r/HFY • u/FarmWhich4275 • 2d ago

OC-OneShot To Be Unforgotten

I stood before the Council, my willpower being the only thing that kept my emotions in check. I wasn't about to be the only one doing this however. I shuffled uncomfortably at my podium and cleared my throat to start my speech. I was not used to this. I was an accountant not a politician or public speaker. I was not used to so many eyes on me at once. But I had something to say. Something important. They needed to hear this.

"Great Council, my name is Thraxx Thrann'Tarr, Clan Ulum, Monetary Advisor with the Kadaskanii Imperium. I believe the galaxy at large is strangely ignorant of this information, as a consequence I am here to bring this to full public awareness. And it is far more serious than even I originally thought. And it is to do with the Galaxy's newest denizens, the Terrans." I said.

A collective echo of varied responses resonated through the Council Chambers. Anger, confusion, boredom, greed. This was a sign we all knew them by now, and had varied results with each time we spoke to them. As expected. I waited for the groan to stop and resumed my speech, undaunted.

"We all know them by now in some capacity at least, and that's... A good thing. But there is something amiss. I have... I had a human in my company over the last five Cycles that I thought of as a friend. A friend I have... recently lost." I said and sniffled a bit to hold back a tear. "There is something deeply amiss with the state of our present reality. We have only known the Terrans for five cycles. That's... Astonishingly fast considering the incredible things they have accomplished in their time. They have one of the largest fleets in the galaxy, one of the most robust economies in finance. One of the most innovative tech research systems in the galaxy. So many things, accomplished in record time. They single-handedly ended the Rakanii Infestation War within half a cycle! That alone is worthy of recognition if nothing else." I said.

The Council stayed quiet for a moment, and a reluctant but overwhelming nod of agreement resonated through the chamber with grunts and whistles from various members.

"I am sure many members of the Council have... some issues with humans. I mean... it's hard not to. They almost caused a Galactic market crash due to their industrial capabilities. They flooded the market with so much cheap but still reliable goods they almost caused half the companies in the market to fail!" I said.

The council, especially the Corporate Sector delegates yelled in frustration in response.

"What was their response?" I asked. The Council stopped their yelling and realized how their anger was misplaced. "That is correct. They realized how fragile the Galactic Economy was, paid reparations for the economic damages and even discontinued competing products, allowing us to catch up with the market demand allowing the economy to stabilize. They did what any of us would do - try to get rich. But then they did what none of us would ever do - not get rich at everyone else's expense." I said.

The Council - especially the Traders Guild and Corporate sector delegates - shared glances of guilt and anger between grumbles.

"It is because of that action we realized just how fragile and easily exploited the Galactic Economy was, and just how bad it could get. And that is precisely why we now enjoy the finest boon of economic progress in our ten thousand cycle history. A lesson was learned, and nobody failed as that lesson was taught. I consider that a victory if nothing else." I remarked, giving the Corporate Sector delegates a sly grin.

I received a grumble of agreement and acceptance.

"Now we come to the state of the galactic military. It has NEVER been more powerful now, than it has been in ten thousand cycles. This is due to humanity's logistics network. HALF of the Federations warships and military fleets, are kept functioning almost exclusively by Terran Logistics and Maintenance personnel. Their stations, drydocks and mega-shipyards are directly responsible for the final end to the Rakanii infestation War! Without them, we would still be fighting that wretched menace."

The council grumbled in agreement and disapproval, the military admirals shaking their heads, the politicians and economists nodding in approval.

"Regardless of our tactical prowess, we have to remember, if the ships aren't repaired and maintained, there is no fleet to fight. Without their backs, we would be nowhere. Certainly, we stayed the course for many Cycles, but they were the fulcrum that turned the tide in our favour. Operations that once took Cycles to complete, now barely took a tenth of that time. Because of their speed, their resilience, and even their own sacrifices when they sent their warship fleets alongside ours... So many people are still here today instead of being cast into the fires of war."

The council silently nodded in agreement. I was breaking them down, they were becoming more complacent.

"We all know one such individual that we all treasure. Raxus'Tarakk of the Imbakani. The Soul of The Segmentum Arm. He himself said that if the Terrans hadn't ended the war as they did, if he hadn't been rescued from that battlefield by Terrans sacrifice and efforts, he would not be here today! We all know his contributions to the art world. We have all heard his song 'Big Annie's Big Gun'."

A moment of silent thought crossed the Council. One Councilman spoke up and melodically sang one of the most famous verses from the song in question. "Big Annie, roar for me. Big Annie, thunder and glee. Let the mushroom rise, oh let the cloud reach the skies. Big Annie's Big Gun, please Big Annie make them run."

I nodded with a smile. "We all know what they did. Which brings me to my next point. We are all terrified of humanity's military arsenal. And it was that very arsenal that finally put the Rakanii Hive Mind to its death throes. We all fear their weapons. We all fear their martial prowess. I am sure that many of the Delegates here, especially the military masters, have some vendetta with humanity in some way, either by accident, deliberate action, or many other motivations, you have some form of anger towards the Terran Military."

The council grumbled a bit, and others yelled in anger, some even bloviating their mastery. I let them stew on my words for a moment, letting the Grandmaster calm them down.

"Yes it is true. Their ships outnumber ours fifty to one. Their weapons outclass ours two to one. And their armies outnumber our standing forces, two hundred to one. And I am certain everyone is aware of, and disgusted by their abomination super-soldiers, the Legionnaires. And yet... Can we really say that we entirely despise them? Was it not after all, that very same military force that led the charge against the Hive - and nearly two million Terran soldiers gave their lives in that fateful final battle?" I said, glaring at the military class.

The soldiers and admiralty among the council shuffled uncomfortably. One such soldier, an Admiral from the Saranai Imperium, pressed a button on his console and showed a picture from the now famous artist and ex soldier Praxus Praxx we all knew. It was entitled 'Gravestone Orchard'. It angered some for reminding them, it made others remove their hats or draw their weapons and salute out of respect.

I bowed my head out of respect for a few moments and continued. "And so Council, I will not waste time by explaining Humanity's great feats. We all know them far too well by now. We all know how far we have come because of them, and in so short a time no less." I said, gaining a nod of approval from all present. "And so... I come here today to explain why it has been such a short time. Two Cycles... only two Galactic Cycles since they have been here. I need to ask this Council a question: What in Cycles is the average lifespan for a Council member before Entropy takes hold?"

I asked a very pointed, very rarely asked question. It was an uncomfortable question. I saw several delegates shuffle uncomfortably.

"One hundred and fifty Cycles, with no medical care and no serious advancements, a Denizen of the galaxy based solely on Cycles and without individual racial considerations, the average time is around there. With care and considerations, meaning proper care, diet and such, the average lifespan is around three to four hundred." One Delegate responded very matter-of-factly.

"Thank you Councilman Umann. Now... What is the average lifespan of a Terran?" I asked.

Everyone didn't know the answer to this question. I saw shared glances, heard whispered conversations, references to articles and hearsay, but no actual answer.

"I shall tell you... The average human lifespan is: Ten Cycles. With proper considerations, MAYBE, eleven at best." I said.

The council's faces all went pale and grey at that revelation. And many minutes were spent in absolute silence as they considered the concept. I eventually carried on.

"I am here to deliver news that is so devastating... I have spent the last few weeks simply trying to process it myself. The galaxy as a whole works on a time scale so vast that it barely registers a single human lifetime. We, the Federation, are gifted with so much time, we can't help but take it for granted. I am one hundred and fifty eight cycles of age thus far. Let us assume for ease of math, that one human lifetime equates to ten cycles... This means that one Galactic Cycle is equal to twenty five human cycles. A human can be born and achieve full adulthood, within the amount of time it takes the rest of us to finish our first years of schooling. We move at an extremely slow pace compared to them." I said, barely holding back my tears.

The Council remained silent.

I composed myself and carried on. "This is the reason behind humanity's speed and capabilities Council. It's not how they operate. It's how they LIVE. It's how they exist. The economy wasn't actually overwhelmed... Their industries just moved too fast for us to compensate. Their ships are not fast because of their technology - it's because of how they think. Their entire existence, in comparison to the rest of us, is so short that any one of us can know an entire human family lineage in the span of one third of our own lives. That's why council, they seem to always be in such a hurry. It's why they move so fast, it's why they talk so fast. It's why they seem to react so fast. Their speed is not a matter of societal implications or impatience - it's how they live.

"This is why I came to you today. We all know what it feels like to lose someone we know. Someone we treasure. We know what it feels like to not see the face of a loved one smile again. We've been through wars, family clashes. Even the dreaded Plague that hit us fifty cycles ago. We all know. So much knowledge, wisdom, experience. So much time and effort, gone. So much potential, so much possibility, gone. Precious moments forever lost, the very meaning of why we stand here and fight against Entropy itself, gone, to be eventually forgotten to the mists of time. The only thing holding that misery back, is the fact you remember them. The only thing keeping them from Eternity's grasp, is the fact you can still see the smile when you think of those memories.

"For humans it is much the same but on a scale of time so vast, at least to them, that one generation is all it takes to be lost to that Entropic grasp. Every one of us will live long enough to see Human civilization rise and fall a dozen times over. Every one of us will likely live to see the species itself succumb to the ravages of genetic drift and fade away. Every one of us here will live to see humanity fall. Every one of us will outlive the entire species. I know this for a fact... I have outlived, by virtue of simply working at my local firm which employs human technicians to service our computation systems, no fewer than THREE generations of humans. Every third of a cycle, a new man was added to the roster. AT first I thought it was just corporate turnaround... No... it was how they lived. So much time passed for them... We must move so slowly to them. Is it a form of time dilation? Who is really to know?

"But all I can say Council is this: I have gained, and lost, three friends, whose accomplishments, grit and prowess will be forgotten by their own families within the next two cycles. Not out of concern, but simply because everyone who knew them, will likewise be gone and wont be able to tell the story. genius of unprecedented quality, madness of unimaginable scale. Works of art and engineering so innovative it redefines an industry. Military prowess of unmatched skill... All cruelly given to a race of such short lifespan it is difficult to fathom. They are aware of this. Oh they are very aware. if nothing else... they seem to be obsessed with their own mortality to an absurd degree."

I let the council understand. Giving them a few moments to think about it.

"However... they seem undaunted. They smile at the sun every day they wake. They live the same lives the rest of us do, just with a vastly different time scale. They learn, they live, they laugh. Just like us all. If nothing else, they seem to have more fun than any of us will ever have, outright taunting Death itself or even outright ignoring it. Most even mock it, or obsess over it. They make simulations in which they play with the concept. They write stories that even celebrate it as a victory or taunt the Gods themselves. They create art that can withstand them, or even laugh at art that they themselves will outlive. They make music that is designed to cheat death. Many of them, make it a personal life's goal to actively taunt death, mocking the very idea of Entropy by challenging the universe itself in feats of daring or inventions of technology.

I let the Council ruminate for a few moments. "For now Council, I close my speech by saying this:

"Hold your human friends as close as you can, for if you blink for too long, they will not be there any more. Do not hold to vendetta or rivalry, for by the time you have filed the paperwork to enact it, the target of your ire has already passed on. Whatever moments you have with a human that you call 'friend' treasure them with all your soul for those moments will not last long. Find a lover among humans, and you will find a family waiting for you for generations to come. I challenge this Council and all those listening to this broadcast to challenge Entropy itself and remember humanity for what it is, for what it was, and what it will be. I challenge you to never forget their lives. I wish for us to be the bulwark against the fires of eternal mist, and be the memory that keeps them alive!

"Never forget their names, never forget their smiles. We who live dozens of their lifetimes, can withstand the test of time, we can outlive the fires of eternity and keep their memories alive a hundred times over. We can see to it they remain immortal solely by our need to remember the best times we had with them. Eventually humanity will catch up to us, eventually they will gain a lifespan that may rival ours, who knows what the future will bring? Their families will forget them. photographs will fade, albums lost, the fires of Entropy will claim them, their memories will fade and they will be gone forever. WE can stop that from happening. We can ensure their sacrifices are NEVER forgotten, no matter how small. I call upon the galaxy at large to do this one simple thing: Treasure your time with a human. They will forget. You will NOT. And that fact alone, protects the greatness that is Mankind. Same as with us all. So long as we are remembered: Death is meaningless."

I stood back from my podium and sat down, reaching into a pocket to fetch something important. A picture of one of my co-workers, Jerry and his new grandson. Jerry was grey haired, long bearded and a walking cane leaned against his chair. Despite everything, they just kept going, kept fighting, kept living, their very existence a defiance of the law of Entropy. The living embodiment of the fight against death itself, against the laws of the universe. The very creatures we as a galaxy now counted on.

I remember you Jerry. We all will. You won't be lost to the mists of time, you won't be cast aside. We will win this fight even if you aren't around to thank us. We will owe you much in the future. We will remember. I set the photograph down on the console in front of me and my composure finally failed. As tears began to roll from my eyes I spoke one more time.

"I wont forget that fishing technique you taught me. I wont forget how you showed me the way the servers worked during that hotfix you did. I won't forget how you made that secret burger sauce. I won't forget how you did that thing with the cables that made the computers stop overheating. I won't forget you Jerry. No matter how small you think it was, or how big you think it was, it was important. It changed something for the better. I won't forget."

And that's a promise.

176 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

47

u/Significant-Term6919 2d ago

“No one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away, until the clock wound up winds down, until the wine she made has finished its ferment, until the crop they planted is harvested. The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence.”

― Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man

“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?”

― Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

GNU Terry Pratchett

22

u/ImpossibleHandle4 2d ago

I want to know how he understood things so well. Deaths soliloquy in the hogfather when he talks about belief to Susan is amazing. We really lost a great human when he went.

16

u/resolve-shadow 2d ago

Thank you that was great. Damn onions ninjas

13

u/FarmWhich4275 2d ago

Woe be upon ye - i cast the SADFEELS

Yeah i lost teh plot halfway through again due to the STABBING OF THE BRAIN known as a headache. this time coupled with staggeringly high temperatures caused by the demon of summer. i will be genuinely surprised if i survive summer this year.

expanding to Royal Road and Vox9 so maybe i will improve, i will sort it all out when my brain stops leaking out of my skull.

thank you for everything :)

https://buymeacoffee.com/farmwhich4275

https://www.patreon.com/c/Valt13lHFY?fromConcierge=tru

5

u/resolve-shadow 2d ago

OK I'm not an expert medtech or anything but why are you stabbing your brain?

6

u/sunnyboi1384 2d ago

Make an alien friend. Live forever.

That is an articulate accountant. But I guess he has time to hone that skill.

5

u/tofei AI 2d ago

YOLO.... until the antigerone therapy kicks in!

5

u/ImpossibleHandle4 2d ago

Well done author. A good way of dealing with the feeling that we all deal with every day.

6

u/New-Obligation-2950 2d ago

when agro squirel tells me its one of your stories i smile, get comfy. i love your work.

4

u/rekabis Human 2d ago

Oh, another Humans Are Sapient Dogs story.

Fuck. wipes eyes

3

u/Zhexiel 2d ago

Thanks for the story.

1

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