Chapter Fifteen of my current wip. As before, all and any comments very much appreciated

Please note: This is now a weekly post

Two concerns robbed Jess of his sleep and his appetite. He must ensure no others of his team strayed beyond the barriers, there must be no contact, not even distant. And he must keep his bodily changes hidden from the Techs, and that meant hidden from his team as well, both observers and operatives. Trouble was Antel, Armar and probably Kookka too already knew, and if the Techs found this knowledge in their heads he was dead. He rocked on the edge of his bed as if thus to escape his thoughts.

Better to quash them.

He needed to enter the psi-sphere where, it was said, all answers were found. And indeed, there he did find an answer. So simple.

“Armar, Kookka,” he called them to him the next day. “That southern island…you know the one? I’m thinking it needs a thorough survey. We’ll take a flier.”

He didn’t wait for questions but led them to the fly-port. It was early, all three fliers were still on their pads. “I’ve always thought three a lucky number.”

“Since when have you been superstitious?” Kookka said.

Jess ignored the jibe. He nodded to the nearest flier. “Climb in.” And waited for the Tech who was hastening towards them with his leather-bound flight log.

“You have reason?” At least now the Techs didn’t query Jess’s ability to control the flier.

“We’ve discovered an island much changed since it was last surveyed.”

“That is for the Techs—”

“But you Techs are busy checking and repairing the perimeter holos. They must be restored to full working order as a matter of urgency. Everyone’s survival depends on it.”

The Tech twitched his head. Jess had often wondered if the Techs could detect the Monza’s sarcastic tones. Perhaps. Perhaps. He signed the Tech’s flight log and turned his back: dismissed.

As they rose above the camp, Kookka nodded back down. “Would that be our catering overseer?” The green-suited Canipse was waving his arms like a tree caught in a high wind. “Wonder what that’s about?”

“Stirring shit, no doubt,” Jess said. He couldn’t forget Canipse’s involvement in the flaying of the immature Itamakki.

Kookka growled. “Would that be the same shit as his operatives serve us for supper?”

“Oh, you too? I thought it only me he was targeting.”

“I’d say he doesn’t make the best of enemies,” said Armar.

Jess held his words, his mind on the flying. But after he’d dealt with the Techs, that overseer would be next – before his flabbermouth caused more trouble.

He had settled the flier on the bare volcanic rock before he said more. “Whatever we say, discuss, debate, decide while at this far place, it’s crucial you don’t bring it to mind when we return.”

“Then it’s true, our illustrious leader is hatching a rebellion,” Kookka said, not a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Where’d you hear that?” Jess snapped.

Kookka rested a calming hand on Jess’s shoulder. “Hey, joking.” Yet the look said I’m with you. Jess replied with the slightest shake of his head.

“But by the way you reacted…?” Armar said.

Jess hit the button to open the door. “It’s safer to speak outside the flier.”

Kookka’s wide brow furrowed as he planted his feet firmly on the rock. “I was joking but now I’m thinking maybe I’m right.”

“Kookka, you must have noticed…and I know you have, Armar, and now Antel’s confirmed it. I’m changing. Maturing. I soon won’t be a Monza-Imm. I’ve had contact with a breeding female, her pheromones have triggered me.”

Armar clasped his hands, brought up to his forehead as if in deep thought. “So, the GM Programme has progressed that far.”

“But contact…with a Sanki? When? Ah! The day of the dragons, got to be. You’ve been funny since then. Not overly yourself.”

“It was at a distance. I never imagined…” Jess drew in a breath and bit his lip. That was a lie. From the first moment he’d seen her, when he’d smelled her fragrance… “No contact, the Techs tell us, and now we know why.”

He paced, moving away from the tight trio they’d formed on leaving the flier. He was hoping he wouldn’t need to say more, that Kookka and Armar would figure it out, the same as he had. But though their heads drooped, and their faces frowned, they said no more.

“I don’t know what other changes to expect,” Jess said. “How noticeable they’ll be. Have you ever seen a mature Monza? No, because after they mated they died. No mature Monza ever survived.”

And neither would he survive, not when the Techs saw the changes. They’d know the cause. There would be no shipping him to the Fire-keepers of Colabri this time. He had disobeyed and now bore the mark. The Techs wouldn’t allow that to be seen.

It wasn’t the death that frightened him, but its manner. The Techs would skin him like they had that young Itamakki. They claimed never to kill but like so much else with the Techs that was clearly a lie. His breath caught just at the notion. His belly queasied, sweat beaded. Rather his companions killed him here, now, than that. But their stun-guns weren’t designed to kill.

“Armar, Kookka, I need your help. We’ve to get rid of the Techs.”

“An interesting proposition,” Kookka said, a loaded side-glance at Armar. “Maybe overly hasty. As you say, you don’t know the changes. Maybe they won’t notice? We haven’t seen a mature Monza, so it figures neither have they.”

“Adamzal,” Jess said. “Remember what Joel told us.”

“I’m not party to this,” Armar said. “What did Joel say?”

“He’s been to Adamzal,” Kookka filled in. “He says there are breeding females there, that the Techs control their breeding and take the Amzal-Imms for work where size and strength is needed, in the mines.”

“But…” Armar stuttered over his thoughts. “But why this GM Programme to ensure the Monza’s survival when they’re already flourishing on Adamzal?”

“It’s a cover,” Jess said.

“Kookka’s right about you,” Armar said.

“He does have history.”

Jess shot Kookka a look but still admitted it. “The Fire-keepers of Colabri erased that from my personality.”

Kookka raised a brow – which with a slight cock of his head Jess returned.

“Sounds like it,” Armar said with what would have been a laugh if it hadn’t been underlaid with concern.

“We don’t know the Techs’ true purpose on the GM planets,” Jess said. “Yet to genetically modify the native life isn’t it. Unless it’s to breed more tireless workers for them.”

“But I have to agree with Kookka,” Armar said. “To be rid of the Techs? That’s too extreme. And anyway, how were you thinking of doing it? Are you talking of killing them? Feed them to your dragons? Don’t ask me to mix you some poisons, my apothecary days are long behind me. And just our Techs here at this base? Or all the Techs on Ayin? And what happens when the STC-Transporter returns? And can we survive here without the Techs? And have you thought how long their demise would go unnoticed – if you mean just the Techs of Clutch Six? Whatever your intention, I’d say you’ve not thought it through.”

Armar was right, Jess hadn’t thought it through. “All good questions. In answer, only our Techs on base. And no, no killing – I don’t think I can, though maybe that’s just a prohibition the Techs instil in us. I thought maybe to strand them. Too far away from our base to be a problem. Here. Or on one of the other islands. Too far south for them to contact the Techs at the other bases. It’s doable.”

“And it saves your life?” Armar said.

“Would you meekly and obediently wait to be taken and –” he grimaced, barely able to say it “– skinned? For no fault of your own? Yea, I was outside the perimeter. But I was checking on a holo that they had neglected.”

“I say it’s workable,” Kookka said. “Though, my friend, we should wait before laying further plans, see the fullness of these changes. But I promise you, we’ll act on it before they ever have a chance to take you.”

It wasn’t the result he’d wanted, but it would have to do. Meanwhile, there were more holos to check. Those around the farms.

To be continued next Monday

Thank you for reading

Please, do comment