Zabi sat in her room, split in two forms with the taller being at rest on her bed while her relatively 'normal' self tinkered with some small object. It was a puzzle of sorts, meant to engage her while staff and equipment monitored her progress. Despite her four hands, the thing had yet to budge - and Zabi alternatively took to chewing and clawing at it to try and pry the thing open. She was not yet frustrated by it, though that might change given enough time.
I knocked gently on the door, my knuckles rapping agianst the frame.
The smaller of her two bodies turned, curiosity lighting in Zabizel's mind as she called out to answer the sudden knock drawing her attention from the object in her hands: "Hm? Who is there?" A slightly rasp voice though clearly feminine, and if anything similar to human understanding being most likened to that of a young adult, came from her. The creature turned to point her eyes towards the door, watching for any movement from the thing.
Being five-foot-nine, this form still held some height over several of the staff within the Institute. Meanwhile, her larger and heavier self simply turned onto its side, lazily dreaming the day away.
Being five-foot-nine, this form still held some height over several of the staff within the Institute. Meanwhile, her larger and heavier self simply turned onto its side, lazily dreaming the day away.
I carefully cracked open the door, holding a clipboard in one hand and a pen in my other. I slunk into the room and shut the door gently behind me. Taking a deep breath, I turned around and faced her. I gave her a warm smile although terrified. "Hello Zabizel." I said politely. "My name is Maddie Angevin. You can call me Maddie or Doctor Angevin." I paused, phrasing my words in my head first. "Could you tell me about yourself? I have a few pre-written questions written if you can't think of anything to share..." I trail off looking down at my clipboard and the few neatly printed questions along with a large area for notes. "Start with the basics if you could."
She watched, paying attention to the human researcher's behavior as she entered and closed the door behind her. Dr. Maddie Angevin. This one was new to Zabizel, pleasant and polite enough even if a waft of fear came over to Zabi's nostrils. With the puzzle set in her lap, Zabi turned to give the new guest her full attention. Sitting there on the floor, legs criss-crossed and two hands set on either side of her, the creature spoke. "More questions? So be it," she blinked and gave a slight shake of her head, though the creature had no reason to deny her.
"You know my name," a standard fact given her time at the Institute so far. "I hail from the universe before this one, though it was several centuries following my reconstitution that you scientists managed to cage me." There was an air of annoyance clear in her voice towards the end of that statement, otherwise Zabi had spoke as if reciting common knowledge. Were it not for her understanding of the control mechanisms placed within her room and throughout the facility, Zabi might have shown more aggression. But this was neither the time or place.
"You know my name," a standard fact given her time at the Institute so far. "I hail from the universe before this one, though it was several centuries following my reconstitution that you scientists managed to cage me." There was an air of annoyance clear in her voice towards the end of that statement, otherwise Zabi had spoke as if reciting common knowledge. Were it not for her understanding of the control mechanisms placed within her room and throughout the facility, Zabi might have shown more aggression. But this was neither the time or place.
A shiver racked my body. She was an eerily powerful creature, speaking to me as an equal while simultaneously holding me in… contempt? Anger? She seemed annoyed as if annoyed to have to dain to my level and speak. I clenched my fist around the pen, controlling my trembling and swallowed once before nodding and writing down a few notes on my pad.
“Mmhm.” Powerful. That was what she was telling me without telling me. She was alluding. “She had a matter of fact tone tinged with annoyance. Was she annoyed she was held captive? I assumed she didn’t come here of her own will. “You were brought here against your will?” I asked, trying to keep a strictly curious tone. However, I was a little annoyed that the people at this facility would capture a creature so magnificent and powerful without their say-so. She could probably even break out if she wanted. “Why haven’t you left if you don’t want to be here?” I asked. “I’m assuming you’re powerful enough.”
“Mmhm.” Powerful. That was what she was telling me without telling me. She was alluding. “She had a matter of fact tone tinged with annoyance. Was she annoyed she was held captive? I assumed she didn’t come here of her own will. “You were brought here against your will?” I asked, trying to keep a strictly curious tone. However, I was a little annoyed that the people at this facility would capture a creature so magnificent and powerful without their say-so. She could probably even break out if she wanted. “Why haven’t you left if you don’t want to be here?” I asked. “I’m assuming you’re powerful enough.”
Her head cocked to the side, a display of curiosity and slight confusion. How little had the staff informed their doctor of? "Indeed," Zabizel spoke, lifting a hand palm-up in an indicative gesture: "I believe your kind take me as a threat. Perhaps not to their immediate selves," at least not any longer, though she didn't share that part for now. "...but for this world or a part of it." A quiet held over the creature briefly, her mind reminiscing some past experiences before drawing back to look Dr. Angevin in the eyes once more. "There are mechanisms in place to deter me, ranging from nuisances to some form of true threat." That was a lie, radiation was more significant to Zabizel than she'd let on.
As she spoke, Zabi watched the doctor with some interest. The woman was still battling her fear, and that at first had been starting to grate. Now however, she wanted to see how the doctor would react.
As she spoke, Zabi watched the doctor with some interest. The woman was still battling her fear, and that at first had been starting to grate. Now however, she wanted to see how the doctor would react.
Anger flared through me. Couldn't anyone see that if there was something powerful, powerful enough to be a worry or a threat to humans, they should just leave it be? If something wasn't bothering them, and they were scared of it, don't bring attention to yourself. If you do so, then they'll be annoyed and want to kill you. But if you just let it be, it probably didn't even know you existed.
Mechanisms. I suppose Dr Leigha was thorough. It made sense, she seemed meticulous with her work. I forgot I was afraid for a moment. I took another deep breath to calm myself and counted backwards from 5. I looked down at my clipboard. "I'm just going to check some information if that's ok. You are a female correct? And does your species have a name?"
Mechanisms. I suppose Dr Leigha was thorough. It made sense, she seemed meticulous with her work. I forgot I was afraid for a moment. I took another deep breath to calm myself and counted backwards from 5. I looked down at my clipboard. "I'm just going to check some information if that's ok. You are a female correct? And does your species have a name?"
Zabi jerked her head a bit in what could be considered a nod, "That's fine." The doctor seemed to be getting a bit more comfortable in her presence, granted Zabizel's choice in not moving around too much was likely helping.
"Technically, yes," she spoke. "I identify as female." Her kind had evolved to the point to do with away with organs dedicated to such things, instead the exchange of genetic information could be willed through any part of themselves. It was only from learning of human culture that she'd come to make a choice about herself on this matter. "We... are called similarly to that which came before. Kivouachians." Zabi was now answering the doctor's questions without her previous tinge of annoyance, instead only retaining that air of neutrality.
"Technically, yes," she spoke. "I identify as female." Her kind had evolved to the point to do with away with organs dedicated to such things, instead the exchange of genetic information could be willed through any part of themselves. It was only from learning of human culture that she'd come to make a choice about herself on this matter. "We... are called similarly to that which came before. Kivouachians." Zabi was now answering the doctor's questions without her previous tinge of annoyance, instead only retaining that air of neutrality.
I nodded a few times, scribbling notes on my pad. I would have to rewrite them in my office. "Your species reproduces asexually correct?." I pause, wondering if I should ask my next question but barrel through anyway. "And do you have any specific weaknesses?" I smile apologetically at Zabizel, trying to portray my apology without words.
"So, I can see you have two different forms. Can you tell me about that? Can you turn into anything? Is it difficult, is there a limit to power?" I give her a moment to answer, forcing myself to stop talking. I didn't want to be a chatterbot.
"So, I can see you have two different forms. Can you tell me about that? Can you turn into anything? Is it difficult, is there a limit to power?" I give her a moment to answer, forcing myself to stop talking. I didn't want to be a chatterbot.
She tilted her head slightly at the first question, and were it Zabizel had eyebrows similar to the doctor’s a slight narrowing of them at her second question would have been seen. As it was, Zabi’s bony ‘face’ indicated no such change in her demeanor. Maddie’s sudden barrage of inquiry following that did make an apparent reaction in Zabizel however, as her lips parted and lower jaw fell a bit in an open-mouthed grin.
Zabi waited a few moments even beyond the doctor’s silence before answering. “Well, you’ve become quite inquisitive,” she joked. “Yes,” Zabi would not clarify which question she was answering in that at first. “And I can choose to divide or recollect myself as I please.” She shifted a bit, legs unfolding from beneath her as Zabi leaned back on the upper pair of her arms. The form in the bed shifted somewhat, head nuzzling up against the pillows before turning to face the other side along with a shifting of its body. She lifted her lower left hand, looking to it and slowly turning it about, “Changing shape is easy,” her hand morphed within seconds to a wing-like feathery mass, ink-black though still retaining a healthy sheen. “Be it a hand, limb, or my entire body,” the ‘wing’ now shifted into something like a flipper, the feathers disappearing and fading into a chalky-white hued skin before than morphing once again back to their original shape.
Zabi waited a few moments even beyond the doctor’s silence before answering. “Well, you’ve become quite inquisitive,” she joked. “Yes,” Zabi would not clarify which question she was answering in that at first. “And I can choose to divide or recollect myself as I please.” She shifted a bit, legs unfolding from beneath her as Zabi leaned back on the upper pair of her arms. The form in the bed shifted somewhat, head nuzzling up against the pillows before turning to face the other side along with a shifting of its body. She lifted her lower left hand, looking to it and slowly turning it about, “Changing shape is easy,” her hand morphed within seconds to a wing-like feathery mass, ink-black though still retaining a healthy sheen. “Be it a hand, limb, or my entire body,” the ‘wing’ now shifted into something like a flipper, the feathers disappearing and fading into a chalky-white hued skin before than morphing once again back to their original shape.
I wrote down quite a few notes on my clipboard, scribbling furiously. "I'm extremely glad that you are choosing to answer my questions." I said happily, smiling. "I wonder..." I paused, and looked at her two forms. "Could you create something small? Like an artificial finger or something that I could take with me and do some tests on? I assume since you can have more than one form at once..." I gesture towards her 2nd form. "You can create something else? It doesn't have to be big. Just something small." I repeat.
"Is it hard to hold the form at large distances? Or is it stable throughout large distances?" I had so many questions. I would have loved to do some tests on her, but I wasn't sure how cooperative she would be if I asked her to leave her room. She might try to escape. I wasn't exactly powerful enough to stop her. "I just want to document information about you. I've always loved people who have interesting abilities. I want to let them thrive, and learn much more about them." My eyes shined, happiness radiating throughout me. Dr Leigha's intent was unknown to me. I wasn't sure if it was the same, the opposite or something in between. I cleared my throat, slightly embarassed.
"Is it hard to hold the form at large distances? Or is it stable throughout large distances?" I had so many questions. I would have loved to do some tests on her, but I wasn't sure how cooperative she would be if I asked her to leave her room. She might try to escape. I wasn't exactly powerful enough to stop her. "I just want to document information about you. I've always loved people who have interesting abilities. I want to let them thrive, and learn much more about them." My eyes shined, happiness radiating throughout me. Dr Leigha's intent was unknown to me. I wasn't sure if it was the same, the opposite or something in between. I cleared my throat, slightly embarassed.
((Apologies for the delay, real life got very out of control for a while.))
She huffed an exhale in response to the doctor's gratitude, though paused again at the request. The questions came again soon after, and Zabi tilted her head, reflecting on her own thoughts. She could only divide her form, and wouldn't rip off so much as a finger to give to their 'tests'. That brought up another point, these had managed to contain her after all... would giving of her body really be wise? 'Certainly not,' the creature considered privately.
Zabizel murmured a bit, pausing at Maddie's enthusiasm. Three things stood out to her: Dr. Angevin considered her a 'person', she wanted Zabi to thrive, and was a bit shy about her level of curiosity. That last bit touched a nerve with Zabizel's distant past, and she responded to it right away: "Inquiry should never face shame," the words came almost unbidden, and very naturally to her. Shifting herself a bit, Zabi considered what her best option was here.
"I cannot create a finger to give you, truthfully; I don't want to rip anything off." Her gaze leveled at the doctor momentarily before fading. "A smaller form, yes... but it will be living. As for your other question," she began, glancing aside and placing a hand on the shape beside her, "Distance... is complicated," unnecessarily so, given the nature of her true home and the genetic damages she'd suffered, limiting her. The smaller body nearby had begun to shrink, as Zabi's own form slowly increased in size, though also density - such that her growth was not proportional to the other's shrinking.
"I can maintain this one up to a distance of a few miles," she clarified as the body beside her had devolved to the size of a large cat, or a lynx. It's shape had changed as well, now a wingless, hornless version of one of her forms. The thing had two pairs of forelimbs, retractable claws, and much smaller canines. Truthfully, it could go off even further - only that she wouldn't have any direct link to it, then. And that was precisely what Zabizel wanted to avoid.
"Also," she began, "I should like to know the nature of these 'tests'. I would not have my being prodded or sampled without a fair understanding," her tone had dipped into a bit of seriousness, but not enough to be off-putting.
She huffed an exhale in response to the doctor's gratitude, though paused again at the request. The questions came again soon after, and Zabi tilted her head, reflecting on her own thoughts. She could only divide her form, and wouldn't rip off so much as a finger to give to their 'tests'. That brought up another point, these had managed to contain her after all... would giving of her body really be wise? 'Certainly not,' the creature considered privately.
Zabizel murmured a bit, pausing at Maddie's enthusiasm. Three things stood out to her: Dr. Angevin considered her a 'person', she wanted Zabi to thrive, and was a bit shy about her level of curiosity. That last bit touched a nerve with Zabizel's distant past, and she responded to it right away: "Inquiry should never face shame," the words came almost unbidden, and very naturally to her. Shifting herself a bit, Zabi considered what her best option was here.
"I cannot create a finger to give you, truthfully; I don't want to rip anything off." Her gaze leveled at the doctor momentarily before fading. "A smaller form, yes... but it will be living. As for your other question," she began, glancing aside and placing a hand on the shape beside her, "Distance... is complicated," unnecessarily so, given the nature of her true home and the genetic damages she'd suffered, limiting her. The smaller body nearby had begun to shrink, as Zabi's own form slowly increased in size, though also density - such that her growth was not proportional to the other's shrinking.
"I can maintain this one up to a distance of a few miles," she clarified as the body beside her had devolved to the size of a large cat, or a lynx. It's shape had changed as well, now a wingless, hornless version of one of her forms. The thing had two pairs of forelimbs, retractable claws, and much smaller canines. Truthfully, it could go off even further - only that she wouldn't have any direct link to it, then. And that was precisely what Zabizel wanted to avoid.
"Also," she began, "I should like to know the nature of these 'tests'. I would not have my being prodded or sampled without a fair understanding," her tone had dipped into a bit of seriousness, but not enough to be off-putting.
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