The first contact was bound to happen. The galaxy, let alone the universe was simply too big for just a singular species to develop intelligence in. Any delay in contact only meant a heightening of the eventual culture shock. In humanity's case, this "culture shock" meant the complete extinction of mankind as it had come to be known.The Author first describing the Qu.
The Qu is the main antagonist of the speculative evolution book All Tomorrows, written by C.M. Koseman, also known by his former pen name, Nemo Ramjet.
It is a sapient hive mind of extraterrestrial insectoid of advanced technology it possesses, who perceives itself as the rightful master of the universe and sought to remake it in its own images by warping other sapient species they considered unworthy into freakish, bizarre beasts wherever they went.
It was responsible for mutating humanity beyond any recognition and cruelly enslaving them before departing, only to eventually be defeated and subjugated by the very races they experimented on.
Appearance
The Qu is a four-winged insectoid creature, bearing a slight resemblance to Brine shrimp in terms of body shape, with a single tail-like tentacle for grabbing and manipulating objects. Its head bore two eye stalks, one protruding from each side, and two long mandibles. While the main torso appears to be similar in size to a Human torso, the prehensile tentacle makes its full body length five or more times that of a Human’s. Its life cycle is known to have involved an aquatic larval stage, in the manner of some earth insects, although the overall lifespan is unknown. Other elements of its native environment and physiology, such as what gases they could and could not breathe, Its native gravity, and preferred diet, are also unknown. It is likely that its known form is not the true appearance, but rather the result of centuries of careful genetic alteration of itself, akin to the alterations that turned baseline Humans and Martians into Star People.
Personality
The Qu can be seen as a genocidal being hell-bent on asserting its superiority and supremacy over all things. They display immense egocentrism by its desire to be the supreme being of its entire galaxy, to the point that they end up reshaping the entire human race out of envy for their intelligent nature. Consequently, the Qu also possesses a god complex, perceiving other races below its level as mere tools for its own amusement, with humanity itself being part of it.
The Qu is also extremely sadistic, punishing those who opposed its ways that were far too ruthless to be considered "normal". They reshape the races they come across with as they see fit, in bizarre and even unconventional ways.
Culture and Society
The Qu follows the agenda of an enigmatic higher force that opposes the existence of all sapient life, with the majority of the population working as a Hive mind. To serve its purposes, its act has a intergalactic nomad; stopping in galactic spiral arms for millions of years at a time before moving on. It remorselessly alters sapient beings within its proximity in proportion to their “crimes” against the Qu mission, starting with the mere act of sapience, and increasing in severity for crimes such as having caused the extinctions of other species or fervently resisting the Qu. These other sapient species are seen as mere objects to be rebuilt into "practical" or entertaining forms. Greater criminals against the Qu are made into a form that gives them a tortured existence, as seen with the Colonials. Unlike the Gravital, the Qu has the belief that its goals are for the a greater purpose.
Qu architecture, as seen in monuments that are left on worlds they alter and colonize, consists of massive, featureless pyramids, which served an unknown function, and are not torn down or otherwise removed once the Qu leave for another system or galaxy, leading some to believe that the structures possess preternatural characteristics which prevent them from being fully demolished.
Technology
The Qu possessed incredibly advanced technologies, giving them the ability to cross galaxies and alter organic life at a whim. While their exact weapon capabilities are unknown, it was able to overpower almost every Star Person colony with a single, swift attack, meaning their weapons surpassed those of even the advanced and enlightened Star People, who had weaponry that could cause stars to prematurely collapse and shatter planet. The most notable and advanced technology is their capabilities for genetic manipulation, which it is demonstrate often by altering existing lifeforms into an array of different forms, even removing sapience if it suits their purposes. The exact method of doing this is unknown, but it is possible that it is done utilizing nanotechnological drones.
Qu ships are apparently like larger versions of themselves, with kilometer spanning "wings".
History
Little is known about the species' past or evolutionary ancestry (except that it is a Hive mind), but it was well known across the galaxy that it was intergalactic, highly-advanced conqueror who sought to create a great empire under the perception that it was the only rightful ruler of the universe and other species were not worthy of sapience. They also possessed such developed technology in genetic engineering; they constantly kept self-modifying and transformed other sentient beings into devolved monstrosities they enslaved.
In their first contact with mankind, the Qu triumphed in their invasion, colonized every habitable world, and transformed humans into a multitude of strange forms as a display of their power. They dominated the galaxy for forty million years, then moved on to follow their dogma of tailoring ecosystems as they saw fit. After about five hundred million years, The Asteromorphs, along with other extragalactic species, re-discovered the Qu and successfully defeated them, putting a definite end to their monstrous campaign. While it isn't specified if the Qu were defeated, driven to extinction or simply subjugated, the author makes it clear their reign of terror has finally ended for good.
External Links
- Qu on the Pure Evil Wiki