Read Online Hard Luck Hank: Delovoa & Early Years by Steven Campbell - Free Book Online Page B

technological days of Shaedsta,
let alone the increased gravity on Shaedsta-2.
    The Colmarian Confederation, in its great and forever
expansion, enveloped the Shaedstan people when Delovoa was only seventeen years
of age.
    As part of Colmarian Confederation policy, all
citizens underwent genetic manipulation in order to give rise to spontaneous
and random mutations. Mutations which could be used to defend the Colmarian
Confederation against its many adversaries, since it couldn’t do so militarily.
    The vast bureaucracy of the Colmarian
Confederation decided that those on Shaedsta would not be mutated. They were
too insignificant compared to the residents of Shaedsta-2 and not worth the
expense.
    This was, for those remaining on Shaedsta, a
rather nasty kick in the face. Not only were they rejected by their own species
residing two planets away, and who tended to be brighter, healthier, and more
attractive, but they were rejected by their new empire.
    At this point, Delovoa only had two eyes, a
round head, slight build, and was in all ways a normal Shaedstan. Which was to
say, exceedingly unremarkable. Even if he were to become the greatest athlete
and scholar on his entire planet, he would still lag behind the average person
on Shaedsta-2.
    Add to that having no access to mutations—which
the Colmarian Confederation promised could only ever be beneficial—and Delovoa
found his future prospects truly depressing. But he was clever and ambitious…as
much as his sub-species could be. And unlike most of his countrymen, he was
excellent at telling falsehoods. In fact, he prided himself on the ability to
not tell the difference between reality and his own untruths.
    The main mutation facilities were to be set up
on Shaedsta. The toxic chemicals and potential for catastrophic results were
deemed best left to the throwaway planet.
    “Do you know what goes on here?” the tall and
handsome Shaedsta-2ian asked.
    “No,” Delovoa lied.
    “Have you ever worked as a janitor before?”
    “Yes,” Delovoa lied again.
    “Can you lift this?” The large man handed
Delovoa a bucket of water carefully. As if he was afraid it might rip the arms
off the smaller Shaedstan. But Delovoa managed.
    “Sure. And I’m a hard worker, sir,” Delovoa
lied for the third time.
    “Go to the examination room. You’ll have to be
tested regularly.”
    “Thank you!” Delovoa said.
    He turned to leave the room and passed another
hulking Shaedsta-2ian.
    “Leave the bucket,” the man called after him.
    Delovoa put it on the ground, saluted, and
left.
    He could hear the men laughing at his back.
    “Dumb Native,” one of them said.
    Natives. That’s what they called those who had
remained behind. Only twenty generations and the Shaedsta-2ians looked like a
completely different species. Or more like adult versions, while Shaedstans
were stuck in gawky pre-puberty.
    The doctor at the examination room didn’t even
ask Delovoa to stand or sit or take off his clothes. He did it for him. He picked
Delovoa up with one hand. Forced open his mouth. Turned him upside down. And
basically handled him like a spoiled kid abusing a doll.
    Finally, he checked his arms.
    “You can’t do any drugs or drink, you
understand? Drink alcohol. You still need to drink water or you’ll die.”
    Delovoa was already humiliated by this ordeal
and was regretting coming here. His racial meekness was, paradoxically,
asserting itself.
    “I understand, sir.”
    “If I see you’ve been taking any drugs or
stealing anything or sleeping on the job, I’ll have your hide.”
    “My hide, sir?”
    “Skin you,” the doctor snarled.
    “What do you want with my skin?”
    “I’ll fire you, so don’t do those things!
You’re only here because we’re required to hire Natives. And there are plenty
more who want this job.”
    Delovoa knew there weren’t. There weren’t many
left on Shaedsta and none wanted to work at the giant, high security facility,
with its army of