***Tirnanog, The Old Camp***

***Astra***

“I am so proud of my little Astra,” Thalia praised. “You actually went and talked to him. And from what you told me, I even dare to assume the first meeting wasn’t too creepy or awkward.”

It was the next day and my friend and I sat together on the bunker's roof. Like always, we had a little chat, something we often did when there was nothing else to do.

“Aside from him being covered in shit,” I pointed out. “I really could have chosen a better time to engage them, but I couldn’t have hidden from Mark for much longer. That one has keen senses.”

“It still gives me hope!” She clapped her hands together. “So, when will you be seeing each other again?”

“I- I don’t know,” I admitted. “I left when the situation got awkward, though I intend to catch them when they return from their hunt.”

My friend dropped her excited smile and rubbed her temples. “Back to square one. You should have seen to get a real follow-up date right then and there. If this goes on, others might notice that Tulkas is prime material. Then you will have to compete for his attention.”

She clapped her hands together and giggled madly. “That’s it! Your task for today is to get a real date with Tulkas. And, this time you have to make sure he knows it’s a date!”

I wasn’t too sure of Thalia’s plans. “But… wouldn’t that make things awkward between us? Besides, I am sure he already figured out why I showed interest in him. And what if he is one of those manly men who need to sponsor the date’s expenses just to feel like a man? I wouldn’t want to place that responsibility on him since it would just make him feel indebted to me.”

“All the better!” my friend replied. “We aren’t living in the olden days anymore. When you are the one who is in a better financial situation, then it’s only natural for you to pay. It will show him you can pull your own weight and aren’t some feeble princess who needs rescue.”

“I have a feeling we have gotten way off track here,” I pointed out and edged away from Thalia. Sometimes that woman simply got too worked up with her little fantasies. “I believe they should be returning soon, so I will be going now, bye!”

“Just follow my advice!” Thalia called after me.

I launched myself off the bunker’s roof and fled my babbling friend. Thalia was a nice person, but some topics triggered the history nerd and relationship engineer in her.

My filaments carried me over the roofs of the neighbouring buildings and towards the elevator at the wall. I knew Tulkas and Mark would have to take it once they returned to the Old Camp. The two of them worked like clockwork when it came to their hunting trips, aided by the fact that time was easy to track with the sun.

They would always return once the blue star touched the mountaintop in the north.

I landed on the roof of the elevator’s watchtower and wasn’t surprised when I saw two figures appear from the forest just a few minutes later.

They made their way through the area of waist-high greenery which had been cleared between the camp’s walls and the forest. People were regularly sent out to cut down the overgrown bushes which would allow predators to hide. The plants of this world always managed to grow back within a few weeks, so several people had built their livelihoods around keeping the flora away from the walls.

For evolutionary reasons which I didn’t understand, this world’s flora experienced a perpetual growth season as long as the temperatures permitted it. Once the temperatures dropped and announced the coming winter, most plants rapidly withered and dropped their leaves as they drew all nutrients back into their stems and roots.

Tulkas and Mark finally reached the base of the wall and boarded the elevator.

I slid down the side of the watchtower’s roof and landed on the walkway behind the wall’s parapet.

When the two men stepped out of the elevator, their rucksacks loaded with the spoils of their trip, I was already waiting for them.

“Astra!” Mark greeted me with a lot more enthusiasm than Tulkas managed to summon. It was a little off-putting, but not surprising, given the circumstances of our last meeting. I figured nobody liked being reminded of a literally 'shitty' experience.

“Astra.” Tulkas also nodded his head in greeting.

I couldn't help but notice his roaming eyes and looked down at myself.

Well, crap, I hadn't exactly dressed for the occasion, but I could correct the mistake fairly quickly by shifting and tightening my filaments in all the right places.

“Hello!” I smiled and imitated his nod, showing him the same amount of respect. “I was wondering whether we could have the talk I mentioned yesterday?”

He frowned but nodded. “I figure it’s about Gurney’s little enterprise?”

“Exactly,” I replied and shifted my gaze towards Mark who was watching us with a shit-eating grin. There was no way I was going to give people a show.

It took a few seconds, but the third wheel finally got the message to make himself scarce. “I think I will be going ahead, then. Tulkas, don’t forget the quarterstaff training in the evening.”

“I will not,” Tulkas replied and returned his attention to me while Mark descended the ladder on the inner side of the wall.

“Do you want to talk right here?” he asked.

I regarded the elevator’s guards who ignored my presence.

This spot had too many listening ears.

Given how many people had enhanced hearing, there wasn't a place where privacy was assured, but we didn't have to do this right in front of them.

“Why don’t we go directly to the restaurant so you can hand over your catch?” I suggested. “You can have a bite to eat while we talk.”

He nodded, immediately on board with the idea of doing something he had planned anyway.

Tulkas was about to approach the ladder when I stopped him. “Do you want me to give you a lift? It will be just a few seconds if we fly.”

“Can you even fly with additional weight?” he asked with a curious expression. “Ahem, I am not exactly light.”

I took that as a ‘yes’ and wrapped five filaments around him and his gear, then spread out the rest of them. “Flying is a stretch while carrying another person, but I can glide.”

Before he could protest, I caught the next breeze and we were carried off with him hanging beneath me.

True to my word, we had no problem gliding above the roofs of several buildings until we reached the restaurant at the Old Camp’s marketplace. Tulkas looked a little pale when we landed, but his knees didn’t buckle upon touching the ground.

“I definitely won’t get used to that!” he commented when I touched down next to him.

I grinned and gestured for him to take the lead into the large, longhouse-style log cabin. It contained what all the residents of the Old Camp simply regarded as the ‘restaurant’.

Tulkas was a registered supplier by now, so it didn’t take the experienced clerks very long to tally up all the meat and plants he had brought in and to account for his points on a ledger. The restaurant always took all the consumables it could get. In turn, the suppliers had the option of putting some credit on the business’ slate.

I also ordered something for myself and told the restaurant staff to bill clan Aerie.

We settled down in one of the restaurant’s private booths, which was a little room with separators for privacy. It wasn't great at stopping anyone from listening in on us, but at least it blocked sight.

Tulkas started the conversation with a question. “So, this is indeed some kind of dating, agency, interview, kind of thing? I must admit it's the one thing I expected the least upon coming here. Feels awkward. In my old life, I was never the relationship type.”

I tilted my head as I tried to consider his point of view. “Yes, please think of it as a date. Gurney gave me your information and it got me interested.”

Tulkas raised an eyebrow. “Which reminds me that he failed to provide me with the same info in return.”

“Oh,” I winced. “I am sorry, but this is the first time I am doing this for real. My name is Astra Frost and I am twenty-seven. I came to this world when I was fourteen, so you can think of me as a veteran native. I was adopted into clan Aerie and lived my life with my adoptive parents until I decided to find a partner. Which isn’t easy with my mutations, so I have been coming to the Old Camp for a few seasons in the hope of getting lucky.”

I smiled and was proud I hadn’t made it sound too creepy, hopefully.

Something about what I had said caught his attention. “That raises so many questions, Astra. I don't know where to begin.”

“I have time to answer questions,” I replied. Being open and honest could only leave a good impression.

He considered me, then asked, “I thought I would have to fight in Gurney's arena to be chosen by one of the clans, but you approached me directly?”

I nodded, then explained the process. “That's the normal process you would have to go through when none of the clans is interested in you. The public performance gives everyone a chance to get the clans’ attention. There is nothing forbidding a clansmember from approaching a petitioner directly. Like I am doing now.”

Tulkas nodded. “And you want me, why exactly? I am some middle-aged guy and you are a woman in the prime of her years. Not to mention, you seem to be powerful and influential when you can simply credit your clan to foot the bill.”

His concerns confused me for a moment until I realized his misconception. I rummaged through the satchel I was always carrying at my hip and brought out a small handmirror. “Tulkas, have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately?”

He looked but clearly didn't understand what I wanted to show him. “I already know my new eyes are creepy.”

Tulkas wasn't the prettiest of men, but he had his charm. His face was of the wide and strong variety. The brownish-black hair was fairly normal. He wasn't the largest, but I had to look up at him. His body type also belonged to the wider category, giving him a strong-looking build.

Though, the defined muscles beneath his skin admittedly had me salivate.

No! Astra, don't make this awkward!

Though, the mutation which made his eyes look inhuman wasn't too bad, nor were the flecks of discoloured skin beneath. The exoticness of it attracted me.

What happened to my body was certainly more extreme.

“Don't you think you look younger?” I asked to guide him onto the right track. “No wrinkles around the eyes? Some white hairs are gone which should have been there?”

He touched the hair above his ear and narrowed his eyes at the reflection. “I am younger?”

“Starfish regeneration,” I pointed out. “Restores you to the prime of your life. Like a flatworm.”

“We are immortal?” he asked. Then quickly added, “If nothing eats us?”

I pursed my lips. “I wouldn't say immortal, but I don't know of anyone with this evolution who died of old age. Here on Tirnanog, people always die due to violence or illness. Very few get older than sixty. The point I want to make is that any concerns about age differences are misplaced.”

He leaned back and frowned as he thought about his misgivings.

I continued, “Regarding me being powerful and influential. Yes. That might be the case, but it applies only to the Old Camp. Back at the clan, my parents are influential, but I am a nobody.”

I sat up straighter. “Some history might bring things into perspective. A few years before my arrival in this world, the clans had a huge conflict which led to weakening all of us. In the aftermath, the leaders decided on a treaty between the large clans. This includes not sending any powerful paired warrior types to the Old Camp, or personally influencing the exiles. Though, the latter rule gets skirted a lot. The people you met here, none of us have reached even half of our potential.

“Which brings me to the point of why I want to join forces with you. My adoptive parents back at clan Aerie belong to the leading council. They govern their own strata, which is like a political faction. But with me being only at half of my potential, I can't take over as their true heir – which is my goal ever since I came to terms with the fact that this world is my home now. It is a sad reality of life that those of us who can't find a fitting partner will only ever be at the bottom of the food chain.”

I pulled out the sheet of paper which detailed Tulkas's evolutions and added my own. “If we join forces, then we will get far in this world. I cannot guarantee we will become the most powerful, but our evolutions don't overlap much. Gurney surely explained having two very similar evolutions that affect the same body part is a high risk. Aside from both of us having a starfish evolution, that's not the case. All taken together, we are a sure fit without wasting any of our potential.”

Tulkas AGE: 34 1 Offensive

Medium Strength

Short burst of Greater Strength

Muscle-based, zipper 2 Offensive Major Speed Muscle-based, zipper 3 Offensive Electric Charge Muscle-based, zipper 4 Defensive Muscles Steel Muscle-based, zipper 5 Survival Carrion Eater Digestive, zipper 6 Self-Healing Lesser Regeneration starfish 7 Sensory Second Sight Vision-Based, nightstalker 8 Defensive Enhanced Skeleton Internal/Bone, saherna 9 Defensive Improved Reflexes Nervous System, hornhop 10 Defensive Improved Processing Nervous System, hornhop ASTRA FROST AGE 27 1 Appendage, Offensive, Defensive Filaments, Flight Spine-attached, treemonae 2 Appendage, Sensory Echolocation Spine-attached, treemonae 3 Survival Underwater Breathing Lung-based, treemonae 4 Survival Improved Endurance Blood-based, treemonae 5 Survival Improved Endurance Circulatory System, treemonae 6 Self-Healing Lesser Regeneration starfish 7 Offensive, Defensive Precognition Skin-based, caveglider 8 Offensive, Defensive Bioluminescence Skin-based, caveglider 9 Defensive Improved Resistance Tissue-based, nightslime 10 Survival Wakefulness Brain-based, cavedigger

He looked at the two sheets of paper and frowned. “What about doubling up on this starfish evolution?”

“It's the one thing which isn't perfect, but combining the same evolutions with pairing up is of no risk. As I understand it, the nanotech in our bodies finds a part in our human DNA, the one that's responsible for eyesight for example, and overwrites it with the new DNA. But it isn't quite as easy. It doesn't work without errors and only rewrites certain... passages of a chapter... like in a book. If you have two different mutations rewriting the same chapter, the outcome might be something completely nonsensical. But if you rewrite the same code twice, it's nothing more than what would happen anyway when you strengthen your mutation.”

He nodded in understanding. “Like me already having the starfish mutation and then eating more starfish to improve it. It doesn't matter whether the rewriting process is imperfect. Overwriting the same passage with the same piece of code at worst erases earlier errors. The problem arises with writing different codes over the same passage.”

“Exactly.” I nodded.

He kept looking over my stat sheet. “The filaments are obvious. Echolocation, I suppose it comes from the filaments. Breathing... endurance is obvious. What's precognition? And why skin-based? Feels more like it should have something to do with the brain.”

“It's not understood what the skin has to do with it, but the clans have kept a painful record of these things over the decades. You can be certain there won't be bad surprises. As for precognition, have you ever felt this prickling sensation in the back of your neck when you just know you are being watched?” I tried to explain it. “Or when you walk into a cave and you know a predator is stalking you? I feel that a hundredfold. Sometimes I know I am going to be attacked before it happens. The ability has saved my life countless times.”

“It's not like I understand any of this mutation business. My own electricity stretches what I thought to be biologically possible. It’s almost like someone or something far ahead of humanity bio-engineered the critters on this world.” He returned his attention to the sheet. “Why is bioluminescence listed as offensive?”

I pointed to my glowing filaments and the markings on my skin, forcing them to glow brighter. “Once a day, I can burn myself out and turn into a flash grenade. It pops my skin open and leaves me lacerated, but anything that tried to eat me is guaranteed to have a bad day afterwards. I don’t like using the ability, but you will be convinced of its usefulness once it saves your life.”

He put down the papers. “You seem to be well educated for someone who was abducted as a girl,” Tulkas probed a topic I wasn't quite as comfortable with.

I played with my fingernails, unsure of how to answer. “The clans might not have Earth's technology, but that doesn't mean we are savages. Almost all of the big clans were founded on top of the remains of a failed colony. When Earth abandoned their ambitions on Tirnanog, they did so by simply shutting down the portals. They left everything behind, including the colonists' educational books and the like. In Hochberg's case, they didn't even retrieve the settlers from what I have read. It’s rumoured the Hochberg elders can tell tales from the time when this world wasn’t used as a penal colony. That was some hundred years ago.”

He leaned forward. “Can you tell me why they are sending people like you?”

I tilted my head. “People like me?”

“Children? Teenagers. Innocents?” There was something akin to a manic expression in his eyes.

“I am sorry, but I don't know,” I admitted. “They are doing so from time to time. As far as I know, nobody noticed a pattern yet. It seems like the children are from all levels of society. The only thing we can tell is they are very big on sending sisters or twins.”

Tulkas looked a little downcast. “Where would I have to go if I wanted to search for someone?”

“Are you...” I frowned. “Is it connected to the revenge story you told Gurney?”

I immediately knew I had touched a sensitive topic when he ground his teeth together.

Instead of prying, I simply explained. “I would assume you would need to build connections with all the clans. I am sorry to say this, but keeping track of where the women go isn't easy thanks to the tenuous relationship between the clans. Gurney keeps track of the men, but as soon as the women land they are being distributed among the clans. Women of childbearing age and children are so prized that there aren't many questions asked when a clan can claim one. They are snatched up before anyone in the Old Camp takes notes since they are blank slates and can be groomed into what the clan needs.”

He snorted. “Like cattle.”

I didn't want to deny it. “It sounds fucked up, but this is a harsh world. A woman who can be groomed as the perfect 'breeding stock' is worth everything to a clan. If it helps, they have better chances than the men. Taking me as an example, they definitely have it better if this world doesn't break them.”

“So, why isn't this the case for you?” he asked. “Shouldn't someone with your credentials be sequestered away at your clan?”

“There are reasons. We will have to address some of them once we return to Aerie. If you accept me,” I explained. There was no point in worrying about it now. “Suffice it to say, my family's position allows me more freedom and opened risky paths of evolution which aren't available for the average person. And... people are encouraged to follow proven mutation combinations, but nobody is forced against their explicit will. We aren't desperate enough for such policies, yet.”

“At the end of the day, the ability to create viable offspring decides the rise and fall of a clan. People can pair up for the sake of evolution alone and become fairly powerful thanks to it. But that doesn't mean their children will be human.” I looked down at the table. “It happened to a friend of mine.”

The hard expression in his eyes softened a little. “I am sorry. I have heard you have been searching for a partner for years. Why haven't you just groomed one? Catch some exile back at the lake where the men are dropped and feed him the mutations you want. Just like they do it with the women.”

He shook his head. “Ah, forgive me, you mentioned it's forbidden by some treaty? You will have to explain the situation in detail at some point.”

I snorted. “The treaty aside, have you seen what types of people they drop off at the lake? Nine of ten didn't even make it through the forest. I don't want a lifelong partnership with some weakling who can't see to his own survival. Whether you want it or not, taking a partner is for life thanks to the nanotech within us. And I have ambitions. I don't just want to survive in this world. I want to thrive. You have proven you can take care of yourself. Your mutations match with mine. Your background story doesn't sound like you are a total ass, although we will have to come clear on it at some point.”

He stiffened. “What do you mean?”

I shook my head and was proud I had noticed his little insecurity. “Gurney is the closest thing to a human lie detector that exists in this world. He told me your story and your name are made up, but they aren't entirely a lie. For now, you are your own person and your secrets are your own. I don't care as long as we come clean once we join forces. Though, since you are quite obviously searching for family, I can already guess there is more to the revenge story.”

We made eye contact and he nodded when it seemed like we had an understanding.

“Don't tell anyone unnecessarily,” he said. “There is a very good reason why I decided on a new beginning.”

I frowned. “Like?”

His eyebrows drew together. “If I ever meet someone who knows my real name without knowing those who I search for, then I know I have to rip out their guts and force-feed them with their own intestines. Then I will break every bone in their body one by one until they pass out from the pain.”

I connected the dots and nodded. “Because the only one who could have told them are either those you are searching for or people who have a two-way connection to Earth. You must have pissed off someone powerful if you believe they would follow you to this world.”

After a moment of thought, I added, “Which is unlikely.”

“Why?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I have never heard of Earth establishing any meaningful communication with us exiles. There are people like Roderick who work for them, but it's more of a one-sided communication. The scientists from Earth sometimes throw a crate with luxury goods in with the male exiles. There is nothing within it that's interesting enough to motivate us clanners, but stuff that might entice a younger exile like Roderick. The crates come with instructions and a promise of more and better rewards, should they help with the exiles’ survival. It's like: 'Make sure twenty or more survive and there will be two crates with the next group. If thirty survive, you will get three!'”

Tulkas chuckled. “That’s interesting. It at least implies the scientists have a way of gathering data about us. They are staying true to treating us like lab rats. And I can't say Roderick was particularly interested in our survival.”

I shrugged. “Pretty much. As for Roderick, he is an ass, and one crate with smokes will keep him going for long enough to await the arrival of the next group. It's a conflicting interest for him since every successful new exile means more competition for him.”

We kept talking for what felt like an hour until Tulkas excused himself with the promise of taking my invitation under serious consideration, but he had to reach his training lessons with the staff.

I followed him on the way back to the bunker, seeing it as a good excuse to extend our time together. Before he left for the training field, I held him back. “Sorry, but could we repeat this tomorrow? I will wait at the restaurant around the same time so we can eat together.”

He thought about it and nodded. “It's fine with me.”

When he turned, I held him back again. “Uh, there is something I wanted to try out, regarding our compatibility.”

I fought down my nervousness, but I needed to do this. Tulkas had been a decent bloke and as respectful as a man could be, but I had to know whether we could be more than amiable conversational partners. During our conversation, he hadn't given even a hint about whether he was interested in more than getting information from me.

“Yes?” He raised an eyebrow.

I looked around, making sure there was nobody around to observe the scene. We were at the plaza next to the arena's grove and it was abandoned at this time of day. There was no better chance, so I jumped into the cold water.

Reaching up, I grabbed Tulkas at his jacket and pulled.

Since he stood ramrod straight like a hornhop caught in the flashlights, I ended up pulling myself to his height before kissing him.

It was so embarrassing at first because I ended up with nothing more than mashing my lips against his, but then he reciprocated.

Our tongues touched and sensually explored for a moment before he ended up grabbing my ass to support me. It felt only natural to bring my legs up and lock him between my thighs while we indulged in kissing each other. Simultaneously, my filaments melded around us, entangling our bodies in the most intimate of ways.

The moment stretched on, maybe for a little too long, before I managed to pull away and clear my throat awkwardly. “Ahem, thanks, I guess? That's what I wanted to know.”

“What?” Tulkas was still a little frazzled about what I had done.

“You can let go of my ass now,” I clarified.

“Of course!” His hands disappeared as if he had touched a hot stove and I climbed down. “Ah, if I may ask? What was that?”

I brushed my hair behind my ear and smiled up at him. “A test. You passed.”

“I passed?” He looked down at himself and embarrassedly shifted his pants around. I had obviously caused a quite natural reaction.

He also carefully picked at my retreating filaments, which was something I was much more interested in than his libido.

“Not in the way you might be imagining right now.” I laughed. “I just wanted to see how you would react. You have no idea how many men would freak out because of my filaments. So, tomorrow?”

He met my eyes and smiled. His expression was a curious mix between arousal, wonderment, and surprise.

“Tomorrow,” Tulkas replied before he turned stiffly, for obvious reasons, and walked away.

It was obvious that he still had trouble acclimating to this world, but his willingness to spend more time with me had me feeling giddy. Like a little girl on my way back to my room. I thought today's conversation hadn't gone so bad. And I had gotten a permanent meeting schedule out of it.

Oh, and for that reaction alone I would have to make kissing him a regular goodbye event.