Nyx

Username/ID: Amplify [#426059]

Kalon Name: Nyx

Edits: [NR] Skinny (tum and legs), Minor whisker edit, Heterochromia ; [S] Hair, Shine, Claws ; [C] Custom tail, Longer fur, Shorter fur ; [UC] Custom ears, Custom pupil, Custom tongue ; [R] Extra eyes, Halo, Height mutation (munchkinism), Natural mutation (smaller paws, diamond-shaped paw pads)

(Link to Runner Up Post)

What kind of world does this Kalon hail from and how do they get home?

Book One: Neophonis

Prologue

To form a planet, one needs many things, and many more to form a planet that can support life. Rock, ice, gas, and space dust, it feels as if the odds are entirely stacked against you. After all, it’s one in infinity that all the matter comes together in the right way—at the right time—to form your planet; and the chance is left entirely to the weaving hands of fate.

Even still, having a planet with which to grow from is not enough. In the end there are countless other barriers than just what elements managed to find their way into your planet’s formation. All life is a game of chance—one in which you have no control over your deck, let alone what’s dealt to you.

Yet somehow, in the same incredibly surprising yet altogether familiar way, Neophonis was born. Billions of years ago, it seemed that there were just enough of those precious elements, in the right form of matter, that came together to create a stunning visage of a planet that challenges the very basis of planet identification to this day.

Chapter I

Admittedly, the unique features of Neophonis only started to show themselves near the end of its formation. At first, it seemed as if the planet was going to form like any other; perhaps a bit large and with an extra moon or two, but altogether solid and round.
But for whatever reason, as the planet grew closer and closer to cooling into its final form, several chunks of rock remained in orbit that wouldn’t merge with Neophonis. Baffling to scientists today, they appeared to intentionally work against the stronger gravity of the planet as they instead formed five moons. And as these moons took shape themselves, comfortable in their orbits, their gravitational force began to impact the planet.

Still trying to condense all its gathered materials into one mass, the planet began to lose its roundness as different areas were tugged towards its moons. Then out of nowhere, or perhaps in a last-ditch effort to save itself, the planet rapidly cooled and ceased all condensing. The result was a vaguely triangular central planet with both the five moons and a ring of debris orbiting around it, apparently immune to its greater gravitational force.

Chapter II

In truth it goes against nearly every expectation of a planet, yet still it exists. To be considered a planet by standard means, it must not only orbit a star and be big enough to have cleared all of the objects of similar size out of its orbit, but be large enough for its gravitational force to give it a spherical shape.

Though Neophonis meets the first two listed requirements—lucky that each of its moons are significantly smaller despite their number—its shape actively works against itself. According to all laws of gravitational force, it should be spherical or not exist. Of course, Neophonis exists anyway, because it does not care whether or not you think it’s impossible. Not to mention that it doesn’t stop with a mere unique shape either.

Alongside the thick, rich atmosphere, the planet seems to have an intermediate, semi-transparent layer located at the very edge of the atmosphere and outer space. As a result, you cannot see the planet’s surface, rather a refracted array of colors from its moons with hints of what’s beneath. Beyond this visual distortion, the layer appears to provide additional protection for the surface by reducing the gravitational impact of the moons and deflecting any debris from the ring. It is suspected that it may even be the cause for the ring of debris remaining in orbit though research has yet to yield conclusive results.

Chapter III

In fact, research in general on Neophonis has yet to yield any conclusive results. Though the natural environment has undoubtedly been affected by the phenomena surrounding the planet’s creation, it’s impossible to draw definitive conclusions about the causes when the knowledge of the phenomena themselves is so limited. Basic factors, such as the fact that the planet is similarly covered by more water than land, are easier to identify. Still, through visual observation, scientists have noted a variety of features unique to the planet that may also be connected to its shape and refractory layer.

For example, the plants are made of a semi-crystalline, semi-organic material that does appear to be photosynthetic. However, unlike traditional plants that primarily reflect green and yellow rays, it seems the majority reflect the light that is refracted in the sky above them. Therefore, though leaves do change between seasons, it is not reliant on the planet’s rotation and therefore temperature, but the positions of the moons and ring around the planet. The reason for this is presently unknown.

Furthermore, because a culture developed that greatly valued sustainable practices, the forests are vast as they are healthy. Many of the trees and other plants with extended lifespans are dated at several thousands of years old, and in that time have grown to considerable heights. It has also helped that clean water flows freely through them, with pollution is strictly prohibited, and the understanding a river is never to be redirected or blocked off if the ecosystem cannot safely be sustained elsewhere.
This has led to a bountiful animal population alongside the primary inhabitants as well, with an incredible biodiversity factor across the planet. Creatures of the land, sea, and sky, all thrive under the conditions the planet and its people have developed, leading to an overall thriving ecosystem.

Chapter IV

A thriving ecosystem which includes the primary civilization. Settlements are scattered across the planet but instead of replacing or changing the environment to suit them, the civilizations adapted their strategy to suit their planet. If they could not expand outwards, prior to space travel they had two options: build up or build down. Knowing that building upwards was unsustainable, and that building outwards wasn’t an option, they instead decided to build down.

This of course had its own troubles, from the time and energy it took to build safe underground structures, to having to figure out how far down they could even start to ensure the environment above would be safe. It took years of development and planning to truly figure out what works, but in the end it took no longer than any other revolution, and ensured their environment would be safe.

Three of the primary challenges were figuring out how to keep air circulating, how to ensure safe travel to and from the underground city, and how to bring light to the people below.

Air circulation and safe travel required some terraforming of the earth above, but they had already chosen to live in locations where this wouldn’t have as large of an environmental impact. With carefully placed and frequently checked ventilation systems leading to stations on the earth’s surface, air circulation was solved. In addition, every settlement includes a variety of fortified emergency tunnels in addition to the primary hall for surface to underground travel.

As it happens, light was the main challenge, to which Neophonis had natural solutions. As they dug deeper into the ground, they discovered biological crystal complexes deep within the planet. Buried over time, when exposed to nutrients and a direct tunnel of light from the surface, the complexes would illuminate not only themselves but all of the crystal particles in the earth around them. No matter how small, they would glow, which made what is now down as a second sky underground.

Short Story: A Journey Back

Though it hadn’t taken long for Nyx to figure out where she had landed—Earth, of course she’d end up there—figuring out how she had managed to crash land took some careful consideration and healing. The last thing she had remembered prior to waking up on Earth was working as part of a team in response to the crystallysis crisis. The thought of never returning home again crossed her mind and she began to hyperventilate as her suit beeped alarmingly in response to her rising heartbeat.

Panicking will help no one; I need to remain calm. What do I remember?

Taking calming breaths, she considered the situation back on Neophonis. Some new form of life was directly feeding upon the complex crystals they need to survive underground, and they had no idea where they had come from or why they chose now to emerge. Nearly an emergency level crisis, her people were rapidly trying to either solve the problem or adapt around it.
Coverings seemed to stop the spread on a limited basis, but they had no way to kill the bacterium or tell whether they have the substance on them. In addition, the reason the crystalline complexes had become such a vital part of their society were because other methods of maintaining underground light were unsustainable, in regard to both the energy requirements as well as their physical needs. While the light from the crystals mimicked the light above the earth, artificial light did not, and over time lead to weakening immune systems, amongst other issues.

There has to be something more specific, a moment I can pinpoint, or something.

Her head throbbed under the pressure, and she gave up on remembering temporarily. Taking a break to assess her situation, she found that the crystal core of her spaceship was partially degraded. Of course, the bacteria must’ve followed her on the ship despite their best precautions. A brief glimpse of sterilization rooms and quarantining danced across her eyes before she returned to the present.

It’s progress, but why was I sent out by myself? Why was I sent out at all when I had so much work to do back home?

For several days she pondered these questions, to no avail. The idea was on the tip of her tongue but just wouldn’t formulate fully, and following sending out her distress beacon, she wanted to figure out why she was there before the earthlings reached her. Plus it gave her reason not to leave her spaceship.

It wasn’t that she had anything against them per say, it was just their societies had moved in very different directions, and she had no desire to see firsthand any of the destruction they’d done to their planet. Perhaps things were improving, and she’s not afraid to admit that their technology is marvelous; but still, she could feel the planet crying out to be saved in her heart. And she knew there was nothing she could do to undo what had been done, or fully change the ways of their people. Which begged the question, why did she end up on earth?

All signs pointed to the fact that this was her destination. Her supplies were nearly halved upon arrival, and if not for the bacterium following her on board, her ship would’ve been fully prepared to return home. It was this line of thinking that sparked another memory. They had been questioning whether it had even come from their planet, and they’d recently had an influx of tourists from none other than the earth.

Of course! I cannot believe I forgot—

This had led to discussions between the two worlds scientists which revealed that the bacterium eating the crystals on Neophonis were an evolved form of a bacteria native to the Earth. It all made so much sense now! She had come to earth to bring a sample of the bacteria for testing with the earthen scientists, and somehow, they’d overlooked the fact that the container was made of a small percentage of crystal. Normally the amount was so negligible that it didn’t impact containment, but it was concentrated just enough in one spot for the bacteria to get out and head towards their greatest food source. Namely, the crystalline core of her ship.

Unfortunately, she wouldn’t be able to reach her home planet on her ship anymore, at least not with a temporary energy core replacement. But with the help of the earthlings, she was bound to be back home with the treatment they needed in no time.

I figured this all out just in time too.

She sighed in relief as the rescue team signaled her ship. Perhaps she’d even be able to rest for a bit now that help has arrived.