This was inspired by 'The Rebel Viper'
It'll be from the First Person. And Viper's stretch out their S's to make a hissing sound.
(Vance)
"Uggghhh… where am I" I said, coming around. "What! Why can't I move!?"
"Oh, Vance… you're already awake!" A recognised voice said.
"Mother?" I asked.
"Vance you should know… I'm not your mother, not anymore… you're not my son anymore… now, you're my assignment" The woman said chuckling.
"What?! What have you done!" I questioned panicking.
"You know of the Viper species, yes?"
"Yesss" That's not right. "I know of them"
"Well, after XCOM eliminated their King, their species numbers have been dwindling. So, I was to find a solution" The woman chuckled.
What… no no no no no no no… that's not possible… to splice DNA in that way… I shouldn't be alive!
"Imposssible!" I said, struggling to break free. "I can't have become one of them!"
"Well… not quite… but your DNA is now compat…" The woman was interrupted by a door opening.
"Is he awake?" A Viper, an unusual one, with blood red scales and black under scales, with ruby red eyes, said.
"Yes Matriarch… he's awake"
"Not quite what I expected…" The Matriarch said, looking at me.
Let me see myself, god damn it!
"He's DNA is one hundred percent compatible… your species survival will be ensured"
"Our Hierarch should be allowed to see himself!" The Matriarch said.
"I don't think [GAH]"
"Do it! Or I'll make your life extremely uncomfortable" The Matriarch commanded, wrapping her tail around the woman.
"I'll [GASP] I'll do it!" The woman said, gasping for air, as the Matriarch released her grip.
I actually grinned, it was entertaining. But I think the Matriarch caught on. The woman turned a mirror in the ceiling over, and I was shocked. I had a human figure, but skinnier, and taller, with white and blue scales, a large hood, with spikes around it, and I had sapphire eyes. I actually looked pretty good, but I'll keep that to myself, but I can see what the Matriarch meant by it's not what she expected, I didn't have a tail, I had legs.
"Tell me about him… what has the splicing done to him?"
"Well, to start off with, he is extremely flexible, he became double jointed, in every joint, his muscle density has increased dramatically, but without physically showing, somehow, and his body has both standard Viper abilities and the Viper Kings Cryogenic and Psionic abilities" The woman explained.
"Interesting… what is his name?"
Uhhhmmm, don't you just call me Hierarch?
"Vance… but don't you just call him Hierarch?"
"Yes… most of the time" The Matriarch said, with something in her voice that I can't recognise, but makes me nervous.
Oh… wait… ahh FUCK! I'm their Hierarch… their only MALE! And their numbers are dwindling! So that'll be my purpose! I remember, I was fifteen, but I don't know what day is it, or what year is it.
"How long wasss I… undergoing this processss?" Dear lord that's going to get annoying, dragging out my S's.
"Let's see… [MUMBLING]… About a year, give or take a few months"
So, I'm about sixteen.
"Let him off the table… he is no longer an experiment, he is our Hierarch"
"I'm not sure…" The Matriarch gave her a 'If looks could kill' stare. "Okay, okay… releasing restraints"
The restraints holding my legs and arms in place, allowing me to get up.
"So, Vance, how do you feel?"
"You have no right to use my name! You have disregarded any respect for me, and ruined the trust I had with you!" I said, angrily. "The Matriarch may use my name, she actually has respect for me… but you! You may not!"
She was taken by surprise, and was glad that there was meter thick reinforced glass in between me and her, otherwise, I might actually have put my new strength to the test.
"I… I…" She was speechless, the Matriarch, on the other hand, was smirking.
"Your work is done… allow me to take it from here" The Matriarch said, unlocking my cell.
I unconsciously stuck my tongue out, and tasted the air. That's another thing I'm going to have to get used to, that and my heightened senses. I'm actually kind of enjoying this, already.
"Of course, he is one of you" The woman spat bitterly.
"Thank you, Matriarch" I said, bowing.
"It should be me who bows to you… you are our only male, and higher than me" The Matriarch said, and I swear, I caught her blushing.
"It's respect"
"Follow me, Hierarch, the transportation is long, and XCOM attacks have become more frequent" The Matriarch said, leading me to the what appeared to be an Armoury.
She allowed me in, but remained outside. Inside, was an armour set, which obviously wasn't built by the Vipers, as it had leg armour. It felt rather comfortable, but the helmet was more of a crown than anything. But at least I felt good in it. Honestly, I may not join the resistance, as I was planning to, for two reasons, one, look at me, two, I feel bad for the Vipers. I can only assume the Elders were using their dwindling numbers to control them.
"Matriarch, may I ask where we are going?" I asked, as I left the Armoury.
"Western European Viper Nest, for safety, it's the largest Viper Nest, and its location makes it easily defendable" The Matriarch said, as we boarded a UFO VIP Transporter, I was bored and did a bit of hacking.
The interceptor's commander was a glowing crystal, surrounded by a grey, humanoid, metallic body.
"We are ready to depart" The Matriarch said.
"What is that?" I asked, as we were taken to a seating area.
"It's called an 'Outsider'. They have a teleportation mechanism, which if the UFO crashes, they can teleport away, to protect all their data, unlike Codex's" The Matriarch replied.
The craft, quickly took off, and made its way to Western Europe.
"What is your intention for me?" I asked, catching the Matriarch off guard.
"Ummm… well… I wasn't expecting you to have been a kidnapped human, I was expecting Dr. Diad to create a new Viper King from scratch… for… for…" The Matriarch said, embarrassed at having to explain this to me, a human hybrid no less. Though I'd already put the pieces together.
"I've already put the pieces together"
"Then you must understand, why we did this to you… we were desperate, I forced Dr. Diad to go behind ADVENT's back to make you" Seeing her plead in this way, really does make me feel bad for her species.
"Did Dr. Diad give you any reason as to why she chose me, or was it dumb luck?"
"She chose you specifically, said your DNA was much more 'fragile'… easier to splice. When the Elders found out, they were less than pleased, but they couldn't just stop the program, you were weeks away from completion"
There was an awkward silence.
"You're going to have to teach me how to control my powers, its bad enough that your numbers are dropping fast, and we don't want to add frozen Vipers to the mix" I joked, which actually made her laugh a little.
"No we wouldn't" She said, slithering to bridge, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
She would make a good mate, but I know, I won't be able to mate with just her… simply because it wouldn't make enough Vipers. As cruel as it sounds, we might have to force more people into this situation. And that's the Viper DNA talking, probably.
I looked at my armour, and took a good look at it, because I was rushed. Well I wasn't really, I know the Matriarch would've waited an eternity for me, but I still felt rushed. My armour was silver with gold accents and sapphires placed on it, it was also plated armour in some areas, like the knees and elbows, most likely to provide maximum mobility and maximum protection in otherwise vulnerable areas. I've seen Vipers when I was younger, they would use their tongues to grab their target, bring it to them, and then use their tail to crush the life out of them. I don't have a tail, but I am tall, and insanely strong, so I guess I could crush their throats. I wonder if the Matriarch will let me use ADVENT Troopers, from my little, hacking trip, I found out they're clones, a dime a dozen, they'll just make more.
"Hierarch!" A normal, no wait, a Viper with white scales, weird, said. "We will be arriving shortly"
"Thank you" I said, heading to the bridge.
As I walked to the bridge, I saw a lot of normal Vipers, and their staring was making me 'uncomfortable' to say the least.
The Matriarch was speaking to the white scaled Viper.
"Matriarch… I do not see anything" I observed, looking out the window.
"You are not meant too, it's for safety reasons that all of them are hidden from the rest of the world"
"Interesting"
010101110110010100100000011101110110100101101100011011000010000001100010011001010010000001101100011000010110111001100100011010010110111001100111001000000110100101101110001000000110000100100000011011010110111101101101011001010110111001110100| The Outsider spoke in… Binary… but in rapid clicks and beeps. I didn't understand it, but the Matriarch did.
"Thank you… Hierarch, follow me" The Matriarch said.
I did as she asked.
When the ramp lowered, the Matriarch slithered off, and I stepped off. Well they weren't kidding when they said 'Viper Nest'. That's all I can see, Vipers, and most staring at me. I heard whispers which I shouldn't be able to understand, yet I do.
I continued to follow the Matriarch, down multiple ramps, which makes sense, since they don't have legs. Eventually we reached the floor that she wanted.
"Memorise the floor number" She told me.
I did, floor fifteen, I guess it only goes down. We continued down the corridor, until we came across two sets of very grand looking doors, on the left, it was silver around the door, on the right, was gold around the door.
"The one on the door on the right is your quarters"
We entered, and sure enough, it was a room fit for a king.
"I'm sure you have many questions about the Vipers as a species, so ask away" The Matriarch said.
One question instantly popped into my mind. "I can't believe this is the first question I have, but, why would a reptilian species, like yourselves, have need for breasts?" I asked, making her blush a little.
"While we do lay eggs, the hatchling doesn't stay in there more than a day, and needs to be breastfed, this is due to the Elders manipulating our DNA, and combining it with human DNA, during the original invasion" The Matriarch explained.
Well there goes the theory that they're venom sacks, somebody would owe me a fiver, but not anymore.
"Well that explains an awful lot" I said aloud. "Okay, what about the white scaled Vipers, what's special about them?"
"Neonates, they are young, and have yet to gain their colour"
"And finally, I saw eggs on the way down here, if you are able to perform Asexual reproduction, then why do you need me?"
"Genetic cloning, it's risky, but has kept our numbers from plummeting, and we will continue to do it, until enough males are born… if enough males are born"
"What happened to all your other males?"
"We don't know, the Elders would subtly take them one at a time, for unknown purposes, but I'm starting to believe that it was an attempt to control us, since we are the only species to reproduce naturally"
"Well, that just fantastic isn't it" I said, sarcastically.
"It is, isn't it" She replied.
At least they understand sarcasm, and multiple meanings of the same word. I yawned, after what happened today, I'm surprised I stayed awake as long as I did.
"Rest, you must be tired after today's events" The Matriarch said, slithering out of the room.
And indeed I was tired. The bed was soft, as was the pillow. I removed my armour, and carefully placed it on the armour stand. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.
(Matriarch)
As I left the Hierarch's quarters, I saw three of my daughters (Not actual, but metaphorical), waiting outside.
"Mother, is it true?" One of them asked.
"Is what true?" I asked in reply.
"That we have a new Hierarch" The second answered.
"And that he is more like a human, standing on two legs" The third, a Neonate, whose colours were beginning to show, added.
"Yes, it is true, however, he is still our Hierarch, and we shall treat him as such. But for now, let him rest" I replied, slithering into my own quarters, followed by my three daughters.
"How do we know we can trust him?" The Neonate said, before being shushed by her sisters (Not actual, but metaphorical).
"I understand your mistrust, however, I believe he can be trusted, he did not act harshly towards me, only the human who did it, for what reasons, I do not know" I answered, moving behind a screen, to change into more formal attire. "Are we not desperate as a species, I do not want us to become an entirely cloned race, like the Mutons or Sectoids"
"We are, mother" One of my daughters replied.
"It is true we have lost over fifty – nine percent of all hatchlings" Another replied.
I came back from around the screen, in a black silk gown, I had made for me on this planet.
"Leave me now, we shall discuss this in the morning" I said.
"Yes mother" They all said, unanimously.
As for me, well, I have plans of my own for 'Vance' if I remember correctly.
(Vance – Early next morning)
I flicked my tongue out, and tasted the air, I'll never get used to that, the whole tasting a scent thing. Though I did know that I was starving. I was contemplating the life ahead of me, when there was a knocking at the door.
"Enter" I said.
A standard looking Viper, in white, servant class perhaps, came, with a silver tray.
"Your meal, Hierarch" The Viper said, placing the tray before me, and leaving.
On the tray, was mostly meat based foods, so I guess that's one thing that carried over, like Earth snakes, the Vipers have a carnivorous diet. However, there were a few none meat foods, perhaps because they believe my digestive system isn't quite adapted to their, strictly carnivorous diet. I don't know, but it smelt good.
I took a bite out of the large chunk of meat… steak… yeah definitely steak. It was pretty good. I'm thinking I could get used to this, but not having them wait on my every command, I hate the idea of that.
About half an hour after I'd finished, I heard a knock on the door, and that same Viper entered, and took the tray away. I got up, and looked in the wardrobe, to find a couple of boxes. I guess they told the Vipers not to open them. They were mostly skintight suits, meant to go under my armour, they were all white which made it look like my scales. I took a shower before I put one of the suits on, and put my armour on over the top. It's weird taking a shower, the water just slid right off my scales. That's not to say it didn't clean me. But on the up side, at least I won't have to deal with my Eczema anymore.
There was another knocking at the door, to which I opened it to find the Matriarch waiting there.
"Sleep well Hierarch?" She asked me.
"Better than I have the past year" I replied, a smile on my face.
"Three of my daughters visited me last night…" The Matriarch said, signalling for me to follow. "No doubt they were pressured by their other sisters to do so, and most likely went and told their sisters what I told them" She said, as we went down to level twenty. "So be prepared for a… 'mix' of reactions"
"What is it that Vipers see in Earth? I mean, sure there hot continents that humans struggle to survive on… but there's gotta be more than that" I asked.
"I'll explain that to you, another time" She replied, as we went through a set of double doors.
As we did, I felt a warm breeze hit me. I looked around, to see an underground city, which must be kept warm by some fans hidden by the fake the clouds. I believe I'm the first 'human' to see this, though that's just an assumption.
As we continued to slither/walk through the Nest, I noticed the Vipers, the soldiers mainly, staring at me, in a 'seductive' way… and it terrifies me!
Our destination was on the other side of the underground facility. The doors led into a chamber of sorts. Around the edge, where five purple, ghost like, Elders. The Matriarch bowed, and I mimicked.
"So, this is your new Hierarch, that you were so desperate to obtain?" One of them said, or thought, I'm not sure which.
"Yes" The Matriarch answered.
"Why is he so, 'human'?" Another asked.
I'm offended.
"While his body accepted the Viper King DNA, it would appear a few parts of his DNA remained heavily human" The Matriarch explained.
"Interesting… what do you intend to do with him?" A third asked.
"Their numbers are dwindling, what do think they intend to do with me?" I said, rather irritated at its question.
"How dare you…" One began.
"This is his first time speaking to the Elders, he will not disrespect us again" Another cut them off.
"But he is right… it should be pretty obvious our, 'intentions'" The Matriarch said.
"What you do with him should be of no concern…" One spoke, looking at another. "to us. We just need to ensure, you weren't going to turn against"
"I would never dare" The Matriarch said, before the ghosts vanished.
As we left the chambers I had to squint, the bright light must be similar to their home world, because it is much brighter than Earth's star. Though I guess, like a human city, rumours spread like wildfire, because there a lot more Vipers looking at me, though most are stares of curiosity, this time, I doubt it'll remain that way for long.
"You go to your quarters. I'll explain your appearance to the rest of the Vipers" The Matriarch said, heading away from me.
I feel a lot more vulnerable without her, yet I shouldn't, I am their king, which doesn't sound anywhere near as a good as calling me Hierarch. But still, on the outside, I stand tall and proud, but on the inside, well, imagine a train, speeding along at one hundred miles an hour, then imagine a second train, going at the exact same speed, along the same track, except heading towards the first train, now imagine them colliding, that's the kind of wreck I am at the moment.
When I got to floor fifteen, Dr. Diad was waiting for me.
"Hello, Hierarch" She said, bitterly and impatiently.
"What do you want!" I demanded.
"Is that anyway to treat the person who cared for you, for sixteen years?"
"I think it's appropriate, considering the hell you put me through!" I countered.
"Now, now, don't be like that" Dr. Diad said.
"Why are you even here?" I asked, impatiently.
"Yes… why are you here?" The Matriarch asked, coming out of nowhere.
"Ahh Matriarch… this is about your Hierarch, more specifically about the creation of more like him…"
"You dare!" I yelled, having a good idea of what she's intending.
She just cast it off. "Tell me Matriarch… has he mated yet?"
"No… why?" The Matriarch asked curious.
"I need to know if his creation, left him infertile or not"
"Why!?" I demanded.
"If the Matriarch, is so desperate for males, I'd be happy to make more like him" She said, smirking.
"If you dare put more through what I've been forced into…" I didn't get to finish what I started to say.
"Hierarch, you were sympathetic towards our current position… you must realise why we need more males" The Matriarch said, in a way, using my sympathy against me.
"[DEEP BREATH & SIGHING] You're right, you're right… but I don't want anyone to be forced into my position, like I was" I said, my own mind conflicted.
"Well, you may not really have a choice in the matter" Dr. Diad said, innocently.
This caught my attention.
"What did you say?" I questioned.
"You may not have a choice in the matter… I already had multiple candidates selected and removed from their parents… I can't just let them go…" Dr. Diad explained.
"Did you have any idea about this?!" I demanded the Matriarch.
"I did not Hierarch" The Matriarch replied.
"Keep them alive… I will decide the best course of action… now remove yourself from my sight" I ordered.
Dr. Diad hurried away, with a few guards that appeared out of nowhere.
"Please, Matriarch, tell me what the Viper people's reactions were" I said, using a hand gesture to tell her to follow me.
"Well there were some negative remarks, about your appearance, but others were more curious, as to why you looked that way" She said, following me into my quarters.
I called for lunch, as I was a bit peckish. In the meantime, the Matriarch was telling me about their original home world.
When it was served, the Matriarch asked me about Earth, particularly, our history, and reasons why some of us go against the ADVENT Administration.
"Well, at a guess, some humans see the ADVENT Administration as a dictatorship" I said.
"Dictatorship? What is a dictatorship?" The Matriarch asked.
"Well, a dictatorship is when a human, the dictator, controls a country, for an infamous example, Germany about 1930 to 1945, and controls it with an iron fist, and those who argue against the dictator are either in-prisoned, or permanently silenced" I summed up for the Matriarch.
"Interesting…" She thought aloud, as she ate one of her steaks. "What is so important about old Germany?" She asked.
"I won't go into detail, other than one of the worst genocides in human history" I bluntly explained.
"What is it with humans and violence?"
"I honestly couldn't tell you"
"I thank you for your time Hierarch" The Matriarch said, leaving.
"It should be me, who thanks you, you're running the people, and I know very little on Vipers" I said, as the doors closed.