Sornand'r loved her home. A palace in an already perfect land It was an example of what the twin mastery of architecture and nature can do. It stood alone, separated from the rest of the city in an array of sparkling blue pools and terraces shining against the skyline. Rare animals grazed on fields wars would have been fought over in more barbaric times. Dozens of fields of a different kind surrounded them, each a dedicated arena for training and ceremonial combat. Today the grass and polished stone of her family's palace was shaded by the forms of gunships hanging above them, each having been drawn back from a hasty search of the skies and the void above to guard just one individual. Her. It wasn't often she was reminded just how many lives she controlled. The hundreds of warriors gathering to surround them made her feel no better.
Her father was at the lead of the small army gathered around them, her mother and brothers standing beside him.
The alien was completely and wholly unconcerned, his eyes drawing over the latest advancements in warfare her people had made in the last decade with the air of a child inspecting toys they didn't quite think were any fun. The only indication he might consider them any threat at all was the arm that snaked around her waist as they approached. It could have just as easily been another taunt. If it was, it worked. Her father bristled as they drew into sight. His large frame almost shook with rage at the sight of the man embracing her as he was her lover. He tore his gaze away from the interloper, looking to Sornand'r.
"What happened, my child? We have at least three shots on him that could be made without putting you at risk. Why let this interloper live after he ripped you right from the streets of my city?"
"I was worried, father. I am worried. This alien, he is strong, and I can't tell how much. I thought he might have been Kryptonian." She hoped that was enough for him to understand. Any one warrior, or even group is in danger. If things fell apart she needed to be sure they understood, and that if the worst came to pass, they bring everything they had to kill him. She continued. "He wants to talk."
"What? No. He couldn't be. Our sun would wither him down to nothing. He-" Her father looked upward, before looking to the stranger with a frown on his face.
"It doesn't matter, if you believed that even for a moment we should tread carefully. What does he want?" She could feel her father's frown underneath his beard even if she couldn't see it at their distance. She looked up at the ragged alien.
"Make your demands." She said, once again examining his form. His wounds might present more vulnerability than the rest of him, but they didn't look like they were slowing him down. He gazed into the crowd, examining warriors and gunship alike. She barely caught a whispered "not bad." before he began to speak, Sornand'r was translating only moments later.
"I understand my first introduction to your people has been less than kind. I didn't arrive on this planet by choice and I had assumed it was already hostile to me. My actions have been blatant and... disrespectful." He grinned, clearly not caring about respect or his actions. "I want only to learn about this world and whatever part of the universe I find myself in." Her father clenched his teeth past his beard, restraining himself from speaking for a moment when her mother placed a delicate hand on his shoulder.
"It could be arranged, along with free passage off of this world. If you would release my daughter."
The alien shook his head.
"No. I feel it's clear we'll come to blows if I do that, and until I have the information I need I have nowhere to go. Since we're beyond mutual trust or good faith, I'm keeping your daughter with me to ensure my safety. In return for this concession I'll be staying here. She will be in your sight and well within your ability to try and protect."
"Unacceptable. If you let her go now I can provide someone else to translate. We can negotiate from there." Sornand'r hesitated to translate her fathers words, opening her mouth to interrupt her father and have him reconsider. Laughter cut her off, the alien speaking loudly enough to make everyone tense, even if they couldn't understand him.
"I'm not asking for your permission, I'm telling you what I'm going to do. I like this place, until I decide to leave of my own volition it's as much my home as it is yours. These soldiers will leave, and I will take your daughter to a place of your choosing. You will provide me with food, somewhere to bathe, and the help of an educator in you language. No one has to die, I get what I want."
Sornand'r flinched away from his touch, before repeating the words. One of her brothers, Thirlet, moved forward with his teeth bared, shouting insults and threats. One of the guards caught him, barely managing to restrain him before more came to help. Her father spared him a glance before looking back to them.
"Why would I honor this 'deal'?" When she finished translating the alien paused, before he loosened his grip somewhat, looking around with a smile at those around him before he looked back at her.
"Why would he honor the deal, girl?" She looked into his eyes for a moment, before nodding, realization coming quickly.
"Do as he says, father." Her voice was hard. Her father and brother's started.
"Sornand'r-"
"It's the only way to avoid bloodshed. Listen to me. Please."
Sornand'r's father stared at her. She stared right back.
It seemed that while these people favored an all but nonexistent lack of dress they did not keep that thinking when it came to armor.
The girl was good. I'd give her that. As confident as I was these people couldn't hurt me, there was always the chance I was wrong. I wasn't going to die because I assumed they were weaker than they were. It would be days before my wounds healed, and all the better to escape after I recover. There was only one person and one empire I was willing to die for. Neither seemed to be around here.
They looked at each other for a fair while, the one called Sornand'r and a native I assumed was her father. They resembled each other even over the orange skin and red hair that seemed commonplace around here. Eventually he gave a command, and many of the soldiers began to withdraw. A number of guards and immediate family members stuck around, and they spoke between each other. Going off what I'd seen and heard so far, the language they spoke seemed to be a Subject-Verb-Object language. Melodic.
The female in my arms spoke as well, offering advice to her father. They would probably be keeping these soldiers on standby, but they were slow. Soft too if the girl was anything to go by. When she was finished she looked back up at me from her place in my arms.
"It's done. My father will take us into the palace, everything you wanted will be there." I hummed, releasing her and floating back a couple paces. I waited for a wave of laserfire, perhaps artillery, it never came.
"Lead the way. Stay in my sight if you can. You're the only thing keeping them and me from coming to blows." The female had shown she was interested in keeping me away from fights, yet reminders can go far. Especially with what she was up against. I met the cold glare of her patriarch easily. He was giving away the game too quickly. I could hear his heart beating furiously.
Like the soldiers he wore armor, an ensemble of plating part respectable and part decorative, but the badges and cloak had a military air that was undeniable. The dress of their leadership confirmed the suspicions I had the moment we met that patrol. They were comfortable in armor but they valued being seen. The lack of discipline told me they thought themselves as warriors over soldiers. Emotional killers. Impatient. He was the first to look away, gesturing I follow him.
I followed the female and her retinue as they made their way down into their home, both a garrison and a show of wealth and technological design I found immediately distasteful. Within four minutes another argument began. It was hushed, as if they expected me not to hear, as if they believed I could understand them if I did.
The palace was a building that was the same mixture of archaic and advanced as anything I had encountered on this world. It was sized so you could walk or fly at your leisure. I took to the ground even when my guides chose to hover a few feet above it. The interior was far from the spartan, clean halls of the spaceships and buildings my people tended to prefer. The walls lined in a combination of gold and cut stone that was strangely well lit, even though I couldn't tell where from. Servants wandered about, handling whatever tasks had to be done, and guards were in every hall. Most didn't seem to know how to react. A kind of cautious observation falling onto me not unlike how I've been looking over them.
I paid it no mind. With so many natives here the scent was stronger than ever. Flower petals and pheromones. The worst of it still clung to that girl, the scent twisting into my nostrils. Honey. Fragrance. Sensuality. It drew an urge I would welcome if it didn't feel like I could get lost in it. My fist clenched and I didn't quite manage to hold back a growl. Several of the guards tensed, a serving girl scattering off with a whimper. I shook myself out of it, noticing I had stopped moving. Leaving myself open to an attack that surprisingly hadn't come. I looked over the natives once more.
Some treaded carefully, taking the lack of violence so far as a sign I was more than I seemed. Others were not so easily convinced, waiting for me to make a move that they could interpret as hostile, but they hadn't started anything. Why were they holding back as much as they were? For people who hadn't heard of Viltrumites they seemed awfully accepting of a single being threatening them as a whole. I expected to have to kill a few of them to set a proper example.
More questions to answer.
I continued, moving closer to my hosts as the argument between them started to heat up, the momentum of the debate halting their flight altogether. One word being tossed around louder and louder. Kryptonian. The female, likely knowing what was at stake, didn't let up. Eventually shoving away from her parent and siblings in a rage. When she came back to me it was with the same resigned determination that had seen so little bloodshed so far.
"Our baths are this way, the rest of what you asked for will take time to arrange. Come with me." I considered that for a moment. I had asked for a place to rid myself of the filth of the last 24 hours, it was more of an afterthought than an actual demand. Still, given the chance... I lifted off into the air, carefully hiding the wariness in the action. Some of the guards following me split off after their commander, but the rest accompanied us through the halls and up to our destination. I was intrigued to note they didn't follow us inside.
The baths themselves were more familiar than most of the designs these people had. They were too emotional and interested in personal comfort for chemical or scrub baths, but I had seen water and steam baths before. The room was composed of lumber, and a haze of steam hovered over a pool sized for at least fifty individuals. The sight was more welcome than I would comfortably admit. I reached for the collar of my uniform, not so much peeling the fabric off as tearing it away from the dried and scabbing blood of the wounds lining my body. A few might even scar nicely. Before I stepped inside I heard the sound of silken cloth hitting the floor.
I didn't look back at the woman behind me, only tilting my head slightly in her direction as she approached from behind. Listening to her heart beat. Determined resignation. So that's why they where arguing.