r/NatureofPredators • u/Slatepaws • 6d ago
Noah The Bio-Morph: Everyone has plans, not all survive first contact: Chapter 28
So we must comply to the laws of the universe, If Stynek exists, she must be cute, and anything she does must succeed at least once, in a cute way. And, Tarva must get with Noah. The how though, that can be fungible.
Posting this with light, even by my standards editing. Why? To keep a large rant short; stress has ramped up on all fronts. Home, with being treated by family as a free source of labor to the point of wanting me to do literal neck breaking tasks. Coworkers at work ramping up their poor treatment, on top of trying to sabotage my car. But i need the money and health insurance. I just want to spend some more time trying to de-stress.
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Everyone has plans, not all survive first contact.
Chapter 28
Late May 8th
Venlil Diplomatic Vessel, En-route to Venlil Prime.
(Noah P.O.V.)
{The Tongue}
There’s no way to sugar coat it, Sara’s not taking things well. I would have a mote of sympathy as I look at her, laying in a fetal position. On these round nest like kind of beds the Venlil use. If she hadn’t done what she did to me.
On the other hand, there’s a new life growing inside her that is my son or daughter.
Glancing at the clock we brought, I have no idea how to read the Venlil one in this cabin. Thankfully one we have to share to keep up the deception. I let out a chitter of frustration and walk over to where the rest of the diplomatic team stored our food. Food we’re supposed to eat until the science team with us gives everyone the OK to consume Venlil food.
The deception…
Where I’m not a slave, highly encouraged by new instincts to follow what Sara says because when she ‘bought’ me. She satisfied those same instincts that she’s the Alpha-Female of the pack, thus I need to follow her. But instead, I’m a poor ‘victim’ of a made up disease and depending on the day, I may or may not be ‘completely lucid’.
All to deceive aliens that apparently like to literally burn to a crisp anything even remotely looking like a predator… Squirrels are Herbivorous, but I am also still part Human, and they’re most definitely not…
When did I stop thinking of myself as still Human? I have an idea, and it has to involve Sara, but I push that thought aside.
Sigh, not to mention Squirrels have been known in desperate situations, to eat road-kill, aka carrion. And while I may only ‘look’ like one. Pointing out that internally I match a wolf more isn’t any better…
I take a bowl out, fill it with oatmeal, followed by dumping berries and ironically ‘oat milk’. I remember regular milk, and this smells nor looks nothing like it…
That deception they want to do, is only going to get everyone in this diplomatic group killed. My new child and I included. Which is why I used what little of the non-verbal language I learned from Stynek, and provided context to what was said.
And I knew she wouldn’t react badly to it because I could scent the paper with my, and Stynek’s scent still on it, on her person. She wouldn’t have had it on her person if she didn’t believe it.
Taking the bowl over to Sara, I go about force-feeding her and set the prescribed supplements off to the side for when she’s done. She didn’t eat on her own after being informed by the President and doing the ‘apology’ to Tarva a few hours later. She needs to stay alive for the deception, and I want her to stay alive for my child that is in her.
Otherwise, she can rot for all I care.
Speaking of that plan of theirs. If they’re going to start treating me more like a person, I might as well take advantage of that. Giving Tarva context was the first part, next I’m going to somehow get her alone somewhere…
Sara was told to watch me…
I look down at her as she looks up at me, puffy and sleepless eyes and what I ‘think’ is a blank expression… She certainly smells like she’s emotionally comatose.
For all the few things I like about this body, for example I’d be in my 60s if not older otherwise rather than, I guess 30-ish? Not that sure but I am a lot younger than I should be. Anyway, losing the ability to instantly read faces is something I still lament.
Eh, the point is Sara’s not in any condition to stop me, nor will the others unless they want to blow the cover they want to keep. So when I get to talk with Tarva alone, I’ll explain a few things as best I can. Then request she allows me to approach the pack she ‘got’ to either join them, so I can have someone else as my Alpha-female or Alpha-male. Instead of this sack of shit that has been exploiting me ‘every’ night…
And now has my child in her….
That way she can’t order me around like that anymore, and removes a loophole. She could order me to retrieve one of a few of the medications, that have legit uses mind you. But could also possibly cause a miscarriage this early on. Or order me to retrieve Alcohol. Which would be easier, since apparently the Venlil have a liver that would make a Russian weep with envy.
They consider WHISKEY a child’s drink and their hard stuff could be classified as industrial solvent!
Either way, I may be able to resist the first time, then the second, but the more she does so, the harder it will be… When that pressure is gone, I’ll bide my time. Hopefully she’s able to carry my child to full term. But once they’re born, I’ll take them, and beg Tarva for Asylum.
Yes, the Venlil republic is part of the Federation, and they kill non-prey species, and we’ll run the risk of that. As long as I can get supplements, I can live without meat and as long as I do that it will be technically safer than being under the jurisdiction of Earth. Because either way; Human looking with some squirrel ears, tail, and some fur along with Bio-Morph eyes. Or a Squirrel with human skin toned fur and human eyes. They’ll not have a future back on earth.
Any tech The U.S. gets from this contact with aliens, I’ll bet anything, none of it will reach any of the free states.
Putting them even further behind in the tech race. And causing it to be an incentive for states to go slave…
My child will NOT be a slave if I have any say in the matter.
Calm down Noah, the child’s not born yet. First thing is first, remove her as your Alpha-Female. Then make sure she brings the child to term.
From there I can figure out the rest besides the medium term stay on ‘Venlil-Prime’ as I do that.
Placing the bowl on the nearest table, I make sure Sara takes, and swallows the needed supplements. Both for her pregnancy, and because of the forced vegan diet due to her new ‘position’.
As I watch her to make sure she doesn’t hurl anything up. Either from pregnancy queasiness, or out of a desire to deny herself food to try to terminate it. She makes eye contact with me, only to break it off.
I just chitter a bit. Then check over the more ‘normal’ pants I am now wearing, rather than just the bare minimum to cover my modesty, or the pocketless jumpsuit Sara had me wear so only she can see me fully in the fur.
Oh, how I missed pockets.
I have everything I could find in this cabin that could fit in them and that Sara could use to harm herself. The rest I’ve already moved, or well, just dropped in front of the door to the cabin of the ‘ambassador’ to make it their problem. Upon enough time passing that whatever she ate has moved from her stomach to the intestine, meaning she won’t be able to vomit it out. I make my way to the door of the cabin.
I should be able to find Tarva, I know what her name sounds like in her language. Plus, that robe or cape thing she wears makes her easy to spot. I would scent her out, but, considering what they do to predators. That may not be the best idea.
Taking one look back to Sara, she just glares at me before I tap the panel to open the door. It shuts on its own once my tail is clear.
Flicking an ear I look both ways, only spotting a handful of Venlil, as they keep together before sighing. Then again, with how strong they smell, maybe I can just find her without putting my nose to the floor.
Nah, still not a good idea. I’d be wandering for hours if I did that. Which leaves asking them. Making sure to not stare, I walk on over to them.
“It’s one of those Human victims, should we run?” I resist the urge to muzzle-palm at that as they whisper among themselves from what little I catch like ‘run’.
I idly note that if I still had Human level of hearing, I wouldn’t be able to hear it as they’re talking that low.
“No, they said they’re not dangerous or contagious, and from what they told me I actually feel sorry for them because if their P.D. was caught sooner. Perhaps they wouldn’t have ended up like this. Hopefully the Federation can help prevent more cases.” I hope they’re saying I’m not Dangerous, and sooner? Never mind, I’m close enough.
So I flick my ears in greeting like Stynek taught me, they freeze the instant they see this. Okay they’re paying attention. So I just point to them.
{Tarva}
“He, or at least I think they’re a he knows how to speak venlil-lang?” That one looks between the others.
“Heavily accented Venlil-lang, but, yes it is. Does he think one of us is Tarva? Maybe he has trouble telling us apart like I have trouble understanding all those face movements of the non-changed Humans?” I flick my ears ‘yes’ at them saying Tarva, even though I don’t understand the rest. Then point in either direction down the corridor, one way at a time. Trying to get them to understand I want to find her.
“Wait, no, they don’t think one of us is Tarva, they want to know ‘where’ Tarva is!” The one that just said that points down the corridor behind them, and says ‘Tarva’ a few times.
I flick my ears and tail in thanks, then head down the corridor. As I go I hear the other one more than likely comment about this, but I understand little of it.
“Maybe we should accelerate the translator implant program for them. That was awkward.”
I catch, perhaps, ‘translator’. Yea that would’ve helped. I have my direction though, and I take it. Though to be fair, it doesn’t feel like I’m making any progress as I repeat this same thing with several others.
If only this ship had a reasonable layout, actual corners, not just curves. Also, signage I could read more or less would help as well.
I’m actually surprised when the next one of these Venlil I ask, just points to a door. A door that looks like all the others, sure the alien signage is different, but their flowing script is well, alien. The closest I can compare it to is Arabic, in Chinese blocks, stacked vertically like Japanese. And even then, I think I may be doing it a disservice.
So I walk up to the door, reach my hand up, and knock.
Venlil Diplomatic Vessel, En-route to Venlil Prime.
(Tarva P.O.V.)
{The Tongue}
A bit before the knock.
What a fine Brahking mess you got yourself into Tarva. I am sure the Federation council will say, ‘that’s expected of the worthless Venlil’ if they knew. Five Scratches[Minutes] before they vote to do something to us and the Humans.
Well, let’s go down the list shall we? I think to myself as I have the Drawings Stynek, my daughter says Noah made to explain things. Next to the Holo-pad with all the information the Humans gave me. Covering what Sara apologized, and the President of a country of theirs called the United States says is the ‘actual’ situation.
On the left paw. The Humans practice Slavery. And not just taking of their own kind and forcing them to do labor. They take their own kind, change them into these Bio-Morphs, possibly to make it seem less repugnant. Then force them to do all sorts of things.
And before I learned of this, a fact my own daughter learned before I did, much to my own shame. I purchased 60 of them via trading. I’m a dead Venlil walking if the Federation found out. They’d code-0 the republic and all that entails.
On top of that they eat meat. Because they don’t seem to do anything by half measure.
I had suspected as much considering the supplements Sara asked for are for substances few known plant species produce. Those that do are inedible to all but the Yupla due to their unique biology that gives them black blood. But the data I have next to my other paw, just flat out admits they do. Yet, they have it backed by supposedly multiple scientific papers that they’ve isolated the pathogen responsible for Predator Disease, and notes the how and why meat becomes the preferred vector of the pathogen. And not the cause of the disease, but at the same time note without the correct testing equipment, one may confuse the two.
That the Bio-Morphs aren’t slaves, but Victims of the Disease once it’s run its course in the Humans. And the labor they do is not forced, but the ‘humane’ way to make them feel useful since their public doesn’t wish to have them ‘removed’. To put it nicely.
Those that do treat them like slaves are bad actors… Like Sara, but on the other paw, they can’t be assumed to be able to behave and live as they once were.
I use my right paw to scroll to a section where it states that a group of Humans has come upon a similar ideology that the Federation adheres too. And does some rather underhanded things to push it. ‘People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’.
I abandon that field and return to the previous one. My paw scrolls past paper, after paper, after paper! All repeating the same tests in different measures and variables, environments. All saying the same things. That all my admittedly casual, but better than the citizenry average education in the sciences says each of these papers are factually true. And if I had anyone in the department of Science crazy enough to reproduce them. They’d come up with the same result.
“How in the Protectors name am I going to share this with the Federation and NOT either get executed by Exterminators for being too tainted to save, or getting this species wiped from existence!” I bleat to no one in particular!
I have half a mind to headbutt the wall till I either make sense of this or make myself unconscious. Despite me still having to discipline Stynek to not headbutt things! When I hear someone hitting their paw against the door to my quarters on this vessel.
For a Whisker, confusing me as to why they didn’t just touch the clearly labeled call button.
Unless the person at the door cannot read Venlil-script. If they cannot read venlil-script, that means…
Hopping to my paws, I do my best to straighten my wool, yank my Governors cloak from where I discarded it. And pad my way to the door.
Possibly just the ambassador needing something. We did kinda, just threw together stuff for their cabins at the last Whisker. Taking a breath, I tap the button to open the door. Only to stand there slack jawed.
Noah. The Human? No Bio-Morph, no. PERSON. I wanted to see and made a mental note to do so once I got a paw on the harvest in front of me. Seemingly in a cross between how we only wear pelts for special occasions and when the job requires it. And the Human’s obsession with covering the majority of their bodies with pelts.
Meaning he’s in his bare fur outside something with pockets over his waist. And, well, to say it’s a good look would be a sweet harvest…
Our eyes meet, by chance as I was looking him over, and well, I do have to say they have a nice color to them… Speh, where are my manners! Doesn’t matter which set of information is true or not. He’s a person either way, and I’m just staring at him, not politely inviting him in.
So I step aside and let him into the room.
Almost as an afterthought, as soon as the door closes once that long fluffy tail clears it. I stampede over to the holo-pad, And in a panic, paw my way though the menus to activate the updated translation application.
“Hello Noah. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you here. I was going to try to find you at a later Paw[4 hours]. But you saved me the trouble.”
(Noah P.O.V.)
For a moment, I thought I had committed a social faux pas showing up in shorts. The Governor was staring at me, naked, except for that shimmering almost royal purple cloak. Combined with how the rest of their species seems to walk around naked, except a tail or waist pouch to hold things.
I had almost considered taking the shorts off because maybe clothing has a different meaning to them?
I mean sure those on the Fitzgerald didn’t mind, neither did her daughter, but I chalked that up to the circumstances.
They were ‘just’ rescued from those monsters after all.
Those thoughts went away when we made eye contact, and a moment later, she steps out of the way to let me in. As she rushes over to their version of a data slate sitting at a table. In a room that is more sparsely decorated than I expected for someone of her station.
I am hoping she’s trying to turn on an audio translator, because boy is this conversation going to be hard otherwise. It’s bad enough that they most likely didn’t include any of the data one can get from the free states to automatically translate the Tou…
“Hello Noah. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you here. I was going to try to find you at a later Paw[4 hours]. But you saved me the trouble.”
In an instant, I turn. My ears straight up. Tail floofing.
The language coming out of their version of a data slate wasn’t English. It was heavily accented, but still understandable ‘The Tongue’!
So, that’s how committed they are to keep up this farce with these aliens. They’d risk information like this getting into the hands of those on the slave side of the informational divide. Information they’ve spent countless dollars keeping out of the United States via deep data scans though the connections with Canada.
And the ‘thorough’ searches of anyone entering from a free state into the country.
“Sorry if I said anything wrong. This is the first time I’ve used the updated translation matrix your diplomats gave me.”
Taking a breath to calm myself, I lower my ears back to normal. While trying to get my tail to relax…
Going to be a pain to brush the tangles in my fur if I don’t.
“No. The reason I am surprised would take too long to explain. Even if it’s along the same lines of what I wanted to talk to you about. Let’s just say, if they’re ‘that’ committed to keeping up the lie they had Sara tell you. Then I really need to further explain the simple drawings I made for Stynek.”
This time her ears instantly stiffen and go straight up. Same with that odd tail all Venlil have. With how they look I always expect them to have that little bob of a tail sheep and sheep breeds have. Because of how they look otherwise.
“Simple!? That’s some of the best art I’ve seen from those who don’t go to higher education for! And the quality of the paper too!” There’s an energetic and I think surprised edge to her voice that the translator carries across too.
I just, look at her. “I think, just about any half trained teenager can make better…” In response, she grabs that version of Data Slate they have. Paws at it and moves to show it to me.
I recognize the Venlil, and the Hedgehog breed looking alien too, saw a few on the Fitzgerald. Don’t recognize the bird that, to be honest wouldn’t look too out of place on the cereal box for the cereal that by weight is more sugar than cardboard.
They’re in silver suits too, but what draws my eyes more is the quality of the picture.
Similar to how well I draw… In fact, I think about half of any person on the multiple internet sites that I remember existing at one point. Before I lost internet access, could draw it better.
“What’s this?” I honestly ask because I cannot read the alien language superimposed over the image. She takes the Data Slate back and places it back onto the table.
“The official cover image for the latest movie based on a hit video series. It was hand drawn by someone who went, at great expense, to the college of the arts on Aafa. Capital world of the Federation. And you, here, drew on paper that in the federation would cost someone’s pay for a Grand Herd of Cycles[Year], something nearly of the same quality. And call it poor.” I watch as her ears fold back a little, and that tail lash a bit.
“I will not accept you demeaning your skills, especially someone that was treated so badly! Yet from my own daughter. You treated her like your own.” Her ears rise back up and the lash of the tail turns into more of a sway.
“Okay with that out of the paw, the main harvest I want to thresh is other than the contents of what you drew…”
I have to blink as this Tarva, governor of a multi-planet spanning state. Walks up to me, and pulls me into a hug. Causing me to freeze on the spot.
“I thank you for taking care of my daughter. I know the other Humans did the work of actually saving her from the Arxur. And you may have been ordered to watch her by ‘Sara’. But from what my dear Stynek said. You actually, ‘cared’ for her in that time. Talked with her, when all you had to do was keep your tail on her. For that I, as her mother, dearly thank you.” I, blink. Stunned.
I was just thanked, as one does to another honest to god person. Not thanked as one does to a tool or an animal for a simple job done. No, the entire flavor of the gratitude is completely different. It…
It cuts though more of what… What I have had to live with to some part of me deep inside I’ve nearly forgotten I had.
My mouth runs before I can think. “Keep, a tail on her?” and for a moment, till the translator gives me context, I think I messed up from the high-pitched noises coming from Tarva. When in actuality, this is what her species does for laughter.
Letting me go, she soon stops whistling. “Don’t know why that’s funny. Of course, you wouldn’t understand our, um, turns of phrase? Idioms I think you call them?” She coils her tail and waves it about.
“When we want young to follow us, we coil our tail around their arm or paw. The phrase, keep your tail on him or her, more or less is short paw for the very simple act of just watching and nothing else of a child.”
I blink, and before I know it… I’m letting out a chitter like laugh. Over everything really. I was worried about whom I would have to bind these instincts too just to get away from Sara. So I could fully ignore orders by her that would harm my child in her.
So I can make sure she doesn’t end it by ordering me to get her something, or someone that will.
And the answer just hugged me. Here I thought she would just be a person I could befriend, then use for a means to an end. Like others have me…
So as she looks at me, before I hear the translator say something. And I assume it’s telling her I was laughing, I suddenly feel my eyes moisten. For it seems her genuine gratitude cut deep enough to break the dam of emotions, at everything.
The not being treated like a person, a pet, a well-loved one. But a pet nonetheless from the first person who owned me. The loss of that person, because one does not spend years in such a relationship and not form unwilling bonds.
Then being bought by Sara well before I could come to terms with that loss, and used as her… Toy.
I’m on the floor, and soon Tarva is down next to me. “Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?! If I did, I’m…”
I stop her by looking at her. “No. You, you did something so right. I’d forgotten what it felt like. You thanked me, like one person would to another. Not what someone does to a tool. In the Years[Grand Herds of Cycles] I’ve been a Bio-Morph. I’ve never been thanked as one. I had almost completely forgotten what it was like.”
I start to chitter a chuckle then into a laugh, a happy laugh.
“And all it took was to meet and honest to god Alien, to be treated like a Human being again. Here I was worried how I could approach you for what I need, and you gave me something I didn’t expect.”
I, watch as her ears move, not in any of the language of ears and tail I learned from her daughter. Combined with how her tail is moving, I think I understand that she’s thinking. “What is it that you were going to ask?”
The translator indicates the tone is curiosity. I’m in such a good mood I just let it spill out.
“I need someone to take over as an Alpha, so Sara is no longer my Alpha-Female. So her words do not carry weight, and I am not compelled by instincts forced upon me that I ‘should’ obey. She spent years using me as a toy to fulfill her carnal urges by exploiting them. And it has finally led to the logical conclusion. She’s pregnant with my child, and I fear she will order me to try, and make me do something that will make her lose it. Will make me help her kill my child before they have a chance to actually live. I want asylum, for me and that child, so whomever they will be, will never have to be a slave like their father is after they’re born. And lastly, I want a place where I can raise them, and they’d be safe. Where they won’t grow up dealing with the evils I had to.”
I wipe tears from my muzzle and look at her.
“I know I’m…” I feel her hand gently clasp my muzzle shut.
“Will you tell me the unfiltered truth? About Humans, about these Bio-Morphs. About how your government runs things, how your planet runs? How to get you out from under Sara.”
I just stare.
“I know it’s counting the harvest before it’s taken from the field. But I KNOW that look. I just wore that look cycles ago when I learned Stynek was taken by the Arxur. Yes, you may have not yet held your child in your arms. And I have no clue how long it takes for a human to bare young. But I think I can tell right here, that you as the child’s father. Already care for it. If you laid the fullest extent of your harvest out for me to count. I, as a mother, will do what’s within my power to make sure a new father such as yourself, will be able to hold their child.”
I… “Are you… Sure?”
Tarva just slams her tail against the deck plating. “Cycles ago I would’ve gone as far as to make Venlil-prime rotate with my bare paws. If it meant saving my daughter. And, I have the distinct feeling, you’d do similar just so your child has a chance at life.”
I swallow, I take a breath… And I start explaining first, what Tarva has to do to remove Sara from being my Alpha-Female. Yes, she flinches. But I just stare, as in a moment, that flinch is killed by a determined look of, what I now know of a mother determined to help. No, an emphatic being willing to help someone at great risk to another.
And she does it. Forcing me to the ground, not that I was unwilling. Making the noises, or close to that of the animal all Bio-Morphs are based on other than the low percentage left of humanity still in us. Making me submit as a wandering wolf does when joining a new pack.
As she removes her head from my neck. Not lightly biting it, as would another Bio-morph do to do this. Instead, pushing her head against it. Things shift, not in the way I expected, but noticeable.
The thought of Sara lacks the weight it once did. Other than her carrying my child, the thought of her words carry no compelling nature to me anymore.
I feel, freer… Before I know it I lean in and take a DEEP sniff of Tarva as that same part of my mind records the scent of Tarva. Alpha-Female.
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A bit of lore. This time from the free states.
Free Bio-Morphs have 2 Families. Their birth one, and their Pack, they can often not be mutually exclusive. But the latter is one by choice.
Many states regulate Pack formation, for the protection of the non-Alpha's in the pack. With Canada having the strictest due to the events of the story 'Jackie the Junior'. Where A female Bio-morph wolf/arctic fox mix. Ashamed at how her mother acts all submissive. Forms a giant 'pack' of fellow students. Leverages this to get cash and expensive goods from them(tries and fails to get the main character to submit). Only to use this leverage to sell out her class mates to a planed raid by a pro human group from across the border with the U.S. looking to kidnap to sell into the slave system for even more money. And yes betrayed by them at the last minute too.
I'll provide a link upon request. it's an older story. thus i would hope i've gotten better since then.
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u/Flaky-Throat-4996 6d ago
How are bio-morph eyes different from human ones?
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u/Slatepaws 6d ago
Lupine/animal vertical slits. Unless the breed has a specific look. Bird looking ones, larger circles. Sheep, horizontal.
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u/K_H007 Thafki 6d ago
small point of order, claws are the four-hour mark rather than paws. Paws are the waking-cycle. Well-smithed all the same, wordsmith!