Memory transcription subject: Maeve, Human Integration Test Subject

Date [standardized human time]: August 29th, 2136. Early Midday

I couldn't stop giggling as Valek and I enjoyed our affections while the filling tub thundered behind us. The bath seemed to be a slightly older model of what was on the station, but still took advantage of the powerful lateral jet to clean Venlil wool. It lacked the means and clearance for a standing shower, so we decided to fill it for a soak and scrub.

With a parting nuzzle, Valek grabbed my clothes and took them to the washroom, telling me he would come back once he set the machine running. I lowered myself into the steaming water, and allowed my muscles and nerves coiled tight from the stress of the past two days to finally unwind. All of their toiletries were in Venlil script, vertical columns of squiggly box shapes, so I opted to wait for Valek to return before starting in earnest.

I was fidgeting in the water, rinsing myself of the grime gathered in our travels, when a knock signaled his return. “Alright, those should be clean and dry in the next hour or so. Have you figured out our shampoo?”

I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I shook my head, "Nope! Everything is in Venlilese. Which one is your favorite?" Valek and I went back and forth about their various cleaners; turns out, since grooming is a greeting for them, they tend to focus on flavor! Curbing my urge to sample the forbidden smoothies, I started washing with an import from Green Deserts: Deeproot fortified with Malley oil. The ginger smell was a little strong, but it made my skin tingly and my hair looked wonderful!

We continued talking while I washed up, Valek giving his enthusiastic assistance. He told me about his life on the farm, and what kind of chores to expect. Most things were automated, but house cleaning and pest control always needed a helping hand or paw. Provided an embarrassingly small towel, Valek brought me back to the bedroom before starting his own bath, and I began my report:

* Do you feel you are safe in your lodgings?

Hmmm… Let's go with…

Yes.

* Do you feel your nutritional needs are met?

That soup was really good… like minty minestrone.

Inconclusive, but tastes delicious.

* Have you noticed consistent and/or escalating bodily discomfort, especially among joints and spine?

I did wake up pretty rough, but the bath was nice…

Some fatigue, but no pain.

* Have you noticed an unanticipated interference with your sleeping habits?

Well I did just take a 14hr powernap. But it's still dinnertime?

Yes.

* In your own words, how would you describe your emotional state?

Hoo boy, not doing that.

Optimistic.

* Do you feel there is anything that must be immediately addressed, or provided, for yourself or future human immigrants?

Alright, I wonder what their character limit is…

The lack of a day/night cycle is very uncomfortable. I suggest we build simulated daylight and nighttime into human habitations, including mine. I woke up really sore, so I think Human bodies are not used to sleeping in higher gravity; bedding will need to be figured out. Venlil are bothered by our forward-facing eyes, but they are especially afraid of eye contact, so newcomers should practice not looking at who they are speaking to. Some Venlil believe that the Night is bad, and are skittish around dark clothing. Using a full-face mask would be effe

Whelp, there's the character limit… but where can I…

If you have any personal needs, please tap HERE to contact your sector's handler, SAM.

Ah! Here we are.

They will make all possible accommodations in a reasonable time. Deliveries to the surface happen once every 7 human 'days', or 8 Venlil 'paws'.

God, I hope they can get me some coffee…

I had just finished filling the request form when Valek came back into the room, gleaming white and black and smelling like a french martini; I could barely keep my hands off of him while we talked about the report.

"Yeah I did mine in the bath! They… They were clearly asking me 'has she tried to eat you yet' like six times, which was frustrating, but I can't blame them for their fear; they'll come around." His tail wrapped around me as my fingers wound their way through the wool between his shoulders. "I talked to my parents. Looks like their farm bots are having some trouble. I convinced them to take you along, if that's ok?"

I stopped for a moment. I admit, the idea of being outside with Leksi was a little unnerving…

---

Memory transcription subject: Elva, Human Integration Host.

Date [standardized human time]: August 29th, 2136. Early midday

"NO! I won't be out in the field! Alone! With a predator! Are you DIM?!"

"Elva, flower, you won't be alone; I won't let you two leave my sight. I'll be on the Hill, Nightshatter trained and ready. And Alvi will be with you just over the next hedge. I'm sorry but we need her help with this!"

"But what if she's too fast?! What if she… snaps my neck before you-?!"

"She won't because she can't. I'd go instead, but we both know I'm the better shot. We can't afford another short harvest, love…"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

I stood puffed and trembling in the kitchen. My husband was ready to put me out as bait for this beast! We could survive another season! Just until this thing was out of my house! We had enough! We--

… We didn't. We were already behind, another missed bill and we could lose the farm! If these damn bots could do anything! We were promised higher productivity for less labor! Predator-shit! That last one hadn't even finished its rounds before overheating!

"I! I can't!... I… I'm so scared, Leksi."

I shrank against my hopelessness while Leksi embraced me, arms and tail, and rocked my shivering form there in the kitchen while he groomed the space between my ears. It was almost like we were dancing, like we used to in better times.

"I know, love. I know. We will get through this…"

---

Date [standardized human time]: August 29th, 2136. Midday

The predator walked several paces ahead of me, following my directions to the downed droid. I couldn't take the silence, just imagining all of the ways they would carve us up. "So… what do you think we taste like?"

The creature 'laughed' in its barking manner. "I need to ask you a favor Elva: never ask me a question you don't want the answer to. I've promised Valek and Alvi that I will answer any question they ask me, and I will offer you the same courtesy. But you need to take that seriously."

It turned its veiled head in a poor attempt to see me. Were it a proper prey species, it might've actually seen me over its shoulder. "I will answer that question, completely and honestly, if you ask me again. Or is there something else on your mind?"

I thought for a moment. Here I had the opportunity to ask a predator, presumably a sapient one, any question I wanted.

"What are predators like on your planet?"

It stood straighter for a moment, before resuming its stride. "It depends on the predator: could be something more familiar like a Tiger, which uses camof-"

"I mean… What hunts Humans?"

"Oh! Well, many things, and also nothing."

That didn't make any sense! Either they did or they didn't! But the thing continued its babbling, "Parasites have the highest human kill-count, but I know that's not what you're asking about so we can skip those. The thing is: Humans are really problematic! We are difficult to kill, tend to fight back, and if you do kill one of us, more Humans tend to come back with a vengeance. Most creatures on earth have learned this, so they tend to avoid us. In this sense, nothing hunts humans."

"But sometimes, an animal will be especially desperate, or maybe a human went somewhere they shouldn't have, and bad things can happen. Wild Dogs have been the most effective human-hunters, using pack hunting and knowing when humans are most vulnerable. Next up are Tigers, using camouflage and ambush tactics, then Crocodiles using the same. But that's only animals that hunt us. There are many that kill us as preemptive defense, like the Hippo which is actually completely herbiv-"

The predator stopped still, then lowered its body to a crouch. It hissed at me, "Elva! Elva! I need you here. Now!" It reached its black hand to me before speaking up, "Alvi! Get over here!"

Alvi struggled up the mound beside us, sliding down next to the predator.

"Alvi, bring Elva here, quiet as you can." Its head was locked in front of us.

"Maeve, what's going on?"

"Get under me, quickly!"

Alvi nearly dragged me under its cloak, the creature's form looming over us. It supported itself on long arms, fingers splayed in the dirt. Its legs were bound up behind us, like a spring ready to burst!

"Ok you two, I need you to look ahead of me, and tell me if you see that."

Of course this primitive thing wouldn't know what a droid was! The beast was terrified of a hunk of metal and circuitry!

"It's just a bot! We use them-"

"Look after the bot, Elva."

"Are you sun-stunned? What are you-- Oh, my…"

So THAT is a Predator…

Black pinpricks in piercing white eyes were locked onto us from the treeline. It hid in the shadow of a tree, but its orange and green-streaked muzzle just poked into the light.

"C'mon! I need to know if you see it!" Strong arms pulled Alvi and I against a pounding heartbeat. A black-gloved hand took hold of a large stone.

"Y-Yes, I see it. I… I think that's a Shadestalker. All my life on this farm, and I've never seen one…" -- "So you've never had a problem with these before?" -- "Not us, no."

Tense muscles and heaving breaths surrounded us. "Shit… Ok. Ok… okokok. I… I need you two to stay under me. No matter what happens, do not run. Keep your ears open, tell me if another tries to get to our side." I thought I heard--

Alvi whimpered beside me, "You're scaring me, Maeve."

-- shifting soil! "B-Behind us, on the left!"

A bestial growl, shifting weight, and a sharp YELP in quick sequence. The stone came back into view, smeared with a smattering of violet blood. A voice above us whispered, "We need to back up. Stay with me." Their black arm wrapped around us, and we all started crawling backward as a unit.

The Shadestalker ahead walked with us, bringing itself totally into the light. Its grey coat caught the light in unusual ways, seeming to sparkle and dance in distracting colors. My legs stopped unbidden, mesmerized by the display.

I could feel the sun on my wool as my cover continued without me, "ELVA!!" The human screamed behind me, as something leapt from the mound to my right. I saw its wide mouth and excited eyes in my periphery.

I'm coming, Elsi.

Darkness filled my vision while a scream of pain echoed around me. She had thrust her arm into the Stalker's bite! I felt something grab and pull me back under the black cloak. Vicious growls and angry screams filled the air around us, as the two predators fought above us.

I could see the forward Stalker readying a pounce, but its eyes weren't on me. It's back legs made to spring, going for her neck!

"MAEVE!!"

Ozone filled my mouth as a streak of green light slammed into the beast's shoulder, nearly rending its forward leg from its body. The creature writhed on the ground as its flesh sizzled from superheated plasma.

Maeve let out a scream of defiant fury as she pinned her assailant, its angry growls shifting to panicked whines; a moment more, and a deep wet Pop signaled the end of the fight, but not for Maeve. She shifted herself back to covering us, breathing heavily as she raised her battered arm and bloodied stone in the air, a grim invitation to her next opponent; absent, by the grace of the Sun.

Alvi was frozen next to me, the ground beneath us slightly damp. It took several seconds before Maeve's breathing, and mine, returned to baseline. The protective shield that was her body shuddered, and collapsed to our side.

Alvi snapped back to cognizance, "Brahk the Night, that was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen! C'mon Maeve, let's get back to the Hill."

She's still shaking… why isn't she getting up?

Barely a prayer on my tongue, "...Maeve…?"

I could barely make out her arm through the black fabric. That's a lot of blood…

"Oh, SPEH that's bad! I need to get help, you stay here!" Alvi ran a bounding sprint back to the hill, leaving me alone with the girl.

A mighty breath. A shuddering sigh.