This Stranger, My Friend
Part I - Second Glance
Daniel shook his head and stared at his computer screen. The small black print glowed at him, the e-mail message he'd received just as impossible as the first time he'd read it.
To my friends:
I'm not dead. Whatever you have heard, whatever my family has told you, I did not die in that car accident. I merely caused it. By now I'm sure all of you know about the effects the comet's radiation has had on some people. When they shot the missile into space and pulverized that chunk of ice and rock, they didn't count on the fine particles raining down on us. No danger, they said. But we all know what happened next. The Remade began appearing. Freaks, by all accounts. A small percentage of the population who were sensitive to the peculiar radiation given off by the comet now called Mythmaker, and changed by it. But a small percentage of the population still equals a lot of people, and from what I've seen, the actual percentage isn't really as small as they've claimed.
I am one of those people. Like many others, my physical appearance and abilities have been altered. In the days ahead, probably one of three things will happen. There will either be a massive cover-up, such as those who are so fond of conspiracy theories suggest, those like me will be hunted and killed or locked away for study, or, we will be unwillingly accepted, while a frenzy erupts about us even as the search for a 'cure' is frantically undertaken.
Until I know what is going to happen, I can't risk showing myself. I have been cast out of my home by my own blood, and while I count friendship as one of the most important things in my life, I realize that asking you to go even beyond the bounds of familial loyalty may be too much. Once I have scented which way the wind will blow, I will come to each of you. If, when I do, you find you cannot deal with what I have become, don't worry. I will understand. You may reply to this address anytime within the next four days, after that, it will be gone. I will contact you again when I can.
Mikaela
Daniel blinked and shook his head again, a smile erupting on his face. She's alive! It had to be Mikaela - no one else he knew wrote messages in the old style. E-mail was like talking; a lot of rambling and informal at best. You'd be lucky if the sender ran it through spell check or used capital letters, much less the careful adherence to the rigid forms and standards of written correspondence this letter displayed. Yet, there was a tone about the words that was different. A result of her form? It sounded like Mikaela, and he didn't know anyone who could consider copying her unique style a joke.
This worried him. If his friend was one of the Remade, she was in plenty of trouble. TV was constantly running footage not only of altered people, but the mobs and violence that seemed to follow them now. Not all the Remade were far from human either - there were some who looked as they always had, yet suddenly found themselves possessing powerful new abilities. Some people only half changed, creating creatures out of myth and legend. Centaurs and satyrs walked the streets, and human-animal hybrids, called morphs, were everywhere. Daniel leaned back in his chair. So far, what they turned into seemed quite random, and in some cases, even horrifying. Those were the others.
Orks, trolls, and goblins - ogres, gargoyles, and fey. These were just some of the words used to describe people who had changed the most. The dark, strong ones whose appearance caused the most fear. Those unfortunates had recently been labeled Unseelie as a whole. Daniel's gaze refocused, seeing instead his own reflection on the computer monitor. His mop of scruffy brown hair flopped over pale green eyes, and the washed out light of the screen glanced off his lightly tanned skin. Daniel unfolded his lanky, six foot frame and padded to the window of his dorm room. He looked down into the Campus Circle, at all the other college people and professors milling about like ants. A rather large stick had just stirred up their world, and his school had not been immune. Several students and one teacher were Remade, and Daniel watched the clumps and clusters of people as they talked of nothing else. Two of the Remade had fled the campus, while the others hid in their own rooms, or huddled together in a group whenever they went out. Only the lone teacher, now a dappled grey half-horse, dared go about something like his normal routine. Daniel had heard that he even still taught his classes every day.
He turned and walked back to the computer, glancing up at the pictures on the shelf above his desk. Only five high school friends who'd gotten to be important enough to warrant exchanging pictures with. He still kept in touch with all of them, but only two had really become close - Cole and Mikaela. And Mikaela had been the first. She'd been his friend the longest. The three of them had been nearly inseparable, even after she'd graduated, leaving only he and Cole in school. She'd gone to a local JC for a while, so had seen them off to their own colleges, and welcomed them back on vacations. Time and trouble had brought the three of them closer than he'd thought possible. Their lives had been pretty quiet lately though, and the years since had seen Mikaela transfer to her own choice of state school. With e-mail, he'd never felt too far away. He clicked on reply and sent his own message.
I'll be waiting. Stay safe Mika.
Daniel
To be sure she could find him, he also sent his address and schedule in an attachment. He glanced again at the shelf of photos, then reached up and brought one frame down, the only real informal picture of the bunch. He and another boy each had an arm draped over the shoulders of the girl in the center, the picture a study in striking contrasts. Her dark copper hair gleamed, highlights chasing through its medium length. Brown eyes and an easily dark-tanned complexion betrayed her father's Spanish heritage, and on her right, Cole's white teeth flashed against his coffee-dark face. That grin had charmed both he and Mikaela into trouble and adventure more than once. Daniel smiled, remembering the summer trip to the ocean. He shook his head, clamping down on the worry. Good luck Mika. Hope you're all right.
Daniel shut down his computer and grabbed his books. It was time to get to class.
Months rolled by, and the world gathered itself. Nations dealt with the Remade according to their own ways. In some places this meant slaughter, in some it meant slavery. Even the United States struggled with ethics and ideals, and while for the most part the Remade were absorbed, one group still found itself left out. The Unseelie were targets for fear and anger, and many responded with violence, lashing out in frustration and anguish. Because of their power, this quickly turned the rest against them, and soon they alone were driven into the dark. Underground subways no longer ran - instead, they became the start of great tunneling cities. Some Unseelie went feral, melting into the wilderness. Others tried to prove themselves, doing work that norms wouldn't or couldn't to try and show that they were no different than the other Remade, those who had been accepted. The Unseelie dubbed those the Fair Ones, and brooded over the injustice. Nevertheless, discrimination against Unseelie was rampant, and unless they had a job or someone to speak for them, they were often forced to retreat to one of the underground cities. It was quite simply too dangerous to remain above. But equally, no norms dared set foot in the vast earthen metropolises without Unseelie protection. As they grew, the cities enjoyed a shabbier if nearly even level of sophistication and technology - to do otherwise would have been to have the places boil over into riots, spilling their enraged occupants into the streets of the world above. The police and the politicians knew this, and scattered incidents early in the crisis only proved them right. Still, it was by Unseelie hands that everything was built, and they considered the Below wholly theirs. Any Fair One who ventured inside was not harmed, but neither were they exactly welcomed, unless they too had nowhere to go. Remade did stick together, when it came down to the line. The cities filled quickly, as Unseelie and Fair Ones alike left the towns and suburbs where they were isolated and joined others like them for safety and companionship. The comet proceeded with its work also, and others continued to change until the numbers swelled. Every major city contained a Below, and those who had no heart for such living created Unseelie-only towns, as far from normal humans as they could get. Because of the confusion and violence, this all happened very quickly, as the Remade tried to put their lives back in order. But in all, nearly a year had passed before Daniel heard anything from the person who used to call him her best friend.
Daniel slid into his chair and sighed. What a day! Tests like that make me glad I only have one more year to go. Hopefully. He groaned. Yeah, but then it's on to a graduate school. Shut up Daniel, think about something else. Gotta check my mail. I'll get back to everyone I've been ignoring because of midterms.
He flipped on his computer, and there it was.
Daniel,
I apologize for how long this has taken me, but between my journeys to visit friends, quite a bit has been happening. I hope you understand. You are nearly the furthest one away, so I have been working my way towards you, via the others. I am hoping you are still at the address you sent me, though I realize your schedule has surely changed. I will try and catch you alone, so don't try looking for me. You wouldn't recognize me anyway.
Mikaela
He sat and stared at the message while his insides tightened. At last, she was coming. Yet again she had made no mention of what exactly she'd become, and he tried to imagine her as every possible Remade he could think of. It wore his already weary brain out, and he fell asleep in the chair.
Daniel hurried through his classes, distractedly answering his friends when they spoke to him, and hardly listening to his professors. He was jumpy all day, wondering when and where she'd appear. He went home, almost expecting to find her hiding in his room. Finally, unable to stand the waiting anymore, he grabbed a flashlight and threw on a jacket, walking out into the dark and heading for a place that he knew the old Mikaela would've liked. He struck off into the hills behind the edge of campus, following a trail worn into brush. Myriad initiation ceremonies took place up there, but at this time of the school year no one was willing make the climb, and the time for midnight hazings was long past. The trails were deserted.
He moved steadily upwards, leaving the main path and striking off through the sparse vegetation. He'd made this track himself, and while it wasn't as worn as the others, he didn't mind. It also meant no one else would think to follow him, much less realize there might be something there. At last, the growth began to thicken, and his trail become more apparent. Daniel pushed on, and suddenly the path leveled out. He'd reached the top of the hill. After turning off the flashlight, he moved forward to the edge, took a deep breath and relaxed, taking in the view.
The stars seemed so much closer, brighter, lighting up the black span of the night sky. The moon was just a crescent, hanging low above the distant mountains, while the college and city stretched away before him, alive with lights and people. But up here, all he heard was the wind, and all he smelled was the earth and grass. A smile crept across his face. There was silence then, for a little while.
He wasn't surprised when a sigh from behind him was quickly followed by a soft laugh.
"Ah Daniel. A beautiful spot."
The voice was unknown - strong, low and rumbling, but definitely female. The words were quiet, and achingly familiar. He didn't bother to turn around, and the grin echoed in his tone.
"You should see the sunset from here. Breathtaking. Your influence Mikaela, you know that."
"I'm glad to see my energy wasn't wasted. Although, sometimes I wondered just how much of it was my stubbornness to make you and Cole see, and how much of it was the two of you humoring me."
He laughed.
"You know better. A sunset wasn't over until all the color had faded from the sky. If you weren't dragging us out to watch the sun go down or the moon rise it was something else. Something we just couldn't miss. Something we so often did."
"Well, I'll bet you stop now."
"Your motto. Stop! And look up."
"And see."
The smiles warmed them in the dark.
"And see," he agreed quietly. "I suppose it's time to see everything." He switched on the flashlight again.
"Wait. Not here."
"Why not? It's why I came. It's why you came."
"I know. But this place, it's too special for this. If... You'll always have this place at least. A last good memory."
"Mikaela-"
"No. Go down into the city, to the old mall a few blocks down from the bus yard. It's mostly deserted this time of night. Stand in front of the courtyard for two minutes, then go around back, to the alley behind it. Don't worry about if anyone's there, you'll be safe. Just go inside. I'll be waiting. Please, do this?"
Daniel hesitated.
"All right."
He waited, allowing her to leave unseen, before turning back and retracing his steps. He followed her instructions, and after the first minute at the mouth of the alley, Daniel was surprised to see a couple of rough humans and a hulking Unseelie come out. The humans brushed by without looking at him, but the brutish-looking Unseelie gazed at him with something like sorrowful warning in his strange eyes.
He waited the extra minute, then entered the alley. It was like any other, litter-strewn and empty. The walls of the buildings rose uncaringly on either side. Surprisingly, the darkness began to fade as he went deeper, and Daniel realized the glow came from windows that lined the rearmost wall. They cast a gentle light, and he moved into the square of illumination.
"Mikaela?"
"I'm here."
He looked around, but all he saw were the high stacks of crates and refuse.
"Where?"
A heavy sigh came from the shadows.
"I should probably warn you. I'm what they call an Unseelie."
Daniel was silent. He waited. There didn't seem to be anything he could say to make this easier for her. Movement drew his eye as she came out from behind one of the big rubbish piles. His mouth fell open and he stepped back involuntarily.
What emerged from hiding was tall, taller than he by a foot at least, and covered with dark fur. The dim light didn't show him colors, but it revealed her form well enough. Strangely hued eyes glimmered in the wide bestial face, the heavy muzzle lifting above a long, thick neck. Horns added another foot or so to her height, their extensive curves arching gracefully skyward, pale smoothness shining. Her bovine head sprouted human-like hair between the horns, which roiled wildly down her neck and about her broad shoulders. Even in the half-light, he could tell it was no longer red, but stark white. Large, roughly triangular ears swiveled towards him while her nostrils flared, trying to catch his scent. She wore an obviously hand-altered shirt, and some kind of pieced-together denim shorts, under what looked like a leather breechclout. Even these were ill-fitting; the shirt stretched tight over a flat chest and rippling muscles that belonged more to a man than a woman. Her belt and the small leather pouches that hung from it were the only items of clothing that didn't look scavenged. Her furred arms and legs were thick with obvious strength, and his attention was caught by the swish of a lengthy tail, capped by a shock of white hair. Her hips flared like any girls', except on a massive scale. Her legs were still mostly human, but at what should've been the ankle, they bent and curved into a small hock. The short pastern ended in gigantic cloven hooves as black as jet.
"My God. A minotaur?"
She nodded slowly.
"I'm surprised you know the word."
Daniel took a hesitant step towards her, wobbly voice going too high in an attempt at humor.
"I hung around with you didn't I? When your best friend is a fantasy buff, you pick up a few things. Especially when you're trying to pry them out of a shop and they keep saying things like 'Oh wow! A hippogriff! Look! A kirin! Did you see that dragon? I'd kill for that unicorn. That's not a very good min-'"
He choked off, cursing himself mentally. That particular memory had just popped into his mind. The shop twinkled with tiny colored lights, rainbows bouncing and reflected from a hundred prisms, crystals, and glass set into pewter figurines and ceramic statues. Everywhere he turned was a creature from dream and nightmare. Some he knew - mermaids and fairies - and some he didn't, strange beasts he'd never heard about. But she knew them all and named them delightedly, pulling he and Cole along in her enthusiasm. "Look! A minotaur. Not a very good one though." She frowned, and he had to nod. The figurine of the bull headed man was so skinny as to appear anorexic. Mikaela glanced back at him. "Just a human body with a cow's head stuck on top. Not even in proportion either. Pitiful."
Daniel regretted bringing it up. But he always joked when he was unnerved, and she knew him too well to be fooled. Even now, she stood there, gazing quietly at him with those shining eyes he couldn't quite see. He took a deep breath, trying to control the shaking that threatened to overtake him. She was completely unlike that sad metal figure - large and powerful, more beast than woman, yet indisputably both.
"I didn't know there were minotaurs among the Unseelie."
The animal muzzle twisted into a wry grin, and he caught the glint of sharp canines beside flatter, more normal-looking teeth.
"It seems I was lucky. There aren't that many. In fact, we're pretty rare. As far as I know, there are only two others in the entire western U.S., a few more nationwide. I'm the only female, that I've heard of anyway. We also have the dubious honor of being the only animal morphs classified as Unseelie."
"Why?"
She shifted, tail swishing restlessly.
"We are... more changed, than the others. True morphs take after the animal they resemble, in what they eat, and the instincts they inherit, but they are still basically the same person inside. Minotaurs do not take after cattle."
She bared her teeth fully to expose the sharp fangs, and Daniel automatically drew back.
"Obviously, I am not a vegetarian. The instincts I've acquired are far less peaceful, and some things about me..."
She faltered, struggling. He could see this was hard, and tried to turn the conversation, for her sake.
"So, what are you going to do?"
Mikaela shrugged.
"I don't really know. There's always Below," Walls of rock, irregular tunnels where the dark is never quite banished, strings of light, echoes of breath and footstep, the smell of earth and old wood, the bite of metal in the great cavern, and the utterly still air. Crowds of those like me, and unlike. Home, until too much time passes and they're all around, not a single breath that hasn't been taken by another, and the weight of the world above pressing down... "But that's where I've been. It has its beauty and its wonders, but I can't stay there my whole life. I need the sky, the sun. I need stars and the moon and wind. You remember how much I hated city living, with the glass and skyscrapers around me. At least cities have trees and parks. Below is all stone and concrete and metal. I need grass and open spaces - at least some of the time."
A shudder ran through her, and immense hands came up to rub her shaggy arms. Daniel recognized his friend in that gesture, and shook his head. To be trapped in such a world would be torture for her.
"Isn't there anywhere you can go?"
She snorted, making him jerk in surprise. Her tone was bitter.
"To be allowed to stay topside you have to have a job. It's not a law, but it might as well be, because no matter where you are, the police don't stop hounding you until you either get one or go back down 'where you belong.' And the kind of work I could get is very limited. I'd probably end up as a bouncer somewhere if I didn't want to be on the wrong side of the law, which I don't. Otherwise it's all just manual labor, and that, the norm workers have a problem with. Us 'stealing' their jobs. It's simply not safe."
"And bodyguarding."
"I suppose. But that comes pretty close to the illegal side of things. I refuse to lower myself to intimidating people. I want to be out, but not at that price."
"It's not like that. It's a big fad among the better off right now. There are even some people at my school who have Unseelie bodyguards."
He shrugged, and she merely snorted once more, startling him all over again.
The awkward pause was interrupted when a blinding light filled the alley. Mikaela whirled, one hand coming up to ward her eyes. Her shadow reached back and covered him, sparing his own eyes most of the assault.
"Freeze! Stay right where you are!"
The volume of the amplified voice made even Daniel wince, and Mikaela's ears pressed back into her pale hair. Two figures approached, blocking some of the light, but not enough to see clearly or to provide any relief. A male voice barked out questions.
"Jesus! What kind of monster are you? What're you doing above ground, freak?"
"You better have a good reason to be out here in the dark, cowface."
She bared her teeth to the light and the insults, tail lashing. He heard the clicks of guns being cocked, and Daniel realized her body blocked the officers' view of him. He hurriedly moved into the light.
"Wait! It's okay! We were talking."
"What the... Looks like a college kid!"
"What are you doing here Unseelie? Hey man, you okay back there?"
Daniel pressed his lips tight. Funny how their language cleaned up in the presence of a norm.
"I'm fine. We were just discussing business."
"What kind of business?" The tone was sharp.
"We were negotiating her contract for being my bodyguard. I'm a computer science major, and part of my project for a class is designing a network for underground use. I'll need a guide to get me Below for some of my research, and someone strong enough to help me in the lab with equipment. If she works out, I'll be hiring her full time."
"That thing is a she?"
The she in question growled. It was an ugly, chilling sound. It frightened Daniel, even though he knew it wasn't directed at him.
"Um, apparently. Is this a problem? Are there laws I don't know about concerning this kind of thing? Do I need to get a permit or something?"
"No. Very well. But be on your way soon."
"Yes officer. We just need to settle on how many days off she gets."
Mikaela turned around and eyed him, saying quickly, "Three days."
He frowned. "Two."
"Weekends."
"Staggered."
"Together."
"Done."
The police officers shook their heads and prepared to leave, shutting down the floodlight. Both Daniel and Mikaela blinked rapidly. Unable to see in the sudden shift, he turned on his flashlight, and headed out of the alley. The scrape of hoof on concrete behind told him she followed. Once alone and out in the open, she halted, ears shifting uncertainly.
"How much of that was true?"
"What, the story I gave the cops? A lot, actually. I do have a project I need to do, and working on some of the problems I hear Below has is as good as anything else. More challenging, even. I was going to hire someone from Below to take me in - how else would I get an idea of what I need to do? And the test runs would have to be made there. As for a bodyguard, I don't really need one. Despite the rumors, the competition isn't that fierce."
"Ah."
She fell silent, considering. Now out under stronger light, he could see that her fur was a rich mahogany, and it thinned away on her muzzle and hands, leaving only dark brown skin exposed. Her hands were just larger versions of human ones; the fine, sleek fur ended at the knuckle, while her palm and long fingers were the same leathery hide as her bovine lips and nose. Her eyes, formerly brown, had become a warm gold. A fusion of animal and human, the expressive amber iris was larger, taking up more space, like a cow's, while the overall look of them still gave the impression of humanity. Her great horns were pale, and shaded to black at the sharp points. The hair on her head and tail was indeed pure white, a flowing stream that ran well past her shoulders.
"I can help you. No need to pay money," she offered hesitantly.
Daniel looked at her, full on, without any of the flinching she'd seen in so many others.
"Then you'll be staying in the area? For a long period of time?"
A furred shoulder twitched in a shrug, and she waved a hand negligently.
"One Below is as good as another, and I have nowhere pressing to be. Besides, it's the least I could do."
He smiled. Her appearance may have changed, but it sure sounded like Mikaela.
"Come on. We'll work this out over at my dorm. Better to hammer out the details now, so we know where to meet and when."
His grin faded at her startled look.
"What? The school is okay. Not like the police. Honest, they'll all probably be wondering about me more than you. There are some Unseelie on campus, like I said, although they're all more common kinds."
She forced a smile, trying not to betray that it was his turn of phrase and not the suggestion that had surprised her.
"Of course."
Daniel nodded and started walking, trying to ignore the surge of uneasiness. Before, he'd known every gesture, every expression. But he couldn't read her new face with any surety, and the nuances in her rumbling voice were distinctly unfamiliar.
By the time they reached the dorm, Daniel was cringing inside. Everyone they passed stopped and stared openly, not only at Mikaela, but him as well. Why hadn't he noticed the fearful and angry looks before? Had he really been so blind as to miss the not quite whispered comments? He felt awful. In seconds, his fellow students had made a liar out of him. The looks alone she was being subjected to were terrible. Yet, she made conversation willingly enough, and appeared to be ignoring it. I don't know which is sadder - that I was too self-absorbed to notice the abuse, or the fact that she seems to have gotten used to it. Yet, whenever he had to turn and look at her, he also found himself gaping, and had to force himself to blink, to not show any sign that her form startled him anew every time.
"Well, here we are. My home for the past three years. My room is on the second floor. Come on."
Daniel started up the stairs, then halted midstride as he remembered her hooves. Should they take the elevator? Could she even handle steps anymore? He looked back, but Mikaela was right behind him, amusement evident in her eyes.
"Keep going. They're not a problem."
"I - I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
She shook her head, cutting him off.
"I don't mind. Look, I know you have questions. Just come out and ask. You know me. If I don't think it's any of your business, or the subject is touchy, I'll tell you so. Otherwise, I'll answer. And I don't mind the staring either. You've got a picture of me up here," she tapped her own temple, "that doesn't match what you're seeing. That'll take some time to override. You keep turning around expecting to see the old me, so it's a shock. It'll pass, and I won't get upset. I promise. You're not gawking, like the others. There is a difference."
Daniel nodded. This too, was something he should've expected she would say. Mikaela was honest by nature, sometimes bluntly so, but he knew she was also very sensitive to those she cared for. It had been almost uncanny how she'd known whenever either Cole or himself was the slightest bit troubled.
Once they reached his room, he unlocked the door and stepped inside.
"I just didn't want to make it more difficult for you. I thought you'd had a hard enough time as it is."
She gave a genuine smile, ears forward and mouth slightly open, showing more teeth than most people would find comfortable.
"You're curious. Hardly an insulting thing. I've had to learn to be curious about myself as well. Despite what everyone thinks, the Remade don't automatically know how to handle all the new aspects of their bodies."
She grimaced, ears flicking sideways and tail curling.
"You should have seen me the first few weeks. I was always a little on the clumsy side, forever bumping into things, remember? After the change, I became a walking demolition derby. Nothing was safe. And oh, did my neck and head suffer! I wasn't used to being so tall, or having these horns. I swear, if it wasn't for the fur, people would've thought I was really strange, because I'd've been black and blue all over!"
He laughed, flopping back on his bed, tension evaporating. This humor was yet another thing he recognized. She chuckled as well, pleased.
"And the first time I got my tail caught in a door, oh boy. It wasn't pretty."
Her smile was gentle as her voice softened.
"And I jumped every time I passed a mirror, or saw my reflection, because I had an image of who I should be, of what I should be. But that person, that body, no longer existed. I had to learn to use this one. I had to get curious about what I could do, how I could do it."
She broke away and began to look about her at the room. Daniel let the conversation slide to the decoration, and understood. They talked of nothing, in the way of old friends, until he brought up the project again. Mikaela nodded.
"What exactly are you looking for Below? What kind of places do you need to go, and what will you need to bring down?"
"Preferably a collection of tunnels and chambers, like what you'd commonly find in any and every Below. I'll need to move in some equipment, three or four portable units, which we should store down there someplace. Can we do that? Good. The other stuff we'd bring in on an as-needed basis. We'll be taking tools of course, and if we could talk with anyone who's working on anything similar that'd be great."
The minotaur's brow furrowed.
"I'll ask around, but those kinds of skills usually get any who have them a job topside. Not many with such experience stay Below for long. What exactly are you looking for with this project?"
"The reason Below can't hook up to the internet is basically the fact that the amount of rock and other minerals degrade the wave signals. What I'm trying to do is either figure a way to connect Below to topside waves, or, if nothing else, design a system that can connect separate Belows to each other."
"Daniel! That's not a class project, that's something people would be paid to do!"
He looked up.
"I never said I'd succeed. I only have to show that I've put work and honest thought into all the processes. Even narrowing the field would count for my grade. If I happen to find a way, that would be fantastic - I'd be rich - but in all likelihood, it won't happen. One alternative I've thought of is to use the old system of connecting through power or phone lines. Obviously, that would be a lot more trouble than simply finding a wave that could carry the signals, like we have for ours. The wireless internet is a lot more efficient than the old one, and we're talking about Below, so we'd have to be laying a lot of cable all over if we can't find another way."
She shook her massive head.
"Never aim for anything simple, do you? All right Daniel, I'll start by finding you your tunnels. What sort of timetable are we working with here?"
"A semester and a half. See, I'm not actually taking the class until next session. I'm starting the project this early so I have enough time to gather the data. The only professor who teaches the class has really high standards. Hardly anyone passes their first time, but I'm determined to. Particularly because I don't want to do another project like this again."
"I see. Well, finding the kind of tunnels you want shouldn't be hard, securing them for our use is probably going to take some doing. But don't worry. I can get them."
Her ears shifted, and Daniel peered at her, wondering. The change in her voice with that last was an odd one.
"You okay?"
"Oh, yeah, don't worry about it. Sorry Daniel." One hand came up to rub her eyes and muzzle. "I guess I'm just tired. I need to get some rest. After all, I'm going to be busy."
A deep sigh rumbled through her chest as she stood. Suddenly it seemed as if every movement was weighted down, slow and heavy. Daniel also got to his feet, brushing his hair from his eyes.
"I understand. Should we meet tomorrow? I have classes until late afternoon, but is about five okay? Just come on up here."
"Very well. I should have some information for you on those tunnels, if nothing else. Goodnight Daniel. See you tomorrow."
He held open the door. As her massive shape moved past, he opened his mouth. It's been great to see you. I'm sorry. I've missed you. I'm angry with them. I'm so glad you're alive. I wish there was something I could do. Why you? Why not someone else? So hard. Oh, my friend...
"Take care."
The minotaur nodded and strode away, humans swirling in her wake.
She moved down, away from the bright stars and sky, into the darker earth. She did not bother with stealth, and her hooves made soft clopping sounds with each step. Entrances to Below were always well lit and fairly crowded beyond the empty Gates, and she found no peace. The voices started up again, whispers and low words. The others who shared the Below knew her, even though she'd just arrived a few days ago. Their faces, a patchwork of different dreams, parted and flowed about her.
Forger, I have a need.
Forger, please, won't you help?
Forger, I could use your skill.
Forger, how can you turn your back?
Forger... Forger... Forger...
She raised her head, shaking her burden of horns and baring her fangs in denial. Still, the name followed her, as did the voices. None ever pursued, but there were many to take their place. Her tail lashed. Finally, her snarling put the whispers to rest, although the eyes never stopped asking. The minotaur visited the place she'd hidden her few belongings before making her way to the center of Below. The earthen city had its own version of main street and downtown. Shops and markets, booths and vendors lined the sides and extended in rows throughout the vast cavern, glimmering with manufactured light and activity. Unseelie of every description thronged, and Fair Ones who had sought refuge underground were not so uncommon. The tall figure wove her way to a woodfront shop, pushed aside the entrance drape, and moved into the glow of candles.
Poring over dusty and damaged books was a gargoyle, wings furled, hunched comfortably on all fours. Her grey skin was thick and tough, but covered with a fine coat of hair so soft it made velvet seem harsh in comparison. Her face, with its combination of horse and dragonish features, actually gave her a kindly, thoughtful appearance. Three small horns at the top of her head marked the beginning of a scale crest that ran along the thick equine neck, becoming a bumpy ridge along her back. Her long, ripping claws were ivory, yet her strong paw-hands moved the books with great care. Equally powerful were her hind legs, whose bunched muscles and pale talons were capable of putting deep scores in solid rock. Her short, reptilian tail swished lazily, while shiny black eyes scanned the pages before her. She disdained clothing, having nothing remotely human left to be modest about.
The minotaur inclined her head respectfully.
"Greetings to you, Stonekeep."
Only now did the mulish ears cup forward, and the obsidian eyes shift. Stonekeep's nostrils flared and she sat up fully. She peered at the large newcomer.
"Well, well. You do speak. I was beginning to wonder if that particular part of the rumor was false."
The visitor shifted uncomfortably.
"I need information."
Stonekeep nodded.
"What do you have for barter?"
The minotaur reached into the saddlebag slung over her shoulder and pulled out a small book. She set it down before Stonekeep.
"It's in good condition - no writing, cover sound, no rips or tears. Only some pages marked by turned down corners."
"Stolen?"
"Are accusations part of your bargaining process?"
Stonekeep watched the minotaur begin to bristle, and recalled the other snippets of information she'd heard about this one. Never insult the minotaur's honor, don't bother lying, somehow she'll know, a minotaur's temper is something you never want to see, much less be the target of, remember the food riots and her part in them.
"My apologies. I didn't mean to imply that you are dishonest."
Amber eyes flared as bovine lips drifted back down, covering the threatening fangs.
"Yes you did, but I'll let it pass. Do you want the book or not?"
Stonekeep's wings rustled as she bent her head on the pretext of inspecting the outer cover. The minotaur was right of course, and shame nipped at the gargoyle. Who are any of us to judge her? What right do we have to make her life any more difficult than our own?
"This is a classic. Very valuable to me, as you surely know. Books are hard to come by for any of our libraries, especially ones like this. What do you want?"
A piece of paper was slipped under her nose, and Stonekeep scanned it quickly.
"All the requirements are there. I need at least three places that match that description, and fulfill all those specifications. Names of the people who I need to deal with, where I can find them, and what the price for each location is. All by noon tomorrow."
Stonekeep looked up.
"You are going to trade?"
"No. Money, stones, or metal only. I don't barter skill."
The minotaur's voice was hard. Stonekeep nodded.
"I know you realize this book is worth more than merely finding this information. What else do you want?"
The visitor named a sum, and the two haggled over the amount until each was satisfied. The minotaur left, and Stonekeep called a small fey out of the back, handed him the list, and set her vast network in motion.
She was eating at one of the many restaurants in the great cavern the next day when a bat-winged gargoyle touched down nearby. Skin a pale brown, his wide-muzzled, doglike face and pointed ears gave him a woeful look. A wispy mane of black hair settled around two goatish horns as the wind from his wings died away. Clad in a pair of faded blue shorts, he padded towards the minotaur's table, bare feet slapping against the stone. The boy's leathery wings hugged his thin humanoid frame, and his large yellow cat's eyes darted nervously. He was quite small, and obviously well aware of it. The minotaur barely felt the touch on her arm.
"Forger, come please. Stonekeep says she has what you wanted."
The great jaws never stopped their slow, regular motion, but the golden eyes regarded him calmly. She waved a hand to the other chair, and he obediently climbed up. She finished her meal of noodles and bread, pulling a slice off the small loaf and offering it to the boy. He wavered for only a moment before seizing it, tiny white fangs tearing into the thick softness. She raised a brow.
"Hungry?"
He blinked. She'd spoken! Spoken to him! In the time she'd been in his Below, the only one who'd truly heard her speak was Stonekeep. He shifted reluctantly, but when he saw her nose come up, nostrils flaring as she sniffed, he quickly nodded, fear coursing through him. The she-minotaur, The Forger, could smell the truth, and paid lies with pain.
She noticed his sudden alarm, but didn't understand it. Dismissing it with a mental shrug, she dug into the pouch at her side.
"What shall I call you?"
"My name is Taylor, m- ma'am."
Her ears snapped forward in surprise.
"You've kept your name? There aren't many here who have."
"May- maybe you just haven't met the right ones?"
She threw back her head and laughed, long white hair shimmering. All around, Unseelie were startled. They paused, uncertain, before resuming their business. Beckoning Taylor closer, she whispered quickly into his ear. His eyes widened, but before he could recover, she'd also dropped a small polished stone into his hand.
"Lower end semi-precious, but it should be enough to get you a couple meals."
Taylor watched, mute, as the minotaur stood, towering over him, before turning away and heading for the far side of the vast cavern. He looked down, hands closing around the shiny black rock. Mikaela. The Forger's name, whispered in his ear. Mica. The stone that sounded like the short version she'd given him permission to use. He fluttered his wings and grinned, loping off to get something to eat.
He was flying back to the shop with a full belly and some change, a few pieces of jasper, in his belt-pouch, when he saw the minotaur leave Stonekeep's office. He whined and changed course to land near. She didn't bother to look at him, just moved slowly to the nearest bench. Taylor crouched beside her, ears lowered. She turned to gaze at him, every line of her face written with a weariness so resigned it choked him with sorrow.
"It seems I have no choice Taylor. I wanted to avoid this, but to help my friend, I have to do it. Become The Forger once again."
The gargoyle felt sorry for her.
"But don't you know? You're The Forger, no matter what. It's not what you do. It's a part of what you are."
She grunted and turned away.
"Wise words, little one. But don't you know how hard it is to fight your own soul? Wisdom gives no comfort then."
Those who had seen the minotaur leave Stonekeep's booth spread the news. They had not needed to hear what she and Taylor said - like the young gargoyle, they'd seen it in her eyes. Unseelie voices echoed in the tunnels and caverns of Below.
The Forger prepares.
Mikaela knocked on the door, and Daniel ushered her inside.
"Come in, come in. Be with you in a moment, I just have to finish this equation. Shouldn't take me longer than a minute or two. Make yourself at home."
"Thanks."
The minotaur eyed the small couch, and lowered herself gently. The springs creaked but held, and she sighed in relief. She studied Daniel's collection of music CDs idly, tail-tip flicking in time to the group playing on the stereo. She hummed along quietly, content to wait.
Daniel tried to concentrate on the final problem, but caught himself studying her feet out of the corner of his eye. Oh, just ask. She said you could. He cleared his throat.
"Uh, Mikaela? I have to admit, I'm curious. How does it feel? Having hooves, I mean."
Her ears moved forward and she glanced down with a smile.
"Well how to explain it? I suppose in terms of what I used to have. When I walk, it's like I use only the balls of my feet."
She crossed her legs and reached down, fingertip tracing the hock. The area was thick with muscle.
"This used to be my heel, and my pastern was the arch of my foot. This slight alteration makes my legs curve a little, and puts my center of balance in a different place. Some people think a leg design like this is too precarious, but really, I'm a great deal more sure-footed than I was. It's very hard to knock me off my hooves, especially if I've planted my feet and don't want to be moved. The hoof itself is tough, like wearing thick new boots. No real flex to them. But I can feel the ground, even sense through them. I can tell if the land I walk on is sound, and what kind of surface it is. Sometimes I can even tell the kind of rock below me from the feel of it. The closest thing I can think of that describes it is having callused feet and walking barefoot."
"Is there anything you have to watch out for?"
She snorted.
"Besides polished floors and other people's feet? Not really. I went to an Unseelie who'd been a farrier, and he said he'd never come across hooves quite like mine. They can stand up to the strain of walking or running on any surface, and they're tougher than anything he'd ever seen. He said I might have to get them trimmed once in a while, and taught me how to tell when, but I haven't had to yet."
He nodded and shoved away his paper. He knew he wasn't going to get it done.
"So, what have you got, as far as the project goes?"
Her muzzle wrinkled in a grimace.
"I've got three possible locations. You'll have to come check them out with me tonight. I need to know which one you want to use, because all three have been claimed by people. The 'rent' that is wanted for each is different, but never mind the price. We can haggle over it later. Just pick the place that's best for you."
"You're taking me Below?"
Mikaela nodded.
"Time to meet your neighbors, Daniel."
Mikaela led the way to Below's closest entrance, going over instructions as they went.
"Stick close. Hang on to my hand or my tail if you have to, but do not lose sight of me, and don't wander off. A lot of people from all races have grudges against norms. As long as you're with me, most will leave you alone or even be friendly, but some, like most of the ogres, are just plain fed up with the treatment they've gotten. If they find you alone, I wouldn't give a clay bead for your chances."
Daniel shrugged.
"I have to confess, I don't know how to tell one type of Unseelie from another. I always thought it would be too rude to ask."
She snorted good-naturedly.
"If it's man-like, big, and strong, it's an ogre. If it's man-like, big, strong, has horns and a short tail, it's a troll. If it's human-sized but has muscles like a bodybuilder and exposed lower canines, it's an ork. If it's short and kind of green, it's a goblin. Gargoyles come in many forms and sizes, have skin like warm marble, and wings. Minotaurs are fairly easy to peg, but you won't be seeing any more of my kind in this Below. There are some Fair Ones here, down on their luck or just more comfortable Below, but not too many. Everything else is fey. Their sizes vary, but usually no bigger than humans, and come in all shapes, most darkly beautiful and supposedly threatening. They tend to be slender, and their powers are varied. Fey are the bulk of the magic users, but they only possess one Talent each, and it is minor often as not. Like anyone else, they're good enough people."
Daniel listened closely. Mikaela halted and turned to face him.
"I'm not saying you won't be in any danger. Just like humans, there are jerks and idiots in every group. It's a likely possibility that at one point or another, fighting will break out, especially since you plan on being Below so much. I give you my word that I won't let your life be threatened. You may end up with scrapes, bruises, maybe even a broken bone or two if you don't get clear of the fighting quickly enough. But you will always come out alive if you do as I ask. Do you still want to do this, knowing the possibilities?"
"Are you trying to scare me?"
The minotaur gave a toothy grin and went on. Daniel fell into step at her side.
"Just letting you know what's ahead. Standard warning issued to all norms. At least you're getting a guarantee. Most don't have that comfort."
They arrived at the entrance, a wide, lit stairway descending into the earth. At the bottom, two large figures approached when they caught sight of Daniel. The ogre was taller than Mikaela, and even more heavily muscled. The troll, only a little smaller, nodded to the minotaur, his curling ram's horns dipping. She acknowledged him with a graceful bow of her own formidable pair. He, like his companion, was wearing a T-shirt and leather jacket, ragged black pants and a huge pair of old sneakers. The troll's coarse hair was mottled gray, like a wolf pelt. His face, repulsive by human standards, paled beside that of his friend. This ogre was a truly hideous being, surpassing many of his own kind in ugliness. His features were irregular, smeared across his visage. With heavy brow ridges, glaring eyes, and large, thick lips on a protruding mouth, he scowled at Daniel, causing the human to back off a cautious step. Sharp ogre teeth stuck out at haphazard angles, and his flat nose twitched suspiciously. He snarled gutturally under his breath.
The troll glanced to his side and switched a meager, hair-tipped tail in irritation before turning back to the waiting minotaur.
"Forger. Greetings. Who do you bring into our home?"
His voice was rolling and gravelly, but the ritualistic words and his own bearing gave him a somber dignity. Mikaela answered in kind.
"Guardian of the gate, I greet you. This is Daniel, my friend."
"And do you take responsibility for him?"
"I do."
The troll nodded once more and stepped aside, now looking down at Daniel, who was feeling positively small.
"Greetings and welcome, Daniel. Enter Below."
Daniel bowed his head like he'd seen Mikaela do, then followed her through the door at the back of the chamber. They walked down a short tunnel, the sounds of voices and lights shining at the other end guiding their steps. He looked up at his friend.
"Is there anything else I should know?"
Mikaela looked away, her bovine face suddenly impassive.
"Yes. Names are very important Below. Many people have chosen new ones. Make sure that you always address someone by the name you were given when introduced, even if you hear someone else call them a different one. Several people have given up their names entirely, and taken a new one reflecting their skills, interests, or actions. To be given a name is not uncommon. When they first came to Below, a lot of people didn't say or do much of anything, and others around them gave names just to have something to call them. Whether or not they kept the name was their choice. At least, most of the time."
She walked on, gaze focused ahead, tail swishing lazily from side to side.
"I never give my name out, with one exception, and even he can't use it publicly. As you've already heard, when Below I am called Forger, or The Forger. I never asked for it, and I didn't pick it. I was so dubbed in the first Below I stayed in, and it travels ahead of me wherever I go. As a minotaur, and one that keeps moving, it isn't hard to see how word of it and me spread. As I've said, minotaurs aren't exactly the most common of Unseelie. Use the nickname you gave me back in high school and call me Mika. Stone names are common enough so that they'll think I gave it to you just to avoid Forger."
"I see. A strange name to give someone, though."
"Yes," Her voice was tight, clearly meant to discourage further questions.
He pursed his lips, but did not ask.
Unseelie of every description milled about. He elicited a few stares, some openly hostile, until they saw who walked beside him. Then the looks shifted to disbelief and curiosity.
Unconsciously, Daniel drifted closer to Mikaela as they made their way through tunnels that twisted and writhed, until he couldn't tell where they'd come from or which direction they were heading. The crowds thinned as they went on, and finally only an occasional Unseelie passed by. The passageway ended suddenly, and they stepped out onto a wide ledge. Other tunnel mouths opened up along it in a line, and Daniel gaped as he looked out on the great cavern that stretched away. Levels pocked with dark openings lined the huge walls of the vaulting chamber in a step-ladder shape, and lights shone from the floor in lanterns and strings, glowing from windows and along the streets. He whispered in awe.
"It's... like something out of a fairy tale. Almost unreal."
"Yes. It always looks beautiful from up here."