numbers surely increase as
they steal biselk.
He looked around the table. Most sat back,
drenched in shadows the lights of the ancient chandelier couldn't
pierce. Ntelo nodded, her face the image of encouraging
contemplation. She played her part well.
“These problems can only be solved by human
Hunters controlling predators through the same VRC system. biselk fear Alpha members of their species, but not as much
as they fear predators. Already, a single Hunter's presence has
reduced their desertion to almost nothing. It seems the biselk understand they're safe if they stay with the group,
and will not leave if a predator is present. Urea and her panthera have successfully isolated our population of
animals from the wild. The biselk will no longer go feral,
nor will they be eaten by wild predators. In short, Shepherds
always failed at what my Hunters do with ease.”
Baucis let his closing statement sink in. He
thought introducing predators was brilliant. They solved so many
problems with elegance. He hoped the Council saw them as he
did.
“And how do you control these carnivores?”
Ntelo asked. They really did make a great team. Her tone of voice
had all of the Councilors nodding in agreement. He answered the
question easily.
“Like the other Evanimals, the carnivores
will be constantly monitored during waking hours. Our Hunters are
trained to not allow them to do anything too egregious. They will
not attack any Evanimal implanted with one of a VRC, nor will they
reproduce without my permission.”
“And you're sure your Hunters can control
these natural born murderers?” Rufus Aurelius asked, his voice
goading. Sometimes the Media Baron had a way of sounding a bit
inflammatory. His eyes twinkled more than the gold paint he wore
upon his skin.
“Hunters monitor them at all times, of
course... When a predator--we've been experimenting primarily with
cats--begins to exhibit hunting behavior, it's Hunter counterpart
assumes control and notifies me. I then personally choose an
appropriate target. The Hunter, and eventually teams of Hunters,
then removes the unwanted animal, and disposes of it."
Aurelius nodded, seemingly placated. The
Media Baron loved a good show, and multiple pantheras would
make a grander spectacle than only one.
“I am ready to support Master Baucis,” Tennay
announced, “We have seen Urea and her panthera handle the
herds with ease. They have far less problems than Shepherds alone
had.” Baucis had assumed that Tennay would support him. The
engineer turned custodian understood the power of having tools on
the surface better than any other. He had actually been there.
“They'll eat meat that could feed our
humans,” Orus Luca’s bluntly stated. He was the Weatherman, a
position that largely ran itself. Baucis's gardens required rain
every three days, Orus simply followed the ecologist’s orders. He
still paraded his opinion at times, though Baucis mused that only
he believed he had any sort of power. Orus was most interested in
food from the Garden, especially biselk meat. The only
member of the Council with any sort of muscle mass (though his
appetite far surpassed his strength), Luca would not risk his
position or the perks that came with it. He could be placated
without effort.
“I admit my predators need to eat too, but
records show that prior to my system, we lost at least ten percent
of our herd to desertion, predation and accident. My predators eat
that amount, but only individuals we deem inferior or anarchic to
the system. We're able to use the preferred ninety percent of our
meat for human consumption, and only have to sacrifice old,
diseased or inferior individuals to the predators. Isn't order
worth more than a gamble?
Cold stares from those trapped in a
casino.
“But do we need the predators Baucis?”
asked Ntelo. “Sometimes I wonder if you do this all only for the
glory and grand spectacle of your beasts. They're certainly more
impressive since you've become
they steal biselk.
He looked around the table. Most sat back,
drenched in shadows the lights of the ancient chandelier couldn't
pierce. Ntelo nodded, her face the image of encouraging
contemplation. She played her part well.
“These problems can only be solved by human
Hunters controlling predators through the same VRC system. biselk fear Alpha members of their species, but not as much
as they fear predators. Already, a single Hunter's presence has
reduced their desertion to almost nothing. It seems the biselk understand they're safe if they stay with the group,
and will not leave if a predator is present. Urea and her panthera have successfully isolated our population of
animals from the wild. The biselk will no longer go feral,
nor will they be eaten by wild predators. In short, Shepherds
always failed at what my Hunters do with ease.”
Baucis let his closing statement sink in. He
thought introducing predators was brilliant. They solved so many
problems with elegance. He hoped the Council saw them as he
did.
“And how do you control these carnivores?”
Ntelo asked. They really did make a great team. Her tone of voice
had all of the Councilors nodding in agreement. He answered the
question easily.
“Like the other Evanimals, the carnivores
will be constantly monitored during waking hours. Our Hunters are
trained to not allow them to do anything too egregious. They will
not attack any Evanimal implanted with one of a VRC, nor will they
reproduce without my permission.”
“And you're sure your Hunters can control
these natural born murderers?” Rufus Aurelius asked, his voice
goading. Sometimes the Media Baron had a way of sounding a bit
inflammatory. His eyes twinkled more than the gold paint he wore
upon his skin.
“Hunters monitor them at all times, of
course... When a predator--we've been experimenting primarily with
cats--begins to exhibit hunting behavior, it's Hunter counterpart
assumes control and notifies me. I then personally choose an
appropriate target. The Hunter, and eventually teams of Hunters,
then removes the unwanted animal, and disposes of it."
Aurelius nodded, seemingly placated. The
Media Baron loved a good show, and multiple pantheras would
make a grander spectacle than only one.
“I am ready to support Master Baucis,” Tennay
announced, “We have seen Urea and her panthera handle the
herds with ease. They have far less problems than Shepherds alone
had.” Baucis had assumed that Tennay would support him. The
engineer turned custodian understood the power of having tools on
the surface better than any other. He had actually been there.
“They'll eat meat that could feed our
humans,” Orus Luca’s bluntly stated. He was the Weatherman, a
position that largely ran itself. Baucis's gardens required rain
every three days, Orus simply followed the ecologist’s orders. He
still paraded his opinion at times, though Baucis mused that only
he believed he had any sort of power. Orus was most interested in
food from the Garden, especially biselk meat. The only
member of the Council with any sort of muscle mass (though his
appetite far surpassed his strength), Luca would not risk his
position or the perks that came with it. He could be placated
without effort.
“I admit my predators need to eat too, but
records show that prior to my system, we lost at least ten percent
of our herd to desertion, predation and accident. My predators eat
that amount, but only individuals we deem inferior or anarchic to
the system. We're able to use the preferred ninety percent of our
meat for human consumption, and only have to sacrifice old,
diseased or inferior individuals to the predators. Isn't order
worth more than a gamble?
Cold stares from those trapped in a
casino.
“But do we need the predators Baucis?”
asked Ntelo. “Sometimes I wonder if you do this all only for the
glory and grand spectacle of your beasts. They're certainly more
impressive since you've become
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