BXBX NOVEL Chapter 48: Professor
He sighed, casting a wary glance at the looming transport ship. Figuring out how to pilot it was one challenge, but trusting Ys to handle diplomacy with the human camp? That was something else entirely. The image of her ’negotiating’ sent a shiver down his spine, but for now, it was their only choice.
Taking a deep breath, Rex steeled himself, his resolve hardening. Slowly, he began his approach toward the transport, ready to decipher the controls with Cleo’s help. He had no other option.
Meanwhile, Ys had already arrived at the human encampment. It was a desolate wasteland of smoldering ruins, the bodies of the Black Horizon soldiers scattered haphazardly across the battlefield. The buildings, once sources of life, were reduced to twisted wreckage, their crops trampled and burned.
It was clear that the Black Horizon troops hadn’t just attacked the area to conquer it; they had ravaged the area with malicious glee, destroying everything they could out of sheer cruelty. Even Ys, a warrior of the Khryssari, found the sight revolting.
She landed just outside the remains of the town hall, her wings gently fluttering as they caught the light. The moment her feet touched the ground, she was met by the unmistakable sound of rifles being raised.
Dozens of laser sights locked onto her. The only thing that stopped them from firing was her human-like appearance; if they ignored the massive, shimmering butterfly wings on her back, that’s it.
The humans trembled, their fear palpable, yet they still held their weapons steady. Ys smiled, finding their defiance amusing. Bravery was a foreign concept to her. It was a trait born from fear, something only lesser beings experienced.
The Khryssari, controlled by the will of a superior hive mind, knew nothing of fear. If the Hive commanded them to leap into boiling oil, they would do so without hesitation.
Ys let her smile widen, her voice calm and almost musical. "Fear not, children of humanity. I am not your enemy. I’ve come to help."
"How can we trust you?" one of the survivors shouted, his voice wavering.
"That’s right! There’s no way we’re trusting another alien after everything that’s happened!" Another voice chimed in, their fear morphing into anger.
The tension escalated swiftly, the humans’ hostility pressing down on Ys like a physical force. Her amusement began to wane, replaced by growing irritation. The air between them thickened, almost vibrating with the energy of her growing power.
The green butterflies, a manifestation of her aura when she prepared for battle, were already beginning to flutter to life around her.
"Wait! Don’t fight her! She’s with the angel!" A small voice suddenly pierced the tension. The little girl Rex had saved before emerged from the ruins, her arms spread wide as she stepped between Ys and the frightened humans.
"Lilly! What are you doing out there? Get back here! It’s dangerous!" One of the humans shouted, his voice trembling with fear.
But Lilly planted her feet firmly. "No, I won’t! Is this how you repay the angel who saved us?" Her words echoed across the crowd, and the humans exchanged uncertain glances, shifting uncomfortably.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "Now, now, what’s all this commotion?" The voice belonged to an older man in a doctor’s robe, with a wild shock of white curls and a pair of spectacles that looked slightly too big for his face. It was Professor Oscar.
"Professor Oscar!" Lilly cried out, running to him with open arms.
Oscar chuckled as he ruffled her golden hair. "Ah, my dear Lilly! I’m relieved to see you’re safe. Now, mind telling me what all this fuss is about?" He gave her a gentle smile, then turned his gaze toward the uneasy standoff between the humans and Ys.
With a serious nod, Lilly began recounting what had happened before Rex arrived, describing how Ys had come to help. Oscar listened intently, adjusting his glasses with a thoughtful expression.
"I see... now I understand. Gentlemen," he addressed the crowd, his tone calm but commanding, "the lady before you is the wife of the angel who just saved your lives. I suggest you all lower your weapons."
One of the younger men scoffed, still holding his rifle at the ready. "And why should we put our guns down for an alien?"
"Yeah! Just because the professor said so? What if he’s in on it?" Another man stepped forward; his eyes narrowed. "Didn’t he run off before those Black Horizon scum attacked us? For all we know, he’s a traitor!"
"That’s enough!" came a booming voice from behind. An elderly man slowly walked forward, leaning heavily on a worn wooden cane. With surprising speed, he swung it and whacked the youth square on the head, making him yell in pain and clutch his skull. "Watch your mouth, boy!" the old man grumbled. "This is Professor Oscar we’re talking about!"
The elder gave an apologetic nod to Oscar and Ys. "I’m sorry for the trouble, young lady... Professor. Why don’t you come inside? We can discuss things properly over a nice cup of coffee."
Ys tilted her head, tapping a finger on her lips with a curious expression. "Mmm… coffee? What is that?"
The elder let out a hearty laugh, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Hohoho, you’ve never had coffee? Well, you’re in for a treat, young lady. Come on, follow me!"
Inside the remains of the town hall, they were led to a long table that had clearly seen better days. Around it sat the camp’s leaders, the head of the farms, the energy shield operator, and a few others who looked weary but determined. A couple of women hurried around, setting down steaming mugs of coffee and plates piled high with cookies.
The elder settled into his chair, beaming as he gestured to the treats. "Hohoho, try the cookies, young lady. My wife baked them herself. What she lacks in youth, she makes up for in experience, let me tell you. These cookies are something special!"
Ys picked one up cautiously, examining it like it might bite her first. She took a tentative nibble, then her eyes went wide with delight. "This... this is delicious!" she exclaimed, her wings fluttering with joy.
Oscar chuckled, lifting his coffee mug in a mock toast. "Welcome to the wonders of human cuisine, Lady Ys."
The elder gave a proud nod, taking a sip of his coffee with a contented sigh. "Now, let’s get down to business. But first… another cookie, anyone? Hohoho!"
The tense atmosphere from earlier had all but evaporated, replaced by the unlikely warmth of shared laughter, steaming coffee, and the delightful crunch of cookies.
After a few moments of contented munching and sipping, the elder cleared his throat, signaling the room to settle down. His gaze moved over the group before he spoke.
"Gentlemen, I know some of you are suspicious of Professor Oscar here, thinking he ran off to save his own skin. But let me assure you, that couldn’t be further from the truth."
The crowd exchanged glances, a few murmurs of doubt floating in the air. The elder continued. "It was Oscar who warned us about the Black Horizon attack in the first place. He left early because he was supposed to hire a gang to protect us."
"A criminal gang?" Ys raised an eyebrow, her wings twisting slightly in surprise. "Why not ask for help from the nearest planetary guard post? Wouldn’t that be more... official?" Her question was laced with genuine curiosity. She had learned much from Rex, but this part of human politics puzzled her.
Oscar let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you see, that’s the problem. Most of us here... we’re runaway slaves. Asking the guards for help would be like handing ourselves over on a silver platter. They’d capture us and sell us right back into chains, no questions asked."
Ys blinked, processing this, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That’s... barbaric."
"Hiohiohio, you get used to it," the elder said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "It’s not just us humans, you know. Thousands of races have lost their place in the great race for supremacy. We just happen to be one of the more profitable ones to sell."
There was a brief pause as the group absorbed that grim reality, but the elder quickly lightened the mood. "But enough of the gloom, Professor. Tell us what happened to you! You were gone for two whole weeks, and I was starting to think you’d gotten yourself lost or worse!"
Oscar sighed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his journey were still pressing down on him. "Well, where do I start?" He adjusted his glasses and began. "The plan was simple. I was supposed to meet with a gang called the Tooths. I had an EMP weapon for trade, something that would’ve tipped the balance in our favor."
"And what happened?" One of the camp leaders leaned in, clearly caught up in the tale.
"Well....."