 
### A Friend in the Woods

By A. Foster

"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental."

Table of Contents

The Landing

Fear

Lonely

Getting to know you?

Meetings

Careful what you want?

First Impressions

Maxel

The Way Home

Help, Least Expected

Stay or Go?

Seasons

Extinction and Denial

Queen Everlasting

Notes and Acknowledgements

The Landing

It was a quiet, cold morning. The people were happy and things were as they should be. Simple. Everyone was busy with their own lives, going about their own business. It was still early but the sky above was dark with snow clouds and the promise of bad weather. That was not unusual for this time of year. In fact, it was expected. No one minded, because it was anticipated. There was a certain rhythm about things that made the people happy and content.

The trees all around had a light dusting of snow from the night before. They would just be heavier soon. The little ones were mostly bedded down for the cold winter. The larger animals were preparing in their own way, for the freezing. Then, a great thunder roared from the heavens. A boom, sound like a giant drum followed, then twice more. "Boom. Boom!" A bright light shown in and out of the clouds, passing in and out from view. It was beautiful, and terrible all at the same time.

The burning brightness exploded in a ball of fire and continued on a reckless path toward the hard waiting ground. There was still something at the center of the molten light. Something important. The clouds swallowed the brilliance from sight for a long while then it hit. Whatever it was, found the ground. Not all at once, but rolling like a bouncing ball in a kid's game. Again and again, skipping and hitting trees, pulling them from their roots, or sheering them from their stumps like a lumberjack with a giant ax. The ground trembled with the final blow as the thing came to a sudden, complete, halt. It was positioned crazily against a bolder that had stopped its forward motion. If the giant rock had not been in the path, the object would have toppled over yet another cliff to a lower valley below. That would have been another hundred foot drop, or so. There, next to the huge stone, the object may have quit moving, but the heat from the descent left the surface smoking slightly and seared in places. No other markings could be seen anywhere on its surface. Just the blackened, charred exterior, stopped and still. The ever-darkening sky ignored the interruption. The storm was going to do a lot worse to the land then just a few trees knocked down if it continued to grow.

"What is it Tes?" Rin chattered to her big friend. They had watched the thing in the sky for several heartbeats. In and out of view, it was ominous and horrifying. Whatever it really was equaled trouble. That was plain enough.

"I do not know. I can not see anything past the trees. It was briefly there and then gone. Like a star falling from the heavens." Tes spoke in awe. "We will have to get closer to see better. I think that it is coming down near the big caves." Tes lumbered forward slowly. "If it overshoots the caves it may end up in the Blade." Blade, that was the name of the huge valley to the north of their home. It was a bad place. The ice that never melts could be found there. There were also the weak paths, those that looked safe but swallowed travelers. Few entered the Blade and even fewer returned. "It will take us a while to get that far. If we are going to go and check it out, then we should leave. If it falls past the caves, we will not follow." The last part was more to her self then to Rin. Making a decision to do a thing and keeping it, was a good plan.

"I can not just leave?" Rin chattered higher in frustration. She glanced to the right and then to the left. Rin always felt like she was being watched. "Okay, I will go with you." She quickly changed her mind. "You are going to need me. You always need me. Right?" Rin chattered a little lower. "I know you need me."

Tes did not answer. Rin did not notice. She simply figured the answer was yes.

"I will come with you," Rin stated clearly this time out loud. Her nose twitched in curiosity. Nothing could happen when she was with Tes. So Rin was not afraid. It was okay to be curious. On her own? Maybe not so much. But Tes was never afraid. So it was reasonably safe to be curious if she was with Tes. Maybe it was her size? Rin was so much smaller then Tes. Well, that had been the way of things. Choice had been sudden, and Rin liked being able to climb well. There were so many trees here. Thinking about all that made Rin happy. It was good to be happy. It helped keep being scared far away. When they had first come here, Rin had been scared. Tes had promised that nothing would happen, and she had been right up until now. Why should this be any different? So Rin decided that trusting Tes was a great idea.

"Okay then. We agree that if it is farther than the caves we will come back." Tes stated out loud. Was she trying to talk herself out of going somehow? No. Watching the thing in the sky was new. Tes liked new. Remember. Have a plan and follow it. Tes told herself for the third time, inside her head. "No further than the caves." Tes stood high on her two hind legs for a moment to sniff the air and get her baring. Good to know where home, was too, as not to be lost later. The best place to start any long journey was on the right path. Know where you come from, so you will know where you can go back to. Then Tes dropped back down. That was a funny thought or memory about home. Like the feeling she had forgotten something important but knew it would come to her soon enough. It was a disturbing feeling, but the strange thing in the sky, now on the ground could have been the root of the unrest. Obviously, Tes needed to sort things out for herself. A moment later Tes was off. No fan fair about anything that Tes did. She made up her mind and then things happened.

Tes's bear body was perfect for traveling. In that, she could walk great distances and not be nearly as tired as Rin. They had covered two mountain slopes in distance and likely there were several more to go. Tes heard Rin breathing hard long before she actually complained. There was no discussion, Tes simply grabbed her little friend up and placed her on her own back. Rin hugged Tes's neck with her two tiny arms and they moved on.

The sky above continued to darken steadily. Tes felt the first drops. The smell was extremely strong. There was going to be a mighty storm come down upon the land, soon. She picked up her pace. Not many of the people, go north. None want anything to do with the Blade. Because of that, Tes had to make her own way. It slowed her only a little. Being a bear had many advantages.

Together, Tes stopped with Rin at the top of a slope. "Rin, go up this tree and see. Tell me if we are close or far?" Tes had an excellent sense of direction, but she could use a moment's rest, and it would make Rin feel better to help out. Tes was always aware of her little friend's needs. She had promised her own mother she would take care of things. Wow, where did that come from? Tes had not thought of her own mother for so long. It used to make her sad, now it filled her with dread. Something bad must be really at hand for the old memories to come back.

Rin dropped to the ground from Tes's back. "Okay. I can do that right away Tes. Do you think we are close?" Rin waited a moment. And then another moment.

Finally, Tes looked down at Rin. "Rin, I will be right here. Right here. Go, up. I will not wander." Tes assured her small friend.

Rin knew Tes would not leave her but it was good to hear the words anyway. Rin ran up the tree as if it were, easy. Climbing that is. Rin being a squirrel found climbing the best fun ever. Now she could even help Tes. That was a good thing. Two good things. Climbing and helping.

Rin felt a rare human emotion, love. Rin had been with Tes since she was born. Rin had been a middle-aged woman at the time too. She had been on her mother's science team as head, planner. Growing up, Rin and Tes were more than friends they were family. Tes was the daughter Rin never had. Rin had grown older, while Tes was still growing up. As a Lifer, Tes would reach an age and time would stand still. Not so for the little squirrel. She had long life from the upgrades, but not that of a Lifer. That was okay with Rin. It had allowed her to be surrogate mother, wonderful childhood friend, sister's in life and now again mother, aged but not useless. Rin had been there for all of it. Rin would die, and Tes would go on. That was okay with Rin. She was happy to have been in Tes's life at all.

Rin went all the way to the top and looked. North, toward the Blade there was smoke. Trees on fire in places. There was also flashing lights all around. A memory came back. "Lightning 401." Then it was gone. Rin chattered a little fearfully and let that moment pass. That had been a scary word and what was the other part? That had been an even scarier memory. Rin did not like memories. So she pushed them aside. Tes needed her to be accurate so Rin took another long look.

Rin glanced up at the sky too. The clouds were mostly black now. The storm was going to be very bad. It suddenly dawned on Rin. She had told no one they were leaving to go and see the fallen thing. No one knew where they were. Rin was going to be in trouble. Tes was going to be in trouble also. Tes would not care. Rin knew that. Tes had broken the rules in the past lots of times. The elders punished her lots. Then they lost some of their sharpness. The way you know, a blade becomes overused? Dull. Rin was thinking too hard again. She looked all around so she would remember what she saw and then headed back down to the ground. Rin liked this tree, it had a strong smell. That was comforting. Rin's stomach ached with hunger and she wanted to go home. Tes needed her. "Stay on task." Rin heard a funny voice in her head. It had been a nice memory. Then it was gone. Rin continued to the ground.

"And?" Tes asked.

Rin stood in front of Tes. "There is smoke that way." Rin pointed to the north. "Not so far as the Blade, but far." Rin chattered a little nervously. "Tes I am thirsty. Should we go home? We did not tell anyone we were leaving. They will be angry. You know." Rin chattered on a bit.

"You can go back. You do not have to go ahead with me. I think that I need to go and see. I think it is important." Tes was patient. She knew her little friend was scared. "Nothing here can hurt me. Nothing here can hurt you while I live." Tes continued in a soothing voice. Rin did not look happy or decided on anything. "You like this tree. I know you do. Do this for me. Climb up and stay here. I will be back before the dawn of tomorrow. Stay high and keep watch for me. I will send a signal if I need help." Ta smiled if bears in fact smile. It was a very reassuring grimace in reality. "You would be helping, me."

Rin liked that immediately. The smell of the tree was a good sign. "I will stay here if you want me to. I will watch for you from the very topmost branch. If there is a signal I will go back and get Father." Rin chattered happier to have a purpose. Usefulness was always important to Rin. Being a squirrel you did not get to be useful, often enough. Well, in Rin's way of thinking.

Tes took a moment to gaze down at Rin. "Thank you. Staying here will help me." Tes soothed. We are family." Then Tes turned and continued toward the fallen object. There was no more to be said. Besides, talking too much brought more memories. Being a bear was easy. It was a good life. It did not normally involve so much thinking or remembering. Tes felt suddenly sad. If things went badly, being a bear would only be a memory.

Fear

Fear. It starts out sometimes like a small seed in the pit of your stomach. You don't even know that you are afraid until it has grown out of control. Sometimes it hits you like a train wreck with nowhere to run or hide. Then, the fight or flight instinct kicks in quick. The problem, who to fight or where to run? Traumatic events usually set the stage in either case. Falling out of the sky and hitting the ground, well that was traumatic no doubt.

In fact, that was top of the list for most anyone.

It was black. No lights at all. Had the power completely gone out? Why was nothing on? Captain William Jakes blinked fiercely. He rubbed his hand across his forehead and felt the wetness of his own blood? Somehow he had cut himself in the crash. The net that covered his seat in case of emergency impact must have failed. Maybe not completely as he was still very much alive. But, failed in some way that resulted in his current predicament. Why was nothing on? The emergency lights should at least give him enough light to see the displays. Black? Everything was black.

William's head ached. He slowly felt for the buckle at his breast with his right hand. Found the strap and followed it to the latch. Not thinking clearly he opened it. His body having been released from the restraints that were still in place, fell forward against the panel, which should have been in front of him, but now was below. "Ouch!" Jakes exclaimed out loud to no one. The ship was on its side. Clearly, his hammock net was not the only thing that had not diploid correctly. Carefully, Will moved off the switches and dials trying not to cause further damage to the ship.

"Well," Jakes said to no one. "Might as well open the hatch and see how bad things really are." Everyone in the force received standard protection and anti-venom shots. Most all known viruses were handled. Antivenom shots covered everything known to be dangerous to man, encountered to date. So survival was a lot about the weather and possible wildlife. Sluggishly Jakes crawled across the small cabin, avoiding buttons and panels the best that he could in the dark. Then his hand felt up and along the wall. The keypad was there, ready for his touch. It was breathable outside. That is what the breakdown read. "Earthlike". Somehow that was less reassuring from his current point of view then it had been at the briefing. Methodically he punched in the code. Nothing. He swore under his breath just a little and hit cancel. Then he re-entered the code. Maybe he had made an error the first time. Or maybe it would not open at all? Or maybe he was trapped? Was the ship on its side? He must have put the code in wrong the first time, as the door slid back and away, revealing the outside.

William Jakes did not have to guess any longer as to what happened to all the lights in the cabin. They may even be on right now for all he knew. Jakes would have no idea. As the outside was the same as the inside. Black. Black! William Jakes was blind. The immediate panic of the moment threatened to take his calm completely. Somehow he had suffered an injury in the crash. It must be worse than he thought, but the implications were deadly. That was Jakes's first taste of real fear. The question then, was their power at all? The hatch opened. Or was that a fail-safe mechanism. It would be set to work regardless in case of emergency. That fits this scenario.

Jakes's jumpsuit was on the thin side. A shiver ran down his back. It was cold here at night. The smell of water along with the wind on his face told him he had landed just before a storm. There was a crackle in the air, he could feel the hairs on his neck stand up. It was followed by a mighty thunder. Jakes stepped back further into his ship and hit the panel to close the hatch. It moved as it should, back into place. Well, something worked. That was reassuring. Or, at least it should be. I guess he was trying to convince himself that it was a good thing. The door would open and he could get out. Get out and go where? Jakes was blind. Blind!

The swish noise of the doors finally locking into place felt ominous. Of course, Jakes had been trained in all the survival classes for his rank. There was some gear in the pod. If there was power, then he could call out for help. If there was not, the emergency beacon would bring someone, sooner or later. The beacon was not extremely strong, but there was the possibility. It was the latter part of that statement that might be a problem. If he remembered right there were indigenous life on this piece of dirt. Somewhere south of his last remembered accounting, there was a small colony. If his ship had not drifted from that trajectory, then it was still a very long way, as the crow flies. That was a fleeting good thought, "as the crow flies". Thinking like that had brought him far. Jakes was always saying funny things, or at least that is what he had been told his whole life. Regardless, that was a long hike. Oh, and which way was south? If his sight did not return, he was going to have to stay right where he was and hope for the best.

Captain William Jakes was six foot, two hundred five pounds and muscled well. He had a relatively pleasant face and nice hair. It was simply brown and wavy. Normally all of that would have invoked a certain amount of confidence. He was smart, according to the tests, very smart. That had landed him in flight school. Normally that was for the natural born but Jakes had shown exceptional ability. That had made him very valuable. Yes, Jakes had been well trained his whole life. He was also brave by general standards. Being blind however had never once come up. Jakes did not feel too confident at the moment. Fear was not something he was used to. In fact, he was really not supposed to feel fear at all. It had been trained out of him. More specifically, it was supposed to have been bred out of him. William Jakes was not a clone, nor a natural born. He was improved and injected. An IAI. That was way more human than a clone.

No one mentioned being blind? That was Jakes's final thought about it. Nothing to do but move forward. Make a plan, have a plan. That was another odd thought. Jakes had always had funny ways. Like planning three steps beyond what was necessary. Blind, however, that was more than a three-step process. That was even more than a few steps. It was miles. In the best of possibilities, it would take retraining. This was about just surviving. Fear! There it was. A feeling that took his breath away. "Make a plan, have a plan." The feeling passed a bit. At least it receded farther away in his mind.

Several long heartbeats and Jakes worked at calming his insides. It was better. Then it was not, "This is not an important planet." The small voice in his head began to take him further down a bad path. Into his own personal black place. Maybe it would be better with the hatch open? At least the outside smelled okay. It was a little cold, but tolerable according to basic training standards. So Jakes felt for the cubby that held the emergency gear. It was normally right where it should be on the wall, but since everything was sideways, it took longer. Everything was going to take longer now. The only thing that was important about that, it was going to take a long time for anyone to find him. Time was something Jakes was going to have plenty of. It was going to go by very slowly too. Jakes felt sick. It was sudden, so he threw up in his own hands, trying not to make a mess everywhere. That was not smart, now how was he going to wash them. Jakes was rattled.

Jakes moved away from the cabinet that held the warm jacket he was going to retrieve and headed toward the reclamation station. There he struggled a moment with the door, and it slid back into the wall. Jakes stuck his hands into the available box opening. It worked. There was a swish sound, very low. A moment later his hands were clean. Perhaps things were not as bad as he thought. Jakes grasped at every positive notion he could find, to hold back the overwhelming fact he was blind. Every time he said it out loud or thought it in his head, he wanted to get sick again. That, however, was not going to help. The training professors would have sent him back to basic. The fear was so strong on him, that even they could not miss it.

The taste in his mouth and the smell in his nose of vomit was strong. Water? A drink would help. He twisted out of the reclamation area and felt around for the kitchen station. Jakes found the end of the hose and turned the valve. There was an odd gurgle sound, then water very slowly came out the end. The upside is that it was working at all. The downside is that the emergency pump was working and the regular power was off. Well at least to the water supply. What else was on or off, working or junk would have to be checked. That helped a little. Focus on something to do.

Jakes sat down hard on the titled surface of his ship. He was overwhelmingly tired. Actually, more than likely he was also in shock. The fact that he had lived at all and was walking around said a lot about the engineering of his ship. Jakes tried to put things into perspective. Water yes. Food, probably in the emergency kit. So that was also a yes. For a while. Maybe he could hold out for a couple of weeks on that. The water, however, would only go seven days. Jakes could stretch that a bit. Another three or four days, but that was the end. Maybe get an even dozen days. Still not very long in the scope of the situation. Dehydration and death. However, the bad weather could be a blessing. An idea suddenly washed over Jakes, like cold water! It was about to storm outside. That meant water. The information about this planet stated, Earthlike. That would mean that the water, rain or snow may be drinkable.

Jakes began to think hard about the ship and what could be used as a collector for water. His body ached, he still felt sick, but a tiny voice said, "Get a plan, have a plan." In a way it was irritating. Maybe it was his survival training. But that tiny part of him always pushed him to do the right thing. Since he could barely think more than a step or two at a time his head hurt so bad, Jakes felt around for items from the galley. Collection boxes and plastic lined drawers. Methodically, he piled them by the hatch. That was it. At least six and he was done. Jakes felt along the wall for the release to the main hatch, and the swish sound followed. Jakes was greeted by a strong wind and light sprinkles. He tried to gather the best containers and set them on the ground outside the ship. Jakes's hands shook. He felt sick and could barely keep from throwing up again. The injury to his head had stopped bleeding and caked up. Jakes struggled to get back inside the ship and close the hatch. The boom of thunder was deafening. Jakes hurried.

Once again inside the entryway, a part of Jakes felt like sleeping. Eyes closed or open? What would be the difference? Jakes could not see. Jakes was safe inside the ship. That is safe from the outside. It was shock and coma that threatened his life now.

Jakes could have left the hatch open. It might have helped him focus and stay awake. However, if unwelcome visitors came along he could do very little to protect himself. The storm was also getting worse. So the weather was going to be a problem. Jakes was unsure as to how long the storm would last after it hit. He really had no way of knowing or even checking his instruments. He was aware, however, the storm would cause even greater interference regarding the emergency beacon. That was obvious. Would the small signal even get out at all, considering the electrical charges going off all around? If there was thunder, there was surely lightening. It must be quite a show Jakes, thought to himself. Too bad he could not watch it.

If welcome visitors did come along, Jakes smiled. He might be saved or at least safe. "Maybe I should put out a welcome mat?" Jakes thought with a bit of irony. His sense of humor had been an issue in training. It was not good to have one. That is what his instructor had stated more than once. Well, if he did have visitors, just walking by, he could only guess what they would see. A giant black ball of twisted metal. The burned smell that overpowered everything, told Jakes it was doubtful anyone would think there were survivors at all.

The colony or infestation on this rock was not really important. The technology was not high. They, the company did not consider them an issue, but that did not make them automatically friendly. The planet had been cataloged for ultimate colonization of future inner planetary overpopulation, nothing else. And that would not be for decades with all the new advances. So again, this was a far away place, and that made rescue less possible.

Then, Jakes felt his legs go just a little numb. Jakes found he did not care. His stomach rumbled, and he could not think of the last time he ate or drank anything. Yet, he just sat. Funny how the ship landing on its side made everything almost comical. Boy his training was a bit short on this type of emergency. "Do you think anyone will ever find you here?" Wow, it was not a good idea to say that out loud again. Bad enough to hear it inside, but giving it voice had so much more power. Jakes's eyelids became very heavy and he lay down on the slanted floor. What did it matter if he just slept here for a while? No one would know he was not moving forward. That would have gotten him removed from rank. No one stopped moving forward. That meant that the "People" were not being advanced. Humans had to be advanced. That is what it was all about. Well, not at this very moment. William Jakes was going to let himself off the hook. He was going to let himself be, human.

Having left Rin behind at the tree, Tes could move much faster. Rin would be safe from predators and safe from her own personal fears. Telling her to keep watch would give Rin just what was needed to make her focus. Rin was a good assistant. Assistant? There, another word that Tes had thought to never know again. Knowing a thing, like a word and its definition makes you strong. But knowing too much about things you wish you did not, is regret. A feeling that Tes knew well. That and sorrow. Lastly was fear. Feelings were always stronger than words, but the words set the feelings in motion. Then the memory re-lives again fresh and sets things that happen now, forward along a path.

Regret. That was a sad remembered feeling. Tes did not wish to dwell on it. So she let it pass. Oh, then there was sorrow. That also had to be passed by for the moment. Tes never let her self-dwell on that one. Maybe that is why Tes liked being a bear. Well, it was at least the closest thing to a bear Tes's mother could define for Tes. It had four legs, a large warm furry body, and sharp teeth. When the choice came and they were all made to hide, the bear was perfect for Tes. The form had been a good place to stay hidden and still be protective. Bears did not fear much here on this planet. Bears, that is, in general, were considered the higher animals in size and girth here. They go where they want and do what they want. No real responsibilities. No real enemies. This planet had been very similar to their home. That is why Ta's mother had put this place on the list. "List". Another word. Another memory.

The oversight by the Company was that the scientists on the "Project" would peacefully hand over their man-made miracles. If you have free thinkers, like scientists there is going to be trouble. It is their career in life to question things. It is not out of the realm of possibility they would also have or develop a conscience. Maybe they always had one, but it had to be reawakened. The Shifting brought that awakening. Before that, there was only the war. The war that went on and on forever.

The war according to Liza was between the Bloods and Clones. The Bloods were the human beings that refused upgrades. People that thought it was vain to tamper with fate. On the other hand, there were those that "more" was never enough. Better athletes, workers, thinkers, oh and soldiers. What a great idea? That was the birth of the clones. Human beings had created a whole sub race to use and abuse. They did just that. They were still doing it. Then there was the IAI's. They had been upgraded but had real mothers. So they were true born's. Sadly they did not fit either side. They were not true Bloods and they were not Clones.

The war against slavery had been repeated throughout history. This was just another stage of it. Sadly, with Shifting and the ability of long life, the soldiers produced would be nearly undying. War would never end.

Tes's mother did not know that her daughter would be both a Shifter and long, of years. It did not matter. One or both, the outcome would have been the same. Tes's mother did not want Tes to end up in the hands of the People. She had risked her own life to save Tes and her followers. There were gaps in Tes's memory concerning the People. She knew they would fill up and the details return. Sadly, maybe mother did not know everything that was going to happen and that is why I know fear? Tes thought to herself. Mother knew many things when she was working with the sciences of life. Yet other things about everyday stuff were unclear. Can you know too much? Does knowing some things color your ability to learn new things about it?

Fear? How long had it been since Tes remembered feeling fear? It left a cold ugly taste in her mouth. Memories pressed at the edges of her mind and she pushed them back. As long as there was hope, then Tes would continue as before. So Tes walked on at a faster pace. Fear would not win here. This place had been safe nearly beyond her memory. Why now? Why would it be different now? This whole event could be something simple? Tes was thinking too much. That was unsafe. She was afraid. No amount of thinking, planning, risking and forgetting would fill every gap. For now, Tes was a bear and there had been a shooting star. Wow. It was a cheerful thought only hours ago. A wondrous thing in the sky to see. Now, it had substantially lost its shine.
Lonely

William Jakes opened his eyes. Darkness. Then he remembered. Would have been nice. He smiled sadly. If it had been a bad dream. If he could see, then the clock on the wall would have been visible. Midday. Jakes had been passed out or asleep or both for over four hours. He felt sick still. His body hurt from the impact of the crash and the failing emergency measures. That really was only the tip of things. The gash in his head and his blindness had left him weak and defenseless.

Time was his worst enemy. Five minutes, five hours, five days? Well days, of course, he would sleep. But was he going to sleep too often? That would be depression. Hum. Captain William Jakes was already finding being blind a challenge beyond all his training. He could walk. The numbness in his legs had subsided. That was good. He did not feel any real damage anywhere but the gash in his forehead. That was plenty. After giving it a lot of consideration, he figured he had both shock and a concussion. That is why he was vomiting. Nothing to really do about it. He should not sleep, if possible. There was little he could do about that either.

Then Jakes remembered the plastic bins for water. He fumbled his way to the hatch and released the door. "Swish". The metal entry hatch flew upward, creating a relatively good shelter from the rain. Four of the six bins had turned over. Jakes righted them. The other two had over an inch of water. He poured them together into one to bring back inside and set the other collection bin back out. The effort of all that work, left him exhausted once more. Jakes grasp the sides of the plastic bin containing the liquid to go inside and struggled to complete the task at hand. After placing the water in a safe place he returned and closed the hatch.

Jakes had not seen or heard anything for a long time. Was an hour, two, three, a day a night. This funny world he had crashed on had two suns. So it was full, day or dusk most of the time. Jakes would even welcome that. He could get warm with a bit of sunshine. But the clouds and storm had persisted. That had provided him with water, enough for a while. So it was a good thing. But back to the point at hand. Time. A little or a lot? When you are blind and your head hurts, it seems to be the exact same thing. In fact, a little might even seem like a lot, but it is still only a little. It could drive you mad if not trained. Jakes was trained. That is what he kept telling himself.

The truth was that Jakes was afraid. Jakes was afraid and lonely. Jakes was thinking about sleeping a lot. Jakes was thinking about dying.

Tes, still on the path to find the thing from the sky, felt funny. This whole incident was like a dream she had already had, only this time she was living it. The fire and smoke smell had made her remember. Tes hated memories. They were seldom good.

Another flash came to Tes. Men. Soldiers. Destruction. Real fear. Fear! Something she never thought about as a reality. It was more like a fail-safe. Long before she could see it, plans were already made and placed in motion. Images, trees far in the distance, all alight with the terrible glow of fire, death, and destruction. More than words, but words that brought feelings. Feelings best not felt but forgot. "There may not be a choice." The tiny voice that always helped her take the best path. So nothing was set in stone. Tes would just go and see.

Tes, the bear continued. The thinking was too much like something else. The bear was better. The path ahead was easy enough. From the rise where she stopped to get a good look at the crash site, it did not appear the fire was going to spread. The woods here on this planet were Green Deep. That meant they were very, full of water. It is how Rin would describe them anyway. Once she had chosen her creature, her way of thinking also took on unusual qualities. The green deep aspect of this planet made it a perfect place to be. Technology and water were never the best of friends. Why Tes thought of that too, put her in a terrible mood.

Green deep? That is also what the scientists called the beginnings of "Peace" in the change. Words with meanings flashed in her head. Maybe because it brought the same feeling as a deep woods to the heart. You start thinking a certain way and then you are okay with things. That is better than dying and safer for everyone. Right? Better than giving up what they all knew and killing millions. Making Michael Wilder powerful, and the government? Company? Who knew? A black unnamed face that fed the war machines. Building better weapons? Running, fleeing and hiding was a better choice. The forgetting part of the time, that was a bonus to many. They had to leave their whole lives and commit. Lost, everything they had. Their families, their friends. They had to commit to peace.

All the others had chosen Peace and the healing power of forgetfulness. That was also the words the Scientist's had used to describe the outcome of long-held change. Ta only had a portion of that. She was cursed with the next generation of Science. Yes, she could take shape. She did not know Peace easily and it was just as easily broken. Once the shift had been thought out, peace was forgetfulness, and then ultimately acceptance. Ta would never know either fully.

Sadly, none of it ever would have been necessary if not for the wars. Tes stopped a moment and looked up at the dark clouds. All of her memories warned her this was bad. Tes was exhilarated and terrified. She lumbered on. Focus on the task at hand. Act do not react to anything. Do everything by way of a plan. Make a plan, have a plan, stay on the plan. Father's lessons from her early years rattled off in her head. A silly memory of a great owl like a teacher, spouting human words and thoughts to Tes from a stump in a clearing. Like something out of a kid's story in her mother's memory. A bear made of honey, was in it? It did not matter. It made her happier to think about it.

More importantly, Tes had a second gift. She was extremely long-lived. Two aspects the government or any self-respecting pharmacy company would kill to possess. More memories came back. Flashes. Hers, her mother's, her father's? The ones from her father, they were dark indeed. Those Tes knew right away from the rest. His heart had been full of "More". That is the word the memories brought back. More of everything. Nothing would ever be enough! More!

No time to sort feelings and memories, especially unwanted ones at the moment. All of it was hard to be sure. When the past came back it was always a jumble of pictures to be sorted out. That is why Tes loved the "Peace" feeling. Perhaps this whole trip was a waste? Maybe, it was just a rock, nothing more. Then I can forget again, even if it takes longer to happen." Tes spoke low, to no one. One thing was very sure. Danger was in the wind and Tes was not including the storm in that conclusion.

Just at that moment, a giant flash of lightning streaked across the sky. Tes counted to herself eight full breaths then, thunder hammered in response. Rin would be afraid Tes thought. But she would not leave the top of the tree. Rin above all things was loyal. Tes picked up her own pace. Better to hurry and get this over with.

Tes still fought with herself. There was ever the smallest chance this was just a random accident. A rock from space. "Meteor" flashed in her mind. Yes, Tes was waking up. She had only just barely been asleep at all, but it had been nice. The real Tes, not the bear. Sadly, if this was an unimportant event, all of this thinking and remembering would be futile. The damage would be bad for her. The difference between now and the long before time was Tes's age of acceptance. Tes was not a little kid anymore. All the others had been grown-ups when she was small. They were still all around her, but blissfully asleep or passed on. Well, maybe not so much Father. His name had been Andrew Als'right. Dr. Als'right to everyone in power at the time. To Tes, it was just Father. He had been the head scientist for the project.

When her mother had been taken, Dr. Als'right raised Tes as his own daughter. He was still as watchful as he could be. An owl had been a good choice for him. They, owls that is, are long-lived. Tes was always pleasantly surprised when the real Father, not the owl would speak with her. It had been less and less over the years. Forgetting is peaceful. It was Tes that did not forget. For her, it was more like being in a light sleep. The kind that you always wake up with just the slightest change in the surroundings. Weather, loud noises, and rocks falling from the heavens all qualified. Holding and focusing on pleasant memories made the forgetfulness return but it took time. It also made the changes all around, easier to accept. The forgetfulness that is. Tes would outlive everyone she ever knew.

Unlike the other scientists that had their DNA changed directly, Tes had been born with her gifts. Her DNA was considered the best of both contributors. Shifting and long life was the highest projected outcome of the experiment. The benefits of having both were limitless. It, the new DNA would be used to make excellent soldiers in the Company clone facilities. A recipe for disaster, Mother would tell her in the years before the choosing. Their breakthrough, her mother's and the other scientists on her team, would have led to more war, more killing. Father called it feeding the beast. When he said it, there was an ugly shadow in his eyes. Father had seen much, and forgetting had been a good thing for him as a man. Humans are not meant to carry black things around forever. Sometimes they do. But they should not.

The wars of Gama Six and Azar Twelve had waged for years. Real humans were costly to train and keep. Clones, now that was another story. You could make a clone cheap enough, raise them, feed them what you like and basically turn them into a slave race. No one would care. They were used in all kinds of ways. If you needed a kidney, a heart? All you had to do was order a clone. That was a bit inhumane according to some. So they started to be more specific, which was cloning just parts. But there was always a need for a whole soldier. A whole worker to go into places deemed unsafe for humans. Oh safe enough for clones. That being, if you could make a better clone, then that would just make a better slave race, to do more jobs. No moral code or ethical response for nonhumans. That was the thinking of the system the scientists had chosen to flee. That is how Father, Dr. Als'right, and the others ended up on Omega.

First, the team left the Science Station orbiting Mars quietly. It had been close, but Father had made plans ahead. Liza and the others made it free that night. Maybe forever, maybe not, is what they all had thought. But every moment they could hold off giving the Company more power to feed the war machines was worth it.

They had stayed on Zira for several years. It was the water planet Father had picked for their re-homing. By accident, a Freight Ship had crashed there as well. The ending of that was not good. Liza had gotten everyone to the emergency vessel, but herself. The sacrifice she made was not forgotten by any of her team. They were all close. Tes had been left alone in that event, so the Scientists were truly her new family.

Father then brought them all to Omega. That meant the end! Well, Father told her it was their last place to hide. Tes guessed the end fit?

The second movement had been very hard on everyone. That was the escape from Zira. The company had not followed them to Omega, or at least Father believed they had escaped again. Father had worked up all kinds of scenarios to be prepared. That is where her mother Liza had picked up the habit, being so prepared. It was very helpful at the time.

Tes's mother being captured had been very bad for everyone. Hardest of course on Tes herself. Father had been there to pick up the pieces. He had held her and all the others together. Now it was time for Tes to do the same. That is what the tiny voice in her mind told her heart.

Zira had been a water planet. Tes remembered suddenly, that she could be a fish if she wanted. Being a bear for so long had made her forget the fish.

It was because of Liza's sacrifice Tes and the others made it out and away from Zira. How long ago was that? Tes was unsure. This time was just the longest they had been able to stay without discovery. Tes did not think the others could even leave. If found they would have forgotten too much, and so made themselves safe. Without their memories, their reactions would be that of their chosen animal. So they had no value. Regardless it was now up to Tes to find out if they were really safe? If they had to move again, could they? Tes wondered, but did not dwell.

Tes stumbled. Too many flashes of memory too close together. It was hard, to think and walk? This all started as a flash across the sky? It would take long to forget it all if it were not an important event. Tes could not turn back. She had to find out one way or the other.

Then Tes dared to remember her mother as she walked through the woods. Beautiful and smart. That was her lovely mother. Also, her mother was not a bear. But what? A comfortable presence in her heart told her that she was human. Her mother was very special. She could do anything and saw the world in a very, unique way. Colors, sounds, words, were like paint. She saw so much more behind what was in front. Like the hidden layers of life. The place where emotion and color are the same things. That was how her mother had explained Shifting. That is the only way to describe it. In front? Everything in the front left things hidden behind. That was the basis of Shifting.

Lonely. Tes knew because she saw that too. In her mother's memories. That is how Tes knew what it was like or to be like in her future. That was one, bad, flaw to being the only one of your kind. It made you by inevitability lonely. That made you fear the funniest things. It twisted your insides just a bit. Why this was all coming up now made Tes very afraid. The embedded memories were never wrong. They had kept her and the others alive before. This was no different. If it was, in fact, Them, then Tes knew what to do. It had just been so long. She had almost held out the tiniest hope that "They" had been outlived. Sadly, like bugs, they breed and tell each other. The next generation is as greedy as the last, and want the same horrific things. Better soldiers for a war that has no end.

Then there were flashes of ships in her mind. Things she had not seen first hand but were passed to her from her mother. More memories. It was part of the gift. Imprints. Genetic Memory Codes or GMC's. That is what Rin had called it when they first found out. Tes could remember pretty much everything her mother or father ever saw, even before she had been born. It took a great effort to bury the information. To bury the memories. It had threatened to overwhelm Tes for a while. But up until now, Tes had succeeded. It had made her very uneasy and confused, so long ago. Now there was no escape. The Peace was more than likely gone forever for Tes.

By the time Tes came across the object everything was all too real. No more flashes of the past to confuse the present. The thing was no rock, no meteor. It was a ship. The word was crystal clear to her, "ship". That meant they had found this planet. "They". The company, the drug makers, the government war mongers, the crazy people. Fear for all those she loved threatened to overwhelm Tes for a few heartbeats. Then she gathered herself together. Act. Don't react.

Maybe, still, maybe it was just a ship. Tes would not rush into anything. There were still lots of time if she wanted to signal Rin. She would be vigilantly at her task, watching for a sign. So, Tes would just let her wait and not jump too fast into what was to come. Good or bad, Tes would wait.

Hours passed. Tes had sat watching the ship not knowing what to expect. Maybe soldiers? Trackers? Company men? What would they look like now? It had been so very long. The ship was like a big ball at the end of a long stick. Only it was as big as a house like in the colony far to the south. How many men could fit on one ship?

The fires finally went out around the crash site. The wet weather helped with that. The surface of the ship slowly cooled. It was just there on its side against a huge boulder. Tes was amazed at the fact it had hit and stopped exactly at that spot. A few paces to either side of the giant stone, was a big drop, down to the Blade. The only way out of Blade was a terrible hike to the mouth. That was the entrance to the Blade area. Rocky pathways that led north. If the ship had careened over the edge the problem might have solved itself. But it did not. The Blade was not a friendly place regardless of how prepared you might think to be. The natives avoided the place. An unsafe region. A dangerous expanse. That tiny voice Tes had come to accept as important, was filling in bits of past information. There was a flash picture of several maps laid out on two large tables. Her mother Liza was there and another woman. Then it was gone.

The caves had been a bit further to the east. So Tes had not changed her plan. The ship had come down this side of the caves. It left her a little more calm to think she was still on task.

Without notice, a line appeared on the surface of the ship. It spread quickly into the outline of a door. It swung up and out. The inside was revealed. All metal and hard surfaces. And a man. A single man. That was the first man that Tes had seen in many an age. She knew it was a man, as the memories were quite clear. Most of the pictures that rushed to her mind from the past were that of soldiers. This man did not really look like any of those. He just looked like a man. He did have a funny outfit on. That could still be a uniform of sorts, she thought. Soldiers had uniforms and so did Scientists. The man wore white. Might he be a scientist? Tes could feel she was afraid. She was no longer lonely.

Tes watched the man from the far side of the clearing. Did he not smell her? Did he not see her? He did not even hear her. Did he not look her way? It did not take much at all to work out. The man could not smell well. The man acted funny. He was carrying boxes. He set them up against the ship's hull. That was smart. The river was far from here. The storm would provide. So the man is not stupid.

Tes thought, "The man should have been able to see me? Hear me? Something is wrong with him.

Tes took a deep breath. The ship had a bad smell. The fires were mostly out. The smell of that would fade completely, soon enough. The new intruder, that may not fade so quickly. It was wishful thinking that the man would fade away. He would not. More then likely, he would bring others. Those others, would they be rescuers or Them? The soldiers and people her mother taught Tes to fear, were they still alive?

Tes moved back just a little way into the woods. The storm was going to hit anytime. Again, being a bear was not a bad thing. There were advantages.
Getting to know you?

A couple more hours passed, the storm lessened. Tes was drenched. She stood up and shook then lay back down in the warm spot between the branches on the ground. Her big body and thick fur were great for the cold. If she had to choose again, Tes hoped this shape was a possibility. It had served her well. She would remember how to create it. That was another advantage her mother had not even known about. Tes could change and even remember for later. Tes first learned this when they came to Omega. That is what Father had called this planet. That was the given name of this planet. Another memory.

Tes had tried shifting to several of the creatures here over the years. The squirrel shape one was the most fun. Tes even remembered playing with Rin in the trees. There were several species of the squirrels. Rin tried them all before remaining gray like the clouds. She said it made her safer, not to be seen. That is why Tes always thought that Rin was afraid.

Then came the bear shape. That was better. Better for not being bothered and easier to forget things you did not want to remember. Many of the creatures on this planet had shapes similar to the ones from Earth, the home planet. That is why she referenced them the same in her mind. Yes, she was a bear. Tes smiled. Not a brown bear. A beautiful dark, royal blue. The sun here made color different. Which made the memories Tes had from her mother, all the more confusing at times. As it kid, she had thought it cool. Like coloring out of the lines in a children's activity book. Shapes were similar, but that is often where the similarities ended.

Nothing had happened. Twice Tes knew she had dozed off to sleep. She told herself the man was clumsy. If he did come out again, she would hear him easy. So, sleeping was a good thing. Tes was tired. It had not been the distance she had walked to get to this place, but the emotional havoc that it had brought inside her head.

There were still lots of hours between the now and the rising of the next day. If Tes was smart like her mother, she would simply move the People. That would be the right thing to do. But then she would not know if she had done it for nothing. Some of the People may not wake up and taking them from their home would be harmful. They would no longer understand. Tes remembered. The others did not have that ability to remember so much. It had been a long time. Also, some had passed away on this planet. Tes, the human inside of the bear body missed them all. She remembered their human faces and their shifted bodies. They had been her family. The ones that remained alive would be protected if it took her last breath. Tes would make sure they were safe and stayed that way.

Tes thought if she could just find out a bit more about things. Specifically about this man, then she could make a good decision for everyone. Father always taught her to weigh out the problem carefully. That is where she got the "act, don't react" lesson. I guess she had been listening more closely to his words then she had thought. It felt like forever ago. The information was true and would serve her well now. That would have pleased Father.

Then, without warning the hatch on the wreck flew upward. There he was again. The man. Standing in the middle of the opening. Very tall. For a human? That is what she would say if she were going to describe him. Tall. Tes, did not think that humans were that tall? Once her mother had told her a story about little people with hairy feet. They went together as a group on a long quest. In the end, they slew a mighty dragon. Tes had been nervous. Her mother had laughed and told her it was just a story. This was real. The man, the ship, and the danger were all real. No more stories for little kids. Tes was the leader now. Father was too old. Mother was gone.

Memories were flooding back into her head. She liked that feeling now. Acceptance of your own fate sometimes makes you a bit stronger. Also, she had stopped trying to struggle. The images. The smells and people. Things she had never done, places she had never been. Acceptance. That was the feeling that washed over Tes. Her mother could not have known what being a shifter and a long-lifer was going to do, to her daughter. How could she know? Tes was never intended to be part of the plan. She was not a forever warrior and was never going to be. She was an accident of fate. Or, maybe in the whimsical mind of her own mother, she was a love child.

Tes's mother Liza Mayweather had met and fallen in love with Michael Wilder at the Center of Science. It had been a whirlwind romance. Both were high end, tech types, with various backgrounds in biology and biogenetics. One very big difference. Liza was a free thinker in a time when focus on the war was the only thing that mattered. Tes's mother did not fit in. Liza broke the rules. Not once but all the time. She had an avid curiosity and an undeniable instinct for seeing how things worked together. It landed her in trouble from time to time, but nothing too bad. She was too smart to be wasted on "removal". So Liza had free reign to experiment because she produced results. That is what made her an incredible scientist. She believed in coloring outside of the lines. Her father was not. All of the above. Not a free spirit and not a free thinker. It was a serious case of opposites attract. Or was it?

When her mother found the answer to long life, she told Dr. Als'right immediately. That was the lead scientist on her team. He had come to be more than just a working associate. He had been like a father to her over the years, always helping to keep her on track and out of too much trouble. They were friends. They did not always have the same point of view, but they respected each other. Liza trusted him and told him that she was going to have a baby.

The reality was that the baby was going to have the memories of the father. Long Life'ers were going to carry the imprints of their ancestors. The genetic codes of Wilder had shown he would more than likely be a Life'er after the change. That had been the contribution Als'right had been working on. It was supposed to be the key to the clones being self-aware. The company wanted stable clones that lasted longer. If they died but could pass on their knowledge and memories to the next, that would stabilize them. Make them better more efficient soldiers. The war would go on forever. Life'er soldiers, killed only in battle, getting constantly renewed and stronger? War without end?

How did Liza know she was with child? Because she knew. She was going to be a mother. The relevance was a new level of the experiment. More importantly, it brought with it information that Liza would never have known otherwise. As the mother, she was able to see, not just with her own eyes, but with the new identity inside. The little person that was Liza and not Liza. That was Wilder and not. That of an innocent. Someone that accepts all things as equal.

Dr. Als'right told Liza to keep quiet. In one night Liza went from blissfully stupid with a triple digit IQ, to more knowledgeable and alert than she ever wanted to be. The fact that all their experiments to date were not about making a better life for humans, but about better soldiers. Better parts to spare for the rich that could afford them. Better slaves for humans that forgot how to be human. The full weight of everything she had done in the field and everything she was going to do, was life-altering. On so many levels they could not be counted.

Dr. Als'right also broke the shell of her romance that same night. Michael Wilder was not just a lab partner. He was a watchful agent from the Company. Liza did not want to believe it. She fought Als'right and defended Michael. It did not matter. Everything Als'right said was true. The facts were clear. In the end, Liza knew he was right. The little being inside of her confirmed it. So little, so innocent and so without loyalty except to the truth.

Knowing had come just a little too late. Liza had given the injections to Michael days before. The outcome of his progress was being monitored even now. His DNA would be enhanced to the point he would be a Life'er. Funny, he had wanted to be part of the experiment. So he was. But ultimately, it was never going to be enough. Wilder wanted more! What he thought he was getting in the mix was to be a Shifter. It was not going to happen. Liza could see the formula in her head. The way the chemicals, moved and changed. Liza had an excellent, if not eidetic memory for such things. Liza could fix the problem, now that she had both her own knowledge base and that of her daughter's. If she did that, Liza could easily create Shifters. A race of clones, having both long life and shifting capabilities was staggering to think about it. Power without limits. Humanity, real humanity, lost.

The little life inside Liza tried to become smaller still. That was the first remembrance of fear.

Michael Wilder was an exceptional student all on his own. However, he came from a lower branch in the family tree of life. So he would have to work twice as hard to be worthy of propagating. That was only part of it. Not only did he want a child to pass on his own DNA, he wanted it to be better than all those that came before him. He would show the others on his tree. He would show them what he was made of, literally. That he was worthy. From the moment he had learned about the Life'er experiments he knew he was going to be part of them. In fact, he was going to be the final product. A better human.

Having come to the right college through a bit of computer tampering Wilder placed himself on the right team. The cutting edge of tomorrow. Michael had scooped the small-minded Liza Mayweather right up. Again, easy. Yes, she was intelligent. But shallow. She would go on and on about how she was going to make the world a better place. He would hold his tongue and listen. Wilder knew they were close to a breakthrough. Liza had spent more and more time with Als'right. That could only be for one reason. Wilder wanted to be experimented on. He had gone as far as his own resources could take him. An intervention was necessary. A better human. A better Wilder. Better yet, a more powerful Wilder. Knowledge was power.

Als'right knew Wilder was a problem the moment he showed up a year ago. Too cocky, too young and above all too ambitious in the wrong way. The older scientist had seen Wilder's kind before. They were just using the system as a ladder to get to the top. The top of what? Whatever it was that looked out of reach. Out of nowhere Wilder had been placed on their team. That was suspicious. But all of his credentials had checked out. Als'right could not boot him. In fact, he could not even stop the last round of experiments. That was the worst part. Both Liza and Father knew that meant Wilder would change soon. That would only make him more hungry. More dangerous. Father did not have to ask who the father of Liza's baby was. That meant he had "rights" as to what would happen to it. Did it even mean anything to him, besides the "value" of the experiment? Doubtful.

Immediate preparations were set into motion. Father had been ready with the outlines of a plan for months. Father had a bad feeling. He paid attention to bad feelings. In the scope of personalities, Father was a pessimist. Being prepared for the worst was second nature. That was a good thing more often than not.

Since the experiments had already begun general trials with the assigned groups, Michael Wilder would have been alerted if they did not continue. He would never know or suspect if they just broadened the pool of subjects. Normally the individuals used were primarily clones. That was okay. Clones were after all, expendable. Wilder was an exception as had been Liza. "Reckless". That is what Father had called it. In the end, that recklessness had given Liza the knowledge to see the answers. Oh and the truth about Mr. Michael Wilder.

Over the next few days, Father convinced every member of his team but two, that they needed to be part of the project directly. That meant they were all in as Scientists. Those that did not agree, were told they would still receive injections, but primarily would serve as a baseline group. They would be enhanced, but only in a way that mirrored their own latent DNA. If they had none, then nothing would change.

Giving injections to Wilder and the other two would avoid any problems or possible panic. As far as the Company was concerned, what did it matter? Scientists stepping forward to offer themselves as subjects did not seem overly unusual. There was, after all, a war going on. Getting the right answers would make getting better weapons faster. Who cared about a few extra scientists? If they believed in their progress so much, that only showed it was going well. Let them all take chances. That was even cheaper than throwing away clones. That was the administrations standing.

When Father and Liza escaped the Zero One station outside of Mars, in a deep space explorer, only a few were gathered. Not Maxel. Maxel was one of the two scientists that had been left behind. Not for the last time he wished they had included him. That he had gone with Liza and the rest. If they had only asked? If she had only asked, meaning Liza? Maxel had dormant genes. The injections worked. Sandra Jakes was the other member that refused direct enhancement to become a Shifter or a Life'er in favor or her own possibilities. She had dormant genes also. However, Sandra Jakes died of unknown causes.
Meetings

Admiral Wilder sat in the command chair of his own Planet Destroyer. Nothing stopped him or even slowed him down anymore. Power. That is what he had and plenty of it. Admiral, well that was kind of an honorary title. Michael Wilder was really more like Head Scientist gone military. Fear. You could smell it all around the command deck. They all feared him. That felt good too. They should fear him. He was strong.

Man and war. They were like the front and back cover of the very same book. At least the book that Wilder would or at least could write. Maybe he would get around to that. The idea made him want to laugh a little. Writing? Now well into his second century, and showing only little signs of age, anything was possible. If he did write one, the title would be, "History of Man" by Michael Wilder. Anyone that did not like the title or what was written inside could be ousted, put to death or as a last resort, outlived. That made Wilder smile from ear to ear.

After, Dr. Als'right, Liza, and her team escaped things looked grim for Wilder. The Internal government workers were zeroing in on Liza anyway. That is why Wilder was there in the first place. He had simply been found out early. How? He had no idea. He wanted all that she knew and being close to her personally, well that had just been a bonus.

Then, days later, the change had come upon him. Wilder had been a little surprised. But not totally off guard. He knew there were differences between what happened to him and the other DNA study subjects. However, Liza had not been very forthcoming with her own direct work. Wilder figured he had gathered enough information from when they were still together, it would be fine. Later when he worked out the formulas, they were slightly off. No doubt the long life he and a hand full of other test subjects now enjoyed was all Liza's contribution. She knew her stuff. The other part? Well, that was all his own involvement. That had different outcomes altogether when combined with Liza's work. Trying to complete things without her, had also led down a different path. Wilder did not even like to dwell on that himself. His eyes closed down to the inner lid. That was more relaxing. Also, he could listen better.

Wilder stretched a little his long lizard-like limbs. Hungry again. That is what he thought. I am hungry again. Long-lived and always hungry. Well, this body sure uses a lot of energy. He did have, better strength than ten Regulars after all. That at least impressed the government. When the generals were told, Liza had escaped with her team, Wilder's future and outlook had been grim. Then the change. It had probably been the only reason they let him continue the work. That and the fact that he had already been a subject, why waste material? The top CEO's wanted working formulas. There were government contracts and more generals to impress. Line them all up, they all wanted the same thing that Wilder wanted. They wanted power! Well, Wilder was in a position to give it to them. That made him valuable. He was long-lived, that made himself, patient. Wilder could see the big picture. CEO's and generals all die. Michael smiled, his teeth shown brightly.

"Sir." The man stood by Wilder's chair at attention. "A beacon has gone off in sector 18. You said you wanted to be informed. Should we send assistance?"

Wilder wanted to hug the man, but that might scare him to death. So he held his excitement to a minimum. "Yes. We will send assistance. That will be us, directly." Wilder swiveled in his chair to face the navigator. "Best possible speed." The man at the helm moved his hands across the panel to comply immediately.

"Sir, It will take 76.5 hours to reach our destination." The navigator offered.

Wilder hit the switch on his chair. "Dr. Maxel. Lightning 401". He rose from the chair in a very lizard-like fashion and headed toward the lift. "#2". A man stepped forward to the command chair and sat down. That was all that was needed. The entire ship was full of clones. Very high-grade clones mind you, with a mission. They were all smart and properly numbered. No, not like numbered 1-100. They had serial numbers yes. But they were programmed to download directly to the ships computer and back to each other. It was similar to a hive mind system.

Dr. Maxel was not a clone. He had been one of the only other two scientists that did not go with Liza Mayweather. The funny part is that Maxel had dormant genes. They were flawed but exceptionally unique. Maxel was a giant cat. Not fierce like a tiger, but friendly and moody like a house cat. The woman scientist? Wilder had not known well. She had died. Maxel told him that she had very little change, before her death. Probably not important to the greater need. The prize had been and still was Shifter and Lifer. A Soldier that could be anything to fight an opponent and live basically forever. Wilder would also like to pick up shifter for himself. That way he would not be so ruled by his ever-present hunger and desire to eat the crew.

Dr. Maxel was pacing and standing, then repeating in the Sky room. That was the part of the ship, located on top. It has an open view of the stars. A lovely, reinforced dome that could stand nearly any impact the hull itself might take in a battle. Oh, and they had seen a few of those.

Maxel stopped at the point in the room, closest to the bow, for ten eternally long minutes. The stars were magnificent. Not all of them held life, but surely many. They had already found nine. More clone ships had been sent out. Hundreds. Soon, Thousands. Then?

It was exciting to be part of all the expansion. Oh, and helping with the Armed Forces. Dr. Maxel was a cloning specialist. That is what he had done for Liza's group. He had provided information about clones. It turned out it had been primarily a one way street on the information high way between them. Liza did that. She was good at getting what she wanted or needed. Lots of men found Liza beautiful. Liza had long beautiful hair, perfect skin, white teeth, long eyelashes, cover model material. The fact she had a higher IQ than the total of most rooms she ever walked into, only made her shine. Dr. Maxel had fallen in love with Dr. Liza Mayweather from the first moment he saw her. Maxel had been fifteen years her senior so it was nothing he would ever have followed up on. He had just appreciated her from afar, like fine china or a lovely painting in the museum. If giving her information when she asked for it was a crime. Maxel was guilty.

It had been a gray area. The information thing. Maxel was supposed to get close to Liza. Just like Wilder. Only he was from a different company. Spies and spies. When she left and took the information, Maxel just went along. Wilder, never said anything. Then Maxel went through the change as well. Again, Maxel did like cats before he ever agreed to be part of an experiment. Maxel purred. Something he could never have done before. Oh and cats. They have nine lives, or at least long lives. That is what Maxel told himself. Regardless, he may not be a Life'er, but his change had made his life better. The body he had now was both athletic and beautiful. I guess handsome would be the right or better word, Maxel thought. But he felt beautiful. No more pain from arthritis. No knee pains. No wrist aches. His whole body had been made better. If he died about the same number of years from his human body, that was okay. Maxel figured it had been an improvement.

Changing companies in mid-project and not telling anyone your allegiance hand changed, is not a crime.

When they had captured Liza it had been hard to know what to do. That, however, was a different time. At the moment, he needed to be right on target. Dr. Michael Wilder was a man that liked things done business like. No, loose ends. A plan. Make a plan, have a plan. Dr. Maxel turned his sleek cat-like body toward Wilder. Funny, he would never get used to the lizard odor. Maybe Wilder had the same problem and did not want to talk about it. Cats and lizards? Not the best mix really. Liza said her work could be unpredictable. Maxel liked cats his whole life. To him, it just made sense in some weird science way. Looking at Wilder and applying the same formula? Well, that was not a poster or ad for "letslookupyourbloodline . com ?".

Wilder walked in. He crossed the space on the deck, under the stars like he owned the galaxy. Wilder had taken to considering new titles for the clones to address him. He would have to give that more thought soon. "Maxel. Your special beacon has gone off. That means there has been, contact. The chances are good it is them. Are we ready?"

Maxel fought the desire to look away from Wilder. Some inner part of his heart wanted to attack the man. It was a species thing. Something primal. Maxel knew that would not go well, so he held his stance. "Yes. I am ready. The material will be sufficient. A higher possibility of a better outcome.

"Set up the cage ahead of time. I want to talk to my little angel for a while. It would be fun." Wilder had that dark look in his eyes. The one that wanted a little vengeance. Yes, Wilder had outlived most of his enemies. His anger was long-lived too, however. Wilder could rough the kid up just for fun because he knew it would have hurt Liza. That would be good. Liza had not been able to stop the extraction of information she went through. They had captured her nearly a hundred years before. Dr. Mayweather had made sure that the other Scientist's got away in the process. Again, Wilder had been made to look bad.

However, tortured answers came from Liza. Wilder was fully aware he had a daughter. What she looked like? No idea. Was she still alive? That one he knew. Yes. Wilder's daughter was a Life'er. If she was also a Shifter like her mother then her DNA was priceless. Shifting and changing forever? You could be anything and change your mind again and again. The money and power Wilder would soon have stretched even his imagination. Wilder could be Emperor!
Careful, what you want?

The ship hatch came open with a swish sound. The ground outside the entry was muddy. Jakes could not really tell what time it was. It seemed lighter than before. Maybe his vision was returning? Perhaps he could outlast the emergency, and figure a way out of here. Otherwise, his survival possibilities were extremely limited.

The rescue beacon was surely pounding away on a high frequency. No way to know if that is working. Can not even check the gear. Jakes was going to just have to trust to things going the right way. He had survived a very violent wreck. That was something. The fact that he was IAI, not a full human, did not bode well for Jakes's chances. Maybe if they, the company, were already in the area, but coming for anyone less then full human on purpose? Not a high priority. Okay.

Jakes was feeling better. Even without the use of his eyes, he was not vomiting any longer. His stomach still hurt, so eating may or may not be a good idea. Maybe he would open a packet and break off a piece. The rations were never very appealing, but they were life sustaining. The taste was not of high consideration when putting together deep space missions. Jakes was one of a wave of single man missions. They were supposed to survey habitable planets, collect a few samples, oh and return.

There were also a few warnings about native life, and things to look for. Why it would matter, was odd? There had been a list. Top of it, "unusual acting native life". What did that even mean? Jakes's education had been general as all low breed human's receive, to do their jobs. Jakes had rated very high in the Stock Line. The short explanation was that it meant he had good genes. He had tested high special, to receive a real name. That meant he had strong human lines.

The clouds above were beginning to gather again. This time of year, the weather changed hourly. Tes kept very still all day, watching the man. He had gathered water in the bins several times. Now he was just sitting in the doorway. He had not moved in almost an hour. Tes thought he might have fallen asleep. She could hear him breathing steadily.

Finally, "I know you are out there." The man spoke to no one. Just words to the wind. It was more a feeling of being watched that would not go away. Was it an animal? A native? Nothing at all? The black that had been his prison was changing. Slowly. But, Jakes was sure. His sight was getting better. Maybe it was to say the black less black, and the outlines of images were slightly more distinct. Yet everything was still mostly black and shadow. He dared to hope that he would not be blind forever. "Did you hear me? I know you did. Stop playing games." Jakes kept up his one-sided conversation.

Tes listened. She had no intention of responding. The weather darkened. There were a few flashes of lightning in the distance. The thunder that followed was weak and far away, compared to the day before. Still, the man sat and talked. If Tes responded, what would she say? "Hello, I am here to decide if I need to kill you? If I snap your neck, would they believe you died from the crash?" Tes did not think the man would like the honest tone of her conversation. Well, the alternative was to go back, gather everyone that she could and run. Run where? It was doubtful many would even be awake. If they were caught, they would remember little and be of small value. The reality was that Father and Rin were in danger. The other's would probably be okay if left here. Where would she take either of them that would be safe? Rin would not travel well, and Father was old.

The small voice told her that was not the only fear. Rin would die before remembering anything that would be harmful. Father, would die before they began the process. Age. Tes was not old by Life'er standards. Tes remembered not only her life but both her mother's and father's lives. She had every answer to every question Liza ever dared to dwell on. As for her father, she was not without his dark side. There was power in being a Shifter. But to what end? If you are the only one of your kind, then you or only a shadow copy of anything else. That does not make living forever a good thing but a curse.

Tes had let herself get sidetracked. Somehow the man had stood up and was now walking along the hull of his wrecked ship. Jakes was heading right for the cliff and the Blade floor. Tes had very little time to think, or she would have done things differently. Time does not always give you sufficient room to think out a course of action. You just have to react. Not for the last time, Tes recalled that was always a bad idea. Reacting.

"Stop" Tes screamed. However, instead of the word, clear in her mind and summoned to her lips, it was a growl. A terrible sound that would make any man cringe down in fear for his life. That is exactly what happened. The man hit the ground in a crouch, protectively placing his hands up, fists clenched to defend himself. He was only a step or two from the drop. Tes was afraid to say anything again. If she did, it may come out wrong still. In order to speak to this man, she would have to shift. That was hard. In fact, if it was done quickly it was painful.

Tes tried to focus.

The man moved away from Tes's position. He was now only one step from the drop. The sounds of the storm were increasing. The wind had picked back up. Maybe he should try to get back inside the ship. Something was definitely close. He had heard the growl. Was it an animal then? How could he fight off an animal? Jakes needed a weapon.

The man felt the hull of the ship with his right hand and tried to stand back up straight. He could not readily remember which direction the hatch was in? The fear he had tried to push back, was trying now to take over his whole being. He raised his foot and moved toward what he thought was the doorway. It was not.

Tes could not remember even one of Father's lessons. Keep calm. Have a plan. Instead, her mind was racing. The man was stepping right off the cliff in front of her. She could not stop him as a bear. When she tried to call out, it was the bear that spoke. That was bad timing. Now it needed to be Tes, in a human voice. She was not even sure what that looked like or sounded like. It had been so long. In fact, she had been a little girl. Tes did not have a chance to consider carefully. One thing was sure. Tes was no longer a little girl. A sudden picture came to focus. It was her mother. A moment later, the giant bear was leaping across the distance to the man and painfully changing into Liza Mayweather. Tes grabbed the man's arm by the sleeve and pulled him back from the brink.

Jakes was surprised to be sure. What had happened? Jakes had no idea. He was sure he was not alone. The man was thrown off balance and pushed forward along the hull of his ship. Safe for the moment anyway. Then without warning the whole muddy area fell away. Not just where he had been going to walk off, but a larger piece. Whatever it was that Jakes did not see, was obviously going to kill him.

Tes screamed a very human scream. She slid with the chunk of rock and dirt down the cliff wall. It was a very sharp drop. Most of the material that had broken away fell into, the black abyss. A thin ledge had stopped her decent, abruptly. It was about fifteen feet below the level of the wrecked vessel. There had been a bad crack sound as Tes hit the tiny outcropping. Likely she had broken her leg. This was a crazy turn of events. If she was not in so much pain, she might have laughed. Father would have screamed at her and Rin would have worried. Good thing they did not see this mess. At least first hand. She would more than likely have to tell them about it later. Father was good and making her remember details. He would not think this was funny. Tes had a pained look on her face and tried not to lose consciousness.

"I know you are there," Jakes called from the above. "I can not see you. I have an injury. I am blind. I just sort of see black shapes. How can I help?" The man was yelling out into the empty blackness before his eyes. The weather was going bad again, quickly. Big sprinkles fell here and there on his body. "Let me help you. You obviously saved my life." The man kept yelling in his best, pleasant, convincing voice.

"Do you have a rope?" Tes figured that she was not going to get back up to the level of the ship, alone. She had not spoken directly with another human in many years. It took a moment as she recalled the right words and how to make the human body speak. Her leg hurt. Climbing the wall back up to freedom as a bear was not going to work. Climbing it as a human with a broken leg, not going to work either. Funny, Tes had never thought to shift into any of the winged animals that lived here. She made a note to not become too comfortable in a shape. In this case, it would have helped.

Tes was a little afraid, but the pain made her brave. "I was afraid of you. My family lives nearby. I thought you were going to walk off the cliff. Please. If you had something, like a rope. Maybe some wire? The ledge I am on is a small space, not more than twenty feet or so from the top. Stay close to the ship. It is propped against a mighty stone. It is safe.

Jakes could not believe his luck. Someone, was watching him the whole time? That same someone had just saved his life. He had better work quickly, if he was going to save hers too. She did not sound well. Jakes moved as rapidly as he dared back along the ship's side. Then to the open hatch and inside. The emergency locker. There he found some rope. He returned the exact same way he had come. Slowing down to a crawl as he got closer to the edge of the drop-off.

"I am here." Jakes dropped the line over the edge. There it dangled next to Tes for several heartbeats. If she grabbed it now, that was one path. A choice. No turning back. If she jumped or climbed down the best she could to the Blade, she could escape. Shift back to a bear and maybe even cheat fate. Once again Tes lamented that she as yet did not know how to fly. That was a bad oversight.

Tes's mother Liza, had always had a knack for knowing when to walk and when to run. Tes took her right hand and grabbed the rope firmly. Tes never ran from a fight. They want a war. They are likely to get what they want. It only vaguely made sense. Imprints. Liza had plans within plans. She had given them all to her daughter. Called them, just in case scenarios. The rope was a little outside the parameters of everything Liza had thought up, but Tes was good at improvising.

Tes tried not to say anything as she struggled back up the face of the cliff wall. If she had not hit the little ledge as she had, then the drop would have killed her. It would have killed the man no doubt. The change Tes made into her mother's shape had left her exhausted. Then, there it was, his hand. Reaching out to her. His palm was open. If she touched him directly, she would remember what it was to be human. Then she could mimic any human she wanted to forever. It was different than the memories from her mom. This would be her own strong memory. Not like something you take out and look at. It is something that you feel personally, and get to keep forever.

Curiosity, or pain driven delirium? It did not matter. Tes was young for a Life'er. Mistakes, when we are young, don't look like mistakes. They just appear to be adventures, taken willingly at the time. Tes could feel her body changing. This time it was taking longer. That was okay. It did not hurt so much if the shift was not rushed. Tes was shifting into being Tes. It was the first time she could feel the power of choice. The man's touch had been just what she had needed to fill in the gaps. If you were born blind and someone tried to tell you about the color of a real rose, they could not. A rose has many possible colors. But if you smelled one for yourself, you would never forget the scent.

The structure of a human. The color of eyes, hair, skin and build all put together in just the right way. The end product was a one of a kind person. Unique in the universe. Tes changed from her mother's remembered facade to Tes. Brown hair, green eyes, medium build. The pain in her leg stopped. She was going to be okay. Knowing now the full structure of things, Tes mended her new body as she Shifted. That ability meant not only did she have a long life, she could heal herself. How completely, who knew? Where was the limit?

"My name is Jakes. Captain William Jakes. How did you find me? Oh, and first of all, thank you for saving me. Could you please tell me from what? Above all, what is your name?" The man spoke quickly. He was afraid if he let her go she would be gone. Jakes did not want to be alone again ever.

Tes continued to breathe deeply and shift. A smile touched her lips. Humans sure were a talkative lot.
First Impressions

The weather finally broke and the great black clouds drifted away. Tes felt a chill. That was not good. "When did I eat last?" Tes wondered out loud, very low, to herself.

The power of last nights storm was evident in the wake of the destruction it left behind. Now, just wisps of vapor, receding along the far away, skyline. It was a cycle. They would be back. This was the dawning of the next day. Tes had better send a signal or go back to the tree herself soon. Rin was vigilant unless she went home? Tes doubted that. It was not the way Rin looked at the world. Tattling was not in her nature.

The man had held her hand tightly, nearly refusing to let go at all. Tes could smell the fear on him. He did not seem dangerous? Why had her mother been so concerned? The little voice in her head refused to leave her alone. "Run". It kept trying to get her to go back to the family. But Tes could not, She found she was just too inquisitive. It had been so long since she had spoken out loud. At first, it had been hard. In only a few minutes, she had regained much of her motor functions. Being a bear had been easy. Being human? That was more complex. Or was it that she simply had more experience as a bear?

Being human did have one very big drawback. It was very cold. Before long Tes's teeth chattered. It became so loud it was hard to miss even by a blind man. "Are you okay? Are you cold? There is a blanket. Can you come inside?" The man was desperate. Where did the woman come from? Jakes did not want her to leave. "Can you help me get out of here?" There he said it.

"No." Tes did not see any need to be tactful. That was one aspect of social life she never handled well. Being raised by Scientists in the persona of Earthlike animals did not leave much room for typical manners. Tes walked into the ship beside the man like she had been openly invited. She maneuvered across the uneven surface as if it were her second home. The memories of her mother's life filled her with answers to unasked questions. Liza knew every ship in the fleet. So, Tes, knew every ship in the fleet by memory imprint, up until the time that Liza was captured. So, "clothes"? Tes went to some lockers and opened a compartment. It was right where Liza would have expected it to be. Tes pulled out a jumpsuit. Quickly she dressed. "They will come for you." Tes turned back to face the man and completed the thought out loud.

"Do you know about ships. I was told the natives here were not technically advanced. Are you from somewhere else, or is the information I have wrong?" Jakes felt a little overwhelmed. A crash, an injury, blind, a near-fatal fall, a rescue and now this? The upset stomach and dizziness returned. Was this, help?

"You smell familiar. A little like my mother, but not." It did not dawn on Tes right away. But now that she was close to the man. The smell. It was strong. "Are you a clone? If you are not, then they have enhanced your lines. Were you a soldier?" Tes needed a few basic answers before her real father arrived. Yes, he would come. Tes's inner memories from Liza told her that if he were still alive, nothing would stop him.

Wilder would still be after the leftovers. That is how Wilder would view the aged half aware scientists on Omega if he found them. Even if the scientists were asleep, there may yet be a chance to harvest them. Tes doubted their value, but it was there in Liza's remembrance of the man. He had no boundaries. Maybe that had also been the reason Liza allowed him near, in her life for a time. He gave her wings to think beyond her own boundaries. Using herself and her fellow workers as subjects, to better themselves was just a bit on the "egomania, power trip" side of life. That is also where many of the biggest advances were made in history. Oh and that had played well to her "save the clones" views. At least in Michael Wilder's way of thinking.

Enhanced humans or cheap smart clones that live forever, did not matter to Michael Wilder. It was money that mattered. Money and power. That was, is and always will be his motive. Power was only slightly more important than the money. Because with that came the ability to do what you wanted to do without being held accountable. "In the name of science" was a way of life for Wilder. It had been that way since Liza had first met him. She had felt so cheated and betrayed to find out he was a company man. Father had found evidence enough to show he was not all that he wanted her to think. Sadly, Tes could remember her mother's real pain. That was not fair. Tes had never met Michael Wilder, and already had cause to hate him.

Wilder may not have known about Tes before the first escape. Liza had not told him anything. Tes, wondered would he somehow know her anyway? Would he know his own daughter? Would that make any difference? Tes did not think so. If her mother lived still, since her capture, that would be shocking. Something told Tes, Liza was probably dead. No one could withstand torture forever. Her mother would have caved. That is why her mother had planned many possible paths for Tes to take. Liza was an excellent planner. A few led to escape, others were forward to advance science and humanity. Those did not end well.

The harsh reality is that Liza Mayweather was an excellent scientist. In the beginning, it had been easy for her to believe she was making life better for all humanity. Then slowly she realized that she was simply making it easier for them. Liza had helped to create not only a slave race but a throwaway race. It was a way of thinking, beyond bought and sold and down to the material. The base material for anything. Flesh without emotion. Shifting into anything that was needed, for as long as was needed by the pure human race. The essence of her work, twisted into an ugly future for all. Deep in her being, she heard the words, "Forever War". It was the end product of her mother's work. The clones would be made, train and do as they were told, live long and feed the machine. The humans would become weak.

"I, what?" Jakes was stumped. "I am not a clone." Jakes was offended. Why he was not really sure. There was nothing wrong with being a clone. Right? Okay, maybe they did not have so many rights and were basically slaves. Wow, that was very near the surface. He was mad. Mad at being less than human. Who was this person and what did it matter? Jakes was growing angry. This person just saved his life, and he was angry.

"I do not believe that you are aware you are a clone." Tes finally came to a conclusion. "If I am right and you are," Tes did not smile "it makes a difference to you somehow? Why?" Tes could not help herself but ask.

"Clones are just shadows. They have no rights. I am better than that. I deserve better than that. My ancestors were enhanced, yes. But, I had a mother. I am not a clone. My great, great grandmother was in the Project. How would you even know any of that from a smell? I am human." Jakes was fuming." He was very mixed up. On the one hand, he was grateful to be alive. On the other, who was this person to just waltz in here calling names?

"Okay. I get that. Are you not a clone you say? You smell different then I expected. If you are only human. I do not have time to educate you on morals and ethics. They are on their way I am sure. Remember, that we are all the same. That will help you in the end." Tes tried to smile. It was difficult. A new set of facial features to learn.

There was a long pause. Jakes thought about the way she talked and what she said. "He smelled different than expected?" What did she expect? How should he respond to that? They, are on their way? Wait! How did she know that? "Rescue?" William Jakes dared to hope.

"Who are you fighting?" Tes thought his words were a little circular. Either he was not very bright, or the shock of all that happened had slowed him. It was hard to be patient. "Who do you fight against? The clones I mean. And if you are not a clone, then the clones or soldiers? Who do they fight?" Tes needed a lot more information fast, and her instincts told her it might already be too late. She could hear the high pitched whine of the second beacon. A human could not. Tes was not really human anymore. Maybe she had never been human in the first place. She just appeared that way. Tes thought that she needed to find time to give that more thought. Oh, and, William Jakes was not as human as he thought either.

Who was she? Maybe a rebel? Jakes found he was at once grateful and angry again. He was confused, suddenly hungry and terribly exhausted. Jakes focused on the one important part, of everything the young woman had said. "Rescue".
Maxel

"I found the right planet? Or rather I sent you to the right planet. In a way, maybe your mother sent you to the right planet? After all, she had all the memory enhancements and psych upgrades. It does not matter, you have found exactly what we have been looking for. Admiral Wilder will be thrilled. Thank you."

The man just appeared at the entrance to the ship. Well, Tes thought it was a man? He was funny. He had odd features. It took a moment for Tes to access the similarity from Earth memories. The man was catlike. He stood about five foot, with fur on his face. The man had a muzzle and whiskers. The ears were not right. Something was just wrong. Not readily apparent, but somehow wrong. His smell was feline. The man was alone for the moment. Tes could hear soldiers outside in the woods. Perhaps a dozen at least.

The beacon worked just fine. Not the normal emergency one. Sure that went okay. Mine was an alert beacon. Set to go off for only the right reasons. I watched and waited. I knew. The beacon I installed was special. It was the hidden beacon. I built it and placed it myself. It was set to biogenetic references. You lady, you made all the bells and whistles go off on my panels. Let me tell you. May I ask who you are? You might as well tell me the truth, as it will make little difference in what happens here." Tes thought she heard him purring. Liza's memories on the subject of enhancements were fast. The war mongers must have been desperate to keep going down the Shifting path. When Liza and the other's left, it was a treacherous undertaking to continue the experiments. Obviously, from the look of the giant cat, that is exactly what they did.

The clones nearby were under Maxel's control. It would not be easy for Tes to fight her way out, even as a bear. Why had she not heard them come up? She heard them clearly now. The storm had died down, and yes being human frazzled her thoughts. That was no excuse. Being a bear too long? That was more likely.

The man, William Jakes heard a voice and turned. He could barely make out the shape. A dark shadow figure at the hatchway. Dr. Maxel? Father? What are you doing here? You had me tracked? I guess I am grateful. I did not think you cared where I ended up." The man's obvious anger and frustration showing. "And what are you talking about biogenetic references?" Jakes felt a little sick again. Maybe it was because of his crash injuries, but Maxel was bad too. They had never gotten along. Dr. Maxel had raised William when his mother had died in a suspicious accident. He had no one else. Maxel had continued experimenting on Jakes without his permission for years. When he found out, he ran off. Maybe that is why he had been so upset about being called a clone. No, he was not a clone, but he had been treated like one most of his life.

The war has gone badly son. We need better weapons. I knew you could do it. You have the imprints of your mother, her mother, and your grandmother. You are just not fully aware of it. I told Admiral Wilder that letting you go, giving you a ship, would ultimately give us success. You have somehow found just the right material to change the course of everything. Maxel starred at Tes in a disturbing way. Dissected meat might have felt less dismembered?

Tes briefly wondered what it would be like to be cat-like?

Rin waited in the tree a very long time. She waited while the tiny fires went out and the smoke stopped rising. Again, while the storm clouds did their best to flood the land. She waited while the lightning flashed, like giants throwing rocks from slope to slope. No signal.

Then there was a thing in the sky. It was like the first thing, but not. It was bright, but not so much on fire. It was not acting wild like the first. It was landing. That was a bad sign. Even Rin remembered that much from the before time.

"Ship," Rin spoke the word clearly. Nervous chattering followed for a long time.
The Way Home

There is no place to run or hide. Tes already knew that. If she had not accepted her fate, then she would have already changed it. Or at least she would have tried. Tes, may not be as human as her parents because of all the upgrades, but her curiosity? That was equal to any.

"Will I get to see Earth?" Tes thought that would be worth much. Dying for? Well maybe not.

"You will be lucky to see tomorrow," Maxel stated clearly.

Two clones came in. They approached Tes directly. They had some kind of side arms, but Tess did not fight. She went easily enough. What was the use? The reality or dilemma at hand was that humanity had made it's best efforts to improve, and as usual, missed the mark. They were still short sited. Greedy and warlike. Even the man she had saved. He seemed to know this Maxel well. He, called him Father? Wait? He was also angry with Maxel. In fact, his body language and smell were all wrong for, family. Now Tess was unclear how the man fit into things. Maybe they were not all alike? Humans.

Dr. Maxel followed Tes and the two guards out to the waiting ship. A third clone was sent back to help William Jakes find his way to the rescue vessel. It was an afterthought, but Maxel felt that having done such a great job finding the missing scientists, or at least the one, was worthy of rescue. Also, the Doctor did not like to waste good material. He had learned a lot from his experiments on the boy. Why not keep him around, in case? He congratulated himself on another good idea. Maxel felt almost real affection for Jakes. Almost. It was more like Jakes was a favorite toy. What a nice analogy Maxel thought out loud. Exact. "I like that." The man purred.

Up, on the mothership, William Jakes was taken to the infirmary. There he was treated. The damage to his eyes was not permanent. In fact, the doctor's were able to help him within a few hours. Medicine had advanced much. That was an upside to science. In the medical treatment room, Jakes's site slowly restored. He felt an elation and calm return that he had dared to think, gone forever. All the training he had in his past, had been nearly useless. That was something Jakes was going to rectify. Never again was he willing to feel that kind of fear. It was the first time, William Jakes ever wanted to be upgraded. Fear was a powerful motivator. It had changed his stance on enhancements, upgrades and maybe even clones. The girl, she did not seem to think clones were any different. Life was life. That was a concept that Jakes could get behind. We are not all equal, but maybe we should be?

As for Tes. She found herself in the lower levels of the huge ship. Liza's memories were very useful now. Tes knew everything about a destroyer. That would be handy. Again, however, what to do with that information? If she overpowered the guards and caused harm somehow, they would overpower her and do as they pleased anyway. Father would say they should be very careful. You may want something too much, then get it. That made Tes smile. This time her face did light up a little. She had finally figured out all the muscles it took to smile. Shifting was a learning process. New feelings, new senses with every shift. The best part, it was a growing database. Once Tes had been something, she could be it again, anytime. In fact, the next shift would be less and less painful and more and more accurate. Oh, and the two clones that brought her to the cell. They were now in her memory also. She could be them. Not just in looks, but their personalities were so shallow, Tes had absorbed them completely. If she liked, posing as a clone and walking out would be simple. Again, that was not the path. Liza knew that eventually, Wilder would find their daughter. So, being ready, made sense. Liza had a hundred scenarios on the subject of "taking the right path". Well, Liza had the best of intentions. What she could never have accounted for was the future. Just what had changed and what had not.

This man Maxel had been very taken with Tes. He had not mentioned the other possible survivors even once. Maybe it had been longer then Tes had thought. Time had been hard to judge on Omega. Perhaps Doctor Maxel thought they, the other men and women on Dr. Als'right's team, had passed from this life. That was good. They were safe. Liza would be at peace to know that her plan had worked, at least that far. Now there were only two big problems. How to stop Wilder and those like him from making forever soldiers. Oh, and if possible, how to escape.

Dr. Robert Maxel went straight to the Admiral's Command Center. His news was so exciting he wanted the full impact on old Lizard Lips. Maxel did not like Wilder, but he did like living. He liked his way of living too. He was a high powered, respected scientist. Just because he looked like a giant house cat, did not matter. If anything, they should all respect him more because he was better. Enhanced. Perhaps being a cat had changed him in other ways? It did not matter. He got to do the work he wanted to do. Dr. Robert Maxel had it good. He was well kept.

Wilder had been waiting. "Where is she? Did you put her in the cell?" There was an ugly lisp to his words. His reptilian eyes blinked slowly and methodically. It was an illusion that made pray, reckless. Appearing that Wilder was slow and peaceful, made him twice as dangerous in reality. Maxel knew this and was careful to mind his own responses.

"Yes. Should I put her into the machine? It will pass the Shifting and Life enhancements to the clones. They will upgrade automatically. We will have forever warriors. It is what we have been working for." Maxel tried to keep his voice level.

"I had considered treating her as her mother. I wanted to have fun and show her that making me angry was not a good idea. But it is my understanding that the Bloods and their followers are gaining in the war. We need better clones." The Admiral spoke sharply.

Maxel listened attentively. They had a plan, him and Wilder. It was a good plan. Upgrade the clones and create a better tomorrow. Wilder still had the same plan, he had simply added the "Emperor" part for himself as a bonus. Dr. Maxel did not see a whole lot of difference between Admiral of a Destroyer and Emperor of the Galaxy, either held huge power in every sense of the word. That was a little out of his area. Maxel liked things personal. Power over one person. At that level, you see the reactions of those you control or play with. That made Maxel smile. If Wilder did well, it was the same. Maxel would still be in a nice position, of his kind of power.

"It is for their own good. Don't the Bloods see that clones are the future? They have always been the future. Clones have no souls. They are just empty cardboard people. We can make use of them. They are material." His voice continued to carry a terrible lisp to every word. It added an ominous tone. Like his words were hand-picked, having more than one meaning. Most all of them equaled Wilder was to be Emperor. Maxel knew that saying anything negative would only get himself killed. What was it to Maxel anyway. He was safe. He loved his plush, perfect life. It would always be that way and it was fine with him. "Purr".
Help, Least Expected

Captain William Jakes was angry. He had been used again. Yes, his sight had returned. For that, he was extremely grateful. Maxel could have left him on Omega. He had never been the most kind, loving of fathers. Experimenting on your own kid, even if it is your foster son or ward, is sick. On every level that is just plain wrong. The enhancements Maxel was so proud of made him so much less than human. Well at least according to Jakes. That is why he left two years ago. He thought he had found an assignment away from all of this, and he made an unconscious gesture with his right hand. It encompassed the ship in one sweep.

Now what? And where was the girl that had saved his life? Yes, he had saved her back, but that had just been the right thing to do. Prince charming and all of that aside, he would not be alive if she had not come along. Wait. There it was again. Off task? That is why he had taken the far-off assignment in the first place. Something was wrong with him, that could not be fixed. Whatever Maxel had been trying to accomplish, was a mystery to Jakes. Jakes thought he had been on his own and free, to find out he was still being used? Now he just hated the man openly. Again, Where was the girl?

Jakes walked down the main corridor to the lift and then down. Surely if she were in trouble, and William figured that she was, the cell was the place to look. The doors swished open and Jakes stepped out. A big security man was waiting. Well, that is what he thought. The giant in front of him had a very surprised expression, made a tiny "eek" sound before falling straightforward on his face. "Wham". Fainted or passed out, dead away, right there on the spot in front of Jakes. The deck was metal. It was very hard.

Just behind, where the man had stood was a fragile looking old woman. She had a scientist coat on from lab twelve. Her hair was gray and white speckled. In her small hands, she held an empty syringe and medicine bottle. She made an odd sniffing expression on her face. "You smell funny. I think I know you." The old woman stated very clearly. Then she chattered like a squirrel. "you smell like my brother. That means your in my bloodline. You are on my side. Do you understand?" Again, the old woman looked at Jakes, clearly waiting for an immediate assent of understanding.

"We are related?" Jakes stuttered this time.

"Yes. I do not have time to explain. Where is Tes? I have come to take her home. I have come to save her." Again the old woman made a chattering noise at the end.

"I think we are looking for the same person," Jakes stated. Then he gathered himself together and jumped over the fallen security man. He moved across the small space to the information station and hit a few buttons. "She is here. This way." Jakes stepped over to the man on the floor, bent down and relieved him of his master keypad. "Might need this!" Jakes grasped it tightly to his side and started down the hall at a brisk pace. He did not have a weapon at the moment. That could be a problem. Something told him the tiny lady that was on his heels was armed. Maybe not in as much as a gun would be, but for her size, she took out one mountain back at the door, easily enough.

Up ahead there were two more guards. "I can handle at least one, but there may be a bit of a scuffle with two," Jakes told the frail old woman.

"That is okay. We can take them." Rin smiled.

Jakes liked the old lady a lot. If he was somehow related to her, all the better. She had style. If they had the same ancestry somehow that would be okay with him.

The first guard started to say something, but he barely made a sound. A tiny pin sailed past Jakes' ear. Some kind of tech dart hit the big fellow in the neck. Moments later his partner was there beside him. They looked asleep, still on the floor. Jakes did not want to stop and ponder the possibilities. If they did not get the girl and get out of here fast, they would all be in the cell. Jakes never wanted to be back aboard Maxel's vessel again, until he became blind. That had momentarily changed. But now. Helping Maxel hurt others? What did Maxel know about Jakes past? How had that made capturing some poor girl on a faraway world important? One thing was sure. If it were bad news for Maxel, Jakes was all about it. Helping her escape, that would be bad news.

The old bitty beside him was on a mission of her own. How they were connected Jakes figured would come out in the end. At the moment they were on the same path. Rescue Tes. That was her name according to his accomplice rescuer. Two had a better chance of success, so Jakes went with things.

They stood together at the door to the cell. Jakes used the master pad he had brought from the first altercation at the front entry area. The door slid back with a soft swish sound. There, there she was. It had to be her. He had not even heard her talk yet, but she was so beautiful, she matched the voice he remembered in looks alone. Funny, he never thought of himself as a poet, but the idea that someone could look like their voice. That made him smile. "We are here to save you," Jakes stated like a prince to a damsel in distress. The only things missing was a white horse.

Tes could not believe her eyes. It made her feel a little funny inside. This strange man had risked everything to help her. That made it clear. This man was not friends or worse related to that creature, the giant cat. The man named Maxel if the man he still was, felt evil. Everything about him radiated it. Jakes did not have that. Jakes had an entirely different smell too.

It made her feel a bit less singular. Instead of facing certain death she was now faced with the possibility of a new path. Rin stepped into view. "Rin! What are you doing here? How did you shift?" Tes was shaken. She had not thought it possible. If Maxel found that Rin was here? He would pull her apart and take what he wanted inside. Rin was in terrible danger.

"You did not come back to the tree. I watched them come. I watched them come from the sky. I remembered who they were. They were bad men." Rin chattered low. "They are going to kill you. They killed your mother. You know that right?" Rin was crying softly. "I smelled her. They used her to make the clones better. But she was not strong enough to stop them, so it worked. Liza would be very sad."

"Rin, you are not safe here. And you." Looking directly at Jakes.

Jakes had been silent up until then. Memorized by Tes. She was beautiful. Another moment had passed and he gathered up his wits. "We do have to get out of here. I would have helped you back at the ship but I could not. Now I have my sight back and am not going to let you suffer for helping me." Jakes stepped up. "Now let's get out of here."

Tes knew they were not going to leave without her. How could she tell them that they had very little chance of success? Escape was a dream. The reality of what was going to happen was much different. Tes moved anyway. That was cheerful. It meant that she was again, still more human than she thought. Besides, the crazy man standing there at the entrance to the holding cell was not going to be easily swayed either.

"Okay. Let's get out of here." Tes smiled the best she could under the circumstances. We can take a ship. Tes crossed the small space to the doorway and went right on by the others. She quickly led the way, back down the hallway. As she leaped over the two men that had guarded her, she wanted to laugh. "Teach you to deal with a Squirrel". Then Tes did laugh, out loud. The big, mountain of a man a the main desk was still dead or asleep on the floor. Tes decided alive. When she got just close enough, she could hear him breathing. She did not think that Rin had it in her to truly kill anyone. But limits can be pushed and even broken. As for if Jakes would kill? that remained to be seen.

Jakes was right behind Tes. He moved with trained speed. Jakes was not some helpless human on a rock in the middle of nowhere. He was not blind, that he could not see his own hand in front of his face. No. Jakes was a fully trained combat warrior. Oh, and of human descent. That was a plus. The fact that his line had a few upgrades, did not seem to bother him any longer. Without all that had happened to him in his life, Jakes knew now, he would be dead. Jakes could never have gone through the crash and all the rest and lived. He had spent his whole life denying his past. Now he found acceptance. Whomever this young woman was, she had, fire. He loved that too. This Tes girl had made him think outside the box. It was not okay that he was treated like a clone. But it was not okay that clones were treated like clones either. What were they then? How did they fit in?

No one had to tell Rin twice to come along. She was like a shadow glued to the others. Saving Tes was all she could think of. It had been terrible to change to this human shape. She liked being a squirrel so much better. But the mean people were back. Rin could not have just sat in that tree and watched without trying to help. Tes would not die like her mother if Rin could help it at all.

Stay or Go?

The hall outside the brig area was completely empty. Tes looked right and left and then took a deep breath. The right was clear. That was the best path. She broke into an easy walk run, passing two corridors on the right to finally reach the third. There she stopped and motioned the others to be quiet.

A man coughed, cleared his throat and walked right into view. He was very surprised to be, suddenly face to face with Tes. She smiled and told him to go to sleep. It was easy. His eyes closed and he drifted off. It happened so fast, she had to catch him as he fell forward. She guided his body to the hard floor. Then she looked back at the others. They had unspoken questions on their faces, but there was no time. She put her finger to her lips for quiet and stood up. Turned and continued down the passageway.

That had been easy Tes thought. When she had touched the other two clones on the way to the cell, she could feel their thoughts. Crystal clear like water in a glass. They wanted to serve. They wanted to do what was needed. It was their reason for existence from their very core. Tes had only imprints of clones from her parents. This was the real deal. They were not alive as Tes knew life. They were just living. That was not the same at all. Thankfully, they did not really know that themselves. That is why they looked to the humans for instructions. Just because they were so empty, did not give anyone of them less worth. Using the Clones, was wrong.

The corridor ended in a large room. It had a double door entrance, now wide open. A dozen ships were being made ready. Clones were bustling about on duties set for them. No one seemed to notice that the three strangers had arrived.

Tes glanced down the long line of ships in the huge hangar bay. There were at least two hundred. Most were one man fighters but there were others. Medical transports and two Scouts. That was Tes's goal. A Scout ship would have interplanetary capabilities. If they were lucky, the vessel would even be set up for sleep. A long sleep in a deep coma tube would help put distance between Wilder and them. That meant they could go even farther away. Too far to be worth the chase? Doubtful. The company of a Scout's vessel was six. That too would be perfect. They, Jakes, Rin, and Tes could go back to Omega, find and retrieve father. The other Scientists, well, probably too late for them. By Tes's calculations, they were not savable, even by Wilder's standards.

If Tes got free and away, then she could be anything. Go anywhere she wanted. Wilder would never find, just her. If it had been only Tes in the beginning, she would still be a bear. Bear's don't care about falling objects from the sky. However, that was yesterday or the day before? Tes had lost count of time. In any case, it no longer mattered. The problem was Rin and the man. Also the fact that her mother's work would be wasted. A lifetime spent planning and preparing for nothing. Liza set off to stop a war. The fact that her daughter may ultimately be part of the price to succeed, would never have stopped all that Liza set into motion. Tes was sure of that.

Without slowing even a little, Tes simply walked right out into the main area. She headed to the outfitting station, grabbed the necessary ship suit and got dressed. Rin and Jakes did exactly the same. As a team, they turned and walked toward the Scout. It was not that far. Only a couple of hundred feet from the entrance where they came in. No one stopped them or even looked their way. Jakes dared to wonder why, then he figured it out. They were all clones. Every time Tes was near one, it seemed to just do what she needed to be done. Still?

The ramp to the ship was already down. Suddenly, there were alarms going off all over and lights flashed. "Alert, a prisoner escaped." The voice on the main con screamed out. The clones proceeded with what they were doing, just a little faster. Nothing else happened. Tes walked to the top of the ramp. There was one clone standing there. He looked like a guard for the ship. Tes, walked right up to face him squarely. There was a tense moment, then the man stepped aside. No words had passed at all. Just a look between Tes and the man. Rin and Jakes simply followed Tes, into the ship.

Once inside they set about getting her ready. Rin had a hard time with speaking in this human form, but remembering how to plan and ready a ship? That, she had not forgotten at all. Rin took the pilots seat and proceeded to prepare for launch.

Tes stepped to the Captains Chair but did not set down. She gestured with her right hand to the seat. "Jakes, take the chair." Tes leaned in real close as Jakes sat down. "No matter what happens, I want you to make sure that Rin gets home. Save her life, like it was mine. Do you understand?" Tes's bright eyes locked with Jakes. He found that he could not help but promise her anything. What power she had? Did not seem to matter. The fact that Tes had saved his life was more than enough. Whatever it took to help her and this old woman was everything that Jakes was prepared to do. "Promise. Like it is on your very life."

Jakes tried to put all the emotion he could into the one word. "Yes."

Tes wanted to live. Until the falling object in the sky, she had been truly happy. Now? Stay or go? Stay and give them what they want? But it will be surely more then they dared dream. The price would be her life. What did that matter, if the cost was high for her. It would save many. In the short time, she had been aboard the destroyer she had come to know the clones had no true life. They were just living. Like goldfish in a bowl, eating and doing as they were told. To give them an upgrade to Shift and Live forever? If they lived longer, would they learn to think for themselves? Would they ever be free? Liza did not think so. That is why she fled in the first place. The unanswered question.

Liza was faced with "Stay or Go" and she ran. Tes was now faced with it as well. Tes heard the engines ignite and the ship lift. The decision had been made for her. Well for at least the time being.

Seasons

Maxel was outraged. One Clone had been carried off to sick bay already. The other had refused to wake up at all. Permanently damaged, slated for Removal. The med team was coming back to retrieve it shortly. The Catman spat on the clone still prone on the deck in front of Tes's cell. "Worthless, cardboard beings!" Maxel strained so hard to really yell, he caught hair in his throat. To his embarrassment, a large hairball flew out of his mouth and across the room. Maxel looked around. No one noticed or cared. He kicked the clone on the floor with his foot. It hurt his foot. He was not really a physical kind of man. That was for Wilder and his lot.

Wilder was heading down the main hallway toward where Maxel was still standing. Maxel did not like the idea of being so close to Wilder in small places. The Admiral had been known to let his anger get out of hand from time to time. A few clones lost, was not a big deal. However, there had been a few humans too. It had caused a problem for a while. But magically, all problems went away with time. That was good. But the lesson for Maxel was to be careful. Maxel did not forget.

"Where is the girl?" The lisp was strong today. Wilder's eyes were fully opened and his tongue flicked in and out dangerously. It was unpleasant to watch. Maxel felt a little unsettled.

"Admiral, she has escaped. I believe that William Jakes is helping her. That must be the only explanation. I have issued a red alert. She will be found. The clones will bring her back." Maxel tried to put all the confidence he possessed, into his voice. He did not want Wilder to think him weak. Weak gets eaten.

"Prepare the machine. You are wrong the clones are helping her. I don't know why, but I know it. Get the true Bloods we have in service. Make them find her. Perhaps she has Shifted and changed her scent. That is one way the clones would not know her, for being different than they are. So, you heard me. Prepare the machine. We are going to make the upgrades to our Soldiers. I will be Emperor this night." Wilder was done with Maxel. He turned back the way he had come from. Liza would have taken a ship to escape. So Tes will take a ship. Wilder moved lightning fast down the hallway. He knocked two clones down that were heading in the door on his way. It did not slow Wilder at all.

Moments passed and Wilder had gained speed and distance. He was already at the entrance to the hangar. In a fraction of a moment, he surmised that the best way to leave the ship and get away would be to take a Scout. There were two. Wilder felt overwhelmed with the need to tear Tes apart. Somehow in his desire to find her and gain his goal, he had perhaps miscalculated. Tes might be dangerous. More dangerous than he had imagined. That had never crossed his mind until now. He had underestimated Liza and, now Tes. Why? Why had he underestimated the possibilities? Liza was dead, but she had been a planner. Tes was no love child. She was no accident. Liza never left things to chance. It had just never occurred to Wilder until now, that a baby would be a problem. Tes was no longer a baby either. She was a full grown Shifter. Obviously, she was also a Lifer. What that even meant in the long run, who knew? Wilder wanted the Shifter ability. Being a lizard had drawbacks. He had tried repeatedly to fix the experiment but never could get the right outcome. Tes's blood, her DNA would do it. It would do all kinds of things. Tes was worth her weight in gold a thousand times over.

Wilder's foot touched the ramp of the Scout, just as it had begun to slide up and into the side of the ship. Wilder grinned an evil face, "I picked correctly." The Admiral patted himself on the back for picking the right ship from the two that were possible. He bounded to the top of the ramp and straight into the hatchway. A moment later and he would not have made it. His clawed hand hit the inner switch and the door opened. Wilder was aboard.

Wilder took a deep breath, closed his eyes and felt the rhythm of the vessel. There were three on board. He could smell Rin. "Ah, Rina Porter. Scientist, and assistant to Liza for over ten years. You, are still alive? You will be fun. I will find you and take you back with me. There are lots of things you can do with rodents for entertainment." Wilder grinned. All of his teeth shown brightly on his lower jaw. "Maxel, old man, you were right. Jakes is here too." Odd how Rina and William Jakes smelled so much alike? Was there a connection? Wilder really did not care. It was all the same.

Jakes was just human or part human anyway. He was nothing. Maxel did not even like the man. He had raised him out of guilt. Maxel killed his mother by dosing her with increased experimental drugs. After that, he continued on Jakes himself for a long time. Only by accident did the young man ever find out and runoff. Wilder thought it was all humorous.

The lizard part of the Admiral grew in strength. It felt good to be primal. Always having to do the right thing. Hold on to the facade of being a perfect Admiral in a perfect Human Fleet. Wilder was not human and he did not even like them. What he was, he was unclear. The fact that he was in power now that was okay. He shook his head from side to side rather violently. A fog had settled over his brain. The animal part was taking over more of his thought processes. Wilder was afraid. Had Tes done something to him? He had not even met her directly, yet. If it was necessary to allow the beast inside himself to take more control then so be it. That way he could hunt her down and solve this problem here and now. If he had to, he could manually drag her to the machine and throw her in. Wilder would have his Forever Soldiers. He would be Emperor of the entire Galaxy and no one was going to stop him.
Extinction and Denial

Tes had stepped to the view screen. The Scout ship left the main hangar and out the flight way. No one had tried to stop them at all. Rin had programmed the navigation computer to take them back to Omega. That was at least a plan for the moment. Jakes was kicking back taking a moment to be grateful they were not all dead. Or worse. He also knew about the machine. It was not a good subject. Then Jakes really did not care for Science as a whole. Everything had always gone wrong for him in that department. Well, other than getting his site back. That was at least one thing he would be forever thankful for.

This was new territory for Tes. She had pretty much followed what her imprints had given her in the way of a map up until this moment. On the one hand, her mother thought Tes would end up in the machine. It was like a giant computer, built from organic material. Father also named it the beast. Mother said it was not real, not alive that is. Tes wondered what the difference was. Alive or dead? You still fed it.

The damage had already been done to Wilder and his army. Maybe even right now, it was happening. Tes could not fathom what a mess. When she had come into contact with the first two clones, she had realized how empty they were. Clones were not alive. Not as we know it. Liza thought they were like children. They were not. They were more like insects. They had the need to be useful and do a thing well, then die. The fact that Wilder was going to have them live forever, was just wrong.

Tes dared to think they had a moment to rest. But it was gone. A roar at the doorway to the command center broke their peace, what there was of it. Wilder leaped into the room, landing only a foot or two away from the Captain's chair. Jakes was already half out of it, rising to attack when Wilder grabbed him fast. He picked him up off the deck one-handed and threw him across the room. Like a rag doll, he fell in a mixed pile of legs and arms. Rin froze. Right at her controls. She did not chatter, she did not even blink her eyes. Wilder may not have noticed her at first, she was after all small. That did not make her less deadly. In one trained action, Rin pulled out her little shooter weapon and let fly. Two tiny pins sailed in the direction of the mighty creature, once a man. They just bounced off. Rin knew fear.

"Leave her alone father," Tes yelled. "I am the one you came for. Come let us embrace." Tes leaped over the rail at the Lizard. All six foot two inches of the once human scientist now a horrific monster met her with claws ready. Tes was not human, however. She let go of her Bear. The deep inner animal that she had come to love was now going to protect her like no other shape could. Tes changed in mid-leap. The beasts grappled and rolled. Wilder bit into Tes's broad neck, and she screamed. Claws racked back and forth scraping skin and hide.

"You must die! I need what you have!" Wilder hoarsely whispered his tainted evil words into her ear.

"No, it is too late. They are mine. The clones are all mine. You should never have come for me." Tes was solemn in her response.

Panic filled Wilder. What was she talking about? They, were hers? He fought harder. Michael had to kill his own daughter. It was the only way.
Queen Everlasting

My name is Test Eve Subject One. It was shortened to Tes when I was young so that I might come to know what being human was like. There is a lot to be said in a name. it tells you where you have been, and gives you the chance at a future, to where you might go. There is a lot of power in words. Names are words.

I am the daughter of Michael Wilder the Lizard King and Liza Mayweather a cutting-edge scientist of the 22nd century. They were on a mission to make a better human. That was a mistake from the beginning. Playing God was wrong. My parents had different goals, but the work was much the same. I was the product of that work.

Now I am Queen. I am Queen Everlasting. You see. My DNA was changed. My very being was changed before I was born. I had nothing to do with it. If I had a choice in any of it, I would have been something else. Anything else at all. That was not my fate.

The battle on the ship went on for several minutes. Michael Wilder lost. Somewhere while trying to kill me, my father's grip on humanity vanished. The animal inside took over. It was a creature. One of a kind and alone. Experiments are like that. They go wrong. Not always, but sometimes. It was a hard fight. I had never killed anything in my life up until then unless it was to eat. The event was life-changing.

Back on the main ship, Maxel had thought himself safe. Wilder had gone after the girl, that kept him busy. Maxel liked keeping the Admiral busy. It took the heat off of himself. However, in this case, that was not true. The clones that had come into contact with Tess, had changed. They had downloaded their knowledge into the machine. Slowly, new thinking was being passed through the clone consciousness. "Freedom", self-ware. It was not the real thing, as Clones were by nature just shells. But for them, it was glorious. They had learned what they were, how they could be useful and that they would eventually die. They would not be upgraded. That was comforting. To have a purpose, a beginning, and an end. Long live the Queen!

Rin returned to being a squirrel as soon as we landed on Omega. She lives in the big tree on the slope even to this day. I did not believe her to be a Life'er, but being happy does add years, according to science.

William Jakes? Well, he is still around. I think he is sweet on me. The fact that he may not be a clone, but has upgrades, does not seem important to him anymore. I took him to the crash site to look out upon the Blade. He was quiet for a long time. Then he told me, "I am glad I have a friend in the woods."

My hair is blue now. I like it that way, like when I am a bear. It is better than brown hair by far.

Notes and Acknowledgements

CAMP NANOWRIMO 2018

**#CampNaNoWinner2018!**

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