He folded his arms and stared hard at us all, but his gaze lingered on our child. I tried hard to get a sense of his smell among the brine. I could only imagine what was going on in his mind. Maybe the situation that lasted all these years wasn’t working anymore, and there had to be a change. Their race experienced that when they lost their Femeni. Too many of their kind, wanted clones so to not be impure. It went against Volardi pride to ask for something, but they believed in several things. Two that could help me was practicality and serendipity.

I hope I argued my point for the first. “What were the chances of all this happening?” I hope he got the implications. Some events were horrific like with the Gloom and the Omega deaths. Then they had to find Earth and even we had to find each other. “This is all chance, but it could end up benefiting the Volardi.”

It was several seconds of frowns, sighs, and deep breaths before he spoke slow. “The Emperor has the final judgment, but I’m… willing to ask.”

Both women glanced at each other. “Perhaps there is something we can do to convince you. A gift in the spirit of cooperation.”

***

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty

MATROS

“And they’re supposed to be the primitives,” I whispered to myself. I have nothing but love for my Earthling, but they could barely leave their planet. What I saw in there – after a birth no less – was worthy of the greatest Volardi Ambassadors.

From a simple farmer’s son.

As for the Ryba. I know they keep secrets, yet what I saw was more than we ever imagined. Perhaps not as amazing as faster than light drive or teleportation but still worthy. Our medical knowledge was always considered exceptional. Yet, would we have saved our Femeni faster if we had this… ‘bio-technology’?

My steps were slow as I approached Fuath. To honor Peter and our new son, I would ‘be good’ as he would say. There was a time where I would look at this as a battlefield advantage. Although, I would never be so cowardly to strike down a restrained foe.

His black eyes darted to his guards, and he frowned. “Treachery. The Volardi poisoned this planet, and you do the same to them.”

“It doesn’t have to be this way,” I said. I gave him a quick overview and then awaited his answer.

“No Matros. This is my chance to strike back for centuries of Volardi transgressions. You think I would not take my revenge?”

“As expected. I wanted to hear you say it out loud to all.”

I turned toward his Royal Guards. Others may dismiss them for I was bigger by far, but warriors recognize another. It’s not something I would say out loud, but victory over both wouldn’t be certain.

And is that what I want?