Earth 2145

When I opened my eyes it was to darkness. I had awaken slowly, in stages. The feeling slowly returned to my fingers and toes, tingling as my circulation was restored. The weight of my body seemed to be pressing me deeper into the cavern as the heavier gravity of the planet took effect. I would have trouble if I had to move fast because of the difference between this planet's gravity and my home planet's gravity. I tried to stretch my hand, knowing that long periods of inactivity caused my muscles to tighten, and banged it on something. It was then that I remembered where I was. Cryosleep chambers are not designed for comfort, I thought. They are intended for long journeys when the aging of the passenger is not desirable. The passenger will be awakened when the ship has reached its destination. The words of the cryo manual that I had read so long ago floated to the front of my memory. As my left hand brushed against a keypad, another memory surfaced. My mate bending over me as I drifted off to sleep and repeating the number that would unlock the chamber when I awoke. "6-5-19," I chanted silently as I tapped the numbers in. The stale air rushed out as the lid slowly opened and I took in the clean, or moderately clean since nothing on this planet was as fresh as on my home world, air, my oversized lungs clearing as the recycled air fled from them. I sat up slowly, knowing that any sudden moves would destroy my fragile balance. My pupils shrank as the bright light of the cryo docking bay reached them. We had been off-loaded into a large bay, almost like an underground cavern. As I looked around, I realized it was an underground cavern that had been carved out of a mountain and smoothed until the walls were like glass. Around me, only women were waking up, so immodesty was still frowned on here. It had been so long since I traveled off planet that I had taken a refresher course in proper etiquette before leaving my home. I checked the chronometer in my chamber and quickly calculated how much time I would have to complete my mission and return to the chamber before my cryopill elapsed and I fell asleep.

I climbed out of the chamber and stretched, the synthetic fabric of my cryo cover molding itself to my lean body. I bent over backwards and flipped my legs up so my supple body was supported on my hands. Slowly, so as not to strain my long inactive muscles, I moved my legs in circles, stretching the stiff muscles. Once my body felt limber, I stopped stretching and studied the surrounding women. The antics of the soft humans made me grin. They lunged ungracefully about, trying to regain control of their bodies without any work. I towered above most of them, standing a scant seven feet to their four or five, and on my world, I was short. My skin was a rich tawny color, as was proper, and my hair and eyes gleamed gold in the artificial light. I sent a quick, silent word of thanks to my god, Nabo, that my species' fast metabolism allowed me to shake off cryosleep lethargy almost immediately. I reached out and steadied one of the women as she tipped forward, almost falling on top of me. "Oh, thankee, Miss," she said. "I don't travel much in cryosleep so I just don't understand why I can't just get up and go." Her voice was breathy, almost musical, but faint even to my ears. She turned again to thank me and gasped, "Oh! Oh! You're not human!"

"No," I replied, radiating calm and goodwill, "but I just look different. I mean you no harm."

The woman relaxed visibly and steadied herself. "Thankee," she murmured again.

"Welcome," I replied. I picked up the duffel bag from the baggage compartment of my chamber and constructed my mental guards as I navigated my way through the bay. I preferred not to have anyone else's thoughts or feelings clouding my judgment as I worked.

Who I am is not important but for those who must know every creature's name, I am T'kha, or at least that is my name on this mission. On my world, I am called Chquatta, which roughly translated means assassin. I didn't know much about my target, only his actions as they might dictate to mine. I had no idea why he had to be killed but I knew that if I failed or was caught, I was to take my life in my own hands and snuff it out. My mate and children would be cared for and would not want. An assassin was highly trained and highly paid and without bragging, I may state that I was one of the best.

I took a tram uptown to the upper class section of the town and disembarked a few blocks from my target's home, next to a park. I entered the park, feeling more at home, and wiggled into the first strand of bushes I came to. I opened my duffel bag, pulled out a pair of boots, and dropped the bag at my feet. I leaned over, after setting the boots aside, and pulled out my weapons. I attached two daggers to my forearm sheaths and then pulled on a long-sleeved tunic. I wrapped a length of fabric around my waist as a skirt. I pulled on my boots and slid another dagger into the sheath in the left one. I buckled my belt and slid my stun gun into it's holster. A short sword and my fourth dagger slid into their sheaths easily. I bloused the tunic over my sword and dagger. The stun gun was common enough that most people wouldn't look at it twice. I shook out my golden hair, letting it fall loosely down my back, and hid my duffel in the bushes.

I rolled my shoulders and neck, loosing my muscles. Then, walking as quietly as I could, I made my way to my target's house.

The house was dark when I reached it. The occupants still not at home. I carefully jimmied the back door and slipped in, locking it again behind me. The house held a family of four but only the father was my target.

I hid in the closet of the master bedroom and waited.

{c}* * * * *