a story from
the Outerverse
A human who's been spliced navigates the Outerverse — and tries not to breathe while asking a slug cyborg for directions.
"Whereabouts is the universe with all of those humans flying around in?"
A giant slug-like creature whispered a response. I could just make out "versequake" amongst the mumble.
Not being able to use any biometrically accessed devices in the Outerverse — that everyone else took for granted — made for interesting social interactions when I needed information.
"Sorry friend, what did you say?" I ask.
It beckoned me closer with one of its robotic arms that were attached to a jacket of metal plates. The other was holding a screen of glass that it was using to pull up a map for me. Crossing the 3-metre gap, I took a deep breath and held it as subtly as I could manage. Looking at the map I took in a few landmarks around the universe's plotted trajectory.
In a loud rasp, the slug proclaimed "Don't go there unless you want to get spliced!". Taking half a startled step back from the no-longer whispering cyborg I accidentally sucked in a bit of slug must. I knew full well what being "spliced" meant, but I quickly forced out "Spliced?" just to get the putrid air back out.
"Versequake" was all I got in reply.
To sneak in another half step backwards I began a thoughtful swaying motion. Hoping to get it to say more I put on a quizzical expression. The slug stared at me, nonplussed. Lungs starting to hurt, the pent-up air turned my words into a shout.
"WHEN IS THAT
GOING TO HIT?"
I take in a few rigid gasped breaths and it notices.
The sticks protruding from the top of the slug body snap straight. The eyelids attached to those slowly form a glowering shape around the eyeballs. One of the eyes is locked at me and the other rotates to look around the biodome. Fixated on this part of slug-thing anatomy I fail to notice they are getting closer. Hopping backwards and sticking my arm around my head I suck air through my clothes as a filter.
"Tomorrow!" it screeches as it jabs a metallic finger at the place my sternum was a second ago.
Its eyes go wide and it halts the slimy sliding approach. I must have moved too quickly, it had probably noticed my particle stream.
"You've been spliced… what are you doing out here?" it whispers.
Nonchalantly, I brush off the concern with a sweeping gesture. "I don't plan to be out here for very long. Getting back into a Verse is next on my agenda."
"So you picked that disgusting earth-verse? Why not try somewhere less crowded, Bweuga is in peak cycle, you could get—"
"I've made up my mind."
"Jhonny! Get over here." slug-borg bellows. Slunking out of the ferms, half-covered in metal plates, comes an upright form with a fox's face and fur. I start to wonder if I'd accidentally been given directions to one of those ancient zoos. The newcomer barks a "What?" on approaching, eying me through a squinty glance.
How in holy hell did these animals find their way into Outerverse before us?
Explorers returned from the first successful Outerverse mission with animal-like companions that had the technology we only dreamed of. Yes, they prevented the destruction of the universe that we were trying to flee from and saved trillions and trillions of planetary lives, but by God, highly advanced SLUGS?!?!
They said they come from an early branch of our universe, as a result of a Versequake, and somehow apes — and thus their human ancestors — were not present in their ecosystem. They talk about this like their success comes down to the very exclusion of us in their branch.
Humans despise the creatures for besting them, they want to be superior to all. The creatures pity the humans for their obsession and greed for power and focus on a natural balance instead.
Having not spent much time with these beings I haven't picked up on their subtle ways of using body language and tonality, but I'm sure that slug face had a calculating look to it.
chapter i of ??