Gendo symbionts are crafted well before conception, but each symbiont must develop the skill to modify themselves beyond their original designs to earn a rank worthy of the higher needs of a Gendoji. That a human could work as a sensorial panther at all was damn near impossible. My rising as high as a third felt better than any of the academic trivialities that consumed me before I joined Pax. Alina never fully understood that, never saw past the mucus and the Worm in my chest.

From The Death of Pax by Santiago Belluco An anthology ‘Sunvault: Stories of Solarpunk and Eco-Speculation’ Published by Upper Rubber Boot Books.

Artwork was created in Artbreeder & upscaled in Topaz Gigapixel Ai. 1024x1024 pix. mp4