Vivi is one of the smallest living beings on the Polonia. Other than Melody and their unhatched siblings, only bacteria and other single cell organisms, maybe some insects -if any got onboard-, and a few other possible exceptions exist. But, she’s certainly the smallest with an intelligent mind.
Of course, she’s still a very young child, so while she’s much further ahead of a human child her age, Vivi doesn’t necessarily know any of that. She knows that the Marines and Spacers are her family, Jessica is her ‘Meemee’, the Grodrrns are her friends, and many other humans have to be seen as good or bad.
When there’s nowhere to go, conversations about ‘stranger danger’ and other similar lessons for children can be forgotten, especially by a young teen girl whose first child is the offspring of a rather large, other-wordly Queen.
And, while no Marine, Grodrrn, Spacer, or even the Zarakyssn Queen Syretia would dare harm Vivi, they are not the only passengers on the Polonia.
With that, Vivi is a small, fragile being that regularly crawls on a 700 pound Grodrrn’s arm, rides a young Marine’s shoulder as she trains, and is curious about anything and everything around her. Some deep part of her likes the game hide-and-seek; an instinct at the core of her nature to find a safe place to hide and await coming of age. And, her small size -roughly the size of an adult human man’s whole hand- makes her an easy fit in MANY hiding places.
She’s been scolded a few times now for starting hide-and-seek when Meemee didn’t know they were playing. But, sometimes Vivi sees spots that look so good, she can’t simply pass them up.
One such spot catches Vivi’s eye as she rides Jessica’s shoulder. It’s a beautifully spacious and cozy-looking little spot between one of the loud noise makers that Angelica’s voice comes out of and some wires disappearing into the walls. She quietly springs off of Jessica’s shoulder, lest her good hiding spot be discovered immediately, and she grips the conduits on the wall. The nimble little cave princess climbs skillfully up the wall-anchors, boxes, and switches that all serve important purposes for the ship in some manner or other.
To Vivi’s astonishment though, the cables have a long tunnel disappearing around a bend, and there’s plenty of room for her. She grins with wide, sparkling eyes. This has to be the best hiding spot ever! She can even explore!
She glances at Jessica, who is speaking briefly to another Marine. She’s still nearby. She can explore a LITTLE bit of the tunnel now, right?
Vivi grins. She quickly crawls into the tunnel, minding the metal braiding around the cables. It has lots of rough and sharp points that poke her if she isn’t careful.
The tunnel extends pretty far, and the little princess feels an abundance of safety in her new hiding spot. It seems to also follow the hallway, mostly, meaning she could even navigate safely -at least until she grows up more-. Meemee says she’ll one day be as large as the Cave Queen herself, but Vivi finds that hard to believe. The Queen is loving and kind, and Vivi cares for her too, but there’s no way Vivi will get that big. She wants to ride Meemee around and be together with her forever.
“I’m telling you. The net is closing.”
A voice catches Vivi’s attention from the opening ahead of her. She creeps towards the opening, peeking outside. Another voice replies, and she follows it, finding the people speaking just inside one of the rooms.
“I realize they’ve captured some of us, and I realize it’s only a matter of time before someone talks, but I think I have the best option yet. The Big One. It can’t even hold its temper around those it trusts, let alone civilians.”
“If you’re thinking what I believe you are, that’s suicide.”
“Martyrdom is sometimes the only course.”
“Easiest said from the one who will live.”
“You know why I can’t go. It’ll blow the whole thing.”
Vivi watches the two humans talk. She feels like she should recognize them, or at least one… maybe. She’s not sure why, though.
When the two start walking down the hallway, she sneaks along the ceiling following the wires and pipes. Her long, thread-like tentacles make it easy for her to crawl across the ceiling and follow them. Something makes these two very… interesting, and she’s not sure why. It’s not a happy interesting, like Khla’s egg or Mina’s tummy, or Grey’s cigar. It’s kind of a sad interesting that keeps her hooked.
She follows the two humans as they continue talking quietly -though she can hear them fine-, “Any ideas on who should try it? Ideally, if they can get away…”
“No matter who, they need to know what could happen.”
“Of course. I’ll ask for volunteers first.”
“Do so. I’ll make sure to run interference on my side.”
“Can’t believe you can still put that cloth on.”
“I believe in the cloth. It’s the leadership that’s led us astray.”
“Amazing, isn’t it? Didn’t your guys suffer the most?”
“Mm-hmm.”
The two humans approach a third, and Vivi watches them from above.
“Ma’am,” whisper the other two.
“Any word on our imprisoned colleagues?”
“They’re being kept alive. Beyond that…”
“Wait. What’s that?” The third human points directly at Vivi, and she tenses.
The one who ‘wears the cloth’ -whatever that means- shouts suddenly, “It’s one of the squids! Don’t let it escape!”
Vivi squeaks in startled surprise. She tries to slip back up into the overhead, but she’s knocked off of her conduit by a human she didn’t see before. She falls to the deck, quickly spinning to try to avoid the hands grabbing at her. She pants frantically, terrified. “M-Meemee!”
The bodies around her are all much larger than her, and they’re trying to trap her. She only subconsciously notices that the third human she saw fled away from them as the first two and a few others try to box her in.
The tiny princess scrambles between legs, avoiding hands.
Boom!
She jumps when a boot slams down, narrowly missing her. She squeaks in fear, chirping frantically as she tumbles.
“DON’T LET IT GET AWAY!”
“KEEP IT FROM MAKING NOISE!”
That’s it! Just like when she was with Melody and Little Bird.
The tiny princess takes a deep breath, screaming as loud as she can.
However, she is gripped quickly when she pauses, and a second hand covers her mouth. She shakes fearfully, her body tingling with fear and pain. Without thinking, she bites the hand over her mouth. Her mouth isn’t big, but her teeth are among the hardest and sharpest things on the ship -not that she necessarily knows that-. She tastes blood, like the time she playfully bit Meemee, and red liquid came out. Meemee urged her to never bite anyone again, but she forgot the rule in the current moment.
The hand releases her, but the other hand holding her body squeezes tighter, and she gasps, unable to inhale.
One other thing special about her -a well fed little creature born to live on a world where EVERYTHING is difficult to eat- is the fact that the Cave Queen is second or equal to the Grodrrns for physical strength, making an infant cave princess far stronger than a human infant.
Squirming desperately for her life, Vivi’s tentacles wrap around the wrist and squeeze. Maybe she’s trying to pull away, maybe squeeze the human’s tendons, or maybe she has no idea what she’s doing. In any case, her grip causes a faint crunching, and the human holding her cries out again. The grip relents, and Vivi throws herself to the deck again.
She’s crying frantically, but she breathes deep, screaming as long as she can. She pants briefly, screaming again and again.
The human who wears the cloth starts to pull something from their belt’s fabric pouch. It’s similar to what the marines train with and use regularly. Vivi crawls, screaming as much as possible.
Just before the human who wears a cloth can do anything else, a swift punch in the back causes him to cough red liquid.
The phantom -like Vivi- moves across the ceiling with ease. However, it is only a little larger than a human, meaning it is not a Grodrrn or the Cave Queen.
It looks a lot like Syretia, but has white skin. It drops down, swiftly knocking all of the other humans down with splashes of red liquid.
The human that wears the cloth sinks to their knees, shaking lightly as the hand holding the marine thing sinks to the floor.
The white Zarakyssn stands up, looking around. She spots Vivi and stares at the tiny princess shaking and shivering nervously.
The Zarakyssn uses her foot to kick down on one of the humans trying to crawl away, and he cries out, going to sleep, apparently.
“{You’re lucky, little Nizzkurezz. I don’t have time to deal with you.}”
Vivi doesn’t know Zarakyssn, and she’s learning Grodrrn -slowly-. She knows the words were said in Zarakyssn, and she could probably repeat them with ease, but she watches the white Zarakyssn fearfully.
The white Zarakyssn hefts the human who wears the cloth over her shoulder, walking quickly -and silently- down the hall.
Vivi doesn’t know much about stealth or military actions or espionage or prisoners. She is friends with Syretia, she knows there are good humans and bad humans, good Zarakyssns and bad Zarakyssns, and good Grodrrns and bad Grodrrns. She doesn’t know who is who in any of these categories, but more importantly, she doesn’t realize the gravity of the thought that she -a cave princess- can’t hear the white Zarakyssn walk. She vanishes down the hall around a corner, and Vivi curls into the smallest ball she can.
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“DOWN ON DECK! NO MOVE!” A deep voice booms as heavy foot falls storm down the hallway from the way Vivi followed the humans. It’s a Grodrrn in heavy metal armor, though she doesn’t think it’s Dzor or Khla. The Grodrrn says, seemingly to no one, “MEDIC NEED! HUMANS DOWN!” He kneels, inspecting the humans that the white Zarakyssn knocked down.
The tiny princess loses herself, whimpering before crying in her chirping, fluttering wail. She runs to the Grodrrn as he pivots in surprise. He instantly offers his hand, and she dives into his palm, hugging his hand as she cries. “Vivi secure. Repeat, Vivi secure. Deck Two, Two-Two-Six cross corridor. Six humans down. Need medic immediate.”
Vivi can hear a voice in the helmet reply, “En route, Trooper. Hold position. Backup on the way.”
“Affirmative. No hostiles present.”
Meemee is the first to run up, “Vivi!? VIVI!” She runs to the Grodrrn shocktrooper, followed closely by a handful of other marines and another Grodrrn shocktrooper. The tiny princess jumps into Jessica’s arms, crying unintelligibly as the young woman hugs her. “Th-Thank you, Pwall’kynn. I’m sorry…”
The shocktrooper shakes his head, “I no do this. They incapacitated when I arrive.”
“They were?” asks Grey from the other side as the grizzled Chief Petty Officer inspects the injuries.
Pwall’kynn nods. “I smell sour. Zarakyssn.”
“Syretia?”
“No.”
Long squeaks, “The Void Queen?”
Grey instantly bolts up to his feet, shouting into his radio, “SOMEONE CHECK ON VOID QUEEN ZEEANNSSII’S CONTAINMENT!”
He then turns to Long and Vivi, “Vivi, tell us what you saw.”
The princess keeps curled into a ball, clutching Jessica’s armor tightly. Jessica tries to coo softly, “Chief, she’s scared. She needs time to…”
“We need to know what happened. Vivi, please, whatever you saw, it’ll happen to others if you don’t help.”
Vivi whimpers, but she murmurs, “H-Humies talking…” She repeats the words she heard as best as she can, running through the dialogue.
Fisher replies as he approaches, “Sounds like we’re dealing with anti’s.”
Vivi continues, “The-the third one was ‘ma’am’, and they spotted me and I was knocked down and they tried to catch me and step on me, and I was scared and I tried to scweam, but they catched me, and I bited a hand…” She whimpers, “I-I’m sorry Meemee…”
Jessica coos, “It’s okay baby. I’m just so happy you’re okay.” She kisses Vivi’s head, and she asks, “Can you keep telling us, Vivi?”
Vivi nods wearily, “The other hand wouldn’t let go, so I squeezed it with my legs, and I fell and screamed and screamed and screamed, and a Zaksie hit the one who wears cloth, and he fell down and then she dropped to the floor and hit them all.”
Grey asks, “This Zarakyssn; what did she look like? Was it Syretia?”
Fisher jokes softly, “Jor will lose his mind if it is…”
Vivi shakes her head. “No. I no know who. She taller than humies, and she naked, and she all white.”
“Damn it…” hisses Grey. Just as he’s about to talk into his radio again, a voice comes over the intercom, “Security Alert, Security Alert! All hands; Prisoner Void Queen has escaped containment. Extremely dangerous and Extremely hostile. Location unknown.”
Grey starts ordering, “Troopers! Can you trace her?”
Pwall’kynn nods, “Yes, Chief. I lead. Ready on order.”
Grey nods. “Long, Fisher, Pratt; get Vivi to medical and make sure she’s okay. The rest of you, you’re with us.”
The second Grodrrn shocktrooper states, “Chief Grey, I go with Long. Ensure detect Void Queen if need.”
Grey thinks it over a moment and nods. “Agreed. Any troopers you pass, send ‘em our way.”
“As you wish, Chief.”
Just before they part, Vivi starts buzzing. She repeats the sounds she heard as best as she can remember. Pwall’kynn turns, “Say again, Vivi.”
Vivi repeats the message.
Long asks cautiously, “Wh-What is she saying?”
Pwall’kynn admits, “My Zarakyssn not strong, boot… ‘You luck Nizzkurrezz small. No time for meet you.’” He looks at Grey.
Long squeaks, “Nizzkurrezz… isn’t that what the Zarakyssns call the Cave Queen?”
Grey nods, “Think so. So, the Void Queen knew Vivi was present.”
Vivi adds, “White Zaksie also take humie who wears cloth.”
“Hostage!” He calls into the radio, “This is Grey! Vivi says the Void Queen has a human hostage. Be advised, human hostage involved.”
He then says to the group, “You have your orders. Long, if Vivi says anything else we haven’t heard yet, let us all know immediately. And if you encounter the Vee-Cue, call it in first.”
“Yes Chief!”
“GO!”
The two groups split, and Long carries Vivi to the doctors. Vivi usually hates doctors, but she stays curled up against her Meemee’s chest. Jessica coos, “You scared me Vivi. You shouldn’t have run off like that.”
“Sowwy Meemee…”
“It’s okay. Just… Please stop trying to find hiding places.”
“Otay…” The little princess pouts softly, and Fisher says gently, “Glad you’re safe, little Princess. Meemee’s right, but you did good to try to stay alive.”
She looks up at him, and he nods. “Those were bad people, though. They want to hurt you and Melody and all of our friends. So you gotta be careful.”
“White Zaksie friend?” asks the innocent little girl.
There’s an awkward pause, and Fisher says gently, “We’ll, uh, have to ask her when we find her.”
Long hugs Vivi close and protectively.
Vivi doesn’t understand the greater politics surrounding the fleet. Her ship is the most contentious for reasons beyond her wisdom. But, she’s thankful to have such a loving and caring Meemee, and her friends, and even the white queen for reasons she may never know.
After all, the white Zarakyssn was a prisoner.
***
Colorlessness is but a readiness for color.
The Azure Queen opens her eyes from her meditations. Interesting developments are occurring.
She and her Void Queens have the same divine bond as any of the Shining Daughters. It is an ability of all Queens necessary for many reasons; sharing intelligence, emotional support -though it rarely gets used in that capacity-, tactical advantages, and even teaching. No Queen is truly alone when they can reach the bond, which is why Shining Daughters avoid gold like fire. It is a natural energy sink to the interspatial connection they all share. Though no one quite knows how it works, by her reckoning, the Shining Daughters have known about the detriments of gold for centuries, likely before they ever even expanded off of the homeworld.
Unlike most Shining Daughters, though, the Azure Queen discovered that it’s possible to detach oneself from the bond with enough mental clarity, self-awareness, and willpower. This, of course, was relatively easy for the apex predator, possessing the mind of a Zarakyssn and the willpower of a Grodrrn. And, she was able to teach this ability to her sisters, the Void Queens.
With that said, though, it is simply a switch on or off. They can’t connect only to each other in secret unless they are near each other -as a Queen to her own army-. If they connect to the galaxy-spanning divine bond, they are connected to all of the Shining Daughters in the bond. As such, the Azure Queen and her Void Queens have developed secret codes to alert each other and communicate in the shortest of terms while saying the most important details needed.
That phrase, ‘Colorlessness is but a readiness for color’, like one of the empty prayers said by the Shining Daughters throughout the day and at almost random, is mundane, meaningless, bland, and all but complete white noise tuned out by those Shining Daughters on the front lines of the expansion. Many of the ascended queens in the interior of the territory feel the need to offer prayers.
Of course, the Azure Queen -not blinded by zealotry- knows exactly what it is.
Boredom.
The ascended queens, or ‘Blessed Queens’ as they call themselves, have nothing better to do. Their self-righteousness stinks of arrogance and narcissism. They preach the words of ‘the stones’, but none of them have ever seen the stones themselves. Many Zarakyssn queens see the homeworld only as children and then may never see it again.
And, if it were up to the blessed queens, the chosen queen, and every other Zarakyssn that exists, the Azure Queen would never have visited the homeworld even once, let alone as often as she lets herself onto the planet’s surface.
Ships travel in thick shipping lines to and from the homeworld, bringing supplies, food, slaves, newborn queens, and everything else of logistical or luxurious purpose to the upper elites who live there. It can be sensory overload to those who haven’t seen it, as the shipping lanes are crowded, and they’re strictly enforced by a vast military presence in orbit over the homeworld.
And of course, the Azure Queen grins wickedly at the thought. The only reason she’s entrusted to raise and lead the Void Queens is because she demanded it, and if she didn’t get her way, would seize what she wanted. After all, she’s a terrible example for Shining Daughters to live by.
But perfect for Void Queens.
She turns around on the bridge as her ship enters orbit around the closest moon; a heavily fortified military installation that is intended to keep all lines of sight and fire open.
The Azure Queen will not be parking where the lesser queens park. She wouldn’t even lower herself to park where the blessed queens park. She is not a sister, and so, she will not behave like one.
She will be the apex predator they fear.
The Azure Queen says gently to Mmnorrynn, “{Our sister is alive, darling Sister.}”
“{Zeeannssii?}” whispers the addressed Void Queen in surprise.
The reptilian queen licks her tooth gap idly, replying casually, “{Indeed.}”
Gree’ato squeaks, “{W-Will she be re-go h-home, Geeztress?}”
The Azure Queen looks at her with a smirk. “[Afraid, my darling little Sister?]”
“[No, of course not, Dear Sister! Sister Zeeannssii was very kind to me.]”
This statement is surprisingly sincere, and it’s a known fact. Zeeannssii could be brash at times, but she also was one of the Void Queens received by the Azure Queen at a very young age, accepting the Azure Queen’s teachings much more easily than the superiority complex the Shining Daughters preach. She has no doubt that her Void Queen sisters would die to protect Gree’ato because it is the order the Azure Queen gave, but not all of them truly accept the young Grodrrn as a sister. That is acceptable, so long as they never harm her physically or disparage her for what she is.
Polishing a tooth with her finger, the hybrid queen retorts, “[Indeed, if she can free herself, she will do so. Let us pray for her strength.]”
She is not disinterested, of course. She truly does want all of her sisters to return safely. But, she knows that is not always the case. She accepts life and death for what they are, and nothing more. Zeeannssii carried out a mission and was captured, failing in the meantime. But, if she can complete her mission still, then the mission is not over.
Additionally, it tells her about her enemies; they are merciful to a fault. She will destroy them with their compassion. After meeting her own ends of course.
“{Vessel, your credentials aren’t coming through. You can not orbit your ship at this location. Move immediately or perish.}”
The Azure Queen snickers, and the Void Queens around her hum humorously as well. She muses dryly, “{And here, I thought my ship alone was recognizable. Connect me.}” She doesn’t bother facing the communication system. The screen comes alive, and the Blessed Queen preparing to threaten her again starts, “{Vessel, you-...}” She trails off, and the Azure Queen can almost smell the fear across space.
“{Y-You?}” squeaks the suddenly more-timid Queen.
“{Me,}” retorts the Azure Queen with confidence, calmness, and coldness more solid than the coldest metal.
“{Y-Y-Your arrival wasn’t announced…}”
“{Because I didn’t announce myself. My ship will be staying here. And no, none of you have permission or authority to board. Don’t try. Additionally, since you seem quite young, you may not know. My presence falls under the great stones of Burrgynnzhii. I’ll expect proper response.}”
The pathetic insect visibly shakes, her antennae twitching uncontrollably. She looks like she wants to say something, but she affirms with a simple head motion, cutting the link.
Gree’ato asks nervously, “[Dear Sister…?]”
“[Do not fret, darling Gree.]” She pets Gree’ato’s shoulder gently. “[I don’t exist.]” The Void Queens snicker around them, and the Azure Queen says to Urrzzvynnurr, “{Ready the shuttle, darling Urrzzvynnurr. We’ll go aground in [10 minutes].}”
“{As you wish, Dear Sister.}”
The hybrid queen faces Gree’ato, “[You are free to explore, but do not betray my trust, darling Gree. I will not hesitate to destroy this ship.]”
Gree’ato giggles, replying gently, “[Never Dear Sister. I know you do not bluff.]”
The ruling Queen pets Gree’ato’s head gently. “[Good. Excuse us, Sister. We’ll return before nightfall, I expect. This world is filthy with things I can’t stand.]”
“[Best of luck, Dear Sisters.]” Gree’ato bows gently.
The Azure Queen and her escorts make for the shuttle, and Mmnorrynn pilots them as instructed by the Azure Queen.
That is to say, they will not be flying in line with the approved shipping lanes. The Azure Queen’s time-wasting is precious. The queens wanted to question her mission, she will question their authority. Openly.
Naturally, the alien shuttle with only an IFF signal draws the attention of the rest of the military patrols in the region. All ships are supposed to have identifying information, from the ruling queen owning the ship to the region she serves in. And, the Azure Queen rarely hesitates to flaunt her special status; monster for hire.
They hate her. But, they need her. She hates them. She needs none of them.
Still, her lessers are fools. And she cautions, “{Mmnorrynn, be ready to evade.}”
“{Always, Dear Sister.}”
***