Chapter 42

Citizenship And Monsters

“Today we would like to give a special award to our newest Endarian Citizen. Someone who has not only proven himself as a military asset, but one who came highly recommended by the world tree as well.” This comment from General Tigran got everyone to laugh. Especially since Rayquel’s video of me being sprayed and then nutted upon by said world tree had gone viral. In all five seeds were seen to be able to germinate, four of which are already being planted and cultivated right now. The fifth is within my violin case that is by my side. The Endarians saw fit to give me a specially made violin case, so I could easily hold the world tree seed inside while carrying my violin. It was a nice gesture and one that was really touching. The world tree violin was also a nice touch.

The stick I had procured, or rather the one that had my blood on it was so potent that it still glowed with energy. That stick of course was taken away by researchers. To make up for this, I was given a complete violin made from non-magical portions of the world tree. This seemed both sacrilegious and a very Endarian thing to do at the same time. I accepted the violin and found that it seemed to hold psychic resonance quite easily. This meant that my discharge from being so overly imbalanced with Psionic abilities was countered. At least for the time being.

“During his citizenship exam, he received nearly a perfect score. Missing only one question, who is the acting secretary of defense for the Endarian Space Command.” The General said, and this generated a laugh from the audience.

In retrospect this should have been an easy answer. The news of the recent secretary of defense was well publicized, but I just didn’t make that as a big deal. Apparently, this new secretary of defense was a huge deal, someone that would help streamline the entire military.

“Now a few things to point out about our newest citizen.” The General continued. “You might not be aware that he had a minor part to play in the recent operation in Dwenvarian space.”

This comment too elicited chuckle from the audience, by this point it was well documented that I had psionically ripped the hive queen thing apart with my mind. A few underground forums also noted how it looked like I was also the pilot, especially given the way Rayquel acted there at the end. “Her eyes seemed to flash with signs of a vision.” One commenter posted, going so far as to say that she and I had visions at the same time. But mine was a warning vision, while her vision was one designed to follow up on my vision. Ultimately it is recorded that Rayquel had a vision to find the cluster of space where the hive mind queen was, and I piloted us there for that portion as she could be seen after that nearly blacking out from the strain of her own vision.

Honestly that was masterful work on the commentators of the different feeds, as they dissected that portion of the videos easily. I didn’t even realize that Rayquel had passed out. That goes to show how terrible of a bonded partner I was, there I was charging into battle with my partner completely passed out from exhaustion. Still, it all turned out for the best, we both survived and even got rewards. That was what today was, not only were we getting wings of valor, or the Endarian equivalent award. Today I would become a true Endarian citizen, complete with all rights and regalia. That test she was talking about though was no joke. I asked Rayquel about a few of those questions, and she didn’t know before having to look them up.

Fortunately, I had thirteen lifetimes of information to pull from, and only a few minor changes were made. Again, the only problem was I didn’t have a chance to go back and do last minute pulls for the answers. All the data I had studied was related to what was available the week prior. So much can happen in a week.

“…As part of their reward for their valor in the recent conflict. Our newest pair bonded citizens will be allowed to enter the Gemini Temple up to a month early. That’s right, rather than going on the first of the year as has been tradition. This exceptional pair will be the last couple to enter the temple for this calendar year.” General Tigran said, her voice causing me to focus on her for a second as I tried to take in her words.

This was huge. This was so huge that for a second I was lost trying to process what she had said. Completing a temple in any calendar year was a great reward. The fact that we didn’t have to wait until the end of the year to compete against other pair bonded for a spot was almost unheard of. I was about to question the why of it, but then I soon realized why. We were big news. Rayquel the Iron Butterfly, and me the newest pseudo-human with my own easily identifiable power infusions.

Through our bond I felt the surge of excitement that Rayquel was feeling. With her surge of warmth, I turned to her, and could almost see her squirming with excitement. Seeing her excited bouncing caused me to smile as well, as her warmth was truly infectious.

“This means the pair have their work cut out for them. They now only have three months to prepare for one of the toughest Temple runs in all the universe.” At that comment the surge of joy coming from Rayquel slightly dropped.

I turned to look at her, as I felt the pang of loss and sadness from our bond for a moment before she squashed it and reached out to hold my hand. At her touch, I felt warmth and her joy from just being with me surge through our bond. I had investigated her past. She had been pairing bonded years before. This was not to be surprising as Rayquel was old, well old by human standards. The pair bonding, she originally had was from nearly eighty years ago. When she and her pair bonded were both in their early nineties. They were just children by Endarian standards. But they had won the chance to go on a Gemini Temple run. That was the run where on the Fortieth floor Rayquel had gotten her wings. Her partner had wanted his own set of wings, so he tried to go on further into the temple. The one thing they didn’t tell anyone was that if one person wasn’t fully committed to going deeper into the temple after level forty, the bond would split apart.

What had happened was, after forty floors of fighting in the temple, Rayquel was tired. She wanted to stop, or at the very least take a breather. Before they could do this, one would want to go ahead, while the other would stay. In such cases before floor forty, the one who wanted to hold back would get their way. The only problem was that apparently on the fortieth floor the rules changed. From the fortieth floor onward both had to be in open honesty with each other. There if one person didn’t want to go, while the other did, they would go. The only problem was, they would then be separated. One would go onto the forty-first floor, while the other would stay on the fortieth floor. Worse, since they were no longer together, Rayquel could not open the door ahead. She waited there, until she felt the connection to her bonded die out. Then with her bonded partner deceased she was kicked out of the temple, forever barred entry. At least that was what she thought.

That was what everyone thought, as her bonded partner had died in the temple.

Once we had begun practicing for our run-in earnest, last week, Rayquel told me about her past and what had happened. She saw the look of greed in her partner’s eyes, the look that said he too wished to be seen as special, to be worthy of Rayquel. He had the look of madness in his eyes before he charged ahead. He was so confident that Rayquel would be by his side that he never looked back. After all, what did he have to worry about. He would only be allowed forward if Rayquel was right there by his side.

Rayquel herself was still in physical pain from the transformation. Her wings had just sliced through her skin and caused massive amounts of pain to form. She would have joined him, but she needed a minute. A minute she never had, as the partner, who I never learned the name of charged forward and out of Rayquel’s life forever.

Ultimately it is a sad story, and one that has since been made into a children’s tale about greed. One that now that I fully understand the full back story, one that should be obvious to Endarians, makes so much more sense. I just remember reading it as the story of The Lonely Butterfly Queen and always scoffed at the tale about how the lonely butterfly queen now flies alone at night.

Apparently, they are now in the process of trying to come up with a sequel to the original. One where the Butterfly Queen finds a new partner. Of course, the story is meant to mimic our sudden pairing. When asked what I think of the idea for a sequel I said, “we should call it, The Butterfly Queen and the Worm.”

Apparently, everyone is a critic as they didn’t like the idea at all. Well, most didn’t, a few Endarians who really hate humans fully agreed with the title. But apparently those are the new minority, especially after the recent push for unification between our two races.

My wishing to harp on the possibly over fifty percent Endarian genetic coding in my body to apply for citizenship, also likely played a role in why they are going for a more vanilla role with the book. I believe they also want to see just how well we do in the Gemini Temple before they put all their focus on this new children’s story. No point having two children’s stories about the same character that end in the same form of tragedy. I am thinking all these things, while the exceptionally long ceremony is taking place.

Ultimately this really doesn’t have to be so long. But like all meetings, the block off an hour for the day, so they make sure it lasts two.

“As a special reward for our newest citizen. We have our very own Secretary of Defense on hand to present the citizenship award. Maybe now he will have an easier time remembering just who he is.”

Chuckling.

There was a lot of laughter at that, I couldn’t help but feel both humility and shame.

“You get one question wrong.” I mutter to myself, though apparently, I have a microphone nearby as my voice seems to be amplified for the entire audience to hear.

More chuckling.

Hearing that they are laughing at that, I almost feel sorry for those who have gathered. This is terrible comedy, and it is hot outside. As such I just want this award ceremony to be over.

“So, without further ado, I present to you the newest Secretary of Defense…” General Tigran said. She continued to talk, but at that moment my mind went blank as I saw who, or rather what she was referring to. A being that was humanoid in shape, appeared on the stage.

“What?” Rayquel asked me, as she could clearly feel my fear and discomfort from our bond.

I wanted to respond, but I was too focused ahead. I saw it a monster in humanoid form. Sure, it had two arms, what appeared to be two legs, a torso, and a head, but that was it. Everything else about the creature before me was wrong. It had black pulsing skin that looked like it was half rotten, and half burnt. Mucus sacs grew and pulsed violently inside the torso. The beast had glowing eyes that looked like algae infested sacs of water. The entire thing was disgusting to look at.

I felt a gentle push at my back. I turned to find Rayquel there, gesturing for me to go forward to the thing.

To my shock, I saw that the monster was holding a framed certificate. Instantly I knew that this was the citizenship certificate I had worked so hard for over the past few weeks.

Another shove. “Go on.”

Hearing that, I moved forward. My legs moving to first catch my balance from the sudden shove, then they began to move mechanically.

I was just seeing things, that is all. This can’t be real. I thought to myself as I strode forward, surely this either wasn’t real or was a big joke.

I looked around nervously, as I looked for a familiar set of eyes or someone. Rayquel didn’t seem to be in on it, at least I couldn’t feel any nervous excitement building within her, she is always bad about hiding surprises that she thinks are funny. But she doesn’t think anything is odd.

Only the general seems to notice something with my eyes daring around frantically. Finally, I lock eyes with the humanoid monster, not quite knowing what to do.

I must be going mad. Years of constant combat, then how odd this life has been. One mess after another, the human mind can only take so much strain. This will be fine, just get through this, get your award. Shake a hand and then move on. This will all be behind you, and you can laugh about it later.

That is what I told myself at least.

Badump. Badump.

My heart was racing, I grabbed the framed citizenship award no problem. Then came time for our photo-op.

“Why don’t you smile!” The monster said, as its words sounded like they came from grinding gears.

I forced a slight smile to my face. Really, I just pulled my jaw back in slight revulsion, but that seemed to be enough. I reached out my hand, then before I knew it, a slime coated extremity covered my hand. I was cringing inside from the feel of slime.

I was about to let out a manly squeak, but before I could out myself as a coward something happened.

WOOSH!

Multiple things happened all at once. The first was, my hand clamped down on the tentacle as if I was being electrocuted. Then my eyes began to glow, as I felt a burst of energy surge forth from me directly onto the being before me.

“AHHH!” The beast cried out in its sickening grinding voice. Then I could almost see the moment when its false skin burned away. There was a faint glow on the outside, as a shell of some kind began to burn and melt away.

“HUH?!” The audience let out, as it looked like I just attacked the Secretary of Defense right there on stage.

There was a moment of shock as everyone looked around.

The monster that I was still gripped too, turned to the audience. “GRAWWRRR!” It cried out, as it could no longer form words. Instead, it just roared in its native hissing language.

That was when all hell broke loose.