Kalon Entry Writings (No posting please and thank you!)

[ThatPinkThing]

(This is a reused thread <3 Reduce, reuse, recycle, kids.)
#1200 - Kalon Adopts
6,926 words in story and 'His Creation'


Full Reference

Skeleton Traits - His Creation - Art Credits - Extra Notes

Playlist

Prologue: Memories of Her
Chapter One: The Cost of War
Chapter Two: The Latest Mission
Chapter Three: Flipping a Switch
Chapter Four: A Leap of Faith
Chapter Five: Time for Action
Epilogue: Bigger than Myself


Username: ThatPinkThing
Name: Melius Liquo, (pronounces them MEL-ee-us and LEE-ko) Latin for "improved" and "infiltrate".
He was given these names by the cyborgs and does not know his original name, nor is he curious about it.
Codename: The Accessor
Gender: male
Theme: cyborg
Design: above
Yo̶̗̟̕u̴̧͋̈́r̶͖̱͗ H̶̛̼͓͋̋e̵̬̗̎͊̍͑r̴͓̳̈́̂͛̀̒̕͘͝ō̵̢̗̞̣̬̲̭̮͚̟:


ATTENTION: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL
ʟᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴏʟᴅɪᴇʀ "Tʜᴇ Aᴄᴄᴇssᴏʀ" ɪs ᴘᴜɴɪsʜᴀʙʟᴇ ʙʏ ʟᴀᴡ

Skeleton Traits

non-rarity

colored sclera
buff

standard

custom shine
no hair

common

custom tail
longer fur (chest and rump)

uncommon

custom ears
shorter fur/no fur (legs and neck)

rare

two missing limbs
reverse munchkinism
glow
extra eye

legendary

controls electricity
active halo
cybernetics

He has an artificial heart which was designed
to sustain the amount of energy and electricity
that Melius needs to operate his hind legs and tail.

Hind legs amputated and replaced with
thrusters which allow him to support his
back end. They are silent.

Exospine connected to his brain, exoribs, tail,
and ears. The system runs on the electricity he
produces, but he will need to 'charge' after
long excursions. His system also has an eye/camera
in the back of his head, right where the system
connects to his brain. He can choose to look behind him,
but not at the same time as looking forward.

Modified ears are mounted on spheres and can
rotate in any direction.

Halo enhanced to display conditions/information.

Tail extension with a claw at the end; all pieces
are suspended and controlled by his electricity.

Skills:
- good hearing, and a good listener
- light on his feet
- picks up on little details
- thinks fast
- very strong and healthy due to being in training for most of his life
- very good at reading others' emotions and intentions
- incredible reconnaissance skills

Flaws:
- gets distracted by things and needs to be reminded of the task at hand
- if he runs out on energy, he must 'turn off' his hind legs and walk with his tail as a third leg
- black and white thinking
- quick to judge; hesitant to trust
- rude to those he doesn't know
- unwilling to take orders from anyone other than his superiors

Likes:
- shiny things
- squishy things
- meat and savory foods
- cool temperatures and nice breezes
- naps/charging up

Dislikes:
- long distance traveling ("Just cryofreeze me for goodness' sake, I can't take the boredom.")
- excessive sweetness
- sweltering heat/muggy weather
- loud animals
- water

[ThatPinkThing]

474 words - song: "Ghost Town" by Adam Lambert

I was born broken, but they saw me as the perfect canvas. With a ring around my jaw, crippled hind legs, and a tendency to exert electricity, I was taken from my family. They didn't want me anyway. So I was brought to the cyborgs, who gave my life purpose.

First, they took my burdens off me. My hind legs were amputated, and the ends of my stumps were fitted with thrusters that connected to an exospine and my electrical abilities. With practice, I was able to 'walk' using electromagnetism. They removed my heart and gave me one they had crafted-- it ran brilliantly and allowed me to push myself and exert more electricity than ever before.

I began to see a whole new world.

I asked for an advance in my halo. My brain was linked to it, and external influence was implemented. Suddenly I could be given instructions and direction from afar, as well as pick up and display information about myself and my surroundings. The displays appeared like charms on my halo, acting essentially as an in-helmet display would.

"I can do things not many Kalons can do," I said to my adoptive parents, the ones who had operated on me and essentially saved my life. "Let me serve you. I can fight in the war if you give me more advancements." The offer of my service piqued interest, and I was granted my request.

My ears were cut and fitted with microphones that swiveled-- allowing me to hear for miles in almost any direction.

But I still felt incomplete. My front legs were stronger now more than ever, but I needed them to guide me and support me on planets with harsher gravity. I couldn't handle or grab things. Certain tasks were still out of reach.

It took me years before my final touch could be added. I trained to handle more electricity, trained to complete missions. A fierce desire inside me compelled me to keep going and never stop improving myself. I was going to serve those who saved me. I could help us win the war.

Finally, my last advancement was ready for me. My tail was docked, and the nerves were connected to a series of components ending in a claw. My electricity charged and moved my new extended tail. I could grab things with my claw at the end, as well as fight with it and even walk with it if need be.

Finally, I was complete.

I reported immediately to assessment, surpassed expectations, and completed training missions in record times. My tail gave me confidence, and my powers made a rare and invaluable asset. Those in positions of power above me took notice and were eager to make me a part of the fight.

I was to begin my first mission as soon as possible.

[ThatPinkThing]

801 words - song: "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy

The room was mostly devoid of color, and it smelled of sanitizers. A much younger Melius Liquo sat tall upon an examination table, patiently waiting for his doctor. He’d been here many times— heck, he pretty much lived here. Being modified (corrected, as he called it) when you’re a crippled kalon comes with more risks than usual. And then there was his tendency to electrocute things.

Melius’ twisted legs bunched up underneath him, and his spine tingled from being upright, but he remained patiently waiting and sitting properly. He wanted this procedure; he had to impress her today.

When the door swung open, he turned his head to nod politely and greet his doctor. The cyborg kalon’s paws had been replaced by near-silent orbs, allowing her to glide smoothly like an angel. “Good morning, Mama.”

Doctor Anya Liquo smiled briefly at her adopted son. “Good morning, Melius. Please, relax. I know your spine hurts when you sit like that.”

“It won’t soon, hopefully,” Melius purred as he lay down, swooping his hind legs to the side. “I’m excited to see the results of today’s exam. I feel strong enough for the procedure.”

“I know you want this, Melius, but you must remember that there is no going back.” Anya said quietly, looking her son in the eyes. Her own eyes, replaced in their old age with cameras, focussed with a small whir. It took Melius a little while to get used to them, but now he was fond of her eyes’ mechanical sound. He broke his trance and nodded to his doctor.

“Yes, Mama, I understand,” he said. “But I’m tired of being in pain and feeling useless and helpless. I’ve seen what you and Papa have done for others. I want to help.”

Anya smiled, her expression softening. “You’re too good for this war, Melius. You will do incredible things.” She smiled at her son and straightened back up, returning to business mode. “Right, then. Let’s see if your body is as ready as your soul.”

• • •

A soft, familiar beeping woke the young kalon. His heart monitor. That was good news! His heart sounded strong. Melius’s eyelids fluttered open eagerly.

He raised his head, blinked away his tiredness (as best he could), and turned his head to look around. Currently, he lay on his side, covered by a soft, white blanket. He wiggled his forepaws, watching them move under the blanket. He took a deep breath, his eyes drifting farther down the blanket as he attempted to wiggle his hind toes. Nothing moved.

Melius felt his heart race faster. The had done it— his legs were gone! He happily wriggled his whole hind leg stumps, feeling odd and dreamlike, but delighted to know this was reality. The door opened and his mother rolled in. “Melius!” she scolded him, “Be still, you’ve only just awoken!”

“Sorry, Dr. Mama,” Melius giggled, using the name he called Anya when she was obsessive over her son’s well-being. Anya gave him a fond scowl and adjusted his sheets.

“How do you feel? Are you feeling dizzy? Sick to your stomach?”

“No, just a little tired.”

“That’s normal,” Anya sighed, relieved.

“I also feel… light.”

“What?” Anya blinked, not knowing what such a vague word could mean for her son.

Melius shrugged and shook his head. “Part of me feels like it’s missing something — which it is, I know — but my brain keeps telling me I’m… not awake. But I am. And I’m happy, but it’s like my brain doesn’t want me to be happy.” Anya thought about this for what seemed like ages. Melius started to grow worried. “Is that bad? Am I in trouble?”

“No, sweetheart, not at all.” Mama assured him. She was suddenly much gentler and more like she was at home. “It makes sense that your brain feels that way.” She lightly sat on the edge of his bed, leaning toward him and stroking his forepaws comfortingly. The roll of her orb-paws was familiar and massage-like. Melius relaxed significantly.

“Why? I didn’t have any doubts before.”

“Well, sometimes our body expects certain things, and triggers an emergency response when those expectations aren’t met. I take it you tried to wiggle toes you no longer had? Yes? Well, you knew they wouldn’t be there, but those nerves are used to the commands, and didn’t know what to tell you when they couldn’t complete the task, so they panicked.”

“So… my body just has to get used to it? I won’t have to stop my progress?”

“No, baby. You’ll take this one step at a time, until you finally feel like you’re one with your body.”

[ThatPinkThing]

1356 words - song: "101 South" by Two Fingers

I used to move in the shadows for the bulk of my work. My superiors didn't want knowledge of me to be widespread, which I understood. If the enemy knew I was coming, or even that I existed, they could prepare safety measures which made my job much harder. So I worked behind the scenes, existing to the aliens only in fearful whispers.

Allow me to elaborate; I was not a frontlines soldier. I was a reconnaissance agent. Because of my powers, I can manipulate and hack security systems easily, and if it came to intimidation... I did what I needed to.

I never used to confront the aliens. I could hear and gather information from afar. But they started to improve their security, and one specific moment in time altered my routine.

...

Silence was the biggest hurdle. For someone with metal body parts, the gentlest clank can sound loud in a quiet environment. I usually kept my tail close to my body and my hind legs low, but every living thing makes mistakes.

A testament to that very statement started the encounter.

"Are you still alive after the cyborgs mess with your brain?" One alien guard asked another. Yes, I answered silently, used to the ignorance.

"I don't think so. If you're not fully in control, you've gotta be partly dead, right?" Okay, I see where you're coming from, but you're still wrong.

"True. What really creeps me out is what it'd be like to have a robotic eye. Someone recording everything I see at all times? No thank you." Actually, it can be very helpful. What do you have to hide?

"Yes! My worst fear is having fake organs. Think about it-- if they suddenly didn't need you, they could just turn off your parts and let you die." No, they can't. I frowned. Some people were just so unwilling to listen, it would be useless to even talk to them. I took my attention away from the guards' conversation and checked the progress on the uploading of data I had gathered. I couldn't leave the (small and underdeveloped) range of the base until the upload was complete, or I would risk messing up the fragile data they had here.

76%. Nearly time to go.

I shifted where I was crouched, being careful not to disturb any of my surroundings. My halo displayed a few dots roaming near me, but they were aimless enough to not be a threat. I watched them move on the map until out of range, and then turned my attention back to the guards. 84% done.

"You think the cyborgs know they're the bad guys? Like how some characters in books know they're doing the wrong thing, but they're too deep in to turn back?"

"That's a good question, 'cause I've met some who are like brainwashed, so they wouldn't have a choice."

I rolled my eyes. How stupid could these guys be--

"System failure in 2 minutes."

"What was that?" One guard demanded, hearing the robotic voice of my upload system. I ducked further back, frantically trying to figure out why the voice had come on despite being in mission mode. The guards began to perk up their ears and analyze their surroundings. I worked quickly to figure out what had gone wrong.

Upload progress was paused at 95%; apparently an outside force had discovered me. Dang. Someone will be sent down here if these goons don't stumble upon me first. My internal communications system confirmed my fear.

"Accessor, someone has attempted to cut you off. We're working to counter them, but you need to move quickly." The message appeared on my halo. I only had to think with the purpose of communication to reply to them.

"I have to stay close, you know that."

"We'll work as fast as we can in that case." Progress crawled to 96%.

I failed to realize the guards had gotten close, and my stressed sigh set them on me. "There!" I heard one shout-- pawsteps rushed towards me. I shot out from my hiding spot, rushing past them and nicking one with my tail claw in the process. That one yelped in alarm and staggered back.

They had clearly not expected someone my size. Good, I can use this. I reared up, my thrusters showing and my tail swinging. Electricity crackled and the light reflected in wide, scared eyes. When I crashed back down, I roared and spat, my ears laying flat back. They think they know cyborgs? I'll give them what they want to see, then. I figured I could hold these young ones off with fear alone. I lurched forward, swiping at one guard and swinging my tail at the other. Both cried out but stood their ground, using their shields to protect them. 97%.

I glanced back at the door-- I had to stay in this room until the upload finished, but I was already planning my escape. I turned back to the guards just in time to duck one's glowing, organic sword. I launched my tail at it, snatched the blade in my grip, and wrestled the object away from its wielder. Once it lost connection with them, the glow (and presumably the power) died out. I was fascinated by the concept, but didn't have time to think about it. 98%

Instead, I swung my body around, revving my thrusters and making the guards cower under the flash of heat. In their cowardice, I noticed one had lost their shield, and their eyes were shut tight against the heat. Hmm. Want a fun story to tell your mates back in whatever tree you live in? I launched at them and shut my jaws on their ear, eliciting a screech of alarm.

"G-get off her!" The other guard demanded as they barrelled into my side, knocking me away and standing protectively over the female guard. I grinned.

"What, can't even handle a little bite? I just want you to feel like a real soldier, kiddo." I said as I faked another swipe of my claw. Both aliens flinched. 99%.

"I am a real soldier, you're the coward who can't even fight with his own two paws!" The larger guard countered, baring his own oddly sharp teeth and snarling. A flash on my halo told me I was done here, though. 100%.

"Oh, you got me there." I said, feigning defeat. "I'll just have to fight with them next time." I turned, only to find my planned escape route was now blocked my four more large guards, all armed with sharp teeth and glowing swords. I hesitated, and the male guard behind me laughed triumphantly. As one of the new guards came at me, words from my adoptive mother echoed in my head.

Sometimes, Melius, it's kill or be killed. You must always come home to me.

I planted my paws and claw, exerting an incredible amount of electricity.

The shrieks were terrible to hear, and I kept my eyes shut, but I kept my mother's words in my head. Kill or be killed. Kill or be killed. Kill or be killed. Once I had exhausted myself, I dared to open my eyes and run past the fallen guards. At least two of the large guards were still breathing for sure, but I didn't dare to look at the others or the smaller ones behind me. I just ran, following my escape route and avoiding other aliens.

At least it was over.

...

"Don't you think that was a little dangerous?" The captain said to her adviser. She had been hesitant about putting Melius in a situation where he would have to hurt others, but she had to admit his power was incredible. Her adviser nodded.

"I know it was, and it was dangerous to risk losing the information, but it had to be done. We have to know his full potential." He replied, reassuring himself as much as the captain. The captain ran over the plan again in her head, despite the ordeal being over.

Send him in, interfere with his progress, send guards his way, and see how he deals with them. It had to be done.

[ThatPinkThing]

840 words - song: "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk

I began to work with others. An amazing team of skilled and loyal kalons assisted me in entry and exit during large scale missions. They've saved my life, and I theirs. I still trust these people with my life.

We were flying to a certain small, forest-heavy planet. Being that this was the only 'military' base on an otherwise peaceful planet, we didn't expect much of a fight getting in, but I knew security systems would be tight on the object of our interest. We were after a weapon they had created, and though this was just a prototype, we needed to know how to protect ourselves from the imminent attacks.

This particular weapon was a gas gun which launched a stun-gas. Many cyborgs' parts reacted poorly to the effects though, and it took a lot to get some people fully functional again. Defending against this would save us time and resources.

As we neared the drop point, our team was still all smiles and confidence. Not cocky confidence, just... trust in each other. I can't convey just how it feels, but I know none of us felt scared.

Since my thrusters only supported my weight and wouldn't propel me, I was to ride on the back of a soldier with large metal wings. I had ridden on his back before, so I climbed onto him with ease. He checked that I was secure before the door of our craft opened, and wild winds pulled the six of us out into the open air.

The falling was the worst part. I clung to my companion, and he knew I was nervous, so he did his best to fall gracefully until he could open his wings. When he and the others did, we soared along treetops, so close I could have grabbed one if I wished. When we came to an abrupt canyon, the team dove, followed the colorful stone closely, and landed as light as metal beings could on hard ground. I slid from my companion's back, my paws making much less noise than the other five. I scanned my halo's map and set the base as our objective point. My guiding arrow popped up, turning us to walk along the bottom of the canyon.

We moved quickly. With the impact of our landing, it was likely that someone would come investigate. My arrow led us to a maintenance entrance-- only three of us were small enough to fit inside. The other three remained outside, guarding the door and keeping eyes and ears open.

As we slipped through narrow tunnels, my companions were in front and behind me, protecting me. As we reached the room, I began to run scans and calculations. The door opened a few moments after we arrived. I signaled for my friends to wait as I entered.

This natural planet used hardly any technology-- the bulk of my work was done after I took scans and opened doors. But now, vines with large, sharp points wrapped around the weapon we were after. Only my tail was long enough to reach through them and move them without getting pricked. I grabbed the gun and carefully began to lift it from its pedestal.

An ancient security system had slipped through the cracks.

As the weight was lifted off the podium, the vines crashed down around the room, poisonous barbs threatening to pierce through our fur. Luckily, my exospine protected me, but I heard one of my friends cry out as a barb gashed his eye. The other party-member immediately pulled him back out the way we came and yelled for me to follow.

Charging out of the tunnels, we discovered our other three under heavy arrow fire. Planet natives were doing their best to help the base's guards, but the metal guarding my team's bodies kept us safe. We fired a few shots back, but our focus was on escape. The ones with wings spread them over my wounded teammate to protect him as he stumbled along. An arrow whizzed by and thunked into the ground beneath me, and I felt myself lose patience.

"You go ahead, I'll catch up." I commanded. The other five obeyed, trusting I had a plan.



I gripped the weapon tightly in my tail, showing we had it by waving a few times. The base guards ceased fire, afraid of causing an explosion if they hit it, but arrows kept coming.

I spotted a towering tree with exposed roots that was threatening to fall off the side of the canyon. Bingo. I sent a ring of electricity out, stunning my enemies and dislodging the tree. I ran straight for it as it thundered down, narrowly making it under the falling branches and foliage, but able to use it as cover to escape safely. Screeching birds and chattering creatures scattered in all directions as I destroyed their home, but I knew they'd be fine on a planet like this.

We cheered on the ship as we headed home. Another mission completed; another battle won.

[ThatPinkThing]

684 words - song: "A Dream Within A Dream" by The Glitch Mob

One minute we were celebrating, the next I was alone.

Like when I was young and first corrected, I felt like I wasn’t awake. This time, though, it was a nightmare as opposed to a dream.

The team around me were quiet, knowing I could be unpredictable. The commander on the other end of communications continued to speak to me. “I’m sorry,” he said, “we did everything in our power to save her, but she was the best of us. Only someone with her skills could have saved herself.”

“Don’t give me excuses.” My voice was gravelly and darker than I expected. Several members of my team flinched. Sparks emanated from my eyes like tears. I looked at the commander in the eyes, and I could tell he sensed that he was now on thin ice. “Accept your failure and shoulder it like an adult.” I growled. I slammed a paw against the screen and ended the call.

The remainder of the ride was silent.

• • •
I marched across the base upon our arrival. Those who saw me moved out of the way quickly, knowing I was not in a good mood. I had only one thing on my mind— I have to see my mother.

It was the weapon we went to retrieve that killed her. A more potent chemical gun based on the prototype we were just celebrating over. Her robotic eyes had been a direct passage for the chemical to her brain.

When I got to Mama’s side, where she lay in a hospital bed, the soldier in me was gone. A small, weak feeling overcame me, and I collapsed. I leaned against the bed and sobbed for the first time in decades. “Mama… I’m so sorry I wasn’t fast enough, Mama…”

After a few hours of crying, lying still, and shouting at others to leave, I felt strong enough to get up. I had apologized to Mama, said my goodbye, and was starting to accept that this was only one of thousands of deaths in this war. I felt alone, but I knew that infinite others had felt this way too.

That was when I truly felt a drive to end this war.

• • •

• • •

My mother had been a genius, and she hoped for years that this was would end soon. She advocated for peace and used her position as a lead doctor and scientist to share a message of knowledge and acceptance. Anya had had enemies, yes, but she was so well respected that no one dared argue with her.

I spent ages in my old home looking through Mama’s belongings. She had many research papers and digital letters, and when I read them, I discovered something I never expected to about my mother.

She had an incredible amount of alien acquaintances— even ones she seemed to call friends. She wrote to them under the name Q’wana Lewell, and she communicated with these alien friends in order to learn more about culture and the average life of those she never had a chance to meet. After trust was established, she revealed herself to these friends.

Some were upset and felt she had been using them or mocking them. Others were interested in communicating still and learning about cyborgs. One reply stood out in particular. I read it aloud since it was oddly short.

“I know, Anya. I have known since your first letter. I could feel your sincerity in it, though, and I feel we could do great things together. If you’re willing to meet me in person, come visit me at…” I frowned. These coordinates were at the edge of the galaxy, among rubble-like planets. Planets declared uninhabitable.

I searched my mother’s belongings for any further conversation with this alien, but found nothing. Nothing told me she visited these coordinates, and nothing told me she had continued to talk with their inhabitant…

But nothing told me she hadn’t done those things.

I temporarily severed my mental connection with my base and set the coordinates in my halo’s compass.

[ThatPinkThing]

1081 words - song: "LazerSwag" by Coyote Kisses

Travelling to the edge of the galaxy was a task. It was a simple path, but it meant drifting in and out of range of various distress calls. It was hard to ignore the cries for help from either side. A couple years ago, I would have brushed off alien distress calls. Now, after reading Mama's letters and learning about life and culture, I... I felt like I had been the one to connect with them.

I got the sense that Mama had meant for me to read her letters. She had always wanted what was best for everyone, not just me. The letters gave clear evidence that her intentions were genuine. She modified beings for their benefit, she wasn't one of the ones who did it for power. She did her best to be the hero of her own story, and I wanted to believe she had left things for me to continue.

As I approached the coordinates, the planets around me looked darker and dustier, as if left untouched in storage for a millenia. I ran assessments of the quality of planets and began to program a suit to handle the conditions. My halo's display tried to tell me several times to turn away from this area, but I felt more and more called to explore.

When I finally arrived at my destination, I couldn't help but gasp. Half of the planet was crumbling away, drifting nearby and orbiting it like a natural defence system. I circled the place curiously, analyzing the surface. One area in particular, in the crumbling pit that was one side of the planet, seemed to have lower toxicity. If anyone was anywhere, it would be there.

I covered myself in the suit I'd been preparing. The thin, translucent material shrank until it fit my body. The suit ended at my docked tail, leaving my cyborg tail to move freely. Once I finished dressing, I started the fragile task of navigating my small ship through the field of protective rocks.

It proved easier than I thought. It took only fifteen minutes to clear the field. It was as if a few of them moved out of my way upon sensing my arrival. Some part of me felt fear for what I would encounter on the planet's surface, but it was overpowered by my innate curiosity.

I touched down extra slowly, unsure if the tiny crumbling planet would handle my landing. Everything seemed fine, and after checking my sensors once more, I departed the ship and started trekking closer to the location with the lowest toxicity. The ground beneath me grew stronger as I approached; the texture became less rocky and more sandy. Interest piqued, I didn't hesitate when I came upon a cave.

When I entered, my fur stood on end. My sensors suddenly changed completely. The suit reacted strangely to the changes, and I felt a little panicked as its fit shifted. An unexpected voice startled me.

"You can take off the suit here," said an ancient, booming voice. I cried out, looking around and tripping over myself. The air near the back of the cave shivered, and a massive kalon's figure appeared from out of nowhere. "Be still, Melius," the kalon, obviously the alien I had been seeking, told me. "You are safe."



I remained on my side, gazing up in awe of the alien before me. He was thick-framed, and instead of fur, he had snake-like skin. Upon his head he had tall, wide antlers that sparkled like icicles. His skin was various greens and blues blending together, but his massive shine was dark and looked like its own little universe. He stared down at me with three gentle eyes, and I found myself slowly calming down. The alien's long ears flicked and he smiled happily.

I found myself almost laughing, since I had no idea what to think. "You know who I am," I whispered. The alien nodded slowly, still smiling.

"Anya speaks very highly of you," he said. "She always tells me that you are special."

"She always told you." I corrected, a pang of mourning shaking my heart as I stood up slowly. "My mother's been killed." The alien kalon's expression fell, and he looked down, confused. He closed his eyes, accepting my news and looking to me again, sadly.

"I'm so sorry. We were hoping to end this before you could be hurt."

"What were you and Mama planning?" I asked eagerly. "I came because she left so much behind-- I knew she had to be up to something, but I didn't know you were working together." The alien seemed pleased by my interest. He sat slowly, nodding to me.

"Let me tell you my story. Take off your suit, the air in here is protected. Get comfortable.

"My name is Prudens Anhorra. I am of a species simply called the Ancient Ones. As far as I know, I am the last of my kind.

"Your mother, Anya, found me here and I told her my story. She explained to me the cyborgs' thoughts and together we put the pieces of this puzzle together. You see, my abilities are unique and powerful. I can produce force-fields and make myself disappear like some races, but I can also see the history of objects and people simply by touching them. I've learned to reverse the power too and show people memories of my own and others'. When Anya sent a probe here, I found out about her, and we began to talk. Only when she finally came to visit did she reveal her full suspicions.

"She believed that my powers could show the universe the corruption she had seen in her own side of the fight. If she could get noble, pure-of-heart cyborgs like you to team with aliens and turn on the corrupt... Anya believed that she and I could end the war.

"We made plans to broadcast my memories and her knowledge to the entire galaxy. We needed to get to the center of the galaxy, where a dip in the fabric of space's ripples would show our message to the whole galaxy... if we had enough

"Power." We spoke the word in sync. I understood. This was my role-- my electricity could overload the galaxy's systems as the ripples rolled, and every screen in reach would show the truth.

Prudens nodded nervously, awaiting my response. I had already made up my mind.

"Let's finish what Mama started."

[ThatPinkThing]

1414 words - song: "These Roots" by Grey (feat. Stephen)

Prudens showed me the ship he'd come here on, since mine was too small to fit him, and we were able to get it running using my powers and the technology from my ship. Dismantling one of the fastest small ships this side of the sun was a small price to pay for intergalactic peace.

Prudens protected us both with his shield as we moved around and got the old ship ready. The controls of my ship were fitted onto the old one so I could drive, and Prudens knew how to use the ancient navigation systems. We took to the air only a couple days after I met him, and we headed for the center of the galaxy.

I told my new friend about my life, and he told me about his. He showed me the world he grew up on, and I realized it was actually several galaxies over. Nothing on his planet was artificial, which was a first for me. Through his memories, I saw things without my halo's display, and everything seemed unreal. It was like living in a dream compared to the analytical displays in my life.

Upon request, I showed Prudens some of the battles I had been in. I was hesitant at first, scared that he would turn on me if he knew I had killed. But he didn't. He pitied me, actually, and he apologized for not acting with my mother faster.

"It's not your fault," I told him, closing down my memories and opening my eyes. "It was out of your control."

"Anya made me promise that if you agreed to do this one day, I would protect you," he replied. It seemed unrelated at first, but then I realized where he was going. "Your power will be amplified at the center of the galaxy, but this is still an incredible feat of power. Anya has done her best to train you, but this... there will be consequences."

"I understand, Prudens." I told him. I sensed love in his tone and knew that Mama had truly left an imprint on him. My mother had always told me something similar before my operations. I told him the same thing I told Mama. "This is bigger than me. I want to help."

Prudens smiled, knowing through Mama's memories that I'd had this attitude for a long time. We silently shared memories the rest of the trip, anxiously awaiting the task to come.

• • •

Overall, the trip was short, but our thoughts made it seem long. Even though the ancient ship moved slowly and navigations were outdated, we knew the center when we reached it.

The station built at the center of the galaxy was meant to be neutral territory, but it was currently controlled by rebel aliens. Prudens agreed to do the talking. I was to wait aboard the ship until he explained the situation. When we were in range of communications, a voice spoke harshly over the crackling radio. "Identify yourself, ship model 43-QRT!" I felt nervous, because that anger would be directed at me if we messed up. Prudens touched his tail to my shoulder and leaned forward.

"My name is Prudens Anhorra. I am the last of my species coming to this station with information that I believe could make a giant leap in the progress of this war." Silence hung between them for a few moments.

"Our sensors indicate another life-form. Who's with you?"

Prudens' breath hitched. "My associate, Melius, who will be helping me distribute this information, should you allow it." Okay, honesty is the route we're taking. Here's to hoping they don't know I'm the Accessor. The rebels seemed to accept this answer.

"Dock at port 3. We'll escort you to speak with our captain." Yes!

Prudens confirmed the instructions and beamed at me. Only a few more hurdles and our mission would be complete.

We docked fairly easily, since I remained at the controls. Once landed, Prudens ushered me into the back and draped a blanket over me. "For comfort," he told me, but I knew he was trying to hide me in case of a check. I dimmed my tail's glow as much as I could and tuned my ears to listen when Prudens exited the ship.

"Where's your 'associate'?" A harsh female voice commanded.

"He is still onboard."

"We can't leave him unattended. Bring him out."

"I understand... you see, Melius is a bit different from you and I--"

"He's brought a cyborg in, dammit! Sweep the ship!" I tensed, reflexively preparing for a fight, but it never came. I felt a slight shiver. "What the blazes?! Let us in!" Prudens had put up a forcefield.

"As I told you, I am the last of the Ancient Ones." Prudens rumbled. I began to see his memories again, and realized he was conveying the importance of letting me in using his powers.

He started by showing his home, with flashes of destruction and the crumbling image of how he'd last seen it. He showed his travels and he showed the time he first met Mama. He focussed on the kindness and wonder in her robotic eyes as he recalled showing her his home, too. "I was helped by a cyborg doctor named Anya Liquo." He showed them the memories Mama had given him of the moments she saved lives-- the memories seemed endless. They stopped on one of me right after my first operation. "She adopted a son named Melius, in whom she detected greatness." I felt tears roll down my cheeks. He showed memories of Anya refusing to do dangerous modifications. Memories of being threatened into silence by the corrupt.

And then he flashed to my memories, the ones from my own battles. I grew nervous, but had to trust he knew what he was doing. He showed them me electrocuting the plant alien guards. He showed my team as we worked together, and he showed us afterwards as we took care of one another. He showed them us running as we escaped from stealing the prototype gun. He showed them how it killed my mother.

He showed them me crying at Mama's bedside, and I felt more tears. I could feel all over again the desperate drive to end this, and he showed them me putting my faith in a chance as I headed out to find him for some clue of Anya's plan.

My vision cleared of Prudens' influence, though tears still blurred everything. I heard Prudens outside again.

"She trusted him. I trust him. I believe he can help me show the galaxy the things we have seen together."

After a long pause, I heard a shaky voice say, "... Let him out." I felt Prudens' shield retracted, and I stood slowly. I walked as if in a dream again, but this time, I didn't feel like it was real at all. As I emerged, all I eyes were on me. Prudens watched me eagerly, the alien rebels watched nervously. I approached the leader, who stood at the far end of the docking bay. I walked slowly, cheek-fur still wet with tears. As I neared her, I realized she had shed tears too. She blinked once, a scar over one damaged eye flexed and showed me the hardships she too had experienced. "Is what this alien tells us truth?" She asked almost desperately. She had been fighting for so long she was willing to trust a cyborg if it meant she could stop.



I nodded. "Yes," my voice cracked, and I cleared my throat, "I want this to stop."

The alien leader nodded. "Follow me."

She led me and Prudens to a communications room where I could easily connect to computers. One test showed I could reach the whole station through one outlet, so the whole galaxy was next.

Prudens settled across from me, beginning to meld our minds together once more as he draped his tail around my shoulders. He echoed my mother one last time. "There's no going back."

"I don't want to," I replied. There was no time for hesitation. I relinked my mind with the base, let my barriers drop, and exerted the largest amount of energy I possibly could.

It felt strange, as if my body was sweling. Electricity exploded around us, and Prudens added memories to my power as I felt it expanding.

"This war can come to an end," I heard Mama's voice start the broadcast before the world went black.

[ThatPinkThing]

276 words - song: "Titanium" by David Guetta (feat. Sia) [piano cover]

I survived the broadcast, if that's what you're wondering.

Corrupt cyborg officials sent soldiers to the base, but our rebel friends held them off. Mere minutes after the fighting began, more alien rebels and my team of cyborg companions showed up and began to help us keep the corrupt away. I was unconscious, but Prudens tells me it was magical to see cyborgs and aliens fight alongside each other for the notion of peace.

Once the corrupt were out, our friends set up to defend the center of the galaxy, expecting more hits.

But instead, more ally ships arrived, and soon the base was being defended from all sides by a sphere of various ships.

I woke up a few days later being kept alive by machines. Prudens had made a promise to Mama and he hadn't left my side while I recovered. Papa even made it to the base, and while he had apparently never known of Mama's efforts with Prudens, he was proud of her-- proud of us -- anyway.

Also at my bedside was the female alien leader who I had met upon arrival. Her mate was there too, and had apparently come running from the outskirts of the galaxy to help defend the base when the broadcast went out.

When I looked around at the faces surrounding me and talking over each other, I knew I had undoubtedly made the right move, even if it put me in danger and made me a target. I still felt weak and tired, but a boundless joy filled my heart.

My incredible team and friends would be beside me, no matter what the future held.

[ThatPinkThing]

Pixels of Mel's robo-parts are by me ^u^





The other cute pixels are from bitmapdreams <3

Art featured in 'The Latest Mission' is by the incredible Dalgony!

Other art pieces are by me.