A Mutant Collector Quest

I step onto the white, sticky ground and begin my journey through the alien forest. With each step, I encounter unique structures, plants, and trees that defy anything I have seen before. I reach out to touch one of the small, insect-like creatures floating in the air, but it feels squishy and sticky against my skin. Feeling uncomfortable, I quickly let it go and wipe my hand clean.

As I wander, my mind lingers on the massive DNA and molecule-like megastructures I saw in the sky. From my meta-knowledge, one place comes to mind—a potential explanation for this bizarre environment. It seems plausible, but I will need more concrete evidence to confirm my suspicion.

WROOM!

A sudden noise snaps me out of my thoughts. In the distance, I spot a flying ship of some kind, emitting a bright ray of light downwards as it zooms through the forest canopy.

Without hesitation, I activate my Invisibility and hide behind a nearby tree trunk, hovering just above the ground. I stay perfectly still, silently observing the strange flying vehicle.

It resembles a sleek, single-pilot aircraft and moves at an astonishing speed, its beam of light scanning the forest floor methodically. My heart pounds as the ship draws closer, its light sweeping dangerously near. When it passes directly overhead, I retreat further under the protection of a mushroom cap-like structure, narrowly avoiding detection.

Within seconds, the ship vanishes from sight, leaving the forest silent once more.

I exhale a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath, both startled and intrigued. "Looks like the aliens here are pretty advanced."

Despite my initial shock, the encounter confirms several things. First, this planet hosts a thriving civilization of intelligent life forms. Second, they are highly technological—far more advanced than Earth. Third, they are conducting an active search in this forest.

The question remains: who or what are they searching for?

I doubt they are looking for me. For them to detect someone breaching spacetime and arriving on their planet would require incredibly sophisticated technology, though it's not impossible. More likely, they are hunting for someone—or something—else. The speed and lack of thoroughness in their search suggest it could be a group rather than an individual.

Regardless, this development makes the forest a dangerous place for me.

Without wasting time, I take to the air and follow the direction the spaceship had flown. Despite the risks, a spark of excitement ignites within me.

"Real aliens," I whisper to myself, grinning in anticipation. "Let's see how they look up close."

I don't fly too fast, still wanting to take in the alien forest around me. The scenery though remains fairly quiet, with peculiar organisms drifting between the trees.

I mentally catalogue the various sights—the slimy fruits dangling from the branches, the strange, spindly plants, and the gelatinous structures that seem to shimmer faintly. Despite the odd allure, none of the fruits look particularly appetizing, and I am not curious or crazy enough to eat some alien fruits.

In fact, I am glad to have seen the aerial vehicle; otherwise, I would have been utterly bored trudging through this slimy, unappealing forest. While it holds a certain alien fascination, it definitely ranks last among the alien forests I have encountered so far.

From above, the forest appeared infinite, stretching unbroken in every direction. Yet, as I continued flying steadily in one direction, the edge of the forest gradually came into view. Relief washes over me as I finally emerge from the oppressive, organic sprawl.

Beyond the forest, the atmosphere feels heavier, dimly lit by an unusual sky. Overhead, dense, luminous clouds in shades of blue, green, and yellow dominate the heavens. They glow faintly, casting an ethereal light across the landscape. Most likely nebulae—vast, radiant clouds of space dust and gas—these celestial formations shimmer far off in the distance, creating a surreal and hauntingly beautiful backdrop.

GHRUMM

The low, resonant sound snaps me out of my thoughts. Turning my attention from the luminous clouds, my gaze falls on two four-legged creatures grazing nearby on some peculiar, alien flora. At a glance, their silhouettes resemble horses—but that's where the similarities end.

I descend from the sky, landing on solid ground just outside the forest. The terrain here shifts abruptly, replacing the forest's sticky, white-carpeted floor with a rugged mix of sand and rock. The change is stark, almost jarring, but the arid terrain feels more familiar, more stable underfoot.

As I cautiously approach the creatures, their bizarre anatomy becomes increasingly clear. They have no visible faces. Instead, two gelatinous, ant-like antennae extend from where their heads should be, twitching in the air as though scanning their surroundings. Below the antennae, a small opening resembling a mouth moves rhythmically, opening and closing as they feed on the weed-like plants scattered across the rocky ground.

As I step closer, a sudden jolt of awareness courses through me—my Clairvoyance warning of a threat behind.

I whirl around to find a small, slimy creature resembling a scorpion creeping towards me.

It halts as it notices my movement. From its front, a gelatinous, bobbing head emerges, like a turtle extending its neck.

KOOO!!

The creature emits a strange sound as its vertical, insect-like mouth opens, revealing crackling electricity within.

It lunges at me with its mouth wide open, clearly intending to attack. However, its movements are far too sluggish for my enhanced senses. I had already detected its hostile intent before it even moved.

Effortlessly stepping back, I consider roasting the creature for daring to attack me. But after a moment's thought, I decide against it—starting my interaction with this world's alien life forms with unnecessary violence doesn't feel right.

"Today's your lucky day, my alien scorpion... you get to live," I mutter, shaking my head with a hint of amusement. With that, I rise into the air, leaving the creature far behind.

The horse-like creatures from earlier are nowhere to be seen. They have likely fled, scared off by the scorpion-like creature's ominous sound.

I continue flying in the direction the aircraft had gone, observing the barren landscape below. Sparse alien plants dot the terrain, their gelatinous, gooey forms glistening under the strange light. Interspersed among them are jagged, colorful rocks that seem to have erupted from the ground. For the first time, I find myself missing Earth's green trees and vibrant foliage, realizing how beautiful leaves truly are compared to these gelatinous, gooey plants.

Soon, a cluster of structures comes into view on the horizon. Intrigued, I pick up speed, recognizing the unmistakable silhouette of a settlement. Towers and buildings rise from the ground, their shapes alien yet familiar enough to signal a city.

But something feels off. Plumes of smoke billow skyward from multiple locations, and aircraft patrol the skies in erratic patterns.

"Looks like this world isn't very peaceful," I mutter, activating my Invisibility again as I approach.

As the settlement grows nearer, the extent of the devastation becomes apparent. Most of the tall buildings bear signs of destruction—shattered sections, collapsed walls, and scorched exteriors tell the story of violence and ruin.

"An abandoned city?" I murmur to myself, cautiously floating over the ruins toward the sources of smoke.

BOOOM! FASHOOM! FASHOOM! BAAANNNGG!

The air reverberates with the sounds of explosions and energy weapons firing. I pause midair, startled by the sudden chaos below. Drawing closer, I finally spot the inhabitants of this alien world.

Based on my earlier encounters in strange forests, I had expected the locals to be bizarre, tentacled creatures or amorphous blobs. To my surprise, the beings below are bipedal, their forms eerily humanlike but undeniably alien.

Their skin comes in an array of vibrant colors—purple, blue, orange—while their heads are shaped in unconventional, almost artistic designs. Some have unusual appendages protruding from their skulls: antennae, horns, or fin-like structures. Hair is rarity among them, and almost all seem to wear clothing, albeit of unfamiliar designs.

The explosions come from two opposing groups of aliens locked in fierce combat.

"FIGHT BACK!!"

"ATTACK THEM!!"

My Allspeak ability translates their shouted commands, making the chaos below painfully clear. This isn't a mere skirmish; it's a full-scale battle.

Neither side fights hand-to-hand. Instead, they wield advanced alien weapons, guns that unleash colorful, high-speed projectiles with devastating force.

FASHOOM! FASHOOM!

One side is clearly losing, their ranks thinning under the relentless assault of a better-equipped militia. The attackers, dressed in matching uniforms emblazoned with a circular emblem, exude a terrifying sense of order and superiority. Their green skin sets them apart, and their forces are bolstered by small, hovering aircraft—likely drones—armed with twin cannons.

BOOM! BAM! FASSSHHOOM!

Explosions shake the ground as the militia presses its advantage, laughing and firing with reckless abandon. Their green-skinned faces twist with a perverse delight, reveling in the destruction. The airships, though much smaller than the massive one I had encountered earlier, are no less deadly. Sleek and efficient, they hover like vultures, their dual gun-like appendages raining destruction from above.

The defenders, however, refuse to yield. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, they fight with a desperate tenacity. They take cover in the ruins, firing back with salvaged weapons. Each fighter who falls manages to bring down at least one attacker in return.

Among the ragtag defenders, my attention is caught by a grasshopper-like alien. The bipedal creature, dressed in tattered clothing, darts between crumbling walls, firing a makeshift weapon with surprising precision.

"Is this a war? A rebellion? Or are they just fighting for sport?" I mutter under my breath, hovering silently above one of the ruined buildings, observing the carnage below.

Uncertainty grips me. Should I join this skirmish? And if so, which side should I take? The victorious militia with their airships and superior firepower? Or the losing defenders, a motley group of varied and fascinating alien lifeforms?

WROOM! WROOM WROOM!

As I weigh my options, the familiar roar of airships reverberates across the battlefield. Within moments, the sky is teeming with ten of them, each streaking toward the fray like hunting predators.

Now that they are closer, I can make out their intricate design. Each ship is propelled by flame-like thrusters at its rear, their bright glow cutting through the haze. A semi-circular ring encircles the craft, likely responsible for its levitation. The translucent glass cockpits reveal lone pilots seated within, focused intently on their targets.

"Are they using a magnetic field for floatation?" I muse, intrigued by the technology.

BOOM! BOOM! FASSSHOOOM!

The battlefield erupts into chaos as the defenders scatter in every direction, desperately seeking cover amid the ruins. The airships unleash an unrelenting barrage, their projectiles cutting through stone and flesh alike.

From my elevated vantage point, I notice something peculiar. The ships aren't just firing at random—they are systematically targeting crates stacked near the defenders. Each explosion sends fragments of debris spiraling through the air.

"Weapon stockpiles?" I speculate, narrowing my gaze as yet another crate is obliterated. The defenders' frantic attempts to shield the cargo only confirm my suspicions.

Just as it seems certain the defenders are doomed, a new faction bursts onto the scene. From an alleyway below, a group of masked and armored individuals charges into the chaos, their sudden arrival flipping the dynamics of the battle.