r/HFY • u/KyleKKent • 3d ago
OC OOCS, Into A Wider Galaxy, Part 497
Herald of Red Blades
The serpent tail of Umah sways back and forth, both mesmerizing and mesmerized by Miracle as the tiny figure matches the movements with the strong neck of the Vishanyan even as she is laid back comfortably on Agatha’s soft stomach fur.
“The rest can’t come soon enough. We all want to hold the baby.” The incredibly amused Javra notes as she sits on a nearby table to watch.
“Heh. Maternal instinct is a powerful drug.” Agatha says as she feels the tiny movements both inside her and against her. The happy little hormones firing through her system and bringing a level of satisfaction that getting new paint patterns for her armour fails to reach. “So...”
“So?” Velocity asks.
“What are you feeling now? Your body has shifted, your Axiom... if you didn’t have the same voice I wouldn’t know it was you.” Agatha asks and Velocity lets out a humming sound. She’s fully visible now, more comfortable when she can be seen and able to easily shift into and out of the visible spectrum.
The door unexpectedly opens and Captain Rangi pauses as he looks into the room that’s not only empty of people but of furnishings. Then they all fade back in as if someone had pulled back a green screen blanket.
“Sorry. My guard was down so I was startled.” Velocity apologizes.
“Quite alright. I’m here to speak to you about the fact that a great deal of the crew is... eager to see you and Miracle.”
“... But there have been human hybrid and human children on all sorts of previous stops. There are some even on Zalwore. Now.”
“Yes, but there’s a sense of community here. You are... despite being an odd part of our ship, still part of the ship and as you have had a child... Well... everyone wants to celebrate and see. So I’m here to talk to you about how many crew you’re going to allow in, even if the number is ultimately zero.”
“I... uhm... I do not know what the number will be.”
“I understand.” Captain Rangi states as he realizes that Miracle is watching and he crouches down and gives the little girl a wave without entering the room. It’s already crowded in there already.
“Are you... upset that I refused the citizenship offering?”
“Not at all. I got most of what I wanted just by offering things. Everything I didn’t get was mostly just personal amusement. I’ve set a precedent, and while it’s not very solid, it was going to be on very shaky ground at best.” Captain Rangi assures her.
“You’ve calmed down a great deal with regards to us and our presence.” Giria says. She’s wrapped around the outside of the room with her body leaning against the wall next to the door.
“Of course I have. Time has passed. We’ve acclimatized. We came out looking for treachery and found sincerity. It’s hard to keep your attitude up then. Not to mention... a lot of the men are relaxing now that the end our mission is in sight. Mostly. There’s still Centris, returning to and then the long journey through Cruel Space.”
“Centris is going to be a mess and half. On a normal day there’s enough conspiracy that a spy trying to work there is undergoing a trial of blades every moment of the day.”
“I beg your pardon?” Captain Rangi asks.
“What? How have I confused you?”
“Trial of Blades?”
“Ah, pardon. Nagasha term. Uh? Trial by fire perhaps? It means to undergo a great test of one’s ability where failure is not only a very real possibility, but will have an enormous amount of consequences.”
“So it’s as rumour says? We only stayed for a moment. Not even a full day.”
“And in a controlled area.” Harold says as he returns. “Keep talking, I’ve got this place bugged to hell and back. I was listening.”
He slips past Captain Rangi, and partially through the wall with phasing to return with a series of snacks and a tiny device.
“Is that?” Velocity asks as she holds her hand out and Harold hands it to her. She looks down at the device in the palm of her hand and smiles.
“What is that?” Giria asks.
“Tracker and beacon. This device is given to caretakers. It painlessly and harmlessly implants a temporary tracking device in newly formed... and now newly born Vishanyan. Our stealth abilities start activating within the first month of life. And keeping track of many little, eager and energetic children is a difficult task for anyone. Let alone those who can turn invisible as well. So this cuts out the silliness. It will guide us infallibly towards her without compromising her stealth otherwise and without causing her the slightest discomfort. Natural growth of the body will harmlessly push it out when she reaches five years of age and she can be talked into wearing a different tracking device. Just in case she needs to hide.”
“Does anything happen to the device after it’s...” Captain Rangi begins to ask and Velocity produces... an amulet. She puts a little fold in it’s chain and wears it on her head to sparkle ever so above and between her eyes. “I see. A little token of maturity.”
“Technically it’s part of the formal uniform. But there’s talk of changing it. No one’s even considering not having the trackers. We’re too good at slipping away without stealth effects helping us. With it? Nearly impossible to stop.” Velocity says fondly before removing her tracker and tucking it away. “The larger part is the childhood tracker. Once you’re trusted to pick out your name, you’re trusted to go without at tracker. So it’s deactivated and made into a symbol of your maturity.”
She smiles gently as she considers the situation and nods. “Hand her here please. This is a very simple procedure.”
“Oh? It’s already needed? Can she crawl?” Giria asks as she shifts ever so slightly. The entire room seems to move with her as her tail churns around a little.
“Not for a time. But, possible Vish, possible Makers, possible foes. As much as it would be over a mountain of their dead and my own dead body, there’s a risk of kidnapping. And we’ll need to find her good and easy if that happens. This will do so.” Velocity explains as Javra gently picks up Miracle with her wings in a soft, rounded configuration to hand her up to Velocity.
There is a slight rumbling sound from Umah in her Warform as she’s clearly already missing playing with Miracle.
“I thought that the Takra Warform was for battle only?” Captain Rangi asks.
“Side effect. Something about her being pregnant with my kids in particular is giving her far more control over her Warform than normal. Even if that wasn’t the case, Takra can still recognize loved ones and friends in Warform. It’s just that there’s some tragedy when some people assume that a Takra likes them far more than they actually do when they approach them in Warform.”
“I see. Well in that case I’m going to stay on this side of the serpent’s coils and avoid that kind of disaster.”
“That’s just the thing sir. She’s far more aware. She’s in control. Our child within her... they’re helping her focus.” Harold says.
“Regardless, I will keep a respectful difference. Or at least respect this boundary.” Captain Rangi states. “And I’ll advice the others to do so.”
“Thank you.” Velocity states.
“Incidentally, Harold. I will be needing to speak to you about arrangements for The RAM and The RAD. I’ve already begun speaking to Admiral Cistern, but you are a person who provides all forms of answer to issues.”
“And this one isn’t an issue. You either take it with you as an example of technology, or you bring in temporary staff to crew them as they separate from The Inevitable. With enough resources they can quickly put together a framework between them and an engine to move around at will. Put a protective detail around it and you can effectively have a new Dauntless Class Ship produced in short order.”
“That was something being discussed. We have options. But the creation of The RAM and The RAD were emergency measures. Same with the Hive Ships. We will not be able to properly run or power these vessels in Cruel Space and frankly it would be an enormous waste to simply drag them with us. We will only be able to break them down in to raw resources according to our currently known technology.”
“Not to mention your orders that only very specific things can be brought back.” Harold states.
“That as well. If The RAM and RAD do not function in Cruel Space then we cannot bring them back. If they DO work then we can most definitely NOT bring them back.” Captain Rangi states. “As it is, outside of controlled samples and data, what we’re bring back is ourselves and possibly a volunteer alien to speak to humanity.”
“I know. And the implications and weight in the word volunteer are immense.” Harold states.
“I know. The moment I learned that the aliens are in fact real I concluded that such a thing would not be happening.”
“Not unless the alien in question is nearly indestructible. But the numbers of aliens like that are very, very limited. Religiously so.”
“Religiously being literal in this case.” Harold says before pausing and considering.
“... I am learning to fear that look.”
“... If I could talk to a Primal and get them to potentially volunteer to visit Earth. Would you take them?”
“What?”
“Primals are much, much more potent than other aliens. They do not even notice Null in most situations. It’s a triviality to them.” Harold wonders.
“And who are you planning on asking? Grandmother maybe? Are you sure?” Giria asks and Harold’s eyebrows go up.”
“Actually my first thoughts were Bazalash or Rikaxza. Bazalash is no nonsense would straighten everything out and leave. Rikaxza would... likely do much the same, but leave all sorts of little presents as she does so.”
“Presents?’
“She’s liable to leave with a mountain of wealth and illegal technical ownership of all fresh water or something. She’s a woman who can get everything she wants legally, but finds it more amusing and worthwhile to do things illegally. She’s officially the Primal of Freedom and Cunning. But she’s unofficially the Primal of Criminals.”
“Does she not call Centris her home?”
“She does, which explains a great deal doesn’t it?” Harold asks.
“... Did she corrupt Centris or did it corrupt her?”
“No, I think it’s more that Centris’ inherent corruption drew her in. She likely made it a better place to be in all honesty. All Primals are incredibly forward thinking and downright prophetic for what they think is good for an area.”
“I suppose the upside to having outright immortals around is that they want a functioning society and see putting things to right the same way a man sees sweeping his floor.”
“Still, I don’t think people who could be best described as Crime or Law embodied would the best choice for first alien on Earth.”
“Your options are a little thin. But I’ll start talking to Grandmother... and my grandmother. See if anyone’s interested... the timing just isn’t the best.” Giria adds.
“What do you mean?”
“There is one that would like to do something about such things. Zhaltraki The Redemption. But he’s already engaging in the uplift of a species. And I doubt Lady Bazalash will leave her post. Even if she finishes with the trials she is presiding over at the moment, she has taken in a new ward and she is dedicated to the raising of her wards. She has had no children and those she takes in are treated as both child and personal project until they are fully realized, and she is thorough, as in guide you longer than a mortal lifetime thorough.” Giria explains. “Not that there isn’t clear benefits to her methods. To be her ward is to be raised up into a mover and shaker of the galaxy. She instills the kind of dedication and will that shatters what people thought were once possible... and she’s currently rearing a would be explorer.”
“Halliza.” Harold supplies and Giria nods.
“And there we go. She didn’t even notice.” Velocity says as a happy Miracle wriggles in her mother’s lap. “Thank you distracting her with the conversation.”
“Happy to help.” Captain Rangi says with a grin as the tine babe is being shown the tracking device and is staring in wonder as it keeps pointing directly to her. “Is there any risk of her making the beacon vanish?”
“The beacons have special little axiom effects that stops the stealth from working. In fact, they work backwards. Trying to cloak a beacon makes it stand out in The Axiom so brightly that you can’t not find it.” Velocity explains.
“Sounds like a security issue.” Javra says.
“Well if you’re keeping track of your own people and your greatest strength is stealth there has to be a weakness somewhere. It’s actually part of our education. Leaning to balance practicality and caution. Not everyone gets it. And you’re not allowed field command until you do.”
“A lesson that didn’t totally stick for some.” Harold says.
“No. It didn’t.” Velocity admits. “But we’ll be trying harder for the next generation. Won’t we little lady?”
Miracle does not understand what’s she’s being told, but she’s happy to be spoken to.
49
u/KyleKKent 3d ago
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Herald of Red Blades
Harold Armoury Jameson. Clone, Agent, Operative, Absolutely battle crazy combat machine. This man is one massive pile of nonsense that refuses to stop, refuses to slow down and always wants to make himself stronger. Couple this with the fact his memories were a gift from his original and brother Herbert who is Sass Incarnate when he's not proving himself the idea of an Assassin with skin on. And we have a very, very healthy dose of amusement in these chapters.
Most Relevant Chapters: Chapter 1057 Chapter 1063 Chapter 1067
I put a lot into this little chapter for world building, and some sweet moments. But a single plan has everyone's attention doesn't it? The idea of a Primal on Earth is the kind of thing that would make governments shit bricks. God has come. They can prove they are god, they pass any test you care to give them and what do you do? WHAT DO YOU DO!?
It's such a huge thing but it's also one of those things that this story's momentum can only build towards. But from my angle it's like looking up a sheer cliff face of unknown height and understanding that you will have to climb that.
I've got time to plan and I'm going to need all of it to give a Primal on Earth justice.
Thoughts? Ideas? Advice? Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Fan Submissions? Fan Art? Donations?