March 2015
Peter Weyland watched as the rocket launched into space. He looked upwards as the rocket continued its way up until it could no longer be seen. Weyland board members clapped at the successful launch. Weyland merely smirked knowing it would work perfectly.
In space, satellites deployed from rockets that had been launched in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and South Africa. The satellites unfolded their large solar sails and took up positions in the Northern Hemisphere. The satellites were showered with the sun's intense light. The satellites then beamed the collected energy down to Earth.
"Readings are positive," a scientist informed Weyland.
The Prime Minister smiled and shook Weyland's hand. "You have just provided the world a new clean energy source."
"I believe a knighthood is in order don't you think?" Weyland replied.
"I'll convey it to the Queen," the Prime Minister promised.
Reporters gathered around Weyland after the launch. "What's next for Weyland Corp.?" one reporter asked.
"Now that we have solved the energy crisis, we are looking into solving Climate Change," Weyland answered.
"How will you manage that?" another asked.
"We have developed a synthetic compound that will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It will reduce temperatures while allowing developing nations to continue their industrialization," Weyland said.
"What of cutting emissions?"
"That is no longer necessary with our invention. If we compel developing nations to cut their emissions, their economies will collapse and many people will die in poverty. Everyone in the world deserves to have the same luxuries as an Englishman," Weyland replied.
"When will this invention be operational?"
"We hope to deploy it in Antarctica next year," Weyland said and then left with the other board members.
Yautja Prime
The Prince stepped onto the ground of a colonial outpost. In the distance, a volcano exploded sending fire and smoke into the air. He felt the air and judged it to be pleasant enough. The ground was filled with volcanic rocks. Lex walked out of the ship with a bored expression. When she was told they were going to a volcanic planet, it seemed oddly ordinary to her. At her side was Naira who looked around at her surroundings curiously.
"Is it safe for her?" Lex asked the Prince.
"She will be fine," the Prince replied.
The three of them went to Citali's palace which was still under construction. Citali greeted the Prince as they entered the palace. "So good of you to visit me," Citali said.
"It has been some time," the Prince remarked.
"You are under no obligation to see me here," Citali said disdainfully.
"My wife has a curiosity about the terraforming equipment," the Prince said.
"We have successfully lowered the temperature of the planet to comfortable levels. Unfortunately, forty percent of the native species died within the last few years. Apparently, this is too cold for them," Citali said dismissively.
"Other species will take their place," the Prince allowed.
Lex hid her horror at their conversation. "When I first arrived, the very air burned my skin. I had to remain inside all day."
"Your terraforming technology relies on the use of sodium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide to capture and convert carbon dioxide?" Lex asked.
Citali simply stared at her. "Yes, along with artificial trees and carbon dioxide sinks." "We are also working to kill the core to cease this volcanism," Citali said disgusted.
"Intriguing work," the Prince said with false sincerity.
Citali snorted. "When I am King, I will send prisoners here and turn off the terraformers."
"Without the terraformers, temperatures would reach the boiling point of water within a decade," the Prince said.
"A well-deserved death," Citali said.
The Prince seemed to notice Naira and decided to change the subject. "How are your wives?"
"I brought twenty of them here. It is sufficient," Citali shrugged. Citali eyed Naira as if studying her. "Your daughter has adapted to the Yautja Prime atmosphere?"
"She no longer needs an inhaler. Her physical and mental abilities still lag behind her peers," the Prince reported.
Lex nudged the Prince with her elbow. "Oh, excuse me," the Prince said and placed Naira in his arms. "Swallow this. It's good for you," the Prince said giving her a pill.
Naira immediately put in her mouth and swallowed the memory erasing pill. Lex gave the Prince a disapproving look. "Come with me," Lex told her daughter and left the room.
"She is a fine experiment," Citali remarked upon the two of them leaving the room.
"Yes, the twins are still adapting. Time will tell if their abilities are better or worse," the Prince said.
"Any hope for a son?"
Lex brought her daughter outside to see the exploding volcano. "Are there volcanoes like this on Earth?" she asked in English.
"Yes, but they do not erupt as frequently. Sometimes, a volcano on Earth will not erupt for thousands of cycles," Lex answered.
"It is hot here," Naira complained.
Lex felt warm but knew Naira would struggle with the heat. The temperature was equivalent to 50 Celsius or 122 Fahrenheit. "Drink this," Lex said giving her blue liquid.
Naira felt the cold liquid on her tongue and felt hydrated. "I have no one to talk to at school. I cannot speak the Yautja language, and I am forbidden from using English. Even when I speak English, they pretend to not understand me. I know they have translator chips."
"You're very smart, Naira. You are studying geometry, chemistry, and biology. These are things I started learning when I was twice your age," Lex assured her.
"Father says humans are stupid," Naira frowned.
"There are males that know advanced calculus and warp engineering but get killed by being crushed by a tree trunk. How is that for stupid?" Lex said.
Naira smiled with her human facial expression. Her hair was long and braided, her face, ears, and jaws all appeared human. Instead of a human complexion, her skin appeared tan like a Yautja. Her nails were extended resembling a clawed Yautja hand. She was growing faster than a human child already reaching five feet. Her teeth, tongue, and jaw didn't allow for her to speak the Yautja language. All attempts to compensate had failed. Instead, Lex taught her English and additional human languages while she was young. To the Prince's irritation, Lex and Naira spoke Napali phrases to each other. The Napali language, which Lex had picked up on her frequent travels there was not in the universal translator.
Meanwhile, one of Citali's wives filled up the Prince's cup and then departed the room. "There is an imbalance of males and females in the kingdom," the Prince remarked.
"You see this as a problem?" Citali asked.
"I didn't before but some of my daughters are coming of age," the Prince said.
"What do you propose we do about it?" Citali asked.
"We should have more females in the hunt. When they are killed in similar numbers to the males it will balance the scale," the Prince proposed.
"There is no honor in a female being killed in a hunt or a battle. Do we honor the male for the sacrifice of his female? No, it would be shameful to him," Citali pointed out.
"We could have females mate with other females and become heads of households charged with defending the honor and property of their estate," the Prince suggested.
Citali spat out his drink and laughed. "Your jokes amuse me, brother. That is the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard." The two chuckled at the thought of it.
Citali turned serious. "The solution to this problem is war."
"War?" the Prince wondered.
"In war male soldiers are killed but history shows that civilian casualties often outnumber military deaths. Those civilian casualties are more often than not female. War also spreads disease which tends to kill more females than males," Citali said.
"Such a war would have to have a just cause," the Prince entertained.
"Yes, a just cause," Citali agreed.
As they were to leave, the Prince, Lex, and Naira were present with Citali. "Thank you for hosting us," the Prince said graciously.
"Of course, you are welcome anytime," Citali replied. He then turned to Lex. "Your exotic flavor has not diminished with age," he complimented.
Lex ignored the backhanded compliment and reached for Citali's hand. Citali gave Lex a confused look as she held his hand and bowed to him. The Prince eyed the exchange and noticed Citali's discomfort. "A human custom," he told him.
Achieving her goal of taking Citali's DNA, Lex followed the Prince back to the ship. Naira entered the hot and humid ship and immediately went to her room. The environmental controls in her room lowered the temperature from a typical 35C to 25C.
Arriving back on Yautja Prime, Lex checked on her fraternal twins Gamora and Nebula. Kachina had been watching them the entire time and reported no incidences. The twins were still kept in a special room until they could adapt to the Yautja Prime atmosphere.
Naira walked down the halls of the palace to her room. Along the way, an older half-sister mocked her by pretending to have difficulty breathing. Naira didn't move as her half-sister approached her. "Weak," her half-sister mocked placing her hands on her. Naira's image suddenly faded as a hologram. The half-sister looked at the air where Naira had stood confused. There was a pinch of pain and the half-sister fell to the floor knocked out. The real Naira who stood behind her half-sister continued her way back to her room.
That night, the Prince visited Lex's chambers. "We should consider your sterilization. Any offspring you bear will have physical and mental defects," the Prince said.
"Should I have my breasts removed too?" Lex mocked.
"No," the Prince said flatly.
"Have you ever considered your own sterilization?" Lex asked.
"Never," the Prince replied.
"Our children are very bright compared to any human child. They are not defected," Lex said defensively.
"They cannot compete mentally or physically to full-blooded Yautja," the Prince said.
"They're part of a royal house. They do not need to," Lex argued.
"It is very fortunate you mated with a Prince," the Prince grumbled.
"As fortunate as it was for you to be born the son of a King or did you earn that?" Lex shot back.
"Do you truly wish to have more pregnancies? Either I leave you alone in your chambers or sterilization," the Prince said.
"I wouldn't care if I ever had sex with you again," Lex said angrily.
The Prince and Lex stared each other down. "You don't mean that. You want a son as I do," the Prince said getting closer to her.
Lex tensed up as the Prince came closer to her. The Prince's body was intoxicating and arousal was overwhelming her. It was far more intense than anything she had experienced as a human. Ever since their last congress several days ago it had been building up. The thought of getting pregnant and giving birth to a son shook her resolve.
"There's no need for sterilization. I'll give you a son this time," she promised. "But on one condition?"
"What condition?" the Prince growled.
"We mate my way," Lex said.