A group go to the B'Nari to get new bodies. They wish to develop underwater cities, without needing domes for air, so they, and their friends, can finally live peacefully together. -- Anon Guest
[AN: The Alliance has LOADS of planets where people can live according to their personal moral alignment. Also I have a planet called Beach where Humans and Cetaceans have built a society together]
They were looking at a water planet with relatively shallow oceans. Kelp farming and fish husbandry were their main goals. But they also wished to live as merfolk. Anything spaceport related would be happening on the one island large enough for such a thing, and mostly run by the people with thalassophobia.
The rest of the islands were too tiny for dense habitation.
Though technology existed for the Humans settling there, they wanted something different. Really, disturbingly different. They wanted to become fully aquatic merfolk.
"Gills and all," said Strategist Young, handing over his collection of environmental challenges to the settlement's plans. "We know that the mamalian model doesn't allow for them, or scales. The citizen survey doesn't mind being cetacean, but we would definitely go further with gills. Work deeper for longer and no concerns about the bends."
The B'Nari gengineering specialist was already running models and calculations, holographic charts orbiting her head. "Everything else is manageable," Wyn allowed. "The gills are the remaining issue. Do you care about aesthetics when using them, because the easiest way to operate them is with self-opening ribs. It's all about water flow."
The resulting hologram initially looked like a cetacean-model mer-person. Until the ribs parted as the creature breathed in, exposing lines of blood-red gills. The B'Nari were used to creating nightmare fuel for any occasion. Other Galactics did not share their ease with such visuals.
Young leaned forward, playing with the display controls. "Oh, that is so cool. Can I share this with the teams? Take a survey to see what the mood is?"
Wyn nodded as she came up with other models. "You might have better survey results with a wider sampling of options. From most efficient to most aesthetic. There's a companion file of pros and cons of each design."
"Oh sure. Sure." Young sent the data off to his orbiting ship. "It's really nice to know you work that quickly."
"We've had numerous requests of a similar model or make. These designs are the ones that cause the least health issues or complications." Wyn rolled her eyes as she said, "We've learned not to continue business with folks more focused on the aesthetics than the function."
"Oh, we want bodies that work in the water. Lifespan and all. We even have transportation for our new bodies so we can just get on with submarine life." Young's datareader bleeped. "Oooh, it's nigh unanimous. We're opening up that chest cavity."
"Excellent. We'll begin with gene samples from each participant, and begin growing your new bodies as soon as possible." In matters of taste, the customer was always right.
[Photo by Jeffrey Eisen on Unsplash]
If you like my stories, please Check out my blog and Follow me. Or share them with your friends! Or visit my hub site to see what else I'm up to.
Send me a prompt [44 remaining prompts!]
