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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/BainshieWrites on 2024-11-02 11:39:28+00:00.
Based on u/spacePaladin15’s universe.
Memory transcription subject: Estala, Prestige Extermination Officer, Krakotl to Venlil Extermination training leader.
Date [standardized human time]: October 9th, 2136
I balanced the supplies unsteadily in my wings: the still warm Strayu brought from a local bakery, a dozen cans of Sprunk, and a large bag of Yatcha root slices. I walked over to the computer station, all but two of the rows of computers turned off during this rest paw as I dumped the supplies on the table unceremoniously, taking my perch and turning to face the only other person in the room.
Salek, the junior Exterminator I’d last seen cowering in fear during the initial emergency when the predators had arrived, sat at his own screen to my left, the Venlil looking at me quizzically as I motioned towards the pile of goodies I’d brought.
“So, thanks again for taking the time here since it’s not your normal shift. I need all paws available for this task and every little bit helps, so help yourself. If we’re still here at the end of the claw I’ll order us something from that new Yotul place.”
Sure, preferably I’d have far more of the herd on this project of mine, more than just a single inexperienced Junior Exterminator, but officially this project was just a simple low priority data analysis: My actual reasons couldn’t be known, of going against the current government narrative and the predatory lies that so many Venlil were falling for. So a single Junior Exterminator working after hours would be my workforce.
“You said it was important, that you had a special data project, about the humans. What exactly is so important that it has to be done right away?”
I gave my wings and full body a stretch as I prepared to get to work, my neck giving a small, audible pop before I turned back to Salek.
“Well, as you know, it’s been 9 paws since the predator ‘refugees’ started landing on Venlil Prime, mixing with the native prey population.”
“Yeah, it’s been busy.”
Busy was an understatement, the Exterminator office had been overwhelmed with calls and reports of predator sightings from terrified prey as the things stalked the streets.
“Now logically, you’d expect the predators to have hurt someone by now. While we know they can hold off on their instincts from the original exchange meetings and empathy tests, expecting thousands of predators to not fall to their tainted desire to feast upon a planet of prey goes past all belief.”
“But there haven’t been any reports of any human violence.”
I gave a small trill of agreement while Salek’s tail flicked around in confusion, clearly not understanding where I was going with this.
“Exactly! That’s the million credit question. Predators have been on our planet, mingling with the public, for over 9 paws now, but no verified reports of predatory actions. This is not good.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? The humans have arrived, and no damage has been done.”
I gave a sigh, feeling my feathers flatten in despair. How naive was this kid to believe everything was fine, with those things roaming the streets of Venlil Prime? This really was the problem with the Venlil, Tarva and all: Far too trusting, no matter what the actual proven Federation science said.
“No reports doesn’t mean no damage. Where are the injured and killed prey? These casualties should exist by now, which leaves only one answer: They’re somehow hiding their carnage. Working out where and how is the only way to stop it continuing.”
I watched as Salek’s ears pressed against his head in fear of what might be going on right under our beaks, the idea of innocent members of the herd being preyed upon in secret by the predators, never to see the light of day again.
“But-but it might not be the case. How do we know that the humans are hurting people? Maybe they’re telling the truth when they say they don’t want to?”
I gave a small soft chuckle at that, looking softly at the young Venlil sat to the side of me.
“Predators lie, but statistics do not. That’s why we’re here. We need to collate missing person reports over the 8 districts they are confirmed to have refugee centres at. Then we compare that information to historical trends, and then compare those to the same trends of surrounding districts. Then we’ll have proof. It’s just going to take a lot of hard work going through records and collating the data.”
Salek didn’t look convinced however as I finally logged onto my terminal, grabbing a can of Sprunk and getting ready to start my work before I was interrupted once again.
“What if they’re not lying though, and all this is a waste of time? Bradley said that they don’t even have any instincts, that-”
There was an instant as the Venlil put his paws to his lips as he realized what he said, the name, the very distinctly ‘predator’ name causing me to stop looking at my screen and once again stare at the young Venlil.
“Bradley?”
The tone in my voice made it obvious I knew that wasn’t a Venlil name. Salek’s tail flicked around in worry and anxiety as I stared him down, feathers flaring out slightly as I did so.
“I… I joined the exchange program. Bradley was my partner, he’s… he’s really nice.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Sure Salek was a Junior Exterminator, but he was still an Exterminator Inatala damn it! I could understand Tarva or other Venlil falling for a predator’s trick to this degree, but he should know better.
“Why?”
I said the single word curtly, filled with disappointment, making it clear I had expected better from him as Salek continued to squirm under my unblinking gaze.
“I- I was sick of being so… scared all the time! I just wanted to stop being scared of humans of everything! I thought if I actually talked with one, it would help me face them…”
Disappointed. I wasn’t angry or annoyed, I was disappointed. Disappointed that someone from the guild would be so trusting of a predator, to fall for their lies. The seconds passed by as I sat there wallowing in despair, at the predatory taint seeping into Venlil society at its roots. Just what power did these predators have to consistently cause Venlil to fall for their trickery?
“Maam… am I fired?” Salek said the words softly, interrupting my silence, causing me to give a deep sigh.
“No. The Exchange program is government authorized. Why would we fire a government member for participating in such a thing?” I gave a small flutter of my feathers, settling back down onto my perch and looking back at my screen, starting to pull up the records that I needed. “And we still have a lot of work to do, firing you would be counterproductive.”
Salek gave a confused beep, tail twitching in confusion as I motioned for us to start the work.
“You still want my help?”
“Well unless the predators have taken your brain and ability to collate basic statistics, I don’t see why not.”
I ruffled my feathers in an annoyed fashion while Salek continued to stare at me with a blank look.
“Aren’t you worried about me being tainted or something?”
Another sigh escaped by beak as I fully stopped looking at my screen to focus on the young Venlil.
“You are not the first Venlil to be taken in by their trickery, and you won’t be the last. Tarva was fooled by them long ago, and she’s still competent enough to run the planet. If I stopped interacting with any Venlil who had fallen for these predators, there’d be a lot of people I would no longer be talking to.” I said the words sternly and simply, making it clear that while I didn’t care for the beasts who had invaded the planet, I wasn’t about to start fighting the innocent prey they had tricked. “Besides, I guess it’s good to know that you’re safe, for now.”
“Wait, aren’t you worried that I’d be in the most danger?”
At that I gave a small chuckle, turning back towards the Venlil who was so naive.
“You’re officially part of the Exchange program. If anything happened to you, the humans would be the first suspect. They may be predators, but they’re smart. They’re not going to do anything that would break their trickery. The only way they’d hurt you is they thought they could get away with it. That’s our problem, isn’t it? Based on how good they are at lying, you’d have to find a way to to get them to eat you on camera to get any solid evidence.”
I saw Salek’s ears once again press against his head, tail stood straight up as he shook in fear at my suggestion, causing me to give out an exasperated sigh.
“I’m not saying do it! I wouldn’t tell anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself. It’s just… frustrating that with how good the predator’s trickery is, that something this drastic is what we’d need to get solid evidence… It would be an insane idea to actually try, as it would be suicide.”
—-----------------------------
Memory transcription subject: Estala, Human Methods Advisor to the Exterminators.
Date [standardized human time]: March 16th, 2137
I sat in the van, watching the streets of Skalga go by the window while Jkob sat in the other seat. The investigation had been… going. We’d checked on all the easy to find suspects, districts and offices that held multiple easily verifiable Exterminators on our list, meanin…
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/1ghuiak/nop_fanfic_of_mangos_and_murder_chapter_14/
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