MUAHAHAHAHA! Ah. Wait. Wrong intro. Hi guys!! This one is going to be quite lengthy but well it is a necessary evil. Anyway, next chapter UUUUP!!! Have fun and enjoy!!!!

Chapter 8

-Me(yawn)-

After dinner everyone decided it would be best to go to bed. Everyone said goodnight to each other and went to their respective beds. Surprisingly no one went to a separate room and everyone slept in the living room (yes my living room is that large). Surprisingly the queen came up to me and we had a small chat. It didn’t really cover much just simply saying hi, the dinner was good, and a goodnight. Ah talking with her makes my heart flutter…. That’s what I think it is isn’t it. I sighed. Yeah. I’ve fallen for her. Why though? I’ve literally only known her for a day. I don’t believe in the superficial liking based upon looks. So why? I mean, yeah she is beautiful so that’s a plus, but that doesn’t really bother me. So why? Why? Why? Why? Ugh I’ll just go to sleep and worry about it later.

Well the night went by without a hitch. No sounds or fuss was made. That was nice. I slept soooo good. Man I really like my bed. I spent a bit on that piece. Toootaly worth it though. I stretched them good morning stretches you do on a weekend after waking up from good sleep. After those I went to go brush my teeth. Good hygiene is a must. One cannot skimp out on their hygiene or it will come back to bite ya in the ass so hardcore. Ah but I don’t really care about my hair. Though I just said good hygiene I really don’t care much for my hair. Oh right, guests. Guess I should at least comb it a bit.

After I got done with my morning hygiene I went down stairs to check on everyone. I skimmed around to see everyone’s sleeping faces and eventually landed on the queen. As I’ve said before she really does shine. No matter how much I look at that pale white skin, beautifully long white hair, and crimson eyes I just never get enough. It’s definitely entrancing… Wait. Crimson eyes? To see someone’s eyes they must be open. Unless you’re the rare few who can sleep with them open, usually open means awake. Which going by that logic she’s awake. Well uhhh. Good morning! Umm I totally wasn’t just staring at your beautiful presence. Totally wasn’t. Nope.

“It’s cool man. You can relax.” Lower G said from behind me. Dude, you’re totally cool, but seriously, don’t sneak up on a guy like that. It’s creepy and a bit scary. “And staring at the sleeping figure of the queen isn’t?” ah. Touché. Thanks for being cool and not saying anything. “No problem. I’m just gonna be kickin it outside with some of the little ones for a while.” Lower G gave us the peace sign and walked out the house. That guy, no matter how you look at it, is freakin awesome.

When I turned back around the queen was right next to me with a delicate smile. Wooow. “So uh did you sleep well?” lame ass question. Bro, you totally suck at talkin to chicks. You’re doomed with a capital D.

She snickered a bit and replied “Yes, quite. Thank you for the hospitality.”

“Yeeup!! Ah, I guess I should start breakfast. You can go back to sleep or sit on the couch or just do whatever you feel like I guess.” I told her and proceeded to the kitchen. Ah, so little in here. I really need to go to the store soon. Like within the next three days. I’ll run out at this rate. While I was rummaging around and cooking the queen just sat near the entrance and just watched me. To tell the truth it felt kinda nice. If it weren’t for the others it’d have that lovey couple feel to it. Ugh snap out of it. TPO. Remember, TPO.

After I finished cooking and setting the table I asked the queen to go get Lower G while I wake the others. She nodded and walked out the door. Silent. So silent. You can’t hear her footsteps at all. You can’t hear her breathing. You only hear what she wants you to hear, it’s a little eerie to tell the truth. And vexing. Haaa. I wander what it would take to be with her. As I was lost in thought I woke the others and let them know about the food on the table.

Ass woke up like a freakin vampire. He rose up so fast I jumped back and my heart accelerated like a jack rabbit. Jeeze, wake up normally like the rest of them will you? Do you want me to die? No, don’t answer that. I thought such as he started to move his mouth. It didn’t take long before queen and Lower G walked back in and took a seat at the table. Surprisingly queen took my right and Lower G took my left. Sweet!

Breakfast was quiet. No one spoke anything or so much as made a noise except for the sounds of eating. Felt kinda heavy you know? Well after breakfast everyone moved to the living room and waited while I washed dishes. Another surprise, yet again, was that the queen helped me with the dishes as well. You know if you keep doing these simple gestures, i’m going to fall for you even harder than what I am already. She looked at me with a brilliant smile. Aah cute. Maybe it’s this? This gentle nature I feel from her. It’s calming and just feels right you know? Ah, whether or not she’s an alien lifeform that looks like a snake insect doesn’t really change much. Well, except, you know, makes it even more awesome.

Once we were done we proceeded to the living room as well. I sat at a position to face everyone and queen, once again, sat beside me. “Right so I know you guys have a lack of trust in me however right now I literally have nothing to prove myself that I can be trusted. However, what we can do for now is trade information. Which I seriously need if I’m going to help you guys not just survive, but thrive. How we do this is I’ll ask a question you answer me to the best of your knowledge then you ask me a question and I’ll answer to the best of my knowledge. It obviously has to be the truth else the point of making trust will not exist.”

They looked at each other and nodded. “We can agree to those terms, and when you say anything you literally mean anything correct?” Gramps spoke for everyone.

“It’s as you say.” I confirmed.

“Alright. Well then ask us the first question.” He gave me the go ahead.

“Alright, as per the queen, I already know you guys feed off the humans and the excess that they create. Humans are creatures of excess so that’s not an issue. My pressing first concern is whether or not you can alter the memories or completely take over the human you control or both.” I asked.

“We can do both.” Ass replied.

“Can I get more details please. Everything is important. Even the slightest thing you may think is unimportant could mean the difference between life and death. So please elaborate.” I requested.

“We can take control of the host we select in any way we wish. We can remove memories, add memories, block them, alter them, or blur them. Honestly anything with them. Also we can completely control the human as well. We can put their mind into a sleep state with extremely little effort and keep them like that near indefinitely. We could also keep them semi-conscious and communicate with them via telepathy, or we could allow them full consciousness and hide our existence from them. If we wanted we could also let them know of us, communicate, or anything really. There are no constrictions on control that we could do to the host.” Gramps explained in detail. Dude. This is amazing. With this ability I can literally have you guys control the world’s powers and bend them to my every command. There’s no downside! “Ah before you get ahead of yourself there is a small issue.” He continued. “There is a thing as compatibility. If we are not compatible, we take full control forcefully and kill the host’s mind taking complete control of the body. Once we leave the body it will enter a rapid decay state. We can still operate under normal host functions however once left the body decays making it unusable after.”

“Oh. Well that’s not really an issue to tell the truth. Actually, if anything, that’s a plus. It saves me the problem of dealing with troublesome people. Say for instance the governor of this country. He’s a greedy pig so if he dies, then really there’s no problem whatsoever.” I stated matter-of-factly.

The faces around me took a surprised look. What? Did I say something weird? Ah, right. My lack of compassion for the rest of humanity must be quite surprising to them huh? Well honestly there are a few people I’d rather not be killed or harmed but for the most part humanity can go shove it. What? Think a guy with a negative outlook on his own race wouldn’t be a good person to entrust your own race to? Useless worry. I absolutely, under any circumstance, have no intention to betray or harm you guys. Especially anything that could hurt the queen. Besides, as I’ve said many times, humanity needs someone or something to kick it off its high horse already. We are as a race are too arrogant. We need some humility so doing this is actually hitting two birds with one stone. As I’ve said. I have no aspiration towards leadership. It’s boring anyway, and waaaaaay to much work. I want a peaceful life… after we fix you guys’ s situation of course.

“Wow” one of them in the back muttered. Right? It’s crazy isn’t it? I think so too!!!

“Now it is our turn if I am not mistaken” Gramps said.

“Yup yup, it’s your turn ask me anything!” I replied.

“Alright then our first question is the forest. Why does it feel alive?” Gramps asked. Huh? Really? Of anything you could ask me you ask me that? The forest? Not some human secret or anything? I mean respect for not jumping the gun but that was kinda unexpected ya know. I’m not complaining but, well, I was expecting a bit more.

“Well that’s because of the creatures that reside in it.” I said unintentionally vague.

“What do you mean?” the queen asked.

“Well I don’t really know myself. No one does. Unless you are able to make a contract with them, which I have, you can’t know about their existence. Everyone calls it the Shadowless Forest because, unless you have a contract, all you see is a clear bright forest with nothing in it. There have been people that went in it before, but, as it usually goes, none come out. Well I mean they do but only in weird cubes… which is piled in a pyramid. It’s weird. I seriously can’t tell you guys much because I honestly don’t know.” I answered honestly. Seriously. That forest has been a mystery for as long as mankind has been alive. It expands and wanes randomly. Once it consumed an entire village. Never heard from those guys again. I also haven’t fulfilled the terms on the contract so I can’t really do anything right now.

“I will question further, but as per the terms your question is next.” Gramps spoke. Dude, my respect for you can only rise at this point.

“Right. Next would be how long can you guys stay outside of a host body in your parasitic form?” I asked. This is extremely important. There will be time in which I will need them to go out without a host, knowing how long they can last is detrimental to many tasks.

"In this planets terms we can go one year without a host.” Ass spoke this time. “That’s only if we devour our host. If we feed like we do now, only six months.”

Hmm six months at best huh? That’ll make some things difficult. Hmmmm. I can make this work but it’s going to be sketchy at best. I really don’t like the odds but it’s doable. If it comes down to it, I’ll just find them a host to devour before sending them off to do a mission. They’ve eaten animals so if the situation calls for it I can gather some of them instead of people. Being discovered is bad. Like really bad. Yeah this is very usefull.

“Now our next question would be the terms of the contract. This forest bewitches us and we need to know it.” Whoa Gramps, telling me you need it is a bad idea don’t you know that? “I’m putting a little faith in you, is that a mistake?

“No no, I’ll answer. Mmm, it’s kinda difficult to explain. Okey the contract terms are that under normal circumstances if demand calls for it they have the right to use my place and anything owned by me as they wish for an exchange of using their forest and knowledge of their race. It goes into effect when the humans decide to expand and try to enter the forest. With the equipment I own I could hold off an army on my own. Although I’d die in the process, I still could. With that they’d be able to repel the opposition.

The contract also says that as long as I do not breach my contract they will not expand. The condition of breach is if I enter the forest any other time than when it’s time for me to renew the contract. Which is once semi-annually. My next renewal is next week so yeah. Also I can’t bring anyone with me so sorry about that. I could ask for the next time to bring you guys. Let’s seeee. What they had given me in exchange for that was this.” I pulled out a seed that fit in the palm of my hand evenly. “Once semi-annually if I run into some sever trouble I throw this seed anywhere and it will transport me to the inner part of the forest. Though I’ll be blind till I exit, one of them will guide me out once the danger that caused me to throw the seed has passed. That’s essentially it.” I finished. The only thing else would probably be the date I got the contract, but I don’t think that in itself is important.

“I would appreciate it.” Gramps spoke.

“Um that would be 12 years from seven days from now.” I answered. “Ah actual date would be 13th day of the Hollow month. Ah the calendar for this planet is 13 months. The first three months have 30 days, and repectively are named the month of Yarl, the month of Wit, and the month of Dry. The next 4 months consist of 27 days and respectively are Grey, Nole, Heat, and Solaire. The next four months consist of 36 days and are named respectively Ni, Fae, Mez, and Daelorn. The 12th month consists of 42 days and is named Minei. The final month also known as the dread month is called the month of Hollow. It consists of only 13 days. This month is regarded as dreadful because around this time of year the sun and moon have an unusual effect on the planet. The tides come in higher, technology not surround by nature is ineffective, and an eclipse always happens on the 13th day. The significance of that is, well you guys know. You’ve been through one before right?”

“Yes, though nothing strange happened.” Gramps stated.

“Odd… Oh that reminds me, if I’m not mistaken yall landed in a forest right? That would be the small forest between the college and city right?”

“Yes that would be it. Why?” the queen answered. Some of the others gave her some questionable looks but no one commented on it.

“Well if yall landed in the Shadowless Forest I highly doubt yall would have even made it out. No offense but whatever race lives in that forest it’s unmatched.”

“Then why the terms of the contract? Wouldn’t those be made for someone who would lack ability?” Gramps asked.

“You’d think that, but I honestly don’t know. I asked the same thing but I got silence as a reply. So I just accepted as is and moved on.” Which I still have no idea why I’m alive. I’ve never heard of someone leaving that place alive. Well if ever the contract is summoned to be fulfilled I guess I’ll know then.

“The point asking us that would be?” Ass interjected.

“Right, the point is… Well to be honest I was just curios.” I gave off a trolling smile and stuck my tongue out.

Ass stared at me. That stare. Sigh… I’m sorry. I really was just curios. His expression did not change for a while.

“I have a proposition. Since we have been answering each other earnestly how about we just make this an info exchange. Ask freely your questions and we shall ours. This back and forth is tiring and I believe it is unnecessary if we wish to gain each other’s trust.” Gramps suggested.

“I can work with that. Alright well I have a few more questions so you can go first.” I give them the ball for a while.

“Alright then I believe the next question should be why you are helping us. What is in it for you? So to speak.” Gramps asked with a rather extremely serious tone. Whoa. Dude got way to serious.

“Mmm nothing I guess. Well other than wanting to put humanity in its place I really have no other reason. Well I guess just wanting to help is a reason but people say no one does something from the good of their heart but I say some can and I do.” I answered truthfully. Well in my heart I’m probably a bit more tempted to do it for her, but well, that’s really not the reason. I seriously want to help these guys. They’re super cool and not only that I think they’ve suffered long enough. Sympathy? Empathy? Maybe, but regardless of which 10 times out of 10 times I’d survive that encounter I’d still decide to help them.

“Quite amiable if I say so myself.” Gramps stated with a face of wisdom. This guy. This guy! This guy has seen a lot. Not even half his life span and he already gives off this wise feeling. “Right we haven’t figured this out, tell us about the human life cycle.” ah, I knew this question would show up sooner or later.

“Right, well the average human can live for about 170 years. Thanks to the current tech and everyone taking care of their health our lifespan improved significantly since the medieval ages. Though we do take care of our health we aren’t super. We can still get killed from poison, cuts, bleeding to death, etc. we just live longer now. Hmmm ah, in society, since our lifespan is so long, you aren’t considered a full adult until you’re the age of 32.

We go to school from the age of six for twelve years. After we can either work or attend college. Personally I ran dad’s shop so I just arrived at college 2 years ago. Ah, I’m 27. After college you go work. What? You work for over a hundred years? Psh if you’re not running your own company or living freely by the age of 100 you’re considered a bum in society. I say company but that includes from a small candy shop to a large incorporation. Our planet is rather large if you haven’t noticed. This continent we are on now is the small one. The large one is about 100 times bigger than this one. Roughly.

Right, the currency as you guys may have guessed uses a credit system. You can choose either a card, watch, or code for your account. For further perspective an average person can live for about 30 years with only 1 million credits if they spend it wisely. I believe that should be it. Anything else could be learned from just watching.” While I spoke they all listened quite intently. Well if I’m going to make this planet their new home I need to have them know the basics.

“That’ll be enough from our side, unless someone else has a question?” Gramps inquired from everyone. After silence reached him he gestured for me to continue to ask my questions.

“Alllrighty! Now this is where it gets serious. I noticed you guys can make a host super strong and super resilient, I need to know why and how. I also need to know what it is that you guys need for food as well as sleep cycle.” That started some muttering. Ass glared at me as expected. Lower G looked at me with a languid expression, Gramps had a difficult to explain face. And queen you ask? Unchanged. Figured she wouldn’t be too bothered.

Well could I expect from these guys? Smiles and, ‘oh yeah, here are some of our race secrets that could possibly be used against us to potentially kill us all’? I sighed. Yeah I figured those would be the reactions, but I honestly can’t do anything for them without it. You say I got enough info as it is? Are you an idiot? We’re going up against the human race here. Knowing how often you sneeze could be used against you. I need everything from them so if something unexpected happens I can react quickly, with full knowledge of my partners, and give them appropriate directions. I know it’s troublesome but I can’t really do anything about it. If humanity wasn’t such an arrogant, selfish, piece-of-trash race I wouldn’t need to ask so much from them but they are so I do.

“When we take over a host we can produce an enzyme that stimulates the hosts motor functions increasing their agility, strength, and endurance. A separate enzyme can also increase the durability of the bones and skin making them like an armor.” The queen explained. Well that was a bit unexpected that she’d tell me so quickly.

“QUEEN!! What are you saying?!” Gramps demanded. “Telling him that is unwise! Do you know what could happen to us if he were to turn us in?!”

“He won’t and I know fully well what can happen. I also know that he won’t betray us.” She shot him down.

“And how can you be so sure about that? These creatures are masters of deceit.” Ass inquired. Wait… Aren’t Gramps and Ass’s roles swapped right now? I totally thought Ass was a hot head and Gramps was the calm collected type. Ah, right. Ass really only glares at me at most. I haven’t seen him get to disturbed. That constant glare on his face makes it really difficult to read you you know!! I’m somewhat regretting calling you Ass at this point. If I find a better name, I think I’ll change it.

“I can hear his heart. It sounds beautifully. Though it also gives a somber sound as well.” She answered with all seriousness.

“This again? Listen, you might or might not be able to hear these things. We can’t rely on some sound, you may or may not hear, to determine whether or not we trust someone that could or could not kill us all. Besides, I’ve never heard of a tale where a king or queen was able to hear the sounds of the heart.” Gramps denied her wholeheartedly. Hmm? Hearing the sounds of the heart? What’s this? This sounds interesting.

“Apparently the queen can hear the voice or sound, which ever you choose, of a person’s heart and can determine whether or not they are a good person.” Lower G answered my question. “Most of us are skeptical believe the times she did guess correctly were mere coincidences and nothing more. I have my own thoughts, but I doubt she would be able to accurately guess how she did if it were mere coincident.” Whoa. That’s cool. Like seriously cool. She’s like the ultimate badass.

‘Thank you.’ She interjected into my thoughts.

“I still don’t believe it. I cannot accept something as uncertain as that. I can’t and refuse to.” Gramps stubbornly refused.

“We also feed on the excess minerals and nutrients from the host. We’re omnivorous so we can eat anything. Though when we are in our parasitic for it’s hard for us to eat anything so that’s why when we use a host we either drink their blood a little at a time, or interrupt some of the host’s food breakdown process and direct the food to use. As for our sleep cycle we don’t require sleep but if we don’t sleep for a while our functions slow down and we can’t gather the necessary nutrients as effectively.” She answered my last two questions ignoring Gramps and everyone else.

The look on him turned pale. Dude. Chill. I know your situation but sheesh, she already decided this so no point fretting right? Wrong. Opposition means you care. Thanks. Though it may not be for me. Still…and Ass? He’s still unnerved. I seriously thought he would be at this point, dude. Racial secrets here and you have the usual expression like this is an everyday circumstance. Though it seems other than Ass and Lower G everyone had pale faces or similar.

“We’re doomed” I heard someone from the back of the group say. Seriously? You really just clichéd on me? WHY?! What’s up with this race being full of walking clichés?! Also, I’m not that bad!! I seriously not going to hurt you guys!! Ugh how can I get this across. Impossible. Right now I just can’t. there has been nothing in which I could… Wait. Gramps is the oldest. If he is the oldest and honestly isn’t that old than that means all the others are either adolescents or children right? Only 13 people out of their entire race is an adult? Seriously? Did all of the adults die in that last encounter?

“Yes. We will make sure under any means that our young survive. Even if it spells our own demise.” Ass answered me. Whoa whoa whoa! Ass answered me? Hmmm Damien. I’m going to call you Damien from now on. You deserve it. You are no longer Ass and for now on I shall call you Damien. Aside from that that means that over 300 of them are children. Holy SHIT!!! .... This is bad. To make this place a home for these guys with only 14 fighters. I’m going to need to get some more people. Hmm maybe some of dad’s associates will help. Most of them seemed pretty cool when they were around, or when they thought I wasn’t around. I’m pretty sure they’d help if I asked them. Hmm. Mayyybe….

“Oh?” Lower G raised a voice.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“You don’t intend to involve the children?” upon his question everyone fell their gazes upon me. Huh? What’s this tense atmosphere for? Why do they look so…. disturbed?

“I hadn’t thought of doing so? Did you want me to? I don’t think it’s a good idea to involve children regardless of race. Morally and efficiently it’s wrong.” I simply stated to which many relaxed their faces and I heard a sigh of relief. What? What?! You guys thought I’d use the kids?!?!?!?! Are you guys the true assholes?!?!? Seriously?!?! Ouch, headache. I sighed. Calm. Calm. Beee calm. That hurts you know? Though yall don’t know me it still hurts!!!

The queen giggled a bit. What is my pain that funny? Ouch, I think that hurt more.

“No no, not that. it was because I knew you’d give that response. I knew you wouldn’t involve the children but hearing you say it and everyone’s expressions after was amusing. Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at your pain.” She corrected me. Oh. Well… That’s nice. I think? Thanks for not laughing at me. I think that might have been a little too painful.

“Well naturally. Involving children in a death game is evil. Anyway, one last thing. Queen, is your original form what everyone should look like?” I asked her my second to last question.

“No. it is unique to only me. The others would be smaller and more divers in color. They also are slower and less durable than I. Why?” she finished with a question.

“I’ll answer that in a bit, but first is it possible to revert back to your original form? I meant that as a race.” I asked. This is probably the most important question so far. If they can’t revert, then securing a place on this planet will be impossible. We can set up as much as we want but at the end game I need them to revert back.

“It is possible but it would require a constant supply of food and a long sleep cycle.” She answered. Oh? That’s it? Than that’s great!! This will make things easier.

“Great! That makes this simple. After my contract renewal next week gather all the children and anyone among you who wishes to not fight and wants to revert.” I tell them.

“Why?” She asked.

“Because I can provide both. Though it’ll probably cost me severely, I have one last condition I can add to the contract. One free slot so to speak. I can have them protect you guys and supply food while you’re in your reverting cycle.” Though with the amount of people doing this, the cost will probably be ridiculous. but that’s fine. The early costs for a better future. This is their last planet so might as well go ahead and revert. When they do the final part of my plan will be perfect. Ahhh. I wonder what I’ll have to give up. As long as it’s not something like ‘you must give us your firstborn child’ or ‘you must give us your soul’ then I think I can pretty much spare anything else.

“Well that is all that I needed from you guys.” I looked at the clock. Wow, 4 o’ clock already. That took some time. “Anything else yall need from me?” I asked them all.

“No. I believe all our questions are answered for now.” The queen answered for everyone.

“Alrighty. Well I have no intentions of doing anything else for today. So yall can just do whatever. Actually I think I’ll go run for a bit. I may be lazy but I must keep in good shape or I’ll be useless for you guys. Tomorrow I’ll give you guys some of the details of my plans.” I stood up and went to go make a sandwich. Mmm I love these things. After I got done I went to the door and gave them a farewell. “Ugh, exercise…” I sighed “let’s get this over with quickly.”

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Phew. Man that took fooooorever to write up. Worth it though. Now everyone has a small idea of what he’ll be doing in the future right? Good. Heh, this is going to be quite the ride if I do say so myself. Well I’m tired so I’m going to take a break for the rest of the day. I’ll start Chapter 9 tomorrow. I don’t think it will be as long as this one. I’ll try not to make it as long or as dry. Sorry for that as well. WELP! Until next time!!!