"Data log." The alien instructed.
Allen sighed. He tossed a small piece of machinery towards the alien who had spoken, "Hello to you too. Here you go."
Sat a few meters away from the first alien was another member of its species. They shared the same pale grey skin. Long metallic cables extended from the sides of their heads and stretched up to the ceiling.
The metallic cables connected to dozens of screens and processing units throughout the room. Complex streams of information constantly poured into their brains. The onslaught of data would've fried the mind of a human in an instant.
The plumper member of the species gasped in horror at the data log flying towards him. He hurriedly raised his arms and caught it before it could hit the floor.
"Hmm." The larger alien made a dissaproving noise.
The alien plugged the data log into a port. The data rushed from the log into the array of machines in the room. The information was then fed to the minds of the two aliens.
"You found the right planet this time." The voice of the slimmer alien was shriller and more nasal than its companion.
Allen groaned, "Yes, I found the right planet."
The slimmer alien succintly replied, "Because it was the wrong planet you already found before."
Alex tried to disagree, "Sure. But that's not really-"
"Most of our agents don't make so many astronavigational mistakes." The slimmer alien interrupted. It spoke with undisguised condescenscion.
Allen leaned forwards. His fists were clenched at his sides, "Listen sparky. Is it still a mistake if it ends up saving the universe?"
The data-log aliens looked at one another. They turned back to Allen.
The grey-skinned aliens answered in unison, "Yes."
The sound of a door sliding open caused Allen to pause his comeback. His singular eye widened. A female alien with blue skin and pink tentacle like hair walked into the room.
The blue-skinned alien said crisply, "You're late."
Allen's posture straightened up immediately. He placed his hand across his chest in a gesture of apology, "General Telia. My apologies. I got here as soon as I could."
Allen fell in step with the general. They walked together through the halls of the coalition's headquarters.
"The viltrumites hit Aikreon while you were gone."
Allen turned sharply. The news was a huge blow to the coalition's efforts, "What? But they just joined the council-"
"It's terrified the sector. Other planets we were talking to cut all communications. We need more allies!"
For a moment, the usually unshakeable general felt the impossibility of what they were trying to do. Her voice quietened, "And they're making it very difficult."
Allen stared at the ground. Then the Unopan began to grin, "Then good thing I found us one."
General Telia's brow furrowed. She wanted to ask what Allen meant, but the orange-skinned alien was already ascending the steps to address the council.
"What news, Allen of Unopa?" Thaedus asked.
The leader of the coalition wore a long yellow robe with a large golden collar. Lines of wrinkles were etched into his brow. Thaedus appeared old, but his posture was flawless. His eyes glowed like stars.
"Did you warn the earth champion, that a viltrumite lives among his people?"
The other members of the council listened intently for Allen's reply.
"Yeah, I did. But it turns out he's a viltrumite too."
Allen turned to a series of holographic screens. The screens flickered and the display shifted to the face of a black-haired human flying through the air.
The holographic technology hummed and more screens appeared. Each screen showed a different image. In the final screen, the black-haired human had his hands squeezed tightly around the head of the viltrumite who had been sent to conquer earth.
"His name is Mark. And he's only half-viltrumite."
The members of the council exchanged glances. Their reactions ranged from sadness to outrage.
A council member with pale pink skin cursed, "Unbelivable!"
Another council member with white fur and a lion-like appearance growled softly.
Allen held up his hands. He raised his voice and tried to regain the council's attention, "I know, I know. It sounds bad. But he is not like them! He didn't even know what a viltrumite was until recently!"
The members of the council gasped. The chamber filled with worried murmurs.
Thaedus raised his hand. The murmuring stopped. The coalition's leader thought over his words carefully, "How is that even possible?"
Allen couldn't quite believe in what he was saying, but he answered honestly, "No one told him I guess. When he got his powers, all he wanted to do was help other humans! Then his father decided it was time to conquer the planet, so they got in a fight about it."
"Viltrumite against viltrumite?" Thaedus repeated. The great coalition leader sounded disbelieving. The subtle twitch in his right hand as he said the words went unnoticed.
Allen suddenly remembered that Mark wasn't the only discovery he had made on earth. The Unopan blurted out, "No!"
A dozen gazes settled on Allen. The orange-skinned alien felt the enormous weight of expectation. He'd spoken out of turn.
Allen bowed his head. He gritted his teeth, "Forgive me great Thaedus! I did not mean to address you so impolitely. Only-only it was not Mark that fought against his father."
The members of the council who had a heart, or multiple, felt their chests tighten. Thaedus gripped the edge of his gilded desk, "What do you mean Allen? You are telling us that a non-viltrumite fought against Mark's father?"
Allen straightened his shoulders. He looked up at the great Thaedeus with a burning determination, "Yes! His name is Alex. He is a warrior of earth!"
The screens on the left of the room flickered. The images changed from Mark to a figure wearing a predominantly black costume. The images displayed the figure, Alex, clashing with the viltrumite invader.
The entire room stared in silence. One of the pictures showed the viltrumite bruised and bleeding. The human warrior, Alex, floated next to the injured viltrumite. The final picture was taken months later. It showed the earth champion soaring over a human city. The black mask was gone. The warrior's face was clearly visible.
"He defeated the viltrumite! I spoke with him! He said that he wishes to join the coalition!" Allen declared excitedly.
No one replied. The news was shocking beyond measure. For decades, the coalition had searched for a warrior mighty enough to resist a viltrumite. Allen had shown promise towards this goal, but the Unopan ultimately fell short.
"Allen, answer me truthfully. Do not conceal anything. The human warrior, you truly heard him say that he wishes to join us?" Thaedus's tone was grave.
Allen nodded firmly. The Unopan replied with an unwavering conviction, "I heard him with my own ears great Thaedus! I watched him say it with my own eye! I doubted him at first too, but he showed me his strength! His hand was placed around my neck before I had the chance to react."
Thaedus' hands trembled. For decades he had devoted his entire existence to resisting the viltrum empire. The news brought by Alan offered a lifeline to the coalition's efforts.
Not only had a viltrumite abandoned their post and sired a half-human heir who was sympathetic to their cause, but a warrior had been found that could best one of viltrum's elite. The news changed everything.
Doubtful and discordant voices rose up in the great hall. The members of the coalition had watched how viltrum's soldiers brought worlds to ruin. How could they ever think to work alongside a viltrumite half-breed? The notion was unacceptable.
A tall and slender green-skinned council member declared loudly, "Thaedus, you can't trust this report!"
Thaedus raised his hand. The murmurings were slower to quieten, but the other council members did not have the courage to disobey the order for silence. The wise Thaedus had earned his position through blood and fire.
Without his crucial decision-making, viltrum would've wiped the council from the face of the universe decades ago. Thaedus had an understanding of viltrum's tactics that was unparalleled.
"Allen is right. Viltrumites never abandon their missions. Yet one has. Viltrumites follow the orders of their Regent. Yet a son defies his father. And-"
The blazing fire in Thaedus' voice demanded attention, "-and when the light seems all but lost. A star rises from the darkness."
"The earth-champion wishes to join our cause, we must welcome him! A viltrumite warrior abandons his mission! A new son of viltrum defies his people!"
Thaedus slowly sat back down in his chair, "Perhaps Viltrum's grip on the galaxy is not as steady as we imagine."
Thaedus looked down to the Unopan, "You have done well, Allen, and given us much to discuss. We will call on you again soon."
The wise leader of the coalition pressed his fist to the chest. Allen copied the gesture and bowed his head, "Thank you great Thaedus! I'm honored to serve!"
The Unopan felt the uncertain and mistrustful gazes of the council members fall on him. Allen couldn't understand how they could fail to see the truth even when it was right in front of their eyes.
General Telia followed after Allen as he turned and left the great hall. The council members' overlapping voices drifted out behind them.
Allen gestured angrily. He swept out his arm and turned to express his frustration to General Telia, "They have no idea what this means! If there are other viltrumite kids out there, maybe we can turn them against their parents too!"
General Telia didn't display an emotional outburst like Allen, but his words rang true in her heart. She frowned, "I can't understand why they are breeding with other races. I thought viltrumites believed in racial purity."
Allen sighed with relief. Finally, someone heard what he was trying to say, "See! That's a good question. Why didn't they ask stuff like that instead of shouting at me?"
The sound of footsteps made the two aliens hurriedly straighten up. The leader of the coalition stood before them. His hands were crossed behind his back. The flowing white robes did not diminish Thadeus' broad shoulders and warrior-like stature.
"Allen, before you depart, a word?" Thaedus looked to General Telia.
The blue-skinned alien hastily bowed and brought her fist against her chest. The gesture was one of respect and obedience, "Of course, wise Thaedus."
General Telia departed immediately. Thaedus started to walk. Allen forcefully suppressed his immense feelings of admiration towards the coalition leader and followed after him. The two of them were united in their refusal to submit to viltrumite rule.
"I find it convenient and somewhat alarming that Aikreon was hit so soon after joining the coalition. It's as if the viltrumites had knowledge from inside the council."
It took Allen only a moment to see the hidden meaning behind Thaedus' statement.
"You want me to discover if someone's betrayed us?"
Thaedus smiled, "Ah, Allen, you continue to prove yourself the coalition's most valuable asset."
"Thank you sir. If there's a mole, I'll find them." Allen's voice was thick with determination. Since he was born, the Unopan had displayed an iron-like will. Thaedus had every confidence that Allen would keep his word.
Thaedus squeezed Allen's shoulder. Then the coalition leader turned and departed back to the council hall. There was much that needed to be discussed.
Allen exhaled a heavy breath. Being so close to the great Thaedus felt like standing before a terrible wave that was about to crash into shore. The Unopan stretched out his arms and took to the sky. He flew over Talescria. The planet was beautiful both in its dazzling technology and rolling purple clouds.
The weight of his duty to the coalition slipped from Allen's shoulders as his feet touched down on a balcony. He sighed contently and drew open the doors to his apartment. The couch welcomed him softly.
A one-eyed feline with pink skin and a singular large eye hopped up onto the table. The creature made a noise that somewhat resembled a pur.
Allen's face lit up and he happily lifted the creature into his muscular arms, "Hey Vorg! Hey little buddy! Did you miss me?"
The feline purred as Allen scratched beneath its chin, "Yes you did. Yes you did. You did miss your daddy, didn't you?"
Allen's alertness snapped into focus. He heard a noise from the kitchen. The Unopan looked about warily. He placed the feline down on the sofa and gestured with a finger over his lips for the creature to be quiet.
The purple curtain that seperated the kitchen from the lounge was pulled aside by a large orange hand.
A figure leapt out from the shadows. Allen grunted and hastily grabbed the attacker by both arms. He kicked off the ground and slammed the assailant into the wall.
"Huh?" Allen exclaimed.
"Did you miss me?"
Allen blinked. Then he started to smile, "Oh, I missed you."
"Yeah? How much?" A pair of nimble blue legs wrapped around the Unopan's waist. Telia pulled Allen's body close against hers. Allen made no effort to resist.
"The most. Or like ten times that amount. Maybe more even." Allen said through a wide grin.
Telia smiled. She wrapped her arms around Allen's shoulders, "Oh yeah, let's see if that's true."
The general and her soldier spent the rest of the evening enjoying each other's company.