A Scripta

Part I

"Is this going to be a morning ritual?"

The Tsoo seated across from Masonry began to rise. "If you would prefer..."

Masonry tapped the table with his fork. "Take a seat Strym."

"Actually, he's not here."

"Oh, then who am I talking to?"

"One of his servants."

"What's your name?"

"It doesn't matter."

"I'd like to call you something."

There was a pause, as the Tsoo scrunched his face in thought. "Psy-Ops."

"All right, Psy. Nice to meet you."

"Charmed," the Tsoo snapped.

"You happen to like Tsoo and Freaks?"

"I look to find what mind is available and see if you are in proximity to it. Then I access it."

"What about Igga?"

"I have worked with him before." The Tsoo gave a cry and fell backwards off of the bench. Masonry jumped up, and three guards came over, one with the quantum gun, drawing a bead on Masonry's forehead. Two guards went over to the Tsoo, who was having a seizure.

One guard said, "Wha'd you do?"

"Nothing. He was talking to me and then he just fell over."

The seizure faded and the man began breathing normally. They led Masonry away as he was pulled up to a seated position and the doctor arrived. The guard kept the gun on him.

"She will be punished," said the guard flatly, then his features softened. He looked around for a minute, wondering why he said that, then returned to focus on Masonry. The captain even got called over. Captain Aragon had known Masonry from the moment he came into the Zig. At first he had felt the same way that the Longbow did - that Masonry was a heinous criminal and evil man, but he saw how compliant he had been, even helpful.

Aragon saw the doctor, then turned to Masonry. As the rest of the prisoners were recalled to their cells, he approached Masonry. "What did you do this time?" he demanded.

"I didn't do anything, captain."

"You were the last person talking to him."

Masonry sighed. "We were talking about a mutual acquaintence and he keeled over. Maybe the drugs he had taken long ago finally got to him." The Tsoo was now heading back to the general population.

Aragon turned to Masonry. "Do you happen to like solitary, Greene?"

Masonry sighed again. "I swear to God I didn't --"

"If I had a dollar for every time someone said that I'd be a rich man. Solitary, Matt, until he gets called downstairs."

The quantum gunner directed him there. Again.

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Meanwhile:

The buff, naked man in front of him slowly, gingerly, unbuttoned Styrm's pants. He slowly ticked down the zipper. He took the hem of Styrm's shirt, tucked it under the waistband of the pants, then rebuttoned the pants. Styrm patted the man's head. "Very good, you did it right without this time without touching the skin."

"Thank you, master," the man said, bending his body in half so that his forehead touched Styrm's foot.

"Maybe I will allow you a touch this evening. Mousey," he said to a huge man with no hair or neck, "I want the most recent reports of my quarry on my table downstairs with my breakfast."

"Yes, sir."

He left his bedroom and headed down the hallway. He stopped outside of a door. "Where is Sheila?"

"We thought you didn't need her today," said the small man who had been behind him the day before.

"She knows her orders," he snapped, and turned the doorknob. It didn't move. Styrm growled. He turned and walked down the hall, touched an area that he hid with his body. A small panel popped open, and he pressed a button. This unlocked all the doors on the floor. He returned to the room, his face angry, causing the servants to step back. He threw open the door he originally meant to open.

Seated in a yoga position on her bed was the telepath from the previous day. Styrm strode across the room and grabbed her hair again like he had done the day before, but grabbed it hard enough that she fell off the bed. She screamed and sprawled at his feet. "I am disappointed in you, Sheila."

"Master, I was only trying to prepare the way for you to speak with him--"

"I did not want to speak with him today," he snarled. "Who are you to predict my wants? Have you skimmed my own thoughts as well?"

"No, master, no!"

He drew himself up to his full height. "You should know better." He turned from her. Mousey opened the door for him and guided him out. "Blake," he snapped to the small man. "Make sure she is punished."