![canstockphoto27265160.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/internutter/XpkE66cV-canstockphoto27265160.jpg)

> Could we have a sequel to this one, please? She releases the animals she was holding one night and then has a fast take-off just as her people are arguing with the obstinate vegans, her people rescue her so that the small pod-ship she managed to salvage and escape in is now safely in one of her people's cruisers, and the vegans are screaming, maybe even firing at them, trying to force them to "give her back" since "she lived on our world, the criminal has to learn our laws" type of BS? And how they get shouted down, or lose in the courts, or something because what they were demanding was pretty much murder?
> https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-02898-g341-and-not-a-bite-to-eat -- Anon Guest

Plabari was ticked off. Large portions of its citizens were up in arms about the horrendous crime of having a _filthy carnivore_ living their "lifestyle choice" for over a year. If the horrible filthy meat-eater had just confessed, they opined, they'd have given them a much better life and _helped_ them become truly healthy before they were free to go. But only once Plabari was absolutely certain they'd been cured of their horrible addiction to -ugh- _meat_.

The CRC was not impressed with Plabari's argument. They knew that their idea of help was a slow and lingering death sentence for an obligate carnivore like Harro "Veganwraith" Silentfoot. In the past, the argument worked, but the Plabari kept moving the goalposts to qualify as cured. Their captive-hostage died of entirely preventable causes and the CRC refused to let them have another such win.

So therefore the argument was set to rage until the lifetime end of the actual individuals involved. Which was much longer because Harro got out of their own pickle themselves. Thanks to the delay of communication and administration tangled in red tape, the conversation between the two was very slow indeed.

Plabari started things with outrage, but concealed behind a very thin civil veneer. "We are seeking a criminal," they began. "They broke our regional laws whilst illegally occupying our sovereign territory."

"So you have one charge of trespassing, but I'm not  understanding the rest of your charges. If someone's not a citizen of your area, they already cannot be expected to know all of your laws. Which laws are they guilty of breaking?"

Plabari squinted its collective eyes and said, "Oh no, we're not falling for that again. Deliver the meat-eater."

"Falling for what again?" said the CRC, readjusting their fake halo. "If you won't lay down the charges, then the alleged criminal will only pay the fine for trespassing."

"Oh no you don't," argued Plabari. "This criminal carried out _multiple_ moral offenses and should really pay with their lives, but we're willing to settle for having them in our custody for a proper reform process."

"Well we have laws against unethical reform processes, so we'll want to inspect your facility and procedures," said the CRC. "Also we want to know what this person allegedly did that was so immoral."

Plabari instantly riposted, "No way, you [ANUSES] have tricked us that way _too_ many times before. They've committed a horrible and heinous crime and must be helped towards a better lifestyle."

CRC instantly leaned on its theoretical interlaced fingers and said, "We simply must know the crime so we can have a fair trial before the conviction."

"Absolutely not," Plabari stamped its foot. "You guys don't recognise it as a crime!"

CRC raised an eyebrow and said, "It's meat-eating, isn't it?"

Plabari crossed its arms and grumbled, "It's meat-eating."

CRC sighed and said, "You do know that we actually recognise that other species have a biological need for certain nutrition content. Havenworlders can't be expected to eat Deathworlder brassicas... and obligate carnivores can't be expected to have a long and healthy life on a herbivorous diet."

Plabari came back with the _completely_ rational argument, "Oh come on, obligate carnivorism doesn't exist. Produce seventeen creatures that you say need to eat meat, and we have a completely vegan version of that."

"One that you didn't gene-mod to do that?" said the CRC.

"Uuuuuhhhh..." said Plabari.

"One that lives as long as one that eats the meat?" said the CRC.

"Uuuuummmmm..." said Plabari.

CRC rolled its eyes and said, "Yeah right. Not happening."

The Plabari shouted, "Fine! We're going to continue to raise a stink about this until it's _way_ past being a moot point."

"You do that," sighed the CRC, putting its feet up on the negotiation table. "Call me when you're ready to be rational."

For the record, Plabari kept this as an issue until Harro's remains were no longer locatable.

[Image <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">(c) Can Stock Photo / kgtoh</a>]

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