FIRST | PREV | Part 1

AOOP BONUS STORIES:

-Ancestral Knowledge By: Kaleidoscope1017 

- The Spirit Of Hunters Past(Finished)

- New Exterminator On The Block

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Memory Transcription Subject : Beau Hunter - Farsul Rescue : Date : Reclaimed Terran Time : May 14th, 2936 
The little cured human barista and her bright blue haired friend had just joined our little party, locking hands and arms with Arun and Dr.Colwater who welcomed them in eagerly and with seemingly little question. That was odd, they must be friends or something, weird she didn't say anything before to them, but I guess it's possible that mine and the other regular humans’ presence was throwing her off balance.

It warmed my heart a little though that she had warmed up to us so fast. At least enough to want to stay in our presence for her friends.

That blue hair color was definitely something though. I shook Aiko's hand at my side as she was currently holding onto mine. Which garnered both hers and Mrs.Rami’s attention who still had her hands wrapped loosely around my bicep. Leaving just enough give for me to sip at my disappointedly watered down cured human coffee.

“Hey Aiko, you see that new guy over there, the one that just walked up?”

“Yes, What about him?”Aiko asked, tilting her head slightly and looking at me curiously with one eye.

“Well I know you were telling me back on the ship that the dog looking aliens did all sorts of weird things to humans to make them all different and prey like right? So I was just wondering, did they mess with things like, hair color and stuff?”

Aiko's eyes went wide for a moment at my question, but she quickly corrected her course, her fingers gently tapping on Lucas’s hand as she thought.. “Well Beau from what I understand of it. The farsul had to edit a relatively large portion of the human genome, Sometimes those edits could be broad and affect more than what the farsul likely intended, especially when a thousand years of genetic drift are involved, as for how this affects hair colors well……”

“.......modern humans have all sorts of hair colors!” Mrs.Rami chimed in from beside me. “While some are more rare than others, I have seen yellow, green magenta, sometimes even a super rare pink one.”

“Um…Mrs.Rami I’m not sure if……” Aiko seemed to want to try and add something to Mrs.Rami’s statement.

“Did you not have any of those colors in your time?” Mrs.Rami continued to forge onward regardless.

“Well no, but maybe I have seen some people with really yellow blondish hair sometimes. I grew up in a pretty rural area so I can't say I have had the most unique people cross my sightlines, I'm afraid."

“Oh, well that's a shame sweety.” Mrs.Rami finished.

I looked over to Aiko, who seemed flustered, and I swore I heard Anna try to suppress a giggle over the chaotic chattering of our new friends.

I think they might be trying to make fun of me.

I was about to say something scathing in reply, but was sidetracked as everyone came to an abrupt halt all at once.

Everyone who grew up walking in lockstep with way too dense crowds of people stopped on a dime almost effortlessly, likely used to maneuvering in large groups.

Everyone who was normal nearly tripped over whichever diminutive cured human or alien was unfortunate enough to be standing in front of them.

The elderly Mia was caught by an ever vigilant Muca.

Anna was caught by the rubbery pavement as she managed to fall in between the two guys in front of her, rolling as to not land on Bilnen who she was holding.

And I actually ended up being steadied out by the combined efforts of the two cured humans who had just joined our group.

They placed their hands firmly against my stomach and chest, grabbing on as best they could and pushing to prevent me from toppling over.

As soon as I was righted I was quick to thank them.

The blue haired guy was quick to respond. “No problem big guy, and I got to say you got some nice muscles on you, you must have worked hard for those.”

I laughed off the complement. “Oh it's no big deal, you tend to get that way when you spend a lot of time in the backwoods doing chores.”

“Oh nonsense, don't sell yourself short.” He encouraged. “Oh and my name's Bruce by the way, and I believe you met my girlfriend Jezebel.” He spoke in a haughty tone, as he gestured with one hand to the barista from earlier.

“Ah nice to meet you both.” I replied with two firm handshakes which they both accepted in turn.

I turned my attention back to whatever Abdel was talking to Anna and Mia about now, but not before noticing Bruce’s eye twitch.

Did he just wink at me?

No, it was probably just a hard blink, I just couldn't see the other side of his head that well.

--------

I thought getting into what I understood to be some kind of small personalized movie theatre would be a hassle given how afraid so much of the town seemed to be of us. But Abdel has already rented out a large nook to watch media in at a business appropriately called the Media Nook.

We only had to deal with a single gojid theater attendant, who despite having their quills thoroughly raised and insisting on keeping them in between him and us, just about managed to take us to our private theater with minimal fuss.

The Nook in itself was about what I expected. Large couches, beanbags, padded benches and even some lounging beds filled the room. All festooned with blankets, pillows and plushies galore.

The room was already a quarter way to its maximum capacity if you counted the sheer number of stuffed toy aliens alone.

The three oldest people in the room were offered up the seat of honor, dead center facing the wall sized tv screen was a couch that probably could have accommodated five or six cured humans, but ultimately came in at just a bit wider than a pre federation three seater couch.

Mia, Anna and I sunk into its plush cushions whilst Abdel showed us how to use the push button controls to put the leg rests up and recline the back rests.

“Damn so this is like a really fancy lazy guy sofa chair.” I commented as Abdel handed me the remote to my seat to use as I please.

“Well, Not that fancy.” The bunny Doctor Coldwater rebutted. “The real nice ones got the built-in back massagers.” She spoke with a wince. Running her tail down her spine only for a cured human nearby to quickly take the hint.

“Ahh but you see ancestors,” Mrs.Rami began to speak, appearing behind Mia who didn't notice her move in behind the sofa. “complaining about a lack of a massage function for a chair on earth is like complaining about a lack of water in the ocean.” She snickered, before placing her hands upon the backrest Mia was now leaning her head against.

“Now what do you say girlfriend about letting those old joints experience some genuine human hospitality, one dusty old crone to another.” Mrs.Rami joked.

Mia placed a hand to her chin in contemplation. “Well… normally my husband Filray back home does his best to help ease these sore joints, but from what I’ve heard back in the archives, I hear that I'm supposedly missing out on the premiere experience hmm?”

“I am nothing if not experienced." Mrs.Rami assured.

“Ahh what the hell.” Mia threw her hands up. “Might as well try it, you only live once afterall.” Mia relented as she rolled her shoulders to loosen them before leaning back and letting her new friend begin to rub the tension from her shoulders and kneed circles into the base of her skull.

As Mia settled into that we began the laborious process of picking out a movie. And the methodology involved was actually rather civilized, using our holotabs ;which Aiko had to help me and Anna with; we were able to all pick out movies and vote in a tiered bracket which one we wanted to watch. Which was probably for the best in a group of sixteen of us.

Naturally me and Anna were unable to find any movies we even knew the name of, much less the most basic of premises. But Mia actually selected a farsul film, an old historical drama allegedly about the building of a large and ancient damn, and the complex politicking and interpersonal drama that went into even getting its blueprints drawn up much less built.

It didn't end up making its way to the top three however.

It was a close race between a romance movie, some medical drama, and what Filin described as a ‘Exterminator Flick’, which I guess was the closest thing I could expect to an action movie in this society.

While the aliens and cured humans were deliberating between the final three movies, Anna looked over to Mia, whose massage had turned into just regular petting, as Mrs.Rami ran her fingers through her hair.

“So how does that feel?” Anna asked her friend.

“It feels quite nice actually.” Mia replied. “You should give it a try.” She spoke with a smirk.

Anna initially doesn't respond to that goad, but Abdel is quick to chime in from beside her. “I can groom you Anna if you want to try it!” He speaks excitedly.

“Well, thanks for the offer Abdel, it's just that, well… I don’t.. Hmmmm.”

She looks down and notices Dr.Bilnen, who she is currently snuggling into her chest, and has been absentmindedly petting as she was speaking, before she erupts into a light giggle.

“Well, I guess I have been petting actual people for the last couple days, like non stop actually.” She chuckled out. “I guess it's only fair that I receive the same treatment.”

“Petting?” Abdel asked as he began to run his fingers through Anna’s hair. Gingerly running his digits in small circles all along her scalp. Gracefully pushing her thin blond strands of hair to the side as she closed her eyes on reflex.

“Its what we called grooming back in the day, when you scratch, rub, or massage the fur of an animal, the fluffier the better, and it's kind of what you guys do to one another, though it's usually called a massage when you do it to other people.” She admitted.

“Well then I hope you like your petting then.” Abdel giggled out.

“I will reluctantly admit, this is pretty relaxing actually.” She whispered out.

I could almost feel half the eyes in the room turn to me after that interaction, all hyper aware of the unspoken question.

“Well I have pet almost no one, so I have earned no penance pets.” I spoke abruptly.

“Awh common Beau," the barista from earlier replied. “Grooming, or pets as you like to call them isn't a punishment silly, it's a nice thing you do for your herd mates.” Jezebel uttered as she also walked behind the couch as well.

I was really starting to consider just shoving the couch directly into the wall. 

“I'm not sure I feel comfortable with the idea.”

“It's not uncomfortable, it's pleasant?” She stated, genuine confusion seeming to color her voice. “Do you have antisocial PD by chance?” The woman asked.

“Listen I’m no head case, it's just that…”

“Wait! Bruce is a professional groomer.” She excitedly cut me off as the blue haired guy from earlier joined her at her side. ”He’s trained in fur grooming, hair care and massages.” She assured me.

“Yeah I even have some nice tea tree oil leave in conditioner on me, it smells really good and feels really nice and tingly on your scalp.” He says, pulling out a bottle of some green stuff from his bag.

“People pay good money for his services Beau.” Said Jezebel.

“Common Beau you should try it.” Chimed in Aiko. “It’s so relaxing!"

“Try it beau!”

“It’s okay.”

“We won't judge you."

“You’ll love it.”

The crowd around me erupted in what could be considered support, but what ended up feeling more like goading or peer pressure.

“Okay! Fine! I’ll give it a try you rowdy wackos!” I finally relented.

The group gave off a collective cheer as I bent back my neck and laid my head against the top of the head rest giving the man free and easy access.

“Alright Bruce.” I sighed. “Do your worst.”

The man merely let out a laugh in reply. “Don’t worry gorgeous, you're in good hands.” He spoke in a sassy sounding tone.

Eccentric this one.

The movie trailers that had served as nothing more than white noise up until this point finally wrapped up to make way for the main event.

And after the title card dropped and the aliens characters of this foreign alien film started playing their roles on the screen in front of me, I felt the tender fingers of Bruce dance across my skull in a tingly little dance.

I had to admit, though quite reluctantly, that the massage was quite nice and relaxing, the gentle tickles scratching an itch I didn't know I had. Though I wouldn't dare voice that sentiment aloud.

Replying to the question of if I liked it or not with a simple. “It’s fine.”

As the movie went on, I slowly began to feel my eyelids begin to grow heavy despite all the commotion in the room around me, as the day's events began to finally catch up with me.

I think I'm going to need to start mixing my own coffee here. This stuff is weak… as… hell.

{Memory transcript interrupted : Cause : Subject Loss of Consciousness}
  
-----------------------------
Herd Tracker Widget : Herd Status Report
Herd Population : 16
Herd Occupants:
-Beau - Ancestor Human - Conservationist

-Anna - Ancestor Human - Graduated Medical student

-Mia - Ancestor Human - Old and mischievous

-Dr.Bilnen -Zurulian Doctor - Emotional Support Zurulian

-Aiko - Cured human Historian - Trying not to make it obvious

-Lucas - Cured Human Historian - Completely Oblivious

-Abdel - Cured Human U.E Military - Weary Event Planer

-Muca - Mazic Exterminator - Best Girlfriend

-Filin - Venlil U.E Military - Sneakily Licking Dave

-Dave - Cured Human U.E Military - Local Salt dispensary

-Dr.Coldwater - Sivkit Doctor U.E Military - Has two loving dads back home. 

-Arun - Cured Human U.E Military - Placeholder human

-Chandra - Gojid U.E Military - Token Gojid

-Mrs.Rami - Cured Human Old lady - To old to give a fuck

-Jezebel - Cured Human Horny Barista - Needs a cold cup of water

-Bruce - Cured Human Fabulous Salon Worker - Mr.Steal Your Ancestor
-----------------------------

FIRST | PREV | PART 2

AOOP BONUS STORIES:

-Ancestral Knowledge By: Kaleidoscope1017 (BRAND NEW!!!!)

- The Spirit Of Hunters Past(Finished)

- New Exterminator On The Block

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Memory Transcription Subject : Beau Hunter - Farsul Rescue : Date : Reclaimed Terran Time : May 14th, 2936 

The ‘Herd Bus’ as everyone insisted on calling it, pulled up autonomously to the town square. The herbivores all poured out excitedly whilst Abdel and Muca did their best to maintain order.

“Chandra, don’t wander into Traffic!”

“Mixsel, Arun don’t stray too far off, we need to stick by the ancestors, try not to look like a stampede."

“Filin! Stop licking the sweat off of Dave! I don't care if he’s okay with it, we are in public!”

“How have you not been put into a facility!?”

Aiko and Abdel were quick to offer encouragement as the original recipe humans made their way out of the bus. Anna quickly crawled out of the cramped bus, whilst I joined Muca in helping the elderly Mia climb safely down to the soft pavement.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to fetch you a wheel chair mam? I’m sure I could borrow one from the nearby herd center.” Muca asked Mia as she held her arm firmly with her trunk.

Mia only laughed. “Oh I’m not that old yet, but thank you for the concern.” She spoke warmly, politely gesturing for Muca to remove her trunk. Muca did so reluctantly, carefully removing her support from the aged german, and holding it behind her, like she was expecting her to take a stumble, Handling her as if she was as delicate as glass.

With Mia safely out of the bus and eagerly joining her friend, I took the opportunity to take in the sights of the town around me.

And I was surprised to see how almost normal it felt. Key word being almost however. Colorful brick stores, restaurants and various small businesses lined the road, broken up by sitting areas, picnic tables and the occasional play spaces for children.

It was the spitting image of small town America, just with all the edges literally rounded off and padded, by cocker spaniels from the stars.

More cured humans and aliens than I had ever seen in one place walked up and down the rubbery sidewalks, at ease and content, like they belonged exactly where they were. Like they weren't a foreign and alien presence to a space my brain struggled to accept was theirs.

A mind that struggled to accept that anything other than the humanity I had grown up with and was used to should be roaming this town instead.

It was like aliens had invaded earth, my home, but if anything I was the invader here, the foreign and lost outsider.

The town existed in a serene state. Its inhabitants contentedly huddled together. The wide and unusually extended sidewalks accommodated close knit groups, held together in odd bunches, the cured humans and aliens locking hands, arms and tails as they grouped tightly with one another. The identically dressed cured humans and their zebra print ponchos caused the individual bunches to appear at times like one homogenous mass if you weren't focusing too hard on any single individual aspect of their little… herds.

The serenity was interrupted however as they collectively grew more and more aware of the intruders into their familiar little world.

It started slowly at first, errant whispers and murmurs at the fringes of the herds closest to us, slowly grew into full on conversations and eventually the occasional startled yelp.

Muca moved to stand in between us and the rest of the town's inhabitants, taking a moment to straighten her exterminator vest and hold her badge in her trunk, in a way that it was obvious to all who might look our way.

“It's okay.” Muca assured us, looking between the three of us with one eye. The other one looking towards the town. “Just hold still for a few moments, they just need to get used to you.”

“Oh no, I hope they don't stampede.” Someone from the bus whispered loudly to the group, as if suggesting the prospect aloud could somehow will the event into being.

Dr.Bilnen’s warnings, given to me days ago on Captain Cutter’s ship popped into my mind once again, of how a simple scare could result in mass death events if the circumstances were right, and the collective fear potent enough.

I felt my body grow tense with worry, anxious as hundreds of eyes locked onto me with fear.

It was at that moment that a buzzing on my neck alerted me to something that I knew to be inevitable, but that I had wished we could have gone at least a few minutes off the bus without having to deal with. I didn't need to check my own collar, looking at Anna's and Mia’s told me all I needed to know, the indicator light had turned green. Someone had activated their herd safe beacon, it could have been anyone in the square really, but the end results were the same.

Our collars were now primed to detect a heightened emotional state, anger, aggression or something ‘biochemically similar enough’ as Dr.Bilnen had put it. 

We knew that this was going to happen eventually, at least we were prepared for it. Mia held Anna close, doing her best to calm her friend. Chandra and Dr.Coldwater were quick to join her by her side as well, Dr.Bilnen who Anna was holding buried his snout into the crook of her neck, and whispered into her ear comfortingly as the young women lightly trembled in place, her eyes beginning to glisten in the evening sun, and her body tensing as if awaiting another electrocution.

“It's okay… It's okay” He squeaked comfortingly. “This isn't your fault, you have done nothing wrong, you are no monster, you are beautiful inside and out, and they will all learn to see it with time.”

I took slow and steady breaths, trying to stay calm, trying not to take it personally.

They are scared, this is not their fault, this was done to them. We are all victims here.

Aiko took my hand and held it comfortingly, and the rest of the boys were quick to pile in around her.

“Just hang in there Beau.” Abdel assured. ”Just take it easy for a second, We just need to give the town herds a moment to collect themselves.”

“We won’t let them ruin your day out Beau, we won’t!” Aiko loudly exclaimed.

The town around us quickly grew sparse with people, cured humans crossed the street to avoid our group, and the path ahead of us was nearly empty, but not entirely so.

For as the sea of people cleared, it parted to reveal a single elderly cured human. She walked, slowly and hunched over, oddly shaped circular glasses framed her snouted head, and a wicker basket filled with flowers occupied her hands. And while her hunched stature, wrinkled flesh, and squinted eyes spoke to her age, the smile on the end of her snout could be considered nothing but youthful.

“Ah hello there! She greeted, squinting her eyes and adjusting her glasses as she turned to us. Is that a herd of new voices I hear?” She chuckled out. “You wouldn’t happen to be visitors to our historic little town now would you?”

The elderly woman, unlike most of the town, seemed suspiciously unbothered by our appearance. And I wasn’t the only one to take note of this.

“Can she see us?” I heard Dave whisper curiously from beside me.

“I think she's blind!” Filin answered loudly, and far less tactfully than his friend.

“Oh common Mrs.Rami, you haven't forgotten the sound of my voice already have you!” Abdel joked out towards the woman.

“Abdel Hope! I could have never forgotten someone as sweet as you.” She beamed. “How is our favorite war hero doing? Are you finally back from your deployment." she spoke happily as she hobbled over to Abdel and fell into him as she gave him an affectionate hug.

“I’m doing great Mrs.Rami, even better now that you're here.”

“Oh you were always such a flatterer, and you have brought so many new friends now for me to spoil, how wonderful!” the elderly cured human spoke, as she gestured enthusiastically towards our group.

“Oh them? They are mostly my crew mates and fellow passengers aboard the Spirit of the herd.” Abdel answered evasively.

“Well it's wonderful you have made so many new herdmates. And how fortuitous this all is, for I have picked so many flowers from my garden today, and have all of a sudden found that I have no one to share them with.” She chuckled out, gesturing broadly to the evacuated section of the town square around us.

She held out her basket with her shaky spindly hands. And made sure to hand out a flower to each and every one of us stopping to get an opinion on all of our individual preferences.

Aiko and Lucas pinned their flowers in their hair, Bilnen takes two for him and Anna, sniffing it contently before handing it to her. And Filin well….

“Oh Pansies my favourite!" he brays before chomping the flower clean off its stem directly from Mrs.Rami’s hand.

She approached me last, as I tried my best to hide towards the back of the group, but the woman is insistent if nothing else.

“Where do you think you're going, big fella? You didn't think you could get away from little old Mrs.Rami now would you?”

Oh boy here we go.

I did my best to speak in a high pitched tone of voice, it hurt my throat to speak that way, but the last thing I wanted to do was spook this sweetly old woman and give her a heart attack.

“Oh it's okay mam!” I spoke in a crackly almost pubescent tone of voice. “I don’t really have a place to plant it if you did give me one, it would just go to waste but thanks for the offer.” I finished speaking, backing away ever so slightly and praying she wouldn't get close enough to make out any of my facial features.

To my dismay she is not deterred. “Oh that's hardly a problem deer, flowers have plenty more uses than sitting pretty in a vase.”

She dug through her flower basket, thumbing through multiple blooms and holding them up one at a time close to her snout, squinting furiously towards them, and sniffing them repeatedly in order to differentiate them through her limited sight and smell.
She eventually found what she was looking for.

“Ah ha, please take these, while they are quite pretty, I don’t mind at all if you just take them and squish them into your pockets, flowers have plenty of other uses, and these in particular can be ground up to make a nice calming tea, and you strike me as someone who could use a bit of calm in your life.” She spoke to me, as she took my hand and faced it upright to gently set the small flower bundle in my palm before closing my fingers around them with her warm digits.

“Consider this a welcome gift from our fair town.” She beamed.

I was about to thank her for the gift, but as I was clearing my throat to speak again, I heard the distinct and familiar scream of a cured human, solely notable for how close it sounded.

“GRANDMA!!”

A young blond haired boy shouted in our direction, sprinting up to our group in a panicked dash. He barely managed to arrest his momentum before seizing his relative by the arm.

“Grandma! Grandma! What are you doing?! You're talking to a predator!”

I took a step back and raised my hands placatingly in an attempt not to startle the woman. I wasn’t sure what to say, knowing my rough voice was enough to scare some of these people.

Mrs.Rami gave off what I could only interrupt as an appalled look at her grandson's revelation, but notably that indignancy was not aimed towards me. She furrowed her brow towards him, and before anyone could decide how to respond.

“No really you dolt!” she bapped her grandson on the snout with the soft bulb on the end of her cane. ”You think I didn't notice that the young man I was talking to was two heads taller than the rest of his herd boy! I’m blind, not stupid.” she balked incredulously.

That sudden revelation caused the herd to visibly relax as the young man continued to plead with his grandmother.

“But, but, Mrs.Rami he’s a predator he could snap at any….”

“SMACK’

“....Owww” he winced as he was wacked by his grandma again.

“It’s rude to call someone a predator boy, and this young man here has been nothing but polite so you'd better apologize right now!”

“Wait what? But I don't…”

She grabbed him by the arm, and hauled him directly in front of us. “I said apologize, and don't think I don't recognize the voice of one of the teller boys. I’d hate to have a word with your momma about the sorry manners of her delinquent son.”

The young man, suitably chastised, let out an awkward “I’m sorry for calling you a predator.”

Before quickly turning and running off, leaving Mrs.Rami to her fate.

The elder for her part merely sighed. “Kids these days.”

“Huh wow, I honestly thought you didn't realize what we were.” Anna commented.

“I didn’t want to say anything in case we spooked you.” I followed up.

“Oh sweeties, there was no need for any of that nonsense, I was an arxur war veteran back in the day and I have seen much scarier things than you sorry excuses for predators in my prime.” She chuckled to herself.

“No I just heard the herd running scared, and I read the news, so I knew what it probably was that had everybody all worked up, so I just figured I ought to give you all a proper Flaghill welcome! And sometimes the best thing you can do for a newcomer, is to treat them like any other member of the herd.” She spoke with a smile.

“That is very kind and herd-like of you.“ Abdel spoke gratefully.

“I have my moments.” She quipped back.

With the situation around town starting to settle somewhat, a lingering question I’ve had on my mind since leaving the research campus, found its way back to the front of my train of thought.

“Actually mam, since you live here.” I began to ask. “I was actually feeling kinda worn out from the day, and was wondering if there were any good coffee places around, you wouldn't happen to know of any decent places to grab a cup of Joe? I asked.

“Oh, is there? Well I would have you know I have a step daughter who owns a lovely little coffee shop right down the road over there, why don't I show our dashing young guests the way over.” She spoke cheerily towards our group.

She looked on patiently, as she held up her arm towards mine, which we quickly interlocked as she began to guide me eagerly; though admittedly slowly; down the path ahead.

“Oh you're going to love this place. If I remember correctly I have a nephew manning the till right now, her name is Jezebel and she is such a sweet girl, I’m sure you'll like her.” She smiled.

System Update : Transcription Widget Activated.
Herd Tracker : Status : Online
Herd Tracker : Update : +1 ‘Old Lady’ Acquired

-------------------------------------

Memory Transcription Subject : Jezebel Frey - Barista : Date : Reclaimed Terran Time : May 14th, 2936 

Ugh….. why are we even open this late? Who wants a coffee at 5pm?

Our last herd of regulars to stop by dipped out like twenty minutes ago. Almost no one ever comes in after five, was Fia really just going to make me stay for almost another hour, just on the off chance that some panicked prey might wander in to get a coffee before a shift that they would probably have been late to anyways.

I was thinking about pulling my holotab out and browsing MyHerd. It's not like there were any customers who could see me, and my Angren boss couldn’t see over the countertop either without a stool.

I wouldn't get a chance to slack off however as the bell on the door unexpectedly gave out a “ring ring ring.”

Oh great another straggler woo hoo, another excuse to justify to my boss to keep the store open for another….. What is that!!!!

My eyes bulged and I nearly threw my holotab across the room as HE entered my shop.

The first thing I saw was those eyes, those deep dark brown eyes, framed by a sculpted jaw and fluffy beard. I felt myself being drawn into their bottomless dark abysses, I should have been scared, but instead I felt allured.

I felt my cheeks go flush and I think I stopped breathing, Only realizing when the prey accompanying them tried to get my attention.

“Hello, Hello! Earth to Jezebel are you there?”

Oh god, why did it get so hot in here all of a sudden.

I tried to respond, but instead just gasped as my lungs unexpectedly filled with the air that they were greedily missing. I tried desperately to compose myself but was floundering in the presence of this titanic hunk of an ancestor. I began to sputter out a response.

“Oh.. um… sorry Mrs.Rami I, I was just…..”

“Jesus girl take a breath.” Mrs.Rami bellowed out. I did my best to heed her advice, and placed both of my hands on the counter whilst I coughed heavily and did my best to catch the breath that had been taken from me.

“Oh uh sorry for startling you.” The ancestor apologized sweetly, whilst Mrs.Rami gave me a knowing look, smiling from the man's side, her arm wrapped around the mazic of a human’s muscular appendage.

God those biceps are as round as my head.

“Oh no, it's okay.” I uttered out as I shook my head in a bid to compose myself.

A small herd was quick to wander in after the man. And to my utter shock two more ancestors followed him through the entrance way. The younger female had an alluring majesty to her, and the elder possessed a wizened appearance that all just seemed…. right somehow.

”Do you guys all know what you want?” The stud of a human asked his herd. “I think I'll order last, I don't want to stress her out too much, I figure I’ll let her get used to my presence.”

He rumbled out enticingly towards his herd. I had to brace myself as my trembling knees nearly gave out beneath me. Oh Jesus, it's a good thing I was already bracing myself. I need to get my shit together, I need him to know I am not only capable but worthy of being in his presence.

The Herd he came with, boring and average as they were compared to the demigod they strolled in with, were pleasant enough, but I couldn't help but find their presence infuriating, as they stood as a barrier between me and the ancestor’s presence. I grew frustrated as they drowned me in mediocrity, when perfection stood mere meters away.

Eventually the ordinaries' orders were taken care of, most getting hot cocoas and sugary smoothies, and I felt my excitement grow and my heart beat rapidly in my chest as one of the prettiest humans I had ever seen approached my counter. 

“Oh hi there, you wouldn't happen to serve Latte machiatos?” She asked smoothly, mature and gracious in a way I couldn't put into words.

“Of course we do gorgeous, and would you like extra, regular or light foam.” I asked happily in reply.

“Mia, do you still order the same thing?”

“Anna, I have not had coffee for decades.”

“Oh yeah right sorry, we will take two cups and extra foam for each of us.”

“Coming right up!” I beamed sweetly.

Doing my best to put on my cutest expressions and demeanor with the ancestors now focused on me intently.

I skipped over to the nut juice frother and began to do my thing. “Do you want Almonds or Soy juice Foam?”

“What is that?” The younger one asked.

“Almond juice is fine.” the older one replied without answering.

I quickly prepared their beverages which they received happily before the main event finally arrived at my counter.

I tossed my hair to the side, and cupped my hands together at my waste, rocking alluringly back and forth as my arms framed my…. assets.

“Hey there handsome, what can little ole me get for you today.” I asked.

“Oh uh thanks for the compliment I guess.” He rubbed his hand to the back of his head, if this were some measly prey human, I would have assumed this was out of nervousness, but no, this was an example of humanity in their predatory prime, and I saw it for what it had to be, an excuse to show off his arms, raising them skyward for his fellow hunter to see, he was showing off! I had earned his attention.

”Also I don’t need anything fancy to drink, a simple black coffee will do. I just need to get a bit of caffeine in my system.”

Such effortless confidence, and what a bold choice of beverage.

“Coming right up.” I announced with a smile. “And can I get a name for that order?”

“Beau, spelled B E A U.”

Beau….. What a beautiful name.

“Coming right up then Beau!” I cheered. 

And while I got to work preparing his drink, I couldn't help but overhear the inane rambling of a herd who knew not what they had with them, who took for granted the prime specimen they hosted in their presence. 

Perhaps I should join them, and help them understand.

“Black coffee? Blegh!” One of the regular humans in their herd called out.

“Seriously Beau, we are trying to help you fit in with the herd, you're not making it easy with such a gross choice!”

I heard a venlil wretch in disgust, and casting a glance over to him I saw him place a lone paw to the forehead of Beau.

“He must be sick! Maybe running a fever? No sane person would order a black coffee.”

“Its just a drink guys.” Beau shot back defensively. “And I like the taste of just the raw beans.”

“What are you talking about? They taste like dirt with nothing in it!”

“I like black coffee.” A timid sounding human could be heard mumbling from out beneath the verbal stampede.

”Yeah and some people like gargling rocks Arun.” The gojid exclaimed emphatically . ”That doesn't make it acceptable behavior!”

This got a giggle out of the bickering herd.

“Hey you should be nicer to your brother.” The adonis of a man defended his fellow human, his instinctive urge to protect his pack manifesting before me. “It’s not his fault he has good taste”.

As he finished speaking, I held my arms out towards Beau, holding the coffee cup up high for him to take.

”Here you go ancestor, One black coffee, warm and fresh! I hope you enjoy it, and please don't hesitate to come back at any time.” I spoke the habitual customer service script with genuine enthusiasm for once in my life, as Beau graciously took his drink from my hands.

“Thank you very much, now how much is this going to set me back?” Beau asked.

“Oh don't worry about that. It's on the house, your girl Jezebel has you covered,” I exclaimed with a wink. Tapping my own holotab to the price scanner, clearing the herds total from the payment screen.

“It wouldn't be very herdlike of me to not help out a newcomer. Especially someone who has been through as much as you all have.”

”Oh um, okay, thanks.” He spoke directly to me again. “That is very kind of you.”

Jesus what a heavenly voice. Is this what I have been missing all my life, had all this time have I foolishly been going after mere prey, when what my body really craved was a huge strong muscular hunter of a man.

As the herd all thanked me before they left, there was only one thought that occupied my mind as the ancestor left my presence.

I needed more.

I took another glance at the work clock. Only 15 minutes left.

I think I overheard the herd talk about going to hang out somewhere, I wasn't paying attention though. I knew now however I needed to get in on that.

I returned my attention to back behind the counter, and excitedly approached my angren manager, who was currently a shivering whimpering mess in the corner.

“Hey Fia, is it okay if I leave a few minutes early today? Something important came up!” I quickly asked.

She didn't respond. Hmmm this could be a problem, actually, wait a minute I have an idea!

“Hey fia if you don't want me to leave early today say literally anything.”

No response.

Perfect!

“Thank you so much! You're the best boss!” I gave my boss an affectionate scritch between her ears before casting off my work apron and sprinting into the bathroom.

I quickly fixed up my makeup, straightened out my hair, and touched up my lipstick as I ran out the door.

As I took off down the street, I saw a welcome and familiar sight, my boyfriend Bruce had just walked out of the grooming salon he worked at, his work bag in hand, as he had just gotten off his shift, just like me. This was wonderful!

 I all but tackled him as I wrapped him up in a hug from behind, He yelped out in surprise, 

“Jezebel! What’s going on? You just about gave me a heart attack!”

“No time to explain, super hot ancestor, you need to see, follow me quick!”

I grabbed Bruce by the hand and hauled him down the street after me. I was glad I was able to grab him. We had similar interests in many things, and we were not shy about sharing. 

“Jezebel? What has gotten into you, did you see an ancestor?”

Annoyingly the blue haired and fabulously accessorized human managed to plant his feet and bring us both to a stop.

“I did Bruce and it was amazing. He was literally breathtaking I swear, Biceps as round as my head, Pecks I could lose myself in, his face was so angular and defined, and it was alluring like nothing I had ever seen."

As I recalled the ancestor I couldn't help but fantasize about that brief smile of his. The idea of those sharp fangs affectionately grazing my throat, oh my god why did that sound so hot.

I shook my head in an effort to snap myself back into reality.

“Please, they're just ahead, come and see.”

I eased Bruce ahead further down the town sidewalks, following the yelps and screams of the tasteless to guide us to our target.

“There! Do you see them?”

Bruce's eyes went wide, just like mine did less than an hour ago.

“Oh wow you're right he’s hot.” he said in awe before chuckling out. “You know,  I wouldn't mind if that predator in particular devoured me.” He spoke with a smirk.

“I know right! Now come on, let's go meet him.”

“Are you sure that's a good idea?”

“Oh please, between the prettiest human in town and the hottest guy.” I ruffled his dazzling blue hair. “He's bound to love at least one of us!” I beamed.

Bruce took my hand this time, and we both booked it towards the ancestors’ herd.

As we finally caught up to them I tugged on the poncho of one of the humans on the edge of the ancestors' herd.

“Hi there!” I greeted my newest herd member. “Where are we going?”

The human smiled excitedly at my presence. “Oh there's a lot of debate, but I think we are going to stop by the media nook first.”

“That's so cool! It will be so much fun to show the ancestors some modern movies! Oh and I'm jezebel by the way, and this is Bruce.”

“I’m Arun!” They replied excitedly, before taking both me and Bruce by the arm and embracing us into the herd.

We quickly assimilated into the herd, taking in its energy and adapting to its flow.

I then turned my head to admire Beau, so majestic he was in the evening sun, so effortlessly did he project confidence and strength, just being in his presence set my heart a flutter. I just knew that this day was going to be great!

Herd Tracker : Update : +1 ‘Horny Barista’ Acquired
Herd Tracker : Update : +1 ‘Fabulous Salon Worker’ Acquired

----------------Part 2--------------------

The following in a response to a writing prompt posted by u/Frostedscales. I had a flash of inspiration and pretty much brainstormed the idea, wrote and edited it in like two and a half hours, so apologies if its a bit rushed, please point out any typos or grammatical errors in the comments below. Please enjoy!

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Falek - Concerned father.

Oh dear, oh my, oh Sogalick please hurry little Oliver.

I glanced frantically around the park, eyes wide looking for exterminators or even other venlil.

The park was mostly empty during these claws, but I couldn't take any chances, not with the safety of my precious pup. 

I looked to my son, a wonderful little human boy named Oliver.

He was a predator, a being that needed to kill to survive, but he couldn't help that, and it made him no less worthy of life and happiness, which I would do my damnedest to provide.

I knew he couldn't survive forever off of formula. Like any mammal he needed to learn to, ‘acquire’ food on his own.

And while I couldn't bring myself to hunt for him, it wasn't my place as prey.

I did my best to teach him every skill he might need to do the deed himself.

I dressed up like a human, using an odd plastic secretary general Myer mask I found on Bleat marketplace. I wore it when I was instructing him, to best emulate a proper human parent teaching him how to hunt.

Sadly I was no predator, but I did all the predator research I could to make up for this fact.

I trained him to lunge like a predator, using a flower bird plushie I had tied a string to in order to emulate a fleeing prey.

We practiced stalking in the back yard, partaking in a human hunting game I heard of called tag.

Being a responsible parent, I also did my best to help show him what was and was not acceptable food. I had to modify my personal values somewhat to accommodate the new love of my life, but I would not break them outright by suggesting to him that sapients might be on the menu.

I showed him pictures of local prey animals when he was sipping from his bottle so he would associate them with food. And I coated my paw with bitter wood tree bark, and goaded him into licking it, so that he would know that venlil doesn't taste good and we make bad food.

Some days I spent hours with him trying to make sure these lessons stuck.

Unfortunately all this training seemed to be for not however.

I had conditioned a bunch of flower birds to congregate in a secluded area of the park, I left stryu crumbs every day to attract them.

They weren't that smart as a species, to the point that they didn't even try to run away when I had set an actual predator pup among them. It was therefore very easy for Oliver to get close to them, but I couldn't get him to go after them. No matter how many of the birds crossed his sightlines, he wouldn't try to lunge at them. He just sat there! Innocently just giggling and flopping his hands towards them.

“Oliver.” I whisper shouted towards the boy, doing my best imitation of the action of yanking at the string like I had often done with the flower bird during our practice hunts. “Catch the bird Oliver, catch!”

This finally seemed to get his attention, and with a gasp of shock from me, I finally saw my boy Oliver locking in, he had just wandered up to a flower bird, he was no longer giggling, his eyes were locked onto his prey, and determination had crossed his face. The flower bird was looking entirely the wrong way.

This was going to be it, wasn't it. His first hunt. Excitement and dread roiled in my chest, my tail and ears couldn't decide if they were supposed to shake in excitement or tense up and lie flat in fear. I had done everything in my power to make sure Oliver could be the best hunter he could be, so that whatever world he decided he wanted to embrace, he would be as well equipped for it as possible.

I nearly yelped as he lunged with the full force of his stubby little legs and arms. Eagerly wrapping his hands around the oblivious flower bird.

This was it! He had done it. He sat upright, the bird firmly in his paw. His other free paw rose high above the bird. His fingers curling up, readying for a clawed strike to finish his kill. I didn't teach him how to kill, but I presumed that his predator instinct would help guide his paw the rest of the way.
 
I felt a tear roll down my snout, pride swelling in my chest as he took his paw, wrapped it around the bird's skull and…. He started petting it?!

Dread filled me again. Oh no! Why hadn't he killed it, a vulnerable prey was in his hands and he couldn't bring himself to fulfill his instincts?!

Was I a bad father? Had I not trained him well enough?

By Sogalick, oh no, DID I INFECT HIM WITH PREY DISEASE!! Had I made him… defective somehow?

No no no no no this couldn't be the case.

I ran to my boy in the center of the tucked away section of the park, free from exterminator eyes, and gently took the flower bird from my human child's hands.

He looked on at me with curiosity and with affection in his eyes. I couldn't help but wave my tail and wiggle my ears happily in the presence of his adoration. I would do anything for him, including…. Doing what a prey should never do. 

I held the flower bird up for the boy to see.

“Hey there Oliver, do you see this?”

“Bweh?”

He seemed to babble curiously.

“Yes, do you remember what it is called?”

“Bow… er Birf” He managed out. 

“Yes very good, that was really close!”

I ruffled the little tuft of fur on his head affectionately.

“Now listen carefully little one, this is very important.”

I held the flower bird up for the boy to see. “You see this little one, this is a prey bird, this is food, do you understand fooooood.”

This got a reaction from the boy, but not the one I had hoped for.

“Fwood.” he spoke, stopping to think for a second. “Stir berry star burry!!!”

Oh no this isn't what I wanted.

“I'm sorry Oliver but there will be no star berries for you today, your predator body can’t survive on star berries alone you need.” I did my best to hide a shudder. “Flesh.” I spoke as cheerily as I could make myself sound.

It was then I did the unthinkable, I grabbed the flower bird firmly with both paws, one still around the body the other around the head and. 

*SNAP*

It was done. I opened my paws to reveal the twitching bleeding corpse of a flower bird.

“Here you go Oliver, food!” I spoke encouragingly.

Oliver froze.

His eyes dilated on the morsel of a flower bird.

Yes this is it, the bloodlust is activating, his first carcass, maybe not his first kill but still his first capture, his first successful hunt, the rewards were finally about to be his!

Oliver finally collected himself, his predator brain finally fully realized what was present before him, he opened his mouth wide, as if to take a massive bite of his prey before. 

“Bwaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh”

He started crying. And not just the occasional little whimper, or dossur tears, but a full on blood curdling wale.

“No! Oliver! You're not supposed to feel empathy for your prey, here try smelling this, maybe this can activate your bloodlust.”

I dug a claw into the flower birds flank, getting it to spill more blood, and I wafted it towards Oliver's flat snout. Which only seemed to make him cry more when he saw the bird now bleeding too.

Oh no, this can't be happening! My boy Oliver is a defective predator, I really have tainted him.

I couldn't help but start bawling too. I had failed my boy, I am the worst parent.

I collapsed to the ground, my fur stained with the orange evidence of my failure.

I don't know how long I laid there, wallowing in my defeat, in my failure.

That was when I heard the distinctive sound of leaves being parted and branches cracking as someone forced their way through the park’s brush.

Oh no! Was it an exterminator? They would never accept my boy Oliver hunting on venlil prime. I quickly turned and scooped up Oliver and held him tightly against my scruff, I searched for escape routes. Maybe I could run to the local shelter, I might be arrested for predator disease, but so long as I could get my boy to somewhere safe, that was all that mattered.

I was relieved however when instead I was greeted to the sight of… what was this? A human female emerging from the bushes.

She looked over to me, covered in the remains of my defeat.

I was fortunate actually, no wait I was Sogalick blessed, this was a hope not just for me but for Oliver.

“You! Human! I need your help please.” I begged.

I ran up to the human woman, and while part of me worried that the blood on my person might set off her own bloodlust, I didn't care anymore, I had failed a child already, I wouldn't fail this one.

“Please savage human, relieve me of this gift, I have failed them, I have failed to raise them properly and nurture the bloodlust within, I am unworthy to parent such a wonderful child.”

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Sarah Smith - grieving widow

I looked down at the scruffy blood covered excuse for a venlil. His wool was in tatters and the fur around his eyes stained with tears. And he was holding a… human toddler.

What the fuck was going on.

“Holy shit slow the fuck down, are you okay little guy?”

I asked, gesturing for calm and looking the little boy dead in the eyes.

“He’s fine, please take him to someone who can raise him right.”

The venlil pushed the child unexpectedly into my arms.

The child himself was relatively free of blood, and to my relief unharmed.

“I'm sorry sir but where did you get this child, and what happened? Why are you covered in blood?”

The venlil clutched his arms to his side and tugged anxiously at his arm wool.

“I.. I adopted Oliver from the human refugee program, his parents perished in the battle over the cradle and during the raid on earth. I have always sympathized with you humans, capable of caring and empathy but shunned by the galaxy regardless. It was a daunting prospect to adopt a predator child, but I knew there was unlikely to be many takers on venlil prime. But I have already failed a child, I lost her in a colony raid to the arxur, I was to much of a coward to protect her, but I swore I would make up for it with this child. But instead I just failed in a different way this time. I was trying to teach him to hunt, like any good predator parent, but… but… when he finally caught his prey.. He wouldn't kill it, and when I did the act myself, and When he had the blood scent flowing into his nostrils, nothing happened, he refused to eat it, I think I've tainted him, gave him prey disease or something, please tell me you kind and empathetic humans can fix him! That you have cures available for the defectives in your ranks.” he pleaded out.

“Woah man slow down, that's a lot to take in at once.” I pleaded with the man, pausing to take a moment to comprehend properly what he just said.

“So let me get this straight, you were trying to teach this kid to hunt?”

“Yes and he wouldn't eat the flesh in front of him, I know you humans require it to survive, but if I can't get him to eat it, I knew he would eventually just…”

I cut the ven off.

“I’m sorry, but have you been giving him B12 supplements?”

“B12? He asked incredulously. Is that the baby formula they gave me with him? I have made sure he has taken all of that, Yes. I'm only out here because I eventually ran out of it.”

I sighed, and stopped for a moment to look over the human boy. He was clean, his hair well combed, his shirt near spotless and well ironed. He looked healthy and happy despite the disheveled state of his father.

“B12 is a special vitamin supplement that humans can take to survive without meat, you don't need to worry about teaching your child how to hunt sir.”

“Wait! What?” He bleated out in shock. “So he doesn't need to….. But…. but what happens if he wants to go to earth at some point, to interact and be with his people. Won't he be isolated if he can't hunt as well as his fellow humans, won't they hate him for being too prey like.” he whimpered out.

“How many times do we need to tell you fluff balls, we don't hunt anymore!!!” I spat out irritably.

The ven man for his part bowed apologetically, his ears going flat.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry. I… I just assumed… oh speh me. I should have known.”

He slumped down in defeat. “I’m just an ignorant bigot of a venlil. Unsuited to be a father.”

Aw man, don't be like that little guy.

I approached the prone man, with a grimace on my face, regretful of my outburst.

“Hey there, it's okay. I'm sorry I yelled. I've just had a really bad couple of days.”

“I’m sorry too for pushing all of this off on you all of a sudden, I'm sure you were just trying to enjoy your paw in the park before you heard me crying like a pup.”

Oliver in my arms started to get restless. Making concerned sounding babbles and reaching his stubby little arms out toward his father.

As I handed the boy back I asked a very prudent question.

“Listen sir? I don't believe I got your name.”

“It's Falek.”

“Well Falek, answer me this, do you love Oliver.” I asked him gently.

“More than the world.” He replied earnestly.

I smiled toothlessly in return.

“Then I think you will do just fine as a dad.” I assured him. “Though you really ought to go to whatever adoption center you picked him up from and start demanding some answers yesterday. This is stuff they should have informed you about upfront.”

The venlil did a pitiful little gasp for air, his voice hoarse from crying.

“I will, thank you.”

“No problem.” I replied.

“Actually Mrs….”

“Sarah.”

“Mrs.Sarah, do you think that umm… if you're not too busy, that maybe you could help me wipe this blood off, I have some baby wipes in my bag over there, and I could help you get clean too.”

He gestured to the stains on my blouse that must have gotten on me from Oliver, the marks that I hadn't noticed in all the commotion.

“And maybe when we are cleaned up, you can take a look at Oliver's arrangements back at my home. It would be invaluable to get the opinions of a genuine human in regards to human childcare. You never know what little things can matter to different species.”

I looked at the cute little kid, happily playing with his father's wool and smiled.

“I think I would love to tag along.” I replied.

--------

We got ourselves mostly cleaned up and made our way back to the man's apartment, but not before he graciously stopped to buy me some food for my troubles.

Star berries are what he called them. He said Oliver really likes them, so he assumed correctly that they would suit my pallet as well.

The man was very charming, and considerate as well. He had a wonderfully decorated bedroom set up for the boy, well stocked with toys and earth craft supplies too, and loads of colorful clothes for the child as well.

Not all of them were boys' clothes, but Falek insisted that he let Oliver pick them out, so I waved off the concern. My only real critique was that Oliver would be getting much better sleep if he got higher quality blackout curtains for his bedroom window, as the current ones didn't make the room pitch black enough.

Falek said he was worried when he originally installed the curtains, since Oliver revealed himself to be scared of the dark, but it was then I introduced him to the concept of a night light.

All in all, it was a pleasant evening and we exchanged contacts at one point so we could get a hold of each other again should it be necessary. Falek even asked if I could come back for a play date, since Oliver had seemed to take a liking to me.

As I finally waved goodbye and began to walk towards the door, Falek turned to give his fussy child some love. And taking one last glance at him now, looking at him in his element as a father, happily interacting with his sweet little son Oliver. I realized something. He looked kind of cute actually.

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Strength in Secrecy - A Past Less Taken - Finale

Big Craig - LATF Agent

The kid's father had delivered me two blocks short of the farsul exterminators checkpoint, he dropped me off with my new clothes and a blanket to throw over my head for concealment. The man had gone above and beyond, when he risked himself by complaining at the exterminators in order to distract them just long enough so I could get away without being spotted.

The checkpoint he had helped me sneak past led to an abandoned industrial park. Lifeless factories and chemical plants sat in shambles and rusted over with neglect. It wasn't much, but it was all I had, and at least I wouldn’t have to worry about attracting too much attention from the mutilated locals.

After a bit of exploring, I tucked myself away into the crevices of some old concrete plant, as I settled in for the night, I felt my stomach grumble. Damn I should have asked for some food from that family, but I was too adrenaline high to think straight at the moment, and I think so was the father too.

For some reason Ice cream seemed pretty good right now, weird.

I thought about going out to forage for food and water, maybe go see if I could steal some. But eventually I decided that for now I just needed to get some rest, I was too worn out from a day of running and hiding. And needed to recuperate before I attempted any risky heists.

From the top of the plant, with my blanket wrapped around myself and my head nestled into a rolled up sack I found, I actually had a decent view over the neighborhood I had just come from and the city beyond it. God this situation was so fucked, was this really what earth would have looked like if the farsul got their hands on us and they wern’t complete morons and figured out our B12 deficiency issue? Fuck me.

What would history even look like if humanity had never joined the picture how and when we did, I pondered.

The arxur war is still probably going, fuck I wonder if any humans have been throw into the farms yet. God.

But would those be better than the predator disease facilities no doubt littering earth by this point.

I shuddered at all the terrifying implications that had always seemed so distant in the past, someone else's problem, but now that they were happening to my people. It felt far too real.

The galaxy would never learn the truth of its founders and origin, humanity would just join the suckers.

While It was always maddening to hear what the feds did to cultures they uplifted, it was certainly a whole new type of horror seeing what it looked like when it was your own species on the chopping block. Fuck I really really hope that this is just an alternate dimension and not some altered timeline that the mirror had sent me to.

Oh god that mirror thing was probably meant for Konsa wasn't it, he would be sent to this dimension’s version of Leirn if my dumbass hadn't activated it. Shit what does Leirn look like right now? The yotul would probably be fully fed-ified by now, and Konsa with his temper? He wouldn't last a day there. Actually scratch that, he would probably last longer than I would here. He could at least superficially blend in on Leirn, while I most certainly could not do the same here.

I felt my eyes get heavy as the call of sleep began to take me, and I did my best to purge the stress inducing realizations from my mind, and I was about to doze off entirety when I heard a faint buzzing noise, I thought it was a bug at first but after a second glance I saw a floating light at the edge of my vision. I opened my eyes and saw.

Shit a drone! Probably of the intel variety. They knew where I was!

I rose to my feet and wrapped a blanket around myself again, tired and with my adrenaline spent, but began to run again in spite of it all.

I could make out the noise of loud vans closing in on me from below as I slid down a concrete mixing shoot to the ground floor to try and lose the drone. I attempted to throw some rocks at it but it was to no avail. It was too high.

“Shit shit shit shit shit I am totally fucked!”

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Solti - Super Venlil Villain

The Sovlin statue was working perfectly, its yotul racism inducing powers were laying waste to the psyche of the two mighty LATF agents! I could feel the hatred burning in my bones as well, but it was more a simmering warmth instead of the flame of hatred that burned within my heart., for my hatred of the dratted yotul was already far in excess of anything this anomalous bauble could conjure!

I looked on as the two punched and kicked at their former ally, wonderfully casting aside their weapons in order to make the impending beat down all the more drawn out and satisfying.

You should have just looked into the mirror Konsa, you might have actually lived in the alternate reality the mirror would have sent you to. Oh well.

The farsul and krakotl thanks to being hateful enough to attempt to pummel Konsa to death manually were putting on such a wonderful show, what an honor it was to see Konsa fighting for his life for my amusement.

And since he was putting on such a great performance, I might as well get off a good monologue so he may die in further agony at my villainous revelations!

“Oh how delightful it is to see my nemesis finally come to suffer after so much time. How positively stimulating!”

“What did I do to you…. Ooof” Konsa cried out, as he demanded an answer just as Soap had pecked him in the head.

“You ruined me! That's what you did,  back on that day. That wretched life changing day on the playground where YOU beat me up, and for being on the receiving end of your barbarity I myself somehow got suspended! Well guess what, before that I was regarded back home as mommy and daddies good little Solti. The wonderful perfect little boy, but when you got me suspended, that flipped my parents opinion of me on its head.”

“That seems like a you problem… Oww my balls” He tried a snide comeback but Reqi was quick to punish him with a decisive kick.

“Anyways as I was saying, my father outraged by my disgraced status disowned me, and left me with my impoverished and disabled mother, I had to give up my dreams of going to college just to support her, but she later died anyways of an undiagnosed brain tumor that took her unexpectedly in the night. Do you know what it's like to wake up, cuddled up next to the corpse of your dead mother because you could only afford one bed!"

“Okay that's pretty bad.” Konsa admitted mid dodge. “But I fail to see how all of that is my…”

“Crack.”

Soap had pecked Konsa in the head again.

“Why do you keep hitting me in the head!”

“Its not like there's anything in there.” Soap retorted.

“You ruined me Konsa!” I brayed loudly. “So on the night of my mothers death I endeavored to make it my life's goal to get revenge on you! I searched the galaxy far and wide to find the instruments of my revenge and eventually I discovered anomalies, and began to collect them , and now I will show you the one that would spell the beginning of the end for you!”

I ran off to my storage chest and began to root around for the anomaly that started this whole revenge quest off.

I listened to the songs of Konsa’s beat down as I scrounged for it.

“Ooof”

“go build a train and cry into the water tank!”

“Hey I had like one model set when I was little I would hardly call that a ……. Ahhhh watch the claws.”

“Attavist.”

Thump.

“Gah”

“Tashana”

Smack.

“Ouchy.”

“Never pouched primitive"

Rip.

“Not the claws!”

“Ah ha I found it!”

I excitedly ran up the glass, and stood in front of a section that wasn't riddled with bullet holes.

“Hey you two, stop beating him up for a second, trust me he's going to hate this.”

The two LATF agents whilst near incoherent with racist rage were able to arrest themselves for just long enough to let Konsa get a look at what I was holding.

“Behold, the anomaly that allowed me to enact my devious plans. By chipping off salt from this anomaly, salt from earth's oceans, and scattering the grains on foreign planets, I was able to infect the galaxy with anomalies!"

“What the fuck? Why is it a salt rock?”

”I don't fucking know?” I replied, before giving the anomaly a casual lick. “It tastes good though.”

“Wait, anomalies existed on other planets besides earth before you got suspended and your life supposedly ruined, so you couldn't have brought anomalies to the galaxy.”

“Ah buts thats the true genius of my plan, I discovered a time travel anomaly, and brought anomalies to space in the past, and then all I had to do was wait, wait for the galaxies lingering belief in predator disease to manifest a genuine predator diseased anomaly, a shadow stalker roaming in the woods outside our childhood town conveniently enough, I captured it, isolated the PD strain, and you know what I did with it Konsa.”
“I don’t know dammit!?”

“I gave it to your sister when I slammed her into that locker on that fateful day.”

“Wait? What!”

“That’s right Konsa, It was me, all along! ME! The best bully in the entire galaxy, the one who killed the sister mom and dad of the stupid dum dum Konsa!!!! Moo ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!”

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Konsa - LATF Agent

“You WHAT!!!!” I roared, a swell of adrenaline overwhelming me, all sense of restraint left my body, I reared up on my tail doing a powerful double kick against Soap and Reqi, who had been pummeling and scratching me senseless up until that point, and were currently standing between me and that worthless fluffball!

I ran straight at that bastard, my blood roiling with rage as I headbutted my way through the glass in one violent motion.

“What the FUCK?!” The pipsqueak bleated.

‘SLAM’

He wasn't able to bleat anything else out as I dive tackled him to the floor, then grabbed the Sovlin figure in one hand, neutralized it with my abilities and then slammed it hard into Solti’s face.

All coherent thought had left my mind, this man.. No this thing hurt my sister, killed my family, ruined my life.

The cuts, the bruises, the aching testacles, they were all disregarded as I rained blow after blow after blow upon this oversized future sherpa rug.

Eventually my vision filled with orange as I struck the venlil without relent. Only to be eventually stopped, as the pleads of Reqi slowly began to penetrate by bloodlusted haze as the adrenaline and emotions of the moment began to wear off.

“Konsa! please stop, we need him alive to save Craig.”

Reqi and Soap had grabbed ahold of my arms, as I let up just enough for them to stop my assault.

I looked down onto the bloody mess that was now Solti, both of his eyes were swollen shut, and he was missing three quarters of the teeth in his mouth.

“Fwease Swop Hurfing Mwee”

He just about gurgled out through broken teeth and a dislocated jaw.

“Awwgh Wain Wurtzs”

I look between Solti and my bloodsoak paws, as anger at what the man had done is slowly replaced by grief.

I collapse into Reqi's arms, Tears filling my eyes, as the culmination of my entire story arc is suddenly and unexpectedly wrapped up in like a busy afternoon out of literally nowhere.

Which is a weird way to think about it, but at least now I know why my family is dead now, and looking at Soap, handcuffing Solti’s arms securely behind his back, I know now it is all over, all there is left to do is mourn my loss with their now being closure for my worried mind.

I cried more into Reqi’s arms as she gently pats my head a bit more to comfort me, she even helps groom some of the blood out of my fur with her tongue.

She is such a nice friend.

Our cuddling is momentarily interrupted however by the sound of Soap yelling something at a now struggling Solti.

“Oh no you don’t! No more anomalous shenanigans for you today jackass!”

I quickly stood at attention, as I saw what looked like an old earth pocket watch get kicked across the floor by SOAP, who is currently dealing with a struggling Solti.

I snatch it up to take a closer look at it and keep it away from Solti.

“That must be how Solti time traveled.” Reqi commented. “But now that I think about it, his time travel story makes no sense. Konsa you told me that story on the way here how you squared off right? Well you were squaring off because he hurt your sister in the past before he got suspended, but he only hurt your sister because you got him suspended in the first place.”

“I recognize that artifact actually." Soap answered Reqi, as he examined the watch with a sideways glance. “It was another one of the rumored artifacts that kept escaping our organization's grasp. That watch is the conceptual embodiment of cinematic time travel, it doesn't have to make any sense.”

“Oooohhhh” Me and Reqi both said in unison.

“We need to hurry up and get this guy back to base.” I spoke up, remembering why we were here to begin with after the emotions of anger and loss racking my psyche abated some more.

“Our Craig is still trapped in another dimension! We have to get him back quickly. And Solti is the only one who may know how to get him back.”

“I would never help my arch nemesis!" Solti spoke defiantly, cuffed and held securely by Soaps wings claws.

“Well it's too bad your compliance won't be necessary!”

Spoke a familiar voice triumphantly from behind us.

Turning around I saw Loril, safe and sound, and holding a dossur in her hand? And Dragging Kenra behind her, who was making out with Jalu?

“Loril, you're safe!” I exclaimed in relief, having completely forgotten the gunfire I had heard earlier before the whole Solti encounter.

“And you have a new friend, and your brother is making out with Jalu?” Reqi uttered with confusion.

“Yeh i dont really have a lot of time to explain, but this weirdo dossur knows how to undo the mirror effects and Konsa I’m going to need you to neutralize an anomaly on our way out, the reason should be self explanatory” She spoke gesturing towards her romancing squad mates behind her with her tail.

“Sounds good” Soap squawked out with haste. ”Let's get back to base quick and save Craig!"

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Gebi - Exterminator - Shadow Farsul

I watched through the camera feed, intently analyzing the distressing sight I had seen before me. A human predator, a sight no one had seen on this planet for multiple generations, or at least that's what I thought had been the case.

But here, right before my very eyes was something that should have been impossible. Our uplifting teams had been meticulous, the ones in orbit making sure the mutagenic gas hit every population center on the planet far and wide. Every food shipment was dosed with the cure, entire water tables laced with our gift to humanity. 

Exterminators patrolled far and wide for any new supposed sightings of the sub sapient predator humans.

It was sad really, seeing such a social species being forced to live separate from their society. That's why we were so thorough with making sure every last human was gifted the cure in some way shape or form, so not a single uncured human had to live apart from the herd.

I would feel sad that we had failed this human, allowing him to be born into the world tainted as he was. But… there was no sympathy to be found in my heart.

I looked down at the torn silvery scraps of an exterminator uniform.

Craigs Exterminator uniform.

I struggled to keep the tears at bay, to look professional in front of my men. But I couldn't help but watch as a single drop escaped my eyelids, and rolled down onto and off the shiny fabric to the floor.

I squeezed my paws hard.

It was wise for an exterminator; one tasked with uplifting at that; to not get too emotionally invested in his work. But this was Craig! And I was pissed.

And judging from all the tense jaws and rigid tails in the room, I was not the only one that was utterly livid.

Everyone liked Craig. He was one of the first human exterminators to be admitted to our precinct, the first of the human recruits to be properly raised and trained to guild standards in this historically turbulent and resistant region of earth.

He was a ray of sunshine, eager and devoted to do a good job, and he gave the best scritches.

Officer Feik was devastated when he lost him.

I remember the words of the officer who had not too long ago barged into my office, face covered in tears, frantically and rapidly stammering out explanations and apologies.

“I'm so sorry! He… he wanted so badly to prove himself, to take in a PD suspect all by himself. I.. I only let him out of my sight for a second. I don't know what happened?! Oh by the elders this is all my fault!”

That predator bastard had hurt Craig! There was no trace of him but these scraps, That means he could have only been eaten! I didn't want to think about it, to let that horrid image haunt my mind.

I glanced around the command room, at the rows of blue holoscreens being diligently  monitored by my men. Controllers in their paws manning the intel drones they were commanding.

“Don’t worry sir,” My second in command spoke confidently from beside me. “This predator won’t take a single unmonitored breath so long as our men are onto him.” He rubbed my back comfortingly.

But not as comfortingly as Craig could.

FUCK!

“We will have him contained soon, he won't be able to compromise our uplift efforts any further.”

Damn, I had almost nearly forgotten about the uplift.

“I wasn't thinking about the uplift.” I admitted. “But you bring up a good point.”

The humans at this point had nearly forgotten about their predator passed. Our history cleansing efforts were going well, and the general public had all but relegated the existence of predator humans to the stuff of predator diseased urban legends.

“It will take some time to round up everyone who has seen the beast.” I spoke. “We must be careful with handling the predator. If he had exposed himself to someplace more populated, it could have set back our uplift efforts by years in this region alone. I don't want people to start comparing us to the east europe and west asia sectors.”

“Well fortunately for us it didn’t.” he replied. “Now where do you think we should send this man when we capture him.”

“Capture him? No. he is too dangerous  to be taken in, he has already killed an armed exterminator. Let him burn.”

My second looked at me shocked for a second, but his expression soon turned to one of understanding.

“I.. understand.” He nodded before leaning in close to my ears and whispering out. “For Craig,”

Taking a second from watching the pursuit, I quickly made an email to the uplift emergency response center to request a redosing of the local water table with the cure. I don't know if this predator human was a one off, but we couldn't take any chances.

As i finished that off I looked again back at the main intel drone feed, only to witness the comforting sight of multiple extermination officers honing in on the predator, they had begun to torch any potential escape roots for the predator with long lasting sticky fuel.

The predator was now cornered.

And as I looked at a singular feed showing the predator with his back literally against the wall, surrounded on all sides by walls of flame. The flesh eater was now cornered like prey.

I could only imagine how afraid he must be, being slowly cooked alive by the heat, as multiple fire suit laden exterminators simply walked through the infernoes with ease, flamethrowers bared ahead of them.

The thing I begrudgingly thought of as a human looked on in terror. He would die afraid, and never again would he harm his prey brothers.

“Let him cook!” One of the exterminators could be heard roaring over the radio. “FOR CRAIG!!!!!!”

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Vahni - LATF Receptionist

I led Craig through the hallway of the LATF, moving rapidly towards the hangar bay.

I had just received a call from Soap telling me he was coming in on the shuttle and fast. The call had actually interrupted Craig who was fruitlessly trying to warm me with a hug, utilizing his so-called ‘infamously warm human body heat’. He had misunderstood me when I was describing myself and I had made the mistake of referring to myself as a cold person.

It was a fruitless endeavor but cute and endearing in its own way so I allowed it.

As we entered the hangar bay and I made my way towards pad 6-7, I felt Craig slip his hand from my paw and run towards a figure out of the corner of my vision, and it was Helif?

While Craig ran towards him excitedly at first, His gait grew less excited and more tepid as he grew closer to the arxur.

“Ah small Craig? What brings you here?” Relif asked with genuine confusion. Glancing towards Craig, who was doing his hardest to stand firm under Relid’s curious gaze.

“I… I..  wanted to give you this!” Craig let out meekly, holding out a singular tundra flower, that I never noticed him actually picking.

“I wanted you to have it, I know it's not much but I wanted to apologize for… for being scared of you!”

“Ah, no offense is taken.” Relif spoke as he took the flower.

“Thats not all!” Craig spoke slowly starting to find his confidence.

“I have learned a lot through you. You and Vahni and I just want you to know that because of you, I understand what the federation has done to my home, and when I get back, I'm going to do everything in my power to help fix it!”

Overhearing this I placed a hand on Craig's shoulder with concern.

“That’s a very honorable sentiment Craig, but you should know the federation at its prime were experts on suppressing the efforts of those trying to openly do exactly what you are claiming to want to try."

“I know!” He fired back excitedly. “I will be careful, my actions will be subtle, I will use my position within the guild to subtly help those who would fight against the federation, and also quietly spread the truth about their misdeeds. I have this all planned out."

I and Relif did our best to temper Craig's expectations and inform him of all the potential ways his plans could go awry, our attention however was soon drawn away from our discussion as the landing jets of Soap’s transport could be heard burning away as it touched down on the pad.

The ship quickly powered down and we were soon met with the sight of the familiar squad, who were already arguing amongst themselves as they jogged hastily towards us.

“Where are Jalu and Kenra?! You were supposed to check on them Konsa!” shouted Soap.

“They are still on the ship making out.” Konsa replied.

“I thought I told you to neutralize that artifact.”

“I did!”

“I think maybe there were some unresolved feelings before the brush.” Reqi speculated aloud.

Soap side, before skidding to a halt in front of us.

“Vahni, do you have the artifact!”

“Yes!”

“Quick hand it to small Craig. And Small Craig, I need you to carefully unbox the mirror, and hold it in front of you and point it at your face.”

Craig quickly did so, carefully pulling the protective wrapping from the mirror.

“Ok! Now what?”

“All you have to do now is look into the mirror with intent, and flip the mirror over so it's looking away from you. Do that, and you're home free kid.”

“Wow! just like that.” Craig spoke with aww. Before looking up to everyone here.

“Is it okay if I say something before I go?”

Craig asked.

Soap herumfed. “Sure just make it quick we don't know what kind of state Our bigger Craig is in.” Small Craig nodded in understanding. 

“Thats fine, I just wanted to say, I am glad to have met you all, this was a paradigm shifting encounter, well it is for me at least. I want you all to know that I have learned my lesson, and with the knowledge you guys have given me.” Craig looked warmly at me with a smile. “I will endeavor to make my world a better place, so that one day we might live like you, so that some day predator and prey will live together in harmony!”

“Goodbye Craig.”

I spoke warmly.

“It has been… interesting meeting you.” Halif added.

“Goodbye little guy!” Reqi cheered.

“Goodbye to you all as well, It has been an honor.” Craig spoke with finality before he looked intently at the mirror, and with a smile, he flipped it over.

“AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Big Craig screamed, as he suddenly winked into existence, violently exploding from his flexible airtight suit, which we had clearly underestimated the flexiness of.

“Get if off Get it off!” He roared, his voice much more deep compared to his herbivore counterpart. 

He violently patted himself down, his skin red from what looked like first degree burns and maybe a few spots with some second and third degree charring, I think he was missing his eyebrows as well.

While Craig often looked like he was perpetually sunburnt, this was a whole other level.

 Oh shit! Little Craig!

“Craig calm down!”

“It's okay Craig you're alright you're safe.”

“Oh shit guys. Fuck ME Fuck ME.” Craig winced as he slowly realized he was no longer in danger.

“Medic!” Soap yelled into his radio, “Medics to landing pad… “ He sighed with reluctance. “Six Seven.”

“Hay!!!”

Craig Jered before. “Oww Oww Oww” he followed up with, as raising his arm to cheer at the far too outdated and overused earth meme stretched some of his burnt skin uncomfortably.

“What happened to you Craig?” I asked with concern. ”I mean what was happening?” I followed. “Why were you screaming? Why are you so burnt up?”

“I was sent to some fucked up alternate dimension? Timeline? One where earth had been uplifted by the federations and their bodies and biology mutilated to resemble these ugly and disgusting skin dinosaur things."

“It was an alternate dimension” Spoke Reqi. “But we are glad to have you back!”

“And maybe you have learned a lesson about going through other people's mail.” Konsa complained.

As the dossur medics ran in with their medical mechas and placed him on a stretcher and began to treat his wounds. We all discussed our days and experiences on what happened.

“Wow Konsa.” I spoke in awe. “I can't believe you just resolved all your personal issues and the mystery of your troubled past in one day like that. Not everyone can be so lucky.”

“Yeh, I'm still coming to terms with all this honestly. But it's…. It's nice to have this weight off my back. Even if I'm still feeling kind of down about it.”

“Oh come here.” Reqi whined, before grabbing onto Konsa and hugging him tight, burrying his snout in her chest in an attempt to comfort the young man.

“This whole experience all just goes to show how dangerous these anomalies can be when they find their way into the wrong paws.” Soap spoke towards the assembled squad, using his typical teaching voice. ”It goes to show why it is so important to not only keep them contained where they can't hurt anyone, and to not let the public gain knowledge of them, and encourage people to seek them out.”

Konsa managed to unbury his head from Reqi's chest fluff to add on to Soap’s little lecture.

“I guess it just goes to show guys that there really is Strength in secrecy.”
 
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Authors Note

And there we go, the conclusion to my 'little' Strength in secrecy Ficnap. Thanks to BigFella4054 for allowing me to play around with his world and characters. Even if I play a bit rough with them sometimes.

I had a lot of fun putting this together, and uplifting this slept on villain to the heights he truly deserved! I myself look forward to seeing where the actual story really goes and seeing if I somehow guessed anything right lol.

Anyways, thank you all for reading this far.

Oh and before I forget, lets just make this all nice and cannon compliant real quick!

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Konsa - Sweepy LATF Agent

One second I was being hugged by Reqi in the hangar bay having a relieving moment as I figured out what happened to my sister and resolved all my personal issues. However I ran into the issue that Reqi started to squeeze me too hard.

It was then that I struggled breathing and eventually opened my eyes.

And I was… in bed?

Oh it was just a dream.

The pressure on my neck let off as Reqi’s nocturnal strangling abated.

Oh dang, that was a nice dream! I think?

It was weird that it was from multiple perspectives and it hurt a lot.

But judging from all my teeth being still in my mouth, I guess it was just one of those weird LATF things.

I looked over the end table and flipped my phone up with a paw.

Hmmm, fifteen minutes before the alarm went off, I guess I didn't sleep in.

I thought about maybe getting up and getting a head start on my day, but that notion was cast to the side as Reqi started nuzzling me in her sleep.

Okay, maybe a few more minutes.

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