Chapter 5 -- The Lockbox

62 A.E. March30, Farmstead,Morning

It was the kind of morning where it felt as if you were in the backseat, letting someone else drive. A noise had woken me up, and I eased up to lean by the window. A subtle fog had covered the area, and I could see Dylan standing by the distant road as a small bus pulled up. A pair of reptines stood by the field, idly watching as the bus departed once more.

I rested my head against the window sill, feeling the faintest draft from outside. There was a humid feel to it, and the dark skies hinted of a looming storm. A sudden knock on the door made me perk up.

"Vilkas?" Alice asked from the hallway.

I pulled the blanket closer, making sure to cover myself, "Yes?"

The door eased open, and she peeked her head inside, her eyes wandering for the briefest moment before locking her gaze with me. "I assume you're leaving today?"

I dipped my head to her. "I am... Sorry if I slept in?"

She squinted, smiling as she did. "Ben and I will be busy upstairs, so I figured I'd tell you... Also, there's another slice of pie for you in the kitchen."

"Thank you," I said with a nod.

Alice eased back, and shut the door. I followed within minutes and ate my breakfast. Soon enough, I was standing out by the buggy once more. It felt peaceful in a strange way, as if things weren't normal unless something hectic was going on, yet the world stayed as it was.

There was no hint of the charging from yesterday, and a quick glance at the instrument panel revealed that the battery was indeed fully charged. I eased myself into the buggy, got it running, and set my sights on the main road.

After a minute's travel, I ended up near the ditch with the flags from yesterday. Dylan's words lingered in my mind as I parked next to it.

'Athena?' I thought while stepping out of the buggy.

'Yes?' Athena whispered in my mind as I approached the ditch.

'Do you want a rundown, or can you piece the clues together based on where I am?' I thought, and crouched next to the first flag.

The grass leading into the ditch had clearly been disturbed, and I could see the mottled colors of dried blood in the area. A sniff revealed that it did indeed smell human, mixed with that of reptines.

'Let's see,' Athena mused, 'You are near the spot where Erik was found dead. His corpse was picked up by shuttle yesterday.'

'Ah, so you've identified him?' I thought, then reached out while searching the ground on all fours.

'Through genetic sampling, yes... The reptines were quite voracious, which is troubling if they get a taste for beings we value,' Athena answered.

'Could you determine how he died?' I thought.

'We could--most types of death leave distinct biological markers. Erik died through a massive cytokine storm brought about by allergies to the natural fauna. That said, the large amount of spilled blood also means that it was a fresh kill. The reptines were most likely waiting for him to die.'

'Do we know where Alice, Ben, and Dylan were when he died?' I asked.

'Time of death, based on cellular degradation, means that they have their alibis. Dylan was working on the nearby control tower, and the bio-nanite designer within the lab confirms the presence of the other two.'

'Hmm,' I thought, and brushed the grass side to side as I moved along. 'Tell me about Erik?'

'Erik was part of the UCS back on Earth. He was originally found injured and knocked unconscious. As we were unable to ask him his wishes, we opted to bring him here. Apparently, it was the wrong choice, and there are recorded statements that he would have preferred to die on Earth. Despite this apparent death wish, he also seemed to take a great deal of interest in the civilization that used to exist on this planet. The last records we have are from the Spire's main gate as it registered his departure several days ago.'

'So, we have no clue how he ended up here?' I thought.

'Not as of yet... The automated cargo trucks along the road record everything they see, but that revealed no clue in this instance.'

'Can one assume that he used some kind of transportation to get this far?' I wondered.

'That is likely... Erik did not undergo the immune modulation treatment, and his blood tests revealed nothing remarkable.'

I sighed and rose up--empty-handed, 'So, did he steal a vehicle?'

'Not that we can tell. All vehicles are accounted for,' Athena answered.

'Could he have walked all this way?' I asked.

'That is unlikely when one considers the distance and allergies,' Athena answered.

'So, he hitched a ride with someone, in a vehicle with some kind of environmental control?"

"It is one of the more likely scenarios," Athena answered.

"... What about his stomach contents?' I wondered.

'The stomach could not be retrieved, but the digestive tract suggested that he'd spent the last few days eating rations and consuming hard alcohol,' Athena answered.

'Are we asking people whether they might have seen something?'

'Where relevant, yes... All people cannot be bothered by all issues,' Athena answered.

'I understand...' My ear flickered as I heard something...

I turned around, felt as my heart jumped a little, and noticed that the brown reptine from earlier had returned. She stood mere meters away, and almost seemed to smile as she observed me.

'Something wrong?' Athena wondered.

'It's the reptines pack leader of the farmstead... One moment,' I thought, and shuffled closer.

Brown lifted her gaze, seeming to not fear me at all, "... I bet you know what happened here."

She blinked in wonder and her ears perked.

I reached out and gently cupped her chin, "I'd give ya something to eat if I had any."

Brown didn't seem to care and leaned into my hand as I used my claws to gently scratch the dense fur. Discreetly, I reached toward the back of her skull, and felt the spot where Red had an implant.

Her eyes widened as if uneasy, and she stopped moving. The spot along her neck was smooth, and there was no implant. It made me search my own mind as I focused on the research that Hazel had shared with me.

A weird sensation followed as I felt myself getting drawn into the research. Experiments, studies, various conclusions and intricate instructions. Hazel had marveled over them as it became increasingly clear that reptines were truly engineered. In fact... there were distinct adaptations hidden in their genome that made it easy to access their memories.

I let go of Brown, and reached out with my mind once more, 'We could access the memories from the reptines... See what they saw.'

'I know the research you're referring to, and you are technically correct. However...'

I sighed to myself, 'It's not without risk for the reptines, and there are questions whether we have the moral right to do an invasive procedure like this on such an intelligent creature, not to mention the resources.'

'Exactly,' Athena whispered, 'If you managed to find evidence pointing to an actual crime, then I'd consider agreeing to such an act, but as things are...'

'Yes,' I thought, then rose up once more.

'Do you even have the technical know-how to do such a procedure?' Athena wondered.

'Not yet, but I'm planning to study the rest of Hazel's research to figure out the details.'

'Any reason you're so interested in this?' Athena wondered.

'Not really... I always wanted to play a detective though,' I mused.

Athena stifled a chuckle over the link, 'Very well. I won't stand in your way, for now.'

62 A.E. March30, Main Road - Midday

I chewed slowly, feeling the gentle draft of the wind. It caused my longer tufts of head-fur to flutter at the edge of my vision. The buggy's black surface mimicked that of my own fur, and it soaked up the sun to a point where I could feel the looming heat coming off it. It felt new and exciting, so I weathered the warmth and wiggled my paws along the sandy ground.

This planet was nice.

Part of me wanted to strip out of my uniform so that I could give everything a good rustle, but others along the road might not appreciate it.

Or they might stare too much and cause an accident...

'Athena?' I thought.

Her presence descended on me, 'You've stopped. Something the matter?'

'Just taking a break,' I thought.

'I see... Something on your mind?' she wondered.

'How about another lesson regarding jumpfields and eternite?' I asked.

'Hmm, you already know the basics by now...'

I nodded to myself, 'Eternite allows us to easily manipulate jumpfields, and if you do it just right, it enables you to jump vast distances across space. But you mentioned that we couldn't jump back to Earth, and that 'something' had happened?'

'Ah, yes... Using jumpfields to pierce dimensions is one thing; to do it and end up in the right spot, that's quite a different beast,' Athena thought.

'I got that impression. So what parameters are involved in targeting an area of space?' I wondered.

'Well, to start with, you need a gravity well. I know that might sound strange given that gravity prevents it from working properly, but I'd liken it to a lighthouse. You use it as a beacon to help you aim... but if you aim too close, you'll crash into it. Too far, and at best, you'll end up far off-course, at worst, you'll be torn apart upon re-entry.'

'Ah, and what other parameters determine where we can go?'

'Distance is one thing--the further you jump, the more costly it is. Mass and volume are additional factors to keep in mind. Beacons can also help make jumps a lot safer and more power efficient, especially if you intend to jump within a solar system,' Athena answered.

'Hmm, do explain the last part?'

'As you wish... If you are already within a solar system, then jumping to another part within said solar system is basically impossible. While the local sun acts as a good beacon at a distance, local jumps would be like driving a car at night with headlights constantly aimed at your face.'

'Let me guess... You jump to a beacon just outside the solar system, to gain some distance, turn around, and make a proper jump,' I thought.

'Exactly. It's not perfect, but it's a lot more efficient and safer than jumping to another solar system. It's also a lot faster than traveling across the solar system using regular engines,' Athena added.

'I see,' I thought.

'Which brings us to the final parameter, one that also turns everything into a mess.'

'Yes?' I wondered.

'The dimension that we tap into is messy, and we refer to its influence as 'noise'. While we can measure it, our ability to predict it and counteract it is quite limited at this time.'

'And this 'noise', how bad is it?' I wondered.

'It can render a route impossible to use, and one either has to try from a different spot or wait for it to pass. But that's not all... Some solar systems seem to be noisy by default, thereby making jumps aimed at them a suicide mission.'

'... This is starting to sound like some kind of defensive mechanism,' I thought.

'Indeed. Either there are civilizations out there who have made the choice to isolate themselves from the rest of the universe, or there is some kind of natural phenomena that causes it... Sol, Earth's solar system, is one such place now.'

'That's what you meant earlier, that something had happened...' I thought while grabbing a nearby protein bar.

'Yes... The Ring's long-range gravimetric sensors saw as it happened shortly after our arrival in the solar system. It was like a flare across the scopes, and it left Sol inaccessible to jumpspace travel.'

I grabbed a bite, and my ears perked as they picked a sound. It made me glance down the road to my left, and I saw what looked like a small bus. 'It's strange. Things have shifted from the scale of a small island into talking about the potential of interstellar civilizations.'

'Many did assume that the universe was mostly vacant,' Athena answered.

'Moving on, you mentioned something about a stellar forge?' I thought, turning my head as the bus sped past.

'Ah, yes... Our primary refinery in the solar system. It faces the sun, has a massive network of solar cells, reflectors, and fusion reactors which in turn fuel the forge that creates the more exotic materials we're in need of. Primarily eternite for now...'

Suddenly, the bus started to slow down. I leaned forward in wonder, saw as the bus moved closer to the edge of the road, and swung its door wide open. The bus was still moving as a big figure jumped out, hit the ground running, and madly flailed with their arms to not tumble over. I disconnected my tendril from the buggy, and stood up as the bus drove off once more.

'Something wrong?' Athena wondered.

'... I'll get back to you on that,' I thought, then let the connection fade into the background.

I started walking as the odd hybrid stood up straight. Based on the appearance, it was a rather slim wolf with mostly brown fur, a wine-red jacket, and green trousers. As he approached, the wind shifted and brought his scent to my nose. I remembered. This was the wolf from the Ring, the one that had looked so hurt when I dismissed his request to join me on the ride down. The wolf watched me intently as he walked up, stopping by a looming tree, and smiled with his ears perked high.

"I see you paid the closet a visit," I said with a smirk.

His smile grew even bigger, and his tail started swishing like mad. "You remember me."

"Certainly. Though..." I said, then motioned at the bus which was now speeding off in the distance.

Nick glanced back and stifled a chuckle as he looked back at me. "I guess I ought to explain myself..."

I took another bite from my protein bar and nodded, "You should."

His joyous demeanor seemed to fade a little as he shrugged, "Our earlier encounter bothered me, and when I saw you standing here, well... I couldn't pass up the opportunity." Nick glanced away, "Besides, it would have been even creepier if I sought you out in town."

I perked my brow and couldn't help but smile, "Rather than... jumping off a speeding bus?"

Nick tipped his head and clasped his hands, "... I guess that's pretty odd. But I'm fine, see?"

"And how did you know it was me?" I asked.

Nick motioned at me, "Black wolf along the road in the middle of nowhere? Easy as pie to look you up in the archives."

"Hmm," I thought, looked at him, and allowed myself to do the same thing he'd just admitted to. It barely took any effort to reach out with my mind, connect with the now-working archives, and supply the information it needed: A scent sample, location data, a photo.

His profile was returned in a near instant, yet...

---

Name: Nick Drayton

Classification: Sophos Hybrid Citizen

DOB: 44 A.E. - January 01 (18 Years)

Template: Wolf (W34M-R04)

Relevant Notes: No driver's license is registered. (N/A Notice Flagged)

Warning: No Earth profile exists for this person, all information acquired from local sources.

Medical Profile: Available - Access is logged and should only be made with good reason.

Psych Profile: Unavailable.

---

Given Maxwell's no-children mandate on New Sophos, and Nick's missing Earth Profile...

"So, where are you heading?" I asked with a gentle smile.

"About a day east from here, a carbon fiber factory at Midpoint Terminal... I figured that if you didn't give me a ride, then I could just walk until the next bus drives by," Nick said.

I motioned to the buggy and smiled back, "I wouldn't mind the company. If anything, I'm the one who ought to clear up why I acted like I did up on the Ring."

And, this gives me an excuse to figure out who you are...

"Eh," Nick murmured with a wave of his hand as he started walking and set his sights on the buggy.

I observed him as he walked past. He was lithe even for a young wolf, but his fur was well developed. I followed, opened my muzzle to speak, but Nick interrupted me as he glanced back.

"So, where are you going?" he wondered.

"The Burrow," I said as I joined his side.

"And..." Nick said, smiling as if excited, "is there some kind of mystery there?"

I perked my brow as we stepped up to the buggy, "Not really, but I am quite curious about you..."

Nick peeked into the passenger seat, wiggled his nose as he caught the scent, and stared at the big sacks, "Coffee... beans?"

"Long story," I said, then motioned to the trailer, "There's some additional space in the trailer now, so help me move the sacks."

Nick looked at me, seeming frozen for a moment, "... Okay!"

As he started working and reached for the first bag, I approached the now open door, "Tell me about yourself, Nick?"

He paused for a moment and glanced up for a moment, reminding me of that same puppy-eyed look from the Ring.

"I'm not very interesting, at least when compared to you," Nick answered.

"Oh?" I wondered and tipped my head.

Nick hefted out the sack and stifled a chuckle, "People make virtual worlds retelling your adventures... Frozen Heart, an escape from the cultists... A Tale of Crimson, with the mysteries of Etemenanki--based on what little info there is within the archives..."

I kept eyeing him, brow perked.

Nick dipped his head as he smirked back, "I've played some... most... all of them."

"Might try'em one day... It'd be interesting to see what kind of interpretation others made."

Nick's expression kept pulling into a bright smile, and his tail wagged at a steady pace, "There's no lack of new material... You barely had time to arrive before stopping a potential disaster with Athena."

"A potential one," I whispered, "Where did you even hear about it?"

"The radio... on the bus in fact," Nick answered.

"A radio? That's surprising," I said.

Nick walked to the back of the trailer, opened it, and heaved the sack in along with the Expert Systems, "Yeah... Anyway, you still count as heroic in my book."

I sighed and leaned into the passenger seat as I grabbed a sack of my own, "Hero worship is quite flawed, much often like the person being idolized."

Nick stepped to the side as I walked past him, "Hero worship is one thing, but refusing the facts and downplaying your own accomplishments is something else."

I stuffed another pair of sacks into the back, and stopped to look at him, "Fine, my pack and I accomplished a few things... Now let's focus on you: who are you, Nick?"

Nick's shoulders slouched, and his ears folded back as well, "... Must we do this? Can't I just be a wolf that gets to spend a bit of time with someone he looks up to?"

I stepped closer to him and let the shield around my mind ease up. Compared to many of the others, Nick had awakened telepathically. I could feel his presence like a steady fire, restrained, but ever-present. He eyed me and shrank back a little as he seemed to notice that I was prodding him like this.

"I'll gladly spend some time with you, but you should be honest about your background. Trying to shy around it--especially among wolves--is considered to be a bad idea," I said.

Nick's ears clamped to his head, "And what is my background exactly?"

Once more, I motioned toward him with an open hand, "In my mind, there are only two possibilities. The first is that you're an alien that has somehow managed to bypass all our security protocols and is masquerading as one of us. The second--more realistic one--is that you're a True Hybrid who recently opted to become a wolf as an adult."

Nick sighed as he crossed his arms, "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you figured it out."

"Well, you neither have a profile from Earth, nor were children allowed on this planet, so it wasn't difficult to figure out," I said.

Nick made an open display with his hands, "So, now you know..."

I made a slow nod and cupped my chin, "Yes, you're clearly an alien spy..."

Nick blinked for a moment, then let out a surprised snort, "No, the latter option."

"Ah, right," I mused and started smirking, "though, that still makes me wonder where you were raised..."

Nick smiled back as if easing up, "If I promise to tell you about where I was raised, will you chill and accept me as one of your own?"

I inched closer, reached out, and gently gripped his shoulder, "That was never the issue, Nick. You're as much of a hybrid as anyone else, and you're a handsome wolf to boot."

His ears flicked, and his muzzle dropped open. The emotions emanating from him shuddered, and I could feel a spike of adrenaline as his heart jolted. A moment later, he clamped down on it and sealed his mind off as if slamming the door shut.

"... S-sorry," he whispered, averting his gaze.

My chest felt tight, as if his emotional outburst had infected me in some way. It made me gulp, and it took me a moment to ponder. He struck me as a kid, lost in a big world, seeking... something. Pulling my hand back, acting shocked, would only make things even worse.

I lowered my hand a little, felt his thick fur below the t-shirt's shoulder, and gently ruffled it, "Still can't believe you hopped out of a moving bus."

It broke the ice once more. Nick stifled a chuckle, then lifted his gaze once more, "I did spend a lot of time thinking midair, but... I had to do it, because I knew that if I spent too much time thinking about it, I just wouldn't do it."

I shut the trailer while motioning to the buggy, "And it worked out... this time. Now hop in."

He smiled back at me, "Yes, Alpha..."

I felt a twinge in my tail as he said it, but did my best to not let it show.

He's going to need more than one lesson...

62 A.E. March30, Main Road - Midday

Nick was looking outward, nose tipped to the sun as the wind made his fur flutter. He murmured, seeming almost half asleep, "You're part of the Silverfang clan, right?"

"It didn't say in my profile?" I wondered, focusing on the road.

"It did, but out of everything I've read about you, your clan doesn't seem to play much of a part."

I glanced at him, "Whatever influence the clans wielded have been weakening for centuries, and I think they've outplayed their part."

Nick looked back at me, "You think they should be dissolved?"

I tilted my head, "Not necessarily, but they should accept and embrace a more ceremonial role. No power struggles, no secrets, no us-or-them think... Just one big family with a variety of relaxed events for everyone to enjoy."

Nick clasped his hands, "I must admit, I always found the mystery behind them a bit charming."

"There are more than enough mysteries in the world for us. We don't need to create a bunch of artificial boundaries that ultimately corrupt people. That said, the first time I attended a gathering was... exciting, so I do get what you mean," I answered.

Nick nodded slowly.

I gave him another glimpse and saw that he was still eyeing me, "... Yes?"

"Well," Nick murmured, "the archives also say that historically, the Silverfang clan was always close to Maxwell and his puppet organization: the Space Initiative."

"I've heard the same thing. Never dug into it to be honest," I said.

"I thought you loved this sort of mystery?" Nick said in wonder.

"Oh, I do... I was just busy dealing with Maxwell controlling my life as it was," I said.

"So you do know Maxwell... and you were the last to leave Earth..."

I sighed, "A lot of people ask that, but it's not as grandiose as it sounds. Maxwell keeps his secrets to himself, and you're lucky if you don't get squashed."

Nick was staring a hole through me.

I looked over, met his gaze for a moment, then focused on the road once more, "Alright, out with it. What is it that you actually want to ask?"

"I just... want to know more about Maxwell," Nick said.

"There's not much I can tell you... Why are you so curious to begin with?" I asked.

Nick leaned back in his chair as he let out a sigh, "I'm just trying to piece together how I should relate to my past, but I guess that doesn't make much sense to you."

I chuckled, "If you've read my profile, then you should know I've had a chance to ponder my own existence."

Nick smirked, "You talk as if it happened a long time ago, but you've only been a hybrid for a few years."

"Life as a human had its own challenges," I said.

Nick crossed his arms, "So does life as a True Hybrid."

Finally...

I reached out and gave his leg a nudge, "And... I'd love to hear about that."

Nick leaned his head back against the chair, "Fine..."

It took a few moments, but then he started talking.

"There were hundreds of us... The first batches of True Hybrids without any known flaws. But we weren't born on Earth, or New Sophos," Nick answered.

"Then..." I whispered.

Nick continued, "There were no real windows, just screens that showed a bunch of stars. Gravity shifted sometimes, and the stars changed along with radiation bursts, so..."

"Somewhere in space, on a big ship, or a station of some kind," I added.

Nick nodded, "Exactly, and that's what he told us as well."

"He?" I asked.

"Daedelus, Maxwell's personal Expert System. He controlled everything, from the air supply to the droids that maintained the facility. We were valuable test subjects, the next step in Sophos' evolution," Nick answered.

"Was it tough?" I asked.

Nick drew a deep breath that made his chest swell while he seemed to ponder it, "... That depends on your definition. Things were strict: there were mental evaluations and physical checkups. By the time we started asking questions like, 'Are we prisoners?', we were given two simple choices..."

"Which were?" I asked.

"Either go on living in the facility until we were fully mature or get placed in suspended animation. A few considered the latter, but... our lives weren't exactly bad. We had entertainment, virtual worlds to play around in, good education, and lots of activities... ranging from building our own fusion reactors to engineering new forms of life. We also had each other..."

"You were a family?" I wondered.

Nick shrugged, "Well, some of us. We were all bonded to one another, but I had my preferences around friends as well. Though..."

"Though?" I wondered.

Nick chuckled, "You know what True Hybrids look like, right? Before they mature and choose what kind of hybrid they want to become?"

I nodded, "I've met one before. Gray fur, slightly bigger than a human, a blend of aspects."

Nick nodded, "There are enough differences to tell us apart if you know what you're looking for, but at a distance, we practically look like clones. Anyway, we went from being gray fuzzballs to becoming all manner of real hybrids, along with all the new insights, raging hormones, and... instincts that came along with it."

I smirked a little, "Scary, but pretty fun as well, right?"

Nick shifted his legs a little, "Fun is certainly one way to describe it. I remember trying out one of the hunting simulations, and I found myself repulsed at the idea of eating a living creature. Now though..."

"Are you eager for a hunt?" I wondered.

"I am, but I've never tried it for real, and..." Nick murmured, then looked over at me.

"What?" I wondered.

"Nothing," Nick whispered, "Anyway... Since the evacuation of Earth happened quicker than expected, all other timetables were pushed up as well. We'd barely finished transforming by the time we were told the facility was shutting down. Maxwell didn't want us clinging to one another, so he made a system where we'd be released over time. A chance to integrate with the rest of Sophos society... Some of us made promises to find each other one day, but they almost felt hollow in a way, as if we'd grown apart..."

"Ah, so... Up on the Ring," I whispered.

Nick nodded, "Yeah... I woke up half-a-day earlier, had a checkup, and was chucked into the room with all the other evacuees. It was scary, going from..."

I filled in while his voice trailed off, "Going from a safe space, to being thrust into a world you've learned about all life, yet never had a chance to interact with."

Nick nodded in silence.

"So... What was the deal with Pax, the big crate, and all that?" I wondered.

Nick glanced at me and made something of a shrug, "He was all alone with that big crate. I was curious, and struck up conversation... I had this idea in my head that if I could help him, then I'd get a quick ride off the station with no questions asked."

"And then there was me, suspecting you might be up to something bad," I said, and smirked.

Nick chuckled back, "Slapped in the face by my own role model. Oh, how cruel you are."

"You'll do fine, Nick. Just be open about who you are, and you'll find that everyone will accept you with open arms."

"And what if I just want to be the same as everyone else?" Nick asked.

"... And what is everyone else, exactly? I don't think I've ever met a hybrid that didn't have some story to tell. We live in interesting--if chaotic--times, and... that's just the way it is."

"Up until now," Nick said.

I perked my brow and looked over at him, "Right... We just have to contend with the possibility of alien civilizations, reboot our entire society from scratch, and adapt to technologies that until recently seemed like science fiction."

Nick smirked as he showed off his bright fangs and looked out across the world, "Fine, I suppose we might still live in a chaotic world, if only for a tad longer."

The road was clear, and I couldn't help but keep an eye on him. As I watched, his happiness seemed to falter once more. Ears folding back, a troubled look sneaking its way into his expression.

"So, let me guess, you know Daedelus pretty well, but Maxwell is a mystery?" I asked.

Nick reached up to scratch his temple, "Daedelus wasn't exactly very social, and you couldn't get to _know him--_at least, not like Athena. Hell, your average cleaning bot has more of a personality than the guy. As for Maxwell, he never showed himself, never talked to us. All we learned about him was the same as in history books... The nanite plague caused the collapse. Humans created hybrids to combat the plague, then tried to kill them when they'd done their job. Maxwell led the hybrids out of the first city, and Sophos was founded. The end."

"And, what kind of answer do you want from me?" I wondered.

Nick looked at me, incredulous, "The truth... Why is Maxwell doing all of this?"

I could do little more than sigh, "To create an alternative to humanity... That's the simple and complicated answer to it."

"... I guess that's as far as we get, until we can hunt him down and figure it out for ourselves."

I chuckled, "I can see that ideology hasn't changed with True Hybrids."

Nick smiled to himself, "Daedalus did show some semblance of emotion at times. When we managed to figure out a way to bypass his restrictions, and, if only for a moment, gain access to the systems outside our confined area."

"Let me guess, he was amused, as if proud over you," I wondered.

Nick made a slow nod, "It became something of a game after that... within limits, of course. Rebel, but do it with finesse and good intentions."

"It never led to anything though?" I wondered.

Nick shook his head, "Layers upon layers... We never had a chance of actually breaking out."

"I see," I said.

Nick looked back to me, "My turn..."

I smiled back at him, "Shoot."

"How does... someone like me get a pack?" Nick wondered.

"Well, that depends on what you want. I'd suggest finding newly matured hybrids, so that you're all on equal standing," I said.

"Would we be on equal standing though? I mean, we had basically unfettered reading access to everything on Earth, but I've never been human... So I don't know what it means to spend your first decades of life as one."

I motioned to him with one hand, "Well, is it that different?"

Nick drew a deep breath and looked as if the question was silly, "How shall I put this gently... Humans, even Sophos raised ones, are illogical, insane, and outright evil to a degree where most of us couldn't believe our eyes. If not for Athena's constant intervention, most of you would have at least one mental illness."

There are definitely a few things to work through here...

"... Ouch," I said.

Nick clasped his hands, "True Hybrids can do stupid shit as well, but it's on a different level. One time we made pancakes with a bunch of salt; another time we dyed someone's shampoo with food coloring. But we never climbed into a trash compactor, hid glass in someone's food, or tried to drown someone in the toilet."

"... Such things were rare," I said.

"But it did happen... What I'm saying is that True Hybrids, even as small children, process information differently from humans," Nick said.

Once more, I motioned to him, "So, you're saying that you can't relate to your brethren, because they're too tainted by their lingering humanity?"

Nick squinted at me, "... No, that's not what I'm saying at all."

I smiled back at him, "So what are you saying?"

Nick sighed as he reached up and ruffled the fur on the side of his head, "I... I don't know."

"I think... that you're scared," I said.

A dark murmur could be heard as his ears flickered, "I'm not... scared."

"You're scared, because seeing the 'illogical and violent' through a screen is one thing--being there in person, experiencing it as it happens--is another thing, and you're not sure how you're going to react when that happens."

Nick crossed his arms, "I've been through a great many simulations, ranging from plague containment, hull breaches, to emergency surgery..."

I nodded slowly, "Then you'll have no trouble hunting for food when we stop."

Nick sat tall, turned his head, and stared at me.

"Right?" I wondered, and met his gaze.

Nick stared back, "... You'll see."

62 A.E. March30, Main Road - Evening

Everything felt different as I crouched down on all four. Snout hovering along the ground as I sniffed and let my nose wander. It would have been a confusing mess without Hazel's help, but her experiences helped me decipher the scents of this world.

There were plenty of creatures around, big and small. Reptines had passed through the area a mere hour ago, but there was an even fresher scent clinging next to the tree. I licked my chops, and I could feel that hunger rise within me. It might help clear my head--a burst of adrenaline, a violent catharsis to help reset the mind.

But...

I glanced back, and saw Nick standing by a nearby tree. He was bare to the world and stared at me oddly. As our eyes met, he averted his gaze in his haste. His paw scratched at the ground, he sniffed idly, and his ears wiggled as he listened to our surroundings.

My focus returned to the ground as I kept skulking, "My first hunt is still fresh in my mind. I'd barely gotten my fur, no one knew how to relate to each other... It was awkward, but necessary."

I could hear him stepping closer and felt his thoughts being directed at me.

'If you want me to do something, say it,' Nick thought.

I smiled to myself as I considered his personality. He seemed testy at times, but it felt more like fear. Nick was eager to be a wolf, but at the same time he struggled to let go of his more civilized self... just like a human.

'There's a creature akin to a rabbit nearby. It's hiding, hoping we'll pass it by. Keep moving as you are, slowly, silently... I'll move to the right, make it run, and you can catch it. No hesitation, run, chase, catch, and _ kill _.'

A noise followed as I heard him gulp.

'Got it?' I thought, and glanced back at him.

He crouched down, staring at me as the wind rustled the world. His breath was agitated, and his chest moved in tune with it. After a few moments, he nodded and stealthily moved forward.

I observed him for a few seconds, then started moving to the right. The ground was mossy which softened my approach, so I deliberately stepped on a branch here and there.

My nose wiggled while moving, and I caught a hint of sulfur. A quick search along the ground revealed a neat pile of droppings along the base of a tree.

A diversion perhaps? O __r did we ca_ tch_ th __is creature in its morning routine?

Something moved, I froze in an instant, and could see a shadow along the tree roots.

'Ready?' I thought.

'Ready,' Nick whispered back over the link.

I inched closer, put one hand on the back of the tree, and readied myself to lunge at the other side.

Leaning slowly, I loomed around the corner, and... the creature suddenly sprinted. I could hear it, paws drumming on the ground as it shot away. I lunged around the tree, and saw little more than a brownish-green dart scurrying toward Nick.

His hackles bristled, but he wasn't moving as he stared the creature down. Then, as the creature noticed him, it promptly panicked. That's when Nick lunged. In the split second that the creature shifted direction, sending a patch of moss flying through the air, Nick threw himself forward.

I watched in near slow motion as it unfolded in front of me. Nick hit the ground like a feral beast, right hand reaching for the creature as it was still trying to catch speed. He missed, caught moss, and his legs kicked into the ground as he shot after.

The creature had almost escaped Nick's reach as he lunged once more. With his left arm swiping, claws bared, he caught the creature's rear leg with nary an inch to spare.

A horrifying hiss followed as the creature screamed and promptly started thrashing as if crazy. Nick held on, but the creature was surprisingly agile as it curled up on itself, maw making clacking noises as it tried to bite his arm.

Nick panicked, caught the creature by its throat, and a crunch followed. The creature twitched for a moment, scream turning into a short-lived gurgle, and then it was over.

I stepped closer, saw as Nick's chest heaved, lips trembling from the chaos in his mind. Suddenly, he seemed to realize what he was holding, and relaxed his hand as it dropped to the ground with a thud.

He panted, leaned back, and stared down at the creature as I crouched down.

"Interesting rabbit," I whispered as I reached out.

Bigger than a hare, teeth like a beaver, no tail to speak of. The fur was a dense pattern of brown and green to make it blend in with the forest. Big blunt claws covered its front legs, and I imagined it'd be a good digger. A bit of blood trickled through its open mouth and its big yellow incisors.

As I relaxed, my mind did the same and allowed Nick's emotions to filter through. His mind was racing, he was confused and upset. Wavering back and forth as if suddenly angry, only to feel an aching guilt.

I drew a deep breath, moved the rabbit out of the way by its scruff, and rose in front of Nick. He looked at me in confusion, and his mind seemed to grow still for a moment.

"You did well," I said with a slow nod.

"... I did?" Nick asked.

"You waited for the right moment to strike, and you didn't hesitate when you did. Your entire front is filled with mud and moss, but you didn't care one bit," I said.

Nick looked down, gasped in surprise as he saw himself, and moved his leg to cover his crotch as he started brushing the dirt out of the way.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I'm fine," Nick whispered while his ears flicked and folded back.

"Simulations in the virtual world are good, but the real thing clings to you. You can't just switch it off... The scents, the mud, the shaky feeling in your legs, the rush of adrenaline..."

Nick stared down as he kept wiping his chest, "We don't have adrenaline, that's a human thing."

"We've borrowed the word to describe the feeling, not the chemical," I said.

"To make communications between our two species simpler," Nick said.

I gave him a gentle smile, "We like to keep things simple."

Nick froze and lifted his gaze to me, "... What do you want, Vilkas?"

Patience...

I motioned to him, "Sit, ponder, and I'll make a meal out of this."

His muzzle wavered as if he wanted to argue, but after a moment, he gave in, and nodded.

62 A.E. March30, Forest - Night

I'd decided to be subtle about it. Cutting away the hide out of sight, hiding the head, and gutting it.

Instincts were a powerful thing which could turn what was repulsive one moment, into something glorious. Surrounded by other wolves, running through the forest with all your might, feeling the power in your fangs. You could almost taste the 'life' within the meat.

This was different. Slow and methodical. While a part of me felt eager to taste, the more human, or rather, the intellectual side of me, almost made me queasy as I eased the spit over the fire. Nick observed in silence.

I inched closer to him, and he turned his head to look. Darkness enveloped the world now, and the fire made it feel as if we were a flicker in the void. He straightened himself, eased his legs down, and made a subtle nod.

We settled as one, legs touching, fur mingling with fur. He moved his right arm as if not knowing what to do with it, and finally let it rest on his lap. I focused on the fire, let my thoughts drift for a moment, then felt the weight of his head against my shoulder.

He leaned in and started nudging his head against me in a rather canine manner. After a few moments, he sighed with enough force that I felt it ruffle my fur. A neural link stirred between us, and as he relaxed, it became like a subtle stream of emotion.

Nick was tired, yet... he wanted to speak.

I looked at his fuzzy head, leaned down with my snout, and gently nudged him.

"Um..." Nick whispered.

I kept my silence, and my head clear.

"I'm sorry if I was grouchy earlier... I didn't want to face my own thoughts, and I was... well..."

"Dismissive, proud, trying a bit too hard," I whispered and did my best to stifle a smirk.

Nick eyed me for a moment, then folded his ears back, "I didn't want to come off as a tongue-tied, nervous wreck, and then my insecurity turned into anger... at everything, which was projected onto you..."

"I understand... and I've been pushing you in turn, being overly argumentative even."

Nick drew a deep breath and sighed, "I think I needed that to be honest."

"I'll listen if you want to talk some more," I said.

Nick chuckled, "We're linked... You're probably aware of my thoughts already."

"I try not to dig into the minds of others," I said.

"And your mind feels like an armored fortress," Nick said.

It made me sigh, "... Everyone I know and care about are still caught out in space, and it feels like only half of me made it down here. I considered asking to be put into suspended animation, but-"

Nick whispered, "You wanted to be of use... To help prepare things for the others arrival. You'd have difficulty facing them if you didn't. You'd be a coward."

I chuckled.

Nick cleared his throat, "I meant, that's what's on your mind right now, I wasn't... judging you."

"I know," I whispered.

Nick straightened himself a little, "This does feel different from the simulations."

"What? You've played a scenario like this before?" I murmured.

"Of course," Nick whispered.

"Interesting," I mused.

He stiffened, and I felt his emotions flare once more. A sigh followed, and he turned his head a little as he glimpsed at me, "You're teasing me..."

I perked my brow, "Oh, is that what I'm doing?"

Nick squinted as he looked back at the fire, "Or something... I have difficulty telling. You're..."

"What?" I whispered.

"... You're good at partitioning your thoughts. You don't talk about it, but there are thoughts you allow me to see. The rest... it's like staring into a mirror," Nick murmured.

"And you..." I whispered as I felt his flicker of emotions and thoughts.

"Me?" Nick whispered, "This is my first time ending a life, and..."

The thought inside his mind was clear, as if presented to me on a silver platter. It made him feel dirty in a way, yet he found himself hungry. Longing for the meat being prepared on the fire. The thought of eating it raw still conflicted him, but there was little to complain about when cooked like this.

There was something else though. A deeper, stronger feeling hiding in the background. He was trying to keep it hidden, because he feared... my reaction?

Nick shut his eyes, and I heard him groan, "I can tell where you're poking..."

"If you want me to back off..." I whispered.

A bit of pride bubbled into his mind, "No, we're peering at each other's thoughts and... I must admit that I'm surprised you've got such a good grasp of it. My telepathy started developing when I turned thirteen."

I chuckled, "You affirmed what we were doing, and then tried to change the subject."

Nick opened his eyes again, "... Sometimes, I have thoughts that feel wrong."

"Oh? I'm sure no one else has ever had those," I said.

Nick cracked a wild grin and let out a chuckle. After a few moments, he leaned his head back on my shoulder, "All of us dreamed of getting out. To be able to join the real world, so to speak. But now that I'm out here, with everyone scattered to the wind, I sometimes find myself wishing I was back there. I'd have appreciated the mornings more... sitting with the others having breakfast, talking about some obscure moral dilemma. Knowing what the day had in store for me, clear goals. Now, everything's messy and complicated."

I looked toward the meat, reached out and grabbed the spit, "It's okay to be scared and to reminisce. It takes time to adapt, and in time, I'm sure you'll reconnect with some of them."

"You think so?" Nick wondered.

I brought the now-roasted rabbit in front of us. Its flesh still simmering as juices trickled along the sides. It did smell good as I reached out with one hand, grabbed a leg, and carefully tugged until the whole thing popped off like a tender piece of chicken.

I offered the piece to Nick, "You described them as family. If that's true, then the answer is yes as well. It might take some time though, being plunged into society can be distracting, just like becoming a hybrid and realizing that much of the world was cloaked in shadows."

Nick took the leg, stared at it as he brought it to his snout, and licked his own nose. He gulped, and took a careful bite of the whitish meat.

"Mm," Nick murmured as he swallowed and took a moment to blow at the piece.

I turned the rabbit around, grabbed a piece for myself, and bit in.

Looks like chicken and tastes like it too...

Nick's tail squirmed a little, and I could feel his fluttering emotions. His mood lifted, and he nudged against me as if trying to wedge himself even closer. I couldn't help but smile to myself, even as I wondered what the hell we were up to.

Bonding? Therapy? A bit of emotional relief?

It felt good. At the same time, I found my thoughts drawn to the others, still caught in space.

I focused on the food, and he seemed to do the same. As we started picking off more parts, my ears perked at the sound of something encroaching. Soft steps, barely audible because of the crackling fire. It made my ears swivel, and I caught several sources on approach, most of them from the front. Nick noticed as well, and he froze in place, bone held in his muzzle as he peered out into the dark forest.

Several figures emerged from the woodwork and were illuminated by the fire. They were reptines, three of them, with the biggest marching in the front. It carried something in its maw, round like a watermelon almost. The trio stopped for a moment, stared at us, and the middle one glanced at the other two as if making sure of something.

'What... are they doing?' Nick whispered in my mind.

'Don't know yet...' I thought back.

The big reptine in the middle stepped closer, and I caught its scent on the wind. A male this time, with a hint that told me it was quite old. Its fur seemed to shimmer as it stepped closer to us, and shifted to mimic the fire's orange light.

It's reptilian nostrils wheezed lightly as it kept staring, maw working overtime to keep hold of the large object in its mouth. Finally, it opened its muzzle, the object fell out with an audible thump, and it rolled past the fire as it approached us.

The two of us perked up in wonder, and I leaned closer for an inspection. It appeared to be a greenish vegetable, or fruit of some kind. Clustered and knobby like a wild cabbage. I reached out with my mind to the archives, and ran a search for something similar.

'It's called breadfruit... Very starchy unless cooked, to a point where the reptines can't digest it.'

Nick whispered in my mind, 'Did it just offer it as a gift to us?'

I met the reptine's intense stare, 'I think it's more of a trade, to be honest. Do you mind if we give it what remains of the rabbit?'

'Go ahead,' Nick murmured over the link as I eased myself up onto two legs.

As I towered over the reptine, its ears lowered, and it took a cautious step back. The two hiding in the background also squirmed, as if ready to bolt at the slightest hint of hostility.

I grabbed the stick holding the rabbit, then crouched as I set it on the ground, close to the reptine.

The old reptine kept a close eye on me, and then motioned with its head at the other two. They approached, while I reached down, grabbed the bread fruit, and stepped back.

As I sat down once more, the old reptine finally seemed to relax. It stepped over to the rabbit, cautious to keep me in its sight, and started munching on the side. The other two joined in, seemingly more ravenous as they tore away parts of the rib cage and started chewing.

'This is amazing,' Nick whispered over the link.

62 A.E. March31, Forest - Morning

The fire had faded, and I could remember myself dozing off.

It felt like a snap of the fingers as I woke once more, only to find the sun peering through the forest canopy. A gentle fog covered the ground, and a wiggle of my nose made me aware that a thin layer of dew drops had settled on my fur.

Nick stirred in my arms, and I could feel his thoughts flicker. Emotions roiled inside of him, amazement, confusion, a sudden realization of how tightly we were entwined. His subtle movements seemed to wake the reptines as well, and they rose on all fours.

The trio glanced at us as if having overslept and hurried off. I yawned to myself, rose up into a sitting position, and drew a deep breath of the cool air. Nick glanced at me in wonder for a moment, ears flicking, and licked his chops.

"Hungry?" I wondered.

He nodded, looking over at the faded fireplace.

I nodded toward the forest, "Stretch your legs, and I'll cook that breadfruit."

"Mrrr," Nick murmured with another nod as he rose up.

He sauntered off, looking left and right, eyes wandering across the forest. I turned my attention to the breadfruit, and-

There was a rumble, and a flicker of light in the sky. Deep tones like thunder shook the world, and I lifted my gaze upwards. Dark clouds were moving in from the Spire's direction, and based on the haze, it was bringing quite a lot of rain as well.

Not a lot of time to get a fire going again...

Nick was out of sight, so I let my utility tendrils slink out. I willed it to coil around the breadfruit, gently lifted it into the air, and focused my thoughts. Power surged within the tendril, and a glowing, radiant heat started coming off it. It only took seconds for the green surface of the breadfruit to start sizzling as the tendril squeezed it.

I stared at it, watching as it slowly cooked, not only through sheer contact, but a steady dose microwaves.

Day 3... Just 240 or so left before Peter, John, and Allen gets here...

The sizzling grew stronger, and the leaves coiled as they started turning black. Juices emerged from within, starting to drip onto the ground.

There had to be some faster way to fetch the evacuation ships. As it was, I'd only trusted the words of others without evaluating it on my own. The thought made me grimace as the tendril pierced the breadfruit, helping to cook it from the inside.

Another rumble shook the sky, and I lifted my gaze once more. There were bolts of lightning coming from the distant clouds, but they weren't striking at random. Instead, they arched either upwards toward the orbital elevator, or to one of the many obelisk-like control towers.

'Athena?' I wondered.

Like so many times before, her presence descended on me, 'Yes?'

'The lightning storm. Is it something to be concerned about?' I wondered.

'The rains will be heavy, but the lightning itself was rendered harmless decades ago,' She answered.

'Through the obelisks?' I wondered.

'Well, yes... But they're more than lightning rods. Primarily they're simpler, mechanized forms of Etemenanki, capable of supervising environmental nanites...' Athena added simply.

'I've heard about them. What's the ETA on that storm front?' I wondered.

'You've got half an hour before the rains arrive. More than enough time to get back to the buggy from your current location,' Athena thought.

'Noted... and while we're talking, are you aware of the True Hybrids on the planet?'

'The ones from Maxwell's secret facility? Yes, I am. They are being released one by one from a suspended-animation alcove on the Ring. Currently it is not under our control, but for various reasons I have no intention of interfering. That being said, they are being monitored as they are released, and I recently get notice that one of them... jumped off a bus near your location,' Athena said.

'Yes,' I thought with a subtle smile.

'I trust that things are going well?' Athena mused.

'I think he will adapt, but he does feel lonely, as can be expected given their absence of any real parents,' I thought, as Nick emerged from the trees once more.

'They will adapt, in time...' Athena whispered as her presence faded once more.

It took me a moment to realize that I had used Athena as a weather service. It made my ears wiggle a little as I wondered how she might feel about it.

Nick approached as I was caught in my own thoughts, and I looked over at him. He turned sideways, as if to shield himself from my view, and it me smirk a little as he sat down.

"Seems like that Zephyr is good at a lot of things," Nick said.

"I'm only using it like this because we're in a bit of a hurry. Normally I keep it hidden from people," I answered.

"... Why?" Nick wondered and leaned closer as he eyed the breadfruit.

"The questions, the stares, having to repeat myself over and over... There are many reasons, including the fact that I feel like I'm waving a knife in someone's face whenever they're out," I said.

"... Ah," Nick whispered.

"But you seem to know about them," I said, perking my brow.

Nick smirked at me, "The archives are vast, and your profile isn't the only source of information."

"Ah," I whispered, pulled the breadfruit closer, and could see a yellowish liquid seeping from the pierced top. It bubbled as I sniffed the air. Sweet, and strangely bread-like.

"Smells done," I whispered.

"Mm," Nick whispered with an eager nod.

I willed the tendril to reorient and cut through the center. One wet pop later, the fruit cracked into two, and I brought it in for a closer look. The innards of the fruit were similar to a clementine, divided into clear sections of gooey-yellowish fruit meat.

Nick gripped one half with his claws, and I grabbed the other as the tendril withdrew to cool down. He grabbed a gooey chunk, blew on it to cool down, and carefully slipped it into his muzzle. His brow lifted and his nose wiggled in response.

"Strange... a tad slimy, but good," he said finally.

It made me chuckle as I dug in and grabbed a chunk of my own, "We'll need to run back to the buggy once we're done."

"Mm," Nick murmured with a nod as he kept eating.

62 A.E. March31, Carbon Fiber Factory - Midday

Great arcs of lightning reached across the sky before coalescing as they hit a distant obelisk. It cracked and rumbled with enough force that I could feel it in the steering wheel. The wipers were doing what they could, but the torrent of rain was heavy enough that we'd been forced to slow down.

Nick leaned forward as he peered up at the sky, seeming to be amazed at it all.

A few moments passed, Nick looked to the right, and I noticed something black in the distance. Chimneys, large ones reaching high into the sky.

"Ah," Nick murmured as he leaned back.

"What?" I wondered.

Nick crossed his arms as he eyed the chimneys, "I'd hoped our adventure would last longer."

"Were you that taken with me?" I mused.

His ears wiggled as he gave me a quick glance, "I may have let my imagination run overboard, then things got complicated."

"Oh?" I wondered.

Nick seemed to shrink as his ears folded back, "I meant..." he sighed, "I don't know what I meant."

"You wanted adventure, a pack, a glimpse into the mysteries of wherever you grew up?"

Nick sighed, "Something like that, but there are no simple answers, I guess. Then, well..."

"What?" I wondered.

"As you drifted off to sleep yesterday, you might have let your mind wander, and I might have listened," Nick answered.

"It goes both ways when you sleep together... I miss my pack, you miss your friends and what was in many ways your family, but you're also a bit angry at them because of how quickly things fell apart..."

"True, it makes me wonder whether we were actually family, or just coping..." Nick whispered, and then looked to me, "and this is where I would have wanted to share something embarrassing that your own mind revealed," Nick said.

I couldn't help but smirk, "Did my mind offer no such things?"

Nick rolled his eyes, "You pondered how improper it was for me to call you Alpha... You also feared what to tell me if I asked to join your pack."

"... Oh," I whispered.

Nick met my gaze, "There are no hurt feelings... You explained it well, even while asleep. Alpha is a charged word because it implies obedience, which in turn is a whole can of worms. As for joining your pack, even if I proved myself capable, it's not a decision you can make on your own. I was simply being silly... and overeager."

"I explained all that while asleep?" I said, perking my brow.

Nick shrugged, "Or something... Message relayed in either case."

I huffed and offered him a smile, "So you did want to join the pack?"

His ears perked as he leaned back in his seat and turned to focus on the road, "That's..."

"It's okay, Nick," I said.

He smiled to himself with a sigh, "The world's complicated, and I thought we were prepared. Part of me thought I could just storm out and seize the world through sheer will. Now it seems silly."

"Mm," I murmured as I could see the split in the road further ahead.

"... Tell me about your pack?" Nick whispered as he clasped his hands.

"I didn't dream about them?" I wondered.

Nick shrugged, "I don't know... There's a feeling, as if I'd recognize them if I met them, a lingering familiarity, like the embers of a fading dream. It's the same for you as well, right?"

I pondered it for a moment, and grasped at the feeling, "There was some special dish that you liked to have for breakfast... Something your comrades found odd?"

Nick stifled a chuckle, "Pear jello with whipped cream..."

As he said it, there was something akin to a flash of memory. A sensation, the hint of an actual taste on my tongue. A weird but sweet taste. Shared memories that had intermingled during the night.

"It's certainly one of the stranger foods I've encountered," I said.

Nick nodded slowly, as if caught down memory lane, "We're all a tad unique."

"Why a wolf?" I wondered, and turned onto the split in the road.

"Why a wolf..." Nick whispered, "Why not? It's strange actually... I thought I knew the others so well, but I had a really hard time predicting what type of hybrid people wanted to become. For me, it felt obvious; for others, a wolf was nothing more than an over-emotional grunt."

I smiled to myself, "Were they that harsh with their words?"

Nick tipped his head and smirked, "No, but that's what it felt like at times. Then again, I had my own opinions, so... it all evens out."

There was more than one factory in this place. It spread out over a rather large area, and there were big warehouses filled with goods. Debris from the ongoing storm littered the road, and a plastic chair tumbled by as I watched.

"You haven't told me about your pack yet?" Nick wondered as he followed the chair with his gaze.

I noticed a group of people standing near an open warehouse in the distance and adjusted the buggy's course, "We're a pack of four... Peter, with fur similar to yours. Used to be the alpha of the group, now he's resettled as the beta."

"And... he's your mate, right?" Nick wondered as he glanced over at me.

I eyed him for a moment, "Some consider that kind of spying to be uncouth."

Nick smirked back, "Sorry..."

I continued, "There's John... A gray wolf with a lot of determination, and then there's Allen... As brilliant as his fur is white, but abrasive at times."

"Hmm," Nick murmured as he watched.

I slowed down as we pulled up next to the open warehouse, "And... I guess we're here."

Nick nodded as he looked over at me, "I guess this is goodbye."

"We will most likely see each other again," I said and leaned back.

He focused on me for a moment, and then started smiling a little, "I hope so, and... uh..."

"What?" I wondered.

"If you do need help with something, consider giving me a call?" Nick whispered.

I nodded to him, and leaned in as I reached over the seat. He eyed me cautiously, while I motioned to my cheek, "You didn't greet me properly when we first met, but you can at least do it properly as we part ways."

His ears wiggled and his eyes widened. For a moment, his nose flared, and then he leaned in. Muzzle brushed alongside muzzle, and I nudged his cheek with my nose. His breath shuddered for a moment, and I could feel that spark of a connection between us. It didn't have time to properly connect as he eased back once more, smiling sheepishly to himself.

"Thank you," Nick whispered.

"You're not alone, and if you need help figuring things out..."

Nick's ears flicked as he lowered his head in a subtle nod.

"So, until next time," I whispered back.

Nick smiled as he stepped back and reached for the door, "Until next time..."