Fic: The Summer Intern
Aug. 28th, 2010 07:43 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalOkay, I'm taking another hiatus from Altered Trjectory for this, building off of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chaypeta's Keelan and and the First One with her permission.
Nan shouldered her backpack and stepped off the bus, stepping around a gaggle of human tourists being led by their guide towards the entrance to the reservation. A little human cub piped up to her mother, “Can I pet a ferin, Mum? Daddy said I could.”
“I'm not sure, dear.” The mother looked at the sign beside the iron gate, set below an intimidating camera that scanned everyone who approached. It read:
WELCOME TO THE NEWSPRING FERIN AUTONUMOUS REGION VISITORS CENTRE
PLEASE MIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
Ferin are considered sentient, subject to full protection by the GSA Treaty of Species, by the Vulpine Council of Farmer Lords.
Non-ferin are subject to to the following regulations past this gate.
THESE REGULATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS
1. Non-ferin may not approach a ferin without that ferin's expressed permission.
2. Non-ferin are not permitted beyond the Visitors Centre without a ferin escort.
3. Non-ferin found beyond the boundary of the Visitors Centre without an escort may be subject to LETHAL FORCE.
4. Any violators will be subject to FULL PROSECUTION by the Vulpine Ministry of Justice.
5. Ignorance is NOT an excuse.
In much smaller type at the bottom was the addendum:
Enjoy your stay.
Below that, some wag had added in permanent marker “By order of the Dept. of Social Harmony”
The tourists were escorted through the gate by a vulpine in a park ranger uniform, who led them towards the main building, repeating the rules loudly as they walked along. Nan followed, her head turning towards the line of tall broadleaf trees beyond the fence bordering the center automatically.
“You won't see them,” a voice said behind her. She turned on her footpad, her tail curling between her legs in surprise. Looking her over was another ranger, a middle-aged vixen with black fur and blue eyes. “They're watching you though,” she added, smiling slightly. “You can count on it.”
“Oh, hello,” Nan said. “I'm Nan Rey Clawstroke, the new Freeman Scholar intern.”
The ranger held out her paw. “Pleased to meet you, Nan. I'm Ranger Freya Walklong. I'm here to escort into the reserve and get you settled in.”
“Thank you.” Nan pointed to the sign. “How serious is that?”
The smile faded. “Very. Every few years we get poachers trying to swoop in and grab a few ferin to try and haul back to the outer planets and add to some slaver's breeding stock. The ones missed by the orbital patrols are usually found by the ferin shortly. If HQ is in a generous mood, we pick them up. If not, we clean up whatever's left of their ship and leave their bodies to the jungle.”
Nan's ears rotated back. “Oh, dear. I thought, well I thought this was a safe area for the ferin.”
“It is. No one has tried for over a decade. Mostly the sign is there now to let the tourists know we're serious about the ferin's well being, and so they think better than to ask if they can take one home for a pet.” Freya relaxed. “Look, that doesn't apply to you or any other vulp with the sense the Goddess gave her. Tell you what, why don't you hit the interpretive center while I get you checked in and program your security pass, eh? I'll take your bag.”
“Thanks.” She handed her backpack containing all of her clothes and a few personal items to the ranger and headed over to the interpretive center, a long, one story building made of native wood. Inside it was comfortably air-conditioned compared to the humid forest outside.
Nan followed long the hallway, with the exhibits detailing the the ferin's history. It was nothing new to her, but she looked them over, seeing how things were focused towards the curious tourist rather than serious students like herself. First was pre-history of the ferin, with holographic re-creations of Varn's discovery of their animal ancestors, which were genetically engineered into the sentient ferin most people were familiar with. The next station was occupied by a half-scale model of a typical power cell, little holographic ferin floating inside it while the signs explained their role in powering the Dominion. From there of course was terrible story of the Dominion War, and humanity's ruthless extermination of the ferin even as they helped forge the alliance that defeated the Varn.
At the center of the museum was of course the biography of the First One, beginning with his discovery by a human pirate, his gentle upbringing under Lady Softpaw, and the terrible years when he was the captive of the pirate who had originally found him. The next section covered his crucial actions during the Second Dominion War, and his discovery of the ferin haven that had sheltered and undiscovered tribe for over five hundred years.
The next-to-last section was the most politically oriented, showing the fight the Vulpine government underwent to try and secure the rediscovered ferin's safety. The section showing the ongoing cruelties that were occurring on the outer worlds were softened for a general audience, but were mostly accurate. Then of course in the Ferin Today exhibit, there was great focus showing how they integrated into vulpine society, as fully sentient beings, not merely clever work animals or dangerous monsters as the rest of universe insisted they had to be.
“But mum, why can't I pet a ferin?!” the human cubling whined as the tour group left the souvenir shop at the far end of the museum.
Spitting in the wind, Nan thought with frustration.
TBC
chaypeta's Keelan and and the First One with her permission.Nan shouldered her backpack and stepped off the bus, stepping around a gaggle of human tourists being led by their guide towards the entrance to the reservation. A little human cub piped up to her mother, “Can I pet a ferin, Mum? Daddy said I could.”
“I'm not sure, dear.” The mother looked at the sign beside the iron gate, set below an intimidating camera that scanned everyone who approached. It read:
PLEASE MIND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION.
Ferin are considered sentient, subject to full protection by the GSA Treaty of Species, by the Vulpine Council of Farmer Lords.
Non-ferin are subject to to the following regulations past this gate.
THESE REGULATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS
1. Non-ferin may not approach a ferin without that ferin's expressed permission.
2. Non-ferin are not permitted beyond the Visitors Centre without a ferin escort.
3. Non-ferin found beyond the boundary of the Visitors Centre without an escort may be subject to LETHAL FORCE.
4. Any violators will be subject to FULL PROSECUTION by the Vulpine Ministry of Justice.
5. Ignorance is NOT an excuse.
In much smaller type at the bottom was the addendum:
Enjoy your stay.
Below that, some wag had added in permanent marker “By order of the Dept. of Social Harmony”
The tourists were escorted through the gate by a vulpine in a park ranger uniform, who led them towards the main building, repeating the rules loudly as they walked along. Nan followed, her head turning towards the line of tall broadleaf trees beyond the fence bordering the center automatically.
“You won't see them,” a voice said behind her. She turned on her footpad, her tail curling between her legs in surprise. Looking her over was another ranger, a middle-aged vixen with black fur and blue eyes. “They're watching you though,” she added, smiling slightly. “You can count on it.”
“Oh, hello,” Nan said. “I'm Nan Rey Clawstroke, the new Freeman Scholar intern.”
The ranger held out her paw. “Pleased to meet you, Nan. I'm Ranger Freya Walklong. I'm here to escort into the reserve and get you settled in.”
“Thank you.” Nan pointed to the sign. “How serious is that?”
The smile faded. “Very. Every few years we get poachers trying to swoop in and grab a few ferin to try and haul back to the outer planets and add to some slaver's breeding stock. The ones missed by the orbital patrols are usually found by the ferin shortly. If HQ is in a generous mood, we pick them up. If not, we clean up whatever's left of their ship and leave their bodies to the jungle.”
Nan's ears rotated back. “Oh, dear. I thought, well I thought this was a safe area for the ferin.”
“It is. No one has tried for over a decade. Mostly the sign is there now to let the tourists know we're serious about the ferin's well being, and so they think better than to ask if they can take one home for a pet.” Freya relaxed. “Look, that doesn't apply to you or any other vulp with the sense the Goddess gave her. Tell you what, why don't you hit the interpretive center while I get you checked in and program your security pass, eh? I'll take your bag.”
“Thanks.” She handed her backpack containing all of her clothes and a few personal items to the ranger and headed over to the interpretive center, a long, one story building made of native wood. Inside it was comfortably air-conditioned compared to the humid forest outside.
Nan followed long the hallway, with the exhibits detailing the the ferin's history. It was nothing new to her, but she looked them over, seeing how things were focused towards the curious tourist rather than serious students like herself. First was pre-history of the ferin, with holographic re-creations of Varn's discovery of their animal ancestors, which were genetically engineered into the sentient ferin most people were familiar with. The next station was occupied by a half-scale model of a typical power cell, little holographic ferin floating inside it while the signs explained their role in powering the Dominion. From there of course was terrible story of the Dominion War, and humanity's ruthless extermination of the ferin even as they helped forge the alliance that defeated the Varn.
At the center of the museum was of course the biography of the First One, beginning with his discovery by a human pirate, his gentle upbringing under Lady Softpaw, and the terrible years when he was the captive of the pirate who had originally found him. The next section covered his crucial actions during the Second Dominion War, and his discovery of the ferin haven that had sheltered and undiscovered tribe for over five hundred years.
The next-to-last section was the most politically oriented, showing the fight the Vulpine government underwent to try and secure the rediscovered ferin's safety. The section showing the ongoing cruelties that were occurring on the outer worlds were softened for a general audience, but were mostly accurate. Then of course in the Ferin Today exhibit, there was great focus showing how they integrated into vulpine society, as fully sentient beings, not merely clever work animals or dangerous monsters as the rest of universe insisted they had to be.
“But mum, why can't I pet a ferin?!” the human cubling whined as the tour group left the souvenir shop at the far end of the museum.
Spitting in the wind, Nan thought with frustration.
TBC
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no subject
Date: 2010-08-30 08:22 am (UTC)Nice one to embed the whole history into one story :D
So, Terinu will re-discover his origin and the ferin he was with before he was abducted and then captured by Mavra - but why is he then called the first one? From human / vulpine / galen point of view that might be right - he was the first one to enter into the known domain - but since there was a whole colony there should have been others also...
Great work as always :) looking forward to more...
mjkj
PS: suspected typos etc.:
- "I'm here to escort into the reserve and get you settled in.”" should that not read "...escort you into..."?
- "First was pre-history of the ferin, with holographic re-creations of Varn's discovery of their animal ancestors, which were genetically engineered into the sentient ferin most people were familiar with." should that not read "...re-creations of the Varn's discovery..."
-"From there of course was terrible story of the Dominion War, and humanity's ruthless extermination of the ferin even as they helped forge the alliance that defeated the Varn." should that not read "...of course was the terrible story..."
- "The next section covered his crucial actions during the Second Dominion War, and his discovery of the ferin haven that had sheltered and undiscovered tribe for over five hundred years." should that not read "...sheltered an undiscovered..."