There has been many times in Alex’s life when he had remembered something from his childhood being much better than it actually was. Whether that be an ice cream flavor, or a movie he thought was hilarious, or even a toy he once couldn't live without. Nostalgia had a way of painting things in rose-colored hues, distorting the past into something almost magical. That had disappointed Alex more times than he could count. This was not one of those times.

Alex entered the mess hall immediately upon arriving at the camp. The Saxans he encountered had looks of horror on their faces. He didn’t know if it was because of his lack of limbs, or if it was because of his mode of transportation, but he couldn’t be bothered to find out.

He didn’t even need to wait his turn in line, the Saxans just parted like he had the plague. That didn’t bother Alex in the slightest as it meant he could achieve his goal that much faster.

“Please tell me you have some of the good stuff. I still don’t know what it’s called,” Alex said frantically as he lifted himself up on his back four legs. He started to describe the goop hoping the worker would know what he was talking about.

The Saxan looked like he was about to faint or run away. Each outcome was just as likely. Alex subconsciously lowered himself. That seemed to put the Saxan at ease slightly, likely because most of his frame was hidden behind the counter now.

“I know what you’re talking about and yes we have a fresh batch coming out in a few minutes. If you’ll wait over there, we can get you some when it’s done,” the Saxan said pointing to a distant corner. It gave Alex the impression that he was trying to get as much distance between them as possible.

“Thanks so much! Hey what is that stuff called anyway?”

“What you described is called Thryntal.”

“Thryntal,” Alex mouthed in admiration. He now had a name for the thing he had found himself fantasizing about more than he would like to admit. Embarrassingly, it might have been the thing he thought about the most, not that he would ever admit as much to anybody.

A few minutes later, the Thryntal was brought out to him and he found a seat for himself away from anybody else. The looks all of the warriors around had on their faces made Alex…uncomfortable. So, he sat in the back corner of the mess hall facing the wall. He didn’t want anything to sour his experience.

The first bite nearly made him tear up. It was somehow even better than he had remembered. Each bite was ecstasy. Everything else melted away and he felt like he was being transported to another dimension.

This moment faded away too quickly. Before Alex knew it, his food was gone and his stomach full. He wished that he could extend this moment forever, but alas, all good things come to an end. He needed to meet up with Krizzik and discuss the next steps in his tour here. Alex could tell, his time on Saxar IV was coming to an end. It was mostly just a matter of what he would be doing in his last moments.

After licking his bowl clean, Alex reluctantly got up from his seat to find Krizzik. It didn’t take long as one of the soldiers recognized him and hurriedly led him to the leader. Again, Alex got the feeling that it was less to be helpful and more to put the rest of the camp at ease. Alex had deliberated on whether he should make a less chilling mode of transportation, but he couldn’t think of any, so spider form is what they were stuck with.

After only a few minutes, Alex was in front of Krizzik. He looked at Alex with less of how the rest of the camp had and with a great deal more amazement.

“There is nothing that will stop you, is there?”

“Nothing I’ve come across yet,” Alex said confidently.

“What happened to you? Nobody has seen or heard of you since the raid.”

Alex spent the next hour explaining what had happened and why he was in hood current state. He didn’t spare any details and answered any clarifying questions that Krizzik had.

“These variants are extremely troubling. I did not like the implications of seeing them in the battlefield. It took a great deal more effort to dispatch them compared to the normal Zotari. That they have so many that are field ready is alarming. We were able to destroy the giants we saw from your initial altercation, but it appears the commander got away. There was no report of his death at any rate, and in this situation, no news is likely bad news. We have not seen any variant usage on any battlefield outside of Tristix, so I believe it is experimental in nature. It might even be localized to the units stationed here. It could be an initiative made to directly counter your presence here.”

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“If you haven’t seen them anywhere else, that could be the case. I don’t feel like they made them just for me. It was probably so that they could get an edge against you guys.”

“That may be partially true, but I do believe that you were a contributing factor. We have been locked in conflict with the Zotari for close to three years already. They haven’t made such a move in all this time. Since you have arrived, they have drastically changed their tactics. Either they are threatened by what you represent, or they are being pressured more to overtake this planet,” Krizzik said.

“By what I represent?” Alex asked.

“You are essentially a mercenary. A mercenary that can be mass produced at a moments notice. If the Coalition sent more people like you here, it would only be a matter of time before the planet was reclaimed. They do not know that we cannot sustain more than just one of your kind, and so they are preparing.”

“I guess that makes sense. Why can’t you have more than one of me? I thought it was weird. There were two others like me that were being sent on punishment tours and I expected them to be sent to the same place as me.”

“Just the cost of you was nearly enough to bankrupt us. We are not an influential, or crucial force to the Coalition and so our rates are much higher than another’s might be. Being a part of the Coalition is what gives us access to the awakened to begin with, but there are certain criteria that must be met in order to qualify for even the chance at hiring one. Our situation is dire enough, and we have been with the Coalition just long enough that we were given a chance. We were warned that you were to be sent here on a punishment tour, right as you were finishing your tutorial and that our rate would be lowered. That was the only reason we were able to afford you at all. I don’t think they expected you to become as powerful as you have, otherwise, they might have charged more or sent you to a more strategic location. But, since we paid the price, we have the rights to use you.”

“That seems kind of messed up. You guys need the help, but they still make you pay out the nose for anything. Sounds kind of corrupt. Do they even help you out? Or is this Coalition just the appearance of strength with numbers? Also, kind of messed up that you guys just transact my services like I’m just an object,” Alex complained.

“I agree. And yet, I cannot yell at the sky to change colors anymore than I can tell the Coalition to change its ways. We are merely cogs in the machine.”

“So what’s the plan now?” Alex asked changing the subject.

He had already spent countless hours angry about the situation he found himself in, and he all he wanted was to keep busy, and preferably with something he could punch. It was the only way to distract himself from everything.

“Well, we need you uncover more about these variants. This is our most crucial mission yet. If they start to implement this on a mass scale, we will be doomed to destruction. And at the same time, if we could reverse engineer these concepts to our own people, we could change the conflict in our favor. Our time is running short. Our contract is nearly over and then we will need to send you back to your planet.”

Alex almost jumped at the prospect of returning back home. It seemed like an impossible thing, but Krizzik just said that he would be going back shortly.

“How much time is left on my contract?”

“We have less than three months left until we are required to release you.”

It wasn’t as close as Alex hoped, but it still gave him something to look forward to. Three months. That was doable. That would mean that he would be on Saxar IV for about a year in total. When he looked back, he was surprised that much time had already passed. Time sure does fly when you’re beating up aliens.

“That’s not a ton of time. If we are going to be facing off a bunch of variants though, I’m going to need to level up. I almost got killed too many times to count,” Alex said rubbing the back of his neck.

“I think I can agree with that. You are going to be facing off against a lot more of them and you need to be prepared. I will give you a month.”

Alex almost complained, but realized that Krizzik was being extremely accommodating. Giving him a third of his remaining time to level up was more than he could’ve hoped for. Alex had gained a lot of goodwill with Krizzik and it was paying off.

“One month. Sounds like a plan. It would help if I could be pointed to some of the stronger creatures and breeding grounds. The stronger the enemies, the faster I power up.”

“We will provide you with transportation to some of the more dangerous areas as well as guide you to some of the stronger nomadic creatures that roam the desert,” Krizzik said as if that was a given.

“Why are you guys being so helpful all of a sudden?” Alex asked and quickly followed with, “Not that I’m complaining, but you guys weren’t exactly helpful to me ever since I showed that crown.”

Krizzik smiled as if expecting the question.

“My position has been strengthened since we have nearly taken Tristix. The elders are losing the queen’s ear, and I am finally allowed to move more freely. I have all but exonerated you. You don’t even have to face off against the Great One anymore.”

“What if I want to?”

“That would be easy. The queen would still like the Great One to be dealt with. She sees the threat that it poses to us.”

“Great! Because I do. Want to fight it. Still,” Alex said.

“Then you can. Fight it. Still,” Krizzik mocked Alex with a smile.

It was the first time Alex had seen the alien smile. It was strange, but not in a bad way. It made him feel a lot more personable. Things had changed so much and so quickly. He never thought that Krizzik would ever be friendly towards him, but that is what Alex was seeing. And he had grown to consider Krizzik as a friend. If it hadn’t been for him, Alex would probably be dead. He hadn’t realized that until he saw that smile. Alex returned the smile with one of his own and placed one of his spider legs on the alien’s shoulder.

“Thanks. For everything,” Alex said.