I apologize for the delay on this one, lost a pet I'd had for 15 years recently and needed a break from serious writing, hence the MyHeard posts. I'm hoping to get back in the groove of things, find my muse again. Or grab her by the balls and drag her back to the writing desk, if need be.

Now then, enough delay, let's get on with the angst.

CW: Allusion to and description of Torture

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Memory Transcription Subject: Recel, Troubled Kolshian

Date [Standardized Human Time]: August 31, 2136

I tried to banish the thoughts as I stared up at the ceiling from my bunk, but they whorled in my mind regardless.

"I'm not a soldier! I don't know anything, please!"

It's a Predator.

It begged.

"W-What are you talking about? I'd never hurt Slanek! He's my friend!"

It's a Predator.

It cried.

"AHHH! I said I didn't know anything! Please, just take this collar off, I promise I won't do anything!"

It's a Predator.

It didn't fight back.

"P. . Please, stop! I don't know anything! Please!"

It's a Predator!

It was scared.

The Human convulsed on the ground, claws futilely grasping at it's neck.

"Talk, monster!" Sovlin yelled as he grasped the remote in an iron grip, that horrible gleam in his eyes again, "TALK!"

It's a Predator!

He acted like a Predator.

The Human was curled in the corner, claws over one side of it's face as it sobbed, shaking like a tree in a storm.

Sovlin stood over it, claw dripping red, a gleam in his eye.

He was happy that he'd hurt it.

I sat up and breathed deep, grasping my temples in my tentacles as I tried to quell the traitorous thoughts.

But they stuck like tar, staining my head with things I didn't want to think about, didn't want to see.

The Human convulsed on the ground, claws futilely grasping at it's neck.

"Talk, monster!" Sovlin yelled as he grasped the remote in an iron grip, that horrible gleam in his eyes again, "TALK!"

Sovlin hates Predators, with good reason! They took everything from him!

But this isn't an Arxur, is it?

"This isn't right," I whimpered quietly.

It's a Predator, but only barely! That Human is a victim, and I let Sovlin make it one!

The Venlil glared at us through the glass, Human clutched to his chest as he stroked his paw over the bloodied head fur.

Staring back at him, I know that his look of accusation, of smoldering hatred is going to follow me into my sleep tonight. Same as everything else I've seen since we pulled that pod in.

"None of this is right!" I said, moving my tentacles down to clutch at myself as tears welled up.

But I didn't stop it, did I?

"It's not attacking him. Stars, if anything, it's clinging to him like he'll protect it! Captain, I truly do think-"

"It's just a ruse, Recel! Give it time, and it'll give in to it's hunger."

"And then what? It'll eat the Venlil and we'll have to explain that we let a civilian die on our watch? That we FED him to it?"

"I should have said that," I said aloud, voice raising, "I should have said so much more! Why didn't I say anything!?"

It's begging, he doesn't listen

Because I'm scared.

It shook on the ground, he gripped the remote tighter

Because he scared me.

Claw dripping red, gleam in his eye

Because there was a Predator next to me.

Recel's going through it