Someone spotted a new spaceship descending and most of the men began to shuffle out of their warehouses to watch it land.
The current spaceship became visible as the new one slowly descended, and the sight of both impressed John greatly. The one already on the ground was a massive thing of a shiny light purple metal with six thin legs holding it up.
It didn’t look anything like the spaceships John had seen on shows called science fiction, as it was far simpler and boxier with a massive and thick shield-like thing on the front of it, making the whole ship somewhat hammer shaped.
The descending spaceship was of a similar design but seemed curvier, though still simple and boxy, and a lot smaller. As it slowly approached the ground, John noticed a hubbub going on in the crowd in front of him, and he felt a peak Bronze approaching.
Seeing the Bronze was Amber smiling brightly as she was catcalled by all the men, and as she laughed, waved, and quipped back at them, caused anger to enter John’s heart he quickly tried to stifle.
Once Amber spotted John, her smile faded to the little sad one she wore in Hubaba’s office, and she made her way towards him, stopping some paces away.
“Hey, John. I was told to bring you to, um, the Alii Pono of, uh, Kauwa Makani Ka. Whew, that’s a real mouthful,” said Amber, a normal smile replacing the sad one.
All the men staring at Amber caused more anger to enter John’s heart. “Lead the way,” he replied. He walked close enough behind her through the crowd he hoped none of the men would be able to stare at her backside.
Once free of all the men, Amber and John walked across a cement field towards the ships. The second spaceship landed in front of the other, lined up perfectly in a row, facing each other.
Brutes started to disembark from both spaceships, and at nearly the same time, large hovering chairs exited each too. The chairs made their way to each other, stopping between the ships, the brutes forming up behind them. Every brute but one on each side went to a knee and slightly bowed his head.
Amber led John up the middle, approaching both chairs. About twenty paces from the chairs, Amber stopped. “You have to take a knee, John. For whatever reason, I don’t have to. Sorry.”
Suppressing the anger in his heart further, John took a knee. He bowed his head down but studied his enemies with his orb-eye. After a moment, he looked around with his real eyes too.
The purple chairs were more like giant floating throne-carriages with a dozen or so steps extending down, and the throne was covered in the front with a lightish-purple glass, though he thought the glass could be some sort of shiny essence-shield.
There were many high-tier cultivators in close proximity, making it difficult for John to tell the tier of individuals. One of the brutes on the right was clearly a Transcendent, as his soul, even greatly dimmed by John’s vision [Perk], was proof enough he ascended past the Mortal Tree. He did notice at least half or more of the new brutes on the left were Gold.
Many of the newly arrived brutes looked at John and Amber and murmured among themselves.
John focused on the women as both thrones turned to face his direction.
If John had to bet, he’d guess the woman on the left was a Gold, and the woman on the right was a Salt. Both women had similar faces, and both faces were extremely beautiful and flawless. Their heads looked very human besides that the apex of the nose was very dark, the ears were large and pointed, and the eyes were larger than they should be.
For bodies, the necks were a little longer than a human neck, but the shoulders, arms, and what John could see of the lower body and legs looked the same. The legs could be longer than usual, but not dramatically so. He thought both women had great and shapely legs, the equal to Amber’s own.
The eight large, flat, and empty sacs where two breasts should be, were strange, of course. The material of the tops they wore covered the lower chest and upper belly with loose material, concealing their eight udders. The midriffs were exposed, and the pants were cut inappropriately low.
Other than the missing black sash across the chest, both women wore the same outfit as Amber did, but theirs had a big patch on the lower chest area and a smaller patch under it in the upper belly area, on the material covering the udders. The small patch was the same for both women, a strange bird symbol. The bigger top patch was the crossed swords for the Salt and what looked like a sun for the Gold.
The woman on the left, if she were a human, would look to be in her late teens or early twenties. The woman on the right looked to be in her mid-twenties.
The light-purple glass or essence-shield of the left throne opened with a woosh. In a voice sounding like he ate only rocks, a brute called out, “The Alii of Heiau Ikaika, Kauwa Naau Pi.”
The Gold woman regally descended the stairs as the throne settled on the ground, her hips swaying seductively with each step she took.
John wondered why none of those words translated as he tried not to let the swaying hips eat away at his resolve. Once the girl reached the ground, she smiled and stood in a dignified pose, hands cupped in front of her, back and neck ramrod straight.
The brutes let out whoops and cheers.
While behind the glass or essence-shield, John couldn’t make out certain details of his enemy. The girl had a similar skin hue as the brutes, a pale brown, but her skin was slightly darker. Her eyes were blue, and her long, wavy hair was a dark brown.
The glass or essence-shield of the throne on the right swooshed open. A different, but similarly too deep and gravelly voice shouted out, “The Alii Pono Nani Terra of Heiau Ikaika, Kauwa Makani Ka.”
The older girl descended in the same way and ended in the same dignified pose with the same smile. She was a little paler and had light-blonde hair and brown eyes. All the brutes hooted and cheered even louder and for longer.
When the cheers stopped, the older girl pointed to the rightmost sac on her chest and twisted her torso to show the brutes on both sides, smiling brightly. This caused even louder cheers and hoots and whistles. The Transcendent let out a mighty roar and all the brutes started to laugh, the ones near him slapping him on the back or chest.
The younger girl had been looking at Amber and John with side-eye, but once the other woman pointed to her sack, the younger one, teary eyed, her mouth open in surprise, grabbed both of the woman’s hands in her own and said, “Nani Terra, you’ve quickened! Congratulations! A great deed has been performed in the name of Heiau Ikaika. May our late and venerable husband and father, Akua, bless you with many more! I don’t want to sound jealous, but you’ve had more children than can be counted, leading your kauwa to new heights, so much glory and honor, and my chest remains empty. I could use a blessing here!”
The older woman laughed and hugged the younger woman. Hands went back to being held, and the older said, “Please, just Alii or Alii Pono.”
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“But you’re Nani. Why?”
The Salt, Alii Pono, laughed again. “This tier is supposed to be about reaffirming the cycle of life, remembering we are but a small cog in an amazingly complex machine, and being humbled. We don’t farm and I must rule. My boys know me and love me. We are all one, united. We are Peerless. I am the sole Nani of a planet. I don’t need to be reminded of that every time I’m addressed, at least for the rest of this tier. And the subhumans of my world are very weak.”
Alii Pono brushed Alii’s hand against her rightmost sac, smiling. “Now, my quickening.”
Alii Pono yelled out, “My mighty Oliua Two-two-one, father of many, has conquered this planet without one death! Not one Kahako. Not one Kahaka. No retribution! My flower moistened with dew, and for his great deed, I granted him his due. Five credits! His stamen pollinated my flower powerfully! If any doubt, watch the highlights! We have gifted each other a new child! Glory to our late husband and father, the venerable Akua! Praise be the Aikapu!”
The loudest cheer yet went up. The Exalted brute received even more slaps to the back and chest, and the gorilla-looking man had the grace to seem both extremely proud and embarrassed to be praised so.
Alii Pono laughed once more. She looked over the newly arrived brutes and said, “Don’t worry, Alii. From what I see before me, you’ll be Alii Pono soon enough! What a fine kauwa you’ve gathered. Your Oli and Olilo look strong!”
More cheers went up, mostly from the left side brutes. Alii Pono continued, “Is that…yes, I recognize your Oliua. Our kauwas were deployed to Hyavod at the same time. Eight-four, prior Olini of Kauwa Laka Ka! What a mighty Oliua you have! I witnessed his prowess in battle firsthand!”
John was sick of all the gibberish the aliens, the invaders, were spewing. He thought about entering his Mind’s Eye and demanding the nonsense words be translated into real words. He didn’t, as he knew he would speak harshly to Avatar, and he promised himself he never would again. His heart was filled with too much anger, and standing so close to Amber was no help at all.
With her eyes looking sideways at Amber and John, Alii went to speak but Alii Pono talked over her. “Here, I transferred docs to your CSL. Read the unsealed ones.”
The Alii’s eyes went blank for a few minutes before she replied. “A demon? And you’re letting him live?”
Alii Pono laughed enchantingly. “Yes. Everyone thinks theirs will be different. Even our late father and husband did the same during the dark times. Just as children can’t understand hot until it burns them, these Kahaka will learn the hard way. And if it results in a new portal to a tenth ring world of the NetherRealm, well, my boys would love some action.”
“I wish to have your foresight and wisdom someday,” said Alii. “The sealed docs will be delivered to our heiau as soon as possible. This world…it’s so strange. I wish I had more time here. My Meleua is adjusting now for all the changes you’ve made.”
Alii Pono’s face grew serious. “This planet is everything we hoped for and stranger than we ever could’ve imagined in our wildest dreams. The DNA…at least a grade. Not even counting the reset. I’ll show you the avatar of the world seed before you leave. With your aspects, maybe you’ll have better luck communicating.”
“I would love that, Alii Pono! I’m surprised you believe there’s so much we can learn from these Kahaka. We’ve learned so little from…”
Alii Pono excitedly interrupted. “Our new Kahaka have so many strange things to teach us! Being without the Tree of Life caused them to develop in several unimaginable ways. Their propaganda is magnificent! And the playz! I wish you could read some of the sealed docs. I have no one to discuss these things with until our portal’s up and running. Oh, how I wish you could read them and discuss with me!”
Alii kept stealing glances at Amber and John as she conversed. Finally, Alii Pono did too. She smiled brightly and said, “Okay, I see you keep looking at these subhumans. Yes, I told you this world was strange! The Alu is a Natural! A sapient Natural! Look at her beauty. And she is strong! You see her essence correctly. The praised Aikapu only mentions Naturals as beasts, not sapient. So many questions. I wish you could see her charts.
“I hardly consider her subhuman. You’ll keep her close. Like me, you’ll nearly forget she’s Kahaka. And she can tell you what I cannot. She is close. So close. There’s a strong chance she’ll be the first Kahaka to become a peer. She’s basically an Alii here. Oh, watch the playz she has in her device. I earmarked some topics for her to bring up with you. Send me your thoughts before you get out of CSL range, please. Especially regarding the…the changes in the stock and items I’m sending back to Gani.”
Alii Pono’s eyes and smile targeted John. “Such [Titles]! Look at his essence. Ignore the [Ptagmog] [Title]. He has fought many demons and g’athu. The Alu will show you the footage. Technically, he’s our prisoner. The NCS considers him the leader of this world. He accepted our offer of transition. The situation will resolve peacefully in a year.
“Both of these Kahaka were handed what has vexed our Empire for so long. I’m sure the Nani Heiau Ikaika can do something with that. And they’ve had their share of troubles. You can see the taint, but they received it as Woods. Can you imagine? The NetherRealm as a one? I haven’t spoken with him yet. We’ll do so together.”
Alii Pono waved John and Amber forward, “Come, Kahaka. Let us help you find the path.” She turned back to Alii and said, “The Alu was very relieved to find out we don’t pollute our bodies with animal products like beasts do, and that we’d never use her as Kahako use her kind. She is starting to see the wisdom of the praised Aikapu laid out by our late husband and father, the venerable Akua, that guides us and made us superior to all the subhuman filth.”
As John approached Alii and Alii Pono, so did the previously noted Exalted and Salt, Two-two-one and Eight-four. Both brutes stared murder at John, and he knew if he made one slight movement they didn’t like, he’d be immediately shut down.
The plan John had previously made looked less and less viable. He was only going to attack if he had the slightest chance of victory. He could only accept being responsible for the destruction of a whole city if he had a chance of winning and gave his all in the fight. There was no chance of getting a strike off, never mind killing even just one of the matriarchs.
Amber and the two invaders talked amicably for some time. When the invaders turned their attention to John, he missed what was said to him as he was lost in thought, forming a new plan. He ignored the question he was asked to ask his own. “If I offered the Challenge of the Mighty Khaga and you accepted and I lost, would you still destroy a city?”
The two alien women looked so innocently surprised and worried it almost pulled on John’s heartstrings.
Alii Pono said, “But…what? We…you agreed. My Oliua was already rewarded with my flower, and I’ve quickened with child. Why would you want this? You’ll die. It’s been a peaceful transition.”
John heard Amber’s heart beating angrily. He didn’t care. He knew she was a betrayer at heart. She only wanted him to go so she’d have someone to toy with.
The face of Alii blushed. Alii Pono looked both angry and embarrassed.
“My apologies, Alii Pono,” replied John. “I hope that’s the correct thing to call you. I’m not trying to be rude. I…I’m just wondering if it would cause retribution against a city. That…if I offered the Challenge of the Mighty Khaga and lost.”
Alii Pono exasperatedly asked, “But why? To what ends? What good would offering the challenge do for anyone?”
As John tried thinking of something to reply with, Eight-four said, “He wants to die. Read him, Alii Pono.”
Two-two-one grunted and said, “Yup.”
The finger’s on Alii Pono’s right hand wiggled a little. John felt some sort of manifestation happening, but it was different than any other he had felt.
Alii Pono closed her eyes for a few seconds. When they opened, they were wet with unshed tears. She raised her hand to caress John’s face and said, “Such sadness. Such pain. You poor boy. I wish I could take it from you. Or take some from you to lessen the burden you carry. I’m very sorry, but we do not accept the challenge.”
As Alii Pono’s hand dropped away from John’s face, so too did a tear drop from her eye.
Alii asked the brutes, “Can either of you do something so we can’t be overheard?”
Two-two-one said, “I can.” He looked towards Alii Pono, and the woman nodded. The six were surrounded by a bubble of thin purple essence.
After Two-two-one created what John assumed was some sort of bubble of silence, the Alii turned to him and said, “Thank you, mighty Oliua.”
John was surprised he and Amber were left in the bubble and part of the private conversation. These women are even weirder than our own here on Earth, thought John.
Alii looked at the other matriarch. “Wise Alii Pono, we are one, united, Peerless. The praised Aikapu has us all on the same path, but you and I are on different parts of it. Your glorious kauwa has had how many combat deployments? Your chest was full the whole time. The stamens of your boys were constantly sticky with the juices of your flower. Great deeds and credits a common occurrence.
“I love my boys. Each and every one of them. I don’t want any of them injured, especially on a transport mission. Just the thought of one of my boys being hurt horrifies me. But It’s my duty to place the honor of my new kauwa over my worries and love of my boys. My first deployment is this long transport mission, so the Nani won’t send us to war on our return. Not for a while. My flower will continue to be empty and every night my bed chilly.
“I have many mighty Oli that want to be Olilo, and many mighty Olilo that want to be Olini. I can’t reject the Challenge of the Mighty Khaga, especially when offered by a Bronze subhuman. I’m sorry, I can’t. I defer to your great wisdom in all things, but not when it hurts my kauwa and denies my boys glory and sticky stamens.”