Origami Rhinos
Origami Rhinos are not called that because they’re made of paper: it’s because they can fold space around themselves to the point where one can fit into a standard school locker. The visible effect is that the Origami Rhino becomes distortedly compressed in width. The species also does something funky (to use the technical term) with their mass and weight while in this state; they seem to have some control over both. Needless to say, these traits are all decidedly psionic in nature. Origami Rhinos are a blaze of white ‘light’ to anybody with any psionic detection ability at all, including the untrained and those with merely latent powers. This species is not subtle, even for one that is after all a variant of mundane rhinoceroses.
So, why was this particular species touched by the Power of the Atom? The earliest reports suggested “To get away from poachers.” Then the reports became “To hunt down poachers.” Now it’s apparently “To establish mostly no-go areas for humans in Central and Southern Africa.” They’re not taking over entire countries or even provinces, but there’s more than one town that’s been fairly ruthlessly encouraged to move out and let the Origami Rhinos have the territory.
This is, of course, problematical. It suggests that increased psionics is linked to increased intelligence on the rhinos’ part; and it need hardly be pointed out that a two-ton sentient herbivore with a notoriously short temper and the ability to fold space-time makes for potentially truly uncomfortable neighbors. What if Origami Rhinos develop more psionic powers? What if they decide to reveal themselves to the Masses? What if they get involved in organized crime?
On the other hand: what if they decide to contract themselves out to the Conspiracy? It may not be the Bad Old Days anymore, but it must be admitted that there are times when you want to be able to hide a car-sized assassin or psionic commando in, say, a refrigerator. If only to see the look on the other guy’s face…