Chapter Text
Well, this was it…
I was enjoying the luxury of sleeping in on my only day off from my job at The Factory when a very audible thud coming from the sky jolted me awake. One thought entered my mind immediately: We were being invaded by Aliens. Although technically aliens already used to be here because this planet was home to Rinans. But the Accord came along and colonized the entire planet, leaving no room for any of those poor little critters.
Knocking over empty cans of Carbonated NutrientFluid (Now With .5x the energy for twice the price!) I climbed out of my bed and tried to ignore the stacks of bowls and other crap filling my peripheral vision. I hobbled over to my window to confirm my suspicions.
Sitting in the sky just among the clouds was an Affini Compact ship in all of its viney glory. It looked more like a lush enclosed ecosystem than a spaceship. Like a floating island out of a fantasy story. The sheer scale of it left me gobsmacked. Large vines, almost like anchors plunged down from the ship. Smaller shuttles that looked like flies in comparison to the Affini ship buzzed down towards the surface of the planet.
Truthfully I didn’t know much about the Affini Compact, even to the point where I didn’t know what to think of what was happening right now. I was incredibly aware that they pushed out a lot of propaganda. Whether it be radio transmissions or video broadcasts, they made it clear that they really want you to like them. The government of my planet set up jammers to block most of what the Affini tried to broadcast, replacing it instead with propaganda against the plants.
From what I read on forums online, they’re tall xenos made of flowers, bark, vines, and other plants. All that’s 100% certain is that their goal is complete domination over all forms of sentient life. Obviously The Terran Accord didn’t want to give up any kind of control so they declared war on The Compact.
I was caught in the middle of it all, not knowing what to believe. I felt so small in comparison to everything going on around me. It was honestly a little overwhelming to keep track of. My planet was just a puppet for the Terran Accord to use, that I understood, But the Affini were alien to me in every sense of the word. They spoke promises of comfort and luxury but that couldn’t possibly be true. They had to be up to something. Especially thinking about what life is currently like in the Accord. It was all just so much all of the time. It felt impossible to survive. Work, bills, and everything suffocated me all the time. Something had to give. All I could hope for was that these new masters truly were nicer than our old ones..
Still stuck staring at the giant spaceship in the sky, I hadn’t even thought about looking down to the streets below my apartment window until now. They were filled with dozens of people panicked and frantic, scared that the horrifying weeds had come to slaughter them. I couldn’t be bothered to show as much hustle as them since that would take wayyyyy too much effort and because,. like.. what would I escape with? How would I escape?? Where??? I was powerless..
Closing my blinds, I turned around and climbed back into bed. The Affini are currently taking over the world. They clearly can do whatever they want. Hell, they could take my sleeping body, grind me up into compost, and mix me into their twisted, fucked up fertilizer. But I was going to sleep in on my day off if it was the last thing I do.
My eyes grew more heavy as I looked back on what I had amounted to, my walls were bare, the little table space I had was covered in trash and garbage, and my floors were the same except for the used needles.. The Affini would probably leave me to die here. They’d write “Shall not be mourned” on my file. That's exactly what it’d say. Very formal. Very official. I dozed off shortly after, dreaming of endless piles of papers and garbage…
~~~~~~~~~~~Aribesh~~~~~~~~~~~
I hurriedly slithered as fast I could through the halls of the Magitaurus. Today was the day. I know that I should have rested more in the days prior so I could have as much energy as possible for the excitement of today but I just couldn’t help myself. Today was everything. Today was the beginning. I was going to see my daughter after so long of being apart.
I entered the landing shuttle, surrounded by many other Affini taking part in the Domestication Campaign. Adorably, most of them were firstblooms all looking for potential florets to take home. The doors shut and the countdown for us to get sent down to the planet began…
My core was thrumming with excitement, anticipation, and the littlest bit of nostalgia as I thought back to the state I was in just days ago. I spent entire stretches of years inside my hab wilting…. My vines covered every wall while I laid in the middle of it all. A pitiful core wrapped in as much foliage as I could muster, barely any spark running through my vines. It was a far cry from the energy I felt today.
I had Demetrius Mozilla 17th bloom to thank for pulling me out of the microbiome of depression I had formed in the center of my hab. He’s a friend and colleague that I’ve known for millennia. We spent various domestication campaigns working alongside each other to expedite the housing of feral Xenrani. I certainly don’t think that I would have caved to anyone else on this ship but after the 1216th selfie of him and his floret captioned with them begging me to come by his office to see his “big development” I decided that I would take a brief break from wallowing for now to pay them a visit.
I had to literally pull myself together into a form that was at least somewhat comprehendible and had a face. It would be the first time I had left in…a while and I needed to look presentable. Although I don’t think that Demetrius would have minded at all. When I opened the door to his office he stood as a massive pile of vines, roots, and various wires and circuitry. With two red dots shining through the foliage that served as eyes he was a sight to behold. Especially since he stood in the center of a circular desk setup surrounded by books, writing boards, and many, many monitors.
“OMGGGG I THOUGHT WE’D NEVER GET TO SEEE YOU AGAIN!!!!!” Spoke an adorably electronic voice from the center of the viney mass. A box shaped monitor the size of a mini-compiler pushed its way out of the core it was nestled against, still wrapped in vines that connected the digitized floret to its owner. Bringing me face-to-screen with the source of the voice. The screen displayed symbols that were typically used for written Affini language, but they were impossible to read as they had been reshaped and repositioned to mimic the expression of a smiling feline.
“Now now, my little program, is that any way to greet a guest?” Demetrius warmly said in response to the beeper’s excitement.
“I’m sorry, Administrator. I just…how could you not be this excited!?!?!” Said, BD-1P, Demetrius’ first and only Floret. The droid was the main reason I visited, after all. The cute little machine chirped and beeped in delight from my vines reaching inside of it. I made sure to get all of its favorite parts that only Affini vines had the precision and grace for. An adorable :3 face appeared on BD-1P’s screen, a clear indication of pure enjoyment of the simulated scritches. My vines intertwined with Demetrius’ that were still inside his Floret’s chassis. We would have a more intimate reunion later but for now, reconnecting this way to him and BD-1P was perfect.
After a short while I withdrew my vines and directed my gaze up to Demetrius, I was eager to hear about the development he had promised. His two bright red eyes peering from the foliage gave me a look of acknowledgment and all of the computer screens surrounding him flashed on at once.
The awe l experienced was immediately overtaken by curiosity. I approached closer to see the contents of the screens that were around his body. My six eyes each independently scanned every screen. Immediately discerning what exactly he was showing me.
“We just got close enough to the planet to see them now!” BD-1P excitedly chirped. The screens held hundreds, if not thousands of camera feeds all from the ship’s exterior pointed right at a planet. Demetrius explained that this was the planet that would be the subject of The Magitaurus’ next domestication campaign.
All of the feeds were incredibly zoomed in due to the magnification power of the exterior cameras. It was close enough to see terrans going about their lives. The footage showed them shopping, eating, and.. working. A part of my weakened core ached for these poor sophonts, born into an uncaring system that never had what’s best for them in mind.
I don’t know what compelled me to continue looking. Each feed I saw plunged me further into worry and anxiety. I knew that we’d be over there in just a few days and all of these poor little critters will have loving homes but I couldn’t stop thinking about the pain that they were in right- “Wait could you go back to that one?” I said without even thinking. I wasn’t even saying it to anyone in particular but Demetrius was happy to oblige as he made the feed of a particular sophont fill the entire screen with just a few twists of his vines.
Her..
I was still baffled by what drew me to her. The girls’s struggle didn’t seem particularly different from any Sophont but she was.. different in a way.. Maybe it was the Everbloom itself drawing me towards her but I just couldn’t help myself from wanting to know more. All six of my eyes were locked onto the little thing. She was eating alone at the moment but I couldn’t stop imagining myself caring for her.. feeding her, praising her for being such a good, well fed girl..
A slight frustration filled me thinking about how much effort she must’ve went through to get this food, prepare it, and then eat it. I demanded that Demetrius put her on all of these screens. Normally he’d be upset at my attitude but I think he was getting excited by my growing energy that had been missing for so long.
Every screen displayed this girl going through different the stages of her daily routine. My mind wouldn’t stop being plagued with thoughts of how my simple presence would vastly improve her life. Frowning at the synthcube factory? She should be smiling and playing in my hab unit. Walking to the bus? I should be carrying her everywhere. Sobbing alone in her bed? I should be holding her close, keeping her safe from the big scary world forever and ever. She would never shed a tear that I didn’t permit first. Not ever.
I felt weak watching her. My Biorhythm screeched with hunger. My eyes flickered from screen to screen, vines writhed and sprawled from my body wrapping around the monitors, almost violently grabbing them. I needed to have this girl. I decided it then and there..She Would Be Mine.
“She can’t know a day of pain, not a single moment of suffering. I’m going to claim her and keep her safe and sound forever and ever and ever.. and I’m going to do it now.” I once again said to nobody in particular.
Demetrius looked happier than ever for someone who didn’t really have a face. His biorhythm resonated with glee as he spoke, “I know you’re excited, dear friend, but you have to remember that we won’t be arriving for three more days. You know as well as I that Domestication Campaigns take time, coordination, and precision. If we just rushed in there unprepared then thousands of Sophonts could be left without any form of Our care. I’m ecstatic that you found The One but please think about all of the other poor little cuties before you do anything rash?”
I let out a big sigh and was surprised actually by the amount of energy currently in my body. I agreed with Demetrius that I wouldn’t do anything rash before the Campaign and that I’ll be patient before claiming her. My eyes turned back to the screens still displaying this formerly hopeless little girl. In just a few days she would no longer have to struggle or concern herself with making scary decisions. My special girl would never worry ever again. She’d simply have her mommy to take care of everything for her…
~~~~~~~~~~~Nina~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Are you home, little one?”
I groggily woke up from within my cocoon of blankets, a much more preferable awakening compared to last time. My half remembered dreams were interrupted by a knocking at my door.
“I can hear you in there petal. It’s ok. I promise that I won’t hurt you”
The voice at my door sounded intoxicatingly beautiful and melodic. I had only heard two sentences yet every word felt like it was full of love and concern. While a small part of me had suspicions, another felt like staying right where I was so I might have a chance to hear another one of its questions.
“If that is the case then I’m afraid I’m going to have to let myself in. Please be prepared and cover yourself up as much as you’d like cutie~”
My body froze at what she said. A warm tingle ran up my back and through my soul. Was she trying to flirt? WHY is she trying to flirt? For the first time since I woke up. I actually stopped and thought about who might be at the door. She hadn’t even said what she wanted from me and she was already about to force herself inside very soon.
The more I wondered about her, the more my mind kept drifting back to her voice, it sounded so plesant, so comforting, so GOOD. It sounded vaguely human but more ethereal and melodic than anything. Like it was from another world..oh.. right.. It took a few seconds for me to snap myself out and focus on the task at hand. I tried to gather my senses with the very limited time I had so that I wouldn’t be caught barely dressed by the intruder.
Surprisingly I didn’t have as much trouble getting up out of bed as I thought I would. The real problem came from when I took my first step. I was so focused on making it out of my bed that I slipped on one of my blankets that had cascaded onto the floor! The slip flung me forward towards the cold, hard, uncaring floor. hoped that the alien that was about to break in would take pity on me for being so pathetic and stupid.
I braced myself for impact and shut my eyes tight. I expected to feel at least some pain, perhaps even hear a thud to go with it but nope just-
“-Oh dear. It would appear that I caught you just at the right time, little one.”
Realizing what just happened, her words sent embarrassed shivers down my spine. Something tightened around my arms and legs and I could feel my body get pulled up slowly by an external force.
“Everything is ok, I promise that I won’t hurt you. Just focus and relax to the sound of my voice”
I followed along with her words and nearly lost myself in its harmonic rhythm.
“I’m so sorry for forcing myself in like this. This really isn’t how I wanted it to go..I can’t Imagine how much fright I’ve caused you. Can you do me a favor and look up at me? I’m sure you’d prefer a proper apology face-to-face rather than “face-to-adorable-tangled-form”
The blush on my face returned as I opened my eyes and took in everything she was saying. Vines were coiled around my body. Affini vines. Her Affini vines that saved me from my almost certain collision with my apartment floor. Part of me wanted to be outraged for her intrusion that kicked off this whole accident while another part was thankful that she caught me with her admittedly soft vines.
She stood nearly two feet taller than me. My feet dangled in the air while more vines coiled around my torso. The vines that wrapped around my weak form lifted me into an upright position and gave me a few seconds to look and the body of this alien invader.
Every inch of her radiated softness, it was like she was grown specifically with the purpose of putting Terrans at ease. Should I be worried that it’s working? Pink flowers and lime bioluminescent moss decorated her dark ivy vines. While her top half resembled a round body made up of those vines, her lower half was like a long skirt made up flowing petals that matched her flowers.
While her body had left me in awe, it was her eyes that truly stunned me. Almost like shining gemstones, six eyes evenly dotted her upper face in two vertical lines. Like her flowers they were bright pink and they felt all-encompassing. Tearing my own eyes away from them not only felt impossible but almost foolish. It was the most indescribably beautiful sight I had ever seen. a tear began to run down my face as I realized that I had never witnessed anything quite as beautiful at any point in the dull life I had lived until now.
“There we are. What an adorable girl I’ve been assigned to visit. I truly want to apologize for the commotion I’ve caused you this morning. My name is Aribesh Gestling 8th Bloom (she/her). I’m with the Affini Compact’s Integration team for this sector.”
she wiped the tear off my face with a vine. Her eyes looked up to survey my apartment while gently setting me down. My senses and anxiety began to creep back into my system the moment our eyes parted from each other. I wondered just how much power this Affini held over me now that she was here in my room. She was able to stun me like that with just a look. Was the Accord right to be afraid of them?
“Basically I visit the homes of cuties like you to give them the wonderful news of the compact’s arrival. I’m also here to do a little physical and mental health checkup on them to determine if they’re more suited for domestication or independence.”
She ended her sentence with a gentle smile but the word “Domestication” set off alarm bell in my head. I knew what it meant, I had heard it get thrown around a lot in the past few months. And looking more into it had frighteningly revealed it to be a punishment the Affini gave to any Terran that caused them trouble. chemical process that altered the minds and wills of Terrans to do whatever the Affini wanted.
I began to squirm and writhe in her vines as I started mumbling out a response about how she doesn’t need to do that. “I really can take care of myself. I’ve had a few bad days but I promise I’m capable enough to do this..please..just..don’tpunishme. imgoodipromise.” More tears began to pour from my eyes when I noticed her moving and rearranging things behind her. She was cleaning because I couldn’t. I’msorry I left all of it out. Now shesgonnabemad andd send me away imsoryy. She began shushing and humming as more vines wrapped themselves around my body and pulled me closer to her. This was really it.. she was gonnakillme.shesgonakillme. Snap all my bones here and now because I wasn’t even good enough to be in chains. I closed my eyes to accept how I would end and will not be mourned. I felt a small pain at my neck. It wasn’t at all what I was expecting, which was a bone crushing snap.
“I’ve got you now, you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of it little one. I’ll take care of everything for you. You’re safe with me.”
It felt harder to squirm but it also felt harder to want to squirm. I looked up at her and she smiled down at me. Time froze as my eyes stared into hers and she opened her mouth again.
“I’ve got you babygirl. Nothing bad will ever happen to you now because you’re never going to leave my vines. Since your apartment is..unsuitable at the moment, I’m going to be taking you home with me for your safety. I’ve read your file and I know you struggle with certain tasks. I want to be there to help with every little thing. I love you more than you could ever comprehend little one. And mommy’s love will keep you safe for the rest of your life…”
Even if I couldn’t really get what she was saying I could feel the emotion behind her words. Everything was getting dark and fuzzy as she talked and I didn’t get most of it but it sounded important. What was more important though was the immediate feelings of sleepycoziness that enveloped me. I felt safe for now. I closed my eyes with a big dumb grin feeling silly for being so worried back there.. Nothing bad could happen to me..