Nezoom 2024

Oct. 5, 2024 - Pllot:Protagonist Backstory

Prelude



We had never seen technological weapons before. When the first explosions closed off all the entrances to the caves there was nowhere for the Zaume (peaceful, mole-like monks) to go. All that was felt was fear and chaos. Tee & Aga, my parents, were able to deflect some of the energy blasts with their claws. There was only the three of us that could sense where the blasts were coming from. Everywhere I looked there were Zaume either dead, mortally wounded, or dying.

The creatures came on their speeders. I tried to keep myself under control, but the rage consumed me With ZaHa (telekinesis) I threw the creatures into the cliffs and forced their speeders off the ledge. I clawed and whipped my tail but the technology was too much. I remember the burning in my side and the awful vibrations that went through me before I lost consciousness.

When I awoke, I could sense only mother in my range. I was surrounded by bars. The cage hung from logs balanced on two speeders. I looked down. Even with ZaHa to slow my fall, I could never survive a jump from that height. Even if I could, where would I go? What would I do? I did not know where father was and the Zaume were probably all dead.

My despair threatened to consume me, so I turned my mind to the songs my mother sang. Would I be able to find her and free her? What about the Sholoh she spooke of so often. Would I be able to find them? Would they help us? I tried to soothe with the ShilVas (song) and even let myself drift with the melody.

When I awoke again, my cage was slung between two trees. Two of my captors stood watch and taunted the creatures in the small cages below me. Nezume (large mouse-like creatures); the primitive ones that we had little in common with other than some genetics. Some other cages held different species from Nezoom. Tyken (human-like hominids) huddled together weeping. Rastas (canines) and Salka (felines) threw themselves against the bars and fought amongst themselves.

Another of my captor creatures came to the guards. I could tell this one was more sentient than the others. The first two guards thought in a language that was filled with vulgarities and I hated translating it. No matter. I would not speak it. They would learn nothing from me.

The two guards lowered my cage to the ground. I sat cross-legged in the middle of it. The sentient captor had ZaHa talents; I knew it and he knew I had the same. I had learned to think in Igal (Intergalactic language). They would not learn to speak Shilah from me.

He looked somewhat like a Salka, but he had a mane for hair and wore a blue outfit like a lab technician.

“I am called Taran. I know you understand me.”

The two guards spat on the ground and issued a stream of vulgarities. I chuckled.

“They don’t understand and don’t like you speaking this way.” I said.

“They are of no importance. Mere unintelligent guards.” said Taran.

“Why should I talk to you?”

Taran sighed. ‘I understand your disdain, but what has already been done cannot be undone. Only your future can be decided from here.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“I wish to know you. Why are you so different from them,” he indicated the primative nezume, “and from the other female...”

By the other female he could only mean Tee, my mother. I felt the rage boiling in me again. “Maybe you do not have the intelligence to understand.”

Taran put a paw to his temple. “Stonewalling me will not help you or the others.”

“There are no others here. You must know I know that.”

“Will you answer me this? You were singing in a language I only heard once in my lifetime before now. Where did it come from?”

I smiled slyly. “Ask the zaume.”

I turned my mind to thoughts of my white fur and them memories of the dying cries of the zaume. Taran could no longer sense anything but that. He stumbled away with his head in his paws. The guards raised the cage back into the trees.

I could have easily opened the cage but again the questions came. Where would I go? What could I do? There was also the thought of their technology and weapons. There was a burned brand mark on my fur and skin where the pain had begun before. How far would I be able to get ? I had nothing but questions with no answers.

At daybreak I awoke to the cage being lowered again. Taran stood on the ground. “i would like a blood sample.”

I extended my claws and whipped my tail. “You can try.”

I was answered by the pain in my side, the vibrations, and blackness.