Those Who Run | HFY | A Short Sci-Fi Story

If only they got the translation right...
An original story written, and granted permission to narrate by u/NoGoodIDNames
Original Story: www.reddit.com/r/HFY/comments/sl91n1/those_who_run/
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[@danielbutler578]

You never start a fight with someone who just wants to be left alone. Some people mistake the desire for peace for cowardice. It isn't. If you start a fight with a peace loving man, he will make sure that you never disturb his peace again.

[@PostprandialTorpor]

Dr who - “family of blood” episode vibes

[@philsturgill3435]

Well said..

[@DIVeltro]

The ones to stay clear of are the ones that seek to avoid trouble. You inevitably find that you will have it visited on you a hundred fold.

[@johnbilberg1839]

You cannot be peaceful unless you are capable of extreme violence. If you are incapable of violence you aren't peaceful, you are harmless. There is an important distinction here.

[@matthewbinding7068]

As I wrote for a roleplay game ...pacifist ....someone who wants to be left alone and if necessary will damn well fight for the right to be left alone

[@lyinarbaeldeth2456]

Xeno empire: "There shall be no rules of engagement." Humanity: "Are you sure about that?"

[@VicTor-vj4hm]

LOL I could see and hear the face of an embassador saying that phrase

[@Medowokha-bp5lq]

Canada: "No take backs"

[@Gnordlan]

You chose... poorly.

[@noxic8863]

Humanity: "Well thank you!"

[@angelrivera2339]

little did the xenos know that the humans were trying to protect them from what we learned killing each other.

[@ryanhampson673]

Larashi: “Those that run? Ha cowards!” Humanity: “You misunderstand….We aren’t running away…”

[@preciousyoung357]

"...We're giving chase."

[@user-eq9xs5fz9u]

To your direction

[@richardarriaga6271]

She follows...

[@derricktalbot8846]

"those who run... after you"

[@Singlemethod4217]

I'm not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with me

[@danielstewart7732]

This seriously needs to be refined and put into a script. This would make an incredible movie.

[@Citadel97501]

It definitely would be, although I think hollywood is likely to change that world's name to Alamo. But "Remember Avalon" still works.

[@tracewallace23]

And able to generate countless sequels/prequels 🤔 (Sounds like a job for Disney, 😏 OR a Series 🤷‍♂️

[@LeongGunners]

It's good right? There's even a strong female character in there which Hollywood seems so obsessed about.

[@MarshalLtd]

Would be an amazing Love, Death, and Robots episode.

[@miketully9905]

Not good for a movie. To really capture the relentless chase of the humans really would require a series, not a movie. And the revealation about the mistranslation would make the perfect last words to be spoken before the last credit roll. "So we're not those who run. We are however, THOSE WHO CHASE."

[@Liesmith424]

Aliens: "No act is taboo in Karal." Humans: "Cowabunga it is."

[@richardarriaga6271]

Shh... NCD can hear you

[@DeezNuts-kl2te]

so they have chosen death

[@ssfbob456]

Humans: _laughs in for the Emperor_

[@casualsleepingdragon8501]

Noþing taboos, aye? *nuclear weapons* *specially synþesized nerv agents* *genetically engineered super paþigens*

[@chadrowin2956]

Also acceptable: Human: "Sucks to be you."

[@0INFERNO1]

I like that the mistranslation of one word led to the downfall of an arrogant species. We don't run, we chase.

[@hweidigiv]

I think even "chase" is slightly off (possibly because the Terran language isn't English). I think "pursue" fits better. We pursue happiness. We pursue peace. We pursue friendships... We pursue our enemies. We pursue revenge. We pursue our goals.

[@0INFERNO1]

@@hweidigiv That's actually quite good.

[@josviersel]

We do run, but after you, not away from you.

[@BrokeWrench]

​@@hweidigiv thats perfect! It didnt occur to me until you said it. I love the odea

[@frontrider3240]

@@hweidigiv This is exactly what was in my head when the mistranslation was revealed.

[@Aabergm]

This story is the epitome of fuck around and find out.

[@zoltantakacs8401]

Yes it is..more you fuck around more you find out

[@veramae4098]

During WWII American war production was almost unbelievable. We were turning out a brand new fully equipped Naval destroyer ever week.

[@user-xr5oz5dk9c]

That should've been the name right there

[@angelrivera2339]

I think that the little detail about the Terran sharp teeth before the Terran says the Terrans real name was nicely done...

[@laughingman7882]

Oh s*** they're predators not prey moment 😂

[@commandercritic9036]

We WERE prey, in the beginning… We LEARNED how to become Predators.

[@Synthmilk]

@@commandercritic9036 We learned how to become predators so effectively, it became our defining evolutionary trait: learning to win, to overcome, not just other animals for the purpose of food, but other animals for the purpose of improving our own existence. Then plants for that same purpose. Then the very earth and stone itself, and now, the very fundamentals of nature are our prey. Those who Learn would have been just as fitting.

[@notme8232]

@@Synthmilk Maybe that was taken. These are all interstellar civilizations, after all.

[@Marius2Rocker]

Most of it was a little mediocre internet writing, but man that last moment gave me goosebumps

[@michaelwang6809]

I like that “those who chase” fits both the aspirational aspect of ideals and the attributes aspect of the human race. To an predator species, like the Larashi, chasing meant that you were the hunter. The mistranslation led them to fundamentally misunderstand the humans, and perceive them as weak; those to be hunted down as predators, such as the Larashi, hunt the weak. But to the humans it was a two faced coin; we aspire for peace and harmony, but by nature are hunters ourselves. Our teeth are hidden behind the thin veneer of a smile. Good story!

[@williambarnes5023]

It just depends on which direction we're running, really. Yes, we might run from you. We might also run AT you.

[@Sol-bane_of_corruption]

And what luck you might have if we run alongside one another (Grammer edit)

[@kayakMike1000]

You are a scholar and a gentleman

[@SH-qs7ee]

@@williambarnes5023 That was my take from it; no asked which way humanity ran. As a species we never run away, we barrel headlong into the future with little or no regard to what might be ahead.

[@Raz.C]

If you like that, then perhaps you'll appreciate the movie called Hunter Prey. It's a 2010 film, made on a shoestring budget, with a cast of about 10 people. Nevertheless, it's one of the best sci-fi films I've seen in decades. I usually watch it every 5 to 6 months, just to remind myself how awesome it is. I hope you similarly find it awesome (assuming you can find it). edit - Just found out that the movie is available on KZbin (for free)..

[@QuatroAtYale]

Side conversation in the meeting of the Congress of the Great Confederation: "Excuse me. You're called The Doctor, is that right?" "Yes. Yes, I am." "And you have a lot to do with the Hoomans, is that correct?" "Yes. Yes, I do. Sometimes unfortunately." "What do you think of the current... unpleasantness?" “The designation. They mistranslated it... twice." "Oh, what do you mean?" "It's not 'run'. It's not 'Those Who Chase', either." "Really?" "Yep, got it wrong." "In your view, what is the correct translation." "Those Who Pursue. They're the most intelligent, vicious pursuit predators in the Mutta Spiral." "Oh my, that's ominous. So why do you like them so much?" "Because they can turn their pursuit from hunting and killing to the pursuit of so many other, nobler goals." "And that makes them safer to deal with?" "No, not really. You really don't want to get in their way. But as long as you do that, they won't run you over." "And that's why you like them." "Yep, kind of. It reminds me of... well... me." There was a long pause. "Oh, my! Well, if you'll excuse me, Doctor, I must go and sample the buffet." "Watch out for the fried walacheck... and the humans."

[@Iluvantir]

"Yeah. Like me, they're not good. Good people don't need rules. It's never a good time to find our why I have so many... and why the humans have so many MORE. Toodles!"

[@jayeisenhardt1337]

Thank you I was looking for that word because to chase an idea or knowledge I knew there was a better way we say it. I just didn't bother to break out a thesaurus.

[@commandercritic9036]

You know, considering the unimaginable cruelty that was dealt to Avalon, the Larashi got off LIGHTLY!

[@Isomeria450]

Eh, in grim future of 40th millenia humans do things even worse on daily basis.

[@ireallyreallyhategoogle]

Ya, there must have been some serious propaganda done to put the blame on the royals to prevent a genocide.

[@pauldwalker]

i’m amazed at how such a simple premise turned into such an incredible story. hats off the the author!

[@rjbmarchiac8693]

"Those who run" versus "those who chase". In French, we can appreciate the mistranslation even more: "ceux qui courent" versus "ceux qui coursent". Same origin, but the later verb evolved into making the goal, the purpose more important than movement itself. It's like "run" versus "race": a naval expedition, a mountain race, a hunting pursuit, even a walking-pace, shopping tour may use the verb "courser" ("faire la course" = "to race"; "faire leS courseS" (plural) = "to go shopping").

[@ghandimauler]

Thanks for that! "Ceux qui mange croissants!" :-P

[@rjbmarchiac8693]

@@ghandimauler I get the pun with the pastry, but you perhaps didn't know that you are close to another possible mistranslation by the aliens: to stay in line with the above, we could say "ceux qui mangent croissent" or rather the reverse "ceux qui croissent mangent" ("those who grow are indeed those who eat", to mimic "those who run are indeed those who chase"). Imagine that these aliens are actually edible and they only know us as "those who grow".

[@Adactus]

"We are coming!" Very nice. Never pick a fight with someone that you have never witnessed at their best.

[@0INFERNO1]

An old teacher of mine once told me, "Never pick a fight with someone you've never seen in a fight."

[@calvingreene90]

Or their worst.

[@Necro-the-Pyro]

"Never hunt your prey until you are sure it is prey."

[@0INFERNO1]

@@Necro-the-Pyro Sun Tsu said, never enter battle until you know you will win.

[@Necro-the-Pyro]

@@0INFERNO1 I feel like that one needs a caveat: "or unless not fighting will lead to certain destruction."

[@_Tomon]

Run vs Chase. Very poetic, and so was the story. Definitely one of the truly good ones.

[@joelrasdall7662]

Ooo I enjoyed this one. Sometimes HFY stories are either just "what if we were awesome?" or (worse) "what if we were horrible and nobody could stop us?" This one had a lot more nuance and texture to it. Second the vote for a movie script!

[@ostlandr]

Incredible work! There's a better story here than 99% of Hollywood movies.

[@Sanquinity]

Would love to see this story as a full budget movie honestly. Humanity is thought of as weak, gets dragged into a war they don't want, their symbol of reaching to the stars gets massacred, so they go nuclear on the aliens' asses, and don't stop chasing the ones responsible no matter what until they're all brought to justice. I can already see the movie ending on "It's not those who run. It's those who chase."

[@ComradeCommissarYuri]

@@Sanquinityin its current state Hollyweird would ruin it

[@maxwill6408]

I might add that is was less then 30 min.

[@viniciuslopesmodena]

I mean, those unpaid writes on strike surely have some past time to cope, I guess some of them like to write historys on Reddit hahaha

[@user-kp7yt6mf8t]

@@maxwill6408it doesn’t matter lots of great films are based on short stories.

[@hb5209]

An entire movie could be made just of the human female hunting down the prince and it would be epic.

[@jackspringheel9963]

Just watched "Hunter Prey" which is on KZbin, not quite the same as your idea but not completely different. Yes, that would be epic!

[@orctrihar]

If only, it would be really great

[@buddyguy4723]

I've listened to this story 3 times this week. I think it's pretty fucking good

[@Citadel97501]

Remember we long for peace, as it allows the sleeping dragon to rest. Do not wake the dragon, for it comes at too dear a cost. A certain Japanese general said it well. Isoroku Yamamoto I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.

[@rh906]

I miss that America.

[@emilynelson5646]

@@rh906 It's still here. It's not in DC.

[@orctrihar]

"Don't wake the sleeping dragon"

[@JP48988]

He was an Admiral not a General

[@Neonblade69]

There is a reason we prefer peace to war. We are capable of such atrocities that make people sick to this day. We don't like unleashing these demons.

[@ghandimauler]

Having been a student of history and current affairs, I find it very optimistic to consider that we don't like unleashing those demons and that we prefer peace. A more accurate statement might be: Some among us see the benefits of cooperation and negotiation (and accept the shortcomings) while there are among us who look to their own benefit and will take what they can from the less able to hold it (with all the shortcomings). There's a third camp - those who drift in the middle. An acquaintance said to me, in the discussion of psychotic killers... he pointed out that a small % of them are those that can fight and kill and take lives without any compunction and won't get broken down from the emotional toll. He pointed out when your family and your nation are faced with extinction, those unempathetic people can fight in ways that would horrify the rest of us but that will terrify them and will haunt your foes.

[@jayeisenhardt1337]

@@ghandimauler I've heard it's empathetic peoples who are the most cruel. Love/hate are the same, apathy is their opposite.

[@Questor-ky2fv]

Good story! Liked the "correction" of the motto at the end. There are several animal predators who use endurance chasing to bring down faster prey. I believe both lions and wolves use this method, usually as a group. When someone gets tired, another pack member takes up the chase, while the rest of the pack slowly follows along behind. There are some human groups that also chase down faster prey this way. And yes, this method does work. A human can bring along a canteen of water and some pouches of trail food strapped to themselves, so they can either eat a bit as they go, or just pause briefly to eat, and then continue the chase. Prey animals usually need a good bit of time to eat, but if they know that they are being chased they will have to eat by snatching occasional mouthfuls, which isn't enough to keep them going, so they eventually lose their death race.

[@ryanhampson673]

If given enough time humans can run down any animal on Earth. We are one of the very few that sweat, so we don’t rely on panting to dissipate heat. We can keep a steady breath and just keep going. We are literally the terminator in nature, just slowly moving after our quarry. Eventually that deer, wolf, horse will have to stop from overheating but as long as we can still sweat we’ll keep closing.

[@commandercritic9036]

@@ryanhampson673 slight misconception here, there are other animal species that can sweat, like Horses, but they have fur covering their bodies, so it’s no where NEAR as effective as it is for humans. To top it off, wet fur is HEAVY, so that’s just going to tire them out more, this is why a Horse’s coat is thinner than most (unless their adapted for colder climates, example, Shetland pony’s). Humans ARE the only species on Earth to COMBINE sweating with hairless bodies, this makes the evaporation effects more effective and discards the weight fur brings, add in our overall body plan, which is purpose built for endurance running and it makes us one of the deadliest pack hunters on the planet, we simply don’t NEED to do it anymore. But as any athlete and indeed the Ambassador in this story will tell you, “We never forgot HOW.”

[@jssomewhere6740]

Many experts refer to men as the marathoners of the animal kingdom. We stand up right allowing us to see over the brush and grass. And unlike almost all prey animals or really all animals we are capable of walking or paced running distances very few can match. Men can also control the base instincts over coming fear and using coordinating together with tools. All these things along with our adaptability and the fact that we are omnivores turned mankind into the ultimate apex predators. Now if we can only have enough mercy not to hunt ourselves down. The last being a little reminder that we are capable, of all we choose to be.

[@dawidkaczmarek8639]

You guys forget about energy expense. 2 legs burn much less energy than 4 and we can also eat small meals that will boost us up greatly like honey, milk, we can prepare. Animals, especially herbivores, need to eat A LOT more than humans to gain energy. Imagine something chasing you that you can easily evade until you can't. Fuuuuuugggg

[@Exile-exe]

Human beings are longest distant runners in the animal kingdom. Unlike other 4 legged animals (who walk on their toes) we walk and run heel to toe. Which enables us the approximation of having 2 gears. That with the factual point of the other responses above, make human beings the most terrifying pack hunters of them all.

[@Code_Machine]

"Which they proceeded to do with gusto and a plum" Notice that a plum is absolutely essential in any declaration of war

[@Taluien]

Probably a misspelled "aplomb". Can be used in lieu of "expertise", "competence", "capability".

[@NikkiTheViolist]

@@Taluien I prefer imagining them having a plum on hand whenever they want to declare war

[@kennethohnemus3192]

His name was Tom Thumb who was required to have a plum ✌✌✌✌💨💨💨💨

[@Iluvantir]

Always needs a tasty fruit when about to engage in frivolities.

[@rasheedgregory3459]

"Those who run" can also be translated to " Those who will slow walk you down" 😮. This was a good story.

[@jeffreyscott4997]

Those Who Run ... Down Thier Prey

[@orctrihar]

Exactly, I Can understand that some considering it as "running away" but still nothing Say running to do what

[@wstavis3135]

This was a very good short. The ending was perfection.

[@tomc.5704]

They never had a chance. When they attacked Avalon, they made a mistake. When the glassed it, they made another. The Larushi are fortunate that they were weak -- that the war was short and that they could be beaten without humans resorting to more devastating weapons. I can think of a half dozen we could resort to if the Larushi posed an existential threat and we did not care what the rest of the galaxy thought of us...or what we thought of ourselves.

[@FroggyMosh]

Have you ever wondered if we could lightly siphon a system's star or gas giant to essentially napalm an entire planet? A horrifying but strangely compelling idea, right? Yeah, they never had a chance.

[@UpperDarbyDetailing]

RKMs or Nicoll-Dyson beams for instance. Although there was no indication of a Dyson sphere, which is required for the Nicoll-Dyson beam.

[@JackMehoffV]

I didn't know balkanization was a word. Now I'm even more proud to live here

[@landlordofyourbrain3394]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkanization

[@JackMehoffV]

@@landlordofyourbrain3394 I could guess what it means, I live in the Balkans

[@samimermer1982]

The balkan nations were strong and unified. Now weak because of political gains. You shouldn't be happy.

[@Skyblade12]

@@samimermer1982Freedom is more important than power.

[@samimermer1982]

@@Skyblade12 Freedom? Neighbours who knew each other slaughtered and bosnia? A war that made western europe millions in weapon distribution and foreign aid debt you had to pay interest over? Yeah... kinda looks like bondage to me.

[@Eileen139]

we warned you-- but you misunderstood the --words

[@SageofStars]

Beginning your war with an atrocity ensures that the other side will not back down until they've taken their pound of flesh for it. And that will come straight from the top. They must ensure that such never happens again, and here in particular, you see that they will not be bought off or cowed simply by those who want order, if not peace. This is the story of a foolish race, who did foolish things, and ended their story as nothing more than broken states and peoples, as those they made war on ascended, with fire and thunder, to the heavens.

[@ScorpiusZA.]

I loved that ending. I was expecting something, I wasn't sure what it was, but it wasn't that. Listening to this channel and reading that sub is making me think to contribute something. I can only hope that if I go that far, I am half as good as this,

[@Hiddenhider2]

I’ve listened to the story in its entirety six times in the past two weeks. It doesn’t get old. Excellent story.

[@inscrutababble1932]

So a mistranslation meant that no-one asked what direction the *pursuit predators* ran in? Hell, they didn't even need to run. They could walk them to death.

[@leyrua]

Our alien superpower is "sweating", since we are endurance hunters. That will never cease to be funny. 😂

[@inscrutababble1932]

@@leyrua my chemically induced menopause agrees with you, but my lymphedema says the ability to sweat is useless if the rest of the system doesn't work properly. Perhaps I should clarify - the average *human being* has the potential to be a pursuit predator. I, on the other hand, am a mostly useless freak of nature and modern medicine. It's cool though guys - I'll watch the fire when everyone else is asleep at night.

[@alganhar1]

@@leyrua Actually no we are not. Humans can use endurance hunting techniques, but we did not specifically evolve to BE endurance hunters. We evolved the attributes that allow us to use those hunting methods because we evolved as long distance migratory hunter/gatherers. Our ability to use such hunting methods came about as a result of our evolution to travel long distances, NOT the other way around. People latch onto the Persistence hunting trope and kind of manage to forget that such hunting methods were actually rarely used, we utilised a wide variety of hunting methods. Our endurance however is down to the fact we followed the food and were constantly on the move, not because of a single hunting method. When it comes to hunting humans are generalists, not specialists...

[@user-xr5oz5dk9c]

Throwing the flag at his feet and repeating the saying was just gangsta. Best part of the story.

[@smokinggnu6584]

Don't start nothin', won't be nothin'!

[@swaginton1180]

I feel those who endure would have been a better description for humanity

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

Maybe. But I think Those Who Chase is preferred. We chase our enemies. We chase the future. We chase our dreams. The nickname is meant to describe what it was about us that led us to the stars. What it was that got us through our difficulties, and led us to persevere against long odds. And the name chosen does reflect that. More than just enduring what happened to us...we chased what we needed, what we desired. We didn't simply persist...we pursued. To say we're Those Who Endure...implies that we're just a tough nut to crack. Those Who Chase, tells others that our pursuit doesn't end until we succeed, or die in the attempt.

[@volleyballDave]

"Those who hunt" I kinda prefer that it would have been "Those who hunt". That feels more like a fitting word to end the story on.

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

@@volleyballDave But we didn't really "hunt" the Larashi. Even at the end, the soldier didn't "hunt" the crown prince. She just followed him...relentlessly...until he finally just fell apart. And it doesn't really fit the theme of what the name is supposed to reflect... It's supposed to be an identifier of what that civilization believes its core trait that got them to the stars, was. We didn't hunt our way to the stars. Even in the most obscurely technical sense, it doesn't fit at all. And ironically, most of those who think of themselves explicitly as "hunters" of any sort today, probably won't ever leave Earth...thinking it's flat and that vaccines are government mind-control. That's always the problem with these HFY stories. Even on the very rare occasions when they're somewhat good...someone's gotta say weird stuff.

[@lyradiation]

The most dangerous time for humans is when we say, "I have peace". For that is when we relax and grow weary of guarding, that is when the sword will come for them. So conversely, look at nations that sharpen their swords and hone their strength, even as they say, "I have peace", they are ready for war.

[@veramae4098]

Ahhhh, Finland.

[@oranganewton]

Xeno empire: "There shall be no rules of engagement." Canadians: "Are you sure about that?"

[@Iluvantir]

"Looks like war-crimes' back on the menu, boys!"

[@damirserbanovic]

My upmost respect to author and promotor on this channel. Hat down a fantastic story !

[@t.b.5115]

"We have the most advanced ships." "We have the toyota hilux and the browning M2."

[@johncunningham4820]

That was a Belated addition of the START of an already running " Universe " . Good Story . I realised early that Run should have been Pursue/Chase .

[@doupee1]

I had in mind run to charge!

[@happytravelling]

I get a chill every time I hear that ending. wonderful story!

[@Erin-Thor]

I love unexpected endings! Kudos! 👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿

[@AkGamerRo]

Heard it before, but it's always a pleasure to hear again.

[@laughingman7882]

I let it play everytime it pops up ❤

[@ThePrinceOfMillAve]

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping dragon and fill him with a terrible resolve."

[@Kyoril]

This can all be summed up in one simple phrase. A fronte praecipitium, A tergo lupi Latin "In front of you, the precipice, Behind you the wolves."

[@LukeTube007]

This might be the coolest fan film I've ever seen. It speaks directly to our desire for peace, yet it down plays our blood lust for war. We revel in it… lay claim to it… make it very skin and wear it with pride. No we do not love war, in truth we fear it… not because of it's effect on us, but for its infection upon us. Because once we've begun it we seek it in the most destructive and powerful way there is. And if that's not enough we invent it. We don't live for war, we lived in it for all time now, it's a part of us… fear us. This is not a threat, but perhaps the best piece of free advice that we could possibly give. Take it to heart, because the only other thing that you'll take to heart from us will be our spears!

[@Archistrategos11]

One of the most beautiful gems from r/HFY

[@cathoderay305]

If I failed to say it before, I apologize: This should be a mini-series, live action or animated, but it deserves to be seen and heard much beyond this medium. Great story!

[@amanitamuscaria5863]

Humans aren't predators, humans are hunters. Very important distinction

[@Omnidestrophic]

I like the idea, those who run. You dont have to just run away. No, you can run to anything. Run towards peace or war. Clever writing and a good story.

[@Dblue-rhino]

Great story, well done in every sense. Need more from this author.

[@Biggest_tony]

The human military industrial complex is second to none in these stories and it makes me so happy😊

[@graplingurty]

This was worth the listen.

[@laughingman7882]

The implications for how all humans would be treated after that 😂😂😂 No one would dare cross, cheat, or hurt a human. They simply couldn't be sure it wouldn't result in them being chased down. Retrieving that dude from Ooblow says there's no distance, place, or amount of time a human won't overcome to get you. Guaranteed to be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life if upset a human enough. A name is a promise ❤

[@Zulu4impi]

The mistranslation of "those who run" is very reminiscent the 50's Syfy classic , " ...to serve man" To the utter dismay of the prime character running towards the spaceship departing thousands shouts .... It was a cook book....How to serve man!

[@hollyingraham3980]

@Zulu4impi I spent the whole time waiting for the zinger. My dad raised me on that stuff.

[@MonsieurSansHonte]

Fantastic. From “Call us… Those Who Run”, I knew this tale was gonna be great. Now I wanna play some Halo.😂

[@spartanwolf]

Those who run… you down.

[@NessaEllenesse]

I cannot believe the Larashi didn't have access to earth's history. They either didn't bother to read it or ignored what they read. They poked a hornet's nest

[@nabbar]

I love this. It reminds me a bit of Larry Niven's story of mankind's first encounter with the Kzin. Never mistake a preference for peace for unwillingness to fight hard if war becomes unavoidable.

[@carlchapman4053]

'Those That Run' is correct for our species because we have always used endurance as well as intelligence to succeed. Humans do not chase most other creatures, in fact we are genetically evolved to peacefully co-exist with everything except a threat and food, however as we moved from hunter/gatherer to herder our need to chase food has reduced so we now only purse an active danger while everyone else is kept safe. However the chase has never ended and technology only makes the chase more interesting! Aliens - Why are Humans always the first to suggest Peaceful Trade and Diplomatic Solutions? Humans - Because we have committed truly horrific, evil and unforgivable acts in our past. Aliens - So these evil actions haunt your species? Humans - No, that is our nature but we are trying to avoid committing even worse horrific, evil and unforgivable acts in the future!

[@jakubw.2779]

Those who chase also is correct as we constantly pursue/chase new horizons, boundaries, knowledge and challanges

[@geofthompson3844]

That ending was genius 😂. We are descended from the best long distance runners in the world and we will keep coming 👍

[@go4celerity413]

I have listened to hundreds of sci-fi short stories in KZbin. This one is the best.

[@Zeakthecat]

"never corner a mama bear with her cubs, you will be dead before you realized your mistake." while humans are not like the mama bear and her cubs, we are similar as we were and to some, are still hunters to this day, much like the mama bear feeding her cubs and keeping her distance of the humans, the moment you corner her with a gun, you've sealed your fate. and to some extent, we are much like the mama bear, when cornered, we strike with a roar of a thousand suns, but we do not back down easily, not without a fight.

[@Kyoril]

Do not think that just because a person is kind, or gentle, that they are weak. It is all the hell they've survived which had made them this way. The demons they carry within.. Are merely sleeping.. Not dead.

[@Highrocker1298]

Yeah! Thanks to the author! That was truly enjoyable. More like that please!

[@Bryce25400]

This is one of the most beautifully written and narrated stories I've heard in a while. Thank you for this.

[@jackroman8821]

Wow... that was truly amazing Sci-Fi. Well written, well read and voiced. Absolutely wonderful.

[@NormanPrather]

I spent 4 years in Somalia, long ago when I was invincible, do not underestimate technicals. A Toyota pickup with a little armor and a heavy machine gun can be a scary thing.

[@Lumberjack_king]

“Those who chase/pursue” is definitely more fitting than “those who run”

[@suicide1015]

“Never do your enemy a small injury” Niccolo Machiavelli

[@mattbrown5511]

Never under-estimate the lengths a human, or humanity as a whole, will do to prove a point.

[@Grendelmk1]

Cursorial hunters. Perhaps the most terrifying type of hunter in existence. Not especially fast, but they endure. You may be able to outrun them in the short term, but you will NEVER get to rest. They will run you to exhaustion, then jog up to you and kill you while you're too tired to fight back.

[@R151NG5UN]

I constantly come back to listen to this story, definitely one of my favourites! Narration is brilliant, but the story just gets me smiling broadly as things unfold!

[@SylvesterCarl]

This has to be my favorite of all of these, or at least in the top five. It's damn good story!

[@JohnMcGuire-gz3ms]

Great story. I loved the ending.

[@Destiny-ig2fs]

I love the use of teeth in the finish , probably the only thing besides are running capability that would label us as predators thousands of years from now 😂.

[@ladymecha8718]

I like the concept of this story. 🎉

[@mackharrisiii3306]

Thank you for spotlighting this piece. It was amazing!

[@lisear2926]

This is a most excellent story. I enjoyed it very much .👏 So very proud to be a part of Those Who Chase.

[@karlmosher6291]

That is one of the best stories I have heard very long time!

[@emilsevcik5042]

Oh, that satisfying ending!

[@ramonmendoza7125]

FANTASTIC STORY!! WELL DONE!!!!

[@KonradZielinski]

very nicely done. Humans are indeed the best distance runner on the planet. Mostly its to do with our ability to shed heat.

[@leyrua]

Sweating is our alien superpower, and this will never cease to be funny to me. 😂

[@malcolmeaston5639]

And our other superpower is internally produced combat drugs (Adrenaline)

[@matthewconner7800]

The Larashi should be redesignated as “Those Who Fucked Around and Found Out.”

[@leonievanheerden7090]

And that's why every word counts, and you should read contracts...run doesn't=chase 😉

[@Joshkie2]

That ending was unexpected. I thought the title was in reference to the saying, “Those who run… die tired.”

[@SovietReunionYT]

Honestly I saw it coming immediately. That thumbnail plus the title point to a story about humans being persistence hunters, and as soon as the alien narrator guy reached the part where "those who run" is interpreted as fleeing, I knew it was going to be a severe misunderstanding that gets brutally corrected. But I didnt see it coming that it was a mistranslation, I assumed "those who run" was what humans wanted to say, but the aliens misunderstood the meaning because they couldnt be bothered to look into what part of humanity's attributes it refers to.

[@DigitalJesuit]

"Oh we run... just not AWAY"

[@nesapanjalingam704]

I heartily approve of the human response. Thank u for this enthralling story ❤

[@ladymecha8718]

lol love the last sentence. Chef’s kiss. 🎉❤😂

[@MrMLaidlaw]

I really enjoyed this story. Made me feel proud of humanity. Fictional the story is but it holds a deep truth about us as a species.

[@volcryndarkstar3283]

*Post War* Larashi General: "Can you believe it, Admiral? We stand in the presence of the only non-human species ever to emerge victorious over humans in open war." Larashi Admiral: "Ever since I was told we had a live specimen to study, I've known only sleepless nights as my inner eye was plagued with visions of abominable war beasts. I could never have imagined that the creature that prevailed against those who broke OUR mighty empire would be so underwhelming." Before the two Larashi military leaders stood a creature of unparalleled comic value. Its too-far-apart eyes bulging out of a tiny cranium at the end of a long tentacular, noodle-like neck, which itself emerged from a rotund organ sack perched atop two comically long legs. Its only natural combat features were the formidable claws on its feet and the keratinous facial spike that jutted forward from between its wild, thoughtless eyes. The creature also appeared to be partially covered in an integument of semi-hard quills, which bifurcated into a puff of scraggly plumage. Such a physically unimpressive species would need to harness technology to match Those Who Run in combat, but the ridiculous creature had no biological means of tool manipulation to speak of; no arms, no tentacles, no telepathy. It had no obvious way of either manufacturing nor using advanced weaponry. Larashi General: "I share your feelings, Admiral. This creature doesn't even seem truly sentient; either that or it's just playing dumb..." *The creature slapped its face into the ground apparently in the hopes of consuming food* "...very convincingly." Larashi Admiral: "The blasted thing doesn't even go by an honorable name. What in the 12 fires of Hell does the word 'emu' even mean?"

[@NormanPrather]

Okay, that wins today's Internet Award. Made me laugh out loud.

[@volcryndarkstar3283]

@@NormanPrather Thank you, sir.

[@wyattguilliams5325]

I think that's a cool aspect of the story Karal A one on one fight between species all to avoid another WW1 scenario

[@hellboundchaoscommand7567]

Honestly I’m still surprised that the ending wasn’t of Humanity wiping Those who Scourge from the face of the galaxy

[@tesmith47]

In this story it should òf

[@ChristopherWalker007]

That was awesome! That final line... an excellent story!

[@BM-is5ei]

This was actually amazingly written. Bravo!

[@Caldenor328]

I feel like the best translation would be “those who pursue” and it could have multiple meanings that all “make a promise”.

[@el-sig2249]

Genius! These stories remind me of back in the 80s when we read alot of Asimov 😊

[@Arkylie]

I feel like it's more than just defining themselves by their capacity for vengeance. Or could be, at least. Chase down progress, chase down that which can't be done, chase down alliances with those who otherwise would stay segregated... there are a lot of laudable things that could be lumped in with that persistence hunter idea. Heck, "standing on the shoulders of giants" relates to scientific progress across generations, where those working at a given stage can even die knowing they won't see the results of their work, yet doing so anyway -- look at the guy who created the first seed bank, in Russia, and not only got killed for his work but managed to inspire several other scientists involved with the project to starve rather than let the project die. Refusal to give up, and allowance for long-distance planning, may not be a uniquely human trait, but it's a key one. How's that phrase go? "The reasonable man adapts himself to his environment; the unreasonable man attempts to adapt his environment to himself. Therefore all progress is due to the unreasonable man."

[@ghandimauler]

decent -> dissent, a plum -> aplomb....other than that, an interesting story and a nice pacing and flow. The end was fun and worked. My commendations to the author.

[@edwardhalpin7503]

Henceforth I shall be deemed "He who loves irony" great ending!!