57.2. Task Force - Part 2

The lunch is over and we continue the meeting. While the delegates are arguing about almost everything, nobody believes that the attack was an isolated incident. The minimum in which all countries find the common ground is that we need to protect people. Not even Delgado argues with that however much he resists cooperating with us.

Deminas finally returns twenty minutes into the afternoon session. He didn't bother changing his clothes which are stained in several places with monster blood and stink from skinning the heligorr. The delegates have to exercise remarkable self-control not to wrinkle their noses when he sits down. Some of them even turn pale at the sight of blood.

"I've met a few local Draconians who showed up to help us," he says, his deep voice resonating. "It seems that regardless of one's level, we all felt when the rift opened approximately in the twenty-kilometre radius. High-levels hurried to the source on instinct, only they were too far so they arrived after the battle."

"So what you're saying is...?" Mrs Duke doesn't dare to push him.

"I'm saying that in case of another monster attack, Draconians in the vicinity will voluntarily come to help," Deminas claims.

"And what makes you think we'll allow you to become armed forces?" Delgado almost jumps from his seat and is clenching his fists.

A heated debate follows. I'd probably develop a splitting headache because of so many jarred emotions all around me but Gotrid and Erik are holding my hands under the table, putting my mind back to balance. Their mental states couldn't be more different. Gotrid is feeling thrill and excitement, he's still pumped up from the battle. Erik is shocked and worried about his friends and family.

I realise I need both of their points of view. I have to see how Draconians perceive this turns of events and how humans react. As for myself, I'm torn. My Celestial nature reacted exactly as it should and my Emperor's nature made me a perfect commander. There's no humanity in me left, yet, there's still something interfering with my pure Celestialness—being a telepath and an empath.

And it alters my perception more than I thought. I refused to see it before but I finally have to admit to myself that I never quite understood the world the same way everyone else does. It doesn't have to be a bad thing necessarily but if I want to become a good ruler, I need other perspectives. Fortunately, I have my partners who can provide that for me.

We're here for you, love, Erik gives me a faint smile, the best he can muster in a current situation.

"Now more than ever we need to progress with the investigation," Delgado says, his tone accusatory.

"You think we're not doing enough?" Ichikawa gets offended. "We ran all security checks, read all logs, interrogated everyone at Nebula, are always on the lookout for those missing developers... we tried everything!"

"We still have dead monsters to research that can shed some light. They are being transported to our scientific facilities as we speak," Ms Behera tries to calm her President.

"Only after they were scavenged by Draconians," Delgado hisses angrily.

"Our kill, our loot," Deminas loses his temper and hits the table in front of him, startling everyone in the room. For a Dragonkin to lose his cool, Delgado must really get on his nerves.

"Although it was our Emperor who killed the heligorr," Gotrid mumbles silently so that only our circle can hear it.

I poke him. Now's not the time to argue who did what exactly. The Dragonkin took care of filandras and helped rescuing humans. I wonder why Emi didn't return. Since Deminas is here, it must mean the situation is under control for now. I doubt Emi would stay longer than is necessary just for humans' sake. Did she ditch politics completely?

"Celestials offer full cooperation," I declare to prevent any misunderstandings from the start.

"And what does that mean, Your Majesty? Just so we're clear," Bennett raises a question. "Of course, we're happy for you saying so, I mean no disrespect."

"We'll welcome any experts on the matter you send to us, we'll share information we acquire and expect the same from you, we'll cooperate with your police force and the army considering they won't hinder us," I name a few points that come to my mind.

"But the monsters we kill will be primarily ours," Deminas adds quickly.

"With sharing samples, naturally," I narrow my eyes at him.

I don't want to say I misjudged Deminas but it seems that the saying is true: Only real situations prove one's character. In this case, a racial trait. It's not like the Dragonkin are hoarders but they do have a tendency to be very possessive of whatever they deem worthy to use in their weapon and armour crafting.

"Sharing samples is fine with us," Deminas agrees in the end.

And another round of talks follows. It doesn't seem I'll be able to take that nap Twyla was recommending.

"It's as if this is all one big conspiracy, a part of someone's plan," a German representative sighs. "First, new races start appearing literally overnight. Then, these monsters only Draconians can fight effectively. What's next?"

"Must be aliens," someone mutters mockingly. Only it doesn't sound that far-fetched so everybody twitches nervously in their seats. Because despite how amazing the technology of the 22nd century is, humanity doesn't have the means to make something like this reality.

After we agree on the basic points of cooperation, the discussion gets to a dead end of assumptions and wild guesses. Mrs Duke lets a few crazy theories to be heard before she officially ends today's meeting because it doesn't go anywhere and everyone is dead tired.

"The priority is to ensure the safety of our citizens," she summarises. "Police and army forces all over the world should be on the highest alert and be ready to cooperate with Draconians who might spontaneously show up should monsters strike again.

I feel that Delgado is pissed about the outcome. As the president of one of the most influential countries in the world, he can dare to disagree with the UN arrangements. But if he blatantly refused everything we agreed on and American citizens would come to harm because of that, he would be seen as incompetent so he was forced to make some concessions and commitments.

There should have been another banquet tonight but, considering the circumstances, it was cancelled. I'm really glad I don't have to force myself to socialise after all that happened.

"I'll ride with Deminas, don't worry," Erik says when it's time to depart.

I keep kissing him until he has to push me away into Gotrid's embrace or I wouldn't leave him. Our flight goes without any hindrances but it's far from relaxing. Even though we're flying quite high up so the telepathic imprints from below are just ambient echoes to me, I can feel that humans are scared and in a shock. What if they hold it against us?

Aefener, can you hear me? Liana is focusing intensely, consciously sending her thoughts to me. She adjusts her speed to match mine so we're flying next to each other.

I can, I answer resignedly, expecting to be berated.

Why didn't you tell me? she asks but her tone isn't accusatory. Your Consorts know, don't they?

I wanted to share something special with them, I reply slowly. Also... it makes me nervous every time my telepathy gets stronger. I didn't want you to make a fuss.

Is this how you see it? she's sad about it. You're afraid to confide to me because I'd make a fuss?

I didn't mean it like that, you have my absolute trust, I say quickly. I simply wanted to have a little secret. You do realise that I don't have any privacy?

I'm sorry, Aefener, she sighs in her mind. We want to give you as much privacy as possible but you're our Emperor. We're scared something bad might happen to you. We need to protect you all the time so that we're able to sleep. How can be protect you effectively if we don't know that your telepathy got more acute? You might be more susceptible now.

I try to understand that, Li, I really do. But these days I can't even decide what to wear and what to eat. You're total control freaks, I say the harsh truth openly.

She nervously flies up so now she's hovering a few metres above me. I can feel her thinking frantically but she doesn't formulate her thoughts clearly enough and with the intention to send them to me so I can only guess what is going through her head.

My love, Gotrid addresses me instead. Were you talking to the Viceroy just now? Nothing pleasant I presume? You're frowning.

He feels my inner struggle because he's perfectly attuned to me by now. He starts flying around playfully to distract me. I give in and join him in a Celestial courtship dance, this time fully knowing what we're doing and with Erik's blessing. My escort gives us a few minutes of free flight to just enjoy ourselves because who knows when we'll have time for it again.