Yemenis Ixtra was the Tixian success story of the week back home from what her niece was telling her on the pocketspace communicator while she was editing footage. Her bug drone's had quickly learned and updated the translators on Earth's nomenclature and now even her family was familiar with terms from the planet. It was surreal to say the least.

"Oh my Jirodin, Auntie Yemmy you did it. You're on the news EVERY NIGHT!" her niece Hemina squealed. Yemenis could only smile in return as she looked at the main cast in her footage. While it did feel good to be recognized on such a large level, it felt even better giving her family the financial freedom they had lost. Yemenis' stories were a planet-wide hit. And even when she didn't have a main presentation or story to give out on Earth, she set her drones on the popular specimen that the many people back home started to love to watch and just let them record. People just watched them go throughout their days and loved it.

"Umm Auntie, the New York boy is so scary but he's a very cute man thing. Do you think when the humans win you can invite him on a show or something?" her niece asked suddenly.

Yemenis was reviewing footage of the Egypt incident when her niece's statement shook her out of work mode for a second.

"Hemina, people back home are really saying the humans are going to win?" Yemenis said with a glazed look over her eyes.

"YES AUNTIE that's what I've been trying to tell you. They're saying you're recording literal history. I'm getting treated like royalty among the rest of the clans," Hemina said.

Yemenis started to give a panicked laugh at the implications when she noticed one of her stars suddenly go missing.

****

“Grab him now he’s performing a minion travel,” Commander Finik ordered her subordinate. A shaking, smaller Kwitle input the many commands it took to override the system’s quantum travel protocols. Commander Finik, Rijohe, and a nearly dead human male sat silently as the technician worked.

“Once he appears limit his communication with the ships' systems and don’t leave this room. No one is to know he’s here,” Finik ordered.

Jon appeared suddenly next to his father. Finik looked down at the man and was unimpressed as he gasped. He was dirty with unruly hair and smelled horrific, just like the rest of the apes. The only thing that shocked her was the visible symbiote already on his right hand. It even gave a small flare of confusion.

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“What the fuck is this?? Wait. Dad?? Where am I?” Jon yelled out while looking around the small corner room they brought him into.

The man’s father stirred but was still unable to speak. The apes were so physically fragile she didn’t understand how the challenge was going poorly. Her symbiote flared out its impatience.

“Jon Monos you are not to speak unless spoken to. I am a Commander of the KMS Tilaoi Finik. This here is Rijohe, you were under his control until this “challenge” happened. And now well. Now some of you get to play with our ship’s AI and systems for a month until we again get to destroy you legally,” Finik stated while using her symbiote to force Jon’s mouth closed and hold him in place.

“No. No questions will be allowed. You may only respond. You will find your ability to communicate with our ships' systems has been heavily diminished. Now, I must place you back on earth before the damned lawyers notice anything is wrong so we must hurry.”

Commander Finik preened her arm feathers and shook her head before she continued. Her Mind AI sent a warning that she ignored for now. No distractions.

“We need you to use the Reflect command, and only the Reflect command, on your father again and divulge to us the information that he states regarding the Yuini. We have analyzed the one memory you gained during the Mind Game again and again but he has been unwilling to give us anything else since then. As you can see, he seems rather worn out and would love to go back home. As soon as we find out everything he can leave,” Commander Finik finished.

The smaller man’s eyes glared at her with a fury she had never seen in all of her human analysis training. This one must be especially defective she thought. Rijohe was trembling softly next to her. The Kwitle had turned into a different soldier ever since the kidnapping. He still hadn’t recover his full memory and his AI wasn’t self-repairing at all. Everything was starting to reflect poorly on Finik and she had enough of it.

“Unfortunately your father is especially resistant to the ship’s commands, but somehow you were still able to use Reflect on him successfully. No one else has been able to in our…trials. Our AI's believe that it may be due to your genetic compatibility and now its time to test that theory. On my command my symbiote will let go of your mouth, only, so you can give the reflect command and then you will share with us the Yuini’s plans. Afterwards, as stated, you and your father may go back to Earth reunited and happy.” Finik said.

Jon looked to be having a fit under her symbiote. Finik believed that’s what the apes did when they laughed or cried. Perhaps the man was ecstatic with her presumed generosity. She told her symbiote to let go of his mouth with a sign.

“FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUCK YOU,” Jon said with a big laugh afterwards. She ordered her symbiote back on his mouth and closed her eyes.

“You know challenger. No one knows you’re here. This is a matter of intergalactic security. I would be very careful with your words and actions. The Yuini are a menace and cannot be trusted. The fact that they’re even here is extremely concerning not only for us but for you too. Don’t you want to know why your father wasn’t…well, your father?” Finik said. This angle could work but it could backfire.

Jon looked over at his father. The man was finally stirring, they needed a lot of food and water for some reason. The ships systems were having trouble with their calorie enrichment programs due to it. Such a waste Finik thought as Jon closed his eyes.

Before she let the symbiote go again she received another frantic message from her Mind AI.

Commander were being hailed by another ship her AI thought to her.

What?! Who? How? Finik thought.

It’s the Grays and the Tixian lawyers. They want to speak to Jon her AI replied.

Already?! How in Calapo’s name did they even know he was here?? Finik thought in panic.

Um…it turns out his bug drone’s livestream was interrupted and everyone got very upset, her AI thought.