Frustrations Undiscovered

Supreme Ja’kal raised his head when the transit tube opened perfectly on time. His jubilation at the precision died as the four team members entered with despondent visages upon human faces.

Tentacles slithering over each other, Ja’kal glided toward them. “What has transpired?” Their pause before responding confirmed the mission had not gone well.

Lead Rashim lifted her two hands and touched the collar at her neck, deactivating the cloak. Her her human appearance dissolved. While Ja’kal found her returned normality less disconcerting, the pallor in her hide reflected disappointment.

Rashim heaved a sigh. “None of their colleagues noticed.”

A simple statement, but one which sent Ja’kal reeling. His lids flicked closed and open, popping loudly.

“They didn’t notice we’d replaced them?”

Rashim shook her head. “No, they merely expressed excitement at each revelation provided.”

Her team emitted a low series of disappointed clicks, confirming her report.

The humans were primitive still. They should not have understood the revelations the team bore. They should have overwhelmed and suspicious of the discoveries over too brief of days.

“Where do they think you are now?” Ja’kal asked.

“Conducting research.” Rashim raised her tentacles, consternated.

This would not do. They needed the human’s suspicion. If not…

He touched his own device with a tentacle tip. Useful for disguises but punished them if they overtly disobeyed the collective. Bands the humans alone could remove and free them.

Ja’kal tapped his tentacles over the ground. What else could they do to make them suspect?