by Roy Anthony
"Of course." Bolt said and put a friendly smile on his face before he continued. "Since I started doing research on your planet, there has been something I wanted to ask you… Do you notice the similarities between us humans and the Sapthians on your planet?"
Dorian did not answer right away. Instead, he smiled slightly and rubbed the Sapthian skull on his desk. "There is a slight similarity, yes. But if the two species were the same, they would've been presented it to the leaders of your planet. But they found no similarities during our Criterion inspection."
"Well, even if there are any similarities, at this point, it's too late now. Your planet is already in the great Galactic Council. And even if there were similarities discovered later, your planet wouldn't be removed; because it's not easy to kick a planet out of the GC. But I guess you already knew that."
"Captain, are you suggesting something?" Dorian said, slightly angered.
Bolt's heartbeat started to speed up because he knew the leader could order him killed out of anger. Even though Bolt was panicking on the inside, he displayed a calm, poised expression on the surface. Bolt heard plenty of stories of uncivilized planets slaughtering citizens of the GC. Citizens who may have accidentally landed on their planet or were trying to discuss civil matters to them. So Bolt didn't trust the leader and was only testing Dorian and putting himself in harm's way for Quora.
"Of course not," Bolt said, "you seem like an honest and noble creature. I just felt it was my duty to let you know the inner workings of the GC. For example, the importance of upright and honest relationships between planets. And how these relationships could provide harmony within the Universe, a harmony that enriches the wealth and resources of all planets that are honest with each other. Planets that go by these rules, that the GC has laid out before us, are always protected. But if one breaks these rules and laws, even against a small planet within the GC, this planet will be met with the force of all the GC planets."
Dorian abruptly slammed his fist on his desk. "Are you accusing my planet of nefarious acts? I won't tolerate this from you! A mere gold hunter!"
"I accuse you of nothing great ruler." Bolt reassured. He still stayed calm on the outside. But his heart was again racing on the inside, as he continued to test the civility of the leader. Even though he was examining the leader with lies.
Because the truth was planets committed terrible acts throughout the galaxy all the time. And if they have the backing of the right GC members, most likely, they would not be punished for those acts. But Bolt hoped Dorian didn't know that. "I only tell you this as helpful advice for you. I am a well-traveled creature, and I have visited many planets. And I have many powerful friends within the GC. I have seen how they deal with such planets that violate even the smallest of rules within the GC. Misunderstandings are common within the Council." Bolt paused and locked eyes with Dorian to reassure the leader that there was no malice in his words.
When Bolt saw Dorian start to take long, slow sniffs of the air and started to rub the Sapthian skull again, Bolt figured it was safe to continue speaking. "I tell you this only for your personal well being. Because they won't attack the government on your planet or your citizens, they will attack you personally. First, they will discredit you and plant the doubt of your rule throughout your citizens. They will search your high ranking officials for someone that could possibly replace you. And think of it, there is already one that you are executing on treason, and there could be others. They would run a secret campaign filled with funding from some of the richest planets the Universe has ever seen. These campaigns are so sophisticated and refined that you won't even know it was going on until it was too late. I tell you this because I want to keep a good relationship between Crimson and Earth. I am like an Ambassador of Earth, and I am the cause of the financial high peek within the GC. I have a lot of friends within the GC that could be of great aid to your planet… Let's say if your planet was short of resources, any resources, through science, we could search the Universe and find a solution that fills the need of your planet. Because just like every other member in the GC, we understand you want to keep your species safe."
The jaws of Dorian bulged, and he licked one of his fangs before he forced a smile. "Captain, I appreciate your concern and the information you provided. I will be sure to apply it. And if my planet is ever in need of any resources, I will take you up on your offer of aid. But just know, there are some traditions science can't replace. Thank you for delivering our fugitive. My guards will escort you back to your ship."
With a gesture from Dorian, the Domurian officers approached Bolt to escort him out. "An honest relationship will benefit both parties tremendously. If you have any trouble, let the GC help. Remember, I have friends." Bolt said as he got up and walked out of the office.
"Captain, I assure you we will maintain a great relationship, being that we have some of the same powerful friends within the great Galactic Council. I wish you and your planet the best." Dorian said to Bolt before he was escorted out of the office by the officers.
Bolt was escorted all the way back to his spaceship, and as he walked up the ramp to his ship, he looked back to see all the Damurian officers fixated on him. It gave him chills.
Inside, Quora waited in Bolt's luxurious captain's quarters. She just stared out of the window and into the nothingness. She held a pamphlet in her hand that read, 'The Nihilist Party: Why Nothing Is Everything' in bold black letters. The body bag, that was stuffed with the corps of Aris, lay next to her.
Bolt had never seen her so vulnerable. Her eyes were red as if she were crying the entire time Bolt was with Dorian. He wanted to comfort her, tell her everything would be alright, and he would protect her. Bolt felt he could give her a better life as his personal Universal Journalist. She would not have the stress of dealing with uncivilized planets. She already had a solid fanbase who supported her work, and the adventurous missions that Bolt embarked on would only broaden her fanbase. Bolt always had visions of being with Quora. He would map out there lives together, but Aris was always in the way, even when they were separated.
Quora finally noticed Bolt was in the room, and she quickly approached him. "What happened? Did you talk to Dorian?"
"Yes."
"What did he say? What did you tell him? We need justice for Aris."
"I told him I have powerful friends within the GC, and if there was any foul play with Crimson against Earth, I would unleash every powerful friend I had in the GC on him and his planet. And he reassured me there would be no foul play." Bolt confidently said.
"What about justice for Aris. Technically they murdered a GC citizen before they were in the GC. They can't get away with this."
"Quora." Bolt said, stopping her before she went off on a rant. "He had the entire farm-factory killed. If we bring this before the GC, they would just use this as justice for Aris."
Quora sat back down, disappointed. She turned away from Bolt and said, "Nothing will come of your threats. They want to enter the GC for one reason, and that reason is us, humans. And they will get it. Aris and these Activists were trying to uncover something. I know it."
"Quora, nothing will happen to you. I will always protect you."
"I'm not the one that needs protection, Bolt. You know our politicians will sell out the impoverished and oppressed citizens of Earth to the Damurians, and who knows where it goes from there. We let our future generations down. The hell and corruption they will have to endure will be unmatched, and it could lead to the destruction of our species." Quora calmly stated.
Bolt didn't know how to respond. He knew his words, and his actions must be delicate.
"The future is not as dim as you are making it out to be." Bolt said and reached to caress Quora's face, but she pulled away.
"For you and your descendants, it won't be as dim, but for others that don't have powerful friends and aren't wealthy, they will pay the price for our cowardice."
"Cowardice!" Bolt barked. "I put my neck on the
line for you, Quora."
"I didn't mean to hurt your ego, but it's not just you Bolt, it was me too. I failed Aris. I failed all that I believed in."
Bolt angrily sat down, and even though they sat far apart, the tension in the air was thick.
"Did you interview the prisoner?" Quora asked, which brought Bolt out of his trance.
"Of course." Bolt said.
"Did she give you any information that could help our cause for Aris?"
Bolt stalled before he answered. He almost forgot the potent information the Activist gave him. Bolt's mind was always on the political side of things. He stored the information in the back of his mind, because it was easy for others to reject it, and write it off as conspiratory. She was just an upset rebel telling lies about her home planet before she was to be sentenced to death, they would say. It would never hold, and Quora would never understand that. She would try to expound on the fruitless information for Aris, without realizing that the Damurians could never do what the Activist suggested her species was planning to do. In the GC, something as obviously corrupt and uncivil couldn't take place. "The Activist gave no vital information on the Sapthians. Just a personal vendetta she had with the leader." Bolt finally said. He had to lie to protect Quora from herself, Bolt rationalized his actions to himself.
A tear rolled down Quora's cheek. Bolt yearned to protect Quora and love her. So much so that he ignored his previous failed attempt at comforting her, and he tried to do it again. He leaned forward from his chair and reached towards her to wipe her tear away, but Quora pulled away.
"Quora, why won't you let me love you." Bolt exploded. "I can give you the Universe. You won't have to put yourself in danger like this anymore. If you marry me, I will make sure you become editor of the Universal Journal within a year. You could have others do your dirty work, and you could investigate all the stories you want to investigate."
Quora cried even more. "Bolt, I sent all of the files that I collected on Crimson to the Nihilist Party members."
Bolt paused and thought about what she just said to him. He couldn't move; he was stunned by her words. "Did you use my ship's satellite to send your files?" Bolt angrily asked.
She did not answer. She just looked away.
Bolt collapsed back in his seat and looked away from Quora and stared at the body bag of Aris with an intense, but controlled anger. Even in death, Aris had her heart, and Bolt was defeated. Bolt's mind started to panic because the files came from his satellites he could possibly be in trouble with the GC as well.
His mind went into survival mode. He began to get scared about losing his upcoming missions, but he quickly thought of ways he could save himself from this situation. But if he were to shield himself from being implicated in this whistleblowing act, he knew the GC wouldn't allow him to be seen with Quora once they found out about what she had done. They would be able to track where the files came from, and they would be able to see they came from Bolt's spaceship. Bolt was best at preserving himself, but he couldn't protect Quora anymore. She was either going to be exiled or killed or both.
Any future Bolt thought they could have had together was suddenly gone. Years of obsessing over her and within seconds it was all over. It quickly melted away. Though he still wanted her, it was now impossible to be with her. Bolt stared at the body bag of Aris again and blamed him for once again ruining his life.
"Bolt, believe me when I tell you, I care for you, and I will always be there to protect you, as you were there for me. " Quora continued, and she laid a hand on Bolt's shoulder. "I will tell them you had nothing to do with my actions."
With all the anger Bolt had at this moment, he could not muster enough strength to hate Quora. "I will try my best to protect you, Quora." The words felt like a fair well to the dreams he pictured with her. It felt like his heart dropped to his stomach. A feeling he felt when he found out Quora was marrying Aris. Bolt tried to mask his pain with words and said, "What will you do now?"
Quora wiped her tears away and said, "I, I'm at the fate of the GC." Quora struggled to speak. "But I am not scared like I would have been in the past. I do not look at the world through the same eyes anymore. I've spent my entire life fighting to keep corruption out of our system, the Galactic Council, but in this mission, I finally realized…” Quora fought herself from crying even more. “The system its self is corrupt… But no matter how powerful the GC is, every great power withers away, victim to the Universe. We are all vulnerable to the obstacles this void of a Universe puts in front of us. At the end of life, it is always nothing, you’re left with nothing, you return to nothing… I don't know what I will do next, but I know I don't want to be controlled anymore. Its time for me to embrace the nothingness of life. I believe it will make the tragedy of life easier to accept. I already know they will destroy me, so right now, nothingness is my everything."
* * *