Touchstone 1 - Stray

instantly, his Light wall blocking any chance of them getting close.
    And then we were somewhere in the bowels of Unara, in a wind-blasted tube taller than a house which Mara said was one of the air channels which power Unara and keep it breathing. We walked along it, not finding a single Ionoth, then stepped into the bottom of a canyon with a thin stream running down the middle, and a hulking bull with wide horns crashing along one bank. All of First Squad simply went up, Ketzaren hooking me into her side and lifting effortlessly. We floated above as it ramped about, crashing and snorting, until Mara dropped down and finished it with a single, swift stroke of her Light whip. I could smell it, burnt flesh rising to cut through rank, musty animal scent, and decided to eat smaller breakfasts as we lifted up further to a gate into a forest clearing. Lohn, who was unenhanced by this time, shot three Light bolts at three precise points around the clearing, and three feathery things crashed to the ground. Then back to near-space, and through to the KOTIS facility.
    Though they were as crisply professional as always, it was clear that the run had been incredibly easy for First Squad, that they knew exactly what to do before entering each space, and had been most interested in testing out their altered abilities. Maze and Zee escorted me down to medical so that all three of us could be scanned for side-effects, and discussed the effect on Combat Sight, which picks up hostile intent. They were very pleased that this doesn’t seem to be distorted. It was a good introduction, and I’m not quite so worried about the next rotation. Nothing came even close to me, and though I didn’t find the killing easy to watch, I can perfectly understand not wanting any of those things running loose on Tare.
    But it’s endless, this fight. Because for all they kill off the Ionoth, the spaces still remember them, and they come back and have to be killed again. Memories. The Unara Rotation was so easy because First had done it hundreds of times, and knew exactly what the Ionoth would be and how they would behave. Over and over, an infinite number, and First Squad’s already been fighting them too long.
    Saturday, February 16
    The Watched
    This morning I found myself avoiding looking down while dressing, and staying turned away from the mirror. Then I made myself look, because what did I have left to hide? I’d spent the night wondering if second level monitoring logs were ever deleted, or if there’d be a permanent record of me farting in the bath and laughing at the bubbles. Inspecting my armpits. Every single thing I do in the bathroom.
    I don’t think I’ll ever dare masturbate again.
    It didn’t occur to me to look up the laws concerning second level monitoring until breakfast. I’m too used to being kept in a box with no view of the outside. Second level monitoring is almost like parole here, far more common than I expected. There’s layers and layers of rules and controls about when the logs can be uplifted, but it’s an accepted part of the Taren justice system. There’s even a third level monitoring, where you’re basically live-streaming your life. Some people here actually do that for the kicks.
    The encyclopaedia entry I found handily told me the history of the laws which had led to second level monitoring, and I guess it’s a logical progression from things like the CCTV and GPS bracelets, and I can understand why they’d put a lab rat like me on it, but NOT HAPPY, JAN.
    Until I can figure out how to safely get home, I’ll just have to put up with it, but I did need to degrump myself before leaving to meet Mara. The Setari are assigned rotations every second day, so I’ll be going into the Ena again tomorrow, and I’m scheduled in for three more rotations with First Squad after that. Between I have training and medical appointments. In a few days I also have a session scheduled with Eighth Squad and later Third Squad, to review my effect on their talent list. Then a day with nothing scheduled, but I’m not sure if it counts as a day off or they just haven’t put anything there yet.
    This morning I had swimming with Mara, and Zee and Ketzaren came along as well. They’re all so incredibly fit. I can just about beat them if I swim freestyle while they breaststroke, but even though they’ve only been swimming a couple of years they outpace me easily if we’re doing the same stroke. Mara’s such a taskmaster –