1.1       Jornal Entry

This journal belongs to: Mathew Patlyk Khoury. 

Date Started: June 4, 642 AC

Entry 1:  I am so excited. I finally got the journal upgrade I’d been wanting.  It’s about time, too, I’ve only been asking for it for two birthdays – or would that be hatching days?  I’ve always wondered about that.  I mean since I wasn’t really born ‘of a woman’ like most children are.  A life support accelerator isn’t exactly a womb you know?

Anyway, the esteemed Captain and my biological father said no, I couldn’t have it; but Mother said my idenk, Danyl, had one, so I could have one too.  I don’t see how they could ever imagine treating us so differently, we are the same genetic material, Danyl and I. Yet he asks and Father usually caves in while if I ask, I have to earn it.  I still had to earn this upgrade by complying with medical.  They had come up with another round of scans to help determine my suitability and stability  for a diplomatic position with the Triumvirate Alliance of Sol before I could get the journal.  It was worth it though — every bit.

I’m still trying to determine what they would do if I decided I didn’t want to take a diplomatic position?  Just because they’ve been grooming me for one practically since I could walk, I mean, what if I decided to take a planet bound position?  Then again, I would miss this — traveling from planet to planet, gathering information, and seeing so many different races.  I think it’s in my blood to journey through the stars.  I know it’s in my dreams.  They’re getting worse, by the way, the dreams.  I don’t want to talk about this to the medics, especially Dr. Ethos, but there is a voice in my dreams now.  It’s calling to me, asking me to come to it, to be with it.  I want to go, but I don’t know where it is.  So, I don’t know what to do, I mean, why am I having these dreams? 

And that one dream where someone is telling me a story is back.  I swear, I can recite the story almost verbatim now.  It goes like this:

 

 “In the time of chaos, before the age of dreams, the gods spoke and it became.  One weary father, El, had seven restless sons.  So to occupy them while he did his work, he gave them an orb of cosmic dust and iron ore that was separated from the rest.

Their joy caused intricate symphonies of life to play over its surface as they removed the stuffs they didn’t want, tossing it at each other, creating comets in the process.  Heavens separated from earth, and earth from water.  Night and day came as one godling spun the orb like a top, the others laughed and kept it spinning for their amusement.  Unfortunately, a part broke off but it stayed near their playground, so they left it alone and barren.  Another tried to stop it, so it could be repaired, but it wobbled along it’s cosmic path causing seasons to become.

Grasses sprouted and trees formed as the godlings were hungry and wanted fruits to eat.  Singing to the ocean, one created fishes and the things they might eat.  Laughing, another brother created sharks so the good fishes would not over breed.  One of the younger sons experimented with things that could fly through the air as the fishes swam the seas while an older one whispered to the dust and brought forth creatures that walked on it. 

Needing one creature to have dominion over all, but unable to agree on its form, they decided to have a contest.  Each would go off alone and create one creature giving it what it would best need to rule over the rest. 

The eldest took dirt, added snow and created it in his own image – alabaster flesh, long limbed, and fair haired with jade for eyes.  The second eldest’s creation looked much like his elder brother’s because he spied upon his brother’s creating, but he knew he would have to make his look different so he gave it dark hair and smeared it’s flesh with sienna and used dark topaz for eyes.  The third watched the other two and plucked his creation’s flesh from the soot of a volcano, its eyes from the coals, and infused it with fire and passion.  Everything about it was dark, except the ivory he used for teeth.  The fourth created his from the mud of a river and used two river stones for eyes, while the fifth found some honey, mixed it with sand and ocean water, using black opal for eyes.  Pleased with their creations they came to the appointed place and shared them each with the other.

The youngest two were more fanciful than their brother-gods.  The next to youngest watched his older brothers and created his to be like theirs, but his were thinner and lighter than his brother-gods’ creations, with slanted eyes of lavender and long limbs infused with strength.  Pleased with it he breathed life into it, but being young and new to creating, he did so before he removed the song of creation.  Ashamed of his mistake he caused his error to hide within, to lay dormant until awakened by someone who understood the mysteries of life.  Then he turned it loose in the world, going to his brothers empty handed lest they see his mistake.

The youngest had no interest in what his brothers were creating.  He cared not one whit about the dominion over all.  As the youngest, he knew they would not choose his creation anyway.  So, he spent his time creating fanciful beasties: horses with horns; beaver like creatures with duckbills; birds who could not fly, but who could swim; mammals for the oceans and fishes for the land; huge lizards that served no purpose but to amuse him; small creatures covered in pricklies; peaceful creatures armored for battle.  To these he gave life without thought, but the last he thought about and thought about then decided.  With his hands, he pulled apart a rainbow and watched as it collected the colors of the torn rainbow.  Then he pressed it into his most fanciful creation — a creature with wings, fearsome with its fangs, claws, and armored hide.  It became a creature like no other, destined to spend part of its life like an insect, part like a reptile, and part like a mammal.  It had the ability to become self-aware, but it had to earn it.  It understood the mysteries of life.  Grinning he carried his winged creature to his brothers who all laughed at his musings as he knew they would.  Six brothers decided all the creatures were worthy of life, created for them mates, and solemnly breathed life into their creations.  The seventh just watched knowing his creation roamed the northern wilds.

The youngest grinned as his precious bearers of the mysteries of life took wing.”

 

I’ve searched all of TAoS’s databanks for creation myths that might have triggered the dreams and there are none similar.  Then I broadened the search to all known humanoid species and again, there are none.  So, I don’t know what to do, I mean, why am I having this dream that is obviously related somehow to someone’s creation?

I just don’t understand, but then again, maybe I’m not intended to understand at this point.  I’ll figure it out later.

Anyway, Mother and I talked about this journal keeping, and now that I am supposedly entering my pubescent years, she says I should keep nothing back.  As if it were possible!  Doesn’t she realize that every time I enter my KARI unit and link to the IAN the ship’s computer has direct access to my brain via the neurocath?  I mean it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if they can implant lessons they should be able to read and alter memories, you know: read/write/erase.  How stupid does she think I am?

Well I have to go; an important message is coming through from Father.

[Disconnected]

 

1.2        Ethos’ decision

Ethos sat in his chair and pressed his palm to the scanner in front of him “MDK0001 authorize access to the medical records of DEX1111.”

“Access granted,” the digitalized voice responded.

“Any new reports?”

“DEX1111 reports strange dreams as the ship nears the planet, Catara.”

Ethos nodded to himself, DEX1111 had grown up under his watchful eye from the time he had been removed from the accelerator and drew his first breath.  Genetically, Mathew was the clone of DEX1001, Danyl, but had been raised as the son of Raildo and Geba as Danyl’s younger brother.  Supposedly, this was to assist Mathew in developing psionic skills that Danyl also exhibited early signs of when he was a toddler.

“Mathew has been having strange dreams since he was a young boy. So having them now would not exclude him from going planetside.” Ethos mused aloud as he tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair.  He was torn between wanting to keep the boy from Catara and wanting to send him down to see what might happen.  It seemed that every psionically gifted person TAoS sent to Catara refused to return.  Ethos wondered how Mathew would respond to such a race.

“Report on physical development.”

“Suspected microbe infection at age five; abnormal growth pattern onset age seven; nothing new reported.”

“They never explained that strange fever he had when he was five, nor why his physical development was radically different from his genetic donor, either,” Ethos complained to the computer. “What is the difference now?”

“At sixteen years sixty-four days, DEX1111 supercedes DEX1001 in height with an insignificant weight gain in relation to volume displacement.”

Ethos continued his tapping, “Report on psychological development.”

“Isolated traumatic incident, age eleven, attempted forced sodomy, memory removed.”

“Memory removal would not keep him aboard the ship, even Danyl had it done and he had been to Catara before,” Ethos shook his head and decided to keep digging, something had to turn up or the trader would be very angry with him.

“Report on psionic development.”

“Confirmed telepathy; suspected empathy.”

“Now that’s interesting.  The Catarians are suspected empaths as well,” Ethos commented, “maybe this trip would confirm both of their abilities.  That would please the Department of Psionic Research and Development.”

“So noted,” came the digitized voice.

“Well, neither strange fevers, differing growth patterns, nor odd dreams are enough to keep him from a surface expedition.  Report to the Captain that DEX1111 has medical clearance for travel to Catara.”

A whir and a beep later, the voice responded, “Message sent.”

 

 

 

1.3        Informing Geba

Raildo received the message sent by the ship’s chief medical officer, Ethos, as soon as it was sent.  Mathew was medically clear for this trip.  He had also spoken to the ship’s artificial intelligence and Mathew had been cleared there as well.  His lessons had been progressing much faster than expected and on the next jump, IAN was going to increase the pace even more to prepare the boy for his early entry into the Colligium.

Before he began going over the things he had been researching on Catara since the last time they were here.  Raildo’s fingers tapped the open circuitry as he summoned Geba to the bridge of the TAoS Dexterous which was not unlike any other bridge in the fleet, except that Raildo practically lived there. Being part machine himself, Raildo felt more at ease with the computers he could integrate with in a thought than with the people to whom he was born.  There was a first mate, and a second mate, neither of whom was currently present, as they had very limited duties on the bridge.  It was truly Raildo’s domain.  And that was why he chose it to have the confrontation with his wife here instead of in their quarters.

Raildo was sure Geba would think this a rash decision on his part, but he had well considered his decision before coming to the conclusion it had to be done. The problem remained, however, that no matter how much he scoured the databases for more information, he ran into block after block.  Everything said that Catara was one of the safest planets to visit, which made Raildo think no one knew what was happening on Catara, or no one was talking about it.  He had been as deep into the TAoS’ records as his security-clearance had allowed and two levels deeper that he hacked into.  Nevertheless, it seemed that either no one else had problems on Catara or the information was deeper than he had access to.  It just felt odd that Catara was listed as a very safe planet but there was a Negotiation Force stationed less than a full Earth day’s travel to Catara.

Danyl could not be the only person to ever have left the planet frightened and begging for a memory removal. The memory removal still bothered Raildo, too.  It wouldn’t keep the boy out of diplomatic service, but what if what did happen on Catara proved to be necessary in the TAoS’ dealings with them and it was something only he knew? 

Raildo had finally come to the conclusion the only thing he could do was send Mathew down there and see what his report turned up.  Unfortunately, Mathew was still under the protective custody of the Department of Psionic Research and Development until he went to the Colligium, so he couldn’t just order the boy.  He could order Geba though and hope that Mathew would want to go.

He could make it an assignment, Mathew could not resist a difficult assignment. 

He heard Geba’s footsteps as they approached the far side of the hatch and he chose his place to make his stand, at the Captain’s consol, busying himself in paperwork.

He did not even looking up to say, “You will take Mathew to Catara. He has earned the right to go planet side and there is no medical reason why he should not.”  Finally looking at her, he handed her the report from medical and the official copy of her orders, which did not restrict her from bringing the children along.  Then he quirked up one sandy blond eyebrow and waited for her to protest.  He was not disappointed, so as she opened her mouth to form the words that would begin the argument he didn’t want to have he cut her off. “Besides, when will the boy get another chance like this one?  Catara is one of the safest planets by TAoS standards.  What can happen to him there?”

“The same thing that happened to Danyl when I took him down.  Or something worse!  You don’t know this race.  They’re not like us — ”  Geba tapped him right between the eyebrows punctuating each word, “They Don’t Think Like Us.” Then she placed her hands on her hips and stared into his eyes.  Most people would not do that anymore, but the alterations he had done did not seem to bother her as much as it did most people. 

His normal eye narrowed and his electronic eye spiraled down. 

When she spoke again she sounded as if she were explaining to a small child.  “All you know is this ship and orders, but you don’t know the people, Raildo.  I still believe they damaged Danyl. No matter what anyone says.  Look how Mathew is learning so many things and quickly.  He’s already surpassed Danyl, but they are supposed to be the same – genetically at least.”

“Since when did genetics determine temperament?” Raildo snapped back.  “Danyl is reckless.  He goes where he should not and does things he should not.  Look how many times the techs have had to fix IAN due to his hacking.  Finally they left some minor channels open for him to play with so he would leave it alone.”  He took a deep calming breath and continued.  “Mathew is not, even if he is star-crossed.  He is supposed to be like Danyl in all things, but they are different as night and day.  Every time I hear of him doing something that Danyl cannot do, I wonder if we made the right decision in having Danyl cloned – PRD be damned.  Danyl is, was, and always will be an irresponsible lad.  No trouble he gets into surprises me.  Mathew isn’t like that.  He’s cautious to the core, just look at some of his test scores.  The academic ones are all above the 95^th percentile and the psionic testing,” Raildo shook his head. “When he comes into his full abilities, the PRD won’t be able to keep him if he don’t want to stay.  Danyl resents that, and Mathew resents being treated like a younger version of Danyl when he is by all rights his own person.”

“Mathew may be cautious, but Raildo, you have to admit, some strange things have been happening around him lately.”  Geba pleaded her case as she shifted her stance: folding her arms across her breasts with her legs spread shoulder width apart. “I’m just trying to protect him for as long as possible.”

“Of course strange things are happening.  The boy is growing up.” Raildo smiled and ran a hand through his hair; the electrodes blinking through the strands. “You’re only going down to the bazaar to broker deals for some of their native crafts, it’s not some critical mission.  The boy will be fine.”  He looked at his very upset wife.  “He’s my son, too, and I say there is nothing to worry about.  He’s going.”  Raildo placed his electrode embedded fingers over a reception plate and informed Mathew of his decision. 

“But, he’s just a baby still.”  Geba paced across the room and back, knowing she had lost this argument the minute he informed Mathew.

“He’s a young man who will be going to the PRD as soon as they can find a way to get him there.  If he goes in with his eyes closed…” Raildo gritted his teeth, “Well, I would prefer that he had some real life experience to fall back on before they get their hands on him.” His hand cinched and uncinched on the consol. 

“I’ll be taking him to the Consortium with me.”  Geba laid a comforting hand on her husband’s shoulder.

“The Consortium,” he snorted, “is nothing more than a large trading house, everyone there is a diplomat of some sort, what he needs is to be around real people in their own environments, not diplomats.”  Raildo looked up at her. 

“There are other children at the Consortium for him to get to know,” She reassured him.

“Ah yes, children of diplomats who have been trained like our own children to always accept the ways of people not like yourself and to respect the differences in the races as that is what makes them unique in the universe.” Came the sarcastic reply. “Children who are always polite and always aware of their behavior.” He shook his head. “No, Geba, what the boy needs, what both boys need, is to be left alone with a gang of street rats who don’t give a damn about the TAoS or diplomatic policy or how their behavior will reflect on their government.  They need to be around people who will either accept or reject him for what he is capable of not who he is, or what he might be one day.  That’s what they need.”  He nodded as he said it, his circuitry flared in brilliant color.

“You know we can’t do that.  The PRD would panic if it happened.”  Geba realized how serious he was, and pulled away from him.  He was not going to back down from this no matter what she did.

“The PRD needs to panic sometimes. Knocks them out of their rut.” He grinned rakishly.

“I can’t condone it, Raildo.” Her tone was even, although her eyes were wet with unshed tears.

“You don’t have to condone it.” His voice was hard as he spoke to her as he would the lowest ranking member of his crew if they attempted to disobey an order.  “As long as I’m captain of this ship, all you have to do is follow orders. It is my decision that he accompanies you to the surface and that decision is final.  The shuttle will be ready to take you both down shortly, you need to prepare.”  Raildo dismissed her and she left his presence. 

She barely made it to her quarters before the tears she had been holding back flooded down her cheeks in hot trails.

 

 

1.4        Going to Catara

Mathew closed off the journal and took his father’s message. It was simple enough; he would be accompanying his mother on her mission to Catara.  Smiling he looked over at Danyl, who was sitting on his bunk across the walkway.  He had been to Catara before, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t be going again.

“Father says I’m going to Catara, did he say you were going?”

“No.” Danyl’s tone was clear enough; it meant shut up and leave me alone.  Math had heard it a million times before.  However, this was just too good of an opportunity to pass up, he was going on a mission, alone, for the first time.

“Aw, you have to stay shipboard, that’s such a shame.  I bet Father makes you study the whole time we’re gone, your last set of test scores weren’t that great.” 

“My scores were fine, and I don’t want to go.” Danyl glared at his idenk. 

“Don’t want to go? Why wouldn’t you want to get off this ship?” Math couldn’t believe what he was hearing. 

“I just don’t want to go.”  Danyl shrugged and tried to look bored. 

“Well have fun studying.  I’m going.  Medical had a scan scheduled for me this afternoon, but now I won’t be here for it.” Mathew grinned.  He loved it when other plans interfered with medicals never-ending scans. Danyl only shrugged and went back to what he was doing, which only made Mathew wonder why his brother didn’t want to come.  He knew Danyl hated to study almost as much as he hated the scans.  They each had good reasons for their personal hatred – Danyl was constantly forced to play catch up to Mathew’s studies and every aspect of Mathew’s emergent psionic abilities had been studied since they first appeared two years ago.  It had been tentatively determined that Mathew had no control but they were still hoping that his control would come, so they kept testing.  At least Danyl had control of his limited abilities.  Too bad the PRD had restricted using their skills shipboard.  Something about a code of ethics and privacy act or some such, but it was perfectly all right to practice in simulations and on non-TAoS citizens.

Mathew put his brother’s reasons for not wanting to go down to Catara out of his mind, and hurried to prepare for the trip.  He sat down on his bunk, attached the neural interface to his ‘cath, and began searching for information on the planet and it’s people. 

Mathew searched diligently through every level he had access to and could only come up with a handful of facts about the people of Catara.  As the minutes passed and no more information was forthcoming, he frowned.   Considering the limited information, Mathew tried to draw his own conclusions about a people he had never seen just as he had been taught in his diplomatic corps classes. Were the Catarians a secretive people, or was the TAoS just not interested enough in them to try to understand them?  His thoughts flickered through the facts he had uncovered.  Catarians were humanoid in general configuration, typically thin, smooth-skinned, and tall.   They were a race of craftsmen.  The viewer had images of several example pieces.  Most were weapons that appeared to be lethal, fragile-looking, works of art. However, there was a note indicating their weaponry was not for sale.  What they did offer for sale was described as a lightweight, flexible, uniform gray material with the tensile strength of steel — Silqween. However, none of the garments appeared to be gray.  Math was not sure if someone had made a mistake or not as there was very little other information concerning this material, except it was only sold as pre-made garments.

Their language was difficult to translate and only a few traders could express themselves well enough in it to trade with the Catarians.  His mother was one.  There was an attached tutorial. Mathew took the time to study it. 

Just before he detached the neural interface, he checked his account and withdrew what he supposed to be more than enough credits to purchase a silqween shirt.  He dressed hurriedly, pulling on loose black pants and a dark blue shirt that buttoned up to a short collar that displayed insignia rank.  These were the proper uniform articles for going planet side.  Mathew did not have any rank, so he didn’t have to worry about an insignia.  He pulled on his boots and headed down to the shuttle bay without a second glance to his brother.  As he walked, he fingered the necklet that he always wore.  The platinum wrapped emerald was comforting to him, something that was his and his alone.  Finally, he tucked it into his shirt so that it lay against his skin and out of sight.

 

 

 

 

Once in the shuttle bay, Mathew saw his mother.  She was dressed similarly to him with the exception of the insignia of trader on her collar that was where their similarities ended.  Where he was light, she was dark.  He was tall and thin and she was shorter and beginning to get a little stocky around the middle.  He was excited about the trip and she looked as if it were an unwanted chore.

“Greetings Mathew,” his mother’s icy tone said much more to him than her failure to give the proper greetings.

He stood with his shoulders back, his feet slightly apart, his chin lifted slightly, and his back ramrod straight.  Respectfully, he spoke, “Blessings of the day, Mother.”

“You understand your role in this trip?” She squared off directly in front of Mathew and waited for his answer.

“I am to be your aide.”

She nodded once. “You are not to speak to anyone.  Do not smile at them.  Do not engage them in any form of exchange.  You are to listen, watch, and learn.  You are to stay in my sight, preferably at my side, and under no circumstances are you to wander off alone.  We will be back aboard the shuttle before lunch so don’t ask to stop and eat.  In addition, the Captain wants you to log a report on anything you notice that is unusual and give it directly to him as part of your training. Do you understand?”

Mathew listened as she named each limitation.  By the time she was finished he was chewing on his bottom lip.  Obviously, his mother didn’t think he was ready for a trip to Catara, but he wanted to go so badly he would agree to just about anything to go.  Finally, he just nodded, knowing he was beaten before he had even began, “Yes, ma’am,” he sighed, exasperated, “But I wanted to purchase a shirt,” he looked at her pleadingly, hoping she would at least relent enough to let him make his own purchase. 

“You wanted to make a purchase?” She looked surprised.

“Yes, ma’am, I even studied up on the language so I could try.” He stated as a matter of a fact.  He knew from experience that whining did not work with his mother.  The best he could do was present her with the facts and hope she made the decision in his favor.

“I can make the purchase for you.” Her tone indicated her decision was final.

His jaw cinched and he gritted out, “I wanted to do it myself.”  But he remained otherwise outwardly composed. His Diplomatic Corps training had taught him to follow orders without question from the time he could understand them.  He would do as she commanded, but he didn’t have to like it.

 “Understand me, Mathew, on any other planet I wouldn’t have a problem with you making a single purchase yourself, but Catara is a very dangerous place for young men like yourself.  They have a very strict justice system that allows no room for error.  So much as a smile at the wrong time can cause an incident from which I may not be able to rescue you.  It’s one of the reasons Catara is only open for Trade, it’s still closed to tourism.  So, if you want the shirt, then I will purchase it for you.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He handed her his chits and went over to put on the breathing apparatus that they would have to wear while on Catara.  The apparatus added oxygen to the Catarian atmosphere, which was too thin for humans to breathe unaided.  When properly fitted, Mathew followed his mother to the shuttle.

 

1.5       Danyl’s pasttime

 

Danyl watched from the bridge beside his father as the shuttle with his mother and Math on it pulled away. 

“They’re gone.  Now get to your KARI,” Raildo ordered Danyl.  “You have plenty of studying to complete before we reach Adlivun again.” 

And twice as much to do to catch up with Math.  Dany thought as he followed his father’s order and tucked himself into his KARI.  It was a simple process: stripping nude, laying down, closing the door ,connecting to the IAN, and stepping into a virtual classroom as fluid filled up the tight space.  He was so accustomed to the procedure he did not even notice the fluid surround his body and enter his lungs.  Instead, he smiled as his teacher flickered into his view; he had learned how to manage simple program overrides in the KARI and IAN a long time ago.

A scantily dressed female sat on the desk in front of the whiteboard instead of the dour old teacher who used to instruct him.  “Welcome, Danyl.  Shall we begin where we left off?”  IAN asked. 

 “And where exactly did we leave off?”  Danyl asked back, although he knew they had been discussing TAoS policy on hostage negotiation.  He just liked to give IAN a hard time.  Besides, he knew they were grooming both he and Mathew for Diplomatic Corps and he did not want that for a profession.  Why of all the children born to all the Traders in the whole universe did he have to be born with high enough psionic scores to warrant a cloning?  Danyl scowled as he wondered how his idenk managed to master so many things so quickly when for him it was so much work.  Mathew was supposed to be identical to him.  That was the whole point an Idenk: to make a clone, a copy.  Well, somewhere they messed up, Danyl thought, his copy was flawed as it was nothing like the original.

“An unpopular government on a friendly planet has taken a TAoS Trader hostage, you have been sent with orders of retrieval, reassurance, and reparation.  What is your plan?” The physical representation of IAN smiled prettily as she crossed her legs in her very short skirt.

Danyl considered for a moment, then asked, “Who’s the hostage?”

“Any TAoS Trader.”  She waved one perfectly manicured hand.

He had been expecting that.  IAN often refused to give any details unless forced in these little question and answer games, but he liked to know more about the situation.  Some traders deserved the messes they found themselves in. “Be more specific,” He ordered.

“Trader Darbin,” IAN sighed, her bosoms heaving with the effort.

“What is the planet’s importance to the TAoS?”

“That is not important to the question.”

“Answer please.”

“Their chief export is a main substance used in the creation of plasteel.”

“I would try to determine his status, and then I would open a discussion as to terms.  Find out what pissed them off in the first place…” 

“Such language, Danyl, please refrain from those words on the unapproved list.”

Danyl sighed, IAN was always reprimanding him on something.  Today it would be language, fine.

“Pardon me, now if I may continue?”

“Please do.” IAN’s representation smiled.

Danyl went on to explain his plan in detail while the visual representation that was IAN nodded.

“Excellent, now for another scenario.”

“Can’t I have a quick game of schnook first?”

IAN ignored the plea out of practice and continued with the questioning.  “This time a Trader has been taken hostage on a small planet which supplies food to TAoS.  The people are revolting and you go with orders to stop the revolt.  What do you do?”

“Who is the Trader?”

IAN’s image smiled.  “Trader Mathew.”

“My idenk?”  Danyl scowled.  “Well there’s no denying an idenk… they would try to use him to sway my decisions.  The only way I would be able to perform my job would be to immobilize their attempts to influence me.” Danyl stopped talking to think for a moment, then asked, “My only orders are to stop the revolt?”

“Yes.”

“I’d torch the planet.  The revolt would be ended, a message would be sent out to all other planets considering revolt, and they would be dependant on the TAoS or the Consortium as a food source.”

“And the Trader?”

Danyl looked at IAN.  “I would hope the fire got him, and if he were lucky enough to survive, then I would hope the surviving people would tear him limb from limb, because then I would have a reason to really destroy them.”

IAN nodded.  “I believe some of the crew is getting together a game now if you would like to join them.”

The classroom faded into a mist, then into a schnook field.  Danyl was happy to spend the rest of his immersion here, playing to his heart’s content.  He loved the game schnook — four goal posts set in a cross pattern with one rule: get the ball into the goal.  He captained his own team and often won. 

In the background, IAN injected his brain with information, later when the transfer was complete, KARI would teach his body to use the information.  Much of the information wouldn’t need to be understood until much later, and that was acceptable.  No one expected anyone to use half the things learned by implantation until the collegium anyway.   

 

 

 

1.6       Catara - Arrival

Mathew stayed close to Geba while they passed through Customs. The formalities never changed even if the planets did, thought Mathew, as they stood in line.  This was his first visit to Catara so everything was of interest; even the breathing apparatus they had to wear to alter the atmosphere to the correct mix for human lungs.  In preparation he had studied everything the databank had on these interesting people, it wasn’t much though considering all the times Geba had been here.  Besides, Mathew recalled,  she ordered me not engage in any form of communication attempt with the Catarians.  Nor was I to eat or drink anything on planet.  It didn’t make much sense because usually when we visited a planet we had a local meal at the very least and were encouraged to engage with the natives.

However, according to the databank, the Catarian race was so unlike any other race Mathew had seen that some of his mother’s warnings made sense.  Although the information in the databank did not do the Catarian people justice — they were a stunning race, beautiful with their hairless, smooth skin that seemed blue in the dull late afternoon sunlight. Catarians were blue; Mathew wondered how that had been missed in the anthropological information he had downloaded from the ship’s computer, and that made him wonder how much of the other information was incorrect. 

The buggy, pulled by a furry, orange, lizard-like beast for which the databank had no name, bounced along the road with others of its kind. Gawking, Mathew tried to take it all in: wild-looking patches of vegetation; clusters of rough-hewn and natural stone buildings; Catarians going about their daily lives. One building in particular caught his attention as it stood apart from the other buildings, with the grass trimmed short around it. It was a small, round building made of smooth blue stone. He thought to ask his mother about it, but at that time the bazaar came into view and all other thoughts were lost.

What seemed like hundreds of Catarians milled around the market dressed in everything from simple sack-like garments to flamboyant wraps and trousers; the mishmash of color made Mathew’s head spin.  They disembarked and joined the throng of the marketplace. Bodies jostled against Mathew as he competed for space with Catarians out doing their shopping. The strong musky scent of the Catarians combined with the scent of something foul being burnt assaulted his senses even through the breathing apparatus; he choked back bile.

“Please don’t get gravity sick now,” Geba pleaded as she instructed the driver to meet them on the far side of the market. Then she turned to Mathew,  “This is such a bland planet. Don’t you think so, Mathew?”

Math looked around; trying to figure out how she thought the kaleidoscope of color around them could be bland. The colors were vibrant: oranges, yellows, reds, violets, greens, and everything in between. However, the only blue he saw was the exposed skin of the people.

And the noise they made! Hawkers yelled at the passersby extolling the value of their goods over their competitors; passersby called to each other in greeting; live animals, kept in cages and pens, added their various growls, clicks, grunt, and squeals to the general din. It was enough to make his head spin.

“I think it’s marvelous,” Math said with a smile.

Geba turned and looked at him. The expression on her face seemed to ask, “Are you feeling well?”

Math looked away. The databank said the Catarians were tall and slender with a longness about their limbs. It also said they were frail. A small Catarian carrying a seemingly impossible load crossed their path; it was then he decided all the information he had retrieved from the databank was invalid. It had been incorrect about too many things thus far.

Math’s observations were interrupted as Geba turned into a lime green tent and began haggling for what appeared to be trinket boxes in rudimentary Catarian.

Math followed the transaction well enough from what little Catarian he was able to pick up from the databank.  The speech patterns of those around him helped considerably, too, as the Catarians went on about their way.  He listened carefully though hoping to learn more than was in the databank.

Looking at the items she wanted to purchase, his mother approached the seller, “How much for that worthless thing?”

The Catarian quoted a price and Geba shook her head, stating a lower price for a large number of them.  This continued, quietly and with little emotion on either side until they reached a mutual price and amount along with a delivery time. 

“Thank you for your generosity,” Geba told the Catarian as she paid him.

“You have fine tastes in trinket boxes,” the Catarian told Geba as he packaged the display item to go.  Once they reached an agreement, they both nodded their heads once and parted. Never once had Mother looked the Catarian in the eyes nor smiled. Her facial expressions stayed neutral the entire transaction.

1.7       Journal Entry #

Having this journal so easily accessible now makes recording my thoughts so much easier.  I was concerned that maybe mother could be wrong about the Catarians but to watch her trade with them, maybe she is correct.  The one craftsman never even attempted to look her in the eye, and while I stared at him, he ignored me totally.  They haggled, but it was done so quietly they could have been discussing the weather, which is perfect by the way.  I don’t know what I’m trying to explain here, except that the other vendors and hawkers are so loud its beginning to make my head hurt, and this one was loud too, until he dealt with my mother.  Then he went quiet.  I just don’t understand it.  What are the Catarian’s hiding?  Are they hiding anything?  Maybe it’s just me over-reacting. I’ll have to think on it some more.

 

1.8       Shopping

As they headed deeper into the market to find a booth that sold the material, silqween, Mathew noticed his mother was more tense than usual.

“What’s the matter, Mother?” he asked walking beside her.

“Nothing is the matter Mathew, except that you are here.  Your father seems to think you will not embarrass the TAoS, but I just somehow doubt it.  Danyl couldn’t manage and you won’t either.”

“I’m not Danyl, Mother, you should know that.”

“I do know it.  That’s the problem.  Danyl did what he did because he’s irresponsible, you will get yourself in trouble because you are not Danyl.  You are different.  You can’t be different here Mathew.”

“I’m no different here than you are,” he replied slightly confused at her accusation.

“Mathew you are different anywhere you go.  Like that izoparana, you’ve not yet given it up, that makes you different.”

“I thought it made me responsible.  I’ve not lost it.” He countered sliding past a family of Catarians to keep up with her. “You could have taken it away.”

“No, I couldn’t have.  It was given to you.” She sighed, “I think you will find what you want over there.” She indicated to the left with a thrust of her chin. Mathew looked and saw several booths to choose from, each of which offered a different design or pattern.  Mathew found one he liked and pointed it out to his mother.

“How about this one instead, Mathew?” she indicated a shirt of a slightly different cut.

He looked at it and shook his head.  “I like the color in this one better.”

 “Math, they are both the same color,” she insisted.

“No, they’re not.  Don’t you see it?  That one has more red and this one has more green.”

Geba blinked, “Mathew, they are both gray. Different shades of gray, but both gray.”

Mathew looked from one shirt to the other.  They were definitely not the same color and neither was gray. 

“No Mother, they’re not. I think the green will bring out the color of my eyes better.”

“Mathew Khoury, don’t you dare argue with me here.  They are both gray, understand?” she practically growled at him.

Mathew gulped and nodded.  “I still like this one better,” he finally replied, wondering what was wrong with his mother that she could not see the colors. They were clear as day to him.

His mother made the purchase, selecting the shirt that Math did not want for Danyl.  While she was discussing price, Mathew found a woven belt with a pouch on it for incidentals.  Many of the Catarians wore them and it seemed like a good idea to him as well.  He chose one that would compliment his shirt, “I would like this too, please.” 

Geba did not question how he spent his money and added the belt to his purchase.  When she was finished, she handed Math the bag to carry.  He took it without a word and they continued on their way through the market until a leather shop caught Mathew’s eye.  “I’d like to look over there, please.”

“What do you need there?”

“New boots.”

“Of course you do. You do understand they probably will not have any that fit your feet.”

“We can look though, right?  These are almost too small and the ship’s stores don’t have the next size I will need.”

“We can look, just don’t get your hopes up.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Mathew waited while his mother talked to the dark blue skinned craftsman and then tried on the two pair of boots that he suggested after looking Mathew’s feet.  The second pair fit as if they had been made for his foot with a little room to grow.

Smiling and speaking directly to the craftsman, Mathew said,  “These will do.” For a moment he totally forgot his Mother’s orders. The craftsman did not smile back.  Math was confused at first.  Why had the Catarian not smiled back?  Was it really taboo or just not a custom of these people to smile during business transactions?  Mathew sighed as Geba paid for the boots.  Then he put them on, placing his old ones in the bag with his other things.  Then he carried everything without a word so they could continue on their way through the market.

“What ever possessed you to speak in there?” Geba snapped at him as soon as they were out of earshot of the booth. “You were told not to speak, not to make eye contact, and not to smile.  Can you not follow the most simple of orders, Mathew?”

“Yes ma’am I can.  I just forgot is all.  Why is it so wrong to smile or to look them in the eye?  They are a beautiful race, Mother.”

“It’s not that it’s wrong, it’s just not done, Mathew.  The trader that first brought me here taught me what was allowed and what was not allowed. I’m trying to teach you.  IAN says you are intelligent, yet you can’t seem to grasp a simple restriction on interaction with one race.”

“So, you’ve never smiled at them?” Math walked docilely beside his mother as she headed to the far side of the market and the other booth she needed to visit.

“Never.”

“Nor made eye contact?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know it’s wrong?” Mathew asked.

“Because I was told it was and that’s all I need, Mathew.”

“I’m sorry, Mother, I just want to understand, and I can’t seem to understand if I’m not allowed to do the things you demanded of me.  It doesn’t feel wrong to smile at them, nor to look them in the eye.  It does feel wrong to do what you are doing and refusing to accept their differences as good.”

On this side of the market, the crowd was thicker due to the goods being of a more everyday nature, including more foodstuffs. 

“It’s those differences that will get you in trouble Mathew.  They are not human.”

“No, they’re not, but we should at least treat them as if they were something other than a creature deserving our contempt.”

“I don’t despise them, Mathew, I just treat them how I’ve been taught to treat them.”

Finally, after a search, his mother found the booth she needed

“And I can only treat them how I feel is right, Mother, you way feels wrong.”

“I don’t want to hear another word.  Here is the shop I need.  You will wait out here and stare at your new boots, understand?”

“Yes Mother,” he sighed and  stood outside the booth, off to the side, trying not to look at anyone or anything specific.

The yellow and indigo striped awning of a booth caught his attention. It sold large, dark red, melon-like fruits. Mathew’s stomach growled, it had been a long while since breakfast and he would not be allowed lunch until they returned to the ship. Against his mother’s orders, he slyly watched the Catarians as they passed by, while appearing to be looking at the booth. A few spoke apologies for pressing against him too closely, and he responded in kind.  The rudimentary Catarian in the database included a few words of nicety as well as words directly related to trade.  However, Mathew was learning more from the Catarians as he heard them speak. Besides, he considered, it would not do to be rude even if it went against his mother’s direct orders.  The database at least had been correct in the rudimentary Catarian language module.

Growing tired of holding his bag, he sat it down between his feet, and continued to wait for his mother to return.

As he pretended not to watch, one small, light blue, Catarian fell down practically at his feet. Without thinking of the consequences or his mother’s orders, he offered his hand to help it stand back up. Accepting, the child placed her hand in Mathew’s hand. It was delicate, more drawn out than a human’s hand, and when it touched Mathew’s, her gratitude flooded his mind. Once she had gained her feet, she thanked him verbally before scampering away. Only now, her “thank you” meant so much more. As their hands touched, her emotions conferred the depth of her thanks and he was better able to understand the depth of their language. <I>It was no wonder the TAoS agents couldn’t learn to speak Catarian. The language was only partially vocalizations, </I> thought Mathew.

Math considered this new development while he kept watching the booth with the red fruits.  If the Catarian language was only partially vocalizations and partially transferred emotions then it would explain why most traders could not grasp even the rudimentary Catarian in the database.  However, it would not explain the orders to not attempt any contact with the Catarians, unless someone, somewhere had made full contact with the Catarians and did not want it to happen again.  Mathew sighed. He would have a bit to discuss with his father when he arrived back aboard the ship.  And maybe the PRD too, they were always on the lookout for telepathic and empathic races, especially if they could interbreed with humans.

The natives kept pressing close, but his mother still had not concluded her business.  Just as he finished logging the information for future reference, another Catarian caught his attention. The Catarian was shorter than the others around it, but still as tall as Math was, and its skin was a bit darker than those around it were — nearing indigo. The Catarian walked as if it were trying not to be noticed. Math looked away, unsure if he should be watching, but there was something about the Catarian’s movement that kept drawing Math’s eyes back. Slinking up to the table of red fruit, the small Catarian picked up one in front of the merchant, who did nothing to stop the action. Mathew watched all this unfold, ignorant of the local laws, unsure if the Catarian was stealing or if it was within its rights to take the fruit. When Math looked over at the Catarian, thin, almost nonexistent lips parted showing small, black, sharp teeth. It was a grotesque imitation of a human smile. Mathew smiled back, his mother’s warning ringing in his mind. Math wasn’t sure what that gesture meant in the Catarian culture, but he just couldn’t help himself.

The Catarian walked toward Math, a wicked looking blade in its hand. Math looked around for help — for his mother — anyone.  He did not know what the Catarian’s intent was. Was it going to cut the fruit or something worse?

As if sensing Math’s growing fear, the Catarian lifted the fruit and sliced it open, the juice spilling out over its hand as it offered the cut fruit to Math. Their eyes met.  Math’s breath caught in his throat and there was an unfamiliar tightness in his chest as he gazed into the molten silver pools that rippled between the shores of the Catarian’s eyelids. He took the gift, and while their hands were still touching, conveyed his thanks with an empathical, emotional pulse.

The Catarian nodded and pulled its hand away to slice off another piece. They chewed their fruit together.  Math found the juice was slightly bitter but the flesh was chewy.  It is good. Mathew thought as he realized he had disobeyed another of his mother’s orders and did not care one whit; he had been hungry.  

The Catarian gave Math a second piece. Its fingertips brushed Math’s hand, and Math felt heat rising to his cheeks.  Something raw passed between them that Math could not explain, but he knew he did not want the Catarian to leave.  The juice dripped off Math’s chin and the Catarian reached over to wipe it off.  Mathew turned his head ever so slightly and the Catarian’s fingers came in contact with his lips.  His tongue flicked out and he tasted the fruit on its fingers.  The Catarian smiled again and Math leaned forward, invading its’ space.  The musky scent of the Catarian did not even bother him as they stood a breath apart sharing more than just the fruit. Images flooded Math’s mind: images of Catarian life on the streets, life as a young Catarian lived.  Its name was Katu.  It had a mother, father, and brothers.  One of Katu’s brothers served in the temple of the Gahpa.  The feelings came hard and strong with each image, a strong sense of awe and fear of the Gahpa, as well as respect for those who served. 

So in tune were they with each other that they did not notice the pall in the crowd nor people back away from them until they were both being picked up and dragged away. The large Catarians — Peacekeepers — came the name of them from the memories Katu had shared, moved quickly through the crowd, half carrying, half dragging a kicking and screaming Math and a limp Katu.  Math’s outraged yell carried across the market alerting everyone in earshot — including his mother — to the situation.   The crowd parted before the Peacekeepers as puzzlement rolled off Mathew in waves.  Was what he did wrong somehow?  If so then, why did it feel so right?

Mothers grabbed their children and no one looked directly at the scene as it occurred.

Geba ran out of the shop, the memory of Danyl’s run-in with the Peacekeepers suddenly fresh in her mind.

“Stop!” Geba yelled after the two Peacekeepers, “Blast it, drop my son!” she continued yelling, knowing they would not obey her.  She ran to keep them in sight, having to fight the crowd that closed in behind them. “He has immunity!” She tried one last time before barreling through the crowd, fighting to keep them in sight while her mind frantically tried to figure out how to get Mathew out of this mess.

 

 

1.9       Runaway

Mathew was also thinking frantically on how to get himself and Katu out of this mess.  He wasn’t sure what prompted his kidnapping but he thought it might have something to do with Katu and the fruit.  Or maybe I was the one who broke some law by eating, hadn’t mother ordered me not to eat anything on this backward rock? thought Mathew.  His stomach roiled at the thought and the fruit came back up, practically into the face of the Catarian that held him.  The Catarian dropped him and Math gathered himself quickly.  Training kicked in and Mathew tackled the other Catarian who was standing there waiting for the first to recapture Mathew.  So unexpected was the blow the Catarian released his grip on Katu and the young Catarian’s eyes grew wide as he uttered the first word they shared, “RUN!”

Katu ran ahead of Mathew.  The first Catarian regained his composure and grabbed at Mathew’s back, catching hold of the breathing apparatus, breaking the hose in the process. Mathew choked on their oxygen-deprived air. He felt ill and light headed for several minutes as he took in great gulps of air in a panic to get enough as he ran.  Frightened that he would be recaptured, Mathew pushed at the Catarians with his mind willing them to leave he and Katu alone. In the meantime, Katu saw Math was in trouble and turned back for him. Grabbing Math by the hand, Katu pulled him forward. A short time later, Math realized two things: he could breathe the Catarian atmosphere and the two Catarians were no longer following them.

“I think we lost them,” Katu gasped out, trying to catch a breath after running so hard for so long.

“I think so too,” Math replied, “Now what?”

Katu looked at him oddly.  “You called them.”

“I did not.”

“Yes you did, with your thoughts about breaking rules.  You can’t think about the rules you are breaking if you intend to survive here, they will come every time you do.  Then when I tried to get away from you, you kept me there until they arrived.  Why did you help me to escape?”

“I did no such thing!” Math protested as they began to walk away from the bazaar through a densely vegetated area. “I don’t even know the rules of your people, why would I be thinking about breaking them?  The only thing I was thinking about was disobeying my mother.”

“Did she tell you not to eat?”

Math looked at Katu strangely, “Yes, that’s exactly what she told me not to do, among other things.”

“Then why did you?”

“I was hungry.”

“And you felt guilty for breaking the rule she sat out for you.”

“A little, I guess.”

“Even a little is enough when one is as strong as you.  You managed to grasp our language well enough.”

“It was in your mind.  I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s all right Mathew, I do not mind sharing with you, but can you honestly tell me you didn’t want me to stay?”

Math began to protest, but thought better of it. He had wanted Katu to stay, but not for the reasons Katu thought. “I did want you to stay.”

“Why?” Katu stared at him with quicksilver eyes.

“I didn’t want the feelings to stop.”

“Have they stopped?”

Mathew examined how he felt toward Katu, “they’re different, but they haven’t stopped.”

Katu smiled, “Good, because where we must go to rid ourselves of that Peacekeeper taint you must have positive feelings toward me.”  Katu held out a hand for Math to take again. “It’s not that far, we should be there by morning. If we touch, we can better understand what we are saying.”

“Morning?” Math asked as he placed his hand in Katu’s and they began to walk up a path in the vegetation that was barely wide enough for the both of them side by side..  “I should be headed back to the jump-pad, its closer I think.”

“Closer but not safer.  Who do you think controls who is allowed to go through the gates there?  By now all the peacekeepers know your face and they will not let you off the planet without some form of punishment.”

“What we did deserves punishment?”

“We broke the law.”

“What law?  How can I break a law that I don’t even know exists?”

“You are strong enough that they will assume you knew, Mathew.  Even if you didn’t.  There are only a few options available to us now and I’m taking us to the nearest safe place.  Not even the peacekeepers dare to tread there without permission.”

“And where is that?”

“The halls of the Dwarn.”

The day wore on as the walked deeper into the forest and steadily uphill.  Math never let go of Katu’s hand for fear he would loose his guide.  They only talked a little as they continued to walk, then as dusk fell Katu declared it was time to stop.  “We will arrive in the morning, it is too dangerous to continue on foot after dark.”

“Where will we sleep?”

“On the ground, here, under this tree.” Katu led him over to a tree with low swept branches that actually touched the ground.  “I stay here often.” 

There was a fire ring near the trunk and a bed of spongy leaves off to one side.

“I’m afraid we don’t have time to gather you a bed.  I hope you don’t mind sharing with me.”

Math shook his head, “I don’t mind at all. I just need to know, why did you take the fruit?”

“You were hungry,” Katu smiled, “No one goes hungry here.”

“But my mother said I shouldn’t eat on this planet.”

“Your mother is a fool.  They only let her keep coming because she is one of the few who do not try to study us.”

“I’m studying you.”

“They know.” Katu smiled, “and they don’t mind.  Now let’s see what we can gather up for dinner.  Do you know how to make a fire?”

“Yes, if it’s the same here as anywhere else.”

“The basic idea is the same, there are fire starters over there by the pit, use these,” Katu held up some vegetation, “to start it then add those sticks there until it’s only about so big.”

Math looked at Katu’s hands and nodded, then did as bid while Katu left him there to forage for food.  The sun had set when Katu returned holding some rodent variant and pockets full of berries.

“I think you will like this treat.” Katu began to skin the rodent, removing its innards and stuffed it with the berries.  Then wrapping it in leaves, Katu placed it directly in the fire.  The smoke from the fire rose up and diffused through the branches of the tree.  Mathew leaned back on his elbows to watch it.

“My mother will be so angry with me for running off.” He began, “not to mention how my father will react.  Yet, this feels so right.” He sighed.

“Being here with me or on Catara?”

“Here, with you, on Catara,” Math smiled.  They sat in silence as the fire cracked and popped, then Katu declared their dinner had cooked long enough as it was pulled out of the coals.  Pulling back the charred leaves, Math was surprised to find a nicely roasted piece of meat inside, marinated with the tart juice of the berries. 

“This is good,” he said licking his fingers.  Both he and Katu had grease smeared around their mouths.  Katu reached up to wipe, but Math beat Katu to it.  “Let me.” he said as he leaned in and wiped Katu’s face with his thumb, tracing the thin lips. 

Katu sighed, “Come to bed with me Math.”

“To sleep?”

“Eventually.”

“I’ve promised myself to someone…”

“The one who gave you the izoprana?”

“How did you know?”

“On Catara the gift of the izoprana only marks a child for the temple.  It says to the world you are a Neophyte and nothing more.”

“But I didn’t get it here.”

“Are you certain?”

Math had to think for a few moments.  He wasn’t sure, only that the man was green, not blue.

“He was green, not blue.  Catarians are blue.”

“Not all of us, my brother who serves the temple, is nearly green.  They say it is because he serves the golden one.”

Math reached up and fingered the izoprana.  It could be as Katu said.  His mother did visit here often enough, yet it didn’t feel exactly right.  Then again, neither did it feel wrong.  He looked over at Katu who had stripped down to his skin; he was beautiful.  With a sigh, Math stripped off his clothing and climbed into the pile of leaves with Katu, who spooned him from behind.

 

1.10  Journal Entry #

June 4, 642 AC

Entry #: So many things have gone wrong today.  First, I disobeyed Mother.  She directly ordered me not to smile at anyone, but I couldn’t do it. I don’t think I have ever deliberately disobeyed before, but it just felt so right today the things I did.  You see, there was this child who fell, I smiled at her as I helped her up.  Would it have been more right to let her lay at my feet?  Should I have not offered to aid her?  I can’t see me doing that, even if it was a direct order.

Then there was this other Catarian who offered me food, I accepted and smiled at him too.  That’s when the trouble really began.  Mother told me not to eat anything on this planet.  I should have listened.  However it wasn’t the food that was the thing that got me in trouble, but the Catarian with the food.  I can’t really explain how I feel about him.  It’s like I’ve known him forever, yet I don’t really know him at all.  Sort of like the Green Man.  I know he’s out there, but Katu is here.  I will keep my promise to the Green Man, even if I was too young to know what it meant.  Mother says I made no such promise, but I had to have, he gave me the izoprana.  Maybe Mother doesn’t know what happened between us.  I wouldn’t want her to know.  I have to wonder though, what exactly does the Green Man expect from me?  To remain a virgin until we find each other again?  Or does he just expect me provide him with services when we finally meet up again?  Or, does he just want me to be protected by his name and reputation, which I don’t even know.  I do know the izoprana has kept many men away from me, at least according to Mother and Danyl.  I hope it doesn’t keep Katu away from me.  If he offers to… well I don’t know what I will say.  I want to.  This time, I really do.

 

1.11 Sleeping together

Mathew lay there still awake after making his journal entry.  His body pressed against Katu’s and Katu’s penis wedged into his crack.  It wasn’t totally unpleasant, and made him consider some of the training IAN gave him the last trip concerning sex-education.  The thoughts caused Mathew to wiggle slightly to ease some of the pressure off his groin as he responded to the memories.  He had just reached down to adjust himself when he felt Katu’s breath along his neck and Katu’s hand following along his arm.  When Katu finally reached the juncture of his thighs, Math tensed up.

“What’s wrong?”

“You shouldn’t touch me there,” he said softly.

“Why? Does it hurt?” Katu whispered against Mathew’s skin as his body moved against Mathew’s body. 

“No,” Math shook his head for emphasis.

“Then why?”

“It’s improper for two… people… to touch each other there.  It’s private,” he rolled over to face Katu.

Katu reached down anyway, “I won’t tell.”

Mathew groaned but didn’t push Katu’s hand away.

“You can touch mine, I don’t mind,” Katu took Math’s hand and placed it at the juncture of his thighs, right on his penis, which wrapped itself around Mathew’s finger.

Math giggled.  “What else can it do?”

“I don’t know, I’ve not really ever had…” Katu blushed and massaged Mathew’s groin.

“Tell me how do to this with you.”

“I’ve never really…” Mathew began but Katu silenced him by gently biting his neck.

Mathew could not form the words but instead sent images to Katu who put the knowledge to good use as the Catarian smiled then lay on top of Mathew.  It only took them a few minutes to work out the mechanics of what needed to be done then Katu began the slow penetration of Mathew.  “Just tell me to stop and I will,” Katu said and licked Mathew’s neck again.

“No, don’t stop, please.”

It was all Katu needed to hear.  Mathew lay pressed hard into the leaves and went on the ride of his life.

It was much later when Mathew reached over and caressed Katu, “If I wanted…” he began, “How would I… with you?”

“The process is much the same, except that yours goes inside of mine.”

“But it’s so thin…” Mathew protested

“That’s because, well, I’ve never invited a male to my bed before.”

His fingers tugged on Katu’s sexual organ and Katu groaned. 

“You’ve seen it engorged, do you still think it will fit?”

“Yes,” Katu breathed against his cheek.

“I’m not convinced, but I’m willing to try,” Math said as he covered Katu’s mouth with his in a kiss.

 Katu gripped Mathew’s penis and sighed when it pulsed in her hand.

“Tell me what to do,” Math said softly as he held himself over Katu, “how do I please you?”

“You must… open me… with your mouth and your hands.”

Mathew kissed down Katu’s body until he reached the sexual organ, it still seemed too small to hold him as he sucked it into his mouth probing the opening with his tongue.  He felt the tissue begin to open, dialating enough that he could probe deeply then he began to understand.  The organ shortened and opened even more when he began to thrust deeply.  Katu smelled musky and sweet and tasted both sweet and tart.  “This is not at all unpleasant,” thought Math.  Once he had opened Katu as much as he possibly could with his tongue he kissed the insides of the catarian’s thighs as he probed the opening with first one finger then two.  Katu’s back was arching and he was moaning nonsense.  Mathew pulled his fingers out and noticed they were coated with a thick blackish substance.  He wondered what it was for about a millisecond as Katu’s scent assaulted him.  He was wanted and he was more than willing to oblige.  Mathew lapped at the now much more open appendage the substance tasted a little bitter but Katu’s scent was driving him to the brink.

“Now, Mathew, try now,” Katu moaned.

He rose up and positioned his manhood to enter the opening but the angle was wrong.  “Sit up a little,” he urged and they positioned themselves until he was able to just enter the opening, which he thought was too tight. 

Katu cried out and he started to pull out, “No don’t, you are just so much bigger than I expected.”

“I’ll stop.”

“Please don’t.”

“All right,” he whispered as he looked into Katu’s eyes and plunged forward with his hips.  He felt her organ shudder around him and Katu’s  eyes rippled.

“Deeper, please,” Katu begged and Mathew obeyed.

Soon they had found a rhythm that brought them both pleasure and Math kissed Katu again, their minds melding as their bodies did.  Neither was sure who experienced their orgasm first, but when one did, the other quickly followed so entwined were they.  Math felt the oddest sensations of his seed leaving his body and traveling into Katu’s body; deeply into Katu’s body and he felt Katu’s body shudder around him, Katu’s sexual organ a thin sleeve over his own. 

She reached down between them and gave them both a squeeze and Math moaned.  Then Katu’s muscles rippled along Mathew’s shaft and he came repeatedly until there was nothing left in his testicles to give Katu. Katu’s organ gripped Mathew’s so tightly he could not pull out if he had wanted to, he didn’t want to, and from the emotions he was getting from Katu, he did not want him to, so he didn’t even try.

It was sometime later Mathew had disengorged enough to try to remove himself from Katu although Katu’s organ still gripped his, but after forcibly relaxing it, they were able to separate.  Mathew’s manhood was covered in the black substance and it trickled from Katu’s wide-open appendage. 

“How does it close?”

“In time it will close.”

“You smell different,” Math observed.

“So do you,” Katu giggled, “you smell of me and I smell of you. Now go to sleep.”

Mathew snuggled up close to Katu and did just that.

 

1.12  Journal Entry #

June 5, 642 AC

Entry #: Well it finally happened.  It doesn’t matter the first time was with someone not of my own race, I am no longer a virgin.  I’m not even sure Catarians are of the same species, but we managed just fine to make love, Katu and I.  I won’t say I love him, not because I don’t but because I really don’t know him that well.  Oh I can hear the lecture now.  Yes I made love to someone I didn’t know that well because it felt like the right thing to do at the time.  Everyone is always going on about how I need to trust my instincts more.  Well I did, and I liked it.  Will I do it again?  I don’t know.  I think I hurt him, although he says not.  Would I do it again if asked.  With Katu? Probably, with someone else? I don’t think so. I’m not a whore no matter what the izoparana might mean on yet another world.

 

1.13  Meeting the Dwarn

The next morning Mathew felt tender but happy as he dressed.  Rebelling against anything his parents would think, he decided to leave his collar undone, exposing the izoparana and the some of the bruising from his and Katu’s lovemaking. 

Mathew had trusted Katu to lead him where he could not go alone, and that trust continued this morning as they set off along a worn path up the side of the mountain.  Finally, they stood outside the entrance to a cave that led into the mountainside. The entranceway was nothing more than a crack in the side of a mountain with a path that led up past it.  If Katu had not been there, Math would have missed it altogether.  Pressing past the shrubbery that helped to hide the gash, Mathew found himself inside a dark cave.  Holding Katu’s hand helped to relieve some of his fears as they walked slowly to the back of the cave to another gash in the rock.  This time they pressed through taking a sharp right hand turn then a sharp left.  The rock ceiling was close enough Mathew could reach up and touch it and while he thought the walls might be wet or slimy, they were dry.  They had walked for a short distance when they came across the first light stone set high in the wall.  It seemed to glow brighter as they approached and faded as they passed giving off just enough light for the next stone to begin to glow brighter.

“Where are we going again?” Math asked unsure of going deep into their planet.

“One of my hiding places.  The Dwarn welcome me into their caverns whenever I am around, which happens whenever I get myself in trouble.” Katu began to walk inside. “I think they will like you.”

Mathew followed Katu down a long passageway that seemed to first go up then go down, near the bottom there was a turn and just beyond a man stood.  He could not have been any taller than Katu’s shoulder with a long red beard and large green eyes.

“Who comes?”

“It is I, Katu, and a friend, Mathew.”

“A friend?” the man sniffed, “More than a friend I would say, and an out-lander at that.  What does he want?”

“Refuge, like myself.”

“Like yourself? What did he do?”

“Escaped capture by the temple yesterday, and helped me to escape too.  I owe him my death.”

Math had been following the conversation fairly well up to the point where Katu said he owed him his death, “Wait, don’t you mean life?”

The Dwarn laughed, “No, it’s death Katu’ll be wanting,” The short man stepped closer to Math, “or maybe it’s your death they’ll be wanting.” He flicked the izoprana .

“This one is marked for the temple, Katu, why didn’t you say so?”

Katu shrugged.

“Is being marked for the temple good or bad?” Math wanted to know his uncertainty showing up in his voice.

“Neither, both, depends on how you take to the duties.” The Dwarn looked between them, “You mean you didn’t know, Katu?”

“I suspected, but he denied it.”

“And I suppose with you being an out-lander you didn’t know,” he sighed.  “Well, now that you are here, you might as well get what you came for even if you didn’t know you were coming for it.  Take him to the forge, Katu.”

“The forge?”

“Did I stutter?  He’s temple bound he will need a Tabone, they all do.”

Katu nodded and Mathew wondered what all this talk about being temple bound meant.  “I am going home as soon as I can get to the jump pad,” he said as they walked past the Dwarn.

“Of course you are, I don’t believe for one moment you are temple bound, however if it will keep him happy and allow you safe passage through these halls, it might be advisable to let them think you are temple bound.”

Math considered, “What does it mean?”

“I don’t know exactly, only certain people can determine who will serve the Gapha and those people are marked in various manners.  Nalak indicated the jewel you wear around your neck.”

“I told you before how I got this,” Math reached up and touched the izoparana,”It wasn’t on this planet.  I’ve never been here before.  Besides I was little and he was green, not blue.”

Katu smiles at him as they turned yet another corner and a blast of heat hit them in the face.

There were half naked men and women working the various tools in this hot room that stretched as far as Math could see and then some.  One of the gray-headed Dwarn stood from where he had been sitting working on something.  “Another neophyte? And you brought him Katu?”

“I brought him, but not yet a neophyte.  Nalak said he was to be given his Tabone though.”

“Will you be taking him to the Temple?”

“You know I cannot do that.  The moment I cross that threshold my life is over.”

“Are you saying you are temple bound as well?”

“Not on my death, Biran” Katu grinned again.

“Hrumph,” the old Dwarn grunted and reached for Math, “Well, let me see your hand.”

Math allowed the Biran to examine his hand.

“Do you know how to wield a blade?”

“I do.”

Biran grunted again, and produced a dagger from his belt, “Well, lets see, think you can hit that beam of wood over there?” he pointed to a target several paces off.

“I should be able to.”

“Then do it.”

Math studied the blade, finding its center of balance. Then he stood and concentrated on the blade going into the target. He threw the blade and it connected with a solid thunk.

Biran grinned, “Ah, yes, we can work with something like that. Come on then, you will need to choose your weapon.”

“I’ve never chosen a weapon before,” Math admitted as he followed Biran further into the cavern and off to one wall.

“Don’t let it worry you too much, it will choose you more than you really choose it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will.”

Math looked at Katu, who shrugged, he had never seen this before either so he could not even reassure his friend everything would be all right.

“It’s simple, just stand here and think of the type of man you want to be, then when you feel it, walk toward it.”

Math looked at the wall, it was covered with nothing but crystals.

“I’m not sure I can,” he said softly.

“Of course you can, you are marked.”

Math heard Binan’s words, and looked at Katu who shrugged.

“I’ll try.”  He closed his eyes and recalled the dreams he had been having before arriving near Catara.  In the dreams, the voice spoke of the things they would do together, of the man he would become, and of the liesed he would find.  He concentrated on the liesed and without realizing it, softly began to sing. 

On the wall, the crystals began to vibrate then one wobbled until it was pulled from the wall to shatter on the ground.  Binan yipped for joy as he sifted through the wreckage holding up a large piece.  “Nearly the whole center and unmarred at that.  It’s perfect for molding, come, Neophyte, hold your Tabone.”

Mathew walked over and saw the shard was daggerlike even with a pommel and grip. He grasped it on what he considered the grip and Binan grinned ear to ear.

“You even grasped it in the correct manner.  Are you sure you haven’t been to the temple yet?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then you must promise you will go to have the blade consecrated, and take Katu with you.”

“Me?”

“You found him, Katu, it is your duty.”

“You know what will happen.”

“It’s time.”

Katu only nodded, “I’ll take him.”

“By your blood,” Binan demanded.

“On my death,” Katu responded.

“What’s happening?” Math asked.

“I just promised Binan something that should have been taken care of cycles ago, Mathew.  He is right it is time and I cannot think of a more deserving neophyte.”

Binan nodded, “Come, Mathew, bring your Tabone and let us see what it will look like.” The Dwarn walked away and Math carried the crystal shard carefully.  They walked further from the door to a workspace where several Dwarn sat.  “This is Neophyte Mathew and he bears his Tabone to be created.”

“Bonded is it?”

“Nearly, it should be finished first don’t you think?”

“Aye, it should.  Come young Mathew, let me see what your Tabone will resemble.” 

Mathew laid the shard on the workbench and the Dwarn made a soft noise.  “This is interesting, Binan, was it like this before he held it?”

Binan looked the shard over, “No, it’s already begun, can you shape it?”

“Of course, of course, I’ve just never seen one begin to change so quickly.”  The Dwarn laid his hands on either side of the crystal and began to sing.  As he sang, the crystal began to change shape and Math could not help but to sing along the parts he knew and listen well to the parts he did not.  When it was done, the weapon was about nine inches long and the blade thin and deadly accurate. The grip consisted of a snake-like creature with a lizard’s head, the tail pointing again off the bottom providing a small blade of its own less than an inch long.  It was a deadly work of art. 

“Take it,” the craftsman said quietly, “I should not touch it once it begins to change.”

Mathew picked it up and it felt warm in his hand.

“Be careful of the stinger. Not many blades develop them, Binan will craft you a sheath for it so you don’t accidentally cut yourself.”

Math held the weapon and nodded.  “Thank you,” he said with an empathical pulse. 

The craftsman grinned, “You are truly welcome, use it with justice and restraint.”

Math could only nod again. 

Katu touched his cheek and Mathew looked up. “It is a worthy weapon, I am well pleased.” Then he turned to Binan, “How long until you could have the sheath done?”

“Tomorrow morning, would you mind staying the night?”

“For the meals around here, I would stay the week!” Katu responded.

“The night, Katu, it must be finished.”

Katu nodded, “The night then,” and he led Mathew from the forge leaving the Tabone in the capable hands of Binan.

 

1.14  Dinner with the Dwarn

A short time later a loud clanging could be heard and with it many feet pattering down the passageways leading to a central area where there were dozens of tables set up for eating.  Young women and men served the food while the workers sat to eat. Mathew followed Katu in and to a table along the far wall where there were other young people sitting, they sat down across from one another and that is when Mathew noticed that the typical table arrangements had families grouped together, except for the ones along this wall where the young people sat.  Dinner was served with dishes passed around the table, each person taking their fill.  Math took the dish from the female Dwarn to his left and passed it to Katu who sat on his right.  That’s when he noticed, except for Katu, the table where he sat was alternating males and females. The conversation was neutral with most of it centering on the day’s happenings.

“Are you the Neophyte they said called his tabone from the stone nearly complete?” one of the young males asked.

“Yes, he is, I was there, it had a stinger too, that’s rare.”

“I heard he was chosen special by the Gapha.”

Mathew put down his drink and smiled, “I’m the one unless there was another today… but I don’t know about calling it nearly complete, it looked like a chunk of stone when I handed it to the person who finished it.”

“You sung along.  Have you been in training long to know how to work stone with the song?”

Mathew shook his head and all eyes at the table turned to him. 

“Really? Usually it takes a master to do that.”

“I didn’t do anything except sing along.  The song was familiar enough to me.”

“They guard them, the songs, there is no way it could be familiar to you.” One young female accused.

“It can be if I’ve dreamed it,” Mathew shrugged and finished his second tankard of the sweet tart drink.

“But the markings?  There hasn’t been one marked like that since… well since the beginning.”

Mathew shrugged again, “I don’t even know what the thing was on the weapon, it looked rather odd.”

The young people looked one to the other and some shook their heads in disbelief.  Finally one asked, “Are you sure you are bound to the temple?”

“I’m not, but everyone seems to think I am,” Mathew slurred some of his words. Then he turned to Katu, “Why are you sitting where a girl should be?”

Katu blushed a pretty shade of purple as some of the others laughed.  

“Come Mathew, off to bed with you,” Katu told him.

“I want to know,” Mathew said staring at Katu intently.

“I sat there because it was my privilege to sit next to you as your friend.”

Mathew shook his head, “But you’re not a girl.”

The others at the table laughed at his statement.

“Then what am I, Mathew?”

“Katu,” Mathew said softly as he leaned in and kissed his friend.

“I think you need to go to bed.” Katu told him after they stopped kissing and tried to pull him to his feet.

“What bed?”

“My bed of course,” Katu whispered against his skin.

“I’m not a whore,” Math told him.

“Maybe I am,” Katu retorted, “besides it’s big enough for two and I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

Mathew was just drunk enough to not argue. 

There was more laughter but Mathew was beyond caring.  He followed Katu out of the dining hall and up several passageways to a hallway lined with doors.  Opening one, Katu led Mathew inside.

When they arrived to the bedchamber, Katu was proven correct, the bed was big enough for two or three.  Mathew shucked off his clothing and climbed into one side while Katu sat on the edge of the bed for a while. 

“What’s wrong?”

“You know the temple is where they were going to take us this morning.”

“It was?”

“It’s where everyone is judged.  When we arrive, I don’t know exactly what will happen.”

“Are you scared?”

“Of dying or of living?” Katu asked, “I’m not sure which is more frightening.”

“Why do you think you will die?”

“Mathew, you’ve seen my life.  I’ve not been the best of children.  The judge could very well demand my death.”

“Or he could spare your life.”

“Would you?”

“If it were in my power you would not die.”

Katu took a shuddering breath then stood up, undressed, and slid into bed.  “Then let us hope my death is in your hands tomorrow and my life in your power.”

Mathew snored softly in response.

 

1.15   Math’s Love

There was no light to indicate morning, but Katu woke shortly after sunrise to find Math spooned to her back.  With a sigh of regret, Katu eased herself out of the bed and walked over to the room’s altar where she knelt and prayed.  She hadn’t been sure the gods heard her, not for a long time, but laying there on the altar was Mathew’s tabone, and its god marked grip.  How the young human had pulled a gahpa from the crystal Katu would ponder until after her death.  In all known history only one out-lander had ever seen a gahpa and that one had been sent away never to return with fear in him so deeply that if he thought about returning he would again experience the fear.

Math woke up slowly, uncertain of his surroundings.  Then he saw Katu kneeling before a white table.  After he climbed out of bed, Math walked over to where Katu knealt and saw his tabone on the white stone.  It was beautiful.  “How did this get here?” he asked as he picked it up.

“It knows you.  A tabone is a very special weapon, it cannot be stolen for long nor can you rid yourself of it.  I understand they hold your lessons from Neophyte to Peacekeeper in the crystal.”

“Do you think it knows you as well?”

“It will, in time,” Katu smiled as she stood up. 

 

1.16  Geba’s chat with the Judge

When Mathew was taken, Geba followed as best she could but lost them in the crowd.  Knowing from the experience with Danyl that he would be taken to the nearest Judge, who served in the temple they had passed on the way in, she headed there. 

“Esteemed Sir,” she said as she entered the temple.  Two Peacekeepers were kneeling at the alter and an older Catarian stood on the far side.  She had interrupted one of their ceremonies she thought.

“Can I be of assistance?”

“My son, he was taken by a Peacekeeper.  I thought he would have been brought here.”

“A boy, about so high and in the company of a young Catarian?”

“Yes!” Geba nearly shouted, “that was him, taken in the bazaar.”

“He escaped.  Our people are hunting him down now.”

“Escaped? Hunting? No, you can’t… he has diplomatic immunity, he didn’t know what he did was wrong.”

“He will answer for his actions.”

“He is a child.  When he is found I’ll take him back to the jump-pad as per our treaties provision.”

“It is obvious this child has not learned, he was told not to return, yet you have brought him here.  Perhaps you would like to share in his fate?”

“Share in his… fate?  Mathew has never been here before.  That was Danyl.  I would never break the trust of the Catarian people.”

“Leave woman, the child will be responsible for his own actions.” One of the Peacekeepers stood up to escort her out.

“He’s immune,” she pleaded, “please, don’t hurt him.”

He took her by the arm and escorted her all the way to the jump-pad with her begging for Mathew’s life the whole way.

1.17  Missing Crew

 

Raildo paced as best as one could do at half gee, it was more like bouncing off the walls, but that also fit his mood.  Every so often he checked the circuitry with his fingertips, the electrodes lighting with his various unvoiced request and responses.  Geba and Mathew were still on Catara.  She was back at the jump pad; he was still missing.  Raildo’s hand paused for a moment as he considered his next step.  When Danyl had been missing, it had taken a negotiation force to get him back.  And then he had asked for a removal, he wanted no memory of it, no access of a memory of it, no chance of a dream of it.  That was a rather drastic step for anyone going into diplomatic a corps.  So, Raildo reviewed the material himself before passing it along to his superiors.  Just to recall it, he pulled it up on the ship’s computer.

…there is this thing here it looks like a giant worm with scales.  It’s in my head.  Hurts.  Please make it stop… I can’t….

Then there was nothing else until the team was able to secure his release  nine days later.  They were told he offended the local noble and should have been punished and would have been punished except the judge stepped in.  It took a while for the judgment to be rendered and the boy’s release to be made.   Math is much more cautious than Danyl.  He wouldn’t go somewhere he didn’t belong. Raildo thought as he tapped out the orders across the board in front of him.  They would recall all non-vital personnel from Catara until Math was returned.  If he had not shown up in three days then Raildo would contact the local NF for backup.   A short while later he received word his crew was on the way, minus Mathew.

 

1.18  In the Morning

“You can not wear that filthy outfit to the temple, Mathew,” Katu said.

“It’s all I have to wear, filthy or not.”  <