2599

1 Month and 1 Day after the capture of Daniel Davidson

Slix Research, Hive planet of Chrysalia, Ransei System

"I don't get it." Sergeant Daniel Davidson's voice was laced with a mix between confusion and rage. "This has to be Stravinsky. No other member of the SSF high command is this insane." He was sitting upright at a table, dressed in tailor-made white clothing constructed by the Leavannian interns that worked at the Slix facility. Around the table were multiple important figures within the Slix clan, including Therx and several other Wimpodians. Aeiorn, the Beheeyem from before, was also present, to patch up Davidson's slightly flawed Ranseiian. At the head of the table sat an organism that Davidson had never seen before. A massive, seemingly vespid creature, with a honeycomb-like structure covering its four lower limbs, only two armlike appendages being visible. When the Vespiquen spoke, its buzzing voice shook the room.

"Nevertheless, our council of Legends will take this as an act of war. They will retaliate. And that can only spell disaster for the rest of us." It looked curiously at the human, who was suddenly very angry.

"This whole thing could have been avoided if you had let me contact my people!" He pointed an accusing finger at the buzzing CEO of Slix Research.

"We could not allow the discovery of a new species to be leaked to our competitors. If they discovered that we had recovered you, then our research may have been at risk." The Vespiquen's voice was monotone, unfeeling, dead.

"The hell with your research! This could lead to interplanetary war!" the Sergeant's anger permeated the room as he continued. "If I ever get out of here, I will make absolutely certain that Clan Slix is blamed for all of this."

"I anticipated this." Two large Wimpodians rose from the table, restraining the man. "As such, you will never get out of here.

The Iron Titan had slept for a very long time.

It had been dormant for how long? Millenia? Probably Eons, waiting, watching, listening. One required rest after assembling multiple artificial planets.

Nevertheless, The Iron Titan never forgot its purpose. Its reason for living.

It was a Protector, first and foremost.

If the need arose, it could also be a ruler, an advisor, a conqueror, a builder, a scourge.

But the need never arose.

At least, it never arose, until the distress calls started pouring in.

The Warrior planet had fallen to beings never before seen in the system.

Since the Titan War, the only war that the Iron Titan had ever fought, there had been many wars, and the Warrior planet had fallen countless times.

But never to squishy space primates with ballistic weapons.

And so, for the first time since the dawn of Valora, the Steel Titan's seven red eyes glowed with life.

Bolivar was a very good security guard. One of the best, he liked to tell himself. The Empolians were excellent security guards. Armored, mobile, powerful. Some of the best on Valora, if not Ranseii, in Bolivar's opinion. But if there was one contingency that he was not prepared for, it was Registeel waking up. Registeel was Barium City Museum's prize exhibit. A dead legend built before most of the planets were born, Registeel was the fabled protector of Valora. Nobody expected it to wake up. So when motion sensors in the Legend section of the museum, he hurried as fast as his somewhat short legs could carry him. No Hydrokinesis in the halls. Bad for the flooring. When he finally entered the Registeel exhibit, Bolivar was greeted with an unwelcome, but still totally awesome sight. Registeel, the Iron Titan of old, eyes glowing, indecipherable voice shaking the Museum.

"Fiahsng. Isdunt serthat. Fiahsng. Isdunt serthat." Registeel's eyes settled on the Empolian, and it inclined its massive torso toward it.

"Lingual Recalibration Complete. Danger. Imminent Threat. Danger. Imminent Threat." The Stunned Penguin resisted the urge to vomit.

"Holy trubbish."