Dras Edoc’sil, capital of the Zoiji Confederacy,
ten years after the Life Day Trinity...
While his granddaughter
Viquina was away on an archaeological dig with her three mischievous children,
Orono had a rare amount of time to himself. Instead of facing economic crises
or looming terrorists plots, everything within the Confederacy was at peace. While
his family was out enjoying this rare moment, he immersed himself in ancient
lore and stargazed from his personal observatory within the estate. However, it
was during an azure starlight night that the unthinkable happened. While
observing the new phase of Vyzeria, Dras Edoc’sil’s moon, Orono noticed a
strange shape moving forward in the distance. After enhancing the focus, he saw
that it was a small, organic-looking starship. It was an exotic sort of vessel,
a combination of clear white crystal, and a strange pitch black material with
collections of brilliant green lights bound together by strands of taught grey
webbing. The ship, as if it had been expected, landed mere meters away from his
position. Unsure of the vessel’s intent, Orono leapt forward, landing near what
appeared to be its bow. At that moment, a voice came from within,
“Peace, bipedal one. We
have no reason or intent to harm you.”
The voice was sweet and
reassuring, and the boarding ramp descended, showing Orono who he was speaking
to. Four eight-legged figures walked, or rather scuttled down the boarding ramp
to meet him. Like the vessel that had brought them here, they were like nothing
Orono had ever seen before. Their spidery legs were long and smoothly curved,
each hair upon them arranged to form mesmerizing patterns. From above the
waist, if indeed they truly had one, they appeared as ancient beauties. Each
possessed svelte features; accentuated by their pale grey skin, dark woven
robes and alabaster hair, and a set of four eyes gazed back at him curiously.
The first of them, who possessed unnaturally violet eyes and azure patterns on
her legs, came forward,
“Zovera Regantulla, of the
Arachnion Collective, at your service,” she said with a short bow.
“Orono Zoiji, of the Zoiji
Confederacy, at yours.” he answered calmly. Going straight to the point, he
asked,
“What brings you here?”
“Curiosity. We are the
Regantullans, leaders of the Arachnion Combine. We have been watching you and
your family for some time, and your magnificent work on Albios warranted
introductions,” Zovera answered evenly.
“You come from that same
galaxy?” Orono asked intently.
Zovera put on a warm
smile, letting him glimpse a pair of razor-sharp incisors hidden among her
teeth.
“You have merely taken
your first step into a larger frontier, Orono,” she answered knowingly.
Gesturing at the main doorway ahead of them she asked,
“May we come in?”
“Of course,” Orono
answered amiably, “I just need to call off my bodyguard droid. He doesn’t take
well to unexpected visits.”
A quizzical look came over
Zovera’s face.
“Droid? What is that?”
“A machine designed to
keep my family safe, at any cost,”
Orono answered. Speaking into his wrist
commlink, he said,
“HK-51, the individuals at
the door are guests, and have no hostile intentions. Do not engage, repeat do
not engage.”
After a short pause, the
heavy iron doors of Orono’s home swung open, with HK-51 ushering them in. They
were led to a large ash wood banquet table and took their seats. After much
feasting and drinking, Zovera made a complete introduction of the group.
“These are my daugthers,
Morwen and Bella,” she said after gesturing to a pair of young Anachrions with
emerald and gold patterns on their legs and indigo eyes.
“I am honored to receive
you,” Orono said to them.
“A pleasure,” Morwen and
Bella said together with a short bow.
“And this,” Zovera
concluded, “is my husband Hyrol.”
Huge and imposing, Hyrol
had red and black patterns on his legs with pronounced muscles on his arms with
bright orange eyes.
“A pleasure to make your
acquaintance, Hyrol,” Orono said evenly. Although he still sensed no ill will
from any of his new guests, he could not help but think Hyrol was simply
waiting to attack. However, he managed to dispel that thought after Hyrol’s
calm response of,
“Likewise, bipedal one.”
Now that he knew them
properly, Orono spoke his mind,
“I am sure that you must
be tired from the journey here, but I have something to ask you before the
night is through.”
“Ask away,” Zolera said
casually, “Our race always welcomes a curious mind.”
“Your species certainly
has an eye for beauty, but something tells me that it serves a deeper purpose.
With your permission, what is it exactly?”
Morwen and Bella stood to
answer Orono’s question.
“Our colors serve to tempt
both mates and prey,” Bella began.
“Lets their passions do
the talking,” Morwen continued.
“Then, when they come running
after us,” the sisters said together, “these get planted in their chests,”
showing both their razor teeth and large, syringe-like stingers by their legs
for effect.
“I see,” Orono answered,
“but are your teeth and stingers always meant to kill?”
“Depends,” Bella said.
“On whether we think
you’re a friend or foe,” Morwen finished.
“Fair enough,” Orono
answered, “but the living and the dead are privileged to see such beauty.”
The sister’s skin darkened
as they blushed, them smiled bashfully.
“You have very good
manners, bipedal. A rare trait in this universe,” Zovera said approvingly.
“What do the number of
limbs matter as long as there’s a civilized mind behind them?"Orono answered.
Zovera smiled at this.
“Well said.”
And please,” Orono said with a light chuckle, “call me Orono.”
Glancing out at the night
sky, Orono suddenly realized he was very tired. With a yawn, he said,
“Forgive me, but I must
turn in for the night. Please, make yourselves comfortable. My home is your
home.”
In a flash, the Anachrions
wove individual webs on the ceiling, climbing up to each in turn.
“Rest well, Orono,” Hyrol
said to him. “We may talk further in the morning”.
Orono thanked him and went
to bed himself. Before sleep claimed him, he thought,
The family’s going to be in for a big surprise...
