The Story Begins
Since this is not a first person story, please choose a character to follow:
Jake Warrens: the leader of a small refugee group that has converted an office building into a hide-out.
Laura Hawkins: a forest-ranger who's avoided detection by avoiding major cities since the invasion. She's mostly a loner.
Rysthin Dor'Vool: A seasoned radinri scout and hunter, recently assigned to earth.
Ry William: A 10-year-old mature kid who trained himself to fight. An excellent fighter, and not too shabby with guns and bows. A kind spirit. Doesn't kill. Is a peace-maker, but likes to punch first and ask questions later. Believes peace can be made between humans and Radinri. Is very good with animals.
Matteus Spail:Survivor from Africa
Written by on 01 July 2008
Laura's Story
It was cold again, but then, it always seemed cold in the Alaskan forests. Laura sipped a hot cup of cocoa and then peered back out the window of the old ranger station. A rifle sat on the bookshelf in front of the window, with a powerful scope attached to it. This was how she had survived thus far, keeping a watchful eye on the horizon and being selective with her targets. For two years she'd done this. In fact, two radinri hunters had fallen prey to her deadly aim in the past month. She worried what the repercussions of killing radinri might be, but after 27 months she no longer really cared.
Written by LorikFurdin on 03 July 2008
Visitors
In a moment, the calm silence of the wilderness was broken.
"Attention, Human," boomed a voice. Laura sprang to find its source. She looked out the window...nothing. She looked out the other window...still nothing. Finally, she poked her head out the door...still nothing. "We are under orders to take you prisoner," the voice continued. It seemed to be coming from above her. She looked up, only to find gray sky. "If you do not comply, we are authorized to kill you. Come out into the open unarmed and you will not be killed," there was a pause, "that is, you will not be killed right away."
Written by Zodiac on 04 July 2008
Prisoner
The choice appeared to be between certain death and probable death. Still, Laura decided she'd rather be a living prisoner than a martyr. So self-preservation won out over honor, and she stepped out of the little house that had been her fortress since the invasion.
There was a shimmer in the sky above her, and a Radinri warship appeared. She recognized the ship--during the earliest hours of the invasion, TV news crews had been on hand to cover the disaster, at least until communications went out at the end of the first day. As the ship descended, Laura was inwardly grateful that she hadn't tried to fight. She would have been reduced to ashes before she even realized what was going on.
A doorway opened on the side of the ship, revealing a pair of Radinri. One was a green camouflage-patterned leopardtaur with suspicious black eyes. The other appeared to be a light brown liontaur, though she couldn't see its face.
A ramp extended from the open doorway, and the pair stepped out of the ship. The leopardtaur was armed to the teeth, with heavy body armor and a vicious-looking laser rifle, as well as a heavy satchel slung over his shoulder. Laura guessed she'd rather not know what was in it. The other was dressed in what appeared to be an ordinary parka and scarf, with an also-ordinary backpack. Laura looked at the second Radinri in bewilderment. This one wasn't even armed, and was wearing decidedly human clothing and had no fur on his upper body. Compared to his companion, he looked almost comical.
The funny-looking Radinri stepped around the warrior, lowered his hood, and untied the scarf, revealing a human face. "Hello," he said, putting out his hand, "I'm Quara Alex, but you can just call me Alex." Laura shook hands with the odd creature.
"I'm Laura Hawkins," she said. "Um...please don't be offended," she said, glancing at the laser rifle, "but you seem awfully--"
"Human?" Alex smiled. "I'm a Convert. One of the first."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Laura said.
"Right, sorry. You've probably been holed up here for a while. Anyway, before the invasion, my father was--"
At that moment, Alex was interrupted by a sharp growl from his companion.
"Sorry," Alex said, "my master here would like to...politely remind us that we have a schedule to keep, and we can continue our conversation on the ship after I've escorted you to your cell."
"What?" Laura said indignantly, "Your 'master'? My cell?!"
"Quiet," Alex hissed, "The Radinri have a very strict hierarchy. Play along or you'll get killed...or worse." The warrior growled again, this time louder, and Alex grabbed Laura by the arm and led her aboard. "Ah," he went on theatrically, "Forgive me for not introducing my esteemed master. This is Rysthin Ka'Ar. He's actually very kind, once you get to know him. Also, if you make eye contact with him he will rip your throat out. Just so you know."
Written by Zodiac on 04 July 2008
The Choices
Laura was more than willing to cooperate with her captors, considering that either one of the Radinri could shred through her like paper, not to mention the leopardtaur's laser rifle. So, without further incident, Alex led her to a small but not intolerable cell at the bottom of the ship.
The cell was furnished with an old, beat-up bed with a lumpy mattress and threadbare blanket, a dirty sink with a mirror over it, and a toilet. As she looked around, she came to the realization that the cell was furnished specifically for humans; Laura wasn't familiar with Radinri lifestyles, but she couldn't imagine human furnishings being even remotely comfortable for taurians. She turned to Alex: "Why is everything--"
"The cells are refurbished for every invasion," Alex cut her off, "every prisoner asks that. Believe it or not, Radinri have a sort of grudging respect for anyone they take prisoner. You've killed two Radinri hunters, so you've proven yourself as a hunter and, therefore, worthy of being a prisoner."
"'Worthy'?"
"Otherwise, you would've just been killed." Laura stepped into the cell as Alex closed and locked it behind her. It wasn't a great situation, but it beat the alternative.
The ship began to hum eerily as it lifted off. Laura looked for something to brace herself with, but she didn't need to--the takeoff was remarkably smooth.
"So," Laura asked, "Where are we going now?"
"Radinri headquarters," Alex answered, "In New--er, what used to be New York City. It'll be about half an hour. After that, well, that depends on you."
"Me?"
"That's right. We've received instructions to take human prisoners to a secret base in Hawaii. But, since you've proven yourself as a hunter, Rysthin Ka'Ar has said you could be converted...if you want."
"Converted?" Laura faltered, "Like...like you?" she asked, looking at his thoroughly mismatched human torso and lion body.
"Right. We have a conversion tank on board, if you want to get it over with right away. You'd be turned into a Radinri, although above the hips you'd be pretty much unchanged. I'm not sure why, but Converts always keep a vestige of their former species."
"What if I don't want to be a Radinri?"
"Laura," Alex's voice suddenly dropped, as if Rysthin Ka'Ar was listening, which perhaps he was, "The Radinri are taking over the planet. They want to use it as a training ground for their young hunters, but since humans have been killing off so many of the more challenging species, the Radinri have decided to eliminate all humans. But not all of them will be killed--that would be a waste, and any good hunter knows not to be wasteful. They're hoping some of the humans can be turned into other animals for hunting, and others--lucky ones, like you--will become Converts, to be their slaves and servants. Anyone who survives this invasion will lose their humanity, one way or the other. You'd be better off joining us. Otherwise, you'll just be an animal, wandering around waiting to get torn to pieces by some Rysthin-in-training. Seriously, take the conversion."
Laura had to admit, Alex made a compelling case. Yes, this former human was totally subservient to that crass leopardtaur, but he was alive, which was more than most humans could say. Still, she wanted a way out, not necessarily because she'd take it, but just to know that it existed. "What about that thing in Hawaii--you said they needed human prisoners for that?"
Alex sighed. "We don't know what's going on there. The decision has come from really high in the Radinri government. We got our order directly from Armak Kilyea, the provisional governor of Earth, and even she doesn't know whaht they're up to."
"But they want human prisoners," Laura cried, desperate now.
"Human when they arrive, yes. But as far as I know, transports only carry humans TO the base, no humans have left. Maybe you'd manage to keep your humanity--it could be a relocation plan, maybe they don't want to kill all the humans after all. But it could just as easily be a mass execution. I make no promises."
Laura was trapped. It seemed like there was no way she could stay human--although that didn't even seem like such a good idea anyway. Still, she wanted to make a more informed choice, and it felt like there was a lot Alex wasn't telling her.
"How long do I have to decide?" she asked. Alex looked at her grimly.
"In 25 minutes, this ship will land at our headquarters. For rather obvious security reasons, humans are not allowed at headquarters. If you're not a Convert, or in the process of changing, by the time we land you'll be considered a spy, and killed. However, I can signal the cockpit at any time and have this ship redirected to the base in Hawaii. I have no idea what will happen to you there, but as far as I know, you won't be shot on sight." With that, he leaned back, with an otherworldly gleam in his eye.
Written by Zodiac on 18 July 2008