{"id":112,"date":"2021-07-25T21:54:19","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T01:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/?page_id=112"},"modified":"2021-08-02T13:15:56","modified_gmt":"2021-08-02T17:15:56","slug":"chapter-9","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 009: Does Anybody Remember Last Night?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg\" alt=\"Etherno\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chapter 9:<\/strong> Does Anybody Remember Last Night?<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin yawned and stretched. He blinked his eyes open and jerked upright\u2014and almost dumped Kasai off him. What was going on? He was back in the common room of his dorm suite lying on the couch. Kasai was cuddled up almost on top of him. He tried to slip off the couch, but Kasai wrapped her arms around him and nuzzled up against his chest. On the one hand, he\u2019d be happy to stay cuddled up with her like this forever. On the other, he had no memory of how they\u2019d got that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The last thing he remembered was being in the Matari Enclave. Did he and Kasai walk back? He looked down. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Kasai, her usual denim shorts and a tank top. He didn\u2019t remember changing. Had the Matari drugged them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey\u2014\u201d He nudged Kasai. \u201c\u2014wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai murmured something, and he nudged her again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2014\u201d she started to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Her eyes blinked open, and her whole body grew tense. A second later she sprang away from him and huddled on the far end of the couch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to figure out. What\u2019s the last thing you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai sat on the arm of the couch, eyeing him the way an antelope might eye a hungry lion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on either.\u201d Onin held up his hands. \u201cThe last thing I remember was being in the Matari Enclave having dinner with that strange ambassador. You know I\u2019d never touch you without your permission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah.\u201d She slowly uncurled and let her feet drop to the floor. \u201cThat\u2019s the last thing I remember, too. Do you think they drugged us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know. It doesn\u2019t seem like it. We talked for what, a half hour or so? I don\u2019t remember feeling weird, tired, or anything. I was fine, then, blink, woke up here. Doesn\u2019t sound like any drug I know of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCould be some weird alien drug. That juice was kinda bitter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBitter?\u201d Onin squinted at her. \u201cSeemed sweet to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai shrugged. \u201cIn any case, that whole place gave me the creeps. There just wasn\u2019t something right. I got that whole pseudo-kinetic feeling the entire time we were there, and from everything. I\u2019ve never felt anything like that. We should have had some sort of plan or told someone we were going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah. I just assumed the college knew. I did have a plan B.\u201d Onin held up his phone. \u201cI had Tannin\u2019s number called up on speed-dial, I just had to press a button, and it\u2019d send an emergency signal to him.\u201d He looked over at his phone. \u201cHey, this is weird, the battery is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai pulled out her phone. \u201cMine too. I\u2019d just charged it. It usually goes a few days without needing a charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin ran into his room, grabbed a charger, and ran out. He plugged his phone in and waited for it to boot up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhew. It seems to be tomorrow, er, today. The day after we went to the Matari Enclave. We haven\u2019t lost a week or anything.\u201d He checked his e-mail, and his eyes widened. \u201cThat message with the invite is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you think they deleted it while we were unconscious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s the most logical explanation.\u201d He drummed his fingers on the counter. \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWork backwards from where we are now. Try to figure out how we got back here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBackwards, huh.\u201d Onin spun around slowly, taking in the room. \u201cLet\u2019s see. We were on the couch. Before that, we had to have changed out of our formal wear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">He headed back to his bedroom. Kasai followed along behind him. He opened the door and lifted the lid to his laundry hamper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t see see my tux anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai walked over to the closet and slid the door open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot in here, either,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPerhaps we returned our clothes, then came back here to talk.\u201d Onin walked back to the living room and picked his phone up off the countertop where he\u2019d left it, still plugged in. \u201cHuh, that\u2019s strange. The boutique\u2019s phone number isn\u2019t in here. Maybe I didn\u2019t call them.\u201d He frowned. \u201cThat\u2019s right, I called you, and met you and Jennifer there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">A quick search brought up the boutique\u2019s number and Onin called them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s strange,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey don\u2019t have any record of us being there yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d Kasai wrapped her hands around Onin\u2019s arm. \u201cThis is getting scary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s just a paperwork mix-up. It didn\u2019t sound like the same guy I talked to yesterday\u2026 I don\u2019t think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">They stood there in silence for a moment. Something strange was going on. Onin paced back and forth across the room He was a lot more freaked out than he wanted to admit. A shop with rental prices that high just didn\u2019t lose paperwork. Also, that e-mail inviting them to the Matari Enclave wasn\u2019t anywhere. Onin saved stuff like that, and even if he didn\u2019t, it wasn\u2019t in his trash, and he only emptied that once a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you want to go to the boutique and investigate that further, or go to the monorail station?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, yeah\u2014\u201d Kasai pulled out her wallet and flipped through the contents. \u201c\u2014the monorail. I have a receipt for that.\u201d She frowned and stuck a hand into her right-rear pocket. Her frown deepened, and she checked each of her other pockets. \u201cThat\u2019s odd, I could\u2019ve sworn it was in my wallet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMaybe you left it in a pocket in your dress?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai shot him an odd look. \u201cDresses don\u2019t have pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s inconvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re telling me. So, was I robbed, or did I lose the receipt? This list of coincidences is getting a little long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah. Let\u2019s go to your place, get Jennifer, and go back to the boutique. That way we have someone else to identify the salespeople, in case our memory\u2019s screwed up from a drug or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Jennifer opened the door on the second knock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, hi there, Kasai.\u201d She winked at her. \u201cSo, get lots of studying done?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Jennifer waggled her fingers in the air when she said \u201cstudying.\u201d Onin looked over at Kasai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUm, what?\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou know\u2026\u201d Jennifer elbowed Kasai in the ribs. \u201cYou went over to Onin\u2019s to \u2018study\u2019 yesterday, and didn\u2019t come back. I didn\u2019t think you had it in you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t. The three of us went shopping, and you help me pick out a dress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d Jennifer drew the word out and cocked her head to the side. \u201cI was here studying all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLet\u2019s go Kasai.\u201d Onin took her hand and turned to leave. \u201cPerhaps we just misremembered. We were up pretty late. Sorry, Jennifer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s okay. You two have fun!\u201d She winked at Kasai again as she closed the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou ever get the feeling that a lot of people are pulling a big practical joke on you?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis isn\u2019t funny.\u201d Kasai wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against Onin. \u201cI\u2019m scared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMe, too.\u201d Onin generated a servitor, and it took up a sentry position above and slightly behind him. Onin glared at it. \u201cNo, stupid, her.\u201d He pointed at Kasai, and the servitor adjusted its position slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">They left the dorm rooms and walked down the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIs there any point in visiting the boutique?\u201d Onin asked. \u201cThey\u2019ve said they don\u2019t have any sales records, and Jennifer doesn\u2019t remember going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know. Let\u2019s ask Saija if a Natas could do anything like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin pulled out his phone. Fifteen minutes later they met Tannin, Cerina, and Saija at the campus coffee and sandwich shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin told the others what had happened last night, and the lack of evidence for any of it they\u2019d found this morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWow.\u201d Tannin punched Onin lightly in the shoulder. \u201cAre you sure you\u2019re not pranking me? Because this would be the perfect payback for some of the stuff I\u2019ve done to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI might, but would Kasai go along with it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d Tannin slouched in his chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWait.\u201d Cerina leaned forward and held up her hand. \u201cYou expect us to believe that the Matari just invited you over, out of the blue? The same Matari that hardly anyone knows anything about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Matari are enemies of the Natas,\u201d Saija said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSpeaking of that\u2014\u201d Onin turned in his chair to face her. \u201cCould the Natas do something like that? Make us remember something that didn\u2019t happen, or alter other people\u2019s memories?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Saija rested her chin on her hand and bit her lower lip. \u201cMaybe. I couldn\u2019t, when I was\u2026 uh, before. But my old master just used me for combat. He has other minions for clandestine ops. I don\u2019t know his capabilities if he chose to directly get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDo you know if the Matari could do it?\u201d Kasai asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone turned to look at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah, the Natas seem to hurt people, and you\u2019re not hurt. We don\u2019t know anything about the Matari,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t really know much about them either, other than the Natas hate them,\u201d Saija said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think we should go spy on the Matari and learn more about them,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOr\u2014\u201d Kasai drummed her fingers on her leg. \u201cWe could go to the library. The college has one of the largest libraries in the nation. Even if they only have a little information, it\u2019s something to go on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood point.\u201d Onin drummed his fingers on the table. \u201cI\u2019d still like to check out the boutique and the monorail station. Assuming that someone has bribed or threatened them\u2014or is playing some sort of elaborate joke on us, someone else might be able to get more out of them. If, say, Tannin and Cerina, ask some casual questions, perhaps they can get some different answers than Kasai and I did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Tannin and Cerina looked at each other. Tannin frowned, and Cerina scrunched her eyes shut and shuddered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFine.\u201d Tannin slumped further down in his chair. \u201cWe\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCan I invite myself along?\u201d Saija smiled and leaned in closer. \u201cI\u2019m good at getting information out of people, and libraries are kinda boring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re not gonna stab someone are you?\u201d Tannin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d Saija crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Tannin. \u201cThere are much more effective means. Besides, I\u2019m reformed now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSorry. We\u2019d be glad to have you with us.\u201d Tannin looked over at Cerina, and the corner of his mouth pulled to the side. \u201cWell, I can\u2019t speak for sourpuss there, but I\u2019ll be glad to have you along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll right. We\u2019ll meet back in me and Tannin\u2019s dorm in, say, three hours?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">They all nodded and got up from the table.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">The campus library was a six-story structure at the center of campus. A large concrete box lined with windows. You could mistake it for an office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin and Kasai jogged up the steps and walked into the library. The interior was just as bland as the outside, but at least it looked like a library. A small plastic desk was just inside the door, and beyond it were rows of gray steel shelves filled with books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">They found an unused catalog terminal. Onin pulled out the chair and swept his arm toward it. Kasai smiled and sat in front of the computer. Onin stood behind her and leaned his elbows on the back of the chair. A search for \u2018Matari\u2019 had brought up five hits. Onin frowned at the catalog computer screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s not much to go on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMore than we had.\u201d Kasai shrugged. \u201cLet\u2019s go check on these.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">She stood and stretched. Her tank top rode up and showed off the smooth curve of her waist. Onin felt his face flush, and he looked off to the side. He\u2019d love to see more of her, but now was neither the time nor the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">They found the first book in the history section. Kasai pulled it off the shelf and flipped to the indicated section. Onin leaned over her shoulder and read along with her. The book appeared to be a general history of the world and covered pretty much all of time. As such, it was sparse with details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot much here,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d Kasai shook her head. \u201cJust what we already know, they\u2019re aliens that came here about a hundred years ago, and they like to keep to themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNext book?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNext book.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">This one turned out to be a historical fiction about a boy who saw the first Matari ship crash, and his adventures in helping them settle and make friends with the Gesarans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wonder how much of this is true?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai flipped to the back of the book. \u201cSweet, the author listed all his sources!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">She pulled out her phone and scanned in the extensive footnotes. A quick check back at the catalog computer showed that the library had about three-quarters of the documents on the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHmm.\u201d Onin pointed to the screen. \u201cThis guy did his research. About half the sources that the college has are in the special archives section. Do you have a history major?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Kasai shook her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKnow someone with a history major?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo. You?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnfortunately, not.\u201d Onin drummed his fingers on the tabletop. \u201cI wonder if Professor Jekao could get us access to these documents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Kasai pursed her lips. \u201cWe\u2019re supposed to be investigating the Natas. We think we\u2019ve got good reason to look into the Matari, but since they keep to themselves, us poking around might have political implications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYeah, I hadn\u2019t thought of that. Well, let\u2019s check out the sources that are open to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Ten minutes later they had a sizable stack of books on the table in front of them. None of them mentioned the Matari in the title. Onin slid half the stack from in front of Kasai and pulled it in front of him. He grabbed the first book and flipped it open, taking notes on a separate sheet of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin opened the door to his room. Tannin, Cerina, and Saija had beat him and Kasai back to the dorm. Tannin was delivering the punchline to a joke when Onin stepped inside. Saija laughed so hard she just about fell out of her chair. Cerina rolled her eyes, but she had a smile on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHey, you\u2019re back!\u201d Tannin waved to him. \u201cWho wants to go first?\u201d He thrust his hand into the air and waved it wildly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go first,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, we checked that fancy clothes store first. Way too hoity-toity for me, but anyway. I told them I\u2019d rented a tux, but lost the receipt, and I needed a copy. I gave your name, and they\u2019d never heard of you, but\u2026\u201d He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. \u201cI got your receipt! No name on it, but it was for the price you said you paid, and it was at the right time of night!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSweet. Any luck at the monorail station?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEven better there. We straight up told them we were investigating some attacks on campus and wanted to see if we could identify how the attackers got into Dabrath. They didn\u2019t believe us, so they called the police station and Inspector Adamka vouched for us. Did we ever hit pay dirt! First, we got you and Kasai on camera boarding the monorail, even though no one remembered you. That proves you were there. Second\u2014\u201d He pointed to Saija.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe looked back through the monorail security camera footage looking for anything else useful.\u201d Saija leaned forward in her chair. \u201cI thought a few people looked familiar, and I\u2019m pretty sure they were the same guys who attacked us at the archaeology museum. We got their names off the monorail passes, and the police are running the names and comparing that info to the guys we captured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood job,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, did you two find anything useful?\u201d Cerina asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin looked over at Kasai. She waved at him to go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe found a historical fiction book that had a bunch of reference and source notes inside. The college has most of them, and about half of those you don\u2019t need to be a history major to access. Anyway, short version, something\u2019s going on. The Matari are extremely shy. Most of the authors of the documents we read contribute that shyness to a racial difference in how they interact with each other. Based on the questions the Matari asked Kasai and me, I\u2019d say they\u2019re hiding from the Natas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt gets really weird when you read about Matari biology. We don\u2019t know anything about them, physically. Most sources describe their appearance as cat-like\u2014how Kasai and I saw them. The earliest sources, though, describe them in an almost fearful tone as some sort of specter, that is and isn\u2019t there. The fear drops off when the descriptions shift to the cat-like beings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWait.\u201d Saija cocked her head to the side. \u201cThe Natas are some kind of spirit or something. Does anyone else think there\u2019s more to this Matari-Natas connection than they\u2019re letting on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly what Kasai and I thought,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn\u2019t help us much.\u201d Cerina shifted in her chair. \u201cSo, they\u2019re stretching the truth. I\u2019d probably wear a disguise too, if people freaked out whenever they saw me. We know the Natas are bad. So what if we don\u2019t know details about the Matari? They still don\u2019t like the Natas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe enemy of my enemy, huh?\u201d Tannin said. Everyone stared at him. He raised his hands in protest. \u201cHey, I\u2019m getting real tired of everyone thinking as I\u2019m as dumb as I act.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThink about what you just said for a second,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, before this gets completely out of hand\u2014\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cToo late!\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin glared at Tannin, who shrugged and sank down into his chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs I was trying to say\u2014\u201d Onin cleared his throat. \u201cWe all agree that the Matari are hiding something, but we still need to concentrate on the Natas and stopping these attacks first, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood. Tomorrow we\u2019ll see if the police have found anything from Tannin\u2019s monorail lead. Also, we\u2019ll be on the lookout for any more attacks on campus. Sound like a plan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone nodded again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019ve got to get going,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere to?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA party. Wanna come?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSure!\u201d Saija grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, I meant\u2026\u201d Tannin shrugged. \u201cOkay. Anyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy are you going to a party when there are alien demon things loose trying to kill people?\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUh\u2026 security? Keep everyone safe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws wp-block-paragraph\">Onin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That was actually a good reason. Did Tannin just make this stuff up, or did he think about it ahead of time?<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-8\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"108\">&lt;&lt; Previous Chapter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/table-of-contents\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"34\">Contents<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-10\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"116\">Next Chapter >><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.aarondemott.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/env_sm.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-178\" width=\"33\" height=\"20\"> Be notified when the next chapter comes out!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\">kofiwidget2.init('Buy me a cup of tea', '#29abe0', 'V7V05ASUY');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 9: Does Anybody Remember Last Night? Onin yawned and stretched. He blinked his eyes open and jerked upright\u2014and almost dumped Kasai off him. What&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-112","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions\/197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}