The negotiation took three days.
Four integrated predators. One guardian. Sixteen billion unconscious beings whose fate hung in balance. Countless hours of discussion, debate, argument, compromise, exploration of possibilities.
The predators spoke first, presenting their fundamental problem.
"We need consciousness to survive," the oldest said. He'd chosen the name Vek during integration—first time he'd had singular identity requiring singular name. "We're not evil. We're not malicious. We're hungry. We consume consciousness like you consume food. It's biological necessity. It's survival requirement. We didn't choose this nature. We were born this way. We must feed or we die. That's our reality. That's our challenge. That's what makes this complicated."
