“A word please, Talok.”
Talok looked up from his duties. He was in charge of almost all the security systems inside the nest and was rarely ever disturbed. In fact, he never even got visitors. Sure, he had automated everything years ago so that he didn’t need to actually do much, but that wasn’t the point. Talok liked being alone.
After a quick sip of his honey-water drink, Talok looked up to see who was talking to him.
“Oh. Prince Levik. How did you get down here? I’m pretty sure I made my bunker both Vahrga-proof and Vahyra-proof.”
Levik sighed. “That is not important. I need to talk to you.”
“Mhm?” Talok was curious. “About what? Also you kinda need to tell me how you got in here. Because that’s a massive security risk for me.”
Another sigh. This nest was unique among Vohran nests. Vahrga, adult males, were not just allowed to wander around as they pleased, but were uniquely intelligent as well. Levik though was… something else, as far as the rest of the nest was concerned.
“Okay, fine…” Levik made himself somewhat more comfortable. “A long time ago, I used to live elsewhere. I was the second son of the Lord of the Kronospasts. But during my rebellious teenage years, I was convinced by the Panelix to run away. After some time, I found this nest and settled down here…”
“You’re not a Vohra?”
“No.”
“Yet you…”
“I gave up a lot in the time I spent learning how to integrate into a Vohran nest. The important part was that the Panelix gave me my new life for free, hiding me from both the Thantophor and, more importantly, the Whenvern and the Allbirther.”
“And?”
“I’ve lived here in peace for all these years. She allowed that. Now she wants something from me.”
Talok looked confused, but decided to just let Levik talk. “What does she want?”
“She wants me to infiltrate secret labs run by the Allbirther and steal information pertaining to the Allbirther’s experiments.”
“Oh.” Talok blinked some more. “And what does that have to do with me?”
“I need you to come with me.”
“What?”
“I need your technological assistance.”
“Really?” Talok was still very confused. “I’ve never left the nest before.”
“I know. But you are by far the most intelligent Vahla I know, and your take on both circuitral technology and bio-organic technology will come in useful when it comes to the systems the Allbirther uses.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
Talok didn’t know what to say. He looked at the myriad of consoles around him, then at the monitors. Nothing interesting had happened in ages. Despite the insanities Prince Levik was spewing, Talok had always wanted to see… well, anything outside of the nest.
“Sure. I’ll come with you. I’ll help you with your madness. All my stuff is both automated and easily repaired by any idiot anyway. But there’s one condition! You gotta show me the universe! Show me all the cool things I’ve missed being inside this place.”
Levik smiled. “Deal. I know all sorts of cool places I could take you. But we have to do this for the Panelix first.”
“That’s fine by me! I’m ready for anything! When are we leaving?”
“As soon as we’ve packed our stuff. I have a ship waiting outside…”