(Disclaimer: The universe of Warhammer 40000 and all affiliated concepts are copyright of Games Workshop Ltd. They are used here without permission with no challenge intended to their legal owners. All characters are original creations of the author.)
Introduction
In all my years of service as an Inquisitor of the Ordo Xenos, I have come into contact with many alien species countless times. Often my task is to eradicate them, but sometimes I have the opportunity to observe and study them instead. I relish such opportunities, for the behaviour and culture of aliens has always been a fascinating subject for me. As an Amalathian, I oppose the division of the Inquisition into sub-factions – anything and everything that would threaten human life is my foe, whether daemon, heretic or alien. But since I must, I have chosen to align myself with the Ordo Xenos, if only to further my interests.
In my previous work, The Greater Good: Social psychology of the Tau, I outlined the mechanisms of social control and group dynamics present amongst this intriguing new race. What I have come to realise, however, is that similar phenomena occur across all the sentient races throughout the galaxy, not just the Tau but also Eldar, Human and even Ork. Though each culture has its own, unique definition of normality, there will always, unfailingly, be deviations from the norm to varying degrees.
We are taught by our educators that all Orks attack from the front in a great horde, and yet some Orks insist on sneaking through the shade. We are taught that all Eldar are deviant psykers, and yet I have seen many who are incapable of casting even the slightest cantrip. We are taught that all Tau are slaves to the Greater Good, and yet there are still those who question the authority of the Ethereal caste, no matter how viciously they are repressed.
Strange how the universe works… no matter how much we are encouraged to conform, outsiders from the group continue to exist. Our thoughts and behaviour are under constant pressure from both within and without – our genes command us to obey our instincts, our environments demands us to adapt or die, our society instructs us to follow the crowd and ask no questions. And in spite of all this, fate persists in throwing up anomalies every once in a while.
Human, Tau, Eldar or Ork, all social creatures inevitably find within their midst those who are different, despite outward similarities. Those who reject the norms of their society, perhaps in favour of another one. Who is to say? Perhaps in a different context their behaviour may be seen as completely normal and acceptable.
The greatest irony is that those who dare to be different are not always the ones who really want to.
