u/General_Alduin

**(This is set in the world of my fic [Nature of Harmony](https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureofPredators/s/x896g3KBg2) for anyone confused)**

Hello Venlil Republic! Lately, I've come to realize the unique position me and my husband are in to do some actual good and clear some things up about Sol and our lives, and we both decided to do an AMA

So please, ask us anything! Perhaps some of you are curious what it's like to be married to a Solarian Arxur, or how we raised our menaces, or what things are like in Sol, or even our cultures (I'm sure many are curious about Skalgan culture now that we've discovered who the True Predators are and what the Federation did)

As long as it isn't weird, gross, inappropriate, stupid/fedbrained, or aggressive (and don't try to bait me, I got my husband here keeping me from causing a diplomatic incident), we'll answer!

For those that might not know, Earth gets its seasons due to the tilt on its axis, giving different hemispheres more or less time in the sun depending on its orbit (more complicated than that but this is a basic rundown)

Skalga is tidally locked, and while we accept it wobbles on its axis, would its status as a tidally locked planet deprive it of seasonal variation?

(This is set in the world of my fic Nature of Harmony for anyone confused)

Hey Venlil Prime or Skalga or whatever, I'm here to see if I violated something cultural

Recently, me and my boyfriend had some downtime, so we went to a restaurant for a date, apparently one of his favorites. He asked for some fruit salad, but it usually comes with Firefruit (don't know why since they're basically peppers, and what kind of psycho puts peppers in salad?) And he SPECIFICALLY asked for no Firefruit

When our orders come out, what's in his salad? FIREFRUIT

So I of course get the waitresses attention and tell them he asked for no Firefruit, and she has the GALL to say the order was right, and he's too sweet to cause a problem and agrees and tries telling me it was fine

It was not fine, and I told her to make it right, and when she refused, I grabbed his plate, threw the waitress over my shoulder, and marched into the kitchen. Some workers told me to leave, but I ignored them and set the waitress down, calmly instructing her to make him a new salad WITHOUT Firefruit for him

To make sure she was doing it right, I hovered over her shoulder, noting how badly she was cutting everything up due to her shaking out of guilt, everyone in the kitchen eyeing us and whispering among themselves, andi swear one suggested they call the Exterminators for some reason

When she was done, I took the new salad and made my way back to my table, my boyfriend looking embarrassed, and I had to go looking for the waitress to get our check, but the manager explains it was on the house, likely due to them messing up his order, and we left

Now my boyfriend is mad at me and I don't know why, so please, can someone tell me if I violated some cultural thing or overstepped at all? And what can I do to make my boyfriend not mad at me?

(This is set in the world of my fic Nature of Harmony for anyone confused)

Recently, two posts relating to a Skalgan dating practice known as 'lovehousing', where a Skalgan and their romantic partner roughhouse together, went viral across the Venlil Republic.

The last post came from Tiyaval, the Solarian Arxur famous for the (in)famous video of him eating a salad which broke the internet, sharing a guide of said practice for anyone that might date a Skalgan after seeing his daughter's boyfriend's post and how unprepared he was.

Despite some humorous insights and revelations like he has to wear protective equipment with his wife, and a young Tuvan bringing him to the ground during a temper tantrum, said post has now caused a diplomatic incident between the UN and Venlil Republic.

Unusually, it wasn't due to any angry rhetoric directed towards Tiyaval and his species, but instead started when an Exterminator commented on the post, only to be suppressed by Bleat with some suspecting at the behest of the Exterminators, only for the Exterminator Guilds Bleat account to post a statement regarding Skalgans and their practices.

It wasn't long before numerous Skalgan accounts made their displeasure and dislike of Exterminators known, downvoting the post and sending over a thousand comments towards the account solely to express how much they and their culture despise Exterminators, with the confrontation quickly becoming viral. Further, many Skalgans went to the main Bleat account, along with other accounts for local branches, and harassed them extensively, mainly posting anti Exterminator slogans and ancient artwork from the Hall of Stories depicting Exterminator on Skalgan violence.

The harassment campaign was so overwhelming, every account effected, which estimates place at 5% of all Exterminator branch accounts on Venlil Prime, temporarily disabled comments, with the situation quickly coming to the attention of other media outlets and the federal government, prompting a joint statement from acting governor Kam and acting High Coordinator Vurulun, with the UN itself declaring the Skalgans actions as inappropriate but stopped short of condemnation.

This comes during a time where Exterminator approval ratings have started to decline and controversy surrounds the once widely respected and lauded institution in the wake of the revelation of our connection to the Skalgan people and the Federations revisionism of our history, with many applauding the Skalgans for standing up against Federation institutions while others condemned the Skalgans and their actions as predatory, galvanizing anti UN and Skalgan groups and individuals.

One thing is certain: the Skalgans long standing feud with the Exterminators will only grow hotter, especially when they target Sols predator population, and we can only hope we don't all get burned.

**(This is set in the world of my fic [Nature of Harmony](https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureofPredators/s/oZtiYNGJ7F) for anyone confused)**

In my previous post I asked for some dating advice regarding Skalgan girls. I've employed some of them and they have worked out pretty well, and things have been great so far

But I severely underestimated the roughhousing

Apparently Skalgan women love to roughhouse with their partners, and some seem to think it's instinctual (for what reason I don't know), and my partner asked if we could roughhouse, and I stupidly agreed because I wanted to make her happy

I feel like I've been hit by a train

My whole body is sore and I have *bruises* on most of my body. She swung me into a *wall* for stars sake! This is worse than bootcamp

And the worst part is *she was holding back*

She was holding back and the most I did was give her a nosebleed, *and she got annoyed when we stopped because I was concerned about her nosebleed*

Afterwards I was talking with a Skalgan guy about it and he showed me a pretty nasty scar, and I at first thought he had been attacked by a predator, but he revealed his wife gave it to him after they got a little too rough while roughhousing one day, and he's *proud* of it, saying it reminds him how much she loves him

Given the exchange program and that many Skalgans will be visiting the Republic soon, I caution everyone that will inevitably date a Skalgan to please, for your own safety, wear protection when you two roughhous

Well, took 4 months this time, but atleast not a year

Things are starting to come to a head, gambits are piling up, and everything is on a collision course with disaster

Wonder how everyone is going to react to the Mechanicus screwing everything up as usual

Also, trying to figure out the Indomits dating system is a pain. True to life I suppose

---

First | Previous

**Context:** After the Sirrus Rebellion, three worlds would rise as Sirrus’ Folly's main power centers: Imaria, a Shrine World and the local Ecclesiarchy's seat of power, Unidisian 4-b, Sirrus’ Folly’s only Forgeworld, and Suteshesh, ancestral home of House Infath, a Knight House sworn to the Imperium.

In the centuries following the rebellion, the Ecclesiarchy and Mechanicus would fight for dominance to fill the power vacuum, while House Infath would remain as neutral a party as possible. Records show that both factions spent the next two thousand years defeating petty rivals, striking against each other openly and in secret, politicking, getting into legal disputes, and currying favor and intimidating local factions into alliances or compliance. 

Despite this, neither side could overcome the other and become Sirrus’ Folly (seemingly) most powerful and influential faction, not helped by the Imperium's neglect of the region.

That was until 667-721 previo HTCM.M41, when Inquisitor Damasque of Ordo Hereticus became an Inquisitor Lord. He was a close ally to the Ecclesiarchy and a devout follower of the God-Emperor, and was determined to help them defeat the Mechanicus. He spent twenty years gaining influence among Sirrus’ Folly's Inquisitors, eliminating his and the Ecclesiarchy's enemies and rivals in purges and assassinations, and slowly steered the Inquisition into breaking its neutrality^1 in the conflict.

In 694 previo HTCM.M41, a series of shadow wars and operations were conducted against the Mechanicus by the Ecclesiarchy and Inquisition, ultimately concluding in 721 previo HTCM.M41 when the Mechanicus sued for peace and lost much of its influence. 

However, the Mechanicus never forgave the Inquisitions betrayal, but could never openly strike against them without the support of the wider Mechanicus. To gain more support, Sirrus’ Folly's Mechanicus turned its efforts to finding STC fragments and ruins from the Dark Age of Technology within the subsector, but were mostly unsuccessful. 

It wasn't until the T'au Empire started expanding into the region and the Mechanicus implanted spies within their government did they learn of the Archive, with the wider Mechanicus promising to support them once they discovered hard evidence of the Archives existence and potential location.

It wasn't long before the Mechanicus learned of the T’au Empire's discovery of the Federation and its connections to the Archive, and quickly made a bid to take it for themselves while settling old grudges.

The Emperor Protects.

+ + +

**Text transcription of Scryerskull recording taken from Somna Yevenis, Fabricator Locum of Unidisian 4-b.**

*36.690 post HTCM.M41*

The recording starts with Somna^2 walking past rows and rows of books, various servo skulls, tech priests, and servitors going to and fro, Somnas hands clasped before her as she prays in binharic. One of her mechandrites was swinging a thurible burning incense, two loudhailers screeching a binharic hymn as loud as they could, a fleet of Servo skulls keeping pace with her, some singing praises to the Omnissiah, others writing something unknown onto a scroll with an autopen, while others still trained their weapons on everyone they passed.

After twenty minutes of walking, Somna finally reached towering double dares emblazoned with the sacred cog and skull of the Mechanicus, two combat servitors keeping guard. They moved out of Somnas way as she approached, the doors automatically opening for her. 

She found herself in an opulent archive, books stretching to the ceiling which was painted with a vast mural depicting the Mechanicus’ many victories and battles. She walked past all of this and began to climb a flight of stairs, and at the top she found Mu-1010^3, towering above her on their spiderlike machine legs, adding to their already considerable size. Their body was beautifully made, every part of their augmentations crafted with care, brimming with detail, some imperceptible to the human eye. 

Somna stopped before them, her loudhailers and praying going quiet, Mu-1010 seeming to not notice them as they stared out a window at the Forge World below, an Omnissian Axe clutched in their left hand as they chattered binharic. 

After a minute, they stopped, and turned to Somna. “Ah, Somna. Were you waiting long?”

“Not at all, Archmagos^4,” She bowed to them. “I came as requested, how may I serve you?”

“The Archive has been found.”

Somnas head snapped up. “You're certain of this?”

“I am, our spies within the T’au have reported that a xeno state matches with star maps from the Genesis Project. I have given the Mechanicus our findings and they have agreed to lend us aid in conquering Sirrus’ Folly and wresting humanities past from the xenos.” 

“This is wonderful news, Archmagos. We can finally retake our place as the rightful rulers of the Folly and avenge the indignities against us.”

“Indeed, and I want you to lead our forces.”

“Me, Archmagos? Why?”

“Your experience and accomplishments have made you a prime candidate in uncovering the Omnissiah's gifts,” Mu-1010 looked back out the window. “But all paths of the future I foresaw showed that, without you, we fail.”

“How, Archmagos? We have the Mechanicus behind us.”

“The most common oath I foresaw was, without you, we advance too slowly, and the xenos discover and misuse the Omnissiahs gift against us, destroying themselves in the process. After, the Mechanicus abandons us and we are destroyed by our vengeful enemies.”

“I see, Archmagos.” Somna bows her head once more. “In the name of the Omnissiah and Motive Force, I swear I will not fail you or the Mechanicus. I will destroy our enemies and cleanse our rightful birthright of the xenos filth with the purifying flames of the Omnissiah's wrath.”

“See that you do,” Mu-1010 pulled out a dataslate and handed it to Somna. “Everything you need is on there. Take my flagship^5 and our fleets, and rendezvous with the Mechanicus forces at Port Atlas^6. Then, take it from the hands of its Inquisitorial puppet masters.” 

“The Inquisition will not be easy to destroy, Archmagos. They no doubt have contingencies and secret hideaways around every corner, it could take years before the station is secure.”

“I thought as much, and have planted an allied Inquisitor on the station who will await your arrival. They will aid you in purging the station of the Inquisition, all you need to do is allow him and his forces and allies to use Port Atlas for their own ends.”

“Yes, Archmagos.” They repeated a binharic hymn to each other before Somna turned and hurried away. 

“Oh, and Somna?” Somna stopped and turned to Mu-1010. “The quantum realms have spoken to me. They tell me only this: nothing is as it seems.”

Somna said nothing, turned, and walked out the archive.

+ + +

1. It should be noted that Sirrus’ Folly's Inquisition had long been playing both sides or supporting one over the other depending on current trends, and that many individual inquisitors partook in the conflict for their own ends. But outwardly, the Inquisition was a neutral party and had never supported either side enough to tip the scales.

2. This is Somna Yevenis, Mu-1010s second in command and second most influential and powerful techpriest in Sirrus’ Folly. She had once belonged to House Yevenis, a minor noble house on Sumorae, a pleasure world outside of Sirrus’ Folly. She joined the Mechanicus at a young age, leaving her birthright behind, and eventually found her way to Unidisian-4b due to  her work uncovering old Dark Age of Technology ruins and decoding STC fragments. She had fought in the conflicts that saw the Ecclesiarchy rise as Sirrus’ Folly's dominant faction, and had grown to hate the Inquisition after she had been captured and tortured for information.

3. This is Mu-1010, head of the Mechanicus within Sirrus’ Folly. He was born on Unidisian 4-b, taken in by the Mechanicus after his father was taken away by the blackships for being a Psyker and his mother died in an industrial accident. Records show that he was known to be unstable, long believing he could predict the future and uncover hidden truths about the universe through various means, though some claim he had been driven mad after installing three different brains from slain tech priests into his form.

4. Mu-1010 had been given this title for his mastery of quantum physics, neuroscience, and psychic science, but was also known for his work in the field of chemistry and nanotechnology.

5. Port Atlas was the most important space station within Sirrus’ Folly, called as much due to everyone joking that it held the subsector together by itself. It was nominally under the rule of the Imperial Navy and Ecclisarchy, acting as a beacon of Imperial Faith and logistics hub for the Navy. The Inquisition had set themselves up as its true rulers however, with the head of the Sirrus’ Folly Conclave using it as their headquarters. While it represented a symbolic victory over the Mechanicus’ rivals, without it, the Mechanicus would have difficulty in leading an invasion into Federation space due to Sirrus’ Folly untamed nature.

So apparently, my 7k salt isn't *good enough* for cooking, and I need specific salt for recipes. I looked up how to make said salt and it requires Halite, but I can't find anything online on where Halite is and I have known in my base

Trigger warning for gore and violence against children, this is going to be a heavy one, so just skip to the end if that's too much for you

Some characterization of Kehedren here, prpud of the result, thoug some explanation is need as to why he forced himself to watch: Kehedren always forces himself to watch something bad happening, because he knows his mind will only make it worse for him and feels he has a duty to remember because no one else will

Whats worse is that Kehedren has what's essentially Hyperthymesia, able to perfectly recall every second of his life in perfect detail; how he felt, what he was thinking, what he saw, everything whether it was an hour or a thousand years ago, so he's going to remember every detail of what happened here his whole life

—————

First | Previous

Memory Transcription subject: Kehedren, High god of Wujaneism

Date [Standardized Human Time]: July 15, 2136

“Stynek! The bus is almost here! You're going to be late!” I snapped my head towards the source of the voice, finding Tarva zipping up a pink bag while slipping into a coat.

“Coming, mommy!” Came the voice of a young girl, presumably Stynek, from upstairs, quickly followed by the pitter patter of feet as she began descending the stairs.

“Stynek! No running in the house!” Tarva said disapprovingly as Stynek skidded to a stop before her. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“Sorry, mommy.” Stynek said, not sounding sorry at all, and I couldn't help but smile and give a small chuckle.

Tarva merely sighed and handed Stynek the pink bag. “Now, remember: stick with the herd, make some friends, always be on alert” She raised her finger. “And stay out of trouble, missy.”

“I will, mommy.” Stynek promised half-heartedly.

Tarva leaned down and gave Stynek a hug that Stynek returned, nuzzling the side of her face. “I love you, have a good day at school.” There was a honk and both of their ears swiveled to the door. “Now go on, getting school.”

“Bye mommy!” Stynek pulled away from Tarva and ran out the door, Tarva sighing in response. She followed after her, stopping at the threshold of the door, waving Stynek goodbye as she boarded the bus.

It was that the world dissolved into blood, only to reform at what I assumed was a school, about thirty mostly Venlil children sitting at their desks, an adult Venlil at the front of the class pointing at a board. “Now, if Vanim had twelve Strayu pieces, and he ate four of them, but his mother gave him six more, how many Strayu pieces would Vanim have?”

The class erupted into a discordant chorus of children talking over each other, their teacher trying to quiet them down to get a proper answer. Despite the noise, the harsh cawing of a bird cut through it all, and I gasped with horror when I turned my head and saw it was the Hanged Crow, who took to landing on the teachers desk, tightening the red thread around his neck.

“No, please, don't do this.” I begged no one in particular as I walked up to him. “They're only children.”

The Hanged Crow merely looked on at me impassively as sirens began to blare, the class immediately growing quiet, some of the kids hiding under their desks or crying.

The teacher began shaking like a leaf, and I gasped when she ran out of the classroom, abandoning her children.

“Coward!” I yelled out, knowing she couldn't hear me.

“We're going to die!”

“I want my mommy!”

“They're going to eat us!”

I watched helplessly as the kids started panicking, some of them running out of the classroom, others finding somewhere to hide, while the most pitiable froze up at their desks, paralyzed by fear.

They stopped panicking when screams from the hallway reached us, most of which were quickly silenced. The Hanged Crow cawed once more, forcing me to look at him only to find he was strangling himself to the point that blood seeped from his mouth and nose.

I pulled my gaze away when I heard heavy footsteps coming towards the door, and I immediately went to barricade it. I gagged and was pulled back from the door, and looking behind me, I found a blood red Drider holding me in place with a noose.

As always, I clawed and bit and pulled against the noose to no avail, my efforts growing more desperate as the footsteps got closer and closer, the kids whimpering or crying.

The door swung open, revealing an Arxur dripping with blood, and I immediately took to the air to try to stop him even though it was hopeless, the noose pulling me to the ground, tightening around my throat.

Three of the kids screamed and tried to run. They were the first to be killed, ripped apart by the Arxur, which prompted more kids to panic and run, the classroom now filled with screams and flying viscera. I never stopped trying to break free from the noose, forcing myself to watch this atrocity as tears entered my eyes and gasping for air.

After what felt like an eternity, the screaming stopped, the Arxur, no Ḑ̵̛̭̀̑̏e̵͕͔͔̅͑̽m̸̖͓̋̋̕͝o̸̖̙͇̚n̸̤̹̄͊̀͌, left with no innocents left to kill. The classroom was splattered with blood and dripping viscera, the f̸̧̳͘i̵̛͇̔l̷͔͝t̷̖͐ͅh̴̩̻̾͑ no different. Ĭ̶͈͔t̴̪̜͗ turned to leave, sparing no glance to the scene, and walked out the door.

It was only then that the noose disappeared, causing me to fall to the floor and gasp for air. It wasn't long before I began crying, crying over what I had witnessed, for the innocent lives lost, for Tarva, the children, Stynek. My tears clouded my vision and fell to the floor as I replayed what I had just seen over and over again.

Anger began to fester, joining the pain. Hatred roiling inside, for the Arxur that did this, for the teacher that abandoned her children. A burning, searing hatred. Hatred that burned so hot it hurt. All consuming, mixing, festering, growing, burning. Burning. Burning.

And yet, a whimper was all it took for it all to disappear. I immediately jumped up and ran behind the teachers desk, finding Stynek shivering in fear, her eyes orange from crying, her knees hugged to her chest, and her breathing ragged. I dropped to the floor and moved to grab her shoulders, fully knowing my hand would just pass through her.

Only, it didn't, and I stared down at my hands in complete bewilderment. This wasn't supposed to happen

“S-Silver?” I turned my head and my eyes widened when I saw Stynek staring. Right. At. Me.

We both turned towards the door when we heard it open again, followed by heavy footsteps. I ducked inside with Stynek and wrapped my arms, legs, and wings around her protectively.

She went to whimper, but I nudged her to stop. “Shh, keep very quiet.” I whispered, and she did, shaking in my grasp.

We huddled together, listening to the footsteps and clanging all around the room, unable to pin down where the Arxur was. After an agonizing few minutes, it stopped, and I hoped that it had left.

My hopes were dashed when the desk was flung to the side, revealing an Arxur even bigger than the last one which caused Stynek to bleat in terror. I jumped up and stood in front of Stynek, my wings unfurled and fists raised even as the Arxur towered over me.

We stared each other down for a wordless ten seconds, the Arxur moving its hand to an earpiece. “The asset has been located, moving to extract.”

It's hand phased right through me and it grabbed Stynek, who began screaming for help as the Arxur dragged her away. I moved to follow them, but my foot was stuck, and looking down I found I was sinking into the floor. I pulled with all my might to escape, but only sunk further into the floor, Stynek reaching her hand out to me as the world began to melt into blood all around me.

When I was sunk to my hips, I tried clawing my way to Stynek, my claws only scrabbling at blood as I sank lower and lower. When I could no longer keep my head above the surface, I kept my left arm up, hoping that somehow, some way, I could grab Stynek's hand and save her, until that too was consumed by the ocean of blood, and I sank deeper and deeper until there was no more light.

—————

I gasped when I awoke and jumped up, Tarva yelping in alarm and jumping away from me. I barely registered her presence and tore off my mask, throwing it to the side and dizzily stood up, panting for air.

I stumbled over to her desk, bracing against it as I held a hand to my mouth, swallowing down the nausea swirling in me. When it subsided, I wiped my eyes and face to clean off my blood, leaving a bloody handprint on Tarva's desk, catching my breath.

When I was calm, I soothed my neck with my left hand and turned to Tarva, who only stared at me with an unreadable expression. “Stynek… I saw her… she… she said silver. Does that mean anything to you?”

She recoiled and her ears pinned back. “How did you-” She stopped midsentence, her eyes widening. “I… no you… you were just her…”

I turned my body towards her, giving her my full attention. “Tarva?”

“By the stars,” Tarva placed her hands to her mouth. “You're Silver.”

(This is set in the world of my fic Nature of Harmonyanyone confused)

Previous post

Hey everyone, as the title says, I'm doing an AMA since I've seemingly accrued a bit of fame and become something of a representative of the Arxur, though mostly Solarian Arxur, through no fault of my own

I'm not much of a talker, but my girlfriend convinced me to do this, said it would help with the war, pr, familiarize people with the UN (which was probably just a nice way of saying Arxur), and all that

So, just ask me anything that's on your mind, and I'll answer to the best of my ability

Hey everyone, here's my homework assignment, which we now have apparently: https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureofPredators/s/Fck9uCj2EQ

Of course I was going to post this on Mothers Day. Shout out to all the moms out there

Wonderful fanart by u/Lizrd_demon: https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/OJzxuOOAX3, https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/9IFwoupY9e

I also have my very own video meme

Side stories: A Talk Between Siblings, Tuvans First Birthday, The Vow, The Trials and Tribulations of Siffy, Hamony if Nunatyres, Beginning of Harmony

Come join the Discord, we have blackjack and hookers.

Thanks to SpacePaladin15 for making NoP

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

Memory Transcription Subject: Merereen, tired mom

Date [Standardized Human Time]: February 17, 2113

“Have fun! Don't miss me too much!” I said as I waved goodbye to my family as they made their way out the door, finally giving me some much needed alone time as they closed the door.

There was a whistle of amusement behind me. *‘Well, mostly.’* I turned to Tuvan, finding my baby girl laughing to herself and clapping her paws as she watched Picard and Data talk, so I wasn't sure what she was so amused by.

Unfortunately Tiyaval couldn't bring her along and supervise the kids while they were at Coney Island, many of the attractions weren't meant for babies and the kids were too young to ride by themselves, so she had to stay with me.

That was fine, I should be able to relax if Tuvan was placed in her play pen, she liked it there. At worst I'd have to deal with a dirty diaper.

I turned and started making my way to her, only to yelp in pain and jump back when my right foot landed on something sharp. I looked down and saw the culprits were a series of Lego pieces that were carelessly left on the ground. ‘How many times do I have to tell that boy not to leave his Legos out in the open!?’

I lifted my head up to look at Tuvan when she started laughing hysterically at me, clapping her paws.

Despite my pain, I couldn't help but chuckle and wag my tail at my girl laughing and being all cute. “Oh, you like seeing your mother in pain, do you?” I said challengingly as I walked up to Tuvan, picking her up. “Well, only bad girls do that, and do you know where bad girls go?” Tuvan babbled some nonsense and placed her paws on my face. “That's right, prison!” I nuzzled our noses together. “You're going to prison!”

Tuvan laughed, clearly excited to go to prison, as I carried her to her play pen. When I arrived, I pulled her off and gently placed her inside, turning on some calming Skalgan war drums on the nearby speaker.

I huffed in amusement when she lifted her arms to request uppies. “Sorry, girly. Mama needs some time to herself.” I leaned down and gave her a quick headbutt. “I love you.”

I pulled away and walked back to the living room, flopping down on the couch and pausing the Star Trek episode, splaying myself out as I closed my eyes. A nap wasn't exactly what I had planned for alone time, but I definitely wouldn't mind one.

My eyes opened when I felt my tail being tickled, and sitting up, I found, to my confusion, Tuvan playing with the tuft of fur at the end of my tail. “Wha- Tuvan? How did you…?” I pushed myself up and grabbed her, making my way back to her play pen. There I found that she had unzipped the little flap from the inside, which I didn't even think was possible with her tiny hands.

“Ah, clever,” I pulled her up to face me. “But do you know what happens to people that escape from prison?” I zipped up the flap, set Tuvan back inside, and placed the toy chest in front of the flap. “They go to a higher security prison,” I reached over and booked Tuvan on the nose, making her giggle. “This isn't going to look good for you at the parole board.”

I pulled away and flopped back onto the couch, letting myself relax as unconsciousness started to overtake me.

I jolted up when something pulled my tail, scaring the daylights out of me, snapping my head towards Tuvan when she began laughing and clapping her paws. “What?”

I grabbed her again and went back to the playpen, completely confused when I saw the toy chest was still in place and the flap was zipped up. I placed Tuvan back into the play pen and held my finger up to her (as if that would get her to stay), opened my phone, and navigated to the baby monitor.

I played the feed back and gasped when I watched little Tuvan scale the walls of the play pen and fumbled over the edge. Thankfully she just laughed when she fell to the ground, but it was still harrowing to watch. What if she got hurt? What if she broke her neck?

I immediately rushed to grab as many discarded pillows as I could and placed them all around the play pen. Next, I placed a board over her play pen (light enough to not hurt her if it fell on her, but too heavy for her to lift).

There was no way she could escape now, but just to be safe, I decided to camp out and take my nap next to the play pen. I laid down among the absurdly big pillow fort I had made and closed my eyes.

The moment unconsciousness took me, I was startled awake when something fell on me. I quickly figured out what it was when said something giggled and grabbed my ear. I sighed and picked her back up and placed her back inside, pulled the board she had somehow tossed to the side back on the play pen, and placed a few pillows on it so she had no way to lift the board off.

Afterward, I laid back down and nestled into the pillows, trying to clear my mind and remind myself she had no way to escape.

‘... She's escaping.’ I don't know how, but I knew she was, and pushed myself back up and turned around. Thankfully the barricade was still up, but Tuvan was now resorting to biting the walls of the play pen, obviously intending to rip it apart. This thing wasn't cheap (though it was Isif's first), so I needed to stop her before she damaged it.

“Tuvan, honey, no.” I said tiredly as I got up, took off the board, and climbed in. Tuvan immediately stopped what she was doing and excitedly crawled to me.

I should've known a nap wasn't in the cards for me, not with Tuvan awake and me alone. Tuvan needed to be wound up before she could wind down, and so I sat down to play with her..

Time elapsed: 2 hours and 34 minutes.

I trudged along as Tuvan crawled after me (well, more specifically, my tail) going around and around the pen, keeping it just out of reach for her, wiping my eyes to keep myself awake. I finally had enough and stopped, Tuvan triumphantly grabbing my tail and immediately putting it into her mouth.

I sat down and picked her up, bringing her to my face. “Tuvan, my little angel, aren't you tired? Just a little? It's been two hours! Please have mercy on your poor mother.”

Tuvan babbled some nonsense as she slapped her paws on my snout, her tail wagging. But after a moment, her paws fell off my face and tail slowed to a stop, Tuvan's eyes drooping as her head tilted down.

Seeing my chance, I pulled her to my chest and rocked her gently before she finally, FINALLY, fell asleep. I silently sighed in relief and set her down a little ways away from me.

I was too tired to carry her to her crib, and she was happy like this regardless, so I decided to skip it. I rolled over away from her, resolving to get back up after a minute and finally take my nap on the couch. Just … after… a little… rest…

Transcription break. Reason: unconsciousness. Time elapsed: 3 hours and 31 minutes.

I woke up groggily, blinking the sleep out of my eyes, and realized I was in bed. Confused, I looked around, only for my ear to swivel to my door when I heard muffled voices, likely Tiyavals.

Turning to my night stand, I found his phone with a sticky note attached. I reached over and saw it read ‘Two of my beautiful girls’

Intrigued, I unlocked his phone, and my eyes widened when they landed on a picture of me and Tuvan sound asleep in the play pen, my tail wagging happily.

“I love that man.” I said under my breath.

(This is set in the world of my fic Nature of Harmonyanyone confused)

Previous Post

Hey everyone. I made a post not too long ago about my Skalgan exchange partner. A lot has happened since, but we talked about it and started dating. Nothing serious right now, just trying to figure things out and see how compatible we are.

With that said, I want to impress her, make her feel special, court her in line with her culture, just anything to show her I'm serious and that I care about her.

So, I need some help. I've done some research and my partner has given me some insight into Skalgan culture, but the info on Skalgan culture that the Venlil Republic has is watered down, and frankly I'm too scared to go on Sols internet, so I'm looking for any exchange partners, whether Skalgan, human, or even Venlil, that knows anything about what girl Skalgans like, culturally or instinctually, and Skalgan courting, any help would be appreciated

Thanks for reading

Hello fellow roleplayers, I'm a 24 year old male with 10 years of experience living in the EST time zone. I consider myself semi lit and my main platform is Discord.

In celebration of May 4th, today I'm looking for a Star Wars roleplay set during the clone wars. I plan to play 2 characters as my main:

The first character is a Sith, but instead of being power-hungry and cruel, is a shy, skittish, nervous wreck completely unbecoming of a Sith. The only hints that she is a Sith are her red sabers and connection to the force, which she only barely has.

The second character is a Jawa Jedi Sentinal, who, quite unusually, works on espionage and intelligence operations for the Republic and Jedi. She's opinionated, political, rebellious, and fights dirty. So, not the model Jedi. And now, you're her new Padawan, and there's a very good chance the order paired you two together in an attempt to mellow her out.

The only reason she accepted the role is because it was your first mentors dying wish. An unusual request, since the two of them were very different from eachother, surely they would've wanted someone closer to them to train you.

I was planning on starting off with your character going to meet with this supposedly evil Sith, who has been captured and held on Coruscant for questioning. Things go awry and she ends up breaking out, and you have to go to explain how you lost your lightsaber.

If interested, send me a DM and I'll get to you as soon as I can. See you there!

Hey everybody, here's my entry for the ficnap. I chose The Preying Arcane by u/The-Observer-2099

I remember reading that the Dayside Physics Institute was going to conduct tests with exotic matter, and I thought 'what if we had an arrogant, dismissive prick conduct the tests and cause a magical catastrophe?' And yes, he's meant to be unlikeable

I probably skirted the rules of magic in Preying Arcane a bit, but this seems plausible enough and makes for an interesting read

Thanks to SpacePaladin15 for making NoP

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**Memory Transcription Subject: Berian, senior scientist at the Dayside Physics Institute**

*Date [Standardized Human Time]: August 21st, 2136*

I bared my teeth and flattened my ears as the sample of the exotic matter (or ‘magic’ as these savage primitives labeled it) that the predators gave to us was brought before me and my team. I turned my snout up at it, already dreading having to disprove the predators illusion.

*‘I'm a respected scientist, yet the government and my stupid boss have the **gall** to have me test and experiment on the predators' superstition?’*

The predators had given me a long list of their ‘evidence’, rules for how to interact with magic, and specific safety instructions, but I didn't bother with that drivel. I'm sure it asked me to sacrifice babies to appease the sky spirits and dance in blood.

But, it was my duty to do this; too many Venlil had fallen for the predators' deception. It was no wonder that the Federation saw us as a joke, and it was up to me and my team to restore the Venlil scientific community's good name and save the uneducated masses from themselves. 

“Remember: don't fall for the predator's trick, no matter how convincing it may seem.” I told my team, which consisted of three Venlil, one Gojid, and one Farsul.

“Sir, it is unscientific to immediately come to a conclusion before testing. We’re scientists, we trust data, not feelings. I believe we should have an open mind.” One of my subordinates, a female Venlil named Heneway, said meekly.

“Open mind?” I snapped my head towards her and bared my teeth. “Open mind about magic? About the nonsense the predators give us? The drivel that comes out of their mouths?” I marched up to her, causing her to shrink in on herself. “I agree, we *are* scientists, and as scientists, we reject superstition and the supernatural like ‘magic’. We’re not Yotuls.”

“Y-yes s-sir.” She squeaked.

Satisfied that she got the message, I turned on my feet and walked to my computer. “Scan it with a geiger counter, I want to see if this thing is radioactive or not.” While it was likely just smoke and mirrors, it didn't hurt to check. I didn't want to put my team in undue danger. “Well? Hurry up!”

As two of my subordinates checked the sample for radiation and the rest prepared our instruments, my mind couldn't help but wander, my tail wagging as I thought about what awaited me after this: when I disproved the Predators deception beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Venlil populace would rise up and depose our speh brained governor and my stupid boss and alert the Federation, who would immediately purify their wretched homeworld and cleanse them from the universe. I'd be lauded as a hero, my genius finally recognized, and given a manner of rewards and a place in scientific history.

After we finished tuning our instruments and checked that the sample didn't give off dangerous amounts of radiation, we ran a battery of different tests on it, ranging from spectroscopy to how it's affected by strong magnets. 

After some needling from one of my dumber subordinates, I reluctantly pulled up some of the predator's data. We tested some of their rune rubbish, but instead of doing nothing in a lab without any predators, each did exactly what the data described. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but even worse, I couldn't explain how the predators were doing this!

The predator's magic that we observed were nothing more than clever illusions that only the stupid and gullible fell for. But how was this sample doing all this without one present? 

Me and my team spent the next claw and a half testing the predator's data, trying to find the crack in the lie,  feverishly trying to come up with an explanation of how they were doing this. One even tried to leave, but I threatened to have them fired and blacklisted if they left during such a pivotal moment in history. 

While I was feverishly jotting down notes, trying to think of how to disprove this, I was interrupted by the voice of Henewey. “Sir?”

“What?” I snapped at her, my ears twitching agitatedly. 

“Its been a long day and we’re starting to get nowhere in our observations, it would be best for us to take a break and come back when we’re refreshed.”

“A break?” I jumped from my seat. “You want to take a break while we’re so close to disproving this predatory deception? While the fate of the Federation is at stake? To stop the experiment that will be the highlight of my career?”

“Um, sir, we’ve all been talking, and we… Well, we’re starting to think that maybe it's not superstition or a deception. At least in regards to exotic matter.”

**“What?”** I hissed. 

“We simply can't explain how the sample is doing this, it does everything the data claims, and there's no-” She jumped when I threw my notebook to the ground and caused a loud smack, everyone looking at us.

“Wnat did I tell you about not falling for their deception? Are you all really so *stupid* that you'd fall for such *basic* illusions? Why don't you walk right into the predator's maw while you're at it?” I pushed past her and made my way to the sample. 

I pulled out their data and turned to a bunch of runes. “I'm putting an end to this. I don't know how the predators are doing this, but they can't do everything at once." I quickly began writing every rune I could find, not caring about any pointless details or whether they were perfect.

As expected, the sample performed a few illusions but stopped after the fifth rune, only beginning to shake and glow more and more with each new rune. *‘It was a machine! That's how they were doing this. They programmed a computer to perform various illusions based on specific input to fool me. Now that it has multiple inputs, it'll become overwhelmed and break, and we can finally-’* I was suddenly thrown to the floor by an unseen force.

When I looked up, I saw the sample growing blurry, spinning around, glowing, breaking, reforming, levitating, shooting out jets of light, and all manner of different effects as the table below it began to crack, pulsating with energy that continued to spread.

Before I could react, the sample exploded in a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors and I was thrown to the wall and blacked out.

**Transcription break. Reason: unconciousness. Time elapsed: 6 minutes.**

When I awoke, I found myself in a pile of rubble, every part of my body sore as an alarm blared from some distant room. After a moment to regain my bearings, I groaned and shakily pushed myself up, gasping when I lifted my head and beheld the sight before me: a vortex of brilliant light violently spiralled in what had once been my lab, strange rivers of light pouring out of it, transforming everything it touched.

The room had become some demented art exhibit, a patchwork of random designs and material, each fighting for space, each trying to overcome the other, morphing, eating, merging, growing, shrinking, disappearing. It was something out of a fever dream.

I looked up to see what had become of the ceiling, only to find there *was* no ceiling. Instead, the sky above was much like this room, only joined by rivers of light and shining particles in every direction.

I scrunched my snout when it began burning, and it was only then that I noticed that it was… tasting without tasting. I brought a paw to my snout and my eyes widened when I felt an unfamiliar fleshy mound with two slits on the front of my snout.

I jumped up in shock, only to realize I was now taller and was standing straighter than I ever had in my life. When I looked down, I found my knees were no longer pointing inwards and I had grown a full foot taller.

“What… what happened to me?”

Told you this was going to end on a big cliffhanger

And give it up to our boy. Socially awkward dork is a surprisingly good orator when he needs to be. People will have trouble reconciling and explaining away this interview

Wonderful fanart by u/Lizrd_demon: https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/OJzxuOOAX3, https://www.reddit.com/r/predprey/s/9IFwoupY9e

I also have my very own video meme

Side stories: A Talk Between Siblings, Tuvans First Birthday, The Vow, The Trials and Tribulations of Siffy, Hamony if Nunatyres, Beginning of Harmony

Come join the Discord, we have blackjack and hookers.

Thanks to SpacePaladin15 for making NoP

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First | Previous

Memory Transcription Subject: Captain Isif, UN Omni Ops

Date [standardized human time]: September 1, 2136

I'm a highly trained specialist operative. I've been drilled and disciplined to take on dangerous and high priority missions. I've helped take down criminal syndicates, terrorist cells, and notorious pirate gangs all across Sol. There was a time when me and my squad were outnumbered, outgunned, outmaneuvered, and running out of ammo in a rapidly depressurizing ship on a collision course with the sun, and barely even felt a twinge of fear.

And yet, in spite of all of my training, my discipline, and my years of experience, I panicked and *stupidly* clicked on Cilany’s message to double check it, not knowing the message service would show her I read it.

I stared down at the tablet, trying to think of what to do. That choice was taken from me as Cilany messaged back after a few seconds. *“Don't try to deny it, you would've messaged me by now if you weren't.”*

Damn, she had a point. The average fed would've sworn up and down that they weren't an Arxur and probably accuse Cilany or Predator Disease or something. Not like it would've worked anyway, I just sent her a slew of material countering the Federation's narrative, who else would be invested in that?

I thought over how best to approach her. Couldn't ignore her otherwise she might write a hit piece regarding everything I sent and add to the other hit pieces, but I'd have to be careful in how I talked to her or risk making everything worse.

“You're handling this quite well if you believe that.” I responded as neutrally as possible, giving myself an out if needed, wondering how I'd justify this to my superiors.

“Oh, this is probably the most terrifying moment of my life, but it's not like you can reach through the screen, so I'm safe.”

“And why would you entertain talking with an Arxur? Don't you think they're all cartoonishly evil or something?”

“An informant of mine has given me exclusive access to material that the Gojidi Union is keeping under wraps, trying to figure out how to explain it to the wider Federation.”

“Let me guess, it was access to the AAR and security footage of Sovlin’s ship, and you can't explain why a Skalgan and Arxur were working together and why an Arxur showed mercy?”

“Yes, it is. How did you know?”

“Because I'm that very Arxur.”

There was a long pause from Cilany’s side of the conversation, and I figured she had gotten spooked and was about to leave before her message appeared. “Show me.”

“Excuse me?”

“There's a video call feature. Show me you're actually an Arxur, show me you're the same Arxur. People won't believe me otherwise.”

“Won’t you freak out?”

“I'm not going to let a little fear stop me from getting a good story. I assume you sent this content to other journalists?”

“Among others.”

“Well I want something more, something exclusive, something that will stand out from the herd. We've never captured an Arxur before, no one has ever managed to interview one.”

“So, you're kinda like Lois Lane? Always looking for a good story?”

“Who?”

“Not important. How do I know you won't twist my words? Edit me to look bad? Make complete fabrications of what happened and what I said? I'm trying to win hearts and minds to prevent the Federation from destroying my home and killing my family, I don't need bad actors making me look like a monster for sensationalist drivel.”

“I have integrity, all I care about is the truth.”

“Every journalist claims they only care about the truth.”

“I'm not every journalist. Look, people won't believe a made up story that I interviewed and Arxur without the actual video, and they'll notice if I splice the video, and that's if I can cherrypick moments, which will have to be on you.”

She did make a compelling case, and it wasn't like I could make things worse than they already were, and even if this did go bad, we no doubt already started a massive media storm with everything we sent that would drown her out.

“Alright, I'll do it. Include these texts and look away while you interview me.”

“I was already going to do both of those, but alright.”

It took some navigating and instructions from Cilany, but I eventually found and figured out the video call feature. After making sure she was ready, I took off my helmet and called.

I made sure my face was out of view, ensuring her side of the call was empty. “I'm coming into view now.” I announced, turning the tablet so my face came into frame. “I am Captain Isif of the UN.”

“C-captain?” She sounded nervous, though I couldn't quite blame her. She was already braver than most for doing this.

“Yes, captain. My rank isn't something cartoonishly evil or relating to anything predatory as I'm sure you expected.”

“I-It's not that. Are you a commanding officer of a s-starship?”

“No, I lead a squad of UN Omni-Ops, an organization meant to take on special operations, though I’m afraid I can't disclose more than that.”

“And is that why you were on Sovlin's ship?”

“It was. Sovlin had illegally captured a UN and Venlil Republic civilian. Everything relating to the operation is included in everything I sent, so I suggest we talk about something else.”

“I agree. I want to understand what I saw in the security footage. You worked with a Skalgan, the same Skalgan who's been on the news for months now, is she your slave?”

“No, she's my sister.”

“Your sister?”

“Yes, we were assigned to the same squad. I'm sure you're confused, but I come from Sol and belong to the UN, not the Arxur who have tormented the Federation and its people for centuries, which we call Betterment. Arxur, humans, and Skalgans all share Sol.”

"Yet more things included in your materials I presume?”

“That is correct.”

“Then I want something not included, something exclusive. Tell me how you were able to keep your hunting instincts in check surrounded by so many prey, including an injured one. How were you able to stave off your bloodlust in the midst of battle and spare every guard you fought? How are you capable of showing any amount of kindness?”

I resisted the urge to groan, knowing she'd think I was growling, and that It'd be rude to do during an interview. “I'll answer those in order: there was no need to keep any hunting instincts in check because I don't have any, I've never once hunted in my life nor do I have any interest. I also have no bloodlust, and every guard was spared because I was ordered by my government to keep casualties to a minimum and I had the means to subdue them nonlethally. Lastly, I was raised right, my parents raised me to be a good man, to be polite and helpful to everyone, and that's how I am capable of kindness.”

There was no response from Cilany for a good few seconds. “You say you have no hunting instincts, but you're a predator, are you not?”

“I am Isif, not a predator. I don't consider myself one.”

“But you can't deny that, objectively, the Arxur evolved *as* predators, you need meat to survive. I'm not looking at you, but you do have sharp teeth, binocular eyes, and claws, yes?”

“It doesn't matter what the Arxur evolved as or what my traits are, I should be judged by my own merits and actions, not on factors I have no control over. I have no hunting instincts because I have no reason to hunt, I even get squeamish at the idea; in Sol, all meat is grown in labs, I've never been starving and thus have never needed to satiate myself like those in Betterment.”

“But if you *weren't* satiated? If this meat growing process was unavailable?"

“I'm not going to hunt sapients if that's what you're asking. That's cannibalism, which I find revolting. You're people, not animals, not resources to be exploited, not cattle. People deserving of respect, kindness, and compassion. If I ever needed to hunt, I'd turn my efforts to nonsapients.”

“But as part of a species of predatory descent, you do have latent instincts and aggression, especially to subdue prey. You needed to, otherwise your species, fundamentally, couldn't have survived. Doesn't that mean that prey descended species, by definition, are unable to coexist with predators?”

“And yet I worked alongside a Skalgan and saved a Gojid from death. A Skalgan who is my sister, and raised by a Skalgan mother married to my Arxur father. If you don't believe me, it's all documented in the files I gave you. You say Arxur and humans can't co-exist with prey, but what's your answer to my conduct on Sovlin's ship?”

She was quiet for a long moment, maybe trying to verify my claims. “You're right, I have no answer, not yet. But if what you claim is true, why are Arxur in, what was it? ‘Betterment’ exactly as I described?”

“Betterment embraced the Arxurs status as the only predatory sapient and hunted the people of the Federation so they could control the Arxur. We’ve captured Betterment soldiers, and after interrogating them, it is clear that Betterment purposefully keeps everyone on the brink of starvation to keep them dependent on Betterment, made them into monsters to keep them divided and unable to challenge those on the top, and create an us vs them mentality amongst its populace to convince them that this is a war of annihilation and that they have no other option but to support Betterment or be destroyed. Betterment *knows* that hunting and reducing the people of the Federation as cattle is inefficient, they could easily find other alternatives to feed their populace, but they don't because it keeps them in power.” She was silent for a long time, and I could practically feel her surprised gaze on me. “... My father taught me a lot of civics and how to spot authoritarian systems and their methods of control.”

“I see…” She said flabbergasted, and I was insulted that a basic analysis of Betterment from me was awe inspiring to her. “You say your mother was a Skalgan and that Skalgans live in Sol alongside Arxurs and humans?”

“That is correct.”

“Could a case not be made that humans and Arxur in Sol were taught by Skalgans and made to be more prey-like? That your mother subdued you and your father's worst instincts and behaviors?”

“I find such an idea insulting, my father is the best man I know, my mom is lucky to have him, and my people escaped Betterment all on their own and worked on building a just and fair society long before we were in contact with Skalgans. We have learned and gotten help from Skalgans and humans in roughly equal measure, but we have taught and helped them in equal measure as well. The same is true with humans, but their good nature and best parts of their society were developed thousands of years before Skalgans orArxur showed up.”

“But why do we not have evidence of humanity's better nature? The Federation studied them rigorously.”

“The Federation was biased and scared, their fear clouded them to the better parts of humanity.” I wasn't entirely sure about that analysis, especially now with the Federations character called into question, but I had no evidence for anything else and knew that going against propaganda would make people reject my message. “Spending a day on Earth would teach you more about humanity and their homeworld than the decades the Federation spent studying them. For God's sake, the Federation didn't even know Arxur were hiding *in* Sol despite arriving not too long after the Federation, you can't tell me they were especially thorough.”

“Perhaps not, but you can't deny that predator species have caused immense suffering throughout the years. Maybe the Federation wasn't thorough with humanity, but everything we have on them and their deeds is still true, and the Arxur have spent centuries killing and torturing the people of the Federation. Prey simply don't cause as much suffering.”

“You're a journalist, yes? Do you only report on the current war?”

“No, I report on other stories.”

“Have you ever reported on stories of corruption, greed, exploitation, and flaws in society unrelated to Predators or Betterment?”

“I have.”

“Tell me of a major story you broke.”

Cilany thought for a moment. “One of my most famous stories is when I revealed the extortionate and illegal practices by the Krakotl military.”

“And what are the Krakotl classified as?”

“Prey.”

“And this wasn't some rogue captain, this was institutional corruption?”

“It was.”

“So what you're telling me is that the Krakotl, prey sapients and one of the founders of the Federation, widely considered as the most effective fighting forces of the Federation, that trillions rely upon and trust to protect them from Betterment, extorted weaker members of the Federation and perpetrated a massive protection racket, even though you are all in an existential war that could see everyone wiped out and reduced to a miserable existence in a cattle pen?”

“Yes.” Cilany said in what I thought was an uneasy tone. “Whats your point?”

“My point is, as sapients, we’re all capable of great good and great evil. Where was the compassion? Where was the empathy? How were the Krakotl helping the herd that relied on them? You all say predators are incapable of being or choosing good, that we’re only concerned with ourselves and causing suffering, but these officials did exactly that even though they were prey. Being a predator or prey has nothing to do with morality, we all have the capacity to choose how we conduct ourselves, who we want to be, and how we treat others.”

I swear I could hear Cilany whisper something, though I couldn't understand what it was, and was surprised when her face came on screen. “And what about you, Isif? Who do you want to be?”

It was my turn to be quiet, looking off to the side as I thought it over. “I don't know, I haven't quite figured that out yet.” I looked back at the screen. “But I know what I *dont* want to be, and that's the monster you call I think I am.”

Cilany opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Savani's muffled voice. “Isif! Come here, now!”

My eyes hardened, noting the panicked tone in her voice. “I have to go,” I quickly took out the flash drive and plugged it into the tablet. “But here's an exclusive for you.”

I quickly sent her everything on the flash drive and moved to end the call. “Wait, if I could just-”

The call cut off and I jumped up, grabbing a doubting on my helmet as I half ran to Savani and Metri, who were currently crowded around a window. “What happened? What's going on? “

Savani merely pointed outside shakily, and I directed my attention to where she was directing me.

There, parked right outside the house, was an Externinator van, currently offloading a squad of ten Exterminators who began to make their way to the front door.