Page 19 of Sy

“And if they discovered the truth about the ferals?” Vraal demanded.

Raalt’s expression darkened further. “They would demand our immediate containment or elimination. They already view our berserker tendencies as a dangerous mutation. They would never allow us to live if they knew about the full extent of our mutations. Need I remind you that several Purist-aligned clans control the automated weapons platforms installed around problematic planets, like those of the Vorr…”

“We continue as we always have,” Isan replied, taking over for his father. “Contain those who cannot control their Rage. And make sure to protect the humans at all costs. We can’tafford another incident, not with the empire’s attention already on us.”

“Understood.” Kraath nodded, his expression pinched. “We’ll maintain current protocols and keep you informed of any changes.”

Isan cleared his throat. “Moving on. Dr. Godwin has completed her full analysis of the remains. The attacking force at the southern fortress were krynassis, but altered. Changed.”

“Changed how?” Kraath’s deep voice cut through Sy’s thoughts.

“They have an unknown genetic element,” Isan replied, a frown on his face as he rubbed absently at one of the scars on his chest. “Something we’ve never seen before, and it doesn’t match anything in either our database or that of the humans. Dr. Godwin believes we were right, and that it could be Tanel in origin.”

The room temperature dropped. Sy folded his arms again. He’d grown up on tales of the Tanel, as far back as the nursery. Don’t slack in your training, or the Tanel will take you. Excel in combat, or the Tanel will find you. Ancient warriors used as stories to scare younglings into behaving. But then he’d tested positive for the Blood Rage at sixteen, watched his cousin Tor test positive at just two years old, and realized there were worse things than childhood monsters.

“But we can’t be certain without a sample of Tanel DNA to compare it to,” Isan continued.

“That’s not entirely accurate.”

Every head in the room turned toward Kraath.

“The Vorrtan,” Kraath said, looking around the room. “They were created using Latharian and Tanel DNA.”

Sy grunted softly. That was how the stories went.

“That’s just a myth.” Vraal’s expression creased skeptically. “And besides, how are we going to get Vorrtan DNA? They diedout centuries ago. The only remnants are the Vorr, and they’ve been watched for generations to ensure no aberrations.”

Sy raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t been keeping up with the newsfeeds. Have you? Seems, like us, the Vorr have their secrets. There’s a full Vorrtan ambassador to the humans now.”

“Two,” Isan broke in. “Cade Vorr was the first, but a warlady recently arrived on earth.”

The room was startled into silence, all eyes on Isan.

“There is a living female Vorrtan?” Kraath asked sharply.

Sy watched the garrison commander carefully. Something was off about his reaction that made the symbiont stir uneasily in the back of his mind.

Isan inclined his head. “More than one. Apparently there are a few Vorrtan planets out there no one knew about. Somehow, the Vorrtan found ways to conceal themselves from the empire.”

“Well…draanth,” Sy murmured. Whole planets of ancient super-warriors… That almost put their own secret to shame.

Zeke cleared his throat. “Something else doesn’t make sense. The krynassis DNA… how was it used? Their reproduction requires a queen to lay eggs, or at minimum, a queen’s halo.”

Isan frowned. “That’s one of many questions we don’t have answers for yet. Dr. Godwin is continuing her analysis, but without more samples?—”

“So we have nothing concrete,” Vraal cut him off, his tone bitter. “Just more questions and ancient legends that may or may not be true.”

Sy caught Kraath’s minute flinch at those words but only because he was looking directly at him rather than at Isan. And the expression was quick—there one moment and gone the next. He filed the knowledge away to think about later. Kraath knew or suspected something that he wasn’t sharing.

The question was what and, more importantly, why.

“What security protocols are in place for the humans?” Raalt asked.

“The humans’ communications are being monitored closely,” Zeke reported, his yellow eyes steady. “Everything goes through our systems first and then through the relay stations. Nothing concerning has come through so far.”

“Good,” Raalt’s hologram flickered. “Keep it that way. We can’t afford any… complications.”

“The construction crews seem focused on their work,” Sy added. “The project manager is keeping them in line.”

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