“Communal systems probably represent the feminine aspects of your evolution, whereas dictatorship might represent the masculine aspects. The constant struggle between cooperation and competition is almost certainly embedded in your DNA." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #newadult
July 6, 2026 at 8:43 PM
“Communal systems probably represent the feminine aspects of your evolution, whereas dictatorship might represent the masculine aspects. The constant struggle between cooperation and competition is almost certainly embedded in your DNA." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #newadult
"The scientific evidence suggests that women place a higher value on cooperation in allocating scarce resources, and men are more likely to favor competition for the same resources. Your human economists used the words ‘capitalism’ and ‘socialism.’" #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
July 6, 2026 at 8:44 PM
"The scientific evidence suggests that women place a higher value on cooperation in allocating scarce resources, and men are more likely to favor competition for the same resources. Your human economists used the words ‘capitalism’ and ‘socialism.’" #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
“Oh. Hold on a second.” There was a pause, and then the mechanical voice spoke again.
“The person told me that humans have a sense of ownership over other humans, embedded in their DNA. How is that?”
“That did it. It’s fixed.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #newadult #shortstory
“The person told me that humans have a sense of ownership over other humans, embedded in their DNA. How is that?”
“That did it. It’s fixed.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #newadult #shortstory
July 8, 2026 at 11:06 AM
“Oh. Hold on a second.” There was a pause, and then the mechanical voice spoke again.
“The person told me that humans have a sense of ownership over other humans, embedded in their DNA. How is that?”
“That did it. It’s fixed.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #newadult #shortstory
“The person told me that humans have a sense of ownership over other humans, embedded in their DNA. How is that?”
“That did it. It’s fixed.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #newadult #shortstory
“Correct. That may be why our political and social systems never experienced the drastic swings so common in human societies.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the shifts from communal systems to despotic one-individual systems." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory
“Such as?”
“Such as the shifts from communal systems to despotic one-individual systems." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory
July 6, 2026 at 8:41 PM
“Correct. That may be why our political and social systems never experienced the drastic swings so common in human societies.”
“Such as?”
“Such as the shifts from communal systems to despotic one-individual systems." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory
“Such as?”
“Such as the shifts from communal systems to despotic one-individual systems." #whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory
That was the reality of the galaxy, not to mention that scientists from the various Sections would become hysterical at the mere mention of censorship.
The Overall Supervisor of Indonesia made a disparaging remark about bureaucratic scientists. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
The Overall Supervisor of Indonesia made a disparaging remark about bureaucratic scientists. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
September 11, 2026 at 11:30 PM
That was the reality of the galaxy, not to mention that scientists from the various Sections would become hysterical at the mere mention of censorship.
The Overall Supervisor of Indonesia made a disparaging remark about bureaucratic scientists. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
The Overall Supervisor of Indonesia made a disparaging remark about bureaucratic scientists. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
The conversation was making Jane nervous. She wondered if her words would be used against her, later.
“The closer your relationship to the human, the angrier you would feel, even if the human was not a citizen of your country. Isn’t that true?”
“Yes.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
“The closer your relationship to the human, the angrier you would feel, even if the human was not a citizen of your country. Isn’t that true?”
“Yes.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
July 8, 2026 at 6:24 AM
The conversation was making Jane nervous. She wondered if her words would be used against her, later.
“The closer your relationship to the human, the angrier you would feel, even if the human was not a citizen of your country. Isn’t that true?”
“Yes.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
“The closer your relationship to the human, the angrier you would feel, even if the human was not a citizen of your country. Isn’t that true?”
“Yes.”
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory
"That’s why we are only allowing self-termination after a permit is obtained.”
Jane thought about the alien’s words, and then she said, “I would be sad if you were killed.”
Abruptly the alien leaned backward, as if it had been slapped.
The End
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #aliens
Jane thought about the alien’s words, and then she said, “I would be sad if you were killed.”
Abruptly the alien leaned backward, as if it had been slapped.
The End
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #aliens
July 9, 2026 at 1:27 AM
"That’s why we are only allowing self-termination after a permit is obtained.”
Jane thought about the alien’s words, and then she said, “I would be sad if you were killed.”
Abruptly the alien leaned backward, as if it had been slapped.
The End
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #aliens
Jane thought about the alien’s words, and then she said, “I would be sad if you were killed.”
Abruptly the alien leaned backward, as if it had been slapped.
The End
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #shortstory #aliens
The alien expert in human psychology glanced around the room again, and then said, “It’s time for us to return to our work.”
It strode on its huge legs to the door, ducked in the doorway to avoid hitting its head, and then paused.
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory #alien
It strode on its huge legs to the door, ducked in the doorway to avoid hitting its head, and then paused.
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory #alien
July 7, 2026 at 7:43 AM
The alien expert in human psychology glanced around the room again, and then said, “It’s time for us to return to our work.”
It strode on its huge legs to the door, ducked in the doorway to avoid hitting its head, and then paused.
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory #alien
It strode on its huge legs to the door, ducked in the doorway to avoid hitting its head, and then paused.
#whatsinmyshorts #TalesoftheRagoon #sciencefiction #shortstory #alien
The District Supervisor was sitting behind a massive desk when Jane, accompanied by its underling, entered its office. It reached for its translator and attached the device to its face. The manner in which the human fidgeted signaled her apprehension. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
September 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The District Supervisor was sitting behind a massive desk when Jane, accompanied by its underling, entered its office. It reached for its translator and attached the device to its face. The manner in which the human fidgeted signaled her apprehension. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
Jane said with a hint of defiance, “It’s overstated. And he’s not my owner; he’s my husband.”
“The person who caused these injuries to your body is your husband?”
A long hesitation ensured before she whispered, “Yes. But he wasn’t always like that.” #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
“The person who caused these injuries to your body is your husband?”
A long hesitation ensured before she whispered, “Yes. But he wasn’t always like that.” #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
September 13, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Jane said with a hint of defiance, “It’s overstated. And he’s not my owner; he’s my husband.”
“The person who caused these injuries to your body is your husband?”
A long hesitation ensured before she whispered, “Yes. But he wasn’t always like that.” #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
“The person who caused these injuries to your body is your husband?”
A long hesitation ensured before she whispered, “Yes. But he wasn’t always like that.” #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
"She said she thought Nick was going to surprise her. But when I got back, she told me that Nick left her at his house, alone for the weekend, while he and his kids went fishing. They didn’t even know it was her birthday. She was crying. I got so mad." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #shortstory
September 14, 2026 at 11:28 PM
"She said she thought Nick was going to surprise her. But when I got back, she told me that Nick left her at his house, alone for the weekend, while he and his kids went fishing. They didn’t even know it was her birthday. She was crying. I got so mad." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #shortstory
“But won’t that reduce my value to your conglomerate?”
“Not for the job we have selected for you.”
“But I thought you don’t believe in punishment, just rehabilitation.” I was almost in tears.
“You misunderstood. We do believe in rehabilitation." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
“Not for the job we have selected for you.”
“But I thought you don’t believe in punishment, just rehabilitation.” I was almost in tears.
“You misunderstood. We do believe in rehabilitation." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
September 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM
“But won’t that reduce my value to your conglomerate?”
“Not for the job we have selected for you.”
“But I thought you don’t believe in punishment, just rehabilitation.” I was almost in tears.
“You misunderstood. We do believe in rehabilitation." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
“Not for the job we have selected for you.”
“But I thought you don’t believe in punishment, just rehabilitation.” I was almost in tears.
“You misunderstood. We do believe in rehabilitation." #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion
"But we believe in punishing criminals, too.”
So now, every day, all day long, I sort boxes and place them on the rails to the right or to the left of me. The boxes are color coded, so I don’t need good eyesight. And I am not angry anymore. But day and night, terror consumes me. #talesoftheragoon
So now, every day, all day long, I sort boxes and place them on the rails to the right or to the left of me. The boxes are color coded, so I don’t need good eyesight. And I am not angry anymore. But day and night, terror consumes me. #talesoftheragoon
September 17, 2026 at 11:24 AM
"But we believe in punishing criminals, too.”
So now, every day, all day long, I sort boxes and place them on the rails to the right or to the left of me. The boxes are color coded, so I don’t need good eyesight. And I am not angry anymore. But day and night, terror consumes me. #talesoftheragoon
So now, every day, all day long, I sort boxes and place them on the rails to the right or to the left of me. The boxes are color coded, so I don’t need good eyesight. And I am not angry anymore. But day and night, terror consumes me. #talesoftheragoon
Cursing under my breath, thinking of ways to chop off its scaly head, I did as I was told and stared resentfully up at the rainbow. Minutes passed, and my anger did also. I was feeling sleepy and having trouble focusing on the rainbow.
“That’s it. You can stand.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“That’s it. You can stand.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 17, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Cursing under my breath, thinking of ways to chop off its scaly head, I did as I was told and stared resentfully up at the rainbow. Minutes passed, and my anger did also. I was feeling sleepy and having trouble focusing on the rainbow.
“That’s it. You can stand.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“That’s it. You can stand.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
"They change your vision in a way that prevents your fear from turning into anger. There are similar implants in your ears and nose. All your senses except for your sense of touch have been modified this way. Go ahead, Jane.”
“What a puny person,” the woman said. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“What a puny person,” the woman said. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 17, 2026 at 2:30 AM
"They change your vision in a way that prevents your fear from turning into anger. There are similar implants in your ears and nose. All your senses except for your sense of touch have been modified this way. Go ahead, Jane.”
“What a puny person,” the woman said. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“What a puny person,” the woman said. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
I lifted my head and swung my legs off the bed. To my surprise I saw another alien and a young human female. I had not heard them enter the room, which seemed to have dimmed. I stood up, and stared at the others, but I was having trouble focusing on their faces. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 17, 2026 at 2:28 AM
I lifted my head and swung my legs off the bed. To my surprise I saw another alien and a young human female. I had not heard them enter the room, which seemed to have dimmed. I stood up, and stared at the others, but I was having trouble focusing on their faces. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
I would show this repulsive reptile how a chicken pecked to death a loathsome scaly lizard. My normal, human, brown eyes stared into its bulbous green lenses.
After many minutes, calm began to return to my body. I realized that the lizard was staring back at me. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
After many minutes, calm began to return to my body. I realized that the lizard was staring back at me. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 16, 2026 at 7:31 PM
I would show this repulsive reptile how a chicken pecked to death a loathsome scaly lizard. My normal, human, brown eyes stared into its bulbous green lenses.
After many minutes, calm began to return to my body. I realized that the lizard was staring back at me. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
After many minutes, calm began to return to my body. I realized that the lizard was staring back at me. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
"The mere sight of a human standing alongside a road. Any kind of sound above a whisper. The smell of flowers. All these terrify you, and this is what causes you to become angry.”
“You think I’m afraid?” I was becoming annoyed. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
“You think I’m afraid?” I was becoming annoyed. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
September 16, 2026 at 5:22 PM
"The mere sight of a human standing alongside a road. Any kind of sound above a whisper. The smell of flowers. All these terrify you, and this is what causes you to become angry.”
“You think I’m afraid?” I was becoming annoyed. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
“You think I’m afraid?” I was becoming annoyed. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
I think I detected surprise in the mechanical voice when it spoke again.
“Oh, no. It should be just a couple of minutes more.”
I heard a ding, and the alien psychologist stood. It had to stoop, so as not to hit its thick head on the ceiling. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
“Oh, no. It should be just a couple of minutes more.”
I heard a ding, and the alien psychologist stood. It had to stoop, so as not to hit its thick head on the ceiling. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
September 16, 2026 at 5:18 PM
I think I detected surprise in the mechanical voice when it spoke again.
“Oh, no. It should be just a couple of minutes more.”
I heard a ding, and the alien psychologist stood. It had to stoop, so as not to hit its thick head on the ceiling. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
“Oh, no. It should be just a couple of minutes more.”
I heard a ding, and the alien psychologist stood. It had to stoop, so as not to hit its thick head on the ceiling. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #alien
I had spent years learning to control my body language, so I allowed myself to feel glee, knowing that the alien would not see through my façade.
“You favor rehabilitation over punishment?”
“Successful rehabilitation adds value to our company. Punishment does not.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“You favor rehabilitation over punishment?”
“Successful rehabilitation adds value to our company. Punishment does not.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 16, 2026 at 1:03 PM
I had spent years learning to control my body language, so I allowed myself to feel glee, knowing that the alien would not see through my façade.
“You favor rehabilitation over punishment?”
“Successful rehabilitation adds value to our company. Punishment does not.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“You favor rehabilitation over punishment?”
“Successful rehabilitation adds value to our company. Punishment does not.”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
“We will make a determination as to the reasons for your anti-social behavior, and then we will employ methods to address those reasons.”
“How long will I have to wait? Weeks? Months?” I was impatient to get back on the street.
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
“How long will I have to wait? Weeks? Months?” I was impatient to get back on the street.
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
September 16, 2026 at 1:05 PM
“We will make a determination as to the reasons for your anti-social behavior, and then we will employ methods to address those reasons.”
“How long will I have to wait? Weeks? Months?” I was impatient to get back on the street.
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
“How long will I have to wait? Weeks? Months?” I was impatient to get back on the street.
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory #alien
It was a mechanical voice, but every now and then I seemed to catch an intonation, as if the machine had slipped and had accidentally conveyed an emotion that betrayed the feelings behind the alien speech.
“What does the machine do?”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
“What does the machine do?”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
September 16, 2026 at 10:06 AM
It was a mechanical voice, but every now and then I seemed to catch an intonation, as if the machine had slipped and had accidentally conveyed an emotion that betrayed the feelings behind the alien speech.
“What does the machine do?”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
“What does the machine do?”
#lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
It was a big, white, donut shaped machine with lots of blinking LED lights, and the main bulk was positioned directly over my head. Even without the Lasik surgery my vision was 20-50, so I had no trouble focusing on the flashing rainbow. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
September 16, 2026 at 2:35 AM
It was a big, white, donut shaped machine with lots of blinking LED lights, and the main bulk was positioned directly over my head. Even without the Lasik surgery my vision was 20-50, so I had no trouble focusing on the flashing rainbow. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon #alieninvasion #shortstory
Three actually, although the third killing had come after I broke out of prison. Thank you, prison psychologists and medical personnel. Though, I really should have let them perform the Lasik surgery first.
Of course it is one thing to face a human psychologist. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
Of course it is one thing to face a human psychologist. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 15, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Three actually, although the third killing had come after I broke out of prison. Thank you, prison psychologists and medical personnel. Though, I really should have let them perform the Lasik surgery first.
Of course it is one thing to face a human psychologist. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
Of course it is one thing to face a human psychologist. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
I was wary that an alien who studied the psychology of humans might have a different take. Still, I was a great communicator, and people tended to trust me right up until the moment I choked the life out of them. Would an alien be any different? I didn’t think so. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon
September 16, 2026 at 2:33 AM
I was wary that an alien who studied the psychology of humans might have a different take. Still, I was a great communicator, and people tended to trust me right up until the moment I choked the life out of them. Would an alien be any different? I didn’t think so. #lookinmybriefs #talesoftheragoon