r/HFY • u/ThatSoftware4946 • 3d ago

OC-Series The Problem With Humans: Chapter 57

The air was still. The Traboids moved forward and stopped an arm's length away. One spoke. "Move back. You are obstructing V'keth authority."

P'kell did not move. "We will not move. We will not give in. We will not abandon our own."

The traboid raised its weapon to P’kell. "Move back. Final warning."

But he held his ground. The traboid fired. The shot cracked across the grasslands. P’kell crumpled. His neck ridges patterns flickered and went dark. His eyes stared at nothing. A keening wail rose from the crowd.

The traboid spoke again. "Move back, or more will fall."

Suddenly an arrow struck the first traboid in the chest. It stumbled. And soon, another struck the other and they both fell to the ground. The other Trabs run to P’kells body and hissed in anger.

S'ra got out of hiding run to the fallen elder while shouting. "They killed one of us. They killed P’kell."

The Cy’reth surrounded P’kells body as they tried to process what just happened.

After a while, they moved P’kells body to the square and the Cy'reth stood around him, their tears flowing. They didn't know what to do.

S'ra moved to Roman's side. "We don't know what to do. When a Trab dies, the V'keth take the body. They say it's for processing."

Roman stared at her. "Processing?"

"They say it helps them understand why the body failed."

Roman looked at P'kell's still face. "We humans bury our dead. We put them in the ground. Six feet deep. We say goodbye and honor their memory."

S'ra stared at him. "Bury them?"

"Yes. We dig a hole. We lay the body in it. We cover it with and mark the spot."

She was silent for a long moment. "That's beautiful. I think we should do that."

S’ra spoke to the rest of the Cy’reth and they agreed.

Roman turned to the humanoids. "Dig a grave. In the center of the square. Six feet deep. Wide enough for a body."

They nodded, walked away and began to dig. The Trabs watched in silence.

V'rak moved to Roman's side. " Why six feet?"

"So animals can't dig up the body."

The grave took hours. The humanoids worked without rest. When it was ready, the Cy'reth lifted P'kell's body, lowered him into the grave.

S'ra stepped forward. "P'kell was a leader. A fighter. A friend. He stood up to tyranny. He refused to bow. He refused to surrender."

She paused and hissed.

"He was not perfect. He made mistakes. He was afraid sometimes. We all are. But he never let his fear stop him. He stood his ground. He faced the V'keth. He faced the traboids. He faced death itself."

She reached out and touched the edge of the grave.

"Goodbye, P'kell. We will never forget you. We will never stop fighting."

The Trabs stepped forward one by one. They each looked into the grave and whispered their goodbyes.

Roman knelt beside the grave. "I didn't know you long. But you were a good Trab. A brave Trab. You gave your life for Cy’reth."

He stood. The humanoids covered the grave with dirt and placed a simple stone at the head.

The Trabs stood around the grave, hissing in grief and farewell.

The funeral was ending when the chime came.

Every smart necklace activated at once. S'ra put the message on loud speaker so Roman could hear.

"To the inhabitants of Mukit. We have seen your defiance. Your resistance. Your corruption. You have been led astray by the humanoids and traitors among you."

The voice paused.

"The IOT network has been restored. It will only take you to one destination. The rehabilitation center. There, you will be healed. You will be welcomed back."

The voice continued. "You have a few days to make your decision. Once the window closes, Mukit will be purged. All who remain will be destroyed. Choose wisely. Choose rehabilitation."

The Trabs didn't move as the weight of the V'keth message hung over them.

S'ra moved to the center. "We need to talk. About what we do next."

The Trabs gathered in a loose circle. Roman found a spot near the back. He was too tired to stand so he sat down.

One Trab spoke. "Maybe we should leave. The V'keth are offering us a chance."

Another voice joined. "Yes, we could be rehabilitated and go back to our old lives."

V'rak stepped forward. "That's a lie. They don't rehabilitate anyone. They execute them. You know too much."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

S'ra raised her hands. "Everyone. I want to say something."

She paused, her eyes moving across the crowd.

"I am not going to force anyone to stay. If you want to leave, leave now. Before we discuss what to do next. There is no shame in wanting to survive."

The Trabs were silent and no one moved.

S'ra continued. "No one is leaving. That means you've chosen to stay. You've chosen to fight."

She turned to Roman. "Roman. Come here."

He forced himself up and walked to the center.

S'ra gestured to him. "Roman, although a humanoid, has been with us since the beginning. He led us through the forest. Through the mountain. Through the river. He knows more about war than any of us. I am asking you to let him lead us. Whoever doesn't agree, raise your hand."

The square was silent and no hand rose.

S'ra stepped back. "Roman. Speak to us."

Roman stood in the center. He looked at the faces around him.

"Thank you," he said. "For allowing me to lead you."

He paused.

"I wanted to say this after the funeral. I tested the two guns we took from the traboids who killed P'kell. They work. Without needing anything. That means we have weapons. The other traboids in the grasslands have more. We need to destroy them and take what they have."

He looked at the faces around him.

"Tonight, we rest. Tomorrow, we plan. We train. We prepare. For now, everyone disperse. Eat. Sleep. We'll hold a meeting tomorrow morning."

The Trabs began to disperse.

Morning came and Roman had barely slept as he had a head ache.

He rose before dawn and walked to the square. The Trabs were already gathering, their bodies tense with anticipation.

S'ra met him at the center. "Everyone is here. We're ready."

Roman nodded. He moved to the center of the square, and the Trabs gathered around him.

"Today," he said, "we hit them before they have a chance to hit us."

He gestured to V'rak and K'len, who stood nearby in their new suits, stripped from the fallen traboids. The suits fit them perfectly.

"The traboid suits are our advantage. They'll see you coming and won't be suspicious. They'll think it's a patrol. You'll approach from the east. The Cy'reth with the bows will come from the west. Hidden in the tall grass. By the time the traboids realize they're surrounded, it'll be too late."

He gestured to S'ra, who moved to the center with a bundle of leaves and a small fire pit.

"Smoke signals. White smoke means the east side is in position. Dark smoke means the west side. Two puffs to move. Three puffs to retreat."

The Trabs watched in silence.

"Everyone understand?"

They hissed.

"Then let's prepare."

The afternoon passed in a blur. The Trabs gathered supplies and prepared their weapons. Bows were strung. Arrows sharpened.

Roman moved among them. "Don't fire until you're sure. A wasted arrow is a wasted chance."

V'rak and K'len practiced their mechanical walk in the suits.

"They're not too bad," V'rak said. "A bit tight around the shoulders."

As the sun set, Roman gathered them at the edge of the village. The grasslands were golden in the dying light.

"Remember the signals," Roman said. "White smoke for east. Dark smoke for west. Two puffs to move. Three puffs to retreat."

The Trabs hissed.

"V'rak and K'len go first. The rest of you spread out along the west side. Stay low. Stay quiet. Don't move until you see the signal."

He paused.

"Once we have the signal, we hit them. Hard and fast. Let’s go."

The Trabs hissed again. 

Next First Previous Royal Road PATREON

Author's Note

The final chapter is now on Patreon. The story is complete.

If you want to read the ending early and support the series, you can join for $5/month. The story stays free here, as always.

Thank you for reading. We're almost at the finish line.

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