The Spider Queen

Chapter 174: Planet Xicoras

Sophie pressed the start button on the holographic window projected above her palm and listened carefully to the deep husky voice of the narrator.

[Excerpt from the written journal of Chief Ver’ena]

[Audio provided by Sir. Martin]

Our people thought that we were the center of the universe. 

In all our years of exploration and conquest…. 

None could be our match.

I can still remember the day that a group of bipedal primates visited our ancestral planet bearing gifts and offers of friendship.

They called themselves humans, but I paid them no mind.

The war-like nature of our people caused my fellow chieftains to treat these humans with mockery and scorn.

We stood tall with thick, muscular bodies and stone-like flesh plates that grew on our bodies while these humans were soft and fragile.

Any race that were so hopelessly naive, sweet, and friendly would not last long in this cruel universe.

These humans claimed that they were scouts sent ahead by their government to negotiate a peace treaty.

That very night, a royal assembly was called, and our king invited us into his conference room to discuss the matter.

The more aggressive chieftains among the crowd pushed the idea to send a message to the government of the humans by executing these scouts.

I remained silent as I did not have an opinion on the matter.

The motion passed and the humans were sent to the Colosseum to take part in death matches.

No one expected these weaklings to survive that pit of hell.

And yet…. some did.

The memory of one particular match stood out to me, a team of five humans were pitted against a genetically altered Matokan beast.

Three of the humans died under the beast’s fangs but the last man grabbed his female companion and shoved her into its gawping maw.

While the beast was distracted, he jumped on its back and plunged a dagger straight into its heart.

What I saw then deeply shocked me to the core. 

Without hesitation or remorse that human had sacrificed his fellow companion in order to live.

I write these recollections to serve as a warning.

For I came to realise the terrible truth about these humans.

They are a kind and friendly people but only if they are provided with food, warmth, shelter, and rest. 

But should you remove these comforts and place them in dangerous situations where their lives are at risk over a long period of time….

And I have yet to meet any other race in the universe who can turn more brutal and violent.

I can feel the foundations of my house slowly start to tremble as the warships of these humans have filled the sky.

I fear that nothing, but death and destruction awaits my people for we have provoked an enemy we cannot afford to offend.

[Special note: These writings are the last remnants of the Sioxue civilisation who were exterminated by the Federation government for acts of aggression against diplomats] 

[More information about the Sioxue people can be found on the virtual Net]

Sophie paused the rest of the video and leaned back on her chair with a quiet look of contemplation.

She had been given an assignment to write an essay on one of the Federation’s many conquests for her history course, so the quiet days spent travelling to the nearest outpost seemed like a good time to start.

Yep even in a cultivation university…. one still had to submit essays and write exams.

The former slave girls had been let out of the storage bay and were now free to roam all areas of the starship except for the command center and some important rooms.

Sophie and Cleo had clearly explained that they meant no harm, but it appeared that only some of the girls had believed the pair.

Not that Sophie blamed them.

It would be quite naive to think that people embroiled in the darkness of the slave trade could instantly trust two noble saviours who apparently wanted no repayment for their good deed.

Silva in particular seemed to be more wary than then others but Sophie figured that it was probably because she acted as the leader.

Sophie pulled up the ship’s navigator screen and continued to scan for any nearby vessels.

The escape from planet Calypso had just gone too smoothly for her liking.

Why didn’t that young master send men to capture them after Sophie killed his men to leave a message.

Sophie was unaware that Kohli was currently preoccupied with slowly cumulating qi energy and planning to eventually overthrow Edward as the leader of the planet.

But that is a tale for another time…. 

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(Three Days Later….)

(Planet Xicoras)

Xicoras was a small planet in the Hydra star system that served as a major trading hub between the nearby colonies.

It’s natural barren surface had been long terraformed into a mechanical paradise with towering skyscrapers and hovercars zipping through the air.

Large corporations were heavily invested in the planet’s development as there were little to no local tax laws.

Most of the population were Mendolesa warriors but human merchants and civilians could be seen strolling around with their goods.

“Okay let’s all stick together,” Sophie reminded the former slave girls as the group walked through the crowded streets.

Sophie’s tall height and intimidating blade-like appendages easily opened up a space as people tried to move out of her path.

Not all of the girls they had rescued would be returning to their previous homes, but Sophie still wanted them to file a report at the local police station.

The maintenance of law and order varied from planet to planet within the Federation with some nobles utilising private armies while others allowed the government to send in troops.

Truthfully, Sophie knew that the report was unlikely to go anywhere as it would be impossible for the Federation government not to be aware of the slave trade taking place on planet Calypso.

Sophie felt nothing but disgust and hatred towards any nobles who bought slaves. 

Make no mistake, it was not humans who were entirely to blame for turning a blind eye to this matter.

Planet Calypso was located in the Hydra Star System which was directly within the territory of the Mendolesa race. 

The lack of action on their part meant that they were either participators or enablers and Sophie could not decide which was worse.

Rokan had always told her that the noble class with their power and privilege had the obligation to look after those they ruled.

Cleo sensed her girlfriend’s bad mood and gently squeezed Sophie’s hand with a loving smile on her face.

Sophie smiled shyly back and opened up a hologram window to make sure that they were heading towards the location of the nearest police station.

“Can you I introduce you pretty ladies to a fine gentleman like myself?” a greasy middle-aged man approached some girls at the back of the group.

“I can tell by your great bodies that you pretty little things must have done some extensive surgeries!”

“How about a taste of this cock?”

The man swayed and unsteadily moved around as it was clear from his glazed expression that he was currently tripping on some kind of drug. 

Sophie frowned as she observed his gaze rest on the chests and thighs of the girls with a barely contained expression of lust.

“No thank you,” Sophie approached him and politely refused on the behalf of the girls.

“I wasn’t talking to you…. filthy mongrel,” the man’s voice changed quite drastically as he saw the hybrid girl approaching.

Those wretched hybrids were bad for business and the recent government policies of equality and tolerance were not appreciated by those who saw them as lesser.

“What did you call me?” Sophie growled as her iris slowly shifted from a golden hue to a crimson red.

Snap!

She could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline and bloodlust that was screaming at her to hurt this piece of shit.

Sophie grabbed the man by his collar violently and flung him on to the ground with great force. 

The man groaned as he landed with a dull thud and barely managed to open his eyes when the iron grip of Sophie’s fingers started to squeeze his neck.

“I… I’m…. sorry,” the man gasped with fear as his vision began to blur and darken.

“Sophie that’s enough!” Sophie heard the loud cry from Cleo and slowly loosened her grip.

The man managed to break free from her hold and immediately dashed away while trembling with fear.

Sophie clenched her head in pain and slowly took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. 

The former slave girls were looking at her with expressions that ranged from fear to silent approval.

“Nice work,” Silva grinned as she gave Sophie a pat on the back.

Another girl by the name of Violet bravely stepped forward and said, “People like that usually can’t be reasoned with using words alone.”

Sophie could still feel the aftereffects of her hunting mode, so she just nodded silently and returned to the front of the group.

Cleo established a mental link and the two girls silently communicated while Sophie’s eyes gradually reverted to their golden hue.

[Cleo: Are you feeling alright?]

[Sophie: Yeah, I think that it was just a momentary rush of power]

[Cleo: Oh? Why was this time different?]

Sophie could not explain but she just had a vague feeling that the man was not a worthy enough prey to channel the powers of the Great Weaver.