Nathan felt his blessing tug a second before Sorossa grabbed for his teleporter. Acting quickly, he pinged the room for threats. Nothing appeared. "June!" He shouted, but it was too late. The moment needed to speak gave Sorossa enough time to flip the cover on the teleporter hidden in his sleeve and activate it. With a blip, the alien disappeared, neither Nathan nor June able to react in time.

Hailey punched the chair the alien sat in. "Damn it!" She screamed.

"I had a whole plan! We confront him, he panics and tries to run, then June stops him. If he tries to attack us Nathan would keep him occupied. How was I to know he had a damn teleporter!" She punched at the chair again in her frustration.

"I'm sorry." June apologized. "I wasn't fast enough."

Hailey took a deep breath. "No, no. It's my fault. I didn't account for it." She sat back in her chair and muttered, so quiet even Nathan had trouble hearing. "But Caleb would've."

Sorossa was back in the Triumph. He looked around, he was in his cabin. There wasn't a threatening councilwoman and her two guards. There was only him. Him and the vidscreen he had paused before descending.

He breathed, shaking. And then a laugh escaped him. Relief and panic joining into a disjointed "Ah-ha! Haha! HA! Ahahaha!"

His stomach shook, he felt queasy. Councilwoman Hailey had said he used mind control. Absurd! Exaltors did no such thing. All they did was explain the glories of the Varnoss empire. Their vast armies that protected the normal citizens, the rich cultural exchange between all of Varnoss, and don't forget the incredible technologies the logicians thought up. Once anyone heard of the glories of Varnoss, why wouldn't they want to join?

Only if you were insane, like the Jora. It was obvious now these humans were like them. Anomalies in the Allworld that would rather ignore the blessings of the emperor. But he needed more proof. There were already reports of humans that joined with the empire. Of course, these must be sleeper agents of some sort, ready to destroy Varnoss from the inside at the right time.

He had other Exaltor's reports! He'd scour these, look through them all and make a case. And he could start with the very one he paused before landing on the accursed planet. Sorossa shuffled over to the vidscreen and resumed the video.

Once again he saw through another Exaltor's eyes. He watched the soldiers led his comrade through ornate hallways of art. Eventually, the soldiers reached a set of dark oak doors, carved in intricate patterns. One pushed it open and the Exaltor was escorted into the room.

Behind a polished oaken desk sat a man. He was dressed in an immaculate suit and tie. As the Exaltor made his greetings Sorossa noticed how piercing the man's eyes were. He flinched, truly all the species had such terrible glares.

The two talked, the Exaltor expounding the greatness of the Varnoss empire and the man listening. As they discussed the man's gaze softened and Sorossa thought he would accept the deal. And then a monster entered the room.

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It was a monster, of that much Sorossa was certain. Her face was an inverted night sky, filled with black warts on pale skin. Her hair clumped together in haphazard dreads. Twigs and sticks wove through the nest of hair in a matted clump. In one hand she held a large bowl, made of stone. Something sloshed inside as she walked in. In the other hand was a club, made of stone and weeping some liquid at the large end.

The monster spoke, a voice of dead leaves and rot. "Myshka, it does you no good to listen."

"Baba, they propose an alliance." The man said, cool as a tundra.

"His words spin lies, you think you hear alliance but the blue mouse offers only concession. Here, Baba will open your ears silly mouse." The woman ran an affectionate hand over the man's ears. Sorossa shuddered as he watched gnarled fingers pass over the man. They snatched something out of the air as they passed.

The Exaltor spoke again, trying to continue his glorious mission. However, the man's face glowered as he heard the Exaltor. By the end, he was livid, his face a wrathful buddha. Sorossa babbled apologies despite being nowhere near the conversation.

"Call my guards," The man spoke. "It seems that an empire thinks it can usurp our glorious power."

"No need for that Mishka," The hag said. "I will take care of this blue mouse."

The man turned, staring. "No strings attached?"

"Think of it as a favor for all you've done in our deal Mishka." The hag chortled. "Besides, I've never had a blue mouse for dinner before."

The warty woman stepped forward, her club held high. The bowl sloshed as she moved forward, brown-red liquid spilling onto the carpet. Sorossa stopped the video there, he couldn't watch where this was going. These humans worked with monsters! Monsters!

That settled it, they were a threat. He would compile a report for commander Delarossa and ensure none of these fiends lived. He looked down on the planet of terrors. Grasping his courage, the blue alien went back to the vidscreen. He had a report to compile and there was little time to waste.

"We don't have time to waste," Hailey said, springing from her chair. "I've spent enough time sulking and now we need action." She grabbed at the phone at her desk, dialing in smooth motions.

"Get me Mr. Copper," She demanded. "I need an update."

Nathan watched as Caleb's sister went to work dialing the various moving parts of the city.

Ay yo wattup my main paladin man how's it going?

The voice of Pellere pushed other thoughts from Nathan's mind. His god hadn't contacted him in a while, normally leaving the paladin to complete his business alone.

Hi Pellere, what brings you here? He answered.

Sheesh always so formal with you. You should relax a little. But listen I was wonderin'. You think you can do me a solid and make me a temple in this place?

Of course, Nathan thought back. Though I thought you weren't the type of god to "establish roots" as you called it.

Hey now normally I'm not but I'm getting big vibes from this place man. Like BIG big. Yannow?

Nathan did know. He had been feeling the tugs of impulsive action all around the area ever since he arrived. Normally the pull would slow down over time as things settled. Yet even with such an established area, the tugs had only gotten stronger.

I'll talk to the city about it. Nathan said.

Hey thanks my prime paladin pal. Pellere said.

While Nathan discussed with his god, June watched as Hailey made call after call. She marveled at how this woman was related to that clown of a man. How could two people be so different?

"Alright you two, we only have a short while before an entire empire decides to declare war. Mr. Copper has informed me that the essence you brought is very versatile and useful in a variety of applications. I need all hands on deck to help outfit this city." Hailey said to the two.

June jumped to attention. "Of course!" Nathan nodded in agreement.

"Perfect. First things first, I need to find my brother." Hailey marched out of the office.