Garin awoke to the sound of Ella squawking in her sleep, which even by snoring standards did not compare. How she didn’t wake herself up with all that racket puzzled him. Pushing himself up with his tendrils he let himself feel the full stretch of his muscles in every bone. He then realized just how audible he was, as his metal form creaked with increased volume. Yet, despite this, Ella was still sound asleep, and still just as loud. He laughed at the thought and pushed himself into the restroom. It had a mirror, which shocked Garin. He remembered them, but so far he had not come across any, not even in the old facility that held his body in stasis. He could see himself now, and it was nothing short of terrifying.
His body as he looked at himself was covered in metal, not a shred of skin showed anywhere. He did not have a grey color like steel, he was blue almost like cobalt, and all around his body showed lights that moved and flowed with his form. What unsettled him the most however was his face. His eyes were red and black, as though he could not decide which one should be more present. His pupils were pure crimson, as opposed to the blue that he could remember.
His hair was red like a blaze of fire, his finger ended in points, and his face was gaunt as if there were no fullness in his cheeks. His tendril that was stuck out of his back was nothing like his arms, it had no structure that indicated any bones lived inside the fixture. He stifled a scream, it was like he became a monster overnight and he knew not how it happened. Tehran seemed to pick up on his distress and promptly made himself known.
“So you finally get a good look at yourself.”
“What the hell am I?”
“Shandori, not human, but not quite Cheruv, a mixture of two races with two very different species. You’re an amalgamation.
“So I am a freak.
“Yes, we both are, but not of nature. This is Sate’s design, and this was the form chosen for us with our union.”
“Why, why this form?”
“I did not question the Goddess when she did this, I accepted this as I would any gift, as did you though you do not recall. This way, we would both survive.”
“I don’t… I don’t know what to think about this.”
“Then don’t, there is no point in questioning this Garin, this is what we are now. We must find a way to carry on with what we have, because nothing of what we were is left.”
Garin forced himself to look back at the mirror, this time he gave it a glare. He looked menacing, a force to be reckoned with, but he noticed something new. On his head was a green light he did not see before, with a strange rune that was fixed upon it. It glowed and moved much like the lights around his body, but it did not seem to fit with the rest of his form. He thought of Tehran, and the green light responded.
“Found me.”
“So every time we talk, you show up like this?”
“It is how my kind used to converse, we used symbols on our faces, and bodies. There were not many secrets between my kinds. Anyone could glean information just by knowing where to look on their bodies, which made it very difficult to be private.”
“Did you ever manage it?”
“Of course, I just knew where to hide them.”
“Do I even want to know where?”
“I think you already know that answer.”
Garin strangely felt relaxed, and the shock of his new form dissipated as Tehran talked about his past. He smiled, taking in some water and wiping his face and body down. Drying himself and stretching some more, he pushed out of the restroom only to see Ella was awake and spying on him. She was trying to be inconspicuous but he realized he never actually closed the door when he was inside. A wave of embarrassment swarmed over him.
“Ella what are you doing!?”
Ella squawked audibly, “I was… and you… rrrrRAWK... You were talking and I overheard, and then you started…” She got beat red as she looked away. “Ella sorry, did not mean to, I just was curious and… well.” She smiled halfheartedly as she tried to make herself smaller.
Garin did not know whether to be embarrassed or confused, because seeing Ella’s reaction made him realize that their truly was nothing to be embarrassed about. So after a while he calmed her down and let her know he wasn’t upset. Still he could not help but feel exposed, but with his new form he did not need clothing. The feeling of nakedness however would not subside and after a while he simply felt a need to put something on. He found a robe inside one of the closets and wrapped himself in it. Satisfied with the result, he walked towards the door, only to find Ella blocking it.
“Ella need help.”
Confused, Garin looked at her sideways, “With what?”
She smiled awkwardly, “Ella need help cleaning, sister usually helps but… well.”
“I’m not cleaning you, forget it.”
What came next surprised Garin, Ella tackled him to the ground, and her face was full of rage mixed with embarrassment. “Ella will not go out smelling like ten week old Loka. You will help metal man, or else.” Her eyes seemed to be trying to bore into his skull. Tehran felt the need to interject.
“DO WHAT SHE SAYS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!”
Defeated, Garin proceeded to help his roommate with her cleaning, which consisted of an hour’s work of water rinsing, feather pulling and plumage shuffling. She had such a tiny frame to her, it was hard for Garin to understand how she could take so long with preparing herself. Satisfied, she came out, and Garin could not help but notice she did actually look much better. Her colors radiated now, and her plumage on her head swayed with her movements, making her seem like she was flying on the ground.
“Thank you Garin, I feel a lot better now.” She smiled and proceeded to the door, pulling Garin with her as she made their way outside into the hall. As he dragged it, it came to Garin’s mind just how heavy he might be, especially considering that Ella was pulling him with relative ease. Her tiny form it would seem hid very great strength, which Garin decided to log into his mind in case he did anything she would get upset over. “Just remember she can move you like a handbag.”
“Good thinking.” Tehran added as they made their way to Priscilla’s room. Ella did not even bother to knock as she pushed the door open. Priscilla laid in her bed curled up into a ball, the comforter wrapped around her in a cocoon. Ella let go of him, only to jump on Priscilla’s bed in a flop. This woke up Priscilla, but not in the way Garin expected. She took hold of her comforter and proceeded to wrap Ella in it. Ella squawked in disapproval, but Priscilla seemed to be enjoying herself.
“Ella, you should know never to try to wake a warrior.” Priscilla smiled as Garin translated it to Ella.
“But Ella just wanted to hug Priscilla… oh all my feathers are ruffled!” She squirmed, her face clearly in distress as she moved back in forth which seemed to only be trapping her further. Priscilla laughed moving to help her out of the trap she made. Ella tried her best to de-fluff herself, but the static from the comforter simply prevented that action. In protest, she poked Priscilla, which discharged the electricity rather effectively, making both of them jump in unison. Both of them looked at each other, and Garin thought he caught a smile between them both before they proceeded to start fighting each other right there in the bedroom.
The struggle was something to behold, as each was showing the other how much of a capable fighter the other could be. Priscilla would arch back striking with her legs while Ella was using her jagged beak and trying to peck at her head. Priscilla followed up with a roundhouse kick which Ella promptly dodged, following up with a flap of her power wings to unbalance Priscilla. The racket was so loud from the fight that it awoke Melchior from the other room, who stood there just as dumbfounded as Garin was.
“What in the seven Hells…?”
“Don’t look at me Melchior, I have no idea.”
“Perhaps I have an idea then, women no matter where they come from, are certifiably insane”
“I won’t comment.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because they heard you Mel.” Garin stepped out of the way just as both of the girls lunged at him. He struggled, in vain, as they unleashed blows on his arms and head. After the bout it looked as though Melchior had been hit by a train right into a raging bull. Both satisfied, Priscilla and Ella went into the bathroom claiming they needed to “freshen up” after the fight. Melchior was clearly unconscious so Garin took it upon himself to try to wake the poor owl up. He slowly awoke from his turmoil, holding his head in pain.
“Next time I’ll be sure to put you in front of me for protection…”
“And I’ll be sure to use my arms to correct that and place you back in the front. I thought you were supposed to be smart when it came to women.”
“I stand by what I said, they only cemented my claim at their sanity. Besides it was worth it to stop their fighting. If you ever want to stop people from fighting each other, give them something to fight.”
Garin thought about that as they waited for the women to get out of the bathroom. After about another hour, they both emerged, looking as though the fight had never took place. They were even chatting with each other which Garin thought to be strange until he realized that Ella was wearing a translation necklace, the same one that Priscilla gave him when he first emerged from the cryo-pod. It was good that he didn’t have to translate anymore, though a small part of him would miss it. They all began to leave when Melchior’s date arrived, the Captain Rosaline, at the entrance to their living quarters.
“So you were able to stand up after.” She looked rather impressed with Melchior looking up and down, “After that many fire waters, I would have been crawling out of bed.”
Melchior simply smiled, “I could drink anyone under the table my dear, and as I recall I did so.”
Rosaline audibly blushed as she seemed to be fixated on her shirt, “Well, I was… assigned to monitor your party as you made it to the Labs today. So if you are ready we can meet with the doctor today.”
Melchior sighed, “I thought I made it clear Rosaline, I wanted to be the one to examine him.”
Rosaline just looked over her shoulder and smiled, “I owed this doctor a favor too Mel, so I’m killing two birds with one pulse laser today. You should be grateful, it’s your old assistant that wants in.”
Melchior became distraught almost instantly, “Damn it not Pepper! Of all the people…” He squawked, something Garin never heard before from Melchior seeing as he made it a motion not to act out. “Rosaline, you can’t let her get near Garin. I specifically have the knowledge to study him and the equipment, she’ll simply be in the way!”
“Nice try Mel, you and I both know she is an expert in archeological studies same as you. You’re gonna have to try better.” She grinned with chagrin as they began to make it outside. Listening to them both reminded Garin of Tehran’s banter and suddenly made him feel better about the whole mess.
“I may not be like them, but at least I have something in common.” Garin sighed.
“Please, they are nothing like me I am at least three times smarter,” Tehran chimed.
Garin ignored him as he continued to listen, “She’ll take credit for this find just as she did with the Umboro discovery that I made! It was supposed to be my day of triumph and instead I was mentioned as one of the co-workers who helped… HELPED! I practically made that excursion, it wasn’t even funded by the Council.” Melchior’s distress just seemed to be building at this point, making Garin wonder just who this Dr. Pepper was. Rosaline just shot him down though, “She’s also my baby sister Mel and one of your brightest students back when you taught Archeology, you said so yourself.”
“I also said she had more ambition then any of the other students I taught as well. Gods she was brilliant.” He was lost in thought for a moment, but then realized he was still upset. “That’s why I can’t have her on this assignment, she’ll use it as another stepping stone for promotion as opposed to what good it can do!”
“Melchior, be serious now, no one and I mean NO ONE cares more about helping this city than you and my sister. You’re just going to have to accept it anyway because she’s already at the Lab with your equipment getting it ready.”
That caught Melchior off guard, “She is? Well she was always punctual. Damn her she is a good scientist. Alright I will gripe no more of her, but mark me Rosaline you’ll be seeing me on this assignment in the end and not her!”
“I’m sure I will Mel, now play nice with her or you’ll be hearing from me and not her, got it?” her tone got dangerous for a moment, and Garin decided it might be best to move from the front to the back of the group. They continued to talk, but Garin was far enough back that the conversation got mixed in with the crowds of people that appeared. They were out in the Citadel transportation district, surrounded by thousands of Touaks and a myriad of other beings that Garin had no names for.
They ranged from Insect-like two legs that sung when they spoke, to creatures that looked to have been spun from grass and leaves and made into humanoids. It was impressive and terrifying all at once, which made Garin move to the middle of the group to keep out of eyesight of the rest. They boarded what appeared to be a monorail and within moments were shooting past the Citadel’s living quarters and into a new block of structures, all of which seemed to radiate with the light of the sun.
“Those are the sun gatherers, they take the energy from the white suns of Sate and collect the excessive amounts in order to power the city. It has also allowed us to create the weapons that are used to fight the Skiritix and their ilk.” Melchior beamed with pride at the structures, “I created the design that is used today for the sun gatherers, and it is a treasure to see them used for such good.”
“Melchior you said to me once that you were part of some Council. Does that mean you are one of the leaders of this city?”
“Not at all Garin, I was simply the chief scientist during that time, which gave me access to certain projects. Politics never suited me and it had always grinded me the wrong way as it were. Too concerned for public opinion rather than bettering the lives of its citizens, Pah, no self-respecting scientist would let that stop them from creating a better world. So I left the office to another and began my works in the fields of archeological studies, specifically those of us that came before my kinds were even breathing.”
“So, the Cheruv?”
“That is what we call them, as that is all we could find from their remains were chunks of their metal forms. Nothing up until that point told us anything about what they called themselves. So it was not until me and my… assistant found out there was a cipher left by another race of creatures that had existed during that same time. We have no name for them, but from what we could gather they were at war with the Cheruv during the time of their decline. We were also able to piece together that they were not originally from Sate, that they in fact were aliens that had come looking for the strange rocks that you see scattered around the planet. They, I believe, are our Gods.”
Now Garin was even more confused, “Gods?”
Melchior gave him a sly look, “Creators then? I know that they are our progenitors and through them, this city and its inhabitants were born. Who else but Gods could create life?”
“It’s just so strange Melchior, you’re clearly intelligent but you believe in something like a God? I would almost assume you would try to disprove something like this.”
Melchior laughed at the remark, “Even men of knowledge believe in something Garin, it need not be bound in fact. Besides, my belief does have some factual evidence to support it. These travelers had knowledge of spaceflight, were exceptionally gifted intellectually due to their remaining archives, and if my research is correct created the Touak. It hasn’t been accepted by my fellow scientists simply because I have only the cipher to prove my case.”
Garin felt he understood the skeptics regarding Melchior’s case, but he didn’t press the issue further as it was obvious Melchior believed in this strongly. Sated, Melchior turned to the window.
“We’ll be arriving at the mess hall first, as I feel famished after yesterday’s excursions. However, I also need to get the passes for both you and Ella to gain access to the Labs, so I will not be joining you for food.”
“Don’t we already have passes?”
“For the living quarters yes, for the Labs no.”
“Is there a pass for the bathrooms too?”
“No need, they have security cameras.”
…
Garin stared into the cup of red water, noticing the shifting colors that pigmented the glass. It looked like watered down blood, but he drank it anyway. He already knew the water was safe to drink, but the strange liquid still came down a little rough, as if he thought it were blood. Priscilla noticed his reaction and laughed to herself as two Touak came over to sit by them. Garin stared at the female, well defined just like the others of her kind. The other was not a traditional Touak, but some variation of a different species. It was something that Garin had not encountered yet as Garin assumed all the Touak were owl-like.
This creature was a particular mix of rabbit and from what Garin could surmise, deer. Priscilla finished her salad, and greeted the Owl-like Touak. “Hello Margaret, it is well to see you still alive after our last encounter.” The one name Margaret laughed slightly when she spoke, “Well you and Philip were always there for me during recon, and I have gotten better since last time we met. Isn’t that right Phil?” She nudged Phil, the brown-grey furred rabbit with a sharp brow and brown eyes, blushed bright red for a moment after saying she was getting better. He looked over at Garin, and staring at his eyes he spoke, “So this is the Alien everyone’s been talking about. Doesn’t look like much does he?” Garin smiled at the rabbit, showing teeth.
“Should I hurt him?” Tehran grinned evilly inside Garin’s head.
“He’s ignorant, don’t.”
The Rabbit continued, “You’re supposed to be some kind of fossil right? I heard you got some extra arms or something too. Care to show us mister fossil?”
Garin’s calm waned a little, ignoring his question and focusing back on his red water. Phil turned to Priscilla, “Is he brain damaged? Or does he just not talk?”
“I just don’t answer stupid questions from stupid people, tends to hurt me physically.”
The rabbit’s smile disappeared instantly, replaced with a malicious frown. Marge and Priscilla looked at the two, Marge clearly worried, but Priscilla smiling like she knew what would come next.
“I’ll teach you something about stupid questions, freak.” Phil reached out to grab Garin, as Garin’s tendril sprouted from his back, latching onto the rabbit’s fist. Snapping shut, the anger in Phil’s face replaced with pure horror in seconds.
“Let go of me freak! Let go!” Garin held on tight, applying a little pressure to his hand every time he said let go. “Garin, let him go.”
Priscilla held a firm look on him as Marge tried to pry the hand loose. Garin sighed, releasing the slightly bruised hand.
“Garin was that completely necessary?”
“You saw him, he attacked me. I can’t help a reflex for someone attacking me.”
Marge sniffed at Garin, “You should be in a lab somewhere, what you are is unnatural.” Garin stuck his tongue out at her as she carried Phil away. Priscilla laughed to herself, “Garin, I’ve wanted to do that to Phil the moment he walked in. It doesn’t however make it the right thing to do. In that battle he would have won, is that what you would have wanted, to lose to him?”
Garrin mentally kicked himself for letting the rabbit get to him. “No.”
“Just keep that head of yours on straight.” Priscilla’s cheer was replaced with a smooth frown afterwards, and Garin decided then it was time to stop talking.
…
Garin flexed himself, stretching out his limbs and sides to stop the burning pain he felt after he had eaten. They abated shortly, but returned minutes after. “Tehran, you feel that too don’t you?”
“Of course, but that is normal. You would say… growing pains.”
“Great.”
“It is not so bad; it is just the will of Sate calling to you. Once it has reached you with its voice, the pain will fade.” That raised even more questions, but Garin wasn’t sure he wanted the answers. So with a huff, he trudged from the cafeteria on his way to the lab. The Citadel Labs were a facility underneath the city in the Research and Development section of the Citadel. It was the last R&D department, according to Melchior, because of the attacks the Skiritix had made against the Touak forces. “Hundreds of facilities worldwide and the bastards destroyed the majority in less than twenty years. It was how we found out about their… hive networks.
Breeding grounds for their horde, they take the corpses of the dead to them, and they come out as converts. From what we gathered, the converts retain their memories of the past, and the hive shares that with the other converts. It’s like a giant parasite, feeding off the minds of the fallen it uses to make corpses.”
Melchior told him as they both made their way deeper into the labs. Garin noticed his face grow rigid at the mention of the converts, he remembered the mangled monstrosity that attacked him when he woke up on this strange planet. The screaming face was what still poked its way in his mind, but knowing that face once belonged to someone like Priscilla or Melchior, or even Ella shook something in Garin. Garin held the image, showing Tehran his thought.
“Definite parasitic organism, much of the host creature seems rapidly deteriorating as well as some signs of metamorphic evolution. These creatures aren’t just food; they are sacks to host the parasite’s conscience as well. This displays a hive mind, a creature from which all of these drones must answer to. I can see their reasons to fear such a force.”
“Why do you say that?”
“This is a force of one mind, there is no room for dissention and no freedom of self, and these creatures strive to serve the one Mind and nothing else. They are pawns of a greater whole. I would find it difficult to fight this even if the force was smaller.” The conversation ended as Melchior opened a room, revealing a giant table with a pulsating blue light in the center piece. A humanoid stood near the table with a clipboard in hand, clearly avian. She was blue with black eyes and a long white coat that hung down her small lithe form. Garin assumed that this must be the Dr. Pepper that Melchior spoke about. She turned to face Melchior, and instead switched to Garin. “My Gods… Mel, he’s amazing!”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Pepper try not to get too excited, this is just a check-up.”
“Check-up? He’s an alien organism from centuries in the past, there’s not one like him and hasn’t been one in centuries! All I have to work with is remains, and that’s nothing compared to a living breathing specimen.”
Melchior sighed as Dr. Pepper chirped her head off about the complications, the extraction of DNA, the need to figure out his vital systems. Garin observed the doctor, noticing her reactions with a clarity he hadn’t before. “Tehran, what exactly am I seeing here?”
Tehran hummed within his mind as he spoke, “She’s speaking in rhythmic tones common to one under stress, the way her body is moving consists with one who desires to get what she wants and is willing to do what is necessary to achieve that goal, very driven, but easily disturbed.”
“Yeah I get that, but how am I receiving this information, I’m not even doing anything.”
Tehran laughed, “I am scanning her Garin as I did with the Tunneler. So next time you start to see this, you will know.” Garin shook his head slightly, enough for Pepper to catch the movement. “Who are you shaking your head at?”
“Nothing, just something I remembered from my past. So when can we start with this, what did you call it Melchior?”
“It is a check-up, we are going to be performing some rudimentary tests and analysis to determine just what you are capable of. Do not be alarmed as this entire lab is sealed and able to withstand any force, so nothing should go wrong, well in theory.”
Pepper beamed at him, “It is so much more than just a check-up, and I can’t wait to try out the serums! Oh, just thinking about it is getting me all a flutter! Alright onto the table Alien.”
“It’s Garin, my name is Garin.”
“Sure, sure whatever, just get on the damn table so we can begin, please.”
With a shrug, Garin descended upon the shining table, his arms to his sides as Priscilla stood over him in a windowed room next to Ella, who seemed to be perturbed for some reason.
“Garin, you may feel something unpleasant, but I want you to trust me when I say you are going to be fine.”
Garin thought about saying something smart, but instead just nodded as she strapped himself to the table in restraints. Using the scan function Tehran did earlier, he concluded the harnesses were made of very dense material, but should he want to he could rip free of them.
Melchior smiled slightly, “Trust me Garin, I would not allow her to kill you, your too damn important to die.”
So Garin lay back as the lights in the room whirred around, lines making their ways across his body, clearly lasers from how they glowed. A glass tube started making its way over him, sealing the end of the table off. As the pressure sealed inside of the machine, Garin noticed tiny instruments make their way on the inside of the tube, held on only by small bars. Two small needles sprung loose, zooming in towards him. As they made their ways into Garin’s skin, Pepper’s voice carried inside of the tub through a miniature speaker to the side.
“Now this is a serum that we had extracted from remains from one of various sites that held Cheruv settlements. We concluded based off of this that they were meant to be regulators, helping the Cheruv supply its own energy source. The test is to see if this would work for you, and if it does than we will know where your origin lies.”
Garin felt a coolness go throughout his body as the needles pierced his skin, which amazed him as so far nothing that he faced was capable of being able to get through his tough metal skin. The coolness began to grow and soon Garin noticed the iridescent lights on his body began to shift. Their normal blue sheen began to turn black as coal, and the fluid in the needles began to react violently as it spread. Garin was beginning to get worried, though no feeling but the spreading cold seemed to be happening. It wasn’t until the liquid reached his tendrils that he felt the change. His arms grew weak to the point he could not move them, and his tendrils took a life of their own. The black liquid coursed through them and the claws pointed at him as if they were staring at him.
“Garin, it would seem that the tendrils have become under my control. Restrictively it would also seem that something is coursing through the power relays that normally charge them. I’m scanning the substance.”
“I can’t move.”
Pepper spoke over the intercom, “That… should not be.”
“I’m going to pretend that I didn’t hear that and assume that you are going to fix this before I get angry.”
Pepper and Melchior began to move around frantically as Tehran finished the scan.
“The serum has empowered the relays beyond safe use. The tendrils are containing the serum until we can safely disperse the energy. It will have to be soon Garin or I feel this lab is going to be tested at just how much of an explosion it can take.”
“So we need to release it then?”
“And soon.”
The tendrils began to move on their own once more, only this time they motioned to the floor. In one push they raised the table and Garin up with him facing downward. The tendrils started to glow white, pulsing with increased speed.
Pepper spoke up, “Well the good news is that this is the sign showing the heritage that we know of. The bad… well it is an accelerant so… we need to seal you in there until the energy is gone. No worries!”
“What?!”
The whole lab closed at once and the room got dark. Garin could make out blast doors and fixtures as the power in his arm began to flow outward beyond his tendrils. He roared as the cool liquid turned into fire, and the tendrils acted like hoses for the vibrant blue flames to spill outward. With effort, he willed his tendrils to obey him, focusing the flames in a corner of the lab so the fire would not spread. He kept them locked in place until the last of the serum seeped out and dispensed itself. Garin proceeded to rip off the table that was still connected to his back, and using his tendrils reach, knocked onto the blast doors three times.
As if on command, the entire lab unsealed itself and the two scientists came back inside with suits that looked to be suited for fires. Each contained an orange hue with a canister on their backs which were also covered. They quickly dispersed of the remaining flames with extinguishers before approaching Garin.
“Well, I can say with certainty that you are Shandori,” Pepper exclaimed, “So we need not do the other two tests. However, there is one more thing that I feel we should look into.”
Melchior was the one to answer, “What did you have in mind Erica?”
Dr. Pepper took out another serum which had a rather familiar blue hue to it, much like the glow that Garin would see on his body.
“These are nanites, and a particularly interesting batch I may add. These little buggers have been proven to help repair and reenergize molecules that have lain dormant. It was one of the working specimens that we were able to recover from the first civilization that used to call the Citadel home.”
Garin looked at the serum, and at the remaining flames.
“I am going to pass on this one.”
Dr. Pepper had a look that reminded Garin of a person on the verge of screaming their heads off and trying to crack a smile said, “But it’s only one more test, surely you wouldn’t mind if…” Melchior put a hand over her mouth and turned to Garin, “That is fine Garin I can understand that this is a bit much to take in all at once. Would you allow us to try it out tomorrow instead?”
Garin wasn’t about to let himself turn the place into a melted scrap heap, but Tehran was more curious than cautious. He took control of Garin’s voice and agreed to the procedure for tomorrow. Clearly looking distraught Dr. Pepper began arguing with Melchior viscously, but feeling drained Garin did not care to what they were saying and instead motioned to the door to speak to Priscilla and Ella.
Ella was chirping rather sporadically, and a look of terror seemed to encompass not just her face, but her entire body. Her feathers were all on end, as if trying to sense when danger would be coming. Priscilla on the other hand, was looking at Garin as if she didn’t fully understand what she saw.
“Garin, when were you going to tell us that trick you just did?” Priscilla said, her voice low and dangerous.
“I never knew I could do that, it’s like I keep telling you guys I can’t remember anything from my past.”
Ella tried to speak up, but her voice caught, her eyes looking at Garin with fear. That hurt him more than Priscilla’s questions. “What if we were in danger, were you not going to use it simply because you didn’t want to? This is foolish Garin, to keep this from us.”
“I didn’t know!” Garin shouted, which caused Ella to run down the hallway crying. Garin wanted to chase her, but Priscilla stopped him. “Look into yourself Garin, find your answers. You may end up hurting those you care about if you don’t.” She took her paw off of him as she went to comfort Ella. Garin was tired, tired of not knowing and of the unknown in general. Those nanites, no matter what they did, if they gave him more answers than to hell with the consequences! He turned back to Melchior and told him to prepare the serum. Dr. Pepper looked happier for it, but Garin wasn’t even acknowledging her. He wanted to know more than she did.
…
The Nanites are all set to go Garin, how are you feeling down there?” Dr. Pepper was saying over the intercom, which Garin detected a bit of happiness through it.
“Fine, let’s get this started already.”
“Well anyway, after these organisms work I can let you out, and we can begin tests!” Garin laid inside the tube as the small needles retracted, replaced with two swirling orbs. Tehran talked to him as the machines worked, scanning his vitals and, to his discomfort, creating a new organ. “Quite ingenious, the nanites seemed to be directionless at first but after they have reached your tendrils they seemed to be moving with purpose. What were these nanites supposed to accomplish again Pepper?” Melchior marveled as he looked at the machines in their work.
Pepper looked even more amazed, “They technically haven’t been activated yet, I didn’t even process a request for them to undertake. They are moving on their own.”
Garin already felt like he knew the reason but his own curiosity fueled by his need to understand what he had become forced him to ask, “Tehran?”
“Yes?”
“It’s you isn’t it?”
“Well, I can’t take all the credit, after all the good doctor did create them.”
“I’m not sure telling her that is the best idea. You said it yourself, she’s looking for attention.” Garin said, with a smirk which from what he could see from the table had Dr. Pepper in a mess. “I merely stated that she is driven, and that she pushes to get what she desires, attention is what comes with those characteristics.”
Tehran began to create something in Garin’s chest, right atop his skin from what Garin was able to make out while still being tied to the table.
It pulsed in rhythm with his tendril he realized, and even the tendrils seemed to be helping construct whatever it was on Garin’s chest. Tehran’s work was nearing his completion from what Garin could see, as he finally explained what he had been building with the nanites.
“When the doctor had created that regulator for the power relays, she had neglected to provide a way to understand how much was currently being stored. I surmised that this gemstone should help you understand just how much we have. The brighter the stone is, the more we have stored.”
Satisfied with himself, Tehran retreated back into Garin’s mind just as he felt the last of the nanites finish their work. It was truly something to behold, rather large in fact. The stone was a deep shade of purple, with glowing red and blue fixtures on the outlying panel that held it to Garin’s body.
“Well, it would seem the nanites are finished so… well we can begin with the last of the tests. I don’t’ suppose you know what caused that do you, Garin?”
Garin stayed silent, for he wasn’t too comfortable with the thought of telling them about Tehran just yet.
So Garin sighed as the machines did their work, and after three hours of sitting inside the tube, he was ready to kick the glass jar open. “Just a few more tests Garin and you’ll be good to go, just hold tight.” Pepper was enjoying herself through the various cocktails she had given him, each having its own strange affect. One gave Garin horrible pain, another a homicidal rage that took all his control not to burst out of the tube. He drank an elixir that made Tehran start making sense, which scared him more than the rage potion. More recently, he had a tonic that gave him a huge burst of energy changing his lights from his outer armor and his crystal from purple to orange.
“Alright here we go, this is the last.” She lowered a black drink from the tubes inner machinations. Taking the vial, Garin drank it down gulping the remaining content. Garin felt a tingle in his back, followed by a slow moving force creeping up from his spine.
“Oh dear,” was all Pepper said before the speaker stopped working. Tehran grew restless as the creeping feeling made it way up his spine, filling each muscle in Garin’s body with sickly power.
“Garin, this elixir is interfering with my scans, the levels of your bodily matrices are beginning to spike. At this rate your blood will be electro-charged by the time it reaches your neck.”
Garin began to feel panic as the tingle made its way. He heard Priscilla argue with Pepper over the intercom, something in regards to spiking the cocktail. All Garin could here now was the beat of his heart, drowned out by the hums of Tehran’s voice spiking with the tingle. Finally, as it reached his neck, Garin felt the tendrils burst outward, shattering the tube incasing himself once more. He jumped up, and the tendrils gave way to the energy. He screamed as jets of black lightning started engulfing parts of the lab. Garin felt the energy reach a peak in his blood, and after a few more seconds the storm released, shutting off the tendrils. Priscilla ran down towards him, her lithe form almost tripping from the small stairs of the lab. Pepper stood at the overhang, mumbling to herself. “Garin, what in the seven hells was that?” Melchior said, his voice carrying worry.
“I don’t know, after that black tonic I felt it moving up my spine, and it came out like that. Did the nanites do that?”
Priscilla scowled, and turned to Pepper, still overhanging. “Pepper, what the seven hells did you give him?”
“It was another accelerant, I never got to test it on anyone… it was deemed unfit for testing, I thought… I didn’t think it would,” she stopped, her face freezing into place. Garin lost it, “You fed me a tonic you didn’t even know what it would do? What the hell do you think I am?”
“Couldn’t agree more Garin, Pepper you’re suspended until I can convene with the Council, you so much as conduct a side-ways glance and I’ll have your license stripped, do I make myself completely clear?” Melchior was furious, his eyes narrowed dangerously at Pepper. Pepper grew angry for a second, and with tears in her eyes, “He’s an Artifact, I don’t have to follow protocols or any stupid rules, I did nothing wrong!” She fluttered away, her chirps picking up in pace. “You said she was safe Melchior that she wasn’t going to kill me!”
“I know I did Garin, I wasn’t lying. She didn’t kill you. I apologize for her, but I did not lie.”
“You heard her, she didn’t care if I was dead so long as that test went through, she just wants what she wants and nothing you do or say will change that.”
Melchior grew angry, spitting out words in a rush, “She disobeyed me Garin, after the two initial shots she was just supposed to scan your vitals and see if there was something else we needed to give you. She used that to give you supplements that were not meant for use, and I did not catch it until she gave you that last tonic.” Tehran broke into the conversation, “He sounds sincere enough Garin, besides I believe that last tonic may have had some interesting side-effects, I’ll tell you more when I am done scanning.” Garin wondered what they could be, but Priscilla spoke through his thoughts, “Alright, I am done with these tricksters and their farces, Garin we should go now.” Garin thought about leaving with Priscilla, but what would he do if he went through with it, a part of him wanted to make someone suffer for what happened. He sighed, “Melchior, it wasn’t you it was her, I don’t blame you for her judgment, but don’t expect me to do anything like that again, ever.”
Melchior cringed at the remark, “Garin, would you mind one more doctor take a look at you?”
Garin had just about enough of Doctors but Melchior seemed sincere enough to hear him out.
“It is our chief of archeology Doctor Raufer, he has been a study for your kind since I began working in the department. I think it would benefit both of us if we go.” Garin’s thoughts turned evil, and as he prepared his remark, Tehran spoke up in his mind. “That would be beneficial, one who knows what has happened in the past centuries would help me fill in my gaps; we should take this opportunity Garin, to learn.” Garin raged inside his head, “She turned me into a flamethrower, what’s this doctor going to do, make me relive the last century? I’m sorry I don’t want to be a damn cadaver Tehran!”
“Take the advice, revenge is best suited later.” Garin grumbled in his mind, but Tehran was already humming, no doubt he was working out something else in that space of his brain. “Fine, but he so much as points a vial in my direction, I’m taking that vial and chucking it at you the first chance I get.” Melchior smiled, clearly distraught but trying his best not to show the slight terror on her face.
…
Dr. Raufer had been sitting at the edge of the complex, a small room dedicated to the not so much pursued science of archeology. The room was painted in a maroon with a mixture of light blues and yellows, with a picture of the World at the top of the ceiling. Two tables sat at the ends while a chair that laid back rested in the center. In the chair was Raufer, a very pronounced and hawk looking Touak. Garin regarded him through Tehran’s scanning, noticing a stern frame and vey built for a scientist. He sniffed the air as Garin and Priscilla entered the room, and with a screech, he rose up. “Melchior, who’s there? I smell…” he sniffed the air, “Is that him?”
“Yes Doctor, his name is Garin, and he has agreed to your inquiry. I am obligated to tell you that you are not to harm the extraterrestrial in any matter, but you already knew that, right Raufer?”
“These protocols… Yes I am aware.” He picked up his hand and waved it at the screen overhanging the door. It whirred itself to life, dispersing a small orb that floated towards the center of the room. Opening his right eye and staring into the orb, its lights flashed blue, “Access accepted, welcome Dr. Raufer.” The orb floated around the room, red lines shooting out as it scanned the room. “All signs of life are clear, infection levels nonexistent, you may begin doctor.”
“Thank you Councilmen,” Raufer hopped down from his chair, his tail feathers swaying side to side as he walked towards Garin. “So you’re the Alien I’ve been waiting for, you’re a little smaller than I expected. Science tends to make things seem bigger than they truly are. Not to worry though, I’ll keep my questions from being too invasive.” He led Garin to the chair in the center room, Priscilla shadowing Garin. “I’m truly glad that you have decided to meet with me Garin, your kind has been a study of mine since I was a youngling. I wish this session to be as informal as possible in the grounds that I understand how you operate, is that alright?” Garin thought about the fire in the labs, sprouting from his arms. He sighed, “Just don’t give me any drinks; I don’t think I could take it right now.”
“Drinks? Not even water, what a world.” The hawk doctor hopped onto his own swivel chair rotating on the chair for a few moments before the chair stopped itself. “If you wouldn’t mind taking the chair Garin, we can begin. I’m going to ask you some questions in regards to what you remember. Naomi has informed me that you were quite belligerent and lost when she had found you at the ruins, so I would like to start there.” Priscilla took a seat on the table opposite of Garin as he laid himself back on the recliner. “Well, it was like this; I think I was dreaming, a memory from a life I can’t quite place anymore. I thought it was Earth, but now I’m not sure it was.”
“Can you describe the place?”
“It was a house. A big huge place for me and my brothers and sister. There were six of us total, my brothers Adam and Nick, my sister Heather, and my mother and father.”
“Do you remember anything about them? Their faces, expressions?”
“Nothing, not anymore. They were like bodies without faces, but I knew them.”
“What happened to them Garin, can you tell me?”
“I don’t know, the memory is foggy sometimes, but I think,” Garin paused, recalling the feeling of falling onto a bed, “I think something happened to me, something that made me forget the rest.”
“Could be some type of trauma, strange to think it is coming from a Shandori, but even so some things do travel to other planes of knowledge and life. Garin, what do you know about the Cheruv?” Garin thought of Tehran, the creature whirred to life at the inner call of his name.
“What should I tell them?”
Tehran hummed, his voice carrying over, “Tell them about the Cheruv but be cautious.” Tehran floated in his mind still active, but awaiting the response.
“All I know of the Cheruv is what you have told me, they were the first people to live on this planet. They also knew something about the world that made them powerful enough to rule it. Besides that, I don’t know much else.” Raufer sighed at the ceiling. “We know about the Shandori Garin, we know you are connected to the Cheruv somehow, withholding information from us will not benefit anyone.”
“What about not being invasive? I told you I don’t know much about the Cheruv, all I know is from what I hear.”
“Then what do you hear when it comes to Shandori?”
Tehran studied the features on Raufer’s face, “He is looking for our connection and how we were able to combine. It would seem they may attempt to create Shandori. As if this primitive race could try.” Tehran’s insight came through as Garin spoke, “Why does it matter what I know about the Shandori, when I told you all I heard is from what you have given me?”
“It would be necessary seeing as you are one, you know what it feels like and therefore your insight could prove invaluable to our research.”
“Just because I may be one doesn’t mean I know much else, hell I didn’t know what the Cheruv was before you told me, how would I know how to function like one?”
“The armor you wear, is that your own make?”
“No, I didn’t make it.”
“How did you acquire that piece of armor then, Melchior had told me he saw it oozing out of your skin like a liquid, that suggests something doesn’t it?”
When would Melchior have seen this? Garin thought about the tent he and Priscilla woke up in after the Hellcat had landed on him. Three days he was out, Melchior could have been spying on him while he was unconscious.
“It suggests I might be some kind of abomination, not that I am a Cheruv. How would you even know?”
“Cameras boy, I know what an abomination is. It’s called a convert and it wreaks havoc on our kind. You are not a convert, nor are you of the Touak. So tell me truthfully Garin, what are you then?”
“Human, I think.” The stagger in Garin’s voice shown through, and Raufer caught it quick. “You are not human, humanity long since has died Garin during the Hungering War. I’ve studied the past extensively Garin, I know about the human vessels, the horrid truths of the Cheruv and their bloody ways. They created the Shandori to preserve what was left of that power they once had, and they used the last of the humans to do it. What they did involve metal oozing from the skin, forcing the body to react to being molded alive. They changed the DNA fabric of everyone they affected with their so called enlightenment. You are their experiment, or maybe you are something different. I won’t know until you tell me.” Raufer sat back in his chair, his face showing no signs of being distressed. Tehran spoke through his mind, his thoughts clear,
“Tell them of me, we may learn something from this one.” Tehran was scanning the doctor for something while Garin answered.
“There is something you don’t know, I have been hearing voices.” Raufer raised an eyebrow, the motion scrunching up a part of his droopy face. This also piqued Melchior’s interest, who seemed to be leaning against his own chair to listen better. “The Cheruv didn’t experiment on me, but whatever they did… they left something. Ever since I met Priscilla, well Naomi, ever since I woke up I have been hearing a voice in my head. At first, I thought I was losing my mind, it didn’t sound like me at all and it was strange. But after I, well after the metal oozed out, I heard him clearly. I still do.”
“Hear? What are you referring to Garin?”
“He calls himself Tehran, he was what you call a Cheruv. From what he’s told me, this is how the Cheruv chose to help humanity after the war. They made… me, us them, the Shandori. We are their legacy.” Raufer began to drop his jaw; Priscilla raised her eyebrows to the point where Garin wasn’t sure they wouldn’t stay there, and Melchior, well Melchior just smiled. It was strange being able to see Priscilla’s full eyes, but Garin didn’t let it bother him too much. Priscilla began to pace in the room, her arm held tight to herself.
“You’re telling me that the Cheruv turned humans into Shandori, as a means of forgiveness?” Garin nodded when Raufer turned from his desk, “What are the Cheruv?” Raufer was awestruck at this point, and Garin decided to keep going. “Cheruv, well there like computers from what I’ve have witnessed, but it may just be Tehran, he’s kind of a smart ass. Besides that Doc that’s all I know.” Raufer paced alongside the chair, his tail feathers wagging in an excited fashion.
“Cheruv, what a find. It may explain why the Shandori were called the enlightened ones in the old texts I’ve read. All of the histories pointed to some kind of connection to the Cheruv, but I never thought they actually lived inside their minds! Garin you have helped out immensely, this new data is opening up my head to new and fantastic ideas. I must inform my colleagues at once. Melchior Thank you for bringing him today”
Priscilla jumped at the notion, grimacing as invisible as a bright red truck. “Doctor, wait,” Garin got up from the chair, walking to the ecstatic Touak doctor. “What do you mean by that?”
“Boy, your connection to this Cheruv character, it is much the same when it comes to the Cheruv and their AI systems. My research was in development for a way to access those systems, providing a way for us to gain their knowledge and information. The problem was that very old codex only contained the sequences I needed to gain an audience with the AI, not converse with the system. I believe, no I know, that your kind is the key to conversing and convincing the Cheruv AI to allow us access to their information. We would be able to find out how the Cheruv used their power, what we could achieve,” the hawk doctor paused, “We could save ourselves the horrors that the Skiritix invite to our doors. We could fight back with the power of the Progenitors! We could save Sate!”
Garin saw the look in the doctor’s eyes, was that joy, or hunger? He couldn’t tell from the strange face of the Touak. Garin wondered about that power, Tehran described to him as it being the reason his kind no longer existed. Firepower against those monstrosities may save these People.
Tehran spoke into his thoughts, “It is out of our hands what they decide to do; all we can do is choose a way to go.” So Garin watched Melchior and Dr. Raufer dance in the room, smiling like loons as they swirled around.
Garin made his way slowly back to his room, regarding the stares he received from the Touak. Some were smiles, the news they had received in regards to Dr. Raufer’s research put a smile on anyone’s face. Some were malicious, the news of his almost breaking the hand of the Touak Philip also spread quickly. Garin wasn’t too focused on the people of the Citadel at the moment. His mind was preoccupied, the gift he had received, and the people that wanted him to save their lives. Garin was recalling memories of his past most every day, each one revealing a fragment of the small boy who grew up on Sate.
In his childhood he was vicious from what he had seen, almost evil. His mother told his physicians that he had an anger problem, one that stemmed from too many sodas and not enough attention. Garin remembered the fights he had with his family, almost vividly he recalled the names and curses he gave them all. So much anger, but the reasons why escaped him. Tehran spoke to him as he relived the moments of his life.
“Life is not right or wrong, good or evil, life is life, and we decide what to do with it. You were a child, finding yourself is how you are able to know that this person, this child you once were, is not who you are now. It is a part yes, but you decide when that part is necessary.”
Garin knew Tehran was correct, it was strange agreeing with himself, but then again Tehran wasn’t really him so much as a part, just like the memories. So what part was he? Was he the hero that this place needed? Was he just a tool to be used and discarded? He knew no one else, no other Shandori like him. No humanity existed anymore and all that was left were these people, who needed him. The thoughts plagued him as he opened the door to his room, revealing Priscilla and Ella sitting on his bunk. “Hello Garin, good to see you.”
“Priscilla, what are you doing here?”
“Thanking my friend for doing something I would be hard pressed to do myself.” She stood up from the bed, her lithe form flexing. “I fought ever since I was old enough just so I could defend my people from monsters. I can’t expect you to understand that, but even these tricksters, they too are people.” Priscilla moved to put Ella to bed, who Garin realized was asleep this whole time. She was snoozing as she sat up. Priscilla turned to him with a look of pain in her eyes, “Garin may I show you something?” Garin felt the ache of the memories in his head, rustling around inside. Sleep was not going to come easy anyway. “Sure.”
…
Garin gazed at rows of people, hundreds of Touak and other species working at monitors as screens and holographic imagery floated inside. It was the command center, a massive unit of the Touak’s smartest minds working towards saving the rest of the population from the Skiritix horde. It was the strangest amalgamation of humanoid creatures Garin had ever seen. Priscilla stood at the end of the overhang, the bar holding her back from falling into the mass of bodies at the bottom. “They are still fighting, every day. They are trying so hard to just live.” Priscilla looked at Garin, her eyes sad.
“These people try as hard as any of the Sheok, and for so long I thought they were weak.” Garin looked at her, and then back at the people below as they tirelessly worked. Priscilla put a paw on Garin’s shoulder, “I am a pack of one according to my sister, but she told me that I should look out for you and teach you how to be a warrior. Do you know what separates a warrior from a monster Garin?”
Garin shook his head as she continued to answer, “A cause, something to fight for that is bigger than just food or need. We fight for survival Garin, but I now realize that the Touak do not fight for just themselves, they fight to save us all from the Skiritix. I have mocked them before, but after this,” she motioned to the crowd of people below her, “I will fight for them and you. That’s why I will do this, why I have been fighting this fight for the last decade. We’re trying to survive Garin, but even these people can’t fight the Horde every day. We need the Cheruv to win this war. We need you.”
Garin looked over at the creature who brought him out alive, and saw the woman willing to sacrifice her life for the people she loved. Could he do anything less? There was one problem with it though, he owed nothing to the people down there, but he did owe Priscilla. Isn’t that the same thing? He respected Priscilla, but love? He never knew what it felt like to love people; he never felt it at home. On the other hand, the look she gave him as he stood there, it screamed of something more.
“I’ll help Priscilla, that’s all I can promise. I’ll do what I can.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back. “Friends then,” he nodded. “Alright then, let’s head off to bed then Garin, training in the morning.” Garin shook his head as he followed her down the hall, noticing her long tail switch back and forth.