GENESIS

Staring into the ever long blackness gave me time to think about what I was actually doing. Over the long years I've done many things that have put me in situations ... .that have been rather dangerous, extremely dangerous and have had many near death experiences…..actually death a few times, but all those times I thought I would have learned to keep my nose out of shit. Especially this. Not that Sela himself is shit in any way, He's absolutely perfectly beautiful, yet very confused and unsure of himself which I completely understand. If you've been in a lab for longer than you can remember, then you are going to be very unsure of everything, especially me. But something about this situation feels so incredibly huge and I'm not talking about Nilvola themselves, definitely not them, this feels even bigger than Nilvola. I'm most definitely sure they have no idea what they are even up against. 

“Tanner?” Sela's sweet soft voice pulls me from my uneasy thoughts. “Are we there?”

I blinked a few times, trying to bring me back to the here and now. “Oh right, yeah. Sorry Sela, I was just thinking about….well, I guess everything so far.”

“Like what?"

“Everything so far.”

“Okay."

"Anyway we're almost at Gronos docking station. Just keep low for now.” 

My ship pops a few times when I pull thrusters to guide us down safely., worrying it will break apart. Luckily for us we pulled down safely. 

When suddenly a deep voice resounded over my holo. “Passcode?”

“R79G32.”

“Biometric confirmed. Mr. Tanner, please state your business?”

“Pleasure.” I confirmed.

“Confirmed. Please wait for stabilization.”

I nodded to myself then turned to Sela. “We have a few minutes, you need to change clothes. I'm sure I can find something. What you're wearing will raise suspicion.”

“Why?”

“It's Nilvola clothing. They are very much despised here. Okay ... .standard issue black trousers and top, they may be a little baggy on you, but that's all I have for now. We will get more soon.”

“Is it where I'm getting my locator chip removed?”

“Yeah. A good friend. She will have more suitable clothing than I have.”

“Is she a scientist?”

“Used to be. Now change quickly.”

I turned abruptly, so Sela has no reason to feel embarrassed or suspicious. I know he already is where I'm concerned….maybe. Everyone had reasons to be suspicious of me and all I really wanted was to just retire. “I'm done, you can look now.”

“Oh…” I thought. He looks good, even in standard issue clothing. “You look less suspicious.”

“Suspicious.” He whispered to himself. “I don't want to alarm anyone.”

“Well…..your hair and eyes are enough to make anyone wonder, but Nilvola clothing is enough to make others start an all out war….”

“War!?”

“No no no, I don't mean an actual war ... .it's just a figure of speech for others being violent….” Then I stopped talking when Sela gave me an even more confused look. “Just hold onto me and keep your eyes low as much as you can.”

“....I can do that.” He mumbled, then jutted out his bottom so cutely my heart started hammering. “Because others will think I'm weird and I don't want you to get hurt.” 

Goddammit! I thought. He's just so perfect. “No, not weird…” Definitely not weird. Rare. Expensive. A gem, I guess. Easily exploited…..shit. “How about someone unique?”

“Unique.” He mumbled. He's been mumbling a lot since we first met. It's extremely cute, but now I had to get this cute guy to Alandria without any trouble.

We left my small battered spacecraft and slowly I ushered Sela through security, who never seemed to give a damn ... .Well, not really. “Do they not care about security?” Sela whispered, clutching onto my arm.

“What? Oh right. No.”

“But they only asked for your Passcode and reason for being here.”

“That's because people like me and Nilvola are very different. I don't stand out and I look like most from here or fontinial and Ingeria where I'm from. Nilvola cannot be anything less than what they are. It's just too obvious, even when they try and my craft is of no obvious threat, to be honest I'm surprised it made it this far.”

“Oh…okay.”

“Just stick by me Sela, and do not, under any circumstances, leave my side. No matter how inquisitive you are. We need to deal with the issues at hand and that's your locator chip, anything else can wait.”

“Okay, I won't do anything.” He uttered. Making me smile. So cute.

“Thank you.” I just hoped Alandria still had her equipment, it's been awhile since I've seen her or even spoken to her. I should have really, considering everything we went through. I feel guilty, but I thought it would be for the best if I didn't try to contact her. There's a lot of people who are after me, I couldn't risk it, for Alandria and Esme. Losing Fenn was so devastating for Alandria and for Esme, losing her father. But I couldn't save everyone and I promised Fenn that I'd get them both to safety and that's what I did, couldn't say the same for my left arm though, hence being more machine than man now.

“I'm hungry.” Sela whispered, trying not to catch any attention.

Me and you both, I thought. “We will soon be patient. Okay?” He replied with a small hmm and gripped my arm tighter. I could see he wanted to look around at everything, but he was trying so hard not to. Not that there's much to look at but stalls and busted shops and to very normal people ... .species I've been seeing for years but for Sela everything was new. 

The walk through this octane air filled area was heavy on my lungs, but we finally managed to get to where Alandria lived. It was a huge building, some thirty floors but a cheap rental building, only because in this part of town, if you want no one to know your business, you live here and it works well for Alandria. As we approached the elevator shaft, a familiar little misgiving crept over me. I guessed it to be part of the unpleasant influence of the place. But we needed to press on and feelings would fuck about with what  needed to be done, I had to ignore those feelings, push them deep down for now. “Let's get in.” He looked uneasy, which mirrored my own. But I needed to be strong enough to hold us both up, if anything was to go wrong.

Finally making it to the nineteenth floor I sighed with relief and snatched up Sela’s hand. “This it?” He asked, popping his head out to look out the doors.

“Yep. I know it seems like an awful place, but people don't bring attention to themselves here. So it's relatively calm.”

“Is this a dead planet too?”

He remembers well. “Yeah basically. Maybe more of a technological hub. The whole planet seems like it's made from raw metals, as far as the eye can see. You can pretty much get anything you want in a place like this.”

I tapped on the door, before giving it a loud thud and thank goodness Alandria’s voice crackled over the intercom. “Well damn. Tanner. Hold on, I'll buzz you in.” I pushed the heavy door open with a loud creak and stepped in. “Tanner. Wow, it's been so long….” Alandria’s voice trailed off as she now stared at Sela. “Erm….I'm sorry, but….who?”

“Alandria, this is Sela. We need your help….”

“No!” She spat out. “He's…..again I apologize but what is he? Where did you find him?”

“Okay Alandria, I need you to sit and just listen. Don't butt in.” Sela had already tucked himself against my back, maybe hoping he could climb into my skin and disappear. 

“Fine. But I don't like this Tanner.”

“I know, just please. Okay…..Sela, can you sit over on that nice big couch for me, I promise I will only be a few minutes.”

“Oay, but you promise.” He whispered. 

“I promise.”

“Okay.” I watched Sela walk slowly towards the huge seating area, looking at things as he passes them by. Then I turned back to Alandria who was also staring at Sela. “Alandria?”

“Tanner, what is he?”

I sighed and sat on a stall in front of Alandria. “I don't know…”

“You don't….”

“Stop,” I asked quietly. “It's complicated. I'm sorry to bring anything to your door, but I never intended to cause any trouble. I need you to find Sela’s locator chip.”

“Locator chip? Who's?”

I bit my lip for a few seconds, as Alandria tapped her fingers relentlessly on her work top. “.....Nilvola.”

“.....holy fuck Tanner. Why? I can't be dealing with anything related to those fucking people. After all of what happened. Why are you dealing with them again?”

“Well ... .let's just say someone from Nilvola came to a guy and asked him to find something for a lot of credits and a clean slate.”

“So you stole what they wanted you to find? You never change Tanner,” She sighed heavily. “But I owe you, for saving me and Esme. But this is a lot. You don't know who or what he is. He could be extremely dangerous ... .Tanner, I have never seen anyone or anything that looks ....”

“I know. I know. Please.”

“Fine. Go get him…..” But again, Alandria was interrupted. 

“Mommy!” I heard. Alandria’s eyes widen and I quickly turn to look. “Mommy! Who's this!?”

I quickly rushed from my seated position to grab up Esme. “This is Sela.”

"Sweetheart, come here to mommy.” Alandria snatched Esme from arms. I don't blame her, that little girl sees too much as is. “He is a friend of uncle Tanner's. But sweetheart, I need you to sit down, mommy has things that need to be done.” Esme nodded as Alandria sat her on a stall. “Be good and stay here.”

Sela stood abruptly. Seemingly unsure of himself and what was occurring. “I am so sorry!” He blurted, startling both me and Alandria. “...we need your help. Please find my locator chip!” Sela held his head low, as if waiting for permission to look up.

And honestly, for the first in a long time Alandria looked empathetic towards a life form that was not her own, then smiled, sweetly so. “Fine." Then let out a long sigh.

“Thank you.” 

I tugged at Sela's hand. “Come, let's get this done.”

Alandria looked around for a beat, before turning back to me. “Tanner, don't be alarmed, but I have something you're going to love.”

“Huh.” I puffed out and followed Alandria along with Sela inlto her small lab. “......oh shit.” I let go of Sela's hand to walk towards a piece of machinery. “You've got to be kidding me. How?”

“Fenn. Didn't know he managed to get a hold of one before he died. It just turned up, out of the blue a few a couple years back. Obviously I searched every square inch to make sure it was completely safe.”

“What is it?” Sela innocently asked.

“This baby is an E.X. project Core Analyzer. They are so rare and very expensive if you do come across one. They were disconnected and discontinued a long time ago because of core modification.” I announced.

“Core?”

“Tanner, move away from my machine and I will explain.”

I frowned, obviously. I was excited, who wouldn't be when coming upon a piece of machinery like this. “Fine.” I sat, and then cute little Esme joined me on my lap. Alandria didn't look pleased, but I figured that she finally trusted that Sela was just as innocent as little Esme. Occasionally it felt like talking to Sela was almost like talking to a child at times.

“Why were you at Nilvola?” Alandria asked, in an almost hushed tone.

“Well…to do bad things.”

“In what way?”

“I’m not sure, I was always confused.”

“How long were you there?”

“I don't know.”

“Have they said anything about who or what you are?”

“No. I used to ask, then I just stopped asking because they hurt me when I did.” Sela, I thought. I just wanted to grab him up into my arms and tell him that everything is going to be okay….but I wasn't quite sure if that would be a lie or not.

“You weren't created there?”

“I know I definitely wasn't created there. I heard whispers that they found me. But all I remember is one day I opened my eyes, as if I had been asleep for a long time.”

“You must be very important to Nilvola…. I'm going to be honest with you Sela. I have never in my whole life seen anyone like you and I've been everywhere, with my husband and Tanner, but unfortunately for me and Esme we lost Fenn. Tanner saved our lives, but couldn't save Fenn. So I carry on with my late husband's work and help those who need it, like you. But I cannot confirm who you are. I can run bloods and dna check you, but I think any information of who you are will not be in any database, especially here. I can also check to see if you have a core.”

“Core?”

“Yes. Having a core is very rare, most get them by getting modified cores, tiny specks of a special compound called C1 Beta, they are nserted directly into your spinal fluid and over time you grow a core around what scientists believe is your soul, the very essence of who you are, but It's very complicated and more often than not they come with attributes. Like speed, strength, regenerative abilities. But ... .There are some who are born with cores, they are even rarer and I have a gut feeling that you have a born core, all I can do is see if you have. Would you like me to run a core scan?”

“Yes.” Sela answered without questions or hesitation.

“Okay. Then let's see what lies within you and find that locator chip.”

“Thank you.” 

“I'm going give you a local anesthesia, it helps while scanning as the machine can be quite intimidating for some. But I promise you will be okay.”

“I trust you.” Sela said, again without question or hesitation. Sela wants to know what's within him as much as I do.

“Okay, lay down for me. You will feel a slight sting, but don't worry.” Alandria smiled as Sela complied. All we needed to do was wait a couple of minutes.

“Why?” I mumbled to myself, as I poke a silly piece of paper.

“What?” Alandria seemed confused.

“You have an electronic reader here which can display a thousand crossword puzzles that can be done simply by touch, and yet you go to the trouble of printing one out and pasting it to the back of the thing?”

"There are some things, Tanner, which will never lend themselves to the compiled, synthetic, compressed world of artificiality. This electronic clipboard you refer to cannot display all the clues at once and still show the puzzle. You cannot scribble words in the margins and spaces very well, or write your uncertainties in the spaces lightly for consideration with the alternate rows. I insist on tradition. I refuse to be digitized. It is my own personal testament to human idiosyncrasy. We must not forget our struggle from the primordial soup from which we slithered. What if we suddenly no longer had access to the monuments of progress we so worship? What if we no longer had cyberspace, or computers, or automation, or farmbots or even the omnipotent god, electricity itself? Could you survive? I use everything I have to get by Tanner, to feed Esme and me and save to get off this god forsaken planet and be somewhere where we can see fields and touch grass. To taste the fruits of our labor, all the things me and Fenn wanted for Esme, for ourselves.” Well, she certainly put me in my place. Yet I completely understand too. It's all I've wanted, to just save and leave and live a peaceful life, with no worries or machines, but everything worked for with my bare hands. To eat what I sow. To live in a home I'd build myself and to lay under the stars on land that's mine. I want that for Sela too.