maskormenace | 03

03 | Video

Hey, so, I got a question. Which is basically half of what this thing's used for, so I guess everyone's used to it by now.

[Jaime's sitting down in a chair in his room as he addresses the network, feet out of the frame and propped up on his desk. He raises his hand up to the screen, and it becomes clear that he's holding out a row of brochures like a fan, each and every one boasting the various virtues of various college campuses.]

I know a bunch of you guys are either in college or you're at least thinking about it, and I'm just wondering why. Not the usual reasons - of course I know everyone back home wants an education to get a job and all that, but why do it here? It'll be at least four years before most normal - [read: non-genius] - people get any payoff, and I know most people get Ported out by then.

[He puts the college brochures back down, sucking absently on the inside of his cheek as if trying to think of anything else to say and coming up empty, so he cuts the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The pleasure is mine, Jaime.

[A brief pause.]

I'm not familiar with human scholastic development, but college translates. Are you a recent graduate?

No, but I will be in June. If you want to get in anywhere, though, you have to get your applications in before you actually graduate. It's a big deal where I'm from, and I guess it's a pretty big deal here too.

And you don't feel it's a big deal because you may leave?

I'm not sure if it's as big a deal here as it is back home period. From what I've seen, it's a lot easier to get a job here than it is back home.

[Even if it is kind of a crappy one.]

But you're half right. It's not as big of a deal to me here, either.

Easier if you remain registered, yes. Having no allegiance to this country, though, gives you an objective view of its conflicts. Many avenues, including further education, will be closed to you, should you decide your beliefs conflict with those of the nation. Perhaps you should take advantage of them while your conscience is clear.

[...that sounds a wee bit ominous.]

Are you registered?

Currently, yes, though as we learn more, I question the motives of our adopted nation.

You and practically half the imPorts here. Have you been here for very long?

Four months and three weeks. Not so long, no.

You're right, that's not very long. But it's still long enough to get a decent feel for what this place's government is like. Is it much different from yours?

It couldn't be more different, though very few worlds are governed as my homeworld is.

So? How's your world governed?

The most closely related description would be a classed democracy. My people, the Drell, were saved by the Hanar, on whose homeworld we currently reside, though we've been welcomed into their society. We are often called to fulfill the Compact, the debt of gratitude my people owe the Hanar for their rescue from our own planet. Bearing that in mind, most Hanar feel we're equals, though other species find it difficult to understand our symbiotic relationship with them.

So something happened with your world, so these Hanar guys took all of you in.

[He's not actually asking - it just helps to say it out loud to digest it all. So he's chatting with an alien right now.

Cool.]

Huh. So what does fulfilling the Compact mean?

Yes. My people were succumbing to over-population and lack resources. In essence, we were dying, and now we thrive.

[A beat.]

It varies. The Hanar homeworld of Kahje is 90% water, and the Hanar are highly evolved to dwell there. They have no appendages as you and I, no hands. There are many things they need help with. We fill that void, and it is an honor to do so.

Oh! Okay, that makes sense. That makes a lot of sense, actually.

[He always wondered why so many aliens seemed to be humanoids. It's kind of neat to know that that's not always the case.]

I'm glad it worked out for you guys.

Indeed. I'm certain my ancestors were as well. As am I. I am fortunate enough to count several Hanar was close friends. Most see them was cold and distant, but in reality, they are quite warm.

Well, you get that just between people from different countries here too, yeah? People are pretty fast to write off whatever they don't understand.

Indeed, though I find that strange as well.

Do they not do that where you're from? I kinda figured it was a universal thing. Literally.

If there were separate nations in Kahje, it was before my time.

What, really? I guess it'd be weirder if every planet was the same as Earth, but - I dunno, I guess I thought dividing up land is how most planets worked. Unless there wasn't a lot of land to go around?

As I mentioned, 90% of Kahje's surface is ocean, but the Hanar have controlled extraplanetary and extrasolar colonies for centuries, if not millennia. Maybe the need for separate countries is lessened when you run several planets.

Yeah, but like - even regionally, we've got divides. You guys got any of those?

Nothing like these states. All laws are the same.

03 | Video

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