Everything was already prepared, so setting the rodents’ new home had been a quick affair. Setting the experiments would take some time, mostly because he wasn’t sure how to proceed yet. Regardless, it would require their bodies being infused with nanites, which he started right away by spiking their feeder and water.

Mixing the machines with food was an option he seldom had an opportunity to use.

The ownership paperwork included a physical checkup, which he used to prepare individual data sheets. He would also have to establish a baseline for their actual physical and mental attributes, so those would be the first experiments, once he got to that. He was still working on the sheets, at his shop’s counter, when Bathor arrived.

She appreciated the privacy of the backroom. Her eyes briefly stopped on the new additions, but she didn’t comment. She tried to put a confident front, but he was familiar enough with her mannerisms to spot subtle signs of unease in her body language. Not arrogance or entitlement though.

The dotter didn’t rush her, but she cut the pleasantries appropriately short on her own; with a seemingly random opener:

“I spoke with Garuka. They are one of the best independent activation coaches ever, with customers from all the Great Families, and they’re interested in meeting you.”

Straightforward, but not straight to the point. Excellent negotiation technique, but not as effective since her actual end goal was not a mystery. Still, she took him seriously, which he appreciated enough to play along:

“Continue…” He frowned in a silent warning, cautious but not defiant.

“I asked dojos to find people who fit your… criteria. It could help their customers, so they were the most cooperative.”

“I take it that’s how you found my compensation.” The dotter stated more than asked.

“Most of them, yes.” She nodded. “Some mentioned your “outrageous” comments about their mutations, and it eventually reached the master, Garuka themself. Somehow. I was trying to get in contact too, so we met and talked.” Her nervousness briefly peaked at the mention of the meeting.

About what, exactly?

The normal follow up question was obvious, but he gave her time to gather herself before pushing. He ended up not having to, as she quickly moved on:

“I explained how I met you – the part I could – but they mostly asked about you. Your nanites. Your… templates? What you did. Mostly about your comments. I answered the best I could, but it wasn’t much. I didn’t understand the details, but it was clear you spotted something their students had missed. Several times.” She paused, before adding with a half-shrug: “I think they liked your analysis too.”

“Enough to ask for a meeting with a dotter?” Zax raised an eyebrow.

“He is known for his eccentricities.” She nodded.

“Any idea what they want to talk about? Since you already answered their questions…” He insisted. It was so… dissonant with what he knew.

“I couldn’t answer well.” She winced. “I may have made things less clear, actually. I was more focused on trying to understand what you wanted. I’m… still not sure I do.”

Zax obligingly nodded. It couldn’t be helped; one week wasn’t enough to develop insights about mutations and see what he was looking for.

“Can you make a guess?”

“Maybe they want to add your thing to their training. As I said, eccentric. Maybe they want to scout you as potential competition. Or as potential trainee, though that’s the least likely option. The field is extremely competitive.”

Zax silently pondered the proposition, under The Resident’s anxious gaze.

“I have to admit, a meeting does sound interesting, but I doubt I am interesting enough to have them come here.” Zax threw her a bone and moved to more practical concerns.

“Actually… we were hoping you’d meet in the Circle. A tour of a dojo is not out of question. It’s a great honour for any stranger.”

The hobbyist could see her unease, but his nanites added that her stress was at an all-time high.

Ah, here it comes.

“I was wondering how it related to your mission.” His tone didn’t change, but his body language visibly clamped up. “What is your angle? Using that meeting to bring me in the Circle, then what?”

“… Directly show you what the Circle is like. The stakes. What we risk losing.” Bathor straightened up, her tone more certain, her eyes a notch brighter.

“Can’t you just explain here? Or better yet, show me? You have ways to record events, don’t you?”

“You had a… deeply negative experience with the Circle. We don’t think you can, truly acknowledge the good, without first-hand experience.”

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

“Reasonable.” He admitted in a resigned sigh. “Can you explain the trouble the recording will bring? I have to admit, I still don’t see it. Neither do the friends I sent it to. I didn’t say anything special.”

“That… would also be easier to show than tell.” The Resident hesitated. “And my colleague is more qualified to explain. It’s a Kogito prediction.”

“Hmm.” Zax made a non-comital sound.

The Kogitos were one of the Great Families, experts in mutations related to cognitive faculties, including predictive calculations and deductions. Some of them dedicated their lives to predicting events. Zax remained sceptical. They had demonstrated a startling degree of accuracy, but not enough to justify the investment this search for him had already been, and they weren’t done yet.

He was missing crucial pieces of information, but he didn’t think the fidgeting Resident in front of him knew more:

“And what do you want me to do about it?”

“… Same issue.” She visibly deflated. “It’s something only you can do, but I can’t explain the details here. There are too many bases to fill out.”

“So, you want me to go with you in the Circle to meet that trainer, so that I see what the Circle is “actually” like, so that I see and understand the undisclosed problem, so that I am moved, so that I help with your undisclosed resolution. Is that it?” rubbing his jaw after the mouthful of summary.

“… It is.”

The bovine woman looked and sounded downcast, downtrodden, like she had given up already. She was merely waiting for him to reject her at that point. That, more than anything, convinced him of her candour.

He checked with his nanites analysis before delivering his verdict:

“Alright, I’ll come. I need one week before I can clear my schedule up.” With his current queue, it was the required delay to not be penalised for an abrupt suspension of service. “After that, we can meet this Garuka person, and you can show me your thing on the way. Do you know how long it’ll take?”

“Wuh- Ah? Really? Oh, er, I dunno. They’re very busy, so it shouldn’t be too long.”

“And your thing?”

“… no idea. It’ll depend on… you, I guess. We didn’t iron all the details yet.”

She was still reeling from the emotional backlash, but she could rest later. Zax wanted to get this over with.

“Got it.” He sighed. “I can free a full day up for a trip, just give me the time and date when you have them. We can meet at the Circle’s access point. If a day isn’t enough, I can give you a few hours per day afterwards, but it won’t be free, and I will come back here every night. Non-negotiable, I have things I can’t leave hanging too long. Regardless of the duration, you will be responsible for my safety; and if possible, I’d like you to remain my main contact. It’d make things more convenient. Do we agree?”

Bathor was just nodding along with glassy eyes. Good enough.

“Great.” Zax clapped his hands to wake her up. “You can draft a contract if you want. Your call. As your guest, you’ll be responsible regardless.”

The horned woman stuttered an answer, stumbling out of the shop, her turmoil slowly turning into elation at the unexpected turn. Zax’s eyes followed her until she was out of sight. He could only hope he wouldn’t regret it.

Hm, that felt familiar… Eh, probably nothing. It wasn’t like he was putting himself in danger, it was merely a step outside his comfort zone. Well, maybe more of a leap, but it would definitely be a growth opportunity.

With a mental shrug, he went back to the backroom. He had experiments to prepare, and a few ideas.

There would be no free running in the afternoon; Zax and Aran felt SG deserved to fully enjoy her break. Aran was also eager to play with their pets, and if Zax was being honest with himself, he had been pushing himself for weeks now, and it was starting to take its toll, mentally.

His apprentice had brought most of what their new pets needed home with her, and Zax took care of the rest. They reorganised the apartment, exactly the kind of low mental energy he needed. They talked about their day between pointers on animal care. The discussion with the Resident the first topic and the agreement an immediate second. The foxy girl was starving for details; sometimes she felt more invested than the involved parties.

SG had enough experience to manage the shop on her own for a while, to seek personal commissions, and to recognise the ones she was qualified for. Thanks to her, Zax could technically leave for a day at any time without penalty; he had only demanded a week to let her refuse and give themselves time to organise.

“I’m coming too.”

Aran’s statement had been so mater-of-fact Zax had to make a double take to make sure he understood right.

She wasn’t asking either, she was merely announcing what would happen: she would follow him to the Circle.

“I don’t know if I can make them accommodate you. I’ve pushed pretty far already, and there’s no added value for them. Maybe you could come and meet that Garuka person, if I can sell the peculiarity of your mutation. No idea.”

“I’m going for you, not them.” She clarified.

“… Why?”

It was out of nowhere, but it didn’t feel like a whim.

“Whatever happens, it’s sure to bring back painful memories and feelings for you. And not just from that Ghost Hand thing. I don’t want you alone among strangers when it comes.”

He hadn’t thought about that. He couldn’t exactly dismiss her reasoning either.

He wanted to refuse, but the more he thought about it, the less reason he found. Less ways to do it too.

Her job? Not an issue; she was allowed to take a break.

Food? Not an issue. He’d stay at most for a day; even if her meals weren’t included or were too expensive behind the border, they could bring their own pills.

Lodging? They wouldn’t stay long enough to need it.

She was free to go where she wanted, including in the First Circle, same as everyone. Even if he hid the date or lost her before going, she could still go on her own.

Also… he would indeed feel better with a friend around; he couldn’t disacknowledge it.

Just as he was coming to term with that decision, SG intervened in turn:

“Can… can I come too?” She called uncertainly.

The other dotters turned their heads in unison.

“I thought you didn’t want them to know you exist?” Aran blinked.

“I, still need to, step out of my comfort zone, too. And it’d be… awkward. Here. Without you. Either of you. So, between the two, I’d rather… stay together?”

It was the last sprout to flower the garden.

“Thank you.” Zax felt his heart throb as he said those words to his two friends. The warmth he felt took him by surprise and made him crumble on the couch. Only when it was lifted, did he realise the burden he had set on his own shoulders.

He wanted to say more, but there was nothing to add. They would all go in the Circle, together.

The maelstrom of emotions went to tears, among other things, and ended in an exhausted group hug.

Today had been a great day.