Chapter Nineteen

The horizon was starting to glow with morning light, yet my team and I were still stuck with the bastard Syldrari and his men. He stood a few feet from me, rubbing his chin as he looked over my ‘work.’ Once I’d gotten started with the dead human, I’d…I’d gotten a little carried away.

“Did you have to make a garland out of their testicles?!” Styx groaned, clutching his own groin and cringing. “T-that’s”

“Aren’t you supposed to be keeping your mouth shut?” I flapped a hand at him before turning to grimace at the display of dead humans. Most of my teammates were nauseated, but I…

“You’re relieved, aren’t you?” The cloaked Syldrari shifted his head slightly to smirk at me.

For how poorly we get along, he sure does seem to know what I’m thinking a lot. Maybe that’s the problem? I sighed in exasperation and shook my head faintly. “Why wouldn’t I be relieved? I’m sure there’s a boss who was pulling their strings, and he’ll need to be taken down, but for now this should bring some stability back to this sector.”

“And you will stay out of it .” The cloaked man turned and walked toward me, stopping a little too close for comfort. “I won’t interfere if you need to take out more scum like them…but leave their masters to us. Them attempting to frame Syldrari, no matter the clan, is none of your business.”

“Lethe!” Acheron rushed over, clearly panicked. “I need to get to the Brihl sector!” She glanced at the Syldrari beside me. “Now! Please!”

“Calm down. Deep breath. What’s wrong?” I raised a hand. Something about my tone seemed to make the Syldrari swallow whatever quip he’d been about to make.

“There’s been an explosion. Someone attacked them—maybe a xenophobic group?” She clenched her fists. “I need to go—”

“Her friends are there.” I shifted toward the cloaked Syldrari.

He let out a small sigh and glanced over at one of his men. “Go with her. Determine if this attack has anything to do with the Brihl’s relationship with the Syldrari and see what aid they need.”

I watched Acheron and the assigned soldier run off, then listened as the cloaked Syldrari ordered his men—and my team members—to go back to their watchful positions.

“Given the circumstances, I won’t be letting you and your team go just yet.” He turned to look at the maimed human corpses again, tilting his head faintly. “The anatomy of human males is so…fragile…”

“Uh…?” That comment caught me off-guard.

“What? Did you think Syldrari would be like humans?” He chuckled and shook his head. “Humans were made in our image. Not the other way around. We have been traveling through space since before your ancestors left their caves.”

“Made in ‘your image?’ Why do I get the sense that you mean that literally?” I frowned at him, though he seemed surprised by the question. “Humans are clearly inferior to Syldrari in most, if not all, ways. I can’t say I’d be surprised if you’re being literal.”

“…you are inquisitive. About the right things, for once. That is good, I suppose…and explains much .” He pressed his fingers to his temples. “Humans may multiply quickly but yours is a rare species. On most planets, humankind self-destructed before being capable of even the most primitive of machinery. In the cases they didn’t destroy themselves, the superior species on the planet did—be it another intelligent species, dangerous wildlife, or…concepts I will not spend the next four days explaining.

“One of the ancient Syldrari found humans…interesting. As a scientist, he was curious to see how human evolution would differ from ours, as the planet he’d found had much more land than ours ever did. Carefully, he and his team planted the knowledge and tools the humans would require to survive. There were some genetic modifications as well.

“What you would call ‘humanoid’…bah, I hate the human languages. They are so lacking.”

“Syldr…oid?” I offered with a smile and a half shrug. Again, he looked surprised. “I follow you so far. Essentially, humans on most planets were too weak to survive and evolve without outside assistance. A curious researcher decided to render that assistance…and I’m assuming took a hands-off approach with everything else?”

“Yes. Once it was clear they had a chance to survive, his team merely observed.” The cloaked man let out a heavy sigh and placed a hand on his hip. “That planet has long since been given back to nature, though such research continued elsewhere.”

“Hmm…” I considered the information for a moment, before thinking back to a question I’d asked Rel and never gotten a good answer to. “Can I ask you a question? Perhaps an odd one, but the last answer I got to it was dissatisfying.”

“You’re asking for permission now?” He scoffed, then shook his head. “You have at least some capacity to think critically. I’ll humor you.”

“Why is it that the Syldrari don’t simply conquer the empire?” I held up a hand when he immediately opened his mouth to answer. “Last time, the answer was left mostly as ‘that is a very human question.’ But I’m quite serious. Wouldn’t that be less…tedious, and have a lower cost of life?”

He laughed and shook his head. “You must have asked Rel that. Sounds just like the sort of answer he’d give.”

“I figure not everyone shares the same opinion. My experience with the clans may be lacking, but it’s clear they’re all quite different.” I shrugged.

“To put it simply…the cost is much less if we simply wait for the empire to self-destruct.” His lips pulled into a chilling smile. “Haven’t you ever wondered why all the off-worlders you hear about aren’t human? It’s because the only humans capable of flight—let alone space travel—are already part of the empire.

“Most of the others glassed themselves when they discovered nuclear weapons or power—some by accident, others due to war.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let me guess, even the ones who didn’t die to nuclear crises, died to more uh… traditional or primitive warfare.”

“Well, a good many wiped themselves out with biological weaponry or warfare too. A few managed to create a deadly plague in the process of trying to cure a disease… Humans are sloppy creatures. They tinker and interfere before they know anything about what’s going on.”

“So, what, instead of ending the empire and taking back however many queens—” I went silent when the cloaked man leaned down and put a finger over my lips.

“Don’t give me ideas. Letting the humans do as they please is…trying. Alas, for now, it is much saner and smarter to play from the shadows.” The cloaked man straightened again. “We have a saying on Syldra… I’ll spare you from attempting to pronounce it yourself. The translation is essentially, ‘stay in the shadow of the beast so you can strike its soft underbelly. With the beast gone, its tyranny will collapse and the trenches will be freed.’”

“Hmmm…a hunting-related saying that turned out to have practical applications in other settings, I take it?” I murmured, mentally repeating the translation.

“Indeed. Some opponents are best dealt with when using strategic precision.” He gave me an amused smile, possibly the least smug version I’d seen yet. “You and yours are free to go. Do try to keep your nose out of our business.”

“Yes, well, I’m not the boss. So, no promises there.” I sighed heavily and crossed my arms, then glanced at the display of humans again. “With any luck, neither of us will do something that results in us getting in each other’s way.”

“Ahhh, yes…your life is owned by the imperial military…” he mused. “In which case, I’m sure we’ll get to play again soon. Perhaps you should train while you can.”

I bit back a snippy remark and watched as all the Syldrari disappeared in an upward burst of blue-green particles.

“We should get out of here. People are going to start waking up soon.” Erebos hurried over to me. “Zafir wants us to come back now . Acheron has things handled in her sector.”

“Right. Let’s go.”

* * *

I watched Zafir pace irritably in his office. While he did so, I leaned back in my seat with a sizeable mug of Syldrari tea. I’d made some for Zafir too…but clearly, he was too occupied to sit down and drink.

“Honestly, Elara! Putting the humans on display like that…” Zafir muttered before shaking his head. “No, no. You did the right thing, of course. If you’d refused, your team would likely have had to fight him and his men. Even so…didn’t you take it a bit far?”

“Oh, that reminds me,” I tilted my head slightly. “He made an odd comment about male anatomy. Something about human males being particularly fragile?”

“Yes…humans are quite strange to have evolved in such a way where their innards became outards,” Zafir murmured, bringing a hand up to rub his chin. “A rather strange evolutionary trait, really. Much different from most other alien species. Most evolved in such a way that their reproductive organs are protected rather than shown.”

Aw, he’s not easy to fluster anymore? Or is he just that preoccupied? I shifted in my chair and propped my cheek against my fist. “Well, from what I’ve read, ancient humans ran around naked and were rather animalistic. Perhaps in lieu of more complicated methods to attract a mate, they evolved to…shall we say, put themselves on display? After all, it isn’t like they have colorful feathers to display.”

Zafir paused and glanced over at me. “That is an interesting theory. Yes, perhaps you are right. It would certainly explain why human males have been so prone to photographing and sharing their genitalia since the inception of early cameras. Even now, from what I understand, it is quite common for them to send photos to women they fancy. Is this a valid tactic, I wonder? Or…”

“Not particularly, I’d imagine,” I stated dryly. “I’m sure you could ask some of the female staff how they feel about that. Anyway, what I’m gleaning from your musings, is that Syldrari anatomy is fully internal?”

“Ah. No.” Zafir walked over to a shelf and pulled down three books. “Since you have practically become our liaison to the Syldrari, I suppose it’s past time you studied the anatomy of the six sexes. Should you ever find yourself needing to assist one—or fight one in earnest—this knowledge should help you.”

“…sounds like something you should’ve given me weeks ago.”

He gave me a sheepish smile. “Perhaps, but I was still gauging your ability and intentions. Now then…I will do what I can to calm our superiors. The media has already jumped all over the human display. I’m not sure if making it appear to be solely your team’s doing was a good idea, but it is too late now.”

“It’ll catapult us in one way or another, yeah.” I shrugged and gave him a small smile. “If that’s everything, I would like to get some sleep.”

“You aren’t concerned?” Zafir frowned at me.

I shook my head. “I don’t see much point in worrying about what’s already done. It seems more logical to get some rest so that, if things do go over poorly, I’d like to have both my strength and wits about me.”

“Perhaps, but…” He tilted his head when I stood up, walked over, and patted his shoulder. “Elara?”

“Drink your tea and get some rest too. You’ve been awake even longer than I have.” With that, I left his office and made my way to my room to get ready for bed. Sure, the sun had been up for a few hours, but I was mentally and physically exhausted.

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