The Chupakri

The majority of chupakri were raised in the midst of training regimes, specialized to the Collective's designated function for each caste. Some chupakri took to this training better than others.

The chupakri that absorbed all of their training are considered to be of ⭐⭐⭐First Class in their caste. Average-level chupakri are considered ⭐⭐Second Class, and those that never seemed to internalize the regimes at all--often through no fault of their own--are considered ⭐Third Class. Chupakri that were not trained have no class.

This class is noted on the papers of a trained chupakri, usually next to the symbol for their bloodline (Δ-3 would be a Delta Third Class chupakri.)
MASTER & MIND > Chupakri do not answer all commands from just anybody! They are conditioned to obey only those who are in some position of authority over the chupakri, real or perceived. If the individual giving the command has interfaced with the individual chupakri's Mark, the command becomes even more compelling.

> These commands are not mindless, but remember how chupakri think! Chupakri desire to serve, and acquire much fulfillment from acquiring and pleasing a Master. That said, chupakri are still individuals, not mindless drones. These commands were beaten into their heads and, receiving them from a recognized Master, they will be strongly inclined to obey--but even then, with a tremendous act of the will, they may choose to fight against their own programming at great psychological cost.
▴ THE HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY ▴ As a race made to serve, chupakri will generally view any other non-chupakri free person as slightly above them by default, even if the chupakri itself is free. Of course, this is liable to change as the chupakri's respect for the individual may fall into disregard. There are also defiant or strong-willed chupakri that might vie against this natural inclination, or perhaps overcome it altogether.

▴ Above non-chupakri free people are those that are specifically recognized as superiors. These are usually individuals that have some direct control over an aspect of the chupakri's life, whether it is an employer, a benefactor, or some other individual of authority. Chupakri have a strong natural tendency to obey superiors once they recognize them as such. The Hybrid and Berserker chupakri castes, being the 'working' castes, are more inclined to retain some degree of independence.

▴ Above superiors are Masters. These are individuals that have established a very personal connection to the chupakri. While this may be based on interaction alone in the same way as traditional Master/slave relationships, a chupakri's Master has the option of further extending and cementing their authority by also establishing a physical connection to an individual chupakri's Mark--an act that deepens any pre-existing bond between the chupakri and the Master, but can also be used to begin one with a new Master. Should a Master choose to do this, it creates an additional compulsion to obey and please the Master, sometimes even at odds with the chupakri's better instincts or desires. The chupakri's free will is never entirely overwhelmed by the bond, but often they will surrender to serve at this point, especially if the Master was previously defined through a relationship.

▴ Among chupakri, of course, there is a strict pecking order. Barring direct instructions from a superior, Elites are above Berserkers, who are above Hybrids, who are above Stunted, who tend to think of themselves as some kind of slave class (or even less) even when they are freepersons. This hierarchy is universally understood and reinforced by the natural behavior of all chupakri in the presence of others of their kind, even among chupakri that might resent the circumstance.

▴ Generally speaking, chupakri view those around them as either superior or inferior to them; this may manifest as abuse, protective behavior, unspoken expectations, willful serving, provision of convenience, general subservience, etc. It is rare for a chupakri to experience true, equal-footed companionship unless it is with others of their same caste.
CHUPAKRI COMMANDS ▴ MODES OF EXISTENCE As an artificial slave race, chupakri raised by the Collective were taught from an early age how to behave in the presence of their superiors. Modes are various states of obedience and autonomy that are self-imposed by the chupakri and reinforced by those superiors. There are two that are known by all chupakri, as well as some specialized to individual castes.

The level of compulsion a chupakri feels to obey any of these commands depends upon the individual giving them, and their position on the hierarchy of authority, above.

▴ STANDBY
When ordered to enter STANDBY, the chupakri is expected to go about its business as usual, but always stop and turn to face the command-giver whenever the chupakri is newly subject to the superior's presence until dismissed to return to previous activities. When used by a Master, this may include the chupakri entering a room the Master is in or the Master entering a room the chupakri is in.

The superior may also invoke the chupakri's attention at any time by saying the word "PRESENT."

The chupakri does not speak unless spoken to (except to ask permission to speak,) does not raise eyes from the floor unless it is to complete a task, and can only go where explicitly told to go.

▴ AT EASE
When ordered to be AT EASE, the chupakri is expected to go about its business as usual, and does not have to present as often, but is expected to remain respectful.

If there is a Master who leaves and returns, the chupakri is expected to present once again until ordered to resume being at ease, or told to enter a different mode.

The chupakri is permitted to speak, is allowed to look at the order-giver, and can move as necessary. Most free chupakri think as if they are perpetually at ease, but without any particular superior to respond to.

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The following modes will generally only be entered if the command is issued by a recognized Master.

▴ ELITE: SERVICE MODE
An Elite in SERVICE mode is as a chupakri in STANDBY mode above, except it is expected to stay available to the Master at all times, following close at hand and attending obediently to every whim and desire--sometimes even before the Master mentions them. A chupakri in SERVICE mode always sits on the floor or on the Master's lap, and follows the Master as if leashed unless permitted to hold onto an arm.

▴ BERSERKER: GUARD MODE
A Berserker that is ordered to GUARD will do so, stationing itself at the exterior mouth of the room or at the edge of the Master's business, facing outward and watching for would-be intruders or interruptions. A Berserker in Guard mode does not move for anything except interception until ordered to--this includes food, sleep, and provocation, although a Guarding Berserker is expected to use potentially lethal force on anyone who tries to interrupt their solemn duty to Guard.

▴ HYBRID: PERFORMANCE MODE
A Hybrid chupakri that is ordered to PERFORM is expected to stop everything that they are doing, rotate to face the Master, and demonstrate their key skill(s) in the eyes of the Collective (or current Master.) If the key skill cannot be done on the spot (deception, for example,) the chupakri may instead describe their talents and uses.

After either of these is complete, the chupakri remains at ATTENTION (see below) until dismissed to a different mode.

▴ STUNTED: SACRIFICE MODE
A Stunted chupakri that is ordered to SACRIFICE is expected to behave in one of several ways based upon the circumstances.

In the presence of an operating table: The chupakri is to lay down, face-up on the table, arms at their sides, posture relaxed.
Without an operating table: The chupakri is to lower themselves to their knees with their head down and wrists raised.
▴ VERBAL COMMANDS
▴ ATTENTION
Somewhere between a mode and a command: when ordered to be at ATTENTION, the chupakri is expected to be particularly attentive to the command-giver. The chupakri stands where it is with its arms pinned to its sides, its legs together, ears up and tail lowered, turning on the spot only to follow the speaking superior around the room so that the chupakri is always facing them.

▴ BERSERKER: TERMINATE
Only obeyed when used by a Master, TERMINATE is a command that instructs a Berserker to kill. Used without a qualifier, it activates a raw frenzy of violence, a berserker rage, if you will; it does not discern between friend or foe, only between Master and fodder, until all visible entities have been dispatched. Berserkers in war often die in the midst of fulfilling a TERMINATE command.

Most Berserkers are also programmed with specific forms of TERMINATE. For a common example, TERMINATE TARGET is used to order a kill shot upon a previously discussed target, while TERMINATE LIABILITY is understood to be direction to kill destabilizing Stunted.

The TERMINATE command wears off when the Berserker's designated victim is dead, or, if the general command is given, when they are the only living thing left in a room (save the Master that gave the order.)

▴ HYBRID: EXECUTE
Only obeyed when used by a Master, EXECUTE is a command that is always pre-programmed and pre-described. When ordered to EXECUTE, the Hybrid is compelled to do whatever service or action the Master has defined as their EXECUTE command. Sometimes this will be something as simple as shining shoes or drawing blood. Other times it might be as complicated as carrying out an assassination or disposing of a body.

Many Hybrid chupakri have multiple EXECUTE commands, which may be provided with code names.

▴ STUNTED: SHUTDOWN
SHUTDOWN is a simple command that compels a Stunted to immediately cease all activity and collapse to the floor like a ragdoll. This command is often used as a punishment, a reminder, or a simple and easy way to subdue a Stunted marked for termination due to destabilization. It may be used by Masters or superiors.

The Stunted remains cognizant of their surroundings, but will remain physically deactivated until either: the ordering superior/Master leaves, the Stunted receives another order that conflicts with SHUTDOWN, or until a condition is met as defined by the superior/Master.
▴ TRIGGERS Unlike the verbal commands and modes listed above, a chupakri's TRIGGERS are not taught, but are forcibly engraved into the mind. They are usually unique to the chupakri (or a litter of chupakri) and involve activating, or triggering, certain deep-seated responses implanted in the brain early and through trauma.

The Collective's usage of and creation of triggers is very controlled, and the chupakri that suffer them are always programmed to automatically act in certain ways against their own will when they encounter these reminders of old trauma. Usually they are designed to return runaway chupakri to their Masters, to make the chupakri feel helpless without a Master, and to terrify and control them into never revealing Collective secrets. Some triggers may also be implanted purely for the derivation of sick pleasure.

This stuff gets very bleak, and you are not required to build triggers into your chupakri. If you would like to, however, you may read on at this page.

▴ BLOODBONDS Bloodbonds are the beginning step to interfacing, a more developed technique for manipulating chupakri which seems to have vanished with the Collective--but as it turns out, they are quite useful, and quite interesting, on their own as well.

A bloodbond is created when a nonchupakri sheds their own (living) blood upon a chupakri’s mark, integrating its unique biological signature with the chupakri's mutable genome for a temporary length of time. This creates a connection between the two, often making a chupakri more favorably inclined towards the bond creator. The chupakri still retains its autonomy, although there might be a tug in the back of its mind to obey, serve or otherwise please the blood bond. The chupakri might also begin to feel more affection towards those to whom they are bonded, but this connection is not always positive. Strong-willed chupakri who are opposed to the making of the bond may respond to the feelings it inspires by becoming obsessive, dangerous and even lethal to the creator of the bond.

▴ A chupakri can sustain multiple bloodbonds at once, but too many active bloodbonds will lead to a dilution of each of them.

▴ Bloodbonds wear off over time, and need to be maintained. Generally, a trickle of blood from a fresh wound will be enough to create a bond that lasts a period of four to six weeks, waning over time as the chupakri's body slowly processes the blood out of the system. Bonds can be refreshed to their full length at any time.

▴ Some chupakri actively choose to ask someone to bloodbond them. This can be seen as a sign or loyalty and respect. Some chupakri derive satisfaction from being bonded, in the same way one might feel from being closely connected to another in a formalized way. These chupakri will often seek out their bond for renewal when it begins to wear off.

▴ The bloodbond is not always a positive thing even for the bond maker. For sensitive and less mentally sound chupakri, the feelings it creates may be overwhelmingly strong, potentially causing obsession, stalking, and in extreme cases, depending on the mentality of the chupakri, accidental or even intentional murder of the bloodbond.

▴ Some chupakri have been known to experience withdrawals without a bond, as if a piece of their soul has been withheld from them. Many chupakri feel merely incomplete without one, while others prefer that their minds and bodies stay clear of the bond's effects altogether. Chupakri that have never experienced a bloodbond are unpredictable, but most chupakri have been bonded at least once to one or more of their Collective handlers and therefore have at least a thin opinion on the practice.

▴ Most chupakri can not bloodbond other chupakri. While a normal bloodbond can make the bonded chupakri more fond of the bond, if the bonder is a chupakri it will cause both chups to be repulsed by each other and in extreme cases turn violent towards one another.