Chapter 82: Guardians of Life.
Markus opened the door to the suite that the Grand Patriarch had arranged for the team and their two Velon charges using the code stored in his wrist comp, the code was only the initial opening mechanism, once inside all guests would be expected to register their hand and retinal scan on a system just inside the door which would then allow them to come and go as necessary.
This was always standard operating procedure for the Clan's guest quarters, it removed the need for keys and one thing the Grand Patriarch always insisted on was that the door system had its own miniature backup power supply that ran off solar so that in the event of a power loss the doors could still be opened in order to evacuate or to lock down a bad experience in a hotel back when he lived on the human homeworld of Earth had taught him a lesson that even hundreds of years later he'd never forgotten.
As soon as the reinforced dark wood door opened inwards Markus stepped into the room and the large panels lit up on the wall to his left, he stepped up to them and placed his right hand against it with his glove retracted, his helmet was also retracted so that his face was visible, "Luitenant Markus Reinhard, Seeker First Class," he said looking into the small red ball mounted above the panel.
"User registered, welcome Seeker Reinhard," a synthetic female voice said and Markus stepped to one side and gestured to the panel for the next in line to move to it which just happened to be Levi.
She retracted her glove and placed a hand against the panel and it beeped, "Xenomorph detected please wait one moment," the synthetic voice said and the little ball extended on a gimbal before scanning her face with a red and green laser.
"Facial print obtained please state your name and affiliation," it said.
" Sargent Levi Sharptooth, War Angel First Class," Levi said and the system flashed green.
"Thank you War Angel Sharptooth please be welcome in these halls," it said and Levi stepped over to join Markus.
Next up was Feris the small of the two Velons and she looked at the pannel curiously, "Just place your hand on the glass and follow the instructions it gives," Markus instructed gesturing to it with his right hand as she looked to him for instruction.
Feris nodded and took a deep breath before placing a hand upon the glass, "New species detected please wait," it said and the little ball on the gimbal extended again before scanning her and locating what it believed to be her face aligning itself with her height, "Please state your name, species, affiliation and military rank if applicable," the synthetic voice said.
"Umm Feris Littlequill, Velon, Hand of Mycelia and no military rank," she said clearly.
"Thank you Hand Littlequill please be welcome in this sacred place," the voice said.
Each of the other one at a time followed the procedure and were scanned in, "Ok that means now that you can open the door just by touching the panel outside, it'll read your hand print and a scanner will retinal scan you to allow entry, no need for codes anymore, alright people lets pick ourselves a room each shall we, now each room in the Seeker Temple is basically Yautja sized for convenience so bed space shouldn't be too much of a problem though as our guests I recommend our two Velon friends go first, each suite contains six bedrooms, three on the left and three on the right, each one had its own ensuite bathroom, once everyone has their gear stowed and has freshened up we'll meet back in the main lounge which is that room there savvy?" Markus said with a lot of pointing to indicate where to go.
The two Velons walked over to the first two doors on the left and opened one each before peering inside as the lights came on the pair vanished through the doors and they closed behind them so Markus decided to take the last room on the left while his other three colleagues took the ones on the right, as he stepped into the guest bedroom he couldn't help but feel that this was kind of an odd mission for a Seeker to be assigned to but he trusted both the Grand Patriarch and Seeker Silver-Diamondscale's judgement here.
The room had a massive fifteen-foot-long double bed in the centre of the room which was specially reinforced to accommodate a Yautja and their potential partner and given how vigorous the Yautja could be in everything they did Markus was under no illusions that the bed was seriously reinforced to withstand some serious punishment.
The room was decorated in a warm yellow and red colouration to give it a calming but warm feel, while the bed sheets were white and red silk making it both stand out and appear inviting and comfortable, Markus quickly stowed his gear in the provided walk-in wardrobe before heading through the door in the wall next to the headboard of the bed which led int othe bathroom, he didn't exactly need a shower right now but he felt there was no harm in freshening up so that a professional air of both discipline and hygiene was maintained.
So after a quick hot shower and a shave to make sure his close-cut goatee beard and moustache were trimmed and immaculate he reemerged to find the others waiting for him in the lounge, minus their two guests.
"These quarters are amazing! I could get lost in that bed for days!!" Lucious chirped happily as he jumped down from the large armchair he'd been sat upon and stood to attention.
"At ease Saviour when we're in here consider it relaxed duty ok?" he said and the little Raptorian male nodded and jumped back up into the chair effortlessly, for such little guys Raptorians really could jump pretty high, it must have something to do with all that muscle packed into their large thighs, plus he knew from experience having sparred with Remal Rainbowscale that they were a lot stronger than they looked and a lot faster too.
"Do you all you Seekers live like this? It is so very different to my hive?" Levi asked poking around the large kitchen that was attached to the plush living room and opening cupboards as well as the large walk-in fridge.
Markus snorted a laugh and shook his head, "Nah these are the diplomatic guest suites for visiting dignitaries like the Serpentinus Royal pack or the Raptorian Governing Pride, a normal Seeker's chambers are far smaller if we live in the Temple," he said dropping himself into a large leather armchair designed to handle a Yautja or a Beledon by how comfortable Victus appeared to be sat upon his own chair.
"It's the same in the Saviour barracks, all the rooms are made to fit Yautja so for a little prideless guy like me I got a ton of space even in the single room," Lucious chirped happily as he leaned back into his chair and crossing his long digitigrade legs.
"Seeker, may I ask a frank question?" Victus asked looking at him from under his long bead-filled bangs.
"Of course," Markus said gesturing for him to continue.
"What do you make of our charges? Can they be trusted? They are of the same species as the one that destroyed my homeworld," he said in his deep gravely voice.
"I don't know enough about them to make any kind of judgement calls on what type of people they are really but what I do know is our Grand Patriarch and Matriarch trust them and thats good enough for me, if they were a threat to the Clan or its people they would have never even let them into our space let along brought them onto our sacred soil, the only way an enemy of the Clan ends up here on our beloved home is in the cells under the guard of Matriarch Sela eleth's Saviours and that's more for their own protection than the Clan's because if they were ever stupid enough to try and escape the place they'd have every single Seeker, Hunter, Saviour and War Angel hunting them down, let's just say it wouldn't be a very long escape, so yeah I trust that they speak the truth and wish the Clan no harm, as for who they are as people well I'll make my own mind up o nthat as we get to know them," Markus said.
Victus huffed blowing one of his long bangs up where it bounced off one of his horns and settled over his eye again and he nodded his horned head, "Good enough for me Seeker thank you, I too trust in the judgement of our High King and Queen, they have cared for and uplifted my people ever since we were brought here under your care a debt I can never fully repay but aim to ensure that I do my part towards with my service to Grand Matriarch Tik eleth Mason's Hunters, I will be there when the enemies of the Clan are revealed and I will stand steadfast with my new brothers and sisters in their face," Victus said proudly making Markus nod in agreement.
"Well said Hunter," Levi said from the kitchen as she came back in holding a tall glass of what looked to be fruit juice before placing herself into another of the chairs facing the group.
Suddenly Lucious's colourful feathers twitched all along his head and he turned to look at Markus, "So umm Seeker can I ask you a question?" he asked and Markus nodded and gestured for him to continue.
"What's it like being a Dream Warrior? I mean obviously, I've trained with Seekers during my Saviour training and I've always wanted to chat with one of you guys but never got the chance to until now, I have so many questions," he said but before Markus could respond another voice chimed in.
"As do I," Adesus's instantly recognisable voice said from the doorway into the lounge area.
"Well come on in sit yourselves down and I'll answer what I can, Seekers don't believe in secrets hence our name," he said warmly gesturing to the two Velons as he'd noticed Feris's tail peeking out from behind her larger comrade.
The two Velons strode into the room and Markus instantly noticed the vast differences in their demeanour, while Adesus was confident and watchful, Feris was nervous and fidgety like she was expecting them to change their minds about them at any given moment and rush to attack them, it even showed in the way she hung close to her larger friend as they found some seats among the group.
"Can I get either of your something to eat or drink before we begin, the food in here will have been checked and deemed safe for your kind by the science hive and the Battle Angels," Markus asked.
Adesus looked rather surprised by this offer but nodded, "I'd like a drink thank you," she said her voice betraying her evident surprise.
"No problems fruit juice or something else?" he asked.
"I don't know enough about your food or drink to really know what to suggest," Adesus said.
"Well then like the tour consider this an opportunity to learn," Markus said rising from his chair to head to the kitchen.
"I'll help it's a male's job to take care of his pride and given we're gonna be stuck together for a while you guys are gonna be like my surrogate pride!" Lucious chirped and jumped down before Markus could stop him and was in the kitchen atop on the counters a moment later having leapt from where he stood up onto the countertop to reach the cupboards to retrieve two tall glasses.
Markus moved to the walk-in fridge and retrieved the biodegradable carton of fresh fruit juice which he knew came from the fields of Murphy and Aine's farm, he used to love to go out to the fields as a kid and help the Xenos pick fruits and veg, or sometimes just to watch the tame scare facehuggers chasing the four-winged winged eagle-crows off, though any they caught meant new flying Xenos for the hive.
He poured the two glasses out and turned to return spotting Lucious taking his place back in his chair again as he did, the little guy really did move quickly, no wonder Remal was such a good dancer the little guys had such fluid movement, he quickly strode back into the lounge and handed the two glasses to the two Velons who took them gratefully before he turned and sat back down he noticed them both sniff at the drinks before tasting them.
Both seemed pleased with the taste of the fruit juice, "What is this called?" Feris asked curiously looking at the pink liquid.
"It's called Pipika, it's a fruit from my homeworld that we brought here when my species first moved to Clan Mason, a little taste of home as it were, the kind Xenos of Murphy and Aine's farm hive graciously offered to cultivate them for us and now it's become a Clan favourite, its on tables, in glasses and eaten raw all across the Clan as it is on Raptoria," Lucious said proudly ruffling his colourful feathers so that they stood erect atop his head like a little headdress before they settled down flush to his scales again.
"Clan Mason takes unity very seriously, when you join the Clan you make a pledge before us that states you accept us as we are and we accept you as you are, together we become one people, your beliefs become ours as ours become yours the same goes for your traditions and skills, all get put into the melting pot that is the Clan, it's that unity and singular purpose that gives us our strength, every Clan member knows that every other Clan member has their back no matter what, we stand together," Markus explained.
"Indeed, this place is most curious to us and in a way it reminds us of home," Adesus said but before Markus could ask how Feris chimed in.
"Lucious asked you a question about you being a Seeker before I'd really like to hear the answer to that," she said and the little Raptorian's feathers fluffed up as he nodded his head eagerly again turning to fix his bright orange eyes on Markus.
"Very well then, hmm how to explain this, ok imagine being connected to every living thing around you, being able to sense them, feel them, to feel the ebb and flow of their life force, to be able to feel how they are connected to both the world around them and the very fabric of nature itself, that is what a Tamer like myself is, we feel nature's power around us, we feel the strands of her web and we can pull them and manipulate them when we need to," he explained and he could see the confusion written on every face around him including Levi's despite her not having eyes in the conventional sense.
Markus sighed and rose from his seat walking over to Feris he knelt down before her making the young-looking Velon back up a little in alarm, the quills covering her body rattling her discomfort, "Don't be frightened I will not harm you, please hold out your hand," he said and she glanced at Adesus for reassurance who simply gave her a nod so she did but he noticed the slightly fearful tremor in her.
Markus smiled at her and suddenly there was a gentle tapping from the window to their left that looked out into the gardens below them, "Lucious would you please open the window and let our guest in?" Markus said and the little Raptorian glanced at him in confusion and curiosity before jumping from his chair and wandering over to the small reinforced window opening it a touch but that was more than enough for the little buzzer bird to shoot right in through the gap.
The little rainbow-coloured bird shot around the room above their heads startling everyone as it made the loud buzzing noise that gave it its name, the Grand Patriarch had once told him that it reminded him of something called a Hummingbird from Earth because of the way it's six little wings moved so quickly and because it could hover while it at fruit from the trees.
The little bird which was about the size of a mouse darted quickly around before coming down to circle Markus's head and finally landing on Feris's outstretched palm hopping forwards to look at its new friends.
"Hello little one thank you for answering my call," Markus said softly to the little bird who made a soft peep noise as it hopped between Feris's fingers, the way its feathers were layered gave it a rainbow colour effect as they seemed to be all different colours layered one atop the other so as it moved these colours flashed through the others giving it a shimmering quality, Markus knew this was a form of defence designed to trick predators by using the colourful displays to play havoc with their eyes.
"Oh what a delightful little creature, it's so colourful and vibrant!" Feris exclaimed softly as she looked at the Buzzer bird which turned to look up at her with its long twin beaks pointed at her like a pair of curved needles.
"You summoned this creature here? How?" Adesus asked curiously.
"Same way I told that fruit spider to sit on your shoulder," Markus said and Adeus's brow furrowed and she looked down to find a rather large red coloured ten legged insect sitting on her shoulder like a furry pauldron but rather than scream and jump up like he expected she simply reached up and plucked it off holding it gently in her hands as she regarded it curiously.
The fluffy spider waggled its ten legs in the air until Adesus sat it on her palm just like Feris with the bird, the spider rotated its rounded body until it was peering up at her with its ten yellow eyes, two of which were massive giving the creature a permanently amazed look, then with incredible agility, it leapt backwards and onto the coffee table in the centre of the room where before all of the amazed occupants it began to dance.
Markus couldn't help but smile as every mouth fell open as they all watched the little break-dancing spider which was currently spinning around its back with all of its legs tucked up in the air before flipping over and moonwalking backwards across the table.
"Don't worry it's totally harmless, they eat fruit and other insects," Markus said with a soft chuckle as he watched two Velons looking at their creatures curiously.
"How did you do this?" Adesus asked her eyes never leaving the dancing spider.
"As a Tamer, I can feel them as they can feel me, I can reach out with my mind and soul and call to them, instruct them and they answer me, my will becomes theirs and they follow my commands, I told the buzzer bird to come and meet some new friends and it did, I told the fruit spider to sit upon your shoulder and it did, now I tell it to dance and how to do it and it follows my instructions to the letter, I am entwined with the nature all around me at all times, it is as much a part of me as I am of it, life is all interconnected but unfortunately most beings never get to see the beauty of how much so," Markus said gesturing to the two little creatures.
The Buzzer bird turned to look at him before taking off flying over to the table and picking up the spider, then with one last loop of the room, it flew outside again before depositing the spider in a large cherry tree and flying off into its branches.
Lucious closed the window and returned to his seat with an amazed look plastered on his little reptilian face, "That was incredible Seeker, truly incredible," he chirped happily.
"Nature is incredible my little friend, it's why I love Clan Mason and its people so much, because to me as a Tamer who can see the very threads of life all around me, I also see the strong bonds that bind us to this place, how that unity binds us all from the greatest to the smallest, it's truly beautiful," he said gesturing to a large pink and yellow flower that was sat growing in a pot next to the window, as he did the petals of the flower opened wide and it grew about six inches taller causing Adesus's mouth to drop open.
"You can make the plants grow just by looking at them!?" she exclaimed and Markus grinned at her.
"Oh Tamers can do a lot more than that, we can make them move," he said glancing back at the plant to watch as it began to sway to the point where it looked like it was dancing in its pot.
"With all the dancing you've got things doing around here I'm beginning to think you've been spending too much time with Seeker Rainbowscale," Lucious chirped as he watched the flower swaying back and forth while rotating its large bloom around and making its petals shine in the light.
Markus chuckled lightly and grinned, "Yeah that boy really does know how to shake his tail I'll give him that though for the love of the Eternal Huntress don't ever watch him when he's practising his bloody Rapture otherwise you'll wake up half an hour later sore as hell with people clapping and cheering around you, saw two Yautja Hunters find that out the hard way, once he'd made them pull off a flawless ballet routine called swan lake the whole temple gave them a standing ovation, you have never seen two Hunters run so fast in your life when they realised what the hell happened to them, guess they learned that staring at the taken Raptorian boys is not wise, especially when they are a Soul Knight," he said making Laucious laugh out loud.
"Wish I'd seen that," he said flashing his multitude of sharp little teeth in a wide smile.
"Stick around the temple long enough and you'll see shit like that on a daily basis, the Seekers love to tease their non-Dream Warrior counterparts when they hang around here, not even the Grand Matriarch is immune though only the Grand Patriarach or Patriarch Ryan are brave enough to prank her, none of the rest of us is that suicidal," Markus said making Victus snort a laugh and nod his massive head.
"In my experience, the Grand Matriarch is not someone whom with which you mess, I once saw her nail one of those dart hornets that live in the forests around here to a concrete wall from across the training yard after it stung her with a dart launcher," he said and all of them now chuckled and nodded in agreement, it didn't matter who you were in the Clan only a fool or the truly suicidal disrespected Tik eleth Mason.
"Alright, let's give our guests a tour of the Clan so they can get a feel for the people and the place shall we?" Markus rose to his feet and retrieved his blessed bow called SunShot from the side of his chair.
He saw Adesus looking at it curiously as he hunt it over his body, "You can ask I won't be offended," he said as the others checked their gear and weapons.
Adesus's eyes came up to meet his and he saw a very deep curiosity rooted there as well as a very calculating intelligence, "I was wondering why a warrior of such talent and power who is in possession of such powerful technology would use such a relatively primitive weapon such as that," she said gesturing to his blessed weapon.
Markus nodded at her confusion as he led the way out of the door and into the hallway, "Yeah figured that's what you would ask well you see this is no ordinary bow, part of becoming a Seeker is receiving a blessed weapon from the deity who touched your soul before you were born, it's kind of like a right of passage these days, you see my patron deity is Ullr who is the Norse god of archery and hunting, he blessed my soul before I was born which made me into a Dream Warrior but when I truly realised my purpose and became a both a Seeker and a Tamer my reward was this blessed bow which is called SunShot," Markus explained but he could see that his explanation only further seemed to confuse the Velon so as they reached the main training area of the temple he decided a demonstration was in order.
He took the bow from his back and held out a hand towards the wall to their left where green grass grew and a few large trees stood providing shade and homes for the vast array of life that called the temple home, "Blessed trees lend my you mighty roots that I might offer knowledge and understanding to new friends," he said softly feeling the pulse of energy that left his body causing the threads of nature to vibrate around him.
Suddenly out of the grassy ground, large roots burst forth before coiling themselves into large disc-like targets much to all of their surprise let alone the two Velons, Markus took a proper hold of SunShot and began to draw the string.
"Umm I think you forgot something," Feris said obviously about to point out that there was no arrow knocked in the bow and Markus shot her a sideways smile.
"Did I?" he said but a second before the shape of an arrow appeared made from pure sunlight that looked like a cross between golden light and pure flames, a series of Norse runes began to glow all along the limbs of the bow and the string ignited with brilliant white flames.
"Wise Ullr guide my arrows, lend me your keen eyes and let my targets feel your sting!" he said before losing the arrow which as it flew split into a series of other glowing arrows that left flaming trails in their wake before each slamming into the centre of each of the six targets igniting them in white flames.
"Holy shit!" both Feris and Adesus exclaimed in unison as they watched the root targets burn to nothingness and the ash fell onto the grass, Markus simply placed his bow back on his body and then proceeded to head over to a little pool to their right where he retrieved a watering can which after dipping into the pool he headed over to the grass and proceeded to water it washing the ash into the soil.
"Thank you, my stalwart friends, I hope this offering sates both your thirst and your hunger," he said softly feeling the trees vibrate happily as the nutrients from the ash began to bleed into their roots, as he turned back he saw them all looking at him.
"It is the Tamers that keep the balance of nature around here, from the mightiest and oldest of the trees which give us shade and fruit to the smallest blade of grass which cushions our foot falls all must be respected because this is as much their home as it is our and they have as much a right to it as we do," he said placing the can back next to the pool for the next Tamer.
"It pleases me to see that it is not only Velons that see the importance of life as it is," Adesus said nodding approvingly as she glanced at the glittering fish that called the pools of the temple home as they darted around the pool looking for food.
"Oh you'll love Clan Mason then because we take conservation very seriously, it was my absolute favourite thing about coming here, you see on my home world we live underground in large cities carved out of the rock because of how dangerous the fauna is on the surface, infact only very specialist teams called Surface Stalker's head on to the surface of our world, so when I came here I kept thinking I was going to float off into the sky because I wasn't used to having all this freedom and space, but upon seeing how the Clan balance their expansion with protecting and preserving nature absolutely thrilled me, infact its part of the Saviours creed to help protect nature, our teams go with our ecologists into the forests and jungles as well as other places to help them collect samples and data so we know where to help and where not to interfere," Lucious said proudly as he strode along next to Feris.
"It sounds like a wonderful job you have Lucious, I would love to know more about the Saviours," she said glancing down at the little smiling Raptorian.
"The Saviours are the shield behind which both the Clan and all innocents are protected, it is our job to protect the Clan and to maintain order, we are the biggest and most diverse group of all of the arms of the Clan Mason military doing everything from policing our streets to crewing our Spacecraft, to be a Saviour you must be fully committed to the ideals of the Clan and be willing to serve in whatever capacity the Clan needs of you, yesterday I was helping out in the Beledon territory to read bedtime stories to orphaned cubs and today I am a bodyguard and escort to you good people," Lucious said smiling brightly as they stepped out of the temple gates and onto the street beyond.
"Do you believe that people here will try to harm us?" Adesus asked a hard note creeping into her voice and Markus decided to intercede here.
"I highly doubt it, everyone knows the principles and ideals of Clan Mason before they join it, but after what happened on the Beledon homeworld grief is a powerful motivator and can make us take actions that at any other time we would see as callous and foolish, your faces are close enough to that of the heinous perpetrator of those atrocities that the Grand Patriarch feels it wise to ensure that anyone who would have a passing intrusive thought about such actions will take one look at us and shake it off before thinking twice," he said confidently.
Adesus seemed to accept this and nodded, "Adem's vile actions shame my people greatly and I have no doubt that when my people discover the truth of his actions against an innocent species all Velons will grieve alongside the Beledons," she said and Feris nodded in agreement before turning to face Victus.
"The actions of one have shamed many and while I know it is of no consolation for the many innocent lives lost I offer both my sorrow and grief as well as my apologies to you as a member of the proud race that suffered at his hands," she said and Victus seemed truly stunned by this Markus noticing his eyes widening in surprise under his braided bangs.
Slowly the large Beledon Hunter reached out a gloved hand and placed it on the slender shoulder of the smaller Velon, "It was not your actions or that of your people that doomed my home, the actions of one cannot be dropped at the hooves of the many but I appreciate your kind and honourable words and the sentiment behind them, I hope that when the day comes when this Adem is dragged kicking and screaming from his place of comfort to face justice at Beledon hands the true Velon people will be firmly at the side of us and our new Clan brothers and sisters," he said in his beed gravely voice.
"You can count on it Victus, the Velon people do not forgive such disgrace and justice will be dispenced for such crimes and we will be right there at your side when it is," Adesus said passionately.
"Then true Beledon will see this and will know that true Velons are not our enemy but our brothers and sisters, just like Clan Mason and its allies," Victus said bowing his head in a gesture of respect.
"Alright guys let's swing by the science hive first and then we our guests can choose the next stop," Markus said gesturing to the truly massive conical structure dominating the skyline to their left.
"Sounds good I haven't seen the science Xenos in ages, it's always fun to watch the crazy in that place, you haven't lived until you've seen ten Xenos all hanging off the ceiling all arguing about whose equation fits a problem better," Lucious giggled as he skipped on ahead of them making feris laugh at his excitement.
"Is he always so energetic and cheerful?" she asked Markus softly and he chuckled and nodded.
"It's a hallmark of a Raptorian male the girls are a bit more surly and tend to move around in groups they call prides, but the males are solitary until they find themselves a pride or in the case of the Clan Mason Raptorians a partner or a pride, but one thing you can always count on with the little guys is that they'll find a way to cheer you up and make you smile, plus more natural dancers and singers you'll be hard pushed to find anywhere in the galaxy," he said as they both watched the young Raptorian bouncing along at the head of the group.
"Difficult to imagine such a being defending anyone really," Adesus said and Markus snorted a laugh.
"Don't doubt his heart that would be a mistake, he might be cheerful and appear fluffy but when danger beckons you'll see a very different side to them, also don't let their size fool you that boy is solid muscle from head to tail tip, they are a lot faster and hit a lot harder than you'd believe especially the Dream Warrior variants," he said.
As they entered the science hive a wall of noise hit them causing both Feris and Adesus to stop dead as their eyes widened and they both looked up at the sheer size of the place, "Welcome to the science hive ladies, where the genius Xenos and assorted others gather to solve any mysteries the Clan and its allies run into, if it goes beep whirr or click then these clever guys and girls will figure out a way to make it clickier whirrier or beepier," Markus said gesturing around before a familiar face appeared in front of them.
"Ah,h Paul long time no see hows the hive life treating you?" Markus asked as the young German human scientist wearing a lab coat and looking quite rushed appeared on a side passage carrying an arm full of what appeared to be samples.
"Markus has been a long time my friend and yeah it's good, busy but good, Setra has me running genetic samples for Aine and Murphy they are trying to figure out a way to make our potatoes resistant to a pretty nasty fungus that has been creeping in lately, its rewarding work especially when you figure that they've got me working on a way to make all Clan species resistant to Xeno blood as well," he said repressing the urge to wave.
"Paul here was rescued from a human installation run by an evil Corporation from the original homeworld of our race, they had enslaved him using threats upon his family to keep his compliance while they ran barbaric tests on innocent Xenos, the Clan rescued all of the Xenos, Paul and destroyed the facility when they made the mistake of taking one of our own hostages and inadvertently revealing it's existence to us, well Clan MAson takes a real dim view on slave takers and our Grand Patriarch and Matriarch brought the entire might of the Clan down on their heads like a fucking giant hammer," Markus said.
"Yeah it was quite a sight," Paul said nodding as the group fell in step with him.
"How are our synthetic friends settling in I've been meaning to ask?" Markus asked and Paul nodded.
"Yeah they are doing well, they seem to have really taken to the freedom and liberty that the Clan has offered them, absolutely natural programmers the lot of them, they are helping write the code for our new translation systems so we'll have an even more powerful UT soon," Paul said.
"Glad to hear it, I'll check in later right now we're gonna head down and introduce our new friends to the king and queen of the hive," Markus said and Paul nodded.
"Don't be a stranger Markus, see you later," the young human said heading off down a side tunnel.
Feris and Adesus watched the whole interaction with fascination, "Before you ask our Grand Patriarch is planning on how to get his family out but Earth is a whole other story unto itself, come on I'll introduce you to the king and queen then we'll go and see if we can find another pair of shiny new Earthlings we got working in here," Markus said and with that, the group headed off deeper into the hive their anticipation building with every step.