The Gardens of Deathworlders: A Blooming Love (Part 125)
Part 125 Rules and committees (Part 1) (Part 124)
One of the great many things Tarki had grown to deeply dislike about the Galactic Community Council is the absurd amount of time it takes to get anything done. Here she is with a time-sensitive matter pertaining to a previously unknown, pre-Ascension species. One would think the relevant committee heads would be treating this situation with the respect it deserves. While she did have some leeway to do certain things without permission due to the circumstances, there are others she could be fined or even jailed over. The most pressing matter is the installation of a translation device into the Ingthop legacy archives. Without the approval of at least one GCC committee head, Tarki couldn't promise to leave behind a hammer let alone a piece of galactic standard technology. When a pair of the Turt-Chopians students studying the Uark'thiliks approached her and requested permission to create a GCC sapient species profile for the theropods, Tarki decided she was done waiting.
As a graduate of StarMoon Royal Academy, one of the most prestigious universities in the galaxy when it came to law and politics, Tarki had friends all throughout the GCC. After making some calls, reaching out to her contacts, and even collecting on a few favors, things were starting to move. With her fold-out office in the cargo bay of Binko's shuttle set up, she was ready for the meeting she had been able to forcefully schedule with the heads of the GCC Pre-Ascended Sapient Species and First-Contact Committees. The respective individuals, representatives Harkthyr Rompchil, a woman from a featherless theropod species called Rythimpkins, and Fliuthinkar Fliuquotchel, a male chitinous-cephalopod Derubion, would soon be present via holograms. Whether or not they expected it, Tarki was completely ready for them. No matter what those two seasoned bureaucrats could throw at her, she would have a response. And regardless of their reluctance, Tarki would receive immediate concessions for her demands.
“Royal Ambassador Shlin.” Harthkyr was the first hologram to appear in front of Tarki's desk. “Before we begin, I would just like to thank you for bringing this situation directly to my attention. It seems your submissions and reports were being dragged through pre-discussion hell and hadn't made their way to my desk yet. But I want to assure you I am now caught up as of your latest update from two hours ago.”
“I am very pleased to hear that, Representative Rompchil. And also honored that you would make time out of your busy schedule for me.” Tarki knew this was all theatrics but accepted it nonetheless. After all, this adulterous woman wasn't about to mention the dirt Tarki had on her over a recorded line. “As I'm sure you are now aware, this situation is… Well… To put it bluntly, unprecedented. It truly calls for equally unprecedented diplomatic agility to ensure a satisfactory outcome.”
“A species not only evolving alongside the ruins of ancient civilization, but a spacefaring one at that…” The scaled theropod made a clacking sound with her serrated teeth while shaking her head. “Calling it unprecedented would be putting it lightly. However, there are a few things that I found confusing. Several redactions and Military Command classification requirements certainly didn't help. Perhaps you could answer a few of my questions before we discuss any requests you have.”
“Of course. And I have been given authorization to brief you on everything you need to know.” Tarki glanced towards the door of her office, which was visible from Harthkyr's perspective. “But I think we should wait for Fliu Fliu. I’m sure he has many similar questions. In the meantime-”
“Sorry I'm late.” As if on queue, a hologram of an armored octopus appeared beside the Rythimpkin and was accompanied by a gargling voice. “Good to see you, Harth! We need to go get lunch sometime soon. And Royal Ambassador Shlin! Oh, what have you brought us?!? Your reports made it to my barely five minutes before I received your priority message. This is, quite literally, entirely unprecedented!”
“We were actually just talking about that, Fliu Fliu.” Harth let out a slight chuckle at the Derubion's antics. While she couldn't imagine what nefarious secrets he was keeping to warrant an immediate reaction, she could believe he genuinely wasn't made aware of this until the past few hours. “But now that you're here, perhaps the Royal Ambassador could fill us in on some missing details in the reports. For example, what exactly are, and I'm quoting from your report on this, Royal Ambassador, these locally-dubbed ‘evil metal beasts’ that have been hunting the Uark'thilik people?”
“Hekuiv'trula warforms!” Fliu blurted out the answer before Tarki could even begin to muster a response, his tone carrying a clear note of disappointment. “Isn't that obvious, Harth? The ruins of ancient civilization from roughly three hundred and twenty million years ago, autonomous combat machines just as old, and the mention of Inthops? That last one really should have given it away. That's the War of Eons era. Those evil metal beasts could be nothing else but the very same Hekuiv'trula warforms that nearly drove my own species to extinction just fifty million years after we Ascended.”
“Wait, wait, wait…” The scaled theropod's eyes had grown wide, her maw full of razor-sharp teeth hung low, and her flabber had been completely gasted. “Are you trying to tell me there were autonomous killer robots from the War of Eons still active? Is… Is that right, Royal Ambassador? You're on a planet with Hekuiv'trula warforms, right now?”
“That's why this mission I am currently on is so highly classified.” Unlike Harthkyr, Tarki was able to maintain her composure and replied with a simple nod. “And technically speaking, I am a planet with the recently destroyed remains of Hekuiv'trula warforms. Actually… One second…” The gold and tan eagle leaned over in her chair, grabbed something off camera with both her minor and major left wings, and lifted it up for the two representatives to see. “This is the head from one of the small, bipedal warforms. My husband has decided to keep it as a trophy. Your comment about the word unprecedented being an understatement, Representative Rompchil, was itself an understatement. And now that you fully understand the context of this current situation, maybe we should move on to what we can do for the Uark'thilik people.”
“Actually, Royal Ambassador, I did have a couple questions.” Fliu raised a tentacle while bringing his tablet into view with another. “First of all, can you please verify the course of events that led to you and the organization you're working to initiate first contact with an early development civilization? I just have to have your personal testimony as a formality.”
“The publicly available information on the mission I am currently on would have you believe this is an archeological expedition involving students, a professor, and his assistant from the Turt-Chopian Grand Central University. And while this isn't inaccurate, there certainly are Turt-Chopian academics performing archeological studies, it isn't the full story. In order to avoid particular classified, sensitive, or extraneous details, allow me to summarize everything like this. A data shard from a Hekuiv'trula local combat control node was discovered, partially translated, and pointed out twenty locations of potential historical significance. When the First Independent Fleet of the Third Qui’ztar Matriarchy, the organization I am currently employed by, stopped at the first site to do a preemptive survey, we realized just how significant these locations could be. When the mission actually began, we were joined by Singularity Entity 139-621. The current planet I am currently on, the one where the Uark'thilik species evolved, is the eighteenth stop on this mission. We discovered an active but still heavily damaged Hekuiv'trula fabricator and control node, both likely from the initial invasion force that took this planet from the Ingthop people. In order to both protect the Turt-Chopians and Uark'thiliks, a newly-created specialist honor guard mech unit was deployed to eliminate the threat.”
“And this Qui’ztar honor guard unit was able to completely eradicate the Hekuiv'trula warforms, correct?” Harth interjected with a hasty and clearly concerned tone. “Because if not-”
“As I mentioned earlier, Representative Rompchil, the threat has been dealt with.” Tarki had already set the machine head down on her desk, still within view, but motioned towards it for emphasis. “However, over the course of handling the tactical situation and ensuring a safe environment for our clients, we did make first contact with the Uark'thilik species. We are following all procedures and have filed all of the proper forms. During our interactions with these fully sapient feathered theropods, we learned of a nearly perfectly Ingthop data archive. Due to the nature of the Turt-Chopian archeology expedition, said archive was powered on so the students could document what was intentionally and carefully left behind. That was when we discovered the message left by the Ingthop President who watched his civilization come to an end, along with a simple educational-AI program and the entirety of the Ingthop knowledge base. And that message all but explicitly names the Uark'thiliks as the rightful heirs to everything on this planet. According to that last will and testament, everything on this planet, including the Ingthop knowledge base, belongs to Uark'thiliks.”
“And that answers my second question.” Fliu put his tablet down and let out a soft laugh. “So, these… U-ark thil-iks… Not only have access to the ruins of galactic standard species, they have an entire data archive with everything they need to achieve galactic standard technologies. Is that correct?”
“Yes, Representative Fliuquotchel. Also, the Turt-Chopian students have discovered several pieces of well preserved and still working technologies among the ruins. Even without any assistance or intervention, the Uark'thiliks are likely within a few thousand years of Ascension.”
“I- I think I'm going to keep an official species profile… And probably a strong drink.” Harth rubbed her eyes with the palms of her hand-claws before letting out a deep sigh. “Once we have that, I can call for immediate discussions on how to proceed. And considering that may take weeks-”
“We don't have weeks, Harthkyr.” The golden avian cut the scaled theropod off before she could start making excuses. “We are currently scheduled to move on to our next location in three days. I need to know if I have permission to allow the installation of a translation device to expedite the Uark'thilik understanding of the gift left for them by then.”
“Oh, I'll get your authorizations within two days.” Fliu didn't hesitate with that response. Unlike his morally gray colleague, the Derubion was purely coming from a place of altruism. “In fact, I'll try to arrange for a proper and official first contact meeting within three, assuming that is something the Uark'thiliks would be interested in.”
/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Alright, Totta. Can you please stand up tall and extend your arms out the way your sister did?” After spending the past two days among Uark'thiliks, Jinustrom Nucheli could actually see this young child for what he truly is, absolutely adorable. “Perfect! Just like that. You shouldn't feel anything while my machine looks inside you.”
“How does the machine-” Before the eight year old little boy could finish his question, his sister cut him off.
“Hush, Totta. You have to be completely still.” Grompcha dangled the packet of candied fruits Tens had given her to bride her brother with so the full-depth medical scans could be easily performed. “Just stand there and try not to move a muscle. The less you fidget and talk, the faster this will be over, and the sooner you'll get your treats.”
“What your sister said, Totta.” The glowing device the Turt-Chopian student waved around the small feathered theropod made a slight hum while collecting molecular-level data. “I know this must be exciting for you, but just keep doing what you're doing. It should only take another minute or two. Then you can run along with your treats and go play with your friends.”
“If any of your friends want treats too, we could always use more data.” Amir chimed in with a distracted tone, his eye squarely focused on the holoscreen receiving data from the scanning tool. “But we need to get informed consent from their parents or guardians the same way Grompcha gave consent for you.”
The mood at the Tall Spires Village, and for that matter every single Uark'thilik village, continued to maintain a friendly enough tone. As the gathering around the ancient skyscrapers began to stabilize at around five-thousand people, the inevitable minor conflicts started to arise. Some individuals were certainly feeling the stress of travel, others discontent with the dramatic overpopulation of those flocking from near and far, and even a few elders were expressing anger that their voices seemed to be drowned out among the unprecedented chorus of their peers. These color-changing, feathered theropods, like all other forms of sapient life, held their own opinions about life and interpretations of how things should be done. Luckily, countless generations of working together for survival against a mercilessly evil had bred a very particular form of mutual cooperation among all Uark'thiliks. Though heated arguments had broken out, no one ever considered actually hurting each other over their differences.
It was that environment of earnest conversations, regardless of their intensity, that gave Tens, the Qui’ztar honor guard, and the Turt-Chopians a sense of ease. Now that the academics had spent two full days alongside these beings from their horror movie monsters without a single incident, they had all mostly gotten over their fears. Students like Jinustrom and Amir who spent more time with Uark'thiliks had even started to develop friendships. After examining over a dozen culturally significant sites here in the Tall Spires, those two particular Turts had even asked Tarki for permission to create a full and proper GCC standard species profile, including genetic records. With a hesitant ‘maybe’ followed by a few hours of calls, they were ultimately given the assignment as an official commission, including a small reward. And to their surprise, several Uark'thiliks enthusiastically volunteered without even being offered compensation, which was still given out of personal obligation.
“Alright, Totta. We're done!” As soon as Jinu gave that announcement, the little theropod boy let out the deepest, most exaggerated sigh of relief she had ever heard in her life. “Oh… It wasn't that bad, was it?”
“I don't like to be still unless I'm hiding!” Totta suddenly jumped up and clapped his claws together, his feathers flashing humorous patterns. “Can I have my treats now?”
“Yes, Totta… Here!” Grompcha rolled her eyes at her little brother before gently tossing him the small packet of candied fruits. Considering her theropod morphology isn't exactly well adapted for such a movement, her aim was far off target. However, the excitable young lad leapt forward, grabbed his reward mid-air, then ran off with it while maniacally laughing. “I have no idea what goes through his mind sometimes. But, anyways, he's healthy, right? Aside from whatever's wrong with him mentally.”
“It looks like he just got over fighting off a minor viral infection. But other than that, yes. He’ll probably live at least another eighty, maybe even a hundred, years.” Amir held back the urge to add, ‘assuming he doesn't do anything stupid,’ simply because of the implications. Instead, he went on a bit of a rant regarding the information he had gleaned over the course of this assignment so far. “If the data from everyone we've scanned earlier and the stories we've been told are any indication, your species has a natural lifespan similar to Tens's species. Somewhere between seventy and a hundred and twenty years. The only reason it isn't common for your people to live past sixty or seventy right now is due to the constant stress of living with Hekuiv'trula warforms. None of the forty people we’ve scanned so far show any signs of genetic complications, major illness, or anything like that. The elder from the Many Holes Village had even had a cancerous growth in his digestive system that his immune system seemed to be effectively fighting off. It'll probably be gone in a few months. You, your brother, and all of your people are incredibly healthy, Grompcha.”
“That's good to learn, but…” The young Uark'thilik woman tried to read the information on Amir's holoscreen but quickly found it incomprehensible. “How are you able to know all that? How can a machine simply look at a person and so many hidden details about them? I understand it isn't magic, but it seems almost supernatural.”
“To be honest with you, I really don't know.” The young Turt man looked up from the screen, gave a shrug that his translation device was able to contextualize with a flash, and then redirected his focus to his new romantic interest. “How about you, Jinu? Do you know how medical scanners work?”
“I know it sends out small energy pulses that get reflected back in specific ways. And it understands the reflections. But I couldn't tell you the exact type of energy being used.” Jinu's explanation was more complex than that but used words that her translator couldn't yet properly impart in the Uark'thilik language. “That being said, I do know that it's safe, even for fairly long or regular exposures, Grompcha. Your people don't have anything to worry about. I wouldn't want to be constantly scanned for months at a time, but every one of us gets scanned before, during, and after an expedition like this.”
“Ok. I trust you.” Grompcha bowed her head and displayed a pattern of colors that were contextualized as being respectful but still slightly hesitant. While she could easily accept that there were things beyond her current understanding, that wasn't going to stop her from trying. “Perhaps the Ingthops used similar machines and left detailed explanations in their archives. If Tarki is allowed to leave a translating machine with us, I'm sure either myself or one of my people will come to learn how it works soon enough.”
“I mean… Worst comes to worst…” Jinustrom's shy smile slowly shifted into a somewhat devious grin. “I have been known to lose things on occasion. Between twenty of us students, I'm sure a few people might misplace some things when we leave. Assuming, of course, we aren't explicitly told to leave certain items behind. But that's enough about that. Could you please get the next volunteer for us?”
Posted Jun 28, 2025, 5:50 PM UTC