So, thoughts on the survivors?” I asked. I was sure he could sense my surface thoughts, but I still preferred speaking verbally.

“They were a hardy bunch. It has been some weeks, maybe months, since I saw them. I have lost track of time here in the city, always something to do to survive.” He seemed to be in a talkative mood so I continued with my questions.

“Speaking of survival, I haven’t seen you eat a single one of our rations. I also imagine you didn’t have access to those before we came about.”

“Ah, yeah. Well, I am able to go much longer without eating. You will also, once you learn to control your mutations. In terms of food, well… I have eaten both the creatures of the forest and some of the mutated ones. They live here too, creatures like the dogs you see in the city, but they are much stronger.”

He paused, a brief flash of fear transported through our mental connection. “They grow stronger in here. The competition makes them harder, faster. They evolve. Those experiments are a joke. The ones that live here in the jungle are the true alphas of the city.”

The Calforn’s words sobered my mood instantly. “Why are we being so relaxed Koma! We should all be vigilant!” I did my best to keep my voice down, the others had enough to worry about.

“Don’t worry, Alpha. If the true monsters of the wilds came for us, we would know. The presence of all of us together is what is keeping the other mutants and dangerous wildlife at bay; they are smarter than the city ones.”

What he was saying made sense. In order for the underground cave to remain as lush as it was, the ecosystem must have been balanced. The patterns of the few remaining ecosystems on Earth, as well as those crafted for the space colonists, had always been a fascination of mine.

I chuckled to myself, drawing a quizzical look from Koma.

“The more time I spent on Dun Lund, the more I missed Earth. Even with the oppression of the Government and the Bankers, people push forth. I was just thinking about the few ‘hobbies’ I had while working.”

Koma, didn’t look convinced. Possibly a disparity between his human and Calforn thoughts, but he nodded either way. With that last exchange, our conversation lapped into silence. It was then that something strange happened. While we were both sitting there, letting our metaphorical guards down, our minds connected. It was almost as if I could see and hear through Koma and he could through me. It was definitely eerie.

We spent some time like this, building a completely new form of camaraderie from any I had experienced. It was thanks to this combined sensory experience that we noticed the shifts in the wildlife around use. The cawing got minutely quieter and the hidden insects retreated from around us.

“Guys!” I shouted, activating my armor suit.

I leaped from the tree branch, my suit expanding around my body as I landed in the water with my wrench at the ready. The other Digits had begun to activate their suits as Koma took position on the other side of the group. As soon as my head was encased in the helmet, I sent out a command to Marvin to try to stay hidden.

From the edge of the stream, three shadows covered in greenery emerged. They stayed just behind the trees that skirted the stream, one of them shuffled closer to address our group.

“By the Grim War, who the fuck are you fools?”