"The truth was like a green crack through my brain. Weapon statistics floating in the air, glimpsed out of the corner of my eye. the repetitious act of shooting, time slowing down to show off my moves. The paranoid feeling of someone controlling my every step. I was in a computer game. Funny as Hell, it was the most horrible thing I could think of." - Max Payne

Chapter 2

"The Mrrshan have declared war on the Alkari?! What did you do, Giovanni?"

"Oh right...this game has a race relationship mechanic. You're a human so you shouldn't worry too much. Races like the Alkari and the Mrrshan don't get along and making contact with each other is sign for war."

"I see..."

"However...there's a slight chance the Mrrshans will try to contact you just so that you can help them to defeat me. Don't listen to their leader. She's a ruthless and cunning bitch and she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Even if she plans to kill you."

"Dully noted. Be careful."

"Bah...their ships are pathetic and are no match against the Alkari ships I have prepared."

"Whatever you say, dude..."

(Dante's pov)

About an hour later, I was in my room getting some rest when I hear beeping on the door letting me know someone was there. I went to open the door and I see the human leader giving me a rather concern look on his face...and yes...he looks the same as the game. Grey haired, possibly in his late 50s, light blue eyes and an outfit that I swear reminds of Kirk from the old Star Trek show.

"Is something the matter, sir?" I asked him.

"I just got word from the Alkari leader and...tells me that his daughter made contact with you. Is this true?" He asked.

"Yes. I was out to get some fresh air when she noticed me and we got to talk a bit to get to know each other. Why? Am I in trouble?"

"No. I was worried that something may have happened that's all." He sighs.

"Thank you for your concern, sir, but I can guarantee you that no danger has ever occured to me when I met the Alkari."

"That's good...be sure you're not too far where security can't see you next time. They won't be able to help you if you are too far from them."

"I'll remember that, sir." I nodded.

He nods as he left back to his home while I closed the door in front of me and went back to sleep.

The next day

I was heading to the mess hall to get some food to eat as I stretched a bit to make my body feel relaxed a bit. Now...I can already here people asking me "How's the food in the colony?". Well since the colony I'm living at the people here pretty much produce their food by farms like wheat, fruits and vegetables. I think we got livestock too but I didn't bother to even check the farms. Some people tend to pick fruit and edible plants here but we mostly have to get them decontaminate if you don't want to have cholera from the fluid inside of the fruit or possible three stages of poisoning from certain plants. Other colonies that aren't Gaia planets(or any planet that's non hostile.) mostly have food factories since it's not always easy produce food with farms due to the planets hostile enviroment.

Now where was I...? Ah yes...I was getting myself some food and as I was sitting down at my table, two scholars were smirking at me as if I did something. When I asked them what's going on, it was obvious that it was about...

"Jones told us you met a female Alkari." She tells me.

"Yes...one from royalty who is related to the Skylord." I sighed as I was eating my sandwich.

Their expression quickly turned to surprise the moment I said that...

"No way..." The other scholar said with disbelief.

"Yes way. She's his daughter...well somewhat of a rebellious one." I chuckled.

"For real?"

"Yup. Said she didn't wanted to be cooped in her ship when she was waiting for her father finish talking with our leader. But you know what made me like her as a friend? Is the fact she was curious about our race and said I was an interesting human."

The male scholar playfully punches in the shoulder as I chuckled at him as he looked completely jealous...

"Lucky bastard. I always wanted to see one too. So what do they look like?"

"If it makes you feel better, they are an avian anthromorphic beings who wear nice elegant and exotic tribal looking clothing I have ever seen. They are pretty much peaceful...just as long as you are not making them their enemies." I said as I finished my sandwich.

"Wow...glad we are allies with them. Would hate to fight them in a dogfight." The female scholar said with astonishment in her voice.

I'm glad too. They are awesome in space battles that could put the Mrrshan to shame. Best race in the series in my opinion.

"Indeed. I for one am glad to have their support." I said as I wiped my mouth with a napkin.

For those who wonder how dangerous the Alkari are in space battles, I'll say this...they have 5+ bonus in defense for small ships making them extremely hard to hit. I say this cause they have excellent propulsion that gives them more speed. So I guess you can say they are like your typical rogues who rely on speed rather than defense and that's dangerous cause if your enemy was the Alkari and you had to fight an army of their small ships...you just got a death sentence.

Starting to see why Giovanni admires them so much...

(Giovanni's pov)

Meanwhile in the Alkari home planet

The names Giovanni Moretti. A 24 year old who was once human and became an Alkari. How? Cause of some freaky thunder storm struck at Conneticut, electrocuted in my own room, then suddenly I wake up on the Alkari home planet(in a rather elegant home.), see myself in a mirror and only to see that I'm a Alkari falcon. And...to be honest...I can't complain...I always admired Alkari and their culture. Oh and guess what? I don't go by Giovanni with the Alkari. It's...

"Volant. Have you gotten the footage?"

Volant. Relative of the Skylord and tech specialist. I wish I was making this up...but it's true...

"Yes, father. Just got footage right now...Starting the footage now."

So what's going on you may ask. Apparently the Skylord has asked me to look through the footage that was recorded through the camera(Hidden so that people didn't suspect a thing.) in Venatrix's(who is my sister by the way.) jeweled necklace about her making contact with a human.

When we were watching the footage...I noticed that my old friend, Dante, was talking to Venatrix rather nervous to see her. The Skylord looked at Dante really curious and looked intrigued to see Dante being respectful to Venatrix...but you know what really shocked him? This...

"May the god of the sky protect you in your travels."

That made him shocked...he probably was not expecting Dante to say that as a farewell. I'm so glad I gave Dante some information about the Alkari cause it looks like the Skylord respects him.

"Huh...seems someone learns our culture." I smiled a bit as I stopped the footage.

"Hmm..."

He starts to ponder a bit as he went to his quarters to probably to think about Dante while Venatrix comes looking worried.

"Did my father get furious about me meeting the earth bound?" She asks me.

"Quite the opposite. I think he's starting to respect him for respecting our culture." I chuckled.

She sighs with relief as she sits down on the bed...so by the time she starts to relax...I decided to poke fun at her.

"You like the earth bound...don't you?" I asked her.

That made her look at me with complete shock and I swear she was acting like a teenager who doesn't want to confess that she admires.

"What?! No! Well...as a friend but not like mates." Her feathers ruffled a bit.

"Okay. Relax. I was just joking. No need to be defensive. But seriously if you have a bond with him, that's fine...just as long father knows about it and not be left in the dark. You know how he is when he is left in the dark." I leaned back a bit on my chair.

"Right...like if he was possessed by Skree-Ak as he unleashes his fury on us." She shuddered.

"Exactly. You're old enough to go your own path and no one will stop you walk that path...however...family manners are always important. Remember that."

She nods and lays down on the bed to relax for a bit as I looked at the footage one last time...Dante...glad to see you're still alive...never thought you would be on the Alkari's good side so easily...