CHAPTER 217: MIND YOUR THOUGHTS

Antonio spoke to Mr. Zach. "Sir, while ago I just thought something that wasn’t too pleasant about the young man and he let loose on me. It was as if he could have read my mind, every single thought that was running through my warped, dirty, demented mind."

Zack thought about it for a moment. "Well Antonio, I tell you right now he just transitioned and there is a possibility that his mind has unlocked the ability to read certain other individuals’ thoughts. Usually this happens between two people that have a history with one another prior to transition, or they’re subject to become mates in the future."

"Not me, I’m not going that route," Antonio replied. "Everybody can do what they want to, but inter-species does not work for me. Those things are not natural—I mean, guys carrying babies inside of their stomachs, delivering them out through a part of your body that I don’t even know what it is."

"It’s called a vent," Antonio explained. "Both male and female sexes of the genman species have the ability to carry and birth children. You will be going on a tour tomorrow of the new Museum and interactive historical fact portion of it. It’s going to explain a lot that human educational systems have left out about the co-inhabitants of the planet that we live on here."

He paused, then continued, "And I’ll let you know right now—I have a mate. In fact, I’ve had two, and they have both carried my children. I also adopted a young hybrid; his name is Tim. You will meet him later. He’s the perfect gentleman, but don’t let his size scare you. But right now, you’re going to wait for Madison who will take you out to the bachelor’s dormitory where you’ll be staying. Have a seat on the swing and wait."

Everyone left, leaving Antonio sitting on the swing by himself, contemplating his future on the Z1.

Madison returned to the speeder and looked over toward Antonio, lowering his shades. "Jump in the front seat now. Hurry, if not, you’re walking."

Antonio picked up his bag, put it in the back seat, got into the front passenger side, and put on a seat belt.

"I’m going to tell you right now," Madison started, "that young man you talked to earlier—or correction, thought about earlier in a less than glorious way—is my brother-in-law. You will treat him with respect just like he will treat you. Step out of line and he will have no mercy on you. If he can read your mind, it says a lot. The two of you might want to start out on a truce."

His voice grew more serious. "His father is the number one Genman here. He runs the construction here on the Z1. You will be working for Mr. Jake out in the Township area, but all eyes will be on you while you’re here. I’m going to reserve my judgment for later, but I’ll tell you one thing—don’t hurt Bailey, because it won’t be nice."

Antonio didn’t say anything except, "Yes, Sir."

Madison pulled up at the dorm, honked the horn, and four of the single guys stepped out. "This is Antonio, Ms. Pirillo’s older son. He’s going to be staying here and working on the crew for Mr. Jake. Mr. Zack said to look after him and make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble. If you kind of have to encourage him to do the right thing, just don’t leave any marks."

Madison put it in gear and sped off, going back home.

One of the guys came out and picked up Antonio’s bag. "My name’s Carmen. You’ll be bunking near me. I guess I’m the goodwill ambassador for you. I’ll show you where your bunk is, the place to put your clothes and hang them up, and where the laundry and showers are located."

He gestured around the area. "Meals here are at 6 o’clock unless you get an invite to one of the local houses. If there’s one thing these Genmen can do besides work their ass off, it’s cook. It must be some kind of natural born talent because every man here just lives for the invitation for supper at one of their homes."

Antonio rolled up his lip. "You mean you actually want to eat with these freaks? Next thing I know, you’ll say you’re tapping one of them."

Carmen wheeled around on him and grabbed him by his shirt. "Let me tell you one thing, you snot-nosed piece of shit—we think a lot of these kind people that have taken us off of the streets of the city where we were starving and offered us a roof over our heads, clothes to wear, money in our pockets, and food in our bellies. Don’t think you’re going to come in here and badmouth any of them to any of us."

His grip tightened. "Mr. Zack and Mr. Jake treat us with respect. In the city we were looked down upon as trash, but here we’re hard-working individuals. We work side-by-side with these Genmen who will do anything for us. Every morning Donnie, Chas, and Constantine bring breakfast sandwiches or plates of food for us to eat, and it is the best food that you have ever sunk your teeth into."

Carmen’s voice rose. "So before you start spouting off at the mouth and get your ass in a crack you can’t crawl out of, you better get to know these people. I know who your brother is, and he is lucky your ma is like the mother we’ve never had. She treats all of us guys like we’re her sons, so before you talk, you better listen up."

Antonio lowered his head and apologized to Carmen and to all those that were in earshot, because it seemed like the whole dorm was on top of him.

Carmen gave Antonio a list of the rules and also his list of duties while he stayed at the dormitory. Everyone shared in the responsibilities, no one was special, and the place showed it—it was always spotless.

After a little while, Antonio asked Carmen what time it was because at 7 o’clock he was supposed to go to his brother’s home and have supper with an old friend and his brother.

Carmen smiled. "You mean Jeremiah? You talk about a good-looking guy he got. I mean to tell you, he lucked into that one. We should all be that lucky."

Antonio had no idea what Carmen was talking about when it came to Jeremiah. He asked what he meant by lucky.

"Don’t worry about it," Carmen replied. "Surprises are the best. Just be ready to be blown away."

Antonio heard a horn beep and realized his ride was there. He stuck his head out and sure enough, behind the wheel was Madison waiting on him.

Antonio got in the speeder and Madison replied, "Now remember which way home is, and if you get lost just ask anyone where the single men’s dorm is and they will point you in the right direction, because you don’t want to get lost in the back 40 with all the rackknars running around."

In a couple of minutes, Madison pulled up to the front sidewalk leading to the cabin where Willie and Vincent lived along with Jeremiah, Eddie, and Chadwick. "I wish you good luck and try not to upset anyone tonight. Bailey is steaming about something that you said or were thinking. He won’t tell anybody what it was, but it’s a little rough."

"I know," Antonio said. "I guess I need to look into stopping by and apologizing to him. I didn’t know that sometimes certain Genmen can pick up on thought patterns of individuals that they are closely in tune with."

"Just make sure someone is there to watch out for you in case he gets a little aggressive," Madison warned. "Did you really say he had a big fat ass you didn’t mind plowing?"

"I didn’t actually say it—I thought it in my mind just before I realized he was a dude, I mean a Genman. I thought it was a fat-butted gal bending over into the speeder getting out."

Madison started laughing. "Well, I do have to admit he does have a big ass on him, even for a Genman. Just give him a little while, maybe a few days to simmer down, and stop by. You’re always welcome at the house."

Antonio thanked Madison for being friendly to him. "Maybe you’re my first friend on the Z1. Seems like I’ve made plenty of wrong moves and I need some guidance."

"Any time," Madison replied. "Stop by—there’s always activity. There’s too many people in that little house."

Antonio walked up to the door and cautiously knocked. It was opened by a very nice-looking young man who took one look at him and bear-hugged him. "You must be my uncle Antonio! There’s no doubt that you look like my uncle Vincent."

Antonio didn’t know what to do—the young man was holding him about 4 inches off the floor in a bear hug.

Eddie cleared his throat. "Chadwick, that’s not the way we greet people here. You shake their hand and show them inside. You don’t shake them."