The Nature of Predators - Farsul Abductee (3/8)

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Memory transcription subject: Danny Palmer, Human Law Enforcement

Date [standardized human time]: E̶͉̖̺̣͇̽̔̓̃͑̂̍̍͝Ŗ̸͈̙̭̼̝͛̃̍̃̆Ṛ̶͖̙̩͐̆͝Ȍ̷̡̱̞̳̹̩͙̩̼͚͛R̵̝̽̈͑̌̑̐́̊̍͝!

Figuring out what to tell aliens about mankind wasn’t something I’d ever given much thought to, but I knew that I should paint a flattering picture. If the Farsul saw our early broadcasts, that meant they might be exposed to Hitler at the Olympics as their first contact. An easy talking point for me to start with was the landmarks of Boston, my current residence, and my birthplace, San Francisco; I was certain that Greg would cover flower power and peace movements on his own. Discussing the FBI, and our justice system, was next on my list.

Veiq asked a number of questions on anything I brought up, but kept the conversations at a professional distance. The Farsul cornered me on the topic of law enforcement, asking what kinds of criminals the FBI was responsible for tracking. Fumbling for words, all I could muster up was, “The kind who would threaten the peace of our civilization, or who don’t play fair.” The archivist inspected me closer, before prompting me to define what I saw as the markers of civilization.

Respectable conduct should be intuitive, but who knows what values and morals these aliens have. I tried to tread carefully, though hopefully I said the right things.

It felt like a question that should be posed to philosophers, not a straight-edged pencil-pusher like myself. What I’d settled on was claiming civilization was a collective way of life, which transcended the individual, and espoused laws in the pursuit of a higher ideal. I deflected to discussing the American Bill of Rights, and detailing the various agencies that kept functions smooth in every area. Veiq seemed almost skeptical of any freedoms I listed, which drew my suspicion.

After being here for several days, feeling like I was defending myself from an accusation I didn’t understand, I decided to get to the bottom of her attitude. How else could I know what approach to take, to prove that we weren’t dangerous animals? The Farsul archivists sat at separate tables to the humans, during mealtimes; there were only five of us, counting Greg and I. The other Earthlings—Juliana, Aya, and Joel—had woken up here this week too, so we were learning the ropes together.

“Have you noticed that they’re afraid of us?” I asked, in a hushed voice. “I don’t know if it’s just Veiq, or something larger. She seems genuinely excited to learn our culture, and yet…”

Juliana’s eyes darted around, before the hair stylist leaned closer. “I overheard the staffers whispering among themselves. They were using the word ‘predators’, and it seemed like they meant us.”

“Predators? Like wolves?” Greg reached for a bright green berry with alien silverware, cursing as he struggled to pick it up with the pronged instrument. The cutlery reminded me a little of chopsticks. “I don’t understand.”

I grimaced. “When I first woke up and she let me out, Veiq was staring at me like I was a hungry lion. There’s something they’re not telling us.”

“I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them. How do we know we have this…supposed disease at all?” Joel, an RAF enlisted man, hissed.

Aya, who was a teacher from Japan, had hardly touched her food. “These Farsul showed us videos of the squids talking. Those Kolshians were calling us flesh-eating monsters who needed salvation.”

“The fuck? How sure are we that the Farsul don’t agree with that gobbledygook?” my brother huffed.

I shot Greg a withering look. “Do you even know what that word means? The only ‘gobbledygook’ being spoken is by you. Does every word have to be some hipster nonsense? This is serious!”

“Well I said something serious. We can’t just sit here and veg out; we gotta get out of here, if everything’s not copacetic.”

“Right on. Look, the aliens are unarmed, so we need to get the drop on them,” Joel spoke, the British accent rich in his voice. “FBI, do you have combat training?”

“My name is Danny,” I retorted. “Only very basic training. I’m an analyst, not a field agent.”

“Right, Daniel.” Not my name. “We can take the Archivists, and the rest of you can stand by with improvised weapons. I’m a pilot; get them to take us to a spaceshi—”

“If you’re a pilot, you know you couldn’t fly it.” Aya closed her eyes, shaking her head. “It’ll be nothing like your planes. Besides, what’s the plan from there? We don’t even know where we are—”

“And if we go home, we could spread the disease. I can’t speak for your towns, but there’s good people where I’m from,” Juliana said. “I couldn’t live with killing off everyone I ever knew.”

Joel breathed a flustered sigh. “Okay, then we take the Farsul, line ‘em up, and interrogate them. I’ve seen other species here, on those big TV monitors, when they walk us from the living quarters to the chamber. Are those the other races supposedly infected with the cure?”

I rose from my seat. “We capture the Farsul, and initiate a hostage situation; that’s your plan? They already think we’re wild animals! If we have a few years to live and need them to cure us, attacking them rids us of our only hope. I don’t think they have a reason to lie about us being sick, and I don’t want to die here.”

“Neither do I! That’s why we need answers. There’s more to this than they’re letting on. I don’t want the people trying to ‘cure’ me thinking I’m a monster!”

“Well, there’s an easier way to find out. We could try asking them, like civilized people. For better or for worse, we’re dependent on them—so talking beats using our fists. I’ll be back.”

“Danny, no, wait!” Greg called, attempting and failing to swipe at my poncho.

The entire table of humans watched in transfixed horror, as I abandoned my tray of alien food. The Farsul researchers hushed their conversation, after they realized I was marching toward them rather than a washroom. A few ducked their heads with apprehension, so I tried to keep my movements non-threatening. Archivist Veiq almost choked on her food, and I waited for her coughing fit to resolve itself before speaking my mind.

“I need to talk to you,” I hissed.

Veiq blinked rapidly. “Now? Are you feeling unwell? If it’s a medical emergency, I can call for help.”

“No. I want to know what bothers you about us.”

“As I said, this is the first time most of us worked with humans. I can speak about whatever is bothering you, or whatever I have done to offend you, when mealtime is over. It’s important to us that you are not hungry.”

“Why? Because you think I’m a…flesh-eating predator? Did I get that straight?”

The Farsul’s eyes bulged, and horrified gasps echoed around the table. Veiq struggled to regain her composure, before rising from her seat with haste. Her pupils flicked toward the other humans, who were trying to hide their stares. The archivist seemed wary of the other abductees, but she also was hesitating to speak in front of her colleagues. The dog-like alien gestured for me to follow, with a glint in her eyes that screamed ‘Not here.’

Should I follow her somewhere private? Everyone else deserves to hear this too, but I can always relay the answers. Unless she’s hiding alien powers, I think I can hold my own against her.

Veiq shot a sidelong glance back, satisfied to spot me tailing her. The archivist led the way out of the cafeteria, and ducked into what seemed to be a meeting room. She paced for several seconds, wringing her ears as though deciding what to tell me. I sat down in a chair, and crossed my arms with impatience. The Farsul grew more agitated when I patted the seat next to me. I could see her breathing quicken, though she accepted the offer.

“I knew it. That’s what you’re not telling me, isn’t it? That’s why you looked at me like I was going to pounce on you!” I declared.

Veiq buried her head in her paws, slumping over the table. “Danny, it’s complicated. Most of us on the team are working with humans for the first time. We’ve had cases like this before, but with what the Farsul volunteers serving alongside you went through, few sign up to suffer like that again.”

“Do you agree with the Kolshians that we’re flesh-eating predators? There’s nothing complicated about it. Yes or no?”

“I mean, objectively speaking, humans are both of those things. It’s scientific fact—what do you want me to say?! There’s a strong bias against meat-eating species, and the Kolshians making sure none of you stay that way is a big reason why. I’ve never seen binocular eyes outside a screen until this week.”

“You’re afraid of me.”

“You can smell it?”

“No, I can see it. It’s written all over your face.”

“Fascinating. Humans can truly discern emotions of other species…I struggled to believe the rumors. Is fear the only one you understand?”

“Of course not! What is that even supposed to mean? If you’re asking whether I understand fear, yes, I’m scared shitless; I’m keeping it together for Greg. You were implying something more unkind, I think, but for the life of me, I can’t guess what that is. I want answers.”

The alien pulled out one of her strange, glowing screens, which she’d promise to teach us to use for record-keeping after we settled in. Somehow, without any slides, she cast images from the pad to a 3D projector. I whistled, impressed with the advanced alien technology. Veiq paused; the shrill noise seemed to confuse her. Perhaps I should refrain from any noises or gestures. Folding my hands together, it became my new directive to be as non-expressive as possible.

“I want you to understand that I’m absolutely not supposed to tell you this. We’ve been warned, in no uncertain terms, not to get attached to you or to let our guard down,” the Farsul stated. “Those cases we had before? In the late stages of the disease, humans lose their minds. Become unstable and violent.”

As a montage began to play, I tried to signal that I was paying full attention. My eyebrows furrowed with concern, as I absorbed the happenings on screen. Humans were rambling incoherently, with one pointing at empty space and shouting about demons being after him. Another person was having seizures on the floor, while Farsul tried to stop her from choking. Graphic images existed of multiple individuals trying to harm themselves, as well as brawling with each other or assaulting the staff.

“That’s…going to happen to me? To Greg?” I whispered. Why me?! Why is this happening?

“Well, I was told you’re less likely to attack before the progression plays out. I had to sign a waiver accepting the risk of bodily harm before being assigned to this team.” Veiq switched off the rolling video, and gauged my expression with hesitancy. I tried, and failed, to clear the despondency from my face. “It was a worthy sacrifice to me, because I do want to save you. It’d be a crime against sapience not to try.”

“I’d never hurt anyone, not without a reason.” Disregard the fact that I considered bashing her over the head when I woke up; she doesn’t know that. It was panic, not any decision I made. “Look, if a human attacks you, it’s probably ‘cause they’re scared or hurt. We’re not animals.”

“Do those humans reflect your markers of civilization? Or did they look like animals to you?”

“They looked like something out of a nuthouse, Veiq. But if this disease causes us to go insane, you know that’s not us, right? I’m not like that, and I’d never want to be. I didn’t ask for this.”

“I know that. Surely you can see what I’m afraid of though. We have no way of knowing exactly when you’ll snap.”

“Your fear is understandable. I can assure you, it’s twice as scary to be trapped in a strange place, and be told you’ll turn into a psychotic monster because of a lethal disease.”

“I…imagine that would be worse.”

“You think? Maybe, just maybe, if you actually mean to help me, you could show a little more warmth. You could tell all your team to have a little sympathy.”

The Farsul’s jowls twitched, and froze in place for a few seconds. What was causing so much hesitation; was she holding back another secret? The answer revealed itself to me, when her paw jerked out toward my resting hand. The calloused pad felt rough against my knuckles, as she tried to offer a reassuring touch. Veiq looked queasy from making physical contact with me, though she seemed relieved that my reaction wasn’t negative.

“I do sympathize with how confused you must be, and what’s projected to happen to you,” the alien muttered. “It’s tragic. I hope against all logic that we can save you.”

“Then show it. Quit keeping us at arm’s length, and in the dark.” I pulled her paw away with my free hand, and gave it a light squeeze. The Farsul yanked it back in a hurry. “I’d like to get to know you. We could try to be friends, and you could learn a little about humans. There’s so little I know about your species and your culture.”

“I don’t imagine I could feel comfortable talking about anything personal with you. Er, but I’ll try, Danny.”

“I’m not so bad, I promise. How did you become a historian? What’s it like, growing up on your planet?”

Veiq issued a terse sigh. “Talsk is my planet’s name. By the sound of it, our government is much less centralized than yours. My granddad was one of the local elders in the region, so my family had some connections after he died. After proving myself at the public Archives, the powers that be took notice of me. This is a top-secret base, maintained by a select few historically-minded individuals.”

“Why is it secret?”

“We’re trying to save species like humans. The work we do is invaluable to galactic peace…to ensure that every race is given every possible chance to join the herd! It took years of studying to be ready for this job and learn the truth about things. At first, I didn’t understand why we protected your kind.”

“Protecting us? You mean stopping the Kolshians?”

“Exactly. They’d like you extinct. Despite humanity’s staggeringly high aggression, the Farsul thought we could make this work. We’ve studied your society, for better or for worse. We’re really the only people in the galaxy that believe you’re true sapients.”

“How many other species are there?”

“Hundreds.”

My head snapped back in surprise, and it felt like a knife was plunged into my sternum. That admission was profoundly upsetting, hearing that three-digits worth of other civilizations saw my people as little more than animals. Veiq’s words held conviction, so that meant the Farsul were the only aliens willing to try to help us. What was so different about humans, that nearly every society would write us off as uncivilized monsters? It couldn’t be as simple as the predator jab; the Farsul stated that there was bias against meat-eaters, but it seemed absurd for advanced aliens to hold such simplistic worldviews.

Aliens engineered an entire bioweapon to make us allergic to meat. Veiq was shocked that I felt emotion—maybe the two are linked in the Kolshians’ narrative? I think I’ve put enough of the puzzle together.

“Why exactly does our diet make us not sapient?” I shouted.

Veiq shriveled away. “I, uh, I just told you we thought you’re sapient. Please don’t blame me–I didn’t do it.”

“Sorry for raising my voice. I didn’t mean to frighten you. That’s just…outrageous! Why don’t you tell me more about your training?”

“Uh, I think that’s enough socializing for now, Danny. We should get back to the cafeteria, before either of our people become worried. There’ll be plenty of time to chat later.”

“Okay. I appreciate you leveling with me.”

“I’m grateful you allowed me to clarify your concerns. We’re not perfect, but we have your best interests at heart. I’d appreciate if you could pass that along to the other humans, and soothe their worries—so maybe leave out the panic-inducing parts?”

“Sure. I won’t let anyone cause trouble. We just wanted to know what’s going on, that’s all.”

The Farsul wagged her tail as she led me back to the meal area. Despite her odd mannerisms, Veiq left the distinct impression that she cared. I’d divulge enough of the new revelations to the other humans; namely, our perceived non-sapience due to our diet, and past attacks on staffers that led to their current trepidation. Perhaps we could monitor each other, to catch neural decline early. I would fight this disease as much as humanly possible; the last thing I wanted was to prove alien biases correct.

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A/N - Part 3! Danny demands answers from Veiq, after making the connect between the word "predator" and the perceived monstrous behavior. The Farsul archivist spells out what happened, and passes along that no other species sees humans as sapient or worth keeping alive.

Will this be what causes the archivist to warm to Danny? What do you think of Veiq, after learning a bit of how she became a secret historian?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting! There is a twist to this series (you’ll see by Part 5), stay tuned!