Death of the Deathbird

The Speech

President Neusner

    "In the beginning of the 21st century a genetic revolution led to a rogue biological group nicknamed 'the breeders,' who used illegal genetic enhancing and alternate 'species' seeding. This created multiple groups of super humanoidal and non-human species along side of our own."

    The Galactic Council president and Free Worlds chairman pauses to stare out at the many races attending his speech He is giving his lifetime study on the universes known and still being discovered races. However, he knows this is a hot and sticky subject, but he has been asked by the attendees to broach the issue in hope of solidifying the Council and Free Worlds. Showing all the planetary players there are more in common than they realize.

    President Neusner notes the Dragonian Prime Minister and the Liongaar Minister do not look very receptive. Neusner hope it's because of their animal like faces. The Dragonian has a near dinosaur-like face, and the Liongaar's black nose and heavy mane hides the eyes of what looks like a man-like lion.

    Neusner decides to continue, "Before my election I had just finished a 30 year study of all the races genetic codes, and realized we are more alike than we are different. The so called breeders may have thought they were circumventing God's genetic code in order to create chaos and gain power and wealth, but what God has done is turn something vile and evil into something beautiful and diverse and good. Thank you and God bless."

    Hands go up, Neusner hadn't expected a Q and A, but stays at the pulpit and points to the Liongaar Minister. The golden maned Lion man stands up, and gives a deep guttural growl. All eyes are on the near predatory half man/half lion, as he speaks.

    "So you "claim" I am a product of genetic rogues? What did you call it? Seeding?"

    Neusner answers him, "Yes, that's right."

    "Explain this 'seeding?" A low growl follows it that causes a few delegates to move away afraid the President's answer may trigger a mass feeding by the Liongaarin minister.

      "It means biological alternate species 'cross breeding' and,"

    The Dragonian Prime Minister stands up and cuts him off bellowing, "I THEN AM A CROSS BREED? Explain what two types, President Neusner, of species could PROCREATE and CREATE ME?"

    His voice is near primal and the Urogan and Urvali delegates are leaning back in their chairs spying their aids, and are hoping they chose the right security sharp shooters if these two 'creatures' decide not to accept Neusner's answer.

    "I don't have all my research before me, but what I found was common alleles between your people and mine."

    "OH! Now WE are LIKE YOU?" The huge dragon-like man laughs.

    "Yes." Neusner nods and continues, "The uncommon genetics was introduced and can best be described as New Eugenics."

    The dragon man roars, "NEW EUGENICS?"

    Neusner nods and says, "Yes." Once more.

     The Dragonian leader sighs, "Tell these 'people,' (he says people very benignly) how is it your 'theory' can even be believed at all? Or is it just 'human dribble' to MAKE HUMANS FEEL BETTER?"

    Neusner is beginning to suspect the two alien leaders are conspiring together to try and smear his research, but his biological studies and findings are sound. He doesn't waver as he answers,

"No sir, it is not for that reason. My research is correct."

    The dinosaur looking man rasps, "YOUR RESEARCH IS BUNK! I AM A CHILD OF DRAGONS! SO CALLED "KILLED" BUT REBORN IN THE FIRES OF THE CELESTIAL SEAS OF TERZANNIS! YOU, H U M A N, ARE A FOOL! LOOK AT MY FRIENDS THE "LIONGAAR!" THEY CAN ONLY BE THE NEXT STEP IN EVOLUTION OF THE PROUD LIONS AND TIGERS OF THE AFRICAN PLAINS! ONCE AND AGAIN YOU ARE A FOOL!"

    Claps and cheers go up and Neusner feels his face flush. He hadn't expected this type of belligerent resistance. 500 years of space travel and colonization turns to the old 'infighting' and 'bigotry' once again.

    Neusner uses one of his favorite quotes inadvertently, "I am a god unto myself..."

    The Liongaar Prime Minister concentrates his eyes on Neusner and he heard the quote. He silences the room with a deep growl and all listen as he asks, "You say you are a man of God, President, but you discount all our select beliefs, do you not?"

    "I'm not going into a theological argument with you, Prime Minister."

    "SO! You admit then that by OUR "beliefs" that 'Survival of the Fittest' is not necessarily a wrong theory?"

    All the delegates pivot their eyes and heads towards Neusner for a response.

    He sighs, "Your beliefs have merit, Prime Minister, but,"

    The lion-man bristles as if growing in size as he points out,

    "The Liongaar control 2/3rd's of the colonized planets and known space, do they not?"

    "Your peoples record speaks for itself but,"

    The Dragonian chimes in very loudly, "AND MY PEOPLE CONTROL THE REST! OR NEARLY THE REST, DO THEY NOT, HUMAN?"

    Both man-beasts seem to bristle with pride.

    Neusner's wife, Jocasta, is eyeing him and her eyes are pleading with him to just walk away, but Neusner...can't. He won the presidency on a platform of not peace but 'group collaboration.' Many of the Free Worlds were tired of war and death, so Earth's First Fleet forces had helped him in bringing about a truce.

    However, ideological pride and anti-human rhetoric is only a second away. The two delegates, from what are called the Warrior governments, is about to unravel everything he has worked to do.

    Neusner clears his throat and speaks clearly after a second of private prayer,
    "Sirs, my findings stand for themselves. I am not a man whom goes off of "short term" evidence You can easily check out my findings on the breeders and the seeding of 'your' species online. As for your peoples record... Not many races could stand toe to toe with your kind due to what I call as 'Primal-gene," he pauses a second and then finishes with, "SPLICING."

    The word 'splicing' is like a slap in the alien delegates faces, and a low roar goes up!

    "Yes, I said gene-splicing. It may be viewed as not politically correct, but it is what happened. 'Human' genetic research of gene and stem-cells led to human and non-human cell-splicing epidemic. Hence, your forefathers!.." A louder roar is now turned into jeers and booing and hisses, but Neusner continues, "Which led to Rogue Scientists! The Breeders! Or as my people have nicknamed them, THE DINO AND DEMI-GOD MAKERS!"

    A slaughter begins to ensue as the Dragonian and the Liongaarin leaders tear into the weaker delegates... Beheading a nearby Senator and his entourage. Mayhem erupts.

    Neusner is not staring at the massacre, but at an unmanned Laser-Turret deploying from a wall and aiming directly at him. His wife sees it and is yelling for the security detail to protect her husband, but they are trying to stop the blood bath by the alien leaders. For now the Urogan and Urvalian leaders are using their weaponry and sharpshooters to slow down the Dragonian and Liongaar blood letting.

    Jocasta launches herself at her beloved husband, but it's to late. The laser fires a volley of phased plasma at him, and it blows the president clear off the platform. She flails off after him and as security, Earth marines and Galactic troops fill the room to stop the death toll, she fights to hold her husbands bleeding and scorched body.

She is sobbing as he opens his eyes and looks into hers and whispers, "I just can't keep my big mouth shut, can I?"

    She moans, "Don't..."

    He smiles and manages, "ADONAI... I release my soul into your hands."

    She screams, "NO! HELP HIM!" But Galactic Council President and Free World chairman Yaakov Jacob Neusner passes from this world and into the next.

CHAPTER 2

"The Indwelt"