Deep in space, on the edge of the Isian system and Helix Empire space, drifted a light cargo hauler retrofitted as a striker ship. It wouldn’t win any beauty contests, but the space was necessary, as were the weapons. This wasn’t a small extraction mission, and could easily be the most pivotal event of the war, if the Kaecian Alliance team was successful. The reports alone were almost unbelievable, and the team had no intention of failure.
It had taken weeks to get here from Alliance space. A roundabout journey to avoid notice and prepare phase two. Now, they awaited confirmation from Team B and notice of phase one being launched. Worst case scenario, either team should be equipped well enough to finish the mission solo, and if phase one failed, it would only make phase three a little trickier.
A small chime caught the attention of the on duty officer on the bridge. A glance and tap brought up the encrypted message. Team B was in position and querying status. The pilot fired off a quick reply then called down to the crew deck commons, to let them know. Otherwise, the human male lounged unprofessionally in his seat as he maintained his watch.
In the commons, a couple more humans shuffled through reports once more. With them was one of the actual kaecians, a kaeret male with short fur the color of toast broken up with large green rosettes similar to a clouded leopard. His long, thin, triangular ears remained laid back as he studied reports on the surviving experiments they were to extract. He muttered to himself often about potential reactions and ways to handle them, with the humans offering input where they could.
They all paused at the pilot gave them an update. All things were proceeding on schedule, and the humans began straightening up the files.
The kaeret nodded and made for the cargo bay. Each team had two kaecian members to handle the experiments. A kaeret and a kaexyr. Both sapient natives of the planet Kaesept, the heart of the Kaecian Alliance. The two species were nearly identical, save where the kaeret was brown, the kaexyr was charcoal, and where one was green, the other had red point coloration. Both had long, sinuous bodies about half again as long as the average human is tall with a prehensile tail the same length. They had four other limbs, much like humans, but each ended in ‘hands’ in five short digits with semi-retractable claws.
Originally confused for one species — they do share a recent common ancestor — the two are distinctly different and cannot crossbreed. They share a similar struggle with cybernetic technology also. Their bodies do not take the integration well, despite their desire for it.
The experiments to be extracted could spell a solution, or at least the beginning of one, for both issues.
In the cargo bay, the kaexyr was shuffling through a crate with cushions and blankets. Though he paused as the kaeret approached, “Everything alright, Ozekkis?”
Ozekkis nodded, but didn’t say anymore until he was next to the crate. “Team B just just reported in. The others are straightening up, phase one hasn’t been reported yet so their not gearing up quite yet.”
The kaexyr nodded and shook himself, “I want to be excited about this, but I’m just more worried about how they’ll be. I can’t stand the idea of having to hurt them more just to get them safe and take care of them.”
“But we might have to, Dar,” Ozekkis rested his hand on his friend’s shoulder. The idea felt counter-intuitive to him as well, but it was the last resort. Given their abuse, the experimental hybrids could be feral, or even insane. Some reports indicated it had happened, but all of those ended in overly graphic autopsies.
There was one report that had caught his interest. An odd little female with two tails and a blended pattern of points and rosettes. She was both more docile and more aggressive. She rarely lashed out, but when she did, guards were usually off duty for a few days or more. Test results involving her were also oddly mixed, too. As though she had already figured out the value of results and how to effect them.
A huff from Dar pulled him out of his thoughts. “Sorry, I just want to get this over with as much as you.”
That got him a laugh, “Are you kidding me? I’m just hoping to repay a few of them for what they’ve done before we dust the moon.”
“Phase one is a go. Tracking shows local patrols heading out in response. Time to make final approach.” The intercom crackled faintly as it turned off.
“That was fast. We better get ready.” Ozekkis helped Dar secure the crate lid before both made for their quarters to prepare.
As they made their approach, phase two went off, destroying a number of nearby spacial data relays — the Empire’s interplanetary communication system — effectively cutting off communications. By the time they were in site of the moon, hey found Team B already engaging the onsite defenses. It was a small matter to clear the space and land.
Inside the facility, was quiet chaos. Many scientist fled as soon as they could. Specialized escape pods to launch back to Bastet, where the Helix Empire was founded. These pods were ignored; not worth the effort or risk. Besides, it was that much less resistance to deal with on site. As the teams steadily cleared they way to the cells, more and more fled.
Some scientists, however, took up arms in a final stand with last guards. It fell under an onslaught of wrath and determination. All but two of the humans scattered with drones to stay out of the way and ensure no surprises awaited their retreat. Pilots kept steady reports of the local space. Seems the pods had been upgraded with additional beacons.
The captain of Team A, a burly man six feet tall, with both legs and one hand being mechanical, stayed back with one of the other team whom was similarly modified. However, the younger woman had mechanical wolf ears, and one glowing cybernetic eye with a surprising amount of senors. The tip of each finger had been replaced with clawed digits that had sacs with various chemicals that could be injected by needles in said claws.
It was hoped that the obvious cybernetics would at least confuse the experiments enough to not attack outright, though they were staying out of the room until told otherwise just to be safe.
Inside was a hallway of cages set into the wall. The fronts were just bars, barely far enough apart to get a hand through. Small bodies in every color of the rainbow, though it was hard to tell under the dirt and grime on some, filled less than half of them. Some didn’t even react to the door opening.
In a nearer cage, a little body push against the back wall, growling and lashing out, even though it couldn’t reach near bars from where it was. It’s chest rose and fell with rapids pants.
Ozekkis entered the room first. He whined softly at aggressive one, but it snarled back, pupils dilating sharply. The kaeret reared back at it finally charged the bars. The kaexyr from the other team quickly came up, nudging Ozekkis further in while giving the hybrid a low and slow growl. The little thing darted back again, but was less aggressive, now.
Ozekkis left the other to it and looked to see the rest approaching cages with occupants that looked to have been through experiments recently. Lying umotionless and injured, they needed seeing to. He searched for any others that seemed to need the immediate attention, but his eyes found her first.
The odd little female. Though she was from among the oldest group, she looked much younger. Her vibrant mismatched eyes, one blue and one green, very intently watched everything going on. From the injured hybrids being pulled out of the cages, to the humans just barely visible beyond the doorway. Her two tails trailed through the bars on either side of the cage and to the occupants next to her.
One looked to be sleeping deeply, but otherwise unharmed. The other was not so lucky. He grimaced at the dried blood coating the fur. He headed towards those cages, hoping maybe the little female would be able and willing to help.
Her eyes snapped to him as he got close, her ears erect and just as trained on his every move. He didn’t stop, but kept his posture nonthreatening. Something almost like excitement started to filter into her gaze, and she even began to fidget slightly, tails tugging slightly on her neighbors. When he stopped in front of her, she practically bubbled trying to sit up straighter. Until her head smacked against the solid top of her cage.
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Ozekkis couldn’t quite hold back his grin as he spoke, “Hello there.”
Now squinting and furiously rubbing the top of her head, she still kept and eyes and ear on him. His voice made her pause, the almost comically large ears twitching as she softly gave back a little, “Hey.” The word was barely out before she was covering her mouth as though surprised or afraid of her own actions. She even shrank back a bit.
Next to her, a form not much smaller than her began to stir and rouse slowly. Trying to brush of her incessant, thought weak, tugging on his arm. The other remained motionless save for breathing, but her tail only barely twitched and flopped with her efforts. Mostly the tip kept curling and uncurling around the other’s ankle and leg.
“It’s okay,” Ozekkis tried to reassure her, patting the air with one hand as he held up the controller to open the cages in the other. “We’re here to get you out and take you some place safe. Someplace to get better and be safe.”
He couldn’t be sure if she even heard him, let alone understood, because reacted instantly at the sight of the controller. Flying at the bars, her arm was through them and knocking it out of his grip in an attempt to grab it herself.
He jerked back automatically, eyes wide at her flip to feral beast. She was even growling! Though, the occasional squeak she let out with it made far less threatening. He picked the device back up, but kept it out of reach as he made to get her attention once more.
Only she was sitting there almost docile, again. If her eyes didn’t keep darting to the controller, he’d almost think he imagined her attack. Her neighbor was awake now, only the little male was more inclined to huddle in the back corner closest to her and warily watch what was going on.
“It’s okay,” he tried again, slowly. Waiting to make sure she was listening, only she just whined and looked to her unconscious neighbor. “I know, we’re going to help,” he insisted softly, though she didn’t look entirely convinced. “We will take you some place safe and heal you.”
It was the word heal that got her attention, though. She grabbed the bars, pressing her face against them and asked tentatively, “Help?”
Her eyes darted to his side, going sharp. Ozekkis barely stopped Dar from opening the cage before she made for his controller, too.
“Whoa!” Dar backed up a step, and his friend sighed.
“One step forward and two steps back,” Ozekkis muttered sourly, then turned to the kaecian, “Do you-” He stopped as he saw the stretcher nearby. “Good, give me a second, I think she might be able to help with the other hybrids but she’s a wild card.”
Dar nodded and the other male stepped up to the cage, keeping the controller behind his back.
Before he could say anything, though, she pushed her face into the bars and whispered fiercely, the loudest she’d been yet, “Help! You help!” She pointed one hand sharply at the unconscious hybrid, “I help!” The whine only emphasized her wishes.
A bit surprised, Ozekkis slowly brought the controller forward and held it up. He tapped the unlock button, but nothing happened.
So he tried again and go the same result.
As he brought it closer to study, trying to figure out what was wrong, a giggle drew him up short.
The little female had covered her mouth again, but this time her shoulders shook, giving her away. When she met his eyes, she reached a hand through the bars. He automatically pulled the controller away, but her hand reached up, patting at the wall above her cage. A few pats, then she gave a huff and reached through the bars a bit farther over. Patting around, there was a little blip like sound as her hand found a different surface. It lit up with a little rectangular outline the size of the controller.
“Here! Then press!” She urged after finding her prize. Her hand withdrew and she even backed towards the middle of her cage before he could lift the controller to the screen.
He was still a bit suspicious, and so reached over to unlock the unconscious hybrid’s cage first. As Dar pulled the male out, Ozekkis reached up to unlock her cage.
She crept out slowly, her body coiled close to move at a moment’s notice. She hurried over to the stretcher, patting the hybrid gently. Since she stayed calm, he unlocked the third cage. The little male launched into action as suddenly and surprising as the female.
Leaping from his cage and almost tackling the female. They held each other as Dar lead the stretcher out of hallway. When the turned around the doorway, they finally jumped up to follow, but Ozzekkis held them back.
“He’ll be fine. They’ll help him first,” he tried to soothe their worry.
“Heal!” The little female demanded, eyes blazing.
He managed to keep his amusement to a huff, “Yes. They’ll heal him, and all of you. But I need your help with the others first.” He gestured around the other cages.
She looked around, but really, only a few that were proving to be particularly aggressive went inching closer to the front of their cages in curiosity and hope.
The worst was the one near the front. Seems it hadn’t been able to be calmed enough to release.
Without a word, the female loped over to that cage, heedless of the little male scrambling after her. She skidded to a stop just past it and had to jump back. She didn’t even hesitate to stick her short muzzle through the bars and yip at the hybrid.
Momentarily too far gone to notice, the hybrid struck first, only to freeze in a wide-eyed stupor at her target.
Outside the cage, the little female yelped and clutched her nose. Blinking a few times, the shock wore of with the realization the it didn’t hurt that bad. It stung, and looking at her hand showed traces of blood. Now ruffled, she reached in and smacked the other females hand, being surprisingly careful of her claws.
“No! Bad!” She got one more smack in before the other snapped to and huddled at the back with a befuddled expression.
“I help!” She insisted with a nod of finality. Then the odd female relaxed and offered a grin. One tail managed to swish across the floor in jerky motions while the other gave a few flops. “Be Good. Out?” She asked. Her sentences were unusually broken for her age, but that was unsurprising. Less surprisingly was how easily the others understood.
In the cage, the hybrid gave a few pleading whines.
“No hurt!” With that last comment, the female stepped back. Ozekkis, who followed a bit mystified, took the cue a split second later and unlocked it. Inside, the female struggled with herself to leave. After years where leaving the cage meant pain and fear had her backing up each time she stepped forward.
Ozekkis began to coax her gently. It was no different form handling a wild animal, save this one was potentially more intelligent. He laid his hand on the edge of the cage, and kept talking softly.
Now making progress with what was hopefully the most difficult of the lot, he was completely unaware of the two-tailed female wandering off toward the doorway out. Likewise, the others were busy releasing the rest.
Peering out into the once familiar hallway, the little female immediately noticed the two humans. Awed, but oddly unafraid, she watched them standing guard. Strange metal things covered parts of them. Some of which glowed, and others that moved as the humans shifted.
Her curiosity peaked, she crept into the hall and towards the humans. Despite trying to be quiet and unnoticed, the human with metallic triangle turned their head and found her right away.
“Shit!” The human smacked at the other one, and the female ducked, unsure if she would be struck as well or not.
The other human turned a gruff expression on her, and she resisted the urge to curl into herself. It wasn’t hard, while human there was something very different about these two. Something in the back of her mind that felt right.
Her eyes kept drifting between the different mechanical parts on the humans, forgetting about their attention enough to creep forward another step without realizing.
“She’s not afraid,” the first human muttered. A moment later, they crouched down and slowly extended a hand towards the little experiment.
Back at the doorway, the little male was pacing and whining, stepping out and back into the cage room several times before dashing to the female’s side and staying close even as he trembled to approach the humans.
For her part, the female stood up more with each step. When she was an arms length away, she paused and really studied the artificial claws. “Funny claws,” she mumbled before touching the pad of one.
The tip of the nail let out a small stream that had her going still. Until she tried again, but nothing happened the second time. Looking up at the now grinning human female, she frowned.
“I can’t let you use it all up playing,” the human chiding gently. This only made the frown deepen, until another hand appeared in her vision.
Like a typical child, the female’s attention snapped to the all mechanical hand now in front of her. She didn’t even hesitate to reach out and grab at it. Her tiny hand could barely reach around the side of the humans, but she tried. Her other hand held the thumb, wiggling it curiously.
Over her head, the humans shared looks of confusion and amusement. This was pretty much the opposite of all their plans, neither was entirely sure how to handle it.
When nothing else happened to her notice, the female grabbed a different finger and wiggled it a little harder. Her childish confusion, more than her actions, finally inspired the old captain to wiggle back. The delighted little giggle squeak it earned him was worth it.
They went back and forth a couple more times before she looked back up at their faces. Her eyes darted between their smiling face before she tilted her head to the side and asked, “Not human?”
“Ah,” The human female floundered but being cut off.
“We’re human, just a bit different,” the man tried to make his voice softer, but mostly just made it rumble more.
The little female focused on him anyway, one hand reaching up to touch his face. He didn’t flinch, and even leaned down a bit to make it easier for her. She patted his clean shaven cheeks and mouth a bit, then went back to his hand, comparing the differences.
Quite suddenly she thrust his hand into his own face and demanded with unexpected seriousness, “What. This?”
With simple, sometimes halting, explanations, the two humans entertained the little female and even got the male to warm up to them with her help. By that time, the rest of the hybrids had been freed and all were being herded back to the ships.
Hours later, response teams would finally arrive to find a new crater had blown the moon farther away from it’s host planet, leaving no trails to follow. A blow the the Empire would struggle from for years, but would return the favor one day.
In the time it would take them to launch their counter, however, the young hybrids would be healed, some birth ailments even being corrected. They would grow and learn as they should have been taught from the beginning. Though they were still kept secret during this time, plans were made to announce their existence as they reached full maturity.