After the council meeting, the Prince came back to see Lex watching Naira in a newly designed room. The atmospheric composition of the room was in between that of Yautja Prime and Earth. Any disturbance in the mixture was potentially fatal for Naira. Lex could go inside the room at any time but felt discomfort from the air. As soon as she felt a headache or dizzy she exited the room. Nurses and servants took shifts inside the room to provide for Naira.
"She is so frail," Lex said. She felt guilty for having subjected the child to her fate.
"She will adapt. Eventually, she will be able to breathe on Yautja Prime and Earth without the use of a mask. Her eyes can see perfectly in either planet's atmosphere. She has great potential," the Prince said.
"When will she adapt? Will it take cycles?" Lex asked.
"I do not know but my genetics will make her live longer, smarter, and stronger than a human," the Prince said.
Lex felt a little insulted by the remark but let it pass. "I have collected additional humans for the game preserve. Their population should increase soon," Lex said.
"If their growth rate is higher than two percent we may have to hunt the older males," the Prince said thoughtfully.
"By hunt you mean kill," Lex said sarcastically.
"Yes, kill. I want to mix those of different races and ethnicities to see what kinds of combinations will be produced," the Prince said.
"Why not let them choose their mates?" Lex said thinking it obvious.
"If they choose on their own they will self-segregate. Your species has a tendency to mate within their own racial group," the Prince observed.
"So, what is your plan? Force them to mate with different races?" Lex asked skeptically.
"One way is to place them in a cage until I have the desired result," the Prince answered.
"That's barbaric. Slave owners would do this," Lex said offended.
"Curious you would suggest that. Tonight, I want to bring you to see a film," the Prince said.
"Do I have a choice?" Lex asked.
"No," the Prince said walking off.
Lex dressed formally with a dark cape behind her while wearing clothing that resembled armor. The difficulty was always in the fish net that covered her entire body. Lex also had to redo her hair after days of neglecting it. The Prince also wore a cape and had what resembled Roman armor across his chest.
Upon arriving at the theater, the Prince was greeted by other nobles and high profile warriors. Lex kept silent as the Prince engaged in conversation. None of them spoke about the film, and Lex wasn't even aware of its title. She just assumed this was one of those events like an opera that nobody liked but went anyway because it was expensive and was full of famous celebrities.
The theater was as large as an IMAX theater on Earth. The screen was 3D, which Lex had never seen before back on Earth. There were seats as expected but there were also large tables between rows so Yautja could eat and drink while watching the film. It was also common for Yautja to talk to one another while the film was being shown. "What is the title of the film?" Lex asked hoping it would tell her something about it.
"It has a boring number designation I forgot," the Prince said.
Lex simply watched the screen bored waiting for whatever it was that they were going to see. The movie started with it being a camera inside a Yautja's mask. It would display what was happening in infrared, color spectrum, and ultra-violet light. The setting was on Earth in some kind of field. The mask focused on the plant that was being cultivated and Lex immediately understood it to be cotton.
The movie continued showing detailed footage of white slave owners disciplining their black slaves. Lex quickly realized this wasn't fiction and none of these people were actors. This was movie footage of real events one hundred and fifty years ago. She could see in striking 3D in three light visuals the whipping and beating of the slaves.
The Prince would occasionally look over at Lex to judge her reaction. Lex wasn't known to reveal her emotions through facial expressions. She wasn't brought up to use them giving others the impression she was always bored.
The Yautja filming the event waited until night for his attack. Two plasma blasts went forward into the mansion of the white southern owner causing an explosion that ripped the house apart. Wood and stone flew into the air. The Yautja then waited as the slaves walked from their slave quarters to see what had happened. With their master dead, the slaves discussed what to do. They finally decided to run away. Lex could understand everything they were saying but there were Yautja subtitles on the screen.
The slaves ran away through the southern wilderness towards the north. The next morning, other white men discovered the ruins of the mansion and the slaves missing. Believing it to be a slave revolt, the white men took up arms and the chase began.
The Yautja followed the white men as they went through the wilderness looking for any trace of the lost slaves. Dogs were used to sniff them out. Occasionally, a white man would separate from the rest of the group on his own. The Yautja then took advantage killing the man with his wrist blade before he knew what had happened. The white man search team became more and more paranoid as the Yautja hunted them down. The movie ended with a thrilling climax between the Yautja warrior and a white southerner who was giving him remarkable difficulty. When the film was over, the Yautja audience made roars of applause as well as table pounding.
"So, what happened to the slaves?" Lex asked bewildered.
"What about them?" the Prince asked unconcerned as he drank from his large cup.
"The story isn't over," Lex said. "We don't know what happened to the slaves," Lex pointed out.
"This isn't a story invented from the mind. These are historical archive footage. The Yautja warrior went on another hunt after the events of this film," the Prince explained.
"I know but I feel the film isn't finished without knowing," Lex said.
"I don't think the audience here really cares," the Prince replied.
"Why did you bring me here?" Lex asked annoyed.
"I wanted to see your reaction. Who did you want to succeed? The human or the Yautja hunter?" the Prince said.
Lex felt conflicted by the question. "Just because I didn't want the human to win doesn't mean I favored the Yautja warrior. It is a story of evil against evil," Lex said.
"If I brought before you a pale human female and a dark skinned human male, and I told you only one could survive which one would you choose?" the Prince asked.
"I would refuse to choose," Lex said stubbornly.
"And if I told you I would kill both if you didn't choose?" the Prince asked.
"I would still refuse," Lex said.
"So, your morality is based off personal integrity as opposed to actual consequences. As a leader I must make decisions based off the consequences of those actions," the Prince said.
"You would do something you knew to be evil for the greater good?" Lex asked.
"I would," the Prince admitted.
"I don't agree," Lex said simply.
"My brother is designing a biological weapon that could kill five billion humans. If I kill him, would I be justified?" the Prince asked.
Lex simply stared at the Prince's serious face. "Yes," she said finally.
"You're not consistent," the Prince accused.
"The stakes are higher," Lex argued.
"Would you be willing to sacrifice yourself to save five billion humans?" the Prince asked.
"I would," Lex said without hesitation.
"And would you be willing to sacrifice Naira?" the Prince asked.
Lex hesitated uncomfortable with the question. "You hesitate. I cannot hesitate. I love you as much as one such as myself can, but I would sacrifice everything for what I feel to be right," the Prince said.
The Prince then stood up and started conversing with other nobles in casual conversation. Lex remained sitting down lost in thought. Was the Prince speaking in hypothetical like he always did or was a plan to kill five billion humans really underway?
Citali visited his brother Maquinna's laboratory on the outskirts of the capital city. "I am honored by your visit first brother," Maquinna said graciously. Citali looked around and saw Maquinna's wives busy working on the new weapon.
"Is the weapon ready?" Citali asked.
"It is. The virus will spread quickly through the birds. Additionally the humans will spread the disease through their aircraft. The missile will release the virus into the atmosphere and upon landing on the ground will self-destruct," Maquinna said.
"Good, we leave soon," Citali said.
"So soon? Has the King approved the recommendation?" Maquinna asked.
"He will after the fact. I will take responsibility," Citali said.
"Very well," Maquinna said. If his brother Citali took the fall, he would be next in line.
"Our younger brother could be a danger to us. I will have third brother take him on a mandatory hunting trip off the planet," Citali said.
"What of his human wife?" Maquinna asked.
"She is no threat. She may be dangerous in close combat but this is politics," Citali said confidently.
"I shall have the weapon ready to transport to your ship," Maquinna said obediently.
The Prince paced about the throne room uncertain of what he wanted to do. Makawee entered the throne room as he requested. "What do you need my Prince?" she asked bowing her head to him.
"My brothers plan is to kill billions of humans on Earth as a way to conserve their ecosystem," the Prince revealed.
"You disagree with their conclusion?" Makawee asked.
"With so many dead, the humans could slide back into the dark ages. Their economy and ability to access raw materials would be severely limited. Many of their most intelligent and physically fit will perish. My hope of an alliance if they ever knew the truth would be destroyed forever," the Prince said.
"Seek an audience with your father," Makawee suggested.
"No one goes to my father. The only ones allowed to see him are those he calls upon," the Prince said.
"May their blood be upon your brother and his children. You are innocent," Makawee told him.
"Innocent? Is that what I am?" the Prince wondered.
A squad of Yautja entered the palace and proceeded to enter the throne room. Nahuel followed them inside. "I am honored by your presence third brother," the Prince said respectfully.
"You have been given the pleasure of going on a hunt with me," Nahuel said. "You may bring your wives if you wish."
"You are very gracious. Allow me to arrange my affairs," the Prince said and then pushed a button on his chair.
Every wife's room sounded an alarm indicating they were being called to show up at the throne room. As usual, Lex was the last one to enter the throne room. "I will be going on a hunting expedition with my third brother. Talutah: you will come with me. The rest of you will stay behind," the Prince ordered.
"As you wish," Talutah said respectfully.
"I will be ready within the hour. I must confer with my first wife," the Prince said to Nahuel.
"Of course," Nahuel said and then sent himself and his guards outside.
"Leave us," the Prince ordered the other wives. As they turned to leave, the Prince stopped Lex. "Stay," he ordered.
The doors closed behind with the Prince, Makawee, and Lex left in the room. "Tell me the story of Esther," the Prince asked Lex.
"She was in the Bible," Lex recalled and had to use the English word "bible" in her sentence.
"Continue," the Prince encouraged.
"She was a Jewish girl," Lex said saying "Jewish" in English.
The Prince gave her an annoyed look. "Esther was a commoner who married a powerful King of Persia, a powerful empire in Earth's ancient past. The King signed an order to kill her people, because they were perceived to be a threat to the empire. He was not aware at the time that his favorite wife was of the same tribe as the one he signed to have killed. Esther came before the King of her own accord to save her people knowing it could mean her death. Approaching the King without being summoned meant death," the Prince said.
"Her selfless act saved her people," the Prince finished.
"I enjoy hearing the way you tell alien myths," Makawee complimented.
"That is why I read them," the Prince said caressing Makawee's face affectionately. The Prince then turned to Lex. "Behave yourself while I am gone," he said.
"Is that all?" Lex asked feeling awkward before the Prince and Makawee.
"Yes. Assign servants to fetch my gear," the Prince ordered leaving the throne room.
"As you wish," Makawee replied.