Tania was at the back of her command center, in a large room with a table and stools appropriate for her anatomy and that of Marise.

Zergonians flags were hanging and in a corner, in her place, as if to serve Baron Zergalor, Pharotek the Mentat of Tania was waiting for instructions and was taking care of her general/baron.

Sitting at the table, as a guest, Andromedius, assisted by Isolde who was learning Zerg techniques with Tania's permission, who gave her a torrid look from time to time.

But Tania contained her fury. She would have already exploded.

Photos, reports and copies of the missives were printed and on the table.

She was waiting for Marise.

But, not wanting to destroy what little connection there was between them, she said nothing.

Marise entered, back from the dungeon where Georges was locked up.

Moreover Tania did not understand why Marise had put him back on his feet at this point. He constituted a serious danger for them.

But Marise had other ideas in mind... She liked Georges very much and against all expectations, she was attracted more by the dragon than by humans, her intentions to become human again becoming less clear.

TAKATAK

TAKATAK

TAKATAK...

Making Tania's claws on the table.

"Mommy? Are you alright?"

Tania sighed. "Don't get mad at me... Marise but ...you see relationships the way I do.

You didn't tell us anything... and soldiers have been killed. You certainly have your reasons..."

The Baron in her wanted to flay her alive but Tania loved Marise above all else and her "Baron" had to swallow his anger.

Marise looked for support towards Isolde and the mentat but, seeing that Tania was making a real effort, she did not pull herself up.

We saw the choppers shot and we didn't get shot, probably we were not a threat. The soldiers fired first on the castle, trying to extricate the refugee orcs. And the structure activated automatically according to the survivors. "

Tania: "So the losses are due to blind aggression on other protagonists?"

Marise: "Yes, mom..."

Tania wanted her to say "my general " but it was just one more frustration to swallow.

She feared Tiamat just by looking at Marise... She hoped that Marise would beg Tiamat to spare her and to show that there was still a little bit of her left and not all of the baron...

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A silence and Tania moved on to the next document: the report of the dwarves and the report of Torquemada.

Andromedius was terrified and was so discreet as to have changed seats with Isolde.

Even as a human, Tania was a monster of war, but now she was just a monster, worse a monster among monsters. A master of war, a raptor, a dragon and now a general leading the largest known army in the universe.

It was because she was addicted to violence and gunpowder that she was not yet empress of the universe, but having her place next to a goddess like Tiamat was a dream place for her. But at what price and above all at what risks....

Marise looked at the drawing and looked to Isolde for help.

Isolde, cleared her throat and spoke up.

"When Marise landed to take me to the castle of the dwarf king, a party was taking place in the valley between the 2 castles. The king was sleeping against the Hydra, drinking his wine. The 4 other heads were also sleeping. Something must have happened between them but as soon as I arrived, the hydra came between us and the king to protect him... Obviously, nobody knew about the Zergs or the defeat of the dragon lord. Even I was not aware of it.

The king, when he woke up, recognized me and I tried to probe his power but I was very afraid ... I thought I was going to be devoured. Marise too was terrified, crushed by the powerful aura released by the hydra. In order not to provoke anything, I asked to see my superior, Torquemada, and communications were re-established and thus we learned of your injured condition but also of your victory.

Nothing leaked out and it was Torquemada who gave the information he deemed necessary."

Tania remained pensive.

"Marise, you were so scared?? more scared than you were of Mom?"

Isolde had a moment of terror when Tania let go of "mom", referring to the Goddess of Evil.

"Mom..., I've never been so afraid. I am afraid of mom Tiamat, but here....no... it's not the same, I felt like a weakened mom, but with a black head, called "the emperor", it had something overwhelming but sad and empty, like a titanic giant but exhausted, with no will to fight, unhappy.

The white head that looked at me and spoke with the king was the most vigorous, the golden one also a little bit but the 2 red and the black one were fermenting. As if to "forget".

Tania found a smile again...

HAHA.... This is not the Tiamat of this world, but a fragment reconstituted with other dragons . But it is complex....

If the white one was alone....if only....I could bring it to mother.....

Listen, go back to the dwarves, find an excuse, anything and you, Pharotek, go with Marise to find out more..."

She was giving these orders, but with a paw on Isolde's thigh.

When Isolde looked at Tania, she immediately removed her paw.

The day was advanced and everyone went to the big table of the castle to eat together and to inform each other.

Tania immediately submitted to the prince pontiff, but the prince feared the dragon raptor Tania was.

"Dear guests from another world, you have shown us wonders and brought us an immense victory. We do not know how to thank you... All our resources are at your disposal..."

Tania relaxed and made sure Isolde relaxed.

Altus: "My dear Isolde... You look tense... It's peace now and you're grown up... enjoy our best Wine and Mead... Our Zerg hosts and friends have also given us some delicacies and subtle spices that are a treat for the palate. "

Isolde: "I'm sorry, Your Majesty... I will taste and honor our friends..."

Tania replied with a smile and Isolde, frightened, did everything she could not see.

The evening went smoothly and the nobles at the table could attend a holographic show, superior to the outdated cinemas. They could even touch and feel the objects in the show.

Even the magic could not do better.

Then, each one returned to his room but in the staircase which led to the tower/room of Isolde, Tania awaited her, blocking the way to her.

She wanted to turn back but Tania found herself on the other side, as if by magic...

Her muzzle was very close to Isolde's mouth.

"Isolde, I promised you that I would solve your problem... I always keep my promises. And I haven't forgotten the words you said a few days ago "I love Tania...".

And... you see, it's mutual... there's something in you that attracts me..."

And Tania got down on her knees, her head leaning against Isolde's chest.

She didn't know what to do anymore... It's true that she loved Tania and admired her but after seeing her power and her anger, she was terrified... What could she do?

To give in and reject her...

Rejecting her would certainly be a bad idea, risking to make an enemy but on the other hand. Accepting her, how would it start and especially how would it end for her?

She saw Marise, transformed... She weighed the pros and cons of immortality, mana and power... but at what price?

She thought about her life plan... About twenty years... In twenty years, she will be old and in sixty... it would be an achievement...

But, yielding a little, Tania took out her enormous tongue and went up from her belly to her mouth.

Isolde let out a small cry of prey taken by a predator, trembling with fear.

Tania carried her like a bag of potato chips into the bedroom, towards the bed, and, as if by magic, the door slammed shut on its own, the hinge in place so as not to be disturbed.