Episode 102, Predators Among Us
15 Sep 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Episode 102, Predators Among Us
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Tzafrir hadn’t just brought a couple of horses—he’d brought enough for everyone. This was his way, Zaria quipped as the animals were unloaded from his Imperial Cutter, their coats gleaming under the sunlight. A team of androids worked efficiently, preparing each one before leading them to their designated riders.
Ryuko, not showing his apprehension, observed Tzafrir closely, mirroring the older man's actions as he mounted his horse. He had no idea what he was doing, but there was no way he’d let it show. The leather creaked under him, the animal shifting beneath his weight in a way that made him feel distinctly out of place.
Ashlyn, however, needed no encouragement. She ran up to her assigned horse, eyes wide with excitement. With the androids’ assistance, she was soon placed in the saddle, her small frame looking confident despite her inexperience. Her laughter rang through the clearing, a bright contrast to the tension that simmered in Ryuko’s chest.
Tzafrir, sitting astride his own mount with practiced ease, glanced over at Zaria, who had already taken the reins of Ashlyn’s horse. With the calm authority of someone well-versed in the equestrian arts, Zaria led the horse gently, explaining the ins and outs of riding as Ashlyn listened intently, her eyes full of wonder.
Meredith, meanwhile, was not so at ease. He sat stiffly atop his horse, his muscles locked, daring not to move as the beast shifted beneath him. The reins in his hands might as well have been lifelines, and every subtle movement seemed to jolt his nerves. His eyes flicked to his daughter for reassurance, but Ashlyn was too absorbed in her newfound freedom to notice her father’s discomfort.
Of all of them, it was Tara who moved with the most purpose. She guided her horse with precision, positioning it between Ryuko and something in the distance that had caught her attention.
“Don’t move,” she warned, her voice low and sharp. Ryuko tensed, recognizing that something had triggered her protective subroutines. But whatever it was that had her on edge, he couldn’t see it.
Tzafrir, still seated on his horse, watched the scene unfold with a knowing glint in his eye. Of all the people here, Tara was the only one capable of seeing what others couldn’t—what he referred to as ‘his boys.’ Zaria was already aware of their presence, her calm demeanor suggesting that this was nothing new to her.
Tzafrir rarely went anywhere without them—his unseen guardians, always lurking just beyond the edges of perception. When they couldn’t accompany him physically, he had Xihe biomorphic representations of them, avatars that served as his constant companions. But today, his boys were here in the flesh—or at least, what passed for flesh in their world.
“Zaria, get your weapon ready.” Tara’s voice was a sharp command, her eyes narrowing as they tracked the unseen. Her auditory sensors had picked up the soft, purposeful movements of two unseen entities. They kept their distance but were within easy range of Tzafrir and the others, their movements predatory—precise.
Zaria, still leading Ashlyn’s horse, glanced back and chuckled softly. “Oh, I forgot—you can detect the boys.” She said it casually, as though discussing an amusing anecdote. “Or at least, that’s what we call them. Don’t worry about them, Tara. They’re Tzafrir’s... chaperons.”
Tara’s focus didn’t waver, her stance rigid, ready for action. “Chaperons?” she echoed, her voice laced with disbelief, her internal systems trying to process the new information.
Zaria’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she turned to fully face Tara, her tone calm. “Tzafrir’s children,” she clarified. “He raised them. They’re as loyal to him as any child is to their parent. He’s their alpha male.”
Ryuko, who had been scanning the same area Tara was staring at, furrowed his brow, clearly seeing nothing but empty space. “What the hell are you blathering about?” he asked, his irritation growing. “Boys? I see no boys. I see nothing but pasture and trees.”
Tara’s eyes flicked toward Ryuko, her posture still tense. “They’re here,” she said through gritted teeth, her sensors still registering the faint movements, the shifting air. Her grip on her weapon tightened. “And they’re not just boys. They’re monsters. I don’t know how else to describe them.”
Zaria laughed softly, brushing off Tara’s concern with a wave of her hand. “Oh, they’re far more than monsters, Tara. They’re the finest predators you’ll never see. Ling Langs, as they have been labeled throughout the centuries. Rare apex predators. Tzafrir raised them from pups and trained them himself. They’ve got chameleon fur—able to blend into any environment. That’s why you don’t see them, Ryuko.”
Ryuko’s eyes narrowed, a ripple of unease creeping up his spine. He scanned the trees again, straining to see anything out of the ordinary, but the landscape remained as placid as ever. “And you’re just... okay with this?” he asked, his voice thick with suspicion.
“They protect him,” Zaria said simply. “And, by extension, they’ll protect all of us. You’ll learn to appreciate them. Just don’t make any sudden moves.”
Tara’s sensors continued to track the duo’s movements, her systems still on alert. "They’re too close," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else, her eyes scanning every inch of the surroundings, her hand hovering near her weapon’s hilt.
Zaria waved it off again. “They won’t attack unless Tzafrir gives the order. Trust me, he’s their only master.”
Ryuko shifted in his saddle, a tight knot of frustration and mistrust forming in his gut. He wasn’t comfortable with unseen predators circling them, whether they were loyal to Tzafrir or not. “And what if they decide we’re a threat?” he asked, his voice low, measured. “What then?”
Zaria’s eyes glinted with a touch of mischief. “Then, Ryuko, you better hope Tzafrir’s in a good mood.”
“This shit isn’t funny, Zaria.” Ryuko’s voice cut through the relaxed atmosphere, his eyes narrowing as he tried to spot the invisible threat. “We’ve got innocent people here.”
Zaria turned to him, her smile wide, unconcerned by the tension lacing Ryuko’s tone. She shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. “Innocent, sure. But you’re seriously underestimating them, Ryuko.” She waved a hand toward the unseen duo, her voice casual, almost amused by his apprehension. “They have a higher IQ than most of us standing here. They’re super intelligent. And their loyalty?” She tilted her head, her eyes glinting with something close to admiration. “It’s unwavering.”
Ryuko’s frustration was palpable, his jaw tightening. “I don’t care how smart you say they are. Meredith and Ashlyn—” he gestured toward the father and daughter who were still adjusting to their horses, eyes wide with curiosity, “they’re civilians. If something goes wrong, if—”
Zaria’s smile widened, her amusement clear as she interrupted him. “If? Ryuko, let me make one thing very clear.” She stepped closer, her voice dropping just enough to hammer the point home. “Your ‘innocents’ are, at this moment, more protected than any Senator of the Imperium. Those creatures”—she gestured to the invisible predators still lurking just beyond their perception—“they are watching. Anything... and I do mean anything that tries to harm Meredith or Ashlyn will be their lunch.”
The confidence in Zaria’s tone made Ryuko hesitate, though he didn’t drop his guard entirely. He glanced toward Tara, whose expression was still one of rigid focus, her protective stance unchanged.
“So, what? We just pretend they aren’t here, and everything’s fine?” Ryuko’s skepticism was hard to shake, especially when the safety of the people under his care was at stake.
Zaria chuckled again, shaking her head at his disbelief. “You won’t need to pretend for long. They won’t interfere unless Tzafrir tells them to.” She folded her arms, her demeanor calm. “And trust me, Tzafrir’s control over them is absolute. You’re better off trusting them than half the mercs out there.”
Ryuko slowly reached into the cargo pocket of his pants, pulling out his data tablet. His fingers swiped across the screen as he searched for information on the creature Zaria mentioned. The tablet whirred to life, projecting a small, flickering readout into the air.
“A Ling Lang is a notoriously ill-tempered carnivore native to the Achenar system,” Ryuko muttered, reading aloud. “Little else is known about them at this time, save that the Imperial Prince Aristide de Lavigny kept a Ling Lang as a pet in his menagerie. The Prince was killed by the creature under unclear circumstances in the mid-3200s, leading to several conspiracy theories—none of which, apparently, were true according to his wife.”
He raised an eyebrow, glancing up at Zaria, who watched him with barely contained amusement. She crossed her arms, shaking her head with a soft chuckle.
“You won’t find much about them that way,” Zaria said, her tone casual. “Most people don’t even know Tzafrir has them, and those who do, well... they understand enough to leave it alone. Believe me, when I tell you, they might be monsters—like Tara said—but they’re harmless as long as you’re not a threat to anyone with Tzafrir.”
Tara’s eyes narrowed, watching the duo. “And if they are a threat?”
Zaria’s smile widened a glint of mischief in her eyes. She leaned in her saddle slightly, her voice dropping just enough to send a chill through the air.
“Lunch.”
Tzafrir kept the pace slow, ensuring the ride was gentle for the many inexperienced riders among the group. Of all the first-time riders, Tara was the most adept, having downloaded the necessary data to handle her mount with mechanical precision. They remained within the perimeter of the planetary camp, where android attendants were busy crating and transporting its contents to Ryuko’s carrier above.
Zaria led the group, her horse moving with a confident, steady gait. Tzafrir, however, fell back from his position near the front, guiding his mount alongside Meredith and his daughter.
“So,” Tzafrir began, his voice friendly but measured, “you must be Meredith. A pleasure to finally meet you, face to face.” His eyes shifted toward Ashlyn, who was focused intently on guiding her horse, the excitement clear on her face. “And this young lady must be Ashlyn. You’re doing well on that horse, Ashlyn. Have you ever thought about working with horses before?”
Ashlyn blushed under the attention, glancing up at her father as Tzafrir smiled warmly. Then, Tzafrir’s eyes returned to Meredith, his tone shifting to something more businesslike. “I know Zaria mentioned that I wanted to speak with you, so let’s get this out of the way first—I’m not here to steal you away from Ryuko. You’ve got a good thing going with him, and I wouldn’t jeopardize that, for you or your daughter.”
Meredith did his best to keep his expression neutral, though he couldn’t help but study the man a bit more closely. Tzafrir was direct, but there was something disarming about him—perhaps too disarming.
“Listen… Tzafrir, is it?” Meredith said, his voice steady but firm. “I’m just a contract cargo pilot. I don’t get involved in anything illegal, and I don’t break my word.”
“And I wouldn’t ask you to do either,” Tzafrir replied smoothly. “In fact, it’s precisely because of that honesty—because of your reputation—that I wanted to speak with you. I’m not looking for anything that would interfere with your arrangement with Ryuko.” He glanced ahead at Ryuko, who was riding just in front of Meredith, listening closely. “What I’m offering is something simple. A subcontract, with Ryuko’s blessing, of course.”
Ryuko turned in his saddle, his eyes meeting Tzafrir’s. He said nothing, but his expression made it clear that he was curious about the offer.
Meredith frowned slightly, his skepticism still lingering. “Depends. What exactly do you have in mind?”
Tzafrir leaned forward in his saddle, addressing both Ryuko and Meredith now. “In whatever free time you have available, I’d like you to review dossiers of cargo pilots who’ve recently come into my organization. I want your honest assessment of the information provided—nothing more. Just your take on whether they’re as reliable as they claim to be.”
Meredith considered the proposal for a moment, shifting in his saddle. “That could be a tall order, depending on how many dossiers we’re talking about. I do have a life, and a child to take care of.”
Tzafrir nodded, his tone respectful. “And I wouldn’t ask you to disrupt either. As I said, this would only be when you have the time. There’s no rush, no pressure. Just whenever you can spare a moment to look things over.”
Ryuko glanced between them, his brow furrowed slightly in thought. “He’s got a point, Tzafrir,” he said, his tone contemplative. “We’re not exactly flush with downtime, especially out here. But,” he added, looking at Meredith, “if it’s just reviewing paperwork and offering your take, it’s something you could fit in between runs when things are slower.”
Meredith remained quiet for a beat, weighing the offer. It seemed harmless enough on the surface—just reviewing information and giving his opinion. But there was always more than what was said aloud. Always.
Still, there was something in Tzafrir’s approach that made Meredith believe the offer wasn’t entirely self-serving. And with Ryuko seemingly open to it, he saw little harm in at least considering it.
“I’ll think about it,” Meredith said at last, his tone measured. “I’m not making any promises, but… I’ll think about it.”
Tzafrir smiled, clearly satisfied with that answer. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Ryuko waited to get Tzafrir alone, after the ride was over and everyone was away, either walking their horses back to Tzafrir’s ship or helping finish the recovery of the planetary camp.
“What’s this I have been hearing all day about monsters ghosting us. Zaria said something about ‘your boys,’ and ‘Ling Langs,’ but I couldn’t find anything much about them in the database.
Tzafrir chuckled, looking at the scenery around them, trying to spot the tell-tale signs of their presence, that he had become experienced in seeing. “Yeah, they are chow hounds and can be a handful sometimes. I wouldn’t concern yourself with them.”
Ryuko, not wanting to appear weak in front of his benefactor, leaned back on his heels. “Can I meet them?”
Tzafrir paused, eyeing the man in a way that made Ryuko wonder if it was a question he should have asked.
“Yeah, but I warn you now, don’t make a run for it when you do. They have a strong prey instinct and bolting will get them riled up.”
He could feel that special sixth sense inside of him that was letting him know that he had stepped too far, but Ryuko wasn’t about to back down, especially on something that even the galactic database had so little information about.
“When and where.”
Tzafrir looked around and saw a small four-wheel ground vehicle that had been used to move camping gear to one of the ships. It was empty at the moment, the gear it had carried aboard a recently departed tender.
“Come on,” he motioned as Ryuko followed him to the vehicle. “Get in.” Tzafrir motioned, looking at an android attendant standing nearby, who was beginning to complain before Ryuko held up his hand. “It’s all right, we will be back for the tender returns,” he told the android as Tzafrir got behind its controls and the two drove out into the nearby forest.
The air grew quieter as the camp faded behind them, the hum of the four-wheel vehicle filling the space between Ryuko and Tzafrir. The trees thickened, their branches reaching overhead like silent sentinels, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Ryuko kept his eyes forward, every muscle in his body tense. He wasn’t sure if it was the creeping isolation or the subtle tension radiating off Tzafrir that made the silence feel heavy.
They drove deeper into the forest, the camp now far behind, and Ryuko could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The air grew cooler, heavier. The sunlight that filtered through the leaves seemed dimmer, more muted.
Tzafrir steered the vehicle off the main path and into a clearing. He killed the engine, the sudden absence of noise making Ryuko feel the weight of his own heartbeat.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Tzafrir sat back in the driver's seat, stretching his arms out lazily, but his eyes were sharp, watching the treeline. Ryuko followed his gaze, searching for anything out of the ordinary, but all he saw were trees and shadows.
“They’re close,” Tzafrir said, his voice calm but with an edge that made Ryuko’s skin prickle.
Ryuko swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “Close as in… watching us right now?”
Tzafrir nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “They’re always watching. You just don’t see them unless they want you to.”
Ryuko shifted uneasily, his earlier confidence beginning to wane. “So, what now? How do I… meet them?”
Tzafrir tilted his head toward the trees, his smile widening slightly. “We wait.”
Silence fell again, thicker this time. Ryuko strained his senses, listening for anything out of the ordinary—the rustle of leaves, the snap of a twig—but all he heard was the wind moving through the trees. Yet, there was a feeling, a weight in the air, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Minutes passed, though they felt like hours, and just as Ryuko was about to speak again, a low growl rumbled through the clearing. It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to send a jolt through his system, every hair on the back of his neck standing on end.
Tzafrir remained unfazed, his eyes scanning the shadows. “There we go. They’re curious now.”
From the corner of his eye, Ryuko caught movement—just a flicker of something shifting in the trees. His head snapped toward it, but there was nothing there. His heart pounded in his chest, his instincts screaming at him to be ready for something, though he wasn’t sure what.
Another growl, closer this time, low and guttural.
Ryuko tensed, his hand unconsciously moving to the small blade at his hip, even though he knew it wouldn’t do him any good.
Then, out of the shadows, a shape emerged. At first, it was almost impossible to make out—a shimmering distortion against the backdrop of trees, like heat rising off the ground. But as it moved closer, the air around it seemed to settle, revealing its form.
It was massive—huge—and unlike anything Ryuko had ever seen. Its fur rippled like liquid, blending seamlessly with its surroundings, making it difficult to focus on any one part of it. Its eyes, however, were sharp—piercing amber-yellow, fixed on Ryuko with a predatory intensity that made his blood run cold.
Tzafrir chuckled softly beside him. “Meet one of my boys.”
The creature prowled closer, its movements impossibly smooth, as if it were more shadow than flesh. Another shape appeared beside it, similarly camouflaged. They moved as one, circling the vehicle, their eyes never leaving Ryuko.
Ryuko fought to keep his breathing steady, his mind racing. These were the Ling Langs—Tzafrir’s notorious “boys.” Predators, yes, but far more than that. Their presence radiated intelligence, and something deeper—an understanding that went beyond animal instinct. These weren’t mindless beasts. They were calculating, deliberate.
“Don’t move,” Tzafrir said quietly, though there was no real warning in his voice, just calm reassurance. “They’re assessing you. Figuring out what you are. It’s their way.”
Ryuko stayed perfectly still, his body rigid as the Ling Lang stepped closer, its nose twitching as it sniffed the air. Its eyes—bright and unnerving—locked onto his, and for a moment, Ryuko felt an unsettling connection, as if the creature was looking straight into him, weighing his very essence.
“They know I’m not a threat, right?” Ryuko asked, trying and failing to keep his voice steady.
Tzafrir nodded, watching them with a paternal fondness. “They do. But knowing and accepting are two different things. Just don’t bolt, and you’ll be fine.”
They circled around the back of the vehicle, fur rippling as they moved, disappearing briefly into the shadows before reappearing on Ryuko’s other side. They were close enough now that he could see the subtle patterns in their chameleon-like coats, the way their fur shifted and blended with the surroundings, making them nearly invisible.
Ryuko fought the urge to move, every instinct screaming at him to do something, anything, to put distance between himself and these predators. But he stayed rooted to the spot, his muscles, locked by primal fear.
The nearest Ling Lang sniffed the air one more time, then, to Ryuko’s surprise, it turned and padded away, its movements fluid and graceful. The other followed, disappearing back into the trees as silently as they had appeared.
Tzafrir let out a satisfied sigh, leaning back in his seat. “See? That wasn’t so bad.”
Ryuko let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding, his body relaxing ever so slightly. “They’re… bigger than two Scarabs!”
Tzafrir grinned, clearly pleased. “I told you. They’re family. Loyal to a fault, but they don’t take to strangers easily. Consider yourself lucky they didn’t see you as prey.”
Ryuko shook his head, still processing what had just happened. He had expected monsters, but what he had encountered was something far more dangerous—intelligence wrapped in predator instinct. And, in some strange way, he couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect for the creatures. Deep inside, he sensed that they and Tzafrir were more than what he could put into meaningful words.
“I might need a change when we get back,” Ryuko stuttered, trying to ease the moment with humor that barely covered his nerves.
Tzafrir’s smile widened, a chuckle escaping his lips. “Well, at least it means you weren’t lunch.”
Ryuko nodded, though his body was still buzzing with primal fear. As they turned the vehicle back toward camp, he couldn’t shake the feeling that, in more ways than one, he had just met something far beyond his understanding.