A soundtrack to go along with the story can be found here.
_____________________________________________________________________________ Chapter 1
Mira woke in a small, cramped cell, the dim red light from the passageway reflected dimly off of the wall next to her head. It was too dark to see anything clearly, but Mira could still smell. The air reeked of refuse, grease, feces, and blood, mingling together into a putrid aroma. What little she could see blurred and distorted as she tried to stand upright. As soon as weight was applied to her left leg, she collapsed back to the deck with a pitiful yelp.
Broken, She thought.
After a minute of deep breathing the pain subsided and her head began to clear. Then she noticed something else the distinctly rich, yeasty odor of cardimine. The scent was heavy on the recycled air that was being pumped through the air-scrubbers. In fact, the smell was so prominent that Mira wondered if there wasnt an old Outcast sitting in the adjacent cell. Within minutes, Miras leg ceased throbbing and a pleasant relaxing sensation began to creep over her limbs as she inhaled deeply. Every instinct inside of her was screaming for her to figure out where she was and how to escape, yet for the moment she couldnt have cared less. Then the scent faded, and Miras thoughts cleared.
Mira Foster was a bounty hunter of the highest caliber and bore many scars of her journeys. She had the sharpest instincts and the sharpest tongue among her peers and used both quite frequently. And right now her gut was telling her that shed just been given a rather large dose of cardimine intentionally, most likely for the purpose of keeping her calm and sedate.
Bugger that, Mira decided. She looked around her cell and found a loose length of chain that was still attached to the wall at on end. While it wasnt long enough to reach through the bars and strangle a passer-by, it was long enough to smash against the bulkhead and create a ruckus. Taking care to avoid putting pressure on her injured leg, Mira began to thrash the chain against the wall. Harsh spikes of noise ricocheted off the cell walls and down the gangway as metal clashed against metal in a deafening cacophony. And then she heard the heavy tread of footsteps marching up the gangway grating.
Cut the racket! a harsh voice bellowed.
The floor of Miras cell leaped with sparks as a powerful jolt of electricity arced from electrodes embedded in the surface. Her body convulsed and collapsed with a thud.
What seems to be the problem here? the voice rumbled.
Lifting her head to glare at her captor, Mira sneered.
Why nothings the matter, sir. I was just exploring my suite and making the bed. Why do you ask?
A low growl emanated from the dim shadow on the other side of the bars. I suggest you keep future attempts at housekeeping to a minimum. The other guests are quite comfortable at the moment, and I dont want them disturbed.
Mira placed her face close to the bars and squinted into the foggy corridor at the silhouette.
About 5 10, stocky, low center of gravity, injured in the right leg Miras mind was absorbing all the details she could observe. If she did manage to break free of this cell, she wanted to know how best to disable any crewmembers she came across.
The shadow suddenly crouched low and brought its face down close to the bars, prompting Mara to flinch. Did you hear me, slave? the voice rumbled. I dont want to hear any more noise from you until we reach Malta. Then you can scream all you like, while the Outcasts break you.
The voices breath stank of saliva and cardimine, and Mira wrinkled her nose in disgust. So Im on a prison liner bound for the Outcast homeworld of Malta to be sold as a slave. she thought.
Let me out of this cell, She snarled, as the shadowy figure began to limp away, and well see who breaks who. Heck, Ill finish the job and give your other leg a limp when I beat your sorry arse into a bloody smear on the bulkhead! She knew it was a cliche form of verbal attack, but it was the best she could come up with through the pain of her broken leg and the electric shock.
However, the result of her verbal jibe was far more dramatic than she had expected. The silhouette turned on its heel and charged the bars with an infuriated roar. Mira desperately tried to fling herself back from the door, but found herself caught by the throat. The shadow slammed her up against the bars and held her off the ground so that Mira was forced to stand on the tips of her bare toes to avoid choking.
Say that last part again? I didnt catch it. the shadow dared. I dont have to keep you alive, you know. Ive got enough bodies that the death of one smart-mouthed human female isnt going to hurt my profits that much.
Miras eyes were wide and she could hear her heart pounding as she gasped for oxygen. The bars pressed their rough, pitted surface against her face as the shadow reeled her closer. Then she felt a nose brush against her temple as the voice spoke directly into her ear.
Then again, I may kill you anyway. Just for kicks. After all, I dont do this for the profit; I do it because I like it. I like to be feared. And you are afraid. You can talk and boast all you want; slave, but I can sense your fear. Its screaming through every fiber of your body and is mirrored in your eyes.
The grip on her throat began to relax and Mira gasped a shaky breath. Then the rough hand turned her head and Mira found herself staring into two eyes that shone with an orange hue. She choked on her own spit and gagged as the hand suddenly released and dropped her to the floor.
Shut up, and go to sleep. The shadowy figure began to limp down the corridor again.
Mira hauled herself off the deck to fling a parting retort at the shadows back, but was interrupted as a power surge caused the red lights in the corridor to brighten for an instant.
Wha-? Mara did a double-take. Then the lights resumed their faint glowing and left Mira in the dark with a few seconds of the image burned into her retinas.
Her captor had a large, black tail. And now that she was paying attention, his gait didnt resemble a humans at all.
What in the name of Jerek what the frak are you?!? shock overwhelmed composure, and Miras arms began to tingle as the hair on her arms prickled.
Now temporarily blinded by the flash of light, Mira heard the offbeat gait come to a stop and she flinched internally as a low cackle reached her ears.
Funny how all you slaves say the same things, the voice sneered. But since Ive already decided that you will never reach Malta alive, I see no reason why I cant humor your query.
A chill ran down Miras spine at those words.
I am a hybrid; a freak, a furry. The combination of human and wolf in one body.
The blood in Miras veins ran cold. A genetic hybrid? But thats impossible! Genetic splicing in humans is highly illegal and punishable by death.
You humans and your laws, the hybrid snorted. Laws only carry weight when there are enough lawfuls around to enforce them. And space is a very large place.
Renegade scientists created me in the hopes of improving your race, and when I didnt turn out quite as they had expected, they turned on me; tried to kill me. And when I reached out for help, your kind offered the barrel of a gun.
It is ironic, really. Your fellow humans bind you in chains and work you to death in the fields, and your brothers sell you into bondage for a quick credit. You humans will drive yourselves to extinction. Who am I to stand in the way? As I see it, I am simply helping you speed up the process.
This is my way of repaying your kind for what they did to me.
Youve got some pretty twisted logic up there on that high horse of yours. Mira spat through bared teeth. I bet youre just seething with self-loathing. You yourself are half human, arent you? Get off your soap-box and do the universe a favor by putting a bullet through your self-righteous brain.
Mira braced herself for another violent outburst, but was surprised when the hybrids voice rose with manic laughter.
I ceased being human the moment I murdered the researchers that created me, his voice rang. Now am I nothing but a mirror of your fears; a phobia that taunts you from the dark and drags you away by the ankles, one by one. You wanted something to be afraid of, and I have given it to you.
Mira exhaled slowly, and tried to calm her racing heart. This was all so strange, she couldnt be certain she wasnt dreaming or having a bad cardimine trip. She turned toward the door and opened her mouth to speak, but froze as a low-power flow of electricity locked her muscles in place.
It is a shame that I must now kill such a hardy specimen, the hybrid snarled. You would have fetched a fine price and He paused mid sentence. No
Mira didnt like that tone one bit. She heard the clicking of the hybrids teeth as his mouth contorted into a sadistic grin that reflected glistening, blood-red light off saliva.
No, you will not be killed. I have other uses for one such as you. the hybrid mused.
Then the electric current arced from the floor and Miras vision went black.
She awoke to the smell of antiseptics and bright lights shining in her eyes. The room was bare and white with minimal decorations, and for a moment, Mira was unsure if she had died or simply been knocked unconscious. She tried to move and found her arms and legs were bound by thick leather straps. Then a shadow fell across her face as a needle stung her right arm.
Wha-? She cried out groggily.
So you are finally awake, the voice sounded unusually tinny. Good. I am glad to see you are undamaged. Once I have finished and the last of the drugs wear off, you should be well on your way.
There on the right side of the metal operating table, a good five or six foot tall, stood a hybrid. He had the powerful hind legs and majestic tail of a wolf, as well as the facial features of the animal. What portions of his body werent covered by an old jumpsuit were covered by sleek, jet-black fur that was slowly graying with age. Sharp canine teeth clicked together and glinted with saliva when he spoke. Just beyond his snout were two blue-hued eyes that shone in the light.
He held up a small syringe of bluish-purple liquid and tapped it with his clawed finger to help it settle. Then the needle was inserted into the IV line and the strange fluid raced down the tubing and into Miras vein. It burned terribly.
Aaaghhhh! What are you doing?!? she cried.
Liquid cardimine, the graying hybrid explained in a subdued tone. Soon the burning will fade and be replaced by a false sense of euphoria. Dont fight it.
Miras eyes watered as the fire in her veins raced through her limbs. Then abruptly the sensation cooled and became an unpleasant tingling sensation before fading into a sort of liquid sunshine. The warmth pulsed and glowed with her heartbeat and slowly melted away the tension in her muscles. She didnt understand what was happening, but instinct told her to be patient; that an explanation would be forthcoming shortly.
You arent the hybrid from the ship, Mira slurred.
No, I am not. the graying hybrid fixed his cool blue eyes on her face. That was Kotha.
Oh. So whore you?
I am Dorgo.
What kind of name is that? the drugs made everything incredibly funny, and Mira swallowed the urge to laugh.
It is a name, Dorgo frowned. And a name is better than a number.
You had a number? Mira gazed sideways at the wolfish hulk.
Yes. All the hybrid experiments did. I was Specimen Zero-Zero-Three. Kotha was Specimen Two-Nine-Oh.
So you are older than Kotha? Mira probed.
Yes, by about thirty minutes. All of the hybrids genetic codes were modified to increase the rate of aging until the subject reached adolescence. However, since I was one of the first, my genetic coding was more of a prototype test, thus the accelerated aging process continued slightly longer for me and the other ten specimens that were created first. That is why I appear to be years older than Kotha.
You dont seem as aggressive as he was. As long as Dorgo continued answering her questions, she decided to keep asking them. Why is that? Dont you hate humans too?
Dorgo sighed. You must understand the entirety of what we have been through to understand Kothas unquenchable anger.
Mira knew shed hit the motherload.
The graying hybrid padded over to a rack of test tubes. The galaxy is a large place, with many dark corners. Corners where people can disappear and never be found if they so choose. There was a group of extremist researchers in a covert lab located in one such dark corner. They were attempting to better equip the human race, as they believed the process of natural selection had been rendered moot by humankinds growing dependence upon technology. So they decided to force the system and intervene in what they saw as the rapidly deteriorating evolution of humankind. Their goal was to successfully combine different desirable animal traits with humans and produce a viable hybrid, capable of reproduction. Kotha and I are the result of attempts to splice a wolfs sense of smell, hearing, and ability to sense fear with a humans physical structure. The physical alterations were an unavoidable byproduct of the splice, and considered undesirable by the scientists. Thus I and the entire wolf-hybrid group were to be discontinued. Unfortunately for them, Kothas sense of hearing was much keener than they had anticipated, and he overheard their plans to dispose of us. During the night, Kotha escaped from his cage and slaughtered the science team in their sleep. We stayed on the research station for a few days, during which I taught myself to pilot the researchers X-shuttle. Then I loaded up as many of the other lupine hybrids as I could and set course for settled space.
Our first contact with the humans came in the form of a bounty hunter who received our automated distress signal and came to help. He scanned our ship of refugees and opened fire when he discovered what we were. We lost five refugees to wounds from similar encounters. Another three died of starvation; their corpses providing food for the survivors. Eventually, only I and Kotha remained.
What you do not realize is we were all created from the same donor DNA. Despite our surroundings, we came to consider the other hybrids our brothers and sisters. Over the few months that we were maturing to adolescence, we developed a bond as close as the siblings in any normal family. To see our brothers die before us Dorgo paused, fighting back emotion. An inhuman howl echoed up from within his frame and rang in the small room's acoustics.
After regaining composure, He grimaced and continued in a low growl. It was agonizing. They were the only family we had.
Now Kotha seeks to repay the human race for what was done to us, by causing as much pain and suffering as he can. That is why he sells human slaves to the Outcast. In his mind, forcing a human to suffer under the lash of another lasts longer and causes more pain than killing them outright. And he is correct in his logic. But it doesnt bring understanding. If anything his methods simply deepen the scars.
Mira shuddered. So why did Kotha bring me here? It doesnt sound like you are going to sell me to the Outcast, and you havent killed me yet, so
The graying hybrid scribbled some additional notations on a complex calculation before answering.
Kotha has turned you over to me because he believes I will inflict more pain and suffering on you than he could with his methods. In a sense he is right, and in another he is wrong. You will experience agony and sorrow, but it is ultimately your choice how long the pain will last.
The hybrid turned back toward her, The scientists at the research facility created their hybrids by splicing genetic code into human eggs, growing their experiments from infancy with genetic modifications manifesting themselves only after adolescence was achieved. Naturally this took time and patience, even with the accelerated growth-rates. They never did figure out how to genetically alter a human adult, as the existing genetic code usually rejected the splices thus causing the subjects immune system to attack and destroy the introduced genetic alterations. What they lacked was a catalyst. Something to speed up the process and force the body to ignore, and even accept the genetic alterations.
An unpleasant suspicion began to creep into Miras mind. What exactly are you saying?
I found the catalyst. Dorgo stated with dry amusement. Cardimine produces genetic mutation among users, but what few people realize is that these mutations can be controlled if certain criteria are met. Refine normal cardimine into its more potent form, liquid cardimine, introduce stem cells doctored with the desired genetic traits, and you have the catalyst plus the genetic alterations in one small package. Of course, there is still a lot of numbers and chemicals involved, but the concept itself is solid.
Miras face became pale as she looked from the IV in her arm to the wolfish face that grinned down at her. What did you just do?
You are about to be reincarnated. the grey hybrid calmly explained. I gave you a cocktail of liquid cardimine and genetic code not unlike my own. For the next few days you will undergo a metamorphosis of sorts; changing from the ignorant, xenophobic human you now are, into something better. And your eyes will be opened.
Why why are you doing this? even with the liquid cardimines calming presence, Mira was beginning to panic.
Because simply killing and enslaving humans doesnt bring understanding; something that Kotha will never grasp. While he enslaves many to other masters, he does nothing to strengthen our numbers and increase our odds of survival. While I truly wish the events surrounding our conception had never occurred, I have learned to embrace what I am. And as such, I wish to see that my race does not die out. If this works as I hope, you will be the first of many to join our ranks.
No. No, this cant You didnt Mira stuttered, her eyes wide in horror.
Yes, yes I did. And before you ask, there is no way to reverse what I have set in motion. You will learn to see the blatant hatred of the human race unmasked, and in turn, you will learn to hate them. We will become your brothers and you, our sister. Then together, we will open the eyes of countless more.
I won't let you do this! I'd rather kill myself! Rrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhhhh!!! Mira was bordering dangerously close to hysteria. She strained against the vicious straps that held her to the table and bared her teeth at her captor.
Dorgos face was stone. Your choice has nothing to do with it anymore. You are now on a path that will show you the true face of cruelty, and force you to confront your deepest fears.
He turned his back to the table and picked up another syringe, this one full of a silvery liquid. The needle plunged into the IV tube and sent a shimmering stream of brilliance into Miras vein. She began to convulse violently as brightly colored swatches of light danced before her eyes. The world faded in and out before darkness overtook her.
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