Dakarth Terrus, a razor of average height, average weight, just about average everything, was, in reality, anything but average. His abnormality did not stem from his body, which was the absolute mean for his species. Nor did it come from his accomplishments, him being a good student throughout his schooling years, and now a researcher for the Stolis wildlife research facility. It came from his mind. Dakarth was a potent psychic. He has never really put his psychic powers to any substantial use before, but now uses them in his research to help understand the habits of the wild dragons that live near the mountain.
One day, in his department of the research facility, he receives a most unusual call from his colleague and lover, Melody Truth, an electric dragon.
Opening the comm unit’s connection, “Yes, Dr. Terrus speaking.”
On the other end, voice crackling with static, “Hey, Dakarth, we got a new clutch of eggs here. We need you to use your… talents to identify who they belong to. You were always good at that kinda thing.”
<At least I have some use for these powers> he thought. “All right, Melody. I’ll be up there ASAP.” Closing the connection, he wondered whether or not their research would yield fruit today. He walked the short distance to the complex’s takeoff zone. For the safety of all researchers, they were required to transform into their animal form, and those not big enough to tangle with a mountain were to be with someone who could at all times. He transformed, feeling the power of his animal form wash over him like one of the ocean’s waves. Fully transformed, he stretched out his mind, looking for the intimately familiar presence of his lover. When he found her, he took off, his wings scattering loose debris and powdery snow.
<Lord I love to fly> he thought as he soared over the facility, heading in on his lover’s presence as though he was a piece of metal to a magnet. He took the long route to the nesting grounds, even though the mountain dragons and black dragons were used to the researchers around their nests, he still didn’t want them after him while he was still in animal form.
Reaching the edge of the established “safe zone” for animal forms, he changed back to his anthro form, and readied himself, clearing his mind in preparation to read the family line of the new eggs. Reaching the other researchers, he nodded to them, and they started to set up for the measurements and tests they would perform. Searching deep inside himself for the quiet place in the center of his being, he reached out to the new life inside the nearby cave, and read their genes with practiced ease. He sensed the forms of the parents, the images slowly coming into focus within his mind. Because of his telepathic link with Melody, while he held the images, she would cross-reference them with the subject records.
<Melody, I’ve got the father down. Find him>
<Okay… he’s mountain subject 35A>
<Allright, the mother’s coming. Strange, I get the feeling of both a mountain AND a black when I search for her…>
<Th-th-this can’t be right! Or even possible!>
<What! What’s going on! What’s wrong!>
<The mother identifies as… half-breed subject 22S>
<How could that happen! Half-breeds are supposed to be infertile! They have a deactivated 50th chromosome!> Dakarth pulls himself back to his body, severing the ties to the eggs to prevent them from taking on aspects of his mind. “This can’t be right. All half-breed have only one good 50th chromosome.”
The researchers use a monofilament syringe to take cell samples from the embryos, and store them in the cryogenic tanks they brought with them. One of them mutters, “That psychic’s wrong THIS time. Half-breed mother, ha!” They pack up and head back to the facility, all with mixed thoughts.