Biosynth 17

The atmosphere in Dr. Schroeder's office was strained and uncomfortable, as taut as a violin string on the verge of snapping. It was an entirely alien feeling to those who had not known the good doctor long enough to know that even he had an end to his vast patience and gentleness.

Schroeder was mad.

He sat with his elbows upon his desk, one hand folded over his opposite fist, pressed against his lips. The man's brows were furrowed with uncharacteristic anger. The embedded computer of his desktop illuminated the air before him with multiple windows of holographic text and imagery from a variety of sources. On the other side of the display, sitting with similar moods of ire on the assorted guest chairs, were the ones who had brought this discovery to their employer's attention.

It was bad enough news that Dritanys-sul-Raduskal and her mighty ship had returned to this sector of the universe, bringing with her her unconscionable experiments and the kidnappers she passed off under the name of "Seekers". That her ship now had the nickname Twisted Fate was an insult not even Schroeder could be unruffled by. There had never been any sort of open conflict between Schroeder's ship and hers, but there was no love between them, either.

There were crueler and more malicious individuals out there in the worlds than the amoral Dritanys, it was true, but these new beasts she had unleashed upon the world, these Balespawn, were an ungodly blasphemy. If only the incomprehensible being that was their father had slain all of them upon their hatching!

"And there are now two of these things upon Star City?" he asked of those who had gathered.

"Yes sir," answered Sahurru, his chief of security. The Dysiniu was in his human form, which was oddly-colored of skin but nevertheless looked quite snappy in his security uniform. Though Schroeder was shockingly clairvoyant about his own ship and any creature that had been born there, he relied on Sahurru and other members of his security to keep him informed on things that occurred outside the ship--both the common-knowledge, and not-so-common.

::Just say the word, sir, and my siblings and I will track them down before they have a chance to grow,:: Sahurru's yautjadragon bond interjected with a growl. His face was revealed, his hunting mask in one hand, and he clicked his tusked mandibles with agitation that matched Schroeder's own.

"No, Samurnde, I can't let you do that." The doctor unfolded his hands to tap one hologram panel and bring it to the fore. "It's too dangerous."

::But sir--::

"You saw what they are capable of," Schroeder cut the yautjadragon off, indicating the report on the translucent screen. Within minutes of arriving on the station, one of the newborn Balespawn had attacked a human girl with its powers and warped over half her body into something distinctly inhuman. It was an account that had been brought to Sahurru's attention only because the girl was a housemate to Star City's own Minister of Security, and mutual contacts between Sahurru's force and the station Ministry had brought the situation to light.

"Children though these things are," Schroeder went on, "they are beyond the scope of what I made you and your kin to counterbalance."

"Can we do nothing about these Balespawn?" Sahurru asked with a scowl. "Star City is essentially our home soil. How can we stand for the presence of these little monsters here?"

Samurnde growled again and shifted his weight in irritation. ::They may be powerful, but there are only two!::

Schroeder shook his head, folding his hands again and resting his forehead upon them. "We are a research vessel, we do not wage war," he sighed, discontent with his own reply.

::But you breed warriors,:: Samurnde pointed out plainly. ::You did not make my kind for our pretty faces! You did not give us our armor and our Blood Marks because we proved we twiddle our thumbs well!::

"These are the children of a god and a being who defies all laws of existence. I cannot counter such a thing. I wish I could, but what could I do against them?"

By their silence, Sahurru and Samurnde made it clear they had no idea. But after a moment, Schroeder lifted his head with a look of revelation chasing away his frown.

"What could I do but ask another god for help, of course!" he announced.

"You mean Aki?" Sahurru asked.

The doctor shook his head, unfolding his hands and dismissing the holograms. "Aki is chaos. She's been good to us, but even good chaos is unreliable. What we need, I think, is balance."

"Aahhh." Sahurru nodded. "Dark Shadow."

"Precisely."