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Remnants of Nocurin

By Adam Woods

The light is overwhelming. I do not recall this sensation. Two figures are standing before me. Where am I? They look nearly identical. Their bodies are muscular, lean and covered in magenta scales. Who are these beings? One waves a claw in front of me and opens their snout. I cannot hear anything. The other walks away and I see their arms moving to touch a console.

"10-28, can you confirm awakening?" One of them speaks. 10-28?

"EX-Unit-10-28, confirming awakening. All systems are functional." I reply without control.

"10-28, we are going to turn on your movement systems now." The other calls.

I look at the one to my right and raise my arm. Black talons jut out from my gray plated arms. I take a few steps forward, stumble and attempt to recover my balance.

"Why am I unable to retain balance?" I query the two beings. Standing behind angular machines, one laughs, "10-28, your wings are retracted."

"Brace yourself, 10-28. I'm uploading your design to your database." My design.

"You are a biomechanical being created by the Duraak Conglomerate, 10-28. You, specifically, are a member of the Xeno-Archaeology Service." One of them says, bearing its large teeth with a smile.

I turn to face them, "Xeno-Archaeology?"

"Yes. You and the other EX-Units have been designed to investigate wasteland planets, in an attempt to preserve lost cultures across the cosmos."

I see it now, the data feed flooding my systems. Reinforced carbon fiber scaling, retractable talons and wings, deployable survival measures for organics and advanced combat training. "I understand. Creator Therim, Creator Toureal." I know their names. "But, why give me, us, the freedom of thought when this mission could be accomplished by simple robots?"

"We could send simple machines to recover artifacts, you are correct. But a simple machine is not capable of understanding living beings and their actions. Your mission is much more than discovering art or weapons. It is to understand."

To understand.

Creator Therim approaches me, their lower talons clacking on the metallic floor. "You have been programmed with the knowledge of our people. Our conflicts, our unity, and our ascension to the stars. This along with your sentience allows you to, more safely than us, descend planet side and conduct research." Creator Therim places a claw onto my head. "We are all Duraak. Organic or not." I feel my jaw open slightly on its own and my head tilts.

I am Duraak, too?

***

The lab's radio buzzes on, "Unit 10-28, final preparations are being made for your mission. Please make your way to the Pod Bay."

Creator Toureal approaches and holds my claws. "Your work is going to be of great importance to the preservation of the cosmos."

"Thank you, Creators. I look forward to sharing my discoveries with you." I reply, walking toward the door. It hisses and opens automatically as I begin the trek to the Pod Bay. The map appears in my visual interface, a weaving grid of rooms and corridors. Moving toward the elevator I see two other EX-Units walking alongside each other, their numbers painted on their shoulders. 984 and 10-13. I attempt to wave and greet them, but they speak first, in unison. "Greetings 10-28, we hope for the best on your expedition."

"Thank you." I finish waving at them. Entering the elevator I reach my claw to tap the destination interface. Base floor, Pod bay. Static buzzes in my internal audio transmitter.

"10-28, please make your way to Pod 23. Thank you."

"Confirmed. On my way." Large circular airlocks line the vast paneling of the Pod Bay, each labeled with their respective numbers. I walk faster toward my designated pod.

"Engineer Kaer," I speak their name uncontrollably, "Thank you for your preparations." The engineer's scales are a dark forest green and their wings are littered with holes. What happened to them?

"You're welcome, 10-28. I wish you luck on your mission. You will find all the equipment you may need for self repairs or shelter construction if the surface is harsher than our initial scans indicate. I'll transmit the data before your launch." Engineer Kaer lifts their right arm and points to a small door on the large circular airlock. Their arm is metallic and silver. They're biomechanical, like me. "Please proceed through the personal airlock door and prepare for descent."

***

"All systems green, 10-28, you are confirmed for drop." The Engineer's voice rings out over the pod's speakers.

"The course to OR-2114 is set, I am ready." I reply, releasing the radio controls. The immense spiral airlock to the cosmos begins to wind open, the shrill whine of metal on metal. 5. Clawing at the pilot display, I dim the internal lights and feel a push. 4. The pod begins to turn and OR-2114 comes into view. There's a land mass enshrouded by dark murky clouds. 3. I place my claws on the piloting orbs, talons fully extended. 2. The engine begins to rumble, bringing the pod to life. Bracing myself, I rest my head against the seat and close my eyes. 1.

The planet's atmosphere sears across the viewing ports. White hot flame courses around the pod. I pull back on the control orbs, flexing the combination of synthetic and biological muscle in my arms. Breaking through the planet's cloud layer, I can finally see the landmass. The pod is headed straight for a field of ruins. The safety measures cry out. "Brace for impact."

***

Cranking the release lever, I successfully eject the door to the pod. I jump out and see the impact trail leads to the East, away from the ruins. I need to conduct an aerial survey. The synthetic structures rearrange on my back, opening the housing to my wings. They burst forth, a mesh of synthetic muscle and mechanical apparatus. Gusts of wind buffet the ground as I start to propel myself upward.

My eyes scan the terrain, tracing the outlines of destroyed objects and the nearby foliage. No signs of sentient life. Gliding down toward the ruins I touch down before a collapsed structure. The remaining architectural design is nothing like my peoples. Soft curves and shades of pink paint pierce through the rust and soot. Retracting the claws on my right arm, I push my hand into the rubble and initiate substance scans. My retinal display flashes. Concrete, marble, silicon, aluminum, gunpowder, unrecognized radioactive element. An undiscovered element? What happened here?

Continuing through the rubble I carefully place my steps to avoid further damage. My enhanced optical sensors detect an anomaly in the shapes of the destruction. Two rounded edges on the left side, but the right is destroyed. A partial engraving remains. A bipedal figure with cloven hooves, a thick coarse tail, a mane as long as the creature and a singular horn protruding from its head. Specks of multi-color paint remain on the creature's mane. Who were you? It held what appeared to be a primitive firearm pointed towards the destroyed side of the piece. And what were you fighting?

A shift in the rubble. "I am here on a mission of peace!" I reflexively call out. Slowly turning around, I face the disruption. Hooves, long elegant mane, long facial structure and a singular pearl colored horn, like the figure in the dust. Its muscular frame is holding a spear toward me. "I mean you no harm." I raise my claws upward. "Can you understand me?"

It speaks with deep grunts and sharp exhales. My audio receptors attempt to decipher its speech pattern. I detect a raised heart rate. It's larger than me and I need to ensure it doesn't think of me as a threat. "I can help you." I begin to slowly drop to my knees.

It speaks again, takes a step forward flexing its muscular arms on its weapon. Speech pattern recognized. Dialect resembles the language construction of the Equinar.

"It's okay. I am not here to hurt you." I attempt to speak in its language. It's head tilts to the side, it's gray mane shifting behind it.

"Do not move, beast." It huffs. "What are you and why did you come to Nocurin?"

Nocurin! "I am Ex-Unit 10-28, a member of the Duraak Conglomerate. I am here on an archaeological survey, we believed this planet to be void of life." It looks at me for a moment and relaxes its muscles, setting the spear end down into the rubble.

"Why should I believe you?"

I motion to stand up, "May I?" It nods and takes a step back. "My people search the stars to preserve cultures lost to calamity. We do not engage in conflict unless absolutely necessary." I pause, searching for a reaction. "I have supplies I can share."

Its eyes are wide. "What do you have?"

"I have medical equipment and a device that allows me to keep out harsh environmental conditio-"

"Do you have any food?" It interrupts me.

"I do not require food to survive." I extend and arm toward my drop site. "If you follow me I will show you." It nods, still clutching its spear as it steps toward me. "May I ask your name?" I say as we begin to walk.

I hear a grunt, "You can call me Elk'Spar."

"Pleasure to meet you, Elk'Spar. You can call me 10-28." I reply, stepping through ash-covered waste.

"Your name is a set of numbers?" They question.

"Yes. I am a biomechanical life form given life by my creators and people, the Duraak, and that is how they have chosen to name us." Continuing on the path toward the pod, they do not speak. "Over there," I raise my claws to point at the impact site.

I look over to Elk'Spar as we approach the pod. They look back at me, inhale deeply and say, "Why help me?" My head tilts and my jaw hangs open for a brief moment.

"Why would I not help you? You clearly need some form of assistance." I watch as their eyes narrow.

"You clearly do not understand life outside of your people. You are naive." They turn around and survey the surroundings.

"What are you looking for?"

"Others."

"There are more like yourself?" I quickly reply.

"Not many, but there are other scavengers too." They breathed in sharply then started to relax their tensed body. I look down toward the pod and review the information sent to my internal database. "Come down with me if you would like." I say. They grunt and follow. "What happened to your people? Your planet?" I reach into the secure container of the pod. A brief silence hangs in the air.

"War." Elk'Spar sighed and sat down in the disturbed soil of the impact zone. "Our ancestors tamed the wilds of this planet ages ago. Two decades ago we broke down into a civil war, fighting over how to use the great power found in the Well of Ragna."

Pulling out a tube of medicinal paste, I turn and ask, "What was the Well of Ragna?"

"I don't really understand it." They pause, looking out toward the horizon. "They said it gave our people gifts, elevated us above the other simple species of Nocurin and brought color into the world." Elk'Spar shifts their mane, covering their defined chest. "Before it all collapsed our architecture was built in great shifting colors, bright hues that shined vibrantly. Just like our manes and coats. You'd never find one Nocurinian who shared the same color patterns on their manes and crests. Now everything is like this." They stretch a hoof toward the ruins.

"Here, take this." I hand them the tube of medicinal paste. "If you, or someone else, gets hurt, this will prevent infection."

What was this Well of Ragna? They speak of it like it held some kind of mystical power. The things they speak of must have come from a form of gene manipulation.

"Thank you, 10-28." Elk'Spar places the tube in a dark leathery sack on their hips. Reaching farther into the pod, I grab the Environmental Protection Sphere. I turn to face Elk'Spar. "I found an engraved stone where you surprised me. What can you tell me about art depicting a Nocurinian readying a firearm?" They chuff and laugh.

"Twilin. Our former ruler. That bastard installed art all over. They always depicted the 'heroism' of the Purification War."

"Your tone informs me you did not intend the word heroism seriously."

"That was my intention. The stories say Twilin valiantly led the Purification against the Tarantu after they discovered the Well of Ragna."

"What were the Tarantu?"

"The art depicts them as six-limbed monsters, savages with hard exoskeletons hell bent on our destruction. I've never seen one, though. They were long gone by the time I was born." I hand them the sphere.

"This will protect you from harsh weather, but its battery is limited. Use it only when necessary." Elk'Spar nods. "Why do you not believe this Twilin to be as heroic as your stories say?"

"It doesn't matter anymore. Their misuse of the Well's power led to the uprising. Now most of us are dead. Twilin collapsed the Well in the final battle, tearing apart the life forces of the planet and our people." Elk'Spar stands up, dusting off their legs.

Why would Twilin doom his own people?

"I should go. It's not safe to be out at night. Do not follow me, 10-28."

Why not?

"Thank you for the supplies. And good luck on your mission."

"Thank you Elk'Spar. Be safe."

I watch them trot off eastward and I prepare to send this information to The Creators along with my most recent terrain scans. Accessing internal database. Transmitting all visual and audio recordings. Marking interactions with Elk'Spar for intricate review, specifically regarding the Well of Ragna.

Begin audio message: "I believe the 'Well of Ragna' to be of great importance for understanding the Nocurinians. I will continue my research to understand more."

***

Watching this solar system's sun rise, I take a step out of the safety of my drop pod. The brightness of the morning accentuates the planet's dull gray landscape. Releasing and extending my wings I prepare to take to the sky again. Engage enhanced flight systems. I flap my wings as the stabilizers and jets whir to life in my legs. Searing the air and rubble, I surge into the cloudy skies of Nocurin.

I follow the path Elk'Spar set out on, tracking their hoof prints in the mangled landscape. They appear to have taken refuge in a nearby small mountainside. I will come back to check on them. I turn to the north, my wings cutting through the low hanging clouds. I pass over barren lands, no remains of civilization grace my eyes. In the distance a thin fissure in the earth breaks the mundane and repetitive gray. The fissure stretches as far across the east and west as I am able to see. Beyond the fissure lies a swath of rubble and half destroyed architecture. One building remains standing, a large domed structure. I begin to descend.

The building stands alone, the sole survivor in this desolate land. I land beside the structure and see the remains of the building's entryways. The hinges where doors used to reside are curved and hanging onto craggy remains. How did you survive? Entering the dome I immediately look up. An assault of colors tears into my optical sensors. An ultramarine blue Nocurinian stands, holding a curved sword outward. Their mane is streaked with every pigment imaginable and their horn sparkles. Standing atop a hill of hard carapaced corpses, they hold a sword beckoning a legion of multi-limbed beasts. Twilin.

Below the muraled dome's rim lie a scattering of artworks. The pattern is uneven, some must be missing. The leftmost work has Twilin surrounded by other Nocurinians, but Twilin's the only one depicted in color. They all have no horns here. The next surviving piece depicts Twilin wearing shining silver armor, flanked by two other Nocurinians. No horns. Immediately to its right, a vibrant iridescent green mass of liquid, highlighted with pink covers most of the painting. Twilin, unarmored, stands before it, arms lifted above their head. The colors on their mane shift at each angle I inspect it. Transforming from a dull gray to bright pastels.

"10-28."

Scanning further another remaining piece. Twilin in full color, horn shining brightly, holding a firearm and staring down a mangled horde of the Tarantu.

"10-28!"

"This is it." I speak aloud.

"10-28, confirm communication!"

"Apologies, I found a very substantial discovery."

"We reviewed your report." I can feel my inner systems pumping faster. "There has been an agreement to escalate the archaeological efforts on Nocurin. You have done amazing work."

"Thank you!" I reply with great haste. "What exactly does that entail?"

"We will be sending a full expeditionary team to assist you in recovering more information and artifacts. And your Creators will be joining you."

I must find Elk'Spar. They can provide more insights into their people and we can offer safety.

"We will dispatch a drop ship to your location soon, please find a suitable location."

This is incredible.

I walk out of the preserved building and look toward the stars.

My people are coming to help. My Creators.

For an hour I stood, patiently waiting for their arrival. A blazing inferno tears through the muddled skies. Their craft was immense compared to my singular drop pod. Spherical at first, the ship shifts and wings emerge from its sides. I watch as the stabilization engines fire in all directions as it bursts through the planet's atmosphere. A gale of wind blasts the area around me as the ship approaches, tossing rubble and dust all around. The ship whirrs, a maw opens and stairs emerge.

My Creators!

"10-28. Excellent work, you've done well." Creator Therim calls out to me. "Tell us everything."

***

"I believe this fissure and structure may be key to uncovering the remains of the Well." I say, walking My Creators out of the art covered dome.

"We watched your conversation with the survivor too. Could you introduce them to us?" Creator Toureal asks.

"Of course. I am certain I can track their location." My Creators share a look, and nod. Creator Therim raises a claw and speaks.

"Ex-Units, deploy and follow. Protection protocol." White steam emerges from the darkness of the ship, a bright red flows from within and the clanking of metal disrupts the quiet air.

They're like me.

The EX-Units begin marching out of the ship.

But, their arms and legs have reinforced plating. "Pardon my question, My Creators, but I am not familiar with these EX-Unit models. What is their purpose?" Creator Toureal smiles, their lips revealing their ivory fangs.

"I assure you, 10-28, they are here as a safety precaution. Their purpose is to protect our people."

"Now," Creator Therim speaks, "Let's go and learn from this, Elk'Spar."

We take to the skies, the other EX-Units trailing behind us.

"Over there!" I call out to the Creators. "I am certain they are taking shelter somewhere in these mountains."

"Understood, 10-28. Let us descend." Creator Toureal responds. Gliding downward, Creator Therim removes a metallic cube from their armored legs.

"Scan for biologics in this area." They release it from their grip. The drone speeds off ahead.

As we land, Creator Toureal speaks, "Allow the drone to find them. It will save us time."

"Pardon me again for questioning you, but why not find them naturally?"

"Curiosity is a great asset 10-28. If this Well of Ragna contained such power it may still retain embers of life. Therefore, haste is of great importance."

"Toureal!" Creator Therim calls out. "To the East! Three signatures on the scan!"

The Creators break into a sprint, their wings propelling them at an unnatural speed. The other EX-Units stay behind as I follow. The drone returns to Creator Therim. They speak into the drone, it amplifies their voice, speaking the Nocurinian language. "Nocurinian. We come in peace. We wish to speak with you." My enhanced audio receptors pick up shuffling in a nearby cave.

"I told you not to follow me!" Elk'Spar yells, emerging from the darkness.

"10-28. Who are these two?"

"They're My Creators. Duraak, like me. They are here to-"

"We would like to ask you some questions about the Well of Ragna." Creator Toureal interrupts me.

Elk'Spar shifts a hoof back, readying their spear pointing it toward My Creators.

"The damned Well tore my people apart. That's all there is to know. Now leave."

"We can help you, and your people. If we can restore the Well, we can assure your prosperity." Creator Therim speaks. More movement in the cave. I adjust my visual sensors to see deeper into the dark. There's another Nocurinian! And another, much smaller one behind it! And it has no horn!

"We don't need your help! Now please leave my people and planet to our fate." The Creators turn to each other, smiles creeping across their faces.

Fangs fully visible they say simultaneously, "We?"

I step forward, "Creators we can find the Well ourselves, we have the capabilities."

"We will find the Well, 10-28. I can assure you that." Creator Toureal places their magenta plated claw on my shoulder. "Now. 10-28, would you kindly confirm the deactivation of your movement systems? We don't want you getting damaged."

Deacti.. "Movement functions deactivated." I speak uncontrollably. I hear the jet assisted flight of the EX-Units in the distance.

"I will keep this simple Nocurinian." Creator Toureal says, walking closer to Elk'Spar, "You can come willingly or we will take you. And your family."

Stop.

Elk'Spar charges at the Creator, spear lowered and level with their chest. Toureal chuckles, sidestepping the attack with ease.

Stop!

Therim starts walking toward the fight. "Let me have some fun Therim. It's been ages since I've gotten to fight." Toureal screeches, steps back and leaps into the air. They dive downward immediately, grabbing the Nocurinian's long head and smashing Elk'Spar into the ground.

"Stop! Why are you doing this!"

Therim looks back at me. "10-28, you were not really built to understand. We gave you all the information you needed." Toureal's claws tear through the air and Elk'Spar's flesh, spraying blood into the air.

"We are better than this! We achieved unity, unlike those who came before us!" I yell back.

Therim's smile stretches deeper into their snout. "You're right. We are better. And that's why we created units like you. To discover and learn, so we can continue in our rightful place. As rulers."

Rulers!? There was nothing in the historical data about ruling!

Elk'Spar, choking, lands a punch across Toureal's snout. Toureal rears their head back and roars, specks of blood spraying upward. "But, I was meant to help preserve these people and their culture!"

"And you have 10-28. These three will be interrogated, and preserved for all the Duraak to learn from. We will find their Well of Ragna and unlock its secrets." I hear a deafening crack. Bastards.

The EX-Units form up behind me. "Take them. We will find the Well." Therim spits. I attempt to push every synthetic fiber in my body toward The Creator. I feel the fibers tense and flex. "Ahh, 10-28. Not again, we learned our lesson last time." Therim waves a single talon left and right at me. I watch as the EX-Units advance, lifting Elk'Spar's limp body and proceeding into the cave.

"What do you mean last time!?" Screams ring out from the cave.

"It's simple. You're too much like us, striving for something better." Therim puts both claws on the sides of my head. "You had an outburst like this on your last expedition. We simply wiped your memory and installed special overrides." I break eye contact and see Elk'Spar's family squirming in the grip of the EX-Units. "Thank you for your contribution to the Duraak Conglomerate, 10-28. I'll see you at your next awakening."

***

Blinding light.

What is this sensation? Where am I?

"10-28. Can you confirm your awakening?"