"Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man."
― Arthur Schopenhauer, The Basis of Morality
"I don't want to talk about it, especially with you…" Ven rolled his eyes at the confused Devil. If Lucifer hadn't tested him beyond his limits, the Titan would still be stuck in a coin. "Just head into my realm and the others can fill you in."
Ven inserted a key into the air and motioned Lucifer into the opened door. He had more Earths to save and the physical activity seemed to benefit his evolution. The energy from his realm thundered into his cells like a barrage of invigorating rain.
"Alright, but I plan on investigating that star of yours," The Devil shrugged as he stepped into the gateway. "Don't blame me if it falls into my hands…"
"Good luck with that," Ven snorted as he shoved the Devil through and slammed the portal shut. Local space was about to fragment and he wanted to stay ahead of the Titan's feast. "Maybe the system will string him up as a warning for Dante…"
The lesser Devil had been sniffing about the system core. Never too close, but with enough frequency that Ven wanted to cry for the man. His system wouldn't take any action within his inner world lying down, especially when it came to her core functions. Not even Ven could visit there uninvited.
"I wonder if the Titan will stop at some point…" If not, Ven would have to accept the loss of some of the Earths in this multiverse. He wasn't a machine. Eventually he would need to take a break and some worlds would fall. "I need to step up my speed, if I can get enough of a lead I can take a quick rest."
Ven burrowed into the layers of reality and pushed for the next universe in line. He needed to brainstorm a better method, or this would take forever…
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"How many are there now…" Mara accepted a report from Speaker and Lyra. The Earth's kept up a steady flow, a slow increase in speed that frayed at her nerves. "Surely he'll stop soon?"
"The last count is three hundred and eighty seven thousand," Speaker bobbed his head, antenna raised. "The current number is testing our ability to respond."
"We've got the manpower, but we don't have enough ships to visit all the planets at once," Lyra tapped her knuckles on the table. "Fen thinks we should just let them wait their turn, but…"
"I said that they had no choice but to wait…" Fen grumbled. "We can't do the impossible, little pup."
"We can try," Lyra shook her head and faced Mara. "Give me permission to create more drones!"
"Ven forbid…"
"Ven said we couldn't make slaves," Lyra interjected into Mara's point. "These would just be more children for the Hive, extra hands to help with the workload."
"Fine!" Mara threw up her hands. She waved the pair from her office and gave her permission. "Just get it done and don't cry to me if Vendak comes to ruin your day…"
She slammed the door shut behind the wolf-kin/ant duo and sagged against the wooden frame. The troubles never ended, and the pile of work only grew to match. She needed a vacation…
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"The people of the United Earth Alliance resent your tone," The well built American poked his finger at Brull's chest, face tinted red around the nose. "We have every right to remain sovereign worlds, free of your tyrannical empire's control!"
"That you do," Brull sighed as he gazed around the chamber. The elected leaders over over a hundred Earths glared back at him with contempt. "But I would advise you to take my warning seriously," He waved to the ceiling, a motion to the stars beyond the transparent glass. "This universe has an owner and he won't stand by if people are suffering… eventually, he'll come for you, if you don't move to help the people of your worlds."
The American snorted, eyes rolled to the heavens. He banged a gavel and gestured at the door.
"Get out, this council is tired of your threats and insane notions of a Master behind the scenes," His heavy frame trembled as he leaned toward Brull. "Tell this 'Master' of yours, THIS America will never bow to outside powers!"
Brull shook his head and walked away. The heavy doors slammed behind him to a round of self-congratulatory cheers. A parade of fools, locked in a cycle of joint flagellation. He rose into the air and moved toward the next hot-spot of turmoil among the sea of worlds.
"Ven better have some great rewards for us when he gets back, or I'm going to kill him for dumping these morons on my plate…"
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"That should be good enough for now…" Ven dusted his palms and tasted the surrounding space. "I can't sense the Titan anymore, and I need to take a break."
He'd scooped up Earth after Earth, until he lost count. The futility of his method was obvious, but he'd already formed a plan in his mind. A new runic formation, one he would need the cooperation of his system to even activate. Ven sank into his inner realm and drifted to the central barrier of the system's star.
"I can't wake her yet, or she'll cut off my energy ration…"
Ven sighed as he settled into the flames for a nap. He might be forced to play leapfrog with the crazed Titan, until the system had finished her nap. His eyelids slipped closed, the press of sleep that he welcomed after such a long time without.
He dreamt of a young woman in a white dress. Her smile as she poked his nose, the struggle as he learned hide and seek. She was a peaceful undertone in his normally disturbed mind, a touchstone that stilled the storms of nightmare.
"A moon in the dark," Ven mumbled and rolled deeper, pressed against the system's barrier as he used it like a pillow. "The brightest star to lead the way…"