Thread: All Steamed Space (Shikokudarkstar X Charlie_Death)

Xanthor felt it knew a lot more than Merrill, after all, it had watched the rise and fall of countless civilizations. It observed how with the introduction of technology, things quickly became outdated. Once something was created, it would be integrated and modified countless times until eventually, even with its updated form, it would be completely obsolete. The only thing that didn't seem to be as obsolete was the integration into organic life, either as a machine that is highly efficient, or by extending the capabilities of the creature that was fused with it. Such an invention would not only make its inventor well known for millennia, but it will have the greatest impact on his species. Even though Merrill went back to trying to work on his project, Xanthor was still irritated with him. It had mulled over the possibilities that such a body can do. If it was perfected, then there would be the possibility that it may be able to gain its own body, especially if the cells are a blank slate and there are no other entities within. But that was something that it wasn't willing to talk to him about. It didn't even expect him to speak up and ask him questions when they were sharing a bio lab. Xanthor was peering through a microscope, observing its specimens. No. It answered flatly as it looked away from the microscope and began to jot notes. It was by the window, using water to reflect the limited light from the rainy day into the microscope. It could sense that there was no hostility in the question, that the other man was wanted to try to make peace between them. However, it was still mad that it had to yell at him to even get him to go back to his research. That his morals were getting in the way of scientific progress. Then again, maybe it really wasn't fair since Xanthor never had to deal with such things as morals or ethics. It may be difficult for you to understand but different species have different reproductive cycles. There are some that are entirely asexual, reproducing a duplicate after it reaches maturity. Others require a third or sometimes a forth member to provide certain biological chemicals to assist in the ability to conceive offspring. It changed the slides, keeping its back to Merrill. Some lay eggs, some die at the end of the reproductive cycle and one species actually slaughters and feeds on the parents to gain the necessary nutrients to be able to trigger the development of their sexual organs. It held up a slide to look at the label better before placing it in the microscope. Fascinating how that act would become ritualized and celebrated by their society. Something that looks akin to Mass on Earth. The parent's throats are slit, blood drank by the young, then hoisted in the air where small bits are carved off for the guests to partake while the bulk of body is eaten raw. The white robes are usually stained entirely red afterwards to signify that the child is now an adult. Of course, they often have multiple children at a time, but those that are only children often become great leaders and much more virile. And, much like the Matuuk, there are some where the males bear the young, while a couple have the females get impregnated but the males actually give birth because the developing young is transferred for part of the cycle. I believe it is because both produced important nutrients needed for fetal development and for the child to be healthy, it requires both.