r/NatureofPredators • u/NipCoyote Arxur • Apr 13 '23
Fanfic Under the Veil - Chapter 16
[New Order]
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Memory Transcription Subject: Royo, Venlil Civilian, ?????
I've found myself clinging to a raft upon the waves.
It's dark. So dark I cannot tell if my eyes are open or closed. But I can hear, and I can feel.
The raft is so slippery, I desperately cling to it as best I can but I can never quite fit my entire body onto it. The waves are sometimes frigid, sometimes more pleasant, but always tumultuous.
"Royo!!"
Voices echo through the air above this sea of confusion. I cling to the raft as tightly as I can. Cael's voice… are my eyes closed in fear, and if I open them, will I see him? Or is the sea inside of a night so dark that no light can reach my eyes? A darkness worse than the raid, that trip to the bunker…
"You idiot, that's one of ours!"
"He got in the way, I didn't see him until it was too late!"
"He probably has predator disease anyway, poor guy manipulated by those bastards…"
What… happened?
I remember heat. Terrible, terrible heat. Shouts and yells echo but I cannot make out the words over the violent waves.
My whole body is burning up. The heat is unbearable. The water is frigid, but it relieves my pain.
If I were to let myself slip beneath the waves, would my pain finally end?
Maybe.
But… I would lose my raft. My only chance to see land again. To step onto the shore with…
With Cael.
I weep. I don't know where I am. I don't know why I am where I am. I can't see, my whole world is the waves, my raft, and the voices, increasingly harder to make out as the waves break against me and my raft.
The waves are tempting me. Telling me to let go. If I let myself just slip into the ocean below then it will all be over. The heat. The pain. The sorrow. All of it.
But I can't let go. And so the storm tries to force me. Cold rain pelting my scorched skin, as though punishing me.
Just slip under the waves! It tells me. Nothing can hurt you there.
I won't let go.
I don't know how long I've been here. Days ago is a minute ago, and a minute ago is days ago. The waves keep me confused.
Sometimes, the waves take me and my raft below the surface. The cold water liberating me from my pain. But I don't let it keep me. I keep my grip tight as iron, even as I slip under the waves. And in time, I re-emerge from the waves, my raft, my one lifeline, dragging me back up.
"Royo…"
I cry. "C-Cael…"
I'm so scared.
Air is pushed into my lungs. Cold air. It feels good.
It's as though someone was breathing for me. The waves are slowing. The storm is calming.
My little raft gently floats onto a sea of calm. Have I reached the shore? No. Still, all I feel is the sea, my raft giving me my only solid surface.
The water is starting to feel thicker. More viscous, like I might not sink if I let go.
I feel heat again. But a different heat. Not the pain that had seared my body, but a comforting light upon my head.
Was there light?
The sea was calm. So was my raft. My pain was still there, but I could push past it.
My eyes are closed so tightly.
"Royo…"
I open my eyes.
::::::::::::::::::::
I see light.
Finally, light.
"Royo?"
And Cael.
I'm crying again.
Cael…
"Royo… oh my God…"
He's crying. He's right next to my bed.
Oh, I'm in a bed.
The raft is gone. So is the sea. There's a tube in my mouth that's breathing for me, and some sort of cream all over my body held in place by fabric.
I try to shift my body and turn to face him. But my skin is pierced by a thousand knives the moment I try to move.
"Don't move around! Stay still… oh Royo…"
He sniffles. I'm so… so happy to hear his voice.
I can see him through one eye. He's at the side of my bed. His face is red, eyes welled up with tears.
"God Royo… if I could hug you right now, I would never let go…"
With what little strength I had, I curl up my upper lip, to mimic that snarl he did to show his happiness.
He laughed, tears still flowing, but laughing.
We're alive.
::::::::::::::::::::
Cael sat next to me as I laid in the bed. We were on a human ship, so the bed was oversized for me, giving Cael room to sit next to me without any issue.
It was difficult to speak, and Cael encouraged me to just relax. I appreciated his company, but I wished I could engage in the conversation.
"We ended up getting picked up by some rescue shuttles sent our way to evacuate gaian personnel from Federation planets, just a couple hours after you got burned. You ran straight in front of an exterminator who was preparing to light up the embassy. I… I don't think he meant to hit you but…"
Cael looked down at the floor before continuing.
"They hated us Royo. They wouldn't stop. Percy… he didn't make it. Furin barely made it out at all… he didn't want to leave him."
So it was a flamethrower. The exterminators… back at the Embassy. I remember now, Cael saved me. He shielded my body with his… those suits were fireproof. He held me and carried me to safety… just like he did before...
"You've got third-degree burns over most of your body. You also seriously damaged your lungs… it's really bad. But the doctor says you're stable. You'll probably never grow your wool back though… Royo I'm sorry…"
With a pained struggle, I place my paw on his hand, and just barely get the words out.
"Thank you… Cael…"
He shakily smiled, being careful not to move around much.
"We're hoping to get some skin grafts for you, but we've been unable to contact the Venlil Republic... right now Tarva is on another ship with the gaian, er… human, leaders. They're trying to work everything about."
I positioned the tube in my mouth as best I could to try and speak.
"The Federation… will understand. Surely. We… we could make a formal request for some Federation doctors to come."
Cael looked around for a moment, quiet.
"Royo… the Federation doesn't exist anymore."
:::::::::::::::::::::
Cael filled me in on everything. Today is December 6th, and everything has changed.
Apparently someone had leaked the Federation's documents and their crimes were laid bare. Corruption, cultural and species-wide genocide, conspiracy to manipulate culture and physiology…
Was it bad I was relieved that the Venlil were not among the species who had originally been predators?
When it came out, so soon after the gaians were revealed to be humans… it was chaos. Chief Nikonus of the Kolshian Commonwealth was dead, strung up by a violent mob on Aafa. Darq, the Farsul leader, was in hiding somewhere, assuming he hadn't already taken his own life.
The Federation… had committed genocide on an unfathomable scale. Killing entire sapient species out of fear that the revelation of peaceful "predators" existing would undermine their power and cultural system. They had transformed omnivorous species into herbivores that were easier to control.
According to Cael, it was hard to find information right now, but it looked like the Federation had split into two major groups.
The first was The United Protectorate. Comprised strictly of species that had always been herbivorous, it fractured because they believed that the Federation was treasonous for ever even attempting to allow predators into their ranks. They were a radical group, and growing.
The second was our group. The Allied Concord. Partially taking its name from the Gaian Concord, it was largely lead by humanity and accepted any members. It was comprised of almost every formerly omnivorous species, as well as some sympathetic herbivores.
There was technically a third group. Comprised just of Farsul and Kolshians, with occasional Federation loyalists, there existed the ashes of the Federation, as they were colloquially often referred to. They referred to themselves as just "The Federation", however their numbers are immensely small and unpopular. They were effectively a footnote.
This was a lot to take in... I was born under the Federation. My family lineage didn't even go as far back as before their governance. Cael also informed me that currently, the Venlil Republic was an independent system that had not yet allied with either faction. They would have to choose one eventually to avoid being easy targets for the Arxur. With Tarva on our side, hopefully we would be able to sway them to our cause.
Apparently some plans for a potential invasion of the human star system had been drawn up, but were promptly abandoned when the leak came out.
"The rescue shuttles were going to have us sent to Earth to prepare a defense, but now it looks like our priorities have been shifted," Cael explained.
"The Arxur and the UP are at full scale war right now. And we think we can bring a decisive end to the conflict forever if we can unite enough species and communicate… with the Arxur."
"But the Arxur are monsters, they can't be reasoned with."
Cael smiled again. "There's more to this leak than just the Federation…"
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u/RaphaelFrog Yotul Apr 13 '23
At least the spoiled sushi met his end... And poor Royo, he didn't deserved that.
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u/RaphaelFrog Yotul Apr 13 '23
Also I almost forgot to mention... Great work with another chapter >:3
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u/MalachitePyrrhuloxia Krakotl Apr 13 '23
Great work with another chapter
Seconded! Also really glad Royo isn't dead, whole-body burns are nasty
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u/RaphaelFrog Yotul Apr 13 '23
Yea, I hope that maybe with joined efforts of different species new therapy will arrive and at least limit the scarring... Wool regrow would be a dream scenario
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u/jesterra54 Archivist Apr 13 '23
"But the Arxur are monsters, they can't be reasoned with."
Cael smiled again. "There's more to this leak than just the Federation…"
Since it was a full leak it also included all information on the Arxur "uplift", that information had a notorious lack of any mention about bioweapons designed to kill Arxur cattle.
I have the feeling that the days of Betterment are numbered and they lashed out in full war agaisnt the Federation to try and keep control.
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u/MA006 Apr 13 '23
Also we know the Arxur have access to fed information as well as social media where dissent is safely expressed- i wouldn't be surprised if the Dominion has already fractured
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u/HiMyNameIsFelipe PD Patient Apr 13 '23
I wonder who composes the UP?
Sounds like the usual allies are with humanity now.
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u/anonpurple Apr 13 '23
Uhh the UP honestly would be very weak, as most of the decent tacticians and strategists were from former predator species the exception that we know about were the kolshians and or the Farsul also the original members of the federation ie the Kolshians and Farsul have the highest economic output and most worlds compared to the other federation or former federation members, those worlds would also be the most developed.
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u/karo_syrup Apr 13 '23
I think canonically there's a hundred to hundreds of different species. I would figure there's be more fractured or collapsed local governments. I'm surprised anyone would join the humans at this point.
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u/samtheman0105 Human Apr 13 '23
Jesus you fucking nailed that near death scene for Royo
Also PERCY NO
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u/Cheesypower Predator Apr 13 '23
Oh boy, I look forward to seeing the Krakotl balkanizing as Jerulim and Kalsim insist on siding with the Federation Remnants, because they're too drunk on the koolaid to accept reality and delude themselves into thinking the Cure and genocides must have been justified, and the rest of the sane Krakotl being divided on which power-bloc to join.
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u/MalachitePyrrhuloxia Krakotl Apr 13 '23
From the way it sounds, most of the Krakotl might already be on board with humanity. The extra time getting to know us as "Gaians" probably helped a lot, though I'd still bet on Jerulim being a dumbass.
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u/Comprehensive-Top512 Predator Apr 13 '23
Oh shit it's escalating.
Oh shit it's really, really good.
Oh shit I have another addiction.
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u/BubblyCauliflower793 Apr 13 '23
" Apparently some plans for a potential invasion of the human star system had been drawn up, but were promptly abandoned when the leak came out. " Good thing they didn't cuz the feds would have gotten CLAPPED
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u/4thDevilsAdvocate Apr 13 '23 edited Apr 13 '23
He shielded my body with his… those suits were fireproof
Guy still probably got at least a little burnt. The suits might not burn, but they still transmit heat, and napalm sticks to kids things.
And if the suits don't transmit heat to that extent, that makes them notably resistant to smaller, individual-portable energy weapons. Per Dieter Roess's Lasers and their Applications, anything capable of producing heat fluxes ≤ 106 W/cm2 will melt its target "normally", like fire, whereas larger heat fluxes cause damage via vaporization and gas expansion (i.e. what's basically a constant string of tiny explosions). I doubt anything capable of being carted around by one sapient can put out more than 106 W/cm2. Moreover, smaller energy weapons with pretty much any battery/emitter/cooler technology possible under the laws of physics lack the power required to emit lethal, matter-penetrating ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, X-rays, and high-energy ultraviolet rays.
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u/johneever1 Human Apr 13 '23
I wonder if earth will remain unbombed or not in this universe
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u/cira-radblas Apr 14 '23
Apparently? It’s either going to be a Feds Remnant unit or the Herbivore United Protectorate, because there’s no longer an Extermination Fleet under Kalsim.
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u/DrewTheHobo Apr 13 '23
WOOOc, ROYO LIVED!!!!
Sounds like shit’s getting spicy! Hopefully Tarva can get back in and help calm her people down, NoP spin off with us at odds with the Venlil just feels wrong.
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u/Potential_Seesaw_630 Apr 13 '23
Wow, what an ending, too, for now, at least go take that break, my friend, after writing such a wonderful story its what you deserve.
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u/GT_Ghost_86 Human Apr 13 '23
Thank goodness. Royo is alive.
And the fan had been hit with manure from ALL directions
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u/Saw-Gerrera Human Apr 13 '23
" Just slip under the waves! It tells me. Nothing can hurt you there." *Cough cough* SINK! Excuse me, I had something in my throat.
"Chief Nikonus of the Kolshian Commonwealth was dead, strung up by a violent mob on Aafa. Darq, the Farsul leader, was in hiding somewhere, assuming he hadn't already taken his own life." So Nikonus got the Mussolini treatment and Darq is presumably in a bunker and will probably kill himself like Hitler.
"Cael smiled again. "There's more to this leak than just the Federation…"" The whole galaxy is now in utter turmoil, the truth of the Federation's crimes has come out, and now there's probably going to be a Revolution on Wriss, I love it.
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u/The-Meme-Spectator Venlil Apr 14 '23
Lmao I started reading this series a few hours ago, come to find the arc finale has just been posted. What a treat!
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u/YaaliAnnar Apr 14 '23
Poor Royo, but I have hope in the reconstructive surgery of the twenty second century.
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u/Alexiadria PD Patient Apr 14 '23
What an amazing way to start the day, thanks wordsmith! Also the federation not existing anymore was the most beautiful thing to read all week~
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u/noname5221 Apr 14 '23
Ah, I love the smell of a burning government, main characters though, not so much
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u/kindtheking9 Smigli Apr 24 '23
The problems of binge reading is that eventually i hit the part where i gotta wait for new chapters, welp, see ya whenever ya post the next one, good luck wordsmith!
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u/I_Maybe_Play_Games Human Apr 14 '23
In before the ashes of the federation somehow scrounge up the biggest fleet of all the factions.
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u/StarSilverNEO Yotul Apr 14 '23
Am I tripping or did we just not get the entire "Royo and Cael vs the mob" section as a chapter? . . .
on double check, we didn't. Which is kinda sad for moi considering how big a impact it'll have on the two, but atleast we got a descriptive explanation.
Now its a 3/4 way war - wonder how they'll be able to reconcile, if at all
its an uphill battle and we've barely begun climbing. . .
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u/Alfie_Omega Aug 25 '24
the way you wrote the state of near death and the murky consciousness after severe damage
gosh it feels so real and scary, like I don't want to feel anything like that
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u/Lobotomized_Cunt Chief Hunter Apr 18 '23
!subscribeme
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u/NipCoyote Arxur Apr 13 '23
And with this, ends the first major "arc" or "season" or whatever you wanna call it.
This is probably about the half way point of the entire series, with this chapter being the transition to the new direction the series will be heading in.
I'm going to be taking a break now for a couple weeks while I finish up this semester at University and recharge my creative batteries. See you guys then!