Mutant Hunter (Clone Worlds) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Author's Note

  Other books

  Description

  Clone Worlds Primer

  Chapter-One

  Chapter-Two

  Chapter-Three

  Chapter-Four

  Chapter-Five

  Chapter-Six

  Chapter-Seven

  Chapter-Eight

  Chaper-Nine

  Chapter-Ten

  Chapter-Eleven

  Chapter-Twelve

  Chapter-Thirteen

  Chapter-Fourteen

  Chapter-Fifteen

  Chapter-Sixteen

  Chapter-Seventeen

  Chapter-Eighteen

  Chapter-Nineteen

  Chapter-Twenty

  Chapter-Twenty-One

  Chapter-Twenty-Two

  Chapter-Twenty-Three

  Chapter-Twenty-Four

  Chapter-Twenty-Five

  Chapter_Twenty-Six

  Chapter-Twenty-Seven

  Chapter-Twenty-Eight

  Chapter_Twenty-Nine

  Chapter-Thirty

  Chapter-Thirty-One

  BY

  TOBIAS ROOTE

  COPYRIGHT NOTICE

  The Mutant Hunter and Clone World series of novels are the exclusive work and copyright of Tobias Roote and

  ©ROOTE PUBLISHING LTD, 2017

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

  A word on language and pronunciation

  This book was written and produced in the United Kingdom and uses British language conventions. For example the use of 'ou' in the words colour and honour instead of the American spellings : color, honor. Another example would be the interchangeable use of ize and ise in words such as realise or realize.

  Dedications & Acknowledgements

  Cover Design by : SelfPubBookCovers.com / Viergacht

  Editor : Louise Kinch

  TOBIAS ROOTE NOVELS

  The Pattern Universe series

  The Pattern Ship

  POD

  The NUBL Wars

  SKY CITY

  The SAR Chronicles

  Aaron, First Watcher

  Clone Worlds Series

  Mutant Hunter

  RIGA / AI Space Adventures

  ARTIS PRIME

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  http: /  / tobiasroote.com

  Here’s a brief description here to remind you why you chose this book. Enjoy !

  The corporations’ control of space is held in check by the Alliance who maintain neutrality for the rest of the Empire. An AWA agent getting caught up in a sabotage plot is the signal for the corporations to take control of the neutral zone, but their plot is foiled by AWA agents Grady and Shrilla forcing the corporations to 'up the ante'. Meanwhile, on a newly discovered mutant planet Grady discovers the reason for the corporation's attack. He now needs to stay alive long enough to get the news out.

  Mutant Hunter is the exciting fast-paced first book in the latest series from the author of the Pattern Universe.

  Everything you need to know about ‘The Clone Worlds’ universe

  'Clone Worlds' is a galaxy where humanity has been re-birthed for at least the third time in its history. Previous existences of humans are long forgotten, buried in the distant past. The only known memory is carried by a banned cult named the Dispersalistas. The cult's origins are unknown, but their mantra is such that it creates disturbances wherever it is preached, therefore it has been banned ‘with prejudice’ and the cult hunted down wherever it is discovered, forcing the Dispersalistas into becoming a clandestine organisation to survive.

  The competition for control over the seething mass of humanity is cut-throat and the Corporations are hell-bent on controlling it all. Many of the planets colonised were theirs, but they were continually striving for more so constantly expanded their reach.

  When there was insufficient labour they cloned humans, mutating them to create better-adapted workers. This backfired when the genetic splices created unexpected variances in second and third generation offspring This supposedly resulted in further problems when viruses ‘allegedly (at the time)’ originating from the mutants, created a pandemic across many of the planets.

  In an attempt to cull them, the corporations fell foul of public sentiment and a war ensued over protecting their rights. The Mutant Wars proved hugely damaging to the corporations hold on many of the planets and their workforces. They eventually negotiated a truce with the newly formed Febrillo Worlds Alliance (FWA) which ended up representing those planets opposed to the corporations hold on their worlds. This also forced the corporations to recognise mutants as individuals and allow them basic human rights.

  Whilst the people continued to be afraid of the threat the mutants represented, they nonetheless forced the corporations to accept responsibility for their continued care. Colonies of unstable mutants were monitored by a new independent body, the Alliance of Worlds (AW) formed to police existing mutant colonies and search out new ones.

  Where mutations had stabilised the colonies were given a degree of autonomy over their own people. Unstable colonies remained the responsibility of the corporations. In both cases the corporations retained complete ownership of the worlds the mutants lived on. There was one rider built into the agreement - any planet that was found to have indigent sentience had to be either left alone, or brought into the Empire and not subjected to corporate takeover. It was left to the AW to investigate all possible cases.

  The Core navy (CN), owned and operated exclusively by the corporations, policed all corporation worlds and intervening space. The Empire worlds were off-limits to the CN, but they were allowed to circuit FWA space so long as they accepted it was neutral territory and they had no right to enforce CN law. The FWA became nervous as the Core navy continued to intimidate planets within the Alliance, but stopped short of renewing any aggression.

  Instead, quietly but with IPA backing and approval, the AW developed its own fleet of highly specialised ships which by maintaining technological superiority became more than a match for small fleets of CN ships. In this way the threat of further war slowly diminished and the expansion of corporate worlds was kept in check.

  As part of the growing power of the AW, their investigators were guaranteed a free pass across the galaxy and given immunity from ‘stop and search’ or arrest by the Core navy. This didn't sit well with the CN ships that otherwise swaggered unchecked across space, but was rigorously enforced by the AW's own growing fleet which also provided protection in disputed cases of mutancy.

  Behind all of this the Dispersalistas continued to operate secretly, working their way into all levels of FWA, AW and corporation affairs. The cult under its alias, the DIA (Dispersalistas Intelligence Agency), soon became the most powerful espionage network in the galaxy where it used its influence to secretly affect outcomes of explorations and kept a close eye on the planets that were colonised by the corporations. They secretly channelled intelligence through the Alliance of Worlds ensuring that the cult's objectives were met, and the AW's hold on mutant colonies was maintained.

  However, the Alliance of Worlds was becoming a big thorn in the side of the corporations. Something was going to have to change.


  Chapter One

  Planet Uscilla

  Grady reclined with his feet up in the small two-seater cockpit wielding a large tablet by handles extending from the sides. The screen’s crystal clear picture of the surface area several thousand metres below was overlaid with current geological survey data giving him an almost 3D holographic representation of the tundra below.

  The land was a varied mix of deep, insect-laden swamp running for miles in every direction and linked islands of dry matted earth held together with sparse clumps of unruly vegetation. The inhospitable quagmire was interrupted by a group of massive tree-like structures that stood alone in the swamp’s midst. The structures had smooth trunks with dense growth of unpenetrable branches that grew hundreds of feet into the air and seemed capable of hiding who knew what.

  Something lived there, he’d just seen a flash of colour that disappeared into the thick branches, too fast for his senses to register. The direction and destination was automatically computed for him by the software he was using so the mutant hunter had no need to readjust the settings to the triangulated readings, the picture automatically switched external sensors to macro-zoom.

  He was instantly ‘face to face’ with one of the most beautifully ergonomic humanoids he had ever seen. As he watched, it turned and walked confidently across a large branch and mixed amongst others of its kind. Grady, following it on the viewer, twiddled with the settings to keep it in main focus as it made for another branch. He was entranced by the ease of its movement while it appeared totally unconcerned with the distance to the ground that his viewer computed to be precisely four hundred and fifty eight feet.

  An alternative image the AI displayed holographically in front of him via the cockpit viewing panel showed a massive tree towering hundreds of feet into the air from which specks constantly leaped. Looking at them, Grady had nagging suspicions of his monitored creature’s next move.

  It was definitely human with features that had been modified genetically to an almost curved shape. The legs and arms, instead of being straight, angled forwards and slightly bent to compensate. The overall effect was of a slightly elongated bow.

  Initially, Grady didn’t understand the relevance, then as the creature changed stance to show itself in profile he could see the crude sagging skin hanging from the back of its arms and legs. The membrane was so thin it had been almost unnoticeable from the back and front view.

  “I wonder what your DNA was spliced with,” he wondered out loud, forgetting the possibility of an immediate expert opinion in response as a positive and enthusiastic voice erupted above him.

  “Computations suggest either Teropus gene or Chiroptera as a base-line, although there appear to be other non-DNA adaptations that indicate possible links with Nephilia DNA. My observations aren’t yet complete. You will need genetic samples,” Ario responded.

  “What’s that in lay terms, Ario ? I’m a little behind in my biology,” Grady asked sarcastically.

  “A bat, or other flying animal,” Ario clarified, sounding a little miffed at Grady’s lack of appreciation of its expert analysis.

  The ship AI was viewing various recordings showing the mutants in various modes and correlating them for the report for the Alliance of Worlds Agency (AWA). The computer system was designed by them for planetary surveying, so its capabilities leaned heavily into that area. However, Grady had modified it extensively. It could now navigate and fly autonomously, secure the ship from hostile incursion and evade detection from Core navy ships. The resulting bulge in its expanded processor unit was now shielded with Neutrofinium, a heat damping and resilient steel alloy, capable of withstanding a plasma bolt. Most importantly, the ‘know-all’ AI was the nearest thing Grady had to a friend and partner.

  Ario was suggesting he go and swab them for samples, never an easy function of an AW agent let alone one that was undercover.

  “Why do I get the dangerous jobs while you simply sit here and sharpen your pencil ?” Grady baited the AI while continuing to scope the individual he had zoomed in on. When the creature turned and spread its arms and legs at the end of the branch, Grady almost knew what he was going to see and locked the tracking sensor on the creature. He didn’t want to miss this.

  The now ‘evidently male’ specimen calmly stepped off the branch and before it had fallen several metres somersaulted so it was head downward with arms and legs outstretched. The flimsy membranes, now stretched from both arms and legs, filled with air quickly turning the fall into a controlled glide. Grady watched the body language ; the action seemed effortless. Certainly the grace of the creature when walking was more accentuated in flight.

  He continued to follow as it made a long slow circling glide to an obscure corner of the marshlands. As it landed it quickly crouched and flung itself into the swamp in a ripple-less dive that took it under the surface of the dark mire. Grady continued to watch while his chronometer kept a count of the time. When it reached fifty three seconds, a head broke the surface and the creature threw something up onto the mound, following immediately behind it as it clambered swiftly out of the swamp.

  Still covered from head to foot in the mess of the swamp’s murky waters, Grady continued to watch as it cleaned the mud off the object with its hands and examined it. Grady couldn’t see what it was and it was too much of an alien shape for the AI’s recognition systems to extrapolate any data. When it was satisfied, the creature looked up as if it was looking directly at him. Grady started, then belatedly realised that he was several thousand metres away and couldn’t possibly be seen by the naked eye. His reaction made him chuckle so he almost missed what happened next.

  Grabbing at something that ship’s camera couldn’t see, the creature pulled whatever it was close and then leaned back as if dragging something out of the sky. He still couldn’t see what it was, but the creature could and was now pulling hard on whatever it had a hold of.

  “Ario, can you detect what that creature is grabbing ? I can’t see anything in the viewfinder it must be either invisible or transparent to the visual sensors,” Grady called out.

  “I’m picking up a resonance from the air around the tree, it tallies with whatever your mutant is holding, and by all indications it is part of the tree itself. Some kind of thread is my best analysis without further investigation. You need to get samples,” the AI reminded him.

  Ignoring for the moment the AI’s nagging reminder, Grady continued to watch. They had been sent here on a fact-finding mission. One of the corporations, Fezon Resources, had already colonised major sectors of the planet. They had missed the swamplands because there had been no evidence of anything of interest, but had then discovered this colony of trees was inhabited by sentients. They had done the right thing and called in the mutant hunters, or specifically Grady, who had a better reputation than most, hand-picked because he was less aggressive than other teams.

  The Fezon Corp had a reputation for taking care of mutant colonies discovered on their worlds. They were one of the few that did. Most hid the presence of mutants from the AWA and dealt with them secretly. The worst offender was ENCIO and whenever the mutant hunters were contracted it was always on a clandestine basis of ‘eradicate with extreme prejudice’ while giving the AWA the impression that there was nothing going on. It was the reason why Grady had been placed undercover to collect evidence while at the same time ensuring ENCIO and other corporations attempts to eradicate mutant clones were thwarted.

  The creature on the ground disappeared in a flash. Grady immediately aimed the sensors along the trajectory and this time caught the mutant in-flight, holding onto something - a gossamer thread which was now not so invisible as it collapsed in a coil ahead of the mutant, who was also extending arms and legs to create additional lift. A few seconds later Grady watched the mutant creature land elegantly on a spit of wood extending out from the tree. It walked forward into the bole of the trunk holding the retrieved item in its arm.

  They were harvesting something from th
e swamp which meant either food, or trade - and that meant possible contact off-world. Grady was ready to get down there, but needed a way into the tree. He hoped that he wouldn’t be attacked, which was possible depending on the amount of outside contact the colony had had, and if their experiences had been good, or bad.

  Swamplands

  Grady twisted the valve that opened the oblong hatch of the hovering spaceship. He was still a good forty feet from the ground and a fall wouldn’t be pleasant, so he held onto the internal handle while pulling the ship’s harness towards him. Once he attached it to his belt he felt a lot happier. He’d had cause to land without the ship touching down before. Subsequently, he’d incorporated a cable mount inside the external security cabinet built flush with the outside hull. It couldn’t be opened without a retinal code and housed a manual valve over-ride. The cable drop would be controlled by Ario who would ensure Grady was safely landed. The same procedure would pull him out of just about anywhere the harness could be dropped.

  The warm humid air from the jets blasted up at him as he de-planed. He checked the area around his landing site in case there was anything that might attack him before he gained the ground. His equipment hung in a rucksack attached to his left foot so he didn’t get it snagged in the unwinding cable and it landed just ahead of him. He crouched down pulling at the cable to create slack so he could detach it from his belt then watched as it returned to the Citrix.

  He was standing in the ship’s shadow, to remain unseen by any watchers unless they were close by. Ario altered the ship’s position, slowly gaining height until it was just a small speck. The AI would remain in audio contact and provide technical back-up, but Grady was effectively on his own - on a hillock - and a half-hour hike to the nearest tree.

  He needed to be seen approaching, for time to be given for a ‘reasoned’ response. Landing too close to their habitat could be seen as hostile and Grady had no intentions of spooking them from the outset.