn¡¯t need a translator to be understood. ¡°It was certainly noticeable¡­¡± Xant tried to soften the blow. ¡°But, there was no instances of injury.¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Nako chuckled, ¡°Need I remind you both that this is an active combat vessel? If my crew couldn¡¯t handle a pulse like that, then they best be escorted off the REFINED.¡± Tifera¡¯s ears stood up at the statement, but quickly shot back down with a look from Nako. ¡°Miss Howe, I wish to thank you for your insight into these artifacts, they have been most enlightening.¡± Jasmine frowned, confused. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it?¡± she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see if there are other pictures like this on here?¡± ¡°More pictures?¡± Nako asked, surprised. ¡°Well yeah, this is just the lock screen. I¡¯m sure whoever owned this has more pictures on here.¡± She pressed a hidden button on the side of the device and the beautiful landscape shifted elegantly to another scene, from the moonlit sky to a white landscape, black trees and a torn banner planted in the snow. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ll do my best to try and unlock the password, but I think we¡¯re screwed if it¡¯s a number lock.¡± The alien runes surfaced as though they were made of liquid. Jasmine stared past the picture, her voice cracking in a strange cackle. ¡°Miss Howe?¡± Nako asked, but he received no answer, the Commander then gave a stern look to Xant. ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant prompted, looking over at the uniformed language. Jasmine tilted the tablet so he could get a better look, her mouth grinning wide from ear to ear with white blunt teeth. ¡°Humans,¡± she explained, ¡°We personalize our dataslates, including locking them in case they get stolen. There are many different ways to secure tablets. One way is to have a question and password, and it just so happens that I know the answer to this question!¡± Xant looked to the screen and saw the strange runes, as she glided her finger underneath the small question. ¡°You know nothing¡­¡± She read out loud and rapidly tapped the little white box, an entire alphabet opened up before her and she typed the answer in with ease, ¡°Jon Snow.¡± All at once the screen changed again, but this time they were greeted not with a landscape but a human face. Dark, intense eyes stared back at them, a glorious mane of black, wind tossed hair spilled down his head and shoulders, body draped in a encompassing black cape while wielding a large steel broadsword. The imposing figure stood to one side of the screen, the master of his domain, defending the right side of the screen from the multiple brightly coloured squares on the other. ¡°Who is that?¡± Xant asked, studying the differences between the two humans. ¡°The King in the North (),¡± Jasmine replied before remembering that these aliens took her word as gospel and didn¡¯t want to put Mr. Harrington on an even unreasonably higher pedestal. ¡°I mean, that¡¯s who he portrays in fictional drama, he¡¯s an actor. (An attractive actor, though...)¡± Jasmine¡¯s explanation was once again met with confusion, ¡°So this, actor, is influential enough to have his image present in a maiden''s dataslate?¡± Nako asked. ¡°He¡¯s a lead actor in the most popular fantasy drama on the planet. He¡¯s influential enough to have met the actual Queen.¡± Jasmine shrugged, ¡°Perks of being famous.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Nako replied not understanding in the slightest. She tapped her finger over one of the coloured squares, opening a list of even more coloured squares. ¡°Let¡¯s see who owned this tablet.¡± The human enlarged the first picture and began swiping right, one by one. It was filled with unique human faces, all with different coloured skins and manes, painted with different colours on their eyes and lips. Unique body shapes dressed in an array of different and exaggerated outfits, consuming multitudes of equally distracting liquids. Those that weren¡¯t filled with humans were that of untouched landscapes and beautiful construction. Xant was particularly interested in the lush greenery that seemed to stretch on forever, how did they manage such farming techniques without any visible equipment? ¡°It must belong to her.¡± Jasmine pointed out a recurring human. She had a slightly darker complexion to Jasmine, her mane was long and light, like faded strands of thread. The eyes that stared straight back were a vibrant green with flecks of gold, lips pouted a pale pink. ¡°From the looks of it, her and her partner were on holiday, somewhere tropical, Southeast Asia maybe? Hard to pin down when almost all the photos are close up selfies.¡± The last photo in the collection was that of the mysterious platinum blond overlooking the thick jungle, miles away from the lights of whatever metropolis they started in. ¡°(So they were out in the middle of nowhere, too.)¡± She exited the program, and her finger hovered over the other colourful buttons, picking the music app and taking a deep breath at the sight of the song list. ¡°I-I never thought I¡¯d get the chance to hear music again, another human voice or anything from home.¡± She looked through the list, hoping to have something truly classic for the aliens to hear for their first taste of human music. She didn¡¯t want to inflict Justin Bieber on them unless she absolutely had to. ¡°So it is a music recorder?¡± Xant deduced. ¡°More like an entertainment and research device.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t mixing research and entertainment counter productive?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± The human answered, being rightly embarrassed by the contradiction. ¡°Honestly, they can be whatever you want them to be, the programs aren''t restricted like your dataslates are, everyone is completely personalised. Music tastes are just the same, whoever owned this dataslate has genres of music that I don¡¯t, so choosing a song for you to hear is going to be very difficult.¡± She looked up at the crowd around her. ¡°It might be easier to ask you what kind of music you like, it would narrow down my selection.¡± Nako peered over at the dataslate, now filled with line after line of alien text, wondering why the human would think such a decision would be difficult. How many songs could there to choose from? ¡°I¡¯m sure any song you pick will be fine.¡± Nako replied unhelpfully. Jasmine let out a sigh, then a small chuckle. ¡°Random dont fail me now!¡± Blip. Xant had heard Jasmine sing many times before, always full of emotion and passion. But it truly could not have prepared him for the sound that serenaded its way from the dataslate¡¯s speakers. Human songs held a rhythm all to themselves, sounds of deep drums and saccharine sucrose strings accompanied unknown harmonics, yet those tones only served to augment the main attraction. Smooth, sweet voices melded together in a spine-shivering harmony, effortlessly weaving lyrics as though they were instruments themselves. The language chosen to carry the full weight of the melody seeped through the layers of music, drawing out not just a reaction from the human who understood them, but echoed out through her translator in waves as strong as an ocean current. ¡°Well I''ve heard there was a secret chord That David played and it pleased the Lord But you don''t really care for music, do you? Well it goes like this: The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Well your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya She tied you to her kitchen chair And she broke your throne and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah...¡± ¡°Damn shuffle¡­ I should have just picked a Rihanna song.¡± ¡°That¡­ is human music?¡± Xant breathed in awe. ¡°Yeah, it certainly puts my terrible voice in perspective, huh?¡± Jasmine joked. ¡°And these songs,¡± Nako pointed to the dataslate, ¡°Sound as this one does?¡± ¡°Nope, they¡¯re all different,¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°Different voices, different tempos, different emotions.¡± The cold fire burned low within her once again. ¡°Humans have created millions and millions of songs, every one of them different. Most to be never heard again, and many more to never be written.¡± Xant had felt this pulse before, but now it was only a drop of what it had been. The mourning for the loss of her people. Without Freq to truly convey emotions, the human brain had found other ways to broadcast emotion. It had become sensitive to sounds and touch. The dazzling music triggered something inside the human¡¯s brain that only she could feel. Without the translator, Xant and the other GC residents would feel nothing but the vibrations of sound. ¡°We have other dataslates,¡± Nako stated, ¡°dozens of them are just waiting to be unlocked. The Rajava may have taken you from your people, but I can help you recover what little of their voices remain.¡± He offered her his undivided attention, a hand outstretched beyond his cape toward her. ¡°We can be on the return voyage to Branch within the [hour].¡± Xant¡¯s ears drooped, he could not hope to hold Jasmine on Ulessia with such an offer before her. Jasmine paused in thought, before replying in her most ambassadorial demeanor possible. ¡°It has been explained to me that the segregation of citizen and military personnel is absolute and very rarely do you mingle with one another. If that is the case then I humbly request that I finish my business on the research station before we depart.¡± She handed back the pink tablet to Nako, looking over at the doctor and smiled gently. ¡°Xant has been promising me an upgraded Translator for days and, in return, I promised to finish the report for citizenship. So if another human is in my position, they can have the option of an ordinary life. I¡¯d like to spend as much time as I can with the Esaander staff before I leave them, Sir Nako.¡± Nako withdrew into himself, and stumbled over his reply. ¡°That does sound...reasonable,¡± he admitted, before turning sharply towards Xant. ¡°Doctor, how long will it take to install the translator and complete your tests?¡± Being put on the spot, Xant answered quickly, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be more than [72 hours] Your Honour.¡± ¡°That is... acceptable,¡± Nako replied, mulling it over in his head. ¡°It will give my crew time to secure you your own quarters, Miss Howe.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Nako,¡± Jasmine replied, taking a bow. ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, it has been many hours since I¡¯ve eaten and I am missing my canine companions terribly.¡± Nako nodded understandingly. ¡°Then once you are refreshed, the Doctor could give us a tour of the facility, to see the other specimens obtained from Earth?¡± Xant nodded meekly. ¡°I shall let the Director know of the change in schedule.¡± Jasmine stood from her stool and waited for Xant. ¡°Captain,¡± Nako addressed Tifera, ¡°Please escort Miss Howe and her company back to the station, I have some affairs to attend to.¡± ¡°Of course, Sire.¡± The Captain saluted before following after the errant guests. The Commander looked down at the dataslate and all the other trinkets pulled from the bowels of the Rajavan ship. His legs shook as he walked over to his desk, the toll of the suddenly shifting Freq pulses had weathered his nerves more than he was willing to let on. He had been right to listen to his instinct; the treasures were frivolous, created by a species completely alien in thinking and understanding to anyone in either the Galactic Council space or the Arvas Imperium. While it had been a mistake to auction off the other stasis pods, it was a mistake that he would be benefiting from greatly. Dreams Chapter 9: Alien Organ Jasmine was silent as she walked back through the REFINED¡¯s halls. Her eyes cast down, doing her best to avoid looking at anyone or for that matter anything. Xant and Rynard followed behind, the old soldier had spent most of the meeting wandering around the mess hall and having fun sizing up the younger crew. But like Xant, Rynard, had rushed back to his post once he had felt the instantly recognisable pulse that only Jasmine could conjure. The human did not wish to talk, and as a result, both Xant and Rynard could not bring up their concerns. They had both become attuned to her emotional cues, intentional or not, and were keenly aware now that they rippled through the halls of the ship. The crew were not in danger, but more than one had dared to stop and stare silently at the group as they returned to Uleesia station. Once they had crossed the threshold the spell of silence lifted, Jasmine now far more comfortable in her familiar surroundings. ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant spoke up. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I think it would be prudent if we take a moment and head to Medical, there is something of concern I wish to check.¡± Jasmine let out a groan. ¡°How important is it?¡± she asked, ¡°because you didn''t actually bring back any of the food you promised.¡± A hand raised to her stomach as another rousing rendition of hunger gurgled from her bowels. ¡°()¡± Xant tucked his hands behind his back. ¡°Perhaps less urgent than ensuring your nutrition,¡± he admitted, ¡°Sir Tifera and I had not yet reached the ration dispenser, before we were forced to turn back.¡± ¡°Because of me, right.¡± Another discouraging sigh escaped her lips. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xant stepped forward ¡°You¡¯ve become increasingly erratic, it is my concern that perhaps your translator has been damaged from the increased output as of late or that the organ itself may be having an adverse effect on your natural systems.¡± That last comment got the human to stop in her tracks. ¡°Organ?...¡± ¡°The translator, yes.¡± Xant confirmed. Jasmine¡¯s mouth ran dry and her hand traced over the exposed circuitry on the side of her skull. ¡°I have an alien organ inside of me? ().¡± Xant¡¯s ears flattened, once again he had said the wrong, but necessary thing. ¡°I¡¯m suddenly not hungry.¡± Jasmine said, ¡°If you think it needs to be checked out then we¡¯ll check it out.¡± Her hand continued to poke the gadgetry exposed on the side of her head. Xant decided that it was prudent that they contact medical first, he also needed to get out of his military grade armour. Having CMO Krydon there ensured Jasmine would get a proper explanation of the translator fitted in her skull and he could receive the proper medical attention if the suit had done damage to his fragile citizen frame. Rynard snorted. ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna have to tail ya; better me than someone fresh out of a vat.¡± -*- Chief Medical Officer Krydon was not happy. He and his Arvas assistants Pa and Nu had been watching over staff members under their care, but, since half the crew were lying motionless in the observation room there was very little in terms of scheduled work for the three of them to do. ¡°Medical Office, Captain Dejan Rynard Authorised, Doctor Uru¡¯Nav Xant unauthorised. Please wait for authorisation¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Krydon was quick to jump on coms. ¡°Captain,¡± The old lizard growled, ¡°Just what do you think you are doing?¡± ¡°Well you see,¡± Rynard explained nonchalantly through the speakers. ¡°The doc has a theory about the translator mess¡¯n about with Jasi¡¯s internal systems. So I made the executive decision to let him check it out before I took ¡®em back to quarantine.¡± Krydon scoffed. ¡°Doesn''t that defy the exact definition of quarantine?¡± ¡°I simply figured, that if the translator was mess¡¯n with Jasi¡¯s systems you could just cut out the wrong bits and she wouldn''t be a danger any more,¡± Rynard replied, seemingly oblivious. Krydon groaned. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s a possibility¡­¡± he clicked his tongue. ¡°I installed the translator myself but if you insist.¡± CMO Krydon opened the doors and shuffled over to the holo-terminal, using his robotic eye to flick through the files as Rynard, Xant and Jasmine entered the facility. ¡°Thank you for being so understanding-¡± ¡°Don''t thank me yet Dr Xant.¡± Krydon huffed, ¡°It is company protocol to be thorough, not understanding.¡± Xant tried to hold back his annoyance. ¡°Of course Krydon, you have been here long enough to understand that better than anyone else.¡± Rynard chuckled as he moved to the side, Nu snickered twitching his mandibles. ¡°So you want a reading of the translator?¡± Krydon growled under his breath, already over the request. ¡°Yes,¡± Xant confirmed ¡°a visual representation would be best.¡± Krydon nodded and with a swish of his tail, began activating nodes on the computer''s interface. Jasmine looked up at the holographic map of her body as Krydon zoomed in on the brain. The familiar sight of a human brain glowed in the projection, slowly turning so as to be seen from all angles. And then she saw it, an engorged looking vein had been stitched in between her two hemispheres. It was a bright and concerning blue, starting from the top of her head all the way down to the top of the spinal column and threaded through both ear drums, pulsating in real time connected to the circuitry that was seamlessly embedded in the side of her head. ¡°So, the translator is an organ?¡± Jasmine asked again, seemingly unable to tear her eyes away. ¡°Yes,¡± Xant answered. ¡°In fact, it is derived from the organ native to Zenthi kind. CMO Krydon, would you please bring up a scan from before the Freq-bomb? I would like to compare it to the current data to see if the translator has changed Jasmine¡¯s physiology in any way.¡± ¡°Like with your own scans doctor?¡± Krydon asked. ¡°My own scans?¡± ¡°Oh yes, you should see the activity pulsating in your brain,¡± Krydon smirked. Xant recalled Laandi saying that his disposition had changed; how far had Jasmine¡¯s Freq changed him. ¡°We shall attend to Jasmine¡¯s condition first doctor, then we can discuss my own later.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Krydon¡¯s tail slipped over to Jasmines space and tapped the Freq-band on her armour¡¯s wrist, tapping into the vital data stored on it. The transfer was nearly instant, and the second image of Jasmines brain appeared in the hologram. ¡°Ah,¡± Xant nodded ¡°You can see it almost immediately.¡± The red organ had indeed grown in size, ¡°Krydon, what percentage of growth?¡± ¡°The translator had grown in upwards of 10%¡± Krydon answered, ¡°with receptor veins penetrating a further 6% into the nerve mass¡­¡± Xant turned to Jasmine, ¡°This is very unusual, Translator organs do not usually expand in size, another curious anomaly of your physiology.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jasmine folded her arms in thought. ¡°Did the translator grow before I had a meltdown or because I had a meltdown?¡± ¡°That is something we can only determine after going through the data.¡± Xant returned his attention to Krydon. ¡°Could you please add this to your priority list?¡± Krydon¡¯s red eye narrowed with his natural one. ¡°There¡¯s already a priority list longer than my tail, but I¡¯ll squeeze it in somewhere.¡± ¡°Thank you Krydon, now, may I see my own scans?¡± With another single flick of his tail, Krydon switched over from Jasmine¡¯s live feed to a comparative scan of Xants own long brain. To Jasmine¡¯s eyes, it looked like Xant¡¯s lower intestine located along his spine. A long nerve column laid within the center of the mass, splitting like the veins of a leaf to the ends of the grey matter. Xant noted how quickly the doctor was able to bring up the file. The old lizard must have been studying it before they arrived. ¡°Your nerve activity has increased by more than 20%.¡± Krydon stated, ¡°You¡¯ve got more neurons firing inside your back than when you first arrived on the station.¡± Xant looked at the scans side by side, they didn''t even look as though they came from the same individual. His brain scan was alight, the nerve stem strong and healthy; the damage he had done to himself on Jothram had been almost completely reversed and had even improved in some areas. ¡°So what does that mean?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°It means, we will need to do further research, Jasmine,¡± the doctor replied reassuringly, ¡°We have only seen the surface of what your Freq-abilities are capable of, but there maybe a chance we can reverse what was done to the members of staff.¡± The human was relieved to hear that. ¡°So, what do we do now?¡± ¡°For now,¡± Xant explained, ¡°Captain Rynard will escort you back to quarantine so you may eat and reunite with the dogs. While I shall stay here and discuss with CMO Krydon about transferring the data to my dataslate and ask him to help me remove my suit.¡± ¡°Awww but it looks good on you, doc!¡± Rynard laughed. ¡°That may be so, but it is unnecessarily cumbersome and completely unsuited to delicate work.¡± The captain peeled himself away from the wall. ¡°Now then, you promise not to overthrow the command of this station while I''m gone?¡± ¡°Must I dignify that with an answer?¡± The captain tapped his dataslate arm ready for Xants recording. ¡°Very well,¡± Xant sighed ¡°I promise not to go rogue and overthrow the station.¡± Rynard happily saved the recording and tapped Jasmine''s shoulder. ¡°Come on Jasi,¡± the Captain smiled ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you get a good feed.¡± Jasmine and her stomach didn''t protest. ¡°See you soon Xant,¡± she waved goodbye following the large captain out. Once they were gone Xant turned to the aging surgeon. ¡°Would it be too much of an inconvenience to you to help me remove the armour?¡± Krydon scratched his sloping jowl. ¡°It is an inconvenience to me, after all, you demanded that I make the subject Jasmine¡¯s brain scans a priority,¡± he replied boredly, ¡°but Pa will be more than willing to help.¡± The delicate Arvas nurse bowed her head. ¡°This way Dr. Xant.¡± Pa lead him into the second diagnostics room and began retrieving the chems needed for disengagement and waited for Xant to unfold his armour. The doctor took a deep breath, before tapping the collar of the suit starting the process. One by one the plates came loose and the needles that hooked into his nervous system came undone. Xant let out an uncomfortable groan with each section, back, shoulders, hands, tail, feet. Pa was quick to administrator the additional chems to heal the holes the needles had bored into his skin, numbing the sensation and injecting the healing gel into the needle¡¯s cavities. If he were military grade he wouldn''t have felt a thing, let alone had the wounds. Soldiers didn''t need to feel pain, so why give them the receptors to feel it? Xant waited for the all-clear before he dared move, secretly scared he had overdone it and unwittingly tore a ligament. He suddenly felt several tonnes lighter and his feet almost floated along the floor. Nu stood waiting at the door with a dataslate in hand. ¡°The files you requested Doctor,¡± he stated and folded his arms behind his back as the now naked Xant reached for the device. ¡°Uhh, doctor, if I may?¡± Nu asked. ¡°Speak your mind assistant.¡± ¡°Her Grace was wearing a Freq-band during her¡­ explosion.¡± Nu lowered his voice so Krydon was not privy to their conversation. ¡°What should I do with the recording?¡± Xant stared at Nu, his mind torn with the implications of such a powerful recording. ¡°Isolate and secure it.¡± Xant ordered, ¡°Put it under the highest administration clearance available.¡± ¡°Yes, doctor.¡± Nu replied hastily before a quick look over his shoulder ¡°Shall I request an escort for you now doctor?¡± he asked. ¡°Thank you Nu,¡± Xant nodded looking down at the dataslate in hand, ¡°I should return to quarantine promptly.¡± Dreams Chapter 10: My Happy Place Xant was escorted back to the security office by one of the new recruits with a professionalism that only Suk seemed to uphold on the station. He returned to the unseemly sight of Jasmine and Rynard devouring their equivalent bodies¡¯ weight in Waurdess Ah¡¯tau. The captain had seen fit to dump an entire mound of the dried protein strip on the training room floor and the pair had sat down happily munching away talking between mouthfuls. The dogs were snapping their jaws taking piece after piece without any signs of stopping. While the meal arrangement in the security office they had previously was an enlightening cultural exchange, Xant could not bring himself to join them in their current state; Arc and Suk especially looked uncomfortable. The illusion of their dignified princess shattered. Xant took this moment to go over the notes Nu had downloaded for him to examine the true extent that Jasmine''s translator had on her as well as himself. The organ had threaded itself beyond the seamless surgery, growing thick veins and intruding in the original grey matter, but as Xant read the notes it appeared the translator was only working at 80% capacity. Human blood did not contain the same levels of oxygen and nutrients as the species of the Galactic Council, the organ was driving itself deeper in order to get the sustenance it needed. There was a great possibility the translator was stealing blood away from vital parts of Jasmine¡¯s processing capabilities. He was a little hesitant to properly examine his own brain scans; he couldn''t quite believe how deeply the human''s influence had infiltrated. Strange then, how so little nerve growth had appeared in the human¡¯s own system. Xant began forming a hypothesis, checking the notes for every detail he could before calling over to his charge. ¡°Jasmine?¡± ¡°Muh-rha?¡± she called back with a mouth full. Xant visibly cringed as she swallowed before wandering over. ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°I was looking over the medical reports and I believe I might be able to help you with your erratic pulses.¡± ¡°Oh? How?¡± ¡°You have been put under an incredible amount of Freq stress with no way to relieve it. I propose a meditation session, to help ease these concerns.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jasmine asked sceptically, folding her arms. ¡°With every emotional outburst the translator learns to expel Freq, but it has no resistance or means to prevent an outburst because you have no feedback¡­,¡± the doctor held up his four fingers, wiggling them as he exposed his nerve tendrils, ¡°unless the input is given to you manually.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that because the translator can only send out an emotional signal, it''s learning to send out every emotional signal?¡± ¡°More than that, it is increasing the emotional response inside you. If you are not careful another emotional outburst like that one could overload the translator and Freq-fry your entire nervous system.¡± ¡°Freq-fry? Is that as bad as it sounds?¡± ¡°Freq-frying burns the nervous system irreparably, causing either erratic signals, jitterjacking the patient or freezing communications completely leaving them stiffed.¡± Jasmine didn''t like what he was insinuating, ever since finding out her translator was actually an alien organ, she was a little on edge about alien tech. She stared pointedly at Xants nerve tendrils. ¡°You know, our last mediation session ended with you comatose¡­¡± ¡°Dr. Krydon has assured me of my new found strength, thanks to the continuous exposure to your Freq.¡± ¡°Exposure¡­¡± She raised an eyebrow, before shaking her head and burying her face into a hand. ¡°You guys really have to stop treating me like a biohazard,¡± she sighed. ¡°Would you prefer we treat you as a radhazard instead?¡± Xant replied offhandedly. His mind fretted, realising how harsh his joke was and began to apologise, but then he noticed the sardonic smile under her half hidden palm. ¡°Heh!¡± Rynard laughed, ¡°You''re getting more and more military by the \[minute\]!¡± ¡°If you think the meditation session will help, then we¡¯ll do it,¡± Jasmine replied, the smile on her lips wide and sly. ¡°Just as long as you promise not to give yourself ¡®Jasmine poisoning¡¯ okay?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± They both sat down quietly in the corner, Jasmine cross-legged and closing her eyes, Xant on his knees with a hand extended to her ear. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°As I¡¯ll ever be.¡± She grimaced Xant¡¯s nerves entered Jasmine''s vacant ear while she braced for the connection. It was slimy, warm, and uncomfortable, the alien presence melting as it brushed up against her eardrum, Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. and then came the remarkable bit. It was like she had gained another limb, Jasmine could feel Xant with her, but not just that he was physically there, she could feel his shallow breathing, his slow heartbeat his low body temperature as though he was apart of her. ()Can you feel me, Jasmine? When they were joined like this Xants voice didn''t echo, it was confident and calm and was always accompanied by the strange sensation of running water, like the trickle of a stream around her ankles. Yeah, I can feel you, it is hard to mistake that wet feeling- ()oh my god I can''t believe I thought that out loud- () please forget I thought anything. () It is alright Jasmine, it is that erraticness that we are here to solve. Please, try not to focus on me, but on yourself. You know that focusing on myself is just going to make me feel more self-conscious about spiralling out of control right? It¡¯s this nifty little self destruct mechanism humans have, tell us not to think about something and we¡¯re eventually going to think about it to our detriment. () When I asked you to focus on yourself, I was referring to your memories. My, my memories? Yes, after our time together I know now that you simply cannot ignore the stimuli around you. So, I propose that you find a memory that centres yourself, one that embodies the best aspects of you. So, you''re asking me to find my happy place? It was weird feeling Xant laugh, like small splashes of water lapping at her legs and fingertips. In a manner of speaking, yes. A memory of yourself, of who you are, relaxed and unthinking of the concerns of life. Xant always made these things sound easy even when they were as vague as possible. Finding myself? Maybe I should mention that people can take their entire lives to ¡®find themselves¡¯- no no, you''re getting snarky for no reason. You ate, you shouldn''t be snarky. Right, okay centre myself, centre myself, who am I?... What defines me, what memory defines me? She decided to start with the obvious, who she was. She was Jasmine, human, female, with ten fingers and ten toes, long brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a slightly crooked right tooth. She liked food, summer, swimming, she loved her family, music¡­ You are doing very well Jasmine, hold onto that warmth. Warmth?... Her home was warm, perfect blue skies and white sandy beaches, the best in the world they boasted. She imagined her home, the too small apartment that ¡®technically¡¯ overlooked the river so the landlord charged a fortune. She remembered sitting out on the balcony, soaking in the weekend sun and cooling off with a whisky and dry ginger ale. She remembered the cool, afternoon winds rolling off the ocean and over the city, bringing with it the smells of the sea and summer. Her legs dangled over the edge of the wrought steel railing, squished between the spaces of the bars. Purple Jacaranda flowers fell from the branches at the slightest gust and onto the handwoven rug of her balcony. The beer bottle wind chime clinked and prompted a sip of her drink. ¡­ Is that the sky? Such an innocent question, Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but smile. Yeah¡­ The endless blue sky. It¡¯s so bright and empty and¡­ blue! Jasmine, I can see your memory as if it were my own! The cool water of Xants presence swirled in wonder, flowing down her shoulders and back. It made her shiver. Wait, you can see it Xant? I thought that it was supposed to be hard to do that? It is, it can take years to be able to share memories but, I can see the colours of your sky. It is beautiful. Water fell from the balcony like a stream, a blackish green blob sat next to Jasmine, staring up at the sky. The concrete of the balcony began to crack and weather. The bright sunlight faded to a single spotlight, the sounds of wind and open-air fell silent. Dark green moss and damp, Fine droplets of water, Large red leaves. Running water. Cool air. Discovery. Curiosity. Darkness. Dangerous. Fear. Jasmine pulled back. The shock was enough to sever the connection between the two of them. ¡°What was that?!¡± She exclaimed. The alien doctor withdrew his tendrils safely back into his fingertips as quickly as he could. ¡°That was my attempt to give you some feedback as it were.¡± Jasmine rubbed her ear, sticking her pinky in to rid her canal of the sensation, before shuddering and holding herself tightly ¡°I¡¯ve never felt anything like that before.¡± It was upsetting honestly, thoughts and feelings that weren''t her own, another voice inside her head. ¡°(It was awful)¡± Xant nodded. ¡°Perhaps I did come on a little strong, you do have little to no experience with receiving Freq. It may come as even more of a shock with the new translator.¡± ¡°Is that what it''s like with my Freq? You can feel me like that?¡± ¡°Not quite, a person¡¯s Freq, their personal signature if you will, is defined by their strongest memories and how they will that memory. When I ¡®feel¡¯ you Jasmine, you are warm, bright and welcoming.¡± She thought for a moment. ¡°But, you¡¯re nothing like what I felt, it was cold and dark and¡­ scary.¡± The alien doctor smoothed the ears upon his head and spoke to her in a gentle voice. ¡°Unfortunately, my strongest memory is an unpleasant one. From a time before I worked for Esaander on this station.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Xant took in a deep breath and made himself comfortable. ¡°Do you remember the red plant specimens in my office?¡± Jasmine nodded in reply. ¡°I was a part of a government research team sent to investigate the newly reclaimed planet of Jothram. My team found the specimens in an overgrown and damaged biome, a natural mutation not found on any of our scanners or audchives. Our team was so excited about the discovery, we did not pick up the vassal¡¯s presence in the facility.¡± ¡°Vassal?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°A Rajavan ¡®soldier¡¯,¡± Xant used the term loosely. ¡°A creature engineered to kill and consume any sentient being not connected to the Rajavan network. The minimal amount of genetic matter needed to be a threat.¡± ¡°The minimal amount?...¡± Jasmine asked, and instantly regretting it. ¡°A vassal has arms, legs and a head. It has no eyes, ears or nose, it has no need of them, just a mouth and a gut to hold organic material. It has no sense of self-preservation or indeed of self, it would be wasted, as the Rajava control them through Freq. Once the creature has filled its cavity it is torn down and rebuilt empty again.¡± There was a pause as Jasmine realised the horrific implications. ¡°I, I watched my team be devoured by the Vassal, while I used what little strength I had to hold the creature in place, almost stiffing myself in the process. If it were not for the Ranger security team tackling and melting the Vassal, I would be as my teammates are now.¡± ¡°God¡­ I''m sorry,¡± Jasmine breathed. ¡°It is quite alright. If it were not for those events I would not have found myself here at Uleesia station, and I would not have met you,¡± Xant replied jovially. Jasmine shook her head. ¡°God I don''t think meeting me quite makes up for that horrific experience.¡± ¡°You underestimate yourself, Jasmine,¡± Xant replied, ¡°I would happily stand by your side for as long as you wish it.¡± Jasmine blushed. ¡°Whoa, where''s this coming from? I¡¯m not that great really...¡± Xant folded his arms behind his back. ¡°You do not remember the events in the Executive director''s office do you?¡± ¡°Well, I remember drinking waaay too much but everything is a little fuzzy after that.¡± Xant then turned to Rynard, who was still eating from the pile of Ah¡¯tau. ¡°Captain? Might I request a Dataslate to view the security logs?¡± ¡°Sure, go right ahead!¡± One of the new guards handed the doctor a slate, looking over Jasmine curiously before heading back on his side of the quarantine line. Xant then proceeded to show Jasmine the footage, of her crying and greeting him and Rynard. And then she heard the speech. It was surprisingly eloquent and moving, considering how much she was slurring. ¡°Wow, that was, kinda cool...¡± ¡°I believe the term you are searching for is, profound.¡± He encouraged ¡°You and I were served a similar set of dreadful circumstances, and while I shut down and isolated myself, you charged on with the fury and brilliance of a star.¡± Jasmine smiled. ¡°Xant?¡± ¡°Yes, Jasmine?¡± ¡°Don''t ever let me drink that much again,¡± She laughed. ¡°If I am ever that ¡®profound¡¯ a second time, I want to be able to remember it.¡± Dreams chapter 11: Physical Examination Acting Executive Director Jess poured over the most recent recordings of Subject Jasmine that she could. Using both the director¡¯s terminal and her own dataslate, she scoured through the material to find something, anything to give her an edge over the alien in their custody. But so far, the only things that could be used as leverage would only cause the Subject to explode in a bomb of Freq-powered emotion, or, in the worst case, receiving powerful, debilitating scorn from both the Subject and the Lieutenant Commander. A lot of the recordings of the Freq-bomb had been corrupted, the blast strong enough to override the camera¡¯s own industrial frequencies and every image on the servers flickered and bled into one another. Yet more damage the creature had caused and wouldn¡¯t be fiscally responsible for. Jess sighed in frustration. It must have been nice to have everything line up neatly for the Subject. To have a naturally strong presence and to appropriately manipulate those she needed to so insidiously, and without any training at all. Cutting down on those who were unwittingly in her way. The dataslate in her hand flickered brightly, as the image began to return to focus. The Subject and the suited Dr. Xant held each other in an embrace, before the subject, light on her feet, twirled and swayed across the office floor. Jess¡¯s claws cracked the dataslate¡¯s surface from the pressure of holding it so tightly, small puncture marks left in the glass as she put down the device. Sour bile tickled the back of her throat. No wonder Dr. Xant was so, enamoured with the subject, she was practically showering him with intimacy! At least she and Marsen had the decency to keep it during their rest hours! No, she and Duuarn. He wasn¡¯t Marsen anymore... She licked her teeth and clicked her tongue, the Subject was probably drenched in pheromones too, something she would have to watch out for when they inevitably began their cultural exchange interviews. The cameras followed the Subject as her graceful twirling came to a sudden stop, stumbling and falling to her knees before horking up, in a painful manner, the entire contents of her digestive system. Jess took mild pleasure in watching the Subject fall prone to self-inflicted intoxication. She added it to the list of points for discussion on her project dataslate, nesting it between societal expectations and a further explanation of mating rituals. ¡°Attention: Schedule Change Update.¡± Jess turned to the Executive directors terminal as the new schedule was broadcast for everyone to see. Looking over the schedule Isk had sent and noticed the glaring detail that Subject Jasmine¡¯s physical examination was currently in progress. Her claws tapped the desk as her brain rationalised. She would be able to observe the subject and check on Duuarn¡¯s progress (as well as the other incapacitated staff). Jess was, after all, the Acting Executive Director if only for a few more quarters. She tapped on the terminal link to Isk¡¯s office, seeing the insectoid¡¯s right side as he worked on other assignments. He had put her on a periphery screen, she didn''t even warrant a main monitor. Jess: OM Isk, why was I not informed of the schedule change? Doesn''t the executive director have to approve such things? Isk: () The change was at CMO Krydon¡¯s and DR Xant¡¯s request and the client Lieutenant¡¯s insistence. I figured you would prefer not to interact with the Lieutenant after the last encounter. Jess: I.. no, I mean¡­ aren''t you worried about outsiders dictating Esaander protocol? Isk:()The sooner the Lieutenant takes the Rajavan anomaly off our station the better. I¡¯ve prioritised their testing in the scheduling, may I go back to my work now? Isk abruptly terminated the call, leaving Jess sitting there dumbfounded. The position of power had her colleagues treating her worse than when she was just a Head of Department. She couldn''t let them see how much it had gotten to her, she would show them she was perfectly capable of being an executive director. -*- There was quite the crowd in the medical wing. The Lieutenant and his enormous bodyguard stood front and centre, staring impatiently at the observation room. Krydon and Xant were at the controls modifying conditions. Jess noticed that both Nu and Pa stood at the back, the presence of the Lieutenant may have been too much for them. Jess had to admit he was an intimidating figure, the chill to his presence made her blood run cold. His disapproval still rang in her brain. Of all the people in the room, it was Xant who greeted her first. ¡°Acting Director,¡± he nodded amicably ¡°Have you come to observe the proceedings?¡± There was a brief staring contest as Jess wondered what the doctor was doing out of quarantine, but then if the Lieutenant had ordered it, it was best she let it slide rather than endure another pulse of his wrath. ¡°Of course,¡± Jess answered quietly; moving to get a better position to see, choosing to stand behind Xant and just out of the Lieutenant¡¯s reach. ¡°Lieutenant Commander¡± she bowed her head deeply. Sir Nako barely made an acknowledgement, far more concerned with the observation room. ¡°Acting Director,¡± he replied indifferently, folding both pairs of arms under his bright blue cloak. Jess returned upright and instead turned her attention to the observation room. Inside stood Subject Jasmine and her three User minions, stretching her limbs in awkward positions. ¡°We are just preparing for the first of the physical examinations,¡± Xant said, bringing Jess up to speed. ¡°Jasmine requires a short warm up of her muscles beforehand, otherwise she could over extend herself.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± came the unexpected reply. ¡°So, the Subject¡¯s species is not continuously combat ready?¡± Xant¡¯s ears drooped slightly. ¡°No, Dr. Jess, Jasmine is a citizen member of her species.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jess backpedaled, nervously. ¡°Please continue!¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Xant pressed the comms button and called to the alien in observation ¡°Are you ready to begin Jasmine?¡± The alien made a strange fist gesture with her thumb sticking up, wiggling it from side to side at the wrist. ¡°Ready when you are!¡± Jess pulled out her dataslate from her coat and mumbled under her breath. ¡°Subject uses physical indications for affirmative answers¡­¡± Jasmine¡¯s vitals were broadcast to the medical equipment via a recorder-band, while her translator was tuned to give a live feed of her condition like the rest of the staff, the recorder kept a file on the server for research purposes. ¡°Alright Jasmine, we will be starting with your physical limits. I will need you to give us your top speed and to maintain that speed for as long as possible.¡± ¡°Right, do you want me to run in circles? Does it matter if I go clockwise or anticlockwise?¡± ¡°Just run in a straight line if you please,¡± ¡°But the rooms only like, \[200m\] long I¡¯m going to run into a wall if I just go straight,¡± Xant wiggled his ears as he manipulated the controls. ¡°The floor will measure your movements and will keep up accordingly.¡± Jasmine could feel a rumbling beneath her feet; her four legged companions immediately began barking suspiciously at the white tiled floor. She took a few steps and was amazed when the entire thing moved like a conveyor-belt beneath her. ¡°Holy crap!¡± she laughed testing the floating floor with one or two leaps and side steps. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Xants voice echoed over the speakers ¡°the test if you please,¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± she clapped her hands getting the dogs attention ¡°Pack! Follow me!¡± Xant had seen Jasmine run once before under much more urgent circumstances, but being able to see it under controlled conditions allowed him to appreciate the fluidity and balance, considering she had no tail for balance. The dogs ran alongside her keeping pace, but they were hardly at their limit. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°\[10kmph\]¡± Krydon muttered under his breath ¡°Not especially impressive, but the sustainability is admirable.¡± Jasmines vitals began to surge, natural adrenaline rushing through her veins and invigorating her muscles. Her speed slowed, but persevered resting at a respectable pace. ¡°Hmm, very interesting¡± Kyrdon muttered under his breath. He tapped the microphone. ¡°That¡¯s enough Subject Jasmine, we can move on to the next test now,¡± ¡°You sure?!¡± came the enthusiastic reply ¡°it¡¯s been a while since I could stretch my legs! I could run all day!¡± ¡°The computer has analysed your physiology and calculated its limits,¡± Xant¡¯s voice echoed in the chamber, forever the interpreter. ¡°Your body can keep this pace for \[4 hours\]¡± ¡°Whoa! I really could run all day!, what about them then?¡± she pointed to the now stirred up canines. ¡°They were calculated at \[15kmph for 8 hours\]-¡± ¡°The next test will be strength,¡± Krydon interrupted, and the floor opened up. Just like in the security training room, bar weights of differing sizes emerged from vertical racks from the moving floor. ¡°See which ones you can carry, and we will compare it to your previous data.¡± Jasmine jumped out of the way, ¡°Way to give me a warning!¡± She snapped but still watched as the alien hydraulics continued to rise. Once they had come to a complete stop, Jasmine examined the weights, lifting the smaller ones to get a feel before moving onto the larger ones. ¡°Generally,¡± she called out to her observers ¡°a human shouldn''t try to carry or lift more than a quarter of their own body weight, especially if they haven''t trained for it.¡± she reached and picked up a hefty weight for her size. ¡°(that''s about [15kg])¡± There was more muttering on the other side of the screen. ¡°While her scores so far are above average for citizen units, they¡¯re hardly comparable to regular Ranger units.¡± Krydon explained to Nako. ¡°That is perfectly fine,¡± Nako remarked, ¡°her true talents do not lie in physical confrontation.¡± Jasmine lifted the weight up to her chest and walking in circles around the rack, waiting for further instructions. ¡°That is enough Jasmine,¡± Xant spoke rather hastily. ¡°We will be moving onto the next test.¡± ¡°I didn''t authorise the completion of this one,¡± Krydon sneered. ¡°Jasmine has already informed us of her limits,¡± the other doctor replied, ¡°[one quarter] of her total body weight, shall we move on?¡± ¡°Very well,¡± the old surgeon grumbled. ¡°Return the weight to the rack and we will move onto reflexes.¡± Jasmine was quick to follow instructions, waiting for the next marvel to appear from the floor. To her surprise, the machine that appeared looked suspiciously like a turret. ¡°Uhhh, Xant? Just what exactly are you going to be shooting me with?¡± ¡°A [saline] solution, it is perfectly non-toxic and soluble,¡± ¡°Right...¡± ¡°The cannon will track your movements, avoid the [saline] gel to the best of your ability,¡± ¡°Gel?-¡± The small cannon came to life, black-eyed camera zoning in on her and the dogs, a wet gurgling sound belched out of its barrel as a light blue goop was pelted towards her. ¡°Shit!¡± the human exclaimed as she dived out of the way, barely dodged the missile. Kimiko was not so lucky. It stuck to the fur of her tail, a short unexpected yelp soon gave way to a violent growl. The Akita charging straight for the cannon, jaws open and ready to bite. ¡°Kimiko!( )¡± Jasmine cried out to the dog but the canine had already locked onto her target. Spades barked angrily but did not engage as per his training, poor Sieglinde hid behind Jasmine, whimpering at the attacking contraption. The machine fired more gel in quick succession but Kimiko powered through and with lightning speed clamped down on the machines barrel. Chomp! The alien tech crumpled in her jaw snapping like brittle toffee. Oozing clear saline and pale blue hydraulic liquid. It gurgled and whined before retreating into the safety of the floor. Kimiko shook her head and coughed up the nasty tasting fluid. ¡°I suppose that concludes the test,¡± Krydon sighed irritated. ¡°Did you get enough data?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°Enough to calculate the averages needed for the report.¡± Xant answered. Jess couldn''t help but notice how smoothly the test had been going under Dr. Xant¡¯s casual style of leadership. Xant could command respect even before his upgrade/expansion in personality. From the Civnet records, she and Xant shared the same credit score build, what made him any different from her? She peered in the observation window and noticed something peculiar. Jasmine had not called her ¡®dogs¡¯ back into rank, infact, she was standing back rather defensively. Almost fearful. Jess whispered into her dataslate as Xant and Krydon readied the next test. ¡°Jasmine, we will now be testing your pain receptors.¡± The human grimaced. ¡°I don''t mind performing the test but I would prefer the dogs not go through with it¡± ¡°The test is needed for a citizenship appraisal,¡± Xant explained ¡°but as they are User intelligences under your influence, I can grant you final say in how long the test lasts.¡± Jasmine looked at her pups and reluctantly agreed. Out from the floor popped a number of monitor bands, painted an industrial grey. ¡°The bands will pierce your skin and attach to your nervous system, we will increase the level of pain until you and the dogs reach a comfortable limit.¡± Jasmine stared at the bracelets, now even more reluctant to put them on. She clipped the band on her wrist and then proceeded to place one on Spades and Sieglinde while trying to figure out how she was going to get them to understand what was going to happen to them. Kimiko growled when Jasmine approached, the human hesitated, before actively faltering. Jasmine lowered herself and kept her distance just as she had done with the terrified Sieglinde only a week ago. Slowly, she had managed to coax the angered creature into allowing the armband to be placed around its foot. ¡°Are you ready to take the test?¡± Krydon asked ¡°Not yet, I need to explain what¡¯s going to happen.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Krydon shrugged ¡°The Users won¡¯t understand the importance of the test anyway. It is better we get results quickly, they should know that we are only acting in their best interests-¡± ¡°How about you wait five damn minutes and let me explain to my poor dogs why they have to be tortured for no discernible reason, hmmm?!¡± Jasmine snapped, hands on her hips, the ferocious defender of her dogs personal rights. Nako Chuckled. ¡°That''s the same behaviour-¡± Jess muttered under her breath ¡°Yes it is,¡± Xant confirmed catching wind of Jess''s notes, ¡°¡®Maternal instinct¡¯, I believe you said, extended empathy.¡± ¡°Dr. Xant, you, remembered my diagnosis?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Xant acknowledged, ¡°You are the expert on these matters, I am merely an observer, I have no reason to doubt your judgment.¡± Jess¡¯s tail stood up pleasantly, she decided she liked this ¡®improved¡¯ Xant. Jasmine knelt down and chose her words very carefully. ¡°Okay, so these collars are going to hurt a little bit, but you need to trust me, as soon as the pain becomes too much I will stop it, do you understand?¡± Three sets of ears drooped. ¡°Whine whine (name giver hurt?)¡± Sigi whimpered Jasmine raised her wrist as she took the dogs head in both her hands to comfort her companion. ¡°No no no! See? I have the same band and I will hurt too. It will be just like going to the veterinarians to get your needles, it will hurt a little but it''s to make us better¡­¡± ¡°Bark (vet!)¡± spades growled and the dogs looked away from Jasmine, breaking her heart. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she spoke, stroking Sigi¡¯s ears ¡°I will make it up to you all I swear.¡± ¡°Are you ready Jasmine?¡± ¡°No, but you can start the test¡± The pain started slowly, like being bitten by an ant, sharp and short. ¡°Oof that stings¡± she muttered, the dogs were already whimpering and nipping their bands. Scratching and biting to get them off, the pain began to burn. Jasmine grabbed her wrist. ¡°Okay starting to really hurt now-¡± The burn turned white hot, searing her skin. All the dogs yelped and and whimpered in frantic pain. ¡°Turn the dogs¡¯ bands off!-¡± Jasmine roared and was all she could manage before the sensation of her flesh melting off her breaking bones ripped through her arm. She screamed loudly, trying desperately to tear the thing off her own arm. ¡°Jasmine are you-¡± ¡°STOP!!¡± she screamed unable to express another thought. ¡°STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP!!¡± Xant terminated the bands signal and looked puzzlingly between Jasmine and the data. She had only managed to reach number \[4\] on the available scale of \[12\] but the nerves were showing an intensity of \[14\]. Humans could somehow feel pain more easily yet withstand higher thresholds. Xant¡¯s mind wandered back to the halls of medical, where captain Rynard had taken the step to remove her from effective range. She had broken her arm; that injury, while debilitating should not have caused her protective suit to empty an entire supply of \[painkillers/depressors\] into her nervous system. Seeing the data now Xant knew it was not a suit malfunction. He had taken it for granted that his own nervous system was designed for efficiency and effectivity. The human had at least a hundred, if not a thousand fold of nerves in her body, each one flooding signals to her brain at any one time. To feel at such an intensity should have been maddening. Jasmine stood shaking while holding her wrist, fingers twitching, breaths drew ragged from her chest, an uncontrolled drop of spit rolled down her chin. Xant decided it was time to reverse the signals of the band. Did the specimens of Earth feel pleasure as intensely as they did pain? It was company protocol that he be as thorough in investigations as possible. Jasmine rubbed her wrist at its base. The sudden, intense pain was gone almost as quickly as it had come, the memory remained however and her nerves were not so quick to forget. ¡°Jasmine are you ready to continue?¡± Xants concerned voice spoke through the speaker. ¡®Give me a minute!¡± she snapped, the pain had been a little bit more than the ¡®uncomfortable¡¯ he had promised. ¡°The next section involves reversing the parameters of the test, it may alleviate the symptoms of the previous ordeal.¡± Jasmine huffed ¡°Fine, but when I say stop the first time, I mean it¡± ¡°She sounds quite upset,¡± Nako muttered from his spectators spot. ¡°It was not our intention to upset her, Your Honour,¡± Xant added ¡°Well I suggest you listen to the maiden to avoid upsetting me,¡± the Lieutenant Commander replied, not quite pointed enough for it to be an actual threat. Delicate warmth radiated from the band as Jasmine wondered what exactly the ¡®reverse of pain¡¯ ment to the aliens. Was it that warm cozy sensation comparable to a hug? The releaving lightness of completing a strenuous task? Or was it simply the sensuous rush of intimate, powerful nerves? Apparently, it was all of the above and then some. What caught her completely by surprise was the melting richness that filled her mouth. She struggled to define the phantom meal while the warmth grew to embrace her entire being. Pleasant shivers ran down her spine while her toes began to wiggle. She closed her eyes and sighed, holding herself, the warmth turn to heat and began to pool in the tips of her fingers, lips, ears and certain other¡­ places. Jasmine bit her lip. She had a very important decision to make and not a whole lot of time to make it. On the one hand it had been a VERY long time since she had even thought about it, perhaps a rush and release was what she needed. It would certainly help to relieve the untold amounts of stress that had built up and taken a large toll on her physical and mental state. On the other hand she was in the middle of the observation deck in front of alien doctors and now communicative dogs. Not exactly the most comfortable or discreet place to turn into a pleasantly quivering puddle. ¡°Stop!¡± she called before the heat became too irresistible. She decided that some aspects of humanity could be kept secret for now. The doctors were much more responsive this time around and she felt the heat cut off immediately. ¡°Hmmm¡± Jess noted into her dataslate ¡°she didn''t last nearly as long on this test.¡± ¡°It is still a very intense sensation to her,¡± Xant concurred over his coworkers¡¯ thoughts. What would be a minor inconvenience to us is debilitating to the human experience.¡± ¡°That could be the reason for her over familiarity with the user specimens-¡± ¡°Dogs.¡± ¡°Yes, dogs. If her empathy is indeed overreaching as you say then her perception of pain would lead her to perceive that what hurts her would hurt others, and drive her to fiercely protect others from that pain.¡± ¡°If you are going to be putting that in your report I would like a copy to listen to; when you are not busy of course.¡± Xant nodded his head politely. Jess stared back at Xant caught once again in a dilemma. Why did the dangerous, infectious, temperamental subject have to be so fascinating?? ¡°Do you have everything you need?¡± Jasmine asked through the glass. ¡°For now, Jasmine you may exit the observation room.-¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Jess interrupted ¡°I need to vacate the vicinity before you release the subject!¡± ¡°¡®Vacate the vicinity¡¯?¡± Nako questioned, ¡°If you leave, then who will give us the guided tour of the facility?¡± Nako¡¯s gaze freezing the Acting Director to the spot. ¡°Guided tour?...¡± Jess quivered. ¡°Yes,¡± he said expectantly. Jess shivered with fear, tail stuck in the air as the observation rooms doors opened and she was exposed to the terrifying alien. A light, wonderful warmth tickled Jess¡¯s frozen scales, running from the tip of her nose to the claws of her toes, the fear instilled in her by the Lieutenant melted away in the presence of Jasmine. The human herself only gave Jess a curtly nod of acknowledgement before approaching the other doctors. Jasmine''s dismissal of her presence was almost painful. Her scales tingled and her voice urged her to speak up to the human, if only to have that warmth focused on her for a moment. ¡°...and what about the doctor? Can I see him?¡± ¡°Dr. Duuarn¡¯s condition is improving slowly, he will be able to take visitors soon.¡± ¡°Please let me know when I can, I would like to apologise for Freq blasting him.¡± Jasmine said quietly. ¡°You want to apologise?!¡± Jess blurted. Everyone in the room stopped to stare at her outburst. ¡°Yes,¡± Jasmine answered ¡°I tried to tell you before but you refused to listen, I didn''t mean to hurt him, just shout at him.¡± ¡°Admitting one''s actions were at fault is not a taboo subject in human culture,¡± Xant explained to the open jawed Jess ¡°because-¡± ¡°Because without the translator capabilities and lack of Freq perception they have a higher rate of misunderstanding??!!¡± she interjected. ¡°As fascinating as this is,¡± Nako replied with diplomatic sarcasm. ¡°my legs are getting stiff. Miss Howe, the Acting Director has volunteered a guided tour of the Esaander Facility, would you care to accompany me?¡± ¡°Sure, I guess,¡± the human shrugged. ¡°Then, without further delay, would you take the lead, Acting Director?¡± ¡°I, uh- yes of course!¡± Jess spun on her heel-claw whilst tapping and muttering furiously into her dataslate. She had so much to document! So many things to research and compare with other relative behaviours. The last time Jess had been so excited to be productive was- When she was out of the learning centre. Writing her theories for submissions to Corporation admissions. Had it truly been so long since she was this happy with her productivity? Or was this all the Frequency doing? A false positive in her system? Destroying her cognitive dissension between ¡®pleasant and unpleasant until she could only feel ¡®happy¡¯ around the human? Well, if she was going to become contaminated, at least she would collect as much data as she could before falling completely under the alien¡¯s influence. Dreams Chapter 12: Uleesia Ttation Guided Tour ¡°The hab units serve as both rest quarters and personalised work stations away from the specialised labs. The station is equipped to house up to seven thousand employees, and boasts an easy transition to connecting multiple station attachments,¡± Jasmine, Xant and Nako stood awkwardly in the elevator as Jess read from the station description on the Esaander Civnet page. While Xant managed to look passively neutral and Nako stoically disinterested, Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but cringe. The poor thing was truly out of her depth. ¡°And here is our hydroponics floor.¡± The elevator doors opened to them bright fluorescent UV lights and rich oxygenated air. Jasmine breathed in deeply. ¡°Reminds me of home,¡± she smiled. Rows and rows of high plastic shelves filled with perfectly manicured plants. ¡°Our current waurdess crop can produce enough for four thousand citizen assets.¡± Between the rows were circular robot attendants, beeping as they moved from plant to plant, dipping a tubed needle into the plants trunk. ¡°Is the entire thing automated?¡± Jasmine marveld. ¡°Uhh,¡± Jess quickly searched her dataslate to answer the numerous questions being thrown her way. ¡°We are currently running a self-sustaining build until a dedicated botanist can oversee a full production line,¡± Xant piped up ¡°I check the system from time to time; this is a modest crop, we are not yet large enough to bring in more specialised workers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re a trained botanist!¡± Jasmine exclaimed. ¡°Yes, although I specialise identifying different varieties for research. The botanist is required to monitor ph levels and yield to production/nutrition raitos.¡± ¡°Thats sounds closer to a farmer than a nutritionist, but then we have a wider variety of food¡­¡± Jasmine stared, ¡°This is all the same crop isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, waurdess makes up the bulk of the GC citizen and military dietary requirements.¡± ¡°Waurdess, so the jerky I was eating wasn¡¯t meat?¡± ¡°No.. Waudress is a vitamin and protein rich vegetation, genetically engineered to be the perfect sustainable food source, one of the necessary technologies of the painful dynasty not lost to the Rajavan tyranny.¡± ¡°Huh, I suppose even the brain-balls need to eat,¡± Jasmine muttered. ¡°Brain-balls, quite fitting¡± Nako laughed. ¡°Well I figured I would cut back the swearing, I have some far more ¡®colourful¡¯ names for my abductors-¡± Jasmine replied looking at Jess, ¡°I can share them later.¡± Jess¡¯s claws tapped her dataslate nervously. ¡°Shall I continue the tour?¡± ¡°Can I get a fresh waurdess?¡± Jasmine asked suddenly, ¡°Before it gets processed I mean, I¡¯d like to try and cook with it.¡± ¡°That can certainly be arranged,¡± Xant answered, ¡°I¡¯m sure the demonstration of technique will be most engaging.¡± ¡°Would I be able to sit in on the demonstration?¡± Jess asked timidly. Jasmine shrugged. ¡°For research purposes I suppose.¡± Jess grinned back. ¡°Excellent! Shall we move on?¡± By now the party agreed, and Jess lead them down to the genetics labs. The genetic labs took up a good half of the entire third floor. The labs were more of the same small rooms coming off a long hallway, each with terminal computer and a holoprojector. Plain sterile white rooms with, what Jasmine presumed to be, server units that took up an entire corner of the room from floor to ceiling. Several scientists ran from one room to another, staring intently at the large black server units, or mixing different coloured blocks from the holoprojectors. It reminded Jasmine of the multicoloured medicines back in medical. ¡°Dr. Intiias and his assistants are currently working on sequencing and categorizing the specimen dogs¡¯ DNA for the Civnet, Milnet and Corpnet systems once complete we will be trading this information on the Corpnet auction system and providing the Galactic Council with evidence for contribution credits,¡± Jess stated, reading off Laandi¡¯s saved personal notes. ¡°As well as sending this information to me as well I hope,¡± Nako reminded Jess ¡°It would be a shame for Esaander to lose all this information by breaking the terms of the contract.¡± ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t had time to look over the contract yet.¡± Jess murmured, looking back to her trusty dataslate. As the pair discussed the formalities of alien contract law, a sour taste swelled in Jasmine¡¯s mouth. Remembering the talks she had with Laandi and the technicality of her being Nako¡¯s beneficiary or whatever. ¡°Speaking of contracts,¡± Jasmine interrupted. Nako and Jess startled silently as Jasmine approached, ¡°Sir Nako, may I read the contract you have between yourself and Esaander? I¡¯d like to learn more about my legal rights.¡± Up until now Nako had always answered with pleasant encouragement, but he seemed thrown off by the sudden interruption, shuffling from one foot to the other while preparing his answer. ¡°In time, I shall make the contract available for your listening, once we are back aboard the REFINED.¡± Jasmine nodded, satisfied. ¡°Thank you, Sir Nako.¡± She then, whilst still having control of the conversation turned to Jess. ¡°Acting Director, you said they¡¯ve sequenced dog DNA?¡± ¡°They¡¯re very close to completion,¡± She answered, ¡°Only a matter of \[hours\] now.¡± ¡°Very cool. Can I watch them work?¡± ¡°We, that is, company protocol, states that we limit contact with staff as much as possible and do not disturb them so close to project completion.¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jasmine sighed, relinquishing control of the conversation. Jess and Nako relaxed a little, and Xant spoke up before either of them could. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Acting Director, I would like to return later to discuss the Translator with the expert, can that be arranged?¡± Jess blinked and buried her face even deeper into the Dataslate. ¡°I can leave a note with Isk¡­¡± she replied, seeing the irritated look on Nako¡¯s face and how busy the other geneticists were, the acting director moved them on to the elevator. Below the genetic labs was medical and security, both departments Jasmine was acutely familiar with and Nako had no interest in. ¡°I¡¯d rather like to take a look at the other specimens from the stasis pods, to check on my investment,¡± Nako stated. ¡°The enclosures, the enclosures¡­¡± she muttered searching through the station plans. ¡°The enclosures are below us, Ulessia was originally built as a research station to cultivate new genetic strains, we are currently holding six unmapped and undocumented life forms, all below the user level intelligence scale,-¡± ¡°Are these the same lifeforms found in my stasis pods?¡± Nako inquired. ¡°Yes, the very same.¡± Jess nodded her head up and down. ¡°Other pods?¡±Jasmine narrowed her gaze. Xant was quick to intercept. ¡°There were no other humans found in the pods, only lower intelligence beings, but, they are from your ecosystem.¡± ¡°Well, if they¡¯re from Earth then they¡¯re under my protection as well, it¡¯s my responsibility to ensure their safety/wellbeing¡± Xant nodded. ¡°Of course Jasmine, perhaps you might even be able to identify them for us?¡± ¡°It would be my pleasure.¡± The first enclosure brought back memories of her own time in the synthetic habitat, it was almost an exact replica as well, water lapped and bubbled in the distance, coarse sand and sparse vegetation dotted the landscape, but high up in the fake angular tree sat a perched bird of prey preening its feathers. Jasmine squealed, her pointed finger waving about excitedly ¡°No way(excited)!! That¡¯s a bald eagle!! Nako, the bird on the knife? That¡¯s what it looks like in real-life!¡± The aliens all murmured their acknowledgements, but far more interested in how the human was reacting to the animal. ¡°You know, its way smaller than I imagined it to be- but that is WAAY bigger!¡± Out from the vegetation, a raccoon was carrying its strips of waurdess kibble down to the water¡¯s edge. ¡°And the name of this animal is?¡± Xant asked ready to input the new species into the dataslate. ¡°Raccoon, or trash panda if you¡¯re feeling particularly mean.¡± ¡°That, sounds rather derogatory¡± ¡°Oh it is,¡± Jasmine replied ¡°apparently they¡¯re famous for going through people''s rubbish bins and scattering the scraps everywhere, so people have to lock their bins or put rocks on top of their lids.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure I understand Jasmine, are you saying these creatures are allowed to rummage through waste collection?¡± ¡°Well I wouldn¡¯t say allowed, they¡¯re wild animals, humans build and encroach on their territory. They don¡¯t know any better and we don¡¯t have the translators to explain to them. So we just try to discourage it.¡± It was a loaded answer, and it only caused Xant more questions. ¡®Wild animals¡¯? Did humans not control all assets within their system? Did non-commutative animals control land? Did these creatures have land enough that humans encroached on them? How did humans negotiate territory with creatures they cannot communicate with? The animals didn¡¯t even have the higher cognitive abilities to even try something as nuanced as territory disputes! Xant stroked his poor ears, pulling him out of the questioning spiral. Jess was furiously muttering into her dataslate in much the same way. At least he wasn¡¯t the only one confused by Jasmines statement. ¡°Aww! He¡¯s washing his food before eating it!¡± Jasmine cooed. Watching here fuss over the strangely patterned creature, he dared asked another question hoping it would have a far mores straightforward answer. ¡°Was this creatures habits not known to you Jasmine?¡± ¡°Well, no, it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen one in real life. Racoons live on a different continent from me and well, it¡¯s a wild animal, I¡¯m quite happy to just observe, no point disturbing it.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Jasmine¡¯s attention was drawn away from the raccoon, a concerned, confused frown on her face. ¡°Because it¡¯s a wild animal? Unpredictable, dangerous, I¡¯m pretty sure raccoons have a reputation for rabies and mange, a single bite or scratch leads to infection which could be life threatening if not treated.¡± Xant stroked his ears again, deciding to wait until they were back in an interview setting before the barrage of questions unanswered put a cramp in his ear stalks. ¡°Were there any other animals in captivity?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Xant replied, knowing they would blissfully move on. The next enclosure held another quadruped, but as the door opened and they stepped in the animal came trotting up to them, undaunted and expectantly seeking attention. Jasmine¡¯s aura beamed. She held back a delighted squeal as the creature sniffed her hands, she carefully reached out to pet it, a lighter and gentler touch than what she used with the dogs. ¡°Is this another companion animal?¡± Xant proposed. ¡°Maybe?¡± Jasmine giggled as the the creatures tongue tickled her fingers. ¡°This fawn must be hand reared as someone''s pet; it¡¯s so beautiful!¡± she pet the animal again, this time running her hands all down its back. ¡°Usually they¡¯re wild and skittish around humans, or any loud noises really. But this one isn¡¯t afraid at all!¡± ¡°Why would it be afraid of you?¡± ¡°Well, this little cutey is also good eating!¡± Sophistication and savagery reared its frightening face again. The human laughed as the aliens stared at her. ¡°But I think it¡¯s safe to say this little guy is someone''s pet, no being chopped up for venison!¡± ¡°Venison?!¡± Jess squeaked. ¡°Oh, uhh, it¡¯s what we call the kind of meat that comes from deer specifically¡­¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice faded as she noticed the confused stares she was receiving. ¡°I mean, humanely retrieved of course. It¡¯s a complicated subject, requires a lot of nuance and explanation that we can¡¯t go through here, ahem¡± The human coughed into her hand. ¡°Shall we move on?¡± The last occupied enclosure wasn¡¯t really an enclosure, but an enormous tank. Hundreds upon thousands of litres of salt water swirled below the observation railing. ¡°Whoa..¡± Jasmine awed ¡°what¡¯s down there?¡± ¡°Three aquatic life forms,¡± Xant answered, bringing up the pictures of the fish from the preliminary examination. ¡°Well, I think that one''s a salmon but I couldn¡¯t tell you the other two.¡± Jasmine said as she came to the sudden realisation that she didn¡¯t see a lot of ¡®whole¡¯ fish, she was far more likely to identify them by fillet and taste. ¡°Would you like to name them now?¡± Nako suggested, ¡°if they are from your homeworld it is only it is only fit that you bestow the name,¡± Xant chuckled wiggling his ears. ¡°Is something the matter doctor?¡± ¡°Oh, Jasmine¡¯s User companions call her species ¡®Namegiver¡¯. Quite appropriate really,¡± ¡°An auspicious title,¡± The Prince remarked ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect such grandiose from such simple creatures.¡± ¡°A grander title than we actually deserve,¡± Jasmine replied humbly, ¡°but as for the fish, I guess we can call that one Blackfin and the other Spottedtail.¡± Jess and Xant both put the new names of the species into their respected logs and the human walked to the end of the small pier. ¡°So random question,¡± Jasmine asked looking into the water below ¡°how deep is the water and what¡¯s the temperature?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call it an entirely random question, the tank is \[20 metres\] deep and the temperature is \[16¡ãC\]¡± Xant responded. ¡°Okay, follow up question, would it be entirely out of order if I go for a swim?¡± ¡°A what?¡± Xant balked. ¡°Just a quick one! I dont think I¡¯ll ever get another opportunity to swim in deep water like this.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°But that shouldn¡¯t be possible!¡± Jess shrieked ¡°You don¡¯t have the breathing organs nor the buoyancy! You¡¯d sink right to the bottom!¡± ¡°How about I give you guys a demonstration? You seem pretty keen on those,¡± Jasmine tapped the blue circled button on her collar and the suit of light, plastic armour unclicked and allowed her to climb out and she was down to the alien skin suit. ¡°My home city is on a river that flows into the ocean,¡± Jasmine explained, while doing preliminary stretches. ¡°I¡¯ve been swiming since before I spoke in complex sentences, trust me!¡± Xant, along with everyone else was stunned. ¡°Is swimming a necessary application?¡± ¡°Well not strictly speaking, but drowning is a common enough problem it¡¯s better to know how to swim. Plus, no one wants to be left behind at school while everyone else is at lessons.¡± Jasmine dipped her toes into the water below. ¡°Oof, not too warm,¡± after a few quick breaths (which seemed to be more for calming nerves than actual function) the human climbed over the safety railing and to the shock of everyone, launched herself into the water, vanishing into the depths. Jess nearly crushed her dataslate, Nako¡¯s wings popped out from beneath his cape and Xant rushed out, clinging to the safety rail and leaning out as far as his body would let him, searching for Jasmine¡¯s visage in the dark depths. Air bubbles rose to the waters disturbed surface and Jasmine¡¯s head burst the waters tension, taking a huge gasp of air. ¡°Whoo!¡± she yelled ¡°it¡¯s bloody cold! Ha ha!¡± Much to the contrary of logical expectation, Jasmine could indeed swim, despite the human body being totally unsuited for it. She glided through the water slowly, but easily enough. ¡°Right! This, is treading water!¡± she shouted, swimming in place before ducking her head under the surface once more. Jasmine talked through and demonstrated no less than six techniques before floating on her back. The excitement was infectious and fascinating. Even the Lieutenant had forgotten his position excitedly following along with Jasmine¡¯s demonstration. ¡°I can even teach you how to swim if you want?¡± Jasmine offered as she swam to the railing, floating inches from Xants nose. ¡°As wonderful as the offer is, I doubt any of us have the affinity nor the upper body strength to complete the training.¡± ¡°Alas my wings would prevent me from the activity¡± Nako excused himself. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Jasmine replied wiping the water off her face. Xant reached out to help the human out of the water. Jasmine''s wet hand squelched against the black rubber gloves. She scraped as much of the water off as she could before shivering. ¡°(I didn''t think this all the way through) uhh, don¡¯t suppose you guys have any towles lying around huh?¡± ¡°No, none of the staff at Esaander submerge themselves recreationally.¡± Xant replied in good humour. ¡°Heh, smart-arse¡± ¡°Allow me Miss Howe,¡± Nako gracefully unclipped his cape and presented it to her. ¡°Whoa, uhh, are you sure about that?¡± ¡°This experience has been more than I could have hoped for, besides, a little water will not damage it.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you¡± Jasmine hesitantly took the blue cape and wrapped it around her shoulders, drying off as quickly as she could. Folding the cape carefully before handing it back. Nako graciously accepted, taking back the patchy wet cloak and hung it over one shoulder. Determined to be the most accommodating of hosts. ¡°That concludes the tour,¡± Jess remarked hastily ¡°Was this satisfactory, Lieutenant?¡± ¡°It was adequate, Acting Director,¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, because I am knackered.¡± Jasmine yawned ¡°I think I¡¯m due for the long nap.¡± ¡°Nap?¡± Nako inquired. ¡°Humans require and extended rest periods; they become unstable without it.¡± ¡°You tell¡¯em Xant.¡± Jasmine joked. ¡°Am I dismissed?¡± Jess asked, her feet sliding ever closer to the exit. ¡°I suppose we can disband until you are ready for my company once more¡± Nako lamented ¡°I shall retire to the REFINED.¡± ¡°Thank you Sir Nako, I hope your stay aboard Uleesia is not too taxing.¡± She called over to her friend ¡°Xant, care to lead us back, I think Jess has bolted.¡± The doctor looked for his co-worker but it seemed she had indeed vacated the area with much haste. ¡°Ah, it would be my pleasure, Lieutenant, Jasmine, this way to the elevator.¡± Dreams Chapter 13: Uncertain Paths Dr. Yusa monitored the growth of the new translator organ, but it was a very slow progress. She had several different variants growing in test vats but none of them seemed to be taking to the DNA sample she had been given. It was a raw sample, having not been treated and scrubbed of any useless DNA, so integrating it into the GC standard stock was difficult to say the least. Of the six test runs, five of them had developed unsightly tumors or had incompatible functions. She was starting to think she might have to wait until it was properly scrubbed of the clutter. Which could mean another week of waiting before she got a viable test organ. Dr. Yusa didn''t so much hear the commotion as felt it when one of several strong frequency presences returned to the GeneLabs. Cool calculated and calm, Dr. Yusa recognised the Freq signature as a Zenthi so she was not the least surprised when Dr. Xant requested permission to enter her lab. He was a distinguished individual for someone a few years younger than herself; he carried himself with the air of a wise scholar, but one with the patience for fresh students. While Yusa was not fond of interruptions she was welcoming of a second opinion on her work. ¡°Salutations,¡± Xant nodded his head politely, ¡°I am doctor Uru¡¯nav Xant.¡± ¡°Salutations,¡± Yusa returned the greeting ¡°I am doctor Tana¡¯su Yusa,¡± ¡°I must say it has been a rather long time since I have had the pleasure of being in another Zenthi¡¯s presence.¡± ¡°I noticed the sparse staff allocation; is Esaander suffering financial difficulties?¡± ¡°No Uleesia station is a new acquisition of the company and as Esaander procures new staff assets they will be sent here.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Xant approached the growing tanks peering in and inspecting her work. His ears flattened and a mild sentiment of disappointment filled the air. ¡°I had hoped you''d be further along with the translator by now.¡± ¡°This is uncharted science, Doctor,¡± Yusa reminded him. ¡°Incorporating a new species into the GC gene field is a long and careful process; nevermind that I have been given the barest of information, materials and equipment,¡± she replied defensively. ¡°You should be grateful I am continuing this project at all! After hearing the supposed subject is in quarantine I have half a notion to suspect you are harboring a pirate or rogue.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Xant turned to her and lowered his head graciously, ¡°I was unaware of the situation, I''ve been so swept up in my own research and responsibilities that I forgot the hurdles you must overcome.¡± Xant pulled his dataslate from his coat and put it on record, ¡°Please tell me of every obstacle in your path and I shall do my best to eliminate them.¡± Yusa was surprised, usually it was a department head who told you what to do, she¡¯d never had a supervisor so attentive to her needs before. ¡°I need the gene sample sequenced,¡± she demanded. ¡°Without knowing the volatile genes I''m working with I am essentially making guesstimations trying to incorporate insectoid based genes into a million unknown mamillilan structures. Without knowing the switches, my work becomes well,¡± she sighed, ¡°cancerous growths.¡± Xant nodded, ¡°Is that your only concern at this time?¡± ¡°At this time? Yes.¡± Xant thought for a moment. ¡°The subject species, Human, has proven to be most adaptable. CMO Doctor Krydon should have dataslate on how the current human physiology is adapting to the Zenthi translator. You should be able to tell what is causing the organ stress from those sources.¡± Making a note on his dataslate, ¡°I shall also have CMO Krydon send down the live feed recordings.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Thank you, and the sequencing?¡± she insisted. ¡°I will see if I can have one of the spare servers run Jasmine''s DNA. The other geneticists should be near completion of at least one of the dogs. A creator level intelligence should be of higher priority¡­¡± Yusa wasn''t sure what she made of this Dr. Xant; he was far too liberal with information, but he seemed genuinely motivated to speed up her work. ¡°I can also bring the Subject down so you can see what kind of vessel the translator needs to fit.¡± This caught Yusa by surprise. ¡°The acting director said that the Subject was quarantined?¡± Xant smiled. ¡°Was being the operative word here. A bit of the inexperienced Acting Director¡¯s doing; Lieutenant Commander Nako has cleared Jasmine of any charges of wilful coercion. He was able to withstand her pulse just fine.¡± Xant was very liberal with information. ¡°If a Lieutenant Commander has cleared the Subject then, yes seeing the creature in the flesh will certainly help my work.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Xant wiggled his ears pleasantly, ¡°I will take it up with the Lieutenant, I look forward to working together, Dr. Yusa.¡± Yusa could only nod return as the pleasantly strange doctor took his leave. Perhaps she could divert some time to researching her new coworker. -*- Jess stood at the Director¡¯s terminal, furiously authorising every secure and ¡®for directors only¡¯ document and audio file she could. She had precious few hours left as Acting Director, Lieutenant Commander Nako had begun negotiations with Essander Corporate to reinstate the quarantined staff. Laandi would return as Director and she would be designated Head of an underfunded department. Jess sent all the files she could to her terminal for later study, until a notification popped up and it was from Isk: Transfer request for employee asset \[270:3364:404\]Au Isk. Middle management skill set, requesting \[4 years\] contribution credit status.Transfer from Uleesia station to Saan¡¯toe Station. Isk was requesting a transfer and doing it via Corpnet. Isk was not the kind of person to hide this sort of thing; had he finally had enough of the alien subject? Curiosity itched her nose, she could not just leave it there! She needed to know why he was leaving! She accessed the terminal comms link: OM Isk: () OM Isk, speaking AD Jess: I''m calling about your transfer application OM Isk: () My application?! You''re going through the Director¡¯s files aren''t you? AD Jess: I am the Acting Director and- OM Isk: () Only for another two hours maybe. I was hoping you would be too occupied with the Rajavan cargo to notice my application. AD Jess: You''ve taken a contribution credit cut and a step down in station prestige! OM Isk: () Your point? AD Jess: Why are you jeopardizing your career like that?! You''re worth way more than a middle management position! OM Isk: () I don''t owe you an explanation at all Jess, that is for me and Laandi to discuss. AD Jess: But you are giving up the chance of a dynasty! I know the subject is dangerous but you could be running a corporate station after all this- OM Isk: ()You know it''s dangerous? I don''t think you truly understand how dangerous that alien is. AD Jess: Of all people I would understand. She jitterjacked Duuarn and destroyed his drive! OM Isk: ()Any military personnel can jitterjack a citizen you half trained, vat sprog! AD Jess: But, her Freq power was why she was put in quarantine- OM Isk: () Akira has never wept so hard! It''s not just the Freq strength it''s everything that she is! ()Subject Jasmine was found aboard a Rajavan ship. In a stealthed stasis pod no less! Why were the stasis pods stealthed? What use do the Rajava have for stealthed stasis pods? They¡¯ve never needed pods before! They break down all living matter that isn¡¯t their own DNA sequence, She should be protein paste! But she has serial numbers embedded on the side of her head, so they clearly processed her. The number sequence doesn¡¯t match any known serial code on either side of the painful dynasty, so either the Rajavan have made a *new* sequencing code, going against nearly a millennium of their own ¡®perfected¡¯ systems or, because all the numbers were ¡®zero¡¯, she¡¯s a prototype of some sort. I don¡¯t want to be anywhere near a RAJAVAN PROTOTYPE.() And even if, somehow, they had been reduced to simply over writing an already formed creatures organic functions, why did they leave her cognitive faculties intact?? She defies everything we know and understand about the Rajava and that¡¯s before we start going through her own species particular penchant for random, military grade Freq blasts!! AD Jess: ... OM Isk: () Subject Jasmine is dangerous because we know and understand nothing. She shouldn''t exist in the first place! And If the Rajava decide they want their experiment back, I have no doubt they will come in force. My life is too short and I want nothing to do with any of this. If you have the power Jess, authorise my transfer, and if your brain is as large as it should be, you will do the same. Link Terminated Jess sat back on the stool at the terminal blinking in devastating silence. All this time she had never even considered the unanswerable questions to be dangerous. They were simply obstacles to overcome, puzzles to be solved. Lessons had always emphasized that the most logical answer was usually the correct one, but there were no logical answers where the human was concerned; either in her origins or how she acted. In her time as director she had accomplished nothing but alienating herself from her peers and angering the military superior. Was she really the one to unlock the human puzzle? No. The longer she stayed in proximity the higher the chances she would be stiffed, so she just brought up Isk''s application and approved his request with the last of her authority before sending in a request of her own. Transfer request for Esaander asset [270:3312:402] Kyda Jess. Uleesia station to *no preference stated.* Dreams Chapter 14: The Frequency Test There was quite the crowd in Dr. Krydon¡¯s medical ward. It was the final frequency capability test for Jasmine and her dogs. Nako had done his best to return the status quo at Uleesia Station. A quick conference with the Esaander corporation¡¯s powers-that-be reassuring them that investment would be well rewarded with centuries worth of contribution credit and perhaps even the bestowment of the title ¡®Progenitor Corporation¡¯. New military-grade species entering the galactic council would be a boon to the economy for dynasties to come, let alone the boost to personnel construction and gene therapy. The new alien seemed almost ideal for Qzetillian restoration; it was almost too perfect. The Lieutenant stood front and centre having the best view of the observation room. Tifera, forever his Guardian, stood to his right, watching over her Lord Commander. Laandi stood to his left, representing Esander, and her staff; those who could attend observed silently from the back. The security staff and Rynard watched from the rear wondering if all the pomp and ceremony was necessary. Krydon grumbled about the attendees crowding his workstation, choosing to work as quickly as possible so he might be left in peace. "So this is a pretty big deal then, huh?" Jasmine stood in the observation room while Xant fussed with the dogs¡¯ translators. "It will certainly go on record as one of the more hopeful entries of our history." Xant smiled, "A new Dynasty could begin this day." When Xant activated the dogs¡¯ external translators, a few bright lights blinked on the black beads in the dogs¡¯ ears. "Your companions are ready for the test. Their experiences will be recorded alongside your own." Jasmine nodded before asking the obvious. "So how am I going to be feeling the Freq if I can''t feel it now?" Jasmine wiggled her fingers imitating the same movements she had seen Xant''s ears do every now and then. "For the first half of the test we will be measuring your output. Once that is complete I will be connecting you to an external receiver organ to measure receptiveness." Jasmine winced at the mentioning of the word organ. "But it will be over quick, right?" "It shouldn''t take any longer than the other tests." "Right, right." Jasmine nodded. She thought she''d be used to this by now but somehow it was more nerve-wracking with such a large audience. Xant returned to the other side of the observation glass, standing behind Dr. Krydon as the cranky old lizard began the process. "Subject Jasmine, I''ll need you to give me the most powerful blast you are capable of." Jasmine wasn''t sure exactly how to give off a powerful Freq blast, she had only ever done it by accident. She did know two things: first, Freq was tied to her emotional state, and second, she supposedly let off blasts when she swore. The human took a deep breath and unleashed a truly phenomenal storm of anger and insults. "Fuck you, fuck you Rajava! You motherfuking murderous cunts, bloody mongrul fuckfaces! You dog flogged fuck nuggets! I¡¯ll tear your arseholes open so I can turn your tentacled shitcunt brains inside out! Fucking dropkick slug pussballs, I¡¯ll kill you all! I¡¯ll stab you cunts! Fuck! Shit!! Cunting cunts! Cowards! Evil, psychopathic braincells! " As Jasmine yelled at her imagined enemy her dogs began barking along, Spades in particular became riled up; his ferocity even surpassing that of his beloved Namegiver. "So Doctor," Nako asked, "how strong of a pulse is our alien Maiden putting out?" "Only about 8," Krydon replied, "but that still puts her on the same scale as a lower quality Prince." The old doctor tapped the comms, speaking to Jasmine directly, "Can you make them any stronger? Like last time?" "Like last time; I don''t know?" Jasmine panted, "I''m not exactly sure what it is that I''m doing¡­" "Let flow bursts of your most powerful emotions!" Nako guided, trying to be helpful. "Yeah nah, it doesn''t work like that for humans I''m afraid," Jasmine replied. "I can''t just choose my emotions, if that were possible, we wouldn''t need half of our own pharmaceutical industry." "Humans have never needed to have such strict control over their emotions," Xant explained further, "so calling them up as necessary is not within her power as of yet. We are currently trying to remedy it with meditation sessions." "I see," Nako nodded. Jasmine tried to let off a few more bursts but they could not match the energy of the first, it only served to make her throat sore. "I think it''s safe to move on Krydon." Xant left the main console and walked into the observation room with a small hover trolley. Jasmine stared at the trolley¡¯s contents, a cylindrical jar the size of her head with a huge red spider-like organ suspended inside, with long tendrils of nerves and a three part segmented body; it twitched inside it''s pink goo prison. Xant held two red wires that came from the base of the jar, ready to plug them into the exposed components of Jasmine''s translator. "So how exactly does this work?¡± Jasmine asked apprehensively, unconsciously leaning back away from them. ¡°It works exactly like our meditation sessions,¡± Xant began pouring pink liquid from a small plastic squeeze bottle on to the end of the red wires. ¡°I will feed these through your ear canal and the hardware around your skull, just as I would with my own fingertip nerves. Dr. Yusa was kind enough to grow this specialised receptor specifically for this test," Jasmine couldn¡¯t hide the grimace on her face as the wire ends began flailing like live worms in his hands after the goo application. ¡°They¡¯re just nerve endings, Jasmine, nothing to fear.¡± he replied cheerfully. ¡°(Ewwwwwwww) let¡¯s get this over with before I change my mind.¡± she said, forcing her eyes shut and turning her head so Xant had a better vantage point to her ear. The hardest part was standing still, since the wires were slimy and wriggling; it was something she was never going to be used to. The sudden rush of goop in her ear changed the pressure against her ear drum, she didn¡¯t even try to stop the awful expression as her face contorted, and then she felt it; the melting sensation that signaled the start of their joining. Jasmine wasn''t sure how it would be different from their meditation sessions, that was already an experience she couldn¡¯t quite comprehend, having to put it into words for the scientific audience was going to be a challenge on a whole other level. The melting gave way to the cool water feeling Xant had always raidiated but now there was more of a, how could she put it? A sense of space. The water sensation now occupied a location, like a light she could pinpoint the source and where its influence faded. His cool aura tapered and then she could feel others. Three distinct blobs of emotions; the dogs looked up at her, each beaming with more recognisable glows. Xant was vague, like faint running water, but the dogs had clear, defined presences. Sigi felt like a warm comforter, the cotton fibers of an old favourite blanket, seeped with the scents of wood, honey and beer. Kimiko was much more refreshing, fresh cut grass and the chilled air of a spring morning. Bright and full of curious energy. Spades, the old dog, had a distinctly bold feeling. Tough like canvas, rough and weathered yet with an overwhelming sense of security and confidence. Salty and coarse like sweat and tears, loud, like the shout of a command. And of a brother. Jasmine ran her hand over each one of them as she began to understand this new and intimate stimulus. Eventually, she became aware of her own aura. Warm and bright like the summer sun, welcoming like the hug of a close friend and as wondrous and invigorating as seeing the world for the first time. As she looked at her own hands she felt revitalised, as though she could do anything if she put her mind to it! "What do you feel Jasmine?" Xant asked, his words dripping like light rain. "I feel¡­ EVERYTHING¡­ Or rather, everyone¡­" her eyes wide as she turned to Xant. "Do you feel this way all the time?!" Xant had to chuckle. "Yes, I''m glad you can finally appreciate the nuances of Freq sensitivity. Do you need time to adjust?" "I''m not sure I''ll ever truly adjust¡­ I¡­ I feel so floaty and warm¡­" "I will let you acclimatise yourself while I inform the others of your development.¡± ¡°Okay...¡± Jasmine replied entranced at her own wiggling fingers. The aura seemed to move with her hands, distinctly a part of her. She wondered if it could be ¡®pushed¡¯ and ¡®pulled¡¯ like muscles or held like the air in her lungs. Is that how ¡®pulses¡¯ and ¡®blasts¡¯ worked? Is that why the majority of the aliens she had met were friendly? Was it really that simple? ¡°Jasmine, we will be conducting the test momentarily,¡± Xant interrupted, ¡°are you ready?¡± ¡°Bring it on!!¡± ¡°... Does that mean yes?¡± ¡°... Yes. That means yes.¡± ¡°Excellent. We will be going through the different frequencies that make up the galactic council standard. First will be the ones you¡¯re more accustomed to.¡± Xant and Krydon fiddled with the controls and the auras that filled Jasmine and the dogs with delight faded away. ¡°Aww, I was enjoying that,¡± Jasmine sighed, shaking her now unglowy hands, ¡°back to boring old nothing.¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Friends? The Vet¡¯s did something to the Namegiver¡­ I am worried," Jasmine froze, looking down to where the new voice had come, Sieglinde pawing at her leg and looking up curiously. "All is well Friend Sieglinde" a deep gruff voice replied, "Namegiver is still here, be calm like the Namegiver." "Sigi? Spades? Is that you?" Jasmine¡¯s voice choked on her words. All three dogs looked up at her, before jumping and barking excitedly, almost dog piling her in the process. "Namegiver speaks! Namegiver can understand Friends!!" "Hello Namegiver! Let''s play! Let''s play!" "Namegiver! You speak like us!" "Oh my god I can understand you all perfectly!" This was the true power of the translator, Jasmine couldn¡¯t think of anything people wouldn¡¯t give to be able to speak to their animal companions. It was totally worth having a bit of squelchiness in her ear. "Namegiver speaks! Now Namegiver can listen to Friend Sieglinde?! And Friend Spades and Friend Kimiko?!" "Yes!" Jasmine grinned holding back tears, "Now I can listen to everything you have to say." She ruffled all of their fur, smiling so wide her cheeks hurt. "Xant, if I get the new translator installed, will I be able to talk to the dogs like this all the time?" "Once the dogs are fitted with their own versions yes, they''re not currently hooked up to the GC mainframe so only you and I can speak with them currently. They need a ¡®telepathy to sound¡¯ translator, the same one that I have installed." "Shall we continue the tests?" Krydon snapped interrupting the happy little scene. "It is obvious that they are all capable of Zenthi frequency. We can postpone their idle chit-chat until after." Xant didn¡¯t want to agree with the aging lizard, but there was only so much he could indulge Jasmine, he¡¯d have to move them along for now. "Jasmine, are you ready to move on with the frequency test?" "But I''m talking with my friends!" Jasmine retorted, "Kimiko was going to tell me about her life on a dairy farm!" "I understand this is exciting Jasmine, but I can always return you to this frequency after we have finished. Is that acceptable?" "I guess," she pouted, "okay friends, we will have to talk again later, but we will have a long talk after Xant says we have finished with the tests." "Friend Xant? Where is Friend Xant?!" Sigi bounced excitedly, running in a short circle ready to play. "He''s on the other side of the glass; say hi, Xant!" Jasmine pointed. Xant chuckled and spoke through the comms, "Hello Friend Sieglinde, I look forward to talking again soon." "Hello Friend Xant!!" The golden retriever''s tail wagged incessantly. Krydon snapped his teeth, and switched frequency before anyone could protest or prolong the test any further. The dogs voices faded and the strange auras returned. Jasmine revelled in the new perceptions granted to her. Closing her eyes, she could almost pinpoint where the dogs were in the room and which dog was where. But it wasn¡¯t long before her own powerful signal got in the way, she needed more time, to learn how to control it. "Damn, I can kinda understand now," Jasmine murmured out loud, "about signals being too strong or whatever¡­ But otherwise, this feels amazing." "We will be broadcasting some recorded freq for you to sense,¡± Xant informed her, readying the file to be played. ¡°Please, do your best to analyse and resist where you can. Are you ready to proceed?" "I think so¡­" "Very well, we will be starting at citizen standard level." Jasmine waited for, whatever it was the aliens were going to do. After a while, she noticed from the corner of her senses she felt a slight tapping, like a ticking clock or the flapping of paper. She kept looking for where it was coming from, but it was so faint it was barely perceivable. "Jasmine?" "Huh? Yeah?" "Your analysis of the signal?" "I mean, I think I feel something, but it''s very weak and a little vague." she folded her arms in thought. ¡°It¡¯s very neutral, if it were a sound I¡¯d dismiss it as a light breeze or white noise.¡± "Understood,¡± Xant wasn''t surprised that the citizen Freq signal barely registered with her. She had no way to filter out her own Freq signal, let alone sense the presence of one designed to be inoffensive. ¡°We will be moving through stronger Freq signals, please state any change that is brought to your attention." "Oakie doakie!" "... Jas-" "That means yes." He shifted the signal to the standard military presence to see if that made a difference. The alien audience watched as all four denizens of Earth reacted to the new recording. The dogs lifted their ears and were on alert, as Jasmine corrected her posture, steadying herself against the unknown impact. "Okay I feel something now," Jasmine instinctively closed her eyes as she explained. "I feel, cold metal plates, a slow unmovable weight, slow yet rested? I''m sorry, I just feel like I''m saying a bunch of random words" "What you are doing is fine Jasmine, I will be increasing the strength of the signal." "Okay¡­" she replied, her voice becoming unsure "Ah!-" she raised her hands to her face and stumbled backward. The dogs began growling, barking aggressively at their Namegivers side. "That''s hot! Like I''m close to an open fire! A¡­ A stupid bloody fire! Which idiot is responsible for this?! I just want to strike them! Beat their skulls in and-" Jasmine''s arms stiffened and her fists clenched, she began to take long deep breaths, "I''m¡­ I''m sorry, I don''t know what came over me." While Jasmine was able to gather her senses, her poor canine companions were overcome. "Are you alright to continue?" "Yeah, I''ll be okay," she replied, touching her red flushed face. ¡°But I think they¡¯ve hit their limit,¡± ¡°I agree, I will isolate the signal so it will only affect your translator.¡± Xant carefully shifted the recording, watching as the dogs instantaneously calmed while Jasmine''s body swayed and shuddered, arms wrapping around her chest as she let out a powerful roar. "FIIIIIIGHT! STRIIIIIKE!! IIIIGNIIIITE!!" She began stomping her feet, hands unraveled and punched the air. "God I just want to keep running and fighting and moving!...¡± Her body reeled mid pace, jerking and clenching while fighting itself. ¡°No! This isn''t right! Stop Stop Stop!¡± she yelled at herself regaining control, shivering with fevor. ¡°Fuck me¡­¡± Jasmine shook her head, memories of competitions and fighting words kept flashing in her mind, no clear visions, just her brain jumbling together every memory that fit her sudden urge to rush and conquer obstacles. Once she had worked out what it was trying to do she was able to wrangle to set her own feelings straight, it was hard once it had already settled in. ¡°Jasmine, we have two more Emotional Freq signals on record, would you like to continue?¡± ¡°You know what?¡± She panted rolling her shoulders and bending her knees, ¡°Go ahead, let¡¯s see how far I can push it,¡± Xant apprehensively played the next recording. Jasmines breath stuck in her throat. She couldn¡¯t move, she didn¡¯t dare breathe she couldn¡¯t look anyone in the eye as an overwhelming pressure of disappointment welled in her chest. She didn¡¯t deserve to exist, she wanted to crawl into a little ball and shrink into the earth and fade away. She felt her knees buckle and her arms shivered limply, she welcomed the floor, lowering herself slowly. The dogs tucked up in balls beside her, trying to comfort her but no matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t shake the awful memories and nausea this Freq signal produced, cowering from the invisible judgment. Xant¡¯s voice pierced through the paralyzing worthlessness. ¡°Jasmine, do you want us to stop the test?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jasmine replied while curled up in the fetal position, ¡°Please.¡± All of a sudden, the pressure released, the anxiety lifted and Jasmine once again felt like she was in her own skin. It all vanished as quickly as it had come. She rolled over flat out on her back reflecting on the hijacking of her emotional state. ¡°Well, that was certainly an experience¡­¡± It was as though every memory and thought that questioned her self worth rushed to the front of her mind, she couldn¡¯t remember a time when she had been so anxious. ¡°So, what was that?¡± she asked, taking deep breaths to rid herself of the existential dread that began to creep in. ¡°That was a personnel paralyzing Freq blast delivered by a military grade Princess unit.¡± Xant explained with sincere sympathy. ¡°We don¡¯t have the authorization to play a Princess strength Freq signal that could cause bomb level damage. It is designed to freeze you in place,¡± ¡°Well, it certainly fucking worked, that¡¯s for sure¡­¡± With every step of this examination Jasmine began to realise the full scope of how she was affecting those around her and the power that others could hold over her. It was a humbling and terrifying experience. ¡°Are you hurt Jasmine?¡± Xant asked concerned ¡°Hurt? No, just a little shaken. Well more like a lot shaken, I¡¯ve never felt like that before.¡± With the exception of Nako, Tifera and Rynard, Xant didn¡¯t think anyone else in the Medical wing would have understood what that felt like either. As much as Xant admired Jasmine¡¯s resilience, he worried about the physical and mental toll it would take to survive a blast like that untrained. ¡°We will give you a moment to relax before we move on.¡± Xant decided to impose a break in the test, for Jasmines sake. ¡°Cool,¡± she replied, trying not to think too hard about what had just happened to her. ¡°Hey, how many more of these do I have to do?¡± ¡°There are four more Freq components to cycle through,¡± Xant explained, ¡°but the most abrasive of the signals are behind us.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m going to need a drink after this.¡± she sighed, ¡°but I¡¯d go for some water now.¡± ¡°Of course Jasmine.¡± Nu was sent to fulfill her request while the lieutenant and the staff talked about her progress. ¡°Impressive,¡± Nako remarked pleased, ¡°She came out of an interrogators grip almost unscathed. With training there is no telling the possibilities.¡± There came a chorus of mumbled agreements, and Xant just couldn¡¯t let that go unchallenged. Hoping to waver his tenacity of her more aggressive abilities, Xant cautioned the Lieutenant as politely as he could. ¡°I¡¯m not sure Jasmine will be up to the tasks you are expecting of her, despite her abilities.¡± ¡°I think the maiden might surprise us yet.¡± Nako replied unphased, ¡°After all, Akira lead me to her, there must be more to this calling.¡± Krydon rolled his eyes, annoyed this was taking longer than necessary. ¡°I¡¯m going ahead with the next test, we would have been finished by now if you didn¡¯t insist on asking her permission for every single test.¡± ¡°Jasmine is a creator level intelligence, she deserves as much-¡± ¡°We are the professionals here, we shouldn¡¯t have to explain that this is for her own good,¡± Dr. Krydon began the recording before Xant could explain or Jasmine could protest. ¡°Starting Physical Freq Test.¡± ¡°Wait, Physical Freq? What-¡± plink! Water dripped down Jasmines back, plink! plink! First one drop then two, plink! plink! plink! plink! plink! plink! plink! plink! Then the water poured over her skin, and whilst she was dry as a bone, Jasmine could feel every glorious drop. She outstretched her arms and twirled in the imaginary rain, Sigi, Spades and Kimiko ran alongside her, snapping their snouts at nonexistent water drops. ¡°Yeah! I can feel the water!¡± ¡°Starting Physical Override Freq Test.¡± Krydon stormed ahead once he had gotten confirmation that she could sense it. A tickling shot of lightning ran up Jasmine¡¯s arm as it jolted up in the air all on its own, she let out a startled yelp as her elbow was now stuck in her left ear. Jasmine let out a groan. ¡°¡®Physical override¡¯, I get it.¡± All the dogs left front paws stuck right out in front, whimpering as they hobbled to move them. Jasmine tried to pull her arm down by itself, when that proved futile she wrenched her arm down with the other. Keeping it down only by physical strength, the fingers of the possessed hand continued to flex in and out. ¡°So, is this a common thing?!¡± she growled, ¡°Or just a unique form of torture you brought out for us?!¡± ¡°It is a military grade technique,¡± Xant reassured her, ¡°it can only be used on enemies of the galactic council-¡± ¡°Her heart rate is increasing¡­¡± Krydon muttered, observing the vital screenings. ¡°trace adrenaline and other military grade hormones are being released into the system, stress levels are increasing at an exponential rate¡­¡± ¡°Strange, she wasn¡¯t nearly this upset during the Frequency Aggression tests, but the Physical ones are more distressing?...¡± Laandi wondered out loud. No one got the chance to entertain Laandi¡¯s thought, Jasmine¡¯s exasperated yells cut through over the comms. ¡°That¡¯s it! I¡¯m over it! Stop! Stop this test!¡± Jasmine growled in anger, ¡°Give me my body back!!¡± ¡°If you just relax-¡± Krydon huffed. ¡°No! Fuck off!¡± she roared, ¡°Stop it NOW!!¡± If it were not for the freq-proof, glass barrier they would have almost certainly suffered her wrath. Only Nako seemed to delight in the situation, it only seemed to highlight positives in his mind. ¡°There¡¯s a vigorous pulse if ever I saw one¡­¡± he chuckled. Krydon looked to Nako to rein in the alien maiden. ¡°Your Honour-¡± But the Lieutenant seemed to be quite entertained with Jasmine¡¯s outbursts or at least approved of her more abrasive personality. ¡°You¡¯d best do as Miss Howe instructs, before I decide I¡¯d like to see a live demonstration of her abilities.¡± Nako replied offhandedly. Krydon¡¯s objections overruled, he stopped the recording as instructed, finishing the data cache and preparing the next one. ¡°The next cycle of recording will be-¡± ¡°NO,¡± Jasmine growled at him, ¡°You will wait until I am ready for the next one, understand?!¡± It was not a suggestion on her part. Xant nearly pushed the old lizard out of the way. ¡°I know you want to have the test run as efficiently as possible but is it really necessary to rush so fast we risk disorentating the Subject?! This test is not just for the benefit of Jasmine¡¯s benefactor or the Company but for Jasmine herself. She is a future Creator Citizen and should be given respect as such!¡± Krydon huffed, but decided to step back, letting Xant take control. ¡°Very well, do as you will.¡± he replied, contemplating retiring all the while. Xant assumed his position at the head of the controls, configuring them to his liking before . ¡°Jasmine, I will be handling the test introductions from now on.¡± Xant soothed. ¡°The next few recordings will be more subtle and nowhere near as intrusive as the previous ones have been. It will only be a matter of you being able to perceive them instead of suffering them.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Jasmine bit her tongue, ¡°Fine.¡± Xant pressed the icon then waited for an observable effect. Nothing happened. ¡°Jasmine?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do you feel anything?¡± Jasmine looked around. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Then we can mark you as insensitive to radio waves. The next two will be much the same, it should be quick and painless.¡± Xant explained. ¡°Right, ¡®should be¡¯,¡± the human replied offhandedly. The next recording did indeed start subtle, Jasmine didn¡¯t even realise she was pacing at first. It took longer to realise the dogs were doing the same thing, going back and forth in a small straight line. When she stopped, her stomach and head began to spin, dizziness began to push her to move. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel sick,¡± She announced; it wasn¡¯t strong enough for her to actually throw up but it was certainly noticeable. ¡°It¡¯s not getting any worse though,¡± she took a few more steps, as she returned to the pacing the sickness eased. ¡°It stops when I start walking though.¡± ¡°Fascinating, she can sense Rajavan amalgamation signals.¡± Krydon murmured. The doctor changed recording and Jasmine acted immediately. ¡°You guys just let off a pulse, didn¡¯t you?!¡± she exclaimed ¡°Yes, that was a Rajavan designated Frequency, usually we need to have specialised units dedicated to intercepting them. You are a being of many talents Jasmine,¡± ¡°Thanks¡­¡± she replied flatly ¡°With every test we are regaining what the Rajava took from us Jasmine,¡± Laandi spoke wholeheartedly. ¡°You are the great equalizer of the universe.¡± Jasmine raised an eyebrow skeptically. ¡°No I was just in the wrong place at the right time.¡± ¡°The last signal will be the Industrial Frequency, it is what our more powerful computers and ships give off in residual Freq,¡± Xant explained as he prepared to start the signal, ¡°After this we will be able to finish your application for citizenship.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Jasmine replied relieved, ¡°Cause I¡¯m kinda getting sick of being a guinea pig¡± ¡°Jasmine? That didn¡¯t quite translate¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be experimented on any more,¡± She clarified firmly. Xant smiled. ¡°No more tests after this, you will be able to walk your own path,¡± Xant promised. ¡°Great! So start the test already so we can get out of here!¡± Krydon let out an exasperated sigh, Xant chuckled before playing the recording, only to watch as Jasmine and the dogs flinched and shook in pain. ¡°Oh fuck my head!¡± she shouted, hands holding the sides of her skull together. ¡°God it¡¯s like an instant migraine what the hell-¡± her arms dropped to her sides, the dogs began circling in panic and pain. Her eyes glazed over and her mouth opened slowly. ¡°Mum?¡± Xant¡¯s hand hovered over the kill switch. ¡°Jasmine?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening? What do you feel-¡± ¡°In the cupboard to the left, next to the chips.¡± ¡°Jasmine I don¡¯t under-¡± ¡°No I don¡¯t want to switch drinks! Get your own ¡®prissy cocktail¡¯!¡± ¡°Jasmine-¡± ¡°Here! I stayed up all night making these sandwiches!¡± Xant and everyone observing stood stunned as Jasmine became increasingly erratic. ¡°Who is that girl i see? Staring straight back at me, why won¡¯t my reflection show who I am?- I could be a loud man, I could be silent, I could be young man or I could be old. I could be a gentleman or I could be violent- Australians alll let us rejoice, for we are young and freeee- Mum?... Mum?!¡± The human reached out to nothing before her entire body crumpled, smashing into the white tiles beneath her. The loud crack of her protective skull, the sickening wet splat of her flesh. The sounds of the other Esaander staff members faded behind him as Xant beat the kill switch with his fist and rushed to Jasmine¡¯s aid. Even after the Freq pulse had been terminated her body suffered, beginning to convulse in his arms. ¡°Jasmine?! Jasmine?!¡± No amount of calling out or even his own Freq pulses could pull her back. He tore the receptor wires from her ear and the glove from his hand threading his nerves tips in, hoping to soothe her back to consciousness. Pure lightning forced its way up and through his brain, tearing it apart. Numbers, memories, smells and tastes bombarded his senses until he felt a lightness envelop his being. Time stopped... Light faded... Darkness Quiet Lost. Rest. Rest Rest Rest Rest rest... Dreams Chapter 15: The Weight of a World Lieutenant Commander Nako and Executive Director Salhor Laandi sat opposed in her personal office. Where once it was an amicable relationship the latest incident involving the human had certainly strained the air between them. Nako sat cross legged, his Captain Tifera providing an intimidating mountain of steel behind him, it would have made any Citizen Director nervous but Laandi sat with her shoulders back and a smile on her face, for she had the universe with her. ¡°The animal specimens, have been analysed and quantified as per your request,¡± she pushed over the dataslates worth of data across her desk. Nako didn¡¯t move a muscle as Tifera¡¯s large hands reached over to pick it up with her index finger and thumb. ¡°Thank you Director, next order of business, the dogs¡­¡± Nako held his chin up to speak to Laandi. ¡°You have their citizenship application on file?¡± ¡°Ready to be sent, Your Honour. Will you be authorising for the translators to be implanted?¡± she asked, resting her hands on the table in front of her. ¡°As is every citizen¡¯s right, even user intelligences¡­¡± Nako shrugged. ¡°Are there translators able to handle the physiology?¡± ¡°Dr. Yusa is working on the modifications as we speak. Since their genome has already been mapped and sequenced, it should only be a matter of hours before they are installed.¡± Her fingers folded together as she brought another matter to his attention, ¡°Your Honour, there was one more thing concerning the dogs.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°One of the females is pregnant.¡± Nako¡¯s antennae perked up and the tension between them mellowed, ¡°Pregnant?¡± ¡°Yes, I was hoping you would be willing to authorise medical care for the progeny. Bacterial scrub, efficiency applications, organ amplifier, translator organ implantation and DNA registration all need to be implemented as well as the standard integration improvements.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll allow it,¡± Nako nodded, momentarily distracted. ¡°Surely this is cause for celebration, ensure the dog maiden is provided with the best care your facility can provide, and have her registered under my name as benefactor and guardian.¡± ¡°They are already under Miss Howe¡¯s name, Your Honour, when explained to them they insisted-¡± ¡°They are user intelligences,¡° Nako stated, ¡°It is our duty as creators to ensure their best interest, is having their signed guardian an unconscious body within their best interest?¡± His presence was cold but he was doing his best not to let the sharp ice bite at the citizen. ¡°We are to act in their best interests but we can¡¯t go against their outspoken desires-¡± Laandi tried to counter but Nako was quick to shoot her down. ¡°Unless those desires directly conflict with their own well being, I know Galactic Council mandate, Director.¡± The Lieutenant Commander folded a leg over his knee, ¡°If you want to argue minutiae, I will make it a test of endurance.¡± ¡°Very well, Lieutenant.¡± Laandi snapped, clicking her toothplate in disagreement. The pair glared at each other in passive-aggressive silence. There was only one thing left to discuss and neither wanted to be on the offensive. To accost a client was a terrible image for any executive director, but then any military commander caught badgering a citizen would lose the prestige of the position. Finally Nako broke the tension. ¡°Will Miss Howe be readied for transportation?¡± ¡°Lieutenant Commander, please,¡± Laandi readied herself for the confrontation, ¡°You cannot move Miss Howe while she is incapacitated-¡± ¡°With all due respect to you and your company Executive Director, Miss Howe has been unresponsive for 2 [days] and your efforts in receiving her have been very underwhelming. My patience is being exhausted.¡± Nako stared pointedly, before averting his gaze, ¡°If you have her ready to transport by the end of the [quarter] I can forgive any other transgressions that may arise.¡± ¡°Having her moved from our facility before the citizen application is complete would break constraints of contractual obligation,¡± Laandi replied coldly. ¡°Are you willing to bring this dispute before the Corporate Judiciary?¡¯ ¡°You and I both know we would be long deceased before the court ever spits out our case number.¡± ¡°We may be dead, but Jasmine would be alive long enough to receive the compensation she was wrongfully denied, at the expense of your progeny¡¯s contribution credit scores for generations to come,¡± Laandi stated. ¡°If she ever wakes up to exercise those rights¡­¡± Nako felt his concentration slipping, he stood from his stool to take a different approach. ¡°Cleary, you feel Miss Howe would be better suited to staying in your care, you want what is best for her as do I. We are at a critical crosswind and cannot find the safest path to fly. Let me hear your proposal, Director, perhaps we may come to an agreement?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Honour,¡± Laandi dipped her head respectfully, ¡°It is in both Miss Howe¡¯s and Esaander¡¯s best interest if we were to stick to the original contract. However, if you wish to withdraw and break from contract then we request extra compensation.¡± Nako turned his head bemused. ¡°And exactly what kind of compensation are you looking for, citizen?¡± ¡°We have lost over twelve citizen staff to irreparable jitterjacking or stiffening, totalling nearly [80 years] worth of investment not to mention the loss of one of our most important assets. Xant alone was worth nearly [150 years] worth of contribution credits by himself. We also invested in a military grade suit for his protection; those come to nearly [50 years] at last audit. Lastly two of our unaffected senior staff have requested transfers off the station and outside the company that is another loss of [25 years] investment total.¡± The Lieutenant had to stare down his unlikely opponent. ¡°You are asking for more than [300 years] worth of compensation from my personal contribution? I''ve never heard of something so preposterous!¡± ¡°It is fair compensation. Esaander won''t be gaining any contribution credit; not nearly enough for the information gathered,¡± Laandi informed him. ¡°What?! And how did you calculate such a ludicrous notion? You are the one who drew up the contract and evaluated the cost!¡± Laandi lowered her eyes, hands clasped gently together. ¡°Miss Howe is a creator level intelligence,¡± she began, ¡°We cannot profit from her data without first agreeing to the terms and conditions. It would be immoral to say the least, especially since we have already discussed contribution credit scores with her on record.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Miss Howe is not yet recognised as a citizen of the Galactic Council, nor is she a citizen at all, if anything the more accurate term would be ''clanless Maiden'' or ''unassigned military asset''. In both cases she would be under licence until properly categorised and compensated.¡± Nako retorted. ¡°The longer she stays here at Uleesia in the hands of those ill-equipped to handle her, the more chance there is of another catastrophic loss of assets. I don¡¯t want anymore of your citizen staff to suffer Director, let the military branch scientists handle this.¡± ¡°I am sorry Lieutenant, but if Jasmine were to wake in an unfamiliar environment I fear she would react very poorly and we might lose the delicate trust we have already established.¡± Laandi sighed ¡°Surely even an esteemed Commander such as yourself can afford to wait just a little bit longer? If by the end of the [4th] day she has not yet awoken and her vitals begin to suffer, then we would happily relinquish control back into your care.¡± Nako turned his back on Laandi, his proud stance slipping as he folded his arms behind his back. ¡°If you absolutely insist Director, I suppose I can afford a few more days, if to leave earlier will save me four lifetimes worth of credit.¡± He conceded. ¡°I must say, Lieutenant, when you proposed this venture you didn''t seem overly concerned with contribution credit scores,¡± Laandi questioned. Nako sighed, releasing the tension that held his frustration. ¡°It is not about the credit scores, Executive Director, I suppose I should have tempered my expectations.¡± ¡°Tempered your expectations? Regarding Jasmine? I would have thought she would have exceeded all conceivable outcomes?¡± ¡°Yes, in many ways she does exceed them but if the damage done to her is permanent, stiffed like the rest of your staff, then this entire venture would be at a loss. Nothing discovered aboard the Rajavan Vessel holds any military value. Even the cultural artefacts are useless without the conscious Miss Howe to decipher them. If Humans cannot survive the blast of ship engines then even the DNA we gather may not be useful to the GC at large, what was once such a promising opportunity has disintegrated before me...¡± The Executive Director rested her hand on her shoulder. ¡°Military value?¡± She clicked her teeth gently, ¡°Perhaps we may be able to negotiate after all, I have in our possession the Freq recording that debilitated nearly half the staff here, on the station, I would be happy to exchange that recording if only to ensure she remains under our care.¡± The Lieutenant laughed dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m sure you are well aware that should I be ordered to, I could produce a pulse with the same amount of power. Jasmine while promising, did not break any Freq barriers.¡± Laandi leaned forward and took a deep bow to hide her smile. ¡°Perhaps it is better you experience the recording for yourself, Lieutenant.¡± -*- ¡°Are you sure you want to do this Lieutenant?¡± Captain Rynard asked, looking over the recording.¡°Of course!¡± Nako chuckled unpinning his blue cloak at the shoulder. ¡°Your Director was quite coy about the mysterious strength of our alien guest¡¯s Freq. What better way to put it to the test than to have an experienced soldier like myself face it head on?¡± He handed Tifera his cloak and stepped into the training room. ¡°Sir, this isn¡¯t like any Freq-bomb blast you¡¯ve felt on the battlefield, it¡¯s¡­ deeper,¡± Rynard replied tactfully. The Lieutenant picked up on the unusual amount of concern, deciding to put Rynard at ease. ¡°Your consideration is admirable, Captain, but I have had the pleasure of staring down countless battalions of Vassals, alone. I¡¯m sure I can handle the cries of a lone maiden, no matter how ¡®deep¡¯ they are. Rynard shrugged, and turned to Tifera. ¡°You heard me, I tried to warn him.¡± Tifera replied with a dark scowl, unappreciative of the lack of faith in her commander. Nako stood in the security training room brandishing an air of cool confidence, awaiting for the so-called powerful pulse. ¡°Captain!¡± he commanded, ¡°Unleash the blast!¡± Nako felt the stillness. The silence that isolated him from the world, It made his body stiff, every muscle in his body pulled tight.He couldn''t breathe, he couldn¡¯t move, holding everything in, before his body and the world collapsed. The guttural cry tore through the speakers and his resolve. He felt it. He felt it all. The human had poured her entirety into this blast. The loss of her friends. The death of her family, The callous dissection of her race, The destruction of her World by the Rajava. She mourned the dead known and unknown alike, the sights she would never see again. The sun rises, the sun sets, the immense ocean, the forests teaming with life, the deserts, the snow, the rain and the wind. The beauty of her world she took for granted. The food she would never eat, the meals she would never get to craft, the faces she would never see again. Songs she would never get to hear, the last recollection of Earth and its people would die with her memories. The last human voice she would hear would be her own. She would forget the taste of another''s lips, forget the smell that was uniquely human... She would never find love. She would never have children. Her future dashed, everything she was, everything she had been, all that she had been working towards ripped away in an instant. Every connection severed. Every voice silenced. The pure and complete torture of being alone. It hurt, all of it, from the inside out. He felt the sharp pain of tearing vocal chords, the heat of burning muscles and the stinging of tears from his eyes. The sudden and disabling pressure on his heart, as though someone held it in their hands, while crushing it slowly. The will power that held his body upright, gave into the pain. Nako couldn''t even raise his voice to stop the recording. He just lay there face first waiting for it to stop. Tifera¡¯s voice cut through the recording, screaming for Rynard to end it when her Lord did not respond. She almost tore open a hole in the steel door rushing to Nako¡¯s side, ready to scoop him up in her capable amrs. ¡°Sire?!¡± Tifera panicked, reaching to help him up off the floor, but the Lieutenant refused. ¡°No¡­¡± his voice held now power. It shook like the last leaf on a dying twig. Shakily the lieutenant pushed up with all four arms off the floor. He needed to do this himself, for his pride and his own sense of mind all the while the effects of the Freq blast still held him tight. The worst thing about it all was the way it lingered in his chest. He had always been able to wipe such feelings aside like water off his shell but this Freq pulse had penetrated his defences and left him questioning if he could handle feeling another pulse like this and be left untouched. He swayed on his feet, legs failing him on the first step. Tifera caught her lord in a single arm the chill from his grip was sharp and centred. ¡°Destroy the records of this humiliation,¡± he whispered, quietly dabbing the fluid away from his leaking eyes with his cape. ¡°Of course, Sire,¡± Tifera bowed, ¡°and the recording?¡± The Lieutenant Commander steadied his legs a hand to his chest to ease the pain. ¡°Take it and keep it within my quarters,¡± He instructed. ¡°No one is to know of it¡¯s existence until I have finished with it.¡± -*- Things were happening so fast. First we were in the room with the Namegiver. We were doing more tests for the strange looking Vets. It was hard. But the Namegiver said it would be ok. Then it wasn¡¯t okay. That one room always hurt. We didn¡¯t like being there. Namegiver told us it would be over soon. Namegivers don¡¯t lie to us. Oskar never lied to me. But it hurt. A lot. The night visions came out while we were awake. We didn¡¯t understand, it hurt to see. Then it hurt the Namegiver, and then it hurt Friend Xant. The strange vets came after that. Friend Spades and Friend Kimiko didn''t want to go, they fought the vets. I don''t like it when they fight. They gave us the needles that make us sleep. When Namegivers do it we wake up somewhere safe. I don''t like it when the strange vets do it. They don¡¯t make me feel safe. They just do what they want. They don¡¯t talk to us. I hear them talk to each other, they speak our words but they never talk to us. They gave me needle after needle. They keep poking my head and belly. They keep making me still and numb. They keep doing things to me I don¡¯t understand. It makes me feel funny. I want to see Friend Kimiko, I want to see Friend Spades. I want to see the Namegiver, I want to see Friend Xant. I miss Oskar... Dreams Chapter 16: A Matter of Perspective Of all the specimens located in the organism library it was the way the leaf gave off a delicate green glow under this display light that captivated his attention. He listened to the instructor talk about mitochondria, cellulose and chlorophyll but truly it was the green glow that captivated him. He felt the pull of his kin, four other minds wished to move on. But Xant wanted to stay. ¡°Do you wish for a closer look?¡± The instructor asked gently. Xant nodded his head and felt his ears flop back and forth. The voices of his kin began to fade behind his own excitement, as the instructor unplugged the glass canister from the shelf and handed it to him to hold. His hands were so small then, barely half the size of his full-grown self. It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful organism. The way it had been perfectly engineered to have the same amount of leaves on each branch how it started off as one base and split into five branches just like he and his siblings were. That was our first individual thought wasn''t it? Unlike most species in the Galactic Council, Zenthi were produced in batches. The embryo splitting into 3, 4 or even up to 6 individuals from a single zygote, but all of one mind until mature enough to break away and form their own consciousness. Often the earlier a Zenthi is able to break away from the collective the greater they are able to accomplish. Or get into more trouble than we are able to handle. I think I''ve done well, all things considered. I think curiosity has led us to some severely impaired decision-making. I don''t think ¡®impaired¡¯ is an accurate description at all. Oh? and how would you put it then? ¡­ I think ¡®dangerous¡¯ would be more apt. Dangerous is good. Possibly paired with ¡®stupid¡¯ if we wanted to be crude about it. But still more accurate than impaired. If you absolutely must insist. ¡­ ¡­ Do you think she''s alright? I don''t know. I''ve never seen her like that it was all my fault. You couldn''t have known- But I should have been more careful. It was all too good to be true, I should have been more cautious. More cautious with her? or ourselves? Ourselves?... Who are you? Don''t you know? I thought you did? I know who I am. No one said you didn''t. But¡­ I''m so confused. So am I, and I think I know whose fault it is. This isn''t her fault, it''s our fault. I was reckless joining with her while she was seizing. Our fault? Yes, our- Xant awoke with a splutter. His mouth was dry and the lingering taste of medicinal fluids stuck to his teeth. As he moved his head he felt the mass of wires connected down his back pull at his skin. The recovery pod beeped gently with his rise to consciousness while he was face down on the gel-bed. At a quick glance he noticed they were double the amount of monitors necessary in the room and almost quadruple the needed chemicals being pumped into his body. ¡°Dr. Xant?!¡± The ever attentive Pa rushed over to his side, ¡°Doctor, please, stay still.¡± Her forearms working feverishly to untangle him from the too many wires. ¡°Assistant Pa?¡± He croaked wanting to move but all of his joints and muscles were so stiff they jerked and thrashed with even the smallest of movements. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Dr. Xant don''t move, you are currently hooked up to seven monitors observing your condition.¡± ¡°My condition?¡± Xant blinked slowly, remembering the events leading up to his current predicament. ¡°Jasmine? Where is Jasmine?!¡± Xant jerked up and he felt the pull of a dozen wires connected directly into his back. Pa squeaked in shock doing her best to unclip the uncooperative patient as he sat up against her orders. Xant searched the room overlooking the machines to find the Human. Jasmine lay unconscious in the pod beside him looking considerably worse for wear she was curled up to the top of the pod. Wires and monitors poked out from her skull as she lay peacefully still. She was almost exactly as she was when he removed her from her stasis pod those [weeks] ago. Xant felt the last wire disconnect from himself as Pa walked to his side. ¡°She hasn''t woken up.¡± ¡°Pa, what happened?¡± The assistant wrung both sets of the hands nervously. ¡°We are not entirely sure¡­ But it seems that being exposed to the Industrial Frequency triggered something within her own internal systems. Nu has been running and comparing the data and what we''ve gathered is that her Grace¡¯s brain can operate on an Industrial Frequency. It occasionally enters this mode voluntarily during rest periods, but exposing her to the Frequency while conscious has caused an override. Her brain can''t process both at once so it switched over to the Industrial Frequency.¡± Xant sat back in silence. Pa¡¯s antenna drooped. ¡°We don''t know how to reverse it either. We thought about simply disconnecting her to see if her systems return to normal but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°We don''t want to disconnect her for the same reason you don''t turn off a ship''s computer.¡± ¡°Wiping existing data¡­¡± Xant nodded. ¡°Dr. Yusa has been trying to untangle her Grace¡¯s Frequencies but isn''t making much progress now that it is just running the Industrial frequency. The only thing we do know for certain is that a program is running, we just don''t know what.¡± Xant thought back on Jasmine''s rest periods. They were long and she always seemed disorientated for the first few moments upon waking. He ran his tongue over his teeth and it tasted like something had crawled into his mouth and decayed. ¡°How long has she been in this state?¡± ¡°Dr. Xant, you and her Grace have been unconscious for 3 [days].¡± Xant chuckled then shook his head violently. Pa jumped back in shock and the pair stared at each other. ¡°Three days? That, that is¡­ No, that cannot be correct.¡± He stuttered. ¡°Dr. Xant, perhaps I should administer some calming chem-¡± ¡°No! No,¡± He leaned closer to stop her, but realised his actions were causing unwanted stress. ¡°That won''t be necessary, Pa, I shall adjust soon enough,¡± The statement seemed to calm her a little. ¡°If we''ve been incapacitated for so long, where are the dogs? What happened to the Lieutenant?¡± ¡°The Lieutenant and the Director have been negotiating for the last couple of days, His Honour authorised the translator implantation and other health mandates be undertaken on the dogs behalf. As for the Lieutenant himself, he has not made an appearance on the station for at least 30 [hours], But he has tried to arrange removal of her Grace from Esaanders care.¡± That wasn''t good. Jasmine couldn''t be separated from the dogs they were crucial to her well-being and the dogs would never trust anyone if their Namegiver went missing. ¡°And how are the dogs taking the tests?¡± ¡°Less than optimal,¡± Pa sighed sadly, ¡°They refused to co-operate without seeing her Grace, they are on the network now but they are refusing to talk to anyone and since the Lieutenant gave the geneticists authorisation, they are going ahead with all tests, data gathering, extractions and other experiments.¡± ¡°Is that proper protocol?¡± ¡°Until the dogs have acquired citizenship, they¡¯re still classified as specimens and His Honour¡¯s collateral.¡± ¡°So they are waiting for Council bureaucracy to catch up.¡± It may be awhile before the application would be accepted then. Every bureaucrat and corporate politician will be wanting to look over their applications before they are accepted. There might even be a civil war within the Council house to be the one to authorise their citizenship. Until then, the dogs and perhaps Jasmine herself, would continue to remain ¡®unclassified property¡¯. ¡°I will go speak to the dogs, I am a Friend they might listen to me.¡± Xant tried to slide off the medical pod and onto the floor but Pa was adamant that he stay where he was. ¡°Dr. Xant, you won''t be able to see them you''re not even fit to leave this room!¡± Xant blinked. ¡°Of course I am. I am awake and I need to speak with the dogs on Jasmine''s behalf-¡± Frantic, Pa grabbed a dataslate for him, and hurriedly showed him the scans of his brain. Although it didn''t look like any scan he had ever seen. Instead of a single column of nerves tap routed through his greymatter it now split into several branches of nerves fanned out overlapping and reaching into every crevice. Nothing from the galactic council had nerve patterns like this. ¡°What is the diagnosis?¡± He asked not looking up from the screen. ¡°A medical anomaly¡± Pa answered. Xant studied the brain scan further, the ever fanning branches seemed to overlap in a spreading pattern but something was off. He tilted the scan 90 degrees so he could see the layers of nerve tissue, they weren''t just splitting branches they were fractal, . Jasmine''s blast had been so strong it burned another multitude of nerves into his brain and the regenitive stem cell solutionl interpreted the dead regular cells as new nerves cells. He had enough functioning neurological systems to power the brains of several people and the financial cost to replicate this change in another living being would be phenomenal. He was now almost as unique as Jasmine herself. ¡°My brain patterns have been transformed to be just as complex as Jasmine''s?¡± Xant¡¯s ears perked up in excitement ¡°This is wonderful news you can use my data to heal those affected by her blasts!¡± Pa shook her head. ¡°No¡­ We can''t¡± ¡°But the data are right here!¡± ¡°CMO Krydon has been looking through all your scans since her Grace''s arrival. She hasn''t been healing you.¡± ¡°But the nerve growth-¡± ¡°With every blast she''s been burning the ends of your nerves and every time she''s damaged you, you''ve taken depresses to calm them. With every injection, the regenerative portion of the medication has been healing the burnt cells, without the medication you''ve been taking you''d be as damaged as Duuran, or worse.¡± The young assistant looked away. Xant nodded feigning a calm demeanor. Ironic that the abuse of chems that nearly got him separated from Jasmine would ultimately be the thing that saved him. ¡°So, had I not self-medicated in overabundance I¡¯d be stiffed¡­¡± ¡°That is correct doctor,¡± ¡°And I am currently in possession of twice the standard nerve allocation,¡± ¡°Actually, you are in the possession of nearly 200 times the standard nerve allocation.¡± Xant took in this new information, and even with all that processing power now installed in his brain, the only thing he could think of was: ¡°(oh FUCK.)¡± Dreams Chapter 17: The Other Side Xant looked over Jasmine¡¯s unconscious body. He reached out to hold her hand, it was lifeless but warm to the touch. Micromovements under her eyelids and the gentle rise and fall of her chest were the only indications she may not be completely lost. ¡°I need to speak to Laandi,¡± Xant announced more to himself than to Pa. ¡°What?!¡± the poor assistant yelped as her previously comatose patient was now barreling toward the ward¡¯s door with an uncompromising determination. ¡°Dr. Xant please! I need to get CMO Krydon to-¡± Pa tried to stand in his way, but he simply went around her. She had no hope of stopping him physically, he was almost three times her mass! ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡± Xant growled, frustrated with how hard it was to focus his thoughts. ¡°But Doctor!-¡± ¡°I need to speak to Laandi NOW! (I need to speak to Laandi NOW!!)¡± Xant snapped, freezing Pa in her paces. ¡°(Too much, too far) I don¡¯t have time¡­¡± Xant left the stunned Pa as he ran down the empty station halls. ¡°(I shouldn¡¯t have yelled at her, it wasn¡¯t her fault.)¡± His guilt echoed loudly, ¡°(She was only doing her job-)¡± Xant shook his head violently, ¡°Nako is trying to take Jasmine off station; I don¡¯t have time to waste on protocol,¡± he responded making his way to the elevator. ¡°(Protocol exists for a reason! It will seem like you¡¯ve gone rouge acting like this!)¡± ¡°It will be fine, I just need to speak to Laandi¡± Xant scrambled into the elevator, knocking his tail on the door as he ordered the machine, ¡°Hab level!¡± Speak to Laandi, find out the Lieutenant¡¯s plans, figure out our next move. Gather info. Plan. stay calm. ¡°(Has the elevator always been this slow?!)¡± Xant was not fond of his new found impatience. Nor the echo of thoughts clogging his planning processes with panic and unnecessary observations. His brain was now searching for things to think about as though the matter at hand was not pressing enough. The elevator doors opened and Xant stormed out not even waiting for the computer to announce his arrival. White walls on empty halls, moving forward towards the larger offices in the back. ¡°(That used to be Foorlan¡¯s room...)¡± The doctor stopped in his tracks, staring at the empty room. Memories of his poor assistant suddenly came to the forefront. The way she was always so thorough in her research, was eager to have her work double checked for mistakes. Was there anything he could really do for her now? Or any of the others- ¡°(Wasn¡¯t Laandi¡¯s office this way?)¡± Xant shook his head. Laandi¡¯s office was this way. ¡°(Is it?)¡± Xant hesitated. Yes, of course it was why would it be any different? ¡°You alright there, Doc?¡± Xants ears and tail stood up on end, he was so engrossed in correcting himself he had not even noticed Captain Rynard¡¯s arrival. The Captain had his arms folded, tapping his forearm armour. ¡°You look a little¡­ distracted.¡± ¡°Captain!¡± Xant rushed up to the behemoth. ¡°I¡¯ve been asleep too long! I need to speak to Laandi about-¡± ¡°Pa said you weren¡¯t ready to leave the medical wing,¡± Rynard interrupted. ¡°Do you think you should be moving around in your condition?¡± A sudden rage built up inside Xant. ¡°() I will NOT be talked down to Captain, my condition is beside the point. The Lieutenant is trying to take Jasmine from the station, I can¡¯t let that happen while she¡¯s unconscious.¡± ¡°Cause that means you¡¯ll be left behind right?¡± Rynard assumed. Xant stared the sulin down. ¡°Yes, I am a part of her Entourage, I will NOT be left behind.¡± ¡°Heh, you got some fight in ya, that¡¯s good!¡± Rynard chuckled, showing teeth in his smile. He unfolded his arms and took a left down the corridor. ¡°I¡¯ve got a meeting with the Director, care to listen in?¡± Surprised at how quickly Rynard was to accept his unbecoming attitude, Xant followed the Captain eagerly down the hall. They didn¡¯t stop at Laandi¡¯s office however, but at Xant¡¯s own habroom. Rynard pulled off his arm mounted dataslate and handed it to Xant, syncing it up with his own collar comm signal. ¡°The other station guards are on high alert looking for you, stay put inside your office until I come to ¡®escort¡¯ you back to medical. I¡¯ll run our conversation through the ¡®slate. Got any questions you wanna ask her through me?¡± ¡°I was going to ask Laandi more pointed questions about the time frame of the Lieutenant¡¯s departure.¡± ¡°Right, easy enough, just sit still and listen in.¡± Xant nodded and looked down at the small black dataslate as the captain took his leave. Xant fingers squeezed the edges in anticipation of their conversation, he felt the nerves rise up and knot in the back of his throat. Why was he so nervous to hear what they would be saying? They were both good friends, allies even, perhaps it was just to keep up appearances. It had been a while since he had sat on his rug, Jasmine was right, it was wonderfully comfortable. Would he be able to take it with him aboard the REFINED? He had always planned to live out the rest of his days aboard the Uleesia station, that was why he had the terrarium installed¡­ His plants, surely bringing them would be too much? Rynard¡¯s voice came over the comms. CPT Rynard: Director I¡¯m here for our meeting. Xant¡¯s ears stood up curiously, what could Rynard be needing to see the director for? ED Laandi: Come in, I must say it¡¯s unusually prompt of you Captain. CPT Rynard: Well, it isn¡¯t really a lengthy matter, so might as well get it over and done with, gotta make sure the Security Department is left in reasonable shape. Have my requests been processed yet? ED Laandi: Ah yes, everything has been accepted and accounted for. The REFINED has reinstated your service number while Esaander has transferred your credits out of company stock and into your own accounts. I must say Captain, it has been a pleasure working with you. CPT Rynard: Same Director, never thought I¡¯d be jumping ship again, let alone doing it pro-bono. ED Laandi: But it does set my mind at ease knowing you¡¯ll be accompanying her on her journey. CPT Rynard: Ha, she¡¯s not exactly someone you can say no to after all! But I can keep in touch if you¡¯re really that sentimental. ED Laandi: If you would? I know that you won¡¯t be able to give me specifics across CivNet, but I can go into retirement without regrets then. CPT Rynard: Has the Lieutenant stated his departure time yet? ED Laandi: Unless Miss Howe¡¯s condition improves the REFINED is set for departure in [12 hours]. CPT Rynard: Right, I¡¯ll speak with you soon, Director, balanced universes and all that. ED Laandi: And may the universe sway in your favour captain. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Link Terminated Xant shuffled in his seat as Rynard returned. ¡°You¡¯re leaving with Nako¡­¡± Xant stated. Rynard clipped his Dataslate back onto his arm and chose a comfortable wall to lean on. ¡°I¡¯m keeping an eye on Jasi, just like she asked me to.¡± The Captain activated a switch on his slate and turned off the camera so they could talk in peace. ¡°The Lieutenant will be taking her back with him in a matter of hours. I put in my resignation with Esaander and re-enlisted with the REFINED.¡± The veteran let his body slide down to a squat, so he could talk with his friend at head level. ¡°Stiffed or not, can¡¯t help her if I¡¯m not there,¡± ¡°(What about me?) Perhaps I could do the same?¡± The doctor offered up the suggestion, ¡°I have experience working alongside Military assets, the Lieutenant already thinks I¡¯m a part of her entourage and I have military issue armour now. The idea isn¡¯t entirely inconceivable.¡± Rynard sucked air in between gritted teeth. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t think the Lieutenant is going to dismiss you outright, but you understand how ridiculous your request is right? You can barely walk in that armour and nothing on the ship is going to fit you right. You could get accidentally spaced, freq-fried without your suit on or crushed by vat-freshies and or basic equipment, and that¡¯s not even counting if the ship comes under fire¡­¡± the Captain scratched the back of his head ¡°and, you¡¯re not exactly¡­ coherent.¡± Xant¡¯s ears flattened on his head. ¡°() You¡¯re acting as though I¡¯m some Jitterjacked fool.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know, Doc, but you¡¯re double talking like Jasi,¡± Rynard said bluntly. ¡°Pa sent me and the other security guards out to find ya and bring you back to medical, saying something like ya shouldn¡¯t even be awake. Then I find you disorientated in the hab halls, double talking and broadcasting emotions like you¡¯re high on Glass or something. Jasi did something to ya and well, it ain¡¯t like most Rangers have the patience for citizens at the best of times. You¡¯re a walking liability, Doc.¡± Xant snorted indignantly. ¡°Jasmine requested I be at her side as well, and I¡¯d rather be a jitterjacked, double talking mess than to leave her side (and to go through this alone).¡± Rynard licked a tooth in the back of his jaw. ¡°Right, well, in all honesty, Doc, your best chance at getting on the REFINED is if Jasi brings you with her. So,¡± he folded his arms, ¡°got any big ideas on waking her up?¡± Xant pushed his anger aside and gave the captain the closest thing he could to a smirk. ¡°Where are they keeping the dogs?¡± -*- Rynard led the way down to the docks. The dogs were being prepared for transfer onto the REFINED, the three were actually restrained, legs, chest and snouts, strapped down. Even so, Spades, Kimiko and Sieglinde were making the geneticist assistants and their guards¡¯ lives very difficult. Rynard walked over with a smile. ¡°Salutations!¡± he greeted. ¡°You all look as though your tails have been pulled off!¡± ¡°They might as well have been!¡± Initaas exclaimed at his wits end ¡°I¡¯ve NEVER come across such unwilling specimens! We should have had them loaded HOURS ago!¡± ¡°Well, I came down to say goodbye to the bunch of walking teeth,¡± he rested a giant clawed hand on the doctor''s shoulder. ¡°But if you and your men need a few [minutes] to reassess the situation, I can keep an eye on em, make sure they don¡¯t do any more damage.¡± Spades let out a particularly aggressive growl, while Kimiko straight up snarled viciously at Initaas, it was impressive considering both their mouths were almost strapped shut. ¡°Your offer is generous, Captain, I¡¯ll see my men return with some stronger chems. Maybe we can mellow them out enough to listen to reason.¡± The rookie guards didn''t need to be ordered to follow Dr. Initaas out; Rynard even spotted a few teeth marks on armour as they walked past. Rynard waited until the coast was clear, before leaning over to talk to the dogs. ¡°Where is the Namegiver?!¡± Spades growled so harshly, Rynard had to be sure he wasn¡¯t going to break the restraints in a sudden attack. The amount of Freq bouncing off the creatures was rather fierce, no wonder the staff were at their limits. ¡°Easy there, us older models gotta stick together. We¡¯re tryna get Jasi to wake up, but the Doc needs to ask you some questions first.¡± Rynard pressed the comm¡¯s on his collar. ¡°You can come out now.¡± As Xant entered the room all three dog¡¯s ears stood up and their heads turned, staring at him as they greeted him. ¡°Hello Friends, I need your help¡­(I hope you have the answers...)¡± The fear and aggression melted away as they listened to their friend. ¡°Jasmine has been asleep for a long time, but it is not ¡®the long sleep¡¯ and she won¡¯t wake up, do namegivers do this often? Is there a way to wake them up?¡± The dogs looked between each other, Kimiko wagged her tail. ¡°You do not wake namegivers, you get put outside without breakfast if you wake them.¡± ¡°You can wake them if there is danger,¡± Spades corrected ¡°Namegivers are vulnerable when they rest, they need our sharp senses, their sleep is deep.¡± ¡°I protect Oskar from nightscares,¡± the blond Sieglinde suggested timidly, ¡°he can¡¯t wake himself, so I wake him,¡± Xants ears perked up. ¡°(Nightscares?) What are nightscares?¡± Sieglinde backed away from Xant a little but still answered his questions. ¡°Sometimes, when Namegivers and Friends rest we see night visions. They can be good, they can be scary, but they are all untrue. Oskar gets really bad nightscares, but I am there to wake him up before they get too scary.¡± ¡°But how can you tell?!¡± Xant begged the gentle creature, ¡°Why can¡¯t they wake themselves?!¡± Siegline didn¡¯t know where to look. ¡°They don¡¯t know they¡¯re resting. Night visions are like true days but untrue.¡± The other dogs whined in agreement, Rynard looked to Xant. ¡°Make any sense of the User talk Doc?¡± ¡°I think whatever program Jasmine¡¯s brain runs while in industrial mode, our tampering with her systems has destroyed the normal exit loop. In order for her to wake up it must be forcibly stopped, either by disconnecting her from the life-support or by resetting her systems manually.¡± Rynard looked at Xant incredulously. ¡°Nothings ever easy with you brain types,¡± Xant ignored Rynard¡¯s comment and nodded his head to the dogs in a polite bow. ¡°Thank you Friends, I will help the Namegiver. Goodbye¡± ¡°Goodbye¡­ Xant,¡± Sieglinde whispered as Rynard and Xant hurriedly left the room. -*- Pa was relieved to see Rynard return with her errant patient. ¡°Oh, thank you Captain!¡± She held her hands over her chest, ¡°I¡¯m so happy you brought Dr. Xant back unharmed.¡± ¡°Eh, he was no chore at all!¡± Rynard chuckled, strategically stepping into the room so Pa was not able to stop Xant walking past. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe how fast the Doc here was! He had made it all the way to the hab level!¡± ¡°Yes thank you Captain, now then I-¡± ¡°Yeah! He was so confused, he was wandering up and down the halls lost!¡± ¡°Captain, please-¡± ¡°Talking to himself like Jasi does, but you can fix that right?¡± ¡°Captain!-¡± ¡°How many wires you gonna stick in him this time? How much you think his new brain kit is worth, huh?¡± ¡°Captain!!¡± Pa cried as Xant began pulling wires out of Jasmines ears. She tried to push past Rynard but there was little hope against his sheer size and strength. Xant yanked the last wire and shook Jasmine¡¯s shoulders. ¡°She¡¯s still not responding!¡± ¡°Well hurry up and do something!¡± Rynard shouted. Xant began to panic again, pulling her off the machines didn¡¯t work, physically shaking her didn¡¯t work, there was only one other option. Xant grit his teeth, took a deep breath and prepared for the unknown as he began to join with the unconscious human. ¡­ ¡­.. ¡­¡­. ¡­¡­¡­ ¡­¡­¡­.. When Xant opened his eyes he wasn¡¯t in medical, or on Ulessia station for that matter. Below him was white sand, like powder beneath his feet, above him the bare night sky. Stars and planets in colours he had never seen, and stretched out before him was an endless black ocean, still as a reflective pools surface yet the water lapped at the shore. A beautiful, desolate landscape. He could feel the grit of the sand between his toes, the chill on wind and smell of salt from the water. It was incredible. Then, in the distance, he saw her. Jasmine sat on top of the water, staring into the abyss below her. Xant walked to the edge of the shore, he knew it should have been physically impossible, but something in his gut urged him to step onto the water. As his foot touched the surface the black waters rippled with light. Pinks, oranges and yellows, faded rainbows with every step towards the human. As he got closer, he saw that she was different. A beautiful, brown mane fell past her ear, she wore loose clothes, a white blouse sloped over one shoulder, blue shorts barely covered her legs, her nails painted a bright blue as her finger traced the water. ¡°Jasmine?¡± Xant called to her, but she didn¡¯t respond, concentrating on the water below her muttering under her breath. ¡°...923535897932¡­¡± her voice was dull, tracing the numbers into the water, light flickering with every ripple. Xant touched her shoulder, but she still did not break her trance. ¡°Jasmine?...¡± Xant whimpered, his hand gripping her shoulder desperately, ¡°Where are we?... I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on¡­¡± ¡°...3846264338¡­¡± ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯m scared, I need you to explain this to me¡­¡± ¡°...3279502¡­¡± ¡°Jasmine,¡± ¡°...8841971¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do this alone, I need you!¡± ¡°... 693993¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be taken away, I need your help!¡± he shook her shoulder violently. ¡°...7510¡­¡± ¡°Stop this! Stop reciting numbers! Talk to me!¡± he grabbed her arm from the water, holding her tightly ¡°Jasmine!! JASMINE!!¡± The humans eyes rolled and fluttered as her gaze came into focus. ¡°...Xant?¡± But as the question left her lips, the water gave way and they plummeted into the cold depths. Xant felt his body fall, the water engulfed him and instinct took hold as he held Jasmine and his breath as tightly as he could. Jasmine¡¯s grip tightened as they fell deeper and deeper into the darkness. They would drown here. Jasmine¡¯s face was red, her breath gave out, Xant felt the bubbles rush over his skin. No! he didn¡¯t want to die here! ¡°Wait.¡± Jasmines voice whispered. ¡°I can breath, I¡¯m dre-¡± The bright lights of the medical ward stung his eyes, his arm craned up and resting on the pod, his body lay slumped on the floor. Pa was in panic mode, fretting as she stood ready to plug them both back into life support. Rynard gently held her back. ¡°Ughhhhh¡± Jasmine¡¯s familiar voice groaned, ¡°Xant?¡± The Doctor scrambled to get off the floor. Jasmine¡¯s eyes opened and she gave him a weak smile. ¡°The Freq Test suuucked.¡± Xant laughed painfully. ¡°Jasmine¡­ you¡¯re awake,¡± his legs were jelly, he pulled himself up to see her ¡°where were we? The stars, the ocean, the numbers? What in creation were you doing?¡± Jasmine turned her head to see him better, cracking her neck as she sat up. ¡°Uhh, I think it was just a really messed up dream.¡± Xant stared back at her. The passing of memories and experiences through joining was said to need the highest orders of control and power. Jasmine¡¯s brain, while utilising industrial mode had created an alternate reality and shared it with him. It shouldn¡¯t have been possible, he should have been dead, in more ways than one. And she shrugged it off as though it were nothing, no, even worse, normal! How¡­ how could Humans withstand such a ludicrous phenomenon? And summarise it with only a single. damned. word?! Dreams chapter 18: Putting in a Good word Dr. Yusa¡¯s left ear flicked up at the sound of her laboratory door opening. Even with all the chaos surrounding her, she wasn¡¯t prepared for any unannounced visitors. What worried her even further was the computer did not announce their name with their entry. Whoever was there to visit wasn''t a member of staff but had clearance, which in her experience was never a good thing, usually government officials trying to scratch out any details they could under the guise of guided tours, or ¡®co-operative projects¡¯. She put down her manipulator tools to better address the intruder. ¡°I¡¯m currently in the middle of an important procedure, there had best be-¡± She turned to see not a citizen asset or government drone but a decorated lieutenant commander. Her ears perked up, and the hostilities within her vanished, she¡¯d never met a military commander before! ¡°Oh, Your Honour¡­¡± she bowed her head respectfully, folding her hands in front of her, ¡°I wasn''t aware that Esaander was an authorized military trader. Please forgive my unpleasantness,¡± The graceful Arvas commander was slow to respond, his demeanor held a deep and noble sorrow, no doubt collected from his many years facing the danger that threatened the peaceful Galactic Council. He raised a hand from behind his pressed blue cape, allowing her to rise. ¡°Esaander is not an authorised military affiliate, rather, the project you are working on is a private venture of mine¡± Yusa¡¯s ears stood involuntarily on end. ¡°This is your venture?¡± she gulped. A commander with high enough presence to afford his own venture?! She dared glance at the insignia decorating his uniform cape and while she wasn¡¯t entirely accustomed to military pecking order, the lieutenant had enough glittering badges at such a young age to warrant her admiration. ¡°Yes,¡± Nako smiled softly, as though it pained him to do so, ¡°you¡¯ve voiced the non-disclosure clauses for the patent and research?¡± ¡°Yes your honour,¡± she replied truthfully. ¡°For Esaander, Acom, and all corporate ventures?¡± he clarified, looking over the samples of her work. Failed organs bubbling in containers, most of which were to be destroyed after the project''s completion. ¡°Yes your honour, Esaander paid the extremely high premium for the exclusivity¡­ and it was a very smart business move.¡± she admitted, secretly wondering if she might transfer to the fledgling company, join before the barrier of entry became astronomical once the ¡®human¡¯ and ¡®dog¡¯ data went to market. The lieutenant wondered the room, before circling back to the scientist. ¡°Very good,¡± Nako¡¯s voice chilled Yusa¡¯s blood as he stood over her, ¡°have you created Miss Howes translator unit yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve created the schematics but I¡¯m still working out the final nerve strands before I start the growing process.¡± Yusa reached for her dataslate to show proof of concept, but the lieutenant, didn¡¯t seem the bit interested, three pairs of eyes focused squarely on her. ¡°Good, good, because I need you to alter it in one, miniscule way¡­¡± his voice trailed off. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°I need you to put a limiter in place.¡± Yusa¡¯s blood ran cold, doubling back at the very mention of illegal, vital systems tampering. ¡°Sir?! Are you seriously suggesting such a thing?!¡± ¡°I understand the gravity in its entirety,¡± Nako¡¯s head drooped, shame and disgust filled his voice as he explained, ¡°it pains, no, sickens me to have to suggest such an action, but I cannot foresee another outcome¡­ the human is unpredictable.¡± Yusa reeled back, her first instincts to alert her immediate authorities, but, by all accounts, the lieutenant before her was the leading authority, for lightyears around. ¡°Your honour, you could be court marshalled, even disposed of! I could be excommunicated from my company!¡± she implored. ¡°Then it is a good thing you are legally sworn to secrecy, good doctor, I would not even dare to mention such a measure if I did not think it were absolutely necessary.¡± The room felt cold and Dr. Yusa could feel icy prangs on her skin and a chilled clasp around her heart. His immeasurable freq sweeping her up as he delivered his testimony. ¡°I am Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako of the Galactic Council Rangers, I answer directly to The Knight Commander Kotorn himself. I have led two successful military campaigns against pirate fleets, I have felled battalions of Vassals alone and not suffered a scratch, I have stood beside battle-hardened princes and withstood their cries but,¡± His great presence fell quiet, Yusa strained to hear his words, the intensity all but a whisper, ¡°a single cry from the human¡¯s breast has scared me in a way no other could, and I fear that power turned on our own people in anger or in arrogance.¡± The lieutenant knelt down before her and begged for her to listen to his reason, ¡°Until we understand her allegiances we must protect the galactic council and its people, the precious peace we¡¯ve worked so hard to secure could crumble from within when she shifts the balance of power.¡± The doctor was honestly terrified. She never thought in all her life she would ever be put in such a position, it was others who had to make the important decisions in civilisations discord. She had only needed to complete her tasks, but now this man of incredible position and power was now asking her to do the unspeakable, to sabotage another sentience¡¯s freedom of expression. ¡°Do you honestly think the human could do that?¡± she gulped. ¡°She is intelligent, compassionate, patient, and powerful, but there is a burning determination she has yet to unleash, and fear all who would stand in the way of her path to vengeance.¡± He seemed so resolute, that there was no other way, her brain began to rationalize that, he could have simply forced her, should the situation be that dire. But Nako, wanted her to understand his distaste for the action, that he wanted to honour her right as a citizen to make the decision. ¡°But sir, what if she doesn''t go on the warpath? We would be shackling her for nothing,¡± she appealed. ¡°It wouldn''t be a debilitating limiter, more a safeguard. This small act by your hands could protect civilisation as we know it.¡± To her complete shock the lieutenant commander touched her! A hand rested on her shoulder before sliding down her arm to cradle her palm in his own, and she wilted to his will. ¡°I.. may be able to have a switch to dampen the broadcast with a trigger condition, but it has to be very specific, else it would trigger without warning,¡± she replied, turning away, if only to hide the flush of her face. Nako rose to his feet and smiled at Yusa, ¡°Then let me bear this burden, should the human ever wish me destroyed, if her anger burns through her logic and resolve through my visage then we know she would have gone rogue. ¡± Such a noble act, if the human truly was as powerful and as dangerous as he claimed, then to have himself as the target, he wouldn¡¯t survive the blast before the translator switched off. ¡°That¡­ would be acceptable,¡± she mumbled, rubbing her hand where the lieutenant had touched her so kindly. ¡°Thank you doctor, I place my trust in your hands,¡± Nako bowed his head in thanks and left the doctor to complete this most important task. -*- Rynard scratched the spot behind his ear, lifting the cage in his hand and disturbing his already grumbling cargo. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad,¡± he muttered quietly as the doors to medical opened. Nu greated him, but Pa made herself scarce. He was lead to the holding room where her grace and the stations newest anomaly were being held. As the door opened he spotted Jasmine sitting and looking intently at the space in between her toes. She immediately perked up when he entered. ¡°Rynard!¡± she beamed, scrambling to her feet. ¡°Jasi,¡± He greeted back placing the three crates he was carrying gently on the floor, ¡°they wouldn¡¯t shut up until I told ¡®em I was taking them to see ya,¡± With a flick of his claws and tail Rynard opened the cages, the dogs practically flew out and into Jasmine''s arms. ¡°Namegiver! She¡¯s awake!¡± ¡°Namegiver is okay!¡± ¡°Namegiver is safe!¡± It was a happy reunion for them all, Rynard decided to make himself comfortable and basked in the warm glow of their happiness. ¡°Where¡¯s the doc?¡± he asked ¡°Over there in the corner,¡± Jasmine pointed to a quiet part of the room, Xant was kneeling down in a meditative stance with eyes closed while several monitor wires poked out the back of his neck connected to one of the machines that made blinking noises. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Uhh, he alright?¡± he asked. ¡°He said he needed a moment to ¡®advise with himself¡¯, I told him the human term was ¡®collecting his thoughts¡¯.¡± she explained, focusing more on the dogs than their conversation. ¡°Cause they¡¯re all over the place?¡± Rynard smirked. ¡°Damn you¡¯re sharp!¡± Jasmine laughed. ¡°Just my teeth,¡± Rynard grinned, exposing a mouth that would make a shark envious, ¡°how long has he been stiff like that?¡± ¡°A couple of hours now, it sucks cause I don¡¯t want to disturb him, but now that you¡¯re all here I could use some conversation,¡± she sighed sweetly, her furry companions were quick to brighten her mood.¡°Hello everyone! My name is Jasmine,¡± Siegilinde bounced around, tongue hanging out one side of her mouth. ¡°The naming words! She said the naming words! Hello Namgiver Jasmine, I am Friend Sieglinde!¡± the blond furball responded. ¡°Ha ha, yes I know it¡¯s on your collar,¡± Jasmine tapped the small medallion around her neck. ¡°See? That¡¯s where your name is, that¡¯s how I know all your names!¡± ¡°Namegivers are so clever!¡± Sieglinde barked, ¡°Oskar is especially clever to mark both Sieglinde¡¯s names!¡± ¡°Yes he is!¡± Jasmine agreed; rather than explain her nature to shorten longer names she came across. She just encouraged the dog further, giving Sieglinde her undivided attention. ¡°Oskar was your Namegiver, why don¡¯t you tell me more about him? About your life back home?¡± The golden retriever just about had a conniption fit, running in circles before jumping into Jasmine¡¯s lap. ¡°Tell you about Oskar?! Yes! Yes! I will tell you about Oskar!¡± ¡°Well let me get comfortable first!¡± Jasmine told the dog as she crossed her legs, ¡°And once Sigi has told me all about her Namegiver, I want to hear about Kimiko and Spades and then I will tell you all about me!¡± Everyone agreed that was a very good idea, even Rynard, sat against the wall, eager to hear tales from another planet, even if they were from a User¡¯s perspective. ¡°Well, I live with Oskar in a warm house, there are lots of trees where we live and Oskar takes me walking through the trees every day, even when it is raining or snowing! Sometimes we take long walks to the stone place with lots of lights, but Oskar doesn''t like it there so we only go with Mutter(lifegiver),¡± The word ¡®Mutter¡¯ twinged in Jasmine¡¯s brain, the duel words overlapping and melting into her own understanding. ¡®Mother¡¯ so Oskar lived with his mum, but no mention of dad. The stone place with lots of lights, that had to be a city, so he must have lived further towards the country? ¡°So you live in the countryside? That must be nice, is it quiet?¡± she asked, hoping her intuition was correct. ¡°No! There are birds and other friends, sometimes other Namegiver¡¯s make lots of noise as they cut bushes and grass. Oskar makes noise too! He bangs, crashes and thumps! All with loud sticks!¡± sieglinde replied adamantly. ¡°So he plays the drums huh? A man after my own heart,¡± he had good taste in beer too, she recalled. ¡°Plays the drums?¡± Rynard asked for clarification. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a rhythm instrument, I can play a little guitar, but I¡¯m rusty as heck.¡± she mimed with both hands a strumming motion to Rynard¡¯s bafflement. ¡°Yes! Oskar makes noise every day! And sometimes friend Namegiver¡¯s come to make more noise and drink more beer! I fetch the beer! It is Sieglind¡¯s second special job, Sieglinde¡¯s first special job is to stop the night-scares!¡± Sieglinde continued, Jasmine hummed thoughtfully. ¡°Night-scares? I think I like that better than **********, you¡¯re a very good girl Sigi! Thank you for being so good to Oskar,¡± she ruffled the golden fur once more squishing her face gently into the dogs for extra encouragement. ¡°Yeah, Doc asked about night-scares while you were laying stiffed,¡± Rynard interjected, trying to make sense of the weird creature¡¯s talk. Jasmine seemed to figure it out just fine despite how vague it all was. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re just bad dreams," the human dutifully explained, "sometimes the brain creates imaginary scenarios to clear its cache or analyse our anxieties. Sounds like Oskar has them pretty bad if Sigi is a proper emotional support animal- a dog or other well-trained animal that helps humans with emotional and mental trauma.¡± ¡°So like they are with you now?¡± Rynard compared. ¡°Yeah, basically,¡± Jasmine realised. She wouldn''t be nearly as sane if she were completely alone. She would probably still be crying over the loss of everything if it wasn''t for man''s best friend. Even more so now they could talk to one another. ¡°Oh yes! And sometimes, when the bees and wasps are out Oskar gives me sausages!¡± Sieglinde continued, but Jasmine was ready to hear from her other companions. To understand them all better. ¡°Alright Sigi, I think it¡¯s time we hear from someone else, Kimiko? What¡¯s it like where you live?¡± ¡°Cold¡± Kimiko replied matter of factly, scratching an ear with her back foot. ¡°Cold and green, we don¡¯t have as many trees but our territory is green and tall, sometimes the ground is taller than the trees!¡± It was almost like a guessing game really, the dogs only expressed what mattered to them personally, and while the translator did a magnificent job, the dogs themselves wouldn''t have a complete understanding of how Earth and its inhabitants worked. So she needed to piece it together like trying to talk to a four-year-old about their day. ¡°So you live in a mountainous area, did you have any family?¡± Jasmine inquired, hoping to find a topic the aloof Kimiko was interested in. ¡°I have lots! Grandmother, mother, father, big sister, little sister and little brother. Grandpa use to be my Namegiver, but I am grandmothers now,¡± Kimiko stated sadly, Jasmine gave the dog a sympathetic pat. Family seemed to be the go-to subject. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry Kimiko, I¡¯m sure your grandpa is resting well,¡± ¡°Grandmother still makes him tea every morning, but he is not there to drink it,¡± she answered as she scratched her ear again. ¡°We take long walks too, I patrol the barns and make sure the cows know the Namegivers are on their way, as well as keeping out unwanted takers and intruders.¡± ¡°Cows? Oh! You must live on a farm! How exciting Kimiko!¡± Jasmine gasped, while Japan didn''t immediately strike the image of farm life, she internally groaned when realised that Wagu and Kobe beef had to come from somewhere. ¡°We are busy every day, very exciting even without grandpa, little brother is still a pup, when I am not with mother and father and the cows I am with younger sister and little brother¡­.¡± Kimiko¡¯s ears drooped and she sadly laid down on the floor, ¡°I was looking after younger sister when she ran away from the Namegiver firelights, then the sky went white. I don¡¯t want to get in trouble! I miss my pack!¡± Jasmine comforted the stressing dog, speaking to her softly and calmly, stroking Kimiko poor ears. ¡°There, there girl, you won¡¯t get in trouble. You¡¯re apart of my pack now, and you did a wonderful job of protecting little sister,¡± Rynard noticed a frown of concentration on Jasmine¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing, well, I think I''m beginning to piece something together," she sighed, sharing her thoughts, "See, when I was abducted it was ages away from civilisation, Sigi said she lived in the countryside, probably a small village in Europe, Germany somewhere, Kimiko lived on a farm and well, Japan isn¡¯t really known for its rural areas, so she was isolated too, and¡­ The girl who owned the pink tablet, she was on holiday in the jungle. We were all away from city centres, so that just leaves Spades. So boy, where were you when the sky went white?¡± It was the old dogs turn to rest his head in Jasmine¡¯s lap. He slowly walked over while Sigi and Kimiko silently made room. He was the oldest of the three and the only male, well trained but alert. He had barely left her side since they met. ¡°Home,¡± he answered solemnly ¡°I was home, away from the bad sands, Beau and I ate bbq and crawfish with his pack, we would sit on the porch and rest, watching the day turn to night. No more loud explosions, no more burns or sour smells or namegiver blood. Our Home is quiet, peaceful and we can rest easy.¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes watered and she gave him an extra tight nuzzle. Bad sands, the metal tag on Spades collar wasn''t a fake, ''front towards enemy'' Spades was a military dog, having survived God knows how long in the Middle Eastern deserts and made it home, only to be ripped away in an alien abduction. It really was a fate as cruel as her own. ¡°Thank you for your service Spades, I¡¯m so sorry you couldn''t stay home for your retirement, was Beau your handler?¡± ¡°Partner,¡± spades corrected ¡°more than namegiver and friend, partner,¡± Rynard gave a hearty laugh. ¡°A combat companion, well I¡¯m retired too, I¡¯d be happy to swap battlelogs with you sometime!¡± Spades tilted his head in confusion, Jasmine relayed: ¡°He is a soldier too, Spades, he would like to swap war stories some time,¡± that seemed to pick up Spades up a little bit. ¡°Many stories, some bad, most good, Beau is a great hunter and healer, commands respect. In the sand and on the grass, he barks, everyone listens,¡± he said proudly. ¡°He sounds like a great man Spades, I wish I could have met him.¡± she added sweetly. ¡°Well, we¡¯ve heard all about the dogs, now how about our namegiver eh?¡± Rynard nudged nearly pushing the human over with his playful act. ¡°Me? Well there¡¯s not much really, I lived in a city sandwiched between the ocean and the desert. My mum worked in real estate and grew many plants in her garden, my dad did logistics for an engineering firm and loved music. My brother¡­" a sad sigh escaped her lips, before turning her gaze upwards, "He was a composer, for small productions and games, and after his passing, I dropped out of business school and followed my passion for food. My friends and I were going to start our own Bed and Breakfast before all of this,¡± she waved dismissively. ¡°Not very exciting,¡± ¡°If I wanted exciting I would have stayed on for a knighthood,¡± Rynard shrugged. ¡°I never asked Rynard, but, you were in the army? What¡¯s it like to serve the Galactic Council?¡± ¡°In the Rangers?¡± Rynard chuckled smugly, standing back from the wall and flexing the muscles in his hands ¡°Hard, continuous training, fighting and repairs, if you¡¯re not eradicating Rajavan startups you¡¯re hunting down resource stealing pirates," he exposed his claws and teeth as he relived the adrenaline rush, ¡°You jump ships and fight Vassals, jump system and fight pirates, planet drop to clean up what orbital bombardment couldn¡¯t obliterate, face what isn¡¯t melted and at the end, hope you¡¯ve got enough pieces of you left to be put back together,¡± he sent a clenched fist into the middle of his opposing palm, the cracking of knuckles and solid thud of muscle on muscle made Jasmine instinctually jump. While Rynard often reminded her of her childhood love of dinosaurs, she could imagine the terrifying predator he was designed to be. ¡°That, sounds horrifying¡­¡± she confessed, holding Spades a little tighter. ¡°That¡¯s only the worst of it though, day to day is actually pretty good, you¡¯ll see it soon enough when we leave station with the lieutenant!¡± he laughed, recognising her discomfort. Jasmine was quiet, still nervous about leaving the station. "Rynard, I''m trusting you to keep the dogs and I out of the ¡®lion¡¯s den¡¯ so to speak, I don''t want to find myself as a combatant on a ship," "Well, you¡¯ve got a good enough head to be a captain, but you wouldn¡¯t be on the front lines, you''re more like a-" "Citizen contractor," Xant interrupted, unfurling from his meditative position, turning off the monitor before carefully unplugging himself. "as the Captain said, the Galactic Council would not put someone like yourself anywhere near actual combat, your cultural and genetic assets are invaluable." Jasmine did find some comfort in that. "Good to know I''m basically a VIP," "More than that, I dare say you and your friends joining the Galactic Council could bring about a new dynasty," Xant stated, Jasmine blinked, Rynard raised an eyebrow. "That''s a bold claim Doc." "But not inaccurate," Xant joined the group and reached out to pet Sieglinde with an ungloved hand. "Hello, Friend Sieglinde," "Hello¡­?" The golden retriever tilted her head at Jasmine, "Namegiver Jasmine? Is Xant Friend or Namegiver?" "Uhhh¡­" Jasmine looked to Xant confused. "I am Citizen Xant, not quite Namegiver, not quite Friend," he explained and then turned to Jasmine, "I have some experience with Dog lexicon, would you like to hear my observations?-" "Yes.¡± Jasmine answered loudly, immediately scooting up to give Xant her full attention. ¡°Like right now, teach me to speak Dog." Xant¡¯s ears wiggled pleasantly as he explained to them all how to navigate the canine dialect. Dreams Chapter 19: Iron Chef Nako sat back and watched as the citizen labourers set up the unique amphitheatre. Three tables were set to Miss Howe¡¯s specific requirements, while he recognised containers of raw nutrients, the tools and equipment were closer to that of medical scalpels. Nako¡¯s fingernail picked at the joint in his lower elbow. He still had not shaken the echo¡¯s of the great sadness, he was hoping that experiencing miss howe in her calling would finally shake off the lingering emotional scars that held him captive. He was not the only audience member, much of the Esaander crew who weren¡¯t opposed to jasmine or who were just curious in general had made their way down to the demonstration taking their seats behind him. Laandi wore a rather formal gown, flowing from the shoulders in the Esaander company colours, black and orange. The entire genetics teams were gossiping and exchanging stories of some new gene they had discovered in the dogs DNA. Dr Yusa had arrived and did an outstanding job of pretending they had not spoken in private, bowing her head with demure grace, before taking her seat. Dr jess having learned the hard way that Nako did not respond to traditional sycophancy, did her best to pretend that they had never met, in case she unwittingly incurred further wrath. They didn¡¯t have to wait long for the guest of honour to arrive, escorted by her strange collection of an entourage, Miss Jasmine Howe seemed to be in deep discussion with her Zenthi compatriot. It was up to the captain to announce their arrival and maintain some semblance of formality, much to his annoyance. Rynard stood at attention, hands behind his back the loud thump of his foot and tail against the floor snapped the pair out of their conversation. ¡°Her Grace, Miss Jasmine Howe!¡± he announced with a playful grin. Jasmine gave an awkward cough as she composed herself. ¡°Thankyou Rynard-¡± ¡°¡®Captain¡¯,¡± Xant corrected her, ¡°Titles are used in a formal setting,¡± ¡°Right, thank you Captain,¡± she said as she passed the behemoth and walked over to the table that had been so kindly set up for her. ¡°Uhh good morning! Or, good afternoon everyone, please, talk amongst yourselves while I familiarise myself with the new ingredients and equipment. I won¡¯t make you wait too long I promise!¡± she chuckled to hide her nerves. Jasmine¡¯s eyes studied the new tools laid before her, spatula tongs, varying sizes of spoons all made from durable silicone. Her pots and pans, however, were stolen from the medical wing, glass beakers, vials, and Petri-dishes configured with silicone handles. ¡°Is everything to your liking?¡± Xant asked, waiting for her opinion. ¡°You¡¯ve done really well considering you only had my sketches to work from, this is all really clever, although I¡¯m not used to cooking with glass,¡± she replied inspecting the frying pan, ¡°although I¡¯m sure ¡®chef¡¯ would forgive me for using what we had on hand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid the fabricators are not capable of moulding steel or copper to your requirements within the time allotted. Plastics and glassware however are always readily available.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine Xant,¡± jasmine assured him as she pulled out the Chef¡¯s knife Nako had gifted her ¡°I only wish I had more ingredients, I¡¯ll have my work cut out for me.¡± Xant looked over at the bowls confused. ¡°Is two hands and two of fingers worth of ingredients not enough?¡± Jasmine noted the strange idiom as she ran her fingers down the sharpened steel blade. ¡°In human cuisine we don¡¯t normally count 7 ingredients as a lot, especially if salt,water and oil are considered ¡®ingredients¡¯. They¡¯re usually standard.¡± at the end of the long table was a large plastic cooler, she tentatively opened the lid and was overjoyed. ¡°Whoa! You got two in here?!¡± she had to stop herself from squealing in delight at the sight of the luxurious fish. Tuna, the size of her forearm, sat prettily atop some dry ice. ¡°(Wait, wasn¡¯t there only one fish in the tank)-¡± she thought before her brain put two and two together. ¡°Xant? Are these fish clones?¡± ¡°Of the living specimen? Yes, grown in the genetics lab,¡± he smoothed over his ears, ¡°They were quite expensive to produce, since together they have almost the same muscle mass as one of the captain¡¯s biceps.¡± Rynard involuntarily flexed on mention. ¡°How expensive?¡± Jasmine asked genuinely curious. ¡°Almost [5 years] contribution credit,¡± Xant calculated. The human shook her head and stared at the fish, both the equivalent of a house down payment or a decent car. Tuna itself was known to be worth quite a bit at the higher grades, but she doubted she¡¯d ever be able to properly tell. Jasmine cracked her knuckles and took her knife in hand. ¡°Right, Xant, Rynard, take the dogs and have a seat,¡± she waved them off, ¡°Enjoy the show!¡± Xant shepherded the dogs back to the makeshift audience. As they took their seats Jasmine put on a show-stopping smile. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the presentation, today I will be demonstrating human cooking techniques and practices.¡± ¡°First thing I will be doing is putting our water on boil.¡± Since cooking was not a common activity outside of bulk waudess processing, the hotplate was a makeshift hot iron coil hooked up to what she assumed was an alien battery, large enough for the glass beakers to sit upon approved for the temperatures of course. ¡°We''ll add a pinch of salt and once we''ve got that going we can clean our fish,¡± Jasmine pulled out the tuna that was just about as long as her entire arm ¡°We need to remove scales innards and the head then we can cut the fillets off the skeleton,¡± Jasmine was too busy running her Japanese steel down the tuna¡¯s skin to notice the reaction from the crowd a mixture of disgust and fascination. The human used the back of the blade to forcibly rip the scales from the fish¡¯s head, tail and top fins, running her hands over the flesh to see if she had removed them all to her satisfaction. ¡°So, I''ve never cleaned a full tuna before, but I''ve done similar fish so I will start with the gutting,¡± Suddenly she lifted the gills and without hesitation slipped the knife between the muscles. A loud, disturbing crunch was heard as she severed the spine from the head. The controlled strength from her arm as the other hand tore the head from the body was brutal, reminding the staff that she was just as capable of the physical violence as other military models. ¡°The head has a decent amount of muscle and umami in it, but since humans don¡¯t normally find it too appetising to eat a fish''s head we will use it in our broth.¡± Jasmine casually explained as she cracked open the fish¡¯s skull with the knife before scooping out its eyes with her fingers, promptly plopping the broken heads into the salty boiling water. ¡°Now normally I would add fragrant herbs and vegetables but since I''m still figuring out how the few ingredients I have still work together, plain fish stock it is.¡± She swiftly moved onto the belly of the fish slicing along with almost surgical precision, careful not to puncture the stomach and other internal organs, explaining to the aliens as such before pushing apart the flesh and pulling the innards from the body wall. ¡°You can use the organs for some things but nothing edible really, we use them for bait for larger predatory fish but for now we''ll just put them aside.¡± She filled an unused beaker with the organs and Xant could only grimace at the expensive waste material, if he knew Jasmine was just going to discard them he would have simply grown in the muscles of the fish instead of the whole thing. ¡°Next we have the collar bones,¡± She began cutting along the bones of the fish, talking as she did so, ¡°Since I don''t have too many vegetables to accompany this dish, I''ll be making sashimi cuts, pan-fried fillet and seared steaks,¡± She pulled out the fillet and laid down expertly the sharpened steel gliding through the flesh with ease, making extremely thin cuts before placing them on a ceramic tile in a wing arrangement. Xant gulped, the contrast was striking, a the delicate, artful display with gruesome subject matter. He noticed that the Lieutenant was wiggling his antennae enthralled. ¡°Next I''ll be seasoning them with a pinch of salt and the skin of-¡± Jasmine plucked out a small round green fruit, bringing it under her nose for a sniff before asking the crowd. ¡°Uh, what''s this fruits name?¡± ¡°It''s called a Kykaki!¡± Arc called out excited to answer the question. ¡°Thanks!¡± Jasmine said as she washed the knife before cutting into the fruit on a different surface, ¡°I¡¯ll use the acidic, citrus style juice of the Kykaki with salt on the sashimi to flavour it and ensure bacteria doesn¡¯t spoil the meat. It''s actually very close to a fruit back home, a cross between a lime and grapefruit with a hint of mint.¡± She squeezed the juice over the slices before sprinkling with a pinch of salt, then she pushed the plate forward and started cutting the skin off the Kykaki. ¡°Humans call this part of the fruit rind the ¡®zest¡¯ and I''ll be using the minced zest as a flavouring for the coating on my tuna fillet,¡± demonstrating another knife technique, Jasmine began chopping the green rind in quick succession, from different angles and scraping it back into place until the once thick fruit skin was little more than a crumbly pile. ¡°Normally I would have wheat flour but substituting starch and baking soda should recreate the same effect,¡± Much to the aliens marvel she was applying a unique form of chemistry to a consumable product, ¡°The bicarb soda helps dry out the meat and fats to make it crispy, the starch is a thickener and the bulk of the ¡®breading¡¯.¡± Salt, starch, bicarb and zest went into the bowl she turned on the second hot plate and chuckled when she picked up the ¡®pan¡¯. Xant was kind enough to make her a glass-bottom skillet, complete with silicone handle as he was worried about heat transfer, never mind her hands were heat treated via kitchen exposure. She set the pan heat on low before getting a small block of vegetable fat to melt in the bottom. Although from the smell of it it seemed more like Tallow or ghee, with the amount of protein in the waudess fruit, she wasn''t surprised. ¡°We wait until the fat is foaming hot then coat our fillet pieces and place it in the pan, this method is called ¡®frying¡¯.¡± Jess began to mutter into her data slate, the human was juggling three tasks simultaneously, the internal planning and timing were truly impressive all the while explaining what she was doing step by step. Prehaps this was the advantage of having an industrial brain linked to a personal core-processor? ¡°Any questions from the audience?¡± The human asked while watching her fillets cook. Of course it was Jess who raised the question first. ¡°What is the point of ¡®breading¡¯? Can you not just ¡®fry¡¯ the meat? Why take the extra step?¡± Jasmine began coating more pieces and gently placing them into the hot pan so as not to splash hot oil on herself. ¡°There are many reasons humans do this, for one, the outer layer adds a nice crunch of texture and additional flavour, secondly, the coating also keeps the juices of the meat from overflowing into the oil so the fish stays succulent.¡± As she laid the third piece of fish into the pan her clean hand reached for the bottle of water and disinfectant to wash the other before picking up a spoon and returning to the boiling pot. ¡°Do you see the grey bubbles forming on the sides?¡± Jasmine asked the audience, ¡°That''s what we call ¡®scum¡¯, it''s the impurities found in the bones and marrow. If we want a nice clear broth we scoop it off the surface,¡± Jasmine expertly dip the spoon into the water and collected the grey foam from the soup disposing of it alongside the entrails. ¡°I can also run the liquid through a cheesecloth a few times, but we don¡¯t have the time or the credits to afford some cotton cloth.¡± Laandi gasped and instinctively grasped at her dress, the fact that humans would use natural fibres for food processing was something, ironically, truly alien to the Director. ¡°Is the preparation of all food so laborious for humans?¡± Jess asked aloud. ¡°Oh, this is nothing!¡± Jasmine exclaimed, all too happy to explain, ¡°There are some dishes that need days worth of preparation, months if you¡¯re waiting for fermentation to happen. We have dishes with more than 50 different components and need several chefs to complete! There are pastries that require the amount of precision expected of surgeons and chemists. You can be off by a single degree and it will fail, a loud noise will flatten it, the wrong amount of sugar will grain it, the wrong amount of butter will burn it and that is just one dish in one culinary art!¡± Jasmine took on a different light when she spoke of her home world''s food, the passion was infectious but Xant and Nako were sensing the more subtle tones to her mood. Creation, nurturing, generosity, a deep love of the action and craft, true embodiment of her calling. ¡°I really wish I could show you the true variety of Earth food, you could eat 3 different meals every day for the rest of your life and never eat the same thing twice!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± came the cry from the audience to which Jasmine laughed. ¡°Impossible? Hardly! As the old saying goes-¡± she swapped out the spoon for the spatula without even looking, flipping over the frying fish with a single motion as it hissed with a satisfying sizzle, ¡°Variety is the spice of life!¡± The aliens watched as Jasmine began to work more wonders, cutting the stems and leaves of the waudess to steam, mixing something called a ¡®vinaigrette¡¯, before arranging the cooked dishes on provided ¡®platters¡¯ in very appealing displays. ¡°Ladies, gentlemen and others, for today''s menu we have an entree of (maguro) Bluefin sashimi, accompanied with a delicate and comforting fish broth, our main is fried tuna tenders on a bed of steamed waudess greens, lightly coated in a citrus vinaigrette, followed by freshly seared tuna steaks with a salt crust, medium rare.¡± She took the sashimi plate from the table and offered Nako a slice. ¡°Bon appetit! ( Eat well!)¡± Everyone watched and waited for the Lieutenant to take the first piece. Nako certainly hesitated before opening his beak and mandibles to take a rather conservative bite, embarrassed to be eating in front of others. As his inner teeth chewed, the fish simply melted in his mouth, soon he took another slice then another and another, forgetting the audience around him. Jasmine was handing out the entrees for everyone to try and while the sashimi was delicious in its simplicity, the broth was something truly special. It was Jasmine''s welcoming glow distilled into a consumable item, warm and soothing yet delicate with just the right amount of salty sweetness. ¡°It seems human food has some merit, you have proven your skills match your assets.¡± Nako complemented. ¡°Uh, thank you...¡± she accepted the strange compliment, knowing it was of high praise from the alien but the unintended euphemisms left her feeling awkward. ¡°So what does everyone think?¡± She asked the hungry crowd, but it was a mixed bag of responses. Nako, Pa, Nu, Arc and Suk, we''re really enjoying themselves, while Xant and Laandi weren''t as blown away by the experience as Jasmine had hoped. Jess and her cohorts were frantically studying the cutlets and practically losing their damn minds. Rynard looked downright disappointed. ¡°Is everything okay big guy?¡± she asked concerned. ¡°Say Jasi¡­ This stuff is fancy but I''m used to something more, well more,¡± The captain replied, gesturing with large handfuls of air. Jasmine blinked ¡°Oh! quantity over quality right?¡± She realised from his size alone he probably needed to eat about 4 cows worth of protein a day. ¡°I would be able to do a ¡®captain size¡¯ portion, but it might be out of our price range¡­¡± She looked to Xant for confirmation but it was Laandi who answered. ¡°it most certainly will be, at least until you are given a contribution credit score,¡± The graceful alien bowed her head. ¡°My compliments Jasmine, a truly informative presentation.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°Thank you Laandi!¡± the human replied, ¡°So what did you think of the food?¡± ¡°Well, I thought that our tastes might not coincide, I brought a favourite drink of mine to see how it compared to human tastes,¡± She offered Jasmine small, sauce dish worth of thin liquid, the human inspected the dark coloured drink but couldn''t smell anything offensive. ¡°Well bottoms up!¡± Jasmine took a short swig and immediately regretted the decision, the overpowering burn of salt and orange blocked out any of the previous flavours her tongue was capable of tasting, she tried to hide her gag but Laandi was already chuckling a polite laugh. ¡°Alas, it seems our pallets are incompatible!¡± As Jasmine forcibly swallowed the drink another unpleasant surprise awaited her taste buds, chalky menthol lingered in the back of her throat. ¡°Please don''t take this the wrong way Laandi, but this tastes like salty, orange toothpaste¡­ Our tastes are indeed incompatible.¡± Jasmine covered her mouth and tried to stop retching, ¡°I''m sorry but you have to excuse me I need a glass of water,¡± ¡°By all means,¡± Laandi bowed her head and Jasmine all but ran to wash her mouth out. as she was getting through her second gargle, Jasmine felt a small tap on her elbow. As she turned she met with Jess ¡®s face, who was entirely too close and overstimulated. Behind her were two almost exact clones and Jasmine finally saw the little genetic difference between models of scientists. ¡°Miss Howe, that was a magnificent display!¡± Jess exclaimed almost shaking with excitement. ¡°Arrr oooh alwite?¡± Jasmine garbled between bites. ¡°I just have so many questions!¡± The small purple skin dinosaur had forgotten her animosity in favour of obsessive fascination and unleashed a flood of questions. ¡°You said that food preparation was your designation? Are all human foods prepared with so many ingredients? How are they distributed? How do they keep from spoiling with so little salt? Do you combine amphitheatre with instruction often? What are the kinds of food are there? Are all nutrient preparer¡¯s experience with a presentation and instructing? What is your training structure like? How many humans can one meal feed? What is the production cost per meal? What are the [kilojoules] per meal?!-¡± ¡°Whoa whoa whoa! slow down that''s a lot of questions, if you record them all I¡¯d be more than happy to answer them within reason-¡± That seemed to be good enough for Jess and her crew as they almost ran from Jasmine to start making their notes. After seeing everyone else had had a bite of one thing or another, Jasmine decided to whip up her own meal. Alongside the many pots pans and tools Xant had taken the time to craft Jasmine some human-style cutlery for her. Knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks and a single set of plates and bowls. Her own personal set of modern cutlery, she went about cooking her self a bowl and plate of every menu item. She set the three-course meal out on the table in front of her and pulled up a stool, for the first time in weeks she could eat a meal like she would have done on Earth. Spoon for the broth, chopsticks for sashimi and greens, knife and fork for the steaks and fillets, alternating between everything in order to taste all combinations. She ignored the stares from the surrounding aliens, etiquette be damned, eating like she was starving. Her stomach had always been full while in the company of aliens, but the taste of something recognisable was a revelation. A small part of the distance between her and Earth closed with every bite. After she was allowed to breathe and her stomach filled, Jasmine put on a brave face walking up to Lieutenant Nako. ¡°Sir, Nako?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Howe?¡± ¡°I request a formal audience with you, there are some things about my future I would like to discuss with you as a matter of official record.¡± the Lieutenant was surprised at the sudden seriousness of her request but since her demonstration, he was feeling more like himself. ¡°But of course, did you have a location in mind?¡± ¡°Laandi has an office put aside for us,¡± She bowed her head politely, ¡°Thank you for your cooperation.¡± She was beginning to get a hang of etiquette, Nako noted, watching as the alien maiden collected her menagerie of an entourage. -*- [The following has been transcribed for Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako (01198703) and Miss Jasmine Howe, on behalf of the Esaander corporation. All copies authorised by Esaander Corp under the Corporate licences and contracts act.] Miss Howe: [Calm/Focused] I know I may not exactly know how your legal system works, but if it is half as complicated as our(Human) own, I figured the best thing for my own peace of mind is to have evidence of our agreements and where I stand when it comes to my rights within the Galactic Council? LC Nako: [] But of course Miss Howe, the Executive Director and I would only be too happy to facilitate, please, announce your proposals. Miss Howe: [] Right, for official records: I, Jasmine Anne Howe conduct these discussions on behalf of myself. In no way, am I authorized to conduct any negotiations on behalf of Earth and her Governments. I am not authorized to approve any legislation regarding Trade, Tax, Immigration, Military spending, Technological Exchange, Political agendas or any other such Government matters. I will act as a liaison to the Galactic Council and its organizations until such a time an elected representative is able to take my place. LC Nako: [] Very well, I understand and accept. You are a maiden of many talents Miss Howe, are oratory lessons apart of a nutritionists training? Miss Howe: []They are if they¡¯re picked up for a tv series. LC Nako: [] ah, interesting¡­ Miss Howe: [] I authorise the use of my genetic makeup and the dogs to help the genetic degradation of the quitellian- ED Laandi: Qzetillian. Miss Howe: [] Sorry, to help the genetic degradation of the Qzetillian people.[] I do NOT give the authorisation to create genetic clones of myself or the dogs. I also do not give the authorisation to crossbreed human and canine(dog) DNA of any kind. ED Laandi: ... LC Nako: [] ¡­ [ ] I accept the terms. Miss Howe: [] Also, I want half all profits derived from my genetic contributions to the GC, not being used for my personal upkeep and personal investment, will be put into a Trust for the development of human and canine kind and to ensure future generations well being. LC Nako: [] A Trust? Miss Howe: [] We call it a ¡®Trust fund¡¯ an account that cannot be accessed unless certain criteria are met, whether it is the age of the benefactor or only allowing a certain amount to be withdrawn so as not to deplete the fund or loose too much interest. LC Nako: [Amused] *Chuckles* ED Laandi: *Chuckles* LC Nako: [Amused] I''m afraid our economy doesn''t work that way, Executive Director, explain it to Miss Howe. ED Laandi: We don''t count wealth as static units, rather as a reward for input provided. The impact you imprint on the economy is calculated and that is your ''contribution''. You are ''credited'' with that value and may exchange it for goods and assets of the same value. When you expire the credit expires with you, as you no longer have an impact on the economy. LC Nako: [] Services are taken care of by the Council greater government, food and lodgings are awarded according to credit score. Miss Howe: []What if you have no credit score? Or can''t make an impact? ED Laandi: Citizens can acquire credit through more than just physical work. Providing conversation on the Civnet, opinions on council investments, driving consumer fashions, all are assigned a credit score. Investing in other citizens or military units is also an option, instead of upgrading living conditions a citizen can choose to live at a lower grade, freeing up the necessary resources to create a Council Ranger or purchase Arvas units such as the Lieutenant Commander from the Arvas Imperium. LC Nako:[] But you can rest assured that your contribution credit will be almost infinite, I dare say you might even be able to purchase planets after it''s calculated. Miss Howe:[] Wait, planets? Plural?! That''s a possibility?? ED Laandi: It is a possibility, however, I would advise against it unless you were interested in running an entire planets infrastructure and economy. Until you are accredited, The lieutenant commander will be looking after all your expenses. Miss Howe: [] Damn, I must have cost you a fortune¡­ LC Nako: [] Do not worry yourself Miss Howe, I consider this a very worthwhile venture indeed, I believe a long and fruitful relationship with the future humanity is a benefit to everyone. Miss Howe:[] Right, which brings me to my other concern, within my own society, I am an adult with free agency over my own¡­ (What¡¯s the term they use?) Calling. I want to know if such freedoms will still be available to me once I leave this station and join you at the military base. ED Laandi: ¡­. LC Nako: []¡­ That is¡­ difficult to answer Miss Howe. [] It is neither I nor Laandi¡¯s decision as to your final designation, I am but a humble soldier and she is but a loyal savant of the Esaander corporation. Ultimately, it will be left to the inner council to decide what category your calling is defined. ED Laandi: Xant suggested that ¡®sub-contractor¡¯ might fall under the desire position, advising the Council on the finer points of humanity¡¯s lost culture. A task I¡¯m sure would be a fulfilling and worthwhile pursuit. Contributing to the overall prosperity of the Galactic Council and beyond. Jasmine: [] But I would be ¡®free¡¯ to do this? I won¡¯t be forced or threatened should I chose not to? LC Nako:[] If you wish to live out your life as a placated citizen I¡¯m sure the council would be amicable to that as well. Jasmine: []So, My fate is bound to the whims of the council? LC Nako: [] That is a blunt way of putting it. The Council is benevolent but must make harsh decisions when forced. From what you have shown me in your own understanding Miss Howe, the governing of several billions of sentience requires a certain level of bureaucracy and nuance. Not something that can be summarised in a single sentence. Jasmine: [] I see¡­ Thank you, Lieutenant, I just needed your statement for my own records. LC Nako:[] It is my pleasure Miss Howe, anything to bring you comfort. ED Laandi: If that is everything then I shall conclude liaisons and have copies presented to both parties post-haste. Link terminated -*- Dr Yusa prepared herself for surgery, sterilising everything twice to be sure and checking the vitals of the translator accordingly. While there was technically plenty of time scheduled for the operation, there was also the distinct pressure to have it installed as quickly as possible. Just as she had everything set up to her liking, her solitude was interrupted. ¡°DH Dr Xant Authorised Entry¡± The computer bleated as the doors to the operation room opened. The strange Zenthi and the unorthodox alien maiden entered walking side by side. ¡°Salutations Dr Yusa,¡± Xant greeted with bowed head, the human copied his actions, her eyes closing and her presence ebbing respect and politeness. ¡°Salutations Dr Xant,¡± Yusa returned the greeting, ¡°Are you early for the scheduled operation, or am I behind schedule?¡± ¡°No no, we are indeed early, Jasmine wished to meet you before we began, is your time flexible?¡± Yusa¡¯s ears flattened at the request but she stoically nodded. ¡°My time is my own for now,¡± she turned to the human ¡°salutations Miss howe, thank you for this morning¡¯s presentation.¡± Jasmine bowed her head again with a comforting smile. ¡°Oh it was my pleasure really, thank you for being a captive audience!¡± Yusa wrinkled her nose at the expression, as though she had the resistance to be anything but captivated under her Freq influence. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask some questions before the procedure if that''s alright?¡± Jasmine continued, walking over to look at the tools and chemicals laid out on the operation tables. ¡°If you must, is your species not accustomed to surgery?¡± Yusa asked. ¡°Oh, quite the opposite actually, but organ surgery is the most dangerous and¡­ We¡¯re not accustomed to placing genetically engineered alien organs anywhere near our brains.¡± She joked looking to Xant, his ears wiggled pleasantly, having found the joke amusing enough, Yusa did not see it that way. "She is aware the surgery is necessary? Why is she questioning my authority on the matter?" she pointed her questioning to Xant, while Jasmine gave her a disapproving look. "[]and you''re aware I''m still in the room correct?" Jasmine huffed. Xant stepped between the two to smooth over the conversation. "Jasmine is very aware of how necessary the surgery is Dr Yusa, but this technology and technique is not known to them. And for future reference, humans prefer to be the authority on their decisions, speaking past her is considered rude." Yusa''s ears twitched back and forth, confused. ¡°But she is not an authority in the field, how can she make the best decision if she doesn¡¯t have the relevant knowledge?¡± Jasmine suddenly laughed, very loudly, startling both Zenthi in the process. ¡°Jasmine? Did Dr Yusa say something funny?¡± ¡°More that I finally figured out why most of your co-workers are so damn arrogant and rude,¡± she shook her head, a bitter taste in her mouth, ¡°I prefer to exercise my own bodily autonomy thank you very much Dr Yusa. If I am not an authority on a subject then I shall listen and learn until I become and authority. How else am I going to learn about the Galactic Council if everyone keeps making my decisions for me?¡± Jasmine proclaimed. The statement voicing a perspective Yusa had never considered, yet it confirmed many of the fears the lieutenant had highlighted to her only [hours] ago. She forced those objections deep down, she was not one to argue with an alien maiden. ¡°That method seems a little inefficient but very well, what questions do you have about the translator procedure?" "I suppose it''s more about the translator itself¡­ I mean, how does it work and why can''t you guys just fix the one I''ve already got installed?" "because it isn''t made for you? ¡­" Yusa replied already confused "what is your understanding of basic organic-dynamics?" "I think it''s safe to say none, outside of my own basic functions." Yusa gave an exasperated sigh and looked to Xant, who was beginning to feel more and more like an external translator himself. "She understands at a creator level but use Modifier terminology, since a lot of our own scientific terms don''t translate as smoothly," "I will try," Yusa replied and brought up her dataslate for clarification on Modifier terms "what is your question specifically, that will help me to answer." Jasmine lifted her leg and slid to sit on the edge of the surgical table, close enough to the translator organs she could touch the glass. "Why doesn''t my current translator give me the physical freq feeling?" "There are two reasons, the first is from the data I''ve been given your species is technically freq resistant. The receptors and broadcaster organs present in every other species, are not separate entities but specialised nerve cells in your brain cross-woven without a central point. In fact, your brain is the most confusing cluster-mess of nerves I''ve ever seen in my life, it¡¯s a wonder you don''t have permanent jitter-jacker from crossed connections. Secondly, the translator we installed is Zenthi-grade, since Zenthi already have very strong receptor organs there is no need to install them in the translator. We only need to have our Zenthi-frequency or ¡®thoughts¡¯ broadcast out into sound since our vocal cords are not capable of complex sounds. It probably would have been better to have an Arvas translator put in place but that would have been more complicated due to biological type compatibility and the price of licencing of the translator." "That''s right, your whole species is psychic right? You speak through thought,(like this?)¡± Jasmine demonstrated her ¡®doublespeak¡¯ ability, putting Yusa even more on edge, ¡°(and the translator is built from your organs?)" "We speak entirely through ''thought'' yes, but unlike your strange brain we only have one thought present.¡± Yusa clarified, ¡°Having two voices and all the emotional and industrial parts of your brain tangled together is what is giving the translator so much trouble." "And having these, broadcaster and receiver parts in my head is going to fix all that?" Jasmine asked, staring at the soon to be implanted organs in their glass chambers. "If I have calculated everything correctly, then yes." Jasmine sighed, her inner voice mulling over the consequences in silence. "Alright then, my next question is; how does it work?" "The translator?" Yusa blinked surprised. "Yes, where I am from, our translators are text based, but they fail to get context or nuance most of the time. How does an organ work that out?" The human folded her arms and waited for Dr Yusa to reply. Yusa scratched her ear as she deliberated how to explain her work to a non-student of the field, flicking through her dataslate for comparisons, slightly annoyed she had to improves an instructors role. "Because the translator doesn''t translate ''words''. Thought, or zenthi freq, is simply bio-electronic input, the same electricity that makes muscles move and spasm. Bio-electronic patterns that observe the world around it, you call it an organ, I call it a translator but we both understand that we mean the object in the tank. The higher the level of intelligence the more complicated the organic-electricity patterns." She explained the best she could, wondering if the alien could even follow such a concept without any basis in organic-dynamics. "And the translator sends the signal to my brain and my brain interprets it in the ''words'' I have for the pattern?" Jasmine proposed, ¡°So its more translating ideas and abstractions rather than words and language?¡± "... Yes, that is correct." Yusa replied actually impressed. Xant chuckled and stood beside Yusa. "Jasmine has told me that humans like to learn as much as they can and not to be lead down just one master of study," he denoted to the other doctor, Jasmine nodded her head in agreement. "It certainly helps grasping the out there concepts you keep throwing at me¡­" "However,¡± Yusa put forward, still having more to say on the matter, ¡°There are some problems with your translator I cannot fix." She sighed, "The industrial frequency is too entwined with the rest of your functions to isolate and contain. Unless I physically cut them from the rest, which while not entirely impossible, it isn¡¯t something I would not recommend from the sheer amount we would need to do, you cannot travel through gates without the industrial freq taking precedence like with your recent test." "So I can''t space travel conscious? bugger." Jasmine pouted. "I would not worry too much Jasmine, travelling between stations and planets isn''t a recreational activity. The stress alone is too much for many citizens, there isn''t much to see to begin with," Xant shrugged. "But, I want to see space¡­" The human whined. "Travelling at the speeds needed for interstellar travel means you would not ''see'' anything anyway¡­ Most ships do not have viewing windows as in Laandi office." Xant rationalised. "You just don''t get it Xant.¡± Jasmine sulked ¡°Sigh, Dr Yusa, what''s the recovery regime like? Will I need to take any drugs to keep the organ working?" "No, I have designed it specifically to work with your bodies cell structure. It would be as if you always had them¡­ Do human organs routinely ''stop working''?" She asked even more concerned. "Donor organs, actually, most organs can do, if they¡¯re overworked, poisoned or in the case of a transplant even if they''re a match. We¡¯ve got drugs to stop them from failing, but they can still fail on their own without reason in some cases. If it can¡¯t be replaced with a machine and a donor organ is rejected¡­Then people die..." Jasmine''s voice trailed off. ¡°That sounds horrendous¡­¡± Yusa bawked, "Well you have nothing to worry about with us. No chance of ¡®organ failure¡¯ or ¡®rejection¡¯, I can¡¯t imagine anyone accepting to walk around with such faulty internals and you won¡¯t have any ¡®recovery time¡¯ either, you will be as healthy when you wake up as you are now. " Jasmine gulped, taking one last look at the ''translator'', a root system make of veins and flesh, she wasn¡¯t sure how they were going to fit it in her skull. She almost didn¡¯t want to know. "One last thing Dr Yusa¡­" "Yes?" "Can you make sure you use the strongest anesthesia you have? I really don''t want to be waking up halfway through surgery¡­" The human''s voice grew soft. "But it would be much quicker and easier to do the procedure while conscious-" "Out of the question," Xant interrupted, stepping in to enforce Jasmine''s unorthodox request, "It would be best for all parties involved for Jasmine to be unconscious." "As you suggest doctor, is that everything Miss Howe?" Jasmine closed her eyes, swinging her body back to lie down on the table and stared up at the white sterile walls. "Better knock me out before I start second-guessing this." She stated doing her best to not think about the ¡®worst-case scenario¡¯. Xant went over to Jasmine''s side and held the human''s hand. "Don''t worry, I''ll be here for the whole thing," he comforted. Jasmine smiled weakly and squeezed his hand. "Thank you," Xant turned to Dr Yusa, still holding the human''s hand. ¡°I am trained in Chems if it is not too much trouble I would like to administer the anesthesia. Yusa shrugged and offered him the pale blue liquid and syringe. Xant measured out enough to knock out a human, as per his best estimate and readied it to Jasmine''s vein. She winced and hissed as the fine needle entered her skin, before talking to the ceiling to calm herself. "You know, back on Earth, they get you to count back from ten-" Jasmines eyes rolled into the back of her head, her jaw slacked open and her body went limp. "Well that was rather effective," Yusa commented as the rest of the surgical team walked in. "For now, but it filters through her system very quickly, we will need to keep administering anesthesia into her system until the translator is installed," Xant commented, letting go of jasmines hand to take his place for observation, out of the way of the surgical team. "The procedure shouldn''t take more than an hour or two, with your surgeon¡¯s help, he did a perfect installation of the first translator." Yusa mentioned. ¡°Despite his temperament, Dr Krydons is a very experienced surgeon,¡± Xant concurred, as he stood back and watched them work, keeping an eye on Jasmine''s status for the whole procedure. Dreams Chapter 20: All in the Name Waking up from surgery is never a pleasant thing. Drugs tend to stay in your system making you want to sleep longer, painkillers adding drowsiness, impaired judgment and the anxiety of unknown limit of their effectiveness. Jasmine was surprised to not feel any of these things when she woke up, she didn¡¯t even remember falling unconscious, but what she could feel was the cool trickling water of a stream. Did someone leave a tap on? ¡°Xant?¡± Jasmine whispered. ¡°I am here, Jasmine¡± Xant was sitting right beside her, has he had promised. With his words a coolness wafted over her skin, goosebumps chilled her. She sat up slowly to get her bearings and to figure out how much of her perception had changed with the new translator. ¡°How do you feel Jasmine?¡± When he spoke, the invisible water splashed against her arm. She flinched, running her fingers over her dry skin. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± She answered honestly, she was no longer numb to those around her. The ebbs and flows of another living being were now a part of her consciousness. Her own glow now reverberated from her chest to the tips of her fingers, toes and nose. ¡°So, am I still hazardous?¡± she asked. ¡°You are still intence, but now you will be able to judge your own freq aggression and adjust accordingly,¡± Xant wiggled his ears, ¡°With my guidance of course.¡± Jasmine giggled in reply. ¡°Your smile ¡®tickles¡¯ Xant, and my laugh is ¡®bright¡¯... This is so weird,¡± ¡°It will become normal with time,¡± he encouraged. ¡°As does everything,¡± She answered, sliding off the bed. She wondered what the other aliens onboard the station felt like, the dogs and Xant were very distinct, her own aura was almost blaring. Was there any subtlety or nuance she would be able to detect? She rolled her shoulders and neck feeling a cold breeze coming closer¡­ She paused, looking at the wall where the ¡®air¡¯ was coming from. ¡°I think someone¡¯s coming,¡± She muttered as the cold breeze moved along the wall. Xant turned to the door, ears flattening. ¡°I suspect the Lieutenant might be wanting an audience, I¡¯ll do my best to stall for time,¡± he said, slipping on a new pair of gloves and a fresh lab coat. ¡°You will need time to adjust before attempting negotiations, hopefully, he will listen to reason.¡± Jasmine nodded and watched her friend leave the room. The walls were thick enough that the welcoming water stream became barely noticeable as he left. If she could clearly feel Nako through several walls, she wondered how intense the military commander was in person. Jasmine gulped. Freq aggression, blasts, bombs, were all very tangible to her now. She closed her eyes, just to feel the new world around her. The cold air blew over her shoulder and through her bones, as she turned Nako stood there, looking down at her. His presence was somehow more intimidating and regal than before. He seemed taller, stronger like he could crush her with a single swat of his hand. It was a lot easier to avert her gaze now. ¡°Sir Nako, it is good to see you,¡± she greeted before he could. ¡°Ah, Miss Howe, good to see you in healthy form,¡± he greeted. ¡°(He was rather insistent)¡± Xant¡¯s snippy thoughts escaped the translator, the Lieutenant¡¯s aura fluctuated but his body didn¡¯t move. Jasmine felt it all, there was no pretending to ignore or misunderstand anymore. The subtlety and clear communication were as fascinating as it was scary. She wondered how she would navigate it all? ¡°I have a delivery of sorts Miss Howe,¡± Nako chuckled pulling out a dataslate from beneath his blue cloak. ¡°Reminds me of my training days, running errands for warship princes.¡± Jasmine accepted the slate. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I am told it is your application for citizenship, but it needs some details for it to be completed, namely your title,¡± His third hand reached over and tapped a few buttons, ¡°Whenever you are ready.¡± Jasmine started at the dataslate, she could feel Xants silent protest and Nako¡¯s willful ignorance. ¡°No,¡± She finally answered. ¡°No?¡± Nako blinked ¡°No?!¡± Xant rushed to Jasmine¡¯s side for answers, radiating concern. Jasmine switched the dataslate off and handed it back to Nako. ¡°Miss, Mrs, Ms, ¡®Miss Howe¡¯ is a title that doesn¡¯t have any meaning or weight anymore, if I¡¯m going to announce myself to the galaxy at large, then I need my own title,¡± Nako was taken back, obviously surprised by the easily rebuffed request. ¡°Your attendant has suggested some appropriate titles, perhaps he can help you choose-¡± ¡°I need more time to deliberate. Please Sir Nako, just a few more hours and then we can leave the station.¡± Jasmine took a deep bow, the xeno rules of etiquette coming to her a little more instinctually. ¡°Very well,¡± Nako swept up his cape, ¡°Take your time then, your Grace, but I will be most interested in hearing your new ¡®human¡¯ title. May your calling be clear.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lieutenant, safe travels.¡± As Nako excused himself, Jasmine felt a tiny pulse of aggression ping from Xant towards the door. ¡°He may be a Lieutenant Commander and a prince, but that¡¯s no excuse to strong-will anyone,¡± Xant sighed. ¡°(He must be getting anxious aboard the station.) He will be wanting to leave soon.¡± ¡°Well, he can wait until I¡¯ve said my goodbyes, I owe everyone on this station. Some more than others,¡± she smiled at Xant, ¡°but there is someone I need to apologise to, face to face.¡± -*- I understand completely Tap... Specimens are living, feeling beings You¡¯re a doctor Tap... Admit your own incompetence Tap... It''s more convenient to take what you need Tap... You get off on having complete control Tap... You abuse them Tap... You¡¯re fucked up Tap... Tap¡­ Duuarn slowly moved his jitter-jacked hand across the data slate¡¯s screen, linking protein strings and deleting unnecessary genes from the sample he was restructuring. He had made progress with his movements, beginning to anticipate the shakes enough to compensate and was up almost 20% to his original speed. ¡°Dr Duuarn, you have a visitor,¡± Dr Xant¡¯s voice broke his concentration. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for visitors, I need to continue my therapy,¡± ¡°Please?¡± The human¡¯s voice asked softly. Duuarn stopped, his hands fumbled from surprise and dropped the dataslate, he stared at the device as it fell off the pod and onto the floor. While he had gained 20% in his hands, Duuarn had not had time to work on his mobility. ¡°Here let me,¡± Duuarn watched as the human lifted up the Dataslate to hand it back to him, her presence didn¡¯t burn any more¡­ He snatched the device back and returned to the program, his hand shaking more than ever. Xant pulled Jasmine back gently acting as a buffer between the two. ¡°Dr Duuarn, I see you¡¯re condition has improved,¡± Xant stated gently. ¡°...¡± ¡°Jasmine came to apologise to you,¡± The Zenthi prompted, the bedbound Qzetillian looked up from his work, solid black eyes stared straight through Jasmine. The human stared back, Duuarn felt like a plate of glass, empty, heavy and fragile. ¡°What for?¡± he asked dully returning to his slate. ¡°I would have thought that was obvious?¡± Jasmine interjected, it hurt to see the doctor in this condition and do nothing. ¡°You have redefined my entire perspective towards the consideration of User specimens. My treatment of the Users and my method of study, it was all meaningless and worthless. You have shown me this truth. To degrade yourself as to apologise to me undoes the correction you preformed, I am wrong to treat others as I have done. There is no need for an apology.¡± Xant stared at Duuarn, where Jasmine¡¯s presence had opened him up to wondrous possibilities, she had absolutely destroyed Duuarns abrasive determination. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Jasmine replied softly approaching Duuarns beside, ¡°but you won¡¯t always be wrong, you didn¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t know. People make mistakes and learning from those mistakes is how we grow.¡± She bowed her head, ¡°I am sorry Duuarn, I had no idea of the power I had. I was angry, I was scared and now I know how much that can hurt you. I know it probably means little, but I am truly sorry you had to suffer, I just didn¡¯t want you to hurt the dogs¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it is better our goal be crushed now than for us to continue the lie,¡± Duuarn replied unmoved by her words ¡°What?¡± Jasmine gasped confused. ¡°Duuarn,¡± Xant¡¯s ears flopped down in despair for his coworker. ¡°We were never going to see Clentessia, we weren¡¯t the right builds, our personalities and skills would have never been enough. I had angered too many connections in the government sector and Dr Jess for all her wonderful plans doesn¡¯t have time to master both her skillsets in time. Subject Jasmine, you merely tempered our expectations.¡± Duuarn lamented, not for the opportunities crushed, but for the fact it didn¡¯t happen sooner. ¡°Wait, you and Dr Jess were a thing?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed, embarrassed she never assumed the aliens had such unions.¡°Well, that certainly explains... a lot.¡± ¡°We were intimate companions yes,¡± Duuarn confirmed. ¡°You¡¯ve done her a favour really, now she won¡¯t be held back by my inefficient self,¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t talk about yourself like that,¡± Jasmine countered, ¡°You haven¡¯t lost your value just because you¡¯re sick, You can¡¯t just give up on everything, not after one mistake! You can still do good in this world.¡± ¡°But, I¡¯ve made so many mistakes-¡± The human took ahold of Duuarns shaking hand, imparting as much encouragement as she could. ¡°If you only think of the negative it becomes harder to move forward. Trust me on that one, If you¡¯ve pissed off people, you can make amends and if they turn you down don¡¯t waste any more time of them. Your work isn¡¯t viable? Start new work! There is so much in this galaxy that needs to be studied, it¡¯s not too late to find your passion in life! You can use your failures and help others learn from their mistakes! If you give up now you will never get the chance to be right!¡± Duuarn sat there in a daze, it couldn¡¯t be so simple, could it? To radically change his career path? To find something he was not just good at but, interested in? Was there a role for him in this world still? ¡°You make a convincing argument,¡± he admitted, ¡°but few would be as convince of my abilities with my injury,¡± ¡°Then use it your advantage and have them underestimate you,¡± Jasmine released his hand, ¡°if you keep trying maybe, in the future, I might even be able to help you out?¡± ¡°That is a very generous offer, I will consider it,¡± Duuarn stated, nervously returning to his dataslate. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Then we will leave you to your work,¡± Xant nodded ushering Jasmine away from Duuarn. ¡°But we¡¯ve only just started-¡± Jasmine protested but Xant insisted. ¡°Duuarn still needs a lot of rest, little by little Jasmine,¡± Jasmine looked back at Duuarn, his head buried in the glowing dataslate, still uneasy ¡°See ya around, and good luck with everything,¡± she waved, but Duuarn did not look up from his device, he was focused on. The human was strange. She didn¡¯t say anything wrong, but, to do what she proposed would take an enormous amount of effort. His projected recovery would knock his contribution credit down considerably. Did he have any data from his research he could recover to combat that? Genetic engineering was all he was trained in, but he needed to be able to manipulate the tools to do his work, perhaps there was a way he could use his knowledge indirectly? He put down his dataslate and pressed the intercom on the recovery pod. ¡°Yes Dr Duuarn?¡± Pa¡¯s voice greeted him. ¡°I need to leave a message with Behavioral Studies,¡± ¡°And what is the content of the message?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see all the data we have of the Human and the Dogs interaction, I''d like to cross reference them with both Subject¡¯s brain scans and DNA. Leave it in the attention of Dr Jess,¡± ¡°Yes Doctor,¡± The communication line went silent, and Duuarn returned to his exercises, perhaps, if he could not continue his own work, he might be of some use to Jess¡¯s. If the User and Creator had indeed been selectively breeding alongside each other over thousands of years, there might be a way to isolate and cultivate the more agreeable behaviours and genes in both. He finished the exercise and waited for the device to calculate his results. Huh. He had increased his dexterity and accuracy by almost 33%. Duuarn stared at the door where the human had left. Maybe, his chance to be right would happen sooner than he thought. -*- ¡°So what kind of variety do I have to choose from in the way of ¡®titles¡¯¡± Jasmine asked, watching as Xant collected his possessions for transport. Placing his entire wardrobe (about 4 sets of identical clothes) into one vacuum sealed steel crate, the rug and cushions in their own and his collection of media and research dataslated carefully contained in a specialist container. Jasmine felt like she had more belongings that lived in her car than what Xant owned in his entire life. ¡°You indeed have a wide variety to choose from, titles usually denote one¡¯s accomplishments, freq abilities and in the case of the arvas, reproductive status,¡± he explained, moving to his terminal to download the last of his research files. ¡°Huh,¡± jasmine muttered, tapping her boots in thought. Leaning on the desk as she watched her friend work. ¡°For instance, my titles include ¡®department head¡¯, ¡®doctor¡¯ and ¡®field researcher¡¯¡± Xant suggested, "DH is my formal title, doctor for my colleagues," ¡°So job titles, really, humans have those as well,¡± It made sense for a people literally designed for their jobs, but what about her? Anything she studied for couldn''t really be applied to her work now, did she really have the authority to call herself an ambassador? A diplomat? She was just an unlucky (or very lucky) kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. ¡°As well? how many title categories to humans have then hmm?¡± Xant teased, disconnecting his last dataslate from the terminal and placing it in the crate with the rest. ¡°Hmm now that I think about it,¡± Jasmine crossed her arms in front of her, leaning against the desk recalling aspects of her previous life. ¡°You got marriage titles, that¡¯s where ¡®miss¡¯ came from, you¡¯ve got royal titles from centuries past, government positions, military ranks, academic achievement¡­ Wow, I guess in a way, they¡¯re all just job titles...¡± ¡°Would nutritionist be an apt title for yourself? Or perhaps an artist profession? Your love of song would qualify you as a Musician¡± ¡°No no, I don¡¯t have an instrument and I figured i¡¯d need something with a bit more diplomatic weight behind it. Would you trust a Nutritionist about social economics?¡± she joked back. Xant¡¯s ears folded down as he nodded his head in agreement, only for them to shoot back up, excited with a plausible option for her. ¡°How about ¡®human consultant¡¯? Or earth culture expert? Both would be valid, and vague enough that no one could question your authority,¡± ¡°Nah, too¡­ () sterile.¡± she murmured, looking away sadly. While the translator now did a fantastic job of filtering unwanted projection, every now and then, a little slipped through. Involuntary fluctuations, they were quickly suppressed but Xant wasn''t sure if that was the translator, or jasmines doing. ¡°You could always try an imperium title?¡± He suggested. ¡°Imperium? Like Princess? Is the Imperium different from the council?¡± she wondered, having heard the name in passing conversation once or twice before. ¡°Yes, the Arvas imperium is its own entity and fight alongside the council against the Rajavan threat.¡± Xant explained, happy to see her perk up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Lieutenant Commander refer to you as ¡®Maiden¡¯ before, and Suk referred to you as ¡®Princess¡¯, you did seem to be fond of that one,¡± ¡°Yeah, but there was a very famous ¡®Princess Jasmine¡¯ in my culture and while not an unfortunate comparison, I couldn¡¯t call myself a ¡®Princess¡¯ seriously.¡± ¡°Princess¡¯s in the Arvas imperium hold command of entire swarms of Arvas troops, they are the respected and at times relentless leaders of the Imperium, does Princess hold a different connotation in Human terms?¡± ¡°Uhh, well¡­¡± Jasmine raised her hand to push hair behind her ear out of habit, ¡°¡®Princesses¡¯ are largely marketed towards little girls, childish inspirations, actual princesses are mostly figureheads but aren¡¯t allowed do much outside of ¡®charity work¡¯, most people just wait for them to have royal children,¡± she sighed, a powerful mantle in the eyes of aliens but she couldn¡¯t shake the years of stupid taunts from her childhood from the word. Besides, her favourite had always been Mulan anyway. ¡°it¡¯s, complicated,¡± she settled. Xant had to chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve essentially described the Arvas ¡®Maiden¡¯ title, they sacrifice power in exchange for reproductive rights, Princess¡¯s attain enormous Freq power but become sterile in the process, different hormones during the pupa stage.¡± ¡°So, I¡¯m guessing their queens.. Have lots of children, right?¡± Jasmine asked feeling a little squicky. ¡°That is correct, the Arvas of the Imperium still reproduce ¡®manually¡¯,¡± Xant replied turning an old phrase back at her. ¡°Right¡­ well, I don¡¯t think an Imperium title is going to work then,¡± she politely declined. Reminding herself that an alien insects value on bodily functions and autonomy were differently placed than her own. Infact, she was still very different from the Imperium and The galactic council, she needed to reflect that in her choice. ¡°I need something more human¡­ What about phrases like ¡®Alexander the Great¡¯, ¡®Princess of Wales¡¯, ¡®Breaker of Chains¡¯ or ¡®Seeker of Darkness¡¯? Do you guys have anything like that?¡± Xant¡¯s ears perked up as he placed the last item of clothing into a crate. ¡°No, we don¡¯t have anything like that! A certainly unique human trait,¡± ¡°Well, that certainly gives me more to work with! I need a something bold and succinct, a title that tells you exactly who I am and why I need to be taken seriously,¡± Xant locked the last of his crates, all three display panels lit up to the press of his fingers, all that was left now was for it to be carried to the dock. ¡°But you already have one of those,¡± Xant stated, walking past his companion. ¡°I do?¡± Jasmine asked, caught by surprise. Xant looked back at her from the open door, flicking his ears up and wiggling his tail happily from side to side. The human stopped, and a warmth flowed from her heart as she caught on. ¡°Yeah, I really do, don¡¯t I?¡± -*- It was a ceremonial occasion at the dock. Nako and Tifera stood waiting at the REFINED, the entire station staff and Nako¡¯s ship crew watched as the last meeting took place, a sea of armoured aliens, a sprinkle of what was left of the company. Laandi stood in her formal office wear, elegant gown draping from the shoulders covering her body in sheer orange and black fabric. The Esaander company logo emblazoned down her sides,considering she couldn''t read the alien text Jasmine thought it looked surprisingly tasteful. The director held onto a glowing data-slate offering it to the human before her with a warm and respectful stance. Jasmine stood opposite, shoulders back, head held high, encased in Esaander coloured armour with a light blue sari draped around her shoulders like a scarf. Her eyes respectfully averted and her hands folded neatly in front of her, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Behind the human stood Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant, the doctor now stood in citizen sized military-grade armour, standing just as proud beside his friend. His fealty sworn, his mind expanded, he was no longer just a researcher, but a witness to a pivotal moment in history. Dwarfing the pair stood Captain Derjan Rynard encased in his own military regalia, at attention. He held no qualms about stepping into the fray again, if it was for the massive, emotional bomb that called itself a citizen. The three dogs sat patently between them, calmly watching and waiting as the scene folded out infront of them, for the first time understanding the reason behind such a gathering. Laandi raised her voice for the crowd, it carried far and across the dock despite her tiny and frail frame. ¡°Please state your homeworld, species, name and title,¡± Laandi prompted, rasing the dataslate for jasmine. The human stepped forward, her own voice ran loud and clear, as she announced, truly for the first time, who she was. ¡°Earth, (Terra Firma), Human (Homo-Sapiens), Jasmine Anne Howe, The Namegiver.¡± Deep, bright, warm and strong. The data-slate beeped accepting the input, Laandi bowed her head deeply upon completion. ¡°Excellent Namegiver Jasmine, I am honoured to file this with the council on your behalf, may you find true balance in the universe.¡± ¡°Thankyou Executive Director Laandi, Live long and prosper,¡± Jasmine returned the bow. As they lifted their heads, the ceremony concluded, Nako raised a sword above his head. ¡°RETURN MARCH!¡± his voice bellowed around the dock. Every one of his soldiers turned their heel, making their way through the airlock back inside the REFINED. The formality of the moment lifted, Jasmine was able to speak much more casually with the Director. ¡°Thankyou Laandi, for the scarf and for all your help these past few weeks, ¡± she shook the elderly aliens hand gently, trying to imbue as much sincerity as she could into the action. ¡°You do not need to thank me for my profession Namegiver,¡± Laandi chuckled, enjoying the sensation of gratitude, ¡°but I do hope you¡¯re not opposed to little bit more help,¡± The Director signalled for Arc and Suk, the pair walked over presenting Jasmine with gifts. ¡°I have commissioned for you especially a collection of research data-slates, one each for photography, video, scheduling, illustration and personal use, as well as three recording slates, all with their own transport case,¡± Suk presented the heavy-duty case that was emblazoned with the Esaander logo, bright orange triangles and streaks against a black background. Inside the data-slates were neatly stacked within their own protective foam pockets. ¡°And from my own personal collection, a parting gift of fabrics may they help you be presentable in your many meetings to come,¡± Arc opened the smaller, more decorative case, inside were three neatly folded scarves in midnight blue, sunset orange and deep sea green. ¡°Director¡­¡± Jasmine gasped in awe, touched by the sentiment. She ran her fingers over the squares, scared to even try to unfold them. ¡°They helped me in my first negotiations, it is only fitting that I pass them onto you before I retire, these past few weeks have been a bit too exciting for this old body.¡± Jasmine closed the cases, holding one in each hand before handing them over to Rynard for safekeeping. ¡°I will treasure them,¡± she thanked the Director before addressing the Arvas soldiers by Laandi¡¯s side. ¡°Arc, thank you for being so helpful and enthusiastic, I won¡¯t forget our training together,¡± Jasmine nodded, The guard twittered his antennae and, not knowing how to respond to such praise, stood at attention. ¡°Yes, Your grace!¡± he saluted. Suk inwardly sighed and shook his head. ¡°Suk,¡± Jasmine smiled, ¡°I won¡¯t forget the story of the worker prince, thank you for your inspiring rendition,¡± Suk¡¯s antennae started twitching as Arc¡¯s did, but he saluted in a much more formal fashion. ¡°Thank you, Namegiver,¡± Rynard chuckled, arms folded in front standing strong as their Captain. ¡°Now don¡¯t you two be going soft without me here, whip those new recruits into shape!¡± ¡°Sir, yessir!¡± ¡°Sir, yessir!¡± The guards saluted Rynard, small tears leaking from their eyes. Jasmine, stepped back letting Rynard say goodbye to his companions, she looked over to the few station crew that still stood at the dock, at the very least, she owed them all a goodbye. ¡°Xant?¡± ¡°Yes Jasmine?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to be a minute, I¡¯ll be right back,¡± ¡°Take your time Jasmine,¡± The doctor nodded, it would take him some time to walk to the REFINED in his armour anyway. Jasmine made her way over to Pa and Nu, they stood there surprised she even approached them. They were very humble as she thanked them for their patience and bravery when dealing with her human self. ¡°I hope I¡¯m the most dangerous thing you ever have to deal with, I just wanted to thank you both, for not being afraid of me.¡± ¡°We are honoured, Your Grace,¡± Pa bowed deeply and simply while Nu answered with a sweeping bow and a hand flourish, ¡°Thank you, Your Grace,¡± more short pleasantries were exchanged before Jasmine spotted Dr Yusa. The Zenthi was standing by her packed belongings, waiting for another ship to return her to Acom corp. She shook Pa and Nu¡¯s hands before making her way over to the pensive docotor. ¡°Dr Yusa?¡± The Zenthi stopped in her tracks, startled. ¡°Yes, Namegiver?¡± she answered. The more Jasmine was addressed by her title the more it began to mean to her, she didn¡¯t know Yusa as well as the others but she was no less important. ¡°I wanted to thank you for my new translator, without your help most of this world would still be a mystery to me,¡± ¡°Thanks is unnecessary,¡± Yusa shook her head, ¡°I was merely a small part of this venture. You will probably receive improved translators down the line.¡± ¡°Well, regardless, thank you,¡± Jasmine nodded her head and awkwardly left the doctor alone as she made her way back to Xant and the others. But Dr Jess intercepted her, blocking her path holding more data-slates while smiling expectantly. ¡°Uhh, Dr Jess-¡± ¡°I have compiled a series of questions for you regarding all my research on human/user relations,¡± The small, purple lizard chittered ¡°and provided an answering slate with my details so you can send them to me upon completion!¡± Seven more, loose data-slates were thrust into the human¡¯s grasp. Jasmine coughed nervously as she tucked them all under her right arm. ¡°I¡¯ll get them finished as soon as I can-¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Jess replied, ¡°Any and all detail would be most helpful!¡± before scuttering off, with frenzied urgency. ¡°Wait!¡± Jasmine called. Jess obeyed, stopping in her tracks and turning her head over her shoulder. ¡°About Duuarn, I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jasmine bit her lip and gave a quick, deep bow, but Jess said nothing. She stood frozen for a long while, unable to respond before turning her back and returning to her office with a more thoughtful or sombre pace. Jasmine watched Jess disappear down the corridors, guilty nerves twisting her stomach. There was nothing left for her to do now, there was only one goodbye left. Between her and the station. ¡°Are you ready Jasmine?¡± Xant¡¯s soothing voice called to her. ¡°Yeah,¡± She replied, taking one last look at the white walled station, ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± The group of five followed the Lieutenant and his captain through the massive hull that was the REFINED, leaving the halls of Uleesia Station, and Esaander Corp behind. Through the bowels of the REFINED, every soldier, engineer and logistics officer saluted as they walked past, the giant walls of open bunks soon gave way to smaller, but enclosed quarters. Nako opened a room far away from the regular crews bunks, where two large copies of Rynard stood outside the door. ¡°This will be your living quarters while aboard the REFINDED, I do hope these mere Captains quarters will suffice. When we arrive at Branch I will ensure accommodations are more suited to someone of your power and status.¡± Nako assured her. ¡°It is very generous of you Sir Nako,¡± Jasmine replied taking in her new surroundings and supressing the growing nerves in her stomach.. ¡°It is the least I could offer to ensure your transport goes smoothly. . Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I must give the order to cast off,¡± The Lieutenant departed with a small nod of his head, leaving Jasmine and her entourage to their own devices. ¡°Huh, swanky,¡± Rynards commented. It was a two bunk room, spacious with its own bathroom facilities and spaces for battle armour to stand rested. The bare trimmings dotted the room except for two large black box stasis pods installed in the side of the room. Jasmine stared at the black coffins apprehensively. ¡°I have to travel inside one of those, don¡¯t I?¡± she asked. ¡°Unfortunately yes, but I will ensure your consciousness remains subdued,¡± Xant replied, his voice clear through the suit¡¯s speakers. He already had the chems waiting for her and the dogs, measured to precision. Xant knew the horrors she had awoken to before being placed inside the Rajavan storage, he was determined to never let her feel such terror again. ¡°How long is it to the military station?¡± another unnecessary question only adding to the amount of growing nerves. ¡°For you? Mere moments Jasmine,¡± he comforted his steel hand on her plastic armour. ¡°And the dogs?¡± she finally tore her gaze away from the stasis pods to face him, blue eyes searching for solace. ¡°Sleeping right beside you,¡± Xants ears wiggled in an attempt to brighten her mood. ¡°They wont feel a thing, and neither will you.¡± ¡°Good, good,¡± she replied, her eyes darted and a small flush of red pooled in her cheeks ¡°Do I need to get undressed or...?¡± ¡°Not necessary,¡± Xant popped open the shoulder panel on Jasmines armour, blue capsules of depressors ready to be inserted into the suits systems. ¡°Wait,¡±Jasmine looked to her canine companions, putting on a firm but loving tone, ¡°Now you lot behave while I¡¯m gone, listen to friend Xant and friend Ryn, understand?¡± ¡°Yes, Namegiver!¡± ¡°Yes, Namegiver!¡± ¡°Yes Namegiver!¡± they all replied with varying levels of enthusiasm and engagement. Jasmine took another deep breath, clearing her mind and heart. ¡°I¡¯m ready Xant,¡± Xant nodded and pressed the capsule into the suits administer mechanism. Jasmine blinked, looking at the front and back of her hand. ¡°Huh, I don¡¯t feel any¡­¡± she began, before slowly falling backward into Xants arms. No fear of panic washed over her as she felt her body growing heavy and limp, just a serene sensation of sleep. ¡°Goodnight¡­ Xant...¡± she whispered, eyes closing slowly. ¡°Goodnight Jasmine,¡± he whispered back, his voice and her consciousness fading into darkness. End of Dream Arc Continued in Disparity Arc Disparity Chapter: Prologue prologue The comms relay of sector 138''s military base of operations was alive with speculation as the Refined approached. The hulking station, affectionately referred to as Branch, was truly a marvel of the Painful Dynasty. Comprised of 5 interlocking vessels, each themselves hundreds of [kilometres] squared, made with the finest materials the Council forces had to offer and loaded to the teeth with plasma, biochemical and radioactive slag cannons, Branch was the perfect arsenal to fight the ever-looming Rajavan and pirate threats. The Lieutenant Commander of The Refined (73859251) Sir Tar Nako had been granted a short leave to finalise any personal affairs in the sector before he was station bound. The reason for his detention was tethered to the engineering wing of Branch, a Rajavan troop transport ship, captured and mysteriously immobilized. The ships carcass slowly leaking the most confounding treasures within its hull, and rumours abounded that Nako was returning with the key to unlock its secrets. Even the honoured and disciplined Knights of the Galactic Council were not immune to the allure of gossip, whispers of unusual vehicles and data-slates clashed with unopened, stealthed stasis pods and unaccounted for DNA. Whispers that grew louder when the Refined docked with additional crew members. A reinstated sulin veteran, a captain who had already served his time rejoining the ranks, and a citizen model, Zenthi doctor with his own set of military-grade armour and interesting Frequency quirks. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. The pair were given a special escort by the lieutenant himself to a secured office and living quarters, many noted the two shimmering black stasis pods being transported with them, being handled with a reverence reserved for corporate dignitaries. The guests were settled and secured with strict instructions not to be disturbed. Guards stood outside the room with orders to keep everyone away, even the Knight Commander himself. Sir Dejan Rynard (Serial number 020308) and Dr Uru''Nav Xant breathed a sigh of relief once left alone. The pair were finally able to remove their encasing power armour after two long [weeks] of travel. One by one the securing nerve pins released from their flesh, old wounds reopened for the veteran, fresh scars endured by the doctor. "You holding up okay Doc?" Rynard stood towering over his companion. 10 [feet] tall and nearly as long, the reptilian soldier was engineered to be the epitome of muscle and claws, baring his sharp teeth with a mischievous smile. "I''m doing surprisingly well Captain, I almost miss the extra weight," Xant was curious even for a member of the Zenthi race, he was only half the size of the captain, covered in a dark green and black skin, a long tipped snout and two thin, antennae-like ears that hovered over his head. A four-fingered hand smoothed over Xants ears to his scalp, and he let off a freq pulse of anxiety as looked over to the black stasis pods. Rynard chuckled knowingly. "Do you really want to wake her so soon? We haven''t even unloaded yet," "I promised her it would wake her as soon as we were able," Xants ears bobbed up with his head "besides, the anaesthesia will take a few hours to vacate her system, we will have plenty of time to unload then." Rynard shrugged his enormous shoulders, "Well, you''re the expert," he said. Xant approached the pod''s interface and initiated the unlocking sequence. Hydraulic locks opened, precious antioxidant fluids were pumped out and the seal of the stasis pod released... Disparity Chapter 1: Isekaid The snow began to fall gently around Sugawara Itsuki, catching his breath as he trudged up the mountain. He was far from the recommended paths, climbing in the dead of night so he could be alone. The goal was to climb high enough to see the city of Fujiyoshida down below, but as he looked behind him for the first time he saw the error in his plan. While he was sure he was way above the city, he was not tall enough to see past the treeline. He slumped down against a pine tree, feeling his breath collected against the scarf and his ears numb from the cold. Sugawara pulled out his phone, the factory setting background polluted the darkness with its presence, burning the time into his eyes and mind. 02:12, 16/01/05. Eight hours of walking in the freezing cold, only to come up short. No, he wasn¡¯t going to give up just yet. He pulled out the rope from his one-man tent, slinging it around the trunk of the tree and tied it at his waist. He would see the lights below this night, after all he had been through in the past few months, climbing a tree in the dark was nothing. He shimmed his way up the mature trunk, careful with his footing and angle with every step, tying and untying the rope at every branch, until finally, he broke the canopy. The waning moon provided little light, clouds covered the sky and dusted the trees in snow. Fujiyoshida glittered in the distance. Suguwara pulled out his phone to record his accomplishment, the flash blinked light to the forest around him. ¡®I did it¡­¡¯ he thought to himself. He took one last deep breath and admired the view, before a cone of light blinded him from above. It was so sudden and so bright it caught him off guard, he dropped his phone, and his grip on the tree. Sugawara screamed as he fell, desperately grasping at the branches on his way down. His stomach flipped and his feet pulled him up into the sky, screaming as he desperately reached for branches to keep him from flying off. He struggled to hold on, the pine branches broke in his hands and floated up alongside him, into the light and into the unknown. The light never faded. His body was heavy and flat on his back as he stared into the ceiling lights of his new prison. White-tiled ceiling and walls, ambient stale air and stinking of disinfectant, his confusion only amplified by the fact he was naked. Everything was aching and stiff, it took him a minute to even roll to the side so he could sit up. ¡®Am I dead?¡¯ The first thought that ran through his brain, he could have died from the fall, or knocked unconscious and succumbed to combination blood loss/hypothermia. Sugawara then came to the conclusion that he should have been dead, but clearly wasn¡¯t, which considering his current condition may have been a worse fate. He crossed his legs to think and discovered the next disturbing discovery. He had been shaved from head to toe, including eyebrows and other places. ¡®What kind of sick perverted fuck?-¡¯ he ran his hands over his head, feeling the unfamiliar texture of a smooth scalp except for strange raised bumps on the right side over his ear. This was wrong, everything was wrong. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Sugawara jumped to his feet and began to pace, looking for a way out. The room was almost completely bare, there was no door, two clear pipes in one corner, a grate in the floor underneath them and in the opposite corner, while a giant black blob protruding from the middle of the ceiling watched over everything. ¡®A camera?¡¯ he thought, backing up while staring at its ominous presence. The clear tubes provided more answers, they ran up to the ceiling and opened about a foot from the floor, he waved a hand underneath them not sure what to expect. The whir of a quiet engine stirred the air before water and food were funnelled through the tubes. The water fell through the grate while brown cubes of something piled up on the floor. It smelled of dried meat, and his unsettled stomach tightened as he realised where he knew the smell. Dog food. Ryo¡¯s mutt ate similar stuff. Sugawara backed away and his heart began to race. He really was a fucking prisoner, forced to be naked, fed by an automatic machine and to piss in a corner¡­ In what kind of fucked up scenario was this legal? Was he being held to be experimented on? He decided he didn¡¯t want to find out, there had to be a door, there had to be a way out. He scrambled on his knees, pulling at the grate, his fingers slid in through the gaps but the metal wouldn¡¯t budge. He ran to the other side but the other grate was exactly the same,firmly embedded in the concrete. Panic began to cloud his mind, pounding his hands against the wall stamping his feet on the ground in search for a hidden exit switch, but there was nothing. ¡°No¡± he whispered out loud, resting his hands and head on the tile. What did he do now? He balled his palms into fists, dragging his nails along the tiles and then something caught his eye. The scar that marked his left hand was completely gone, he ran his fingers over the unblemished skin. The burn mark across his belly, the faded surgical scars from a childhood broken leg and the cuts and bruises that should have littered his body were healed too. That was impossible. He finally slumped down burying his head in his hands. ''God I''m an idiot¡­'' Why hadn''t he thought of it sooner? It had probably been hours since he last took his medication. He was probably suffering an attack, he wasn''t a prisoner, he was probably in hospital after being found unconscious in the woods. It wasn''t real, none of this was real. For a moment he could breathe a sigh of relief, it would all be over soon. He knocked on the tiled floor, it was convincing as hell though and it didn''t line up with the usual symptoms. ''I''ve finally lost it,'' No amount of screaming or fighting was going to solve anything, he would simply have to wait until either it went away on its own or he got a visit from the doctor assigned to him to give him fresh medication. He didn''t have to wait long. The front walls opened up from the seamless tiles, popping forward and opening from the middle, sliding to the side. Two giant bugs in power armour entered the room. "What the?!-" Before he could even reach one of the grasshoppers raised his baton and an extending needle speared Sugawara in the shoulder. He let out an emasculated wail as he flailed on the floor, only to be electro-shocked for his outbursts. It was like being tazed times a million. His body, already sore and aching now limp, bleeding and paralysed, it took everything he had to breathe steadily. The alien grasshoppers, now satisfied he was incapacitated, stepped aside and allowed their companions to walk in carrying another, naked prisoner with them. Sugawara''s voice cracked and whimpered as a naked, shaved, unconscious black man was unceremoniously dumped in the middle of the room. His whisper of desperation had caught the attention of the Grasshopper guards, the artificial whines and clicks of the power armour grew louder as the guard approached. One of the four available arms reached out, jamming a steel coated finger into the open wound. Sugawara yelped, struggling to pull away as the guard chittered and whistled amused at the blood pouring out. Another guard shoved his captor, Sugawara dropped to the floor as the leader screeched at his subordinate in a series of unintelligible clicks and high pitched squeals. The guard then left him to bleed on the floor, disappearing after the others into the concealed exit along with his brethren. Once they were gone, Sugawara summoned all his strength to roll on his back and use his right hand to stem the bleeding. Closing his eyes from the pain, water falling down his cheeks. He had read so many stories about those on the verge of death, given the chance to redeem themselves in another dimension, where their skills could give them a heads up on the life they once had. But those stories were comfortable fantasies, and even in his darkest moments on Earth he had never felt as pitiful as he did now. Were these hallucinations or reality? ''Does it really matter? I¡¯m screwed either way,'' he thought sardonically, hoping that his new cellmate would wake up soon, he was losing quite a bit of blood¡­ Disparity Chapter 2: Another Bed The last thing Jasmine remembered before fading to sleep was Xant lifting her body off the ground. When she awoke it was to more comfortable surroundings, well, as comfortable as an alien barracks could get, she supposed. The bed was a bunk cut into the wall in a hexagon shape and was large enough to fit her and 20 of her closest friends. The ''mattress'' that lined the bunk was made of a thick gel that warmed to your body temperature on touch, something that Jasmine still had not gotten used to. She was alone in the gigantic room, made for someone closer to Captain Rynard''s size than her own. A military base filled with enormous dinosaur space marines needed to be impressive, but she was still wracking her mind around the scope of it all. Jasmine yawned and stretched her hands above her head, happy to see that some food and her clothes, neatly folded, were at her feet. The second-skin-like grey jumpsuit, the blue sari and a selection of scarves were waiting for her, as well as her custom pressed ''citizen grade'' plastic armour. The entire suit split open in the back and would ''snap'' into place once she had activated the suit with her chin. Jasmine scratched her head, figuring out what she would wear when her fingers brushed against a short curl of hair. Her second hand joined the first, running through almost five centimetres worth of hair. She was finally past the stubble stage! She let out a small squeal of glee and jumped to get dressed, now if only she could find a mirror... The jumpsuit and armour were first. She slipped the grey suit on and zipped it up at the back. It was incredibly, almost embarrassingly form-fitting, especially snug around the waist and chest. The armour was no better, since it had been purposefully moulded to fit her exact measurements, it conformed exactly to her physique, but it definitely held everything in a little better. The room, like most of what she observed of the aliens, was devoid of personal items. A desk and stool to work and eat at, a meal dispensary in the corner, a bathroom closer to a carwash than an actual bathroom and an inbuilt, voice-activated, automatic wardrobe. There were a few more things that made the room a little more noteworthy, the hexagonal, steel tiles of the walls tessellated together like snake scales, a change from the sterile white on Uleesia station. A holographic projection of alien language repeated itself in a screen saver-like fashion next to an enormous glass weapon safe - she recognised the build from the security wing, back when she was in Esaanders company, perhaps this was for more personal use? Next to the safe was Rynard''s power armour, looking like a zord stepped right off a Power Rangers set, bulky, angular and littered with battle damage. Pinned to its left shoulder was a faded but cared for green captain''s cape, with a white trim and two small medallions of silver, or maybe steel? Ranks earned in battles long passed. Jasmine nibbled on the standard-issue preserved waurdess ration while she looked for her companions. She could certainly hear them, despite the thick steel walls Rynard''s voice rumbled through. Xant''s was practically non-existent, but then the Zenthi didn''t speak with ''words'' like humans and sulin did. Xant''s thoughts filtered through his translator, projecting them out into sound for others to hear, a universe-changing piece of tech that didn''t just translate words, but thoughts and ideas. The same translator technology had been grafted into Jasmine''s brain, projecting not only her thoughts, but her personality and emotions for others to feel. Xant''s presence permeated her senses, he felt like a cool river¡¯s stream. It was comforting to know she could feel him wherever he was. Rynard was right beside him, his presence as large as he was in life, brute strength concealed in a warm, lazy haze. Jasmine giggled, Rynard felt like a bear taking a nap. In between the pair were three distinctive auras she was already very familiar with. They were the other survivors of the Rajavan abduction, fellow earthlings of the canine persuasion: Sieglinde, Kimiko and Spades. The door opened automatically on approach, and the human was ambushed by the pack of excited dogs. "Namegiver!" "She''s awake!" "Namegiver came back!" was the welcoming call of her four-legged friends. Jasmine knelt down, hugging and petting them as soon as she was able. "Of course I''m back! I''m not going anywhere! I hope you were all well behaved for Friend Xant and Friend Rynard!" "They were as pleasant as can be expected," Xant replied cordially. "Welcome back Jasmine. I trust you are well-rested?" Xant was a curious-looking alien, like a cross between a pangolin and a killer whale. Shiny, smooth black and green skin, long snout with hidden razor teeth, kind brown eyes and two, long and expressive antennae-like ears that wiggled when he was happy. Rynard seemed to snicker at the remark and Xant did his best to ignore the jolly giant dino. "I am surprisingly refreshed." Jasmine smiled back, rising to her feet to hug her friend. "I''m a little stiff in the joints, but I''m sure a little walk around the place will sort that out! After all, I was in stasis for¡­how long?" "Two [weeks]," Xant reminded her, happy to be talking with her again. "But I''m afraid our walks will be limited to the office and hab room for now." Xant offered her a crate to sit on at the makeshift table, a larger steel crate of some sort with a white stencilled logo moulded into the plastic. A single planet with a 13 pointed star above it. "Huh? Why?" she asked, confused. "And where''s Nako?" "The Lieutenant Commander is currently making arrangements for us, safety measures and clearances for certain wings of the facility," Xant explained. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "I thought my translator made me safe¡­" Jasmine''s shoulders slumped. "You are safe now, relatively," Xant began, while Rynard interrupted, "But the facility ain''t safe for you. " He chuckled. "Military ships and stations aren''t exactly built for someone of your shortness, you''d be more likely to be stepped on or run over than be freq-fried like a citizen. Xant''s armour might be up to protocol but Jasi, you might as well be naked with that flimsy shellac." Jasmine patted down her grey armour. She''d already grown very attached to it. "So until you both have military-grade armour and can function in it properly," Rynard looked pointedly at Xant, "you''re both to be escorted around the facility, either by myself or Sir Nako, and I don''t have orders to let you leave." "So we''re stuck here until everyone else is finished with the red tape?" Jasmine asked for clarification. "Bureaucracy at its finest," Xant chuckled, lifting up a dataslate for Jasmine. "But we do have some work to help us pass the time. Would you be interested in running through some topics with me, Jasmine?" "Please accept, Jasi," Rynard insisted with a laugh. "He''s been compiling ''subject matter'' for you two to talk about for the entire journey ship-side." "Ignore the captain, he''s just not one for intellectual discussion." Xant retorted with a smirk. "I ain''t designed for sittin'' still and burping facts all day!" "I''m glad that you''ve come to terms with your insurmountable shortcomings, Capt¡¯." Jasmine looked between the pair, wondering where the tension that used to be between them had vanished to. They were bickering like old friends. "You two seem to be getting along better," she stated, taking a sip of water out of the shallow bowl on the table. ¡°Ugh, the water here¡¯s not so great.¡± "Yes, well, we had quite some time to discuss matters, intellectual or otherwise, while quartered on the Refined. I''ve been teaching him the finer points of formal discussion and he''s showing me the value of banter in camaraderie." Xant tilted his head to the side. ¡°Perhaps the water would taste better if you did not share the bowl with the dog¡¯s.¡± Jasmines face turned green as she immediately put down the ceramic bowl. ¡°You said something about work to help pass the time?¡± Rynard laughed so hard he began thumping his tail with amusement. Xant rightfully ignored him, and Jasmine''s embarrassment, and opened a fresh dataslate. [Transcripts of Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant, Unaffiliated. These Transcripts are for research purposes only, Source these transcripts with accreditation to Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant to comply with the Corporations act and in service of the Cultural Expansion initiative. Rejuvenation Dynasty ] Dr Xant: This is Dr. Uru¡¯Nav Xant, unaffiliated. Subject, would you state your name and title for the record? Jasmine: I am Jasmine Anne Howe, the Namegiver, sole surviving human of my Rajavan abduction from Earth. Dr Xant: Thank you, Namegiver Jasmine. For this record, we will be discussing, as best we can, the human language. Jasmine: Well, first off, there is no human language, we have hundreds of languages, thousands if you want to count dialects into that. Geeze, when I think about it there¡¯s probably more than a hundred dialects of English alone... Dr Xant: Then we will speak in broad terms - human language as it refers to writing, speaking, pictographs and the ability to convey concepts. Jasmine: Okay, well that does narrow it down. So, it''s more about how we exchange information, rather than the words themselves? Dr Xant: That is correct. The GC translator allows for the instantaneous transfer of information, so comparing a Creator level language built without such technology is a fascinating conceit for discussion. Jasmine: If you say so! I¡¯ll do my best, but I''m not an expert, I haven''t had to worry about studying English since I dropped out of university! Dr Xant: There we are with our first concept, ¡®studying¡¯ the language, how long does it take to learn a human language fluently? Jasmine: Uhhh, heh, well, there¡¯s an old joke that some people can speak a language their whole lives and never learn to do it correctly. But for the record¡¯s sake, I¡¯d say 15 to 16 years, with continuous expanding vocabulary. Dr Xant: Could you explain, ¡®continuous expanding vocabulary¡¯? Jasmine: Uhh, yeah okay, umm, well, English is my native tongue, which means its the language I was born learning and can speak the most fluent. I know a few words in other languages, mostly ¡®please¡¯ and ¡®thank you¡¯s¡¯ and a lot more swear words from other languages, but the point I¡¯m trying to make is that my native tongue is forever changing. English picks up words from other languages easy and incorporates them into the whole, it¡¯s also very easy to change the meaning of established words and make up whole new ones entirely! Dr Xant: Are other human languages not as adaptable? Jasmine: Well, I know a lot of them have waaaay more rigid grammar structures and don''t change as quickly as English does. With English, the rules are more like guidelines. Dr Xant: And these guidelines require vigorous study? Jasmine: Yes, you can get by with everyday words and phrases, but if you want to do anything in academia, law, politics or literature you need to study. Word meaning and context can change every 5 to 10 years in living speech, what was corrected 20 years ago may not be correct now, and ¡®legalese¡¯ is different entirely. Dr Xant: Does this continuous metamorphosis of your language contribute to the difficulty of human translators? [for context according to Jasmine, humans have not developed an accurate universal translator] Jasmine: Well, you¡¯d think so, but it is actually the opposite! Because the world is changing so fast and becoming more and more connected through the internet (our planet-spanning communication/information system) people are picking up other¡¯s languages and using them in everyday speech more than ever! Some people even combine alphabets to convey different sentiments! Dr Xant: Different alphabets? Can you demonstrate that for us Jasmine? Jasmine: Oh damn now you¡¯ve put me on the spot, uhh, can I have the illustration dataslate for a moment? [note: Jasmine¡¯s illustration] (?Òæ?) ( ;?§Õ?) ( ?^¦Ø^)?? Jasmine: These use different alphabets and syntax to create new context for sentences because most of our translation is words and not the text we have to create little ¡®emoji¡¯s¡¯ to express tone and emotions with the written word! Dr Xant: The human frequency equivalent! Absolutely fascinating that your species despite not being sensitive still implemented such measures into your lexicon. Can you give me an example? Jasmine: Of course! Ahem, (Happy/Curious) What do you mean? ( ?^¦Ø^)?? (Worried) What do you mean? ( ;?§Õ?) (Angry) What do you mean? (?Òæ?) Dr Xant: The expressiveness is absolutely incredible! Oh! The expressions match your facial motions because humans read emotion through such interactions, fascinating, fascinating. I will have to create a separate transcript for this discovery. [Session Terminated] Disparity Chapter 3: Bugs Sugawara stared at the other man that had been dumped uncerimoniously into their alien cell. He was huge, easily over 6 foot and built like he just stepped out of an advert for a gym or dojo. Even unconscious he looked intimidating, but Sugawara didn¡¯t have the choice of waiting until he woke up, his shoulder was still bleeding and in terrible pain. He needed help. Sugawara tried shaking the black guy awake, tapping his face and yelling but whatever drug had got them in their current predicament had him out cold. So, Sugawara tried the next best thing. He ran over to the automatic water tube, collected a handful and threw it all onto the stranger''s face. The reaction was instant, arms and legs flailing as a familiar English phrase screamed from his lips: ¡°MOTHERFUCKER-!¡± Angry brown eyes focused a death glare on Sugawara, demanding an explanation. ¡°What the hell, man?!¡± he shouted, wiping the residue from off his face. Sugawara stared back, deadpan expression on his face while holding his shoulder wound. ¡°¤ª¤Ï¤è¤¦(mornin¡¯),¡± he answered, watching as the American quickly ran through the same trains of thought he had when he first woke up. ¡°What the¡­? What¡¯s going on? Who the heck are you?¡± ¡®Rude,¡¯ Sugawara snorted, before trying to remember how to pronounce the words he was more accustomed to typing. ¡°We are captured, prisoners, aliens, hurt.¡± He pulled his hand away from the wound to show his new cellmate. ¡°Oh Jesus.¡± The giant man stood up and came over to inspect the damage. He was nearly head and shoulders above Sugawara, and as he inspected his wound for a closer look, surprisingly gentle. ¡°There¡¯s too much blood. Where''s that water you had? I need to clean it to see.¡± Sugawara nodded, and walked over to the water tube, before plonking himself underneath the opening. The automated water poured out and over the wound, a combination of soothing cold and stinging like hell. Sugawara put on a brave face though, gritting his teeth before clamping his hand back over his shoulder. ¡°Yeah it¡¯s gonna hurt, but you gotta let me see.¡± The stranger¡¯s tone wasn''t harsh, or chiding, didn¡¯t ridicule him for weakness. Sugawara turned his head as he pulled his hand away, allowing the older man to look at the injury. Two large thumbs pressed either side of the wound. Sugawara muffled a wince. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve been stabbed with a soldering iron, you¡¯re not in danger of bleeding out, but just keep the pressure on,¡± The American explained. ¡°Lean back, let the water cool the burn, you got that?¡± Sugawara slowly leant back under the water tube, letting the cold fluid pour over his shoulder. The initial sting subsided after a while, the cold numbing his nerves. ¡°You got a name, kid?¡± The American asked. ¡°Sugawara.¡± ¡°Sugawara, that¡¯s a mouthful, got anything shorter?¡± He asked with a joking smile. Sugawara looked at him incredulously. ¡°... Ryo,¡± he lied. ¡°Hey Ryo, I¡¯m Beau.¡± A large hand rested on Sugawara¡¯s dry shoulder, trying to be reassuring. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, but I need you to explain to me what the hell is going on, like why the hell are we naked?¡± Sugawara let out a heavy sigh, he¡¯d taken English in high school like everyone else in the country, but his conversational English he had perfected by listening to ¡®Lets plays¡¯ and chat forums over the internet. Actually speaking the language outloud wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d done past the proficiency exam. He decided to answer to the best of his ability, the simpler the better as he would undoubtedly stumble over pronunciation. ¡°I said, we are captured, prisoners, aliens¡­¡± Beau shook his head as he stood up to inspect the rather spacious cell. ¡°Aliens, right¡­¡± Beau began tapping the metal walls, searching for a gap or a door just like Sugawara had. "You know that for a fact, huh?" Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Well, at least the American understood him. "Yes, I''m not crazy." "Never said that you were, kid, just tryna get all the facts," Beau replied, making his way around the room. "So what do these aliens look like then? We talking Roswell Greys or Lizard people?" "Bugs." "Ahh great, what kinda space bugs? Hive mind Zerg type or people in bug suits type?" Beau continued his line of questioning, he seemed the kind of person to just say whatever popped into his head without even bothering to read the room. "...Not Zerg." Sugawara answered frustrated, wishing he had his phone with him to do all of the talking. "Cool, cool, bug people is the far better scenario in our case. I¡¯m far too pretty to get my ass eaten, then again, having my ass shaved bare has me thinking they ain¡¯t fond of hair in their BBQ." Sugawara frowned, wondering how someone in their position could be so damn calm, no, chipper about the prospect of being abducted and imprisoned by insect xenomorphs. He talked way too damn much. ¡°Hey Ryo, you tried talking to them? Get a line of conversation going?¡± Sugawara groaned. Beau talked too much and he wanted to talk to their would-be captors. ¡°No, I wake up, they stab me and drop you on the floor, I can¡¯t talk clicks.¡± ¡°So they were talking then, just them pendejos thinking we don¡¯t understand.¡± Beau finished his survey of the room and returned to Sugawara. ¡°How¡¯s your shoulder going?¡± Amongst all the back and forth and listening to the inane questions, Sugawara had almost forgotten about the pain. ¡°...¡± ¡°You can take it out of the water now, and maybe you can help me think of a way to talk to our insect overlords.¡± Beau smiled. His teeth were incredibly too white, but even he could see the smile was more for ¡®Ryo¡¯s¡¯ sake than Beau¡¯s actual emotions. He almost wanted to tell him to knock it off. ¡°So what do you think? They can¡¯t speak English and I don¡¯t know ¡®clicking¡¯ either. Should we try math? Or star charts?¡± Sugawara shook his head, standing up and shivering. The water had numbed his shoulder and diluted the pain, but had also dropped his body temp, not a very nice combination for his concentration, so he decided to give the American an example of the meaning of ¡®show, don¡¯t tell¡¯. Sugawara walked over to the still fresh pool of blood on the floor and dipped his finger in, before drawing geometric hexagonal lines and chains on the floor. To his credit, Beau let out a knowing chuckle after he finished the first diagram. ¡°Organic chemistry, damn that takes me back, memorising all the sugars and isotopes.¡± Sugawara started with simple element representation - oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen - using dots to replace the chemical symbols before mixing them up into more complex chains - water, carbon dioxide, nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. By the time he began working on a glucose chain, Beau lowered himself and signalled for him to stop. ¡°Ryo, someone¡¯s coming.¡± Beau motioned for him to get behind him and Sugawara didn¡¯t hesitate scrambling to hide behind the mountain of a man. The hidden door slid open and Beau got to witness their captors. Lithe armoured guards burst into the room, clicking and shrieking, their wings displayed flayed out to intimidate. Sugawara was able to get a better look this time. They were the closest to grasshoppers, with hard shiny dull green exoskeleton, their armour was a nondescript grey with alien writing down their upper left arm. It looked molded to their bodies, it didn¡¯t look like steel, more like cheap childrens plastic, the kind you found at playground parks. One of the four wore a small green shoulder cape, it stood at the back and his antennae flickered as he chirped out loud orders. They all had the taser lances folded up at their hips, the leader had two. The reality of it all must have hit the man all at once as Beau didn¡¯t even move when a taser lance was raised in his direction. Sugawara tried to pull him out of the way, but Beau ended up taking the extended weapon to the chest. The paralysing electric shock threw them both on the ground, Beau almost crushing Sugawara¡¯s hand during the ordeal. Sugawara let out an involuntary cry. The giant bugs then lifted their bodies and shoved them to the side of the room, not even letting them move on their own, it was apparently easier to shock first and man handle them. The humans could only watch as the other guards tapped the opposing wall and a hose appeared from an automatic and unseen hatch. A guard took aim and high pressure water poured out, washing away their hard work, blood-stained water disappeared down the corner drain. Once the floors were returned to their pristine state, the guard then turned the hose on them. The water was strong enough to move them off the floor and against the wall, Sugawara was sure he¡¯d need to add bruises to the growing list of injuries he¡¯d acquired since he woke up. He was scared to yell incase the guard decided to aim for his mouth, death by pressure hose drowning was not how he wanted to cross into the afterlife. Their work completed, the leader of the guards screeched and clicked, and his underlings filed out in a single line, six angry, insect eyes stared at them before walking out. The perfect seamed door closed shut behind them, the only indication of their presence were the soaking wet humans on the floor. They pulled themselves together, Beau coughed up water, staring at the ceiling while his brain caught up with the shock. Sugawara sat up, holding onto his shin, he could feel the impact of the hose, tender skin going right up his ankle to his knee. ¡°Mother fucking aliens¡­¡± Beau breathed, a combination of disbelief and disgust. ¡°I told you, bugs, we prisoners. No talk." Sugawara reiterated. ¡°Yeah well, now I know what we¡¯re up against." Beau rolled over to his front but stayed low as if the open chest wound didn¡¯t phase him at all. He spoke softly but with none of the levity of his previous tone. He was quiet, serious and scary. ¡°Those assholes have underestimated us, and we''re going to wipe the motherfucking floor with them. You¡¯re a smart kid Ryo, you tough as well?¡± Sugawara grinned back with a sadistic smile. ¡°Fuck yeah I am.¡± Disparity Chapter 4: Treasure Trove ¡°... So what is the difference between ¡®a¡¯, ¡®A¡¯ and ¡®@¡¯?¡± Xant asked, looking over the human alphabet Jasmine had drawn for him back during their first sessions. He was analyzing sample sentences she had written, cross-referencing them to her vocalisation. So far, there wasn¡¯t much consistency. It was very free-flowing and seemed to be more instinctual than their own language. He had noticed several words and phrases followed different rules depending on context. Jasmine, however, was stacking waurdess pieces on top of each other, smooshing her cheek into the palm of her hand as she balanced her skull on her arm. Her eyes were only half open and suddenly she lost her balance and her head slipped off its resting place, her face almost slamming into the table. She snorted awake. ¡°I¡¯m awake!¡± ¡°Jasmine? Did you enter an Industrial Freq cycle?¡± ¡°... Maybe?¡± Jasmine scratched her ear and yawned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Xant, but we¡¯ve been discussing the same subject for nearly 10 hours, I¡¯m suffering from information overload.¡± The human stretched and stood from the chair, walking and yawning to wake herself up even more. ¡°Is there a limit to human concentration?¡± Xant asked. ¡°Well yeah, there¡¯s no way I could sit still and focus for that long on a single subject, I¡¯m honestly surprised you can,¡± Jasmine answered. Xant was about to answer ¡®it was what he was designed for¡¯ but it wasn¡¯t a subject she was comfortable with, and it saddened him. He wanted to talk with her about it more, find out why it was such an abhorrent notion to her, but now was not the right time. So much was happening so fast. Perhaps once things had settled down and her future was a bit more certain, she would be willing to discuss such things. ¡°We could have stopped at any time Jasmine, we can work entirely at your own pace.¡± ¡°Yeah, but you were so excited I didn¡¯t want to disappoint you.¡± She ran a hand over her hair and looked away. She¡¯d be lying if she said she didn¡¯t enjoy the occasional spark of joy Xant gave off when they talked about human and alien things together, but the presence of others'' emotions inside her head still felt rather invasive. Jasmine figured she would get used to it with time, as with all things, and going back to the silence really wasn''t an option now. Then she spotted Rynard was asleep on his back with all three dogs curled up on top of his chest. ¡°Huh, maybe my boredom¡¯s contagious?¡± Xant felt she was deflecting, she was distracted. He put down his dataslate, saving their recording session for later study. Before her new translator, her mind would have openly shared what was her current focus, but since the surgery, her ¡®inner thoughts¡¯ were concealed as per her request. ¡®Something is bothering you, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ he asked her. Her head turned, startled, before a chuckle. ¡®You know, I almost forgot you could do that,¡¯ she answered. ¡®I guess we¡¯re proper telepaths now.¡¯ ¡®Why am I not surprised humanity already has a name for this phenomenon?¡¯ His laughter echoed inside her head. ¡®You are so very unusual in the most exciting ways.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve given me superpowers, Xant! Honestly, I expect things to get a lot more exciting from here on out¡­¡¯ ¡®And that¡¯s what¡¯s bothering you? It''s too quiet?¡¯ ¡°Yes!¡± Jasmine answered, breaking the thought speak. ¡°I mean, this is a military base, right? But there hasn¡¯t been any movement outside our accommodations for nearly a whole [week!], I haven¡¯t met any officials, heck, Nako hasn¡¯t even come to see me...¡± The terminal in the corner of the room began beeping, ready to transmit a message, startling Jasmine and waking Rynard and the dogs up from their nap. ¡°It seems the universe heard you,¡± Xant commented, making his way over to the holographic terminal. The dogs bounded off Rynard and followed behind Xant to watch the light show. Jasmine too was interested in the bright lights as a full-bodied image of Nako appeared before them in all his faded blue glory. It wasn¡¯t quite as impressive as the galaxy map she had seen back in Laandi¡¯s office, but seeing the everyday use for the tech was still cool as hell. ¡°Salutations, Namegiver,¡± Nako¡¯s voice cracked through the intercom. It was a little muffled, like a slightly untuned radio. ¡°Salutations, Lieutenant,¡± Jasmine answered, folding her arms. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d give us a call.¡± ¡°My position leaves me with a great deal of regrettable obligations, Namegiver,¡± the Lieutenant replied. ¡°As much as you are a priority, there are still matters I must yet attend to, but for now, I will be able to relieve you of your temporary confinement.¡± Even in a hologram, Nako was an impressive presence, regality was basically a professional skill of his. His long cape concealed most of his body, but it gave him an imposing silhouette. "Thank you! If the rest of the complex is even half as impressive as the room, I''m in for a real treat." Nako approved of the comment. "I believe you will find Branch and the collection to be very impressive. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on every item." "And then you''ll give me the tour of the base, right?" Nako and Rynard laughed. "I''m afraid I don''t have the week to spare to give you the tour personally, but there should be a holographic map available if the captain would be so kind." "Actually, I am adept with military terminals, Commander," Xant chimed in, much to the Lieutenant''s shock. "Oh? You''re trained in the use of military equipment?" "I was a field researcher with the reclamation before my employment with Essander. My experience with the tech is adequate." "Impressive. You are worth more than your designation, Doctor." Nako acknowledged. Xant bowed his head quite deeply. "Thank you, Commander." ¡°Captain,¡± Nako addressed Rynard, the large captain standing at attention. ¡°Yes, Commander?¡± ¡°You will be sent a shuttle. You are to escort the Namegiver and her attendants to the Engineers'' Hall. There, Engine Lord Vitoiic will allow you to study the contents of the Rajavan vessel. I will meet you in the Engineers'' Hall before the last quarter,¡± Nako ordered. ¡°Sir yes sir!¡± Rynard acknowledged, hand across his chest in salute. "Well, Namegiver, Captain, Doctor, I hope to see you shortly." "Same here! See ya later, Lieutenant!" Jasmine waved. Nako wiggled his antenna and returned the human''s cute hand motion. "May the universe be clear," he signed off. "Uhh, good luck!" Jasmine replied, remembering she would have to figure out her own ''sign off'' phrase eventually. Maybe Rynard or Xant could give her a few pointers. "You know, for a lieutenant, he''s alright," Rynard muttered off handedly. "He is certainly more approachable than I expected," Xant concurred. "Perhaps it''s a new initiative they''re trying out?" "Well, it''s a vast improvement over my last lieutenant," snorted Rynard, who certainly was alive in spite of his last serving commander. "So what you''re saying is that I''m incredibly lucky I wasn''t picked up by some asshole?" Jasmine interjected. Rynard gave a deep bellied laugh over the insult. Xant, ears flexed down at the context and content of Jasmine''s words, tried to answer her over the guttural laugh of the Captain and the image now planted in his brain. "I think it''s safe to say that if the Lieutenant didn''t have some reason and forethought we wouldn''t be as well accommodated as we are." Rynard continued to laugh as he headed over to his suit of power armour, stepping into it naturally and without pause. The suit clamped down his back and soon he became the definition of a living tank. ¡°Come on doc, your turn to suit up!¡± Xant grimaced but swallowed his pride to suit up just the same. ¡°Uhh, will I need a helmet?¡± asked Jasmine. ¡°Well, we aint leaving grav¡¯ or atmo¡¯, so I think you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Rynard reassured her. ¡°But before we head out¡­¡± Rynard crouched down to be on eye level with his small companion. ¡°We¡¯d better fix your cape." ¡°My cape?¡± ¡°Yeah, it kinda matters how you wear it. Pleats are your honour ranking, length indicates what role you play in the field, the longer it is the further back from the line you are.¡± ¡°Okay, so how should I wear it?¡± ¡°Lets see...well, you''re a ¡®citizen¡¯ model,¡± he replied, with the rolling of his eyes, ¡°so don''t pleat it and wear it long, other than that, you can drape it however you like.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Jasmine clicked her tongue, pulling the blue sari off her shoulders. She twisted the fabric, checking its length with her hands before wrapping it around her waist, knotting it at her shoulder and letting the rest fall down her back. ¡°How''s this?¡± ¡°Hmmm, not bad, style''s a little odd but it''s not against regulation.¡± While Jasmine didn''t need a helmet, but the dogs needed to stay behind since they had no armour at all. Spades was a little wary to leave his new Namegiver''s side, but Sieglinde and Kimiko were happy with their pile of waurdess kibble and a bed they were allowed to jump on. As Jasmine and Xant stepped out of the room, the pair of them weren¡¯t prepared for just how big everything was. Jasmine let out an audible gasp as she looked upward. Structures reached higher than a megacity skyline, and then there was a roof over them. It was an enclosed military metropolis larger than any human city she¡¯d known, cultivating a quiet fear and awe inside her. The human tried not to be amazed with everything around her, but now that she was out in the open there was nothing stopping her from getting a good look and quietly buzzing about. Rynard stood behind Jasmine, a giant protective shadow at her back while she slowly processed her surroundings. Her new translator was doing wonders in blocking her inner dialog from the outside, but Xant could imagine the questions she was asking. ''It wasn¡¯t what we expected at all either¡­'' His own inner voice commented that military facilities were the best the galactic council had to offer, even grander than the central cluster stations. While he had expected it to be larger than citizen habitats, the sparsity of open meeting places and the abundance of looming defensive structures was strange. Perhaps the rangers had their recreation areas in another part of the complex. The trio didn''t have to wait long. Their escort arrived out of the crowds of aliens marching about their business, two armoured aliens walking right up to them. Jasmine had seen their kind before on Nako''s ship. They were tall and lanky, with white fur and black eyes on a squished ape/feline face. To Jasmine¡¯s eyes, they looked like a cute pair of noodly yetis! As she was lost in wonder, the guards too seemed to stare at the alien in equal amounts of curiosity and amazement. "Rangers," Rynard addressed them. "Where is the shuttle?" The guards snapped to attention, their long hands across their chests in the familiar salute. Jasmine noted their fingers were actually foot long razor claws. "Yessir, we are here to escort you and the maiden, sir!" "Namegiver," Jasmine corrected firmly, and to her surprise the rangers seemed a little shaken. ¡°Yessir, to escort the Namegiver and her entourage.¡± "So, escort us to the shuttle then," Rynard prompted them. The rangers saluted again and turned on their heels, marching swiftly into the parting crowd. ¡°So what kind of aliens were they?!¡± Jasmine asked Rynard and Xant, wide-eyed with excitement. Xant ear¡¯s wiggled. Now it was Rynard¡¯s turn to do the explaining. ¡°Savori, modifier level, ranger rank and messenger class. Didn''t expect them to be so vat fresh..¡± Rynard muttered under his breath. The shuttle was like a shipping container on a hydraulic rail, spacious enough to fit a couple of semi trailers inside. Sparsely furnished inside, but on the floor were locking mechanisms for rangers to stand. Rynard and the guards took their places while Xant awkwardly found a spot right up at the front. Since they didn''t usually build accommodations for citizens his size, he couldn¡¯t lock into the mechanism, but was loaded to the side with the cargo, held in place by a super charged magnet. "Jasi, over ''ere." The dino picked up the human and sat her on his shoulder. "Hold on, the acceleration can be a little strong," he mentioned as his feet were locked in place. Jasmine gulped but prepared herself. She waited for the sound of an engine but heard nothing! She expected a hum of electricity or even a lazer-ish noise, but the shuttle began accelerating without any sort of warm up at all! The growing speed was exhilarating! She held on so tight her knuckles went white, but the fear was quickly replaced with adrenaline, the pressure getting so strong she had to push back with her very being. She slid down the dino''s front and stood on his chest, standing almost completely horizontal and parallel to the floor., "Oh, so you¡¯ve done this before then?" Rynard asked. Jasmine grinned ear to ear. "Every year at the royal show!" she shouted. "The Gravatron¡¯s my favourite ride! How long will it last?!" Rynard laughed and checked the screen inside his helmet. "ETA [30 minutes]." The captain replied and watched as Jasmine''s face went from excitement to dread. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "Oh," she muttered before quickly climbing back onto Rynard¡¯s shoulder. ¡°10 minutes is fun, 30 minutes might push my stomach to its limits. So Rynard, I''ve been meaning to ask, you''re a Captain right?" "Right." "And Nako is a Lieutenant Commander, right?" "Right." "But Laandi said he was also a knight? And you said you could have been a knight, so how does it all work?" "Right¡­" The captain rolled his free shoulder, wondering if he was really the right person to be telling her all this. "Well, at the bottom you got the Rangers, grunt soldiers still paying off their beneficiaries and the council. Then you got technicians and messengers, they work the weaponry, artillery and communications. If you live long enough to pay your dues you get two options: one, leave the military and find service in company security or inner council security, or two, stay on and become a knight." "So, are you a knight or a captain now?" Jasmine asked. Rynard gave a short snort, he had always been so sure Jasmine was a military model, but he didn''t know any military grade personnel outside of a Council liaison that asked this many questions. "Both. My rank is knight, my position is Captain. Nako is a knight, his position is Lieutenant Commander." "What''s the difference between a captain and lieutenant commander?" "Captains don¡¯t need as much maintenance," he joked, but the confused look on the human¡¯s face meant the joke didn''t quite land. "Captains give orders for the day to day, we''re in charge of Rangers and certain assigned knights. Commanders are in charge of a company, their Freq allows them to give out orders and strengthen morale of the troops. Lieutenant commanders, they¡¯re above commanders and generally have their own fleets. We¡¯ve only seen Sir Nako¡¯s flag ship but he¡¯s got some metal and a few pleats in his cloak so he¡¯s got more than one ship under his command. And at the very top is the Knight Commander. There¡¯s a dozen or so Knight Commanders that look after the entire GC and answer directly to council members themselves.¡± Rynard recalled, wondering if any of the Knight Commanders that were installed while he was serving were still in their positions. ¡°Whoa, I had no idea Nako was so high up the command chain.¡± Jasmine commented. ¡°He hides it well, most lieutenants tend to be a bit more shouty, less listeny, but Nako¡¯s an Imperium-trained lieutenant, so that might have something to do with it.¡±Rynard responded, Jasmine could feel the old dino shrug in his armour. ¡°Not my place to do that kinda thinking, I just listen and get it done.¡± ¡°Hrk¡­¡± Jasmine gagged, slowly moving back to his shoulder once the speed evened out. ¡°How much longer till we reach our destination?¡± ¡°... 20 [minutes.]¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Rynard, I might just, sit here quietly for a bit...¡± ¡°Heh, you¡¯ll get used to the force soon, or else you won''t be able to get anywhere! To cross this whole facility will take about [5 hours]!¡± ¡°What?! And how fast are we going?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed. ¡°Oh I dunno,¡± Rynard laughed. ¡±I¡¯m just telling ya what the timer says,¡± Jasmine stared at him, frowning in thought. It was a little frustrating that the aliens seemed to talk about distance in terms of time. It was like they didn''t care where or how they got there, only how long it would take. While she was always embarrassed about her gaps in knowledge, it was weird that only Xant or Nako were ever curious. Telling her it would take [5 hours] means nothing if she had no idea how fast they were going, or even by what means of travel they were going. What kind of travel causes such force to make the gravity act this way? Would anyone be able to tell her how these shuttles worked? another thing to add to her growing pile of questions, but it wasn''t really a priority right now, so she shook her head and got back to the task at hand. The shuttle came to a slow crawl as it drew closer to their destination and Jasmine slowly unclenched her grip on Rynard''s armour. Her stomach twisting into knots during deceleration, it was like an elevator drop that never ended. Rynard watched the human stagger on her feet while making the same dizzying movements and heaving noises as she had done before projecting her stomach contents back at Essander. The memory was a fond one for him. "You''re looking a little unfinished there, Jasi." he teased. "I''ll be...fine," she tried to convince him. "I just need some air and to move about. How''s Xant?" Rynard looked over to the doctor, who had still not undocked himself from the cargo magnets. "You ready, doc?" Rynard called, but Xant didn''t move. "I seem to be suffering from exposure fatigue¡­" he replied. "It has been too long since I last traveled at such velocity." He was a prisoner in his own suit. Rynard had to laugh - watching citizens try to withstand his every day was just too entertaining. The captain scooped up Jasmine and plonked her back on his shoulder. "You should get plenty of air up there," he commented, before wandering over to Xant, picking up the poor zenthi by his back and carrying him like luggage. The savori guards led the group to the engineering wing of Branch, and Jasmine was able to take in more of the marvellous facility. The lights were dim, but the open space was enormous. It was, after all, a spaceship hangar. "Inform the engine lord, the Namegiver is awaiting his audience." Rynard instructed the guards on duty, they saluted and the collars on their suits lit up with a familiar blue comms light. "Engine lord?" Jasmine asked, as she felt Xant''s aura fluctuate with excitement, and an undercurrent of embarrassment. "He''s the overseer of fleet maintenance, makes sure all the equipment works," Rynard paraphrased, and Xant nearly exploded. "He is more than just a maintenance worker! An engine lord is the highest quality intelligence build in the entire Galactic Council! They calibrate and maintain ship brains capable of navigating through jump gates! They have entire fleet designs memorised down to the cell components!" Xant did his best to make his limbs limber enough to move. "Engine lords are only commissioned by the council, they are that exclusive." "So he''s someone a million times smarter than me, gotcha." Jasmine nodded, hoping that she could use the ''citizen model'' excuse to waive any gaps in what should be her basic knowledge base. A shiver ran down Jasmine''s spine as she felt the engine lord approaching. He was heavy and buzzing, like static electricity, but it was¡­ Sticky? Goopy? Gel-like? She couldn''t quite put her finger on the exact description. Trying to figure out how to explain the sensation, Jasmine¡¯s thoughts came to a screeching halt when she saw the Engine Lord and screamed in terror. The Engine Lord was the embodiment of a H.R. Geiger vision come to life.His body was composed of scorpion, crayfish and komodo dragon parts, molded together to be as intimidating as possible. Slimey and scaly with too many legs, he had hands for feet and four pairs of horrifying Arvas arms sprouting from his chest while a long black tentacle coiled from his back twitching and writhing as he moved. Six black eyes stared at her from a large pulsing head, reminiscent of her Rajavan nightmares. Jasmine let off an involuntary pulse of instinctual fear. "Oh, you flatter me, Maiden Namegiver" The Engine Lord greeted her. "You''re surrounded by veteran soldiers, but it''s my presence that scares you¡­interesting." Jasmine held onto Rynard''s armour tightly as she fought back the fight response her brain was screaming at her. "It will pass," her voice cracked, and she closed her eyes. The Engine Lord crept closer, heavy footsteps echoing in the giant auditorium. ¡°Allow me to put you at ease. I am Engine Lord Viitoic, I command all the ships of Branch and I have no intention of eating you,¡± he laughed. Viitoic felt...viscous. ¡°Eat me?¡± she asked, reeling back. ¡°Small beings such as yourself , that pulse was a bygone instinct of being prey, was it not? The Lieutenant was kind enough to share the research files with me. You are ¡®unaltered¡¯, yes?¡± he seemed to creep closer with every question, undoubtedly enjoying her discomfort. ¡°Uhhh¡­¡± Jasmine couldn''t reply, Xant stepped forward. ¡°The human race has not altered themselves through genetic engineering, Engine Lord, they have not developed the technology to their satisfaction. ¡± ¡°Oh, I recognize that voice.¡± Viitoic¡¯s attention instantly turned to the smaller scientist. ¡°You must be Dr Uru¡¯Nav Xant. A pleasure to meet an esteemed colleague.¡± ¡°I¡¯d hardly call myself an esteemed colleague, Engine Lord." Xant bowed his head politely. ¡°Such modesty! It is not every dynasty I get to meet a citizen scientist who helped discover two new genetic specimens. I listened to your work on Jothram, very impressive.¡± While Xant had hidden himself away after his ordeal, he supposed his reputation hadn¡¯t followed him into hiding. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware my accomplishments were that notable,¡± he answered honestly. ¡°They are when concerning your unpublished works,¡± Viitoic chuckled, ¡°but you are not here to gloat on previous accomplishments, you are here to shed some light on the curiosities in our possession. This way,¡± Viitoic turned his unwieldy girth and led them into his workshops. As they were brought further into the facility, Jasmine¡¯s fear melted away, curiosity once again took hold and she tried to figure out what the strange tools and equipment could be used for. Soon, the busy rooms gave way to a warehouse, where bright lights beamed down from above to the almost sterile space, standard issue tables were scattered about, and cloned engineers wandered between them. Suddenly, Jasmine jumped off Rynard''s shoulders and ran towards the displays before them, running past even Viitoic to reach the tables. Alien engineers stepped back to give her space as she stopped at the closest display. An entire table was filled with phones and tablets, more than twenty different models and makes, some with smashed screens, some factory fresh, others in protective or decorative cases. Jasmine looked around and saw rows and rows of human items laid out and documented like it was an archeological dig. There must have been thousands of former belongings. ¡°Where did you get all of this?¡± she asked. ¡°From the remnants of the Rajavan hull,¡± Viitoic explained, finally catching up to the small human. ¡°We are still processing what we¡¯ve found in the exposed chambers of the ship, but it appears pirates may have made off with the best of the cargo.¡± Jasmine felt her stomach sink. These items belonged to others who had been torn from their homes. How many people had been abducted? How many people had their lives destroyed by the Rajava? Too many, way too many¡­ The astronomical odds of her survival at the hands of the gene-harvesters became even smaller, looking at what was left behind. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she asked. ¡°The purpose of these items,¡± Viitoic said, ¡°and what use they would be to the Rajava.¡± He cracked his tooth plates together, sending a shiver down Jasmine¡¯s spine. He constantly reminded her of the Rajava, the enemy of the Galactic council, and the current resident of her nightmares. Jasmine walked along the rows of tables, looking at how the items of Earth had been categorized, running a finger down the steel tables as she did so. Phones, chargers, torches, toiletries, books, sleeping bags, pens, pencils, cameras, video cameras, bowls, plates, cutlery, beer bottles, tables and tables of clothes, there was even a section dedicated to beach balls¡­ She noticed she was being watched, all eyes on her as she wandered through their workshop. ¡°... Honestly, there is very little here an intergalactic society would want,¡± she replied honestly. ¡°This is all personal items and camping equipment. Maybe they¡¯d want the computer components of the phones and cameras but there is nothing here that you guys don¡¯t already have-¡± She stopped at a table filled with mirrors, gingerly picked up a small makeup mirror and stared at her reflection. She almost didn¡¯t recognise it. Blue eyes that needed more sleep, long nose and rounded chin, her eyebrows had grown bushy and untamed. Her summer tan had faded to nothingness along with the small freckles that dotted her nose, her hair so short she could see the shape of her skull for the first time. The exposed translator peeked out from behind her right ear, small metal plates and wires grafted to her skull. She touched the scar above it, where alien numbers forever marked her. Jasmine put down the mirror. She wasn¡¯t prepared for how much she had changed. Would she ever look like her old self again? The next table was stacked with keys, so many car keys, and for a split second a set caught her eye. ¡°No¡­¡± she breathed, and reached for the beat up chain, Kermit the frog and a cat bell jingled in her hands. ¡°Could it be...¡± Her heart skipped a beat, the fear and uncertainty was replaced with a fiery flash of determination. ¡°Engine Lord!¡± she bellowed. ¡°Where is the car that belongs to this?!¡± she demanded, thrusting the set of keys into the alien monstrosity''s line of sight. The Engine Lord tilted his head curiously at the tiny object. ¡°Car?¡± he repeated, but Jasmine pushed on furiously. ¡°Car, vehicle, transport, four wheel drive, the piece of shit Pajero you pulled these from!!¡± she just about screamed. Viitoic had to take a step back, his back tentacle creeping out and pointing to the right side of the workshop. Rows and rows of cars, lined up by colour and size, stood waiting to be rummaged through. Jasmine took off at full speed, leaving the aliens behind. Her heart raced, adrenaline flushing through her veins as she sprinted towards the makeshift car yard. She didn''t even slow down as she drew closer, climbing up on a Volkswagen beetle to get a better vantage point. She squealed when she saw it, Chamkov¡¯s rusting red 1998 Mitsubishi Pajero, sitting right between a red BMW and a much younger model Land Rover. She jumped off the beetle and made a beeline for the Pajero, gripping the key so tight it left an indent in her hand. She steadied her hand, sliding the key into the door with ease. It opened on the first try. She just about threw the door open, climbed in and slammed it behind her. Jasmine sat in the driver''s seat and cried tears of absolute joy. She ran her hands over the dashboard and wheel. Kaitie''s bag and towel still sat in the passenger seat untouched. She looked in the back and found Warren''s canvas bag tucked under the driver''s seat, Chamkov¡¯s lying in the back with the fishing gear and her own sat neatly on the back seat. Jasmine climbed over the chairs to get to her yellow ripcurl bag, pulling the zip back as she wiped tears from her face. It was all still there. Her clothes, her phone, notebook, hat¡­ her scent. She breathed in the faded body spray, sweat and dirt and fell back onto the seat, holding the open bag tightly to her chest. She had gotten it back, a small piece of herself and her friends. Voices interrupted her moment of euphoria, faint calls from Xant and Rynard. She came to her senses for a moment, and watched as they began to make their way over to her. Carefully she made her way back to the driver''s seat, key stuck in the door. Curiosity began to take hold. She wound down the window and pulled the key from the door before sliding it into the ignition. There was no way it would actually start¡­ would it? She turned it over to the first click. The dashboard came to life. Lights and gauges flickered and moved, the radio blared static. She squealed as the battery warmed up the old beat up. Jasmine decided to chance it, turning over the key to start the engine. It was like waking up an old angry tractor. Fumes spluttered from the tail pipe as she gently tapped on the accelerator. The engine complained, loudly, screeching and squealing before the old fuel flooded the pistons and the V6 engine roared. ¡°YESSSSS!¡± she shouted in victory, but it was not yet complete. She leaned back and opened the armrest, pulling out the ¡®short list¡¯ of Chamkov CDs. There was only one song she needed right now. The song of her people. She loaded the red and silver disk into the player, wound down the windows, turned up the speakers to 11 and let [Angus Young''s guitar blast through the speakers¡­](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2AC41dglnM) Xant and Rynard stopped in their tracks when they heard the ghastly howl of an ancient combustion engine. It was terrifying. Xant had never heard a mechanism make such a deafening roar before, he didn''t even know it was possible! Even ship engines did not match the ferocity of the steel box moving toward them, Jasmine''s grinning face behind the glass. Then came the alarms. It was the only way he could describe the noise, it was rhythmic, repeating itself over and over with impressive volume blasting from inside the human contraption. He covered his ears, how could Jasmine stand to be anywhere near it?! His ears quivered as he saw that not only could she stand it, but she was yelling along with it. Rynard scooped up the doctor as the vehicle drove itself closer to them, turning to its side before coming to a full stop. The aliens stood in shock as Jasmine opened the passenger door and screamed over the noise. ¡°WANNA COME FOR A RIDE?¡± She grinned. ¡°What?¡± Xant quivered, her aura promising excitement and exhilaration. ¡°GET IN, XANT! YOU¡¯LL LOVE IT!¡± Jasmine laughed, throwing a bag into the back compartment. Xant looked to Rynard, who was just as confused as he was. ¡°I mean,¡± the captain muttered ¡°she¡¯s not upset¡­¡± ¡°She looks like she¡¯s on glass...¡± Xant muttered back, but the ever alluring power of Human Freq was convincing him otherwise. He had seen Jasmine happy before, but this was a whole other level of thrilling. The doctor climbed into the vehicle warily, Jasmine lowering the seat so his tail could fit. It was so loud, if not for his suit it would have physically hurt. ¡°HOLD ON!¡± Jasmine warned, ¡°Hold on to what--?¡± Xant started, when he saw Jasmine begin to operate the machine manually. Shifting levers and stepping on pedals, the force of acceleration was startling, they took off and continued to speed up while Jasmine weaved the steel death trap through the rows of human tech. The human controlled the machine, shouting out loud and sending out pulses in time with the blaring alarm. ¡°I WAS CAUGHT, IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAILROAD TRACK!¡± To his horror, ¡°I LOOKED AROUND, AND I KNEW THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK¡± He came to the realisation, ¡°MY MIND RACED, AND I THOUGHT, WHAT COULD I DO-OOOH?¡± That this wasn¡¯t an alarm, ¡°AND I KNEW, THERE WAS NO HELP, NO HELP FROM YOU!¡± It was music. ¡°SOUND OF THE DRUMS, BEATING OF MY HEART! THE THUNDAH OF GUNS, TORE ME APART!!¡± Violent and energetic, she sang with passion unmarred by the effects of alcohol and the words flowed as naturally as she walked or breathed. Xant felt an unbottled catharsis as she poured herself into the cacophony of the machine and its music. Her aura emanating bold, bright and brash. ¡°YOU¡¯VE BEEN,¡± she drew a deep breath and slammed the pedal with her foot and an electric pulse exploded from her body, ¡°THUNDAHSTRUCK!¡± Xant held on tightly, not for the force of the car, but to shield himself from the human''s blazing light. She drove the car straight up to Viitoic, locking its wheels in place, and before Xant had even the time to collect himself she opened the door (without turning the machine off!) and climbed up on the roof so she was eye to eyes with the Engine Lord. ¡°Engine Lord! This vehicle and all its contents belong to me,¡± she commanded, bright and clear, ¡°All of these items once belonged to a human with hopes and memories, they will be treated with the respect they deserve.¡± ¡°Yes¡­Namegiver,¡± Viitoic spluttered, shocked the once tiny, frightened citizen could turn her Freq around so quickly and command him. ¡°I have no fucking clue what the Rajava would want with our inferior tech, but I get the feeling those disgusting assholes were more concerned about us¡­¡± Viitoic blinked and stepped back. He looked at the dozens of vehicles, hundreds of belongings and remembered the Rajavan transport ship was capable of transporting thousands of these beings. If this one little human was powerful enough to rock the will of an Engine Lord, what perverse horrors could the Rajava breed with millions of liters of their raw material? Suddenly, the curiosity of the items lost his interest. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right, Namegiver. The worth of the items is certainly inferior. They are yours to do with as you wish.¡± He bowed his head. ¡°My assistants will help you with any inquiries you might have.¡± Viitoic slowly slunk away. He suddenly needed to prepare himself. He needed to have many, many words with the Lieutenant Commander. Jasmine stood proudly, having banished her fear and the swell of confidence lifted her spirits. She climbed back off the roof, slid into the driver¡¯s seat and smiled at Xant. The doctor was still holding on rather tightly, wondering what possessed Jasmine to speak to an Engine Lord in such a way. ¡°Jasmine¡­ have we finished with the vehicle?¡± ¡°No, not yet, there''s still one more thing I need to check out,¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°That,¡± Jasmine pointed through the windscreen, Xant lowered his head and the object in question became apparent. Towering above and behind the rows of cars was a single, large vehicle, much more to the scale of Galactic Council ships, but sleeker, and elegant. ¡°What is it?¡± Xant asked curiously. ¡°That,¡± Jasmine smirked, shifting the Pajero into gear, ¡°is a super yacht.¡± Disparity Chapter 5: Choosing Battles Nako stood pacing in his officer¡¯s quarters listening to the never-ending flood of reports on his terminal. He was currently stuck in his office, mitigating the shitstorm left in his wake caused by the Rajavan transport vessel and the supposed contents therein. Commanders delivered sector reports, inquiries about ship maintenance, and thinly disguised requests for having a closer look at the Rajavan vessel as soon as it was available to do so. Knight Commander Kotorn had explicitly grounded Nako for bringing this ¡®interference¡¯ to his quadrant, but the Knight Commander had also left almost immediately with his own massive fleet after the pirate armada thanks to Nako mapping the location of the incident. It was during this commotion and the KC¡¯s absence that Nako was able to slip away to secure Jasmine and the other lifeforms from Esaander. Disobeying his commanding officer¡¯s orders was reckless, downright rogue if some questions were to be asked, but great reward was not without great risk. Which was why burying all reports of his leaving was a prudent matter. If he could cover the instances of his absence with enough mundanity, Kotorn may not even notice the blip of time he was gone. The Knight Commander had more important matters to focus his attention on than the 38 routine patrols under his command. Tifera stood ever vigilant, screening the messages on Nako¡¯s terminal for him to listen to. C Uku¡¯Tav: Salutations Lieutenant Commander. I, Commander Uku¡¯Tav of the OCHRE 93633401, am requesting extra recreation time for my rangers, they have not engaged the enemy in nearly four patrols and are growing restless without combat. I fear they may be too eager to launch into a fight and resist my command. Awaiting your response. Nako continued to pace as the message finished and his Captain, Tifera waited for her lord¡¯s reply. He turned on his heel, a focus on the task on hand. LC Nako: Commander Uku¡¯tav your request for recreation is denied, have your ship¡¯s patrol pulled out of rotation and apply for either patrol in sectors 130 or 156. Both routes have had an abundance of activity in the past few [weeks] and the extra presence may be needed to stamp out the pirate¡¯s confidence. ¡°Very good sire,¡± Tifera nodded as she sent off Nako¡¯s order. Her Lord continued to pace. ¡°Bring up the next report,¡± he demanded. ¡°Yes-¡± Tifera scrolled through the terminal list, but a notification blocked her path. ¡°My lord, it appears the Knight Commander¡¯s fleet has returned to the system.¡± Nako stopped his pacing. ¡°How many reports have we finished?¡± he asked. ¡°[120] patrol reports [94] asset requests, [64] miscellaneous reports, in total, [278] orders have been actioned.¡± Nako let his shoulders relax, if that wasn''t enough audchive files to bury his absence then Kortorn was officially out for his reassignment. His plan, providing it stayed intact, was to be as quiet and polite as possible. He didn''t need any unwanted attention during this time. ¡°Is the fleet making an address?¡± he queried ¡°The channels are on standby, the fleet hasn''t made an approach to Branch,¡± Tifera answered. ¡°Good, until the Knight Commander makes his address we still have work to do. Do you have the isolated copies of the Namegiver files?¡± Tifera nodded and proudly presented Nako with a dataslate case. ¡°As you ordered, my Lord,¡± she replied staunchly. Nako looked over the case and the eight dataslates nestled safely inside, containing all the reports of the human (previously unknown alien) technology and the Esaander files recorded by Dr Xant, and most importantly including all accounts of Jasmine¡¯s physical and frequency prowess. For his own records of course, in case anything were to happen outside of his parameters, and to serve as a small piece of insurance to cover his loss, or to rally a cause. ¡°Sire, the Knight commander is making his address.¡± ¡°Broadcast it.¡± Tifera closed the dataslate case and tapped the interface of the terminal. A holographic image of Kotorn stood proudly before them, his cape disheveled and dragged on the ground and his ceremonial sword drawn for dramatic effect. KC Kotorn: Rangers of the Council, on this 56th [day] of 2nd quarter, year 306 of the Rejuvenation dynasty is a day to be remembered. The Pirate Armada of sector 138 has finally been wounded beyond repair, we chased them for [weeks] with only the faintest of ship trails to follow, but deserters and cowards are no match for the council¡¯s might. No longer will our citizens fear to travel our routes, no longer will we lose ships to their ambush tactics. Together, we can declare this sector RECLAIMED! Nako¡¯s antennae twitched. That was a very bold statement for Kotorn to make, wonderful news to be sure, another sector of space safe and out of savagry¡¯s hands, but the news also made the lieutenant uneasy. The pirates had given this sector¡¯s military a combative challenge for [decades] and now, after only a month they fall to Kotorn and his mid-sized fleet? Two months after Nako found them picking the bones of a Rajavan Transport? Perhaps he needed to move his plans forward to compensate. ¡°Sire,¡± Tifera said to him, ¡°shall we send your congratulatory address?¡± Nako puffed out his chest and folded his hands behind his back. ¡°Yes, begin recording.¡± LC Nako: Congratulations Knight Commander, this is a victory for the council and all civilised beings. I await a formal address so that I might compliment your victory in person. Civil and punctual, and with any luck Kotorn would be in good enough of a mood to contact him last, or not at all. The usually brooding commander certainly seemed to revel in his victory- ¡°Sire, you are being hailed by the KC,¡± Tifera interrupted him. That caught Nako off guard, his stance shifting so his cloak covered his body and he lowered his head for the holographer to capture. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Answer it,¡± he ordered. The holographic image of Kotorn appeared before them, his attendants scuttered around refolding and pinning his cape and emblems. KC Kotorn: Lieutenant Commander, thank you for your message, although it was a little curt for a reclamation announcement. LC Nako: I suspected you might receive so many messengers that one more lengthy address, especially from me, was the last thing you may have wanted. KC Kotorn: Huh, I suppose you''re right lieutenant, you''re finally beginning to think about others for a change. Since your address was so short, I hope you were busy while I was gone? LC Nako: I have put all my affairs in order, no notable conflicts or occurrences have happened in your absence. KC Kotorn: Hmmm good good, it seems that grounding you was a wise decision on my part. Lastly, did you find a buyer for the Rajavan hull? LC Nako: ¡­ it is currently in evaluation, I am waiting to hear back from Viitoic before i can properly auction it off. KC Kotorn: It doesn''t need an evaluation, it needs to be handed off to a corporation. Sell it, get the contribution credits and return to active duty protecting our citizens. You''re a Ranger, not an info-broker. LC Nako: May I humbly offer an opposing opinion? The amount of unusual findings could help us- KC Kotorn: I never accepted the offer of your opinion, give the damned vessel to the scientists and the companies. We need to focus on being out there protecting the people and you filling the Engine lord''s time with unrelated work is taking him away from what he¡¯s supposed to be doing! Our ships need to be maintained, above all else. LC Nako: Even at the cost of the Rajava consuming another creator species? KC Kotorn: That is none of your concern. I have given you an order lieutenant, we protect the citizens of the council and you are close to losing sight of that goal. LC Nako: I have not lost my sight, I protect all civilized beings, even those the council has not yet recognised. KC Kotorn: What have you been up to Nako?! LC Nako: I am acting benefactor of the ambassador ¡®Namegiver¡¯ until the correct council members can be contacted- KC Kotorn: WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING WITH THIS?! SHIP HER OFF TO THE CLOSEST COMPANY, WE ARE SOLDIERS NOT DIPLOMATS! DO THE JOB YOU WERE BRED AND PAID FOR TO DO!! I WILL NOT HEAR ANOTHER STUPID OPINION FROM THAT SWOLLEN HEAD OF YOURS, THAT IS AN ORDER!!¡± LC Nako: ¡­ Acknowledged Knight Commander, KC Kotorn: IF YOU CONTINUE LIKE THIS YOUR AMBITIONS WILL BURN YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND I WILL BE GLAD TO SEE YOU REDUCED TO ASHES! Link terminated Nako lifted his head and turned his back to the terminal¡¯s holo-display, grinding his mandibles with distaste. ¡°Captain, make a copy of that conversation and share it with the Namegiver ¡± ¡°Yes sire¡­¡± Nako watched as Tifera slid the dataslate marked for Kotorn¡¯s conversation into the terminal slot. He glared as the computer imprinted the device with the memory of the conversation. It was pushed out with a small gasp of air and Nako snatched it up, tucking it underneath his cloak for later viewing. The terminal¡¯s notification went off again, and Nako was about ready to ignore the machine entirely but Tifera spoke upbefore he could give the order. ¡°It is the Engine lord, shall i let it through?¡± ¡°Only for him,¡± Nako sighed. EL Viitoic: Salutations Lieutenant. LC Nako: Salutations Engine Lord, to what do I owe the pleasure? EL Viitoic: I think we can push formality aside Lieutenant, just this once. LC Nako: Oh? You don''t want to camouflage your intentions? Should I be worried Engine Lord? EL Viitoic: Very much so, when you advised you had the creator species responsible for the trinkets, I wasn''t expecting the literal command bomb you let walk into my facility. I would have prepared a more welcoming visit. LC Nako: I did say she was a creator species, as long as you treat her with the same respect you do me you shouldn''t have run into any problems. She¡¯s a civilised being, rather polite considering, what did you do to cause her offense? EL Viitoic: Slander. I did nothing. She was intimidated by my very presence at first but I did nothing to warrant being commanded in such a manner. LC Nako: Oh? She commanded you did she? Since when did you fall prey to such Frequencies? EL Viitoic: My strength of will is not the discussion at hand. Lieutenant, how many more of these namegivers exist? LC Nako: Currently? One. EL Viitoic: One? How do you justify such a ludicrous assumption? LC Nako: Engine lord, when I approached the Rajavan vessel, pirates had gutted the entire thing, and we only managed to gather the few stasis pods that were not torn from their holdings. She is the only creator found among a mass of animals. If her planet has not been consumed and converted it is still behind enemy lines into the unknown. EL Viitoic: Animals? There were other genetic resources aboard the transport found intact?! LC Nako: Yes, but the Namegiver is currently their legal benefactor, if you want your hands on any genetic material you have to negotiate with her. I suggest apologising for a start. EL Viitoic: ¡­. LC Nako: Engine lord? EL Viitoic: ¡­ Lieutenant, you are putting the fate of the council in a very dangerous position. If the Rajava are able to re-emerge with amalgamations created from her entire species then we may be once again fighting for our lives. LC Nako: Engine lord, from what I¡¯ve observed, the Human needs a consciousness intact to be of any use. The Rajava may not have been able to work out how to deconstruct them. EL Viitoic: Even without their Clentessia hive mind the Rajava are still dangerous Lieutenant. Start negotiations for her genetic library, we do not want to be left behind in this arms race. Link terminated. Nako was becoming frustratingly disappointed with how the upper echelons were handling this. While he didnt expect a celebratory promenade every time he entered a room, he would have thought they would have been more excited to meet another creator race. Another friend to fight alongside them in the battle for peace and prosperity was always welcome, and the potential benefits from this particular creator species was as yet incalculable. ¡°Captain, go down to engineering and ensure the Namegiver is not under any duress.¡± ¡°Immediately Sire.¡± Tifera bowed deeply and practically ran out of his office. Nako lingered, there was something he wanted to do before he faced Jasmine in the flesh again. Approaching the west side wall, he waved his hand across the sensor and opened his private training room. It was large enough for him to practice flying drills, with weapons and training dummies all stacked neatly to one side, but they remained in their cases for now. A small glass case filled with medical treatments for minor injuries was his priority, taking out two vials of depressor chems and keeping them on hand. The Freq amplifier stood awaiting his approach. The device broadcast warcry level frequencies, so he could train under combat conditions, he had slates and slates of previously recorded battles at his disposal. But his current training file was unique. It wasn''t a slate at all, but a Freqband. He waved his hand over the sensor. ¡°Deploy at full power, two minute duration,¡± he ordered the device. ¡°File ready to deploy in 10, 9, 8¡­¡± Nako removed his cape and widened his stance, bracing his nerves for the onslaught he was about to endure. ¡°...3, 2, 1.¡± He closed his eyes and waited for the pain. The silence was deafening. The room grew heavy and dark, the knowledge of other soldiers just outside the walls vanished. He was completely and utterly alone. Then the cries of pure anguish lashed his very being. ¡°ARHHHHHHHHH! MUM DAD NO, NO, NO,-¡± Jasmine¡¯s howls were ones he was growing very familiar with. His heart felt like it was torn from his body as his fingers and face boiled. Crashing noises accompanied the wails, and he felt the emotions tearing him down. Anger, despair, hopelessness and loneliness smashed into him like a hammer. Then, it stopped. Nako wrestled with his hands for the first aid chems, slamming the vials into his armour. The suit automatically administered it throughout his nervous system, calming the burning sensation that pained him. ¡°Two minute duration complete, would you like to continue?¡± the amplifier asked him cheerfully. ¡°No,¡± he answered, smiling. He stood his ground this time. Little by little, he would learn to withstand the onslaught, then not even Kortorn would be able to command him. Disparity Chapter 6: Alien Goop Beau stretched his arms one by one in front of him, psyching himself up in the process. The entire experience had been so surreal. One minute he was sitting in the wilderness drinking a beer with some old friends, and the next he was butt ass naked with some poor Japanese kid abducted by aliens. He assumed that when aliens attacked Earth he wouldn¡¯t have been on this end of the scenario. Being behind enemy lines without any equipment or back up was unnerving at best and FUBAR at worst. But Beau had no intention of going quietly into the night. He had a plan in mind, but the only thing he was unsure about was how far the kid was willing to go, or even how far he could go. ¡°Ryo, you do track in school?¡± he asked Sugawara looked over, his face stuck in a constant thinking frown. ¡°Track in school?¡± came the confused reply. Beau sighed, he¡¯d have to word things a little more clearly to get his point across. The kid was smart, he knew that, but if Beau was going to get the best out of him he¡¯d have to give him the direction and leeway he needed. ¡°Uhh, do you run? Jump? Play ball?¡± Beau mimed every action, feeling a little stupid, but they didnt have the luxury of time and Ryo nodded with an almost arrogant smile. ¡°I play ball,¡± he took an imaginary swing with a bat, his aim suspiciously lower than needed to hit the average throw. ¡°That¡¯s good, your swing any good?¡± ¡°The best.¡± Ryo made a cracking noise with another swing. Beau had to laugh, now he was just posturing. ¡°Right then, how¡¯s your punch?¡± Beau put a heavy fist into his palm. It got the message across loud and clear. Ryo paused again, waving his palm up and down ¡°Punch okay.¡± Beau raised his open palm and braced it. If he had been in a fight, all the better. ¡°Then show me.¡± Ryo looked at Beau like he was crazy, before pointing at the fresh shoulder wound. ¡°Hey, you could swing your arm just fine a moment ago, push through the pain,¡± Ryo shook his head, and winced as he threw a punch into Beau¡¯s palm. It wasn¡¯t bad, but he was holding back, probably from pain. ¡°Right. You think you''re ready to start this?¡± Ryo nodded his head. ¡°Okay then, let¡¯s get that thing down.¡± Beau pointed at the camera. Ryo stared back with a blank expression. Beau offered him a leg up. ¡°Get on my shoulders,¡± he said, standing right under the black bulbous device. Ryos shook his head and placed a slightly scratched foot into the soldiers palms, one hand on Beau''s shoulder and the other courteously shielding his modesty from the other man¡¯s face. Ryo was surprisingly agile, not needing too much of hand to balance on his shoulders. ¡°Can you reach it?¡± Beau asked. ¡°Yeah...¡± Ryo said back. He could get his fingers around the plastic shield, but something was strange. All he saw was black, he couldn''t see the camera components inside. Unlike the grates in the floor, there was just enough of a lip between the camera and the ceiling that Suga could get his fingers grip onto. ¡°On three,¡± Suga called to the man below. Beau braced the teenager''s ankles. ¡°Ready!¡± ¡°One, two, three!¡± Suga used his strength and weight to pull and much to his surprise, the shield came off with a ¡®pop¡¯, like it had been hastily glued in place. It came crashing down into him with a hefty weight. Suga pushed it off to the side and let it crash to the floor. The plastic shield bounced and sent the ¡®camera¡¯ flying. It landed with a very wet ¡®slop¡¯. ¡°What the?!¡± There were no sparks of electricity, several wires leaking blue liquid dripped from the large gaping ceiling, more blue stuff pooled beneath the globby looking camera. Beau let Suga down off his shoulder while they inspected the black goop. In the back of his mind he knew he didn¡¯t have time, but the longer they spent in this place, the weirder it got. ¡°What is it?¡± Ryo asked. Beau reached out to touch the black thing. It was slimy, tough and warm. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The worst part was that it was familiar... Beau flipped the gelatinous mass over and reeled back as the black colour began to drain from the goop. Suga jumped back as Beau began to pace out of shock. ¡°What?¡± the kid asked. Beau stopped and pointed an accusing finger at the gelatinous blob. ¡°That thing¡¯s not a camera, it''s a goddamned eyeball.¡± Ryo blinked, several times. ¡°What?¡± he asked again. Beau nearly poked his own damn eye out as he shoved a finger under it. ¡°It¡¯s. A. God. Damned. EYEBALL.¡± Suga sidestepped the larger man to get a closer look, only for a large pupil resting in a pool of blue liquid to be staring back at him. ¡°We need to go,¡± Ryo managed to muster, panic replacing the thinking frown. ¡°Ya think?!¡± Beau snapped back, regaining his senses. ¡°Get up there, hopefully there¡¯s a way out!¡± After another vault up on Beau''s shoulders, Suga could reach up into the shaft behind the alien eyeball camera. The light from below them was enough for him to see there was enough room for him. He pulled himself up, brushed the ¡®wires¡¯ aside and crawled into the space. It was narrow, but while he could crouch comfortably inside, he figured it might be cramped for Beau. ¡°Is it big enough?!¡± the soldier called from down below, ¡°does it go anywhere?!¡± Suga looked in front and behind. Both tunnels trailed off into darkness, but at least they didn¡¯t end right there. Maybe there was still some hope of escape. ¡°Is small, but can move, it goes to dark,¡± came the answer from the ceiling. ¡°Great,¡± Beau replied, but now he had to get up there. He had assumed that the camera would have had enough wire he could have pulled himself up, but if the eyeball was any indication, the ¡®wires¡¯ were probably closer to ¡®veins¡¯. And if it couldn¡¯t support the weight of the camera, it definitely wouldn''t be able to support him. ¡°Just a sec, I¡¯ll get the ¡®shield¡¯.¡± The only thing that had any integrity and ¡®length¡¯ was the camera shield. At the very least he could try using it to get a step up to reach Ryo. The thing was light, like hard molded plastic, but it had suffered a scratch or two from the fall. Hopefully it would stand up to his weight. But Beau didn''t get the chance to test it. The cell doors began to slide open. Beau reacted quickly, running to the side of the door and slamming his body into the wall, waiting for the guards to make their way inside. The bugs didn''t even bother clearing the room before they waltzed in, giving the old soldier the perfect opportunity to shield bash them in. He just about threw himself into them, bashing them with his shield. He knocked one to the floor, stunned, and wasted no time in forcing his fist through the alien''s face over and over. He heard a crack, sharp pieces of shell splintered into his skin and clear sticky blood splattered on the floor. The other panicked and screeched, one set of hands reaching for his taser lance and firing it at Beau, while the second activated a light on his armour. The lance struck Beau in the arm, shocking his body with electricity. He let out a roar of pain, the guard below him an even louder shriek, but the human pushed through the discomfort while the guard stood there quivering. Beau grabbed the lance and ripped it out of the guard''s hand, throwing it out of reach as his victim retaliated. Four flailing hands began trying to grab the human, clawing and bruising his skin, but they were no match for the human''s strength. Beau grabbed an arm, twisting it to break a wrist, flinching when the limb shattered under the pressure. The bug let out another drowning shriek as clear blood splattered in Beau¡¯s face. The unarmed guard, lost in the senseless violence, dived for his lance, only to have the second human crash into his back. Suga heard the alien''s shell crack beneath him, felt its body compress as instinct and fight took over. The young man scrambling to his feet, the sheer weight keeping the bug in place, his foot ensuring he never left it. Suga put his full force into the stomp. The back of the alien''s head shattered like an egg, shards of shell shredding Suga¡¯s skin. He screamed, falling over holding his ankle, as though he had stomped on a broken bottle, pieces of glass now embedded in his foot. Beau¡¯s head whipped around. ¡°Hold on!¡± he cried, before ripping out another arm from the guard below him. The alien garbled a series of clicks, before the blood loss was too great. The body went limp and continued bleeding on the floor. Beau rushed over to help Suga while the headless guard''s body flailed near them, the arms trying to drag the body over to the extended lance. ¡°You ain¡¯t going nowhere,¡± Beau snarled as he reached for a leg, twisting and yanking the limb from the torso. Like removing a blockage, a geyser of alien blood poured out the floor. One final gurgled cry signaled its demise. Suga began muttering curse word after curse word, holding his bleeding foot. Beau acted fast, grabbing a sash off the guard''s uniform and tying it around the ankle to stem the flow of blood. ¡°You really are a tough son of a bitch ain''t ya?¡± Beau commented. ¡°You think you can stand?¡± Beau lifted Suga up and helped the boy hop over to the water. ¡°Wash it off and we¡¯ll get the pieces out.¡± Thankfully, they weren''t too deep, enough to cut and hurt like hell coming out, but no arteries nicked. ¡°You pull them out, I''ll get what we can.¡± Beau looked over the alien bodies, grabbing the taser lances as his first move, second was pulling the little bit of fabric of their uniforms. Bandages and loin cloths were in tall order. The one he had ripped the arms off was sporting a small white cape. Tearing it in two would be enough for them. The armour was of no use, none of it would fit them and from what Beau could tell, it was fused with the aliens'' shells. The blinking light on the second guard''s uniform only served to intensify his anxiety. He tapped it, and much to his surprise, turned it off instantly. Once Suga had pulled out the last piece, Beau rewrapped the sash around the base of the ankle and foot, stemming the bleeding. ¡°You think you''re strong enough to get back on my shoulders?¡± Beau asked. Suga gave a snort and a thumbs up. ¡°Right, climb up.¡± Beau turned around to let Suga climb up his back. Suga¡¯s breathing was heavy, and he used more of his knee to climb, but with Beau steadying him he reached the hole in the ceiling. With a grunt of exertion, Suga pulled himself up, scrambling to lie down in the darkness of the vent. Beau looked over his options to get himself up. Deciding the cape was the quickest, he tore it in two while tying both ends together and throwing it up to Suga. ¡°Tie it off and I''ll pull myself up! Hurry!¡± Suga scrambled, but there were no metal pipes or joins for him to tie it off to. The inside of the vent was¡­unsettling. The surface was like warm, leathery skin. He pulled together several of the veiny cables and double knotted to the best of his ability, hoping it would be able to withstand the weight and force of the large man. The rope went taut and Suga grabbed the end, holding it the best he could while Beau climbed up. The soldier was in the vent in a matter of seconds. ¡°Gah,¡± Beau spat as he pulled himself up, ¡°I hate rope climbs¡­¡± He turned around and pulled up the end of the rope, to which he had tied both taser lances. He untied the knots and handed Suga his portion of the scarf, along with one of the weapons. ¡°So,¡± Beau asked, tying off his new loincloth around his hips. ¡°Left or right?¡± Suga looked down the dark and narrow tunnel. Neither side looked inviting. ¡°I follow you,¡± he answered. ¡°Fine by me.¡± They made their way forward, blindly into the darkness. Without the light to see their other senses took over. The walls of the shaft radiated a living heat, an unnerving noise of the pumping of liquid echoed in the distance. The whole place made Suga¡¯s hairs stand on end. They weren''t just entering the lion¡¯s den, but crawling down its throat. Disparity Chapter 7: In the Lap of Luxury Xant found himself holding on for dear life while his body was crammed into a vehicle it clearly wasn¡¯t designed for. His tail was squished between the tall seat and the frame of the machine, his legs too far apart for them to sit comfortably in the narrow footwell, so he was almost sideways in the forward-facing seat, but that also gave him a clear view of its pilot¡¯s insane method of ¡®driving¡¯ the shaking contraption. Jasmine didn¡¯t even need to look where her feet and hands were going, moving them simultaneously to shift in and out of gear by instinct, all the while singing harsh, deep-throated songs at the top of her lungs. There was no rail or set path, she simply barreled down wherever she wanted at life-threatening speeds. Xant had been observing the human since her revival, and while she had had her ¡®aggressive¡¯ outbursts, brought on through stress and despair respectively, to see her exercise such aggression was fascinating. She was entranced, focused on some unknown ¡®point¡¯ and screaming her pent up emotions at ¡®it¡¯. Xant had never seen such emotional power simply thrown away, but he couldn¡¯t deny he was caught up in the triumph and relief the song gave her. With practised ease, Jasmine stopped the car at the base of the enormous ¡®super yacht¡¯ craft, then gleefully jumped out to climb atop the roof again. ¡°Up here, Xant!¡± she called. The doctor squirmed his way out of the car¡¯s ancient lock system and stood on the ground, looking up at the human. She pointed to a small thin ladder welded to the side of the ship¡¯s stern. ¡°We need to climb that to get on board,¡± she announced. Xant stared at her and then at the wide jump needed to cover that distance. ¡°Is this another attempt at humour?¡± he questioned. The human did laugh, so he supposed he was right. ¡°Well, we could always wait for Rynard to throw you!¡± She smiled, making the hand motion of hefting a ball. ¡°Like tossing a dwarf!¡± She giggled. Xant for the first time questioned Jasmine¡¯s intelligence. ¡°Perhaps we left you in stasis too long¡­¡± He quickly examined the gap. It was going to be an extraordinary effort for him to climb atop the vehicle, let alone cross the divide with his physical ability alone. He tried to mimic Jasmine¡¯s method of climbing on the car, but his hands and feet were not able to find the small gaps her narrower ones could. In the end she had to pull him up, and felt the roof bow with his weight. From up top the distance to the ladder seemed even greater. ¡°How exactly do you propose we climb the ladder from here?¡± he asked her, but Jasmine was still riding the exhilarating high of being ¡®thunderstruck¡¯. ¡°Like this!¡± Without so much as a run-up Jasmine leapt towards the ladder and landed with precision, her elongated limbs showing an agility Xant had not considered during the physical examination. ¡°Let me reframe the question,¡± he huffed. ¡°How exactly do you expect me to climb the ladder from here?!¡± ¡°Oh it¡¯s not that far, it¡¯s barely a jump!¡± ¡°Zenthi don¡¯t ¡®jump¡¯.¡± ¡°That offer for Rynard to throw you is still on the table.¡± Xant scoffed, took a deep breath and rationalised the situation. He was in a military-grade suit, so while his weight and aerodynamics would be affected, his strength was increased and any fall damage negated through the armour and pain blocker chems. So, even if he fell, the only thing that would suffer would be his pride. Another uncomfortable thought peeked through the rationale. He said he wanted to follow Jasmine. This would mean having to keep up with her. He couldn¡¯t do that if he forever deliberated his shortcomings. Xant inched closer to the edge of the car and Jasmine helpfully reached out to him, hanging precariously from the metal bars. ¡°I¡¯ll catch you!¡± she encouraged him. Her arms closing the distance boosted his confidence considerably, and he swayed his body back and forth, ready to leap. This would count as the most adventurous he had been in the steel suit, forever wary of Rynard¡¯s warning of torn ligaments. Xant closed his eyes and pushed himself forward, the suit multiplying the force needed to get him across and almost smashing into the side of the yacht. Thankfully, Jasmine was able to correct her friend¡¯s trajectory and guided his hands to the ladder¡¯s sides, which he clung to for dear life. Jasmine gave a loud cheer. ¡°You did it! Way to go, Xant!¡± And she patted his shoulder. ¡°Now we just have to get to the top! Did you want to go first?¡± Once again, he looked at the human as though she were lacking in common sense. ¡°How do I ¡®go first¡¯? You¡¯re clearly ahead of me!¡± Jasmine could only smile as she maneuvered so only one hand and foot were on the ladder, her body swaying in the open air, unafraid of the drop below. ¡°There you go! Now you¡¯re clear. I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t fall!¡± Xant shuddered, flattened his ears and forced himself to climb up the ladder. He could almost feel the thin aluminium bars being crushed under the strength of the suit, but one step at a time he climbed higher. The top was open, no hatch or easy step, so he had to scramble his way over and landed with a thud. By comparison, he heard Jasmine¡¯s light footsteps make quick work of the ladder, and she was soon helping him up to his feet. ¡°Careful,¡± she teased ¡°you¡¯ll scuff the deck!¡± ¡°Scuff the what?...¡± ¡°Take off your helmet, you¡¯ll see things clearer!¡± Warily, Xant let the locks of his helmet click and unfold while he examined his surroundings. It was an ¡®open air room¡¯, the floor layered like in his office, multiple steps divided for different purposes, with a deep pit made of what looked like blue plastic as the focal point of the main room. Jasmine threw her arms open. ¡°Welcome aboard, matey!¡± she proclaimed with a strange contextual layer to her speech. ¡°Enjoy the pool deck!¡± ¡°Pool? Was this filled with water-¡± Xant took a step closer but his ears were tickled by the sound underfoot. He had assumed the floor would have been of the same steel or plastics the ship was composed of but no, underneath him, the entire floor was made of wood. The doctor spluttered, reaching down to the floor to feel it. There was more wood here than he had seen in his entire lifetime, and humans used it for flooring. ¡°Ooh yeah, nothing beats a pristine hardwood deck, that¡¯s why I told you not to scuff it.¡± Jasmine smiled, tapping the floor with her knuckles in appreciation before walking towards the glass doors. ¡°Let¡¯s check inside! I wonder if everything is still here?¡± Xant followed her. The whole building catered to a human¡¯s sensibilities. He would be stepping into a truly alien environment. And it was beautiful. He was welcomed to a room detailed with wood and gold, glass windows shimmered even in the dim light and displaced furniture made of cloth and silk gathered dust, but their beauty was comparable to imperial belongings. So much craft and detail was poured into every one, he couldn¡¯t fathom how much it took in terms of skill or time to create such things. ¡°Phew! What a mess, help me clean it up a bit¡­¡± Jasmine began uplifting furniture with an almost innate knowledge of where everything should go. Xant was almost too scared to touch anything. ¡°What should I do?¡± he asked, afraid to do any delicate work. ¡°We¡¯ll start by uprighting the chairs, then I¡¯ll tell you where they go okay?¡± she replied almost oblivious to his hesitation. ¡°Alright,¡± The chairs were covered in a soft cushiony material, Xant couldn''t stop brushing his hand over them as he delicately placed the furniture, and dismayed when he saw none of the chairs had a hole for his tail. ¡°I¡¯ll need help with this!¡± Jasmine called, a long lounge took up the space beneath a large window, ¡°it¡¯s not heavy, just awkward to move by myself,¡± she assured him, Xant mimicked the position of her hands on the back and foot of the couch, tilting it back upright and against the wall Jasmine promptly plonked herself upon the pillowy seat, as though she were entitled to its use. ¡°Oh my god¡­ I missed cushions,¡± she patted the unused space beside her, ¡°Don''t be shy! Take a load off!¡± ¡°Just a moment,¡± Xant tapped his suit, he couldn''t contain himself in steel any longer, the temptation to feel his new environment too great. The suit flayed open and he was able to step out of it onto fluffy, soft carpet. Xant lost himself rubbing his feet on the soft fibers, first wood now fabric?? It was obscene! His own carpet was a precious momento, why would humans consider a laborious resource worth turning into a construction material? Were wood and fabrics not luxury items in there world? If that were the case, what were considered luxury goods? ¡°Is something wrong Xant?¡± Jasmine asked, then Xant realised he had been staring at the floor for too long. ¡°The floor, is this a common fixture?¡± ¡°The carpet? I mean, the owner was a mad man to have white carpet on a boat, but if you can afford something like this you¡¯re not cleaning it yourself,¡± Jasmine shrugged, ¡°Carpet is not uncommon, but generally going out of style where I¡¯m from because it''s so hard to keep clean,¡± Xant was both relieved and perplexed by the answer. ¡°So the reason it is not more common is maintenance?¡± ¡°Yeah, keeping carpet, let alone white carpet clean is a nightmare, in a dry country, too much dust and dirt.¡± Jasmine explained, happy to be talking about the mundanity. ¡°If you think the carpet is amazing you should try out the couch here!¡± Xant looked over the seat, it appeared all human furniture had a tall, back support, with no consideration for large tails such as his own. He did spy a more accommodating stool with the same cushiony substance on top. ¡°I think this might be more appropriate,¡± he flipped over the stool and sat, comfortably, very comfortably. He let his body relax as he took in more of the surroundings through naked eyes, there were still so many things thrown about and lying on the floor displaced. Close to his seat was a glass container, a curious vessel to be sure, appearing to be intricately carved. It was rectangular, and for whatever reason, had uniformed, pyramid shaped protrusions on the outside. He had to be very careful picking it up. Jasmine''s eyes lit up when he inspected the object closer. It smelled of disinfectant. ¡°Oh my god yes!¡± The human scrambled off the couch and started rummaging through the storage shelves that stood strangely towards the centre of the room. He proposed it was a display of some kind with the objects of its focus somewhere on the floor. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Jasmine?¡± ¡°Ah ha!¡± she cried triumphantly, pulling out another uniquely shaped bottle, ¡°Now this is going to be great,¡± she skipped over to Xant, picking up more glass rectangles on her way over and handing him an empty one, placing his original finding on the table. She poured out an amber looking liquid, a drop in his glass and a more substantial pour in hers. ¡°What is it?¡± Xant asked. ¡°Old enough to vote,¡± she giggled, closed her eyes, took a small sip before exhaling and shivering pleasantly, ¡°This is, well, I''m guessing it''s older now, but aged whisky, aka, human alcohol.¡± Xant wrinkled up his snout. ¡°Is it supposed to be this colour?¡± ¡°Yes, when you drink it, you can taste the oak barrels and honey.¡± she breathed in the fumes, getting a reaction from then alone, ¡°But I know you guys use this for disinfectant, so, you only get a drop if you''re brave enough to try it.¡± ¡°Considering what it does to your physiology, I doubt my own constitution can handle it.¡± Xant held the glass a good distance from his nose, resting it on his knee. ¡°Shame,¡± she shrugged and took another sip. Xant couldn''t taste it, but watched as Jasmine drank and melted into relaxation. ¡°Ahhh, like drinking warm silk,¡± she described. Curiosity got the better of him, he leaned in and took a quick sniff of the sample she gave him. It was woody and sweet, but the second sniff burnt the inside of his nostrils. Xant graciously placed the ¡®drink¡¯ down, while Jasmine chuckled at his reaction. ¡°Yeah it¡¯s not a drink for a first timer, I think it gets even more potent the longer it sits¡­ and who knows how long we were floating out there.¡± ¡°By my best estimates, it could have been [decades].¡± Xant piped up, smoothing out his ears as he did so, ¡°I¡¯ve been trying to figure out where your planet of origin might be located by calculating the unexplored regions of the system, what is currently reachable by galactic council gates and the limit of stasis pods.¡± Xant bowed his head. ¡°But my knowledge in these areas is rudimentary at best, the information is expansive to say the least.¡± Jasmine sat quietly for a moment, staring into her drink, before she threw her head back and swallowed the drink in one go. ¡°Whoooo! -cough- Okay, we''ve seen this room, what else is there to explore!¡± she swayed getting to her feet, but charged forward anyway. Xant followed closely behind, incase she lost her footing. The hallways connecting the chambers were very narrow, almost too narrow for himself, and all of them had such sharp ascents and descents. The human lead them inside to one of the many inner chambers, each one as tossed around as the last. An entire ¡®library¡¯ of paper books, another room dedicated to the act of ¡®entertaining¡¯ featuring a destroyed dataslate the size of an operating table, smaller ¡®bedrooms¡¯ that appeared to just be filled with more cushiony furniture. ¡°And here is the master bedroom,¡± Jasmine pushed aside the ornate wooden doors to reveal yet another spectacular feat in craftmanship, almost as large as the entertainment deck but the center was just a bed, mounted with layers of fabric. The tapestry that lay across it was nothing short of breath taking, giant, intertwining flowers embroidered with gold thread sprawled across its majesty. He¡¯d never seen anything as intricate made from pure cloth, the designs were simply beautiful. ¡°You really like that bedspread huh?¡± Jasmine questioned, peering over his shoulder. Xant ran his hand over the quilt, picking it up and feeling the weight of it, wondering what it was like to not be mesmerised by it all. ¡°Are humans always surrounded by such beauty?¡± he asked. The question caught her off guard, and she looked around the room. ¡°Not always, but, at the same time, this is closer to what it¡¯s like on Earth than either the station or the base,¡± she held her arms as she took lazy steps across the room. ¡°Windows framed with curtains, pictures and paint on the walls, bedsheets and pillows of different patterns and colours, we like ¡®beautiful¡¯ surroundings.¡± She fell backward dramatically onto the large bed, rolling on the blankets and looking up at Xant, ¡°You¡¯ve got no excuse to not feel what the bed is like, come lay down and try it out.¡± Xant sighed, took a deep breath and mimicked Jasmine¡¯s actions, letting himself flop forward onto the bed. It was fluffy and soft. ¡°I think the sheets have a proper 1000 thread count too, maybe I could make a proper cape out of this huh?¡± she muttered absently, as if to appreciate it more than he already was. ¡°It is absolutely fascinating that humans sleep on such luxury,¡± he replied as he felt his body sink into the mattress. ¡°The lucky ones sleep on such luxury, but I do appreciate bedsheets after going without for so long.¡± she wrapped herself up in the quilt, ¡°human burrito!¡± she wriggled happily. Her attention was shortening by the moment, as she rolled off the most comfortable place to exist to peek around a door. ¡°The ensuite!!¡± she squealed, ¡°Oh Xant you have to see what a real bathroom looks like!¡± If the master bedroom was the most comfortable place in the world, then the ensuite was the most ornate. Xant couldn¡¯t even identify what half the items were in the room, but they apparently all pertained to the simple act of grooming. Long, wide mirrors lined one side of the entire room all decorated with traces of gold. Double marble basins and gold taps sat beneath them. Frosted glass windows, a bath big enough to fit 4 and a gold decorated bidet made up the rest of the fixtures as Jasmine once again began rummaging through the shelves, making happy noises with every new discovery. ¡°Xant hold out her hand!¡± The doctor reluctantly did so, Jasmine placed a small white blob in his hands. ¡°Smell it!!¡± she insisted, fever in her eyes. He took a quick and wary sniff, but the burning sensation he expected never came. A fresh and vibrant perfume filled his senses, a sweetness he¡¯d never known. ¡°It''s jasmine hand cream! This is what my namesake smells like!¡± she dotted her entire face with the cream and rubbed it into her skin. ¡°A moisturizer?¡± he questioned, only for Jasmine to shove a cavalcade of tiny coloured bottles under his nose. ¡°Yes! And here¡¯s shampoo and conditioner for hair, moisturizer, face cream, body wash, exfoliant, oh god please, oh please let the water be running!¡± She dived for the taps to the bath, wrenching the handle as hard and as fast as it would go, but to no avail. ¡°Noooo,¡± she sobbed, hanging her head in an exaggerated display of defeat, ¡°¡®spose it was too good to be true, the water in the tanks would be dry¡­¡± Xant peered over the bathtub. ¡°So humans, clean themselves in still water?¡± ¡°Well, soaking in the tub is fun, it''s not exclusively how we clean ourselves, the shower is better for that,¡± ¡°So what is the difference between a human shower and our own?¡± Jasmine pulled a disgruntled face. ¡°It¡¯s the difference between a warm gentle rain and a cold pressure hose!¡± She exclaimed, offended to compare the two. ¡°Oh, I wonder if we could get it running again¡­¡± She absent mindedly lifted up a wicker basket, finding a few clothes the previous owners had left behind. ¡°So what do you think?¡± She asked, lifting a floral summer dress up over her figure. ¡°The patterns are beautiful, but, is it a cape?¡± ¡°No! it¡¯s a dress! Hmmm, but I¡¯d have to lose a few kilos for it to fit.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m a little bit bigger than the supermodel who stayed on this boat, but nothing a few weeks of exercise and diet couldn¡¯t fix. Since there¡¯s no junk food I really don¡¯t have the excuse,¡± she shrugged again. ¡°Are you not already in optimal condition?¡± Xant asked, wondering how drastically humans were able to alter their appearance by ¡®diet and exercise¡¯ alone. ¡°Pfffft! No, god no.¡± she pulled at her stomach fat playfully. ¡°Too much good food, and junk food makes for chunky humans,¡± ¡°Junk food?¡± he wasn¡¯t sure he wanted the answer. Jasmine grinned ear to ear. ¡°Junk food, food that holds almost no nutritional value but is all about taste, glorious morcells of sugar, salt and colour dye.¡± Xant was horrified. ¡°There is a chance sugar could be found aboard this vessel? We would need to destroy if there is any Intact, we can¡¯t afford to have such a dangerous substance in our possession,¡± Sugar, unless tightly regulated, was disastrous on a Sulins functions, forcing them into ever more primal and instinctual behaviours, destructive and damaging to the metabolic rate so it might never recover. Jasmine shrugged it off. ¡°Well if they¡¯re going to be anywhere on the ship, they¡¯ll be in the kitchen!¡± They headed down to the bottom decks and stepped into a stainless steel wonderland. Jasmine was in her element, running her hand over the many specialised equipment Xant watched on in wonder. An entire stocked kitchen, filled to the brim with human utensils and all of it dedicated to the production of food. Everything was specialised and especially crafted for a use, Jasmine pulled out a drawer and began listing uses for the tools. ¡°Whisk, spatula, wooden spoon, pasta spoon, pasta scoop, deep frier spider, colander, sauce spoon, carving fork, long tongs, short tongs, tiny whisk, hand beater, electric beater, hand blitzer, measuring cups, bowls, and spoons!¡± she laughed, flicking her wrist and letting the drawer close ¡°and that was all in one drawer! There''s at least cooking stations here¡­ oh! Xant look!¡± Jasmine lifted a book from the floor and brought it over for them to look at. ¡°Here, this is what human food is supposed to look like.¡± The graphical fidelity of the pictures was phenomenal considering that it wasn''t on a computer screen, the colours and shapes didn''t even seem like what he knew as ¡®food¡¯. He had seen grand sculptures that didn''t have nearly as interesting dimensions as the consumable on the page, and page after page, dish after dish, each one was a work of art. She showed him the variety of knives on display and the stupid amount of cutlery for eating said food. The rules about what drinks to pair with the food, when and when it was not appropriate for certain dishes to be eaten. This was more than just an industry to these people, the production and skill devoted to it was¡­ Garish. Her passion was so genuine and fulfilling towards such grotesque spectacle Xant wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. It was the first time he felt so uncomfortable, being surrounded by something completely alien to his senses and sensibilities. He watched as Jasmine got down on her hands and knees, digging through the numerous boxes and cans of non-perishables, excitedly showing all the colourful, attention grabbing items. ¡°Man I¡¯ve never even heard of some of these brands¡­ 7 Belo?¡± she muttered under her breath, flipping over the bag to check the ingredients, ¡°Oh!! Brazil! Ha, well I guess we know where Nako¡¯s giant flag came from!¡± She tore into the box, lifting out a small red square and popping it in her mouth. The human just about ran on the spot as she chewed the tiny delectable. ¡°Raspberries!!¡± she giggled, and then quickly stashed the bag in one of the drawers, before she spotted it. Jasmine stood before a giant set of doors, her hands hovering over the handles. ¡°The fridge¡­¡± she murmured. The thing nearly took up half the kitchen in terms of space, a massive walk in that most shops would have been envious of. ¡°We keep perishable goods in here, I wonder if anything is still inside?¡± She pulled open the door to the side and they were both greeted to the most foul stench. Rotting and liquefied remains of meat and vegetable slopped out onto the floor, the fridge¡¯s seals had fermented the smell to overpowering levels. ¡°Air!¡± Jasmine shouted as she scrambled past Xant, ¡°I need air!¡± They ran up several stairs to escape the toxic gas and were able to breathe a sigh of relief once above deck. The human just about had a fit of sardonic laughter. ¡°Xant, youre supposed to stop me from being stupid remember?¡± ¡°Up until this point Jasmine I had judged you to be more intelligent, perhaps we should stop spending so much time with Rynard?¡± That enlisted another laugh from Jasmine, who playfully pushed on Xants shoulder. ¡°Oh you cant keep blaming him for everything Xant! Sometimes humans are just dumb!¡± They appeared to have come out the other side of the ships main deck, more couches and pools littered the area as Jasmine made her way to the open bow of the ship. She walked to its peak, then climbed over the barely there safety railing to hold the spearhead. Jasmine puffed out her chest, threw her arms open and proclaimed for the entire engineering wing to hear. ¡°I''M ON A BOAT, I¡¯M ON A BOAT! TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT MY MOTHER FUCKING BOAT!¡± An echo of uproarious laughter soon followed suit, a joke Xant wasn¡¯t privy to as the human climbed back to join him. ¡°You know,¡± she said between heavy panting, ¡°I think, I''m done for the moment, I need a break from all this excitement,¡± She flopped herself down on one of the sunbeds, and Xant stood over her. ¡°Jasmine, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask,¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± ¡°All of this, everything on this ship is wonderful but, it is nothing like the memory of your home that you shared with me. This is pure opulence, but your memory was far more humble and comforting,¡± ¡°Well, that''s because this is super yacht, and not a lower-income one bedroom apartment,¡± The human replied. ¡°So, what measure of wealth allows people to live such drastically different lives?¡± Came the serious question. ¡°... I, dunno know, they''re mostly owners of companies, corporations, kings, queens, people who run economies¡­¡± Was the sheepish reply. ¡°What expertise defines their worth to be that much more than yours?¡± Xant asked pointedly. Jasmine faltered for an answer. While she could throw around words like investment portfolios and trust funds, she didn''t actually understand the system as well as she would have liked. ¡°They study finance, have rich parents, inherited gold mines¡­ luck I guess? There¡¯s many different ways to get there.¡± She rolled on her side, to avoid the alien staring intensely back at her. ¡°So, every human has the chance to attain this level of contribution credit?¡± ¡°No¡­ Not really.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fair,¡± Xant remarked, finally lying down beside her. Jasmine stared up at the steel enclosed ceiling, reflecting. ¡°No it''s not, but, it¡¯s getting better,¡± she replied ¡°Slowly but surely, it''s getting better. Things could certainly be a lot worse.¡± Dispairty Chapter 8: Squids It was slow-moving in the ¡®ducts¡¯, although Beau hesitated to call them as such. There were too many things bout it that made his gut twist, it was body heat warm, cramped enough the pleather feeling walls slid against his skin and dark enough to multiply the creepy as hell factor by about a billion. Even though he was at the helm of their expedition, their progress was slowed due to the irregular placements of the snotball cameras. They sat in the bottom of the shaft, and sat in the concave clear covers open-faced, he made the mistake of pushing his entire left arm through one before and was now covered in alien fluids. It tasted like ass. Beau had been trying to keep track of how far he and Ryo had been travelling, but he had lost count somewhere around the first camera crushing incident. They had to have gone at least a few clicks and with no end in sight their ¡®prison¡¯ must have been huge. ¡°You holding up okay Ryo?¡± he called over his shoulder. ¡°Hai,¡± came the teenage groan in reply. ¡°That¡¯s good, cause this is some real bullshit. Bet you¡¯d never figure you¡¯d ever had to crawl down some janky-ass, alien spaceship.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± the reply was annoyed this time, but Beau didn¡¯t feel like staying quiet, there was only so much he could hold in without it causing problems later. ¡°I¡¯d always thought I¡¯d be on the ground, fighting the ¡®good fight¡¯ as it were, not that an alien invasion was the first thing on my mind. Figured someone would have pushed the red button before aliens¡­¡± Beau wiped the sweat from his brow ¡°what were you doing before your life was up-ended?¡± Ryo groaned louder, stopping his crawl to answer his question. ¡°Camping,¡± was the answer. ¡°Heh, you too? Jesus its a small world, Me and a couple of buddies were just sitting around a campfire talking about the not-so-good old days. Next thing we know, our dogs were barking like crazy and a bright light blinded me¡­¡± Beau stopped and took a breather, his limbs were starting to complain about the cramped conditions laying down flat and stretching. ¡°You in school Ryo?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sugawara lied. ¡°That¡¯s good, you should stick with it, what are you studying?¡± There was another long pause as the boy tried to remember the right words, finally setting on ¡°Science,¡± with a grunt. ¡°Good, that¡¯s going to come in handy, you handle the brains, I¡¯ll keep a hold on the brawn!¡± Beau replied, catching himself getting louder. Why was he shouting? The last thing they needed was to be heard. He held his breath, and listened. There was a humming, just loud enough he couldn¡¯t ignore it, a creepy, wet, pulsating noise. It swelled and levelled with the rhythm of a laboured heart, the soldier followed the noise with his fingers, he felt it in the veins that ran alongside the walls. The objective to find the escape was becoming an increasingly urgent priority. They had no choice but to keep move forward, but at a slower pace than he would have liked, Ryo was sounding a little out of breath. ¡°I wanted to go to school,¡± Beau breathed quietly, reigning himself in, ¡°to become a veterinarian, get outta Smallville but life didn¡¯t turn out that way, plans rarely make it out the other end intact.¡± Beau fought the urge to shout, to lash out, to turn the alien taser on the wall¡¯s themselves and cut their way out. Objective list. Keep moving forward. Keep civilian on side. Stay alive. ¡°You wanna tell me about yourself, Ryo?¡± ¡°... no,¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll just listen to the creepy pulsing alien tube then,¡± he snapped, the dark and claustrophobic environment getting to him. ¡°I ain¡¯t tryna rub you the wrong way man, just trying to get to know you,¡± Beau peered back over his shoulder, correcting the harshness in his voice, ¡°you¡¯re doing pretty good actually, I know grown men who would have turned into jello if they were in your position.¡± ¡°...¡± Ryo didn¡¯t respond. Whether that was a translation problem he didn¡¯t know. Beau stopped in his tracks. A small, glowing light bobbed from side to side, growing closer. Ryo¡¯s hand touched Beau¡¯s foot, nearly knocking into him from behind. ¡°Down,¡± Beau whispered and he dropped flat on his stomach, reaching for the alien taser and aiming it at the light, in case it decided to be hostile. They lay absolutely still, breathing shallow as the light grew closer, beau could hear a quiet, but distinct whistle echo down the tubes. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw it was being held by a long black arm, a mass of tentacles coiled around a bioluminescent orb. To the soldier, it could only be described as a black octopus wearing a tool belt, and it was happily whistling as it inspected the tube. It didn¡¯t even seem to notice them at first, slinking over to an open camera in the floor, spraying it with some sort of bottle that it wore around its ¡®waist¡¯. The alien black octopus purred and tapped the goopy camera with a free tentacle, dripping the contents of another bottle of fluid over its surface. Beau waited, taser ready, but the alien just whistled and purred to itself. Then it noticed them. ¡°Hold still,¡± he whispered back to Ryo as the curious little creature approached. It looked over them both with its single, big eye, shining the light on them both. Beau saw the resemblance instantly, now he knew what the cameras were made of. The alien squeaked, and a single tentacle reached out. Instinctually, Beau returned the gesture, offering his hand for it to inspect. The creature took it gladly, it purred as it coiled the slinky arm around Beau¡¯s fingers. It tickled. Beau then moved forward, gently stroking the creatures head. The alien really liked that, pressing itself into the pets and whittling loudly in return. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Beep beep! Beep beep! Beep beep! A timer on the alien¡¯s belt sounded off, a string of happy whistles before it promptly turned around to scuttle back down the path it came from carrying the light with it. ¡°What happen?¡± Ryo asked. ¡°I.. I don¡¯t know.¡± The soldier wasn¡¯t quite sure how to answer. By all rights he should have skewered the walking seafood, but his gut told him otherwise. ¡°There¡¯s a way out, we just need to keep moving,¡± With newfound vigour, Beau began crawling forward. -*- It wasn¡¯t much longer before the light at the end of the tunnel metaphorically and literally manifested. Bright light poured in and the anxiety inside them melted away. The shaft opening up enough that the humans could stand for the first time in hours. Their feet touched down onto cold, white tiles, their fleshy prison had come to an end. ¡°Oh thank god.¡± Their eyes adjusted to the light of their new environment and they observed the disparity between them. it was huge and open compared to the tunnels, alight with fluorescent harshness. Behind them was a wall of tunnels, with more little alien octopuses moving in and out of them scaling the walls like gravity wasn¡¯t a thing. ¡°Whoa..¡± Ryo breathed, staring up towards the light. Beau turned from the living tunnel system to the new room before them and it was no more familiar. Rows and rows of box-like apartments, stacked on top of each other in a never-ending sprawl, Each one just the right size for the alien squids. ¡°You think they live here?¡± Beau suggested, looking for any dangers in their surroundings, more guards or cameras. ¡°Or they prisoners like us?¡± Sugawara walked over to one of the habitats, there must have been hundreds, thousands of the things, each one with its own nest-like bed, water and food pipes just as in their prison cell. Only these guys appeared to be able to come and go as they please. He saw more personal items in each one, baubles he had no hope of identifying, some sort of glowing orb of light and a tool belt sat to one side. If they were prisoners, they were treated marginally better than they had been. For the most part, the squid aliens themselves were curious, but treated the humans as though they were in the way rather than the escapee¡¯s they actually were. Happy to go about their business and even walk around the pair of humans if they stood in their direct path. For whatever reason, these aliens were unconcerned with the entirely new species roaming around their living quarters. ¡°Oh hey little guy..¡± The American whispered. Sugawara watched as the alien from the tunnels came up to the man¡¯s knee, pawing with five of its numerous legs. Beau¡¯s voice seemed softer in this new environment, treating the alien like an animal rather than the potential threat it should have been. Sugawara frowned incredulously. ¡°Leave!¡± he snapped, hoping to scare off the creature and knock some sense into the older man. Beau shot Sugawara a mean glare, the kind that froze him to the stop. ¡°Cut that out,¡± the menacing growl was quiet enough the alien didn¡¯t notice, but Sugawara felt the scorn. The soldier crouched down to pet the squid. It was inky black like the cameras, shiny but not slimy, and it seemed to enjoyed being petted. ¡°They aren¡¯t the same as the bugs,¡± Beau warned his companion, ¡°no sense making enemies where we don¡¯t need to,¡± Sugawara grit his teeth and hissed a curse. The purrs and coo¡¯s the creature produced caused a few other squids to start approaching Beau, looking for the source of the others enjoyment. ¡°Hey hey, one at a time,¡± Beau responded, but the aliens clearly didn¡¯t understand. They began climbing over each other to try and touch the human, never malicious, just curious. The youth turned his back, leaving beau to figure out his predicament alone, while he did some reconnaissance and went deeper into the complex. Sugawara walked through the apartment complex, fuming under his breath. Nobody talked to him like that, if they were not stuck in the hell they were now Beau would have regretted even trying to threaten him. ¡®Who does he think he is? I¡¯m not a fucking child!¡± he seethed under his breath, they were surrounded by the enemy and he was acting as though they were at a petting zoo. As Suga walked the halls he found little gathering spots where the creatures munched on the kibble bits, or sat around a glowing ball whistling to each other. They were completely ignorant of the storm brewing in his mind, lost in whatever passed for entertainment in this sterile environment. He turned a corner and a bright light drew his eye to the centre of the complex, flashing and blazing with glory stood a giant pale blue bug, duelling another with taser swords. Sugawara stood gobsmacked as he watched the scene unfold, the warriors were in no rush to arrest him, they danced meters above the actual ground to the entertainment of the squid. An amphitheatre several steps deep, sitting more than a hundred of the aliens as they all watched a holographic ¡®play¡¯ in the middle. The hologram was fascinating, the pair of bugs postured and flourished capes as they struck each other. A mass of screaming clicks and whistles substituted for words as the squids all bounced along to it. To say it was surreal was the understatement of the fucking century. The warriors thrust blades toward one another, shattering upon impact, a flash of light exaggerated the moment like a movie explosion. Sugawara lifted his hand to shield his eyes and felt a tight grip on his shoulder. ¡®What are you doing standing around?!¡¯ Sugawara¡®s head jerked in search of the voice. The hand on his shoulder gone, but his heart raced like it used to. That wasn¡¯t good. That wasn¡¯t good at all. He looked down at his hand and saw nothing. It only get worse from here on out. He¡¯d have to be careful. Sugawara backed away from the light dispaly, returning down the hall to find the American covered in the curious squids. ¡°Hey, Ryo! These guys are much friendlier than those other assholes,¡± Beau greeted him, seemingly forgotten their prior conflict. Sugawara sighed through his nose in response, unimpressed with the antics of a man nearly 15 years his senior. One of the squids tore away from the pack and tried to get the younger man¡¯s attention. With a snarl on his face Sugawara gently shoved it away with his foot, the squid blurted out a small squeak of surprise before it scuttled away. He found a spot on the floor to sit down away from the other man¡¯s line of sight while he pulled out the alien weapon from his hip in order to get a closer look. It was like a baton, weighted and solid in his hands, with a large wheel-like dial on the hilt where the blade should have been. The sword wasn¡¯t not shaped for his hands but he did his best to find a grip, placing his thumb of the ¡®wheel¡¯ and moving it slowly as he had seen the hologram duelist do. With every turn the ¡®blade¡¯ of the taser grew longer or shorter, explaining the sudden thrusting movements that they had been attacked with. There were a few other buttons and dials, he pressed the one closest to his thumb and the entire blade was engulfed in the hum and crackle of electricity. He nearly dropped the thing then and there, pressing the button for the second time turned off the taser. He wasn¡¯t as confident with touching the rest in case he electrocuted himself or it spontaneously self-destructed. For now, a giant metal spear with lightning damage was better than nothing. He turned back the dial so the blade slid neatly back inside its shaft and tucked it into his loin cloth before deciding to bring his findings to his companion¡¯s attention. Beau had since gotten the squids to an orderly sort of formation, those that tried to cut in front were harshly hissed at by their fellow squids. Some of them were bringing bits off food, dropping it at beaus lap, trying to barter for more pettings. ¡°Hey, the food is great and all,¡± he stated, biting into one of the offered up kibble bits, ¡°But how about you get us some more of this huh?¡± he asked showing them his torn cloth lion cloth, ¡°You¡¯ll get some serious lovn¡¯ if you get me some new threads,¡± A few of them whistled and hurried off to god knows where, Beau¡¯s lips curved, proud of himself for establishing contact, securing food and a means of trade. He watched as the sulking teenager came back, having finished whatever business he had in the alien complex. ¡°Yo Ryo you find anything? A way out?¡± he asked. The kid shook his head but pulled out the alien weapon and with a quick flick of the wrist and the flourish of his thumb, the taser sword crackled with lightning, scaring off any other would-be petters. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about...¡± Beau smirked, copying Sugawara¡¯s movements exactly and soon had mastered his own taser sword. ¡°So, we¡¯re no longer unarmed, that¡¯s was one less thing to worry about. I¡¯m thinking these guys are the workers, keeping whatever it is in the tunnels running, might be the whole damn ship¡­¡± The soldier shared his thoughts. Suga nodded. ¡°I count, uhh, one, two, zero, zero, zero.¡± ¡°One two?... wait, you mean 12,000? 12,000 what?¡± Suga nodded his head, pointing to the apartment bock complexes. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of maintenance workers¡­¡± Beau whistled, the ship must have been huge, ¡°We need to find a way out of here,¡± The few squids that had run off returned, this time carrying, some-fucking-how were lab coats, made from the same pleathery material as the walls of the tunnels. ¡°This just keeps getting better and better.¡± Beau half laughed. The coat was too small for him but fit Ryo well enough, the kid even got to roll up his sleeves. He would have to make do with an even larger loincloth, at least now there wasn¡¯t as much of a breeze downstairs. Beau looked at their options, they could keep wandering aimlessly down dark tunnels, away from the more dangerous aliens but without any way of knowing where they were they would just be wandering. They could try walking the hallways, but they were two men, one not even trained against armed and dangerous enemy in their home territory under surveillance. Beaus joints protested but it wasn¡¯t exactly a hard choice. ¡°So, we know that tunnel leads to our cell, armed guards and a dead end. You wanna pick our next route?¡± The kid looked about as happy with their options as he was, shoulders slumped he pointed to another tunnel, higher up off the ground. Beau stared at it a moment, higher ground may not have been the worst idea. ¡°Alright then, going up," Disparity Chapter 9: Looking Back Xant stared at the grey canopy above them, but it was not his focus. One of the many new abilities his expanded nervous system granted him was the option to process multiple things at once. He could feel the sleek, tight fabric of the ¡®sun lounge¡¯, the heat and scent of the human next to him, and the curious sensation of his own breathing motions. The air intake through his nostrils and the filling of his lungs, these functions had not been available to him prior to joining with the human, but she was apparently conscious of them at all times. Jasmine had asked him to take a moment to ¡®recoup¡¯ after their dizzying tour of the super yacht, the height of human luxury, and he was all too co-operative. Any researcher could spend their entire lifespan studying the vessel, be it citizen, corporate or military, and would have found something of worth. Jasmine could become rich off the fabric and wood the ship held alone. More and more variables kept getting thrown their way. It would be almost impossible to calculate everything until the human¡¯s citizenry status was decided upon, but there was a small part of him that was happy. As long as there were questions to be asked or answered, he would be able to stay by her side, especially now that both a Lieutenant Commander and an Engine Lord recognised him as part of her entourage, human and Arvas cultures notwithstanding. The doctor¡¯s ears flicked up as he heard the oncoming footsteps of a much larger being. ¡°What is it?¡± Jasmine asked, still staring up at the hangar¡¯s immense ceiling. ¡°I believe the captain may be approaching,¡± Xant replied. Jasmine audibly grinned and sat up immediately. ¡°Rynny!!¡± she shouted, running over to the safety railing to see him, waving with all the grace of a drunk worm. ¡°Up here!!¡± The captain was sniffing around the Pajero. He stood a clear head and shoulders above the thing, but was very surprised when he saw the small creature aboard the much taller yacht. ¡°Now how¡¯d ya manage to get up there without zero G?!¡± he laughed, impressed. ¡°Like this!¡± Jasmine swung herself over the edge and slid down the short ladder, landing on top of the car with very little effort. ¡°Huh.¡± Rynard folded his arms. ¡°Nimble little thing aren¡¯t ya?¡± ¡°Only when i have to be. Come on up! There is soo much I gotta show ya!¡± she insisted, climbing back down into the Pajero to retrieve her things. Rynard eyeballed the side of the yacht, specifically the tiny ladder the human had used in her descent. ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like it would hold me--¡± ¡°Jeez, you too, Rynard?¡± Jasmine laughed, throwing bags out the car window. ¡°Give me a sec and I¡¯ll show you how to get up.¡± Four different bags of different sizes were lying at Rynard¡¯s feet. ¡°Could you throw them up on deck first though?¡± Rynard scooped up all four in one hand and tossed them up onto the yacht. ¡°Thanks! And here.¡± Jasmine scrambled up atop the Pajero, then easily jumped across to the yacht¡¯s ladder and tapped the edge of the deck. ¡°Just pull yourself up from there. If you try to jump up in your suit you¡¯ll break the whole thing. Be careful!¡± she laughed. Rynard scratched his chin. Delicate work was not his M.O., but he could reach the edge well enough. He hopped out of his mobile armour and made the climb up. The ¡®ship¡¯ wasn¡¯t quite what he was expecting. The deck was a deep rich brown and made a nice timbre sound as he walked over, careful so his claws didn¡¯t ¡®scratch¡¯ the surface. Jasmine was happily dragging the four bags over to the seats where Xant was waiting for them. She plonked them down and then eagerly scrounged through a pretty yellow one, grabbing out some clothes and tucking them under her arm. ¡°I¡¯m going to go and get changed. Xant, why don¡¯t you bring the captain up to speed!¡± She beamed, just about skipping down the lower decks for some privacy. Rynard looked down at the doctor, who was still lying flat on his back on the sun bed. ¡°So, the entire engineering crew can feel the ¡®jovial¡¯ nature of Her Grace,¡± Rynard remarked. ¡°I was coming over to check you weren¡¯t dead,¡± ¡°Dead? No, Exhausted? Absolutely,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°So, uhh, what is this?¡± ¡°A monument to excess,¡± Xant answered, sitting up. ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if anyone other than a minior queen held onto such luxury. There¡¯s just so many things¡­¡± Xant saw the captain was uncomfortably out of his depth. ¡°Anything on board I need to be worried about?¡± Rynard deflected. ¡°Jasmine mentioned there might be glucose and caffeine. I¡¯ll do my best to contain it,¡± Xant assured him. Rynard shifted uneasily. ¡°Take care of the caffeine first, make sure it¡¯s contained before the lieutenant arrives.¡± he ordered. Xant nodded. Rynard peeked curiously into the smaller cabins. ¡°Any weapons the engineers might have missed?¡± ¡°There was some industrial-grade cleaning fluid and perfume...¡± Xant joked. ¡°But no, this is a citizen¡¯s vessel, no weapons aboard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Rynard relaxed a little and started looking for a place to sit down, but it didn¡¯t seem anything human was made to accommodate someone of his size. ¡°So this is for citizens huh? All a bit flash, really.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it.¡± Xant shook his head. ¡°We barely scratched the surface. You should see what they sleep on, the craftsmanship and the detail is astounding.¡± ¡°So, a lotta sparkles and no substance? Nothing I can sink my teeth into?¡± ¡°No, Jasmine didn¡¯t indicate anything of military use at all--¡± Xant¡¯s ears flicked up as he felt Jasmine returning. ¡°Drinks are on me, boys!!!¡± she laughed, coming up on deck, carrying with her more of the dreadful ¡®whisky¡¯ and another mysterious bottle under her arm. The human was no longer wearing the dull grey armour but instead strange tailored clothes in bright colours with flamboyant patterns, shorts that barely covered her legs and a long lacy robe that was clearly more for show than actual function. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°So, what do you think of my new threads?¡± she asked, twirling around and lifting up the sunglasses to sit on her head. Both aliens stood there stunned for a moment, but Jasmine just pressed on, offering them both more glasses. ¡°I think I would be fine without a drink, thank you, Jasmine.¡± ¡°Ah, don¡¯t worry, Xant.¡± The human smiled, plonking herself back onto the sun bed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make you drink any more whisky, I found some tonic water that had rolled under a chair, it should be safe for you both!¡± ¡°Should be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s water, H2O, with some minor natural minerals, and there isn¡¯t even a hint of sugar anywhere, in case you were wondering.¡± She held the bottle away from her body and winced as she cracked open the white lid. The clear water inside came alive with tiny bubbles. ¡°Ooh! It¡¯s still carbonated. Nice!¡± She poured the two glasses and then filled her own with some more whisky. ¡°Cheers!~¡± She took another swig and the aliens copied her motions. The ¡®water¡¯ wasn¡¯t unpleasant, the carbonated bubbles tickling Xant¡¯s tongue. Rynard had thrown the entirety of his drink down his throat, barely wetting his lips, once again disappointed in the quantity provided. ¡°Now then.¡± Jasmine produced from her back pocket a small black dataslate that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. ¡°Do you guys want to see what I looked like before the brainballs picked me up?¡± It was a rhetorical question of course. Xant undoubtedly wanted to see more human stuff, and Jasmine was going to show him regardless of his answer. The phone booted up with a bright animation of her service provider, then settled on a background picture of a sandy beach. White sand, blue skies and ocean as far as the eye could see. It made a nice contrast with the colourful app buttons. Jasmine tapped into her library and brought up a selfie. ¡°There we go, look how long my hair was!¡± There wasn¡¯t a staggering difference between the photos, Xant noted, but Jasmine¡¯s mane was indeed much longer, the brown hair sat neatly above her shoulders, held back by the sunglasses in the photo. But there was something in the photo that was different. ¡°Why is that tooth not in line with the rest?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a stupid tooth,¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°and not worth the two grand it would cost to fix it.¡± She shrugged and pressed her finger to the offending tooth. ¡°It¡¯s always been this--¡± she ran her finger over her teeth, but she couldnt find the bump where her incisor stuck out. ¡°Huh. That¡¯s a little weird, did you fix it for me when I was under?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was possible to do such a thing.¡± There was an uncomfortable pause. ¡°Stasis pods often have restorative chems, perhaps that could affect it?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Jasmine shifted the photo to another, a group shot of her and her friends at a campsite on the beach. ¡°This is where we were abducted. We were just packing up to go back home.¡± Xant looked over the picture. It was small, but the fidelity matched many of their own equipment. Painted in colour rather than UV, the scene was limited in depth, but otherwise very detailed. The campsite was littered with more unidentifiable objects, colourful chairs, a crude firepit, makeshift hab-tents and high tech objects scattered on tables for contrast. Jasmine flicked through more pictures, stopping on close-ups of her friends. ¡°This is Chamkov, we worked together at (the restaurant). He¡¯s a line cook like me, but was going to be head chef when we opened our B&B. He liked to grow veggies and stuff. He would have absolutely wet himself if he had seen your hydroponics lab.¡± A tall, thin human with black hair and blue eyes, he had metal studs in his ears and a curiously uniform pattern across his left pectoral. Xant wondered if such a design could even be natural and once again pondered the effects of ¡®natural¡¯ gene-splicing. ¡°Katie was my best friend growing up. She was the one who helped me on my way to becoming a chef.¡± Jasmine smiled fondly at the picture. ¡°She had a degree in tourism and it was her idea to start the business.¡± Katie had pastel pink hair, with eyeshadow and nails to match. Dark olive skin and obsidian eyes gave her quite the striking appearance. ¡°And that¡¯s Warren.¡± Jasmine sighed, looking at the photo. ¡°In all honesty, I had a crush on him. He was an engineer in the army, got out after his last tour and helped us to invest. He just wanted to sit on the beach and fish.¡± She laughed. ¡°It was going to be an adventure for all of us...¡± Xant studied the picture of ¡®Warren¡¯, getting a glimpse of what a ¡®military grade¡¯ human looked like. He was larger, muscular, but not obviously so, if Jasmine had not said anything he would not have been able to make the distinction. Perhaps he was more like the engineer¡¯s assistants than the engine lord himself? Or perhaps humans were not as physically diverse as he expected. Jasmine continued her virtual tour, swiping through photos in her gallery, showing off the Australian countryside. Long swaths of empty, red dirt land, with sparse scatterings of plant and animal life. The settlements were small, filled with rugged vehicles and people. Jasmine pointed out the locations that her friends were looking at for their establishment, many of them isolated along a tarmac road. Then the small rim settlements made way for cities of steel and glass, sparkling in the sunlight. ¡°There she is, ye old isolated capital,¡± Jasmine stated sarcastically, but Xant marvelled at the silhouette. The rising towers lit up the night sky with colourful lights and a single white moon cast its visage over the river. It was beautiful and simplistic, easily rivalling GC architecture from the newly settled planets. The scenery soon gave way to human revelry, more bright colours, more coloured drinks. ¡°Do humans drink coloured liquids all the time?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s an Australian tradition to drink whenever possible. Holiday? Drink. Party? Drink. Tuesday? Drink!¡± She laughed playfully, taking another sip to make her point. ¡°Commiserating and remembering? Drink.¡± City life soon gave way to more intimate photos, more selfies and other people. ¡°That¡¯s my mum and dad¡­¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice grew softer as pictures of the pair embracing her came onto the screen. ¡°Mum was in real estate, and she loved to garden.¡± The human swiped through until she found a picture of a house with a giant, creeping plant out front. ¡°See that? That¡¯s jasmine, my mum¡¯s favourite flower, and my name, of course. ¡°Dad wanted her to cut it down. He tried a couple of times, but the thing grew back like a weed. ¡®Jasmine, if you¡¯re half as determined and tough (persistent) as that damn creeper I¡¯d be proud.¡¯ He worked in accounting but he always wanted to be a musician.¡± There were other photos in the mix: more human food (a lot of food, actually), her and Chamkov in chef whites, a party at Katie¡¯s house where she pointed out several other friends. Then it stopped on another couple of humans that had not appeared so far. Jasmine lingered on the photo longer than the others. ¡°That¡¯s my brother Daniel and his fianc¨¦e, Vanessa.¡± Her heart sank a little, and she took another drink. ¡°You never mentioned him before.¡± ¡°No, he died before the abduction. Car crash, slippery roads, wrapped himself around a tree. It took me a long time to get over it. I dropped out of uni and everything, mum didn¡¯t get out of bed for days, dad sat and watched TV for longer and I¡­¡± Jasmine looked guiltily at the whisky and put it down out of her reach. ¡°But Katie, Chamkov and Warren helped bring me out of it. I don¡¯t know what I would have done if I didn¡¯t have such great friends.¡± Xant thought over his connections with his own siblings. He had not spoken to any of them in nearly a decade since his departure from the inner planets. It wasn¡¯t even as though they had been close to begin with, despite being literally mind-linked. Rynard had even less of a clue. He¡¯d come out of a vat, his type mass-produced and referred to by numbers unless they lived long enough to get a name. To have such an emotional connection to anyone was quite outside their knowledge or experience. ¡°I hope we were there to help you as much as they were,¡± Xant comforted her, a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Oh god, Xant, if it weren¡¯t for you two and the dogs¡­let¡¯s just say I wouldn¡¯t have been nearly as sane or co-operative,¡± she replied, half-serious. ¡°Jasmine, you know you don¡¯t have to be the ¡®only¡¯ human,¡± Xant touched on the uncomfortable subject, ¡°we could always make more when you¡¯re ready, pass on all the knowledge of your home to them.¡± Jasmine shifted uneasily and pulled herself from Xant¡¯s hand, lying back on the sunbed. ¡°I¡¯m not ready for that conversation,¡± she replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I¡¯d feel raising a bunch of my own clones.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be exact copies of you, we can alter their appearances if that is the--¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s complicated.¡± Jasmine sighed, and returned to the window of her phone, before snickering under her breath. ¡°Do you guys want to see what happens when you mix humans and gravity?¡± Jasmine turned the phone around and showed the aliens a video of gymnasts jumping on a trampoline, one by one performing twisting somersaults in the air, when one fell out of sync and smashed face-first into the mat with wildly flapping arms. Xant and Rynard both bellowed in gut bursting laughter. She felt the familiar splashing water at her heels from Xant, but Rynard¡¯s laugh was like a boom, in both freq and volume. ¡°Look at its wiggling arms!¡± the captain guffawed. Slapstick humour was apparently universal. Jasmine smirked. "Do you want to see some more?" The aliens nodded their heads as they crowded around to watch humans fall over and crash cars on the tiny screen. Dispairity Chapter 10: Depths of Depravity Why did they ever think it was a good idea to go uphill? The tunnel¡¯s uncomfortableness was magnified tenfold climbing up the alien shafts. Even now, with their new clothes and light, it was hard work crawling upward. It was busier too. More squid aliens seemed to travel the tunnels, spraying the claustrophobic spaces with strange smelling oils and other such ointments, so now the humidity was also getting to them. The squids were content with treating them as obstacles rather than escapees, though, and were more concerned with their ¡®jobs¡¯, sliding around the humans as they blindly made their way up the hellscape. ¡°Oh shit.¡± So far their travels had been a steadily inclining slope. Neither man was expecting a sudden sharp increase in verticality. It was a dead end, and their only course of action was up. ¡°Beau?¡± Ryo questioned him from behind. ¡°We gotta go up¡­¡± Beau pointed. ¡°How far?¡± the youth asked. Beau peered up, and didn¡¯t like what he saw. ¡°Uhhh¡­ I can¡¯t see too far without the light, but several storeys at least.¡± ¡°Does it go anywhere?¡± ¡°Up!¡± He could feel the kid groan. ¡°Do you want to risk it?¡± Ryo nodded. ¡°Lets go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Going straight up wasn¡¯t so bad. At least he could stretch his legs, and it felt like they were making much better progress. They passed a few more tunnels deviating off the tall shaft, more squids and more tubes of different colours. It must have been an artery, in more ways than one. Beau occasionally lifted the light higher, wishing he had something decent like a flashlight with a focused beam. At least then coming to a dead end wouldn¡¯t have been as surprising as it was. ¡°This is our stop,¡± Beau called. Climbing around to crawl into the last tunnel, he pulled Sugawara up with him and they took a break. ¡°I¡¯m thinking,¡± Beau said out loud, ¡°we start looking to where the cameras are, see if we can find a way to get out of this stank ass vent.¡± Ryo nodded his head enthusiastically. He was pouring sweat down his brow and neck. The clothes the squids brought them didn¡¯t breathe much. Poor kid was probably drowning in his own sweat. ¡°...But we¡¯ll take it easy for a moment, don¡¯t want you dropping dead on me, eh?¡± He shook the kid¡¯s shoulder gently. Ryo didn¡¯t fight back, just laid down still on the floor, composing himself. Beau crawled a little further down the tunnel and came across another camera. He grimaced before plunging both hands into the goop and pulling it from its cavity. It landed with a squelch, and a light from below blazed through the opening. This one was as good as any. Beau looked down into the room. There was a large ledge close by that they could use to get down. Lucky them. He tried to find a seal to pull up the plastic casting, so as not to draw too much attention. He couldn¡¯t see anyone down below, but that didn¡¯t mean there wasn¡¯t anyone there. There wasn¡¯t a gap or seal for him to pull on, so he grabbed the alien taser and extended it out, stabbing it into the floor around the cavity. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The soldier flinched as dark blue liquid bubbled out of the wound. ¡°Fuck it.¡± Staying quiet wasn¡¯t worth staying inside this nightmare anymore. ¡°You ready Ryo?!¡± he called, and after an affirmative answer Beau used all his strength to kick down an opening. The plastic case popped off no trouble and clanged its way down to the floor. It was a drop of a few feet, but with the ledge close by them it wouldn¡¯t be too far from there to the floor. Beau¡¯s feet hit metal, then quietly slipped down, landing on top of one of many, many containment vats. ¡°Your turn.¡± He gestured to the kid, helping him out of the hole and onto the tube before lowering him down to the floor. It was eerily silent. The gentle bubbles of a filter gurgling in the background, a slight sloshing of unidentified fluid. Beau wiped the glass of the one closest to him and came eye to eye with a deformed human face. Eyes large and misshapen, nose and ears non-existent, jaw stretched and teeth moulded into one continuous plate. Limbs elongated while missing fingers and toes. It was like someone¡¯s interpretation of what a human was¡­ Beau stepped back from the glass, processing the shock, and looked down the hall. Row after row of vats filled with monsters. Beau¡¯s chest tightened with a carnal revulsion, anger, disgust and the urge to destroy confronted his senses all at once. How close was I to becoming one of them? Were they even human to begin with? Beau asked himself, glaring into the eyes of the dead creature from behind the glass. What was the point of it all? The sharp crack of an alien taser snapped in the air as Sugawara pulled out his weapon and held it ready it for combat. As they walked further down the hall of horrors, the bodies in the tubes began to take different forms, large muscular builds, stretched lanky skeletons, large heads, black eyes, some even had tentacles protruding from chests and backs. Terrifying skewed visions of living things. Then, they came across the degrading specimens. Slowly rotting flesh, cancerous bone growths and cavities riddled with tumours, dozens became hundreds as they carefully crossed the laboratory of malformed horrors. Beau looked back over the entire facility. It was a storage block. They were all failed experiments, every one of them. Beau reached for his own weapon and readied it as Ryo had done. A burst of cold anger forced his hand. The taser sword punctured the tank as though it were cheap plastic, and a sour stench permeated the air as pink fluid gushed from the opening. Beau heard Sugawara shout in his foreign tongue, and back away from the encroaching goo. Beau did not look away even as he felt the fluid run over his feet. He was watching the creature twitch and thrash inside its prison. Dead eyes stared straight ahead, void of understanding, it couldn¡¯t stand under its own weight, and barely resembled an animal. Guttural cries forced their way out of the monster¡¯s lungs, its head smashing against the glass before it sank, lifeless, to the bottom of the tank. Beau stared it down, watching its final, wretched moments. Sugawara shouted at him again, desperate, afraid, but Beau only moved onto the next tank and repeated the process. There was a darkness in his eyes, a deep moral fury burning inside him. He had been through hell, watched the best and brightest suffer pointless torture, but this¡­ This was truly a fate worse than death. One by one he granted them mercy, aiming for their hearts so the end was swift. ¡°Beau, stop!¡± Sugawara shouted. ¡°Help!¡± Suddenly the soldier¡¯s attention was drawn to his companion, who was struggling to keep an alien from escaping. A goddamn raptor, the lizard squawked and scratched while Ryo held it in a headlock. Beau charged in to help, grabbing the creature by the leg and forcing his foot through its knee. It snapped instantly. Shrieking in pain the lizard dropped to the floor out of Ryo¡¯s arms. But Beau wasn¡¯t done yet. He grabbed the lizard by the neck and slammed its face into a full vat, screaming with the full force and fury of his being, ¡°Are you responsible for this?!¡± His voice shook with outrage as he crushed the lizard¡¯s windpipe with the might of his bare hands. The raptor could only whimper in reply. ¡°Beau! Company!¡± Sugawara shouted. More aliens stood in a doorway, paralysed with fear. Beau threw the lizard on the floor and made his way over to the enemy. Taser in hand, he dialed it to shock. They wouldn¡¯t get away with the horrors they created, he would ensure they knew the full weight of their crimes. There was no room for negotiations now. Disparity - Chapter 11 : Exercising Extremes. Jasmine swiped through one video after another, funny accidents, pranks gone wrong, hardcore parkour, and the aliens were mesmerised. She¡¯d never heard either of them laugh so hard before. Rynard sounded like a lion with a bad cough and Xant¡¯s was closer to a crocodile¡¯s snicker, so it wasnt something she would have instantly recognised as laughter in the first place. ¡°This! Now this is entertainment!¡± Rynard exclaimed, thumping his tail on the deck repeatedly, ¡°Oh I concur!¡± Xant agreed, closing his mouth to nod. ¡°This is truly a masterwork of comedy!¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s funny, back on earth slapstick is usually seen as ¡®low-brow¡¯. I didn¡¯t think it would be your taste, Xant.¡± Jasmine mentioned, scrolling through her gallery looking for more videos for them to watch. Xant stood back and smiled. ¡°Ah, on the contrary, Jasmine. While words and cultural tics may be more the intellectual¡¯s field, as a Zenthi, physical comedy gets the bigger laugh.¡± Jasmine nodded her head as it dawned on her. Xant¡¯s race was psychic, and while she had seen a few bits of writing here and there, most of the GC tech seemed to work on voice commands or Freq Pulses. The written word was nowhere near as prevalent as it was back on Earth. It made sense. The translator worked on thoughts, not ¡®words¡¯. Even some of the concepts she had learned about were probably only translated to the closest ¡®human equivalent¡¯. But you didn¡¯t really need to translate a precisely timed shot to the nuts. She selected another video and popped it on the screen, and the two aliens did not laugh. Jasmine tilted the screen to see what was up, the video was of a man not using the leg press for its intended use. ¡°He¡¯s doing it wrong,¡± Jasmine explained while chuckling. ¡°The way he¡¯s doing it, he¡¯ll over-extend his legs and they may snap, he¡¯s not working the muscles at all!¡± ¡°¡®Working¡¯ the legs?¡± Rynard asked, which really threw Jasmine off. ¡°Yeah? So the muscles don¡¯t atrophy?¡± she continued but she was met with blank stares. ¡°Don¡¯t you train to keep in peak physical condition?¡± ¡°No, we train to keep our instincts and skills up.¡± Rynard crunched his fists, flexing his chest. ¡°Our bodies don¡¯t degrade like our brains do.¡± ¡°We are in peak physical condition, always,¡± Xant noted, before adding, ¡°...for what we were designed to do.¡± ¡°You have no idea how much I wish that applied to human bodies,¡± Jasmine half laughed. ¡°We gain and lose muscle in the blink of an eye, only takes a couple of meals and doing nothing to balloon¡­¡± She looked down at her own body and tugged at the waistline of her jeans. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve lost a bit of weight since being here, whether it¡¯s due to stress, diet or a combination of both¡­¡± It was probably both. ¡°I enjoyed working out in the Esaander training room, I should start that up here as well.¡± ¡°That sounds like a good idea,¡± Rynard concurred, relaxing back against a wall. ¡°Too bad that wouldn¡¯t work for the doc! He needs muscles he ain¡¯t got for his suit to work.¡± Xant nodded sadly in concurrence. Galactic Council Citizenry and Military were designed for peak efficiency. Their bodies worked without stress or failure and could calculate their dietary intake down to the kilojoule. They would never experience the kind of fluctuation Jasmine was describing. ¡°Really? You guys can¡¯t just use stimulants?¡± she suggested. Xant and Rynard shared an uneasy look before Xant spoke up. ¡°It is unorthodox, but not out of the realm of possibility¡­¡± Rynard raised an eyebrow, and Xant folded his hands behind his back in thought. Unorthodox, yes. Muscle stimulants were just for repairing damage done to bodies, not so much to transform a perfectly functioning body. Not in the GC, anyway. Outside the areas of reclamation, where pirate bands profited off the citizenry¡¯s hard work and benefited from the military¡¯s border security, they did all sorts of things to themselves outside the descriptions of unorthodox. Things that could be described as barbaric and deforming. ¡°I may be able to make an exception to their use, considering the circumstances.¡± Xant replied, more to himself than the others. ¡°You know, I¡¯m just saying since you guys can regrow bones in hours, muscles would be easy right?¡± Jasmine defended, feeling the tension now like second nature. ¡°Or I could give you some really easy exercises? There isn¡¯t a proper limiter on your body growth is there?¡± Xant once again pondered. ¡°Technically no, there is no limiter, I could theoretically grow the muscle as you do.¡± Perhaps a slow growth was what he needed. He was still learning how to use his new neural tissue to its fullest after all, having to learn how to control new physical muscles as well could be a sensory overload. His brain twinged with another tangent. It was interesting what humans chose to advance with their technology and what they didn¡¯t. The medical and biological tech they seemed to be very wary of, while throwing their full might into, as far as he could tell, creature comforts and the arts. Strange combination indeed. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll go check downstairs.¡± jasmine stated, stretching and standing up from the couch, ¡°They have a Michelin star kitchen on board, it would be weird not to have a gym squeezed in there somewhere.¡± The human pocketed her phone and went below deck, peering through more of the undiscovered rooms, but her gut told her that she needed to go right to the bottom. She was right of course, there was indeed a whole mass of equipment to be found in the ship¡¯s storage, mostly all toppled over and covered in jet skies and quad bikes. She was going to need some help. Jasmine dashed back up on deck. ¡°I¡¯ve got good news and some bad news,¡± she stated, hands on her hips. ¡°Good news is that we have the equipment! Bad news is that I¡¯m going to need some help getting it above deck.¡± Rynard chuckled and looked knowingly towards Xant. While the captain was indeed the stronger of the two, there was no way he was going to fit downstairs. Xant was going to have to re-don his suit to get the equipment up. A prospect he wasn¡¯t entirely thrilled about. Since gaining his new nerves, putting on the suit was becoming more and more of a chore. The wound pain lingered for what seemed like an hour when it should have been seconds at best. ¡°Give me a moment to prepare and I shall follow you down,¡± he told Jasmine, walking through to the ¡®cocktail room¡¯ where his power armour currently resided. ¡°Just meet me right at the very bottom! I¡¯ll clear what I can for you!¡± Xant stomped very carefully down stairs. There was little room for error and the last thing he wanted to do was fall a large distance down a narrow stairway. Being inside the suit was tense enough, the added stress of the claustrophobic hallway did not help in the slightest. Jasmine waved upon his arrival. ¡°Here we are!¡± she proclaimed, standing amongst the mess of wires and mechanical pulleys. ¡°I can bring the weights up, but you¡¯re going to have to handle this.¡± She pointed to a tracked incline plane. Xant walked over to inspect the equipment while Jasmine hefted the training weights upstairs. The machine wasn¡¯t heavy in his suit, but it was still awkward to carry. He opted to stick his head through the hole and have the large track run down his back, his tail ensuring there was no movement. Jasmine squeezed past him once or twice, ducking into adjacent rooms and offering words of encouragement. Xant was taking it slow, there was no rush. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. As he reached the top the doctor felt a rush of accomplishment. He¡¯d never done any physical labour and to be able to achieve such a task had him pretty pleased with himself, until Rynard plucked the machine effortlessly off his shoulders. ¡°Let me help ya with that,¡± the captain said, holding the equipment and flipping it around with ease. ¡°Now which way is it supposed to sit?¡± he asked, studying the angles. ¡°Flat on the ground!¡± Jasmine laughed, appearing with the last load of weights. She placed them neatly in a line to the side while she directed Rynard. Jasmine patted the device and explained. ¡°This is a treadmill, a really fancy one! It¡¯s kinda like during the physical where the floor moved as I ran, only this one you stay in one place.¡± She jumped onto the treadmill and began searching for the on switch. ¡°Hopefully its batteries aren¡¯t dead...¡± She ran her fingers over the console and Xant heard an audible ¡®click¡¯, then watched as the black glass lit up. ¡°Huzzah!¡± Jasmine exclaimed, then followed it up with a disappointed, ¡°Hrrrrnnn...¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Xant asked. ¡°Not a huge one,¡± she replied, finger hovering over the light display ¡°but the language settings are in Portuguese, so, it¡¯s going to take me a minute.¡± To Xant, the human alphabet looked exactly the same as what she would normally be able to ¡®read¡¯, he even recognised several of the more common symbols. ¡°Is this the same as the ¡®Latin¡¯ or French?¡± ¡°French. Portuguese is even more removed from English, but similar to Spanish, which are both European, so¡­I can kinda muddle my way through.¡± She began tapping menus and opening and closing screens, blindly, yet making some progress. Xant watched her problem-solving skills at work. While she couldn¡¯t ¡®read¡¯ the menus, there were still intuitive and universal ¡®accept¡¯ and ¡®decline¡¯ symbols that were mostly getting her through. ¡°We need to find the settings, then system, then find where they¡¯re hiding the language options-- ah ha! Ingles indeed!¡± As Jasmine activated the setting, Xant watched as the characters rearranged themselves and the little dots and dashes disappeared. She turned to Xant, proud of herself. ¡°Now then, do you want a demonstration, or just to jump right into it?¡± she was clearly excited to show them more human tech, having gotten a small bit of her world back had breathed new life into her. ¡°After your display of ingenuity, I trust you can configure the machine for me.¡± he mused. ¡°...Was that sarcasm?¡± she narrowed her eyes smirking. ¡°I don¡¯t know, was it?¡± Xant sassed back, moving to take up Jasmine¡¯s former position. The human jumped on the outside and began setting the menu. ¡°The treadmill¡¯s going to start moving slowly, so just one foot in front of the other, and then we can increase the speed when you¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°And this will expand my muscles?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯ll strengthen your cardiovascular system, which will help build muscles in the long run.¡± she extrapolated, resting her chin on her hands. ¡°Like the captain¡¯s?¡± Xant looked pointed over to the hulking Sulin, who was happily watching from his makeshift lean-to. Jasmine shook her head. ¡°Nah, if you want to bulk up like the captain, you¡¯ll need to do weights.¡± She picked up a small barbell and began showing Xant how it contracted and expanded her bicep. ¡°Do this enough times and eat more protein and you might be as big as the captain¡¯s thigh!¡± Rynard chuckled and picked his teeth. ¡°And all humans do this? What for?¡± he wondered. ¡°Well, to stay fit, to be healthy, for recreation or sport, there¡¯s loads of different ways and reasons.¡± Jasmine listed. Rynard snorted. ¡°You do this for fun?¡± Jasmine continued her reps. ¡°Some do. Why, what do you do for fun?¡± ¡°Me? I like my down time, laying down and listening to the battle reports and hunt results.¡± Rynard answered wistfully, he missed his quiet rest quarters. ¡°Huh, really? That¡¯s strangely relatable.¡± ¡°Not all concepts are completely alien,¡± Xant interjected. ¡°Communication is one of the oldest forms of entertainment. If it weren¡¯t the case, I doubt we¡¯d be so interested in talking to each other about increased hauling capabilities.¡± Jasmine rolled her eyes. ¡°Careful there, smart-ass, I control the speed at which you run.¡± ¡°Ah, but you are also honour bound to care for my wellbeing, namegiver. Your threats are naught but jest!¡± Xant shot back, gaining more confidence in his ¡®casual¡¯ speech. Jasmine smirked and slid her finger across the treadmill. The speed increased, but not so much Xant couldn¡¯t keep up with it. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you¡¯re funny!¡± Jasmine put down the weight and sat on a chair by the precariously leaning Rynard. ¡°So, hunts? What are those?¡± Rynard¡¯s smile grew wider, happy to be the expert in a topic for once. ¡°They¡¯re activities that require keen senses of speed and skill. The objective is to chase down your opponent and decommission them before they¡¯re able to do the same to you.¡± he slammed a fist into an open palm, laughing to himself, ¡°Retired rangers who still need the thrill of the kill join leagues and the victories are recorded. Commentary is great when they get into the gory details, like who made it out with their tails still attached and their jaws intact.¡± Jasmine gulped at the description, it sounded like a gladiatorial match. ¡°Do, do competitors die in these ¡®Hunts¡¯?¡± ¡°Nah, bad for business if they did,¡± Rynard chuckled ¡°couple of hours in a medipod and their back on the field,¡± ¡°Phew¡­¡±Jasmine sighed, sounded like their version of extreme sports, mma mixed with hide and seek, ¡°Is that all you listen to?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s a lot of leagues, inner planets, corp networks, championships... Throw battle reports into the mix and I ain¡¯t got the time to listen to much else.¡± ¡°Battle reports, like war correspondence?¡± ¡°Eh, not quite.¡± Rynard picked his teeth, and his tail joined his hands in explaining. ¡°Mostly the ¡®war¡¯ is over, we¡¯re not under constant threat like the Painful Dynasty any more. There¡¯s pockets of Rajava cells here and there, but mostly the battle reports are about pirate captures and Imperial duels.¡± ¡°Wait, Imperial duels?¡± the human queried ¡°like for honour?¡± ¡°Yeah, princes like the Lieutenant like to fight to ¡®prove their worth¡¯. They throw themselves into fighter ships to see who can come out on top.¡± Rynard shrugged. ¡°It pays to find out who¡¯s got the biggest boasting chops. Imperial space is a lot more chaotic than Council space, territory lines are forever shiften¡¯. Some of the battle reports get really boring if one prince takes out too many others in quick succession, the commentators get really foot-kissy, they love them some over-achievers. But then those princes get bonded, become primarchs and taken out of the fight so the smaller skirmishes can start up again.¡± ¡°Huh, that¡¯s pretty cool.¡± Jasmine nodded along, It was interesting listening to Rynard talk about something he was passionate about. He was normally happy to stand back and let Xant do all the talking, but even this small example helped her to understand more and more about the world outside the carefully curated rooms she¡¯d been exposed to. ¡°Xant, what do you listen to in your downtime?¡± ¡°Well, much like the captain, my interests revolve around my field of study. I prefer to listen to the reclamation reports of new/old tech, and occasionally listen to an Arvas amphitheatre performance.¡± Xant replied between breaths, still trudging along on the treadmill. Rynard snorted. ¡°Of course you¡¯d be into that.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be? Do you not listen to Chik and Tah? Or have you not watched ¡®What Can Go Wrong Now?¡± Xant scoffed back. ¡°Now you see that¡¯s different,¡± Rynard replied, unusually animated. ¡°I¡¯ve seen every ¡®What Can Go Wrong Now?¡¯ episode, especially the ones they don¡¯t air on the civnet!¡± He boasted ¡°Had an old buddy smuggle the Vidfiles for me when I retired.¡± ¡°Really? How did you keep them from administrat-- oh, of course, you were head of security¡­¡± Xant shook his head at his own answer. ¡°And boy, if you haven¡¯t seen them, they¡¯re impactful!¡± ¡°More impactful than the elbow poppers?¡± ¡°Try eye poppers and thorax splatters! In zero gravity!¡± Rynard described with glee while Jasmine squirmed at the thought. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± she interrupted, unsure if she wanted to know the answer. ¡°¡®What Could Go Wrong?¡¯ It¡¯s Arvas theater performance, much like the vids you showed us.¡± Xant answered. ¡°Yeah but, my vids were accidents, what you¡¯re describing sounds like getting hurt on purpose¡­but like, waaay more gruesome.¡± she pulled out her phone, holding it absently for comfort. ¡°Is that not entertainment on Earth?¡± Xant questioned, ears wobbling in his suit. ¡°Well it is, and it isn¡¯t?¡± She ran her hand behind her ear, trying to find the right words ¡°Like, guys will purposely drive a hammer into their junk but, eye popping sounds a little extreme. And permanent.¡± ¡°Why would it be extreme?¡± Xant¡¯s curious voice hit Jasmine hard, the alieness creeping back in. ¡°...Wouldn¡¯t it hurt?¡± concern waved in her voice, the hunts, the duels, the violent entertainment, it was all starting to scare her. Rynard shrugged. ¡°Nah, not really,¡± ¡°Seriously? Popping out someone''s eye or ripping off their jaw doesn¡¯t hurt?!¡± Jasmine snapped incredulously. Rynard pulled himself off the wall and crouched down to face her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t hurt at all!¡± he stated and without any sort of warning, Rynard grabbed a finger and ripped it off his hand. ¡°See?¡± Jasmine screamed as blue blood splattered from the wound and hit her in the face. Xant jumped off the treadmill to run to her side as confusion and fear gripped the human. Rynard was stunned into silence and Xant comforted Jasmine out of her shock. ¡°What the fuck, Rynard!¡± she shouted, colour drained from her complexion, desperately wiping off the blood when she came too. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Jasmine¡­¡± Xant quickly put himself between her and Rynard, blocking her view of the detached limb. ¡°The captain doesn¡¯t have pain nerves like you, he can genuinely not feel a thing.¡± Xant watched as Jasmine held her hand, imagining the pain. ¡°We can reattach the finger, it happens all the time to Rangers. I¡¯m sure he has survived much more debilitating wounds.¡± He comforted her, ¡°Yeah,¡± Rynard agreed, suddenly feeling very guilty. ¡°I¡¯ve had almost every limb replaced at least once, my right arm more than a dozen times.¡± He tried putting the finger back on the hand, but knew it was pointless. ¡°Aren¡¯t your military units built the same?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°No, definitely not.¡± She squeezed her own hand even tighter, imagining the pain of her own finger being ripped off, and looked up at Rynard¡¯s. The bleeding had stopped, the break was clean, and Xant¡¯s words echoed in her memory. Created in a vat, designed for a purpose, Rynard¡¯s body was engineered to be torn apart with minimal damage to the rest. Designed to be broken and used up. Humans were not the same, they could not treat their bodies as interchangeable parts in a machine, they did not rip each other apart for the purpose of entertainment, to be put back together over and over again. They were not created to be expendable. Nobody should be. Disparity Chapter 12: Urgency Nako fixed the folds in his cloak disturbed by the train ride over, then unshackled his power suit from the magnetised foot lock and stepped out of his private cart to the engineering wing. He was looking forward to his conversation with the human, while their last meeting was cut short now that they were both residing in a more robust environment she could show him more ¡®artistic¡¯ human tech. The lieutenant was saluted by several guards as he and his escort Tifera walked past the halls, but the workers rushed around in a frenzy, avoiding his path, unable to stop. It was as though they were readying for a full-frontal assault of the station. He had never seen them work as furiously as they did now. The Engine Lord was nowhere to be seen on the main floor, his unnerving presence too scarce to pinpoint, so it wasn¡¯t Viitoic who was whipping his minions into a frenzy. Nako walked imposingly through the halls, surveying the activity, before singling out a stationary engineer who was working meticulously at some human contraption, laying out the tiny pieces one by one on a steel table. ¡°Ahem.¡± Nako focused his attention on the peon, who nearly fell to the floor with the commander¡¯s presence on him. ¡°Ohh¡­uh, your Honour?¡± the engineer wibbled. Nako, satisfied he was no longer being ignored, proceeded. ¡°What is going on here?¡± The engineer squeaked. ¡°We¡­were cleaning up,¡± he answered, head bowed but still shaking. ¡°Cleaning up?¡± Nako probed. ¡°I thought you were busy investigating the unknown items from the Rajavan ship?¡± ¡°Y-yessir!¡± The engineer nodded. ¡°The Namegiver claimed ownership of the retrieved goods, we are moving to investigate deeper into the Rajavan vessel itself¡­¡± That didn¡¯t come as a complete surprise, Viitoic did say something about new threats from the Rajava, but to have him completely abandon his previous obsession was out of character. ¡°So where is the Namegiver now?¡± Nako demanded. The engineer pointed a long spindly arm to the sea of multicoloured vehicles, and towards the small but bright presence Nako was becoming intimately familiar with. ¡°Captain.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord?¡± Tifera awaited orders. ¡°I want you to locate the Engine Lord and demand an audience,¡± Nako instructed her, as his lower arms tucked his cloak over his shoulders, readying for flight. ¡°I will find you after I speak with Namegiver Jasmine.¡± Tifera saluted, arm across her chest. ¡°At once, my lord,¡± she acknowledged, before charging back through the Engineering Wing¡¯s halls. Nako watched her leave as he unfurled his shimmering wings. It had been a few quarters since he had actually had to perform the stunt. The short flight would be good exercise for him. The pair of wings beat in succession, rapidly growing in speed until they lifted his body from the ground, the vibrations buzzing loudly in his ears and forcing the poor engineer peon to cower as the lieutenant commander took flight. Nako flew over to the source of the Namegiver¡¯s freq pulses, a task that would have taken minutes walking accomplished by flight in mere seconds. He landed on the deck of the large vessel with a loud and sudden thud of impact, startling the two individuals standing upon it. Nako gracefully folded his wings underneath and unfolded his cloak as Captain Rynard and Doctor Xant stood at attention. They had been lounging around on the wooden deck and messing about with more human equipment. Nako tapped his boot on the floor before he addressed the pair, taking a long look around his new surroundings. The entire vessel screamed extravagance, the abundant comfortable furniture, the absurd polish of the finish, the decorative metals and patterns. It reminded him of his training days, in the residential halls of a lower queen¡­ ¡°Captain, Doctor, where is Namegiver Jasmine?¡± he finally addressed them. The pair relaxed as little as they gave answers. They looked awkwardly at each other while Xant, predictably, stepped forward to explain the situation. ¡°Jasmine is below deck, Lieutenant.¡± He gestured to the narrow corridors within the vessel. ¡°She has acquired coverings more suited to human physiology, we are currently waiting for her return.¡± Nako nodded, accepting the explanation. It would be interesting to see what humans considered fashion. He was rather impressed with the small pieces he had seen so far. He walked past the doctor and peered into the dwelling above deck, looking through the ¡®bar¡¯ room and its luxurious fixtures. The carpet below was a stark white, the lounge provided seating for multiple people and the entire place just sparkled. He noticed a pair of crystal glasses sitting on the glass table. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that she demanded acquisition of the human items, much like she claimed the animal specimens from my venture¡­¡± Nako picked up a crystal glass for inspection. The carvings captured the light, refractive rainbows scattering the room. ¡°Was there anything she left behind?¡± He didn''t blame her though. If these marvellous surroundings were the luxury she was used to, he couldn''t imagine how she had kept her sanity in the sterile laboratories or stark barracks of Branch. In fact, his own accommodations were down right appalling compared to this room alone. Rynard remained silent and Xant lowered his head as he replied, ¡°Not as of yet. Jasmine was jubilant to be in contact with more familiar surroundings, she may have had an outburst.¡± The doctor was getting more confident in answering his questions, Nako noted. Xant had impressed him, lasting longer than he had expected any citizen model would under the circumstances. ¡°Oh, I heard of the outburst, the Engine Lord was quite irate about it¡­¡± He left the statement in the air to fester in the Zenthi¡¯s nerves, just to see how much he could withstand.. ¡°You have explained to her the rules of Acquisition and Relinquishment?¡± ¡°Not yet, but there is still time to discuss and explain. I¡¯m sure Jasmine has no intentions of withholding the spoils of your venture,¡± Xant replied, without even flinching. Nako relaxed a little, happy the doctor was not fraying. ¡°She is most agreeable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Nako chuckled, inspecting more of the alcoholic bottles. So many different colours and sizes, artistically molded glass in fantastical shapes, one bottle with a clear liquid had the remains of some lower lifeform preserved inside. ¡°--Yo! Xant! Rynard! Check this out!¡± Jasmine¡¯s loud voice boomed up as she navigated her way in 6-inch pumps up the staircase. ¡°This is what we call, Gucci couture!¡± The human sauntered into the bar room, draped in fluttering peach coloured silk. ¡°It¡¯s the only one that fit ¡®cause it¡¯s--¡± Her brash voice faded when she came face to face with Nako, her freq blaring with embarrassment. ¡°Open...at the back¡­hello, Lieutenant.¡± ¡°Hello Namegiver Jasmine,¡± he greeted her politely, ignoring the embarrassment but secretly enjoying the fluster. ¡°I am beginning to understand why you were so hasty in acquisitioning¡­everything!¡± Nako twirled around on the spot with a sweeping gesture. ¡°I had no idea your people¡¯s love of art extended into every aspect of your lives. Perhaps the Galactic Council could use your guiding eye to liven up their habitats.¡± Jasmine, however, was still loudly regretting her most recent decision of dress. It was one thing to show off in front of her friends, but she still felt the need to be formal around the lieutenant. He wasn''t her ¡®friend¡¯ yet. ¡°I¡¯m only wearing this cause Rynard got his blood all over my actual clothes¡­this is actually waaay too fancy for casual dress,¡± she replied defensively, trying to back up to return whence she had sauntered. Nako tilted his head curiously. Jasmine''s cheeks were flushed and her normally eloquent enunciation was marred with slurring. ¡°There is no need for embarrassment on my behalf. Those clothes are exquisite, befitting of any royal court attendance,¡± he tried to reassure her. ¡°Yeah, I¡­it¡¯s been a while since I got to wear something this fancy¡­I just thought it would be fun to dress up.¡± Nako watched as she avoided his eye, genuinely uncomfortable with meeting his gaze. Sensing his Grace¡¯s discomfort, Xant slowly entered the room from outside. ¡°It is very flattering Jasmine, as good as any council politician,¡± the doctor added. Jasmine¡¯s cheeks went even redder and she looked down at the dress. ¡°Right, ummm, I might change actually, I can¡¯t give Nako a tour in this¡­¡± ¡°Please, no need.¡± Nako put down the liquor. ¡°I was merely stopping by to check on your wellbeing and the status of the identifying items that you have taken into your own personal account.¡± ¡°Well, it is all human stuff¡­¡± Jasmine gestured to the room as though its contents were ¡®uninteresting¡¯. ¡°There''s not a lot here for aliens. You¡¯ve got most of everything and everything else might be poisonous,¡± she replied, having even more second thoughts. Nako stared back at the wall of liquids. ¡°Is there any caffeine in here?¡± he asked. ¡°Uhhh, maybe? If the kahlua has curdled--¡± Xant quickly stepped between her and the lieutenant. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°--And we will dispose of it properly of course,¡± he assured Nako, but Jasmine was oblivious to the social cue. ¡°I mean, if he hates kahlua, sure--¡± ¡°Jasmine, the lieutenant is susceptible to caffeine,¡± Xant said quietly. ¡°Oh, right! So that''s why it''s illegal-- uhh, never mind.¡± Jasmine turned on her bright red heel. ¡°I''mma gonna get changed and be right back!¡± She hurried back downstairs before either of the others could protest. Nako turned to the doctor for answers. ¡°Is everything alright? Jasmine seemed...erratic.¡± His gaze returned to the glasses of amber liquid on the counter. The scent was strong with ethanol and sweet syrupy notes. ¡°Humans can voluntarily inebriate themselves with alcohol¡­¡± Xant explained, finding the empty bottle Nako had placed on the counter. ¡°It will pass, however. While debilitating for a time, she assures me it is entirely recreational and easily repaired. A mild effect, not unlike a strong depressor.¡± He opted to omit the side effect of quieting the ¡®secondary¡¯ thought process, and the lowering of so called ¡®inhibitions¡¯. There was still more for Xant to learn about the condition himself. ¡°I see. And she is faring well? She is comfortable otherwise?¡± Nako asked, but she was clearly already in a happier mood than he had previously seen or heard. ¡°Oh yes, Lieutenant. We can hardly believe your generosity, the increased quality of life has benefitted us all--¡± Xant began, but Nako interrupted, ¡°As long as she is happy. I am looking forward to her explaining everything on this ship to me. I want to learn as much as you do, Doctor.¡± Xant¡¯s ears perked up and he bowed respectfully. ¡°I shall ensure you and Jasmine have the time, Lieutenant.¡± ¡°Very good.¡± ¡°Uhhh, Nako?¡± Jasmine''s voice called from below deck. ¡°What''s your favourite colour?!¡± The strange and sudden question startled them both. ¡°Vermillion!¡± the Lieutenant shouted back, once he had come to his own internal conclusion. ¡°Okay!¡± Silence. Nako began to wonder what the human was up to, then she returned, in much more simple clothes. While hardly citizen clothing, it had a distinct lack of sophistication compared to the silken dress: blue leggings and a very large overshirt, shapeless, although he did notice tiny blue floral embroidery on the collar. As she came closer the second thing he noticed was the smell, and by noticed he ment slapped in the face. An over-powering flowery perfume applied in copious amounts, trying and failing to cover a strong musk, dirt and sweat. The lieutenant almost had to take a step back, why these garments were preferred over the beautiful silk he didnt understand. ¡°So, you mentioned before about your rank insignia¡­¡± Jasmine muttered as she approached. ¡°I don''t have a proper human medal to give you, and I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s regulation, but, think of this as an ¡®official¡¯ thank you.¡± Jasmine opened her palm and sitting on it was a large decorative brooch, with a dark red stone in its center, a dozen white stones surrounding it and gold filigree spiraling down the tail. Nako was stunned with delight. ¡°Is that¡­ an original piece?¡± he asked, as his hand reached out to accept the gift. Jasmine nodded. ¡°The only design of its kind, with proper stones grown, cut and crafted on Earth. One of a kind.¡± Crimson like the sacred moon, a stone from an alien planet, cut to perfection. It sparkled even in the dim light. A token of a lost species of artisans. The ice of his exterior melted and a peek of childlike joy crept out as Nako knelt down to Jasmine¡¯s level. ¡°If you would do me the honour, Namegiver.¡± He gestured for her to pin the brooch on his cloak, just below his rank insignia. It took the human a moment to have it sit right, but the lieutenant was simply over the moon with it. ¡°--My lord.¡± Tifera¡¯s message over his comms, cutting his moment short. ¡°I have located the Engine Lord, and have advised an audience.¡± ¡°Well done, Tifera.¡± Nako terminated the link quickly after the acknowledgement, disappointed he had to leave so soon. ¡° Thank you for the wonderful gesture, but I shall have to take my leave.¡± ¡°Uhh, Lieutenant? There¡¯s one more thing¡­¡± Jasmine approached, nervous to be asking anything of him. ¡°The room you provided was good and all but, I¡¯d be more comfortable making my base of operations here.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He looked around the luxurious room one last time. ¡°It will certainly make it easier for you to categorize the human items if you are a permanent fixture in the engineering wing.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± she responded, as though he would have denied her such a thing. He wasn¡¯t sure he entirely understood. She had downright demanded the human items from Viitoic without any concern at all, but worried he would reject her request to stay on the ship? Her sense of entitlement swung as quickly as her emotions, or was there more to human power dynamic than she was letting on? Something she had overlooked in the explanation of civil conversation? Her wants and needs were so drastically different from their own. The doctor had a quite a job ahead of him explaining the proper terms for acquisition, her notions on economics were also forgien to him, since material items and personnel were not in the same category. While they were still in the early days of communication he was starting to get the impression human interactions were very complicated. Nako raised his hand and waved in the human fashion. ¡°If there is nothing else that you need, I shall have to depart, hopefully when next we reunite, we will both have nothing but time,¡± he replied,¡±May your calling be clear,¡± turning to unfurl his wings. Jasmine waved back, taking it rather well as her aura was glowing bright. ¡°Live long and prosper!¡± she answered with conviction, and a sentiment Nako whole-heartedly agreed with. Tifera was waiting patiently for her lord outside the Engine Lord¡¯s personal quarters, but even from outside, Nako could tell he was up to something. The chittering was loud enough to penetrate the doors. Nako was not going to be made to wait outside after having flown across the entire engineering wing to find him. The lieutenant motioned for Tifera to open the door, not waiting for Viitoic¡¯s permission. They were unlikely to get it, considering the state he was in. The engine lord hovered over a holo display, all seven arms furiously tapping at screens showing a representation of the Rajavan ship, beginning to dissect it, piece by piece. ¡°And your reason for disturbing me is?¡± he said drily, six black eyes staring into the holoscreen. Nako clicked his mandibles. ¡°You gave up the entirety of the human collection, the same one you abandoned working on our warships to study, and you gave them up without a fight. Even someone without my discerning eye is going to start asking questions, Viitoic. I want to have the answers first.¡± Viitoic chattered his tooth plate, displeased. ¡°As much as I enjoyed our banter, Nako, the urgency of my work restrains me from indulging¡­¡± ¡°You''re worried about the ship?¡± ¡°For more than one reason.¡± while Viitoic may not have been able to indulge in banter he certainly wasnt above getting to explain his thought process. ¡°First and foremost is the impenetrable structure. We can only see into the rooms that were damaged in the initial pirate attack.¡± With a few quick successive taps, vittoic enlarged the holographic image. Nako looked closer at the scans. At least two-thirds of the ship was marked ¡®unknown¡¯ and none of the rooms excavated looked anything like what a Rajavan vessel should look like. ¡°The entire thing is made from a new compound, and it is blocking all freq signals¡­¡± Viitoic explained, ¡°A living calcium/iron composition, it could be very useful down the line, provided its not too expensive to grow and manufacture.¡± The six eyes turned to stare at Nako, waiting for him to put the pieces together. The Lieutenant stood frozen on the spot. Dr. Xant¡¯s Transcripts on Jasmine had discussed the very same compounds. ¡°... Is this Ship a Rajavan prototype? Have you found the shipbrain? Can you download its contents to confirm?!¡± ¡°Alas, noble prince, the shipbrain has not been located. While the ship is confirmed to be still alive, it¡¯s not functional. We will have to send troops in to locate the brain to find the precious information¡­¡± Viitoic hunched over his screens once more, returning to his work, ¡°Then we might be able to prepare for the inevitable.¡± Nako¡¯s antena twitched in a panic, his three sets of eyes darting around furiously. ¡°What about the human things? Surely there must have been weapons?! ¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°None at all?! They kept the equivalent of puzzle boxes but no weapons?!¡± ¡°None that would of any use to us.¡± Viitoic waved dismissively. ¡°There were only crude velocity weapons, citizen-sized most of them, too small for any of our troops to use effectively. The accuracy needed to do any actual damage to a Vassal or Amalgamation is nigh impossible without creating a new solider to use them. They might be useful in taking down a human,¡± he sneered, ¡°but they¡¯re not going to do anything against either our troops or a vassal onslaught. Like throwing salt on carapice, the wrong tool for the deed.¡± Nako held his shoulders strong despite the growing dread. ¡°Have you tried asking the Namegiver about their effectiveness? Is there something you may have missed?¡± Viitoic scoffed. ¡°The weapons are ineffective!! Steel casings, chemical propellant and the need for specialised manufacturing, not cost-effective compared to any of our stock - these things need to be reloaded manually! How much time would we lose if our acid melters weren¡¯t able to produce their own acid!? Human weapons would be highly destructive to a ship¡¯s interior, unsuited to zero-g inter-ship combat¡­ if there was a way to implement them I would have handed you the first of the assembly line! Need I go on, Lieutenant?¡± ¡°No, Engine Lord. You have made your opinion of them quite clear.¡± Nako replied underhandedly. ¡°We can still make an effective weapon against the Rajavan ¡®improvemnts¡¯, the Human genome hasnt be optmised after all.¡± Viitoic snarked. ¡°Yes, but I was hoping for more¡­¡± Nako sighed, once again staring at the holoscreen. Kotorns scorn returning to mind, his decision to capture the ship was a turbulent one, what he hoped to be great spoils was turning out to be incredibly expensive. While he had rescued an alien maiden, they were not the great warrior race like his own people but artists and people of leisure. Was the strength of their bones all they had to offer in combat? ¡°More? But you¡¯ve already helped yourself to quite a bit, no?¡± The tentacle on Viitoic¡¯s back wiggled to his newly acquired brooch. ¡°It was given in gratitude,¡± Nako snapped back coldly, sharply pulling his shoulder away from the Engine lords reach. ¡°Very generous. But I wonder how long she will stay that way?¡± Nako didn''t get the chance to reply. Viitoics terminal was over-riden by the Knight Commander. Kotorn sat at his dented desk, his powersuited fists folded over one another resting on the console. ¡°Engine lord!¡± he barked, ¡°I need an update on my fleet- oh¡­ LC Nako, this is a surprise,¡± And much to Nako¡¯s anxiety, the knight commander smiled. Nako quickly bowed and began to back away slowly. ¡°Knight commander, i shall take my leave-¡± ¡°Oh no, you being here will save me some time.¡± Kortons sinister chuckled warbled over the speakers. ¡°After some external advisory, I¡¯ve come to the conclusion we work best when we do not have to interact with each other¡­ at all. So I¡¯m sending you on an assignment until I need to leave Branch,¡± Nako stifled a screech. ¡°You¡¯re sending me off base?!¡± his voice raised, Nako stared down the holographic image of the Knight commander. He couldn¡¯t be sent away, not now, not when the rajavan threat loomed in the unknown. ¡°Yes, on a high priority mission, you know, like the ones you requested incessantly¡­¡± Kotorn pressed a button and a mission statement made its way to Nako¡¯s wrist slate. ¡°Kyu-Kage Corporation is asking for escort personnel specifically requesting my best, it seems they have a threat they¡¯re not willing to divulge. Progenitor Corps get what they want and who better to send than the Lieutenant who just captured a Rajavan vessel?¡± You didn''t need a translator to feel the smugness ebbing off the screen, Korotn had twisted Nako¡¯s accomplishments for busy work, to remove him from where he was needed most. Fury burned in his chest, if he followed orders he could be sent away for Akira knows how long, but if he challenged the Knight Commander and was found to be rouge, then hed never return. ¡°I am honoured you would select me for this privilege.¡± Nako spat, bowing with a hand across his chest. Kotorn chuckled, satisfied he was obeying direct orders. ¡°Lieuteant Commander Nako, you are dismissed.¡± ¡°Yes Knight Commander¡­¡± Nako saluted and made his way from Viitoic¡¯s room, storming out and past Tifera, expecting her to keep up. ¡°Have my ship and men ready for departure in one hour, the sooner the better!¡± he demanded, flicking through the mission briefing. ¡°My lord?!¡± ¡°The quicker we resolve this interruption,¡± he snapped ¡°The sooner we can return to the real threat at hand.¡± Disparity Chapter: 13 Molotov Sugawara¡¯s heartbeat pounded in his ears, his eyes boring holes into the back of Beau¡¯s head. The adrenaline coursing through his veins helped him to stay vigilant. While he was sure Beau had no intention of turning that violence on him, it was better to be safe than sorry in his experience. The amniotic fluid stuck to their feet, squelching with every step off the tile. Suga could feel his stomach turning and twisting into knots. The danger was becoming more and more real the longer they were together. With weapons drawn they were not escaped prisoners any more, they were armed combatants behind enemy lines. There was no telling if the aliens would treat them as such, but they certainly hadn''t been looking out for their well being before. Suga wiped more sweat from his brow, keeping an eye on Beau who was just charging ahead, looking through every door with the drive of an animal looking for its prey. Pssssst. The doors opened automatically in their presence, mostly onto empty rooms, their unknown purpose low priority at the moment. The largest door, however, stayed closed. Beau took a step back, investigating why it was different from the rest. ¡°Hey, check that panel.¡± He pointed to the left side: a long white touchscreen sat waiting for them, blinking with a soft idle light. Suga reached out and started with the obvious, swiping his hand over it to see if it activated. A garbled alien message spoke overhead, and the door opened for them. It couldn¡¯t be that easy, right? Beau backed both himself and Suga against the wall, glanced inside and grinned with satisfaction. ¡°Finally, something we can work with.¡± He took point to properly scope the room. After he gave the all clear, Sugawara stepped in, and saw a laboratory waiting for him. Unattended screens sat before strange looking equipment, glass containers of unknown fluids stacked high all around the room and long stainless steel slab tables sat waiting for experiments to be conducted upon them. ¡°Shit looks like it¡¯s straight out of a morgue...¡± Beau muttered to himself, peering at the hoses, pipes and alien tools laid out for surgery. Sugawara thought it best not to share his own thoughts with the on-edge Beau, but this sterile room had a lot in common with the ones back home. After the squid apartments, the living ship innards and the cold storage clone facility, a slightly creepy laboratory was a welcome sight. Beau was still jumpy though. It was nice seeing that he was feeling guilty from his outburst before. ¡®Not a complete psycho then¡­¡¯ was the depressing thought, ¡®unlike that person...¡¯ Horrible to think a man he¡¯d only met hours before showed more remorse than some of his blood relatives. ¡°Hey,¡± Sugawara got his companion¡¯s attention. ¡°Escape?¡± he asked, gesturing around the room. Beau looked up, relieved to have something to do. ¡°There.¡± He pointed. In the top corner of the room was another camera, just out of reach. ¡°I¡¯ll get that open, you¡­figure out what this shit is and if any of it¡¯s useful.¡± ¡®Useful¡¯ was a loose term here. How much of it was ¡®useful¡¯ to their current situation and what might be good in the long run were two completely different things. Sugawara picked up one of the tools. The closest comparison he could think of would have been a type of airbrush. It was bulky, and he needed to clench his fingers into the wide spread, four fingered ¡®glove¡¯. It was very uncomfortable, largely because there was no room for his pinky finger to sit. As he squeezed, the tool let out a high pitched whine and a blue laser discharged from its fine end. He stopped the stream in surprise before testing it out again on the end of his loincloth. The fabric singed. Laser cutter was right up there in terms of useful. The other tool was connected to a computer by a long thin hose of malleable plastic. Suga ran his hands over the screen and a program greeted him with a pleasant glow and hum. The screen was divided into three. On the left side was alien text, several options he didn¡¯t bother to try and decipher, and the top panel was a scrollable array with coloured blobs, ranging from pale blue right through the colour spectrum to bright red. The main window sat blank. Suga started poking around, tapping and dragging colours into the window. It seemed random what would sit there, and he wasn¡¯t entirely sure what the program was even for. He stood there moving coloured blobs around until two of them stuck together and the screen lit up. Whatever he had done was ¡®viable¡¯ in the machine¡¯s eyes. He picked up the hose and aimed it at the steel table, pressing his fingers in the glove attachment. Hssssssss. Air, or rather gas piped out, odourless and colourless. Suga blinked then turned back to the program. He counted out the space between the coloured blobs and his mind just about screamed. Numbers 1 and 8, both pale blue colours. He tapped number 8 and ¡®added¡¯ it to the accepted combination. It glowed, accepting the input. Suga squeezed the hose, his heart skipping a beat as he felt the hose react and a stream of liquid gushed out. Pshhhhhhh. He ran his finger through the flowing stream, bringing it under his nose before tentatively tasting it. Clear, cold water flowed freely from the end of the pipe. Suga shoved the pipe in his mouth and drank deeply. It had been hours since he had had water, hours of physically demanding labour in hot, sweaty conditions. The euphoria was instant and sweet. He stopped only to breathe, taking another large drink before informing Beau. ¡°Water!!¡± he shouted happily, waving the still flowing hose in his hand. Beau dropped the crate he¡¯d been moving to go and replenish himself with the life-saving liquid. ¡°Hot damn!!¡± He ran the water over his head, basically drenching himself after he had slaked his thirst. ¡°How the hell did you get this working?!¡± Suga grinned evilly and returned to the screen. ¡°Chemistry,¡± was all he replied. Number 1, pale blue: Hydrogen, number 8, darker blue: Oxygen. Atomic weight by colour, matched in automatic chains, and magically sourced through the hose. ¡°I need bottles--¡± Suga started. ¡°For more water? Got it!¡± The soldier hurried off before waiting for more instructions. While his assumption wasn¡¯t entirely true, it wasn¡¯t wrong enough for Suga to correct him at this stage. He began playing with the machine, chaining elements together until Beau returned with an armful of glass tubes, the tops unceremoniously ripped open. They stank like the monster fridge. Suga took the vials hesitantly and flushed them out with water before filling them with his new concoction, while Beau watched on. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Whatcha doing...?¡± he asked, trying to figure it out. Suga tore a small strip off his loincloth and dipped it in the new liquid, placed the vial on the steel table and then picked up the laser cutter. He watched with glee as the laser hit the fabric and it burst into small flames. ¡°What?!¡± Beau slapped his hands together and yelled with delight. ¡°Right on!!!¡± ¡°Ethanol,¡± Suga stated, his face dark with sinister delight. ¡°WHOO! We gonna light this place up! Burn the whole thing down from the inside--¡± Beau cut himself off and stared at the door. Scuttling and footsteps approached, loud and clanky. The pair dived below the steel table and waited for their company to arrive. The doors babbled in that soft alien voice before opening. Another pair of bug guards was sent in, this time cautious, their weapons raised as they scoped the room. They didn¡¯t have the time to get to their escape route. Sugawara looked to Beau. The man had the cold look of vengeance in his eyes. Beau gave the signal to stay there, his index finger jabbing at the ground. Sugawara nodded in compliance. He wasn¡¯t about to get in Beau¡¯s way at all. For as large as he was, the man could move silently when he wanted to, crawling under the table and out of the guards¡¯ sight before the first one passed by. The second guard was Beau¡¯s target. The alien didn¡¯t even get to turn around before the crackle of Beau¡¯s lance went off. He forced the blade through the back of the guard¡¯s neck, clear blood pouring out the wound. The guard¡¯s four arms began flailing and a gurgling screech cried out to its companion. Suga hesitated. Staying hidden and ¡®safe¡¯ under the table was what Beau wanted, but hiding wouldn¡¯t help here. There was no ¡®safe¡¯, it just delayed the pain for later. He slid out from under the table and reached for the chemical hose, unleashing a spray of ethanol before even getting to aim it at the guards. The first one gave a disgusted cry, its attention drawn straight to the human dousing it. Sugawara scrambled for the laser with one hand, desperate to light the improvised flamethrower. The first guard was too quick, knocking the hose from his hand with its weapon and letting out an intimidating hiss. Sugawara yelled in retaliation, trying to kick the guard¡¯s feet from under it when the crackle of the lance went off again. Beau ripped the sword out of the second guard and swung with all his might. The heat and light was intense as Beau¡¯s lance engulfed the guard in a grand fireball. It only took a spark of the electricity to ignite the fumes, blinding everyone for a moment. The screaming barbeque bug fell to the floor, rolling around in agony while its friend struggled to help, still standing even with a sword wound through most of its head. Its unsteady shuffle reminded Sugawara of a zombie, staggering with all its might past its friend and towards the laboratory door. It was trying to escape. They couldn¡¯t let that happen. ¡°Jesus...¡± Beau growled under his breath, stepping up to finish what he had started. It was awful. Beau grabbed the handle of the blade and forced the guard down on the floor. There he could quickly snap off another arm, releasing the body pressure inside the bug¡¯s exoskeleton. Without the pressure the organs and blood had nowhere to go but out. A quick end, if not clean. The guard on fire finally stopped screaming as Beau put the other one out of its misery. It had burnt out quickly, the stench of shellfish and burnt rubber coming from the fumes. ¡°That stinks¡­¡± Beau spat, shaking his head. Sugawara felt awful. Stress, adrenaline and the stench of cooked alien flesh turned his stomach. He picked himself up and his heart stopped. A small black bug crawled across his hand. He closed his eyes and prayed. It had been more than 24 hours since they¡¯d woken up, 48 hours since he last took his meds. Maybe, maybe there would be enough time for him to study the machine, maybe he could try and string together the compounds he needed to stave off the madness a little bit longer. If he hadn¡¯t already completely lost his mind. When he opened his eyes, Beau was shoving the corpses toward the exit. The doors opened and he threw the bloodied body out into the hallway. The burnt guard required more of a precise punt, a hand over his mouth to stave off the smell. ¡°Oh shit!¡± he exclaimed, standing at the door. ¡°Molotov!¡± he ordered ¡°NOW!¡± Sugawara panicked, grabbing the bottle of ethanol on the counter and tearing off as much of the alien coat he could, stuffing it into the neck only for Beau¡¯s hands to rip it from his grasp. ¡°Light!¡± the soldier ordered again, holding it steady for the young man. Suga reached for the laser and within seconds the cloth was aflame. In a massive show of strength Beau flipped over one of the steel tables on its side, facing the door. He grabbed Sugawara and ducked down. Then Suga heard the footsteps. Dozens of alien bugs, running down the hallway, clicking and buzzing like a hive of wasps. And they sounded pissed. Beau was counting down under his breath, the burning molotov clenched in his hand. ¡°One!¡± In one swift movement, he stood up from cover and tossed the molotov. The glass bottle sailed through the air and smashed against the open door, sending ethanol and flames all over the crowd of soldiers storming through it. Beau¡¯s lance crackled above the sounds of screams, and his voice cut through the chaos, ¡°Come on you maggots! Come and get some!¡± Sugawara watched in stunned awe as Beau began cutting down one after another of burning soldiers, preventing them from crossing the steel table barrier. The righteous rage now found a purpose, he channelled all his energy into keeping them alive, mowing through burning bodies. The blaze was large enough now that it triggered the emergency systems. Tiles casually slid aside from their place on the wall and a chemical was focused on the flames, snuffing them out with scary efficiency. They wouldn¡¯t last long without the fire weakening the neverending stream of guards. Sugawara scrambled to grab more bottles, tearing off what was left of the coat he was wearing, filling and lighting the next molotov as quickly as he could. ¡°Fire!¡± he screamed, throwing the bottle with the accuracy and speed of a college league pitcher. Beau dived behind the table as the bottle flew over his head and into the next wave of soldiers. ¡°Keep ¡®em coming, Ryo!¡± Beau shouted, returning to his defensive position and smacking down anyone who dared get too close. Sugawara was throwing them as soon as he could make them, the bodies building up a barrier in front of their table, yet the soldiers still threw themselves through the choke point. He filled the only glass bottle left in reach, he barely had enough coat to burn as he made their last molotov. ¡°Fall back!¡± he shouted to Beau, straining to push over another table. Beau followed the order, leaping over the new obstacle. Sugawara handed him the bottle. ¡°Last one, flame hose.¡± Suga grabbed the hose, jammed the trigger open so the ethanol flowed freely, and rigged the laser to point at the stream. He faced down the fresh wave, adrenaline rushing through him. ¡°Burn!¡± The laser lit up the stream and rained fire before them, a constant flow the emergency system could barely keep up with. Beau put down the molotov between them while Suga turned on his lance. For the briefest moment their eyes met, a comradery forged in the flames of survival, a partnership likely to end in their demise. ¡°Let¡¯s go out swinging,¡± Beau said, the fight in his eyes brighter than the flames. ¡°Homerun,¡± Sugawara replied, finding freedom now that the future no longer mattered. The men took up sides and fought on, screaming with every swing, the enemy guards getting closer and closer over their barriers. Scraping and reaching for them, the guards began to thin, then they retreated. Several guards hovered at the door and looked on at the bodies and chaos before them. Then, finally, the last guard walked through the door. He was taller than the rest, dressed in a long white cape, and stood at the door staring them down. ¡°Fuck you!¡± Beau spat. As if he recognised the insult, the guard ripped off his cape and the deafening hum of wings boomed inside the small space. ¡°They can fly?!¡± He was almost too quick to follow with the naked eye. One bounding leap and the soldier was overhead, a flick of his wrist and the enemy¡¯s lance extended, piercing and pinning Beau¡¯s body to the floor. Red blood splattered the white tiles, Beau¡¯s scream of pain lost in the noise. The soldier dropped like a lead weight on Beau¡¯s back, a fourth hand stabbing his flesh with an alien syringe. The recognition of experience hit Sugawara like a fist to the face. The other guards were cannon fodder compared to this guy. They weren¡¯t out to kill them, they wanted them alive. Beau was out cold in seconds, and then the enemy¡¯s eyes fell on him. Another lance flicked out from the soldier¡¯s waist, missing Sugawara¡¯s hip by centimetres only for it to shock him when he whipped it into his side. The human fell. He reached for the molotov to fight back, but that too was knocked easily from his hand with a swift strike. The alien soldier stomped on his arm, then his chest, and glared at him through three pairs of furious eyes. Slowly, his lance reopened the wound on Sugawara¡¯s shoulder, clearly a gesture of spite. Sugawara screamed again, furiously and defiantly, trying in vain to shake off his captor. ¡°I¡¯ve had worse you disgusting insect!--¡± his insult cut short in shock as he saw the tiny black bugs crawl from his own hand, up the lance and all over the face of his enemy. The small bugs were an illusion, the large, far scarier bug was very real. The soldier stabbed him with the alien tranquiliser, and Sugawara felt his body go limp and numb, but he was not fortunate enough to slip into unconsciousness like Beau had done. The bug rose to stand over them, dismissive of the unconscious humans, clicking orders for the few who had been spared to follow obediently. Sugawara had to watch as his friend was dragged away, and the victor was presented with his white cloak. The enemy who had so easily dispatched them cast it into the sea of red blood, then carefully held up the stained cloth to the light to admire its colour. Suga¡¯s body was lifted carelessly, thrown over a steel trolley without any care to the pain or position he was in, but he could still glare at the cloaked soldier as he was carted away. The aliens had won this battle, but Sugawara would ensure with his dying breath they did not win the war. Dispairity Chapter: 14 - Judiciary concepts Jasmine had plopped herself into the bar room¡¯s couch and propped her feet up on the armrest, making herself comfortable while Xant, in turn, positioned a stool and glass coffee table so he might continue their work. The human had been busy pouring herself a small sample of each of the ¡®drinks¡¯ available, having fun describing the taste to Xant, who could only feign comprehension as to what ¡®smokey¡¯ ¡®sweet¡¯ or ¡®fruity¡¯ meant. Rynard had been sent off some time ago to retrieve the dogs and what he could carry of Xant¡¯s tablets and they were waiting for his return. ¡°I think this will be the last one,¡± she mentioned, dropping less than a mouthful of an amber liquid into the glass, ¡°last thing I want is a hangover with no way to cure it.¡± ¡°I can still administer the depressor as before?¡± Xant noted watching as Jasmine savoured the sipping whisky, she shook her head in reply. ¡°I recall you saying they were ¡®impressive effective¡¯,¡± Jasmine chuckled, mulling over the offer in her head. ¡°No, it''s alright, hangovers should serve as a proper deterrent, don''t want to get too attached to the unreplenishable supply,¡± she replied wistfully. ¡°Are you going to be comprehensible enough to go over some more data?¡± he asked, wary of the last time she was under the influence. ¡°Provided you''re not going to ask me to write up some legislative documents, I should be alright,¡± she answered before taking another sip. Rynard returned with a shout and a chorus of barks, ¡°Jasi! incoming!¡± Rumbling from the lower decks, the dogs ran away from their keeper, off to explore and find the namegiver while Rynard started hoisting equipment over the deck. Xant¡¯s ears stood on end as he saw Rynard throwing his dataslate case on the deck, jumping up from his stool to scold the captain immediately. ¡°Captain! Those dataslates are irreplaceable, they¡¯re not standard equipment to be tossed around!¡± another crate double the size landed beside the dataslates, filled with the rest of their equipment. Xant gripped the railing as he glared down at the captain. ¡°You will break the wooden deck at this rate!¡± Rynard took a short run up before leaping onto the deck himself, making the very yacht shake. Xant fell back on his tail as the old soldier looked down with a smirk. ¡°Break the deck?¡± Rynard lifted his foot to look underneath it, ¡°Seems fine to me,¡± he lifted both crates in his enormous arms, ¡°Jasi, I brought your things,¡± The human appeared from the bar room stretching her arms and legs. ¡°Thanks Rynard, but, could you please be careful about throwing things?¡± The captain had to laugh. ¡°The Doc¡¯s just overstressing, these cases are shatterproof,¡± he dropped the case in front of the pair, ¡°they can be hit by artillery and be fine,¡± Jasmine and Xant blinked in unison, before the human broke out laughing and the zenthi rubbed his temples. Xant reached for his dataslate crate while Jasmine watched Rynard unload. ¡°You really did bring everything huh?¡± ¡°Everything that would fit in the train, had to leave the terminal behind though, those things dont move from the wall, we¡¯ll have to get one installed here on the watership,¡± ¡°Yacht,¡± Jasmine corrected, ¡°i¡¯d thought you¡¯d be more comfortable back in the barracks?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be a pretty awful body guard if I were not active while you rested Jasi,¡± the captain explained, pulling a capsule from the crate, and fiddling with the buttons. ¡°But, don''t you need to sleep too?¡± Jasmine asked, genuinely curious. Rynard tossed the capsule into the empty pool, and after a few short beeps the canister released the familiar gel mattress, filling up the entire pool. ¡°Sure, maybe in [a week] or so, if i don''t take any stims,¡± he shrugged, ¡°my model can go a [month] if we absolutely have to, built tough remember,¡± Rynard gave her a toothy grin, and Jasmine conceded. ¡°Alright, well, don''t push yourself on my account, you enjoy the down time too okay?¡± ¡°Yes, Namegiver,¡± he laughed Jasmine returned to her couch while Xant readied some subjects for them to talk about. ¡°I have a few subjects for your approval,¡± ¡°Alright, list em off,¡± ¡°Judiciary concepts,¡± ¡°Ugh no, waaay too heavy,¡± ¡°Alright, how about economic systems?¡± ¡°Even worse,¡± ¡°What about interstellar communications?¡± ¡°... Xant, I don''t have a lot of brain power left so we can do a quick fire session and then get stuck into the nitty gritty of the details, after I''ve had a night sleeping in an actual bed, deal?" ¡°I cannot oppose such negotiation skills¡± Xant began the recording: Jasmine: Oh har har, right what''s the subject then? Xant: Judiciary concepts, Law and order in user speech. Jasmine:Heh, law and order, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney one will be provided for you¡­ I don''t remember if there''s any more. Xant:What was that exactly? Jasmine: Miranda rights, you''re informed of your rights as you''re arrested, well, in the movies anyway, haven''t had the pleasure of experiencing it first hand. Xant:I would hope not, (else I''ve made a terrible mistake) Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Jasmine: What was that? Xant: Nothing, how about we start with a list of crimes and punishments? Jasmine: Suits me Xant: Theft of personal property Jasmine: Defo a crime, people work hard to earn their things, thou shall not steal. That''s a basic one. Xant: Basic as it may be it is still best to be thorough. Jasmine: I think it''s mostly a fine, depending on how much you steal, prison time as well, a couple of years. Of course, but like, if you stole something small you''d prolly get off with a warning, like a small lolly or something. Xant: Steal food? Is sustenance not provided for by your government? Jasmine: Err, if you can''t afford it yeah, but we don''t monocrop like you do, we eat more than jerky plants. ''Sustenance'' is also a commodity. Xant: ah yes, I''ve seen how you presented food, it does not surprise me in the least. The council provides its citizens with all its sustenance, and commercial wants within contribution credit reason. Jasmine: Well if the government provides everything then what''s left to steal, Xant: Sentimental items, clothing, personal data. Jasmine: Oh so same stuff then, so, fine and small time in prison is the usual punishment. Xant: Theft is also a crime in the GC, the perpetrator is removed from the population. The next topic is Fraud. Jasmine: Removed from the population hmmm? *snort* that''s not ominous at all, but Fraud? Really? Wasn''t expecting that so soon on the list. Xant: Fraud is a devious and abhorrent crime, stealing the contributions of another. It''s getting harder to prosecute without physical trial now. Jasmine: Ahhh cause you guys are all clones, DNA wouldn''t help you and galactic paper trails must be a nightmare. Xant: Indeed, many have lost their retirement rewards only to expire before correction. Terrible, the perpetrator is removed from the population. Jasmine: I''ll say, fraud isn''t as severe, normally a hefty fine or, as you might understand it, limiter on your earnings. Xant: Illegal substances Jasmine: Now we''re getting into tricky stuff, most human illegal substances are performance enhancers or impairments that are highly addictive and destructive, cept for certain plants, it changes mostly. Xant: GC substances corrode the mental capacity of our citizens or outright destroy their nervous systems, poisons would be the common term. Jasmine: Heh poisons are only illegal if you try to poison someone with them, then its murder or manslaughter one of the two. Xant: What? Two kinds of murder? Is it, like a duel? Jasmine: No, one''s a crime of passion, justified or not, the other was premeditated. Xant: Justified murder of another sentient? Did they go rogue? Jasmine: *Shrugs* I dunno, it''s your hypothetical, the point is that murder and manslaughter can both be punished by life in prison, isolation if its particularly awful. Taking illegal substances is a bit more lenient, closer to a handful of years if the government is particularly shitty. Xant: If a GC citizen is caught with illegal substances, the perpetrator is removed from the population. Next is Freq aggression Jasmine: Well uhh, I''m not sure we''ve got an equivalent, Since I''ve only been accused of it rather than experienced it. Xant: It is to expose someone to debilitating pulses of freq over and over and or to coerce them into acts of violence otherwise. Jasmine:¡­ Huh Guess we do have something similar, we call it abuse. Very high on the scumbag list of horrible crimes. Typically the harshest punishments¡­ Xant: Another we agree on, typically the aggressors are removed from the population, if the military cannot make use of them they''re terminated. Piracy. Jasmine: Ah yes, pirates! Ha, well which kind of piracy? Xant: Which kind? Jasmine: We got two, one on the high seas and the one on the information highway. Xant: Despite the translators best efforts neither one of those translated correctly Jasmine: Ha ha, one is cargo on ships, earth is covered in water, so we still corridor on giant shipping containers, we get pirates nicking commercial goods in narrow transit ways and off coasts. Xant: And you''re not concerned about this activity?? Jasmine: The companies that have the giant ass ships have their profits in the billions, probably billions more than the GDP of the countries that the pirates come from! Those companies aren''t going to miss a shipping container or two, it''s often easier for them to pay off the hostage money than to persecute the pirates. Xant: But, those are good stolen from the needs of the people¡­ Jasmine: Nah, most of it would be commercial goods, frivolous stuff, like rubber ducks, honestly the stealing info is a lot more concerning for the regular Joe, information stolen, identity theft, you were talking about retirement stolen because of fraud? Same goes here except they can also open loans with your name that you can get stuck with, destroy your reputation and just generally wreck lives, it''s awful. Xant: Are you saying that data is more important? Jasmine: I''m saying the impact on ordinary people concerns me more than a company''s bottom line. Xant: But companies help raise new citizens and help with diversity within the GC population, they help create different cultural and biospheres organically as well as differing novelty products. Jasmine:¡­ I think we have completely differing concepts of ¡®company¡¯. Xant: I think you are right and we are starting from the topic at hand, piracy is a criminal offense, and the offender is removed from the population. Jasmine: Xant, what does ¡®removed from the population¡¯ mean? Xant: I would have thought it was self explanatory? Jasmine: Yeah, but what happens after that? Are they kept in penitentiary cells? Are the rehabilitated? Are they stuck on their own planet or station? Xant: ¡­ Ive, never thought about it before. Jasmine: Never? Xant: I¡¯ve never needed to¡­ Jasmine: Maybe we should stop the recording. Link terminated Jasmine sat up from the couch to a clearly distressed Xant, walking over to comfort him. ¡°Hey.. are you okay?¡± Xant looked down at his dataslate. ¡°I am a researcher, i didn''t need to know what happens to criminals, only justicars and enforcers need to know,¡± he looked up at Jasmine, genuinely confused ¡°why would i ever need to know if i never committed a crime? Why have I never questioned it before?¡± Jasmine sat down beside Xant ¡°Sorry, but all of this, the galactic council still kind of scares me, and when you say things like ¡®removed from the population¡¯ it doesn''t translate to anything other than ¡®insidious¡¯ to me, but Xant, I trust you, above all else.¡± Xant slumped his shoulders and furrowed his brow. ¡°What does ¡®removed from the population¡¯ mean to you jasmine? How could it be insidious?¡± Jasmine faltered. Holding an arm defensively. ¡°Sometimes, people use wordplay to disguise or down play horrible things, collateral damage instead of civilian deaths, reeducation for brainwashing and torture or final solution¡­¡± The last words were so ominous it sent a chill through Xants cartilage bones, ¡°Xant, not all humans are as nice as me, and I want to believe it¡¯s just unfortunate phrasing, but i guess I can¡¯t help thinking of the worst. The unknown can be terrifying¡± ¡°Jasmine, if the galactic council simply killed those who did not obey, then we would be no better than the Rajava,¡± Xant replied "but on the subject of the unknown, we can agree." ¡°It''s very messy and I''m not qualified to talk about this at all..¡± ¡°Jasmine, I should not have pushed you so close to your rest time.¡± ¡°It''s alright, you were only trying to get me to do ¡®my job¡¯,¡± she joked trying to lighten the mood, ¡°i should get some rest, I¡¯ve definitely drank too much¡­I don''t think any of my responses are valid, how about we delete that session and do a new one in the morning?¡± she patted Xants shoulder and offered a tired, drunk smile. Jasmine slowly made her way down into the ship''s depths leaving Xant alone to contemplate the conversation. There was so much he didn''t know that was outside his field of knowledge. Was there a reason that such things were kept from the citizen population? Where did those who were removed from the population go? There were answers to these questions of course, they would be available to him on the civ-net, perhaps even the Mil-net if he were allowed access. But, festering in the back of his mind, his secondary voice was asking other questions, ones that answers would not come as easily. Why would humans use such innocuous words to disguise intentions? How ''shitty'' were their governments that Jasmine feared them? Her voice echoed in his memory, and he remembered the shiver that went down his spine. ''Other humans are not as nice as me'' Why did that sentence scare him so much? Disparity Chapter: 15 - Trauma Sugawara could only watch and breathe. He could feel the cold steel of the trolly he had been placed on through his makeshift clothes, he watched as the white tile walls rolled by. He felt his own blood trickly down his shoulder and chest, but he felt no pain. They placed him on an operating table, and a machine strapped him down, more aliens came into peripheral view as the table lifted and rotated forward. He saw beau on another table, bugmen in white coats were stabbing him with alien equipment, sealing his wounds with gel, collecting the red blood in vials. A liazrd in a coat approached him, lazer glove in hand. Suga¡¯s breathing increased as the lazer was lifted above his head. He couldnt feel the heat, he didnt feel pain. But her heard the lazer cutting his skin, he smelt the burning of his own flesh. he felt the blood drip past his ear and an alien nurse wipe it away. They were cutting into his skull while he was still conscious. His lips couldnt move but his vocal chords still worked. He tried to cry and scream, his eyes darted trying to escape the madness. When the madness found him again. The bug nurse peered at him while he struggled, while he gasped, 6 multicoloured eyes stared and twitched as he spluttered. The nurse wiped his mouth clean. He watched as the black bugs came back, his mind screaming to him that they were there, crawling over his arms, his legs his face and he needed to get them off, while the other half of his brain knew they werent there. Suga felt a tug on his skull, a wet suction noise released and his brain was exposed to the open air. The human screamed in distress, a noise came out of him that he didnt recognise. Pure fear. The nurse backed away, even the lizard surgeon faltered to the noise. The surgeon growled and snapped, the nurse scuttled away only to return with a syringe in her hand and a shadow over her shoulder. He hadnt seen the shadow in a while, the faceless man that laughed at him with his fathers voice. ¡®Look at you now¡¯ it laughed ¡®dont try to get up, its only going to get worse¡¯ The syringe entered his throat and Sugas voice vanished with it, his breathing slowed as the muscles relaxed. ¡®No ones coming to save you,¡¯ ¡®Stop it¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ve only got yourself to blame¡¯ Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡®Shut up!¡¯ ¡®If you werent so weak-¡¯ The voice cut out, as a slimy cold thread slipped down between his brains hemispheres. ¡°There we go! That should do it, hard to find anything in this knotted ball of nerves, assistant Fi, is the amalgamation responding?¡± the surgeons voice, from growls and snaps into comprehensible language. The bug nurse chittered. ¡°It looks like its in distress, Doctor,¡± ¡°Nonsense! Its only in distress cause its away from it¡¯s Vassal unit, is it responding to our input.¡± Nurse Fi looked into Suga¡¯s eyes and saw fear turn to fury. ¡°... its responding Doctor.¡± ¡°Fantastic, have the tech¡¯s run a jammer frequency while I find the broadcaster nerves and connect them up.¡± Assistant Fi walked away but the shadow stayed behind, its blank face flickering darkness. ¡®Youre not even human..¡¯ the voice mocked him, returning with a clarity that shook him to his core, ¡®youre a dog, go on and beg¡¯ ¡®N-no¡¯ his own quiet voice did its best to hold out against the hallucination. ¡®Beg!¡¯ ¡®Your not real...¡¯ Sugawara felt another slimy tendril slip down the back of his neck, twisting and wriggling under his skin. The shadow man stepped closer, until the darkness was all he could see. ¡°And that should do it-¡± the surgeon¡¯s announcement died in his mouth as the entire room fell quiet. Sugawara could feel the aliens in the room, like ripples on a pond, their life essence within his grasp. They quivered in fear, staring at him. ¡®BEG!¡¯ the voice screamed in sugawara¡¯s brain, and the aliens obeyed. They fell to their stomachs, squirming and screaming for their lives. ¡°Dont kill us!¡± ¡°We didnt know my lord!!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll free you please no more!¡± Sugawara could feel the pain his very presence caused them, so he did the only thing he could do. Lash out. ¡®SHUT UP! SHUT UP! GET ME DOWN! LET ME GO! ALL OF YOU JUST GO AWAY! GO AWAY! JUST DIE! I¡¯LL KILL YOU! ALL OF YOU JUST DIE!¡¯ The begging stopped. The aliens presence faded away. He couldnt hear them move at all. He was alone. Except for the voice. He didnt have the meds to get rid of the voice. -*- Beau wasnt a fan of anathesia, he always felt like shit after going under. The hospital had forgoten to turn of the light that were blinding him. He reached for the hospital sheet and found only his own bare ass on a steel table. Then the horrible reality came snapping back. He isntictually reached for his shoulder, but there was no wound to speak of, as if he didnt get impaled on a steel spike only moments ago. He remembered the sharp lance going through his shoulder, and coming out below his ribs. He remembered struggling to breath as the blood filled up in his punctured lung, but there was not a scratch on him. His head began to clear when he saw the bodies. Aliens lying on the floor, all of them with a look of agony on their faces, or at least, what he thought was agony. Then he saw Ryo, ¡°Shit,¡± The poor kid was strapped down on a table with steel cuffs, whimpering and skittish, eyes glazed over and staring off blindly into the light. Beau slowly sat up and slid off his table, grabbing his clothes and slipping on what he could. ¡°Hold on Ryo, i¡¯m coming,¡± he called, but The poor kid didnt answer. As the soldier approached he found out why. The kid was missing the top part of his skull. It sat neatly along side other alien equipment, and an empty glass tank. Beau gulped, and saw something sticking out. They had put something inside suga¡¯s brain. It pusled and wriggled, but had ultimately been surgically melded into ryo¡¯s grey matter, there was no way he could remove it safely, not without killing the kid. ¡°Hey Ryo?¡± he spoke softly, gently tapping the kids cheek to get his attention, maybe he was still under the anathesia too? The kids eyes slowly came too, and he looked right at beau and cried. That horrible, gut wrenching cry all men make when pushed past their limit. When all you wanted to do was die. ¡°Hold on, hold on¡­¡± he encouraged, slowly putting the top of the kids skull back on his head and pulling at the steel cuffs to release. They snapped open but Ryo didnt move, he couldnt, whatever nerve blocker they had used was still in his system. ¡°It¡¯s alright kid, we¡¯ll get outta here.¡± Beau lifted him over his shoulder, carrying him out of the lab. They were met with more bodies. Everyone seemingly dropping dead on the spot, whatever happened while he was under effected everyone but them. Even the guards were just slumped over against the walls. Beau carefully reached for the guards weapon, and activated it. ¡°It will be okay,¡± he repeated to himself as they walked down the silent hallways. ¡°It will be okay¡­¡± Disparity Chapter 16: Dread The REFINED, after being on route for more than a week, finally reached its destination. Ky¡¯ler Station, a Kyu-Kage owned behemoth in the center of the newly reclaimed section 138. It was the progenitor company of the sector and a supplier of military assets for Branch. Usually it could handle its own problems with its near limitless Contribution Credit score. Things must have been dire for them to call in military assistance, and to be so secretive about it, to boot. Nako waited at the bridge for his communications officer to hail the station, since they apparently didn¡¯t deem it necessary to hail them first. He stood in the holo projector¡¯s scanner, and presented himself with the awe-inspiring intimidation that citizens expected of commanders. Nako: This is lieutenant Commander Sir Tar Nako requesting an Audience with the Executive Director of the station. He didn''t need to wait long before a terribly disheveled and stressed out looking Sulin representative appeared on his projection. ED: Lieutenant Commander?? Oh, Akira¡¯s blessings have finally reached us!!! We need your troops to secure our facility! Nako: Secure the facility from what? Your company was not very forthcoming with details. ED: Much of what happened is still under top secret Corp confidentiality, but we can''t contain this threat! None of our licensed security guards can get near them, and our ex-military either get stiffed or shattered after coming into contact! Nako: I need to know what the threat is, Director. I don''t plan on throwing myself at it without knowing what I''m up against. ED: It''s Rajavan, spoils from a military auction. We were given some new amalgamations to deconstruct and produce new military assets. The director sent data to the Refined: camera files, audio, and a redacted research file. Nako stared back at the information sent to him. Both he and Tifera knew exactly what they were dealing with. Humans. Hostile humans. ED: A bomb unit and a vassal, self-governing from what we can tell. We lost almost the entire R&D staff on the floor and we''ve had to evacuate nearly 1 mil citizens from the station itself. That''s not including the structural damage and loss of product since they''ve been on board. It''s close to 500 years¡¯ worth of credit lost¡­ Nako: You did the right thing, Director. These creatures are a new threat and can be extremely volatile. I will take care of this. ED: Akira¡¯s drowning in her own tears! The sooner this whole rotting thing is done with, the sooner we can get back to production. We¡¯ve had the whole facility down for nearly 3 [days]! Hurry, Lieutenant Commander! Link Terminated Nako could feel Tifera creeping closer, and the eyes of his crew awaiting orders. Overpowering them with freq wasn¡¯t really an option. While he was sure he could withstand the fury of a human¡¯s weaponised blast, his crew had not been exposed to the devastation and would surely be lost, even if they were battle hardened. As much as the knight in him abhorred underhanded tactics on the battlefield, this was not a seek and destroy, this was a recovery mission. Nako would have to find a way to convince them to join him on the Refined. It shouldn''t be too difficult. Namegiver Jasmine was civilised, courteous even. A conversation with someone who didn''t fall over dead was probably all they needed. ¡°Prepare my regalia, and have 1st recon deployed. I¡¯ll need them to escort me.¡± He felt the entire bridge look at him. ¡°You¡¯ll be going aboard yourself, sir?¡± ¡°Yes. I have to make up for the aliens¡¯ terrible first impression of the Galactic Council.¡± Nako suited up in his armour. Whilst not made of steel like his Sulin and Zenthi counterparts¡¯, his carapace allowed him to take flight and move more agilely through the air. He had no intention of fighting the lost aliens aboard the station, so he made sure to look extra flashy and impressive, his finest blue cape pleated and pressed, all the tokens of previously won battles pinned to his shoulder, with the moon red gem taking pride of place amongst them. His soldiers stood at attention, eight steel-coated Sulin, their right arms held across their chests.Nako took up the rear and drew his sword, waiting as the docking doors opened to the station. They had been given access to all the station''s systems, so they had the run of the entire place, from the habs to the R&D facilities, but everything below had been cut off by the humans. They had apparently been crawling inside the ship''s inner workings and destroying everything they touched. That Included the progenitor rooms, and the hundreds of thousands of potential lives within. Nako could feel the rage in his soldiers as they passed the broken tanks. ¡°Forward,¡± he ordered. ¡°Do not engage.¡± He steeled himself against his own outrage. For all his time spent listening to Jasmine¡¯s attempts at first contact and being with her, these acts seemed beyond reprehensible. They followed the trail of destruction to the storage decks below, until they could feel¡­ It. A dark foreboding, like sharp needles in the back of their brains and a tightness wrapping around their lungs, every step closer made it harder to breathe and think. Usually, aggressive pulses were pure rage, hate or pain, designed to overpower and override the enemy¡¯s senses. If all you can feel is rage, critical thinking goes out the window. But this was different. Pain, anger, fear, Nako could sense them all but there was something else, a loathing about it all, a clear sense of disgust, he was suddenly aware of how repulsive everything around him was, how grotesque he was, a horrid, despicable, insufferable weakling-- Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°HALT!¡± Nako ordered his men. ¡°Defensive formation!¡± His soldiers instantly formed a shield around him, melt-guns primed and ready. The lieutenant commander took a moment to clear his head. Human freq was both obnoxiously powerful and insidiously subtle. He had not even noticed he and his men had been lured right towards the enemy, out in the open without any sort of guard up. ¡°It seems you have a lot of words for deplorable!¡± he shouted. ¡°Care to share a few more with me?¡± The freq pulse rippled, focusing its vitriol on the assault team, yet the humans remained hidden in the debris. ¡°() If that is your wish/you¡¯re asking for it insect/ .¡± The pulse hit like a hammer to the chest and his intestines wanted to crawl out of his abdomen, his saliva caught in the back of his throat as he heard and felt the words pouring from their enemy¡¯s mouth. ¡°Awful(horrid)/grotesque/putrid/monstrous(nasty)/abhorrent/vile/dreadful/(foul)/revolting!¡± A torrent of almost intolerable pulses wracked his men, who were struggling against each wave. In the end only Nako remained on both feet. Had he not steeled his nerves beforehand, he would have been in incredible pain. Akira blessed his forethought. ¡°Very impressive,¡± Nako complimented the unseen enemy, between hidden laboured breaths. ¡°I can see now why the upper levels are filled with bodies. Versed in battle, are you?¡± A moment of pause. The oppressive atmosphere did not lift, however. ¡°I am here to talk, young prince¡­it appears we have come to a most disagreeable misunderstanding. I am not your enemy--¡± ¡°Liar! (Like we¡¯re going to fall for such an obvious ploy.)¡± ¡°It is no ploy. You must be very confused, you and your friend. We can provide answers, and better food! You must be getting sick of eating processed waurdess¡­¡± ¡°(I am sick of this awful food, I¡¯m sick of this whole fucking thing!)¡± ¡°Then allow me to to take you and your fellow prince away from here. I am not here to fight.¡± A wave of panic and confusion hit Nako. A soft blow. He may finally be breaking through. ¡°(I can¡¯t trust him--)¡± ¡°You can trust me.¡± ¡°(Can he read my mind?!)¡± ¡°Your uncalibrated translator projects your second voice very clearly.¡± ¡°( )(So you can read my mind?) There was another voice, deep like a growl, short and sparse. ¡°( ) Damnit, Bo, not now, what do I say? What¡¯s the word in English? Talking! Alien! (Human friend stay in position.)¡± Nako was taken aback. There really was another human there, and he was completely void of freq, hidden from sight and sense. The gruff voice called out again and Nako tried to pinpoint where the other was hiding. ¡°I can''t read your mind so much as you are screaming it out onto the network for everyone to hear.¡± The lieutenant scanned the room. Broken vats and machines as far as the eyes could see, wires and fluid covering the floor. ¡°Alien lie! Not die! ( ) God damnit Bo just shut up!¡± the young prince yelled. He was arguing with his companion. Then it dawned on Nako, he was dealing with aliens, everything he knew about relationship dynamics had to be tossed in the void. This wasn''t a ¡®Commander/Vassal¡¯ situation. He didn''t need to win over the young prince, maybe he could appeal straight to the unconnected one? ¡°Leave us!¡± Nako ordered his men, before they were permanently crippled by the freq being thrown about. The soldiers left with disciplined speed, while Nako unsheathed all three of his segswords and placed them on the ground, then held his hands high in the air. ¡°I am not here to lie to you, young prince, nor am I here to harm you or your companion. I am here to punish those who mistreated you and to deliver you to a place of safety--¡± A thin figure popped out from behind a pushed over vat, clad in makeshift clothes, both hands outstretched before him and dark, piercing, focused eyes meeting with Nako¡¯s. The pulse was oppressive, anger and hate held him down, the young prince''s wishes for him to die were loud and clear but muddied with conflicting emotions. He was undisciplined, and the notion of peace had made his resolve waver. Nako had held his own against a human cry of hopelessness. One of desperation hit his body differently. ¡°I¡¯m not lying¡­¡± Nako focused all his might into firing a counter pulse, the cold anger freezing the human in place with wide-eyed shock. ¡°This power runs both ways, and I have been holding back¡­¡± Nako fell to one knee but did not break the gaze. ¡°I am here to help. There is another human under my care, and there are other creatures from your planet. It would be a shame for you never to see them--¡± ¡°Just s-shut up the b-both of you!¡± the thin human screamed in desperation. His pale skin was tinged blue, his hands shaking. The young one was becoming erratic, truly beyond the reach of reason. If he spoke another word it would likely draw an even worse ire. If he couldn''t speak, perhaps there was another way? Nako rested on both his knees in a humbling display and began to whistle. Jasmine loved to sing, she told him about the millenia worth of music humans had produced, yet he had only learned one song thus far. He hoped it would be enough. Beau stood back and watched the exchange between Ryo and their new alien visitors. Something was terribly, terribly wrong. The new captain and his men looked much flashier than those who had come before. The dinosaur tanks were their first clue, the mere sight of them triggering an instinct to hide, and the fact they didn''t immediately fall over dead was their second clue that they were up against something much worse than before. They might have finally sent in their equivalent of infantry. There was no way he and Ryo could have taken on the numbers without his new psychic death powers, but Ryo wasn''t able to stop this one, and had completely given up trying to hide. The flashy alien soldier didn''t attack, but Ryo started screaming in Japanese and wasn''t telling him anything anymore. The kid was turning blue, something wasn''t right. The alien soldier put down his weapons and raised his hands in the air. He wasn''t trying to fight. If Beau had wanted, he could have jumped out and simply taken the guy down. But then they''d send more. And they wouldn''t hold back like this one did. Beau didn''t want it to end here, but if they had to, they had to. ¡°Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death¡­¡± he muttered under his own breath, readying for an assault. Then the alien¡¯s calm clicks turned to whistles. It sounded like crickets and cicadas on a summer¡¯s night, except Beau knew this tune. He had sung it so many times, he could hear it in the memory of his mother¡¯s and grandmother¡¯s voices, and somehow, this bug was singing it now. Beau stood up to listen, revealing himself, taser lance in both hands, crackling and ready to strike. The bug did not stand, and Ryo kept shouting incoherently, but Beau stood above the kneeling insect and his voice whispered in tune with the alien. ¡°... She broke your throne and cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the hallelujah¡­¡± Beau raised his sword beneath the bug''s chin, so his many eyes were lifted to his gaze. ¡°How do you know that song, alien?¡± The alien raised a hand, a right one, and made a shaking motion. Beau¡¯s eyes shifted to the kid, who had since scrambled his way over, a panicked expression on his face. ¡°Ryo,¡± Beau growled. ¡°You said you talked to it?¡± ¡°Yes, he lie!¡± ¡°Lie about what?¡± Ryo shook his head. ¡°He says there is other human, but it lie.¡± Beau had noticed that Ryo had stayed a good few feet away from the pair of them. He was shivering. Beau¡¯s brain was screaming at him. These aliens had captured, tortured them, made experiments of them and now they were sending in the peace talks. He knew what Ryo was saying should have been correct, that the aliens would lie to them now that they were known to be a destructive force, lie to them then recapture them. But his gut was telling him otherwise. ¡°What other humans? In vats like this? Prisoners of war? Captured for experiments?¡± The alien seemed to have a hard time keeping eye contact, but one of its many hands gestured for itself to stand up. Beau lifted his head in kind and took a step back as the elegant bug took to its feet. They almost stood eye to eye then, the bug having half a foot on him. Then it bowed, deeply, a hand across its chest, plucking a red gemmed brooch from its cape and offering it to Beau. The soldier warily plucked it from the alien¡¯s hand, and inspected it more closely, blinking several times. What the hell was it doing with a 24 karat gold brooch with a ruby the size of a jawbreaker? ¡®You think he got the purse to go with it?¡¯ The alien gestured again, tapping its head and pointing to Ryo with one pair of hands, then shaking its head while the other pair pointed at its throat and at Beau. ¡°So, you want to negotiate huh...? Fine.¡± Beau tossed the gem back. ¡°Then let''s negotiate.¡± Disparity Chapter 17: Nightscares Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip Xant waited in the back as the Ranger soldier opened the long-sealed door, to the abandoned facility. He and his research team would be the first people to step into the complex in nearly a thousand years. The planet had been abandoned in anticipation of the oncoming Rajavan invasion, wiped off the records and sealed away in hoped that the original residents would be able to return. The rajavan swarm passed over the planet it had been completely untouched, save for the eternal hands of time. The surface had mostly eroded away, but the underground complexes were preserved. ¡°Heave!¡± Sir Klyren, the Knight in charge of security shouted as one of the soldiers under his command tore open the steel sliding door with his claws. The dark, cool air from inside rushed past him. For everyone, standing in that cramped hallway, the expected, stale, rotting air they were so used to feeling was no longer there. It was fresh, vibrant, alive. ¡°There¡¯s vegetation!¡± Dr Aalsutia Roveen shouted as she turned off her bioluminescent light, her grey skin glowing from the light in the room. The excitement was contagious, Xant especially remembered how desperately he wanted to see the plants inside, what new discoveries they would be able to bring back to the inner worlds. The reclamation was normally documentation of dead worlds, to find such life was a reaffirming of their life''s purpose, the work they were grown to do. The scientists tried to scramble in first but Sir Klyren stopped them in their tracks. ¡°Let me clear the room first!¡± he shouted, growling under his breath ¡°Ravenous maggots¡­¡± The large red caped knight stepped into the room, his escort of three rangers following after. They scanned the room for rajavan bio signs, ¡°Clear commander,¡± ¡°Clear commander!¡± ¡°All clear commander.¡± ¡°Right, all clear, citizens file in-¡± the research team didn¡¯t need to be told twice. The entire room was giant, completely overgrown by unknown vegetation, the UV lamps in the room had not been turned off, and its power supply uninterrupted in all this time, they had grown into the water reservoir. Lush red grass, blue climbing vines, green bushes with white flowers all manner of varieties unknown and known. New strains of medicinal plants, and mutations of those strains, this room alone was a treasure trove for the galactic council. Xant approached a small section of the room, where new shoots of the red grass were growing, he could hear the excited chatter of his companions, the bored sighs of the soldiers. He recalled Sir Kylren taking his men deeper unto the undiscovered facility, leaving their team to sample and record their findings. How engrossed he was examining the veins and inner workings of its structure, lost in his own world, it wasn¡¯t until he heard the sickening crunch of teeth on flesh that was he snapped out of his trance. The Scout Vassal had peeled itself from the overgrown wall, its skin covered in growing vegetation, stirred to life from hibernation by the stir of movement and the scent of the living. With one bite the Vassal had eaten Dr Roveen, swallowing her whole, before lunging toward his coworkers, jaw unhinged scooping up plant matter, dirt and a screaming scientist. Xant backed up against the wall, a monster between him and the exit while another friend lost their life. Bitten in half, their voice silenced with the crunching of their skull and the wet, oozing noise of blood and drool dripping from the vassal¡¯s mouth. Soon it was just him, and his looming death. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Fear had frozen him, but desperation forced him to try something crazy. Freq pulses were little more than electric waves flowing throw his nerves, controlling the nerves of another was military-grade, he¡¯d only accomplished it once before in training, he was never supposed to enact it outside of defence. He threw himself into the pulse, stopping the vassal as best he could, slowing its movements. Stomp, Stomp Stomp. The beast drew closer, salivating with an open mouth, the stench of fresh blood on its breath, an eternal hunger for flesh. Xant was forced to stare into the abomination, his own muscles and nerves burning under the strain. He didn¡¯t want to be eaten, he didn¡¯t want to die here, with the rangers so close. He didn¡¯t want to die here! He didn¡¯t want to die! The light shifted. Xants arms held the looming figure of the Vassal in place, vicious words poured out of its mouth, mimicking his name. ¡°Doc, Doc, Calm down-¡± Xant squeezed the muscles in his arm, locking his opponent¡¯s nerves from receiving any other input. A vassal in branch? Had they been invaded so suddenly?! He needed to warn Jasmine, he needed to get Rynard! Xant broke away from the vassal, throwing his body and the vassal to one side so the flesh monster toppled over and into the empty pool reservoir. His whole body ached, he had been tense for so long, a citizen wasnt supposed to last as long as he did, nerve holds tended to strain ones own nervous system. Xant scrambled off the deck to the halls below searching for Jasmine,He stormed into the master bedroom startling the sleeping human and her dogs. ¡°Jasmine!¡± Xant panicked, ¡°there''s a vassal! We need to run!¡± The dogs started barking incoherently, Jasmine was yanked from deep sleep and charged towards Xant, faultering when her subconscious recognised who she was rushing. ¡°Jasmine we need to leave!¡± Xant shouted more forcefully, taking the humans arm and pulling her down the hall. ¡°Xant?¡± the human shook herself awake as her friend was dragging her towards the surface. Spades and Kimiko were growling aggressively, Sieglinde almost tripped jasmine over to get under her legs, all three followed their companions, Spades rushing to get out in front. ¡°A vassal in the underground facility!¡± Xant shouted back ¡°They¡¯ve eaten Dr Roveen and the Sir Kylen is too far to-¡± ¡°Wait wait, whose Dr Roveen? Are they one of Viitoic¡¯s men?¡± Jasmine questioned, panic rising with her awareness. ¡°No she''s the lead of the Jothram operation! We need to leave, hurry,¡± Xant explained, pulling her up the stairs while jasmine tried to get her footing. ¡°Jothram? I thought this place was called branch?¡± ¡°Branch?¡­¡± Xant reached to top deck of the yacht and the open air of the engineering hangar. Rynard emerged from the pool¡¯s cavity rolling his shoulder and flexing every muscle in his body. Suddenly Xant¡¯s memories didn''t line up, they had been on Branch the day before, how could he be on Jothram moments ago but Branch now?... ¡°Didn''t know you had it in ya doc,¡± the soldier chuckled, shrugging off the pulse as he climbed out of the pool ¡°Who knew you could hold someone like me¡­¡± ¡°What is going on?¡± Xant asked bewildered. ¡°Xant? Are you okay?¡± Jasmine spoke softly with her friend. Xant stood there trying to figure out what was going on, while Jasmine calmed the dogs down. ¡°I was on Jothram, I was with my old research team¡­ I, I relived the Vassal attack¡­ the memory was as clear as the day it happened,¡± it was just clear, he could feel the damp, he could smell the foliage¡­¡°But how? It wasn¡¯t a memory I recalled willingly, and yet I felt as if I was there¡­¡± ¡°Sounds like you had a *********,¡± Jasmine yawned involuntarily, sitting on the sunbed and holding her head in her hands, shed managed to get maybe 3 hours of sleep tops. ¡°A what?¡± ¡°Its, like a dream, only bad, a ¡®night¡¯ mare¡± ¡°Night scare! Nightscare! friend Xant was having a nightscare!¡± Sieglinde said proudly, looking to Xant and Jasmine for affirmation. Xant petted the golden retriever¡¯s ears as he tried to piece together what happened. ¡°A nightscare?¡± he had heard Sieglinde speak of them before, in regards to humans not being able to wake up. ¡°Dreams can be bad?¡± Xant asked, Jasmine nodded sadly. ¡°Yeah, and they suck too,¡± she tapped the side of her skull ¡°When we sleep, human brain¡¯s sometimes filter in our worries from our subconscious, I mean, the industrial freq, it gets mixed in with our memories and, our greatest fears and stresses take over for a bit.¡± She yawned, breaking up the explanation, ¡°It may seem real, and I¡¯ve woken up with a racing heart more than once, but they aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°Do these dreams, make you violent in anyway?¡± Rynard spoke up, ¡°say, attack an ally with a Nerve-hold?¡± Jasmine shrugged. ¡°I mean, its possible, especially if they¡¯re sleepwalkers, whats a nerve hold?¡± ¡°Nerve isolating pulse,¡± Rynard explained, rolling his shoulders and rubbing his throat ¡°Locks up the connection between the brain and your limbs, a Zenthi speciality,¡± Rynard smirked, ¡°You''re a little too good at that Doc,¡± ¡°You mean that creepy controlling my body thing you put me through? Ugh!¡± Jasmine shivered, ¡°wait Xant did that in his sleep?¡± the human stared at Xant worried, Rynard looked on more impressed than anything else. ¡°Is there anything we can do to prevent nightscares?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°No, not really, make sure your room is warm and avoiding stress help, but, mostly you just have to learn to shake off the aftermath¡­¡± Jasmine explained as she ruffled Spade¡¯s fur. Xant sat down on the end of the sunbed, staring through the floor below him. ¡°Learn to shake it off?¡­ how many times have you experienced this jasmine?¡± ¡°More than I can keep count of,¡± She replied to her absolutely crestfallen friend, ¡°You just, learn to live with them.¡± Xant had suppressed those memories for years, he had burnt himself numb from that traumatic event, was he just supposed to relive that again and again? Without warning when it would happen? Would it ever disappear? ¡®Sieglindes job was to wake her namegiver from nightscares, maybe she could help us too?¡¯ Sieglindes job. The night scares were prevalent in humans lives so much that they had trained a user intelligence to be of assistance. Another phenomenon that was simply a ¡®normal¡¯ in the experience of a human, between dreams, nightscares and a second voice inside your mind, it was a wonder a human could keep a grasp on reality itself. He stroked his ears, folding his hands infront of him. All that emotional wieght and willpower in exchange for a warped sense of reality. Great power came at a great cost. And the universe was making sure humans paid. Disparity Chapter 18: Negotiations Nako stood opposite the pair of humans, a steel table between them. They had made their way through the wrecked stations underbelly up to the docking station, where they refused to take a step further until negotiations had been made. A general consensus between the pair, although even through the small interactions Nako had noticed it was the larger, darker coloured of the pair leading decisions. The mere presence of the younger, lankier human was still the epitome of uncomfortable, Nako¡¯s men were waiting by the docking port, most of them keeping distance as ordered for their own well being. but the humans had since calmed down when the promise of ¡®real¡¯ food had been given. ¡°While I can only offer you the humble ¡®Ah¡¯tau¡¯, it is what your kind would consider proper sustenance,¡± The Lieutenant commander, explained as they waited. ¡°Not quite as rich or as varied as human culinary technology goes, but far above the usual galactic council rations.¡± He had ordered one of his more robust soldiers to return with the plates, meals dispensed from the company food boxes, it was closer in size to the citizen nutrient requirements. A soldier''s meal would have been more than half their body weights. The warm and sizzling slices of waudress were placed on the table before the humans, wide eyes and the familiar look of salivation crossed their faces, but they didn''t touch the food. ¡°What is it?¡± The younger asked. ¡°Waudress and Kuukat, plant based proteins,¡± Nako reiterated. The young human pushed the plate towards Nako. ¡°You first,¡± he insisted. A test of trust, Nako had already put his pride aside to appease these aliens, but it was getting more and more irritating that they didn''t seem to appreciate that. The lieutenant picked up a single piece of waudress and exposed his secondary mouth, nibbling the piece of food infront of others was, uncomfortable, he quickly finished the piece and pushed the plate back. ¡°Satsified?¡± ¡°Hardly, (god knows what¡¯s actually in it),¡± came the reply and the young one turned to his companion. ¡°Food, eat.¡± The larger of the pair nodded and took his own plate, after taking an intrepid taste he soon began using the spoon provided to shovel the food into his mouth, And to Nako¡¯s surprise, the plate was finished within seconds. The larger, whose dark eyes glared at Nako in the same untrusting way, spoke in that same rhythmic set of purrs and hums as Jasmine did. ¡°What did your companion say?¡± Nako quired, fascinated to watch the aliens talk. ¡°He wants to know if you have any more food,(the man could eat a *****)¡± The younger replied with his spoken words and that curious second voice. ¡°An abundance,¡± Nako replied, and ordered his attendant to get another plate. The large human held up his appendages and barked an order. ¡°Three plates,¡± The young prince relayed. ¡°As his honour demands,¡± Nako concurred, ¡°Prehaps we can speak to the terms of the negotiations? I am Lieutenant Commander Tar-Nako, of the 138th sector, what title might I address you with, human?¡± There was a long silence, the younger human chewed his waudress slowly on purpose, mulling his reply over, waiting for it to rot in his mouth. ¡°You can call me (Your Superior) Ryo,¡± came the answer finally, ¡°if this really is a misunderstanding then I expect to be treated as such.¡± Nako¡¯s wings ruffled under his cape, the anger and arrogance flowing out of the human was akin to Kotorn¡¯s rages. A seething untrust as though Nako had personally defeated him in conquest. ¡°And your companion¡¯s title?¡± Nako inquired, hoping to keep conversation flowing. Ryo turned his head to get the elders attention, who picked up on the motion immediately, it was then that Nako understood why Jasmine concentrated so hard to avert her eyes when talking to him. Without Freq, humans naturally looked into each others eyes when talking. ¡°(Damn, how do you ask again?) What name you give him?¡± Ryo asked the larger human, pointing to Nako. Much to the lieutenant''s relief, the elder gave out more than a single name. ¡°Sargent Bo Mah-fuse,¡± Ryo tried to pronounce, his frustration evident in a small pulse and a click of his tongue, the sound caught Nako off guard. ¡°Is communication difficult between you two?¡± Nako asked curiously, ¡°You speak to him as though he were of lesser intelligence,¡± He was answered with a glare. ¡°His language (English) is backwards, lousy with weird constants and hard to pronounce anything. (I only use it for the internet anyways)¡± Ryo replied dismissively, Nako had to admit he had noticed the different cadence between the two languages, but human sounds were still very pleasant to listen to, even if they were from angry, uncooperative, rouge alien. ¡°So our communication will be even more difficult,¡± Nako lamented ¡°It is already hard to decipher your spoken word and your second voice, I fear the subtle of my message will be lost to him,¡± Ryo leant forward on his stool, pushing aside the empty platter and folding his hands on the table in front of him. ¡°(You mean my internal monologue is getting in the way? It would be easier if I just didn¡¯t speak and communicated telepathically, I don¡¯t have to worry about formalities then.)¡± The human smirked, as though he had achieved the first sword in a duel. ¡°If that is your want,¡± Nako replied. Jasmine had done everything she could not to use her secondary voice, yet this one was far more comfortable speaking with his mind. Jasmine was desperate to please and impress, Ryo was waiting for an excuse to not be civil, Nako would have to treat him like a high queen''s personal spawn. Then there was the matter of this ''Sargent Bo'', a title at least, a rank given with merit, while still hostile he was the one who pushed for negotiations. Clearly of increased size, strength and possibly intellect, but without a proper translator there would be no communication without the sour pupa in the middle. Tainted words to say the least. ¡°You and your companion have been wrongfully classified as organic materials by the Kyu-Kage corporation, and have been treated below your actual classification.¡± Nako began, silently summoning a soldier to bring him his equipment. ¡°You are entitled to compensation for this treatment, however, you have also destroyed personal assets and equipment belonging to the Kyu-Kage company. We will need to find out exactly how much you have destroyed before we can properly assess your compensation-¡± ¡°(Fuck off)¡± Ryo sneered, ¡°(as far as were conserned, what happened to us was an act of war, we only did what we did becuase you were hostile first.)¡± Nako stopped his wings from flaring up, the situation was more dire than he had anticipated, threatening war without an army? Would they really fight such a desperate battle? After the damage they had done to the station, Nako had no choice but to take them seriously, there was too much at stake and too much to gain to let it fall to that however, hopefully, they could be swayed with a display of power. A soldier came to his side with a portable holoscreen, placing it on the table infront of the lieutenant and activating it. A minature sulin director floated before them, dressed in a fancy ruffeld coat and sleek scarf in the company colours. The humans let out impressed noises, while Nako put on his professional, commanding air. ¡°Executive Director, do you have your reports for me?¡± Nako addressed the miniature lizard. The humans glare was finally off Nako himself and to the simple piece of technology, they were amused and muttered quietly to themselves as the Company representative began his speech. ¡°The reports are being compiled Lieutenant Commander,¡± The executive director extrapolated, beginning to pace in a circle, ¡°but the damage is so extensive it will take [weeks]- what are they doing here??¡± he exclaimed in a panic, pointing a shaking claw at the humans ¡°I thought you had removed them from the station!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°They are in my custody for the moment,¡± Nako replied firmly ¡°Executive Director, they are for the time being, no longer a threat to you, or your company, infact, we were discussing the matters of compensation,¡± "Yes, compensation¡­" The holographic Executive Director repeated, doing his best to put on a brave facade infront of the Commander, "as representative executive director of Ky¡¯ler Station, Kyu-Kage progenitor sector, the damage done by the two unregistered amalgamations-" "not amalgamations Director, Undiscovered Creator level intelligence not of this sectors origin." Nako interrupted, partially to correct the citizens mislabling of the humans, and partially to give a show of power. However, the humans did not seem to understand the gravitas of his display. The hologram lagged a little in response, unused to being interrupted while this high on the command chain, whilst also understanding the improbable information he had been given. The Executive Directors jaw dropped and tail stood up in surprise as the clawed finger returned to point at the humans. "but that means?!-" he stammered. "(I''m an alien, idiot.)" Ryo very pointed and rudely scoffed "(You should know, you abducted me)" "that is where our misconceptions begin, Lord Ryo,¡± Nako interjected ¡°We, that is to say The Galactic Council and its related dignitaries did not abduct you, an Exiled Rajavan cell did," The human shook his head in disbelief. "(right, you only intended on experimenting on us, that makes it Sooooo much better/sarcasm extreme)" "Kyu-Kage corporation bought organic material for research and development-" the executive director tried to assert his authority over the conversation but was clearly outmatched by a military commander and the abominably powerful alien. ¡°(So you didn¡¯t even consider us animals? Beau was right, you¡¯re all fucking monsters-)¡± "Again, a misunderstanding in the highest degree," Nako felt his diplomatic skills receiving the workout of his life. "The Rajava do not tend to keep the consciousness of their cargo intact, ever, under any circumstance, the mere fact that you were processed and yet still retain your, distinctive personality is unprecedented your honour, and without a detective frequency were thought you and your companion to be less than animals¡­ " "(and that makes it better how?!)" Ryo spat, Beau nudged him on the shoulder and asked a question. "mind talk" he told him, along with a tap along the surgical scar the med-gel had failed to heal completely. Beaus reply did not have a happy tone, the broad, muscular arms crossed in front of him, ¡°Military, company man, CEO, we cargo, bought and sold.¡± was Ryo¡¯s oversimplified explanation and Beau nodded, taking a defensive stance and returned to ''watching'' the proceedings, . Nako folded his hands infront of him, Ryo certainly wasn¡¯t able to deliver any sort of nuance, especially to such delicate negotiations, he could feel his opportunity for co-operation with the humans slipping away. ¡°Young lord, you have to understand just how unprecedented this entire situation is, you are at the turning point of an unfortunate situation. Your companion wished to negotiate, and we are willing to negotiate.¡± The Lieutenant warned, holding back as much of his ill intent to the youth. ¡°Someone is going to need to compensate the company!¡± the Executive Director whined, ¡°we¡¯ve lost potencial pentillions worth of contributor credits!!¡± Ryo laughed smugly, turning to his friend. ¡°We fucked them good, (boo hoo, cant profit off our ¡®organic materials¡¯ now, scumbag.)¡± Nako¡¯s antenae twitched. ¡°The damage you did was murder thousands of staff assets and destroyed untold millions of embryos of innocent citzens. This is a serious matter young lord-¡± Nako retorted. The smug smile disappeared, and Ryo leaned forward, baring his teeth. ¡°(We were abducted from our planet, stripped naked, held prisoner, tased and beaten, treated like less than animals, our DNA experimented on, MY HEAD WAS CUT OPEN AND AN ALIEN THING IMPLANTED INSIDE ME WHILE I WAS STILL CONSCIOUS. YES I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS MATTER DESERVED OF COMPENSATION.)¡± The pulse was painful, Nako could feel his nerves adjusting to the frequency, exposure to a constant deluge of erratic pain. The lieutenant commander threw back his cape, and let his wings fly open, he was done palacating the unrelenting parties. ¡°Compensation for all involved will be discussed, once Kyu-Kage corp has filled for damages and the humans have been recognised as Council Species and received their credit scores.¡± The Executive Director¡¯s jaw fell open at the suggestion while Ryo sat silently on the otherside of the table, glare averted to the floor and hands gripping the table. Beau took an offences stand but, thankfully, Ryo calmed him down with a single unassuming hand motion. ¡°You expect me to go to head quarters with the flimsiest of verbal contracts-¡± The Director gwaked. ¡°Think of it as a guarantee from the military itself,¡± Nako snapped back, eager to get rid of the meddling Director. ¡°You will be sent the verbal contract before the REFINED departs, Executive Director, you cannot seek compensation without the damage report, perhaps you should concentrate on that?¡± The Director signed off without a farewell, much to Nako¡¯s relief, it was hard enough to keep the humans onside without the citizen wailing in his ear. ¡°(So,)¡± Ryo leant back, folding his arms behind his head ¡°(You seem to be under the impression that we will willingly go along with whatever bureaucratic dystopia you have going on here. Well, just because you fed us, doesnt mean were going to go along with shit,)¡± Nako was absolutely done with pleasantries. ¡°So what do you propose you will do then? Stay here and wait until you are too weak to stand? Or would you rather, take command of your situation? Perhaps have your own ship?¡± Ryo blinked, the hostile facade flickered with it. ¡°(You- You haven¡¯t given us any reason to believe you can deliver on that promise,)¡± ¡°What does your companion think of that offer though, hmm?¡± Nako glared back at the young human with all six of his eyes, Ryo shifted in his seat, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for his reply young lord,¡± Ryo grit his teeth, and let out a sound of frustration as he translated to Beau; ¡°He says we get space ship, if we play nice,¡± That got a reaction out of Beau, a lot of rapid fire words came out of the older humans mouth, and Ryo turned to argue back. ¡°I dont trust him! He talk smooth-¡± but Beau was quick to interrupt him and Ryo scoffed ¡°why? Ugh,¡± Ryo returned his attention to Nako. ¡°(So ¡®lieutenant¡¯, Beau wants to know where did you learn to sing hallelujah?)¡± Nako folded his wings back under his cape, he was finally getting somewhere. ¡°I learned from listening to it. Another human was courteous enough to share its beauty with me.¡± he explained while smoothing out his cape back to its formal pleats. Ryo wrinkled his nose up. ¡°(So, you¡¯ve got more of us locked up somewhere?)¡± ¡°Namegiver Jasmine is hardly a Prisoner young lord, closer to an honoured guest, she is treated with respect, the same you shall receive if you are willing to cooperate.¡± Nako answered bluntly, perhaps he had been too subtle, Jasmine had appreciated such things but this ¡®Ryo¡¯ had a swollen stinger. He really was looking to instill conflict, his every action construded to be hostile. ¡°(Namegiver Jasmine? What the hell kind of name is that?)¡± ¡°A title she chose for herself, a noble one at that.¡± Nako emphasised but Ryo laughed, it was cruel, condescending, and his translation was down right insulting. ¡°He learned from a girl with a stupid name,¡± Thankfully, Beau didnt find it funny, he interrupted Ryos laugh with a stern command, one that ripped the laughter right out the youngers mouth. ¡°What?! No!-¡± Ryo¡¯s already pale face flustered red, but Beau was firm, expressing a complex line of reasoning the Lieutenant wasn''t privy to. ¡°(He says we¡¯ll go with you, and meet up with this girl...)¡± ¡°Very well young lord,¡± Nako adjusted his cloak to hide his armour, ¡°perhaps you and your companion would like a tour of my own ship? For future reference when purchasing your own?¡± The lieutenant couldn¡¯t help but feel victorious, he was right about the larger human being far more reasonable. The pair argued a little more, but Beau, even without freq capacity, still had power over the small death construct. ¡°This way, your honours,¡± Nako turned and began giving orders for his crew to start the ship engines ¡°Get us off this station and back to branch,¡± -*- The REFINED¡¯s crew gave them all a wide berth, bowing deeply as the three walked past and scuttling out of sight as soon as they could. For now, Nako would lead the humans away from the rest of the crew, a safe holding in his ship where he had kept Jasmine and her unusual consort. Keep them fed and comfortable until they had arrived on branch, or silently waiting for the ships brain to boot up and blast the pair of them with Industrial strength Freq. Keep them long enough to have the pair of them sedated and safely secured for travel, enough to have the elder translator implanted and calibrated, and to have the younger permanently put in stasis. But as always, the humans were full of surprises. Nako gave them a brief tour of his ship, mostly around the cargo rooms, there was no chance in the void he was going to let them anywhere near the bridge. The last thing he needed was to have his navigators incapacitated. ¡°And this is your room,¡± he said, opening the door to the spacious yet minimal captain quarters. ¡°Food and water can be procured from the meal box, the bunks acclimate to your body temp. The ship will be readying for transit soon,¡± ¡°(as if were going to be sleeping anytime soon,)¡± Ryo muttered, holding onto his segmenter sword tightly. Beau inspected the room and it seemed to be to his liking, choosing the bottom bunk. ¡°You can certainly try, but I haven¡¯t seen a human last more than [18] hours without sleep,¡± Nako offered them a few dataslates, ¡°Some entertainment to keep you occupied, and I request you keep your movement on my ship a minimum, traveling in reclaimed space is disturbing enough without your presence distracting my crew.¡± ¡°(Well fuck you too, shunshine)¡± Ryo replied, snatching the dataslates from the lieutenant and began looking them over. Nako¡¯s mandibles snapped together in distaste when he heard Tifera¡¯s voice over his comms. ¡°Sire, the ship is ready to launch, permission to break away?¡± The lieutenant commander smiled to himself and gave the order. ¡°Permission granted.¡± Soon the ship would be flooded with industrial Freq, harmless to desidens of the Galactic council, but strangely near lethal to humans who could perceive it. The sour prince stuttered, but did not fall to his knees as Jasmine had done under the same conditions, he held his head and began to fire off his own, confused pulses. ¡°Is everything alright lord Ryo?¡± Nako asked knowingly. ¡°(I¡¯m fine,)¡± He snapped back, wobbly walking back to the open bunk, throwing a dataslate to beau, ¡°(I Just need to lie down,)¡± ¡°Very well, should you need anything, we will be listening to your summons-¡± ¡°(I just need you to leave, now, you''re giving me a headache)¡± ¡°May your path be clear-¡± ¡°(Just piss off already!)¡± Ryo snapped. Nako stepped out from the doorway letting to door slide close, before storming back to his own chambers. ¡°Tifera!¡± he commanded into his comms, barely slowing down, ¡°I want constant surveillance, no one is to go anywhere near their room and have the entire section forbidden, I don''t want any contact between the crew and no one is to disturb me, baring a Rouge queen encounter or a council summons, is that clear?!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord¡± ¡°Good.¡± he muttered before terminating the link. He decided then and there, that he was going to train more than ever before. If only so when the time came he could put that wretched youth in his place. Disparity -Chapter 19: Four Chords For the first time in his life, Xant had woken up but didn''t want to get out of bed. He lay in luxury, on top of a soft ''doona'' quilt, sprawled over a memory foam bed. He wondered how in the void he had ever slept on the gel mattress before. Tucked under his arm and happy to see him awake was a freshly washed and shampooed golden retriever. Her fur had become fluffy to the touch and the musty smell that followed her replaced with a delicious fruity fragrance that Jasmine called ''raspberry lime''. "Good morning Xant," she happily wagged her tail but stayed curled up on the bed, "No nightscares this night!" Xant reached for her head and gave it a good scratch. "No nightscares Sieglinde, you did well," It had been nearly two weeks since his first ''dream'', and he was still coming to terms with the addition to his reality. More than once he had woken up to the recurring trauma of his former station on Jothram but the dog had proven to be proficient in cutting it off in its onset. She had allowed him to even return to sleep after, something Jasmine had assured him would become normal in time. Sieglinde rested her head on his chest. "Sleep more friend?" she asked, barely able to keep her eyes open. "You can sleep longer friend, I must get up," His body ached, his new work-out routine plus muscle stimulants were really putting his body through its paces. Since previously his knees and elbows were unused to lifting more than data slates and walking from his office to the elevator, but two things were getting him through, a moderate dose of pain suppressors, and hot showers. Jasmine had managed to recruit some hovering engineers to fix the crude power generators aboard the yacht, while he worried the engineers were being called away from more important duties, they assured him they were there to help document and salvage the human tech so working on the yacht was still (technically) under their designation. They now had lights, refrigeration, and hot running water, something Jasmine was adamant was essential to human survival. After testing it Xant couldn''t agree more. He prefered the shower to the bath as he still wanted the jet stream to wash his skin, the only downside to the whole thing was having to manually move around in the glass paneled stall. His tail continued to get in the way and knock a wall, it broke the immersion of his meditation. His clothes hung upon a coat rack, ready for him to wear, but he was noticing that it didn''t quite fit him right. His waist slackened while his arms became stifling, the novel thought of getting refitted brought him an unprecedented joy. His body was changing already. He''d definitely be keeping up the regime, even if it was relentlessly repetitive. He checked in the master cabin down the hall and to his surprise, Jasmine was gone. ¡®Well, already dressed and awake surely.¡¯ His inner voice assured him. Neither Spades nor Kimiko were there and they were never too far from Jasmine''s side, she was awake before him, another first. He slowly made his way up topside, looking forward to a nice meal of waudress tauh when his ears were treated to the most delightful sound. Jasmine was laughing. Curious he changed direction and followed the conversation up to the bow of the ship. "... I promise Rynard, I''ll have your likeness painted on the side of my ship, riding a strawberry flavoured pop tart cat, rainbow farting through the stars while you fire an acid cannon," The human bargined. "Done deal!" Came the captain¡¯s reply, the large lizard sitting on the deck with both dogs in his lap, happily accepting the scratches round the ears his claw could reach. "Exactly what kind of deal are you negotiating for now jasmine?" Xant announced his arrival with a jovial "Ah, he lives! Sleeping beauty is awake!" Jasmine laughed and waved her friend over. "Xant! Wait-¡± the happiness turned to excitement as she stood from her seat and walked towards him carrying a large unwieldy instrument. ¡°do you still have your freq recording tablet?" The still groggy scientist stroked his ears. "Maybe¡­ But that would require me going back below deck when I''ve just made my way up. And I haven''t had breakfast yet" Jasmine rushed up, eyes bright and freq bubbling so much she threatened to explode with joy. "I¡¯ll tell you what, you go down and get your tablet and I¡¯ll fix you something fancy for breakfast, deal?" "you need to improve your haggling skills Jasmine, I can''t really eat human food while I''m on stimulants-" Xant protested. "It will be worth it, I promise!" the human insisted. "Alright," Xant sighed in defeat and turned to go back down deck while Jasmine ran past excitedly to the kitchen. His freq slate sat mostly unused since it had been gifted to him many months ago. Every day had been too full of regular work, and he was mostly exhausted at the end of it all. Plus, human reactions being as fickle and random as they were, you couldn''t guarantee a reaction would be genuine when it wasn''t ''natural''. She couldn¡¯t summon the emotion when she needed it, only when she felt it, thankfully, she had been becoming happier and happier with every passing day. When he returned topside Jasmine, Rynard and the dogs were waiting for him. Rynard taking a plunging lazy position on several sunbeds stacked to take his size, the dogs lay just as lazily underneath the chairs while Jasmine waited with a perfectly white porcelain plate of seared waurdess, sliced in perfectly uniform pieces. "Tahda! It''s breakfast! And it''s happy to see you!" To his delight, Jasmine had not tried to alter anything, but had simply arranged the pieces of his food into a human ''smiling face''. Xant chuckled and accepted the plate. "Thank you Jasmine." He plopped himself down beside the Captain, fending off his breakfast plate from th curious dogs, "Now what''s got you so excited you needed the freq slate?" She was beaming, which was always nice to feel but it was particularly jittery this morning. "Well, Rynard brought me my next items to catalogue and well-" she pulled out three items from behind a chair "they found some guitars!" "Instruments?" Xant guessed. ''Ah-huh ahhuh, I was going to just start playing but then I remembered you got that ¡®slate, and I want to record me strumming it for the first time!" A novel idea indeed, Xant handed over the freq-slate. "Just connect the cable to your translator and when you¡¯re ready it should record." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "I forget how simple your tech is sometimes," Jasmine replied as she sat down and fitted the cable into her translator, it wriggled in her ear before melding into her translators schematics. "Ugh, cold" she shivered. The guitar was a beautiful looking instrument, black and blue resin over a wooden handle, four strings, and was connected to its own black speaker box. "Are you ready boys?" Jasmine smirked. "Are we ever?" Rynard laughed. The air reverberated as Jasmine turned it on, taking a deep breath before she began to play. "Feel good." The tone of the base sent shivers up her spine, a warmth in her heart and blood rushed to her fingers as she played the simple six note tune. "Feel good" Her foot tapped along to a phantom beat repeating over and over on instinct, a learned skill memorised. She repeated the phrase only a few more times before ending the recording. "Ooooh that felt gooood!" she shook out the last of her nerves and strummed the strings a few more times. "Heh, a word about my problem, I''m totally addicted to base!" "What was that?" Xant marvelled. "The only baseline I can actually play," Jasmine replied, "Nah, just jokes, this, is a bass guitar, characterised by its four strings and it''s well, baritone base, ¡®the underrated part of the rock band¡¯, as my dad used to say" Xant looked at the glittering instrument. "Can I try it?" Surprised, Jasmine let out a squeal of glee. "Of course!" She took the strap off from her shoulders and adjusted it for the Zenthi. It was surprisingly heavy, and even more surprising that he could hold it without complaint. Jasmine stood behind and helped him place his fingers, guiding his arms with her own. "Okay, so this is where you place your fingers and-ah, I forgot, you''ve only got three fingers¡­" "Is that a problem?" "Uhhh, maybe? We¡¯ll give it a go anyway, it¡¯s not going to bite.¡± Jasmine guided his fingers to press down on certain strings, each position correspond with a different note, ¡°Now, if you play these notes in a loop,¡± she played the example ¡°You got a baseline!¡± Xant, understood and copied her instructions, perfectly. The entire instrument vibrated pleasantly to his touch and he could feel the notes through his fingertips as he glided over the strings. Jasmine stood back astonished. ¡°Wow uhh, you already know how to play?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Xant replied continuing the loop, ¡°You just taught me,¡± ¡°But, it usually takes longer than a minute to learn how to play.¡± she confessed. ¡°My learning centre is overcharged, and there isn¡¯t a separate part of my brain for it to be lodged in,¡± Xant replied, quickening the pace of the base loop, ¡°It turns out my knowledge absorption is good for more than just facts,¡± he was starting to get a ¡®feel¡¯ for the instrument, tightening and loosening his grip on the notes to understand how the pressures affected the sound. It was surprisingly versatile. ¡°Huh, that¡¯s amazing, you can stop playing that song now, I¡¯ll give you another one, then we can play a duet,¡± ¡°Duet?¡± Xant¡¯s ears shot up excitedly. ¡°Yeah!¡± Jasmine pulled out another guitar, only this one was different, it was made completely of wood, and had five strings, ¡°They found an acoustic as well,¡± She strummed quick and fast, her voice almost shouting the lyrics, throwing her entire body into the act of playing the song. ¡°Oh the dragon¡¯s eyes were blazing as I stepped into his cave, Then I sliced his giant head off, with a long and shiny blade! T¡¯was I who slayed the dragon dedal-ie say deda-loo And if you try to mess with me then I shall mess with youuuuuuu!¡± Xant may have been biased but the acoustic was rough and without the clear distinctions, nay precision of notes, it sounded messy to his ears and uncouth. A far cry from the sweet symphony of the tablet and closer to the roars of the vehicle. ¡°That was¡­ different.¡± he replied diplomatically. Jasmine burst into laughter, wiping away a tear, as the alien inadvertently told her a very human lie. ¡°Yeah, the original sounds better,¡± she admitted, ¡°but has enough F-bombs to blow your head off, so, that¡¯s the ¡®cleaner¡¯ version I was allowed to play at school.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I were your superior I¡¯d let you play it at all,¡¯ Xant joked back. ¡°Oh har har, here, how about I actually play you an actual song?¡± she teased back. She began to strum once again, reciting the notes for Xant¡¯s benefit. ¡°And when you play them like this, its called a ¡®four-chord song¡¯ very popular back home.¡± Xant looked on, as she delved into the simple tune, and sang along, ¡°When I was a kid I grew up in a house on a hill, not the top not the bottom but the middle; And I still remember where I cracked my head in the vacant lot, there¡¯s a row of tiny houses there now,¡± As she sung the words her aura became clearer, the bright happiness became solid, it was tied to a memory that became more powerful with every note of the song. ¡°Now my father knew the words to a lot of different songs and we always sing the harmonies when we¡¯d sing along, mum had cool cool hands when the fever hit, and the noises that the trains made sounded like people in my head,¡± He could feel she was at home, the different flashes of memory of earth, the titles of her benefactors, who did more than just bring her into existence but remained close to her throughout. One strong and creative, the other gentle, sweet yet firm, glances into people he would never meet, yet now knew. ¡°And the stories that the ceiling told, through the pictures in the grains on the pinewood boards, and would stay outside till the sky went red, and I would cool my head on the concrete steps,¡± Wooden boards like the ones he sat on now, he ran his hand over the deck and peered through the growth lines that marked its exquisiteness. Materials so rare in space he¡¯d never seen so much before yet so common to her it was a longing memory. ¡°You can never really see the top from the bottom I don¡¯t pay enough attention to the good things when I got¡¯em, you can never really see the top from the bottom, I don¡¯t pay enough attention to the good things when I got¡¯em no,¡± The memories faded, the song ended on a bittersweet lamentation, what was in the past could never be reattained, but the memories would always be with you. While she had been so bright and happy before, the song drew in her glow, burning like old embers inside her. The aliens sat there in silence as the human tried to hide her emotions behind a joking smile. ¡°Not your style huh?¡± she dismissed, tuning the instrument again. ¡°It¡¯s just that, it doesn¡¯t sound anything like the music you¡¯ve played for us,¡± Xant explained. ¡°Well, I was playing those songs to impress you before,¡± Jasmine shrugged ¡°popular songs can be a bit bombastic and overproduced, but they just don¡¯t have the same heart as a garage band tune.¡± She looked wistfully at the ceiling, a smile on her face. ¡°I know just the song for our duet,¡± Jasmine slung the acoustic on her back as she gave Xant his instructions, her fingers overlapping his to set the notes. ¡°I think it goes like this,¡± It was a much slower tempo than the song before, ¡°let the notes almost fade out, give them time to breathe,¡± Xant rolled his eyes at the idiom, but followed her instructions nevertheless,. ¡°Perfect, now just keep it going,¡± Jasmine sat back, found where her own fingers needed to go, and began strumming a melody, changing it at a rapid pace, singing under her breath to get the timing right. ¡°... hope you¡¯re keeping well, its the 21st of December, and they¡¯re ringing the last bell¡­¡± She began pouring in her emotions as she always did with her singing, a deep memory, nostalgic joy, the presence of her benefactors, her family but those presences began to fade... ¡°Who¡¯s gonna make the gravy? I bet it won¡¯t taste the same, Just add flour, salt, a little red wine And don''t forget a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang,¡± When warmth returned, he could feel it not just in Jasmines chest, but in his own, in Rynards, even in the dogs. The emotion poured out directly and deliberately into them, connecting them and for a brief moment, Xant felt as if they were one. A big smile on her face as she played louder, raising her voice and poured her being into it. ¡°Give my love to Kimi! And to Spades and Sigi, Tell ''em all don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m doing better this time, And look after Rynard, I''ll be thinking of him, early the morning, When Xant¡¯s playing this line¡­¡± She made them all feel special, each of them were dear to her, drawing them into this new memory she was creating with them. She faded the song out, Xant followed as she silently wished it. They sat in silence for a moment, allowing the Freq to dissipate little. ¡°We used to play that song at Christmas, every Christmas,¡± Jasmine recalled, ¡°my brother on piano, dad and I on guitars, and we¡¯d always change the lyrics so it would fit with the family.¡± Jasmine explained, taking off the strap around her neck, holding the guitar tenderly in her lap, ¡°figured there wasn¡¯t a reason I couldn¡¯t keep the tradition alive you know,¡± ¡°Do you have any other songs like that?¡± Xant asked, still spellbound. ¡°Well, how about we write some new ones together, new family, new songs.¡± Jasmine offered, eyes darting between him and the guitar, strumming some strings idly. Xant felt his chest swell, he had always wanted to be important to her, and she just admitted she wanted the same. ¡°That sounds wonderful Jasmine, do you know any that might suit your new tradition?¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t think you¡¯ve topped that first song you sang,¡± Rynard sighed, grinning from ear to ear quietly, ¡°it really was the greatest song in the world¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure I can find another!¡± Jasmine laughed, ¡°Especially now since I¡¯ve got a partner!¡± ¡®A Partner¡¯ his mind echoed happily. Jasmine laughed off the moment of vulnerability with a big smile, returning the strap around her neck and shoulders. ¡°Now then,¡± she looked to Xant with a soft smile ¡°time to give you a crash course in rock history!¡± Disparity - Chapter 20: Partner Beau lay in his bunk bored out of mind, he had been scrolling through the alien tablet (after Ryo had given him the instructions on how to activate the thing), but there wasn''t enough content downloaded on the thing to have kept them busy for the two weeks they had been trapped aboard. The content itself wasnt exactly to his liking, giant lizards and other monsters tearing each other apart in some sort of blood sport. It didn''t do much to endear the aliens to him, they literally grew monsters in vats so life was obviously on the cheaper side to them. There was one short file about two bugs in long togas clicking angrily at each other, but without his own alien transplant there was no way hed understand. Beau asked Ryo to translate, but the kid hadn¡¯t been in the best condition as of late. He was worried. Ryo had barely left his bunk in the week they had been travelling, (he had been keeping track of the hours since there wasn¡¯t much else to do) mostly resided himself to an ¡®awful headache¡¯ and kept muttering something about ¡®dreaming of math¡¯. The ship while in motion hummed and pulsed much like the station, underneath it¡¯s steel and ceramic veneer was more living tissue. If he concentrated, Beau could feel the vibrations through the air, like a slow heartbeat, the kid was probably reacting to whatever it was giving off. Ryo refused to discuss it further, only coming down to eat before climbing back up to sleep. Sleep, or just lie there in pain, occasionally he¡¯d yell at someone to fuck off in his dreams, well, the Japanese equivalent anyway, Beau couldn¡¯t speak the language, but he understood a ¡®fuck off¡¯ when he heard it. Poor kid must have been more messed up than he let on, the thing in his brain causing more trouble than it was worth. But it was worth noting the aliens had been rather amenable since, He hadn¡¯t seen their bug leader, Mr ruby broach had kept his distance but a never-ending rotation of sentry guards kept peering in out of curiosity. While they were not treated as prisoners, Beau had tried to make it clear an invasion of their privacy was not welcome. There was only so many times he would tolerate being woken up by the door opening and a strange face peering in, if he had anything worth throwing he would have done so, multiple times. Usually all it took was for Ryo to rear a death glare and the alien quickly excused themselves and was on edge for the rest of their shift. Even when in power armour, any sentry that stood after Ryo¡¯s glare could only stand to be around a matter of hours before shift change, and they always looked exhausted. Just one of the many things Beau¡¯s had been keeping tabs on. How many shift changes, how many soldiers, the different kinds of aliens, how many were in their area at one time, whatever he could keep tabs on, and what might come in handy in the future. He even attempted to walk around the ship and while he was free to leave his room, it was clear without access to an alien translator he wasn¡¯t getting off the storage floor. Glass elevators were creepy anyway. Beau rolled out of his bunk and pulled on his ill fitting pants, and checked in with his friend. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a bit, want anything?¡± He was expecting the usual groan of rejection from his companion, but Ryo actually sat up and faced him. ¡°no i¡¯m good,¡± came the reply, almost as surprised as he was ¡°You¡¯re speaking to me again, always a good sign,¡± Beau smiled. Ryo nodded. ¡°Headache gone,¡± Beau noticed the vibrations in the air had come to a stand still. ¡®Finally¡¯ beau thought ¡®maybe now we can make some progress,¡¯ ¡°aight, well, wanna go for a walk?¡± Ryo nodded and slipped down off the top bunk. ¡°Wash?¡± was the first question, and Beau had to laugh. ¡°There¡¯s a car wash in the corner, it is not fun.¡± Ryo grimaced, likely from the smell of himself. ¡°Walk then,¡± ¡°Walk it is!¡± As they stepped out a tall lanky abominable snowman stood guard, white fur and beady black eyes stared curiously. Beau gestured they¡¯d be doing a lap, but there was no real communication between them. He¡¯d try sign language, gesturing, mimicking actions but it was useless. The guards were dumb as bricks. Ryo however, only had to look at the guard funny for him to be scared straight, the 7 foot yeti whimpering like a dog who¡¯d seen the devil. Ryo groaned and rubbed his temples. ¡°He says Lieutenant is coming,¡± ¡°Mr Ruby broach?¡± ¡°Uhh yeah, him,¡± ¡°About time, tell him we¡¯re getting bored, there¡¯s only so much alien wrestling death matches a man can watch,¡± Beau commented, Ryo just stared back before rolling his eyes and telepathically passing on the message. The guard suddenly began cowering even further and ran off towards the elevators. ¡°Message sent,¡± Ryo replied with an underlying smirk. ¡°You cold bastard,¡± Beau laughed and he took the lead walking around the storage floor. -*- Nako was furiously getting through the docking reports and mission statements when he got an urgent message from his crew members. Nakos shoulders slumped and he sat down defeated. Tifera patched through the message ¡°Sir! The humans are saying if you don¡¯t appease them soon they¡¯ll start tearing apart the crew like they¡¯re competing in a hunt!¡± That caught the lieutenant off guard and had him gripping the edge of his table in fury. No one threatened him within his ship. ¡°They want appeasement fine, Tifera, contact Engineering and tell Namegiver Jasmine I have some guests for her to entertain,¡± Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Yes sire,¡± And with that the lieutenant readied himself to head downstairs and rid himself of the rotting eggs sacks he stowed away on board. Nako didn¡¯t so much as see the humans as he did smell them. The entire floor reeked of a potent musk and sweat. He found the two humans, waiting for him perched up upon cargo cases, talking amongst themselves. They didn¡¯t formally acknowledge his arrival, forcing Nako to talk to them first, a petty power play on the sour prince¡¯s behalf. ¡°Lord Ryo, Lord Beau, I¡¯ve come to understand you¡¯ve threatened my crew with dismemberment,¡± Nako said sharply, staying a good metres distance. ¡°(I didn¡¯t say that exactly) Ryo projected, shrugging his shoulders, ¡°(there must have been a misunderstanding, sarcasm can be difficult to translate.)¡± ¡°You are in no position to terrorise my crew, if you must sully your reputation with insults keep them to those who can defend themselves,¡± Nako scolded. ¡°(The power of words leaves deeper scars than any steel,)¡± Ryo retorted with prose, ¡°(I¡¯ll save the best for you then, lieutenant,)¡± Nako¡¯s antennae twitched. ¡°We¡¯ve docked your honour¡¯s, There will be fresh food and attire waiting for you, but I must insist that you wash before we leave,¡± Nako growled, never had he wanted to swat a being more in his life. The young prince was being provocative on purpose, for reasons beyond Nako¡¯s understanding. ¡°(What¡¯s the matter? Cant stand the smell of real men?)¡± Ryo smirked. ¡°Animals and savages sleep alike young lord, and my generosity has a limit,¡± Nako warned, ¡°wash and i¡¯ll have your garb sent down, onc you are presentable I will take you to meet Namegiver Jasmine,¡± ¡°(Alright then, don¡¯t get your panties in a twist, we¡¯ll go through the power wash, these new clothes better be worth it)¡± Ryo sighed before translating, ¡°Wash, we get new clothes,¡± Beau protested a little, but eventually they headed back, the idea of fresh, fitting clothes too tempting for either of them to turn down. -*- The shower was like being hosed down with a fire-main that could aim for your asshole, overall a very unpleasant experience but at least they were clean and didn¡¯t smell like a football locker room in summer. Outside, as promised was their new attire, what Lieutenant bug failed to mention was that the new attire was power armour. It matched the same style as the lieutenants, although the colours were different, military black and green hard plastic or carbon fibre with a white half cape on the shoulder. Ryo had to be impressed, it was way more than either of them expected. Beau whistled, impressed and giving it the once over like you would a new car. ¡°Climb in and press the button, the suit will snap into place.¡± Nako instructed, ¡°Your segmenter swords can attach at the hip if you¡¯re insistent on keeping them.¡± ¡°(Oh were not letting them go easily,)¡± Ryo retorted but was eager to try the suit on. He¡¯d have to demonstrate how Beau could put it on anyway. It was uncanny how well it fit, was light to the touch and for the first time in nearly two weeks they were actually dressed. The capes were neatly folded to the side, one for each of them, the suits had clips specifically designed for the fabric to click into. It was like they stepped out of a comic book. Ryo was content to just let it hang over his shoulder, Beau took the time to pleat it, he got four or five fairly neat tucks before draping it over from right to left, leaving his right arm clear. Easier to get at his weapon that way. ¡°If you are ready, your honour¡¯s, this way,¡± LT Nako directed them, in a rush to hand them off to whomever the ¡®Namegiver¡¯ was. The Ship¡¯s docking bay was wide open for them to walk through, and it was an impressive sight. Fully enclosed steel dome, bioluminescent lights turned the dim into day as hundred of suited soldiers made their way across the bridges and platforms of the complex. It was hard not to be awed by the experience, the Lieutenant was gracious enough to let them gawk for a moment. ¡°There will be plenty of time to take it in once were at our destination,¡± Nako stated quietly, ¡°but your blaring curiosity will only cause disruption on deck, if you can keep your emotions muted, that will draw less attention,¡± Lieutenant Nako, however, despite his words of warning proceeded to strut down the runway the crowds before them parted like the red sea. The three of them walked through the alien military halls and it felt as if they owned the place, other soldiers just moved out of their way, others bowing and cheering as though they were celebrities. Ryo could hear the clamouring of steel suits in the distance, shocked talk of the lieutenant gathering more humans, and the loud roars of ships and soldiers alike. The aruas he felt off the other people, he could close his eyes and pinpoint every one, like small fires of heat and vigor. His own presence was very dark, cold, but stronger than anyone else he could feel, Nako was the only one who came close to his own. Ryo Supposed that¡¯s why the guy had his own ship, the more powerful your aura the more respect you commanded. The realisation hit him. He had a fucking power level in this place! And he had protagonist level power, maybe this shitstorm was a dream after all. The station was huge, corridor after corridor of steel plates and scurrying aliens, it seemed like they had started walking forever ago and lost count of how far they had actually walked. The permeating sense of boring, bland discipline that these aliens gave off faded into the background the closer they drew to their destination. In its place was warmth, safety, a welcoming glow drawing them in, for a brief moment, he didn''t dread what was going to happen. He stopped in his paces when he noticed he wasn''t miserable, and the Lieutenant had the gall to look over his shoulder and snipe. ¡°Something wrong young lord? Not used to the presence of real power?¡± Ryo shuddered, trying to shake it off; now that he knew the warmth wasn¡¯t ¡®real¡¯. ¡°(Nothing I can¡¯t handle,)¡± he snapped back, Beau none the wiser at all. The closed corridors gave way to an open hangar, rows and rows of abandoned cars and sitting pretty in the middle was a massive super yacht. Beau whistled again, ¡°Hot damn¡­¡± he muttered under his breath, "They startin¡¯ a car yard?¡± But Ryo didn¡¯t answer, he was too busy trying to pinpoint the source of the aura. ¡°Ahhh, it appears she is on her way,¡± Nako stated absently, ¡°She is probably eager to meet you,¡± Ryo spotted a vehicle coming towards them, some kind of red 4x4, music blaring over the atrociously loud engine. It screeched to a halt a hundred meters in front of them, the right side driver door opened up and its passengers piled out. A human, an alien and three dogs came bolting towards them and Ryo was engulfed. The bright, blazing aura nearly blinded him, the alien world around him replaced with the hot, exciting brilliance of a summers day. The woman who exhumed this sensation was running towards them, shouting and waving, but before Ryo could even take a step forward Beau charged ahead screaming at the top of his lungs. ¡°SPADES YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!¡± The scream startled everyone except for the solider and his partner, the full-sized German Shepard barreling into the brick shit house of a man, the pair colliding in a burst of overwhelmingly pure joy. Ryo stared as they rolled on the floor, Spades licking Beau¡¯s face, body spasming from excitement Beau squeezing the dog so tight he might of snapped him in two. Friendship, loyalty, hope relief, so emotions flooded out of the large dog¡­ It was beautiful. ¡°Hey¡­¡± The woman¡¯s voice floated in his ears with that quiver they had before crying, her arms opened wide and she embraced him, sobbing in his ears. A warm, loving embrace. When was the last time someone, anyone, was that happy to see him? It was nice¡­ He lifted his arms to return the embrace but then she cried. ¡°it¡¯s okay, you¡¯re safe now,¡± Safe? Safe?! Ryo shoved her away, the harsh, cold reality breaking the dream like glow. ¡°(Dont touch me)...¡± he snarled. She was momentarily startled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she cried, wiping away her tears, smiling widely the entire time. ¡°It''s just, it''s been so long since I''ve seen another human, got a bit carried away.¡± she offered him her hand, ¡°I¡¯m Jasmine, welcome to branch!¡± Ryo warily shook it, only to be betrayed when she pulled him towards Beau and the dogs, they were all in a big pile. ¡°BEAU BEAU PARTNER BEAU IS BACK!!¡± ¡°NAMEGIVERS! MORE NAMEGIVERS!¡± ¡°YAY! MORE NAMEGIVERS!¡± Ryo¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of his head. ¡°(Are the dogs talking?)¡± Jasmine beamed, nodding her head violently with excitement. ¡°Yup! This is Kimiko, Sieglinde and Spades¡­¡± she looked over to the grown man on the floor, ¡°And you must be Beau! Spades has told me so much about you!-¡± ¡°Told you?!¡± Beau snapped up, ¡°You''re the one whose been looking after Spades?¡± ¡°It has really been the other way around,¡± She reached down for a handshake and to help him up ¡°Name¡¯s Jasmine!¡± Beau shook her hand but didnt need it to stand up, Spades still wriggling joyously in his arms and licking the mans face. ¡°Beau Mathews, good to see a human face in all this,¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to hear another human voice,¡± She sighed, relieved ¡°The dogs will be happier too¡­ wait, Beau, do you not have a translator?¡± Jasmine asked, frowning curiously. ¡°You mean the creepy ass thing they shoved in Ryo¡¯s brain? Nah, i aint got that in me,¡± Beau answered, shaking his head. ¡°Oh, well we can fix that-¡± She began. ¡°Nuh-uh, I aint getting no pulsating alien squid in my head, no thank you,¡± Jasmine looked disappointed, ¡°Are you sure? It may be a little weird at first, but it doesn¡¯t just let you communicate with aliens¡­¡± she paused for the dramatic reveal ¡°You can talk to dogs with it too,¡± There was a brief pause, as Beau stared into the golden brown, puppy-dog eyes of his partner. ¡°I can talk to him already,¡± ¡°(He doesn¡¯t need it,)¡± Ryo snapped, folding his arms and scrutinising the woman, ¡°(but you have some explaining to do)¡± Disparity - Chapter 21: A Long Talk and a Tall Drink Jasmine stared back at the first human face she had seen in months and he was glaring at her like she was the enemy. ¡°There is a lot to explain, I know, but I bet you guys need a drink, how about I serve you a cold one on the boat?¡± Both the men seemed to brighten at the mere mention of a cold drink, ¡°You guys hop in the Pajero and I¡¯ll take us up after I speak with the lieutenant first.¡± The humans shared a look and Jasmine could feel the distrust kick her in the gut, she did her best to hide the hurt. ¡°Lieutenant,¡± she turned to the stiff standing Nako, ¡°where did you find them? ¡°They were at a Progenitor company, and they were not treated well,¡± Nako replied unusually formally ¡°If you could ease their misconceptions, it would be of great benefit to our cause, if you will excuse me Namegiver,¡± Nako excused himself rather quickly Xant stood by her side, observing the interactions of the newly arrived humans. ¡°Jasmine?¡± he asked, noticing her uneasiness and awaiting her orders. ¡°Somethings wrong, Xant, I need you to find out what happened from Nako,¡± Jasmine instructed as she pulled the car keys from her pocket, ¡°Take Rynard with you,¡± ¡°But what about you?¡± he asked concerned. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re ready for more human-alien relations, and if anything happens, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll know about it,¡± she smiled at her companion, the one she gave him when she was trying to assure herself more than him. Xant was hesitant, but he trusted her. ¡°I will speak with the lieutenant, but please be careful.¡± he rested a hand on her shoulder, Xant could feel the hostility blaring from the young man with the translator. Jasmine nodded, patting her friends hand before gently pulling away. It would be the first time they had been apart since the deep space journey, she wasn''t sure she liked being away from her alien companions. Jasmine jumped into the driver seat, and her glaring counterpoint sat himself in passenger, thankfully the American in the backseat with all the dogs still clamouring over him shone enough happiness in the car to overcome whatever awful feelings he was projecting at her. She started the engine and let the music blare her nerves away. Old school rock blasted from the speakers as the engine turned over, bagpipes and electric guitars drowned out whatever doubts she had, filling instead with pride and hope, excitement returning as the chorus screamed: ¡°... I¡¯ve got a message and it comes for free! there¡¯s another way, that way if free but You just won¡¯t get it till the walls fall down!-¡± Tragically cut short as they reached the loading bay of the yacht. She quickly jumped out, and began pointing and directing the newcomers to her home amongst the stars. ¡°The bars on the upper deck, we can make our way through and up the ladders, I¡¯ll lead the way,¡± she crouched down to be eye level with the dogs, ¡°I¡¯ll race ya!¡± she egged on. Sieglinde and Kimiko were up for the challenge, but Spade wasn¡¯t leaving Beau¡¯s side for anything. Beau whistled at the sight of the yacht. ¡°You live here? Tsk, man, we got a raw deal Ryo,¡± he laughed, elbowing Ryo playfully. Ryo, who was still slowly walking up to the ship gave a grunt but no words. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t start off here,¡± Jasmine explained, making her way into the loading dock ¡°I started off on a research station, in an animal enclosure,¡± ¡°That¡¯s still a step up from us,¡± Beau said off handedly, following her, Ryo following a ways behind that. Jasmine gave a short impromptu guide as they scaled the stairs. ¡°There¡¯s a few free bedrooms, I¡¯ve got the master up near the bow and Xant sleeps opposite, the dogs sleep where ever, so we can pick you guys out a room after.¡± Jasmine joked, racing the last few steps up to the deck to get behind the bar, she picked out three crystal glasses and picked out a whisky for herself. ¡°So, Beau, Ryo, what¡¯s your poison?¡± she waved a hand at the dazzling selection behind her. Beau quickly made himself at home, picking a couch and sitting in the corner, Spades taking his seat next to him. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll have what you¡¯re having for starters and then we can examine our possibilities,¡± Ryo ignored the question and the seats to stand in the doorway, seemingly suspicious of everything. Jasmine plonked two clear ice cubes from the bar¡¯s draw fridge into the crystal glasses, poured two whiskies on the rocks and iced water for Ryo. She offered him the glass and he took it with hesitation. ¡°¤¢¤ê¤¬¤È(Thankyou,)¡± he replied awkwardly, the spoken word and the translator clashing. His mind¡¯s voice was clear in her own mind, perfect English without any denoting accent, even when he was clearly speaking Japanese. She wondered if he was getting an echo if she spoke, or if his translator had even been properly calibrated- ¡°(It¡¯s fine)¡± he answered curtly ¡°(There¡¯s no feedback on your end,)¡± ¡°Right, good to know,¡± she replied, taking a big gulp of her drink before handing Beau his. She sat down in the armchair, looking back at them, there was so much she wanted to say, but where to even begin? ¡°Mmm, mmm!¡± Beau licked his lips after his first sip, ¡°That¡¯s the good stuff,¡± ¡°Right?!¡± Jasmine jumped at the chance to just talk. ¡°I swear to god if it wasn¡¯t for this shit I would have lost it ages ago, I was drinking straight iso¡¯ before this.¡± she laughed nervously, and it only earned her more strange looks. Beau put his drink down on the coffee table. ¡°Look, I appreciate what you¡¯re trying to do, so let me break the Ice. I¡¯m Beau Mathews, Former U.S army, Lousiana.¡± he reached over to shake her hand, and a weight lifted off her shoulders. ¡°Jasmine Howe, 3rd-year apprentice Chef, Western Australia.¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She looked over to Ryo, who remained in the doorway, folding his arms. ¡°(Ryo Sugawara, university student, Yamanashi Prefecture,)¡± He answered, but something wasn¡¯t right, it was like there was a disconnect between what he was saying and the emotions surrounding his words. Jasmine didn¡¯t even know you could feel that from someone with freq. Beau sighed. ¡°You doing that mind talk thing again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easier, (so much easier)¡± he replied to Beau. ¡°We can calibrate it for you?¡± Jasmine offered again, wanting to help them get accustomed to the weirdness around them, ¡°Whoever did it didn¡¯t put it in right, they don¡¯t have translators that are suited to humans on hand, we got to get ours special order¡­¡± She felt the glower from Ryo returning, and the worry and dread was all over her face, ¡°... but I¡¯m guessing they didn¡¯t give you a choice in the matter.¡± Ryo¡¯s replied was an emphatic, ¡°(No,)¡± ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, stomach twisting in concern. ¡°(We were attacked and humiliated)-¡± Ryo answered, but Beau, without his own translator and connection to the network began with more context. ¡°Well, my buddy Spades, myself and a few other guys from the not so good days were sitting out, minding our own business with some beers when we were accosted by a bright light,¡± ¡°Yep, right there with you,¡± Jasmine concurred. ¡°And when I woke up, I was butt-ass naked, in a white-tiled room with this asshole,¡± Beau threw a thumb over his shoulder at Ryo in the doorway ¡°I start thinking government abduction or people traffickers then five giant crickets with taser swords come into the room and hose us down¡­¡± Jasmine¡¯s eyes went wide with shock, as they began recounting the details,She knew the aliens didn¡¯t seem to understand the basics of autonomy or consent without a strong Freq presence. It was one of the more worrying aspects of the culture she¡¯d witnessed so far, she was hoping it was isolated, but she feared her suspicions proved right. ¡°We jumped a bunch of guards and made our way through the vents, nasty man, it was like the station was alive, all sweaty and gooey on the inside,¡± ¡°What?¡± Jasmine blurted as she began pieced together her own experiences with theirs, ¡°The the aliens- I mean, The Galactic Council do genetic engineering, but I didn¡¯t know they used it to that extent¡­¡± Ryo grunted dismissively and shook his head as Beau continued. ¡°Genetic engineering, that explains the monster vats,¡± ¡°Monster Vats?...¡± Jasmines face began to pale. ¡°An entire freezer dedicated to human on alien experimentation and judging by your reaction you didn¡¯t know that.¡± Beau proposed, in her silence Ryo took the opportunity to focus his suspicions. ¡°(You did know, didn¡¯t you?)¡± He hissed. Jasmine felt the accusing hammer against her chest, and she wasn¡¯t about to let him insult her like that. ¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± she shot back, still sickened by the revelation, ¡°but I know why they would do it, they reproduce with clones, and any new genetic material is a godsend to them,¡± Ryo shifted his stance, desperate to look anywhere but at her. ¡°So they were experimenting on us,¡± Beau nodded to himself, ¡°They were super keen to get us back in a prison cell too, send a bunch of braindead guards to get us, Ryo and I introduced them to a couple of Molotov¡¯s before they decided to stop messing about and send in the heavy-¡± ¡°Wait you threw fucking molotovs?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed, ¡°how the hell did you get your hands on- ah shit the isosoprophol¡­ You homebrewed molotovs on an alien spaceship?!¡± ¡°(Yeah we did,)¡± Ryo replied smugly, Beau chuckled through a sip of whisky. ¡°Wasn¡¯t enough though, Bastard flighting cricket stabbed me through the collarbone and lung before I passed out.¡± he involuntarily rubbed his shoulder. Jasmine listened to Beau¡¯s story but could feel Ryo recalling the events, the heat, the pain, the adrenaline-fueled rush of rage. ¡°and then, I wake up for a second time and everyone¡¯s dead and Ryo¡¯s got his skull open with an alien probe pulsating inside.¡± ¡°Freq bomb,¡± Jasmine muttered under her breath, ¡°you would have decimated everyone when they connected the broadcaster,¡± ¡°(They cut open my head while I was still awake, I felt everything, )¡± Ryo relayed, folding his arms aggressively. ¡°God¡­ I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Jasmine empathised. ¡°Ain¡¯t your fault, or is it?¡± Beau asked leaning forward in his chair, ¡°how does a girl go from an animal enclosure to sitting pretty with an alien lieutenant on a superyacht?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long fucking story,-¡± ¡°We got time,¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s mostly thanks to Xant, he was the one who saw my scribbling in the sand was communication,¡± She looked into the whisky glass, there was barely a mouthful left, ¡°he was the one who got me clothes, gave me a room and a tablet to write with, then convinced his higher-ups to get a translator for me, he, he helped me a lot.¡± ¡°(and then?) Ryo prompted when she trailed off. ¡°Right, the Lieutenant was the one who found me originally, in the black stasis pod, the ones they probably transported you herein,¡± The men looked at each other. ¡°We didn¡¯t get in no stasis pods,¡± Beau answered, taking back his whiskey and waiting for her reply. ¡°What? but, I mean, you should be alright cause you don¡¯t have a translator but it shouldn¡¯t be possible to travel consciously with a translator,¡± Jasmine stated confused. ¡°(we were awake for the entire journey)¡± Ryo confirmed. Jasmine sat there a little dumbfounded. ¡°That, shouldn¡¯t be possible, they put me through a bunch of tests and the ship¡¯s freq had me in a coma for nearly a week,¡± she explained. ¡°Freq?¡± Beau asked, ¡° Is that what they call the telepathic squid?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated really, think if you crossed the force with telepathic and empathic powers,¡± Jasmine explained, ¡°apparently we humans are supercharged with the stuff but we don¡¯t have the organs to ¡®broadcast it¡¯, it¡¯s super weird and hard to get used to,¡± ¡°(I can handle it fine,)¡± Ryo replied off the cuff. ¡°It¡¯s not a competition mate,¡± Jasmine shot back, his attitude starting to rub her the wrong way ¡°point is, humans, as far as I know, are Creator level intelligence and produce military-grade Frequencies, which means we cant interact with ¡®citizen-grade¡¯ aliens without Freq-frying them. Thankfully, the Lieutenant brought me to Branch where I can move freely without worrying about stiffing anyone else. Last thing we need is to have you guys set anymore bombs off and have ourselves branded as rouge,¡± ¡°Just how long have you been with aliens?¡± Beau sat forward, taking a slow sip of his drink, judging her answer. ¡°Cause you¡¯re throwing a lot of alien talk at us,¡± ¡°Nearly 4 months,¡± Jasmine answered quietly, had it really been so short a time? It felt like forever. ¡°And do you trust them?¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°I trust Xant and Rynard with my life,¡± she answered, ¡°Nako is a little scary, but he¡¯s helping humans become registered with the council, once were registered we¡¯ll get a contribution credit score and can start real human-alien relations.¡± ¡°Question,(I have a question)¡± Ryo stood from his doorway leaning, ¡°(Why are you so eager to please the bastards who abducted us?)¡± Jasmine shook her head and waved her hand in front of her frantically. ¡°No no, you got it all wrong! Nako didn¡¯t abduct us, The Rajava did,¡± she protested. ¡°The what now?¡± Beau asked incredulously. ¡°The Rajava, genocidal alien brain balls, want to recycle all life that isn¡¯t them, they¡¯re the reason why the council needs clones and more genetic material,¡± she pleaded with them ¡°They''re the reason were in this mess at all, we¡¯d still be on there ship if we hadn''t been attacked by pirates¡­¡± even as the words came out of her mouth she realised how ridiculous it all sounded. ¡°(tsk, and you actually believe that?)¡± Ryo scoffed. ¡°Yeah, I do believe that because I fucking remember it alright?¡± Jasmine snapped back, a fire in her gut, she did not work so hard to be treated with contempt by some asshole who just arrived. Both spades and Beau stood up to keep the peace. ¡°Hey hey hey, we aren¡¯t about be enemies, clearly, a lot has gone down on both sides, but we¡¯re all just wanting to get on the same page. Now, we¡¯ve just come off a really bad cruise and its clear its been a while since you¡¯ve talked to another human being,¡± Beau lifted his glass, shifting his gaze from one then the other, ¡°so how about we finish our drinks, take a breather and come back when emotions aren¡¯t running so high hmm?¡± Jasmine slumped back in her armchair, nodding her head. ¡°Yeah, okay¡­¡± she conceded, holding her glass tightly. Ryo emerged from the doorway to put his untouched water on top of the bar before heading, wordlessly, below deck. Beau groaned, shot the last of his whiskey before standing. ¡°Ryo, hes got problems, but he¡¯s a good kid,¡± he apologised before chasing after his companion with Spades shadowing his every move. Jasmine sat in her chair, disappointment souring the reunion. After all this time, she wasn¡¯t alone, but the news of what had transpired with her fellow humans had left her even more concerned with the future. Were there others who had fallen a fate such as Beau and Ryo? Were their other humans suffering because they didn¡¯t have the means to communicate? Jasmine looked out at the sea of empty cars, hundreds of them. Guilt welled inside her, if the Rajava hadn¡¯t recycled her, Beau or Ryo, How many others were still out there? Jasmine finished the last of her whisky, the ice cubes clinked around in the bottom. ¡®Well, it would be a waste to let them melt¡­¡¯ she thought to herself, reaching for the bottle of Absolut. Disparity -Chapter 22: Reprimand Xant left Jasmine¡¯s side and made his way over to Rynard, the captain was keeping a close eye as the rusting human vehicle rattled and roared to life. The captain looked ready to chase after the car, sucking air through his teeth. ¡°Should we leave her alone with them?¡± Rynard growled softly, an unease sat between them. ¡°I trust she can handle two of her own species, even if one seemed to have an abhorrent temperament,¡± Xant added, running a hand over his ears, ¡°if anything were truly sinister, the dogs would have certainly announced it.¡± Rynard snorted loudly. ¡°She gave you orders Doc?¡± ¡°Follow the lieutenant and get his side of the events,¡± Xant relayed, ¡°The situation was delicate before more humans were plucked out from the void, I fear the upheaval would tip the balance out of our favour,¡± ¡°Not that it was in our favour to begin with,¡± Rynard muttered, looking down at Xant, the soldiers aging gaze weary, ¡°Things have been running smoothly for too long,¡± Action was rewarded with action, inaction earned nothing; as was the rule of balance, the universe struck out at those who got too comfortable, if they did nothing the situation would only get tenser. Rynard peeled his eyes away from the disappearing vehicle and turned his attention across the hangar. The pricking, sheer cold of the lieutenant''s presence was still detectable to him. ¡°The lieutenant¡¯s still in the hangar, he''s going to see the engine lord,¡± Rynard stated. Xant¡¯s ears went flat. A short while ago he never would have imagined interrupting a Lieutenant and an Engine lord, but his perspective on the matter was changing. Xant wasn''t just a citizen anymore, he was the only scientist who understood human intricacies, he was a part of Jasmine¡¯s entourage and cultural translator for the Galactic council. He could no longer be kept out of the loop, and he had enough authority now that he could demand to be the centre of it. The Engine lords quarters were claustrophobic, crammed with more equipment than Xant had ever seen. A nest of organic cables and electronic receptors, the bright fluorescent lights casting sharp shadows on calculating computers and slices of shipbrain were neatly stacked in clear epoxy slabs off to one side. Rynard stepped into the room first, his captains rank allowed him access, Xant followed close behind and was happy to have the captain as a shield. Nako and Viitoic were deep in conversation, hushed, urgent and stressed. ¡°... still haven¡¯t found anything?!¡± Nako demanded. The Lieutenant was pacing, almost manic in his delivery. The Engine lord towered over the arvas lieutenant, like a predator contemplating its prey. ¡°I haven¡¯t found the shipsbrain but the mapping of the vessel is-¡± Viitoic cut himself off as he noticed Rynard and Xants presence, pulling away back into the shadows. Nako was quick to catch on to Viitoics behaviour, curious about the unexpected intrusion he didn¡¯t immediately send them away as Xant had expected. ¡°Engine lord, were you expecting company?¡± Nako queried. ¡°Lieutenant, my attention is always expected of my uninvited guests..¡± Viitoic shot back sarcastically, ¡°but I think the audience they may be wanting is yours, rather than mine,¡± Xant allowed a moment''s pause before he revealed himself from behind the captain, hating that he was the shortest man in the room by at least 4 feet. ¡°You will have to excuse the interruption,¡± Xant began with a deep and polite bow, ¡°it appears that neither one of us has the time to spare, but there is information i require and you, lieutenant are the only one who can provide it.¡± Xant saw Nako close his eyes dismissively, ¡°although if it is required, I am happy to part with any information that may help you in exchange for the same Viitoic chuckled amused, Nako stood bewildered at Xants statement, he wasn¡¯t used to taking advice or commands from any citizen, let alone one who arrogantly presumed to speak as one of them. ¡°You are quite the precocious citizen, what makes you think that our problems could overlap?¡± Nako asked, folding his arms underneath his vibrant blue cape. ¡°I thought your designation was botany?¡± Xant gazed over the Rajavan vessel floating in the engine lords holodeck, the centre of the room and the topic of their previous discussion. The entire starboard side had been hollowed by pirates and Viitoic had been sending his engineers to burrow into the centre of the vessel. Probably in hopes of reaching the command centre and brain of the rajavan ship. If they had not found anything of worth, it was probably because the pirates had already stripped it of anything useful, or perhaps they were looking in the wrong spot. The design of the vessel wasn''t something he was educated on, while he had been a passenger on many GC vessels most still followed the same schematics as the Rajavan ones. ¡°I was designed as a researcher, botany may have been my expertise, but i have expanded my skillset in as many months¡­¡± Xant answered but as he looked over the hologram he noticed that he recognised the interiors design. ¡°This is the Rajavan ship, the one you found Jasmine on,¡± Xant deduced, ¡°the anomalies on board must be extensive,¡± ¡°How observant, even a botanist can tell my work is not as simple as sight,¡± Viitoic chuckled vindictively at the lieutenant''s expense. Nako scoffed, stepping closer to intimidate Xant with his height. ¡°What is it that you were after? Are your efforts not best used by Namegiver Jasmine¡¯s side? Her consorts will need to be brought to heel, i suggest you return to her lest she be overwhelmed,¡± Xant stood his ground and snorted unimpressed. ¡°It is by Jasmines orders that I stand before you now, she wants to know how you found the other humans and what transpired between the three of you,¡± Xant refused to allow Nako to speak down to him in such a way. The lieutenant had been very accommodating to Jasmine, but without her presence, it was clear that neither Xant nor the Captain were to receive such graces. ¡°And i would be happy to regale the tale of my self-control to the Namegiver later, i have more pressing matters to attend to with the Engine Lord-¡± ¡°If I were to give you the Rajavan Shipbrains location, will you relinquish the information i seek?¡± Nako was furious with the interruption but Viitoic¡¯s laughter was loud enough to startle him from a scathing reply. ¡°Arrogance is befitting you, doctor, the lieutenant is making a fine impression on you,¡± The engine lord bared his teeth with a wicked and amused smile, ¡°by all means, i would love to know your insight on abnormal Rajavan shipgrowth,¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°This is everything mapped in the vessel?¡± Xant asked returning his gaze to the hologram. ¡°It is,¡± Nako volunteered the information, his arms folded watching the citizen make a fool of himself. A small gloved hand reached into the projected light and activated a location on the map. ¡°The ships brain should be centre [bow],¡± Xant announced. ¡°Illogical,¡± Viitoic preened, chuckling in his self-assuredness, ¡°it would be too venerable to the outer shell attacks, rajavan ship brains are always centre of mass¡± ¡°These corridors, running up and down the ship into compartments, it is a very similar layout to the yacht,¡± Xant pointed out, ¡°lower, large areas of storage, smaller, more contained quarters up top, which, if I am correct, the ship brain should be there.¡± Viitoic went quiet. His extensive number of hands swiped over the controls of the holodeck and brought the yachts scanned floor plan into focus. The comparison was uncanny. Viitoics teeth chattered unsettlingly. ¡°Illogical¡­ illogical,¡± he repeated, scrambling through his data. Xant turned his attention to Nako, hands folded neatly begins his back. ¡°Lieutenant, Jasmine sensed that your journey to collect and contain the other humans did not go as smoothly as it had done with herself. I would like to know what transpired so we may report to her correctly.¡± Xant did not intend for his request to insult the lieutenant, but standing in that room he felt compelled to speak up against Nako, to show that he was more than just a citizen asset. ¡°The humans were sold to a progenitor company,¡± Nako relinquished, mandibles clenched tight, ¡°they were mislabeled, escaped and proceeded to destroy hundreds of [years] worth of equipment and potencial lives. They believe us to be their captors, the enemy, it was by my strength and wit alone that they listened to reason, they have no trust in the Galactic Council,¡± Xant listened to the Lieutenant commanders answer. It should have been enough. An answer like that should have been all Xant needed, but his brain was urging him to ask more, something about Nako¡¯s tone of voice, the way he stood, the snap judgement and the story it presented didn''t add up. Xant smoothed over his ears and gave Nako a challenging glare. ¡°Sold to the progenitor company by whom?¡± There was a flash of ice in the air, as Nako¡¯s freq flared up on the defensive, Tifera arced up and Rynard shifted his stance. ¡°There will be NO conflict in my laboratory!¡± Viitoic hissed, using his size to threaten all four of his uninvited nuisances. Arms, tail and tentacle ready to shove them all out of his office by force if necessary but Viitoics terminal chimed in a pleasant overtone, ringing in everyone''s audio processors. ¡°Incoming call,¡± The holodeck¡¯s projection was overridden, shrinking the data to one side to make way for the digital intrusion. Superior officers were the only ones with the power to interrupt a subordinates work, and the only one higher than the Engine Lord was the Knight Commander. Xant froze in awe at the sight of Knight Commander Kotorn, the Military grade Zenthi stood at attention, his bright red cap pleated and pressed to perfection. His many, many insignia and campaign medals pinned to his left shoulder created an impressive pauldron¡¯s worth of combat. Large spiralled horns pierced the sky above him, the crown of his command, Kotorn was a specimen with a frightening presence. ¡°Engine lord Viitoic, prepare for the introduction of his excellency-¡± The Knight Commander¡¯s dull announcement was strained once he spotted that Viitoic was not alone in his quarters, a short sharp hiss of anger passed through his teeth before he continued on, ¡°Council Member Kaalijorn,¡± The hologram¡¯s image shifted again, and Xant stood before the image of a Council Member. Xant had never personally seen a council member, he had interacted with personal aids and heard the voice of the council speaker, but to see a council member before him and how unique their body model was, it was like seeing another alien. Xant recognised the modified strain Qzetillain grafts, fins and webbed skin, grey opaque with delicate but defined speckles along the eyes and neck, their large bulbous head wrapped in silken sashes, body armour draped in layers and layers of free-flowing silks, yet kept a clean and lean profile. Elegance and power. Large, wet, black eyes opened and scanned the room, before settling on Viitoic. ¡°Engine lord, My ship will arrive in 27 [days] it will need patience and refuelling, ensure your schedule is cleared for Council time,¡± Council member Kaalijorn addressed the engine lord matter of factly, a direct and presumed order. Viiotic bowed his large head, fanning out his four pairs of arms behind him. ¡°It shall be done, most esteemed Councillor,-¡± ¡°Another thing Engine lord, I was told you were responsible for the 138th¡¯s entire fleet maintenance¡­¡± Kaalijorn added, turning his head to the sudden movement out of the corner of his eyes ¡°I shall like to see how you''re handling such a task by yourself,-¡± As the engine lord bowed had Nako followed suit, bowing his head and along with Tifera, shuffled their way to the back door, trying to make a quiet exit. Their attempt failed. Kaalijorn raised a hand and Kortorn followed the wordless order. ¡°-Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako,¡± Kotorns growl was subdued, likely not wanting to overpower the council member, ¡°I trust you were not burdening the Engine lord with more of your nonsense,¡± Nako raised back up but did not make eye contact with the hologram. ¡°I was not, Knight Commander,¡± There was another brief pause and the Councillors eyes turned to Nako, and they were not impressed, he lowered his hand to rest on his shoulder while he questioned the young upstart. ¡°Sir Tar Nako, I¡¯ve heard your name scattered throughout my ongoings, military reports, company requests, such a common name rarely enters my datafiles, so I pulled up your Contribution AudFile. I was told you were one of the more promising Arvas Units we had commissioned, bought from a top supplier and the most combat voracious of your spawn batch.¡± Nako bowed humbly, not daring to say a word. ¡°Shame then, as it seems that voracity has channelled itself into some rather suspect decision making, the Knight Commander has informed me of your refusal to relinquish our alien apparent.¡± ¡°Councillor-¡± Nako¡¯s head shot up involuntarily. ¡°Private ventures aside, Combat units shouldn¡¯t be handling first contact diplomacy matters, Sir Tar Nako, I shall be evaluating your Contribution Portfolio personally, you and your captain are dismissed-¡± ¡°Councillor,¡± Kotorn hastily interrupted, ¡°The Praetors request?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Kaalijorn¡¯s eyes narrowed in displeasure ¡°that¡¯s why I recognised your name, a Praetor requested an audience with you, a commissioned combat unit,¡± The councillor ran a hand under his chin, tiny clawed fingertips trailed along grey skin, ¡°It seems within the grand cosmic dance you¡¯ve made yourself noticed, I hope whatever notions of Calling you¡¯ve seemingly applied to yourself are more than just romantic posturing,¡± ¡°I hope I exceed your expectations Councillor,¡± Nako answered, his head bowed lower after his debasing. ¡°From what I recall, that shan¡¯t be hard to accomplish,¡± the Councillor stated dryly. They terminated the link without a sign off, leaving the five to hover in the tenseness. ¡°Get out,¡± Viitoic snapped, breaking the silence, ¡°I have no more time to spend discussing theories with the misconceptions of warped minds, I have a Rajavan shell to crack,¡± The lieutenant commander obliged without a word, leaving defeated and embroiled in his own precarious standing. Tifera snapped an awful glare at Rynard and Xant before ensuring they didn''t follow after her lord. Xant and Rynard knew better than to even try to do so, the captain scooping up his smaller charge as they left the laboratory and made their way back across the hangar. ¡°Split the One¡­¡± Xant exclaimed, rubbing his forehead. ¡°Split the universe and Akira,¡± Rynard muttered in agreement, ¡°A Councillor and Praetor on the same station, and you facing off against the Lieutenant,¡± ¡°They¡¯ll be here to see Jasmine, and the others¡± Xant concluded, ¡°to confirm first contact and citizenry¡­¡± ¡°And to make up for lost production,¡± Rynard shook his head, ¡°¡®proceeded to destroy hundreds of [years] worth of equipment and potential lives¡¯? Jasi did damage unintentionally, I wouldn¡¯t want to see her let loose, let alone two of her,¡± Rynard worried, was there something about humans he had overlooked that could make them that dangerous a Progenitor company¡¯s private military force couldn¡¯t contain them? ¡°They shouldn¡¯t have been there in the first place¡­¡± Xant stated as his own worries boiled over. Nako had been the one to deliver Jasmine to Esaander and wanted privacy over to the documents. Nako had been the one to bring in the Rajavan ship, with rights to all his contents not seized by military protocol. Even if pirates had gutted the ship, there was no way Pirates would part with such ¡®goods¡¯, Progenitor companies don¡¯t deal with Pirates and the Rajava don¡¯t take engineering lessons from pre FTL aliens. ¡°Doc? You¡¯ve gone quiet,¡± Rynard nudged him, Xant looked up at his aging companion. ¡°... we cant trust Nako anymore,¡± Xant concluded as worry welled in a pool below his chest, ¡°his motives don¡¯t align with our own.¡± ¡°And what are our motives?¡± Rynard raised an eyebrow. ¡°To help and protect Jasmine,¡± Xant replied, ¡°to the best of our abilities,¡± Rynard nodded quietly. ¡°The tough times are coming, aren¡¯t they?¡± Xant nodded quietly back. ¡°Yes, yes they are¡­¡± Disparity Chapter 23: Inconsistencies The yacht was a buzz with freq signals. The light and welcoming sensation the pair were used to had been replaced with several conflicting auras. One end of the ship was ablaze with the collective happiness of the dogs, Spades being reunited with ¡®his¡¯ Namegiver multiplied their simple signals to almost an entire human level. The dogs synced their emotions up easily, much like the Savori and Xant briefly wondered if humans were the same. The thought was extinguished rather quickly however as both he and Rynard drew closer to the ship. The captain snorted disapprovingly. The tall, thin human with the dark temperament had hauled himself up in one of the bedrooms toward the bow of the ship. He felt cold, but unlike the Lieutenant¡¯s wall of ice, the human¡¯s was fragile and sharp, like frozen glass. It hurt to be around it, and the longer they lingered the more he wanted to get away from it. ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch,¡± Rynard muttered, parting ways with Xant and climbing up on deck, the best vantage point and only part of the yacht the captain could actually be on without being cramped. Thankfully for Xant, Jasmine and his own room was in the aft of the vessel away from the seething living bomb, but even her warmth had been dulled. ¡°Something¡¯s happened,¡± Rynard growled protectively. ¡°I¡¯ll find out from Jasmine,¡± Xant reassured the captain. ¡°Stay alert,¡± Rynard gave the nod and then scaled the side of the yacht to stand guard on deck, while Xant made his way up the runway. As he walked through the halls of the deck his brain was tearing him in two, he needed to get his thoughts straight, speak out the fragments that were clashing together, the other half of him was imploring him to find out what was wrong with Jasmine. Logic won out this time. He hurried to his room and opened the case holding his data slates, pulling out a fresh, unused one, activating the touch screen and readying the voice recording- ¡°Ah, shit!-¡± Jasmine¡¯s voice exclaimed, a burst of frustration ebbed through the room. Xant couldn¡¯t ignore that, he walked down the hall and opened her door. ¡°Jasmine?- ¡°Ah Jesus-¡± Jasmine swirled around, ¡°Xant! What did I tell you about knocking¡­¡± she collapsed on the bed, head held in her hands, turbulence in her hidden, inner thoughts. ¡°That I should do it before entering¡­¡± The doctor admitted, ¡°I was worried,¡± ¡°Yeah, when are you not?¡± she half-joked, but the jovial sentiment wasn¡¯t there. Xant looked around the room, it was disorderly, she had been pacing, and an empty drink glass sat on the dresser. She had been drinking again. He sighed gently and walked over to the dresser, putting down his tablet and taking the glass into the ensuite. Filling it with water to clear her system. As he turned he saw Jasmine standing at the dresser, holding the Dataslate in both hands. ¡°Is this the one that plays the rain?¡± she asked, staring at it. ¡°No, it¡¯s a new one. I was going to use it to-¡± In a surprising display of speed and strength, Jasmine smashed the tablet over her knee. The tablet split in two, splattering blue liquid all over her and the white room. ¡°Jasmine!¡± Xant shouted dropping the glass and rushing over to her. She stood there staring at the smashed device, turning it to look inside. ¡°There¡¯s no parts¡­¡± she muttered as xant wiped her face with a bedsheet, she pushed him away hard ¡°where are the parts?...¡± she whispered. Xant was at a loss, as he watched her dig her fingers into one of the sides and scooped out more blue liquid. ¡°I¡¯m not a technician-¡± he began but it only inspired a fit of exasperation. She ran her fingers through the goop and then let it drip to the ground. ¡°Why is it bleeding?¡± she whimpered ¡°Why is it the same colour as Rynard¡¯s?¡± Xant picked up the empty pieces of the dataslate and inspected the blue liquid. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Microfibers swam within it, tendrils of nerves and the glistening clumps of cells. ¡°They told me,¡± Jasmines voice was quiet, defeated, ¡°Ryo and Beau said that the inside of the station was alive, that they were experimenting with human and alien DNA, you told me that you had been genetically engineered but¡­¡± tears formed in her eyes, ¡°I couldn¡¯t have known just how engineered ¡®everything¡¯ was¡­¡± ¡°It is organic, but not ¡®alive¡¯, ¡° Xant tried to reason with her, but he didn¡¯t have the confidence in his explanation, ¡°it can not think and it cannot feel, it can only do what it is programmed to do-¡± ¡°Just like you¡¯re programmed to do?!¡± she was pale, withdrawing in horror at her own words, ¡°The Rajava recycle those who do not ¡®fit the program¡¯, if you''re convicted of a crime the Galactic council ¡®removes you from the population¡¯, The galactic council controls who is born where and what they do. Where do they get the organic matter to make these things in the first place? Tell me they''re not just doing the same thing, Xant, tell me the Galactic Council isn¡¯t the same!!¡± The doctor stood there bewildered, her inebriated state made her manic, but he couldn¡¯t find the fault in her logic¡­ Especially since he had no information to fill the gaps. The human crawled over to him, eyes red and teary, her warm hands cupping his cheeks. ¡°You are not a thing, you are a person Xant, you are more than that(tool/device).¡± She looked him straight in the eye, not letting him pull away, Jasmine wanted to instill that truth within him. ¡°You are just as important as I am, no life is disposable, and I won''t let anyone tell me otherwise, even you, especially you, do you understand?¡± Xant nodded his head gently, ¡°Yes, Jasmine,¡± he answered, finally understanding her repulsion. The same blood that powered the dataslate ran through his veins, he was created and designed for a task. Was the difference between him and the dataslate, the same between the Galactic Council and the Rajava? Jasmine¡¯s hands fell away as she released him from her grasp. Her eyes closed and squeezed out the stress filled tears, shoulders dropped while taking deep, slow breaths. The doctor stepped over to pick up the dropped glass and refilled it with water. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Jasmine,¡± He offered her the glass, ¡°You asked me to make sure you never consumed this much ethanol again, I failed in this task.¡± his words we reserved, gentle. She took the glass and drank it desperately, shifting to sit on the edge of the bed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Xant¡­¡± she stated, afraid to move, ¡°I¡¯ve been doing my best, to be the representative of all human kind, but the more I learn about the Galactic council, the more I fear my people couldn''t exist within it¡± She looked up at him. Xant, her dearest friend, she had hurt him, tortured him with her emotions, destroyed his mind with her own and now disparaged his entire civilization to his face, and yet¡­ There he stood. He placed his gloved hand over hers and returned her gaze. ¡°Jasmine, when I was damaged, you were the one who helped me. You fight for those who are in pain and have shown me wonders beyond imagination. That there is a life beyond my work and that I am worthy of more.¡± His ears lay flat on his head and his hand squeezed her¡¯s tightly, ¡°You are everything the Council and the Imperium told me was right, your inclusion should be a celebrated part of the Galactic Council but¡­¡± his voice trailed off, and his eyes tore away, closed as though he was in pain. ¡°Xant? What''s wrong?¡± Jasmine asked, concerned. ¡°What I believed, and what I have seen these last few [weeks] has me questioning everything,¡± Curiosity was in his nature, but he had always looked outward, never within, before her, he had no reason to. He chuckled to himself. ¡°Jasmine, the last time you were this intoxicated you asked me for help, and I swore an oath to do as you willed, but now, I need to ask you the same.¡± ¡°Anything,¡± Jasmine affirmed. Xant clasped the sides of his face relieved, ¡°I am glad to hear that, Most commanders don¡¯t listen to requests outside of their own¡­¡± he stood beside her, gathering his fears and thoughts, laying them out as best he could. ¡°I spoke with Lieutenant commander Nako, he told me that the other humans had been mistreated because of their lack of freq, but he didn¡¯t tell me how they came to be in the companies possession or what mistreatment they befell, a progenitor company shouldn''t be mistreating other lifeforms, it should have been clear to them humans aren''t Rajavan vassals. They¡¯re supposed to possess far more intelligence than I, how could they have made such a mistake?-¡± his ears folded down harshly, frustrated at his own chaotic thoughts. He went to pull away, but she refused to let him, instead patting the space on the bed beside her. ¡°I¡¯ll help,¡± she affirmed, blinking back the tears and furrowed her face seriously, ¡°my own mind is¡­ awful, tangents can be hard to tame but whatever you need Xant, I¡¯ll do it. We can work this out together, you fill in my gaps and i¡¯ll fill in yours,¡± Xant took up her offer and fell back onto the soft fluffy bed. ¡°Start at the beginning,¡± Jasmine offered, falling back to lay beside her friend, ¡°and just let it all out,¡± Xant took a moment to compile his thoughts, the ones that would stand still anyway. ¡°Trust those who have their purpose as their designation,¡± Xant stated, ¡°Nako is a Lieutenant Commander, in a position of power to protect the citizens and their interests.¡± Jasmine nodded her head, listening to his thoughts. ¡°Nako told me that the humans had been purchased by a Progenitor company, that they had been treated harshly because of their lack of Freq, but how they came in possession of them is worrying, a Progenitor company doesn¡¯t deal with pirates-¡± ¡°Pirates? ¡° Jasmine interrupted. ¡°Where did pirates come from?¡± ¡°The Rajavan ship that Nako found you on, he said that it was ravaged by pirates, he also said that the other humans were sold to the Progenitor Company,¡± Xant explained, ¡°Progenitor Company¡¯s are the population contributors to the entire living galaxy, protected by the military and above a credit score all together, they wouldn''t trade with pirates. So if the pirates took the human¡¯s as cargo, but left you behind, how did they end up being sold to the Progenitor company?¡± Jasmine¡¯s entire being went deathly still. Her mind silent, her freq simmered, the alcohol burning. ¡°Xant,¡± ¡°Yes, Jasmine?¡± The human closed her eyes. ¡°We¡¯re never trusting another word that bastard has to say to us, understood?¡± The zenthi closed his eyes. ¡°emphatically,¡± Disparity Chapter 24: New Day The pitter-patter of rain fell down Xants back. He sat in the twilight watching the multicolored waves crash on the black sand beach. It was calm, peaceful and beautiful, he loved it when his mind let him visit this precious place. The rain only added to the environment''s beauty, the water drops fell on the dark ocean and caused colours to ripple among the waves. The sand was crumbly between his fingers, and the wind was warm and welcoming, he relaxed his shoulders, closed his eyes while soaking in as much as he could. These moments were fleeting, there was no knowing when he would return, Xant had learned dreams were fickle that way. The sand under he fingers turned shaggy and warm, a giant cold raindrop smeared across his face- Sieglinde''s tongue licked Xants face, waking him from the dream. ¡°Xant Xant!¡± she nudged him with his nose, the golden retriever snuggling up under his arm from under the covers. Her voice was bouncy but her body was still sluggish from the morning. Xant couldn¡¯t be annoyed with the creature, he patted her head and sighed. ¡°Hello friend Sieglinde,¡± He sat up and recalled his surroundings. The ¡®master bedroom¡¯ of the super yacht, unkept and chaotic, not his usual residence at all. The rain still fell, dripping against his skin, a sensation recording that tapped into the Frequency Network. Frequency or ¡®Freq¡¯ was the electronic signals and waves that connected all living and sapient creatures. If you had a Freq pulse, you were considered intelligent, above that of animals that existed on pure instinct, capable of complex thought and emotion. Both he, a Zenthi, and the golden retriever Sieglinde were born with these abilities. The human, who was snoring loudly on the other side of the bed, needed a little help on the matter. Jasmine was deep, deep in sleep, while she usually held herself with poise and condefence, when she slept it was much like the room around them, a chaotic mess. Her limbs stretched out across the kingsize bed, an arm hanging over the side, a pillow between her legs and a small drool patch under her open mouth. She lay on her right side, exposing the small metal part of her translator, the rest living as a separate organ inside her skull and threaded down her surprisingly small spinal column. Humans were not born with the organs to broadcast Freq, yet possessed an incredible processor inside their brains. Once they were equipped with the right equipment, humans turned out to have the most powerful signals outside of council sanctioned, genetically engineered soldiers and the Arvas imperial elite. Thankfully, the one asleep beside him did not use her powers for ill intent. Xant reached to the bedside table and turned off the sensation recording, the pleasantly cold rain vanished from his nerves and he was met with warm stale air. He needed to get up and move around, staying in bed would only make his muscles more sore. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Xant pulled back the covers and swung his legs and tail off the bed, rubbing the thin, long ears that sat atop his head. Dark speckled skin, a long snout and forward facing eyes, the human, Jasmine, had once described him as an anteater crossed with a killer whale. Xant was not fond of either of those comparisons and insisted he simply looked like a Zenthi but she assured him it was not meant as an insult . Sieglinde was slow to jump off the bed, walking to the ensuite sink and sitting beside it. ¡°Xant, may I have water to drink?'''' The dog, while being a companion species to the human, was not able to manipulate many of the devices aboard the yacht. Humans without the Freq sense were not able to communicate directly with their friends, so, built a world completely unsuited to anyone not human. He had come across several obstacles resulting from his tail and Captain Rynard couldn''t even fit down stairs, the giant Sulin had been living on the deck. Xant walked over to the ensuite and turned the tap, filling a bowl left out for the lovely dog. ¡°There you go Sieglinde,¡± Xant smiled, and reached to fill up a glass of his own. The action was interrupted by a thud, and a yelp of surprise. Jasmine had rolled out of bed unconscious and onto the floor. ¡°I¡¯m ok!¡± she blurted out, scrambling to her feet and nearly falling over the clothes in her way. Xant filled up a second glass and waited in the entrance, it would be another 30 second before the human would register anything comprehensive and so the Zenthi simply waited for her consciousness to finish switching over from dream to awake. Jasmine rubbed her eyes and yawned awkwardly, blinking several times before she recognised Xant and Sieglinde. Xant offered her the glass. ¡°Water?¡± ¡°Oh God yes,¡± she exclaimed and proceeded to gulp the entire glass in one hit. She handed the glass back, followed by another yawn and more blinking, ¡°goddamn, my head is dizzy¡­¡± ¡°Better than being in pain,¡± Xant nodded his head, ¡°Yeah, guess you stopped me drinking just in time, not the worst hangover in the world, nothing a bacon sandwich wouldn¡¯t fix-¡± the human cut off her thought, there would be no bacon sandwich to enjoy in space, ¡°next best thing, how about some seared salmon?¡± she smiled at her companions. ¡°Prehaps it¡¯s best we prepare ourselves for the quarter ahead, before we rush into sustenance?¡± Xant offered. They were no longer alone on the yacht, two other humans had joined their ranks and were not as trusting of either Xant or Jasmine. The human took a moment before catching on, she looked at her reflection in the ensuite mirror. Dark circles formed under blue eyes, fading tanned skin, the stubble of regrown brown hair and an unflattering drool stain down the side of her jaw. Her clothes were crumpled from the bed and her pants stained blue from last nights... distressing activities. ¡°Yeah, I should probably get cleaned up,¡± she admitted. ¡°Then we can discuss how to approach the other humans,¡± Xant proposed. ¡°Glad you¡¯ve got the mind for a plan.¡± Jasmine chuckled, putting on a brave smile to hide the lingering effects of a mild hangover. There was only so much that could counteract a whole bottle of Russias finest, Jasmine would be quick cleaning up though, she was absolutely starving, ¡°then we can get food for the lot of us,¡± ¡°More for me!¡± Sieglinde barked happily. Jasmine grinned and squatted down to give the golden retriever a good all-over scratch and rub. ¡°Especially more for you! Who¡¯s a good girl? Who¡¯s a-¡± The humans'' voice caught in her throat as her hands stopped at Sigi¡¯s waist, then the most excited squeal slowly escaped her lips. ¡°Jasmine?¡± The human looked up at Xant, her eyes tearing up. ¡°Xant!¡± she whispered loudly ¡°I can feel the puppies!¡± Pups. Xants curiosity got the better of him, as he crouched down beside the pair, Jasmine lead his hand to Sieglinde''s belly gently. ¡°You can feel their freq pulse!¡± Jasmine was overjoyed, Sieglinde was glowing delightfully from the attention, as Xant pressed his fingers to the golden fur, he could indeed feel the stirring of several different pulses, weak at the moment, but distinctly there. ¡°Friend Sieglinde can feel it, Sieglinde will be a life giver soon!¡± Jasmine embraced the dog tightly, and upon release was filled with a new found determination. ¡°I¡¯m getting dressed, then we¡¯re going to breakfast, Sigi deserves a feast!¡± Xant nodded his head along, there wasn¡¯t much he could do to dissuade a human once they had set their mind to something. He would make sure he grabbed his dataslate before they went downstairs however, a revision of their discussion last night was in order. Disparity Chapter 25: Breakfast Xant stood in the hallway of the cabin, hesitating on the task before him. Jasmine and Siglinde had gone deep in the seafaring vessels kitchen, to prepare their first meal of the quarter and a ¡®welcoming¡¯ feast of sorts. Xants task was to invite the new members to the event. He had been half wondering how to describe their current predictament, while they were the same species as Jasmine there was no familiar bond between them beside their situation. He¡¯d hesitate to even call them companions at this point, since the only one he could properly converse with was as openly hostile as one could get while still being within civilised company. Xant tucked the Data-slate under his arm and took a deep breath. The human named ¡®Ryo¡¯ had an aura most uncomfortable, permeating the air with an oppressive sickness. Xant focused his thoughts to feel through the Frequency, trying to understand it so as to be better at withstanding it. Stress was the overwhelming factor and completely understandible, disgust was a close second, although its source was a little harder to define. Cold, soft, clear sky¡­ If it was one thing Xant had learned about humans was that their Freq was obnoxiously powerful and deceptively subtle, without physically connecting and sharing memories he doubted he was going to get much more from observation alone. Xant approached Ryo¡¯s door, remembering to knock before speaking this time. The sudden noise startled the human inside, changing the freq to a more aggressive mix, but Xant could steel himself from such attacks, Jasmine had given him plenty of unintended practice. ¡°...¡± Xant suddenly realise he forgot to ask Jasmine what was the human standard of greeting unfamiliar humans, their introductions were a little confusing, too many names. So he fell back on what was polite in Council society, ¡°Your honour, may I relay a message from Namgeiver Jasmine?¡± The cold and clear Freq turned sharp and prickly through the door, the alien inside had his focus on Xant now, it made his ears hurt. ¡°Yeah? What does she want?¡± came the acknowledgement, he had a deeper, harsher voice than the human Xant knew, a species quirk? ¡°Jasmine will be cooking some human cuisine for ¡®breakfast¡¯, she requests you and the other human join us for formal introductions and to update you of the current state of affairs,¡± Polite and formal, treat with care, Ryo¡¯s first impression of the council was no the most hospitable, his second impression had not been so great either. Xant could only show that he was not like the others. ¡°... I¡¯ll let Beau know,¡± ¡°Excellent, breakfast will be up in the ¡®Bar¡¯, I look forward to a proper introduction between us,¡± There was no reply, Xant didnt expect one, but his task complete he could make his way to the bar lounge and get the most comfortable chair for his tale. Jasmine set down a huge plate of sizzling salmon slices on the table, using the pair of tongs to separate out the pieces and serve them on plates, making sure that Sieglinde got a very large bowl to herself. The party of seven (three humans, one zenthi and three dogs) sat on the bar lounges, ¡®Ryo¡¯ Sugawara had abandoned the council provided skin suit in favour of human clothes Jasmine had grabbed from storage. He had plain black pants, a navy blue shirt with a threatening image on its front (a human skull in an unfascinded helmet) and an black coat with hood Ryo was using to hide his stubbly head and translator scars. Beau, by contrast, wore fairly little clothing, navy blue jeans, no shirt or shoes but an obscenely colourful ¡®Hawaiian shirt¡¯ that could not be buttoned up so his chest was bare, showing off the contours of his anatomy. The three dogs all got their own bowls while Jasmine offered tongs to everyone so they could serve themselves from the big share plate. Jasmine pushed the small lock of brown hair behind her ear and out of her ocean blue eyes, she had decided to go for comfort, her favourite white top, yellow and blue summer shorts and light sneakers. ¡°So where did the salmon come from?¡± Beau asked as both he and Ryo looked at the plate with salivating mouths but skeptical eyes. Jasmine served a plate and side greens to both herself and Xant before replying. ¡°Three fish were sent the same research facility as me, so they cloned the meat for us to eat,¡± ¡°Clone meat?¡± Ryo scoffed, Jasmine shrugged. ¡°I can make you more Waurdess if you like?¡± she offered, popping a slice of fish into her mouth. Suddenly the salmon became way more appetising to the young man, but Beau had already taken the tongs and was piling his plate up high. ¡°So,¡± Beau started with a big mouth full of fried fish, ¡°How about you start at the beginning, and we can work from there,¡± ¡°Right, the beginning¡­¡± Jasmine looked to Xant for reassurance, as she chewed on her first bite, ¡°Right, I suppose the beginning is when we all got abducted,¡± she swallowed her bite and began to recall the events as she remembered them. ¡°We were all abducted some time in January, I was out camping with friends, we were abducted by the Rajava, who are basically organic computers hell bent on genociding the known galaxy. At some point in their travels from Earth across the stars they were experimenting on us,¡± Jasmine inwardly winced at the memory, the terrifying sight of her body flayed open would not be leaving her any time soon, Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°after that, the ship was allegedly attacked by pirates, gutting it and taking everything inside and then, Lieutenant Nako caught them mid-looting, he claimed the ship as his own and then he sent seven black stasis pods to Uleesia station, Esaander corp, where Xant,¡± Jasmine made a gesture with her fork, ¡°Was head of research, they opened up the pods at Nako¡¯s behest and I was in one of them, and because I didn¡¯t have a Freq pulse, they thought I was either an animal, or a Rajavan creation called an amalgamation. I started scribbling math into the sand and Xant was smart enough to recognise it, then they put a translator in me so we could talk.¡± She tapped her head, Ryo glared at Xant from the corner of his eye, Beau was not so subtle in his stare either. ¡°That¡¯s when I learned about Freq, Frequency¡¯s and that humans have a lot of it but no natural way to express it. I also learned about the DNA degradation and the ¡®Painful Dynasty¡¯, and I offered to help where I could. I also learned that the Rajavan¡¯s probably destroyed everyone I loved and probably the even Earth too, but Xant, Rynard and the dogs 3 kept me from doing something really stupid.¡± She shook her head, summarizing the last four months didn''t do the ordeal justice in the slightest, everything she had learned and the friends she had made seemed like a footnote in the adventure. ¡°After that, Lieutenant Nako came to the station, I got to understand the difference between citizens and Military units, a little bit about life in Council Space and that humans cant, or, shouldn¡¯t be able to travel in space awake if they have a translator in. Nako brought us here to identify any of the Earth tech the pirates didn¡¯t take and the Rajava thought might be useful. Somewhere along the line, you guys were sold to a Progenitor corporation, experimented on, destroyed the facility and killed its crew after your own involuntary translator fitting, Nako was sent to deal with you and managed to negotiate and brought you here¡­ and now we¡¯ve got three weeks to figure out what are our demands and how to make first contact with Council member coming to see us.¡± Jasmine sighed, stirring the food on her plate with her fork, ¡°any questions?¡± ¡°Several,¡± Beau stated, ¡°But I¡¯ll let Ryo go first,¡± he shoved another piece of fried fish in his mouth. Ryo ate another piece of fish and chewed slowly, he didn¡¯t even look up to ask his question. ¡°You mentioned pirates, the Rajava and the council, how many factions(enemies) are we dealing with?¡± Ryo¡¯s thoughts projected loud and clear to anyone with a translator, a quirk humans gained with the translator, telepathic abilities. ¡°The only other faction is The Arvas imperium, but I don¡¯t know a lot about them,¡± Jasmine answered honestly. ¡°They are the second power in this arm of the galaxy,¡± Xant explained, trying to build a helpful rapport with the new members, ¡°they are allies to the galactic council but prefer to hold their own government and military over planets in their territory,¡± ¡°Right, thank you Xant,¡± Jasmine smiled. ¡°Where¡¯s the Rajavan ship we came from?¡± Ryo was skeptical of the Rajavan angle, as neither he nor Beau had any memory of the abduction. ¡°The Engine Lord has the ship somewhere on the other side of the hangar, I haven¡¯t seen it other than a hologram, but it¡¯s big enough that it could carry this entire yacht and all the cars outside,¡± ¡°A transport ship specifically,¡± Xant elaborated, ¡°Engine Lord Vitoiic is still investigating the ship but I suspect they will find the shipbrain soon enough,¡± He kept the human style anomalies to himself for the moment, information to share with Jasmine in a more secure manner. The word shipbrain caught Ryos attention, and his aura simmered under his blank expression. ¡°The lieutenant bug made insinuations of us getting a ship,¡± Ryo continued ¡°what are the chances of that happening?¡± Jasmine blinked. ¡°Probably very likely, in my talks with Nako and Laandi, she was the executive director of Xants old Station, she said that if we were accepted into the Galactic council, our credit scores would likely be enough to get us an entire planet,¡± She let the information hang in the air a little bit, she could barely believe it herself, ¡°But, it would mean allowing our DNA to be catalogued-¡± she cut herself off, finding the words to explain it favourably, ¡°We¡¯d have to negotiate the terms of course, I wasnt stupid enough to promise them anything wholesale, But its something we¡¯re all going to discuss and have to agree on.¡± ¡°A whole planet huh?¡± Beau repeated, having finished his second plate, ¡°that¡¯s a mighty big promise, but I''m glad you didnt take their word for it and laid some foundations for negotiations good job,¡± Jasmine felt her ears turn red, recognition for her hard work was validating. ¡°Makes sense now why they were so eager to keep us alive,¡± Beau mused, ¡°our DNA in exchange for a planet, they''d want to keep that underwraps at any cost,¡± ¡°Any source of DNA is precious since the Rajavan degri-¡± Xant started but Beau, unable to understand the doctor, continued on his trail of thought. ¡°So what¡¯s stopping them from just taking what they want? Why not just keep us unconscious and take as many samples as they want?¡± Jasmine placed a hand on Xants shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll translate for you,¡± she offered and relayed Xants words to Beau. ¡°Because a violation of a sentients will is what the Rajava would do. The Galactic Council was founded on the ideal that sentient life deserves to exist. Humans are a Creator Intelligence race and should be treated with respect, to deny you that means the Painful Dynasty was fought for nothing.¡± Beau leaned back and let out a bemused sigh. ¡°Alright, so what is the painful dynasty?¡± Those words threw her back as many months, when she too, asked the question. ¡°The fall of civilisation,¡± she replied, condensing the horrors into a digestible laymen''s explanation, ¡°the known galaxy was prosperous, then with the creation of the Universal Translator the people found out that those in power weren¡¯t people any more, they were genetically altered computers and when the people tried to change it, those in power, the Rajava, turned genocidal. Melting down restless citizens into unthinking drones, recycling their DNA and destroying anything else that didn¡¯t fit their design, hence why our own DNA is so valuable,¡± ¡°But you just said we were abducted by the Rajava,¡± Ryo chimed in, ¡°so why haven¡¯t we been recycled?¡± ¡°That has been a unanswered worry for everyone involved,¡± Xant answered, ¡°There are many, disturbing questions we have uncovered in our short time together, we haven''t had the resources to answer them.¡± ¡°They having psychic conversations with each other?¡± Beau asked, ¡°I noticed the aliens ears twitch when he does,¡± Jasmine was beginning to get a headache being caught in the middle, ¡°Yeah, Ryo asked out why we having been melted down, and the honest answer is we don''t know, we may never know, The Rajava aren''t up for having friendly discussions¡± Beau rested a hand atop Spades head, deep in thought. ¡°The Rajava are the enemy, the Galactic Council is sheltering us, and our DNA is valuable, not that I don''t believe you, or your friend, but are there any sources I can look over to confirm them?¡± Ryo let out an audible scoff, ¡°Like he¡¯s going to find an unbiased source-¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we can find some historical documents, right Xant?¡± Jasmine talked over the negative nancy. Xants ears flattened. ¡°We do have historical audfiles, but without a translator he won''t be able to understand them,¡± ¡°We can figure that out when we get there,¡± Jasmine replied and relayed the info to Beau, who sighed through his nose. ¡°I can go through the files,*¡± Ryo proposed, much to Xant and Jasmines surprise ¡°*Beau is basically useless without you telling him what''s going on,¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going through the audfiles then Beau can help me go through the human stuff, see if we can find anything useful.¡± ¡°Jasmine? What about preparing for the Council members'' arrival?¡± Xant asked gently. Jasmine mulled it over in her head. ¡°Well, we can wait until after the audfiles, for now we can just think of a list of demands, a list of rights and such, do you still have the contracts i made with Laandi?¡± ¡°I shall source them for you, Infact, shall I get a hold of Laandi for us? She said she had coached First contact negotiations before.¡± Xants ears stood up and he bobbed his head happily ¡°An excellent plan Xant, that¡¯s why youre my number 2,¡± Jasmine was happy with their plan of attack for now, she needed to get as much information as possible or everything was going to be so much harder. Disparity Chapter 26: Goodwill The meal done and the plan in place, Jasmine began collecting the plates to take down stairs. ¡°Let me get that for you,¡¯ Beau offered. ¡°Its no worries mate,¡± Jasmine assured him balancing the white china in one arm. ¡®Now now, I insist, you got us cleaned up and fed, the least I could do in return-¡± Beau reached out to take the dishes when the sudden and distinct tearing of fabric halted his pursuit. The hawaiian shirt, while colourful and flattering, was simply not able to withstand the girth of the man wearing it. The sleeves torn from their paneling, Beau had no choice but to rip them off, leaving him with a sleeveless vest. ¡°Yeah well, I didn¡¯t like the shirt anyway.¡± he sulked and threw the fabric scraps on the table in disappointment. ¡°If you didn''t like it,¡± Ryo piped up in his actual voice ¡°why wear it?¡± ¡°¡®Cause its the only thing I could get on,¡± Beau folded his arms, ¡°The universe seems determined to have me naked,¡± ¡°I mean, if you really want to find some more clothes we can search the rest of the cars for gear,¡± Jasmine shrugged as she turned to leave. ¡°That¡¯s an option?¡± Ryo asked, following her to the kitchen. ¡°Well, yeah, it''s kinda my job to go through and categorize all the belongings,¡± she dumped the dishes in a hot and waiting sink, the pair looked at Jasmine, who smirked, ¡°it¡¯s kinda fun really,¡± She stepped past Ryo and Beau, walking out onto the deck and whistled. ¡°Hey Rynard! Care to introduce yourself?!¡± The ten foot tall tyrannosaurus-look alike bounded over the railing with practiced ease, much to Xants chagrin and the other humans surprised. ¡°Yeah Jasi?¡± The Captain stood, posing a little to show off. ¡°Care to take us down stairs? The guys want to search some cars for better threads,¡± Using the Dino-lift was quicker than climbing down the yacht to the informal carpark. Right at their feet was a large plastic tray filled with car keys. ¡°Take your pick and see what we find.¡± All the names were there, Toyoata, Hyandai, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Ferrari, all the luxury and others amongst the mix, Ryo frowned. ¡°(You have all these keys and you drive around that rust bucket?)¡± He threw his thumb over his shoulder at the aging Nissan. ¡°That''s MY rust bucket,¡± Jasmine replied defensively, ¡°or rather, Checkovs¡¯, its the car I was abducted with,¡± ¡°(So? You could still drive a different car,)¡± Ryo replied dismissively, perusing the keys during conversation and ignoring eye contact. ¡°I don''t want to drive a different car,¡± Jasmine folded her arms. Ryo picked up a set of Lexus keys and pressed the immobiliser. ¡°(Then you can keep the rust and I''ll have the chrome,)¡± he smirked before running off to find the source of the beeping. Jasmine let out a groan of frustration, she hadn¡¯t had to deal with that kinda shit since highschool. Beau was still surveying the keys before him. There were hundreds of vehicles and not nearly enough keys, but he reached for something familiar to start his search. He plucked up the keys with a big american flag and a chevy badge hanging from the ring. ¡°Wanna bet it¡¯s a pick-up?¡± he smiled. ¡°10 bucks says it¡¯s red with a ¡®freedom¡¯ decal,¡± Jasmine laughed, Beau raised an eyebrow happy to play along. ¡°I say it¡¯s black, but there''s the full sized flag tucked away somewhere,¡± he held out his hand, and Jasmine took the shake. ¡°Deal,¡± she laughed. ¡°So, hand shaking is not just for greeting then?¡± Xant asked, observing the human interaction. ¡°Not always,¡± Jasmine naturally went into explanation mode ¡°it can also be used as an agreement for a verbal contract,¡± ¡°A gentleman''s agreement,¡± Beau added despite not being able to hear Xants question, ¡°¡®course, a mans only as good as his word, and words aren¡¯t what they used to be,¡± As they made their way through the car yard with Beau periodically pressing the beeper, it came apparent that Jasmine had lost the bet. Beau opened up the passenger door and without looking reached under the chair and pulled out an american flag, steam pressed in a triangle. ¡°Wait, its your car isn¡¯t it?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯re the one who took up the bet,¡± beau held out both hands in innocence, ¡°Without asking more questions,¡± he tapped his skull with his index finger and a giant grin on his face. The chevy was huge compared to the pajero, an urban tank on the inside, in the tray were several steel lock boxes. Neat, tidy and orderly. Beau pulled out a gigantic military green canvas bag from the back passenger seat. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I need a moment to change into something that isn''t going to tear at a moment''s notice.¡± Jasmine laughed and turned around, a mocking hand over her eyes. ¡°There''s plenty of space mate, I¡¯m not gonna peek,¡± Xant and Rynard followed Jasmine''s lead, but as ever the scientist couldn¡¯t help but ask questions about the situation. Having human on human interactions before him occurring naturally without prompts revealed more than either aliens probably intended. ¡°Why would you ¡®peek¡¯?¡± came the innocent question and Jasmine''s cheeks turned the slightest shade of pink. ¡°It''s rude to stare at the opposite gender while they change,¡± She replied, clearly having no intention of entertaining the conversation further. Xant recalled her turning her back when changing in his presence and he suddenly had no intention of questioning further. ¡°Phew! I am never complaining about standard issue again!¡± Beau returned from the other side of the chevy having changed into good hiking boots and hunting camouflage. A pair of protective ear muffs hung around his neck and over his plain white t-shirt. He carried his canvas bag in one hand and threw it in the back tray. He jumped in after in and fished out a set of keys from his pocket, opening up the locks. Inside the locked boxes were steel cases, the kind Jasmine had only seen in action movies, guns and ammunition. He pulled out one of the four (she counted off handedly) and spun the case open for her to see, inside the grey foam sat a wooden handled rifle. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Jasmine stared, unsure of what to do. ¡°Its not going to bite you,¡± Beau laughed as he pulled it out, ¡°it¡¯s just a hunting rifle anyways, ever fired one?¡± ¡°Never seen one in person before,¡± Jasmine admitted. ¡°You wanna fire one?¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Jasmine sparked up at first but then quickly brought herself back to reality. ¡°Uhh, I''m not sure we can fire it inside a space station... Xant?¡± she asked, the doctor was as lost as she was and turned to Rynard. ¡°All military grade weapons are to be kept exclusively for training and or missions in the field and can only be operated once orders are given by a commander,¡± Rynard replied, reciting a safety measure no doubt had been drilled into him since being pulled from the Vat, ¡°but you invoked requisition of all human items and technically, you''re currently commander on hand," he grinned. Jasmine beamed, and announced to Beau that they could basically do what they wanted within reason. Beau looked around and something caught his eye. They all walked over to a completely destroyed car, a panel van that had definitely been on fire sometime in the past. Beau reached in through the broken window, popping open the door and put the van in neutral. ¡°You think you could get Rex there to move it in position?¡± he asked. ¡°Sure thing!¡± Jasmine relayed the instructions and Rynard moved the van with a single push,¡°Show off,¡± The captain laughed in reply. Beau checked the vans interior, and once he was sure that there was nothing explosive or flammable he walked back to give Jasmine and the accompanying aliens a safety lesson. ¡°This,¡± he said pulling out the rifle from its case ¡°is a gun, there are many like it but this one is mine,¡± he gave her a serious look, ¡°as long as you follow my instructions and dont act the fool we can have a little fun,¡± Jasmine nodded her head and answered with a just as serious ¡°yes,¡± Satisfied with her answer Beau began listing the parts of the weapon, the barrel, chamber, trigger, Jasmine filtered the lesson through to him word for word and Xant was curious about the vernacular. ¡°Never point at anything you don''t want killed, never have your finger on the trigger, keep the muzzle pointed at the ground, never have it loaded until ready to shoot,¡± The weapon seemed extremely dangerous, he wondered if it was in their best interest to be ¡®firing¡¯ the thing. Xant watched Beau give the instructions without feeling his presence, it unnerved him to say the least. He caught the human looking over at him directly, a subtle stare before returning to instruct Jasmine. He rested the butt of the rifle against her shoulder and helped her aim. ¡°Take your time, no rush, just breathe and feel the shot,¡± Jasmine exhaled and slowly pulled the trigger as instructed, bracing as the gun kicked back a little. The small and concentrated explosion echoed in the hangar and Xant slapped down his ears. ¡°Wow, that was loud!¡± she exclaimed while slowly releasing the gun, she had been so nervous it took a while for her muscles to come out of position. ¡°Yeah, that''s why you got the ¡®muffs¡± Jasmine took off the safety muffs and wiggled her finger in her ear. ¡°You¡¯re not a bad shot though,¡± Beau pointed out to the bullet hole in the centre of the vans door, ¡°care to try for a grouping?¡± ¡°Nah im good thanks, shoulder hurts like f- hell,¡± Beau acknowledged her decline and offered the gun to Xant. ¡°Care for a try?¡± Xant looked between Beau and Jasmine, who had nothing but encouragement. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as I was expecting, you¡¯ll have to brace pretty hard though, but you need to try it at least once¡± she gently placed the earmuffs on his head. ¡°I¡¯ve gained physical strength, perhaps this may be a prefect test of limits,¡± Xant reasoned before mimicking Jasmine¡¯s actions of the gun, following the instructions to the letter before aiming at the same target. He could smell the burnt gunpowder, feel the heat from the butt and barrel. He slid his finger up to the trigger and waited for Beau to give the signal. Beau counted down, shouting for the clear, Xant squeezed the trigger. He was not as proficient as his human companion however. The shot was way off, hitting the back panel near the tire and the sudden kinetic energy that blasted through his arms was quite painful. Galactic council weapons, those that he had seen, were nothing like the one he had fired in his hands. Acid sprayers, electric tasers, cauterizing swords, it said a lot about how they fought each other. Of all things available to them, they chose this weapon, an instant shot ages away from their opponent. He quietly put the gun in a safe position and offered it back to Beau. ¡°Not for him, he says,¡± Jasmine translated. Beau took it back and set it up for his own round of firing, taking a few steps forward he picked his target, demonstrating his accuracy and speed with the weapon. Five shots one after the other, a tight grouping at head height, a shot at the window that shattered the glass and another that broke the side mirror. Jasmine whistled. ¡°Is that impressive for a human?¡± Xant quired, eager to find out more. ¡°It¡¯s better than me at least!¡± Jasmine laughed, ¡°Hey Beau? Is it okay if Xant asks you some questions?¡± Beau cleared the chamber and placed the gun back in its case loosely. ¡°Shoot,¡± he smiled, pun intended. ¡°How long do you train with the weapon?¡± ¡°As long as you plan on using it, the day you stop training is the day you don¡¯t shoot anymore.¡± ¡°And is using the firearm crucial to your role?¡± ¡°Well, it was as a solider, they all need to be trained in the use of their assigned combat weapon but my job was Canine escort detail, checkpoints, IED¡¯s and such. So I had a bit more variety than your average Private.¡± ¡°Spades was a bomb dog, Beau was his handler¡± Jasmine clarified. Xant stood there for a moment, while he considered the dogs being a very useful companion species to have a Creator and a User as partners in a field was something that he had never even considered. ¡°And you trusted the dog with this task?¡± Xant asked sincerely. ¡°I trust Spades with my life, and I still do,¡± Beau replied with the same sincerity, ¡°you¡¯d be surprised how many people can¡¯t follow simple instructions when their lives depend on it, it¡¯s half the reason I got out.¡± ¡°You changed professions?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Beau answered. ¡°I did my tours, I served my country and saved my money, then I got out and brought my best friend with me.¡± ¡°So what did you do?¡± ¡°I went back to school, get my qualifications to be a Veterinarian,¡± Beau explained, counting his remaining ammunition as he did so. Another case of a human willingly changing their career path on a whim, despite how well Beau seemed to handle the weapon, casting it all away for a completely different skill set seemed counter intuitive. ¡°Was it hard training from your first profession to another?¡± ¡°First profession? Military wasn''t my first job, I did paper route and movie usher before that, made manager at 16 ¡®cause I was over 6 foot, I was a bean pole back then,¡± ¡°You were not always this size,¡± Xant felt his questions wondering, perhaps it was his other consciousness seeking the questions and starting him from the topic, or maybe it was Jasmine''s influence. ¡°Lord no! I was 6.1 but only 80 pounds soaking wet, calling me a feather weight would be generous!¡± ¡°So how did you get so large?¡± ¡°Exercise, protein and a humourless drill sergeant ¡± Beau joked, but Xant was happy with the answer and proof that he too might get to the human¡¯s size one day. The interview was interrupted by a large designer duffle bag being thrown between them. Ryo had found some designer street ware and was trying really hard to look effortlessly cool. ¡°Hey! Care to join us?¡± Jasmine waved, ¡°It''s got a heck of a kick!¡± Ryo shrugged and then casually pulled out twin pistols from his pocket. ¡°I¡¯d like to try these out instead,¡¯ ¡°Whoa!¡± Beau exclaimed ¡°those are some nice pieces! Let me get a look!¡± Ryo spun them around for him to look at, Beau held the guns in hands before disabling them both in two swift movements and confiscating them. ¡°Whha?!¡± Ryo shouted but Beau shook his head. ¡°If you want to fire a gun, you can use mine, I¡¯m not letting you wave around some drug dealers show pieces until you can show me you can fire this without blasting your own fingers off,¡± Ryo scoffed, but followed Beau as he showed him how to use the rifle. ¡°Jasmine?¡± ¡°Yeah Xant?¡± ¡°How is it that even without a Freq presence, you both follow Beau¡¯s instructions?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jasmine shrugged, ¡°it¡¯s a little complicated, but the best I can sum it up is, He¡¯s an adult.¡± ¡°So, authority is derived from age?¡± Xant asked for clarification. ¡°Not always, I wouldn¡¯t listen to any random ¡®adult¡¯ who acted like a dickhead, BUt hes got a lot more experience than me and he hasnt talked down to me at all-¡± Ryo squeezed the trigger, but didnt brace hard enough, the rifle slid out from his shoulder, jumped out of his hands and almost smacked into his face. It was such a surprise that Jasmine couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Oh shit! You alright man!?¡± Ryo gave her a death glare, and Beau stifled his own laughter as he helped Ryo correct his technique. Ryo took aim again, but instead of firing at the old car body, at the last second he changed his target and blasted the back window of the Pajero instead. ¡°Whoops,¡± Beau ripped the gun out of his hands but Jasmine was ready to rip him a new one. ¡°What the fuck do you think youre doing fuck head?!¡± she charged at him, ready to lay down hands. ¡°I guess my aim was off,¡± he sneered. ¡°Keep on going and it won¡¯t be the only thing(head/dick) that''s (I¡¯ll rip)off!¡± She shouted, rage blazing inside her like a fire ¡°Pfft, like you could(you don¡¯t have the nerve),¡± Ryo scoffed, egging her on with his dismissal. ¡°The fuck I don''t?!¡± Jasmine screamed, a fist raised and aimed at his face as Xant pulled her back and Beau twisted Ryo¡¯s arm behind his back. Rynard extended his claws and growled audibly, baring his teeth feeding off the intense emotions in the air. ¡°Okay every body time to calm the fuck down,¡± Beau shouted, restraining Ryo. Jasmine struggled against Xant, ready to smack the horrible disgusting, and weak piece of- "Jasmine!" Xant pleaded, snapping her out of her rage, like water thrown on her face she stood there anger turning to confusion, then pain. Punching Ryo for his actions was justifiable, but violence was never her first port of call. She had been literally blinded by her own freq-agression that she never noticed Ryo¡¯s presence. His stomach was twisted in knots, shame burnt her face, he couldn''t even look her in the eye. Did¡­ Did she want to punch him, or was it because he wanted her to punch him? Shame, regret, jealousy, anger, disappointment, self-loathing, complex emotions swirling and weaving their way past her own feelings¡­ She had been surrounded by aliens for so long, Jasmine had forgotten how complex humans could be. She stopped struggling against Xant, closing her eyes and recentering herself. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to do that¡­¡± She said quietly. ¡°(... Sorry)¡± Came the quiet but sincere reply. His face was blank facing the ground, he couldn''t fight against Beau even if he wanted to. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I laughed,¡± as the words passed her lips she felt the fluctuation in his Freq aura, genuine gratitude for her apology, then regret for his own actions, a spur of anger at himself. ¡°You going to apologize huh?¡± Beau demanded from the youth. Ryo winced in pain as Beau twisted his arm a little harder. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± came the audible version. Defeat. Beau threw Ryo down, letting him go and getting back up off his feet. ¡°That was a stupid thing you did, I know youre better than that.¡± The disappointment stung like a knife to the heart. Ryo took off towards the ship, Beau shook his head. ¡°Damn, we¡¯re going to have to keep an eye on him, he¡¯s more messed up than I thought.¡± Jasmine and Xant looked at each other, ¡°More than you know,¡± she said under her breath. Disparity - Chapter 27: What to do About Nothing Jasmine turned the taps on the hot water in her ensuite. Her clothes stank of gunpowder it was a good excuse to give her the time she needed to decompress. The ¡®argument¡¯ she had with Ryo was replaying over and over in her mind, he had left an impression on her for better or for worse. Alien-freq was hard enough to get used to on its own, every single one of them had a unique feeling, a signature to their presence, simple and easy to pinpoint. The feeling of fresh paper, the burn after exercise, or the impact of metal crashing against each other, it was never more complicated than that. The Dogs, Nako and Xant were a little more complex, Sieglinde felt like a warm blanket and running through grass in spring, Nako was like a wall of ice, sheer and imposing but only when he wanted to be, Xant¡­ When they first met, he was like trickling water, but he had since grown to a river, fresh, relaxing, and full of life, it was his presence that had cooled the anger that consumed her. She didn''t like being that angry, it didn''t feel like her at all¡­ She didn''t even realise she had become that angry, that she had given in to someone else''s emotions. Jasmine watched the tub fill with rose, vanilla scented bubbles and checked the door was locked one last time before dipping herself in. The warm water was amazing on her skin, she sank in til the water rose just below her nostrils, one of the few joys aboard the luxury yacht was a bath big enough for an adult to actually submerge themselves in. She savoured the alone time, not that she was ever truly alone now, if she closed her eyes and really concentrated, she could pinpoint certain people¡¯s location by freq alone. It was both cool and terrifying at the same time, to what extent she could use these ¡®new¡¯ powers was still unknown since she had been trying hard to suppress them. Xant often spoke to her about ¡®Freq aggression¡¯, Freq-bombs and Volatile Extreme Freq Syndrome, how the sudden changing of emotions was painful for citizen aliens to process, so much so that Citizens and Military aliens were separated by necessity. The power and ferocity of basic human emotions were considered deadly, they could unconsciously force their own emotions onto others, turning them to their will maliciously or benevolently. It was what she could do to others. And what Ryo had done to her. He wanted her to be angry, then he destroyed something of hers, the car window¡­ triggering her own rage and it blew up from there. She sighed. Was there any point in fixing the back window? It''s not like it was a proper mode of transportation¡­ she shook her head. What''s done is done, she could probably get the engineers to fix it for her later, it wasn''t even that important in the grand scheme of things, it just hurt. He was unstable, that much was certain, he didn''t trust her at all and it seemed like he actively hated being in the same room as her. He lashed out at her after she laughed at him, a major retaliation, over done for sure, spite, a perceived slight to his worth. Ryo wanted her to hurt. She remembered the burn of anger, the sudden sickness of regret for his actions, and pain he thought he deserved. So many brash, powerful emotions conflicting inside of him, Jasmine could only imagine the kind of life that could cause such turbulence. The strongest memories resonated with the freq you projected, she was so used to being the bright welcoming presence, having it thrown off so easily by another was harrowing. Was there a way to avoid it in the future? Perhaps she needed to pull herself inward? Control her freq like Xant kept telling her to do. Jasmine dunked her head under the water and lingered submerged in the soothing depths. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. She had been so happy to see another human being, to embrace another person, to see someone eye to eye. But¡­ Ryo was repelled by her, and Beau despite being warm and friendly outwardly, it was like he was invisible without a presence. She didnt know what his true intentions or impressions of her were at all... She rose up for air, scrubbing her face with her hands and hiding behind her fingers. Was she really going to be able to convince them she had only the best of intentions? Did they trust her at all? Jasmine pushed her hands over her head and through the still growing stubble of brown hair. Despite whether they trusted her or not, she was still the de facto ambassador for the human race and she would keep her best foot forward. The small moment of resolve eased her confidence, allowing her to enjoy the rest of her bath. Jasmine emerged from the bathroom with a fluffy robe and a towel on her head, smothered in scented moisturizer of her namesake and other luscious potions that the yacht¡¯s previous owner saw fit to fill the vanity with. Xant sat on the end of her bed, snout buried in a dataslate. ¡°So..¡± Jasmine asked, leaning in the doorway ¡°What''s next?¡± ¡°We have to contact the lieutenant,¡± Xant replied factually and Jasmine''s stomach began buzzing with butterflies. ¡°Oh right, what are we going to say?¡± She crossed the room to the wardrobe to pick out some fresh clothes. ¡°We tell him only what he needs to know,¡± came the definitive answer, clearly Xant wasn¡¯t as happy with Nako as she was. She paused, flicking through blouses, had she been too hasty with her anger? Did Nako have an explanation for what happened with the pods? ¡°Tell him that you''re working on communication with your honourable counterparts but negotiations will need more time.¡± Xant continued, flicking through his dataslate with a determined purpose, Jasmine watched his actions and smiled. ¡°That is perfect corporate bullshit you just sprouted,¡± ¡°Having worked for a company nearly a [decade]¡± he reminded her, ¡°the ¡®bullshit¡¯ is almost instinctual now,¡± Jasmine laughed as she did the zip up on her shorts. ¡°Congratulations! You just used your first human curse word!¡± ¡°Actually it''s my second,¡± he revealed. Jasmine poked her head out of the walk in robe in shock. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xant looked up from his dataslate, looking pleased with himself ¡°I¡¯ve said ¡®Fuck¡¯ before,¡± ¡°No way?! And I wasn''t there?!¡± Jasmine exclaimed. ¡°Well you were unconscious at the time¡­¡± Jasmine walked out of the walk in and plopped herself next to her friend. ¡°Well, lay it on me!¡± she insisted ¡°I want to hear you say fuck!¡± Xant placed down his dataslate on his lap, turned to the human beside him and in the most bored expression he could manage uttered the most versatile word of english language. ¡°Fuck.¡± Jasmine giggled and fell back on the bed. ¡°Be careful, can¡¯t go around blasting that alright? You¡¯ll hurt someone...¡± ¡°No need for warnings, I am quite acquainted with its power Jasmine.¡± he retorted with a smile before returning to his dataslate. Jasmine sat up and leaned over his shoulder, she had misjudged her movements and was closer to him than she intended. He wasn''t as warm as she expected, his coat and suit were as if they had been placed over a chair, devoid of body heat. ¡°So we''re just going to send him a text message right?¡± ¡°Aud-files are standard communication, so you wont need to worry about your freq signals getting through,¡± Because the last thing they needed was Nako worrying about them. ¡°That''s a relief, so I just need to leave him a voicemail¡­ I can do that.¡± Xant set up the dataslate recording and point to the button. ¡°Just push this when you are ready to record the message,¡± Jasmine took hold of the slate, and took a deep breath. Namegiver Jasmine: Hello Nako! Just Jasmine checking in, the company really did a number on the guys, it might take longer than I thought to get them on side, but nothing I can''t handle, good luck with everything on your end! Live long and prosper! She stopped the recording and gave another sigh of relief, ¡°Ugh i hate making voice calls¡­¡± Xant, however, was staring back at her. ¡°How¡­ Did you do that?¡± he asked. ¡°What the phone call?¡± ¡°No¡­ you sounded happy, but I could feel the pulses tensing in pain, your demeanor was completely different from your Freq signal¡­¡± he sounded so concerned. Jasmine blinked, ¡°Oh right¡­¡± she handed the dataslate back, he hadn''t seen her lie before, then again, she didnt need to lie to him, ¡°It''s just an act, from back on earth, without a freq signal, you can mask your true emotions, pretend to be courageous when you''re scared, pretend to be pleasant when you''re angry inside¡­ Its hard to get right.¡± the best way she knew how to explain it without scaring him, she had done enough of that already. Xant ran a hand over his ears, deep in thought. ¡°You can mask your outward appearance, but not your internal thoughts,¡± he nodded to himself, ¡°This is probably why it is so hard for you to control your freq presence, since you¡¯ve been taught by your own people to do the exact opposite all your life.¡± Jasmine had never thought of it that way, of course, up until a few months ago Freq wasn''t something she thought about at all. ¡°With this new insight, I might be able to further our meditation sessions.¡± Xant theorised. ¡°Hey, do you think we should invite Ryo in on a session?¡± she asked him ¡°I mean, he needs to control his freq even more than I do¡­¡± Xants ears flattened at the mention of the other human. ¡°I am willing to teach, do you think he is willing to listen?¡± Jasmine rubbed her face. ¡°... I dont know¡­¡± Disparity -Chapter 28: Consideration of Court Lieutenant Commander Sir Tar Nako paced in his quarters, his pressed blue cape billowed behind him as he crossed the length of the room and his food was left untouched. His modest living quarters filled with treasures and achievements seemed all but paltry now that he knew what was before him. The grand visions he had for his future were tumbling down a dark hole and out of his grasp, it wasn¡¯t supposed to be this way. Things were not going to plan at all. He had captured a Rajavan vessel and claimed it as his prize of acquisition, only for the short-sighted Knight Commander to scream that he did not chase after the pirates who were salvaging it. At the time he felt it was the right decision, a dozen pirate ships scattering in all directions of the void or an entire gene-harvester ship (mostly) intact and ripe for study? The reveal of the alien Creator level species onboard only confirmed his judgement correct, if he had chased after such pirates the creator would have slipped into the unknown, lost as so many other things in the painful dynasty. Nako thought such a precious find would have elevated his status to at least admirable, but it appeared the Councillor had an even lower opinion of him than Knight Commander Kotorn did. Which shouldn¡¯t have been possible really, unless sir Kotorn was whistling only the least flattering songs into the Councillors ear. That was a possibility, Nako did prefer to lead by example and those below him were enamoured, while those above saw such fraternising as wasteful. Soldiers didnt need to be happy, they just needed to complete their orders. Perhaps the Councillors opinion could be changed once Nako could explain his side of the argument. He had the audfiles of Kotorn demanding the selling of the Humans stasis pods and the humans themselves with his own voices of protest. Nako slowed his pacing, glancing over at the ¡®Brazillian¡¯ tapestry that hung alongside his others. The Counsellor had not yet met the humans, wondrous creatures who could weave their emotions like music and who could not live without being surrounded by art. Jasmine was a fine civilised maiden, while her looks were much to be desired for an insectoid such as himself, she could bring any sapient being into her fold with her mere presence and sincerity of empathy. The counsellor, as powerful as he may be, probably couldn¡¯t withstand such a charismatic Frequency. Nako chittered to himself, stroking his mandibles in thought. Bring anyone into her fold, except him of course. While he was happy to stand by her side as an ally, he did not succumb to serve under her as most did. Great allies they would be, with her burning song and his righteous strength they could bring in a new Dynasty to the Galactic Council. New Dynasties were always sworn in on the discovery of something monumental, his own people were the cause of the shift from Painful to Rejuvenation and now he would be responsible for the next shift. Nako could feel his Calling beckoning him ever stronger and louder towards his fate. His name alongside the Praetors and Princes of history, rescuing an alien maiden strong enough to invigorate a new crusade. Now he was laughing to himself. If Engine lord Viitoic was proposing was true, they would need all the help they could get. The Rajava were returning, with all the power the humans have and probably more. Now he just had to convince the Counsellor of that. His spiralling visions of grandeur were interrupted by the comms device on his regalias collar, it blinked a pale blue as Tifera¡¯s voice echoed through the translator. Captain Tifera: Sire, permission to enter? Nako looked over at his uneaten meal, and rolled his shoulders back, a hand over his collar button. ¡°Permission granted,¡± he replied and turned to face the door. Captain Tifera was a hulking military-grade Zenthi model, a messenger class to be exact, so while she stood shorter than her infantry counterparts, there was no better match in Freq projection or speed. Perfect for serving side by side with a Lieutenant Commander. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. She came carrying two large silver suitcases, one under each of her already hulking arms, she could barely fit through the already generously sized door. Tifera had smuggled out some of the many human weapons the engine lord had dismissed as inferior on his command. She placed them down before him and opened them for inspection. ¡°Are these to your liking, my lord?¡± Tifera asked stoically. Nako gazed over the dazzling pieces of machinery, each one completely different to the other in size shape and colour. Their art even extended to weapons of war, a thrilling aspect to be sure, he nodded his head in approval. ¡°Its not a matter of if theyre to my liking, but if they are to his,¡± Nako replied, implicating the largest unknown factor of their current situation. ¡°Are you sure you want to gift a praetor inferior weaponry?¡± Tifera inquired, her long antennae-like ears upon her head flattening in concern. ¡°Inferior doesn¡¯t mean less deadly,¡± Nako responded, picking up a piece of the brass-plated ammunition and weighing it between his fingers, ¡°I¡¯m sure a demonstration of the device in the hands of an experienced warrior could tell us otherwise,¡± Humans had surprised all of them in the most profound ways, Nako was willing to stake his life that there was more to the projectile weaponry that had simply been overlooked, ¡°besides, it¡¯s not power I¡¯m gifting his Honour, its rarity¡­¡± Nako gave a silent order to close the cases, Tifera bowed her head before acknowledging and fulfilling the request. ¡°I¡¯m sure the praetor will appreciate your gift, Sire,¡± she complimented his forethought. ¡°Yes, my gift¡­¡± Nako returned his arm beneath his cape, passing the bullet between his fingers unseen as he returned to pace, ¡°Any word on which Praetor requested my presence?¡± ¡°Not officially, no,¡± Tifera responded, ¡°but I can tell you the closest Royal ship that requested gate access,¡± Tifera was good at that, knowing what to look for outside the basic parameters, only an experienced and seasoned soldier was capable of such things, which is why Nako preferred to have those under him loyal. ¡°Proceed,¡± Nako replied as he paced. ¡°The ship¡¯s name is ¡®Star-Needle¡¯. Registration number 0127538, the ship belonging to His esteemed Honour Sir Mal Karakt, first Praetor of her Imperial Grace Akkaritia,¡± Tifera answered solemnly, the gravitas of the name stopped Nako in his tracks. A first Praetor, the favourite mate of an imperial queen, certainly not the usual ambassadors the imperium sent out to inspect novelties such as himself. ¡°And you are sure of this information?¡± Nako¡¯s composure slipped as he asked for clarification. Tifera bowded her head low as she confirmed her answer, ¡°Cross checked the logs myself, my lord,¡± Praetors, those blessed individuals who sired the next generation of life within the imperium, most never left their queens¡¯ side without express permission. First¡¯s especially so, since they held such close and personal bonds with their queen. To have such a free reigning Praetor have heard his name? To have requested his audience specifically? Such events were, more than astronomical, they were downright mythical. And the universe once again aligned the stars for him. ¡°Perhaps he was simply the closest ship in the area?¡± Nako rationalised out loud, trying to squash any hopes from burgeoning out of the darkness, but Tifera asked the unspoken. ¡°My lord¡­¡± The gruff captains voice was low, a rare moment of vulnerability as she asked, ¡°If the Praetor offers you a chance at presenting yourself to court, would you take it?¡± Nako paused, his back to her. ¡°If it were offered, yes,¡± he answered truthfully, of a thousand males born there was born but one maiden, Princes of far nobler a birth would throw themselves into gauntlets just to prove worthy of consideration, ¡°but, my time with the rangers is not something I look at with scorn,¡± he returned to face her on his path ¡°but IF I were to leave, I shall pay the credits necessary to balance your score,¡± Nako pulled back his cape and saluted his captain, ¡°I would have no other as my attendant,¡± Tifera bowed deeply, her cold exterior pulsing with waves of gratitude. ¡°You are far too generous my lord,¡± ¡°I am pragmatic captain, I¡¯d rather be followed than feared,¡± he shook his head, and laughed ¡°besides, I highly doubt the Praetor would present me at court, he¡¯d have over a dozen sons at least! Far better candidates than I!¡± The tension settled between the two, Tifera pushed the crates to one side while Nako took a seat at his terminal. There was one last matter they needed to deal with, although he had hoped the situation did not need his intervention. A notification sat waiting for him. Nako sighed, never a moments peace or reflection these days, he tapped the screen and waited for the computer to relay the message. The bubbly voice was a welcome sound. Namegiver Jasmine: Hello Nako! Just Jasmine checking in, the company really did a number on the guys, it might take longer than I thought to get them on side, but nothing I can''t handle, good luck with everything on your end! Live long and prosper! Longer than she thought hmmm, Nako had planned to visit Jasmine and run her through more etiquette lessons, between the alien weapons and an alien maiden Nako wanted to put forth his best impression tp the Preator of their uniqueness. ¡°I suppose I shall give her the space she needs,¡± Nako muttered out loud for Tifera to hear, ¡°What are the standing orders for interaction with the humans?¡± ¡°Currently Sire, they are no contact outside the Engine Lord, even you are barred from contact outside direct orders.¡± Came the reply, as though she had the answer prepared. ¡°Well then,¡± Nako relaxed his shoulders, ¡°then I suppose I should abide protocols then,¡± Nako pressed the terminal¡¯s screen and recorded his reply. LC Nako: Namegiver Jasmine, I want to thank you for the status report, while it is unfortunate that your progress is slow I have every confidence that you can undo the ill that has burrowed under their shell. Should you require my presence please do not hesitate to send a request, I shall answer once my duties allow me to do so. May your calling be clear. Disparity - Chapter 29: Hurts to Remember Jasmine walked down the halfway repeating a calming mantra in her head, trying to imagine the waves of the beach as she approached Ryo¡¯s door. The yacht was giant, enough to have a small ball room on one of the lower decks, so naturally Ryo had chosen a room on the complete opposite end of the ship to her. She thought it was probably so that their frequencies couldnt interfere with each other, he was the only other human with a translator and his frequency always seemed to prickle and crash against hers when they were in the same vicinity. It was just easier when they were far, easier to think and easier to sleep that way too. The ocean in her mind gently lapped at the shore, the subtle sounds of sand and surf pulled from her memory calmed her. Jasmine took a deep breath but hesitated before knocking in the door, she didn''t want to come on too strong or bubbly, even though a day had past the tension was still thick in the air. She wanted to extend the olive branch. Maybe it was too soon? She took another deep breath to stop second guessing herself when Ryo¡¯s sharp voice rattled in her head. ¡°I can sense you¡¯re(Bright/annoying) there,¡± he informed her, then adjusting his tone to a softer one, ¡°what do you want(of me)?¡± Jasmine pulled back her hand, the sadness and hurt still lingered in his mind. It felt so lonely. ¡°I wanted to ask you something,¡± she answered with her own inner voice, leaning with her back against the wall, ¡°would you be willing to join a meditation session with Xant and me?¡± She paused for an answer, and when she didn¡¯t get one she added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to, I just thought I¡¯d ask if you wanted to try some of the new ¡®upgrades¡¯, make the best of a bad situation¡­(that you never asked for.)¡± Jasmine closed her eyes and tried to feel for the subtleties in his aura, curiosity and excitement flickered in his response. ¡°What kind of powers?¡± he asked, small flashes of posed hands and childlike imagination peered through the gloom. ¡°Oh, uhh,¡± truth be told she wasn''t expecting him to reach out for the idea so suddenly, she was sure she was going to have to try harder to bring him on side, but progress was better than not! ¡°well, for starters we can sense where other people are, we can change other peoples emotions and do other things with our telepathy, if were good enough we can swap memories and emotions or block them out entirely, at least that¡¯s what Xant is teaching me now-¡± The last suggestion created such a strong reaction Jasmine had to step back from the door. Her body became overwhelmed with energy, an unobtainable opportunity presented before her, the gasp of a last hope in her throat as Ryo¡¯s door sung right open. ¡°You can block out memories?¡± he demanded an answer, an honest answer. The hoodie that usually obscured him pulled away enough that Jasmine stood face to face with the young man. His eyes were the colour of fresh chipped slate and filled with expressions betrayed by the translator. She allowed her answer to seep through her body, her shoulders relaxed, a hand raised to hold her arm and her ocean drew in. ¡°Yeah,¡± she voiced it outloud, so he could hear as well as feel, ¡°I blocked some stuff to help me sleep better at night,¡± The echo of horrors had faded, but she had not allowed herself to forget completely. As the ocean withdrew, still air surrounded her and gentle snow fell in the back of her mind. Those haunted eyes, that were so, so tired smiled back at her. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied, ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± The hostility had eased enough she wasn¡¯t afraid to smile back, it was like she had offered him the solution to all his problems. Then again, she very well might have done. -*- Xant had spent the last half hour or so setting up his room for the meditation session, the space needed to be clear of any distracting items, but he was finding that impossible with human surroundings. Pillows and cushions on the floor, drinks of water for his human companions, and he was beginning to think he may just have to throw white sheets over everything else. He had already pushed the bed and desk to one side of the room and wondered why there needed to be so many superfluous chairs and even smaller less useful table sides to accompany them. While he admitted the decorations were pretty, they did little to lighten his mood like they did jasmine, so he tucked them away in the endless walkin. The minimalist space reminded him of his hab room back on Uleesia, minus the red coloured plants of his formative years. Satisfied with the space he had created, Xant made himself comfortable and soothed his own inner voice. ¡°Xant? You in there?¡± Jasmine had returned with Ryo in tow, Xant had of course felt the pair returning, humans were like beacons in the dark, others naturally flocked to their signal. The human male stiffened as he entered the room behind jasmine and laid eyes on Xant. The doctor looked up and refused to advert his gaze, while they had been in the room together many times this was the first time Ryo had acknowledged Xant in any sort of capacity. Defensive, cold and dark, it was strange for Xant to feel such a frequency and deny its interference, his strength had grown in ways he¡¯d not noticed, a reflection on his former self. Ryo withdrew his leer, pulling down his hood further while Jasmine awkwardly folded her legs underneath herself sitting besides Xant. Ryo copied Jasmine, sitting cross legged but looking way more comfortable in doing so. ¡°So, she (miss sunshine) says you can help me block memories,¡± The human stated, inviting Xant to interpret it as a question. Xant looked at Jasmine who shrugged unhelpfully. ¡°Youre better at explaining it than I am,¡± She chuckled nervously. ¡°I suppose it would be irresponsible of me to assume you could define lessons you have not yet mastered, Jasmine.¡± ¡°Ouch, but fair,¡± ¡°But you said you could block memories to help you sleep, can you do that or not?¡± Ryo demanded, Jasmine deflected. ¡°I can block my memories, some of the time (alcohol helps too though)¡± Ryo¡¯s frequency aggression began to pulse out, Xant was quick to step in and distract him. ¡°You can block memories, once you¡¯ve learned how to control them, but its not what I would advise on a first session,¡± He explained to Ryo. Ryo leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees while his hands held his chin and mouth from view. ¡°So what do you suggest for a first session?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Oh,¡± Jasmine interrupted sheepishly, wiggling her fingers, ¡°will you need to uhh, stick you fingers in his ear?¡± ¡°What?¡± came the alarmed question. Xant realised that Jasmine had not been entirely upfront with Ryo about how the mediation sessions were conducted. The bond of trust between he and Jasmine on their first session had had weeks to form, Ryo was at best, dismissive of Xant and that did not make for a great connection. But, the young prince had not flown off in a fury, he was still there willing to listen. Xant calmly removed his gloves and showed the other human his nerve tendrils, extending them out past his finger tips. ¡°While we can speak and feel freely through the translator, it has many filtering and safety measures built within it. To have a pure, unaltered connection we need to join nerve endings. But, I have not tried to join since Jasmine altered my brain,¡± and made him more human, a condition Xant was ever unsure of. ¡°If it means we can block out my memories, I¡¯m willing to give it a try,¡± Ryo admitted. ¡°I commend you on your determination,¡± Xant complemented, rising from his seat to take one next to the human. Ryo looked nervously at the aliens tendrils as they twisted and twitched in the air. ¡°Its easier of you close your eyes,¡± Jasmine offered the advice, Ryo was quick to take it. ¡°I¡¯ll need you first to quieten your mind,¡± Xant instructed, raising his hand to Ryo¡¯s ear, ¡°find your most happy memory, one where you are at peace,¡± While Jasmine had to actively concentrate to find ¡®the beach¡¯, Ryo¡¯s outer interference disappeared quickly, the gloomy presence melted away to a stillness. Xant carefully and slowly matched the quiet of Ryo¡¯s mind, threading the nerves into his ear and soon, out of that quiet an image began to emerge... It was a clear and starry night, the moon made the fresh snow glow. He stood in the snow, warm clothes, cold face. Gentle, peaceful, silence. An old memory, a dear memory, Ryo was so much smaller in this image than the one that sat beside Xant. Small, innocent, happy. Ryo stood between two figures, holding each of their hands. His mothers long black hair and smiling face, His fathers tall figure and the red burn of a cigarette. The security and love of family. Ryo squeezed their hands tighter. ¡°This is your centre,¡± Xant guided, ¡°How you perceive the world, and how others feel you in it-¡± But Ryo¡¯s grip on the memory became tighter, time froze, the silence turned from peaceful to stagnant. Desperately trying to hold it in place, unchanging, eternal. Xant tried to ease his grip. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be focused so tightly,¡± he warned, drawing on the falling snow as an example, ¡°it needs to be the whole memory not a single frame,¡± But Ryo¡¯s grip became painful¡­ he looked up at his mum, her smiling face. Her smile became a blank stare when she talked on the phone to no one. A mask to hide her desperation when he asked her what was wrong. An answer she gave when her first answer it wasn¡¯t enough. He held her wrists, his small hands could barely wrap around them. She had scrubbed the floor so hard her fingers were bleeding. That awful smile on her lips when she told him it was to make sure the bugs didn''t come back. He didn¡¯t want to live with bugs all over him, did he? Ryo looked to his father. The man became so tall he couldn''t see his face any more, he couldn''t meet his gaze without fear, without pain. He didn¡¯t dare look at the shadows in his fathers eyes. ¡°You better not turn out like her,¡± The cigarette smoke added bitterness to his voice, the fire burnt so harshly. ¡°Weak,¡± There was no longer a face on the man before him. Long dark fingers coiled around his throat. A clench fist sunk into his stomach. He sat in the cold of a classroom, entrance exam before him. The snow fell gently outside, the last of winters grasp. He lifted his pencil, and went to write his answer. But he couldn¡¯t read the paper. It was crawling with beetles. No one else had noticed, if he spoke out hed be expelled, he¡¯d ruin his future. But there were too many bugs on his hands. He needed to get them off, they wouldn¡¯t go away¡­ He raised his pencil, and aimed for one on the center of his hand- The memory broke, shattered to pieces as the pain shot through them. Ryo ripped himself away, clamoring backwards, sweat pouring down his face, heart racing in his chest. His aura returning to the disgusted dark cloud. ¡°I said I wanted to block those memories!¡± he cried ¡°Not relive them!¡± Xant lay still on the floor, trying to sort out the memories running through him. What was his, and what was Ryo¡¯s what was a dream and what had occurred. It melded into each other without rhyme or reason, he had been taken again by the human memories and swallowed whole. Jasmine¡¯s warm presence brought him back to reality, lifting him up from the floor, her fingers screamed with concern, blocking out the Freq-aggression Ryo was flinging at them both in full force. ¡°Are you alright Xant?¡± her voice a whisper, holding back the power of her panic. He raised a hand over hers. ¡°I will be Jasmine,¡± he reassured her and stood on his own two feet and tail. ¡°Whatever!-¡± Ryo exclaimed, wiping frustrated tears away. He jumped off the floor, trying to run from the room, but crashed straight into Beau. ¡°What on earth is going on in here?¡± the mountain of a man asked, he peered in and pulled a puzzled expression, ¡°ya¡¯ll having a party without me?¡± Panic rushed into Ryo, as he quickly tried to deny it. ¡°Nothing happened-¡± ¡°Were trying to suppress awful memories,¡± Jasmine offered an explination, ¡°but they¡¯re too fresh to contain in the moment,¡± ¡°Suppress memories huh?¡± Beaus eyes looked between Xant and the flustered Ryo, clearly not liking the situation he had stumbled upon. Beau lowered himself to be eye to eye with Xant, ¡°is that a service or a feature?¡± ¡°Its an option,¡± Jasmine replied firmly, standing between Beau and Xant, a barrier to protect her friend, ¡°Xant wasn¡¯t doing anything Ryo didn''t ask for.¡± she answered a question Beau had not asked and Xant was once again forced to realise there was more going on that what was being said. Beau stood slowly, towering over Jasmine, the hard line of his gaze looking her over and she stared harshly back. The bright, warm glow became frantic but she did not step back or let her eyes waver. Freq would not work on Beau, he had clear size, experience and skill over her, but she stood her ground all the same to protect Xant from him. Did Beau see what Xant had done to Ryo as a threat? Did it cross some cultural Taboo Xant wasn''t privy to yet? ¡°Tsk,¡± The sigh escaped Beaus teeth, in a moment the tension was gone, a small laugh followed. ¡°Geeze girl, what do you think I¡¯m gonna do? I was just worried is all, you talking about suppressing memories, thats some scary stuff...¡± He stepped to the side of Jasmine not backing down but desecellating his approach, ¡°but if you say its safe then, I want him to have a look,¡± ¡°A look?¡± ¡°Yeah, shouldn¡¯t be too hard right?¡± Beau tapped his forehead and waited for her to relay the message. ¡°Do to me, what you did to him, I¡¯ll be the judge on if its what he asked for,¡± Xant began to worry about humans and wanting memories erased, what horrible experiences could Beau be hiding? Was human warfare as strenuous as their own galactic war front? ¡°In a moment,¡± Xant told Jasmine, ¡°once I¡¯ve calmed down...¡± Jasmine furrowed her brow with concern. ¡°You don¡¯t have to push yourself Xant, I don¡¯t want you going comatose on me again,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Jasmine,¡± He said, steeling his nerves for whatever beau had waiting for him. Without a translator Xant had no choice but to join with Beau, his nerves tickling the large man ear as they slid inside the calm... Sweltering hot day, cool sweet tea, the laughter of friends and family, the soft fur of a friend on his lap. The happy memory contrasted with the dark Endless stretch of desert, the air burnt his lips and nose, it cracked his skin. Blood stained the sand, screams filled the air, fire burned. Heavy, hot, strangling. Dead eyes, empty shells, small bodies. Beau stood and watched. Xant tried to draw away, the images, the memories he saw gruesome, but he felt nothing. No memory was that clear and yet so hollow. Like it wasnt whole. The man stood apart from his memories, as though they weren¡¯t his but he was holding them within him. Was this what he wanted to show Xant? ¡®I don¡¯t remember a lot of it¡¯ Beaus voice spoke, ¡®its probably best I dont¡± the soldier stood and waited, staring at Xant, waiting for a reply. Xant breathed out slowly, feeling the challenge the human had presented him, the transference of memories was like second nature to them, thankfully, he had recently received an abundance of practice. Xant unfurled his own dark memories and showed the human. The empty eyes of the Vassal stared back at Beau, hollow and hungry. The fear for his life, the screams of his companions, the acid and the inches that stood between Xant and the death threatening to swallow him. The dread and the dark, the hopelessness and fragility, washed away by the river at their feet. Xant sat amongst the grass, admiring the beauty of its construction, the arrangement of the stars and the sounds of the station around him. ¡®I am not your enemy, through misstep and misunderstanding I shall be paitent¡¯ Xant sat on the black sand beach, watching the colours change with Jasmine, smiling beside him, ¡®just as you have been painted with me,¡¯ Xants hand pulled away slowly, Beau quickly put his finger into his ear and twisted away the sensation. ¡°Jasmine,¡± Beau stood, his voice gravely quiet, ¡°tell your friend I meant no disrespect, but I understand him a little better now, hes not as alien as the others.¡± Jasmine nodded, worry welling in her throat. ¡°Ryo,¡± Beau turned to the boy, who had made himself apart of the wall, ¡°don¡¯t go looking for quick fixes¡­¡± Ryo nodded silently, and watched as Beau left the room. ¡°Xant?...¡± Jasmine held her friends hand. He squeezed her fingers back. Human¡¯s care deeply for those close to them, they care so deeply it causes them and their loved ones pain. Xant understood it better now, they were small of number and barely knew each other, but the desire for connection was still there. The desire to protect those they cared about, to preserve what was human. ¡°I¡¯m alright Jasmine, I can stand,¡± his ears twitched as he gave her a side smile, ¡°but I would not be opposed to a drink,¡± Disparity - Chapter 30: A History Lesson Jasmine and Xant sat comfortably on his bedroom floor, the events of the morning meditation had allowed them to take most of the day to rest and recuperate, well, for Xant to rest and recoup, Jasmine hovered to ensure her friend didn¡¯t need for anything. ¡°I really am fine Jasmine,¡± Xant reassured her for the thousandth time, ¡°I¡¯m becoming quite resilient to the terrible thoughts you humans insist on keeping in your memory banks,¡± ¡°You say that as if it¡¯s our prerogative¡­¡± Jasmine replied, sitting on a cushion. ¡°Prerogative? maybe not, but it certainly is becoming an accumulating factor,¡± Xant retorted playfully. Jasmine shook her head with a smile, if he was able to make snarky comments then he wasn''t suffering from VEFS anymore. The doctor pointed to his large steel carrying case, while removing his signature white coat. ¡°Would you be able to gather the data-slates? One for yourself and I,¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Jasmine agreed and opened the Essander corp case, pulling out two of the four slates from snug foam inserts, handing both to Xant for him to activate. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to teach me how to read the standard galactic text,¡± she stated, watching the alien tablet¡¯s icons flicker across the screen. ¡°In time,¡± he answered, pressing the required icons for the tablet to sync up with their translators, ¡°its not entirely necessary at this stage though, the voice commands should work just fine for what you need,¡± Jasmine frowned, not entirely convinced of his statement. ¡°Standard galactic is a complicated text written several thousand years ago for original strain Qzetillian,¡± Xant further explained, ¡°there is no intuitive way for humans to read it other than learning the language outright¡± ¡°So?¡± Jasmine asked, ¡°teach me that then, humans are pretty good at learning languages. Funny though how you have everything else standardised yet have your written text esoteric,¡± Xant shook his head and chuckled to himself. ¡°The Council still uses it as standard because most software written before the Painful Dynasty still runs on it, but when the translator is so much more efficient in conveying messages, the written word is more a nuisance for the day to day lives of citizens.¡± Xant looked up to her as he passed her the booted up dataslate, ¡°I would be happy to teach you regardless, but when we have more time.¡± Jasmine sighed, took the tablet, found a comfortable cushion and thought about her questions. She had her own phone lined up beside her, she needed to know more about the history of the council. The pressed the green icon of GC banner, a ringed planet surrounded by several moons and felt the dataslate connect to her translator directly, like pressure in her ear popping. ¡°Welcome to Civnet¡± The pleasant gender-neutral voice echoed in her head, ¡°what are you searching for today?¡± It was the same voice the doors and computer terminals used back on Uleesia station. ¡®I wonder whose voice they used?¡¯ she thought to herself, only for the dataslate to immediately answer: ¡°The voice used on all standard galactic council terminals was crafted by Doctor Eve¡¯ta Dule on day 35 third quarter year 12 of the Divided Dynasty, it was designed to be as pleasing as possible to all species so as to be easily integrated with the Universal Frequency Translator¡± Jasmine blinked, the computer knew exactly what information she wanted and how to deliver it to her, finally, an upgrade from the single program use tablets she had been given. ¡°How many Dynasties are there?¡± she asked the slate, it pinged pleasantly with the answer. ¡°There are 8 Dynasties recognised by the council: One, Heavens, Revelation, Prosperity, Divided, Painful, Salvation and Rejuvenation, we are currently in day 126 of the second quarter, year 182 of the Rejuvenation Dynasty.¡± She¡¯d heard the aliens use ¡®Dynasty¡¯ before, but back on earth that was for the families of kings and emperors, as far as she knew the council was a ¡®council¡¯. ¡°What constitutes the founding of a new dynasty?¡± Jasmine asked for clarification. ¡°A new Dynasty is proclaimed after an event that changes society irrevocably, it is often announced decades into said dynasty and backdated to the time of its inception,¡± The informational AI responded ¡°This is incredible,¡± Jasmine said outloud. ¡°Incredible?¡± Xant asked, looking up from his own work. ¡°I get it now, your tablets can only do one thing but they do that one thing incredibly well,¡± she held the delicate device tighter in her grip. ¡°It¡¯s what they¡¯re designed for,¡± Xant reminded her ¡°but I¡¯m glad you¡¯re excited.¡± What they¡¯re designed for. Jasmine remembered that the dataslate was biotech and probably a distilled brain, that¡¯s why it could answer her questions so intuitively. She tapped the back of the slate with her fingers and looked over at Xant, to distract herself from thinking her dataslate was a person. Even if it responded exactly like one. ¡°What are you researching?¡± ¡°Our conversation on judiciary concepts had me realise how much of my memory had been lost during my vassal incident, i aim to remedy that lost knowledge.¡± His ears lay flat and focused, ¡°it is prudent I know what happens to citizens who go rouge,¡± ¡°¡®They''re removed from the population¡¯,¡± Jasmine recalled, Xant nodded his head. ¡°...And found more ideal work environments, rouge citizens are cycled through job placement, before ending up in military facilities,¡± he answered relieved, ¡°It appears only those who can hide their deviancy and refuse society become pirates in the reclamation space,¡± ¡°So, they¡¯re rehabilitated and you can confirm that?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Xant smiled, ¡°but I will keep researching, there is a few circumstances I need to investigate,¡± he nodded his head back down to the slate, leaving Jasmine no longer with a distraction. It didn¡¯t feel right, referring to a voice without a name, even the rudimentary AI back home had names. Jasmine decided GC voice needed a name too, or at least a respectful designation. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Computer, How old is biotech?¡± ¡°Biotech has been practised since the One Dynasty, Qzetillian scientists discovered they could manipulate the DNA of their own offspring to accentuate traits. This extended to corals and cephalopods to grow larger dwellings structures, this is the first instance of genetic manipulation used to advance technology.¡± Jasmine was pleasantly relieved when the voice still answered her, even if it was a little silly, it was comforting putting a name to the voice. ¡°Computer, How did the Qzetillians discover genetic engineering?¡± ¡°The Qzetillian original strain, was an amphibious race who learned how to use the genetic structures to their advantage from the breeding pools and their translucent eggs. They used this observation to make their species stronger, smarter and longer living.¡± Well, that made sense, Laandi¡¯s skin was grey and super thin, its easier to notice how DNA works when you can see it. They must have dedicated their entire civilisation to genetics, that also explained why Laandi was ghast at how slow human progress on the matter was, they''d been doing it for millenia at that point! ¡°Computer, When was the council founded?¡± was the next question on Jasmine¡¯s mind. ¡°The current council was seated at the Rejuvenation Dynasty founding, 182 years ago, welcoming the Arvas as the 12th member to galactic standard,¡± Okay, that wasn¡¯t quite what she was asking, but it was a concise answer, Jasmine tried again with a bit more detail. ¡°Computer, How old is the Council as a system of government?¡± ¡°The Galactic Council was founded during the Prosperity dynasty, after 285 planets (on record) and as many species were met exploring the local star cluster. The council was proposed so that every species could have their grievances heard, trade negotiated and the future of the galaxy discussed on equal footing. Note, while it is documented in the audfiles, many species and planets were lost in the Painful dynasty.¡± ¡°Computer, How many species are apart of the council today?¡± ¡°There are 12 recognised species active in the council today, four at creator level, five at modifier level and three at user level.¡± Qzetillians, the greys, Sulins giant lizards, Zenthi, psychic anteaters and the insect Arvas were all Creator level, she had seen a few other aliens aboard Nako¡¯s ship, but she didn¡¯t really get to interact with them. From 285 to just 12, the devastation was harrowing. ¡°Computer, What is the name of species who are tall and with white fur coats and black eyes?¡± The soldiers who had escorted her through the tube system, the ones Rynard had called ¡®Vat fresh¡¯. ¡°The Savori, Modifer level, original habitat an arctic moon, the Savori¡¯s most outstanding feature was their ability to communicate via raido waves,¡± ¡°What are the names of the other Galactic council Races?¡± ¡°Crenek Modifier, Khiitarish Modifier, Lobodi Modifier, Falmanaus Modifier, Umin¡¯gi User, Lilii User and Talphor User,¡± It was like having a pokedex on different alien species, soon to add two more in the sway, humans and dogs. She¡¯d have to take the time to learn everyone of them. ¡°Computer, What are the goals of the council?¡± ¡°The Council¡¯s current goal is the rebuilding of the galaxy to its prosperity dynasty productivity. Restoration is at 32% former levels, gaining .2% each year, projected completion in 340 years,¡± Jasmine put the tablet down in her lap. These people were centuries away from where they wanted to be, she recalled the hologram in Laandi¡¯s office, the hundreds of glittering planets, they wanted to restore all of that to before the war. If the size and the scope of what they were trying to do could be believed, it was phenomenal... She looked over at Xant, engrossed in his own work. Built for a specific purpose, they had the technology to build him exactly how they wanted, on a ¡®cost effective¡¯ scale. Would they stop doing so once they had achieved their goal? Were they building a better future for people like him? Jasmine put down her tablet and moved to sit beside her friend. ¡°Hey,¡± she said softly, hugging her knees as she sat, ¡°Did you find the circumstances you were looking for?¡± Xant tapped on his dataslate, sharing the link with her translator. ¡°I believe so yes,¡± his voice was equally as soft, ¡°Research seems to indicate that many instances of deviant behaviour arises from stress accrued from the environment, mental capacities over estimated or underestimated from training testing. Its actually a far more common occurrence than I realised, affecting nearly 1 in 50,000 citizens¡­¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Jasmine pondered, ¡°thats actually really high,¡± ¡°It is,¡± Xant confirmed, ¡°Under stimulated citizens were quickly rehabilitated with more challenging work, trained to take on more responsibilities or more complicated equipment, while over-stressed individuals respond well to lower capacity work, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± Jasmine prompted, ¡°But the most in demand low capacity work is in shipping logistics, the report ends quite abruptly, suggesting that over stressed individuals be sent to sites with high military surveillance, but the conclusion appears to be on Milnet instead of Civnet.¡± Xant sighed disappointed. ¡°I mean, I get it,¡± Jasmine reasoned ¡°If shipping is anything like it is back on Earth, its long boring hours watching the goods be currioured, shouldn''t be too complex until you get into port-¡± ¡°If you ever make it to port,¡± Xant interrupted, his ears and tail stood on end, Jasmine had to jump back as his whole body became stiff, the rippling swells of his Freq lashing out. ¡°What is it Xant?¡± she asked, worried about his mental state, he was still adjusting to human levels of emotion. ¡°Pirates, thats why theres so many pirates in the Reclamation,¡± he jumped to his feet, angry at himself for not realising it sooner, ¡°they were literally sending rouge citizens to work the logistic routes, without proper monitoring they''d be in the best position to desert or join an armada with a ship and cargo on board. Why would they determine that to be a solution at any stage of the process? Why was it even considered as an option?¡± ¡°Are pirates that big of a problem?¡± Jasmine asked. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xant almost growled under his breath, not as jasmine but at the sheer audacity of the society planners thought process ¡°Nako was hunting Pirates when he found you, its what this whole military facility exists to do, to protect the fragile peace from those who would ravage it. Ships carrying life sustaining goods to establishing planets are targeted relentlessly by pirates who cannot produce the goods themselves,¡± The doctor was quite heated about the subject. ¡°So they have to make soldiers to stop them, which is more pressure on the GC resources, which then dont get used in restoring planets,¡± Jasmine figured out loud, holding her knees tighter. Greater politics, the stuff that happened in the background that she wasnt privy to, yet still impacted her life. ¡°Exactly,¡± Xant ran both hands over his ears, shuddering his tail from its tension, ¡°compounded with Pirate princesses from the Imperium, we¡¯ll soon be fighting over inhabitable planets with rouges and we¡¯ve had enough war.¡± Enough war, Jasmine understood that stance well enough. ¡°Princesses are like me, right? Super powerful Freq users, emotional too?¡± She¡¯d been referred as one countless times by other Arvas, imagining someone like herself on the war path and how much damage she could do if she wanted to. ¡°Deathly so,¡± Xant confirmed ¡°and thankfully small in number, but when one goes rouge it is usually of great loss to the imperium. They can sway entire armadas with them, swarms onto themselves loyal to their Princess, pray to The One they don¡¯t take a maiden with them and start their own lineage,¡± It was fascinating listening, there were so many moving parts to the world outside the Military Branch, Jasmine wondered if she would be able to see them once the negotiations were done. ¡°Wait, maidens and princesses aren''t the same thing?¡± she asked. ¡°No, maidens are fertile and become queens, Princesses loose fertility for the sake of amplified Frequency control, often a Princess chooses a suitor for a maiden, but Princesses lead the imperium colonies,¡± Jasmine could feel herself reaching information overload, rubbing her temples. A lot of how she was being treated made sense now, why Dr Jess and the others on Uleesia station were so worried about her ¡®going rogue¡¯, Why Nako was so nice to her and how quickly they had her moved to a military facility, they had precedent for this sorta thing. ¡°You know, I think we making good progress, a lot more things have started to make sense,¡± Jasmine relaxed a little, ¡°I¡¯m starting to see the bigger picture, and its a hell of a picture,¡± Xant folded his arms behind his back and tilted his head in acknowledgement. ¡°It is, but one we are starting to get the grasp of,¡± Xant walked over and lifted his dataslate from off the floor, ¡°The last answer to my questions only just out of reach,¡± he offered Jasmine a hand to help her off the floor, a fond smile in his eyes ¡°We¡¯ll have to arrange with the Lieutenant to get access to the Milnet.¡± ¡°And whats the question?¡± Jasmine asked as she reached for his hand, Xant answered with determination in his voice. ¡°Where do military grade altered citizens, such as myself, get stationed?¡± Disparity - Chapter 31: Psychic Damage (NSFW) Ryo didn¡¯t want to open his eyes. His body felt like lead, his brain caught in a vice, slowly squeezing his brain to the point of torture. He¡¯d had migraines like this before and they were never pleasant, to deal with, let alone face the outside world at the same time, but he had exhausted his resistance, his stomach and bladder screamed at him, one to be filled the other desperate to be emptied. ¡®Can¡¯t even face the day, coward¡­¡¯ The voice hissed at him, a whisper in his ear and a knot in his chest. Ryo forced his body to move, dragging his legs over the bedside before he finally pried open his eyes. The dark of his bedroom gave the shadows more license to move, they shifted and slid without sound from the corner of the room to the corner of his eye. Always there, never welcome. He decided to kill two birds with one shower, water to drink and a place to piss. He felt around for the taps but not the light switch, even the brightness from the window was enough to cause painful pulses behind his eyes. The hot water hit his skin and did nothing to relieve the pressure in his head, yet Ryo stood there hoping in vain that it would change. He let the water flow over his face and drip into his mouth. It stank of chlorine and tasted of plastic. Old water, stagnate water, tank water that¡¯s been sitting for god knows how long. ¡®Just perfect for you¡­¡¯ the voice jeered again. Ryo closed his eyes even in the dark, he was forced to hear the truth, he didn''t have to look at it. He haphazardly threw on a dark t-shirt, sweatpants and hoodie, pulling over the hood to keep his head warm, before heading down to the kitchen, to search for some paracetamol. No drawer in the stainless steel room was left unopened, in the end, he found some forgotten blister pack of ibuprofen, 6 tablets left in the tab. It wasn¡¯t exactly what he wanted, but it was better than nothing, either they did work (anti-inflammatory relieving the pressure in his head or relaxing the tension) or the placebo effect would get him through. He swallowed them dry and shoved the blister pack back into his pocket. Ryo stood in the kitchen for a few seconds, trying to decide his next move, he didn¡¯t want to go back into his bedroom with the shadows jeering at him all day. Then he remembered the speakers up on deck. Little Miss Sunshine had an entire band set up plugged in, amps base and everything, he figured he could find some sort of music to play and help him drown out the world around him. Ryo shuffled his way up the stairs without having to open his eyes more than necessary, it wasn¡¯t long before he met his first, big obstacle. ¡°Hey, Ryo!¡± Sunshine and Beau were already on deck. Even with his eyes closed, she was still too damn bright. She waved at him and said something, but his brain wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to any voice other than his own. Ryo contemplated turning around but he hated the shadows more than her, he''d just stay out of her reach until the migraine went away. He raised a hand in acknowledgement and walked through the bar to the speakers. She was still trying to talk to him, choosing a wide birth and no eye contact as his answer. Sunshine wisely took the hint and returned to talking to her alien sycophants. Ryo was left alone to inspect the sound system, a couple of the guitars lay in cases but a car stereo had been ripped out of a dashboard and placed neatly between the amps. Several CD files were splayed open, he searched through their contents. Everything was in English or Portuguese, smatterings of other international disks but nothing before 2010. Old tech, old songs. Ryo then decided if he couldn''t listen to his own music, he was going to listen to something loud. He picked something at random, a disk with blood, skulls and spikes on the cover and let it autoplay. Norwegian death metal shrilled in his ears, and it wasn¡¯t nearly as bad as he was expecting, but it was enough to drown out the latent words of the shadow. He sat back on one of the sunbeds on deck and finally took notice of what Beau and Sunshine were doing. Beau was shirtless, holding up padded gloves for Sunshine to hit. She was in a loose shirt and shorts throwing punches in time to the music. Beau was teaching her how to box while the aliens watched with amazement at the demonstration. Ryo gritted his teeth in disgust. It was fucking pathetic. What the hell were they doing? They were sitting on an alien spaceship, that they were free to explore and all they can think to do is stay on a yacht and pretend to punch each other¡­ It wasn¡¯t what he would do. He¡¯d seen the other items in the hangar, the fabricators, the crates of weapons, the fighter ships, just sitting there while dull alien scientists got them working again. It wouldn¡¯t take much force to take a ship, hell, if Sunshine asked they¡¯d probably just give it to her. But no, they were stuck playing pretend that everything was ¡®fine¡¯. ¡®Like you¡¯re any better¡­¡¯ the dark voice cackled, ¡®why haven¡¯t you taken a ship yet hmmm?¡¯ While the death metal band blasted themselves into a sick rift, Ryo turned the music up. The loudness itself didn¡¯t drown out the voice completely, but the ringing afterwards helped. Little Miss Sunshine stopped sparing and walked over to the speakers, turning it down enough that she could talk to him. ¡°Hey uhh, you doing okay?¡± she asked him. Ryo barely looked up. He felt like shit. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡± he lied, shrinking into himself on the deckchair. ¡°Oh, well, did you want to join us?¡± She offered him a set of gloves. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°No,¡± he lied again. ¡°Oh, okay well, if you change your mind¡­¡± she left the gloves on the floor beside him and walked back to the others. Ryo felt the wave of warmth fade as she turned around, it was a small reprieve from his headache, which was lost the moment she wasn¡¯t in range. The pain came flooding back and he rubbed his temples. The music level was low enough the voice began creeping back in. ¡®Coward¡­¡¯ it hissed, lingering in his ear, ¡®like you¡¯d have a chance anyway¡­¡¯ Ryo¡¯s eyes watched as Jasmine threw another punch into Beau¡¯s hand, as she changed stances, as her shorts shifted when they threw a punch. She wasn¡¯t shy about showing off her legs. He bet her thighs were soft. ¡®She¡¯d fuck the aliens before she¡¯d even touch you¡­¡¯ Ryo turned the music back up. He felt her before he saw her. The bright heat became like the unforgiving summer sun, determined to burn him for his digressions. Jasmine stormed over to the speakers and ripped a cable from an extension cord, the music died instantly and she threw the cord down in frustration. ¡°What?!¡± she demanded, hands on her hips and slightly out of breath. Ryo¡¯s heart flew into a panic while the rest of him wanted to fall into a hole and die, she hadn''t heard that, had she?? ¡°What?¡± he answered dully, getting ready to dive into his own grave. ¡°What the fuck is your problem?¡± Jasmine demanded again, ¡°I get that you¡¯re not happy with your situation but sitting there pretending you don¡¯t want our attention isn¡¯t fucking healthy.¡± The relief that she hadn¡¯t heard what the voice had said was brief, cause her anger caused the sun to burn with more than just heat, her frustration seared his senses. Too hot and too bright. ¡®Fine, you want to know my problem?¡¯ he growled through his mind, he stood from the sunbed and glared from bloodshot eyes, ¡®My problem is that you¡¯re pretending like nothing¡¯s wrong,¡¯ ¡°Fucking what?!¡± Jasmine shouted, giving him a chance to reword his answer before she ripped into him, but Ryo didn¡¯t. ¡®You fucking heard me,¡± he replied, feeling the punch of the swear as he fired back at her ¡°You¡¯re over there, all smiles and sunshine while we¡¯re prisoners aboard an alien ship, and you have the audacity to think this is okay.¡¯ Ryo¡¯s words felt like poison dripping from his mouth, while she was the blazing sun he was the darkness lashing out from the depths. ¡°Well, what the fuck do you want me to do then?!¡± with her statement came a flash in his brain, a vision of her alone, small and lost, ¡°I can¡¯t do anything until the councillor arrives!¡± ¡®Why the fuck are we waiting for the ¡®councillor¡¯s?¡¯ he fired back, the memories behind his words, the monstrous things he had seen and felt these aliens do, he saw her eyes flicker as he mind-screamed back, ¡®Why the hell haven¡¯t we commandeered a spaceship and left this god damned hell hole?¡¯ Jasmine clenched her fists, ready to bite back. ¡°And then what genius? Be chased for the rest of our lives? Charge out into the void of space and go where?¡± The vastness of space hit him like a truck, the emptiness, the infinite, the chances of being alive under such circumstances... The desperate need to find security. ¡°We¡¯d fucking starve before we got anywhere. I¡¯m trying to forge alien-human relations-¡± ¡®Forge alien-human relations?¡¯ He remembered the clinical room where they cut his head open, the cold, callus words of the so-called ¡®doctors¡¯ ready to dissect him alive. There were no relations as far as he was concerned, ¡®You¡¯re prancing around like a goddamn idol, sucking up the adoration from these stupid fucking monsters. You haven''t done anything worth a damn!¡¯ Ryo threw the evidence in her face, when she was laughing and singing, trying on different outfits and lounging around the yacht, she could have been doing so much more to help them escape from this nightmare. ¡°Oh, I haven''t done anything worth a damn?!¡± Her voice raised louder, fury burning hot, ¡°You¡¯ve been nothing but a selfish asshole the entire time you been here!¡± Ryo saw visions of himself, the disgusted look on his face when she offered him a drink, the harsh shove he gave her when they first met, when he shot the back window of her car... ¡°You think you¡¯re the only one with trauma?! You think you¡¯re the only one who is scared and angry?!¡± she cried, voice cracking under the pressure. He saw the fear. Her body splayed open on the table. The needle in her eye. The indifference they treated her with. Ryo stumbled back, she knew, she knew all of this and still wanted to play ambassador?! ¡®At least I¡¯m not pretending I¡¯m the goddamn saviour of the universe! These aliens are fucking monsters, they don¡¯t care about you!¡¯ Ryo felt the memories coming to him easier, throwing them like weapons, to show her the truth, to hurt her with it. ¡®They¡¯ll cut you up the moment you¡¯re not useful to them, and you would offer us up on a silver platter.¡¯ He showed her the cryo-vats, the thousands of decaying bodies, the insect soldiers dying to capture him and Beau, and the white caped captain who finally did. Jasmine¡¯s clenched fists opened and wrapped themselves around her, to protect herself. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know how precarious our situation is?! Do you have any idea how this world fucking works?!¡± Ryo was bombarded with faces and names, hierarchy structures and contract codes. Executive Directors, Companies, Galactic Governments, Imperium, Princes, Princesses, Rangers, Knight Commanders, Engine Lords, Pirates, Rouges, Creators, Modifiers, Users, DNA Contracts, Citizenship, Progenitors, Benefactors¡­ An entire world was shoved into his brain. ¡°It¡¯s horrifying, every time I learn something new I have to try not to break the fuck down!¡± She screamed, her voice cracking with despair. The Rajava¡¯s holographic spectre consumed the universe. Melting those she loved with acid and made new into unthinking, unfeeling zombies. ¡°I thought everyone was dead, I thought the Rajava wiped everyone out¡­¡± Earth was alone and lost. Humans would rather burn the world than suffer such a fate. The unsaid words her heart believed. ¡°I did what I needed to survive before I got sliced up for a production line! You¡¯re right, I am pretending everything is okay, because if I felt how I really felt I would have accidentally killed everyone on this station already!¡± She showed him the Doctor¡¯s she injured and paralysed. Their bodies lying unmoving by her own hands. The pain she had caused Xant¡­ Jasmine¡¯s body slumped forward, breathing heavily from the screaming. Ryo stood stiff, his body like stone, eyes cast down to the floor. He was so tired. So angry. He just wanted all of this to stop. ¡®You¡¯re weak and a coward¡­¡¯ Ryo¡¯s voice involuntarily whimpered, a memory from the not-so-distant past, ¡®Crying won¡¯t help you now, get the hell up-¡¯ Jasmine lunged forward, her hands grabbing his hoodie, shaking him with tears in her eyes. "Coward?! Coward?!" she repeated, the fury in her so strong he could barely breathe, "I''m not going to let a shit-cunt like you call me a coward!" She had rescued Sieglinde and the other dogs from mistreatment, stared down the engine lord when he threatened her and kept her head during galaxy-level political discourse. She would never anyone cross her like the Rajava had done again. Ryo raised his hands to defend himself, waiting for the blows to follow, but... they never came. She was so angry, furious at him, he deserved to be hurt, he deserved to be punished. He lowered his hands and stared back at her, a soft thought from her mind slipped through the blaze. "I don''t want to do this, I hate fighting, don''t make me do this Ryo..." Ryo felt a tickle creep down his cheek. A coldness wrap around his throat. The shadow formed in front of his face and his father¡¯s voice screamed at him. ¡®No ones coming to save you, you¡¯re not special, you¡¯re a piece of shit like the rest of us, so just die already!¡¯ Jasmine screamed. Her hands let him go and clawed at the apparition, trying to get a hold of it. Trying to fight it. Watching it melt through her fingers and then staring back at him. Ryo¡¯s eyes went wide. She could see them, the bugs, the shadows. He turned his head and saw the aliens freaking out, Xant trying to remove the bugs while the dinosaur literally began sinking his claws into his face and tearing into his skin. Ryo ran. He panicked, he had to run, he had to get away, he heard Jasmine scream again. He tried to get off the yacht, away from the aliens away from all the psychic bullshit, but the hefty weight of Beau¡¯s entire body mass pile tackled him to the ground. The force of which knocked the wind out of him, Ryo could barely breathe let alone answer the man. Beau quickly and easily grabbed his arm, twisting it behind his back like he had done so many times before. Ryo struggled to get out of his grasp, but Beau held him tight. ¡°Let, me, go!¡± Ryo tried between struggling breaths. ¡°No, what in the hell is happening here?!¡± Beau demanded. Beau didn¡¯t have a translator, he couldn¡¯t have felt or seen what had happened between Jasmine and him. He glanced back over at the deck. Jasmine was calming down the aliens while trying not to freak out herself. He looked up at Beau, expecting him to be angry, disgusted. But he wasn¡¯t. He was concerned, scared, and searching for answers. Ryo stopped struggling, his English sucked, his head hurt and non-existent bugs were crawling all over his face. ¡°What is going wrong?!¡± Beau asked again, voice filled with worry. Like a parent. Ryo answered Beau using the only words he knew how. ¡°I¡¯m... sick¡± Transcripts Disparity - Chapter 32: Little by Little... Jasmine ran over to her alien friends, trying to save them from the living nightmare. Xant¡¯s ears stood on end while he was trying to swipe away the bugs off his snout while Rynard¡¯s eyes were glazed over. The behemoths claws sinking into his face, ready to peel off his skin jasmine was terrified he might actually try. ¡°Xant! Rynard! Listen to me!¡± She called their attention, demanding they focus on her, ¡°the bugs aren¡¯t real, they¡¯re not here, it''s all a dream, do you understand me?¡± she spoke clearly, slowly, her commands cutting through the shock and fear. Xant stared at the bugs crawling over his body, front and back of both hands, tickling his face, even just looking at them made him feel itchy he needed to scratch them. ¡°But I can FEEL THEM,¡± Rynard roared, driving his claws in deeper to his face, skin parting but no blood seeped from the wounds. Xant watched the bugs crawl over his friend but the patterns became erratic, they did not respond to anyone''s physical reactions, like shadows upon a surface visually there but physically not. ¡°A nightscare..¡± Xant breathed slowly, gulping as he swallowed his new reality, ¡°but we¡¯re awake, how is that possible?¡± Jasmine looked at him with tired, bloodshot eyes, the freq duel she had with Ryo had taken its toll on everyone. She didn''t have an answer, more concerned with the increasingly disturbed Rynard. ¡°Close your eyes, they¡¯re not there if you can¡¯t see them¡­¡± her instructions were a plea to the veteran soldier, he listened to her command but his growl was low and stressed. ¡°How do we stop it, Jasmine?!¡± Xant shouted. ¡°We can''t stop it!¡± she shouted back, ¡°Ryo, he¡¯s the one doing it! (he can¡¯t control it)¡± Xant understood and pulled a medipen from his white coat, the depressor he held on hand for emergencies. This situation was a fucking emergency. The doctor watched as Beau and Ryo struggled on the end of the deck, and then making the decision to intervene. If Ryo was like Jasmine, the single-shot of depressor would be almost instantaneous, he couldn¡¯t send harmful freq signals if he was unconscious. Xant ran with all his might, tail swinging violently behind him to counteract his legs throwing him forward with his newfound strength he cross the deck in seconds, sliding to a stop to jab the pen into Ryo¡¯s leg. The youth had stopped struggling against the soldier, his dark cloud of emotions shattered to shards of wet glass. Begging for help from a man who couldn¡¯t understand him, but Xant could. He had known such desperation before. ¡°Goodnight, Ryo,¡± Xant said with sympathy as he administered the tranquillizer. Beau shouted as Ryo¡¯s body went limp in seconds. ¡°I had him!¡± Beau shouted defensively, Xant jumped back and Jasmine screamed from across the deck so Beau could hear. ¡°Xant it worked! The bugs and shadows have stopped!¡± Beau was caught off guard, looking between Xant and Ryo¡¯s body. Beau shook his head, more freaky alien telepathy, he was never getting an implant. Beau placed Ryo¡¯s unconscious body on the couch, then walked himself behind the bar to pour Jasmine a drink. She sat on one of the lounge chairs, shaken but trying to stay calm, Xant was beside her just the same, his ears vibrating, eyes closed still trying to comprehend the event they all witnessed. Rynard was laying down outside, too big to fit under the bar¡¯s cover, he opted to have his face under the shade. Patching up his exterior face wounds with some of the salve Xant carried with him. He was quite happy to take the opportunity to sleep, he wouldn''t have been much help with the bulge brain discussion anyway. ¡°So,¡± Beau said, placing the glass firmly on the table in front of Jasmine, ¡°what in the southern, sweaty hell is going on?¡± Jasmine looked to Xant, who gave a little nod before she picked up the drink, she threw back the water like a shot and attempted to answer. ¡°The translators don''t just translate language, it translates thoughts and emotions. This means you can share memories as well, Xant and I have done it a couple of times, but it required a lot of concentration.¡± she played with the glass in her hands, rolling it between one palm and the other with her thumbs. ¡°When Ryo and I were arguing I could see his memories with little effort, and he saw mine, it must be easier with humans, then¡­¡± she looked over her hands, where the bugs had been, ¡°I think he started hallucinating, and the translator projected them out to everyone-¡± Jasmines head shot up with sudden realisation and she looked out to the hanger, ¡°oh god, the other engineers! if any of them were in range,¡± she turned her worries to Xant, who gently kept her on track. ¡°If anything happened to them I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear about it soon,¡± He placated ¡°they''re military units, if they couldn¡¯t work under combat conditions I don¡¯t think they¡¯d be here, for now, he is more important,¡± Xant said pointedly to Ryo''s body. ¡°Hallucinations,¡± Beau folded his arms, still only privy to Jasmine''s side of the conversation, he had to work the rest out through context, ¡°that explains a lot, before we came here every now and then his eyes would glaze over, he¡¯d mutter at something to shut up, thought it was me a few times but,¡± Beau clicked his tongue, annoyed at himself he didn¡¯t think anything of it sooner. ¡°Guess he¡¯s more scrambled than I first thought...¡± he turned his head away so the others couldn¡¯t see, a hand over his face as he collected his thoughts. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He should have known better. ¡°It was really bad,¡± Jasmine described to Beau, ¡°little black bugs crawling all over us and a faceless shadow man screaming insults, right in our faces¡± she mimicked how close the intrusions had been with her hand, shuddering at the painfully personal abuse. Her nerves reacted, sending goosebumps all over her skin, she raised a hand over her arm and attempted to rub them away. ¡°Nightscares while awake,¡± Xant inquired incredulously ¡°why didn¡¯t you tell me about it sooner?¡± ¡°It''s not common,¡± Jasmine replied defensively, ¡°like at all, hallucinations only happen after extreme measures, almost dying, weeks without sleep, certain powerful drugs and-¡± ¡°Schizophrenia,¡± Beau interrupted ominously, the word hung over the humans, Jasmine became quiet but her concern was obvious. ¡°Do you think he has it?¡± she asked. ¡°It''s a condition, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xant deduced. Jasmine nodded sadly. ¡°Yeah,¡± she returned the empty glass to a table, trying to find a way to explain the gravity of the situation, ¡°they suffer involuntary hallucinations, eventually deteriorating to not being able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, it¡¯s genetic and incurable, a complete shit sandwich,¡± The way the humans spoke of it was as though it were a terrible and inevitable demise. ¡°There is no way to treat it by your standards?¡± ¡°it can be treated with medication, but there are usually awful side effects and that''s if you get the right dose to begin with.¡± Jasmine looked to Beau who gave the nod that she was right, ¡°A wrong dose it can make it even worse, sometimes, it''s not worth it to keep trying¡­¡± Jasmine and Beau fell into a strange silence, Xant could feel Jasmine¡¯s words carry a weight that was lost in the finer points of translation. A deep sadness, for a friend who could not be helped. ¡°What medication does he need?¡± Xant asked, now with new determination to help in any way he could, ¡°it shouldn¡¯t be too hard to facilitate a reproduction?¡± Jasmine shook her head hopelessly. ¡°We don¡¯t know, only Ryo would know what kind of meds he would need and even then it''s not like we can produce the formula, they don''t have chemical composition written on the side of the packets-¡± Beau let out a laugh, a surprisingly optimistic yelp. ¡°Ryo¡¯s a chemist!¡± He exclaimed, ¡°he knew how to work the chemical machine back on the station we were imprisoned at, he might know the formula for his own medication!¡± The air of hopelessness vanished, the new information bringing a rolling excitement with it. ¡°He could know? Would he know?,¡± her heart fluttered at the possibility. ¡°The kids a smartass, I don¡¯t doubt for a minute he¡¯d know the formula,¡± Beau grinned. Xant stroked his ears in thought. ¡°But if the medication has harmful side effects it might be prudent to inspect his translator as well,¡± The doctor proposed, ¡°if the nightscares are involuntary, then it may be a miscommunication of Industrial Freq with conscious ones, we might be able to untangle them, or block them if need be,¡± ¡°Wait, so we could stop the hallucinations altogether?!¡± now Jasmine was grinning as wide as Beau ¡°That''s even better! But, do you think he¡¯d let us help him?¡± All three of them looked over at the sickly young man. ¡°He asked me for help before the lights went out¡± Beau sighed, ¡°He¡¯s been running from his problems his whole life, there ain¡¯t nowhere else to go except to someone who can help.¡± -*- Ryo felt a small pinch. Down near his ankle, it didn¡¯t hurt, but he didn''t like it all the same. When he opened his eyes he wasn¡¯t in his room. His body was wrecked, he was so tired, he swore under his breath while staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. ¡°Hey, it''s okay,¡± Jasmine''s voice was quiet, she sounded just as tired as he did, ¡°take it slow¡­¡± Her aura wasn''t as fluorescent as her personality usually suggested, but then he wasn¡¯t as dark either. Like the world had been muted. ¡°The depressor would have had you unconscious for hours, but the stim should have you in a reasonable condition soon,¡± the alien stated, the doctor called Xant, the one who had tranquillized him. Ryo rolled his head. Everyone was at his bedside, well, couchside. Beau and Jasmine had that look in their eyes. Pity. They knew about his condition. The moments before his involuntary incapacitation came roaring back. They knew because he had told, or rather, shown them. ¡°So,¡± his mind¡¯s voice asked, no longer able to hide it, ¡°now what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in any physical pain are you?¡± Xant asked him with a tone of concern he wasn¡¯t expecting ¡°Your companion was handling you rather roughly,¡± Ryo wasn¡¯t used to Xant¡¯s bedside manner, it almost made him seem human. ¡°No, but, I do feel exhausted¡­¡± he answered truthfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry mate, I¡¯m in the same boat,¡± Jasmine laughed tiredly, slumped over in the matching suit chair. She looked how he felt, drained. ¡°You both exerted an incredible amount of military-grade Freq, I suspect we will be visited by a Commander of some description very shortly,¡± Xant mused, talking to Ryo as though they were more than just acquaintances, ¡°letting off such a blast inside the engineer¡¯s wing would be breaking a few protocols, I will handle the explanations where I can.¡± Beau walked up to Ryo, a glass of ice water in his hand. ¡°Do you think you can sit up for us?¡± Ryo reluctantly righted his position and once his feet touched the floor, Beau insistently handed him the water. Even the smalls sips soothed Ryo¡¯s parched throat. Beau took a step back, leaning up against Jasmine¡¯s chair, as Xant took the footstool. ¡°How long have you been seeing them?¡± Beau asked once Ryo had finished the water. ¡°Do you mean how long since I was abducted or since they started?¡± Ryo¡¯s mind asked but was weak, he answered his question with his own voice so Beau could hear. ¡°A year,¡± Beau nodded his head, accepting the simple answer. ¡°And you¡¯ve been taking meds since then?¡± There was a hesitation, the urge to lie and cover-up the truth returned for a brief moment, but that had done nothing to help him so far. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± was the answer. ¡°Have they always been that bad?¡± Jasmine asked concerned, genuine worry like his mother used to do. ¡°Without the meds they are,¡± Ryo looked over his left hand, where the scar had been, ¡°with them it blocks out the voices, I still have to second guess which shadows and bugs are real though¡­¡± ¡°Even with the medication? The doctors couldn¡¯t find you a better fit?¡± she pressed. The hesitation was longer this time. ¡°... A doctor, didn¡¯t prescribe it to me.¡± Ryo shifted in his seat, there wasn¡¯t a way to give an answer without them asking more questions, he had to tell them the truth, ¡°My mum had the same condition, I had a container from before she was¡­ institutionalised. When I ran away from home I had the capsule with me,¡± ¡°I know this is a long shot but,¡± Beau took a piece of paper and pen from the bar and handed them to Ryo, ¡°Do you know the chemical composition to your medication?¡± Ryo blinked looking up at his audience. ¡°Beau informed us of your education,¡± Xant explained, ¡°if you indeed know the chemical composition we can recreate it for you,¡± ¡°Like the machine back on the station,¡± Ryo understood, ¡°it won¡¯t be exact, the company copyrighted the exact formula, but I can get close¡­¡± ¡°We can also, calibrate your translator,¡± Jasmine offered gently, ¡°We can try to block out the hallucinations entirely.¡± Ryo frowned, eyeing Jasmine and Xant suspiciously. ¡°Humans are unique among the galactic community in that their ¡®Industrial frequency¡¯ and their consciousness haven''t been separated. Jasmine can only render Industrial Freq when she is asleep, if your brain triggers while still conscious we might be able to filter out those Freq signals entirely at the cost of you never ¡®dreaming¡¯ again.¡± Ryo nearly dropped the pen. He was silent for a long time, pondering the decision while drawing out the long and complicated hex formula for his medication. He handed the page to Xant. ¡°If I never dream again, it will be too soon,¡± Transcripts Disparity - Chapter 33 : Dressed to Impress Lieutenant Commander Nako sat at his terminal alone, preparing for his future. The icons hovered in the light space, a collection of Audfiles he had meticulously gathered over the past year. A damning account of every mistake and misstep the Knight Commander had a taken in the name of ''duty''. Quietly listening and curating the audfiles, most of which were Kotorn¡¯s voice screaming at him in his ear. This particular one was demanding that he auction off whatever was in the Rajavan ship, nevermind the uncertain circumstances of its capture. AudFiles that proved at every turn, the Knight Commander had denied and avoided the subject of humans and their existence. The denial of a Dynasty making event, and everything that followed it. Nako had gathered them all into one dataslate that he would present to the Councillor. The transcripts of Jasmine¡¯s and Xant¡¯s interviews that proved her creator level status, the DNA results of the dogs and their user level intellegence. The devastating Freq-bomb jasmine had set off at Essander and The damage the two human Princes had caused to the progenitor company all could have been avoided if not for Kotorns negilence. All of them vital in his meeting with the Counciller. Hopefully, when all presented in a cohesive manner it would Make Kotorns single mindedness apparent and glaring. His machinations were cut short, however, when an alarm went off. A notification on his terminal demanded his attention, blaring bright yellow and blocking his field of view until he acknowledged it. He dipped his fingers into the light field, activating the message. An unauthorised Freq-bomb had gone off in the engineers wing. Nako didn¡¯t have to guess what had happened, he was already preparing to go to the internal transport when the comms in his armour started as well. He tapped the frantically blinking light, suspecting an angry voice on the other end. ¡°Lieutenant Commander Tar Nako speaking-¡± ¡°Your charges have caused quite the disturbance.¡± Viitoics cold voice growled through the commons device. ¡°Oh? Engine lord? I barely recognise you when you get straight to the point,¡± Nako snipped, striding out of his quarters but honestly quite happy with the news. Better the Engine lord than Kotorn. The Lieutenant paused for a moment thinking of a confrontation between the KC and the humans, a yellow alert would not have sufficed that encounter. ¡°My engineers have stopped working,¡± Viitoic snapped, ¡°i don¡¯t mind distractions if they are interesting and productive, but I¡¯ve lost an entire floor team! they¡¯re refusing to go near the ¡®yacht¡¯ after something as simple as an errant blast! Get your humans under control,I have more work than patience these days¡­ ¡± ¡°Of course Engine Lord,¡± Nako replied happy for the excuse to go and talk to Jasmine and the other humans. They had not been able a single meeting since their arrival at branch, He was beginning to worry that the humans would be pounced upon without his presence. His announcement that they be left alone would only work for so long. Its not every day you find aliens after all, even regular rangers would be curious. Then there was the matter that Jasmine was outnumbered by her own kind, who did not take kindly to his own, he hoped that she had sorted out her entourage, ¡°Tifera, meet me at the transport dock, we¡¯re needed in the engineering wing.¡± When Nako and tifera arrived at the engineers wing, the atmosphere had changed completely. The engineer drones werent bustling and fussing about their work. They huddled amongst the single fighter vessels and weapons racks. The human tech lay abandoned. The engineers were shaken. Meekly they scuttled out of Nako and Tifera¡¯s way. "an impressive impression," Tifera muttered, "they''ve all been swayed," Now, the lieutenat was a little frustrated, the blast must have truely been spectacular to cause such a fuss! He was a little worried when he could not sense the bright warmth of Jasmine¡¯s presence, usually a becon for her location. While the yacht was smaller than most vessels, it was a laberynth of rooms, finding a single human in one was still a daunting task. Much to his surprise, the human and her entourage were waiting for him, up on the high deck. Obviously their blast was big enough for them to understand the severity. Rynard stood guard, the old ranger however, looked as though he had been in combat. Deep claw marks scratched across his face, his stance straight but weary. ¡°Namegiver Jasmine is up on deck, Your honour,¡± Nako nodded, raising his hand. ¡°Tifera, keep the captain company,¡± ¡°Yes sire,¡± Nako lifted his cape and spread his wings, flying up to the yacht deck. The mottled lot stood up on the open deck, watching for anyone to approach. Jasmine bowed her head, Xant, as always stood at her side whale everyone else stood behind. ¡°Namegiver Jamsine, i hear you¡¯ve been causing a disturbance,¡± ¡°Sir Nako, you know thats never my intention but always my fault¡± Jasmine greeted, she looked tired, drained. Nako quickly glanced over her retinue and saw much of the same, minus the enigmatic Beau. ¡°Then it is a good thing that I arrived here before another unwitting commander,¡± he relaxed a little, seeing everyone else was just as tired as the Captain. ¡°i must confess i should have been here sooner, The Knight Commander conspires to keep me busy,¡± This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Jasmine shook her head. ¡°Its alright, we¡¯ve been rather busy ourselves¡­¡± she gestured to the sun beds ¡°care for a seat?¡± Nako took a chair and the human and her entourage followed suit, Ryo spoke to Beau and the pair sat further away from the meeting but still within ear shot. ¡°Jasmine, the blast was pretty serious, what caused it?¡± ¡°Ryo and I got into a rather ¡®heated¡¯ argument¡­¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°it wasn''t pretty, were still recovering from the aftermath. Human arguments are exhausting without the Freq element, neither of us are keen to try again any time soon.¡± Nako looked over at the sour prince, the youth had severely diminished presence, a good thing in his opinion. Jasmine, as he expected, had brought her Prince¡¯s under her call. ¡°I¡¯m sure he deserved whatever you inflicted upon him,¡± Nako replied approvingly, which earned him an unexpected glour from Jasmine. ¡°Not quite,¡± she said curtly ¡°in fact his ¡®demeanour¡¯ is something I need your help with,¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Nako¡¯s antennae twitched, wondering if Jasmine was proposing that he be allowed to further discipline the sour prince. ¡°Ryo¡¯s temper was mellowed by medication that he has been without for a troubling amount of time,¡± She presented Nako with the paper recipe, ¡°its a very potent and rare drug, we don''t expect to find any amongst the belongings here,¡± ¡°We formally ask that we be allowed access to a FabriChem,¡± Xant translated the request into a requisition. ¡°We need that medication,¡± Jasmine insisted, ¡°please,¡± ¡°Id be more than happy to facilitate,¡± Nako nodded, noting the added urgency in her words, humans certainly could say so much with so little, ¡°you always ask the simplest things as though they were a great burden,¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been so generous with us Lieutenant, I don¡¯t want to outstay my welcome,¡± She bowed her head deeply with respect. ¡°You will always be welcome in my presence Namegiver,¡± he replied with a sincere reverence, ¡°it is not every dynasty a common man such as myself meets an alien maiden,¡± Jasmine laughed, a polite flattered response. ¡°There is more,¡± Xant prompted, almost eager to interrupt the exchange, ¡°We suspect that Ryo¡¯s translator is at its limits, if we could reproduce the human translator on premises to exchange it would definitely help,¡± ¡°Again, easy enough to facilitate,¡± Nako smiled, shoulders back and chest puffed out, to have new translator placed in the sour prince was excellent news, ¡°I shall communicate with the Engine Lord, he would be happy to provide us with our requests, especially if it means no more interruptions to his work. I believe we still have the rights to the same translator as yours,¡± He looked over to Jasmine who shook her head. ¡°Its not that simple i¡¯m afraid,¡± she sighed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Humans are not engineered or have any sort of control over their reproduction,¡± Xant enlightened the lieutenant, ¡°I will need to investigate to be sure, but we are currently running on the hypothesis that every human will need a custom translator model, to compensate for Freq type and strength,¡± Nako sat confused for a moment. ¡°But, why?¡± he looked between the pair, ¡°the arvas don¡¯t need such catering too, why would a Human translator be so different?¡± ¡°But the arvas are still conditioned,¡± Xant offered, ¡°your brains are mapped and we have built translators to compensate for those drifting conditions,¡± ¡°Humans have a greater variables on top of that,¡± Jasmine added, ¡°and it takes an arvas lifetime for a human brain to fully develop,¡± She looked over at her companions, ¡°our nerves are a ¡®jumbled mess¡¯ of memories and instincts, not all of them healthy.¡± Nako considered the options, he wouln¡¯t likely get away with adding a failsafe to Ryo¡¯s translator like he had done to Jasmine, the Engine lord and Knight Commander would NEVER allow it, but, Jasmine was in control of Ryo now, so perhaps he didn¡¯t need to. ¡°Very well, if that is what you need, I don¡¯t see any reason to hold back,¡± Jasmine gave very relieved sigh, smiling at him, a small portion of the bright light returning. ¡°Thank you Nako, I promise relations will go a lot smoother once we¡¯ve got this sorted,¡± ¡°Actually, speaking of relations,¡± Nako leaned forward a little, ¡°there was one other reason I came to speak to you today, A couclierr will be arriving soon, along with a Praetor,¡± Jasmine and Xant both shifted in their seats, ¡°Yes, Xant informed me,¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°I was wondering if you had prepared for their arrival?¡± ¡°Not as of yet,¡± Jasmine relayed, running her fingers behind her ear, ¡°I¡¯ve been looking over Galactic council Laws and doctrines but I haven¡¯t even gotten to custody and copyright-¡± Nako raised a hand and chittered, waving away her concerns. ¡°Oh no, I did not mean that, I have every confidence you will come across as civilised in your mannerisms, but have you considered your appearance?¡± Jasmine blinked, again, rather more dower than he expected. ¡°My appearance? I suppose presentation still carries a lot of weight even in transgalactic societies,¡± she replied. ¡°Very much so, if you so need, I have a cape or two you may borrow for the occasion,¡± ¡°Thats very generous of you, perhaps you could give me some pointers on what dress i should wear to give off what is expected of me?¡± Jasmine lead on, ¡°I doubt my beach-wear is going to impress a councillor,¡± Nako¡¯s antennae stood up excitedly and he placed his hands on his knees, the second set stroking his chin, excited to be discussing the humans first impression to the galactic stage. ¡°I can indeed! A new set of armour would go a long way in addressing your authority,¡± ¡°Even though im a non combatant?¡± ¡°But you are a commander of authority! I¡¯d be happy to commission you a suit, a cape to properly express your grace, and if you have any more gems available, use them in abundance¡± he tapped the red gemmed brooch she had gifted him, ¡°Rarity and elegance is what you should exude, its only fitting for someone of your stature,¡± ¡°According to an arvas mindset,¡± Xant interjected bluntly, Jasmine used her foot to lightly kick Xant¡¯s shin, startling the zenthi to silence. ¡°Your suggestion is very helpful, thank you Lieutenant,¡± Jasmine nodded her head deeply with respect. Nako returned with a slight nod, happy with the proceedings. ¡°I shall send the requests to the Engine lord and have the cape pressed, you will look magnificent,¡± He stood proudly, a new list of tasks he was more willing to execute. ¡°And with that, may your calling be clear,¡± ¡°Live long and prosper lieutenant,¡± Jasmine returned the greeting, Nako happily took his leave, although he did wonder why Beau seemed to be laughing¡­ ¡°Live long and prosper? Really?¡± The large man laughed, hugging his sides to keep from letting it all out at once. ¡°Well, it was either that or ¡®may the force be with you¡¯,¡± Jasmine laughed back, hands on her hips, ¡°I figured the star trek one was more,¡± she waved her hand in the air ¡°suitable,¡± ¡°And speaking of suit-able,¡± Ryo interjected with a pun while sipping on his water, ¡°did I overhear you saying you were going to get a ¡®suit¡¯? Like a suit of power armour?¡± Jasmine sighed, looking away. ¡°Yeah, I supposed im getting a suit of power armour,¡± she didn¡¯t sound too happy about it. ¡°What about us?¡± Beau pressed for details, ¡°do we get a suit?¡± ¡°Uhh,¡± Jasmine turned to Xant, asking for the social norm. ¡°I don''t know, I suppose it would be silly if I had some but my entourage didn''t?¡± ¡°Indeed that would be the case,¡± Xant nodded his head, hoping that the human would interpret the gesture correctly. ¡°Oh Right on!¡± Beau practically beamed, suddenly running below deck, ¡°Hey!¡± Jasmine called, but Beau didn¡¯t answer, ¡°Wonder whats got into him?¡± ¡°About the suits¡­¡± Ryo asked Xant, short, sharp questions, ¡°they would be made to fit us? Could we customise them to suit our needs?¡± ¡°We¡¯d have to ask the Engine Lord, but since they would have to be made custom from the cells up, I¡¯m sure they''d be able to¡­¡± Xant looked over at his own set of armour, that was rapidly in need of a body refit, ¡°...we are in the perfect place for it, there is no ¡®standard¡¯ human armour for them to compare-¡± Beau returned rather rapidly, a plastic case in hand, thrusting it into Xants hands. ¡°Tell¡¯em I want mine to look like this!¡± Beau said enthusiastically. Xant, Jasmine and Ryo all looked down at the object, Xant¡¯s ears went up curiously, the picture on the front of the case was a set of power armour, human power armour. ¡°Master Chief?¡± Ryo said incredulously. Beau looked the kid dead in the eye and with all seriousness, ¡°Mjolnir Powered Assault Armour Mark IV, If were gonna suit up, this is a good start" Disparity: Chapter 34 - Surgery ¡°Our escort is ready, Jasi,¡± Captain Rynard informed the group, ¡°They didnt send vatfresh this time,¡± Jasmine and the others looked out to the sizeable contingent marching their way, they counted sixteen soldiers in total, marching in disiplined unison. For a moment Jasmine thought she had recognised them from Nako¡¯s ship, but then wondered if she would recognise them even if they were. While they were mostly free to wonder around the designated engineers wing, they couldn¡¯t really travel too far without a wider military escort. Even the Engine Lords quarters were off limit without escort. ¡°They really are Clones huh?¡± Beau commented, sixteen steel coated rangers stood at attention. Their powerarmour accentuated with a bright green battle cape draped over their right shoulders and armed with melta-guns held over their left shoulders for support. No other identifiers could be spotted, not even a serial number off an assembly line, they were completely identical to each other. Rynard stood out front, and the rangers immediately recognised his authority. The old dinosaur had been very happy to sit back and relax while under Namegiver Jasmines command, she did not demand much of him at all. So when Jasmine did need his help, he was happy to oblige. ¡°(Triangle formation! Escort at the ready!)¡± Rynard bellowed, the rangers, silently, turned in unison, flanking out to a pyramid and then waiting for further instructions. Everyone turned to Jasmine, she stood frozen unsure of how to proceed. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking up the rear Jasi,¡± the captain told her, leaning in to guide her, ¡°You walk in the middle of the formation, they¡¯ll lead us to where were going,¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± she whispered back. Before taking her first confident stride, Jasmine looked to her companions, Beau, Spades, Xant and Ryo would be following in her step. She laughed to herself, this might be the first time she lead a procession, but it probably wasnt going to be her last. Might as well get the practice in. ¡°Okay,¡± she smiled, ¡°lets go,¡± The Engine Lords quarters were as intimidating as the creature itself, the entire place was racks and racks of large chemicals stashes. Open vats bubbled with organ-tech were monitored by engineers, ever attentive like bees in a hive, monitoring and recording the ¡®growth¡¯. Viitoic sat in the middle of it all, surrounded by holographic surfaces, teeth clacking together in a bemused but ultimately frustrated expression. ¡°Jasmine, You forgot to mention that there was an actual xenomorph on the station¡­¡± Beau said quietly under his breath, staring at the creature in disbelief. ¡°A true monster,¡± Ryo muttered in agreement. As the Engine lord noticed their presence he loomed over the smaller crowd. The Rangers abruptly parted their protective formation, Ryo and Beau stepped back, exclaiming in their shock. Jasmine stood her ground, she didn¡¯t want to give him an opportunity to be an asshole. ¡°Engine Lord, I believe Lieutenant Commander Nako has sent our request for assistance through?¡± she forced herself to be nonchalant, not wanting to let him overwhelm her own emotions. Viitoic¡¯s six arms spread out to increase his intimidating frame, while his dozen spiderlike legs gracefully climbed over the terminal controls to better inspect his visitors. ¡°Well,¡± Viitoic chuckled, revelling in the human¡¯s reactions, ¡°what a diverse range of phenotypes your species has, I couldn¡¯t have imagined how distinctly they present from one another-¡± ¡°So you will help us then?¡± Jasmine interrupted, ignoring the chills down her spine when Viitoic spoke, ¡°I would hate to have walked all this way only to be told you couldn¡¯t help,¡± Viitoic chittered his teeth at the suggestion. ¡°It is never a matter of ¡®couldn¡¯t¡¯, Namegiver,¡± the Engine lord postured, taking the bait ¡°I suppose I could afford the distraction,¡± he peered at the new humans curiously, no longer interested in scaring them so much as studying them, ¡°The lieutenant sent me quite a few requests, which ones were you hoping to fulfil?¡± ¡°All of them if possible,¡± Jasmine replied firmly, regaining confidence in her approach, ¡°Ryo¡¯s medication and translator is the most urgent,¡± ¡°Ah yes a custom translator,¡± Viitoic slid slowly past them, like a fat scorpion on its way to its next meal, ¡°The fabricators are this way¡­¡± The fabricators were as complex as any of the humans expected, instead of wires and microchips it was vats and tubes of glass, intersected with an entire wall of different chemicals and solutions. ¡°A new custom-configured translator,¡± Viitoic repeated, gathering handheld equipment, ¡°such things only come once a dynasty, shall we begin the proceedings?¡± he asked brandishing terrifying-looking injection guns in Ryo¡¯s direction. ¡°Exactly what do you think you¡¯re going to do to me?¡± Ryo snapped defensively, almost instinctively stepping behind Beau. ¡°I¡¯ll need to do a full scan of you of course, how else are we going to find the specifications to suit your needs?¡± Viitoic replied with glee, Xant stepped forward, cutting off Viitoic¡¯s path with a dataslate in hand and an unimpressed scoul. ¡°We won¡¯t need to start entirely from scratch,¡± the good doctor insisted ¡°I have the dimensions of Jasmine¡¯s translator, it will be a refitting and a calibration, nothing more extensive than that.¡± Viitoic growled disappointed, his tentacle snatching the dataslate from Xants hands, ¡°I¡¯m sure there could be room for improvement.¡± He muttered, ¡°prototypes always need improvements¡­¡± The tentacle hovered over the fabricator vat, finding the right slot to insert the dataslate in. The dataslate made a satisfying ¡®click¡¯ and almost immediately the plans for the translator appeared before them in a hologram. As Viitoic and Xant examined the alien organ onscreen, Jasmine realised one advantage alien tech had over humans. The dataslate fit perfectly into a ¡®fabricator¡¯ and instantly loaded up the exact plans they needed, they seemed to work together seamlessly, what it lost in function they made up for in compatibility. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Oh very clever,¡± Viitoic complimented, ¡°You¡¯ve sliced both Zenthi and Princess grade Arvas translator sets together to withstand the frequency in/output.¡± ¡°That would be Doctor Yusa¡¯s work, I am simply the mediator,¡± Xant replied humbly. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take too long to grow,¡± Viitoic said, placing the orders for the machine to do its work, ¡°you said you needed an external medication? Is this a regular aplication?¡± ¡°It will need to be taken every 24[hours],¡± Jasmine confirmed, ¡°Then I can add it to the translators functionality,¡± Viitoic replied off handedly ¡°cut down on the inefficiencies of your physical template,¡± ¡°We will need this,¡± Xant held out a small scrap of paper, ¡°a variant of the chemical compound,¡± Viitoic chatted his teeth together, drawing up the frame work for the chemical string but leaving the actual chemical compounds blank in. ¡°Without you telling me the chemical combinations I might as well be staring at Umin¡¯gi scratchings,¡± Xant rather sheepishly turned to Ryo, who begrudgingly stepped forward naming the common names of the compound structure. Viitoic looked closer at the compound and then let out a shrill laugh, making everyone step back. ¡°Oh how curious,¡± he smiled sadistically, ¡°I currently have almost 200,000 [litres] waiting to be administered into ¡®The Defender¡¯, how curious that your species would need to manufacture such a chemical, I was under the impression you tinkered with artificial tech,¡± the sneer on the word ¡®artificial¡¯ was clear and direct. Xant¡¯s ears flattened while Jasmine and Ryo looked to each other and had to ask the question. ¡°The Defender? Is that a ship?!¡± ¡°Yes, the Knight Commanders Dreadnaught in fact.¡± Viitoic¡¯s large pulsing head turned to the side, ¡°Why would you need industrial-grade Shipbrain fluid?¡± Jasmine could barely believe the words coming out of her mouth, the scale of their biotech was mind boggling, ¡°Our brains produce industrial freq¡­ ¡± . ¡°Yes¡­¡± Xant followed her lead, Stepping in to allow Jasmine to recover from the small realsiation, ¡°to prevent the industrial freq Ryo¡¯s brain produces from clashing with his conscious thought. The human species has not been optimised-¡± ¡°-Not yet,¡± Viitoic licked his teeth, ¡°i can only imagine the possibilities of a truely optimised humanity, it is all very interesting¡­¡± the conversation was cut short once Viitoic had finished inputting the new addition to Ryos translator, he wouldnt need to ¡®take¡¯ a prescribed dose, but rather have the translator itself produce it naturally, like adrenaline or insulin. ¡°There, any other altercations before we being the growing process?¡± There was an exchange of looks. ¡°No,¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°that is everything,¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Viitoic reached for more chemicals, and the humans watched him work first hand. The fabricator started with a singular cell structure, multiplying at an insane rate, while the engine lord feed the growing structure with various proteins and ph stabiliers. Adjusting the tanks ambiotic fluid as the stem cell structures gave way to clumps of organ tissue and nerve endings. It began to take on the more familiar shape mere minutes after they had started, long red tendrils twitched and spasmined as Viitoic injected the last chemical directly into the organ, stabilizing its growth. Finally the vat flushed the tank with fresh fluid as the fabricator ¡®pinged¡¯ after completion. The engine lord presented the organ to the humans with pride. ¡°Well¡­¡± Jasmine gulped, ¡°that was horrifying,¡± ¡°Afraid of what you don''t understand? Most fledgling species are...¡± Viitoic chuckled. ¡°Oh no¡­ I understood.¡± Jasmine whispered, unable too look away. Ryo and Beau both stared at the vat, the organ floating freely, moving in its fluid. ¡°I want to be put out,¡± Ryo swiftly informed Xant, who nodded understandingly. ¡°We can absolutely put you out for the surgery, but,¡± the doctor lowered his head sadly, ¡°you will need to be awake for the calibration,¡± Ryo have a short ¡°tsk¡±, but ultimately acceded. ¡°Fine¡­¡± ¡°I will make it as as quick and uninvasive as possible, your comfort will be my priority¡± Xant reassured the troubled human. ¡°Did the good doctor imply that he will be doing such delicate surgery?¡± Viitoic inquired. ¡°Dr Xant has experience with Humans, translators and otherwise,¡± Jasmine stated, ¡°and seniority takes precedence does it not?¡± Viitoic did not like having to concede to her logic, no matter how correct it was. ¡°I shall stay to observe, should the citizen doctor find himself out of his depth¡­¡± ¡°I wouldn''t advise that,¡± Xant informed Viitoic, ¡°Human freq can be very unstable, I recommend that you and your engineers vacate to a safe distance-¡± ¡°My engineers can leave but i shall be staying,¡± Viitoic insisted, ¡°it is MY domain,¡± Ryo turned his back on Viitoic and stated quietly to Xant. ¡°I want it done fast, get us away from that thing,¡± Xant nodded in return. ¡°Of course,¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Jasmine stood on the other side of the table, ¡°well be here the entire time,¡± Beau rested a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°You know I wont let anything happen to ya,¡± Beau replied, and leant in with a whisper ¡°and I¡¯ll let loose if they try,¡± That garnered an understanding nod from the teenager, he knew the man meant it. Ryo laid down, closing his eyes. ¡°Count backwards from 10,¡± Jasmine instructed. ¡°10, 9, 8, 7-¡± -*- Ryo woke up suddenly in a very familiar and unwelcome position. His body, numb upon a steel table, looking up at an alien ceiling unable to move. Panic began to set in immediately, if not for a warm hand holding his. ¡°Hey, its okay,¡± Jasmines voice was calm, caring squeezing his hand tighter. ¡°Is it done?¡± he asked, thankful his skull was still attached. ¡°Not yet,¡± she said softly, ¡°We cant calibrate it properly without triggering an episode,¡± Ryo cursed, he tried to move but, his body was completely paralysed. Panic began to set it, trauma from the previous exact scenario set his brain into flight mode. ¡°I want off this table, I don¡¯t care about the translator I cant go through this again,¡± Jasmine nodded her head, turning to Xant. ¡°Xant, give him the stimulant, we can try this a different time,¡± Xant was hesitant, ¡°But calibrating it would insure it never happens again-¡± ¡°I WANT OFF THIS FUCKING TABLE NOW!!¡± a blast of cold, sharp freq struck everyone in the vicinity. It felt like being stabbed by glass shards, Jasmine snapped at Xant, a frustrated command. ¡°Give him the stims and get him upright!¡± Xant couldt ignore the request, he reached for the stimulant to get the humans body moving again while Ryo¡¯s translator let off increasingly dangerous freq pulses. ¡®I WANT OUT GET ME OUT! I DON¡¯T WANT THIS, MAKE IT STOP!¡± and as Ryo became more desperate, Xant could feel them returning¡­ A black bug skittered across his gloved hand. Xant snatched up the chemical calibrator, tuning the input of the organ to filter out the unwanted signals. The Industrial freq was overwhelming Ryo¡¯s entire brain, flooding his consciousness with debilitating hallucinations, and the translator was projecting it all out into the open. Then there was a horrific, shrill cry. ¡°Infestation!¡± Viitoic began thrashing about as fast as his lumbering frame would allow, ¡°infestation! contamination! I¡¯ve been compromised!!¡± He was hysteric, arms and teeth bared he dived for the source of the hallucinations. Rynard intercepted the Engine Lord, tackling him to the ground, and restraining all six of his arms. ¡°Hurry up doc!¡± The captain shouted, ¡°I cant hold him without damaging him!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve almost got it!¡± Xant screamed in reply, using all his concentration to complete the calibration, ¡°I just need a little more time!¡± Jasmine closed her eyes squeezed Ryo¡¯s hand tighter, and began humming, trying to recall a strong, happy memory. Soon, the dark shadows of his psychosis began to fade, making way for the bright sunshine. A never-ending blue sky and a white powdered beach¡­ There was no one else, just sky, sand and surf¡­ A cool wind blew on his face, he could feel the warm sand under his fingertips... It was nice... Xant calculated the last freq block on the translator, the black bugs, the shadow and the ever-present cloud of dread faded into nothing. He practically tossed aside the device once it was done, then gently administered the stims allowing Ryo¡¯s body to move once again. ¡°Jasmine, you can release him.¡± the doctor said softly. She slowly unclenched her hands around Ryo¡¯s, as soon as his body began to move, Ryo sat up as fast as he was able. His head was silent, no voices, no shadows, no dread.. The nightmare was over Disparity - Chapter 35 : Suiting Up Beau stood and watched the events unfold before him. He felt himself detach as the organ grew inside the tank like he was a spectator on the set of some horror movie. Unable to influence anything, he could scream and shout but they couldn¡¯t understand him, you can¡¯t reason with something that cant understand you. He¡¯d been there one too many times in his life. He stood by as aliens conducted surgery. Ryo, even after all they had been through together should have hated the aliens more than himself, yet here he was letting them do god knows what to his brain again. It was the same as the other lab. Rows and rows of vats and tanks holding all manner of monstrosities yet treated as mundane. Beau stood outside them all, deaf to the subtleties of conversation. Why would all of this suddenly be okay? He cracked his knuckles, holding clenched fists as he watched, Life held no sanctity in these halls, how could it when they could manipulate it so easily? If this was a way of life, what was abhorrent to them? What was the line they wouldn''t cross? The old adage of keeping your friends close but your enemies closer was beginning to ring true in his head. Ryo and Jasmine both, no matter how many times he would ask a question he wouldn¡¯t be getting a straight answer from either of them, he couldn''t interpret how the aliens answered to him. Second-hand information got people killed, he couldn¡¯t be in the dark anymore. But fuck getting an alien squid in his brain. If these monsters could build a spaceship, they could figure out an external translator. ¡°Hey,¡± Jasmine¡¯s hand waved in front of his face, looking up at him through concerned eyes, ¡°You okay Beau?¡± He smiled. ¡°Just lost in thought is all¡­¡± He replied, then noticing the scene around him, perhaps he had gotten a little too lost in thought. He unclenched his hands, and then centred his attention on Ryo, ¡°did the surgery go alright?¡± Jasmine nodded her head, ¡°Well, there was a little bit of a hiccup, but were all done now,¡± Beau walked up to Ryo, who sat at the end of the steel table with a blank look on his face. For all their time together, he¡¯d never seen Ryo not focused to the point of irritation, the teenage scowl was nowhere to be found. It unnerved him. ¡°Hey, Ryo¡­¡± Beau approached him, studying his movements, ¡°how you doing kid?¡± Ryo blinked back into consciousness and gave Beau a slow thumbs up. ¡°Good,¡± came the relieved sigh, and a tap on the side of his head, ¡°all quiet now, no shadow,¡± Beau tried to smile back, and he prayed that it was just the language barrier. ¡°You still you?¡± Beau asked a little quieter. Ryo gave Beau his smug smirk (shit-stirring smirk?). ¡°Homerun,¡± the kid replied. Beau shook his head with relief and patted his shoulder. He pushed the horrible thoughts back down but reaffirmed his decision. He was going to get a translator from them one way or another. Viitoic still struggled against the Captain, even after the mysterious infestation had vanished as quickly as it had materialised. Jasmine¡¯s voice commanded his attention. ¡°Its over,¡± She said firmly yet sincere, ¡°they can¡¯t hurt you,¡± The engine lord blinked all six of his black eyes bewildered and enraged. ¡°Its over?!¡± he shrieked indignantly, ¡°how can it be over when its only just begun??! Phenomenons do not just vanish once enacted! My senses were invaded and violated!-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± she silenced him, a blue-eyed stare waiting for him to hold his tongue, and when he did not dare interrupt her, she explained, ¡°it is an unfortunate condition, but it will not interfere with my companion or your people any longer,¡± ¡°A condition¡­¡± Viitoic growled, ¡°you knew of this disturbing errant?¡± ¡°I knew of it,¡± Jasmine cut him off, ¡°It is a human condition suffered alone in the silence of our own skulls, it was the translator that brought it forth out into the open, and without proper care, the translator exacerbated its effects. Thankfully, it is under control now, so there is no need to fret or wail, if proper care had been taken when installing the organ,¡± she shot Viitoic a dirty glare, ¡°then none of this disturbance would have transpired,¡± Viitoic snorted, Rynard squeezed the engine lord for good measure. ¡°You are learning quickly namegiver¡­¡± Viitoic admitted, ¡°but it was not I who conducted such foolishness.¡± ¡°Maybe not, but I expected an engine lord to hold himself to better conduct,¡± she looked to either side of her, ¡°neither my Captain nor Dr Xant are acting as shrill as you did, if it were you conducting the surgery I doubt my companion¡¯s condition would be as stable,¡± That caught Viitoic off guard, and genuine shock smacked in his face The citizen model did endure the phenomenon without panicking, the citizen should have been stiffed. The amount of Freq being thrown around the room and was ghastly, too many different types caused ugly cross-contamination. He rattled his teeth in thought. ¡°Obviously it is an occurrence that will need to be further studied¡­¡± Viiotic muttered weakly, ¡°especially its effects on more, intellectual models.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Jasmine answered curtly, ¡°but only after negotiations with the council,¡± You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Viitoic hissed but conceded the point. ¡°After negotiations,¡± he repeated, making a mental note of his growing list of experiments. ¡°We have other requirements,¡± Jasmine continued, ¡°Lieutenant Nako said you would be able to provide us with power armour-¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± Viitoic snapped, ¡°next thing I¡¯ll know he would have told you a warship was available,¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Jasmine quipped, ¡°I believe Ryo was the one he was negotiating with,¡± she threw a thumb over her shoulder at the recently surgically enhanced human, the young man looked up over at Viitoic and he felt his skin crawl. The engine lord snapped his teeth, ¡°I suppose some armour is not a steep (courting) gift¡­¡± he muttered under his breath, ¡°shall I bring up the lieutenants request?¡± ¡°Please do,¡± She replied, Jasmine turned to Beau, returning to her far more casual way of speaking. ¡°He says he¡¯ll work on our armour now, mines first then we can ask him to make up something for you and Ryo,¡± Beau shook his head, ¡°Didn¡¯t sound much like you were asking,¡± he observed, Jasmine scratched the back of her head. ¡°Yeah, well, the Engine Lord¡¯s a bit of an asshole,¡± she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s personal though, you just have to act like you own the joint,¡± ¡°(in charge vibes) I get it,¡± Beau answered, ¡°so where¡¯s the armoury?¡± Jasmine shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± ¡°Here? But I thought this was the lab?¡± ¡°It¡¯s both,¡± she replied, the engine lord had been fiddling away at the machine, before another image appeared within the holoscreen, a suit of power armour that looked extremely familiar to the old soldier. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that look before,¡± he stated with a disapproving tone. ¡°Oh? Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, bastard stabbed me,¡± ¡°Ugh,¡± Jasmine commiserated, ¡°if it helps,¡± she looked down at her waist, ¡°I don¡¯t think i could wear it and still breath. Engine lord, could i make some changes?¡± The monster snarled and clicked, its language full of hisses and long, drawn-out vowels, but the woman understood him perfectly. ¡°I have a reference,¡± she replied and turned back to beau, ¡°The game case?¡± He slowly handed it over, a small part of him excited at the prospect of real, power armour. There had to be a positive side to this whole alien abduction thing, somewhere down the line. Jasmine passed the graphic over to the alien, who was confused by its presence. ¡°No, the data is on the disk but it¡¯s a ¡®game¡¯, not a direct specs file,¡± The engine lord let out a defeated hiss. ¡°I know, I know, but, you can make it look a little bit similar, right? You¡¯re an engine lord?¡± The beast snorted, as though incensed by the challenge and began manipulating the image in light space. Soon, the armour began to take on a more human-like image, with jasmine directing the last few flourishes, making it sleeker than the original design. ¡°Yeah,¡± she announced at the end, hands-on-hips proud, ¡°I¡¯m happy with that,¡± What followed was, to Beau¡¯s complete surprise, an almost exact repetition of the translator organ growth, except this time, it was an entire suit of power armour. Well, not quite. It wasn¡¯t the complete suit, rather, the organic inlay, a flayed skin to be cased in steel. ¡°So, it really is honest to god organic tech¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jasmine replied, it¡¯s pretty creepy overall,¡± ¡°Them spikes look nasty¡­¡± Jasmine peered in for a closer look, the silent, smaller alien that followed jasmine everywhere make a minute growl, and its ears flickered. ¡°Xant says its to connect to our own nervous system, in order for it to function,¡± Beau raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, it will be directly, connected, to us?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jasmine gulped, Dr Xant moved to get beaus attention, showing him the puncture points in the alien¡¯s orca like skin. ¡°So, the suits of armour are made from the same materials as the translator?¡± ¡°I guess so?¡± Jasmine responded. ¡°And the suits are connected to your nerves to work, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± jasmine started to see his train of thought. ¡°What¡¯s to stop them from putting a translator into the suit itself?¡± he looked back at her. ¡°That way I can communicate with you all without having to have a squid in my brain,¡± ¡°Beau you¡¯re fucking brilliant!¡± Jasmine exclaimed. She immediately turned to the engine lord and full-on demanded a translator be put into the next suit. The monster growled in protest but jasmine was not having it, a mixture of excitement and daring. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± she snapped back, ¡°it wouldn¡¯t be hard at all!¡± she turned back to beau asking quickly ¡°you want any changes to the suit?¡± ¡°As is on the cover, plus the translator, made it fit¡± ¡°Right got it!¡± Beau watched as yet another eldritch horror was created inside a vat, a goopy mess of blue tissue and veins. He couldn¡¯t see how such a thing could be made into armour, and he was having second thoughts about wearing it. Three sets of Mjolnir armour stood before the humans, unrecognisable from the organic forms, steel alloy coated the outside and plush, black leather-lined the inside. If he was being honest the 18-year-old inside him was hollering loudly for him to try it on. He was wary of this spikes though. ¡°I don¡¯t see ¡®em,¡± he noticed, running his thumb down the inlay. ¡°Xant says they activate when you step inside, the button is on the collar,¡± Jasmine looked between her counterparts. ¡°Who wants to try it on first?¡± There was a great pause between the three of them, the very human response to let others go first even when they all really wanted to wear armour. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve worn citizen armour,¡± Jasmine elaborated ¡°so I kinda already know how it feels, ¡°I just had surgery,¡± Ryo said blankly ¡°I should wait,¡± Beau bit the side of his lip, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll go first, let you know it¡¯s safe,¡± he chuckled, but not entirely sure what to expect. Jasmine relayed the procedure step by step for him. Slide into the suit Touch the button with your chin Brace for the needles. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he muttered hyping himself up, ¡°it will be just a shot, like at the doc¡¯s ain¡¯t nothing to worry about¡­¡± The leather was cold, and the suit itself fit him so tightly there was barely any room to move. ¡®Just tap your chin and hold on¡¯ he thought to himself, closing his eyes and tapping the colour with his chin. He was expecting the needles. He wasn¡¯t expecting where. The first two shot up into his heels and he shrieked. ¡°What in the tapdancing christ?!-¡± he screamed in anger, ¡°what kind of psychopath stick¡¯s them in the goddamn feet?!-¡± the rest of his rant was cut off by the suit continuing process. The back of the knees, The tail bone, All up the spine in the soft centre of his elbows and the palms of his hands. The pain overshadowed by the fury, he had been tricked, swindled, and by gods righteous fury he was going to rip the engine lord in two when this was all said and done. He shuddered in shock and the suddenly, sweet, sweet relief flowed through his entire body. The cold leather became warm and the suit moulded to him. It was light, strong, he could feel the shifting of the air through the steel and the tips of his fingers. The pain was gone and in its place power. He flexed his fingers, slowly, he became aware of another sensation, a bright, warm light. ¡®He¡¯s starting to feel it,¡¯ Ryo¡¯s voice echoed in his head and down his spine. ¡°Feel what?¡± Beau asked out loud and Jasmine smiled widely, the light became stronger. ¡°We call it ¡®Frequency¡¯, or Freq for short,¡± a deep soothing voice spoke to him, and suddenly beau felt as though he were standing in a great river, ¡°I must admire your tenacity, an external translator within military regalia, I dare say a brilliant if an unorthodox solution to the human problem,¡± Beau blinked, staring at Dr Xant, then at Jasmine. ¡°oh,¡± he breathed ¡°I get it now¡­¡± ¡°Deep breaths Sargent beau,¡± Xant instructed, ¡°your own physiology will with reacting to the translator, you will need to adjust,¡± Beau looked at his fingers once more, folding them in and out of his palm as his own aura emerged. It was a deep amber glow, a thick mist of memories, tough leather, dull steel, patience, Spades fur and cool ale. It was as though there was a weight he carried, that hung on his every step, but it was not unwelcome. ¡°Huh,¡± Beau uttered, ¡°yall forgiven,¡± he replied, ¡°this thing come with a helmet?¡± ¡°A set of regalia would not be complete without,¡± the snide arrogant permeated from the engine lord, ¡°I await your acknowledgements,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll give it to ya,¡± Beau nodded, ¡°you may be one ugly motherfucker, but this is tight,¡± Viitoic clicked his tongue, confused for the moment, but understood the sentiment. ¡°Well then Namegiver, do you require my assistance further? Or may I return to the overwhelmingly important duties you have pulled me from?¡± ¡°You have been sardonically cooperative engine lord, but we have everything we require, so we shall take our leave,¡± Rynard picked up the remaining two suits, while Jasmine waved at the engine lord. ¡°Thank you! Live long and prosper!¡± she laughed teasingly. Viitoic couldn¡¯t help but bob his head in return, ¡°May the universe give you what you deserve,¡± he chuckled back. As the humans vacated with their escorts from Viitoics labs he once again held dominion. His engineers began coming out of their hiding places, many still jittering from the errant visions. They stood and waited for their engine lords orders. The large-headed chimera tapped his tooth plate together. ¡°Pull me a ship¡¯s brain from any of the veteran fighter ships,¡± he purred to himself, ¡°I want to see how much Industrial freq we can produce before the signals become unstable¡­¡± Disparity -Chapter 36: Building Bridges Beau walked like a new man in the suit, he could feel things, hear things that he couldn¡¯t before like a whole new world had opened up for him and he was only just learning the perspective. ¡°Glad to see youre adjusting well,¡± Ryo¡¯s voice was directly inside his minds ear, accompanied by the sensation of soft snowfall at night, Beau blown away a voice could feel like that. The kid¡¯s broken english was gone, replaced with clear sentiment and the blind, reckless sarcasim only a teenage boy could muster. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that,¡± Beau admitted, ¡°you were feeling this all along? No wonder you were so irritated¡­¡± Everyone around him was different, the soldiers that escorted him were blades and hammers, the humans were snapshots into their past lives. He could almost taste the summer sun whenever he stood closer Jasmine and wide open river when the Alien dr Xant spoke directly too him. ¡°Oh?¡± the young man looked at him side eyed, lips never opening to say a word, all thoughts. Ryo had been lasping more and more into ¡®telekinseis¡¯ and now that Beau could hear him he understood why. ¡°so you find it unpleasant?¡± a genuine question, the level of sincerity was another thing Beau would have to get used to, no more discerning truth from lie. It was as plain as his own thoughts. ¡°Not unpleasant, just overwhelming¡­¡± Beau admitted. ¡°I¡¯d say you get used to it but,¡± Jasmine chimed in, ¡°it¡¯s pretty life-changing, I certainly can¡¯t go back to silence,¡± Beau shook his head, it was all so new and uncontrolable, he just needed to sit and soak it all in. really get a feel for how the emotions coming in and going out affected one another. ¡°We can adjust the translator once we are back at the yacht if you feel the input is too much,¡± Dr Xant reassured Beau, ¡°you might be uniquely sensitive due to your advanced age,¡± He heard- no, felt the pair of kids laugh. ¡°I¡¯m old, but I¡¯m not that old,¡± Beau corrected. ¡°Ah, I meant no offence,¡± Xant bowed his head, Beau had noticed that Xant, despite being completely alien otherwise, felt the most human. That fact bothered Beau more than he would¡¯ve liked to admit. ¡°You''re practically ancient compared to everyone else here,¡± Jasmine replied, ¡°unfortunately, most of them dont live past 40,¡± Beau let out a disappointed ¡®tsk¡¯ ¡°All this biotech and you barely live past middle age? That ain¡¯t right,¡± Beau felt the soldiers around him shift, it was subtle, like his observation hurt them in some way. ¡°Oh, about your regalia Sargent Beau,¡± Xant was quick to change the topic, probably for tensions sake, ¡°The Engine Lord advises that it will not be as durable as galactic standard due to your poorly efficient bodily functions, so your continuous use has been downgraded to an [8 month] duration,¡± ¡°So I don¡¯t have to get out of this suit for [8months]?!¡± Beau exclaimed. ¡°Not if you don¡¯t want to, the suit is self-regulating but can only process so much of your body waste at one time, I¡¯m sure future iterations will be more efficient in containing your anatomy,¡± There was a brief silence between the group as the humans took in the information. Ryo stared at the suit made for him swinging in captain Rynards grip, classic black with red high lights, as per his request. ¡°Getting stabbed in the feet in exchange for not worrying about when you¡¯re going to take a piss sounds alright,¡± Ryo replied off handedly. Jasmine shook her head in distaste and quickened her pace, Xant following close behind. Beau gave a small chuckle as Ryo shared a devious grin. The soldiers stopped just shy of the yacht, standing at attention once their ward was safely in front of them. ¡°We have delivered you safely to your quarters Namegiver,¡± the largest of the dino-soldiers growled. ¡°Thank you Captain,¡± Jasmine acknowledged, her demenour firm and dignified, ¡°Send Lieutenant Commander Nako my thanks, your escort was profissant.¡± she bowded her head lightly and raised her right arm up to her left shoulder The captain saluted with an arm barred across his chest, beating his breast plate once before ordering his small squad of knights to return to their stations. Jasmine relaxed and exhaled, clearly unused to the formalities. ¡°Namegiver¡­¡± Beau repeated in thought, ¡°Is that what they call humans or is that what they call you?¡± Jasmine leaned up against a rail, looking for the right words, but grinning from ear to ear. ¡°It¡¯s my title,¡± Jasmine explained, ¡°titles are very important to the Aliens, lets them know where in the hierarchy you sit, or how powerful your ¡®Freq¡¯ is, but its got to mean something to you,¡± She tapped her heart, ¡°it sounds a little corny but the more you connect with it the more powerful it becomes. Princess, Your Grace, those titles didnt sit right with me, but Namegiver¡­¡± Her light enveloped him, a sort of reverence and respect was demanded of him, but it wasnt out of fear, it was comforting, ¡°Thats a title I would be proud to wear,¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good title,¡± beau nodded, ¡°how¡¯d it come to you?¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who came up with it...¡± Jasmine replied being coy. ¡°So who came up with it? Him?¡± Beau asked pointing at Xant, who flattened his ear in reply. ¡°Well, maybe you should go down deck and ask Spades for your self?¡± Jasmine answered. Beau blinked, and the penny dropped, without another word the man charged below deck to find his partner. Xant sighed and turned to Jasmine, ¡°Should I brace for a Freq-bomb pulse?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± she smiled, ¡°I think you¡¯ll be pleasantly surprised.¡± Beau didnt have to look for them, he could feel them, their aura, presence, Frequency, lifeforce, whatever mambo-jumbo word you wanted to attribute to it. It was like having real-life super powers, or the force He found Spades lying on a bed beside the golden retriever, she was like running through wet grass on a spring day, bright happy, wonderful and Spades¡­ Spades felt like a hot day, stuck between the sweat of Louisiana and the arid air of Kandahar, he was old, tired, but the world became brighter when he saw his friend. ¡°Beau!¡± Spades ears stood up and Beau broke down. ¡°Spades you beautiful bastard,¡± the dog dove in for a hug and the old soldier gladly gave it, ¡°You can talk! You can hear!¡± the dog barked excitedly as the translation echoed in Beau¡¯s skull, his loyal friend could understand him, one on one, and still trusted him. ¡°Yeah boy I hear you, loud and clear¡­¡± The memories they had together, the good, the bad, and the truely, truely awful. Spades licked the salt water from his namegivers face. ¡°Namegiver Beau!¡± a bouquet of flowers was thrown in if face as Sieglinde crawled over to the edge of the bed. Beau reached out and tosseled her ears. ¡°Namegiver Beau,¡± He sniffed with a grin, ¡°How come you dont call me that?¡± ¡°Because we are partners,¡± Spades replied with as deep as a conviction as the creature could muster, ¡°I am Spades, you are Beau, not Namegiver or Friend, Partners.¡± Hearing his voice, the final foot of distance between them had been closed, no longer human and animal companion, they were true brothers in arms. ¡°Partners, I like the way you think, aint none of that fancy stuff between us¡­¡± But their tour wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°Spades, We¡¯ve been through hell and back, I ain¡¯t ever leaving you behind again, but we cant relax yet. We got one more mission before we can go home-¡± Both Seiglinde and Spades ears shot up at the mention of the word home, earth was clearly missed by all, ¡°WE gotta make nice with all these aliens, but after that, i promise, i¡¯ll get us Home.¡± The dogs launched an assult on Beau¡¯s face, wet tongues and nosed smothered him with love. ¡°Hey hey!¡± he chided while pushing their snouts out of the way, ¡°not in the face okay, everywhere else is fine,¡± ¡°Okay!¡± the dogs replied wagging their tails, Beau gave them both a tossel of the ears before he noticed something off. Seiglinde¡¯s glow was brighter than spades, but not because she was stronger, beaus fingers traveled down her coat and rested over her belly. He could feel the puppies inside. ¡°Youre pregnant?¡± he blurted out loud. ¡°Yes!¡± Sigi barked ¡°I will be a Lifegiver soon!¡± ¡°Our pups,¡± Spades added and Beau could barely contain the tear in his eye. ¡°You¡¯re telling me youre going to be a father?!¡± Beau could only laugh, ¡°Right, i¡¯m a Namegiver, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°So, i¡¯mma going to give you youre names, LifeGiver Sigi, and PackLeader Spades,¡± the pair wagged their tails excitedly. ¡°What about Friend Kimiko?¡± Sigi asked. ¡°I¡¯ll give her, her name when I meet her,¡± ¡°Okay!¡± the dogs agreed, Beau sat back and thought about his own title. He had been through some shit in his life, stuff he was proud of, stuff he was ashamed of, but in the end, it all made up apart of him. What was he going to be moving forward? He had to keep an eye on Ryo, offer his help to Jasmine and protect the incoming puppies, theyre were all just kids after all. He needed to protect, guide and fight, like an old jedi knight. He laughed to himself, he did have the super powers to go with it now, and Master Chef was too on the nose. (GuardianKnight/MasterKnight/) would do for now. Ryo stood out on the topmost deck, staring at the world around him, while beau was learning how loud the aliens world was, he was appreciating the quietness of his own mind. He watched the alien engineers work on the fighter craft beyond the makeshift car yard, pumping chemicals in and out of the ships. They were too far away to feel, but they moved like bees in a hive, ever busy and never getting in each others way. He remembered how everyone moved instantly out of his path as he walked through them, the sense of power had been gratifying in his manic state, now it felt isolating. He had spent so much of his life pushing people away, now he could command it at will, but was that what he wanted? Its what the shadows wanted¡­ ¡°Hey!¡± Jasmine called, the bright pesence interrupting his philosophising. She climbed up the last ladder and crossed the helipad to join him ¡°I was wondering how you got up here,¡± ¡°I took the stairs, like a normal person,¡± ¡°Yeah right, cause there isnt a million sets of stairs on his ship¡± Jasmine crossed her arms and leaned on the guard rail beside him, ¡°so what are you doing up here? Besides enjoying the view,¡± she waved out at the sea of steel. Ryo thought about telling her about the spaceships, or the engineers walk paths, but that would lead to a monotonous conversation. He didnt want that. ¡°Promise not to laugh?¡± he asked, tentatively offering an olive branch. ¡°Cant promise not to laugh after you¡¯ve explicitly told me not to, that¡¯s like human psychology 101,¡¯ she replied, but he didnt feel any maliciousness from it, she joked alot with Beau, it must have been an Australian quirk. Ryo rolled his eyes and leaned forward on the rail, staring at the alien workshop. ¡°I was thinking about my own title, I don¡¯t think namegiver suits me¡­¡± he admitted. Jasmine didn¡¯t laugh. ¡°Ah, do you want someone to bounce ideas off?¡± ¡°...yeah,¡± ¡°So, what you got?¡± He paused, unsure if he should share the names, he wanted something cool but, the act of saying so invalidated the coolness of it. ¡°Shadow, Ghost, Esper, Umbras¡­¡± even as he said it it loud the names made him cringe, but still Jasmine didnt laugh. She was quiet with thought, having had more practise with concealing them, there was flashes and whisperes but nothing concrete he could grasp. ¡°Phantom?¡± She offered up, but he shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know, it just doesn¡¯t feel right¡­¡± ¡°Hey, you don¡¯t have to decide here and now,¡± she tipped her head back to look at the steel sky, ¡°it¡¯s not something you should make a hasty decision on, the stronger connection to your name the more respect it¡¯s going to command.¡± she returned upright and offered up a smile, ¡°Beau rigged up the theatre room downstairs, were going to watch a movie, wanna join us?¡± Ryo hesitated, looking back out at the sea of cars, ¡°Well, the invitations always open,¡± Jasmine replied starting to head downstairs, ¡°and I¡¯ll do my best to figure out a name for you, one you¡¯ll like better than ¡®Ryo¡¯,¡± Ryo¡¯s eyes widened, staring at her in shock. ¡°How long have you known-¡± ¡°Since we first met,¡± she answered, ¡°it didnt ¡®feel¡¯ like your name,¡± ¡°... it was a friend¡¯s,¡± He confessed, ¡°he helped me get out of Tokyo,¡± ¡°Good friend?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± ¡°Well, hopefully you¡¯ll find some better ones,¡± Jasmine offered, stretching before she started walking back across the helipad, ¡°we¡¯re all on the third deck, Beau wants to watch Independence Day first and I¡¯m going to tell him why its a terrible idea,¡± she waved absently and began her descent down the deck ladder. ¡°Itsuki!¡± he blurted out suddenly, stopping jasmine in her tracks, ¡°my name, it is Itsuki Sugawara¡­¡±Jasmine stared back, the vague darkness that surrounded him came sharply into focus, the young, battered man in the night¡¯s snow, ¡°Thank you and, I¡¯m sorry for (lashing out, insulting you, hurting everyone) everything¡­¡± Jasmine nodded her head, a wave of relief swept over the pair of them, warm, summer sun had begun melting the snow. ¡°Thank you, Itsuki¡­¡± End of Book 4 Continued in book 5: Resolve Update - this will be deleted Hello everyone! Long time no chat huh? This is just a small meta post to let you all know that I¡¯m not dead and how the series is progressing. IRL has been, stressful, not going to lie. inflation sucks ass, credit scores are bullshit, and my mum caught covid while in hospital for breast cancer (and gave it all to us because the test didn¡¯t test positive until she was over the worst of it) also, my functional depression came back and I might be suffering from undiagnosed ADD¡­ But, in spite of all little squigs is becoming a wonderful human being (provided she is not denied ice-cream) and while cancer is a termendous foe, my mum kicked its ass and is planning on sticking around for another decade. That¡¯s enough of the RL stuff, here¡¯s what you came here for! The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. So, I¡¯m currently drafting chapter 14 of book 5. I¡¯ve done a basic outline of the last chapters and it looks like the book is going to be about 23(ish) chapters long, so, more than half way done baby! All of the chapters are available on my patreon if you don¡¯t want to wait for chapters here. The published edits of the books are¡­ going slow. Turns out its really hard to edit while you¡¯ve got dyslexia. I hired an editor to help but, it¡¯s christmas time and I¡¯m low on funds, so it¡¯s going to happen, but it¡¯s probably not going to happen until after i finish the entire series. So, sorry guys, I piled my plate a little too high¡­ but I do have a kick-ass cover for book 3 so, theres that! I also will be taking a long break after the series is done, it¡¯s been 6 years (writing onreddit) and I wanna write more shitposts, stand-alones and commissions, expand my repertoire a bit! But the series will continue, just in a new format. Thanks for taking the time to read my series guys and I wish you all a happy and safe holiday season! ?Squiggles