Page 46 of Taken to Voraxia
“Pe’ixal imbues the idiocy of this Dra’Kesh pride now, projecting his small-mindedness onto the humans. In my short time knowing them, these beings have shown only fortitude, ingenuity, bravery and resilience above all else. An intelligent species, they are not to be underestimated.
“Because they are a physically inferior species, we need to take care in our interactions with them. Their pacts are not to be trusted, for they are often made out of fear. A fear instilled in them by Bo’Raku and the Dra’Kesh who too make up this constellation. It will take time for us to earn their trust.”
My throat tightens as I think to my own Rakukanna. My Miari. How desperate I am for her to trust me. I do not know how to broker that trust, but I know now one thing above all others: I must not trade for it. I must earnit.
Across the room from me, Islu’Raku says, “What interaction do you expect us to have with these humans, my Raku?”
“Lemoria has already been tasked with preparing a detailed medical diagnosis of both hybrid and human alike. She will be recruiting members for a medical team that will travel to the human settlement to ensure that no more fertile female or youngling lives are lost — human or hybrid.
“As for the Hunt, my Rakukanna will be preparing and agreeing on a new pact with the humans directly. One that will benefit both Voraxian and humans alike. This pact will not be a forced pact.”
Islu’Raku bows her head and I inhale a lungful of air at the orange that sweeps her ridges then. “Is there another who wishes to speak?”
The room is silent. I rise. “Then let us begin our preparations for the festivities. Xhen'Raku and Xa’Raku. As outlined in the xub’Raku edict, I expect that the two of you will work together to manage Bo’Raku’s leadership until a Dra’Kesh or Voraxian challenges for the title.” They nod. I nod. “You are dismissed.”
One-by-one, my xub’Raku exit the room until there is but one who remains. “You will tell me what troubles you, Xa’Raku.”
Xa’Raku stands, the long strands of her dark hair tangling in the wind that my body creates when I rise at her side. Here, she meets my gaze squarely and my mind flashes again to my Rakukanna.How I love to look down on her.Her slight stature makes me feel even more like she is something needing my protection.But she does not want it. And she does not want me. And even though I celebrate her tonight, she will never wish to be bound to me as I am already bound to her. Irrevocably.
I wince at the thoughts and allow my mind to focus on my most trusted advisor before me. She bows slightly. “My Raku, I am troubled. You show a restraint I can only some solar hope to possess. Now, however, I desire to make a second motion, one in favor of Pe’ixal’s exile to the Fifth Quadrant. He holds sacred knowledge of the coordinates to the human moon. Without his planet, his title, or his honor, he cannot be trusted not to sell this information to the Niahhorru. The humans are vulnerable on their moon without a Voraxian fleet to protect them.”
I feel my plates lift and shudder. So focused on removing Bo’Raku from his title, I had failed to consider the implications. What would a dishonorable male do in the face of his public shame?
I snarl, “The humans will be fledged Voraxian. Each given a life drive. In this way, any who dare to cross them will know that they are protected. An act against one will be an act against all of Voraxia.”
She nods again and says, “I worry that the need for breeding females among the Niahhorru will be greater than their desire not to start a war with us. Our fleet is bigger, but Kor is an important intergalactic trading port between Quadrants. It is not possible to destroy Kor without wounding our reputation and our relationships with Third and Second Quadrant leaders and traders, and we rely on these for some of our key energy sources. For example, we on Thrax cannot source the Droherion needed to power the ion turbines of our deep sea habitats without Kor.”
“Xok,” I curse, but only because Xa’Raku is familiar to me and we are alone. I run my hand back over my hair and curse more profoundly. “You will meet with Islu'Raku and Xhen'Raku upon leaving the war room and tell them that they are to station two warships in proximity of the human settlement.
“Do not contact the humans directly, for they will likely not understand and there is no reason to alarm them if there is no threat. This solar and the coming, I will spend with my M…my Rakukanna,” I quickly correct and I balk at the thought that I nearly called her by her slave name in Xa’Raku’s presence. “But on the following, we will meet with you to discuss a course of action with the humans. I trust your judgment on this matter.”
“You honor me, my Raku. I believe that protecting the humans will only serve Voraxia well. All of our planets benefit from mingling with new species. Particularly given Voraxia’s declining birth rate. It was not so long ago that the Xa’Raka and I lost our own Xa’Ka. I fear that the same breeding sickness that claimed the Niahhorru finds its place in our federation.”
“Hexa, this is feared.”
“And the humans bring us something more important than younglings. The humans bring hope. They must be protected. It would be my honor to help my Raku and my Rakukanna do so.”
I bow, more deeply this time as she fills me with a strange pride that I am sure would turn my ridges a brilliant orange had I not the mastery to control them. As it is, I stand stoic and give her another slight nod when she rises from her responding bow.
“Then it is done. In two solars’ time, before you return to Thrax, we will discuss the human settlement, Pe’ixal, and any threats that we may face on either front. But for now, I must go.”
Xa’Raku’s flurry with swift, decisive colors that match the pleasure that’s claimed the corners of her mouth.
“Hexa,” she says, “Your Rakukanna waits for you.”
13
Raku
The xamxin river has dimmed, so the fires rage bright. We are in the Shorashora Valley, one of the few places where the werro trees grow sparse, allowing for an unihibited view of the stars.
Chill filters down from the sky and swirls against the pale sands, but the fires that sit in enormous screa rock basins are enough to fight against it.
I sit in the high-backed werro throne familiar to me, for it is the one that I occupy anytime the Voraxian people celebrate. The last celebration was for the Xanaxana mating of Ixria to Ku’Rohru in the last half rotation.
It was a beautiful ceremony, but one that filled me with a an envy I was ashamed of, reminding me of what I had left behind on the human moon. Now that hate is gone, all that is left is a hollowness in my chest where my two hearts should thrum, a cold, fearful ringing beside it.
I have never experienced nerves such as these before. My toes, which are bare, burrow beneath the dusty white sand. I glance, not for the first time, at the empty seat beside me. It was constructed one rotation ago. Right upon my return from the human moon. And when I visited it for the very first time, I felt a similar sensation then as I do now. A pressure. A heat. A lust. A burn.Where is she?
