[Rage at the Eclipse] - The First Phase [Applications now Open again!]

"So there I was, rifle in hand," said Wilnarr, arm sweeping in an expansive gesture. "The iridex finally emerging from its crevice in the rocks. And I looked at it, and I saw these beautiful iridescent scales, I saw its intelligent eyes, and I couldn't pull the trigger! So the rigman, the guy recording the surroundings for the full-immersion folks, starts bugging me, telling me I can't hesitate too long or they'll have to cut it out, and cutting out bits from full-immersion is always a pain, I empathize with the guy, but..."

He put his hand on the table, looking away from the patrons he was regaling. "Couldn't do it. I was fine with chasing down megakroks and fire-skinks, those things are threats to lives and livestock, but this thing was harmless! So I got up and I went over to it, right, and it came right up to me! Super friendly! And that made some great programming, let me tell you, the audience loved that part when it got broadcast. The suits hated me for breaking script, but they tolerated it for the ratings boost. The thing was so kind and friendly! So I started telling the camera about it, one hand on its flank, like it was almost tame! But it's all in the body language, you see. They're smart creatures, the iridexes. It knew I was a friend." Wilnarr grinned, and took a big gulp of his beer. "I heard after that that iridexes got so popular, they started showing up in zoos."