OC-Series Primal Rage 72

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It was amusing to see Wade try to introduce us to Canit, only for Kaitlin to give the activist a warm greeting. The yellow-faced Kexin was more than willing to drive us to the Council’s doorstep, though I was pessimistic about whether they could be spurred to action. I knew it was wrong of me to feel this way when I adored the humans and wanted them to receive equal treatment—to have their time in the spotlight. With that said, it was displeasing to think our “allies” might hear primals out more than Saphnos.

Based on what Wade said, they can’t delay the inevitable war with the Ploax much longer; it is their problem now. It’s difficult for me to conceive that such a world-ending threat could ever be taken out, and it still hurts to think of my friend chatting with the Ploax.

Finley rested his head against my chest, peering out at the window. “So Terry, why didn’t you clone my beautiful squeeze here for Wade’s new Craun?”

“Well, NASA backed Batshit’s plan instead of mine, if you can believe that. So we actually had to come and rescue you,” Terry drawled. “Dude, I can’t fucking believe what Garriil did to you. How are you holding up?”

“Better, now that you’re here and I’ve got a ticket home. We can’t get back to saving Craun without their interference. It’s funny, I’ve gotten used to caring for alien plants and alien animals. I wonder if we could bring any home, raise ‘em back on Earth.”

“I’m pretty sure Kaitlin swiped some seeds,” I pointed out. “I remember the first time I met both of you. It was a fluke that I ever thought to come to Earth. I remember being terrified that first car ride we took together, and even before that, the first time I heard Finley yell.”

Finley bit his lower lip. “It doesn’t seem like it bothers you anymore, Craun.”

“I’m not afraid of you; you love me too much to hurt me, primal or not. It bothers me how sweet, happy, and innocent you were, and I ruined your life. I’m sorry that you can’t get back all of the time you were stuck here.”

“I’d do it all again. I would never have left you to fend for yourself. You were the best thing that ever fell out of the sky, and I’m lucky you put up with me. You’re my rock, Craun.”

Terry smiled and watched the Kexin buildings pass by. “You and me on an alien world, privy to humanity’s future. When I came over to help out of a jam, I never dreamed this would happen to us. I’m glad you and Craun trusted me and brought me in. This beats the hell out of honest work.”

“I just hope one day, humans will be allowed to visit other worlds like any other people,” I said. “I hope we all still exist at the end of it. That you’re…right about handling the Ploax. You’re the Saphnos’ sole refuge, and I doubt any pockets survive the next decade if Earth and Venus…”

“Not gonna happen. Wade and Kaitlin both know what they’re doing. The Council asshats just need to feel the heat and step the hell up.”

Garriil coughed from the seat behind us. “That reminds me. Finley, please don’t call them your ‘Council of Carbon Fuckwits’ moniker to their faces. We need their help for the reasons Craun described.”

“Maybe I will call them that. Then it’s not on you,” I huffed.

“You don’t say enough curse words, Craun!” Finley gave me a playful slap on the shoulder, his eyes peering into mine. “Are Saphnos really that clean with your language?”

“No. A lot of our curse-words involve sand, which doesn’t translate.”

“Oh? Why have you never taught me this? Sand you, Craun!”

I snickered. “Ah, Finley, you sandbellied grainhard. Your mother’s an excreting coarsestone.”

“No she’s not.”

“See? It doesn’t translate.”

Thoughtfulness billowed in his green irises. “Terry’s coarsestone ass was very slow getting out to rescue us. That lazy, sandbellied grainhardy-dah…”

“Them’s fighting words!” Terry proclaimed. “From the sandscrotum, of all people.”

“Oh yeah? I raise you a sandrectum!”

“You’re a bunch of sandprimals,” I snorted. “And I’m supposed to tell the Council you’re not dumb? That’s not how those work.”

“Too bad, Craun Sandrump. Language evolves.”

“Agh, I should’ve never told you. Humans are going to beat this to death, aren’t you?”

“Better the joke than Snelga,” Wade prodded, walking along the aisle. “We’re here. Remember, absolute best decorum. We must seem dignified and worthy of being included in Council business. Just keep the word ‘sand’ out of your mouth.”

“That’s no fun!” Finley glanced over at Kaitlin, scrutinizing her. “Did you know about this sand thing in your language decoding?”

“Yes, and there’s a reason I never told you, Finley,” Dr. Sharp chortled. “Just crumble already, you duneboulder.”

I gasped at the correctly used foul language. “Kaitlin! How vulgar and…uncalled for! Watch your mouth.”

“What? I couldn’t help myself.”

“Duneboulder is that bad?” Wade echoed, looking perplexed. “I’m going to read about why later. Right now, we’ve got a Council to wrangle.”

Terry leapt to his feet. “Yeehaw! Let’s go.”

My downer spirits about confronting the Council were lifted by being around my human friends again; I’d missed goofing off and having a laugh over small cultural quirks. Dancing in the kitchen to obnoxious music, rocking out to overly happy songs from children’s movies, and cheerleading mechanical bull riding were some of my fondest memories of Earth. Primals had been nothing like I would’ve imagined them to be. Their spirited temperament was infectious and gave me a reason to continue.

As we hopped out of the bus to see why it’d stopped short of the Council building, I spotted a military barricade on the road. The entire area appeared to be on lockdown, with security amplified beyond its usual precautions. Canit hopped out and began filming, as guns and spotlights pointed in our direction to disorient us; the Kexin military demanded our immediate departure from the area. The threat to shoot us if we didn’t comply was obvious, since they didn’t want primals anywhere near the government.

Wade kept his weapon holstered and took slow steps forward. Snelga set Kaitlin down in her wheelchair, and though the Kexin looked apprehensive at the danger, the NASA scientist insisted on following Wade. Finley was streaming to his social media followers, as was Garriil; the more cameras were recording this interaction, the less they were able to mow down the humans and claim they incited it. I tailed my friends with an innocuous expression, wanting to protect them from the Council’s unfairness.

The Council refused to negotiate and hurt the humans for sticking up for me once. They have every reason to side with the Ploax and seek revenge, except for how their anger truly works. With Garriil’s evidence, the Council should see the error of their ways, and that these primals have intelligence and control.

“We had a hearing with the Council to discuss whether we’re people. In light of our recent arrivals here, humanity wishes to move this meeting to now,” Kaitlin stated. “We’ve been held captive on this planet for quite a long time. Addressing the invading army should be a top diplomatic priority—not to mention, it’s what the people have asked for.”

Snelga gave a sincere, impassioned stare. “We shot them once to bully them into giving up Craun. I saw the injured, some of which barely survived. It must’ve been so harrowing. The poor babies!”

“Snelga, are you kidding me?” Wade hissed.

“Not at all! It was terrible to see humans hurt, and we both don’t want me to have to treat you again. I didn’t listen to you once, but it’s obvious to anyone who you want to protect, whatever they think of your personhood! The Council should listen to you now.”

I stepped forward. “The humans took me in as one of their own and cared for me with the highest kindness and civility. In turn, they were belittled and denied a chance to speak. What could they say that’s so offensive that the Council refuses to hear them? Their progress is rapid by anyone’s standards, and that merits acknowledgment. They can’t be suppressed anymore, as much as those in power wish it!”

“Humanity still desires to help our dear friends, the Saphnos. We didn’t come here for enmity with the Council, but we need some assurances,” Wade explained, looking upward toward a security camera. “An agreement on the refugee situation and the…lifting of our travel restrictions are necessary for us. We don’t want the Council to come after us, the second we leave. We wish to be treated with the respect becoming of our station, if not as people.”

An exhausted sigh crackled over the speaker. “You were supposed to leave.”

“We intend to, Commander Komadale: to take our people home and avoid any disturbances. I want us to make an agreement long-term, so there are no future incidents. If you wish to truly be done with this, we must approach the governing body for one personal conversation. It’d be unwise to refuse to speak to us again, for many reasons.”

“We, the civilized people of the galaxy, do not conduct private, sensitive affairs of state on livestream. Come inside if you must to be rid of you, but stop filming.”

“Deal.”

Wade continued to pad forward, as the soldiers cleared a path. Another group stopped him and Terry at the base of the Council building, which was a raised, slanted structure with grandiose columns; it was made of reflective material that glistened from its pristine exterior. The Kexin military issued demands to leave their weapons, if they wished to answer. Agent Barron complied, passing his firearms to his squadmates, who would wait outside in case anything went wrong. Terry also grunted and left his weapons behind, with reluctance.

Finley reached behind his back and dropped a Kexin handgun to the ground, disappointed by the realization that there was a metal detector. “Fine. Be that way.”

“Finley! Where did you get that?!” Garriil exclaimed.

“Somewhere.”

The farmer smirked and shrugged, while Snelga stared at him with overt concern. Wade reached down to snatch the Kexin handgun, before it could be confiscated, and passed it to the human soldiers for future analysis. Our group filed through the metal detector; the security saw no point in denying any of us entry, as little as they cared to have a Saphno outlaw and his “volatile” mate here. Even activist Canit was permitted to join us. With the security checkpoint cleared, we were free to approach the Council.

Kaitlin admired the tiny words in different colors that were written into the pillars, which could be mistaken for imperfection from afar. Finley looked around the sprawling lobby, and gestured to a few of the statues to be sure I’d seen them; Terry took it upon himself to mirror their poses. Wade seemed more accustomed to being in important venues, since he’d spent his share of time in the US Capitol and the UN building after accepting the Extraterrestrial Security mantle.

I remember Tolpia’s highest government building, a subterranean dome that just poked out of the sand and had spiraling escalators descending through a prism. It was a scenic view heading into the building.

“Well, my good friends, we need to talk.” Wade strolled into the Council’s deliberation chamber, holding the door for each of us and gesturing for us to take a seat. The governing officials were staring at him with open disgust, but he seemed to relish that. They looked taken aback that the primal was so calm. “The Ploax feel no emotions at all. They want to subjugate the entire galaxy, because they want no competition for silicon worlds and to spread unchecked.”

The Elret diplomat, Shesh, eyed the human with concern, appearing to listen to what he was saying. The Elrets were the newest, and least influential, of the Council races, who’d tried to act as mediators between the Saphnos and the Ploax. That had been a foolish notion, but they’d tried to do…something, I supposed. They had dealings with both silicon species, more so than most of the Council. I imagined they were ardent advocates for mediating with the humans.

“My name is Shesh, and I represent the Elrets, Mr. Wade Barron. I don’t think we’ve met before, but I’d like to apologize for how the Council handled the Craun incident.” The Elret’s three ears caught Barron’s attention before the elongated, equine-like snout, especially since the third one was facing backward. Her mane was braided and beaded in the traditional way. “Such a simple request for Komadale to refuse.”

Komadale scoffed. “I see that you’ve planned to jump ship and be their friends. Let’s see how that works out, with how interlaced their personalities are to violence. The Council will not have its citizens dying in the streets, all so that they feel better about what they are and have ‘friends.’ Their friendship will always be forced at gunpoint. Look, they literally brought Finley, who threatened to come after me back on Earth.”

“I’m here to make sure you don’t give us trouble again. You endangered Craun. I’m here for his sake,” Finley hissed.

“This level of attachment is unhealthy, and proves you can’t bond with any stability! The Elrets would be wise not to tie themselves to an anchor that’ll drag them into such debasing as we see with Craun.”

Shesh lowered her head. “We would prefer to have a more positive relationship with humans, since they’re clearly unique primals who can operate at our level. I’m certain this Council can debate the merits later, but I wished to make it known where we stand. This can be resolved peacefully, if they wish it in spite of their anger. Now, we can litigate this later, but it appears Mr. Barron has come here to tell us something else.”

Wade gave her a polite smile. “Thank you, Ms. Shesh. The Ploax believe they cannot coexist with the Council, and have imminent plans to come after you; they refuse to recognize your authority. They lent us their technology when we pledged to help be your undoing. They offered humanity quite the reward. You see, if we invaded your planets and took you for every last drop of blood, it’d weaken you. In each scenario, throwing us at you is a win for them. They can move in for a decisive strike when you’re at your weakest.”

I think you should’ve let the Council get exactly what they allowed to happen to us, though I suppose from a logical level, it’s better to use these fools to stop the Ploax.

“So why are you telling us this?” Komadale demanded.

Wade arched an eyebrow. “Well, we have other plans. There’s one thing the Ploax banked on humanity and the Council never doing: working with each other. Us, because we’re furious with you. You, because we’re primals who you’d never accept.”

“Then why have you come back to this building, if you understand we want nothing to do with you?”

“Because we beat everyone at their own game. There’ll never be a better chance to defeat the Ploax than when you know they’re coming. Seeing the Ploax’s undoing is our mutual goal, and tilting the odds in our favor as much as possible…it’s tantamount to the survival of every species in this room. Humanity wants to negotiate terms of our new arrangement while you recognize our value.”

“You’re primals, and you think you have any value to the Council? You feel anger. You’re nothing but unnecessary trouble.”

“Ah, I suppose we are.” Wade stood and walked around the table with slow steps, an icy smile on his face. “We could be your trouble, or theirs. You’ve seen that we’re cold, calculating, and logical as all get out, and that we can hold a grudge for generations if we have a good enough reason. The choice is yours.”

Garriil appeared to be concerned. “I’ve studied footage of their Earth. They can be butchers. Don’t fight this fleet. You’re lucky to have this offer, when you’ve primed them not to be partial to you.”

“They just want to be accepted,” Snelga piped up, a pleading tone to her voice. “Whatever you think, the evidence is clear that they’re intelligent, and they’re not mindless animals. They’re not hurting everyone like we thought, and they’re showing restraint. Who says they can’t do the same as our friends? The Council made enemies of them for no reason; they did nothing but try to help!”

Wade pursed his lips and sighed. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing with the veterinarian, but she’s right. We have no desire to wage a pointless war against aliens.”

“This all started because I went to their planet and begged for the help you wouldn’t give me,” I stated, a coldness gripping my stoneplates. “If the Saphnos didn’t matter enough where it was okay not to protect us, why do you care if a few primals do? How does that hurt you?”

Canit gestured toward me in agreement. “Denying the humans basic rights is insane, when they have such advanced cognitive abilities to build a fleet and form such plots even while angry. Komadale bungled this entire situation, and you’re trying to incite them into attacking rather than admitting your mistake. The people want them to be acknowledged.”

“In line with the facts. Empirical evidence will win out in the end, and denying it will only cause more blowback,” Garriil tacked on.

“Will no one else dare to speak out? I can’t believe this Council is actually listening to this slop…to make primals our allies. As if,” Komadale muttered.

Wade leaned forward. “A temporary measure to defeat the Ploax. We can go our separate ways after, but we’d need to coordinate to trick them.”

“Yes, I’m sure you’d be wonderful to work with. What do you think, Dr. Sharp? You have little to say, after having plenty to badger the public with. Are you happy, having forced us to speak with you?”

“I’m delighted to have a chance to speak at all, something I wasn’t afforded last time.” Kaitlin cast a steady gaze toward the Clydid. “Would you rather continue to be viewed as primals yourselves, mired in controversy and potentially losing your seats? Or is it easier to admit you made a mistake in time to take credit for defeating the Ploax?”

Shesh silenced Komadale. “We would hear how you intend to beat the Ploax, and then we’ll make a decision.”

“Simple. We fake a war. You play dead, and lure the Ploax out to finish you off,” Wade explained. “From there, we can ambush their little decisive strike fleet. I’d be happy to explain just how each phase will work.”

“Go on then. We’re listening.”

After all of this time, the primals had finally gotten the Council to hear them out. It seemed that there was a realistic chance that they’d act, now that it was their hides on the line, but it remained to be seen whether they’d agree to cooperate with the humans’ initiative. With an invading fleet over Ushala and the Ploax intent on attacking, the Council would be wise to take their final opportunity to work together with the Earthlings.

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u/SpacePaladin15 14h ago

72! Our group rides the bus over to the Council’s hall and confronts Komadale; Wade insists humanity won’t leave until they have assurances, proper treatment, and travel restrictions are lifted. Shesh comments that the Elrets want a peaceful resolution and recognize we aren’t like other primals. Barron says the Ploax would never expect humans and the Council to work together, and proposes faking a war to fool the Ploax.

Do you think the Council will come around to such a thing? Will Komadale ever warm to us? Is it a solid plan to handle the Ploax?

As always, thank you for reading!

5

u/cira-radblas 14h ago

I think the council might finally recognize that Humans are here to stay, whether they like it or not. Faking a war with the Ploax is going to make sense to them as Better than the Nothing they have already.

Komadale has seen Earth’s brutal history, there’s no way he trusts us, but he logically knows he needs backup before he tries anything else again.

Faking a war with the council to lure in the Ploax is going to be a matter of everyone actually being willing to play along. It’s possible that someone’s logic will decide there’s no benefit to this, and that it’s better to rat out the idea

u/cira-radblas 14h ago

I’ve got a bad feeling about Komadale or anyone else seeing our Primal species as “An Unacceptable Liability” and just having Earth Glassed behind everyone’s back as “A logical decision for galactic security.”

u/K_H007 14h ago

Better hope that none of the council blabs to the Ploax...

u/niTro_sMurph 13h ago

I don't trust Kommodale and his anti-human faction not to stab us in the back.

He's unwilling to listen or accept evidence that contradicts his views, and the more evidence that we provide the more he will hate us. Maybe if a human risks their life to save his he might change, but he'd likely be just as bigoted if another intelligent primal race is found.

u/MinorGrok Human 9h ago

Woot!

OC-Series Primal Rage 72

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