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The Nature of Predators 2-96
🕑 Added 2024-12-20 12:00:12 +0000 UTCMemory Transcription Subject: Adam Meier, Advisor to the Secretary-General
Date [standardized human time]: April 29, 2161
To say there was a great deal of opposition to the idea of reviving billions of citizens from five dead species was to state the obvious. Perhaps it was surprising that I would voice such an opinion, since I neither believed myself to be Elias nor thought it wise to revive people without their consent. However, it was when I came to realize I was my own person, someone that could carry on his legacy and his memories in a palpable way, that I saw the beauty in it. It was for each individual to decide whether they believed themselves to be the original, and to have an opportunity to contribute to a new life.
No organic chooses to be born either, when you think about it. I think I’ve found meaning in this life, that I’ve been able to accomplish more than I would’ve if Elias’ ideations were never passed on.
Onso scoffed. “How can you, of all people, suggest this? You thought it was wrong to bring you back, which went against your namesake’s fundamental wishes! You had no choice or say in the matter: very much the same issue with uplifts, which by their nature alter and rip away their very identity. Their right to self-determination.”
“Those civilians did not choose to be murdered either. Would you look grieving loved ones in the eyes and tell them that they should not be able to reinstate the people that meant so much to them?”
“What of the ones who’d think such technology to be an abomination, after the trauma of seeing the legion? What of the children who you’d have to alter to give them…any semblance of a true life?”
“There are exceptions to any rule; coming from a species who frolics within the loopholes, I would know. We need to investigate and litigate it all with immense caution, but I think it’s worthwhile to find an honorable path.” I glanced at Radai during those words. “Surely we must try in some way to breathe new life into the ashes, wherever we can.”
“I understand your bias, but that life should be biological,” Radai spoke up, earning stares—and ear flicks of agreement—from the Sapient Coalition representatives. “The honorable way is to take the long, difficult path, much like the ark humans. We can regrow and rebuild without transforming the nature of our civilization.”
“My proposed mission does not have to be done in a hurry either—it can be planned for as long as is necessary to get it right. Didn’t we, not too long ago, find it to be our mandate to return the Osirs to the galaxy? That was a cause we all could get behind, and it’s the biological life you mentioned Radai. How are the fallen souls, whom we have a direct opportunity to bring back any less innocent and deserved of aid? Of a true attempt at aid, not resignation to a gloomy future?”
“You are a fool if you think this is true aid. This would not return things to how they were. It would not be the society I wished to protect. Hear me, Adam: it would be radically different, to walk in the footsteps of the Underscales.”
“Society is constantly changing and evolving—would your ancestors recognize Resket technology and society today? Stagnation is as much of a danger as unfettered progress, General Radai; the former was the downfall of the Federation and the Arxur alike, while the latter transgression led to the carnage brought by the Consortium.”
“We can circumvent this technology without remaining stagnant. I do not want to see my true people outshone and outlived by robots! Only the Trombil would entertain such a ludicrous notion.”
“You do not speak for everyone, just as I do not. My reaction to revival was entirely different to Kristin Haugstad, the young woman who was the second. I ask for this discussion to be undertaken, one which would source the opinions of the surviving Consortium refugees also. Let them have the option to determine the fate of their species, as a ‘true’ leader should.”
Secretary-General Osmani spoke up. “I think that assessing how the Consortium’s survivors would feel is essential, before we follow any mistakes of the Federation’s old uplift philosophy—as Onso mentioned. We should consider how the technology can be used to help. I can add this to a future SC meeting’s agenda. The process can be a case-by-case basis, even, hinging on whether loved ones who know them best would opt-in.”
Satisfied with getting the ball rolling on these discussions, and including the people involved in them, I turned my attention to that which would be a non-negotiable if I was still in the Secretary-General’s chair. The welfare of the vassal species at our disposal, with the hopes of deradicalizing the worst offenders, was my top concern. All sapients had to be permitted into the galaxy to have that better future, dreamed of by Elias Meier and Chief Hunter Isif not that long ago. I stared at Ambassador Raza standing in the crowd, encouraged that she hadn’t been driven out.
The Arxur Collective’s aid against the Consortium was to all of the Sapient Coalition species, which must’ve won them some brownie points despite Kaisal’s rash tactics. If the day comes where an Arxur and a Venlil child can share a classroom, then we will have succeeded in fixing the atrocious mess we walked into.
“The words I impart to you now will be the last you’ll hear from me, so I hope you’ll pay full heed to my farewell address. I have spoken in this very assemblage about the judgment and aspersions we have cast, as well as the punitive, exclusionary actions taken against past enemies. We must allow all species to rejoin us as equals—is that not what the Universal Declaration of Sapient Rights means?”
“What are you saying? We let the Bissems—carnivores—join at your behest, and that wasn’t enough?” Mazic President Quipa trumpeted.
“Equality applies to all. Humanity forgave our past enemies and gave you the chance to atone, write a new chapter; Harchen, Tilfish, and Krakotl work alongside us in spite of attacking Earth. Meting out forgiveness is not easy, but it's the only way past demons will not haunt us until the end of time. It’s the only way we can heal. It’s time to allow the Arxur, Kolshians, and Farsul to participate in the galaxy.”
Secretary-General Osmani looked surprised that I was going there, but quickly leapt up in my defense. “The Kolshian and Farsul civilians have been imprisoned for the species they were born as. They cannot change it, just as we couldn’t remove our binocular eyes. I want us to be better than the Federation. I want us not to use their actions to justify our own.”
“The Arxur played a major role in liberating the galaxy in both wars, and have arguably changed more than the Federation,” Governor Laisa remarked. “The Venlil believe it is time to…see them as people. As ghastly as their crimes were, as many lives as they ruined, they fought back against their ideology. Without mass starvation, they have a solution other than…chowing down on Venlil.”
Ambassador Raza spoke up, her forward-facing eyes shining. “I assure you that I am horrified by even imagining what we have done, and could never bring myself to consider the Venlil in that way. The new generation of Arxur are different, and played no part in the reprehensible policies of Betterment. I despise all that they stood for. I want only to work alongside you as friends.”
“The Duerten have never forgotten how you saved Kalqua. The Shield have not,” Korajan piped up. “I hope the Sapient Coalition will consider the lives the new Arxur faction, who replaced those monsters, have saved. They align with your cause more often than not.”
“That’s an excellent recollection, my Duerten friend.” I smiled toward the gray avian, and mused to myself how that simple expression would’ve had representatives running for the hills back in the old days. Now, no one even cared. “I implore the Sapient Coalition to permit the entry of all who wish to join us on our mission to foster peace and cooperation. The Shield shares that mission whole-heartedly, though they wish to remain a separate entity—a fact humanity respects, since we are neither the conquerors nor the domineers that the Federation declared us to be. I hope we can forge a tight alliance outside of war.”
Leshee Ambassador Yali spoke up. “You have our support, though we are proud members of both polities. Perhaps others in the Shield will follow suit. After seeing who was controlling the ghost Farsul and remembering…what they did to us all, we could drift closer to your side.”
“Humans put them down with an unparalleled ferociousness; you are terrifying when your entire species focused on a single goal,” Harchen representative Nahley said.
“It wasn’t just us,” Osmani countered. “We are a terrifying force when we’re true to our mission, and the entire galaxy bands together. We must not forget where our strength lies. We lost it somewhere along the way before, but I aim to stoke that fire and keep it alight. Our true golden era of prosperity is yet to come.”
I nodded. “Prosperity for all. I am adamant on that regard. The Kolshians and the Farsul must not languish in obscurity for past sins, and the Federation—we must rehabilitate them. We must correct and re-teach them the truth about us, just like we did for many of you.”
Zurulian Ambassador Chauson perked his ears up. “The exchange programs taught us who humanity really were, and stripped away the terrifying fright they once projected. I think the only way to change the Remnants is through patience and exposure. It’s not a hopeless cause. Today, we’ve seen Bissems, Farsul, and Sivkits living on the same world. It’s a sight that fills my old bones with joy.”
“Mine as well. We are so close to moving on, and what a powerful statement that would be to those who wished to divide and drag us back. I hope we can avoid the pitfall we made in the last war, which has caused pain and suffering for innocent people. I beg all of you to show mercy and compassion for the Consortium civilians, rather than condemning them for the government that would have killed them all to prove a point.”
“They never had a chance,” Radai commented bleakly. “In the end, we were all expendable. Please do not treat us as such. I believe I speak for the KC that…we need your help to start over, regardless of if we follow Adam’s plan. I can only fall on my shredded reputation and beg you to let us join the Sapient Coalition. The people admired you so much, whatever their governments did.”
Laisa gave a playful tail swish. “Admired is certainly a word for the interest spike. The tourism profits alone should encourage Earth to move the Krev right in.”
“Forgive me if I’m not in a joking mood. I’ve seen the loss of everything I ever cared about or believed in. All I have left is the hope that you’ll be…better, somewhere through my shattered faith and despair. The Jaslips have already expressed their wish to join you; they were mistreated for far too long. Bring them in and give them the equality they deserve, if you look kindly on no one else.”
“The Sapient Coalition was and is already helping the Jaslips; I see no reason we’d stop now. I can promise to you that I intend to help all of the species the Consortium’s final spite left behind.” Secretary-General Osmani cleared his throat, with an expectant arch of his eyebrows. “Adam has raised some excellent points which could set the tone for where our priorities lie. I’d like to thank him for all that he’s done on behalf of humanity, and for his unrelenting fighting spirit on the issues of our time.”
“Ah, that’s my cue, isn’t it? I’m only a man for following his convictions, who asks others to do the same. My hopes for this organization remain high. We can achieve much more than we imagine we can. We just have to not get in our own way, and to choose our better instincts.” Emotions threatened to choke me up, even without the ability to cry or have a constricted throat. I’d said almost all that I wished to declare to the watching eyes. It felt strange to be saying goodbye to this life and this career: as if I was laying Elias to rest all the way. “Goodbye, my dear friends. Serving you has been the honor of two lifetimes.”
A distinctly Terran standing ovation was led by the United Nations diplomats, which the other Sapient Coalition representatives followed suit to the best of their biological ability. I wasn’t sure if they were clapping for Elias Meier, the storied icon of peace that had become a martyr through death, or Adam Meier, the first of his kind synthetic human who reminded his species who they were supposed to be. In my heart, it didn’t matter. I waved goodbye to the gathered assembly with fondness, hoping that I was walking away during the prelude to human history’s soon-to-come greatest chapter.
A/N - 96! The second-to-last chapter from Meier’s POV, as he debates with Radai about whether his proposal should be undertaken and the SC ultimately determines to have future discussions, which will include the KC people whose future will be decided. Our narrator’s farewell address also implores for the Arxur, Kolsul, Jaslips, and other KC species to be included and welcomed into the SC, and for a proper rehabilitation program for the Remnants. He leaves by expressing his hope and optimism for the future, with the SecGen sharing his vision for a truly unified galaxy.
How do you feel about the Sapient Coalition’s plans and responses toward each faction? What path do you think they should take, and do you imagine the future to be optimistic, with lessons learned from past mistakes? How do you think Adam will spend his new life, after fully deciding to leave politics and Elias behind?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Ezekiah Kane
He "cured" that with a burger...
PhycoKrusk
He was also riddled with Predator Disease, don't forget
kabhes
Perhaps a chapter where Kalism comments on everything.
kabhes
He had trouble walking and he mentioned that this is normal for his species at that age.
PhycoKrusk
Sovlin was 70 back in '51, and wasn't in great health. He dead, baby.
DrewTheHobo
So when are Radai and Sovlin going to finally meet? I feel like he’d be the perfect foil to help Radai start to move past how he’s feeling now.
REDemon14
Very late response and thoughts due to moving apartment. Let's go No surprise that Adam got that reaction from the Assembly. Given what they saw with the KC and with what some of them have heard from Adam. Adam does bring up a good point in that while those brought back wouldn’t have consented to it, they didn’t consent to death either, and considering that a good amount of people who make attempts on their own lives and survived have reported that they regretted it, those who died an untimely death *may* have a desire to get a second chance. Granted there will be kinks to work out, like what to do with robot children when they get “older”. Ironic for Radai to say that Meier has a bias to Synthetic life as he reveals his bias against synthetic life. Those who agree with Meier see the tech from the act of free agents like Adam Meier, while those against only see it’s use by the KC from the perspective of enslaved minds. I’d personally be offended if Radai sees why I would want to bring someone back (to give them a second chance) and then he immediately compares me the *Underscales*. (use the tech to create a *controlled*). I do feel for Radai’s fear for his people getting *outperformed* by their mechanical counterpart. All and all, this topic is a very complicated one that needs to be taken up in a case-by-case basis and will likely be argued for years to come. The topic of the Arxur and other vilified parties. I do think they should all be present as all of those who were in power during the time of the Arxur-Federation war are gone. The Arxur have changed drastically and the Kolshians and Farsul citizens didn’t get a say or even actively participate in the first place. The Fed. Remnant need to be exposed to the other members of the galaxy. Their old ways are a disaster and destructive force that can’t be ignored or allowed to continue. It’s nice that the SC (or at least the UN) are fully willing to take in the remaining KC civilians and the Jaslips. They (especially the Jaslips) have gone through so much throughout their lives that they likely didn’t even know about. It’ll be interesting to think how they’ll adapt to a life that has *more* freedom and privacy. Imagine a Jaslip that has to learn that they no longer need to look over their shoulders all the time, it’s just nice. “Goodbye, my dear friends. Serving you has been the honor of two lifetimes.” Gonna make me tear up here! I hope he enjoys his retirement (from politics). Maybe he’ll finally get a sense of peace he’s been looking for. He may even adopt an “Ark” baby or an “Osir” Jaslip, they need parents. Looking forward to more and to see how his arc comes to a conclusion!
DemonVee
The Jaslips before the SC knew their name.
Space Paladin
Thank you!
Space Paladin
I’m not at all afraid to start something new! I wouldn’t drag NoP out for the sake of it. I want to write fresh and different material, and I have full confidence that people will enjoy my next universe 😅 and even if they didn’t, I will. Creativity should be about listening to your own heart, in my opinion!
Xilacnog
Quinix program?
DemonVee
I'm with Radai on this one, trying to rebuild with replicants isn't the best course of action and they'd be better of replicating the Quinix program, with them having full knowledge of their history and culture, along with survivors who can guide the next generation, there wouldn't be any previously discussed issues with taking that angle. Ignoring the issue of identity—Though, I can't say I agree with Meier that this type of philosophical issue anyone can just choose their own answer to—You're essentially trying to rebuild a civilization with a (potentially immortal) sterile population, risking the very stagnation Meier warned against. Though, if it's going to be up to the surviving families, I suppose the robot population likely wouldn't be overwhelmingly high. Heh, I'm gonna miss ranting about silly scifi questions when NoP is done. Btw, having it end on 99 is diabolical haha :D ----- Glad the interned species are finally getting a chance. I'm also curious about one thing, the Rogue Farsul were mentioned to have kept greater record of the species they encountered, maybe even species that were wiped out by them before the Federation even knew. A data base that's now in the SC's hands. The UN was having issues before with reviving the lost species destroyed by the Arxur, having no properly preserved DNA specimens I believe. Perhaps with the Rogue data the SC has a chance reigniting more than just the consortium species? ----- As always, great writing SP ^^
DreamEnvoy
Already the end, huh. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit disappointed with how fast things got resolved. Oh, well. As for the chapter itself; I'm not sure how to feel about bringing back casualties as robots, especially right after seeing that power be abused. But I do see some good if such tech is used carefully. As for the rest, the future is looking bright. About time the Arxur and Farsul are freed from isolation.
Quiidek
I can feel the conclusion coming soon. I'm exited to see what other great stories you'll make with this universe!!!
Gumcel
Realistically 1% at best lol. The Consortium had no colonies either, just their homeworlds.
Gumcel
Not much left now is there? Probably 1 Taylor and Tassi, then maybe 1 chapter for an epilogue?
Kevo
I do hope we get a NOP3 eventually, I know you got other stuff in the works but what if they found silicon life? Or a different ark ship did even in andromeda lol, or a different group of species on the other side of the milkyway. The KC losing so many is sad, I’d like to see the future, also how ppl view slanek. What happened to Marcel?
Night Fury
God what a great trip, this story is too good, I hope to see more of nop in the future.
Heroman3003
And there's the second part of the big "drawing conclusions" meeting. It honestly went about as well as I have expected! It was a bit surprising that Radai was the main voice against reviving the people of Consortium, but in retrospect, between his ideals and what just happened with the Listeners, it makes sense he'd not want that. Though I am very much glad Adam managed to appeal to both his and other people's fears. He's right that there is no major rush in getting those people revived, and it's all about just making sure they have a chance to take, if they so desire. As much as Adam himself initiatlly resented his return, it's good that he recognizes that he's not the rule and that many more people might be eager to be back, to *be* the people they were once and continue their life with the new chance. Elias died happy, after all, satisfied and believing that he has done everything he could already. But that's unlikely to be the state of mind most pass on with. The release of the kolshians and farsul was basically a given. With them being transferred all over as refugees, it has already as good as happened and just needed to be codified. Even though there may still be elements of past stuck within their societies, at this point it's the isolation that's more to blame than the people themselves, with them being deprived of opprtunities to intermingle and reintegrate. Now... now they can fully return. The arxur don't get immediately banished from the chamber which is already an incredible improvement, and their desire for inclusion is actually considered! We've seen what The New Arxur are like and know full well they deserve this chance. It's great to see that the others are also giving them that. It's also a bit ironic to see that Duerten are among the first voices for the arxur. For as much as anti-predator as Shield remains right now, the Duerten themselves are very much not in habit of forgetting either the slights or the gratitudes. Which is good to see. Hopefully quarantine can be lifted soon. And yet, for all things looking up, it doesn't look like there will be much in term of radical, immediate change. Mazics are still indignant, Yotul are still stubborn and all that. But nobody can expect a complete, instant 180 like that. The important part is that everyone there is willing to listen, consider and make attempts at building a better future for everyone in the galaxy. And that's a much more reasonable thing to ask for.
Alekss Žukovskis
how every SC interaction goes: "enemies wronged us, becoming enemies" named Terran character: "they didn't want to" "*speaks silence in local*, now, how about these enemies..."
EliasArt2Life
“My proposed mission does not have to be done in a hurry either—it can be planned for as long as is necessary to get it right.” So, no. This is not him suggesting the use of the technology all “willy nilly”, and it’s not going to be immediate. He WANTS it do be done slowly and carefully to get it right. I mean, I don’t have any problems with you disagreeing with Meier, but at least make sure you understand his plan/state his plan before making a statement about how much you disagree. If you’re against digitizing them AT ALL and AT ANY POINT, that’s fine, bit your comment makes it sound like your primary issue with Meier’s plan is that he’s rushing hastily into it, when he expresses that he want it to go as slowly as necessary to make sure it’s done right.
EliasArt2Life
I’m hoping that this will lead to actual changes in the SC. There’s enough work to do to fill 3 chapters with an overview, and if we go into detail, probably 5 more. I hope we get an actual drawn out epilogue/ending. Those are underutilized in my opinion. Or maybe, Space Paladin still has a last minute twist to throw at us. Honestly, I’d be happy to read multiple chapters of the Remnant species and Consortium species interacting with humanity after everything. Maybe some side series, before the next big project? I don’t know. I DO wish that we had more information about the Ghosts. They sort of showed up, got used as justification for the Starlight Incident, Remnants attacking, and why the SC needed to attack the Consortium, and then got beaten off screen. They felt more like a plot device than an actual threat. Giving us any look at them on an individual level could have helped. Like if we saw an interrogation of one of them, or some things like that. Maybe we’ll get that in the next chapters. It’s a good idea for the SC to stop falling into complacency. I just hope they don’t take it too far in the other direction, and start taking over and modifying civilizations to preemptively protect themselves from more insane aliens. But Osmani seems to be wary of that, so I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon.
Elliott
So how many Krev are left? I imagine their home planet being wiped out put a serious dent in their population but what are we at? 20% 30% 50%? Just how many died and how many survived? How many were off world or lived on other colonies?
Elliott
I'd like to remind everyone that the Arxur are still led by people who ate people. And the culture is STILL the same as it was before with the vast majority of Arxur living on Wriss. Only a handful of 'defectives' like Raza and her team make up the new generation and that's because they weren't culled. I don't think another intergalactic war will start but I wouldn't be surprised if people started going missing wherever Arxur are allowed to go.
Scarred Ragdoll
I strongly disagree considering the POV device here is a written transcript that may well be simulated rather than experienced consciously.
Wingit98
I'm completely against Meier on this one. You all just saw first hand what can happen when you use this technology Willy nilly and your first plan immediately after includes creating billions of robo people? No thanks.
DDDragoni
You've done so much good in your life(s), Adam. You deserve some time for yourself
DDDragoni
That's how the Krev's robotic soldiers worked, but I doubt the SC would mess with people's memories like that. They're trying to make people, not obedient soldiers.
DDDragoni
I think the dozens of chapters from Adam's POV are a pretty strong indicator of a conscious, feeling experience
Scarred Ragdoll
Even ignoring the fact that Robo-minds are not the original conciousness leading to questions on the morality of grafting other peoples memories to new people,we still don't know if Robo people even have a conscious experience rather than being a chat-GTP transcript produced by what a computer thinks the person should be thinking and feeling, based on database of copied memories. Honestly the evidence for the robots being philosophical zombies is far stronger based on how we have been told the process works so far, at least on the United Nations side of things.
Shajenko
I'm imagining future people will have DNR orders - Do Not Roboticize. That way, we won't have to guess as to whether they want to come back.
Shajenko
Their memories were altered, so I don't think it worked quite like that. Tyler's memories had to be reverted to before he found out the Krev weren't like the Federation, so likely the other citizens' were similarly affected.
Swan
Getting revived must be terrifying for those consortium civilians. They step into a scanner as a part of an everyday security check, then a blink of an eye later, they've time traveled into an entirely new body
Byron Ritchie
A few things I understand radai’s reservations but I ultimately side with Adam on this And im glad the sc is willing to let bygones to be bygones (for the most part) r chose to help their former enemies, even the fedrems and the caged species That’s how you end the cycle of violence and hatred
PhycoKrusk
Thank the Lord for Osmani, fixing things back on track with that careful touch the UN and the Coalition have been missing since Zhao left. Finally, Meier is free to pick up where Sovlin left off: Collecting war orphans.
Kevo
2nd to last chapter for Adam, feels like things are getting close tho
John Benjamin Cate
😈 I now urge SP to do it
James
My OCD will be very unhappy if you end at 99 instead of 100, lol
Dragon Writer Luc
I'm kind of wondering at this point whether NOP2 will be the end of the series, and if SP has something planned for a different setting. It's important for good stories to have a proper ending. One of my favorite book series is called "The Lensman Series" and it's 6 books long... unnecessarily. The series was finished at 5 books. But the sixth book opens with "the good guys lied to the hero, and there's actually another bad guy out there to take down." It just felt like the author was extending a popular series because he was afraid to start something new. Meanwhile, a favorite comic series is a D&D-type called Nodwick. The creator made the entire series and ended it with a sendoff and a "The End" card. The setting was brought back up one more time as a backstory for a character in his later superhero comic, PS238, with a sort of last hurrah for the Nodwick cast, but that was it. I love how the story feels complete.
password123-4138
All I can think of is the Krev being immortal robots constantly trying to befriend the humans, robot snakes with l.e.ds going up their sides, trombil being all like "As soon as I understood the weakness of my flesh it disgusted me." With the expansion of the SC territories accepting the Arxur have pretty much made the originisation the power house of the Orion arm and how the fed remnants would react to it. All in all, fun things to contemplate
Space Paladin
Not the second to last chapter, second to last Meier chapter! There are 3 more chapters after this and Tassi is likely the last
Michael Halpern
excellent chapter
Waffle man
It's been a good ride. Though I must admit, given we're on the second to last chapter, it's weird we haven't at all revisited how the first contact crew threw Tassi under the bus.
John Benjamin Cate
So much discussion. The pros and cons of the plan, all surrounding the hopeful idea of us all coming together to be better. I think the most important part of the people criticizing Meier’s hope was Randai saying it wouldn’t be a world as it used to be. Cause that’s what it boils down to: people being scared of a big change and thinking the stable status quo of the familiar past is better. But the past is where all the problems had happened. And so a radical change for a hopeful future is so much more preferable. What a sendoff for Meier. The honor of two lifetimes indeed!
