Nimuse turned her palms sideways, agreeing. “Yes, it is interesting. But my people worry about how much we would benefit from it.”
Tomas kept his irritation off his face. “Let’s not start with posturing. We both know that the Empire has left you behind technologically. My offer will give you everything, make you a part of Empire.”
“But you ask us to forget our traditions, beliefs, and history,” Sisstra said.
“No. I ask you to change them. I don’t ask you to forget. And tell me, what did your beliefs and traditions do for you? Did they save you from the Sowir?”
“You are asking us to join you because you need us. We have the population that you need to grow much faster,” Nimuse added.
“No, I didn’t offer you this because I need you. I offered it because I might need you. There is a difference. And you must know that your progress will never match ours now. Your territories are surrounded by mine. You will always need to deal with us. Eventually, your people will see the life in the Empire and want it. They will leave on their own and I will accept them as individuals. Why delay the inevitable? Join us now when you can still benefit from what we offer. Otherwise, you might not live long enough to see a time when your peoples become great again,” Tomas said,
“And that is the thing, isn’t it? You are offering us immortality in order to be a part of your Empire,” Nimuse said tiredly.
“I use whatever tools I have to get what I want. And I want a strong and powerful Empire that bows to no one,” Tomas said, and looked them. He had spent a lot of time studying their people and their expressions. He saw them make the decision.
Chapter Forty-Two
November; Year 54 of the Empire – Sol
Adrian walked into the holding room. The Shara Daim immediately looked at him and then at Akash and Sora, who were following him. Adrian approached her.
“How are you today?” he asked cheerfully, as he always did. And she ignored him while staring icy daggers at him, like she always did.
“Well, today I was thinking of doing something different,” he said. Since that first time, they had spoken on a few more occasions. Or rather, Adrian had spoken while she’d remained quiet.
“Are you feeling up for a walk?” Adrian asked, and saw her narrow her eyes at him. “No?” Adrian asked, and when she didn’t answer, he continued, “I was thinking that this isn’t really working—I mean, me talking and you only listening. So maybe a change in scenery would do you good.”
“How about this? I am going to release you, and we will take a walk around my ship. But you need to promise that you won’t try anything—like attacking me again,” Adrian said pointedly. “I think that you realize that even if you managed to kill me, there isn’t really anything that you can do. You don’t know how to operate this ship. There are a lot more of my people around than there is of you. And I doubt that you could kill them all, especially with no Sha. Not to mention them having weapons. I have already told you that I plan on letting you go back to your people. I just want to show you some things before that. So, what do you say?”
She glared at him a bit longer, before finally responding, “I give you my word as Dai Sha, I will not attempt to escape or harm anyone.”
Adrian nodded, and started removing her restraints. She remained motionless until the last one was removed. Then she got up from the bed and stood. Adrian looked up at her, remembering just how much bigger she was than him.
Adrian turned his back at her and started walking towards the exit, all the way letting his senses keep watch on her. After a few steps, she started following, walking past Akash and Sora, who started following a bit behind them.
They exited the holding room and entered into the hallway. Warpath warriors stood at the end of the hall with their weapons armed and ready, and as Adrian and the Dai Sha started walking down the hallway, they followed from a distance.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, until they reached their destination. They entered a large room. Adrian walked up to stand in front of the wall on the far side; the Dai Sha stopped beside him and glared at the wall.
She turned to him. “This is what you wanted to show me?”
Adrian glanced up at her, then at the wall. He sent the command with his imp, and the massive blast shield started rising up, revealing the large window that showed the outside of the ship.
The Dai Sha turned her gaze back and watched as the blast shield rose far enough to show the planet below the Veritas.
She gazed at it for a bit, and then turned to look at Adrian again. “And what is this?”
“That,” Adrian started, “is Earth, the human homeworld.”
She frowned but turned back to watch it.
Massive storms ravaged the planet. Volcanos spat fire into the air constantly, red blending with the gray of the ash and black thunder clouds.
Adrian turned to face the Dai Sha. “That is the price we paid to free our people from the Ra’a’zani,” he said grimly. “Their last act was to destroy our world, to kill billions of our people, because we defeated them. We have lost the majority of our race to them.” His voice hardened. “You called us weak, and you were right, we were weak.” He gestured to the devastated planet below. “But now this stands as a reminder of why we will never again allow ourselves to be that weak. The Ra’a’zani still have our people, and we will take them back. And you and your people will not stand in our way. We will not let you have the sphere; it is our legacy. You have lost yours.”
She looked down at him. “I have been charged with finding and bringing that device to my people. Whether you let me go or not will make no difference. The Elders want it, and they will have it.”
Adrian gazed back at Earth. “There is nothing down there that you can recover. The device is probably destroyed.”
“You have another.”
“You would rather fight us for it than approach us as friends in the hope that we would share it?” Adrian asked incredulously.
“We are the Shara Daim, heirs to the galaxy. Rivals are not tolerated,” she said.
“And you think that by saying that you will somehow convince me to give it to you?”
“It does not matter whether you give it freely or not. The Elders will send all our Legions after you; the knowledge of the People is our inheritance. Even had you not taken me, the result would have been the same.”
“How can you just give me this information? You know that we will be ready now, yes?”
“I say it because it will not matter. The Legions of the Shara Daim will take what belongs to us by the right of strength and blood, as we have always done. To bring death and to conquer is our calling.”
Adrian shook his head. “What is your name?” he asked.
She looked at him for a minute. “Anessa,” she said.
“Well, Anessa,” Adrian said resolutely, “I will change your mind. I will show you who we are, and I will prove it to you that your people are wrong in thinking they can just roll over us.”
Epilogue
January; Year 55 of the Empire – Shara Radum
Arisak, Do Sun of the Shara Daim, entered the Hall of Ages. It was an honor for one as low as he to be invited to speak with the Elders. But the nature of his news was enough to grant him entrance. He entered the inner enclave and stepped into the darkened room where the Elders waited.
“Honorable Elders, I am humbled by you allowing me into your presence,” he said as he lowered himself onto his knees.
“Rise, Arisak Do Sun,” a voice from above said, “and tell us what you have learned.”