Chapter 13 – EVO
***Tirnanog, The Old Camp***
***Astra***
I am so proud of my little Astra, Thalia praised. You actually went and talked to him. And from what you told me, I even dare to assume the first meeting wasnt too creepy or awkward.
It was the next day and my friend and I sat together on the bunker’s roof. Like always, we had a little chat, something we often did when there was nothing else to do.
Aside from him being covered in shit, I pointed out. I really could have chosen a better time to engage them, but I couldnt have hidden from Mark for much longer. That one has keen senses.
It still gives me hope! She clapped her hands together. So, when will you be seeing each other again?
I- I dont know, I admitted. I left when the situation got awkward, though I intend to catch them when they return from their hunt.
My friend dropped her excited smile and rubbed her temples. Back to square one. You should have seen to get a real follow-up date right then and there. If this goes on, others might notice that Tulkas is prime material. Then you will have to compete for his attention.
She clapped her hands together and giggled madly. Thats it! Your task for today is to get a real date with Tulkas. And, this time you have to make sure he knows its a date!
I wasnt too sure of Thalias plans. But wouldnt that make things awkward between us? Besides, I am sure he already figured out why I showed interest in him. And what if he is one of those manly men who need to sponsor the dates expenses just to feel like a man? I wouldnt want to place that responsibility on him since it would just make him feel indebted to me.
All the better! my friend replied. We arent living in the olden days anymore. When you are the one who is in a better financial situation, then its only natural for you to pay. It will show him you can pull your own weight and arent some feeble princess who needs rescue.
I have a feeling we have gotten way off track here, I pointed out and edged away from Thalia. Sometimes that woman simply got too worked up with her little fantasies. I believe they should be returning soon, so I will be going now, bye!
Just follow my advice! Thalia called after me.
I launched myself off the bunkers roof and fled my babbling friend. Thalia was a nice person, but some topics triggered the history nerd and relationship engineer in her.
My filaments carried me over the roofs of the neighbouring buildings and towards the elevator at the wall. I knew Tulkas and Mark would have to take it once they returned to the Old Camp. The two of them worked like clockwork when it came to their hunting trips, aided by the fact that time was easy to track with the sun.
They would always return once the blue star touched the mountaintop in the north.
I landed on the roof of the elevators watchtower and wasnt surprised when I saw two figures appear from the forest just a few minutes later.
They made their way through the area of waist-high greenery which had been cleared between the camps walls and the forest. People were regularly sent out to cut down the overgrown bushes which would allow predators to hide. The plants of this world always managed to grow back within a few weeks, so several people had built their livelihoods around keeping the flora away from the walls.
For evolutionary reasons which I didnt understand, this worlds flora experienced a perpetual growth season as long as the temperatures permitted it. Once the temperatures dropped and announced the coming winter, most plants rapidly withered and dropped their leaves as they drew all nutrients back into their stems and roots.
Tulkas and Mark finally reached the base of the wall and boarded the elevator.
I slid down the side of the watchtowers roof and landed on the walkway behind the walls parapet.
When the two men stepped out of the elevator, their rucksacks loaded with the spoils of their trip, I was already waiting for them.
Astra! Mark greeted me with a lot more enthusiasm than Tulkas managed to summon. It was a little off-putting, but not surprising, given the circumstances of our last meeting. I figured nobody liked being reminded of a literally ‘shitty’ experience.
Astra. Tulkas also nodded his head in greeting.
I couldn’t help but notice his roaming eyes and looked down at myself.
Well, crap, I hadn’t exactly dressed for the occasion, but I could correct the mistake fairly quickly by shifting and tightening my filaments in all the right places.
Hello! I smiled and imitated his nod, showing him the same amount of respect. I was wondering whether we could have the talk I mentioned yesterday?
He frowned but nodded. I figure its about Gurneys little enterprise?
Exactly, I replied and shifted my gaze towards Mark who was watching us with a shit-eating grin. There was no way I was going to give people a show.
It took a few seconds, but the third wheel finally got the message to make himself scarce. I think I will be going ahead, then. Tulkas, dont forget the quarterstaff training in the evening.
I will not, Tulkas replied and returned his attention to me while Mark descended the ladder on the inner side of the wall.
Do you want to talk right here? he asked.
I regarded the elevators guards who ignored my presence.
This spot had too many listening ears.
Given how many people had enhanced hearing, there wasn’t a place where privacy was assured, but we didn’t have to do this right in front of them.
Why dont we go directly to the restaurant so you can hand over your catch? I suggested. You can have a bite to eat while we talk.
He nodded, immediately on board with the idea of doing something he had planned anyway.
Tulkas was about to approach the ladder when I stopped him. Do you want me to give you a lift? It will be just a few seconds if we fly.
Can you even fly with additional weight? he asked with a curious expression. Ahem, I am not exactly light.
I took that as a yes and wrapped five filaments around him and his gear, then spread out the rest of them. Flying is a stretch while carrying another person, but I can glide.
Before he could protest, I caught the next breeze and we were carried off with him hanging beneath me.
True to my word, we had no problem gliding above the roofs of several buildings until we reached the restaurant at the Old Camps marketplace. Tulkas looked a little pale when we landed, but his knees didnt buckle upon touching the ground.
I definitely wont get used to that! he commented when I touched down next to him.
I grinned and gestured for him to take the lead into the large, longhouse-style log cabin. It contained what all the residents of the Old Camp simply regarded as the restaurant.
Tulkas was a registered supplier by now, so it didnt take the experienced clerks very long to tally up all the meat and plants he had brought in and to account for his points on a ledger. The restaurant always took all the consumables it could get. In turn, the suppliers had the option of putting some credit on the business slate.
I also ordered something for myself and told the restaurant staff to bill clan Aerie.
Muscle-based, zipper 2 Offensive Major Speed Muscle-based, zipper 3 Offensive Electric Charge Muscle-based, zipper 4 Defensive Muscles Steel Muscle-based, zipper 5 Survival Carrion Eater Digestive, zipper 6 Self-Healing Lesser Regeneration starfish 7 Sensory Second Sight Vision-Based, nightstalker 8 Defensive Enhanced Skeleton Internal/Bone, saherna 9 Defensive Improved Reflexes Nervous System, hornhop 10 Defensive Improved Processing Nervous System, hornhop
Tulkas looked a little downcast. Where would I have to go if I wanted to search for someone?
Are you… I frowned. Is it connected to the revenge story you told Gurney?
I immediately knew I had touched a sensitive topic when he ground his teeth together.
Instead of prying, I simply explained. I would assume you would need to build connections with all the clans. I am sorry to say this, but keeping track of where the women go isn’t easy thanks to the tenuous relationship between the clans. Gurney keeps track of the men, but as soon as the women land they are being distributed among the clans. Women of childbearing age and children are so prized that there aren’t many questions asked when a clan can claim one. They are snatched up before anyone in the Old Camp takes notes since they are blank slates and can be groomed into what the clan needs.
He snorted. Like cattle.
I didn’t want to deny it. It sounds fucked up, but this is a harsh world. A woman who can be groomed as the perfect ‘breeding stock’ is worth everything to a clan. If it helps, they have better chances than the men. Taking me as an example, they definitely have it better if this world doesn’t break them.
So, why isn’t this the case for you? he asked. Shouldn’t someone with your credentials be sequestered away at your clan?
There are reasons. We will have to address some of them once we return to Aerie. If you accept me, I explained. There was no point in worrying about it now. Suffice it to say, my family’s position allows me more freedom and opened risky paths of evolution which aren’t available for the average person. And… people are encouraged to follow proven mutation combinations, but nobody is forced against their explicit will. We aren’t desperate enough for such policies, yet.
At the end of the day, the ability to create viable offspring decides the rise and fall of a clan. People can pair up for the sake of evolution alone and become fairly powerful thanks to it. But that doesn’t mean their children will be human. I looked down at the table. It happened to a friend of mine.
The hard expression in his eyes softened a little. I am sorry. I have heard you have been searching for a partner for years. Why haven’t you just groomed one? Catch some exile back at the lake where the men are dropped and feed him the mutations you want. Just like they do it with the women.
He shook his head. Ah, forgive me, you mentioned it’s forbidden by some treaty? You will have to explain the situation in detail at some point.
I snorted. The treaty aside, have you seen what types of people they drop off at the lake? Nine of ten didn’t even make it through the forest. I don’t want a lifelong partnership with some weakling who can’t see to his own survival. Whether you want it or not, taking a partner is for life thanks to the nanotech within us. And I have ambitions. I don’t just want to survive in this world. I want to thrive. You have proven you can take care of yourself. Your mutations match with mine. Your background story doesn’t sound like you are a total ass, although we will have to come clear on it at some point.
He stiffened. What do you mean?
I shook my head and was proud I had noticed his little insecurity. Gurney is the closest thing to a human lie detector that exists in this world. He told me your story and your name are made up, but they aren’t entirely a lie. For now, you are your own person and your secrets are your own. I don’t care as long as we come clean once we join forces. Though, since you are quite obviously searching for family, I can already guess there is more to the revenge story.
We made eye contact and he nodded when it seemed like we had an understanding.
Don’t tell anyone unnecessarily, he said. There is a very good reason why I decided on a new beginning.
I frowned. Like?
His eyebrows drew together. If I ever meet someone who knows my real name without knowing those who I search for, then I know I have to rip out their guts and force-feed them with their own intestines. Then I will break every bone in their body one by one until they pass out from the pain.
I connected the dots and nodded. Because the only one who could have told them are either those you are searching for or people who have a two-way connection to Earth. You must have pissed off someone powerful if you believe they would follow you to this world.
After a moment of thought, I added, Which is unlikely.
Why? he asked.
I shrugged. I have never heard of Earth establishing any meaningful communication with us exiles. There are people like Roderick who work for them, but it’s more of a one-sided communication. The scientists from Earth sometimes throw a crate with luxury goods in with the male exiles. There is nothing within it that’s interesting enough to motivate us clanners, but stuff that might entice a younger exile like Roderick. The crates come with instructions and a promise of more and better rewards, should they help with the exiles survival. It’s like: ‘Make sure twenty or more survive and there will be two crates with the next group. If thirty survive, you will get three!’
Tulkas chuckled. Thats interesting. It at least implies the scientists have a way of gathering data about us. They are staying true to treating us like lab rats. And I can’t say Roderick was particularly interested in our survival.
I shrugged. Pretty much. As for Roderick, he is an ass, and one crate with smokes will keep him going for long enough to await the arrival of the next group. It’s a conflicting interest for him since every successful new exile means more competition for him.
We kept talking for what felt like an hour until Tulkas excused himself with the promise of taking my invitation under serious consideration, but he had to reach his training lessons with the staff.
I followed him on the way back to the bunker, seeing it as a good excuse to extend our time together. Before he left for the training field, I held him back. Sorry, but could we repeat this tomorrow? I will wait at the restaurant around the same time so we can eat together.
He thought about it and nodded. It’s fine with me.
When he turned, I held him back again. Uh, there is something I wanted to try out, regarding our compatibility.
I fought down my nervousness, but I needed to do this. Tulkas had been a decent bloke and as respectful as a man could be, but I had to know whether we could be more than amiable conversational partners. During our conversation, he hadn’t given even a hint about whether he was interested in more than getting information from me.
Yes? He raised an eyebrow.
I looked around, making sure there was nobody around to observe the scene. We were at the plaza next to the arena’s grove and it was abandoned at this time of day. There was no better chance, so I jumped into the cold water.
Reaching up, I grabbed Tulkas at his jacket and pulled.
Since he stood ramrod straight like a hornhop caught in the flashlights, I ended up pulling myself to his height before kissing him.
It was so embarrassing at first because I ended up with nothing more than mashing my lips against his, but then he reciprocated.
Our tongues touched and sensually explored for a moment before he ended up grabbing my ass to support me. It felt only natural to bring my legs up and lock him between my thighs while we indulged in kissing each other. Simultaneously, my filaments melded around us, entangling our bodies in the most intimate of ways.
The moment stretched on, maybe for a little too long, before I managed to pull away and clear my throat awkwardly. Ahem, thanks, I guess? That’s what I wanted to know.
What? Tulkas was still a little frazzled about what I had done.
You can let go of my ass now, I clarified.
Of course! His hands disappeared as if he had touched a hot stove and I climbed down. Ah, if I may ask? What was that?
I brushed my hair behind my ear and smiled up at him. A test. You passed.
I passed? He looked down at himself and embarrassedly shifted his pants around. I had obviously caused a quite natural reaction.
He also carefully picked at my retreating filaments, which was something I was much more interested in than his libido.
Not in the way you might be imagining right now. I laughed. I just wanted to see how you would react. You have no idea how many men would freak out because of my filaments. So, tomorrow?
He met my eyes and smiled. His expression was a curious mix between arousal, wonderment, and surprise.
Tomorrow, Tulkas replied before he turned stiffly, for obvious reasons, and walked away.
It was obvious that he still had trouble acclimating to this world, but his willingness to spend more time with me had me feeling giddy. Like a little girl on my way back to my room. I thought today’s conversation hadn’t gone so bad. And I had gotten a permanent meeting schedule out of it.
Oh, and for that reaction alone I would have to make kissing him a regular goodbye event.