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Backup Procedure Chapter 11:

           Off to one side of the Maple and Wraith market was the Fuller Fish Grill. Due to the constant open connections the Locks created and the active seeding of species such as the Makers, the Descended and recently the humans sea life was fairly consistent. Some planets had their own unique life, but the majority had things that would not have been too out of place in Earth's oceans. Making the issue more complicated was the millions of years of cross pollination and local evolution.

           On some planets the earth based life had grown into things more alien than the native fauna. Such as Argos which had crab-like motile polyps. Despite their shimmering forms and triangular symmetry, they were merely an offshoot of terrestrial corals that predated on the native and less strange fish-like species. Domesticated species further blended the rules, again the various Maker designed creatures were the most obvious examples, but the Descended and the humans had their own creations.

           A similar mess of deliberate planting, parallel evolution, and outright intelligent design was at work above the waves, though with less scale and time. The degree of natural spread was also greatly reduced as few air-breathing species could naturally dive down to the depth of a Lock for transit.

Backup Procedures Chapter 10

           The young descended wore a blue denim romper over a long-sleeve shirt. Her blue-green hair was held back in a loose ponytail and she had ear plugs and clear-lens protective glasses. Holding her right palm out, Orine concentrated.

           Claws sparking, she jerked her fingers in. There was a puff and an acrid smell, but her palm was empty. Frowning, the girl tried again. She spread her hand, then drew it her fingers in slowly, smoothly pulling in. This time the sparks around her fingers coalesced and grew. Streams of glowing motes drew towards her palm.

Orine slowed her breathing and the swirling, shimmering mass collided into a little burning orb that hovered just above her palm. Eyes widened in joy. "I did it Mommy. All by myself!" Orine yelled, her tail swishing back and forth.

           "Good work honey," Merva stood behind her daughter. She wore an old light coat over a red blouse and worn jeans. "Keep your arm pointed in a safe direction."

           Smiling, Orine nodded. The range was built for firearms. However, being made of cinderblock walls, an angled metal ceiling, a concrete wall, and a large earthen shooting berm there was little in the way of flammable materials downrange. Targets had to be chosen with an eye for longevity and back-splash. As such a large circular plate of steel was put four meters in front of the young girl.