FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"The Secret of Biosyn"

by MrNelg

Act: IV

Ian

Ian's shoes echoed loudly as he walked up the tunnel towards the entrance. He had a large rope wrapped around his left shoulder, which didn't interfere with his Foragers Pack. As he reached the entrance, he called out to the guards, who gave him a friendly wave and wished him good luck upon seeing his Foraging gear. Ian kept walking, not looking back to see if the deception worked. It was a quarter-past eight, so seeing Foragers journeying out from the Colony at this time wouldn't arouse any suspicion.

It was forbidden for anyone to leave the Colony after sundown. This minimised the possibility of discovery, but night was the most dangerous time for humans. Having been a scout, Ian discovered the guards didn't bother you if you had Foraging gear.

He kept up a steady pace until he was sure he was alone. He gave a subtle glance behind him and, confirming no one was following, increased his speed. He was almost jogging when he reached the electric-powered gas lamp elevator. He was nervous as he made his way up the house to the third floor. His pace increased with every floor, so he was almost sprinting when he reached the secret panel to the Children's Playroom.

Like the previous night, the bedside lamp highlighted the secret door. And just like last night, he piled all his items to one side and listened. The sounds from beyond the hidden door were minimal, but Ian could hear the muted sounds of Therisa chatting with Thrisica. Putting his ear to the secret panel, he listened as the two cousins finished chatting, and all conversations ended with the closing of the playroom door.

Still, Ian waited, his ear against the panel as he listened to the sounds of turning pages. Therisa was reading in bed. He frowned. That was what she was doing last night. The family had a television set, so why didn't Thrisica invite her to watch with the Ylimaf family?

He carefully eased the door aside and peeked out through the opening. Just as he confirmed, there were no other Gods in the room. Just Therisa. Easing himself out as quietly as possible, he crept around the back of the soldiers towards the bedside lamp.

Therisa lay in bed, propped up by some pillows, reading a book. He watched her for a few seconds before she abruptly reached out towards him. Ian didn't flinch as he watched her massive, light, charcoal furry hand reach towards him. He watched the giant fingers close around an enormous glass of water and easily lift it off the table. He followed the glass as it glided across to the Goddess, who conservatively sipped at the water before returning it to its position beside the lamp.

As the giant, light charcoal furry fingers unclasped from the glass, Ian called out in a loud whisper. <Therisa!> The giant fingers froze, and her gigantic furry ears twitched. <Therisa!> he called out again, <Down here!> The enormous light charcoal furry head turned and fixed Ian with its expressive midnight blue eyes.

<Earn!> Therisa almost shouted. She placed a furry hand on her muzzle in embarrassment as her eyes quickly darted to the door. Thankfully, it did not open. <You came back to see me?> Ian nodded as he stepped out from behind the lamp to stand directly within its yellow glow.

<How have you been, Therisa?> he asked. Her bright, cheerful expression vanished at his question, and she rolled her eyes.

<Bored out of my skull> she replied before laying down on her side to face him. <My cousins are all too busy to come and see me, and what time they spend with me is fleeting at best.>

<Hey,> Ian asked, pointing to the book Therisa clutched. <What's your book about?> She held up the cover, showing Ian the title. 'Masterminds.'

<It's about all these criminals who pulled off the greatest crimes and how they were caught.> Ian felt a little uncomfortable.

<How were they caught?> Therisa rolled her eyes.

<Always the same. They can't stop stealing. They are addicted to it like a drug. The author points out that no matter how meticulous their planning is, successful thefts boil down to plain and simple luck. And so, they keep stealing until, eventually, that luck runs out.> Ian bit his lip as he thought about the night she discovered him. The irony was too uncomfortable. <He concludes by saying that history has proven the only successful thieves are the ones who know when to quit.>

Ian shook his head and asked, <Why can't you go downstairs to watch television?> Her vast, midnight blue eyes rolled in her head.

<Aunt Thrace doesn't want me exerting myself too much,> she deadpanned. <Do you remember how I told you my body is adjusting to my new heart?> Ian nodded. <My blood pressure is low, so any form of vigorous physical activity could cause my body to go into shock and die.> Ian stared back at Therisa.

<How long will you be bedridden for?> Ian asked.

<A while,> Therisa answered, <But this lack of physical activity is only for three months.> She sighed. <After that, I'll be well enough to return home and continue my recuperation there.> Ian was silent.

<Your home? In Rosebush City?> She nodded. Again, Ian was silent. Rosebush City. His original home, back at Biosyn.

<Earn?> He looked up into Therisa's big, expansive midnight blue eyes. <What's wrong?> Ian tilted his head in thought. How much should he reveal to the Goddess?

<I... won't be around for much longer,> he confessed. <My people... we have to leave soon.>

<Why?>

<The... where we live. The area isn't safe for us anymore.>

<Your home isn't safe anymore? How? Why?> Ian silenced her by holding up his hands.

<It's not that I don't trust you, Therisa, but there's nothing you can do. In fact, there isn't anything anyone could do. All that matters is that we must be gone from your cousin's farm by the end of the week.>

<Will you come back to see me?> Ian sadly shook his head.

<Where we're going, it's too far to journey back here.> Ian took a step towards the Goddess. <That's why I came back. I had to let you know.>

<So, you and all your fellow Yomans will be leaving before the week is out?> He nodded. She gave a sad sigh. Ian could hear her unspoken words. She would be alone up here for the next three months.

<Please, don't be sad, Therisa,> Ian said, walking to the table edge. <I have the entire night off, so I can spend it with you.> That cheered her up somewhat, and her delightful smile returned. Her hand reached out, and Ian stood back as she placed her fingertips on the table. He stepped onto the fingers without hesitation and approached her palm before sitting down.

Therisa curled her fingers to form a protective barrier as she lifted him over the gap to her bed. She held him before her muzzle instead of resting him on her stomach. Ian observed the charcoal and beige fur of her muzzle, her pink, rubbery lips, the light pink nose bigger than his head, and—just beyond—gigantic, beautiful midnight blue eyes set in the expanse of charcoal fur. He stood, walking across her palm to lean his arms on her fingertips.

She giggled, jostling him about. <What's so funny?> he asked.

<That pose,> she said. <You remind me of that episode of the Thrac Show from three weeks ago->

Ian interrupted her by leaning one elbow on her fingertip as he cocked his head to one side and said: <Have I ever told you you're the pretties Gal I ever did see?> This time, she laughed, and Ian had to grab on with both hands to keep his balance.

<That's the one,> she giggled. Ian pointed out the window as he continued with the show.

<Under the light of the full moon, there's no place I'd rather be than with you.>

<There's not much of a moon out there 'cause it's raining.> Ian ignored her quip and continued.

<And so, I would be most honoured If I could have this one last dance with you, my dear.> He held out his hand towards her. Therisa's enormous head tilted as her gigantic eyes focused on his tiny, outstretched hand. Then, gently, she placed a single fingertip onto his palm. Ian smiled as he closed his hand around her vast fingertip, rubbing his fingers through her fur and the tip of her claw, resting just inside, eliciting a pleasant titter from her expansive muzzle.

Ian walked back into the middle of her palm, bringing her fingertip. Then he bowed to her before launching into a waltz. To his surprise, Therisa lowered her hand, and her index and middle finger acted as impromptu legs. Her thumb curled around, allowing Ian to hold it like an arm. All the while, Ian hummed the tune he remembered from that episode as best as he could.

And so they danced, Ian and Therisa. His arms were around her hand. Therisa joined in, too, humming along with him, although she drowned him out. In the light of the lamp, the two basked in the silliness of the situation, enjoying the dance until the song ended, and Ian bowed to the giant furry hand. It tilted slightly as the Goddess attempted to curtsy. As they looked into each other's eyes, they grinned but did not laugh.

Therisa continued their little charade. <Thank you, Earn, for making my last night in the city so memorable.>

<I simply could not let such a beautiful woman return home without experiencing the magical night so criminally denied to her.> Then, to Ian's surprise, the muzzle leaned in. It took him a moment to realise that Therisa was still playing out the scene in the show. Her pink, rubbery lips parted, and Ian reached out and grabbed her muzzle. He didn't stop her but rather directed her so that he could kiss her upper lip.

At first, Therisa did nothing as Ian kissed her lip. It had an odd taste, not quite the spicy flavour of a human woman, but exciting nonetheless. Then she started to reciprocate; her tongue slipped out, probing his face and chest. He stroked his fingers along her muzzle, drawing trails through her fur. Occasionally, he brushed a thick whisker, involuntarily causing her muzzle to twitch.

Above him, he could hear her large, pink nose inhaling his scent. The trembling of her hands vibrated throughout his body. Her lips were gone all of a sudden, and Ian looked up into her vast, midnight-blue eyes. No words were spoken, and Ian simply nodded. Then, he was moving away. The fingers curled around him as she lowered him beneath her sheets. Darkness engulfed him, along with a sense of deja vu as he was deposited between her legs.

Ian smiled as, once again, he crouched under the hem of her nightshirt to be greeted by the beige fur of her thighs, funnelling towards the pink silky wall of her underwear. This was the second time he'd been granted this view. Now, he could explore it further. Creeping along the left thigh, he approached the wall of pink and gently touched it with his right hand. A soft moan reverberated all around, and when he asked Therisa a question, her response was so soft he barely heard it.

Hastily, he undressed, throwing his clothes aside with reckless abandonment before carefully easing the fabric aside and exposing the pink flesh opposite. He admired the view for a moment before slipping in between the fabric and the wall of fur and flesh. Her lips were warm to his touch, and they quivered in anticipation. Trailing his fingertips, he found the entrance and eased, first his hand and then his whole arm inside.

He heard the moan of desperation just in time to brace himself as her fingers appeared at his back and pushed him deep inside. He shut his eyes and held his breath as his entire body was submerged within her. She held onto him, keeping him inside here for what felt like an eternity before she withdrew him. He gasped for air, only to take another deep breath as she plunged him deep inside her warm inner muscles.

Within her wet, warm embrace, Ian bucked, kicked, stroked, pinched and pulled. Every movement brought a tremor of excitement and a shiver of pleasure. Each time he was withdrawn, he regrouped, taking a breath before returning to the incredible comfort of her fleshy interior. Again and again, this cycle played out. Harder and faster. Ian wasn't even conscious of his movement, as his brain now concentrated on holding his breath every time she thrust him deep within her.

Therisa's smell was overpowering, filling Ian's lungs with the musky scent of her female pheromones. The stimulation against his entire body was incredible. He was hard and leaving behind a moist trail between his legs as deep within, he was building up to his climax. Finally, he could no longer voice his pleasure as excitement lodged in his throat. His activities were a blur. He lost control of his body more and more until, with one last thrust, both his mind and body exploded with release. Like waves crashing upon the shore, his pleasure lasted until, at last, his body relaxed, allowing him to settle into the pulsing warmth that encompassed him.

Ian moaned with disappointment as something wet and furry removed him. The chill of the air assaulted his body as he was lifted higher before coming to a stop. Opening his eyes, he was greeted with the warm, loving gaze of two gigantic midnight-blue eyes. He smiled back.

<Are you okay?> a voice full of concern asked. When Ian nodded, he was rewarded with a relieved sigh. <Can you spend the rest of the night with me?> Again, he nodded. The furry hand that secured him lowered, then gently deposited him somewhere warm and furry. Darkness soon surrounded him, and as Ian examined his surroundings, he smiled as he realised he was back in her cleavage, the top of her nightshirt protecting him from the outside world. With a sigh of contentment, his hands stroked the fur that warmed him, drawing a pleased hum from outside.

As his mind began to cloud over, Ian made a mental note to wake up early tomorrow morning to be back at the Foragers Department building, ready for whatever assignments Throp had in mind. Just before sleep took him, Ian wondered if he could ever find the time for another moment like tonight before the Colony left for good.

Theila

The drive to the Ylimaf Farm took them roughly fifteen minutes. Taking the west road out of town, they quickly left the houses and open fields behind for the all-encompassing forest. Tall trees, slick with rain and swaying in the breeze, surrounded the road, obscuring everything but the grey sky. The occasional dirt road, now oozing with mud from the heavy rain that veered off into the forest, broke up the wooden scenery. It was, therefore, a surprise when a short wooden bridge appeared around a bend in the road. It ran across a river, and looking out the window, Theila watched as the waters churned and boiled below. Observing how close the surface was to the shoreline, she couldn't stop herself from worrying if it would break its banks.

No sooner than they left the bridge behind, Agent Yps pointed past the windscreen wipers to a narrow dirt track on their left and announced that this was their turn-off. The track took them down a narrow, muddy road. They were surrounded by black trees, bunched together so tightly that very little light shone through. Overhanging leaves and branches slapped and scraped at the windows, drowning out the noise of the occasional splatter of rain on the car. The further they travelled, the more fetid the forest around them became. Finally, they burst out of the foliage into light and rain and came to a long driveway, loosely gravelled, trailing up to the farmhouse in front of them.

It was an impressive three-storey white wooden building on a raised foundation. Each of the three floors was smaller than the previous, giving the house a slight pyramid shape. The front porch stuck out more than the rest of the building, with a small flight of wooden steps leading to a pair of large wooden doors. A veranda extended around the house, holding a few chairs, coffee tables and a couch. The second floor's windows were smaller than the ones on the first floor. A small balcony attached to a sliding glass door was on the right side of the second floor, facing the front. Green curtains hid the room from view. The third floor was almost hidden, as it was a slanting roof. Only the two dormer windows facing the front alluded to any rooms up there.

The gravel driveway ended at a two-car garage, attached to the left side of the farmhouse, interrupting the veranda's encirclement of the building. A large, thick tree grew just to the right of the house, and the family had allowed it to nestle right up against the house as some of its branches brushed up against the structure as it swayed in the breeze. Just behind the tree sat a large red barn, almost as tall as the house itself. Beyond the barn, Theila could see a dirt track leading off to the thick field of wheat that gently rippled in the rain.

Beyond the Farm, Theila had an unobstructed view of the forest-covered mountains that ringed the valley's western edge. Their dark green forested tops were imposing, vanishing into the misty, dull grey clouds. The sight was picturesque, and Theila found herself envious of the Ylimaf's farm life. Her eyes lowered from the mountains back to the house. But more importantly, the foundation.

Separating the veranda from the ground was a white-wash trellis made of interwoven pieces of wood, half hidden behind various flowers growing in a garden that circled the house just like the veranda. Theila eyed the darkness beyond. Somewhere in there was the entrance to the Yoman's Colony. How difficult would it be to reach? How many exits did the Yomans have? She cast a surreptitious glance at Agent Yps. And would they go quietly?

Agent Yps drove up the gravel driveway and stopped just before the garage. Theila was about to ask what they should do now when the left front door opened, and Throp Ylimaf emerged to wave at them. Agent Yps returned the gesture, and his wife Thrace appeared behind him with an umbrella. They both rushed out to their car, each going for the same side.

"Hi-di-ho, Throp," Agent Yps greeted in the friendly, jovial voice he used when she met up with him at the bar. As Throp and his wife closed the doors behind them, Agent Yps added, "Hey, thanks again for agreeing to this."

"It's no problem whatsoever, Th'lak." Theila eyed the Grey Suit. So, he had a first name, after all. "You did say this had to do with all the thefts?" Agent Yps nodded as he indicated to Theila.

"This is my colleague, Dr. Theila Yad." She waved. The Ylimafs politely nodded. "We're both here in Thorn Valley because we're looking for escaped experiments." Theila nodded in silence. Agent Yps had instructed her to keep silent and allow him to explain their cover story.

"Experiments?" Mrs Ylimaf leaned forward.

"Are we in any danger?"

"No, no," Theila held up her hands. "I assure you, they're quite harmless. We were creating genetically modified creatures that could assist disabled rodents and act as pets for children."

"Pets?" At Throp's question, Agent Yps produced a folder, which he handed over to the Ylimafs. Upon opening it, Theila saw black and white photos of researchers with the Yomans. Both Mou'nae gaped in awe at the images. Seeing how Agent Yps had this folder on him when they left Rosebush City, Theila suspected that the higher-ups knew they'd have to reveal the Yomans to some of the inhabitants of Thorn Valley. As they flipped through the photos, she couldn't help but smile as one of the photos they examined was one of her with her children. They cast a quick glance up at her before returning to the rest.

As the Ylimafs scanned the photos, Theila turned back to the trellis, but her gaze was drawn to one of the large windows next to the entrance. There, she could make out the fuzzy shape of a Mou'nae, watching them. Her eyes narrowed as she studied the figure, and then they widened when she recognised Thrisica.

"By the Rings!" Theila returned to Mrs Ylimaf as she examined the children in a close-up photo. Three of them stood together in someone's cupped hands. "They're so small."

"Those are their young," Theila explained. "They're so friendly, curious and easily trainable at that age." The Ylimafs kept glancing between her and the photo as if judging how tall they were in real life. "They're also responsible for that pleasant smell that appeared in your house about fifteen years ago," Theila added. "The pleasant smell was to be part of their appeal to Rodents."

She saw Mrs Ylimaf smile. "They're so adorable."

"A few nights ago, your niece said she saw little people in her room." Agent Yps said. "We believe she saw one of our escaped experiments."

"One?" Throp asked. "You mean…"

"There's an entire Colony living under your house, Throp." Agent Yps answered. "Fifteen years ago, they escaped from the Biosyn Corporation and came to your house."

"Why my house?" Agent Yps shrugged.

"The Rings only know," Theila answered honestly. "Maybe your house was in the path of their journey, and they couldn't go any further, so they decided to settle down." She glanced out the windows at the farm. "The location could be a strategic choice as well." She turned back and shrugged. "All I can do is guess."

"So my family isn't in any danger?"

"They don't have any violent tendencies," Agent Yps interrupted. "They're just scared. I mean, look at them," he drew their attention back to the photos. "They can fit comfortably in your hands. Could you imagine what life would be like for someone that small?" The Ylimafs were silent as they stared at the Yomans in the photos, mulling over Agent Yps's question. "We Rodents tower over them, and even the smallest predators are a threat. In fact, we discovered they were here from a local farmer who killed a Red Tail and found the remains of one in its stomach."

Mrs Ylimaf frowned in slight irritation, clearly not understanding the meaning. Throp leaned over and whispered, "He means a vul'ion." Unlike Rod'tia, Mou'nae usually never refer to animals by their slang names out in the countryside. Those she encountered in Rosebush City knew what Rod'tia meant. This reaction was unsurprising because most of the Mou'nae population kept to themselves.

"Anyway, I assure you no one is in any danger. In fact, we wanted secrecy in this matter because confronting the Yomans will spook them, and they will run." The Ylimafs stared at Agent Yps momentarily before turning to look back at their house. Theila could see that Mrs Ylimaf was scrutinising the darkness beyond the trellis. "We want to recapture them as they do represent quite a substantial monetary investment from our company's backers."

"We believe they are crawling about inside your walls," Theila added. "Your niece, spotting one on the top floor of your house pretty much proves that. So there's a good chance that any conversation about the Yomans inside your house will alert them."

"They've been watching us?" Mrs Ylimaf asked. The wonder Theila had seen in her eyes was now gone, replaced with concern.

"More like watching over you," Agent Yps answered. "We did train them to assist Rodents, so it's in their nature to observe you. They are no harm to your family or anyone else."

"So that's how they've been stealing all my stock," Throp muttered. "They know what to steal because they've been watching me." Theila noted that his tone wasn't as angry as his words would've implied. Even his wife's features failed to show any outrage. She wondered if that was due to the fifteen years he'd been exposed to the Yomans' scent. She remembered Dr Yirad's response to his firing. He wasn't angry or furious, just sad.

"How will you get to them?" Mrs Ylimaf asked, her eyes glued on the darkness beyond the trellis.

"We did some research on your house and discovered an old abandoned wine cellar beneath your floors," Theila answered. "It's large enough to hold their entire colony." Both Ylimafs turned.

"There's no wine cellar," Throp said. "I had the grounds surveyed before I dug my water tank." At this, Agent Yps produced the original copy of the house's blueprints and the newspaper article. He went over it with Throp while his wife watched on. When he finished, Throp was silent. "All this time, I had a wine cellar beneath my floorboards."

"This is how you access the cellar," Agent Yps said, pointing to the original entrance. "What's there now?"

"Nothing," Mrs Ylimaf interrupted. It's an open space in our living room." She leaned over to point at the blueprints. "When you walk in through the front doors and turn left, a coat rack and wall separates the foyer from the living room. A coffee table holding some pot plants is on the other side of the wall." She paused, then asked, "You won't tear up our floors, will you?"

Agent Yps held up his hands to forestall any arguments. "If we don't have to." He quickly added, "My superiors suggested hiring Th'ack to dig up the cellar from the outside. If any damage is done to your house or property, I assure you the Biosyn Corporation will pay for it." That calmed the Mou'nae woman down.

Theila pointed at the trellis. "Is there any way to access that area underneath the house?"

"There are two trellis doors on the south and western side of the house," Throp said. "I haven't been down there in over forty years, though, but I remember I had to crawl down there with a flashlight."

"That won't be a problem," Agent Yps said. "We just need to know if we can access or plug up any potential entrances and exits they might use. We plan to subdue them with Trioxin Sleeping Gas, then dig them out depending on if we can't access them by any other means."

Throp studied the old plans of the cellar. "After you dig them out, would it be possible for me to evaluate the cellar's condition? If the construction is sound, I'd love to be able to utilise it."

"No prob-lemo, Throp," Agent Yps said, returning to his casual, jovial attitude as if the seriousness of their previous conversation had never happened. "I can put in a call to Thraak for you. Biosyn will gladly pay for the Town Council to do it in gratitude for your family's cooperation."

As the two men discussed the future of the cellar, Theila caught movement out of the corner of her eyes. Turning back to the house, she was surprised to see Thrisica moving towards the car, sheltering under a small pink umbrella.

Agent Yps spotted her and rolled down the window as she approached the car. "Oh, hello again, my dear," Agent Yps called out to her. "What can we do for you?" Her parents stared back in surprise. She ignored them as she turned to Agent Yps.

"Well, if you're interested, I have some juicy information about little people." The Grey Suit pulled out his wallet.

"Thrisica!" her mother cried out indignantly. "Don't extort our guests." Agent Yps stilled her with a hand.

"It's quite alright, Mrs Ylimaf," he assured her, handing over a wad of yellow bills to Thrisica. "Your daughter's information has proven to be very valuable. I don't mind paying to hear it." Seeing that her mother wouldn't challenge the Grey Suit, Thrisica made the money vanish into her shirt pocket before returning to the Rod'tia.

"Last night, after I left my cousin alone in the playroom where she's staying, I overheard her conversing with one of those little people you were asking me about." There were no sounds other than the rain splattering against the car and Thrisica's umbrella.

"Really?" Agent Yps said, a slight hint of excitement in his voice. Theila turned to her parents, who stared back at their daughter, mouths agape. "Tell me, what did you hear?"

"I couldn't hear the little guy, as his voice was too soft, but cousin Therisa did say the little people plan on leaving our house before the week is out." Agent Yps lowered his shades, exposing his emerald green eyes.

"Were you able to find out why?" Thrisica shook her head.

"From what I was able to hear, it had something to do with their nest, 'Not being safe anymore.'" Both Agent Yps and Theila turned to look at the farmhouse.

"Then we'll have to move quickly," Agent Yps said. "Throp, we'll be back at the motel. We'll call Biosyn; they'll be out here as soon as possible. Then we'll return to capture the little people. In the meantime, we don't want to alert them that we're on to them, so it would be greatly appreciated if your family could stay silent on everything until we return."

Throp nodded while Thrisica told them they could count on her. His wife was concerned about one thing, though.

"I know you told us they're harmless, but I just need assurance that my niece is fine talking to these little people?"

"She's perfectly fine," Theila answered. "They're bred for Rodent interaction." Suddenly, Agent Yps cut in.

"The only problem could be deception. Their scent is highly soothing to Rodents, and their words can be manipulative." Everyone stared back. "After all, how do you think they escaped in the first place?" Theila stayed silent as the Mou'nae nodded their heads in reply.

With that, everyone left. After shaking hands, the two Mou'nae left the car and, with their daughter, returned to the farmhouse. Even before they reached the safety of the veranda, Agent Yps started the car, reversing down the driveway. He made a U-turn and left the Ylimaf farmhouse behind.

"Deception?" Theila asked.

"If she's talking with one of them, there's no telling what he's told her," Agent Yps answered. "I'm just covering our bets in case they decide to talk to her about it."

Theila nodded. She remained silent for five seconds and then said, "They're already on their way, aren't they?"

"When I called them yesterday, they started preparations." He glanced at his watch. "They should arrive in Thorn Valley within the hour. They'll meet us in the motel parking lot, and from there, we'll drive out to the Ylimaf farm." Theila turned as if looking back towards the farm.

"I wonder what's wrong with the cellar that it's no longer safe for them down there?" Agent Yps didn't respond. He understood if it was a problem for the Yomans, it could lead to problems for them.

Finally, he said, "All we can do is let those in charge know when they get there and let them worry about it."

Ian

Ian whistled a happy tune as he danced through the front doors of the Foragers department. However, as he pushed open the double doors, the whistling and his merry mood died. The Lobby of the Foragers Department was empty. The past twenty-four hours had seen this place packed to its limit. Now, only the receptionist, Lara Bingel, sat behind her desk. She had long, blonde hair tied up in a long ponytail that reached to her waist.

"Ian!" she called out upon seeing him, and Ian rushed to her.

"Where is everyone?" he asked.

"They never came back," Lara said. Ian's face turned white, and she stilled his worry. "It's not that bad," she said. "We've received multiple radio transmissions that they were forced to take different routes due to the rain and giants."

"Does Throp know about this?" Lara shook her head.

"Throp's been stuck in an emergency meeting with the Council. He knows that all the teams were delayed, but he doesn't know they haven't returned yet."

Ian swore. He thought about volunteering to let Throp know, but the idea died as soon as it materialised. Everyone knew better than to interrupt an emergency Council Meeting unless you had a damn good reason.

"What do you think they're discussing at the meeting?" Lara asked. Ian bit his lip. Most likely, they were trying to decide whether the Colony would leave or stay. Hopefully, the result will be the former. Although Ian would miss all the luxuries of electricity, the thought of the Colony's only emergency exit being sealed off terrified him.

"I don't know," he answered. "All we can do is wait and try not to worry about the missing teams. I'm sure they'll be fine." Lara nodded, and Ian headed to the Tool Room to see if anything required maintenance or repair. The Tool Room was empty, and there was little on the list that needed repairing. There was some regular maintenance work, so Ian busied himself with that.

However, half an hour later, a yellow bulb flashed in the upper left corner of the room. That was a signal from the Front Desk. It meant that the head of the Tool Room was required up there. Since Ian was the only person here, that meant he was needed. He rushed to the front desk to see another man with short black hair and brown eyes standing at the Front Desk. He recognised the man from the Foragers Communications Wing, Michael Hayes.

"Ian," Michael said. Ian's gaze was drawn to the large sheet of paper in his hands. Ian sucked in a deep breath and braced himself. Michael held up the paper and said, "We've got a problem."

"Are the teams okay?" To his relief, Michael nodded.

"They're all fine," he said. "However, one of the teams had to make a transmission in the open." Ian's eyes widened. The radio backpacks that Foraging Teams carried had a weak signal. This was so none of the Gods listening in on the frequency could pick it up; an emergency transmission in the open was a more powerful signal as it could reach much further. The only problem with this was that the Gods could pick it up. It was done only in cases of an extreme emergency.

"Here, read this." He handed the sheet to Ian, who read it. His eyes widened with every line he read. "We just received this. It has to be delivered to the Council right now." Ian was about to ask why but stopped. He knew why. There was no one else here. The Communications Wing couldn't spare anyone because all teams stranded outside the Colony would need everyone manning the communications switchboard.

Ian folded the sheet and hurried from the building. He took a zipline to another platform, allowing him to ride a large platform elevator to the ground level. There, he hurried through the Colony towards the centre. The large grandfather clock stood taller than any other building in the Colony. The glass case showed that the pendulum had been removed, and the inside was stacked with multiple floors. Typically, those floors were a buzz of activity, but now they were empty. High up at the clock face, the hands and the mechanics to operate it were long gone. Behind the face was where the Council met. Everyone would be there if the Council was engaged in an emergency session.

Ian flew up the steps to the base of the clock where the front entrance lay. He ran right over to the receptionist and showed her the sheet of paper, explaining the situation. He barely finished his explanation before she shoved a red tag into his hands and pointed towards the lift. Ian thanked her and ran for it. The red tag would get him past security and straight into the Council Hall where the Council was meeting.

The lift ride seemed agonisingly slow, but the attendant wouldn't risk their safety because Ian was in a hurry—even if it was an emergency. When he reached the top, he was greeted by a large set of double doors and two large men wearing the olive-drab grey of the Security Department guarding them.

Even before the lift stopped, he could hear voices raised in argument from behind the thick doors. "The plan is nothing but folly, a hope-filled fantasy. Those aligned against our best interests would have us destroy this Colony only to lead us to starvation in some wilderness."

"Moving to Stone-Lee Gulch is a good plan."

"Why? We have everything we need right here."

As he stepped out of the lift, Ian showed the red tag to one of the two guards, who waved him on through. Opening the doors, the muted sounds exploded in his face. The loud arguments, the outraged cries in response and the background murmurings of the spectators. The Council Chamber was large, containing a long table in the centre where the council members sat. The chairman sat in front of the table on a raised dais at the head of the room. He was instantly distinguishable from everyone as he wore a long ceremonial black cloak and a wooden gavel. The furniture the Council sat at was scavenged from a doll house.

On both sides of the room were small bleachers converted from shoe boxes and cobbled together with ice cream sticks and seats made from balsa wood. Various council staff members sat here. They checked the paperwork and passed notes to each other, while some of the more critical notes were passed down to those in the front row, who, in turn, passed them on to the Council members sitting at the table. High above were various theatre boxes fashioned from tin cups, each holding the heads of the numerous departments. In the box on the centre-right, he spied Tholop, a weary expression on his face.

A man with short black hair and brown eyes stood on the left side of the Council table. Like all council members, he wore a blue council robe over his regular clothes. Ian recognised him as Thrap. Thrap had been the primary reason the Great Escape didn't end in catastrophe. As the escape went from bad to worse, he kept his cool, reassuring everyone and keeping up their spirits. It was he who suggested that they settle under the Ylimaf Farmhouse, using it as a temporary refuge, allowing everyone to recuperate until they could move on. Lots of humans idolised Thrap and respected his decisions.

His popularity led him to become one of the most influential council members. No wonder the Council couldn't decide if he was behind the push to stay. He gesticulated wildly, not at those opposite him but at everyone in the room. One of the council members rose and pointed directly at him.

"You mean we steal everything we need." Thrap shrugged indifferently.

"So? Once we move to Stone-Lee Gulch, we'll still have to steal, and the more the Colony grows, the more stealing will increase. The Foraging Department will have to make longer, even more dangerous journeys to do so."

"If we stay here, the Gods are bound to discover us and destroy us on the spot."

"I agree."

"He's right. We'll all be killed."

"And if we move, we'll all be killed slowly as the Colony fails." That fired off more heated arguments, which became inaudible due to the number of people shouting. It all trailed off as the gavel banged loudly. "Here me, the Stone-Lee Gulch plan is the aspiration of idiots and dreamers, we-!" As he turned to face the other members of the Council, Thrap spied Ian by the doors. "Yes?" he asked, his tone indicating trouble if Ian was wasting their time.

Aware that every pair of eyes in the room was on him, Ian cleared his throat and ducked his head in apology. "A thousand pardons, distinguished members of the council," he began, holding up the sheet. "Forgive the ill timing of my intrusion, but I have urgent news to give you. One of our Foraging teams made an emergency transmission in the open. It must be reported to the Council."

The chairman waved him forward, and Ian hurried over, trying to ignore all the eyes following him as he went. The chairman unfolded the sheet and read it before slowly standing. "This is indeed urgent news," he said. "It would seem that our information about the rising river has been wrong." In the theatre Box to the left of Throp, Ian saw a man rub the bridge of his nose. Ian recognised him as the head of the Intelligence Department. Despite his annoyance with the Intelligence Department, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, especially now. "The multiple Foraging teams we sent out last night have been delayed in their return because they have discovered the river rose faster than expected." There were gasps of surprise. "It has submerged their usual routes, and they have been forced to find alternative routes."

Tholop leaned forward to pound his fist on the railing of his box. "Then that settles it. The Council must make a decision now. Do we leave or stay?" This fired off more heated arguments before the chairman silenced the room with his gavel.

"Tholop," he asked once the hall was silent, "What is the status of our supplies?"

"Factoring in what we gathered, if we cannibalise the resources for one plan and utilise the supplies sectioned for Operation Grand Slam, we can pull off either plan." He paused. "I would like to point out that the sooner I can get started, it will lessen the chances of disaster or failure."

Again, the arguing erupted, and again, the gavel silenced the room. The chairman rose. "We have made our points; we have exposed the flaws. There is no more time for deliberation. We will vote on the matter now." Everyone returned to their seats. The chairman held up his left hand. "All those in favour of moving to Stone-Lee Gulch, make a show of hands." Half the Council raised their hands. He then held up his right. "All those in favour of blocking the tunnel, make a show of hands." The other half raised their hands. The chairman looked ill while high above; Ian saw and heard Throp's facepalm. "The vote to move is tied. Six in favour, six against."

The room erupted in yelling as the chairman banged his gavel for silence. Once he got it, the chairman cried, "Since the vote is tied, by law, the deciding vote now falls to this chair." Ian folded his arms and stood back from the crowd. As he did so, Thrap spotted him and gestured for the chairman to wait. He then called Ian over.

"You, boy. Ian is your name, right?" Ian nodded. "I worked with your Mother at the Dig Site. You remember the Great Escape? You remember how disastrous that turned out for all of us?" Ian gritted his teeth. "As a Forager, you understand the dangers of journeying into the wilderness. Surely, you understand we must keep stealing from the Gods to survive out there?" Ian nodded. "Tell me, if we move to Stone-Lee Gulch, what do you think of the prospect of making long trips back to civilisation to keep stealing from the Gods?"

The question surprised him, and Ian now felt every pair of eyes in the room settle on him yet again. "Well, Councilman Thrap, I do believe we should move to Stone-Lee Gultch." The Councilman's face remained neutral.

"And why do you think that?"

"For one thing, we need to lessen our dependence on the Gods. For another, I like the idea of living independently from them. Why? In the fifteen years since we fled Biosyn, we have established a Colony of our own, with laws to govern us, departments to help everything run and an economy to help us thrive." He turned to face the crowd. "Yet we are still dependent on the Gods for everything. Although we live on a farm, we aren't farmers. The Gods aren't our cattle because we don't harvest from them; we steal. We steal everything, and stealing means you never have to work for anything, as it's always provided to you by someone else. That will lead to stagnation for our species, and if there's one thing I also understand, we cannot keep stealing forever. Sooner or later, we will get caught. History has proven the only successful thieves are the ones who know when to quit. So, to truly be free from the Gods and progress, we must learn to leave their world behind and create our own."

"What about the chances of failure?" Thrap asked.

"There was an even greater chance of failure during the Great Escape," Ian said. "Yet we took it. And while too many things went wrong, I would like to remind the Council whose efforts and hard work ensured it wasn't a catastrophe." Thrap remained emotionless. "I know all about failure. I lost my mother and, with her, my whole family. But I have come to understand one thing. Loss is a part of life; if we don't accept it, we risk it consuming us. I understand the loss of many luxuries the Gods provide will make life extremely difficult, but we have to accept it if we are to have any hope of a future free of worry. Because if we don't, that inability to separate ourselves from the Gods will destroy us before Biosyn can."

On the opposite side of the room, high up in a theatre box, a man rose. Ian recognised him as the head of the Medical Department. "Honorable Chairman, I request the right to speak." The chairman acknowledged his request and granted it. "Councilmen, I wish to say that I agree with this young man. I asked the impossible of him, and he pulled it off. Was it skill? Or luck? It doesn't matter because I told him to make it happen, and he did." He glanced at Ian before continuing. "This has been our attitude for the past fifteen years. You stole from the Gods? Good job. Do it again tomorrow. And the day after that. My point is we are nothing but vermin, living in the shadow of greater beings and stealing whatever scraps they drop. Life will be hard if we move, but we can do it. The Great Escape was hard…" he trailed off as he looked at Ian. "...And painful. But we did it. Now look at us. We have a thriving Colony."

He gestured beyond the walls towards Stone-Lee Gulch. "As the head of the Medical Department, I guarantee life at Stone-Lee Gulch will be difficult and painful. But we can ensure it won't be catastrophic. The Gods trained us to think outside the box. They taught us problem-solving. The Engineering Department has done everything possible to ensure we can live there." He pointed to Ian. "And this man's exploits have not only ensured that we have enough medical properties to lessen the painful side of living there, but the amount will give us valuable time to cultivate and stockpile our own medicines. Therefore, I am confident that we can prosper at Stone-Lee Gulch." One of the Councilmen rose.

"I couldn't agree more," he cried. Ian recognised him as the Councilman who showed up at the Foraging Department that day and asked him to go and get Therisa's medicine. "For me, this has been the greatest worry. But if the Medical Department is confident we can survive, I do too."

It was met with shouts of 'Here, here,' and 'Yes!' The chairman silenced the room, and everyone returned to their seats. Once again, the chairman stood. "With the vote to move to Stone-Lee Gultch tied six in favour, six against, the final vote falls to this chair." He deliberately eyed Thrap before eyeing the Head of the Medical Department, the Councilman who supported him and then Ian. Finally, he turned to face the Council. "And I vote in favour of the move." Half the Council cheered while the other half remained silent.

As the chairman raised his gavel, the room was silenced by a fist pounding the table. Thrap seethed. "I will not go through that again!" he yelled. "I saw too many die on the trip to Thorn Valley. I comforted many, telling them that everything will be alright and they will make it, only to watch them die." He paused, trembling from some unseen memory. Then, his face rose, his eyes full of misery. "I refuse to be a part of another disaster!"

"Thrap, the vote has been decided," the chairman said calmly. "What's the point of Democracy if you're going to ignore the outcome because you disagree?"

"Only if it's stupid and dangerous!" Thrap shouted.

"Says you!" Someone shouted back.

Before a fight erupted, the chairman slammed the gavel down. "It's over, done!" the chairman cried. He pointed his gavel at Thrap. "The vote has passed in accordance with our laws. I would like to remind you that you crafted these laws!" Thrap silently glared back. "There is no more argument. This meeting is adjourned." To emphasise the point, he slammed the gavel down with finality, so hard Ian was shocked it didn't break.

"Fine," Thrap said through gritted teeth. "You can make your choice without me."

"Thrap, I would remind you—" the chairman was silenced as Thrap tore off his robe, tossed it to the floor, and, with six other Councilmen, marched from the room.

The moment the doors slammed shut behind them, Tholop stood to address the room. "In that case, I suggest we begin organising the evacuation now."

"How soon can you organise the supplies you already have?" The chairman asked.

"I'll have to wait until the foraging teams return," he said. "That way, I can factor in what they were sent out last night to forage. Besides that, the Logistics Department already has a list of what we can provide." The man in the booth to Throp's right stood.

"We can make the trip safely with what we have. I will wish to coordinate with the Security Department regarding safety. They will have their hands full guarding both the Colony and our supplies." The rest of the Department heads spoke to the Council. Finally, the chairman announced that the meeting was at an end, and with one last bang of the gavel, everyone began filing out of the room.

A hand slapped down on Ian's shoulder, and he spun to see Tholop grinning. "Well said, Ian. I can't believe you managed to sway those stubborn old fools." He turned to look at the booth the head of the Medical Department occupied. "I couldn't be prouder of you than I am now."

"So, what do we do now?" Ian asked. With all the Foraging Teams gone, there wasn't much of a Foraging Department. Tholop gave a sad sigh.

"For now, we must scout the main exit," he answered. "I know I'm asking you to be a scout again-" Ian silenced him with a raised hand.

"I don't care about that. What I do care about is Thrap. Will his actions impact the move?" Tholop turned to the closed doors.

"Hard to say," he answered. "He did have some important Councilmen on his side…" Tholop trailed off as if trying to calculate the loss those men would cause. Instead of answering, Tholop dismissed it with a smile and gave Ian a pat on the back.

"Never mind. Just go home. Pack your things and report to the Foragers Department to equip yourself and everyone else for scouting duty. Tell the Communication Wing to stay at their post until all the Foraging Teams are back or accounted for. As for everyone else, they are to gather at the main exit two hours from now."

Ian fled the Council Building with haste. He kept a steady pace on his journey back to his apartment. All around him, the Colony went about its daily business, blissfully unaware of the threat creeping up on them. He wondered how long before this tranquil scene would be replaced by organised panic as people rushed this way and that, collecting their belongings and families for the long march to Stone-Lee Gulch.

Once home, he set about dismantling his portaledge and packing everything up. Once done, he made his way back to the Foragers Department. Tholop had yet to return, as he was most likely organising the move with the other department heads. Everyone had gathered in the Lobby, eagerly awaiting what he had to say. He relayed the events of the meeting to everyone. A few faces looked horrified when he explained the moment Thrap left with his followers.

"Maybe Thrap's right," someone said once Ian had finished.

"We've got no time to argue this," Michael said, anger evident in his voice. "We have our assignments, so let's do our damn job." With that, everyone filed out of the Lobby, leaving Ian alone. Even Lara was gone. For the first time since he started working here, the Lobby of the Foragers Department was empty. Ian looked up at the clock on a wall. A wristwatch. He had one and three-quarters of an hour until he had to be at the main exit to assist with the evacuation.

Evacuation. The word played over in his mind like a broken record. They really were leaving. Ian cast a quick glance at the ceiling. Therisa. He snuck a quick peek at the watch. If he hurried, he could give her a proper goodbye before leaving. Without a moment's hesitation, he hurried to get his things. First, he collected the equipment he'd need for scouting. The radio pack and his tool belt. Then, snatching his personal belongings by the front desk and making sure no one was watching, he left the Foragers Department building for the last time.

He would've preferred one last walk through its halls, but time was of the essence. He would have to move to maximise what little time he had left with Therisa. Jogging along with his personal stuff and Scouting Equipment was cumbersome, but it would look suspicious if he left them in the Lobby. Not that he didn't look suspicious lugging all that equipment to the front entrance. He drew more than a few stares, though no one asked questions.

Though he needn't worry about arousing suspicion. The guards at the entrance were gone. No doubt they were being organised for the trip. All the Departments were. He eyed the empty post the guards occupied as a thought suddenly occurred. Once they moved to Stone-Lee Gulch, what would the Intelligence Department do? There wouldn't be telephones to tap, and Tholop said they would be out of radio range. Would they be disbanded? Or folded into other Departments?

He shook his head as he turned away. The clock was ticking, meaning there was no time to dawdle. He'd have to hurry if he wanted to max out his last moments with Therisa.

The trip up to Therisa appeared to take too long. By the time he reached the secret door, he was huffing. He almost forgot to check if the coast was clear. Carefully, he listened, then opened the door. Therisa was reading a book as he walked out onto the table. Carefully, he laid all his stuff down behind one of the toy soldiers, then strode right into the open. She must have heard him, for her ears wiggled, and she turned, a bright smile on her charming face.

<Earn, why are you back so soon?>** He smiled up at her.**

<I came back to say goodbye, Therisa.> Her smile dropped.

<What? But I thought-!>** He held up his hands.**

<Remember how I told you our Colony wasn't safe anymore, Therisa?> She nodded. He licked his lips nervously. Although he trusted Therisa, he did not wish to reveal too much. <All this rain will cause our Colony to be flooded. Our leaders decided that we needed to evacuate as soon as possible.> His own face drooped in sadness. <That's why I came back. To say goodbye to you.> Therisa's face was emotionless.

<So this is it. When you leave, I'm never going to see you again?>** He nodded.**

<I can't stay too long, but I just couldn't leave without saying goodbye.> Ian's smile returned. <My interactions with you over the past few days have made me happier than I have been in a long time. I want to thank you for your friendship.>

She smiled as she placed her hand on the table, palm up towards him. Ian stepped onto her finger but froze as a knock at the door echoed throughout the room. Therisa motioned for him to hide, and as he scrambled behind the lamp, Therisa leaned back in her bed and asked who was there.

<It's me, Cuz,> Thrisica answered. She opened the door and stuck her head into the room. <I heard you talking in there. Are you okay?>

<Just reading aloud, Cuz,> Therisa answered by holding her book up. <It's getting boring up here, all by myself.>

<Yeah, well, so long as you're not talking to any little people.> She punctuated her joke with a forced laugh. Ian rolled his eyes. Over by the bed, he heard Therisa grunt. Thrisica entered the room, carrying a glass. She pulled up a chair, turned it around, sat backwards in it, and leaned over the backrest.

Ian listened as Thrisica apologised if she upset Therisa for telling her family about her hallucinations, but she was worried. Therisa waved her apology away, emphasising that she understood her cousin was concerned about her safety and that there was no need to apologise. Therisica again apologised for not coming up to see her cousin sooner since she was up here all alone, but she had been tired from working so many shifts. Again, Therisa waved away her apology, telling her cousin not to kill herself because of her condition.

As it went back and forth, Ian began to grow impatient. He looked over at the large clock on the wall. He only had just under an hour left before he had to be at the main exit. If he waited until the last minute, it would take him at least twenty minutes to get there from the Playroom. He glared back at Thrisica, understanding the Goddess' plight but wishing she'd leave. Thrisica was telling her cousin about some annoying Mou'nae customer who couldn't hear very well, so she had to talk very loudly. Some of the items he wanted were embarrassing, which resulted in every head in the store turning towards her.

Ian sighed as he turned back to the clock. He had forty minutes left. He grunted in frustration. If she didn't leave soon…

Ian missed Thrisica's ears twitch. She abruptly stopped in the middle of her story as she held up one hand. <Oh, sorry, but I heard something.> The hand swung in a downward arc, knocking over the lamp. Ian's cry of alarm was drowned out by Therisa's as he was sent sprawling onto the table. With a bang, the world around Ian suddenly warped, and as he rose, he slammed face-first into an invisible wall. As he blinked his vision back into focus, he realised the invisible wall was glass. He looked about frantically, and high above, he saw the distorted face of Thrisica grinning down at him.

She'd upended the drinking glass she'd brought into the room and now had Ian trapped underneath. He heard Therisa's muffled cry of alarm as she struggled to get out of bed. Thrisica was faster. She slid the glass towards the edge of the table, placed her palm underneath, slid Ian onto it, and flipped the glass over, leaving him stuck at the bottom. He heard Therisa cry out his name, and then he was moving. He saw the Goddess struggling to climb out of bed as he was carried out of the room, and her cries of anguish were silenced as Thrisica closed and locked the door behind her.

Ian was bounced as Thrisica bounded down the stairs to the living room. <Dad! Mom! Look what I found!> As the glass stopped shaking, Ian rubbed his head and looked up into two gigantic pairs of midnight blue eyes. He couldn't stop himself from scrambling away from them, only to realise there wasn't much room.

<By the Rings,> Mrs Ylimaf whispered. <Look how small he is.>

<Thrisica!> Throp said sternly. <Didn't Th'lak tell us not to alert the little people that we're aware of them?> Thrisica shrugged indifferently.

<We saw each other at the same time,> Thrisica lied. <If I hadn't nabbed him, he would've gone straight back to the other little people and spilled the cheese sauce.> She held the glass up to her face. <By capturing him before he could skedaddle, we're buying Th'lak some time.>

<What? What is it? Let me see?> The glass lowered, and Ian faced Theesa's wide, excited midnight blue eyes. Her enormous ears wiggled, and her whiskers twitched. <Wow!> she squealed. <Is that real? What is it? It's so cute! Can I keep it?>

<It's not a toy, Theesa,> Throp said.

<What shall we do, honey?> Throp turned to look at his wife before looking around the room. He mainly stared at the walls before turning back to Ian.

<Well, the secrets out,> he said, standing up. <There's no point in hiding anymore. I'll call Th'lak and let him know.> Mrs Ylimaf turned to follow but stopped, looking up to the ceiling.

<By the Rings, what is that racket?> She quickly left the room.

Ian's fear evaporated. They knew about the Colony? Let Th'lak know? Before he could ask, the glass was moving, and Ian had to focus on trying to keep from bashing his head against the walls. After a few moments, the glass was upended, and he tumbled out onto a metal floor covered in newspaper. As Ian stood, he found he was in a bell-shaped wire cage. High above, all three of the Ylimaf children stared down at him in wonder.

Thrisica brought her siblings up to speed on what he was. Ian couldn't help but listen intently as she spun a yarn about humans being genetically engineered pets by the Biosyn Corporation. He would've interjected, but he was curious to hear what she had to say. When she finished, he was more interested in how she got that story and if it was tied to this Th'lak guy.

<So,> Th'lick said, resting his elbows on the table to support his chin in his hands. <You're the one responsible for all the thefts around here.> Ian opened his mouth to reply but quickly shut it.

<There!> Theesa cried, her face nearly pressing against the bars. <Did you see that? It looked like it was going to speak.>

<It can speak,> Thrisica said, greed evident in her eyes. <Like all thieves, once they're caught, they clam up.> Ian wanted to yell that he wasn't a thief. But what good would that do? They weren't wrong in their accusation. For fifteen years, the Colony had been stealing from the Ylimafs.

Instead, he just sat in the middle of the cage, hugging his knees. He couldn't believe what had happened. A few minutes ago, he worried he would lose his last opportunity to say goodbye to Therisa. Now, he would lose everything. Although he had no idea who this 'Th'lak' guy was, he knew it wasn't the sheriff. An exterminator? A reporter? Whoever they were, one thing was sure. Biosyn would be close behind. The only positive to this situation was that the Colony was already preparing to evacuate. His only hope would be to delay Biosyn until the Colony had escaped.

Mrs Ylimaf entered the room with a stern expression on her face. <Thrisica,> she said, <Did you lock your cousin in her room?>

<Where do you think I found this little guy?> Everyone stared at Thrisica. <Cousin Therisa has been talking with him this whole time.>

<Still, you shouldn't do things like that.> Mrs Ylimaf was less stern.

<After you let her out, did she try to climb down the stairs?> Mrs Ylimaf didn't respond. <Remember what Th'lak said about these little people? What did cousin Therisa say to get you to release him?> The response was the same. Thrisica smiled back at her mother before turning down to Ian.

<Is cousin Therisa, okay, Mom?> Theesa asked. Th'lick looked worried. Their mother looked upset.

<She's not coming out,> Mrs Ylimaf answered. <I convinced her to stay upstairs…> She trailed off as she mentally debated how much she should say. Instead, she gave a sad sigh and left the room.

Ian looked at the clock hanging on the wall. He should've been at the main exit by now. No doubt the others would be wondering where he was. They would continue with their job of assisting the evacuation. That's what happens in life. If a human disappeared, there was never a search party organised. Unless they found your body, everyone just assumed something nasty got you. Throp wouldn't waste valuable time looking for him. He'd just say a prayer and move on.

<Hey there, little guy.> Ian looked up to see Theesa waving at him. <My name is Theesa. Can you say that? Theesa.> Next to her, Th'lick watched with curious eyes.

<What's the matter, don't feel like talking to us?> Thrisica leaned over the cage. <You were very chatty with my cousin.>

<Please,> Theesa asked. <If you won't talk to us, can you at least say my name?>

Ian stared up at her. All these years, watching her from the walls, reading information passed on from the Intelligence Department, here he was, having a conversation with her. He looked at Th'lick and Thrisica. All three of the Ylimaf children were staring at him. Gods he knew all about, now wanting to learn all about him.

<Hi Theesa,> he said as he gave a small wave. Th'lick gave an audible gasp while Theesa squealed in delight, causing Ian to cover his ears in pain. Theesa realised her mistake and lowered her voice.

<What's your name?> she asked. Ian didn't respond.

<Hey,> Thrisica said as she leaned down to be at eye level with Ian. <Why can't you be nice to my sister?> Ian screwed up his face, holding back the rage within. Instead, he just turned his back to her.

<Please,> Theesa asked. <What's your name?> He half turned to the Goddess.

<Ian.> He could hear her trying to pronounce the human word. Her muzzle prevented her tongue from forming the necessary syllables. Even Th'lick had a go but quickly gave up. Finally, Ian said, <Call me Earn.>

<Earn, why don't you like being pets?> Theesa asked. <I would like to keep you as my pet.> Ian looked up at her. What would he tell her? The truth? The story Thrisica told them played through his mind. They'd believe he was lying, trying to manipulate their emotions into letting him go.

Just then, a commotion at the entrance drew everyone's attention. Thrisica grinned. <They're here,> she said, grabbing Ian's cage. Ian was once again granted a whirlwind view of the world as he fell over from the sudden move. The cage bounced along until it came to a halt. <Oh, it's you. Well, here he is,> Thrisica said, holding up the cage.

Ian waited for his head to stop spinning before looking up into a pair of red eyes behind a pair of glasses framed by a white, furry face. Ian stared and then gasped with recognition. She had hardly changed in the fifteen years since he last saw her.

<Dr. Yad?> he cried. The eyes widened, then narrowed.

<Earn, what have I always told you. When it's just me, call me Aunty Yad.>