Kaleb listened intently as Doctor Copernicus, the octopus, explained the feeding and living habits of Kaleb's new pet. The thing was still asleep on his metal shoulder, chittering happily in its sleep. Thankfully, as a herbivore, the thing would be fairly simple to feed. But its housing requirements were a bit much. The Fulgravit was a creature that liked to roam and when they weren't roaming; they spent their time in a self-made burrow underground. They had a few predators in their alien home world. But, since being introduced into Earth's ecosystem, they have grown much bolder. Few predators could deal with their natural defenses.

"So, really, you just need to find them a small dark space and maybe some things to play with. Like mentioned before, they have an odd affinity with technology. So maybe keep them close to your lab."

Kaleb straightened in his seat. "What makes you think I have a lab?"

Doctor Copernicus' bulbous head flopped to one side as he gesture at Kaleb's lab coat. Kaleb wanted to slap himself, but instead went with an unimpressed shrug.

"It's just really comfy. What can I say?"

"Uh-huh. Well, either way the Fulgravit seems to have taken a liking to you and she seems comfortable with your cybernetics. I just need you to fill out some paperwork and agree to some previsions before we let you two leave."

"Previsions?"

"Yes, sir. You are walking out of here with a very rare species and one the military has an interest in. So we need you to maintain contact with our lab here, as well as monthly reports about her growth."

Kaleb stymied an eye roll. "Sure… Hey, what happens if I don't do that?"

"The military will take her back and you will be heavily fined. This is a research facility, after all. We must produce results and Enhancement pets are a rare thing. You will be financially compensated, of course."

"How much?"

"Oh, I don't know. Somewhere in the four-figure range on a monthly basis, I would wager."

"Maybe?"

"Well, that is just a guess based on the rarity of the animal. The fewer people we have out there with one, the less data we receive. So the lab has a vested interest in helping those in your position."

Kaleb nodded as he pretended to think about it. Sure, part of that money was going to the rodent on his shoulder. But the rest of it could go straight back to the Guild. It was an easy win-win. He was kind of sad since Vivienne and Jar-lock had rushed out of the room to get their own pets. But then again, it wasn't a sure thing that their animals would be rare as his. Kaleb reached up without thinking and scratched the sleeping critter behind the ears. It chittered in alarm for a second, but settled back down with the scratches started. It was only then that Kaleb realized he could've been shocked. Copernicus read his confusion and gave a watery chuckle.

"Hehehehe. She probably doesn't have enough juice after she fused with your arm. She can replenish her stores with food and sleep."

Kaleb nodded as he kept scratching. "Yeah, about that. I take it that's the whole enhancement aspect of this creature? How does that work? Will I have to worry about wear and tear on my arm? Will it- sorry, she fuse with any other arm I install? I was thinking of upgrading."

Copernicus nodded understandingly. "Ah, so a more biological overview of the Fulgravit seems in order. They are an odd bunch. As I said previously, they may look like the earth marmot but they have a unique structure that allows them to meld with technology. They essentially become pure energy and enhance any device they fuse into. Of course, they are highly finicky and won't just dive into any system. Once they do, though, we anticipate an overall increase in power of fifteen percent."

"Anticipate?"

"Yes, well… ahem, we haven't had many Fulgravits fuse with our technology. Like I said, they are highly finicky. But the few who have jumped into our terminals have increased their operating speed so much that they almost burned out the projectors."

"So there is an increased risk of damage to my arm?"

Copernicus waved away his comment with a few tentacles. "Oh posh! No more than a normal day's work for a freelance hero."

"More assumptions?" Kaleb asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Once again, I am just using the clues you have given me to paint a picture. You are armored and tough-looking without an HLO-branded communicator. Who is both cagey and inquisitive while also friendly. You don't strike me as the type to cause trouble. More the one who finds himself in the middle of it… often."

"I wouldn't say often…"

"No judgment here. Just an observation. I also note that you didn't come in here with the intention of leaving with a pet."

Kaleb controlled his face as best he could. Trying not to glance at the terminal, not two feet from the both of them. They were seated at a workstation having their discussion, and Kaleb hoped he'd be left alone long enough to do what he wanted. But Copernicus seemed deeply interested in the study of the Fulgravit.

"Interested enough to help?" Kaleb wondered internally.

He removed his scratching hand from the Fulgravit, much to its annoyance, and waved it toward the terminal.

"I was hoping to access your systems to find a chemical sequence I am looking for."

A shiver seemed to flow through the octopus' body and for a second Kaleb thought he had made a mistake. But the Doctor merely flopped his head around again.

"Searching for military secrets?"

"What?! No! I just have this formula I'm looking into for work and it seems to use animal materials."

"No surprise there. Humans have been using animal secretions for a long time. What's the sequence?"

Kaleb looked around for something to write with before giving up and simply telling the Doctor the next two sequences he needed for the formula. The doctor nearly melted after Kaleb's words and he had to be helped up. The octopus alien's body went completely limp as he stared at Kaleb in shock.

"Do you know what those ingredients are used for?"

Kaleb shrugged. "I have an idea based on the formula I found. But I need to make sure."

"No, you don't. If I were you, I would dispose of that formula immediately and pray whoever owns it doesn't come looking."

"We don't think it's an exact match to the one you're talking about," Kaleb explained. "It appears to be a highly substituted variant used by a criminal organization."

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Doctor Copernicus seemed to re-inflate in relief. "Jeez, why didn't you say so? However, those two items you mentioned are highly regulated, so it makes sense."

"What about Jotnar tusk shavings?"

The octopus head shivered again. "Interesting… One of your substitutions, I imagine. The military use… Ah! I probably shouldn't say. But it would get the job done."

"So it is a degraded variant?"

"Well, without the entire sequence, I can't say. But the stuff the military uses is a bit more potent."

"Stuff like the two items I just listed?"

"Indeed."

"What are they?"

Copernicus seemed to waggle his head in indecision before coming to a conclusion. "I want weekly reports sent straight to me about the Fulgravit's progress. Pictures included as well as video if it goes through a Morph."

Kaleb mouthed the word Morph in confusion before shaking his head and nodding eagerly. "Absolutely. If you can at least explain these two ingredients, I will do whatever you ask."

"Perfect. Well, the first one isn't hard, it's the slime from a Gelatinous Cube."

"What?"

"It's another earth name given to an alien creature. I'm told it resembles a large square beast from a certain game. However, in this case, the creature is quite real, and its slime is used as a base for the formula you mentioned."

Kaleb stuck out a tongue in disgust, but Copernicus was on a roll now.

"The second ingredient is a bit more crude. It's the blood of a Quuvarit."

Kaleb glanced at the small creature on his shoulder. The similarities in the names wasn't hard to miss. Copernicus nodded at the connection.

"Yes, it shares some aspects with your new friend. However, a Quuvarit is more akin to a horse. A six-legged lightning horse, to be exact. Its blood is supposedly highly charged. Of course, extracting said blood is an ordeal."

"No one is going to come for my pet to get its blood, are they?"

"No, no no. A Fulgravit's blood is a lot less charged. I suppose it could be used as a substitute, but it would have to be highly concentrated. Also, like I said, not many Fulgravits are out in the world."

Kaleb scratched his jaw as he thought about the implications. He didn't want to hurt his new friend. But the chance at the formula was a big win. The rodent on his arm snuffled in its sleep, and Kaleb groaned internally. He wasn't going to use his pet for its blood. But the knowledge that charged blood was an ingredient, as well as the formula's base, was more than enough to make this visit a success. Kaleb stuck out a hand unthinkingly and three of Copernicus' slimy tentacles slapped into his hand.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Doc." Kaleb said as he rubbed his hand on the desk.

Copernicus burbled happily before nodding. "Yes, quite a wondrous day all around. Now if I could get you to start on those papers?"

Kaleb's face blanked as he remembered the mountain of paperwork just waiting for him. He was sure it was going to be another slew of waivers and acknowledgments. The Fulgravit on his arm chuffed in his ear and Kaleb started to rethink sticking the damn thing with a needle. Then Doctor Copernicus dropped a stack of papers in front of him and Kaleb's world became a mind-numbing whirl of contracts. He made sure to read each one before he signed, just in case. But nothing seemed too egregious. Mostly he was just accepting responsibility for the creature, as well as agreeing to partake in the research of his chosen pet. Still, Kaleb remained on the lookout for any double-speak or traps.

By the time he had finished, his hand was cramping up, and the Fulgravit was awake again. It was chittering it his ears, clinging to his shoulder. Copernicus left a bowl of leafy greens for the creature, which Kaleb was idly feeding it. The Fulgravit munched away happily as Kaleb got to the end of the paperwork and sighed in relief. After he put his name on the last bit of paperwork, a notification popped in his face.

Congratulations

You have tamed a new pet.

You can now see information about your pet on the Pet Tab in your Menu.

Make sure to feed and keep your pet happy or it can run away from you.

Happiness Meter is unlocked and viewable in the Pet Tab

Pet Lvl 1

Name:

Species: Fulgravit

Sex: Female

Size: 20 inches

Weight: 10 pounds

 

HP: 25/25

Mood: Mildly hungry, curious

Happiness: Content

XP: 0/100

Resonance: 70

 

Abilities:

Scratch

Bite

Defensive Shock

Partner Abilities: Cybernetic Fusion

Cybernetic Fusion

The Fulgravit fuses with the host's cybernetics.

This currently gives an increase in power of 5% to the cybernetic. All abilities and functions of the cybernetic will be enhanced. This increase is offset by an increase in degradation of the cybernetic part.

The current Degradation Rate is 30%

Power Increase and Degradation Rate can change depending on the Fulgravit's level and Resonance with the host.

Kaleb was very careful not to unseat his new friend with his happy dance. Sure, the fact that the little lady was only level one was a bummer. So was the Degradation Rate. But all that could change with a little leveling. All he had to do was find the others and get out of here. He had what they came for and all the paperwork was done. What he needed to do now was get back to the Hangar and make sure everyone knew that school was handing out awesome pets.

A cough from next to him made Kaleb stop his dance and look around. Doctor Copernicus was back and his bulbous head was shivering again. Combined with the laugh coming from the doctor's voice box, Kaleb knew he was being laughed at. But screw the octopus doctor, he had an electric rodent! He was damn sure that was going to be cooler than anything Vivienne or Jar-lock managed to find. If they got anything at all.

"I take it you are happy with your new arrangement?" said Doctor Copernicus when the octopus had stopped laughing.

"Indeed." Kaleb said, handing the newly signed papers over.

"Very good. Well, the two of you can wait here for your friends or you can attempt to find them. Although the hallway is still packed."

"I can stay here?"

"Sure, your little one will want to say goodbye to her colony anyhow."

His new rodent chirped in agreement, and Kaleb nodded. That made sense. The little lady was going to a whole new world soon. Full of loud noises and fresh smells. He should probably do his best to appease her.

"Oh, have you chosen a name for this little one?" Copernicus asked, waving a tentacle in the Fulgravit's direction.

The animal flinched back and chittered in annoyance. Kaleb grinned as the animal seemed to look up at him as if it was his fault. Its nose twitched at him and he couldn't help but feel protective of the cute creature.

"I have a few ideas…" Kaleb said, reaching up to scratch his new pet.

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