The Religion of Death (Part 2)

Security forces had set up a barrier around the hall. Deanna herself seemed to be overseeing things. The protest was vocal but for the moment it was peaceful; security was present in case matters quickly escalated.

Chandler and David stood side by side, observing this protest from afar. From here the people seemed a collage of unity, joined in a mission they thought to be righteous. How the xenocide of another species could be that to them, Chandler did not know.

"Their fear is what makes them strong," said David. "Good and evil, right and wrong, these things cannot be judged by a human mind. Our conceptions of them simply make them philosophical tools for argument. When fear is an ally, so too is anger. If the blood boils opinions become set in stone and the more you debate, the more sure you become."

"You sound as if you speak from experience," said Chandler.

David nodded. "In a way I do. I’ve been confronted many times by people so passionate in their beliefs, so absorbed that they won’t listen to any countering arguments. You can’t win or even negotiate when they aren’t willing to listen."

"I just can’t see why they’re so ready to take such a huge step," Chandler said in a much softer tone of voice than he’d originally intended. "We need to learn about the kitties, not kill them. This is an opportunity we’ve dreamed of for centuries, maybe millennia, and they want to take it away."

"This is their home. Can you really blame them?" the Executioner asked. "It’s easy for those like me, and even you, to tell them all to avoid the problems. We have an outside perspective that magically makes things crystal clear. I’m not attached to this place, this is not my home nor my world. You’re the governor and that earns you much respect, but it also sets you apart for the same reasons. These are their lives, their fears. They feel the need to protect themselves, and if the only way to do that is to kill the kitties, then so be it. Do not misunderstand me, I am not condoning that, if anything I am condemning it, but they’re at war in their minds. When you cannot live with danger, the only choice is to protect your own safety and remove the danger. If it’s you or them, you know you will always choose your survival. Anybody would."

Chandler shifted his gaze from the crowd to David. "Executioners love and respect life enough to release it from pain, is that what you believe?"

Again he nodded reluctantly. "Yes, something similar to that. I can see a person without making a personal connection. I can see and release their pain. I can learn to love them but not let it stop me."

"I doubt that, somehow," said Chandler.

"You can choose to believe or disbelieve it, but either way it will remain as truth," David replied coolly.

They walked towards the crowd. Many of the protesters carried placards and banners and printed graphics showing the kitties and the desiccated corpses of the unfortunate souls who’d been attacked. Faces carried expressions of enthusiasm and passion and anger. Many voices chanted, but the words did not have as much meaning as the feeling behind them. Security watched the protest closely, obviously agitated but to their credit they still followed orders. Patrick saw the governor; he pushed his way to the front, intent on another confrontation. Chandler groaned.

Deanna intercepted them once they reached the lines of security. "More problems," she said with a sigh. "It seems endless at the moment. Why do the Gods hate us so?"

"You don’t believe in Gods," Chandler said with a smirk.

"Well, then I just want somewhere else to place blame other than on myself," replied Deanna.

He patted her on the shoulder. "Not your fault. Not anyone’s. Let them release a bit of steam. For now they aren’t hurting anybody and, who knows, by doing so we might prevent something worse happening later on."