Murrnal Bram felt as good as never. He slowly was waking up and felt that he is submerged in some kind of warm liquid. But he could breathe normally so no need for panic.

His Lord promised him safety.

But Bram was quite surprised at how clearly he can think now. To be honest he felt fantastic. Like almost 80 springs ago. He was smiling at these thoughts when the liquid started flowing away. He felt how this pod his Lord ordered him to enter started moving and opened itself after a heartbeat. He heard clear voices so sharp and good he doubt he ever was able before.

Then he saw how the medi-pod with his daughter opened and he couldn't believe his own eyes. She was stunningly beautiful- no longer malnourished, all her scars were gone, her tragically cut-off fingers grew back and she even looked younger.

When she saw him her eyes widened and her ears, as well as her tail, flicked into a position of borderline shock and she almost screamed.

Murrnal heard his Lord's voice and turned to him as fast as he could kneel. Which turned out lightning fast to his absolute surprise. He silently waited for his Master's orders. One of mee-dic's was talking.

"The treatment has been well received and both are as good as new. Biologically, He is now 20 years old, and she is 17 so I can give you Sir, guarantees for another 50 or so years. Their race lives for about 70 years, but if necessary, we can rewind them back indefinitely. They are fascinating! I will prepare my report for You Lord Thuel!"

"Thank you, doctor."

Niora For'rtiassa kneeled as quickly as she was released from the medi-pod. She trembled at the thought of how powerful her new Lords were and nigh magical technology at his disposal. Her father was...

"How do you both feel?"

"Excellent like never before my Lord!" Responded some voice and Bram quickly recognized it as his own. The voice he had in his youth, a voice like rolling thunder worthy of the Cion he once was. He looked surprised at his own hands- once again strong and without a single trace of white fur.

"My Lord? What does this mean?"

But one of the doctors offered an explanation instead.

"We used some of our technology and rejuvenate you, as well as healed your wounds and all your negative conditions. The same we did for your foster daughter since that was easier and faster than dealing with all her illnesses we detected. Young miss, you had asymptomatic stage four cancer. If we left you unchecked you would die in just a few days."

Niora For'rtiassa trembled. Her father was right and they were Gods.

"How do you think Doctor? They can join others?" asked Thuel too tired to even try to pretend he want anything else than hitting the bed.

"Of course Lord Thuel, we will run some tests later to check their status but I don't expect any complications. Admiral Murrnal you can go to Cions and..."

"Lord Thuel." it was Ra'volta. Thuel knew what he is about to hear. "We have a problem with Cions."

Bram roared with anger. Who dared to oppose the will of his Gods? Krrinl for sure.

Murrnal Bram and Niora For'rtiassa got new uniforms looking the same as their old ones but made from much more advanced materials. They were heading toward the recreation zone while Ra'volta was referring everything that happened when they went to the medic bay for two Cion use only since Thuel and Elisabeth received detailed reports directly to their neural implants.

"Individual named Krrinl Oor gathered about three thousand Cions and they demand to be released. I ordered them to be moved for now to the designated zone and await your decision, Sir!"

"I'm going to allow them to leave. It's not like I held anyone here against their will. Is that fine with you Admiral Bram?" Thuel was glad that was it.

"I'm going to give them one chance to reconsider their outrageous actions but we will do as you wish my Lord! Niora you will call them on my regard and I'll show myself to them later." Bram nodded and Niora responded with the same devotion her stepfather had in his voice.

"Only If you allow this Lord Thuel!"

"Then let's proceed." Thuel sighed.

Thuel, Elisabeth and Niora entered the recreation area. Five marines were monitoring the situation and one of them sent all relevant info to Thuel. They are not stupid to turn this into violence so that's good. He used an audio system to be heard.

"What is going on here?" he asked with a tired voice and watched as one of Cions approached them.

He had a human-like face with distinctive cat-like eyes and whiskers. His hair was similar to tiger colours with black and orange stripes. He stood before him without any trace of fear but also without gratitude. And looked up into Thuel's eyes because he was short even shorter than Niora. He was 167cm tall while Thuel was 205cm so his demanding tone sounded a bit awkward.

"I'm Krrinl Oor from Vnyr caste! Where is Murrnal Bram!?"

Thuel didn't like his tone but he was too tired to bother or care. He nodded to Niora and she responded:

"He will join us soon. I'm speaking on his behalf. What are you think you are doing Krrinl?!"

He looked at her with contempt and hissed:

"I will not talk to filthy Suř! I don't accept that Murrnal Bram could take you as his child and hope you will inherit his leadership! Where he is? He is unfit to lead. He must accept my challenge!"

Prince tilted his head but he heard soft footsteps and the rumbling voice of Bram.

"I know you are stupid Krrinl, but never expected you would cast away our chance for survival. Only for your vainglory!"

All Cions looked with fear at their rejuvenated Leader. He no longer was old and weak. He looked like old chronicles depicted him. Krrinl's ears twitched with fear.

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"Who... Who are you?!"

"You called for me boy! So here I am. You offended the hospitality of our Lord. You disgraced yourself by talking to our Lord as to equal. You all who supported this madman will get their request granted. Our Lord graciously ordered Cion Fang to be repaired and supplied. All who wish to join them may leave as well. But I and my daughter will stay and serve Lord Thuel as I have promised. But you Krrinl challenged me to duel. You want to take all Cions with you whether they want or not. Just to satisfy your vanity! Very well."

Krrinl was panicking. How this is possible? He looked with fear at Thuel. They are really Gods?! No.

He prepared to fight Bram.

They circled three times around and Krrinl jumped first. It was just a trick- old fart is still slow. He felt how a strong arm grabbed His leg and tossed him onto ground. He felt how air left his lungs.

"Get up boy!" he heard the voice of old-young admiral. He stood up.

"That's all you got?!"

"You fighting unfairly! Somehow they helped you!" Krrinl pointed at Thuel and Elisabeth.

"My Lord have the power to bring back youth. To cure all illnesses! How dare you point your filthy finger at him?!"

"So that's how honourable you are? No Vnyr would fight with a weaker opponent!"

"And you are talking?! You who wanted to fight elder on his death bed?"

All Cions were looking with disgust and anger at Krrinl. If he would win this fight he would demand them to follow him as the new leader. And in their beliefs and tradition, they simply had to follow him. Three thousand of Krrinl's followers were looking at this scene concerned. Most of them belong to the Suř caste but many of the last Vnyr followed Krrinl. Bram looked at them and snarled.

"Very well you coward! Niora For'rtiassa! You will kill this boy!"

"As you wish my Father!"

She prepared for the fight. Thuel had enough and rose his voice.

"Enough!" Bram and Niora kneeled. "Krrinl you will take all three thousand of your followers and anyone who wants to follow you and you will leave. All who want to stay are free to do so."

"You are releasing us?" Krrinl asked with spite in his voice. Bram roared with anger but don't dare to speak against his Lord.

"You never were held against your will in the first place. But I don't have time to play with anyone. Marines will escort you all to Ship, Admiral Bram agreed you can take."

Krrinl was trembling with anger. He should kill this so-called God here and now.

"Ra'volta!" Thuel called into the air.

Krrinl was looking and couldn't believe his eyes. From thin air started condensing some shape. It was armoured in black ornamented armour no Cion saw before, with massive black wings on his back. All Cions were looking in awe and fear, Krrinl's tail dropped onto the ground. So he truly is God and he Krrinl Oor discarded him and this all what God Thuel could offer.

Meanwhile, Ra'volta was looking right through him and Krrinl was terrified.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Is Cion ship ready for take-off?"

"Yes, my Lord! We reinforced the hull with the same technology as the ship. However, building air filters in their technology would be... Not wise. We changed their filters for much more effective from their point of view. We also removed any information about us and our technology. They can move out at any time."

"As you heard. You may go. No one is holding you here."

Krrinl stood up and started marching towards the exit defeated. But only him. All other Cions were kneeling. Murrnal Bram roared still kneeling.

"How much longer are you going to abuse our Lord's hospitality? All of you who wanted to follow Krriln can leave now!"

Some of them started walking toward the doors. The horrible realisation of what they have done reached them all. They wanted power and might but what they achieved was a return to the lonely voyage and fear. Some of them started crying. Elisabeth sent a private message to Thuel.

"Are you sure? They will die."

"Liss it's their choice. I will not hold anyone. If you want to play Angel of Mercy go on. Im 24h on foot now and really can't care less what they want. I really don't want to use stimulants to solve not our problems."

Elisabeth asked Murrnal Bram softly:

"They all have to go?"

He looked into her eyes. She saw pain, shame and disgrace in them. But he said:

"All Vnyrs must follow their convictions. That's our law. However, the rest of them can stay. I'll personally make sure they will never disgrace themselves ever again my Lady!"

"Then we will leave this to you, Murrnal Bram. Freya! You will assist with sending out those Bram will decide need to go."

Shock among Cions was visible when they saw what any Human of Fa'enni will at once recognize as Valkyria from nordic myths of Terra.

Freya was wearing shining bright silver cuirass and chain mail. She had a long blue coat lined with white fur. She very deeply inspired her to look with nordic mythology- long curly red hair with silver and gold ornaments were let free. She could very well be the personification of the goddess she take her name from. She nodded to Elisabeth.

"As you wish ma'am!"

Thuel in the meantime requested more marines just in case. He decided he need to go to sleep now.

"Im counting on you Murrnal Bram."

"Yes, my Lord!"

The next day, after 6 hours of sleep Thuel woke up in his bed on board Ra'volta. He slowly sat and checked on data from Fleet. Admiral Strong left him a few notes and he checked them curiously while he was dressing up and preparing for probably the next long day. He steps up from his quarters and...

Yes.

There it is.

First what the fuck this day.

Bram and his foster daughter were kneeling on their right knee with their left hand resting on their left knee and their right fist touching the deck, their foreheads resting on their left palms.

"May I ask Murrnal Bram and Niora For'rtiassa why you are kneeling here?"

"We were waiting for your orders my Lord."

"Have you slept?"

"Yes, my Lord. We are ready for your orders."

Thuel sighed and turned on the communication implant "Lizzzz!"

Queen Shanti was rolling on the sofa. She was crying and laughing when she read the report Guardian received from Ra'volta. Her husband was laying in his chair giggling like a little child while Robert MacArthur tried to remain serious and failed for the second time this minute.

Luna and Naella were the only ones who didn't find it funny or didn't get the joke. So they tried to summarise the report Thuel sent them:

"Looks like Thuel, Johan and their colleague Elizabeth Ardén graduated thanks to their achievements and merits. Ardén? That would mean golden sunray in Fa'enni. Hmm? I found a personal note from Thuel. Ohhh poor girl."

King responded with anger directed towards the world at large:

"Let her be. I met her a few times when had to go to Earth. She didn't deserve the fate she was sentenced for. And Thuel finally has fulfilled that stupid custom with Envoys like he couldn't talk himself."

Luna nodded, she met Elisabeth at that party on Earth a few years back and she liked her.

"He also found and saved a sentient race called Cion, who resemble bipedal felinind with features varying from whaaat? Walking Lions, Tigers or any Cat in general to classic Catgirl or Catboy?"

Robert and Konrad started laughing once again. Luna displayed their pictures added to the report and tilted her head in a very cute manner.

"I don't understand a joke... My King and Lord Admiral."

King still laughing said:

"My dear you can look what is under "catgirl" in info-net but I warn you, you might find something you wished never seen. Keep this as Human fantasy coming live."

She nodded and decided she will research in info-net what catgirls for Humans are. She continued:

"Cions have a very hierarchical social structure and quite complicated belief system alongside being very honourable. They are basically now feudal servants of the Fa'enni Royal Family. Mhm. Thuel and Elisabeth needed whole two days to convince them they are not Gods. Johan dismissed this as a thing that will explain itself on the way and simply it's enough to decline our godhood... Why longer I read this, this made less and less sense? My Thuel... I mean Prince Thuel during His trials passed them all before time, thanks to his prowess, acumen and merits, he kicked out the asses of the entire fleet of Shadows, gathered priceless intel from wrecks recovery, saved a race of space Catgirls from extinction. He becomes Admiral and gained his two vice admirals of which one become basically his servant so she could free herself from her abusive family. Oh and that saved race decided to serve Thuel forever."

Yeah.

She started understanding the joke now.