Birth of the Chimera
As the conflict between the Yaut`ja and serpents continued, life continued on for the other races. Civilizations of other worlds rose and fell. Those not concerned with the conflict of their people traveled the stars. Different races formed trade hubs and began a mix of communities. These multiple establishments created strong alliances amongst each other. As well as enemies among those who could not find equal ground.
Yet the scars left by the serpents left lasting impacts. Some races, rather than let fear overcome them, decided to investigate and learn more about these mysterious creatures. There were some complications, as well as deaths from the escaped specimens, and all they have learned is the same things the Yaut`ja before them have: that the serpents are a deadly force with no remorse.
After learning of this dangerous potential, a few of these curious races decided that the serpents would provide to be very efficient weapons against their enemies. Programs to weaponize the serpents in any way possible began. There were more failures than successes, each ending in the death of many. The few successes were dubbed Chimeras, for their spliced and unnatural appearance after heavy genetic tampering.
However, the birth of the Chimera reached the ears of the Yaut`ja. They found the forced fusion of the serpents with other genetics revolting. They took it upon themselves to track down each of the Chimera facilities and destroy all within. Craters existed where simple buildings and lives once did. There was no honor in what they did but it was necessary. For the sake of the universe, the abominations of nature must die.
The Chimeras, despite being dismissed as simple minded creatures, acted out on their own accord when their impending destruction came. Many revolted against their creators and fled. Those that were caught were promptly executed before the Yaut`ja even arrived. The 'lucky' ones were hunted down soon after their pursuers learned of their escape. Genocide, in the eyes of a sympathetic soul.
Yet the research and development of the Chimeras would never stop. Each new race that emerged from their home world eventually learned of the serpents and began to study them like naïve fools. New creations emerged from the labs. More names were added to the list of dead. More Yaut`ja felt as if they had forsaken their honor by the elimination of and and all witnesses.
The klaxons grated on his ears as Ike sprinted down the gray hallways, heading directly towards the comm center. He stopped in front of an open window before climbing out and scaling the walls, clambering on to the roof once he had reached it. It only took another minute or so before he threw himself into another open window and arrive to the comm center.
The room was a circular shape, split into two sections. One with the general controls and monitors, another with a more closed off center and had lines of camera screens dotted along the curved walls. Standing in front of the screens and working furiously over the dashboard, Irwin was oblivious to Ike's arrival until the large genome was behind him. He nearly pissed himself when he was pinned against the nearby wall by his neck.
"What did you do?!" Ike demanded in the Yaut`ja language, snarling in his face, mandibles spread out in a show of aggression.
"I didn't do anything! I was trying to fix the damage." Irwin kicked his legs in the air for a bit, trying to get free. "Someone else tampered with the systems, not me."
"Turn off," Ike ordered as he dropped the smaller genome. "Now."
Irwin opened his mouth to say something but advised against it. Ike was not someone to mess with when he was mad. As per result of his Yaut`ja DNA. Returning to his original place before the walls of screens, Irwin's fingers flew over the controls, clicking and pushing all sorts of switches and buttons as he tried to fix the issue. Behind him, Ike had both hands over his head in effort to block out the klaxons.
It only took a minute before all the power within the facility was off. They were surrounded in complete darkness as it was still a good few hours before daybreak. Irwin was forced to shut down and restart the entire system, the damage being that severe. Hopefully, he'd be able to do a proper analysis and quickly find the cause of the system corruption before the sirens went off again. Hopefully...
Lights flickered back on and Ike swore he could hear the sound of the generator roar to life once again. Irwin quickly turned his attention back to the dashboard and managed to isolate the problem as it grew. His stomach sank when he looked over the diagnostics. This was not good at all. The klaxons and warnings were only a decoy, something to keep everyone distracted. The real tampering reared its ugly head to Irwin now as he read through the words on the screens
"Someone activated the Yaut`ja distress signal," He explained tersely, shoulder tightening and tail flicking to and fro. "From the comm systems we took from one of the derelict ships a few years back."
"And?"
"It sent the signal back to its clanship, through the use of the long range towers."
Ike flared his mandibles and growled under his breath. The clanship, whomever they may be, would definitely respond to the signal. From what they learned from the scattered datapads in its hangar, those two ships have been there for roughly 70 years. The dead members of both crews were recycled and used for the genome program that created Ike and the others. The ones that were lived didn't survive long after. For one of the distress signals to be activated again after so long would warrant an investigation from the clan it originated from.
Or, should another detect the signal as well, Bad Bloods would come. Maybe something else that was equally as bad.
The genome flexed his claws before taking a deep breath, quelling his anger before it could bubble over. It would not aid or understand the situation if it did. Ike looked to the smaller genome with inquisitive eyes.
"Time?"
"I have no way of telling you unless the receiver of the signal decides to respond back. Which is unfortunately not a likelihood. Yaut`ja are brash, not dumb." Irwin paused and looked back to the wall of screens. "If worse comes to worse, we may have to head down to-"
"We not go there!" Ike snarled, knowing full well what place Irwin was about to refer to. He would never go down there again. "Not even if Yaut`ja come. Tunnels more dangerous than hunters. Mind is final."
"But-"
"No!"
Irwin made a small mewling noise of resignation. He did not understand why the large genome disliked -no, fear was more appropriate- those tunnels. From what some of the older genomes said, they used to roam the areas whenever their former master let them. But since the overthrow, and Ike's reluctant coronation of sorts, he has forbidden anyone from going down there. In fact, according to a particular genome name Dren, before the humans were driven off, Ike prevented anyone from entering the tunnels when he could. Something to do with an incident with a white skinned human...
Whatever the reason, it prevented Ike from seeing the truth; those tunnels were the best defense against any enemy. Most of the xeno based genomes could blend in with the surroundings and there were hidden rooms in which they could hide inside. Not to mention the small 'vents' they could climb around in in case they needed to perform ambushes on intruding hostiles. So many possibilities and advantages were presented to them through those biotech like passages. The tunnels were perfect!
"Where will we hide then?" Irwin hesitantly asked. "The caves? The marshes? There isn't a place that they won't search and we will be able to fend them off."
"We not fight unless no choice." Ike explained. "We hide, we blend. We not engage." He took a pause and looked at the screens briefly. "We hide in fly room."
"The old hangars?" A rather strange place to hide in. "Should we start making preparations then?"
"Yes. Please."
~.~
A distress signal from Kv`var's lost ship. The very thought had everyone within the large circular chambers silent. This was troubling news indeed. Kv`var, one of their greatest warriors, left on a hunt towards new territory with some of his most trusted brothers. Since the establishment of small clans and keeping to their own territory, Yaut`ja rarely explore the system for new game in fear of possibly encroaching on another clan's territory and starting a war. Or worse, finding an enemy they may not have the means to defeat. It was no big surprise when they had lost all communications with Kv`var and his crew. That did not mean it wasn't a deep loss for the clan.
Ta`lon rubbed his chin with a hand; something multiple races did when they were in deep thought. Knowing the clan leader, he'd want to send a small craft to investigate the signal coordinates. It was no secret that he and Kv`var were close before the former's rise in rank and power. In fact, when the crew was finally labeled dead, the clan leader had withdrawn to his quarters and placed his predecessor in charge temporarily. He didn't emerge until a month later. Many warriors in the clan had questioned his rule and position during that time but no one dared to say it out loud. All who did found themselves personally fighting the leader and barely escaping with their lives.
It was easy to see the struggle in the clan leader now. Ta`lon knew that several of the members in the Council of Elders and Circle of Advisers would use this as leverage for their own personal gain. The usual political games that only brought headaches to the open-minded Yaut`ja. However, Ta`lon had gotten well versed in these games and had managed to use their follies for his own gain. He had also learned the art of appealing more to the clan leader's emotional side, which he only ever did when things became heated in the middle of large scale debates.
Debates such as the one happening now.
"This is obviously a trap! Kv`var and his men have been gone for too long for this to be authentic."
"But if it really is him and they had recently gotten a hold of their comma, what then? Dare we leave him?"
"Kv`var would not have waited this long to report back."
"It's a trap set by the Black Yaut`ja. There is no other answer."
"It would be dishonorable to not answer the call."
"But it would be suicide to try."
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone fell silent shortly after. All eyes were on Ta`lon, who had made the decision to bellow. Such an action was not common for any elder nor adviser, as it is more or less taboo to think of yourself higher than the clan leader. Fortunately, Ta`lon was a bit of an exception. Unfortunately, such an action was not without its backlashes.
Ignoring the glares and ogling looks, the Yaut`ja turned to the clan leader, who was still in pensive thought. Once realizing people were waiting, the clan leader turned to Ta`lon and spoke.
"It would be dishonorable to ignore our brother's pleas, should this really be genuine," He spoke in a steady voice. Only a few could see the internal struggle. "However, we do not have the resources to divert a group of warriors to investigate."
Whispers and hushed conversations began at the last statement. Ta`lon himself was confused. This wasn't like the clan leader to say. Something was wrong.
"Esteemed leader," Ta`lon hissed to the clan leader. "I understand the reasons to why but is there not something we can do? Warriors we can spare to investigate?"
"Adviser Kilioun, if there were, I would gladly listen and accept," The clan leader spoke. "But given recent skirmishes with the Ali-cayia and some rogue Black Yaut`ja, we need to keep our best close until these issues settle. It is difficult enough to allow our hunters to travel or for our young to experience their first kill."
"Then why not ask for volunteers?" Things began to grow silent again. "If we gathered a small group and sent them to the-"
"And who do you propose will bother to go?" The grating voice of his rival challenged.
If there was anyone he hated the most of the clan, Ta`lon would have to pick Ku-Ira Miyen`dak. Always opposing, never listening to reason. He had been in the Circle since before Ta`lon's first born had come into this world. But he was known for being brash and only succeeding in staying in the Circle of Advisers for blackmail and connections to high ranking warriors. A weasel, if Ta`lon has ever seen a personified form of one. His nephew Jipas was no better.
"If you would have listened," The red speckled Yaut`ja huffed. "You'd have heard the word 'volunteer' come from my mouth."
"And once again, who do you propose will even bother?" Ku-Ira raised himself with a puff of his chest and his head held high. It was almost as if he was trying to act as clan leader. A dangerous move. "Kv`var and his men have been since declared dead for more than 70 cycles. The signal is no doubt a trap and if we send men to investigate, we will only be sending them to their deaths. And as you all know, we cannot afford to spare such lives for a petty crusade."
The moment he finished speaking, a blade had buried itself deep within his chest, opposite of his heart. Ku-Ira gave a cry of surprise more than pain before taking a knee, a hand clutching his chest. The clan leader's hands shook as he stared down at the adviser, mandibles flared in anger and his pose suggesting rage. 'Petty' was not a word you would say in regards to such a notable warrior. 'Petty' was not a word you speak around a friend whose other was dead. 'Petty' is not a ward you would say around the clan leader unless you did not value your life.
"Take him out of my sight," The clan leader ordered, voice simmering with rage. "He is no longer welcome in my presence."
Ta`lon raised his brows in both surprise, glee, and fear. Just like that, one of his biggest nuisances was manhandled by the high ranking Arbitrators of the clan and shuffled off like the scum he was. But now things would become more difficult. Everyone would be treading on dangerous ground with the topic of Kv`var circling around and with the clan leader's temper.
"Adviser Kilioun," Ta`lon perked up at his name. "Please continue your idea."
"As I said before, if we gathered a small group of volunteers and send them to the coordinates, we will be able to determine if the signal is a hoax or not. They will only go as scouts. Should they see it is authentic, they will send a signal back and help care for the lost in any means possible. But if it is a trap-"
"They will contact back to us and we will respond accordingly." Finished Yyorek, who had been sitting quietly in his seat for a while now. "A clever plan, Kilioun. However, I feel volunteers will not be the best of ideas. We need loyalty to the cause rather than devotion to honor. Any of those would wish to join would focus on the wrong reasons and therefore, the mission would fail." The old Yaut`ja warrior rose to his feet now and stepped forward so that all eyes were on him. "Four warriors of mine and our clan leader's choosing shall go and investigate this distress signal. As Adviser Kilioun said, they will report any findings to us. As for one who shall lead them..."
Yyorek took a very long pause, keeping everyone on edge; even Ta`lon himself. The suspense was weighing heavy on all their shoulders.
"I will lead them."
That was not the elder clan leader who spoke.
A/n: Fuck you, senior year! Keeping me from living a life and wasting it away in front of a computer. And screw you, history blurb that took longer than the chapter to create and write. Ugh, but at least it gives some backstory on the genomes. Whom shall make more and more of an appearance as the chapters progress.
And now we see what the political and government system is like in the clans. So there's the Council of Elders, the Circle of Advisers, and the clan leader. Somewhat similar to the US' government system (which was a total accident on my part). Clan leader has complete say on what to do though, regardless of what either other body says. But that doesn't mean they can't influence him.
Next chapter will take just as long, if not longer, as this one. Why? Because I have to animate a short film, create a graphic novel, and finish college application bullshit. Oh and lets not forget the rest of the details that make up school. I don't even know where I find the time...
Pred out~
