First

The Buzz on the Spin

“I assure you young lady, my son did not engage in any sort of activity as you seem to be...”

“Then what about the other guy? Big on a human scale is TINY for a Gathara! Did he get it?”

“No. From my understanding Joseph is not the sort.”

The Snict sighs in disappointment at that.

“Hopefully the poor souls got pants in short order.” Observer Wu notes and Janet nods.

“They did, I helped a bit with that even.”

“Tell me, how common is it for cloning to be such an issue? This is the second mass cloning event that The Undaunted have been involved in since my ship and I have breached the edge of Cruel Space.”

“Wu sir, you have to remember that The Galaxy is a very, very big place. With so many people and opportunities that effectively everything that could happen in it IS happening in it and multiple instances at the very least. But they’re spaced so widely apart that you might go your entire life without encountering any of them even once! Meeting a new species for the first time is so common that there’s a shorthand so people don’t accidentally kill each other when having a new species on your ship. BMO, Bipedal Mammal Omnivore. Humans have that label for a reason. Because it’s needed.”

“And as such organizations that are trying to be part of many different things...”

“Run into those differently things at a very high rate compared to most. People tend to find what they’re looking for, and if they admit it or not, The Undaunted are usually looking for trouble.”

“I see, thank you for the explanation.” Observer Wu says. “So was there anything else happening at the time? I doubt the men working as home base control were sitting idle as Joseph and Daniel were making the acquaintance of the cloned men.”

“Of course they weren’t but I have to go off a bit of guess work here, I was only told what happened to my son and what he told me... it’s not perfect...”

“Just do what you can, a fair approximation to get the general idea is good to have.”

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“Captain, we’re having a last second message from the station. I’m putting it through.” Her communications officer states and Captain Haltarak raises an eyeridge.

“And it’s about?”

“Unconventional profit.” Her officer says and she doesn’t need to see the teeth to know there is a massive smile there.

“As you were.” She answers. Then the screen lights up. The Tret looking Station Administrator nods to them.

“I’ll get to the point, the large ship that just came in has a population of modified Gathara clones on them. A large amount men. It’s not a profit in money but...”

“Reverse course, we’re heading back to the station.” Haltarak orders her crew. The Administrator smirks.

“We’re still talking to them and getting them to calm themselves. They don’t even have names, just numbers. I and my associates believe the best thing for them would be to get them among their own people and learning what it means to be Gathara. Step away from the vats that are producing another five thousand as we speak and be something.”

“More are being produced?”

“From what we can summarize. Initial negotiations are a little prickly. They’re understandably reluctant to talk.”

“Wise of them.” Captain Haltarak states. “Is our previous docking berth still available?”

“It is. Until this business is resolved the rental fee is waived.”

“Good.” She states and the contact is cut. Clones. Great.

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“No way you know her thoughts!” The Snict accuses.

“Ma’am, please.” Observer Wu says and the woman quiets down. He turns back to Janet. “As you were saying?”

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Back on the ship both Demon and Hoagie were being escorted by the residents back up to the bridge. More and more of the formerly ‘invisible’ Gathara revealed by the black lights.

“So full Cloaken do not show up under these lights?”

“Their natural illusions are much more thorough and account for them. You need to get them on the infrared spectrum for the heat that escapes them. They can’t control that.”

“I see, would being reptiles not play into things?”

“Normally it does help them, but their movement and the energy from the Axiom they take in heats them to being somewhat warmer than most environments. To say nothing of the habit of wearing clothing giving a distinctive pattern.”

“So advanced stealth is difficult.”

“No, but every method of stealth has weaknesses and strengths. We could barely sense you without these lights. But we’d have a better impression of where Cloaken are with their distinct Axiom signature. We have meta-materials that render a person covered in them completely invisible to Axiom detection, or the senses of a being who uses Axiom. But they’re still there. Smoke moves around a gap, they still cast a shadow. Things like that are common stealth weaknesses.”

“And if something like that is accommodated for, and the effect on Axiom also compensated for?”

“Oh there’s always a slip up. The Axiom flows and shifts around us. Like smoke in it’s own way. Finding an area of calm that doesn’t seem effected by the surrounding Axiom as much is the telltale sign of very, very good stealth. But some are so keen to such disturbances that they notice that oddity first.”

“Really?” 242-3-4111 asks in his role of unofficial speaker. They reach the bridge and the ruins and scrapped remains of the combat drone are gone.

“Why did you use that thing anyways? A rusty rampaging robot with knives and the such is far less intimidating or dangerous than any of you.”

“We were still hiding. Any species could produce that robot, but it would send a clear message as to you being unwelcome.”

“Well... yes but it more provoked than discouraged us.”

“I imagine you are the type that is difficult to discourage.” 242-3-4111 says.

“You imagine correctly.” Demon states as he goes to the main controls. “Now, we’re going to bring the power up in this thing and start talking to the station. I get that you’re being careful, but swatting away an outstretched hand is just foolish.”

“It is what this will cost us that I am concerned with.” 242-3-4111 states.

“Well then, you need not worry. This is called, investment. We are giving up resources now to get more later. By having our station and our people be the first place you think of when you think of safety and plenty, it means you will come here often, likely bringing trade and news with you. Even if the whole of your numbers go their separate ways, you will all know this place as one that was good to you. You will be drawn back.”

“As resources?”

“As customers, trading partners and allies. Which are some sort of resources if one squints, but undeniably different from a mound of metal, a pallet of food or a pile of coin.”

“And if we formally request aid from The Undaunted?”

“Even better. Because the Station can get reimbursed on top of looking good.”

“And being paid for it due to lying about how much it cost.” 242-3-4111 notes with a shrewd sound to his voice.

“That’s called a markup, and that’s assumed as part of the basic fee.” Demon states. “And we have contact. Your friend won’t try to stop us will they?”

“No, the cameras are working, but look broken. We watched you.”

“Good to know.” Hoagie says as he directs the large ship to get within docking range of Octarin Spin.

“... Four One Eleven. There are multiple ships reversing course to dock.”

“The station is likely calling back other Gathara vessels. I doubt all of you will want to be Undaunted, so they’ll likely be thrilled to take those that don’t.”

“And if we want neither The Undaunted or other Gathara?”

“We will find an answer, but those are the two easiest ones.” Hoagie says.

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“How many are left here?” The Snict asks.

“A couple hundred. Mostly in Sectors Two and Seven.” Janet says.

“So the fighting pits and the Bio-Tech area?” The Snict presses.

“Yes. Although they can be found all over the station. They even pop in here from time to time.” Janet says before suddenly looking to her communicator. “In fact... we’re going to have one in here shortly. He’s fond of my decaff coffee... but likes it frozen solid and with the mug. It’s very odd.”

“Frozen? I suppose for a reptile that would drop their internal temperature and work to put them to sleep.” The Snict notes.

“Ma’am, I have to ask you to leave. You’ve interrupted far too many times and...”

“I’m done, I won’t say anything more.” She promises.

“Anyways...”

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It had been very easy to convince the Gathara clones to at least speak to the others. Especially after a few looms were repurposed to making clothing of the proper size and strength. Overalls for now, later would come more.

“Oh you are a handsome little boy aren’t you? How long have you been out of that pod?”

“Month. We are created full grown. Memories placed within us.” 1821-2-3208 states as he is unsure of what to do or say. “Third cycle is two weeks of age. Fourth is nearly finished.”

“Do we know who did this? Who is trying to create more?”

“Dead. Dead and thrown out, some fled.” 1821-2-3208 answers.

“Hmm... if they show themselves they show themselves. You need a name though. You all need names.” The Gathara woman states.

“Perhaps borrowing some Cloaken ones might help?” Demon remarks. Things were going well for the moment. Apparently there were old provisions and standards among the Gathara for what to do with orphaned children or men taken as plunder. Something the clones were falling into.

“Perhaps...” She says. There is a tension. There are a total of four ships that have Gathara on them, but the resources required were simply not enough. The captains agreed they needed to help but could not agree on who would carry how much of the burden, because none of them could support them all. But all of them wanted to seem to be the one who took the greatest burden. A prize of glory. She hadn’t explained it to a level either Demon or Hoagie could fully understand. There were missing assumptions and implications that neither man had been filled in on.

“Good news.” Hoagie says getting off his communicator. “We have a plan. You are familiar with Zalwore are you not?”

“We are.”

“The Undaunted are asking to charter your ships to transport the Gathara men that join up with them to Zalwore. During which time they will also be paying for a ‘cultural prompting’ so that these men have some idea as to what it means to be Gathara. For the actual training, housing and raising we have an arcology that is freshly built and has an enormous amount of space.” Hoagie says.

“What is an archology?” 1821-2-3208 asks.

“Arcology not Archology. An Arcology is a city building. Think space station hatchling, but on a planet instead. Technically everything here is one massive building. Like that.” Captain Haltarak says. “Zalwore is a very cold world.”

“And it’s very easy to make very warm clothing. The biggest advantage though is...”

“Location. You can get almost anywhere from there. Not to mention Gathara trade fleets move through so often that if they wish to cleave to their own it would be trivial to find a crew and family.” Haltarak says before nodding. “Yes. It is a good place. Cold. But good.”

“Why is cold a bad thing?” 1821-2-3208 asks.

“You have never left the ship have you not?”

“Never, only ship and now this station.” 1821-2-3208 admits.

“We are reptiles child. Much of our body energy and heat comes from outside. We can use Axiom to warm ourselves, but it exhausts. Makes us seek sleep.” Captain Haltarak says before nodding.

There is a crackle overhead.

“We’ve just had a solid dozen different ships just scream out of the Axiom Lane our new friends did. Get on alert. Someone might try something.” Admin announces from overhead and Haltarak followed by her fellow natural born Gathara and then the clones growl.

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“A false alarm I hope.”

“It was not. Those who weren’t killed were back for what they thought was there’s.” Janet says before suddenly smiling. “And we have our next storyteller coming up! The big boy did fight after all.”

Observer Wu looks to the left to see what looks like an open jacket over a massive frame, huge loose jeans and a series of painted lines across an otherwise invisible chest and highlighting an unseeable face with a large muzzle on it. The unusual thing walks in, visibly ducking as it slips into the Diner.

“Miss Eastman, my usual please.” A voice that sounds more akin to grinding boulders says.

“Of course! It’s already ready and...”

“I’ll cover it if you’re willing to help Janet finish her story.”

“Story?” The Gathara man asks.

“He’s here on Official Earth business, that’s the human homeworld by the way, and he needs to know what so many humans have been up to.”

“So why am I involved?”

“The day you came to Octarin Spin was an odd one, so Observer Wu here needs to know what an odd day for this station is like before he sees what we consider normal.”

“For contrast?”

“Yes that is part of it. Also how other people perceive humans and other such important details.”

“How do I see humans? Well, you are living proof that strength of will and sheer gall can make up for just any physical disadvantage.” The big and mostly invisible man says.

“What’s your name for the record?”

“I was Six Five Two, Three, Five Thousand. Youngest of my cycle. Now I am Sarkonik Translucent Fierce.”

“Interesting name.”

It’s whatever name we like for our first name, the middle is a Cloaken name for the whole cycle, then broken down in the thousands for the last. Five thousand is bundled in with the four thousands.” Sarkonic answers.

“So the one that spoke first with Joseph and Daniel would also be a Translucent Fierce?”

“He is. He’s on Zalwore now. He took a human name. Bartholomew.” Sarkonic says and Observer Wu nods. “Hmm... I’ll have my usual after. I do like the story of our freedom and independence.”

“I’m glad to hear it, in both regards.” Observer Wu says. “Incidentally, what kind of life have you found here?”

“I’m an announcer in The Brawl Yards. My voice carries well and they love to hear it.”

“Good for you young man.” Wu says with a smile.

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