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Chapter Eighteen

“New Chances"

By

Furry Sith Lord

Lou took a sip from a glass of water on the desk he sat at on the dias in front of the World Congress. He was trying to remain calm but the protests of the Senators were draining him. Despite all he had said there seemed to be no agreement on what to do with the humans.

The meeting with The Subsidiary Judicial Committee had quickly been disbanded in lieu of the arguments presented. The matter seemed too big for them to handle without the entire World Congress wishing to voice their opinions on the matter. This happened days before Lou had originally thought this would happen. It seems the issue was much more explosive than he originally thought.

When he pointed out how primitive and superstitious the humans are, this seemed to carry no weight when dealing with the crimes they had committed. The World Congress was torn between punishing the ignorant Humans and finding a way to make them a part of society. Though how to go about such a task left many species of The World Congress confused.

“Senitor, You must realize that our morality is something that humans know nothing about. Since the Great War we have evolved and learned to grow and educate ourselves. The humans were thought to be extinct and they have lived isolated in a forest. Their primitive ideas of a Great Alpha stunted their growth. They, sadly, were left behind to dwell in their primitive ways instead of advancing like we have.

We were once as primitive as they were and lived by the pack mentality the Predators lived by and the Flee Mentality Prey, like myself, lived by. It was only when we all faced extinction that Predator and Prey knew we needed to work together if we were to survive.” Lou explained.

“Be that as it may, Mr. Cervidae-D. We do wish to temper justice with mercy. However, Even though they are primitive they need to learn the meaning of right and wrong. Numerous species have suffered under their control and we’d be failing to do the moral thing if we simply ignore this.” Senator Nique replied. He is a light brown colored Pika and his tummy makes him look a tiny bit overweight.

“This is absurd.” A Rhode Island Hen named Senator Lia said. This caused the room to erupt in chatter and the Speaker had to quiet everyone down.

“The Chair recognizes Senator Lia.”

“Thank you Speaker. My point is that: it is absurd to think that an unintelligent species, like these so-called humans, are capable of rational thought. Our scientists captured one and tried to teach it but it was unable to even learn common speech.” She said and Lou felt his anger rising again because he knew that was not at all true.

“Senator, you are quite mistaken if you believe that. We have hours and hours of the rare white fur species of human that was studied. His species showed an amazing learning potential and he did learn to speak the common language. We have numerous videos chronicling the study of him. If we really need to show the entire library to the Congress that can be arranged, it might give a better glimpse of what we are dealing with.” Lou said.

“How much footage are we looking at? A week? A day? A month?” Senator Daoc asked. She is a Slow Loris primate that eyes appear to bulge out of their faces though this is perfectly normal for them. Slow lorises have a round head, a narrow snout, large eyes, and a variety of distinctive coloration patterns that are species-dependent. Their arms and legs are nearly equal in length, and their torso is long and flexible, allowing them to twist and extend to nearby branches.

The hands and feet of slow lorises have several adaptations that give them a pincer-like grip and enable them to grasp branches for long periods of time. Slow lorises have a toxic bite, a trait rare among mammals and unique among the primates.

The toxin is obtained by licking a sweat gland on their arm, and the secretion is activated by mixing with saliva. Their toxic bite, once thought to be primarily a deterrent to predators, has been discovered to be primarily used in disputes within the species.

Lou shuffled some of his papers in an attempt to give him a chance to recall how much footage they had. He forgot the exact amount but remembered it took him several days to watch it all. He had in order to get a better idea of what the humans were like before he sent Dash in.

“I’m sorry Senator, I don't have the exact amount at this time but when I initially reviewed it; it took several days to watch it all.” Lou said. This brought more chatter among the group.

“Can we get an edited version so that we can assess the approximation of their intelligence?” Senator Nique asked.

“Their intelligence level is not germain to these proceedings.” Senator Lia replied.

“I completely disagree with you Senator. By determining their intelligence we can then discuss their ability to understand the moral situation we face considering their recent behavior.” Senator Daoc said.

“Senator, is it morally right to punish a cub for breaking a rule they know nothing about?” Lou asked.

“The more moral choice is to teach the cub the reals first before punishing them.” “ Senator Daoc replied.

“The Humans are mere cubs, mentally, and we suit here discussing punishing them for breaking rules they don’t understand nor know anything about.” Lou countered. This caused the room to break into more arguments among the senators. The speaker bangeed his gavel several times to try and quiet the room but this had little effect. He had to use his microphone to talk over everyone to quiet them.

In the meantime Lou patiently took another sip of water as he watched the chaos unfold around him. He had to suppress a grin because he was leading them to follow his tune like the story of the Pied Piper.

“This is not merely a case of a cub stealing a cookie. This is much; much more! The captured species were humiliated in unfatherable ways .” Senator Daoc said.

“The same can be argued for slavery in general.” Lou retorted.

“True Mr. Cervidae-D, but the slavery we practice does not humiliate enslaved species like the humans did.” Senator Lia replied.

“Doesn’t it? When were you a slave for an extended period of time? What makes you think you can speak ?” Lou asked as he kept calm but his tone carried an edge to it. His thought shifted to his son Lyon and how traumatized he was when they had bought him as a slave.

Any species that thought that being a slave was not traumatizing, never had a slave cub wake up from night terrors after they had wet the bed on a regular basis. They never had to watch their husband try and comfort the poor cub while you watch helplessly to try and comfort them because they are also terrified of you.

Having a slave cub that’s scared to death that you will sell one and they’ll never see their brother again.

“The same could be said of you Mr. Cervidae-D.” Senator Nique said.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Senator.” Lou said and a new round of murmurs started and the speaker had to quiet the room again.

“Would you explain yourself Mr. Cervidae-D?” The Speaker asked.

“Certainly Speaker, Initially my father bought me as a slave fawn because he and my mother could not have fawns of their own. I was freed and eventually adopted by them. Years later my husband and I bought two rare white fur species slave cubs. We freed and adopted them in much the same way I had been.

My sons came traumatized in ways you cannot imagine. Besides being sold and abused by their original families, if you can call them that, because they are rare white fur species. Back at a time when a cub’s book had intelligent species fearing something that was nothing to fear at all. Some species are born with different colored fur than the average species and we as intelligent species chose superstition to guide us instead of rational thought.

Do any of us have any right to look down on the ignorance of the humans when we ourselves are no different.” Lou monologued to them. The room was held in stark silence as they thought about this. The room was so silent that at one point it was in doubt if anyone was breathing.

“LYON!!!!” Leggo yelled. He had been yelling for his son to get ready all morning because he was driving him to start his semester at Bearly Academy. Dash stood at the front door with his suitcases packed and ready. Lyon had waited until the last minute to pack and was running around trying to find his things.

Normally Lou was in charge of this and Leggo would run off to work to stay out of the way. Now for the first time he was forced to deal with everything his husband had to deal with all the times they packed the boys off.

It might be easier for Lou because technically the boys were terrified of him while with Leggo they knew they could walk all over him. The way Lyon had been acting made him realize he had been too lenient with the cub.

“Lyon! You have two seconds to get your stuff or I’ll give you a spank like you wouldn’t believe.” Leggo screamed.

“I’ll get him ready.” Dash said then ran into the mansion as Leggo stood there blinking. He waited a few minutes but when he heard nothing he climbed the stairs, stomping his feet in the process, as he went to Lyon’s room.

He found both of them lying on the floor playing video games. He let out a loud roar and quickly scooped them up and placed them both over his knee. It was amazing he was able to grab Dash because of how fast the little rabbit is. Both were quite big now and he had to stretch out his legs to hold them both there.

“When I say get ready I mean it! That’s it!! No Tail Waggin’ Meals for either of you.” Leggo said as he gave them both spanks. Both flinched with each slap but said nothing. The spank was not painful at all; it was more embarrassing to have Leggo deliver it to grown cubs like he was.

“Awww,” The both cried out since they would also be deprived of their favorite meals before they spent the next semester eating nothing but school food. Not that the school food was bad but it was no way near as good as a place like McAlpha’s.

“Wait!” Dash protested. “If we can get everything ready in the next fifteen minutes will you change your mind about the Tail Waggin’ Meals?!” Dash pleaded and Leggo watched him sternly.

“Ten minutes or no meals!” Leggo said and both cubs swallowed hard.

“Oh my paws, He’s stricter than your father!” Dash whined as they ran off to finally get everything ready. This made Leggop chuckle because he never thought he’d hear them say that about him.

Eleven minutes later they were all packed and ready to go. Leggo studied his watch as they waited for his judgment. He knew he was going to cave in but he did not want to seem too eager. Both looked at him pleadingly as they waited.

“Probably…Naaa.” He said scratching his head and gave them a quick glance and saw the disappointment build. “OK but just this once and if you ever do that again you’ll never ever get another Tail Waggin’ Meal.” He said and both cubs gave each other high paws.

“See! I told you he was just like my father.” Lyon said and Leggo suddenly realized they had played him. They packed up the moving truck and the maid met them at the door with two large bags of food she made them. She often insisted that they eat well and she took their complaints of the academy’s food to heart.

“Here you go. Keep this handy because I don't want you starving there. It’s indecent the way they starve you guys.” She said to them.

“Yeah,” Lyon replied.

“Indecent.” Dash echoed as they looked in the bags to see what they held. The maid pulled out a note from her pocket and turned to Leggo as she read it out loud.

“Stop Acting Like A Puppy and get going already.” She read. Leggo began to wag his tail rapidly after hearing this. “The master wanted me to read that to you for some fool reason. Like you’d ever stop acting like a damn fool. I bet those two were walkin’ all over you all morning.”

“Naah,” Lyon remarked as he took out a treat to snack on.

“We…” Dash tried saying but his mouth was too stuffed to be understood. The Maid walked over and slapped both of their paws.

“You eat it all now, you’ll be starving for the whole semester.” She said then she pulled out two bags she hid behind her back and refilled their backpacks.

Benyamin and Tyger drove on the highway in Ben’s car. Ben was driving and Tyger leaned back in the passenger seat enjoying the wind blowing on his face. The feeling tickled his whiskers. They had been traveling in silence for the last few miles with neither knowing what to say to the other.

Ben was wearing a pair of black framed sunglasses that were specially designed for tigers to wear. Sunglasses were a tricky commodity because the shape and size of species were not universal and sunglasses or even glasses in general had to be special ordered so that they fit properly.

“How are you feeling?” Tyger asked.

“I’m feeling fine.” Ben said coldly.

“Are you really? Not an easy thing to disown your own family.” Tyger said as he watched Ben keeping his eyes on the road.

“Look, don’t start. It’s over and done with. I said my goodbyes and no more bullshit with them.” Ben replied.

“Are they really so bad? Everything you are, everything I love about you is what they made you into. Hardworking, Strong, and Handsome, and…” Tyger said as he tried listing off the things he liked.

“Stop. You’re making me blush.”

“Yeah,” Tyger said, smiling.

“Can we just move past all that? It’s over and done and I’m ready to move on with my life.” Ben replied.

“Maybe that’s the problem. You’re so quick to just give up and move on, when you’re not really listening to them.”

“Of really?! Did you miss the part when my mother said they’d be waiting in their beat up, old, run down home? I know you’re not dumb. You can clearly see they are only interested in money. I never even told them much about you except that you are a white tiger like me.

My sister is the one that blabbed that your family is rich. Sure enough once they knew that then suddenly they wanted to meet you. But when they thought you were poor like we are, they never asked to see you and meet you then.” Ben said and Tyger fell silent. He knew he didn’t know enough to dispute him but he still wanted to believe that Ben’s family were good species.

He was not sure why he was fighting to keep Ben’s family together but some part of him did not want to see them disown each other. It reminded him of his own family disowning him then selling him as a slave. Even though he loved his father, dad, and brother he still wondered what happened to his birth parents and his siblings.

“Huh? What’d you say?” Tyger asked as he realized that he had been daydreaming about his past and missed what Ben had said.

“I said, maybe you’re thinking too much about how your life turned out that you’re trying to force something on me that doesn’t fit.” Ben said. Tyger sighed as he considered what his fiance had said. Maybe he was right and he was not looking at things clearly. Perhaps he was only seeing things how he had wanted them.

“If I admit that you could be right and I’m not seeing things clearly, will you admit the same could be true for you also?” Tyger asked and Ben stared at him but it was tough to judge his expression with his sunglasses on.

“Are you trying to say that we agree to disagree?”

“Nevermind.” Tyger sighed and slumped down in his seat to take a nap.

The Speaker called the room to order as the proceedings began again. They had taken a break for lunch but it seems The World Congress had made its decision regarding the Humans. Lou sat nervously as he reviewed the questioning to see if there were any weak areas on his part. This was merely to keep him busy so he could remain calm as he waited.

“Concerning the nature of the species that call themselves Humans. Has The World Congress made its decision?” The Speaker asked a female representative that stood nearby a microphone holding a cue card.

“We have.” She said, She was a Crested Gecko that had a beautiful shade of golden skin. She seemed to be wearing eyelash extensions to make her eyelashes appear fuller and longer than normal.

“What has The World Congress decided?” The Speaker asked her.

“In regards to the Humans, we’ve had several senators that have brought wonderful ideas. Moving forward we try to accumulate the humans into society. However, that being said the Humans must pay for their actions. It has been decided that all Humans will be living in Sanctuary Areas of cities that will be set up. All legal aged adults will spend the next ten years serving as slaves to certain chosen species of that city.

The Humans will earn salaries so they can begin to learn about how to buy food and pay bills and taxes. This will prepare them for when they will be released at the end of ten years time. During their off hours they will meet with specialists to help them manage their finances and to learn in general about how to fit into society.

We do understand that this will be very difficult at first but we are confident that the Humans can learn and adapt if given the opportunity. We feel that with the best counselors that are patient and caring, they will eventually learn how society works. The real lessons will be for their children.

The children will be required to attend remedial classes until they are caught up to their peers and become assimilated into classes with regular species. We fear this will become much more difficult for the human cubs because it is normal for bullying and considering the controversy surrounding them. Like all things this will eventually pass.

Concerning the enslavement of the humans we want the species that were turned into pets to be their masters so that justice is done. However, providing that their masters will instruct them and not merely be cruel. We want justice done but justice tempered with mercy. We need a nurturing environment if we hope the Humans will ever learn how to become a part of society.

This is the formal decision that The World Congress has decided.” She explained before he turned the meeting back to The Speaker.

“Thank you. Does Anyone wish to add anything before we adjourn?”

“Yes, Speaker. I wish to commend The World Congress on making a fine decision. This has been an extremely difficult matter, but in fine fashion has The World Congress been able to find a reasonable solution. I have long been a proponent to help The Humans enter our society for the betterment of species-kind.

Even though I have had trouble thinking of a solution, The World Congress has shown wisdom and clarity. This solution was far better than anything I coul;d come up with.” Lou spoke as he addressed The Senators. Though he was outright lying to them because that had been his plan all along. He had been passing the ideas onto the senators letting them take full credit for it. This way he was controlling them by letting them think that they had pulled a fast one on him. Now his victory speech was to further inflate their egos. He held them in the palm of his hoof only they did not know it.

Leggo, Dash, and Lyon sat down at a table in McAlphas as they ate their Tail Waggin’ Meals. The boys were busy playing with the toys while Leggo sat looking depressed as he ate some french fries.

“What’s wrong, Dad?” Lyon asked as he finally noticed.

“Nothin’... except you guys don’t love and respect me.” Leggo whined. Both Dash and Lyon turned to look at him confused.

“What’d you mean?” Dash asked.

“Yeah.” Lyon added.

“I do everything for you guys and when Lou wants to ground you both I’m the one to jump in and ease his anger.” Leggo said. He could not look them in the eye because he was dangerously close to lying. He had protected them from punishments numerous times although after they way they acted today he could understand why had gotten so mad at them.

Still he did not want it to go unchallenged that they could walk all over him. Sure he loved being and playing around them but he needed to remind them that he was their parent not their playmate.

“But we love you, sir.” Dash said as he lowered his ears. Lyon was nodding along in agreement.

“But how you both treated me today. Is that how you love someone?” Leggo asked but his tummy was now bothering him as he knew he was manipulating them.

“You’re right dad! I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. You see it’s just become a game that we play with father. He yells and threatens to punish us but we know he loves every minute of it. We wanted to play the same thing with you but we never thought that it might be mean to do so.” Lyon explained.

“Yeah,” Dash echoed.

“Tyger caught on pretty quick and he devised our strategy.” Lyon said. This made Leggo smile as he realized what his oldest had done.

“Yeah, see Lou thinks we’re scared and hate him but it’s just the opposite. That’s why I struggle to get good grades is because I want to thank him for helping to pay for my schoolin.” Dash said.

“Tyger smelled it first but when father was yelling and chasing after us, you could smell the happiness and contentment coming off of him. We thought you’d do the same.” Lyon said. Leggo eyed them closely and took in their own scents.

“You lying little squeak toys. I can smell your scents too. It’s a nice try, you almost had me, but it was a nice try.” Leggo said. Both boys looked disgruntled as they slumped in their chairs. They weren’t lying, he could smell that much but there was also mischief in their scents. He decided to let the matter drop.

To Be Continued…