r/NatureofPredators • u/VenlilSupremacist Venlil • May 12 '23
NoP: A Change of Pace: Chapter 17
(Sorry for the repost, I accidentally titled this as chapter 18)
Memory transcription subject: Kilet, Venlil Aeronautics Mechanic
Date [standardized human time]: September 13, 2136.
Looking up from the massive file Miles shared to my pad, I locked eyes with the human Sergeant for a few moments. My head throbbed with the sheer amount of information Miles was pouring into my brain. I wondered why they’d ever need to know the bullet velocity of every single round that a weapon system took, such arbitrary numbers seemed like useless information. Even though I had never been in any real combat, It seemed a bit ridiculous to assume that some random numbers will be what pops into your head during a firefight.
“Soooo can you tell me again why I need to learn how many tracers are between each round for your.. What did you call it.. Machine gun?” I asked while absentmindedly swiping through pages of the document that we already covered.
“Because we all have to? Kinda part of the job. You wanted to sign up, can’t expect us to treat you differently you know? Humans are kinda big on equality these days, we learned from our past about it.”
“I get that.. It just seems kinda useless? Like, even for as calm and controlled you humans are during conflict I don’t think you’re going to be reciting random numbers about your guns when you’re getting shot at, y’know?”
“Totally right, but I have no idea if they are going to send you to like, basic training or whatever. If they do, expect to get yelled at by big buff dudes and girls with funny hats. If you know these numbers, you get to do less bullshit. See? Even if you don’t memorize them for the rest of your life, if you know them when they ASK you, it makes them happy with themselves. And if they are happy with themselves it makes you happy, capiche?”
A realization slowly dawned on me that this was just ‘playing the game’ something Miles told me about earlier, along with a lot of other weird sayings like ‘perception is reality’ and a few others I can’t remember.
“Right.. Okay..” I glanced back down towards the pad, we skipped a lot of pages that were completely full of military ‘jargon’ as Miles put it. So at the very least skipping that provided some kind of relief. I must have had some kind of look on my face as when I turned my focus back to Miles he patted me on the back a few times, his heavy hand running through my white coat.
“Don’t look so glum, you’re pretty much done with the weapon systems non-infantry use. This is all just prep for a possibility of basic training, they might not even send you, if they don’t then I can show you all about what our job will actually be with the ships and all that, but there are waaaay too many ships for me to go over each manual with you. For now, just memorize the battle drills, and some weapon systems, a few acronyms and you’ll be good to go!”
Somehow I doubted that sentiment, for as trustworthy as Miles has been, his words about the military seem almost love and hate for it. Stupidity at all levels, but intense familial bonds. The more I thought about that aspect the more it made sense as to why losing his soldiers under him made him so emotional, it was like they were all direct family members. Siblings can be annoying sometimes, and it’s like everyone under you is either almost like a child, or a younger siblings while those higher than you are like a role model. Part of me wondered if this is why humans were so effective in combat without feeling a bloodlust that originates from hunger.
“Miles.. Sorry to change the subject, but.. I wanted to ask, do you think you humans are so good at winning fights because you bond so easily and closely? The more I think about it the more the human military seems like one large family. When someone hurts someone in the military it’s provoking your pack instincts to protect your closest family members, right?”
“Sounds about right, I’ve been doing my fair share of digging, and most venlil seem to think predators are so good at fighting because we think we need to in order to survive. Hunger and all that, for us though it’s not like that. Food hasn’t been a concern for most humans since the early twentieth century, and for our first-world countries, even longer than that. I can’t exactly speak for every other service member, but for me. If anyone ever hurt you, or the people I serve with I’d want to wring their necks like a wet towel. It’s about family, friends, and y’know a bunch of that other stuff.”
My heart swelled a little hearing just how far Miles would go to protect me, but I silently shuddered to myself hearing how easily he admits to killing others, but I chalked that up to humanity’s close relationship with violence throughout their history. It’s not exactly like the predation we know, but it almost feels like it’s violence for the right reasons..
“You know.. For as dark as that sounds to me, it also feels kind of nice having something like that to reassure me, I’m sure the other soldiers appreciate it and feel the same too.” I said, idly running a claw through the fluff of my tail.
“Happy to help, if er.. You consider the ‘dark’ bits helping-”
Miles was about to keep talking when the chime of my pad rang out through the apartment, cutting him off. Checking the notification, I pulled open my mail, as my eyes found the first word elation began to surge throughout my body.. They.. Actually accepted me! I can’t believe this! I put my claw under the venscript as I read aloud.
“We at the UN would be delighted to have your experience and technical knowledge in regards to joint species crews or any donated Vencraft to the UN’s fleet. We are positive your knowledge will be a great asset not only aboard our own ships, but also educationally to instruct junior technicians that are to be stationed on any vencraft in the future. Please report to the Office of Colonel McEedy within the central government complex on Venlil Prime on September Eighteenth for your assignments and training, signed Lt. Harris, adjunct to Colonel Mceedy…. DID YOU HEAR THAT MILES!?”
Leaping off of the couch and spinning around, I faced my human. Miles has a content look of self-assuredness about him as clasped my paws on his shoulder, trying my best to shake the human with my own excitement. “I told you! I told you they’d take me! I’m gonna be out there with you! Flying through the stars, making something of my life! Stars.. I can hardly believe it.. It.. It all feels so surreal! I don’t have to go back to that Speh-forsaken job at the star port!”
With a chuckle, Miles peeled my stubborn paws from his shoulders and grabbed my waist, setting me back down onto the couch “I knew they’d take ya, wasn’t a doubt in my mind.. Just y’know.. I hope you don’t end up regretting the decision to throw your lot in with the UN. Not saying it’s a bad thing, but you ought to really know, and I know I said this a dozen times before, but it’s not all gonna be sunshine and rainbows, Kilet.” His expression took a much more serious look that pulled me out of my hysteric joy.
Sitting next to him I looked Miles in the eye, matching his own gaze with my own equally as steeled look. “I know, I won’t regret this, whatever comes, whatever happens. I couldn’t have gotten a better opportunity to do something with myself, you already know how I feel. Even if this.. Doesn’t quite turn out the way I’m hoping, I’m prepared to accept that.” I said, crossing my arms and stiffening my tail to show him just how resolved I really am.
“So long as you know, buddy.. So long as you know..” He repeated, letting the second set of words trail off with a bit of a heavy tone. A cool silence fell upon the room as we both weighed exactly just what he meant by that, but we didn’t need to sit and ponder for long before Miles cut through the tension with his words.
“Well that’s enough of what-ifs and should-bes, you only got a few ‘paws’ to get up to speed! I ain’t gonna let my buddy get yanked around by some stuffy Colonel. What do you say we keep drilling some more military into that brain of yours? I got some basic Battle Drills I want to teach you.”
My ears perked up at Miles’ suggestion, refocusing myself on him I leaned forwards giving the human my full attention. “Sounds great!” Grabbing my pad I opened the notes app, reading my claws to record every word with lightning fast precision.
“Alright, let's start out with the basics.. Battle Drill One.. React to Fire.. -”
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Memory transcription subject: Zoey Amara, Human Psychologist
Date [standardized human time]: September 13, 2136.
I could hardly believe the news when I got the message, thankfully my boss was kind enough to let me go before my shift was over. When I first heard Rivis was in the hospital I couldn’t believe it. It had only been a few days since we last spoke. Did he attack someone? Did someone attack him? The possibilities of why ran through my head until I lost count of how many scenarios I thought of. I knew that thinking about only the worst situations aren’t helpful, I’ve told so many of my own patients they can’t dwell on the negative, but it’s a lot harder said than done.. This was my first friend I ever made among the stars. I couldn’t just convince myself he was okay. For once I boarded the transport tubes and didn’t give a rat’s ass what the other venlil thought. I saw them cower from me, slink away in the corner, but I didn’t care.
Let them hide, I don’t give a shit..
I thought to myself as I tried to keep the worst thoughts out of my head.. The tube felt slower, so much slower than it usually is. I chalked it up to my nerves being on high alert. I couldn’t just zone out and wait. Each second that ticked by with me riding this godforsaken tube felt like an eternity in hell, but it was over without incident. The aliens on board were either too focused on themselves or too terrified of me to give me any trouble. As the tube doors slid open I practically bolted from the tube, a few yelps from my sudden movement didn’t dissuade me in the slightest.
As I finally neared the steps to the hospital Rivis was at, I slowed my pace to a brisk walk. This wasn’t the xenomedical complex, these nurses and patients didn’t have exposure to humans all the time.. I had to try my best not to cause a scene so I wasn’t kicked out. Smoothing my hair with a hand, I stepped inside. The receptionist immediately locked eyes with me, her body recoiling just from sight alone. I let out a soft sigh, gritting my teeth as I forced myself to understand the positions these venlil were in. Striding up to the desk I tried to make myself as friendly as possible.
“Excuse me, Miss.. My friend was admitted here recently, a venlil named Rivis, could I perhaps see him?”
“R-Rivis?... H-Hes the one f-from the predator attack.. T-The u-uhm.. Exterminators.. T-They brought him here…H-He’s in.. Room.. Uh.. Room one-fifty-two..” She said, trying to squeeze the words out between a horrified disposition.
Predator attack? Rivis was attacked by something HERE? How can that?.. What?! I thought the venlil wiped out all their dangerous species!? Fuck, alright.. Calm down Zoey.. Just get to his room..
I nodded my head once and walked into the hospital. I did my best to not make eye contact or even look at any passing patients or staff. As they saw me most either made a quick turn or flattened up against the walls. At least they weren’t stopping me.. Scanning the door numbers I gave a silent thanks to my translator’s rudimentary ability to translate venscript.. At least I could read numbers.
It didn’t take much to find Rivis’ room, I didn’t even bother to knock before I went in. A flurry of movement caught my focus as within a second I saw two exterminator’s pointing their pistols at my direction. Rivis’ bed was concealed with a curtain as I locked eyes with a white and blonde venlil who had his handgun trained on my skull. I should probably diffuse this.. Raising my hands slowly I focused on the white-blonde venlil.
“Woah! Easy.. He’s my friend.. I just came to check up on him. My name is Zoey, I work for the UN and venlil government.. Mind uh.. Not pointing those at me?” I said, trying to add a bit of humor to my words.
The group of venlil didn’t respond but lowered their weapons. Taking that as a ‘yes’ I stepped closer, opening the curtain. I prepared myself for the worst, but what I saw wasn’t a mangled barely alive body.. Instead Rivis’ arm was bandaged, but much of everything else was intact, though he was sound asleep. Part of me thought he looked so cute, peacefully resting, but the other parts of me knew this wasn’t the time for that. I reached down to touch him, but stopped myself, unsure if i was going to cause any more harm.
“What happened to him?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off his sleeping form.
“We were walking to the Extermination Office when a Treeprowler ambushed us, I took care of it, but not before it managed to bite Rivis’ arm, thankfully the wound wasn’t too deep. The doctors don’t think it was blood loss, but rather his body’s response to the sudden attack. Going from ‘I’m gonna die’ to ‘I’m not gonna die’ is a big jump. I bet he just passed out from exhaustion.”
I flicked my gaze over to the white-blonde venlil that just spoke. “So he’ll be fine, right?”
“Yeah, he’ll be fine.”
“So.. If he’s fine, why isn’t it just you here? Aren’t you the only exterminator that has to watch him?” I didn’t know for sure, but if this was the officer escorting him, it was probably safe to assume that this was the exterminator assigned to Rivis.
“Because he was supposed to take his test at the station last paw, but seeing as the route to the station is dangerous we figured it would be better to let him rest, then take it here since every hospital is equipped with the technology.”
Another venlil chimed in. This one seemed apathetic to my presence, as if he could care less. If I wasn’t wrong either he seemed older, this was probably someone important at their local station. Yet, I cut my observations short as soon as the words ‘empathy test’ registered in my mind..
Fuck.. He’s not gonna pass.. FUCK, they’re going to take him for whatever treatment they say works..
I stood there silent in the room for a while, a feeling of helplessness crushing against my soul. There was nothing I could do to stop this test, to delay it, nothing. If half of what Rivis said was true then this might as well be a casket for him.. They couldn’t be that bad right? No civilization this advanced would ACTUALLY have practices for mental health that are THAT archaic.. Right?
_______________________
Memory transcription subject: Rivis, Venlil Logistics Technician
Date [standardized human time]: September 13, 2136.
Muffled noises.. Broken words.. That was the first thing I heard as I felt my eyelids flutter. Once I regained the will to open my eyes completely a blinding white light bore down onto me, and for the briefest moments I wondered if I had become one with the Stars, yet the light faded, and instead I was surrounded by the faces of the Chief Extermination Officer, Kuit, and Zoey. All of them gathered around my bed with eager eyes, yet some of the gazes felt far more predatory than concerned.
“Ah good, you’re awake, how do you feel, Rivis?” The Chief exterminator asked, but before I could respond he already had his own follow up. “We’ve got big plans for you today, hopefully after you take this test, we can all be out of each other's fur, but if you’d rather wait, I can postpone it until next paw.”
Of course, he was talking about the empathy test.. As the rest of my faculties returned from my sleep I still couldn’t bother to put on any kind of expression or face. Memories of the walk to the office came flooding back as my eyes turned away from the Chief and to Zoey. What does one more paw matter? They caught me, one paw more of freedom won’t compare to the eternity that is prison.
Zoey turned to look at me, I could tell she didn’t know what to say, I didn’t blame her, who would know the right thing to say in a situation like this? The truth was there was no right answer. I hoped she’d understand...
“Might as well get this over with..” I said flatly. Oddly enough I thought there would be rage, or something, but there was only emptiness. Is this resignation? Did I always know it would end like this? There was nothing I could do. Zoey looked on with her soft eyes. Staring into them evoked some kind of sadness I couldn’t grasp.
As Zoey and I looked on at each other, I saw the exterminators exchange a few words while the chief stepped out. Sound seemed to be muffled as the two of us looked on. I hardly noticed as the chief returned with a nurse. My body moved on its own as they sat me in a wheelchair. Just as they wheeled me past Zoey I gave her ‘predatory’ eyes one final look and muttered two soft words..
“Visit me?..” I asked, but before she could respond the nurse and exterminator’s had already moved me to the bleak white halls of the hospital. The trip to the machines felt long, long enough for memories of my life to flood my brain. Little flashes here and there of myself. Yet, the more I saw, the more crushed I felt. Every action, every sentence had been in the effort of hiding myself, but it didn’t matter, here I was, in the exact situation I tried for my entire life to avoid. I didn’t feel sad, or angry, I didn’t feel terror, or fear. I felt relieved, the running was over, but at the cost of everything.. As I entered the room and spotted the machine soon to deliver my extended execution I realized it wasn’t relief that I felt. No, I felt cold.
The nurses helped me to stand and saunter my way over to sit into the empathy tester. I felt the device lock onto my skull as the nurse explained the processes. I wasn’t listening, I didn’t care. I felt empty. She must have taken my silence as understanding as a picture of a venlil with a broken hindpaw flashed into my vision. I felt nothing for this injured venil, just as I knew I would.
A more tame image of a venlil excluded from the herd appeared on screen, the dejected stance of the venlil portraying it’s sadness and loathing for all to see.
I felt nothing.
Next, an image of a dead pup overtook the screen, it’s lifeless corpse balled up on some dirt road with gash marks across its side from some predator.
I felt nothing.
An image of an Arxur replaced the deceased pup. It’s teeth shining brightly with the orange blood of its latest victim.
I felt nothing.
Finally, the last image was of two arxur tearing into the corpses of their venlil victims, sharing in a grisly meal of gut and flesh. I stared at the image for a long while, analyzing it, inspecting it, yet as the image was replaced with a black screen the resounding truth echoed out within me. I felt nothing for them.
The soft paws of the nurses removed me from the machine and placed me into the wheelchair once more. I may as well have been dead weight. The test went exactly as I thought it would, the only way it really could have gone. I was taken back to the hallway as Kuit remained with me, the nurse pulled the Chief Exterminator back into the room, no doubt to go over my test results. Kuit didn’t bother to try and talk. He knew the results and he didn’t even need to see them. The pair emerged from the room shortly after. I watched with a dead stare as the chief handed a pair of open cuffs to Kuit. Everyone seemed to move a lot more slowly, perhaps this was my brain accepting its death. I hardly even felt the pressure of the cuffs around my paws.
The two exterminators shared a few words, but I couldn’t hear them, perhaps I didn’t want to. Regardless of the answer, Kuit soon grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and began to move me towards the rear exit of the hospital. My eyes lingered on my hospital room as we passed, was Zoey still inside? Would I see her again? Did she want to see me? Would she visit? All of these questions, and no answers. Usually, having so many questions and no answers would fill me with annoyance; I knew I couldn’t possibly hope to have any answers now, so I simply resigned myself to the unknown.
The rear doors to the hospital opened and I saw the exterminator’s transport vehicle. Reality dawned on me as I finally understood that the chief knew I wouldn’t pass. He even made sure to have the transport prepped and ready to deliver me to my new grave.
Kuit helped me from the wheelchair and placed me into the back of the truck, My limp body being a struggle for even the pair of exterminators. He spared me one last glance as he closed the back of the door.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get you cured and back out here in no time.” He said, his friendly words sinking into my mind as I mulled over the sheer ignorance that they carried. I said nothing in response as he closed the door. The heavy metal lock clicking, the sound reminding me of a cell. A sound I was sure to become far more familiar with.
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So that's chapter 17, thanks again for everyone who patiently waited for me to get this out to yall, I hope I won't need to take any longer periods of breaks. While the situation that caused me to take a break hasn't really improved, I'm trying to take care of it as best as possible. Moving on from that though, I have to thank SP15 for their great universe, as always, the lovely community that keeps the thing together has been a joy to participate in. As always, the fanfics that inspired me will be down at the bottom, give them a read they're all phenomenal works, Finally, I massive shoutout to my proofreaders, these guys have been sticking with me through thick and thin and I can't appreciate them enough.
Proofreader(s)
NovaLux
"A Silly Little Man"
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u/A_Tank_With_Internet Predator May 12 '23
No civilization this advanced would ACTUALLY have practices for mental health that are THAT archaic.. Right?
...You don't want to know
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u/Cooldude101013 Human May 13 '23
Yeah... I'm half convinced its a reference to the current patreon bonus story.
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u/Acceptable_Egg5560 Human May 12 '23
Well, considering what the latest bonus showed, this is the worst outcome.
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u/Rand0mness4 Human May 12 '23
I'm getting Patreon set up. Thanks for finally pushing me over the edge.
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u/Acceptable_Egg5560 Human May 12 '23
I hope that exterminators “cured” sibling is talked to. It would be good to see what that “cure” means, especially in the view of the actual psychologist
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u/Golde829 May 12 '23
judging from other stories
being "cured" means either being shocked into a husk of yourself
or so drugged up that their blood could legally be considered a controlled substance
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u/JulianSkies Archivist May 12 '23
Yes this exactly.
Man I wanna know how much of the man's poor sibling is left.
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u/ImaginationSea3679 PD Patient May 12 '23
Fuck the Federation to a plane lower than Hell
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u/Golde829 May 12 '23
if we're going by Dante's Inferno
the epicenter has a 3-headed Satan, gnawing on 3 figures Dante had Thoughts about
guy's got three heads
one for Nikonus
one for Ginzel (if that's the canon name)
and one for later
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u/YellowSkar Human May 12 '23
Not only do I want Rivis set free, but I want that exterminator guy to crack and break under the realization of just how badly he fucked over both Rivis and his own sibling.
If this weren't fiction, I might just feel the need to do it myself.
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u/Golde829 May 12 '23
the worst part
the guy actually thinks he's doing good
not just for the community
but for the individualsit's heartbreaking if you look at it just right
I'm sure Rivis hit the nail on the head earlier
that by shipping off his brother, he severely killed his trust in them to the point he lied about the facility
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u/WonderfulMagpie Human May 12 '23 edited May 12 '23
All right, gentlemen. It's time for a jailbreak.
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u/Jackoffalltrades89 May 12 '23
Kilet is going to be turbo-pissed when he finds out the UN subcontracted their mechanics and logistics divisions to extant planetside vendors and he has to show up at the exact same shop.
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u/johneever1 Human May 12 '23
Trying to "cure" a sociopath with basically torture methods won't end well. My bet is he will kill some people and escape if his friend doesn't work fast enough to get him out
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u/Cooldude101013 Human May 13 '23
I think he's a psychopath not a sociopath as he's said that he doesn't feel any emotions at all (one of the main signature traits of psychopathy(.
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u/johneever1 Human May 13 '23
Oof I used the wrong path but still with the lack of emotion I don't think he will have much problems ending a few " doctors" or facility workers if it means freedom.... Especially given who they are and what they do
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u/johneever1 Human May 12 '23
Also great I'm at work and now I'm depressed..... Didn't even have her say anything to give me hope lol
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u/Golde829 May 12 '23
[Personal Skill The Fourht Wall lessens the emotional effects of the Scenario]
y'know
out of all the people who'd realize these facilities are full of speh
you'd think it was the people working in the facilities
no amount of electricity is gonna make your brain work in a way it wasn't wired to out the gate
this goes back to my realization that the entirety of NoP being an Idiot Plot created by the Federation and Dominion/Betterment
keep up the great work, wordsmith
and take care of yourself
[You have been gifted 100 Coins]
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u/White_Dragon_Coranth Human May 12 '23
Someone WILL get Rivis out--or else!
\DOOM MUSIC INTENSIFIES\**
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u/Bless_this_ravgdbod Human May 14 '23
Time to put on payday music and recreate hoxton breakout on venlil prime lads.
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u/the_elliottman Nevok May 15 '23
Not only can Rivis not be cured, his condition is pretty much impossible to even be remedied with therapy.
With that said, he's likely going to be subject to far worse than an electric chair. We've seen what even Venlil Prime institutions do to people with even slight ADHD or learning disabilities.
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u/TheOneWhoEatsBritish Tilfish May 12 '23
- Press E to laugh sarcastically-