Chapter 188: (DelVar) (2/2)
It had two little red marks, one on either side of the head.
It didn't do much, just sat on the rock.
”It's a pet. Humans find it comforting to take care of little creatures. It's part of our pack bonding psychology,” the doctor said. ”In showing care and empathy for a creature weaker than us, that depends upon us, it reminds us of what it is to be human.”
”You humans are strange creatures, a strange people,” Del'Var said.
The doctor nodded. ”Indeed we are.”
Del'Var sat down and the discussion turned to other things. It was almost the end of the hour when the doctor stopped talking and gave Del'Var one of those intent looks that Del'Var had learned meant the human was making decisions.
”Have you ever had a pet, Del'Var?” the doctor asked. Del'Var shook his head. ”Hmm, how about a digipet?”
”What is a did-gee-pet?” Del'Var asked.
”A digital pet. You have to feed it, interact with it, teach it things, but you don't have to worry about it taking space. It's more convenient than a real world pet like Ruffles over there,” the doctor said.
”No. That seems strange,” Del'Var admitted.
”Would you like one?” the doctor asked.
”Um, I don't know,” Del'Var said. ”What if I do something wrong and it dies?”
”It's a low level VI. Just do basic care and it will be fine. If you want one, I can let you choose from several different types,” the doctor said. ”Several other N'Kar have found comfort in a digipet.”
Del'Var thought for a minute. So far all the Terran suggestions had worked out well for Del'Var and the other N'Kar.
”I think I would like one,” Del'Var said.
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DEAR: Uln'Var, Revered Mother
I am still doing well. I find myself angry at the Terrans sometimes that they didn't arrive in time to keep me from being taken from my home. The doctor said that those feelings are a normal response to what I've been through.
I still miss home but I no longer feel like I want to die from homesickness. I still miss you. Still miss father. Still miss my siblings.
I have been learning wood carving and wood working. It is odd that a technologically advanced people would put such focus on working with their hands. I find it calming. I built a bird-house and a thing called a spice-rack. I'm sending both of them to you. The Terrans said it was all right.
I'm hoping I can come home soon.
Respect and Honor: Del'Var, your male child.
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CLONE WORLDS CONGLOMERATE
Twenty million of them so far. All of the cannon fodder for the Lanaktallans.
They show signs of gentling, but it looks like they're on their first time through the system. I'd love to get a look at their worlds, maybe do an evolution scan on the biome and environment. Their taste-buds are largely retooled as are their dentation but the regressive genes are still in there.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
BIOLOGICAL ARTIFICIAL SENTIENCE SYSTEMS
According to the prisoners, the Lanaktallan took them over roughly thirty years after they invented high frequency radio transmission. Roughly thirty to fifty thousand years ago. Looks like they've been modified since then, but you're the expert.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
CONFED MILINT
They've got six planet total. Apparently they jumped straight to Near-Civilized status instead of Neo-Sapient/Sentince status. The reason for this is unknown but suspected.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
DIGITAL ARTIFICIAL SENTIENCE SYSTEMS
I think it's because, largely, they aren't a threat to the Lanaktallan nor do they prize the same resources or world types. The N'Kar prefer water planets with some islands and a healthy ocean ecology.
Their technological progression ended with the radio and they weren't big on factories either. From what we've been able to glean they didn't even create the internal combustion engine. The most high tech they got was RADAR, mainly for weather prediction, wind and sail.
Most of their technology is from their time as a Lanaktallan servant species.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
MANTID FREE WORLDS
Did we find their home planet or one of their colony worlds yet?
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TREANA'AD HIVE WORLDS
Kind of feel bad for the roflstomping they got.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TERRASOL
That's the problem with this damned war. The majority of the troops shouldn't even be on the field.
What's worse, is if we even find a system where it's only Lanaktallan, they put up even LESS of a fight.
All that's happening is we're ending up with tons of planetary populations that need cared for, detoxed off of drugs, and not even really any fights.
I mean, for fuck's sake, the fantasy LARPers have been tearing up entire systems.
This is less of a war and more like some kind of armed foster program or something.
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RIGELLIAN COMPACT
It doesn't help that the minute we turn out backs on the Lanaktallan they'll bioweapon and genecrack the shit out of us.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---
TRAVNU GEATSLT
Waht llwi yuo ?od
---HTONING FOLSWOL---
MANTID FREE WORLDS
Try to solve the Hamburger Kingdom Conundrum.
And probably fail.
---NOTHING FOLLOWS---