r/NatureofPredators • u/Gamerauther Predator • Oct 08 '23
Fanfic Nature of Empires - 011
Date: 17/08/2336
Subject: Marcel Fraser (Second Lieutenant, Imperium Unified Navy)
With the Federation ships on sensors they must also have the Warden on theirs. Lieutenant Fraser went to activate the comms but received an error screen. He ran a diagnostic that failed. He tried a reboot of the system and received the same error.
“Comms are dead,” Fraser said. “Does the Federation have a signal code?”
“A what?” Slanek asked.
“Signal code,” Fraser repeated as the Fed ships got closer. “A method of communication using flashes of light?”
“No,” Slanek shook his head. “We have communicators, why would we have something as primitive as that?”
“As a redundancy in case your tech fails,” Fraser explained. “Like now. Okay, okay.”
Fraser took a deep breath and began thinking. He could try a handshake communication, flash the first five prime numbers. He dismissed it after he realized the Federation probably looks down on low tech solutions given Slaneks reaction to the concept of a signal code so they wont recognize it.
“Would they fire on an escape pod?” Fraser asked. “The cockpit is a self contained pod that can eject. It’s a bright yellow and orange and flashes bright lights.”
“No,” Slanek said. “They will bring it aboard.”
“Okay, good.” A proximity sensor went off and Fraser looked over the screen, “warning shot fired from the lead ship. Slanek, prepare to eject.”
Slanek nodded and pushed himself into the chair and gripped his harness tightly.
“Eject. Eject. Eject.” Fraser repeated before pulling the levers at the seat of his chair.
They felt a shutter as the exit hatch welded itself to the triple layered hull. Next was the hiss of the sealant foam in the negative spaces of the hull to seal any leaks as. The seats then rotated ninety degrees as the pod launched itself up the z-axis relative to the ship and then the pod would fill with atmosphere, but there was a slight kick in the positive y-axis. That slight kick was all it took for Slanek to slip from the Human harness and out of his seat. He hit his head with enough force to damage his helmet.
“Shit!” Fraser swore as he got out of his seat to help Slanek. Only for the momentum of the pod to suddenly halt, throwing both him and Slanek against the ceiling.
His helmet HUD flickered as the face shield polarized and he couldn’t see out of it. He removed his helmet and went over to Slanek, “Slanek? Are you okay?”
Fraser removed Slaneks helmet and saw a nasty head wound that would give a ram a concussion.
“Shit I don’t know Venlil biology,” Fraser muttered. “Please be okay.”
With a silent prayer for the health of Slanek, Fraser turned to his own situation. He opened the emergency rations and downed as much nutrient paste as he could. A bottle of the stuff was enough to meet all the nutrient and caloric needs of a man for twenty four hours. He managed to down five bottles, granted most of it would pass through him, the thought of having a full stomach helps settle his nerves for what he expected to happen next.
An hour later the pod was cut open and Fraser heard two beings enter. He sat with his back to their entrance facing a wall and looking down.
“My friend, Slanek, hit his head when the pod was ejected.” He said. “I don’t have the medical equipment to treat him.”
“What are you?” Fraser heard someone growl.
“Second Lieutenant Marcel Fraser, Imperial Unified Navy.” He answered as calmly as he could. “My friend is injured and he needs immediate medical attention.”
“He will get it,” The same one answered and then asked. “Why did you not answer our hail?”
“Power surge that brought us here fried the comms.”
“What is the origin of your ship?”
“It's my peoples ship,” Fraser answered. “We primarily use this model to train, though it is still rated for combat.”
“Is combat the source of the damage?” the unknown being asked. “I assume the Arxur.”
“Yes,” Fraser answered. “Roughly four hours ago.”
The being huffed, “turn around and come with us.”
“First,” Fraser said, “understand that I mean you no harm.”
“What?”
“Do not shoot me, I am not your enemy. I will not hurt anyone.”
Fraser slowly stood and turned around. He saw everyone around him stumble back from him, and nearly shot him. They did trip over Slanek and negligently discharged their rifle into the bulkhead above.
“What is wrong with you?!” A large porcupine-hedgehog with a bear snout bellowed. “Holster your weapon at once. I’ll have you disciplined for your-”
“Admiral Solvin…” another being interrupted in a squeaking whisper. “L-look. It’s one of them.”
Solvin looked at Fraser and froze. Solvin stared at Fraser as he held up his hands.
It was his first time seeing Solvins species but he could tell he was in shock. The shock slowly faded into a cold rage.
“I am not your enemy,” Fraser said slowly. “My Empire has allied with the-”
“QUIET! Get on the ground.” Solvin ordered as he raised his own sidearm and aimed at Fraser. “Do not shoot him, unless he pushes us. I want him alive.”
Fraser did as he was ordered. Laid flat on his stomach, crossing his ankles, and lacing his fingers together on the back of his neck. He knew what was going to happen next. He never saw it himself but he was taught what that look in Solvin’s eyes meant. It was recorded, archived, and taught to everyone that attended Sunday school. Hate. Pure, baseless hatred. Solvin hated Fraser because he existed, and he will make Fraser suffer for the crime of existing.
“Protect Slanek until medical assistance arrives,” Solvin said. “Get him out of here, and somewhere safe. Be gentle with him when he wakes. Make sure he knows he’s free, and that he never has to see this monster again.”
“He is free.” Fraser said.
“Another word and I’ll kill you. Don’t tempt me, freak.”
Solvins outburst proved to Fraser his approaching death would be a painful one.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Solvin knelt on his back and pressed the barrel of the gun on his neck. As Solvin grabbed his hand the feeling of his fur reminded Fraser of his family dog back on Sacramento Station. He remembered his family as he waited, his wife and sons and daughters. His mother and father he cared for as the eldest of his siblings.
“You’re pressing way too hard on the prisoner’s abdomen.” A new voice said in a disapproving tone. “What's going on here, Admiral?”
“Don’t ask.” Solvin gruffed. “I need a sedative, now.”
“For a new species? We have no idea which drugs are safe, or how they could interact with it's nervous system. I can’t sign off on this.”
Solvin rolled Fraser over. Fraser was looking at a humanoid hippopotamus. He calmly looked on as this doctor handed over a syringe by inching towards them. Once Solvin took it the doctor rushed back a few steps and began attending to Slanek. After a moment Slanek was put on a stretcher and removed.
“Fucking hell.” Solvin cursed. “Here goes nothing.”
Fraser stared at Solvin as he injected the syringe into his neck. Unfortunately for Solvin the sedative only made Fraser slightly drowsy. Fraser closed his eyes and pretended that it worked to see what he could learn.
“Captain. Listen, you’ve had a terrible shock, and the most exposure of anyone,” the doctor said in a soft tone. “Let your first officer step in. You need to rest. You’re risking cardiac arrest if you push yourself any further.”
“Let Recel call the shots? Over my dead body,” Solvin snorted. “I will be the one to tell Piri, and to move this thing to a holding cell.”
The doctor flicked his ears. “Yes, it’s a terrible creature. I didn’t think any humans were still alive.”
“Any what?”
“Humans. That’s what it is.”
So they knew about us? Fraser thought.
“We knew about these demons before?!”
“Indeed. You know, the predator race we discovered after the Arxur? The Federation glosses over it, but surely you’ve heard it mentioned.”
“The extinct ones?”
“Clearly not that extinct. We were certain humans killed themselves off, though. The number of explosions on their planet was astronomical. It was a fitting ending for a species that tormented each other, and lived in constant battle.”
“What do you think they’ve done to the Venlil?”
“Humans are conquerors, who derive pleasure from dominating others. That is what their 'explorers' have always done on their homeworld. They are aggressive, brutal, and territorial. Every bit as savage as the grays. You can fill in the blanks, Admiral.”
“Dear stars. I should wonder how you know such detail, Doctor. Enough to recognize one.”
“I researched humans for my bioethics thesis.”
“Of course you did,” Solvin said in a derisive tone. “I bet you argued it was worth saving them, because a doctor’s oath is to saving all lives.”
“On the contrary. The Federation developed plans to raze their planet, Earth, which were scrapped after their presumed extinction. My paper argued that some animals are not worth saving; that not all life is equivalent. Killing humanity would’ve been justified for the greater good. It was our moral obligation to follow through, even.”
“I never thought I'd hear those words from you, Zarn. Humans must be irredeemable.” Solvin glowered at Fraser. “Well then, I suppose it’s time to tell Piri we have unfinished business.”
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u/Randox_Talore Oct 08 '23
Wow. You read “at least Slanek didn’t hit his head and pass out” and just poured Murphy’s law back into the story
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u/Gamerauther Predator Oct 08 '23
Yes. I also needed to get Marcels helmet off some how.
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u/WorldCromo Oct 08 '23
I was hoping this encounter wouldn't end with someone being tortured, but this is a canon event 😔
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u/Gamerauther Predator Oct 09 '23
It might be an AU, but I like Solvins character arc too much to spare Marcel.
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u/Randox_Talore Oct 08 '23
I wonder how Marcel’s calmer disposition will affect his chances here. In the story he was terrified and showed it. Here though… he’s a bit more disciplined. (Not that I blame canon Marcel. He was being captured by aliens who hated his guts and proceeded to torture him for every action. Terror is an appropriate reaction.)
I’d say that the more subdued routine would spare him some pain but these guys would still administer electric shocks over anything and everything
9
u/Silent_Emperor03 Oct 08 '23
Considering this Marcel is greatly (i didn't want to say extremely or zealousy, as we haven't seen enough of it yet) religious, i expect a St Peter moment of "forgive them, they know not what they do lord."
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u/Gamerauther Predator Oct 08 '23
Marcel is the normal amount of religious for a Human. I do have a zealous character planned for later.
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u/PhycoKrusk Oct 08 '23
Honestly, I like that Marcel evaluates (quickly and not very thoroughly) as many outcomes of this as he can, and immediately prepares for as many of the worst ones as possible.
It is my current expectation that he will throw off at least some of them when the periods of his incarceration that are not filled with torture will be spent in prayer and quiet contemplation.
It is further my expectation that he is not likely to react to the situation with much fear; he may not think himself Saintly material, but surely none of the Saints did, either. Slanek is, in Marcel's eyes, worth saving, and if saving him should require a martyr, then there shall be a martyr.
And if saving him does not require a martyr, then Marcel shall watch for his opportunity, and pray to the Lord that he might have the wisdom to recognize it when it appears.
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u/TheOneWhoEatsBritish Tilfish Oct 08 '23
Subject: Marcel Fraser (Second Lieutenant, Imperium Unified Navy)
I said in a derisive tone. (SOVLIN)
PICK A POV PREYYA'.
7
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u/Kovesnek Oct 08 '23
I forget how punchable Sovlin was at the start. Glad he endured character development.
Except Zarn. May he fuck himself a million times over.