Wind of Change: Chapter 25

Story by seraphor12 on SoFurry

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#25 of Wind of Change


Rendloks of Adonis III

"I don't understand," stated Amhyr. "I thought Rendloks are ant-like, not wasp-like!"

The 'Rendlok' then stared at them with its bug-eyes for a moment. Amhyr knew the insectoid was staring at him.

After a while, the insectoid made a buzzing sound and said, "So, you perceive our race as one race of 'black ants', isn't it? They are merely one of our kinds, but with a much stronger telepathic capability than us. They are our 'pathfinder', and it is not surprising that they are the first to have made contact with aliens."

"Do you have any way to justify that?"

"Unfortunately, I cannot," said the wasp-like alien. "I cannot share information like the 'black ants', but it seems that you have one to do so."

"So, you understand that we are not going to harm you?"

"Not necessarily."

The Rendlok then made a loud buzzing sound. Some other insectoids them came through the door and pointed their weapons towards the four of them. They were wearing less armor and more carapace, and they clearly belonged to different races of anthropomorphic insects, ranging from wasps, beetles, and even dragonflies. They made inaudible clicking sounds to each other, with the wasp Rendlok, clearly the commanding officer, said something to them.

They then took away their weapons and tied their hands to their back, with the wasp leader looking at them. Amhyr stared at him, trying to reason to him with his mind, but then he realized he made a mistake for not knowing that they were Rendloks.

"I'm sorry, Amhyr Rithola, but you killed two of us and infiltrated this compound. You will be detained until we deemed it necessary to let you out."

"But..."

"You know that we are telepaths, and you know that you cannot justify killing to soldiers standing guard outside as 'self-defense'. I will personally question you." "I am warning you, Rendlok," said Let. "Do not engage the Scyllas. We both have the same technology. It will be a massacre!"

"I am not a fool, Renziletis Mankoreta. But are you?"

They then slowly got dragged away. Let specifically told the group not to struggle even though they knew they could break free with brute strength alone, but it would complicate things and any chance of negotiation.

"Look, guys, I am the one to blame here. I-I didn't know..."

"Anyone would do what you do if cornered," said Dolor. "I'd do what you do."

"We're lucky that it's only the two of them. More than that and we'll be causing a problem with Atho," said Let to Amhyr.

They were led to an area that looked like holding cells, and they were put inside a room with force field screen in front of them. It was dull-looking, as with all holding cells, but Amhyr was surprised that the Rendloks were once a thriving race. They could be a thriving race somewhere in the dark recesses of the galaxy. Atho had told them that his race was nomadic, but he never told him that his race also had sub-races like Terrans.

Let and Amhyr looked at the field while Tela and Dolor talked to each other. The two friends had known each other for months during their time as Azure's crew, and they were basically in unison. They thought alike, but not that much since they weren't taking their time together that much.

"Shit hit the fan, huh?" said Let to the draconian.

"I'm glad you can stop me from killing those two. Again, I'm..."

"We are warriors. We don't blame ourselves," said Let. "You have a family to feed, so of course you do what you must do."

"But this time it's just a job, isn't it? I could've..."

"I know burning one of them isn't necessary, but it happened. You can't change it. Now, it's up to us to prevent more bloodshed."

"Yes it is," said the wasp Rendlok leader as he moved in front of them. "Now tell me the reason why you are infiltrating my fort. Do not lie to me, as I will know. I will keep this a secret from the others so it won't cause panic."

"Before that, let us know your name."

There was a silence before the wasp Rendlok said, "Rutha. That is my name in your tongue."

"Okay...Rutha...let me be honest. We were here because of the skirmish of your people. They are starting to harm citizens," said Amhyr, struggling not to tell a lie, as his life depended on it. "We...were here to sabotage the shield so the Scyllas...can go inside."

"You know you're too honest, right?" said Rutha. "But please, go on."

"We, uh...killed two of your guards...and got in."

"That's it?"

"Yeah, that's it."

"You didn't explain about this...fascinating tech." Rutha pulled out the shield generator with ATF generator on it. "This thing can make even our most advanced security system obsolete. Where did you get this thing?"

"We...uh..."

"We can't let you know," said Let, apparently hearing that conversation in his mind. "It's a secret. Unless you are proven trustworthy, we can't tell you."

"You do know that you are the one in the situation where you can't refuse, right?"

"I'd hope to see you try, Rutha," said Let. "But be aware that I have two of my subjects locked in this cell with me. I am their leader, and they will seek retribution if you kill me or maim me."

Rutha went silent for a while, making some clicking noise along the way. He then said, "I agree. I won't ask about this device again, but..."

He threw it down to the floor and pulled a gun, then promptly shoot the generator. The device blew up with smoke billowing out of it, along with electric arcs.

"You won't retrieve it either. I can't risk it. We cannot trust each other yet."

Amhyr could see Let making a solemn face. Somehow the thing Rutha destroyed had a significance for him. Both knew that was Capisa's thing, but then its job was done.

"Now that the thing is gone, we can talk in peace. We are all connected in the hive mind of our mothers deep inside this fort, and we know when our kind are killed or not. Some of the soldiers reported me of losing contact with some of their kin, and I suspected that someone was killing them."

"So...are we going to be punished for that?"

"You won't be. The dead can't judge the living. We are simply given a second chance to live. In the end, when we die, it doesn't matter anyway."

"So, you knew that you are one of the solids?"

"Yes, if that's your term. But I'm afraid we were not the only one resurrected. Some Rendloks, the ones we called 'motherless', is the one causing your problem."

"Is that a Rendlok's way to not take responsibility?" said Amhyr. "I know people like that, and I don't like them."

"Yes, we cannot deny that they are also our own, but for a race with problems of their own, you do know that you cannot collectively blame us, right?"

"You have a hive mind. You can influence each other to do something."

"That is right. But, I am being serious about this. Externally, it looks like we do the skirmish, but internally, that's our problem, too. Like I said, this fort consists of our 'mothers'. They are the pillar of the Rendlok community. A long time ago, as I once heard when I was nothing but a larva, we were one of the most advanced civilization on this galaxy. And that's it. We don't know anything more. We lost our history when a living weapon went berserk, destroying our civilization and many others, and forcing us to travel across the galaxy to find new home. Most of the time we succeeded. Others are not so lucky.

"Based on what I gather from you, Amhyr Rithola, the Rendloks you befriended were also 'rogues'. They lost their mother and is trying to find a new one. The 'black ants' call their mother 'queen', as do the 'bees'. We, the 'wasps', are solitary, but we have our mother safe in this fort."

"So, what's that got to do with the skirmishes in Adonis III?" said Amhyr. "You gotta explain something to Let, or to his people. They were the one trying to destroy this fort because of the attacks. Let, explain to them. Tela, Dolor...help your kaf'rak, okay? This is no longer my job."

"Are you avoiding this talk?"

"Like I said, this is no longer my job. I am an outsider being invited to infiltrate by request. After that talk...do whatever you want to me. I'm still guilty with killing those two Rendloks."

Rutha seemed indifferent. Amhyr could be wrong, though. He couldn't understand an insect's expression. He once tried to talk to Atho about the history of his kind, but he tried to avoid his conversation while having an indifferent face. It was difficult to determine their need.

"Alright," said Rutha. "I will talk with your companions, then I will deal with you. Their needs come first."

And so Amhyr waited for the Scyllas to talk with Rutha about the problems each faction faced. The draconian was relieved that, despite of thinking that Tela and Dolor might've lashed out on their own, they were apparently compliant and agreed to listen to the Rendlok, even though Amhyr was certain that they had never meet one of the insectoids. Let, a natural talker, talked to Rutha with his presence and calmness. In his line of work, Amhyr had never seen a Scylla as civilized and as calm as Let. He may have seen them on a negative light, but the past decade proved him wrong.

The negotiation took some time. Amhyr started to get bored when he could only see them talk in their mind. It looked almost like an amusing staring contest. He knew that was the thing with Rendloks, but seeing them talk like that while he was unable to 'hear' a thing made them look ridiculous.

Around two hours later, mental exhaustion, coupled with a grateful sigh, made Amhyr think about a positive outcome. Let turned around to meet with the draconian and said, "So. Want the good news or bad news first?"

"Good."

"The good news is, we won't be getting any of those skirmishes and the attack's laid off. We will start talking to them in terms of living together...at least for now."

"And the bad news?"

Let looked towards Dolor and Tela, then back to Amhyr. "You stay here."

"Well, that wasn't so bad..."

"As a criminal."

"Oh."

Tela then approached Amhyr. "We're sorry, Amhyr Rithola. I know you are a good draconian, but they cannot overlook your crime against them. We'll try to find a way to get you out."

"It will be fine. Just...tell the boys that I'm having extended stay."

"I will, Amhyr. The Rendloks promised that you will return to your family, but after a trial. Rutha can explain the rest."

"Are you going back to the colony?"

"Yes. I must tell the council that we will be expecting a new neighbor." He turned to the wasp Rendlok. "Rutha," he said, while nodding.

Rutha made some clicking sound before Amhyr nodded and walked out of the cell. He looked back towards Let and nodded as he walked out of the cell, albeit with a solemn expression.

The energy field turned on the moment Amhyr walked out of the cell. He disappeared by the corner, being escorted by two dragonfly Rendloks. All that remains in Amhyr's point of view was Rutha sitting by a desk he set up to look at Amhyr.

"So...what now?"

"You won't stay here for long. After the trial, you're free to go."

"Just like that? No penalty, no hold-up?"

"That's because I'm going to be your defense. And besides, two is a small number compared to thousands we create."

"I know insects do that in Terra, but aren't they your kind? You don't seem to have any problems with death."

"Like I said. We are already dead. The mothers were aware of this. I agree that some of us desire a second chance, but we have accepted our fate when 'they' attacked."

"Who are they?"

"Not who. What. I hope it does not happen again. I'm sick with them already."

"So, how about..."

"Both the Scyllas and the Rendloks will work together to sort out the skirmish. But enough of that. Tell me more about this 'Atho' in your mind. It seems that he's a leader of the Rendloks that re-settled in some habitable planets."

"Atho is an ambassador to your race, Rutha, but currently he's on a mission to sort out this problem."

"What is his role on that mission?"

"Political envoy. He's there to ensure that the Rendloks don't get problems with other Federation races. Your...telepathic powers make some suspicious, and some don't really like insects."

"Yes, our...appearances don't seem inviting."

"Yeah, don't get me wrong, but nobody like wasps. They like bees, but not wasps."

"I must look that up. For us, the bees need our protection for their colony. We are their 'fighters'. Symbiotic relationship is something that we pride upon."

"Wow. I'd like to see insects do that. They don't actually work well together on Terra."

"It is kind of defying our nature, but it's for the best."

"So...are you the leader of this fort?"

"That would be the 'mothers'. I am simply the leader of the soldiers defending this place. There are workers too. We don't have the psi division, unfortunately."

"Psi division?"

"It's a division for our most psychic-attuned people. It happens one in fifteen Rendloks, so it's quite common. It can come from a different race. All of us can communicate with telepathic link, but only some of us have the power to feed information and dig deeper. Your friend, Atho, is one of them."

"So you think he's more suited in a psi division than an ambassador?"

"For us, our 'mothers' are the ones suited for politics and discussion, but then, Atho is motherless, so he can be an ambassador. The new 'mother' will be too young for that kind of work."

"You seem pretty well-informed with just my mind."

"Someone's mind can store lots of memories, even suppressed ones. Even if my telepathic sensitivity is not as strong as the psi division, I know you have more blood in your hand than those you killed today."

"It's...not something I'm proud of."

"Those things can affect everyone's judgement of you. You don't look like you kill people for the sake of it. If it is an occupation, we can understand, but you seem to be enjoying some of those..."

"You should stop right there before I do something you'll regret," said Amhyr with an angry face.

"Do I offend you?"

"I swear to god, if you take my secret as an evidence I will kill you. It's a justice offence in our system to use evidences based on emotional conduct. What matters is the deed, not personal."

"So, you value secret as a treasure. It is important for you to know that our race cannot hold secrets, but just for you, I can do the arrangement. Expect some to be suspicious of you."

"It's better than spilling out things you shouldn't share. Do Rendloks really have no secrets?"

"We do have secrets. All races have secrets. We have a better way to conceal it than you."

"Oh. Ok. So, when can we get over it?"

"If you mean the trial, whenever you're ready."

"Let's get this over with. Whatever the decision is, all I want is to meet with my sons again."

***

Let wanted to help Amhyr, but he of all people should know that doing so could shatter the fragile alliance. It was not something he liked to do, abandoning his friend like that. But, he wished the draconian understood. The Rendloks handled things pretty well, just like Atho with his guns.

Looking at the Rendloks made Let wonder. Was there a sub-race like Atho around that fort? Rutha did mention that Atho's sub-race had powerful telepathic abilities, but it was surprising that he didn't see those like Atho's race roaming around. Was it because of the massive prison complex? Either way, the Rendloks also had a share of criminals, too.

The two dragonfly Rendloks seemed to deliberately guide them through the sector when they locked their own kind. As perceptive as ever, Let noticed that they wore some kind of a collar around their necks. He wasn't sure about how they worked and assumed that they were simply 'tags' for identification. They looked at the three and made a clicking sound, something that the universal translator could not translate.

Tela approached Let after they got out of the complex. She looked worried.

"What is it, Telarenis?" asked Let. (They are talking with their own language).

"Kaf'rak, it...doesn't feel right leaving Amhyr Rithola in there with them. I mean, they are telepaths, and I understand that he has dark secrets he cannot share. We all are."

"I'm sure they won't poke at it. I know a Rendlok who respect this."

"He killed two of them in cold blood. Aside from a warrior who has seen death and war, I cannot see him other than an assassin. I have a feeling that they will use that fact to..."

"Do not assume the worst, Telarenis," replied Let. "We just have to hope that Amhyr can get out. No. He _must_get out. I made him a promise and I took his family here. I cannot let his sons bear the burden of being orphans."

They walked towards the ship, ready for taking off. The moment they strapped in and flew away, Tela said, "With due respect, how close are you to Amhyr Rithola?"

"We are comrades in arms. Back in the Black Creature Crisis, we fought back to back. That fact alone is enough to let me know that I'm not fighting alone, and I owe them something. Amhyr was in the middle of it when the Werewolf Crisis happened, and his family was shunned for marrying a pureblood Lycan."

"I've heard about the Crisis, but isn't he a draconian? What's that got to do with the Crisis?"

"His sons are hybrids with lycanthropic features. My suggestion is that it triggered moral panic, but you know Terrans. They are scared to everything. I know they think fear makes them strong, but in my eyes, it only breaks them apart."

"You can't blame these soft flesh people for trying to find someone or something to blame for."

"I suppose so."

"Amhyr Rithola's wife. Who is she?"

"Rosalinda Van Helsing. I call her Rose for short. She had been missing for two years when Wind of Change and _St. Vincent_disappeared. I heard they returned, but Calventis told me that they went back in time and forward. I don't know how to process that, but this is getting out of hand."

"For us commoners...it doesn't make any sense at all. Is this what it feels like to be in the heat of the situation?"

Let looked at her. His expression indifferent. "If it is the heat of the situation, you'll get a massive headache before it's over. This is a vast, expanding universe. It's bound to have weird things waiting for us to see and experience. Now, with all the ghosts resurrected to become 'solids' and we are fighting a war that was over a long time ago, I suggest we try to adapt."

"Adapt, Kaf'rak?"

"The present and the past. Regrets and death averted. It's a brand-new world. But for now, we are dealing with the Rendloks. I never thought they have a formidable civilization...before they became nomads."

The craft landed on Let's estate where he walked down and quickly informed some of his people about the Rendloks. He then walked to the main communication section to talk with the editor in charge of information. He told the young Scylla to expect some 'bug-like' alien that would come to Let's estate.

"But aren't they..."

"A simple misunderstanding. They are not the enemy here. But if they do...then my wrath is what they get. Go. Inform the populace."

Though Let talked calmly, the editor knew that the Scylla's wrath wasn't something to be look down upon. He quickly worked to meet the Scylla's demand while Let walked out of the room and towards Amhyr's unit.

Before he walked out of his estate, though, he had second thoughts. What would he tell his sons? He understood that to start a family, Amhyr must leave many things behind, including his work. Now that their mission was a bust and Amhyr was a criminal to the Rendloks, it could cause problems with his family, especially Rose. But, if they kept it a secret, it wouldn't be pleasant for both sides, and it could potentially damage their relationship.

But what would he do? If he sat idle while waiting for the decision on Amhyr, it might've been too late. He had no qualms with the Rendloks as they claimed to have their own problems.

That's when he had an idea to call the only Rendlok friend he had.

Let doubled back towards the communication room and informed one of the staffs to open communication to St. Vincent. The female Scylla nodded and quickly tried to open communication with St. Vincent. After at least five minutes, they managed to get in contact with the ship, but no video or audio could be heard.

"What happened?" asked Let to one of the staffs.

"There could be interference to where they are now. We can still text."

"Give me the keyboard."

From there, the Scylla started writing.

"Hello, St. Vincent. This is Renziletis Mankoreta. I need to talk to Atho, the Rendlok ambassador currently on your ship. Please hurry. This is an urgent call."

There was a slight wait for the message to be replied. After 15 minutes, there was a reply coming.

"Hello, Let. Good to hear you are alright? How's two years without us?"

"Miserable," replied Let. "Atho, I need your help. What do Rendloks think of justice?"

"We believe that openness is justice. The only way to see the truth is to see their secrets. Why do you ask this? Is there something wrong?"

"Atho, bear with me. Amhyr was caught by the Rendlok solids inhabiting a fort on Adonis III. He's currently on trial for killing two guards. I know he has a past that he can't share that easily, so what if they start probing his mind?"

There was a long delay, which worried Let. After a while, Atho replied with, "Can you receive audio?"

"I can't."

"How about recorded message?"

Let turned towards one of the staffs and told him about Atho's request. He nodded, but wasn't sure if it was instant.

"We can do it, but it might take time."

"Okay. I know this might seem weird, but I'm going to talk to a recorder. You may hear them as incomprehensible clicking sound, but the Rendloks would understand. Are they agitated as of now?"

"No, but we are expecting some of their people to talk about co-settlement. Atho, I want to ask you something. Are you...the only living sub-race of all the Rendloks?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"I've never seen other kinds of Rendloks aside from you, the Terran ant-like people. I mean, I saw many insectoids, all from different kinds of insects. Did you...lose many of your people?"

"No, I...did you just say 'other kinds aside from Rendloks'?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Rendloks are nomads. Planet hoppers. Yes, as I recall, we consisted of so many different kinds. Me looking like a Terran ant was one of them. But it's a rare chance to see different kind of Rendloks in this vast galaxy. I wish I can talk to them but we are currently in a problem. I suggest you talk to Calventis about this. We are on the same problem. But, you have your own problems, so I'll help you anyway I can. Thank you for letting me know that the solids are of a different kind of Rendlok."

"Yes, I...you're welcome. I hope you're safe."

"Don't worry. You have more things to worry about than your old friend here. We can chat more when we are finished."

The communication then stopped. Let smiled to himself, knowing that Atho would be able to help him with Amhyr's problem.

Some minutes passed before they received an audio message. It was full of clicking sounds, but Let believed that it was all going to be fine. He could trust Atho, after all.