They have black tattoos on their red skins. Black curved horns are sprouting from their foreheads. Additionally, all of them are brawny. These characteristics made them look ferocious.
"Even if they look like humans when you set aside their horns and stuff, we don't know if they will attack us on sight. We need a proper approach. Do you see where's their chief?" I asked Sylviane.
"I don't. However, we just need to look for the biggest building in the village. They should build it with more valuable materials," Sylviane answered.
"In the center of the village, next to the plaza. There's a building looking like a temple. Is this what you are looking for?" intervened Alyn.
I looked at the temple she showed.
"Thanks Alyn. This is exactly what we are searching for. If they're actually organized as a tribal society, this construction is indeed where we can find the upper members of this village."
"Alyn, did you analyze their language, is it possible to transfer the data now?"
"I need more samples. It'll be done in one hour."
"Okay, we'll continue to observe them for the time being."
I put myself in a convenient position. From where we stayed, we could hear them talk. They speak in a loud voice. Their language comprises quickly spoken sentences with occasional grunts or shouts. It is neither pleasant nor disturbing. If I closed my eyes, I could think I'm in a pub surrounded by drunkards babbling in loud voices.
One hour later, Alyn announced the end of her analysis.
"I'm sorry for taking so much time. I need to direct the delivery operations on Moon too."
"You're doing a splendid work Alyn, keep it up! Moon's minerals are also one of our major targets," I complimented the hard-working AI.
"Can you teach us their language, please? I'm dying from my curiosity. Not understanding what they're talking about, I mean. Maybe they're throwing a party!" Chided the thrilled Sylviane.
"I fear they're not. I'm sending you the details right now."
We were suffering from dizziness after the learning phase. The loud noises coming from the villagers' mouths transformed into understandable words in a matter of minutes. I focused on a chat between two red-skinned villagers.
"Do you think they will keep their words? We are already giving them all of our food and we'll need to famish ourselves during the winter if we don't want our kids to die," said Small Red.
"They do what they want. We're only outcasts. Nobody will help us. We already gave a part of our remaining supplies to the dwarfs' warriors. Now, we are in the red. I already tell our chief it was a bad idea back then, but he insisted on doing a good deed. I don't want to lose my children or my wife because of some dwarfs," responded Big Red.
"They were run-away warriors and outcasts, just like us. We should support each other in our time of need. Our problem comes from the city next door. They are exploiting us. I only hope that they will keep their words and don't kill the hostages or take our altar's statue. If we lose the blessing of Voltrall, we cannot strengthen our people," Small Red added.
Big Red sighted. "If they take it, we'll all die next winter. We can't even kill the Red Boar who's terrorizing us. If we can't empower our warriors, we're done for."
A young woman tattooed with 4 encircled arrows in a radial pattern on her forehead approached them while they were talking.
"I know that you're dissatisfied with my father's decisions. However, we can't rebel, or they'll kill the hostages. I don't want to lose my little sister and you don't want to lose your dearest ones, too. We can't revolt because we lack powerful warriors, so all we have left is hope. We'll see what happens tonight," she interrupted.
I turned my head to Sylviane to warn her.
"Sylviane, I feel psychic powers coming from her. She's weaker than me, but you should be careful if we fight with them. She's as strong as you."
"She doesn't have nanites, but we are on the same level? Psychics have a simple life," she grumbled.
"You're not sufficiently experienced to fight against psychic powers users. Moreover, you're still adapting to the nanobots' effects. In one month, you'll be able to kill rank-one psychics."
"I'll train harder!"
"Great! You'll be even stronger. We'll build a training field to speed up your progress. Back to our business, do you know why she's the only one with this peculiar tattoo?"
"Maybe a special meaning mark. Something alongside shaman or chief? You said she had psychic powers, so I tend to the shaman one. We should try to spot her father. Maybe he has the same symbol."
"Great, we'll wait until nightfall. Tonight, we will gain our first subordinates."
"How can you be sure they will pledge allegiance to us? They're in dire straits but not that desperate to bow to the first one coming."
"We'll offer them a safe haven and we'll rescue their kidnapped people. Either they accept us, or they will die from starvation in one year. I'll just need to put on a good show. At this time, you will help me convince them."
"As you command Governor."
"Will you need fire supports from my drone, Drake? I can send you more before nightfall."
"This one is enough. Just kill the fleeing warriors if I let them run away. We can't leave witnesses alive. We'll take prisoners if necessary."
"We don't have enough food for them, Governor. Moreover, where do you want to settle them?" debated Sylviane.
I understand her perplexity, but I got an idea. We just need to convince them without using force.
At dusk, the villagers finished setting up their reception. They lighted torches from the central plaza to the town's entrance. People were standing in a row at the plaza. Children, men and women were waiting for their tormentors. The village head came out of the temple-like building followed by his daughter. He had the same tattoo as his daughter. He gave a speech to his brethren.
"I know that you're displeased by my latest decisions. Yes, we lack food. Yes, they took our families' members hostage. Even my little daughter. Yes, they killed villagers. Yes, they are exploiting us. I'm immensely saddened by our situation. However, nobody will help us. We can't defend ourselves and we don't have enough power to break our chains. I made these choices because we need to live. We need to keep living for all of those who died. If they steal our altar's statue, we'll lose Voltrall's blessing. Without it, we can't defend ourselves against their magicians. We cannot defend our village against the Red Boar, and we can't hunt for enough meat. Our hands are tied. If you want to try your luck in the mountains like the dwarfs, we'll let you leave after tonight."
Every villager had a tense expression on his face. Some were sobbing, some clenched their fists, some looked like they lost their souls. Nobody refuted the leader's words. They are going to die sooner than I presumed. Their case seems hopeless. Luckily, we came today. If we were late, we would only see ashes and remains of charred wood beams. Maybe some skeletons there and here.
"Will they really leave them alive? It's more than exploitations, they are treating them like slaves."
Their harsh treatments genuinely surprised Sylviane. When you have not encountered this kind of situation even once, you can't understand how much different members of the same specie can be heartless to one's own.
"They will not. They took their necessary resources for this winter. They will probably enslave them or kill them before winter comes."
"This is ruthless."
"Each their own way. Don't think we're that different from them."
"The Empire has never done something like this!" protested Sylviane.
"We did. However, we didn't include it in our history books. Do you really expect the rise of an empire without shedding blood? You're naïve."
"You don't have any evidence!" she cried.
"Hush, you're going to get us spotted!" I uttered.
"I have some footage of unethical acts made by the Empire's military in my database if you want to research this topic, Advisor," Alyn proposed.
"I… I'll find the truth after our mission. I can't believe it without proof."
"It's settled then. From now on, focus on the task at hand," I scolded.
While we were debating, other red-skinned people have entered the village. They were speaking with the chief.
"Village head, as I explained before, we need more workforce for our city. Hand over the children and the women, we'll take care of them, and they will take care of the menial work. They will live with the other members of your village who migrated to our city."
The one speaking was the only fat guy I had seen in the entire village. His fat cheeks bounced back and forth when he was talking. He wore a piece of red fur at his waist. On the top of his body, there was a translucent silk-like shirt. His enormous belly moved when he was waving his hands. He looks just like a useless bum. One of these nobles' kids thinking everyone must obey their whims.
Fatso was agitating his fat while speaking. "To ensure their security, I'll take your daughters as concubines. This will ensure minimal protection for your people."
All the villagers were fuming with rage after hearing his words. However, the best part of the show had yet to come. The chief's daughter slapped Fatso in the face. His skin became redder!
"How can you speak about my sister and me like some commodities? My sister is only 14! We will not marry you! You piece of shit!" she yelled.
"Sylviane, get off the tree. We need to go to the entrance as soon as possible. Our future allies might die. Position the drone at the entrance too, don't let even one visitor leave," I commanded.
As we were approaching the entrance, Fatso came out of his astonishment.
"You dare hit me? You're just a plaything. When we'll destroy your village, your status will be no higher than a sex slave. You should be pleased by being my concubine. I could just give you to my men! Vargar! Kill three men for the outrage she caused," he barked.
A big, brawny and ferocious-looking red humanoid advanced toward the villagers, his axe in hand, and a big smile on his scarred face.
"As you wish, young master!" he yelled.
The chief tried to salvage the situation, but Fatso wasn't listening. The latter was hideously grinning like a pervert.
"Please reconsider. We did nothing wrong. Your rules were respected! We offered our own people to you! What more do you want?" he reminded. He knelt in the mud. "We'll offer you our harvest, please let them live." He was crying. His daughter tried to make him stand up, to no avail.
"You don't understand something old man. The strong don't listen to the weak. You're all our properties, you dirty vagrants. You'll do as I said, or I'll kill you!" he raved. Lost in his fantasy. "Grab the women and the children, kill and burn the rest! Don't forget the temple's statue!" he yelled to his guards.
They all unsheathed their weapons. The women and children retreated behind the men. Then, the men pulled the torchlights out of the ground trying to arm themselves. The leader's daughter was piously praying while crying. She was kneeling next to him.
She begged, "Help us! Anyone! Please! We'll do everything you want if you save us. I don't want to watch my fellows die. Please!"
Vargar, who was the nearest to the villagers, swung his axe toward the man next to him. Coincidentally, it was Big Red.
Vargar laughed. "Nobody's here, you're outcasts! No savior will appear because we are not in a fairy tale," he jested.
CRACK
The sound of a laser beam touching his arm sounded. Thanks to Vargar losing his grip, Big Red dodged the strike. Vargar's wound was deep enough to see his bone. The beam burnt his injury so he didn't bleed. Nevertheless, a grilled pork scent filled the air.
Vargar yelled. "AAAAAAAH Who the fuck did this?" He was holding his wound.
They were all looking left and right, trying to understand where it came from. Both the chief and his daughter raised their heads in puzzlement. The invaders regrouped, trying to find where we were hiding.
"Sylviane, you'll cover me in case someone tries to backstab me. Otherwise, don't fire," I commanded. I was looking straight into her eyes.
"Please be safe," she whispered.
The delusional Fatso gathered his spirit. He was furious that someone interrupted his time of glory.
He bellowed, "Show yourself, you coward! Who do you think you are to mess around in our Demon's territory?"
Demons? Seriously? You don't want to call your specie something more cliché? I looked at Sylviane gripping tight her pistol, preparing herself to use it. Seeing her ready, I emerged from our hideout behind a house's wall.