Do No Harm (story, far realm tentacle transformation)

[Lord T Hawkeye]

Funny, just when I think the story is fading away in my mind, it jumps back to life just like it's protagonist does.

Enjoy as always.


Chapter 7: The Alien Legend

Even then, I wondered if it was wise of me to tell Kyle all about my strange abilities though I felt there was little harm since his sister had already witnessed them first hand and refusing to divulge the details could have cast me in a suspicious light which was probably the last thing I needed then. We sat in the guest room as I told him all about how my life was turned on it's ear the day I found that odd flesh sample.

?A strange tale indeed and had I not seen otherwise, I would think you mad,? Kyle said as he took a sip of the tea laid out for us.

?I wonder if I'm not going mad with all of this. I'm still frightened by my own power, especially when I lost control of it and killed the neogi. It's all just too much for me,? I said shuddering at the memory.

?Well, perhaps putting it to a good use will help you overcome that fear,? Kyle said putting his cup down.

?What do you mean?? I asked curiously.

?Tilandra may have mentioned it already but there has been an odd epidemic sweeping this area. It started with disfigured animals but has begun to move onto people as well. We don't know the cause of it and the doctors have tried everything they can. The disease seems to adapt to their medicines and grow stronger.

?I'm sure I can help them!? I said eagerly.

?I knew I could count on you. Let us get to the clinic immediately then,? Kyle said leading the way.

He led me out of the palace to the local clinic. When we entered, it was a grim sight indeed. The beds were filled with people in agony from the mutations that warped their bones and defiled their flesh.

?No...I have to help them!? I said running to a young boy in one corner. His arm was horrifically disfigured, the surface boiling like a thick stew, even appearing to start to form tendrils that quickly dipped back inside.

?Ugh...who...who are you?? he said weakly yet fearful as he looked at my feral eyes.

?I'm a doctor, I'm here to help you. Don't be afraid,? I said in a motherly tone as I quickly got to work. I used my tendrils to penetrate his arm and seek out the mutated cells to purge them from his body so that his true flesh could regrow. The cells actively tried to flee from me, almost as though possessing a spark of intelligence. They couldn't escape me though, my ability to spread through and cut off their routes was unmatched. All the other patients watched with fascination as I worked. They were at first fearful since it looked like I was devouring his arm but his blissful state under my care eased their worries. A few moments later, my tendrils withdrew and reformed my arm, leaving only a healthy limb in their wake.

?There, how do you feel?? I asked.

?It...it's gone! The pain, everything!? the boy said overjoyed as he looked at his restored arm. Seconds later, I found myself surrounded by other patients desperately asking that I work on them next. It was a bit overwhelming for a little one like me.

The day wore on well into the evening before I had finally treated everybody. Word traveled fast and many brought their loved ones to benefit from my miraculous healing. Many times I had to send for food to keep my strength up. Finally, I was at last given a chance to rest. I still mourned for my lost home but it felt good to finally do what I loved doing, easing the suffering of others. Kyle and Lia came to check on me as night began to fall.

?You're amazing Morah,? Lia said excited.

?Thank you Lia,? I said somewhat lost in thought.

?Is something wrong?? Kyle said noticing my distraction.

?When I consume something living, I sometimes get flashes of memories from them. I think I picked up the source of the mutations when I was healing everyone,? I replied.

?The source? Well by all means, enlighten us. We must make sure this epidemic doesn't return,? Kyle demanded.

?All I could see was a group of figures pouring a concoction into the river upstream. They look familiar to me somehow...? I said trailing off as I tried to make sense of the vision.

?Can you see what these figures look like?? Kyle asked me.

?They are humanoid but gaunt. Their bodies are covered in black wrappings. I can't see their faces at all,? I said closing my eyes to run the memory through my mind, ?Wait, I have seen them before. One of them was the one who provided me with the 'seed' that enabled me to escape the neogi.?

?Gaunt humanoids in black wrappings? I think there have been a few witnesses to such beings skulking around the nearby area. I must inform the guards to keep a watch for them,? Kyle said as he pondered this evidence.

?But if they were the ones who spread the disease, why would they help you?? Lia asked confused.

?I don't know. All I know is...I want to find them too. Somehow I think they know more about my body and my powers,? I replied.

?Be careful Morah,? Kyle said turning back to me, ?You do understand the knowledge you seek could change your life and not necessarily for the better.?

?I know, but I still don't understand my powers and I'm afraid I could lose control of them again. If learning about them could help me control them better, I have to do it. As a doctor, I always have to look out for everyone's best interests,? I said determined.

?Very well then, please don't hesitate to ask if you need any help from me. You've done much for us already,? Kyle said as him and Lia returned to the palace.

......................

I followed the river until I came to the spot that matched the vision. I wasn't exactly sure yet what I was looking for, just some kind of clue to tell me where to go next. As the birds singing and the flowing of the river began to relax my mind, I ended up letting myself fall back onto the soft grass to relax.

?It's so nice out here...I just wish I could...huh?? I said as I felt movement along my back. Sitting up, I turned to find a hole in the grass where I lay.

?Sigh...hungry again? What am I going to do with you?? I said looking down at myself.

Just then, my eyes perked up as I felt another spark inside my mind. It was just a fleeting image of the same figures again. Despite their lack of true intelligence, the plants I had consumed still retained brief glimpses of their presence.

?It's not enough, but if I got more, I can piece them together to form an image of where they went!? I said as I drew my tendril hands to find other nearby vegetation that likely had been in contact with them.

A short time later, I focused hard after having consumed several nearby plants until the image finally came to me. I knew the direction they had gone so I set out immediately. Whenever the trail grew cold, I simply repeated the process until their next turn came to me. Maybe it was the scientist in me but the chase began to excite me despite how much I feared what I would find. My travels eventually took me to an old ruin deep in the forest. At first appearing to be long abandoned, weeds and vines had long overtaken it and covered it completely, but cut vines around the entrance indicated it had seen recent use. Swallowing hard, I ventured in.

The sunlight quickly was left behind as I traveled further down as the passage way led underground but I was oddly able to see in the pitch black anyway.

?Sigh...is there nothing you can't do?? I said to myself as I found my progress blocked.

I looked carefully at the obstruction. It was a black substance that filled up the entire hallway with no sign of a door or alternate route.

?A dead end?? I said disappointed, ?Now what do I do??

I leaned against it trying to think of whether I should backtrack when the obstruction began to stir. It quivered for a moment before splitting in half and parting like curtain, allowing me through.

?That's odd, why would it let me in?? I said, ?What is it anyway??

I entered to find an entirely different place on the other side. The walls had all been coated with the same black substance completely. I stopped and put my hand on it, half expecting it to react to me again. When it didn't, I then realized something. I knew this substance, I knew it very well!

?This is...? I said feeling my jacket and then the wall again, ?...the same resin that I employ! What does this mean??

?It means you are realizing your true purpose at last...Morah,? came a voice inside my head.

?No! No more mind control!? I screamed out in panic.

?Fear not, I lack the power to control you even if that were my goal. Please, come forward. We have much to discuss,? the voice said invitingly.

I carefully walked forward until the passage opened up into a wide open room that appeared to be a lab of some sort. Tables and shelves lay around the area, some covered with books and parchement. Others with flasks containing unknown liquids and specimen samples. Several dark figures were busy at work but all their gazes shifted upon me as I entered. At once, they all ceased their labors and approached, looking at me intently. They were the ones from the vision, gaunt humanoids covered head to toe with the same resin suits, their faces and features completely hidden.

?Welcome Morah, so what I'm told is true. Our project was not the failure we believed it was so long ago,? said one who pushed through the crowd. He appeared to be the leader by his proud bearing.

?Who...who are all of you? What are you talking about?? I said nervously.

?Most planelings call us the kaorti. Myself, I am Tek'ka'tur, head of this modest fascility. Our purpose is the research and eventually evolution of the planeling kingdom near here but now, you have changed our plans somewhat.?

?Planelings? Evolution? I don't understand,? I said, though I had an idea of what it meant.

?Planelings is our term for the inhabitants of this plane. We must seal off ourselves from this world with our resin for long term exposure to it causes us pain, illness and eventually death,? Tek'ka'tur explained.

?That's why you wear those suits?? I asked.

?Yes indeed, however we are safe in so allow me,? he said as he pulled back the head of his suit, revealing the grotesque sight inside. He bore a pair of insect like mandibles and a pair of disturbingly familiar red eyes and violet skin.

?What?!? I said in shock, ?You look like...?

?Yes, flesh of the far realm, just like you but you are something far greater entirely for you see...? he trailed off as footsteps rapidly approached.

Light shone in the tunnel behind as three figures dashed in. It was non other than Tilandra with a pair of other druids at her side.

?Intruders it seems. My apologies Morah but we shall have to continue this at a later date. For now, let us see what data can be observed from this confrontation,? Tek'ka'tur said as the kaorti teleported away. Just before Tek'ka'tur joined them, he reached out and touched my back for a split second and nodded at me.

?Tilandra!? I said, ?It was them! They created the mutation plague!?

?You say that as though you had nothing to do with it and yet here I find you speaking to them in their own gutteral tongue nonetheless!? Tilandra said with rage in her voice.

That was when I realized, I had been speaking to them in a language I had never heard of before and didn't even notice.

?No! You don't understand, I'm not...? I began.

?I'll near no more of your deceit! You may fool Kyle but you won't fool me. You die here and your kaorti allies will fall shortly afterwards. Any volunteers?? she said turning back and forth to her two companions.

?I'll take the pleasure if you wish sister,? the male human druid to her left said bowing.

?Go ahead Leandro,? Tilandra said as her and her female druid ally stood back.

Leandro walked up to me with a smirk to his face as he concentrated for a moment. He began to enlarge and his armor and equipment faded away, being replaced by a thick coat of fur. When he finished and looked down on me again, he bore the fangs and claws of a massive bear.

?Spirits...grant me the weapons to slay this abberant!? he said as green crystals began to form over his claws and teeth.

Left with no choice, I drew my hand blades and tentacles to ready myself. He towered over me at a good 8 feet in height even with his now hunched posture as he approached. Acting quickly, I lept at him with my blades forward only to be knocked back into the wall by his hulking paws.

?Aaaagh!? I screamed as I looked at the burning mark left on my arm. Whatever those crystals were, their wounds actually hurt.

Now I was fearful for I realized I faced an opponent capable of harming me unlike before. I lept away from his claws but due to his size compared to my own, I couldn't get close enough to strike back. Finally growing impatient at my defensive fighting, Leandro lept on me and pinned me to the ground. Barring his cruel fangs, he viciously bit into my shoulder, intent on tearing me apart. I screamed in pain as the crystals coating his natural weapons burned me as though they were hot pokers.

?Yes! Destroy the deviant, make sure there is nothing left!? Tilandra said pleased.

?Morah, you possess a far stronger form than this,? came the voice of Tek'ka'tur in my mind, ?You are far beyond this opponent. Show him your true power!?

?I...I can't...? I said, ?I don't want to lose control again!?

?You have power Morah and those with power have but two choices, control it or let it control them. Your mind is strong. I have sensed it. Now do it if you wish to survive!?

I searched inside myself until I found that same seed from before and I focused on it, this time readying myself for the transformation so that it would not overpower me. Leandro was suddenly lifted up as my body swelled and enlarged under him. As my legs regained their strength, I quickly tucked them upwards and kicked Leandro off myself with both feet before flipping back up. I stood as the large, bestial creature I was before.

?She grows ever stronger! We have to stop her now!? Tilandra said as her and the other druid began to step forward, intent on joining the fray.

Still not wanting to cause undue harm, I snarled at them in hopes of intimidating them into standing down. That was when I noticed the torches they still held.

?That's it...? I said to myself, ?As animals, they can see in dim light...but not total darkness.?

Acting quickly to break off the fight before it got out of hand, I spit resin at both their torches, extinguishing them instantly. By the time the three had procured a new light source, their quarry was nowhere to be found.

.........................................

I dashed through the woods, amazed at how fast my body could go on all fours. Once satisfied I wasn't being pursued, I shrank myself back to normal. Well, I was as normal as I could get of course. Now I was left with more questions than I had when I set out. Who are the kaorti? Are they friend or foe? If that flesh sample was a project of theirs, what was it's purpose? What plans did they have for me now? As I pondered all this, I remembered Tek'ka'tur touching my back. Curious, I took off my jacket and looked at it to find a series of symbols that at first looked completely alien to me but then I suddenly began to understand them.

Mind of the beast, Tongue of the scholar
Heart of the friend, Arms of the foe
When all are consumed, the ultimate life shall be born
With it, the world's chains shall break
And all that could have been will be once again

?What is this?? I wondered, ?Mind of the beast? Was that the thing they made me eat in the cage? What about the rest? What is the ultimate life??

What did it all mean? I would ponder it for a long time but for the moment, all I desired was rest as I lay myself down on the forest floor and slept.