The Nature of Predators - Omnivore Miniseries (2/8)

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Memory transcription subject: Lyben, Sulean Police Officer

Date [standardized human time]: October 28, 2136

Emergency services were ringing off the hook all afternoon. Some citizens were clogging up the lines, merely to demand information. The truth was, we had no answers. Resources were stretched thin across the globe, between stampedes and kneejerk reactions. There had been a sharp uptick in suicide attempts and crime too.

My Iftali partner, Miztesh, never showed for our latest assignment. I didn’t know what to think, about the Iftali being suspected predators. It didn’t compute with me that our friends could be predators. Predators were supposed to be creatures that made your skin crawl, with bestial fangs and eyes.

You don’t think fluffy and pink, when you picture hunters. It just doesn’t make sense.

In light of recent news, I had no idea how to handle my current call: an Iftali jumper on the High Jild Bridge. How could I tell this person that it was okay that they were reformed? It was probably a good thing that Miztesh had bailed on his shift. Several Iftali cops were missing in action, unable to proceed with their work. Our co-species workforce would be an unneeded distraction anyways.

My radio flickered to life, capturing the Sulean president’s emergency broadcast. Nerves sent a shiver through my antlers. I needed to hear that this was a dreadful mistake, and that our brethren were blameless in this fiasco. It was difficult to imagine life without the Iftali.

The Sulean president commenced her speech. My fellow citizens, I implore you not to rush to judgment. To put it plainly, the archaeological evidence we have for the Consecrated Order’s origin is shallow. The thought of an alien race experimenting on our friends offends me deeply.

Whatever happens next, the Sulean people will stand with the Iftalis. I don’t care what our past suggests; we are vital to each other. Together, we have accomplished great things, and turned Jild into a peaceful home.

But it’s important that we figure out what effects Kolshian meddling had. I will be sending an advisor to seek a human opinion.

Be kind to one another. That is all.

The Sulean president had confirmed the worst case…that our neighbors were probable flesh-eaters. My mind went blank, and I nearly crashed my car into the bridge’s guardrail. It was fortunate that I was almost to the destination; it wasn’t safe to be behind the wheel in my frazzled state. I felt like I was going to vomit, as my stomach did flips.

Perhaps I should forget about the Iftali jumper, and walk home on foot. Today had been overwhelming; I wanted to hide in bed and pretend this never happened. It would be easier to live in a fantasy. Not to mention that our leaders were asking for policy advice from war-happy monkeys. Humans gave me the creeps, ever since I saw that Noah unmasked on television.

“Lyben, you have to help this jumper. The radio said it’s just a kid,” I muttered. “These aren’t humans.”

I parked my vehicle on bridge’s shoulder, and strode up to the wall. An Iftali had climbed over the edge, staring down with a wild look. Choppy water splashed hundreds of feet below, promising the embrace of certain death. The pink-furred guy couldn’t have been more than a teenager. His hooves scrabbled for traction, nearly losing his balance.

Tears swelled in his eyes. “S-stay back! Get back or else! I…don’t want to hurt you.”

“Easy, kid. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.” My voice was calm, as I inched forward. Sympathy clenched at my heart, overriding my shock. “What’s your name?”

“Elka.”

“Elka, why don’t you talk to me? We have plenty of time, you and me. There’s no need to rush the most important decision of your life.”

“Jild would be b-better without me. You Suleans should want us gone. Tell me to do it!”

“Us Suleans have always seen the Iftali the same as our own race. That hasn’t changed. I’m concerned, but I hate that they hurt you. We’re too intertwined for me to believe you’re evil. And you know you’re not evil, don’t you?”

Elka’s eyes watered, cowering as I moved closer. The young Iftali was shaking, with an expression that emanated self-loathing. It wasn’t right, that the Federation would brainwash an entire society. No creature deserved to hate their own existence…to feel such anguish, that they saw one way out. I couldn’t bring myself to write our brothers off as predators.

Is this how the Venlil see the humans? As victims, despite their diet and inclinations?

“You don’t know that I’m not evil!” the kid spat. “I don’t know even that. I don’t want to be the monster that proper people are afraid of. I feel guilty for d-doing that to you.”

I took a few steps forward. “Listen to me: this isn’t your fault. You have nothing to be sorry about. You have your whole life ahead of you, Elka.”

“A life as a freak. A predator!”

“You’re not a predator. The Kolshians changed you to an herbivore, remember? Your purpose now clearly isn’t killing. I bet you’ve never hurt anyone in your life.”

“Because of the Church. I tried to be a g-good person, Officer…”

“That’s a choice we make day-by-day. Morality is the sum of your actions. But ultimately, it’s about the bigger picture too. Everything happens for a reason.”

“I don’t see any reason for this pain!”

“You won’t see it now, or maybe any time in the future. Life shakes out how it’s meant to be. We all have our part to play, Elka. You have to trust that things will work out.”

“But…it might not work out. I’m s-scared! Nothing makes sense anymore.”

“Take my antlers. It’ll be okay, son.”

Elka clutched my thick antlers, and I pulled him over the wall with a head-toss. He clung to my neck for awhile, sobbing. After several minutes of coaxing, the Iftali choked out his current address and legal guardian. I eased him over to my vehicle, and watched as he stretched out in the backseat. The kid looked so fragile and lost.

Red-hot fury prompted me to headbutt a Kolshian’s ribcage. This was the same sister species we had known all along; the ones who would sacrifice themselves before hurting others. I was outraged that the Federation would harm such a kind-spirited race…predator or not.

A second squad car swerved down the bridge, screeching to a halt. A grizzled Iftali staggered from the vehicle, with a thousand-yard stare on his face. It was my partner, Miztesh; he looked like he’d been in the desert for days. He drew nearer on wobbly legs, and I could smell the liquor on his breath.

Miz drowned the news with alcohol. Hell, I kind of wish I wasn’t sober myself.

“Sorry…I’m late,” the officer slurred. “Lyben—"

I marched up to him, snatching the keys away. “You ignorant asshole! I should arrest you, for gambling with your life like that. How would you feel if you hit someone? Next time you decide to get fucked up, stay home.”

Miztesh sighed. “I was…I used to drink a lot. I’ve been sober for three years. You probably didn’t know that. But…tonight, I needed to make it better. I…”

“Miz, I know this is hard. Buddy, listen to me, you have an entire support network with the Suleans. This is all going to blow over soon enough.”

“Blow over? This isn’t just celebrity…drama.”

“You’re not thinking clearly. We’re going to take this kid home, and then you’re going home too. Neither of you belong out here.”

“I’m…f-fine…”

“You can’t lie to me. Get in the fucking car, and drink some water.”

The Iftali officer toppled into the passenger seat, and tugged the door shut. His pink head leaned against the window, studying the city skyline. Each lit window contained a separate person, with their own life and dreams. It was humbling, to realize how small we were; how insignificant our friends’ classification was in the long run.

My mind wandered back to what the Sulean president had said, about soliciting human help. The predators might aid our friends, but that was a nasty can of vegetables to open. There was no telling what propaganda Earth would push, or how they would view the Iftalis’ friendship with us. Surely it was a myth that the Terrans and the Venlil were equals.

“Say we decide to seek outside help,” I spoke aloud. “What’s your opinion on humans?”

Elka covered his eyes. “You’re just going to ship us off with those forward-eyed freaks?”

“Of course not! But there are only two experts in the galaxy…and I can’t imagine asking the Arxur.”

Miztesh sipped at some water. “I think…they’re smart. Humans know we’re w-weaker divided. I bet this interview was their fault…they just want to stir up doubt.”

“Anything with eyes l-like that, I want to keep far away,” Elka added.

I flared my nostrils. “Agreed. And humans wouldn’t do anything for free. Their bargain would likely be our servitude. But…”

Miztesh raised his eyebrows, imploring me to continue. I focused on the road, and calculated my words. If the Iftali were exposed as predators, they wouldn’t want to stay with the exploitative Federation. The Suleans would exit with our brethren, and that left us at the Arxur’s mercy.

“We don’t have much choice. An alliance with the predators is the only way we get any protection,” I finished. “It’s also how we can push back against the Federation. Perhaps our goals are mutually aligned with theirs, for now.”

Miztesh swigged his water. “And who the fuck would sign…sign up for such an alliance? You?”

“Shit, we’ll see. I doubt it. Humans sicken me, but I’d do anything for the Iftali. I’m sure a lot of Suleans feel the same.”

It was still fresh in my mind, the day we learned that the Venlil were sheltering predators. Despite prior observation data on Earth, the Sulean government believed that the facts were inconclusive. We didn’t want to get involved in a war that went south, or be responsible for an erroneous genocide.

Even I had to admit that the empathy tests were gold. It was tough to see good in human features, but science was an impartial judge of character. What transpired in a predator’s mind was something we never had insight into before. But the Iftali’s personhood was well-documented, so that formed a basis for human complexity.

Terran history is irrefutably evil, and their culture revolves around death and hunting, I reminded myself. We’re right to fear them. Not all omnivores are terrible, but these specific ones…

Unlike the Venlil, we could avoid the mistake of seeing humans as friends. This could be a transactional relationship, solely for the Iftali’s benefit. The disgust on Elka’s face suggested that our sister species wouldn’t buddy up with Earthlings either. I made a mental note to check up on the kid, and ensure that he found his footing.

“Hey, Lyben?” Miztesh murmured. “Thanks for not shunning me. But if you want a different partner…”

I dipped my head. “We’re in this together. Maybe this interview is a good thing. You’re free from the Federation’s control now. You can find your authentic selves, and show those Kolshian bastards that the past doesn’t matter.”

“All while we point the humans’ warships at them. I can get behind that.”

“It’s not a terrible plan; not entirely. We do have to be careful. The predators will fleece the antlers off our heads, if we get complacent.”

“Well then, they’ll get along great with our politicians. There’s truly someone…for everyone.”

Laughter swept away the negative emotions, with old dynamics clicking back into place. Everything about our culture might change, but the Sulean-Iftali alliance was unwavering. Once the local government restored order, we could decide our next course of action. With some calculated risks, this revelation was nothing we couldn’t navigate.

Whatever news had broken today, Jild would never succumb to human corruption. We would take the Terrans for fools, if they planned long-term manipulation against our people.

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A/N - Part 2 of the miniseries! We meet our other narrator, from the Sulean side, and see his perspective on learning the Iftalis were omnivores. Will humanity get involved with their situation...and will the Iftalis come to terms with their new reality?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!