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

By MrNelg

Act: II

Ian

Rain drummed loudly on the roof. It had eased off, and Ian could see the world beyond the Ylimaf family farm and even the roof of their closest neighbours. The Yarffa Family were cattle farmers whom Foragers often raided for scrapped electronics. That had been Lisa's destination before…

Ian turned away and started walking back towards the ventilation shaft. He took the long route back to the Colony, which brought him to the rear of the cellar, where the cemetery lay. Ian walked past multiple wooden markers holding the 'X' within a circle. He stopped at one and removed his flat cap in respect.

He ignored the footsteps behind him until a hand rested on his shoulder. "You two were more than friends, weren't you." Ian looked down at Lisa's grave marker.

"Was it that obvious?"

"It was the worst kept secret in the Foragers Department," Tholop answered. Ian was silent before giving a heavy sigh.

"I finally asked her out," Ian said. "We were going to have our first date the night of the anniversary." He paused. "I lost mom the night of the Great Escape. And when I lost Lisa…" he trailed off.

"We've all lost someone we care about, Ian," Tholop said. "Life hasn't been fair to all of us, so all we can do is work with the hand we were dealt." Ian looked up at the ceiling towards the Great Rings.

"I often wonder if they're up there, watching over me."

"Well, if they are, how do you think they'd feel seeing you moping around like this?" Ian smiled. "Losing a loved one isn't the end of the world, Ian," Tholop said before putting an arm around his shoulder and adding, "Look, there's another reason why I'm here. I wanted someplace isolated where you and I could talk." Ian gave him a quizzical look, and Tholop got straight to the point. "I know the real reason you were flustered last night." Ian's eyes widened, the guilt all too obvious in his eyes. Tholop held up a hand to silence him. "You saw the Goddess naked."

Ian's jaw dropped. "How did you-?" Again, Tholop silenced him with a raised hand.

"I've been around Gods longer than you have. I know what they're like. Their bodies are similar to humans." He smiled. "I know because I've been down this road myself. When I was at the Dig Site, this one Goddess deliberately undressed in front of the male humans." He chuckled at the memory. "Why? I never found out, but you could see she knew what she was doing from the gleam in her eyes."

Ian leaned in close with wide eyes. "How did you deal with it?" His voice was a whisper.

Tholop turned to show Ian the ring in the Helix of his ear. "I got married." It was a tradition of the Gods that whenever couples married, they would get rings in their ears. "Finding a girlfriend kept my mind on track. You…" Tholop trailed off as he quickly glanced at Lisa's grave marker. "...could do what Thrillpo did."

Thrillpo was the head of the Water System Department. He was the biggest human Ian had ever seen and had huge muscles. "What?"

"Exercise. He said the pain helped divert his mind from sexual thoughts." Ian looked at his biceps before Tholop put an arm around his shoulder and started walking him away. "Now, come on. I know it's not your shift yet, but I want you present for our meeting."

"Why?" Ian asked.

"I need a scout for tonight's mission to the kitchen," Tholop said.

"Why me," Ian's reply sounded too much like a whine for his liking. "What's wrong with the Scout who already has kitchen duty?"

"He broke both his legs during the blackout," Tholop answered. Ian's eyes widened before nodding. He opened his mouth to speak, but before Ian could ask why they were going up again, Tholop answered, "The blackout has put the wind up the Council's back. They want more supplies for longer expeditions."

Ian stared back. That could only mean one thing: the Council had finally agreed on a new location for the Colony. "Any idea where we're moving to?" Ian asked. Tholop shrugged.

"I wasn't privy to that discussion, but my credits are on Stone-Lee Gulch." Ian nodded. Stone-Lee Gulch was over one hundred miles south of Thorn Valley. It was a national park with the best protection against the elements and Titans. It also had fertile land which could be used for growing crops. The only problem was the distance. Of all the options, it was the furthest, and moving lots of supplies and humans over a vast distance would take a complicated logistical system that would leave no room for even the tiniest error.

When they reached the Foragers Department Building, Tholop gave the lady behind the desk some instructions as he led Ian into the auditorium, where important mission briefings were given and major announcements made. Fifteen minutes later, the room was filled with the head of every section of the Foragers Department. Tholop gestured for silence before beginning his briefing. He started by laying out the same information he'd told Ian before launching into the news that everyone in the Department would be busy, twenty-four-seven.

No one reacted with surprise to the news. In fact, more than a few looked pleased that something was finally being done. No one complained when Tholop told them they would be raiding the Hardware and Grocery Stores in town. They were the hardest to scavenge because of the method employed. At the end of the week, Throp would drive into town at dusk to visit the bar. He would typically stay for one to two hours before driving home. Foragers would ride in the back of his truck and raid the Grocery or Hardware Store.

It was dangerous because of the street lights lining the road. The cross intersection was the central hub and the business part of town. The bar was on the bottom left corner, while the Grocery Store was opposite. The Hardware Store was across the road from that, forcing all Foragers to move in a triangle pattern across the road where they could be run over by cars or spotted by the Gods themselves.

Then, it was challenging to climb shelves, open boxes, and transport everything back to Throp's truck while being careful not to leave any evidence of their activities. Even after all that, Throp occasionally left early for no reason, forcing the Foragers to travel home on foot.

When the meeting adjourned, Ian headed to the training course where those wishing to be Foragers practised. He ran, climbed, jumped and crawled, exercising his body to take his mind off the mental images he'd seen that night. When the afternoon arrived, he was exhausted but capable of performing his duty.

The Scouts handled kitchen Duty, as their job was to determine if there were enough leftovers to scavenge at the end of dinner time without alerting the Ylimaf family to their presence. Another part of their job was listening to the family dinner-time conversation. Was anyone going out that night? Did anyone plan on staying up past nine o'clock? What were Thrisica's shift times? Most importantly, what was the family planning on doing the next day?

When he returned to the Foragers Department Building late in the afternoon, the building buzzed with activity. Organised Chaos would be the best description, as people rushed back and forth and even tossed items over the heads of entire crowds. The building had never been constructed to handle this much activity, and the throngs grew so congested that they forced Ian to shove his way through some of the thicker crowds. Tholop was organising his Forager crews, and Ian had to wait five minutes before he could talk to him.

Tholop was quick in his briefing and even quicker in moving on after finishing. Then, Ian had to wait another fifteen minutes before collecting his backpack and the equipment assigned for kitchen duty. When he finally left the Foragers Department Building, he couldn't help releasing a relieved sigh. He'd be dealing with that human traffic jam until the day the entire Colony moved.

On his way to the exit, he passed the local school, close enough to hear the children inside practising 'Run for Cover.' This emergency drill was practised to teach human children what to do in the ultimate emergency: a sudden evacuation of the Colony in case of discovery by the Gods. He smiled at the memory of having practised those drills as a child, not long after the entire Colony settled under the Ylimaf family farmhouse.

Beyond the Colony, there weren't any Foragers out here. They were all employed in duties beyond the farmhouse. There weren't any scouts out here, either. As Ian rode the glass-lamp elevator up, he wondered if Tholop was giving him this role because he felt Ian had been compromised by his attraction to the Goddess, and thus, he wouldn't be able to keep his mind on any critical missions. His fingers tightened on the straps of his backpack as the elevator ride ended, and he headed for the kitchen.

As he neared the Scout's Kitchen Nest, he could hear the sounds of dinner being prepared in the kitchen. Mrs Ylimaf instructed her children before telling Theesa to fetch her father and brother from the barn. He placed his pack down, pulled the pencil out of its slot on the left side and paper from inside, and, setting these aside, walked over to the spy perch.

The Scout's Kitchen Nest was located high up in a corner of the kitchen. Looking through the spy hole, you can see the whole kitchen and the dining table where the family ate. Once the entire family sat down to dinner, Ian took up his position and watched. Within three minutes, Ian was bored. The whole family had nothing to talk about. Mr Ylimaf and his son, Th'lick, were too exhausted to talk much, as working in the rain and wearing thick raincoats and heavy gumboots were taxing. Mrs Ylimaf had tried asking Thrisica how her shift was, but the eldest of the Ylimaf children gave monosyllabic responses. After three questions, her mother gave up.

Only Theesa, the youngest of the three children, was talkative. She drawled on and on about her school day. She was the only Ylimaf child still in school. Her elder sister graduated four years ago, while her brother, Th'lick, dropped out last year at the age of twenty-eight to help learn farming from his father. She explained all the classes she took, the problems she solved by herself and the ones she needed help with, how boring her lunchtime break was because of the rain keeping everyone inside, and all the different species of birds she spotted sheltering in the trees on the way home. By the time she finished, Ian was almost asleep.

Thrisica finished first and volunteered to keep Therisa company for a while. <That's kind of you darling,> Mrs Ylimaf said. <How is Therisa doing up there? I haven't had much opportunity to go up there myself today. The poor dear must be so lonely.>

<I don't think the sedatives from the operation have entirely worn off,> Thrisica answered. <She thought she saw little people last night.> Ian stiffened. The entire family stopped eating and turned towards Thrisica.

<Little people?> Mr Ylimaf asked. Thrisica nodded.

<On the bedside table where Th'lick keeps his toy soldiers.> She shrugged when Th'lick asked if she had mistook one of them falling over for movement. <She said it was late, and she was half awake.>

<Just to be safe, I'll call Dr Yksuh tomorrow. Hopefully, he's not too busy to come out here rather than risk taking Therisa into town,> Mrs Ylimaf said. The rest of the conversation revolved around what medication Therisa was on and if anything on the farm could cause side effects.

Ian never heard any of it. He was too stunned to listen. Shit. The word repeated itself over and over like a broken record. Shit, shit, shit. He'd been seen. He paused and took a deep breath. Just relax, he thought. If Thrisica was right, Therisa thought it was a hallucination. There is nothing to get worked up over, and besides, the whole Colony will be leaving soon. So it won't matter.

After he calmed himself down, he returned to the spy hole. He watched and listened as the rest of the family finished dinner and made plans for the night. Writing down all the information he needed, Ian packed up and rushed back to the Colony. After ensuring his report included a possible visit from the town's Doctor, he hand-delivered it to the Intelligence Department. The Doctor's car would have items the Medical Department would be very interested in. He worded the report carefully, omitting any reference to little people.

Then he went to the nearest bar for a long drink.

Theila

Staring forward, past the flick, flick, flick of the windshield wipers, Theila saw the silhouette of the road sign looming in the distance. As they neared, she read the words welcoming all visitors to the lovely town of Thorn Valley and hoping that they had a memorable time. Theila sighed with relief. The one hundred and ninety-mile journey had taken them just over two and a half hours.

The driver, a Grey Suit identified as Agent Yps, eased off the accelerator and slowed down as the first of the town's buildings appeared. His fur was a dark chocolate colour, while his lower jaw and chest were darker. His short, green hair was neatly cropped and business-like. The black, wraparound shades that covered his emerald-green eyes reflected the world back at her.

The town of Thorn Valley had grown up around whim and need rather than any structured layout. Centred around a cross-intersection, the main road ran north to south from Rosebush City, while another minor road ran east to west. The intersection had no stoplights but rather stop signs on the road going east to west. That road connected the town to the numerous farms that comprised the majority of the town's residents. Buildings of commerce whose services catered to the farms or visitors ran along the north/south road, while regular houses, occupied by those who ran the business, lined the east/west road. None of the buildings nor the houses were taller than one storey.

Theila watched from the car window as the town's citizens, all Mou'nae, walked about, wearing raincoats or huddled beneath umbrellas. Their car got a lot of stares for being a Hover car. Most vehicles in the countryside still had wheels. It was an unintentional display of the wealth discrepancy between Rod'tia and Mou'nae. No sooner had they arrived when she heard Agent Yps say, "And here we are." Putting on the indicator, the Grey Suit brought the car into first gear and turned right, pulling into the motel parking lot.

The motel parking lot was easily the largest in town. This was because the majority of the motel's guests were truck drivers journeying to and from Rosebush City. It had been constructed to hold quite a few big rigs, and Theila saw six of them already occupying the vast lot as they pulled in.

Stepping out, she opened her umbrella as Agent Yps pulled out their luggage. They hurried across the parking lot to the office, where the Grey Suit booked their rooms. They each had their own room right next to each other. As Theila unpacked her belongings, she mulled over the situation. She had suggested that a small team of two rodents go first. If the Yoman were in the town, they would have no trouble spotting a large contingent of Biosyn staff and evacuating before they could begin looking for their Colony.

One of the Grey Suits had called the Thorn Valley town hall, posing as a reporter explaining that he was investigating a series of unexplained thefts in the city. After some carefully worded questions, he discovered that, yes, there too had been a rash of unexplained thefts in Thorn Valley. After this, the excitement among everyone rose. After fifteen years, it would be possible to restart the project, which is why Director Ydoom was back. One of the Grey Suits was on the phone, getting whoever was on the other end to organise a truckload of Trioxin Sleeping Gas and as many cages as they could get their hands on.

She couldn't believe that she had been picked to come out here. However, Director Ydoom informed her that she was the only experienced ethologist on hand. Everyone who had more knowledge and experience had long since been let go. When she asked if Director Ydoom had returned, why couldn't they call back more experienced staff, like Dr Yirad? He had been in charge of the first generation while she'd been minding the second generation. He mentored her on the Yomans and taught her everything she knew. He had also been among the first to be fired after the escape.

After they informed her that the good Doctor was halfway around the world and wouldn't even be on the same continent for at least two weeks, and when she asked why Dr Yrgna couldn't go, he told her the reasons he was needed here were confidential. So she let it go. And so, she and Agent Yps were picked to go. Their cover story was that they were reporters from Rosebush City who were here to interview the locals to see if there was a connection between the two series of unexplained thefts.

She quickly made her way to Agent Yps's room. She wore a knee-high light green skirt, a dull yellow button-up shirt, a dark green jacket, and red high-heeled shoes. Once she arrived, she was surprised to see him dressed in casual gear: dark blue jeans and a white T-shirt under a red and black checkered flannel shirt. His shades were gone, along with his stoic expression. He seemed completely different from the man she'd spent the past two and a half hours in the car with. He tilted his head as if to ask what the problem was.

"I'm sorry," Theila apologised. "It's just... I didn't think you guys had anything besides a grey suit in your wardrobe." One corner of the man's mouth rose.

"Believe it or not, I have a life outside work and a family." Moving on, he held up the tourist pamphlet in his hands. "It's mid-morning, which means the grocery store should be open by now." He flipped it over to look at something else. "According to this, the bar doesn't open until noon."

"I'll go buy us some supplies," Theila said. "I can use the opportunity to get friendly with some staff. That should make them forthcoming with information later."

"I'll go to the town hall," Agent Yps said. "If the Yoman have a colony in town, I'm going to see if there are any underground caverns large enough or disused sewer systems."

When he suggested searching for abandoned buildings, Theila stopped him. In a town this small, abandoned buildings were too risky, as children would play inside them and smash things for fun. She told him to instead focus on abandoned basements, particularly ones that are very difficult to access. He nodded, and the two went their separate ways.

Theila was grateful that Thorn Valley was such a small town, thus making the walk from the motel to the Grocery store in the pouring rain a short one. The building was big for such a small town, as the Store shared the structure with a small cafe. It seemed the busiest place in town, as the Mou'nae population that braved the rain seemed to crowd around it.

"Good morning," the young woman greeted as the door jingled at her entrance. How can I help you!" Her voice cracked with surprise as she looked up into Theila's face. From her startled reaction, she wondered if this Mou'nae had ever encountered a Rod'tia face-to-face. The Mou'nae before her was young, in her early forties, with charcoal fur and long, plum-coloured hair pulled back in a bushy ponytail and secured with a pretty pink bow. Her name tag identified her as Thrisica.

The store appeared bigger on the inside than on the outside. Seven long aisles catered to everything, including an almost hidden eighth aisle that functioned as a newsstand. The checkout section was staffed by two Mou'nae, and to her surprise, there was an old Cane'adi with honey-brown fur sitting happily on a worn-looking mat just next to the front entrance.

Theila gave the young Mou'nae her friendly smile and said, "Good morning, I'm new in town, and I'm just buying some supplies for my colleague and myself. Would you be able to recommend anything good?"

The young Mou'nae woman regained her composure and got straight down to business. Before leading her away, she asked Theila to pat the Cane'adi. When she asked why, the Mou'nae woman said he doesn't like being ignored by new people. As she collected various items, Theila casually mentioned her cover story to the young Mou'ane.

"Well, the ones you describe in Rosebush City are eerily similar to those here," Thrisica said. "I don't know how they do it. My guess is they use magic."

One eyebrow rose. "Oh, really? What do you mean by that?"

"Stockpiles and shelf items sometimes don't add up. For example, we would receive a shipment of canned beans. From when we received them to when we stocked them on the shelves, our count doesn't match what we were given. Even what we sell off the shelves doesn't match what our receipts tell us."

"You've never caught them?" To her surprise, Thrisica pointed to the old Cane'adi, panting happily as he eyed the entire store.

"Ol' Thlarp over there can sniff out shoplifters," she said. "His nose has never failed us once. We even have him sniff out the staff before we leave." She looked back to the rest of the store. "But whoever is doing it, it's when he's not here. When the store is closed."

"They're breaking in?" Thrisica shrugged irritably.

"We don't know. None of the staff or sheriff have found any signs of forced entry. The locks are still functional when we open up in the morning, and changing them doesn't solve the problem."

"That's horrible," Theila said. Then she pointed at the cheese wheel Thrisica had picked out for her. "Tell you what, since you've been so kind and helpful, why don't you triple that to make up for what's been stolen from you." The young Mou'nae woman beamed.

"Yes, ma'am."

When she was done, she headed to the cafe for an early lunch. She had no idea how long Agent Yps would take at the town hall, so she took a break from her mission to relax and enjoy what Thorn Valley had to offer before heading to the hardware store.

Ian

Ian stumbled through the double doors of the Foragers Department. His eyes were bloodshot, and his head throbbed like a jackhammer. The pain tripled as he opened the doors because the lobby of the Department was filled with people, making the noise unbearable.

"Ian!" Ian cringed at the shout before turning towards it. Tholop was standing just before the main entrance to the auditorium with at least five people. Shambling over, Ian managed a weak hello. Tholop introduced the five men to Ian. Two were from the Intelligence Department, one from the Council, and the rest from the Medical Department. No one looked happy at his condition, while Tholop looked embarrassed. Ian mumbled an apology before Tholop led everyone into his office.

No one was admitted to Tholop's office unless you accomplished an incredible feat or did something monumentally stupid. As Tholop shut the door, blocking out the racket, Ian desperately hoped it was the former.

"I don't think he's in any condition to remember anything," one of the men from the Medical Department deadpanned as Tholop helped Ian into a chair.

"Are you sure this man is reliable?" the other muttered.

"Ian's a good lad," Tholop snapped at the pair. "He's just going through some tough times. I'll straighten him out for tonight." Tonight? Ian didn't like the sound of that.

"What's going on?" Ian asked, and all heads turned.

"The Medical Department was very interested in your report from the Kitchen's Nest last night," one of the men from the Intelligence Department said. Ian nodded. A visit from the town's Doctor would do that. "They asked us to monitor all calls, and this morning, Mrs Ylimaf called the Doctor. During the call, she listed Therisa's medication-" Suddenly, one of the Medical Staff cut in.

"When you were in her room, did you see where she kept it, or were you too drunk?" Ian resisted the urge to flash him a rude gesture. Instead, he asked what he was looking for. The man rattled off a series of medicinal names Ian had no hope of pronouncing on a first try, let alone remembering.

"No, I did not," Ian answered. Despite his hangover, he kept his wits about him. "My job was to keep an eye on her. If I wasn't, I would be endangering my fellow Foragers." The man's expression showed he didn't like the answer, but there was nothing he could say. Tholop looked pleased.

"This is why I asked for you, Ian," he said. "I'm going to have to ask you to journey up to Therisa's room tonight and look for her medication." Ian stared back, his hangover all but forgotten.

"Sir?"

"We need one of each of those tablets," The man from the Council interrupted. "Those tablets contain vital sedatives and healing properties which we lack, and since you know we plan on moving the entire colony soon, the more of them we have, the better."

"If you can get three of each, that would be splendid," said one of the men from the Medical Department. Everyone who wasn't from the Medical Department gave him a look that warned him he was pushing his luck.

"Ian will get what he can and nothing more," Tholop said. One of the men from the Intelligence Department spoke up.

"It has to be in her room," he said. "None of the other scouts have located her medicine in the medical cabinets, bathrooms or the fridge. Which means it must be in a drawer of the bedside table." Ian nodded. The same bedside table where she had spotted him. "You're the only Forager with experience with this new Goddess, so we need you to go up there and find those tablets."

"Get only what you can, Ian," Tholop added. "Those tablets aren't worth risking being seen or caught." Although Tholop spoke to Ian, everyone understood those words were directed at the Medical Department representatives. They didn't respond.

"I'll do my best, sir," Ian said, rising from the chair. The men from the Medical Department gave him a list of what they needed, and everyone quickly left. Tholop closed the door behind them and turned to glare at Ian.

"Care to explain your condition?" His words, although calm, contained a trace of anger.

Despite his condition, Ian still had his wits about him. Sitting back down in the chair, he lied. Instead of the truth, he explained his theory as to why Tholop sent him on kitchen duty while everyone else was out foraging. Tholop listened with that infuriating blank expression of his. Ian finished explaining how tedious the job was and went to get drunk to dull his anger and frustration. When he was done, Tholop moved to sit behind his desk.

"Ian, I sent you up there not because your head wasn't in the game over the Goddess but because you were still worked up over losing Lisa." Ian tilted his head. "I've seen it before, Ian. Foragers who lose a friend or loved one are so wrapped up in emotional distress that it distracts them from the mission. They always end up getting killed by a Giant or eaten by a Titan." Leaning forward, he said sternly, "Doing this for fifteen years, I'm familiar with the signs, and I am sick and tired of losing people because of it."

Ian didn't know how to respond. "I'm sorry, Tholop," was all he could say. "I was always the top of my class back at Biosyn, and it frustrates me that it's taken me so long to reach the rank of Forager, only to slide backwards. I mean, even Lisa-" he cut himself off. Lisa had reached the rank of Forager before he had. He didn't know how to finish that sentence. Instead, he threw his hands up in exasperation and said, "I wish we'd never had to leave."

"We all do, Ian," Tholop said. "None of us planned to escape, but that was forced upon us. We must adapt to the changes that come our way, or they will end us. We escaped Biosyn and journeyed here by doing just that."

Ian was silent before asking, "Can you help me?" Tholop looked nervous.

"I'm not a psychiatrist, Ian. All I can tell you is what I know works from experience. Try looking for things to focus your mind on. If you gravitate back to unpleasant thoughts, focus on other things, which should help take your mind off your problems." Ian smiled, but Tholop's expression didn't change. Instead, he pointed at Ian and said, "Go home and sleep that hangover off. I want you fully rested and your mind in working order when you go upstairs tonight."

Theila

Dusk was falling across the Thorn Valley. The rain had eased up somewhat, but if the weatherman was right, it would last until the end of the week. Pushing open the thick double doors of the bar, Theila was blasted with a shockwave of noise: the jukebox loudly playing some rural folk song, the garbled buzz of conversations that made up the background noise of any large establishment, the clinking of glasses, and even laughter. The laughter came from a group gathered at a large table, where she spotted Agent Yps.

He was engaged with the men at the table, using some rather animated gestures as he spoke. She just caught the tail end of his conversation as she saw him. "...And then she turns to him and says, 'But honey, this one's eating my cheese!'" The entire table roared with laughter again.

Theila couldn't help but smile. Seeing Agent Yps like this made him seem so rodent-like rather than the soulless robot she'd come to see the Grey Suits as. As he calmed down, Agent Yps spotted her and waved. As she reciprocated, he excused himself from the table and left, shaking hands with everyone before leaving.

"We're not staying?" she asked.

"I've got everything I need. Besides, these guys are very chatty. You might inadvertently poke holes in my cover story." Agent Yps grabbed his raincoat from the rack, and the two left. It was a quick walk back to the motel, and the two again headed for Agent Yps's room to discuss their day's activities. Theila began with her trips to the Grocery and Hardware stores. Both establishments were experiencing a rash of unexplained thefts, just as she predicted. While at the cafe, she casually chatted with the customers and learned that other businesses in town were also mysteriously burgled. The town Doctor, the vet, the dentist, the butcher, the bakery, the barber and even the clothing store.

"My trip to the town hall turned up nothing." Agent Yps said. "All surveys carried out show no underground cave systems of any kind. Any buildings that have been abandoned have long since been torn down. As for the sewer system, it's all one tunnel, connecting everything to the treatment plant. There's no possibility of remaining hidden down there."

"What did you learn at the Bar?" Agent Yps pulled out what looked like a cocktail napkin. Unfolding it, Theila saw he had scrawled a bunch of names and numbers on it.

"These six names are the farmers from our six haystacks," he said. "All of them have experienced unexplainable losses." He tapped at one, a man named Throp Ylimaf. "This one has experienced the most unexplained thefts."

Theila mulled over his information. "Perhaps we can approach this Throp guy. Are there any underground river systems near his land?" Agent Yps shook his head.

"I already asked that question. He said no. What water their tanks can't provide, they get from the river. There are no abandoned structures or basements." He indicated the others. "They're all the same." He was silent momentarily, then asked, "Would they be able to hold up in the forest?" Theila shook her head.

"They could construct homes in the tree tops or even inside hollowed-out ones, but there are still too many dangers to consider. Birds and even small animal predators are capable of climbing trees. For example, to protect against both, they would have to construct elaborate protection nets that people could spot from the ground." She shook her head. "While it's possible, too many things would make it impossible to remain hidden."

The room fell silent.

Then, Agent Yps said, "Wait a minute. Throp told me he has a daughter who works at the grocery store: Thrisica."

"Oh, I met her earlier today. She was such a lovely young woman. Very talkative, too."

"Talk to her and see if she knows anything." Theila blinked at the Grey Suit. When she asked what that would accomplish, Agent Yps replied: "In my line of work, Dr Yad, it's important to question everyone you can. Anyone with even the slightest connection is worthy of perusing. Questioning one person may reward you with a puzzle piece or nothing. Questioning six can give you more information, but you can reveal much more by questioning everyone. Because a question someone can't answer, someone else might."

Theila

Seventeen Years Ago…

It was a circular room, all white. Some incubators used in hospital nurseries were present, but they were empty at the moment. Dr. Yirad brought the newest members of the team over to a large circular vivarium filled with small pet toys. "And here, ladies and gentlemen, are your charges." Dr. Yirad stood aside to allow the team's newest members to gather around and peer down into the vivarium. Theila placed both white furry hands on the glass as she leaned over.

"What are they?" Dr. Yhtak asked, her long, crimson hair spilling over her shoulders into the vivarium below. Theila watched as the tiny creatures inside started gravitating towards the rodents. The creatures were tiny, varying in size between just under two inches. Although rodent-like in appearance, they were furless, save for a patch on their head. Their ears were smaller than a Rod'tia and lay flat against their skulls. Their faces were just as flat with no muzzle, and topping off the strangeness was a lack of a tale. They wore rodent-like white-coloured clothing that resembled hospital uniforms. Right down to tiny socks and sneakers.

"They are called Yoman," Dr. Yirad answered. He held up his hands as he hastily added. "No further questions about how we came about these wondrous little creatures. That's not your job." He pointed down at the little ones, all blinking up at him curiously. "Your job will be to study their behaviour, learn their mannerisms, encourage problem-solving and most importantly, raise them to be comfortable interacting with rodents."

"So we're glorified Zoo keepers," Dr. Yhtak deadpanned.

"You're not here for your good looks, doctor," Dr. Yirad countered. "Each and every one of you is brilliant in your fields of ethology, or else you wouldn't have made it this far past security. The Biosyn Corporation has many secrets, ladies and gentlemen. What you see before you is one of many."

"They look so fragile," Theila commented. "How are we supposed to care for them?"

Dr. Yirad smiled as he pointed down to one of the tiny Yoman. This one was taller than the majority of them. The creature gave a friendly wave to the crowd as Dr. Yirad said, "We have here, Tholop. This male will help you in handling the children." Everyone echoed the word, 'children.' Dr. Yirad chuckled. "Yes, these tiny ones are Yoman children. They mature faster than rodents. The ones you see before you are roughly seven to three years old. Yet they have the maturity of a nineteen-year-old." He gave a sad sigh. "They also have a shorter life span, as the average age limit is ninety years." There were a few gasps, though not many.

Dr. Yhtak inhaled deeply. "That is so pleasant," she muttered.

"Ahh, yes, that is their scent. It is rather soothing." Dr. Yirad explained. He hastily brought everyone's attention back to the Yoman, Tholop. "Tholop here will assist you in learning the art of picking Yomans up."

Everyone watched as the Youman approached the glass wall. The children all turned to watch as Dr. Yirad extended his hand into the vivarium. Theila watched as the Doctor explained to tilt your palm at an angle and allow the Yoman to grab hold of you. Then, it was safe to close your fingers around their body. Do not squeeze; just hold enough to have a solid grip. Keep your hand tilted as you lift your charge until you feel comfortable carrying them straight. He then displayed the Yoman to the crowd, who waved back at them. Inside the vivarium, the Yoman children chattered excitedly as they pointed at the Yoman in Dr. Yirad's white furry hand. He then placed the tiny creature back in the vivarium and asked who wanted to try.

Theila didn't register her answer, but she was suddenly aware of everyone turning to look at her. "Very well, Dr. Yad," Dr. Yirad said, pointing. "Show me how it's done." Licking her pink, rubbery lips, she stepped up to the glass walls of the vivarium and looked down. The Yoman stared up at her with a friendly smile. His smile looked peculiar with no muzzle, but it didn't creep her out. In fact, nothing about these small, furless creatures made her uncomfortable. She inhaled his scent before opening her fingers and lowering her hand into the vivarium.

However, a sudden cry caught her off guard before he could move. One of the little Yoman children rushed from the crowd and lept into her palm. He grabbed her palm and, to her astonishment, cried, "Up, up!"

"They can talk?"

"Yes, we can," Tholop answered. All eyes turned to the Yoman, diverting all attention from Theila.

The little one cried 'up' again, more forceful this time, and without waiting for approval, she gently closed her white furry fingers around him and carefully lifted him up. His joyful giggles quickly drew everyone back to her as she carefully held him to eye level. She inhaled his scent; the shorter distance between them increased the potency of his scent, making her feel even more relaxed. The little one's excited cries refocused her attention, and with a smile, she held him over the others, causing them to cry out with amazement and awe as their friend waved down at them.

Finally, she put him down, but he didn't want to go, while the other Yoman children 'wanted a go.' Tholop took him and the rest of the children away, allowing Theila to pull her hand out of the vivarium. Dr. Yirad was smiling at her.

"I'll have a try," Dr. Yhtak said. Tholop told the children to stay put before walking to Dr. Yhtak's waiting hand. She lifted him up to her face and turned him this way and that, peering critically at him. She touched his tiny hand and asked Dr. Yirad, "Do you mind if I take a closer look?" When he warned her to be careful, she flipped the Yoman onto his back, pinched his leg between a furry finger and thumb, and squeezed the legs, feeling the bones.

The Yoman cried out in discomfort. "Could you please stop that, Dr. Yhtak?" Dr. Yirad asked.

"I'm not hurting him," Dr. Yhtak said, then flipped the Yoman over. "How do they balance themselves on two legs without a tail?" She then started prodding his backside with a finger, drawing outraged cries from the Yoman.

"Dr. Yhtak, please be civil with him. These creatures have feelings and don't need to be handled like a child's toy."

Dr. Yhtak ignored him and, with a quick flick, pulled the Yoman's pants down, exposing his backside. The Yoman's cries increased in volume as Dr. Yhtak leaned in for a closer inspection. "Look at this," she marvelled. "He has a tailbone, albeit a stub of one." She displayed him to the others. All the women gathered around, their ears wiggling in excitement.

"Dr. Yhtak, enough. Put him down."

"I'm not-"

"Now!" Dr. Yirad was starting to get annoyed.

Dr. Yhtak placed the Yoman back in the vivarium, and he hastily pulled his pants back up. He glared up at Dr. Yhtak. The children all laughed but silenced themselves as Tholop glared their way.

"Dr. Yhtak, while I understand your curiosity, these are intelligent creatures, and you will treat them as such. Do I make myself clear?" Although Dr. Yirad spoke to Dr. Yhtak, he turned his stern gaze on the whole group, who nodded back. "Interaction is all part of your job here. These Yoman children will reach adulthood in roughly eighteen to fifteen years. If you can't gain their trust and cooperation and properly stimulate their brain development, then you won't just be progressing to the next level of your assignment. You will be terminated."

As everyone nodded again, Theila stared at the little Yoman child who'd jumped into her hand. He spotted her, and he made grabbing motions, wanting another ride. When Dr. Yirad motioned for everyone to follow, she waved a sad good-bye. The little one looked so forlorn, but Tholop walked over and picked him up, placing him on his shoulders as he told all the children to wave good-bye. That warmed Theila's heart. She did hope she would get to look after that little one in particular.

Ian

Fifteen Years Ago…

Ian stared intensely at the panel. Then it lit up: Red, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Yellow, Blue, and Red. The moment the colours faded, he hit them in the correct order, and the door slid open. He hurried through to find another panel. This one was a sliding block puzzle. He laughed as he began sliding the numbers into place. Within six minutes, he arranged them in numerical order, and the door in front of him slid open.

Rushing through, he was greeted with three rubber balls. Ahead of him lay three brightly lit circular pads. Ian hesitated too long, but he quickly understood the puzzle. Although they were all the same colour, the balls and the circular pads were different sizes. He picked them up, placing them on the pads that matched their size. As he placed the last one down, the door slid open.

Rushing through, he was greeted with a slice of chocolate cake. As he greedily munched down on it, he looked up to see the smiling white furry muzzle of a God. The cubical walls framed Dr. Yad's face as she displayed the time on the stopwatch. She said, <You hesitated at the end there, Earn, but you were first again.>

Ian jumped up and down triumphantly, spraying crumbs everywhere as he shouted joyfully. <Thank-you Dr. Yad,> he cried out. She frowned.

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

<Sorry,> he mumbled, then added, "Why can't you just call me Ian." Her enormous ears wiggled in curiosity.

<Now, Earn, you know Aunty Yad can't correctly pronounce Yoman words.> He looked up at her in shock. <I can't understand or pronounce them, but I know what you mean.> Ian realised she heard him say his name.

<Sorry, Aunty Yad.> Her pleasant smile returned.

<That's another high score. I believe someone's earned an extra hour of playtime.> Dr. Yad smiled as Ian jumped up and down in celebration. Suddenly, her head snapped to the right. With a smile, she said, <It looks like Lesha is next.> Her giant head moved out of view as she congratulated Lisa for completing the course. Ian went back to gobbling down his cake while Dr. Yad congratulated all four of his teammates when they completed the course.

When she returned to his cubicle, she lowered her cupped white, furry hands, and Ian could see his other teammates clinging to her pink pads. Ian didn't understand why the Gods had such rough palms, and he couldn't understand why they couldn't pronounce human words. He rushed up to her palms and climbed in with the others. Dr. Yad warned everyone to hold on tight as she lifted them out of the testing zone and carried them back to their dorms.

Instead of carrying them to the Dormitory, she stopped by the playpen and deposited the whole team inside. Since no other children were with them, they all got their pick of toys to play with. Above, Dr. Yad watched with amusement as they all started playing with their selection.

As Ian scoured the playpen for something he wanted, he heard someone approach from behind. "Hey, Ian." Ian turned to see Lisa approach. "I heard you were first again. Well done!" Ian proudly stuck his hands on his hips.

"When we graduate, I will be the best assistant Dr. Yad has ever had."

"I can't wait to graduate either," Lisa chirped. "That means I finally get to work with mommy." Ian nodded in agreement. He hated how his mother had to leave for weeks on end to help the Gods. They would graduate once they were fifteen, and even then, their graduation depended on how well they could perform.

"Hey, Lisa, Ian," They turned to see the other three children with some rubber balls, "Come play with us." Lisa hurried over while Ian just frowned. He knew that game, and he didn't like it. When Lisa asked him to join them, he shook his head. She shrugged and hurried over to the others.

<You still don't like that game, Earn?> Ian looked up at Dr. Yad, looking down with concern. He folded his arms defiantly and vigorously shook his head. <You need to learn how to get along with others, Earn, even if that means doing things you don't like.>

<But that involves work, Aunty Yad,> Ian protested. <This is playtime.>

Dr. Yad sighed in defeat, then asked, <What games would you like to play?>

Ian tilted his head in thought, then smiled. <Hide and seek!> he cried. Dr. Yad laughed softly. Ian was glad she'd learned to control the volume of her laughs around him. The Gods spoke so loudly, and it hurt Ian's ears when they laughed. She was still chuckling as she lowered her palm into the playpen.

As he climbed into her palm, he called out for the others, who abandoned their game and rushed to Dr. Yad's palm. <Alright, you five,> she said, lowering her other palm so she could cup them all together. <Now, everyone, hold on tight.> Ian laughed excitedly as they rose from the playpen and up to Dr. Yad's right shoulder. They all scrambled out of her palms and climbed up her shoulder.

"Who wants to be it?" Lisa asked. Ian waved his hand, and everyone agreed. Then, they all scattered, disappearing into the blue, tangled forest of Dr. Yad's hair. Ian turned away and counted to twenty before turning back and climbing into the thick, blue curls, searching for his friends. It was fun climbing in Dr. Yad's hair. It is very different from human hair, as it is thick and robust, allowing you to stand on more substantial clumps, making climbing relatively easy. The way the hair bent and stretched with your touch, you could make tunnels and create hidey holes.

His friends were easy to find; they couldn't stop giggling whenever he was close to the hiding spot. It wasn't long until he found all of them. "Okay," Ian instructed once the last participant had been outed. "Brad, I found you first, so you're now it." Once Brad turned away to count, Ian scrambled away with the others.

Unlike the others, who climbed back into Dr. Yad's hair, Ian climbed under her lab coat collar and worked his way down the inside of her coat using the stitching. He hung there until Brad announced that he was ready to find them. He waited until he was sure Brad was searching her hair before climbing out and around the front of her lab coat and sliding down into her breast pocket.

He poked his head out to make sure Brad hadn't seen him. He could see Dr. Yad's eyes watching him, and as they made contact, she stifled a giggle. It almost cost him the game, as from his position, he saw Brad stick his head out from her hair to see what was going on. Ian quickly ducked back down into the pocket to avoid being caught.

As he listened, he heard Brad find someone, and he couldn't resist chuckling at how awesome his hiding spot was. Then, he felt Dr. Yad turn, ever so gently, to the left.

<Hey there, Dr. Yad.> There was a slight pause. <Well, it seems the children still love playing that game.>

<I find it hard to say no to them, Dr. Yirad,> Dr. Yad answered. <Especially when building a trusting relationship is involved. Now, shall we take them back to their dorm so we can give them their surprise?>

<Surprise?> Ian stuck his head out of the pocket, only to see everyone else sticking their heads out of Dr. Yad's hair.

"I spot you, Ian!" Brad shouted, and Ian screwed up his face. Dr. Yad and Dr. Yirad laughed, and all the children winced in pain.

<I'm sorry, children,> Dr. Yad said as she slowly turned and carefully walked with Dr. Yirad towards the Dormitory. <But hide and seek is over. We have a surprise for all of you in your dorms.>

She headed towards a wall at the back of the laboratory, made up of numerous glass windows. Inside each window was a room filled with furniture large enough for humans. It held tables, chairs, beds, and couches. Under the beds were footlockers containing their clothes. Against the back wall was a box containing toys and another chest filled with books specially designed for humans. In the back left corner was a small cubicle, the bathroom. There was no kitchen or place for storing food, as all meals were consumed in the Dormitory canteen.

As they sauntered, Ian listened to the conversation between the two Gods. <Yes, about that. I overheard the Grey Suits discussing a Section H that had recently been approved to include their funding.>

<By the Rings, another one? Where do all these sections come from, and why do we accept their participation?>

<When your children are ready to go to the Dig Site, you'll understand.>

<All I understand is everyone wants to stick their tail in the cheese wheel. And having too many will cause a conflict of interest.> They reached the Dormitory, and Dr. Yad opened her palm before Ian. <Alright, Earn, since you scored the highest on the test today, you get your surprise first.> Ian cried with delight as he leapt from the pocket into the pink pads of Dr. Yad's palm. Dr. Yad giggled as she opened the glass wall of his dorm room and carried him over to it. Placing her palm gently inside the room, Ian leapt off and looked around.

There was nothing. Turning back to Dr. Yad, a sour expression on his face, Ian demanded, <Where's my sur-> He was cut off as the door to the bathroom opened, and turning around, his eyes widened. "Mommy!" he cried out. He ran towards the tall blonde as Dr. Yad closed the glass wall behind him.

"Hello, sweetie," she said as Ian lept into her arms to hug her as tightly as he could. She ruffled his hair as Ian cried out how much he missed her in the two weeks she was gone. "Mommy missed you too, my darling." She picked him up and walked over to the couch to sit together. "Now, why don't you tell Mommy how school was?"

Ian related to her at high speed all the accomplishments he'd achieved. He felt like bursting with pride when she clapped in delight at hearing he was first in his class. "That's why Dr. Yad dropped me off first."

"Oh, my clever, smart boy," she hugged him. "Mommy can't wait until you can graduate and join her at the Dig Site. I worry so much about you while I'm there."

"You shouldn't, Mom," Ian said, proudly puffing up his chest. "I'm a big boy now. You won't have to worry about me when you're not around 'cause I'll always be fine."

Ian

Tholop had him undergo a physical examination before sending him topside. Ian kept his mouth shut as he had no right to complain. He was given two empty backpacks to take with him. His Forager tools were limited due to what he would have to carry home, for having too many would limit his mobility. Tools required to open locks and help pry open drawers were stored in pouches on his legs.

That night, his journey to the Children's Playroom was hasty, as he wanted to maximise his time out in the open. Since he knew the Goddess was a light sleeper, he aimed to get there before she went to sleep. That way, he could judge how tired she was, and that would determine how much noise he could get away with making. No matter how much of a light sleeper someone was, be they human or God, if they were dead tired, they could sleep through an atomic war.

The secret door to the Children's Playroom was highlighted in the tunnel's darkness, no doubt from the bedside lamp. Once he reached the hidden door, he placed all his items beside it and put his ear to the door to listen. Beyond, he could hear the sounds of turning pages, muted muttering, the occasional swallow of water, and the echoing thunk as she placed the glass on the bedside table.

Listening to the sounds, Ian judged she was struggling to stay awake. Good. It wasn't long before an even louder thud echoed all around the tunnel as she placed the book she'd been reading on the bedside table, and the yellow glow that illuminated the door frame vanished. There was the rustling of bedsheets. And silence filled the world. Pressing his ear even harder against the door, Ian could barely make out the heavy breathing of deep sleep.

Gently, he eased the door aside and peered into the darkness. Once he was sure nothing was out there, he crept onto the bedside table. The toy soldiers still stood at attention and in formation. Ahead lay the bed lamp, a giant book beside it, and a tall empty glass opposite. He kept perfectly still, allowing his gaze to focus on the sight beyond.

Thankfully, the Goddess was wearing a bedgown this time. Although his eyes focused on her chest, it was to confirm the steady rise and fall of sleep. He smiled, then it faded as he realised that her nipples stood out against the pink fabric. He didn't make a sound as he closed his eyes, counted to five, and turned away. There was no way he was going to make that mistake again.

The first thing he did was to confirm that, no, she didn't keep her medication on the bedside table. Then, using a portable telescope, he confirmed that her medication wasn't within arms reach anywhere else. With those two details out of the way, Ian pulled out his tools, hurried over to the edge of the bedside table and set to work. First, he attached his grappling hook, a converted safety pin, before tying the rope around his waist and easing himself down. Once he was at eye level with the lock, he tested it. It wasn't locked.

Ian returned to the top, withdrawing his other tool from his leg pouch. He set to work, leaving the drawer open. Ian was methodical, easing the drawer open bit by bit to avoid making as much sound as possible. It took even longer as he had to ensure the Goddess wasn't facing in his direction, thus lessening his movement so he wouldn't draw attention.

Eventually, he opened the drawer far enough to squeeze into the gap. He tossed the rope from the grappling hook into the drawer and climbed inside, casting one last look towards the Goddess. He had forsaken bringing a lamp because he did not want to risk waking the Goddess. Instead, he simply waited until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He was rewarded with three containers in the darkness. He crept towards them and ran his hands all over the bottles. Although he couldn't read their labels, they felt like medical bottles.

Ian had to ease one on its side before gently squeezing to turn the lids. Then, he was able to unscrew one and feel around inside. His hand withdrew a chalky yellow tablet, and he grinned triumphantly. Ian pulled out another two before reattaching the lid.

The light turning on was like a bomb going off. Ian froze. Outside the drawer, he could hear the rustlings of sheets and the irritated mutterings of the Goddess. His head snapped towards the still open drawer, the rope still incriminatingly hanging there. His breathing slowed as his terror increased. Still, he managed to keep his mind calm. As he listened to her movements, there was a sudden silence, followed by the sounds of someone using a chamber pot. Ian cursed himself. All his planning hadn't factored in how much water she'd drunk. Listening inside the drawer, he reckoned she must have had more than a few glasses. All he could do was sit and wait until the Goddess returned to sleep.

Eventually, the sounds trickled off, and the chamber pot was returned under the bed. Ian waited for the light to shut off, but it didn't. Panic started welling up within him. There were no sounds outside. What was she doing?

The rope rose, and the draw yanked open as Ian's eyes widened, throwing him off his feet. He cried out in pain as the medical bottle slammed into him, and he was blinded by a bright light. Suddenly, the medical bottle was gone, and just as it did, his body was squeezed from every angle by a rough and furry sensation. He experienced a sudden rise before coming to a sudden stop. He managed to open his eyes and blink the world back into focus.

Large, expressive midnight blue eyes ringed by a wall of charcoal fur stared back at him with wonder. Looking down, Ian saw that he was gently encased within a charcoal furry fist. He could feel the rough pads of her pink palms firmly securing him, making any escape impossible. He turned back to those gigantic eyes in terror. He couldn't believe it. He'd been seen. And not only that. He'd been caught. As Ian stared into her eyes, he couldn't form a coherent thought, and the fear ricocheting around his mind refused to allow him to.

<Wow,> she squealed, causing Ian to cover his ears at the volume of her voice this close. <I knew I saw a tiny person that night. I'm not crazy! Ooohh, this is so amazing!> She held him directly under the lamp, blinding Ian as she gave his body a thorough squeeze, and he heard the Goddess emit a satisfactory hum. <You feel so warm,> she murmured. Then, her eyes disappeared, replaced by her large, pink nose, and she inhaled deeply. <You smell so divine…> her voice trailed off.

Her nose rose, exposing her enormous front incisors, and Ian yelled in fear. Her midnight blue eyes returned; curiosity now filled them. <Wait…> her voice trailed off again as Ian felt her grip loosen. <I can feel… You're terrified.> Ian's breath was coming in fits and gasps. Although he knew she wouldn't eat him, the fear of being caught and the size of her massive teeth proved too much even for him, and he answered her question with a nod.

Those gigantic midnight-blue eyes widened with shock. There was a few seconds of silence before she spoke, her words slow. <Can you understand me?> Swallowing his fear, Ian gave a single nod. A second hand suddenly secured its grip around Ian, and he was moving, not towards the desktop, but back to the Goddess's bed. When the movement ceased, she'd sat up in the bed, holding him in both hands. She brought him closer to her eyes and asked, <Can you speak?>

<Yes.> She nearly dropped him in surprise. Only Ian, increasing his grip on the Goddess's charcoal fur, kept her from doing so. She held him away as if he would spontaneously combust. When he didn't, she brought him back, although not as close as before.

<What are you?>

<Please,> Ian begged, <Just let me go.>

<Are you the one I saw that night?>

<I can't answer too many questions,> Ian pleaded. < It'll put everyone in danger.> One massive, midnight-blue eyebrow rose.

<Everyone?> Ian inwardly swore. <There's more of you?> He turned away in shame. There was a moment of silence before the Goddess asked, <Why are you scared of me?>

<I shouldn't have been seen,> Ian answered, not bothering to look at her.

<I'm not going to hurt you,> the Goddess said. <Why would I? You look so adorable.> She meticulously moved his body this way and that, observing him. <What are you?> she asked again.

<Human.>

<Aurgh- Euroo… Yoman.> Despite his fear, Ian gave a slight smile.

<You Gods can't pronounce our words, so that's the closest you'll ever get.> Her charcoal furry brows narrowed.

<Gods? I'm not a God.>

<You are to us,> Ian said, his fear somewhat abated. <You, Gods, brought us to life.> At this mention, he hastily made the sign of the Gods. Her expression twisted as she mentally tried to understand what Ian had told her.

<Whaaaat?> Her words drawled at the end as if she were still unsure of what she'd been told or seen.

<It's a long, complicated story,> Ian said. <look, I really shouldn't be talking to you, as I can get myself in trouble and everyone else.> The Goddess suddenly looked up, and as her massive eyes searched the room, Ian added, <I'm the only one here.> The eyes returned, their enormous gaze fixed on him.

<Do you… have a name?> Ian chewed on his bottom lip. How much information should he be telling this Goddess? She seemed friendly enough. Despite the terror of his situation, his mind was still in working order. He hoped he could convince her to let him go and keep quiet.

<You won't be able to pronounce it.> The Goddess' eyes narrowed in an expression that said, 'Try me.' Ian shrugged and told her. After half a minute, she gave up. <Just call me Earn; that was the best you Gods could manage.> Her large charcoal brow furrowed again.

<Are you hiding from other… Gods?> she asked. <Is that why you're so afraid of me? You believe I'll turn you in.> Ian nodded. His body suddenly rushed forward the moment he did, and the Goddess's eyes filled his entire vision. <I'd never do that. If you don't want to be found, I would never turn you in.>

Ian couldn't answer as her grip tightened, squeezing all the air from his lungs. He pounded his fists on her charcoal fur until the grip lessened, releasing a gust of air. He waved away her mumbled apology and smiled at her. <Now you understand why I'm so afraid of being seen.>

<What will they do if they catch you?> Ian didn't hesitate.

<Kill us all.> Ian panicked as he felt her fingers loosen from shock. He feared she'd drop him, and he hadn't bothered to check the distance to the bed below.

<Why would they do that? You're so cute!> Ian looked at her, wondering how much he should tell her about their origin. Heck, he didn't know the whole story himself. Only what he'd been taught in school and what Tholop had told him on the few occasions he'd asked.

<There are… things about us that made them uncomfortable,> he said. <There was an incident, and they used that as an excuse to eliminate us. So we fled here.> When the Goddess asked how long they'd been here, he told her fifteen years, and her midnight blue eyebrows rose with realisation.

<So, you little guys are responsible for that pleasant smell around here.> For the first time since his capture, Ian chuckled.

<You Gods do love our smell.> He knew why, but he wasn't going to tell her. He wasn't sure how she would react. <When I was back at, I mean, with the other Gods, they often inhaled our scent to help them relax or calm their nerves.> He paused as an idea floated through his mind. <You're recovering from your operation, would you like to try?>

Given her weak condition, Ian hoped it would send her to sleep so he could escape. Instead, her giant midnight blue eyes narrowed. <How do you know about that?> Ian realised his mistake, but thankfully, his tiny face prevented her from seeing this.

Instead, he answered, <I get bored, so I listen to conversations from my hiding spots.> He wasn't sure how the Goddess would react to the news that an entire department of humans was listening in on their lives. <So, would you like to try?>

At first, the gigantic midnight blue eyes didn't move. Then, the Goddess's massive pink nose appeared, and she inhaled his scent. Ian reached out his hands towards her, hoping to increase the amount she took in. He could feel her fingers loosening. Suddenly, they released him, and Ian fell. He couldn't stop himself from yelling as he plummeted down.

Only to impact on something soft and squishy. Looking around, it didn't take Ian too long to realise he'd landed on her right breast.

<Oh my word, I'm sorry!> Furry charcoal fingers scooped him up. <I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Is anything broken?>

"I'm fine," Ian muttered, trying to make sure she couldn't see how flushed his face was. When she asked what he said, he replied in God's tongue, and she gave an immense sigh of relief.

<Please forgive me. I didn't mean to do that; it's just…> The Goddess trailed off, unsure how to explain what had happened.

<It's okay,> Ian calmed her down. <This is your first time handling humans. I was just lucky I landed on your breast.> Her ears flagged, a sign the Gods made when they were embarrassed, and this time, she turned her face away to hide. Ian chuckled. When she asked what amused him, Ian answered, <Oh, I was equally embarrassed, but seeing you like that made you look cute.> She smiled. Her warm smile took Ian back to his childhood, a happier time when he didn't have to fight the whole world to survive one more day.

<Cute, am I?> Her hand moved, and she placed Ian in her open palm. Her other hand was positioned behind him to prevent him from falling off. <Well, little Mr adorable Earn, what were you doing in a cute girls' room? All by yourself?>

By now, Ian had adopted a new strategy. <Actually, I was asked to get some of your medicine.> As she tilted her large charcoal furry head, Ian explained: <Your medications have properties we need. For the other humans who are sick.>

<Sick Yomans?> He nodded. <Of course, I can spare some tablets. How many do you need?> Ian decided to see how far he could push her. When he asked for three of each, she happily obliged. Ian sat in her pink palm, dumbfounded. His eyes widened as she placed three of each tablet before him. He thought he was pushing his luck here, but wow! He never thought she'd be this generous.

Ian pointed to her drawer, where his two backpacks were, and putting him down on her stomach, she retrieved both backpacks and gave them to him. Ian was almost giddy as he rushed about, gathering the tablets and stuffing them into his backpack. The Goddess, for her part, giggled as his tiny footfalls tickled her stomach as he hurried back and forth. Once he was done, Ian turned to look up at the Goddess, her large charcoal furry face beamed down at him, framed by her massive breasts.

The pink pads of her palm appeared before him, and she indicated the desktop table with her head. <That's where you need to go, right? To get that medicine to your sick friends?> He nodded and climbed into her palm after gathering his two backpacks. He sat down as she gently lifted him off her stomach.

The knocking at the door rang through the room like a gunshot. <Therisa, it's Aunt Thrace. Are you okay in there, dear?> The world became a blur, and Ian was slammed into the Goddess's palm by the G-Force until darkness enshrouded him, and he was squeezed from all sides by something warm and furry.

<I'm fine, Aunt Thrace, come on in.> Ian heard a door open and the footsteps of another God crossed the floor. The bed shook as something heavy sat down upon it. <What's wrong, auntie?>

<I decided to bring you more ice-cold water when I saw your light was on.> There was a slight pause. <I heard you talking in here.>

<Oh, that was just me reading aloud, Aunt Thrace.> Ian heard something from the bedside table being picked up and placed back. <I've been doing that lately to keep myself from getting bored.>

<Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry for not staying when I come up to bring you meals.> The world around Ian suddenly compacted, and Aunt Thrace sounded closer when she spoke. <I haven't been a good host now, haven't I.> The pressure was gone. Ian blinked as he realised she had hugged her niece. That made him look around his darkened, furry prison. Where had she put him?

<It's okay, Aunt Thrace,> Therisa responded. < I understand running a farm is hard work. Uncle Throp and Cousin Th'lick are always busy, and you have to look after everyone in the house. Everyone was already very busy before I arrived. I don't want anyone exerting themselves just for me.> They hugged again, and just as before, Ian was squashed. <But since you're here, you could empty my chamber pot for me?>

Aunt Thrace agreed and quickly dispatched it to the bathroom. After a moment, she returned, said goodnight to Therisa, and closed the door behind her. A furry finger and thumb snagged Ian's leg, and he was yanked out into the open. The Goddess's embarrassed face stared back at him from upside down. He was quickly lowered into her rough, pink palm, and he shook his head, trying to get his bearings straight.

"Oh boy, my head…" <Where did you put me?> The Goddess clasped her free hand to her bosom, and her blush intensified. "Wait a minute…" Ian's voice trailed off as he stared at her ample, light charcoal furry cleavage, suddenly exposed by the maneuver. He pointed to it as he asked, <Did you stick me->

<I'm sorry, Earn!> she squeaked. The volume caused Ian to cover his ears. <It was so sudden, and I didn't know where else to put you. I know you didn't want anyone else to see you, so…> Her words didn't so much as trail off, but her volume decreased so low that Ian couldn't hear her.

Ian could feel his pants tightening, and he waved it away. <It's alright,> he reassured her. <You did what you could to keep me hidden from your aunt.> He smiled at her. <I appreciate that.> Slowly, a smile of her own appeared. He was moving now, closer to her enormous charcoal furry face. He stopped before her eyes.

<Thank you, Earn,> she said all of a sudden. Ian tilted his head in confusion. <Thank you for talking with me. I get so lonely up here.> Ian couldn't explain why he did what he did. But for some reason, he leaned forward and kissed her on her giant pink nose. Her large, midnight blue eyes doubled in size.

<Anything for you, pretty lady,> he said. The eyes narrowed.

<Did you just quote the Thrac show?> Ian tilted his head. When he asked if she liked the show, she launched into an entire speech about how it was the best show ever. She thought Thrac was so dreamy, and smart, and cool. Ian slowly sat down in her palm and listened. To his surprise, he also answered questions about the show: Why he admired Thrac and how much he wished he could be as svelte as Thrac was.

Ian was unsure how much time passed when Therisa yawned suddenly. <I think I need to get some sleep, Earn,> Therisa said. Ian didn't protest. Carefully, she put him on the bedside table and gave him his two backpacks with their precious cargo. He waved good-bye to her and turned to leave. <I hope your friends get well, Earn. Will you come to see me again? To let me know they're okay?>

The words were out of his mouth before he realised it. <I'll try.> Then he disappeared into the darkness and was back inside the safety of the walls. As he made his way back to the Colony, Ian mulled over the events that had taken place. He'd been seen, yet he wasn't terrified of what would happen or angry at himself for being seen. Ian felt calm, happy, and almost excited. He glanced at the two backpacks, filled with three tablets of each medicine bottle. Exactly what the Medical Department had wanted. He couldn't wait for the looks on everyone's faces when he got back. If he had to explain why it took so long, he could say that Therisa woke up to use the chamber pot, forcing him to hide.

Then, his mind focused on what he'd just thought. Therisa: Not the Goddess. He frowned, but not from irritation. Why did he call her that? Well, it was her name. He called the other Gods in the Ylimaf house by their name. Why was this even an issue to him?

Therisa. She was cute for a Goddess. His mind wandered to when she'd shoved him into her cleavage, and he chuckled. It was so soft and warm in there. He could've stayed there-

He stopped dead in his tracks and shook his head. What was he thinking? Why did he promise he'd try to come back and see her again? He was insanely lucky tonight, and pushing it would only invite disaster.

Right?

No one answered. Ian's mind remained silent. He thought back to his promise. If he did see Therisa again, it would have to be during the day. How would he do that? Daylight was the riskiest time to be topside. What if another God walked in on them while they were talking. Well, she would probably shove him back in her-

Ian deliberately slammed his head against the wall to remove the image from his mind. Once his vision returned, he looked down at the two backpacks. Right now, his mission came first. He'd deliver these to the Medical Department, have a good night's rest…

And then what? Go back and see Therisa tomorrow? Would Tholop have something else planned for him to prevent him from going? Considering that all Foragers were active, he would have another assignment tomorrow night, so it would have to be during the day. Would Therisa be upset if he didn't come back?

With a heavy sigh, he picked up his pace, deciding to wait until he knew what his schedule would be like tomorrow before he made any decisions.