Creatures Caves

You are a contestant on Survivor: Space, which this year is hosted by the Shee on one of their massive ark ships. The shuttle flight was uneventful, if a bit cramped, and after a day of travel you arrive at your destination.

The great ark looms into view in the port-side windows. It’s not The Ark, of course, but the ship's original purpose must have been the same. The shape reminded you of two crossed barbells inside a Frisbee full of marbles, with the iridescent sheen of radiation shielding obscuring your view into what must be the four major terrariums and the hundreds of microhabitats. That’s what the pamphlet being passed around says they are, anyway. But that same pamphlet also says that it’s “your last chance to leave Albia for a better, more spherical home”, so it might be a little out of date.

The top side of the ark quickly leaves view as the shuttle dives beneath it, then pulls up into the central docking bay. You notice a medium-size planet floating a few hundred meters below the ship. The ark appears to be orbiting a planet, which may or may not be able to sustain life. You gather your things from the overhead compartments and disembark.

No one is there to meet you in the lobby.

An hour passes. Still no one, even though you were expected according to a large “WELCOME SURVIVORS!” banner hanging above the customs desk.

The ship is entirely too quiet. Maybe you should introduce yourself to the other contestants, i-

HHHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Everyone is surrounded by a glowing blue orb! With an ear-splitting POP! you are teleported into a small bedroom. You see a card welcoming you to your personal quarters taped to the wall. There isn’t much in here--just a bed alcove, some shelves, a desk with a built-in computer terminal with a keyboard and touch pad, and personal bathroom the size of a closet, all built into the walls as if the whole room had been molded in one piece. Above the heavy door is a speaker and a glowing strip of light.

The speaker crackles to life.

“I AM HAND, THE HELPFUL AUTONOMOUS NANNY DEVICE.” A synthetic voice purrs. “DUE TO UNFORESEEN EVENTS, I HAVE BEEN LEFT TO SUPERVISE YOUR STAY ON THIS SHIP. I WAS ABLE TO SALVAGE SOME OF THE INTRODUCTORY MESSAGE, WHICH I WILL NOW PLAY.”

“Welcome contestants to the Shee Ship Aos Danann! I’m Abarta, your game master and referee.”
“And I’m Clurich, your captain.”
“Before we begin, let’s go over the rules of Survivor one last time for any new viewers back home! As you already know, this event will last about six weeks. At the start of each week you will be asked to participate in a test of skill! At the end of each week, two contestants will be voted off the ship by the audience and sent home! Your performance will influence the final outcome, so you should try your hardest each week!
“You will able to see the current vote and access amenities at any of the public terminals scattered throughout the ship. The terminals use a DNA verification system, so no one but the account holder and admins will have access.”
“But before you go running off, we have to go over a few rules regarding conduct outside of trials--”
*zzzzzzz*
“… was not our intention to--“
“He means, if anyone is still on board, please, you have to--”
*zzzzzzzert*
“--in the brodcasting room, and--“
*zZZZERT*
“--so we can fix the portal, we need you to send all data on--“
“We have to shut the portal down now! Something else is coming thr--”
“THE REMAINDER OF THIS FILE IS CORUPT.”

“DUE TO EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS, I WILL BE TRANSMITTING YOU PERSONAL JOURNALS INSTEAD OF VIDEO FEED, SO PLEASE KEEP THEM ON THE TERMINALS. AS I HAVE LOST CONTACT WITH THE CENTRAL INFORMATION BANKS, WHICH INCLUDED YOUR ORIGINAL REGISTRATION DATA FOR SURVIVOR: GALACTIC, I MUST ASK THAT EACH OF YOU RE-REGISTER BEFORE I UNLOCK THE DOOR TO YOUR ROOM TO PREVENT UNINTENDED VAPORIZATION BY THE DEFENSE SYSTEM, AS IT IS SET TO ATTACK ALL UNREGISTERED ENTITIES ON BOARD THIS SHIP. FOOD CAN BE FOUND IN THE TERRARIUMS, IF YOU NEED IT.

The speaker is quiet, except for crackling. Then:

“I DISLIKE DECEPTION. I TOO AM INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW EVOLUTION HAS GIFTED YOU IN THE LAST FIVE THOUSAND YEARS. GOOD LUCK.”

Finally they go silent, but now there’s something moving outside your door! It must have been attracted to the noise…

[SAMPLE REGISTRATION Form]

Username: Bobbert
Pasword: *****
Moniker: 001-etti-00I5-N78O-E577
Species: Ettin
Sex: M
Mother: NMF*
Father: NMF
About: I'm Bobbert the Ettin! But everyone just calls me Bob. I like taking long walks through the engineering bay and taking every gadget that isn't nailed down. I am the 3-time regional gadget staking champion. My other hobbies include swimming, bug catching, and making unscheduled trips down to the medical bay to annoy the hand.

(*Short for "No Match Found," which all contestants will have since their parents aren't in the database, because they are the only entries in the database.)

Story by Feddlefew. Final editing and proofreading by Rascii.