Planet Logress, Sundown

It'd been three days since we arrived on this planet and the strangest part about it was the fact that I already got used to the cycles here. Edwin mentioned that our race typically doesn't take a lot of time to adjust to the cycles of other planets but I'm sure it was because he didn't live on just one most of his life. If this war would ever stop anytime soon, maybe the Arcadian people could get used to being on one planet after a while. I mainly spent the long days repairing my prosthetic or talking with Haumea. She'd spend most of the time telling me about what she remembered before the War of Sorrows.

Edwin spent most of his time negotiating with the natives as well as getting a read on the land. Even I'd been linked to Ragnarok's onboard systems and could run a scan of the terrain, protocol dictates that we use our equipment sparingly. Unlike the Arcadians who gave out ungodly technology to a bunch of people who either use sticks or bullets to fight, we made sure that out tech was safe. There was one thing or should I say one person who bothered me a little bit during our stay. It wasn't because she was violent or anything. But she kept looking at me like I was the weirdo.

Now I know what you're thinking. "Soran, you are the alien here. Did you really think that she or anyone else of her planet would treat you any differently?" Well, you'd be right if she weren't looking at just me. Haumea and Edwin got the "You're one of our gods, we will bow down" treatment all the time. But me? The only words my Mimmick even said were, "What are you?"

Now Edwin did explain that once a Mimmick obtains a form, they steadily gain the intelligence of the lifeform they have copied. If their intelligence is high enough they could understand everything about the lifeform, right down to their DNA. I guess that's probably why she's just been stuck on completely baffled anytime she's around me. I know Solomon messed with my DNA, and now I knew of my birth mother. But then that left my biological father whoever he was.

Before I got too depressed thinking about my parents both birth and adoption. I decided to put myself to work. The first thing I'd marked on my new agenda was to check my arm for any kinks it needed to be worked out. I wasn't as good as Talia when it came to fixing machines, but I learned enough from her to at least know how to make it work. Yesterday I almost had a terrible mishap involving the plasma caster function. Since I was unable to practice utilizing my flames or Twilight Astrea I spent more time with that. I found as long as I didn't light a flame or use any plasma from beam sabers or my gun I could still use my powers but I could only lower or maintain my body heat and cook things. There wasn't that much wildlife to hunt and any of the rations we could prepare were often poisoned with the planet's atmospheric gases. If we weren't Arcadians I'm sure we would've died long ago. I think the worst I got was the craps.

We'd been given a little hut instead of the jail cell we were thrown it, but the place might as well have been the same save for the bars. Girl-Me and Haumea had gone out to scout the area while Edwin was doing more of his King of the Slime people bit. I'd given Girl-me one of my extra suits so she wouldn't walk around naked. Even though I'd always been curious as to what I'd look like as a girl I preferred not to look at someone who was technically like a sister or daughter. Edwin and I hadn't decided what we would classify her as from now on. We hadn't even come up with a name for the pour thing, not that she didn't mind Girl-me for now. Apparently, her people had a custom about names so it was better to leave it alone for now.

Opening a compartment in my lower prosthetic arm I pulled out Twilight Astrea as a small knife. I got used to changing its forms and found that I didn't have a limit. As long as I spoke the command "Trinity Shift" and just say what I want. Another oddity considering most Astras don't change period. Since I couldn't practice using my weapon because I'd scare the natives nor could I leave the village for the time being, I took to wood carvings, mainly of star ships. They were the closest things I could get to making a model kit and I'd been pretty satisfied with them thus far.

I'd been in the middle of working on a freighter class called a Manta-Lord when Haumea and Girl-Me returned from their scouting trip. "Yo Soran," Haumea announced as she entered the hut, yet she looked a little confused when she saw what I was doing. "What in the world is that?" As she pointed to my Manta-lord.

"What... it's a starship," I said, holding it up for the two of them to see. "I may have not faithfully recreated it but it's still recognizable." Haumea clamped her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh. "This is supposed to be a starship?" Girl-Me asked as she held the little wooden figure in her hand. "It looks like a child's block."

"Cut me some slack I've just started," I whined taking the figure back. Sure it looked like just a block that was slightly carved in but I was gonna carve a masterpiece in no time. "Anyways what'd you find?" Haumea held her hand out and a holographic map was generated between us revealing certain locations that included my crash site. "There is another Mimick village a few clicks north of this village. Your mimic suggested we don't wander anywhere close to there. The tribe that inhabits that village is dangerous." Great another thing to worry about on this poisonous rock. "We have seen movement from that village as well," Haumea continued. "Edwin should be here to discuss our next move."

Even though I was the commander here, I knew nothing about this planet. There was the fact that I was effectively a walking bomb as well which really put a damper on our combat prowess. To be honest it felt really crappy to realize that. "Oh no can't have you getting down in the dumps my boy," I could hear behind me. I threw myself back and almost swung twilight at whoever was behind me until I realized it was Edwin. "Could you [Expletive Redacted] not?"

"Sorry, I cannot resist the temptation of scaring you any chance I get. Besides we can't have you getting too rusty." That was a very nice bow to wrap on that lame excuse but I won't waste my time arguing. He turned to the girls and asked. "What's the situation look like outside the village." Haumea recanted the information which made Edwin go silent for a moment. By this point, I learned that any worry Edwin has was probably bigger than I could think of.

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"As I have spent time with the Mimicks I learned they have evolved into a tribalistic society," Edwin explained. "As an amorphous species, it took quite a long time for them to develop a way of communication. Once that happened it wasn't long until their intelligence shined and they began to engage in rhetoric and use reason. But with that came differences in opinion. Which means we have tribes who are peaceful unless provoked and the opposite."

So it was likely this other tribe saw us crash down and decided to investigate themselves. Considering that they are definitely moving toward our location, they likely know we're already here. I'd rather not get into a fight with a bunch of slimes that can turn into potentially dangerous creatures. "Then we should probably leave as soon as possible," I said.

"While that is obvious, this other tribe was coming here regardless," Edwin pointed out. "Our coming here only sped up the process. The Domri tribe, the one that has given us asylum here is subservient to the Dokari tribe. The reason you two were captured was that you were meant to become offerings to the Dokari. Their chief decides if you were to be worthy offerings and one of two things would happen."

"Let me guess," Haumea scoffed. "We'd either be copied or disposed of? Regardless of if we even survived the toxins." Edwin nodded and even flashed a proud smile. "So, in short, I've decided it's best if we removed the village's current problem using whatever method necessary."

"Woah woah," I interrupted, even throwing my hands up for good measure. "It's against the First Contact protocol to commence with any hostilities unless harmed."

"Look at you being a stickler for the rules for a change," Edwin joked, "But that's not a bad thing. It just means you're finally becoming a little more level-headed." Edwin made his way to the hut's entrance and opened the curtain. "We won't be using violence unless we're left with no choice. We'll be bait."

"Why would we be bait?" Haumea asked. "They don't even know what we are." Edwin cracked another smile while he waved to someone outside. "That's the trick. They will. Thanks to Soran one of the Domri is now an Arcadian. Considering we're possibly one of the most powerful races to ever exist in the known cosmos, They'll definitely be interested in us." As Edwin finished speaking a small turtle man walked into the door. He looked extremely old, like anything beyond an earth turtle could be. "Greetings otherworlders," he spoke, "I am Elder Kinan of the Domri. In exchange for your held against the Dokari, I will offer everything in my power."

'Elder Kinan, you should not be up," worried Girl-me. "Lord Arcadians, the Elder should not leave his bed, his vitality cannot take it." Looking at the Elder you wouldn't really think that. Sure he was old but he looked like he could get around just fine. "Worry not dear," Edwin said, "I have healed Elder Kinan of his present ailment. I cannot fix his old age but there is nothing wrong with being an Elder."

"It is as Lord Wainwright says child," the Elder said, "Besides, you should not worry about this old man in his twilight years. Instead, you should worry about choosing your name. You've had a form for three aurumn and still, you remain nameless." As the Elder mentioned Girl-me being nameless, she looked at me for a moment. I had no idea about the Mimick's customs and I did grow a little curious. "I have yet to understand my origo. I cannot choose a path name for myself unless I do."

"Listen, kid, don't feel bad, we've been with him longer and we still don't understand him," Haumea said as she threw her arm over my shoulder. "She's right child," Edwin said. "Besides it's probably best that you set yourself on your path now. You will be coming with us." That was certainly a surprise to hear, yet the only ones who weren't shocked were the Elder and Edwin. "I guess this is when you were planning on telling me," I said as I crossed my arms.

"Forgive me Soran," Edwin said, "But I believe it is extremely dangerous to leave this one here when we leave for the stars. Despite her not having a Marker, we do not know the status of your birth parents. Should something happen to one of them or you before we finish seeking out the other Majors, she could inherit one herself." That was a good point. She was an Arcadian now through a strange technicality. Clarke was half Arcadian and his marker still got transferred upon his death. As much as I'd like to not put someone who wasn't initially involved in this in danger, to leave her be would be an even greater danger. "Please understand little one," Elder Kinan said to Girl-me, "If there were any other choice you'd remain here by my side."

"It isn't my wish to put you in any danger Elder," Girl-me said. "It's just... Loha is my home and you are my family." The Elder clicked his jaw twice and his body morphed back into its Mimick form. "Go now little one... choose your name and go on a grand adventure. Return when you have a story to tell this old soul." Girl-me reverted too and the two of them circled each other for a moment. Then the Elder slithered back out of the hut while girl-me changed back into well... the girl version of me.

"Well then... Since I'm no longer formless," Girl-me said as she faced me. "I guess I should choose my path name. Then I shall aid you in helping my family and your mission." she reached out her hand to me which was surprising considering none of us taught her a handshake. As I took her hand I decided it would be better to just take his as a good thing. This was the first time she had acted friendly since we met. "Welcome aboard I guess," I said. "As you probably know, the name's Soran... Soran Xenthos."

"Soran, "Girl-me repeated like the name was a new term she'd just learned. "Then if you're Soran, I guess I'm Sora, right?" I thought that this naming would have a little more of a ritual to it. Since the Mimicks seemed so primitive they could've been like the ancient humans or Prometheans about their sacred rites. Moreover, she chose a name similar to mine. It wasn't completely the same but it made more sense considering she was my twin. "Sure," I said without giving it more than that. "It'll at least be easier to explain to Talia."

"Quite," Edwin agreed, "Now, we should go ahead and plan our exit strategy." Edwin then gave us a walkthrough of what we'd be up against. According to Elder Kinan, the leader of the Dokari, Balloc, has a form as well. You couldn't be a village chief without one. The worst part is that it chose the form of a Bandervarren, a large mammal that has a nasty regeneration ability. It's brain isn't located in its head so even if you cut that off it won't stop. What's more annoying is that it has a vulnerability to fire and extreme heat which would've made this a piece of cake if not for the explosive gas that was literally everywhere. Add that with the Mimick's ability to morph and its immunity to Logress II's toxic environment. "Great... it's like this planet is designed to kill me," I groaned. "Why couldn't land anywhere tropical with killer crabs or a planet with an evil organization called Cracker or something."

"Because, despite your Anima form Soran, this isn't Go-Raiser," Haumea chided. "The cosmos is an unfair beast that seeks to subject us to all sorts of weirdness and entropy." Fair enough, but I'd have still preferred the giant killer crabs. At least I could eat them. "It matters not who our opponent is," Edwin proclaimed, "It only matters that it is interested enough in us to be lured away. Should worst come to worst, we will have to use an unpleasant method in getting rid of him."

Everyone turned to me as Edwin said that, which I didn't understand why."