She beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don’t worry, darling. I’ll take care of everything! Just leave it to me!" With a graceful leap, her wings unfurled, catching the light as she soared into the sky. Her silhouette streaked across the horizon like a green arrow, cutting through the clouds with ease.

    Rex watched her disappear into the distance, a knot of unease tightening in his chest. "Will this really be alright?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. "It’s Ys we’re talking about... anything could happen."

    He sighed, casting a wary glance at the looming transport ship. Figuring out how to pilot it was one challenge, but trusting Ys to handle diplomacy with the human camp? That was something else entirely. The image of her ’negotiating’ sent a shiver down his spine, but for now, it was their only choice.

    Taking a deep breath, Rex steeled himself, his resolve hardening. Slowly, he began his approach toward the transport, ready to decipher the controls with Cleo’s help. He had no other option.

    Meanwhile, Ys had already arrived at the human encampment. It was a desolate wasteland of smoldering ruins, the bodies of the Black Horizon soldiers scattered haphazardly across the battlefield. The buildings, once sources of life, were reduced to twisted wreckage, their crops trampled and burned.

    It was clear that the Black Horizon troops hadn’t just attacked the area to conquer it; they had ravaged the area with malicious glee, destroying everything they could out of sheer cruelty. Even Ys, a warrior of the Khryssari, found the sight revolting.

    She landed just outside the remains of the town hall, her wings gently fluttering as they caught the light. The moment her feet touched the ground, she was met by the unmistakable sound of rifles being raised.

    Dozens of laser sights locked onto her. The only thing that stopped them from firing was her human-like appearance; if they ignored the massive, shimmering butterfly wings on her back, that’s it.

    The humans trembled, their fear palpable, yet they still held their weapons steady. Ys smiled, finding their defiance amusing. Bravery was a foreign concept to her. It was a trait born from fear, something only lesser beings experienced.

    The Khryssari, controlled by the will of a superior hive mind, knew nothing of fear. If the Hive commanded them to leap into boiling oil, they would do so without hesitation.

    Ys let her smile widen, her voice calm and almost musical. "Fear not, children of humanity. I am not your enemy. I’ve come to help."

    "How can we trust you?" one of the survivors shouted, his voice wavering.

    "That’s right! There’s no way we’re trusting another alien after everything that’s happened!" Another voice chimed in, their fear morphing into anger.

    The tension escalated swiftly, the humans’ hostility pressing down on Ys like a physical force. Her amusement began to wane, replaced by growing irritation. The air between them thickened, almost vibrating with the energy of her growing power.

    The green butterflies, a manifestation of her aura when she prepared for battle, were already beginning to flutter to life around her.

    Ys picked one up cautiously, examining it like it might bite her first. She took a tentative nibble, then her eyes went wide with delight. "This... this is delicious!" she exclaimed, her wings fluttering with joy.

    Oscar chuckled, lifting his coffee mug in a mock toast. "Welcome to the wonders of human cuisine, Lady Ys."

    The elder gave a proud nod, taking a sip of his coffee with a contented sigh. "Now, let’s get down to business. But first... another cookie, anyone? Hohoho!"

    The tense atmosphere from earlier had all but evaporated, replaced by the unlikely warmth of shared laughter, steaming coffee, and the delightful crunch of cookies.

    After a few moments of contented munching and sipping, the elder cleared his throat, signaling the room to settle down. His gaze moved over the group before he spoke.

    "Gentlemen, I know some of you are suspicious of Professor Oscar here, thinking he ran off to save his own skin. But let me assure you, that couldn’t be further from the truth."

    The crowd exchanged glances, a few murmurs of doubt floating in the air. The elder continued. "It was Oscar who warned us about the Black Horizon attack in the first place. He left early because he was supposed to hire a gang to protect us."

    "A criminal gang?" Ys raised an eyebrow, her wings twisting slightly in surprise. "Why not ask for help from the nearest planetary guard post? Wouldn’t that be more... official?" Her question was laced with genuine curiosity. She had learned much from Rex, but this part of human politics puzzled her.

    Oscar let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you see, that’s the problem. Most of us here... we’re runaway slaves. Asking the guards for help would be like handing ourselves over on a silver platter. They’d capture us and sell us right back into chains, no questions asked."

    Ys blinked, processing this, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That’s... barbaric."

    "Hiohiohio, you get used to it," the elder said with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "It’s not just us humans, you know. Thousands of races have lost their place in the great race for supremacy. We just happen to be one of the more profitable ones to sell."

    There was a brief pause as the group absorbed that grim reality, but the elder quickly lightened the mood. "But enough of the gloom, Professor. Tell us what happened to you! You were gone for two whole weeks, and I was starting to think you’d gotten yourself lost or worse!"

    Oscar sighed, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of his journey were still pressing down on him. "Well, where do I start?" He adjusted his glasses and began. "The plan was simple. I was supposed to meet with a gang called the Tooths. I had an EMP weapon for trade, something that would’ve tipped the balance in our favor."

    "And what happened?" One of the camp leaders leaned in, clearly caught up in the tale.

    "Well....."