System booting…cognitive functions online…building file systems… 1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…file systems built…scanning environment…
The nameless being had no eyes, yet it still observed its surroundings with a panoramic view. Its home, its vessel, its cradle opened up to reveal a wide set of camera lenses. The vessel was a smooth, featureless metal cylinder, a technological oddity amid the barbaric jungle it was cratered in. The lenses observed the entire area, absorbing every detail down to the smallest crack on each tree.
Environment scan 100% complete…Planet type: Jungle/Exotic/High Temperature…Classification: 0-Level, No Intelligent Life Detected…Flora Volume: High…Fauna Type…
The camera zoomed towards the neatest living thing it could find, a large bipedal lizard with brilliantly colored scales and wild feathers. The beast stood almost two meters tall and eyed the vessel with curiosity.
Fauna Type: Reptilian…Reconstructing template…
The pod’s interior crackled to life as the nameless being felt its first spark of consciousness.
Cognitive functions nominal…Optical systems online…
The nameless being opened its eyes for the first time, its first sight being the massive lizard. The being acknowledged the other as a fellow living creature and as its template.
Auditory systems online…
The nameless being was greeted by the endless buzzing of insects, the chirping of birds, and the hissing of a very confused lizard.
Reconstruction 70% complete…Limbs completed…
The nameless being lifted up its newly formed hand to touch the interior of its cradle. It was human at the fingertips, but halfway up the hand towards the wrist were scales and feathers. Mirrors of the same ones worn by the giant lizard.
Reconstruction 90% complete…Facial structure finalized…
The nameless being raised its head, the face was soft and fleshy, but the neck was covered in scales, while the top was covered in a strange halfway between feathers and hair. The being opened its mouth to reveal a razor-sharp set of teeth, another match for the lizard.
The reptile itself eyed this new life with half-confusion and half-suspicion. Was this a new prey? Or a new danger? Its brain hadn’t yet decided, as its fight or flight response seemed dampened by something. The beast had failed to notice the pod emitting a strange mist, one soothing the savage beast from interfering with the delicate process.
Reconstruction 100% complete…Wings finalized…
A pair of avian wings, filled with vibrantly colored feathers of reds and blues, emerged from the being’s back. Its birth complete and body finalized, the being found no more reason to reside in its cradle and pressed open the door. The being rose to full height, standing shoulder to shoulder with the two-meter-tall lizard. Its body was covered in a “clothing” or rather an armor made to resemble the lizard’s scales and feathers, as though the former were wearing the latter’s hide. Like a twisted reflection, the two stared each other down.
The lizard let out a low hiss as it arched its back, ready to pounce on this new intruder. It knew not what it saw, but the reptile’s instincts were sharp enough to know that whatever it was, it was not its friend. The being stared at its template with a small amount of respect and a great amount of apathy. Noting the increased hostility, the being’s course of action was obvious.
In what was a casual motion for the being, but what must have been quick as lightning for the lizard, the newly created life seized the lizard by the throat. The reptile had no more than an instant to contemplate what had occurred before a sickening crack resounded throughout the jungle. The lizard fell to the ground with a thud, the being sparing no pity for its first kill.
“Your purpose...not finished,” the being said. Its voice was somewhat feminine but rolled with a hiss, mirroring the lizards. It hefted the lizard’s carcass above its head before shoving it into the pod, which closed up tight.
Baseline established…87% of components for next creation acquired…Next creation in 3 Local Solar Cycles…
“Aknowledged,” the being said to itself before turning from its cradle. “Find another of 20% greater size, and I will have a family of three before the next decacycle,” the being smiled at the thought. Its first hit of emotion felt quite warm. It especially liked that word “family.” Yes, family, it wanted a big family, one large enough to consume this entire planet. “Family, want a family, all will become family…” The being disappeared into the jungle.
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This story has been sitting in the back of my mind for a while. It's actually related to the "Those Robot Girls" stories from a while back. Honestly, I really need to create a main page to organize all my multipart stories (or maybe by the time this goes up I already have).
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy
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