Silence hung in the air after Thomas’s outburst, his mind spinning with thoughts as he tried to process the story he had just heard. That aliens had visited, tried to uplift humanity and then after some sort of betrayal, decided to glass the planet. It was a bit much, but the math was adding up in a way he didn't quite like.

The MRD technology had come out of practically nowhere, just a group of supposedly rogue scientists posting videos of the technology in action, at spontaneous demos in random locations and the schematics to build more being spammed across every message board and social media platform. If it was instead based on stolen alien technology, stolen from aliens that the various governments of the world were already talking with…

Thomas was really not liking how the various dots were beginning to connect.

Sera’s laughter broke both the silence and his train of thought

“Look at you, I bet you're over thinking everything I just said.” she said as she slapped her hand on the bar. “It's a story, told by the shamans and storytellers of my tribe. Is it a true accounting of the past? Nobody knows, it's just a useless story we tell ourselves”.

Thomas gave her a flat stare as she continued to laugh, and with a measured and serious tone he spoke, “It may be a story, it may have factually incorrect elements, or misinterpreted information, but it is not useless. Combine that with the piece of cloth you have there, and it may be more truthful than you know” he said. “May I take a closer look at that actually?”

She pulled the cloth out again and placed it on the bar for him to see.

“Right here,” Thomas said, as he straightened out the old fabric, “this symbol is one I recognize. It's from the Air Force Material Command.”

Sera’s grin slowly turned into a frown as she looked at the symbol on the cloth.

“And what does that have to do with anything?” she asked.

“Well for one, they were the ones our project reports went to.” Thomas explained, “They also were the people overseeing Groom Lake, or its more commonly used name, Area 51. Its also a place with a long history of rumors of Aliens and top secret research.”

She pulled the cloth back and tucked it away in her bag with a thoughtful expression, “Even so, it is still just a story and in the past. Even if it was completely true, what would it matter today?”

“Well, it would offer some explanation as to what really happened, which could come in handy when trying to fix things,” Thomas said as his patience started to become strained.

Her attitude was beginning to wear thin on him, but she was both a source of information and the first human he had met since arriving here, so with a deep breath he decided to continue to put up with it.

“Regardless of your thoughts about it, I thank you for telling us the story,” he said, forcing a smile, “so why don’t you tell me why you decided to come here?”

“I already told you, to get to know the neighbors and set some rules and boundaries” she said waving her hand about airily, “it's a dangerous world and we wouldn't want any unfortunate accidents or misunderstanding to happen”

Thomas just shook his head in disappointment, he had a feeling things were going this direction, but had maintained hope it would be otherwise, but with her own words she proved his hopes wrong, so when she opened her mouth to begin spouting whatever demands she had, Thomas just held up his hand in a stop motion and said “No, we’re not doing this dance, it's stupid and we are not going to play along.”

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Suddenly there was a flurry of movement and weapons were drawn by the Rakus, and the two Arvo moved to flank their leader. Thomas just stood behind his bar, one hand hovering over the emergency button below the counter. He hoped it wouldn't come to that though, and after watching the flurry of emotions cross her face, began to speak slowly and clearly.

“We are not going to keep doing this, this stupid back and forth where you try to score imaginary points and play games. This is not fucking highschool and you’re not the popular kid messing with the nerds. This is the real world, and if all you want to do is play games, the door is over there,” he said pointing to the front.

Face red with anger, Sera growled out “I came here in good faith..”

“No, you didn't,'' Thomas stated flatly. “You came to play games, which you have done the entire time since you arrived, both in word and action.” he pointed to the two Arvo, “bringing them in was a power move, nothing more than a show of strength. You could have stood outside the bar and shouted to get our attention, or just stood in the doorway to talk.”

Tomas continued to roll over her attempts to object or get a word in, “No, you're going to listen to me now. I have been nothing but courteous, even when you attacked us. You are in our home and you have shown absolutely no respect for that. So I am going to speak my peace, then you and your bodyguards are going to leave, peacefully.”

Sera glared at Thomas from across the bar, she had not expected this result. No one had ever spoken to her like this, not in the tribes or in the time since she left them. Her mind kept racing through various thoughts on how she could turn this situation around, regain control and her mind kept coming up blank on a solution. Direct violence was out, especially since he apparently had a way to break out of her power, and he seemed disinclined to let her talk, so with a begrudging nod, she motioned him to continue.

“Thank you” Thomas said, “If you want to be peaceful neighbors, that's fine. We would prefer it that way. We will stay in this base and you can stay in your swamp. If you wish to come by for meals or just to talk, I see no issues” he continued, pointedly ignoring the hand waving of Delvik and the others in the background, “hell, I will even allow your people in, so long as they come in peace and don't cause trouble. All I want is to live in peace, play with technology and maybe make some new friends. Is that too much to ask for?”

Sera slid off the bar stool and stood up straight, shoulders back. “I will consider your terms Mr. Thomas,” she said firmly, “and I will instruct my people to keep clear of your border.”

Thomas just let out a sigh of disappointment and moved to rest his elbows on the counter. “That is the problem, right there. This attitude. I think I kind of understand it, from the bits you've told me tonight, but not everything has to be approached from a position of strength and aggression. Sometimes you’ll just come across as a bit of a dick doing that.”

“So please, consider what I have offered.” Thomas said, softening his tone, “I don't want us to be enemies, or rivals or some other stupid thing. We don't even have to be friends, I just want us to be civil. No games, no power moves, none of that unnecessary nonsense. All that leads to is a bad time for everyone involved.”

She nodded her head stiffly before turning and walking towards the doors.

Delviks people quickly moved the tables out of the way and warily watched the three depart, and as the door slammed shut, one of the hunters swiftly slid the locking bar into place.

Thomas grabbed a bottle of rum from behind the counter and filled several glasses with a few fingers of the dark liquid before taking a swig straight from the bottle, “Well that probably could have gone better” was all he said as Delvik took the newly vacated seat at the bar.

His friend nodded and took one of the glasses and took a drink, grimacing at the sharp taste, causing Thomas to chuckle at his expression.

Delvik spoke slowly, as if carefully choosing his words, “Do you think that was wise Thomas? I was growing tired of her attitude and dominance games as well, but this risks war with her and the Arvo, all of them, not just a hunting party or two.”

Thomas rubbed at his forehead slowly, “She's a bully, but I think that's all she knows. I kinda feel bad for her actually, she has to keep up an aggressive front at all times and that has to suck.”

He straightened up, setting the bottle aside and let his eyes roam over the whole of the bar before he continued, “I think we will be ok buddy, usually when you stand up to a bully they either back off or fight, and if she wants to fight, well, “ he laughed darkly, “there was a saying way back when, that the army guys liked to quote”.

Thomas met Delviks eyes and smiled in a way that made his fur try to stand straight up.

“Fuck around, and find out”.