Sci-fi Shorts

The Red-Eyed Karris

This was a project I had to do for English last year. I thought it belonged here. We had to design an alien, and describe it. I went a little overboard with it in private, and this was born. I used the character names from Lunar Discovery, mainly because I was feeling lazy. I might develop this into a bigger plot somehow... But for now, enjoy!

A report filed on the scientific data collected on the Red-Eyed Karris (Truces Anguis)

Habitat and surroundings

When and how it was discovered: Discovered in the year 2297, it was discovered by Captain Zalus Comet of Collection Team Alpha. It was accidentally stumbled upon as he was looking for the rare six-eyed elusar.

Name and description of native planet: It is found in Planet B-27 in the Andromeda system. A large planet known for its lack of found intelligent life and its vast plains, it is a hospitable place for research.

Type of home: It is most commonly found nesting in the ground, but they will occasionally seek out rocky outcrops to hide in the crevices.

Appearance

Average height and length: It has an average height of four inches and a length of two to three feet, although there have been sightings of some that are as long as six feet.

Average weight: 10-20 lbs.

Common colors: Beige, green or light brown, depending on where it lives.

Type of body covering: Scales. Every karris has a unique scale pattern.

Body features: Resembling a snakelike creature, it has no limbs and slithers along the ground. It can be easily mistaken for a snake on Earth, but it has a triple-forked tongue and mesmerizing red eyes. It has two slits for nostrils and has an excellent sense of smell.

The tip of its tail is a bright red, filled with poison to protect itself and use as a weapon. The underbelly is a bright yellow with two blue stripes that run down the karris's body, starting from the head, which has a red underside, used for warning off potential predators.

Behaviors and habits

Means of communication: It cannot hear, so it uses vibrations in the ground to communicate. They have tiny sensors that pick up vibrations in the earth and can transmit them the same way.

Predators and enemies: Catlike creatures called phalanxes are known to prey on them, along with sarissas, a bird that closely resembles a golden eagle.

Defense mechanisms: Their red eyes are able to hypnotize lesser animals and prey, allowing it to strike quickly as the animal is in a trance-like state. For predators, its poison spit and tail are used.

Preferred diet and food: It is a carnivore, and will eat smaller animals.

Other unique characteristics or important information:

Do not stare into its eyes! It is capable of sending intelligent life forms into a hypnotic trance. If a person is caught in a trance and incapacitated, killing the kariss or having the person turn away will break its spell, although the latter is preferred. The only problem is that they become so transfixed, they will do anything to stay in that state.

Report filed by: Head Scientist Owen Lancaster of the Urania, flagship of the 42nd Exploration Corps, based in the Andromeda system, on April 17, 2298.

Diary of Zalus Comet, Captain of Collection Team Alpha of the Urania, flagship of the 75th Expedition Corps, based in the Andromeda system