Kozan Battleship, Fourth Quadrant, Andromeda Galaxy.

Zogan

Zogan rolled his shoulders as he stepped into the control room of his warship, Dynah. He relished the feeling of being surrounded by his warriors and trusted allies. He slowly scanned the panels of blinking lights and graphs that showed everything to be working perfectly. He'd had to give up the ship for six rotations and had to use the much slower and bulkier carrier ships from his father's collection. His tongue flicked out in irritation at the memory of how long it had taken to even travel from their planet's biggest moon Xentos and back. The journey, usually just three quints, took a full rotation. The ship had been put out of commission by a surprise attack carried out by Ajal sympathizers. How anyone could agree to work with the vile creatures, he had no idea. The Ajal were a scourge that had spread from the first quadrant to his, constantly seeking power and dominion over beings they deemed to be lesser or undeserving of freedom. To align oneself with them meant the sympathizers were either incredibly stupid or desperate. He sat in the commander's chair that was placed in the center of the circular panels filling the room, providing an unobstructed view of the transparent plane that wrapped around the entire area. No enemies would go unseen. The last attack had been sneaky and that was the only way they'd been successful in blasting his ship out of the skies, leaving all aboard to hastily evacuate. Zogan had been filled with awe when he'd heard news that the ship had been retrieved.

He'd spent many days thinking on how the Ajal always seemed to outmaneuver them. His enemies were also always uncannily aware of when their retaliations were planned and how they were to be carried out. The only conclusion, of course, would be that there was someone within his ranks leaking information. The other conclusion was far worse, that The Elder's Sanctuary held a possible traitor, if that turned out to be correct then the fourth quadrant was going to suffer unimaginably until the situation was dealt with. Zogan had no inkling of who it might be, but he and his inner council were listening and observing carefully. He hoped the latter was not the case, that leak would be infinitely harder to locate and dispose of at the Sanctuary. It was supposed to be a fortress and they'd have to go in undetected so that the idiot didn't run.

The fact that the Sanctuary had been infiltrated was another big problem. The place was run by the fugge, they were one of the most feared species in the galaxy. So hideous to look upon that they wore red cowls to hide their appearance and they faithfully guarded all entrances to the sanctuary. How could have someone gotten in? The fugge were notoriously hard to kill and were known to be merciless towards all those who dared to go against The Supreme, they were loyal to a fault. So many things did not add up, Zogan rubbed the base of his left horn, it always ached when he became stressed. His thoughts were interrupted when one of his trusted council members appeared beside his seat and looked stoically out into the whirling stars that lazily danced across the screen. Ravanna was a male of a few words, always weighing them carefully before sharing his thoughts. Zogan waited expectantly.

"The female, why did you take her?" He sounded genuinely confused.

Zogan's brow bones lifted, he did not truly know the answer to that question, "She seemed to need an escape, I gave her an option."

Not a direct answer but it was all he had. The female had been close to being choked to death by a Zon when he'd first seen her, she'd had no way of escaping the clutches of the salivating beast, so he'd helped her and moved on. When he'd gotten a good look at her in the room he was taken aback by how tiny and utterly defenseless she was. The Supreme had told him that her species were known as humans, he remembered learning about the abandoned world in his youth classes. No wonder they'd been abandoned, weak and useless as they'd evolved to be, Fllt - his tongue flicked out. "She would've been tortured by the tests in the medical bay," he looked up at Ravanna who still gazed out into space.

Ravanna nodded slowly acknowledging the painful sensitivity tests the bay was known to try on new and uncharted species, "Her scent seems to be affecting our Kyeet."

The Kyeet were of a distant relation to the Kozan, they came from the same ancestor but had developed in different ways eventually. The Kyeet were muscled four legged beasts that were companions to the Kozan, they came in many colors and with varied strengths and gifts. Some could run so fast that the Kozan eye could not follow, others flew, tracked, burrowed through the earth and the most elusive spat blue fire so hot that it could burn anyone from a distance.

"I had not considered the possibility of her affecting our Kyeet." Zogan's chin lowered in thought, "Let us confine them to the eastern end of the ship, I'd rather not explain to Nezerra that her new gift was ripped to pieces on the journey here."

Ravanna's mouth tilted into a small smile at the mention of Zogan's little sister. She would be whining for days and irritating her brother any chance she got if that accident ever happened.

"I know what you're thinking!" snapped Zogan, his mouth pulling into a reluctant smile as well.

Despite Ravanna being quiet in the presence of most, he was a trickster at heart and there was now a great chance that he would purposefully leave the Kyeet free just so that Zogan would be forever begging his sister's forgiveness. Ravanna only shrugged and turned away.

Fllt! Zogan dutifully rubbed his left horn.

The female had been at risk with the scientists who worked at The Sanctuary's medical bay. They were known for their unquenchable curiosity, and since she was indeed a novelty, he could only imagine the tests that would have been run on her. The sensitivity tests that were run in the bay were quite comprehensive and included magnetic and electrical pulses, as well as submergence in fluid filled tanks that had robotic arms that probed its test subject in the most unpleasant ways. He'd witnessed a test and had to leave the room for fear that he'd throttle the scientist who operated the thing. It was not that he was opposed to learning and discovering new things. He definitely had no problem with killing wretched beings as well, but, helpless creatures, especially ones that could not speak up for themselves he could not stomach their hurt. Mya, he remembered her name, she was indeed a helpless creature.

'How had the human species survived? Did they not have predators on their planet? Or perhaps they were the predators?' He scoffed at that last thought, if that were the case then the planet would have been invaded a long time ago if left in the fourth quadrant. He supposed they'd been granted a mercy then by being disposed of.

His thoughts drifted to the female's hair, he'd never seen hair that color or of such a texture. Tendrils that escaped in the panic of the rescue had bounced around her face and it had been soft when he'd carried her into the room. It was the color of dried blood, and her face though scarred was interesting to look at, not beautiful like the women of his species but the scars made it an interesting study. Her eyes had caused him to freeze for a moment when he'd asked her what to call her. One was a chocolate brown while the other was the silver white of the face of the second moon of his planet. That was beautiful and unexpected, she was an interesting female, if you overlooked her too small size, helplessness, and lack of scales. He shook his head, causing his locs to tinkle, why did he care?

Pushing to his feet he left the control room, strolling down the wide corridors he headed for his quarters. He'd been up for three rotations and though his species could last for an awfully long time without both rest and nourishment in times of emergencies. Sleep was something he cherished and would not go without when the opportunities were so rarely given these days.

"Sir!" pattering footsteps sounded behind him, "Sir!"

Zogan sighed, his nose slits vibrated with the rush of air, and slowed so that Yavik could catch up to him.

"Yes Yavik?" He answered patiently. Yavik was one of his personal researchers and lead medic, he'd loaned him to the Evok that had been carrying out research on distant planets for three solars. He'd only returned a few rotations ago and had been incredibly pleased to be back, something about rabid creatures not making good research projects or something along those lines.

"I-I noticed you registered another presence on board," Yavik's fimbriae fluttered shakily indicating he was bothered.

Zogan rubbed at his horn, "Fllt." He looked fully at Yavik now, "I have, she is a gift for Nezerra."

Yavik inclined his head, his fimbriae calming slightly at the mention of his sister's name. She seemed to have that effect on those who knew her, she was quite easy to love. "The-the human female?"

Zogan lowered his chin in acknowledgement, Yavik's eyes widened to encompass almost all of his sloping forehead, "Sir, she is a violent creature," he nodded vigorously, "sh-she threatened to physically harm me!"

Zogan's steps faltered in the busy hallway, "Did she now?"

He was interested as to how this threat had happened, especially since Mya was defenseless and the Nvit were a very non-hostile race. Yavik's home world would have been destroyed if the Kozan hadn't intervened and rescued them all. The Nvit were highly intelligent and curious but also submissive, shy and sometimes too amicable for their own good.

Yavik's eyes retracted a small bit, "Well she didn't say she wouldn't, and she bared her teeth at me most savagely sir."

Zogan exhaled through his nostrils, he did not have the time for this. His bed was calling him with a sweet siren's song, and he did not want to miss the opportunity to revel in it. "Yavik," he said gripping his friend's shoulder, "She was scared and alone, maybe try to befriend her under better circumstances, and she will be more receptive."

Yavik paused as if considering the advice given, his fimbriae slowly relaxed, "Do you think she will like me?"

Zogan nodded seriously, as if considering the most important question in the world, "It is hard for someone not to like you Yavik."

Yavik preened at the compliment, chin lowered appreciatively he inclined his head respectfully and left Zogan to continue to his quarters.

He chuckled softly as he considered what it must have been like to see a tiny human threaten Yavik, who, as harmless and docile as he was, was still taller and stronger than her. He quickly cleansed in the refresher and hurried to his warmed sleeping pad when his comm device lit up and beeped. He hissed and had to stop himself from throwing it against the wall. His annoyance ebbed when he saw that it was his sister, Nezerra calling. Taking a deep breath, he answered, "Nezze?"

His little sister beamed up at him from the hologram projection that sprang from his comm. "Brotherrrrrr!!! I miss you!" she pushed her full lips together to show her disapproval for him being away from her for longer than a few rotations.

"I have only been away for three rotations, if I am there all the time how would you miss me?" he teased, his face lit up at the smile that was on her face.

She was in the palace forest he supposed, her background was full of lush yellow trees, brimming with the purple Gruut Gruut fruits that were a delicacy on their planet. His gut twisted with homesickness, he missed the comfort and ease that came with being around his family and closest friends. But the attacks and machinations of the Ajal and their allies threatened the safety and peace not only for his home but for the whole of the fourth quarter, he comforted himself with the thought that if he kept fighting, they would all have a fighting chance too.

"Hey, where'd you go?" his sister said noticing his far away expression, inquisitive as she was.

"Nothing, I miss you," he said softly, "I have a gift for you."

The worried expression that had begun to form on her face morphed into a beautiful smile, showing her fangs, and causing her red pupiled eyes to glitter.

She clasped her hands together in excitement almost dropping her comm in the process, she screeched, "What is it? Tell me, tell me, tell meeeeeee!!!!"

Zogan winced, "It's a surprise, you will see it in three rotations...be patient Nezze."

His sister was known for her impatience, especially when it came to surprises of any kind, it was something he and his older sister, Mara, were trying to teach her, albeit a bit unsuccessfully.

"Where's Mara?" he asked as his thoughts passed over his older, difficult sister.

Nezerra's face sobered into a mock frown, "Oh you know, off training the poor new recruits."

Zogan snickered, "I feel sorry for them already."

Nezerra cackled loudly, smacking her clawed hand over her mouth.

"PRINCESSES DO NOT CACKLE!!" screeched a voice from off the hologram, his mother no doubt.

Nezerra's tongue shot out in annoyance - Fllt! She managed to look sheepish even though her face was still split with a mischievous grin. Her eyes lit up as a plan formed in her mind, an evil one; one that was sure to involve Zogan in something he wanted no part of. He shook his head vigorously, he did not want to be put onto his mother right now, the talk would be endless, going on about if he had found a female to mate and talks of taking over the throne from his aging father. He was much too tired to put up with the motherly lectures at the moment.

"Oh, look at the cycle, I think I am going to rest," he said hastily.

Nezerra's eyes danced with mirth, "Motherrrrrrrrr!" She began, dragging out the r giving Zogan enough time to end the comm call. He hastily pressed the terminate button causing the comm to slip out of his hands. He reached forward to catch it before it fell, looking like an acrobat trying to juggle multiple balls, it still clattered to the ground. Hissing he fell back onto his sleep pad with a loud thwap!

'Females!' He thought sarcastically, it seemed they were all coded to cause trouble and mischief no matter the species and no matter the planet. Fllt! He rolled over and shut his eyes, soon enough his snores filled his chamber as the battleship flew through space.