A Mutant Collector Quest

"This is where my Collection begins," Carina says, halting dramatically in front of a sleek metal gate. As it opens automatically, she sweeps her gloved arm out wide in a grand gesture, as though unveiling a masterpiece. "Don't expect too much, though," she adds with a playful smirk. "I only recently took over this ship and started Collecting. It is... modest compared to my father's."

"Got it," I reply, tempering my excitement stepping inside.

The room is vast, with a central walkway flanked by rows of massive metal boxes on either side. Unlike the boxes in the previous room, these are equipped with transparent glass panels, allowing me to see their contents. Looking up, I notice there is a second floor with even more of these boxes lining the walls.

Carina gestures grandly to both sides. "This first section is my Fauna Collection—rare, exotic beasts I have managed to find over the past few months."

Curious, I head to the right, where enormous metal boxes, each towering at least three times my height, house a variety of truly alien creatures.

"Is this a yellow troll?" I ask, stopping in front of a three-meter-tall giant with yellow skin. Then, pointing to another box, I add, "And what about this one? It looks like a mix between a blue worm with dragon wings and... well, it has eyes and is about my size."

Carina smirks, clearly entertained by my curiosity. "You can click the panels in front of their boxes if you want to know more about them," she says with a faintly amused tone, though her posture radiates boredom, as if she has witnessed this level of fascination countless times before.

As she speaks, my gaze locks onto an alien form unlike anything I have seen. The creature seems to be made entirely of pulsing, yellow energy. Its glowing body shifts and shimmers with unstable patterns, and even its eyes appear to be crafted from pure light. It has no mouth, but arcs of electricity periodically leap off its form, crackling faintly as though its very existence is unstable.

Intrigued, I step closer to its enclosure, noticing a holographic panel glowing with text in an alien script. I reach out and tap the panel, triggering a projection. A female robotic voice begins to speak in an unfamiliar tongue, but thanks to my Allspeak ability, the words translate instantly in my mind.

"Energy beings of Erdile. Native to Sector 7, Planet Erdile. This species is composed of pure energy and exists in a highly unstable state. They require specialized containment fields to prevent dissipation or harm to others. Despite their lack of physical forms, they exhibit intelligence and..."

The voice drones on, detailing the creature's origin, biology, and unique properties. I glance back at Carina, who leans casually against a nearby box, her expression a mixture of boredom and impatience, as if she has heard this spiel more times than she can count.

It's indeed an Energy Creature! The universe's vastness never fails to surprise me. While I have encountered both a pure Faltine and a demi-Faltine in the Dark Dimension, who are energy creatures in their own right, this creature still manages to captivate my interest.

Looking closer, I notice that each of these aliens has been placed in customized boxes. The worm's box contains sand, while the troll's is filled with patches of grass. Both stand motionless, seemingly unresponsive to my presence, as if frozen in time or unaware of my approach.

I glance back at Carina again. She is still leaning against the box, now scrolling through a holographic interface on her wrist. Her expression is distant, her finger lazily swiping, and I can't help but wonder if she is browsing some form of galactic social media. Leaving her to it, I cross to the left side of the room.

"Now this is just weird," I mutter as I come across a grey, human-sized creature with four arms—two of which are tiny, baby-like appendages. But then, beside it, I spot a larger creature made of yellow sludge, complete with eyes and a mouth. I pause for a moment, staring at it. "And you, Mr. Alien, are straight out of my childhood nightmares."

While many of the creatures are unsettling, I can't help but appreciate their diversity. Their forms reflect environments and evolutionary paths entirely alien to Earth. In some ways, they embody what I have always imagined extraterrestrial life should look like—completely distinct from humanoid physiology!

"Are they all in stasis fields?" I ask, noticing that some creatures have closed eyes, while others stare blankly ahead.

"Yes, it's a feature of our Collection Boxes," Carina replies, her tone brightening with pride. "These collection boxes are state-of-the-art. It is the only advanced tech on this antique ship." She mutters, her gaze shifting back to the holographic screen on her wrist.

I hesitate to question the ethics of keeping them like this. After all, imposing my Earth-born morals out here might be misguided. Besides, given the descriptions of these creatures, it is clear many wouldn't survive outside their controlled environments. If I ever wanted to 'rescue' them, finding a habitable planet for each species would be essential—a daunting task for the future.

For now, I focus on observing and absorbing as much as I can.

As I venture deeper into the chamber, the sheer diversity of species on display is overwhelming—nearly 200, by my estimation. The collection spans the spectrum of life forms, from minuscule insect-like creatures, to towering predators that radiate a silent menace. Not all of them are monstrous, though. Like in front of me now is a mesmerizing sight: a human-sized butterfly with luminous blue wings that shimmer like liquid light, their patterns shifting in a hypnotic dance.

"It's beautiful," I murmur, unable to look away. But after a moment, a chill creeps up my spine. "It is also... kind of creepy," I add, my voice quieter now. "In a zoo, at least the animals move. These... they feel more like statues, frozen in place but still alive." I glance at the still, unblinking creatures, the silence of the room amplifying my unease.

Carina glances back at me, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "They are in stasis," she explains nonchalantly. "My father prefers it that way. It keeps them preserved and prevents accidents. Trust me, you don't want some of these things waking up."

She gestures for me to follow and leads me up a winding staircase to the second floor, where even more boxes are arranged in neat rows, each containing its own alien wonder—or horror. I can't help but marvel at the sheer scope of the collection.

"Is this really what you would call a small collection?" I ask, incredulous. "With this many species, it feels enormous."

Carina gives a wry smile, her tone dripping with casual pride. "This?" She waves a hand dismissively at the rows of boxes. "This is nothing. My father has entire bases dedicated to his Collections. For alien fauna alone, he bought an entire planet just to house them. So yeah, this little stash? It's modest."

I am momentarily dumbfounded, the thought of a planet-sized collection is nearly incomprehensible. But then again, her father is an Elder of the Universe—an immortal being with billions of years at his disposal to indulge his obsessions. It makes sense, in a way, but the sheer scale of it leaves me reeling. For now, the revelation is enough to snuff out any immediate thoughts of trying to free these creatures. How could I possibly dismantle something so vast?

Pushing these thoughts aside, I refocus on exploring the grand chamber. Each new enclosure I pass reveals another species that defies imagination, showcasing just how vast and bizarre the universe truly is. Some creatures seem like warped reflections of Earth's fauna—familiar yet alien—while others are utterly unrecognizable, their forms a testament to the boundless creativity of life across the stars.

"So, Lucas, which sector are you from?" Carina asks, shutting off her holographic wristband and directing her attention fully to me.

"You can just call me Luke," I reply with a casual smile. "Honestly, I am not well-versed in sectors or the wider universe, so I can't really say. What I do know is that my planet has only recently started exploring its moon. Compared to all this," I add, gesturing to the advanced ship surrounding us, "we are pretty far behind technologically."

"Oh? That's adorable," she says, a teasing grin playing on her lips. "But I would bet you are something special, even on your planet. I can't imagine many of your kind are as strong or as... good-looking as you," she says, stepping closer and tracing a finger lightly down my chest.

"Well, I won't argue with that," I reply with a confident smirk, locking eyes with her. I can feel my powers—Pheromone Emission and Submission Aura—beginning to take effect. It seems that even Carina, the daughter of an Elder of the Universe, isn't entirely immune to my powers.

Her gaze lingers a moment too long, as she smirks, withdraws her hand, and walks ahead. My eyes can't help but drift to her perfect, bubble-shaped butt, which sways enticingly under her tight robe.

"So, what do you think of this Collection?" she asks, glancing back with a knowing glint in her eye, clearly aware of my gaze.

"It is incredible, Carina," I reply sincerely. "You keep calling it small, but to me, it is massive. So many species, all from different corners of the universe, each one so unique. I have never seen anything remotely like it in my life."