Ambassador Rauja POV
The manipulation was working too well.
Wade Barron was convinced that we were best friends, accepting the idea all too easily after one conversation. It was obvious that these humans were gullible and that they bonded with sophonts far too quickly. I didn’t understand these creatures, but judging by how attached they were to Craun, there was no getting rid of the primals without anger blotting out their loyalty. The displays of outward grief and animalistic mourning had made me feel sorry for the clueless animals, since in their minds, they seemed to care.
Wade wanted to spend as much time as possible together, buying the pretext of friendship and leaping into it. Allowing the primal to lurk around me and get close to me would increase my vulnerability to attack; however, rejecting the creature’s overtures would be a surefire way to anger him. I didn’t want to spend extra time around Barron, but he’d decided it in his mind already. Since he was tasked with protecting me, I supposed it was good that he was charmed?
Barron is in-charge of “extraterrestrial security,” so if I convince him to fight for me, the other humans might follow. Keeping up the ruse could be the key to pointing these animals at the Ploax!
“Ammonia, food, appliances, heat suits—all in the hotel room!” Hazel followed me from the other side of the wall, which had a sealed observation area for carbon life. “You can close the panels right there for some privacy. We’re just here if you need anything.”
I marveled at the accommodations, having expected the primals to shove me in some furnace room that was…lacking in modern comforts. The humans were better at adapting to our requisites than I thought; I couldn’t believe they could parse so much of our language. I had to be careful what I said, even if it was in the Saphno tongue.
Rummaging through the kitchen, I gasped at the various silicon rations and supplies. This was more luxurious than anything I’d seen from the Council. The diplomatic suite was sprawling and resplendent, well-decorated with jewels and sculptures. There was a view of the streets below, and various setups available for sleeping that showed they were quite familiar with how Saphnos lived. They were impressively intelligent and crafty beasts, to be able to replicate such complex things.
That’s good, in a way. The Saphnos need the humans to be clever enough for the Ploax not to roll over them in a day—but wait, their anger will wipe out what intelligence they have! Look how terribly they held up against the Council. What hope do they have in a fight, even with technological help?
“This is…very kind,” I offered, turning to face the watching bodyguards. I needed to understand them better, if only to make sense of their tame dispositions. “T-thank you!”
Wade stared at me with a level expression. “Don’t mention it. We make sure our guests are comfortable. There’s a lot of smart people looking after your every need, so…I hope you like it here. We’ll leave you be, Rauja.”
“W-wait!” I called after the beast, as he turned his back on me. I have to understand why he’s so partial to Saphnos. “I’d like to get to know you both a little? If you’d be interested, of course!”
“We’d be happy to.” Hazel smiled at me, before glancing at her partner. “That’s what we’re here for—right, Wade?”
Barron sighed, turning around. “Naturally. What is it you’d like to know?”
“You…” I swallowed with apprehension, remembering the humans’ territorial stand over Craun. It followed from the title that this primal had spearheaded that effort due to his overzealous bonding. “…you worked with Craun?”
“I did. I…was supposed to protect him.” The human lowered his head, and his features tightened and twisted. He looked back up and placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head. “There was something so disarming about that rock. Craun had the silliest antics and the most honest questions—and he was such an earnest, filthy, terrible cheat. I loved him to bits. I…really miss him.”
Is Wade trying to replace the Saphno he bonded with? Is that why he felt like we’re friends already? I’m never going to be Craun! But it’s obvious he really cared about that con…
Hazel patted her partner on the shoulder, comforting him. “Craun was always supportive. He made it a point to take an interest in what was important to each of us. When I showed him my artwork, he always gave it more than a passing glance. He’d notice the details no one else did. His appreciation—an alien telling me I had talent—it was such a confidence boost. I’m grateful to him.”
“I am too. Craun believed we deserved a chance, at least once we got to him,” Wade murmured. “He helped us with Project Iris and warned us how the Council would treat primals in the same breath. We weren’t that different. We both just wanted to help the people we cared about. That’s why he’s gone now…”
“Craun would be glad that we got a chance to talk to his people. He would’ve believed we could prove ourselves, Wade, and that others can come to see us like he does. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s still trying.”
“I’m sure he is too. Craun didn’t need anger not to give up. He had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known.”
The primals’ romanticization of Craun was laughable, but I could tell the misled animals were utterly sincere. “I’m s-sorry for your loss. That must be difficult for you to understand. What…happened when I, um, assume you tried to protect him?”
Wade gestured with two fingers to his stomach. “I got between Craun and a laser shot. Tore me open before I knew what’d hit me, and the Council abducted me. Got myself tied up, poked like an animal, then drugged witless for the handoff—where the very person I went through all of that to protect gave himself up for me.”
“You were at the…battle?” My mind blanked with horror, realizing he was one of the beasts wounded by the Council’s recovery effort. That must make Wade incredibly angry due to the personal affront, and I was surprised that wasn’t seeping through. “I’m v-very sorry, Wade.”
“I’m not. I’d go through it all again if I could just bring Craun back.”
That was a relief to hear that we could still get the primal to fight on our behalf, rather than deterring him with the hopelessness of their lesser state of existence. I reminded myself that there was no reason to feel bad about asking Wade to throw himself into a battle again; by the creature’s own admission, he’d found lashing out in possessive rage to be worthwhile. This was excellent information to have, so I could tailor my manipulation of them toward the Ploax issue.
Humans fight and die over all kinds of stupider, less-important animal things in their natural state. There’s nothing wrong with making them at least accomplish something through their mindlessness. If it can save us, it’d be wrong not to use that primal side.
With a sad smile, Hazel pressed her phone up against the observation glass, showing me an image of a painted bird. “Craun loved this art piece—he always told me it was his favorite. I think the rain and the dreariness represented the things that weighed him down, in his mind.”
“What do they represent to you?” I ventured, glad for the subject change.
“Life and time, when you start to see the world isn’t such a perfect, happy place. That it isn’t so easy to fly…to achieve your dreams when your feathers are drenched, and that weight ties you to the ground. The things you love are as unachievable as taking flight. It wasn’t a happy piece, and that’s why it spoke to him.”
“Craun went through so much,” Wade mumbled. “He nearly lost the last family he had, but Elbi disowned him for seeing us as people. It wore on him. We…we are sorry about what happened with Tolpia.”
I latched onto that, knowing I had to seize the opportunity to push the primals toward acting on our plight. “Thank you, um, for caring. I wish there was enough support to save our people—to s-save big-hearted people like Craun! That’s who the Saphnos are, which is why you like us, of course!”
“We like you because what the Ploax are doing is unforgivable,” Hazel volunteered. “You already have our support, if you’ll just let us be your friends.”
“Of course we will! That’s what we’re doing here, so we’re all in agreement. That’s wonderful! Like Wade said, I feel like we’re friends already!”
Wade smiled, giving me a very forceful nod. “You’re right! I’m glad this conversation has convinced us both of that. I know lots about the Saphnos from Craun, and that’s all I could possibly need to know. You can be my new Craun, Rauja!”
“Yay,” I croaked. “Keep thinking that—because it’s p-perfect. Perfectly right. Why don’t you tell me some things you did with Craun, Wade, so I can be just like him, the way you want me to be? I don’t want to let you down.”
The FBI agent eyed me for several seconds, before pulling a rectangular object from his jacket pocket. He opened a mail slot in the observation panel and placed the object inside, resealing it. Wade gestured with an open palm, a smirk tugging at his lips. I reached into the passthrough slit and inspected the carton carefully. I thumbed through the Kiel deck with surprise, as I noticed it was hand-drawn.
The primals found Craun’s cards, but do they know what it does? Well, I suppose if Craun explained spaceships and our language, he must’ve taught a game. This might’ve been the starting point to work up to the harder things on the intelligence ladder…
Hazel smiled, pride twinkling in her eyes. “I drew those. We put this pack in a heat-proof laminate and case, so Craun could play in his habitat.”
“You know how to play Kiel?” I asked.
Barron waved a finger. “Give me a chip and a chair in Ivla Chol and we’ll find out. Unless you’re scared of losing to a primal?”
“What? No—that can’t happen! I, um, I don’t know what Craun p-promised you, but for your own safety, I don’t think you’ll be able to go to Ivla Chol!”
Wade snorted, then shook his head. “Aw, Rauja. I was kidding. I’d love a friendly game some time…with someone who doesn’t cheat.”
“I’m not a cheater!” The animals want to play cards. I have to go easy on them, especially so they don’t get angry at losing and their inability to understand the game strategically. “You can trust me, Wade. I…I’m honored you know this part of our culture. It’s a great, uh, friendship builder! To be shared by our people as equals!”
Barron arched an eyebrow. “You let me win and I will be mad. Play like I’m a Saphno.”
Can Wade actually tell? Craun was good at cards, so… “I would never t-think about doing such a thing! We have to have trust as friends, to know that I’ll treat you as an equal. I absolutely listened to what Hazel said about that making you angry, and I don’t want that!”
“We don’t get upset that easily,” Hazel ventured. “I suggest we save Kiel for another time. Our focus should be on the negotiations; we can hang out once our alliance is inked. We should let Rauja rest now so she can be at her best.”
“And not so frazzled,” Wade chuckled. “Check up if NASA worked out an ammonia bubble bath. A little relaxation might take the edge off. I’m…sure you’ve been through a lot too. I…wish you hadn’t been put in a situation where you had to come to us, truly. As much as we do long for friends, I know you’ve suffered. And I’m sorry.”
I gave the primals a reassuring stare, slinking over to the button to lower the privacy panels. “Don’t be! It’s not your fault. We’re glad we’ve found you, and that you can help end the suffering! That’s what matters. I’ll, um, see you…when it’s time to finalize our friendship! I can’t wait!”
I breathed a sigh of relief and dropped to the floor, as the panel closed and hid me from the unsuspecting beasts’ eyes. If Craun had kept his composure under such intense fealty for months and found a way to weaponize them, surely I could manage it; he’d done most of the work for us. My gaze swept over the luxurious accommodations, which I never would’ve expected coming to an uncivilized planet that lacked sapient life. None of this changed how dangerous the primals were, though.
I had Wade and the rest of humanity right where I wanted them: hanging on my every word and without an inkling to the true motives of my visit. Once I secured the “alliance” between our species, we could gear the primals up to fight the Ploax and sacrifice their lives to save the Saphnos. It was a last, desperate play, but in the absence of any resistance, I was starting to think this manipulation might work.
A/N - 48! Rauja from her perspective thinks that her deceit is working all too well on Batshit Barron, and that humans don’t have a clue. She’s impressed by the accommodations and gets to know Wade better; she learns how close these primals were with Craun and why they appreciate him on a personal level. She notices that Wade should be angrier, and remains worried that he’s dangerous.
Will Rauja receive the alliance she thinks will be so easy? Will she realize that Barron and humanity are much more than hapless animals?
As always, thank you for reading and supporting!