Log 1 Matter | Antimatter (42 page)

“Now we just need to make it smaller.”

“And have one of the spots light up to
indicate there’s a message.”

They worked out the light, but after several
attempts to make it smaller, they gave up. They had no access to
the nano labs for their hobby. They needed specialized nano
circuits and engrams for the type of encrypted data they wanted it
to hold. One night, they were in front of Ara’s fireplace, staring
at the bug on the ledge.

“We’ll just ask Robia to breed ladybirds this
big, and then no one will be suspicious.”

Tara laughed. “Aunty … that’s … so
funny.”

They rolled around the floor laughing.

Ara sat back up and sighed. She picked up the
brochure again. “There’s a GEL tech course on Saratoga.”

“Why not enroll?”

“Because your dad is teaching it.”

Tara broke out into giggles again.

Iota

Station: Perza

Galactic System: Sarato (Spiral Galaxy)

Planetary System: Saratoga

Twenty-nine years on and Virgo was close.

Ara had already finished Habitat Management
and had been working with that team for five years. The Eighth Race
mostly managed Wilds, and the apprenticeships were ten years to
twenty years but because of her previous qualifications and work,
she did it in eight. In comparison, learning to build planets and
systems was a minimum of one hundred years, for any race.

Closer to her Virgo, Kavela was cleared for
the ritual but was still looking for other suitable partners so
hadn’t actually signed anything. She felt some dismay at her last
visit with Silvia who said there were few to choose from.
Certainly, on Saratoga there were only eight registered Pure-Gens.
Vin had been one choice but it was rejected by the Planet of Law,
though Ara didn’t know why. The queen began to teach her the theory
of control in case Kavela decided not to offer. It was after one of
these sessions that she was reacquainted with Oaran, a Second-Gen
relation of Silvia’s. He was a sweet male, smitten with Ara. He
said he was going to do the GEL class as well but looked at its
applications for HaV.

So, with Kavela in mind, they set the date,
which was to be after her basic course and pre-exams for the GEL
Tech course.

One night, Ara woke feeling strange. Her mind
was more alive than ever. She couldn’t quite work out what was
different until the day following her pre-exam.

She pulsed to Korbet wanting to use short ArT
but elected for the more formal approach to demonstrate how very
annoyed she was.

Ara said mentally,
“You!”

Korbet replied,
“Honeybee, what’s
wrong?”

Ara pulsed angrily,
“You lifted that mind
block.”

Korbet asked,
“How did you know?”

Ara fumed.
“Because I remembered you as a
baby, that’s why! My Virgo is all ruined now!”

“
Ara … Ara?”

…

“
Scats.”

Two weeks later, Ara scored well, despite
being bleary eyed from a dance and dinner date with Karu who had
ended up contracting to be her Virgo partner. She decided she
didn’t mind that too much. Caleb had taught the basic class on GEL
tech and how to mine, combine, and manipulate the Lygon. She was
still obsessed with spheres, something GEL did not like being
formed into, but her final project failure had resulted in some
breakthroughs, hence the high scores. Businesses were already
adapting her work and she was approved for the full course. It
would take several years but Kavela agreed to give her time to
finish it, keen to see if it had any application in planet
engineering. Oaran passed too, top of the class, but was still
eager to explore its use in dimensional bridges, a new concept that
might replace the current HaV travel. Caleb was going to take him
as an apprentice and Ara groaned. Caleb was already a Master of
Spatial Engineering and taking on apprentices!

He was still with his lover, and they hunted
over the years.

Karu took her glum self out to celebrate.

It was a night neither of them would
forget.

But she contacted Kavela after getting home
and hiding out in her room. Nervously, she picked up her Voice.

“Ara, how are you?”

“Kavela, Karu and I were … um … celebrating
passing my pre-exams and I … let myself go a little.” She chewed
her finger. “He has some concerns.”

“I will look into it, Ara. But something else
is bothering you? What is it?”

“I um … I seem to be much stronger and I
don’t know why.” It was a lie but her instinct told her to keep
what Korbet did quiet. Her voice was a wail now. “Even Caleb was
worried after a little kiss!” He’d also been pretty excited but she
wasn’t going to tell Kavela that either! “I can’t go through with
the Virgo! What if I hurt Karu?”

“Did you hurt anyone?” His voice was
concerned.

“No,” she wailed, “Caleb shoved a Delucio in
my mouth and I zapped the entire dance floor. I mean, we were all a
little drunk. Everyone had a good time but it’s not the point.”

“No, it’s not.”

She could hear in his voice that he tried not
to laugh.

“Let’s meet with Silvia.”

“Alright.” Her voice was dull and afraid. She
chewed her nails, and then the skin around them.

Three days after Virgo and after a soak in
the hot spring, she headed to the homestead. Her stomach gurgled
with hunger and nerves. She had an invitation from Caleb. Now she
was no longer considered a virgin she was free to engage her love
interests.

If she wanted to.

She had been waiting, somewhat impatiently,
for him to contact her, and grabbed the family jeep driving fast
over the dirt roads to a cabin used by those out hiking or hunting.
Ara parked next to Caleb’s dark over lander and saw the cabin door
open. She ran over the grassy, slightly mossy, grounds and entered.
He was standing waiting for her, his ice green eyes hidden by heavy
lids.

They immediately connected mentally using
their implants, both now exchanging desire, thoughts, and wants.
Caleb couldn’t take his eyes off her. In no time, they stood naked
in front of each other and he ran his hand up her arm. He smiled,
his eyes narrowing a little as she licked her lips. Her fingers ran
down his body, middle of his chest. Her blue eyes were trailing.
His body was firing up, his mind blazing with hers.

“How long do we have, Baby?”

“How long do you want, Monkey?”

He grinned. “Don’t get cocky. You won’t fry
me will you?”

She jabbed him. “No. I have full control
now.”

“Do you?” He pulled her closer.

“Not that you care.”

“Do you know why I chose a Pure-Gen for my
Virgo?”

Ara was torn by curiosity and annoyance
remembering his choice. Curiosity won out. “Why?”

“She taught me how to block, how to control,
and how to make use of my skills with a Pure-Gen.”

Ara stared at him. “For me?”

He smiled lazily.

Now she was torn between hugging and
rewarding him.

C. Reward please, I don’t think I can wait
much longer

A. So much for control

But Ara kissed him on the lips.

She knelt down and ran her tongue along his
penis. He held her head and directed her. He gently tugged her up
and they came together hard and fast. She surprised him how hungry
she was meeting his every move. He bit her gently on her lip and
neck. She responded with wildness so he took advantage and showed
her how vigorous they could get using just their bodies then their
minds then both. On one occasion, she was relaxed over his lap. His
legs were out in front of him and he leaned on the wall. He was
running his hands over her arse and ran his fingers down her silky,
wet folds. It made her lift her arse and he contracted every time
just watching it. She was close but he stopped. She started pushing
her arse up and complained. He spanked her.

“Hey!”

He laughed. “Some love being spanked,
Baby.”

“Did
your
Virgo choice teach you that
too?” she asked dryly with a hint of annoyance.

He laughed. “No, I just wanted to do that to
you when you were with
your
Virgo choice.”

Ara smiled at his teasing and relaxed
again.

He ran his hand over again and down. This
time he continued until she came and he slid out and raised her
arse, thrusting into her. She slid her arms down so her arse was
the only thing raised. He took his time and, with his mind, he
pushed her sluggish Aryan mind along. He enjoyed it and she enjoyed
being pushed. It opened up a new game for them. She resisted him,
teasing him, and he pushed, loving it, driving him crazy until he
gave the last push.

Satiated finally, they cuddled and talked,
neither wanting to get up but knowing their time had come to an
end. After she left, he tidied up the cabin.

That night Ara lay on her own bed,
thinking.

Everyone had gone to bed, and she made her
wall transparent, since Dad installed new ones along the passage,
to see out into the night sky. To the right were the Katron
mountains but she couldn’t see them from her bed. Caleb had made
her laugh, and loved her in a way that was easy. At this point in
her life, she’d take what she could get. She sensed his sadness
that her inability to forgive, and his feeling that he wasn’t good
enough for her, created a barrier for them. Deep down inside she
knew, in a sense, she was protecting him. She wasn’t sure exactly
why. That inner raging war between loving and hating him was like a
spark in her Sawol. But they didn’t want to not have each other so
they found a medium to work with.

Meantime, Kavela had been polite when he
finally left Saratoga, and oddly distant. She had even tried
contacting Kavela and, again, he was polite but careful to speak of
her impending apprenticeship and focus on becoming a planet
engineer. He had been kind to her that was all. Why did it pain her
so? She curled up on her side ready to go home and get back to
work.

Iota

Station: Kovac

Galactic System: The Eye

Planetary System: Wilds

Ara’s Home

When she returned to Wilds, her friends had
even set up a welcome home banner with some rude suggestions and
images on it. She laughed, and met them at the local bar. She
wanted to talk about the new Zoion templates; they wanted to talk
about the Virgo.

Finally, Ara stumbled to bed.

She was tired and ready for a decent sleep.
Work would have to wait for a couple of days while she rested,
cleaned and gardened. Sleep came quickly.

1117317627853887

Results from CU actions
1117317627853867

MOBILE UNIT
disconnected

DATA BURST packaged

SENT to Planet of Law
only

End check

The next morning Ara’s connection with Maya
ended but there was no log. Her eyes popped open. That was odd. She
had to force herself to get up. “I will not disappear. I will not
just disappear.” Never had she felt so alone but she was more
scared that a CU sentry would come and get her. She jumped at a
knock on her door. Laughing at herself, she doubted CU sentries
knocked on people’s doors. Ara grabbed a long dressing gown and
wrapped it around her body. It was cool and windy outside. She
entered the foyer and, for a change, closed the door before opening
her front door.

One of the administration juniors stood
nervously. “Message, Lady Ara.” He handed her a special EBrain. It
was silver and Ara knew it had heavy encryption.

“Thank you, Jacob. Do you need to wait?”

He nodded and she let him inside. “Foyer is
fine, ma’am. This is urgent.”

“Alright. I won’t be long then.” Ara smiled
and took the EBrain into the lounge. She sat and provided her SNA.
After several moments, data streamed and then the message appeared.
Somewhat concerned over the timing, Ara returned the EBrain to
Jacob. “I’ll be an hour.” She noted his consternation. Was she
supposed to go in her PJs? No, she could see him reason. She should
have time to dress. Ara tried not to laugh.

He came to a decision. “Would you like me to
wait, ma’am? I can carry your bags?”

Deciding he might have been grilled about it,
she nodded and re-entered her home to hurry. This time he came in
and sat on the couch. All she wanted was to return to work but she
received official notification from Saratoga officials. All
Pure-Gens had to report to their allocated birth homes to attend
their queens and kings. It seemed odd that she’d been disconnected
so soon after her Virgo, was it some kind of marker?

With the due date so close, she had to put in
for emergency leave, and the Wilds’ public transportal was already
booked for her use. Even with taking a tablet that would shut down
part of her brain it was an uncomfortably long nine hours. It was
odd because she was sure as a baby she had calculated that she’d
only take nine seconds, like messages. Shaking her head with nerves
kicking in, Ara considered what she needed to do. Her Seeker was to
be picked up from Wilds by Silvia’s staff so Ara had her transport
close to home.

Ashley was there to greet her at the Saratoga
City terminus and hugged her tight. His black hair was long and
tied back. He nudged her along. “Everything okay?”

“I have no idea.” She smiled at him. “It’s
good to see you; it’s been such a long time.”

Ashley laughed at her, his dark blue eyes
lighting up in mischief. “Yeah, another Virgo is it? Not satisfied
with one after such a long wait you have to have another.”

Ara laughed gaily and saw Ashley had driven
into the city. She climbed into his jeep as he shoved her bags in
the back seat. “Are you a rebel now or special permission?”