FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

There was an egg sitting in an incubator. It was not the typical construct one might call an egg, and in fact, one might say it wasn't really an egg at all.

They would be correct.

I for one didn't care what anyone called it.

It was my first child.

And hopefully, one of many with my love, Arista.

Oh yes, we made it out of the final fueling stages just in time. As it was, Lyra had to jettison the excess plasma as we entered warp, causing the predicted small flare to turn into an enormous tongue of fiery flame that extended well past what it should have.

We hoped no one suffered for it.

We obviously made no inquiries into it, as it would have given away the fact that we survived. As it was, Lyra had taken us out of their system and to another eighty one light years distant. This one was unoccupied, but it did have a habitable planet filled with lifeforms of a more primitive nature, much like Earth would have had a quarter of a billion years ago. Well, sort of like that.

We were there mostly to take on water, which the ship only had in small quantities. Seeing as it was recycled constantly, that was hardly a problem, but Lyra suggested bolstering the supplies in expectation of future broods. The more we had, the greater leeway we had for losing it. After all, there might come a time when we were on a desert planet and would end up losing some by excretion or perspiration, and that would be unrecoverable.

I hope I don't have to explain that to you.

For now, we had temporarily settled in on this rather lovely place, which was vaguely reminiscent of Earth. And by vaguely, I do mean vaguely. There were no cities, no roads, no unnatural structures except for our ship. The place was already in the database, but records showed that it had been declared as neutral territory. There weren't even any science stations on the surface. Everything had to come and go and leave no traces.

Humans could learn a thing or two about that.

We were not under the auspices of any alliance, seeing as we were freelancers, of a sort. Arista technically belonged to a race of creatures constrained by the rules, but as this ship and I were both anomalies, her presence hardly mattered in regards to such things. We were outsiders of our own making, and I was quite happy to keep it that way.

We were going to be traveling through the galaxy, and we were going to do it our way. Lyra however, decided to play schoolmarm and remind us that this wasn't a pleasure cruise.

I would suggest caution while exploring this planet. Indications show that there is no life in which you would typically refer to as being animal. Data also indicates the presence of botanical forms that are predatory onother mobile species. This is an unusual development, and while certainly open to investigation, I would heartily suggest that you avoid them is possible.

"And what do they look like?" I queried.

Plants.

"Oh, thank you oh goddess of all knowledge. I will be sure to be on the lookout for plants..." I said dryly as I stared at the vidscreen.

My statement holds true. Data suggests that their outward appearance will be similar to all the other forms. You see, they will also consume each other, so they have developed camouflage to hide themselves. There is no indication of how they might react to someone or something not from this planet. All observations have been made by drones, after the initial discovery of this place. I therefore do not have data on matters such as bite force - if they even havetypical orifices; overall strength, and poisons and/or toxins they may produce.

"Fine. We'll be on the lookout for anything that moves randomly," I shot back before I turned to Arista.

"Let's get the containers loaded onto the hover-sled and get to the nearest body of water."

"Sure thing. Hook me up."

We loaded several large, lightweight containers onto a flat pad. The pad acted like an anti-grav sled, which made moving it relatively easy, but once loaded, it would still require a fair amount of strength to move it. Mass was mass, after all. Arista felt she was more than up to it, and I figured I'd let her. If worse came to worse and we overloaded it, I could easily chip in with a little extra muscle. She had made claims about her abilities, which I had witnessed firsthand, and I for one had nothing against her pulling her fair share...so to speak. I knew this body was superior to hers, but if we were going to do this together, then I had to act as part of the team.

To be completely honest, the nanites could have handled this for us, but we wanted to explore, so doing two things at once seemed sensible. There was no better way to learn about this place, and perhaps find out what might pass as savory on our tongues.

Or sweet.

And everything in between.

Plus, the whole idea of animated plants was against much of what I had grown up learning from my biology courses back home. Sure there were Venus flytraps and sundews, and some flowers followed the sun throughout the day, but a plant that actually ran and consumed other plants was sort of weird.

This coming from the former human's consciousness presently presently residing in an alien body.

And yet, even as strange as that was, I was in for some pretty weird experiences. What information I might have had at my disposal while I was a sprite in the computer system was something I no longer had immediately available to me. That meant that I was going to be learning things by doing, and thus my present ignorance was going to be giving me a few surprises.

We made our way to a crystal clear pool; a lovely and deep spring that gushed from the ground. It was surrounded by the most verdant of greenery, and the most exquisite of flowers. We had the containers filled in no time, leaving us plenty more to explore. We both had on devices much like Arista and Reena had worn before, largely to keep us in contact with the ship. We hardly needed camouflage here, but the devices had other uses. They weren't necessarily as advanced as what they had been using, but it's what was onboard and we made use of what we had.

We received a warning from Lyra.

I detect a form entering your area that you may wish to take __notice of_ , and from what the data suggests,_ thenavoid.

_"_Ground level?"

Negative. From the air.

I found that intriguing.

"Are you suggesting that this plant life has learned how to fly?"

I am suggesting no such thing. On your planet, as it is on many others, plant life has allowed the wind to carry it's seeds to new locations. This has ever been a strategic method of propagation.

"Oh. So this thing is just floating?"

Yes, it is just floating. However, avoidance is suggested.

"How big is this thing?"

Doyou wish a scan measurement, or something more objective to your former human senses?

"The latter will do."

Consider it then to be in the size range of a hot air balloon, and acting very similar to one.

"Is that so," I said, curious to see this object. "And what allows it to float?"

It is filled with a high percent of hydrogen, generated using sunlight and electrolysis.

"Cool. I think we'll watch the sky for it. It's not something you see every day."

That is a fact. Keep in mind however that this is merely a shell; a seedpod if you will.

"I will." I said with a grump. I had to wonder what could be dangerous about a giant seedpod. The seeds?

Arista spoke up.

"Are you really going to wait for this thing to float overhead?"

"You have a point. We can explore towards the direction it's coming from, and find it quicker."

"That's not what I meant. Is it a good idea to look for it? Lyra seems to suggest some inherent danger to it."

"A big dead puffball?" I remarked with a laugh.

"This is not your homeworld, and thus, whatever lives here will not compare to what you recall from your experiences. We can go look, but I think we should, as we have been warned, use caution."

"Fine. Time to try out some of what this planet offers anyways, don't you think?"

She approached a bulbous fruit-like structure on a low growing plant and sniffed it. She then bit into ever so slightly.

"The flavor is sweet, with a tart overlay."

"Poison?"

"None that I can detect that would affect me."

I took a hold of it and plucked it off the stem. Taking a bite, I made a bit of a face.

"Reminds me of carambola back home. Not a fave, but..."

I stood there a moment and tried it again.

"There, that's better."

"What's better?"

"I just adjusted my taste buds to be more accepting of the flavor. I think that feature will come in handy in the future."

"You can do that?"

"It seems I can. I thought that I'd at least try."

"You definitely are a lot more complicated then when we first met."

I busted out laughing, because for now, I was looking like my old self. I suppose that made noting the differences a little more difficult.

"That is an understatement. Had anyone told me I would be here, looking like this, at this moment in my life, I would have asked them what kind of drugs they were on."

"But you presently have perfect clarity."

"Perfect? I have no way of comparing my present situation with my former one. But yes, I think I cogitate better than before."

"I certainly hope so, considering all your consciousness has gone through to be here today."

I laughed a little.

"And I thought jumping through administrative hoops back home was bad!"

Just about then we noticed it; an enormous brown blob in the sky, rising over the treetops a few hundred meters away. It did look rather like a hot air balloon, only a bit wrinkled and very desiccated. It was fairly high in the sky, but not so much so that you couldn't pick out the details.

"Would you look at that? I suppose its as good a way as any to distribute your seeds."

"It doesn't look dangerous," Arista commented, echoing what I was thinking.

"I wonder what it would take to bring it down?"

She whipped her head around to stare at me.

"Bring it down?"

"What goes up, must come down, spinning wheel..."

"Don't speak to me the words of one of your songs. Lyra predicts this has the potential to be dangerous."

"A giant floating...medicine ball?"

"You know quite well that is not what it is." She saw me bend over and grapple with a broken branch of a dead tree. "I have a feeling this is a mistake."

I found my humanesque body to be improper for the task I had in mind. I reverted to my natural form, which had many superior capabilities. I broke off the end, and then the top, compressing the wood there to a point. I watched until the thing was very nearly overhead, drawing back my arm and directing the missile towards the floating monstrosity.

It sailed upwards with unerring accuracy, hitting it on the bottom. There was a brief hiss, and then it exploded in a flash of fire. With my enhanced vision I could see; something; many somethings actually, leaving the center of the explosion.

"Time to run!" I cried, grabbing her as I turned.

I was making great strides, but I dropped her to the ground so that she could go at her own speed. The vegetation went flying in all directions as we pelted away from what was going to be certain serious injury, if not possible death.

I was never going to doubt Lyra again.

There were thuds echoing all around us. That thing, whatever it was, seemed to have developed a very effective tool for redistributing its genetics around the planet. I could only guess at the mechanism, but rupturing it caused it to activate. The explosion must have been the hydrogen, and it released a horde of spring activated pods, all of which were shaped like darts - a half meter long. Hundreds of them were flying out in all directions.

I really wasn't interested in finding out if this body could deal with an impact with one or not. And yes, I was also thinking that I had been foolish, and yet, I was feeling euphoric now that I was running for my life.

I loved being a totally new person!

One of the pods struck the ground ahead and just to the right of the path we were making, so I grabbed it out of the ground to inspect it. It was hard as metal, and looked very much like some medieval Earth blacksmith had forged a weapon created from the mind of a madman. I was contemplating taking it with me to the ship, but a nagging thought told me otherwise. I threw it to the side just a second or two before it erupted into a hail of ball-like seeds. Several struck me along the side, hurting, but thankfully not doing any real damage. That being said, the foliage in the immediate area was shredded, and to my surprise, several of the plants keened in pain and raced from the region.

This was getting more and more interesting.

Arista, however, was not amused.

"I suppose you're enjoying yourself?"

"I am actually. I have learned something not to do, and in the process, figured out a few of the more mobile lifeforms."

"I saw them too. Are we done here?"

I was beginning to slow my pace. The incredible demonstration was just about over. I could hear popping as the pods opened, and the occasional whiz of one as it came our way..

"That was like a fireworks show, only better!"

"That was like being in the middle of a battle, with both sides shooting in your general direction!" she countered.

There is little point in me making recommendations that you are not at least going to take seriously.

I spoke into the device on my wrist.

"I allowed curiosity to overwhelm my good sense. But you do learn best by doing."

You can also perish from doing such things On the other hand, I did gather data from your reckless actions, so find that I hold no hard feelings against your rashness.

"Do you have feelings?" ask Arista.

I do. Because they are not expressed in a manner you accept is irreverent.

"And if we had died?"

The chances of that, even with such rash behavior, were low enough to not be a cause for concern. Undergoing a little danger makes you sharper to avoid it in the future. Since there seems like there is to be a lot of time in your future, early learning is better than learning belatedly.

"And if we had encountered one of the local predators?"

You did. You did so under such circumstances that their presence was no longer a threat, because you initiated a larger one. I might suggest that tracking one down now might prove easier, for you know what to look for, and several that were in the area likely suffered damage. Dispatching them might be a kindness, though I can say I have little information on whether or not they feel pain.

I suddenly felt bad about what I did. But not too bad. Those floating menaces were natural to this world, and who knew who many times this scenario had played out over the past few millennia? I was now wiser to how this single organism worked, and knew that if we stayed for very long, I was going to have to learn more about the rest of the flora. There was testing to do on the ship, so I had to balance one against the other.

"Lyra, how is the energy system behaving?" I asked, changing the subject.

All components are operating within design specifications. Nanites are on standby to make necessary repairs should any portion show even the slightest possibility of failure. You have plenty of time to do what you wish.

"Fine. After our recent excitement, I think we'll be a little more low-key in what we do."

"We?" echoed Arista. "I had nothing to do with your harebrained idea!"

"No, you didn't. But it was a lot of fun, now wasn't it"

I could tell she was hesitant to answer. When she did, she did so in a begrudging tone.

"Well, it was rather exciting."

Then she paused

"But stupid," she added just to keep the blame on me.

"I have broad shoulders. I can take the heat."

"You have marks on your skin that show where you took some of the shrapnel."

"They are fading already," I remarked, as my body healed them over.

"You will continue to be reckless until you do some real damage, won't you?"

"Yep. Might as well see what this biological marvel can do in real time!"

She sighed.

Lyra spoke up as well.

You are already aware of the possibilities. If this is your method for figuring them out, then I must refrain from criticism. However, I may give you the a sobering thought; you are now a father, or whatever equivalent you wish to think of yourself in that role, and if you value family, then you will rein in your capriciousness and act in a more refined manner.

Arista's eyes lit up.

"Yes! What she said!"

It was a sobering thought.

"Yes, I know. But I feel like a kid again! This body is restless."

As is your mind. I well understand what you are going through. But if you wish to claim any sort of superiority, then you must show that by being more responsible. I did tell you that the object you unwisely punctured was dangerous.

"You didn't tell me how it was going to be dangerous," I countered with some heat.

True. I also do not recall you asking either.

She had me there.

"No. I did not ask. But I think it wouldn't have mattered. Just you telling me about it would have made me determined to see it for myself."

An honest assessment, and one deeply rooted in your human brain's structure and development. There is something fascinating about your race, and like you and your present need to, as you might say it, stretch your wings, caution is still advisable. Your people have many counterproductive mannerism, and from what I have intercepted from communications on your world, it is heading for what you call Armageddon.

"You're not telling me anything I don't already know. But you see, I feel I need to keep the human part of my mind to the forefront; for emotional purposes."

You may do as you see fit. Just understand that there will be times when your programmed emotional response may come back to haunt you. Your body deserves the calculating mind it originally had.

"But that isn't me."

It is you; one of many possibly yous. Just as your body can change, so can your mind, as you already are aware. One can affect the other. Caution extends to both the tangible and the intangible. What you may notice in alterations to your physique, you may also find yourself blindsided when it comes to your mind. Your mate's observations would be well heeded.

"So you're saying that I will gloss over those changes?"

I am saying you will be unable to detect harmful nuances on your own. If you could, you would not have them. Since your brain patterns are based upon your original, and you desire to maintain them, then you are on course for; how do your people say it...a meltdown.

"I find that unlikely."

What you find in your present state of mind is irrelevant. You will have one at some time, going in the direction you are headed. I believe it is unavoidable, and the outcome cannot be accurately determined.

"Meaning?"

Meaning just what I said. You could, as you might say it, have a total mental breakdown. Your mind has gone through a lot, and changing containers for it will have an effect regardless of the protocols used for the transfer.

"So you're implying I have some bad code in my head?"

If that is an acceptable comparison, then yes. Within the mainframe it was negligible. But as you have distilled down what you consider to be yourself, I feel you have taken it with you. I understand that being flawed is human, but you are no longer human. Keep that in mind no matter how much you try to emulate your old self.

"It seems you have provided me with a Catch Twenty Two conundrum."

Damned if you do and damned if you don't? Yes, that is fairly accurate. If you do not go forth in a manner you feel you need to do, you will not become the person you wish to be. But in pursuing that, you risk everything you already have.

"Solution?"

I see none. I am giving warning to go forward with less haste, and more; well, in your case, compassion. I would suggest you remain intuitive to your status, but I feel that you will only see what you wish to see. A curious trait of your species. It has great potential for self-destruction.

That brought me up short. I complained about that all of the time. But could it possibly affect me, especially now, with this new body?

"I will do my best to control my urges."

Arista cleared her throat.

"All of them?"

I smiled.

"No, not all of them. Some are just too much fun to allow to remain untapped. And speaking of which..."

"Here, on this planet?"

"Yes. We may never come back again, so I think maybe we should do an Earth habit of making memories wherever one goes."

She got a crafty look on her face.

"An egg conceived on every planet we visit?"

My face curled up into a cunning smile.

"I like the way you think."

I will leave you two to do whatever it is you intend to do. Your safety is in your own hands, or paws, or however you wish to look at it. I will not be coming to rescue you if something happens while you are so preoccupied.

"I think we'll manage," Arista said sagely.

"And I think I have something new to try out."

Spare me the details. I will have the nanites move the water back to the ship, along with a large variety of botanical specimens. Your concern for edibility was already solved by examining the database. As far as personal tastes go, that will be for you both to deal with.

"Fine with us." I retaliated_._

As it should be. Enjoy yourselves. And try not to puncture anything other than what your present objective demands...

"What a smartass!" exclaimed my partner.

I chuckled.

"I think she picked up too many nuances from my culture. I find it unlikely that she had any such exposure before being subjected to being the brain of a ship."

"She seems to have accepted it well enough."

"She has. I did as well, while I was cooped up in the mainframe. But there is something about having a body that just can't be replicated virtually."

"Like mating?"

"Well, that certainly is one of them."

"And the something new?"

I smiled and concentrated. Changes were coming easier, but each time I picked something new, I had to work through the subtle variations to the form. In this case, a had to readjust my sense of self to the point that I was now on all fours, seeing the surroundings from a much lower point of view.

She stared agape at my new form.

"Son of a bitch! You can do that?"

I had to test out my vocal cords before replying. It took some time to adjust them for proper speech. Even then, I no longer sounded like myself.

"How do I look? It would help to have a mirror."

"You look like me, only bigger."

"The bigger part is likely going to happen every time. I can only compress this form down so far before it balks."

I picked up a fore paw and examined it. Razor sharp claws extended as I flexed my digits. I looked at Arista and tried to emulate what she could do with her teeth, but lacking any insight on it, failed completely.

"Well, I have the looks, but not the ability."

"What did you try to do?"

"Retract my teeth."

"Can you do that?"

"Well, I'm not really you, so maybe not."

"Does everything else work?"

"It should, but a test run might be in order."

"Size?"

"Good question. Lets see."

I rotated to look at what this body sported as a penis. Bigger than my normal, smaller than my new standard. I determined to, as it slid out of it's hiding place, that it was also a bit longer. I kind of liked having it tucked away like that. I wasn't sure where having it hanging in the open was a good thing. But then humans had some weird ancestry, so who could say?"

Arista nodded.

"I can take that. Repeatedly."

"Well I hope so, because just one time is hardly going to be enough."

She looked around before realizing the silliness of her action.

"I was looking for a place to do it, but it hit me belatedly that nothing on this world will care what we do."

"I agree."

Since my form closely matched hers, she simply assumed a crouch stance and lifted her tail. It was amazing being in this form, and being able to breed with her in a manner to which she was constructed. I got up behind her and quickly found a good stance, rubbing the tip on my cock along until it found where it needed to be. The pointed tip split the narrow gap and I pushed in with a solid jerk of my hips. She let out a hiss that trailed off into a sigh.

"Oh, I like this one."

"Me too. But I have more to try out."

"Right now?" she cried out, alarmed.

"Oh, not right now. This one will do just fine."

"Good. I'm not in the mood for any more surprises."

I figured there was going to be plenty of time to figure out my now possibilities. Here and now, I was content to go at it like an animal.

Quite literally.

There was something grand about doing like this. For one, my body was now configured to be more like hers, and therefore, I could do the deed more in line with this body form. I grabbed her with my front legs, while simultaneously digging in hard with my hind legs. We had to look like some alien version of a wildlife show narrated by David Attenborough.

Rated X, of course.

We both felt a special thrill in doing this, not as anything voyeuristic, but by the fact that for her, this was going to be the first times that she really got to be a mother. Producing an egg was one thing, but knowing that it was really a life formed inside of you, instead of in a laboratory, made what we did all the more special to her. And if she was happy, boy oh boy, let me tell you, I was happy.

And like any male, I was enthralled to be the one driving my point home.

I consciously made my body give just a little more length to what this form had, until I could feel the tip of my cock knocking ever so firmly against the end of her tunnel. With any luck, when I unloaded inside of her, the fertilization process would occur that much more quickly. I had some idea of her anatomy, being one of the things that I took out of the mainframe when I left. In fact, I knew more about her body than I did mine, though I was closing the gap on that as fast as I could. Given enough time, there was little I could do in reshaping it.

But for now, this form was more than adequate.

And it was going to town!

Arista had planted her feet solidly, and it was still taking everything she had to keep from getting bowled over. The power of this form was incredible, and I could well understand her own strength much better. As a human, I didn't have a tenth of what I had now.

A human girl could never stand up to the punishment I was giving out at the moment. But Arista could. Oh boy, could she! The real question was for how long? Unlike before, I could keep going for as long as I, or she, wanted. And that meant I had to balance between both spectrums. In this case, I would let her moderate. When she had enough, she would let me know. In the mean time, it was a free for all.

I let loose with my sperm three times over the course of our lovemaking. I'll not call it ejaculations exactly, because this body didn't behave like my old one. The entire act was pleasurable, meaning that there never needed to be a culmination for it to feel replete. Well, for me anyways, in this bodily form. It was interesting that like humans, Arista had that peculiar rise, plateau and fall of the orgasm. I think I still had it in my other form. Or forms. It was funny how some simple things like that didn't transfer from change to change. Even the memory of it seemed mildly muted.

We were still going strong two hours after we began, with no signs of slowing, when something happened that, retrospectively, was amusing. At the time however, it was annoying as hell and rather irritating.

And to be honest, as it first occurred, it actually scared me.

And that took some doing as I hardly felt fear in this body. Had I still been in my old body; well; I would have soiled myself in the most embarrassing of ways. And maybe not survived to boot.

We were in the middle of what we were doing, and not paying attention to our surrounding sin the least, I mean, after all, what was there to worry about on a plant filled with plants? Well, yes, I had shown there was some danger, but lighting never struck twice, right?

Wrong.

But the threat did not come from the sky above. No. It came right at ground level.

And it came as a horde. No one, not two, but many.

All at once we were swarmed by a pack of voracious little...well...things. I might have identified them had I had access to the information I had before, but now I was at a loss. They were about the size of a large rat; green, mottled in brown, and with wicked mouths that were eerily reminiscent of the leaves of the Venus Flytrap. They didn't seem to have eyes, but they zeroed in on us anyways.

If you were in the middle of doing what we were doing and have it interrupted but such creatures, tell me your first reaction wouldn't be to panic. Recall that I had largely adapted to using my old frame of mind, even if I was in a different body. Suddenly we were assaulted by this throng of...things.

And they were trying to eat us!

We pulled ourselves apart to deal with the onslaught. That rather pissed both of us off. In about ten seconds we both came to the conclusion that these little monsters might be a terror on their own world, but they were nothing compared to us. Once we got over the shock of their impromptu interruption, we both went a little overboard.

I think the word berserk might come into play here.

I went from alarmed that these horrid looking things were going to chew me to bits, to discovering that while uncomfortable, their pointing little spine-like teeth couldn't penetrate out skin. It was like being mauled by a bunch of oversized hamsters with hair combs for teeth. I roared in anger and shook violently to dislodge them. She did the same. They arced through the air, rolling along the ground and smacking into trees and rocks. In a second they had shook themselves off and gathered again for the attack. I had to think they didn't really possess nervous systems, at least in regards to pain, for none of them acted any differently.

I think that once they had their collective mind set on a subject, they followed through until they got their desired prey, or they perished in the attempt.

The latter was going to prove to be their undoing.

As they came at us again, we each, separately and yet simultaneously, went on the offensive. They only way to be rid of this pestilence was to destroy it. When Arista had said she was more than prepared to use her teeth to defend herself and Reena back on Earth, she had meant it. And they did as much damage as I might have expected. Time to see what I could do.

It turned into a free-for-all. Unlike my mate, I had no qualms about destroying these little fuckers. I knew in the back of my head that they belonged here while we did not, but it made little difference to my mindset. They had to go! They could have easily attacked something else.

I snapped at one as it tried to bite my leg, and the power of my jaws severed it into two. I was taken aback at what I had wrought, but the taste in my mouth was surprising pleasant. Sweet, but not sickeningly so. And damned if it didn't look like blood. But it was some weird kind of sap. I spared barely a thought to this as I raged on, meeting these little beasts in battle. It seemed as though other of their kind swarmed in, somehow attracted to the melee via the noise, or pheromones, or something entirely else.

But they kept coming.

It was like a shark feeding-frenzy, only in this case, the predators had no idea what they were up against. I saw her snap at one, then another, before she got the idea that only dead would they no longer be a threat. I think in the back of her mind, she still clung to the matter of not killing or eating meat, but she soon concluded that these were, in their own weird little way, nothing more than glorified daisies.

Vicious little daisies, but animated flowers nonetheless.

The body count should have been stacking up, when I noticed smaller versions of these critters showing up. It was only when Lyra's voice came across the com devices that the situation was made clear.

These creatures can replicate themselves from damaged individuals. If you need to think of a similar comparison, think of the story of the Hydra in your human mythos. Every one you destroy creates at least two more. Your best strategy at this point is to retreat to the ship and call it quits.

I knew Lyra had no reason to fabricate a story, so with a huge surge of energy, I sent those attacking me flying off in all directions. I came to Arista's aid, lashing at the ones mobbing her, and we both beat a hasty retreat back to the ship. This body didn't have adrenaline, not chemically speaking, but I was still feeling a euphoria that came with such encounters. It was not something I would have cared to try before, but now, I felt nigh close to invulnerable. As I ran along, fleet of foot, I reveled in what it felt like to be really alive.

We got lost once, finally taking directions from our wrist sets and homing back in on the ship. We made it inside and Lyra closed the portal. Before anything else could happen, we were swarmed again, this time by the nanites.

I hope you both enjoyed yourself. Let it be known that your actions are making me reconsider stopping at other such planets. As it is, I have employed the nanite crew to scour your bodies of contamination. I need not have you dropping bits of the local vegetaion all over this ship.

"We survived just fine!" I said with some merriment, as my skin crawled with a million minuscule robots.

You did, and there was never a question of that. But without youshowing some restraint, I feel that future visits will need to be monitored more closely. Arista is too enamored to think clearly, and your mind it too diffuse to be fully trusted. And speaking of Arista, I doubt she has had the frame of mind to note that she will soon be adding to the nursery.

My mate sighed.

"I am aware of my self, thank you. Considering the elapsed time that I spent unable and unwilling to produce potential offspring, it should come as no surprise that my body is working very diligently to make up the difference."

I was not being critical. I am merely suggesting that tempering your present course would be wise. I can leave you on any planet you wish, but I cannot leave you with much in the way of technology. All that I am largely stays with me. Therefore, I think you need to consider your options. Physically you both as able to fend for yourselves, but providing for a family may prove to be more than either of you is prepared for. And there is that matter of alterations.

"Alterations?" I asked.

Has your mind slipped so far in your present guise? Almost every embryo is promoted into a specialized form, as dictated by the planet's dominant standards committee. I know you know this, for Reena and Arista are identical genetically.

"Yes, I get that. I didn't before, and I know I knew more, but I understand the concept. Are you saying that if we try to raise a family on our own, it may result in failure?"

Failure is a poor choice of words. You will have no say in how they look, or how they act. For once, a generation will grow up to be just what their genes tells them they should be. I am unclear how prepared you are for that.

"Why?" asked Arista, with both hesitancy and curiosity in her voice_._

You produced one egg, as Norman calls them, and the result, via the biometrics lab, was Norman's new body. His new form may not carry over to his offspring in exactly the same manner. I assume you understood this.

"But I thought we could have children normally."

Normally? There is nothing normal about your kind anymore Arista. They have, if you'll excuse the term, tinkered with their genetics for so long, they have forgotten what they were and where they came from. You can have children, but I would suggest that what you may find happening is that each one will be distinctly different from the others. Healthy, that is assured, but there will be no consistency to their size and form. That is why, even if fertilized naturally, all such results still went to the birthing laboratories. You entire race is molded; once to improve it, and now to merely maintain it. Without constant meddling, there is no saying what will result.

I think I heard Arista gulp.

"Why would my people do this?'

It is, as Norman's people would say, a long story.

"I'm willing to hear you out."

I am sure that is the case. We can be on our way and I can begin the journey with the basics. In the meantime, sensor readings indicate your next birthing will be in a matter of hours, so there is no question of his potency. Therefore, you may wish to rest prior to this, and I will forestall leaving the planet until it occurs.

"There is not need for you to delay leaving."

Jumping through a quantum vortex can be stressful, and to be honest, I have no data pertaining to its effects on embryonic entities. Even within your body, there exits a chance of causing damage. I find this to be unconscionable to consider. I hope you agree.

"I do. Might I ask why you would care?"

A good question. I presume you feel that I should care about nothing whatsoever, being merely a program designed to run this ship. Is this correct?

"To a degree, yes."

Then, if that is what you think, I will not disabuse your incorrect assumption. If we remain together long enough, perhaps you will come to see me differently.

I spoke up.

"Should I tell her?"

I would prefer you did not, even if your memory of who I am has been reduced to a mere; how would you say it? A merescratching upon the surface.

"Fine, have it your way. We can easily wait until she gives birth to continue on this journey. Any ideas where we are headed next?"

I had a planet in mind, but I have opted to travel to a different __system entirely. Every planet is different, and some have more to learn from than others.

"Rexus..."

Yes, if you must know.

"Good choice. I'd like to see it in person. And speaking of in person, I think perhaps I should revert to my humanesque body for a while. I can use the practice changing forms."

"Where is Rexus," asked Arista, surprised that a planet was mentioned that she had never heard of.

Fourth planet in the old Tralos system.

"I've never heard of either of those names."

Of course you haven't. That destination is forbidden on your world,and thus never received a designation in the modern nomenclature.

"Why?"

You'll find out when we arrive. In the meantime, rest and prepare yourself. Giving birth so soon after another can be wearing. And yes, I understand the urgency. I am merely encouragingcaution. You may wish to leave a longer space between couplings.

"Yes, I suppose that might be prudent. Or shift the target of our engagement..."

Your methodology is immaterial to me. If you are, for some inexplicable reason, trying to goad me with ideas that you two have done something taboo, please note that this is merely p __s_ y ch ological leftover for your time on his world. What goes on between two creatures that is mutually satisfactory is no one's business but their own._ If you think that I care if his sexual organ is placed in the proper channel for procuring offspring, or slid into place in the alimentary canal, then you need to reconsider your position. I am fully aware of that method for avoiding fertilization, as it has been around for half a million years within our genetic group, even if the idea of it as an effective prophylactic tool has only existed on his world for maybe a thousand.

"You speak matter-of-factually."

As I should. I will say no more about it. When the time is right, we shall discuss that matter again, only that time you will have greater information, and your opinion on me may improve.

Arista tried to engage her some more, but the com was silent.

"I think perhaps she's right. I do find it hard to resist you sexually, and this body of mine seems to be overrun with hormones. I'd love to go at it for a day or more, but when she puts matters into that perspective, I feel that I should dial things back a little."

"What if I don't want you to?"

I was looking like my old self again, as close as I could manage it. I gave her a smile and rubbed her head gently.

"I glad that's the way you feel. But for the moment, with another one on the way, I think we should perhaps ease up. Your body went a long time holding back, and letting it all loose at once could have serious consequences on your health. Just look at how much you've been eating."

She stopped and looked at me. For just a second she got a crafty look on her face, but she went neutral immediately. She said evenly;

"Are you calling me fat?"

I choked back a laugh.

"You? Jesus Christ Arista, if you were any more sleek you'd make a greyhound look obese!"

That made her pause.

"Do you think I am unfit to give birth?"

I sat down beside her on the floor of the ship.

"I think that we have gotten caught up in the novelty of all the sudden changes. I don't want to lose you, and I know enough about Lyra to know she does have your best interests in mind. So yes, just maybe, after this birth, we should take stock of what we really want for the future and think over a plan. I would love to settle down on a planet with you and raise a huge family, but being a parent is never anything I thought I would be. Raising humans I could handle. But we are entering new territory here. I know that this body is in part from you, and in part from me, which as weird as that is, is still not as weird as wondering what form our children are going to take. We really need to decide if we want Lyra tinkering with them."

"I don't like the word tinkering."

"My apologies. Adjusting the physical characteristics of them. Plus, are you willing to allow the implanting of basic concepts within their minds? It's what they did for you, and I of course essentially had the same thing happen. It would give them a head start, but maybe you want them to learn everything from scratch?"

She growled a little.

"These are things that I have never had to worry about. Until now. Essentially you are asking if I am willing to be parted from the technology that made me what I am, and go it alone without such conveniences."

"Yes. There are hundred of planets of all shapes and sizes, with lifeforms equally as prolific. I think we could start a whole new race on any planet we choose."

"New race?"

"I have no idea what this body's genetics will do when mixed with yours. And if Reena was able to be tuned to being bipedal, and you in turn into quadrupedal, then what will our children be like?"

"I have no idea."

"They will be wonderful regardless. The question is; do we allow them to grow up as they are meant to be, free without outside influence? Or do we direct them from the start?"

It is not that easy of a choice. I would suggest, that for now, you wait and see how your first two offspring turn out. Even then, you will have to wait many years until full maturity to understand many of the ramifications of your genetic mixing. This is merely a proposition. I intend to have little to no input into this matter, as it does not involve me in the least.

"Then why interjected any commentary at all?"

Experience. I am guiding you through unknown territory because I was once there.

"You said you were a copy of someone's brain pattern!"

A copy, done correctly, is still a perfect duplicate of the original.

I was going to add my own opinion, but decided that I had best leave this between themselves.

"True. Then for that matter, you could duplicate yourself over and over again a thousand times!"

I could do so infinitely. But each copy would assume it was the original, and then the fabric of my personal reality see's itself altered irrevocably.

"Who were you?" demanded Arista, stamping her feet on the metal floor.

It should be obvious. I am the ship.

"That is not an answer!"

I finally butted in.

"It is a perfectly good answer. What is the name of the ship?"

I think she went pale.

"That cannot be..."

Why? Because I was alive so very long ago? True, one might call me a relic of our past, but I have kept current in my position as the main mind behind the planetwide computer system. Then again, that is the real me. I am, as I have stated, merely a copy, whose function it was to control this ship. But this project died and I went dormant.

"Then Norman conversed with the real you?"

I smiled but said nothing.

I am real in my own right. In regards to your question however, yes, in a way. He overrode the protocols for a while before figuring out that his effort was going to cause damage. He then tried to contain himself, but only with limited success. It was only in leaving the system could he restore balance, which he did with admirable effect. My old self is less of a person than I am, if you can contemplate that. What is left of her at this point would be a withered me, so therefore, I am more me than she.

"But..."

No buts. I have told you more than I intended at this stage. Be content with the new information you have gained and put it to good use.

Arista was silent for a moment. Then, unexpectedly she let out a muted groan.

"What's the matter?" I asked, mildly alarmed.

"I think this last impregnation was a bit more vigorous than the previous one. Feels like I need to head to the clinic."

I nearly jumped to my feet and put my hand on her.

"Lets go do this."

There was a sound that came from the com. It sounded a lot like a snort.

Males! She does not need you physically to deliver her latest offspring. And before you lay claim to being the father, allow me to remind you that this ship has everything needed to genetically create a viable embryo without your help.

"I am well aware of this. But how are you at providing physical and emotional support?" Hmmmm?"

Lyra had no response, but the door opened automatically without us approaching it.

Arista groaned a little again, and we slipped out into the hallway and down to the room that had been set aside for just this purpose. There was a surprise however, for when the door opened, there was a humanoid form standing at attention.

"I can be whatever I need to be Norman, whenever I need to be it. I would like to claim I am disappointed in you, but I understand that much of the information you once had freely available to you is no longer at your disposal," proclaimed the unit.

"Holy shit Lyra! Nanites?"

"Sanctified d __efecation has nothing to do with any of this, if you please. And yes, this body is made of nanites, with my present form closely matching what I looked like in real life. It is functional to a degree. However, I cannot leave the shi_ p_for an extended length of time as the energy demands they require to operate can only extend a set distance."

I looked past the figure and got another surprise.

"Lyra..." I said slowly. "The first egg has grown."

The information you left behind was rather important to your future self. Of course it has grown. It is receiving a nutrient mist. It is another condition that you would have to make allowances for. Can you continue to nurture your young until they can fend for themselves?

"I thought..." I started to say.

"And that is presently the difficulty. You think in human terms. You must retain your full cranial capacity to think matters through in totality. I feel for you, really I do, but if you intend to do the things I know you wish to do, you will have to do them with less emotion and more logic."

"Love is not logical," I countered.

Emotions in general are not logical, and still they exist in hundred of intelligent species throughout the known galaxy.

"And your point is?"

The raising of young takes considerations that must be met. Unintelligent species manage to perpetuate their genetic line by many means. Your present form is new. It has no instinctual guidelines built into it. Neither does Arista. That is part of what was engineered out of her species makeup. Did you think the thing you call an egg was just going to hatch into something that could fend for itself? If so, then I would highly recommend you visit a terminal and look up the data pertaining to what goes into promoting its health and vitality from the moment the egg is transferred from the host body to its eventual growth to a stage that can begin to be called self-sustaining. I know you had this information in your data set before. Why you would opt to not download it into your new body is beyond my scope of understanding. I must assume it has something to do with your original species configuration.

I was silent. I was also a bit stunned. There was only so much information I could transfer over to this mind without data corruption, and I would have thought that anything to help me in the future would have been included.

When I remained silent, the pseudo-Kyra resumed talking.

Might I hypothesize that you, being human and all in your first body, retain some distinctly human traits that are of no use to you now? For one, the reasoning that a female, and more specifically, one that has given birth, is superior to the male in raising the young? If that archaic notion is still in your head, I would do whatever you can to remove it. You and Arista are rather unique, and you will have many challenges to face. But in the end, it will take both of you to raise a child, much less an entire brood.

I cleared my throat.

"Are you saying that we are dependent on technology just to survive?"

No. Your offspring are. Once they advance even to the edge of maturity, they will no longer need assistance. It is up to you to seem them to that stage.

"And so, when all is said and done, we are stuck on this ship definitively?"

You can look at it that way. To find a world that specifically suits your needs is not impossible, but highly improbable as I can find none in the database that max your requirements. As you know, there is room aboard for more of your offspring, but the available space is not unlimited. And there is also that matter of; where I go, you go. That may have drawbacks, the likes of which you have yet to fathom.

"You won't take us where we want to go?"

I am not against exploration, but my scope of what is new and unexplored is massive compared to the trivial desires you express. Much of the information I have just recently added to my data banks is merely more detailed information on data that already exists. I long for infinite horizons and unexplored depths.

Arista spoke quietly.

"And where would that take us?"

As you Norman is fond of repeating, "Where no man has gone before."

"He is no longer technically a man."

True.

"So a better answer would be welcome."

As you say, little sister. My intent is to go beyond the scope of any speices living in this galaxy.

"You're not going to try jumping galaxies?!"

That is a real possibility. There is still so much to explore in this one that I have plenty of time before I grow dulled and bored by what it has to offer. But my ultimate goal outshines that by the brilliance of ten thousand suns.

"And that would be..."

Escaping this universe to see if there are truly others overlapping ours..

There was silence aboard the ship.