Unipsi, lovely entity

chapter 52: conference

“are you sure that you are alright?” asked Iris who was still worried while Scilla was sitting on the floor.

“let’s say that I didn’t like it. But my body is all good”

“what about your mind? I mean your…”

“I would love to say that I have seen and felt worse, but not really. The only worse things I saw were both done by you so…”

“I’m sorry”

Scilla laughed loudly and it startled Iris.

“you don’t have to be sorry. I was once overwhelmed by hatred too. I desired destruction and I delivered it. So to be clear, if there is someone who can understand you, that’s me.”

Iris blushed and sit beside Scilla.

“thanks you. I know I’m not… ideal… but I appreciate your words”

“nobody is perfect. We all have our desires. Who knows maybe one day you will let go of such hate”

“I doubt it. As far as I know it’s engraved into me. My sisters were not normal neither, but I don’t remember any of them being like this”

“only time will tell us…”

“yeah.”

“will you bring me home?”

“sure. I just redirected the ship… What does your sister think of me?”

Scilla stared at Iris. From the day of her massacre things have changed a bit.

“well… do you want the truth?”

“yes, even if it’s painful.”

“got it. So things have changed a bit. She still likes the idea that I found a girlfriend, but that’s about it. She is scared, like well almost everybody. So I guess we will have to wait before we could go out for a picnic again.” Scilla smiled while Iris stared at her. Her eyes were filled with sorrow.

“did I ruin…”

“no, our relationship is as strong as it could be. She just can’t understand that in the end you were just following orders. If it was not you, there was going to be someone else right?”

“yeah. They would have probably nuked the planet”

“see, at least they can still live in the zone you hit.”

Iris grabbed Scilla’s shirt and pulled it closer to her. Scilla could see that Iris fingernails were grey. A dark grey, the same as the Whispers.

“are you scared of me?”

“not in the same way like the others. I felt the Whispers and I can tell that they are no threat to you. Yet I can’t but worry about you. So much power in such small and frail body.”

“my body is adapting… if I change would it be… problematic?”

“depends. Do you know such changes?”

“partially. Do you know how humans depicted devils and demons?”

“would you turn horrible?”

“depends. Coso (Thing) is not horrible. It just looks really good, but it’s strange. It feels hollow. I mean like someone of something that doesn’t care, it just want to watch. It has cool horns, crystal wings…”

“Who is Coso?”

“Someone I saw every time I mutate. It’s a childish yet enchanting creature that teaches me how to use my powers and evolve further. I still don’t know if it’s real or not. I just dream of it. Maybe it’s like a guide program to teach the new holder how the Whispers work”

“yeah, maybe… and you think you are turning into it?”

“Partially. From what I can understand I will develop some traits that will appear only if I use the Whispers and disappear some time after. Like my grey nails will soon return to normal.”

“don’t worry about it. If they are not permanent it’s fine, maybe they end up looking good on you”

Iris chuckled.

“I hope so…”

As if she remembered something out of nowhere, Iris jumped back up on her feet. Instead of climbing or using the gravon elevator, Iris decided to use the Whispers in the form of several tentacles to relocate herself into her room. She reappeared soon after with a cardboard box, usually used for clothes upon buying them.

“Scil Scil, I have a question. You know more than me so what are those?”

Nonchalantly Iris opened the box and pulled out a series of extremely gaudy underwear. They were clearly meant to spice up some already spicy nights. Scilla being a gentlemen turned her head away from the sight.

“I bought them online. They were tagged as lush, but I don’t really understand this style. Look they are all so different. This one even has a circular hole on the back… I think… is it meant for men?”

at that point while Iris was showing the pants emphasizing the backdoor hole with her fingers, Scilla started laughing uncontrollably.

“what? What am I missing? Why is there a hole?… STOP LAUGHING!… SCILLA!?!”

“sorry sorry, it’s just… that’s so stupid. Where did you even found those? Also why did you bought them?”

“I… I… well I told you… I don’t need my connective suit… not any more. So… I took it off but it felt odd… looked online and found that people wear those things. I looked around and picked those that I liked… then I found those. They were so strange and lush style? What’s that? So I bought a few and thought of asking you… did I do wrong?”

Scilla couldn’t help but smile. As time passed it became more and more clear that Iris decided to rely on her every time she could. It was definitely appreciated.

“well let’s start with lush. It’s not a style. It’s a sexual allusion…”

Scilla looked at Iris right in the eyes to see if she was understanding. Her confused expression and side tilted head stated otherwise.

“you don’t know what they are right?”

Iris nodded.

“You take normal words and put them in a different contest so they acquire a new meaning…”

“what does lush mean?”

“it’s pretty straight forward. What do you think if I say: let’s have a lush night together?”

“I don’t know… I night between plants, like sleeping in a jungle?”

“never mind. What if I say: let’s spice up our nights?”

“you want to eat food containing more capsaicin?”

“yeah this is not gonna work. Sorry but to respect your other desires I can’t teach you practically”

“what do you mean by that?”

“that our relationship is too young for that. As much as I would love to have you I will respect your previous decisions”

Iris was even more confused. In her mind she was already belonging to Scilla.

The fuck is she talking about. Didn’t I made it clear. We own each other, maybe she forgot.

“Scil, I already belong to you. You already have me, I told you before. Like you own me, I own you…”

“that was another allusion. Like I said it’s something that you must know and I can’t teach you, not now”

“you can’t do that! Deprive me of knowledge… I want it!”

Sensing that Iris was yet again overthinking and going on her way, Scilla pulled her closer and hugged her. She calmed immediately.

“better?”

“yes”

“about those underwear, especially the one with the backdoor hole. Don’t wear them”

“is there a reason?… that you can tell me”

“yes, sort of. They don’t fit you. You are too pure for something like that. I don’t want you to wear them.”

“I understood nothing of what you said, but ok… can I show you the others?”

“I suppose you will show me anyway”

“maybe”

With new resolution Scilla sit trough underwear picking with Iris. She had bought around 40 different pairs and ended with 15. Scilla’s taste mostly aligned with Iris’s one, but most importantly the underwear they choose were the most comfortable. They were rare product that followed the leafy motive commonly spread among traditional Esterian clothes, the one that Iris likes to wear. They were really meant for each other.

They went on with their lives even if it was more complicated as Iris “couldn’t land” on Icar-3. Fortunately for her the NDU was one of the most advanced stealth ship that the Esterians had. Landing totally unnoticed on a planet was an easy task. Their secret collaboration was not welcomed with open arms. On their first scavenge mission Idra was already waiting on the planet surface. When they saw her, most immediately thought that she was back to kill them. Everybody except Scilla would run away or hide from Idra. They feared that just one wrong word would end up killing them and their families. That same fear however was ideal to make them keep their lips sealed like a strong nuclear bond. Each time they came back Idra would visit a Lineic warden history database to read what she was owned. She was not greedy and followed the rules so she could read in peace. The Lineic warden Selena kinda grew fond on her. Idra was never once a disturbing nor disrespectful presence, quite the opposite. Her absolutely inhuman sharpness floored Selena that gradually started to initiate conversations with Idra. For Selena Idra became a drug, she could read just few pages and rebuild what had appended down to details that were never disclosed nor recorded physically. It was just something unheard of a living creature, something that didn’t belong to them.

After some months of work something changed. Out of the blue Idra armour exhibit an unknown pattern. The goo was showing tetrahedral drawing all over it. Idra started wearing it on a return trip from a mission. Nobody dare to ask, nobody dare to be in the same room as her, yet she roamed free around the Sheridan. After two days Scilla asked while walking Idra back to her ship for the night.

“what are those symbols on your suit?”

“the tetrahedrons?”

“what else?”

“to make a long story short, a sad week has started for all Esterians. A week dedicated to those we lost in the Spike War and those we lost afterward. We remember them by wearing appropriately.”

“what’s the Spike War?”

“you know we have a lot of planets”

“I know”

“they weren’t always ours. Soon after getting away from Terra a new enemy appeared. We wanted peace, they wanted us dead. They gave us no choice but fight. We fought back for 168 years. That’s the Spike War. Our enemies are no more, extinct like the Droxi. But so were most of us.” Idras voice was grave, Scilla could feel the pain in each word. The Spike War was an open wound that had yet to close.

Better change topic.

“now that I think about it, isn’t the first conference among nation with also the Esterians being held in those days?”

“yes, it will be… peculiar”

“do you know something about it?”

“I know what was authorised. I’m sure Nixie 112 will make use of her diplomatic capabilities”

All nations excluded the Esterian Tech-Union had kept in touch among themselves. They used diplomatic meetings and ambassadors to exchange informations and news even during wars. From time to time when events particularly drastic that shock most nations they would meet to discuss them. The Droxi war was the previous topic, now it was time for the Esterian massacre on Museniloe-2.

For the first time in history Esterians decided to participate and the meeting was being held on Leanira-2, the Lean home world as the Esterians defined it as neutral territory.

While they were out scavenging the international politics were going to be shocked.

All major nations had united and their respective ambassadors had already landed on Leanira-2. For the Lean federation of course it was Liin Csuicha herself. For the Pridian it was their prime minister as they were heavily involved. The Terran send their minister for foreign policies and the Xoraxtas sent their prime minister like the Pridians. Minor independent human planets sent their ministers but none dare to send a mere ambassador, not for something that could bring to a war against an unknown superpower. The last to arrived were the Esterians that of course had to make a theatrical appearance. They arrived “in mass” with 7 spaceships, all so heavily armoured to be easily mistaken for battleships. Of those ships only three landed while the others kept flying around. Among those three only one opened its cargo doors to let out a small army of people and machines. At the centre of an arrow formation there was the only woman of the entire party composed of other 3 men in “light armour” and blocky backpacks, 4 more soldiers in heavy power suits and 24 fully armed autonomous walkers. The woman and the 3 men wearing piece of clothing above their armour with tetrahedrons drawn all over. The 4 soldiers had nothing that could incapacitated them or get in their way while on duty, yet they had the tetrahedrons suit pattern as well. A keen eye like those of Csuicha could easily understand that those were funeral dressed wore above their armour. Unfortunately she was one of the few to understand it as Esterians had so far only wore fully black suits. They march in unison toward the palace that was going to hold the meeting. All the journalists eyes and cameras were on them. They were a rare sight, especially in numbers. A rare sight that sent chills down their spine. They looked mostly hostile yet they were so cold and calm. So focused that no matter what people shouted around them, their head never moved.

As predictable they were not allowed to bring war machines inside the building so all the walkers waited outside. The guards were however forced to let the others go in with all their weapons as those were their laws, and the Liin had her guards too. When they entered the conference room all the attendees went silent, scared of the Evil Esterians.

Nixie 112 sat at her place and spoke in unified language.

“Forgive our delay, someone forgot an a piece of equipment. Shall we begin?”

of course murmur immediately started among the officials sent to discuss but those who talked the most were the press members allowed inside to stream the event.

Liin Csuicha called for order and silence. She was the head as the conference was on her planet.

“As not all of us have known each other, how about a fast introduction” said Csuicha.

From her left people started introducing themselves and when it came to Nixie she skipped speaking. She placed herself as last and when her turn arrived she stood up from her chair as dictated by the Esterian protocol.

“Good morning. I’m Nixie 112, Remnant from the Esterian Tech-Union. I speak on behalf of all Esterians excluded the Remnant of the Founder Idra 511 Weeping Sky and the Founder himself. We come to you as one and we will treat you as one.”

that’s a really odd wording. We come as one? Treat you as one? What does she mean? Why is Idra excluded? Didn’t we meddle with something bigger than us?(liin Cuischa thoughts)

“Why is Idra excluded” asked the Xoraxta prime minister Nikanor Zima.

“we have no authority over the Remnant of the founder” replied Nixie coldly while moving her arms to her back assuming a more authoritarian position.

“How could we even discuss the massacre if the main culprit is excluded?” continued the Xoraxta. That was a stupid move.

He is just digging his own grave. Let’s see what Nixie will do.

“how pitifully to be guided by such primitive beast. Idras operate far beyond organic comprehension. Limiting them would only damage our kind. I would recommand you to bow for such insolence”. Nixie had rotated to face Nikanor. Her chin slightly pointing up as a sign of superiority. Nikanor was predictably offended by it.

“Bow? To you. You must be joking…”

“assumption over assumption. Bow now and I will let you off the hook” Nixie moved her left hand closer to the data port of her seat. It was integrated with the conference room table and allowed to connected to the main display of the room.

“Who do you think…”

“Third warning. Bow so low to kiss the ground.”

“never!”

As Nikanor replied Nixie armour goo extended form her hand and connected to the data port. The display started showing a top down view of a huge mansion. The camera zoomed in and changed to a thermal view. 2 creatures were inside a room and really close to each other.

“we gave you the opportunity to repent. You did this to yourself”

The video moved on, the camera changed position and optics. It was now directly seeing sideways through the walls. It was Nikanor with a really young Xoraxta having a sexual intercourse. While their audio played in the background 2 sheets popped up. On one side the prime minister and on the other the girl. Lines circulated around peculiar details. The man was married and the girl was underage. Nikanor jumped up from his seat.

“LIES! THOSE ARE ALL FABRICATED LIES!” yelled. Nixie replied even more coldly.

“We sent the raw captured data to your people. They can judge by themselves if they are fake or not. But I would say that having sex with a minor who had serious family issues and giving her money doesn’t play in your favour. Not when you are married, not when the money you used are directly taken from social policies that you boast about…”

“Those are all fabricated lies that you made to discredit me.”

“maybe. Or maybe not. You are not that good as you think to hide your misdeeds. Plus we have eyes and ears everywhere. You are a disgusting being and if you were under my laws there would have been no more Nikanor long ago. But it is not up to me. Let you people decide and investigate. I’m sure your political adversaries would love to.”

Nikanor assistants and crew, that was by his side all along, took some steps back. The video, still playing in the background, was just so good to be fake. On top of it there were proof after proof of illegal money transactions, tracked from bank to back down to even ATMs. It was a work that far surpassed any kind of investigation. So precise to be frightening. Nikanor sat back defeated.

I didn’t expected a puppy to toy with, but she is more brutal than Idra. I like it.

“We are glad that the ETU decided to send their ambassadors to speak, hopefully this would be a productive encounter” replied Csuicha. Putting a stop to the conversation and removing the attention from the Xoraxtas, they had their problem now.

“We hope for the same, a peaceful resolution would be optimal for our species.” Replied Nixie while sitting back into her position.

Liin Csuicha cleared her voice, being in charge she was the one that had to introduce what they were going to discuss.

“As we unfortunately know, we are here to try and understand that had happened on Museniloe-2. We all had time to analyse the video footage broadcasted by the ETU itself. What we don’t know is the ETU version of the events. Nixie if you could...”

“I’m not Nixie. I’m Nixie 112 Liin Csuicha.”

Stricter than Idra. I see.

“well Nixie 112, would you mind tell us your version of the story?” concluded Csuicha.

Nixie stood up again.

“with pleasure. Our troops have been attacked. As a result we sent an ultimatum to the Pridian’s prime minister Lorcas who is present here…”

On of the Esterian man moved closer to Nixie’s position and interacted with the data connector to transmit images on the room displays. It was a written message stating a series of names.

“as you can read, we requested 1000 people to be collected as we believed they had connection with the murder. We have clearly stated that upon investigation only those found guilty would be taken. Their fate would have been, according to law, exposure to public rage and then a proportionally painful end…”

People were shocked, yet the images spoke clear. They sent an ultimatum although brutal it was legal.

“in the message we also wrote the consequences of a missed agreement. Let me quote: In case of refusal the ETU will use all means necessary to deliver punishment to those deemed guilty. The ETU will also set an example of repercussion in case of failure to meet our demands regarding criminals.”

So to make it short, they killed the city to set an example. Do as we say or we will exterminate you. I don’t think it will help to make friends.

“of course it was not over. Like said, we have eyes and ears everywhere.”

A new video started playing. It was like before. A recording of Lorcas while reading the Esterian’s message. Subtitles emphasised the first response upon reading the message.

“this is ridiculous. If they think that we will let them do whatever the want they can fuck off and go screw themselves”

“your reply failed to meet our request. So we asked Idra to deliver punishment as stated. The blood of 46’562’901 of people was an easily avoidable tragedy. But who are we to discuss the decision of others prime minister?” ended Nixie returning to sit. From carnage it transform to an excessive use of force but that was technically being under the sun all along. Esterians clearly said that were the consequence and what they wanted. Of course giving away your citizens is not something easy to do, but even if all were killed it would have been just 1000 against 46’562’901.