The Eclipser cruised through the cosmos, its sleek form barely visible against the vastness of space. G10's journey had led him into an unknown galaxy, its celestial bodies swirling in unfamiliar constellations. His ship, still damaged from the hostile encounter, was now cloaked in invisibility, a shimmering veil that rendered it undetectable to any external sensors.
He scanned the planet below—desolate, barren, and eerily quiet. The atmosphere was rich with oxygen, the surface of the planet dotted with strange terrain formations. No sign of advanced technology or life forms appeared on his initial scan. But curiosity, that ever-present companion, nudged him forward.
"Initiating scan sequence," G10 muttered, activating a swarm of tiny nano-bots that flew from the ship. The bots dispersed, flying into the atmosphere and down towards the surface. They spread out, analyzing every aspect of the terrain and gathering data. A few minutes passed, and then the bots returned, uploading their findings directly to his console.
"Unidentified species detected," his assistant's voice echoed in his earpiece, its tone calm and neutral.
G10's violet eyes flickered with intrigue as images of the creatures appeared on his screen. He saw strange beings moving through the landscape—bipedal, but unlike any species he had encountered before. Some were hunched, their faces distorted in ways G10 couldn't quite understand. They resembled the shape of animals, but there was something different about them.
"Are these the dominant species?" he asked, turning to his assistant for answers.
"These creatures are classified as humans. They evolved from simpler life forms on this planet and now dominate the food chain. They are at the top of the biological hierarchy, though their technology is less advanced than Protowar's," the assistant responded, its voice steady.
G10's mind buzzed with curiosity. Humans—he had never heard of them before. But their presence on this planet intrigued him. He had studied countless species across galaxies, but this one was unique. He wondered if they were as advanced as Protowar, or perhaps more primal in nature.
Compelled by a desire to understand them, G10 began to adjust his appearance. He activated the transformation protocols embedded in his nanotech suit, and within moments, his features shifted. His form was now indistinguishable from the humans he had observed. His height, build, and facial features mimicked the images in the data streams—human, or at least, human-like.
Satisfied with his new appearance, G10 stepped out of the Eclipser and onto the surface of Earth. He marveled at the feel of solid ground beneath him, the air—different from Protowar but breathable—and the simple, almost primitive nature of the world around him. He could hear distant sounds, birds chirping, the rustling of trees. The place seemed peaceful… for now.
G10 roamed through the city, his senses absorbing every detail. His boots echoed against the concrete streets, his mind processing new data with each step. He collected samples of plant life, rocks, and dust, storing them for later analysis.
As he wandered deeper into the city, he became aware of the humans moving about. They walked in groups, speaking in ways that were completely unfamiliar to him. G10 paused, his assistant syncing with him to begin an update on human languages.
"Updating language database… please wait," the assistant's voice instructed.
As the update completed, G10 understood more of the words, their meanings, their tone. His gaze shifted to a group of humans standing on a street corner. They were dressed in strange garments, their bodies adorned with various accessories. He approached them cautiously, curious to observe them up close.
One of the humans—a tall figure with a scruffy beard—noticed G10's approach. He stepped forward, his expression aggressive.
"Hey, give me your money!" the man demanded, his voice harsh.
G10 stood frozen, perplexed. "Money?" he repeated, his voice neutral but filled with confusion. "I don't understand."
Before he could process further, the man swung a bottle at him—its contents splashing across G10's suit. It was a beer bottle, thick and heavy. The impact sent G10 stumbling back, but the force didn't affect him as much as it would have a human. He straightened himself, unscathed, and looked at the man with a growing sense of unease.
The assistant's voice cut through the silence. "Warning: These humans are displaying hostile behavior."
G10's eyes flashed with sudden clarity. They want to harm me.
The next moment, his body shifted into an alien state, his nanotech suit enhancing his physical abilities. With swift precision, he disarmed the human, sending him flying backwards. The others in the group backed away, wide-eyed, as G10 stood tall, radiating an unspoken power.
He took a step forward, calmly collecting hair strands, blood, and saliva samples from the humans. His mind processed the data quickly, logging it into his research files.
The group, now terrified, scrambled away. G10's attention shifted, his mind racing with new questions. What was money? Why had they attacked him?
As he walked further into the city, trying to make sense of the strange encounter, his eyes caught sight of something new—something he hadn't yet encountered on Protowar. A human female.
Her long hair shimmered in the sunlight, and she walked with a grace that seemed almost ethereal. She was different from the others—more delicate, yet just as fascinating.
"Assistant, what is that?" G10 asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"That is a female human," the assistant replied, its tone informative. "She is biologically different from males. This is the second sex in their reproductive system."
G10, now even more intrigued, decided to approach her. As he walked towards the woman, he failed to notice the speeding vehicle approaching from behind.
Before he could react, a car struck him with force, sending him tumbling to the ground. The impact was jarring, and for a moment, the world spun around him.
His vision blurred, and he struggled to stay conscious. He barely registered the car speeding away, the humans around him unaware of his true identity.
Unconscious and vulnerable for the first time since leaving Protowar, G10 lay on the street, his mind filled with questions, and the answers still far from reach.
End of Chapter 2