Chapter 1: Out of the Frying Pan

Consciousness faded as the air rushed past in a hurry to get out of the way. Gravity took over, and the body surrendered to it without hesitation. Blood welled up in the wounds as pressure caused it to move to the skin's surface. Tiny red droplets cascaded behind as they escaped at the end of already red fur. The rush of air caused tears to streak off an unconscious face.

It would have been more refreshing when the small body hit the water except for two very important factors: The tiny creature was already unconscious and couldn't appreciate the way the wounds were being irrigated and cleansed, and at the velocity the body impacted, had the tiny being been awake, the shock of the stop would have rendered all consciousness void. Fortunately, the little one was unconscious and when fur and flesh impacted with the water there wasn't a conscious reaction to tense up, so bone breakage was nonexistent. However, that didn't stop the impact from bruising the side that hit the water first.

Soft, strong arms folded around the limp creature and a lithe body carried it to the surface. Breaking the surface did not induce the body to begin breathing again, so the larger creature swam for the shore quickly. The little one was pushed up onto the edge of the moon pool, water dripping from its mouth. Lifting the back of its neck, the larger creature placed its muzzle to the smaller muzzle, and blew into the mouth. Little cheeks inflated with each breath. Then the small creature coughed and sputtered, letting out a moan after it stopped coughing. Consciousness was not regained, but it was breathing again and there was a pulse.

The larger creature wiped its brow and sighed. It was a small creature, with a slight, lithe frame, adapted to easily move through the water. More obviously male, though with some noticeable mammary development, he was naked and still dripping wet. He was still larger than the small creature he had fished form the water.

Not today, little one. Stay among the living for a bit longer. You're too young for me to allow you to join the Great Flow.

Tanrac! came a call from the nearby hatchway.

Tanrac looked over at the owner of the voice and smiled. Jacob, I need medical help. Something fell into my lap, and it wasn't breathing a moment ago.

Jacob nodded. He was an older creature, almost a decade or more so than Tanrac, but clearly of a related species. As Tanrac was an otter, Jacob was more akin to a wolverine or badger. His build was massive compared to Tanrac, and stocky, and just as naked. He walked over to the small creature and knelt down to examine it.

What is it? I'm not familiar with the species. So small. How old do you think it is? It... We're not even doing it the favor of knowing what gender it is. _ Jacob rolled the small creature onto its back and stood up, shocked. _By the Great Flow, what is going on?

The small creature had no genitals, either male or female. There was no sheath, nor scrotum, nor a vagina. There was no belly button, nor mammaries. The creature had tawny red fur, with a light cream belly, and black fur on the tips of its pointed, triangular ears, as well as on its leg and arm paws. There was a single tail, the same tawny red as the back and sides, with a white tip. The nose was black, but all of the myriad of whiskers were stark white. The pads on its paws were a deep rich black, as were its claws.

No gender. Neither male nor female. Remarkable, commented Tanrac. No mammaries, either. And no belly button. It wasn't birthed in the normal way. Interesting. I'll want to look into this when we get it back to the colony.

Get it back?_questioned Jacob. _Is it wise to take an unknown back?

Tanrac brushed the fur back on the small creature's face, revealing the gashes from which blood was no longer oozing. They want it dead. That's reason enough for me to want to keep it alive. You know the rules. We salvage what we can, be it machines, knowledge or our fellow beings. If they cast it away we know we can find some use for it.

Jacob sighed softly. You're right, of course. I shouldn't be so quick to fear an unknown. We were all unknown to one another at the start. It's just we haven't had a new addition that came to us this way in a long time.

Two more creatures approached through the hatchway, carrying a stretcher between them. Both were canine, like the small creature, though one was obviously female, with the developed mammaries gained from having whelped and nursed pups, and the other was male.

Is he breathing?

Tanrac nodded. Yes. We're not sure about the gender. There is some... disfigurement. Anyway, "he" is probably fine for now. He wasn't breathing when I pulled him from the water, but I breathed for him and now he appears to be doing better. He still hasn't regained consciousness.

Good work, Tanrac. You're a credit to your species.

Whoever they are. Not that any of us know. Let's get back. I don't think I'll find anything else that's useful today.

The two canines lifted the small creature onto the stretcher and the male frowned at the little canine's lack of genitals. It appeared to offend some masculine pride in him. He looked up at the terraces way above the level they were on and snarled.

The others understood his anger. They were in a state of war with those above, and trapped below, many having been cast off like so much rubbish. More than a few of them had come to the colony by way of being thrown over the balconies from above, and more than a few had died when they had hit the water, conscious and afraid, tense and quick to brace themselves.

That was their death sentence, because the twitch of their muscles as they hit caused their bones to break, their bodies to bounce off the surface and hit a second time. And with broken bones, they often also had crushed internal organs. Death was often slow and painful, and more than one survived long enough to drown.

But all were salvaged, if they could be. Despite not having memories when they arrived or were cast off, they understood technology, and the colony had access to remarkable medical gear, as well as some manufacturing and a great deal of computer equipment. If those who departed as they arrived had any organs that weren't turned to pulp by broken bones and impact, they were harvested and typed before being placed in stasis for when they might be needed to patch one of those who survived entry.

Tanrac was an anomaly, though. When he had arrived, he landed easily in the water, diving deep beneath the surface. He had no memories of his life before arrival, but he knew how to swim, and was supremely proficient at it. He had minimal injuries, and was skilled in many areas, particularly in computer programming and networking. He had created simple AIs to assist the colony in automating many of the mundane tasks, freeing more people to help map the surroundings and create outposts further in that could be used to access better supplies and resources.

Jacob had become his companion, and was the first to discover Tanrac's dual status as both male and female. They became lovers after that, and Tanrac, though she didn't show it, was actually expecting her first pup by him. Jacob was one of the older dogs in the colony, and many looked to him for guidance and spiritual support.

It was he who found the first references to the Great Flow in the computers, and linked the spiritual references to a species that seemed similar enough to his own. Tanrac also felt that this was right, but didn't know why. She was a strong proponent of the Great Flow, and advocated respect for the waters that provided them both food and supplies. There was some genuine worship, but most only mouthed the words because it gave their mouths something to do when astonished. Neither Jacob nor Tanrac actually minded, because at least they weren't being profane or vulgar.

The colony was a series of rooms, passages and chambers, not entirely unlike the wing of a complex, and it often seemed as if that was exactly what it had originally been before it was used as home and community for the colonists. It had no name, and needed none. Those who lived there felt that referring to it as a colony sounded better than calling it a refuge or camp. It didn't sound permanent, but it sounded safe.

The colonists had no problems accessing the rooms, each secured as they were with palm scanners. They seemed to react to the paw pads of the colonists, regardless of species. However, they did not react to the paw pads of their oppressors, which made the colony a safe pace in case a hunting party came down looking for some sport. Similarly, they had found several camps of their enemies by noticing which of the doors they could not go through. It seemed that while the complex was open to anyone, it made sure hostile parties didn't encounter one another any more often than it could help. Still, ranged weapons and large open spaces allowed for hostilities to occur, often unexpectedly.

It was widely assumed to be the truth that those who were ejected from above were done so by the enemies who attacked them, mostly because their camps tended to be on the higher floors of the complex, and they rarely ventured down unless they had to. Confrontations, though hostile, were almost always brief because none of the colonists carried weapons. In all their exploration, no one had ever come across a weapon. It, too, was assumed that was because whatever arsenal might exist within the complex, it was located on the upper floors, and was under the strict control of their enemies.

What defenses they had were in the form of traps and improvised weapons that they had worked out with the supplies they had found, as well as the computer, which had a program created that gave them a ready alert whenever one of the enemies entered a room within five rooms of their encampments. The alerts had dramatically cut down on the number of deaths suffered by the colonies, and had even allowed the colonists to feel more secure, knowing that they would be alerted to enemies who were approaching or in the vicinity. It never occurred to the colonists that their enemy might not be the ones in control of the complex

Chapter 2: Out of the Frying Pan, Again

For what seemed like years he had been poked, prodded and stabbed as tissue samples were collected by automated machines. Blood and other fluids were routinely harvested from him, bone scrapings taken, muscle tissue samples cored from his major dense muscle groups. It went one and on, daily, weekly, and even monthly schedules occurring, almost like clockwork. He learned to tell time by what test was being performed on him. And always at the same time each perceived day, he was given several hours of uninterrupted respite from the tests.

Never once in all that time did anyone speak to him. He saw movement of small bipedal creatures behind screens and frosted glass walls, heard the muffled sounds and felt hushed telepathic impressions, but never caught anything distinct. Then one day, instead of the usual buzzer that he came to believe indicated his samples had failed whatever test was being performed on them, a happy chime occurred. The cycle was interrupted, and he was given several hours, he thought, respite to heal.

Not that he could do much. For what must have been years at that point, he had been hung, suspended above the floor by the restraints that bound his wrists and ankles. All six of his limbs were held back in uncomfortable, but not painful positions. They were not torturing him, but required that his body be numb and aching so he could not struggle without tiring himself out quickly. His genitals had been covered in a soft, warm material that occasionally collected a sample of his reproductive genetic fluids. A tube had been inserted into his rectum to collect solid waste, and he was kept alive by an intravenous line that fed nutrients directly into his bloodstream. Were it not for the lack of actual exercise to maintain his muscle tone, and the mind numbing boredom of not being able to act, he would be able to survive indefinitely in such an arrangement.

He felt another round of samples being taken as the pain of the muscle cores and bone scraping were mingled with the autoerotic harvesting of a sperm sample. Blood was drawn from the various intravenous lines, and urine and stool with induced for production. He felt nauseous as all the tests occurred in rapid succession. It was worse than the most grueling physical challenges he had gone through at the Academy. When they completed, he was left panting and exhausted, weakened from the exertion without proper exercise, and even more numb than usual.

Then he heard the chime again. He wondered what would happen next, but as he did he became aware of a growing numbness in his body. It was spreading from the intravenous lines, paralyzing, or at least numbing him to the point of being immobile. As he felt it creep up his body towards his head, not even his adrenal response could stave off the effects and within a few heartbeats he was unconscious.

As the doors closed, the large creature looked up and saw a small tawny red body falling from the refuse chute. He was on "garbage detail" and it was his job to monitor for new creatures that the overseers were done with, like what had just fallen through the chute, and rescue them before the conveyer system dropped them in the slag pit and they were burned alive. Before such a detail had become mandatory, more than a few had been missed, and deaths were much more common.

He jumped down and dashed over to the conveyer as quickly as his four paws would carry him. It wasn't safe to move amongst the machines in such a manner, which is why he had to monitor the situation from his post above. He jumped onto the conveyer and ran along it to the unconscious form of the newbie.

He picked the young male up and rolled his mass onto his own back. There was nothing to him, as expected. New ones were almost always wasted away, and he expected that after regaining consciousness, he would have the same amnesia as everyone else who had been rescued. That was expected because everyone did, and everyone had been rescued. None remembered anything prior to waking up, but they all had a great deal of knowledge but they didn't remember how they obtained it.

That wasn't as important as getting this new soldier back to camp for medical treatment and cataloging. If he survived, he would be able to answer the routine questions as well as everyone else had, and if he didn't, his vital organs would be harvested for transplants into those who were injured in battle.

Coming in hot, he sent telepathically to his command._ Got a newbie fresh off the grill. Send a replacement in case more come through._

Affirmative, K. Medical is standing by to accept your orphan. T'char is replacing you now.

K'tin nodded to himself. He had no need to reply. It would be known that he had received the reply by the one sending it. That was one advantage of telepathic communication. The other was a lack of range, provided you knew who you were trying to contact. It was also damn hard to eavesdrop on telepathic conversations unless you were an insanely powerful telepath. While such beings existed, a more common tactic would be to use sensitive monitoring devices to pick up the psionic activity and relay it to linked devices elsewhere. It wasn't hard to sweep for such bugs, but it was time consuming, as there were almost as many kinds of listeners as there were natural telepaths.

K'tin was a large white-furred Lu'taur. His powerful lupine body was covered in thick white fur with a downy undercoat, and his powerful legs ended in white paws with black pads and claws. His forelegs were also uniformly white ending in paws with black pads and claws. And his thick-furred tail curled up, a sign of command, even though he wasn't the highest ranking commander in the camp. His upper torso was humanoid, covered in the same white fur and his arms ended in strong furred hands with well kept claws. His palms had the black pads common to his foot paws. On top of his shoulders, perched upon a muscular neck, was a lupine head. The tips of his ears were black, as was his nose, but his fangs were a very pearly white. He was a perfect specimen of a Lu'taur.

His new companion was only peripherally known to him to be a K'sune. They were not of lupine stock, like he was, but rather descended from vulpine stock. The tawny-red fur, black socks and gloves, and white tail tip marked him as being nearly pure-blooded. Most K'sune shared some sort of traits from the other K'zo races, like Lu'taurs and Ch'khats.

The K'zo interbred amongst themselves, strengthening bloodlines and their race overall. Purebreds were rare, and as often as not, unless they distinguished themselves in the field, were considered to be throwbacks, instead of advantages. But the K'sunes were the exception. A purebred K'sune was thought to be powerful commander material, as well as possessing other talents that would enhance their cadre. None had ever ended up at the camp until now. K'tin found himself intrigued by the possibilities.

K'tin walked into the medical bay purposefully and carefully shrugged the unconscious K'sune onto the waiting bed. He backed away as the autodoc began to apply non-invasive monitors and scanned his body for obvious trauma normally associated with the introduction process. C'thal, a Ch'khat of leonine stock, approached him.

Anything out of the ordinary with this one?

K'tin shook his head. Nothing besides his being a K'sune. Introduction was standard, and there were no unexpected hazards retrieving him from the conveyer. I noted that he appears to be a pureblood. The autodocs will have to confirm that.

How was his weight? Did he feel wasted?

Very. I'd estimate he's been immobilized for at least a year. He's going to be weak for a while until we can get his body reconditioned.

Do you think he's worth it?

Yes, sir. It might be an investment, but if he's a pureblood K'sune, he could well make the difference between this being a garrison operation and a success. Pureblood K'sunes are Black Beta, at least. He might even be White Alpha. You know what that means.

C'thal frowned. He's not taking over.

If he outranks you, there won't be an option. Even without orders, the option is his, not yours. Unless he declines, your only option will be to acknowledge a change in authority.

If he survives.

K'tin growled. Regardless of anything else, K'zo obeyed the chain of command. Those who spoke against it needed a refresher in loyalty. It was something the Lu'taur took seriously.

C'thal blinked and took a step back. What do you... He suddenly realized how K'tin had taken his last comment and frowned. He had it coming, but that didn't make the sudden impact of K'tin's fist with the side of his head any less painful. He also couldn't go down without a fight. His own pride wouldn't allow it. Lu'taur were pack animals, but so were Ch'khats.

But looking around he suddenly realized he was one of the only Ch'khats, and K'tin was rapidly being backed up by several more Lu'taur. A lone lion will still get taken down by as pack of dogs, even if he takes several down with him. He frowned and sighed.

If he requests it, I will defer leadership to him. Until then, you follow my orders, K'tin.

K'tin nodded. His stance immediately returned to that of a subordinate officer. There would be no hard feelings, no retaliation. He had acted accordingly, and C'thal had recanted his erroneous position. He raised his arm, fist closed, palm towards himself, to C'thal. It was a K'zo gesture of respect and camaraderie, as well as a salute. Behind everything else, they were all K'zo, all brothers in arms. Command emphasized that by making their salute to one another the same gesture of respect they had used before they had been K'zo.

C'thal smirked and returned the salute, pressing the back of his arm against K'tin's. Lu'taur took command, structure and orders far more seriously than Ch'khat did, but there was harmony in discipline, and even C'thal could respect that. He had been forced into leadership initially, but he found it suited his personality.

They turned back to the K'sune and watched as the autodoc continued to develop a full medical workup without traumatizing the newbie by getting invasive. Initially the autodoc had been programmed to be much more invasive, as most K'zo procedures ended up being, but the trauma that most had gone through, even if only a nightmare after their amnesia set in, was triggered constantly by the procedures, so the autodoc was reprogrammed to use non-invasive techniques.

The autodoc stopped moving around and a small holographic screen appeared, quickly detailing the various issues standard to a recovered entity. Besides borderline malnutrition and a total lack of exercise for a prolonged period of time, there were stress fractures on all the major joints, a mild concussion from the fall, and two actually broken bones. The genetic profile was blank, and blood work was suggested once the patient was conscious enough to reassert discipline.

Looks like he's going to make it.

So it does.

Chapter 3: Little Secrets

Are you sure?

As sure as I can be given I don't know anything about his species or people.

Tanrac nodded, and looked down at the little creature she had saved. The attending physician was a young bear-like creature, easily four times larger than Tanrac, named Mara. Mara was young, but capable, and she had just had her first cub. Tanrac had helped deliver it because Mara trusted her. Despite Tanrac's relative newness amongst the colonists, she had been helpful, talented, and most of all patient. Also, she had saved herself, and approached the colony before anyone had been able to check out the splash from her arrival. That spoke volumes to the colonists.

Mara caressed the small creature's furry cheek and sighed. Something about the young being put her at ease. She cupped her paw behind his head and rubbed his soft fur. The cut on his forehead had been stitched and tended, and Mara checked it repeatedly.

Mara, do you plan to adopt him?

Mara smiled, but didn't answer the question. Instead, she picked up on something else. Him? I suppose we should pick a gender to use. "It" is impolite, isn't it?

The way he lays there, and the feelings I get off him when I was breathing life back into him on the edge of the pool... It just makes me feel like he has a more masculine personality, even if he is genderless. Tanrac glanced at the creature's groin, and still found it perplexing that there was no trace of either type of genitalia. Tanrac had minimal memories, but didn't believe she was all that sheltered. She was both male and female, and that was odd enough amongst the colonists, but they accepted it. But this small child was neither male nor female. That was... odd.

Scans show he doesn't have a urinary tract, so no need for either a penis or vagina. Without knowing how his kind reproduces, he might be a mono-gendered species that reproduces by budding, or something equally odd to us. It would be strange for a multi-cellular entity, but not without precedent.

Have you ruled out his being Zoan? Tanrac put her paws to the little creature's paw, touching his pad with her claw. The little creature grasped the finger tightly, squeezing it as best it could. It was an instinctive reaction. Tanrac was aware that every infant did such, though this creature appeared to be much older than an infant.

Yes, he has differentiated internal organs, tissues with radically different structures, differentiated vascular and respiratory systems. I just can't find digestive, urinary or reproductive systems. It's like he has the bare minimum for individual survival and nothing else. He does have several organs for which I can't account, each operating at a high metabolic rate. They appear to be connected with or running parallel to his nervous system.

Mara showed Tanrac the images on a holographic screen. A close-up of the little creature's paws showed that he had two discrete nervous systems, intertwined with one another for some unknown reason. An indicator started beeping, and both looked at it, then the child. He was showing signs of brain activity associated with waking up.

I doubt he has the vocabulary yet that will let him tell us what he remembers. It's safe to say he was probably subjected to the same things we were before being dumped.

Tanrac nodded, and watched as the little child stretched, opening and closing his little paws and splaying his toes before rolling on his back and opening his eyes.

They were green. They weren't just greenish, or green with brown or blue flecks. They were green. The greenest green anyone would ever know. And they were bright. There was a level of clarity in them that someone as young as the child seemed should not have.

Tanrac and Mara were taken aback by the shockingly clear color of those eyes. Neither knew what to do next. All sense was driven from them by his presence. But as surprising as his eye color was, what he did next was equally amazing.

Hello. I'm Jerodan.

Both Mara and Tanrac were speechless, which is quite a feat for telepaths. After a moment, Tanrac smiled and sat down next to Jerodan.

Hello, Jerodan. My name is Tanrac. This is Mara. How do you feel?

My head hurts a little, but otherwise I feel fine.

Mara began to examine Jerodan now that he was awake and, apparently, capable of responding to her. She ran several more scans, then stopped and looked at Jerodan until Tanrac noticed she was staring.

What is it, Mara?

There's no question anymore.

About what?

He has a penis now.

Tanrac looked between Jerodan's legs, and sure enough, there was a canine scrotum and sheath, and inside was a youthful penis. She was as confused as Mara. Jerodan, are you a male or female?

Jerodan smiled slightly, not embarrassed by the ogling of his new genitals. I'm male because you thought that is what I should be.

You mean if I had thought you were female, you would be a female?

Something like that. The way I understand it is that I don't have a gender as you understand it. I can assume either role, as needed by those I am with. You felt I was more masculine, so I'm a male for you. Does that matter?

Mara shook her head. You're still too young, I think, for that to matter yet, Jerodan. We just know so little about your species that it surprised us. You should stay male. You're a very handsome young male. _ She picked up a capped syringe. _I'd like to draw a little blood, if you don't mind. It might help us determine how to handle your needs.

Jerodan offered up his arm as Mara put her paw on it. She uncapped the needle and laid it against Jerodan's inner elbow. He didn't even look away as the needle entered his skin, and Mara was able to withdraw the blood she wanted.

Tanrac, however, was concerned. Jerodan, how old are you?

I don't understand.

Do you know how long ago you were born?

No. Does it matter?

Tanrac ran her paw through his ruff and smiled as Mara bandaged the wound she created. Probably not. You seem to be more mature and disciplined than your looks would indicate.

Jerodan considered. I was told a lot of things while I was sleeping. She taught me so much. It seemed like it went on forever, but I don't know how long it was. She was always there, talking to me, telling me things, helping me try things in my dreams. I think they were dreams. I think I was asleep. I don't know. It was all I ever knew, and now I'm here. She told me I would be here. She told me not to be afraid and not to worry. She told me that I would find kind souls who would help me, and protect me until I figured out what I had to do.

Tanrac nodded. Do you know who she is?

Just her. She didn't have a name. She told me my name was Jerodan, and that it was a good strong name. I don't know if it means anything. She said some names do.

Tanrac kissed Jerodan on the forehead, and rubbed his ear. He began to purr, almost like a feline. Some do. Not all. Mara means "Sea", but my name doesn't mean anything at all.

Mara looked back at Jerodan with a mixture of concern and interest. Tanrac, Jerodan's body is saturated with nanites. He's... a cyborg.

They're my symbiote. She said I would need them, and that they were benign. They let me access the systems and control things.

Tanrac nodded, beginning to understand. Do you see controls nearby?

Jerodan nodded obediently. All around me. There are lots of them, but I don't know what they do. He was silent for a moment, as if listening to someone. She says I have to learn what they do on my own. She can only watch from now on.

So she isn't going to just give everything to you.

No, it doesn't seem so.

Probably for the best._Tanrac ran her paw through his ruff again and scritched his ears. _If others do everything for us, we never learn to do for ourselves. She leaned down and kissed the top of his head. There's so much to learn from, and about, you, too.

I'll help you as best I can. Jerodan pushed his head into Tanrac's chest. He laid his paw on her leg, then rubbed his belly. I'm hungry... I think.

Mara looked over form the scans she was examining. You don't have a digestive tract. What do you eat?

Energy, I think.

Tanrac looked over at Mara, who had an expression of concern on her face. Mara's expression changed to that of a frown.

Jerodan, can you tell me your species? What are your people called?

The Kitsune. I'm a Kitsune.

Chapter 4: Drawn Together

K'tin checked up on the new arrival before starting his patrol. He didn't have watch in the foundry to keep an eye out for new arrivals, but was supposed to be walking the perimeter of their territory to check for incursions. It gave him some time before he had to start, and he had discovered his thoughts wandering more and more to the newbie he saved. It was odd that he was developing such a strong attachment to him. He chalked it up to canine pack mentality.

There were precious few Lu'taurs, and even fewer K'sunes. Most of the cadre was comprised of Ch'khats and Ot'taurs, with several U'sons. It was nearly unheard of for there to be so few canines in the cadre, and even rarer for them not to be in command positions. Ch'khat rarely had a talent for leadership, but they were very clever and often made good seconds.

K'tin poked his head into the medical bay and padded quietly over to the sleeping K'sune. He placed his paw on the K'sune's chest and felt his heart beating beneath his breast.

Planning to propose as soon as he awakens, K'tin?

K'tin turned to look at a large matronly U'son, M'ra the chief medical officer. She was a large ursine K'zo, capable in personal combat, but gentle to the wounded. K'tin had needed her assistance several times since arriving, mostly because of the machines in the foundry, which failed to recognize living beings as being present, and also failed to register to the K'zo telepathic field as conscious minds. It made them dangerous to be around, since K'zo were trained to fight living entities.

He... has a pull. A certain psychic gravity I can't escape. I felt him in the chute before I even saw him. I don't understand it. He shook his head, as if clearing the cobwebs. Anyway, I wanted to see if he was going to be conscious any time soon. C'thal might not have his best interests at heart for recovery.

M'ra smirked. Blunt and to the point. Not many Lu'taur bothered with diplomacy, as most understood it. But she understood them. They didn't bluff. If a Lu'taur was snarling at you, he planned to attack. If he was only barking, he was trying to intimidate you because he didn't think he could win in a straight fight. M'ra sensed that K'tin was doing neither. He had his hackles raised. He was defending someone he thought wasn't ready to fight. M'ra had always pegged K'tin as a paladin.

He'll recover soon enough. I've counted recent and historical cores indicating captivity over at least a three year period. The last one was almost 8 months ago. He's been in stasis since then. They, whoever the overlords of this place are, didn't even bother to let him wake up before dropping him. Fortunately, for him, he was numb and limp enough that he didn't break much. I just wonder why he was on ice for 8 months. That isn't typical behavior.

K'tin nodded. Keep me posted, please. I have to go run patrol. I'll be back later tonight.

If I can. Quiet run.

K'tin left. M'ra turned back to the unconscious K'sune. She, too, had felt the gravity of his presence. There was no doubt in her mind that he was at least a Black Beta. He had all the earmarks. She was already running tests to check for the genetic markers to identify the upgrades. Given that he had this much effect while unconscious, she wouldn't be surprised if they came back showing him as either a Black or a White Alpha. How did he end up here?

K'tin rounded the corner that lead to the portal out of the camp. C'thal was standing there. K'tin bristled, though he didn't become outright hostile. C'thal was still his commanding officer.

Stand down, K'tin. I'm not here to start a fight.

Then what brings you across my path?

C'thal frowned. The K'sune had already gotten a strong hold on K'tin and that was going to cause problems. It could even fracture the camp. He wouldn't allow that. In another time, he expected he would have orders from the Supreme Cadre regarding this situation, but right now, he had only his ambition countered by his understanding that he had to do what was best for the cadre.

I'm not going to challenge the new K'sune if he asserts command rank and authority. But until then, you need to support your own command until that changes. I can already see that you are drawn to him. That supports your assumption, but until they are confirmed and authority changes, you had best remember who is calling the shots. Have I ever failed you?

K'tin took a step back. He thought about it for a second, and then his ears drooped. C'thal had been an excellent commanding officer. There was no logical reason that he should be this hostile towards him.

I'm sorry, sir. I don't know what came over me.

It's the K'sune. He's command material. I'm concerned more about him not asking to lead. The way he draws you in, keeps you focused on him, wanting orders. Even I can feel his draw. If he doesn't take command, there may be problems. Some may stop responding to orders. I want you to take charge of his rehabilitation and make sure he is worthy of command, and if he is, I want you to make sure he asks for it.

You want me to arrange for him to replace you?

I won't see this cadre destroyed by infighting just because of my ambition. Hopefully command will see that it was best for the cadre, and won't hold it against me as a demotion.

If it comes to it, I'll gladly recommend you for the time you've already been our leader. You have not failed me. I won't fail you.

C'thal watched K'tin leave to go on patrol. After the door closed behind him, the Ch'khat let out a chuckle. The Lu'taur would play his part perfectly.

Chapter 5: Fear What You Cannot Understand

_He's a what? _ Jacob and the other elders were distressed, and their composure was severely lacking.

_He's a Kitsune or claims to be one. I have no reason to doubt him, except no living Kitsune has been sighted for the last million years and given their reputation no sane being would want to claim to be one. He's far too young to be much of a threat. _ Tanrac was certain she wasn't doing the little fox any favors, but he was far too young and innocent for what she knew was going through the others' heads right now.

That doesn't matter, love. If he's a Kitsune, when he gets older, he'll be a monster. One, I might add, that nearly destroyed the galaxy. Even now he's already admitted that he needs vital energy to survive. What do you suggest feeding him?

Tanrac frowned at Jacob's narrow-mindedness. We have animals that we raise for food. If he consumes their vital energy, it would be the same as our slaughtering them, and then we wouldn't have to worry about him developing a taste for sapients.

It's too risky. If he's a Kitsune, we can't let him...

JACOB TENABRIS UNDERHILL! If you finish that thought I will skin you alive. That is a small child you're talking about murdering in cold blood. So far he has done nothing except almost drown and be exceptionally polite. As far as we know, the legends could be lies spread by those who believed they wiped out the Kitsune to demonize any survivors and turn other societies against them. His biology is fairly simple, and Mara believes that while his nervous system has components we don't understand, he's hasn't learned to use them enough to be a menace.

Jacob frowned. Tanrac had a female's capacity to be reasonable at the most unreasonable of times and a man's tenacity not to let go of something he thought was right. He quickly made contact with the other elders before continuing. He can't stay. We'll give him some supplies and directions to an area of the complex that's away from our colony and the others camps. There are levels that have animals living on them. He'll find food as he can.

He's a CHILD.

We don't know what he is, but if he is ANY of the things the legends say a Kitsune is, he's a threat.

Tanrac's eyes welled up with tears. And if he grows up, alone, without friends or a society to take care of him, and grows resentful of those who sent him away? What then? What if your actions turn him into the very monster you fear him to be? What if he never develops a concern for the suffering of others; never learns to care about someone else? If he feeds on vital energy and lacks the empathy to connect with others, what would stop him from killing every last one of us without mercy? Your course of action is more likely to cause the very problem you seek to avoid.

Jacob sighed. The decision was unanimous, Tanrac. He is unwelcome amongst us.

So be it. But I will not see him abandoned.

Without further explanation, Tanrac turned and left the council chamber. She refused to allow Jacob to contact her. While all the colonists were telepathic, some had a greater affinity for it than others. Tanrac was by far the strongest telepath in the colony. Her leaving would be a great loss to the colonists, but she could not stay with people willing to consign a child to death over rumors.

Arriving at the aid station, she hugged Mara. The urson know what she was doing as soon as they made contact.

Be safe, Tanrac. There is no one I think more capable than you to survive. I'll visit you, if I can.

Tanrac smiled and kissed Mara on the cheek. I doubt they'll let you, but I know you would. She turned to Jerodan and offered her hand. Time to go, Jerodan.

You don't have to do this. She can teach me what I need to know.

I can't stay. I won't. I don't belong here anymore.

Jerodan got up and took her hand. I understand. And I know you have so many things you can teach me. I hope you will eventually forgive them for their fear. I already have.

Tanrac bit her lip. She closed her eyes as she started to cry. How could he have known? Silently she lead him back to her quarters, where she packed a few belongings, some equipment she thought she would need, and some bedding to at least make whatever place they found habitable. As they stepped back out, Jacob and the elders were there.

Please reconsider, Tanrac. Think about your condition.

Tanrac barked angrily at Jacob and lunged at him, her small fangs stopping just before his nose. You of all people, Jacob, should know full well whether I can take care of myself, in my current condition or not. But I think it is you who should have thought about my condition when you knew what I would do. Now get out of our way.

Jacob stepped back, ashamed of what had to be done. He started to consider what to say, but Tanrac slapped him.

You have nothing to say to me anymore, Jacob.

As they walked past, Jerodan looked at the elders. She won't forgive you for this, but I already have. You gave me what I needed in order to learn what I need to know. Thank you.

They left without another word.

Chapter 6: Rise and Shine

J'dan stretched and yawned. His body felt horrible, but he couldn't remember why. It was sore and hurt in places it shouldn't. He looked around, and put a tentative paw on the ground. Instantly he regretted his decisions. His paw yelled at him, as if he hadn't put his weight on it for a very long time. Before he caught himself, he let out a sharp yowl of pain.

He instantly cursed himself both for giving voice to his pain and for giving away his position. He had no way to know if he was surrounded by predators, enemies, or hostiles. However, as a large U'son female rounded the corner of the room, he knew he was among friends, or at least neutral parties.

Not up to putting weight on it, yet, I see. Your muscles have been badly abused and mistreated. Do you remember anything?

J'dan shook his head. No idea. I feel like my brain has been in a fog. What was used on me?

Stasis field. You were in suspended animation for a prolonged duration, and not a very sophisticated form. You're lucky to be alive. Some never recover. Some don't get rescued.

Where am I?

Alpha Base, K'zo Camp Oblivion, Forgotten Cadre. We're behind enemy lines, cut off from the rest of the galaxy, in an unknown location at the bottom of a sea, and we don't know the planet. The complex is millions of years old, but it might have been built yesterday for all the decay it shows. Who are you? Do you remember your name?

J'dan.

Rank and command. I need them for the records.

Just J'dan. Formally, I'm J'dan Dracondis, Consort to Warmaster Palak Dracondis of the Imperial First Family of the Eternal Empire, Black Alpha, retired.

M'ra tried to process all of that, not expecting any of it, and particularly not from a K'zo. The K'zo were an alliance, the K'zo Interstellar Mercenary Alliance, usually just referred to as the Alliance, not an empire. The dragons were of the Empire, and a Warmaster was a ranking member of the military, answerable only to the Emperor. The Imperial First Family had the surname of Dracondis, and this K'sune claimed to carry it as well. To be a consort of a Warmaster placed his rank far above anyone so far recovered, and more than that, gave him a position that rivaled that of Star Marshal D'rrn himself. And he was a Black Alpha, the trusted elite of the Alliance. His word would be considered law, except for being retired, which a dog of his age shouldn't be, normally.

Retired?

Long story. It involves the sergal. I've gotten better, but for a long time I was unable to fight. I needed a lot of rehabilitation and healing, and the Cadre didn't have the time or resources to devote to it. But it put me in the right place to get embedded with the Imperial First Family.

So not all of the trauma I scanned was caused by the overseers. You're going to need a lot of retraining. You've been held immobile for over three years. Your muscles hurt because of the tests run on you, and because they weren't used. No stimulation was provided, and you were held immobile with such force that you couldn't cause them to stress. Your bones are likewise weak and frail. You broke a couple falling when they ejected you. I've been pumping you full of accelerators. Your immune system is excellent. What's with the nanites?

Nanites?

Your body is full of them. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they were a symbiote of some sort.

No, my symbiote was killed when I was... during the event. I...

Understood. Don't relive it. It isn't wise to reopen old wounds when we're trying to heal fresh ones. Losing a symbiote is one of the worst things we face. And almost everyone here has done it. A few have their symbiotes. I'm just glad you didn't just lose yours. Despair claims more than a few each month. How long since you were discharged?

500 years. Plus or minus however long I have been here. At least three, you say.

I might want you to speak with some of the ones who are worse off for it. You've lived without yours for a longer time than anyone here. Any help you can render will be appreciated.

I'm no help to anyone as I am.

True. Commander C'thal wants to speak with you, too. He is the leader here. We've no orders, no structure, so we've organized as best we can. Your aid there will be appreciated, too.

J'dan suddenly understood. He was being briefed as much as debriefed. The U'son was getting him acquainted with the state of the camp in as much as she was gauging his fitness for the command she expected him to take over.

I'm the highest ranking officer to come through here, aren't I?

Yes, sir. You outrank everyone in this camp, and probably most members of the Inner Cadre, too. We need direction and leadership. C'thal has done a fine job keeping us alive, but he doesn't have a lot of reason to try to get us out of here. We have an enemy to fight, things to hunt, and a place to protect. He considers it all worthwhile, but he isn't looking for a way to get out of here, back to the Alliance, or to report in.

_I see. _ J'dan frowned to himself. So he's content to stay MIA until found. There's ample reason to claim that things were too complex to warrant safely looking for a way out, and as long as things didn't degenerate, he can continue to be safe in command. C'thal wasn't a bad commander, but he was getting just a little too comfortable in the role of king. The Alliance didn't have a king. This is why units rotated through duty postings, so that no one unit got to feeling too comfortable in their situation that they abused it. Familiarity breeds contempt, as the dragons claimed.

Good. Now, let's start you on stimulators to get that muscle tone back up. Lie down and let me strap the units on your limbs.

Chapter 7: Danger on the Meadow

Jerodan was playing in the field with Gabriel. Tanrac sat by the river, watching them quietly. They had arrived nearly two years ago, and Gabriel was already running and playing. He was a Shiang, like Tanrac, but was of a rarer red panda-like stock, rather than Tanrac's otter, or even his father's badger stock. Such things weren't unheard of, as the Shiang were a conglomerate species with many breeds that would interbreed.

Gabriel treated Jerodan like an older brother, and Jerodan, for the most part, acted the part. He still said things far beyond his years at times, and was often better than anyone had a right to be, but then he would do some very big brother things to Gabriel, make him cry, and instantly feel bad and make it up to him.

Tanrac didn't understand why until she thought about it. It wasn't to be mean to Gabriel, but rather it was a kindness. If Jerodan always treated Gabriel ideally, he would think everyone did, and when he encountered others, he would expect them to be good and kind. It might be bad for him. So Jerodan occasionally did mean things to Gabriel so that he would know they were mean and that such things happened in the world.

But today was a day the boys were playing nice with one another. Jerodan was running around without a care. He had long since stopped pretending to have a gender. Gabriel didn't care, and Tanrac no longer had assumptions about him. He was a wonderful creature that she thought of as her child, even though she felt for certain now that he was far older than even she knew. Certainly he had access to a much older wisdom. So they played in the fields, running and tackling one another. The forest edge was close, as was the stream, but they strayed neither too close to nor too far from either.

The entire level was a huge park, almost like a nature preserve. Of course, it served a much more important purpose to the oxygen-breathing species in the complex. The trees and plants all served as CO2 scrubbers, taking in the waste gases of respiration and producing life-sustaining oxygen to breathe. It was a carefully balanced ecosystem, in as much as any open system could be balanced.

The wildlife that lived in the preserve was a mix of predators and prey species. None of them were particularly dangerous, nor were they terribly large, but they did make good eating when Jerodan hunted them. While he didn't need to eat their flesh, Tanrac and Gabriel did. Jerodan made their end as painless and quick as he could run them to ground before he drew out their vital essence.

His paw slipped through their bodies and he pulled free the very animus within. He always apologized to them for ending their existence, and thanked them for their sacrifice, involuntary as it might be. Before absorbing them, he always told them he hoped there was no pain.

Tanrac had seen him hunting once and followed him to make certain he would be safe. She watched the ritual of the kill, and saw Jerodan consume the beast's spirit. She never spoke about it to him. She had wondered, and he had said before, but never dreamed that he actually consumed the energy of the living. Had he confined his feedings to lower life forms?

Gabriel pounced on Jerodan. There was a flurry of bites, snarling and scratching with claws. None of it had any effect. They were play-fighting, though Tanrac noticed a difference this time. Jerodan and Gabriel were acting more like friends or companions than brothers. Tanrac felt like she had behaved similarly with someone a long time ago.

A branch snapped. Tanrac looked over to see what it was. What she saw instantly filled her with dread. It was one of the enemies. She had never known them to come this far down into the complex, but here was at least one, and fully armed.

RUN! HIDE!

Tanrac dove into the creek and swam as fast as she could. She was no fighter, but she had never been as scared as she was now. All she could think about was getting away from whatever it was that the enemy was. Her fear was irrational, but she couldn't think straight.

Jerodan grabbed Gabriel and ducked behind a tree. They were small, and hiding was second nature to them. After all, they were children. Jerodan held Gabriel close. Something about the creature had frightened Tanrac, and Gabriel was beginning to feel the same dread. It was a palpable oppressive aura coming off the creature. For some reason, Jerodan was not feeling the same thing, but he could feel the fear coming off Gabriel. He could only keep his brother safe; no, his friend. Gabriel was more to him than just that.

The creature leveled a weapon and began firing at Tanrac. It missed several shots, and moved quickly to follow the Shiang. As if moved off it almost disappeared. It just faded from view, but not from hearing. It tried to be quiet, but against the finely tuned ears it was an uphill struggle.

Jerodan had no reason to know, and yet he did; it was an active camouflage system. He could see the creature, despite the technology, or perhaps because of it. It was generated by a living creature, a symbiote of the creature that was hunting them. It gave off a very distinct signature that Jerodan could sense without being able to see it. For some reason, that made him sad.

Stay here, Gabriel. Stay out of sight and stay safe. I have to help your mother.

Jerodan started to follow the creature. He couldn't let it hurt Tanrac. She had been more mother to him than he needed, but she was teacher, friend and caretaker. And he discovered he was as fond of her as he was of Gabriel. Tracking was simple. As the creature moved through the forest, moving down the stream after Tanrac, it occasionally stopped to take a shot. It was as if it couldn't see him.

But the shots were getting closer to their mark. Tanrac wasn't tiring so much as running out of stream. The floor was only so big and despite the recirculation of the water to keep it flowing, it only had just so much above ground flow. The creature leveled its weapon at her again and fired, striking a hair's breadth from Tanrac's side.

Tanrac looked back as the shot kicked up the mud and dirt of the shore. She was trying to get out of the water on the far side, hoping to be able to find some place to hide of at least put a tree or three between her and the enemy.

Jerodan moved behind the creature and sighed. As he reached out and placed his paw on the creature's body, he closed his eyes. Sorry to do this to you, little one, but whom you protect seeks to kill whom I love. I cannot allow it, and so I must take you. He pulled at the outer shell of the creature and a simple skin fell to the ground, literally sloughing off like dead skin. As the spirit of the entity armor was consumed by the fox, it shrieked horribly, as if it was unwilling to just give up.

But it had no choice in the matter. Jerodan consumed the energy without regret. Despite its strong will, it was nothing more than a predator looking to help get a meal. Jerodan felt no more remorse over his actions than he did when he had killed other animals for their meat to give to Tanrac and Gabriel.

As his armor died, the creature wheeled around, angry, crazed even, and looked at Jerodan. The fox stood there, defiantly. He raised his weapon and started to swing at the fox. Tanrac raised her paw from across the stream, but there was nothing for it. She could do nothing from that far away in time to stop the attack.

But Gabriel could. Leaping from behind Jerodan, whom he had followed against Jerodan's wishes, he bit into the creatures hand and started to scratch at his arm with his hind legs. Blood welled up in the wounds, and the creature bellowed angrily.

The creature shook his arm violently, and with enough force to knock Gabriel to the ground, rendering the little ferret senseless. Before either Jerodan or Tanrac could move he brought his weapon down and speared it through Gabriel's prone form.

The little ferret convulsed as his muscles short circuited from the blow, and blood spewed from his mouth, nose and the wound. The weapon's sharp end was a massive intrusion into his chest cavity, and most of his internal organs were crushed or mutilated by the impact.

Jerodan yowled angrily, tears streaming from his eyes. He refused to accept what he just saw, and lunged at the creature. Grabbing at the creatures chest, he entwined his fingers in the long chestfur and growled at the creature's face.

You end, now.

Without any remorse or fear, Jerodan kicked off the creature's chest, and before her eyes, Tanrac watched as the soul of the creature separate from his body, and the body fell over, dead. Jerodan held the soul by the head as he made it watch its body's death, and then absorbed the soul into his body.

Unlike what he had done before, however, he could not consume this animus. As he absorbed it, another tail sprouted from his rear. Where he had previously had one, he now had two tails. It perplexed him for a moment, and then he realized Tanrac was standing over Gabriel's body, holding it to her breast and weeping sadly.

Tanrac, I know what I have to do. Let me save him.

Tanrac looked at Jerodan, and his new tail, and was frightened, but his words carved hope into her mourning heart. He's dead. How can you save him?

Like this. _ And with that, Jerodan dug his claw into his palm and then put the open bleeding paw into the wound in Gabriel's chest. He held it there for a moment, and then nodded. _Tanrac, he has to stay dead for a while, but we need to get him to a medical center, and he needs to stay under a trained professional's care. Mara needs to watch over his body while it heals.

But you can't go back, and I won't.

Then we can't save him. I don't know enough, yet, and you aren't a medical doctor. Mara can save him. We have to.

Tanrac frowned. Jerodan was right, of course, but she didn't want to return to the colony with Jacob's dead son in her arms with a wild story about his body needing to be healed, even though he was dead. Even Mara would think that was just the grief and guilt talking.

We won't be able to convince her.

We won't have to. She'll come to help us after we just do it. This is important, Tanrac. Gabriel will stay dead if we don't just do what needs to be done. We don't ask permission to save his life. We just save it, and let them figure it out after we've done it.

That's brazen. Caleb would approve.

Who's Caleb?

Someone I think I knew a long time ago. I think I was close to him. It seems like a plan he would fully support.

Ok. There's something else I have to do, too. Otherwise we'll lose him permanently. I have to keep his soul safe. Please don't be afraid. I won't let anything happen to him.

Tanrac nodded, unsure of what Jerodan was about to do. She watched with dawning horror as she saw him grab Gabriel's chest and slowly pull his fading soul from his body. Without waiting, he absorbed it, and another, third, tail appeared behind him.

Jerodan, you can't consume his soul.

I'm not. I can only consume the spirits of animals and simple organisms. I have other things I do with the souls of higher entities. I can keep them for healing, as I'm doing with Gabriel, or I have less beneficial uses for souls like that of his murderer. But for now, look at Gabriel's chest.

Tanrac did and noticed that the wound appeared to be closing. She didn't question it, yet, got up and started walking towards the colony. They were several floors up, and it would be over three kilometers distance through neutral corridors and halls before they got to colony-controlled territory.

Jerodan was quiet all the way back. His mind was occupied with other things. She was speaking to him again, educating him about his abilities, and what he shouldn't use them for. Jerodan accepted all of it, ever the apt pupil.

Chapter 8: One Light Goes Out

J'dan felt the disconnect. All the K'zo did. T'char was gone. One second he was there, his presence felt by the cadre, and the next he was gone, simply no longer there. There was nothing to be felt. No lingering presence, no fading thoughts, no slow descent from consciousness. He was there, and then he wasn't.

K'tin howled first. He had served with T'char the longest. Despite T'char having been a Ch'khat and not a fellow Lu'taur, K'tin had felt a level of camaraderie to him beyond being his equal. T'char was a tiger-form, large and powerful, the pinnacle of physical prowess. He was agile. K'tin's feelings for him were beyond those of a comrade in arms, and such things were not uncommon amongst the K'zo.

J'dan knew how K'tin felt. Despite C'thal's higher rank, J'dan had felt T'char was better suited to lead. It was one of the reasons J'dan promoted T'char after he took over leadership. C'thal was not pleased with his rapid return to the rank and file. T'char reminded him that leadership is a matter of service, the highest service.

And now all signs indicated that T'char had performed the highest duty, giving his life in pursuit of his orders. J'dan joined K'tin in his howl. It wasn't a particularly K'sune thing to do, but his own dirge was singular amongst the K'zo present and would be very out of place. There were seventy-six Lu'taurs 'deployed', as they chose to call their presence, all of whom were now howling for their lost comrade. The fifty-two Ch'khat added their voices to the dirge. The thirty-eight assorted other sub-variant breeds of the K'zo Alliance lifted their heads in song to celebrate their fallen companion.

As it ended, J'dan looked to K'tin. Assign a patrol to find his body and retrieve it. And if his symbiote is still alive, maybe we can get some idea about what killed him. Then get back here. C'thal is going to use this.

K'tin nodded. He headed to the perimeter of the camp quickly to dispatch a pair of K'zo to find T'char's body. Two Ot'taurs were more than willing to rush into the unknown levels to secure his remains. They were dedicated lower ranking members of the cadre, not familiar to K'tin, but still known. He had faith that they would be able to complete the mission. Still, he had a haunting feeling that they wouldn't be back.

J'dan looked up as K'tin returned. He could see the concern on his friend's face. Something?

No, K'tin replied. Just a nagging feeling. I sent J'ob and T'rac to go retrieve T'char's body. I know they'll find it. I just have this feeling that they won't make it back.

J'dan nodded. White Alpha's had an almost preternatural understanding of the interconnections between their subordinates, seeing the subtle links between them and their actions. They can read the flow, see the way things are likely to go, the possibilities, and determine the best course of action. They aren't always right, but they often get the best results. Black Alphas could also see these paths, but instead of seeing the possible outcomes, instead of knowing, they only had gut feelings.

J'dan came around to the same side of his desk to stand next to K'tin. He put his paws on the sides of K'tin's head and looked directly into his eyes.

Fascinating.

K'tin was confused, seeing and feeling things he didn't understand or have any control over. What's going on?

You've been upgraded. I don't understand how, and that is fascinating. I was also upgraded. You're now what I was, and I have become a White Alpha. Don't get overwhelmed by the sensations of navigating the time-stream. You're going to feel a lot of new things, so accept them until you get a handle on what they are. That is the advice that they gave to me.

J'dan helped K'tin sit down. He could feel K'tin's mind trying to get a grasp on the situation. He could see the wheels turning as K'tin's training took over and he processed everything he was feeling about how things were, are, and would be.

Exciting, isn't it?

This is what you feel?

Used to be. I can actually focus it now, see the things I only felt before.

K'tin held his head. It was rushing around, making him feel dizzy. He remembered the first time he had been intimate with J'dan. He had felt similarly afterward. Things clicked in his mind, as the pieces fell into place.

It was you. You did this. The more we've become intimate, the more upgraded I've gotten. It hit a critical mass and now everything has fallen into place.

J'dan considered that for a moment. He could certainly see the probabilities directing things to that outcome, but he wasn't the one doing it.

Close. I am not the one doing it, but it is something intimately linked to me. It might also be responsible for my own upgrade. Interesting.

We need to know if it's dangerous. We should go to medical.

J'dan nodded and helped K'tin up. J'dan was somewhat distant. He was watching the threads of probability weaving through the camp, seeing where everything was going. He could tell something big was on the horizon, but he didn't have all the pieces. Nothing was adding up to him. He doubted a trip to medical would make anything clearer, but he was certain that J'ob and T'rac's mission would greatly increase his clarity. He wasn't sure that would be a good thing. It began to dawn on him why not everyone was considered for upgrade.

M'ra looked over as J'dan helped K'tin into the medical bay and settled him on an exam bench. So what seems to be the problem, boys?

We need confirmation. Run a genetic scan.

M'ra nodded and drew blood and tissue samples from both J'dan and K'tin. J'dan reflexively drew back. Even after two years the sight of needles and similar medical implements caused him some emotional panic. It wasn't an uncommon reaction in the camp. That was why M'ra was so familiar with everyone. She wanted to make sure they understood she wasn't going to hurt them intentionally.

She looked at her screen as she placed the samples in the analytical scanners. Interesting. I assume you're looking for confirmation of upgrades?

So we have been upgraded. Next question.

How... Checking tissue samples. Ah... What's this...

J'dan moved around to see what M'ra was looking at. He didn't immediately see anything on the screens that looked out of the ordinary. Then he understood.

It's cloaked.

M'ra nodded. Exactly. Let's... try this... as she adjusted the imaging. With startling clarity, the small nanites came into focus. Both samples were saturated with them. M'ra extrapolated the density values for both K'tin and J'dan and snorted. You two are crawling with them. It's a supercolony. Your densities are well over 20 ppm, and that's a huge amount. They're affecting every single organ. If I didn't know any better, I'd say they were a single synthetic symbiote. M'ra began working the interface, bringing up the nanites in detail, and finally the screen filled with code.

J'dan stared at the code, quickly analyzing it. Something was incredibly familiar about it. He couldn't put his fingerpad on it, but he knew that he knew it from somewhere. He saw the flow of probability moving through the nanites, between them, and around them. They interconnected with points in the past and the future that were obscured. He growled at his inability to focus on the actual outcomes. Something was working very hard to keep him from seeing what he needed to put this mystery together.

K'tin, however, dealt in vague impressions, and didn't sense the blocks. He moved from the exam table to the console and began manipulating the code. Suddenly, it sprang into a new form, displaying in a double helix; more like DNA than a computer code.

M'ra cocked an eyebrow. Intriguing, it's a computer program that mimics genetic material rather than traditional code work. There is a density to the data here. This is beyond a simple database. There's over a zettabyte of information here. Pick a planet, and every single piece of information about it could be contained in the database structure of this program, right down to the spin direction of every quark in every atom on it.

J'dan suddenly understood the situation more. The flow of probability became more clear to him. The nanites moved him and many of the others towards a goal, and out of the complex, but not all of the K'zo were part of that. He knew that there would be losses, and yet, the flow didn't eliminate anyone. What was going to happen to them? He still didn't have enough information to guide his people to the proper path.

Chapter 9: Détente

Jerodan helped Tanrac slide the Gabriel's body into a regen tank. He watched as the probes and leads automatically attached themselves to his little brother's, his best friend's, dead body. All the readouts immediately confirmed that the young Shiang was indeed dead, as if the gaping hole in his chest wasn't enough.

Mara looked on as Jerodan suddenly displayed far more medical knowledge than she had, and more by far than he should have known at his presumed age. She had no idea what he was planning, but Tanrac had indicated she should give him the benefit of the doubt. And then there were those two extra tails on his rump.

Jacob came into the medical bay. He took one look at Jerodan and frowned. You were exiled, beast.

And you were forgiven once. I don't have to forgive you again. Now shut up while I save the life of your son.

Not once did Jerodan look over, or in any other way acknowledge Jacob's existence. He put his paw to the glass of the tank and concentrated. The regen tank suddenly sprang to life, and despite not having been programmed to rebuild a dead body, it began using its various tools to repair the damaged tissues and organs in Gabriel's body. Jerodan removed his hand from the glass and slumped to the floor, exhausted.

Jerodan!, cried Tanrac.

I'm ok. It just takes a lot of energy to do that. It will take a few hours to repair all that damage. Until then, I will have to hold onto Gabriel so that he doesn't drift away.

Is he... alright?

Jerodan nodded, and smiled warmly to Tanrac. Would you like to speak to him?

You can... do that?

You know my body is not completely of the flesh, as yours is. That's why I can change genders freely, and why I grow my tails when I accept a new soul into my body. But it's not limited to just that.

As those present looked on, Jerodan suddenly changed his appearance, and instead of the fox-like being he should have been, he instead looked like the spitting image of the small Shiang in the tank, with a pair of extra tails.

Hello, mother. Jerodan says I can use his body while mine is getting fixed. I'm sorry I disobeyed him and came after you.

Tanrac's eyes welled up with tears, suddenly free to cry as she grabbed Gabriel and hugged him. It's ok. Jerodan said he could save your life, and I trust him. You were so brave. I was so proud, but I could use you being a little less brave from now on...

I understand, mother. Jerodan was surprised that I had it in me, as well. But that thing was shooting at you, and I couldn't stand the thought of you dying. I had to act. I didn't mean to make you cry.

Tanrac hugged and kissed Gabriel. She looked over at Jacob. This is Gabriel, Jacob. He's your son.

That's a mockery of reality. It's an illusion created by that abomination.

Jerodan is not an abomination! He's my best friend, and he loves mother and me! You're an abomination. You hate him without understanding who and what he is. You fear him without reason. You're a horrible person.

Gabriel started to cry the tears of anger and frustration that only a child whose family has just been insulted could ever cry. His tiny paws balled up into fists and his entire body trembled with rage. Without a thought, he leapt at Jacob, swinging wildly.

Jacob caught Gabriel's paw easily, and yanked him into the air. Then he stopped. The body had heft to it. Much more weight than he expected. The paw in his was warm to the touch, and the fur was soft, almost downy. He spread the fist open again with a movement of his thumb, and felt the soft, warm pads. He was rather familiar with the feel of a Shiang paw, and with the smell and the look of the fur. It all caught him by surprise.

You are Gabriel. But... _ He set Gabriel back down and stepped back. Looking at Tanrac, he asked with an expression of confusion and regret, _How?

Jerodan is still a mystery to me, Jacob. Even after these last two years, and everything I have done to raise him, I still barely understand him. He's never done most of this before, and I think he didn't know he could do it until after Gabriel was killed. One of his tails is the soul of the killer. The other is Gabriel's, which he said he had to hold onto so if wouldn't fade.

Gabriel stepped back to Tanrac. I have to go, mother. Jerodan needs to talk to you, and he can't do that while I'm using his body. But he says I can come out and talk any time he doesn't need to do something to help fix my real body.

Tanrac kissed Gabriel on the head. It smelled exactly like her little boy, and his mental voice was the same. If it wasn't for the tails, she wouldn't be able to tell the two apart.

Ok, Gabriel. Thank him for letting you come out and talk to us. If he can do this for you, I will never have reason to doubt what he says again.

He said he knows you didn't really doubt him this time, only that you didn't think it was actually possible, and that isn't the same thing.

Tanrac smiled at Gabriel as his melted away, replaced by the small fox who was performing miracles. She embraced him, as well, and kissed him on his forehead. He leaned into her embrace, purring foxishly.

Thank you for your faith in me. You've made me into the person I am. _ Jerodan looked over at Jacob, who looked away, rather ashamed of all the things he thought about the Kitsune. _Jacob, I told you I forgave you for thinking ill of me. Tanrac is a forgiving person, and she had a stronger affect on me than your fear and ignorance. If she had not been there, I might well have become the monster you feared me to be.

Jacob frowned, not understanding. Tanrac's ears perked up immediately. She looked over at Jacob and sighed.

Jacob, Kitsune are what we expect them to be. He was genderless until I expected him to be male. He was emotionless until I expected him to be a trusting child. If you had imprinted your fears on him, he would have become what you expected him to be: a creature to be feared. And he could have just as easily been just that. In that respect, he is not so different from us. Our children are what we raise them to be. Jerodan simply has a head start in being able to imprint on us and reflect our own best and worst natures.

Jerodan nodded. But I was raised by a kind and loving soul, and I took that into myself. I can do what I have to in order to protect those I care about, but I will not attack those who are not my enemies.

He looked back at Tanrac, a slight frown on his face. However, I have one who is our enemy within me, and I do not like the things he has been telling me. You're not going to like them, either.

Tanrac was perplexed for a moment, and then realized what Jerodan was implying. You want to let him out to tell us what he has told you.

Jerodan nodded.

Jacob looked around. Not here. We'll go to a more secure room.

Tanrac put her paw on Jerodan's shoulder. He was so small, even compared to her, and she was never known for being a large Shiang. Can you control him?

He's my prisoner, if you will. He can't do anything I don't allow him to do. But that doesn't mean he's controllable. It just means I have reign over him. He can still threaten and throw things, and possibly cause some injury if I don't catch his thoughts before he makes the body act, but I can punish him harshly for it. If he hurts you, Tanrac, I will consign his soul to oblivion.

Tanrac wasn't happy with that notion, but she nodded, and guided Jerodan as they followed behind Jacob. He led them to a room that probably would have been a conference chamber at some point, or maybe a briefing room. Securing the door behind them, he and Tanrac took a seat at the end of the table nearest the door while Jerodan moved to the far end of the room.

Jerodan stood still as his features changed. His muzzle shortened and widened, his eyes turned to feline slits, and his body nearly doubled in size while he retained the same short stature. His fur became orangish-yellow with black stripes, while his underbelly stayed a creamy white. The black on his paws faded to white, and his tails lost their fluffy poof, and became long orange and black striped whips with a white rounded ends. Of course, he also grew two new legs.

So the abomination keeps his word. Fine. I will keep mine, too. My name is T'char, Prime Claw of the Forgotten Camp. I have a message for you. We all carry it, in case we come across our tormenters. It's a simple message. We will hunt you down and kill you for what you did to us. I have no more words for you.

Jacob scoffed. What we did to you? You're the ones who hunt us for no reason. The creature you've been defeated by was pulled from the water nearly two years ago when you cast him out from a height great enough to break bones and shatter organs. He's lucky he didn't die when he hit the water, and luckier still that someone was nearby to pull him from it. We've all been ejected the same way into this horrid complex. Your hands are stained with our blood. Don't talk to us about what we've done to you!

T'char snarled. Liar!

Tanrac put a paw on Jacob's shoulder, and eased him back into his seat. No, T'char. You should know that isn't possible. We're all telepaths here. While we can lie to one another, it is impossible to do so without the other party knowing they are being lied to. You should know full well that Jacob is telling you the truth.

T'char snarled again, but it seemed more out of annoyance and an unwillingness to recognize that things weren't what he thought them to be. What is this beast that killed me? Where does it get its wisdom?

How do you mean, T'char?

It tells me that finding out the world doesn't work how one thinks it does is always painful, but it's a pain we all go through at least once in our lives.

Tanrac thought about that for a second and then smiled. She put her paw on Jacob's paw and chuckled. Being born. As a fetus in the womb, we believe that all the world is a small, warm chamber with our mother's heartbeat for company. Then we are born into the world and our minds are confronted with the reality that we exist in a much larger world than we can comprehend. She looked at T'char and smiled. Happy Birthday.

Jacob nodded. So your people and ours have been tormented by a third party none of us have ever seen. We didn't think of that possibility, either. The question is what do we do about it now?

T'char sat down. He didn't expect this. Nor did he expect that these creatures would take the revelation so well. He was expecting an unreasonable enemy, hoping to justify what had been done through their intractability, but here they were, being reasonable and asking to form a joint plan for proving their mutual enemy to be the truth and come up with a plan of attack to deal with the situation. Command needs to be notified. And we're going to have to stop the reprisal. They'll come after you for killing me. Strange to talk about my own death even though I'm still alive, after a fashion.

T'char thought about how that happened and realized that the creature he killed was now, in retrospect, much smaller than even the two whom he was facing. A sense of horror grew on him. The... crea... well, person, I killed. Who was he?

Tanrac closed her eyes, understanding. My son. He was 2.

T'char sank to his belly, laying down on the ground. He put his paws on the table. It was the most unready position he could put himself in. For a soldier of his caliber, it was as humiliating as he could make himself, to be unprepared in case of attack. It was unlikely that he would be attacked, but his gesture actually was clear.

T'char, you acted as you did because of bad information, no communication, and a sense of hostility for a wrong you clearly believed we had perpetrated upon your people. It was regrettable, but thanks in a large part to your actions, and in no small part to the abilities of the creature you've been captured by, those issues can be redressed, and my son is already being restored.

T'char snapped his head up and looked at Tanrac. Restored? This creature can restore the dead to life?

Tanrac nodded. He claims to be able to do so, and appears to be able to back up that claim.

T'char went unresponsive for several moments, and then returned more somber and contrite. He took me from my body as penance for killing your son. He will not restore me to life. He is not wrong. I acted in haste, without regard for non-combatants, and in poor judgment. My punishment from the Cadre would be no less damaging, nor damning. Still, I can try to assist you in ending the hostilities between our peoples.

Tanrac took considered, and took a cue from Jerodan's behavior. I forgive you.

Jacob grabbed her paw firmly. What? How can you...

The damage wrought it already being corrected, Jacob. Gabriel will be restored, and unless Gabriel has lingering anger about the issue, T'char has already paid for his actions with his life. The least I can do now that he has offered this act of contrition is forgive him. And you barely knew your son, so you have even less say than T'char. If you recall, you failed to rescind your warrant for Jerodan's exile when I refused to let him be cast out alone. You don't have much say over this when you didn't care that much about your mate giving birth to your son in the lonely recesses of this complex. We might have all died, and you'd have not known.

Jacob sighed. I would have known. I sent regular patrols to keep tabs on you and make sure you weren't lacking for anything. I didn't know you could hunt so well, though. I was prepared to have them stash food and other supplies in disused locations near you so you would find them when you went scavenging, but you always seemed to have a ready supply of meat.

Tanrac nodded towards T'char. Jerodan helped. I could fish enough, but he hunted the larger game every so often to make sure we had enough ... unscaled food; usually a lone predator that had become... problematic.

How?

T'char coughed politely.

Jacob looked over and then chuckled. Right. He ripped its soul from its body.

Tanrac shook her head. Actually, he asked it politely, and then thanked it for its sacrifice. He would consume the spiritual energy from the animal, and he would bring the body back for me to butcher. I don't think he consumes all of the spirit, just enough to stay alive. I think he holds onto the rest, like he preserves the souls of higher lifeforms.

T'char smirked. He has quite the zoo in here.

T'char, you are in a very interesting position, you realize. You exist, but are dead, and you aren't exactly one of us, yet your own people will probably think you a traitor for helping us.

I've thought of that, Tanrac. Jerodan has... made me a deal. If I help you, he'll work on some manner of life for me. If I betray you or his trust, he'll condemn me to oblivion.

Jacob frowned. What does that mean?

The way he explained it, he'll wipe out every part of my soul that is me, consuming that which makes me who I am, and leave nothing behind. Then he'll use what's left of my soul to foster a new, different, person into existence. I will cease to be who I am. The information that makes me... me... will be removed completely, like a hard drive being overwritten.

He can do that?

He's a Kitsune. They're psychovores. When it comes to spirit energy, there isn't much they can't do. He has been patient and kind to me, considering. I have no reason to believe he can't condemn me to oblivion, total destruction of everything that I am. Still, I can also tell he does not wish to, so I do not think of him as the monster I was raised to believe his people were.

Tanrac nodded. If you would, we'd like to have Jerodan back now. Thank you for briefing us.

T'char nodded and shortly shifted back into Jerodan's form. Jerodan smiled softly, and held up his paw as Jacob was about to address him.

I know everything that T'char said while I allowed him to interact with you. His control was at my discretion. You're aware when someone telepathically lies to you, so you know what he told you is the truth, just as you know that what I have told you is the truth. There is a need to establish a level of trust that we can work with here. You have to know that I won't go on a murderous rampage and leave a trail of lifeless bodies behind me. Just as I require the assurance that you won't wait until some dark cycle and then seek to murder me in my sleep. Two years with Tanrac and she is still alive and well. And though, through no fault of mine, Gabriel came to harm, I am working diligently to restore him. I would have hoped that would grant me some level of trust, and maybe even some compassion, but I can see the darkness within you, Jacob, and I know that is not the case.

Jacob considered objecting, but there was a doubt in the back of his mind, a small voice telling him that this was a monster of legend and he could never trust it. He closed his eyes and turned his head aside, ashamed that he could not let go of that last nagging doubt.

I don't blame you, Jacob. Trust does not come easy, and it must be built on a solid foundation or it will shatter at the first shake. So, let me tell you something that I discovered the other day: This complex is Kitsune. My people made it. I don't know its purpose, or what it does, but I do know that I plan to find out and hopefully, when I do, I will return with knowledge that will help you let go of your fears of me. But I won't leave until I have finished bringing Gabriel back to life. I owe him, and Tanrac, that much and more. Gabriel is my best friend and brother.

Then the little fox got up and walked back to the medical bay. He sat down silently on the floor in front of Gabriel's regen tube and closed his eyes. In his mindscape, he and Gabriel watched the tube as the nanites with which he had infected his brother worked tirelessly to construct the shattered Shiang's body.

T'char stood quietly in the background, partly because he was scared of the fox, and partly because he was not yet a welcome part of their lives. It was because of him that Gabriel was dead, and though he felt shame and disgrace over the act, he was also not in his right mind at the time, having just lost his own symbiote, and he had already paid the ultimate price for his shameful act.

It was disconcerting to him to be both dead and yet to still exist at the same time. The K'zo did not believe in higher powers. They cast down their gods when they began to modify themselves on a genetic level, taking on the mantle of godhood for themselves and becoming one people in a dozen forms. The Lu'taur, Ch'khat, Ot'taur, U'son, K'sune and the other races had come together and decided that they would cast off their differences in favor of their strengths and work to create a single genetic paradigm that they could share that would enable them to survive as a people, without the need for fear of one another, or outsiders.

This had largely been done in response to the "threat" presented by the Kitsune, who were seen as an almost unstoppable force. With the help of a rebel sect of Kitsune who simply wanted to live in peace, the races who would become the K'zo developed a genetic retrovirus that re-wrote the DNA of those who were infected by it to take on a specific set of physical traits, including their characteristic "taur" form with the animalistic quadrupedal lower body and the upper torso of the race they had originally been, chemical interfertility with all other K'zo races which allowed for interbreeding of bloodlines without creating hybrids, and a level of telepathic interdependency that guaranteed a level of trust and insured they could never betray their race as a whole.

But the virus had to be passed by direct exposure, usually by injection or consumption. It was originally passed by sexual contact, usually in a peaceful manner, but that method of transmission only worked for the first three generations. After that, the virus was a de facto part of the K'zo genetic code, and no longer transmittable by sexual contact. Having been created over 1 million years ago, there were no longer any living members of the K'zo races that were able to induce this type of transformation through breeding. It would have to be through direct conflict.

Despite the interdiction in their genetic code against killing, however, the K'zo could, and did, fight one another, with great frequency, but it was never to the death, nor was it ever on opposite sides of a war. Once they were able to integrate the Kitsune as the new K'zo race K'sune, the Kitsune lost their spiritual abilities, including their ability to consume vital energy, and became normal mortal creatures. This allowed them to live in peace with the other K'zo races, and eventually they helped establish the K'zo Alliance as an intergalactic mercenary force, quickly becoming the go-to force when you needed to fight against foreign aggressors. The prohibition against fighting to the death against one another was written into all their contracts, including penalties to be invoked against both sides if they deliberately attempted to make K'zo forces fight K'zo forces. Instead, they would sit out the fight, on both sides, or re-deploy to fronts that did not cause them to engage one another.

As the premier fighting force in the galaxy, it should have been readily apparent to anyone with any sense of tactics, that once the K'zo were engaged on one side or the other, or both, the fight was lost. If both sides engaged the K'zo for assistance, they would fight until the sides bankrupted themselves, and then leave the two sides to figure out how to fight without the means to pay their troops, or find a way to live in peace. If one side couldn't secure the assistance of the K'zo, they usually sued for peace, unwilling, unless fanatically devoted to their ideals, to die against the legendary hopeless odds presented by engaging the greatest warriors in the galaxy.

Of course that was all PR. Wars aren't fought or won exclusively through skill at arms. The psychological warfare of having enough victories to boast about them, and their use of genetically augmented organisms as the basis of their technology, a technology used only at much more primitive levels by some other cultures, but not all, gave them a look and feel that caused most to reconsider fighting as a general rule. In that aspect, they also brought peace to others by intimidating them into seeking peaceful recourse.

T'char frowned at the thought that all that his people had tried to do could be unraveled by this small child. He had no ability to do anything about it, though. Jerodan could end him with a thought, or simply keep him bound for all time and make him watch. He didn't really think that was in Jerodan's nature, but he also recognized that he knew precious little about the fox.

When he looked up, Jerodan was standing before him. Of course it was in the landscape of Jerodan's mind, but it also seemed very real. Jerodan raised his paw to the Ch'khat. In it was a small mote of light.

T'char, I realize that you wouldn't have killed Gabriel but for your state of mind because of what I did. You're shamed by actions you took, despite them not being wholly your fault. Your situation is due entirely to that one act that provoked me to retaliate, and it was for something I initially did to you. Save in the wisdom of ages, sadly, we do not often get a chance to see the cycle of attack and retaliation start so clearly, nor do we often get an opportunity to end it before it spirals out of control. Please take this. It is all that I have left. It was not until I looked into you more deeply that I realized what I had done to make this regrettable situation happen. I'm sorry.

T'char took the mote from the child's paw. Instantly he felt the mind of his beloved companion symbiote. It was as if a part of him was made whole again. He knelt down, and hugged Jerodan, weeping. There was so much compassion in the little Kitsune. He held frightening power in his paws, and yet he somehow had wisdom beyond is years. T'char was both more frightened, and less.