22. We’ll have to change the name, which will be surprisingly difficult
Horthus had known from the beginning that Joncassonova was a smart human. That was well, Horthus was as smart Jurassian – he did not really like the human term but their own people had no unified name for their species. But Horthus had thought that, when the human had offered to surrender – publicly surrender – that Horthus was getting the better end of the deal. Instead, he realized, the human had tricked him into eating sensoli.
He had given the human everything he had wanted, and everything he had needed to fulfill his goals. Even the broadcast surrender, heard by every Horthian or Jurassian within ten light years, helped the human. Horthus had thought that he was winning by demanding the human’s public submission. To a Jurassian named one, such an act would be pure humiliation. But Joncassonova had embraced it and weaponized against Horthus himself.
He had surrendered for thirty minutes long, praising Horthus, praising the people of the city of Horthus for their bravery and civic duty, professing that his submission was voluntary and in no way coerced. He explained that he was agreeing to become Horthus’s subordinate out of his personal sense of duty, and it was at this point that Horthus realized that he had been tricked, and he did not know what to do about it except let it happen.
And so he had let it happen.
If a Jurassian had pulled such a trick on him, he would have found a way to murder them. It was not so hard, really, to murder a subordinate. Simply give them an impossible task that will result in their death if unsuccessful. But Joncassonova was a human. And now he was Horthus’s human , and everyone within ten light years knew it. And soon, everyone within one hundred light years would know it. If Horthus murdered a human who had professed loyalty to him, he had better have a kricking damn good reason to do so.
Because everyone would want to speak with the human who had sworn loyalty to a Jurassian system lord. They would want to speak with Joncassonova, and not necessarily Horthus himself. His own influence would dwindle, while the human’s would rise. But that was not a good enough reason to murder him.
Horthus immediately began looking for such a reason, but he had a suspicion that he would find so many small ones, but nothing large enough to actually justify such an action. Humans were like that.
It was as the human’s speech was nearing the hour long mark that one of the Nameless who would soon be Named – not the useless ones still cowering in the corners but ones who had advised him for years – nervously approached him to whisper in his ears.
"What? Cease transmission!"
The signal was cut off. The connection to the human’s false tactical room remained, and Horthus turned his glowering glare at the deceiver.
"You have played me for a fool!" he declared.
"I am sorry if you feel that way, but I am uncertain to what you’re referring to. What exactly have I done?"
"Your attack on my city was a distraction. Your true targets were the facilities producing Aurealian game," Horthus declared triumphantly.
Joncassonova just scratched his nose. "Figured it out already, did you? Yeah, it’s true. Humans find the hunting of other Sentient life unconscionable, and some crew members of the Theseus have taken steps to put an end to it on Horthus Prime. Because I have surrendered, I am no longer in the loop on all of the details, nor will I receive updates, nor will I be able to countermand the new captain. At best, all I can do is tell you what I knew before I surrendered to you. I really am being genuine about that, Horthus, I hope you believe me. However, I am unashamed of my actions as captain of the Theseus and will not impede its mission as it begins to move without me."
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"Of course you are, you are like a sensoli flower! Now that I have put you in my mouth and chewed you, I cannot spit you out! You have tricked me and I am stuck chewing sensoli for the rest of my life!" Horthus spat.
"I am afraid I don’t understand that reference. Is sensoli some sort of addictive narcotic?" the human inquired.
"It is a medicine that purifies the blood and strengthens the liver and kidneys and spleen and (untranslatable body organ)," Seefius explained. "It is a poison that can extend life. Once it is in your bloodstream, you must never stop taking it or you will die of withdrawal."
"I see. I suppose in a certain light you could view my actions in that way. I do not deny that I intended to attach myself to you personally, Horthus, for the fulfillment of my personal goals. As per those goals, I intend to make myself both invaluable and publicly known, and this may affect your own status. But my surrender is genuine, if not entirely without terms or ulterior motives. I wish to help you survive the oncoming Aurealian invasion, and I wish to advocate for the people you govern to the UEOSC. In fact, it is my heartfelt desire to induct your species into the UEOSC as one of the first non-earth origin sapients. We’ll have to change the name, which will be surprisingly difficult, but I’m willing to put the work in to make it happen."
"If that happens, you will share your technology?" Horthus asked, his greed overcoming his outrage for a fraction of a second.
"Not without terms, but yes. The UEOSC was built for the purposes of sharing technology and resources throughout its members. You will also be allowed to travel peacefully within Yosca space for trade, resource gathering, and even migration. But all of those things will come with terms."
"If you wish these things to happen, then order your men to stop their attack on the Aurealian production facilities," Horthus ordered.
"I cannot."
"You are their captain! That means you are in charge, no? Simply tell this goddess of yours-"
"My last act before surrendering was to enact a series of orders issued in advanced, Exalted Horthus. I must clarify something to you now. The Theseus, the modular ship in orbit around your planet, has not surrendered. Nor has any member of its crew. I, personally, surrendered to you, Exalted Horthus, Overlord of the Horthus star system and all celestial bodies of significance within. However, I resigned my post on the Theseus before my surrender. I am a private citizen now with no authority to issue orders to the crew of the Theseus, and they know it. They will disregard anything I order them to do, although they might still listen to reasonable requests."
"Then request that they stop!" Horthus shouted.
"I refuse. I did not surrender unconditionally. It goes against my conscience to interfere with the Theseus’s mission in this regard."
"Then stay where you are until I figure out how to punish you for your disloyalty," Horthus shouted. "Seefius, cease the connection to the human. The rest of you fools, begin working on ways to stop the humans from destroying our planet’s most precious resource."
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