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"** The Secret of Biosyn ***"*

By MrNelg

Act: III

Ian

The front of the auditorium was awash with diagrams, notes, lists, maps, artist sketches and even black-and-white photos. Everything that was required to make the move from Thorn Valley to Stone-Lee Gulch was displayed for everyone. The blueprints displayed that a new Colony would be built within the narrow rocky walls of the Gulch. Garden Netting would serve as a roof, hiding it from above and protecting it from predators. A water wheel with a pumping system built into the river flowing below would provide hydropower and water to the Colony. Seeds could be planted in black, plastic rectangular pots, hanging from the rock walls in a vertical garden and harvested for food.

Despite his dislike of the Engineering Department, Ian had to admit that they could work wonders. However, all these fantastic plans were the furthest from his and everyone else's mind. The atmosphere in the auditorium was so tense you could cut it with a knife.

Sitting in the front row, Ian allowed his mind to drift back to last night when he walked in through the double doors of the Medical Department with his two backpacks filled with Therisa's medicine. Their Department head's jaws dropped as he handed over three of each tablet. He grinned as he remembered how quickly their attitude towards him changed after that. Everyone wanted to congratulate him, and he shook too many hands to remember before they finally let him go.

He strode in through the double doors of the Foragers Department with his head held high that morning. Only to run right into a crisis. While his mission had been a tremendous success, the other Forager missions hadn't been so fortunate.

Five teams had journeyed to the other five surrounding farms that night, and while losses were expected, they had been the highest they'd ever been. Eight Foragers had been lost that night, and three were missing. Four had been swallowed whole and alive by Titans. Two had fallen from great heights, one was electrocuted, and one was snatched up and carried away by a Night Glider.

Ian sat in the front row of the meeting room as he listened. The euphoria of his success last night had all but drained as he listened to the anger from his fellow Foragers. In the middle of this storm stood Tholop, his elbows resting on the podium while his stapled fingers covered his mouth.

"To call last night a disaster would be a tasteless understatement," Brad cried. "We've never experienced a loss rate this high. And instead of pausing to lick our wounds, we're going back out there in full force again?"

"Last night was unfortunate," Tholop said. "But-" The entire auditorium erupted. "Please, listen to me," Tholop pleaded. "I understand your frustration, but we can't afford to slow down our pace. We must be ready to leave by the end of the week."

"Factoring in attrition and burn-out, there won't be a Foragers Department by the end of the week!" Brad cried. Tholop stared back, conflicted.

"We can't afford to scale back our operations," he said through gritted teeth. That caused everyone to sit up and take notice.

"What aren't you telling us?" Brad asked. Tholop looked pained now. He took a deep breath and quickly gestured to Hank, the tall blonde-haired man standing by the exit. He promptly checked outside the doors before nodding at Tholop and locking them. All eyes turned back to Tholop for an explanation.

"The blackout… was a warning," he said. "After all this dampness from all the rain rotted the cables, the Council asked the Intelligence Department to find out how long the rain will last. Tuning into the weather stations on the radio, they found that it will last for the rest of the week." He paused for a long time. "However, the section that taps the phone line also discovered it's causing the river to rise."

Every face within the room went pale.

"It's not enough to break the river banks, but it will flood the tunnel that leads to the Colony. How bad the flooding will be, we can't say, but waters will rise high enough to completely submerge the tunnel entrance." He paused a lot longer this time. "So when I say I understand your frustration, I'm not saying it because I love the sound of my own voice. I'm saying it because if we slow down our operations, we will have a Foragers Department, but we won't have a Colony."

Silence reigned throughout the auditorium.

"Now, do you understand why I hesitated to tell you this? The Council doesn't want a panic on its hands. People are already worried that the blackout means we won't be able to support the Colony, so an impending flood that could trap them will be catastrophic. The Council will inform the Colony of the danger when we're ready to leave. So, no one is to speak about this to anyone, so until then, keep your mouths shut."

"When's the latest we have to leave?" Ian asked.

"The Council has given us five days to forage for what we need," Tholop replied. "Then we have to evacuate."

"What about the emergency supplies we have stored for Operation Grand Slam?" Someone behind Ian called out. "Aren't they enough?"

"They will only last us ten days, and we'll need more than that if we're to trek all the way to Stone-Lee Gulch in the rain," Tholop answered.

"Do we know if it will still be raining by then?" Someone else asked. "Evacuating the entire colony in the rain will make things difficult."

"According to the weather report, it will be, but it should be a light drizzle that will taper off. The Council hopes we can use the rain to ward off Titans long enough to get the entire Colony across the open plains to the forest."

"What about Giants?" Giants were much smaller mammals that Titans often preyed on. Although lone Giants stayed away from humans, groups were bolder and weren't deterred by the rain like the Titans.

"The Security Department will be responsible for that," Tholop answered. "Once their plan is worked out, they wish to coordinate it with the scouts." He scanned the room. "Where's Frank?"

"Missing," came the response. Tholop winced at his mistake. Watching Tholop, Ian wondered if the pressure was getting to him. Tholop rubbed his temples with the palms of his hands.

"Ted, until Frank returns, you're in charge of the scouts." Ted said nothing. "I'll let you know when Security is ready to coordinate with us for the big move."

At first, Ian thought Ted would remain silent, but he asked, "Are you going to be okay?"

"The pressure is building on all of us," Tholop responded. "No one wants a repeat of the disaster that was the Great Escape, and there's even a possibility that we may end up discarding half of what we're getting. I just don't want everyone's sacrifice to have been in vain." The entire auditorium remained silent until Tholop, with a heavy sigh, launched into the morning's meeting.

As Ian suspected, a team would raid the Doctor's car when it showed up. The Intelligence Department had informed Tholop that Dr Yksuh would be arriving around mid-day, while the Medical Department already provided Tholop with a list of what they wanted. While they asked for medications, most of their demands were instruments.

Tholp asked for volunteers for that mission, and when Ian raised his hand, Tholop dismissed him, as he already had another mission in mind. As Tholop selected five volunteers, Ian already knew what it would be. He confirmed his suspicions when Tholop asked Ian to, once again, scout Therisa's room. He was to watch Dr Yksuh and warn the others when he was ready to leave.

To his surprise, Ian wasn't upset about being passed over for Foraging. He had hoped to be awarded an assignment with more responsibility for his success last night. Yet he felt somewhat excited for what would amount to another scouting role.

"You handled that better than I expected," Tholop commented. "I thought you'd be disappointed."

Keeping his wits about him, Ian replied, "It's as you said. We all have to do what we must. I understand I have experience scouting the Goddess's room, and you need the best person for the job." Everyone in the room nodded in agreement. Tholop said nothing but quickly moved on with the rest of the meeting.

He didn't pay much attention to what was said after that. He was busy thinking about other things, namely Therisa. That would allow him to see her again. Would Tholop send him up once the meeting was over? If so, he could talk to her before Dr Yksuh showed up. He shouldn't be thinking about doing such things, but his mind would dismiss such worries every time he did. A smile crept onto his face at that thought, but it quickly vanished as he returned to the meeting. He could think about talking with Therisa later. Right now, he had to focus.

Ian patiently listened until the meeting wrapped up. Tholop called him over and, as he hoped, ordered him to head up to Therisa's room immediately. Before he left, Tholop once again asked if he was okay, to which Ian silenced his worries by stating that, just like Tholop, he had to put aside his problems to focus on what needed to be done. That satisfied the man, and Ian hurried from the auditorium to prepare for his journey.

Therisa

The steady patter of the rain against the window slowly brought Therisa back to consciousness. As she eased herself into a sitting position, memories from last night flooded her clouded mind, and she smiled. Earn. That strange little Yoman who wanted some of her medicine for his sick friends.

For reasons she couldn't understand, that made her giggle. Then again, there were many things about that tiny furless creature that she couldn't understand. Why did she think he was cute? Why did his scent make her yearn for him? And why couldn't she stop acting like a high school girl whenever she thought about him? Yet, every time she tried to answer these questions, she found she didn't care.

Pulling open the curtains, the outside world, although slightly warped from the rain, illuminated the dark playroom. Despite the heavy grey clouds, the sun did its best to shine through to remind the earth below that it was morning. Outside, she could see Uncle Throp and Cousin Th'lick heading to the barn, decked out in rain gear. They paused to wave to Cousin Thrisica, who returned their greeting as she rode off to town on her bicycle wearing her lengthy, yellow raincoat. It was the weekend, so Cousin Theesa didn't have to attend school.

She turned towards the bedside table and the toy soldiers occupying it. They were twice as big as Earn. She tilted her gaze to look past them. He had gone that way to leave. Was there a secret passage back there? Granted, he told her he had listened to conversations within the walls. Was he in there right now, listening or watching? Were his friends there?

She turned away as she gripped her chin in thought. Where did they come from if there were more of them, and Rodent kind had no knowledge of them? She had thought about the possibility of aliens, but something else pushed that theory from her mind.

Although his hands were tiny and his movements quick, she had spied the gesture he made when he informed her that rodents had 'breathed life' into his kind. An 'X' and a circle. Over the past three years, she'd become very familiar with that symbol. The Biosyn Corporation Logo.

It made her concentrate on her thoughts. Biosyn was famous for its research and progress in the field of genetic engineering. Her new heart was a result of their work. His smell was so pleasant and relaxing. He was so cute. That made her postulate the theory that Yomans were genetically engineered pets. That had to be the answer because why else would she be so 'Head Over Heels' for him?

She paused. Earn had said there were aspects of Yomans that made the staff at Biosyn uncomfortable. Were those aspects behind his appeal? And if so, what were they?

The knock at the door startled her, and she quickly regained her composure and called out a friendly good morning. Aunt Thrace greeted her cheerfully as she brought in a steaming bowl of porridge.

"I received a call from Dr Yksuh this morning," she said. "He told me he should be able to see you sometime around mid-day." Therisa nodded. Cousin Thrisica had told the family about their conversation. Although it bugged her, she couldn't blame her Cousin; she did what she thought best. However, what would she tell the Doctor? She could chalk the whole thing up to her condition. Would he buy that? She remembered breaking her arm ten years ago while playing here, and Dr Yksuh had treated her then. He'd been thorough in his examination, asking her a multitude of questions.

Ten years ago. Earn and the other Yomans would've been here then. Did he see her during her stay? He did know a lot about her. Her heart warmed at the thought of Earn watching over her while she healed, and without realising it, her ears flagged, and the inside flushed red with embarrassment. Thankfully, her Aunt missed this as she was busy emptying her chamber pot.

Aunt Thrace returned the pot and told her she'd return later with a warm glass of milk once she had finished her breakfast. Then she was alone. With a sigh, she turned to look out the window. Below, she could make out Uncle Throp and Cousin Th'lick, warped by the rain as they prepared the tractor.

As she returned her attention to the bowl of porridge, her ears twitched when she heard a faint noise. Turning, she looked around the room before she heard it again. There, by Th'lick's toy soldiers, stood a tiny figure. Her eyes widened. "Earn!" she kept her voice at a soft level as she rolled over to face him. "You came back." He nodded.

"I wanted to see you again," he said. "To check up on you." That warmed her.

"Aww, that's so sweet of you," she cooed, leaning closer to him. It seemed too close, as his eyes suddenly widened before he made a crossing gesture across his chest. This confused Therisa until she looked down and saw by leaning in closer, she'd exposed her cleavage. She backed off, covering herself up as she did, mumbling an apology.

"It's quite alright," Earn said. "Accidents do happen." Observing him, Therisa saw his skin was redder than before, and she wiggled her whiskers with curiosity.

"Are you okay?" she asked. When Earn questioned what she meant, she explained that his skin colour had changed, brightening his already red skin.

"It's what humans do when we're embarrassed," he confessed.

"You change colour when you're embarrassed? That's amazing." She paused. "Can you blend into walls?" To her surprise, Earn laughed.

"That would be helpful, but no," he answered.

"Getting up here must be difficult. Can you stick to the walls?"

Earn laughed even harder as he shook his head. "I wish."

"Are there any cool things you can do?" Again, Earn shook his head.

"Sorry, but no," he replied. "I'm just like you, only smaller." He paused as he observed himself. "Well, with no fur, no tail, lesser hearing, poorer night sight and smell." Her eyes widened with shock.

"Then… how have you managed to survive at all?" Earn tapped his head.

"We're quite resourceful," he said. "We forage what you Gods throw away and make up for what we lack with ingenuity." She tilted her head as she examined him. "What?" he asked.

"Your clothing makes you look like a tiny Rodent, but your lack of a tail ruins that image." Earn wore a white button-up tee shirt with sky blue jeans, a chestnut woollen jacket, and a beige flat cap covering the short blond rodent-like hair atop his head. Topping off the cuteness of his attire were white socks and black sneakers. They were so perfect like they'd been shrunken down just for him.

To her surprise, he turned around and wiggled his backside, causing her to giggle. She couldn't understand why, because it really wasn't that funny. The sight of his tailless backside waving back and forth just made her laugh. When she calmed down, she saw him smiling up at her with his cute, flat, muzzless face. She smiled back at him. Something was appealing about his blonde hair and deep, almost liquid-blue eyes. She felt like she could stare at them for hours.

"I'm sorry," she apologised, shaking her head. "But I can't stop admiring your cuteness." His smile never wavered, and he chuckled.

When she asked what was so funny, he answered, "Talking with you reminds me of a time long ago." He paused as she caught the features on his tiny face. It was almost longing. "And I realise just how much I miss it."

She bit her bottom lip. A time long ago? She deliberated about her following words. When he asked if she was okay, she decided to throw caution to the wind. "When you talk about a 'time long ago,' do you mean where you came from? Before you arrived at my Uncle's farmhouse?" When he nodded, she pressed home her attack. "The Biosyn Corporation?"

His double take caused anxiety to grip her body. She feared he would run away, but he stood his ground, to her relief. His deep blue eyes now stared at her with suspicion. ***! "How did you…" his words trailed off, and she could now smell fear coming off him.

Therisa didn't want him to leave and feared she'd pushed Earn too far. "Last night," she hurriedly answered as she leaned away from him, hoping to calm him down. It did the trick, but his fear stench still filled her nose, blocking out his pleasant smell. "When you told me that Rodent's breathed life into you, you made a gesture." She proceeded to make the same one he'd made. "I'm very familiar with that sign. It's the logo of the Biosyn Corporation."

"Do you… work for Biosyn?" he asked. She laughed but cut it short when Earn covered his ears in pain.

"No," she answered softly. Carefully, she pulled down the front of her nightgown, careful not to show Earn her breasts as she pulled aside her beige chest fur. She saw the fear give way to curiosity as he stepped towards her. "Can you see my scar?" When he nodded, she explained, "I was born with a weak heart. All my life, it prevented me from partaking in any physical activity." She pointed to the scar again. "Over the past three years, the Biosyn Corporation was able to clone me a new heart based on the genetic code of my old one."

"So that was your operation," Earn muttered. His voice was so low she almost missed it. She nodded. "I had no idea it was that serious." He was silent before asking, "Are you going to be okay?" When she nodded, relief filled his eyes, and his fear stench abated somewhat.

"It's taken a lot out of me, and my body will take some time to adjust to my new heart, but I'm more than fine. I now have a greater chance of making it past two hundred years." Therisa caught something on his tiny face. When she asked him what was wrong, the answer she received shocked her.

"Humans mature and age faster than Rodents. The average human lifespan is roughly ninety years." Her jaw dropped. "Although I have the maturity of a young adult, I'm only twenty years old." Therisa was stunned. She was forty-three and only just considered a young adult, while he was the same age as Cousin Theesa. That made her realise that Earn would be dead when she celebrated her one-hundred and twentieth birthday. It depressed her to know that she would outlive him by such a wide margin.

She was about to ask something else when she paused. Something Earn had done earlier finally got through to her. "Hey, what were those sounds you made earlier? You made some funny noises when I first mentioned the Biosyn Corporation." He laughed.

"That's my language," he answered. Therisa's whiskers twitched.

"Yomans have their own language?" Why would they have a different language if, by her own guess, they were created by the Biosyn Corporation? Earn nodded, then spoke in his Yoman language. Therisa's ears wiggled as they drank in the rapid-fire-chittering Earn emitted. She laughed. "Yoman language sounds funny."

"Well, it's easier to deal with than your language," Earn replied. "The slow, harsh squeaking sounds you call speech are too loud and deafening." That caused Therisa to wiggle her whiskers.

"Really?" Subconsciously, she lowered her voice. "Then how do you put up with me?" He pointed up at her.

"Like last night, you've been talking in a low voice to keep from alerting others. That helps." She smiled warmly at him.

"Earn?" she asked. When the little Yoman nodded, she took a deep breath and said, "I'll understand if you say no, but can I hold you again? Please?" He stared up at her. Therisa wondered if she'd asked for too much when he smiled and nodded.

"Sure." She almost squeaked with delight as she carefully reached out and placed her hand on the bedside table, palm up. To her delight, Earn walked up to her palm, put one foot on it, then climbed up and carefully sat in the centre. He placed his hands on her palm to steady himself, and she marvelled at how warm his skin felt. She then put the palm of her other hand behind him as she carefully lifted him off the bedside table and carried him over to her bed, resting her hand upon her stomach.

"Thank you, Earn," she said, "I find it easier to talk to you like this rather than leaning over." Earn looked back to the bedside table as if judging how uncomfortable that position would be. As he did this, Therisa concentrated on his scent and the tiny vibrations caused by his movements in her palm.

After a moment, he turned back to face her and asked, "What would you like to talk about?"

That made Therisa hesitate. She didn't know and doubted he'd be forthcoming about his life. Then, she was struck with an idea: "You said that talking with me reminds you of a happier time. What would you like to hear from me?"

He rubbed his tiny chin in thought. "What's your life like in Rosebush City?" Therisa smiled and started talking. She told Earn about the fun things she could do in the city. He listened with interest as she told him about dance halls, but his eyes widened as she told him about drive-in movie theatres and milk bars. Taking walks in public parks, going to the local pool, the bowling alley, the pool hall, talking on the telephone, and going to amusement parks left him awed. He asked her to describe riding the roller coaster, but she disappointed the little Yoman by informing him she couldn't due to her heart. However, his excitement ebbed when she brought up her townhouse and family. Talking about her parents and little brother saddened him.

"Do you want me to talk about something else?" She asked. He didn't answer. "Earn? Did I upset you?"

He shook his head. "No," he answered. "No, I want to…" he trailed off before suddenly asking, "Have you ever been to the beach?" The nearest beach was over five hundred miles to the northeast. They went there once over the long weekend, but Therisa hadn't done much because of her condition. Her parents had hoped getting some ocean air and sun would do her some good. As she explained her time there, Earn was captivated by her every word, right down to walking into the ocean up to her knees.

That made her happy. It also made her curious. "You never had a pool at Biosyn?" She expected Earn to be cagey, even hostile to bringing up that part of his past. To her surprise, he shook his head.

"No," he said. "We were never taught to swim. No humans were."

"Why?" He shrugged, not because he was being guarded but because he genuinely didn't know. "Then, what did you do for fun?" He surprised her again by going over all the things he had done. He played with tiny pet toys that were large even for him. Playing games with the other Yoman children. Playing games with his mother. Reading his favourite children's books. It amazed her that Earn could read before he was five, while she couldn't even read until after ten.

But as he spoke, she realised that most fun activities were games designed to encourage teamwork or stimulate puzzle-solving. Even the toys he played with were intended to be operated by at least two Yomans. Barring books, not one activity was created for individual enjoyment.

When she told Earn about her school life, he listened with interest. As she explained eating in the school cafeteria, he interrupted her to say it sounded similar to his Dormitory Canteen. Earn was comfortable talking about that. He told her that whenever it was meal time, their handlers would take them to the canteen, a large window section located at the far end of the Dormitory wall. There, they would pick and choose from what foods were available.

Listening to Earn describe everything, Therisa was given the impression that his living quarters were glorified cages. Even the way he described the canteen, a long rectangular room with an 'All-You-Can-Eat'- style venue at one end and tables and chairs.

However, he was reluctant to answer when she asked about his schooling. When he did, it was the basics: reading, writing, and math. This left her with the impression that there was much he was omitting. The tiny Yoman was cautious as he spoke, as if he were afraid of what she might say or do if he revealed too much.

The knock at the door startled Therisa so much that she nearly dropped Earn. The little Yoman turned towards the door, fear on his tiny face. She eyed him and then the door. "Hold on," she whispered as she cupped her free hand over him and quickly shoved him beneath her sheets. Then she turned to the door and chimed, "Come in."

Aunt Thrace leaned into the room. "Hello, Therisa," she said before stepping into the room. "You have a visitor." She held the door open, allowing a tall man with light black fur and short dark blue hair to enter the room. She recognised Dr Yksuh and greeted him. He wore a navy blue three-piece suit with a white shirt and black tie. He always insisted on looking sophisticated so that out-of-towners would take him seriously. He peered over his short-rim glasses at Therisa and smiled.

"Good morning, Therisa," he said, putting his medical bag on the bedside table. "It's good to see you again after all these years. How are you feeling?"

Before Therisa could answer, she felt a violent struggle from her hands. Earn wanted her to let go of him. She bit her lip as she realised the only place to put him down was between her thighs. With no other option, she carefully lowered him between her legs and dropped him onto the mattress. "A little drowsy, Dr Yksuh," she answered.

"That's to be expected," Dr Yksuh said. "From what your Aunt told me, your new heart is slow at pumping blood throughout your body."

From between her thighs, Therisa felt something tug on her fur. Earn was climbing up her leg. She tried to concentrate on Dr Yksuh, but it proved impossible. Earn's tiny little hands and feet tickled her. He climbed up her leg and under the nightgown, causing her tail to stiffen. He crawled on all fours up her hips and started climbing up her left side. She bit her lip as he climbed over her panties and bra, tugging and stretching the material. Her whiskers twitched nervously as she felt every tug and pull as his tiny hands gripped her fur, climbing her body like an experienced mountain climber. He circled around her back and climbed out from her nightgown behind her head, between her neck and hair. She locked her eyes on the Doctor as he walked around her neck, standing beneath her left ear.

"I need to get back to the bedside table." His voice was a low whisper, but her ears picked it up. "Can you stretch your arm out? I can climb down it without risking you picking me up and being caught." Checking on Dr Yksuh, Therisa confirmed he hadn't heard Earn. This made her suspect he'd done this sort of thing before, even how low to talk around Rodents to avoid being heard.

She watched Dr Yksuh and waited until his back was turned. She reached out and placed her hand on the bedside table. Within seconds, she felt his little feet scurrying around her neck before diving beneath her nightgown. Once again, she bit her lip as Earn's little hands gripped her fur. He was swift, sliding backwards down the length of her arm. His tiny fingers and shoes trailed through her fur, unintentionally tickling her, before exiting from her cuffs and plopping onto her hand…

…Just as Dr Yksuh turned back.

"What's that?" she asked, pointing over his shoulder.

"Huh? What?" The Doctor turned, and she looked down at her hand to see Earn hiding behind the lamp, flashing her a thumbs up. The Doctor turned back just as she turned on the bedside lamp. "What was there? I didn't see anything."

Therisa squinted in the direction she pointed and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Doctor," she apologised. "I thought I saw an insect crawling down the wall. I turned the lamp on to get a better look." She squinted again and shook her head. "I don't know what I saw." The Doctor nodded.

"Yes, your Aunt did tell me you were suffering from hallucinations. She listed off your medications, but she didn't know what was in them. Do you mind?" Therisa leaned over and opened the drawer on the bedside table. A quick glance at the lamp revealed that Earn was gone before pulling out all three of her medicine bottles. Throughout the visit, the Doctor checked her over and asked many questions, mainly about what she'd been eating and drinking. He examined her bed, checking for materials that might conflict with the medication.

When he was finished, he gave her a clean bill of health and told her not to exert herself. He called Aunt Thrace back and told her to monitor Therisa's physical activities. They even discussed the possibility of staying an extra month. Hearing that, Therisa wasn't annoyed. In fact, she could feel excitement welling up within her. She cast a quick glance over at the bedside table lamp. Then, Th'lick's toy soldiers. Earn was not there.

Aunt Thrace thanked Dr Yksuh for coming out in this terrible weather and offered him some lunch, which he readily accepted. He bid Therisa farewell, and the two of them left her alone.

Therisa glanced back at the bedside table. "Earn?" she whispered. No one answered. She called out a bit louder. No response. Carefully, she leaned over, examining where Earn always appeared behind the toy soldiers. There was nothing back there. He was gone. With a sigh of disappointment, she lay back down and closed her eyes, concentrating on his wonderful scent, still thick in her nose. She wondered when he would return.

Theila

Organising a table at the Cafe proved difficult. Since it was the weekend, everyone in town seemed to be there. Every table inside was taken, and the only table left that could comfortably seat herself, Agent Yps, and Thrisica was outside, at the left-most edge of the outside seating the Cafe had arranged. The Grey Suit didn't mind, as they wouldn't be surrounded by people, and the rain would make it difficult for anyone to listen in on their conversation.

As she exited the Grocery Store, Theila waved to the young Mou'nae woman, who reciprocated. She hurried over and sat down at their table. A large umbrella shielded it from the rain, and before sitting, Thrisica hung her raincoat over the back of the chair. She was still wearing her work uniform.

"Thank you for agreeing to talk to us, Ms Ylimaf," Agent Yps said, shaking her hand.

"I hope you don't mind that I can't stay for long," Thrisica said as she shook Theila 's hand. "I would like to start my home journey as soon as possible. My Cousin from Rosebush City is staying with us after her big operation, and I want to get back to her as soon as possible."

"I promise, this won't take too much of your time," Theila said.

"So, this is about all the mysterious thefts around town, right?" Thrisica asked. Agent Yps chimed in.

"I was chatting with your father last night," he said, "His friends have all been experiencing the same type of crimes, but I noticed that your father has suffered the worst." Thrisica rolled her eyes.

"Tools going missing. Supplies and crops vanishing. At first, Dad believed it was vermin, but none of the traps worked, and some even disappeared. Word all over town is he isn't the only one suffering these mysterious thefts. Everyone would be at their wit's end if the thefts weren't so minor."

"How so?" Theila asked.

"Well, everyone says the thefts only occur to their surplus. As if the thieves know what won't cause anyone any financial harm or stress. At the end of the day, it's not hurting anyone; it's just annoying."

Theila waited a moment before asking, "Thrisica, have you noticed a pleasant smell lingering around your home?"

Thrisica's eyes widened as she nodded vigorously. "Oh yes," she said. "I don't know when it appeared, but it was roughly eighteen to thirteen years ago." Both Theila and Agent Yps covertly eyed each other.

Theila licked her lips nervously and asked, "Aside from the thefts, have you noticed anything odd around your farm?" To her surprise, Thrisica scoffed, then laughed.

Before she could ask, Thrisica said, "You sound like my cousin."

"Is she aware of the strangeness of the thefts, too?" Thrisica shook her head.

"No, but she asked me that same question two days ago."

Theila was about to move on when Agent Yps interrupted. "Why?" He asked.

"She didn't know what she saw but believed she saw little people." Thrisica was too caught up in her story that she failed to hear Theila 's audible gasp. Agent Yps, on the other hand, displayed his professionalism by not even twitching a whisker. "It was in the middle of the night, and she was half awake." She shrugged. "It might be a side effect of her medication."

Theila was too stunned to speak. Thankfully, Agent Yps knew where to lead the conversation. "If there are vermin around your home, is there anywhere you believe they could nest?" Thrisica looked confused.

"What does this have to do with the thefts?" To her astonishment, Agent Yps pulled out his wallet and a bunch of crisp yellow bills. Thrisica stared at them greedily before thinking hard and then shrugged. "I honestly don't know." She paused. "Well, I don't know if there's any space under the house, but it's possible."

"How so," the Grey Suit asked as he added a few more yellow bills to the ones in his hand. Theila could see Thrisica eye them hungrily.

"Well, according to my dad, the house is over five hundred years old. But it's been rebuilt so many times, the Rings only know what's down there."

"Is it possible that there's an abandoned basement?" Again, Thrisica eyed the money casually wafting in Agent Yps's hands and thought long and hard.

"I can't give you an honest answer," she replied. "A surveyor visited us when Dad dug out a foundation for our water tank. He checked the old plans of the house at the Town Hall, and he never found anything resembling an abandoned basement."

Theila turned to Agent Yps, who did likewise. They both nodded, and the Grey Suit pulled out a few more yellow bills and handed them over to the young Mou'nae woman. Thrisica stared in amazement.

"Thank you for your assistance, my dear," he said. "Your information has been fascinating. We appreciate you coming to see us in your time off and in this weather. We won't keep you from your Cousin any longer."

She mentally counted the amount before making them vanish into her breast pocket as if afraid it would suddenly disappear. "I… Umm, didn't say much," she confessed after pocketing the money. "I just told you about little people my Cousin thought she saw. And the house." Agent Yps patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"You've been most helpful, dear." He pointed at her breast pocket. "Trust me when I say you earned that." She nodded vigorously before bolting from the chair, only to return to fetch her raincoat and quickly flee.

Theila turned to Agent Yps as he turned to her. "Little people," she whispered.

"It's them, alright," he said softly. "A pleasant smell appearing between eighteen and thirteen years fits well within the timeframe. They suffer the most from all these mystery thefts, and their vermin traps fail to stop them. They have to be there."

"But she's unaware of any basements."

"The Mou'nae girl did say the house is over five hundred years old, and there have been numerous modifications," Agent Yps said. "She might not have the answer, but if we pay a visit to Town Hall, they should have all records of any modifications made to the Ylimaf farmhouse." They both rose, paid for their lunch and left.

The Town Hall was located at the eastern exit and was easy to spot because it sat atop a knoll and its size. It was a three-story red-brick mansion with an elevated temple-like front porch supported by marble columns, which also supported a vast semi-circle-shaped balcony, designed to host parties on the third floor. The main entrance was accessible by a set of double doors on the second floor, which one reached by walking up two separate flights of stone stairs. A single door between the stairs allowed you to access the first floor.

The Thorn Valley Town Hall was an old plantation manor. Once upon a time, the surrounding lands had been a highly profitable Tobacco plantation. But nine hundred years ago, the Armies of the Federation ravaged the entire area as the War of the Five Republics consumed the continent. In the peace that followed, the plantation had been rebuilt, but it never returned to the prosperity it had achieved before the war.

The cost of rebuilding saddled the family with a huge debt they struggled to pay off. Over the next three hundred and fifty years, they sold off chunks of their land until all that remained was the mansion. Theila didn't know what happened next, but the Thorn Valley Town Council acquired the building at some point for a temporary town hall. However, it had become permanent because the town was so small and the mansion quite large.

The records room was a converted wine cellar. It was spacious, so the records occupied one-third of the basement, while the rest was an impromptu storage area. Despite the numerous light bulbs, the entire cellar was dimly lit, forcing Theila and Agent Yps to take flashlights with them. The search didn't take long, as Agent Yps knew where to go from his previous visit. Within five minutes, Theila was sitting at a desk flipping through multiple blueprints and drafts of the Ylimaf family farmhouse.

It was as Thrisica said. Over the five hundred years since the house was constructed, numerous owners have made many renovations to the point that very little of the original design remains. She called Agent Yps over to discuss their findings when she had examined all the plans regarding the farmhouse.

"Any luck?" he asked. Theila held up the oldest of the plans.

"I'm not sure," she replied. "Look here." She pointed to the blueprint's foundations. "It shows plans for a wine cellar, but…" she trailed off as her finger moved to the bottom right of the plans where there was an empty red square. "No mark." The red square was supposed to have a black stamp of approval by the Council. Otherwise, it wouldn't be approved for construction. "This proves that there was supposed to be a wine cellar-"

"It's there," Agent Yps interrupted. He displayed a five-hundred-year-old newspaper before placing it on the desk. He pointed to an article in the bottom left: "Here, read this sentence." Theila aimed the beam of her flashlight at it and read aloud.

"...Passed away yesterday from a poisonous reptile bite he received while helping his father stock the family wine cellar-" Her voice cut off like a switch. "By the rings," she muttered.

Agent Yps grinned as he pointed at the sentence. "This is what we're looking for. This proves there was a cellar beneath the Ylimaf farmhouse." He then pointed at the blueprints. "And this shows us where to look. Even if the Council didn't approve it, we know from the newspaper it was built."

"It's perfect," Theila said, returning her gaze to the blueprints as she examined the dimensions of the wine cellar. "It's large enough to hold a colony of Yomans and well hidden from the Rodent population." She scrutinised the blueprints further. "If it's sealed off, I wonder how they managed to get in and out?"

Agent Yps was silent, too, puzzled by that question. Both of them understood that if they had a method to get in and out, they could use it to escape when reinforcements from Biosyn showed up.

"Is it possible they use cracks in the foundation?" Theila mulled over that for a moment and shrugged.

"It's quite possible." She stared hard at the layout of the cellar before tapping the upper left corner. "There is supposed to be a set of stairs leading up here." She flipped over another page to show the first floor of the original farmhouse. The entrance was just to the left of the front door. "I don't know what is there now."

"Finding out shouldn't be a problem," Agent Yps said. "Throp did invite me around his place for a drink if I ever found the time."

Theila was silent before turning to Agent Yps. "Now, this brings us to another interesting problem." The Grey Suit nodded in understanding.

"What do we tell the Ylimaf family?" Theila nodded. "Leave that to me. I'll be upstairs making a phone call to my superiors. Once I have orders, I'll let you know."

Ian

Once Dr Yksuh arrived, Ian managed to scramble back to his backpack. He powered up the transmitter and waited. Once Dr Yksuh finished, he tapped the staple, informing the Foraging team that the Doctor would be lunching at the farmhouse. He didn't know when he would be leaving after that. Once he received the acknowledgement signal, he hurriedly packed up and returned to the Colony.

Before going, Ian cast one last look at Therisa. He smiled. He enjoyed talking with her. Before he was to leave for good, he would love to come back again, although he didn't know when that would be or how he would do it.

Once Ian returned to the Foragers Department and handed in his gear, he was informed that there was to be a funeral for those who perished last night. Ian nodded and headed over to the cemetery. It was compulsory for everyone in their respective departments to attend the funerals of those who died. Over the past fifteen years, so many humans were lost to accidents and predators that they were no longer depressing affairs. He'd told Tholop this, who replied that when one is not sheltered from danger, they become fearless in the face of them.

Usually, Ian was the last to arrive. This time, it was the team who had raided Dr Yksuh's car. They thanked Ian for his job before everyone gathered around nine graves. While everyone was gone, the Foraging Department received word that Frank was dead. Judging from his wounds, he was killed by a Giant. His remains were wrapped up and placed into a fresh grave alongside those who could be buried. The entire Foraging Department gathered around the graves and knelt before Tholop as he led them in prayer.

"We are gathered here today to pay final tribute to many of our brave friends. Their sacrifice has ensured that our Colony will prosper. Their courage is a beacon that guides us through the dark days ahead. We thank them for what they have done, and in bidding them farewell, we do not mourn their loss, but instead thank the Gods for breathing life into them in the first place." Everyone made the sign of an 'X' within a circle. Tholop raised his head towards the heavens as everyone followed suit. "We pray that their souls will ascend to the Rings above and that the Gods will accept them. And thus, we send them to join with the universe, to return to the cosmic dust from which all life began, and like us, will begin again."

There was a minute of silence before everyone rose and drifted away while the volunteers filled in the graves. Ian watched Tholop overseeing the graves. He looked exhausted, so Ian decided not to bother him as he turned about and headed back to his apartment.

Ian's one-room apartment, as he called it, was little more than a delta-shaped portaledge nailed into the red-brick wall of the cellar and suspended four and a half feet off the ground. The fabric was salvaged from an old dark blue raincoat; it was big enough for two humans to sleep inside. The sides could be rolled up halfway during the day and back down again when it was time to rest. A mini light bulb hung from the top, connected to a battery, giving him light when he rolled the sides back down at night. Outside, plastic capsules containing water or non-perishable foods hung from the bottom of his portaledge. The back wall held numerous pouches containing personal items like clothes and work tools. His pillow and sleeping bag occupied the right side.

This area of the Colony was what the Gods would call 'The Low-Rent District.' Housing here was small and cheap. The portaledges around here were conversions from the tents the Colony had constructed during their flight to Thorn Valley. They were used when the Colony settled under the Ylimaf farmhouse and construction began on the higher levels. Once completed, small housing was still needed, so they were converted into living spaces.

There was a spring-loaded rope lift on a spool. Ian would stick his foot into a stirrup, pull hard on the rope, and he was rocketed up into the air. You had to be careful because these lifts suddenly stopped; if you didn't have a secure grip, you could be sent flying. He undid the side of his portaledge and climbed inside.

No sooner had he settled himself inside than a voice called out his name. Looking down, he saw Tholop standing below. Curious, He tilted his head before lowering his rope lift so Tholop could ride it up. He moved over as the man climbed in to sit next to him.

"What's up?" Ian asked, then smirked and added, "Aside from us." One corner of Tholop's mouth rose.

"Well, for starters, I never got the chance to properly congratulate you for last night." He then shook Ian's hand. "You did good, Ian. I'm proud of you."

"And the other thing?"

"As a reward, I'm giving you the night off." Ian stared back. "Before you ask why, it's because it's my way of apologising for essentially abusing you as a scout and not promoting you as a Forager." He waved a hand around Ian's portaledge. "This is why I came here. I wanted privacy. Everyone else in the Foragers Department works every night, so I didn't want anybody to get jealous."

Ian nodded. "How difficult are things?" Tholop stared back. "Tholop, I don't have to be a mind reader to know you're under a ton of pressure. You almost cracked this morning during the meeting." He paused. "What are you keeping from us?"

"We're not good at hiding things from each other, are we?" Ian shrugged. "The Council is making things very difficult for me." Ian frowned. "The Council isn't as united as everyone is led to believe, Ian," Tholop explained. "There are factions. One wants to use all our efforts to block the tunnel to prevent it from being flooded. They argue that leaving for Stone-Lee Gulch is suicidal. The others believe their plan is insane as we don't know how long the waters will stay high before subsiding. We would be effectively trapped, meaning the only method of escape would be up through the floorboards of the Ylimaf farmhouse."

Ian winced at that. "So, what does that have to do with us, with you?"

"The only way both sides agreed to do anything was to gather resources for both plans. Then they would make their decision." Ian gasped. The Foragers Department was working all day and night and losing many Foragers because the Council couldn't decide what to do? Both plans? Ian frowned. Tholop's comment about abandoning half of what they scavenged suddenly made sense.

"Why do they want to try and block the tunnel?"

"Because of how easy life under the Ylimaf farmhouse is," Tholop explained. "Once we move out to Stone-Lee Gulch, life will be more primitive than it was here. Most of the waterwheel's power won't be as great as what we could siphon off from the Ylimaf's power grid. We will lose many luxuries we take for granted, including television. Heck, we'll be out of radio range there." Ian winced. He hadn't thought about that. "Life will be tough out there, and sacrifices must be made. Those who want to block the tunnel want to stay here because they believe those sacrifices are too much, and the Colony will fail, cut off from the Gods."

"I always believed that we were united in the face of problems. That we were above such pettiness." Tholop scoffed.

"Whether they are Gods or Humans, Ian, you'll understand everyone's the same. There will always be those who have different views and agendas." He paused as he stared long and hard at Ian. "I really shouldn't be telling you this, but do you know what they argue about yearly?" Ian tilted his head. "The future." Ian blinked in confusion. "What will the future of humanity be?"

Ian shrugged. "I don't understand?"

"They point out the Colony's population is one-hundred and thirteen. Compared to when we first settled here fifteen years ago, we numbered roughly seventy-eight. Now, where will we be in another fifteen years? And further on from that, and so on, and so on. They argue there will come a time when our population will be too large to remain hidden from the Gods, and we will have to make our presence known." He shrugged. "And then what?"

Ian just stared back at him, unable to answer the question. Tholop nodded.

"They bring up this same tired old argument repeatedly, but they never go anywhere with it, nor do they make a decision." He spun his finger around in the air. "It's an annoying endless loop that wastes everyone's time."

"Are we going to be blocking the tunnel?" Ian asked. Tholop shook his head.

"That faction is losing ground, and if it keeps up, they will be voted down within a day or two. In the meantime, I have to keep sending everyone to their deaths because of it."

"Is that the real reason it's taken so long to move to Stone-Lee Gulch?" Tholop nodded.

"It's the safest place to build a self-sufficient colony, but life will be tough out there compared to the Ylimaf farmhouse." His face turned bitter. "You can't begin to imagine what those meetings are like." He gave a heavy sigh and turned to Ian with a smile. "Anyway, sorry for using you as an emotional punching bag."

"We all need someone to vent our frustration to," Ian said, putting a reassuring hand on Tholop's shoulder. "If you need me at all, I'm here." Tholop shook his hand again and climbed out before riding the rope lift back to the ground. Ian watched him leave and then closed both flaps of his portaledge.

Tholop gave him the night off. He could go back and see Therisa after all the Gods went to bed, and there would be no interruptions this time. His mind wandered back to when Dr Yksuh arrived. Therisa had shoved him between her thighs, granting him a good view of her pink panties. He wasn't sure how long he'd admired the view before scaling up her giant, furry body. He'd clambered over the edges of her panties and the straps of her matching bra. He didn't realise he was grinning as he settled down to get some much-needed rest.

Theila

Theila stood outside the Town Hall, watching the town below. From this distance, it seemed miniature, with its tiny inhabitants rushing to and fro. It reminded her of watching the Yomans in their Dormitory as they went about their private business during their free time. The sound of the double doors opening made her turn, and she saw Agent Yps walking towards her. He'd been upstairs on the phone for almost an hour, his face neutral.

"So, what's the plan?" she asked.

"I had to wait while my superiors deliberated over the situation," he said. "We will tell them about the Yomans, but we have a cover story to hide their origin." Theila turned fully to face him. "We are to tell them that the Yomans were genetically engineered pets that escaped from the labs at the Biosyn Corporation and that we're here to recapture them."

"How will we get into the basement if accessing it through its original entrance proves impossible?"

"We will have to dig," Agent Yps answered. "While at the bar, I discovered one of the outlying houses that the Yomans have been raiding contains heavy equipment. It's owned by a Mou'nae by the name of Th'ack Ydaer. He's the guy who dug the foundation for the Ylimaf's water tank. My superiors have authorised me to hire him to dig a hole straight to them."

Theila was silent before asking, "How will we inform them of what's living beneath their floorboards? If what Thrisica told us about her Cousin's late-night encounter is correct, then the Yomans are crawling throughout the house walls, meaning they will most likely hear every conversation inside the walls." She turned back to look at the rain. And it's not like we can take them to a secluded spot in this weather."

Agent Yps smiled. "Then we can take them for a quick drive around their farm. Or just park some distance away from the house. Either way, we can tell them our cover story and warn them to be quiet about it lest the Yomans find out we're on to them."

Theila nodded and asked the million-dollar question, "And what will we do once we capture the Colony?"

For the first time since she met him, the Grey Suit's expression turned dark. "You're not authorised to know that. So it won't be your concern."

"I'm one of the researchers on the project," she reminded him. "I know full well we intend to restart the whole thing once we have the Yomans back. I will find out eventually." Agent Yps was silent. "I know you ordered cages and Trioxin Sleeping Gas, but I also know the Yomans. They were so friendly and cooperative that we often used them for mundane tasks they were never trained to perform, like fetching lost items from places we couldn't reach and fixing our equipment without disassembling it. I spent three years studying and guiding them. I don't know why they escaped, but I understand they wouldn't have done so without a good reason." She paused as she stared at him. "I may not be as smart and skilled in your field, but in mine, I'm an expert, and I understand that whatever caused them to escape will also prevent them from wanting to stay, as all the trust we spent the past - how many years they were in our care, building up is long gone."

"There is hope among my superiors that by recapturing the Yomans, we can simply pick up where we left off," Agent Yps said. "Many of us believe that is impossible, but the higher-ups would at least like to try."

"And what happens if you can't?"

"Then we will simply recycle their DNA and restart the entire project from scratch." Theila stared back in response.

"What did you do to make them fear us so much?" Agent Yps stared at her.

"Tell me what you know of the escape?"

"The same as everyone else," Theila answered. "At the end of the day, I returned my children to their Dorms and went home. The next day, I showed up to work, and the entire building was in lockdown. Security told me to go home and await further instructions. Four days later, you guys showed up with the police and raided my apartment."

Agent Yps chewed on his lower lip. "What I am about to tell you can get me arrested for treason, so you will tell no one else what I am about to tell you." Theila nodded. "That day, you showed up to find the building locked down. They hadn't escaped." Theila 's eyes widened. "Before that day, I don't suppose you remember being briefed on one of our newest contributors to the project?"

Theila nodded. "Yes, that was Section H."

"It was a shell company," Agent Yps answered. "Created by a foreign power to steal some Yomans and raise them for themselves."

"Which one," Theila asked.

"The Southern Alliance." Theila gasped. They were the biggest threat to the Northern Powers. "We don't know the full story, but from what we were able to learn, they planned to not only steal samples of their DNA but kidnap a number of them to take back to the Great Southern Continent. That night when you went home, three of their agents broke into the Biosyn Corporation to kidnap some Yomans." He paused. "However, what happened next caught everyone by surprise. They fought back, and they killed all three agents."

Theila was stunned. In all her time with the Yomans, they never once showed any violent tendencies. They got angry and yelled like all children did, but none of the children ever resorted to violence.

"I know what you're thinking. How?" He seemed to smirk as if visualising the event. "They're quite the ingenious little killers. It's amazing how they turned trip-wires into grote wires…" Agent Yps trailed off. He apologised for getting off track before continuing. "Anyway, security was quickly alerted, but all three agents were dead by the time they arrived. The building was locked down while the Yomans' mess was cleaned up. And during that time, an emergency meeting was hastily arranged. All parties involved were present as they debated the situation." He paused. "However, a faction among the project's supporters was uncomfortable with the Yomans. And they used the opportunity to force a quorum."

Theila was now listening intensely: A faction uncomfortable with the Yomans? A quorum meant the board would be asked to make an important decision. With sinking dread, she began to clearly understand what happened next.

"While some of the military backers were impressed by how the Yomans took down the agents and wanted to breed some of them for spy and sabotage operations, those who hated the Yomans used the meeting as an excuse to shut the whole project down. We have been training the Yomans all their life for puzzle solving. To think outside the box. The Yomans had proven they were highly versatile at everything. And like you said, helping with little things around the labs, like fixing machines." He smiled. "They used the Yomans at the Dig Site for the same purpose." He waved it away as he realised he was again going off-topic. "They argued that if the Yomans could successfully do tasks they were never trained for, like killing highly skilled agents, what else could they do without prompting?"

"They suggested the Yomans would turn on us?" Theila almost shouted. "Why would they do that?" Again, Agent Yps looked conflicted.

"I can't tell you why, but it involves their origin," he answered. Theila snorted, displaying her annoyance that, once again, the Grey Suit was being tight-lipped with his information. He ignored her and continued. "They feared the Yomans and argued that they were too dangerous to exist. Using that information and pushing home the ease at which they killed the agents, they were able to sway a majority to their cause." He sighed heavily. "The night they achieved their majority was when the Yomans escaped."

"They knew?" Theila gasped. Then she paused. If the Yomans could get out of their Dom rooms and fight back against the agents, it would be just as easy to get out and listen in on the meeting. Her eyes widened. Of course, they could and would. The staff used them for mundane tasks like getting into tight spaces and fixing things. Like everyone else, she never thought anything of it because they trusted the Yomans. And the Yomans never abused this because they trusted them.

Or at least, they did. Then everything fell into place. If they discovered that a faction was arguing against keeping them around and fought to terminate the project and them with it, they would want to escape. Then Thelia was struck with another thought: "The night they achieved their majority to exterminate the Yomans. Was that the third day after the incident?"

"And now you know," Agent Yps said, nodding to her question. "So, are you willing to continue knowing what the outcome will be?" Theila turned away, looking back to the town as she pondered everything she'd been told.

"Wait, if you have their DNA, why couldn't we-"

"They destroyed everything before they left!" the Grey Suit snapped. "Blood samples, genetic code, and even wiped the computers of all information. They were thorough." He paused. "Why do you think your apartment was raided? We weren't looking for the Yomans. We were going through your clothes for any DNA samples we could use."

"If we restart the whole project from scratch, what about the faction-"

"They're gone," Agent Yps interrupted. "Once the Yomans escaped, many of those against the project pulled their funding and involvement under the belief it could never restart. The rest were quietly forced out. Those who remain want to continue forward with the project."

"Why did we allow those groups to join in the first place?"

"Because when it began, we were stumbling around in the dark. When we encountered a brick wall, we needed their help because of what they could bring to the table. As for why they agreed to join, well, that's highly classified information. Regarding the entire Yoman project, the Biosyn Corporation is but a cog, albeit a large one, in a gigantic machine. There is so much at stake, and the rewards are equally high. Now, we're more knowledgeable, and we won't need them. We know what to circumnavigate. The project can restart and proceed without them."

"I don't know if I can continue," she confessed. "I would like to work with the Yomans again…" She trailed off. "Why were they hated so much."

"I've told you too much," Agent Yps replied. "As I explained earlier, telling you what I have could get me arrested for treason, but telling you everything would get me executed." Theila 's whiskers and tail drooped. "If you choose to work with the Yomans when we restart the whole project, you will eventually find out when you and your Yomans journey to the Dig Site." He stared long and hard at her for a moment. "Like you said, I'm an expert in my field, and you are in yours. I can tell you want to work with the Yomans again, but when you find out the truth, will you still want to, knowing what they are?"