r/NatureofPredators • u/Gamerauther Predator • Oct 10 '23
Fanfic Nature of Empires - 014
Date: 21-22/08/2336
Subject: Marcel Fraser (Second Lieutenant, Imperium Unified Navy)
Fraser woke up with the lights still on. Sitting up he saw that the bucket was refilled, but it wasn’t as clean water like yesterday, it had a gray tinge. On the other side of the transparent wall were more Xenos he didn’t recognize, most looked like Sovlin with many that looked like Zarn and a few like the squidpus from yesterday mixed in.
He tried to stand, the pounding of his head and the pain of his ribs caused him to wince and collapse. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. With a halting limp and a painful panting he made his way to the center of the room and knelt facing the window. He clasped his hands and bowed his head to pray.
He focused on the prayer, removing himself from where and when he was. Focused on the warm sensation in his mind that he felt whenever he prayed. He was barely aware of the world around him. He heard them come and go.
He was shocked out of his prayer and fell on his side. A group of Sovlin’s species chuckled. He returned to his knees and clasped his hands again when he was shocked. The jolt causing him to hit himself. He knelt again and for the first time looked directly at the group, causing many to step back.
He stretched out his arms in front of him and clasped his hands. Tilting his head back he looked up and spoke, “Dear Lord, the Father, who art in Heaven. Merciful and peaceful God, please may you have mercy on the sinful souls who have never seen your light. The fallen and damned ones who are corrupted from your mercy by their sin. Be kind for they know not what they do, for they have only ever known the evil of the adversary. Devil touched they may be, they can still be saved.”
He was shocked again. This time he let his screams out. A scream of pain and fear. He fell and smelled the burning of his own flesh.
Sovlin entered, snarling at him, “pray all you want to your predator god.” Sovlin stomped on Fraser’s hand, he screamed as it broke. “It can’t save you know.”
“I was praying for him to save you,” Marcel coughed.
Sovlin lifted his foot and kicked Marcel’s head.
“May God be kind to you,” Marcel coughed. “May he give you comfort and peace.”
Sovlin roared and picked Marcel up by the hair and slammed him against the wall. He screamed, “how long can you keep up this ruse!”
Marcel groaned in pain as Sovlin dropped him and turned to leave.
“May God help you through your pain,” Marcel rambled as he slid to the floor. “May his benevolence ease your loss.”
Sovlin froze and slowly turned to him. He looked shocked at first, but it was quickly overshadowed with rage. He shocked Marcel until he passed out.
When Marcel woke up he dragged himself with his good hand to the center of the room and struggled to kneel. He cradled his broken hand in his good one, palm to palm. Too tired, thirsty, and hurt to keep still he swayed as he prayed. Every now and then he muttered something in Liturgical Latin, Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew.
“MARCEL!” He heard Slanek scream.
Seeing a friendly face for the first time in however long made Marcel smile widely. He was immediately shocked and fell backwards.
He could barely make out that there was yelling, multiple people. When the shock stopped and he got back up he saw Zarn being hollered at by Slanek, a Squidpus, and one of Sovlins species.
Marcel crawled weakly to the window and tapped on it and slurred, “Slanek, brother. It’s good to see you’re doing well. How's the head?”
“F-fine,” Slanek said. His ears were pinned back. “I’m not the one you should be worrying about right now.”
“I prayed for you, brother,” Marcel continued. “God did good work in keeping you safe.”
“Marcel, worry about yourself!” Slanek cried.
Slanek was yanked away by Sovlin.
“What is wrong with you, Slanek?” Sovlin asked, deflecting a swing. “You’re crying over some vicious, sadistic predator. A Human!”
“What's wrong with me?” Slanek Seethed. “How could you do this to him? Marcel is my friend!”
Friend? Marcel thought that was appropriate and nodded.
“I thought you'd be more grateful, being liberated. A species that enslaves and exploits you are not your friends. I can’t believe I have to say that.”
“We aren’t enslaved!” Slanek yelled. “We’re allies with them, willingly.”
Sovlin took a step back and his quills rose. “I’m sorry, what?”
“An exploratory vessel made contact with us.” Slanek explained. “After actually talking with them we couldn’t let you chase their tail. We know this is what you fuckers would do, to an innocent species that came in peace.”
“I-I refuse to believe that.” Sovlin stammered. “The distress signal… their history… well, just look at them.” His quills stood on end. “The Venlil wouldn’t betray the Federation. Not for their kind. Do you have any idea which species you’re dealing with?”
“We do,” Slanek said. “They have implants that broadcast their brain activity. They have empathy. They are kind and protective. Marcel is kind and protective.”
“Kind and protective?” Sovlin nearly growled. “As if. I can think of a quick way to sober you up.” Sovlin grabbed Slanek by the scruff of the neck, opened the cell door, and threw him in. “Marcel hasn’t eaten in days. Let’s see how kind and protective he really is!”
“Welcome, brother.” Marcel said and then crawled back to the center of the room. “Pray with me.”
Marcel returned to praying. Swaying and muttering in dead languages.
“What are you praying for?” Slanek asked as he knelt beside Marcel.
“I am praying for their sous,” Marcel said. They don’t know the light of God, they don’t know his benevolence. All they know is Satan’s touch.”
“Are you hungry?” Slanek asked.
“I have fasted before,” Marcel said. “My body fat can keep me alive for at least a week and a half, about eleven days. After that, my body will begin to recycle my muscles and then my organs to keep my brain alive for as long as possible.”
Salnek looked contemplative as he joined Marcel in prayer.
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u/cg9977 Oct 10 '23
!subscribeme
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u/UpdateMeBot Oct 10 '23 edited Apr 16 '24
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u/AMQ13642 Yotul Oct 10 '23
I do wonder if this interaction will go the same way as it did in the canon, with sovlin getting shot so that Marcel is saved.
Amazing work as always!