That theory is absolutely preposterous, stupid and all kinds of awesome.
I would like to subscribe to your newsletter. – RecklessPrudence
[AN: ‘stupid’ is an ablist slur and I’d really love to learn how to avoid it without tripping over myself. All helps welcome]
“You’ve seen my lifecorder footage,” explained T'reka for what felt like the umpteenth time. At least, this time, she was conversing with a fellow scientist. “You were on shift for some of it. The humans are not hostile.”
“That’s a small sample size.”
“Of a larger sample size,” added T'reka. “The ones who have seen me in person are sharing their knowledge with others. Their entire encampment knows about me. They call me ’Greychicken’ as a pseudo-moniker.”
“They could easily be lulling you into a false sense of security,” said the junior technician.
“And what motivation do they have for subterfuge?” T'reka countered. “We are not an obvious threat, and so long as they stay here on Toxic Island, they’re no threat to us. We’re both more interested in getting our respective colonies established than making war.”
“And after they’re established? What then?”
“What, in two to three generations when the pressure is off?” T'reka teased. “I think a flow of communication may assist in helping both parties achieve peace. They’d know about us. We’d know about them. After that, it’s simply a case of mutually assured assimilation.”
The junior technician’s eyes were bright. His posture, for a change, straight and proud. “That is a wonderful future to aspire to,” he cooed. “Tell me more?”
T'reka almost preened out of pure mortification. The attentions of a male had her flustered, since she never expected any. Even a low-grade junior technician with obvious anxiety issues and stress-induced moulting could make her fidget and fawn. “It starts with the hypothesis that all conclusions regarding human hostility are in error,” she began.
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