Page 22 of Saving the Alien Chieftain

Nyxius raises his weathered hand, a silent plea for order.

After a solemn moment, he continues, his voice laden with the weight of history. “Krogoth, like many here, I was there the day your father Terigon came before us two hundred years ago to beseech us to act after the Scythians demanded our females. They said it was for the war effort to increase population, that they needed more warriors. They always need more.”

His ancient eyes fill with tears as his voice breaks. “I still remember their screams. It still haunts my dreams. Gods forgive our cowardice that day. The females stripped from their screaming babes carried off by terrible machines, as brother killed brother, the streets running green with blood.”

He casts his eyes around the other elders. “We chose wrongly, brothers. The Gods have forsaken us as cowards, all of us.”

Nyxius’ sincerity emboldens me further. “It’s not too late! You can atone if we act now,” I implore.

Vereth rouses from his thoughts. “What do you propose, Krogoth?” he inquires, his eyes a window to his uncertainty.

“Astraxius believed the corruption to the youth could be reversed. If we had aid from the Nu’warians or maybe the Nebians. Their technology in this area is superior to our own,” I assert, my words a glimmer of hope.

Zyraxis scoffs at the notion. “Ridiculous. Aid from a species scarcely few even believe exists and the other our bitter enemies.” He waves his hand dismissively.

I interject quickly, not wishing Zyraxis’ doubt to take hold. “I aided a Nu’warian, and she has given me a way to contact her people. As for the Nebians, I believe if we promised to join forces with them, we could enlist their help in this matter, and together we could defeat the Scythians in battle.”

The Astranix elder stands up, his face sullen. “If the youth are clones, doesn’t this imply our females are now dead? If so, then we are already lost…” he laments, his trailing voice an omen of resignation.

“Krogoth speaks lies to save his hide. The youths are not clones. Sure, Dracoth himself is the War Chieftain’s own son.” As Zyraxis finishes, the elders mutter among themselves.

War Chieftain Gorexius has a son? Do our females yet live? Probably another of Zyraxis’lies.

Vereth redirects his focus, his gaze now fixed on Zyraxis. “Zyraxis, can you tell us where the Scythians are keeping our females?”

Zyraxis raises his hands in surrender. “Regrettably, I do not know. But I believe with loyal service, the Scythians will return them to us unharmed as soon as the war is over.”

Nyxius interjects sharply, “The wars never end, Zyraxis. Before the Nebians, it was the Gorglaxians, and after the Nebians, it’ll be another one, and another after them. They seek total dominion. No, I believe our females are lost to us like Elder Crysoth suspects.”

“There is another option,” I begin, uncertain if my words will condone or condemn me. “We can bond with Earth females…” My proclamation hangs in the air, a spark of controversy that ignites a storm of murmurs and gasps. The chamber, once cloaked in silence, now crackles with tension.

As the murmurs crescendo, Vereth’s staff comes crashing down, a resounding command for silence. Once the chamber falls quiet, he motions for me to proceed.

“Astraxius’ studies showed that on rare occasions it can happen, The Mortakin-Tok can succeed and with it the possibility of children… a chance for a future again,” I explain.

Ignixis erupts from his seat, his face twisted in anger. “You dare blaspheme against the Gods to suggest they would bless such a bond!” he spits. “As if the bastard spawn of weak Earthlings is any kind of future for our proud people. I find the very idea sickening.”

Zyraxis places a hand on Ignixis’ chest. “You’ve mentioned Astraxius, yet we’ve seen no sign of him since your arrival. Why is that?” Zyraxis inquires, his tone laced with cunning.

A pang of sorrow tightens my chest.Gods, Astraxius, I wish you were here with me now.“Astraxius… fell in battle. He rests with the ancestors now,” I confess, trying to show no emotion.

“Then we are to believe the so-called studies and words of a dead scholar? This is what you wish us to gamble our entire civilization on?” Zyraxis says, his voice dripping with disdain.

Phaedroth stands before speaking. “I agree with Zyraxis. This bonding with alien species is a thing born of drunken fools full of lust. Not once have any of these ‘bonds’ resulted in a Mortakin-Tok blessed by the Gods.”

My stomach churns with trepidation.Have I failed to convince the elders?“The bond is real!” I shoot back, my voice a lance of defiance. “I brought a human female back with me. We are sure of the bond. I know in my heart, to my very core, it to be true.”

Zyraxis directs attention to the holographic display, its luminous glow a spectral backdrop to our clash on the Last Resort.

“Is that the female there? The soft looking thing you have your arm around? She called you ‘Korgy’ if I recall correctly,” he taunts, a smirk dancing on his lips. Laughter ripples through the Magaxus elders beside him.

“That’s her. She is called Rocks,” I respond, trying to keep my rage from boiling over.

“Esteemed Elders, I assumed this female to be an exotic whore, nothing more,” Zyraxis proclaims as he glances towards Phaedroth. “Like my esteemed brother alludes to, simple lust, presumed as a sacred bond by naïve fools.” He pauses, his gaze boring into mine. “Do you love her, Krogoth?”

“I love her more than life itself,” I declare, praying I will survive this to feel her tenderness melt into my arms once again.

Vereth stands up. “I’ve heard enough of this. Zyraxis is right. We can’t risk all our lives on some fanciful tales. However, we will investigate this claim about the youths, and if needs be, petition the Scythians to undo any damage they may or may not—” His deliberation is cut short.

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