Vahlok was enjoying himself.
Normally, heading off to isolated colonies was tiring and stupid. He’d do some magic tricks, he’d perform some ‘miracles’, he’d explain everything, and if he was lucky, the barbaric, undeveloped tribes and races he’d wasted all that time on MIGHT convert and start following Overlord Stasis. Might.
Today though, Vahlok was at an incredibly distant Vohra nest.
Vohra nests rarely needed convincing. Most of the time, they’d already heard of Overlord Stasis via messengers from other Vohra nests, or they were connected to the Olvohra System, an intergalactic communication network that the Highest Queens used to keep in touch with each other and coordinate attacks. This nest though, it was so isolated that they didn’t even know what the Olvohra System was.
In fact, they were so old that they hadn’t suffered the 90/10 Split that all other Vohra suffered. The 90/10 Split, or “TOO MANY VARGA” as it was known to most Vayra, was an evolutionary incident that left the Vohra with a gender imbalance. About 87% of all Vohra who gendered would become male, causing population problems and imbalances in nests. A population problem that caused Varga to be turned into monsters and essentially thrown away. A fate Vahlok only just avoided.
All this happened about a billion years ago.
But apparently, this nest had the opposite happen. They had a 10/90 split. Too many Vayra and not enough Varga. And most of their Varga were weak. Small, skinny things, overworked and tired. Vahlok had spent many hours showing off to everyone. He’d even managed to get laid. A lot.
Not that it had been satisfying. These Vohra were old Vohra. Their bodies weren’t the same. After a billion years, there was no way Vahlok would have been compatible with them. Vahlok hadn’t really… felt anything.
Still, it was nice being almost worshipped. It made a pleasant change.
Apart from that feeling in the back of his mind. That he was being watched. Not by Stasis. Vahlok knew that his Master always kept an eye on him. No, it was a feeling of dread. That Veth had been watching him. Vahlok wasn’t certain if the Veth was really there. But he’d caught glimpses. Maybe that was why he couldn’t perform. Or maybe it was because the Vayra in that nest were absolutely huge. The Vayra enjoyed it, but that wasn’t the point.
Not that it mattered. The Veth hadn’t attacked him. Maybe it was waiting until he was out of the nest. That was why Vahlok was trying to waste time, spend as much time there as possible. Well, it wasn’t the only reason, he was genuinely enjoying himself, the drinks, the food, the company, the everyone wanting him and loving him. For a moment, it was what Vahlok imagined it was like for his old Queens back at home.
Unfortunately, Vahlok couldn’t hang around any more. He had to leave. He had other missions to do. His Master was lenient, but not that lenient.
As Vahlok entered his ship, he waved goodbye to the happy Vohra. They were most likely going to follow Stasis’s word and become part of his flock. He had done well today. Stasis would be very pleased. Once he’d left the planet’s surface, he set his ship to autopilot. Autopilot was slower but at least he could close his eyes for a bit. Vahlok was feeling pretty tired, more tired than he expected. Maybe it was all the pleasure. He certainly wasn’t used to others liking him.
Maybe he’d sleep for a while. That would be good. But as Vahlok climbed into bed, he noticed that the bathroom light wasn’t on. That light was always on, no matter what. Mostly so Vahlok could quickly glance and see if the ship’s power was still on. He never, ever turned it off.
Something else was on Vahlok’s ship. Or at least, it had been. Whether it was still there or not, Vahlok didn’t want to find out. He rushed out of his sleeping quarters, locking the door behind him. He then hurried to the main room and took the ship off autopilot.
Maybe he wasn’t tired after all…