Qualin
Vesserio's story was a lot to take in. I felt for them. Sounded like they may have been treated as special their whole life, but it also seemed they were fully aware that it was because they were useful. They were used as a tool. Even their own parents basically gave them away, apparently for a price. It really wasn't much different than being a slave, though certainly a privileged position without having to deal with being physically abused until now.
Their personal story aside, I was also processing what I'd learned about the possible origin of beastlings like myself, and a little bit about the world I came from. I really didn't know much about it. I was very young when I was captured, taken from my parents, and sold. I only remembered seeing other beastlings like me in the village I was born, and everyone I'd met as an adult that was supposedly from my world was like me, though with different beast traits. But something in my mind seemed click.
There were other people. The people that captured and sold me to the ones that took me off world. I hadn't thought about it for a long time, but I had a sense that at the time, I knew or believed that the ones that captured me weren't themselves from another world. I wished I could remember what they looked like, but images seemed to overlap as my mind struggled to remember.
'Are you ok?' Minor crooned softly in my head, pressingly slightly closer to me as he sat in my lap. 'I think I was sold by people from my world. Vesserio said some beast people have they're own villages. That makes sense from what I remember, but I think some of the other people caught and sold people like me as slaves to off world slave traders.'
'Maybe they also made a deal with the Ratarans. If the world itself is somehow hostile to invaders, the Ratarans may have made a deal with the locals to capture other people in exchange for freedom and probably goods.'
'Makes sense.' My mind scrambled to piece together bits of information and random comments I'd heard throughout my life. 'The masters I've known would have an easier time making an alliance with a race that looked more like them. Some people I've known have made comments about beastlings being hybrids, the result of beastiality.'
I couldn't hide my disgust at the thought. That was the insult I hated the most. The one that was most commonly used to justify my status as a lowly slave, one that needed to be whipped because we were part animal and therefore stupid, unnatural abominations.
Minor growled in my mind but cuddled closer, wrapping his arms around me. 'I'm a beast. We aren't stupid. The act those people referred to is bad when it's between people and animals who can't communicate or consent. What Vesserio described seems different. They seem to sort of blur the line between a person and an animal. I can see how an animal would see them as one of their own. They feel that way. I can also sense their capacity to communicate. I don't think they'd have a hard time learning even the non-verbal languages of various animals. I could see how someone like that, living in the wilds, could end up having natural relations with the animals around them.'
He looked up into my eyes, but kept our conversation private. 'I also know how many people see themselves as above animals. Like they're superior to us so mixed mating would be seen as an abomination or degradation. But I'm a beast. You're a person. Is that wrong?'
'It's different.' I answered quickly. 'You're incredible and as intelligent as any person. More so than many I've known.'
'Right. So we can communicate, understand and appreciate each other, and consent. That's what really matters. I have transformer relatives that have partnered with animals you never would, because you can't connect with those animals. But Vesserio seems to be of a species that is rather... rare. Like I said, they seem to blur the line.'
'I guess you're gonna have to explain to me what exactly makes an individual an animal versus a person. Appearance isn't a good judge for your kind. Seems intelligence isn't the deciding factor. So what is?'
There was a long pause. 'Dad has always said it was free will. Animals are more driven by instinct and nature. People are removed from that. I kinda like how Vesserio put it: That it's self awareness. There really isn't any one thing that makes people distinct from beasts. But I know that people don't recognize my dad as king. Animals do by instinct. But domesticated animals don't recognize him as king either, because people have removed them from the wilds and severed that link.'
'So, people are just animals that became so self aware, that they were able to chose to remove themselves from the natural order of the Animal kingdom?'
He thought for a moment. Amusement played across his mind. 'That's as good an explanation as I've heard. I like that. Makes sense to me.'
'So Leforions are animals that can live among people but are also still part of nature and the natural order? Whatever that means, exactly?'
'Makes sense. I'm curious to see how Vesserio and my dad will react to each other. They'll probably call his command over animals magic. Many transformers do as well. It's some sort of intrinsic ability anyone who holds the title of King gains.' He shrugged and snuggled against me, turning his attention back to the others sitting around us.
Seemed our conversation was over. It certainly was a lot to think about. And I clearly had a lot more to learn about my partner and his universe. But for the moment, I was grateful for the opportunity to learn more about my own origins and people.
"Vesserio," I began, waiting for them to pull away from Stardust. They seemed embarrassed as they straightened their clothes, sitting up properly and clearing their throat before making eye contact again.
"Do you know how long the Ratarans have been in contact with your...our...homeworld?"
"No... Though we had heard stories of ships coming from the skies. Accounts varied of what the other worlders look like and what their purpose was. Some say their appearance signals danger. Others, an opportunity for trade and knowledge. Most people where I lived didn't believe such stories to be true, until the ships appeared in our skies."
"So not a lot of world wide communication? To verify the stories?"
"No. Most regions of Areshio are pretty isolated. The wilds are dangerous and the magics are chaotic where there are no Laforions. I heard even the Ratarans say their technology and machines barely work in our world. People do travel, so stories, goods, and cultures spread by word of mouth and in writings. But there really isn't regular communications or exchanges between regions, let alone world wide."
"Hmm." It didn't seem likely I'd get any more useful information.
"Are you thinking of taking a trip home?" Galaxy asked casually from his perch on the fallen log.
I scoffed. "I haven't thought of the world I came from as 'home', in a long time. Though, it is curious to learn a bit more about it."
"Once we settle things for this mission, I can take you there anytime you like." Minor have me a little peck on the cheek.
"Yeah, and I love breaking up slave trades, so you don't have to worry about asking for help if that's a goal you have in mind." Galaxy chuckled and grinned, Major missing song enthusiastically next to him.
"Oh, yeah, I'm definitely in for that." Stardust giggled and raised her hand.
"For sure." Minor broke in. "Whatever you want."
I couldn't help laughing. Not that the idea hadn't already started to creep into my mind, but I had no idea how to even start such an endeavor. But of course my new lover and his crazy family would see ending an inter-planetary slave trade as just another mission.
"We'll deal with that later. For now we should focus on our current task: finding the ones responsible for the attempted kidnapping of your friend."