Originally written for /r/HFY

Humans. Odd creatures.

Meeting one was quite the experience. Normally, xenos of other species would try to win members of my species over. Gifts, favours. Whatever they could do. My species progressed through interstellar politics faster than any other. Our businessmen made many shrewd, one sided ultimatums, robbing all the other races in broad daylight. We won every argument, got the better part of every deal. My people had long gotten used to such treatment, over the course of a long millenia. I had always been curious as to why they offer their time, attention, and some of their wealth to entertain my species.

At first, I thought that we were treated this way simply because of the fact that we control most of the Jikala sector, a major hub in trading. Perhaps, the flattery would cease outside homespace. After all, it made sense for someone of pay their respects while in another’s den. Especially if that den housed all of their generators of material wealth.

I found this not the case however, for when I ventured through foreign space, I was treated in exactly the same way.

Then, I thought that perhaps of the fact that my people control and constitute most of the armada fleets. I believed that they simply are afraid of incurring the wrath of our leaders, but if so, why would they go to such lengths to appease every single Delavari out there?

I thought, for a long time. Tried to come up with reason on my spare time, but finding none that really fit the bill. Over time, I gave up. Took things as they were. I knew little of the backgrounds of the other races anyway, and I didn’t have much time outside the strict training regiment to look them up. I simply assumed that they were afraid of us. In our planet, were the apex predators. The other races stemmed from being the top prey on their own planets, working together in large numbers to drive away predators. I put two and two together, and left it at that they were afraid of us. It was the only explanation I could find.

Then, I met him. My first human encounter.

Well, that was a lie. I had met only a few of my human counterparts throughout the human inception, but never had I met one in person. I didn’t know what to expect. I was simply told that they were not to be trusted. That they acted different. Vague, but that was all I got from the reports.

Well, to their credit, I myself can’t really elaborate either.

When the Humans Samuel McCollins and Ryder Flinn joined my company, they did so steadfast and resolute. I was impressed. They seemed fearless, utterly unfazed by the shift from their Navy fleets into The Armada.

They keep up well enough, I suppose. Of course, no where near Delavari standards, but more than well enough to do their duty satisfactorily. They were curious creatures, forever bound by endless quirks. Samuel, notably, taps his foot whenever impatient, or bored. Ryder pushes down against his fingers until they make a cracking sound once every fifteen minutes or so. Samuel mutters things under his breath. Ryder whistles. Samuel collects odd pieces of card. Ryder makes ‘sniffing’ noises, even when he is completely healthy.

The biggest noticeable difference, however, was that they did not give me the same preferential treatment, that I was used to. In fact, they act in a way that seemed to denote otherwise, despite being prey on their home planet. They displayed nothing of the calm demeanor expected of prey, but also not the sheer volatility of being a predator.

For a time, I was wary of them. Both indulged in self-destructive behaviours, called everyone derogatory terms (albiet somewhat endearingly.), openly spoke out their disagreements without being tact, and seemed to be casual everywhere else.

I remembered the first time Ryder had criticized my choice of action. It was a free rapid ground deployment drill. I instructed the company to take a defensive position over in a series of dilapidated buildings. Ryder took one long look towards the buildings, then towards the ridge nearby. He said. “Ma’am, honestly speaking, if we get trapped in there, we’re gonna get shot to shit. What if we take position over there instead? We can move around more. Gotta bigger picture to shoot at too.”

That was really the first time someone other than a superior had suggested an alternate course of action. The Ladza, Gorganos and Aloniflax just go along whatever I say. Of course, we still followed my original orders, the ridge being too exposed to bombardment to be of any use.

Over time, however, I grew fond of my two human subordinates. The were effective in battle, quick learners and very adaptable to change. They seemed more Delavarian than any other xenos.

One day, on shore leave, Samuel had gotten intoxicated. In his stupor, he managed to ‘ruffle the feathers’ of several Ladza, and I was forced to go fetch him. It was simple enough, the Ladza handing him over without too much fuss, just as I expected. Getting back on the ship, however, was not.

Samuel had been a ‘handful’. He was cursing at everyone they passed, making snide comments and pointing the middle digits of both hands up for all to see. I tried to stop him, but all that seemed to do was make him even more aggressive. He put up his two ‘’arms’, and challenged me to ‘come at him’, suggesting that I fight him. The act left me somewhat speechless. There is no way in hell he could win, and especially not when he’s struggling to find his balance, burping obscenely.

And yet, there he was, taunting me. Spitting more curses as me in an attempt to anger me. I read somewhere that when a human gets ‘drunk’, it tends to be more open regarding displaying its feelings. And if so, was he truly unafraid?

That brought back the flame of the question I had when I was a juvenile, the one that was never answered. After dropping Samuel off at the Medical Bay, I ran into Ryder. I asked him whether or not he was afraid of me, and he immediately replied with a resounding no. I asked him whether he felt the same way when he first saw my species. He said yes, and that he wanted to know whether or not my species would be beneficial for humanity.

That left me dumbfounded. All the other prey races admitted to always being somewhat afraid of my kind. I remembered my youth, where I asked an Aloniflax how he felt during first contact with my species, and he told me all he felt was fear, and that he had nightmares for months.

I asked the varying races of my company the same question, and all replied along the same vein. Private Youiudnas the Ladza said that his grandfather never trusted her kind, insisting that they would turn on the Ladzas one day, and eat them.

So why then, did the humans think otherwise? I caught Ryder, again, the next day, and asked how his people treated their natural predators. He gave it some thought, and said.

“Well, as of right now, we’ve hunted all of our natural predators into extinction.”

Genocide? I pressed further, asking him how the circumstances came to be.

“Um, I mean, there are still copies of these animals in zoos and stuff so kids can gawk at them. Some rich people keep them as pets now.” He muttered, unsure of how to properly answer my question.

I was horrified. I imagined myself being the playthings of the gyoncows back home.

“I don’t really know how it led to that, but I guess they just rubbed a few sticks together, until like, a tiger or something to come their way, and then they’d shit their pants when they found out it would eat them. We didn’t have any spiky shit or super strength like you guys do, so we had to try and outsmart the bitch, to kill it.”

He paused, and scratched the back of his head

“And then we’d skin it and wear it as clothing, I guess.”