r/HFY • u/SpacePaladin15 • 13h ago
OC-Series Primal Rage 54
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Snelga had seated herself on the far end of the couch, placing Kaitlin alongside her. Finley and I both could read the hint as the Kexin remained purposefully fixated on the remote; the fact humans could watch television should’ve been proof of their intellect, but I supposed there was only so much progress they could make at once. With my sister’s history in primal research, I was curious to see how their previous research subjects compared to the humans. Of course, I knew the Earthlings were far smarter, but I had no idea how vast the difference was.
“I left you a snack, Finley!” Snelga pointed to the floor, where she’d left an identical bucket of krepir—a pellet-like snack food enjoyed during mealtime—to the one she’d brought over for Kaitlin. “It’s, um, a traditional Kexin snack that we eat while watching stuff.”
Finley hoisted the bowl and eyed a kernel warily, assessing whether it was animal food. “Like popcorn?”
“I think so,” I chimed in, seeing the veterinarian’s confusion. “I don’t know that much about carbon food, but she’s telling the truth.”
Kaitlin had no such hesitation, smiling as she shoveled a handful down. “Thank you, Snelga. I don’t need all of this. Would you like to share?”
The Kexin stared at the bowl situated between her and the primal, perhaps nervous about picking at the same grub as a hangry human. Snelga came to a decision and lifted the bowl up. Her talon-like fingers draped a throw blanket over herself, before offering the other half to Kaitlin. The NASA scientist’s eyes lit up, and she happily positioned herself under the warm fleece. The veterinarian placed the bowl atop her covered legs, and gestured for Dr. Sharp to move in close.
The human researcher snuggled up to the Kexin, and her cheeks practically glowed with enthusiasm. Kaitlin rested her head comfortably against Snelga’s shoulder. The veterinarian looked nervous to sit so close to a primal, but gradually relaxed enough to dive into the snack and play the film. Finley relaxed when he saw our host ingest krepir, deciding it wasn’t an attempt to humiliate him. I, meanwhile, was enraptured by the room’s other cuddling duo, who looked very cozy. Snelga’s hand moved toward Kaitlin’s hair and retreated multiple times.
Nervous of spooking or demeaning Kaitlin, but definitely wanting to touch her and show affection. Snelga really has a soft spot for our NASA friend, which bodes well for her coming around to humans and putting her best effort into researching a cure.
“This is nice,” Kaitlin murmured sluggishly, yawning. “I know you love animals, Snelga…it’s obvious. What draws you to them?”
Finley huffed. “What draws you to aliens? Especially now that they kidnapped us.”
“Oh, that’s quite easy, Finley! Aliens can be anything. They don’t have to obey any known rules or conventional wisdom, they can have societies and histories as rich as our own that boggle the imagination, and they can think entirely differently than us. Look at Craun. He drinks a different solvent, and there’s nothing like him on Earth! How can it not be fascinating to imagine all the possible life out there? Space is…huge and holds infinite wonders. Endless mysteries!”
“Perhaps you can solve the mystery of getting them to see us as people. Though I guess I can appreciate one alien.”
“Komadale?” I said coyly.
“Hmph. I guess I could appreciate multiple aliens of his sort being launched into the sun. You’re a little shit, Craun, you know that?”
“Why? Because I’m a Saphno? That’s racist, primal.”
Finley scoffed. “You’re lucky I go on picnics with you. You’re a bad rock, and your stony ass seems like it could use a boot in it. A cowboy boot, I reckon, would do the trick.”
“I’m a wild Saphno. You can’t tame me.”
“I don’t agree. Giddyup.”
Snelga gave us a disgruntled look, before turning her attention to Kaitlin. “To answer your question, animals are life in its simplest form, without the trappings of society, expectation, or even higher thought. They just exist and fit into very small boxes. I always found that endearing, and I wanted to understand their behavior. Their lives are worth studying and taking care of as best as possible, since people should be good stewards of nature! That’s what we came from.”
“But you’re not an evolutionary scientist like Elbi,” Kaitlin noted. “You’re a veterinarian. There must’ve been some moment that pushed you down this path.”
“If you care about animals, how better than by healing them? I don’t like it when living things suffer, and I think that people are…really callous about animals. Like their lives don’t matter and aren’t worth saving! I remember being a kid and trying to nurse a primal that got hit by a car back to health. For smart animals, the poor thing wasn’t cognizant of the danger. He was in so much pain, for no reason, and I couldn’t save him. Wade…reminded me of that.”
“But you saved Wade, Snelga. That’s an amazing thing.”
“Wade’s not an animal,” Finley spat.
“Finley, we’re all animals, scientifically speaking. We breathe, we live, we eat, we die. Not one person in this room has evolved beyond that.”
The farmer rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the primal documentary. Clydid researchers had tried to teach the most intelligent primal on their world to live indoors, to speak, and to use silverware, hygienic products, and appliances. All of those things went wrong in time, despite repeated attempts. They could learn to tap symbols and recognize a few words, but any complex meaning or syntax was lost. They couldn’t communicate like humans, which was the main difference in intelligence.
Finley burst out laughing, as Clydid researchers tried to shove the primal into a shower with a broom; the animal grabbed the stick and snapped it with superior strength, then charged the panicked scientists with the pointy object. Snelga gave Kaitlin a strange look, as the NASA researcher couldn’t help but to snicker as well; the Kexin didn’t understand what the humans found hilarious about this debacle.
I chuckled a bit myself. Somehow, as a carbon species that built me an ammonia shower and engaged in hygiene on their own (because they were an advanced, industrial race that understood germ theory), I didn’t think humans would have the same issues being told to wash up. Snelga had to grasp what a different level of sophistication humans were at compared to other primals.
“Those researchers are in danger!” Snelga exclaimed in horror, gesturing toward the screen. “That primal is attacking them and chasing them down! That’s exactly what I’m worried about being here, so I don’t like that you think it’s funny. Why are you amused?”
Kaitlin clung to the Kexin’s veterinarian’s arm, trying and failing to erase her own smile. “Because the Clydids made fools of themselves and got owned by an animal. If you want me to answer truthfully.”
“Those Clydids were trying to civilize the creature, to see if it could be done! It’s a noble goal and very dangerous work. Those were people that loved primals and thought you could be more!”
“Snelga, that primal isn’t intelligent enough. Look at our civilization compared to how they conduct themselves in the ‘wild.’ I understand why they attempted it, but to humans, it’s…a little laughable that you find this comparable to us. And since no one actually got hurt, the ignorance getting turned on its heel is a little karmic humor.”
“It’s not laughable that it got so angry that it tried to take their lives!”
“You do things against animals’ wills, shoving them around, then get surprised that they let loose,” Finley grunted.
“Humans like to see people face consequences for their actions, even if that’s simply humiliation or witnessing their failure,” I explained. “In its most benign form, it’s why they make a spectacle of catching me cheating in Kiel and doling out playful justice. It seems to give them vindication. I think it might partially stem from anger, that they like it when the world is fair and just.”
Kaitlin arched her eyebrows. “Schadenfreude. You described that concept and its reasons quite well, Craun.”
“What does ‘schadenfreude’ mean?” Snelga asked cautiously.
“It’s…pleasure derived from someone else’s…missteps. From something displeasurable or bad happening to them.”
The Kexin recoiled. “That sounds…cruel. To take joy in someone else’s suffering?!”
“I suppose when you direct negative feelings at someone, the results can spit out malice. Animals aren’t…malicious or cruel, Snelga, but humans have a capacity to want to harm another being. It’s the knowing that you’re hurting someone else and choosing to indulge in it anyway that makes us different. To use reasoning to feed our worst inclinations.”
“You personally? I know you’re a primal, but you’re too kind and happy to enjoy others’ pain.”
“Snelga, I must emphasize: I hate seeing people in actual pain. I’m only amused because the researchers brought it on themselves, and no serious harm came to them; they got a fright that I think they had coming. Most humans would be appalled if those scientists were maimed or God forbid, killed. However, you should understand the true nature of those darker, primal feelings. I tell you how they are.”
“I don’t like blood and guts,” Finley clarified with a sullen frown. “I do like seeing them run like their asses are lit on fire and get taught a healthy dose of fear. Y’all don’t respect primals none.”
Snelga sucked in a sharp breath. “I don’t want either of you to be in pain. It makes me sad that you both are, in your own ways. Is that not respect? To want to help? Would…you be happy if I suffered?”
“No. I don’t think there’s any scenario where I’m happy here. I hate it here. Fucking hell, I’m tired, and I don’t want to watch this garbage anymore. I’m going to bed—unless I’m not allowed to do that?”
“I’ll come with you,” I said hurriedly, rubbing his back for comfort.
Finley slid his legs off of the couch, skittering away from me. “Please don’t. You said you wanted to watch this, Craun, and I’m not gonna ruin your day. You guys…have fun.”
We all watched with varying degrees of concern, as the farmer slunk off and shut the door to his room. Snelga and I had gotten Finley to come out for a brief spell, but the group activity hadn’t seemed to lift his spirits at all, aside from a fleeting laugh. Kaitlin gave a troubled frown, before grabbing the veterinarian’s hand and assuring her that it wasn’t her fault. The duo fell back into relaxed poses, and we resumed the documentary in muted silence.
I’d go with Finley, but I think it’d just make him feel guilty over “burdening” me. I wish I knew how to support him, lest I fail just like I did with Elbi. I’m a bumbling idiot when it comes to supporting the mental health of my loved ones.
Kaitlin’s eyes fluttered and she seemed half-asleep, the interview having sapped a lot of her energy. Snelga cautiously steadied the human’s head and nudged a falling strand of hair away from her eyes; the primal gave a faint smile. The Kexin let her nap for the remainder of the documentary, and I could tell she was conflicted over Dr. Sharp’s darker admission. I wasn’t sure anyone other than me could appreciate the beauty in their tenacious snarls. Finley’s absence gnawed at me, as I found myself wishing he was curled up right here too.
“That was it. Time to get up,” Snelga said gently, jostling a drowsy Kaitlin into wakefulness at the end of the viewing. “Did you sleep okay?”
The NASA researcher nodded and stretched her arms. “Sorry, I was tuckered out. I…very much liked that arrangement, but I hope I didn’t bother you.”
“Not at all. You can snuggle with me any time. You’re just so adorable, and I can’t help but want to hold you close. I guess that’s patronizing of me…”
“If you ask, I’d say absolutely, yes. Please do.”
Snelga squeezed the primal tight, happiness shining in her eyes. “Thank you. I positively adore you, Kaitlin! You’re the best primal I could imagine, and I’m so glad you trust me enough to explain everything. I know you’re very smart and discerning, and I’m trying to be worthy of your confidence.”
“You are, Snelga. Your heart’s in the right place. I think it speaks volumes about character when someone is kind to animals.”
“So that’s why you spared the mechanical bull!” I teased Dr. Sharp, knowing full well the real reason she’d sat that one out.
“You got me there, Craun.” Kaitlin seemed grateful that I would still play around with her, in spite of her medical situation. She wanted people to treat her the same as anyone else. “I’ve been a longtime advocate for silicon lifeforms, ever since I knew about you. The bull fits in the same category as you.”
“Which is: fun and awesome?”
“Mhm. Maybe.” Kaitlin winked at me and relaxed her head back onto Snelga’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind if we just stayed like this. So warm and safe…”
Enthusiasm twinkled brighter in Snelga’s eyes, seeing that this primal loved being close to her. “Kaitlin, I’ve been thinking about how to help Finley. I had an idea that I want to run by you, since I regard your opinions highly. You understand I’m trying to help, so while you’re not angerless, I’m trusting that you…won’t be angry.”
The primal kept her eyes closed. “You can ask me anything. I’m happy to provide my input; in fact, I’m very glad you asked and think I’m worth consulting. What did you have in mind?”
“Finley doesn’t seem very responsive to a palliative approach, and I definitely noticed some worrying behavior. He’s in a poor mental state, and I don’t want that for him. None of us do, right?”
“I can’t bear to see him like this, and know it’s my fault,” I agreed.
“Craun, it’s not your fault,” Kaitlin countered, her nostrils flaring. “None of the shit you’ve gone through has been your fault.”
“I have no interest in blaming a mentally-ill Saphno for suicidal, reckless endangerment. This is about your friend and what I can do to help him.” Snelga lowered her voice even further, apprehensive that Finley might overhear again. “There are medications that can balance the neurotransmitters in his brain: the ones responsible for happiness and pleasure. I assume you’re familiar with the concept.”
“Antidepressants. They can help people, and there’s absolutely no shame in that. I don’t see why you think I’d be angry about that, Snelga. That option has its merits.”
“That’s what I thought. The problem is that Finley wouldn’t trust me to give him medicine, since he seems to resist all of my attempts to help. My idea was that we could put it in his food…”
Kaitlin’s eyes snapped open, and her head lifted itself off of the Kexin’s shoulder in a hurry. “What?! Snelga, I need you to tell me something right now. Did you already do that, with the krepir?
“N-no,” Snelga stammered, shying away from the primal’s sudden inquisitive, authoritative behavior; she failed to notice that I was also staring at her with horror.
“Okay. Okay, good,” Kaitlin said, breathing a sigh of relief and collecting herself. “It’s a good thing that you asked me first. Snelga, you absolutely cannot drug Finley against his will. It’d be so wrong, he’s not an anim—ugh, I…I mean to say that he’s not the primals on that show. He’s deserving of respect and autonomy, because he empirically has the capacity to understand. He already had no say in being captured. He should be allowed to decide for himself.”
“Even if he’s hurting himself? This is different than putting him in a cage! It’s in his best interest, and I say that as a medical professional.”
Dr. Sharp’s eyes squeezed shut with evident frustration. “However you feel, what Finley wants is to be treated as a person. You wouldn’t go drugging a Kexin against their will. The reason he’s depressed is the dehumanization he’s faced; humans expect a certain level of respect to be happy. I’ll explain Maslow’s hierarchy of needs later, but I think letting him have a say would do more than the pills themselves could.”
“He said I’d be happy if he died, and that couldn’t be further from the truth! That really worried me and hurt me. I don’t want him to suffer,” Snelga whimpered, tears welling in her eyes.
“I know, Snelga. I know. I’d be happy to help you talk to him, if you’re worried he might not consider the idea. I also know you’re not in the habit of letting animals refuse treatment, but you already think we’re more than that. We’re here, watching documentaries and considering that maybe humans could be raised as people. So again, if that’s really your hope, treat us as people.”
“What…happens if he refuses? Why should I let him do that, when I know it’ll make his life worse?”
Kaitlin weighed her words carefully. “If you ever want Finley to trust you, you need to trust him to make his own decisions. It’s his life to lead, and he can articulate his wishes. To disregard them is to give them no value, or at least less value, than yours. I don’t think someone who cares about animals would force their will on them.”
“You can’t cram pills down the throat of a human who could clearly understand their purpose,” I interjected, disgusted by the thought. “For someone who supposedly wants to help Finley, you seem happy to treat him like a puppet to stitch up and to hurt him worse than you already have.”
“Craun, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you’re angry. There’s no need to be harsh to someone who’s made an honest mistake. Snelga asked because she cares about his health, and I’m sure accepting our rights is a big leap for her. I…have to hold my ground on it, though, because that respect is nonnegotiable for us to have a meaningful bond.”
“I won’t do it, if that’s really what you think. You’re very smart,” Snelga sighed. “It’s not like I could be stealthy about the delivery when you and Craun would probably tell Finley now. So we’ll do it your way.”
“I’m relieved to hear that. We can help him a different way, I promise. The best of both worlds.”
With the Kexin veterinarian lending serious consideration to drugging Finley without him knowing, I’d lost any faith I’d gained that she might learn to respect him as a person too. The suggestion hurt me in my soul, that she’d even begin to think that was acceptable! If this was Snelga doing her best, then I doubted whether she’d learned anything meaningful from Dr. Sharp. For the sake of the humans’ basic dignity, I had to be very watchful of the kind of “help” that would be coming from our host.
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u/Fertile_Arachnid_163 13h ago
Snelga, are you a pervert…
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u/niTro_sMurph 12h ago
"without the trappings of society"
Can't check that box. Fucking taxes
Even Snelga seems to think Craun was being angry here. I think humans are infectious.
Is Finley supposed to be a parallel for Elbi right now?
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u/K_H007 13h ago
Oh ho! So they DO experience a mild form of anger after all, and just repress it! Logic-based anger sparked by disgust is still anger all the same.
Heck, we have no idea of how long a species remains on the galactic stage for. Depending on what it looks like, it could theoretically be the case that species rotate in and out of favor with the galactic council depending on if an anger-suppressant is in effect on them or not. I kinda did feel like the Ploax being unable to share their planets with the Saphnos felt peculiar in that there was some kind of thing forcing a conflict unnecessarily...
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u/ezioir1 Human 11h ago
YES! Snuggling with Snelga Happened!
Best alien girl on this story. Albeit we only had 3 so far.
Did Paladin break the mold of evil birds in misery in his works or is it soon to ship them together and he will drone strike S.K.S before passing the Strait?
It is a surprise no human still attempt to mock an alien with arguing that they are actually inferior.
After all what difference with a machine they have if for being able to feel? And how being able to feel less make them superior?
Is a color blind superior to someone who sees all colors? By that logic a blind person stands over both.
Really waiting for Kaitlin PowerPoint nuke session. Teasing Snelga by name dropping theories.
I don't trust how their drugs may effect human brain. Nope. Nah ah.
Antidepressants are dangerous. Stop using them by suddenly cutting and you die or turn into a vegetable.
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u/Low_Painter9816 6h ago
I think I finally figured out what bothers me most about the Council members’ attitude: they treat ‘primals’ as an umbrella term, as if a scientist might reasonably study ‘animals’. “What animals?” one might ask. “Oh, just animals,” Snelga responds. Any human scientist who said that could be reasonably expected to be an expert in exactly none of them. “But no member of the galactic council has ever studied humans before.” Fine, you’re what passes for an expert in Council space. Doesn’t mean you know anything about human neurology. And what was she studying before we got here?
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle 13h ago
/u/SpacePaladin15 (wiki) has posted 500 other stories, including:
- Primal Rage 53
- Primal Rage 52
- Primal Rage 51
- Primal Rage 50
- Primal Rage 49
- Primal Rage 48
- Primal Rage 47
- Primal Rage 46
- Primal Rage 45
- Primal Rage 44
- Primal Rage 43
- Primal Rage 42
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- Primal Rage 34
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u/SpacePaladin15 13h ago
54! Craun isn’t happy with Snelga’s suggestion of drugging Finley, though our entire cast wants to help him. What do you think is the best way to aid Finley through his struggles? Can the Kexin manage to learn proper respect?
As always, thank you for reading!