Bright Shadows 2: A Hinterlands Anthology

Series-9: T For Terminal

Supplemental note:

I have worked on the Series a lot. I've tried various ways of describing them. I've applied several different ways of categorizing them, including names and nicknames. I've tried short stories, some artwork, and even roleplaying games. Nothing has completely "clicked." As in, "This is it. I'm satisfied."

Part of the problem is that, being naturally gifted contortionists, they are so versatile that no single 1 of them can use all of their tricks efficiently. Hence, I'm "reinventing" them each time that I include 1 of them as a character!

Perhaps I'm being too specific. Perhaps I need to better define what the Series are not.

1) They are not "human." They have zero romantic interests in any other species beyond their own Series. (They usually find the very notion violently repulsive even between different Series.) They are, however, very social creatures whose very survival depends on closely interacting with other species.

They can be quite cuddly, affectionate, and playful. It is potentially fatal to mistake this for anything more.

At best, to them a human is a cherished friend, trusted confidant, a beloved pet, a hunting partner, AND a direct source of nutrition. (They are social, symbiotic, and predatory.)

In more neutral relationships, humans are talking livestock, an intellectual resource, and, within limits, potential playfellows.

In adversarial relationships, humans are considered both dangerous predators and potential prey. There is zero trust, and little or no compassion. A detested human is a contemptable bug that should be squashed.

2) Since their generational-gender forms are greatly different, their "gender roles" are more extreme, plus more instinctual, than in humans. This can be a point of contention between the various Series and humanity.

3) The are vastly more cooperative than competitive. Except when they're not! Take any threat displays extremely seriously!

"Personal property" is almost entirely alien concept to them. If they love you, then what is theirs is yours — and vice versa! (It's communal property.)

If they distrust you, then what is theirs is theirs AND what is yours is theirs as well! They can't "steal" what is already theirs!

4) They form multiple, complex, hierarchies.

5) They are commonly described as having strong ranching instincts.

Pray that the search for the "perfect soldier" never succeeds. Ditto for the "perfect weapon." But what if those twin lines of research intersect before they can be contained?

Series-9: the bloody-marys and the wight-mares. The nicest, self-guided, biological warfare weapons that you never want to meet in combat.

Or in a dark alley during a bunny hunt . . . You being said bunny.

(If only they had stopped at Series-7...)

And why were there never "officially?" any "Series-10s?" Because the final Series 7s, 8s, and 9s were something...

Exceptional. Dare we say... Dangerous?

P.S. Sure. Centaurs, minotaurs, and cyclopes are more traditional monsters. And "zombies" will gobble your brains — along with a side order of curly fries. Or so we're told.

But "Series-9?" What? That name isn't at all scary! Who'd be scared of snuggly monsters called "Series-9?" They even do slave labor in maternity wards and nurseries, for crying out loud!