The Religion of Death (Part 2)

Deanna scoffed. "I doubt it." She looked to David. "So you’re the newcomer we’ve all been talking about. What’s your name?"

"David," the Executioner said.

"Well, David, just remember these few idiots don’t represent us all."

"No, but they are growing in number," said Chandler. "I might not like to admit it but I can’t stop them if they really are serious. By the time I know anything or am in a position to act, it’d most likely already be too late."

"You’re chosen by colonists but you aren’t above them," David said. It was spoken as more of a question than anything.

"Damn right he’s not," said Deanna. "A confrontation is coming, you can quote me on that." She gestured to the nearing Patrick. "This asshole is starting a revolution, one he won’t be able to control once it starts."

"Guns don’t kill kitties, people kill kitties," Chandler said.

"As do misplaced words," David agreed.

"Ah, I see you’re already adjusting to our way of life," Deanna said.

"Yes, I’m getting the hang of it."

Chandler was about to say something but then Patrick reached them and interrupted. "As you can see, Governor Chandler, we aren’t going away. These protests are getting much harder to ignore," he proclaimed, his implants an unnerving, brilliant white. "We will remain a thorn stuck in your side until we are heard."

"You’ve been heard," said Chandler. "It’s the kitties who haven’t."

Patrick simpered. "You really do love playing Devil’s Advocate, don’t you, governor? We’re trying to warn people and here you are defending the damn beasts."

"And you’d warn the kitties before or after you slaughtered them?" Deanna asked.

"I never said anything about slaughter." His expression turned grim. "Murder would be when they’re defenceless and unprovoked, two things which do not apply to the kitties. It’s survival, not slaughter."

"No, it is xenocide."

"Oh don’t start this shit again," snapped Patrick. "It is war. Everyone knows you kill in war."

"So take your grievances to the kitties and leave us out of it. Maybe they’ll eat you and save us all the trouble," she said, then pulled a face. "Actually, they wouldn’t. You’re probably too bitter for them now."

"I’ve already seen a kitty face to face," Patrick said. "Cost me my sight. I wouldn’t inflict that on anyone."

"I’m sorry, but why is this only one thing or the other?" asked David. "Why isn’t there something in between, some other possibility? Can’t you find a scent or something which repels the kitties? That would keep them away from the colony, if you had enough of it."

Patrick looked at him as if for the first time acknowledging his presence. "Who the hell are you?" he said.

"An observer," replied David.

"Ah, the outsider." Patrick’s implants flashed."This must all seem strange to you, squabbling over creatures we don’t control."

"A little, but not as much as you might think."

"We thought of something like your scent," Chandler said, "but we don’t know enough about the kitties to know how they’d react. For all we know, repelling them might only cause them to see us as an even larger threat, making them attack in greater numbers."

"The infamous non-interference policy again." Patrick faked a grimace. "It’s more trouble than it’s worth, if you ask me."

"No one is," said Deanna. "So shut up."

"Make me," he said. She very nearly did, too. Never one to back down from a direct challenge, Deanna probably would have punched him in the face if it hadn’t been for a restraining hand from Chandler.