Primal fear, cold and absolute, drove me to my feet before I could think of resisting, before I could remind myself that I was old, tired, and had no business standing before a creature like this.
My legs trembled, but I stood. I stood because I had no choice.
Because kneeling was not acceptable at the time.
"First," it said, still smiling and radiating that terrible, casual aura, "I am a 'he,' not an 'it.' You should keep that in mind. I am not a thing or a monster." The smile softened into something reassuring and kinder.
"And rest easy... I do not plan on killing them. They are not my enemies. We are only... bonding. The language they understand most clearly is violence, so that is the language we are speaking. Nothing more, and nothing personal."
It... He took a single step closer, but the pressure of his presence did not lessen.
