The Nature of Predators - Arxur Cattle World Battle (4/6)

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Memory transcription subject: Zarn, Federation Infantry

Date [standardized human time]: March 4, 2137

My unit began to march out at daybreak, so we could be in position at the designated time. The sky was tinged crimson, the color of Dawson’s viscous blood. As the sun began its slow climb across the horizon, the temperature soared, punishing us with grueling heat. It was a strenuous walk, but the use of ground vehicles was inadvisable due to Arxur explosives. At least we had eaten well, thanks to the crates of fruit Dawson had procured from the human camps.

My best friend, Rumi, was attempting to distract me with silly stories, but my mind wandered to dark places nonetheless. Apprehension poured through every scale with nauseating intensity. If this mission went awry, it was entirely my fault. Against all logic, I decided to trust a group of tree-swinging predators. The burden of responsibility sat on my shoulders with a dreadful weight.

“—but the Krakotl takes the bartender seriously, and starts chugging dish soap straight from the bottle. We expected him to stop after the first sip, but he just kept going, and we’re all too scared to say anything at this point.”  Rumi stopped, raising his eye-ridges at me. “You’re not even listening, are you? What happened to you, Zarn? You’ve been different ever since you got back.”

I gave him an apologetic look, wondering how I could ever explain the full scope of the situation. Not only was my story unbelievable, but even if he accepted my tale, my actions could be classified as treason. Gambling with the lives of my fellow soldiers, including Rumi…not to mention deceiving Federation military leaders.

The decision to storm the farms was passed up the chain of command, all the way to the Council of Generals. The Council consisted of the greatest military minds in the Federation, but even these seasoned veterans were thrown off by the unusual nature of the request. Our surveyors had detected a large fleet stationed nearby of an unknown model, corroborating my story. However, the humans had concealed their subspace trail, so their origin planet could not be determined. This raised a multitude of questions.

“This species is arrogant, thinking they can swoop in and defeat the grays first time. Why should we listen to them?”

“Who are they, even? We haven’t been in contact with a new species in decades.”

“These guys clearly don’t want us to know who they are. Anyone else wonder why?”

“Why would they send a message through a foot soldier? Not to us directly?”

I deflected any questions directed at me, pleading ignorance. My only reply was that I saw them take down an Arxur, and their combat skill had convinced me they stood a chance. The Federation would never accept help from a predator knowingly, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. While I was still convinced that the humans had ulterior motives, they were our only hope. Who else could defeat the Arxur, except another predator?

It didn’t escape my notice that General Kam of the Venlil Republic displayed unusual behavior. He posed zero questions about our new helpers, but offered his full-throated support when asked for his opinion.

They are not worse than the Arxur, of that I’m certain, was his cryptic comment. I think they can be trusted. Go along with their plan. They are the only ones with a chance.

Kam’s words implied that he knew exactly who the humans were, to my ears. Why else would he lead with an immediate comparison to the Arxur?  Why would he purport that they were the only ones with a chance, unless he knew they were predators?

While the meaning was lost on the generals, I found myself wondering if the Venlil were behind the humans’ involvement. They must have been truly desperate to contact warlike predators, but at least I could understand that sentiment. What I couldn’t comprehend was why they concealed their plan from the Federation. How did they know that the humans wouldn’t come after us? We could’ve been blindsided.

At any rate, with a little coercion from the Venlil, the generals signed off on the raid. They had been planning a last-ditch effort against the Arxur anyway, and the pledge of air support gave us some hope. The Federation couldn’t have offered more than a dozen ships, given that most of our fleet was defending our homeworlds. However, if the humans didn’t follow through, we would be picked off like…

“Zarn, you stopped walking, and you also didn’t answer.” Rumi dropped back to my side, tapping me on the leg with his rust-brown tail. “Are you okay? Please, speak to me. Whatever you say, it stays between us.”

“I met a new species on my trip,” I replied, after a moment’s hesitation.

“You mean sentients, or wildlife?” he asked.

“Sentients, I think. They’re dangerous, but they’re also—they’re creative and thoughtful. One of them saved my life. They sent us the food caches, and they devised this whole plan.”

“Back up. Why are they dangerous? How are you not sure if they’re sentients?”

“The guy who saved me took out an Arxur by himself, and they, uh…evolved in a similar way. I’m not sure what their emotional capacity is.”

“I’m sorry, what?! You need to elabor—"

“ARXUR APPROACHING!” a voice shouted.

I grabbed my weapon, and my eyes darted about in a frenzy. A contingent of Arxur were charging from the valley below, weapons primed. Hunger danced in their reptilian eyes; the sight of a thousand Federation soldiers, exposed and vulnerable, must have instigated their predatory instinct. Their jagged teeth dangled from their mouths in a way that resembled Dawson’s smile a bit too much.

How had they seen us so soon? We had just followed the routes the humans gave us…oh my gosh. It was so obvious. Of course, the predators were working together; the primates were the brains of the operation. The humans had selected paths where the Arxur could see us coming from a long distance out, hadn’t they? In my unit’s case, we were visible from the moment we crested the hill. The divisions at the other locations were probably finding themselves in a similar situation.

There was no sign of air support, not even a single craft in the sky. The humans just wanted to lure us to our deaths, and thanks to me, we had walked right into their trap. Dawson’s skirmish with the Arxur must have been a pre-arranged setup, designed to fool me. How could I have been tricked so easily? All it took was some polished words and music, and I handed them the keys to the kingdom.

Gunfire erupted around us, and my heart rate spiked in an instant. There was nowhere to take cover from the assault on a wide-open hilltop. The unlucky souls closest to the front lines were picked off before they could ready their weapons. Horror and guilt pulsed through my veins as I watched bodies drop to the grass, falling in a pool of blood.

Our riflemen were attempting to form ranks, but even if we could get a few shots off, the Arxur’s large guns were much faster. I swear, they didn’t even have to reload. The screams of my comrades rang in my ears as I stumbled back to the rear flank. Sprawling on my belly, I pointed my scope at the incoming assailants and prayed.

Despite my best efforts to hold the rifle still, I yanked the barrel up at the last minute. A curse escaped my lips as the shot sailed over the fray. The filthy reptiles stepped over corpses, laughing as the scent of blood filled their nostrils.  The Arxur would be upon us in no time, but we would make our last stand with honor. Our people were brave, and would put up resistance to the last breath. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to spill over.

I would wonder why the humans betrayed us, but I already knew the answer. My own words rang in my ears, a somber prophecy:

They’re predators. They don’t have morals like we do. They hunt and they kill, and they don’t think twice about it. That’s their nature.

I was a fool to think they were any different.

Next

A/N – Continuing to post original NOP per your wishes! Perhaps this will be the scene where it shows that this was more of an HFY story? Or did humanity leave Zarn and company out to dry—because what could we have had up our sleeves? What do you think about how Zarn explained humans to his best friend, Rumi (the original Takkan character)?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!