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The Nature of Predators - Sovlin’s Transcript (10/13)
🕑 Added 2024-11-09 12:00:08 +0000 UTCMemory transcription subject: Talpin, Gojid Activist
Date [standardized human time]: March 3, 2150
The predators hadn’t frightened me for a long time, but this would be my first return to Earth since the refugee camps were relocated from Sol to Skalga. I’d stuck to clawing through battles on Khoa and within the Sapient Coalition as a whole, and the human homeworld wasn’t in need of massive overhauls for basic accommodations; my fight wasn’t there. As many prey sapients that had moved to the so-called blue marble, there were a great many citizens that would think of Earth in the same breath as being lost in the wilderness. It was a dangerous place to the more conservative elements within the Sapient Coalition.
Rinio, a deaf Mazic teacher, was traveling to Earth for the first time after seven years of matrimony; he often said he’d found his soulmate in Lily. It wasn’t that he was afraid of the human homeworld, any more than a slight discomfort. His extended family and his wife’s place of origin were all there, as well as the culture that gave us our liberation. I doubted a prey creature could fall in love with an unsightly beast and hold onto such…reservations anyway. It was rather Lily who’d avoided going home since the bombing. I’d never forget finding her outside in the refugee camp, lying in the rain without her prosthetic.
When I pushed them both to come with me, I knew why she stayed away. Lily’s city, the famous and iconic New York, had long since vanished. Her work as a UN sign interpreter had given her purpose in helping others, like me, to live a full life and seek better treatment. It felt invigorating that I was invited as the keynote speaker to Terra Technologies’ launch of the new translator patch. The update would incorporate hundreds of forms of sign language built for each species (including the ubiquitous tail language to help out human users); I wouldn’t even need my keyboard to talk to the hearing world. I could make gestures, and the meaning would be pressed into their brain without an interim.
It’s the culmination of our journey, all that we’ve sought in terms of equality and accessibility. I suppose if a translator can derive meaning by decoding audio sounds, there’s no reason it couldn’t learn to unravel gestures.
Rinio signed with his trunk. “Tal, what are you going to say at your speech today?”
“I think I’ll talk about my heroes then, and my heroes today.” I returned with claw gestures, and nodded at Lily. “All that I am able to do is because of her. I will never forget the people who displayed compassion when no others would. Do you remember what you signed to me about Sovlin?”
The human hovered close to Rinio’s side. “We don’t stoop to a cruel person’s level. If we do, we’re no better than them.”
“Exactly. I took that to heart, especially after seeing that Terrans continued to live it even after Earth; I hope it’s comforting to see the fruits of you taking the high road. My sister is able to live as an independent Gojid without worrying about me, back on the rebuilt cradle; her confectionary was quite inspired by you! The candied fruits and taffies, the joy in her eyes. You’ve brought millions of people like me from darkness and abandon. This world is hope incarnate.”
“I’d like to think we’ll be appreciated one day. Our culture has spread far and wide, but influence…” Lily cast her gaze upward at the Space Needle, standing tall even among the skyscrapers. It was a symbol that humans would build to reach new heights and inspire their cohorts, the most defining feature of her kind. “Influence doesn’t make them comfortable with the real thing. Herbivores are waiting to condemn us, and not for the candied fruits and taffies. Hm. I wonder why you bring up the ‘cruel person’ adage now, in the context of your speech.”
“Oh, because Sovlin wasn’t the only cruel Gojid around. My entire society spat on me and treated me like a less-than. An obligation of the herd, which the predators would be logical, almost justified, to cull. There were some who said that it would be a mercy had I died to the Arxur. It’s sometimes hard to confront my people and those injustices, when even the hero I looked up to was as heartless as them. I see cruel people all around, every time we have to clamor for slight gains and any semblance of normalcy for ‘my kind.’”
“But we don’t stoop to their level,” Rinio finished. “That’s a good speech. You can say that instead, we climb like the Space Needle, and know that we—that humans—are far above them in the realm of kindness.”
“Exactly. I picked a better hero to look up to; someone persistent, in more than a cheeky claw flick to your infamous ancestral hunting ways. Someone who faced adversity with defiance and showed me that pushing past it was a sign of strength. Lily, I will always admire you. When I think to react in anger or without the durable patience that our outreach mandates, I ‘hear’ your words in spite of my deafness. And I choose to be better than the herd.”
Tears welled in Lily’s eyes, and she pressed a hand to her heart in the way humans did when moved. “When you put it like that, it’s a damn fine speech. Part of me wants to applaud you and insist on you using those words exactly, while another part of me feels your speech should be about you—celebrating your victory as the face of every deaf person who suffered under the Federation. I’m not the hero of this story, just a helper.”
“No. You’re my only hero who hasn’t disappointed or forsaken me. I wouldn’t have done any of this without my inspiration—the one who gave me the ability to start this journey in the first place. This victory is ours. I want to celebrate humanity, the helpers.”
“As do I. It’s an honor to walk on your soil, and finish our journey where it truly started,” Rinio added. “Welcome home, love.”
Lily smiled, dabbing at her eyes with her shirt sleeve. “Thank you. Everything that I did, it was only because you deserved better. The injustice is that we weren’t around to help sooner.”
“Your help would not have been trusted sooner. You were rejected when you tried. In that regard, you deserved far better than bastards like Captain Sovlin gave you too.”
Memory transcription subject: Sovlin, Gojid Retiree
Date [standardized human time]: May 10, 2151
I found the present ease of communication for deaf individuals, thanks to Terran initiatives, to be one of their most upstanding innovations. At least I wouldn’t be stuck waiting for a device to spit out the meaning, much like Noah and Sara when Tarva accepted their first contact hail; I wondered what those humans thought when the alien started talking back. Nowadays, I knew it wasn’t, “Ooh, yummy prey, bloodlust good.” It all must’ve been shocking. I knew that the primates didn’t think in terms of a predator/prey schism, so they were most certainly afraid of us—especially when they heard that I had come with war ships and would capture them at best.
Governor Tarva was very right on that matter; I wouldn’t have listened to predators coming “in peace” back then, and Doctor Zarn would’ve told me exactly who they were if a sliver of doubt crept in. The Gojids’ plans to attack Earth would’ve happened sooner, and they wouldn’t have had the chance to stop us.
Tarva saved this world and humanity from me, though I knew better than to ask her forgiveness on this tour of old faces. The governor had been horrified and incensed, as someone who was present when Marcel was wheeled back on death’s door. She had wanted me jailed by her kind’s laws for Slanek, and rightfully so; I’d thrown an injured Venlil in a cell with a predator I was certain would eat him, out of rage for his defense of Marcel. I wouldn’t have believed humans, of course, but why couldn’t I at least have heard the Venlil out? A better captain would’ve consulted the proof from those empathy tests that I was offered.
“Yoo-hoo, Earth to Baldy. Are you sure that Talpin will react negatively to you?” Sam asked, as the call rang unanswered.
[Transcript date changed to October 18, 2136]
I could understand the deaf adolescent’s amazement that the predators’ hadn’t given me the punishment I deserved. He had looked so furious, stewing after I had told him the truth of what I’d done; that was how I should be looked at, not as a hero, so I was happy to squash my own mythos as much as I could. My shame suggested that I should hide away, since it was obvious they didn’t want to travel with me. However, I was very keen to hear how Talpin and Berna—along with the rest of my people saved from the cradle—had fared in the Gojid refugee camps.
“T-Talpin, I just want you to know…” I began, croaking a few words to get his translating device’s attention.
The deaf Gojid’s claws hovered over his keyboard, and he curled his lip at me—perhaps having grown fond of that gesture from the predators and their menacing teeth unveilings. “You betrayed everything I believed about you. You are a cruel savage that shouldn’t call yourself a Gojid; or maybe you should, since you’re just like all the horrible people. You are the worst monster of all. You have no right to argue for our welfare, and the Federation shouldn’t hear a word you say. I will never forgive what you’ve done, as long as you draw breath!”
[Transcript date changed to May 10, 2151]
I sighed, giving Sam a morose look through the screen. “Yes, he was unequivocal. I also understand that he gave a speech denouncing his old heroes just the past year, so time hasn’t cooled the embers that much. Perhaps Talpin is the only one who sees me as I am.”
“Sovlin, that’s not true. You’re a war hero to humanity, in spite of—” the human responded.
The holopad screen divided into two segments, as Talpin answered the call. “Hello, Samantha. You know, I’ve often felt sorry for you having to guard him, and negotiate with him just to determine how to help me.”
“Okay, cut the bullshit. It’s been fifteen years, and the grumpy old prick has tried to make things right. Why don’t you just let him apologize? You don’t have to accept it.”
“Back when Lily signed those words, you said that Sovlin deserved to live with what he’s done. He’s not. He got away with everything, living free and without the hatred his name should bring. I would never stoop to his level of cruelty, because I am better than him. That doesn’t mean his crimes deserved no punishment or disdain. Sovlin was the worst Gojid of them all.”
“Oh c’mon, he’s not—”
I keeled over, lowering my eyes in shame. “You’re right, Talpin. You’re right.”
The deaf Gojid seemed surprised. “What?”
“I know everything that I’ve done. My friend, Carlos—he was my fucking friend—told me that not seeing anyone too different as a person is the belief that makes monsters of us all. I suspect you know exactly what that means, from the herd not seeing you as a person. I’m a monster, not a hero—I just wanted to hurt someone because I hurt! You feel betrayed by the ugly person I am, and you have every right, Talpin. I’m sorry. I wish you never admired me.”
“I…monsters of us all. Is that really why everyone has always been so cruel? We’re all just monsters.”
“Yes. We can be. I let every dark emotion win. I made every bad decision I could and kept pushing further down this path. Whatever you accuse me of, I already know. If it gives you any comfort to know you’re not the only one who saw it, that’s why I extend this message. I’m a bad man.”
“Stop it!” Sam chastised me. “You’re not a bad man. You changed so much, Sovlin, and risked your life and limb to save the galaxy. I’m a hardass and I forgave you. Talpin’s problem is he saw you as an ideal, and can’t square that your crotchety, depressed ass got lucky on a suicide mission. That’s why you were propped up to fame in the first place.”
“Then revenge became the sedative that got me through the days.”
“Do you hear that, Talpin? Does that sound like someone living it up, or someone living with everything in his past every day? As a woman who lost her entire family, I know which one I fucking believe.”
The deaf Gojid didn’t return any sign language for a long moment. “I looked up to you. I needed hope, but this was clearly not a realistic picture. You know that you are cruel and you know why, so I suppose…you are not the worst Gojid. I can also see the merit in Sam’s arguments that you do live with what you’ve done, daily.”
“If you believe nothing else I say, hear this. Had I known that humans would spare and release me, I would’ve dropped myself out that airlock back on my ship,” I growled.
There was a long pause. “I believe you. Let us go our separate ways now, without any more hatred. Let us be…better than the herd.”
“That’s as low a bar as you can set.” I stared at the intelligent activist who’d pioneered so many new rights, and saw in his face—heard in the reminders of what the herd had done—the story of Jolvanis. Recel’s brother could’ve had a full life, if people like Talpin had finished their work before his birth. “I wish you well, Talpin. I always valued your life, as much as any other person.”
Doubt flashed in the deaf Gojid’s eyes, before he disconnected from the call. I noticed that the few bristles I had left were about to pop out of my spine, fearful from hearing many of the words that I’d known I deserved for a long time. My plan to be better than the herd started with sampling meat, but I needed to end on a friendly old-time face to pep myself up for that. Talpin and Berna hadn’t been our only company when we went to plead with Nikonus. Perhaps it was time to see what Cilany, the first alien citizen of Earth and a reporter with stalwart integrity, had to say about that visit to Aafa.
A/N - Sovlin 10, double digits! We see what became of Talpin on Khoa, along with translator Lily from his side story, as they continued their activism and were key speakers for the unveiling of a sign language update to visual translators. Sovlin, Tal’s former hero, was replaced by Lily and humanity—who weren’t cruel like the here. The elderly Gojid remembers well how betrayed Tal felt, and tries to explain that he was never that heroic figure to begin with, just a man with a death wish. Sam defends Baldy, insisting to Tal that Sovlin is in his own daily hell.
What do you think about Talpin’s lasting bitterness toward Sovlin, and his eventual reluctant agreement to go their separate ways without it? Will the last guest on Sovlin’s tour (Cilany) hype him up for the meat tasting, or try to talk him down?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Some Lvm
I read this chapter out of order because I saw Talpin's name on the transcript. He is one of my favorite characters! Its always nice to see what became of a character after their arc is over. But one things seems odd to me: Why is sign language still a thing? We learned in NoP 2 that translators are implants that can stream audio directly to the brain, bypassing the entire hearing apparatus including I think, the auditory nerve. Which means, with relatively minor modifications, these devices could restore full range of hearing to any deaf person! Basically, just two changes would be needed: 1. An external microphone, since if I understand this correctly, currently the implant just translates signal from the user's auditory system. The microphone could even be wireless so there is no need for protrusion through the skin. 2. A software update that would allow it to pass all sounds as they are to the brain, instead of filtering and altering only speech. Such an implant might even allow better hearing than natural ears, depending on the sensitivity of the microphone, or it could translate ultrasonic frequencies in to something the brain can comprehend. With all the tech we seen in NoP universe, I am surprised that 15 years after the Federation, the best Terra tech can pull off is a visual sign language translator. I am pretty sure we can build one of those now with existing tech. With where computer vision is today, and the processing power of regular phones, this might be a real world app in a few years. (Googled it, there is at least one app now, but it seems to be pretty bad, just a single one star rating)
Shajenko
Going to hold on to my crazy theory that Recel will show up again, despite it being literally impossible.
Jhon Bustamante
no worry men your health first
Stueymon
“Do you hear that, Talpin?" He doesn't hear anything...
Space Paladin
Just an update: pushing the chapters for upcoming week back by a day. I’m unfortunately a bit ill. Could’ve gotten the chapter for tomorrow done if I wasn’t wiped enough to sleep for twelve hours by accident, wasting a sizable chunk of my writing time 🤣 Anyway, my sincere hope is that I’ll feel a little better tomorrow and be able to get something to you. Wasn’t a planned delay, my apologies!
Aerowarrier
I’m gonna be honest, Talpin’s whole thing about being better can very easily be twisted around, especially by certain Humanity First elements within Earth. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with him specifically for believing that, but it’s one of those things where you kinda need to think about who exactly your message is gonna reach and how they’ll interpret it. Plus, blanket calling an entire species worse is never a good thing :/
Douglas Biggers
I don't imagine they would work well unless they could tap into the user's sense of touch. The implications of that level of connection would make me very nervous.
Gumcel
So I was right about Cilany, what's next? Carlos' grave? Or maybe just 3 chapters of Cilany and borjor.
pogman
pretty much, she struck me as a little unfeeling and really just in her own world, not bad things on her own she just didn't spark any interest in me as a character.
Michael Halpern
i wonder if they work on haptic scripts too?
Byron Ritchie
well at least sovlin and talpin parted ways on good terms
Cartoon dinosaur
hmm, cool. Pleas tell me Aucel is going to show up? ever since this series started her absence has been like a black hole. And know I know what happened last they met, her coming back is literately the only thing I care about
EliasArt2Life
“The update would incorporate hundreds of forms of sign language built for each species (including the ubiquitous tail language to help out human users)” I’ve noticed for a long time that aliens have been using their tail languages to talk about humans behind our backs to our face (as anatomically impossible as thats should be). This change probably resulted in… quite a few awkward confrontations. I understand Talpin’s hatred, but hatred is honestly the last thing that Sovlin should have. The evil part of him that tortured Marcel is the same evil part that feeds off of, and is at peace with, people treating and talking to him like he’s a monster. Part of his punishment should be killing that part of him by starving it of validation. When the good part of him that we’ve cone to know is all that’s left, he’s still going to have to deal with his pain and guilt over what he’s done constantly. Part of giving people what they deserve is understanding what they want/who they are, and tailoring the punishment to that. That’s why sometimes you have to give up your hatred of someone to punish them. You can hate Sovlin all you like, but part of him will love and feed off of that hatred. You won’t be punishing him; you’ll be caving into your own hatred and giving him what he desires. Sometimes, especially with people like Sovlin who can effectively punish themselves mentally, mercy is more excruciating a torture than hate. Sometimes, you’ve got to let go of it. But that hatred isn’t easy to let go of; it serves a purpose. You were hurt, you have a hole inside of you, and the hatred works as a patch. But it’s a toxic patch, one that poisons you as long as you hold it. It’s not good for you, and sooner or later, it has to go. Only, letting it go reveals that old wound, and likely hurts more than the toxic hurt of hate. But only when it’s not clogged by hatred can the wound start to heal. Sooner or later, the hatred has to go. I’m glad that Talpin chose to let it go now.
John Benjamin Cate
Very impressive the translators got to use sign language. It’s going to do so much good
Dookus Maximus
Nothing against her, just not a fan?
Sci-fi reader
Looking forward to meeting Cilany again !
REDemon14
I like that even after everything that happened, Earth is still largely considered "untamed". Makes me happy for our little blue marble. Aww, happy for Rinio and Lily! I feel for Lily not wanting to return to a place full of painful memories. She's been keeping herself busy/distracted by working with the handicapped. At least she did actually enjoy her time and did a lot of good for the galaxy. I wonder how updates for the translators even works. Do they have to go to a specialized location like a doctor's office or the same place they got the translator implant? Is it done over the internet? I hope cybersecurity was buffed up quite a bit. imagine a bad patch comes in and completely mixes the language. "Whoops, everything's being translated to Sivkit. Don't worry, a patch will be released in 6 hours." Huh, so the translators can now pick up visual language. (kinda like how Hanar use bioluminescence to talk in Mass Effect and other species need translators), I wonder if they could do the same with written language at some point, if they haven't already. Talpin was really inspired by Lily. She introduced him to true compassion and a world/species that would accommodate him. Letting him and Berna live independent lives. Also interesting to see that Talpin has a low opinion of his entire species, it would seem. Can't really blame him, his parents are gone and Berna is the exception. Kinda sad that Sovlin has basically ruled out visiting Tarva. I thought it wouldv'e been nice to see the ones who started the whole story meet again. He does have a good reason though. She wasn't all that happy when he was willing to punish Slanek for even humoring that humans could be nice. Sill, he's talking to Talpin, Tarva would probably be more understanding, since they both lost family. (Both daughters, no less). Eh, if that's what Sovlin thinks is best, so be it. Sam: "Are you sure he dislikes you that much? *flashback* Sovlin: "I just want you to know-" Talpin: "Go fuck your fellow Arxur." *flashback over* Sovlin: "Pretty sure..." It seems that one of the reasons he's hateful of Sovlin is cause he believed that he got off easy for his torture of Marcel. It's not always so clear cut. Sovlin has suffered and has done all he could to make amends, never even getting to make amends with the one person he wanted to the most, Recel. I believe that Sovlin *was* a bad man many years ago, but to anyone who's been around him, they know this isn't the same Sovlin who tortured Marcel. "Let us go our separate ways now, without anymore hatred. Let us be better than the herd." If true forgiveness isn't possible, sometimes the best course of action is to just move on without more hate. Sovlin still has some bristles? Are they in the single digits now? So, we look forward to Cilany. I do wonder how she ended up after all these years. I'm not sure if Cilany is one to give Sovlin the go-ahead or talk down when it comes to meat eating. Last time we saw her eat an actual meal, she had an allergic reaction due to cross contamination, which probably got that restaurant in a lot of trouble, if not shut down. That may have traumatized her for all we know, but we'll see.
Max Kreuzer
At ðe end of ðis road is standiŋ Marcel
un_pogaz
I guessed Talpin wouldn't appreciate his fallen hero Sovlin any more, but I didn't think this would go start this badly. Christ. At least they were able to reconcile. I think Cilany could be a bit of fun, like maybe invit them intoa roller coaster, or something else like human "predatory" shit.
DDDragoni
I doubt it's every expression- just the tail/ear movements that are deliberately intended to convey a message
DDDragoni
That lasting bitterness makes a lot of sense- when someone you put on a pedestal falls off of it, they tend to fall *hard.* I'm glad Talpin was at least able to move past that, even if he still doesn't particularly like Sovlin
Alekss Žukovskis
well come on now. it would really be sus' if sociopaths would have to go the extra mile to enable that pierdolich. we don't want to be exclusive now, would we?
Elliott
They got the tail/ear language update? Damn, the human facial expressions I suspect will be next, though I wonder if either of these would be annoying. Like every time someone smiles a certain way the translator says "Happy", I'd be going crazy, would be better to just learn facial/ear/tail language non-verbal cues.
Michael Halpern
yes visual translators are a thing for written languages, in NOP 1 they usually still involved a separate external interface, and it wouldn't surprise me if that was still the case, as you don't necessarily want the implant to distract you by impressing the meaning of every wall of text you see
Michael Halpern
much needed, Sovlin needed to hear from someone who was disillusioned and didn't know him before he surrendered, and Talpin needed to see how he had changed. No one else could really help him come to terms with the symbol he was, what he actually was, and what he is now.
Alekss Žukovskis
this was a mid episode :/
DreamEnvoy
Okay, making the translators compatible with sign language is extremely cool. Now with a visual input, I wonder if it works on written languages as well. I'd say it would be fair if Talpin couldn't forgive Sovlin for the antagonistic roll he played in early NoP chapters. But I'm glad this chapter ended with Talpin at least being able to let go of his hatred. Woo! Looking forward to Cilany! Her miniseries remains my favorite.
pogman
Not a fan of Cilany, though
pogman
Talpin my beloved
