Dis-Orient Chapter 1 - Clipped Perceptions
This is the start of the arch that continues 'We Don't Hate Being Micros'. I hope everyone enjoys :).
Dis-Orient Chapter 1 - Clipped Perceptions
A badger presses his thumb and middle finger over his lidded eyes, he hears the door open and in comes 3 others. "Good, you're all here." The badger corrects his position so that he's sitting up is his chair. "We need to discuss our response to recent developments in our little micro problem." The badger speaks to the other three. "I'm certain you've all seen the disaster that has been the media coverage of micros using mass manipulation technology."
"Yes, Prime Minister Natbur." Nev, a raccoon, says as he sits down in an adjacent chair. "We cam as soon as we got the request for audience. This is certainly not an easy decision."
The badger nods softly, "Thank you, Nev. Your expertise on micro civilization is unvirvaled. I am glad to have you here." He smiles and looks up towards the snow leopard behind Nev. "General Kier? It's good to see you. Your father, Horus, had a big role in the micro wars. Your council will be much appreciated." Finally, he looks to the female lemur walking in behind both Nev and Kier. "And Iris, I trust your investigation has been fruitful?"
General Kier grins and takes a seat in a chair opposite of Nev while Iris settles in a chair opposite of the prime minister. "Somewhat, yes." She says softly, "We have not discerned a motive. However, the micro that was arrested at the incident finally gave us a little information. They call them cloakers. Apparently, quite a few micros have managed to obtain one though the vast majority still cannot afford them. He and his brother were trying to obtain one because they wanted to..." She frowns slightly, remember the look on the cougar's face as he spoke. "Live like us. Normally, that is. They wanted to avoid the persecution they face at their natural heights."
"Hahah, with all due respect, I could have told you that ma'am." Kier speaks, tail whipping back and forth slowly behind him. "It's what they all say. I don't know if either of you have ever dealt with a micro before. I know Mr. Nev has. Anyway, most of them will whine and cry about their lives even if you offer to give'em a job. They say it's humiliating to do the things you want them to do or they you're being unfair or asking too much. They can't beat us in a fight so now they just want to make us feel bad for them. I, personally, find it pathetic."
The snow leopard shifts and crosses his right leg over his left knee. "They want us to give them things for free. We need to put our fist down. We taught them what happens when they cross us in the micro wars, lets teach them again. We'll round up the micros with mass manipulation technology and hold them indefinitely. One of them is bound to know where the technology is being produced. We can get the information from them and destroy any hopes of creating more. We'll probably even end up finding a few of the micro villages we weren't able to locate during the war."
Natbur looks to Nev after General Kier is finished. "Do you agree with General Kier?"
The raccoon looks to the Prime Minister for a moment. "It is true that we cannot take this lightly. After all, they've managed to breach our social structures to an extent that we are only now attempting to measure. However, I don't know that Iris' report is entirely inaccurate. Micros have had a very difficult time surviving. It's only due to a fairly endurant physiology and a unique form of ingenuity that they've survived as long as they have with their population even partially intact. Even so, those micros that are unable to live in the villages grow up watching and serving us. It is not unbelievable that they might come to envy us and conclude that, to survive, they'll have to live the way we do. Furthermore, you must realize, Mr. Prime Minister, that now that they have this technology, they likely have friends or... even family that are normal. Normals and micros are physiologically compatible and can... reproduce with one another... it was simply impossible until... well, until these cloakers came into existence. If you make a bad decision here, sir, you may be cast as the one who is evil. Not the micros."
"I see." Natbur rubs his hand over his head, making the fur atop it stand up straight. "We have to figure out what they're doing, but capturing them recklessly might not go well with the public."
"What they're doing is illegal, let me remind you." General Kier frowns. "We have the law behind us, Mr. Prime Minister. We must not act lightly."
"We could use the captee." Iris says gently, pulling something out of her purse. All three lean in to see the small frame of the shivering micro cougar in her palm. "This was the would-be murderer of that fox gentleman. The police suggested that he and a wolf owned by the family are close to one another based on prison video taken of them while they were being held together. We think this is the brother he spoke of."
Cameron holds onto the fingers of the lemur, looking up at the four giants surrounding him. His fur is a mess even if clean. It's obvious that whatever tactics had been used to get information from him before were physical in nature. He tries to stay quiet as they mention George, not wanting them to have anymore influence on him. He'd already told them more than he wanted.
General Kier leans down and grins. "Not a bad idea." He peers into the eyes of the smaller feline. "You'll help us, right? Micro?" He asks, moving a finger forward to pet down Cameron's head condescendingly. Cameron stays quiet, looking away even as he's pet.
"What is the address to this micro's owner's home? I'd like to pay a visit, see how he's doing after nearly being murdered. It must've been quite an experience." General Kier smiles. "Perhaps the wolf micro can help me if you cannot."
Nev looks visibly uncomfortable at the game General Kier is playing. The Prime Minister frowns and Iris stares down at the little micro in her palm. "It's either this or back to the cells, little one. If you go back to the cells, you'll only end up being asked for more information... until we think you have no more. You know too much for us to release you and so once you aren't useful anymore..."
A tear runs down Cameron's cheek as the leopard attempts to blackmail him. Everything he'd been through up to this point combined with the notion that George might still end up getting involved was just too much. "Leave him out of it..." Cameron growls. He rubs over his face, cleaning his eyes before looking at the giants before him.
"Then you'll help?" The Prime Minister asks.
"This is cruel..." Nev speaks suddenly, looking down at the micro. "Look at him, he's all torn up and crying. And now you're threatening to do something to another micro he cares about? He doesn't even look like an adult micro. How old is he?" Nev asks Iris whom frowns somewhat.
"Who cares" General Kier growls. "This is a matter of national security, the people need to know we have control of this situation."
"Well, yes..." Nev frowns. "At least offer him something for his help. You said he and his brother wanted cloakers? If they help us, lets grant them protection and cloakers at least..."
The Prime Minister looks down at Cameron. "Well, micro? How about it? You help us, we'll make sure you get a comfy place to live and cloakers for both you and your brother... Deal?"
Cameron sees no other option. If he says no he'll only end up dead in a cell somewhere or, even worse, dead. He clenches his little fist for a moment, both slowly begins to regain composure.
He wipes his eyes with a fist and sighs...
"I'll... do it..."
The four stand and walk toward the door as the Prime Minister explains the plan. "I'll make a speech tonight detailing a plan to begin capturing micros living in cities throughout the country. The cloaked micros may be tricky due to the fact that capturing them may upset people close to them. We'll need to make it clear that there is a micro threat and that by hiding from us, they are actively trying to bring our social structure down. If we can get most the believe this, then we will be able to capture the cloaked micros as well. Our little friend here will work to lure micros out into the open to make them easier to capture and lead us to where there are high concentrations of them. We should start with larger cities, have him advertise a safe spot for micros to hide from us and then capture those who fall into the trap. Eventually, perhaps, we can even use him to convince cloaked micros into our fake refuges. With those we capture, we can try to pinpoint the location where they cloakers are being produced and, from there, find out what they micros are planning to do with their mass manipulation tech."
"We are agreed, then." General Kier nods with Nev and Iris agreeing shortly afterwards. The meeting adjourns and General Kier walks off. Iris and Nev walk towards the outside of the government building and Nev pulls Iris aside as soon as they're in a relatively unpopulated area on government grounds.
"What is it, Nev?" She asks, moving to start putting Cameron back into her purse. Nev holds her arm, though, before she can finish depositing the micro. "I want to keep him. Let me prepare him for what's to come. I'll bring him back when we are ready to begin to plan..."
"You know I can't--"
"You will, Iris. I know that you're walking the line here, but this cougar is a child. I don't see how you could treat one of your own this way."
"Don't lecture me." The lemur frowns, looking down at Cameron whose expression has become one of surprise. "You're a...?"
"That's for later, little one. You'll understand." Nev says gently before looking to Iris again. "I want to prepare him for what he's going to do. And I think he deserves a warm meal and a comfortable place to rest beforehand. You agree, don't you?"
"Fine, but make sure he's here and ready. I'll make something up when I get back to the lab." Iris looks down at Cameron again. "I have a good reason." She says before holding paw out to the raccoon. Nev lets Iris deposit Cameron into his paw before he watches her walk off. He looks down to Cameron. The cougar watches Iris, expression filled with confusion and even a little anger. How could she be a micro and do the things that she's done to him and others? He's snapped out of his daze when Nev pockets him. "We have to get to my house, I'll explain there."
--
"We have difficult news for you, son." A female otter speaks, sitting next to her husband with a younger looking otter in her lap.
Minet looks between his mother, father, and younger brother a confused gaze. "We? As in all three of you?" He shifts a little, facing the three sitting on a couch opposite of the chair he's in. He leans forward a little while his parents look at one another worriedly. "Well, we've been keeping a bit of a secret from you. I-it's not because we don't trust you, it's because it's a lot to take in."
"Okay..." Minet says gently. He looks to his younger brother, wondering what he could possibly know. He understands that his parents might keep a secret, but why let his little brother in on it and not him?
"I know it may come as a bit of a shock but... I'm a micro..." She cringes at the word. She wanted to wait, in only a few years Minet would be 18. She was sure he'd be ready by then.
"This... makes you and your brother hybrids." She says gently, looking down. "I would've told you earlier but... you're not quite the same as me and your little brother. We have to have cloakers to stay at a normal height. You... don't. I don't know how it works but something in your genes makes it so that you grew as a normal person would. You didn't need to know like your brother did. We can't let him take his cloaker off when we're not expecting it..."
"She's still your mother and your younger brother--" Minet's father begins only to be cut off.
"I get it" Minet says gently, frowning. "You didn't tell me because you thought I might act like the others."
His mother shakes her head quickly. "No, that's not it. You're my son, I have absolute fai--"
"Not towards you, mom. Towards other micros. It'd be hard news to swallow if it turns out I'm one of the creatures I like tormenting...right?" The otter tries to think of what this means for him. Half normal, half micro...
"It's not uncommon for normal boys your age." She says gently.
Minet looks at his younger brother. He tries to imagine how small the seven-year-old would be if he weren't wearing the earring Minet assumes to be his cloaker. "And you had to tell me because of recent events." He says gently. "This is why you've been staying home."
"Your mother and I have decided that it's too dangerous for her and your brother to go out in public... at least until this blows over or... something. Based on what I've been hearing, I think it's best if they don't wear their cloakers anymore, either. They carry too much risk now..."
"You wanted me to know before you removed them so I would be ready..." Minet sighs gently, rubbing over his head. It's still confusing and he's not sure of how he feels about the news. "Okay, well, it's important that you two are safe." The sixteen year old smiles. "I-this is going be weird... but, yea, it's not a big deal. Your still my mom and he's still my brother. Honestly, I never liked what some of the other students did to micros. I've had fun with a few before but never anything fatal."
Minet feels his heart beating quickly, unsure of what else to say.
"Thanks, son. I'm glad to hear you understand." Minet watches his mother stand with his brother held against her hip. He stands afterwards and moves to give her a hug. His father stands and rubs over his head. "It was hard for me to learn as well, but your mother has been nothing but wonderful. I love her no matter what she is just as I love you two." He grins.
"Alright alright..." Minet blushes, a little flustered from the mushiness.
After the hug he stands to go back to his room, thinking about all of this. The news is certainly shocking and he has to wonder how much, if anything, will change now that the micros' secret is public information.
"Minny!"
The otter blinks to see his little brother running up behind him. "Hey, Pete." He smiles, picking his brother up as soon as he's close enough.
Pete smiles a little and hugs about his brother's neck. "Sorry I didn't tell you before, bro. Mom said it was a secret. I couldn't tell anybody."
"No, it's alright. I understand, Pete..." He walks into his room and sits down, settling his brother into his lap. "...How does it feel, though? To... you know. Have you ever taken your earring off?"
"Yea! It's fun." He giggles gently, "But mom says it's dangerous, too. Someone could step on me or something..." He frowns. "I don't think anyone would, but mom says I can't take it off when I'm not here and around her or dad."
"I agree with them, Petey. Keep it on unless mom and dad say you can take it off. Some people aren't nice to micros so it could be dangerous for you to be small around others."
"I know, we have a pet micro at school! Some of the kids like picking on him. I don't know, though. I try to be nice."
Minet chuckles at that. "Good. Hey, I need to finish some work. Let's play a few video games later maybe?" He asks while setlting Pete down on the floor. Peter nods and grins widely. "Okay! Seeya bro!" The smaller otter shouts as he runs off.
"I hope nothing bad comes of any of this..." He frowns a little, moving to sit at his computer. "I won't let anything bad happen to them..."
The next day, Minet walks to the campus of the private college he commutes to after bidding farewell to his family. He can't get the image of his mother standing only a few inches atop of the table, holding his brother, out of his head. It's surreal. "I'm part micro..." He says gently. "What does that mean...?" He looks up as he nears the campus, noticing the guards standing outside of the gates that lead into the private college grounds, scanning everyone who walks in. Unlike other days passing through the checkpoint, he actually feels a little offended suddenly. The feeling is a little confusing, but knowing that they're looking for people like his mother and brother... that these guards might take them away if they ever found out. He resents them to some extent.
After gaining access to campus, he looks around, wondering just how many of the students that walked these halls only a week ago were micros or how many of them here currently are close friends with micros.
He squeezes the flash drive he'd pulled from his computer before leaving. "If I can find out who was on campus a week ago but hasn't shown up recently... " He nods to himself, walking straight to the dorm room of one of his best friends. "He'll know what to do."