Well, I will tell you this. This is a long chapter. It was such a fun chapter to write, though! I am impressed with myself! Please, let me know what you think afterward, I REALLY look forward to that!
Chapter 30
Joseph woke first, used to being an early "bird" as the humans said. He closed his eyes and shook his head as the sunlight streamed in through the open window that they'd forgotten to shut. He rolled out of the bed and stretched.
"Morning... Jeff...rey." Sheeva mumbled, still asleep. Joseph turned and looked at her sharply, not realizing that she was currently asleep.
She was hugging the pillow, her black hair sprawled out at the head of the bed. The sunlight streaming in lit her porcelain skin, making it seem to almost glimmer amid the white sheets of the bed. Her tank top had hiked up her body, and her black pants rested just at her hip. The dip of her side was alluring to him.
He blinked, and looked again, unsure if he was seeing things. No, they were really there. Scars spilled along her backside. Whip marks. Stab wounds. Tiny circles from what he assumed were impaled spear scars.
He trailed his eyes up her body, focusing on her shoulder, littered with more marks. That's a damn shame, he thought to himself. Then again, any woman as powerful as you would have some type of scar to show for it.
He tore his gaze away, and turned on his heel, grabbing his cloak and sword, attaching it to his side. The wind picked up outside, sending a gentle breeze into the room. He turned his head, watching the curtains wave at him, then fall back to the wall.
It was slightly chilly.
He glanced back down at Sheeva, still sleeping.
Making a face at himself for his folly, he grabbed the blanket that had pooled around her legs and draped them back over her. Shaking his head again, he took off for the door in a hurry to get away before she woke up and asked what he'd done.
He meandered through the halls, never having been in Kadessa's capital palace. It awed him, and intimidated him. He stumbled upon a kitchen, and the cooks smiled at him. A maid ushered him out quickly, claiming that breakfast was on its way, and that he was to wait in the dining hall.
"Where is the– He began, but was cut off by the slamming of the door. He thought about knocking on the door, but frowned and decided against it. The maid would only tell him to leave once more.
He made his way back to the room, hoping that Sheeva was awake. She might know where to go.
When he didn't see her in the bed, he looked to the bathroom door, figuring that she would be in there. It was wide open. He wondered at first if he'd found the right room, but she called to him from the balcony.
"Morning, Cowles." She greeted in a stern voice. He felt his gut tighten as he hoped she hadn't noticed.
"Morning... Captain." He replied, joining her on the balcony.
"A maid woke me up for some 'morning tea'. I would very much have liked to sleep in." She murmured, taking a sip of some dark tea from a cup. Joseph sat down at the little table, albeit, awkwardly.
His eyes focused on the tea set they were drinking from. White tea cups with bluebell flowers painted on the rims, the lip of the cups rimmed with gold. He arched an eyebrow. He'd never seen something so fancy and... girly.
"It is not bad. Do you want some?" She asked. Joseph slowly nodded, not wanting to be disrespectful.
She gave a small smile and poured him some tea, still hot and steaming. He picked it up and took a sip. It was a bit sweet for his taste, but he would not complain.
Sheeva turned to stare out at the vast grounds of the palace. A plethora of flowers bloomed around the rim of the premises, and a delectable-looking vegetable garden grew to the west. Whoever managed the yards did an excellent job; there was not a weed in sight. The hedges were neatly trimmed, and the cobblestone path leading to a jade fountain was clear of any plant debris.
"I do apologize for the way I acted last night. That was childish." She admitted, her voice soft and low. He heard it in her voice, and accepted her apology as true. He nodded to her.
"I must apologize too. We were both childish. Did you sleep well, at least?" He asked. She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders.
"It was... strange, sleeping without my husbands. Always is. Though... it was a little bit easier than the last time I was here." She admitted. Joseph blinked, and almost choked on the tea he was drinking.
"Oh. I... wouldn't know. I sleep alone." He replied. He wasn't even sure if her comment warranted a response. To hell with it. At least they were talking peacefully. He watched as she (gracefully, he found himself thinking) poured herself another cup of tea, dropping in two sugar cubes and a drop of cream.
The spoon made a tinking noise as it clicked against the edge of the cup.
Who could have thought that such a polite and calm woman could be such a ruthless killer?
"Are you ready to face the day?" She asked, concerned. Joseph paused and stared at his half-empty cup. He blinked a few times, unsure of what to say. He forced a deep breath, and began to tell her how he felt.
"I am not sure. I have never had to do this before. Artix and Kalas, they will be easiest to deliver. Zakkari will be the hardest for me. I don't know what to say to his mother. She is practically my own mother. I am afraid of what she will say. What she will do." He finally let out. Sheeva nodded.
"That is natural. Everyone that must bear bad news goes through this. The best thing that you can do right now is just keep calm, and say it. As I think I said, I will go with you." She reminded him, hoping to console him. He nodded to her, and gave her a rare and very small smile.
A knock on the door brought them back to their surroundings, and they turned to the room. Kagure walked in to greet them, smiling at them beneath his mask, though they couldn't see that.
"Morning, you two! I was hoping that you'd be awake. The Elders are on their way as we speak. They should be here within half an hour." He announced. Joseph and Sheeva looked at each other, and then back at the senator.
"You couldn't have given us more time?" Joseph barked. Sheeva held up her hand to silence him.
"In this case, Cowles, it is best to get it done and over with. To over think it would only scare us out of our wits." She mentioned, trying to calm him down. They needed to be as relaxed as possible in order to deal with them. Any act of insubordination or anger would not aid their case.
Joseph calmed himself down, figuring that Sheeva would be experienced in the matter. Kagure nodded, validating what she'd said as the best course of action.
Sheeva downed the last of her tea as though it were a shot of alcohol, and stood to walk back into the room. Joseph left his where it sat, uninterested in finishing it. He'd lost his appetite.
"I am ready to go. As I said, I want to get this done and over with." Sheeva said to Kagure. Joseph readily agreed.
"Well. I'll have you wait in the boardroom, then. Follow me." He announced. He wasn't surprised with Sheeva's answer. He hadn't worked with Joseph enough to form an opinion.
As they wandered through the halls again, both Sheeva and Joseph stared at the floor, deep in thought, both trying to think about what they would be asked and what they would say, despite Sheeva's warnings. They were both too nervous, even though Sheeva had more on her plate than Joseph did.
They reached the boardroom, and Kagure stepped in, opening the blinds to the windows, shedding some light on the dimly lit room. Sheeva paused, remembering this room as being the treasury, due to the large jade chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
She sat down at the end of the long table and folded her hands, staring coldly at the metal of the table. Joseph sat down across from her, and crossed his arms, leaning back to sit comfortably in the chair.
The clock ticked by as they waited in complete silence, their insides twisting, turning, and tying themselves in square knots.
Roughly thirty minutes later, the door swung open, and Joseph and Sheeva snapped up, sitting upright, tense. The five Elders walked in, each dressed in their respective colors for the islands they represented.
The Elder dressed in white and yellow, for Kadessa, stepped in first. He was a short man with a long white beard, walking along with a cane to aid him. He sat down at the very end of the table opposite of the two in question. His long robes just briefly touched the ground. He crossed his right leg over his left and rested on hand on the other, staring at them with cold yellow eyes.
The Elder in white and blue, for Vellweb, stepped in behind them. He was a tall, thin, bony-looking man with dark brown hair and green eyes. Though the inhabitants from Vellweb were known to be kind and gentle, he held a tough, viscous appearance and stature. He sat down next to the man in green, and stared at the two expectantly.
The Elder in white and green, for Pyurita, was also short, somewhat chubby, with a jolly aura. He almost seemed happy to be here. His eyes were squinted, cheeks puffy and red. One might say that he'd almost been drinking, though it were only morning. Perhaps, given Pyurita's farming nature, he was still drunk from the night previous.
The Elder in a white and light, lavender color represented Pacem, seemed to glide in with a mysterious nature. He was completely robed, covered from head to foot. He wore a veil that shielded his face from the others, and when Sheeva looked where she imagined his eyes might be, she felt a strange something grow from deep within her chest. It almost felt like something was boring itself into her spirit. She shuddered at this slightly.
Finally, the Elder for Mayfil stepped in, donned in white and red robes, mimicking their feisty and harsh natures. His robes reminded Sheeva of the Human's common depiction of Death. Fitting, given Mayfil's nickname of "The Death Island". Mayfil had had a never-ending string of strict and cruel senators, and constant revisions of governments, its people constantly at war with one another.
Sheeva could not accurately determine the man's stature from beneath his robes due to their bagginess, but she assumed that, because he was of high importance, he was well-fed and pampered. Perhaps, not a scratch on the man's body.
She forced herself to nod at the Elders, even though it may have been a curt nod. She had to do her best to be respectful, at the least. Should she consider herself an ambassador for Humans? Maybe.
To Sheeva and Joseph's relief, Kagure sat at the head of the table between them. Sheeva and Joseph seemed to feel themselves relax, and both took a deep breath.
They waited for the interrogation to begin, watching with nervous eyes as the men each took out their own folders. Sheeva felt that whatever accounts they had of her actions twelve years ago were greatly skewed, considering that she had not been there to retell her tale. She clasped her hands together and set them in her lap, staring at the table.
She would not allow herself to look at these men except to answer their questions.
"My name is Jazper." The Elder for Kadessa introduced himself in a stern voice. Joseph relaxed even more. A name would help him speak a little easier. He feared he would have to refer to the Elders by "Elder of Pyurita", or "Elder of Mayfil".
"Valrigard." The Elder from Vellweb said, his voice raspy, airy. Fitting for those who dwelled in the skies.
"Bacchu." The Elder from Pyurita said, a cheerful light voice matching his appearance and aura. Sheeva held back a smirk at his name. Bacchus was the Roman god of wine.
"Apamycus." The Elder from Pacem said, though, Sheeva was not sure if she'd heard him say it. She almost wondered if she'd felt it echo from within. Either way, it was sure to make her sick.
"Fiego." The Elder from Mayfil stated. His voice was dark, eerie. Untrustworthy in Sheeva's opinion; intimidating in Joseph's.
"Sheeva Jules, Kadessian. Joseph Cowles, Kadessian. You are to answer all questions truthfully, is that clear?" Jazper started, beginning the inquiry. Fiego chuckled sinisterly, and the rest of the patrons looked at him quizzically. When he waved his hand in dismissal, they turned back to Sheeva and Joseph. Sheeva slowly nodded her head. Joseph gave a barely audible: "Yes, sir."
Joseph blinked a few times, glancing at Sheeva. Had she not said that she was from Mayfil? He bit his tongue. Perhaps she'd kept silent because she didn't want them to know. He supposed it was for the better, after all. He didn't know what kind of problems that could cause, nor did he want to find out.
Sheeva propped her elbows on the table and intertwined her fingers, holding her hands to her mouth, and closed her eyes. No matter how much of a "poker face" she played, they still might read her like a book. She wondered if the Elder from Pacem might even be able to read into her thoughts.
"Sheeva Jules, there has been a rumour that you live among another species. These species call themselves 'Humans', is that correct?" Jazper continued. Sheeva nodded. She really didn't want to say much for fear of saying something that would entice them to pass wrongful judgment.
"Really? What are they like? They can talk, I assume?" He asked. Sheeva felt almost insulted on the Human's behalf. Of course they could talk.
"Communication is a main part of human's interactions with one another. They communicate with verbal words, or signs with their hands for the ones who cannot hear." She thought of Kathryn, and her children, who harassed her everyday to teach them sign language.
"Some are artists, who convey messages with sculptures, or paint pictures to describe a place, person, thing, or even an idea they feel is important to them. They use music to invoke emotion. They give speeches to rally support. Yes, they can communicate, and most love to do so." She replied, trying to give them the warm and fuzzy side first.
"That's all well, but do they also use their words to wound?" Fiego put in, a wave of animosity floating about the room. Slowly, Sheeva nodded.
"They do. There are bullies. There are liars. There are people who lead others astray, in search for power, driven by greed. Humans... act primarily on emotion. That is what sets them apart from animals, I believe. Then again, your people do the same, do they not?" She questioned them.
Jazper blinked, certainly taken aback by the question. Bacchu chuckled happily, his body jiggling as he did so. She couldn't see Fiego's reaction, but she imagined him glaring at her. She also couldn't see Apamycus's reaction, but when she looked in his direction, she felt a strange calm within herself.
"Why, yes, I suppose they do. So, it would be right to assume that no world is without vice and sin." Bacchu chirruped, waving his hand and summoning a goblet, of which Sheeva hoped was filled with water.
"What about their state physical? Can they fly? Can they take to the sky?" Valrigard asked. Sheeva cocked her head to the side, wondering how to answer this question in particular.
"In a way, yes. Humans do not have wings, so they have crafted their own. They fly with giant metal things called 'airplanes'. You could say that it resembles a giant metal ave. There is a delightful story in Greek myth of a man who escaped from prison by crafting a pair of wings with feathers and wax." She answered. Joseph listened to her, completely engrossed. This was a side of the Humans he had yet to learn. Perhaps, this was the Muggle population that the Hogwarts students referred to? He had to ask.
"Are they the Muggles?" He asked. Sheeva snapped her head to him, almost having forgot that he was there. Crap. Now I have to explain this, too.
"Y-yes." She replied. She felt a staring at her, and she turned. It seemed that Apamycus was looking at her.
What are Muggles? Are Humans separated by something? His voice echoed through her, and she knew that she was not wrong in what she'd felt before. She could call him a psychic.
"Separated by something? Like... certain abilities?" Jazper asked, wanting clarification. Sheeva forced a breath, realizing that Apamycus had asked the question not only to her, but had somehow told them others what he'd asked. How incredibly terrifying, yet, intriguing.
"Some have the ability to cast spells. They call themselves 'witches' and 'wizards'. There is something in their blood, perhaps. This ability is limited by that. 'Muggles' are Humans that do not have the ability to cast spells. While Muggles do not know of the other's existence, Magical Humans are beginning to integrate slowly." She answered. She waited patiently, thinking that Fiego would have something to retort. It seemed that he was aiming to make the Humans look like savages.
Sure enough, he spoke.
"Wouldn't these... witches and wizards try to stamp out the Muggles? If you claim that they act much like we do, surely the witches and wizards would eradicate the weak?" He asked. Sheeva could almost feel the smirk in her direction. She opened her mouth to speak, but Joseph spoke first.
"They are not like that, sir! Most of the..." Joseph trailed off as he realized he'd interrupted Sheeva. He glanced at her. She nodded at him for him to continue.
"They are nice. Most of them keep to themselves. My roommate... is in love with a Muggle-born. Yes, there are bullies, but generally, the witches and wizards are accepting of Muggle-borns." He mentioned. Severus and Kathryn would be proud of him, he felt. Truth be told, he was proud of them.
"Human species mix?" Jazper asked in shock. Sheeva tried to keep her calm, as she knew that a touch subject had been prodded at.
"Yes. Hate has boundaries, but love is boundless. It is something I have learned while living among Humans. Over twelve-thousand years, I have been watching Humans grow and learn to love, learn to cooperate. Yes, they may fight among each other, but in the end, they still work together to ensure survival." Sheeva stated. She would have added the term: "Survival of the fittest", but held her tongue. It would only cause more chaos.
You have gained much wisdom, it seems. Apamycus's voice rippled from within. Sheeva looked at him, and then glanced around at the other patrons. They seemed to not have noticed... or were still too shocked by her response.
If that were the case, Apamycus could also hone in his strange telepathy ability to certain people.
On a whim, she focused her thoughts toward the strange feeling within. Thank you, sir.
Watching his expression, she was pleased to find that he nodded at her. She relaxed, deciding that he must be smart enough, or maybe, years ahead of the other Elders. He would be the most understanding of them. A good edge, but could he make them see to reason if things turned sour?
Bacchu had downed his goblet, his eyes glossy, a slightly buzzed grin on his face. Sheeva felt her spirit drop. Depending on what they said, he would either stay giddy and positive, and gain another edge... or, she could accidentally say the wrong words, and Bacchu would fly into a rage. In that case, she would lose his support.
Jazper was a toss-up. Either he would stand with her, or against her. It all depended on whether or not he was willing to see from a different point of view. After all, she'd already answered three questions that may have smashed his small paradigm on relationships, or replenished his confidence in it. Hell, she'd even questioned them! It was either three strikes for, or against, possibly aligning with the Humans. They were much more liberal than their kind.
Valrigard seemed to be concerned with only one thing: their ability to explore. When he saw the wonders that Earth held, she felt confident that he would be eager to see more. That being said, he would fall like putty into her hands.
Fiego, without a doubt, would be the most difficult to win over, and even then, it might have to be a vote of four-to-one. However, if he did readily agree, she would have to ask the others to keep a close watch on him. Humans had ways of committing mass genocide with the touch of a button. If their ideas fell into the hands of a bloodthirsty government, it would only spell trouble. Big trouble.
As she pondered this, she felt the rippling within herself again.
You seem to worry of Fiego. He asked. Sheeva's eyes widened, and she glanced around, hoping that he hadn't voiced that to every occupant in the room. Joseph shuddered, and she thought that maybe, he was also being "talked to".
Given their nature, sir, I worry for Humankind, as well as your peoples. If certain humans and Mayfil leaders joined forces... they could eradicate entire nations; entire species. Through all of my years, I have learned to err on the side of caution. While there are many good leaders in Human history, there are also tyrants. She replied. Apamycus intertwined his fingers and leaned back.
Hm. He mused. Bacchu glanced at him, and then turned to Sheeva.
"What kinds of things do Humans eat?" He asked. Sheeva fought from smirking at the irony of the question.
"Many things. They eat from the plants that grow on and in the earth. They eat lesser animals. There are fields dedicated to farming, and ranches as well. Yes, I would say that Humans love to eat, and they use that as means to gather. Again, they are a very interactive species." She summed.
"What of times of famine? What do they do then?" Fiego asked. This snared Bacchu's attention, and he stared at Sheeva once more. Of course Fiego had begun to question smarter.
"Humans have mastered the art of preservation. In many countries, they have built 'grain silos', or grain storages, to prepare for famine. They have utilized something that they call electricity to keep their produce cool so that it lasts longer. While there are places of low food productivity, I highly doubt that Humans will fall entirely to starvation." She replied, once again feeling like she had shot down Fiego's question.
Jazper seemed to grow excited at the mention of "grain-silos".
"What type of reign do the humans have over each other?" He asked, now actively engaging in the conversation.
"Many different kinds. Another unique ability humans have is the ability to learn from their mistakes and adapt. There are governments where there is a single ruler among many people. There are governments where the people elect their leaders. Most Humans, like your people here, need or 'want' to be governed, in a sense." She explained. Jazper didn't take his eyes off of her for one second, soaking up the information like a sponge. She could imagine the gears turning in his head.
You speak to us as though you are one of them. Apamycus pointed out. Slowly, Sheeva nodded.
"I have been living among them for eons. It is hard not to feel like a part of them." She stated. The Elders stopped in their thoughts and stared at her in shock. She cringed, and she felt her heart rate spike. She hadn't realized that had been a personal conversation.
She could really feel the smirk on Fiego's face now. She'd just given him the greatest edge he needed–a ploy at her personal stance. She sighed and forced her eyes closed.
"So, you are renouncing your claim as Kadessian, is that what I hear?" Fiego hissed in his deep, dark voice.
"I... was not expecting to return here. I felt that I was forever trapped, and I had to accept it. If you cannot beat them, you join them. There is no other choice, else, live in total isolation." She said as evenly as she could. She could not let them hear the pride in her voice. Fiego would use that as an opportunity to turn the others against her even more.
Valrigard, to her amaze, spoke up first.
"Yes, I... suppose you have a point. It makes sense that you would do so, especially after so long a time." He stated. Sheeva's spirits lifted slightly, but she tried not to get her hopes up. Jazper nodded, and so did Bacchu.
As I said, you have gained much wisdom, and you know these Humans better than we.
Sheeva watched, a sense of victory flowing through her as she saw Fiego's hand tighten into a ball, his long, black, razor sharp nails scraping the wood of the table.
You mentioned something called 'elecatrizity'? What is that? Apamycus asked. Sheeva smiled.
"E-lec-tri-city, sir." She started, correcting his pronunciation.
"Humans have managed to harness the powers of nature. They can use lightning to generate machines that aid them in their work, or provide for them, entertainment. They can use wind to generate more electricity, or to aid them in flight. They can channel water to create irrigation canals to water their fields. They can use trees to make books, much like we do. Some humans love to learn. Others love to create. Others still, love to explore." She continued to compliment and describe her Humans.
She could almost say that she was happy to be able to tell someone about this, and she found herself growing more and more excited about the possibilities of Humans and their kind working together. Finally, a smile cracked to her face. Joseph and Kagure noticed, and began to smile as well. Her passion was indeed contagious.
The clock on the wall struck, and they were amazed to learn that it was already 2. They had been in this meeting for six hours. Sheeva stared at the clock, and sighed. If she'd calculated things correctly, it would already be dinnertime. Her family would be missing her.
Her sadness broke through as her smile faded and her eyes shifted, downcast.
"You are upset about something?" Bacchu pointed out the obvious. Sheeva blinked, and nodded slowly.
"I promised I would be... home by dinner." She admitted. Fiego perked, sensing another opportunity for ambush. He scanned her, searching for something, anything he could use to gain back his edge. He held back a sinister laughter as a sparkling on her hand caught his eye.
"Promised who? Your Humans? Are you... in love with said humans?" He asked. Her eyes widened, and yet again, she feared that she would be judged on personal stance, this one possibly more severe than the one previous.
She fiddled with her wedding band, twirling it around her finger, toying with it. She didn't need words. They were smart enough to figure it out themselves.
Valrigard didn't seem to care much. Jazper had a glint in his eye, and Sheeva pegged it more towards anger than compassion. Bacchu's eyes, though glazed over, seemed to emanate distaste. Sheeva barely hoped that Apamycus, as wise as he seemed to be, understood.
Joseph seized this opportunity to speak, seeing as Sheeva wouldn't defend herself this time. To be honest, she seemed stuck, or maybe, she'd known this was going to happen.
"May I say something?" He asked, shattering the tension between Sheeva and the Elders. Jazper turned to him, and so did Kagure. This was... new. He seemed fearless this time.
"Sheeva, you and your family... they are the nicest people I have ever met. Human, Kadessian, whatever. You love your family. Your family loves you. You and your husbands have raised your children to the best of your abilities, and you continue to support them, no matter what. Hell, you came back here to kill someone who was threatening what you have. What you deem most important. You should have seen the way your kids flipped out when you'd died in the courtyard that day. Severus, he's a strong man, and has an awesome heart to back it up. Jeffrey, he's so damn sweet. He has so much happiness, and plenty of it to share with people. Nayeli's only been awake for a week... but there's something about her that is... awesome too." He started, choosing his words carefully. He wasn't sure what his feelings towards the captain's daughter were, but he didn't want to alarm Sheeva by saying exactly what was on his mind.
"You had children with these creatures?" Fiego said in disgust. Sheeva looked at him, her eyes boring into the dark space of the hood. She sent him one of her most powerful glares.
"Cowles is right, Fiego. My children and husbands are the most amazing people I have ever known, and I'll be god-damned if I let anyone insult them. Even an Elder. Now, it seems that you have done nothing but fight me during this meeting, finding anything and everything to question. Tell me, is there a personal agenda? Or are you truly arguing, for the sake of arguing?" She hissed, her frustration and the effects of pressure finding an outlet.
Fiego stared back, nothing to say. She'd called him out. Yes, he had a personal agenda.
"You are not aware of my status, then, are you, Sheeva Jules?" He asked. She blinked, wondering what he could be talking about.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Fiego Yavalt." He stated calmly. Sheeva raised an eyebrow.
"You are related to Zarkas, then. How?" She asked.
"He was my son, and the only heir to the Yavalt line! You... You killed him! Sent him back through the portal and blew the place up!" He spat. Sheeva sighed, and shook her head.
"I do not mean to sound callous, but I have no sympathy for you. Zarkas killed my late husband on the battlefield during one of the wars between Kadessa and Mayfil. Unaware of this fact, I foolishly employed his service as an advisor and ally in a raid against Mayfil's senator years ago. I was betrayed, captured, and held as a prisoner in the capital palace. Zarkas tracked down my daughter and killed her in front of my very eyes for means of torture." Sheeva explained. She took another few deep breaths, trying to think, making sure that there wasn't something she'd missed, or said that would further incriminate her.
As long as Fiego did not know her true birthplace, the others would assume that she was still Kadessian. They would dismiss the obsession of Kadie being killed as an act of insanity and torture. The true details about her daughter were something that only Joseph, Kagure, and she knew. Perhaps Apamycus, if he had the ability to actively read her mind.
"About twenty years ago in the Human's realm, he appeared, hellbent on killing me. I simply defended myself. I blew up the lab to prevent any more interactions with Humans and your kind." She pointed out. Fiego was fuming. She could imagine puffs of smoke erupting from the sides of his hood.
Fiego stood and stormed out of the room, raving. The room was silent for a few minutes before Jazper broke the mold.
"Why do you not want our species to meet?" Jazper asked. Sheeva sighed.
"Because I fear that one of the two will not understand. Humans are not aware that there are other creatures out there in space. As far as they know, they are the only intelligent beings in their galaxy." She skipped explaining "galaxy" for the moment, as it would take too much time.
"If you were to appear out of the blue, they would... for lack of a better explanation, they would lose their minds. Some are naturally afraid of what they do not understand. Others are naturally curious, and are willing to learn more. Humans have such variety to their natures, thoughts, emotions... there are so many different kinds of Humans. I cannot be entirely sure of how they will react, as a whole." She explained, hoping that they would understand.
Bacchu summoned another goblet and began to drink from it.
"What will we do about Fiego?" He asked. Jazper thought for a minute.
"When he has calmed down, we must see what his ultimate motives are." He decided.
"With all due respect, I admit that I have a very bad feeling about Mayfil. I also do not hesitate to say that if any Mayfil soldier—no, any soldier—is found in the Human's realm with intent of harm, I will dispatch of them. If we do decide to move forward with this arrangement, we must tread carefully, on both sides. Humans have a natural instinct to retaliate when they feel threatened. It is no different if Mayfil were to attack Kadessa." Sheeva interrupted. Jazper looked at her, and thought over her words carefully.
She made a lot of sense. More sense than he'd expected from a woman, much less a woman laying claim to be a human.
"Sheeva, Joseph, Senator Kagure. Please leave the room. I would like to discuss an important matter with the... remaining Elders." He announced.
Sheeva and Joseph blinked and gave each other questioning looks, but stood anyway and excused themselves, Joseph with a bow, Sheeva with another curt nod. Kagure followed behind them and shut the door tightly, sighing in a breath of tension and relief. This was shaping up to be a very long day.
Whew. Hell of a chapter. And, the meeting still isn't over. I just hope that I will be able to continue writing like this, I really, really, really like it.
Again, please review!