Chapter 26 - Rigged Dice

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , ***Morning*

Days passed, and what had been new experiences began to settle into routine. Get up, eat breakfast, discuss the plans of the day with Lydon, and deal with the various human factions. Once evening arrived, one relaxed as best you could.

It was relatively easy to deal with discomfort when working with something new. But after being repeatedly called a stupid wolf-beast and suffering through various forms of humiliation for days on end... it started gnawing on my mind.

At the moment I was sitting in yet another meeting room, staring ahead at a pair of UCS officials that represented some textile manufacturing conglomerate. They were in search of something "new" and "fancy"--we were expected to deliver.

The debate had been going on for an hour, and while Lydon's patience seemed like an endless wellspring, I felt as if I was starting to disassociate with reality itself.

Suddenly, something changed. Lydon stood up and reached out across the table as he offered his hand to the official on the right. I blinked in surprise as I stood up, and forced myself to smile. The one on the left was still signing a paper, but looked up with a smile as he held out the paper to me.

"Pleasure doing business with you," I said, and took the paper while still feeling uncertain about what had just happened.

The man nodded and spoke with something of an accent, "Yes, I'm sure you'll enjoy it; it's the best of the province... In fact, I grew up there, in El'tey!"

"Ah, how interesting," I said.

The man nodded eagerly, "Yes, the name reflects the beauty of the province. Try it, El'tey!"

I drew a deep breath and kept my smile, "El'tey."

The man shook his head, "No, no... In the back of your throat, like EL-T_ RRRRRey! _"

"El't_ r _ey," I said.

The man raised his voice as he motioned to his throat while coaxing out the word once more, 'No, no, persielle! El't- heh -rey!'

"El'the'rey," I tried once more.

The man moved his hand as if flicking something at me, "Njet! That's even worse! Once more, listen carefully, EL- THE -RRR-"

Lydon walked around the table and caught the man's attention, "El-tete, Henzo, apologies, but we're scheduled for another meeting."

The man made something of a sneer as he threw me another glance, but seemed to relent as Lydon carefully touched the man's shoulder, and guided him toward the door.

"Mette, henlo," The man murmured while my translator remained oddly silent.

"Yes, yes, I agree," Lydon said as the two UCS officials finally left the room.

As I watched, Lydon pulled the door shut, and then turned to face me. For a moment, he froze in place and simply stared into the room. Finally, one of those long sighs escaped his lips.

Lydon began to smile once more, and approached the table, "You seem unfocused, Vilkas?"

"... The novelty of it wore off, and now I find myself... aggravated," I said.

"Hmm," Lydon murmured as he kept his smile and reached into a pocket along his chest.

"What was he saying earlier? My translator couldn't pick up on it," I said.

Lydon pulled out a small tin-can and opened it up as he peered down at it, "Remnants of an old language, something his extended family makes use of. The AIs probably don't have enough material of it to work it into the translator."

He presented the small tin-can to me, and I could see a bunch of small black pearls within.

"... What are these?" I wondered.

"Something that helps take the edge off. It makes the annoying less so, and makes it easier to focus on your job," Lydon said.

"... No, thank you," I said and shook my head.

"Your choice," Lydon said, pulled the tin-can back, and plucked up a small pearl before slipping it into his muzzle.

"So, what _were_we getting that was so special?" I wondered.

Lydon rolled his eyes, "Wine. The human variety of it, not made by actual grapes."

"Oh... So we're not gaining anything out of this?" I whispered.

"We're here to arrange a peace agreement and minimize our losses, and being happy over 'tokens' like this helps smooth friendly relations. That said, it might taste good... They've certainly had time to work on their synthetic meals. If not, we'll just pour it in the recycler."

"Ah, so... Are we done for the day?" I wondered.

Lydon shook his head, "Ah, no... We have another meeting to catch. But, you're in for a treat this afternoon."

I pondered it, "... Ah, that banquet with Kamilah?"

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , ***Midday*

There was a surprising amount of activity in the hallway. Food being moved back and forth, humans arguing with one another, a guy screaming something about the interior. I had imagined the banquet with Kamilah to be a small-scale thing, but it seemed I was wrong.

I stood by the edge of the hallway and leaned in to catch a quick glimpse at the room. While they hadn't reserved the big meeting hall, there seemed to be enough chairs to house at least thirty people. The decorations were a lot fancier as well, with plenty of paintings surrounded by wooden patterns that made the walls feel organically grown.

As I stepped back, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to look, and saw that Tau was staring at me. He was holding up what looked like the black and white suit of a butler, and looked me over before nodding to himself.

"I think this will fit," Tau said.

My ears folded back, "I'm going to have wear... that?"

Tau made a smile that was full of sharp teeth, "Yes..."

I frowned back at him while stepping back, "... You seem to genuinely enjoy that."

Tau followed as we moved away from the others in the hallway, "I do find a few things amusing."

"Hmm, want me to take that?" I wondered and motioned to the suit.

Tau folded the suit up and shook his head, "No, there's plenty of time left before the dinner, and it might draw undue attention if you were to dress up already."

"Ah, I see..." I said, and peered beyond Tau.

It appeared as if Lydon was busy dealing with the humans, and I found myself-

Tau's expression changed suddenly, and he stared behind me as if seeing something he hadn't expected. I turned around in wonder, and saw Kamilah herself had sneaked up from along the hallway.

Her gaze was locked on the suit, and then turned to focus on me with a courteous smile, "I was hoping Lydon was sincere, and it seems I was right."

I smiled back with a nod, "That he was, Kamilah."

Her outfit was a bit less garish today--while it was a distinct shade of green, it looked more professional, almost like one of the suits worn by the Imperials. She glanced at me and Tau before shifting her attention to the busy hallway, and the hectic preparations going on behind us.

While she stared, I spoke up, "Shall I fetch Lydon for you, Kamilah?"

"Hmm, no..." Kamilah said, and looked up at me, "Though, I would be interested in having a talk with you."

"... Oh?" I said.

Kamilah looked down the hall and motioned to the door, "Let's have a friendly chat while the others keep busy."

I glanced over at Tau, who was already stepping back, and figured I'd follow Lydon's advice to catch a talk with her if I had the chance. As such, I followed her into the nearby room and closed the door behind me.

The room we ended up in was a lot smaller, like one of the regular meeting rooms. While they were usually pristine, this particular one had a tray filled with old plates and cups.

"I couldn't help but notice that this is the first time I've seen you without an escort," I said.

Kamilah slipped a small tablet from her waist pocket and held it in such a way that I couldn't see what was on it. For a moment, she seemed to ignore me while staring at the tablet.

"My guard is... preoccupied," Kamilah said.

I perked my ears and glanced back at the door, "Is that your way of saying that we're in danger?"

"No..." Kamilah murmured, "The problem is being dealt with, and I've found myself a new escort."

'Lydon, it seems that Kamilah's escort is busy with some kind of 'problem'--there's a possibility we might be in danger,' I thought.

'... I'll ask Tau to investigate. Keep Kamilah safe,' Lydon ordered.

'As you wish,' I thought, and focused on Kamilah once more, "I'm your escort?"

Kamilah stopped walking and held her tablet close to her waist, "Do you mind?"

"No, not at all," I mused and smiled back.

"You'll have to excuse the way you've been treated so far. The others assume that wolves are less intelligent, and your diplomats seem to think there's some kind of benefit to keeping up such a ruse," Kamilah said, and stopped next to a chair as she looked at me.

"Or, you're testing a personal hypothesis of your own," I said.

Kamilah chuckled and raised a hand to motion at me, "If I didn't already know, that comment would have convinced me that you share the same intellect as all the deer."

I made a slow nod, "I know something about you as well, Kamilah."

"Oh?" Kamilah asked and crossed her arms.

"You share the same qualities as your father, so to speak," I said.

"Ah," Kamilah said and seemed to exhale as her eyes took on a more predatory stare, "You can say it out loud if you want--inherited psychopathy, or 'enlightenment' as the Luminaire call it."

"And what's your opinion on the Luminaire exactly?" I wondered.

"They're a cult obsessed with ending the world. Many of them may be psychopaths, but being a psychopath does not mean one is part of the Luminaire. In fact, I find it most baffling that people like me would align with them at all..."

"Are you saying that as a personal opinion or as a representative of... a_group_?" I wondered.

Kamilah stifled a sudden chuckle, "Ah, yes... The council of psychopaths united, we meet every Tuesday afternoon for tea and biscuits... Seriously though, there are patterns to this."

"Such as?" I wondered.

"Glow addiction might create psychopaths, but it is only when combined with indoctrination during the formation that this... world-ending obsession takes form. In fact, we've so far been unsuccessful in deprogramming someone that's already part of the cult..."

"So, the Luminaire do originate from the human nations?" I wondered.

Kamilah nodded, "Oh, yes... and we've ignored them for far too long. But don't worry, we're taking control of the situation."

"Ah, I see..."

Kamilah stepped closer and motioned to me, "I've read reports about you, Vilkas. The Luminaire within Sophos were quite obsessed by you for some reason. Why?"

"I assume you know that the Luminaire within Sophos rose from the ashes of another cult?" I asked.

"Yes... I've understood that much, were you the one that caused their downfall?" Kamilah asked.

"No, I wouldn't claim that... but I did get a target painted on myself," I said.

"Ah, like that... you're a symbol," Kamilah said.

"That's one way to put it," I said.

Kamilah tipped her head as if curious while stroking her cheek, "I wonder... You know what I am, but you don't seem the least bit disturbed by it. Why is that?"

"Earlier experience, and a bit of reason. We need to work together, and what you are is irrelevant as long as our goals are accomplished," I said.

"True, very true... But this earlier experience of yours, what did it entail?" Kamilah asked.

I drew a deep breath, "I can't go into details, but there have been interrogations."

Kamilah made a warm smile, "Ah... You hunted psychopaths for a living, how lovely."

"... I did not, and I would not," I said.

"Oh, please... No need to be ashamed, I know all about Sophos and your opinion of my kind."

"And I'm telling you that-"

Kamilah interrupted as she started walking once more, "Sophos thinks so highly of itself that it literally named itself after the Latin word for wisdom. You claim to have morality and ethics born from logic and reason, but it is nothing more than a hollow pedestal you've built to ease your over-emotional conscience."

"Meaning what, exactly?" I asked.

Kamilah smiled as she took on a tall and inviting pose while motioning to her own chin, "We've already broached the subject, so let's keep at it... My condition--a mind unshackled by primitive instinct--is a capital offense in your nation. You take them, turn them into slaves, and use them for your own purposes. It's monstrous."

"Your kind is dangerous," I said.

She let out a sudden laugh, as if amused and insulted at the same time, "I won't derail our discussion by debating that. We are dangerous. But, that is not the issue here."

I already suspected what she'd say, but I felt pressured to ask anyway...

"Then what is?" I asked.

Kamilah relaxed as she faced me, "You take these dangerous individuals, and you rob them of something--their life. You murder people, simply because they are a threat to you. Not because they've done something, or have been convicted of it. In that sense, you are evil."

I sighed and looked to the side, "It's not that simple. We don't actively hunt your kind unless they've committed a crime, and even if captured they still face the choice of banishment, death, or transformation."

Kamilah's expression took on a sudden grimace of disgust, "In other words, if I had been born in Sophos, then I would have had to live a life in the shadows. Content with nothing more than a life in mediocrity. No, thank you."

"The current system isn't exactly perfect, I can agree with that," I said.

"Hmm," Kamilah huffed, "And what happens if you discover one by mistake? Do you keep a blind eye? Do you imprison them? Do you shackle them?"

I looked back to her, "It depends, but some kind of measure is taken."

Her smile returned, "So, my point still stands. You take measures against someone that hasn't done anything wrong. You violate their innate rights as an individual based on risk."

I perked my brow, "You'll have to excuse me, but hearing _you_speak of innate rights is... odd."

Kamilah shrugged as she raised her hands in the air, "I am unique, and I have my own framework for what's right and wrong. You are the one representing a group with a shared framework."

"In other words, you're using my framework for what's right and wrong, in order to point out the hypocrisy of dealing with your kind?" I said.

"Yes," Kamilah said, simply.

I considered it for a moment and nodded, "You are right, in more ways than one. I have personally never agreed with the way your kind is treated."

"Oh? That's quite curious..." Kamilah hummed.

"I don't think that it's right to take actions against people based on the suspicion or likelihood that they might commit a crime. You can prepare for it, yes... You can steps to minimize the danger if it does happen. But to pass judgment on people before they act, it's a terribly slippery slope and a danger to everyone involved."

Kamilah tipped her head with curiosity as she observed me, "And how far does that idea stretch? Would you allow someone with a bomb to walk through the city street?"

I nodded, "If they were trusted to do so, yes... Like the Defense Force."

Kamilah hid her hands, "We both know that's not what I meant."

I motioned to her with one hand, "I understand what you're trying to get at, but there are ways to work around it. If you're part of a society, then there are certain limitations that will follow. If you consider any such limitations to be an offense, then there's very little to discuss. But, one example to prevent your scenario is simply a common understanding that dangerous goods should also be handled in a proper way. If you had a bomb within a bomb-safe container, then why would you not be allowed to walk through the city?"

Kamilah faced the nearby table and reached out with one hand as she traced the surface with one of her long nails, "How annoying, and boring..."

"... Hmm?" I wondered.

"Your kind of society, this 'understanding' between people that you so desire, it would remove everything that's fun and exciting about the world. There doesn't need be a desire to blow someone up, but simply the... allure of being able to do so. The potential of it."

"Well, that still exists," I said.

Kamilah looked back at me, "How could that possibly be true?"

I motioned to myself, "I could kill you with ease. It adds a certain tension to our encounter, even if I would never do so, the possibility still exists."

"That is nothing more than an illusion you've convinced yourself of. Your kind--the hybrids of Sophos--are predictable, safe, and stable. You can't act outside of the limitations built into you," Kamilah said and frowned as she fixated on me.

I huffed, "I believe I can."

"Prove it?" Kamilah said and fixated on me with a harsh stare.

I smiled back at her, "No."

Kamilah blinked as if surprised, "... Why not?"

"To spite you, nothing more... and that's my personal choice, even if it goes against the goal of getting on good terms with you," I said.

She froze for a moment, with her nail still resting against the table, "... Or, you're just saying that, because you can't prove it."

"Or, I'm saying it because I know that a part of you will be humored by that kind of answer," I said.

It was subtle, but a small smile formed on her lips as she withdrew her hand, "A shame that we will never know the true answer."

"Indeed," I said and smiled back, "But..."

Kamilah threw a glance at her tablet, "Yes?"

"Why are you working with us like this? How does this help you achieve your goals?" I asked.

Kamilah huffed as she looked back at me, "Do you really need to ask that?"

I drew a deep breath and made a half-hearted shrug, "You're unique in what drives you, but I would imagine that you seek to keep the world going so that it remains interesting."

Kamilah faced and perked her brow, "A simple enough explanation, so what were you really trying to ask?"

"Let's say we hash out a peace agreement, and you manage to purge those that are infested. What happens then? The threat of the Lusus outside the island remains the same, and the dwindling resources of the island won't last forever."

Kamilah eyed me carefully, "It's an interesting question, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Maxwell has planned."

"... You are?" I wondered in surprise.

"As I said, Sophos is predictable. Once one understands your worldview and goals, it becomes a simple matter of looking at the moving pieces and following the pattern. You wanted to be free from human rule, so you rebelled and took the other half of the island. You wanted to move freely within your new territory, so you built Etemenanki to make the island safe. You wanted to expand, so you built the Aurora colony."

I squinted, "Yes..."

Kamilah pointed to herself, "I had nothing to do with that, I assure you. But, your desire to expand remains, so you will find another way to accomplish that."

"Oh, and what would that be?" I wondered.

Kamilah took a step closer and made a wicked grin, "Sophos launches a lot of rockets, and over the past few months, the pace has only increased. Most of them move beyond our ability to track them, but it is already clear that the majority of them are not heading to your base on the moon or its illustrious Crystal Palace."

"Ah, so where are they heading?" I wondered.

Her smile began to twist into something akin to madness, "That's the interesting part, isn't it? Maybe you know, or you don't, but this has been on the minds of a great many people."

"Hmm," I murmured.

Kamilah clasped her hands, "At first we pondered whether you had built bases on Mars and beyond. To continue humankind's desire to populate the stars... but that's easier said than done. Then there's also the problem that the rest of the worlds in our solar system are quite inhospitable and would force you live deep underground, something that doesn't make sense given how hard you've worked to turn Sophos into a lush paradise. Adding to that, you wouldn't struggle this hard to maintain peace if you were planning to leave everything behind... Even if you were, you'd still have to deal with us, because we'd start bombing your colonies and blowing up your rockets."

"So what _are_we doing?" I asked.

Kamilah stayed silent for a moment, "Your problem is that trying to reclaim the planet one piece at a time makes you too vulnerable. In other words, you'll have to arrange a deal with us , and it won't come cheap. You know this , but it doesn't work, because your pacifist philosophy demands that you have the upper hand, or you'll lose."

"You say all of this as if affirming all your own flaws," I said.

Kamilah chuckled and began to nod, "I am but one piece on the board. One day I might play a bigger role, but for now I have to deal with the influence I have. Humanity is flawed, but it is fun, compared to you people."

"Ah... So what do you think we're going to do in order to resolve all this?" I asked.

Kamilah pointed one finger at me, " You aren't going to do anything, but Maxwell... I think he's going to surprise all of us, and set a stage where a lot of interesting things are going to happen."

"So you don't have a clue?" I said.

Kamilah made a dismissive flick with her hand, "I think that all those rockets you've been launching are waiting in orbit, and once there's enough of them, they'll launch."

"And do what?" I wondered.

"Do I need to spell it out to you?" Kamilah asked and motioned to me with both hands.

"... Please do?" I said.

"I will expect you to be on your best behavior during dinner, you'll be in my debt, Vilkas."

"Hmpf," I huffed, "Humor me, and I'll do what you ask," I said.

Kamilah stood tall and proper, "The problem with the Lusus is that they adapt if you give them the chance. But if you attack them all at the same time, thousands upon thousands of rockets filled with some kind of new weapon, then you can wipe the planet clear in one go. Suddenly, Sophos can expand wherever they want, and so can we. The golden age as we expanded across this island will be reborn on a global scale. We'd be able to mind our own business for hundreds of years, perhaps even millennia..."

"It's certainly an interesting idea," I said.

"It is... isn't it?" Kamilah mused.

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra -* Haven** , ***Afternoon*

I stared at the bowtie in my hand and reluctantly accepted that I didn't know how to tie one. It forced me to consult the archives, and I let the instructions guide my hands as I wrapped it around my neck. A nearby mirror on the wall helped, but I couldn't say that I liked the outfit as a whole.

The suit was tight in a way that it made me look like an overgrown ogre, and the fact that most things in my environment were made for human proportions made it even worse. Tiny chairs, small tables, even the hook for hanging clothes was low enough that my regular uniform flopped on the floor.

Since coming here, this was the first time I had a rather gut-wrenching longing to go home. To see the familiar once more, to feel safe and not have to tiptoe around others. I sighed and thought back to Lydon's instructions:

Keep an eye on Kamilah...

Let others know she's in control, preferably with some flair...

Say as little as possible...

Simple, right?

I took a step back, looked in the mirror, and nodded to myself.

Good enough...

I looked to the side, grabbed a bottle from the ice bucket, and pulled the cork out with a pop. The fizzy scent of carbon dioxide and fermented pears soon filled the air.

Ooh, that actually smells really good...

I buried the urge to taste it, put a decorative towel over my arm, and let the bottle rest along it as I started walking. With one last gulp, I steeled my expression, stepped through the swinging doors, and entered the large meeting room.

The fluffy carpet was soft to walk on, the chandelier glittered in the ceiling, and burning candles lined the center of the long table along with plenty of well-tied flower-bouquets.

Kamilah was sitting at the far end of the table, close to the exit. Her outfit sparkled in green, and this time she had a collar with a veritable glow, no doubt made by some kind lighting woven into the fabric itself.

That tiger, Tychon, was sitting beside her with Lydon on his other side. Laki was nowhere to be seen though.

Perhaps because he's not high enough in the pecking order?

Many of the humans sitting along the long table had been paired up with various Sophos diplomats, many of them deer, a few of them felines. Many of them seemed to be having their own little hushed discussions, while Kamilah and Tychon's voices were a bit higher in the room.

"-you need to do better than that," Kamilah said out loud, and stared at Tychon.

I moved slowly, but carefully, as I kept my eyes and ears open.

"With all due respect, your access to space was restricted for good reason," Tychon said.

"A peace agreement between us will not work when there are guns pointed from above," Kamilah said.

"You've constructed a great many railguns that are more than capable of firing at the moon and its various installations," Tychon said and gestured with his hand.

The presence of Lydon's mind was a bare flicker--he was present, but wouldn't let his emotional state show. The same couldn't be said about Tychon. His voice may have been calm as he talked with Kamilah, but his mind radiated like a beacon within the room. He was angry and frustrated.

Someone coughed in the crowd, and I glanced to check if someone needed me. Whoever it was didn't make any visible gesture, so I kept up my slow gait.

It did seem odd that Kamilah was acting this aggressively, but... I suspected that there was quite a tactic behind it. Bring out the elephant in the room, make everyone focus on it, resolve it, and all the smaller problems fade into the background. Of course, such a tactic would only work if Sophos was willing to grant the humans access to space in some manner of speaking.

My gaze kept drifting across the humans, and I caught sight of a man holding an empty glass while seemingly transfixed as he listened to the others. I approached slowly and kept listening.

"Only to counter the threat that you already pose," Kamilah said.

"We've never sought your destruction, Kamilah... None of you would be here if we did."

As Tychon spoke, someone in the crowd near sputtered, and a few discussions died down as they turned to look.

I stepped up to the human with an empty glass, and the man seemed to notice as my shadow loomed. He glimpsed up, and caught sight of me as a sudden shudder moved through him. His eyes widened in shock, and I made a friendly smile as I held up the open bottle.

The man blinked, seemed to realize why I was there, and held out the glass. As I started refilling, I threw an eye at Kamilah.

"While trite, we admit that Sophos' power is formidable and that all sides have been pushed to an extreme," Kamilah said, reaching out to grab her glass from the table.

"If we were to allow a human presence in space once more, in what form would that be, and what safeguards would we have?" Tychon asked.

The glass filled up, and I pulled the bottle away as I stepped back. Moments later, I withdrew into the background, continuing my slow walk around the room.

Kamilah took a sip from her glass, "You can start by letting us set up an embassy on the moon."

Tychon stared at Kamilah as if caught by surprise.

She--in turn--smiled back at Tychon, "Or is that beyond your control?"

Tychon drew a deep breath, "... If that's what's required to settle an agreement, then it will be done. But this is a big request, you understand this, right?"

Kamilah gently waved her glass at Tychon with the same predatory smile she'd flashed me earlier, "I do," She then looked out across the rest of the table, "You don't disagree, do you?"

The humans along the table started glancing at one another, and I figured it was a good opportunity for me to clear my throat with a low growl. Another shiver ran through the man for whom I'd poured a glass, and a few turned to glance at me.

"An embassy within Moonbase Alpha would be... an _interesting_prospect," Someone murmured.

A rotund Dyssian that I had passed mere moments ago decided to speak, holding up an empty glass as he did, "While we're on the subject, why not reveal the true nature of your god?"

I stepped closer to the Dyssian and watched as Tychon frowned while he spoke up in Dyssian, "Sophos does not adhere to any form of superstition, M'shall."

As I began to pour into the glass, the Dyssian glanced up at me with a shit-eating grin, "That can be argued, but-"

Kamilah spoke up in Common, "If you have a point, get to it. The sooner, the better."

The Dyssian's smirk turned foul as he looked back at Kamilah, "Watch your language, hag."

The small blip of a thought came in from Lydon, 'Do something to embarrass him.'

There was something of a guilty pleasure as I tipped the bottle a bit more than I should have. A soft arc of the wine proceeded to flow, straight into the nape of the Dyssian, and I could hear the soft shriek as he was jolted by chilled liquid.

"_ YOU! _" The Dyssian hissed in anger as he patted his neck and almost melted into the table while glaring back at me.

"Terribly sorry, oh venerable, M'shall," I said, dipping my head as I stepped back.

A couple of chuckles emerged from along the table, while Tychon spoke up once more, "You were saying?"

The Dyssian gritted his teeth as he grabbed a napkin and kept patting his fine robe, "Nothing."

Tychon looked over at Kamilah, "You'll have your embassy, but we have our own demand."

"Yes, dear Tychon?" Kamilah mused as if she was a queen sitting on her throne.

Tychon shifted his attention to her once more, "Sophos hasn't been part of the global council for centuries. The reasons for it are many, and there's no use digging into it."

Kamilah looked to her right, at a strict looking Imperial with something of a blue tattoo along his forehead, "Director?"

The Imperial straightened himself, stared back in silence for a moment, and cleared his throat, "If an agreement was signed, then I'm sure we can work with the council for a special agreement that would shield Sophos against the kind of ultimatum that was driven through last time. An... association state to the council, rather than a full-fledged member."

Tychon nodded back at the Imperial, "I will assign resources to work out the details with you, Director."

The Imperial forced a smile that looked rather alien, "We look-"

A sudden voice rose in the room, dark and angry, "You've hoarded the resources of the solar system for centuries, and now you act as if an embassy is going to resolve the matter? You should be grateful that Aurora colony was-"

Kamilah sat up straight, and her eyes became like daggers as she stared down the table, " Quiet."

I looked down the table and saw that the one who had spoken up was another UCS diplomat.

The man was gritting his teeth with anger and stared back at Kamilah, "You talk about their power, and you ignore that we're the ones with armies standing ready on the border."

I started moving along the wall as Kamilah spoke up, "Jared, you're going to shut up this-"

"No!" Jared spat and slammed one hand into the table, "We could turn that sodding 'palace' into a crater within minutes, and-"

I moved, reached out with one hand, and sucked hold of the Jared's shoulder. Jared jumped in surprise as if he had somehow missed my presence, and snapped to attention as he looked up at me.

As I held his shoulder and stared down at him, a cold shiver ran down my back. In the wild mix of scents in the room and the attention I'd paid to the others, I hadn't noticed what I was now seeing.

Jared's hands were pale but his face was flushed red. Beads of cold sweat covered his temple, and he stared at me with a hollow gaze along with pupils that were too dilated to be normal.

I need a sample...

While gritting my teeth, I shifted my hand closer to his neck, and let one of the tendrils sneak out.

"The lady told you to be quiet ," I ordered, and let my tone of voice drop an octave.

Jared twitched as I held him, and he looked at my arm as if wanting to eat me. Once the tendrils took their sample, I let go and stepped back. The man looked as if he was trying to speak, but the words caught in his throat as if he was too angry but to glare at me.

Kamilah spoke up, "The UCS, Dyssia, and the Empire had nothing to do with the Aurora colony. We are free from guilt in this matter, and we have an understanding with Sophos that guarantees this, correct?"

"Correct," Tychon said as he spoke.

A moment's twitch ran through my arm as I felt alarm bells go off inside my head. A full analysis of the sample wasn't even needed to sense what was infesting Jared's flesh and blood.

'Jared is infested. We need to deal with this before he hatches and this room turns into a bloodbath,' I thought and let my thoughts echo through the room.

Tychon seemed to barely react, but I could see as the dread washed over Lydon's face. Moments later, he recovered and looked over at Tychon with a nod.

Jared let out a sudden and choked wheeze. As I stood behind him, I could see as one hand went to his gut, while the other grasped at the table-cloth as if a bout of excruciating pain had just gripped him.

Tychon stood up suddenly, and flashed Kamilah some kind of sign. Kamilah's response was just as quick, and the two were suddenly marching out of the room.

The ones closest to Jared stared at him in wonder, and one of them whispered, "Pull yourself together, will you?"

Most of the others stared in wonder as Tychon opened the door and Kamilah followed. Lydon rose as well, and motioned to the door, "Form an orderly line and leave, some-"

Jared arched his back, and a weird crunching noise followed. A split second later, he snapped forward and unleashed a sudden jet of black, brackish blood across the table. Dots of the substance streaked the white cloth, and I could see the diplomat on the other side jump in shock as it hit his face.

Fuck...

Lydon's voice came through like a scream in my mind, ' Hold him down!'

Panic tore through the room. From the confused silence as the Tychon and Kamilah stepped out, people were now screaming as they stumbled over one another to reach the doors.

I grabbed the towel on my arm, lunged forward, and pushed it against Jared's neck. He hit the table with a slam as I held him down, and I could hear as something was going on within him. Bone breaking, skin splitting as something started to force its way out.

My mind raced as I held him down. I feared for my own life, just as I feared whether that this would set off a chain reaction. One Lusus waking up any others that might be infested in the area. The brackish blood was a major concern, and I could see the droplets wiggle with life on the table. I needed to buy time, to injure the creature if I could, keep the Zephyr hidden if possible, and do it all without spilling blood in a way that would endanger me or someone else.

Jared struggled, his legs scraped against the floor, and his hands scratched at the tablecloth with enough force that it was leaving streaks of red blood.

The tendrils slipped out from my wrist, sharpened like spears, and coiled as if to charge themselves. I ordered them to shoot through Jared's neck, and they did as told. A couple of heavy thunks followed as they pierced the towel, plunged through Jared's spinal column, and erupted on the other side of the table.

It seemed to have an effect. Jared's arms went slack, and his legs started kicking at random rather than trying to wrest himself off the floor. Blood began to seep through the towel as I held my hand to hide most of the tendrils.

People had clustered at the exit to the right which Kamilah had used, and the swinging doors to the left were busy as well. A glance revealed that the man who'd been hit by the brackish blood was standing in the background in the room. He was repeatedly wiping his face and seemed to be on the verge of panic. The more he wiped at his face, the bloodier he got. It was as if... that black stuff was eating him, digging into his flesh as the infestation dug deeper.

Tau's voice filled my mind, 'I'm in the hallway with others, what are your orders?'

I needed to get away from Jared, or I'd risk being infested as well.

'Split up in two teams. One team guards the hallway and will seal the door once the last person is through. You work your way through the kitchen with team two, and find something to nail the guy I'm holding to the table... quickly,' I thought.

'On it,' Tau said over the link.

The man who'd been hit by the brackish blood was screaming now. He clawed at his own face and stumbled as if having gone blind.

*CRACK!*

It sounded as if Jared's spine just split in two, and I could see as his clothes were growing stained with blood. His arms were twitching now, and more of the black poison was spewing from his mouth.

As more blood seeped through the towel, I had no choice but to pull my hand back. The tendrils did a good of pinning him in place, but at this point I couldn't guarantee that someone would notice.

'Almost there!' Tau snapped over the link.

'We're going to need fire, and there's one injured person that is now to be considered infested.'

Jared's clothes bulged, and I could hear as the fabric was starting to tear. I leaned back as much as I could, and held my breath.

The doors to the right were slammed shut as the last of the guests were through, and Tau burst from the swinging doors a moments later. I looked over at him and saw that he was holding a big spear, probably used for handling large pieces of meat.

'Let go!' Tau ordered as he rushed up.

As Tau raised the spear, I ordered the tendrils to withdraw. With a loud crack, the tendrils popped loose from Jared's neck, and glowed with heat as they began to disinfect themselves. Tau plunged the spear down a split-second later, and it ran straight through Jared's back along with the table.

"Run!" Tau snapped as he was already bolting back.

As I moved to the side, I could see as the creature tore its way through the last of its meaty restraints. Thick black tentacles tore out from the uniform and grabbed at the spear while also reaching for me. I ran. My boots thumped on the ground as the Lusus started climbing the spear with enough force to make Jared's legs dangle in the air.

"Help me! Please! Help me!" The now blind man screamed as he stumbled toward us, and promptly fell over a toppled chair.

I avoided the man as best I could and slammed through the swinging doors with enough force that they almost flew off their hinges. Several more lizards were waiting within the kitchen, and they hurled something into the room as I leaped through.

A sudden boom followed as heat and the bright orange hue of fire filled the kitchen. The lizards followed in my wake, and Tau forced another door open as he rushed into the outside hallway.

"Lock it down!" Tau snapped as the last of the lizards left the kitchen.

I near hugged the wall as I turned around to face the kitchen, then watched as they slammed the doors shut. One of the lizards locked it using an old-fashioned key, while others moved a large metal girder into place.

The team's work was fast and efficient. Within seconds they'd locked the door, and were already bolting the girder in place to make sure that nothing would be able to get through.

Tau stared at me, and I met his gaze, "... What?"

"Are you alright?" Tau asked.

I lifted my hands, looked down at my suit, but couldn't see a trace of the brackish blood, "... I am."

Tau made a single nod, "We're meeting with the others to escort them out of the Haven. Follow."

"Right," I whispered and followed as Tau started marching.

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra -* Paradise Dome** , ***Afternoon*

Two people dead... One infested, and another who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Part of it felt like it was my fault, but...

The hallway was hectic once more, but I found myself surprised at how well people seemed to work together. Lizards were stationed at the adjoining hallways to act as guards in case other infected had woken up, and the various officials were setting up dedicated teams to evacuate diplomats to their assigned sections.

Suddenly, it seemed as if everyone had realized that the threat was real. It changed how they stared, and their focus was instead centered on their own people rather than us hybrids.

Tau brushed shoulders with me, and I glanced over at him, 'Any sign of more infested?'

'None,' Tau thought.

'Did your earlier investigation with Kamilah reveal something?' I wondered.

'The camera surveillance in the Haven is lacking, but based on what I was able to piece together, it seems that Kamilah and her security teams encountered humans who weren't supposed to be down here,' Tau thought.

'How is something like that possible?' I wondered.

'Bribes? Guards told to look the other way? There are many ways to make your way past humans.'

'In other words, the guards within their facilities can't be trusted,' I thought.

'It would seem that way. Anyway, Kamilah's teams physically blocked the hallways and allowed her to find safety among us. No fighting broke out, and the ones who didn't belong left the Paradise Dome shortly afterwards,' Tau answered.

'The rooms which were set on fire, will they hold?' I wondered.

'They'll hold... This place was built to be sturdy,' Tau thought.

My gaze lifted as I noticed that Kamilah had broken away from her group and approached me. I faced her, and saw that she was motioning for me to follow.

What now?

I turned the corner as I followed her into a dead end, next to a couple of bathrooms.

"I'm glad you made it in one piece," Kamilah said and smiled.

"Hmm, are you now?" I wondered.

She chuckled and crossed her arms, "For someone who grew up around many sorts of intelligence, be it hybrids, humans, or machines, you're surprisingly intolerant."

"I'd be more prone to call myself guarded, not intolerant," I said.

Kamilah lifted one hand and motioned to me as if offering advice, "My kind can be a resource to be tapped, not a threat, Vilkas."

I tipped my head, "... Are you making a sales pitch or something?"

"No," Kamilah said and shook her head, "I'm just wondering whether you see this situation for what it is."

I drew a deep breath, "... A great success, right?"

Kamilah nodded, "That's precisely right. Most of the ones in that room may have been within my realm of influence, but now...Now they are believers. They saw the threat with their own, how it wrestled itself out of Jared and melted the other's face... More than that, they now realize how easily this threat could dismantle everything they care about. By this evening they'll all be tested and given the vaccine you've so kindly helped us develop."

"A vaccine might help against the spores and infestation through Glow, but it won't do a thing against direct exposure," I said.

"Very true, but now the real work can begin... You'll have your peace agreement, and we can start working on securing our cities. But, the question from remains... What happens afterwards?" Kamilah asked.

"... Yes?" I wondered.

Kamilah stepped closer to me and stared into my eyes, "My kind will dominate human society for the centuries to come. Cold, selfish, but rational and stable rule... The question is whether Sophos will learn by past mistakes and support our rule, or if you will once more become little more than a boogeyman to control the populace."

"... Sounds like people will be oppressed one way or the other," I said.

Kamilah shook her head, "That's where you're wrong... One way or another, we will be in control, but the influence of Sophos could reign in our more destructive habits. You... could be the force that helps stabilize human society from the background."

"... Why on earth are you telling me this?" I asked.

Kamilah made that predatory smile of hers once more, "Because if I can convince you, then I can convince all of Sophos, and if I manage that... then I will have an empire to rule over them all."

I squinted and clenched my teeth as I stared at her, "Did... Did you have something to do with what just happened in there?"

Her insane smile remained, "What makes you say that, Vilkas?"

"Jared was the only one in open opposition... and he was visibly sick. I even heard someone cough earlier," I said.

"But the one opposite to him died as well, are you saying I'd risk the death of one of my assets, just to make sure that this island and all its people have a chance to survive past this year?" Kamilah asked, and blinked as she raised her brow.

"You... Did Tychon know? Did... Lydon know?" I wondered.

Her smiled faded as she lowered her voice to a whisper, "Of course not... Vilkas, and that's the beauty of it. I have the means to do what you cannot, you just need to let it happen, in ignorance."

I gulped.

"So, what do you say? What kind of future do you want? Mine, or the Luminaire's?"

I knit my fist as I stared down at her.

Her smile rippled with glee, "... You're not objecting, which means that you're considering it."

"You certainly believe in this gamble of yours," I said.

A dark snicker escaped her lips as she stepped back, "It's what makes life interesting..."

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra -* Sophos Section** , ***Afternoon*

As I approached our room, the door opened. Peter poked his head out, and I could see him sigh as if both relieved and frustrated at the same time.

"Yo," I said as I stepped up to the door.

"That outfit looks mighty uncomfortable," Peter said and opened the door wide.

"Oh, it is quite uncomfortable," I said and slipped inside.

"Tau told me to handle the exits and make sure everyone got out... I did as told," Peter said and closed the door.

I nodded as I reached for the buttons on top of my suit, "You did the right thing, where's John and Allen?"

"John's in the train as usual, and Allen was tied up in some kind of interview about the incident," Peter said and followed as I sauntered into the bathroom.

"An interview already? I guess Kamilah is capitalizing on it as much as she can," I said and slipped the top of the suit off.

A sniff at the top of the suit revealed that it smelled rather oddly. As if the brief exposure to the Lusus in the room had left some kind of acidic tinge. I wasn't sure how easily the Lusus spread, but if there was any danger to this kind of exposure, my body sure couldn't pick up on it, nor did anyone else seem worried.

Either way, I stepped over to the bio-hazard box in the corner, opened it up, and chucked it in there.

"Were you in the midst of it?" Peter asked.

I glanced back at Peter as I slipped my trousers off, "I was the one holding the guy down as that thing tore its way out."

Peter grew a sheepish grin, "Ah... Like usual, you're in the center of it all."

Given everything that's going on recently, I feel more like I'm standing on the sidelines...

"So, what's the word on the street? Is the Paradise Dome under lockdown?" I asked.

Peter shook his head, "No... Either there are no more infested in here, or this one simply didn't have a chance to do... whatever it is that wakes up the rest."

"So, any plans for the rest of the day?" I wondered, throwing the rest of my clothes into the bin.

"None... I'm figuring we'll have an evening meal with the others and debrief as usual when they get back?" Peter said.

I nodded, "Sounds like a plan... Still plenty of time until then though."

"Well... we could," Peter hummed as his voice trailed off.

"... How about the museum?" I asked.

Peter perked his brow in wonder, "The museum, in the Paradise Dome where all of this happened just a while ago?"

I stepped over to the shower, "As you said, the place isn't on lockdown, and there's no trace of other infested. Given the circumstances, there should be few people in the museum... which is perfect for us."

"... True, and if there was some kind of trap, it surely wouldn't happen in the museum of all places," Peter said.

I smiled back at him, "So, a short escapade to the museum, followed by the usual?"

Peter huffed, but nodded as his tail began to wag, "Sounds like a plan."

I motioned to the shower, "I'll just grab a shower... Can you prep another uniform for me?"

"On it," Peter said with a smile as he stepped out once more.

512 A.R. March** 1 ***, Tel-Adra - Museum of Culture,* Evening

We stopped by the vegetation next to the museum and decided to observe for a moment. The entire area was overgrown with plants that reminded me of a wild and tropical jungle, rather than the hardier forms one would expect on the island.

It gave it a rather exotic feel, and the sign above the museum was made of big molded metal with a hint of orange to it: 'Tel-Adra: Museum of Culture'.

There was a dark tunnel--which I could only assume led into the museum--and sitting next to it was an old-fashioned ticket booth occupied by a human male dressed in a simple white dress-shirt. It didn't appear as if he had noticed us, and based on the bored expression, I didn't expect him to be paying attention to anything.

Peter's ears wiggled, and he glanced to the side. I did the same, and watched as an Imperial walked up along the main path. It didn't take long for the one in the booth to stir, and the two started talking. After a few moments, a paper ticket was handed over, and the Imperial sauntered into the tunnel.

"A paper ticket?" Peter murmured.

"Could be a vintage thing to go with the theme," I said.

"Doesn't seem like any money was exchanged," Peter said.

"That makes things easier, I guess... Not like we have any human cash," I said, and stepped out from the vegetation we'd been hiding by.

Peter followed, and the one in the booth glanced over. A sudden wave of shock moved through the young man, and he stared as the two of us walked up.

I crouched a little to face the sitting man, "Hello there, we'd like to visit the museum."

The young man blinked and made a forced smile, "The museum is closed, sorry."

Of course, it is...

I smiled back with a hum, "Strange, we watched as you let someone inside just a moment ago."

"There are technical difficulties... I was just informed," The man said.

"Oh? Are you saying the Imperial was a technician sent to repair a UCS owned museum?" I asked.

The man's throat flexed as he swallowed, "No... The difficulties arose after I let him inside."

Peter leaned closer to the window, "Are you telepathic or something?"

The man looked over at Peter with a frown, "What? No..."

I could see where Peter was going with it, "Well, we were watching you, and it's not as if you've gotten a phone call or something. In other words, you let the Imperial inside, but the moment we show up... the museum's closed?"

The man stared back at us in silence, "... The museum's closed."

I leaned closer to the window and opened my muzzle so that my breath blew against the glass, "Well, we'll stick around to make sure the evacuation goes on without a hitch."

As I watched, the man's expression faltered and his eyes widened, "Evacuation?"

The window was starting to fog up as I lifted my hand, and put it down against the counter with a solid thump, "You've closed the museum due to technical difficulties, but there are a bunch of them trapped in there. We can't have that, can we? Should we throw the fire alarm, or call the guards?"

The man leaned back in his chair, "The problem is being taken care of... It'll be fixed soon."

I nodded repeatedly and bared my teeth with a smile, "Good... Good, let me know when that moment has passed, because we'll wait... right... here."

A few moments passed, and the man's gaze kept wandering as I stared at him.

"... So what kind of meat do you want tonight?" Peter asked.

I sniffed the air as I kept staring down the man's gentle but dull eyes, "Something fresh."

Peter gave the booth a push, and the whole thing started tipping with surprising ease. The young man near screamed as he suddenly reached for the sides in order to stay put. A thump followed as Peter let go of the booth once more. The young man was panting now, and he looked back at me with fear in his eyes.

"... Tell me, is the museum open yet?" I asked.

The young man glanced between us and started nodding in haste, "Yes... Yes, the museum is open again."

I made a warm smile, "That's a relief... I assume we need two tickets?"

The man nodded, looked to the left, and pulled two tickets of a large roll. Moments later he pushed it out of a small slot near the bottom of the window.

"Thank you kindly," I said and grabbed the tickets, "Now... just to be on the safe side, I assume there won't be any civilians in the museum, right?" I and eased back from the window.

The man shook his head, "No... The museum is part of the Paradise Dome."

"Good to know, thank you," I said, and started walking toward the dark tunnel.

Peter brushed up to me, "That was fun... but you seemed a bit more aggressive than usual."

"This place is wearing me down..." I said and looked in front as we entered the tunnel.

Peter smirked, "But we've barely entered the museum?"

I huffed, "I meant... Tel-Adra as a whole."

"Yeah... I know what you mean," Peter said as he focused on the path ahead.

Darkness surrounded us, and my ears wiggled as I picked up noise from what sounded like speakers in the ceiling. They were the sounds of rustling trees, birds twittering, and the hiss of a snake in the background.

The passage soon opened up once more, and we came upon a big, rusty old door. Standing in front of the door was a robot of some sort. Its appendages were lanky in appearance, but it had a big chest with numerous exposed components. It didn't look like anything designed in Sophos, and humanoid robots weren't exactly popular in the human nations. Even stranger was the appearance of what looked like a face, with the optical sensors set like eyes, while a display was stretched into the creepy appearance of a mouth. Sophos droids had a blank front, and while that may have seemed a bit empty at times, it beat the outright unsettling appearance of this machine.

Probably some kind of old artifact... perhaps from before the collapse...

"This is... cool," Peter said as he stepped up to the robot and peered at it from the side.

The front of the old robot had been modified and upon a closer look it revealed a box with a slot that was roughly the size of the ticket we had been given.

"... There's manufacturer label back here," Peter whispered as he crouched next to the robot.

"What does it say?" I asked as I held up the ticket.

"Trident Technologies, the same one from... you know where," Peter said.

"Big corporation, guess they did a lot of stuff before the collapse... I'm going to put the ticket in, so... step back," I said.

Peter joined my side as I slipped the ticket into the slot. Some kind of motor swallowed up the ticket in an instant, and the robot lurched to life. Indicator lights flashed along its internals, the optics whirred within its eyes, and the mouth lit up with a simple the output of a streaming console.

_ Workdesk _ _ 80 4 86 UECI Version 1 2 .7 _

Copyright © [Indef-C55] Trident Technologies Ltd.

_ All rights reserved. _

_ H __ acking, sniffing, tampering, reverse engineering or reprogramming _ _ will be persecuted to the _ _ maximum extent _ _ permitted by _ _ law. _

_ Trident Technologies - _ _ We're here to create a brighter tomorrow ! _

_ Exec Autoexec.bat..................................................... _

_ Init MuseumOfCulture Step 1 - _ _ Language Choice _

The console switched and displayed three big buttons, each written in its own language--Common, Imperial, and Dyssian. I reached out, and pressed the button for Common.

With a blip, the display switched to a pixelated blue smile, and the arm of the robot lifted as if greeting us, "Welcome to the Tel-Adra Museum of Culture!"

Peter leaned back, threw me a smile, and chuckled as he looked back at the cheery machine.

"Inside the museum you will find artifacts from the old world along with information that may be controversial. We have done our best to adapt it according modern standards, but some of it may be construed or interpreted as offensive, culturally insensitive, hurtful, overtly rational, subversively emotional, racist, ableist, ignorant, discriminatory, challenging, argumentative, dissociative, manipulative, tapping, polarizing, and potentially abusive. By entering you verify that you understand the terms and conditions which can be read on our local hyperlink node at-slash-teladramuseum. You also understand that you enter on your own risk and that all legal liability will be considered null and void. Please be aware that flashing lights may occur and that a variety of allergens along with trigger-sensitive topics can occur within the confines of the museum. For a full list, see documents three through six at at-slash-teladramuseum-slash-legal."

I glanced over at Peter and saw him stare bug-eyed at the machine.

A few moments of silence followed, and Peter blinked in confusion, "Is... is it-"

" Welcome t** o the **** Tel-Adra Museum **** of **** Culture ***!*" The machine announced once more while a tone of triumph began to play in the background. It made Peter jump in surprise while the doors to the museum made a groan as they opened wide.

"... I think it's done now," I said.

Peter held his hands close to his chest as he circled the machine with a frown, "This is like some kind of dystopian nightmare..."

I chuckled as I rounded the robot and joined Peter's side, "This kind of legalese was pretty common before the collapse."

"Well, it certainly set the mood," Peter huffed, as he gave the robot one final glance.

The doors closed behind us and Peter looked in front, "So, do you think we can trust what we see in here?"

I glanced over at Peter, "They did say they did their best to adapt it to modern standards, so I seriously doubt that."

"Right," Peter said as he let his gaze wander.

I looked in front as the hallway opened up into a large circular room, and a singular path continuing up ahead. A group was standing by the exit to the room, and the Imperial we'd seen earlier was standing by the back of them. None of them seemed to have noticed our presence as I turned my attention to the room itself.

One exhibit to the left featured a car with what looked like jets instead of wheels, and in the background was a large display showing an aerial photo of a city that was big enough to cover the horizon.

Peter looked up at the display and what looked like a bunch of old ads, "Apparently this is a 'primitive' aerocar... Does that mean we have modern ones?"

One of the moving ads had sound, and I could hear the voice in the background, "The X3600, with brand new vector jets to even sustain flight in the event of a catastrophic multi-engine failure!"

"I think I've seen photos of aerocars in human cities... They're not exactly something your common person would have," I said.

"Sounds cool though," Peter said.

I nodded, "It does, but it doesn't seem like a method of travel that would scale well within a city."

Peter chuckled, "Yeah... The city-drones have triple-redundant systems, and I can't imagine what it would require with a person onboard."

"Well, we do launch a bunch of rockets, and they have a fair amount of risk," I said.

Peter glanced over at me and motioned with one hand at the aerocar, "There hasn't been a rocket accident in over a century. Want to bet what the track record for these things are?"

"True," I said and moved on.

The next exhibit was a pretty weird one, and it looked like a cut-out model of someone's apartment. It had a bunch of floating holograms that pointed at various devices.

I looked up at the summary and read, "Life before the collapse."

Peter raised his hand to point at the kitchen and the holographic bulletin, "'People before the collapse used to cook their own food, a process that would often take at least two hours--in other words, around 50% of a person's assigned off-duty-wake-time.'"

I looked over at Peter, "... There's more than one odd thing about that."

Peter chuckled and looked over at another, "'Your average pre-collapse worker-person used to have around 200 square feet of living space. Not only was this an entitled waste of resources, but said living space remained unused for much of the day. Today's system of Quality Housing maximizes personal space usage in shifts, along with shared services, which leads to an efficient environmentally friendly impact of little more than 75 square feet.'"

"Shifts for what? Using the apartment?" I asked.

"... It says 'worker-person,' is that another word for the... 'plebs' or something?" Peter asked.

"Probably... I can't imagine that the rich and influential that visit this museum would live under conditions like that," I said.

My eyes wandered along the apartment, and got caught on the bathroom. There was another hologram that pointed at a variety of household appliances, among other the washing machine, dishwasher, and refrigerator.

I read it out loud, "'Pre-collapse society was centered around individualistic tendencies. They cooked food, cleaned, engaged in private hobbies, and much more that ignored their responsibilities to society at large. Each of these activities robbed someone of a job and meaning in life. Modern society has adapted accordingly and now make use of the environmentally conscious SPPP (Socialist-Public-Private-Partnership) system that maximizes the synergistic benefits of a post-capitalist and progressive future.'"

"... Lots of buzzwords in that one," Peter said.

I nodded, "Yeah, and to me it sounds more like they took the worst parts of every system and combined it into one."

Peter chuckled and moved on, "Or the best parts, depending on where you are on the social hierarchy."

I followed, and saw that the group from earlier had left.

"Want to stay in this room, or move on?" Peter asked.

"We don't want people following us, so... let's move on," I said.

We walked into the next room and found what looked like a number of exhibits in the form of raised islands. Peter walked up to the first one, and I followed to find a recreation of Iceland itself. The various nations were painted by borders and the flags, while a bunch of holograms kept shifting and pointing at various spots of interest.

The highlighted spots in the UCS mostly showed cities with spiraling towers reaching toward the sky, along with a variety of photos featuring people that I didn't recognize.

Dyssia's points of interests revealed numerous temples, many of which were rich in a variety of colors. There were also images featuring vast fields of wheat, smiling people, and a whole slew of portraits that featured women that were laughing while holding a bowl of salad.

"... That salad must be very amusing," Peter murmured.

"Yeah, no clue what that's about," I said.

The images that portrayed the Empire seemed to focus on anything which featured the flag, emblems, and stripes with their iconic purple hue. Rather curiously, there were no images of real people, but there were plenty of painted depictions.

"Heh," Peter chuckled and pointed at the images tied to Sophos area of the map.

One of them showed a forested area with a large cave, and the other showed what looked like a family of deer hybrids who wore little more than loincloths.

I perked my brow as I leaned closer, "I have to wonder where they got this from..."

"Ooh, there's a button," Peter walked over to the side of the exhibit and pressed a button.

A voice started talking, " Sophos , the run-away place of the beings who were originally created to safeguard humanity. It is ruled by a line of dictators, all of which take on the name of Maxwell. Their people are made up of humans that are forcibly transformed into a variety of drone-like animal hybrids. Each type of animal hybrid is designed for a specific purpose, some of which end up as food for other groups. The deer who learn to read and write are often given special duties, such as the role of diplomat, which is why they are seen in the assembly halls. Their territories are-"

Peter pressed the button once more, probably in an attempt to shut it off, but the message just started to repeat from the start once more.

I stifled a chuckle as Peter grew an annoyed grimace and held the button down, something which caused the speaker to stutter as it repeatedly tried to start over.

"Come on," I said, and patted Peter's shoulder as I walked by him.

"These fucking..." Peter muttered, as he gave the exhibit a gentle kick and stepped away.

The voice slowly ebbed away as we crossed the room and stopped by an exhibit that seemed to show off the wonders of the island.

Plenty of buildings were on display, and many of them were indeed pretty. Abstract shapes, plenty of color, and twisting metal made for architecture that felt... alluring. That said, none of them seemed very practical, and the marvels of Sophos had been left out entirely.

Peter got angry as he saw and heard the exhibits, but I was... what? Jaded? Worn?

It worried me, the way I had started to long for our return home. A concerning feeling that made it feel as if I had given up on my quest somehow. Would I soon settle like so many others, and dismiss humanity as a pest to be ignored as much as possible?

As I stood there, staring at the models on the table, I couldn't help but remember Kamilah's words.

What would the world look like if she got what she wanted? She--or someone like her--would rule over humanity, and we'd help keep said person in power as long as they obeyed certain agreements. Sophos would find peace in such a scenario, and a majority of humans might even have a better standard of living, but it would forever cement a power structure that was a mild-mannered tyranny at best, and an eternal prison at worst.

If such a world came to be, would Sophos be able to subvert it into something better, or would we become accomplices in it?

Peter looked over at me, opened his muzzle to speak, but stopped as his gaze locked on something.

Two Imperials were walking toward us, both of them staring intently. It only took me a moment to recognize the 'feel' of the them and how I had studied them not long ago. This was #1 and #2 from that awkward meeting with Lydon a few days ago.

Peter glanced at me, and I heard his voice in my mind, 'Think we're in trouble?'

'Not really, but I'm sure these two will hassle us... I've met them before and simply call them #1 and #2,' I thought.

'Who's who?' Peter wondered.

'To be honest, I'm not sure,' I thought.

Peter snorted out loud, but straightened himself as the two Imperials stopped outside of reaching distance.

"We meet again," I said, and nodded my head at the two.

#1 stared and #2 spoke up, "You animals are getting into trouble as usual."

"Oh, how so?" I wondered.

#1 motioned at me, "You lot aren't allowed in here without an escort, to keep the others safe, of course."

"Oh, I assume you're our escorts then?" I said and smiled back.

#1's brow twitched, " No , we are not."

I hadn't noticed before, but the sharp lights within the museum revealed what looked like wrinkles on #1. While subtle, the more I looked, the more apparent the wrinkles became. It made me lean a little closer, and I could see as the two leaned back in surprise.

"What are you doing?" #1 asked with a disgusted frown.

I'm missing something...

I glanced over at the exhibits, "Just marveling at the exhibits."

"And how are you liking it?" #1 asked and stepped over to the round table.

"It's mostly a bunch of rubbish and lies," Peter said.

#1 glanced back at Peter with a smile, "Lies? Not really... It might not be the whole truth, but all of it has a kernel in the center."

"Oh, like what?" Peter asked.

#1 glanced at the table, and shifted her gaze to another, "Over here... You have an entire table dedicated to the hoaxes of Sophos..."

#2 smiled like a small devil and followed #1 as the two walked over to the next table. I followed but gave them a wide berth, as I kept my eyes on them and compared what I saw. Their hairstyles were short but slightly different. That of #2's was more chaotic, while #1's was, for a lack of a better word... perfect.

A wig?

As #1 said, the table we ended up at was labeled as the hoax of Sophos of supremacy. The most prominent of them all was a floating hologram of the moon which pointed out the Crystal Palace.

#1 smiled at me, guided one hand to a button along the outer edge of the table, and pressed it.

The mechanized voice of the museum started talking once more, "The Crystal Palace, where the tyrant known as Maxwell supposedly rules over Sophos. In reality, it is nothing more than a cluster of holographic projectors. While it's an impressive lightshow, it is nothing than a vain attempt at appearing mighty in front of others."

I perked my brow at her, "Holograms require an atmosphere to work, something which doesn't exist on the moon."

#1 sighed and looked to the side, "Sure, there might be a few domes with glass up there, but do you want us to believe that there's an actual palace hiding in there, in plain sight of railguns?"

That's... one hell of a point actually...

"Maybe, maybe not... I've never been there," I said.

#1 reached over and pressed another button.

This time the hologram shifted and instead showed Etemenanki, "The tower in the frozen wastes. Sophos claims that it protects the island from the Lusus, but if it does, it's pretty lousy at its job. Scientists now believe that it is instead meant as an attempt to control the weather, to discretely render the human half of the island a desert wasteland."

I sighed and motioned to the tower, "Do people actually believe this?"

#2 stepped up to the table and smiled, just like the other, "One half of the island is a desert, while the other is like the Paradise Dome."

"A verisimilitude in other words, something that sounds as if it could be true, but isn't," I said.

#2 raised her hand to motion at me, "It's more complicated than that. There are those of us that know the truth and understand the need for it, but your spores manipulate the environment in ways that our plants can't tolerate. We can't keep up with the changes that are necessary, and you won't give the technologies that are needed, because you know we'd them use them against you."

"At least you're honest enough to admit what you'd use the technologies for," I said.

Peter inched closer, "How do you get your food?"

#2 looked at Peter and kept talking, "Mostly algae farms and insects raised on-"

#1 turned to stare at #2 and motioned with one hand, "We're not here for this."

Again, the light in the room combined with the movements revealed something I hadn't noticed before. The skin on the hand appeared thin and the veins were quite visible. One of them was definitely older than the other.

A teacher and apprentice? A parent and its 'child'? Both? How does this work?

"So why are you here?" I wondered.

#1 looked back at me with another annoyed frown, "As said, we heard you were causing trouble, and we're here to make sure you go away."

"Somehow I doubt the UCS would ask a couple of Imperials to do it for them," I said.

#1 drew a deep breath, "They don't need to ask. Taking care of pests like you is simply part of the job."

"Given the way things are going, you'll be spending a lot more time with our kind," I said.

Once more, I could see the disgust wriggle in their faces, "I assure you that we won't. In fact, none of you have ever set foot in our territory, and you never will. It's a disgrace that you've managed to nestle your way into the other nations like you have, and I guess that's partly our fault for failing to bring them into our fold."

"Yet, you're here, ready to sign a peace agreement with us," I said.

"Someone needs to make sure you're kept on a short leash," #1 said.

I sighed, "We don't need to be enemies, you know? The people of this Earth have one enemy, and it's not Sophos. We could cooperate, and then there will be more than enough space for us all."

"Pretty words, but you are a poison pill to humanity itself. You want everyone to think that you don't force others to become like you, but it's nothing more than a clever piece of deceit. You--by your very nature--exist to subvert everything. You tried to take control of the Lusus and made it part of yourself without even realizing that it is pulling the strings from the background. You are agents of the very evil that you claim to be fighting," #1 said.

Hedwig used to say the same thing... back when she was human...

I shook my head, "Arguments like that never make any sense beyond the first glance. You're not special, and you're not worth these elaborate plans that you imagine. If things were as you say, then why wouldn't we just wipe you out and be done with it?"

#1 stared, while #2 spoke up, "At the core of Lusus nanite there is still its original programming. To recycle everything , and then end itself. On some level, you probably realize this, so you string everyone along... Caught between this core directive, and an inherited instinct to keep living. Like a parasite, you'd keep feasting on humanity without ever going all the way."

Peter groaned, "Apparently there's no end to these ridiculous theories when the simple answers don't suit your narrative."

#1 looked over at Peter, "And what '_narrative'_would that be?"

"That you're just like Dyssia or the UCS... You see the threat on the horizon, and you're running out of steam, but you see a chance to gouge us for a better deal," Peter said.

#1's expression strained, "The gall of you... you_revolting_ creatures. It's bad enough that we have to deal with a bunch of deer that would be better off on our plates, but now we're asked to deal with you overgrown freaks..."

As #1 spoke, the voice shuddered and strained. Even the blood vessels in the throat were starting to grow visible while #2 looked on with what looked like concern. It made something click in my mind, and I suddenly understood why the Empire differed so much compared to the others.

"... The others are here as a reward, you're here as punishment," I said.

A jolt ran through #1, "What did you say?"

"I couldn't figure it out at first... Whether you had some kind of system where inexperienced clones are paired up with older ones, or whether you were a 'parent' of sorts," I said.

"Are you seriously trying to psycho-analyze us and our society? Please, you were pathetic as it was," #1 said.

"It's clear that one of you is older than the other, and you're too similar to not be related. Adding to that, the Imperials are the only ones here that truly seem to dislike it all. The others might hate us, but they're eager for the deals that they can make."

#1's expression peeled back in anger as the eyes turned to daggers, "Yes, so?"

I continued, "You're chasing after the idea of a perfect society along with a populace to go along with it. But it's clearly not based on the things that the other nations value. You turn inwards, to the glory of the empire itself. So, you remove the things that aren't needed, and improve on those that are... No wonder you don't want anything to do with anyone else... Which raises the question of what circumstances caused you to end up here?"

#2 reached out to #1, but the hand was swatted away in an instant as #1 kept staring at me, "Go on, let's hear this hypothesis of yours... I want to remember this moment and think back on it when I'm walking over your stuffed hide in the future."

I raised one hand to point a claw at #1, "You_are_siblings, but one of you is sick... A progeroid syndrome of some kind. They're common in cloning, and it causes one of you to age much faster than the other. I would have assumed that your kind of society would have discretely ended your life before birth, but for some_reason you were allowed to live. Perhaps because your 'family' held a position within society that was more privileged than the rest... which is, in the end, so very... very _human."

The brow and lip of #1 twitched, while #2 inched closer and whispered, "Stop... Stop this."

#1 looked back at #2 with bared teeth and hissed something. It caused #2 to step back, while #1 looked back at me, "Leave... Or I will gather my forces and have the two of you gutted and put on display."

I made a slow nod, and looked over at Peter as I motioned to him, "We're leaving..."