Deviation Actions
Description
Though some people still try to deny it, aliens have attempted to conquer our world many times. Sometimes the invaders have directly confronted us, trusting in their numbers or more advanced technology; but others have used more insidious means due to cultural factors or budget constraints. Surprisingly, several alien races have assumed just one invader would be enough, even with such basic equipment as a jar of sea monkeys or a reanimating ray. It is somewhat less surprising that all of these would-be invaders have failed, and the plucky human heroes who have fathomed, and foiled, their dastardly plans have seen their feats immortalised in print or on the silver screen.
Unfortunately, non-human heroes rarely get as much acclaim for equally impressive deeds. When Toc Teppo saved the world few humans paid him any attention simply because he was a spider; but in this more enlightened age, when great advances have been made against longstanding prejudice, his exploits have finally gained some of the recognition they deserve.
Toc Teppo’s origins alone are fraught with tragedy. Before any aliens had even deigned to notice us, his creator, Johann Donderdash, was a low-tier animator in a high-profile company. Inspired by the successes of those who had won wealth and fame through such unlikely characters as mice, he used his limited spare time to make his first Toc Teppo short. When his superiors asked their underlings for new character ideas, he tried to offer his creation, only to have it roundly condemned. Johann found this so discouraging he gave up on the industry, though Toc Teppo retained a place in his heart.
Many years passed and Johann grew old. One night he looked back on his life and came to the sad realisation that though he had tried many things, he had excelled at none of them and few people seemed to care. When he looked out of his bedroom window his eyes were drawn to a bright star he had never seen before. Something compelled him to wish Toc Teppo was a living, breathing character, who would keep bringing the world hope and joy long after his creator was gone.
Johann never realised the star was actually a distant sun that had gone nova centuries ago, and nor did he ever learn this had destroyed a dazzling civilisation. Yet the last collective hopes of the Xi Xapa outlived their world and were borne to ours with their sun’s demise. These hopes combined with Johann’s own and made them a reality. Johann died peacefully that night, but with his last breath Toc Teppo took form.
As a fully sentient creation, Toc Teppo tried to find work in the movie industry, which he assumed would have a place for a talking spider; but the usual human prejudices blocked his way at every turn. To make matters worse, Johann had given him some traits of the hobo clown, a popular stock character during the Depression years, but one that now held scant appeal. The poor spider was soon reduced to living on society’s margins, hiding in shadows, eating from bins, and occasionally scaring nocturnal revellers away from their indulgences. The world had no use for his talents until the Gomon Yoss attacked.
The Gomon were no warriors, but they excelled at mind control; and like several past would-be invaders, they thought just one of their number could conquer all humanity. This was no mere act of hubris. The Gomon chosen for this task was the dreaded Speggity Bolense. Under his foul influence humans were as malleable as marshmallows in a blast furnace. He soon had them believing they were not injured when they were, their bikes were flying when they weren’t, and in really serious cases, their guns were merely radios. Most disastrously of all, he had the strongest-willed believing he was an entirely benevolent creature, and soon his likeness was plastered all over lunchboxes, school bags, etc.
Only Toc Teppo saw through his guise, for the Xi Xapa who had helped give him life understood the Gomon Yoss. Before Speggity’s plans reached their next phase – which would have seen our world buried in merchandise to a depth of six kilometres, destroying human civilisation and perhaps all life on earth – he wrapped the loathsome alien in a strong cocoon of spider silk and turned him over to the relevant authorities. They gladly relieved him of Speggity, but instead of questioning the invader, or conducting more intimate and possibly harmful examinations, ransomed him back to the Gomon Yoss. In the short term this was wise, as it deterred the Gomon Yoss from any more invasion attempts; but some of the ransom money was then used to film “Mac and Me,” which has almost certainly offended far more dangerous aliens. We can only hope Toc Teppo will lend us his strength in future engagements!
