The Children of Ramant

Posted on Wed Feb 19th, 2025 @ 5:23am by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Remal Kajun

Mission: Ramant
Location: Ramant ship
Timeline: Current

Meanwhile the CSO was deep in discussion with the Progenitor about the outcomes of the experiments and who would be lucky enough to get a child to raise. Having been given free reign when it came to utilizing the patients at her disposal the CSO was confident she could possibly accelerate the process. The door chime sounded just as her mini daydream of being awarded the highest honour on Ramant finished running through her mind.

"Enter!" She boomed.

The monitoring tech and the intern entered and approached the CSO. They were wary of how she would react to the information they were about to provide. She had seen the experiment first hand but she was not privy to the follow up experiment which was more than taboo. "Um, ma'am, I just want to start by asking what our intentions are for the pair we have left in the experiment chamber? We, err I, have provided them a second round of nutritional supplements."

"Why did you do that? The regular supplements would keep them alive like the rest of them." The CSO scowled before turning to address them both. "You disturbed me for that?" She knew there was more. The Intern had taken a decided glow about her, something she had not seen in a Ramant in many many revolutions. "And you, what do YOU have to do with this?"

The Intern seemed to shrink a little before realizing that the sooner they got it out in the open, the better. "We gave them more food because your experiment worked, she is most likely pregnant, although further testing will be needed to ensure accuracy of that data" she gulped before continuing. "We also replicated the experiment, and can prove that it worked."

Her eyes darted from the intern back to the tech. "You were forbade from speaking of the experiment and now while my back is turned you dare replicate the experiment with other subjects?" Her voice was stern but her emotion was still reigned in compared to the younger intern who sounded almost emotional. She stood, her eyes never wavering. "And which two specimen do we now have to cleanse due to your rushed replicated, likely botched, experiment?" The lottery, the reward would be hers and hers alone.

The tech, in an effort to save the intern from fault, and a potential cleansing, stepped forward. "We volunteered ourselves for the task." He then hesitated, "It wasn't a complete replication as we did not use the X-97 mist nor the Purple variant. However, no matter the process, the outcome has proven successful and it only took one try." he held back on the details, still fearful, which was a unique feeling as it was the first time he had ever had it.

"No matter the process! The process is ALL that matters. Without the scientific method we may as well be just like them." She gestured at the aliens they had abducted on the screens behind her. "You have traveled into dangerous waters of which you know nothing about. Our people have suppressed ourselves for so long, if we were to return to the primal natures you witnessed inside that study chamber, we would lose a millennia of progress."

The tech stepped forward, "Wait! You knew about the suppression? You knew that we've been chemically castrated, poisoned against our wills, our very nature? You knew all this time? Why?" He was growing angry, frustrated and suddenly rebellious without knowing what any of it meant or how to process the growing emotions within.

"Of course I knew. From the time of my internship like your friend there, I dug into the archives same as she and I learned, everything. Although I admit I had no proof until I witnessed first hand what it truly meant. You, yourself have seen what we are capable of. You witnessed the experiment and the animalistic nature of these beings. Do you really believe our people can live like that? Such, raw, unfettered, animal like tendencies?"

"It was not like that. I mean, not really." The tech started as he recalled his time alone with the intern. "It was tame by comparison, really, a lot more tame."

She moved around her desk, pressing a locking mechanism for the door without them knowing. "Ah yes, that was but a sample. It felt good didn't it?" Her voice had taken on a manipulative tone. "That's how it begins. Slowly the impulses take over and before you know it there is a subtle addictive nature to the act. Oh, you may fight it at first but will your partner feel the same?" She looked at the intern who squirmed. "Looks like one of you really enjoyed the act."

"That is the alternative then?" The Intern grew bold with this new information. "We die in our serenity, unable to bear offspring because our noble heads can't handle the emotional and primal need of emotion? We will die as a race, and for what? Fear?" She turned to face the CSO directly. "Sanctioned or not the experiment was a success and this is the first viable offspring in its original carrier for more than one hundred revolutions. You can either claim the victory for our people or stick your head in the sand and watch our race succumb to our own ego!"

"You see only half of the picture, but yes, that was the choice they made. What you don't see is what we had become. Our fast gestation, our lust for emotion and its addictive nature lead our world to the brink of extinction. Overpopulation, pollution, starvation and ultimately disease became the death of us. This, this suppression of emotion was the cure. We... we became good with our cure almost 1000 cycles ago. We abandoned the old ways and we created life the clean, safe way."

"But now, what you know runs the risk of destroying, everything. This new species has shown they can carry our children again. It will be safe, controlled, and good again." She walked up to the tech, closing the gap. "I will be one of the first to receive a child of my own and no snot-nosed, meddling, order-defying, Monitoring Tech and his floozy of an intern is going to ruin that for me!"

"Floozy!" The Intern huffed before growing angry. "Slow the gestation then, make it so we can bear only one offspring per cycle." She retorted. "You can't keep using innocent races as surrogates. You're killing them for our own benefit. It's not right!"

The CSO stared down at a younger, smaller, more innocent version of herself. "Oh you sweet innocent girl. You believe you have all of the answers don't you? They tried slowing the gestation. It ended up killing dozens of women before they realized what was causing the problem. Do you really think in over a thousand cycles we have not thought of everything you've thought up in your meager existence?"

She turned away, exasperated, "Our race, like many throughout the galaxy, we are destined to perish. Whether it be by overpopulation or under, that happy medium, that balance shall never be found." She turned back, a crooked smile upon her face. "So we do what we must and we survive." She activated the door control and a pair of armed security, basically orderlies with a weapon, entered the room behind the intern and the tech.

"This is wrong and you know it!" The Intern shouted angrily.. "what will it take for you to see there's another way? There is always an alternative to killing innocent beings." She paused for a moment. "I will give you that which is carried within me. I only ask that you don't hide the truth. The first Ramant child born organically in recent history, and given freely to you"

That was all he needed in order to make a quick decision. One of the orderlies discharged his weapon twice. First at the CSO, then at the other orderly. They both dropped to the floor, stunned. He then aimed the weapon at the tech and the intern. "Is it true? Is it true you are with child?" He asked as though suddenly in a hurry.

Stunned, the tech just nodded while stepping slightly between the armed orderly and the intern.

"Okay, come with me. We can hide you until we land and then we'll see about getting you transport away from Central City." He stepped out of the door and looked both ways. "Come on, the coast is clear, we've got to move before they wake up."

Confused and reluctant to follow the tech held back, "Hiding, hide from who? Who are you?" He had so many questions but these were the first to slip out.

The orderly smiled and said simply, "We are the Children of Ramant and we must go."

"Okay." The tech said as he followed the orderly out into the hall, and then a thought struck him. "But first, I need to stop by the viewing chambers. Section 23 Alpha." It was an idea built around an emotion, one he hoped would matter in the end. He looked at the intern hoping she would understand his thoughts.

The Intern followed behind the Tech, who scrambled to keep up with the orderly who happened to be their new ally. Her mind was spinning from the altercation with the CSO, the narrow mindedness and selfish nature to doom their race and exploit innocents. They raced towards Section 23, where the original red mist experiment had taken place. The two patients were still inside, locked in to protect everyone else from the animalistic nature of their actions.

"Be quick" the orderly snapped as they skidded to a halt in front of the chamber. The Intern entered in her authorization code, only to find it was denied. "Try yours" she offered to the technician.

Inside Remal and Rhenora could hear the sounds of snuffling feet. It wasn't the usual impeccable stride they were used to. This seemed hurried, erratic even. Hushed harried voices could be heard. This would be their opportunity.

The Tech tried his and was denied. "Let me try in the observation room. Maybe I can open the doors there." He moved to the other door, tried his code and was granted entry. The fact they were denied meant only one thing, time was against them. He hurried in, entered in his codes then looked through the viewer at the experimental specimen within. They were scared, defensive even.

Without thinking he rolled over to the intercom and cued the mic. "In a moment we are going to open the door. Please do not attack the orderly. They will provide you with clothing and a way out. I... I would like to apologize for my part and what we've put you through. It was wrong and for the sake of all of us, I am truly sorry." The monitoring tech proclaimed. There was a buzzing noise at the door just before it slid open and an orderly stepped in with two sets of clothes.

TBC