[center]Buried Psionic Seed[/center] Rubble cracks and splinters with each step. Claws click on the soft tile, adding another element of wear to the weathered stone. Past pillars past their prime, stepping over gravel growing moss by a steady trickle of water cutting across the hall, and past weathered murals marred by dampness and age. Each step echoing back thrice over as the wolf walks deeper inside. Guided by torchlight, the lone lupine lugs himself through a wide archway. [b]Hrruuuuuuum...[/b] Ears perked, the wolf’s fur stands on end. Holding his breath for a solid minute. Only the faint humming and trickling water sound in the chamber. Gulping, he takes another step forward. [b]Click.... Psssssssh![/b] Eyes wide, the wolf drops low. Lips part with long, sharp teeth bare. Growling softly while the domed room fills with a violet light. Trails along the ground, filled with water, begin to luminesce softly. From the center, a plinth rises. Carved glass with shifting runes, a thick, iridescent liquid inside, and atop grainy, gritty granite carved into the shape of a spine. Silence, sticky and serene. Hanging heavily in the air as even the water seems to still. Blood rushes to the wolf’s ears. Heart pounding fiercer by the minute. Softer by the second. [i]“Hm? Ah... Seems as though I’ve got a guest here. Good day, wolf.”[/i] Eyes wide, the wolf lowers his head. A voice... but no sound. Twitching his ears around, he growls. Focus never wavering from the jar. [i]“Good evening? I must admit, I’ve lost track of time during my... sabbatical. Yes, let’s call it that.”[/i] Nary a muscle moves as the wolf holds completely still. Frozen and rigid as the ruins out of time surrounding him. [i]“Well? It’s awfully rude just to stare. I recognize that I’m not what I once was, but if I may be so bold, I’d argue I’m no less attractive than before. At least, should you be keener on one’s brains than their physique!”[/i] Gulping, the wolf takes a shaky step forward. Prying his paw from the stone, leaving another mark of his presence with a cut from his claws. Tension builds inside his head. Baring his teeth while his hackles rise. [i]“Yes, I can hear your growling. We could continue with our base natures, if you so desire. Though I find dialogue to be much more effective for communication. By all means, circle me as though I’m prey being monitored. Rest assured, I will not be going anywhere. I find locomotion difficult with nothing to move with!”[/i] Stepping softly, the wolf’s claws click on cold stone. Disrupting the dust and mangling the moss underfoot. Steady steps in a slow circle around the plinth. Twitches of the wrist continue to arc the torch around. The mystery liquid within the cylindrical jar remains as opaque as before, shining various colors whenever light hits it. Out of the corners of his golden eyes, the pillars and dome seem to shift. Patterns begin to exist, alter, and cease to be in a blink. “...What’s your name?” Gravely, low, and still growling. His words leave between grit teeth and between each low rumble from his throat. [i]“Ah! Here I was talking about manners. Gyluk. Gorilla. Entrepreneur. Used to be, at least.”[/i] “... Redikan. Gray wolf. Guess I’m a burglar here.” [i]“Haha! Worry not. There’s nothing much worth taking here. All I ask is that you keep the roof above my jar. I’d rather not risk being crushed.”[/i] “Noted... So, urrg...” Wincing, Redikan’s slow, circular advances pauses for a moment. Pressure mounting in his skull begins to beat against his head in time with the beat of his heart. “Don’t much look like any gorilla I’ve ever seen. What happened?” [i]“Unfortunate encounter. Ended up getting myself sealed in this jar here. Part of me, I should say. Quite a pickle I’ve found myself in, between whiling away the empty hours with my thoughts or sleeping in suspension here. If it’s not too much of a bother, could you tell me what year it is?”[/i] Tilting his head, the wolf’s growling begins to abate. Jaw partially dropping, Redikan grunts. “It’s 2095. Already March.” [i]“...Time sure does fly. I must’ve slept through quite a bit. Many thanks, Redikan.”[/i] “Alright... My turn again. How long were you asleep?” [i]“I’m not sure I could answer how long exactly I have been asleep. Though I can tell you when I first entered this... state. November of 2068.”[/i] Raising himself up to normal posture, the wolf winces through another pang of head pain. Twirling the torch in paw, he places his free one on his side. Continuing to walk in a circle, with swagger slowly slipping in place of caution. “...Fair’s fair. What’s your next question?” [i]“Reciprocity? What a gentleman you are! Very well... What has brought you to these ruins?”[/i] “Hm... Guess you’re not talking about me wanting to take things? Heard tale of there being something here that’s old and valuable. People saying you change if you come down here. Got bills to pay and a whole lot of pluck to go around. Thought it could be fun. Might be a dumb question, but how are you talking with me? I don’t hear the voice coming from anywhere in particular.” [i]“Haha! Why, you remind me of when I was the newcomer to these ruins. A neophyte in spelunking, I was! You see, this viscous gel that I’m floating in is the key. Alien in origin, I suspect, for it has given me magic all my own after soaking my lobes in it. Or perhaps I should call it psychic prowess...”[/i] “Telepathy? Magic!? That’s a joke!” Stopping in place, Redikan drops his torch. For a second, the only sound in the chamber is the steady grinding of metal on stone. “Hold on a second. Lobes?” [i]“Gray matter. Nervous tissue. I’m not certain about you, but I’d find it right hard to think without it!”[/i] “What do you mean!? That... how are you not—Ah!” Grunting, the wolf’s eyes shut. Flashing pain, grit teeth, and a stumble. Tripping, falling to his knees, and shakily standing again. [i]“My, my. Are you alright there? Wouldn’t do to get yourself grimy and wet. Allow me to assist.”[/i] Intense violet washes over the slender lupine’s figure. Fur and fabric ruffle as he shoots up to standing. Heaving himself up with unnatural speed. Arms and legs with shaky adroitness unlike his own. [i]“Now then. You’ve asked quite a few questions sequentially. I believe that it’s my turn now. You mentioned that you had bills to pay? If you are in debt, I have a solution for you. Would you like me to apply my talents to get you out of debt? Perhaps, even find yourself with quite a bit of dosh to throw around yourself? Although, it should be mentioned that it will necessitate allowing me to take a hands-on approach.”[/i] Blinking unevenly, Redikan groans. Several seconds slip past as his figure slithers closer. “Eh? W-What do you mean by that? You don’t got any hands in there!” [i]“Indeed. I do not possess the means to leave here, nor do I have the means to accrue any wealth without a body by which to move about and manage a business with... Unless I were to gain one, that is.”[/i] Eyes wide. Eyes shut. Wincing and groaning for a second as the wolf wobbles. Falling to his knees for a moment before picking himself up. “Gain? You mean... mine?” [i]“Rather quick, you are! Correct. Continue to approach and I will be able to assist. Debt assignment, shall we say? Trade places with me, and I’ll ensure my knowledge will make both of us happy.”[/i] Only a few final, heavy steps. Stiff legs haul him over with a lethargic stare. “Hell no! You get everything and leave me in a jar? Not happening!” [i]“Now, now. I had commended you for your gentlemanly turn just a minute ago. I assure you that you’ll be rewarded for your investment in due time. Utilizing my psionics, I will be able to create businesses offering services the world has not yet seen! Think not of what you risk, but what you stand to gain. Simply trust in me.”[/i] “Sounds like a great way to—AH!” Clenching his jaws, he groans. Hissing through his teeth as he stands in front of the jar. Resplendent light washing over his fur. “I don’t want to die!” [i]“Fear not, you’ll be just fine. Why, if all goes well you may walk away better than before. Granted, not necessarily with the same face as you came here with. All you need to do is place your digits upon the side of the jar.”[/i] Furry appendages extend up. Shaky fingers hover around the sides of the radiating jar. Gasping, panting as he struggles to put them down. Rigid in form, the wolf shakes and struggles against a serene violet encasing him... Before the scowl fades. Ears perk up and his eyes glaze over. Breathing peacefully as he stares at the jar. Stares at the wrinkly mass in the opaque liquid. [i]“I’ll be honest and admit I may have tipped the scales. Diminish your choice it will not. Tell me, now that you’ve calmed down, what do you say about making things official, Partner?”[/i] Limp limbs land at the top of the spinal column. Twitching digits dart closer to the surreal material. Sounds of water fade out. The damp air of the ruin recedes. Awash in myriad colors, Redikan cracks a slight smile. “Uh... S-Sure. Don’t let me down, Partner.” Claws creep closer. Black tips tingle with each millimeter they take. Sparks arc between the jar and the wolf. Air pushes outward, pressing the fur down. With a soft gulp, the claws connect to the cold surface. [b]Crck...[/b] Blades of pressure stab into Redikan’s head. Freezing in place, the body goes rigid. Stiff and distant. Icy tendrils crawl up his extremities. Daggers dance across the limbs, carving out the warmth and sensation inside, trailing inward to the core of the body. Odd emptiness fills the void of the abdomen, climbing upward toward the torso. No pain, no fright. Just a cooling numbness that races upward. Slackening the jaw as the alien anesthetic psychically administers itself from the wolf’s own nerves. Until only a throbbing sensation in the head can be felt. [b]Fwoooooop![/b] [i]“A draft?”[/i] Cool air wafts over the top of Redikan. Whipping around in a circle. Conjuring the tail of a frosty cyclone that only grows stronger. Wrapping underneath the throbbing mass of the wolf. Vision blurs as the buffeting gales grasp firmly onto him. Tugging... pulling... yanking... [b]POP!!![/b] Vision fails. Senses shutdown. For a moment, Redikan’s thoughts are his only company. [i]“Hm? What am I... seeing?”[/i] Flickering, fuzzy perception creeps into his mind. Without opening his eyes. Vibrating violet ripples out from the center point. Focusing, the image becomes clear. The same ruin. The same jar... from a meter up. [b]Shiiiiing![/b] Low, dull scratching rings in the air. Echoing in the dome for a few seconds as a ring of light circles the top of the jar. Shining intensely for a few seconds as the top of the jar begins to levitate upwards. Shortly after, the liquid inside begins to churn. Bubbling and swirling around until a wrinkly mass breaks the surface. A throbbing mass covered in a thin film reflecting light in odd, swirling patterns as if coated in oil. Sparks wander through the surface, highlighting each peak and valley. [i]“Excellent choice, Redikan! Do be prepared, the fluid can feel awfully cold to the lobes.”[/i] Upward the brain hovers until it remains level with the wolf. The throbbing grows more intense by the second. Audibly and tactilely. Every attempt to move is met with impossible resistance. Looking around... the wolf’s vision begins to pivot. Without changing his position in the slightest, his focus shifts. Vision scrolls further down... to the open, empty head of a wolf. [i]“You better keep your word, Gyluk!”[/i] Slowly, steadily, his position begins to shift. Gyluk and Redikan remaining equidistant as the spin clockwise with each other. Coming to a stop when each hovers over the original position of the other. Slick and slippery, Gyluk’s brain descends. Into the open pit below. Into the cross-eyed, drooling wolf with tongue lolling out. The larger mass sliding in with a bit of pressure and a slight squish. Spasms rock the furry figure as those eyes snap into focus and the stream of spittle stops. Coughing, sputtering, as the crown slowly descends. A ring of light encircling the seam until it seems as if it never happened. Limbs tense and release. A wide smile crosses the ape’s new face. Bright gold eyes develop a tint of purple around their edges. Beaming as he watches the steady descent of his newfound partner into that alien liquid. Redikan’s mind submerges into the thick liquid. Chilling waves wash and lap at his lobes while icy lightning lights up his mind. Settling halfway in the jar, suspended and silent. Buried within, unknown thoughts start circulating behind his conscious thoughts. Above him, a dome of glass returns to the top. Another ring of light encircles the separated piece, binding it back in place. “Aaaaaah... To feel the air again.” Rolling his shoulders, Gyluk extends out a paw. Traces of purple shine in the corners of his eyes as the torch on the ground flies into his grasp. Swagger in his step, he struts his way over to the path Redikan used. Tail shooting far up while claws click loudly on the stone floor. “Possessing both a snout and a tail is... very different. Such a slender figure you have. I hope that you don’t mind me making myself at home in here. If I’ll be taking up residence inside this head, it’ll be easier to get work done if I’m... comfortable in my skin, so to speak!” Farther and farther away he goes. Walking past the mossy rocks he once crossed so long ago. Turning his head, he casts a wolfish grin back at the jar. “Quite a bit of time until I return, I imagine. Feel free to rest and recuperate, Partner. Your responsibilities are in good... I guess I would say paws now, wouldn’t I?” Chuckling, the newly made wolf turns the corner. Disappearing from view. Disappearing into the tunnels back to the surface. Leaving a brain bobbing in an alien liquid deep in darkness. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neon signs, neon streets. Singing electricity around every street corner. Advertisements painted on every sign, animated and flashing. Flooding the bright, grimy streets with sultry imagery. Different species. Different sexes. Different sizes and more. Same source of fun. A three dimensional brain starts to lift from the heads of both displayed subjects, two arrows start pointing at the other, and the brains start trading positions. “Endless new experiences. Never the same faces. No risk, no threat, no worry.” Cameras watch as a group of twenty start wandering down the street. Walking toward a large, carbon-steel building with a shimmering, viscous texture. The large dome atop of it playing the same advertisements on loop, spinning them around the circumference. Queuing into a line far from the door. One by one each goes in, comes out the side exit, and then the sounds and smells of sex grow stronger in the building. More rooms occupied by the minute. Watching from on high, a beefy wolf stares down. One wearing a leather harness, collar, open pants, and a jockstrap. Tapping his claws against the ground and idly wagging his tail. Golden eyes with a hint of purple on the edges scan the documents on his desk with preternatural efficiency. “Mr. Redikan?” Perking his ears up, the wolf tilts his head. Across from his office, a broad bearded dragon gives a wave. “Speak your mind, Quince.” “Seems all the shareholders are happy with this quarter’s fiscal report. We’ve made it to our third year of business and it’s still growing!” “Happy news indeed! Sounds as though our customers are enjoying their weekend here as well.” Standing tall, he walks over to Quince with arms behind his back. “As a matter of fact, feel free to enjoy your own weekend early. I find myself in good spirits.” “W-Wait... really?” Scales gleam more than his wide eyes as he locks eyes with delight. “Of course!” Clasping the scaly shoulder before him, Redikan gives a faint smile. “Don’t forget, employees get a discount on all services.” One immense worm worms into the fabric of the reptile’s pants. Tented khakis barely contain his burgeoning excitement. “T-Thank you, Boss! Was there anything else you needed before I clock out?” Licking at his lips, he starts shifting his weight from one leg to another in an awkward tap dance. “Ensure that other employees know I’ll be quite busy tonight and should not be disturbed barring an emergency.” Strutting back to his desk, he keeps his tail partially raised. From window on high, he watches his marvels at work. Casual arousal builds in the courtyard below. Different species, different sexes, and different interests. Some clothed and some nude. Toys in use or not. Engaging in solo activities, finding a partner, or even multiple. Watching as a few head into a booth for a few seconds before others start stumbling out. Chuckling, Redikan gives a wave. “Well, Quince? Best hurry before all the Slut options are gone.” Entranced, Quince stares at Redikan for a few more seconds. Taking in both the wolf’s words and that full moon on display. Shutting his eyes tightly for a second, he lets out a loud huff. Vigorous nodding precedes the loud slam of a shutting door. Rapid, heavy footsteps outside the office soon grow quiet. Reaching into his jockstrap, he begins to play with his groin some. Feeling the tip poke out of the sheath. Grinning ear to ear the entire time as he watches a bearded dragon race to the booths out front. That grin becoming toothy as a leopard walks out of the booth and into the courtyard licking her lips and shifting her weight from one leg to another in an awkward tap dance. Walking back to his desk, he plants his fat rear into the seat while idly stroking himself. Purple briefly flashes in his eyes as the papers organize themselves. Fluttering into a neat, little pile out of the way. A path kept clear as pre begins to coat his digits. “Positively brilliant work...” Slowly, his breathing becomes heavier. Ragged and coarse with each loud puff of air. Halfway out, that red rocket begins to push against the fabric of the jockstrap. Legs automatically spread apart as the lizard brain begins to take over. Sizable balls begin to ache. “Three whole years of success... Four in this body... Undoubtedly the best years of my life.” Toes curl and muscles tense. Teasing him further as the day draws to a close. Need rising further as the entire length slips out. Grabbing the sensitive tissue with one paw, the other clutches the armchair. Faint scratching fills the air as claws dig into fabric. “Debt free... Business booming... Soon enough we’ll be opening sites outside in North America.” Growling to no one, he grits his teeth as his rubbing speed increases. Already, the knot forms. Swelling to the size of a baseball in no time at all. Shallow humps creep their way into the activity. Hips bucking without a command. “Existing as a brain in a jar for nearly three decades may well have been worth it for this. A t-toast to my intellect. A toast to my psionic tech...” Eyelids flutter shut. Tired arms quiver and shake as a third leg begs for release. Pressure mounting from within as he masturbates with possessed force. “A toast to you, Redikan... Many thanks and then some for... all... this!” Grunting, growling, and then howling. Low, sweet, and beautiful as those ears are cast back. Loosening his grip, his arm falls to the side. Thrust after thrust, each motion of the hips fires another white load. First, staining the jockstrap. Bleeding through it next. Coating the desk and firing past it, lastly. With the paw that had been holding fast to the armchair, he scoops up some of his semen with a digit. Lifting it up to his mouth as his broad, flat tongue cleans it. “To our continued success!”