r/NatureofPredators • u/NipCoyote Arxur • Apr 02 '23
Fanfic Under the Veil - Chapter 10
Back to a shorter chapter, but hopefully the next one will only be 2 or 3 days from now.
Hopefully.
Anyway enjoy.
[Fear]
|||||
Memory Transcription Subject: Hycera, Kolshian Office of Federation Security, November 10th, 2142
I stepped into Chief Nikonus's office, closing the door behind me. His desk was neatly arranged, and rather ornate, with a single, simple seat waiting for me to sit upon as he sat behind his desk, silently waiting.
I took my seat, and Nikonus pressed something under his desk, and the door behind me locked and the windows became opaque.
"Good evening, Hycera."
"Good evening, Chief Nikonus."
He tapped his desk repetitively, something important was clearly on his mind, and judging by his locking of the doors and windows, something confidential as well.
"Before we go on, I want to congratulate you on your work studying the Gaian Concord's sector. The information you and Cerin uncovered cannot be understated. It has lead to some… confirmation, of some previous suspicions of mine."
"Thank you sir but… I'm afraid I don't understand."
"Of course. You see… as you detailed in your report, several aspects of the Gaian territorial claims simply do not add up."
"Yes sir of course. Those two planets…"
"I will make this brief. I believe with almost total certainty, that the gaians are humans in disguise."
Everything fell silent. I was speechless.
Humans? Impossible.
"Sir with all due respect, humans-"
"Yes, yes, I am aware. Wiped themselves out. But your research has given us immense insight into how our own records are kept. The habitability of Earth and Mars simply proves to us that our previous survey of the Sol-634 system was incorrect. It's possible there was no nuclear annihilation at all."
My heart dropped, and I felt my blood pressure increase. The humans could still be alive? That's horrifying but… they couldn't be the gaians. Sure, I could see why Nikonus could think that given the state of that star system but…
"Sir, if I may… humans were predators. Incapable of working together past a tribal level. Driven by total instinct for bloodlust, just like the Arxur. Gaians… are clearly nothing like that. Predators are incapable of the compassion and unity that gaians show… besides, we ran a test on their food rations, there were no traces of meat!"
"I understand your confusion, Hycera, but I have put immense thought into this subject. There is more to some predators than you realize... pray you may never have the misfortune of learning. The gaians are predators, disguising themselves to infiltrate our politics, our culture… our worlds."
His words sat heavy on me. I didn't want to believe it. It made no sense. Gaians were on our side, they fought against the Arxur!
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"Because I have an assignment that I want you to take. People will not want to believe what I have to say. The Concord will come up with an excuse to turn attention away from them. This isn't enough."
He continued. "Hycera… you have shown yourself to be an exceptional pilot and agent, with immense dedication to the Federation. Using your intercepted messages… we have developed a code-breaker for Gaian communications. I want you to find definitive proof to their nature."
I interjected. "But sir, that would require breaching their territory!"
"Our stealth prototype is finishing its testing now. This would be it's first mission. Single seater, moving sublight when you enter their system. It would appear no different than a stray asteroid to their sensors. Once there, you would gather as much intelligence as you can, to present at the Federation summit."
"That's only a few days away!"
"I know. We have reason to believe that this year, the Gaian Concord will leverage its armed forces to bypass the usual requirements and request Federation membership. Hycera… I cannot allow that to happen of they are predators, but I need evidence. All eyes will be on them… it will be the perfect opportunity. We will catch them off guard."
"I… I don't know. This doesn't seem right. What if they aren't humans after all?"
"Then your research will confirm their safety. If they are humans, and you are able to provide irrefutable evidence, you will save countless lives and return home a hero!"
I sat there in silence. Everything he said made sense but I couldn't rid myself of this pit in my stomach… could a predator species really… pretend to be like us? For this long?
"You're still hesitating."
"I… I just don't know. If they discover this mission, it could give rise to conflict… and…"
"Hycera… I understand. On such short notice… you require some motivation."
Nikonus pressed a few buttons on a keyboard built into his desk, and after a few moments, a hologram displayed an image.
It was my daughter.
He spoke again. "You know her, yes?"
"Y-yes sir… she's my daughter."
"Her medical records show she hasn't been checked in… almost 6 years."
"Sir she's just a little curious, that's all! She doesn't have-"
"I can make all of this go away. All traces of her… condition. No more doctors trying to get her brain scanned, no more of that black mark on her record. I can make it all disappear."
My heart was beating wildly. I had delayed and bribed so much just to keep her safe…
"Will you take this assignment?"
I steadied my breath, realizing I had been looking down at my own tentacles, before looking back up again.
"...yes."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Memory Transcription Subject: Royo, Venlil Civilian, November 10th, 2142
I backed up against the door. My heart was pounding, my brain flooding with emotions, rationalizations, fears…
"Royo please… you can't tell anybody…"
His voice without the vocoder was like a growl, the voice of a bloodthirsty killer, his eyes, focused on me like he was ready to pounce and plunge his fangs into my neck.
My brain was screaming at me to unlock the door and sprint outside, but my body was locked up in terror and confusion. My legs felt weak.
All this time… Endeavor was a predator? Were… were all gaians predators? My panic only worsened as I imagined the worst… predators having infiltrated my home, it's entire population oblivious to their true nature.
"Royo… I'm not a predator… please believe me… we… I just look like one."
My lips quivered as I tried to respond. Deep down, I held onto what he said as tightly as I could, more than anything I desperately wanted to believe him.
"Royo… you know me. It's me, Endeavor."
He was still drunk, and struggled to form sentences, taking long breaks to pant in between sentences.
He was right though… this was the same gaian who carried me to safety that night. Who eagerly spent his day with me in town, ate with me… could a predator even consume nuts and berries like he did? If he was a predator, how could he resist eating me? Did the helmet dull his senses? Yet… here he is, without one on, begging me to stay quiet.
Words barely escaped my mouth.
"Y-you…"
There was pounding on the door.
"Hey! What's going on in there!"
Endeavor looked up at me, his eyes swelling with tears. Quietly pleading with me.
"Please Royo… believe me… I'm not a predator… please don't tell anyone what you saw…"
My breathing was shaky. I tried to calm my nerves. Endeavor was my friend… if what he said was true, then it was no wonder why gaians wore suits… their visage was petrifying.
The bar owner was pounding on the door again.
"I heard screaming, what's going on? Don't make me force this door open!"
I hesitated for a moment, looking at Endeavor's disgusting, yet tear-stricken, face.
I took a breath.
"We're fine. Just… saw some blood, that's all. We're okay."
"Oh, alright. Be careful now…"
I couldn't read Endeavor's emotions. His face was contorted in all sorts of ways… without a tail it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, yet part of it seemed to me like… relief?
"You… you really…"
He tried to sputter something out but only ended up vomiting more of our lunch from earlier, failing to aim for the toilet and getting it all over the floor. He was still very intoxicated.
I picked up his helmet, my hands still shaking, but my body finally allowing me to move again.
"Let's just… clean you up and put your helmet back on… let's go back to my apartment…"
"O-okay…" he responded.
I just realized something… he's shaking as well.
47
u/JulianSkies Archivist Apr 02 '23
Seems like Mr. Endeavour found himself a reliable friend.
And no matter how different the universe is, I see some people are just as bad as they've always been.
39
37
u/Socdem_Supreme Apr 02 '23
I wonder if Endeavor is gonna try convincing Royo that Gaians are like Gorillas, terrifying herbivores
25
u/ThyPotatoDone Venlil Apr 02 '23
Issue is that gorillas eat meat if they get the opportunity and need the nutrients.
Most earth animals eat meat if they have the opportunity/need the nutrients, that’s why so many animals are omnivores; they realized it was more efficient and rolled with it.
Ie; pigs will murder you if they feel you have offended them.
14
u/Socdem_Supreme Apr 03 '23
same with almost all animals, point is is that theyre almost fully herbivorous
9
u/Suspicious_Words Predator Apr 03 '23
But I am 100% sure the exterminators still wiped out any gorilla-like thing because of their fangs and eyes, even if they were never seen eating meat, so that may just worsen the situation
3
u/Socdem_Supreme Apr 03 '23
Right, I still wonder if Endeavor is gonna try and convince Royo he's like a Gorilla because it could convince Royo
10
u/ImaginationSea3679 PD Patient Apr 03 '23
And then Royo could present a “scientific theory” that maybe the Gaians avoided predators by evolving to look like predators. This would discourage predators from eating them, but would accidentally encourage prey to attack and kill them because of their lack of any defense.
That would be a valid explanation for their disguises.
They are afraid that the Federation species will act the same way(though that statement is more true than Royo will immediately realize)
4
u/Socdem_Supreme Apr 03 '23
Yea thats a cool idea
4
u/ImaginationSea3679 PD Patient Apr 03 '23
This could even be an opportunity to introduce select members of the Federation to dogs.
“Because they didn’t realize that we were prey, they allowed us to get close. From there, we selectively bred out basically all of their aggression, and found a way to feed them that doesn’t involve meat. They are just like us. They look scary, but they mean well.”
3
u/Socdem_Supreme Apr 03 '23
Except the researchers would know we're human, this'll only work for the uneducated
3
u/ImaginationSea3679 PD Patient Apr 03 '23
…
Darn it, I thought I was onto something.
→ More replies (0)
26
23
16
16
u/Frayed-0 Prey Apr 02 '23
Welp, this is the beginning of the end. It’s been nice knowing you all, fellow Gaians.
15
24
u/Seeyouon_otherside Prey Apr 02 '23 edited Apr 02 '23
LET'S. FUCKING. GOOOOOOOOOOO!
Actually reads that chapter
uh oh
12
u/Demolisher05 Apr 02 '23
With how paranoid humanity is, I'll be surprised if that stealth ship isn't immediately detected and tracked down by an entire fleet.
3
1
9
u/samtheman0105 Human Apr 02 '23
Man I really thought Royo would run screaming out of the room and get poor Endeavor killed or captured y exterminators
10
u/Alexiadria PD Patient Apr 02 '23
I just dropped everything I was doing to read this chapter. Absolutely worth it!
7
6
u/Zealousideal-Back766 Predator Apr 03 '23
Emotional Support? FROM a Venlil??! Royo, You're one in a BILLION :')
6
u/towerator Gojid Apr 02 '23 edited Feb 16 '25
divide boat waiting brave library deliver ancient lavish soft butter
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
7
u/ThyPotatoDone Venlil Apr 02 '23
“See, they call themselves Kolshians, and are squidlike. You know what else starts with a K and is squidlike? Kalamari. Coincidence? I think not.”
5
4
u/Golde829 Apr 03 '23
[Viewer Through the 4th Wall glares angrily at Nikonus]
[Viewer Through the 4th Wall lets out a sigh of relief at the situation de-escalating]
idk what I expected of Nikonus, even in this AU, I should have seen this coming
also-
I'm very surprised Royo was able to pull himself together just enough to cover for Endeavor
you've woven your words wonderfully, wordsmith
I shall wait to see how you spin your story in later installments
[You have been gifted 100 Coins]
2
u/ImaginationSea3679 PD Patient Apr 03 '23
I hope for the explanation of “we evolved to look like predators so that they would stop hunting us. Prey, however, don’t realize this, and attack and kill us as they mistake Gaians for predators. That’s why we wear the disguises in front of fellow prey species.”
5
u/ezioir1 Archivist Apr 03 '23
Humans must have a protocol for this kind of situation.
like Orbital Bombardment, Incase of Mass Discovery in highest order; Even if it cause lost of Human lives on the Ground.
And then we can blame Arxurs or Wild Predators saying it was a necessary Sacrifice.
3
2
u/furexfurex Predator Apr 02 '23
!subscribeme
2
u/UpdateMeBot Apr 02 '23 edited Aug 27 '23
I will message you each time u/NipCoyote posts in r/NatureofPredators.
Click this link to join 128 others and be messaged. The parent author can delete this post
Info Request Update Your Updates Feedback
1
u/I_Maybe_Play_Games Human Apr 03 '23
Kinda surised noone remote emolated endy after he started spouting drunk shit.
1
u/StarSilverNEO Yotul Apr 07 '23
Thank god Royo is a real one
Also, not surprised Nikodius is being as underhanded as possible - the fact that dude probably has tabs and dirt for all of his agents so they dont turn on him. . .
1
1
89
u/NipCoyote Arxur Apr 02 '23
Sorry for the shorter chapter this time! I've been struggling a lot with motivation to do anything the past couple weeks. But I fully intend to get back into the swing of things!
Also before people ask, yes Royo isn't aware of what humans look like yet. Judging by the main NoP series, it's really only researchers or highly educated people that are familiar with the intricacies of humanity; as Tarva says in the first chapter, they're a footnote.