Memory transcription subject: Valek, Human Integration Host.
Date [standardized human time]: August 30th, 2136. Late Evening
Oh, Alvi… How am I going to do this…
I stood in front of the bathing room door, my conflict drowned out by the filling tub. I took a deep breath, and knocked on the door, “Alvi?”
No response.
“... Can I come in?”
…
The latch clicked, and the door opened. Alvi was tear-streaked and her body screamed shame and regret. We just looked at each other for a moment before she stepped aside, and I went in. I latched and locked the door behind me.
"Alvi, I-"
"Nono, it's ok, I understand." Her voice wavered through her assurance while she wiped away another tear, leaving grease streaks through her velvet.
"You… you do?" She didn't know… did she?
"I-I-I knew you weren't interested in me, but I still… it's ok, I'll be fine. I'll get cleaned up, then check with one of the other farms. I should be gone by your next waking."
"No, Alvi, no that is not at all what I want!" I stepped forward and took her paws in mine. "We won't keep you here if you want to leave, but we - Maeve, my parents - want you here. I… want you here. I… I don't… Stars, why is this so complicated…"
She pulled her paws from mine, her body showed concern while her ears were afraid. I tried to say the words, but they froze in my throat. Would she accept us?
"W-What's complicated Valek?" She gasped through her sobs, "I need to know, please?"
"I…” I sighed, “I'm mated." The confession snapped Alvi out of her breakdown; I saw her tail twitch in confusion. "...with-"
"Maeve." Her body calmed and recognition played across her features. "You… you're mated with… how?? Why??"
I couldn't stop a small chuckle, as much as Alvi's expression pained me after, "I won't answer the 'how', for your sake. As for 'why'... I think you know. It’s not often Prey shares a bed with Predator, and you've seen it twice." I moved to turn off the overfull tub.
"But… but she's Human! You can't-!"
"We know! We know, but… we haven't had a chance to talk about it yet. Everything has been moving so fast." My tail curled around me in embarrassment, "But I can't do this to her. You're amazing, Alvi; a wonderful person, an incredible woman, and a fantastic friend to us both. I love you as a friend and as a herdmate, but I can't love you like that. I'm sorry."
…
"I… I'd like you to leave now, please…" Her choked words felt like ice in my veins. Was this what I wanted? Maybe if-
No. I made this decision. I know who and what she is. I choose Maeve.
A quiet plea as I unlocked the door. "I hope she makes you happy, Valek."
I couldn't stop my tail from sharing my glee, even while my ears showed my sadness. "She does."
I could still hear her cries as I reached the stairs.
---
Memory transcription subject: Leksi, Human Integration Host.
Date [standardized human time]: September 1st, 2136. Late Morning.
This waking started much the same way as the last few. Maeve and I went to town, and we just sat in the commons for nearly a claw. A few Venlil showed up to investigate, though no one approached. I doubted if Maeve even saw them from the distance they stood.
More than once the grey boy, Ilnek, would come around and ask a question or two before scurrying off. It appeared they’d gotten comfortable, as I could hear Maeve’s real voice carry over the cobblestone. That boy asked some good ones! Maeve talked about human appearance, and I learned how side-eyes and front-eyes were selected on earth.
The first to approach today was Carvit, much to my surprise. The stubborn headbutt was the owner of the Greeol orchard ahead of the village. “Wonder what sparked his tail?” I muttered, as Carvit stomped right up to Maeve. His body was terrified but determined as he asked something that seemed to put Maeve on the defensive. He didn't even wait for Maeve to answer before asking another question, just as hard as the first. I could feel my ears fall flat to the back of my head, Maeve was sitting more tense than normal.
A small herd turned the corner by the cafe behind me. I could recognize Bilvee among them, dragging her little Ilnek by her side. Just like Carvit they all walked right up to Maeve and started demanding answers. Maeve's shoulders relaxed, as did her posture; it seemed she was just waiting for them to burn themselves out. It wasn't until I saw another three Venlil come from their houses abutting the commons that I stood and approached.
I hopped up on the lip of the fountain to avoid the quickly growing crowd, and Maeve jumped when she heard my rough claws on stone.
FWEEEE I let out a window rattling whistle to quiet the building stampede.
"Alright everyone quiet down! Maeve'll answer any question you have, but this is gonna happen CIVILLY!!" I glared at the loudest instigators with my good eye; gave 'em a look that could ferment an under-ripe juicefruit.
The still growing flock sufficiently cowed, I checked on the girl, "You doing alright there, little bird?" I asked quietly, for our ears only.
"Much better now, thank you, Leksi." I didn't know human too well, but she sounded pretty relieved. I flicked my affirmation and rested my tail around her back.
Deep breath, stand straight. "We're gonna do this one at a time! Alright, Carvit, you were here first.” I flicked him the ‘go ahead’.
"Do you think we’re stupid?!" -- “HEY! I SAID CIVIL!” -- "Don’t think we don't know what you’re doing! This is just some trick to get us on your side!"
I was about to hop down to tell him off when Maeve blocked me with her hand, before bringing it back to type on her pad. A synthesized Venlil voice spoke from beside her, “We do not think you’re stupid. Your medical and material sciences are a century or more ahead of us, and we are eternally grateful for your help, and kindness. I know your people have been lied to before, and I cannot promise we are innocent in that. Our only want is peace.”
Bilvee piped up from the back, “You’re going to kill it aren’t you?! Just because it’s injured!”
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
And more besides, the crowd quickly grew to a rabble, before I could wrest control again, “Hold On! HOLD ON!! We aren’t going anywhere, we will answer any question you ask, but y’all are gonna have to Settle the Brahk Down!!”
The clamor quieted quickly enough, but another voice came up from just in front of us, "Are you going to eat that Gojid for clawing the human?"
What the brahk??? I took out my pad and checked my newsfeed. Truth Seekers said there was some kind of pity ploy, Rux was talking about a false flag operation. This isn’t helping, maybe mainstream has more info… I found a transcript of Talen’s news segment,
What you have seen here is the after effect of Federation torture of their Human prisoner. The story that we have so far is that Marcel made a call to lure the Arxur attackers away from the outpost. Where their ship became disabled and rescued by Captain Solvin…
Maeve was the first to speak, using her own voice this time, though as quiet as I have ever heard her, "Oh, I know that voice: you must be Ilnek! It is a joy to finally see you." Such a voice for a child's ears… did they treat their young with such kindness?
Maeve fiddled with her pad, before her Venlil voicebox spoke for her. "I will say this once: No human will ever eat a sapient creature. No matter our people's relations, no matter what the Venlil, Gojid, or anyone else will ever say, do, or not do, No Human will eat any of you, your kin, your allies, or your enemies. Humans do not eat sapients." She raised her hand as the murmurs started to build.
"Now, as for the Gojid, it seems I’ve missed a memo?”
“Maeve…” I whispered beside her, as I brought up the video broadcast.
Her eyes were hidden by her visor, but her body went rigid as the ‘human’ was wheeled from their shuttle. What was on that gurney had to be some new contact creature, some poor beast, rescued from some desiccated world! But those forward eyes and bipedal legs… it was human. Splotched with sickly purple and yellow marks, its face and torso coated in dried blood. Red blood; not a drop of Venlil, Gojid, or any other species on it. Just red.
The human was wheeled around the corner, and the video cut out, but Maeve just stared at the still screen. Her breathing was shallow and her hands shook. Her head and visor snapped up and looked at the crowd, who backed away with a collective gasp. Her arms still shook as her breathing slowed; she sat straight-backed and head held high as she took another deep breath before addressing the crowd through her voicebox.
“I will answer your questions, but please be patient with me; this is a terrible tragedy, and a lot for me to process. You, with the grey gradient,“ Bilvee flinched at the address, “you asked if we would kill this human? Our first effort is to save their life. We will provide medical care, food and fluids, and work with them to heal their body. If we succeed, we will stay with them to heal their mind. If the body, or mind, is so broken that to live is agony, we will provide them the mercy of death; with great sadness and remorse. Weakness is no reason to kill or to die; but when no other option is possible, Mercy may be.”
“And Ilnek: No, we will not eat this Gojid, nor any other.”
“Then what will you do?!” A voice called from the back, as Carvit brayed his accusations in front of us, “Are you people going to kill them all?! What are you predators going to do to the Gojids?!"
Maeve raised her hand again to signal she would answer, thought for a moment, before returning to her pad, “These are hard questions, and I cannot keep up with my pad. I had hoped to be more gradual, but I will need to use my voice. I mean no harm, and wish no fear. You are safe together, and you are safe with me.”
She took a deep breath, this time she used her own voice, “What this gojid, Sovlin, has done, violates many of our laws of ethics in science, medicine, war, and diplomacy. It is reprehensible, and demands justice. The Gojid people are not at fault, hold no blame, and will not be held accountable. But their Government is, and will be. Humanity’s first action will be to demand the government he represents denounce his actions. If they do not, then the Gojid government will have shown they are complicit. Our second action will be to demand the extradition of Sovlin; Only Sovlin, to face fair and public trial by human law. Should the government refuse, they will be aiding and abetting a known torturer and war criminal.”
Through the deathly silence, she continued, “On earth, we were able to work together as a people to sanction the offending government through economics; levies, embargos, and border closures. We have no such influence on the galactic stage, so if these requests fail or if they even defend his actions as right, we will use force to compel the government to cede our demands.”
More silence surrounded the commons. Why would predators have so many laws in war?
War.
The thought hung like a heavy mist in my mind. If what Maeve was saying was true, Humanity would offer several opportunities to avoid conflict; but like the predators they were, they would not back down from this cruelty.
“Maeve…” She turned her visored head to me, “How do humans… How do your governments fight? What should we expect from this?”
Maeve thought on her words, before beginning, “I pray… Every Human prays that conflict is avoided. I wish very deeply that the Gojid Government sees Sovlin’s cruelty as unjust, and work with us to bring the one person who did this to justice. But governments are complicated, run by complicated people; there is a very real possibility that this will lead to conflict. The first thing you need to know is that humans attack military and government targets only. We know the actions and decisions of leaders are not always in line with the Will of the People. We know that the actions of one man, or one Gojid, cannot justify the slaughter of innocents. Also, we know that the fastest way to end a w-... a conflict, is to hinder the machinations of the military. We will destroy shipyards, weapon’s factories, transport depots; but we will not target living quarters. We do not bomb population centers, our soldiers do not harm the unarmed or surrendered. We pull the wounded, friendly, enemy, non-combatant, any wounded to safety to receive care. We reunite families, and allow continued production of necessities, like farms. The goal at every level, with every action, is to end conflict without bloodshed, and reduce misery and pain.”
She took a breath, seeming to consider her next words. “Humans recognize the necessity to fight. But we despise it, with every moment.”
---
Memory transcription subject: Maeve, Human Integration Test Subject.
Date [standardized human time]: September 1st, 2136. Late Evening
My body and voice were a painful wreck of what they should have been. Leksi and I had answered questions for two more hours in the village before they were satisfied. And I stayed for another four hours longer while old and new faces asked so many more.
Valek laid beside me while I whispered my complaints for the day; I was truly grateful for the glass of chilled juicefruit he brought with him.
"... and Carvit came around for the sixth time! Leksi got to me before him, and offered me an out."
Valek slowly swayed his tail happily, "I'm really glad my dad's warmed up to you." His ears fell back behind him. "The way he talked to-"
"Yeah but… he is really trying. I don't know what changed but he really keeps me level out there. How about you?"
"Nothing useful with the University, but I think I found something in the public library: apparently a Gojid family on the Cradle had been experimenting with the reintroduction of native predators as a conservation effort in a sanctuary forest. They don't have a lot of literature, but it looks promising. I was going to go today but…" he ran his paw against my tired face, "Are you doing ok? This is really big news, how are you handling it?"
The day and the news were a muddled swirl of brown in my mind, "I… I don't think I've had a chance to process it. It is terrifying, and I am afraid for our future in the Federation. I can't expect them to be paragons, I know that, but this is… bad." My hand sought comfort in his wool, and he accepted the invitation to come closer. He rolled to his back and I nested up against him.
"If the federation drags their feet- or worse, endorses his actions… I'm… I'm scared of what will come next…" I hugged his body against me as he ran his paws through my hair.
"It will work out," he quietly encouraged me, "as long as we have each other, I think we will be ok."
I was reminded of the empty space behind me, "Where's Alvi?"
Valek tensed under me for a moment, "She… She's gotten settled into the guest room. Now that she has her own space, I don't think she will be joining us."
I felt… sad. I felt like she needed the company… and I wanted hers, too. "Oh… ok. Well… I like her. I think she is really nice. If she wanted to stay… I think I'd like that."
Valek continued to pet my hair and back. "Yeah… you get some sleep. I'll tell her that later, ok?"
"... ok. Goodnight, Valek."
"Sleep well, little leafy green."