The Nature of Predators - Arxur Miniseries (Epilogue)

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Memory transcription subject: Kaisal, Arxur Dominion Third Fleet

Date [standardized human time]: October 6, 2136

The Arxur who had chased after the bus turned out to be an elite cattle unit. Dominion special ops swooped in, right before an area was eradicated, to collect as much prey as possible. Their efficiency was legendary, with the tight timeframes they worked under. Also, the second they got one catch secured, they’d move to a new location.

Captain Coth was intrigued by my tales of the other predators. I’d seen firsthand what everyone else had only viewed amidst combat. It helped that I played up my cunning to ‘escape’ custody, and circulated false claims of truce negotiations with humans. Coth accepted the Gojids schoolprey as the tree-dwellers’ catch; the Arxur Dominion scaled back the bombing run on Maya’s bunker, accordingly.

The captain granted me a stay on his ship, allowing me to aid in the mess hall. That was a perfect job, as far as I was concerned. I got the first pickings at the Gojid prey, and could eat as much as I liked. It did feel a bit strange to carve up their flesh, after seeing the little ones cuddling with Frank. I reminded myself that the animals didn’t view us as people, so there was no reason to elevate their status.

Our departure from the cradle was hastened, as reports of a fresh human attack poured in. All I wanted was to get off-world, and go somewhere safe. It was a cruel twist of fate, that the omnivores singled us out once we cleared the atmosphere. Scent alarms seeped from the vents, which brought the ship on combat readiness.

Trosaf, a cordial officer, shoved a weapon in my grip. “These fleshy predators are insane. They knocked out our propulsion, and blasted their way inside. They really want those cattle back so badly?”

“Humans have a few screws loose,” I grumbled.

The commotion overhead didn’t bode well for our chances. Gunfire advanced on our position at a rapid pace, and Coth’s chatter over the PA didn’t mollify the humans. If anything, our diplomacy seemed to piss them off more. Arxur troops bounded up the stairs, hurrying out from our living quarters. A larger contingent pooled by the mess hall entry, at Trosaf’s direction.

“All forces in the upper deck, retreat! Do you copy?” Coth’s voice crackled over the radio.

There was no response; the humans must’ve chewed through everything we sent to their locale. Our procedures were rusty from disuse, unsuited to a true enemy. Dominion soldiers were in over their heads. Nobody ever had the gall to assault an Arxur vessel, and take on an apex predator in close-quarter combat.

Trosaf checked his gun. “We should just give them the cattle. A single haul’s not worth getting slaughtered.”

“They don’t negotiate with ‘terrorists,’” I chuckled.

“Is that how they see us? I thought you negotiated a truce, Kaisal.”

“I did. I convinced them not to kill me.”

More gunshots popped off, closer this time, along with the sound of glass shattering. Footsteps thumped down the walkway, and a lighter clink floated down the stairwell. My eyes locked on a grenade, seconds before it exploded by Trosaf’s waiting men. Screams came from the wounded, who were maimed by shrapnel. It reminded me how Maya had taken out Naitha’s band.

I’m going to die. The humans are going to kill us all, and they don’t intend to talk.

Any surviving Arxur retreated to the cafeteria’s recesses, as the enemy lobbed another grenade. The omnivores were clad in excessive armor, much like Frank. I watched as they scurried down the staircase, firing at us before they even reached the bottom. My gun felt heavy in my grip, and I couldn’t make myself return gunfire.

Trosaf’s eyes bulged. “Shoot them, Kaisal, or I’ll shoot you myself! I’ve given you a chance, so don’t you dare hide like prey.”

Gulping, I tugged the trigger a few times. My shots were aimed at the humans’ extremities, rather than seeking their center of mass. If anyone asked, I would deny that my aim was purposeful; it was just as likely that I was incompetent. The Arxur officer beside me toted an automatic weapon, and hurled a torrent at the incoming hostiles.

Several humans were caught in the bullet stream, with Trosaf shooting to kill. Crimson blood seeped from one’s neck, and she crumpled to the ground. Fellow soldiers leapt forward without hesitation, carrying her away from the front lines. Medical aid was rendered, though I wasn’t sure there was anything that could be done. Humans didn’t leave a single person behind…except me.

My teeth bared with intrigue, as I saw an unarmed Gojid tailing a human to cover. Other Arxur had noticed its presence as well, since the delectable scent was distracting. The pathetic creature cowered behind a wastebin, spines bristling. Bullets rained on its position, with one nailing the human partner in the skull. I winced as the predator fell back.

“Stealth specialists, flank the hostiles by the tables. Hustle, move!” Trosaf snarled.

Any Arxur in the humans’ direct line of sight was mowed down. The Dominion wounded several of theirs too, but many injured enemies remained in the fight. Maybe that was how the battered ones, at the Gojid school, resisted the raiders for so long. As long as there was air in their lungs, these omnivores were a threat.

Our attempts to encircle the humans caught a few unaware, but their reactions were instantaneous. I pulled my gun back, hoping Trosaf wouldn’t notice. More Arxur bodies were visible than soldiers still living and breathing. The tree-predators inched forward, taking the room one pace at a time. Our last stand wasn’t going to keep them from the bridge.

The Arxur officer withdrew. “Damn it all. The humans outnumbered us from the start, and the numbers are only getting worse. The ship is lost.”

Fear clamped at my chest. “We need to surrender, sir. There’s no dishonor in being bested by a worthy foe.”

“How do we know if they’ll accept it?”

They accepted mine, I answered internally. Both times.

“Because we’re predators like them, and they’ll want intelligence on us.” My voice quavered, as I pondered whether they would execute us. “I can’t be sure. But our other option is certain death. I don’t want to die.”

Trosaf hesitated, before lifting his communicator. “All units, stand down. I’m authorizing a full surrender.”

I shoved my firearm across the floor, before he could finish his decree. Our soldiers halted their gunfire, and slid their own weapons toward the humans. My heart was in my throat, as I rose out of cover; others were presenting their unarmed forms as well. For a split second, the tree-dwellers looked stunned.

“GET ON THE GROUND!” a human shouted. “HANDS…paws, where I can see them. Mouths closed!”

The enemy soldiers stormed up to surrendering Arxur; their tones were confrontational and authoritative. Weapons were trained on us with cold discipline. One human tossed a pair of handcuffs to me, and I shackled myself. The creature looked unhinged, so I made a point to avoid eye contact.

The nearby humans turned their attention to Trosaf, who took a boot to the gut. The Arxur officer yelped, before cuffing himself with haste. I reminded myself that they didn’t see us as people; this treatment made that evident. Other omnivores were milling about, and I swore I heard one ask what we would taste like. Why would this species even think of eating another sapient predator?

The human finished up with Trosaf, and marched over to my prone form. A boot heel crushed into my tail, sending a sharp pain down my spine. I bit down to keep from screaming; terror surged through my veins, imagining how they could brutalize me. It was awful to be at someone’s mercy, who seemed to delight in our suffering.

The enemy soldier shoved a gun against my temple, while digging their boot in further. “What did you do with the kids? Where are they?”

“Kids?” I managed, struggling to think.

“The Gojids. The ‘cattle’, you son of a bitch!”

“Why didn’t you just say that?! They’re in the cargo bay.”

“And where the fuck is that? Show us, now!”

I struggled to my feet, and the human spurred me onward at gunpoint. My brain retraced the steps to the cafeteria, where fresh blood hit my nostrils. My stomach rumbled with desire, tempted by the corpses hanging across the area. However, several boarders were puking their guts out; it was like they didn’t have a hunter instinct at all.

Seeing them in action, you know they can fight. Why are they not tempted?

The one hovering behind me threw in a rough shove, and I staggered to the rear wall. My claws pointed desperately at the double doors, uncertain how to convince them I was on their side. The human responded by placing the gun back at my temple; their arms quivered with fury. Their dilated eyes suggested they wanted to beat the crap out of me.

The omnivore sucked in a sharp breath. “Open the fucking door…or we’ll find out what color your brains splatter.”

I swallowed, recognizing that threat as authentic. My paw triggered the motion sensor, hoping that the cattle would appease them. The Arxur guard never stood a chance, and the humans didn’t offer him a chance to surrender. The boarders ripped him apart with bullets, a grotesque display of overkill. My jaw dropped, as scarlet blood oozed through the latticed walkway.

My experience with Maya should’ve taught me the truth about humans. They wanted to kill every Arxur they got their hands on. Our extinction was their goal, just like the Federation; defecting to Earth had never been an option. Our side of the story didn’t matter to them, because they had already drawn their conclusions.

“No heads up about the guard?” a voice snickered.

A blinding pain pulsed through my temple, as the human conked me over the head with his rifle. The last thing I felt was my knees buckling beneath me, and a final dose of fear. If I ever woke up again, I still intended to plead with them. Perhaps there was a way to get through to them…to convince them that all I wanted was a better life.

Unconsciousness pulled me under, silencing my ever-present hunger.

A/N - The end of the Arxur miniseries! We discover who Kaisal was all along, and see the cattle ship boarding from his POV. What are your thoughts on the twist?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting! I'll have an update on January's content soon.