Dawad’s smile etched deeper lines into his weathered, ebony skin. Vibrant green eyes gleamed with interest. “So, if the goal is to prevent copulation between humans and Aeriels, why is it necessary for earth to conquer Vaan? That seems rather a convenient excuse for warmongering, no?” The old professor spoke animatedly, his fluffy white curls bouncing with each word. “One might even posit that…the same objective could be achieved if Vaan were to conquer earth, instead. Would you still be in favor of this solution, if so?”
Across from him, a frown creased Viman Rai’s brow. “There’s no point speaking in coy hypotheticals, professor. Everybody knows it’s impossible for Vaan to subjugate earth. If ever they had a chance, they lost it the day reinforced sif was invented.” Viman drew in a breath, slow and deliberate. Abstract graphics shifted on an LED wall behind him. At the center of this digital wall rotated a massive, eye-catching logo of CXN News, set against the colors of the Vandran flag. “Hard as it may be for you to believe, I want peace between earth and Vaan as much as anyone else.”
“But you want that peace to be achieved through conquest,” Vikram pointed out, mildly. “Through the conquest of Vaan, facilitated by reinforced sif. To be specific.”
Elegantly attired in suits, Vikram and Dawad sat side by side on a sleek velvet settee. The background – subtly textured with woven threads of creamy beige – was bathed in warm, diffused lighting.
Viman’s jaw clenched. “I will not apologize for proposing we use the assets at our disposal. Do you really think the Aeriels wouldn’t do the same to us, and worse, if given the opportunity?” He scoffed. “Or do you believe we had any hope of subduing Vaan before reinforced sifblades were invented?”
“I believe we didn’t need such hope,” Vikram said, a hint of ire creeping into his voice. “Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should. A war with Vaan will ravage our country, too. Maim and kill our people. We can’t let ourselves be blinded by pride—”
“It’s a short-term price we must pay, for long-term peace.” Viman cut him off, the agitation clear in his voice. “I wholeheartedly believe that humans can coexist peacefully with Aeriels. But not with the vankrai. And the Aeriel queen’s fearsome display at the stadium should be all the proof anyone needs.
“She’s a vankrai. Just like her mother was. And just like her mother, her power is uncontrolled. Uncontrollable.” Viman exhaled heavily, a kaleidoscope of fractured polygons dancing on the LED wall behind him. Every so often, they’d collide with the rotating CXN logo and scatter, as if flung off by the impact. “Vankrai are volatile. Aggressive and unpredictable. An unnatural hybrid of humans and Aeriels, they have the worst traits of both the races. Humanity’s uncontrolled ambition and the Aeriels’ uncontrollable power.”
“History shows us that that is not the case.” Dawad’s tone was crisp. “Not all vankrai were destructive or violent. Not even fifty percent, in fact. Before the Rebellion, vankrai were known for their ingenuity and competence.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“The ones that didn’t become rabid mass murderers?” Illumination from the key light made Viman’s eyes gleam, like ice chips catching the sun. “Sure, I’ll grant you that. Those that could get a handle on their turbulent emotions fared better than the other half-breeds. Some had the potential for greatness, even. But every time a vankrai is born, we essentially toss a coin. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance. And with a creature as powerful as the Aeriel queen? That is too big a risk to take, professor. The last queen almost destroyed Vandram. Do you suggest we sit back and let her daughter finish the job?”
With a flick of his remote, Ruban paused the video. “Is this why he spent all last year extolling the virtues of reinforced sifblades on his show?” He turned to Vikram, who sat cross-legged on the sofa, snacking on seasoned peanuts. “’Cause he hoped they’d help instigate a war with Vaan?”
Vikram jumped, caught off guard. And immediately succumbed to a bout of coughs. The bowl of peanuts, balanced precariously on an orange cushion beside him, wobbled. Threatening to spill across the sofa.
Popping a fistful of the peanuts into her mouth, Simani thumped him helpfully on the back.
Ashwin offered him a glass of water, across the center table.
Eventually, the coughing subsided.
The four of them sat around the (woefully underutilized) coffee table in Ruban’s flat. Facing the TV.
They’d been watching a rerun of the last discussion panel on Viman Rai’s show. To which both Vikram and Dawad had been invited, as ‘subject-matter experts’.
After another moment of recuperation, Vikram answered Ruban’s question. “Viman Rai – and CXN as a whole – has always pushed hard to expedite the rollout of the reinforced sifblades. CXN advocated for every Hunter to have one, regardless of rank. Since the very beginning of the rollout process.” Helping himself to another handful of the savory peanuts, he continued. “But it’s impossible to say if Viman always intended for the blades to be used in war. Or if that’s the position he’s landed on, after witnessing Safaa’s stunt at the stadium.”
Apparently, Viman Rai had some…less-than-pleasant family history involving the vankrai.
Meaning that he’d known about their existence, even before… Well, even before Ashwin came along. And blew the lid off every little secret that humans and Aeriels had ever managed to keep from one another.
“But if it’s only the vankrai he has a problem with,” Ruban countered. “Why the hell does he want to invade Vaan? Is it because the queen is a vankrai?” He looked around at his three companions. “’Cause if so, I’m not opposed to staging a coup. We’ll install Ashwin on the throne of Vaan.” He glanced at the Aeriel in question. “He’s as purebred as they come. And it’s high time somebody brought some gender equality to Vaan, anyway.”
“I will snap your neck,” Ashwin told him, his voice as bland as his expression. “Gleefully.”
“And where’d that leave your precious alliance negotiations?” Ruban shot back, not bothering to hide his smirk.
Vikram cleared his throat, the sound cutting through their banter. His eyes darted to Ashwin, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s not,” he began. Then paused, as if to organize his thoughts. “I don’t think it’s just about Safaa. Although that might be part of it. If I grasp his position correctly, he’s perturbed by the idea of…” he glanced at Ashwin one more time. “Humans and Aeriels copulating.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “For lack of a more tactful way to put it.”