Chapter 16
Survii
Alanna had been giving her speech to the assembly of humans for – if he was measuring his Earth time right – about ten minutes now.
She had gone over, in great detail, worthy of any domini master orator, how each of the five females had been walking out at night.
She painted a harrowing picture of their capture, and their rescue of Atem.
She was careful when she finally mentioned that the rogue clavas who captured them were ratchi, but they were not at all indicative of the ratchi people as a species.
She touted her friendship with Elder Haviss as though the two of them had been like family for years already.
Thanks to Romival planting them on Alanna’s socials while on the Jutiron Stor, they had images from Turv ready to present. She was able to show some of the best pictures she had obtained while living there.
They included pictures of the females smiling with the Home Forest as a background, pictures from their welcoming party, from Atem’s Hortii Kristivar, what appeared to have been a party celebrating Scarlet, and many of the females posing with their mates in various locations.
Then, there were pictures of Holotulle’s Ring and all the things Alanna had seen there.
With those to accompany her, she described the Coalition and how each species worked together.
She told them that not all species were part of the Coalition but joining brought with it untold benefits.
Including trade – a remark that seemed to light an excited fire in the eyes of the leaders watching.
Of course. These people would be most interested in what they could get out of such a deal.
Survii couldn’t blame them for that, not when representing and fighting for their people was their purpose in life.
Survii couldn’t understand her words, of course.
She was speaking in her native tongue, but she had told him what she would be saying as they were coming this way in the adorably primitive Earth vehicles – they still used wheels!
That had been a fun experience. The other domini were sitting at a table along the front stage.
They had the females there to translate, but Survii, who stood next to Alanna at the podium, did not.
He didn't mind that much. It was soothing to listen to her talk without being able to comprehend her words. It was like he could block out everything else and just enjoy the cadence and lilting melody of her voice as she described their life on Turv and the Coalition.
All the while, he worked to keep his smile on his face. To behave normally around her. He didn’t deserve to feel bad, not when he was the one who hurt her, so he covered it with his usual charm and charisma. Anything to make her smile.
Anything to fix this blunder.
Then, it was his turn to talk. She introduced him and told the united humans that he was here primarily as First Voice of the domini as the domini were their sponsors.
She assured them that the domini were here with the backing of the Coalition though, and therefore he would be presenting terms for the treaty. All of them were up for negotiation.
She finished to rolling applause from the gathered leaders, then stepped aside and motioned for him to come forward.
The podium had adorably large microphones on it.
He could feel the eyes of all the elder humans and all the winking cameras as they focused on his face.
He didn't mind the attention. He flourished under it, holding his head up high as Alanna took her place beside him, in front of her own microphones, ready to translate.
Right where she belonged.
“Good humans of Earth,” he started, his voice echoing powerfully in the large room.
Not even a moment later, Alanna’s voice echoed it, speaking in her smooth human tongue.
“We thank you for the warm reception and hospitality.
First contact is never easy, and we appreciate how much trust it takes to even allow us down to your planet.
Thank you. For your bravery and honor and understanding.
“As First Voice, my job is that of an ambassador. In that capacity, I have seen many worlds and known many cultures. I have learned to respect differences and adapt to unusual circumstances. I have also learned that what we consider normal and permissible, might be outright taboo to your people. That is what makes negotiation a potential hazard. For anything we do that you take offense to, for anything we say that you consider impolite and insulting, I apologize. Know that it was not intentional and that I want only to promote understanding and friendship between us. If any of us do any such a thing, I beg that you would tell us so we can learn and change, and I hope you would extend that same offer towards us in return.”
He paused, letting Alanna finish. Watching the humans’ reactions.
They were all so good at keeping their faces blank, it was hard to tell what they were thinking, but they must agree with him.
At the very least, Alanna’s uncle was smiling encouragingly.
As far as Survii knew, he didn't actually sit at the United Nations as a representative, but he was there to support both Alanna and her cause as the leader of his nation.
He continued-
“While at the Coalition assembly, your females represented and argued for Earth on your behalf to earn this offer of protection and peace. The list of things we want is not long, it will benefit both of us, and the details are all fully open to negotiation, but there are things we ask.
“First: trade. By Coalition law, we can give you no technology, medicine, or concoction that you don’t already have.
At least, until you gain full membership.
This is to prevent us from interfering with your natural advancement and any scientific discoveries you might make that we don’t already know.
Many times, what has previously been considered impossible, or the traditional ways of doing things, have been completely upended by what developing species create by themselves.
“What we will trade, however, is things you do already have. But our versions of it. We can exchange culture and history and stories. We can discuss exchanging food, information, the Standard, and any number of things. All of it, short of advanced technology and medicine, is open for debate.
“Second: scientific advancement. We want the chance to study and learn from your people – your anatomy and physiology. We don’t want to harm or change you, only to observe and document.
Any experiments would be theoretical or simulated unless otherwise given permission.
What we have learned from the five human females alone is incredible, and having a larger sample size and proper equipment would increase that by many orders of magnitude.
“You would also benefit from this as well.
The scientific advancement includes creating a neural map of your minds to better create neural imprints.
It would allow us the chance to learn your language to create an imprint of it and add it to our database.
We can help you study and learn about your diseases, environmental problems, and many more.
“Third and finally: we would like the chance to take humans as mates. I’ve been told that this request, more than any other, would be awkward for your people.
And I can already see it has made you uneasy just speaking it.
” He chuckled, looking around at the sharp-eyed expressions given to him.
“We do not want to take this by force. We are not trying to demand people in exchange for advancement.
This part is not a trade, merely an opportunity.
“The females we took to our planet have already mated among our kind. Moreover, they have successfully crossbred with our kind.”
As he spoke, Alanna changed the image again. Switching from the picture she had taken of herself, Scarlet, and Peony at the closing ceremonies of the Coalition assembly to one of Peony, obviously pregnant, Atem holding her belly from behind, smiling over her shoulder with pride.
The entire room stilled. Some audibly gasped.
She wasn’t done yet. She changed to the next picture which showed Peony in a medscanner, Scarlet working over her, a holo of Viktor, still in her womb, highlighted between them.
The next picture was Peony just after labor – a still taken from the video recorded against her will but had thus far proved invaluable.
She was clearly exhausted, Viktor was screaming and covered in fluids from the birth, and Atem appeared traumatized.
The final photo was taken very recently.
It showed the three of them, Atem, Peony, and Viktor, standing on the Jutiron Stor, right in front of the great viewing window that showed Earth just behind them.
They were wearing the same clothes as they had during the comm they had placed to this very chamber that same day.
The humans were stunned into silence. It rang out around them – heavy and meaningful.
Viktor resembled the domini far more than the humans, but they had his genetic profile to prove his hybrid status.
And while pictures could be faked, they had no reason to do so.
Holly’s belly, that she highlighted in that moment by touching it, tightening her dress around the bump, spoke proof of their words.
“This ability, to create hybrids,” Survii continued seriously, “is unique among the humans.
No species, Coalition or non, has ever been able to hybridize – not with advanced science and certainly not naturally as the females behind me were able to do.
This makes your people invaluable. It means that, among you, there are mates waiting to be claimed and loved.