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"The rebels were always there," Ella Hayshiz said through the communication device, voice carrying a weight of long-standing frustration. "Hiding among the Toxin parasites."
Aidan blinked. "They weren't parasitized?"
"No. They assimilated into the Toxin—coexisting with it, but maintaining their original bodies." Ella's tone turned bitter. "They believe the Toxin is the Anteverse's choice. That our world itself wants to purge the Precursor race. Religious fanaticism combined with ecological fatalism."
"Then the actual representatives you sent are still on their way?" Aidan asked, not particularly interested in diving deeper into Precursor internal politics.
"Yes. They should arrive shortly. If it weren't for pressing matters in the empire, I would come to Earth personally." Genuine regret colored Ella's voice.
"Well, I hope there aren't too many traitors trying to infiltrate your delegation," Aidan said dryly.
"The Anteverse will definitely establish a friendly cooperative relationship with Earth..." Ella began, then the communication cut out.
The arc-shaped screen shrank back into its egg form and flew through the air, returning to Achilles's bone crown like a trained bird.
"Alright," Aidan said, waving his hand dismissively and sitting down cross-legged on the platform. "I just took a break destroying your rebels. Let's wait for the real representatives to arrive."
Achilles visibly relaxed now that the situation had stabilized, though tension still lined his posture.
It didn't take long.
Another spacecraft emerged from the black core of the artificial star—this one noticeably smaller than the rebel vessel, suggesting fewer passengers. The red bone-crown-shaped craft decelerated smoothly, energy trails dissipating as it came to a hover directly in front of Aidan.
Blue lights flickered along both ends of the vessel. A seam appeared down its center, and the spacecraft slowly opened like a seven-spotted ladybug spreading its wings.
The first thing Aidan noticed was the bone crown—bright red, elaborate, radiating authority.
Three Precursors emerged from the ship's interior. When they spotted Achilles, something that looked like joy flickered in their compound eyes—reunion after long separation.
The lead Precursor approached Aidan directly. "Greetings, human. I am Gabriel Leith Steven, Elder of the Precursor Council." He spread his arms wide, displaying the thin membranous wings connecting arm to torso.
Aidan mirrored the gesture—opening his arms in response, showing respect for their customs without the actual embrace. The traditional Precursor greeting between civilizations.
"I'm Ryan," Aidan said, eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the name. Gabriel Leith Steven. The name triggered recognition from Achilles's memories—council member, over two thousand years old, head of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Founder and leader of the dove faction within Precursor civilization.
"Elder Steven," Achilles said, stepping forward and bowing respectfully. "I didn't expect the Supreme Leader to send you personally."
"Thank you for your service, Ares," Steven replied, reaching out to pat Achilles's bone crown gently—a gesture that seemed both paternal and mournful.
"Are you sure there's no problem this time?" Aidan asked Achilles pointedly.
"Absolutely. Elder Steven has always advocated for cooperation with humanity. The Supreme Leader must have sent him specifically with that intention." Achilles nodded seriously.
Steven looked between them, confused. "What happened? Did something occur with the rebels?"
Achilles carefully recounted the attack—the rebel spacecraft, the soldiers with lightsabers, Aidan's immediate and devastating response.
Steven's reaction was visceral. He opened his mouth and roared—a sound of pure rage that echoed across the barren landscape. Then he turned to look at Aidan, expression complicated, unreadable.
"Did you bring what I requested?" Aidan asked once the moment had passed.
"Yes. Everything you asked for." Elder Steven's bone crown seemed to shimmer, and a crystal the size of an egg emerged from within it, floating gently through the air. "Nanotechnology databases, medical technology archives, and complete documentation on Kaiju bioengineering processes."
The crystal drifted toward Aidan.
He caught it, eyes lighting up with genuine excitement. No matter how much he'd reverse-engineered from Achilles's memories, it couldn't compare to hundreds of millions of years of accumulated research—even accounting for the knowledge lost to time and crisis.
"Thank you," Aidan said, carefully pocketing the crystal.
"And what are humanity's wishes?" Elder Steven asked, seizing the diplomatic opening. "What terms do they require for cooperation?"
"They're willing to work with you," Aidan replied, smile returning. "But given your previous invasions, reparations will be necessary. Compensation for the damage caused."
He paused, then added: "I don't believe the demands will be excessive, as long as the Precursors are genuinely willing to negotiate in good faith."
Elder Steven nodded slowly. He'd been authorized to negotiate within certain parameters, but if human demands exceeded his scope of authority, he'd have no power to agree. In truth, when he'd volunteered for this mission, he'd already accepted that it might be a one-way trip. Success meant mutual survival. Failure meant death. Simple equations.
"I've sent your civilization's general information to representatives from various human nations," Aidan continued. "If they're serious about cooperation, they won't make unreasonable demands."
"I hope you're correct."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries—diplomatic niceties establishing baseline respect—before Aidan prepared to depart.
"Since you're ready to negotiate, I'll return to Earth and bring humanity's representatives here."
Elder Steven's posture stiffened slightly, steeling himself. Then he nodded heavily. "Understood."
A scarlet portal materialized behind Aidan, geometric patterns rotating in perfect synchronization. He stepped through without ceremony and vanished, the portal collapsing behind him.
The staging ground fell silent except for the distant hum of the artificial sun.
"That... was magic?" Elder Steven asked after a long moment, turning to Achilles with obvious curiosity. "What the human just demonstrated?"
"Yes. A method completely different from technology—something that seems to violate the fundamental rules of cosmic energy as we understand them." Achilles's response was distracted, mechanical. As negotiations approached, so did his execution. He'd accepted this fate for the sake of his homeworld, could face death calmly in theory. But theory and reality were different things. Now that death was actually approaching, his emotions were complicated. Fear mixed with relief, dread mixed with purpose.
"How many humans have mastered magic?" Steven pressed, not noticing Achilles's internal turmoil. These details would affect future negotiations—knowing humanity's capabilities, their strategic advantages.
"I don't know for certain. But so far, only Ryan has demonstrated these abilities." Achilles forced himself to focus on the question. "The power he calls 'magic' is... unfathomable. He could destroy the wormhole we built instantly if he chose to. And his learning capacity is remarkable—he created functional Kaiju in a matter of days, specimens that exceed Category-5 specifications."
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