The Nature of Predators - Farsul Abductee (8/8)

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Memory transcription subject: Danny Palmer, Human Civilian

Date [standardized human time]: February 26, 2137

The FBI offered a hearty settlement of backpay in exchange for my lengthy abduction, and that allowed me to rent a new apartment in Boston. The prices on everything were staggering, but the stipend thankfully was adjusted for a century and a half of inflation. The Bureau also were willing to reinstate me, if I passed training to become “technologically literate.” My jaw hit the floor when a gray-haired supervisory agent explained that analyst positions were done remotely, through a work from home position. Did 22nd century people do anything face-to-face? How could anyone monitor performances or determine promotions?

Sitting glued to a screen all day didn’t appeal to me, so I decided not to return to my role as an intelligence analyst. It wasn’t like I understood enough about modern geopolitics or crime patterns to be as competent as I once was. However, it turned out that I was able to rake in a killing for speaking fees at museums and universities. Scriptwriters and historians alike consulted me for the accuracy of their renditions, while “podcast” hosts paid me a pretty sum for virtual interviews. I was a hot commodity, in high demand.

“So how do you feel now, Danny, learning about the events that transpired in your absence?” The podcast host, of Historical Mysteries with Raven Ryan, was conducting the interview in their rich voice. I had to keep reminding myself to use the word “they”; the idea of a person choosing pronouns was new to me, though I was trying to be respectful of current cultural norms. “The disappearance of an FBI agent from the face of the Earth caused a local manhunt. I actually investigated your case about three years ago on this show.”

I forced a laugh. “Yes, the theories saying that rival intelligences, or perhaps even my own government, assassinated me, cut me into pieces, and scattered my remains across the ocean were quite fantastical. I’d say people have wild imaginations if the truth weren’t more outlandish than that. I’m more sorry for what that must’ve put my family through; the newsreel of my mother begging me and Greg to return on TV…that hurt, Raven.”

“It’s a nightmare, to think of everyone and everything you know being gone in an instant. Finding people like you in the Archives has caused us to revisit a lot of the most compelling UFO cases; most were bogus, of course, but the tin-foil hats were on to something. Did you believe in UFOs, Danny?”

“Honestly, my brother Greg probably believed in that stuff more than me. I watched a few science fiction shows of my time, and I chalked that talk up as people who’d watched a few too many. There were some supposed sightings of flying saucers, but the spaceships I’ve seen don’t even look like that—seems hokey.”

“You missed this, of course, but the sightings of UFOs declined after the advent of camcorders and the ubiquity of mobile devices; the fact that none were caught on video was used to discredit the movement, but now, we know the Farsul stopped visiting shortly after your capture. There’s been a lot of things that have happened in the world. The Water Crisis of the 2040s, the formal establishing of Mars as a colony in the 60s, and the Satellite Wars which spanned decades. What are your feelings, catching up on the changes of the past 200 years?”

“I feel like an alien here, at times, with how sophisticated and digital the world is. I’m happy to see the progress we’ve made on civil rights; it’s one of the only things I agreed with Greg on, much as I despised his methods. Anyhow, hearing just what’s happened in the last seven months with ETs is enough to make my head spin. The Farsul were the only aliens I’ve interacted with, so let’s say they’ve soured me on life from afar.”

“People have so many questions about life in the Archives, but I’ll leave you with one. Did you guess what the Farsul were really up to, with their attempts to cure humanity?”

“No, but I should’ve. Knowing what I know now, it seems obvious. The way I’ve seen it from first contact clips, a lot of ETs see us as animals, all ‘cause of our eyes. I wanted to change hearts and minds about humans in the Archives. But if they think of us like that, it’s hard to see why we should bother.”

“That sounds somewhat similar to Humanity First talk.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“A human supremacist organization that doesn’t want to bend to aliens.”

“I don’t think we’re superior. I just want to be treated like a person and an equal. I’d be fine talking to the aliens if they can give us that much, and even after everything, I’m not ready to decide they’re all against us.”

Raven flashed their teeth. “Thank you, Danny. Alright, that should be the soundbite we need. Appreciate you coming on! I’ll get in touch if there’s anything that comes up in editing.”

“Right on. Take care,” I said.

The podcast host terminated the video call without further delay, saving me the embarrassment of trying to figure out how to hang up. I’d already made a fool of myself on a different show, taking over an hour to figure out how to download this communication “app.” Then, to make it worse, I’d been leaning in too close to the screen, giving a nice shot of my forehead and a gargled voice. Learning new technology didn’t happen overnight, but these people thought it was “easier” to conduct conversations online.

No time like the present to jump in the deep end and start learning. You used to be a quick study…it’s a shame the Farsul only taught the extreme basics of holopad use. They could’ve been good for something.

I scowled as I opened my browser, seeing a text box asking, “What can I help you find?” The artificial intelligence was terrifying; I’d thought it was a real person helping virtually the first time, with how seamless it responded to small talk in a human-esque way. However, the way it could scrounge up exact, specific information tipped me off that something was amiss. If it was this capable of imitating us, then it must be capable of subjugating us should it ever go haywire. Humans had done everything science fiction cautioned against!

“Answerchat, tell me about Humanity First,” I said aloud, knowing by now about the voice recognition software. I hated that it was listening to me. “Were they created because of the bombing of Earth?”

Answerchat both typed and spoke the response aloud. “Humanity First is a fringe extremist group responsible for the terrorist attack which killed UN Secretary-General Elias Meier. The label has been used as an umbrella term for any political platform or group which promotes human supremacy and advocates against appeasement strategies. I sense concern in your voice. May I ask why?”

“Damn robot.”

“I am not a robot. I am an artificial intelligence, or more accurately, a neural network which grew from a few core heuristics. Why does Humanity First bother you?”

“I just want to be sure I don’t sound like them. I have a feeling that’d make a bad first impression on my exchange partner.”

“If you’ve read UN Emergency Order 56, while it has been relaxed and partially repealed, you’ll know that domestic terrorism is still on the list of prohibited topics. I advise you to avoid steering conversations with aliens in that direction.”

“That’s what I’m asking. How to avoid people drawing that connection, while being angry at the Farsul.”

“Searching input from other applications for context. I see. Danny Palmer, by participating in this program, you’ve committed to change hearts and minds. You must find that effort worth it, for the chance of a better future. Earth is not the only planet tampered with by the Farsul; outside influence has taken its toll on many others.”

I rolled my eyes back in thought, mulling over my realizations when I confronted Veiq. The Farsul assimilated a variety of innocent cultures, just as they’d conspired to do to humanity. The stupid robot had a point about the prejudice existing because of Talsk’s natives. It would be a gargantuan task to undo all of their meddling; every injustice seemed to lead back to them. Joining the Paltan exchange program was a way to help someone else afflicted by the archivists’ insanity.

I thumbed through the manila envelope, which had pictures of the mouse lemur-like animals with massive amber eyes. The off-yellow fur looked soft and fluffy, alongside conical ears. This alien was adorable, much more so than the Farsul. The Paltans were humanity’s most distant allies on the galactic stage, a month of travel away. The profile I’d been given about my partner, Tlev, was lacking in details beyond his interests and age. I rested my chin on my hand, counting the quarter-hour left to the chatroom opening.

My gaze shifted to studying the automatic cleaning assistant, a circular vacuum with an arm that could detach to open cabinets. It was a gift from the United Nations, since people in the future hated the hassle of doing anything. It glided around the room to sweep up dusty spots, and removed the trash when it got full. I didn’t like having the excess machinery in my place; it was weird how humans in the future didn’t learn to take care of themselves.

I wonder what the Paltans’ technological reliance is. Perhaps Tlev can give me his thoughts on it; maybe he can open my mind to the perceived benefits.

At the appointed time, I logged onto the chat app, marveling at the possibility of communicating instantaneously to a far-off planetary system. The exchange program was exciting, even if the thought of being called a predator ad nauseum made me cringe; a connection to a different alien was what I needed to erase Veiq from my mind. An official disclosure popped up once more, warning me that an AI was screening the messages, followed by a notification that the chat link was now open. I clicked it in a hurry, eager for an honest introduction to extraterrestrials.

Hi Tlev, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. I look forward to getting to know you, I typed.

Three dots appeared, followed by an immediate response. >> Likewise Danny. I’ve been excited to have a chance to speak with aliens…humans are personally responsible for saving my life, and I’ve heard a lot about your kind from my people. The Paltans aren’t what we used to be.

Ha, I share that feeling about my species, I hear you man. From what I gather, the past few months have been hectic on Earth, just finding alien life. I don’t know too much about current events, so hopefully I don’t give you the wrong impression of humans.

>> Don’t worry, that whole ‘predator’ stuff is insane in my book. How could Paltans subscribe to such nonsense? It’s unfair to you as an intelligent species.

I’m relieved to hear that; it’s not what everyone told me to expect from an herbivore. Hell, it’s not what I’m used to. Look, let me just get the crazy stuff out of the way—I was rescued from the Archives. I was abducted and frozen centuries ago by the Farsul.

There was a long pause where Tlev didn’t reply, and I questioned whether my forwardness was the right strategy. That confession must be difficult to take in stride. Why had the UN accepted me in the program? I suppose I was lucky to have been paired with someone open-minded, but the Paltan could desire a partner more representative of modern humanity. After talking to a sensible alien, it would sting to scare him off so soon.

>>Yes, the Archives…I get it now. Why they paired us together. You know how I said humans saved my life?

Yeah? What does that have to do with why they matched us?

>> Danny, a little over a month ago, the UN pulled me from a cryopod and brought me home to Tellis. The Farsul abducted me from a past era too.

I leaned forward in my chair, sucking in a sharp breath of disbelief. This was the perfect pairing; I could talk to someone who understood what it was like to be out of your chronological element, and the ordeal of being kidnapped. How else could I fit in, in this day and age? A smile crossed my face, as I had a sudden feeling Tlev and I were going to hit it off.

Veiq Follow-Up

A/N - The end of Farsul Abductee (which I can officially say is my personal favorite)! Danny reintegrates with society by giving interviews about life 150+ years ago, struggling with new social norms and technologies, and learns what happened in the wake of his abduction. He also signs up for the Paltan exchange program, but to his surprise, learns his partner Tlev is in the exact same boat...

As always, thank you for reading and supporting! Big ambitions for the upcoming bonus content; a Kolshian POV, and a season 2 of human exterminators that's setting out with the stated goal of surpassing the first season. I'm grateful to all of you for allowing me to experiment, tell new stories, and continue to forge new ground in the NOPverse!