- Piranha Rats. They have shaped the ecology of Helome for a million years. The Vuduri eradicated them from the one continent they decided to colonize.
- Lurkers. Svelte carnivorous animals that stride upon two legs. They hide in the woods and strike very quickly. They are very deadly.
- Bat-wolves. Predators that swoop down from the sky. Like Earth bats, they mostly only come out at night.
- MIA: all the Earth animals brought along by the colonists in Ark I. I assume they were eaten by the Piranha Rats.
Tomorrow, a special birthday wish then all about Deucado.
Entry 1-263: September 14, 2013
Happy Birthday, Lupe
Rei and Rome's daughter Lupe has been a part of Rome's Revolution since the beginning but she was not explicitly mentioned until the end of The Ark Lords. Rei and Rome are instructed by OMCOM that they must produce a daughter within a few years. Here is the actual exchange after OMCOM mentions Lupe by name:
“What is a lupe?” Rome asked.
“Not a what,” OMCOM said. “A who.”
“All right,” replied Rome, humoring him. “Who is Lupe?”
“She is your daughter. Or perhaps she is our daughter.”
“My daughter?” Rome exclaimed. “We have no daughter.”
“That is the point. She is waiting to be born.”
“We may have another child some day,” Rei interjected. “But we’re still raising Aason. We want to give him the proper attention.”
“It is not necessary that she be born right away. Just in the next three years.”
“The next three years?” Rome asked, confused. “Why?”
OMCOM goes on to explain that it has to do with first contact and that the girl must be old enough to handle the responsibilities within the timeframe projected. Lupe is actually conceived two years later in Rome's Evolution. Rei only learns about her at the very end of the story. He sees her spirit as a tiny pink spark during the ethereal battle with the Onsiras on Earth. Here is the actual exchange:
“That tiny spark was Lupe,” Rome said, smiling. “She is coming.”
“What?” Rei said, sitting bolt upright. “I’m going to be a father again?”
“Yes,” Rome replied, her smile getting even broader. “She was conceived during our training night together. I suppose it was just the right time.”
Rei laughed. “That is so sleek.”
Rome cocked her head. “You’ll have to wait and see about that. You may end up changing your mind.”
“Why?” Rei asked, confused.
“I have already spoken to her.”
“You have?” Rei tried to act surprised but in this brave new world, almost nothing surprised him anymore.
“Yes, but unlike Aason, I must give you fair warning. This one is going to be a handful. I believe your word for it is a brat.”
“A brat, huh?” Rei breathed. “Daughters always are,” he said, kissing Rome’s nose. “But we’ll love her all the more.”
“Yes, we will,” Rome said and smiled.
I have done the math and have discovered that Lupe is actually born on September 14, 3460 AD so I wanted to take this opportunity to wish her a Happy Birthday in advance. You will read more about her, her childhood and her adventures as she grows up in the upcoming novel The Milk Run.
Entry 1-264: September 15, 2013
My flora, my fauna: Deucado
Friday's post focused on the animals and plants found in the Alpha Centauri system on the planet of Helome. Today I'll catalog the same for the planet of Deucado which is slightly richer only in that I mentioned more creatures. Since much of the action in Rome's Revolution takes place on Deucado, I guess this is appropriate.
Plants:
- Cane-trees. Tree-analogs with very thin trunks. Later on in the series we discovered a second type with bushier leaf-analogs at the top and split trunks. When cane-trees sway in the wind, their trunks make a clacking sound which is very ethereal.
- Stickybushes. These bushes excrete a syrupy-like substance that is very sticky. If you walk through a stickybush stand, you get covered by green goop and leaves.
- Threadgrass. Dayglo yellow tendrils, like Japanese noodles. They are very spicy and the bison that were transplanted to Deucado love to eat it.
- Generic flowers. I don't know much about them other than I need them to let Rome decorate her home.