If hitting the nail on the head were a person, his name would be Anthony Hendrick. Adam was in the middle of offering Samara a hand to stand just as the Professor asked the question that made his blood freeze.
The entire group's jaws dropped in shock, looking at those they thought were humans like themselves, before looking at Adam for an answer. But unlike the others, the Men-at-Arms didn't seem to appreciate the question; critically, they were indeed aliens, so they looked at Adam as well, their summoner who could speak for them politically.
Adam looked between the alien he had helped up and the professor, taking a good look at what an alien was, only to see something closely resembling a human with fantastical features: large eyes, unusual pupils, a small nose, a slim mouth, expressions akin to a human, gray skin, strange patterns, stylishly braided hair, and natural expressions of pain, anger, and pride.
So this is an alien, more natural than scary, Adam thought, realizing something important.
"Yes," He spoke loud and clear, "They are humans whose origin is not Earth. Perhaps alien to us, but like us in both circumstances and desperation. Only their experiences with non-human aliens were…" Adam took a second look at the alien named Samara and chose the right word, "… Severe."
"Goodness!"
Professor Hendrick was still shocked that he was right, but looking around him, the situation was far from ideal. The alien cat was now out of the bag, and this was only the second visit paid to him by the aliens.
He still had so much to learn. If the refugees were to act with hostility toward alien visitors, a great opportunity for humanity could be squandered. While the professor felt somewhat special about being the first man to encounter the Alfari, he should have realized that other types of civilized aliens would eventually appear, and, much like the Alfari, they are refugees too.
"I am Professor Anthony Hendrick; these are my students, and we look after the people here." Professor Hendrick spoke softly but made sure he was heard by the refugees, ensuring that his intentions remained clear to his people first.
"A mere egghead acting like a commander," Elena displayed disdain toward the professor who was in cahoots with the detestable aliens, which sparked a negative reaction from those around her.
"Sergeant!" On the other hand, Adam resisted the urge to run at Elena and strangle her, as she was far from diplomatic with someone as important as Professor Hendrick.
The Wartopians were indeed hard-headed and unyielding, judging by the incidents that had been happening, but their nature could still be easily compelled by Adam to suppress such xenophobic urges—something impossible if a real Wartopian were here… perhaps even Captain Creed, whom Adam had summoned.
"You are?" Professor Hendrick looked at Adam, asking for his identity.
"I had the pleasure of attending a term in your class, Professor. I am…"
"Adam!"
The voice of recognition didn't come from the professor but rather from a young man standing behind him, one of the few crowd members who were attracted to the noise.
"Oh, look! It's Tommy!" With the same level of surprise, Kave saw a familiar face up close for the first time, and couldn't contain his reaction.
"Kave?" Still surprised, Tommy took a few steps toward the group, arriving at Adam's side. The two immediately exchanged an upward handshake followed by a friendly shoulder hug.
Kave also stepped forward and greeted Tommy the same way. The three exchanged words about how surprised they were to see each other alive, and eventually Tommy introduced Adam and Kave as his sister's friends.
Tommy's appearance eased the tension that had piled up between the two groups and allowed Adam to reveal that he had run into Megan, helped her out, and then received the transmission she had sent out.
Still, they followed Kave's idea of projecting a grander image of themselves, one where Adam was not the commander, framing it so that the one behind them was the Commander of those military people, and Adam was their "middleman" for forming an alliance with other survivors.
However, the fact that those people were humans but still aliens caused quite a stir among everyone.
Adam was relying on the fact that since his group was coming to save Megan, he could still secure an alliance with another group of survivors, which would be vital for future operations. With his soldiers being seen as aliens, it would create an air of mistrust and spark controversies among the other survivors. He could only rely on the fact that they were humans too, which was a much better case than that of the other aliens who had been there before him.
Professor Hendrick and his students didn't expect too many surprises after all this time, a situation that was actually quite unsettling. While they had numbers, resources, and means to survive, none of it was enough, and with the emergence of the Alfari as potential allies, there was a glimmer of hope, though alien and unknowable. But with the emergence of alien humans, with them being militant, seemingly advanced, and willing to extend their hands to fellow humans, it all felt like too much, too quickly. They lacked information about the two parties that approached them, and they felt nervous because of it.
Finally, there were the Alfari, whose aims and means were vague and mysterious. They presented themselves as desperate refugees, but Samara's prowess was proven with her strange abilities, almost shocking the whole group upon their first arrival. The Alfari's friendliness, their ability to negotiate and exchange information, and their calm way of making everything sound mythical and ritualized added a sense of mystique to their meetings and put them in a good light. Yet, with allies like those who came with Adam, the Alfari didn't seem to have much to offer other than information, in contrast to the Wartopians, who came armed and ready to rescue.
The first to make a move in this vague-stakes game was none other than the aliens.
"I am Kahori, Envoy of the Elden. I assume you are the Herald of your... guild."
Kahori stepped forward, addressing Adam, lowering her hood in front of so many eyes, revealing the beautiful alien face.
In contrast, Adam looked at her and deliberately displayed hostility, not because he didn't trust aliens—about whom he was internally fangirling—but for the sake of his team's trust.
"Step back, alien. We don't know you; we don't trust you." Adam spoke with a serious Solarium faction role-playing, praying in his heart to never have to keep this up for much longer than needed.
Confused by the newcomers' unfounded hostility, their origin, and the potential implications of their interference with her mission, Kahori began calculating her options quickly.
To her, making contact with the aliens of this world was a mission most vital for the greater good of her people. Moreover, with a revered sage like Professor Hendrick—a figure almost worshiped in Alfari culture—this made her contact a hundred times more successful than any other alliance formed by other envoys with other aliens in the past couple of days.
"We are allies of the Sage and his people. Their safety and interests are of vital importance to me personally, as friends, and to my Elden liege." Kahori pressed on, taking a single step toward Adam, only to find Elena blocking her path.
Samara, Kahori's sister and guard, stepped forward with an angry expression, ready to have another go at Elena, but Kahori simply raised her left hand—a hand that was alienishly human, albeit slender and gray, with accessories that hung along her arm.
"Either way, I don't care," Adam said, ignoring her and turning to the Professor. "I am sorry about the scene we caused, but I am here first and foremost for Megan. As I said, we made contact with her and we're launching a rescue. Since she is one of yours, I assume you're obliged to send people along."
Listening to what Adam had to say, a complicated expression appeared on the professor's face, and his reply was brief:
"Let's continue this in the office. Raj, Adam, Sergeant, and Ms. Kahori, please join us if you still have time."
The group exchanged looks, and seeing how this situation was unfolding, the following exchange needed to happen quickly, as Megan was still out there by herself.
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