Chapter 1: Observing the Subjects

The directive was clear: "Observation period complete. Collect the chosen."

With that, I charted my course. For nearly a century, we had meticulously observed these intriguing beings, documenting and analyzing every detail. Most exhibited a typical bell curve in their physical characteristics, but their behavioral flexibility was unparalleled on Earth.

While passive observation offered valuable insights, we craved a deeper understanding of the mechanisms driving their extraordinary behavioral variations. What influenced each individual’s actions?

We noted that while some subjects maintained consistent behaviors throughout their lives, others underwent multiple behavioral shifts. Some of these changes were triggered by obvious biological events—such as reaching sexual maturity, experiencing injury, or giving birth—while others appeared to arise without any clear external factors.

For our initial invasive studies, we selected a cohort of several hundred individuals, evenly split between those with stable behaviors and those who had demonstrated significant behavioral transitions.

I approached my target, now at rest. Administering a paralytic agent, his eyes fluttered open briefly, followed by a struggle as the drug took effect. The commotion roused his mate, who instinctively recoiled in fear, first retreating and then crawling away to find cover.

As I transported the subject in a cage, his partner rushed towards us, emitting high-pitched vocalizations and attempting to claw at the cage.

I gently moved her aside and proceeded with my next objective.

Damian found himself unable to move, staring upward at a familiar ceiling. His wife’s screams pierced through the air, reminiscent of the anguished final moments of her arduous labor with their daughter, Amy.

Was she safe? Trapped in this inexplicable situation, panic surged through him, igniting a chaotic response in his nervous system.

He felt himself being lifted, but not by his own will. The warmth of some semi-solid sub