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briannysey · 6 months ago

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Forsaken Week Day 2: Aginor

Another long low wail shook the complex. Dr. Chuain scribbled another note on the paper before him just as a timid knock came from the door.

Exasperated the biologist called, “Enter.”

The assistant was young, not even a legal adult by reckoning of many of the fallen nations. The boy shuffled across the room.

Dr. Chuain said, “What is it? I’m mid-observation.”

The boy stammered, “There’s been a logistical problem Dr. Chuain. One of the trucks with uh- subjects for more experiments was taken by one of the fades and its cohort. The fade has not answered calls to report since.”

“Myrrdraal,” Chuain corrected. “Use the appropriate designations or I’ll find an assistant who can.”

“Yes, Mast – Yes, Doctor.”

Dr. Chuain chewed on his lip in frustration. The trollocs had carefully constructed dietary regimens. They did not need to eat more! But stomach neuropathy was a common condition in the broods, and even members of the Chosen would have difficulty convincing a trolloc that it was not hungry when it set its eyes on fresh meat.

Dr. Chuain said, “There’s a flaw in the design.”

The boy asked, “Pardon?”

Chuain said, “The broods that I’ve offered up to the Great Lord. There’s a flaw in their design.”

“Of course not Doctor! Your work is perfect! I read about it in Biology Today while still in secondary school. Now that the Hall’s not getting in the way of research, you’ve been able to do such great things!”

Chuain said, “You misunderstand. The flaw is not in the creature itself. It is in the ecosystem. The broods are like unmanaged rabbits. Leave them untended or without proper predators above them, rabbits will eat until there are not enough primary producers in the system, and the whole web collapses.”

Again the long low wail came, shaking the floors and walls. The assistant fell to the ground clutching his ears. Interesting, perhaps Dr. Chuain was protected by his connection to the Great Lord. He scribbled another note on the paper. His pen’s tip fractured spilling over the sheet, and Dr. Chuain leapt to his feet cursing.

Chuain said, “Boy! Did I not say to requisition another typer?”

Moaning from the floor, the boy half rosed as he said, “I’m so sorry Doctor, but there are none to be had. Most of the engineers in Mar Ruois who weren’t loyal to the Great Lord were executed as examples to the other. The others were needed for the war effort, and also – “

“And also Mesaana still resents that I was the advisor who tossed her application seventy years ago. I understand. Still, having to rely on paper…”

So much was being lost in the war. Would there still be subjects for Chuain’s experiments after they won? Would there be appropriate equipment even? Chuain felt a worm of anger wriggle in his shoulder blades.

He said to his assistant, “Summon the myrrdraal that misappropriated my research materials. I have a task for it.”

A short while later and the Myrrdraal was stepping out of an alcove that Dr. Chuain left unlit for quick access. The myrrdraal passed a large wall mounted lens Dr. Chuain used for experiments, and the creature’s form was reflected in the lens, dark and cloudy. The myrrdraal went to its knees in genuflection, and its cloak spread out liquid and strange, defying the folding of fabric that the laws of physics would normally ask of cloth.

It’s voice quiet and strong, “You summoned me, Father?”

“Yes. I hear you were mishandling research materials?”

A hint of dryness and unease entered the myrrdraal’s voice. Most wouldn’t notice, but Dr. Chuain had spent a great deal of time and energy testing the abilities of his accidental creations, and their limitations.

It said, “I am deeply sorry. My fist was rebellious from hunger. I was tasked with keeping them in line.”

Dr. Chuain tsked, saying, “And you were overwhelmed by the feedback of their hunger. Do you understand the problem? If your brood takes more rations thant they’re allotted, the other broods will clamor for more, and then your one indiscretion precipitates a whole system collapse.” The myrrdraal tried to protest but Chuain continued, “You have shown iniatitve. A vital element. Your brood shall test one of my newer experiments.”

Another wail from deep below, and the myrrdraal’s repugnant white lips wrinkled in distaste. Dr. Chuain smiled.

He said to the creature, “What you’re hearing was supposed to be a new food supply for the broods. However, there have been some complications. Your brood is hungry. If they can overcome the experiment’s mutations, then they shall eat first, and you shall be rewarded for your contributions to science.”

The myrddraal smiled in a semblance of relief. It bowed and thanked Dr. Chuain. Chuain ordered the creature to assemble his brood in the testing chambers at the bottom of the complex.

A little less than an hour later and Dr. Chuain stood at the observation deck with a clipboard and pen in hand. He was accompanied by hook nosed man dressed in a coat of dark silk.

“What is the purpose of this, Aginor? I should be overseeing exercises in field movements.”

Dr. Chuain frowned at the use of the public’s annoying cognomen for him. But he powered through.

“A war needs warriors, does it not? Then look.”

Below a great chrysalis was bulging outward in slow groans. The armed and armored trollocs nervously surrounded it, their pikes held far forward.

Barid asked, “What is that thing?”

Dr. Chuain smiled, “It’s soon to be the mature stage of a jumara.”

Barid’s eyes widened slightly, and Chuain felt a thrill of satisfaction run up his spine. Barid was hard to shake, but Chuain’s work could not be denied. Soon great spiny tendrils were breaking out of the chitinous chrysalis, seeking, seeking, seeking. Chuain began quickly scrawling notes.

The trollocs bellowed in fear, anger, and hunger, then charged the awaking beast. A splatter of gore rose to paint much of the viewing window red. Chuain hummed in joy as he wove air to clear the viscera from his view. Before long the trollocs were turning, searching for a place to flee. But the creature was fully free from its chrysalis, and like the trollocs it knew one sensation above all others: hunger.

The disobedient myrrdraal below turned to find a shadow and flee. Chuain wrapped it in more flows of air and contemptuously flicked the myrddraal towards the matured jumara’s mouth. A chorus of screams rose from the trollocs who had still been alive. Where the flows of air had touched the jumara its rust red chitin had brightened. Curious, perhaps there was increased blood flow to the location? But for the One Power to cause such a change and so quickly? More tests were needed. But for now-

Dr. Chuain turned to Demandred smiling triumphantly, “As you can imagine, this creature could be quite useful to – “

Chuain’s assistant screamed in horror as a tentacle ripped through the glass, spraying the room with shards. The boy was dragged screaming into the chamber below. Berid swore, and began weaving blasts of fire towards the creature.

Dr Chuain snapped “No!” more for concern over his experiment than fear for his assistant.

As the threads of fire touched the creature, it brightened again, and the places where the power had touched erupted with more spines and tentacles. Dr. Chuain began laughing in awe.

Demandred shouted, “Are you mad?” before he wove and skimmed Dr. Chuain and himself to flat ground outside the complex.

A beautifully spiked tendril was following closely behind, and began glowing with vibrant crimson luminescence as it touched the gateway. The gateway itself seemed to twist somehow, as if the threads were being drank by the exoskeleton of the jumara. They closed in quickly and the gateway shut, dropping the glowing red tentacle on the ground next to Demandred and the Dr.

Demandred swore and drew his sword, chopping the thing into smaller pieces that began to wither and die. Deep below a great shrieking bellow of pain and hunger was rising and the complex above Demandred and Chuain began to shake. Dr. Chuain’s eyes opened in awe at the strength of his new creation, and he continued to laugh as Demandred dragged him away.

In moments the whole complex was crashing down. Chuain heard the screaming of trollocs and friends of the dark inside as they went with the building. What strength! Demandred grabbed Chuain by the lapels of his labcoat and shook it.

“What is wrong with you?”

Chuain continued to chuckle as he said, “All data is good data.”

#Forsaken Week #aginor #is a freaky freaky guy #wheel of time fanfic #idk how long i'm going to have the energy for these writing exercises but it's nice to have the inspiration #brianna original

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