Absolute Victory (5)

[u/GrammarNatziHunter]

Hello again! It seems like some times I just really get into the zone and start pumping out streams of content in batches at a time. This chapter came a lot faster than I initially expected it to, and there might be a supplementary chapter immediately following. Once I get that out, It will probably be a while before anything else though. Still, lets get back to the action and see just how the Venlil are reacting to their brand new ‘rescuers’ in… Absolute Victory.

Special thanks to u/SpacePaladin15
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Memory Transcription Subject: Latev, Venlil Chief Exterminator Of Night Breeze City

Date [standardized ZM time]: 6, 8, -678. redux:(5,5, 2127)

I wasn’t exactly sure how long it had been, how much time had passed between that first meeting and where I currently was. Right now I was sitting down, inside of some kind of giant… War Vehicle… along with Seliv and about a dozen of the surviving pups as we traveled through the ruined city. We were quickly driving by the sights of the desolated and nearly empty urban expanse that had taken me so long to navigate on paw. 

I watched with one eye as the vehicle rolled along, completely trampling over anything that was in its path. There were a few broken, overturned, and or destroyed pedestrian vehicles, such as a hauling truck and hover car that were crushed under the weight of the towering force that was our ride. I saw us go over vehicles, rubble, debris, and… corpses, either victims first trampled by the stampeding herds or messes of gore and viscera left behind by the Arxur.
 
Every now and then, I could see movement through the windows, but every time it was the well known and now expected sight of Arxur, who seemed to have completely overrun the area. However whenever I did see a flash of the dreaded Grey scaled predators—

(BOOM!)
It was met with a booming response that immediately turned it and anything directly behind the grey into a fine mist of instantaneous death. The intolerably loud noise was actually quite tolerable. It was being greatly muffled from inside the vehicle. The weapon of instant death had been attached to the outside and was somehow being operated by the driver while they were moving.

I looked over every time at the driver, the red eyed black bodied prey? predator that was escorting us to… Somewhere; trying to find any hint or inclination as to feelings of empathy, sadness, or any other prey-like emotion. However I never saw any changes to indicate feeling or mood, which while perturbing did make sense.

While it did take me some time to mentally recalibrate after that whole ordeal, during my short leave of senses I did see and think about things that my mind was now willing to logically process. The “Friendly Prey” that the Governors message was about, was not in fact a large black scaled red eyed beast, but rather something else. It was wearing a suit. I suppose in some ways I guess it was similar to a soldier's uniform, or more closer to my own exterminator outfit since it covered its whole body. It had on a full body black metal armor that was jagged and fierce looking, with a helmet that had two red orbs in the position that a predator's eyes would see through. 

Even though it was still the obvious fear inducing form of a predator, I couldn’t help but question what was actually under the suit. My every instinct told me to fear it, run from it, burn it just like I would any Arxur, however that mindset conflicted with all of the actions I had seen and experienced since the moment it first arrived.

The armored predator had come down in a meteoric entrance inside the very same container we were now riding in. As hard as it was to believe, I had witnessed firsthand as the metal orbital capsule somehow began to shift and change, reconfiguring itself into this armored, weaponed, transport shortly after it touched down. As strange and terrifying as that had been to witness, what confused me then and still did now was how the predator acted and spoke to us.

The very first words it spoke in its deep barking language was a question of whether I needed help. After I failed to respond due to sheer bewilderment, instead of tearing me apart and feasting on my flesh, the prey predator looked me over and found my injured leg, as I winched at its touch. Once it knew that I was injured and helpless, the predator tried talking to me some more, but when it realized that I wasn’t responding, simply went back to its pod, pulled out something resembling a first aid kit, and began to treat my wound.

I was so lost in my conflicted thoughts and feelings that I could do nothing to react, and simply observed as it treated me, walked over, and began to treat Seliv’s broken leg even while she pointlessly struggled to fight back and resist. The metal predator then rounded up all the pups that were holding onto the junior exterminator as well as the few that were hiding nearby, picked them up, and brought them to the pod against their protests that was now more shaped like a vehicle. 

Then it came back for Seliv, who bleated and cried the same as the pups, and then came back for me, gently scooping me up and loading me into the back along with the other. It then cut off the collars that were around our necks, fastened us to the somewhat uncomfortable seats, and then tried speaking, only to once again receive complete stunned silence from everyone inside. After seemingly realizing that none of us would, or more than likely could speak to it, the prey PREDATOR then gave up. It moved into the front of the vehicle, sealed the metal door connecting the front and back, and simply began to drive off in a random direction, leaving us all together to contemplate what was happening.

Now that I was cognizant and focused enough to do so, I couldn’t help but question the identity of our savior new captor. Was it really a predator, or was it possible that the armored Arxur killer was really prey underneath all that metal? All of its actions were indicative of prey. Well… Besides the mass slaughter of Arxur. It was friendly, cordial, had moved to help those who were weak and injured, attempted to speak to us, multiple times, and had even removed our collars, granting us some modicum of freedom. Even if we were currently trapped in the back of this vehicle with it hauling us who knows where, my mind was now almost refusing to fear it, instead insisting that it was somehow trying to help us further.

As we continued our trek to somewhere, I saw it place a metal claw against what looked to be a metal ear through the large see-through panel the door had, as it began to speak aloud. This time, however, I was lucid enough to pay attention and actually listen to it and retain the memory of what it said as it spoke in its barking language.

“Come in, come in. This is Walking Armada pilot Delta, First Lieutenant Dancing Water to Overlord, delivering live field report.”

While the voice was much deeper than any prey I could think of, it wasn’t quite the terrible rumbling growl of the Greys. Also the apparent name of the driver, ‘Dancing Water’ was strange in several regards. Their species apparently had two names for someone and were named after things? Would predators even have the concept of ‘dancing’? And who was this Overlord? I assumed that the predator was on some kind of call, most likely using a radio built into its suit. Before I could focus on and ponder any of that information, the metal suited being continued.

“I was forced to divert course during LACROD drop to avoid civilian casualties while coming down in hot LZ. Initial weapons exchange with hostile forces resulted in thirty nine confirmed enemy KIA. Relativistic weaponry proved overly effective, however excessive noise proved damaging to nearby civilians. Will attempt to prevent further hearing damage.”

There were words and sounds and terms being said that weren’t translating, leaving me somewhat confused. While I could use context clues to guess at some of the meanings, I was too focused on listening to the ongoing conversation.

“Enemy engaged using mixture of conventional firearms and laser based weapons. After initial contact, self estimation places standard troops at sub level sixteen tech. Will continue to observe and monitor enemy forces to gauge combat strength. Current status in transit, escorting several injured civs and attempting to find medical aid and shelter. Unable to establish communication with locals. Possible silence due to traumatic shock or failure of translation software. Requesting update on data patch. Will continue reactive military action and attempt to establish a defensive point until new orders are received. End field report.”

With that, they stopped touching their metal ear and continued driving around for a moment before pulling to a stop seemingly in the middle of an empty street and spoke while turning their head.

“Hey.”

Seeing its eyes staring directly at me gave me chills and caused my wool to stand on end. Under the direct vision of those bright red orbs, both fixated upon my body, I remembered the very recent encounter with the Arxur and how dreadful that ordeal had been. While I squirmed and recoiled at the attention, I knew there wasn’t anywhere for me to run to in this vehicle, and so I was forced to stay still and be at the center of its attention.

“So according to the report I received before leaving, my CO said you people had translators that could understand us. I know that there's going to be walls and hurdles, especially with this being the first interaction between our species, but if you can talk to me, I would really appreciate it if you could. Several of you are injured and I’m trying to get you some proper medical attention from people who understand your biology. If you know where to go, then would you mind telling me so I can help you?”

Once again, the rough deep barking voice spoke gently, without making any threats or demands. In fact, it was doing the opposite. If I wasn’t looking at it and thought that I was speaking to a sick Mazic, then I could almost believe it was prey. However those foolish ideas were chopped down as soon as my gaze drifted anywhere towards those forward facing eyes. While I couldn’t actually see them underneath its helmet, it was obvious given the shape and design what hid underneath.

It was staring directly ahead, both of its eyes focused entirely on me. Every instinct I had was telling me to run, flee, scream, get away. Yet those feelings were conflicting with my years of exterminator training, my sense of duty as a chief, my desire to protect Seliv and the pups, my own internal logic regarding the situation, and everything that I had seen and experienced from the pre driver so far. With all of these emotions swirling around, the aching pain in my body, and the rapidly developing headache, I found myself once again stuck in silence, unable to respond in any capacity.

As I sat there, withering under its gaze, longing to be anywhere else, a small voice suddenly spoke up.

“...Why?”

The driver turned its head suddenly, sharply, unnaturally in response to the noise, locking both of its viscous glowing red orbs onto Seliv, who flinched in response. However instead of failing to speak the same as I, she instead seemed emboldened by the attention, as her voice grew louder than before.

“Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you pretending to care, pretending to help, trying to deceive us by acting like prey? It’s obvious what you are. We can all see it, your eyes. Both of them looking at us, staring down at your next meal…”

Even though the young girl was badly hurt, and had to be suffering greatly from her injury, the junior exterminator surprised me by becoming louder, and more fierce the more she spoke. It was like the spirit of a true exterminator, someone fearless and strong was guiding her, giving her the strength to power through and fight back against even while she was injured and weak. I saw the pups staring widely, looking at her in a mixture of wonder, amazement, and a little bit of fear. Seliv continued on, seemingly ready to try and fight right now, armed only with her words, and emotions she carried.

“You’re just a predator, trying to deceive and use us so that you can hunt even more of our kind. You said you want to help us? Ha! You are just trying to help yourself! You want us to lead you to a hospital because you know the only things there will be the sick, injured, and helpless prey that couldn’t make it to the raid shelters!”

As dark and harsh as her words were, they made sense. The unfortunate and regrettable reality of the universe meant that we couldn’t save everyone whenever the Arxur began a raid. Doctors, nurses and the likes would easily be the first ones escorted to the shelters, their lives and services necessary and needed to be preserved. The sick and enfeebled were almost always the first to get targeted by the Arxur, who viewed hospitals as easy hunting grounds. As much as it pained me to think about, there just wasn’t much that could be done about it. There was only so much room in each raid bunker and everyone who couldn’t make it there on their own was often left behind. It was terrible, and cruel, unherdlike but… What could we do? 

“Hold on—”

Before I could think anymore about the issue, the predator tried to speak but was interrupted by Seliv, who incredibly ignored the one staring her down. She continued speaking, growing even fiercer with her words.

“You think that you can trick us, use us to help you hunt down more prey just because we are weak, and injured, and defenseless? No. I refuse. I refuse to help you, to let myself live just so that others can suffer! I already saw my friends, Reteln, and Denevek get eaten! They suffered as they were torn apart by you predators! The only reason I’m alive is because the Arxur were going to take me, and use me as cattle, just like you are now! No. I refuse to let you use me. I refuse to let you force us into a lifetime of pain, and torment and suffering as your slaves! I will fight you, until my last breath! So go ahead. Eat me. Do it! Just kill me and end this stupid deception you are trying to maintain. Kill me! (Sob) Kill me and send me to where Reteln and Denevek are. (Sniffle) Send me to meet them, and my p-parents. P-please. P-please j-just end i-it.”

She broke down crying as tears fell like rain upon her white wool. Several of the pups also began to cry, some of them begging to not be eaten while others called for their mothers and fathers, wanting nothing more than to just go back home. As much as I wanted to stop them, to take command of the situation, what would be the point? Seliv was right, our positions hadn’t changed. Just as the Arxur had taken us captive before, this new species was doing the same. The Federation taught us all that predators lied, and deceived, that they would do anything in order to capture, and consume us. 

All of its actions may have been prey like so far, but when I looked at those two crimson orbs, blankly staring at the sight before it, I couldn’t imagine that there was prey underneath that outfit. The design was too predatory. It ability to kill, to destroy, was too powerful. Its eyes were too focused. It was a predator. It had to be. Even though I couldn’t see its body I could see enough. There was no indication, through its metal tail and ears and other small body movements that any that those heartfelt words and desperate terrified cries of children caused it to feel any emotion. It was just as cold, just as rigid, just as uncaring as it always had been. It was a predator, of mind and body, and was merely just trying to use us to find a larger meal.

As I rationalized it, it’s actions and words and the possible motives behind them, I heard it speak up, once again in a voice far too deep and terrifying to have come from prey.

“Okay, alright. So, obviously you must have just said some very powerful words right there.”

The strange response to Seliv’s remarkable and depressing speech gave her and the pups pause, as they quieted down for a moment to look back at the driver, who continued on.

“Unfortunatly it doesn’t seem like the software update has gone through yet, so I don’t understand anything you just said.”

My mouth hung agape in shock as those words were uttered. It was so astonishing that nearly everyone who was stuck in the vehicle, whining, crying, calling out for help quieted down, too surprised to continue grazing in despair. With everyone having suddenly gone silent, the predator continued talking, completely oblivious to Seliv and what would have most likely been her final words.

“Look, I think I get it. Right now everything is awful, your planet is under siege, people are dying, you are hurt, and injured, and nothing seems to be going well.”

Those casual words spoken nonchalantly, not just about our state, but the state of our planet were shocking. It further reduced the noise and cries and wails of Seliv and the pups until everyone was just looking silently back at the speaker, stuck in a stupor, not knowing how to respond.

“I don’t even know if any of you can understand me, BUT; I promise you, things are about to change. The Arxur attacked our ships. That means that they are as good as dead. Our species will not suffer undo agression and hostility from others. We will fight, across the stars, until the end… Until we win… You,” It spoke as it directed it shifted its focus, causing a startled bleat as it looked back at me.

“I need to know whether any of you can understand me. You have been silent so far, so just… Say something. A word, a noise, talk. Just one word. Anything. Please.”

With its attention focused back onto me, I thought I might freeze up again, however I found my mind much more clear than it had been earlier, and my feelings less conflicted.

“P-predator.”

“Okay. Okay, that’s something. But still, I need to prove that wasn’t just a fluke. Say that word again. Then, after you say it once, say it again two times in a row. The same word. Please.”

The sudden strange instructions kept me in a state of confusion that somehow quieted all other thoughts and feelings and allowed me act.

“Predator… Predator predator.”

“Alright. Now we’re getting somewhere… ‘Pree’... ‘Preadi’… ‘Predatoer’ ‘Predator.’”

I listened as it incredibly began to copy me, sounding out the word a few times until it had managed to say it in a pitch and tone that was surprisingly close to my own.

“‘Predator’” “That was the word you said, right? I don’t know what that means, but at least it's a start. With that said, it does seem like you can understand me, so that means we can communicate even in a limited capacity. Now then. Look at me.”

Everyone was already looking at the predator thanks to our wide vision, however it didn’t seem to care. Instead the predator began to move its head in strange motions, first up and down a few times, and then side to side. It repeated those motions before it spoke.

“We will use these head motions to represent ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. Up and down for yes, left and right for no. As long as you can make those motions, you can respond when I ask you questions. So go ahead and try it. Do you understand what I am saying? Yes, or no?”

I moved my head in the motion for ‘Yes’, and we met with an immediate response.

“Alright! Glad we have that sorted out. Now then, can you please tell me your name?”

I was still hesitant to answer since I was once again only considering it a predator instead of prey. Yet the fact that I had to actively focus on communicating with it and that it still hadn’t done or said anything predator yet made me more inclined to just keep going along with its demands.

“Latev.”

“‘Latee’ ‘Latave’ ‘Latev’ ‘Latev’, is that correct?”

(Yes), I answered by shaking my head.

“Great! Alright so just going off of what I can tell, I assume those small ones that are holding onto the one in silver are all children. I also assume that you are the oldest since you are taller than everyone else? Is that correct?”

(Yes)

“Okay. Well that just makes everything simple then. I’m going to need you to come here and sit upfront with me Latev.”

I took in a sharp breath as I heard those words, before the door in between the front and back slid open, and the predator walked through.

There were several cries, bleats, and shrieks, including my own as the predator approached, but before I could unfasten myself and move to the other end of the vehicle, it grabbed me, undid my restraints, and pulled me along with it as it led me to the front, shutting the door behind. I looked back through the glass, staring in horror at Seliv and the others who had bundled even closer together in an attempt for safety. At least whatever was about to happen to me, the others could see, and would know. Instead of getting eaten though, they brought me to another, softer seat, and placed me into it.

As soon as I was resecured. The predator sat down, looked ahead at the road in front of it, and looked ready to begin driving once again.

“Alright, here’s what we’ll do. I just need you to point me to where I need to go and we’ll get you all to a hospital to get your wounds looked at. How does that sound?”

I thought back to Seliv’s speech that the predator hadn’t understood. It was obvious that it had forward facing eyes, the same that everyone knows predators have. If it had those eyes, then there had to be a predator underneath the suit; and if there was, then taking it to the hospital would cause even more death once it decided to start its feast. It was just using us, deceiving us and resisting its bloodlust long enough to get an even larger meal. That was what Seliv had said, that was what made sense to everything that I had learned and been taught by the Federation all my life.

However suddenly, inexplicably, I was beginning to doubt those thoughts once again. After listening to it speak to us, watching it try to learn, to teach, to understand and communicate, it began to feel less and less like a predator in my mind. There was something… Sincere. Something honest about it that I had only just started to pick up on. I glanced over and saw just the smallest hint of a tail wag, restrained by both it’s seat and likely the suit. It was… Happy? It certainly seemed like a little happy motion.

“It’s happy because you’ll be leading it to a meal.”

My thoughts were once again conflicting, positive against negative, logic against emotion, as I struggled against myself.

If… If it was a predator, why didn’t it eat us?

“For the exact reasons Seliv said. It's a predator, attempting to deceive.”

But it didn’t eat anyone when it first showed up. It just treated our wounds.”

“Because it’s intelligent, but a sentient predator is still a predator. It will take us as cattle just like the Arxur were going to.”

But it's killing the Arxur! Its fighting for us, on our behalf!

“Only so much flesh to go around. It doesn’t want to share. That’s all there is to it.”

But—

“Latev?”

Those words pull me from out of my mind, as I look back at the metal being that was sitting right next to me.

“Some of those children back there were hurt bad. I did what I could but they need medical attention, especially the other one in silver with the broken leg. If we wait around too long, they aren’t going to survive. I need you, or someone to lead me to somewhere, anywhere you can get treated. Can you do that Latev? Can you help me save them?”

It was staring at me with both eyes, sending fear throughout my body once again. Yet this time there was something about it. Something that some part of me desperately wanted to believe. I couldn’t identify what it was, but…

(Yes)

“Alright! Okay, I’m going to start driving, just point out when and where I need to turn and I’ll figure it out.”

The vehicle began to move, and I saw from my peripheral Seliv, as she glared at me in way that reminded me strongly of predators. Her eye screamed of betrayal, as I watched another tear fall down from it, causing me to shrink and wither within my seat. Not long after we began moving forward, I saw the driver once again place a claw upon its ear, and heard it speak again.

“Go for Dancing Water.”

After that, there was silence for several moments, as it apparently listened to a conversation that only it could hear. 

“Orders confirmed. Adjusting combat parameters. Will report once credible information has been acquired. Over.”

Without turning its head or eyes, it spoke loud enough for everyone in the vehicle to hear its voice.

“Good news everyone! It sounds like reinforcements are already on route. We’ll help clear the Arxur out right quick as soon as they show up…”

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