First Contact [2/2]

written by: menolly-hestia
original pub: Tumblr, 2017–05–30

It was astounding, the diversity of the humans, where we had only seen rage and cruelty before now was replaced by selfless gentleness. The first few hours of the humans landing may as well have been what one might see at a funeral. But as the borderless doctors assessed and even began curing some of the most hopeless patients without reprieve, we were forced to reassess them.

History had proved humanity’s savagery, but before our eyes was something else entirely. It wasn’t until one of the human doctors’ body forced them to recuperate that any of us realized most of the human doctors had not taken a break nor eaten. Their reluctance to rest for even a second confounded us. Most of them were slumped forward, eyes half open, and dragging limbs. But they still did not want to leave their patients.

By this time one of the human doctors, the one who had initiated contact with me, had had one of the younglings become very fond of her. When Eurchi heard of my concern for the human (who was called “Amina”) and her health, Eurchi pleaded for Amina to rest. When Amina saw Eurchi’s wide, sad eyes, she made a strange sound in her throat before acquiesing. When I checked on them later, I saw a Amina using her dextrous appendages to stroke Eurchi’s scalp in a way that was lulling Eurchi to sleep.

I couldn’t understand it. Humans were a race that had made us apprehensive. We had seen what they had done to each other for centuries and feared what it meant for us. But here was that same race, working until their bodies refused for them to help us. Even while she was supposed to be allowing her body to gather energy Amina continued to care for others. We thought we had figured the humans out. They were violent, clever, and resilient. They came and proved 2 observations right.

Once Eurchi began to sleep, I approached Amina and asked her about what we had seen. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and others. She winced.

“What you saw was true and accurate,” she told me in a lower pitch than normal. “Our history is flowing with innocent blood. Humans are proud and easily angered. It is a dangerous combination we know we struggle with as a race. But that’s not all we are, either. There’s capacity for great compassion within humans. I’ve seen people save the lives of someone they don’t know. Crowds gather in concern for someone in danger, ready to assist if needed.” She trailed off, and I watched her with Eurchi, who nuzzled deeper into Amina’s stomach.

Humans were certainly a puzzle. But, perhaps, they could also be our friends. After all, if they figuratively punched space into submission, wouldn’t they make just as powerful allies as adversaries? And they had seemed to already extended the thope branch to us first with the borderless doctors….

I rose, pondering over my next transmission to what would already be a surprised council.