-Paul Reiser

John burst through the door to Tricia's lab with the distant sound of Knights padding along behind him echoing with every step he took. The wooden door slammed into the stone wall of the makeshift chamber with a pronounced echo, earning an immediate glare from the scientist within.

"S-sorry it took me so long," John wheezed, glancing around at the room. Tricia was standing with several drones circling both her and the egg that had caused all the commotion, her annoyance giving way to confusion.

"So long? I only called you…" Tricia checked one of her drones' holographic displays, then met his eyes again, "approximately five and a half minutes ago. I assumed it would take longer for the Order to arrange a ride for you; you're quite early by my predictions."

"I didn't wait for a ride," John wheezed, holding his side. Seras clasped a hand over his shoulder supportively, but his fatigue was only temporary regardless. Thanks to Gamer's Body, he was already standing on his own again. "But was it only five and a half minutes? I thought Moira said the apartment was almost two miles-"

"It is," Tricia growled, shaking her head. The annoyance had now evolved to anger. "Do you know nothing of subtlety, John Newman? Anyone who saw you running at that pace will now certainly suspect something, even if it is only that you are training for an Olympic level event. Your constant lack of forethought is-"

Tricia abruptly ceased her lecture when a resounding crack broke through the room. Shifting his gaze revealed to John that his egg was not as it had appeared at first; long cracks were running through its surface, and every time that cracking noise repeated, another long line formed in its shell. John ignored the clamor of Order Knights behind himself to stride into the room. None of them followed, despite their obvious curiosity. John had explained to the foremost guards his purpose in the Manor so that they wouldn't actually try to skewer him when he entered, but after that he'd rapidly picked up a caravan as every Order member that he sprinted past wondered what was causing such commotion.

John, Seras, and Tricia all surrounded the egg, providing only enough room for the drones to perform their sweeping scans without knocking anyone over. The egg had increased in size even further since John last saw it - now it was rested on the floor instead of a proper shelf and incubator, and its tip very nearly reached his neck. Aside from that and the numerous cracks, though, it was virtually identical, down to the very stretched-out pattern of the contrasted colors across the rough and ridged surface.

A moment of unity resonated in the air. John, Seras, Tricia, even the Knights at the doorway all breathlessly stared as the egg began to crackle. John heard murmurs of wonder from those gathered, but his eyes remained locked firmly on the crackling egg. It must have been a remarkably thick shell, because several pieces had already begun to shift but he had yet to catch a glimpse of whatever was pressing from within.

"My scans indicated that the egg was quite durable, and since it survived the Cabal's **** on my former home, I had already gathered that it was far more durable than any typical bird's egg, but this is quite something else. I wonder exactly how powerful the creature inside has become?"

That question was one John himself was curious about, though his was far more cautious than Tricia's borderline adventurous tone would suggest. He was reminded of the text on his Purify ability - creatures created were not guaranteed to be loyal or friendly. Lunaya had attacked him, regardless of exactly how seriously. Was he about to have to put down a harpy in front of everyone gathered around?

A long, tan arm pushed its way out of the egg, near the rounded tip and snapping off a sizeable chunk of shell with its emergence. Though a sound not unlike hearing bones snap filled the air, the silence seemed somehow deeper as more and more pieces of the egg were torn off quite forcefully. The limbs that slowly emerged were far from the awkward motions of a newborn, neither stumbling nor uncertain in their purpose as they aggressively forged a path outward. There was a sleek sheen to each new patch of skin that was revealed, but it seemed as if whatever yolk or embryo had once been inside had now been absorbed. After nearly a full minute of prying two-inch thick sections of shell away, enough of an opening formed for the creature's body itself to begin shimmying outward.

Quickly it became apparent that the pattern of John's abilities had maintained itself. Even though this egg had come through a quest reward, the body that emerged was distinctly feminine, only becoming more obvious as breasts and the beginnings of a very flat groin area came into view. Reinforcing that impression was the head that slowly worked its way out between two pieces of shell, prying them open with **** as a young maiden's head was slowly revealed.

Amber eyes met John's as the head slowly pivoted, but although her motions slowed she never stopped trying to free herself. She maintained her gaze now that she was freed, never letting her eyes wander far from John, although she did take the time to glance over the rest of those gathered. It wasn't until she had fully freed her body and tossed the half-formed remnant of her former home aside that she finally stretched out and properly faced them.

At full height, the woman towered over John by several inches. While he was only a little above average height, that placed the woman closer to seven feet tall than six. Her body was a mass of muscle and sinew, with no visible fat save what little clung to her A-cup breasts. In spite of her height and obviously toned build, she showed little aggression and only slight apprehension upon emergence. In fact, only moments after she took in the full sight of those around her, a soft smile broke out across her face.

"Father… I am so happy to finally meet you," she said reverently, bowing her head and body in the same motion. Taking a firm knee upon the Manor's tile floor, she only dared raise her head enough to glance at John's feet while asking her follow-up question.

"Which one of these women is my mother?"

"I, uh… volunteers?"

John glanced around and saw no one surrounding them willing to volunteer, not even the Order Knights outside who fit the requirements. Seras looked quite alarmed, while Tricia's semi-neutral expression betrayed only confusion. John took the only route he was relatively comfortable with - the route of truth.

"You don't have a mother," John said quickly, not wanting to give any doubt or pause to the young woman before himself. "You're more or less the first of your kind. I'm kind of responsible for you, so if you want to call me your father, I will not correct you."

John let her absorb the information - meanwhile, he cast a quick Observe to see exactly what they were dealing with. What he saw, however, only confused him.

???? ????
Level 8 Harpy Whirlwind
<John's Creation>
180 / 180 HP
Relationship: 100
Alignment: 0
Status Effects: N/A

"She has no name," John noted mentally, scanning over the rest of the information. "Everyone I've Purified has a name… but she was born, more or less. Is that the only reason?"

"…The first of my kind? But… I have a few memories. Imprints and instincts. I know that you are the father, my leader, the one who the tribe follows. If I am the first, where did these memories come from?"

John swallowed, although he hoped it was far quieter than it sounded in his head. How did he explain the existence of this woman without lying, without sounding condescending, and without revealing how utterly incompetent he felt when these kind of questions popped up?

"You have those memories because they are what you should have," John began, "and because you are based on those of another clan with a similar hierarchy. They attacked us, but we defeated them - they were weak, and you were made to be better than them. You are strong, or will be, and in time I hope that you will understand why you are so unique and why your legacy is one of a kind."

It was the best he could do. John dreaded the thought of a Deception notification popping up, whether failed or successful, but none ever did. All he received was an uncertain but stoic look from a very uninformed harpy, who shakily nodded and resumed the bow she had once begun. When she eventually spoke, her head was so low that John could not even catch a glimpse of her golden-Brown eyes or the sharp features the proud woman had displayed so readily a moment ago.

"…I cannot pretend that I fully understand, but my instincts ring with the surety of your intent. I will follow you, Father, and may your glory and will guide me unwaveringly into the fields of battle."

That was a lot of responsibility, but according to John's UI it was not technically a Deception, and he considered that a victory. The woman stood tall, exposing her nude form shamelessly to all those gathered. She still held a fist clutched across her chest but otherwise made herself seem far less formal than she had mere moments ago. Even the ever-stoic Tricia seemed to be letting a breath free when at last she spoke.

"Well, then… do you have a name?" John asked, confused by the blank spaces on his Observe sheet.

"…Have you none to give me, Father?"

"So she truly is born anew."

Tricia's words broke John's focus on the woman, reminding him of their audience. The raven-haired harpy herself did not waver, never taking her eyes from John. She seemed to be waiting expectantly, and despite John's question no signs of doubt or hesitation crept in. It was quite disconcerting, actually - the young woman's eyes radiated a faith John would've been crushed under a few days ago. Today, however, he wanted to be worthy of it.

"You will be…"

Hello readers! I thought I'd take a gamble on the whims of fate and leave choosing the name of this newest character to you! I have set up a poll for deciding just such a thing here.

This poll is not totally binding, given that something inane or unacceptable could be trolled to the top, but I will certainly be factoring it in heavily. Assuming no trickery or silly names, the winner shall be used, so pick something you'd want to see a lot! This poll allow custom answers and multiple responses. While I'm here, feel free to join the Discord and discuss this poll (and other things) with other readers of the story! We have authors and readers of all branches.