"Are you sure that was alright, Venira?"
"Yes. I think it was for the better."
Venira Black, the head of the Black family, and also Theo's mother was with her current boyfriend.
A Holo floated her way. "Looks like the high council is in order."
They were in their bedroom, on the bed, right next to each other. The walls were thick, the atmosphere was quiet; a little dark.
Fragrance- exotic.
"You don't think they suspect anything, do you?" the man said, running his hand through her hair.
Venira's current boyfriend-Elledore, was the heir of a certain intergalactic company. He was blessed with good looks and money.
"Those old goats? No, I don't think so." Venira grinned and touched the Holo: her eyes lacked emotion. There was a special feature of the Holo. It required a very stable connection and a rather pricy one at that: something Theo's cheap package could never have achieved: the mind flow. "I'll be right back."
Venira's mind traveled through the Warpnet and she found herself before eight men and four women, all the same as her. They greeted her and the meeting began.
It was a secret room. Only available to a chosen few.
"Gentlemen I'll get straight to the point. Planet Vordak has revolted." The chairmen explained. A rather aged fellow- long white beard, but bald.
Some of the men displayed shock but no one really said anything. In truth, none of them were shocked. They all knew very well about what kind of situation they were dealing with.
"As predicted. Did you summon me just for that? I believe I already made my intentions clear the last time," Venira said, a little annoyed.
"Yes, just as lady Venira says. She'd already warned us before. So how come the high council never took action?" one of the men argued.
The council was divided into two sects. The Venira sect, and the Kirex sect. Kirex personally supported the chairman, while almost everyone else supported Venira behind the scenes.
"Silence! You do not get to speak to the chairmen that way!" another man burst into rage- Kirex.
Whispers floated around. The sudden calm atmosphere turned chaotic very soon.
"That is enough, Boran, and Lord Kirex. As lady Venira said, she did warn us and we were naïve enough to think negotiations would go through." The chairmen calmed things down. But the heat was already high.
There were thirteen people in a top-secret virtual chamber. Some were in luxurious clothes, some in space suits while others, just hiding behind a cloak.
The room was unbreachable even with modern technology. And only thirteen people across the universe had access to this place: the thirteen board members. The Regents.
Most were humans but not all.
Everyone was present here through the mind flow method. They were the rulers of multiple planets and they were also people with enough authority to determine the future of humanity.
"I vote for a thermonuclear strike. Let us make an example of Vordak," one of the women said.
"Unfortunately that won't do. Not only will we lose valuable resources, that planet would also be uninhabitable for hundreds of years," Venira explained.
Nuclear warfare was banned three hundred years ago after the near extinction of the human race. The fight with A.I. took humanity's everything.
"I agree with lady Venira." Boran made his dedication clear. His devotion to Venira was almost like mortals worshipping the gods.
Kirex raised an eyebrow but didn't complain. He was a rather fair man with a wrinkly, scarred face. Tall and muscular. But those features were hidden behind his thick black cloak.
"I propose we cut the negotiations altogether and give them gifts instead. Pollute them from the inside. And when they crave more of our culture, then we extort." Venira grinned and a lot of the members nodded with her. "Granted it will take a lot of time and patience but 'we have time'."
With modern technology, humans could live up to three to four hundred years easily. So time wasn't an issue- at least not to the chosen few.
Though certain things were banned for the humans, such as drugs, mindless videogames, abusive toys, they weren't banned to be used by other races. Perhaps humanity really had fallen.
Or was it there to even begin with?
"Brilliant as always. Anyone opposed raise your hand," the chairman said, stroking his beard.
Only two hands were raised. One belonged to Kirex and another to a woman who was the youngest among them. The woman in particular was an explorer by nature. She'd seen too much of space and knew why polluting other races for political and personal gain, was just not fair.
But it wasn't enough.
The decision was made. "Since this was my idea, gentlemen, I expect better rewards." Venira not only seized the moment, she also seized the treasures as well.
"Of course, my lady." The chairmen himself, bowed a bit to show courtesy.
"I'll leave the boring calculations to you then." Having taken full control of the room, Venira had no more reason to stay. "Now then, I am awfully busy. So if you'll excuse me, gentlemen-"
"Actually, that's not all. I would like to discuss some things regarding the Ainmester," Kirex started.
Everyone became quiet.
Venira's eyebrows knitted together. And her grin disappeared; serious. She didn't like where this was going. "What about it?"
"The Ainmester is going on a very essential mission to secure our ore and gemstone needs. It is also an opportunity to research on the lower class races. Why did you send your son on such an important mission? I can hardly believe he is capable enough."
Whispers ran through the room. They weren't really convinced about Theo being aboard the ship.
"I disagree. I sent him because he isn't capable. I sent him because he could be trusted." Venira was one of the smartest women in the room. It was also why she owned a quarter of the planets in the entire Milky Way behind the scenes.
"You would trust that brat on such an important mission? You've really gotten old vixen." Kirex displayed a satisfactory grin. His face grew dark as the creases became more and more apparent.
Many who were near grimaced at the very thought.
"Not as old as you turtle face." Venira grinned herself. 'I look forward to the day, I crush your empire with my own two hands.' But she didn't let even the slightest hint of hostility show.
Kirex gave an exasperated sigh but didn't say anything. He was a fairly built man. Although his face didn't look like a turtle, he did look macho. He had a lot of scars on his face. He'd seen his fair share of trouble.
But he knew, messing with this woman wasn't worth it.
"I will also like to add I sent reinforcements just in case. So rest assured gentlemen. That treasure trove of gems will soon be ours." Venira clenched her fist and grinned. "And so will Planet Vordak."
Smiles appeared on almost all the members' faces.
The meeting ended.
***
"How'd it go?"
Venira opened her eyes. She was on the lap of her boyfriend. "Perfect. Those goons don't suspect anything. Now we begin phase two." She tilted her head.
"What if Theodore fails?" Her boyfriend touched her cheeks, trailing down to her neck then to the back of her nape.
Heat.
He was feeling it and he wanted her to feel the same heat.
"He will most likely fail. But that's why I sent him. I also made arrangements for that. That should at least make sure he'll reach there alive. And once he learns the whole truth he will crack and that's when the real mission begins."
"You are one evil woman." Elledore lowered his head to steal Venira's lips.
"No. I'm just cautious." Venira fired back and grabbed the man's neck tight.