Chapter 15: Progress

Pages 158-167

Chris woke with the eerie feeling of being watched. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes to a frightening view of an angered Hunter standing at the door as if he meant to block any escape. “Marcus… Marcus…,” he whispered nervously to wake his friend. He couldn’t help feel a little relieved as Marcus’ eyes fluttered open. The look of concern on his friend forced Chris’ attention back to Hunter who seemed intent to bore holes through their souls with a glare of hatred and malice.

“Why do you insist on playing these futile games? You try to torment me by showing me these images,” Hunter accused with a low growl as the images hovering over Marcus’ desk became a mere blur as they went from one image to the next at an increasing pace until they were unrecognizable. “You can’t drive me away. I will not leave until I am finished. I refuse to allow you to alter my designs,” Hunter continued to rant until he stopped to check his condition.

“It was only a test! Tell him Marcus. It was just a test,” Chris protested in his panic. However, he thought he detected a slight grin on Hunter’s unreadable expression.

“Ha… it is working. Wait… What was a test?” Hunter replied in his confusion.

“The porn was a test,” Chris repeated as doubt crept into his mind.

“What kind of test could those images possibly serve,” Hunter asked curiously.

“Are you mad at us?” Chris asked as he studied their strange roommate.

“No, why would I be mad?” Hunter replied with a frown.

“What was all that about?” Marcus snapped as he struggled to contain his anger.

“Oh, I apologize. I was trying to anger myself. I need to test this new compound. I wanted to start with something simple. I tried to aggravate myself to see if this new medication helped me remain calm. I think it has real promise. I have been concentrating on combining various substances or compounds with the desired side effects,” Hunter answered enthusiastically. “I do have to admit that I do find your antics rather frustrating. However, if this compound works you will have to find something else in which to torment me,” he admitted honestly. “What kind of test was it,” he asked again when he realized they had failed to answer him the first time.

“What if it didn’t work?” Marcus continued to demand with a glare.

“I still have my tranquilizers,” Hunter said with a grin. “You were safe,” he added before he realized he still hadn’t been answered. “Can someone please explain this test?” he almost pleaded to quench his curiosity.

“Don’t you want to know if you passed?” Chris teased with a knowing grin.

“I… I am not too sure. I suppose it depends on what it means,” Hunter replied hesitantly.

“Well, do you mind if we ask you a question?” Chris continued with a grin as he looked at Marcus.

“You may ask what you wish. Keep in mind, I may not answer,” Hunter answered as a warning.

“What do you think of it? Did you like it?” Marcus asked with a grin. 

“Like what?” Hunter asked in confusion.

“Did you like what you saw? Would you want to participate?” Chris blurted out in his excitement.

“You two really have no clue as to my purpose here,” Hunter declared as he wiped the dampness from his eyes once he was able to stifle his laughter.

Chris was actually startled by the man’s mad laughter. However, he was now equally curious. “Maybe you could explain it to us,” he suggested reluctantly.

“I am here for a couple of reasons. You are aware of my experiments to curb some of my appetites. What I haven’t told you is I plan to do some more testing when the rest of my lab is operational. You see I have a little in common with the furs. The people of the common wealth have altered their genetics. They have given themselves the ability of telepathy and enhanced their intelligence, while they suppressed all of their more basic and animalistic traits. They are the galaxies’ prime example of a higher life form. However, nature continues its effort to right the natural balance of things. Therefore, there are very rare occasions when genetic anomalies are cast. These anomalies are like me. There are only seven allowed to exist at any time. The rest are cleansed at birth along with their genetic donors. Those allowed to exist enter a life of servitude to a society, which loathes its existence. These genetic anomalies like me are considered a disease and we are actually contagious. We can infect all but a percent of a percent of the humanoid species. This is why I am forbidden direct touch of another living being of any humanoid species. However, we are not contagious to animals. I want to test to see if it is safe for me to touch a fur, because of their integrated animal genetics,” Hunter explained as he recognized his change in mood. “I guess this formula does nothing for my rapid mood swings,” he observed after a little thought. “You see I do not wish to be a student. I wish to be part of this society. I am looking for a place to exist between my uses,” he continued until he realized he didn’t want to explain further about his plans. “You must try to imagine what it is like to live a life of solitude. I live a life of being denied the simplest touch. You ask if I would be willing to participate in carnal or sensual acts. I tell you, it is only something I can dream about,” he tried to explain.

“I guess you pass,” Marcus replied with a frown. However, he didn’t know what they could do with him if he was diseased.

“What would happen if you infected someone,” Chris asked with a frown.

“The person would die,” Hunter, answered with a frown. However, he recognized their fear immediately. “If it makes you feel better, I already know one of you is immune to my effects,” he tried to reassure.

“Which one?” Marcus asked as he studied his roommate.

“I can’t infect Chris. I will not know about you until they finish connecting the cooling system to my power supply,” Hunter added with a frown. “Does this mean you can quit tormenting me with these images? It does aggravate my condition and I grow weary of taking care of myself,” he questioned with a scowl as he remembered to deactivate Marcus’ computer.

“How do you do that?” Chris asked when he noticed Marcus’ computer deactivate.

“I… they implant every anomaly like myself with a device at birth while they cleanse the genetic donors. It is attached to my brain. It allows them to talk to me telepathically, while it allows me to communicate with any electronic device which has a cordless or frequency based interface,” Hunter answered reluctantly. He knew his answer wasn’t quite accurate or complete. However, it suited his purpose for now.

“No shit!” Marcus declared in awe.

“What else can it do?” Chris asked curiously.

“It gives me the ability to remember everything I hear, see, or experience with perfect clarity,” he began to answer hesitantly. “However, it also allows those of the common wealth to render me paralyzed with pain that does not exist. This is one of their strongest tools to control me,” he finally admitted as he looked away once he realized he had revealed more than he had intended. Disabling the device was definitely one of the things on his to do list. However, he still hadn’t figured out how to disable the device despite his best efforts. 

“I don’t understand,” Chris replied as his mind tried to comprehend something he had heard. “If you serve a life of servitude, how is it you have wealth?” he asked with a frown.

“My kind are paid for our services and what you would consider handsomely at that. However, when I pass it is absorbed into the common wealth once again. The monetary value is of no consequence. There are rules to what I am allowed to do with my wealth. I am allowed to invest but not donate. Those of this University will realize there are strings attached to everything they have been given in due time. I am allowed to spend wealth as long as it doesn’t conflict with the many rules which restrict my life,” he explained with a frown.

“Why did they beat you so severely when you arrived here?” Marcus asked curiously while they had the man talking.

“It was a test of my resolve. They had forced me to kneel in the sun for hours already. I knew they would beat me eventually. I used your presence to give an excuse for a minor infraction. I knew they wouldn’t beat me too severely with outside witnesses to watch,” Hunter explained with a sigh. Of course, the beating could have been for the simple fact that they could. He was beginning to wonder if it was the most likely reason more often than not.

“You don’t consider that severe?” Chris protested in disbelief.

“If they wanted to damage me they would have used… it would be similar to what you call a branding iron,” Hunter replied as he began to fidget. “I think that is enough questions for today,” he added as he shook his head to clear his mind.

“Well, what do we do with him, now that he has passed the test,” Marcus questioned as he looked at Chris.

“I think we should take him to Cole’s,” Chris declared with a grin. However, he recognized his roommate’s reluctance. “There are things there that would help him,” he added quickly. “How is that new compound holding up? I don’t want you infecting anyone if we take you out into a public place,” he questioned after turning back to Hunter.

“I think going out in public would be a good test for my new compound. I planned to start attending classes this week while I waited for the work to be completed for my lab. Of course, if it doesn’t work well, I still have my new tranquilizer and it is very strong. I will not infect anyone as long as my nanomesh keeps me from making direct contact with others. You should realize that you are not infected just because I touch you. It doesn’t work that way. The odds of being infected by casual touch are actually slim. However, it would be your death and I would be cleansed for my lapse if I did infect you. It is too much to risk for a simple touch. Therefore, I will continue to wear my nanomesh even if I couldn’t infect either of you. I wouldn’t want to accidently infect a professor, because I stopped wearing my nanomesh,” Hunter agreed as he nodded enthusiastically for the prospect of meeting more furs while out.

***

“Did you attend the club again last night?” Hunter asked once he noticed Chris’ stiffness as they walked to the transit station.

“Yes,” Chris replied with a sigh. He wasn’t too sure, how much they should discuss about the club until they had actually taken him there.

“I could help you if you let me,” Hunter offered but failed to understand the confused looks he received for his offer. “If you were willing to make use of the gym, you would become stronger. However, I have some skill with various disciplines. I could teach you a few things so you could come out on top for a change,” he tried to explain. He decided to let it go, when Marcus began to laugh hysterically.

“I may take you up on it,” Chris replied awkwardly.

***

“How is more images supposed to help me?” Hunter questioned in protest once introductions were done and they were browsing the publications.

“I actually thought you may be interested in the merchandise,” Chris explained with a grin as he led Hunter to the counter of dildos and pocket pussies. 

“What is this?” Hunter asked in disbelief at the strange things on display.

“They are sexual aids mate,” Cole answered after taking care of another customer. He continued with his usual sales pitch as he watched the strange looking human. He couldn’t tell if the man was horrified, delighted, or just too simple to understand. However, something about the man unnerved him to the point he failed to maintain any of his faked accent.

“Hunter is not human. He is from the common wealth,” Chris tried to explain while he wondered if they had broken their strange roommate.

“So this is an actual model of a male equine,” Hunter asked as he picked up the impressive phallus. 

“Yes,” Cole answered without remembering his accent once again. The strange human… or alien was large enough to make him uneasy. His strange behavior didn’t make him any more comfortable.

“Impressive,” Hunter admitted with a nod of his head before something else caught his eye. “What are those?” he asked with a lick of his lips.

“Those are molded vaginas,” Cole replied as he looked to Marcus for any indication of why his friend had brought the man to his store.

“No shit!” Hunter replied excitedly as he picked up one of the strange tubes up to study it.

“Ah, Hunter… it is not polite to handle the merchandise so,” Chris, declared as he recognized Coles’ displeasure as Hunter began to stick his fingers in the molded feline pussy.

“Oh… of course… I was… I don’t think,” Hunter stammered incoherently. Psst… psst… He injected himself twice before he closed his eyes in an effort to regain his calm. “Do you have one that would fit that in it,” he asked as he pointed to the equine cock.

“Of course,” Cole replied with a frown.

“Are they reusable or do I have to buy a bunch of them,” Hunter asked eagerly, which must have been the funniest thing ever to say.

“Are you sure I can’t fix you up with a couple of publications. I shoot them myself,” Cole declared proudly as he put the three purchased items in a bag for the strange man.

“Do you?” Hunter asked skeptically. However, he could tell the man had not lied. “Where?” he added quickly as his heart began to pound once again. He considered injecting himself, but it took all his restraint to abstain this time.

“In the back room,” Cole answered as he wondered where this was going.

“Show me… please,” Hunter demanded as he tried to restrain his smile.

“Yeah, sure,” Cole agreed reluctantly, before he led the way.

Chris followed Hunter as he followed Cole to the back room. He watched as Hunter began to look around the room with obvious glee. “Hunter, you are acting strangely. You should probably tell us what has excited you so much,” he urged with a grin.

“I have an idea. You remember how I explained the matting is formed in the gym,” Hunter began as he tried to put his thoughts to words. “I can form more than a flat mat. I use it to create an opponent, in which I spar. I tried to generate… I tried to make something else from the images on Marcus’ computer. However, it didn’t work. There were too many gaps in the images to form a solid three-dimensional object. However…,” Hunter began but hesitated once he recognized the others' stares. “Oh, come on… You wouldn’t have tried it,” he protested but only received reluctant nods. “Can I have access to your computer?” he asked as he ignored their looks.

“Sure,” Cole agreed reluctantly.

Hunter accessed the computer through its wireless connection, before he began his search. “This is what you need,” he declared once his search was over.

“Yeah, sure I do. That shit cost more than I have invested in my whole shop,” Cole agreed with a laugh.

“Then you know how to use it,” Hunter continued to question.

“It isn’t complicated. It is just a series of the most expensive cameras available hooked up to software which I can't afford to render three-dimensional images. Look I can’t afford one of those cameras, let alone… How many cameras are tied to that thing?” Cole continued to protest as he started to become frustrated.

“What can you offer me if I purchase this for you?” Hunter replied with a frown. 

“Are you serious? Is he serious?” Cole asked as he looked from a grinning Marcus to Chris and back again. 

 Chris and Marcus laughed hysterically as they watched Hunter rush to the bathroom with his purchases. “We will have to find a new bathroom to use,” Chris predicted between laughs.

“He really needs to go to the club. I hope his tests work out for him,” Marcus declared with a frown.