Free Syn-En: Registration by Linda Andrews Page B

curved balcony. Thin mandibles curled and uncurled like a living Fu-Manchu mustache when he spoke. “What is it?”
    It? Nell stiffened at the deep baritone. She wasn’t an it; it was an it. “Perhaps I should introduce myself. I’m Nell Stafford.”
    Six mopheads rolled over to her. Half-inch thick, pink ropes slapped her boots before the raggedy creatures retreated and stacked themselves one on top of the other. The top fuzz ball could almost look her in the eye.  “Armor. Shielding. Must be a Scraptor.”
    Unfortunately, Nell couldn’t see a single eye under the ropes. “A Scraptor?”
    Those ugly scorpion things? Why on earth would they think that? She propped her hands on her hips. Motion caught her eye. She blinked at her reflection in the picture window visible between the towering mantises.
    Good Lord, she was such an idiot.
    “This is a uniform.” Her gloved hands swept over her helmet then down her uniform.
    “A sickly Scraptor.” Fu-Manchu mantis gestured with his left forearm. The row of spines glinted in the sunshine. “I have never seen one so skinny.”
    “I’m not a Scraptor.” Neither was she particularly skinny, but she’d take the compliment and hope it wasn’t her last. Nell tugged on the straps of her helmet.
    The crowd backed up a few steps. The stack of mopheads scattered like billiard balls.
    Garden implements wavered in the Mantises’ spear-like hands.
    Guess they were more afraid of her, than she was of them. Although, it was a close race.
    “It’s okay.” A wave of sand washed down her back when she twisted off the helmet. Strands of her hair crackled with static electricity. Tucking her helmet under her arm, she smiled at the group. “See. I’m human.”
    The welcoming committee didn’t move.
    Was that a good or bad thing? “Do you know what a Human is?”
    She bit her tongue to keep from talking farther. She couldn’t take them all on; she was outnumbered by a lot. She would play nice, until another option presented itself.
    “Get Pet. He’ll know what to do.” Fu-Manchu leapt off the balcony and landed softly two feet in front of her. “You are deformed for a Human.”
    Two pink mopheads tumbled between the legs of the other mantises and bounced down the street.
    Nell hoped who or whatever Pet was, he was friendlier than this bunch. “I’m not deformed. I’m covered in survival gear.”
    Reaching up, she unhooked the first aid kit and slowly lowered it to the ground.
    A trio of mopheads swarmed it, moving in a froth of orange and red dreadlocks.
    “Medical supplies. Suitable for Humans.” They chorused in squeaky voices before retreating.
    Fu-Manchu stroked the box. “And your deformed back?”
    Nell unbuckled the clasp under her breasts and shrugged off the pack. “These are my survival supplies.”
    Setting it on the ground, she raised her hands to her side and backed up a step.
    The mopheads surged toward it.
    The helmet dropped to the street, bounced twice and landed right on top of a red mophead. It squealed like a pig, then the alien ran in circles. “Help! Help! I’m being eaten!”
    Its friends trembled on top of the pack, while the rest of the crowd scuttled away.
    Nell clamped her hand over her mouth. Laughter lodged in her throat and her eyes burned with unshed tears.
    “Calm yourself, Idge.” Fu-Manchu flicked the helmet off the poor creature.
    “I was going to die. I know it.” Idge, the mophead, flipped over. Its beak parted as it panted.
    Fu-Manchu set his hand on the traumatized mophead. “A helmet is for protection, not nutrition.”
    Nell cleared her throat. Actually, the Syn-En gear could do both, but they didn’t need to know that. “Your friend is right. The helmet protects my head. It doesn’t hurt anyone. I am sorry that you were frightened.”
    Bending low, she reached out to Idge.
    He flipped over and scrambled backward.
    So much for being nice. Her fingers curled into fists and she straightened.
    Fu-Manchu rubbed his