KraKto$is8

The following is a roleplaying character of my creation, from the time when I role-played on internet forums. I've souped him up and made him even more ridiculous for all your amusement - consider him a parody of munchkinism. In creating him I borrowed several artistic ideas, but as I'm not getting any profit from this I don't think it's illegal. If anyone has any objections to stuff here, please, contact me, and I will do my best to resolve the situation.

Name: KraKto$is8

Full Name: KraKsysøp tošænn $Võrrç$ istran the 8th Khe'Kolxí She'K, Inter-Dimensional Entity, Unquestioned Ilúvatar of the nth Dimension, Existential Being of the 42nd Plane #82517, of 2:>1[Amistridaté]

Explanation of Name:
KraKsysøp tošænn istran - His name, as given to him by his creators.
the 8th Khe'Kolxí She'K - He was the 8th She'K being to be born into the Khe'Kolxí lineage.
$Võrrç$ - His adopted middle name, for it was the name of many important beings in his life, whom KraK now believes is actually the same being. He adopted it at an early age, and it is abbreviated to $, as Khe'Kolxí culture dictates middle names be.
Inter-Dimensional Entity - A title given to any entity that exists either between or in multiple dimensions.
Unquestioned Ilúvatar of the nth Dimension - The nth dimension was created by KraK, for various reasons, one of them that he had had so many adventures in the dimension, he thought it fitting to go back in time and create it (otherwise he'd be stuck in another time paradox). Also, since it is a hypothetical dimension, it's always fun to confuse dimensional physicists by altering things now and again. Ilúvatar is a name that KraK adopted as a title, to show his ownership of the nth dimension.
Existential Being of the 42nd Plane #82517 - He is the eighty-second thousand, five hundred and seventeenth Existential Being of the 42nd plane. That is, he is the 82517th being of existence to be on the 42nd dimensional plane, which is too complicated to go into here.
of 2:>1[Amistridaté] - This is the first ever recorded appearance of KraKto$is8 in a registered dimension, although he did not go by that name, and the dimension was cut off from all outside influences, so it is an unfounded report.

Race/Species: Genetically, Spiritually, and Dimensionally Altered Race of Mon known as She'K

Vitals
Age: Time is an Illusion
Weight: Varies, depending on the dimension. Usually around 150kg.
Height: 8'1"
Eyes: Black/Purple. It's hard to tell.
Hair: None visible
Gender: n/a, but refers to himself as male

Spells/Magic
None.

Equipment
Single-Barrelled Full-Auto 12-Guage Shotgun
KraK's first weapon. Purchased from a Terran weapon manufacturer, it can be held in one or two hands. It also has a well-weighted stock, and can be swung about as a last resort.
A multitude of razor-sharp AOL CDs
Collected from over 700 alternate Planes and Dimensions, these mysterious items seem to be made up not of atoms and your usual elementary particles, but rather of a completely different particle, Aoltron. It is indestructible, and leaks out of the fabric of the space-time continuum into other realities. It replicates at a fast rate, and when the CD lattice is broken, it slowly reforms. The only known antisubstance is Geektron, which, when collided with Aoltron, causes them both to disappear, and a great amount of energy to appear in the form of subsonic photons. Anyway, KraK collects these and sharpens them, they're cheap and useful.
An old library card from the Library of Infinity, back in the old days when it was still in the Video Store.
Good for picking locks
Multi-Functional Katana sword
This mysterious object was a gift from an old man. However, it actually helped create itself. It has an unusual personality, and these two subjects - the Creation and Use Of the Katana - are discussed in length in the History section. It is made of a metal alloy infused with Ancient Majiks and Spiritual Force, and hence is almost unbreakable and can cut through ethereal things, such as ghosts. It is also unbendable, even by KraK's dimensional powers.
Staff of Mastaphon
Strange-looking staff with no apparant powers. However, it has a volatile personality when near the Katana, seems to be dimensionally rooted to a point in the background. Read the history for more information.

Powers
KraKto$is8 is an inter-dimensional master, surpassed by no-one, sometimes.
His skills and powers in some dimensions are above even shifters. However, in this dimension, it is not so. He is master in some dimensions, peon in others, and general cool guy in some.
He has a utility belt with which he can alter dimensional traits, such as Local Area Gravitic Fields, F-Channels, Hingeric Production, and the Space/Time Fabric. In truth, the belt merely focuses and amplifies his inherent ability, so without the belt he can still play dirty.
He is immensely agile, even for a She'K, and can leap from wall to wall in the blink of an eye. His running speed, whilst short-lived, can get to immense speeds.
His reflexes are honed to a tune for he has the ability to slow down relative time (to an extent), but as this is not always possible, he must then rely on his natural reflexes.
His strength is greater than that of a human. He can often amplify his strength for a single strike by manipulating the dimensions. Sometimes, however, the fluctuations conspire to work against him.
All of these dimensional powers come at a cost, however, and his power flows from his inner soul, so he must meditate and rest to regain lost power. This frequent need to recharge gives KraK a low stamina.

History It is not known when the being KraKto$is8 came into existence, but some of his history can be patched together. His shotgun was the first weapon he ever owned, and was bought primarily for defence. However, he has learned to utilise it for other things, such as attack, threatening people, and so on. However, a shotgun is a boring an inelegant weapon, and you will not be surprised to hear that the first story concern's KraKto$is8 and his Katana. After that, they continue in a fairly chronological order (for continuity freaks, the Katana story really should go between the Creation and @ltr@'s story.

• The Tale of The Katana
• The Creation of KraKto$is8
• The Story of @ltr@
• The Myth of Võrrç
• The Staff of Mastaphon

The Tale of The Katana

He obtained his Katana from an elderly human samurai, who wanted to pass on this incredible blade before he died. Apparently, the blade was forged many millennia ago, by an unknown force, which then infused its energy into the blade. KraKto$is8 practised day and night with the Katana, and found his dimensional abilities nicely complimented the blade's subtle curves and nuances.

The tale of KraK's Katana is a long and interesting one. He was travelling through the nth dimension (the one that some day he would become Ilúvatar), and had stumbled upon a party of five bandits attacking an old man. KraK jumped down from his lofty perch (well, a tree) and kicked one of the bandits in the head. He shot another in the head, and then one tried to shoot him with a crossbow. KraK jumped, and the crossbow bolt hit a bandit sneaking up on KraK from behind. KraK jumped, cartwheeled, and kicked the crossbowed bandit square between the eyes. The fifth and final bandit appeared to have ran away. The old man approached and greeted KraK.

"Thank you, oh young one, who was so bold as to defend an old man in his hour of need, but the attack is not yet done."

With that he spun around, and KraK saw the fifth bandit, replete with a score of dangerously armed thugs. The old man moved as a blur, fists were flying, and the occasional flash of a blade could be seen. Within five seconds, the powerful force had been reduced to a heap of corpses.

"W-W-Wha? How? Who?" KraK spluttered. The old man approached with a chortle, which turned into a hearty cough. After he had recovered, he spoke.

"I am a samurai, my son, you see. They were bandits, after my money. But I am old and weak, and you, my friend, are obviously the one to pass my legacy on to. What is your name, son?"

"KraKto$is8, master."

"Take this. You have earned it, and are the only one I see fit in this age of degradation."

He handed the Katana to KraKto$is8.

"What is it?"

"It is an ancient Katana, forged by an unknown force many millennia ago. It is infused with many powers. Use it wisely, my friend, for its powers are many and dangerous."

"How did you get it?"

"It was passed onto me by my master. Nevertheless, we samurai are a dying breed, and I had no apprentice. I am too old to teach you, but you will learn by trial."

"Where is it from? What can it do? Why do I have it?"

"Questions, questions, they can all be asked later. For now it is time for me to tell you the story of the Katana."

KraK's interest perked considerably.

"Many moons ago, my master's master's master's master's master, I think, or it may have been further up our dynasty. Anyway, many moons ago, he travelled to an ancient mountain, said to be the source of great power. He had to fight many strange beasts to get to the entrance. The way through was perilous and booby-trapped. Many had tried before, but none had succeeded. But he was determined that he was worthy. He got past the traps, and only one challenge remained. There was, in front of the final door, an old, decrepit being. 'Halt,' he said, 'I am the Blade-Keeper, and none shall pass.' Now, my master's master was not a man easily deterred. 'Out of the way, knave, lest I cut your body to mere ribbons,' he said. The Blade-Keeper rose up, to at least three times my master's master's size, and a glow appeared around him. His fingertips appeared to be aflame, and his eyes burned with a fearful passion. A strange wind blew, and my master's master's master felt very alone, and detached, as if he was being suspended many miles above the atmosphere. 'Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks,' said the Blade-Keeper, 'only the Worthy One may pass. You must prove you skill.' My master's master's master's master drew his blade, expecting a duel of prowess. 'You will not need your weapons,' said the Blade-Master, who had sat down again and resumed his decrepit state. The doors opened, and what could be seen beyond is beyond description. A wonderful blade, hanging in the air, blanketed in some heavenly light. 'How come I can get through?' asked my master's master. 'You are the Chosen One, the Worthy One.' answered the Blade-Keeper. 'How are you so sure?' asked my master's master, eyes still fixed on the blade, as he neared it. The Blade-Keeper, who had not yet gazed upon the blade, said 'for I detect the spirit of the one foretold resides within you. The prophesies foretell that you have one more task before it becomes you, but of its nature I know not.' The Blade-Keeper turned to meet my master's gaze, and saw the blade. Something unknown flickered in his eyes. He jumped up, and jumped for the Katana. He reached it, and plucked it from its revered place. 'Aha! 'Tis mine now! The power of the universe awaits me and my reign! There shall be heard in the air the noise of weapons, and in that same year, the divines shall be enemies. They shall unjustly put down the holy laws, and by thunder and war, true believers shall die!' he screamed in a maddened rage. My master's master's master's master decided enough was enough, and approached the Blade-Keeper. The Blade-Keeper kicked him back. My master's master's master's master's master's master threw some throwing stars, but they were deflected by the Katana. The Blade-Keeper attacked my master's master, and my master could only just match the fast blade movements. Eventually the Blade-Keeper had my master's master's master cornered. The Blade-Keeper raised the Katana to issue the final blow, when the Katana flew out of his hand, circled him, and decapitated him. The Blade-Keeper's body fell to the ground, looking deflated and empty. The Katana then presented itself to my master, for he was the chosen one, and his entire dynasty is worthy. You, my son, I see much potential in you, and you must use this blade for good, not for evil, otherwise it will consume you like it did to the Blade-Keeper."

KraK looked at the blade in astonishment.

"You mean that I am the next in line?"

"Yes. Use it well, my friend, and goodbye."

The old samurai turned around, and walked up a heavenly stairway.

The rest of the story happens much later, in a different dimension, time, and place.

Once upon a time, KraKto$is8 was travelling to Mount Çïrrkata, on the fourth moon of the great planet Ephïnoÿ. Mount Çïrrkata was an old volcano, and was now the headquarters of the evil Bunny Lord, Fløpsy. He was leading an army of bunnies (massive, evil bunnies, with razor sharp teeth and massive legs) to attack the neighbouring moon, where resided the peaceful Locust Creatures. They had recruited KraKto$is8 to assassinate Fløpsy, which should leave the bunny legions distraught and confused. KraK was just about halfway up the mountain; twilight was approaching, and had finished cutting another guard in two, when he heard something. It was an alarm. Shit. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a bunny leaping towards him, mouth open, claws shining. KraK spun around and shot it square in the head with his shotgun. The bunny continued with its momentum, its head now a bloody mess of bunny, and landed on its back, blood pouring forth. Now, to hide. He could hear movement and the occasional gunshot as the bunny guards tried to locate him. He looked around and saw the hole from whence the now deceased bunny had sprung. He now realised that the hole, when closed, was carefully disguised as a small shrub, of which there was hundreds across the mountain-face. But were they shrubs, or holes? Or both? But KraK had no time to stand and contemplate now as he could see the silhouettes of the bunny guards on the horizon. He jumped into the hole, and it automatically closed behind him.

It was a standard bunny hole, made of earth and dirt, with the occasional path leading off. KraK slung his shotgun over his shoulder - what he needed now was stealth, not brute force - and drew his Katana. In the dim light of the tunnel, the blade seemed to be glowing slightly; or was it a trick of the light? KraKto$is8 continued down the path, getting closer and closer to the centre of the mountain. Suddenly, without warning, a bunny carrying a nasty looking spear leapt out from a nearby tunnel. KraK's Katana swung round and decapitated the bunny. The body stood there for a while, before falling onto the ground with a thump. KraK turned to look where the bunny had come from - and saw a room filled with bunny weapons and armour. He ran inside and began looking around. But as soon as he entered the metallic room, the blast doors closed with a *clang* behind him. Two other doors opened slowly, and then ninja bunnies ran in from all sides. KraK stood there for about a second, while the ninjas ran in and spun their blades and jumped on the walls. Then one, which looked like the leader, ran up to KraK, and took a swipe with his blade. KraK blocked the attack, the swung his Katana low, at the bunny's legs. It jumped, as to avoid KraK's attack, whilst two other ninja bunnies approach KraK from behind with quarterstaffs. The Katana seemed to take on a life of its own as it spun KraK round, and in one sweeping movement broke the staffs. Then the Katana spun for a bit before slicing into one of the ninja, then stabbing the other. Whilst his Katana was doing all the work for him, KraKto$is8 could look around at the next threat. He moved his Katana, which still had the bunny on it, to his side, to block some throwing stars lobbed at him. KraK then threw the dead bunny body onto the star-thrower. But he had let his guard down for those last few milliseconds, and the ninja leader had landed his jump and now cut straight through KraK's body armour and into his back with his blade. KraK jumps away from the leader, but his Katana jumps forward, straight into the ninja's head. The other ninjas then joined forces and ran at KraK full strength. KraK turned and ran to the wall, with the ninjas following him. He ran up the wall and flipped back, so he was standing behind the ninjas. He quickly picks up the Katana. The Katana glowed again, and swiped into the mass of ninjas, killing three in one attack. The Katana continued to strike, until there was one ninja left, who turned and fled through a door, down one of the tunnels. KraK drew his shotgun and fired, killing the fleeing ninja.

KraKto$is8 knew that he was near Fløpsy's control centre now, and hurried down a tunnel. He continued, getting closer to the volcanic core, and his Katana was glowing a lot more now. He poked his head out of the tunnel. He could see the sky, way upwards. And way downwards, he could see the molten red-hot magma of Mount Çïrrkata. Around the inside of the volcano were many platforms, holding bunny soldiers, radios, computers, and on one of them, Fløpsy. Fløpsy's attention was stuck on something hovering above the lava. KraK strained his eyes to see it. It was a katana! And not just any katana, KraK's Katana! It appeared to be suspended by some forcefield, and Fløpsy was manipulating the controls to shape and make the Katana the way he wanted it. KraK dropped down onto the nearest platform, bending light so he was almost invisible. Normally, he would have been seen as a haze, but since he was above a volcano (and thus the air was very heated and hazy anyway), he couldn't be seen. He moved stealthily closer to Fløpsy, and his Katana was glowing more and more vibrantly. KraK's Katana was also glowing, when suddenly, it burst into a brilliant light that KraK's attempts to bend light around were futile. He became fully visible to everyone. About fifteen bunny warriors all jumped at KraKto$is8 at the same time. His Katana swung round and deflected their attacks, before decapitating them. Fløpsy was looking worried. Fløpsy pressed a button, and his Katana swung into his paws. Something unknown flickered in his eyes.

"Your feeble blade shall never defeat me! I have the blade of Çïrrkata, and it is unsurpassed in power! It is constructed from Jjorjian metals, and can never be broken nor bent. You shall never defeat me, underling."

Fløpsy jumped at KraK with renewed vigour. He attacked KraK as he flew over him, with KraK blocking the attacks. KraK then stabbed at Fløpsy, but missed. Fløpsy brought his blade down onto what should have been KraK's arm - but KraK had dimension-shifted to a different area. However, in the heat of the moment, KraKto$is8 had forgotten that Mount Çïrrkata was dimensionally unstable, and he was lucky to have ended up 500 metres above the lava and not splattered across the mountainside. As KraK was falling, Fløpsy laughed evilly, and began to clean his little furry body in the way that bunnies do. KraK observed what was going on. He reckoned he could throw his Katana to hit a platform support, so that the platform would fall, and KraK would land on it as it sunk into the lava. Then rest of it he would have to improvise. But it was too far away for him to throw. He didn't want to risk another dimensional-shift or even a Local Area Gravity Shift, so he pulled out his shotgun, and fired five shots at the lava, in a seemingly futile attempt to get his own back pre-emptively. However, when the pellets hit the lava, they burned up, and KraK moved his body slightly. The smoke and steam rose and allowed KraK to move slightly in the required direction. He threw his Katana, the platform fell, KraK landed, and Fløpsy stopped grooming himself. The platform was quickly sinking into the lava, so KraK ran to the high end of it. He jumped and landed in the same place, causing the lower end to leap into the air, and the whole platform, not just the lower end, landed in the lava. The waves caused by this travelled to the walls of the volcano, and came back with at least twice the strength. Fløpsy was loading a large crossbow, with a fearful look in his eyes. The waves came back and hit the platform, sending it much higher in the air. At the right height, KraK stepped off, and greeted Fløpsy.

"Hello, rabbit."

"Er, hello."

Fløpsy fired the crossbow. KraK's Katana moved and blocked the bolt. The bolt bounced back and hit one of four platform support ropes. Fløpsy jumped back, drew his Katana, and swiped at KraK. KraK ducked and kicked Fløpsy. He then brought his Katana down. Fløpsy rolled out of the way. He made some more attacks, but KraK's Katana blocked them. KraK's Katana glowed again, very strongly, and it chopped off half of one of Fløpsy's ears. Fløpsy screamed in pain, and kicked KraK to one of the corners of the platform. He swiped, but missed and instead cut the support rope. KraK leapt to his feet, the blades clashed once more, and again, and again, until they were both pushing their Katanas against each other. Somehow, the unbendable blades suddenly twisted around each other, like two snakes making sweet love. They slowly continued their entrancing waltz, until they had finished their strange entwine. The suddenly burned and gave off intense energy, sending KraK and Fløpsy to opposite ends of the platform. The blades floated in mid-air, giving off a brilliant light. The volcano let off a lick of flame, which the Katanas seemed to encourage and nurture. The flame came through the bottom of the platform, and KraK's Katana released itself from Fløpsy's one, leaving Fløpsy's blade in the flame. KraK's blade circled the other one, as if looking it over. Then it emitted a beam, of light, of energy, or even majik, KraKto$is8 did not know. KraK's blade grew bigger, and Fløpsy's glowed more. The beam slowly tracked its way to Fløpsy's blade, and when they came in contact a blinding light was emitted. Fløpsy's blade, which was originally merely a super-strong blade, now had strange kinks in it, and some strange writing was glowing on it, along with some strange markings. KraK's blade also had some markings, which KraK had never noticed before. The markings on Fløpsy's blade began to match the ones on KraK's blade, and suddenly, the light stopped, and the blades fell to the ground with a clatter, both glowing slightly. KraKto$is8 and Fløpsy looked at each other in stern silence for about a minute, before Fløpsy leapt to his feet and grabbed his blade. He screamed in pain as the blade burnt him. KraK reached for his blade too, but found it to be incredibly hot as well. The markings had disappeared.

There was a great rumbling, and the volcano heated up considerably. The remaining two support ropes began to tear.

"The volcano's erupting!" shouted Fløpsy.

"I know!" screamed KraK, "there's no way out!"

Fløpsy rolled his eyes, grabbed KraK, and using his powerful bunny legs, jumped to a ledge. He then jumped to another, and another, until they are at the rim of the volcano. The lava rose and consumed much of Fløpsy's headquarters, and it continued to rise at a steady rate.

"You - you saved my life," said KraK, "why?"

"I saw the light. Your Katana showed me the way."

"How?"

"When I first saw your weapon, I thought it was merely a coincidence that it was very similar. But when they clashed and entwined, I was certain: they are the same blade."

"I thought as much... but what were they doing to each other?"

"I - I - I don't know. But when I tried to grab my blade, suddenly the power of your blade flashed before my eyes. It seems that your blade has passed on its power to mine."

"You mean that my blade created yours? So it created itself?"

"I think so, yes."

"Cool."

But at this point, the lava had risen to almost the rim, and then both KraK and Fløpsy realised that the lava had consumed their blades. The lava was almost brimming over, when it stopped. Something rose out of it. It was KraK's blade, with Fløpsy's one floating around it, as if watching KraK's one. KraK's Katana seemed to be controlling the lava, and it was making a deep pit in the lava flow. It stopped doing that, and transferred its control to Fløpsy's one, as if teaching it. The lava flopped slightly, but then Fløpsy's blade got the hang of it and kept it going. KraK turned to Fløpsy.

"You must protect your blade, and do not let it fall into the hands of evil. You must keep it, and give it to the Chosen One when He arrives."

"I will do so. But I will not use it, for I feel that its power may overcome me, and my evil ways will resume."

"Good idea."

The lava of the volcano was now flat, slightly below the rim, with a little bump. Masses of steam rose off it, and it hardened. The little lump was still slightly molten, and both the Katanas worked together, and formed some strange altar-like rise. Fløpsy's blade went to balance in it, and it resonated through the air a telepathic message beckoning Fløpsy to come near, for him to guard the blade for evermore. KraK's blade was still floating, lowering the altar and Fløpsy down into the depths of the now-dormant volcano, and formed a roof over it. The Katana then went back to KraKto$is8.

"My work here is done."

The altar worked as a sort of magical fermenter, enabling the blade to grow stronger and stronger over the centuries. Some of the magic leaked out onto Fløpsy, who grew strong, yet his evil core remained, and at the last minute, he turned on the chosen one.

And that, my friends, is the story of KraKto$is8's Katana.

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The Creation of KraKto$is8

KraKto$is8 was known merely as kraktosis8 at his creation, or, to quote the full name with titles, kraksysøp tošænn istran the 8th Khe'Kolxí She'K. It is unknown when he came into being, but the approximate surroundings can be placed. He was created in a laboratory, and was the 8th She'K of Khe'Kolxí to be created. He has only ever met 1 other She'K, the one whom calls himself @ltr@ (full name, with titles: altra monjõn karkki the 5th Khe'Kolxí She'K, @rkat @rkat II of third degree), but that is another story. The She'K are a genetically altered race of Mon, and are very efficient fighters. They were designed to be almost invincible in battle, and early trials showed great success. Khe'Kolxí is the form of Mon society and culture, and is very civilised and efficient. It is also the name of the Mon Language.

Anywise, the story is mostly folklore, and much of it has been dramatised and may not have happened. But the core is true enough, as are most of the names.

Doktor Hastron leant over the microscope. He sighed. His assistant, FiRan, stood by. "What is it?" He asked.

"I don't know. There seems to be some sort of unknown linkage... I'm no physicist, but it looks like an extra-dimensional link. I'm not sure though," said Hastron as he got up from the microscope. "Is phaan-d here?" (phaan-d was his other assistant) "She knows a fair bit about physics."

"No, her shift isn't 'til 24:00."

"Oh. Anyway, what I am still concerned about is the lack of reproductive organs in these She'K."

"It's a purely tactical thing. The Minister of War personally approved it. If the enemy captures a She'K, they will not be able to breed them. Speaking of breeding, how did the second one come along?"

"Don't you know?"

"No, I've been away the past 2 months, remember? voTov didn't brief me very well."

"Read the log. I have work to do," and with that, Hastron grunted and left the room.

FiRan placed his hand on the computer control desk. "Verify FiRan," he said.

"FiRan Verified," came the smooth, calm voice of the computer, perfectly pronouncing the capital in "verified".

FiRan opened the computer log.

"""Doktor Hastron, log file"""

03:07,02/01/0140MY

11:46,02/01/0140MY

"FiRan? You finished? Get in here! I have some gene structures for you to analyse!"

"Coming," said FiRan, and left the room.

The next two weeks were filled with painstaking revision and countless simulations being run. Finally, they were finished. There was only one thing left to do. Name it.

"nomatosîannaÿ," said FiRan.

"dëerf," said Hastron.

"léi," said phaan-d, over video link.

"It is a pity we can't let all the other lab workers donate a name... But we can only have 3. Why?" pondered FiRan.

"Khe'Kolxí dictates it, for She'Ks," responded Hastron, "So it is decided, nomatosîannaÿ dëerf léi the 3rd Khe'Kolxí She'K, or nomdeelei3 for short. May his reign be long and prosperous."

He was conceived that night, in the laboratory. He grew well, and the "birthing" stage was reached. He was removed from the Shêhar Incubator, and the Growth Gloop® removed from him. He was placed in the Development Room, where his body underwent strange procedures. The air in the room contained enough nutrients to keep nomdeelei alive, whilst most parts of his body, as yet relatively under-developed, were refined and strengthened, one by one. The whole process took a week. When this was all finished, a small She'K was made. He was left for a day to come to terms with his existence, before being put into a Shêhhärr Incubator (a larger version of the Shêhar Incubater), and covered in copious volumes of Growth Gloop®. His mind was exposed to teachings and pieces of wisdom, being flashed directly over the conscious plane. After two weeks, he was ready. Hastron approached the incubator door.

"Today is judgement day. Today we will see what has happened," said Hastron, too caught up in the moment to make a momentous speech (as was his custom). "Update, phaan-d."

"All vital signs are normal, as usual," was the quiet reply.

"Okay. Computer, open incubator door."

The computer bleeped confirmation of the command. Then there was silence. The door lock clicked. The door slowly began to turn, going through its opening sequence, making a tiny scraping noise. All the lab assistants were watching with abated breath. You could cut the atmosphere with a piece of dry celery. The door finished its sequence.

"Door Open Sequence Completed," voiced the computer. But no-one heard it. They were too busy looking through the open door. All that could be seen was steam pouring out, the Gloop having been cleaned off and then blown-dry. It was an interesting sight to see the steam condensing as it rose. It then froze, and fell back down, only to be melted and evaporate again. After a few minutes when the whole thing had cooled, it would stop, but for now, the scientists stood transfixed. But not on the water were they transfixed. A silhouette could be seen through the dim light. Even without armour, even without clothing, the first fully-grown She'K was a wonder to gaze upon. The characteristically sharp elbows and shoulders; the tall, gaunt back. The five fingers on each hand; the index the slightly longer and more flexible. The long, narrow head, with its strangely flat top; the hoofed feet; and finally, the glowing eyes. The scientists had not known what gene corresponded to what eye colour, and had guessed. In nomdeelei it looked as if they had struck gold; a deep, sinuous red, with the occasional sharp flicker. Much better than the dull grey that ostrakod2 had had. nomdeelei stepped forward, out of the incubator, his hooves clinking sharply against the metal floor.

"You foolish creator," he sounded in coarse Khe'Kolxí.

"Er.. that I am, nomdeelei," replied Hastron.

"What is my purpose? To destroy!"

nomdeelei3 raised up his body, heightened himself to the full 7 feet that he was. He grabbed Hastron by the neck and threw him against the wall. His eyes flickered, and FiRan called security. The other scientists ran screaming from the room. FiRan was then grabbed by nomdeelei, and nomdeelei used his other hand to wrench a computer screen from its place. He was about to strike FiRan with it when the security guards entered. They fired stun lasers at nomdeelei. He screamed and threw the monitor at them, striking them down like a ten-pin bowling game. He dropped FiRan and ran. As he ran at top speed out of the laboratory doors, he said "My purpose will not go unfulfilled!"

He was not seen again, for a long time.

Doktor Hastron woke up 2 weeks later in a hospital bed. Beside him was phaan-d.

"Wha-whu-wh?" he spluttered.

"Quiet, Doktor, you need rest. You must have been thrown pretty hard."

"Where's FiRan?"

"He's working on the next She'K."

"Oh... He got permission from the board? How?"

"They deemed it sufficiently important to proceed with. Enough chat now, the Doçtors say you need rest."

Doktor Hastron decided to concede, and fell asleep directly.

Many more She'Ks (four to be precise) were manufactured before the one we know as KraKto$is8 came into being. Whilst the time is unknown, it is known it was a cold and rainy night. With a new strand of neon-ålgium flowing through his veins, this new She'K promised a lot. This particular strand was made accidentally, with a lot of unknown superfluous links and bonds. It had seemed to work, vital signs were good. Doktor Hastron, phaan-d, FiRan, and one or two other creationists (they preferred that title to the now archaic "scientists") were watching the proceedings. They had dubbed their creation; kraksysøp tošæn istran the 8th Khe'Kolxí She'K, or kraktosis8 for short.

The computer opened the incubator door. The now-familiar She'K silhouette could be seen, although it never ceased to amaze Hastron. Each one was slightly different. This one was facing slightly off-centre, one hand raised slightly, as if kraktosis8 were studying it. Probably was, too. This one had been programmed with a perceptive and analytical mind, hopefully to increase the learning skills of them. After the mist had cleared, kraktosis8 seemed to notice the onlookers. He turned, and strode forward out of the incubator. He looked at each of the beings present, regarding them with a disconcerting stare that seemed to penetrate one's soul, yet be nothing more than a furtive glance. Finally, he spoke.

"Good morning, doctors. I am completely operational, and all my functions are operating perfectly," he voiced, in eloquent Khe'Kolxí. Hastron was taken aback. Eloquent Khe'Kolxí? Most She'Ks only knew one Khe'Kolxí form, and it was the 1st Standard, not Eloquent, that being the most complicated. Surely if he knew eloquent he must know the other forms?

"Every single one? Indeed, that is spectacular," said Hastron, in 2nd Standard Khe'Kolxí. The response from kraktosis8 was rather pleasing.

"Please, must we mince words? Have gratuitous eloquences? I am fully versed in all of the pre-requisite languages, and require no external teachage. Do not, however, take that as I have a "gift" for languages - far from it, my time spent learning these in my embryonic phase has left me rather bereft of the basic combat training of the She'K - but as they say, experience is the best teacher. For now, I will leave off of my long speech, and let you have the few words that are left."

"Wow, looks like it worked," said FiRan to the creationists. "Almost, at least. His brain signals are relatively weak; I think he's running on an almost subconscious level."

"Ah well. Another success. So to speak." And with that, Hastron turned and stalked out of the incubator room.

Over the following period of time (its actual length was unknown: it could have been five days or five decades. All that is known is that time passed) kraktosis8 showed the usual quick learning of a She'K, and his intelligence was better than most of the creationists. Unfortunately, he had below-average reflexes, below-average strength, and below-average social skills. The creationists noted this and continued their ferverent work on the next She'K, foskoba9. These frustrations on the part of kraktosis8 were blamed on the spawning processes, and his combat training was continued.

The past 3 She'Ks were almokarkk5, wewownfel6, and phasko7, and all were considered successes. One in particular, phasko7, had shown a certain adeptness for what was known to the Mon as "self-altering," and what we know as "shifting". One day a bored creationist decided to let phasko7 and kraktosis8 train together. What she witnessed was quite extraordinary. In a sparring match, phasko was using his usual trick of morphing out of the way of blows, and delivering them at the same time. Yet kraktosis performed an interesting feat to avoid this. Where phasko's fist would have collided with kraktosis, it slipped into some sort of "dimensional pocket"; some extra space that had been "folded up". Conducting some scans, she concluded that it was kraktosis8 who was manipulating the fabric of space. Hastron was notified and his interest piqued.

Soon, kraktosis8, having been given the correct tools to practice with, had developed his dimension altering skills to a higher level than even theoretical physicists had thought possible. The creationists found that he could compensate for his slow reflexes by altering relative time. He could achieve a similar effect with his strength. After being taught meditation by foskoba9, he no longer needed to rest for weeks on end to regain lost strength. It was now a matter of hours. Soon, he would embark on his first mission.

He, foskoba9, and tyhhnplae4 were to infiltrate an enemy compound, gain control of their computer network, disable some orbiting satellites, then destroy the whole base. Their comrade tyhhnplae4 was a Nrk'esh, an elite Khe'Kolxí warrior. He was a different race from the She'K, was smaller, more agile, and more cunning. He was to disable the alarm system and guards, whole foskoba9 and kraktosis8 dealt with the computers.

Eventually the time came when the Khe'Kolxí programme was ended. The She'K and Nrk'Esh engineering projects were to cease. In total, there was 19 She'K, and 9 Nrk'Esh. The reason? Great upheaval in the Mon government. The resulting confusion at the labs meant that the She'K had a chance to escape, to finally emancipate themselves from military slavery. Having been developing an inter-dimensional traversing method, kraktosis8 escaped to another dimension with much of his masters' utilities. However, there was something that he - and his emancipated fellows - had not bargained on.

Amnesia.

Unbeknownst to them, they had been fitted with a brain atrophyer that was to detonate when they went AWOL. It clouded kraktosis' mind for many weeks, and he spent the most of that time living in a cave, feeding on molluscs. After his mind had cleared, he found a blank trying to remember his past. Shrugging his shoulders, he moved on. Later in his life, he developed the skills necessary to remember some things: but it is still very blurred. He cannot return to Mon civilisation for fear of the government and what they may do to him.

All alone in the world, some would sympathise with kraktosis8 and think him vulnerable. After all, all he had was incredible dimensional power with great potential, many years of military training, and an active and inquisitive intelligence. Those people are idiots.

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The Stories of @ltr@, Võrrç, and Mastaphon are not yet finished. So you'll have to wait, bristling with anticipation.

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