MSNPC Shakti - Feeding Larva
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steve...@yahoo.com
Mar 23, 2026, 8:35:14 AMMar 23
to USS Khitomer – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG
((Temple of Tomorrow, Mahila))
As Shakti strode into the Temple of Tomorrow, the scientists and their servants bowed to her as was fitting her status as priestess of Shekhinah, the mother goddess of all Velithari on Mahila and all the worlds circling Shekhinah's orb of life, the star Kazira. If she had been outside, the presence of so many uncovered males would have distressed her. It was, after all, forbidden for males to reveal any of their chitin anywhere but in the homes of their owners. The Temple of Tomorrow was not just anywhere and all of the males were accompanied by their owners. The scientists and their males back away respectfully scarcely daring to look upon the mottled blue-green chitin of the priestess. All, that is, save one; Saraswati, the research director of the Temple. She did not back away though her bow of submissiveness was as deep an any of the others.
Shaki: Arise, Saraswati. You have summoned me.
Saraswati: :: raising herself up to her full 1.8 meters. Shakti was taller still. :: Yes, Priestess. We have reached a critical stage in our experiment with the aliens. I know of your interest in this work. :: Sweeping her arm toward one side of the Temple. :: If you will come this way. I believe you will find this efficacious, Priestess.
Shakti: ::waving one clawed hand dismissively:: You may proceed.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess.
Saraswati led Shaki, Shakti's male, Saraswati's two males and a small group of other researchers and males down a short corridor to a research lab. Shakti ignored the instruments and equipment in the laboratory. Such details were beneath her status. Shakti's attention was drawn immediately to research cube in the center of the room. The transparent walls obscured nothing of the blackened corpse on the table, or the three researchers in their white isolation suits. The three researchers bowed as soon as the first of them noticed Shakti's presence. She waved a hand and the threesome returned to their work.
Shakti: This is one of the blob-like aliens that were captured. What of the other kind?
Saraswati picked up what could easily be mistaken for a shard of broken glass. She held it where the priestess could easily see it. Shakti glanced at it for only an instant. The two women moved to one side of the transparent cube where they could get a better view of the side of what remained of the Sheliak corpse. That side was moving in three... no four locations. Clearly the larva were still alive and had reached the stage where they were attempting to eat their way out of the corpse. Once clear of the body, the larva, who should be large, white worm like beings would begin their initial molt revealing the immature Velthari.
Saraswati: This and the like are all that remains of the crystalline aliens. It has no nutritive value.
Shakti: The blob-like alien does have nutritive value. The larva appear to be thriving.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess. The larva appear to have grown well. There remains some uncertainty as to whether they have any abnormalities caused by variations in the alien's make-up compared to that :: quick glance at Shakti's male:: of our males.
Shakti: You have tested them during their growth.
It was not a question.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess. :: beat :: There are limitations to what we can do without endangering the larva. Once they molt, we will be able to determine a great deal more, Priestess.
Shakti: I see. I have a few questions concerning this alien. Are you certain it was male?
Saraswati: We have studied seven alien species. With the exception of one species that we determined to be trisexual and one other that we found to reproduce asexually, all of them fell into two broad categories.
oO Trisexual? How does that work? Oo
Saraswati: Some are egg layers while others are egg retainers. The female reproductive organs of all bisexual species have a common characteristic; an opening for passing eggs or developed larva. This alien lacked such an opening and was, therefore, male.
Shakti: I see. :: turning slightly toward the researcher :: It seems probable that at least one of the two species on that ship was sentient.
Saraswati: None of this species ever showed any sign of sentience. Although we could not study the crystalline species before they died we are forced to conclude that they were the sentient ones. :: glancing at the transparent cube :: I see that the first of the larva is beginning to emerge.
One of the researchers inside the isolation cube began to enlarge the hole in the side of Sheliak corpse and a moment later, a large, perfectly normal larva was free. The researcher placed it on a scale, recorded its weight, wrapped it in a drying cloth and then set the wriggling larva under a heat lamp. A few moments later, it was joined by three additional larva.
Shakti: How long before the first molt begins?
Saraswati: In this environment, any moment now. :: beat :: There. The larva's outer skin is beginning to crack.
A hatchling Valithari has a familiar and at the same time strange appearance. It is always a pale, nearly translucent white lacking even the slightest hint of the chitin that will soon cover it. Its eyes lack any color. The infant's exo-skeleton is soft and pliable making the child highly vulnerable.
The researchers carefully aided each of the four free of the larval covering. Shakti had already shifted to thinking of the ones in the cube as nurses rather than scientists. As always when seeing the new hatchlings, Shakti's heart was warmed and she said a silent prayer of thanks to Shekhinah for the blessing and gift of new life. The nurse/researchers began to inspect them and then quickly moved them to safe compartments.
The two watchers waited silently until one of the three inside held up one hand showing all four fingers. A moment later, she held up both hands; one with one finger and the other with three fingers.
Saraswati: All four and normal, Priestess. No deformities. And it appears that there are three males and one female.
Shakti: Praise Shekhinah for all her blessings. Their mothers will be pleased. :: There was a soft buzzing and Shakti responded by touching the side of her head. :: I see. Shekhinah's blessing be upon you and your brood.
Saraswati: If it is not too impertinent to ask...
Shakti: ::glancing at the research director. :: A ship is approaching. It appears likely that you will soon have some new subjects to study.
Tags/TBC
—————————
Priestess Shakti
of the Velithari
as simmed by
LtJg Lera Michaels
Engineering Officer
K240106LM2
As Shakti strode into the Temple of Tomorrow, the scientists and their servants bowed to her as was fitting her status as priestess of Shekhinah, the mother goddess of all Velithari on Mahila and all the worlds circling Shekhinah's orb of life, the star Kazira. If she had been outside, the presence of so many uncovered males would have distressed her. It was, after all, forbidden for males to reveal any of their chitin anywhere but in the homes of their owners. The Temple of Tomorrow was not just anywhere and all of the males were accompanied by their owners. The scientists and their males back away respectfully scarcely daring to look upon the mottled blue-green chitin of the priestess. All, that is, save one; Saraswati, the research director of the Temple. She did not back away though her bow of submissiveness was as deep an any of the others.
Shaki: Arise, Saraswati. You have summoned me.
Saraswati: :: raising herself up to her full 1.8 meters. Shakti was taller still. :: Yes, Priestess. We have reached a critical stage in our experiment with the aliens. I know of your interest in this work. :: Sweeping her arm toward one side of the Temple. :: If you will come this way. I believe you will find this efficacious, Priestess.
Shakti: ::waving one clawed hand dismissively:: You may proceed.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess.
Saraswati led Shaki, Shakti's male, Saraswati's two males and a small group of other researchers and males down a short corridor to a research lab. Shakti ignored the instruments and equipment in the laboratory. Such details were beneath her status. Shakti's attention was drawn immediately to research cube in the center of the room. The transparent walls obscured nothing of the blackened corpse on the table, or the three researchers in their white isolation suits. The three researchers bowed as soon as the first of them noticed Shakti's presence. She waved a hand and the threesome returned to their work.
Shakti: This is one of the blob-like aliens that were captured. What of the other kind?
Saraswati picked up what could easily be mistaken for a shard of broken glass. She held it where the priestess could easily see it. Shakti glanced at it for only an instant. The two women moved to one side of the transparent cube where they could get a better view of the side of what remained of the Sheliak corpse. That side was moving in three... no four locations. Clearly the larva were still alive and had reached the stage where they were attempting to eat their way out of the corpse. Once clear of the body, the larva, who should be large, white worm like beings would begin their initial molt revealing the immature Velthari.
Saraswati: This and the like are all that remains of the crystalline aliens. It has no nutritive value.
Shakti: The blob-like alien does have nutritive value. The larva appear to be thriving.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess. The larva appear to have grown well. There remains some uncertainty as to whether they have any abnormalities caused by variations in the alien's make-up compared to that :: quick glance at Shakti's male:: of our males.
Shakti: You have tested them during their growth.
It was not a question.
Saraswati: Yes, Priestess. :: beat :: There are limitations to what we can do without endangering the larva. Once they molt, we will be able to determine a great deal more, Priestess.
Shakti: I see. I have a few questions concerning this alien. Are you certain it was male?
Saraswati: We have studied seven alien species. With the exception of one species that we determined to be trisexual and one other that we found to reproduce asexually, all of them fell into two broad categories.
oO Trisexual? How does that work? Oo
Saraswati: Some are egg layers while others are egg retainers. The female reproductive organs of all bisexual species have a common characteristic; an opening for passing eggs or developed larva. This alien lacked such an opening and was, therefore, male.
Shakti: I see. :: turning slightly toward the researcher :: It seems probable that at least one of the two species on that ship was sentient.
Saraswati: None of this species ever showed any sign of sentience. Although we could not study the crystalline species before they died we are forced to conclude that they were the sentient ones. :: glancing at the transparent cube :: I see that the first of the larva is beginning to emerge.
One of the researchers inside the isolation cube began to enlarge the hole in the side of Sheliak corpse and a moment later, a large, perfectly normal larva was free. The researcher placed it on a scale, recorded its weight, wrapped it in a drying cloth and then set the wriggling larva under a heat lamp. A few moments later, it was joined by three additional larva.
Shakti: How long before the first molt begins?
Saraswati: In this environment, any moment now. :: beat :: There. The larva's outer skin is beginning to crack.
A hatchling Valithari has a familiar and at the same time strange appearance. It is always a pale, nearly translucent white lacking even the slightest hint of the chitin that will soon cover it. Its eyes lack any color. The infant's exo-skeleton is soft and pliable making the child highly vulnerable.
The researchers carefully aided each of the four free of the larval covering. Shakti had already shifted to thinking of the ones in the cube as nurses rather than scientists. As always when seeing the new hatchlings, Shakti's heart was warmed and she said a silent prayer of thanks to Shekhinah for the blessing and gift of new life. The nurse/researchers began to inspect them and then quickly moved them to safe compartments.
The two watchers waited silently until one of the three inside held up one hand showing all four fingers. A moment later, she held up both hands; one with one finger and the other with three fingers.
Saraswati: All four and normal, Priestess. No deformities. And it appears that there are three males and one female.
Shakti: Praise Shekhinah for all her blessings. Their mothers will be pleased. :: There was a soft buzzing and Shakti responded by touching the side of her head. :: I see. Shekhinah's blessing be upon you and your brood.
Saraswati: If it is not too impertinent to ask...
Shakti: ::glancing at the research director. :: A ship is approaching. It appears likely that you will soon have some new subjects to study.
Tags/TBC
—————————
Priestess Shakti
of the Velithari
as simmed by
LtJg Lera Michaels
Engineering Officer
K240106LM2
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