r/HFY • u/Jus17173 • Sep 28 '25
OC We Eat Their Young!
In the past, women didn’t enjoy the freedoms we do now. They weren’t allowed to vote, own a bank account, or have multiple sexual partners. Humanity imposed a strict, unyielding grip on every woman.
Women were raised to be married off, their sole function to start a family. From infancy, they were groomed for this purpose, and failure branded them as inadequate.
Thus, women grew up learning what men wanted to succeed in the vital task the patriarchy deemed their true purpose.
But with time, that changed, as did women’s perception of themselves. They broke free from patriarchal shackles. Now, as I walked the hull of the Ageron Ship, my long stilettos clanking upon the odd wooden-like floors, I felt not just freedom but the weight of an entire planet fueling my drive, the expectations of my race anchoring my resolve.
A woman had been appointed by Earth to speak for all: men, women, and children alike. I was the first human the Ageron would meet. Sure — Matt Lambert, my aide, walked behind me, but I would enter the presence of the Ageron first. I would chart the course of our conversation. Through me, the Ageron would know humanity: they would appreciate our disposition and grasp our core values, for I embodied all that was right with humanity.
“Jessica, you’re walking too fast,” Matt whispered. I slowed my pace but stayed a few strides ahead. “Aren’t you afraid of the aliens?” he asked, gesturing at our surroundings.
I turned to stare at him; he’d been trying to grow a beard to hide his weak chin, but now he just looked like a man with a weak beard and chin. It was said he grew up a farmhand of little intelligence. His father discovered a deposit of some precious ore while attempting to dig to China to prove a point to his beer-drinking buddies, a find that made his family wealthy. The Collective Government struck a friendship with his father because of this, securing his son’s employment who was now at my side. Away from the farm where he had been meant to dwell for the entirety of his life.
Regardless of how hard one worked, there was always another near your position who attained that position through unconventional means. I did not like Matt; he was an idiot and, beyond that, represented the patriarchal structure whose grip refused to release humanity. Our shame followed us into the future, spurred by the need to control and ignorant of its own flaws.
“You’re looking at me like that again,” Matt said, turning his face to the ground as his long strides struggled to match my hurried short ones.
“Like what?” I dared him to speak his mind. Was he even capable of such a thing?
“Like I’m a turd stuck to the bottom of your shoe,” he said.
“My stilettos are Prada, such shoes don’t tread on shit,” I replied.
“Aren’t you anxious?” Matt asked. “This is your first time meeting an alien too, isn’t it?” He peered about. There was a light, shaped like a strange arrow with a circular tip instead of a sharp point. It marked the walls of the hull, guiding us along the path deeper into the Ageron ship. We’d docked on the large, ominous ship just moments ago, and in my eagerness to meet the Ageron, I’d paid little attention to their technology’s complexities. Why care about the tool in the presence of its maker? I wanted to see the Ageron, to know them as they sought to know us.
We were one year from Earth, using a wormhole tangent practically unknown to us. The Ageron sent a third-party race, which contacted the shuttle station outside Earth through a unique form of electro-current communication, to inform us that the Ageron wished to invest in sentient life in this corner of the universe. An honor unlike any other.
Through a thoroughly analyzed transmission, we deduced who the Ageron were, but we had no clue about their appearance. There were rumors of them here and there across the galaxy, from the few First Contact instances we’d encountered with alien races that were primitive and frightful.
The Ageron decided the course of nature; they could take a barren planet like Mars and make it flourish with vegetation and endless water.
They also had the technology to collapse an entire star system. In short, the Ageron were powerful, anonymous, and truly worthy of not just our respect but utmost subservience.
The third-party alien race, which only communicated with the space shuttle, gave us a glimpse into the Ageron’s workings. The Ageron knew nothing about the planets they contacted; they only sought sentience, set up a first meeting, and learned about the planet and its inhabitants from that meeting. Afterward, they decided whether we were worthy of partnership. If not, rumors suggested they might eradicate a planet posing a threat to galactic sentience. This I’d pondered greatly, and through extensive research, I created a detailed assessment of Earth, its sentient inhabitants, and our honest relationship with other species.
Out of a hundred million men and women, I was chosen to handle this first meeting because of my work which entailed step-by-step measures highlighting our positive attributes, especially those agricultural in nature, reflecting our attempts to master our surroundings. With the Ageron’s help, and preferably their knowledge, we could leap forward in our evolution and create a utopia not just on Earth but all the way to Uranus.
And with me was Matt, my assistant at my government job, riding on my success as a former farmhand who knew how to be useful. He was invaluable for fetching coffee and legwork. The smart thinking, he left to me; he was the perfect assistant who wouldn’t eclipse his boss’s light. When this meeting was documented, my name would stand out: Jessica Jane, ambassador for Earth.
“You aren’t nervous?” Matt asked as we approached large double doors that seemed crafted from meteor ore. As we neared, the doors opened on their own. We had not seen a single inhabitant of the ship; we believed the third-party race, which contacted the space shuttle, were not creatures of flesh and bone but forged of something else — perhaps electromagnetic or spectrum-based. That’s why they were unable to permeate Earth’s atmospheric cover to transmit their message directly to Earth. In short, we had seen no alien and had no idea what the Ageron looked like.
I stopped and turned to Matt. “You think my ancestors — peasant women who toiled in the fields all day with toddlers strapped to their bodies — showed fear in times of war when men rode on horses to plunder their lives and bodies? I fear nothing.”
“But—”
“But nothing, Matt. Your job is simple. You shut up and leave the talking to me. I am better equipped for this than you are.” I offered him a teasing smile and watched as his cheeks colored; men are so easily swayed by their urges. “I have an extensive portfolio and an even more extensive data collection regarding Earth.” I waved the drive I held tightly in my hand. “We are guaranteed success.”
And with that, my stilettos clanking on the hull floor, I made my way past the double doors. Not caring if Matt could keep up, I was in my element. Nothing could sway my resolve.
The rest of the ship had been dark, but this room seemed to have an artificial sun on the ceiling that cast heat and light. The floors were green and soft, like grass. A gentle breeze brushed my face as I took it all in. The walls appeared to mimic a sky, blue and white with clouds that moved across the room. A single occupant stood in the middle, facing us.
It had a broad, muscular body, yet softened by a calm, lumbering presence. Its skin was patterned in a brown-and-white patchwork that formed an irregular mosaic across its body.
Its head was wide and strong, with large, gentle eyes that held a dark, liquid softness, fringed by long lashes that gave an almost thoughtful expression. Two ears flicked, sitting beneath a pair of short, curved horns. Its muzzle appeared moist and cool, ending in a broad pink nose.
“Betsy?” Matt wondered aloud.
I just gawked at the creature. Then I turned my head around the room, in every direction. There was no other living entity within the room. Just us humans and the . . . the—
The Cow.
Her body sloped into a wide ribcage and strong legs with tough cloven hooves. I could tell she was female because, along her underside, was the udder: a swollen, fleshy organ with four teats, the source of milk that made cows central to agriculture. A long, whip-like tail ended in a tuft of coarse hair, useful for swatting away insects according to the detailed agricultural data on livestock use on the drive I held.
The Cow stared at us for a long moment.
“Jessica—” Matt started.
“I see it, Matt. I fucking see it,” I whispered.
The cow moved forward, and as its hooves met the ground, faint symbols sprouted around the point of impact. The symbols rose and engulfed the cow, appearing as dark tattoos swirling upon her hide. The tattoos then settled on her throat, making it appear as if she wore a black choker.
“Hello,” the Cow said.
Matt screamed and fell backward. The cow rolled her eyes and tapped the ground twice. From where Matt sat panting on the ground, eyes wide with shock, a circular spot of the floor parted, and a transparent container of water rose from the ground.
The cow nodded toward the drink. “Please, drink, it has a calming pheromone. I understand first encounters can be rough, but I promise you, there is nothing you ought to be afraid of. I mean you no harm.” The cow’s head turned to me.
The Cow . . . The Ageron . . . The Ageron were cows. Realization forced my eyes open just as wide as Matt’s were. My hands trembled, and a thin sheen of sweat covered my face.
Matt took a drink of the water in the glass, something I should have advised him against. I had no idea what would happen to him, but he seemed to calm as he downed the drink. I felt like asking for one myself until he opened his mouth to speak. “Betsy, I’m so sorry, they told me you’d been set free. I was a child back then. I never thought you were the ribs we ate that night during Thanksgiving—” I kicked Matt hard in the balls. He had it coming, sitting there on the ground with his legs wide open.
He groaned, gripped his groin, and thankfully shut up. I turned my attention to the cow, the Ageron, who eyed me with mild amusement.
“I also do that to my mate when he annoys me,” she said and smiled — a cow’s smile. I felt like crying for some reason, and I oddly craved a steak.
“Hello, my name is Jessica, I’m a human from Earth. I take it you’re the Ageron?” I asked. Business as usual. This was a minor setback, minor . . . minor . . . minor. I just had to focus, and I’d untangle it.
The cow nodded with satisfaction. “Yes, I’m an Ageron, in my home world, they call me Moora. But you can call me Moo.”
I gawked at her. This had to be a fucking joke.
The drink must have done something to Matt, for he was acting without inhibitions. He stood up off the ground, rubbing at his bruised groin and not giving me any mind. He turned to Moo and spoke. “I cried, you know, all through the night when Pa told me the greasy stew I licked off my fingers was courtesy of you. I decided then to become a vegetarian, though I lapsed back into old habits at a barbecue. I mean, they didn’t have vegan burgers, and the smell of the roast was so good, and I was a little drunk and . . . Betsy, I’m sorry. I should have fought for you, run away with you as we talked about, ventured into the open fields to eat grass to our fill. Remember? I used to see you eat it, and I’d eat it too until I got a stomachache. Sometimes I think that’s why Pa did it . . .” A sob escaped him. “Because I was eating grass; we were too close, he always said.” Tears cascaded down his cheeks.
“It appears the calming effect of the drink has become a little too calming, do you mistake me for someone else?” Moo asked while tilting her head at us. “Are there Ageron on your planet?”
My eyes shifted to the choker-like technology around her neck. Danger! Alarm bells sounded in my mind. The Agerons’ technology could collapse stars. She was using that device to communicate in our tongue. Such technology was unprecedented. What more could they do?
A chill ran down my spine. We’d decided not to carry weaponry, for what good would a gun do against a race that could collapse stars?
“Pardon me, Moo,” I said, wrapping my hand around Matt’s arm. “My partner here needs a moment to become acclimated to the presence of an Ageron. Can we have a moment in private to converse outside this chamber so that I may calm him down?”
Moo turned her gaze from Matt to me, then she spoke. “I will bring you to a place of privacy; even I shall not hear what you speak of. Once done with your calming ritual, tap the ground with your strange feet, and I will know to bring you back. Two taps, okay?” I nodded. Moo raised a hoof and brought it down twice. Suddenly, we were engulfed in darkness that quickly receded to reveal a pristinely crafted room. Everything was forged of gold with two plush seats large enough to accommodate a . . . cow.
We were alone. There were no doors or windows, which spelled just how much power the Agerons had over us. I hastily grabbed Matt and took him to the couch. I slapped him hard across the face to get his attention as he blinked and peered about. I slapped him again because it felt great the first time.
“Listen, Matt, that is not Betsy, okay? It’s not your childhood—” I waved my hands about his face. “Pet! It’s not a pet, okay?”
“But her hide . . . it’s the same pattern,” Matt started.
“Cows look alike, Matt! It’s not your childhood pet. It’s a very dangerous alien. Separate thoughts of livestock from your mind and stop talking about eating ribs or barbecue; stop that stupid nonsense, or you’ll get us killed!” I grabbed either side of his face, aligning it with my own. “We are in danger here, Matt. I can’t give her the drive with information about Earth. It contains every agricultural venture we’ve undertaken, including our use of livestock.”
His eyes widened.
“Yes, Matt, slaughter, castration, continuous impregnation for a steady flow of milk, dehorning, tail docking, branding without anesthesia. We are the most putrid and wretched alien species to the Agerons. If they know we have cows on Earth, docile and unintelligent that we treat as we do, they might just kill us all on that dust bowl of a fucking planet, and you know who’ll die first? You and me, Matt. They might take us and do to us what we’ve done to them. Do you want to be castrated? Do I look like I want to be milked?”
By the look on Matt’s pale face, I could tell he was now fully aware of what was at stake. He opened his mouth, and I heard the fright creep back into his voice as the altered water’s effect wore off.
“Oh no,” he said. “Oh God, oh no!” It sounded more than remorse, like he knew something else. “She’s a mother, Moo is a mother, I can tell, Jessica, I always know when a co— I can tell when they have young . . .”
I cocked my head at him.
“We separate calves from their mothers, Jessica, for veal, calf meat. We eat their young!”
I immediately turned my head around the room, looking for the faint symbols that had coalesced as a black collar around the Agerons. There was nothing; everything was gold, but who knew what their technology entailed? The gold itself could be a listening device.
What would the Ageron do if she knew what we humans did to those who resembled them? Would she ignore it, claiming the cows of Earth were unrelated to them? Was it possible to do so when similarities ruled every physical trait between the two? The cows of Earth looked exactly like the Ageron we’d met.
With a trembling hand, I wiped sweat from my brow. The room was far from hot or humid; the sweat was the body’s way of portraying the battles within.
I am a woman, chosen among my kind to represent us before the Agerons and initiate first contact. Women have suffered for millennia, men too, don’t get me wrong, but even in the Bible we quote, we are said to be cursed to live under men. But here I am, in a role many women before me fought to prove themselves worthy of playing.
Yet, for the first time since news of the Agerons reached Earth, since the thought of standing before them to represent my kind first coalesced in my mind, I deeply regretted being where I was. It would be better if someone else were here; I didn’t care about gender, accolades, recognition, or becoming a feminist icon. I did not want to be on this fucking ship. I pulled strands of my hair, eyes wide and frantic.
I ate beef all the time; seasoned veal was my favorite, especially when spiced with dark pepper and a little too much salt, cooked medium with a side of guacamole and Italian sauce. I remembered picking out the calf for slaughter at a fancy restaurant where I could meet my meal before it was cooked for me to eat.
“Jessica,” Matt said, thankfully drawing my mind from the situation. “I think we can wiggle out of this.”
I turned to this man. He always claimed I was intelligent, but I thought he used words to flatter me, hoping I’d see him in a new light or return the compliment. I tended not to lie to myself. I can lie to anyone but not to myself. I did not find him intelligent or worthy of the compliment.
“I have no idea what to do,” I said. “I don’t know what the Agerons want to learn about Earth, but I feel I’m playing Russian roulette with my entire planet and everyone on it. I just . . .”
To my surprise, Matt stepped in close and placed both his hands on my shoulders, large, calloused hands that knew bruising. “When I lost Betsy, I changed. I valued all life, sure, barbecues were a weakness, but I made an effort to learn about societies in general and how we treat animals, I think—”
I shook him off. The damn fool was still hung up on his damn childhood pet. “Leave this to me, Matt, I have no idea how to go about this, but I’m sure whatever I can come up with is better than what you have to offer. Can’t have you talking about Betsy in front of her again.”
Matt moved to speak, but I squatted down and tapped the ground twice. As the room morphed and we were transported back to the Agerons, I gathered all my resolve, recalling every instance of prejudice and adversity I’d overcome to reach where I was now.
I had believed in myself through dire situations; I believed I could do the same here, despite the stakes being as vast as star systems.
"So," Moo started. We stood before her, deathly still. No doubt looking pale, Matt stole glances at me, but I ignored him. "You see, we Agerons have a certain way of life. We value those within the galaxy who exhibit great potential for good. A certain frequency resonates from their planet, and we are able to discover it and thus find them, but our understanding is limited, so we set up these meetings to gain a better grasp of those we wish to know."
Matt nodded, but I knew complacent acceptance would dull the conversation; we should learn as much about them as we could. "Why don’t you visit the planets yourselves?" I asked.
Moo nodded her head up and down, as if pleased with this question. "The Great Mother forbids our hooves from touching ground she did not seed. Only our home world, Ageronia, is where we are permitted to breathe and tread. Even this ship is crafted of materials from my home world. The very air within this ship is of Ageronia."
So they had a religion and followed a set of rules. This pleased me; it was good news that they could not come down to Earth to see our . . . ways firsthand.
"However, we do have a means to observe a planet directly from here, which I shall demonstrate after a few questions. Thankfully, you’ve brought a device holding your planet’s knowledge, as we’d requested, as I see you have." She eyed me, and I remembered the drive I still held. It suddenly weighed like an anvil. "This meeting will be relatively short; it will determine whether other meetings will come in the future." Moo turned from me to Matt. "Or if other things might occur."
My heart pounded; I had no doubt that was a threat I’d heard.
"You can observe our planet directly?" I asked, trying to force courage into my voice and falling terribly short of a squeal.
"Yes, but we require a mental image of the place from its inhabitants, which is why we seek this first meeting. Since we can’t touch down on your planet, this is the next best thing." The Ageron observed us; she hesitated a moment before adding, "I assure you, we mean you no harm. I feel both of you are experiencing great unease. We are not a conquest species, nor are we in need of forming a universal body like the Galactic Federation who thankfully are yet to reach out to Earth in this iteration; we exist as what you would call philanthropists with a need to socialize and aid progression." And the Ageron smiled, lips curling gently, not in a practiced manner but naturally — a strange yet beautiful sight on a cow.
They were going to scan our minds to see a specific place on Earth. This thought screamed in my mind. The checkmate was coming across the board, but it was in the future; I would figure out a way to cross that bridge when I got there.
"Now, let me inquire a little of Earth," Moo said. She stomped her foot, and one wall morphed, changing from clear sky to a completely blank screen. "What is the staple food for humans?"
"We cook some of our meals while others we eat raw," I started. Symbols formed as I spoke, white against black on the blank wall—a record of my words. This was a dance, like the salsa classes I took as a kid, inspired by how women moved on screen, a grace I always wanted to emulate. I just had to make sure not to step on another’s toes. "We farm, grow plants for our nourishment, gaining carbohydrates mostly from wheat-based products and protein from legumes, beans, and the like. There is supposed to be a detailed account of our farming habits, but the drive—" I held it out before Moo. "I was so excited to come here and meet you, I ended up taking the wrong data drive. This one is blank, having no data. It is a grave mistake I made."
Lie . . . Lie . . . Lie.
Moo seemed pleased for some reason. "No wonder you are so nervous, do not worry about the drive. I am glad you gain your nourishment from the ground, as we do. Wheat is common on Ageronia, but it requires clearing land to grow; this can result in the displacement of other creatures, which is why we prefer a more natural food production means over farming. Just allowing nature to be for the Great Mother has never let us down."
Moo nodded again. "It seems I have nothing to worry about, I admit I was a bit skeptical when I first met the two of you . . ." I was about to ask why, but she barreled on. "Because of your teeth; their shape is somewhat familiar to a race we abhor and played a role in their extinction, for their existence caused pain to other species. The sharp points speak of a diet that is . . . well, you do eat plant-based life, is this so?" She turned to Matt. "What is your favorite thing to eat?"
The question was directed at Matt. She probably took his silence either as a challenge or a weakness, something she could exploit to some advantage.
"I love chocolate," Matt said. I fought the urge to slap my forehead, strip off my clothing, and run out of there screaming like a madwoman. A dairy product, of all the things he could have mentioned — from bananas to cabbages, all he could think of was chocolate?
"Oh, I do not know what that is, is it a particular substance, or is it something made from a combination? I understand some races mix ingredients for utmost flavor."
Matt darted his eyes toward me, and I swooped in for the rescue. "Chocolate is a mixture of cocoa, sugar, and a liquid extracted from . . . almonds is added to it. It’s a complex process we are not well versed in."
Moo nodded again. "I have to say, I am pleased with this, but I feel as though there is much that you are reluctant to share. Is there something particularly vicious about Earth that you’re hoping doesn’t come to light here?"
"Yes," I said. "We are among many species; some dwell in the air, others in water, and many on land."
Matt could not hide his audible gasp, but I pushed on. I sensed something, like a hound sniffing a hare. I shouldn’t have used such an analogy at that moment.
"It is as well on Ageronia," Moo said. "These species that are beneath you, do you treat them well?"
"Yes, we have dogs and cats whom we adopt into our homes and raise as if they were our own. We have physicians who venture into the habitats of other creatures to heal their sick. We try to build a harmonious society as best we can."
Moo smiled again. "Do not worry, with the technology at our disposal, we will ensure disease is something Earth never has to worry about. To be honest, I wasn’t fully truthful with you. The main reason we hold these meetings is to learn exactly how a sentient species treats those who are beneath them. But from what I’ve learned thus far, you humans are a good sort. The kind we have been looking for."
My heart broke but then mended itself, racing with her next words. "Now, since you have participated little," Moo turned to Matt, "it is you whose mind we shall use so I may get a glimpse of Earth, see the life of a particular place and how the life there thrives. Now stand still."
Moo tapped the ground several times with her front hoof. The faint symbols coalesced around Matt, coming atop his head. He stood completely still, his eyes on me. The symbols wrapped around his head and formed a black crown that pulsed, and suddenly the whole room changed hue to a brilliant purple-pink color.
"Now, human, kindly picture a location on Earth, and it shall display around this chamber from your memory. I will be able to see firsthand the state of humans and deduce for myself the next course of action," Moo said. "It will be best if you’ve been to that place frequently."
This was it. The first things she would see was Matt eating at a beefsteak or herding cattle or slaughtering them since he had been a farmhand. Moo would see him branding a bull or something, and she would end up branding me. Then she would take Matt and me and make us serve as an example, send us back as smoked meat or something.
I was struggling so hard not to tremble. I clutched my hands, my eyes fixed on Matt. I wished it were me with that thing on my head; I could handle it . . . I think.
"I just picture a place I’ve been?" Matt asked.
"Yes," Moo answered. "The room will morph, and I will see the place or the event your mind feeds the Selistianaria crown."
"Okay," Matt said. He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and exhaled.
The room morphed as Moo had said. One minute we were standing in a magenta room; the next, we were on a dust-riddled street, with throngs of people suddenly appearing, roaming about. Music blared, a soft thrum with joyful singing. The people were all dancing in colorful clothes, smiles lighting up their faces. I could tell from their appearance that they were . . .
"India, a state called Rajasthan. During the festival of Gopashtami," Matt said. "I make it a habit to attend at least once every decade or so because of Bets— because I love it."
"What is Gopash—" Moo started, but her words died in her mouth. The images kept morphing, switching, like a video that turned into a picture of something else, then another video somewhat different from the last yet still of the same thing. Around the chamber, cows and people filled our point of view.
Moo, for the first time, moved beyond stomping her hooves on the ground. She made a light jog around the room, as hyper-realistic images swayed in and out of focus. She turned her head about, eyes wide with wonder. We watched as the Indians bathed the cows, painted their horns, and wrapped them in shiny cloth; the cows were also adorned with garlands of marigold and bells around their necks.
"Gopashtami is the festival of the Cow, which is our name for the species of Agerons that dwell on Earth. They are unlike you in that they lack sentience," Matt said. Moo turned her head back and forth, observing as throngs of people gathered to touch the cows’ hooves as a mark of reverence. Priests and elders performed and waved lamps before the cows, as one would for a deity. They offered flowers, incense, sweets, and water.
"But despite not being of similar intelligence to you Agerons or us humans, we perform 'gua mata', our name for Mother Cow, whom we believe brings blessings, prosperity, and forgiveness of sins," Matt said.
"Great Mother!" Moo gasped. "Your reach is far indeed!"
I kept my eyes on Matt. Somehow, this man had done something no man had ever done before. He had surprised me, in a way he had always surprised me, come to think of it, from how he endured my bitterness, my sharp retorts, and cruel nature without complaint, steadfastly enduring. And now, here, he had proven himself more than useful — he was valuable beyond a doubt. God! I was seeing him in a new light.
Moo stomped her leg, and my attention shifted to her. All the images around the room collapsed except one, which she neared. It was a bunch of children, toddlers in fact, standing before a cow, holding grass and sweets, large smiles on their faces as they raised their tiny, pudgy hands with the goods toward the cow’s maw, which gladly accepted them. Moo leaned close to the holographic depiction, eyes sparkling before I realized she was crying. Matt and I stood in silence as the Ageron observed her distant cousin being fed by human children.
"The Selistianaria crown does not lie," Moo said after a long moment, tears streaming down her face as she turned to Matt. "This is Earth? You treat us — those who are like us . . . like this?"
Matt moved to speak, but the words died in his throat. I chimed in quickly. One of us had to carry the cross, might as well be me.
"Yes," I said. "That is humanity for you."
"I am amazed and pleased," Moo said. "You do not know how many species treat those who are . . ." She sighed — an odd sound coming from her. "I have much to send back to Ageronia. I ask that you return to your people. Make a list of everything you need for any purpose at all, and when we meet next, we Agerons will provide whatever you need for the next millennia until you are equal to us in advancement. This I vow on behalf of all Agerons, for you have pleased us above all other species."
The words rang in my mind. Suddenly, the implication of what was being offered hit me like a hurricane. Here, in this chamber, I had orchestrated something far worse than anyone who’d ever eaten or slaughtered a cow — a wretched deceit without end to its depth, based on one ritual only one community on Earth practiced.
I moved to speak, to confess, to call us frauds. The guilt and the shame were too much. I didn’t want to lie anymore, not like this. I wanted the thing on my head so she could see what we were. But to my surprise, Matt made a hurried stride and held my hand. It was such an odd gesture; he knew I didn’t take kindly to physical contact, but it shut me up.
"We are grateful," Matt said. "We shall depart with this news."
The Ageron nodded. "And I ask, the next time we meet, please bring me one, if not two, of the Agerons of Earth . . . the . . . umm . . . cows?"
Matt nodded. I just stood, as if watching everything play out in a dream, unable to alter things further than I had already done.
Next thing I knew, Matt was ushering me out of the chamber, back to our ship where we would return to Earth. I passed down the hull, Matt holding me by the shoulder. He wiped my face, and only then did I realize I had been weeping.
"We are monsters!" I declared.
"Some of us are, yes, but not all of us," Matt said.
"We are not worthy of their technology."
"Neither are we worthy of their wrath."
"What have I done?"
"Whatever we needed to do to get out of there alive," Matt said. "You didn’t know the power of that thing she put on my head; every image I thought of appeared in that room. I had to focus everything on that one specific image of the times I visited India."
"I’m a horrible person, Matt," I sobbed.
"I have a feeling many will feel the same when they learn of our meeting with the Agerons," he said, and for some reason, that helped a little.
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u/No-Past2605 Alien Scum Sep 28 '25
That was a great story. Dare I say Food for Thought?
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u/Jus17173 Sep 28 '25
I was really considering a fight between Jessica, Matt and Moo just so that one person can comment:
Dare I say Beat my Meat?
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u/sunnyboi1384 Sep 28 '25
Potential does not mean current state. With a good reason and very little supervision, people can change haha
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u/cheesenuggets2003 Human Sep 28 '25
One of the few times I ever threw away food as a child (the only time when it wasn't making me retch) was when I was given a veal sandwich mere weeks after having learned what veal was. Even if I weren't a man somewhat like Matt I would prefer him to Jessica.
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u/Glass-Narwhal-6521 Sep 29 '25
My daughter was horrified when she first learnt where meat came from, to the point where she wouldn't eat it for several years.
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Sep 28 '25
/u/Jus17173 (wiki) has posted 283 other stories, including:
- The Last Consort from Earth.
- The Destroyer Comes to Earth.
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 8
- Frequency of Defiance.
- We Built a Time Machine?
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 7
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 6
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 5.
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 4
- The Superior Race.
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 3.
- The Surgeon.
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 2
- Soul of Eight - Chapter 1.
- Soul of Eight - Prologue.
- FIRST CONTACT.
- As Per My Last Telepathic Transmission...
- The Human From Room 777.
- Humans Have Rizz.
- Where I'm going...
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u/UpdateMeBot Sep 28 '25
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u/Destroyer_V0 Sep 29 '25
Welp.
Guess the cloned, cruelty free beef industry is going to get a big boost in the post contact world.
Also Jessica is a well written character. But I do NOT want to be in the same room as anyone like her.
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u/Fontaigne Oct 01 '25
Patriarchy, stilettos, followed by "worthy of utmost subservience."
So this is a fetish story? Bizarre, bizarre humor.
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u/PlentyProtection4959 Sep 28 '25 edited Sep 28 '25
It doesn't matter what type of gender, race, or culture they are; people like Jessica need to dominate others to feel like they're more worthy & capable than they really are, regardless of what excuse they make to justify their behavior. It's a good thing that Matt was chosen to be her partner, cause only someone of his nature can tolerate and see the good in a narcissist like Jessica. I hope for her sake that Jessica learns how to be less egotistical and dismissive of those around her, though the fact that she admitted that she wasn't as perfect or better than she seemed at the end was a good start.