Veeksiar tutted as he weaved through the lines of soldiers, making his way to the grand office of the High General. He had been working alongside Vaxavius and Orthon, two high ranking Generals, for the last few weeks, creating a very large, very comprehensive plan on how to make non-Rethan races like the Rethavok more. As far as Veeksiar was concerned, this plan was basically perfect. After all, their High General, their ruler, was a literal deity, capable of fulfilling many of the items in this plan.
But really, the plan was more of a distraction. Something to convince the High General that there were easier and more peaceful ways of subduing the masses.
Either way, the plan and everything about it was laid out and ready to be hand-delivered to the High General. Veeksiar prided himself in using many existing systems, many of which had actually already been instated for Rethavok by previous High Generals. Most notably, High General Elkay Theanon (may the Light bless his memory) had laid out most of the foundations in his time, but there were plenty of proposals from the disgraced former High General Photeianos Photeianou, as well as a couple of plans from the once-again Vice General Rethais Rethianos.
It had been a huge amount of work. But as Veeksiar knocked on the door to the High General’s Office and let himself in, absent-mindedly closing the door behind him, he immediately wished he’d not bothered.
“High General, we have finished our final report, titled “How to completely satisfy and subdue all other races”, where do you…”
Veeksiar trailed off, staring in disbelief at the contraption in front of him.
“What are you doing in here, Veeksiar?”
“I, uh… brought you the… report…” Veeksiar stuttered, trying to decipher the scene. The High General was not in his normal, Rethan-shaped form. He… it… was vast and endless. Dark yet light at the same time. A myriad of golden hands worked, toiled and tinkered with the contraption. Whatever this strange device was, it did not seem to actually fit in the room, yet was still somehow contained within the office’s walls.
“You should not have come in here.”
“I… I did not know…”
A large, black thing appeared both in front and behind Veeksiar. Part of the Rethan-like shape of The Void Lord Kenon formed in front of him. Slimy, ghost-like claws held the door shut behind him.
“What is all of this?”
Kenon growled, lowering himself down to Veeksiar’s level. Veeksiar was not a small Rethan by any means, but he felt tiny compared to the Void Lord. Behind them, the golden hands continued to tinker with the machine.
“You ask too many questions. Normally, I would silence such a curious mind via amnesia or perhaps death, but I am feeling charitable.”
Veeksiar squirmed as the Void Lord inched closer. Were its… his… tendrils… wrapping around him?
“I will not tell any vok what I saw in here… I just… came here to give you this report… I swear…”
“You swear on what? Your life?” Kenon snarled, snatching the hefty folder from Veeksiar’s shaking hands. “Like most Rethavok, you do not truly fear death, and would happily die to preserve your values… Especially since you have now seen my contraption. No, I want you to swear on the life of your Legion…”
“What… do you mean?” Veeksiar shuddered, his eyes trying to focus anywhere but on the Void Lord, inadvertently scanning the machine. As he did so, he managed to catch some of the words written about it. Something about… reality bending? “I already told you, I will not tell anyone. I do not… care to know… what you are doing…”
Kenon laughed abruptly, then pinned Veeksiar to the door. “You are putting the pieces together as we speak. So I will make this simple. If you utter a single vowel about what you saw in here today, I will capture your entire Legion and yourself. I will then make you kill each and every single member of your Legion, one at a time. Do you understand?”
Veeksiar gasped for air as dark claws gripped his throat.
“Do you understand?”
It took all of Veeksiar’s effort to mutter one single word. “Yes.”
Immediately, everything in the room vanished, leaving a rather normal, albeit rather golden office, as well as the High General standing there, holding Veeksiar’s report, almost as if nothing happened.
“Get out.”
Veeksiar nodded and left the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Waiting outside was General Orthon, looking rather worried.
“Are you well, Veeksiar? You look like you walked into a morgue.”
“Uh…” Veeksiar stuttered, trying to regain his composure. “I… I am fine. Just caught the High General at a bad time… I… I have work to do.”
“Are you sure you are well?” Orthon asked as Veeksiar tried to slip away.
“Yes, yes… just…. busy… I will speak to you later” Veeksiar lied as he sped off, desperately looking for somewhere private to regain his composure.