Chapter 6

Thule, the home of millions of alien species. At least this is what Centauri tells me.

"Here," she grabs my chin and points my gaze to a huge white building across from the outrageously large plaza that had what could be houses scattered on roadways. The building, also adorned in golds and blues bore the ornate features of ancient roman temples and other architecture that defied the laws of literally everything. "That would be Alpha Yex's palace. Now you do exactly as I do or the guard won't even hesitate to stick a spear in that pretty little head of yours."

I look at her despite the fact she's squishing my cheeks with her clawed fingers and give a forced laugh. "You think I'm pretty?"

"No." She lets go and leads the way down a terraced garden. Above us is the glass ceiling showing the beauty of outer space upon the diverse aliens that passed me with snarls and suspicious looks. "Don't mind them too much, they think you stink." Centauri brushes her hand against a milky white flower that makes a purring sound when she does.

I pull my shirt to my nose and take a sniff, immediately wrinkling my nose. "How long was I out?"

"Mmm, couple days." She continues on to the astonishing pair of towering doors and stops. The guard, a tall - probably male - figure with the head of something resembling a wolf and a python, looks down at her and then to me.

"Come to show off your little animal?" His voice is so low I nearly miss it.

Centauri lifts her chin boldly, "of course, you think I drag her around for fun?"

"Hey now-" I start but a wing shoots out in front of me blocking my view.

"You know why I'm here," She sounds tired now. The guard huffs and lifts his hand, when he flicks his wrist the door opens with a quiet hiss and opens up to the prettiest palace I ever will see. Centauri pulls her wing out from my grasp as I had to move it to gape at the shiny everything that lay inside. When she moves on, I follow with the slight anxiety that I might end up ice skating on the waxed floors

A tall woman, just as beautiful as her palace click-clacks with her boots on the floor and stops when she spots us both. The sphinx like ears atop her head swivel in my direction and I'm enraptured in her hard yellow gaze. Centauri immediately drops to a knee and bows and I remember my instructions to do the same.

"Centauri...and that human..." Her voice is higher pitched and rather melodic. "Well come with me and we'll talk."

Centauri stands silently and yanks me up with her. We follow the lady to another gorgeous room filled with cream coloured furniture and plants, so many weird plants. All three of us sit and I sneak a glance at the guards looking very much similar to the door guard positioned at all entrances and exits. Between us and who I'm assuming is Alpha Yex, there is a large crystalline table that shimmers much like the Gray Wall. When the Alphe hovers a hand over and flicks it up wards, a display of the destroyed Nebulus 5 is projected above the table. I watch the simulation as the beasts drop down on it and tear it apart. Then several winged people like Centauri surrounding it. Centauri watches me stare at it before casting a glance to Yex.

"Right yes," The Alpha clears her throat delicalty and raises her chin. "These creatures," she reaches out and holds one in her hand, it continues doing what it was in her hand, tearing apart the ship it no longer had in front of it. It's spined back shook as it would lash out. It bore six arms and jagged wings used for gliding. Each hand were three toes and long claws, like a birds. "These creatures are Impics. Named themselves after the Empire they had created on Xero before you humans had come to rid of them."

"Our government never told us anything about aliens on Xero. I thought the whole sightings on earth were all bullshit anyways." I earn a fierce glare from Centauri, but no one comes to stick a spear in me.

Yex shakes her head, everything she does is so soft and slow. Much unlike Commander Halfling. "Whatever you're talking about is wrong itself. The creatures were in treaty with the Acrux Pact before your kind brought weapons to kill thousands of them off. Now they're furious with us having and agreement with the humans to dissuade Impics from attacking humans." SHe pauses to smirk, " I'm sure you didn't know that either judging from your face."

"They were looking for something though. Impics wouldn't just attack a human ship without reason. Even those parasites have some honor." Centauri takes the simulated me from the hologram, I just float in her palm my face invisible behind the helmet.

"As you keep insisting," Yex sits back, crossing her legs. "Go on."

"I believe that she could be related to the human that ran off with the rogue."

Yex's eyes fall on me again and i feel my neck heating up from the added confusion and attention. She looks to Centauri who tosses simulated me back in the fray. Suddenly, she stands and smiles all teeth, the little feline fangs she has are banded with gold. "Very well, we will test this then. Mind if I borrow your little friend."

Centauri stands slowly as if it hurts and sighs, "let me come with, lest she decide to launch herself out into space again."

Mildly annoyed, i stand too and look between the both of them.

"Alright," Yex purrs and gestures to her guards. "First a test, then a chat with a prisoner."