[Editor's Note: Most of our readers have never heard of Jeffery Martin. However, he is uniquely suited to speak on this subject, having been confirmed by Penn State scientists as a "hemophagic post-mortal esoteric life form," what is popularly referred to as a vampire.]
The terms vary. The one you hear thrown around comes from the ant-people of the Hive: Extra-Branal Entity. In essence, a spirit, god, angel, or demon from another Brane. After you humans broke this Brane, many such beings were able to access the Brane.
I say up front: The Apophis regime will continue to live in some form for so long as there is no other EBE-tolerant state.
Of course, not all non-human sapients come from another Brane. Some of us have been here all along, and even were human once, such as a vampir like myself. We're as much natives as you are.
But we all get lumped together. Some entities, like Set-Apophis or Ishtar, are nostalgic for the days when such beings were worshipped. Others, like those of the loose cross-Branal trade coalition known as IBIS, just want to be allowed to work for the mutual benefit of themselves and humans. But most of us would settle for not being hunted.
And that's the simple truth. In most existing shards of time-space in this shattered universe, if I revealed my true nature, there would be a stake in my heart before you could blink, and in the next moment my head would be sawed off and my mouth filled with garlic. Even in modern states like Boston, with its Witchfinders, this is the case, and there are much more "primitive" states than modern ones. We're all monsters, to be hated and feared.
I am not an unreasonable man. Sure, I feed on human life force, but I don't have to kill. If I am careful, my donors recover readily enough, and can replenish their life force... by killing and devouring helpless living beings, plants and animals, I will note.
But my back is to the wall. There are small enclaves here and there, but you have to know someone... The Apophis regime takes all. Most EBEs and non-humans support Set-Apophis not because we want to, but because we have no other choice. I did not ask to be made into what I am, but I'll be twice-damned if I kill myself just because my existence offends you. When the choice is suicide or Apophis, is it such a surprise that so many support the regime of Lord Set, no matter how disorganized and appalling it is?
If the Emperor Caligula was running the only place on Earth where human beings were not hunted like dogs, where would you go?
Humans of this Brane, wake up. If you do not wish Apophis to treat your children as cattle, there must be some other place, ruled by EBE, human, "monster," or all three, that we can go. Create or find this place, and the Apophis regime will collapse overnight.
