was the first time we were getting some candid thoughts out of Amal, who’d stayed away from sharing her personal opinions, having chosen to stick to the facts and the figures.
I wanted to hear what she had to say, knowing that Nethissis was probably already roaming through the palace in snake form, and that Tristan and Esme were hours away from popping invisibility pellets and checking out the hidden parts for themselves. Naturally, Amal’s impression was equally important. Even without Amane by her side, she was a brilliant and logical creature, sometimes trumping our more emotional reactions.
“They’re hiding things from us,” Amal said. “Not because they fear us. I think it’s because they just don’t want us butting in. Acheron made it pretty clear last night. He didn’t say those words without a reason. He’s worried we’ll stick our noses where they don’t belong.”
“What kind of things do you think they’re hiding?” I asked, genuinely intrigued by her assessment.
“Things they’re probably ashamed of. Their deflections and rules don’t betray a fearful nation, but rather one that has bent the rules of ethics, more than once,” Amal replied.
Derek crossed his arms, leaning back into his chair. “Do you think we’re dealing with another Neraka scenario, in any way?”
Amal shook her head. “No. The Rimians and the Naloreans are willing. They’ve been indoctrinated to comply, and they will react poorly to change, if you propose it. Mind-bending was literally mind control, and the Imen had no choice, no defense against a Mara’s influence. This is where Neraka and Visio stand drastically apart. The Rimians and the Naloreans have free will, no one is mind-bending them. They’ve been raised into a system where the Aeternae rule, and they get paid well for giving their blood to them. Maybe someday they will rebel against the system. But as long as the Aeternae consume their blood, they will be too powerful to stop.”
“Do you think we should intervene, nonetheless? Bring over the whole of GASP?” Derek asked. We’d already talked about this, and we’d agreed not to even consider such an option. I figured Derek was trying to get into Amal’s mind, more than anything. Invading Visio had never been on the table.
Amal sighed. “No. It’s not our world. We can’t go around policing the universe as we see fit. If the Rimians or the Naloreans ask for our help, maybe we can discuss it with the rest of GASP. Other than that, no.”
“I see. Thank you, Amal. I appreciate your input. I’m glad we brought you with us on this journey,” he said, smiling at her.
“I hope I don’t let you down,” Amal replied.
“About the enzymes… Amal, do you think we could use them back home, for various cures?” I interjected, now standing next to her and the microscope, where she’d placed a new sample from Derek.
“I think so, yes. If we’re smart about this and help them cure the Black Fever, our chances of establishing a blood trade with Visio will grow significantly,” she said. “Of course, we wouldn’t need more than a few gallons every month to synthesize cures, especially if the witches help us. But we could do a lot of good with the enzymes I’ve come upon so far. We could easily upgrade our healing potions, too. There is a lot of untapped potential here, well beyond the day-walking protein.”
There it was. The key conclusion I’d been floating in my own mind about all this. As uncomfortable as their social and political system made me feel, I couldn’t deny its benefits. Most importantly, I couldn’t ignore the fact that our progress was directly dependent on our ability to “play nice” with the Aeternae and to respect their wishes.
It was quickly becoming obvious that their blood had many wonders to offer, testing our ability to compromise and to set our GASP values aside in order to reap the kinds of benefits that could change Earth and the whole federation forever. At the same time, I couldn’t stop wondering… what was it that they were hiding from us?
Tristan
After visiting the Black Fever patients, Valaine and I slowly made our way back to the more populated areas of the palace. The evening had set in, and all the candles and oil lamps had been lit, their flames flickering across the elegant tapestries and marble panel walls.
Everything was dressed in a soft yellow hue, making me feel like I’d walked into an ethereal dream, amber glimmers warming my eyes. I couldn’t get my mind