Ripping off the veil

[abugslife]

[1 - more of a react post than anything]
[Right after the battle with the AEP, the giant dragon and the mysterious crystal creatures, Hetepheres is nowhere to be found. Why? Turning on the TV, pretty much any channel, will provide the answer. She is at a public ESUN conference, impromptu but still crowded as hell, giving a statement - an explanation of matters regarding Gebians, the hostile Anti-Earthling Party and the allied Pro-Earthling Party. The speech is long and covers topics most people in UG know about already, so it's honestly kinda boring if you already heard about it. But the majority of the population didnt; journalists are besieging the Gebian general, asking questions ranging from reasonable to ridiculous. She answers them all stoically, but the more perceptive can notice her patience is starting to grow thin.]

[2 - the actual prompt, default]
[Some time after that Hetepheres returns to Alhambra, via Scaraber - and the mech has its new shiny upgrade, in the form of golden scarab-like armor with wings and four arms. Now it looks even more beetletastic! The general leaves her machine, several Gebian mechanics already swarming in for maintenance.]

...Politics are tiring. They might be a part of my role as ambassador, but I prefer fighting on the physical battlefield. It felt nostalgic to have the proper number of limbs again.

Comments

2

[caressthedarkness]

[An understanding nod from Seta. After watching that conference, she's more convinced that she's not suited for politics.]

Ah. Other than that...I cannot fathom how anyone could endure being the center of so much attention...

Attention like that...no less.

[Not that she doesn't feel bad for you, Heph...it's just that the MJP's reaction to having the eyes of the world on them was something she could relate to better.]

[abugslife]

While I hold no official military position on Earth, on Geb I am a leader. And the responsibility of a leader is to remain calm in all situations - even ones like this.

One of the journalists asked me did we build the pyramids on Earth. What a ridiculous question.

[caressthedarkness]

Ridiculous...?

[Genuine surprise.]

I have always heard people on television stating that extraterrestrials had something to do with it.

[abugslife]

Who would claim such nonsense? I assure you, my ancestors did not intervene with Earth's civilization. All your monuments and advancements are your work alone.

...Well, not "your" per se, in this situation. But you do know what I mean.

[caressthedarkness]

Yes...

We Kijin of the Gloster Foundation have not intervened either. Truth be told...construction and such feats of creation are beyond our capabilities...

[She stops here for a few seconds, and the look on her face is not too different from a child expecting a particular answer...]

But...it is not impossible that another species besides ours might have done so, is it not?

1/2

[abugslife]

Indeed it is not. When my people came to Earth they did not find any signs of other visitors, but they only visited the planet once, and only in one specific region. Other races might have visited later, or in other places.

But, without a doubt, the pyramids in Egypt are the work of Earthlings. No aliens laid their hands on them.

2/2

[abugslife]

...Do your people build anything at all?

2

[herodrawing]

Proper number of limbs?

[Izuru looks down on himself, then at Hetepheres. Two legs, two arms. Everything normal.]

Oh, you mean like a beetle, general?

[abugslife]

Indeed. Ordinary Gebians have six legs - and a pair of wings as well, though we are too heavy to fly with them.

Thanks to the Scarab Frame, I felt as if I possessed those digits once again.

[herodrawing]

I see. Thank you, so that's how it is.

[Izuru is smiling for some reason.]

[abugslife]

What did you hear just now that makes you so cheerful?

[herodrawing]

So you miss a beetle-shaped form after all, general.

... If only a little.

[abugslife]

Purely out of nostalgia. Getting used to only having four limbs took some time back in the day, but I am both more dextrous and closer to flight than back then. Quantity is not everything.

...I admit, I would not mind having four humanoid arms instead of two. But there are limits to Gebian technology, alas.

1

[feurig_gungnir]

And I thought my press conferences were hard....

2)

[genericprotagonist]

Well, sometimes the attention isn't too bad. But after that circus I'd take another fight over the media.

[abugslife]

I suspect it is only a matter of time before my presence is crucial somewhere ele. But before that, I have no intention of showing up on every minor gathering. If the media really need to ask me a question, they can send a mail.

[blackhole_sunattack]

And you can see why, as a sponsor, I prefer to be on this side of things. It makes me glad the Meganoids are old news by now.

[abugslife]

Did it look a bit like this when they just showed up, then?

[blackhole_sunattack]

Fortunately not. I didn't have to make any speeches or public hearings on it, though... I did get grilled because my father is the person who built the first Meganoid before they went rouge.

[abugslife]

My condolences. This sounds like it has quite a story behind it, though. Would you mind sharing it?

[blackhole_sunattack]

I'll tell you what I can. I don't like to talk about it, but I won't deny it if I'm asked.

My father created the Meganoids. Not as the destructive machines we fight, but rather a form of cyborg that could think for itself. Unfortunately that attempt at free will caused it's own error, and the Meganoid he built turned on our family, killing everyone but myself obviously.

Like many of our enemies, they feel they're superior to humans, and by that right, the Earth belongs to them, the "stronger".

[ugyuuya]

Oh, is this part of putting forth a disarming personality then General? I'm sure you'll have plenty of fans after that last speech, you ready for the fan mail to come pouring in?

[abugslife]

...What.

Do Earthlings all over the world really have no more pressing things to do than bothering an alien warrior they have not even met in person?

[ugyuuya]

My dear General you are the first friendly alien to come out openly to humanity who has admitted to ancestors visiting Earth in the far past where they impersonated deities and were involved with the pyramids.

You are vindication for almost half of the world's conspiracy theorists and you are going to be a HUGE media buzz for some time yet. Most of it will be harmless but I just wanted to make sure you were aware it would be coming. The not so harmless ones... well that's what we have the security forces on base to deal with.

[abugslife]

Vindication for nothing. My people did not build the pyramids, they did not give you any secret knowledge, and did not intervene in the development of your civilization. All they did was seize the opportunity for free food and supplies. I made this clear during my speech... But somehow, I get the feeling many will not listen.