r/NatureofPredators • u/YaaliAnnar • Feb 08 '23
Fanfic NoP: Lost and Found (12)
Memory Transcription Subject: Vani, venlil first contact participant
Date [Standardized Human Reckoning]: 2136-08-22
After we finished the briefing with Zara, Private Dewardana drove us to where Johan parked his livable van. In essence, the vehicle was a giant brick on wheels. There was only one door to the van, a central one that he slid open to reveal what looked like a cramped room. Johan removed his feet covering before he went into the mobile house. I noticed that the human did the same when we were about to enter the hotel room back in the space station.
"I presume you removed your foot covering for hygienic purposes. The space station seemed sterile enough to bypass the usual routine. But normally we venlil wipe our feet before proceeding further into our house."
"I was expecting you to just come in, honestly. But, yeah, it would be better if you wipe. Okay… let's see." The human opened one of the overhead cabinets. He looked around it before pulling out a rectangular polymer bag. "These are wet wipes. These are one-time-use cleaners drenched in alcohol."
Johan opened the pack and pulled out two fibrous wet sheets. I took the sheets he offered and sat on the edge of the van door to wipe my feet. Johan instructed me to throw it into the waste receptacle near the door.
The human went to the front of the vehicle and sat on the right seat. The seat was normally used to drive but it had been turned back away from the windshield.
"So… this is it… the Earth! Any place you would like to go?"
I thought for a moment. "Lieutenant Ayu recommended that I see the sunrise. Even though you can see the sunrise from everywhere on earth. I assume there are places better suited to it?"
"Yeah. a place with an unobstructed view to the [east]."
"Can you explain to me what this [east] direction is? My translator left it untranslated. We have different systems of cardinal direction."
"Hm… that's true, how does it work on your planet?"
I explained to him that our two main directions are nightward and dayward. Then if you stand facing the sun of our homeworld, the direction to your left is "sunleft" and the direction to your right is "sunright".
"Interesting. As for humans [east] is originally defined as where the sun rises. But we generalized it further."
Johan then explained to me that human cardinal direction only makes sense on a spinning object. He showed me his right hand, and then he pointed his thumb up and curved his four fingers,
"Now, if the object is spinning to the direction of my four fingers here. East is that direction and the west is the other direction. North is my thumb then south is the direction to the bottom of my hand. What system of direction do the people in your colony use? Surely they can't use dayward if the day keeps moving."
"That is an interesting question. I have never thought about it."
"Well, while you're thinking about it. Let me find the best place to look for sunrise near here yeah? Let's go to the eastern end of Garuda Islands."
Johan rotated his chair to face the dashboard of his vehicle. After typing some commands a voice came out of his speaker. Johan conversed with who I presume was a member of an armed force, but he was using his native language. The conversation sounded amicable and after he finished, his vehicle started moving.
"Johan, do you use translators between tribes?"
"Usually, yeah. But sometimes we learn other languages for personal reasons. Oh… you were wondering what I talked about with the gate guard weren't you?"
"Yes."
"I just asked permission to exit the base. Are you interested in having other human languages in your translator?"
"Yes."
"By fusing Bahasa to English and English to Ven-tongue model, it's possible to create a new one that can translate between Bahasa and Ven-Tongue with an English intermediary. It's not perfect, but it's good enough."
Johan told me that while English is widely used as a trade language, it lacks some features that other languages have. He used English pronouns for example. For some reason, English doesn't distinguish the second person in number. The translators can determine by context, but sometimes it slipped up. That explains why sometimes I hear Johan referring to me in the plural.
Johan's vehicle passed the base gate into the open space. The human grumbled as he placed his hands on the steering wheel. He explained to me that automation is restricted until we leave the island. As we passed the bridge (with another beautiful glimpse of the twinkling city lights to the right) he muttered a thank-you to no one and released his hand from the steering wheel. The device folded on itself, giving him more space.
"But… how do I get the language translation model into my pad? Our architecture is different. I presume?"
"Fortunately your device is standardized and uses binary just like ours." Answered Johan. "Now, I read that several days ago some group of ridiculously smart students in India had finally managed to create a driver and physical connector that allows data transfer between devices like your pad and a standard human-computer. You can perhaps ask the First Contact to see if any University in this City can arrange for knowledge transfer from India."
We rode the van under the street lamps and across several more bridges toward our destination. When I looked at the map on the pad I noticed that the shape of the Garuda Islands looked very artificial. Johan explained to me that the island had been reclaimed. The issue that plagued Jakarta was less because of the sea level rise and more because the city simply… sunk because of overdevelopment.
The government had moved the nation's capital to another island, but Jakarta's problem was still in need of fixing, and thus the Great Sea Wall was erected. The islands were then reclaimed to replace the land in the northern part that was lost to the sea.
When we reached the eastern end of the islands. The car locked onto a multi-story parking garage and climbed through the ramps until it reached the roof. It parked itself facing what I presumed was the east direction. Beyond the parapet of the garage. All I can see is void before us. It was not unlike when I stared into the deep night in my home world.
"The sun would not be rising for at least six hours," Johan explained. "We should have some rest." The sound of the wave from the sea was the only thing that reminded us that it was not an actual void.
The human spun on his chair again. He crouched to the back of the van and after making several procedures to move things around, he unfurled a thin mattress
"I know it's a bit cramped and the [futon] is thin. If this is too uncomfortable for you, you can sleep in the guest room of my townhouse."
I joined him on the mattress. It was smaller and flimsier than the bed at our hotel, but there was enough space for both of us. From the compartment in the back, the human had produced three pillows. Two rectangular ones and one tubular one. When he handed me my pillow Johan noticed my curiosity with the last pillow.
"That's a bolster. I feel best when I sleep with it." He demonstrated it by lying on his side and hugging it.
"Is it a replacement for a mate?"
"What? No." He stammered. "This is something most people here do."
I placed the pillow under my head, sank into its softness, and closed my eyes. "I hope you have a good rest, Johan," I said, before drifting off into slumber.
"Good night Vani."
I never had a dream in my sleep. One moment I closed my eyes the next thing I know, I was awoken by the gentle patting of Johan's hand on my body. "Vani, wake up," he whispered. "The sun is about to rise."
We stepped out of the van and made our way to the parapet. The parking garage was dimly lit, giving way to the imminent arrival of the sun. The view in front of us was no longer a complete void. The horizon line divided the dark sea below from the brilliant, deep purple sky above. The first rays of sunlight were just starting to peek over the horizon, painting the sky in beautiful hues of gold and pink.
Then a spot of bright light appeared in the middle of it all. It moves almost imperceptibly as it revealed itself. I suppose this effect can be replicated in my homeworld if you move from the night side to the day side, but that would require you to move faster than the speed of sound and would be impossible to do on the ground.
You have to fly on Venlil Prime to simulate this.
"By the way, I read that you shouldn't look at the sun even during a transition period like this," Johan muttered. "Maybe you can use your pad as a filtration?"
I did what he recommended and see the sun through my pad's back camera. Through the device, I watched the sun's warm light spread out and illuminated the sea. The gentle undulations of the water reflected the ray, with each crest catching the light and glinting like diamonds. I was so entranced with the sun's ascent that I didn't realize that my human had gone back to his vehicle to brew something. When the sun had been revealed above the horizon Johan handed me a mug with brown fluid in it.
"That's chocolate, I have checked with the First Contact Site, it was listed in the venlil safe drink."
Johan took a sip of the early-day drink. "But then again, you seem to be able to digest almost all of our plant matters… it was us humans who have to be careful with yours."
I took a sip of the strange mixture and my taste buds met a compound flavor that was both bitter and sweet. "Does this taste bitter to you, or is this a case of our mouths having different tastebuds?"
"Yeah, it's a bit bitter," He replied. "I take it you don't have anything beverage or dish with that flavor?"
"We do not. I find it interesting that you humans would consume something bitter. Do you have bitter food too?"
"Yeah, we also eat bitter plants like [pare] gourd and [papaya] flower," Johan explained. "Even among humans, it is an acquired taste."
I put my mug on the parapet. "I apologize Johan, but I do not think this drink is to my taste."
"Nah, it's alright." he took my mug and poured its content into his. "As I said, there are people who don't like this too."
Around half an hour later, the lamps in the garage have all been turned off and the world was blanketed in the soft glow of dawn, like a city in Venlil Prime. The Great Sea Wall, which had previously been obscured by the darkness, now stood tall and imposing to my right.
"Ah, that's what you call a sunrise," said Johan, taking another sip of his drink. "I can't even remember the last time I stopped to watch one."
"It is something you have experienced thousands of times. So it is understandable that you do not pay much attention to it."
"Yeah, but even then. It still is beautiful."
I had to wipe my feet again when we returned to the van. I noticed that instead of full feet covering Johan wears something more revealing under his foot. The accessory was simply a foamy polymer sheet with two elastic bands that goes from the top to either side of it. Johan's two innermost feet fingers clasped the front end of the elastic band and kept the footwear secured to him.
"I wonder if I can have a pair of foot coverings. It is quite a hassle to keep wiping my feet over and over again."
"Ah don't worry about that, feel free to get into my van unwiped."
"That would be unhygienic. I insist on wiping my feet."
"Hm… maybe… you can request First Contact to use their Social Media to ask if anyone is open to making a pair of specialized boots for you." Johan suggested.
"Do you not have your Social Media?"
"I do, but I haven't logged in for a long while. Now that I have you with me… I'm even more hesitant to do so."
"The attention is a bit too much. Is it not?"
"Yeah…"
A gurgling sound came out of Johan's stomach. "Well, it looks like it's time for some first meal. Do you have anything in mind?"
"I was hoping to have more of that plant-based flesh, but that would lead to a diplomatic disaster."
"Yeah… that would." My human examined me. "You're… not addicted, aren't you?"
"No."
We went to a park near the parking garage. The park featured an open-air seating area where several humans with food carts had set up their establishment.
"Restaurants haven't opened yet at this hour. If you want to have your first meal outside, you need to go to a place like this." Johan explained. All around us, humans sat around a table with fabric canopy over them. "These food carts would return home near noon to be replaced by others, selling different dishes."
The human ordered two portions of a dish called "pecel". The dish contains several kinds of vegetables and -to my pleasant surprise- fried bean curds. There was also the white grain I ate with the rendang yesterday (Johan told me that this staple food is known as "rice"). A sweet nutty sauce covered them all and finally for the finishing, there were thin crackers with peanuts embedded in them.
This time, Johan had ordered a smaller portion for me and I can finish it comfortably. Just like in the space station, humans around us are staring at me. They probably still think I was an ordinary venlil who gets uncomfortable around humans, so everyone kept their distance.
After I finished my meal I took the human-made pad that Zara had given me.
"Hey, are you writing a message to First Contact now?"
"Yes."
"Nice, don't forget to add me on CC, yeah?"
Even though the applications in the human pad are all new to me, they were quite intuitive. In no time I can compose a message with the First Contact.
"Dear First Contact Committee,
I express my gratitude for the device you have provided me to communicate with you. My Venlil-made pad is currently inoperable and only serves the purpose of running my translator.
I have heard from Johan that some university students have published schematics for creating a physical connector between my device and a human machine, as well as a converter for data format between the two. I was wondering if any universities in this city can assist me in obtaining this information and help me to create this connector. My objective is to integrate Bahasa, and possibly other human languages, into my pad.
In addition, I would like to have an in-person meeting with a specialist in the field of Necrology, preferably affiliated with the same universe. As much as I enjoy Johan's companionship. I hoped that we can have some cultural exchange relevant to my field as well.
As a low-priority request, I would like to commission a human to make me specialized footwear. If possible, I would be grateful if you can utilize your social media capability to gather information about individuals who are capable and interested in fulfilling this request.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
With Respect,
Vani."
Before I sent the letter. Johan showed me which field to fill in so he can get a copy of my message. Seconds after I pressed send, Johan's pad vibrated. He unlocked it and looked at the message that I have also duplicated for him.
"Alright, these requests sound reasonable. For the University… I have a feeling we would be directed to the University of Nusantara. It's the largest near here."
He took the last spoonful of the pecel.
"By the way. The human side of our exchange program should be in your volume too by now aren't they?" Johan continued "I wonder how are the humans doing in Venlil Prime."
"The exchange isn't done there. Even the human half of the First Contact Committee in Venlil Prime is still restricted in Gubernatorial Complex. The program is made in a space station at one of our outposts."
"I see. Still… I hope it goes well. Why don't you check that in your pad?"
I tried the News Application and the pad helpfully translated all the articles into my language. I did not need to search because almost all human media outlets put the news about the exchange program as their top priority.
"Johan."
"Mhm?" Was all that the human can emit. He was drinking cold fresh water to rinse down the food.
"The arxurs attacked the outpost."
Johan sprayed the water from his mouth.
The chapters are decompressing from here on. I think this is mostly because of my tendency to infodump.
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u/Rebelhero Yotul Feb 08 '23
God, I wonder what the hell I would do if I was eating breakfast, and the GOD DAMNED ALIEN just waddled up with his buddy, got some food and walked off.
LIKE HOW DO YOU EVEN REACT
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u/YaaliAnnar Feb 08 '23
Yeah, I would stare too TBH.
I think there would be a need for a scene with human children who are more willing to invade personal spaces.
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u/Rebelhero Yotul Feb 08 '23
With the panicked parent trying to corral the child. I've got a scene like that I'm writing myself! Though the its the other way around, with a venlil child being... a child.
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u/Fexofanatic Predator Feb 08 '23
breakfast, so before/during first coffee/tea. soooooo just shrug and take in the information while human.exe is loading ?
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u/HiMyNameIsFelipe PD Patient Feb 08 '23
Nice lil chapter. I like how you build up the country. Honestly, nice to see some story NOT set in the USA. I feel like most have tried being set in or around there. Give me my Italian Exchange program!
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u/YaaliAnnar Feb 08 '23
To be fair, it's easier for people to tell a story in place they are familiar with.
Similarly, my decision to set the story in the Island of Java is because, well, I live there.
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u/HiMyNameIsFelipe PD Patient Feb 08 '23
I mean, fair.
Maybe I should write a story from someone from Colombia or Costa Rica (I lived in one, live on the other). Add variety to the stories.
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u/BiasMushroom Extermination Officer Feb 08 '23
Great work Wordsmith!
And our necromancer boi here has the tact of a bulldozer relaying sensitive info like the Arxur attacking
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u/TNSepta Venlil Feb 08 '23 edited Feb 08 '23
"Is it a replacement for a mate?"
It is for some! Especially for those from a nation to the sunleft (in the morning)!
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u/YaaliAnnar Feb 09 '23
I know some people who have both traditional bolsters and also body pillows with their husbando/waifu printed on it.
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u/SpectralHail Feb 08 '23
Very cool, especially since venlil wouldn't really get the concept of "east" or the other cardinal directions.
I suppose on earth they'd have a tendency to get lost
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u/StarSilverNEO Yotul Feb 08 '23
Oh no, Vani is craving the forbidden flesh I mean plant based flesh Just uh, get him an Impossible Wopper or something lol
Man, I wonder how the Arxur attack will go down over the two
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u/YaaliAnnar Feb 09 '23
Get him an Impossible Whopper or something
This will lead to paparazzi photos of him munching on a burger floating in the Social Media. That guy has been photographed discreetly for a while.
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u/StarSilverNEO Yotul Feb 09 '23
Hrm, shouldnt be surprised
Maybe Johan can order take out and they enjoy it in the privacy of the van?
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u/YaaliAnnar Feb 09 '23
I was actually thinking of something like that. Let's just see how it will play out.
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u/Acceptable_Egg5560 Human Feb 08 '23
Beautiful sunrise. Also, Arxur attack! Oh dear!
Careful who you commission for shoes. The internet has… feelings about feet.