Chapter 01 – Humans, Pets?!
“Two jumps in a week, I bet you think that’s pretty clever don’t you boy?”
“You broke another mirror, you’re turning into something you are not…”, Naskia song.
The audience listened with interest as the beautiful sounds echoed through the lecture hall.
One girl, in particular, was just amazed by what she was witnessing and what she had witnessed. The unit tall girl, 138 feet/41 meters with short red-brown hair and blue eyes just sat silently, absorbing the strange unfamiliar but beautiful music a woman and a man were playing.
“Hmmm a man, should a human even be called a man as if he were a Titan?”, Wendy thought.
She read his blog a few times and thought it was a prank, but seeing the little human transform to Titan size and hearing him speak, she just couldn’t tell difference. He was just as smart as any Titan...... scratch that, he was smarter than any Titan she corrected herself.
When the performance was over, she heard everyone cheered up from their chairs. “See, I told you so, Wendy. This Niall guy is for real.”, her friend said excitedly.
As Niall was just finished with his closing statement and turned back to a small human when the holographic projector was turned off, his owners Loona and Naskia came running to his place. Wendy saw how lovingly Naskia was treating Niall, but not only the love one had for a pet, but one as for a boyfriend or husband.
Wendy de Reus, a 18-year-old freshman at the Tanhausser University was so intrigued by all of this. This exceptionally smart human, his inventions, the relationship with a Titan woman, the culture and planet Earth.
As she was letting it sink in, a blond woman with a confused and somewhat annoyed look in her eyes approached her.
“Stop being so impressed, Wendy”, Lyroo said. Come on, let's just go back to the Humans Owners Society room and get to work. We have a lot of work to do.
“Yes off course, Ms. Lyroo. You have to admit, that was an impressive display by those humans. I couldn’t even tell that he was human with his Titan-sized image and the way he talked. He could even become a teacher at this faculty with the help of holograms and..”, Wendy was caught off.
“Even if he is smart. He is too small and vulnerable to function in our society. They need to be protected and cared for as the lovable pets they always have been and always will be to us”, Lyroo said raising her voice.
Wendy was about to mention how smart Loona's little pet Nonah was in a spelling contest against a senior student like Lyroo, but decided to stop talking about the subject. She could see Lyroo was upset by the whole ordeal. She herself had agreed with most of Lyroo’s ideas and was proud to be part of the HOS and admired Lyroo’s passion for the well being of the humans throughout the Empire.
As they walked away from the cheering and celebrating sounds of the excited student crowds, Wendy lowered her head and looked at the carrier box her boss was holding. She stared at the passenger inside the box for a while and Scroof stared happily back at the Titaness who was lost in thought.
When they arrived at the HOS, the naked humans in their cages and terrariums jumped happily up and down. Happy that their masters arrived to give them love and attention.
The little-annoyed expression left Lyroo’s face and turned into a happy smile.
“Hi there little cuties, mommy is here to spoil you again.”
Wendy was always happy to see the human smiling little faces and their jumping and dances of joy. They were indeed the loving and very grateful creatures.
Lyroo took Scroof out of his box and put him in the nicest terrarium in the room. He was clearly her favorite.
Wendy started cleaning the litter boxes filled with human excrements in them, the humans moved out of the way when a pair of giant hands moved toward them. The average owner would clean them once per 3 Titan days but at HOS it was done twice per day.
They had new arrivals brought in by volunteers, stray humans who were abandoned by their owners.
There were 20 of them divided over 2 carrier boxes.
“Wendy let’s call it a day. Can you take some of the new arrivals home with you?
“Certainly, I would love some new pets”, Wendy said. They each took a carrier box and then parted ways.
Wendy arrived at her room, unlocked the door and entered. She walked through the living room straight to her bedroom and put the carrier on her desk next to an empty terrarium. She opened both doors so the humans could step out into their new home.
“Welcome to your new home. It is safe now, no more surviving on the streets little ones”, Wendy said in a satisfied cheerful tone.
The humans in the other terrariums jumped up with joy. A family of humans consisting of 2 parents and 2 young human children ran to the glass. The little boy and girl were screaming of joy, “Big Wendy is back” as the Titaness enormous head filled up the view of the tiny human family smiling kindly at them.
The great thing about humans is that they were easily trained. Labeled as class two sentient species they were a lot of fun to have as a pet, more interesting than other pets, at least to Wendy.
She also wanted to be a vet and was recently interested to study human behavior with groups of humans in one terrarium.
Most people on campus found her weird that she would buy clothes for them to wear and give them more luxury than most owners.
The last of the new group of humans had entered their new home and Wendy could close the door and put the carrier box away.
She immediately filled the water tanks and the food supply up and looked at the humans as some of them moved slowly towards it and some of them not moving a milli unit. Most of them looked at one particular human male as if they needed permission to eat or drink. Then they started walking to the drinking tanks and the food.
“He must be their leader, handsome looking little thing, aren’t you”, Wendy said, as she tapped at the glass wanting to get his attention.
He only gave her a short look and then concentrated again on the men and women.
She smiled at him and then also looked at her other humans. Normally she would play with some of them after school, but her mind was concentrated on something else.
On Dr. Niall Freeman and Earth.
Wendy decided to go for walk outside, she decided to go tot he faculty and use one of the holorooms.
At the door, she put her card into the card reader and the door opened. Inside she punched in the codes and got a big amount of different programs Niall left behind to choose from.
“Wow, this so much more than I expected, I don’t know where to begin”, Wendy said.
She decided to let the computer decide at random. It chose Rotterdam(The Netherlands).
The description mentioned a vibrant young city with very interesting architecture with very old classic buildings and very modern skyscrapers in its center.
“Rotterdam the Netherlands sounds interesting and good representation of an average modern Earth city”, Wendy thought out loud.
“Computer start program”
The room slowly changed around Wendy and was transforming into a city. Before she knew it she was standing in the middle of a square.
Wendy looked around in amazement. There were people walking around in strange clothing and strange 2 and 4 wheeled contraptions went passed her. She saw endless shops and restaurants around her, people, families walking, having conversations with each other, buying different goods.... wear clothing.
She had to remind herself that these were humans walking around her in a human city, but they looked so much liked Titans and seemed to be behaving in the same way.
They had transit systems, primitive aircraft, people had small pads just like Titans.
She knew somewhat from Dr. Niall’s stories what Earth had, but seeing it with her own eyes and experiencing it at human size was just amazing.
“Wow, these are nothing like the humans bred in The Empire. These are certainly not pets.”, Wendy said.
Wendy decided to try out some other programs too from around the globe. She noticed how amazingly diverse Earth was in its culture, languages, Flora and Fauna.
The population of 7 billion, that number amazed her too. Wow, so many people on one planet. Archavia, the most populous Titan world had only close to billion people living on it.
“I so want to visit Earth, visit these wonderful places.” But then she reminded herself, that she probably would not have the same experience because, in reality, everything would be 24 times smaller.
She just got a little naughty thought.
“Computer, back to Rotterdam but with the Titan-human size filter off”, Wendy said.
The holosuite was changing again. Now she looked around her and everything looked so different.
The wonderful city of Rotterdam now looked like a miniature city. Most buildings were still taller than her barely, only highest were a couple of units taller than here.
The people reacted to it and scattered away from the enormous Titaness.
“Hehe, I must look like an absolute supergiant to them”, Wendy said when she looked down at the humans.
She picked up one of those four-wheeled contraptions and looked inside.
There was a family sitting inside the car and they looked terrified. She put the car on the rooftop of a nearby building.
“Please step out of your primitive mobile contraption humans”, Wendy said. A male and female stepped out and their 2 children.
Wendy took a long look at them. She looked around her saw some people staying there and watch her. She saw police cars approaching her and some primitive flying contraptions she didn’t recognize. They had rotating blades above them and could hover around.
“Computer end program”, Wendy said.
“This is absolutely gorram insane. Earth humans and Titans.........are the same?”, Wendy said.
“Frak, I need to meet this Niall. I have to contact Ms. Bass and ask her permission I’ve I could lend him a few days.”
Prologue 2 – A Secret Mission?
Avalon
“Can’t you stay here and please think of the wonderful work you can perform at my dad’s farm”, Lyroo said.
“I’m sorry Lyroo, I already made up my mind. I’m only here to collect my pets”, Wendy said.
Wendy de Reus leaves Tanhauser University and HOS chapter run by Lyroo. Wendy took her human stock with her and they parted ways. Lyroo had tried to convince Wendy to stay and work at her father’s human farm, but Wendy had other plans.
Thanks to her growing friendship with Niall, Naskia, Loona and Nonah, she got an offer from Pryvani Tarsuss to work and live on her moon Avalon. “I got an offer I couldn’t refuse”, Wendy had said to her friend Lyroo before leaving.
Pryvani revealed some interesting projects and research being done with humans and the vast human habitat with small villages and a big city called Atlantis.
This was an offer Wendy couldn’t refuse and was a dream come through for her, duss she took it and went to Avalon.
On Avalon she met Pryvani in person. She also met Rixie, Alex, Dr. Kahree Selil, Brinn, Zava, Taron, Nick, Sophia, Trell and the influential people of Avalon.
Pryvani and Wendy had a deep talk with each other about humans and the role of humans, the intelligence of humans and the relationship of Titans and humans according to Sonda Har. She showed Wendy around Avalon and eventually let the people know she was the goddess servant. Wendy got frequent access and the people of Avalon also viewed her as a goddess only second to Pryvani. They came to love her and Wendy loved the role of a goddess. She admired Pryvani very much and found her perfect as the role of a goddess and role model. She didn’t really agree with Pryvani to tell the people of Avalon the truth about it, but she could understand it and accepted her decision. It would also affect her role.
Wendy also spent time with Rixie and Alex. With Alex she listened to his stories of Earth and was fascinated by them. With Rixie she sometimes sparred and learned how the fight. Rixie easily beat her but noticed that Wendy had enormous physical strength and hard punches that were on par with the strongest male Titans she faced before. This was something very odd to Rixie. She could bond with her because they were both orphans.
Wendy had some interesting talks with others that would form her character. Worked with Dr. Kahree Selil and sometimes with Brinn.
She absolutely despised Trell and gave her a massive beating after Rixie was done freeing Nick and out of sight. Trell had said some specific things to Wendy, which triggered the Red-haired Titaness to lash out at Trell in the most violent of ways. Multiple bone fractures all over Trell’s body and completely defeated look were the results.
Over the course of her stay on Avalon, she became more obsessed with the planet Earth after some talks with Earth humans like Niall and Alex and the usage of Earth holoprograms.
After the Trell incident and the Rutger Massacre, she asked vigorously if she could go on an expedition to Earth on the southern continent known as Antarctica. Wendy gave some interesting reasons and one, in particular, she felt so strongly about in the short term.
Pryvani reluctantly agreed with Wendy’s reasons and because she could see enormous benefits for humans from that expedition and with her influence she could get Wendy and some other Titan and humans to go with her.
It would take a lot of effort and favors from many friends and others for the ex-supreme goddess of Avalon, but after the long discussion with Wendy it seemed like the only right path to take.
Journey to Earth (8 October 2020)
Location Saturn’s moon Titan, Titan Station.
ISS Gyfjon (Class: Kuklopes)
Length: 209.22 units ; 8.79 km (Maximum crew 150)
Xifos (Aspis II Class Carrier)
Length: 501.04 units ; 21.12 km (Maximum crew 1100)
Many heavy pieces of equipment were loaded onboard of the Xifos/ISS Gyfjon. Aertimus Bass was overseeing the whole endeavor.
“Why do we have to do this again, sir”, Lemm Tamm said annoyed.
“We have our orders from higher up to transport this stuff”, Aertimus Bass said.
“Yes, from someone with way too much money and green hair”, Lemm said.
Wendy was looking with some amazement at these 2 enormous ships. She would board on the ISS Gyfjon as most of the base set up equipment would be carried by the larger Xifos Carrier.
They had to do it a when it was quiet and work fast. Pryvani bribed a lot of people on Titan Station to look the other way or actively helped the mission. They all agreed and were loyal to her because she helped them a lot over the years with their positions.
It never ceases to amaze Wendy what this woman was capable of. Maybe she really was a Goddess.
As Wendy walked on the elevated plateau to the entrance of the Gyfjon, she looked back at Titan Station for the last time. This would probably a long time before she saw Titan Station, Avalon or Archavia again. She didn’t regret it to go to a world Titans didn’t set foot on for centuries and was excited as ever.
Mostly because of Niall and his stories and holoprograms of Earth, she became obsessed with visiting the planet. A planet with only humans on it. A planet devoid of Titans, Insectoids, Dunnermac, Ler, Avartle, H Klatu, Draziri, Tusola or K’Gapti.
When everyone had boarded and every check was done, the two vessels got permission to take off and fly towards Earth.
Wendy met Lauryn Gwen and Izzy and they had good talks.
Many crewmembers were interested in her mission and she could only tell some parts of it to them.
The rest was beyond top secret and for good reason.
Out of the windows, she suddenly saw another planet. Wendy went to the bridge and ask if one of the officers could enhance the planet image on one of the big viewing screens.
“It seems to be gas giant, miss de Reus”, Joram said.
“It looks just like Hadia”, Wendy said mesmerized at its beauty.
“That planet is called Jupiter by the humans and its radius 67% that of Hadia and almost as big as Pandames Sol Archavia second biggest gas giant.”, Captain Artimus Bass said.
“Hello, there captain Bass. I’m already excited that only a few Titans have ever been past the big ringed planet near Titan Station.”, Wendy said.
Look, that tiny red planet is called Mars by the humans and that means we are very close to Earth now. It has the same gravity as Archavia and was an ideal place to set up and observatory again, but plans were canceled due to the human’s technological advancement in space travel”, Gwen said.
Wendy anxiety grew as the ship passed earth’s red neighbor planet.
Finally, Earth came into view until they were so close you couldn’t miss it. When Wendy saw the blue ball for the first time on the big viewscreen, she got mesmerized. She got a pleasant feeling as if she came home, she couldn’t explain it. Archavia looked good, but couldn’t hold a candle to this light blue marble in Wendy’s eyes.
She also saw that the humans had a Space Station and saw little astronauts busy with maintenance.
“Gorram, is that a human space station?”, Wendy said surprised.
“Yes it is Ms de Reus”, Gwen said.
From this distance, Wendy couldn’t tell if they were humans or Titans. The difference in size in the void of space couldn’t be measured from that distance with only the naked eye. They just looked like Titans who were further away from the Gyfion.
“It is a good thing they can’t detect or see our ships that are even massive to us Titans”, Wendy said to herself as they passed by and were now entering Earth’s atmosphere.
Then both ships landed almost at the center of Antarctica. On this remote continent, they could research safely without coming into contact with other humans.
Wendy stepped out of the ship and saw a huge white land masses stretch out as far as the eye could see.
“One small step for a Titan and one enormous step for Titan kind”, Wendy said jokingly as she made contact with the surface of the Earth.
When every equipment was packed out of the Xifos, the ship took off again and continued its patrol on the border between Titan and Insectoid space.
The Gyfjon would stay for a Titan day after everything was set up.
The campsite was build up fairly quickly. A giant mess hall even for Titan standards, personal rooms for every Titan member. A little habitat set up for the Avalon humans. Labs and other research room were set up.
Holorooms, vehicles for the ice, a spaceship and other small craft.
After some celebrations about this unique project, Aertimus Bass and crew said their goodbyes and left.
Wendy stared out over the plain of the Antarctican landscape with some mountains in the background and the beautiful light blue sky. She let it sink in, that she was actually standing on Earth. A planet she wanted to visit for so long since Niall’s amazing display at the hearing and his stories about Earth. A planet no Titan had ever set foot on for a long time discounting the Wild Girl, Eryn Bass.
The Sun shined brightly on the young Titaness face which accentuated her radiant happy smile. Little did she know that some events that were about to occur would make that smile vanish forever?
End of Chapter 02.
Please review.
Next: Chapter 03 - Mayday, Mayday. We Found Something!