Chapter 1.5
Wod and his lieutenants were gathered around a clear basin filled with cloudy white liquid, resting in the center of a dark circular room. Within the basin floated many masses of spongy gray tissue. To Wod’s left was his public face, Lagneia, and to his right was Vromi.
“I don’t trust him,” Vromi said. “He lacks the proper respect. He will need monitoring.”
“Nor do I,” Wod said in perfect Trade English. “I couldn’t even get a feeler into that slippery little treats mind.”
“I got the impression that he’ll deal straight with us,” Lagneia countered, “He is from a house fallen on hard times, and humans are often willing to discard their morals when their continuance is at stake.”
“As if anything produced by a Human could be called a continuance,” Vromi sneered, snagging a piece of gray tissue from the basin with his left hand. “Barely even ten thousand years of recorded history.”
“Their history may be brief, but their technological accomplishments are far greater than ours.”
“Technology means nothing. The only thing that matters is the continuity of our legacy.”
“If we underestimate the humans and their allies, we jeopardize that very legacy!”
“The progeny of the lesser clades are impossible to underestimate, you dull creature. Has that skin you wear gone to your head?”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“How dare you!” Lagneia snarled, dropping to a slight crouch; she held up all four arms to make herself appear larger. “I’ll cut out that barbed tongue of yours and feed it to the serviles!”
“You’re certainly welcome to try.” Vromi popped the tissue into his mouth, visibly rolling it around with his tongue.”
“ENOUGH!” Wod bellowed, slamming his fist onto the edge of the basin, accompanying his action with a wave of psychic agony that rolled over his lieutenants, forcing them to attention.
“Liege!”
Sire!”
“You two are not mere Wodi; you are my Wodim,” he raked his ferocious gaze across them. You are my only two hands until your brothers and sisters can be prepared. Save your fight for the position of First Hand until it means something.”
The two lowered their heads in genuine shame.
“Vromi, follow them. Bug their vehicle, and watch for any signs of betrayal.” Wod raked his hands through the liquid, pulling up with an entire human cerebellum. “Let no one see you.”
“For the continuity!” Vromi bowed almost comically low, and departed to the shadows around the feeding basin.
“Lagneia,”
“Yes, sire?” Lagneia bowed low.
“Acquire more cadavers. Children, if possible.” Wod ripped a chunk of tissue away from the brain he held, rolling it between his fingers briefly and popped it into his mouth. His mandibles snapped shut around it. “We’ll need them, it’s time to accelerate the plan.”
“Your will be done, sire. For the Continuance.”