Ironically, the pain of his head hitting the ground was NOT in fact the first thing Kain noticed. No. The first thing that Kain noticed was that the cumulative aches and pains he’d picked up over the years from the act of just surviving, the constant background noise of his existence, was gone. Then he noticed the pale, frosty blue light that surrounded everything. THEN he noticed the pain in the back of his heads, “BY THE TITS OF THE MOTHER!” He’d never felt the urge to swear before. Really, the concept was unknown among his people. It had no utility, no benefit to survival. Australopithecus, though, was different. The time spent getting to adulthood, while shorter by quite a bit than its more modern descendants, was much longer than its predecessors. This meant that they tended to develop with more socialization than previously. This did not mean much to Kain, really. He didn’t understand what it meant to literally ‘evolve’. That being said, there were a few major changes to his life. For example, walking upright constantly, as he was encouraged to, was no longer so painful. His thoughts were more and more prone to abstraction. He now found himself wondering about the oddest abstractions, like, what was the sky made of, and what the hell WERE the blue boxes anyway? Also, he now had the urge to utter swear words when he was irritated.

  It probably would’ve been fun under a more normal situation. Nothing about Kain’s life was normal, though. Like that damned blue light. “Congratulations on your new evolution, Kain.” Evolution? “Huh?” The voice seemed to sigh audibly. “It means… well, for your purposes it means that you are now something greater than you were before. It’s still pretty primitive, but there are benefits for evolving or ranking up your class. Like gaining a perk.” He understood the word, but he got the distinct feeling that he didn’t really understand the word in the manner it meant it. So he focused on the direction he’d THOUGHT the voice was coming from, “Who are you? What are you?” The voice, and it was feminine now he was sure, “I am Pragati. The Spirit you called for. You’re not ready yet to understand what’s going on. Don’t worry. We’ll make you ready, if you survive.” It was sultry and welcoming. It made his blood pound. And because of that… he’d instantly distrusted it. “Then be done with me, spirit.” He got the distinct sensation of amusement on the spirit’s part. Even so, a set of blue boxes popped up.

  Truth be told, Kain didn’t even know one COULD leave behind evidence if no one saw you do it. Sure, there was scent, and tracks, but in this land… And of course, it occurred to him, suddenly, that there was no reason the odd robots couldn’t track his scent. Why, right this moment… Impulsively, he picked ‘I Was Never There’. The blue light began to fade, the voice, laughing, chased him, “A metaphor for your entire species, Kain. You don’t get it. But you will…”

  ***********

  When Kain awoke, he felt an indescribable melancholy. He hadn’t quite remembered everything, but there in his status screen, he saw the perk. Figuring it had something to do with his change of ‘Race’, he rolled over and saw his friend Kres, there. Unexpectedly, he felt a new spark of warmth. A sort of sense of… relief at seeing the Murinus. “You gave us all quite a start, Kain. The medi-bots didn’t really seem to understand what was wrong with you. Then you started to change, and… Well, you should’ve told your intake officer your species had a larval form. That’s kind of strange for a mammalian. They were going to do compassionate disintegration if you didn’t start getting better. I know. It doesn’t sound very compassionate, but… if you’d seen the way your flesh was melting and warping, you would’ve thought so too.”

  Kain took a moment to pass the words through his head before nodding. “I suppose it would’ve been compassionate if such were true. However, compassion is not a thing I find overly needful, or useful. Without life, there is no hope. As long as there is some in me, there is a chance I may move forward. Tell me, Kres. Your people… They are excellent scavengers, yes?”

  “That’s… true. We prefer worst-case-scenario survival experts, but yeah. Why? What do you need?”

  “Cloth. Soft cloth. And padding.”

  “What for?”

  “We are going to make this place a true home. If I cannot adorn it with the skins and furs of my kills, then I will certainly make it a place worthy of my tribe’s comfort and station, at least.”

  “We have station?”

  “We do. And it will be the only tribe here, given time. I feel… better. Renewed. Strong.”

  “That’s probably because you are. You haven’t seen yourself, have you?”

  “I… no. I have not.”

  “Go to the toilets. Take a look.”

  Rising, Kain did exactly that, padding down the hall while a number of inmates watched him with a sort of distant and uneasy expression. Kain of course did not let it bother him. He would prefer such looks from potential foes, after all. It meant they feared him. Respected him. Still, he was in for a shock when he arrived in the bathrooms. It took a moment of fumbling to get one of the wall panels to show him a reflective surface. The sight that greeted him was unsettling.

  Gone were the deep-carved lines that time had dragged through his flesh. The milky whiteness that had begun to embed itself in his elderly eyes had receded, leaving them a clear, healthy dark brown. His fur was lacking the white and silver streaks that had become increasingly present, a dark black covering his entire body but for his face and ears. Even the amount had changed, as it had become patchy with time. Now it was full, silky, luxurious, even. The most startling changes were not his restored youth, however. It was in how his pain was completely gone. In how his back stayed upright, with a straightened posture he’d never possessed in his previous life. His fingers were more slender and articulate. His face more expressive. The limbs were longer, and he was nearly a foot taller (which still placed him among the more diminutive members of this detention center). The shape was familiar, of course. Still like the chimpanzees that modern humans so commonly laughed and clapped about, but somehow more intelligent.

  Against his better judgement, Kain found himself smiling. If he were among his tribe, the tooth expression would’ve been considered a threat. An invitation to fight and probably to die. No, in this case, the hominid was feeling genuinely… happy, and he was expressing it. Which still made the Frekkid in the bathroom behind him, yet another of the blue-skinned, red-haired humanoid species which Grenne had belonged to, cringe from discomfort. The Frekkid turned and walked out, having decided that creepy smiling apes were best not to be alone in the bathrooms with.

  Kain ignored this, of course. He cared only for himself and Kres. And to this end, it was time to get back to business. He stomped out to the recreation yard, and with an imperious (and far less quavering voice than once before) demanded to be allowed to fight. Kain was determined that with his youth returned, he would make the best use of this that he could. “You sure? We only got Frekkid signed up today- Oh, who am I kidding. You’re crazy. Of course you’re sure. Fine, fine.”

  Few people were willing to fight Frekkid. They weren’t in and of themselves particularly difficult to best combatants. Still, fighting them bare-handed was an invitation to burning one’s fingers to the bone. Only Frekkid tended to fight other Frekkid. Kain was of course happy to fight the Frekkid. He knew with sufficient sleep, he would of course heal, but now that he was in a place where he could begin to understand and think about his challenges properly, Kain had begun to understand what he needed to properly exploit his new abilities, “We can use any ability that comes naturally to us, yes?” The organizer merely nodded, “Provided it doesn’t come from implants, tech, or gene-tampering, yeah. Just remember, no killing. No brain damage if you can avoid it. When someone surrenders, you stop. If you call the Wardens down on us, then we’ll find ways to make you regret it.”

  It soon enough came time for Kain to fight, and he entered the ring. It seemed as of late that he was doing many new things, changing the way he had always done things. It was necessary to survive. That was why he was shaman, after all. Not just to know the traditions and ways of the spirits, but to show his tribe the way forward when their Chieftain could not see a path forward with their old knowledge. He had always fought the way his people had fought. With a flurry of strength and violence, with the hope to overwhelm his enemies. That would not work, he now realized. Not yet. He wasn’t strong enough, and though the Frekkid were as close to his physique as any in this place were, he was still weak from years of hardship.

  So today, he would fight carefully. Martial his strength. Try new tricks. Kain changed his stance, though the significance was lost on his opponent. This Frekkid was muscular with plenty of time spent working out. Some experience fighting, but a hapless brawler to Kain’s now practiced eye. Kain’s stance was meant to be a closed, defensive posture. The Frekkid’s was wide open, perhaps intending on relying entirely on his punishing blows and toughness to carry him through the fight. And why not? It had worked well enough for him in the past. Kain had been beaten to the ground many times before. Much like his tactics, however, Kain was new again.

  “Jeeze, dude. You’re puttin’ me up against the monkey-man? He’s practically ancient. Tell you what, Monkey-man. I’ll make this quick so you can go back to eating apple sauce or whatever it is you do when you’re not getting your teeth kicked in.” Kain smiled again and this one was about as reassuring as it had been back in the bathroom. “I am Kain, young man. Shaman… no, Chieftain of the Stone Halls Tribe. Kres is my second. Make a good accounting of yourself, and you are welcome to join as one of my warriors.” The Frekkid laughed, and said, “I’m Gresten, monkey-man. And I ain’t nobody’s bitch.” Kain grinned even wider, causing the Frekkid to involuntarily take a step back, “That is untrue. You are Kyxx’s. And soon, you will be mine.”

  Gresten rushed forward with a shout of anger, his fist winding far back in a vicious haymaker designed to lay Kain flat. Before, Kain would’ve been hard-pressed to avoid the blow. Focusing now, though, Kain ignited fire around his hands, red flame flowing around his hands and fingers. He concentrated on defending himself as he lifted both hands up in a cross shape and turned to the side, taking Gresten’s forearm on his crossed arms and shoving it away. Then with a certain efficient brutality, he pivoted around again and used the opening created to slam his burning palm against Gresten’s face. The man howled and stumbled back, clutching at the singed, dark blue mark in the shape of a hand rising on his face.

  For once, the betting ring was silent. One could’ve heard a pin drop. And then, as Gresten began swearing and probing at his face, the whispering began.

  “The fucking ape is a psion. A psion!”

  “How’d he get past the screeners?!”

  “He’s a Pyroclast! Shit. It must’ve been latent!”

  Kain tensed, expecting the wardens to intervene. To show up and take him away again, but they stirred not at all, their red eyes sweeping back and forth as if nothing at all had changed. Kain looked at Gresten who had collapsed now onto his side and then out at the crowd which edged back from him. Then he walked over towards the collapsed Gresten, crouched down, and murmured, “You will join my tribe now?”

  Gresten spat and responded, “Screw you. Nobody cross Kyxx. Not even a fucking psion. Everyone knows his people are immune to those tricks anyway.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  “I doubt that is true.”

  “Fine. Have it your way.”

  Kain kicked Gresten in the face. Broken teeth and sizzling blood spattered the ground as the Frekkid lost consciousness. Then he turned and walked towards his cell, a distant expression on his face.

  ***********

  “Are you aware of what transpires outside this place.”

  “I am aware of everything you know, Kain.”

  “Then you know it is only a matter of time before Kyxx decides to put down the growing threat to his Tribe.”

  “They’re called a gang, Kain. Not a tribe.”

  “It is the same thing, really.”

  “There’s an important difference.”

  “Oh?”

  “Gangs prey on each other as much as they do other tribes.”

  “I think this gang is not a good thing.”

  “Neither are you, Kain.”

  “True. This gang is also a stupid thing.”

  “Equally true, Kain.”

  “I will break them.”

  “And I’ll help you.”

  “THEN WHY DO YOU INSIST ON ME DOING NOTHING BUT BUILDING THINGS!? HOW CAN THIS POSSIBLY HELP ME DO WHAT I NEED TO DO!?”

  “Just do it, Kain.”

  Kain grumbled as he went back to mixing mortar and stacking bricks. Structures had begun to arise as Kain worked. First slowly, and then more quickly as time went by. None of them were graceful structures. Squat buildings. Made of brick and stone. Thick walled, utilitarian. Missing any windows, any doors. Open. Then again, with his soul clear of invaders, and him and the white ape as its only inhabitants, what need had he for doors. For a means to keep people out. Only Kain and the dead lived here. Perhaps their quality reflected Kain’s skill. More likely, they reflected his character.

  Of greater interest was the way the structure he daily repaired grew up around the great stone, ever higher in the sky. Reaching ever further into the sky. No matter how long he worked on it, it seemed to grow ever taller. It took longer and longer, as well, as he had to drag the mortar and the bricks further up. By now, he had a village of the smaller structures, but the tower springing up had begun to grow truly massive in scope. In time, though, the spire was finished. The inside of it had many levels, each with a simple staircase. Each level a room on its own. Sitting there, atop the finished spire, he could not help but note how from up at the top, the barrenness of the land was striking in its own way. As ever, the white ape was next to him, “So what next, woman?” The white ape laughed a little bit. “Now? Now we dig.”

  “What?”

  ***********

  “Kain, wake up! I found something!”

  “Kres. This had better be good.”

  “It’s trouble, Kain. Big trouble.”

  “Show me.”

  Kain lifted to his feet. He hadn’t received any notice. Hadn’t slept long enough for it, it seems, to receive any healing from his rest. His PP were still depleted from that single use, but the knowledge of how to use the technique again simmered in the back of his mind like all his other skills did. Using it had felt a roaring fire inside of him. And unlike the anger he used to kindle his pyrokinesis, it was clean and direct. It was a fire that scoured his mind of distractions rather than one that urged him to destroy everything around him.

  Following the Murinus, he skittered down the hall, towards the commissary, Kain looked around. It was a room with more of the grey cubicles. Somewhat like the bathrooms. Except in each was a cylinder with a terminal. Using that terminal, one could see one’s institutional resource credits and the admittedly small list of comforts one could use them to dispense. Kres led his way to one cubicle and pointed with one of his many limbs. Therein lay a hole. Barely big enough for the Murinus to squeeze through, “Push it. The cubicle should move pretty easily with some effort. They’re designed to be reconfigured as needed.”

  Kain put his back to the cubicle and found it did indeed move aside with some genuine effort. Kain looked in surprise at the gaping hole he found beneath it. “Is this… an escape? Or some sort of trap?” Kres fretted for a moment before answering, “No. It’s… something worse. Something that shouldn't be here. Something that makes no sense.”

  Kain merely looked at the prompt floating before him curiously.