Memory transcription subject: Recel, Federation First Mate

Date [standardized aurigan time]: Harvest 31, 1 AA

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Zarn looked at me with an uncertain expression, before storming out of the room, his tail twitching behind him. No doubt he was off to tell Sovlin about my impending actions, but I'd already made my mind up.

Opening the door to the primitie mezari's cell, I steadied myself just in case I was wrong and it would pounce on me, but instead it walked calmly with Slanek by its side, giving me a nod in thanks.

"Your equipment is in the evidence lockers in the security office. I'm gonna help you get to it, but after that you're on your own."

"Thank you- What's your name?" Slanek asked me, his tail wrapping around the mezari's waist. I had to admit that their smooth skin was something they shared with us, and I wondered if maybe they had an aquatic origin.

Refocusing my thoughts back to the present, I looked up at Slanek, giving him the immitation of a tail flick with one of my tentacles. "Recel. Don't thank me yet, you're still not safe."

Before I could do anything else, Captain Sovlin burst into the observation room, staring daggers at me, with Zarn right behind him.

“You’re under its spell too?” The man who'd been like a father to me spat in my face. “Clearly, it’s dangerous to let it start talking, if it can entrance you so easily. Anyone alone might succumb to its charm.”

Sovlin leaned right up into my face, and for the first time in a long while I was reminded of boot camp, of being yelled at by an officer. He then looked towards Slanek, shaking his head in disapproval at the Venlil's friendliness towards the mezari. His spines were on edge, fully extended, a defensive display meant to make his kind appear larger to predators.

“Get Slanek out of here, Doctor,” Sovlin then spat. “I’ll sign off on the psychological treatments you recommended, and we’ll cure him of this delusion.”

“No!! You can’t take me away,” Slanek snarled, and before Sovlin could do anything, I positioned myself between him and the prisoner.

"Captain, stop! This is wrong! The mezari feel empathy! Venlil scientists proved it!" I pleaded defiantly, which only made Sovlin angrier.

“You really are lost too, aren't you? Maybe if I dissect this thing before you you'll both come to your senses!” A crazed light flashed into Sovlin's eyes, like I'd not seen since- Of course, in his head this is the closest he'll ever get to punishing the Arxur. He's deflecting blame.

"Captain, please. I know you want to make predators pay for what happened to your fam-" Sovlin's hand covered my mouth before I could finish, and he tossed me aside and out of the way, making his way towards Slanek and the mezari. I couldn't -I wouldn't- let this madness continue.

Pulling my service pistol out, right as Zarn tried to rush inside the cell as well, grabbing Slanek by the arm. Before I could even threaten to shoot, the mezari moved with unnatural speed, a golden glow briefly surrounding him, and he pushed the doctor way, slamming him into the observation window.

Everyone but the mezari was stunned in silence, and he opened his mouth to speak. "Any injury to myself I can forgive. But I will not allow you to harm my companions." He spoke in a commanding voice. Had he been able to do that all this time? And just chose not to defend himself? What sort of madness was this?

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After a brief, panicked pause, Sovlin came back to his senses and pulled his own sidearm out, raising it to shoot at the mezari. Again the alien glowed with a golden hue, and smacked Sovlin's arms away, sending the weapon flying into the wall. The sight snapped me out of my own befuddlement, and I fired a warning shot. "Captain Sovlin! Stand down!" I shouted.

“Recel, this thing is clearly a threat, and it refuses to answer any of our questions. Slanek can tell us everything we want. We need to execute the creature before it kills someone.” Zarn spurted as he got back up to his feet. “Its life has no value. It is nothing but a danger to the crew, in the case that it gets loose.”

“It is sapient. That must have some value. No matter how little. Why have you both forgotten that?” I shouted back, aiming my pistol at Zarn.

Sovlin fell on his ass and started crawling towards the wall, screaming, kicking. "Shoot it, dammit! It's a monster! Recel, shoot it! Don't listen to its lies!" I gulped, looking over at the alien, and how it moved with unnatural speed, even when starved. Maybe it was a monster... No, that's just Sovlin's past controlling him. Think, Recel!

“But it has done nothing wrong! All it's done is defend itself from death.” I hissed. “Even while you were beating it half to death it just stood there, refused to lift a finger. The only time it did anyone any harm was to preserve its own life!”

Sovlin sneered. “It thirsts for blood just like the Arxur do! It is a violent creature at its core, its rotten core. It savors the hunt. If it was honest, it would admit it!”

The only time this mezari ever showed any violent impulse was in defending Slanek from Zarn. No, the captain was wrong, this wasn't a bloodthirsty monster, this was a thinking, calculating creature, much more selfless than any of us here.

"No! You're wrong, captain." I spat out, standing back up, holding my gun trained on Sovlin. "I'm taking them out of here, and I'm locking the two of you in that cell. Don't try to stop me!"

I motioned for Slanek and his mezari companion to vacate the cell, which they did ever so slowly. Zarn, however, was being too bold for his own good, and grabbed Slanek by the neck on the way out, putting him in a chokehold.

“Let the Venlil go, Zarn-” I started, but before I could finish, the mezari had already punched Zarn square in the face, knocing him loose from around Slanek's neck and giving him a bloodied nose as he stumbled backwards.

The sight of blood made everyone freeze, as if the mezari was going to suddenly go feral, but much to my relief, and by the looks of it Slanek's too, he just kept walking out of the cell as requested, Slanek moving behind him. Once the venlil's tail was clear of the door, I slammed down on the controls and sealed Sovlin and Zarn inside.

"Let me out of here, Recel! Do as you're ordered, dammit!" Sovlin started shouting, getting back to his feet and slamming his fists against the door.

"My consciousness is telling me otherwise, sir. I'm sorry about this, but maybe some day you'll understand!"

Drowning out the rest of Sovlin's speech, I pointed the duo to the nearby wheelchair Zarn had used to transport Slanek around. "Here. We'll move the mezari with this. Pretend he's unconscious. Once you're in the security office we'll get your gear, then we'll wheel him to the shuttle bay, and get out that way."

The mezari nodded at the suggestion, probably refusing to speak too much due to its dry throat, and carefully sat down on the chair.

With Slanek in tow we made our way to the security office, and I had to constantly focus on calming myself down. This was a mutiny, insubordination, and I had to pretend nothing suspicious was going on!

After the most tense five minutes of my life, we were finally in the security office, and the duo retrieved their equipment. I didn't understand why the mezari carried around a stick, but I didn't want to know right now either.

"Right, we need to get a shuttle, and fast, before someone finds Sovlin and Zarn and our ploy is discovered." If I stayed here I'd be hanged. If I left with them I'd at least have a chance of surviving longer than a few days.

Taking a deep breath, I led our small posse into the shuttle bay, the mezari hidden under a large blanket, so that nobody could see it'd been covered in its artificial pelt again.

With Slanek piloting us to Venlil prime, and the mezari seemingly meditating, I was left to wonder about my fate in silence.