Memory transcription subject: Daniel Stat, human virologist

Date [Standardized human time]: August 20th, 2148

[Day 13]

“Denied. By majority vote, the Sapient Coalition will disallow further research into genetically modified human immune cells,” The secretary general’s voice was grim. Silence filled the room. Geravis had a smug look on his face, and a lot of the less human-centric parties were staring at me, then quickly looking away when I noticed.

I felt suddenly hollow. My only chance to do anything was dashed by complete bias. The yotul ambassador took the stage and began talking about a famine on Leirn, I wasn’t listening. Governor Maulo got up to talk to the secretary general, and Tarva looked shell-shocked next to me.

I put a hand on her shoulder, she remained still. “I’m sorry,” I began, “I really thought- I hoped this would work.”

Tarva shook her head, “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Dr. Stat. You did all you could. There’s still hope our best scientists can whip up something,” It was impressive the former governor could hold on hope in such dire circumstances. Maulo returned, nodding at us both and sitting back down.

“We lost by a vote of two. There could potentially be another try at a later date, but I don’t think we have the time to waste,” Maulo mumbled.

“I already convinced plenty of people to join the Coalition during the war, I’m sure I could work to convince them here,” Tarva said, “I would just need to know who voted against us.”

“Well, I can think of two off the top of my head, and there’s probably no convincing them. The rest of the votes were anonymous,” Maulo sighed. The yotul concluded his speech, another vote went through for food support. It passed easily.

Then, strangely, the ambassador strutted over to us.

“Lady Tarva, Governor Maulo,” he flicked his tail, “And Dr. Stat, I’m so sorry for how the vote shook out. I can assure you the Technocracy was at your side every step of the way.”

“Thank you, President Mesu,” Tarva said.

“If we may, I’d like to discuss something with you, Governor, after the meeting,” his voice was barely a whisper. He strode off with haste, returning to his spot. The rest of the meeting went smoothly, if a little dull. I was already mentally checked out when the tilfish ambassador Virnt requested flooding relief in a major city when the gojid ambassador declared Cradle restoration efforts a resounding success, and when the arxur ambassador proudly announced a crackdown on underground cattle farming.

~~~

I exited the meeting room alongside Tarva and Maulo. Mesu followed us out, and the four of us crammed into the elevators. We entered the marsupial’s living quarters and gathered around the dinner table.

“Now then,” he began, making sure the door was locked and the blinds shuttered. “I can only really make this offer once because it’s damn risky, so if you deny it, that’s that,” He waited for us to all nod okay. “The Yotul Technocracy has some of the most brilliant minds in the galaxy. Since our uplift, we’ve made incredible strides in just about all scientific fields. I believe what the Coalition just voted on sealed the fate of the venlil species, and I won’t sit idle and let that happen. I’m willing to oversee this potential treatment with the human cells if you’re willing to fund it, and keep it hushed,” he explained.

Tarva and Maulo shared the same look, almost predatory smiles.

“I ask for nothing else in return,” Mesu stated. “Needless death is a Federation ideal, not mine. What do you say?” He extended a paw.

Maulo took it, “I say, you’ve saved our species.”

The marsupial turned to me suddenly, “And Dr. Stat, I can offer you a very comfortable job on Leirn, for you and your fiancée. You could helm the research,” he said. I smiled gratefully, then wondered how Silvon would take the news.

“I’ll have to run it by her when I get home, this is a pretty big change, but I really appreciate the offer! But I’d like to make another request if that’s alright,” I said.

“I’m listening,” the yotul’s ears perked up.

“Silvon’s research assistant, a yotul named Tinasi, she’s the one who originally had the idea to use the immune cells. I’d appreciate it if the offer was extended to her, she’d do great things with so much at her disposal,” I explained.

Mesu cracked a smile, “Consider it done, Doc. Now then, we’re all in agreement, yes?” Tarva and Maulo exchanged a look, then flicked their tails affirmatively. “Good. Let’s start conferencing once we’re back home. Time is of the essence,” the yotul ushered us from his room. “Take care, all of you,” he chirped.

The emotional rollercoaster I’d been on was exhausting, I went from the lowest I’d felt in a while, to the highest! I was practically jumping with joy as I made my way back to my room and plopped down on the cushy mattress. I couldn’t wait to tell Silvon the news!

I took my holopad out of my coat pocket, it had been silenced the whole meeting. It was buzzing with notifications. That’s unusual. Then I saw the tens of missed calls from Silvon’s parents.

I hastily dialed them, but they didn’t pick up. Something was wrong. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. I swung it open to see Governor Maulo, worry contorting his features.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Dr. Stat,” he said, his head hung low, “I have some… bad news,” Panic burned in my chest. “It’s about Dr. Silvon. She’s been- she was shot.”

No. No no no no! NO! My vision got blurry as tears streaked down my face. The panic in my chest came to a head, and I started running.

“Stat!” Maulo called, “Where are you going?”

“Home!” I growled in anguish, smashing the elevator button and ordering it to take me to the subway. I could barely breathe as I rushed to the platform, nearly running full force into a few personnel. I got onto the train just before the doors closed and remained standing, ready to leap out the second it got to the parking garage.

It took only a few stops, then I was on the move again, fully sprinting, which was incredibly easy on Earth compared to Skalga, to one of the interstellar shuttles. I flung open the door and crawled inside. A robotic voice asked for bioverification, which I obliged, then it was hurtling out toward Skalga.

~~~

Memory transcription subject: Nulon, venlil veteran

Date [Standardized human time]: August 20th, 2148

[Day 13]

The heart rate monitor beeped steadily, Silvon wasn’t even stirring, hooked to all those wires and medicine. The local clinic was barely equipped to handle her injuries. I spent the last hour or so in the waiting room, terrified. They said the bullet went straight through her, it only barely missed hitting anything vital, but ended up clipping her spinal cord, meaning she would need physical therapy to walk again.

Her mother was out getting us dinner, we had no intention of leaving her side while she recovered, I couldn’t bear losing her. Out in the hallway, I heard the hospital door fly open, a nurse warning someone that they couldn’t just barge in, and then heavy human footfalls.

I panicked, figuring it was the assailant coming to finish the job, but then-

“Where is she?!” A horribly out-of-breath and teary-eyed Danny burst into the room.

“Daniel?” I asked incredulously, “I thought you were still at the-” he was suddenly by her side, quicker than I’d ever seen him move. He put his arms around her, careful not to hurt her more, and muttered incoherent apologies and regrets.

The nurse ran in, pointing a claw at Stat and huffing “You- can’t be- huh- here!”

I raised a paw, “he’s my son-in-law. Please, let him stay,” I said. The nurse made eye contact with him, the fear in his teary eyes and the haste he made getting back here were convincing enough. She excused herself quickly.

“Danny,” I put a paw on his shoulder. He shuddered as more sobs escaped him. “Did you fly all the way here from Earth?” he nodded. I’d trust nobody else with my daughter.

“The doctors said she’d live,” I reassured him, “She’s going to be okay.” He gripped her tighter, still gentle enough to keep her comfortable.

I watched amazed as her eyes flickered, and she put a paw around him.

“Hey Danny,” her voice was hoarse and slurred from the painkillers. “How was the summit?”

He flinched and didn’t answer. “Danny?”

“I love you, Silvon, I love you,” he said finally.

She awkwardly patted his back, “I love you too,” she mumbled.

“Silvon!” my wife, Lew, called, rushing to her side and setting the fresh groceries aside. “And Danny? I thought you were off-world?”

He nodded, breaking his embrace with Silvon and wiping his face. “Yeah, yeah I was.”

Silvon mustered a weak smile as her mother ruffled her fur. “My hero’s saving the world,” she giggled. Daniel cracked a hesitant smile, “How many drugs did they pump into you, hon?”

“Yuh,” she replied. The two laughed together, I could tell he was glad she was alright.

Once the noise died down, I motioned for Danny to follow me for a second. “I’ll be right back, Silvvy,” he said. We exited the hospital room and stood in the hallway.

“You would’ve told her if things worked out, wouldn’t you?” I asked bluntly. He nodded solemnly.

“The request was denied by just a couple votes,” he said to the floor. Then, he looked up, a smug look on his face. “But, the yotul president gave us a solution.”

“Well, let’s hear it,” I said.

Stat clapped and rubbed his hands together, “We’ve been granted the opportunity to continue the research on Leirn, no risk of Humanity First, no Coalition suppressing it, nothing. It’s our chance to do what’s best for Skalga. I wanted to ask you first if it’d be okay to take Silvon with me off-world. I know you like her close-”

“Of course, Danny,” I said. “You’ve more than proven your worth, I know you’ll take good care of my little girl. Just promise me you’ll call often, and come to visit! Her mother would be worried sick.”

Stat nodded, “Of course, Nulon, I’ll make you proud.”

“You already have, son. You already have.”

~~~

Memory transcription subject: Governor Maulo of the Venlil Republic

Date [Standardized human time]: August 21st, 2148

[Day 14]

“And Dr. Silvon’s recovery?” I asked into the holopad. The tan human on the other side smiled and tilted his device toward the hospital bed where a venlil lay.

“Oh! Danny! I am not presentable enough for the governor! Stars!” she covered her face. The view quickly shifted back to Dr. Stat.

“She’s doing just fine,” he grinned. “They say she’ll be able to start walking in a few days, and the lower gravity on Leirn will help her recovery immensely,” he explained.

“That’s great to hear. We’ve got a shuttle ready for you two, and Tinasi has already been flown out. Remember, you both have your first conference with President Mesu tomorrow. Dr. Silvon, try to be ready,” I joked. I could just barely hear her protests over the mic.

“We’ll be there,” Daniel said. “Catch ya later, governor.” The call ended and Stat fizzled out.

I sighed, then opened my emails. Servaen was very against Mesu’s plan to work beneath the Coalition’s nose. Luckily, he listens to me at the end of the day. I clicked open the reports, the infection was worse now. The death toll doubled, and more cities around Dayside and Qrekso were experiencing outbreaks. It was only a matter of time now before the whole planet was infected, so I made the ultimate decision to announce quarantine procedures across the entire planet.

More will die until that treatment is synthesized.