<< Ah Sloot, I see that you have found yourself a new host body. >>
Sloot felt the image sense come to him so clearly. It was amazing to see just how sensitive this new host was! It was almost a dream come true for any of the Balad people. << Oh I have Testle. It is such a fantastic host as well! I have never been part of one like this before. >> He caught the though image from Testle, whose host creature was sitting up in a tree to the right, of what his new host looked like. Tinted over it were waves of laughter. It was of a funky two-legged creature that looked very silly.
<< Well if you like your new host Sloot you can stay with it. For myself I will stay with the little tree dwellers. They are smart and know how to take care of themselves. As for my host. They are hungry and about to take off. So see you later Sloot! >> The thought had only just finished with when the little treebushtail took off at the run. Heading to a really tasty bush that it knew about.
Sloot sighed. He had wanted to talk longer but could understand. They couldn't control their hosts. They could look through their eyes. Hear with their ears. They could even suggest what way to move or where to look. Most of the time the host did what it was asked. Sometimes they didn't listen. That is what had happened to his last host. He was very lucky to have found another that he could bond with. Most Balad people died with their hosts.
Steve hit the mike on his wrist lightly; he listened to the thoughts of Sloot as he drifted about. It was really strange to hear them. That the survey team had discovered them at all was a one in a million chance. He was glad that he had volunteered to let one infect him. "Tell Ted that he is wrong. They can't take over the minds of their hosts and are not parasitic. More symbiotic."
The wrist unit beeped back. "Then make contact with it Steve."
Steve blinked. "Contact? How do I pull that off?"
The wrist unit beeped again. "You'll think of something. For now the decontamination unit is on standby."
Steve sighed. "Well here goes."
Steve frowned, listening into the unit. "I'm not sure I heard that."
"Just make contact. You know...." The beep continued, "Reach out with your mind, and TOUCH it. That's all I know"
"Yeah, yeah, that's all you know how to explain it." He was getting tired of the explanation; the others who aided the Balad had handed it down to him so many times before.
Steve cleared his throat, "Um...hello?"
The wrist com beeped, "Not like that, Steve--use you head."
This was -- okay. << Hello? I-- >>
A voice seemed to come from very far away, nudging at his ears, it would be if he had any... the transfer was working--or seemed to be. But...this was a new host. He had not adjusted to the sounds, the functions, the habits, the--oh, there was so much to learn!
Steve frowned, he--what ... << Hey there. Are you the...? >>
Sloot caught on, and took a gamble. << You're my host--thank you. >>
Steve shook his head at the sounds of the voice in his head and drifted down to the ground and mumbled a little to himself, "Maybe if I relax a bit, I can communicate a little easier." Steve found a spot where the grass was thick and soft and sat down in the shade of a tree. He watched a small bushytail near a bush busy eating his noon meal and relaxed. He focused on the voice he had heard and thought to himself. << Well, I know that you are there... What is your name? >> Steve blinked as he heard a small chuckle and then the words.
<< Why, my name is Sloot and that bushytail you are watching over there is host to my friend, Testle. >>
Steve grinned at the bushytail and nodded, << Hello there, Testle and Sloot. >>
The bushytail looked up and munched small berries as Steve talked to him then quickly scampered up the nearest tree. << I guess your friend doesn't like me, Sloot. >>
Sloot giggled at Testle; << He was only greeting you, Testle >> Steve looked at the little bushytail, as it slowly came down from the tree and moved over to him. It stayed a few feet from him, and sniffed the air.
<< It smells strange Sloot... >>
<< He. My host is a HE. >>
Steve held out his hand for the little bushytail to sniff, << Does your friend understand me? >>
<< Apparently not, but then you are speaking to his host, not him... >>
Sloot was almost ecstatic; this was just so weird. << Testle! Just listen really hard. My host is talking! For real. >>
Testle sent back the thought images. << Hosts don't talk back to you. As for your host, mine does not like it at all. >>
Testle stopped telling his host to kind of stay where it was and it was up a tree the next moment. << It is unnatural for your host to talk with you Sloot. >>
Sloot sent a thought image after Testle... just a green tint. Then started to listen to his host again. << What are you Steve? You are my host but if you can talk to me I would guess that you have your own name for yourself. >>
Steve heard the tiny voice and grinned. There, he had made contact with one of the Balad people. He thought hard... << My name is Captain Steve Going of the United Earth Explores. We were looking over this world when we detected your people. >>
Sloot did his best to make sense of what his host just said. There were images of large round things and funny colored rocks. There were a few images of hundreds of Steve's kind in one place and another of them all standing in an unnatural line. << It is nice to meet you Captain Steve Going of the United Earth Explores. >>
Steve laughed. << Just call me Steve. Can you tell me about yourself? >>
Steve looked around, and felt Sloot's 'eyes' following him, as he surveyed the area.
Sloot's image was clear, constantly--kind of like the computer games Steve had played as a kid ( still played, actually, when he could sneak it in ) Only, the monitor was broken, and the image never came in. The Balad peoples were supposed to -- only this wasn't in the textbooks. This wasn't in any book that he remembered. << So... >> But Sloot seemed a nice fellow...
<< Fellow? Define Fellow. >>
<< Wha--? >>
<< You're new to this, aren't you? >> Sloot asked.
<< Um, so how did your people end up this way? >> He cleared his throat, << And is Testle really...? >>
<< No and yes--yes, he's one of us, one of our translators, or diplomats that deals with the other species on this planet. He's very good. >>
<< Can he talk to me, too? >>
<< Good Question. >>
<< This isn't in any of the text-- >>
<< Written language? >>
<< Wha -- which questions do you want me to answer? >> The sense of a smile was unmistakable, and Captain Steve Going found his face muscles responding.
<< Okay, I get your point. Is he a host or an actual Balad? >> Steve asked after Sloot's reply.
<< That's a--he's in a host species, yes. >> Sloot clearly was amused: amusement over his amazement and fear and he just now realised his host felt it. This had never been a problem before, as much as it was fast becoming one, they were starting to mix, and he didn't know how to react to it.
<< Um... >> Steve wondered, << So...we're the first 'people' to contact you. >>
<< Define people. What do you mean? >>
Captain Going frowned, his mouth working in response to Sloot's question, then not. Could an intelligent species...?
<< Oh, you mean those that talk back to us? >> Sloot inferred, guessing.
Steve began to send in wave after wave of alarm; << I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared... >> He pushed at Sloot, and Sloot found that, yes, this host was powerful enough to push him 'out' by accident. Sloot began to panic. Steve was desperate, trying to find something to log onto.
<< The others in this planet. The-- >> Sloot quivered. This was his third host... << Steve! >>
Steve, shocked, responded--he calmed, or rather, he froze.
<< No... Have your kind ever been hosts before? >> Sloot's 'voice' was insanely curious. This wasn't in the books, either. This wasn't even in the pilot's training manual!
Steve shook his head and then realising that Sloot wouldn't know how to interpret the motion, spoke to Sloot. << No. We have never been hosts before. At least not consciously. I volunteered to become your host so that my species could learn more about the Balad. >> Steve chuckled then, << But, I have to admit that being a host and hearing voices in one's head is scary. >>
Sloot sighed; << It is a bit frightening for me as well. I have never had a host who could communicate with me, Steve. Testle didn't believe me that you could talk. Even though he is a translator and diplomat, he has never had a sentient host. >> Steve sensed that his *guest* was as befuddled by this new turn of events as he felt and leaned back against the tree.
Steve sat quietly for a while and then remembering that his orders were to obtain information about the Balad, he spoke again, << Sloot? >>
<< Yes, Steve? I'm still here. >>
<< Sloot, have your species always been here on this planet? >>
<< Since I have existed we have been here, but we have legends that say we were originally from another place >>
<< So the Balad are from elsewhere? ... Where? >>
<< That I cannot tell you... Our legends are old, and have changed much over time >>
<< How many Balad are there? >>
An image of thousands of creatures flashed briefly in Steve's mind. Steve sat there for several moments, amazed at what had just appeared in his mind. Suddenly Steve's wrist communicator crackled to life...
"Steve!" The voice crackled. "Are you all right?"
Steve held the communicator to his mouth. "So far, all is go. No problems yet. I am doing as you requested."
"Are you monitoring your own readouts?" inquired the voice.
"I feel fine. It isn't necessary," Steve said. "Everything is fine."
"Captain, this is the first time an Earth organism and the Balad have ever interfaced like this. We have no prior knowledge to go on. How does your commensal feel?"
Captain Going sighed. He would ask.... << Sloot, are you there? >>
<< Yes, Steve. >>
<< My commander want's to know how you feel. I mean, this IS the first time a species from off world has bonded with you. >>
<< I feel as I did earlier. I feel fine in your presence. >>
Steve lifted his wrist. "The Balad feels fine. Nothing wrong on this end."
"Just monitor yourself. You know how to hook it up. Send telemetry!"
Steve sat up. He opened the pack strapped to his leg and activated the medical unit. "Telemetry on its way."
Silence followed. Steve concentrated inward to Sloot, attempted to feel his presence and found something vague that seemed to stretch in all directions at once. It was a strange feeling...
"Captain Going, your body is reacting to the Balad's presence! Your white count is elevated. A foreign antigen is present and your immune system is about to mount an attack. Temperature is at 99 and rising!"
Steve froze in alarm. Sudden dread filled him. Adrenaline flushed though him. His heart raced....
Steve looked around, wondering what could be a host--he was beginning to assume the Balad were ethereal. He was beginning to not care.
Meanwhile, from above, Testle regarded the exchange with fascination. The creature kept twitching!
Testle scattered up the bark. This would be a new wave for their peoples. He could see it over the horizon! There was something in the old rhythms about this... how they'd lived, with two voices, or two... He couldn't make it out--it seemed too old a song to recall clearly. Surely it was. He frowned. How many generations back would it take for a rhythm to loose its sense? It's color--he couldn't see it clearly... It was if rain had hit it, mixing the colors. He couldn't call it back.
Rain began to fall, hitting here and there on his tail, on his back, a normal experience, but one his host didn't like. He gave up control momentarily, and let it scurry back into the house they shared. He supposed hosts made a 'we'.
Clearly Sloot's did. If--if it was real. If it had thoughts. Everything circled back on itself, loops and loops. What if--? He began to think this as his host scurried to its burrow, just a passenger at this point--wait....
Sloot had become a passenger. Sloot was a passenger in his own host.
Sloot could feel wave after wave of almost fear coming from Steve. He looked out of Steve's eyes for danger. Listened with his ears. There was nothing out there of danger though. Not that he could see. << Steve? What is wrong? >> Some of the thoughts coming to him were a little painful.
Steve heard Sloot and thought back. << Not to me Sloot. You. My body is not reacting well to your being within it. >>
<< I feel fine though Steve. There is getting used to a new host but that is normal. It is something that Balad don't do much. You are my third host you see. That is a rarity as most are not able to find a new host in time. >>
Steve nodded then thought what he meant. << I can tell what my body is doing Sloot. It is getting ready to attack the part of you that is you within me. We have to find a new host for you right now. >>
The pain the Sloop had been in was getting worse. Not better as it should and he knew then that Steve was right. << Steve, it will not help. If what you say is true I can't unbind with you and go to a new host. Not while you are healthy and alive. >>
Steve stopped looking as that sank in. << What do we do? >>
Testle focused on the image. His host was carrying Sloot, but it was not really a host. If only it worked like it did with his treebushtail, but it didn't. << Sloot, OhmyThought Sloot, What have you done! >>
Sloot tried to send a thought to Testle as he fought the pain, << Testle... his system... It is... attacking me... I can't fight it... it hurts. >>
Steve heard Sloot and punched the button on the com unit, "Commander? Commander isn't there something that we can do? My immune system is destroying the Balad." The com unit crackled and the commander's voice came back to Steve.
"I'm sorry, Steve... there is nothing we can do. If we had only thought about this ahead of time, I would never have let you bond with the Balad."
"I understand, Sir." Steve said sadly. He felt the strange sensations moving through his body, while it battled the unknown organism within him.
Steve sat back in mental anguish. The Balad was a sentient being and he and he would be its death. It was something unplanned... something horrifying to him. All his life he had wanted to make contact with new species of intelligent beings. This was his first.... He sighed. The Balad were superbly adapted to their hosts on their world. Their invasive presence in other organisms was ignored because their bodies could fool the native immune systems, but he was not native. The Balad could not fool his imune system and it was killing what it thought to be a deadly enemy.
<< Sloot... >> Steve could not bring himself to tell Sloot what the outcome would be. << Are you still there? >>
<< I hurt... Hard to think... Hurt... >>
<< Sloot, can you call Testle? >>
<< Yes... He knows... >>
<< Tell me... How close do you have to be to a new host to make the transfer? >>
<< I cannot leave you... >>
<< TELL ME SLOOT! >> Steve gritted his teeth in bitter anguish. << TELL ME! >>
<< As long as I can withdraw and reach for it.... Hurt! PAIN! >>
<< Call Testle... Can he get another host within range? I will set a simple snare. Make it step into it. >>
Steve reached into his pocket and unravelled a length of micro cord from a small clothing repair kit and fashioned a noose, which he set on the ground a distance of ten feet away. He dropped a bit of food into it from his rations and returned to where he sat. << Call Testle now! >>
<< This will not work... Steve... Hurt...>>
<< Just do it, Sloot! >>
<< I have... he... brings a young... bushytail. >>
<< Will it work? >>
<< I cannot... UHH... leave you.... >>
Presently, the bushytail occupied by Testle came down the tree with a half grown juvenile in its mouth. It dropped it near the food and let it enter the circle. Steve yanked on the noose and reeled the squealing youngster to him. The struggle was brief and Steve held it tightly so it could not harm itself or him.
<< Sloot, can you hear me? >> He asked.
<< I... I am here.... >>
<< Get ready to transfer. >>
Steve pulled his service weapon out of its holster and released the safety. << I never wanted to harm you, Sloot. We should have been prepared for this possibility. Next time we will be. Tell your people we meant no harm. >> He sighed. << You were my first contact with an alien intelligence. I wanted to learn and be friends. I never wanted to be your death sentence. >>
<< Steve? I... I feel deep sadness from you... >> Realisation came to Sloot in a horrible wave of emotion. << STEVE! >>
<< Get ready to transfer, my friend. It's the only way.... >>
Steve lifted the weapon and his finger squeezed the trigger...
Sloot was desperate. He knew what was going to happen in only a moment. Images flashed from him to Testle. << Stop him! >>
Testle urged his host to run down the tree as fast as he could and pounced on the held up hand of Steve just as the gun went of. Missing his head by only an inch. He fell to the ground. His host was panicked and full of fear at the huge noise. It ran in terror and there was nothing that Testle could do about it.
<< Sloot. It is the only way. I can't be held accountable for killing you. >>
<< Steve. Stop...PAIN... There is another way. >> Sloot looked through Steve's eyes at the young bushytail and projected. The spores of who he was were splitting and drifting away. << It is done Steve... ///PAIN//// >>
Steve blinked. << What is done Sloot? >> Sloot sent a happy image of the little bushytail running free.
<< Meet my son Steve. >> Steve looked at the little bushytail and almost cried.
<< This was to be your new host Sloot! >>
Sloot reached out one last time with his mind. << I know friend Steve. Next time. You will do better my friend. >> Sloot's senses fell in on themselves as the essence that made up his being was attacked by Steve's system. The last thought he heard... << Goodbye friend. >>
--
Happychitter sent images of lakes and trees and swimming to Beth. << Tell me again of the first contact Beth? What was Sloot like? >>
<< Not that story again... Oh all right... >> Beth Going created the image of her father bending down to talk to a young bushytail, and smiled. << He was best friend to my father and was the first contact. They had so little time together.... >>