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The Nature of Predators 178
🕑 Added 2023-12-14 12:00:05 +0000 UTCMemory transcription subject: Chief Hunter Isif, Arxur Rebellion Command
Date [standardized human time]: April 6, 2137
After devoting hundreds of thousands of ships to the Kolshian cause, then having a large portion of those vessels turned against Betterment’s mandate, Giznel’s regime had all but collapsed as soon as humanity won. That selfish despot only wanted to save his own hide, at the end of the day; after an offer of exile to an uninhabited moon, he handed over his command to the rebellion without a fight. At this point, following the changes in allegiance mid-battle, we’d had numbers on our side. I would’ve liked to see “Prophet” Laznel’s line brought to an immediate end, but I’d settle for avoiding further losses. My return to Wriss as the presumed leader would be the first time I’d been there in years, since I’d been stationed all the way out by Skalga.
The future of the Arxur wouldn’t be as sapient-eating monsters, beholden to basic needs and aspiring to cruelty. Assuming Secretary-General Zhao could persuade the Sapient Coalition to leave us be, during the upcoming convention to write the Treaty of Sol, we could start rebuilding our society into its former self. I wished at a time like this that Vysith hadn’t turned her back on her people; a soldier from the long-gone Morvim Charter could be a leading voice in defending “defectiveness.” It would be an arduous battle stretching decades to convince my people that empathy was not weakness, especially since sociopathic tendencies had been bred into our bloodlines.
There will be the issue of challenges from those who see me as weak; I need to consolidate my allies, including the unsavory Chief Hunters I turned. The United Nations promised to get Usliff and Ilthiss to stand down, though given their lust for power, I can’t imagine how.
I wished that I could be a part of the Sapient Coalition’s activities, but the prey races weren’t ready for diplomatic contact with the Arxur. These deep wounds would take generations to heal; there was nothing I could offer that would atone for my complicity—every atrocity I committed to survive. Forgiveness would never be something I deserved, for all my efforts to bring about a new dawn. Humanity had escaped the label of monstrous predators, yet obligate carnivores with our past wouldn’t be immune to judgment. Felra was an unmerited blessing: the only friend I ever had, and my only outlet for my suppressed emotions. While the Dossur didn’t belong in strategy meetings, I hoped to consult with her on sentimental matters, in Vysith’s role.
Hey Siffy! How’d your conversation with Zhao go? Felra’s message came through in an instant, across the reinstated FTL networks. I know you’re going to be a great leader. You have such a big heart!
I tapped my claws against the keypad. Zhao needs to handle Usliff and Ilthiss before we talk. Those two wanted a larger role, despite the obsolescence of their methodology. We cannot afford coups, in-fighting, and power grabs, yes?
With you finding a way to feed them and not killing lots of people, I think you’ll be well-received! You just need to promise greatness in a way that’s not keeping cattle. You did the right thing by forcing Giznel to free all sapient captives, before he left. The lab-grown meat will be fine; you know, Arxur can try beef jerky now!
That is not real meat, you silly rodent. You cannot even tell that human meat is meat by looking at it, because it is so processed and unnatural. That is not a dietary practice befitting a hunter.
Maybe you don’t realize the grays do things boringly, Felra fired back. I’m serious, Siffy, your culture needs to be more fun. Fun is part of expressing yourself.
I question the validity of any advice coming from you.
But you’ll still listen to me: because I’m that much fun! What would you do without me? Practice your sulking expression in the mirror?
Hmph. I do not have to listen to your babbling. I can turn off the holopad.
You don’t want to do that! You must be lonely, not having Olek and Lisa around anymore.
I am not lonely; I am relieved. No more spies and conspiracy theories. I feel bad for that poor adopted human on Skalga, who’ll have to deal with Olek’s derangement again. And I’m sure you’ll see enough of Lisa to tell me things I don’t care about, since she transferred to Liberty’s Bastion.
I know! The coffee shop has been set in motion. Actually, I told her to put a drink on the menu called the Siffy! She can use food coloring to make it gray, and draw a BIG heart shape with the cream.
I thoroughly despise you. Never contact me on this app again, Felra.
Right, sure. Always so grumpy.
I am not grumpy; I am just tired of you! Enjoy this, because it’s the last time I’ll ever respond to your messages.
Okay then. Talk to you tomorrow!
I considered deleting the SwiftPair app after the latest exchange with Felra, but settled for burying the holopad in its drawer with an exasperated tail lash. If that Dossur was the best candidate to steer us down an emotional awakening, perhaps it was better if we kept our single-minded focus on war. I didn’t want to be anything like that. Hopefully, the Secretary-General’s message, arriving any minute, would offer better prospects for the Arxur’s future. Unifying my people under a novel purpose was my mission, and that meant I needed rival Chief Hunters mollified.
I intended to ditch the authoritarian name, Dominion, during my rule, and to lay the groundwork for a new method of government; one where the rights spelled out in the Sapient Coalition’s founding documents were mirrored for our citizens. The herbivores needed to be convinced we didn’t deserve extinction, and showing them intended reforms might give Zhao something to work with. I believed that humanity would fulfill their end of the bargain: that promise to aid the rebellion following the Kolshians’ fall. That might not be by sending their fleet, after Giznel’s pathetic surrender, but staying the guns of their allies would be its own fight.
My claw was hovering over the comms screen, and I swiped to accept when Zhao phoned. “Greetings, Mr. Secretary-General. From your relaxed expression, I gather that your discourse with Ilthiss and Usliff went well?”
“It did. They were given roles as chief generals—a fancy way of saying military advisors—and told that they’d need to prove themselves willing to play by humanity’s rules before we’d back their leadership. That you have seniority, and showed your strength the best at Aafa. We framed it as a promotion, higher than the single sector they had before,” the black-haired human replied, a subtle grin on his lips. “I assume that you have the officers who defected from the start under your control. They were already willing to follow you.”
“There’s an understanding,” Kaisal chimed in, from where he’d been pretending not to notice my discourse with Felra. “We’re withdrawing from the sectors like you asked, now that the cattle are released and the raids will stop. A few of the defectives will spearhead new colonies, for the suddenly returning soldiers. Others will take regional roles as governors. The more self-serving parties have been relegated to military training.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes. I suspect the Sapient Coalition will call for us to unconditionally rid ourselves of our military capacity, but I will not agree to that. We must be able to defend ourselves, should some prey take the initiative to try to wipe us out. Also, if I acquiesce to such demands, my leadership will be viewed as weak—and doomed.”
“I’m confident that I can bargain for you to be left to your own devices, as long as you agree to isolation within Wriss’ twenty-lightyear bubble. It’ll take some convincing, but after everything you’ve done for humanity, I promise not to undermine your future. I believe you can be an instrument, to build something better. The United Nations will be here to offer guidance, as well as to help you navigate budding diplomatic relations, every step of the way.”
“I suppose that you’ve heard that the Yotul offered us an embassy. I hope I did not cause offense, but I have not accepted the offer. It seems unwise for herbivores to reside on Wriss at this time, especially for if…I cannot guarantee that diplomats wouldn’t become dinner.”
“That’s why the Yotul extended that offer prior to the UN, though it’s amusing that they beat us to the punch. Isif, we recognize the extraordinary complications that you find yourself with; you need time to sort your affairs out. We’ll conduct relations virtually and directly, until you have time to train a corps of diplomatic intermediaries—who can be sensitive to other races’ customs. I suggest you respond to the Technocracy’s offer with, ‘Not yet.’”
“I will. At least that means you already have one vote against wiping us out.”
“Two. Ambassador Tarva will advocate for you; I trust we can pressure Veln into giving her some independence, for the treaty votes.”
“I cannot believe that the Governor lost her seat of power. She was a formidable ally on the side of humanity.”
“Don’t discount Tarva, because she still is. Her choice of speakers and testimony about the Venlil’s suffering was instrumental in getting the votes for gene reversal programs—including the one for omnivores. She’s a woman of conviction, regardless of who is on her side.”
“It was my firm belief that Venlil were weak, until I saw the decisions she made on my behalf and yours. You were quite lucky, out of all those indoctrinated squealers, that first contact was with someone so fortuitous. I’m sure Kaisal would seethe to learn how much I respect Tarva.”
The scrawny Arxur lashed his tail. “I do not always agree with Isif’s inclusion of weaklings, but if defectiveness saves us from living as we do now, I will back it. I do not have full trust in you humans, due to your tendency to forsake us. Twice, you rebuffed my attempts to defect to Earth; yet now, I have a life away from war. Acting as Isif’s second, I seek peace and satiety. For…people of my stature not to be tormented.”
After the pure disdain Kaisal showed when first introduced to my social, empathetic companions, it was a relief that he’d come around to backing my cause. He was a solid representation of the average anti-Betterment rebel. There would be many Arxur citizens who carried resentment, or who continued practices that humanity would view as uncivilized; gradual progress was all that I could hope for. Tarva served as a cautionary tale of how a populace could reject sharp changes in a short timeframe. The fact that the average denizen would have the option to push back against demands from on high, and an accurate accounting of what happened in their government, would improve on Dominion policy.
There’ll still need to be enforcement of the rule of law; we need to expedite the building of meat factories, and acquisition of non-sapient livestock, to guarantee that.
Secretary-General Zhao clasped his hands together. “Well, I don’t expect any serious hiccups at tomorrow’s summit. You have the support of your people, judging by Kaisal’s attitude. After their showing at Aafa, I don’t expect the Betterment archetypes to go against the grain. Congratulations, Isif, on your new role and your bright future. It’s been a long time coming; you risked your hide to earn it. I look forward to diplomatic relations between our planets in quiet times.”
“Wait, Míngzé? As a final matter, I seek your opinion on my new government’s nomenclature, replacing the harsh tyranny associated with the old one. Dominion should be lost to time,” I said. “The Arxur Collective is my idea. I thought it a suitable name, yes?”
“The Arxur Collective. It’s a daring premise to live up to, but it does have a nice ring to it. It evokes that hope, that your people can work in altruistic cooperation and care for each other once more. One for all.”
“Everything I do will be for the good of the people. What do you humans say? Lead by example?”
“It’s the only way to lead and stand for something. You seem to have discovered your emotional side just fine, without any prehistoric Arxur as a lighthouse. I’m proud to have worked alongside you, Isif. You proved me very wrong about your people.”
“You proved me right about yours. Thank you for sticking up for us, after we have done our part. And thank you for defeating the conspiratorial tyrants that perpetuated this war.”
“We couldn’t have done it without you, Isif. Your fortitude and compassion has saved countless lives, both today and in generations to come. Take care of yourself out there. Enacting lasting change: that’ll be a fight we’ll tackle for years to come. Our patience may be tested, but the end result is worth the tiring journey.”
“Wriss is free; that alone makes every risk I’ve taken worth it. If no future Arxur will endure the shame I feel, for every meal I’ve eaten and crime I’ve sown, then I will fight until my dying breath. I hope you know you’ve succeeded Meier’s wisdom with more grace and intellect than Earth could’ve hoped for. Farewell, Secretary-General Zhao.”
“Good luck, my friend.”
I terminated the video call, allowing him to return to planning for a busy session of post-war decisions. Kaisal turned his binocular eyes to the viewport, with the glint I finally recognized as homesickness vanishing. The reds of Wriss’ clay masses, and the greens of forests and plains, stretched out on the viewport. I was optimistic, as we prepared for the landing that would start my reign. Though Felra would be far away, I wouldn’t be alone among my people—Kaisal would require continued mentoring, and I could form a social network within the Collective’s fledgling bureaucracy. There was no longer an entity standing in the way of progress; the greatest benefit to Betterment’s fall was that I wouldn’t have to hide my true persona beneath a horrific farce any longer.
This is home. It can be a place worth saving, worth fighting for. My life can be spent in pursuit of something good, not just with the purpose of staving off execution.
The arrival of a second sapient predator had been the catalyst for the liberation of my entire people. Without humanity, I would’ve had no empathetic sapients to reach out to who would’ve seen me as a person. I would’ve had no frame of reference for what a dignified society would look like, apart from Betterment and the Federation. I would’ve never known that the two galactic powers were colluding to our detriment, and would’ve never been connected with the Yotul or the Venlil: a pair of herbivores who could act with cordiality, despite my species. This war couldn’t have been won if I hadn’t saved Earth from annihilation, and trusted them to defy the odds at Aafa.
Every encouraging moment led back to the Terrans, and our partnership to actualize a shared vision of the future. It might take decades for the wounds on all sides to heal, in any meaningful way, but the cycles of hatred could begin to dissolve today. The humans had given me hope for peace and friendship, and with Wriss under my control, I never planned to let it go.
A/N - 178: Isif's final chapter! With the Dominion forces turning on Giznel and their fleet ruined post-Battle of Aafa, Giznel slinks off to exile: a deal that Siffy agrees to in order to avoid further war and to save his people. Olek and Lisa both return to their respective post-war ambitions, with Olek going to visit Dustin and Callsi, and Lisa starting a coffee shop on Liberty's Bastion. Felra stays in touch with Siffy, though it's not safe for her to go to Wriss, and serves as the emotional guidepost that Vysith could've been. Last but not least, Kaisal has come around to Siffy's way.
What do you think of the new Arxur Collective and its future, as well as the words exchanged between Zhao and Isif? Are you happy with this ending for our characters? How do you expect Arxur's societal transformation to fare, stretching into distant years; will the SC agree to leave them alone?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Sworishina
Poor Kaisal, never managing to defect. But I imagine some of the many Arxur who visited Earth were able to. Or heck, Arxur storwing away on human ships that met with Arxur ones to exchange meat and refugees, etc. Honestly I'd love to see a series about an Arxur defecting successfully to Earth and learning to live here.
Some Lvm
Sifi for the win! I am glad things will turn around for the Arxur, but honestly after how things ended up on Aafa, I am not sure I can be competent about any predictions... I was really surprised the shadow caste did not put up *any* fight on the ground at all, and their new leader surrendered to the first random foot soldier to walk through the door. Without so much as a polite request to speak to someone actually in charge! I am thinking the reformation of the Arxur will be slow. They went through generations of selective breading, and it will take generations more - centuries, not decades, for their society to begin approaching what they were prior to first contact. But maybe I will be surprised again... I do hope we get to look in on how things are going on Wriss in the future.
