The Last Omega in the Galaxy (Scales and Tails of Fate #1)

Chapter Twenty-One

Vil

I’d seen the decorative garments before, the skirts on their hips and adornments on their head and hair. I’d thought it pretentious, flamboyant in an Egyptian sort of way.

Seeing Noel in that low-hung skirt, bare feet strutting over smooth floors, his neck guarded by a beaded collar with metal coins woven in, did something to me. My tail reached for his as we walked, and they twined for a moment before separating in something like a hug.

He cradled our egg to his chest, the powdered blue of it so beautiful against his scales. The shell, a shade darker than his hair, glinted in a pretty sort of way, like some sort of jewel, an adornment as we exited the ship and entered the airlock we’d stationed ourselves at.

As we came out, wide eyes from a gaggle of men, representatives from the Alignment of Divinity greeted us with far too hasty of a bow.

They didn’t speak to us, but I studied their expressions. Each contained mixed notes of fear in their scent, muddled with disgust for me and my crew. So many saw my form and blue scales as something unlike the Progenitors’ red and purple scales. Though, Noel told me there was a gamete of colors more than theirs.

Noel, technically a blue, bore such muted scales and shone like a freshwater pearl in the right light. His silvery-hued scales brought me much joy to kiss and lick.

“Lifebringer,” someone whispered. A shush silenced them.

“I do apologize, but with our human eyes, we are unable to tell the authenticity of claims presented. Would you submit to a verification?” One of the pompous representatives stood and offered a small device to Noel, an invitation to prick his finger and prove his blood pure.

Noel reached free, quietly extending a single hand to prick his finger on the device’s needle and press to the sensor. It promptly errored a few times before briefly flashing 99.9999. “Pure, as you were told.”

Noel stepped back and brought his hand to the egg once more, cradling the textured surface of it.

He stared at the reading and verified it with the others.

“And if your device wasn’t flawed, you’d be reading my mate far more correctly.” Noel glanced over toward me ,and those dark eyes sucked me in, a mirror in ways to my own.

“He is Nephilim, surely you—” the man with the device started and halted when Noel raised a hand, fingers poised.

“He is who I have chosen as my mate. He is not pure, but he has the properties I desire. I favor his scales and eyes, tail and wings. His blood was a match for my own.”

A few whispers started and silenced before the main one spoke again. I assumed he was in charge. His robes, a vibrant purple, had a matching hat. And humans did enjoy their hats.

Noel drew me to his side, face as blank and soft as I’d imagined it could be. His lips parted, and he pushed up onto his taloned toes to whisper into my ear. “Space pope.”

I glanced back at the robed clergyman, immediately tensing as I braced every muscle in my face and chest not to laugh. I would not argue this one.

“But human hands made the Nephilim as bastardizations of your image,” the man, who I inadvertently referred to as Space Pope in my head, said.

“And where in your holy texts did it say that? Our blood was given to mankind so that we may spread our message, and those that thrive are the stronger ones. They were made to serve the Naleucians, to stand between mankind and ourselves.” Noel narrowed his gaze at Space Pope and gestured for them to stand.

The clergy whispered among themselves and offered vague explanations of Raziel’s warnings of Naleucian blood being used for gain.

“And you used it for gain. You profited. And what did humans do to N03? The lifebringer?” Noel’s steely eyes narrowed.

“They… Unspeakable things…” not the space pope but another whispered.

“They made me bring life. Did I not? Did my body not save so many?” Noel gestured about. “I sense pieces of my blood in all of you, mitochondrial, touched by society. I am ever-present and always with you in one way or another. Yet you reject my blood, my very children. I bring life, yes, but life you resent. Do you hate our gift so much?”

“But it was abused! They are evidence of how humans stole and—” Space Pope said, but Noel raised his hand to stop them.

“And that is not on the victims. That is on the hearts of those who misused it. Even humans pure of blood can create atrocities, and often do. Treat our servants kindly, as your Progenitors deserve nothing less than the best of care from those respected.” Noel lifted his head imperiously before giving the men a kind smile. “But I suppose none can blame you for being protective of our gifts. Maybe it is time for a new era, where our servants are to be regarded kindly.”

Noel’s words put a perspective on us, a new tone not to reject and send the hybreeds away but rather to understand they were a gift, themselves. As the blood was misused, the servants given were also rejected. “I am grateful to be adored by a Progenitor.” The words cracked in my throat. “I will serve him well.”

Noel drew me nearer and leaned into me affectionately. “And he has brought forth a new Progenitor. Is that not proof enough?”

More whispers, doubtful gazes casting my way. I didn’t so much as glare back at them as I would have long ago. I’d been regarded as a Nephilim hybreed of high percentage as a heinous mix for a long time.

“So, it was written in N02’s texts that Nirem held the omega in great esteem, a lifebringer among their kind. That it was not the union of our races but the absolute need for perfection in balance. That—” The space pope’s voice wavered as Noel interrupted.

“A perfection in balance that can only come in purity and unity. Not purity of one or the other. Naleucians need new genes as much as you. Our people spread across the galaxy and disappeared in search of new genes. We are not perfect, we seek perfection. And we gave you some of our perfected pieces, hoping to trade for some of yours. Vil is an example of some of that perfection and balance.” He stroked our egg and glanced down at the shell. “If this upsets you to hear, I’ll silence.”

Worried glances shot between them. Noel had challenged their power, had spoken against a system that benefitted them for so very long.

“But I understand you cannot undo half a millennium of teachings.” Noel stared the space pope down and smiled, showing off his little fanged teeth and gracious expression. He really was such a lovely being, blessed by the stars.

“I-it is quite jarring, as you say. I would—”

“Lose power, lose strength. You’d be held in contempt and judged. Were I to stand on a dais before you all and say the truth, you’d rebel. Humans are stubborn like that. So are Naleucians. My kind.” Noel’s words went cold as the blue in his eyes grew. “But do not mistake my missives for compliance. I have demands if you wish to continue on like buffoons in my people’s name.”

This, the space pope understood as his gaze grew shrewd and less reverent. “I see. And what are these demands?”

“I want aid in finding my brethren. I want free passage to all ports under the Alignment, exemption from trade tariffs, and to be allowed free travel to restricted areas for myself and all my registered crewmates.” Noel gestured to me and toward the ship behind us. “And I’ll be giving you the highest accolades for a low percentage hybreed aboard my ship. It was he who aided in my recovery and delivery. I believe his family is well regarded in the Alignment.”

Doc, who stood nearby, stiffened at the remark as Noel smiled. “He is the greatest servant I could have been given.”

Doc bowed his head in respect of Noel’s words and if I believed a word of what Noel said, I’d eat his collar.

“And would I—we be permitted to ask a favor?” Space Pope smiled and waved his hand about.

“I assume it’s what Roan proposed to me? You wish for me to speak on your behalf and make sure your particular sect is regarded as the ones who reestablished contact?” Noel feigned boredom.

“A-and forgiveness for what was done to you, of course.” Space Pope bowed his head reverently.

“I’ll concede to speaking on your behalf, but forgiveness will be a long way away. I will allow you to earn it once more.” Noel said nothing more, something in his posture indicating that he was finished with the conversation. “We will be here for two more days before leaving. See to it you have met my requests and I will meet with your people.”

Effectively dismissed, the men whispered to one another, nodding in agreement as they gestured toward a pallet that had been brought in earlier. Cold rolled off of it, and I raised a brow in piqued interest.

“As we are to understand, you were deprived of certain old-world luxuries since awakening. We have limited supply, you understand, but I hope this supply of old-world meat goes to good use. Chicken and beef are a luxury these days, but we’ve got hybrid populations with other species we’re able to cultivate effectively.” The way Space Pope smiled made my skin crawl, but he had Noel’s undivided attention, judging by the way he swallowed.

“Your gesture is kind and appreciated.” Noel nodded and approached the pallet as they scampered free of the airlock. He sniffed about the frozen boxes and glanced toward me with a wary expression. “Will Wallace have use of this for the crew?”

I froze. “You’d share?”

“I’d be a dick not to. The space meat is tolerable, but I cannot hoard this without animosity.” Noel smiled. “But hold back a case for me somewhere. I will be peckish for a while, rebuilding my strength.”

“I like the way you think.” I gave him a wink, and he rolled his eyes, carrying our egg back into the ship. And, just by the flick of his tail, I could tell he wanted me to follow. The song in his heart cried for me to show him affection.

Done and done.