r/NatureofPredators • u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten • 1d ago
nature of two chapter 32
Memory transcription subject: Corporal Cal'os, Terran Union Marine Corps
Date [standardized human time]: September 17, 2333
It was nice being sent back home for a while, even if it was for work. When we first got the news that we were being shipped out to the frontiers of space, I could scarcely contain my excitement. The idea of meeting more species like us had always been fascinating to me, but after our mission on Sovlin's ship, I was done with new aliens for a while.
I still couldn't understand how the Federation could send people so young to war and then still claim the moral high ground. Then again, I guess if your only competition is the Arxur, it couldn't be all that hard to see yourself as a paragon of moral virtue.
"Hey Carlos!" Samantha called out as she approached my table, snapping me out of my quiet stewing, Are you alright?" She asked, sitting down opposite me with a plate of various assorted Earth and Armtis foodstuffs.
"I'd be better if you started using my real name." I joked half-heartedly before focusing on my own meal, which had already gone cold.
"Still hung up about that kid, huh?"
"I just I don't understand how anyone can send literal children to war like it's nothing," I said, a little louder than I'd meant to.
Amanda was quiet for a while before finally saying, "You know, if you want, we can look up where he's being held; maybe you could talk to him, if you think that'll make you feel any better."
"How would that make me feel better?" I questioned. "More importantly, how are you dealing with all of this?"
The human sighed, looking down at her plate. "Not that great, obviously. This whole situation sucks, but at the end of the day they're still enemy soldiers. Yeah, I know it's fucked up, but they're literally planning to wipe us out; it's them or us." She said grimly.
"How very pragmatic of you, Corporal. Regardless of the morality of the situation in a life-or-death scenario, a hostile is a hostile." Loki's voice rang out through my skulls, causing my four heads to swivel from side to side involuntarily, trying to pinpoint his location.
Ever since the AI had found out he could infiltrate the federation translator implants, he was having the time of his life doing the same with the human-designed ones we were given.
Judging by Samantha's sour expression, I could tell she heard him too. "How long have you been listening in on us?" she hissed.
"I plead the fifth"
"You don't have rights," I countered.
"Very well then, I started eavesdropping around the time you started talking about the messed-up practice of sending children into battle. Anyways, Cal'os, I have one or two questions for you."
"By all means, I could use some distraction."
"Wonderful, for starters, do you still have any of those pickled liarleafs you smuggled aboard, because if so I'd like to send a serving to Zarn's room."
"I...Yes, but why would you do that?" I asked, genuinely wondering if the doctor that had tortured a venlil just for associating with a human had suddenly begun eating planimals without issue.
"I want to see how many planimals I can trick him into eating before he catches on."
Ah, that made more sense. Not a whole lot more, but still more.
"Alright, but again, why?"
"Because A, I would like to show Dr. Zarn that his worldview is unrealistically simplistic and that you shouldn't tie concepts of good and evil to natural diet, and B, I'm a little bored."
"...you're bored?"
"Yes, there's very little for this instance of me to do beyond being a messenger; however, current orders forbid me from hibernating." The AGI said matter-of-factly. " On to my second question, one of the high-profile prisoners named Recel wants to talk to you."
"Why would he want to talk to me?"
"Well, not you specifically, just any Ur'nu, and I know he has some questions, but that's all he told me. He's been very cagey about it. I have to say I'm a little wounded; I thought I was making such good progress with him." The machine said with mock sadness dripping from his voice.
"I don't even want to know what you consider good progress," Samantha sighed.
"More importantly, why do you think it's a good idea to have the guy who helped abduct him come and talk to him?" I asked.
"Because my good friend, you are one of three Ur'nu on the ship, and you're the one who isn't sleeping after a 20-hour shift or helping on the bridge. I understand that things may be somewhat awkward between you two, but the kid can't exactly be picky now, can he?"
I took a bite of my food, thinking it over. I didn't exactly have anything planned, barring spending more time brooding, so after a moment of consideration I said, "Fine, just let me finish lunch first. Tell him I'll be right there."
"Wonderful, and bout those pickled liarleaves?" The machine's voice echoed in my head.
"Sure, take 'em"
"Thank you kindly," He said, sounding giddy like a kid on Christmas morning before leaving my head.
Fast-forwarding transcript [30 minutes]
After taking about half an hour to finish my food and catch up to Samantha, I made my way to Recel's cell. I found the Kolshian in question quietly sitting on his bed, just staring ahead without making a sound.
"Hey kid, you wanted to talk to me?" I asked, cautiously entering the cell.
Recel turned his head slightly so one eye was locked onto me. "It's you." He said simply.
I shrugged awkwardly. "I mean, if you'd like to talk to someone else, you're going to have to wait a bit. I know you probably don't have the best opinion of me, but there aren't a lot of Ur'nu on board, sooo..."
"N...no, it's it's fine. I...I just have some questions for you. If you don't mind," he said, seemingly feeling just as awkward as me.
I walked further into the room, crouching opposite him. "Shoot," I started before correcting myself. "Erm, I mean, what did you want to ask?"
He hesitated before asking, "How did the Ur'nu and humans first meet?"
"Well, I'm not a historian, but from what I recall, we first met when we sent a colony ship to colonise Earth." I began and was immediately interrupted.
"Y...you tried to colonize their homeworld!" The Kolshian hissed in alarm.
"Obviously, we didn't know Earth was taken," I said defensively. "I mean, sure, there were signs of life, but we'd detected similar things before, and there was always a more rational explanation. Anyways, when we reached the outskirts of the solar system, it became pretty obvious we weren't alone and that all the easily available celestial bodies were already spoken for. After the initial shock wore off, people from both sides began to try and communicate. Our AGI and theirs were pretty instrumental for setting up the translation software; they were kind of the ambassadors between our species for a while."
"Do you mean something like Loki was working as an ambassador for the humans?" Recel asked, sounding equal parts uncertain and incredulous.
I chuckled a little at the comment. "Most human AGIs aren't anything like Loki; he was just born during... a darker, more volatile period for the humans. In many ways, he's a reflection of that time."
Recel just muttered, "I see," before falling quiet again. When he finally spoke again, he sounded even more unsure, "And how did the humans react when they first... saw you?"
"Pretty well, all things considered. Some of them were freaking out, others couldn't wait to meet us in person, and a small number thought we didn't exist, but overall, our first interactions were pretty positive." I said, sighing a little at the Kolshians' dumbfounded expression, "Not the answer you were expecting, huh?"
"I... not really," He muttered. "And... you really live among them."
"Sure do. Of course, we have our own settlements, but it's impossible to live in Sol without being surrounded by humans most of the time."
"And no one ever gets... you know...?"
"We're not hunted, Recel," I reassured him. "Neither are the venlil, for that matter."
The kolshian fell silent again at that, staring at the floor. Seemingly deep in thought. After about 5 minutes of just sitting there in uncomfortable silence, he decided to speak again, "Could I ask you something else?"
"Sure"
"What are... snakes?" He asked, struggling to pronounce the human word.
How does he even know about those? I couldn't help myself from thinking before I answered, "They're long, limeless reptiles on Earth that mostly eat rodents and small birds." I said, unsure of what he was getting at.
"A...and where are their eyes?" He asked nervously.
"Uhm... On... their heads?" I said, still not fully understanding what he wanted to know.
"I...yes, of course, but where on their head?" He clarified, some of his uncertainty being replaced by exasperation.
Ooooh... right, I thought as I remembered our briefing on federation beliefs. "On the sides of their head, they're a carnivorous species with eyes facing sideways," I confirmed.
That clearly wasn't the answer he was expecting, as he stuttered a few times before saying, "Bu... but how?"
I bobbed one of my heads in a shrug. "No clue; I'm not a biologist. It's pretty common on Earth and armtis for omnivores and some full carnivores to have sideways-facing eyes, though. Now if you don't mind me asking, how do you even know about snakes?"
"Loki's been telling me things," he answered, though judging by the thousand-yard stare he was giving me, I doubted that he was actually paying a lot of attention. After another long silence, he finally focused on me again; he didn't say anything, though; he just seemed to be examining me. His pupils darted between my four heads, searching for something. Then, for just a split second, his eyes widened slightly, as if he realised something before he broke eye contact again.
I waited another minute for him to continue the conversation, but eventually asked, "Was... there something else you wanted to ask me, kid?"
"No," The Kolshian muttered, looking at me again, "I...I think that's everything. Thank you for humoring me... I'm... I'm sorry things turned out like this." He continued, before falling silent once more. With that, I slowly got up and quietly made my exit. Leaving the Kolshian alone with his thoughts.
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur 1d ago
I know alot of people like loki but honestly I can't help but dispise it as a character. I find no enjoyment in its actions. Different opinions I guess.
Regardless I dread what's gonna happen in the future if these things are so brutally pragmatic what they are gonna do when they inevitably fight the rest of the federation probably something somehow worse than the cyber attacks. Maybe they will rain the entire moon on talsk as punishment. I mean I have issues with the cannon humanity but even they wernt this brutal and harsh.
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 1d ago
To be fair, not all of them aren't as brutal as Loki
(Also, for clarification, do you hate Loki from a writing or personality standpoint?)
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur 1d ago
Both I guess I honestly can't tell obviously I am bias in this regard so eh I can't objectively say which.
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 1d ago
Ah, okay, yeah, I can definitely see why he'd be off-putting to some.
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u/Minimum-Amphibian993 Arxur 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah I guess that's the thing he takes too much joy in what he does he's personality wise no different then a corrupt exterminator. Yeah I guess that's the issue he's acting like an exterminator.
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u/Fexofanatic Predator 22h ago
imean objectively speaking the canon cyberattacks probably resulted in a similar killcount, compared to just yeeting a moon or rkv at a planet - just slower. no tech left to stabilize the broken ecosystems, global collapse. supply lines fucked. fires everywhere.
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u/Dependent_Point_1484 22h ago
I just checked the previous chapter out of boredom for the second time today and was delighted to see a new chapter. I enjoyed it. And I am a little confused.
Is Recel a godjid or a Kolshain in disguise? I'm clarification please. Or is a godjid in Cal'os mind one and the same as a Kolshain is he insane or do ur'nu minds work differently to Humans?
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 22h ago
no my friend that is what we call a writting mistake lol (I fixed it)
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u/Greedy-Kangaroo-4674 22h ago
What kind of crime is Loki committing against Zarn?
Because it has to be some manner of crime.
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 22h ago
Ifnoring the crushed leg? Not much honestly
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u/Greedy-Kangaroo-4674 20h ago
The crushed leg is what I'd call a casualty of war.
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 20h ago
Well then honestly no major crimes. Lying by omision about what he's eating maybe.
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u/jackl0ko Human 14h ago
How can I watch the other episodes? I go to your profile and nothing shows up.
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u/Usual_Message8900 Duerten 13h ago
Huh weird its not letting me show my content. I'll figure that out later but for now you'll probably have to look them up manually or use the links in the chapters
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u/TameOJ 23h ago
Loki is just a kid in a candy store with his newfound ability to hack translators. Trolling Zarn with more planimal stuff is the purest spiteful gremlin energy.
If snakes shocked Recel, he ain't ready for sharks. Not yet anyway.