Children of Terra: Chapter Seven Part Two

Kit’alui heard the Ambassador and his three faceless compatriots scurry after him as he made his way through the gently curving halls.

Servants, finished with their morning chores, were beginning to disappear from the halls and the bureaucrats were beginning to appear, scurrying from place to place with great purpose, but little to do.

Kit’alui frowned at the seemingly endless number of minor officials and clerks as they bustled about. Despite the reforms his Mother and his Mother’s mother had made, they didn’t seem to be any fewer in numbers.

Kit’alui frowned at the realization that their number was likely to grow rather than shrink with what was coming. The thought caused him to shake his head in disgust. Sadly, there was little he could do about that. So, he began to turn his thoughts back to his immediate problem: Ambassador Krosoanthakosi Odezatakios Theopaterolios of Asmodeus.

“Slit his throat, Kitty,” hissed Claudia from behind him.

Kit’alui spun, arms raised to defend himself, only to nearly collide with the Ambassador who’d been following close behind him.

Kit’alui’s eyes darted back and forth attempting to locate the demon.

Ambassador Krosoanthakosi took several steps away from Kit’alui eyeing him warily. Kit’alui could nearly hear him contemplating the possibility that Kit’alui would not wait until private to inflict injury upon him. But the steely look of determination rallied and returned to the Ambassador’s face, causing Kit’alui to sneer.

“Look at him. He’s the reason you wound up with me, Kitty,” purred Claudia as she wound her arms around his chest from behind.

Kit’alui managed to restrain his reaction to her presence, choosing instead to focus on the object of their mutual observation.

“Don’t you wonder how he’d taste?” Claudia whispered quietly as she ran her tongue along Kit’alui’s neck. “How the tang of his blood would wet your lips as you feast on his still… beating… heart?” With each word, the phantom kissed along his jaw, causing his breath to quicken as images of blood soaked walls echoing terrible screams that suddenly fell silent passed through his mind.

His eyes drifted past the Ambassador, falling instead on the silent, faceless figures that followed. The Tisidei would be a problem. Claudia could keep one perhaps two busy while he plunged his knife into the Ambassador’s chest, but all three?

As he scanned the Tisidei, one of them cocked their head to one side ever so slightly, drawing his attention. When he shifted his gaze to meet hers a moment of peace passed over him and Claudia was gone; the illusion of her presence felt completely dispelled. Kit’alui blinked in surprise as his lights shimmered.

“Kit’alui e Kel’alae?” Krosoanthakosi said, bringing Kit’alui’s attention back upon him. “Our meeting?”

Kit’alui snarled, but turned and continued into one of the many meeting quarters. The spacious room had several broad pieces of furniture, many covered in highly decorated pillows and a long, high table in the center. Kit’alui eyes danced across the furniture noting which designs were meant for which species or culture.

“Sit!” Kit’alui spat, pointing at a random piece of furniture. It was not one intended for an Asmodean, but would not be uncomfortable either.

Kit’alui watched as the Ambassador puffed up indignantly before plopping down in the indicated seating. The Tisidei quickly closed the door and knelt in front of it, the three faceless forms statuesquely gazing at the pair.

“Now, what do you want, Ambassador?”

“Kit’alui e Kel’alae,” The Ambassador started before staring at his personal computer. “As you know, we intercepted your… communiqué last night. I’ve sent it off for translation, but we both know what language that was.” The Ambassador stopped for a moment, gazing out the expansive glass wall at the Vel’ata’quia, the great harbor of the capital as Kea’awae rose slowly over the horizon. “What… insanity… could have possessed you to go to THEM of all races?” The Ambassador was on his feet now, pacing back and forth as he lectured.

“How did you even know how to find them? And why didn’t they kill you outright? No, I suspect you won’t tell me. But it doesn’t change the fact that you need to abandon this madness,” The Ambassador stopped pacing and faced Kit’alui, his back was perfectly strait, his tone that of a disapproving parent as he added. “Call off whatever relationship you may have with them and we are willing to forget this whole unpleasant incident.”

A small, almost friendly smile pierced the Ambassador’s face as he finished.

Kit’alui stared at that smile. It was the same one he wore when he sent Kit’alui away a cycle ago. He let his lights burn with hatred as he stared at that smile.

One of these days you’re going to die with that smile, you arrogant granak, thought Kit’alui as he imagined gutting the Ambassador then and there. Instead, he returned with a smile of his own. An empty, tooth-filled smile.

“Ambassador,” Kit’alui said, quietly. “Sit. Before I make you sit.”

Krosoanthakosi’s smile vanished as he stared at Kit’alui in shock, but as he gazed into Kit’alui’s eyes his will crumbled and he sat, transfixed by the murderous stare he faced.

“’We’? ‘We are willing to forget’? Yes, that is your problem, Minister. The fact that you, and your government… you and your whole people… know the truth,” Kit’alui said as he stood, his eyes seemed to bore into the very soul of the Asmodean. “And you’ve hidden it from everyone in the Civilized Worlds for hundreds of cycles. But now, you see, I know the truth too, Ambassador. And I have a question.” Kit’alui walked up to Krosoanthakosi and snarled down at him. “What will happen to your people when the others learn that they have you to thank for the Demons of the Void, hmm?”

The color seemed to drain from Krosoanthakosi face as he stared up at Kit’alui.

“You won’t… They… They won’t believe you,” stuttered Krosoanthakosi weakly.

“Do they need to, Ambassador?” Kit’alui spat. “They’ve been searching for someone to blame for hundreds of cycles now. And how many thousands, or perhaps even millions, have the…” Kit’alui paused as his smile became almost friendly. “Terrans… killed since your people visited their world?”

Krosoanthakosi blinked in terror at the realization of what Kit’alui knew.

“We… we couldn’t have known! The Empire had fallen! We were doing our duty! We were…”

“Searching for your Cousins?” finished Kit’alui. “And you found them. And you enslaved them! But THEY!” Kit’alui pointed to the unmoving Tisidei. “Didn’t stay that way. Did they, Ambassador? You didn’t know that some of them had escaped the destruction of their homeworld. And that they’d attack you.” Kit’alui knelt to look the Asmodean in the eyes. “You didn’t know the deal you’d have to make to end the killing.”

Kit’alui's lights twinkled with triumphant contempt for his panicked audience.

“So, I ask again. What will happen to your people when the others learn that they have the Asmodei to thank for the demons of the void?”

Krosoanthakosi slumped, defeated in his chair.

“What do you want? For Asmodeus to oppose the treaty? To declare a treaty of support? Of Aid? What?”

Kit’alui moved to the nearby basin, and began to wet his nearly dry hair, letting silence fill the room for a while as the Ambassador stewed.

“No, Ambassador,” Kit’alui said, finally, pivoting to the small table where there were glasses and some chilled keel wine. “I want you to do nothing.” Pouring a glass and taking a quick sip, he turned to face the shocked asmodean.

“I want you to stand there, silently, as you watch history unfold! I want you to watch, silently, as a slaughter not seen since the days of the Old Empire quenches the stars with oceans of blood! And I want you to gaze upon what your people have wrought, silently, as I remake the galaxy itself. Then, when it is all over…” Kit’alui paused to take another sip, smiling into his drink. “You will vote to acknowledge and accept any treaty I put in front of the Alivians and you will encourage all the others to do the same, Ambassador! Have I made the waters clear enough for you? Good. Now, get out!”

Kit’alui turned his attention outward, over the Vel’ata’quia as the Ambassador rose and quietly fled towards the door. Kit’alui gazed at Kea’awae as she rose into the sky. Court would be in session soon. The treaty would come and…

Kit’alui’s train of thought ended when he heard the door close, causing Kit’alui to turn to face the door. What he saw made him move his glass into his off hand and secretly prep his pistol.

A lone Tisidean stood before the door, the same one who’d drawn his attention earlier.

The Tisidean took several steps forward before bowing to Kit’alui.

“You would be the Families’ representative, I assume,” Kit’alui muttered. “Well, whatever disagreements they may have with your cousins, or my deal with them, take it up with them! I have no interest in getting involved.”

The Tisidean stood up and reached for their shoulders, causing Kit’alui to take a step back. He knew well that the Tisidei had long metallic pins they kept there and did not want to remain in close striking distance.

But the Tisidean slid all the metal pins from their robe. Kit’alui watched in surprise as the Tisidean dropped them to the floor and began to slide the elaborately folded cloth from their body, revealing a lithe female form beneath.

“If this is supposed to reassure me that you have no weapons and do not wish to harm me, we both know that your kind do not need weapons to kill,” Kit’alui stuttered as his lights began to glimmer with embarrassment and desire. But he didn’t dare to look away!

As the last fold of the wraps fell, the Tisidea reached up to remove her hood and mask. Kit’alui lowered his head and closed his eyes as his shimmering embarrassment turned to a burning star. His time among the Tisidei had taught him that there was nothing more taboo, more intimate, than revealing one’s face to a non-family member.

After a moment, Kit’alui forced his eyes open and raised his head to look at the Tisidei’s face.

He heard a glass shatter on the floor. It took several moments to realize it was the one he’d been holding. His whole body seemed to shiver as he gasped, blinking repeatedly in a desperate attempt to clear his vision. He felt himself fall backward, but it was as if someone else had fallen and he had become merely an observer.

“You!”