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The Nature of Predators - Gojid Refugee (5/9)
🕑 Added 2024-02-24 12:00:07 +0000 UTCMemory Transcription Subject: Talpin, Gojid Refugee
Date [standardized human time]: October 3, 2136
Avoiding the predators, or staying in the dormitory at all times, was impossible. It was necessary to make occasional trips to the facilities, though I tried to keep that number as minimal as possible; other Gojids bunking with us had to catch up to me on one trip, as a human barked to demand that I didn’t run. The beast seemed irate that I’d disregarded its message, but it wasn’t like I could hear. That was just one of several directives that I flubbed. Berna attempted to bring extra rations back to our sleeping quarters, but that earned a “wellness check” from predator soldiers, who cornered me to ask why I hadn’t obtained any food or water since arriving. My sister covered for me, claiming it was fear and that she’d been helping, and managed to get the warrior to leave us alone.
With close call after close call, the Terrans were losing patience with my lack of any response to them; I knew that my time was running short. Something about my behavior had drawn their attention to me, and I noticed a few observing and conferring about me now. The fact I’d made it this far was because of my fellow townsfolk, who were covering for my liability to prevent the predators from culling me. Still, not even Berna could keep the beasts away on their own planet. This was what I hadn’t wanted—my sister stuck taking care of me, and placing herself in harm’s way for my sake. Maybe the pity the people of Blessed Fields felt for my family was well-founded. Since this was not a full life, I hoped the predators figured it out soon.
With all of them putting their heads together, someone will draw the correct conclusion. That, or they’ll ask the wrong person from Blessed Fields, and be told a truth that’d be unthinkable to them.
I chewed at my beige claws, as a watchful Berna warned us of an approaching stranger; a middle-aged Gojid who’d come from outside the gates with the predators. Where had they taken him to? Maybe the cattle activities and enhanced interrogations were kept outside of this place, away from the Federation-facing side. That explained a lot about why there’d been no soldiers snacking. When they started to get hungry or feel the urge to beat the prisoners, the humans must head to that external site. It was…likely where they’d whisk me off to, when they learned about my deficiencies. I cringed as the group positioned themselves in front of me, while I sat huddling against the bed.
I only caught snippets of the conversation, from this poor angle; Berna’s back was turned to me, so I could only glimpse the stranger’s words. “High-ranking Gojid…prisoner…can to help. You might…name is Captain Sovlin.”
That name was enough to snap me out of my glum state for a moment. The Captain Sovlin, the hero who’d driven off the Arxur through his bravery? The cradle, our home that was now reduced to rubble, would’ve suffered that fate years ago if not for his leadership and defiance! He was the one I was mimicking, when I tried to scrounge up the courage to walk myself into the humans’ jaws to save my family. If anyone could figure out a way to get the predators to back off, or had outsmarted them enough to get some useful information about their true intentions, it would be him. Berna’s posture relaxed, and she gestured between herself and me: likely trading names.
“How long…keep them in the dark? The humans aren’t stupid,” Sovlin spoke, studying me with evident pity, as I strained to see his words out of reverent awe. Under any other circumstances, I’d be nowhere near such a storied man; I’d be in a crowd meant to celebrate his captaincy. “I…suggest you lay as low…care of yourselves.”
Admiring his sure-footedness and calmness, even after whatever horrors he must’ve endured at the hands of the predators, I waved my claws at him—the only hero worship I could muster, without words at my disposal. Sovlin’s features tightened, before he turned on his heel without acknowledgement; his receding footsteps dragged across the ground, and his shoulders slumped with an uncharacteristic admission of defeat. I couldn’t help but notice three humans lurking at the entrance to the dorm, likely planning to press him for answers. I was certain the captain could hold out, or put them on the wrong path, but I hoped he wouldn’t be the latest person to suffer because of me.
A white-haired figure with pudgy features laid its mitt on Sovlin’s arm several times, likely sending shudders down his spine. I could see even a seasoned Gojid like him panicking in such close proximity to the beasts, though he managed to keep it together; he had to squeeze his eyes shut to block out the sight of the hideous beasts encircling him. How worn out his instincts must be, after whatever excruciating tactics they’d used against him. Being all alone with them must be enough to bend anyone’s sanity, which led to my first doubt that he could hold out. I couldn’t imagine what it was like to be trapped amid a pack, plotting cruelties…though I’d know quite soon.
I know I need to be brave for Berna, but that makes my heart feel claustrophobic in my chest. Subjected to their whims for an eternity…until they get bored or go too far. I really hope the culling process is quick.
Then, there was a heated outburst from Sovlin, and I knew from his immediate look of regret that he’d broken. The predators’ eyebrows raised in evident shock, as they struggled to process that Gojids would care for a deaf individual. After recovering from their dumbfounded looks, the beasts’ eyes snapped toward me; they stalked toward me as a pack, with an auburn-haired female seeming to take charge. It pointed at me, leaving no question that the Terrans knew. Terror rocketed through my veins, leaving me able to feel my heartbeat skipping beneath my jaw; though my exhausted spines couldn’t bristle any further, a megadose of fear took control of my brain. All I could think was to hide…to desperately try to get away from their sinister paws.
I tried to crawl under the bunk, but my bristling spines meant I couldn’t make what would otherwise be a tight fit. The beasts were much closer now, with that unyielding focus that helped them target their prey. Sovlin’s eyes were tearing up, knowing he was behind what might be my execution, right here in front of him. I could tell that he wanted to apologize; knowing how I felt now, just now having the Terrans close in on me, I couldn’t be too hard on him. Even this famed starship captain was mortal…he was prey. This was going to happen to me, sooner or later.
However, Berna didn’t accept the inevitability of my death. With the courage that I hadn’t quite mustered when I snuck off, she put her body between me and the predators. My heart sank even further, worried that the humans would strike her down for contesting them. None of the other Gojids were willing to place themselves in harm’s way, but they looked at the war hero with disgust. No matter how much they’d talk about using me as bait, they hadn’t actually done it. It was unthinkable to let someone get mauled by predators. A broken-looking Sovlin collapsed to his knees, weeping and hugging his chest.
My sister flexed her claws at the predators, refusing to budge from where she stood—forming a barrier between me and them. I wished I had a better way to express how much I loved her, or how grateful I was for all the help she’d given me. It wasn’t her fault that I’d been discovered, but the last thing I wanted was to see her executed along with me. There would be nobody left of our family, with our father dead; we’d been so caught up in keeping me alive, that it’d denied her the chance to grieve. That was enough to jolt me out of the instinctual paralysis, so I could try to intervene.
“No! Don’t fight them!” I wanted to scream at Berna, but I had no voice. “Ditch me…save yourself!”
The humans didn’t strike my sister down for her insolence. Instead, the auburn-haired predator knelt down, with piercing green eyes that never left my hiding spot. It raised a dexterous hand in my direction, before making animated gestures concurrent with its speech. The flesh-eating abomination…was trying to communicate? I sat frozen, trying to analyze any of what it was saying, so that it wouldn’t get frustrated with my continued failure. My mind was too distracted by the implications of this nonverbal code, something it had clearly known on the spot. It wasn’t an invention that could’ve been cooked up in an instant, just to blend in with the Federation.
Holy shit…no, this can’t be right. Humans already thought of a way to help deaf people, beyond what the Federation ever did? It’s more than knowing of and accounting for our weaknesses. They…don’t cull their deaf people. This soldier isn’t looking at me with contempt or pity, like other Gojids.
The predator seemed to realize that I didn’t understand, because it gave up on the gestures after Sovlin mentioned something about “only audible language.” The human thought translators might be able to work on its finger motions; it hadn’t come here to hurt me, or execute me. If it would make accommodations for liabilities like me, then that meant they had some rudimentary capacity for empathy. Nurturing behavior didn’t stem from cruelty, and it certainly didn’t help with hunting: a practice that was all about killing living beings. A befuddled Berna eased her defensive stance, and stared at the creature with newfound curiosity. The huntress reacted poorly to something that my sister said, finally showing some signs of anger.
I could feel my body still trembling, so I wasn’t able to bring myself to lipread their conversation. However, something this beast said during the exchange seemed to floor every Gojid observer. That gave me the energy to discern a few words and context clues. Sovlin managed some statement about how humans were nothing like the Arxur, before the Terran soldiers left as swiftly as they’d strode over. From what he’d said, it sounded like he hadn’t been tormented into compliance at all. He—the greatest tactician of our species—trusted them, despite what they looked like. I carefully maneuvered my quills from under the bed, unable to believe what had just happened. If a captain of his caliber thought that humans were benevolent, how could I not consider the evidence to that effect?
The humans saved us from the Arxur on the cradle, and expressed disgust at the fact they were going to eat us; this was despite the Gojidi Union being at war with them. There was zero evidence of anything more than stampede casualties among the civilians, even as blood wafted into their nostrils. The Terrans brought anyone they could gather to refugee camps with civilized conditions, doing what they could to provide for us on short notice. The soldiers reacted to the news of my deafness by attempting to communicate with me; I wished I knew any of what the huntress had said. Either these primates were so deceptive and charming that their ruse fooled Sovlin himself, or this wasn’t a long-term ploy for survival at all.
I snatched Berna’s notepad, scribbling frantically. “I thought it was going to kill me. Its eyes…looked straight at me, and I thought it was over, and then it did some weird shit. What the fuck was that predator doing?”
“Yeah…I feel that. The human was using sign language. One of its partners claimed that it was how deaf people…er, predators communicated on Earth,” she answered, settling down next to me in a daze. The herd, without any obligation to keep my secret any longer, wandered off to their own duties. “I was asked to tell you that they’d find a way to speak with you.”
“Okay, but why did the female get angry with you? What did you say to provoke it?”
“Sovlin asked why…why she spoke a language for deaf people, when she could hear. Her answer was that her brother was deaf from birth…a lot like you. When I expressed surprise that her parents kept a deficient offspring, I don’t believe she was happy about any of my word choices. That scowl and snarling voice were a terrifying combination.”
“The human was angry because she cared about her brother. She was incensed at the suggestion that he wasn’t worthy of life, is that it?”
“I don’t know what to think, Talpin, but she seemed offended. Just like I am when people say awful things about you. I got no impression that the humans wanted to hurt you. If they did, they could’ve done it right there. Shit, I defied them, and I’m still in one piece. They tried to reassure me.”
“That doesn’t make any sense for a predator. They don’t have empathy, and they’re driven by cursed hunger, to kill and perpetrate violence. They’re supposed to enjoy suffering, and hate weakness. Why are they being so nice?!”
“They told Sovlin they wanted to save the cradle. They wanted a top commander from our military to serve alongside them, as equals. What if they really do care, and want to help Gojids?”
I paused, an uneasy feeling continuing to flip my stomach. “But we were going to wipe them out. That would mean...”
“I know. I…I know.”
“The Federation observed them. They eat flesh.”
“Yes, but they don’t seem to want to eat us. Perhaps they’re more like us than the Arxur.”
“It’s obvious they operate differently from the Arxur. Our treatment isn’t anything like a cattle pen, but they were occupying our planet mere days ago. I’m not ready to believe they’re people.”
“I didn’t say they had the emotional complexity of prey, Tal. I’m just inclined to think they have some. Besides, what choice do we have but to hope they’ll be kind to you? There’s no putting the truth back in the burrow.”
Unsure what to think, my claws fiddled with the pen for several seconds. It wasn’t clear how the humans would communicate with me, apart from a third-party like Berna relaying what they said, but they were expressing a desire to try—they’d already made an attempt. That was a lot more than most Gojids would ever do. These Terrans didn’t seem to look down on me or cast judgment, though I’d learn very soon whether they did. I found myself reconsidering every truth I knew about predators, the very foundation of the Great Protector belief that my father died adhering to. The image that stood out in my mind was the primate who waved at me in the shuttle: had he sensed that I couldn’t hear, or at least that there was something different about me?
The other thought that kept circling around was the information desk from the tour, where a group of human volunteers sat waiting for Gojid inquirers that would never come. When our tour guide had floated the prospect of getting to know a predator or chatting with them, it’d been laughable. Now, I had some curiosity about what they were really after, and what they wanted in return for collaborative efforts that’d seem altruistic from any other species. Perhaps the humans’ overarching goal with this entire endeavor was to be our friends. What I would give to see how they treated deaf packmates, and compare it to Blessed Fields’ cruel indifference. It would be wonderful for me to be able to talk to anyone that was interested in conversing with me, even a binocular-eyed sapient.
I wasn’t sure when I decided that the humans were the only ones I had a chance of being treated like a normal person by, but I hoped against all common sense that Sovlin was right about trusting them.
A/N - Part 5! That scene from all the way back in Chapter 29, where Talpin is revealed to the humans as deaf by Sovlin, who's a hero figure...and our narrator, like everyone else, misinterprets their shock at why all the Gojids were hiding it. Samantha attempts to sign to communicate through sign language, which leaves Talpin and Berna both shocked that predators not only don't cull disabled individuals, but go further to help...with much less contempt...than prey.
Will this be the start of Tal opening up to humans, who can finally give him someone who'll speak to and treat him with respect; and will it make his life change for the better? How will he handle learning that Gojids are much worse than Terrans in every aspect of accessibility and decency?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Lorventus
Actually: Pack Predators do help their weaker members. Not all of them do so and not all of them that do, do so with kindness, but they do. A pack lives and dies by its members, sometimes you need a home body to watch over the pups. Or in our case, children. The issue with herd behavior is it tends to not encourage nurturing and protection of the weak and ill.
Rick VanHoute
Yes, I've been waiting to see this scene playout form his pov.
Space Paladin
Talpin is physically writing the words so he can underline for emphasis!
Some Lvm
@Elias: I did notice this was the first time underline font was used in NoP content, and wondered why that was. If this is indeed a way of differentiating Talpin's narration as a different kind of "inner voice", it might be interesting...
Yannis Morris
Continuing the point: Imagine if the humans get nervous. Talpin’s been given something he was never even able to dream of and so many humans around him are apologetic and ashamed that they couldn’t give him anything better because they’re strapped for resources. The “predators” are helping him in the middle of their potential extinction
everything very
I actually kinda hope talpins story carries on either now or as a part 2 where he can have his own ark outside of linking back to his role in the main story :)
Edward ward
it’s not nothing. Solivin believes with all his heart that he just sentenced a CHILD to a potentially horrific death. Through no fault of his or Talpin’s. And that he’ll be made to watch. It doesn’t matter how wrong he is, that fear and grief is still real.
EliasArt2Life
I think that it’s pretty cool that Talpin, rather than exclaiming something, underlines words to show emphasis.
Gumcel
Two underlined words? What the hell :krakotl_high: Yes I am struggling of something interesting to say, how could you tell? :sivkit_clueless: (For real though I don’t know what to discuss this is just ch 29 from Talpin’s perspective)
Guardian
I like this. It's like listening to behind-the-scenes commentary on your DVD/Blu-Ray. I can see it now: "Available for the first time: Forrest Gump, Explorative Edition. Enjoy one of humanity's beloved classic films, complete with commentary from leading Terran psychologists, and learn the truth about the 'human condition."
Space Paladin
Sovlin had to decide then and there whether he trusted us not to be like the Arxur—he couldn’t toe the line anymore!
Space Paladin
I’m glad you’re enjoying it! It’s been fun to revisit this time, a bit of a vintage feel…especially since it may be the last content set in NOP1! It’s almost crazy that we never got Gojid refugee content before this
Space Paladin
I did have an idea for HE3, but I think it’s probably best to focus on new characters and stories since they all got a good ending!
Space Paladin
All they need is to see soldiers using hand signs to direct each other…
Apogee
Nice comments! I like that you blocked them out instead of putting them in one long string. I can tell your really engaging with the story. This is one of my favorites too. This is basically a book club and I’m all for it! Yeah, I wonder if the feds had another term for the center of self. That would be interesting. I know for us the figurative heart is the seat of desire and motivation, because it’s our engine so to speak. It what’s let’s us move and do things. Though as far as the soul I believe that’s more in the blood. Since without blood to pump the heart can beat all it wants but you would still die. The life is in the blood. I think that’s why a lot of cultures put emphasis on the blood, especially in scarifies and the like. Oh I think the Yulpa put emphasis on the blood and heart in their sacrifices other than pain. Sorry I kinda rambled
Yannis Morris
I remember Rauln questioning why humans would use such a violent wording like “bleeding heart” to describe someone feeling pain at the thought of another’s suffering (Wow I wonder if that’s a word that starts with the letter E or smth) I wonder how he and Haysi and whoever else would react upon learning that humans consider The Federation’s lack of help to Talpin “heartless”. And linguistically that’s a really interesting set of terms isn’t it. That we ascribe all this importance, feeling and emotion to a single organ. Think about it. What is the heart? It’s the reason we’re alive. It’s our core. So we describe someone who would abandon someone to this fate as Heartless. We say they act as if they’re lacking the core of their being. Lacking what makes them a living breathing human in the first place. I am very interested in what Haysi would have to say about this linguistic curiousity. We literally feel so strongly about this. So goddamn strong. And the Feds and Ex-Feds have the gall to claim we’re faking for some plot to convince them we’re kind, caring people like them. While they prove themselves to be selfish cowards. (I had a lot of feelings about the cultural importance of the heart to humans and Rauln’s confusion on why we’d describe it as bleeding when we hear someone’s woes)
Yannis Morris
Yeahhh. Between this and Prime Minister Piri it would be pretty hard to subscribe to the idea that humans are subsapient monsters mimicking “prey” in order to get closer for the kill. Because we aren’t acting like them either. “Predators” don’t help their weaker members but “Prey” sure as shit don’t either. “Predators” don’t give their lives so that “Prey” may survive but none of the “Prey” did that either.
Yannis Morris
On this day Sovlin proclaims that humans are “Nothing like the Arxur” which, true. Something he fails to articulate in that moment is that we’re also nothing like The Federation. And that is a very good thing
Yannis Morris
In before another Gojid Refugee or a Venlil tries to discredit sign language with Fed Mental Gymnastics like “They clearly invented it so they could hunt without prey being able to hear their disgusting voices”
Yannis Morris
I know that after Hunter this would be preaching to the choir and I don’t actually know what the average 1960s person would feel about this topic… But I would imagine Hunter hearing about Talpin’s pad and he’s assuming that “Humans gave him a speech-to-text-and-back pad” implies something like “He lost his old one in the evacuation”. And Sovlin would hear this assumption and be further convinced of the Federation’s worthlessness. Because he knows that the pad wasn’t even an idea in anyone’s heads. And yet the “Primitive predator” from a period of war just thinks it’s a given of life that the deaf man would have accommodations
Yannis Morris
This is why people join Humanity First. (For context to those who haven’t seen Predator Disease or Human Exterminator 2: The relatively “benign” side of HF has the belief that Federation Culture is worthless and should be replaced with superior human culture. The entire concept and “treatment” plan of PD and the nonexistent Disability care are most likely where this side of HF gets its motivation)
Yannis Morris
I think the real breakdown will start when this is the most care and effort he’s ever received in his life but to the human’s they’re not even doing anything impressive. Worst, they think it’s probably a substandard accommodation he’ll have to put up with until they can get him some *actual* accommodation.
Matěj Kratochvíla
Hey I just read through the vast majority of bonus content here (was reading NOP Reddit only content just a week ago) and I especially liked Wiliam Kane and his story and appearances. So I know that the end of Venlil Foster Brother was meant to give him the "happily ever after" ending but I'd still like to see something about him, perhaps something similar to "Nova's Children" or just continuation of his exterminator squad shenanigans? Please?
Vladi Vladi
Ah the pit in my stomach is gone. I no longer desire to beat to death the two Gojids who feature the most in this short story. It’s nice when the POV is not Federation Slaves, but actual people. Nearly makes the whole thing worth it, watching them change in real time
Grimble
This side story has quickly become one of my favorites, it’s also nice to see someone start questioning fed logic so quickly. Can’t wait for more
EliasArt2Life
To someone who’s lived in silence all his life, the mere attempt of communication is enough to cut through a lifetime of lies. It’s rough. Being so starved for recognition, for someone to treat you as a person, and never getting it. It’s no wonder that he’s so quick to change his opinion on humans when they’re the first people to show that they care for him and want to communicate with him, outside of his family. Can’t wait for the next chapter! I want to know how he reacted to his speech board!
Lokyar
Berna got the auditory segment and yet realised its falsehood before Talpin; though that was mostly due to being able to hear the human. It's the combination of the Federation and it's members being brutal to any "deviant or defective" members of the herd, Talpin and Berna experiencing that personally, and humanity giving a flying fig about anyone. They've not broken through yet; note how the statements are "they aren't as good as us prey, but they might not be as bad as we were told" instead of "holy shit, these people are better than our people ever were"... but there are cracks forming.
Apogee
Man I had forgotten just how deep the fed ideology goes or how much they believed it. Poor Solivin is literally crying in devestation over nothing, sad. Awsome chapter can’t wait for the next one!
T___
The first thought of Sam was trying to talk directly to Talpin himself. Other than his sister, it was the first time that happened to him. To Talpin that was what broke his earlier stance on humans.
PhycoKrusk
He has to be: Can't hear at all, so you have to compensate by picking out context clues from other actions.
PhycoKrusk
Honestly, the tablet seems like a stopgap until they have a better understanding of Gojid physiology and can create an implant. Or maybe some of the camp staff got impatient and cobbled it together from inexpensive software, an old tablet, and a second-hand Speak&Spell.
Tazeell
Sovlin to the rescue! Miss you old chap! Nothing like a bit of hero worship to help get a message through.
PhycoKrusk
Talpin's deafness has actually forced both of them to have a different viewpoint their entire lives: They were certainly predisposed to believing predators were intrinsically bad, but were not predisposed to believing that prey were intrinsically good. Sometimes, breaking through cult programming takes weeks, months, or even years of focused effort. Other times, all it takes is a glitch on the Matrix.
Bbobsillypants
Oh No talpins having a sovlin moment! Quick tape up the airlocks! No.. wait.. nevermind.
Serpent_Bon 274
Didn't her family die in the bombings? Or was that just her husband?
Dragon Writer Luc
Hearing aids don't give you sound when you're deaf. They help you hear when sounds are *dulled.*
Byron Ritchie
Despite missing on of his senses talpin is far more perceptive of human behaviour then many fully abled former feds
REDemon14
You know, I wonder what the nature of Talpin's deafness is. Bad eardrums? Deformed bones in the ear? Because if it's the bones; then there are surgeries to address that or even bone-conducting head phones. Though, going by what they go with in the end; I guess he just had bad eardrums. Great chapter
un_pogaz
Today is the day! The great war hero intervenes! >What I would give to see how they treated deaf packmates, and compare it to Blessed Fields’ cruel indifference. Talpin, you're going to rage so hard. I really like how Talpin immediately understood that we were trying to talk to him by gesture, and all the implications behind it. He's completely starved for social interaction, poor boy. I find the "Fed dogma" collapse of Talpin and Berna's very brutal. They're still suspicious, but they've gone from "horrible predator who's going to eat us" to "people" faster than many. Not so surprisly after all, they're in an extreme case, so they see the empathy of humanity just as strongly. Oh, and Samantha MUST introduce her brother to Talpin. Do I need to explain the potential wholesome of this encounter?
Youre a swedekisser arent you
Can't wait to see Talpin get a custom made hearing aid! He's probably going to weep like a baby upon hearing for the first time and I am ready for it!
Full_diamond_6414
I think if I found out a refugee camp (run by me people) was filed with people who thought we culled anyone with disabilities, my next course of action might be to (for lack of better/respectful terms) "show off" or visibly parading around someone or some alien with a disability. And with the "get to know a human" info line failing, it might be easier to set up something like a "get to know earths plants/fauna" thing, or presentations on why the snake wkth friendly loking eyes might not be so safe. Like, if I'm terrified of getting to know a human, having a sort of (almost touristy) exhibit on some plants, bugs, small animals (etc.) Would be a draw for a less "scary" reason. I don't "want" to do te scary thing, but I do want to learn some basic survival info, and may be wiling to interact with (and desensitize myself a bit) humans. Its just clear at this point that you are dealing with deeply ingrained programming. You really need to break down their brains rationalizations and bad logic. They need to be so extraordinarily visibly different in order to get them to challenge their beliefs. And if we don't have a company whos core function is to take human movies, books, etc and reduce graphic content to an amount more commercially viable among the feddies and to explain the context of things that are commonly misunderstood as predatory. Like a movie might have a 5-10 minute opener with some "things to know before watching" to cover some background/prevalent stuff in the film (maybe an explanation of the purpose of makeup or the forms of play og children). With like, annotations or segments where they cut away to some explanation. In my headcannon, its like taking a super biased (but trying to be open) alien bill nye, who is clearly baffled by some stuff but is doing his best to be open about it all. Like interspersed throughout the movie might be cut aways to the alien scientist explaining forrest gumps leg braces or exploring the roles in forrests bullying. Lots of cultural content and our companies would definitely see the opportunity to edit down content to expand their market.
Jonathan Cardoso Mota
To be honest, he's also the kind of guy who'd been... At the bottom of the totem pole of federation life, suffering the worst it has to offer. He was already primed and ready to deny the truths of the federation because they made his life hell. And seeing humans just... Do so much better, when he expected them to do so much worse? This wasn't /quick/, no, it was just... The end of a long chain of events.
Full_diamond_6414
Hmm, almost as if he's missed out on a portion of the state sanctioned brainwashing reduces its effectiveness. At least, the auditory segment.
snidramon
Talpin actually got out of the fed brain fog pretty quickly there. I suppose he's one of the few who would actually have to think, so it makes sense he's faster than Sovlin was.
print Path
Congratulations, I step down for now, may you bask in the glory of your victory
Alekss Žukovskis
Some days ago a guy complained about peeps saying in what order they arrived, well bazinga, im fifth.
Paperclip
Talpin and Berna showing common sense (in Fed dogma) that rivals Tarva is a breath of fresh air. They caught onto things it took other characters dozens of chapters to pick up on, in the span of like, three. Again I wish that they were a main focus in NOP1. I love these spiky goobers.
Pleaseandthabkyou
U thought
Wesley Rigg
third
PS1 Hagrid
First. The people that saved you from the arxur, gave you refuge, warm food and tried to help you find your loved ones might not be bad people, what a shock.
Corporal Chunk
Oh ma god, oh ma god i'm actually first, i have risen from second to first! Hoorah!
