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Free; Genesis; |
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Free | ||||||||||
The boy crouched at the mouth of the alley, ignoring the cold and damp as he studied his surroundings. He had abandoned his transport in the country the night before, and walked until he had found this town. It was a remarkable feat for someone who had never set foot on a planet before, but the boy, awash in new sensations, was too preoccupied to congratulate himself. So much light! So many scents! So many strange objects and textures - so much space, unbounded by four metal walls. Most of all there were the people - Kalish, Raxit, and Nur - all the myriad subject races Tauza had told him about. Free, free at last - and the universe lay open before him. |
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Genesis | ||||||||||
Warm. Dark. Wet - "Excellent," said the technician bending over her. For a moment she felt disoriented. Bright lights, blinding her. The feel of cold metal on bare skin. Restraints holding her when she tried to move. "Be patient," said the tech. "You will be released soon enough -" But her eyes were free already. She could see now, vision adapting to the light. Dispassionately, she began taking stock of her surroundings. A room, fading into shadows at the edges. Banks of instruments. All familiar, yet all new. Lying next to her, a female, red hair, motionless. The technician noticed the direction of her gaze. "She is nobody," he said, "not anymore. She was going to serve the Scarrans - you will take her place for us. There!" he added almost gently as he released the restraints. "Do you know who you are? Can you tell me your name?" The new born considered - "Sikozu Svala Shanti Sugaysi Shanu," she said. |
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