Akeoli Hyavod grabbed John by the neck and flew him a good distance away from the camp before setting him back down. His calmness was unsettling.

Looking down at John, the brute smiled and said, “I was hoping you’d be out of camp and out hunting before you suspected anything. I guess I should’ve believed all the reports saying you’re different. I didn’t think a couple [Titles] granted super senses to a four-one though.”

“If it’s better I didn’t hear anything, then I didn’t hear anything,” replied John. “I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. I’m just here to earn points and get geared up.”

Smiling still, Akeoli Hyavod put his big, meaty hand on John’s shoulder. “Most of us don’t like that a Kahaka’s been with our Alii. And not just Alii, some of the best-looking Nani we have. And for what? Most of us spend years risking our lives on the front line, fighting day in and day out to earn the number of credits you got handed by a clowder for breaking a record no one cares about. All while in a peaceful Nani hall.”

The smile left the brutes face. “We know it wasn’t your choice. Alii do what they do and get what they want. But this here is for us. A special treat just for us. Now that you know, we got to let you in on it.”

Nervously, John said, “Please, no reason for that. I don’t know anything, and I don’t want to know anything. What you do to your own Alii is your business, not mine.”

The Akeoli laughed and squeezed John’s shoulder a little. His beady eyes, half covered by furrowed brows, bored into John as the brute’s laugh died as suddenly as it began. “You think we’d do this to an Alii? That an Alii would just let us have our way with her as much as we wanted? Akua forbid! That’s about as far from the blessed Aikapu as it gets. We’d never do that or anything like it.

“What we’re doing here falls in a gray area. The Nani Aikapu don’t think so. Of course, they’d see this as a no-no. But they also told us to use crystals like normal during this Purge. They’re the ones that put an end to using crystals the old way. If they can just pull a 180 on us, if they can operate in the gray, no reason we can’t for a special treat occasionally. Long as we don’t make a habit of it. And this here’s a little thing.”

The brute let up the pressure on John’s shoulder. “That’s a Kahaki Alu I smuggled out of Palm. Most of those subhumans are disgusting looking. Getting one that’s pretty enough and of high enough tier to survive in that tent wasn’t easy. Or cheap. That tent protects against most of the Nether, but not all of it. And a storage device that can hold live cargo costs an absolute fortune.

“Look, I can’t tell you too much, but this is a blessing for her. She wants this. She thinks it’s her chance. You’ll find out some hard truths if you graduate academy. Just play along and sticky your stamen once. That way we know you’re in it with us. We’ll school you on how to trick Mele before we go back. We’ll help you farm points.”

John’s mind raced for a way out. An acceptable excuse. “Akeoli, I appreciate the offer but as the first Kahaka being considered to attend a real academy, I can’t. The last thing I want is to antagonize any of you here, or any Oli anywhere. I saw nothing and will never say a word about the things I didn’t see. Things I know nothing about. Honestly, I just want to collect points and get geared up. That’s it.”

The brute just smiled at John for a long moment before squeezing his shoulder again, a little harder this time. “You know, since you’re just a Kahaka, I can tell you some things I’ve never been able to tell anyone. I’m different. I’m not like other Oli. They really seem to believe all the bullshit. I just want to get laid. I want the good flower, as much and as often as I can get it. As my accomplishments piled up and I kept being ignored for Oliua, I knew they knew I was different too.

“Doesn’t matter. Just can’t give them the ammo. Play along. It’s clear those crazy bitches wrote the Aikapu. No way a warrior like Akua did. There’s way too many contradictions and fallacies and other logical errors. If I figured that out, Mele definitely have, and I assume some other Oli as well. They have to be like me, right? Just playing along. I can’t risk asking though. And it really doesn’t seem like it.

“The Alii might be tyrant bitches, but they’re gorgeous tyrant bitches. If you want access to their flowers, just got to play along. Nothing makes me happier than using their own bullshit against them.”

The brute laughed, let go of John’s shoulder, and knelt down so he was about even with John instead of looking down at him. “I got pulled in front of Nani Aikapu twice. They grilled me for hours. After the first time, I started being loaned out for real risky missions. Suicide missions. The Nani Aikapu wanted me dead. Instead of dying, those missions earned me a shitload of credits. I saved every one of those credits for Crazy Days. I bet I sprayed my pollen in each and every member of the Nani Aikapu more times than any of their own boys ever did.

“Kind of screwed myself in the end. After five years or so, I stopped being loaned out and those missions dried up. Oh, they hated me. Couldn't do anything about it though. They had to take my credits. The credits they helped me earn trying to kill me. Great Akua, I haven’t enjoyed spraying pollen half as much since back in those days. I love this Peerless Empire more than anything.”

The brute’s eyes bored into John’s own for a long moment before he sternly asked, “Do you understand what I’m telling you, Kahaka?”

“Yes, Akeoli.”

“Tell me then. Explain it to me. What I’m telling you.”

John mulled over if he should play dumb or not. He figured the only way out was through. “You’re threatening me. Telling me in a roundabout way you’d enjoy doing what you’d do to me if I get in your way. Something like that.”

The brute smiled widely. “That’s right, Kahaka. Something like that. I was told you’re extremely dumb. Glad that’s not all true. We can have a good time here. No Alii telling us what to do. No Mele examining everything we do. Just go have some fun with the subhuman. The Kahaki Alu. Just once. Twice, if you really want. That’s it though. She’s for us. We’ll help you get points. Help you get geared up. Help protect you from Mele too. We all win.”

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John waited in line for a long while before it was his turn to enter the tent. After passing through the entrance, the outer flap closed, and strong, warm air blew on him for a while before the inner flap opened. There was a large empty area and a drape he had to pass through before he saw the Kahaki girl.

The area of the tent past the drape was even larger and contained a small kitchen, a wardrobe, a bathtub, a table with four chairs, some storage drawers, and a large bed.

The girl was in the bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. Her large eyes became even wider once she saw John.

“Oh, hi! You veil really well. A Silver? And Nether-tainted? How do you survive out there? Oh, wow, look at those [Titles]. I’ve never even heard of those. I guess the rumors are true – they do still experiment on Kahaki. What do they call your type?”

John thought the Silver tier Kahaki girl was beautiful. Not Alii-level beautiful, but if she went to Earth, she’d have no problem getting a very quality husband based on her looks alone. “I’m not Kahaki. Or a type of Peerless. My people were made Kahaka. We come from a planet named Earth. The Peerless conquered it.”

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

John felt guilty saying that. The Peerless didn’t conquer Earth. The keys were handed right to them without a fight.

“Oh. Your planet’s named Dirt? That’s weird. Well, I’m glad you look more like a Kahaki. The Oli aren’t…they don’t…” She sighed and rushed out the rest as she blushed. “I don’t want to sound rude, but they look too different to, um, really be considered attractive. But I couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity. Please don’t tell them I said that.”

The girl let the covers fall, exposing herself. There was one large, flat, and empty sac and only two udders under it.

John assumed the dropped cover was an attempt to get him to forget what she had just said about Oli not being attractive to her. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell them anything said between us.” He was certain every Transcendent out there could hear every word anyway. The tent was on a giant dampening ritual, but he had a hard time believing the Diamond and the two Salts couldn’t hear into the tent either.

John had reasoned out the best and only course of action was to bed the Kahaki. Hearing that the girl was excited to be there and wanted to do what she was doing, that she wasn’t kidnapped, and wasn't forced to be there, made him feel much better about that decision.

The girl asked, “Have you ever been to my world? Gani?”

“I’ve lived there for months. It’s a beautiful planet.”

“Oh. I’ve only seen Palm. And not much of Palm either. Mostly just my village but I’ve been to Landing twice. And we took a trip to see Hani when I was really young. We’re not allowed to leave Palm. Not unless we ascend to the next Tree. Then we’re accepted into the Peerless Empire.

“I’m so happy I get to go early. I know this…doing this, doesn't speak well of me, but there’s no chance of me making the next Tree. Not unless I go to the mainlands where everyone’s rich and gets everything for free. This was my only way of not dying on Palm. My only chance to make it to the mainlands. I hope you don’t think I’m…that I’m normally like this. Do this. A prostitute, or anything like that.”

John did his best to control his heart rate. The girl continued, “There’s always been rumors that Kahaki are still kidnapped and experimented on. I knew it wasn’t true. You’ve never seen Kahaki being experimented on in the mainlands, right? Are Kahaka allowed names? Do you have a name? Mine’s Ailani.”

John wasn’t sure what senses a two-three-five had, but he was sure they were good. Akeoli Hyavod somehow knew John had heard the girl in the tent. Not sensed a Silver. He didn’t sense a Silver. The Akeoli knew John had heard the girl somehow.

John tried his best to keep all his vitals calm and smooth.

There were no Kahaki in the mainlands. He had never heard a Peerless say anything kind about Kahaki, and he had never heard of Transcendent Kahaki being allowed to join the Peerless Empire. Kahaki were lessers. Subhuman ganians.

A big part of the Aikapu justified how Kahaki were treated and why they had to be treated that way. The Peerless deemed defective were exiled to live with the Kahaki. Kahaka were treated far, far better than Kahaki. Akua decreed Kahaki couldn’t be killed but that they also couldn’t ever be Peerless.

John calmly said, “I’ve never seen or heard of Kahaki being experimented on. I did have a different name once. A normal name, the same as you do. I’m Kahaka Four-one now.”

“Oh. I hope I get to keep my name when I become a Peerless. I like my name. I like having a name. Were you going to get undressed? I don’t want to rush you, but I don’t want the Peerless to get mad at me for keeping them waiting.”

John knew the smart move to make. The only move to make. There was no way he could save the girl. She was dead no matter what he did. He had to keep the right mindset. No more mistakes could be tolerated. If he was going to bring down the Peerless Empire, he had to be perfect. He had to be the best of men, and the best of men allowed for no excuses or mistakes.

But the best of men wouldn’t bed a girl under false pretenses. Ailani was only doing what she was doing for a promise she’d never receive. Her only reward would be death.

John tried to reason with himself that it didn’t matter. The girl would die if he bedded her or not. He was being forced into the act too. His soul was already stained by thousands of years of sin. What was one more? Refusal would get him nothing but possibly dead too.

John just couldn’t believe the other Oli would let Akeoli Hyavod kill him for not going through with it. Another Oli had refused, the Diamond, and he hadn’t been killed. The Diamond had been preparing to leave and hunt while John waited in line. Akeoli Hyavod didn’t even pull that Oli aside to talk to him. Not that John saw anyway.

And the old crone was on Nani Empire. She had plans for John. She wanted him to go to a real Li academy.

That had to provide John with some measure of status and safety.

“Sorry, Ailana, but I forgot something outside I have to go get. Congratulations. I hope you enjoy the mainlands as much as I have. You’re a very beautiful girl.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Ailana pulled the covers back up to her chin. “It was very nice meeting you! I hope I see you on the mainlands. I don’t want to sound too forward and…you probably think I’m not…not a good person for doing what I’m doing here, but I have to. I’ve never even had a boyfriend before. I just…I just have to get to the mainlands. Anything’s better than life on Palm. I was hoping that maybe, if possible, you’d be interested in going on a date sometime? After I move to the mainlands? Even with your weird nose and ears I still think you’re…that you’re much more my type than…the others.”

John smiled as best he could. “I’d love that, Ailana. And I won’t hold anything you do here against you. To achieve our goals, we all must do things we’d much rather not. Things we’re not proud of. Farewell, and good luck.”

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As John exited the tent, Akeoli Hyavod smiled at him. The other Oli seemed like they couldn’t care less.

John eyed the Diamond preparing to leave on his hunt. He was sitting quietly, done with his preparations. John wondered why he hadn’t departed yet.

Since he was still supposed to get a storage device from the Akeoli, along with some other items, including one of those helmets, John wondered if he should just take off without them. He had the alarm thing for the portal. He could navigate in the Nether without one of those helmets, though the data it was said to provide would make gathering points for gear much simpler.

And having a storage device would make everything far easier to carry. John just had the pack he purchased. It was a good pack, but not nearly as good as even the smallest spatial storage. He could do without the knife.

Or maybe I can’t? Maybe it’s a special type of knife that’s needed, wondered John. He wasn’t sure about the rest of whatever else he was supposed to get.

Finding out if Hyavod wanted him dead was more of a pressing matter anyways. John decided to find out now rather than wait and wonder.

As he approached the brute, Hyavod stopped whispering with Two-two-one, the brute that flew John to camp, and turned to John with a smile on his face.

“I’ll just say I did it,” said John. “Just consider the deed done. I didn’t find her attractive enough.”

“No worries, little buddy,” replied Hyavod. “It’s all good.”

As John went to speak again, the Akeoli held up his hand, turned his head, and loudly said, “Hey, Seven-four, come here!” The Diamond got up and hurried over to join the three others.

“Okay. Most of us are hunting close to camp for a few days to enjoy the entertainment,” said Hyavod. “Since you two aren’t partaking, Olini Two-two-one’s going to fly you both to the next continent. He has the items for you, Kahaka, including a storage device. Not a great storage device, but good enough for a loaner.

“He’s dropping you off in an area you can both handle. Work together, and we’ll see you two when we make our way there in a month or so. Your helmets will catalog everything you see. Avoid anything questionable. We’ll handle the rough stuff when we hook back up and our helmets update.”

Once he was done speaking, the Akeoli immediately walked away. Two-two-one adjusted his helmet and asked, “Ready?”

After confirming they were, John was grabbed by the neck in the same uncomfortable way that didn’t seem to bother the Diamond at all. He spent the majority of the flight focusing on orienting himself as Two-two-one zipped around avoiding Netherstorms. He was able to spot some familiar looking creatures such as the mighty bull-lions. Flying beasts could be seen here and there.

There wasn’t a sea or body of water separating continents. There were giant trenches filled with pitch blackness, sometimes a part of a massive creature could be seen deep down in the darkness.

They then flew over an area that seemed drier and more barren than others. Enormous bones stuck out of the ground all over. Sometimes, extremely enormous bones.

Two-two-one set John and Seven-four down far into that barren and bone-filled area. He looked at Seven-four, held his arm out, and said, “Your helmet.” Without protest, Seven-four took off his helmet and handed it over.

If John didn’t know what was happening, the look on Seven-four’s face would’ve explained it all.

Two-two-one flew away. Seven-four slumped to the ground and took the usual Oli helmet out of his storage bracer and placed it on his head. He said, “In case you haven’t figured it out, Kahaka, we’ve been stranded here to die. This area was called the Boneyard in my helmet. We’re deep in it. It all showed as black to me, meaning this area is far too dangerous for my tier and I shouldn’t go anywhere near it. Without one of those helmets, we can’t even navigate in the Nether. We’re dead. Great Akua, I wish…”

Seven-four was cut off as the ground started to shake in a truly massive earthquake. It took a moment for John to realize it wasn’t the ground that was quaking. He was standing on a giant creature that had decided to stand up.