CHAPTER 27: LITHANUL
She still couldn’t comprehend the whirlwind of events that had transpired over the last few days, weeks, and even months, each moment unfurling like a chaotic tapestry, threads of her former life now frayed and tangled. It had all begun with one astonishing surprise, a revelation so immense that it threatened to shake the very foundations of her society—the very society she had ruled until only yesterday, her reign now reduced to a mere whisper in the annals of history, as fleeting as a forgotten dream. The grip of her power had waned gradually, her influence slipping away like sand through her fingers, as her former slave cunningly infiltrated the inner workings of government, ultimately seizing control of the largest power in the galaxy, a feat she had never, in her wildest imaginings, anticipated. To make matters even more complicated, she had been rescued by a mercenary from a species she had long believed to be extinct, leaving her in a state of utter confusion and disorientation regarding his true motives and what they might mean for her uncertain future.
“So, how did you survive?” Lithanul asked, a chuckle escaping her lips as she realized she had been posing that very question more frequently than she ever anticipated, each inquiry revealing a little more of the mystery surrounding him, peeling back layers she hadn’t even known existed.
“I was stuck underground on Mika, trying to rescue a Draxorian diplomat during the purge. I was warned only a few minutes before it happened and had to remain hidden underground for several years before I finally managed to reemerge into the universe. I had stockpiled enough supplies on my ship here to sustain myself through the ordeal. After the Empire’s purge, I sensed our time was fast approaching, and I knew I had to find a way back.” He never turned to face the monarch, his black eyes devoid of emotion as they scanned the flickering control panels before him, an eerie determination etched across his features, hinting at the depths of experiences that shaped him.
“Are you going to kill me?” she asked, her heart racing as the weight of his past actions loomed over them like a dark cloud, threatening to engulf them both in its shadow.
“Ha!” The mercenary erupted into a fit of laughter, his amusement filling the small cabin, a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air like a thick fog. “If I was paid to kill you, you’d already be dead. I’m not one to waste time.”
“Do you want to kill me?” Lithanul pressed, fully aware of the hatred that simmered in his heart, a deep-seated loathing for the atrocities she had committed against his species, yet another victim in her relentless, bloodthirsty quest for vengeance that had left scars across the galaxy and a trail of broken lives in its wake.
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“After all this time? Nah. I’m good. Besides, I find your current predicament absolutely hilarious! And, sweet revenge!” His words dripped with sarcasm, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity that forced her to confront the harsh reality of her situation, a reality she had spent so long trying to escape.
“I bet you do,” she murmured, settling into a seat next to him, unsure of what else to say to the last remnant of a once-lost species. “The Arcturians were never a vengeful people, despite what you might think.” She hoped her words would bridge the chasm of their shared history, even if only for a fleeting moment.
This mention of his species seemed to please him, a name he had not heard in what felt like an eternity, stirring something deep within him—a flicker of nostalgia mingled with a bittersweet ache. He was about to reply, ready to express admiration and respect for her apparent fortitude, when suddenly, his sensor panel began to light up with alarming intensity, casting an eerie glow across their faces, illuminating the tension etched into their features. “Woah! That was unexpected!” he exclaimed, his voice laced with surprise, the momentary distraction pulling them both from the weight of their conversation.
“What is it?” Lithanul asked, her curiosity piqued as she stood and took the co-pilot seat beside him, eager to grasp the situation that had suddenly shifted so dramatically, her instincts on high alert.
“A Terran ship was burning hard away from the third planet for some reason. I’ve been watching it for several hours, completely intrigued by their actions. Then, all of a sudden, a wormhole just opened up, and a damn Legion cruiser came barreling out. The Terran ship entered the wormhole, with the Legion ship hot on its tail, and then—boom! It just closed up behind them!” His voice was filled with incredulity, as if he could hardly believe his own words, each syllable bursting with the thrill of unexpected discovery.
Lithanul stared incredulously at the optical sensor readout, replaying the astonishing scene her savior had just described in disbelief, her mind racing to connect the dots of this surreal turn of events. “That is not possible. How did they manage that? Did they regain control of the Legion?” Her thoughts spun wildly, contemplating the implications of such a chaotic turn of events—each possibility more unsettling than the last.
“Doubtful,” he replied, his brow furrowing in thought as he processed the information, piecing together the fragments of this unexpected puzzle. “The fleet hasn’t reacted at all. I’m still betting they are worried about them and what this might mean for their dominance, a precarious balance now tipped.”
“It appears I have lost the ability to control events,” she replied solemnly, a hint of resignation creeping into her voice, the weight of her failure settling heavily on her shoulders like an anchor dragging her down into the depths of despair. “Are we ready yet?”
“Absolutely. Just finishing the coordinates here. Aaand… done! Hyperdrive is primed. Alright, Lithy, hold on to your crown!” With just a few swift button presses, the stealthed ship vanished from the system, slipping silently into another realm of space, leaving behind the chaos of a universe in turmoil.