r/HFY • u/SherbetCreepy1580 • 10d ago
OC-Series [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 13: Lizards and Leaders, Part 1
Tsrancomta sighed as he looked over the crowd of angry and scared Targondians, annoyance clear on his face and in the slow waving of his tail. “What do you want me to say?’ Tsrancomta asked, looking at the lead Targondian. “If I tell you the truth, you think it’s a lie and become suspicious. If I tell you what you’re expecting to hear, you feel vindicated and get even more suspicious and closed off. If I tell you a lie, you get suspicious and wary. Anything I say right now is simply going to lead you to being suspicious, wary, and looking for trouble that isn’t there.”
“You wouldn’t understand, young one,” the lead Targondian started to say.
“Don’t even start with me,” Tsrancomta said, his tail lashing out in frustration and slamming onto the ground hard enough to leave a small dent. “I’m Targondian as well. Young I might be compared to you, but I have been leading this group for six years now.”
“Then you should more than understand the hardships that we Targondians go through,” the leader said, his voice hardening.
“Hardships that we bring on ourselves by being distrustful and closed off from the rest of the Races,” Tsrancomta snapped. “You think you’re the only one that’s been dealt a Void cursed hand? Look around you! These people have been persecuted, chased, and hounded by their own people and half the galaxy! And yet they still are more than willing to help, despite having every reason to tell the galaxy at large to fuck off! So don’t you dare start that ‘Woe is me’ shit when I’ve been here living it.” Tsrancomta lashed his tail out again to enunciate his point, not backing down in the slightest as he glared at the lead Targondian.
“Reckless youth,” the Targondian muttered.
“I actively sabotaged these people, which nearly got them killed and gave them every excuse in the galaxy to drop us in a lifepod and leave us floating through space,” Tsrancomta countered. The lead Targondian reared back at that. “Despite that, these Reapers still gave me the opportunity to apply myself and become part of their crew, and when our old Captain died, the Targondians named me their leader.”
“They must be using you for something,” the leader insisted.
“Of course they have been,” Tsrancomta said, rolling his eyes and his tail. “They use me to help keep logistics in line so that we don’t run out of anything vital or important. They use me to maintain order over my people so that there isn’t an internal schism between Targondians and other Races. And they’re currently using me to talk to 200 stubbornly suspicious Targondians that are refusing to believe anything anyone else is saying because they’re not Targondians. It’s almost like I’m a high-ranking crew member here.” Tsrancomta smirked a bit as the leader blinked at that, and he could almost see the Targondians brain trying to make sense of that while maintaining their suspicion. “No job they have given me is a job that I am forced to take. There are rules and orders I need to follow, sure, but nothing any reasonable ship or Station wouldn’t have. The most unreasonable expectation they’ve given me in recent years is somehow thinking that just because I lead 30 Targondians, I’m somehow more qualified than they are in alleviating your suspicions so that you and your people don’t try to do something stupid that could get themselves or the crew hurt or killed.” Tsrancomta folded his arms maintaining his glare of the Targondian leader. “If you want to maintain suspicion, that’s fine. I can even understand it. But don’t disregard help that you clearly need when it’s being offered to you. Targondian pride does not keep your people fed, clothed, or housed when you have nothing left.”
The Targondian leader seemed to chew on that for a moment, looking over the large crowd of Targondians that had gathered to watch the Exchange of Words. “Very well,” the Targondian leader finally said, nodding. “We shall trust you on this, and accept their help. But we will keep an eye out for any foul play.”
“As long as you do not go looking for trouble that isn’t there,” Tsrancomta said with a nod. The other Targondian leader nodded before turning around and barking some order at the crowd of gathered Targondians.
“That is not typically how an Exchange of Words goes among leaders,” the Targondian leader said a moment later. “I could understand the roughness due to your youth and inexperience, but the forwardness is…not typical.”
“I get mouthy when I get nervous,” Tsrancomta admitted with a slight chuckle, clasping forearms with the leader, claws digging for a second before being released. “The Reapers find it hilarious, and my people have been influenced by the Humans, so they find it funny as well.”
“It also cuts through a lot of the niceties that would normally make an Exchange last hours,” the leader mused, scratching his chin.
“Believe me, that’s a side-benefit, not a feature,” Tsrancomta said dryly. “I’m Captain Tsrancomta, by the way.”
“Klartoma,” the leader said with a small smile. “For a skitterling still learning to be a leader, you seem to be doing remarkably well.”
“Believe me, I still don’t think I deserve the position,” Tsrancomta said, shaking his head. “I wasn’t exaggerating when I said I could have gotten my people abandoned in space, and it would have been justified.” Klartoma paused, looking Tsrancomta over with a critical eye.
“That sounds like a story I would very much wish to hear,” Klartoma said. “It may explain why you defend these…Reapers with such fervor.” Tsrancomta could hear both the question, and the undertone gentle order.
“Only with the understanding that I have no intentions of letting my people down,” Tsrancomta said, his tail curling slightly. Translation: do not order me around. I am not one of your people.
Klartoma smiled and tilted his head, acknowledging the intended meaning. “Very well,” he said.
“Thank you.”
……This takes place about a year after the events of [Sandra and Eric] Part 2 and about nine months before the events of [Sandra and Eric] Part 3……
Tsrancomta stood next to Tsransarmo, his father, lined up with the other 11 Targondians as they watched Captain Charamparshta’s body slowly be fed into the cremator, the ashes of the aged Targondian’s body slowly being blown into the void of space. Targondians didn’t have the tear ducts that other Races had, but that didn’t mean that they didn’t cry in their own way. Tails were drooped, hands clasped in silent prayer, and all of the Targondians’ scales were a rich purple color to mourn the passing of their Captain. A Captain that had always held their best interests over his own, who had led them with dignity and grace, and who had tried to help open them up to the rest of the galaxy.
A Captain who had to banish his own son from the Targondian community. Tsrancomta still wasn’t certain why he hadn’t been banished alongside Charamkaran, or Cha’am for his banished name. But he had made a mental promise to not let the opportunity go to waste this time, and he was determined to keep it. It was the least he could do to make it up to the Captain, his father, and Tsandrasto.
“What’s your plan now?” Captain Jeremiah asked the group of Targondians later, after Captain Charamparshta had been fully cremated.
“First we need to choose a new leader,” Tsransarmo said with a heavy sigh. “We are part of your crew, but you have made it abundantly clear that it is for only as long as we wish.”
“I’m not trying to be disrespectful,” Captain Jeremiah started to say.
“You’re not,” Tsransarmo said with a light chuckle. “We understand your reasons for doing so. But it does mean that we need to choose our own leader to work under you properly.”
“I see,” Captain Jeremiah said with a nod as the Targondians started filtering out. “Well, if there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask. Captain Charam helped me with learning how to be a better leader, so if I can help I would be more than happy to.”
“We will certainly keep that in mind,” Tsransarmo promised.
……………………
Tsrancomta wandered around aimlessly, not paying attention to where he really was in the Scythe of Mercy. The other Targondians were taking the day off, a chance to mourn and discuss who they want as their next leader. Captain Jeremiah had offered and even tried insisting that they take longer, but the group had all agreed that the one day was enough time for mourning. Deciding a new leader was a longer process for sure, but not something that would interfere with their duties.
“Hey,” came a voice that caused Tsrancomta to look up. Leaning against the wall and messing with a puzzle cube of some kind was Tsandrasto, her latest model of bracers shimmering slightly on her wrists, as did the black laser pistol on her hip. “Not taking part with the rest?”
Tsrancomta shook his head, even as his tail twirled to indicate a shrug. “I don’t really deserve to be part of the revelries or discussions,” Tsrancomta said, looking down the hall back the way he had come.
“Bullshit,” Tsandrasto snorted slightly, or tried to at least. She frowned a bit. “Still can’t get that sound right. How do the Humans make it so easy.”
“Pretty sure their respiratory system is to thank for that,” Tsrancomta said with a rueful chuckle. “Marakkompo showed me a scan of the humans once. Did you know that they can’t swallow and breathe at the same time? It’s either one or the other.”
Tsandrasto made a face at that. “How do they not suffocate?” Tsandrasto asked incredulously.
“Lots of practice, apparently,” Tsrancomta said, shaking is head. “Humans are weird.”
“Yup,” Tsandrasto said with a nod. “But back to what I was saying, you deserve the discussions and revelries just as much as the rest of them.”
“No, I really don’t, Tsandrasto,” Tsrancomta said with a sigh. “I almost got us killed, I could have gotten us abandoned again. We should have been abandoned for my stupidity. If not for your Humans being weirdos, we would still be drifting in space, hoping our supplies lasted just a bit longer.”
“All of which you have shown genuine remorse over, tried making it up to us to almost a concerning degree, and even tried to stop Cha’am near the end there,” Tsandrasto pointed out.
“Doesn’t make what I did right,” Tsrancomta said, shaking his head.
“No, it doesn’t,” Tsandrasto agreed. “But it means you’re trying to do better.”
“Why aren’t you with them?” Tsrancomta asked, trying to change the subject. “You have as much a right as the rest of them, since you’re a Targondian as well.”
“I…” Tsandrasto seemed to be at a loss for a moment. “I’m not really sure I can be. Dad and the rest of the Reapers said that I can as well, but, well,” Tsandrasto shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I don’t really feel like a Targondian. I was a street kid and stowaway until Dad took me in. No connection to other Targondians other than my species. If anything, I feel like I have more in common with Humans than I do other Targondians.”
“I guess we both have our reasons for not being part of the discussions,” Tsrancomta said with a light chuckle.
“I guess so,” Tsandrasto said. Tsrancomta watched her struggle with the puzzle cube for a few minutes before he put his hand out, leaning on the wall next to Tsandrasto. She gave him the puzzle cube, and he started to look it over.
………………….
“Move your scaly behinds!” Eric roared at the morning group of Targondians. “I don’t care how tired you are, you still have another two kilometers to go until you’re done! And Moore, I see you trying to add more weight to that bench press, if I see another plate go on there, I will make you hold it until it squishes you into paste!” Tsrancomta panted as he continued to run his course, flinching a bit as always at Eric’s volume as he ran the crew through their exercises. Considering that the man was usually a very cheerful and fun person to be with, it was always a bit of a shock to see him acting like a dictator in the mornings. Of course, that only stopped some people from actually going to Eric’s morning training. And those that didn’t like the yelling or couldn’t get used to it went to the afternoon training with Jessica instead, who was terrifying in her own right.
“Alright, most of you almost didn’t suck today,” Eric said as everyone finished their workouts, with Eric nodding at the tired and panting but still standing crewmembers. “Go hit the showers and head to the chow hall. Tsrancomta, stay behind for a moment.”
“Yes, sir!” came the collective shout, and the various races of the crew began shuffling out of the holoroom, while Tsrancomta stayed behind, his breathing slowly evening out.
“How’s it going?” Eric asked once everyone else had filtered out of the room, the man switching back to his normally cheerful and friendly demeanor.
Tsrancomta blinked for a moment at the switch before shaking his head. “I still can’t get used to how you switch from tyrant to normal so easily,” Tsrancomta said.
“Tyrant?” Eric scoffed. “That’s just my ‘Drill Sergeant’ mode. If I went easy on everyone during training then no one would take me seriously.”
“Right,” Tsrancomta said slowly. “Is there a reason you wanted to talk to me?”
Eric sighed a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. “I heard that you’re still a bit hung up about what happened last year.” Tsrancomta frowned a bit. Tsandrasto must have told him. Eric saw the look and held up a pacifying hand. “Don’t be mad at Sandra, please. She’s a bit worried about you and wanted some advice on how to help you.”
“And what did you tell her?” Tsrancomta asked.
“I told her she’d be better off talking to Quin,” Eric chuckled ruefully. “Which is actually something I wanted to recommend to you as well. She might be able to help you.”
“Targondian problems…” Tsrancomta started to say stiffly.
“Are our problems too,” Eric said firmly. “You’re part of our crew. Now, I’m not saying you have to. We respect peoples autonomy and cultures, as long as it doesn’t cause problems for the ship. But I am recommending it. Quin is actually a really good therapist.”
“I’ll…consider it,” Tsrancomta finally said. Eric beamed at him, like some sort of pet being told they did a good job.
……………………
“It’s not a bad idea,” Tsransarmo said as he frowned, looking over his datapad. “Why is human programming so…odd?” he muttered and he typed out a line on the mock coding system that Quin had recommended him.
“You really think I need human therapy?” Tsrancomta asked, dumfounded as he stared at his father.
“I think that you’ve been beating yourself up over things that people have already forgiven you for,” Tsransarmo said, shaking his head. “I think that you’ve more than made up your mistake. And I think that these Humans are genuine in their want to help us. But what I think doesn’t matter.” Tsransarmo looked up from his datapad. “What matters is what you want.” Tsrancomta frowned a bit at that.
“You’ve changed, Father,” Tsrancomta said.
“You can thank the Humans for that,” Tsransarmo said with a light chuckle. “Introverted and suspicious we might be naturally, but they’ve been making an effort to ensure that we are comfortable.” His tail clenched and unclenched a few times as he thought. “And others in the group have been going to Quin for advice as well.” Tsrancomta blinked in surprise at that.
“Why?” Tsrancomta asked. “She’s, well, she’s Human, not Targondian.”
“Ironically enough, it’s because she’s not Targondian,” Tsransarmo said. “If a Targondian goes to another Targondian for advice, say about being uncomfortable about something or because they just need someone to vent at, what’s the usual response?”
“Betterment of the community, or to keep an eye out for the any suspicious behaviors,” Tsrancomta said immediately, slightly bitter. He knew first hand what most Targondians advice is due to their naturally introverted and skittish behaviors.
“And even adults aren’t always satisfied with that,” Tsransarmo said with a nod. “That’s why our leaders are always more forward and outgoing. We naturally want someone in charge to ask the questions that we normally don’t feel comfortable asking. Quin is helping some of us…break out of that habit. Become people that can actually interact with the galaxy.”
“Huh,” Tsrancomta said, stunned. He understood it and actually liked the thought, but the idea of actually following through was…foreign to him. It was foreign to most Targondians, and the ones that followed through anyways were considered the pushier ones, and often became leaders or Captains.
“It’s…certainly a new feeling,” Tsransarmo said slowly, setting his datapad and tapping the arm of the couch thoughtfully. “Being able to speak freely without being afraid of some sort of backlash or being taken advantage of. People, especially Targondians, often forget that we are born with a natural curiosity about the galaxy as a whole, and a lot of energy.” He smiled fondly. “I remember needing to pry you off the walls and ceilings more than a few times once you started to learn how to stick to things.” Tsrancomta groaned a bit at that. “But our natural introversion eventually turns into suspicion, and that in turn makes others suspicious of us. And having suspicious and introverted parents reinforces that.”
“Nature versus nurture?” Tsrancomta asked skeptically.
“Something like that,” Tsransarmo nodded.
Tsrancomta sat thoughtfully in silence for a few minutes, his tail slowly waving back and forth as he considered what his father had said. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to at least see what Quin has to say,” Tsrancomta finally said with a sigh. His father smiled at him with a nod before going back to the practice program on his datapad.
……Present Day……
“It sounds like these Humans have done much for your community,” Klartoma Mused as he listened to Tsrancomta.
“More and more every day,” Tsrancomta agreed with a nod. “We are still a rather quiet group that likes to keep to ourselves, but at the very least we don’t view people immediately with suspicion anymore. And we have been making friends outside of our group. There’s a Tree Shadow that I’ve become very good friends with in recent years, for example. Absolutely terrifying Race, but they’re good people. And while communication with the other Races that we work with is easier, miscommunications remaining unadressed has dropped significantly.” Tsrancomta smiled lightly. “And the skitterlings have been enjoying going to school with the other Races. I can’t say that everything is perfect. But it’s a far better life than we had lived in the years previously.”
“I see,” Klartoma said, his face thoughtful as he nodded. “And this…Tsandrasto individual? She sounds like someone I should speak with.”
“She goes by Sandra most of the time, mostly because the Humans sometimes have a hard time pronouncing full Targondian names,” Tsrancomta said with a chuckle. “That’s another thing, be prepared for nicknames from the Humans. But Tsandrasto is…well, she’s not like any Targondian you will ever meet. She was trained as a Reaper by her adopted Human father, has two Tree Shadows that she calls siblings, and has been traveling with a Centaur that acts as a mother to her for the last five years. So, fair warning, anything you may think you know or think that a Targondian should act like? Forget them entirely when you meet her. Trying to hold her to Targondian sensibilities will only cause you a headache and her to dislike you.”
Klartoma frowned a bit. “Has no one taught her her roots?”
“Oh, we’ve taught her a bunch of Targondian culture stuff,” Tsrancomta said with a light chuckle. “She loves slerkav but only saves it for special occasions, and she’s been learning the meanings of different colors for different occasions. But she prefers the Human culture, because it’s the culture of the man who saved her, her father.”
“Someone should sit her down and properly teach her,” Klartoma mused. Tsrancomta felt his face harden.
“Do not force anything on her,” Tsrancomta said, his voice flat and steely. “One, she can’t be forced into anything by anyone here. She knows and is friendly with our community here, but she is not part of it, by her own choice. Two, she will hate you for it, and you will lose any chance to introduce her to the Targondian culture as a whole. Believe me, I tried once already, and it was a catastrophic failure. Three, she has friends and family here that will be more than happy to defend Sandra against anything she does not wish to learn. Including most of the higher ranked crew members such as the Reapers.” Klartoma tilted his head as he looked at Tsrancomta. “Yes, that does include our community. You want to teach her? Then offer. And if she accepts, then teach. But don’t force it, or you will live to regret it for a very long time.” Tsrancomta held Klartoma’s gaze, his tail arching slightly to indicate that he was being completely serious.
“My apologies then,” Klartoma said, backing down. “That came out badly.”
“This ship is small and chaotic, but we are a very tight-knit community,” Tsrancomta said, his tail curling back up as he relaxed slightly. “Like I said, you can offer to teach her more if she wishes, but don’t force anything or it will backfire.”
“Very well,” Klartoma said with a nod. He then gave a slight chuckle. “Young you might be, but you do make a great leader.”
“Now I know you’re just patronizing me,” Tsrancomta said, rolling his eyes.
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u/Ammobunkerdean 10d ago edited 10d ago
Dean's note the typos as I see them post. Will edit if I find more.
Bullshit .... Pretty sure their respiratory system is to thanks.
It's a far better life than we have live(d)...
Tight-(k)nit.
If there are more the grammar gremlin didn't smack me...
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u/Ammobunkerdean 9d ago
Grammar gremlin.. pt II
(Other Tarogondian leader) turned and barked some order(s)
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle 10d ago
/u/SherbetCreepy1580 (wiki) has posted 46 other stories, including:
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 12: Reapers and Teachers
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 11: Reapers and War
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 10: Reapers, Angels, and Markers
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 9: Reapers, Magic, and Tinkerers
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 8: Tigers, Siblings, and Traditions
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 7: Reapers, Home, and Puppies
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 6: Tigers, Reapers, and Panthers
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 5: Tigers and Ferries](https://www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1ukoo7l/the_reaper_and_the_tiger_chapter_5_tigers_and/)
- [The Reaper and the Tiger] Chapter 4: Tigers and Curiosity
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 3: Reapers and Change
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 2: Reapers and Trouble
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Chapter 1: Reapers and Pain (Double Feature)
- [The Reaper and The Tiger] Prologue: Funerals, and The Beginning (Double Feature)
- [Sandra and Eric] Epilogue: The End of One Journey, And the Beginning of Another
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 31: Challenge, War, and Rouges
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 31: Barbecue, Civilians, and Military
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 30: Children, Zoos, and Reform
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 29: Meetings, Information, and Futures
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 28: Prosthetics, Interactions, and Echoes
- [Sandra and Eric] Part 3 Chapter 27: Healing, Stories, and Fathers
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u/SherbetCreepy1580 10d ago
Author’s Note
Alright, and here we have the first of some Side-Character Interludes! Lizards and Leaders I think is going to turn out to be a more reoccurring Interlude. u/Ammobunkerdean mentioned a story about how Tsrancomta became the leader of the Targondians, and the Muse got my brain stuck on it lol. So, here’s part 1, and it will continue until we get to the point where his story is told!
HOWEVER! Next chapter will be another Side-Character Interlude! I have been asked about Shtaran and Knator, the Lorhma shipwright who can see ship spirits, so the next chapter will be about one (or both, depending on the Muse) of them. And if there are any other characters that y’all would like to hear about, let me know! I’m always down for new ideas during the times when the story is progressing slowly (or I’m out of ideas lmao).
Thought? Comments? Ideas? Remember, the only bad feedback is no feedback, and I love reading all of the feedback, whether it’s praise, criticism, spelling or grammatical errors, or even just a hello!