A chapter purely for the sake of worldbuilding! But relevant worldbuilding.
Plus some lovely HunterxShadow shenanigans because comedy.
Also, this is gonna be the last chapter for roughly a month or more until exams are done. I seem to have reached peak exhaustion to the point I've actually been sick for the last 5 days due to stress. Oop.
Not because of this story, but *gestures* everything else. College mainly. It's killing me. So I'm taking a break until college ends.
At least from full chapters. But fear not! I'll probably post some drafts and such on tumblr occasionally. And I also plan to do a small revisit to Off to a Great Start and Enigma then put them both into a PDF file. I'll also revisit the first 13 chapters of Over the River and Through the Woods since I fear the quality dropped a bit. No major plot changes, though. Just tweaking the basics.
I ALSO may be posting a few snippets from my Umbara story "Shadow in the Dark" because fuck Krell's muppet-reject looking headass. May also post a peak at Echo's rescue "Fallen Not Forgotten" because fuck them jukebox wannabes on wheels and EVERYTHING they stand for.
Last thing! I actually posted a face reveal on tumblr, under the tag Shadow Speaks! Go check it out if you'd like!
See y'all in a month or so!
Reviews!
Abi-Chan Fiction Fan: ZOOMIES. They are slowly getting there, absolutely :D. Poor Hunter, his brain literally malfunctions. Tech is lucky he's too adorable to slap, tbh XD because BOI. This is true and glad you enjoy the fourth wall breaks! XD Thanks, and oh I didn't know that! I keep forgetting not everywhere celebrates it XD. And seems the pumpkin worked! And don't be sorry, I always look forward to your reviews! :D
Content Warning: Talk of blood extraction (because Tech is still at that) and species biology.
"Let's see," I mused as we started down into the valley. "Where do I start?"
"Perhaps it would be wise to start at the beginning with who created your species?" Tech asked, sticking close to my side.
Reasonable enough place. "Psycho named Sheldon Steinfrank. Standard power hungry maniac," I snorted, jumping down onto a rock. "Ok, let me get my storytellin' voice."
And let's see if I can remember my Birth of an Alpha story.
"Long ago," I began dramatically. "Keluisa was a vast land full of danger. The strong preyed upon the weak, instinct replacing law and reason. Power was a constant source of conflict, as everyone wanted to control the resources. Death stalked the land and brothers turned against each other with even the slightest temptation of power."
"Nice story voice," Hunter commented.
"Thanks, Sarge, now shush."
He raised his hands in surrender.
"So, Kelusia was basically a complete and utter free for all. Men fought against each other while the other creatures basically let them have at it, hoping they'd maybe kill each other off."
"What other species do you mean? Tech asked, hopping down beside me on the rock. "Were they magic like you?"
I slipped off the rock to another down the trail before hopping back on the trail. "It varied. You had species that weren't naturally magic, then some that were. One key species I should mention is the Elementals. They, unsurprisingly, could wield the different Elements."
"Are they where you get your power from?"
"Gettin' there, Techie." Working my way over some roots, I continued over my shoulder, "Unlike most stories, where a theoretical knight comes in with shining theoretical armor, the man who changed the planet, Sheldon himself, had power and control in mind when he did the unthinkable."
"What did he do?"
"Let her talk," Crosshair muttered.
Well, he's definitely trying to repair what damage he caused. I'll give that to you, Twiggs. "So, just background for informational purposes, the species in Stone's Throw Star System were created by highly powerful mystical bein's called Grey Greys, also known as the Creators."
"The... Creators?" Hunter echoed. "Because they created."
"Hey, sometimes people are original and fanciful and sometimes they're straight to the point when it comes to namin'." A faint chill went up my spine as I stepped in a cool patch of mud, the cold seeping through the pads on the bottom of my feet. "But the Great Greys loaned Sheldon some of their technology in an experiment of a sort. He then started to combine the DNA from different species into a single creature. That creature would be the start of an indestructible apex warrior species, aka Alphians."
This seemed to surprise Hunter. "Your species was created in a lab?"
I nodded. "Correct, Shaggy. Roughly four thousand years ago. Sheldon ran around the entire planet collecting DNA from the most dangerous predator groups. Raptor, feline, ursine, snake, shark, canine, and lizard. But that wasn't enough. The mad idiot went to the Elemental Tribes and asked for some of their DNA. The agile Cloud Jumpers, the dreaded Night Stalkers, the sharp-tongued Ice Breathers, the swift Storm Summoners, the graceful Sea Dwellers, the volatile Pyromaniacs, and finally, the headstrong Earth Shakers."
"Headstrong Earth Shakers, huh?" Wrecker laughed. "That's you alright, Squeak!"
"Ha ha. The bloodlines eventually mixed all up so my clan, the Hydes, actually are closer to the Night Stalkers." My attention was pulled away by a bird chirping within the trees.
Hunter looked in that direction, hand reaching for his blade. "See somethin'?"
"Yeah, a bird," I snorted. "Damn ADD be yoinkin' my attention every five seconds. Where was I?"
"Night Stalkers."
"Ok, so he's got this gene soup, right? Elemental powers, animalistic instincts and predatory instincts, and a humanoid form. That mix is dangerous enough on its own, but Sheldy wasn't satisfied with just animal traits. The dumbass went off the deep end and sailed his ass down to a place called the Forbidden Archipelago."
"Sounds ominous," Hunter commented.
"What gave you that impression?" I chuckled as I continued down the trail, stopping briefly to poke at some moss. I couldn't help but notice that since I gave him that... hint... his tone had gotten more relaxed and less "officer-y". If that was a term.
Oh, I hoped my gamble was worth the risk. I'd have to try another test later.
I hated suspense, and I'd be damned if this fic was gonna be one of those. If Hunter didn't make a move by the end of the night, I was taking matters into my own hands.
Oh, great, my own mad scientist is coming out. Time to conduct experiments without regard for the consequences of the outcome!
What could possibly go wrong?
A multitude of things...
Yolo.
"Anyways, that island group is one of the most magical sites on Kelusia, and I don't mean happy go lucky magic that brings happiness and joy. Dark magic pit, one of the biggest magic leaks on the planet."
"Why go there?"
"That's where the Shapeshifters lived. They're a Precursor species, one of the first that the Great Greys created at the start of life on the planet, and immortal."
"Are you immortal?" Tech asked, eyes wide beneath the helmet.
"Ha, no." Well, I personally might be. "Alphians are biologically immortal, or at least we originally were. Got a death gene now that takes us out at around six hundred Kelusian years."
"Six hundred years?" Tech exclaimed. "How many of your species are there? That leaves a long time for procreation!"
I couldn't hide my surprise at the question, eyes going wide. Of course you'd think about that, Tech. Ever the scientist.
"Tech!" Hunter exclaimed, voice an octave higher than usual as Wrecker fought down a laugh. "I told you, you can't just ask different species that!"
This is normal for Tech to ask these off the wall questions? Hellfire... maybe that's why the Yalbecs got pissed. "Alphians age like humans until around thirty or fourty, then we just hover around there physically until we near five fifty. But we aren't fertile, if that's what you're wonderin', until around sixty to seventy. Then we're only fertile for about forty years after that."
I did some quick calculations in my head, factoring in all the years. Ok, Star Wars supposedly took place in Earth's fifties or forties, and my last chronological story takes place in the eighties...
"The Alphian government also put a ban on more than two kids, unless you're offworld. So it's not over populated."
"But what about-"
"Tech, let her finish the story," Hunter interrupted, speaking through gritted teeth.
I flicked my ears in thanks before continuing, "So yeah Sheldy waltzed on down but didn't quite get to the outer volcanic ring before one Shifter, Hypnoz, stopped him."
"What do they look like? When not shifted?" Tech eagerly asked, disregarding Hunter's order.
Usually I'd hate being interrupted but in this case I didn't mind. I had an excuse to talk about my critters, which I'd always take advantage of.
"Humanoid. Really tall and lanky fellas, antlers, rounded ears, long tail with a stinger, clawed fingers and toes, shaggy fur on the underside of their forearms, semi-long muzzle with conical teeth. But Hypnoz was in a human form since no one really knew what they look like unless visited in their dreams."
"How do you know?" Crosshair asked, suspicion in his voice.
My tail tip twitched in agitation, but not at Crosshair. If I proved I knew information that the average inhabitant wouldn't it shouldn't know, then they'd get suspicious. I should be careful what I say... "Trevor told me. He's seen 'em."
Crosshair grunted but left it at that.
"Ok, anyways, so yeah. Hypnoz was pretty close with the gods, all Shifters are given their status as Precursors, so he knew why Sheldon was down there, but when he tried to warn off Sheldon, the mad scientist was stubborn to say the least. But Hypnoz also knew the outcome of the endeavor would result in humans losing their top spot on the planet, which would greatly benefit every other lifeform, so he gave Sheldon some blood and off Sheldon went."
"See? Blood is a helpful component," Tech grumbled.
"My dude, you're embodyin' a mad scientist again when I'm literally tellin' you about the dangers of doin' that," I laughed, skirting around a tree and taking a shortcut over a boulder. I almost leapt off the rock only to halt at the last second as Hunter lunged forward and grabbed my tail with both hands.
Good thing, too.
The rock jutted out over the trail which abruptly dropped and cut back under the rock. The ground was about thirty feet below me, and while it was spongy pine needles I did not like my chances of escaping without a broken bone.
"Yike," I mumbled, peering over the edge with flattened ears.
Hunter slowly pulled me back from the edge. "Distracted, Ice?" he teased, although I heard worry in his voice.
"Kinda," I grumbled, shifting off the rocks. "Can't believe I pulled a damn Tumbleweed."
"Oh!" Tech exclaimed. "You know pilot terminology?"
That applies in Star Wars too? Neat. Wonder if they know MOTO. Don't think that's pilot terminology though... "A bit. I know some pilots."
"I see. How many other terms do you know?"
"Honestly, my given knowledge in any topic is a gamble. My mind is a patchwork of vague references and trivia," I laughed, going to walk around the right way before I realized Hunter still had my tail. "Sarge? Can I have that back?" I asked, pointing at it.
He looked down at his hands before jerking away as if he'd been stung. "Sorry."
"It ain't electric," I remarked, slipping past to go down the path.
Ok, he had to like me back. Granted it'd been like... a day. But the Fanfiction Fasttrack was a common thing, not to mention I was probably on the Self-Insert speedway. So if it was one of those fanfics, which it probably was, if any of these boys aside from Wrecker liked me, they would have already fallen.
Which would be just swell because I didn't know how to handle a single dude liking me, let alone four.
Excellent practice!
You're pulling a Tech and using every conceivable event as a research opportunity.
Well, we are a writer.
No shit. I'm literally relaying some worldbuilding and have been for the past fifteen minutes.
"Alright, where was I?"
"Hypnoz gave Sheldon the blood?"
"Right. So Sheldon scuttled back to his lab and created the first of my species. Her name was Alphia, and her name is what served as the basis for our overall species name. There's a bit more to it, but the basics is the Shapeshifters are why we need to go to Kelusia. Their one weakness is the Kelusyte crystal, therefore it's one of our only weaknesses."
"I see," Hunter said, sliding down the trail behind me. "So this crystal. It can be made into bullets? So they'd need slugthrowers to free that planet."
"Or it can also be made into a gas. Not as strong, but enough to be useful."
"You said it was one weakness. What are your species' others?" Tech asked, coming to my side.
"Now why would I tell you how to take me down, nerd?" I asked with a snort.
"It could be useful if the gas does not work on the invaders."
Ha, no need to worry about that. "Oh, it'll work. It literally infects our cells and rips us apart from the inside out. No cure, no way to stop it. Like a cancer."
"Doesn't your species come back after death?" Tech asked. "Reports say that the creatures on the desert planet do so."
"A limited number of times, yeah. But not with Kelusyte. That takes all your lives. One after another. You die, wake up, die, wake up, repeat until you've lost your last life."
Morbid, much?
Wrecker seemed to have the same idea. "You're pretty calm for talkin' about somethin' that deadly!" he laughed.
I ain't even told you about the Tear of Death. But I certainly ain't tellin' you about the collars.
"Yeah well. You know," I shrugged off.
"Are you descended from Alphia, then?" Tech asked as we climbed over and around some granite formations jutting from the ground.
Not unless I'm a Bloodsmoke. "No, Alphia didn't have any natural descendants," I said, peering at the rock before moving on. "Her brother and the other First Born, a dangerous fella named Horet, didn't have any kids either but he kinda... expired when he was in his early thirties."
"I thought your species lived to around six hundred?"
"There may have been a minor war that sprang up when Horet got fed up with being treated as a livin' weapon and resulted in Horet enslaving the humans on Alphiana, after which Alphia had to kill him to free them."
"Livin' weapon?" Crosshair asked softly.
That would be a sore spot for these guys... "Yeah. Sheldon made more, whose names I will absolutely butcher, but there was an Alphian for each of the Elemental clans."
"What are the clans?" Tech asked.
"There's one for each element and each animal type. There's the Agors, with air and raptors. Then the Izierv, with ice and ursines. Hydes with darkness and felines, Jekyls with lightning and snakes, Zyvors with earth and lizards, Xandals with water and sharks, then finally Vulry with fire and canines. Granted the types can be found throughout the clans now, same thing with elements, but that's what they originally were because it was based on environmental factors."
"And the Jekyls are the ones invadin' the planet," Hunter said.
I nodded, once again prodding at some moss. "Yep. The clans still live in their original homeland, and Jekyls are a desert group. Very militaristic, or at least a vast majority. They like invadin' for resources since their territory isn't very resource rich."
"Species in resource poor areas are often more likely to try and expand their territory to better sustain themselves," Tech mused with a nod.
I returned the nod. "But that aside, Sheldon was favorable to Alphia and wanted her as the tactician and therefore encouraged her to be very educated and spoiled her. Horet, on the other hand... treated as a dumb brute and a beast useful only for manual tasks or dirty work. It... didn't sit well with either of the siblin's, but in the end it was Alphia who used a Kelusyte crystal to take Horet down after he'd killed Sheldon and enslaved the humans on Alphiana."
"Your culture shows Horet as the aggressor for freein' himself from that asshole Sheldon, don't they?" Crosshair growled.
My voice lowered. "You know how it goes. Victors write history, then those in power will rewrite it until it fits their narrative. When history is changed, history is lost. This is no exception. Horet is far more a complicated character than people will probably ever give him credit for."
"Character?" Hunter asked.
I fought to keep my fur flat. You're on thin ice. Tread very carefully... "Yeah, I call people characters. You know, like how some people say don't get tangled with people of that character?"
"Right..." Hunter said slowly.
"Shadow, something wrong?" Tech asked. "Your heart rate increased!"
Oh fuck me. "Well, yeah, course it did!" I laughed nervously. "I'm climbin' out of this dip." I kicked a rock down behind me for emphasis as I stood at the top of the small incline.
"Are you sure?"
"Tech, you've been askin' her for blood, it's no wonder her heart rate is abnormal."
I shot Hunter a grateful look. "Sergeant Shaggy's got a point," I said, trotting down the opposite side of the rise. "Needles get my adrenaline goin' and are a sure fire way to give me an anxiety attack."
"I wouldn't hurt you, Shadow. It'd be super quick and painless!" Tech assured me, jogging to my side and placing a hand on my arm. "I promise!"
My tail bushed out. "For the love of... Tech, what in the world are you plannin' to do out here?" I asked, ducking under a branch before vaguely gesturing around. "You ain't got any of your fancy equipment unless you are carryin' a DNA tester in that pack."
"As a matter of fact!" Tech chirped, a grin forming under his helmet. "I happen to have a pocket sized one!"
My ears flattened. "Why do I say things?"
"That can wait," Hunter said, picking up his pace to not get left behind. "Ice, do you know where on your planet to get this crystal that can help us defeat the invaders?"
I slowed my own pace. Truthfully, I knew exactly where to get it. But that was also the problem. If I told them the exact spot, after I was supposedly gone from the planet for years... "I may know a spot or two," I answered cautiously. "Gettin' Kelusyte ain't easy. All mines have been closed down and the entrances blown up. The Council doesn't want anyone getting it. No one knows where the old mines are. There'd really only be three places to find it."
Wrecker spoke up. "Where's that?"
"The three continents not controlled by Alphians. Then again, Humalera is unlikely. The Alphian-Human war centuries ago resulted in a massive invasion that closed or destroyed almost all the mines that could have had Kelusyte. Findin' one there isn't a good bet."
I stopped at a gap in the trees and looked out over the valley again. The sun was definitely lower... maybe the day/night cycle was quicker here.
Ha, this is a filler planet. I don't even know the name. Probably doesn't even have one, lazy ass writer. The facts about the planet probably change day to day. Ain't no use even ponderin' on the way it works. Just take the rules and run with it.
"The others?"
"Itheria," I replied. "That's the Relks homeland. They're not big on combat, except for the pirate bunch."
"Telekinetic pirates?" Crosshair asked, then groaned. "Great..."
"There's one last place," I said, continuing down the trail. If the sun was setting, we needed to get to... Sarah's, was it? We needed to get there before nightfall. Hopefully she wouldn't mind me using her shower...
"Where's that, Squeak?"
I inhaled and let it out slow. "Mysteria. That's our best bet. Kelusyte is found deep. Very deep." I paused, unsure if I should tell them it was very likely getting Kelusyte would involve a risky trip that could land us in the Network.
"What is it?" Tech asked. "Who controls Mysteria?"
"We can take 'em, Squeak!" Wrecker boasted, patting me on the shoulder as he forced Tech out of the way to walk by my side.
I had to laugh. "One or two maybe. Maybe even five. But Rageryans are clan-bound. They never travel alone."
"Rageryans?" Hunter asked. "That's your friend Trevor's species, right?"
"He's an Alph-Rag Halfblood, but yeah."
"If they're like Trevor without the lightnin', we can handle 'em!" Wrecker laughed.
"Uh... Trevor is only half-Rag. Most Rags are a head taller than you, Scruffy," I said, poking Wrecker's chest plate.
"Giants?" Tech asked, squeezing his way between Wrecker and I as Hunter cursed under his breath.
"Basically. The males reach around seven and a half feet, while the females can hit eight feet." Big fellas.
"So the females are the dominant sex for Rageryans?" Tech asked, curious.
"Yep, just like with Alphians," I added.
"We can still handle 'em," Hunter remarked. "We've never failed before."
Sarge, you are not winning against Ace. It would be interesting to see, though.
"Hope you're right, Sarge," I sighed with a shake of my head. "Either way, it'll certainly be an adventure."
Wasn't that the truth.
Yes, Sheldon Steinfrank is a reference to Mary Shelly and Frankenstein. :D
For those who desire more information on clans plus the original members:
post/620193345384415232/alphian-clans
Also don't worry, unlike my usual ominous warnings there's not some catastrophic occurrence between me and Hunter when I bring up the thing. It's just comedic awkwardness.