05th anomaly ; video ; open

[dinosize]

Have you ever wondered what comes next? Evolutionarily. After humans.

[ Stephen is in his own cabin, a light and airy space that doesn't really seem to suit him. The camera is propped up on the edge of a sink, where he's washing out blood and dirt from the clothes he wore while out in the port.

He's not really looking at the camera. ]

Do you think humans could ever be a food source for another animal?

Comments

[visetvires]

Absolutely.

[dinosize]

[ A brief glance up to the screen. ] Really.

[ An invitation to explain more. ]

[visetvires]

Really.

There's no reason other than rapidly-advancing weaponry that humanity should be exempt from predation, and that's not enough. Although if I was going to nitpick I'd say we already are a food source to scavengers. That's never not been the case.

[americasdirtiest]

The fuck, Hart?

[dinosize]

Nothing.

Did you try the, um, lobster?

[americasdirtiest]

The spider.

[notsoneedy]

Aren't they already? Like, all the time. Wolves and bears and all kinds of big cats will eat humans, if they get the chance. Oh, and sharks. And crocodiles.

Or did you mean like, on the regular?

[dinosize]

Only if they're desperate. Or provoked. There's a reason they tell you humans are the top of the food chain.

[notsoneedy]

So you're thinking more, what if there ever was a new species of animal that regularly hunted humans. [Pause.] Supernatural shit, like demons, evil spirits, vampires...those feed on humans. Do you count those?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

An interesting speculation.

Why do you ask?

[dinosize]

Why do you find it interesting?

[with_my_teacup]

Take the human off earth and I can think of at least a dozen species that will eat humans unprovoked. Not often that humans hang around to become a sustainable part of the food chain, though. The great human strength isn't weapons, it's the ability to set up shot in a range of climates so wide most animals would die.

[dinosize]

We're very adaptable.

[rhapsody_in]

Humans are food sources for animals all the time. Why would that change in the future?

[dinosize]

Not regularly.

[fireincarnate]

[Oh. Her grin is lightly amused.] I am what comes next.

We're not really a different species, though. I'm pretty sure that would still be cannibalism.

[dinosize]

...excuse me?

[secretasshole]

Mutants.

[dinosize]

I'm not talking about a mutation of humanity. I mean the next dominant species on Earth.

[video]

[routemistress]

My own experience with human populations in most worlds is pretty much like Riddick said, Stephen love. Once you lot start spreading out from your own planet you're either top of the food chain or you don't bother.

Mind you, once human colonies get properly settled, they do often start changing - sometimes naturally, more often 'cause they engineer themselves to fit into the new environments better. Once you've reached a certain level of tech capability you can make your own evolution. I've met aquatic humans with gills, for example, I've met furry ones with claws and all.

[private]

The way you're answering some of these people makes me think you've got summat specific in mind, lovey.

[private]

[dinosize]

I don't. Not really.

[lydiascreams]

Personally, I think we will evolve into a different kind of human before we're extinct. We have evolved from the neanderthals, haven't we?

And yes, but it'd have to be a species that is intellectually superior.

[dinosize]

Why intellectually?

[darknessb4me]

What, you've never heard of dragons? Or thunder lizards, or gnolls?

Wait, what am I saying, we had piranhas on the ship two weeks ago. Humans are meat.

[dinosize]

Humans are much more dangerous to piranhas than the other way around.