5 Trouble Arises

Rutemia was working out in the exercise room, currently beside an old friend of hers. They were both working on one man dumbells.

"So what officer did you get, Rutemia?" The female beside the Shu in question, who believed herself the unluckiest recruit of her race, asked.

"I got assigned to the fucking human!" She growled out, taking more weight than usual to try and let out some stress, "and not only does he not realize his position, he has idiotic delusions of becoming the CEO! Goddess' sake, if the Vanid found out it happened they would declare us heretical on the spot!"

She let out her anger, nearly forgetting about the events that had led her to that conclusion; a man being in such a high position would almost instantly be executed for crimes against the Goddess.

Despite her overwhelming anger, Rutemia's friend started laughing hysterically. The thought of a human trying to elevate himself, despite the fact that his race was the most enslaved, was laughable.

"Oh, you are in deep trouble if he decides to make a move for glory. He could take you out for something typical of a stupid patriarch."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Rutemia groaned out as she relaxed her hands and the dumbell fell, the robotic supports easily placing it back on the rests and ensuring there was no danger towards its user.

"He's already 'researching' how to set up a training regimen to get us class two pilot licenses."

"Wait, class two? Aren't they for advanced pilots only? The test is in two months, how will he get you trained that well in two months?!" The other girl sat up now, surprised at the sheer audacity of the boy that was almost guaranteed to be stupidity,"Are all humans this stupid?"

"That's what I said!" Rutemia let out and laid back onto the rest.

"He made it sound like it was all for us as well," She mumbled out as her energy turned into a dejected feeling, only thinking about all that had happened.

"He's just so peculiar and that's as irritating as his stupidity."

"What do you mean, peculiar? He's just a stupid human, how could he be so special?" Was the only thing the girl said. She was confused about her friend, Rutemia had gone from her normal, angry and energetic self to more subdued.

"You know how all omnivores can be intimidated by other predators, right?"

"Yeah? It's so fun to go to a group of prey and look at them; they get all defensive and huddle together. It doesn't matter if they eat meat as well, they always perform the same movements; always makes me laugh."

"He didn't."

This phrase caused the girl to look towards Rutemia with a look that would easily make one believe they were talking to someone who had lost it.

"What?"

"He walked in with the other prey I was with; oh yeah, I'm also the only predator in my group."

That brought a growl from the Shu and sympathetic gestures from all of the other species that were nearby and had picked up on that bit of information.

"He didn't show an ounce of fear during the entire thing, even when he was talking about his." she let out a shudder, "own death." 

Just thinking about being killed scared Rutemia, she couldn't let that happen.

"He stared with the confidence that could only be matched by those leaving for a great hunt. The only time he displayed fear was when I threatened to kill him."

She's right, the Shu beside Rutemia thought, he was peculiar all right, but the human was a weak fleshy boy, why would Rutemia care about all of this?

"So what? He's probably so dumb that he doesn't realize how close to death he actually is, living in his own deluded patriarchal world where he'll be torn down one day. Then he'll be just like any other omnivore in the universe, all bark no bite."

"You don't get it!" Rutemia retorted forcefully, "He stared us head-on and talked about his own death. He wasn't distracted. He acted like he wasn't afraid of death; like he could die but he'd be okay with that if we survived."

This set the other Shu aback for a moment before she tried to retort-

"What nonsense, the human is just acting above his station. Whatever you're meager translator says is false that human will become my food after I become the CEO of Steel Soul fleet," one of the Vanid officers skittered up to the Shu/ Rutemia was slightly entranced by the beauty of the Vanid's voice, though unlike her superiors, the notion of eating a sentient species didn't sit well with the Shu.

"And what will you do to me when that's all over? I will have been trained by him, after all? Are you going to execute me for being associated with the human?"

Rutemia realised at that moment that she had never gotten the name of her direct officer, nor did she bother to ask. She would likely learn about it soon.

"No, Shu. I am not here to lord your death over you, I want to punish the human for ever thinking he could be anything more than scum serving his superiors. With our kinship as matriarchal predators I will give you a chance."

Every person within earshot other than Rutemia and her friend had cleared out. It wasn't good to get in the way of a Vanid and their business, especially since if something happened to counter what the Vanid wanted to do, whoever was there would be interrogated as potential witnesses and no one wanted to be accused of ratting out the Vanid.

"Sure, what is it?" Was all Rutemia could say, despite the pleading gestures of her friend to get the hell out of there. Honestly, Rutemia wished she could leave like the rest of the aliens in their vicinity; she didn't want to get into a political battle with the Vanid, and choosing a side definitely didn't help that.

"Easy. During basic training, you will be learning hand to hand combat with him., I want you to 'accidentally' strike him near lethally; it would be best if you could cripple the boy before he could even start doing anything worthwhile."

"But that's against the rules. If I'm reported as intentionally striking him with the intent to maim I'll be court-martialed; or worse, enslaved!" Rutemia retreated to her friend; predators felt fear too, and this Vanid deserved it.

"Don't worry, I will make sure the authorities turn a blind eye to your purposeful action and call it an accident due to acts on the human's part. You will be free to work under the human with your allegiances clear; no one will punish you for your betrayal," the Vanid stated, her voice tinted with satisfaction as she saw her future servant think it over.

"I-I don't know yet. This is a big deal and I'm not ready to go through with it."

Even if people didn't, if word got around about what she did an investigation would be undertaken into her actions anyway, and she didn't believe the Vanid really could completely protect her from the higher-ups.

"I don't need an answer now. I expect my competitors will try and organize a betrayal against that boy as well, so in the spirit of fairness for my brood I will let them have their chance. The arbiter will be aware of this agreement, so you can complete it whenever you are ready."

The thing licked it's mandibles as it thought of eating the human... All Rutemia could think about after her first true interaction with a Vanid was how domineering and confident it was in its superiority, and how little she wanted to be close to it.

"Thank you for your patience Miss?"

"Call me Ma'am for now. Despite being your future mistress, I am currently just an officer."

"Yes Ma'am," Rutemia finished, not daring to say anything else as the Vanid skittered back to their own exercise section.

With the stress of the Vanid gone Rutemia's friend pulled her back over to some treadmills so they could keep exercising in peace.

"How the hell did you get caught up in all this!" She whispered harshly as Rutemia began to run.

"You know as much as I do, Cruma. I didn't think I'd be getting propositions from Vanid just to mess with my officer. How do I do this?"

"It's fine unless you get another proposition from another Vanid. I'll help you complete this one's task. We can set up a scenario where it will truly look like an accident, you just have to commit to the betrayal," Cruma gave Rutemia a seeming ultimatum, an ultimatum she couldn't refuse.

"Fine, I'll do it. I'll make sure that he regrets his decision to take me on as his charge."

The anger built as she thought about it, making it easier for the willpower to develop.

"For ruining my chances of a good job in this damn fleet!"

Cruma finally appeared happy again as she turned up the speed of her treadmill to get back into the groove of things.

"That's right. We'll get through this, and despite that human's meddling we will advance together, unfazed by the hurdles in our way."