The Nature of Predators - Nova's Children (10/10) (Patreon)

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The Williams family celebrated most of the large human holidays, as a way for both children to be in touch with the happiest times in Terran culture. Tarva was particularly fond of Easter, spotting similarities with the well-known Gojid tradition Keilren, where gifts would be buried and children would go searching for them. Of course, first she had to learn that Easter eggs generally weren’t real eggs, but rather plastic cups that “hatched” candy when pried apart. The sugar highs from that tradition and Halloween were always terrifying.

However, Christmas was the true showstopper, among the Terran holiday calendar; it was a day where both children would receive gifts from their family, compared to the lone acquisitions received on their respective birthdays. There was so much festive spirit adjacent to the winter occasion, and their mother had to learn the time-honored traditions that went with it alongside her children. Baking cookies and building gingerbread houses took some trial and error. Hanging all sorts of decorations on a plastic tree earned strange looks from Venlil family who visited their abode, who’d return mumbling to themselves about why predators would ever place metal balls and lights on fake shrubbery.

A bit of research on the Terran internet would’ve revealed its religious importance, assimilated from older traditions celebrating life and growth during the dormant and dreary winter season; some practitioners from the Christian faith related the branches to a crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the crucifixion. That was an entire can of worms that was definitively not Venlil-friendly, and a context Tarva was adamant about not giving to the children. She wished she didn’t know what that t-shaped symbol many humans wore signified! Noah didn’t challenge her on that front, given how…difficult it was to explain that a human faith proclaimed to have brutally murdered their deity.

That was far from the only “predatory” tale that raised questions from former Federation species, about what exactly humans believed and put their faith in. Whatever Tarva might’ve thought about some of the background information—things that horrified her to think about her beloved Terrans partaking in or carrying out—she couldn’t deny the sweetness of the holiday in practice. She loved seeing Ari and Elia’s faces light up when they tore up the wrapping paper, and strained to get into their stockings by the fireplace. Though the myth of Santa Claus was one that they wouldn’t believe forever, the duo loved the movies about a nice man who flew reindeer to visit the homes of all human children—even using subspace to bypass star systems, in some recent cartoons. Slinking down every chimney in the middle of the night!

The cultural importance became known enough on Skalga that humans were permitted not to attend classes on Christmas Day. There were so many wonderful memories wrapped up in the December 25th celebrations. One year that they spent the day on Earth, the children roamed the streets of Noah’s hometown singing carols. There were some astounded looks on human faces, as they opened their doors to find a Venlil singing Deck the Halls and We Wish You A Merry Christmas in near-perfect English. The holiday brought out merriment and charity: the best in people. It also allowed precious time to be spent with family, and to focus on what was truly important.

Noah kept the letter that Elia wrote one year to old Saint Nick, complete with her wishlist. (Before this particular holiday, Tarva had several times inquired as to whether human parents did follow through on the threats of putting coal in stockings, if children were naughty.) This note was a simple request…that Santa would make her family happy, and that he could find a way for Tarva to go ice skating and frolicking in the snow with them. Those things might never be possible, thanks to the Farsul-induced crooked legs, but the former governor liked that Christmas kept a magical hope like that alive.

“It’s wonderful for the children to have such hope and innocence,” were her exact words, upon reading the letter. “Elia already knows that our family is the greatest gift of all. I hope we can make each other happy enough to fulfill that for several Christmases to come.”

Memory Transcription Subject: Elia Williams, Venlil Athlete

Date [standardized human time]: December 25, 2152

As Ari and I were ferried back from my physical therapy sessions by a self-driving car, I could pick out the visual chaos surrounding our residence—on an otherwise quiet Venlil ring—from afar. Noah had always put up Christmas decorations on the exterior, but he’d gotten crazier about it in his old age: going far past a string of lights on the roof and a Santa Claus inflatable. Honestly, for those uninitiated with humans, just seeing the likeness of an old Terran with a tubby belly, an ungroomed white beard, and blood red attire must be confusing enough. My father seemed to be waging war on our neighbors’ senses, and I loved him for it.

Ari had helped him set up this year’s decorations alone, since I wasn’t much help with my arm in a cast. There was a metal silhouette of a sleigh with reindeer flying off to the sky, mounted on the roof; the path leading up to our doorstep was lined with giant candy canes, a symbol which would be indiscernible to anyone who didn’t know humans very well. Noah had also brought in some garden gnomes that looked like elves to put near the vintage Santa inflatable, which was another thing that required explanations. Why did these humans have pointy ears? What was this mythical Santa’s workshop, set up under a homemade North Pole sign?

The sole thing missing was the snowfall present on Earth, so that “snowmen” could be constructed; Skalga lacked the climate variance of the human homeworld. Snowball fights were always something my brother walloped me at, with his superior throwing abilities. I supposed I was secretly grateful to get out of that. For this year, Noah had gotten his hands on a cheap artificial snow, and scattered it everywhere on the lawn and the roof. I found myself agreeing with my mother, as she protested that he shouldn’t be climbing up on roofs at his age. However, I thought I knew why he kept upping his decoration game. Terran refugees had gotten wind of our Christmas display, and many would bring their children to view it.

My father likes being able to give a little joy to the humans displaced on Skalga. It’s a taste of home…a small moment of happiness, no matter how difficult things are for the other 364 days of the year.

Ari nudged me with an elbow. “Your nose is twitching with amusement.”

“What can I say? I love Christmastime,” I replied. “Mom’s really gotten good at making certain dishes—mashed potatoes especially. I can practically taste them already!”

“Don’t make me hungry yet; we’ve got to open presents before dinner! I wonder what they put under the tree? I’m hoping for some cool video games we can play together.”

“I already got the only thing I want—a gold medal to hang on the wall!”

“It’s awesome how much attention you’ve gotten since then, with the interview requests and sponsorship offers. Beyond the monetary sum that came with the win, things are falling into place nicely for you. That’s a reason to feel some holiday cheer if I’ve ever heard one.”

“You sound happy.”

“Of course I am. I’m always cheering for your success, and I just want you to capture all of your wild dreams. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be helping you scout buildings to jump between near the governor’s mansion. It’s not just that you might fall, and break your bones all over again. You’ll draw all sorts of attention! The last humans that tried it got arrested; the exterminators thought it was training for hunting…chasing prey in an urban environment.”

“I’m not a human. A civil squad might think I have predator disease, but they can’t do anything about it anymore. Besides, they’d have to catch me first. Think of all the views, running from the exterminators on camera!”

“An answer for everything. You’re going to get yourself into real trouble one of these days, but I wouldn’t expect anything less. You’re lucky Mom didn’t kill you for painting your claws Christmas colors.”

I waggled the red-and-green digits with delight. “I had to do something to kill the time, while I can’t run. Tarva won’t believe me, but I genuinely like this. It’s not like the ears.”

“I like it too. That’s a human tradition, you know.” Noah threw the front door open without warning, and I wondered how much of our conversation he’d eavesdropped on. “Don’t just stand out there, you two. We have guests. Come say hello!”

I blinked in confusion, knowing it was rare to have distant Venlil relatives attend what was in essence a human feast. Had one of Noah’s kin actually made the trek out to Skalga, instead of attending their own celebration on Earth? The Terran gathering was an event we’d frequented several times, as we alternated worlds for our favorite holiday; it became easier once Skalga’s schools became more understanding. I was beyond grateful not to have to deal with classes at all anymore, but the real gift of Christmas had been not being imprisoned in a classroom on that day. I might’ve celebrated our own kidnapping if it would’ve gotten me out of there!

Not that I mean that…I wouldn’t want anything that’d endanger me or my brother. Still, not being bored out of my skull all the time makes me SO GLAD I didn’t go off to university.

My parents hadn’t mentioned having any visitors this Christmas, so I found it strange that one would’ve showed up out of the blue; with my curiosity piqued, I followed my dad into the kitchen, where Tarva was hard at work on some vegetable dishes. A turkey was roasting in the oven, certainly Noah’s handiwork, but the smell of cooking flesh was mundane to my nostrils—hardly the appetite killer it would be for most Venlil. I’d grown up around a human brother raised on meat, after all. There was a dish I didn’t recognize though, with some sort of confection definitely sourced from non-leafy materials; the viscous texture of the sauce told me that much. I could identify most Terran foods that we used, but this one had me stumped. Perhaps our mystery guest had brought it.

“Surprise!” Noah exclaimed, pointing to a lithe figure, who was helping slice vegetables.

Ari’s eyes lit up. “Aunt Lesedi? You…came for Christmas? I…didn’t think you were actually going to!”

“I’m here. I’ve never been to another planet, so this is a first for me,” his biological relative replied. “I made sure not to come empty-handed. I brought Malva pudding, a South African treat that’s a mix of pudding, cream, and cake. I don’t think it’s Venlil-friendly, but—”

I reached out with my paw, ripping off some of the cake crumbs. “Oh. That’s good.”

“Elia!” Tarva shrieked; Aunt Lesedi flinched, assuming my mother was angry that I’d sampled the predatory confection. “Wash your paws. You’re not the only one that’s going to be eating that!”

“Chill out! I just took a tiny piece.”

Lesedi’s facial features stretched out with visible confusion. “You are an unusual Venlil, aren’t you, young lady? You’re welcome to have some, of course, but I’m just surprised. Anyone who’s been awake for the last sixteen years has heard how you guys react.”

“Elia is extraordinary,” Noah said, affection in his eyes. “She’s a firecracker, and you’d be surprised how many human mannerisms she’s adopted. Really proves the side of the ‘nature versus nurture’ debate that I’ve always been on.”

“I see that she’s painted her claws. I really like those, dear! Did you do them yourself?”

My ears perked up with delight. “As a matter of fact, I did. Thanks for the compliment!”

“Don’t encourage her,” Tarva griped. “As lovely as the cultural melding is, Elia’s picked up a few too many human traditions. Painting claws, like she’s some predator—accentuating her natural weapons? Next, she’ll go painting her teeth.”

Lesedi’s posture seemed awkward. “I…wouldn’t have expected you, of all Venlil, to say something like that.”

“I’m not judging your kind for it. I just object to the fact that…if Ari and Noah went off…what do you humans call it? Trophy hunting? If they did, Elia would be right behind them.”

I mimicked the human gesture for “blah blah blah” with my paw. “Tarva’s been extra grumpy since I hurt myself at the Olympics. She’s really been on one about my recklessness.”

“Yes, I saw the clip of your photo finish, Elia,” Lesedi responded. “Many humans did. I heard that, despite solid viewership numbers from Skalga, even more humans watched your Olympics than Venlil. Earth really enjoyed seeing your contestants square off, and with the competition level you faced, you should definitely be proud of your victory.”

“I am proud, even if my mother thinks it was stupid. She’s managed to blame me, Noah, and Ari for the injuries, all at once. Tarva should try out for the gymnastics team, if they add that to the next Olympics.”

Tarva hissed at me. “You could’ve given yourself a permanent disability, ruining the gene mod reversals that we sacrificed so much for! And it was all for a hunk of metal! I swear, I’m the only sane one in this house. How many bones do you need to break before I should speak up, Elia?”

Noah rolled his eyes. “Knock it off, both of you. It’s Christmas. Let’s not scare off our guest on her first visit.”

“Yeah, please don’t,” Ari chimed in. “This is the best Christmas gift ever! I’m glad you’re here, Aunt Lesedi.”

My brother’s aunt smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. This is the first Christmas I haven’t spent…alone since Zola died. I’m grateful your parents reached out to invite me.”

“We’re glad you could make it. You being a part of Ari’s life: I think it’s a good thing,” Noah responded.

“I do too. It makes me feel more in touch with my human side…and I like that,” Ari said. “I wonder if my birth dad’s out there, somewhere. Observing Christmas on a very different world with the ark ship colonists. I hope he made it, and he…thinks about me, from time to time.”

Lesedi squeezed his shoulder. “Aadan would’ve loved you, just like he adored your mother. He would’ve been proud of the young man you‘ve grown into, just like I am. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s looking at the stars and wishing you were with him.”

“I wish Aadan was here too…but I don’t wish I was there with him. This is my home, and my family. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Noah’s eyes glistened with moisture, touched to hear Ari, in essence, say that he would always be his true father—the father he wanted. The former astronaut swiped his son up for a quick embrace, before bringing Lesedi and I into the fold. Tarva protested as he yanked at her prosthetic, in the hopes of completing the group hug; our mother was single-mindedly focused on monitoring the Christmas side dishes. She joined in ever so briefly, but then hurried back to the boiling vegetables as if they’d spontaneously combust without her watchful eyes. My heart felt warm and fuzzy, as if all was right with the world on this special day. We all had found our purposes, and our sense of belonging; through blood or through love, we were all brought together under this roof.

With presents, a hearty meal, and pudding still ahead for the evening, I decided to engross myself in the moment. Times like these were the memories that I would cherish forever, seeing my family happy and enjoying each other’s company. As far as I was concerned, I agreed with Ari; for all of our disagreements and strife, this was my home, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Whatever gifts we received as the day went on, the people from two worlds standing here now were the greatest ones of all.

A/N - The finale of the Nova series! We see how Christmas is celebrated in the Williams' house, with a bit of history on how it's gone down through the years, then leap to the present...where Elia, defiant of cultural norms as ever, is going through physical therapy with painted claws, and swiping predator pudding without a second thought. Lesedi shows up for the holidays, meshing with the typical family dynamic, and being a pleasant surprise for Ari: though Ari states without a doubt that Noah is his father. 

What do you think of the series as a whole, and the insight into their family dynamic? What do you think of Ari's journey to find peace, Elia's bickering with her mother, and Christmas traditions being passed down?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting; this is the first NOP2-based bonus content, in the books, with a bit of a style experiment. We'll be turning back the clock Saturday, because we've never had a Gojid refugee story...it'll be from Talpin's POV, so we'll get to see the Federation's consideration, or lack thereof, for a deaf individual. Also, more on this in the main update, but Chapter 11 of the main story will be releasing Sunday: a day early! It's my absolute favorite, so I wanted to see the comments without obstruction.