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The Nature of Predators 176
🕑 Added 2023-12-07 12:00:05 +0000 UTCMemory transcription subject: Onso, Yotul Technical Specialist
Date [standardized human time]: March 26, 2137
I was glad to have a moment to relax and contemplate the city, rather than listen to Kolshian spiels. There were engineering advantages to building underground. Natural disasters aboveground wouldn’t touch the shadow caste, and the insulation of the encompassing topsoil entailed a constant temperature. It wouldn’t need excessive budget expenditures on air conditioning and heating. It did pose the question of how close to the surface Aafa’s groundwater was, and how they’d handle any leakage.
This seemed a modernized version of sprawling underground cities on Leirn, such as Thysun’s Calamya’s Burrow, a massive complex that could house tens of thousands of occupants. Its main intention was as sanctuary from invaders during the Grain Wars—
Human fingers snapped right next to my left eye. “Onso, are you daydreaming about some engineering shit?”
“What can I say: I can’t handle boredom. Glad you’re back safely. That didn’t take long,” I remarked, flicking an ear at Tyler.
“We got the shadow caste’s surrender, and found out this all has to do with a prion plague. One more step ‘fore gettin’ out of here.”
Aucel’s bulbous eyes looked glazed over. “The government never believed that humanity was dangerous at all. I saw prey-like behavior on their data dump, but it was so misaligned with my instincts. The reason I feel like I’m going to puke, just looking at them…it’s selective breeding, based on a false threat. It’s all just lies.”
“I know how that feels,” Sovlin sighed. “My society, my family, the Federation I wasted my life on, my identity as a Gojid, and my knowledge as a captain. It’s all gone down the drain. If an old man like me can find a way forward, then you can too.”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “Stop right there. Your way forward is tricking people into calling Onso slurs.”
“It’s okay, Sam. That’s what I expect from a spikeback,” I said cheekily, using the human-invented word. “Now why the fuck are we drifting after some old Kolshian? I’m just following you guys.”
“Maronis here is supposed to be leading us to Slanek, assuming he’s part of their prisoner collection.”
“I hope that Venlil is alright. I feel responsible…for setting his fate in motion,” Sovlin sighed.
Tyler pursed his lips. “I don’t know if he’s there, but I sure don’t think you’ll be a welcome sight if he remembers anything. I ain’t gotta tell you how he feels about you.”
My whiskers twitched with nostalgia. “Last time we spoke, Slanek told me he was unwell. I warned him not to use those two words.”
“Why don’t we save the speculation on his mental state for if we find him?” Sam asked. “Keep moving, stay alert. I’d trust the word of the fucking boy who cried wolf over Maronis.”
“Me too,” Tyler agreed. “But given how old this squid is, I doubt the lockup is a long walk from his ivory tower. We’ll see who our supposed prisoner friends are.”
Our posse, along with a sizable contingent of UN soldiers and angry Kolshian citizens, marched after Maronis for a firsthand glimpse at how the shadow caste caged insurrectionists. I processed the tidbits of new information as we walked, leaving a mental note to read up on transmission methods of this prion plague. While I hadn’t heard the Commonwealth’s rationale from their lips, I could assume they linked eating meat to the acquisition of the disease in some way. Somehow, they decided predators’ elimination was for the benefit of “all life” (except the predators, of course), then used that to justify forcing their ideology on hundreds of worlds. Why that excused a silent partnership with the Arxur, or crushing unruly herbivores like us Yotul, was another matter.
There’s no consistency, even in their internal logic. Whatever piss-poor justification they make for their all-encompassing control, I’m happy with my decision not to listen to their disingenuous desperation. I knew it’d be some shitty excuse.
Chief Maronis shuffled toward a sprawling complex, a single-story structure which lacked exterior clues to what hid inside its confines. The decrepit concrete walls looked bleak enough to be a prison, and the sensory input didn’t brighten at all when we stepped inside. Rows of hallways passing forward were arranged under Kolshian numerals, with the centermost one having the two slanted lines that represented “1.” I wasn’t sure why the count started at the center, and judging by how mystified Tyler behaved behind his visual translator, he wasn’t either. The Kolshian leader started toward the dim corridor at the complex’s heart, leading into its recesses; the humans were quick to stop him for a question-and-answer section.
“Why the central chamber?” Tyler barked, suspicion emanating from his voice. “What are the other ones?”
Maronis made a sweeping gesture with his tentacles. “This isn’t the only shadow caste prison…the one under the capital is reserved for disloyal citizens aboveground, and foreign actors who are working against our interests. They’re arranged by the severity of their actions: the closer you get to Row 1, the more grave your misdeed. That, and it’s usually reserved for individuals who are well-known in the public eye and could have propaganda uses. There are plenty of citizens in the other halls, but I know who you’re here for. You want Row 1 and the lab.”
I stiffened with alarm. “The lab? A lab…for what?”
“I don’t like the sound of that neither. Are y’all cookin’ up some cure shit back there?” Tyler parroted my concerns.
Chief Maronis blinked in irritation. “The shadow capital’s research lab is for several purposes. Yes, it’s a backup, in the instance that we need to take up our own research: a prudent choice, given what happened on Talsk. We might’ve…dabbled in some human experiments, after encouraging results at Mileau. With the new information at hand, it might’ve been possible to integrate you, rather than relegate you to the Arxur’s role. However, its primary service to our cause is as a…neurological studies facility.”
The fur on my hackles raised, as I picked up on the implication. “A predator disease facility. Is that where you’ve been keeping Slanek?”
“I’d say it’s more focused on the success of our re-education measures, as well as analyzing the brain scan data to better understand and target aggressive areas. Some people need to be…reminded of the proper beliefs. The Venlil who shot Nikonus in cold blood, after exposure to humans, is a prime example.”
“What the fuck have you done?”
“He’s here,” the elderly Kolshian purred, sick amusement in his eyes. “But he won’t be thrilled to see your predator friends.”
My hindlegs bunched up to lunge at the elderly Kolshian, but Tyler hurriedly pushed me back. I could sense anger projecting from his gaze, beneath the biohazard mask, and wondered why he had stopped me from putting this old chieftain in his place. How dare he use such a flippant tone to talk about rewriting someone’s brain, no doubt through cruel, invasive methods? The blond human revealed his rationale for stopping me, as his gloved hand curled up into a fist. Before hundreds of witnesses, he smashed his knuckles into the Kolshian’s eye, smashing through the socket. I could see Sovlin wince, knowing from his first meeting with Officer Cardona how strong the gargantuan primate could be.
Does Tyler think that I can’t fight for myself? I’m more than capable of taking on an arrogant, elderly despot, especially one who’s so casual about horrific deeds.
“Let me take a swing at him!” I protested, as Maronis nursed an eye that was turning purple. “For everything he’s done.”
Tyler shook out his hand, flexing his fingers. “Nah, we’re done now. I ain’t gonna let you swing at him, ‘cause if anyone gets in trouble outta this, it should be me. That was for Marcel, and for Slanek; don’t you ever mock him again. To be clear, we will come back for everyone wrongfully detained here. Take us down to Row 1, and try to learn some empathy on the way.”
Aucel turned to Sovlin. “I thought you said the humans weren’t gonna attack without warning!”
The Gojid chewed at his claws with discomfort. “Um, the Chief deserved it.”
“I don’t disagree; he threw away countless Kolshian lives. I’m pissed at him too. I just want an honest answer about how high their threshold for violence is, so that I don’t say anything that provokes an assault.”
“Unless you torture their friends, you’re fine. Tyler saves his beatdowns for special cases.”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “But if I threw a right hook at a prisoner, I’d be unhinged.”
“Well, I knew Slanek and Marcel, and I have a better right hook,” Tyler said.
“Pfft. Tell yourself whatever you need to sleep at night, but you don’t have a boxing career in your future. Now make that Kolshian sot get his ass in gear.”
“I give the orders here…but get the fuck moving, Maronis, or I will let Sam swing at your other eye!”
Chief Maronis marched down the central corridor, as the Terrans kept their wary eyes trained for any traps. The Commonwealth leader was still reeling from Tyler’s punch; Nikonus’ replacement leaned over a retinal scanner, mumbling a remark about the primates being lucky they hadn’t tenderized both of his eyes. There were clicks as blast door mechanisms came loose, and it slowly creaked open to reveal the full hallway. Dingy prison cells lined both sides, with despairing inmates backing away from the bars at the sound of our footsteps. Some of the prisoners were, in fact, Kolshians, but there were a number of different species scattered in the hundreds of cells.
Any resident of Aafa with serious aspirations of unseating the Commonwealth government would land themselves in here. The stench was unmistakable, showing that they’d had negligible access to hygiene facilities. A handful seemed happy to see a human posse marching in, and begged for us to let them out. Some UN soldiers kept back to help liberate and document the captives, perhaps taking meticulous records for the Sapient Coalition or the Duerten Shield to witness. The Kolshian protestors tagging along seemed horrified, after hearing that some of their own neighbors could be thrown here, without due process. Aucel looked like she wished she could swing at Maronis herself.
There’s more prisoners here than I expected, but no sign of Slanek or a lab. If these are the average inmate’s accommodations in this facility, I don’t want to imagine what his life has been like.
The bars of a cage next to us rattled, drawing our attention. I saw a tear-stricken Kolshian, pressing his face against the barrier; something about his violet visage tickled my memory. Sovlin paused for a brief second, before his eyes widened. Tyler craned his neck at us, confused why the two herbivores in his squad were stopping. The Gojid moved closer to the cell, and the prisoner’s eyes—tinged with a bit of instinctive disgust to the humans—widened with desperation.
“Help me!” the Kolshian pleaded, in a hoarse voice.
Sovlin tilted his head. “You’re the Kolshian commander from the Battle of Khoa. I’m sure of it. Captain Monahan talked you into having the fleet stand down. What the fuck are you doing in here? Did you realize what you were doing was wrong?”
“I…I didn’t want to kill civilians. Herbivores. The human…I remember what she said. That you would reach Aafa. You have now, and if we’re still standing, I did the right thing. I saved my men from a battle we couldn’t win. If you wouldn’t sacrifice the Mazics…how could I?”
Tyler wheeled on Maronis. “Why is he here?”
“I don’t know why every prisoner is here,” the Chief grumbled. “This one, I do. Commander Telvos humiliated the Commonwealth, and disobeyed direct orders. He allowed your allies to survive, abandoning the battle. We could not tolerate treasonous defiance—questioning of our orders.”
“The greatest treason of all: asking questions.” My ears pinned back with fury, though it was cathartic to see Maronis’ swollen eye staring back at me. I still wanted to beat the shit out of this pompous asshole. “You tried so hard to snuff out curiosity and wonder for the universe.”
Aucel scowled. “In prison for not rendering the Mazics extinct. You shadow caste are monsters.”
“Spare me the indictment. Do you want me to take you to Slanek, or do you want to lament every prisoner’s life story? If it’s the former, I suggest we keep moving.”
Chief Maronis didn’t wait for an answer, stomping off down the hallway, as pleas for help rose from the furthest cells. A duo of UN soldiers stopped off to guard Telvos’ cage; we weren’t going to get involved with freeing an enemy commander, especially considering that he’d threatened to obliterate a civilian populace—under orders or not, it was a war crime by Terran law. As we drew nearer to the far wall, which seemed to be a containment bulkhead on closer inspection, another prisoner clamored for our attention. This time, I recognized the alien face outright. It was the testy Duerten ambassador to Earth, Coji: the one who’d jumped at the chance to abet Nikonus’ assassin. She’d been missing ever since, and unlike Slanek, the Kolshians hadn’t publicized her capture.
The Duerten were never overly fond of humans, and that started from the top. Coji may not have the knowledge that the UN saved Kalqua, given that she was captured well before that started.
“Humans!” the gray avian squawked, wrapping stress-plucked wings around the bars. “I’m sorry…for everything—for ever rebuffing your friendship. Please, let me out! It’s horrible here…I hear screams from the lab, all the time. I think it’s going to be me next. They kept my mind intact so I could watch what they did to Kalqua, clip by clip. Are there any survivors?! LET ME OUT!”
Samantha crossed her arms. “We bailed Kalqua out, though I’m sure the Kolshians omitted that part. There were still billions that died, but without the UN, it would’ve been the whole fucking planet.”
“The Shield fought beside us here, at the Battle of Aafa. Seems your side finally wants to be on better terms,” Sovlin grumbled. “Your leadership definitely want to bomb this world, but the humans got them to hold off long enough for us to scope out the shadow caste.”
“The entire Homogeneity fleet came,” I added. “I caught the reasoning as, if our side lost, then Kalqua would be overrun by the Commonwealth anyway. We have the chance to tear down the Federation…and for you to return as your homeworld is rebuilt. Their alterations of our societies, and stifling rule: over. Finished. Thank humanity for making it happen.”
Coji’s beak parted with hope. “If what you’re saying is true, it seems we owe humanity a huge debt. It did seem odd, that the Kolshians only showed me clips from a small time frame…and not the aftermath. I’m relieved to know some of us survived, and I want to help with revenge on Aafa. Let me out!”
“Well, we would like the Duerten to be more open to our friendship.” Tyler hesitated, before punching the button to unlock Coji’s door. The avian stumbled forward on unsteady feet, before wrapping her wings around his waist, sobbing. “Easy now. Say, I wondered why you helped kill Nikonus too.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! The Archives: the Kolshians and the Farsul stripped us of individual thought. Our opinions were too strong, our intellect too sharp for them. How do you ever get that back? Who are we? The consensus on Kalqua…and my individual feeling…was that they needed to pay. We made a decision based on emotion, and it felt good.”
“Was it worth it?” I questioned. “Billions of Duerten died because of that one irrational choice.”
“If I had known what would’ve happened to my beautiful home, I would’ve never put this plan in motion. We didn’t think; we just wanted the figurehead who took our minds dead! I knew our role would be glaring, but I didn’t imagine it’d condemn Kalqua. When I tried to fly away from Nikonus’ corpse…a ‘drone’ had no trouble tracking me down and caging me. I’ve all but forgotten what life looks like, or how it feels to have air under my wings. My sole thoughts are dreams of home.”
My friend carefully removed Coji’s arms from his torso, wishing to keep moving. “We got a real special friend of mine to rescue. I don’t know what you meant by screams in the lab, but I ain’t wantin’ to leave Slanek in there a second longer. We are happy you’re safe, and you are goin’ home, Ambassador. Head over to the medics back there, and they’ll find you a transport.”
“Thank you, again! I’m sorry that I didn’t see your kindness sooner…but I hope we can meet again, so I can make up for my past hostility!”
“If you want to make up for it, keep your people’s bombers at bay. We want to do a thorough investigation of the shadow caste, which could take weeks. Plus, there’s a lotta victims to rescue. We need the Shield to stay patient and give us time to do our jobs, for everyone’s sake.”
“Whatever pull I have with my government, I’ll see that you have as much time as you need. Good luck, humans!”
The Duerten ambassador trudged off in the direction of Terran medics, all but collapsing in their arms. Comprehending the stories of every prisoner in these walls would take months. After encountering a number of familiar faces along the way, it drilled home how punitive the Kolshians were to anyone who thwarted their wishes. From Khoa to Kalqua, there had been no tolerance for rebellion; any people who gave humanity the slightest aid were whisked away, if the shadow caste could get their tentacles on those poor souls. I doubted they’d been more merciful during other battles and incidents.
Maronis had gotten to work opening the bulkhead, which concealed the lab behind its structure. If the lab was the heart of Kolshian experimentation, I was worried about what state we’d find Slanek in. I’d heard the words from the Chief’s lips, before Tyler threw a haymaker at him. There had been the idle comments about so-called neurological focuses, and it was a safe assumption that re-education was tantamount to rewriting neurochemistry. It was quite possible that our Venlil friend wouldn’t be happy to see us, which meant he might not accompany us willingly. I could only imagine how devastated Marcel would be, if his exchange partner abhorred his existence.
Our Venlil might not be the only person back there either. Maronis had claimed that the shadow caste “dabbled” in human experiments after Mileau. This matched with Coji’s mention of multiple screams hailing from the lab; the inhumane procedures could be stretched to several test subjects, for different purposes. It was a good thing that the UN soldiers wore biohazard gear to Aafa, because the cure was the only type of “integration” efforts the Kolshians had for omnivores. There was no telling how terrible the conditions would be in the lab, but I was prepping myself for the worst. It would be a positive outcome if our friend’s persona was still in there at all.
A/N - 176! Maronis gives the UN soldiers the promised tour of the shadow capital prison, where they hold dissenters...some of a foreign origin. Down Row 1, some familiar faces appear, including Commander Telvos from the Battle of Khoa, punished for refusing a single order to orbitally bombard a planet, and Ambassador Coji, who vanished during the assassination and was forced to watch Kalqua's fall. Would you let Telvos out? Will Coji fulfill her promise to buy time with the Duerten Shield, and will her changed disposition toward humans last? What did you think of Tyler's punch of Maronis, after the snide remarks on Slanek...and what do you expect in the lab?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!
Comments
Apogee
Or since one of their ideas was to make us the new Aruxur, a human with exaggerated predatory traits that’s is allergic to plants
The Moist Crusader
Actually Mayans did invent the wheels, but only used them on small items - particularly toys, which we have physical evidence of. The reason they didn't use wheels is likely due to the fact their environment was incredibly dense which made wheeled vehicles impractical, as well as a lack of large domesticated animals to pull it.
Reptani
We're gonna see humans with eyes on the sides of their heads or something :(
Veritas Tenebrae
Well… Farsul doesn’t seems to know about B12. Also the whole federation seems to be disinterested in anything related to mental health and illnesses. And prions are not viruses or bacterial infections, so hard to miss I guess, especially because fedies clearly don’t like autopsies of herbivores, or autopsies at all. Maybe they like Mayans in a way (made complex mathematical calculations, but never invented wheels). Extensive knowledge of genetics (since they seem to be altering phenotypes as well, as we see in their cure for humans, which is something we able to do for now), but not a deep dive into other non-genetical issues.
Blake S
If i remeber correctly the ship recel was on exploded so violently its debris was scattered across lightyears. And he was dying of asphixiation before it exploded. The kolshians would really need to be quick on the retrieval.
Blake S
There was that human on the roci that was mean to sovlin that one time, oliver! He was never herd from again, maybe he wound up in there too.
Charming Cobra
The mention of screams from the lab sounds awful, I have a bad feeling that Slanek has ended becoming more like Frankenstein's monster.
Michael Morse
none of it makes sense. Torturing people doesn't cure a disease. If his explanation were true then execution would be the only option, which he freely admitted they did. This whole system isn't about the kolshian rabies, it's about power. Someone has to know that this is all BS and is using the problem to maintain power.
Michael Morse
The trick is to convince the Mazic to not call for his execution
Michael Morse
Tyler stopped him from doing it so he wouldn't get in trouble for it.
Cat rice
‘...and what do you expect in the lab?’ Well, here is my first thoughts on that question: 😆 As many of the herbivores have said is disgusting. Our eyes are definitely gonna be separated from our skull, and our mouth being surgically made into a horses mouth, and we will lose our thumbs and have our hip bones cracked down forcing our legs to have to move as a chimp, and having our feet being transform into a monkeys foot. So I’m expecting all tomorrow type of levels of mag nations so bring it on! I’m ready!😼 And as for the ambassador, I don’t think I have to question her opinion, considering what she’s been through😞, but i’m very sure that she is at least respectful and understanding of why humanity made the choices they did😐… And honestly great chapter around, also I’m excited and terrified for the next one!
Tazeell
Interesting prison walk. All this build up for Slanek though, next chapter will be a hell of a hammer blow.
DemonVee
When the captain was noticed I was thinking it was 100% going to be Recel 😅
DemonVee
It's possible that they knew at some point. Figured it out after already getting knee deep into their mess. But either out of fearing that their little empire might get ripped apart if they stopped, or just because they wanted to hold onto power and they might have decided to bury that little fact. Enforce the measures that "prevent the hunger from spreading" by forbidding anyone from carrying out experiments trying to prove any "radical ideas" like all of this being bullshit.
Cypher
I have a bad feeling it would have been better for Slanek to have used his last bullet on himself.
RaptorRed
Paperclip is that an Eminem reference? you really don't want to be stan.
RaptorRed
too late
RaptorRed
oh that was tyler, i would expect that out of sovlin. ---- agreed
Fabian Feller
Best case: Slanek is still in there, and is physically intact. Worst case: What seems like the character development equivalent of a lobotomy. So, pally, how hard are you gonna make us cry?
Aaaa the anticipation is real. All this time... This isn't going to be pretty, is it? Let's see what's left of Slanek. I await, and fear, the continuation.
RaptorRed
I have given up hope on a good outcome for poor slanek, but I will be happy if he is fixable and does get fixed which with every chapter seems further and further away. will any love for slanek still be around by that time? It seems more likely he will be replaced with a new favorite character. Some hated on slanek but I saw him as one who would do anything for his friend, granted he didn't always make the best decisions.
Cera Treascair
Holy *damn*, was not expecting a bunch of these callbacks. Having Coji make a reappearance was a welcome surprise, and Telvos... let him out, but let his actions, good and bad, dictate the results. I'd personally lean towards leniency, but that's me. ... ... I fear for Slanek. I really do.
PhycoKrusk
Recel is 100% dead, barring literal divine intervention. Aucel is tagging along because she's basically attached herself to the team; she helped them when they asked for it, even though it was difficult for her and entailed risk to herself. Like Sovlin and even a little bit like Onso, she's lost whatever it was she had, and is trying to figure out what she does next. Accidentally or on purpose, she's become part of the band.
Yannis Morris
There’s also the possibility that he’s was so traumatized by the facility that he refuses to let anyone touch his brain again. So the one the Shadow Caste took right after his capture is the most up-to-date “file” that’s available for transcription
Mundane Purpose (big E)
N-no! He’ll be okay! He has to be…
richfiles
My mind goes back to the old art of Slanek's momma seeing a photo of her poor son surrounded by "snarling predators", muttering about how "our poor boy is going to die", tears in the corners of her eyes... In a sense... I fear the venlil we knew as Slanek may as well be dead... At least mentally. I doubt the venlil Tyler finds will be even remotely recognizable... "Slanek" won't be Slanek anymore...
richfiles
He deserves a trial, and the consideration that he was willing to disobey orders for the sake of civilian lives... Let the UN present the evidence, and let it be known he stared down evil and said "no". It would be a good image for the UN to be fair and just, even to an enemy.
Gumcel
Maronis might be the official leader, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were those higher on the totem pole than Maronis; given how truly naive Maronis seemed to be about prions. Those at the very top probably know all the predator stuff is bullshit.
Gumcel
😔
Michael Morse
I would treat Telvos as a prisoner of war. He deserves a trial and consideration given all that we know now.
Sworishina
Eh it's not hard sci fi it doesn't have to make complete sense
Alekss Žukovskis
for a few milliseconds. and this wouldn't last. it would look like something from altered self genre.
Sworishina
I wonder if they've been experimenting with genetically modifying humans? It would be interesting to see what prey humans would be like.
Veritas Tenebrae
If memory transcription is associated with certain “state-of-mind” or personality… It’s more than possible, that Slanek personality was wiped out. Probably using methods as early human psychiatrists used: electroshock, lobotomies, extreme antipsychotics. Amplify to alien tech levels and their severe lack of knowledge about consciousness and lack of any medical ethics, and you get direct “neural wipe” with full erasure of all high brain functions through severing neural connections between neurons in brain cortex. And then you can build a new persona on top of “wiped out” shell. At least I have a feeling that is what we gonna get.
OGslow ski
You know if slanek got memory wiped that's best case scenario just feed him a can of Pringles. He'll be fine.
neon_ns
DONT GIVE HIM IDEAS
Rick VanHoute
For a split second, i thought we would see Recel in one of those cells somehow.
Paperclip
I mean, Sovlin tortured somebody and is still all good, so I think Telvos has a good chance
Paperclip
Omg if Recel is alive im literally going to cry. I'm like his #1 stan
Mike Rees
Yea, Aucel is a bit surplus to requirements to actually tag along if Recel isn't down there
dotnet
Fully expecting that Recel wasn't dead and was imprisoned instead. IIRC he was "killed" in a ship explosion, so it's entirely possible that in reality he was captured and kept down there as a potential propaganda tool: "look, the humans are lying to you, Recel (brainwashed ver.) barely survived an attack by humans to frame us!" being what they might've hoped for.
Stellar
Totally expecting you to cut away next chapter just for us to sit on the cliffhanger a little more lol
PhycoKrusk
Slanek's gone, man....
PhycoKrusk
Like I'd said in a much earlier chapter... although I may have said it over at Royal Road and not here, Nikonus was a bureaucrat: A replaceable cog. This is why lashing out from emotion is ultimately useless; you aim at what looks important, rather than what is.
PhycoKrusk
As long as the trial body separates threatening to do something from actually doing it.
XavHD
Strong chapter
Byron Ritchie
I am now a coji Stan, but seriously kolshian prisons are super fucked up
EliasArt2Life
I think Coji is the one who will get the Shield to stand down for good. She learned the hard way that emotional choices and revenge come back to bite you, so maybe she’ll be the one who gets it.
Youre a swedekisser arent you
It's interesting to see some of those who got imprisoned by the shadow caste. I do feel like there's gonna be something else coming, however. I suspect we'll see more than one familiar face in that horrific lab.
Blake S
If the subject is still non compliant you havent used enough eletricty
Mr. Walker
I imagined Kolshian three-stooges in lab-coats.
Mr. Walker
Phoenix-person
Invariance
I'm not sure what state we'll find Slanek in, but whatever they did was severe enough that it cut the memory transcription short immediately (or seemingly immediately; it could be that something happened later to retroactively mess with his memory up to that point). I suppose it's not entirely clear what the implications of that are, exactly — could be that the tech is finicky and cut out because of some minor thing — but I'm not holding my breath.
Mr. Walker
"Human fingers snapped right next to my left eye. “Onso, are you daydreaming about some engineering shit!" . . . Tyler, that was very rude. _____________________________ "He allowed your allies to survive, abandoning the battle. We could not tolerate treasonous defiance—questioning of our orders.”" . . . I expected Tyler or someone to whoolop him again after that comment.
Piittis
Maronis would certainly deserve to experience whatever inhumane things they do to people's minds. Even just threatening him with that would be cathartic since he's fully aware of what awful things he would have to suffer through.
Mundane Purpose (big E)
Slanek 😞
Paperclip
I don't think he's ever making a full recovery, even if he can recover somewhat
Adam Myers
Can you spoil if Slanek will have a hope of recovery? I just gotta know.
Wingit98
Yeah, it's gonna be bird-person they find in there
jervictor jer
Alright, I put my money in brainwashing, maybe lobotomy, and neural implants or drugs to make him obedient.
Paperclip
He does represent what that figurehead did though, because he's the leader of the organization that took their lives from them. But I'm not saying I don't agree with you.
Blake S
I knew Tevlos was gonna be black bagged after that deal with the Mazics. Hopefully wherver the UN sends him is a nicer place. Functioning Moral compases dont get you far in this regime. Allso Cant wait for Sam to sass those zainy scientists
John Benjamin Cate
You ere evil. Teasing us with Slanek’s fate. I just hope that even if he’s vegetative, he doesn’t fear humans. A final FU to Maronis.
Thrownawaz
Ooh! Moronis, your poor eye! That trip looked painful!
PiñaPiloto
Awgh dude, your evil SP. Makin us wait even longer for the slanek reveal. SO CLOSE I CAN TASTE THE PAIN 😭
Alekss Žukovskis
all good things must come to an end
I completely forgive Coji and will support her reinstatement as leader of the big birds
RIP
Lako
Thanks for the chapter!
Yannis Morris
* we just wanted the figurehead who took our minds dead* Dude’s been dead for centuries. Assassinating Nikonus didn’t do anything
Yonael Blackwood
Damn, still gotta wait till Monday to find Slanek.
Ash
Hey bro hope you’re well xo
Paperclip
Slanek's gonna be fried, and I bet Moronis is getting punched again. I feel like Telvos should get some more leeway, because of his actions. Many other Kolshians would have bombed the planet anyways. Maybe he could be a POW working for the UN like Sovlin was.
E G
First Edit: third actually
print Path
First
Jackson Hazeltine
Second!
