A consort stared for a second, "You look like us but you call yourself Nocturnals. Why?" Signe explained, "We evolved into a new species. It is true we look like you but we are different." He asked kindly to demonstrate. I asked everyone in the five systems under our jurisdiction. They all agreed to show our guests. So Bastian and Holdon came forth. Bastian's eyes turned teal and his fangs grew. Holdon's skin cracked as he slowly changed into a werewolf. He let out a howl for dramatic effect. To my surprise the delegations stared without saying a word. I raised a finger and Bastian changed back. Holdon changed as he walked out of the room. I raised a finger. Signe spoke, "What would you like to know" their questions began. First was how we evolved. How old we were. Why we left our homes. They all wanted to know why we were getting along since we looked like we were from different species.
I waved my hand and Signe explained, "We have a common ancestor. The two sons of Petrov were the firsts. They bite us and we changed into what you saw." The Empress of Dysan asked about me, "What about you Empress?" Signe spoke, "She is descendant of the third son. We traced her lineage to be sure. As for how old we are. Some of us are thousands of years old. The youngest of us are the genetically modified ones which the Synthetics sent to help us repopulate the planet. We are here because our planet was attacked by berserkers. We had no choice but to leave. You have nothing to worry about. All these years we have been peaceful and we intend to stay that way." They all agreed that we are a kind and peaceful people. We have proven time and time again as mediators. Signe asked them if they feel unsafe. A consort got up politely and replied, "I speak on behalf of my people when I say we feel safe."
The Empress of Dysan got up, "I feel safe knowing that you had the ability to cause harm and yet be so generous and gentle. It has been a few years and yet you are grateful for the opportunity to live your life. The most recent entries have been the real monsters." I lowered my head and Signe spoke, "Her Highness is truly grateful. And so are we." The one from Teal spoke, "We feel safer since you have risked life and limb to free us. You treat people better than most people we have met while we were slaves. Your external appearance will not affect how we treat you. You had every chance to enslave us. But you chose to protect us from harm while we enjoy the freedom to live our life. We will not forget this kindness and we are not afraid of you." The Oblix representative spoke,"You are humble, honest and giving. A trait that is lost. We support you and we will keep this evolution a secret."
Everyone present passed a vote and it was passed. They agreed that everyone on their planet will know about us but no one outside will know this as they might try to harm us. The teal representative asked about our royal houses. Signe explained, "There are three royal houses. The vampire, werewolf and the hybrid. Each rules the Nocturna for a hundred years. Then they step down to allow the other to reign. This is Sasha's turn to rule." The Tealean representative asked if I was different. I simply nod my head. Signe explained, "Indeed she is a mix of both so she looks different and she has different abilities. I believe it is best if we conclude this disclosure." The others wanted to know how I keep everyone in line. I was so furious. They dare call my family in such a degrading manner. I don't keep them in line. They are naturally good people and they choose to be good. Despite the horrors they face.
Signe spoke, "We chose to obey her because she calls us family. We have no desire to dethrone her. We are happy to be with a ruler who loves us unconditionally. We had rulers who believe one species was superior and the other was inferior. She wants us to put aside our differences and work together. In fact she would go out of her way to protect us on occasions. We have protested. She says she has lost family members and she refuse to watch us get in harm's way." The Kaiser applauded and the others started clapping too. As the clapping ceased Signe continued, "While most nations divide the profits amongst the wealthy. She divides the profits with every single one of us." The Tealean delegate inquired, "What if a person chooses to be greedy?" The others protested. They believe the royalty gets a decent percentage as longer as everyone else gets a portion. They believe there is no sovereign who divides the profits equally amongst the people.
Oleg smirked, "There was one member of the council who wanted the rest of us to get little to nothing. He believed only the higher ranks deserved more. She called for a vote of no confidence and he was kicked out. The absolute law she enforce dictates all profits must be divided so everyone gets the same amount. It may surprise you but she has legally made it impossible to split unevenly" The Dysan consort raised his hand asking what aid I intend to send this year to those I have decided to protect. Signe asked them what they needed so their care package can be customised accordingly. They started to cry since no one has ever spoke like that. I wanted to come down and give them a hug but I was told not to. Signe spoke kindly till they calmed down. She also made it clear we will keep a distance so they will not feel like we owe them anything. I raised a finger and one of the consorts asked how Signe can tell what I am saying. An Oblix was the who answered, "They are all mentally linked. So they can hear her all day and night." The consort sat straight, "So you speak to your people directly and vise versa? " I nod to agree.
The Sagittarians asked how long we live. Signe explained, "Once we change we don't age and we live as long as no one murders us." They asked if there is a way to tell how old we are. Signe replied, "There is no way to tell how old we are. Once we change we remain the age we changed. Our mentality and maturity remains the same as we were the day we changed. Our manners and knowledge grows as we learn to navigate this long life." The Kaiser asked, "How old was your Empress when she changed?" Signe answered, "She was sixteen. Youngest by our standards. But she is mature enough to learn our laws and adapt accordingly. She may look young but she is almost a thousand years old." The Empress of Dysan asked me to remove the mask. The council members protested. They felt it was best if I keep my identity a secret. The delegates agreed to keep my identity a secret. I mentally asked my family if I should expose my face or not.
Everyone agreed that I should keep my face hidden. So I pointed a finger and Signe explained, "She just asked her entire family if she should show her face. They all agreed she shouldn't expose her face. So with the respect she will not be removing her mask." Kaiser slowly tried to make sense of the situation, "So she connected with her family who is spread across five systems which is light years apart from each other. They all voted simultaneously" Signe spoke, "She also spoke to the ones who left for peace corp. They all agreed. Only family can see her face. We don't want shapshifters walking around pretending to be her." The other nations spoke about the troubles they face with shapshifters. I reminded Signe that I am shapshifter as well. Everyone mentally restorted, 'You are a shapshifter who only change to rescue people. So it doesn't count.' I felt the Pretorian guards agree. Some of them recalled how I had snuck into facilities to set them free. She smiled, "Our Empress is one of a kind. We accept no substitutes"
They stayed for a few more days. They got to see werewolves freely roaming the streets. They got to see a world full of contradictions. We had royal families yet everyone was treated equally. We are a peaceful planet and yet we are trained soldiers. We are the perfect killers. Of all the planets in the galaxy we were voted the safest place to travel. They saw the effort we put to be good. So they asked if we were trying to reverse the evolution. Everyone agreed we like being evolved. We just want to live in peace. We are not looking to enslave anyone and also we are not looking to harm anyone. We just want to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. Stay out of trouble as we stay in our little corner of the galaxy. We are not conscripts. We are not mercenaries. We are not experiments either. We are not going to make people dependent on us. We want people to respect us as we live our lives.
So we offer our assistance for five years. After that they will take what issues they have to the senate. We will convince the senate to allow smaller sovereign nations to send people to speak on their behalf. The Kaiser and the senators will decide how to proceed. We promised to vote in their favour as long as they don't violate the rights of other nations. If anyone tries to enslave them we will send help. We will urge the galaxy to send aid. They asked to extend to fifty years. I shook my head as Signe spoke, "Then we will go to the senate today and ask them to assist you. The last time we help someone they developed a mentality that our purpose was to help them. And they owe us no thanks. We are not going to be reduced to second class citizens. Take our offer or go to the senate." They wanted to argue so I asked my family in Hae to talk to the senate.
The Kaiser spoke the senate using the holographic communications. The senate voted to send a committee to view the damage. After the assessment they will decide how to help them. Sogne asked the senate to hire locals to renovate their homes. They will be paid to rebuild their very own infrastructure. They will be building homes that they themselves will live in. The money will help them buy clothes, food and whatever they may need. There will be no bribery. Just give them the assistance so they can stand on their own two feet. The senate looked at the suggestions the protectorates insisted on. They all agreed the suggestions were unfair. So the protection agreement was rescinded. The senate sent a committee who assessed the damage. Everyone did their part to help them. They halted the taxation of the trade routes so they can have time to recover. They will be given time to recover. After the grace period is over they will be treated like any other nation.