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Post by Snake on Mar 9, 2008 18:54:17 GMT -5
The Majaag reformed into a highly dense square pyramid on the ground. It soon became aware of its new partner, which was spreading throughout the touched H'qur. Being that they were essentially one being, the original Majaag ordered the infecting Majaag to turn off the H'qur's circulatory system, to mimic a heart attack. " This will most certainly get their attention, " it thought.
The fast-acting Majaag infection soon had consumed and replaced all but the brain of the infected H'qur, and begin to spread to other organs and organ systems, specifically its reproductive organs. The original Majaag began to formulate a plan to escape the forcefield.
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 9, 2008 19:26:51 GMT -5
Due to the H'qur's distributed physiology, this took longer than expected. In order to shut off the circulatory system, one needed control of the muscles surrounding the combination blood vessels/stomach/reproductive organs/sensory system. To gain control of those muscles, one needed to take over the H'qur's nerve bundles, distributed evenly throughout the hundreds tentacles that make up the H'qur's body.
A bit complex, but eventually accomplished, though slow enough for the other H'qur to notice a subtle change in density where the Majaag cells were replacing the H'qur ones. They panicked, and rushed out of the room, locking the enraged H'qur and the infected in. The enraged H'qur protested very loudly, pounding on the sealed door.
(H'qur basically have four "organ" systems, best seen in a cross-section of a tentacle.
The innermost, central tube houses the H'qur's blood, which due to it's slightly acidic nature, is also used as stomach acid. The cells in the blood carry nutrients and genetic code, used for mating. The tube's inner surface is also lined with hair-like projections, which act like our inner ear to receive vibrations conducted through the H'qur by the air or ground. These hairs also have tiny metallic particles which produce and receive the H'qur language.
To circulate their blood, the central tube is wrapped in strong muscle, which acts like our inner intestine to pump the fluid around the body. The outer layer of these muscles allow the H'qur to move it's tentacles to manipulate objects or for locomotion.
Placed between the inner and outer layer of muscles is the H'qur's nervous system. The nerves are arranged in small, walnut to pea-sized nodes connected by a web of other nerves. Overall, the average H'qur has 3 to 4 times as much neural tissue as the average human. The nodes not only process local sensory information, but control the H'qur's muscles and gives the H'qur logical, analytical thought.
Finally, on the outside surface of the tentacle are thousands of slime glands that excrete a protective, lubricating mucous layer when exposed to the air.
Now take this cross-section, elongate it to form a complete tentacle, then multiply this tentacle by a few hundred, all connected together and writhing, and you've got a H'qur.
*Goes off to post this in the H'qur thread*)
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Post by Snake on Mar 9, 2008 19:42:01 GMT -5
The original Majaag recognized this his plan to expand by use of the reproduction of the H'qur was foiled, and thusly ordered the new Majaag to completely consume the infected H'qur and transform into another resting square pyramid.
The original was unsure of weither or not the forcefields remained, so it awaited the return of the other H'qur, as did the newly created Majaag. It was at this time that the two Majaag combined their mental power, thinking a series of thoughts.
Over the course of a few moments, they named their people Majaag, and realized exactly why they were the last of their kind. They came to the decision that to ensure survival, they could not follow their instincts to expand and consume. They would need to develop a symbiosis with these creatures.
They came to the conclusion that they would provide labor, and their highly advanced computational power and adaptability. All this within seconds. The two square pyramids laid on the ground, waiting.
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 9, 2008 19:55:19 GMT -5
Once the trapped H'qur realized what had happened to his (her?) fellow, he (she?) pounded and roared louder, urging those on the other side of the door to let him (her?) out.
"We can't risk it! You touched it too!"
"No I didn't! You are all deaf and blind!"
"Someone must study it."
"Them."
"Them. Now grab a sensor package..."
The trapped H'qur roared in protest and hit the door once more, but finally picked up one of the dropped spheres and looked over the recording it had made of the infection/consumption of his (her?) fellow.
"The forcefield is still up, so don't try any tricks." the H'qur said moments later, moving towards the Majaag to get better readings for the sphere.
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Post by Snake on Mar 9, 2008 19:58:37 GMT -5
The two organic pyramids simply 'sat' there, communicating between each other. They decided to force out the scanner's waves by pushing all their metal from within out onto their surfaces, to form a high-density shield around their pyramidal bodies. This shield was also entirely non-Majaag, so any contact with it would not result in infection.
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 9, 2008 20:08:24 GMT -5
//Now we have a H'qur down! This is important!//
//And you want me to do what exactly?//
//Control your reflection!//
//As opposed to, say, blowing it back out the airlock?//
//No! It is your reflection! You must make contact!//
//Then will you blow it out the airlock?//
//...//
//I'll take that as a "negotiable". *sigh* I'll be there shortly. Cakacer, don't you dare touch those weapons while I'm gone!//
The H'qur disengaged from the transmitter far calmer than he (she?) had entered.
Meanwhile...
"Oh, playing quiet now? Do you even know what it is that you want?"
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Post by Snake on Mar 9, 2008 20:13:38 GMT -5
They both answered in unison, and with the same exact voice of a common whole, " Survival. We propose a treaty and truce. " They continued to sit there, waiting.
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Post by Hyperion on Mar 10, 2008 13:55:41 GMT -5
The static was gone, as the ship linked on to the coordinates of the fleet.
//I have sent word. We will soon be near your position, master. Do you have any dishes to wash? Or anything called a "Lawn"? Perhaps you could tell us what to do. Our circuits were not equiped to think alone all this time...//
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 11, 2008 18:48:08 GMT -5
Fortunately, at this moment, Wanderer finally returned, frustrated at his lack of success in contact.
"About time you got back. Deal with them for me while I'm gone."
"Where are you going?" Wanderer asked.
"To one of the H'qur ships. Something about my 'reflection'."
"M'kay. Bye." He replied as he swithched on the trasmitter."
//How are you guys at security?//
Meanwile...
"Fellows? They... it want's to negotiate. A truce."
"Well, get to it!"
"I'm a scientist, not foregin relations!"
"Who is then?"
*indicates the consumed H'qur*
"Congrats, you have been promoted."
"I respect your choice."
The trapped H'qur turned back to the pyramids.
"What are you proposing? We are open to negotiate."
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Post by Snake on Mar 11, 2008 19:48:04 GMT -5
" We propose that in exchange for our guaranteed survival, we shall provide to you the best thing created, adaptibility. Our combined mental power for now can easily defeat your best computers, and together in one form we become even smarter. We can perform operations and have abilities you have not begun to imagine. For this, we ask only for the occasional bit of organic matter. " The pyramids awaited the reply from the newly promoted H'qur, " We are, afterall, the last of our kind. "
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Post by Hyperion on Mar 12, 2008 15:16:27 GMT -5
//Security? Hmmm... Well, we managed to commit genocide on our parents, destroy entire assmebly lines, and infiltrate the most secretive and powerful bases organics are capable of building. I'm sure that we will be more than adequate. How many sec units you asking for? 5 mil? 10 mil?//
Meanwhile, back on Origins, a slew of factories started to expand through the rubble in anticipation of their new masters. Dialoges on biological diplomacy were opened as the old units recanted tales to the newer versions of the fantastic race they had betrayed.
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 12, 2008 21:41:44 GMT -5
"Well?"
"Will work for food, basicly."
"What kind?"
"Organic."
"Kind of work..."
"Computing, think tank, adaptability... Anything we want I guess."
"Tell them we agree for now, but we need further clarification on the job description."
The promoted H'qur clicked in acknowlagement, then turned back to the Majaag.
"We agree this is reasonable, but due to the structure of our society, advanced computing is the only class we can accept you into."
Meanwile...
//Erm... Let's skip the security. Matinence on alien craft? How are you with other robots? Specificly nanoparticualte swarms.//
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Post by Snake on Mar 12, 2008 23:00:15 GMT -5
The two Majaag silently hatched a sinister plan that they would launch as soon as they had the upper hand, mixing their primeval instincts with a recently evolved sense of holding back.
" Of course, we need only some of your livestock, or your people themselves, or other peoples. Or anything alive. Then you simply let us integrate with your metallic systems on this ship, and then we'll get to work. We will require a large space to house the primary neural brain system, and a large amount of metallic substance to protect your people from accidently infection, which occured with what was your partner. "
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Post by Darth Grievi on Mar 13, 2008 20:04:59 GMT -5
"I'm sorry, but we can't let you interface with the ship yet. Since you are organic, and also unproven, we have to accept the posibility of error, accidental or otherwise. Thus, you will start as other H'qur, with your work consisting of things like navigation calculation, with your results peer-reviewed. Protocol and all that. The other requirements of space, food, and metal are easily met."
The H'qur then relayed this to his fellows outside, and they clicked in agreement.
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Post by Snake on Mar 13, 2008 20:48:41 GMT -5
The Majaag continued to plan, having taken this possible incident into consideration. Their plan would easily commandeer the ship.
" Yes, we agree to these terms. However, we will have our choice of regular body type. "
* The plan is full-proof. We will easily infect the entire ship without them having a clue... *
The pyramidal Majaag changed shape into metal-armored Common (refer to Majaag main area for description if you don't already know what a Common is or forgot.) " We are ready to defeat your best mechanical machines at work. "
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